Search Results (6,687)

Research examining risk and protective factors of suicidality among Black students remains limited. This study assessed the effects of psychological inflexibility and emotional resilience on suicidal behaviors among Black college students. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2022–2024 Healthy Minds Study. Black students (aged 18–24) who completed the suicidality matrix, psychological inflexibility (Acceptance & Action Questionnaire II) and emotional resilience (Brief Resilience Scale) measures were included in the analysis. Logistic regressions were performed to examine the effect of psychological inflexibility and resilience on suicidal ideation, plans for suicide, and suicide attempts. The students (N = 4557) represented diverse backgrounds, with 61% being African American, 12.2% African, 13.8% Caribbean, and 7% Afro-Latinx. Further, 18.7% endorsed suicidal ideation, 9.2% endorsed suicide plans, and 3.2% reported a suicidal attempt within the past 12 months. Psychological inflexibility was associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation (OR = 1.04, p < 0.001), suicidal plan (OR = 1.05, p < 0.001) and suicide attempt (OR = 1.03, p = 0.011). Emotional resilience was not associated with any suicidal behaviors as a protective or risk factor. The findings support previous research identifying psychological inflexibility as a suicidal risk factor. Prevention and intervention strategies may warrant a focus on promoting psychological flexibility. Full article

With the development of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, fire detection systems based on multi-sensor fusion have become critical infrastructure to ensure public safety. Due to environmental noise and sensor heterogeneity, these systems often suffer from high rates of false alarms and missed detections. Although existing machine learning approaches have partially improved classification accuracy, their overall performance remains limited. Inspired by the cognitive mechanisms of the human brain, we developed an improved mind-linked continuous-coupled neural network (ML-CCNN) based on the existing continuous-coupled neural network (CCNN). We propose a parameter adaptation mechanism that modulates neural activations through a global threshold. We utilized the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) to mitigate data imbalance and transformed sample feature vectors into matrices for training. Our model achieved an accuracy of 99.96% on our own dataset and 99.97% on the public Smoke Detection Dataset (SDD), which highlights ML-CCNN’s potential for fire detection. Full article

Background: Socio-cognitive deficits constitute a core and persistent feature of adolescent-onset schizophrenia, significantly impairing functional outcomes. However, the interplay between genetic metabolic markers such as CYP2D6 and specific socio-cognitive phenotypes remains poorly understood. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 73 adolescents with schizophrenia and 58 matched healthy controls. Theory of Mind (ToM) was evaluated using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), while empathy was assessed with the Cambridge Empathy Quotient. Symptom severity was measured via the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). CYP2D6 polymorphisms were genotyped using RT-PCR, classifying participants as Normal or Reduced (Intermediate) metabolizers. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed, controlling for sex, IQ, and psychosocial factors. Results: Patients demonstrated significantly lower RMET and empathy scores compared to controls. Reduced CYP2D6 metabolizers exhibited poorer ToM performance and more severe negative symptoms. The final RMET model accounted for 88.8% of variance (p < 0.001), with CYP2D6 status emerging as a significant independent predictor (β = 0.178, p = 0.005), alongside IQ and negative symptoms. In contrast, the empathy model explained 49.0% of variance, with CYP2D6 effects fully mediated by negative symptom severity. Conclusion: Adolescents with reduced CYP2D6 metabolic activity exhibit greater negative symptom burden and impaired social-cognitive functioning. Our findings reveal a double dissociation: ToM functions as a stable, biologically anchored trait, while empathy serves as a state-dependent construct primarily driven by the negative syndrome. These insights advocate for the integration of pharmacogenetic stratification in the treatment of early-onset schizophrenia. Full article

Obesity prevalence has increased globally, and metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is the most effective treatment for severe obesity. However, the impact of postoperative dietary counselling (DC) on clinical outcomes including weight is unclear. This review aims to assess the nature and impact of postoperative DC delivered by dietitians on clinical outcomes in adults undergoing post-MBS, focusing on weight change as the primary outcome, and body composition, nutritional status, biochemical parameters, and complications as secondary outcomes. Five databases (Medline, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library) were searched for observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing DC related to weight change. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria (five RCTs and eight observational studies), involving 4173 individuals. Eight studies reported no significant difference in weight outcomes between the groups receiving DC and comparison groups. However, secondary outcomes such as nutritional status, complications, and levels of transferrin saturation, vitamin B12, and vitamin D showed improvements with more frequent DC. The components of DC delivered by dietitians varied, including advice on micronutrient supplements, protein intake, physical activity, transition diets, healthy eating, and mindful eating. Evidence supporting the efficacy of postoperative DC in promoting weight loss is limited by short-term assessment and inconsistencies in reporting weight outcomes, highlighting the need for long-term RCTs to ascertain its effectiveness. Full article

Background/Objectives: Trauma and chronic pain frequently co-occur and mutually reinforce functional impairment, yet few counseling interventions integrate somatic and psychological approaches. This study had two primary objectives: (1) to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an interdisciplinary trauma–chronic pain group intervention, and (2) to explore preliminary clinical outcomes related to trauma symptoms, fear of movement, and pain through an interdisciplinary group intervention combining trauma-informed counseling with physical therapy grounded in Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) principles. Methods: A convergent mixed-methods design was used, wherein quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently, analyzed separately, and integrated during interpretation to provide a comprehensive understanding of intervention outcomes. Fifteen adults with chronic pain (≥3 months) and clinically significant trauma symptoms (PCL-5 ≥ 31) completed a six-week, 90 min group program co-facilitated by a counselor and a physical therapist. Quantitative measures included weekly pain (BPI), pre/post trauma symptoms (PCL-5), fear of movement (TSK), group climate (GCQ), and postural neutrality. Qualitative data included weekly journals, photographs, open-ended post-surveys, and focus groups, analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Participants attended most sessions (96.7% overall attendance) with no dropouts and high fidelity (mean 2.89/3). Pre/post analyses indicated statistically significant within-group reductions in trauma symptoms and fear of movement and improvements in pain and postural neutrality; however, findings should be interpreted as preliminary given the pilot design and small sample size. Qualitative themes highlighted the persistent burden of pain/trauma, increased mind–body awareness, emotional regulation, and validation through group support. Conclusions: An interdisciplinary, PRI-informed, trauma-informed group model was obtained. This model demonstrates preliminary feasibility and acceptability and suggests potential benefit; however, findings are derived from a small, non-controlled pilot study and require further validation. Future research should employ larger, controlled, and longitudinal designs. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to comparatively analyze online information regarding dental implants and dentures utilizing text-mining techniques. Methods: An automated text-mining program was employed to collect and process data using the Korean keywords for “implant” and “denture.” Data sources included major search engines, social networking services, and YouTube (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). A total of 9941 data points for dental implants and 9783 for dentures were retrieved. The analytical approach included word cloud generation, term frequency-inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) analysis, semantic network analysis, and sentiment analysis. Results: For implants, “dental clinic,” “treatment,” “surgery,” and “insurance” emerged as highly relevant keywords. In contrast, queries regarding dentures frequently included the term “implant,” alongside top-ranking, age-related terms such as “abnormality” and “discomfort.” TF-IDF analysis revealed that “surgery” and “procedure” ranked higher for implants, whereas “insurance” ranked higher for dentures. Sentiment analysis indicated a predominantly positive public perception of implants (63.09% positive, 36.91% negative), whereas dentures elicited a largely negative sentiment (40.70% positive, 59.30% negative). Conclusions: The text-mining analysis revealed distinct public perceptions regarding the two treatments. Implants were primarily associated with surgical procedures and positive sentiments, whereas dentures were more closely linked to insurance considerations and negative experiences. Full article

Migrant mothers experience high levels of acculturative stress while raising children in a new cultural environment. Such stress can negatively impact parenting behaviors and child development. This study draws on the Family Stress Model and ecocultural theory to examine the mediating role of mindful parenting and the moderating effects of multicultural sensitivity and social support in the relationship between acculturative stress and the social skills of young children (aged 1–7 years) of migrant mothers. Validated self-report measures were used to collect data from 338 migrant mothers residing in South Korea. The PROCESS Macro was used to analyze the data and examine the moderated mediation model. Maternal education, household income, spouse’s country of origin, and reason for migration were controlled. The results indicated that acculturative stress was associated with reduced social skills in young children due to diminished mindful parenting, which exhibited a significant mediating effect. Furthermore, multicultural sensitivity and social support each showed significant moderating effects on the respective pathways. These findings suggest that providing mindful parenting support and fostering culturally and socially supportive environments for migrant mothers can enhance the social competencies of their young children. Full article

Background: Menstrual-cycle-associated symptoms and menstrual health conditions are common among female athletes and may influence recovery, perceived readiness, training availability, and athletic performance. However, evidence regarding interventions aimed at managing these symptoms and their functional implications in athletes remains limited and heterogeneous. Objective: The objective of this study is to synthesize the available evidence on pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions related to menstrual health and menstrual-cycle-associated symptoms in female athletes and to evaluate their impact on performance, recovery, functional capacity, and symptom burden. Materials and Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies evaluating interventions associated with menstrual health or menstrual-cycle-related symptoms in female athletes were included when they reported outcomes related to athletic performance, recovery, functional capacity, or symptom burden. Results: Five studies published between 2023 and 2025 were included. The interventions evaluated included hormonally related strategies involving oral contraceptive timing, recovery interventions such as cryotherapy, mindfulness-based yoga, nutritional supplementation, and pharmacological pain-modulation approaches. However, findings regarding objective athletic performance outcomes were inconsistent, and the included studies showed substantial methodological heterogeneity. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests that certain interventions related to menstrual health may contribute to improvements in symptom burden, perceived recovery, or selected functional outcomes in female athletes. Nevertheless, the current evidence base remains limited, heterogeneous, and insufficient to support strong performance-related recommendations. Further high-quality studies specifically designed in female athlete populations are needed to inform evidence-based sports medicine practice. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, is characterized by progressive cognitive decline along with hallmark brain pathologies including amyloid-beta accumulation, hyperphosphorylated tau, neuroinflammation and neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction. As current pharmaceutical treatments only provide modest symptomatic improvement, there is an urgent need for effective non-pharmaceutical treatment options for the prevention or slowing down of this disease. This review synthesizes results from randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and animal model research on the ability of exercise to influence cognitive functions, brain structural changes, inflammatory processes, and neuroplasticity-related pathways. Exercise has demonstrated the capacity to enhance neurotrophic signaling, improve the regulation of mitochondria, improve cerebrovascular function and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in preclinical and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. Additionally, aerobic and resistance training has been shown to enhance physical performance and functional capacity. Furthermore, mind–body, dual-task and multimodal types of interventions may also provide additional cognitive and psychological benefits. Although the overall cognitive effect of exercise in individuals with established AD is generally small, it has been demonstrated that exercise can contribute to maintaining brain health through multiple interconnected metabolic, vascular and molecular pathways, thereby preserving cognitive reserve and slowing disease progression, particularly when initiated during early to midlife prior to the onset of AD symptoms. Therefore, future research will require establishing stage-specific exercise recommendations based on modality type, intensity and duration to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. Full article

Background and objectives: Primary dysmenorrhea is a major contributor to chronic pelvic pain. It negatively impacts quality of life. Therapeutic exercise has become recognized as a non-pharmacological alternative for reducing the severity of symptoms. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Randomized controlled trials involving adult women with primary dysmenorrhea who underwent therapeutic exercise interventions were selected. Databases searched were Embase, PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL, Web of Science, ProQuest, PEDro, and CINAHL up to 31 January 2026. The main variables were symptom severity, pain intensity, and duration. The secondary outcomes were quality of life, anxiety, and sleep quality. The Cochrane’s Risk of Bias 2 tool was used to assess the risk of bias, while the certainty of evidence was determined using GRADE. Results: Twenty-nine studies (1704 participants) were included. Therapeutic exercise significantly improved symptom severity (SMD = −0.91), pain intensity (SMD = −2.17), and duration (SMD = −0.70), and enhanced quality of life (SMD = 0.70) and sleep quality (SMD = 0.33). These results were maintained into the second menstrual cycle after the intervention. I² values were high across all outcomes. Subgroup analysis revealed a greater effect of mind–body and stretching interventions on symptom severity, and of aerobic and strength exercise on pain intensity. The certainty of the evidence was low to very low. Conclusions: Therapeutic exercise appears effective for improving the severity of primary dysmenorrhea and associated symptoms, although caution is warranted when interpreting these conclusions due to the insufficient certainty of the evidence. Full article

Background and Clinical Significance: Biliary atresia (BA) and Alagille syndrome (ALGS) represent distinct anatomic and genetic causes of neonatal cholestasis. Their overlapping clinical, biochemical, and early histological features present a formidable diagnostic challenge in early infancy, and their simultaneous coexistence is exceedingly rare. This report documents a unique case of dual diagnosis to highlight the associated diagnostic pitfalls and implications for surgical management. Case Presentation: We present the case of a Taiwanese male neonate who manifested prolonged jaundice and acholic stools. Preoperative imaging and intraoperative cholangiography confirmed biliary atresia, for which the patient underwent a Kasai portoenterostomy. The patient subsequently exhibited an atypical postoperative course characterized by persistent hyperbilirubinemia and intractable pruritus. This atypical trajectory prompted an extensive, multisystem evaluation and molecular genetic analysis, revealing a concurrent genetic diagnosis of Alagille syndrome. To our knowledge, this dual diagnosis is rarely reported in the literature, which creates a significant challenge in determining surgical candidacy and predicting long-term liver health outcomes. Discussions: Early differentiation is complicated by the fact that some ALGS patients can initially mimic BA. Beyond its exceptional rarity, this case holds profound clinical significance for the evaluation of neonatal cholestasis, serving as a stark reminder of the risks of “diagnostic premature closure.” In diagnostically challenging cases of neonatal cholestasis, intraoperative biliary exploration remains the gold standard for the timely diagnosis of BA. Genetic testing should be considered an adjunctive tool when clinical and histological findings are inconclusive. Conclusions: This case highlights a critical clinical caveat in neonatal cholestasis: while a confirmed diagnosis of anatomical BA typically stands alone as a solitary pathology, clinicians should remain mindful of the remote possibility of a concurrent genetic etiology like ALGS in highly atypical presentations. Persistently unexpected postoperative jaundice or the accumulation of multisystem anomalies should prompt an expansion of the differential diagnosis. Recognizing this rare coexistence is crucial for effective multidisciplinary management, informed surgical decision-making, and accurate genetic counseling. Full article

Background: Self-compassion is the practice of treating oneself with kindness and understanding during times of hardship. There is a lack of studies investigating the associations between self-compassion and vaccination behaviors. This study investigated the associations between self-compassion and behavioral intention to receive seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), pneumococcal vaccination (PV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination among community-living older adults in Western China. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among people aged ≥60 years in Kashgar, China between January and February 2026. Participants were recruited through multi-stage random sampling. Multivariable logistic regression models were fitted. Results: Among all participants, 56.5% intended to receive a fully subsidized SIV in the next year. Among those without a prior vaccination history, 48.2% and 49.7% intended to receive fully subsidized PV and RSV vaccination in the next year, respectively. After adjusting for significant background characteristics, higher levels of self-compassion (e.g., higher levels of mindfulness, self-kindness and common humanity, and lower levels of over-identification, isolation and self-judgment) were associated with higher odds of behavioral intention to receive a fully subsidized SIV, PV and/or RSV vaccination. Conclusions: Our findings suggested a new angle to promote vaccination uptake. Future studies may evaluate the efficacy of self-compassion interventions in improving vaccination uptake among older adults. Full article

The question “what is an emotion” is as old as the study of the mind and brain. Scientists from Western, English-speaking, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) nations tend to adopt certain definitions, but these definitions do not map onto the lived experiences of all people around the world. My approach to the question “what is an emotion?” is thus to accept that emotions are folk concepts that do not “cut nature at its joints.” Instead, I draw from models of predictive brain function to ask, “how does the brain make mental states in general, and experiences that we call “emotions” in particular?” I discuss recent models of predictive processing and how it is thought that the brain gives rise to feelings of valence and, arousal, and how, in some cultures, categorical emotional predictions (e.g., “anger”) might have evolved as a particularly useful class of predictions for navigating humans’ social worlds. Full article

This study examines the impact of three creative thinking methods—mind mapping, brainstorming and SCAMPER—on the generation of fashion sketches using artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC). While AIGC is becoming more prevalent in design practice, little research has examined how various ideation strategies influence the quality and originality of AI-generated results. For this study, ten professional designers created prompts using each method and generated fashion sketches via an AIGC platform. A total of 204 valid responses to the evaluation were collected, assessing the outputs across five dimensions: design support capability, quality, originality, detail refinement, and market acceptability. The results show that brainstorming most effectively enhances design quality and visual detail, while mind mapping yields the highest market acceptability. SCAMPER stimulates originality but performs less favorably in terms of refinement and visual coherence. These findings demonstrate that creative thinking methods significantly influence AIGC-assisted design and highlight the importance of aligning ideation strategies with the cognitive preferences and task objectives of designers. Despite limitations relating to the relatively small sample size of participating designers and reliance on a single AIGC platform, this study is the first to provide a systematic comparison of these three creative thinking methods within the context of AIGC-assisted fashion design. The findings offer new insights into the integration of structured creative thinking with AIGC tools in both design education and professional practice, while future research is encouraged to expand the diversity of participants, design tasks, and generative systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide and remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Conventional treatments, while effective, often produce physical and psychological adverse effects that impair quality of life. Complementary therapies (CTs) have gained prominence as supportive strategies to mitigate these effects. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of CTs in women with breast cancer undergoing or having completed chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and Cochrane standards, a systematic search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Scopus for studies published up to March 2026. Randomized controlled trials assessing CTs in breast cancer patients were included. Methodological quality was appraised using the PEDro scale, and risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool. Results: Thirty-two RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The interventions included acupuncture and related techniques, mindfulness-based therapies, massage, dance–movement therapy, music therapy, slow breathing, prayer, and natural products. Overall, CTs produced improvements in pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and social well-being, though the effects were sometimes therapy-specific and varied. Conclusions: Complementary therapies represent non-pharmacological strategies that may offer potential benefits across physical, emotional, and social outcomes in women with breast cancer. However, mixed results in certain therapies indicate that conclusions must be drawn cautiously. Future research should pursue methodological consistency and longer follow-ups. Full article