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Foreword -- References -- Preface -- Contents -- Contributors -- Chapter-1 -- Mamoru Ito's Vision for the Future of Humanized Mouse Models -- 1.1 History of the Development of Immunodeficient Mice in Japan -- 1.2 Currently Available Humanized Mouse Models Generated Using NOG, NSG, and BRG Mice and Their Limitations -- 1.3 Novel Humanized Mouse Models Generated Using Improved Immunodeficient Mice -- 1.4 Generation of Humanized Mice in the Future -- 1.4.1 Improvements in Immunodeficient Mouse Models -- 1.4.2 Artificial Organ Formation -- 1.4.3 A Plentiful and Stable Supply of Stem Cells is Needed to Generate Humanized Mice -- 1.4.4 Mice with Human Immune Systems -- References -- Part I -- Mouse Genetic Background and Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells Biology -- Chapter-2 -- Humanized Mice as Models for Human Disease -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 The Rationale Design of Animal Models -- 2.3 A Case in Point: The SCID-hu Thy/Liv Model -- 2.4 The Next Wave of Humanized Mice -- 2.5 Barriers to Cross -- References -- Chapter-3 -- Role of Mouse Innate Immunity in Immunodeficient Mice for Xenotransplantation -- 3.1 Natural Killer (NK) Cells -- 3.2 Macrophages -- 3.3 Complement Systems -- 3.4 Dendritic Cells: CD11c+B220+CD122+ Cells -- References -- Chapter-4 -- Mouse Genetic Background and Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells Biology -- Tips for Humanization -- 4.1 Genetic Backgrounds and Hematopoietic Cytokines for Better Function of Human HSC and Immune System -- 4.2 Human HSC Biology in Mouse Environment -- 4.3 Mouse Hematopoietic Stem Cell or Niche Defect in SCID BM -- 4.4 Role of Mouse Innate Immunity in the Engraftment of Human Cells: NOG versus NSG -- 4.5 Lymphoid Tissue Development: NOD/SCID versus NOG versus NSG Mice -- 4.6 Parameters in Donor and Recipient that Influence Humanization Efficiency.

Background: Perceived discrimination has been linked to worse mental health. However, little is known about this association in the countries of the former Soviet Union (fSU). Aim: To address this deficit, this study examined the link between perceived discrimination and psychological distress in nine fSU countries. Methods: Data were analyzed from 18,000 adults aged ⩾18 years obtained during the Health in Times of Transition (HITT) survey undertaken in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine in 2010 and 2011. A single-item measure was used to assess discrimination. Psychological distress was measured with a 12-item scale. Logistic regression analysis and meta-analysis were used to examine associations. Results: After adjusting for all potential confounders, when using none/little discrimination as the reference category, moderate and strong discrimination were associated with significantly increased odds for psychological distress in the total population and in men and women separately with odds ratios ranging from 1.93 to 2.64. Meta-analysis based on country-wise estimates showed that the level of between-country heterogeneity was negligible. Conclusion: Perceived discrimination is associated with psychological distress in countries throughout the fSU. Quantitative and qualitative research is now warranted to determine its specific forms and impact on population health in individual fSU countries.

Background: Religiousness and psychotic experiences have been related, though findings have been mixed, with little attention paid to specific religious affiliations and religious importance. Methods: We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (2020–2021), which was an online survey administered at 140 college campuses across the United States. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between religiousness (affiliation and importance) and 12-month psychotic experiences, adjusting for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Results: Only Christian religious affiliation was associated with lower odds of psychotic experiences (aOR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.84), while Non-Christian religious affiliation (aOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.50) and Multiple religious affiliation s were associated with greater odds (aOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.42). Overall, increased religious importance was associated with lower odds of psychotic experiences (aOR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.94–0.99). After stratifying by affiliation, religious importance was only associated with lower odds of psychotic experiences among people who identified as Other Christian, Mormon, and Other World Religion. Religious importance was associated with greater odds of psychotic experiences among Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Nothing in Particular, and Multiple Religions. Conclusion: Religious affiliation and importance had varying associations with psychotic experiences, depending on type of religious affiliation. More research is needed to explore the modifying effects of religiousness. Responsiveness to religious beliefs and practices may be critical when assessing risk for psychosis.

Abstract. In September 2017, hurricanes Irma and Maria wreaked havoc across the Caribbean region. While obliterating the infrastructure in the Caribbean nations found along their path, both hurricanes gradually destroyed the existing seismic networks. We quantified the impact of the hurricanes on the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) initial tsunami warning capability for the Caribbean region relying on the computation of theoretical earthquake detection and response times after accounting for hurricane-related station outages. The results show that the hurricanes rendered 38 % of the 146 stations available in the Caribbean inoperative. Within the eastern Caribbean region monitored by PTWC the hurricanes exacerbated outages to an astonishing 82 % of the available 76 seismic stations. Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Lesser Antilles suffered the brunt of both hurricanes, and their seismic networks nearly disappeared. The double punch delivered by two successive category 5 hurricanes added up to 02:43 and 04:33 min to the earthquake detection and response times, effectively knocking out PTWC's local tsunami warning capabilities in the region. Emergency adjustments, including the temporary reduction of the number of stations required for earthquake detection and ML magnitude release, enabled a faster response to earthquakes in the region than otherwise possible in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria.

AbstractThe authors describe a strategic evaluation system for research and development (R&D) in Japan's public research institutes, using examples implemented in the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Important issues include promoting coherent and concurrent research on the basis of a strategy to bring about outcomes, and performing the evaluation from the perspective of outcomes in order to develop a clear scenario that might be related to future innovations. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown that formal social participation may reduce the risk of developing chronic conditions. Yet, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the potential mediating roles of quality of life and depressive symptoms using longitudinal data. Method: We analyzed nationally representative data from three consecutive waves (2011, 2013, 2015) of the SHARE survey, including 28,982 adults from 12 European countries aged 50 years and above at baseline. Measures were self-reported and included formal social participation (i.e. active participation within volunteer organizations, educational institutions, clubs, religious organizations, or political/civic groups), quality of life (CASP-12), depressive symptoms (EURO-D), and chronic conditions. Structural equation modeling was used to construct a focused longitudinal path model. Results: Formal social participation at baseline was inversely associated with the number of chronic conditions at 4-year follow-up. We identified two significant longitudinal mediation patterns: 1) formal social participation predicted higher levels of quality of life, which in turn, predicted lower levels of chronic conditions; and 2) formal social participation predicted lower levels of depressive symptoms, which, in turn, also predicted lower levels of chronic conditions. Conclusions: Formal social participation functions as a protective factor against the onset or development of chronic conditions. This association is partially explained by enhanced quality of life and diminished depressive symptoms.

Studies have identified formal volunteer activity as having mental health benefits. This study set out to investigate the role of formal volunteering in the context of psychological flourishing in Scandinavia. Using the European Social Survey conducted in 2006 and 2012, nationally representative cross-sectional data from 7,078 to 7,318 participants aged 15 years and older in Scandinavia were analyzed to assess associations between volunteering and flourishing. The adjusted models for 2006/2012 showed that compared with nonvolunteering, volunteering once per week was associated with twice the likelihood of flourishing—2006: odds ratios (OR) = 2.04 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] = [1.15, 3.62]); 2012: OR = 2.05 (95 percent CI = [1.30, 3.24]). This appeared to be the case across pre- and postretirement age. Volunteering is an activity that not only benefits society but is also associated with optimal mental health in the general population.

Globally, the prevalence of adolescent sexual intercourse and violence is high. However, to date, no study has investigated the association between violence and sexual behavior in a large representative sample of adolescents, while multicountry studies are also lacking. The objective was thus to examine the relationship between being physically attacked and physical fighting with sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners, and non-condom use among adolescents aged 12 to 15 years from 43 low- and middle-income countries. Cross-sectional data from 127,513 adolescents participating in the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2003–2016 were analyzed. Data on being physically attacked and physical fighting were assessed through self-report. Data on sexual behavior were collected as follows: (a) ever having had intercourse; among those who reported having had intercourse, (b) multiple (≥2) lifetime sexual partners, and (c) condom use in last sexual intercourse. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analysis with violence as the exposure and sexual behavior as the outcome, with odds ratios being estimated. Physical attack was dose-dependently and significantly associated with all three sexual behavior outcomes with it being associated with 1.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.16, 1.74]), 2.13 (95% CI = [1.39, 3.27]), and 1.48 (95% CI = [1.10, 2.00]) times higher odds for sexual intercourse, condom non-use, and multiple sex partners, respectively, when the highest category was compared with the lowest (i.e., ≥4 times vs. 0 times). As for physical fights, compared with not being in a fight in the past 12 months, being in a fight ≥4 times was associated with 2.34 (95% CI = [2.03, 2.70]) and 1.98 (95% CI = [1.56, 2.52]) times higher odds for sexual intercourse and multiple sex partners, respectively. In conclusion, in a large global sample of adolescents, physical attack and physical fight were associated with greater risk of engaging in sexual behavior. Multidimensional government programs and policies addressing violence in young adolescents may lead to reduction in early sexual debut and other risky sexual behavior.

Abstract
Neuropathic pain often results from injuries and diseases that affect the somatosensory system. Disruption of the circadian clock has been implicated in the exacerbation of the neuropathic pain state. However, in this study, we report that mice deficient in a core clock component Period2 (Per2m/m mice) fail to develop tactile pain hypersensitivity even following peripheral nerve injury. Similar to male wild-type mice, partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSL)-Per2m/m male mice showed activation of glial cells in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and increased expression of pain-related genes. Interestingly, α1D-adrenergic receptor (α1D-AR) expression was up-regulated in the spinal cord of Per2m/m mice, leading to increased production of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), an endocannabinoid receptor ligand. This increase in 2-AG suppressed the PSL-induced tactile pain hypersensitivity. Furthermore, intraspinal dorsal horn injection of adeno-associated viral vectors expressing α1D-AR also attenuated pain hypersensitivity in PSL-wild-type male mice by increasing 2-AG production. Our findings reveal an uncovered role of the circadian clock in neuropathic pain disorders and suggest a link between α1D-AR signaling and the endocannabinoid system.

Background: Escalating healthcare expenditures highlight the need to identify modifiable predictors of the use and costs of healthcare and sickness benefit transfers. We conducted a prospective analysis on Danish data to determine the costs associated with flourishing as compared to the below threshold level of flourishing. Methods: We used data from a 2016 Danish survey of 3508 adults, which was linked to Danish register data. Flourishing was assessed with a validated psychological well-being scale. A two-part regression model was used to predict 2017 costs while adjusting for 2016 costs, demographic variables, and health status, including psychiatric morbidity and health behaviours. Costs are expressed in USD PPP. Results: Applying criteria from prior literature, the prevalence of flourishing in Denmark (measured in 2016) was 34.7%. Flourishing was associated with significantly lower healthcare costs ($-687.7, 95% CI = $-1295.0, $-80.4) and sickness benefit transfers ($-297.8, 95% CI = $-551.5, $-44.0) per person in 2017, as compared to the below threshold level of flourishing. Extrapolated to the Danish population (4.1 M people aged 16+ years), flourishing was associated with lower healthcare costs and sickness benefit transfers amounting to $-1.2bn (95% CI = $-2.3 bn, $-149.0 M). Conclusions: Flourishing is associated with considerably lower health-related government expenditure. Substantial reductions could potentially be achieved by increasing the number of people who are flourishing in the population.

Background: Escalating healthcare expenditures highlight the need to identify modifiable predictors of the use and costs of healthcare and sickness benefit transfers. We conducted a prospective analysis on Danish data to determine the costs associated with flourishing as compared to the below threshold level of flourishing. Methods: We used data from a 2016 Danish survey of 3508 adults, which was linked to Danish register data. Flourishing was assessed with a validated psychological well-being scale. A two-part regression model was used to predict 2017 costs while adjusting for 2016 costs, demographic variables, and health status, including psychiatric morbidity and health behaviours. Costs are expressed in USD PPP. Results: Applying criteria from prior literature, the prevalence of flourishing in Denmark (measured in 2016) was 34.7%. Flourishing was associated with significantly lower healthcare costs ($-687.7, 95% CI = $-1295.0, $-80.4) and sickness benefit transfers ($-297.8, 95% CI = $-551.5, $-44.0) per person in 2017, as compared to the below threshold level of flourishing. Extrapolated to the Danish population (4.1 M people aged 16+ years), flourishing was associated with lower healthcare costs and sickness benefit transfers amounting to $-1.2bn (95% CI = $-2.3 bn, $-149.0 M). Conclusions: Flourishing is associated with considerably lower health-related government expenditure. Substantial reductions could potentially be achieved by increasing the number of people who are flourishing in the population.

Purpose: We investigated the association between food insecurity and fall-related injury among older adults from six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the extent to which this association is mediated by mental health. Methods: Cross-sectional, community-based, nationally representative data from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed. Past 12-month food insecurity was assessed with two questions on frequency of eating less and hunger due to lack of food. Fall-related injury referred to those that occurred in the past 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and mediation analysis were conducted to assess associations. Results: Data on 14,585 adults aged ≥65 years [mean (SD) age 72.5 (11.5) years; 54.9% females] were analyzed. After adjustment for potential confounders, severe food insecurity (versus no food insecurity) was associated with 1.95 (95%CI = 1.11–3.41) times higher odds for fall-related injury. Moderate food insecurity was not significantly associated with fall-related injury (OR = 1.34; 95%CI = 0.81–2.25). The mediation analysis showed that 37.3%, 21.8%, 17.7%, and 14.0% of the association between severe food insecurity and fall-related injury was explained by anxiety, sleep problems, depression, and cognition, respectively. Conclusion: Severe food insecurity was associated with higher odds for injurious falls among older adults in LMICs, and a large proportion of this association may be explained by mental health complications. Interventions to improve mental health among those who are food insecure and a strong focus on societal and government efforts to reduce food insecurity may contribute to a decrease in injurious falls.