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Background: E-cigarettes are the most-used tobacco product among US adolescents and are associated with nicotine addiction. This qualitative investigation aimed to understand adolescents' experiences and perceptions with nicotine addiction, and related influences of addiction, to inform product regulation, health communication, and cessation resource development. Methods: Between May 2020 and December 2021, in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 47 California (United States) adolescents ages 13–17 who reported recent tobacco use (primarily e-cigarette use). The topic of addiction both arose organically and followed specific interviewer questions. Researchers used thematic analysis techniques to identify unifying themes related to addiction. Results: Adolescents described e-cigarette addiction in ways that reflected a loss of control over their routines and activities and as physical symptoms, including reward and withdrawal. While some viewed addiction risk as a reason not to vape, others perceived it possible to use e-cigarettes and avoid or manage addiction. Specific characteristics of e-cigarette devices, particularly disposable nicotine-salt products, including flavors, "cool" designs, concealable size and odor, low price, and ease-of-use, were seen as enhancing addiction risk. Quit attempts were difficult and usually unsupported by adults or formal cessation aids. Conclusions: For many adolescents, addiction is a major component of their experience with e-cigarettes, often in ways that disrupt their routines and reduce their quality of life. Tobacco control or regulation could target e-cigarette product characteristics to decrease potential for addiction among adolescents. Needed are youth-targeted public communication about nicotine addiction and adolescent-tailored, evidence-based cessation support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine adolescents' perspectives regarding external and internal influences of the e-cigarette initiation process. Design: Semi-structured, in-depth qualitative interviews. Setting: California, remote videoconference. Participants: Adolescents ages 13-17 who currently or previously used e-cigarettes (n = 47). Method: Interviews occurred from May 2020-February 2021. Two researchers coded transcripts based on a codebook developed inductively. Coded excerpts were reviewed to identify encompassing themes related to adolescent e-cigarette initiation. Results: Adolescents were often near e-cigarette use by peers, family members, and others, creating ample opportunities to try e-cigarettes in response to curiosity, peer pressure, and desires to cope with stress or belong to a group. Adverse first experiences were common (eg, throat irritation, nausea), but many adolescents vaped again or continued to use regularly in attempts to cement friendships or alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety. Specific characteristics of e-cigarette devices, including low-cost, concealability, and variety in designs and flavors facilitated initiation, continued use, and nicotine dependence. Conclusions: Adolescents progress to e-cigarette use via a multistage process, starting where social expectations and opportunity converge. While individual circumstances vary, many continue to vape as a perceived coping tool for emotional issues, to gain social belonging, or influenced by e-cigarette characteristics that contribute to ongoing use and dependence. Efforts to deter use should address the devices themselves and the social forces driving youth interest in them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Galaxy cluster mergers are believed to generate large-scale shock waves that are ideal sites for cosmic ray production. In these so-called radio relic shocks, synchrotron radiation is produced mainly as a result of electron acceleration in the presence of intracluster magnetic fields. Aims. We aim to compute radio emission light curves for a sample of galaxy group and cluster mergers simulated in a cosmological context in order to study the dependence of radio luminosity on cluster mass, redshift, and impact parameter. Methods. We used model galaxy clusters from THE THREE HUNDRED project, a sample of 324 simulated high-density regions of radius 15 h−1 Mpc extracted from a cosmological volume, to identify cluster mergers characterised by the two main merging structures, construct their light curves, and follow their evolution throughout the complete simulated cosmic history. Results. We found that the median non-thermal radio relic luminosity light curve produced in galaxy cluster mergers can be described by a skewed Gaussian function abruptly rising after core-passage of the secondary cluster that peaks after ~0.1–0.8 Gyr as a function of M200,1, the mass of the primary, displaying a mass-dependent luminosity output increase of ≲10 to about ≳10–50 times relative to the radio emission measured at core-passage for galaxy groups and clusters, respectively. In general, most merger orbits are fairly radial with a median opening angle of ~20º before the collision. We also found that, independent of the cluster mass, less radial mergers tend to last longer, although the trend is weak. Finally, in agreement with previous works, we found that the peak radio luminosity shows a significant correlation with mass, P1.4 ∝ M200,12.05 demonstrating that this relation holds all the way up from galaxy group scales to the most massive galaxy clusters. Conclusions. We conclude that cluster mass is the primary driver for radio 'gischt' median luminosity, although there are significant variations for a given cluster mass related to the specifics of each merging process. In general, binary mergers are responsible for many of the well-known observed radio relic structures but complex situations involving three or more substructures are also common. Our simulations suggest that the shock-driven, non-thermal radio emission observed on cluster outskirts are the result of massive galaxy cluster mergers at ɀ ≲ 1, peaking at ɀ ~ 0–0.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrosis represents the uncontrolled replacement of parenchymal tissue with extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by myofibroblasts. While genetic fate-tracing and single-cell RNA-Seq technologies have helped elucidate fibroblast heterogeneity and ontogeny beyond fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation, newly identified fibroblast populations remain ill defined, with respect to both the molecular cues driving their differentiation and their subsequent role in fibrosis. Using an unbiased approach, we identified the metalloprotease ADAMTS12 as a fibroblast-specific gene that is strongly upregulated during active fibrogenesis in humans and mice. Functional in vivo KO studies in mice confirmed that Adamts12 was critical during fibrogenesis in both heart and kidney. Mechanistically, using a combination of spatial transcriptomics and expression of catalytically active or inactive ADAMTS12, we demonstrated that the active protease of ADAMTS12 shaped ECM composition and cleaved hemicentin 1 (HMCN1) to enable the activation and migration of a distinct injury-responsive fibroblast subset defined by aberrant high JAK/STAT signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Punishment institutions are a major guarantor of prosocial behavior. At the same time, their asymmetrical power structure may lead to antisocial behavior itself. We investigate power abuse, understood as the use of power for personal gain, of a single punisher in a public-goods game subject to variations in punishment power and contribution transparency. Using a laboratory experiment we find a high amount of abuse across all conditions. More power led to more abuse over time, while transparency could only curb abuse in the high power conditions. These findings highlight the dangers of power centralization but suggest a more complex relation of power and transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Needle visualization is essential to avoid vascular puncture and nerve injury in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. Several factors that statistically influence needle visibility have been described but the dimensions of their individual impact remain unclear. This study aimed to quantify the impact of various independent factors on ultrasound needle visibility. Methods: A total of 1500 ultrasound videos of in-plane needle insertions were obtained in embalmed cadavers with ten different commercially available echogenic and non-echogenic needles at different insertion angles and bevel orientations in a full factorial study design. The visibility of needle tip and shaft were rated as "good" or "poor" visibility. Nominal logistic regression analyses were calculated for the visibility of the needle tip and shaft. Results: SonoPlex Stim Sprotte, SonoTAP Facet (needle tip and shaft) and Spinostar PencilPoint (needle tip)), insertion angle and bevel orientation were associated with good ultrasound visibility, reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). The range of the effect on the log-odds scale for needle tip visibility was largest for the insertion angle with 6.33, followed by the tissue condition (3.76), bevel orientation (1.45) and the needle types (1.25). Regarding the needle shaft visibility, the largest effect range was observed with the insertion angle (7.36), followed by the tissue conditions with 3.96, needle type (1.86) and bevel orientation (0.95). Conclusion: In-plane needle visibility in ultrasound images depends mainly on the insertion angle, as expected. This is closely followed by the tissue condition, which is a factor related to the patient, thus cannot be altered to improve needle visibility. In the dimensions of the log-odds scale, the choice of a specific needle is far less important towards achieving a good visualization, whereas optimizing the bevel orientation can have a larger impact than the needle choice. Concluding from the relative dimensions of factors that determine needle visibility in this model, the importance of needles with echogenic features may be overrated. Key message: What is already known on this topic – A plethora of factors that determine needle visibility in ultrasound images have been described statistically, including echogenicity of commercially available needles. What this study adds – This study gives a precise quantification of how these factors impact the needle visibility individually and describes their limits. How this study might affect research, practice or policy – The results of this study can help physicians performing regional anesthesia to make better choices to improve their needle visibility for safer needle guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses experimental validations of multilayer microslit panels (MSPs) designed via Bayesian inference to obtain both high sound absorption and wide bandwidth simultaneously. Microslit perforation in thin panels is similar to microperforated panels [Xiang, Fackler, Hou, and Schmitt (2022). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 151(5), 3094–3103]. MSP absorbers in single-layer configurations are functioning in a limited frequency range. By stacking the MSPs in multiple layered structures, absorbing performance may be widened in frequency ranges while retaining high absorption coefficients. Besides design challenges of multiple MSPs in layered structures to fulfill a practical requirement and minimize fabrication complexity, this paper further discusses challenges in experimental validations when experimental results undesirably deviate from the initial Bayesian design. Causation analysis is applied to the validation efforts where a causal model-based inference effectively provides causal reasoning of fabrication inaccuracies. Along with the causal inference, a causal reasoning conducted in this work can guide corrections due to fabrication inaccuracies during the iterative validation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on strategic framing and sustainability communication research, this article finds that trust in firms' sustainability commitment varies with differing evaluative mental models across stakeholders, such as investors, customers and the general public. Stakeholders' perceived trust depends on their level of expertise and firms' ways of framing their sustainability narratives. Using publicly available data of firms' sustainability communications and experimental survey data of 300 participants, this study shows that firms benefit from deploying sustainability narrative framing strategies congruent with audiences' mental models. Experts, such as sustainability or industry experts, appreciate sustainability narratives framed in concrete 'how' terms, while non-experts, i.e., laypeople, are more receptive to abstract 'why' terms. The study offers insights into and a framework based on the fieldwork on how managers may use framing tactics to improve the odds of achieving the desired perception of their sustainability narratives towards different stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, we have been witnessing a growing interest in the subject of communication at sea. One of the promising solutions to enable widespread access to data transmission capabilities in coastal waters is the possibility of employing an on-shore wireless access infrastructure. However, such an infrastructure is a heterogeneous one, managed by many independent operators and utilizing a number of different communication technologies. If a moving sea vessel is to maintain a reliable communication within such a system, it needs to employ a set of network mechanisms dedicated for this purpose. In this paper, we provide a short overview of such requirements and overall characteristics of maritime communication, but our main focus is on the link selection procedure—an element of critical importance for the process of changing the device/system which the mobile vessel uses to retain communication with on-shore networks. The paper presents the concept of employing deep neural networks for the purpose of link selection. The proposed methods have been verified using propagation models dedicated to realistically represent the environment of maritime communications and compared to a number of currently popular solutions. The results of evaluation indicate a significant gain in both accuracy of predictions and reduction of the amount of test traffic which needs to be generated for measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the consequences of permitting Influencers to disguise paid advertising as genuine product recommendations on Instagram. Consumers are vulnerable to Influencer marketing and New Zealand's consumer protection law must respond. Adopting rational consumer theory, this article outlines the underlying harm of deceptive Influencer marketing, and the impact this has on consumer choice and market order. In New Zealand, the Advertising Standards Authority is the only agency regulating this industry. However, it is limited in enforcement power and resources. Despite ongoing efforts, it lacks the ability to mandate compliance with disclosure requirements, which is evident in the repeat complaints regarding Simone Anderson. Looking at comparable jurisdictions in the Influencer marketing space, New Zealand's consumer protection law falls short. The United States is the most proactive jurisdiction and has secured settlements six times with brands utilising deceptive marketing techniques. The most recent of these resulted in a $15.2 million settlement sum. For the New Zealand Fair Trading Act 1986 (FTA) to remain fit-for-purpose, it must adapt and respond to new marketing techniques as they arise. Influencer marketing must be captured by the FTA and brought within the jurisdiction of the Commerce Commission. If widened, s 13(e) and 13(f) of the FTA would be effective tools to regulate non-disclosure of paid relationships between Influencers and the brands they promote. The Commerce Commission must intervene in this space and bring proceedings in order to clarify the law and enforce compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microvascular inflammation (MVI) in kidney transplant biopsies is mainly associated with antibody-mediated rejection (AMR), sparking debate within the Banff Classification of Renal Allograft Pathology regarding its exclusivity. This study reviewed the literature on MVI in T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) and analyzed MVI in our transplant population. We searched English publications in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar until June 2024, focusing on glomerulitis (g), peritubular capillaritis (ptc), or MVI in kidney transplant biopsies classified as TCMR. Additionally, we examined g, ptc, and MVI in 69 patients with AMR, TCMR, and no rejection. Our search yielded 541 citations, with 10 studies included, covering 810 TCMR and 156 AMR biopsies. The studies showed g, ptc, and MVI were present in TCMR but were less prevalent and severe than in AMR. In our cohort, AMR had significantly higher g, ptc, and MVI scores compared to aTCMR and ATN, however, aTCMR also displayed MVI. These findings confirm that MVI occurs in aTCMR and should not be exclusively linked to AMR. These findings highlight the need to further explore MVI's significance in TCMR and investigate the inflammatory composition. This could refine the Banff Classification, improving Classification accuracy of kidney transplant pathology assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The AYA Psycho-Oncology Screening Tool was developed to assess adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients' distress during cancer treatment. The on-treatment distress screening tool has been validated with AYAs and includes a 10-point distress thermometer (DT) and a 53-item problem checklist (PCL). However, previous studies have not solely examined AYA cancer distress within a children's hospital. Therefore, our project aimed to explore AYA distress in a pediatric cancer setting. Methods: AYA-aged participants (aged ≥15) were given the distress screener initially within 1 month of diagnosis and every 2, 4, or 6 months, depending on their previous distress score. Chi-square, independent t-tests, and binary logistic regressions were conducted for data analysis. Results: Between January 2021 and July 2022, we completed 123 screenings in 68 AYAs (age 15–30) on treatment. Average DT score was 2.96 with 30% of participants endorsing distress levels of 5 and above. There were statistically significant differences by sex as females endorsed higher levels of distress compared with males. Adolescents (<18) endorsed statistically significant higher frequency of emotional PCL items in comparison with young adults (≥18). There were no differences by race or diagnosis. Conclusions: Our team gained awareness of specific areas of concerns for AYAs, allowing for more targeted interventions for distressed participants. Certain demographic variables may put participants at risk for increased distress. As a result of the project, a protocol has been developed to follow up with participants if they report a certain distress score (5 or above) and/or endorse critical items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferroptosis is a regulated cell death modality triggered by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis plays a causal role in the pathophysiology of various diseases, making it a promising therapeutic target. Unlike all other cell death modalities dependent on distinct signaling cues, ferroptosis occurs when cellular antioxidative defense mechanisms fail to suppress the oxidative destruction of cellular membranes, eventually leading to cell membrane rupture. Physiologically, only two such surveillance systems are known to efficiently prevent the lipid peroxidation chain reaction by reducing (phospho)lipid hydroperoxides to their corresponding alcohols or by reducing radicals in phospholipid bilayers, thus maintaining the integrity of lipid membranes. Mechanistically, these two systems are linked to the reducing capacity of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) by consuming glutathione (GSH) on one hand and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1, formerly AIFM2) on the other. Notably, the importance of ferroptosis suppression in physiological contexts has been linked to a particular vulnerability of renal tissue. In fact, early work has shown that mice genetically lacking Gpx4 rapidly succumb to acute renal failure with pathohistological features of acute tubular necrosis. Promising research attempting to implicate ferroptosis in various renal disease entities, particularly those with proximal tubular involvement, has generated a wealth of knowledge with widespread potential for clinical translation. Here, we provide a brief overview of the involvement of ferroptosis in nephrology. Our goal is to introduce this expanding field for clinically versed nephrologists in the hope of spurring future efforts to prevent ferroptosis in the pathophysiological processes of the kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest and incentives are increasing around strategies whereby the health care sector can better identify and address patients' social and economic needs in the context of primary care delivery. This interest is likely to accelerate during the economic recession following the OVID-19 pandemic. Yet effective and sustainable strategies for integrating social care practices (eg, patient-facing social risk screening and activities to address identified needs) have not been clearly established. Lessons learned from more than 2 decades of research on behavioral health integration could be applied to efforts to integrate social care into primary care. In this article, we synthesize learnings from primary care and behavioral health care integration, and translate them into organizing principles with the goal of advancing social care integration practices to improve the health of both patients and communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Care coordination is a key strategy used to improve health outcomes and efficiency, yet there are limited examples in dentistry. A large dental accountable care organization piloted care coordination by retraining existing administrative staff to coordinate the care of high-risk patients. Following the pilot's success, a formal "dental care advocate" (DCA) role was integrated system-wide. The goal of this new role is to improve care, patient engagement, and health outcomes while integrating staff into the clinical care team. We aim to describe the process of DCA role implementation and assess staff and clinician perceptions about the role pre- and post-implementation.Methods: Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, semi-structured interviews with clinical and operational administrative staff and observation at the company-wide training session were combined with pre- and post-implementation electronic surveys. Descriptive statistics and mean scores were tested for significance between each survey sample (t-tests), and qualitative data were thematically analyzed.Results: With preliminary evidence from the pilot and strong executive support, a dedicated leadership team executed a stepwise rollout of the DCA role over 6 months. Success was facilitated by an organizational culture of frequent interventions deployed rapidly through a centralized system, along with supportive buy-in from managerial teams and high staff acceptance and enthusiasm for the DCA role before implementation. Following implementation, significant changes in attitudes and beliefs about the role were measured, though managers held stronger positive impressions than DCAs. DCAs reported high confidence in new skills and dental knowledge post-implementation, including motivational interviewing and the ability to confidently answer patients' questions about their oral health. Overall, the fast-paced implementation of this new role was well received, although consistent and significant differences in mean attitudes between managers and DCAs indicate more work to fine-tune the role is needed.Conclusions: Successful implementation of the new DCA role was facilitated by a strong organizational commitment to team-based dentistry and positive impressions of care coordination among staff and managers. Upskilling existing administrative staff with the necessary training to manage some high-risk patient needs is one method that can be used to implement care coordination efforts in dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood malnutrition has been a longstanding crisis in Mumbai, India. Despite national IYCF (Infant Young Child Feeding) guidelines to promote best practices for infant/toddler feeding, nearly one-third of children under age five are stunted or underweight. To improve child nutrition, interventions should address the cultural, social, and environmental influences on infant feeding practices. This study is an in-depth qualitative assessment of family barriers and facilitators to implementing recommended nutrition practices in two Mumbai slum communities, within the context of an existing nutrition education-based intervention by a local non-governmental non-profit organization.Methods: The population was purposively sampled to represent a variety of household demographics. Data were collected through 33 in-depth semi-structured interviews with caregivers (mothers and paternal grandmothers) of children age 0-2 years. Transcripts were translated and transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative analysis procedures and software.Results: A complex set of barriers and facilitators influence mothers'/caregivers' infant-toddler feeding practices. Most infants were fed complementary foods and non-nutritious processed snacks, counter to IYCF recommendations. Key barriers included: lack of nutrition knowledge and experience, receiving conflicting messages from different sources, limited social support, and poor self-efficacy for maternal decision-making. Key facilitators included: professional nutrition guidance, personal self-efficacy and empowerment, and family support. Interventions to improve child nutrition should address mothers'/caregivers' key barriers and facilitators to recommended infant-toddler feeding practices.Conclusions: Nutrition interventions should prioritize standard messaging across healthcare providers, engage all family members, target prevention of early introduction of sugary and non-nutritious processed foods, and strengthen maternal self-efficacy for following IYCF recommended guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio emission in the form of giant radio relics is observed at the periphery of galaxy clusters. This non-thermal emission is an important tracer for cosmic ray electrons and intracluster magnetic fields. One striking observational feature of these objects is their high degree of polarization, which provides information on the magnetic fields at the relics' positions. In this contribution, we test if state-of-the-art high resolution cosmological simulations are able to reproduce the polarization features of radio relics. Therefore, we present a new analysis of high-resolution cosmological simulations to study the polarization properties of radio relics in detail. In order to compare our results with current and future radio observations, we create mock radio observations of the diffuse polarized emission from a massive galaxy cluster using six different projections, for different observing frequencies and for different telescopes. Our simulations suggest that, due to the effect of Faraday rotation, it is extremely difficult to relate the morphology of the polarized emission for observing frequencies below 1.4 GHz to the real magnetic field structure in relics. We can reproduce the observed degree of polarization and also several small-scale structures observed in real radio relics, but further work would be needed to reproduce some large-scale spectacular features as observed in real radio relics, such as the 'Sausage' and 'Toothbrush' relics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Symptoms of depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period can negatively impact parenting. It is important to understand the parenting experiences of women with depression, and what parenting support they need. Methods: This is a mixed methods analysis of data (demographic data, depression outcomes, patient survey results, and transcripts of patient and care manager focus groups) from an open treatment trial of the feasibility of delivering perinatal depression treatment using collaborative care in a rural obstetric setting. Results: Patients who attended focus groups did not differ significantly from those who did not. Qualitative analysis of focus groups revealed the following themes: Maternal mood and parenting difficulties are interrelated; Access to depression treatment is complicated by expectations for the perinatal period and by factors related to parenting; Women want parenting support in the context of treatment for perinatal depression. Conclusion: Women receiving perinatal depression treatment experience unique parenting challenges and desire parenting support. Healthcare providers caring for these women should be mindful of their patients' parenting needs. Future research should explore ways to integrate parenting interventions with depression treatments. Mother-infant interaction is a key determinant of optimal infant development and integrating parenting support with perinatal depression treatments can have significant public health impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence-based therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder are underutilized and at times unavailable in specialty settings. We reviewed the literature on interventions to treat PTSD within primary care to make recommendations on their effectiveness as treatment modalities or ways to improve engagement in specialty care. We searched PubMed, PsychInfo, CINHAL, and Cochrane Reviews databases using search terms related to PTSD and primary care. We excluded clinical guidelines and studies of screening only or subthreshold PTSD. 524 articles were identified. Twenty-one papers on 15 interventions met review criteria. Seven interventions focus on individual therapies studied via small feasibility studies to prepare for full-scale intervention research. Eight describe treatment programs in primary care based on collaborative care that included medication management, tracking outcomes, referral services, and for some psychotherapy (versus psychotherapy referral). Ten interventions were feasibility studies which precludes meaningful comparison of effect sizes. Of the four RCTs of treatment programs, only two including some psychotherapy found improvements in PTSD symptoms. More research is needed to adapt treatment for PTSD to primary care. Collaborative care may be a promising framework for improving the reach of PTSD treatments when psychotherapy is offered within the collaborative care team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Setting aside its conceptual issues, it remains an open question whether the internal point of view is a good descriptive tool for the behaviour of ordinary citizens or if a sanction‐based explanation of legal compliance is sufficient. This paper will discuss strains of experimental literature corroborating Hart's criticism of sanction‐based accounts and suggesting that compliance with norms is indeed a shared practice sensitive to social influence. Legal institutions can interact with this shared practice in a way that cannot be reduced to pure incentives. Sanction‐based theories cannot account for norm compliance: They face a challenge in explaining the complex behavioural patterns observed in the minimalistic setting of laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotational spectra of 6LiNaF2 and 7LiNaF2 were measured by microwave absorption and Fourier-transform spectroscopy at different low rotational temperatures obtained by an adiabatic expansion in a beam and by collisional cooling in a cold absorption cell. Precise rotational constants, quartic centrifugal constants, quadrupole coupling constants, and the electric dipole moment were determined from least-squares fits of the experimental transition frequencies. Bond lengths and angles and the dipole moment are found to be in good agreement with recent ab initio calculations. As in homogeneous dimers, monomer to dimer bond expansions calculated from an ionic model are too large. The electric dipole moment from the ionic model is in excellent agreement with the ab initio result when experimental bond distances and angles are used and a 100% ionic character of the dimer bonds is assumed. © 1996 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Such communication ranges have been archived using the mentioned data sharing system in combination with off-the-shelf, industrial Wi-Fi equipment installed about 4 m over the sea-level. Michal Hoeft, Gdan sk University of Technology (Poland), michal.hoeft@pg.edu.pl Krzysztof Gierlowski, Gdan sk University of Technology (Poland), krzgierl@pg.edu.pl Marcin Wichorowski, Institute of Oceanology PAS (Poland), wichor@iopan.pl The paper presents an assessment of a remote device reconfiguration service employing a Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) mechanisms. [Extracted from the article]

Krzysztof Gierlowski, Gda sk University of Technology (Poland), krzgierl@pg.edu.pl Michal Hoeft, Gda sk University of Technology (Poland), michal.hoeft@pg.edu.pl Marcin Wichorowski, Institute of Oceanology PAS (Poland), wichor@iopan.pl This paper presents functionality, the most important technology developments and potential use cases of digital communication system, developed to facilitate selected tasks commonly required during off-shore operations and marine research, including: broadband information sharing between platforms isolated from an on-shore communication infrastructure, acquisition of large data-sets from variety of off-shore data sources (e.g. fleet of drones) as well as remote access and control to the research infrastructure exploited in environment with limited communication between neighboring devices. 262 Posters Session Tech- Marine environmental data bases: infrastructures and data access systems Users can connect to the appliance by built-in Wi-Fi access or it can be connected to on-board Ethernet (Fig. These resources could be VHF data links, popular Wi-Fi technologies and solutions dedicated for marine environment. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information on an assessment practices form teaching and learning that contributes to the broad mission of theological education and the particular mission of individual institutions. It mentions about practical theology, practice and theology which explored in their mutual relationship to one another; also focuses on the role of spiritual formation in curricula and as the object of assessment.

Abstract In case of maritime communications, we observe a growing interest in deployment of multitask satellite-based solutions and development of new maritime-specific systems intended for improvements in safety of e-navigation. Analysis of different types of currently used maritime communication systems leads, however, to a conclusion that neither global and still very expensive satellite systems nor cheaper, but short-ranged transmission technologies can, on their own, fully meet the today’s expectations and quality requirements formulated for broadband maritime systems. This lack of reliable solutions, offering high throughput and ubiquitous availability of coverage to a wide audience at a relatively low price is one of the main barriers in a widespread implementation of e-navigation initiatives. This issue is addressed in the netBaltic project with the objective to design, deploy and validate in a real maritime environment a non-satellite wireless communication system enabling ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore information exchange via a multi-hop network composed of onshore base stations, maritime vessels and other transit elements such as buoys. In this paper, the idea of a heterogeneous wireless maritime system is presented. Details of the proposed netBaltic node architecture are described highlighting the solutions introduced in the project as a response to specific maritime communication requirements. Numerical results of communication area coverage are presented for four different scenarios utilizing different wireless transmission technologies. In particular, they indicate that when using appropriate wireless communication solutions, the number of vessels being able to connect to Internet is significantly increased as compared to traditional wireless systems (capable of one-hop communication) from 14% for short-range transmission technologies up to as high as 127% in case when relatively long-range transmission technologies are employed within the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latino children are more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic white children, and feeding patterns that begin in infancy may contribute to this disparity. The objective of this study was to elucidate beliefs and practices related to the introduction of solids and solid food feeding in the first year of life among low-income Latino parents residing in Northern California. We conducted 26 semi-structured interviews that explored the timing of introduction of solids, selection of foods to serve to infants, feeding strategies, sources of information on solid food feeding and concerns about infant weight. We found that most parents relied on traditional practices in selecting first foods for infants and had a strong preference for homemade food, which was often chicken soup with vegetables. Parents generally described responsive feeding practices; however a minority used pressuring practices to encourage infants to eat more. Very few parents practiced repeated gentle introduction of unfamiliar food to increase acceptance. High calorie low nutrient foods were typically introduced at around 12 months of age and parents struggled to limit such foods once children were old enough to ask for them. Parents were concerned about the possibility of infants becoming overweight and considered health care providers to be an important source of information on infant weight status. The results of this study can be used to inform the development of interventions to prevent obesity in Latino children with similar demographics to our study population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perioperative and critically ill patients are often exposed to iron (in the form of parenteral-iron administration or blood transfusion) and inflammatory stimuli, but the effects of iron loading on the inflammatory response are unclear. Recent data suggest that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species have an important role in the innate immune response and that increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production is a result of dysfunctional mitochondria. We tested the hypothesis that increased intracellular iron potentiates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by increasing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels.Methods: Murine macrophage cells were incubated with iron and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. C57BL/6 wild-type mice were intraperitoneally injected with iron and then with lipopolysaccharide. Markers of inflammation and mitochondrial superoxide production were examined. Mitochondrial homeostasis (the balance between mitochondrial biogenesis and destruction) was assessed, as were mitochondrial mass and the proportion of nonfunctional to total mitochondria.Results: Iron loading of mice and cells potentiated the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide. Iron loading increased mitochondrial superoxide production. Treatment with MitoTEMPO, a mitochondria-specific antioxidant, blunted the proinflammatory effects of iron loading. Iron loading increased mitochondrial mass in cells treated with lipopolysaccharide and increased the proportion of nonfunctional mitochondria. Iron loading also altered mitochondrial homeostasis to favor increased production of mitochondria.Conclusions: Acute iron loading potentiates the inflammatory response to lipopolysaccharide, at least in part by disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis and increasing the production of mitochondrial superoxide. Improved understanding of iron homeostasis in the context of acute inflammation may yield innovative therapeutic approaches in perioperative and critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zusammenfassung: Das Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) ist ein neuartiges Radioteleskop, das es erstmals erlaubt, den Himmel im Bereich langwelliger Radiostrahlung mit hoher Empfindlichkeit und Auflösung zu kartieren. LOFAR beruht vollständig auf digitaler Elektronik: Signale der Antennen werden digitalisiert, an den Stationen komprimiert, über Breitband‐Internetverbindungen übertragen und von zentralen Supercomputern verarbeitet. Himmelsdurchmusterungen mit LOFAR bieten vollkommen neue Einblicke in die Entwicklung von Radiogalaxien, die Sternentstehungsgeschichte des Universums und erlauben es, rätselhafte Synchrotronemission in Galaxienhaufen aufzuspüren. Die Technologieentwicklung von LOFAR hilft auch, den Weg für ein weitaus größeres Radioteleskop zu ebnen. Dieses Square Kilometre Array (SKA) planen Astronomen für die kommende Dekade. Digitale Elektronik hat Radioteleskope grundlegend verändert: Was zuvor analog verarbeitet wurde, kann heute vollständig digital prozessiert werden. Radioteleskope werden dadurch erheblich flexibler und vielseitiger. Im Low Frequency Array wird diese Technik erstmals konsequent eingesetzt. Mit seinen niedrigen Beobachtungsfrequenzen öffnet LOFAR ein neues Fenster zum Universum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel strains of photosynthetic bacteria from the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae were isolated from soda lakes of the Great Basin Desert, USA by employing arsenite (As(III)) as the sole electron donor in the enrichment/isolation process. Strain PHS-1 was previously isolated from a hot spring in Mono Lake, while strain MLW-1 was obtained from Mono Lake sediment, and strain BSL-9 was isolated from Big Soda Lake. Strains PHS-1, MLW-1, and BSL-9 were all capable of As(III)-dependent growth via anoxygenic photosynthesis and contained homologs of arxA, but displayed different phenotypes. Comparisons were made with three related species: Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii DSM 2111, Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii DSM 243T, and Halorhodospira halophila DSM 244. All three type cultures oxidized arsenite to arsenate but did not grow with As(III) as the sole electron donor. DNA-DNA hybridization indicated that strain PHS-1 belongs to the same species as Ect. shaposhnikovii DSM 2111 (81.1% sequence similarity), distinct from Ect. shaposhnikovii DSM 243T (58.1% sequence similarity). These results suggest that the capacity for light-driven As(III) oxidation is a common phenomenon among purple photosynthetic bacteria in soda lakes. However, the use of As(III) as a sole electron donor to sustain growth via anoxygenic photosynthesis is confined to novel isolates that were screened for by this selective cultivation criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive strategies are a set of psychologic behaviors used to modulate one's perception or interpretation of a sensation or situation. Although the effectiveness of each cognitive strategy seems to differ between individuals, they are commonly used clinically to help patients with chronic pain cope with their condition. The neural basis of commonly used cognitive strategies is not well understood. Understanding the neural correlates that underlie these strategies will enhance understanding of the analgesic network of the brain and the cognitive modulation of pain.Methods: The current study examines patterns of brain activation during two common cognitive strategies, external focus of attention and reappraisal, in patients with chronic pain using functional magnetic resonance imaging.Results: Behavioral results revealed interindividual variability in the effectiveness of one strategy versus another in the patients. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed distinct patterns of activity when the two strategies were used. During external focus of attention, activity was observed mainly in cortical areas including the postcentral gyrus, inferior parietal lobule, middle occipital gyrus, and precentral gyrus. The use of reappraisal evoked activity in the thalamus and amygdala in addition to cortical regions. Only one area, the postcentral gyrus, was observed to be active during both strategies.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that different cognitive behavioral strategies recruit different brain regions to perform the same task: pain modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To determine the effectiveness of the Contra Caries Oral Health Education Program ( CCOHEP) for improving low-income, Spanish-speaking parents' oral health knowledge and behaviors for their young children. Mexican American children in the United States suffer disproportionately high prevalence and severity of early childhood caries, yet few evaluated, theory-based behavioral interventions exist for this population. CCOHEP is a theory-based curriculum consisting of four 2-h interactive classes designed for and by Spanish speakers and led by designated community health educators ( promotoras). Topics included children's oral hygiene, caries etiology, dental procedures, nutrition, child behavior management, and parent skill-building activities. Methods Low-income Spanish-speaking parents/caregivers of children aged 0-5 years were recruited through community services in an agricultural city in California. Survey questions from the Oral Health Basic Research Facts Questionnaire measuring oral health-related behaviors and knowledge were verbally administered before, immediately after, and 3 months after attendance at CCOHEP. Five questions measured aspects of parental toothbrushing for their children (frequency, using fluoridated toothpaste, brushing before bed, not drinking or eating after nighttime brushing, adult assistance), three questions measured other oral health behaviors, and 16 questions measured oral health-related knowledge. Analyses of within-person changes between pre- and post-tests and again between post-test and 3-month follow-up consisted of McNemar's test for binary outcomes and sign tests for ordinal outcomes. Results Overall, 105 caregivers participated in CCOHEP ( n = 105 pretest, n = 95 post-test, n = 79 second post-test). At baseline, all parents self-reported doing at least one aspect of toothbrushing correctly, but only 13% reported performing all five aspects according to professional guidelines. At post-test, 44% of parents reported completing all aspects of toothbrushing according to professional guidelines ( P < .001). Statistically significant improvements were seen in 4 aspects of toothbrushing ( P ≤ .008) between pretest and post-test (all but adult assistance). The second post-test showed 3 of these improvements were maintained, while adult assistance and the other reported behaviors improved ( P ≤ .008). Between pretest and post-test, checking child's teeth monthly and frequency of sweet drinks consumption improved ( P ≤ .008), while frequency of eating sweet foods did not change. Knowledge was high at baseline (mean 12.8 of 16), but 6 knowledge items improved significantly between pretest and post-test. Improvements were maintained at second post-test. Conclusions Contra Caries Oral Health Education Program improved low-income Spanish-speaking parents' oral hygiene knowledge and self-reported behaviors for their young children, and change was sustained 3 months after the end of the intervention. Future, more rigorous evaluation of the intervention is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific reading comprehension deficit (SRCD) affects up to 10 % of all children. SRCD is distinct from dyslexia (DYS) in that individuals with SRCD show poor comprehension despite adequate decoding skills. Despite its prevalence and considerable behavioral research, there is not yet a unified cognitive profile of SRCD. While its neuroanatomical basis is unknown, SRCD could be anomalous in regions subserving their commonly reported cognitive weaknesses in semantic processing or executive function. Here we investigated, for the first time, patterns of gray matter volume difference in SRCD as compared to DYS and typical developing (TD) adolescent readers (N = 41). A linear support vector machine algorithm was applied to whole brain gray matter volumes generated through voxel-based morphometry. As expected, DYS differed significantly from TD in a pattern that included features from left fusiform and supramarginal gyri (DYS vs. TD: 80.0 %, p < 0.01). SRCD was well differentiated not only from TD (92.5 %, p < 0.001) but also from DYS (88.0 %, p < 0.001). Of particular interest were findings of reduced gray matter volume in right frontal areas that were also supported by univariate analysis. These areas are thought to subserve executive processes relevant for reading, such as monitoring and manipulating mental representations. Thus, preliminary analyses suggest that SRCD readers possess a distinct neural profile compared to both TD and DYS readers and that these differences might be linked to domain-general abilities. This work provides a foundation for further investigation into variants of reading disability beyond DYS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of prokaryotes in the redox reactions of arsenic occurring between its C5 [arsenate; As (V)] and C3 [arsenite; As(III)] oxidation states has been well established. Most research to date has focused upon circum-neutral pH environments (e.g., freshwater or estuarine sediments) or arsenic-rich "extreme" environments like hot springs and soda lakes. In contrast, relatively little work has been conducted in acidic environments. With this in mind we conducted experiments with sediments taken from the Herman Pit, an acid mine drainage impoundment of a former mercury (cinnabar) mine. Due to the large adsorptive capacity of the abundant Fe(III)-rich minerals, we were unable to initially detect in solution either As(V) or As(III) added to the aqueous phase of live sediment slurries or autoclaved controls, although the former consumed added electron donors (i.e., lactate, acetate, hydrogen), while the latter did not. This prompted us to conduct further experiments with diluted slurries using the live materials from the first incubation as inoculum. In these experiments we observed reduction of As(V) to As(III) under anoxic conditions and reduction rates were enhanced by addition of electron donors. We also observed oxidation of As(III) to As (V) in oxic slurries as well as in anoxic slurries amended with nitrate. We noted an acid-tolerant trend for sediment slurries in the cases of As(III) oxidation (aerobic and anaerobic) as well as for anaerobic As(V) reduction. These observations indicate the presence of a viable microbial arsenic redox cycle in the sediments of this extreme environment, a result reinforced by the successful amplification of arsenic functional genes (aioA, and arrA) from these materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents key events and topics in the global communications industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One theory of the origins of reading disorders (i.e., dyslexia) is a language network which cannot effectively 'entrain' to speech, with cascading effects on the development of phonological skills. Low-gamma (low-γ, 30–45 Hz) neural activity, particularly in the left hemisphere, is thought to correspond to tracking at phonemic rates in speech. The main goals of the current study were to investigate temporal low-γ band-power during rest in a sample of children and adolescents with and without reading disorder (RD). Using a Bayesian statistical approach to analyze the power spectral density of EEG data, we examined whether (1) resting-state temporal low-γ power was attenuated in the left temporal region in RD; (2) low-γ power covaried with individual reading performance; (3) low-γ temporal lateralization was atypical in RD. Contrary to our expectations, results did not support the hypothesized effects of RD status and poor decoding ability on left hemisphere low-γ power or lateralization: post-hoc tests revealed that the lack of atypicality in the RD group was not due to the inclusion of those with comorbid attentional deficits. However, post-hoc tests also revealed a specific left-dominance for low-γ rhythms in children with reading deficits only, when participants with comorbid attentional deficits were excluded. We also observed an inverse relationship between decoding and left-lateralization in the controls, such that those with better decoding skills were less likely to show left-lateralization. We discuss these unexpected findings in the context of prior theoretical frameworks on temporal sampling. These results may reflect the importance of real-time language processing to evoke gamma rhythms in the phonemic range during childhood and adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing body of studies has revealed neuroanatomical impairments in developmental dyslexia. However, whether these structural anomalies are driven by dyslexia (disorder-specific effects), absolute reading performance (performance-dependent effects), and/or further influenced by age (maturation-sensitive effects) remains elusive. To help disentangle these sources, the current study used a novel disorder (dyslexia vs. control) by maturation (younger vs. older) factorial design in 48 Chinese children who were carefully matched. This design not only allows for direct comparison between dyslexics versus controls matched for chronological age and reading ability, but also enables examination of the influence of maturation and its interaction with dyslexia. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) showed that dyslexic children had reduced regional gray matter volume in the left temporo-parietal cortex (spanning over Heschl's gyrus, planum temporale and supramarginal gyrus), middle frontal gyrus, superior occipital gyrus, and reduced regional white matter in bilateral parieto-occipital regions (left cuneus and right precuneus) compared with both age-matched and reading-level matched controls. Therefore, maturational stage-invariant neurobiological signatures of dyslexia were found in brain regions that have been associated with impairments in the auditory/phonological and attentional systems. On the other hand, maturational stage-dependent effects on dyslexia were observed in three regions (left ventral occipito-temporal cortex, left dorsal pars opercularis and genu of the corpus callosum), all of which were previously reported to be involved in fluent reading and its development. These striking dissociations collectively suggest potential atypical developmental trajectories of dyslexia, where underlying mechanisms are currently unknown but may be driven by interactions between genetic and/or environmental factors. In summary, this is the first study to disambiguate maturational stage on neuroanatomical anomalies of dyslexia in addition to the effects of disorder, reading performance and maturational stage on neuroanatomical anomalies of dyslexia, despite the limitation of a relatively small sample-size. These results will hopefully encourage future research to place greater emphasis on taking a developmental perspective to dyslexia, which may, in turn, further our understanding of the etiological basis of this neurodevelopmental disorder, and ultimately optimize early identification and remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevalence of high blood pressure has been increasing in U.S. children, with implications for long term health consequences. Sodium consumption, a modifiable risk factor for high blood pressure, is above recommended limits and increasing. Very little is known about Latino caregiver beliefs and behaviors around their children's salt consumption. Methods: In California's Central Valley, qualitative interviews in Spanish investigated low-income caregivers' views and understandings of their children's dietary salt consumption. Thirty individual interviews and 5 focus groups were conducted (N=61). Interview transcripts were translated and transcribed, coded and thematically analyzed. Results: Seven primary topic areas around children's salt intake and its impact on health were identified: children's favorite foods, children's dietary salt sources, superiority of home-cooked foods, salty and sweet foods, managing salt for health, developing children's tastes, and adding salt added at the table. Parents recognize common sources of sodium such as “junk food” and processed food and made efforts to limit their children's consumption of these foods, but may overlook other significant sodium sources, particularly bread, cheese, prepared soups and sports drinks. Caregivers recognize excess salt as unhealthy for children, but don't believe health problems (like high blood pressure) can occur in young children. Nevertheless, they made efforts to limit how much salt their children consumed through a variety of strategies; school meals were a source of high sodium that they felt were outside of their control. Conclusion: Latino caregivers are concerned about their children's salt intake and attempt to limit consumption, but some common sources of sodium are under-recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Galaxy clusters with signs of a recent merger in many cases show extended diffuse radio features. This emission originates from relativistic electrons that suffer synchrotron losses due to the intracluster magnetic field. The mechanisms of particle acceleration and the properties of the magnetic field are still poorly understood. Aims. We search for diffuse radio emission in galaxy clusters. Here, we study the complex galaxy cluster Abell 2069, for which X-ray observations indicate a recent merger. Methods. We investigate the cluster's radio continuum emission by deep Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) observations at 346 MHz and Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations at 322 MHz. Results. We find an extended diffuse radio feature roughly coinciding with the main component of the cluster. We classify this emission as a radio halo and estimate its lower limit flux density at 25 ± 9 mJy. Moreover, we find a second extended diffuse source located at the cluster's companion and estimate its flux density at 15 ± 2 mJy. We speculate that this is a small halo or a mini-halo. If true, this cluster is the first example of a double-halo in a single galaxy cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VO2max is one of the most commonly used metrics in exercise physiology and related fields, and is typically measured through a graded exercise test. It is both the criterion measure of cardiorespiratory fitness and a predictor of endurance exercise performance. However, there is a lack of standardization in the reporting and measurement of VO2max. Differences in technology and measurement systems may affect results. Specifically, in a breath-by-breath measurement system, some form of data averaging or smoothing is used to calculate VO2max. We performed a brief examination of recent articles reporting VO2max data, and found that only 1 out of 20 articles stated the averaging methods used. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare four VO2max averaging methods, and to determine whether the method of averaging resulted in significantly different VO2max values. METHODS: VO2max data from a marathon training class at the University of Minnesota collected before and after training was analyzed. Participants were healthy college aged males and females (n=55). The following averaging methods were compared: unaveraged, mid 5-of-7, 8-breath mean, and 30-second rolling average. Pairwise comparisons were done to test for differences between averaging methods. RESULTS: Pre-training means and standard deviations of VO2max (in ml.kg-1.min-1) for the respective data averaging techniques were as follows: Mid 5-of-7 (47.54±7.66), 8-breath mean (46.95±7.65), 30-second rolling (44.66±7.31) and unaveraged (57.60±10.71). Post-training VO2max values for the respective data averaging techniques were: Mid 5-of-7 (50.90±8.15), 8- breath mean (50.40±7.995), 30-second rolling (48.57±7.993) and unaveraged (59.88±10.74). There were statistically significant differences between all averaging methods tested (P<0.05) in both pre- and post-training data. CONCLUSION: Studies reporting VO2max data should include the averaging method used in order to allow for interpretation and comparison between studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the myths surrounding civil society, protest movements, and informal participation is that these non-organizational channels would open political processes for all social ranks. However, these forms of participation have an even stronger social bias than the old and often criticized formal organizations. This article shows on the one hand that members of the so-called underclass often do not have the necessary self-confidence and self-conception as citizens to readily participate in informal participation efforts and on the other hand that middle class-driven protest movements follow a logic of entitlement through work that excludes the underclass from their vision of political participation. Together this makes informal participation alone an especially ill-fitting instrument to fight social exclusion from political participation, often even strengthening pre-existing exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Food safety is a primary concern for pregnant women and infants as the immune system is weakened during pregnancy and not developed enough in infants, which makes them especially vulnerable to suffering from the negative effects of nonquality food products. However, food contaminations not only affect an individual's health but also a country's economic development, social harmony, food trade and even politics, as seen during the Chinese infant formula crisis in 2008. Thus, quality control is crucial in the production processes in order to have safe food products on the market. But quality control alone is not enough: manufacturers must embrace quality beyond classic in-process parameters and perform a final microbiological analysis at the end of the production process. This requires a clear and trustworthy approach to quality and safety and the involvement of all stakeholders from industry, government and academia over policy makers to consumers. This paper provides an introductory context for current quality management systems and gives real-life examples of challenges that manufacturers face during quality management and control throughout the production process. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study of eight rare atypical deletion cases with Williams-Beuren syndrome (WS; also known as 7q11.23 deletion syndrome) consisting of three different patterns of deletions, compared to typical WS and typically developing (TD) individuals, we show preliminary evidence of dissociable genetic contributions to brain structure and human cognition. Univariate and multivariate pattern classification results of morphometric brain patterns complemented by behavior implicate a possible role for the chromosomal region that includes: 1) GTF2I/GTF2IRD1 in visuo-spatial/motor integration, intraparietal as well as overall gray matter structures, 2) the region spanning ABHD11 through RFC2 including LIMK1, in social cognition, in particular approachability, as well as orbitofrontal, amygdala and fusiform anatomy, and 3) the regions including STX1A, and/or CYLN2 in overall white matter structure. This knowledge contributes to our understanding of the role of genetics on human brain structure, cognition and pathophysiology of altered cognition in WS. The current study builds on ongoing research designed to characterize the impact of multiple genes, gene-gene interactions and changes in gene expression on the human brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of sex effects on neurodevelopment have traditionally focused on animal models investigating hormonal influences on brain anatomy. However, more recent evidence suggests that sex chromosomes may also have direct upstream effects that act independently of hormones. Sex chromosome aneuploidies provide ideal models to examine this framework in humans, including Turner syndrome (TS), where females are missing one X-chromosome (45X), and Klinefelter syndrome (KS), where males have an additional X-chromosome (47XXY). As these disorders essentially represent copy number variants of the sex chromosomes, investigation of brain structure across these disorders allows us to determine whether sex chromosome gene dosage effects exist. We used voxel-based morphometry to investigate this hypothesis in a large sample of children in early puberty, to compare regional gray matter volumes among individuals with one (45X), two (typically developing 46XX females and 46XY males), and three (47XXY) sex chromosomes. Between-group contrasts of TS and KS groups relative to respective sex-matched controls demonstrated highly convergent patterns of volumetric differences with the presence of an additional sex chromosome being associated with relatively decreased parieto-occipital gray matter volume and relatively increased temporo-insular gray matter volumes. Furthermore, z-score map comparisons between TS and KS cohorts also suggested that this effect occurs in a linear dose-dependent fashion. We infer that sex chromosome gene expression directly influences brain structure in children during early stages of puberty, extending our understanding of genotype–phenotype mechanisms underlying sex differences in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an important framework for partnering with communities to reduce health disparities. Working in partnership with community incurs additional costs, some that can be represented in a budget summary page and others that are tied to the competing demands placed on community and academic partners. These cost considerations can inform development of community–academic partnerships. We calculated costs from a case study based on an ongoing CBPR project involving a Community Planning Group (CPG) of community co-researchers in rural Alaska and a bicultural liaison group who help bridge communication between CPG and academic co-researchers. Budget considerations specific to CBPR include travel and other communication-related costs, compensation for community partners, and food served at meetings. We also identified sources of competing demands for community and academic partners. Our findings can inform budget discussions in community-academic partnerships. Discussions of competing demands on community partners’ time can help plan timelines for CBPR projects. Our findings may also inform discussions about tenure and promotion policies that may represent barriers to participation in CBPR for academic researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Turner syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the complete or partial absence of an X chromosome in affected women. Individuals with TS show characteristic difficulties with executive functions, visual-spatial and mathematical cognition, with relatively intact verbal skills, and congruent abnormalities in structural development of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). The functionally heterogeneous PPC has recently been investigated using connectivity-based clustering methods, which sub-divide a given region into clusters of voxels showing similar structural or functional connectivity to other brain regions. In the present study, we extended this method to compare connectivity-based clustering between groups and investigate whether functional networks differentially recruit the PPC in TS. To this end, we parcellated the PPC into sub-regions based on temporal correlations with other regions of the brain. fMRI data were collected from 15 girls with TS and 14 typically developing (TD) girls, aged 7-14, while they performed a visual-spatial task. Temporal correlations between voxels in the PPC and a set of seed regions were calculated, and the PPC divided into clusters of voxels showing similar connectivity. It was found that in general the PPC parcellates similarly in TS and TD girls, but that regions in bilateral inferior parietal lobules, and posterior right superior parietal lobule, were reliably recruited by different networks in TS relative to TD participants. These regions showed weaker correlation in TS with a set of regions involved in visual processing. These results suggest that abnormal development of visuospatial functional networks in TS may relate to the well documented cognitive difficulties in this disorder. Hum Brain Mapp 34:3117-3128, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]