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While the beneficial effect of levodopa on traditional motor control tasks have been well documented over the decades, its effect on speech motor control has rarely been objectively examined and the existing literature remains inconclusive. This paper aims to examine the effect of levodopa on speech in patients with Parkinson's disease. It was hypothesized that levodopa would improve preparatory motor set related activity and alleviate hypophonia. Patients fasted and abstained from levodopa overnight. Motor examination and speech testing was performed the following day, pre-levodopa during their 'off' state, then at hourly intervals post-medication to obtain the best 'on' state. All speech stimuli showed a consistent tendency for increased loudness and faster rate during the 'on' state, but this was accompanied by a greater extent of intensity decay. Pitch and articulation remained unchanged. Levodopa effectively upscaled the overall gain setting of vocal amplitude and tempo, similar to its well-known effect on limb movement. However, unlike limb movement, this effect on the final acoustic product of speech may or may not be advantageous, depending on the existing speech profile of individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unilateral neglect, an attentional deficit in detecting and acting on information coming from one side of space, is a relatively common consequence of right hemisphere stroke. Although neglect has been observed following damage to a variety of brain structures, to date no reports exist of neglect phenomena arising from Huntington's Disease (HD). However, reports in the animal and human literature suggest that neglect is possible following damage to a primary site for Huntington's pathology, the basal ganglia. Here we present a patient (BG) with genetically proven HD who, in the context of the mild intellectual, executive and attentional impairments associated with the disorder, showed a remarkably severe and stable neglect for left space. MRI and electrophysiological results make it unlikely that the spatial bias could be accounted for by basic sensory loss. In addition, behavioural investigation indicated that, although BG's neglect operated in a very striking manner along body-centred co-ordinates (missing almost all information presented to her left), more general limitations in visual attention were apparent to the left-side of information presented entirely to the right of the body midline. Further evidence is presented showing that the neglect was manifest on tactile and auditory tasks as well as those presented in the visual domain. The presence of neglect in HD in this case is novel and somewhat puzzling, particularly as flourodeoyglucose positron emission tomography revealed bilateral caudate hypoperfusion. Reducing the statistical threshold on this analysis revealed a potential frontal hypometabolism that was more marked in the right than left hemisphere. However, as this was only apparent at a threshold below that normally considered acceptable (due to the resulting number of false positives), this possible account of the neglect must be viewed very cautiously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the automatic regulation of speech volume over distance in hypophonic patients with Parkinson's disease and age and sex matched controls. There were two speech settings; conversation, and the recitation of sequential material (for example, counting). The perception of interlocuter speech volume by patients with Parkinson's disease and controls over varying distances was also examined, and found to be slightly discrepant. For speech production, it was found that controls significantly increased overall speech volume for conversation relative to that for sequential material. Patients with Parkinson's disease were unable to achieve this overall increase for conversation, and consistently spoke at a softer volume than controls at all distances (intercept reduction). However, patients were still able to increase volume for greater distances in a similar way to controls for conversation and sequential material, thus showing a normal pattern of volume regulation (slope similarity). It is suggested that speech volume regulation is intact in Parkinson's disease, but rather the gain is reduced. These findings are reminiscent of skeletal motor control studies in Parkinson's disease, in which the amplitude of movement is diminished but the relation with another factor is preserved (stride length increases as cadence-that is, stepping rate, increases). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Caregiver burden can impact the mental health of family caregivers, but self-compassion may help reduce this impact. Brief self-compassion interventions have been shown to be useful but have not been tested in family caregivers of older adults., Objective: This study aimed to test the effects of a brief self-compassion intervention and its components (self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness) on mental well-being and mood when reflecting on difficult family caregiving experiences., Methods: British caregivers were recruited through a web-based panel. Three experimental studies manipulated the self-compassion intervention. In study 1 (n=206) and study 2 (n=224), participants wrote about a difficult caregiving experience while focusing on 1 self-compassion component (self-kindness, common humanity, or mindfulness). In study 3 (n=222) participants focused on all components. Self-compassion, serenity, guilt, and sadness were measured., Results: In studies 1 and 2, condition effects showed mindfulness unexpectedly lowered mood. Inconsistent and modest benefits to affect were achieved by engagement in self-kindness and common humanity in study 1 (guilt [lowered]: P=.02 and sadness [lowered]: P=.04; serenity [nonsignificantly raised]: P=.20) and also in study 2 (sadness [nonsignificantly lowered]: P=.23 and guilt [nonsignificantly lowered]: P=.26; serenity [raised]: P=.33); significant benefits for self-compassion and mood were found in study 3 (serenity [raised]: P=.01, kindness [raised]: P=.003, and common humanity [raised]: P≤.001; guilt [lowered]: P<.001 and sadness [lowered]: P≤.001). More intensive efforts should be made to promote self-compassion in caregivers of older adults, with caution advised when relying primarily on mindfulness approaches., Conclusions: Self-compassionate writing may be beneficial for family caregivers, but more intensive interventions are needed. Further research is needed to determine the optimal dosage and content for achieving the greatest effects., (©Farah Wiita, Aileen K Ho, Netta Weinstein. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 21.11.2024.)

Across two studies, we examined intergroup relations between Black-White multiracial and Black monoracial people in the U.S. Study 1 showed that Black-White multiracial participants reported more solidarity with Black than White people, but less solidarity with Black people than Black participants reported. Likewise, their race-relevant political attitudes were somewhat more aligned with Black than White participants, but not completely aligned with Black participants. Reflecting this pattern, Black participants perceived that Black-White multiracial people feel more solidarity with Black than White people, but less solidarity with Black people than they themselves feel. Solidarity perceptions were consequential. Both Study 1 (correlational) and Study 2 (experimental) showed that Black participants' perceptions of Black-White multiracial people's solidarity with Black people were related to their inclusion of multiracial people. Furthermore, contingent on high levels of solidarity with Black people, multiracial people's relationships with White people were less consequential for Black participants' inclusion of them., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Rumination (self-referential and repetitive thinking), attentional biases (AB), and impaired cognitive control are theorized as being integral factors in depression and anxiety. Yet, research examining the relationship between rumination, mood, and AB for populations with reduced cognitive control, e.g., people living with dementia (PwD), is lacking. To explore whether literature-based relationships are demonstrated in dementia, PwD ( n  = 64) and healthy controls (HC) ( n  = 75) completed an online self-report survey measuring rumination and mood (twice), and a telephone cognitive status interview (once). Rumination was measured as an emotion-regulation style, thinking style, and response to depression. We examined the test-retest reliability of PwD's ( n  = 50) ruminative-scale responses, ruminative-scale internal consistency, and correlations between rumination, age, cognitive ability, and mood scores. Also, nine participants (PwD = 6, HC = 3) completed an AB measure via eye-tracking. Participants fixated on a cross, naturally viewed pairs of facial images conveying sad, angry, happy, and neutral emotions, and then fixated on a dot. Exploratory analyses of emotional-face dwell-times versus rumination and mood scores were conducted. Except for the HC group's reflective response to depression measure, rumination measures were reliable, and correlation strengths between rumination and mood scores (.29 to .79) were in line with literature for both groups. For the AB measure subgroup, ruminative thinking style scores and angry-face metrics were negatively correlated. The results of this study show that literature-based relationships between rumination, depression, and anxiety are demonstrated in dementia, but the relationship between rumination and AB requires further investigation.

Purpose: Medical errors may be occasionally explained by inattentional blindness (IB), i.e., failing to notice an event/object that is in plain sight. We aimed to determine whether age/experience, restfulness/fatigue, and previous exposure to simulation education may affect IB in the anesthetic/surgical setting., Methods: In this multicentre/multinational study, a convenience sample of 280 anesthesiologists watched an attention-demanding video of a simulated trauma patient undergoing laparotomy and (independently/anonymously) recorded the abnormalities they noticed. The video contained four expected/common abnormalities (hypotension, tachycardia, hypoxia, hypothermia) and two prominently displayed unexpected/rare events (patient's head movement, leaky central venous line). We analyzed the participants' ability to notice the expected/unexpected events (primary outcome) and the proportion of expected/unexpected events according to age group and prior exposure to simulation education (secondary outcomes)., Results: Anesthesiologists across all ages noticed fewer unexpected/rare events than expected/common ones. Overall, younger anesthesiologists missed fewer common events than older participants did (P = 0.02). There was no consistent association between age and perception of unexpected/rare events (P = 0.28), although the youngest cohort (< 30 yr) outperformed the other age groups. Prior simulation education did not affect the proportion of misses for the unexpected/rare events but was associated with fewer misses for the expected/common events. Self-perceived restfulness did not impact perception of events., Conclusion: Anesthesiologists noticed fewer unexpected/rare clinical events than expected/common ones in an attention-demanding video of a simulated trauma patient, in keeping with IB. Prior simulation training was associated with an improved ability to notice anticipated/expected events, but did not reduce IB. Our findings may have implications for understanding medical mishaps, and efforts to improve situational awareness, especially in acute perioperative and critical care settings., (© 2024. Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.)

Relatively little is known about the extent to which multiracial people stand in solidarity with their parent groups. Here, we draw from social identity theory to examine predictors of Asian-White multiracial people's solidarity with Asian and White people, Asian monoracial people's meta-perceptions of these solidarity levels, and consequences of these meta-perceptions for intergroup relations. Studies 1a-b show that Asian-White multiracial people stand in solidarity more strongly with Asian people than White people, especially when they perceive high levels of anti-Asian discrimination, and even when they believe they physically look White. Studies 2a-b demonstrate that Asian monoracial people incorrectly believe that physically White-looking Asian-White multiracial people stand in solidarity more strongly with White people, and these pessimistic meta-perceptions are associated with more rejection of multiracial people. Study 3 provides a causal link between meta-perceptions and rejection while providing preliminary evidence that correcting these solidarity meta-perceptions can improve intergroup attitudes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: This study used the behavior change wheel to identify the priority behavioral factors for a tailored intervention to support (re-)engagement in sexual activity following a spinal cord injury (SCI)., Research Method/design: Forty-eight semistructured interviews were conducted with participants from three outpatient/carer/clinician populations in the United Kingdom: people living with SCI, their partners/spouses, and healthcare professionals working in SCI rehabilitation. To identify potential strategies to facilitate (re-)engagement in sexual activity, the behavior change wheel (BCW) and behavior change technique taxonomy Version 1 were applied to code behavior change techniques (BCTs) present in interview transcripts., Results: Six intervention functions, three policy categories, and 21 BCTs were identified as primary targets for interventions to support sexual (re-)engagement post-SCI. Increasing physical-related skills and training would promote physical capability, while sex-related knowledge and the understanding of sex-related health consequences would elevate psychological capability. A supportive healthcare team, alongside peer support and targeted environmental resources about sexual activity/well-being facilitate physical and social opportunities for sex. Motivation to (re-)engage in sexual activity comprised goal-driven reflective motivation to enhance beliefs about capabilities, and automatic motivation via emotional support and reward-based reinforcement., Conclusions: This study outlines the key BCW and theoretically-derived intervention targets which now provide the foundation for innovative future interventions in SCI and sexual activity. Targeting these highly specific BCTs increases the likelihood that sexual satisfaction can become universally accessible after SCI. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Purpose: Rib fracture(s) is a common and painful injury often associated with significant morbidity (e.g., respiratory complications) and high mortality rates, especially in the elderly. Risk stratification and prompt implementation of analgesic pathways using a multimodal analgesia approach comprise a primary endpoint of care to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with rib fractures. This narrative review aims to describe the most recent evidence and care pathways currently available, including risk stratification tools and pharmacologic and regional analgesic blocks frequently used as part of the broadly recommended multimodal analgesic approach., Source: Available literature was searched using PubMed and Embase databases for each topic addressed herein and reviewed by content experts., Principal Findings: Four risk stratification tools were identified, with the Study of the Management of Blunt Chest Wall Trauma score as most predictive. Current evidence on pharmacologic (i.e., acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gabapentinoids, ketamine, lidocaine, and dexmedetomidine) and regional analgesia (i.e., thoracic epidural analgesia, thoracic paravertebral block, erector spinae plane block, and serratus anterior plane block) techniques was reviewed, as was the pathophysiology of rib fracture(s) and its associated complications, including the development of chronic pain and disabilities., Conclusion: Rib fracture(s) continues to be a serious diagnosis, with high rates of mortality, development of chronic pain, and disability. A multidisciplinary approach to management, combined with appropriate analgesia and adherence to care bundles/protocols, has been shown to decrease morbidity and mortality. Most of the risk-stratifying care pathways identified perform poorly in predicting mortality and complications after rib fracture(s)., (© 2024. Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.)

Purpose: This study explored how partners/spouses of people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) experienced intimacy, sexual function, and sexual satisfaction post-SCI., Materials and Methods: Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the partners/spouses of people with SCI living in the community in the United Kingdom. Twelve participants (7 females; 5 males) were recruited using purposive sampling. A nine-item semi-structured interview design was used. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed via Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)., Results: Three superordinate themes were demonstrated: (1) Stolen sex through unpreparedness; (2) Redefining sex; and (3) Compromised commitment. Partners struggled to come to terms with the shock of radically altered post-SCI sexual relationships, questioning how their changed sexual relationship and sexual identity conflicted with caring requirements. To minimise post-SCI relationship changes, some partners engaged in strategies to protect against, distract from and avoid sexual intimacy, whereas others were able to retain adapted pre-injury patterns of intimate behaviour., Conclusion: Compromised sexual function and satisfaction significantly disrupt relationship dynamics post-SCI, initiate voluntary celibacy, and limit the perceived viability of continued sexual intimacy. Specialist partner-support provisions are urgently needed, recognising that partner support needs are not restricted to the inpatient rehabilitation phase but importantly extend long past discharge into the community.

Background: Whilst there is research on psychotherapy and professional psychological support (PPS) in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) in discrete randomised controlled trials, little is known about the different types of PPS pwMS access throughout the trajectory of their illness and their perceived helpfulness. Additionally, research on what pwMS's preferences are with regard to PPS is lacking., Method: In an online cross-sectional survey study with 565 pwMS, we asked about the types of PPS pwMS had accessed and their preferences., Results: Although 88% of the sample wanted PPS, only 53% of the sample had managed to access PPS. 40% of the entire sample currently wanted PPS but did not access it previously. The most common reason for this was because they were happy with the support they received from other sources (51%) and/or they were unaware of what was available to them (33%). 59% of those who had accessed PPS had accessed more than one type. The perceived level of helpfulness from PPS was rated as higher amongst those who had accessed more types of PPS. The most common combination of PPS accessed was a mixture of counselling with either cognitive behavioural therapy and/or mindfulness-based therapies. Counselling was the single-most accessed type of PPS. Most pwMS wanted PPS as a proactive means to either preserve and boost psychological well-being (37%) or learn skills to manage future difficulties as and when they arise (23%), rather than as a reaction to immediate pressing concerns (18%). The majority of pwMS showed a broad range of preferences regarding PPS and selected more than 5 types, with high interest in programmes with a self-management component, counselling and mindfulness-based interventions in particular., Conclusions: Patient preferences for PPS highlight the need to take a proactive and preventative approach to preserve psychological wellbeing rather than only being provided in response to mental health crises. Psychological support should be made more readily available early on to fulfil this presently unmet need., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The fragility index (FI) is a sensitivity analysis of the statistically significant result of a clinical study. It is the number of hypothetical changes in the primary event of one of the two cohorts in a 1-to-1 comparative trial to render the statistically significant result non-significant (ie, to alter the P-value from ≤0.05 to >0.05). The FI can be compared with the patient drop-out rates and protocol violations, which, if much higher than the FI, may arguably suggest less robustness/stability of the trial's results. To illustrate the concept, we have chosen the Term Breech Trial (TBT) as a case study. The TBT results favor planned cesarean birth, as opposed to planned vaginal delivery, in the term singleton fetus with breech presentation. Our analysis shows that the FI of the TBT is 21, which is small in comparison to the number (hundreds) of protocol violations present. Some experts have suggested the inclusion of the FI in data analysis and subsequent discussion of clinical trial data. Routine use of such a metric may be valuable in encouraging readers to maintain a healthy degree of skepticism, especially when interpreting trial results which may directly influence clinical practice., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: To explore healthcare professionals' perspectives on the barriers and facilitators impacting provision of support for sexual functioning/satisfaction during spinal cord injury rehabilitation., Design: Qualitative, semi-structured interview design., Methods: Sixteen healthcare professionals working in spinal cord injury rehabilitation settings were recruited (14 females, 2 males). Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a 9-item interview guide. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and inductively analysed following Braun and Clarke's (2006) 6 phases of thematic analysis., Results: Five inductive themes were generated describing healthcare professional-perceived barriers and facilitators impacting upon care delivery postspinal cord injury: (1) Integrating sexual wellbeing in rehabilitation; (2) Sex-informed multi-disciplinary teams; (3) Acknowledging awkwardness; (4) Enhancing approachability; and (5) Recognizing the partner., Conclusion: Sexual functioning and satisfaction are priority areas for rehabilitation, yet they are persistently side-lined in multi-disciplinary team (MDT) rehabilitation agendas. Healthcare professionals do not feel supported to engage with their patients to improve and manage sexual functioning/satisfaction. Ensuring that healthcare professionals are equipped and made aware of sexuality-specific guidelines and operational frameworks, which can be easily interpreted, structured and implemented as a standard part of spinal cord injury rehabilitation is key. This would be instrumental in enabling healthcare professionals to be more informed and comfortable in creating an atmosphere in which sexual topics can be openly discussed to support individuals with spinal cord injury.

Objective: This systematic review explored the effectiveness of internet-delivered interventions in improving psychological outcomes of informal caregivers for neurodegenerative-disorder (ND) patients., Methods: We searched seven databases for English-language papers published from 1999 to May 2021. Study-eligibility required that interventions used a minimum 50% internet-facilitation, targeting unpaid, adult informal caregivers of community-based ND-patients. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and pre-post evaluative studies reporting outcomes for at least one-time point post-intervention. Independent quality checks on abstract and full-text screening were completed. Data extraction encompassed interventions' features, approaches, theoretical bases and delivery-modes. The Integrated quality Criteria for the Review Of Multiple Study designs (ICROMS) framework assessed risk of bias. Alongside narrative synthesis, we calculated meta-analyses on post-intervention using outcome measures from at least two RCTs to assess effectiveness., Results: Searches yielded 51 eligible studies with 3180 participants. In 48 studies, caregivers supported a dementia-diagnosed individual. Intervention-durations encompassed four weeks to 12 months, with usage-frequency either prescribed or participant-determined. The most frequently-used approach was education, followed by social support. We calculated meta-analyses using data from 16 RCTs. Internet-delivered interventions were superior in improving mastery (g  =  1.17 [95% CI; 0.1 to 2.24], p  =  0.03) and reducing anxiety (g = -1.29 [95% CI; -1.56 to -1.01], p < 0.01), compared to all controls. Findings were equivocal for caregivers' quality of life, burden and other outcomes. High heterogeneity reflected the multifarious combinations of approaches and delivery-modes, precluding assessment of the most efficacious intervention features. Analyses using burden and self-efficacy outcomes' follow-up data were also non-significant compared to all comparator-types. Although 32 studies met the ICROMS threshold scores, we rated most studies' evidence quality as 'very-low'., Conclusions: This review demonstrated some evidence for the efficacy of internet-delivered interventions targeting informal ND-caregivers. However, more rigorous studies, with longer follow-ups across outcomes and involving NDs other than dementia, are imperative to enhance the knowledge-base., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Memorializes Jim Sidanius (née James Brown [1945-2021]), one of the the foremost social and political psychologists of his generation. His theory of social dominance redefined the scientific study of intergroup relations, advancing novel hypotheses regarding the causes and consequences of intergroup conflict and inequality by integrating insights across the social and biological sciences. Jim's theoretical insights were matched only by his empirical prowess; he was a master at analyzing large data sets with advanced statistical methods, methods that he taught to hundreds of doctoral students over the years in his notoriously challenging but rewarding graduate statistics courses at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Harvard. Beyond his teaching of statistics and advanced topics in social psychology and African American studies, Jim mentored dozens of aspiring intergroup relations scholars over a 44-year career. As one of few Black social psychologists, he served as a role model for young Black scholars in particular. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Eukaryotic uL11 contains a conserved MPPKFDP motif at the N-terminus that is not found in archaeal and bacterial homologs. Here, we determined the solution structure of human uL11 by NMR spectroscopy and characterized its backbone dynamics by 15N-1H relaxation experiments. We showed that these N-terminal residues are unstructured and flexible. Structural comparison with ribosome-bound uL11 suggests that the linker region between the N-terminal domain and C-terminal domain of human uL11 is intrinsically disordered and only becomes structured when bound to the ribosomes. Mutagenesis studies show that the N-terminal conserved MPPKFDP motif is involved in interacting with the P-complex and its extended protuberant domain of uL10 in vitro. Truncation of the MPPKFDP motif also reduced the poly-phenylalanine synthesis in both hybrid ribosome and yeast mutagenesis studies. In addition, G→A/P substitutions to the conserved GPLG motif of helix-1 reduced poly-phenylalanine synthesis to 9-32% in yeast ribosomes. We propose that the flexible N-terminal residues of uL11, which could extend up to ∼25 Å from the N-terminal domain of uL11, can form transient interactions with the uL10 that help to fetch and fix it into a position ready for recruiting the incoming translation factors and facilitate protein synthesis., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.)

Background: With the rate of psychological disorder being disproportionately high in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), it is important that they receive adequate psychological support. While there are informal and more formal sources of psychological support for pwMS available, there is a paucity of research in understanding the actual pattern of support that pwMS interact with in a real-world context. We aimed to understand this by examining the pattern of access across different sources of psychological support in the same large cohort of pwMS, and their experiences of support received. We also explore this in the context of different MS symptom profiles and demographics., Method: In an online survey, we asked 565 pwMS to report on their actual pattern of usage and their experience of receiving psychological support from four key sources - friends/family/peers, MS organisations/charities, MS specialist nurses and mental health professionals. Demographic and clinical data was also gathered about their MS profile and symptoms., Results: Friends/family/peers were rated as the most common, helpful and easy to access source of psychological support. However, most participants received psychological support from multiple sources, almost always in conjunction with support from friends/family/peers. Demographic and MS related factors predicted whether patients accessed each source or not. Younger pwMS and those more recently diagnosed were more likely to avail of support from friend/family/peers. The more patients were bothered by their symptoms the more likely they were to avail of psychological support from more sources. In particular, pwMS who are more bothered by fatigue and psychological symptoms were more likely to avail of support from mental health professionals. Overall, the helpfulness of support depended largely on how well the support provider knew the pwMS as a person and MS as a condition, as well as the level of emotional and practical skills support provided., Conclusion: People with MS need to access multiple sources of support to meet the full spectrum of psychological needs as and when needed; friends/family/peers and mental health professionals for emotional support, and MS organisations/charities and specialist MS nurses for learning skills to manage their MS. This points towards the need to take a collaborative approach amongst the different sources of support to ensure all needs can be most effectively met., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Objective: Psychological research suggests that Black-White individuals are often conceptualized as Black and White, and that essentialist beliefs about race are negatively associated with conceptualizing Black-White individuals as such. The present research examined what people think it means to be Black and White (e.g., a mixture of Black and White vs. completely Black and completely White) and whether essentialism is indeed negatively associated with such concepts., Method: We used multiple methodologies (e.g., surveys, open-ended explanations, experimental manipulations) to examine how Black, White, and Black-White perceivers conceptualized Black-White individuals (Studies 1-3) and the extent to which essentialist beliefs, both dispositional (Studies 2-3) and experimentally induced (Study 4), predicted those concepts., Results: We find that U.S. Black-White individuals most often conceptualized "Black and White" to mean a mixture of Black and White (Study 1), as did U.S. White individuals and U.S. Black individuals (Studies 2 and 3), and that racial essentialism-both dispositional (Studies 2 and 3) and experimentally manipulated (Study 4)-was positively associated with this conception., Conclusion: Our data shed new light on the complexity of race concepts and essentialism and advance the psychological understanding of Black-White identity. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

As with other areas of the social world, academic research in the contemporary healthcare setting has undergone adaptation and change. For example, research methods are increasingly incorporating citizen participation in the research process, and there has been an increase in collaborative research that brings academic and industry partners together. There have been numerous positive outcomes associated with both of these growing methodological and collaborative processes; nonetheless, both bring with them ethical considerations that require careful thought and attention. This paper addresses the ethical considerations that research teams must consider when using participatory methods and/or when working with industry and outlines a novel informed consent matrix designed to maintain the high ethical standard to which academic research in the healthcare arena has traditionally adhered., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Introduction: While the current COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many, there is a paucity of information on the impact on people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study sought to gain insight into the impact of the current situation on people with MS and the factors that influence this., Methods: 324 MS patients participated in this online cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 lockdown period. A mixed methods design was used, with quantitative information collected on MS-related factors as well as COVID-19 impact and an open-ended, qualitative response looking for reasons behind the self-reported COVID-19 impact., Results: We found that 48% of the participants reported that COVID-19 had a neutral impact on their lives and 16% reported a positive impact. However, 36% reported a negative impact, and had greater levels of MS- and non-MS-related worries, and higher levels of bother related to psychological and cognitive symptoms and fatigue than the groups reporting a neutral or positive impact. Significant predictors of this adversely affected group were age, type of MS and presence of psychological symptoms. Antidepressant medication use, time since diagnosis, gender, location, living arrangements or employment status did not predict impact. Open-ended responses explaining personal COVID-19 impact indicate that coping strategies may contribute to these findings. In particular, active, problem-focused approaches were reported by the majority of people who reported a positive impact, as well as a third of those who reported a neutral impact., Conclusion: These findings suggest that younger people, those with progressive types of MS, and those with psychological symptoms are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of a COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown. Coping strategies provide further insight into these findings with those reporting active problem-focused approaches seemingly faring better than those who do not state any coping strategies. These results also have implications for understanding other like neurological conditions that share many similarities with MS and how best to direct support.

Contemporary debates about addressing inequality require a common, accurate understanding of the scope of the issue at hand. Yet little is known about who notices inequality in the world around them and when. Across five studies ( N = 8,779) employing various paradigms, we consider the role of ideological beliefs about the desirability of social equality in shaping individuals' attention to-and accuracy in detecting-inequality across the class, gender, and racial domains. In Study 1, individuals higher (versus lower) on social egalitarianism were more likely to naturalistically remark on inequality when shown photographs of urban scenes. In Study 2, social egalitarians were more accurate at differentiating between equal versus unequal distributions of resources between men and women on a basic cognitive task. In Study 3, social egalitarians were faster to notice inequality-relevant changes in images in a change detection paradigm indexing basic attentional processes. In Studies 4 and 5, we varied whether unequal treatment adversely affected groups at the top or bottom of society. In Study 4, social egalitarians were, on an incentivized task, more accurate at detecting inequality in speaking time in a panel discussion that disadvantaged women but not when inequality disadvantaged men. In Study 5, social egalitarians were more likely to naturalistically point out bias in a pattern detection hiring task when the employer was biased against minorities but not when majority group members faced equivalent bias. Our results reveal the nuances in how our ideological beliefs shape whether we accurately notice inequality, with implications for prospects for addressing it., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.

Across three pre-registered studies with children (ages 4-9) and adults (N = 303), we examined whether how a group is predicted evaluations of how group members should be (i.e., a descriptive-to-prescriptive tendency), under conditions in which the descriptive group norms entailed beliefs that were fact-based (Study 1), opinion-based (Study 2), and ideology-based (Study 3). Overall, participants tended to disapprove of individuals with beliefs that differed from their group, but the extent of this tendency varied across development and as a function of the belief under consideration (e.g., younger children did not show a descriptive-to-prescriptive tendency in the context of facts and ideologies, suggesting that they prioritized truth over group norms). Implications for normative reasoning and ideological polarization are discussed., (© 2020 Society for Research in Child Development.)

As part of immune surveillance, killer T lymphocytes search for cancer cells and destroy them. Some cancer cells, however, develop escape mechanisms to evade detection and destruction. One of these mechanisms is the expression of cell surface proteins which allow the cancer cell to bind to proteins on T cells called checkpoints to switch off and effectively evade T-cell-mediated destruction. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are antibodies that block the binding of cancer cell proteins to T-cell checkpoints, preventing the T-cell response from being turned off by cancer cells and enabling killer T cells to attack. In other words, ICIs restore innate antitumor immunity, as opposed to traditional chemotherapies that directly kill cancer cells. Given their relatively excellent risk-benefit ratio when compared to other forms of cancer treatment modalities, ICIs are now becoming ubiquitous and have revolutionized the treatment of many types of cancer. Indeed, the prognosis of some patients is so much improved that the threshold for admission for intensive care should be adjusted accordingly. Nevertheless, by modulating immune checkpoint activity, ICIs can disrupt the intricate homeostasis between inhibition and stimulation of immune response, leading to decreased immune self-tolerance and, ultimately, autoimmune complications. These immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) may virtually affect all body systems. Multiple IRAEs are common and may range from mild to life-threatening. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach and consists mainly of immunosuppression, cessation or postponement of ICI treatment, and supportive therapy, which may require surgical intervention and/or intensive care. We herein review the current literature surrounding IRAEs of interest to anesthesiologists and intensivists. With proper care, fatality (0.3%-1.3%) is rare., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 International Anesthesia Research Society.)

Socioemotional selectivity theory (SST) stresses that future time perspective (FTP) affects one's goals and behaviors. In the work context, older workers' occupational future time perspective (OFTP) also impacts their work-related behaviors. Two studies investigate whether the two components of OFTP, namely, focus on opportunities and on limitations, could account for the age differences in the use of conflict strategies at work. Study 1 comprises 416 Hong Kong Chinese workers aged between 20 and 68 years who completed an online questionnaire measuring their OFTP and habitual use of five conflict management strategies (integrating, compromising, obliging, avoiding, and dominating). In Study 2, 268 managerial employees and professionals were asked to recall a real-life workplace conflict that happened in the past six months and their use of the five conflict strategies in this incident. The results of Study 1 showed a negative indirect effect of age on all five conflict strategies through focus on opportunities, whereas a positive indirect effect of age was observed on obliging, avoiding and dominating strategies through focus on limitations. These age-related patterns are largely replicated in Study 2. These findings suggest that aging workers' increased perception of limitations make them utilize less constructive strategies when facing conflict at work., (Copyright © 2020 Yeung and Ho.)

Autosomal dominant mutations in LITAF are responsible for the rare demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1C (CMT1C). The LITAF protein is expressed in many human cell types and we have investigated the consequences of two different LITAF mutations in primary fibroblasts from CMT1C patients using confocal and electron microscopy. We observed the appearance of vacuolation/enlargement of late endocytic compartments (late endosomes and lysosomes). This vacuolation was also observed after knocking out LITAF from either control human fibroblasts or from the CMT1C patient-derived cells, consistent with it being the result of loss-of-function mutations in the CMT1C fibroblasts. The vacuolation was similar to that previously observed in fibroblasts from CMT4J patients, which have autosomal recessive mutations in FIG4. The FIG4 protein is a component of a phosphoinositide kinase complex that synthesises phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate on the limiting membrane of late endosomes. Phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate activates the release of lysosomal Ca 2+ through the cation channel TRPML1, which is required to maintain the homeostasis of endosomes and lysosomes in mammalian cells. We observed that a small molecule activator of TRPML1, ML-SA1, was able to rescue the vacuolation phenotype of LITAF knockout, FIG4 knockout and CMT1C patient fibroblasts. Our data describe the first cellular phenotype common to two different subtypes of demyelinating CMT and are consistent with LITAF and FIG4 functioning on a common endolysosomal pathway that is required to maintain the homeostasis of late endosomes and lysosomes. Although our experiments were on human fibroblasts, they have implications for our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and approaches to therapy in two subtypes of demyelinating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have a wide range of toxicities affecting potentially any organ system stemming from increased activity within the T-cell lineage similar to that observed in autoimmunity., Case Report: A 57-year-old man with metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma treatment with combination ICI therapy presented with a history of rapidly progressive diplopia. Neurological examination revealed bilateral fatigable ptosis and asymmetrical ophthalmoplegia. His clinical findings were in keeping with an immune-mediated myasthenia gravis. He was immediately commenced on 1 mg/kg of intravenous methylprednisolone and pyridostigmine 60 mg 3 times a day. On day 2 of admission he was given 1 g/kg of intravenous immunoglobulins. He made a rapid and full clinical recovery. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Immune-mediated myasthenia gravis is an important toxicity of ICIs. Early recognition and treatment of this presentation may reduce the significant morbidity and mortality associated with it., (Crown Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Whereas social dominance theory has historically been used to understand the dynamics of group-based hierarchy and oppression, it has seldom been used to understand the dynamics of social change toward greater equality. We review a growing body of research that takes seriously the psychology of individuals who are interested in group-based equality and hierarchy challenge - those lower (versus higher) in social dominance orientation (SDO). This emerging research documents that lower SDO individuals are more likely to support hierarchy-attenuating policies and collective action, and identifies underlying mechanisms (e.g. perceptions of injustice). Moreover, this research suggests that egalitarian ideology can help account for efforts to change the hierarchal status quo, even among high status group members who materially benefit from the extant hierarchy., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Researchers have used social dominance, system justification, authoritarianism, and social identity theories to understand how monoracial perceivers' sociopolitical motives influence their categorization of multiracial people. The result has been a growing understanding of how particular sociopolitical motives and contexts affect categorization, without a unifying perspective to integrate these insights. We review evidence supporting each theory's predictions concerning how monoracial perceivers categorize multiracial people who combine their ingroup with an outgroup, with attention to the moderating role of perceiver group status. We find most studies cannot arbitrate between theories of categorization and reveal additional gaps in the literature. To advance this research area, we introduce the sociopolitical motive × intergroup threat model of racial categorization that (a) clarifies which sociopolitical motives interact with which intergroup threats to predict categorization and (b) highlights the role of perceiver group status. Furthermore, we consider how our model can help understand phenomena beyond multiracial categorization.

Hypodescent emerged in U.S. history to reinforce racial hierarchy. Research suggests that among contemporary U.S. adults, hypodescent continues to shape social perception. Among U.S. children, however, hypodescent is less likely to be endorsed. Here, we tested for hypodescent by introducing U.S. children (ages 4-9) and adults (N = 273) to hierarchically ordered novel groups (one was high status and another was low status) and then to a child who had one parent from each group. In Study 1, we presented the groups in a third-party context. In Study 2, we randomly assigned participants to the high-status or the low-status group. Across both studies, participants did not reliably endorse hypodescent, raising questions as to what elicits this practice., (© 2019 Society for Research in Child Development.)

Family carers of individuals living with Huntington's disease (HD) manage a distinct and unique series of difficulties arising from the complex nature of HD. This paper presents the validation of the definitive measure of quality of life (QoL) for this group. The Huntington's Disease Quality of Life Battery for Carers (HDQoL-C) was expanded ( n = 47) and then administered to an international sample of 1716 partners and family carers from 13 countries. In terms of the psychometric properties of the tool, exploratory analysis of half of the sample demonstrated good internal consistency and reliability. Some items on the full version did not meet psychometric thresholds and a short version (HDQoL-Cs) ( n = 23) was developed based on more stringent criteria. This was achieved using standard psychometric item reduction techniques to both increase reliability and reduce the burden of carers completing the scale. Confirmatory factor analysis of the model structure showed a good fit for all factors and indicated that the HDQoL-C and HDQoL-Cs are psychometrically robust measures of QoL. We found that carers who lived with and looked after their spouse/partner had reduced sense of coping, hope for the future, and overall QoL. Carers with children who were at risk carried the gene or were symptomatic also had poorer QoL outcomes. Findings indicated the HDQoL-C and HDQoL-Cs are valid in multiple languages and across varied cultures as measures of self-reported QoL in family carers of individual's living with HD. These psychometrically validated tools can aid and guide the implementation of therapeutic interventions to improve life quality in this population and research into international and cross-cultural carer experiences. The HDQoL-Cs is recommended as the definitive international measure of HD carer QoL.

We investigated Asian Americans' perceptions of Asian-White biracials. Because the Asian/White boundary may be more permeable than other minority/White boundaries, we reasoned that Asian Americans are more likely than Black Americans to be skeptical of biracials, perceiving that biracials would prefer to identify as White and would be disloyal to Asians, consequently categorizing them as more outgroup. We further reasoned that Asian Americans' concerns about and exclusion of biracials would be predicted by greater perceived discrimination against Asian Americans, which increases the incentive for biracials to pass into the higher status racial group. Studies 1 and 2 provided correlational support for these theorized relationships among Asian Americans. Study 2 showed that perceived discrimination did not increase Black Americans' concerns about biracials' identity preferences and loyalty. Studies 3 and 4 provided causal evidence for the roles of perceived discrimination and biracial identity preferences, respectively, in Asian Americans' exclusion of biracials.

Competing Interests: All authors have disclosed no conflicts of interest.

Background: Although health-related quality of life is key for patients with long-term neurodegenerative conditions, measuring this is less straightforward and complex in Huntington's disease (HD)., Objectives: To refine and validate a fully patient-derived instrument, the Huntington's Disease health-related Quality of Life questionnaire (HDQoL), and to elucidate health domains that are meaningful to patients' lived experience., Methods: Five-hundred forty-one participants, from premanifest to end-stage disease, completed the HDQoL, together with generic quality-of-life measures and in-person motor, cognitive, and behavioral assessments. The psychometric properties of the HDQoL were examined using factor analysis and Rasch analysis., Results: Four HDQoL domains emerged, reflecting the classical triad of HD features; they were Physical-Functional, Cognitive, and 2 different behavioral aspects, that is, the Mood-Self domain and a distinct Worries domain. These domains clarify the behavioral sequelae as experienced by patients, and all showed good to excellent internal consistency. Known-groups analyses illustrated significant and graded changes in clinical assessments and corresponding HDQoL domains across disease severity levels. Convergent and discriminant validity was demonstrated by the expected pattern of correlations between specific HDQoL domains and corresponding domain-relevant clinical assessments as well as patient-reported measures. The data demonstrate robust support for the refined HDQoL across disease stages., Conclusions: The HDQoL, with its 2 distinct behavioral domains of Mood-Self and Worries as well as the Physical-Functional and Cognitive domains, is a relevant, reliable, and valid patient-derived instrument to measure the impact of HD across all severity stages., (Copyright © 2019 ISPOR–The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Intra-operative frozen section (IFS) can provide an instinct guide for treatment of ovarian tumors intra-operatively, though limitations exist. This study intended to evaluate the diagnostic performance of IFS and possible clinicopathological factors influencing the diagnostic accuracy of IFS., Methods: A retrospective review of IFS of ovarian lesions from 2006 to 2016 was done. The diagnostic performance of benign, borderline, and malignant IFS diagnosis was evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influence of clinicopathological parameters on the likelihood of underdiagnosis., Results: There were 1143 consecutive cases during the study period. The overall accuracy was 93.7%. For benign diagnoses, the IFS diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 97.20%, 100%, and 92.51%, respectively. If borderline and malignant diagnoses were considered as a single group, the IFS diagnostic accuracy was 97.20%, with 92.51% sensitivity and 100% specificity. At univariate regression analysis, intact capsules at time of delivery (OR unadj = 1.9), stage I lesions (OR unadj = 3.76) and ultrasound (USG) score 0 (OR unadj = 2.52) were positively associated with underdiagnosis. Further multivariate analysis showed that only stage I lesions (OR = 3.62) and USG score 0 (OR = 2.32) were positively associated with underdiagnosis. For the cases with underdiagnosed IFS, 54% (34/63) received incomplete primary staging surgery., Conclusions: The study demonstrated that IFS provided excellent specificity to differentiate borderline or malignant tumors from benign lesions. IFS in early-stage ovarian cancers needs to be interpreted with caution, though IFS is most important for this group of lesions. A reliable IFS diagnosis often requires efficient communication between surgeons and pathologists., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© IGCS and ESGO 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)