Baylor University

Background Breast cancer survivors (BCS) may experience cardiotoxicities from chemotherapy and oral endocrine therapy. Although a few studies have documented that palpitations are prevalent and associated with poorer outcomes, there is limited to no information on BCS’ reporting of palpitations to healthcare providers. Objectives To compare BCS who did and did not report their palpitations to a healthcare provider and describe how those who did report palpitations recalled their provider responding. Design This was a cross-sectional, national, electronic, pilot survey of BCS enrolled in the Love Army of Women registry. Methods Participants (n = 52 with palpitations) completed standardized and investigator-designed questionnaires. Data were analyzed using frequency and descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Mann–Whitney tests. Responses to one open-ended question were analyzed using frequency counts and standard content analysis. Results Compared to BCS who reported palpitations to a provider (n = 34), BCS who did not report their palpitations (n = 18) were significantly more anxious (p = 0.002) and more likely to feel palpitations as an irregular heartbeat (70.6% versus 38.9%, p = 0.027). Among the 34 BCS who reported palpitations to a provider, 32 completed the open-ended question. Of these 32 BCS, a majority (n = 27, 84%) indicated their provider recommended cardiac testing and/or referral to a cardiologist. Most (n = 24) reported completing testing. Test results included diagnosis of a new arrhythmia or other cardiac abnormality (n = 11, 46%), receipt of a new prescription (n = 5, 21%), or normal results (n = 5, 21%). Five (16%) of the 32 BCS did not receive recommendations for testing or referral and felt their provider normalized or dismissed their symptoms. Conclusion Palpitations are a salient topic for further research and clinical practice recommendations to address cardiac health in BCS.

Optimism and resilience may differ in their ability to predict various types of student stress, but they have yet to be directly compared within the U.S. higher education landscape. In this study, we directly compared the two traits to see which one would be a stronger predictor of academic stress. First-year college students (N = 355) completed an online study that measured their perceived academic stress, dispositional optimism, and dispositional resilience. Bivariate correlations showed that resilience and optimism were both negatively correlated with all four types of academic stress. Multiple regression showed that resilience was a stronger predictor than optimism for stress related to academic self-perceptions, whereas optimism was a better predictor than resilience for stress related to pressure to perform and time restraints, even when controlling for demographic and personality factors. These findings increase knowledge about the relationships between academic stress, resilience, and optimism and may be informative for future intervention research.

Despite the mounting anticipation for the quantum revolution, the success of quantum machine learning (QML) in the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era hinges on a largely unexplored factor: the generalization error bound, a cornerstone of robust and reliable machine learning models. Current QML research, while exploring novel algorithms and applications extensively, is predominantly situated in the context of noise-free, ideal quantum computers. However, quantum circuit (QC) operations in NISQ-era devices are susceptible to various noise sources and errors. In this article, we conducted a systematic mapping study (SMS) to explore the state-of-the-art generalization error bound for QML in NISQ-era devices and analyze the latest practices in the field. Our study systematically summarizes the existing computational platforms with quantum hardware, datasets, optimization techniques, and the proposed error bounds detailed in the literature. It also highlights the limitations and challenges in QML in the NISQ era and discusses future research directions to advance the field. Using a detailed Boolean operators query in five reliable indexers, we collected 544 papers and filtered them to a small set of 37 relevant articles. This filtration was done following the best practice of SMS with well-defined research questions and inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Mental health and substance use emerged as critical factors associated with health risk behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its importance has only grown in the post-pandemic period, particularly among priority groups like higher education students. To enhance our understanding of how mental health and substance use factors interact with preventive measures like mask-wearing to affect risky sexual behaviors (RSBs), our study examined the associations between depressive symptoms, substance use, and RSBs among college and university students in the United States. We specifically aimed to assess the impact of mask-wearing on the association between depressive symptoms, binge drinking and marijuana use, and RSBs during the pandemic. Data were collected through nonprobability sampling from 835 students at five universities via an online survey conducted between July and August 2020. Using the PROCESS macro, we analyzed the mediating effects of binge drinking and marijuana use on the association between depressive symptoms and RSBs (Model 4), as well as the moderating effect of mask-wearing on the association between depressive symptoms, binge drinking and marijuana use, and RSBs. Our findings revealed that mask-wearing significantly moderated the combined association between depressive symptoms, marijuana use, binge drinking, and RSBs. As we navigate the post-pandemic period, it is crucial for existing programs addressing health risk behaviors to consider the direct and indirect associations between mental health and substance use. Understanding these protective and health risk behaviors is essential for informing targeted prevention and intervention efforts in the post-pandemic landscape.

Hypnotherapy is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment option for a wide range of psychological conditions and the psychological elements of physiologic health concerns. Despite its growing use, the mechanisms underlying hypnotherapy's therapeutic benefits remain unknown. Heart rate variability (HRV), a non-invasive biomarker of autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and other processes relevant to the psychophysiological stress response, has been used to study the physiological effects of hypnosis. HRV is associated with adaptability to stress and overall mental and physical health. We review how HRV changes during hypnosis treatment and propose mechanisms by which hypnotherapy influences the stress response and psychological flexibility and improves wellbeing. Additionally, we highlight the use of HRV biofeedback as an adjunct to hypnotherapy and psychotherapy and illustrate its potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes. To showcase practical applications, we present a case study of hypnotherapy’s impact on HRV in the treatment of hot flashes in post-menopausal women. We conclude by calling for further empirical research, particularly randomized controlled trials, to solidify the integration of HRV metrics in hypnotherapy practice. Understanding the interaction between hypnotherapy and HRV will support more targeted and effective interventions, benefiting both clinicians and patients.

Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) has been widely used for the study of proteins given its preservation of much native-protein structure when transitioning to the gas-phase. Understanding the influence of experimental factors on ESI can provide insight into the correlation between protein structure and the resulting charge states, as well as the degree to which ‘native’ structure is maintained. Experimentally, it is challenging to characterize nanometer-scale electrosprayed droplets; however, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations pose an attractive solution by providing a molecular perspective of protein charging and transfer to the gas-phase during ESI. By resolving approximations used in past MD simulations of ESI, we demonstrate the capability of simulating electrosprayed droplets with experimentally relevant droplet composition and behavior. This is accomplished by modelling proton transfers between all titratable molecules in simulated droplets under atmospheric conditions; thus, enabling simulated droplets containing ammonium acetate that form experimentally observed protonated or deprotonated protein ions upon solvent evaporation. Application of the proposed protocol to several native proteins in positive- and negative-ion mode ESI produces charge-state distributions that are highly correlated to experimental mass spectra. Our simulations suggest that changes in residue basicity during the transition to the gas-phase play a significant role in moderating protein charging during native-ESI and can explain many experimentally observed trends. While applied towards native proteins in this work, novel insights into effects from the transition to gas-phase enable a deeper understanding of the ESI process itself and thus, are informative regardless of analyte.

Schrödinger operators with periodic potential have generally been shown to exhibit ballistic transport. In this work, we investigate whether the propagation velocity, while positive, can be made arbitrarily small by a suitable choice of the periodic potential. We consider the discrete one-dimensional Schrödinger operator $\Delta +\mu V$, where $\Delta$ is the discrete Laplacian, V is a p-periodic non-degenerate potential and $\mu >0$. We establish a Lieb–Robinson-type bound with a group velocity that scales like $\mathcal {O}(1/\mu )$ as $\mu \rightarrow \infty$. This shows the existence of a linear light cone with a maximum velocity of quantum propagation that is decaying at a rate proportional to $1/\mu$. Furthermore, we prove that the asymptotic velocity, or the average velocity of the time-evolved state, exhibits a decay proportional to $\mathcal {O}(1/\mu ^{p-1})$ as $\mu \rightarrow \infty$.

Organized sports are among one of the most widespread activities in youth. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between youth perceptions of their participation in organized sports and mental health from the perspective of youth and their parents. Participants were 208 children ages 5 to 12 years. Children who endorsed elevated depressive symptoms scored significantly higher on the YES-S Negative Experiences Scale (mean = 19.00) compared to children who did not endorse elevated depressive symptoms (mean = 14.94; P < 0.01; d = 0.63). After controlling for the number of mental health diagnoses, there was a significant positive association between the YES-S Negative Experiences Scale and child self-reported depressive symptoms (standardized beta coefficient = 0.40; P < 0.001). Our findings underscore the importance of creating positive environments for organized youth sports and highlight the value of assessing both child and parent perspectives of child depressive symptoms in the context of organized sports participation.

This study introduces StressFit, a novel hybrid wearable sensor system designed to simultaneously monitor electromyogram (EMG) signals and sweat cortisol levels. Our approach involves the development of a noninvasive skin patch capable of monitoring skin temperature, sweat pH, cortisol levels, and corresponding EMG signals using a combination of physical and electrochemical sensors integrated with EMG electrodes. StressFit was optimized by enhancing sensor output and mechanical resilience for practical application on curved body surfaces, ensuring accurate acquisition of cortisol, pH, body temperature, and EMG data without sensor interference. In addition, we integrated an onboard data processing unit with Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities for real-time acquisition, processing, and wireless transmission of sensor measurements. Sweat cortisol and EMG signals were measured during cycling exercises to evaluate the sensor suite’s performance. Our results demonstrate an increase in sweat cortisol levels and decrease in the EMG signal’s power spectral density following exercise. These findings suggest that combining sweat cortisol levels with EMG signals in real-time could serve as valuable indicators for stress assessment and early detection of abnormal physiological changes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-024-81042-5.

Introduction: This pilot study was designed to test the hypothesis that quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) measurements reflect physiological adaptations for brain energy reallocation. The study focused on a team of three well-matched male rowers participating in a 30-day, 2,650-mile continuous transatlantic rowing competition, examining the effects of extreme, prolonged stress on brain function and metabolic adaptations. Methods: Measurements at the start and finish lines included body weight, height, waist circumference, body fat, and a panel of hormones and biochemical markers. Post-race qEEG parameters were recorded under eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. qEEG data were compared to a reference population (ages 6-90 years) and to an age-matched 27-year-old male medical student serving as a control subject. qEEG analysis evaluated voltage amplitudes, wave distribution patterns, theta-to-beta ratios (TBR), and coherence levels. Hormonal changes and oxidative stress markers were also assessed before and after race. Results: Two rowers exhibited post-race dominance of high-frequency beta activity, while one displayed co-dominance of delta and beta waves. Compared to the control subject (TBR = 1.25), the rowers’ low TBRs (< 0.2) indicated high vigilance and low relaxation during EC conditions. Cortisol levels increased in all rowers and were associated with beta coherence >1 SD above the reference mean. Testosterone decreased in two rowers but increased in one; the smallest cortisol increase corresponded with the largest testosterone decrement. Decreases in oxidative stress markers correlated with a shift from right- to left-sided alpha asymmetry, consistent with redistribution of alpha wave energy to the nondominant hemisphere. This pattern was also observed in the control subject. Increased testosterone in one rower was linked to a decrease in the percentage of sites exhibiting normal theta frequencies, indicating a potential role for testosterone in brain energy reallocation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that qEEG measurements reflect physiological adaptations in response to extreme stress, supporting the hypothesis that metabolic energy is reallocated to optimize vigilance and performance. The observed correlations between hormonal changes, oxidative stress markers, and qEEG parameters provide preliminary evidence of mechanisms for brain energy reallocation. These insights highlight the potential for qEEG to identify biomarkers of stress adaptation and lay the groundwork for larger studies to further elucidate these mechanisms.

This article examines pardon to develop a more holistic understanding of prerogative. Executive prerogative, the power to do what is necessary for the public good without the explicit sanction of the law and sometimes against it, is widely seen as an extraordinary power most relevant in times of crisis. Pardon, however, has been historically understood as an important example of prerogative. Even in times of political stability, pardon and therefore prerogative are nearly always needed to maintain rule of law because pardon preserves the reputation of the law. American political practice and political theory both indicate that pardon is less dangerous to rule of law than other forms of prerogative. My analysis of the pardon prerogative reveals that exercises of prerogative threaten to entirely displace rule of law only insofar as they can achieve something without rule of law that rule of law normally achieves.

This research explores structural relations among the component skills of reading comprehension in Kiswahili. Furthermore, the study examines the relationship between socio‐economic status, home and school language use, and home literacy environment with Kiswahili reading outcomes. The study utilized secondary data from the baseline Tusome Literacy activity implemented in Kenya at scale from 2015 to 2022 by USAID, Research Triangle Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Kenya and other partners. A three‐stage stratified sampling procedure was used to randomly select the schools and students from a sample frame compiled from multiple education databases of public formal and non‐formal schools in Kenya. The final sample comprised 4886 grade 1 and 2 learners who completed a battery of early grade literacy assessment in Kiswahili and a survey of the socio‐economic status (SES), home literacy environment (HLE), and school and home language use. We conducted a regression analysis to examine structural relations among the component skills of reading comprehension and the relationships between the SES, HLE, and early literacy skills. The findings indicate that the component skills are interconnected with the sub‐lexical skills, serving as the building block for the higher‐order skills. Letter sound knowledge, text reading fluency, and listening comprehension predict reading comprehension. Reading stories at home, reading aloud, and silent reading practice at school significantly influences reading outcomes. The mismatch between home and school language and low SES negatively impacts reading outcomes. These findings indicate that systematic and explicit instruction is critical in acquiring literacy skills, particularly for learners from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Exposure to mixtures of toxic metals is known to cause adverse health effects through epigenetic alterations. Here we aimed to examine the unexplored area of aberrant DNA methylation in the H19/IGF2 domain following combined toxic metal exposure. An in vitro epigenotoxicity assay using the human normal liver epithelial cell line THLE-3 was conducted. When THLE-3 cells were exposed to specific concentrations of either organic arsenic or MeHgCl, an increase in the H19 lncRNA levels and a marked reduction in the IGF2 mRNA levels were observed. In contrast, combined exposures coupled with CdCl2 resulted in the transcriptional repression of H19 and transcriptional activation of IGF2. It should be noted that the correlation between the dysregulated expression of H19/IGF2 and the hypermethylated CpG sites within the H19 differentially methylated region (DMR) was statistically significant. Furthermore, we performed transcriptomic analysis of the hepatocytes exposed to toxic metal combinations indicating enrichment of pro-inflammatory and anti-proliferative pathways compared to the unexposed cells. Our results suggest that hazardous metal mixtures may trigger epigenetic aberrations at the H19/IGF2 locus. We propose that altered CpG methylation in the H19 DMR could be a candidate biomarker for hepatic epigenotoxicity, in part, due to environmental exposure.