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Background: Tooth agenesis refers to the absence of one or more of the deciduous or permanent teeth. Tooth agenesis results from a series of disrupted reciprocal ectodermal mesenchymal interactions taking place during the early stages of tooth development. Methods: A narrative literature review was performed to describe the main genetic syndromes associated with tooth agenesis. Results and conclusions: The etiology of congenital tooth agenesis is multifactorial and include genetic, epigenetic, and environmental influences. Syndromes associated with chromosomal alterations, ectodermal dysplasia, Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, oral-facial cleft syndromes, and syndromes with cancer predisposition are among the main entities presenting with tooth agenesis. Clinical relevance: Tooth agenesis disorders can affect the masticatory function and cause disfigurement leading to physiological and psychological complications. Early recognition of these entities is crucial to guide the management of the patient and to provide families with the appropriate genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature is responsible for the rise of air parcels in the atmosphere, which in turn impairs the transmission of electromagnetic waves. Therefore, atmospheric stability is a function of the temperature of the rising and sinking air parcel with respect to the environmental air temperature at the lifted condensation level (LCL). Refractivity-based lifted index (RLI), a stability index model, uses an approximate LCL value. This study modifies the RLI using the exact formula of the LCL to obtain a precise modified refractivity-based lifted index (MRLI) model for the computation of refractivity-based atmospheric stability profiles. Two years (2020–2021) reanalysis data of atmospheric parameters (temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure) were obtained from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) satellite for Lagos (6.6018° N, 3.3515° E), Abuja (9.0765° N, 7.3986° E) and Yola (9.2095° N, 12.4782° E) at 500–1000 hPa. RLI and MRLI were analysed at four synoptic hours (0, 6, 12, and 18 h) Local Time (LT). The trend shows that when RLI is negative, MRLI is negative; when RLI becomes less negative, MRLI is less negative, except in some cases where a significant amount of water vapour is observed at 500 hPa. Furthermore, a higher negative MRLI value indicates more environmental moisture and is supportive of convective activity, which implies an unstable atmosphere. MRLI has higher night-time (18–0 h LT) values compared to the daytime (6–12 h LT) due to low temperature and high humidity. Also, MRLI negative value decreases as the altitude increases with seasonal averages of − 97, − 86, and − 83 N-units over Lagos, Abuja, and Yola, respectively. A strong positive relationship was observed between MRLI and RLI, with correlation coefficients of 0.99999 for Lagos, 0.99823 for Abuja, and 0.99765 for Yola. MRLI attempts to lower the approximation error exhibited by RLI values for dry season months over Abuja and Yola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents in Washington state have grown up with parents legally able to purchase and consume cannabis. In this environment, it is important to determine the role parental cannabis use and parental monitoring plays in adolescents' cannabis-related beliefs and intentions. Data analyses of online survey data collected from 276 Washington state adolescents (out of the 350 surveyed who answered applicable questions) conducted four years after the first recreational cannabis retailers opened in the state, indicated perceived parental cannabis use was associated with youth's attitudes and intentions to use cannabis. Parental monitoring was associated with adolescents' attitudes about cannabis. Adolescents' perceived closeness to mother served as a protective factor for adolescent cannabis use, unless the mother used cannabis. Instead, closeness to mothers who use cannabis served as a risk factor for youths' pro-cannabis attitudes and intentions to use cannabis. Overall, the results of the current study indicate that parents serve as a social context from which adolescents learn about cannabis use and its consequences. Implications are discussed in the article. Highlights: Adolescents' perceived closeness to mother served as a protective factor for adolescent cannabis use, unless the mother used cannabis. Instead, closeness to mothers who use cannabis served as a risk factor for youths' pro-cannabis attitudes and intentions to use cannabis. Parental monitoring was associated with adolescents' attitudes about cannabis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaucoma is a sight threatening neurodegenerative condition of the optic nerve head associated with ageing and marked by the loss of retinal ganglion cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in the most prevalent type of glaucoma: primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). All previous mitochondrial genome sequencing studies in POAG analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes and have not evaluated cells derived from ocular tissue, which better represent the glaucomatous disease context. In this study, we evaluated mitochondrial genome variation and heteroplasmy using massively parallel sequencing of mtDNA in a cohort of patients with POAG, and in a subset assess the role of somatic mitochondrial genome mutations in disease pathogenesis using paired samples of peripheral blood leukocytes and ocular tissue (Tenon's ocular fibroblasts). An enrichment of potentially pathogenic nonsynonymous mtDNA variants was identified in Tenon's ocular fibroblasts from participants with POAG. The absence of oxidative DNA damage and predominance of transition variants support the concept that errors in mtDNA replication represent the predominant mutation mechanism in Tenon's ocular fibroblasts from patients with POAG. Pathogenic somatic mitochondrial genome mutations were observed in people with POAG. This supports the role of somatic mitochondrial genome variants in the etiology of glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between sexuality education in U.S. public schools and women's pornography use. Utilizing quantitative methods, we examined a sample of women attending U.S. public schools who reported regular pornography use. Results revealed that, regardless of the type of sexuality education received, women exhibited similar rates of pornography use, with 60% reporting its use. A substantial portion (69%) of the women began using pornography during childhood or adolescence. Women who received abstinence only sexuality education reported higher frequencies of pornography use compared to their comprehensive sexuality education counterparts. About 79% of women using pornography perceived it as a source of sexuality learning, especially regarding sexual pleasure. However, they expressed reluctance in using pornography for sexual education and did not consider it a preferred method for learning about sexuality. The findings suggest the need for comprehensive sexuality education that addresses essential topics, such as sexual pleasure and sexual script development, to cater to women's diverse learning needs, ideally taught by parents or primary caregivers, but may be necessary for public education in the absence of parental instruction. Policymakers and educators should bridge these gaps to develop more effective sexuality education curricula. This study contributes valuable insights, highlighting the importance of an inclusive approach to sexuality education in U.S. public schools. Future research should explore the implications of different sexuality education approaches on women's sexual development and well-being, emphasizing comprehensive education to foster healthy sexual behaviors among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millimetre-waves (mmWaves), a critical part of 5G, have not been extensively studied in the sub-Saharan tropical environment. This study was conducted to model the outdoor propagation path loss of mmWaves in four Nigerian cities at 28, 38, 60, and 73 GHz for 5G mobile systems: Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt. The study utilised simulation data from a Composite Raytracing-Image-Method propagation model in MATLAB 2023a with OpenStreetMap 3D building maps to formulate the Close-In free-space Reference Distance (CI), Floating Intercept (FI), and Alpha–Beta-Gamma (ABG) large-scale path loss models. This model considered the specific atmospheric conditions, terrain, building materials and structures, and geographical layouts of each site. The study found that the path loss exponent ranged from 2.712 to 3.819 in line-of-sight scenarios, with shadow fading standard deviation (σCI) ranging from 11.778 to 37.199. In non-line-of-sight scenarios, the path loss exponent ranged from 3.375 to 5.033, with σCI ranging from 12.441 to 44.181 across the four frequencies studied. The ABG model consistently provided the most accurate predictions compared to CI and FI, particularly the mean absolute error and root mean square error values. However, performance varied across cities, frequencies, and scenarios, with Port Harcourt exhibiting the highest path loss values across all frequencies and scenarios, followed by Lagos. Furthermore, the omnidirectional large-scale path loss increases marginally as the frequency increases, except at 60 GHz, which had a higher path loss per distance than 73 GHz. Finally, the findings showed that the propagation characteristics of mmWaves for 5G networks in sub-Saharan tropical environments, such as Nigeria, exhibit significant variability based on factors such as atmospheric conditions, terrain, building materials, and geographical layouts. The formulated path loss models can be used to predict the coverage area and signal quality of millimetre-wave communication systems at these frequencies and locations. Article Highlights: Millimetre-waves path loss in Nigerian cities varies significantly with frequency, environmental and structural factors. Path loss increases with frequency, but 60 GHz suffers more loss over distance than 73 GHz due to oxygen absorption. The ABG path loss model outperforms others, providing more accurate predictions for sub-Saharan tropical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has lacked a comprehensive, longitudinal analysis of characteristics of solitude and sociability, and how they are associated with changes in psychosocial adjustment before and during the pandemic. The current study surveyed 1071 adolescents (Mage = 10.6, SD = 1.69, 49.86% female, age range = 8–14 years at Year 1) over six years (three years before pandemic, three years during pandemic). Piecewise linear mixed-effects analysis showed that adolescents with higher solitude and lower sociability reported improvements in adjustment during the pandemic, whereas adolescents with lower solitude and higher sociability reported declines in adjustment. The findings highlight the importance of considering multiple characteristics of solitude and sociability, as well as contextual factors (e.g., pandemic), to better understand the implications of solitude on adolescent adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to toxic heavy metals has been associated with the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, fewer studies have examined the associations between abnormal levels of essential trace metals and ADHD, and none have done so using saliva. We investigated whether salivary metals were associated with ADHD in adolescents aged 12 from the Family Life Project (FLP) using a nested case–control study design that included 110 adolescents who met diagnostic criteria for inattentive (ADHD-I), hyperactive-impulsive (ADHD-H), or combined type ADHD (ADHD-C) (cases) and 173 children who did not (controls). We used inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry to measure chromium, copper, manganese, and zinc in saliva samples. We employed logistic regression models to examine associations between quartile levels of individual metals and ADHD outcomes by subtype. Salivary copper levels were significantly associated with increased odds of any ADHD diagnosis (OR = 3.31, 95% CI: 1.08–10.12; p = 0.04) and with increased odds of ADHD-C diagnosis (OR = 8.44, 95% CI: 1.58–45.12; p = 0.01). Salivary zinc levels were significantly associated with increased odds of ADHD-C diagnosis (OR = 4.06, 95% CI: 1.21–13.69; p = 0.02). Salivary manganese levels were also significantly associated with increased odds of ADHD-C diagnosis (OR = 5.43, 95% CI: 1.08–27.27, p = 0.04). This is the first study using saliva to assess metal exposure and provide a potential link between salivary levels of copper, manganese, and zinc and ADHD diagnoses in adolescents. Public health interventions focused on metal exposures might reduce ADHD incidence in low-income, minority communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The primary aim was to determine Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) utilities from the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD) for non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP). Methods: One hundred and eight surveys completed by Australian parents/caregivers of children with CP were analysed. Spearman's coefficients were used to investigate the correlations between the two instruments. Ordinary least square, robust MM-estimator, and generalised linear models (GLM) with four combinations of families and links were developed to estimate CHU9D utilities from either the CPCHILD total score or CPCHILD domains scores. Internal validation was performed using 5-fold cross-validation and random sampling validation. The best performing algorithms were identified based on mean absolute error (MAE), concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and the difference between predicted and observed means of CHU9D. Results: Moderate correlations (ρ 0.4–0.6) were observed between domains of the CHU9D and CPCHILD instruments. The best performing algorithm when considering the CPCHILD total score was a generalised linear regression (GLM) Gamma family and logit link (MAE = 0.156, CCC = 0.508). Additionally, the GLM Gamma family logit link using CPCHILD comfort and emotion, quality of life, and health domain scores also performed well (MAE = 0.152, CCC = 0.552). Conclusion: This study established algorithms for estimating CHU9D utilities from CPCHILD scores for non-ambulatory children with CP. The determined algorithms can be valuable for estimating quality-adjusted life years for cost-utility analysis when only the CPCHILD instrument is available. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and external validation are recommended to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhododendron ponticum (L.) is a highly invasive, non-native woody shrub that prevents tree regeneration and kills native flora. Achieving successful control of rhododendron can be difficult due to its thick waxy leaf surfaces, which discourage the absorption of foliar-applied herbicides. The spray adjuvant Mixture B NF® has therefore been used for many years to improve the efficacy, absorption, and rainfastness of foliar applications of glyphosate. We established an experiment to test if alternative non-hazardous adjuvants could be equally effective. Treatments were applied as foliar sprays and then subjected to artificial rainfall to examine rainfastness. We found that the non-hazardous adjuvants Codacide Oil® and Toil® (both based on rapeseed oil), and also SU Wett®, offered little or no benefit to the efficacy or rainfastness of glyphosate applications to rhododendron. However, further research using these adjuvants on other weed species is recommended. The only treatment in our study that showed acceptable levels of rhododendron control was glyphosate plus Mixture B NF®. Current recommendations for the control of rhododendron are therefore still valid. When foliar sprays of rhododendron bushes are required, apply 2.88–3.60 kg a.i. ha− 1 glyphosate and add Mixture B NF® adjuvant at a rate of 2 per cent of final spray volume. A minimum rain-free period of 6 h should occur after application of glyphosate products to any weed type, but if there is a risk of rainfall occurring earlier than this, and the application cannot be delayed, the use of Mixture B NF® is likely to improve rainfastness, reduce run-off and improve control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from The Family Life Project (N = 700), this study examined the pivotal behavior model by testing the hypothesis that children's social engagement at 24 months mediates the relationship between maternal responsiveness at 24 months and children's language outcomes at 36 months. Maternal responsiveness during parent-child interaction in a jigsaw puzzle task when children were 24 months old served as a predictor, and children's social engagement during the same (i.e., persistence, enthusiasm, and compliance) at 24 months, which was assessed during the same task served as the mediator. Children's language comprehension, language expression, and fluency when children were 36 months old served as the dependent variable. Children's expressive communication at 24 months was controlled for. The results supported our hypothesis. Higher maternal responsiveness was related to children's social engagement, which in turn facilitated children's language development. Children's language outcomes also were directly related to caregivers' sensitivity and responsiveness to children's needs, gestures, and expression. Highlights: We test the pivotal behavior model with families from rural areas. Maternal responsiveness is found to be directly related to child language skills. Children's social engagement links maternal responsiveness with child language skills. The pivotal behavior model is supported for people with limited economic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the increasing prevalence of wildland fires in the Western US, there is a critical need to develop tools to understand and accurately predict burn severity. We develop a novel machine learning model to predict post-fire burn severity using pre-fire remotely sensed data. Hydrological, ecological, and topographical variables collected from four regions of California — the site of the Kincade fire (2019), the CZU Lightning Complex fire (2020), the Windy fire (2021), and the KNP Fire (2021) — are used as predictors of the differenced normalized burn ratio. We hypothesize that a Super Learner (SL) algorithm that accounts for spatial autocorrelation using Vecchia's Gaussian approximation will accurately model burn severity. We use a cross-validation study to show that the spatial SL model can predict burn severity with reasonable classification accuracy, including high burn severity events. After fitting and verifying the performance of the SL model, we use interpretable machine learning tools to determine the main drivers of severe burn damage, including greenness, elevation, and fire weather variables. These findings provide actionable insights that enable communities to strategize interventions, such as early fire detection systems, pre-fire season vegetation clearing activities, and resource allocation during emergency responses. When implemented, this model has the potential to minimize the loss of human life, property, resources, and ecosystems in California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to build on previous research about how pornography use is associated with relationship outcomes. Using the 3AM model (Wright, 2011) as a theoretical guide, sexual behaviors were tested as a possible mediator of the association between pornography use and relationship well-being. Using a national data set of individuals in heterosexual relationships (n = 2519), associations between different types of pornography use (alone use vs. joint use), sexual behaviors, and relationship outcomes were analyzed. Results showed that pornography use with a partner is a distinct activity when compared to pornography use alone. Additionally, significant indirect relationships between pornography use and relationship outcomes were found through sexual behaviors. Both vaginal sex and oral sex had positive effects, while anal sex had a unique, negative effect (use of sex toys was not significantly related). Future research should continue to examine the context of pornography use and how it is related to behaviors and outcomes in relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boredom is a prominent experience commonly reported in school settings and associated with poor academic achievement. Little is known, however, about the age-related trajectory of boredom. Here we examined self-reported ratings of boredom in a cross-sectional sample of 8 to 15-year olds (n = 185) as a function of resting state EEG. Results indicated that reports of boredom in school rose as a function of age. Resting state EEG showed a decrease in theta power with age perhaps reflective of increased control. While no effects were evident in beta and alpha bands, we did observe an interaction between boredom and age for frontal asymmetry such that for those higher in boredom, the asymmetry increased with age. Finally, for theta to beta ratios there were main effects of age (i.e., a decrease in theta/beta ratio with age) and boredom such that those higher in boredom had higher theta/beta ratios over frontal and central brain areas. The results are discussed in the context of prior work on school-related boredom and provide several important avenues for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper compares the sensitivities and accuracies of four different optoelectronic transducers in measuring solar irradiance for the fabrication of portable and low-cost pyranometers. Trans-impedance conditioning circuits were designed for two phototransistors (BP103 and SFH3310) and two photodiodes (BPW21 and BPW34). The Arduino Mega 2560 was used as an interface between the analogue signal produced by the conditioning circuits and the digital output ports. The transducers with a standard pyranometer RSRA_05V were arranged on a vero board and exposed to the sun. Statistical analysis of the experimental results produced the least root mean square error value of 6.58794 Wm−2 for phototransistor BP103 during the dry season followed by 13.35216 Wm−2 for phototransistor SFH3310 during the dry season. The correlation coefficients of BPW21, BPW34, BP103, and SFH3310 with the standard pyranometer are 0.9489, 0.9916, 0.9976, and 0.9905, respectively. The experimental results obtained from the phototransistors BP103 and SFH3310 strongly correlated with those of the standard pyranometer coupled with lower root mean square error and mean bias error values than those of the photodiodes. Thus, the phototransistors BP103 and SFH3310 are more accurate and effective for measuring solar irradiance. This study contributes to the development of low-cost and accurate solar radiation meters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence has been suggested to be a time of heightened lie-telling. The current study used a latent profile analysis to examine unique patterns of lie-telling for lies told to parents and friends during adolescence as well as whether adjustment indicators (relationship quality, depressive symptoms, social anxiety, externalizing problems) could be used to predict group membership. These patterns were examined among 828 10- to 16- year-olds (Mage = 12.39, SD = 1.69, 49.9% male). In both relationships, 5-profile solutions emerged; most adolescents reported very infrequent lie-telling, while a small portion (less than 5%) told high rates of lies. Adjustment indicators predicted group membership. Depressive symptoms, social anxiety, parent relationship quality, and externalizing problems predicted group membership for lying to parents. Depressive symptoms and social anxiety predicted group membership for lying to friends. The findings indicate that high rates of lie-telling found in previous research may be driven by a small number of prolific lie-tellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research examining the link between solitude and psychosocial adjustment among adolescents has lacked a comprehensive, person-centered examination of differential patterns of both solitude and sociability. The current study surveyed 1071 adolescents (Mage = 12.48, SD = 1.71, 49.86% female, age range = 10–16 years). Using latent-profile analysis, four groups were identified with differential patterns of characteristics of solitude (i.e., enjoyment, motivations, preference, frequency) and sociability. Results indicated that worse psychosocial adjustment across time points was associated with membership in the PFS-NonSociable group (characterized by high enjoyment, preference, and frequency of solitude; low sociability) compared to all other groups. Findings suggest that solitude for adolescents appears to be linked to worse psychosocial adjustment only if accompanied by a lack of sociability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil health metrics with strong links to ecological function and agricultural productivity are needed to ensure that future management of agricultural systems meets sustainability goals. While ecological metrics and crop yields are often considered separately from one another, our work sought to assess the links between the two in an agricultural context where productivity is a key consideration. Here, we investigated the value of soil health tests in terms of their relevance to agricultural management practices and crop yields at contrasting long term cropping systems experiments. One site was on a sandy loam Leptic Podzol and the other on a sandy clay loam Endostagnic Luvisol. Furthermore, the experiments had different management systems. One contained legume-supported rotations with different grass-clover ley durations and organic amendment usage, while the other compared a range of nutrient input options through fertiliser and organic amendments on the same rotation without ley periods. Metrics included field tests (earthworm counts and visual evaluation of soil structure scores) with laboratory analysis of soil structure, chemistry and biology. This analysis included bulk density, macroporosity, pH, available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, soil organic matter and potentially mineralizable nitrogen. Using a novel combination of long-term experiments, management systems and distinctive soil types, we demonstrated that as well as providing nutrients, agricultural management which resulted in better soil organic matter, pH, potassium and bulk density was correlated with higher crop yields. The importance of ley duration and potentially mineralizable nitrogen to yield in legume-supported systems showed the impact of agricultural management on soil biology. In systems with applications of synthetic fertiliser, earthworm counts and visual evaluation of soil structure scores were correlated with higher yields. We concluded that agricultural management altered yields not just through direct supply of nutrients to crops, but also through the changes in soil health measured by simple metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There were no missing data for age and sex in the adolescent sample. Method Participants The adolescent sample comprised of 645 participants ( I M i SB age sb = 14.55, I SD i = 1.74, range = 11 to 19 years, 50.2% female), and the adult sample comprised of 444 participants ( I M i SB age sb = 36.90 years, I SD i = 13.84, range = 18-83 years, 69% female, 0.5% other). Appendix Socio-Demographic and Survey Characteristics Adolescent Sample The participants in the adolescent sample were students involved in a larger longitudinal study of health-risk behaviours among elementary and high school students. Being female (OR = 1.49, I p i = 0.015) and higher age (OR = 1.10, I p i = 0.049) in the adolescent sample, and lower age (OR = 0.971, I p i < 0.001) in the adult sample were associated with describing being alone as loneliness. [Extracted from the article]

Mind wandering is a universal phenomenon in which our attention shifts away from the task at hand toward task-unrelated thoughts. Despite it inherently involving a shift in mental set, little is known about the role of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering. In this article we consider the potential of cognitive flexibility as a mechanism for mediating and/or regulating the occurrence of mind wandering. Our review begins with a brief introduction to the prominent theories of mind wandering—the executive failure hypothesis, the decoupling hypothesis, the process-occurrence framework, and the resource-control account of sustained attention. Then, after discussing their respective merits and weaknesses, we put forward a new perspective of mind wandering focused on cognitive flexibility, which provides an account more in line with the data to date, including why older populations experience a reduction in mind wandering. After summarizing initial evidence prompting this new perspective, drawn from several mind-wandering and task-switching studies, we recommend avenues for future research aimed at further understanding the importance of cognitive flexibility in mind wandering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: People released from incarceration are at increased risk of suicide compared to the general population. We aimed to synthesise evidence on the incidence of and sex differences in suicide, suicidal ideation, and self-harm after release from incarceration. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and PubMed between 1 January 1970 and 14 October 2021 for suicide, suicidal ideation, and self-harm after release from incarceration (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020208885). We calculated pooled crude mortality rates (CMRs) and standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for suicide, overall and by sex, using random-effects models. We calculated a pooled incidence rate ratio (IRR) comparing rates of suicide by sex. Results: Twenty-nine studies were included. The pooled suicide CMR per 100,000 person years was 114.5 (95%CI 97.0, 132.0, I2 = 99.2%) for non-sex stratified samples, 139.5 (95% CI 91.3, 187.8, I2 = 88.6%) for women, and 121.8 (95% CI 82.4, 161.2, I2 = 99.1%) for men. The suicide SMR was 7.4 (95% CI 5.4, 9.4, I2 = 98.3%) for non-sex stratified samples, 14.9 for women (95% CI 6.7, 23.1, I2 = 88.3%), and 4.6 for men (95% CI 1.3, 7.8, I2 = 98.8%). The pooled suicide IRR comparing women to men was 1.1 (95% CI 0.9, 1.4, I2 = 82.2%). No studies reporting self-harm or suicidal ideation after incarceration reported sex differences. Conclusion: People released from incarceration are greater than seven times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. The rate of suicide is higher after release than during incarceration, with the elevation in suicide risk (compared with the general population) three times higher for women than for men. Greater effort to prevent suicide after incarceration, particularly among women, is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive theories of depression, and mindfulness theories of well-being, converge on the notion that self-judgment plays a critical role in mental health. However, these theories have rarely been tested via tasks and computational modeling analyses that can disentangle the information processes operative in self-judgments. We applied a drift-diffusion computational model to the self-referential encoding task (SRET) collected before and after an 8-week mindfulness intervention (n = 96). A drift-rate regression parameter representing positive—relative to negative—self-referential judgment strength positively related to mindful awareness and inversely related to depression, both at baseline and over time; however, this parameter did not significantly relate to the interaction between mindful awareness and nonjudgmentalness. At the level of individual depression symptoms, at baseline, a spectrum of symptoms (inversely) correlated with the drift-rate regression parameter, suggesting that many distinct depression symptoms relate to valenced self-judgment between subjects. By contrast, over the intervention, changes in only a smaller subset of anhedonia-related depression symptoms showed substantial relationships with this parameter. Both behavioral and model-derived measures showed modest split-half and test-retest correlations. Results support cognitive theories that implicate self-judgment in depression and mindfulness theories, which imply that mindful awareness should lead to more positive self-views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous experiments investigating visual search have shown that distractors that are semantically related to a search target can capture attention and slow the search process. In two experiments, we examine if distractors exactly matching, or semantically related to, search-irrelevant information held in working memory (WM) can also influence visual search while ruling out potential effects of color similarity. Participants first viewed and memorized an image of an everyday object, then they determined if a target item was present or absent in a two-object search array. On exact-match trials, the memorized object appeared as a distractor; on semantic-match trials, an object semantically related to the memorized object appeared as a distractor. Both exact-match and semantic-match distractors slowed search when the target was present in the search array. Our findings extend previous findings by demonstrating WM-driven attentional guidance by complex objects rather than simple features. The results also suggest that visual search can be influenced by distractors sharing only semantic features with a search-irrelevant, but active, WM representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on factors contributing to the morbidity and mortality of the Bering–Chukchi–Beaufort seas stock of bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) is fundamental to its successful management and recovery. The Alaska Arctic coastline is remote and expansive, making monitoring for and gross examination of carcasses difficult. However, sighting data and imagery collected during aerial surveys in the eastern Chukchi (EC) and western Beaufort (WB) seas from 2009 through 2019 provide information on bowhead whale mortality. We present bowhead whale carcass data from the 2019 aerial surveys that add to the long series of consistent information on floating and beach-cast bowhead whale carcasses. The 2019 carcass data suggest an increased occurrence of probable killer whale (Orcinus orca) predation on bowhead whales in the WB. Eleven bowhead whale carcasses were photo-documented from July to October 2019 in the EC and WB study areas. Of the 11 carcasses documented, 7 had injuries consistent with probable killer whale predation—2 in the EC and 5 in the WB. Probable cause of death could not be assigned to four carcasses. No carcasses were associated with aboriginal subsistence hunting. Despite similar annual survey effort from 2009 to 2019, several compelling deviations in carcass numbers and locations were observed in 2019. Compared to 2009–2018, 2019 had the highest yearly number of documented carcasses and the most categorized as probable killer whale predation. Carcass locations exhibited a striking shift from the EC to the WB. Lastly, more carcasses were categorized as probable killer whale predation in the WB during 2019 than in 2009–2018 combined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated whether the associations between emotion regulation and cognitive appraisals and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) differ between Asian American and European American trauma survivors. Asian American (n = 103) and European American (n = 104) trauma survivors were recruited through mTurk and completed an on-line questionnaire assessing cognitive appraisals, emotion regulation and PTSD symptomatology. The European American group reported greater trauma-specific rumination, psychological inflexibility, seeking out others for comfort, and negative self-appraisals than the Asian American group. The Asian American group reported greater secondary control appraisals and cultural beliefs about adversity than the European American group. Second, cultural group moderated the associations between (a) brooding rumination, (b) fatalism, (c) self-blame, and (d) negative communal self-appraisals and PTSD symptoms. These associations were larger for the European American group than the Asian American group. Third, there was an indirect pathway from self-construal (independent and interdependent) to PTSD symptoms through certain emotion regulation approaches and cognitive appraisals. Additionally, cultural group was found to moderate several of these indirect effects. These findings highlight the importance of considering cultural background and cultural values in understanding the processes involved in PTSD. Further research in this area is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haem is an iron-containing tetrapyrrole that is critical for a variety of cellular and physiological processes1–3. Haem binding proteins are present in almost all cellular compartments, but the molecular mechanisms that regulate the transport and use of haem within the cell remain poorly understood2,3. Here we show that haem-responsive gene 9 (HRG-9) (also known as transport and Golgi organization 2 (TANGO2)) is an evolutionarily conserved haem chaperone with a crucial role in trafficking haem out of haem storage or synthesis sites in eukaryotic cells. Loss of Caenorhabditis elegans hrg-9 and its paralogue hrg-10 results in the accumulation of haem in lysosome-related organelles, the haem storage site in worms. Similarly, deletion of the hrg-9 homologue TANGO2 in yeast and mammalian cells induces haem overload in mitochondria, the site of haem synthesis. We demonstrate that TANGO2 binds haem and transfers it from cellular membranes to apo-haemoproteins. Notably, homozygous tango2−/− zebrafish larvae develop pleiotropic symptoms including encephalopathy, cardiac arrhythmia and myopathy, and die during early development. These defects partially resemble the symptoms of human TANGO2-related metabolic encephalopathy and arrhythmias, a hereditary disease caused by mutations in TANGO24–8. Thus, the identification of HRG-9 as an intracellular haem chaperone provides a biological basis for exploring the aetiology and treatment of TANGO2-related disorders.HRG-9 (also known as TANGO2) is an evolutionarily conserved haem chaperone that traffics haem from sites of storage or synthesis in eukaryotic cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several mental health programs have been developed in clinics and transported into schools, which has great potential for increasing access to intervention for students who may not be otherwise served. However, such programs may lack consideration of the complexity and constraints of schools, including the diversity of student needs and backgrounds, raising questions about their effectiveness in this context. This study evaluates the efficacy an evidence-based clinical program—the Incredible Years® Dina Dinosaur School small group treatment program—under such realistic conditions. A total of 138 first- and second-grade students identified as having self-regulation difficulties were randomized to Business as Usual or intervention, which included delivery of 34 group and 12 individual recess coaching sessions over 6 months, teacher consultation and in-service presentations, and three parent workshops. Multi-method outcome measures were collected before and after the intervention and at 6-month follow-up, evaluating self-regulation, disruptive behavior, social competence, and academic proficiency. The results indicated few significant main effects and consistently small effect sizes. Effects were generally larger for self-regulation and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) outcomes as well as for students at risk for ODD; however, meaningful improvement on functional school outcomes was limited. Findings suggest less impact than clinic-based delivery which typically includes a parent program component, although reduced effects may also be related to lower fidelity in some of the child groups. The results contribute to understanding transportability and have useful implications for school mental health programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) are increasingly utilized to improve mental health. Interest in the putative effects of MBPs on cognitive function is also growing. This is the first meta-analysis of objective cognitive outcomes across multiple domains from randomized MBP studies of adults. Seven databases were systematically searched to January 2020. Fifty-six unique studies (n = 2,931) were included, of which 45 (n = 2,238) were synthesized using robust variance estimation meta-analysis. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses evaluated moderators. Pooling data across cognitive domains, the summary effect size for all studies favored MBPs over comparators and was small in magnitude (g = 0.15; [0.05, 0.24]). Across subgroup analyses of individual cognitive domains/subdomains, MBPs outperformed comparators for executive function (g = 0.15; [0.02, 0.27]) and working memory outcomes (g = 0.23; [0.11, 0.36]) only. Subgroup analyses identified significant effects for studies of non-clinical samples, as well as for adults aged over 60. Across all studies, MBPs outperformed inactive, but not active comparators. Limitations include the primarily unclear within-study risk of bias (only a minority of studies were considered low risk), and that statistical constraints rendered some p-values unreliable. Together, results partially corroborate the hypothesized link between mindfulness practices and cognitive performance. This review was registered with PROSPERO [CRD42018100904]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigated purported mechanisms by which mindfulness-based programs (MBP) improve depression symptoms, specifically, whether mindfulness-related changes in the processing of self-referential and/or emotionally valenced information are associated with improvements in depression symptoms. Four domains of the Self-Reference Task (SRT)—valence bias, self-bias, negative self-bias and positive self-bias in memory recall—were assessed before and after an 8-week MBP in 95 individuals with mild-severe depression symptoms. Associations between pre-post intervention changes in SRT biases and improvements in mindfulness skill acquisition and depression symptoms were examined. Intervention-related changes in SRT biases were also examined as a function of treatment response. Mindfulness skill acquisition from baseline to week eight was significantly associated with decreased self-bias and decreased negative self-bias. Improvement in depression symptom severity from baseline to week 20 was significantly associated with pre-to-post intervention decreases in negative valence bias and increases in positive self bias, but not changes in self-bias or negative self bias. Changes in valence bias significantly interacted with treatment response, while self biases did not. These findings suggest that MBPs decrease depression symptoms through changes in valence and valenced self rather than a global reduction in self-referential processing. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov NCT01831362 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of preschooler PA in two separate environments (indoor/outdoor) on measures of executive functions in preschoolers. Eighteen preschool-age (3–5 years) children were recruited for the study. Participants of the study wore an accelerometer for 30 min during indoor classroom-based activities and 30 min during outdoor PA. Pre and post inhibitory control and simple reaction time assessments were completed for each condition, for a total of four assessments for each participant. One assessment of the inhibitory control task (Arrows) resulted in a significant interaction of time x condition, F(1,16) = 3.42, p =.08, partial η2 = 0.18. These results indicate that performance improved in response to outdoor PA, but declined in response to indoor classroom activities. This research suggests that outdoor PA may result in cognitive benefits that are not observed following indoor classroom activities on one assessment of inhibitory control. Providing more scheduled time for PA for preschoolers is recommended for these reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the quest of identifying newer molecular targets for the management of glucocorticoid-induced ocular hypertension (GC-OHT) and glaucoma (GCG), several microarray studies have attempted to investigate the genome-wide transcriptome profiling of primary human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells in response to dexamethasone (DEX). However, no studies are reported so far to demonstrate the temporal changes in the expression of genes in the cultured human TM cells in response to DEX treatment. Therefore, in the present study, the time-dependent changes in the genome-wide expression of genes in primary human TM cells after short (16 hours: 16 h) and long exposure (7 days: 7 d) of DEX was investigated using RNA sequencing. There were 199 (118 up-regulated; 81 down-regulated) and 525 (119 up-regulated; 406 down-regulated) DEGs in 16 h and 7 d treatment groups respectively. The unique genes identified in 16 h and 7 d treatment groups were 152 and 478 respectively. This study found a distinct gene signature and pathways between two treatment regimes. Longer exposure of DEX treatment showed a dys-regulation of Wnt and Rap1 signaling and so highlighted potential therapeutic targets for pharmacological management of GC-OHT/glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glaucoma is a complex neurodegenerative disease resulting in progressive optic neuropathy and is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is the predominant form affecting 65.5 million people globally. Despite the prevalence of POAG and the identification of over 120 glaucoma related genetic loci, the underlaying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signalling pathway is implicated in the molecular pathology of POAG. To gain a better understanding of the role TGF-β2 plays in the glaucomatous changes to the molecular pathology in the trabecular meshwork, we employed RNA-Seq to delineate the TGF-β2 induced changes in the transcriptome of normal primary human trabecular meshwork cells (HTM). We identified a significant number of differentially expressed genes and associated pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis of POAG. The differentially expressed genes were predominantly enriched in ECM regulation, TGF-β signalling, proliferation/apoptosis, inflammation/wound healing, MAPK signalling, oxidative stress and RHO signalling. Canonical pathway analysis confirmed the enrichment of RhoA signalling, inflammatory-related processes, ECM and cytoskeletal organisation in HTM cells in response to TGF-β2. We also identified novel genes and pathways that were affected after TGF-β2 treatment in the HTM, suggesting additional pathways are activated, including Nrf2, PI3K-Akt, MAPK and HIPPO signalling pathways. The identification and characterisation of TGF-β2 dependent differentially expressed genes and pathways in HTM cells is essential to understand the patho-physiology of glaucoma and to develop new therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examining Eastern North Pacific gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) carcasses and tracking mortality and morbidity are essential for assessing the health of this stock. In the eastern Chukchi Sea, the expansive coastline relative to few coastal communities makes monitoring for and physical examination of gray whale carcasses difficult. The Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals (ASAMM) project offers an unparalleled dataset of gray whale carcasses, documented and photographed from July to October 2009–2019, providing a unique opportunity to investigate imaged gray whale carcasses for possible cause of death. Surveys covered expanses of gray whale and killer whale (Orcinus orca) summer and autumn habitat. ASAMM documented a total of 59 gray whale carcasses, distributed across the eastern Chukchi Sea (67.5° N–72.0° N, 155.5° W–169.0° W). Carcass sighting rates ([CPUE] carcasses per 1000-km of effort) varied by month and year. The highest numbers of carcasses were observed in 2012 (13) and 2019 (8). August had the highest number of gray whale carcass sightings (22) and the highest carcass sighting rate (0.231 CPUE). Images were obtained for 56 gray whale carcasses. The majority (41) of imaged gray whale carcasses had injuries consistent with probable killer whale predation, and were photo-documented every year except 2010 (when no carcasses were seen) and 2011. Eight carcasses were suspect killer whale predation, and cause of death could not be determined for seven carcasses. These results will be valuable for evaluating mortality, concurrent with rapid oceanographic changes, and increases in anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threat sensitivity is thought to be a precursor for anxiety. Yet it remains unknown whether individuals have consistently high neural activation to different threatening situations. The current study (N = 161, Mage = 11.26, SD = 1.79) used three ERPs from different threat-related events: 1) the P3 to receiving negative feedback; 2) the ERN to making mistakes; 3) the N170 to viewing angry faces. Participants also completed self-report measures of threat sensitivity, impulsivity, and demographics. In a follow-up analysis, we also investigated whether the results replicate when using the difference score for each ERP. Youth with higher self-reported sensitivity to threats and lower self-reported impulsivity had consistently higher neural activation to threatening situations. Males also had consistently higher neural activation to threats compared with females. When using the difference score, we found that youth with higher self-reported threat sensitivity had consistently higher neural activation to threats than nonthreats. Although it is common for youth to have high neural activation during at least one threatening situation (e.g., making mistakes), only ~12% of youth have consistently high neural activation across a variety of different threats. Thus, detecting youth who are sensitive to a variety of different threats may be an important avenue to investigate to identify youth most at risk for the development of anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the link between affinity for solitude (a tendency to enjoy time alone) and psychosocial adjustment among adolescents has been mixed; however, this may depend on whether time spent alone is motivated by positive (self-reflection, creative pursuits) or reactive (negative affect, avoiding social interaction) factors. The current study investigated affinity for solitude and motivations for spending time alone among 1072 early to mid-adolescents (Mage = 12.48 years, age range = 10–16, 49.8% female). Higher reactive solitude predicted depressive symptoms, peer victimization, and lower self-esteem, controlling for previous scores on these adjustment indicators. For social anxiety and friendship quality, there were significant 3-way interactions between affinity for solitude, reactive solitude, and frequency of time spent alone, indicating that the relation between affinity for solitude and these latter adjustment indicators depends on why and how often youth spend time alone. Findings indicate that attention should be given to youth who spend time alone for reactive reasons, as this appears to be associated with negative adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical exercise is generally beneficial to all aspects of human and animal health, slowing cognitive ageing and neurodegeneration1. The cognitive benefits of physical exercise are tied to an increased plasticity and reduced inflammation within the hippocampus2–4, yet little is known about the factors and mechanisms that mediate these effects. Here we show that ‘runner plasma’, collected from voluntarily running mice and infused into sedentary mice, reduces baseline neuroinflammatory gene expression and experimentally induced brain inflammation. Plasma proteomic analysis revealed a concerted increase in complement cascade inhibitors including clusterin (CLU). Intravenously injected CLU binds to brain endothelial cells and reduces neuroinflammatory gene expression in a mouse model of acute brain inflammation and a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with cognitive impairment who participated in structured exercise for 6 months had higher plasma levels of CLU. These findings demonstrate the existence of anti-inflammatory exercise factors that are transferrable, target the cerebrovasculature and benefit the brain, and are present in humans who engage in exercise.Plasma from voluntarily running mice reduces baseline expression of neuroinflammatory genes and experimentally induced brain inflammation when infused into sedentary mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knowledge of its potential cancer risk is often not enough to motivate individuals to avoid indoor tanning. Previous research has found that emotions toward indoor tanning and appearance motivations may prompt people to continue despite the risks. Methods: We conducted two online surveys of US young adult women. Study one included a convenience sample of female undergraduates (N = 502) at a university in the northwestern USA. Study two included young women from a nationwide US online panel (N = 270). Results: Results suggest that emotional associations, both positive and negative, with indoor tanning explain greater variances in indoor tanning behavior than demographics and previously established psychosocial predictors of tanning alone. Appearance motivations were also positively associated with indoor tanning in both samples. Conclusions: This research has implications for health care providers and health communicators, as indoor tanning prevention messages and campaigns should consider the association between both positive and negative emotions on tanning behaviors as well as appearance motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: As mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) become widespread, MBP research samples should be representative of the general public to avoid exclusion of minoritized groups. This systematic review retrospectively investigates demographic diversity in MBP research, based on reported variables and patterns of omission during that time. Methods: We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of standard MBSR and MBCT that targeted self-regulation outcomes through 2016 with healthy and clinical adult populations. Completeness of documentation and analyses for race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, language, education, age, and intersectionality were extracted, compared with census data when possible, and tracked over time based on the date of publication. Results: The included 94 RCTs comprised populations that were predominantly White (79%), middle-aged (46 years), highly educated (15 years), and female (70%). The composition of studies from the USA differed significantly from the US census data. Only 41% of studies reported race or ethnicity, 95% reported gender without non-binary categories, 64% reported education, 89% reported age variance, 2% reported sexual orientation, 9% stratified analyses by demographic variables, and none reported identity multiplicity or intersectionality. MBP efficacy could not be determined for subgroups due to lack of subgroup analyses. Temporal trends show limited improvements in diversity composition and reporting of race over time. Conclusion: MBPs' potential benefit for diverse populations will depend on adequate reporting of currently underreported demographic variables. To develop culturally responsive interventions, MBPs research must include underrepresented populations to counter observed systemic bias and address inclusion disparities in the field. We offer recommendations to further this aim. Systematic Review Registration: The PROSPERO review registration (number: CRD42016051765 (Loucks et al., American Journal of Health Behavior 40:258–267, 2016)) with a review protocol was submitted on December 9, 2016, and confirmed on December 16, 2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most research has shown that sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships tends to decline over time. Studies showing the average trajectory, however, are limited by only assessing one slope. With longitudinal data from the Flourishing Families Project, Marital Instability Dataset, and the Iowa Youth and Families Project, we utilized growth mixture modeling to assess what trajectories of sexual satisfaction exist in midlife marriages. In the three samples (one individual, two dyadic), we found clear evidence for heterogeneous sexual satisfaction trajectories, for both wives and husbands. Through the datasets, we found some trajectories did decline over time. We also found stably high, stably medium, stably low, and some trajectories that showed an increase in sexual satisfaction over time. Overall, trajectories were similar for wives and husbands, though some classes had one partner with variability while the other was stable, some classes had trajectories with wives having higher sexual satisfaction than husbands, and some classes had trajectories with husbands having higher sexual satisfaction than wives. Demographic variables were not strong distinguishers of these differing trajectories. Both marital satisfaction and perceived marital stability trajectories (based on sexual satisfaction classes) generally had similar patterns to sexual satisfaction trajectories, with a few exceptions. Both marital satisfaction and perceived marital stability were less likely to significantly change over time, have discrepancies between wives and husbands, and have either low marital satisfaction or high perceived marital instability, even if sexual satisfaction was low. These data can help couples recognize various possibilities for sexual satisfaction over time, perhaps helping them to avoid cultural myths of inevitably declining sexual satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total electron content (TEC) data obtained from the ground-based GPS receiver stations of the Nigerian GNSS network of stations (NIGNET) have been used in this study to analyse the response of equatorial and low-latitude ionosphere to strong geomagnetic storms that occurred on October 25, 2011. The stations and their respective geomagnetic latitudes are Lagos (−3.03°), Yola (−1.32°) and Birnin Kebbi (0.72°). The storm caused enhancements in TEC (positive storm effect) in comparison with the quiet condition's TEC across all the stations during both the main and the recovery phases. During the storm of October 25, recorded maximum enhancements in TEC were 181.86%, 142.34% and 181.24% in Kebbi, Yola and Lagos respectively.The magnitude of the ionospheric irregularities was higher at the night (October 25) of the main phase of the geomagnetic storm than the night (October 24) before the storm onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the faunal remains from Middle Stone Age deposits of Magubike rockshelter was undertaken to contribute to the modern human behavior debate. Multivariate taphonomic analyses implicate hominins as the key taphonomic agent in the accumulation and modification of the faunal assemblage. Results also show they mainly foraged on large-sized animals as the key sources of meat and marrow. Small-sized animals were also exploited to maximize the foraging net return rates, but only in relatively small quantities. There is evidence that they transported and systematically processed fleshed or relatively complete carcasses. The majority of the cut-marked elements are the high-meat and marrow-bearing bones. The percentages of cut and percussion marks on long bone midshafts fall within the range of variations documented in experimental simulations that sought to replicate hominin primary (early) access to fully fleshed carcasses. There is also evidence that carnivores were scavenging bone fragments discarded by hominins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous scholars have found that when individuals feel that pornography use is uncontrollable, it is linked to more extreme negative outcomes than frequency of use. With a Mechanical Turk sample of 1421 individuals, we used structural equation modeling to evaluate how multiple aspects of sexual desire (sexual drive and dyadic desire) and multiple aspects of sexual passion expression (harmonious, obsessive, and inhibited) were associated with both pornography use frequency and perceived compulsivity to pornography. In general, sexual desire was more connected to pornography use and sexual passion was more connected to perceived compulsivity. Specifically, sexual drive was associated with higher pornography use, whereas both obsessive and inhibited sexual passion were associated with higher perceived compulsivity. The study should help scholars, clinicians, and policy makers to identify factors that can help to overcome potentially problematic pornography use and approach this subject with more nuance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been widely implemented to improve self-regulation behaviors, often by targeting emotion-related constructs to facilitate change. Yet the degree to which MBIs engage specific measures of emotion-related constructs has not been systematically examined. Methods: Using advanced meta-analytic techniques, this review examines construct and measurement engagement in trials of adults that used standardized applications of the two most established MBIs: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), or modified variations of these interventions that met defined criteria. Results: Seventy-two studies (N = 7,378) were included (MBSR k = 47, MBCT k = 21, modified k = 4). MBIs led to significant improvement in emotion-related processing overall, compared to inactive controls (d = 0.58; k = 36), and in all constructs assessed: depression (d = 0.66; k = 26), anxiety (d = 0.63; k = 19), combined mental health (d = 0.75; k = 7), and stress (d = 0.44; k = 11). Reactions to pain, mood states, emotion regulation, and biological measures lacked sufficient data for analysis. MBIs did not outperform active controls in any analyses. Measurement tool and population type did not moderate results, but MBI type did, in that MBCT showed stronger effects than MBSR, although these effects were driven by a small number of studies. Conclusions: This review is the first to examine the full scope of emotion-related measures relevant to self-regulation, to determine which measures are most influenced by MBCT/MBSR. Compared to extant reviews, which typically focused on MBI outcomes, this work examined mechanistic processes based on measurement domains and tools. While effect sizes were similar among measurement tools, this review also includes a descriptive evaluation of measures and points of caution, providing guidance to MBI researchers and clinicians for selection of emotion-related measurement tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is characterized by excessive daydreaming, slowed thinking, and mental confusion and ‘fogginess’. A growing body of research supports the empirical differentiation of sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) from the inattentive (IN) behaviors that characterize attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Further SCT and IN are uniquely associated with clinical correlates across academic, social, and emotional domains; however, there is limited understanding of how neuropsychological functioning contributes to SCT and/or IN behaviors. The two broad domains of neuropsychological functioning that have been most frequently examined in relation to SCT behaviors are processing speed and executive functions (EF). The present study tested whether EF and processing speed measured when children were on average age five years were predictive of teacher-rated IN and SCT behaviors in 1st – 3rd grades. Participants included 1,022 children from the Family Life Project, an ongoing prospective longitudinal study of child development in low-income, non-metropolitan communities. EF and processing speed uniquely made independent contributions to the prediction of IN and SCT. In secondary analyses that focused on specific facets of EF and processing speed, inhibitory control and working memory abilities predicted lower IN but not SCT behaviors, whereas slower processing speed significantly predicted both greater SCT and IN behaviors. These results are discussed as they inform developmental models of SCT and IN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to assess the differential intraocular pressure response (IOP) to dexamethasone (DEX) treatment at two dose levels (100 or 500 nM) in perfusion cultured Indian cadaveric eyes to investigate glucocorticoid (GC) responsiveness. In a human organ-cultured anterior segment (HOCAS) set-up, the eye pressure was monitored for every 24 h post DEX infusion (100 or 500 nM) or 0.1% ethanol treatment for 7 days after baseline stabilization. The expression of DEX-inducible proteins such as myocilin and fibronectin in HOCAS-TM tissues was assessed by immunostaining. Elevated IOP was observed in 6/16 eyes [Mean ± SEM (mΔIOP): 15.50 ± 1.96 mmHg; 37.5% responders] and 3/15 eyes (Mean ± SEM mΔIOP: 10 ± 0.84 mmHg; 20% responders) in 100 nM and 500 nM dose groups respectively. Elevated IOP in GC responder eyes was substantiated with a significant increase in myocilin (11.8-fold; p = 0.0002) and fibronectin (eightfold; p = 0.04) expression as compared to vehicle-treated eyes by immunofluorescence analysis. This is the first study reporting the GC responsiveness in Indian cadaveric eyes. The observed GC response rate was comparable with the previous studies and hence, this model will enable us to investigate the relationship between differential gene expression and individual GC responsiveness in our population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]