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The purpose of this study was to identify and measure components of perceived stress in fathers of infants in a surgical neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The Parent Stressor Scale: Infant Hospitalization (PSS:IH) was used to assess perceived stress in 22 fathers. Paternal stress was highest in the domains of 'Parental Role Alteration' and 'Infant Appearance and Behavior.' 'Sights and Sounds' did not appear to be associated with self-reported stress. This study demonstrates elevated levels of perceived stress among fathers of surgical NICU babies. Attention to fathers may be assisted by findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relations between 3 types of perceived control, symptom severity, and 2 adaptational outcomes, depressive symptoms and psychological well-being, were examined in a sample of 319 people with tinnitus. Consistent with previous studies of control and adjustment to chronic health conditions, general health and symptom control were associated with better psychological adjustment, and retrospective control was associated with worse psychological adjustment. Only symptom control emerged as a significant moderator in the symptom severity--adjustment relationship, such that stronger beliefs in one's ability to control symptoms were most strongly associated with better adjustment among those with more severe tinnitus symptoms. These findings were consistent with coping perspectives and cognitive adaptation theory and suggest that symptom-related perceptions of control may be an effective coping resource to nurture in chronic health contexts with severe symptoms. ((c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In occupational therapy, a fundamental belief is that a healthy lifestyle reflects the adapted balance between work, play/leisure, self-care and rest activities, which promotes occupational function. Adolph Meyer (1922) stated that our existence is structured through occupation. The occupational balance may be disrupted when an individual experiences a mental health problem. Mental health problems vary in terms of diagnosis, but more importantly, they vary in the amount of occupational dysfunction. In this study, the type of environmental support needed to function with a mental health problem is an indicator of differences in abilities to perform daily activity patterns. This study describes this balance of occupations as the temporal adaptation between two comparison groups. The effects of gainful employment and mental health status on the activity patterns for work, play/leisure, self-care and rest are discussed in terms of hours utilized, and the perceived competence, importance and enjoyment for these activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the engagement of player-facing casino employees with GameSense, a responsible gambling (RG) program, and referral of players to GameSense. We surveyed 280 employees across three casinos in Massachusetts that use this RG program as part of their RG strategy. We found that although most player-facing casino employees were aware of GameSense, slightly over half visited a GameSense Information Center, and about two-thirds interacted with a GameSense Advisor. In terms of the reason for visiting, Latent Class Analysis (LCA) revealed three distinct classes: Comprehensive Interests, RG Interests, and Focused Interests. As for those who have yet to visit, LCA two classes emerged: RG Proficiency Beliefs and Tempered RG Proficiency Beliefs. Engaged employees were more likely to refer players to GameSense, highlighting the need for targeted approaches addressing the diverse interests of player-facing employees for engaging or not engaging with GameSense. These findings underscore the importance of have player-facing casino employees engage with RG programming, and targeted approached for engagement, to enhance the efficacy of RG initiatives, and contribute to a more robust RG framework within the gambling industry., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Individuals with a tendency to conceal unflattering information about themselves are more likely to be preoccupied by their secrets and tend to report more negative affect. According to theory, this negative affect is due to self-concealers' conflicting motivation to be authentic in their relationship but fear the negative consequences should they reveal their secrets, which promotes ill-fated attempts to suppress. The purpose of the current study was to test a central component of this model., Methods: Two studies of adults who were in a romantic relationship and keeping a secret from their partner (combined N = 635; 67.2% women; M age  = 39.6, SD = 11.9) were surveyed on four biweekly occasions. Multilevel mediation analyses were conducted to test whether preoccupation and suppression mediated the link between self-concealing and negative affect and guilt., Results: The data support the hypotheses. Self-concealers were more preoccupied with and prone to suppress their secret than those low on the trait, which, in turn, predicted greater negative affect and guilt., Conclusion: The findings suggest that self-concealers' insecurities and fear of the relational consequences of disclosure set the stage for the debilitating cycle of suppression and preoccupation that leaves them feeling anxious and guilty., (© 2023 The Author. Journal of Personality published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

AbstractCutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL) makes up a significant portion of total evaporative water loss in many terrestrial vertebrates. CEWL changes on evolutionary and acclimatory timescales in response to temperature and humidity. However, the lability of CEWL on acute timescales is unknown. To examine this, we increased or decreased body temperatures of western fence lizards ( Sceloporus occidentalis ) over a 15-min period while continuously recording CEWL with a handheld evaporimeter. CEWL increased in response to heating and decreased in response to cooling on the order of seconds. However, CEWL was different between heating and cooling groups at a common body temperature. We observed the same positive relationship between CEWL and body temperature, as well as the difference in CEWL between treatments, for deceased lizards that we opportunistically measured. However, deceased lizards had more extreme CEWL values for any given body temperature and treatment. Overall, our results suggest that both structural traits and active physiological processes likely influence the rates and plasticity of CEWL.

Peer support is widely assumed to help individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) adjust, yet the evidence is mixed. We propose that peer support may be more likely to promote adjustment when informal support is lacking. To test this hypothesis, 135 individuals living with SCI receiving peer support (46.7% female; M age  = 42.36, SD = 14.83) completed an online survey assessing aspects of and satisfaction with the peer support and family/friend support that they were receiving as well as measures of adjustment. Although those reporting receiving more peer support were not any better adjusted than those reporting less, individuals who were more satisfied with the peer support they received reported better adjustment. Moreover, the relation of satisfaction with peer support with depressive symptoms was dependent on the level of family/friend support. These findings suggest that peer support is most effective among those lacking support from family and friends.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) survivors frequently report changes in cognition after chemotherapy. Mindfulness may benefit survivors by mitigating cancer-related cognitive impairment. As part of a larger study investigating the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for BC survivors living with neuropathic pain, the authors assessed whether MBSR would have an effect on cognitive outcomes., Methods: Participants were randomized to an MBSR intervention group (n = 30) or a waitlist control group (n = 30). Cognitive assessments were administered at 3 time points: at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months post-MBSR in the intervention group and at equivalent time intervals for the control group. Multilevel models were used to assess whether MBSR significantly improved task performance at each time point., Results: MBSR participants showed a significantly greater reduction in prospective and retrospective memory failures at 2 weeks postintervention. No effects of MBSR were noted for objective assessments., Conclusions: These results suggest that MBSR training reduces subjective (but not objective) memory-related impairments in BC survivors who receive treatment with chemotherapy. This study provides insight into a noninvasive intervention to ameliorate memory difficulties in BC survivors., (© 2022 American Cancer Society.)

Wheelchair users must use proper technique when performing sitting-pivot-transfers (SPTs) to prevent upper extremity pain and discomfort. Current methods to analyze the quality of SPTs include the TransKinect, a combination of machine learning (ML) models, and the Transfer Assessment Instrument (TAI), to automatically score the quality of a transfer using Microsoft Kinect V2. With the discontinuation of the V2, there is a necessity to determine the compatibility of other commercial sensors. The Intel RealSense D435 and the Microsoft Kinect Azure were compared against the V2 for inter- and intra-sensor reliability. A secondary analysis with the Azure was also performed to analyze its performance with the existing ML models used to predict transfer quality. The intra- and inter-sensor reliability was higher for the Azure and V2 ( n = 7; ICC = 0.63 to 0.92) than the RealSense and V2 ( n = 30; ICC = 0.13 to 0.7) for four key features. Additionally, the V2 and the Azure both showed high agreement with each other on the ML outcomes but not against a ground truth. Therefore, the ML models may need to be retrained ideally with the Azure, as it was found to be a more reliable and robust sensor for tracking wheelchair transfers in comparison to the V2.

The secrets that are most taxing to one's health and well-being are those that are the most preoccupying to the secret-keeper. However, it is currently unclear what makes a secret preoccupying. We conducted a four-wave longitudinal study to assess four factors that should contribute to one's degree of preoccupation with a secret kept from one's spouse/romantic partner: perceived cost of revealing the secret, frequency of cues, fear of discovery, and individual differences in self-concealment. Multilevel modelling of data from an online sample of 143 adults (51% women, 49% men; M age  = 39.9, SD = 9.3) keeping a secret from their spouse/partner indicated that all four factors independently and positively predict greater preoccupation with a secret. Further, the first three factors also significantly predicted how preoccupied one would be with one's secret two weeks later, taking into account how preoccupied one was with the secret at present. We conclude that the characteristics of the secret, as well as the secret-keeper, can contribute to how preoccupying a secret is to an individual., (© 2021 The British Psychological Society.)

Background and Aims: Casino loyalty programs are marketing strategies designed to foster attitudinal (i.e., identification and satisfaction) and behavioral (i.e., spending) loyalty among gamblers by offering rewards to members. Casino loyalty programs use a tier-based structure to segment members who spend more money into higher tiers, where they receive better rewards (compared to lower tiered members). Tier-based structures may encourage increased expenditure among patrons, especially among players living with a gambling disorder. The current work aimed to examine whether tier status and disordered gambling symptomatology interact to predict attitudinal and behavioral loyalty., Methods: Study 1 used a cross-sectional design to examine whether tier status and disordered gambling symptomatology interact to predict self-reported loyalty among a sample of American casino loyalty program members (N = 396). In Study 2, archival player account data from Canadian casino loyalty program members (N = 649) were analyzed to examine whether tier status and disordered gambling symptomatology interact to predict objective measures of behavioral loyalty., Results: The greatest effect of tier status on attitudinal and behavioral loyalty was observed among non-problem gamblers in the highest tiers. Tier status, however, did not influence loyalty among members high in disordered gambling symptomatology., Discussion: Results suggest that once gambling has become problematic, loyalty programs may not influence player attitudes and behaviors. Non-problem gamblers may be particularly susceptible to the tiered structure of the programs., Conclusion: Non-problem gamblers may benefit from casino loyalty programs in the short-term but longitudinal research is needed to understand the long-term influence of membership.

Keeping secrets from one's partner has been associated with lower well-being and relationship satisfaction. Previous research has suggested that individual differences in self-concealment account for these effects. However, we propose that the fear of discovery (FoD)-defined as the fear that one's secret may be revealed by means other than deliberate disclosure-predicts the extent to which secrets affect well-being beyond the effects attributable to individual differences. Both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal survey (combined N = 471; 54.4% female; M age = 39.5) of adults in romantic relationships confirmed that FoD predicted greater preoccupation with the secret, more negative affect, and less relationship satisfaction and commitment beyond that of self-concealment. Multilevel modeling in Study 2 indicated that changes in FoD predicted changes in preoccupation over time. The data are consistent with the notion that FoD promotes greater preoccupation, greater negative affect, and lower levels of relationship well-being.

Weight teasing is associated with body dissatisfaction, but no study has examined the differential impact of the teasing source's gender. This study examined whether the longitudinal relationship between weight teasing (by peers), weight-related comments (by parents) and body esteem differed by the teasing sources' gender, and whether these relationships were moderated by victims' weight status and demographic factors. A school-based sample (N = 1197 at Time 1; 60% female) of adolescents completed surveys over approximately 2 years (Time 1-Time 3). Multilevel modeling showed that teasing from a male peer had a stronger, negative association with appearance esteem for female victims than males. Although weight teasing was more prevalent among youth with overweight/obesity, teasing from female peers had a stronger negative association with weight esteem for adolescents of average weight. Results suggest the weight teasing sources' gender may differentially impact the victims' body esteem, and highlights the need to consider these factors in weight teasing prevention strategies., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Engineered T cell therapies show considerable promise in the treatment of refractory malignancies. Given the ability of engineered T cells to engraft and persist for prolonged periods along with unpredicted toxicities, incorporation of a suicide gene to allow selective depletion after administration is desirable. Rapamycin is a safe and widely available immunosuppressive pharmaceutical that acts by heterodimerization of FKBP12 with the FRB fragment of mTOR. The apical caspase caspase 9 is activated by homodimerization through its CARD domain. We developed a rapamycin-induced caspase 9 suicide gene. First, we showed that caspase 9 could be activated by a two-protein format with replacement of the CARD domain with both FRB and FKBP12. We next identified an optimal compact single-protein rapamycin caspase 9 (rapaCasp9) by fusing both FRB and FKBP12 with the catalytic domain of caspase 9. Functionality of rapaCasp9 when co-expressed with a CD19 CAR was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo., (Copyright © 2018 Autolus Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dairy industries in Southeast Asia are small and produce less than the domestic market demands. As expenditure and population grow in Southeast Asia, it is expected that the expenditures on skim milk powder (SMP) will grow. In this study, we examined the competitiveness of US SMP in the Southeast Asian market with respect to other leading dairy exporters, including the European Union (EU-28), New Zealand, and Australia. Using monthly data from 2006 to 2015, Rotterdam models were used to estimate import demands for SMP in 4 Southeast Asian countries. In a scenario using annual averages from 2013 to 2015 as a baseline, our findings suggest that a 10% reduction in the US price of SMP would cause Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines SMP imports from the United States to increase by 3.96, 0.44, 2.68, and 1.94 kt, respectively. Under the same scenario, the value of US SMP imports would decrease for Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines by $4.12, $2.93, and $2.48 million, respectively; however, the value of US SMP to Singapore would increase by $0.20 million. Singapore and Indonesia expenditures for the US SMP are elastic, which means that as expenditure and population in Southeast Asia continue to grow, a 1% increase in SMP expenditure in Singapore and Indonesia would result in 1.25 and 1.20% increases in US SMP exports., (Copyright © 2018 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Several studies of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have indicated that high levels of hope are linked with better adjustment, but none has assessed the extent to which hope predicts change in adjustment over time. This study examines the effect of hope assessed within the first months post-SCI onset on changes in several indicators of well-being just prior to release from institutional care and again 13 months post-SCI., Method: Structured interviews were conducted with 67 adults (54 men, 13 women; Mage = 44.7 years, SD = 17.2) with SCI on average 2.6 months (Time 1), 5 months (Time 2; n = 60), and 13 months post-SCI (Time 3; n = 53) using validated instruments to assess dispositional hope, depressive symptoms, subjective well-being, self-esteem, reintegration, and pain., Results: Regression analyses revealed that, of the five indicators of well-being, hope at Time 1 only significantly predicted increases in subjective well-being at Time 2. However, hope predicted increased well-being on 4 of 5 indicators at Time 3. Hope was not significantly associated with changes in self-esteem at either follow-up assessment., Conclusion: People with high levels of hope appear to be better able to adjust to the challenges faced once they leave the rehabilitation center. Psycho-educational interventions that promote agency and pathway thinking may lead to better longer-term adjustment. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).)

Patients with protracted sepsis develop impaired immunity, which predisposes them to acquiring secondary infections. One of the most common and lethal secondary infections is Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia. Immunoadjuvant therapy is a promising approach to reverse sepsis-induced immunosuppression and improve morbidity and mortality from secondary infections. Interleukin-7 is an immunoadjuvant that improves survival in clinically relevant animal models of polymicrobial peritonitis and in fungal sepsis. This study investigated the effect of recombinant human interleukin-7 (rhIL-7) on survival in a 2-hit model of sublethal cecal ligation and puncture followed by P. aeruginosa pneumonia. Potential immunologic mechanisms responsible for the rhIL-7 putative beneficial effect were also examined, focusing on IL-17, IL-22, IFN-γ, and TNF-α, cytokines that are critical in the control of sepsis and pulmonary Pseudomonas infections. Results showed that rhIL-7 was highly effective in preventing P. aeruginosa-induced death, i.e., 92% survival in rhIL-7-treated mice versus 56% survival in control mice. rhIL-7 increased absolute numbers of immune effector cells in lung and spleen and ameliorated the sepsis-induced loss of lung innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). rhIL-7 also significantly increased IL-17-, IFN-γ-, and TNF-α-producing lung ILCs and CD8 T cells as well as IFN-γ- and TNF-α-producing splenic T cell subsets and ILCs. Furthermore, rhIL-7 enhanced NF-κB and STAT3 signaling in lungs during sepsis and pneumonia. Given the high mortality associated with secondary P. aeruginosa pneumonia, the ability of rhIL-7 to improve immunity and increase survival in multiple animal models of sepsis, and the remarkable safety profile of rhIL-7, clinical trials with rhIL-7 should be considered., (© Society for Leukocyte Biology.)

Pneumonia is the most common complication observed in patients with severe injuries. Although the average age of injured patients is 47 years, existing studies of the effect of injury on the susceptibility to infectious complications have focused on young animals, equivalent to a late adolescent human. We hypothesized that mature adult animals are more susceptible to infection after injury than younger counterparts. To test this hypothesis, we challenged 6 to 8-month-old mature mice to a polytrauma injury followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia and compared them to young (8-10-week-old) animals. We demonstrate that polytrauma injury increases mortality from pneumonia in mature animals (sham-pneumonia 21% vs. polytrauma-pneumonia 62%) but not younger counterparts. After polytrauma, pneumonia in mature mice is associated with higher bacterial burden in lung, increased incidence of bacteremia, and elevated levels of bacteria in the blood, demonstrating that injury decreases the ability to control the infectious challenge. We further find that polytrauma did not induce elevations in circulating cytokine levels (TNF-alpha, IL-6, KC, and IL-10) 24  h after injury. However, mature mice subjected to polytrauma demonstrated an exaggerated circulating inflammatory cytokine response to subsequent Pseudomonas pneumonia. Additionally, whereas prior injury increases LPS-stimulated IL-6 production by peripheral blood leukocytes from young (8-10-week-old) mice, injury does not prime IL-6 production by cell from mature adult mice. We conclude that in mature mice polytrauma results in increased susceptibility to Pseudomonas pneumonia while priming an exaggerated but ineffective inflammatory response.

Engaging in activities that make people feel authentic or real is typically associated with a host of positive psychological and physiological outcomes (i.e., being authentic serves to increase well-being). In the current study, we tested the idea that authenticity might have a dark side among people engaged in an addictive or risky behavior (gambling). To test this possibility, we assessed gamblers (N = 61) who were betting on the National Hockey League playoff games at a sports bar. As predicted, people who felt authentic when gambling reported behavior associated with problem gambling (high frequency of betting) as well as problematic play (a big monetary loss and a big monetary win). Moreover, such behavior and gambling outcomes were particularly high among people who were motivated to gamble for the purpose of enhancement. The interaction of feeling authentic when betting and gambling for purposes of enhancing positive emotions proved especially troublesome for problematic forms of play. Implications of authenticity as a potential vulnerability factor for sports betting and other types of gambling are discussed.

The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatment for substance abuse is contingent on changing clients' attitudes, beliefs, and expectancies. Assessing such change with self-report instruments may be problematic in offenders to the extent that they perceive that treatment success may secure privileges. This study assesses the extent to which increases in social desirability predict improvement in self-efficacy, perceptions of control, and perceived ability to cope and resist use of drugs. Male offenders in a moderate-intensity (N = 1,431) and a high-intensity (N = 316) substance abuse program were assessed before and after treatment on a range of beliefs and attitudes targeted in treatment, along with a measure of social desirability. Regression analyses indicate that those reporting the greatest increase in social desirability also reported the greatest improvement in attitudes and beliefs about drug and alcohol use, thereby suggesting that such self-report measures of change should be regarded with a degree of skepticism.

Background: Previous studies have shown that total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of typical diets is associated with higher plasma TAC and antioxidant enzyme activities. At present, however, little is known for the association between dietary TAC and inflammatory biomarkers., Aim: The present study was designed to examine the association between dietary TAC and inflammatory biomarkers in a group of overweight/obese postmenopausal women, a population with high cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, during a 9-month period., Methods: Thirty-five postmenopausal, overweight or obese, but apparently healthy women aged 40-70 years were recruited for a 9-month observational study. Seven-day food records and 12-h fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of the study for dietary and plasma biomarker assessments. Dietary TAC was calculated theoretically for taking account of both diet and dietary supplements, and energy-adjusted values were obtained using residual method., Results: At baseline, subjects consuming diets with high dietary TAC had lower levels of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (p < 0.05) compared with those with low dietary TAC. Over the 9-month period, change in dietary TAC had a negative partial correlation with plasma CRP levels (p < 0.01) when age, ethnicity, and changes in BMI, blood total cholesterol and triglyceride were adjusted., Conclusions: Findings suggest that consumption of diets high in TAC are inversely associated with plasma CRP levels cross-sectionally and dynamically and may contribute to CVD protection.

We describe a system to transport and identify barium ions produced in liquid xenon, as part of R&D towards the second phase of a double beta decay experiment, nEXO. The goal is to identify the Ba ion resulting from an extremely rare nuclear decay of the isotope (136)Xe, hence providing a confirmation of the occurrence of the decay. This is achieved through Resonance Ionization Spectroscopy (RIS). In the test setup described here, Ba ions can be produced in liquid xenon or vacuum and collected on a clean substrate. This substrate is then removed to an analysis chamber under vacuum, where laser-induced thermal desorption and RIS are used with time-of-flight mass spectroscopy for positive identification of the barium decay product.

Objective: To validate an FFQ to assess antioxidant intake in overweight postmenopausal women., Design: A seventy-four-item antioxidant 1-month FFQ was developed based on major antioxidant sources in the American diet. Forty overweight postmenopausal women participated in a 9-month observational study and completed four sets of FFQ and 7 d food record (7dFR) every 3 months. Twelve-hour fasting blood was collected for plasma antioxidant measurement at the first visit., Setting: Connecticut, USA., Subjects: Forty overweight postmenopausal women., Results: Spearman correlation coefficients of 1-month antioxidant intake estimated from the first set of FFQ and 7dFR ranged from 0·34 to 0·87, except for γ-tocopherol. The proportion of participants categorized into the extremely opposite tertiles averaged 7 %. Significant correlations were observed for diet-plasma vitamin C, α-tocopherol and carotenoids (P < 0·05). No time effect was observed on the dietary antioxidant intakes estimated from four 7dFR and four FFQ. Dietary antioxidants estimated from averaged four 7dFR showed moderate to high correlation with those estimated from averaged four FFQ and from each FFQ collected every 3 months. Bland-Altman plots did not show any systematic bias. Averaged misclassifications were below 10 % between these two instruments., Conclusions: These findings attested a reasonable validity and a good acceptance of this 1-month FFQ in assessing both short-term and long-term diverse antioxidant intakes in these overweight postmenopausal women. The use of this FFQ in associating antioxidant intake with disease risk needs further investigation.

We report that mice deficient for the hematopoietic-specific, actin-bundling protein L-plastin (LPL) succumb rapidly to intratracheal pneumococcal infection. The increased susceptibility of LPL(-/-) mice to pulmonary pneumococcal challenge correlated with reduced numbers of alveolar macrophages, consistent with a critical role for this cell type in the immediate response to pneumococcal infection. LPL(-/-) mice demonstrated a very early clearance defect, with an almost 10-fold-higher bacterial burden in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 3 h following infection. Clearance of pneumococci from the alveolar space in LPL(-/-) mice was defective compared to that in Rag1(-/-) mice, which lack all B and T lymphocytes, indicating that innate immunity is defective in LPL(-/-) mice. We did not identify defects in neutrophil or monocyte recruitment or in the production of inflammatory cytokines or chemokines that would explain the early clearance defect. However, efficient alveolar macrophage regeneration following irradiation required LPL. We thus identify LPL as being key to alveolar macrophage development and essential to an effective antipneumococcal response. Further analysis of LPL(-/-) mice will illuminate critical regulators of the generation of alveolar macrophages and, thus, effective pulmonary innate immunity.

Objective: To validate a brief FFQ developed for capturing short-term antioxidant intake in a sample of US college students., Design: A seventy-four-item antioxidant FFQ was developed based on major antioxidant sources in the American diet. The FFQ was validated against 30 d food records (FR) and plasma antioxidant concentrations. The reliability of the FFQ was evaluated by two FFQ administered at a 1-month interval. Settings University of Connecticut, CT, USA., Subjects: Sixty healthy college students., Results: Estimates of dietary antioxidants from the FFQ were moderately to highly correlated with those estimated from the 30 d FR (r = 0·29-0·80; P < 0·05) except for γ-tocopherol and β-cryptoxanthin. Total antioxidant capacity from diet only or from diet and supplements estimated by the 30 d FR and FFQ were highly correlated (r = 0·67 and 0·71, respectively; P < 0·0001). The FFQ categorized 91 % of participants into the same or adjacent tertiles of antioxidant intake as the 30 d FR. Most dietary carotenoids estimated from the FFQ were correlated with plasma levels (P < 0·05). Correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability ranged from 0·39 to 0·86. More than 94 % of the participants were classified in the same or adjacent tertiles between the two administrations of the FFQ., Conclusions: The brief FFQ demonstrated reasonable validity for capturing a comprehensive antioxidant intake profile. This FFQ is applicable in epidemiological or clinical studies to capture short-term antioxidant intake or to simply document the variations of antioxidant intake in intervention trials. Cross-validation studies are warranted in other target populations.

Objective: To explore reciprocal effects between participation and emotional and physical well-being during the first 2 years poststroke., Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: Community., Participants: An inception cohort of adults (N=67) who had been discharged from an acute stroke unit or stroke rehabilitation unit after a first stroke., Interventions: Not applicable., Main Outcome Measures: Participation (Reintegration to Normal Living Index), emotional well-being (General Well-being Schedule), and physical well-being (General Self-rating of Health Question) were measured at 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months poststroke. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine the association between participation and change in well-being, controlling for sex, age, impairment (discharge FIM), and median neighborhood income., Results: Greater engagement in valued activities was significantly associated with subsequent improvement in emotional well-being. The effect of participation on change in physical well-being was marginal. Higher levels of well-being also predicted subsequent increases in participation, with emotional well-being effects moderated by income, and physical well-being effects moderated by level of impairment., Conclusions: Our results support a 2-pronged approach to addressing well-being poststroke where efforts to improve affect and boost participation are simultaneously applied., (Copyright © 2014 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although the health consequences of financial strain are well documented, less is understood about the health-protective role of social capital. Social capital refers to a sense of community embeddedness, which is in part reflected by group membership, civic participation, and perceptions of trust, cohesion, and engagement. We investigated whether perceptions of social capital moderate the relation between financial strain and health, both mental and physical. This longitudinal study surveyed adults in two communities in rural Ontario where significant job losses recently occurred. Data were collected on financial strain, social capital, perceived stress, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and physical health on three occasions over 18 months (N's = 355, 317, and 300). As expected, financial strain positively related to perceived stress, poor physical health and symptoms of anxiety and depression, whereas social capital related to less stress, better physical health, and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. Effects of financial strain on perceived stress and depressive symptoms were moderated by social capital such that financial strain related more closely to perceived stress and depressive symptoms when social capital was lower. The findings underscore the health-protective role of community associations among adults during difficult economic times.

Objective: To demonstrate posttraumatic chondrocyte apoptosis in the murine xiphoid after a crush-type injury and to ultimately determine the pathway (i.e., intrinsic or extrinsic) by which chondrocytes undergo apoptosis in response to mechanical injury., Design: The xiphoids of adult female wild-type mice were injured with the use of a modified Kelly clamp. Postinjury xiphoid cartilage was analyzed via 3 well-described independent means of assessing apoptosis in chondrocytes: hematoxylin and eosin staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, and activated caspase-3 staining., Results: Injured specimens contained many chondrocytes with evidence of apoptosis, which is characterized by cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, and the liberation of apoptotic bodies. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of chondrocytes undergoing apoptosis in the injured specimens as compared with the uninjured specimens., Conclusions: Chondrocytes can be stimulated to undergo apoptosis as a result of mechanical injury. These experiments involving predominantly cartilaginous murine xiphoid in vivo establish a baseline for future investigations that employ the genetic and therapeutic modulation of chondrocyte apoptosis in response to mechanical injury.

Objectives: Assessment of adaptation following stroke has tended to focus either on acceptance of disability or global indicators of well-being. People with stroke, however, tend to view adaptation in terms of reengagement with personally valued activities. We model the adaptation process by assessing change in importance, control, stress, challenge, pleasure, support and self-identification of personal projects (i.e., one's current activities such as work, leisure, and recreational activities) from prestroke to 24 months poststroke., Method: Personal projects, general health, and general well-being were assessed via interviews with a sample of 67 community-residing stroke survivors (39 male; mean age = 64.7 years, SD = 13.2) on five occasions over the first 24 months poststroke., Results: Multilevel (hierarchical) modeling of the longitudinal data indicates that project dimensions of Control, Stress, Challenge, Pleasure, and Support predict well-being in expected ways. Although projects at 6 months poststroke were rated as more important, stressful, challenging, and supported by others and less controllable and pleasurable than prestroke projects, by 12 to 18 months all project ratings had returned to prestroke levels, thereby suggesting successful adaptation., Conclusions/implications: Longitudinal analysis of survivors' participation in valued activities poststroke revealed a pattern of adaptation that relates to but goes beyond that suggested by global measures of health, functioning, and well-being. The focus on adaptation of personal projects or valued activities may provide a helpful way of examining and improving well-being poststroke and offer new insights to inform the development of effective interventions for improving well-being following stroke. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLR) can initiate various immune responses and are therefore activated under diverse infectious states. Previous studies have focused on TLR3 primarily as an antiviral pathway. However, recent research has demonstrated its efficacy in bacterial infection. Having developed a murine double injury model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), we hypothesized that targeted administration of Poly I:C, a TLR3 agonist, would protect mice against secondary pneumonia., Material and Methods: B6 mice underwent CLP followed 4 d afterward by an intranasal dose of Pa. Animals were given Poly I:C or vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline) intranasally 24 h post CLP and every day thereafter for a total of 6 d. For acute studies, mice were sacrificed at two time points, 4 d post CLP and 1 d post pneumonia (Pa)., Results: Poly I:C treatment led to a significant improvement in survival (69% versus 33%). Cytokine analysis from bronchioalveolar lavage displayed significant differences both immediately before and after pneumonia. Bronchioalveolar lavage cultures taken at 24 h post double injury showed significantly higher colony counts in the lungs of control animals compared with those of Poly I:C animals. Measurements of TLR3 expression showed significant increases within both the immune and lung epithelial cells of Poly I:C-treated mice. Finally, the lungs of treated animals had significant increases in lymphocytes and innate cells., Conclusions: The prophylactic treatment applied in this clinically relevant model further illustrates the overarching hypothesis of immune dysfunction and the possibility of corrective immune modulation within the setting of sepsis., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Several studies of people coping with trauma or loss suggest that finding meaning in one's experience predicts better adjustment. However, these studies assume that meaning is a stable individual-difference construct. We assess the temporal stability of searching for and finding meaning in a sample of people with spinal cord injury (SCI), and test the effect of change in searching and finding meaning on depressive affect, subjective well-being (SWB), and perceived growth., Method: Sixty-seven adults with SCI were interviewed on 3 occasions over the first 13 months of their injury., Results: Searching for and finding meaning are moderately stable over time. Multilevel analyses indicated that in addition to between-person effects of searching for and finding meaning on depressive symptoms and well-being, there was also evidence of within-person effects of searching for and finding meaning, such that more frequent searching was associated declines in adjustment, whereas increases in found meaning were associated with improved adjustment. Finding meaning, at both the between-person and within-person levels, was associated with greater perceived growth, but such growth was not associated with depressive symptoms or SWB., Conclusions: The within-person analyses demonstrate that meaning-making is a process that is not necessarily linear yet is important for understanding the process of adaptation for many people coping with SCI.

Scope: Epidemiologic evidence supports that dietary quercetin reduces cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, but its oral bioavailability is paradoxically low. The aim of this study was to determine whether dietary fat would improve quercetin bioavailability in adults at high risk for CVD and to assess lipid-mediated micellarization of quercetin in vitro., Methods and Results: In a randomized, cross-over study, overweight/obese men and postmenopausal women (n = 4 M/5 F; 55.9 ± 2.1 years; 30.8 ± 1.4 kg/m(2) ) ingested 1095 mg of quercetin aglycone with a standardized breakfast that was fat-free (<0.5 g), low-fat (4.0 g), or high-fat (15.4 g). Plasma was obtained at timed intervals for 24 h to measure quercetin and its methylated metabolites isorhamnetin and tamarixetin. Compared to the fat-free trial, plasma quercetin maximum concentration (Cmax ), and area under curve (AUC0-24 h ) increased (p < 0.05) by 45 and 32%, respectively, during the high-fat trial. During the high-fat trial, isorhamnetin Cmax and AUC0-24 h also increased by 40 and 19%, respectively, whereas Cmax and AUC0-24 h of tamarixetin increased by 46 and 43%, respectively. Dietary fat dose-dependently increased micellarization efficiency of quercetin aglycone in vitro., Conclusion: Dietary fat improves quercetin bioavailability by increasing its absorption, likely by enhancing its micellarization at the small intestine., (© 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

This article is to provide insights into the mechanisms underlying chronic pain from whiplash injury. Studies show that injury produces plasticity changes of different neuronal structures that are responsible for amplification of nociception and exaggerated pain responses. There is consistent evidence for hypersensitivity of the central nervous system to sensory stimulation in chronic pain after whiplash injury. Tissue damage, detected or not by the available diagnostic methods, is probably the main determinant of central hypersensitivity. Different mechanisms underlie and co-exist in the chronic whiplash condition. Spinal cord hyperexcitability in patients with chronic pain after whiplash injury can cause exaggerated pain following low intensity nociceptive or innocuous peripheral stimulation. Spinal hypersensitivity may explain pain in the absence of detectable tissue damage. Whiplash is a heterogeneous condition with some individuals showing features suggestive of neuropathic pain. A predominantly neuropathic pain component is related to a higher pain/disability level., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Engagement in valued activities is often difficult for people who have experienced stroke. A deeper understanding of the process of re-engagement in personally valued activities would be helpful to those designing interventions to address participation post-stroke., Method: Six community-dwelling individuals recovering from a first stroke were interviewed at 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months post-stroke. A grounded theory approach was used to construct a substantive theory of re-engagement in valued activities during this period., Results: Two core concepts, social connection and being in charge were identified. Both led to activity engagement and risk taking to test abilities. These led to lowering of current expectations and activity adaptation which supported hope for recovery and further testing. Alternatively, difficulties perceived to be related to ageing led to disengagement., Conclusions: Rehabilitation practice that addresses and supports autonomy, social connection, risk taking, adaptation and hope among stroke survivors may help individuals regain personally valued activities post-stroke.

Objective: The present study evaluated the contribution of 100 % orange juice (OJ) consumption to the intakes of macronutrients and energy and its impact on body composition., Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The main exposure was OJ consumption based on two non-consecutive 24 h diet recalls. Macronutrient and energy intakes and body composition parameters were outcome measures. All statistical analyses were carried out using SAS and SUDAAN statistical software packages to allow for multistage sample designs., Setting: The US population and its subgroups., Subjects: The US population aged ≥4 years (n 13 971) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2006, conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics., Results: In this US population, OJ consumers had lower BMI and healthier lifestyle behaviours (including lower alcohol consumption and smoking as well as higher exercise level) than non-consumers (P < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, OJ consumers had higher daily intakes of carbohydrate, total sugar, total fat and energy than non-consumers (P < 0.01). However, these linear trends still remained even after OJ was removed from the food list of items consumed. Adult OJ consumers had lower BMI, waist circumference and percentage body fat than non-consumers (P < 0.01), as well as lower odds ratio for overweight and obesity (P < 0.01). These effects were not seen in children and adolescents, where there was no significant difference in BMI, waist circumference and percentage body fat in OJ consumers compared with non-consumers., Conclusions: OJ consumption was associated with healthier body composition in adults; while there were no significant associations between OJ consumption and body composition in children and adolescents.

Increased plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has been associated with a high consumption of fruits and vegetables. However, limited information is available on whether plasma TAC reflects the dietary intake of antioxidants and the levels of individual antioxidants in plasma. By using three different assays, the study aimed to determine if plasma TAC can effectively predict dietary intake of antioxidants and plasma antioxidant status. Forty overweight and apparently healthy postmenopausal women were recruited. Seven-day food records and 12-h fasting blood samples were collected for dietary and plasma antioxidant assessments. Plasma TAC was determined by vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC), ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. TAC values determined by VCEAC were highly correlated with FRAP (r=0.79, P<.01) and moderately correlated with ORAC (r=0.34, P<.05). Pearson correlation analyses showed that plasma TAC values by VCEAC and ORAC had positive correlation with plasma uric acid (r=0.56 for VCEAC; r=0.49 for ORAC) and total phenolics (r=0.63 for VCEAC; r=0.36 for ORAC). However, TAC measured by FRAP was correlated only with uric acid (r=0.69). After multivariate adjustment, plasma TAC determined by VCEAC was positively associated with dietary intakes of γ-tocopherol (P<.001), β-carotene (P<.05), anthocyanidins (P<.05), flavones (P<.05), proanthocyanidins (P<.01) and TAC (P<.05), as well as with plasma total phenolics (P<.05), α-tocopherol (P<.001), β-cryptoxanthin (P<.05) and uric acid (P<.05). The findings indicate that plasma TAC measured by VCEAC reflects both dietary and plasma antioxidants and represents more closely the plasma antioxidant levels than ORAC and FRAP., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC), based on the cumulative antioxidant activities of all the antioxidants present in food, has been shown to be inversely associated with risks of chronic diseases. However, dietary TAC has not been validated for its relevance in a healthy young population or for reliability and predictability for antioxidant status. Our study aimed to validate TAC as a tool in assessing antioxidant intake and to investigate whether dietary TAC predicts plasma antioxidant status in a healthy young population. Sixty healthy, nonsmoking college students at the University of Connecticut ages 18 to 25 years were recruited. Thirty-day food records and two 12-hour fasting blood samples were collected for dietary and plasma antioxidant assessments. After adjustment for total energy intake, TAC from diet and supplement was positively correlated with intakes of carotenoids (P<0.01), beta carotene (P<0.05), β-cryptoxanthin (P<0.05), flavonoids (P<0.0001), isoflavones (P<0.01), flavan-3-ols (P<0.01), flavones (P<0.05), and flavonols (P<0.0001). Dietary TAC was an independent predictor of plasma TAC determined by vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (P<0.01) and by ferric-reducing ability of plasma (P<0.0001), plasma glutathione peroxidase (P<0.01), red blood cell glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05), α-tocopherol (P<0.05), and lutein (P<0.05). Results were similar for TAC from diet sources only. The findings suggest that dietary TAC is a good predictor of dietary and plasma antioxidant status in this sample of young adult men and women., (Copyright © 2012 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Many students report using strategies believed to reduce risk of harm from consumption of alcohol. The effectiveness of these strategies was tested in this study., Method: A sample of 442 undergraduate students (50.5% female) was asked to report how many alcoholic drinks they consumed on a recent drinking occasion, which protective strategies were used, and which harms were experienced., Results: Although reported use of more protective strategies was associated with less consumption, it appeared to be unrelated to harmful consequences. More detailed analyses suggested that only a small subset of strategies (primarily those concerning the manner of drinking) was consistently associated with reduced consumption and/or harms., Conclusions: The findings cast doubt on the efficacy of protective strategies or at least the validity of the self-report instruments used to assess these strategies.

We report on a search for neutrinoless double-beta decay of 136Xe with EXO-200. No signal is observed for an exposure of 32.5 kg yr, with a background of ∼1.5×10(-3)  kg(-1) yr(-1)  keV(-1) in the ±1σ region of interest. This sets a lower limit on the half-life of the neutrinoless double-beta decay T(1/2)(0νββ)(136Xe)>1.6×10(25)  yr (90% C.L.), corresponding to effective Majorana masses of less than 140-380 meV, depending on the matrix element calculation.

Meaning-making, like much of coping research, has been conceptualized and assessed as an individual-centered phenomenon. On the premise that most traumas affect families as a whole, we assessed the extent to which meanings following a traumatic loss were congruent within families. Qualitative and quantitative data from family members coping with the loss of a family member in a mine explosion indicated moderate family congruence in meanings and global well-being. Furthermore, greater family similarity in meaning was associated with less depressive affect in individuals (pseudo R(2) = .063), but was not associated with individual differences in well-being. The research highlights the important role that families play in coping with trauma., (Copyright © 2012 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.)

We report the observation of two-neutrino double-beta decay in (136)Xe with T(1/2) = 2.11 ± 0.04(stat) ± 0.21(syst) × 10(21) yr. This second-order process, predicted by the standard model, has been observed for several nuclei but not for (136)Xe. The observed decay rate provides new input to matrix element calculations and to the search for the more interesting neutrinoless double-beta decay, the most sensitive probe for the existence of Majorana particles and the measurement of the neutrino mass scale.

Secondary infection following septic insult represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Sepsis induced immunosuppression is a major factor in the host's susceptibility to nosocomial infections and Candida albicans accounts for a growing number of these. Given the importance of improving our understanding of the immune response to sepsis and the increasing rates of C. albicans infections, we sought to develop a murine model of double injury consisting of primary peritonitis, i.e., cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), followed by a secondary challenge of C. albicans. As observed in previous work, after primary injury the immune profile of the host changes over time. Therefore, while keeping the mortality rates from the respective individual injuries low, we altered the timing of the secondary injury between two post-CLP time points, day two and day four. Mice subjected to C. albicans infection following CLP have significantly different survival rates dependent upon timing of secondary injury. Animals challenged with C. albicans at two days post CLP had 91% mortality whereas animals challenged at four days had 47% mortality. This improvement in survival at four days was associated with restoration of innate cell populations and as evidenced by stimulated splenocytes, increases in certain inflammatory cytokines. In addition, we show that susceptibility to C. albicans infection following CLP is dependent upon the depth of immunosuppression. Although at four days post-CLP there is a partial reconstitution of the immune system, these animals remain more susceptible to infection compared to their single injury (C. albicans alone) counterparts. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that immunosuppression following initial septic insult changes over time. This novel, two hit model of CLP followed by Candida provides additional insight into the immune compromised state created by primary peritonitis, and thereby opens up another avenue of investigation into the causes and possible cures of an emerging clinical problem., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)