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Does acupuncture at motor-related acupoints affect corticospinal excitability? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFBackground: Acupuncture is widely used in modulating brain excitability and motor function, as a form of complementary and alternative medicine. However, there is no existing meta-analysis evaluating the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture on corticospinal excitability (CSE), and the credibility of the evidence has yet to be quantified. Objective: This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) in enhancing brain excitability, specifically focusing on CSE as measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Search strategy: This study followed a systematic approach, searching 9 databases up to August 2024 and examining grey literature, in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria: Studies were included if they compared the clinical efficacy of EA or MA with sham acupuncture, no treatment or usual training. Data extraction and analysis: Three investigators independently conducted literature screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. The primary outcome focused on motor-evoked potentials as measured by TMS, with treatment effects quantified using mean differences or standardized mean differences between pre- and post-treatment. Subgroup analyses were conducted using mixed-effects models, while random-effects or fixed-effects models were used to estimate average treatment differences across studies. Results: Based on 34 studies involving 1031 adults, acupuncture techniques significantly enhanced CSE. EA had a greater impact than MA, with effect sizes of 0.53 mV vs 0.43 mV (95% confidence interval [CI]: [0.30, 0.76], P < 0.00001 vs 95% CI: [0.28, 0.59], P < 0.00001). The 5 most frequently used acupoints were LI4 (Hegu, 32 times), ST36 (Zusanli, 10 times), LI11 (Quchi, 7 times), TE5 (Waiguan, 6 times), and GB34 (Yanglingquan, 5 times). Conclusion: This systematic review indicates that both EA and MA could effectively and safely enhance CSE, bringing the corticospinal pathway closer to the threshold for firing, which may ultimately improve motor function. LI4, ST36, LI11, TE5 and GB34 are the most commonly used acupoints. Please cite this article as: Liu R, Moe AAK, Liu W, Zoghi M, Jaberzadeh S. Does acupuncture at motor-related acupoints affect corticospinal excitability? A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 113–125. © 2025 Shanghai Yueyang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicin
The dual continua in youth mental health policy and practice : screening and intervention for low mental wellbeing in youth to achieve targeted prevention
Get PDFBackground: The mental health of young people in Australia and other nations has declined dramatically over the last decade and a half. While an increase in youth mental healthcare services is needed to meet rising demand, on its own, this is unlikely to reverse the concerning trend. A greater focus on prevention is needed. Aims: This article aims to propose an innovative, theoretically-grounded approach to prevention that complements more common population-based (i.e., changing risk and protective factors) and targeted (i.e., supporting individuals with subthreshold symptoms of mental illness) approaches. Aligned with the dual-continua model of mental health (i.e., where mental well-being and ill-health are distinct dimensions of overall mental health), this third approach focuses on addressing low levels of mental wellbeing, which is both a significant predictor of future mental ill-health and a distressing and disabling state that requires intervention in its own right. Recommendations: Large-scale screening for low mental wellbeing, using psychometrically sound tools, could be conducted online and through schools, higher education, and primary care services. Those with low mental wellbeing could be linked to community services offering evidence-based interventions. This approach is likely to carry less stigma and may be easier to achieve than targeting those with subthreshold symptoms through clinical services. Conclusions: The dire state of youth mental health is an urgent call-to-action to adopt novel approaches to address this crisis. We need to make better use of the available evidence and tools at-hand to strengthen our focus on low mental wellbeing, not just mental ill-health. © 2025 Elsevier Gmb
Using moving least square with particle swarm optimization to solve nonlinear transient convective–radiative heat transfer problems in the existence of a magnetic field
No full textIn the current research, a novel hybrid scheme is proposed to solve nonlinear equations arising in heat transfer through the combination of meta-heuristic algorithms and interpolation methods. In order to define a proper objective function for minimization by particle swarm optimization (PSO), the constrained problem is converted into an unconstrained one through the penalty method. Furthermore, the moving least square (MLS) technique is implemented to interpolate and approximate the derivatives appeared in the equation. The main problem for challenging this combined scheme is nonlinear transient convective–radiative heat transfer in existence of a magnetic field. To study the efficiency of the MLS, the results would be contrasted with those extracted by a finite difference method (FDM) based PSO approach. Through five distinctive examples, the evolutionary diagrams as well as temperature distributions found by different methods are displayed, and the effects of the constant parameters are investigated. Besides, the simulations of this research work clearly depict good agreements of the numerical results obtained by the suggested idea with those reported in literature. © 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Neuroimmune interactions and their role in immune cell trafficking in cardiovascular diseases and cancer
Get PDFSympathetic nerves innervate bone marrow and various immune organs, where norepinephrine—the primary sympathetic neurotransmitter—directly interacts with immune cells that express adrenergic receptors. This article reviewed the key molecular pathways triggered by sympathetic activation and explored how sympathetic activity influences immune cell migration. Norepinephrine serves as a chemoattractant for monocytes, macrophages, and stem cells, promoting the migration of myeloid cells while inhibiting the migration of lymphocytes at physiological concentrations. We also examined the role of immune cell infiltration in cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Evidence suggests that sympathetic activation increases myeloid cell infiltration into target tissues across various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, cardiac fibrosis, cardiac hypertrophy, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke. Conversely, inhibiting sympathetic activity may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy to treat these conditions by reducing macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, sympathetic activation promotes macrophage accumulation in cancer tissues, mirroring its effects in cardiovascular diseases, while suppressing T lymphocyte infiltration into cancerous sites. These changes contribute to increased cancer growth and metastasis. Thus, inhibiting sympathetic activation could help to protect against cancer by enhancing T cell infiltration and reducing macrophage presence in tumors. © 2025 by the authors
Environmental accounting and financial performance : evidence from oil companies in China
No full textThe objective of this chapter is to investigate the relationship between environmental accounting and firm performance. To achieve this, the study analyses data from the financial and corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports of listed Chinese oil companies on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) and Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) for the period 2015–2019. Utilizing regression analysis conducted using the Social Science Statistical Package (SPSS) and Stata, the findings reveal an absence of significant correlation between environmental accounting practices and firm performance. Furthermore, the analysis highlights a prevalent lack of disclosure of environmental information in annual reports by many companies. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the government mandate the disclosure of environmental costs to enhance transparency and accountability in environmental reporting. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Tarek Rana, Md Jahidur Rahman and Peter Öhman; individual chapters, the contributors
Digital cognitive behavioral therapy–based treatment for insomnia, nightmares, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in survivors of wildfires : pilot randomized feasibility trial
Get PDFBackground: Symptoms of insomnia, nightmares, and trauma are highly prevalent. However, there are significant barriers to accessing evidence-based treatments for these conditions, leading to poor mental health outcomes. Objective: This pilot trial evaluated the feasibility of a 4-week, digital self-paced intervention combining cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and exposure, relaxation, and rescripting therapy for nightmares in survivors of wildfires from Australia, Canada, and the United States. Methods: Study participants were recruited between May 2023 and December 2023 through social media platforms, workshops, conferences, and radio interviews. Participants had to meet at least one of the following criteria: a score o
Nonlinear integral sliding mode control design for singularly perturbed systems under matched and unmatched uncertainties
No full textA new nonlinear integral sliding mode control (ISMC) algorithm for singularly perturbed multiple-inputs and multiple-outputs (MIMO) systems subject to matched and unmatched uncertainties is proposed. The circumstance of fast sensor dynamics in series with the plant exemplifies the results. Using prior knowledge about the sensor dynamics, the ISMC structure and its parameters can be tuned to ensure that the closed loop converges to a suitably small neighborhood of the desired equilibrium. It is shown that the controlled system is semiglobally practically stable provided the convergence to the sliding manifold is faster than the main time constant governing the sensor dynamics. Simulations explore the results. © 1963-2012 IEEE
Linking ex situ germination to in situ direct seeding for landscape scale restoration efforts in the semiarid Mallee region of Victoria, Australia
Get PDFDirect seeding has high potential for arid revegetation, but success is limited by decreased germination and seedling emergence. Direct seeding success may be improved through developing an understanding of the germination biology and requirements of species used for these projects. This study looked into the germination temperature and moisture requirements of four semiarid species from Victoria's Mallee ecosystems to understand how their germination biology may advise strategies for future plantings. Temperature's effect on germination was analyzed by incubating the seeds under three different regimes: 30/20, 25/15, and 17/7°C. Moisture requirements were determined by germinating seeds along a water potential gradient created using polyethylene glycol 8000 solutions. Results showed three different strategies employed by the study species: (1) Acacia ligulata has a generalist approach, germinating well in all temperatures with a reasonable tolerance to water stress; (2) Eucalyptus calycongona and Melaleuca lanceolata germinate rapidly under higher germination temperatures and have generally higher water stress tolerance; while (3) Callitris gracilis germinates poorly in hot or dry conditions restricting germination to cooler and wetter conditions. Based on our results, A. ligulata would be the most widely applicable species for direct seeding work based on generalist germination habits. Callitris gracilis appears to do well if planted in cool, wet conditions where the species prefers to germinate but would be intolerant to warm-weather planting. The ideal planting time for a mixed species planting based on germination requirements would be mid-autumn, as that is when temperature and moisture levels would be optimal for germination. © 2024 The Author(s). Restoration Ecology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Ecological Restoration
Machine learning-based reliable transmission for UAV networks with hybrid multiple access
No full textEmerging applications are placing increasing demands on wireless networks, particularly in terms of ensuring reliable communication for control-related information. However, the complexity of network architectures and the growing number of user devices present significant challenges in achieving reliable multiple access. In this paper, we present a framework that utilizes machine learning (ML) to meet the need for reliable access in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) networks. The K-means algorithm is employed to cluster users according to their communication reliability requirements, grouping together users with similar demands within each cluster. Each cluster adopts a different access strategy: clusters with lower reliability requirements utilize non-orthogonal multiple access to enhance spectrum efficiency, while clusters with higher reliability requirements employ orthogonal multiple access to ensure reliability. Taking into account the impact of UAV altitude and power allocation schemes on reliability, we propose an iterative algorithm to optimize the UAV altitude and power allocation factors, aiming to maximize UAV coverage while meeting the users’ reliability requirements. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed ML-based reliable access scheme, highlighting its potential to enhance the design and deployment of reliable communication in future UAV networks. © 2024 IEEE
Protocol for a field trial of a hearing and vision support intervention for people living in long-term care in Australia
Get PDFIntroduction: Hearing and vision impairments are prevalent among residents in long-term care settings. Hearing and vision impairments frequently go unsupported, affecting residents' quality of life and healthcare costs. This paper describes the protocol for a pr