Latest peer-approved articles

Coupled analysis using the complementary methods of energy simulation (ES) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can improve the calculation accuracy of thermal environment simulations. However, existing studies on ES-CFD coupled analyses that consider the effects of solar radiation and surrounding conditions have been insufficient. In practice, net solar radiation fluctuates, owing to the influence of urban blocks, and the solar radiation incident on the interior determines the heating range of the interior, which results in fluctuations in the convective heat transfer coefficient. This study conducted an ES-CFD coupled analysis to examine differences in the convective heat transfer coefficients due to the different insolation conditions and the surroundings of target buildings. The risk of condensation was evaluated using the dew point temperature in the analysis model, and a neutral insulation performance was employed in the set cases with the presence or absence of urban streets as a variable. Buildings within urban city blocks were observed to have a lower dew point temperature and a higher risk of condensation, which is a reasonable assessment. The results of this study will contribute significantly to the development of comprehensive simulation technologies.

Magnesium (Mg) is not prominent among the list of well known anti-aging agents. Yet the signs and symptoms of aging mimic those of Mg deficiency. Mg is required for nearly a thousand enzymatic reactions. This narrative review does not correlate Mg status with clinical data on agents linked to longevity. The approach is more novel and highlights specific Mg dependent physiologic reactions required by these longevity linked biomarkers. Many of these share common pathways to extend healthspan. Mg is a required cofactor in the synthesis of vitamin D and melatonin and activation of six of the eight B vitamins. It is a required cofactor for all CYP450 enzymes. It is directly responsible for the appropriate methylation of proteins and DNA, which control the epigenome. The MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) 677T allele that compromises methylation is present in a majority of Americans. Aberrant methylation predicts the severity of Covid-19 and its persistence into long Covid. Mg is a silent benefactor that may indirectly link these longevity agents, but only if viewed in context with calcium (Ca), i.e., Ca:Mg. Both compete for the same receptor. To fully exploit these longevity agents sufficient Mg is required. The pertinent physiology is presented, although cause and effect awaits publication of supporting clinical data.

Reporting of peers who abuse illicit substances has potential benefits for early intervention. The study focused on factors affecting peers' reporting of illicit drug use to others.We adopted a mixed-methods study design. We interviewed 57 students attending a community youth mentorship centre. A hypothetical scenario was presented to elicit responses to a yes-or-no option. Appropriate bivariate analyses were used for descriptive statistics. We used R programming to perform LASSO regression to identify significant predictors of peer disclosure.A larger proportion of respondents opted not to report (56%, n = 32). Females had a higher rate of reporting compared to males (68% vs 32%). Other socio-variables such as family history of substance use and history of use were not significantly associated with the tendency to report. The major reasons for non-reporting were the fear of potential consequences and the fear of hurting the feelings of the peer. The mother was most favoured for reporting. The significant predictor of reporting of substance use to others was related to the perception of closeness of the relationship to the peer (Estimate = 1.32, 95%Cl = 0.04, 2.73). There is a need to encourage massive public enlightenment and educational programmes on peer reporting among adolescents and young adults who take illicit substances.

This study focused on how mattering correlated with school life satisfaction among 446 high school students aged 15 to 23 (Mage= 17.40, SD = 1.22; 55.8 % Male) drawn from 12 secondary schools in Murang’a County Kenya. More than two thirds of our sample (69.3 %) were in middle adolescence (Mage = 16.76, SD = 0.53; range 15-17 years). The results revealed a significant moderate correlation between mattering and school life satisfaction. Both age and mattering explained 11 % variance in satisfaction with school life. Both age and gender did not interact with mattering in predicting satisfaction with school life. Although the pattern of correlation was similar for the middle and late adolescent groups, the prediction was only significant among the middle adolescent group. No significant gender differences were reported among the study variables. The findings suggest that when students feel important and when their age is taken into account, they are more likely to have higher levels of satisfaction with their school experience.

A variety of new finds have produced a new set of species classified within the Homo clade. Some of these appear to represent very small hominins with a variety of traits that are often seen in pathologies. The group of traits, however, does not associate with any known suite or any single condition, either genetic or induced by chemicals, radiation, or other means. The first find of a hominin, the Neandertal, was considered a pathological modern human at first. Some claimed hominin finds were fakes that displayed such unusual traits, but whose status was supported by prominent scientists, that only a few questioned their authenticity. The lack of fit into the evolutionary sequence known at a given time has not been considered a single factor in rejecting a find, as the consideration of the Taung fossil eventually proved. Nevertheless, repeated finds of the same kind of fossil in different parts of the world, in different contexts, by the same investigator do seem remarkable. Placing these finds in a phylogenetic setting is in order, but the distance and time frames are as challenging as the problem of coincidence. Reference to pathological conditions producing several types of dwarfism is discussed in the context of these small-bodied finds. This paper proposes a hypothesis that a unique infection in several Homo erectus populations could offer a potential explanation for the developmental anomalies seen in small-bodied hominins.

In this study, a series of thiazole-embedded Schiff base derivatives (TZ1-10) were investigated for their therapeutic potential against breast cancer, with TZ1-3 synthesized and TZ4-10 designed for comparative in-silico evaluation. Computational analyses, including Density Functional Theory (DFT) and molecular docking studies, revealed key electronic properties and binding affinities. The compounds exhibited HOMO-LUMO energy gaps indicating chemical stability, with TZ6 and TZ8 showing the most favorable values. ADMET profiling confirmed high bioavailability and low toxicity, with TZ6 and TZ8 showing ideal drug-likeness, positioning them as promising candidates for breast cancer therapeutics. Notably, TZ8 demonstrated a competitive binding affinity of -8.2 kcal/mol to the estrogen receptor (4FX3), comparable to FDA-approved drugs. These insights into stability, reactivity, and binding interactions provide a basis for future experimental validation, advancing the development of targeted cancer treatments with minimized adverse effects.

Toxic positivity, characterized by an overemphasis on maintaining a positive outlook while suppressing negative emotions, has been increasingly prevalent, particularly in the context of social media and the COVID-19 pandemic. This article presents the protocol for a scoping review that aims to synthesize existing literature on toxic positivity following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for conducting scoping reviews[1]. The proposed scoping review will primarily address 4 key research questions: What is the definition of toxic positivity? What are its dimensions, antecedents, and consequences? Furthermore, the review aims to identify gaps in current research and offer insights into the mental health implications of toxic positivity, advocating for a balanced approach to emotional well-being.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of social support and spiritual needs on the Quality of Life of mental health professionals in Greece. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted on a sample of 97 mental health professionals of various specialties. The QoL10 questionnaire was used to assess the Quality of Life, the MSPSS for social support, and the SpNQ for spiritual needs. The results of the survey showed that the Quality of Life of the participants was generally good, with an average value of 3.72 on a scale of 1-5. Social support appeared to be significantly and positively correlated with Quality of Life (r=0.565, p<0.001), while spiritual needs showed no significant correlation. Linear regression analysis revealed social support as the only significant predictor of QoL. Sociodemographic characteristics were not found to be significantly related to Quality of Life, although there were indications of a possible association with gender as well as marital status that need further investigation. In conclusion, social support appears to be an important protective factor for mental health professionals' Quality of Life. Future perspectives include continuing the research with a larger and more representative sample, as well as investigating additional factors that may influence the Quality of Life of this occupational group.