The psychological wellbeing outcomes of nonpharmacological interventions for older persons with insomnia symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nonpharmacological treatment of insomnia in older persons has been associated with reduced insomnia symptoms and increased psychological wellbeing. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined whether nonpharmacological interventions can promote wellbeing indicators in older persons who experience insomnia symptoms and investigated the components of these interventions. Twenty studies met inclusion criteria. Psychological wellbeing outcomes included symptoms of depression, anxiety, mental health-related quality of life, and fatigue. Interventions significantly reduced depression and fatigue symptoms in most of the studies that included these outcomes. Findings of our qualitative analysis suggest that mindfulness-based interventions in particularcan potentially reduce depression symptoms in older persons with insomnia symptoms. Meta-analyses of studies that included psychological wellbeing outcomes showed small-medium weighted mean effects indicating reductions in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and fatigue. The results suggest that nonpharmacological interventions for older persons with insomnia symptoms can potentially reduce depression and fatigue symptoms and highlight interventions that may be particularly valuable for this purpose

Reproducing Kernels of Generalized Sobolev Spaces via a Green Function Approach with Distributional Operators

In this paper we introduce a generalized Sobolev space by defining a semi-inner product formulated in terms of a vector distributional operator $\mathbf{P}$ consisting of finitely or countably many distributional operators $P_n$, which are defined on the dual space of the Schwartz space. The types of operators we consider include not only differential operators, but also more general distributional operators such as pseudo-differential operators. We deduce that a certain appropriate full-space Green function $G$ with respect to $L:=\mathbf{P}^{\ast T}\mathbf{P}$ now becomes a conditionally positive definite function. In order to support this claim we ensure that the distributional adjoint operator $\mathbf{P}^{\ast}$ of $\mathbf{P}$ is well-defined in the distributional sense. Under sufficient conditions, the native space (reproducing-kernel Hilbert space) associated with the Green function $G$ can be isometrically embedded into or even be isometrically equivalent to a generalized Sobolev space. As an application, we take linear combinations of translates of the Green function with possibly added polynomial terms and construct a multivariate minimum-norm interpolant $s_{f,X}$ to data values sampled from an unknown generalized Sobolev function $f$ at data sites located in some set $X \subset \mathbb{R}^d$. We provide several examples, such as Mat\'ern kernels or Gaussian kernels, that illustrate how many reproducing-kernel Hilbert spaces of well-known reproducing kernels are isometrically equivalent to a generalized Sobolev space. These examples further illustrate how we can rescale the Sobolev spaces by the vector distributional operator $\mathbf{P}$. Introducing the notion of scale as part of the definition of a generalized Sobolev space may help us to choose the "best" kernel function for kernel-based approximation methods.Comment: Update version of the publish at Num. Math. closed to Qi Ye's Ph.D. thesis (\url{http://mypages.iit.edu/~qye3/PhdThesis-2012-AMS-QiYe-IIT.pdf}

Geodesic motions in extraordinary string geometry

The geodesic properties of the extraordinary vacuum string solution in (4+1) dimensions are analyzed by using Hamilton-Jacobi method. The geodesic motions show distinct properties from those of the static one. Especially, any freely falling particle can not arrive at the horizon or singularity. There exist stable null circular orbits and bouncing timelike and null geodesics. To get into the horizon {or singularity}, a particle need to follow a non-geodesic trajectory. We also analyze the orbit precession to show that the precession angle has distinct features for each geometry such as naked singularity, black string, and wormhole.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figure

Holographic conductivity of zero temperature superconductors

Using the recently found by G. Horowitz and M. Roberts (arXiv:0908.3677) numerical model of the ground state of holographic superconductors (at zero temperature), we calculate the conductivity for such models. The universal relation connecting conductivity with the reflection coefficient was used for finding the conductivity by the WKB approach. The dependence of the conductivity on the frequency and charge density is discussed. Numerical calculations confirm the general arguments of (arXiv:0908.3677) in favor of non-zero conductivity even at zero temperature. In addition to the Horowitz-Roberts solution we have found (probably infinite) set of extra solutions which are normalizable and reach the same correct RN-AdS asymptotic at spatial infinity. These extra solutions (which correspond to larger values of the grand canonical potential) lead to effective potentials that also vanish at the horizon and thus correspond to a non-zero conductivity at zero temperature.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

Effective gravitational equations on brane world with induced gravity described by f(R)f(R) term

In this article we study a generalization of DGP scenarios, where the induced gravity is given by a $f(R)$ term. We obtain the effective gravitational equations and the effective FLRW cosmological equation on the brane of this model. We show that this generalization has also two regime, a 5D regime a low energies that has a self-accelerated branch of interest for cosmology and a 4D regime at high energies that it is described a modified gravitational theory.Comment: 8 pages, disscusion improved, version accepted by JCA

The effect of extra dimensions on gravity wave bursts from cosmic string cusps

We explore the kinematical effect of having extra dimensions on the gravity wave emission from cosmic strings. Additional dimensions both round off cusps, and reduce the probability of their formation. We recompute the gravity wave burst, taking into account these two factors, and find a potentially significant damping on the gravity waves of the strings.Comment: 33 pages, 8 figures, published versio

An Introduction to Data Analysis in Asteroseismology

A practical guide is presented to some of the main data analysis concepts and techniques employed contemporarily in the asteroseismic study of stars exhibiting solar-like oscillations. The subjects of digital signal processing and spectral analysis are introduced first. These concern the acquisition of continuous physical signals to be subsequently digitally analyzed. A number of specific concepts and techniques relevant to asteroseismology are then presented as we follow the typical workflow of the data analysis process, namely, the extraction of global asteroseismic parameters and individual mode parameters (also known as peak-bagging) from the oscillation spectrum.Comment: Lecture presented at the IVth Azores International Advanced School in Space Sciences on "Asteroseismology and Exoplanets: Listening to the Stars and Searching for New Worlds" (arXiv:1709.00645), which took place in Horta, Azores Islands, Portugal in July 201

An expert assessment on playspace designs and thermal environments in a Canadian context

Playgrounds are a hub for child play and concerns that may impact children\u27s play there may hinder their health and well-being. Extreme temperatures can increase risks in children of sunstroke, burns from playground surfaces, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Despite health risks from extreme heat to children, existing playground design standards around the world, including in Canada, make little-to-no mention of how to design playgrounds for thermal comfort, particularly in summer. To help fill this gap in the Canadian context, several organizations collaborated to develop guidance for thermally comfortable playgrounds in Canada. As part of this project, an online survey was administered to 55 experts with diverse professional backgrounds, largely from Canada and the United States, to determine how thermal comfort is viewed in playground design and safety. Survey results showed agreement among experts that thermal comfort receives low or no priority in playground design but should be prioritized or considered alongside other safety factors in relevant playground safety guidelines and standards. The results of this survey not only helped inform the 2020 publication of a Thermal Comfort annex to the CSA Group\u27s Children\u27s playgrounds and equipment standard (CAN/CSA Z614) but could also help inform future research and practice globally

A smac mimetic reduces TNF related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced invasion and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

UNLABELLED: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells paradoxically express tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a death ligand that, failing to kill CCA cells, instead promotes their tumorigenicity and especially the metastatic behaviors of cell migration and invasion. Second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (smac) mimetics are promising cancer therapeutic agents that enhance proapoptotic death receptor signaling by causing cellular degradation of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins. Our aim was to examine the in vitro and in vivo effects of the smac mimetic JP1584 in CCA. Despite JP1584-mediated loss of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis-1 (cIAP-1) and cIAP-2, TRAIL failed to induce apoptosis in KMCH-1, TFK-1, and BDEneu CCA cells; a finding consistent with a downstream block in death signaling. Because cIAP-1 and cIAP-2 also promote nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation by the canonical pathway, the effect of JP1584 on this signaling pathway was examined. Treatment with JP1584 inhibited TRAIL-induced NF-kappaB activation as well as TRAIL-mediated up-regulation of the NF-kappaB target gene, matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7). JP1584 also reduced TRAIL-mediated CCA cell migration and invasion in vitro. Finally, in a syngeneic rat orthotopic CCA model, JP1584 administration reduced MMP7 messenger RNA levels and extrahepatic metastases. CONCLUSION: : Although the smac mimetic JP1584 does not sensitize cells to apoptosis, it reduces TRAIL-induced CCA cell metastatic behavior. These data support the emerging concept that IAPs are prometastatic and represent targets for antimetastatic therapies

Cross-sectional and longitudinal voxel-based grey matter asymmetries in Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that can be genetically confirmed with certainty decades before clinical onset. This allows the investigation of functional and structural changes in HD many years prior to disease onset, which may reveal important mechanistic insights into brain function, structure and organization in general. While regional atrophy is present at early stages of HD, it is still unclear if both hemispheres are equally affected by neurodegeneration and how the extent of asymmetry affects domain-specific functional decline. Here, we used whole-brain voxel-based analysis to investigate cross-sectional and longitudinal hemispheric asymmetries in grey matter (GM) volume in 56 manifest HD (mHD), 83 pre-manifest HD (preHD), and 80 healthy controls (HC). Furthermore, a regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between neuroanatomical asymmetries and decline in motor and cognitive measures across the disease spectrum. The cross-sectional analysis showed striatal leftward-biased GM atrophy in mHD, but not in preHD, relative to HC. Longitudinally, no net 36-month change in GM asymmetries was found in any of the groups. In the regression analysis, HD-related decline in quantitative-motor (Q-Motor) performance was linked to lower GM volume in the left superior parietal cortex. These findings suggest a stronger disease effect targeting the left hemisphere, especially in those with declining motor performance. This effect did not change over a period of three years and may indicate a compensatory role of the right hemisphere in line with recent functional imaging studies