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Perceiving that a partner is highly committed tends to benefit close relationships. However, there may be relational drawbacks to perceiving high commitment. In particular, given that high commitment may signal that a partner is unlikely to leave the relationship, perceiving that a partner is highly committed might lead people low in agreeableness to feel comfortable behaving more selfishly toward that partner. One correlational study consisting of a highly diverse sample of individuals (n = 307), one observational study of newlywed couples (n = 202), and one experiment with undergraduate couples (n = 252) examined whether the implications of perceived partner commitment for selfish behaviors depend on agreeableness. Results demonstrated that perceiving high commitment resulted in more selfish behavior among disagreeable participants (Studies 1–3), but less selfish behavior among agreeable participants (Studies 1 and 3). Together, these results suggest that signaling commitment to disagreeable partners may backfire in romantic relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal changes over recent decades have drastically transformed the frequency and manner in which people are exposed to attractive alternative relationship partners, arguably resulting in such alternatives posing a greater threat to committed relationships now than ever before. Yet despite a growing need for novel research on attractive alternatives, research on this topic has failed to account for such changes and thus is growing stagnant. Specifically, although interdependence perspectives and supporting research have consistently and robustly demonstrated that (a) attractive alternatives threaten committed relationships and (b) committed partners protect their relationships by devaluing such alternatives, research has yet to examine how the changing nature of attractive alternatives might affect these processes. To this end, the present article first reviews foundational theory and research that guided the study of attractive alternatives and then highlights how recent societal changes (e.g., technology that increases access to attractive alternatives, increasingly diverse relationship types, the emerging desire to remain single) diverge from this research and thus warrant new directions. We encourage researchers to expand how they study attractive alternatives and to ultimately reignite research on this increasingly important topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine if sires have a significant effect on methane (CH4) production in a feedlot setting. To reduce the emission of greenhouse gases from cattle, evaluating variables that are easy to manage and change becomes important for a solution. If sires influence methane production, selection can be used to reduce methane production in cattle as sire differences are indicative of a genetic influence. The data used in this study were obtained from Colorado State University (CSU), with animals from John E. Rouse Beef Improvement Center. Animals with methane data were included in this analysis if sire parentage was known. After filtering, there were 68 Angus cattle, with 56 sires and 12 heifers included in the study. A linear model fitting sire and pen to methane was used. RStudio was used for the general linear model, and significance values were generated. Individual CH4 emissions were collected using GreenFeed free-stall systems (C-Lock) in each of the four pens at the CSU Agricultural Research Development and Education Center facility in Fort Collins, CO. Methane emissions were measured over a 52-day period. The average animal age at the start of the period was 241± 15.76 days. After all collections were completed, the mean CH4 mass flow was 180.4 g/day with a median of 181.4 g/day. The minimum was 107.5 g/day with a maximum of 247.0 g/day. There were sex differences (P < 0.05) for (CH4) emission rate. Primary to this study, sires had a significant effect on (CH4) emission rates (P < 0.05). The range of sire means for methane production was considerable with the 1st and 3rd quartiles of 157.8 g/day and 209.6 g/day. In these data, sires significantly influenced the (CH4) emission rates of their progeny, and we believe selection could be used to reduce overall (CH4) emissions. With these results, however, additional analyses to fully understand if there truly is a genetic component to (CH4) production could be undertaken once additional data has been collected. These future studies need to consider the relationships between methane production and other traits such as average daily gain, dry matter intake, and weight as selection needs to occur while considering a system-wide perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intimates often discuss the causes of, and solutions to, their relationship problems with their partners, and this information can shape partners' behavior and thus facilitate problem resolution. Partners' ability to encode and later recall such discussions should lead to greater declines in the severity of those problems. This brief report presents the results from a broader longitudinal study in which newlywed couples completed tasks assessing their working memory capacity (WMC), engaged in problem-solving discussions, recalled those discussions after a short delay, and then reported the severity of the problems discussed over the course of a year. Greater WMC among partners was associated with greater declines in the severity of a relationship problem, mediated by partners' recall of the discussion of that problem, suggesting that WMC facilitated the long-term memory encoding of the problem discussion. This study is among the first to suggest that individual differences in basic cognitive abilities may affect conversation processing and recall, and thereby close relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People regularly encounter tempting alternatives to their relationship partners, and it has been argued that paying attention to desirable alternatives increases the risk of infidelity. However, whether the temptation of noticing attractive alternatives leads to actual infidelity should depend on the ability to resist such temptation. More specifically, taking heed of attractive others should increase the likelihood of infidelity only when people lack self-regulatory ability. One experiment and one longitudinal study of newlyweds both demonstrated that the implications of attending to attractive alternatives for infidelity depended on participants' self-regulatory ability to resist such temptations. Specifically, the tendency to notice attractive alternatives was associated with greater infidelity among those with poorer self-regulatory ability, but not among those with greater self-regulatory ability. These results further understanding about how people can maintain and protect their relationships in the face of temptation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we synthesize existing literatures across numerous domains to introduce a novel model—the Relationship Problem Solving (RePS) model—for understanding the process through which romantic partners influence one another to resolve relationship problems. The first section briefly describes the key constructs and stages of the model. The second section details the inter personal behaviors that influence various intra personal factors (e.g., affect, self-efficacy) that ultimately influence partners' motivation and ability to progress through the stages of the model. The third section uses the model to generate novel predictions that suggest that the effectiveness of these interpersonal behaviors often depends on contextual factors. Finally, the fourth section discusses the implications of this model for understanding relationship problem solving, highlights the need to consider the role of context in the problem-solving process, and offers numerous specific predictions to be addressed by future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature dependence of the electrical leakage current density of chemical solution deposited BaTiO3 films on high purity Ni foils was investigated as function of the underlying Ni microstructure. Depending on the Ni heat treatment prior to BaTiO3 deposition, it was found that pores in the dielectric followed the profiles of the underlying Ni grain boundary grooves. The electrical properties were then characterized on capacitors with and without the presence of Ni grain boundaries. When a Ni grain boundary from the substrate was present in the capacitor used during the electrical measurements, the loss tangent of the capacitor rose rapidly for dc biases exceeding ∼25 kV/cm. The critical bias increases to ∼100 kV/cm when no substrate grain boundaries are included in the capacitor. In addition, the capacitance-voltage curves are much more symmetric when grain boundaries are absent. This disparity in the electrical behavior was analyzed in terms of the mechanisms of charge conduction across the Ni-dielectric interface. While a reverse biased Schottky emission mechanism dominates the current in areas free of Ni grain boundaries, the barrier at the cathode is ineffective when Ni grain boundaries are present in the substrate. This, in turn, leads to a larger leakage current dominated by the forward biased Schottky barrier at the anode. The results are important to both embedded and surface mount capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppressing emotional expressions can hide one's needs from relationship partners and thus prevent partners from providing support. Nevertheless, suppressing expressions may help people maintain more favorable evaluations of partners who are ultimately unsupportive because people may attribute a lack of support to partners being unaware of their needs. Thus, given that depressive symptoms reduce provisions of support, people with partners experiencing depressive symptoms may remain more satisfied to the extent that they previously suppressed emotional expressions. We tested these ideas in 1 experiment, 1 cross-sectional study, and 1 longitudinal study. In Study 1, participants imagined either expressing or suppressing their emotions, imagined their partner was either supportive or unsupportive to their needs, and reported their perceptions of their partner. In Studies 2 and 3, newlywed couples reported their depressive symptoms, their marital satisfaction, and the extent to which they suppressed their emotional expressions cross-sectionally (Study 2) or every year for 2 years (Study 3). Results revealed that people with unsupportive partners or partners high in depressive symptoms made more benevolent attributions for their partners' unsupportive behavior and remained more satisfied with their partners to the extent that they suppressed their emotional expressions; however, people with supportive partners or partners low in depressive symptoms became more dissatisfied with their partners to the extent that they suppressed their emotional expressions. These results highlight the benefits of dyadic theoretical perspectives by revealing that qualities of the partner moderate the effects of expressive suppression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timing and spatial dynamics of tamarisk (Tamarix spp. L.) defoliation by the biological control agent Diorhabda carinulata (Desbrochers) were evaluated. Relative abundance of D. carinulata and the phenology of tamarisk along the San Juan and Colorado rivers were recorded in 2011–2012. D. carinulata began reproducing in the spring when temperatures were >15°C. Variation in spring temperature-rise affected the timing of development of larvae of the first summer generation and initial defoliation of tamarisk at each site. Shortening day lengths in mid- to late-summer cued D. carinulata to enter reproductive diapause resulting in cessation of defoliation. The critical day length for inducing reproductive diapause was 33–47 minutes shorter than that of populations of D. carinulata released into North America in 2001. Variation in spring temperature-rise combined with timing of shortening day length resulted in differences in D. carinulata voltinism per site. During the active season, larvae were less likely to establish in areas where defoliation was >70%. Lack of reestablishment of larvae led to temporary loss of D. carinulata from the locations and allowed tamarisks to sprout new canopies. Defoliation of tamarisk was dictated by environmental cues and abundance of D. carinulata, and in turn large amounts of defoliation negatively affected abundance of D. carinulata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although forgiveness can have numerous benefits, it can also have a notable cost-forgiveness can allow transgressors to continue behaving in ways that can be hurtful (McNulty, 2010, 2011). Accordingly, two studies tested the prediction that the implications of forgiveness for whether the partner transgresses or fails to behave benevolently depend on whether forgivers regulate partners away from future transgressions and toward benevolent behaviors. Study 1 was an experimental study of emerging adult couples in which participants were (a) asked to report their partners' tendencies to engage in partner-regulation behaviors, (b) led to believe their partners were either forgiving or unforgiving, and (c) given the opportunity to transgress against their partners. Study 2 was a longitudinal study of newlywed couples in which participants were (a) asked to report their tendencies to forgive their partners, (b) observed during problem-solving discussions, and then (c) asked to report their satisfaction with their partners' considerateness every 6 months for 4 years. Both studies provided evidence that direct oppositional partner-regulation behaviors moderate the implications of forgiveness for partner behavior. Among intimates who demanded more change, forgiveness was associated with the partner transgressing less (Study 1) and compromising more (Study 2), as well as participants being more satisfied with their partners' considerateness over time (Study 2); among intimates who demanded less change, forgiveness was associated with these outcomes in the opposite direction. These findings suggest that supplementing forgiveness with partner-regulation behaviors can help nondistressed couples avoid the undesirable outcomes and maximize desirable outcomes associated with forgiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary perspectives on relationship commitment posit that intimates decide whether or not to maintain a relationship based on their commitment to that relationship, and that they base such commitment partially on their current satisfaction with that relationship. Nevertheless, given that ending a relationship requires knowing about both the current state of the relationship and the likely future state of the relationship, we propose that people base their commitment to a relationship more on their expected future satisfaction with the relationship than on their current satisfaction with that relationship. Six studies provided evidence for these ideas. Study 1 demonstrated that expected satisfaction is shaped by not only current satisfaction but also several unique indicators of the likelihood of future satisfaction, including anticipated life events, plans to improve the relationship, and individual differences. Then, using a combination of cross-sectional, experimental, and longitudinal methods, Studies 2 through 6 demonstrated that (a) expected satisfaction was a stronger predictor of relationship commitment, maintenance behaviors, and/or divorce than was current satisfaction and (b) expected satisfaction mediated the association between current satisfaction and these outcomes. These findings highlight not only the need to incorporate expected satisfaction into extent perspectives on commitment, but also the importance of expectations for decision-making processes more broadly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose The purpose of this study was to collect information regarding healthcare worker (HCW) vaccination policies in Utah family practice clinics. Methods The study was conducted in Utah family practice clinics in the most densely populated counties in the state and was a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from 91 family practice clinic managers. Descriptive statistics were performed, as well as a content analysis for open-ended items. Conclusions HCWs are employed in environments where infectious diseases can be easily spread from person to person, thus, vaccinations can be instrumental in protecting the health of HCWs and patients alike. In Utah, 56.8% of family practice clinics had either no vaccination policy for HCWs or had a policy with no consequences for noncompliance. Utah family practice clinics need to implement changes to create and maintain HCW vaccination policies. Implications for practice Nurse practitioners can be leaders and change agents by working with their county and state health departments to create state-wide policies that mirror the position statements from the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maritime transport is an alternative modal logistic in transporting cargo for long distances and in large quantities. However, the logistical planning for this modal becomes costly due to the uncertainties, such as climatic conditions, cargo types, and port characteristics. Therefore, estimating the stay times of ships becomes an essential objective for the planning and scheduling of the waterway modal. Determining the time frame the port has to operate the ship, based on the expected time that ships stay moored, is a challenge for the port management. In the present study, we collected data on the main cargo movements in Brazilian ports in 2018 to develop a model for predicting the stay time of ships, using algorithms based on decision tree models. There are no studies in the literature on models for predicting the stay time of ships, which is the gap to be filled in this research. In addition, an exploratory data analysis was performed to discover the variables that most influence the stay time. This research used several classification machine learning algorithms (support vector machines, gradient boosting, decision tree, random forest, among others) to build stay time prediction. As a result, the best model generated was that of random forests that obtained acceptable performance, with accuracy and f1-score above 73%, and train and test times around 14 s and the most important features to the model involve geographical and cargo characteristics. Therefore, it is possible to use them in real environments to develop logistic planning of the waterway modal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self equivalences of classifying spaces of p -local compact groups are well understood by means of the algebraic structure that gives rise to them, but explicit descriptions are lacking. In this paper we use Robinson's construction of an amalgam G , realising a given fusion system, to produce a split epimorphism from the outer automorphism group of G to the group of homotopy classes of self homotopy equivalences of the classifying space of the corresponding p -local compact group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship self-efficacy ( RSE) is the belief that one can resolve relationship conflicts, and it may lead victims of situational violence to remain in their relationships because they expect to minimize subsequent violence. Indeed, a longitudinal study of two samples of college students demonstrated that RSE moderates the effects of victimization on relationship dissolution; intimate partner violence ( IPV) victimization was positively associated with dissolution among intimates low in RSE but was unassociated with dissolution among intimates high in RSE. Interestingly, although RSE was negatively associated with dissolution among victims, it was associated with experiencing less subsequent IPV in one sample. Ultimately, whether victims' RSE is adaptive may depend on the extent to which any minimization of conflicts eliminates violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between recent cannabis use, current symptomatology and age at onset of first manic, depressive and psychotic episodes in a large sample with first-treatment bipolar I disorder ( BD I). Methods One hundred one patients with first-treatment Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition ( DSM- IV) bipolar I disorder were included as part of the Thematically Organized Psychosis study. The Structural Clinical Interview for DSM- IV was used for DSM- IV diagnosis and identification of episodes of illness. Earlier suicide attempts were recorded. Manic, depressive and psychotic symptoms were rated using the Young Mania Rating Scale, Inventory of Depressive Symptoms and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale correspondingly. Cannabis use within the six last months was recorded. Results After controlling for confounders, recent cannabis use was significantly associated with lower age at onset of first manic and psychotic episode, but not with onset of first depressive episode (both P < 0.05). Recent use was also associated with more lifetime suicide attempts ( P < 0.01). No group differences were found on symptom levels. Conclusions The present study confirms earlier findings of an association between cannabis use and a lower age at onset. Recent cannabis use was also associated with more lifetime suicide attempts. The current findings suggest that recent cannabis use is associated with a more severe course of illness in the early phase of BD I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People often consider how ready they feel for a committed romantic relationship before initiating one. Although research has only begun to identify the antecedents of commitment readiness, several theoretical perspectives suggest that it should be shaped by the perceived frequency of available partners. We conducted five studies (one correlational, four experimental) that tested this idea among single people. A Pilot Study assessed participants' perceptions of available romantic partners and their commitment readiness. In the subsequent four experiments, participants read articles (Studies 1a and 1b) or created dating profiles and were presented with false feedback (Studies 2 and 3) that influenced perceptions of available partners and reported their commitment readiness. Results suggested that people were less ready to commit to a romantic relationship to the extent that they perceived they had many partners available to them. These results further understanding of factors that promote the decision to initiate a committed relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do people who feel good about themselves have better relations with others? Although the notion that they do is central to both classic and modern theories, there is little strong evidence to support it. We argue that one reason for the lack of evidence is that prior research has relied exclusively on explicit measures of self- and relationship evaluation. The current longitudinal study of newlywed couples used implicit measures of self- and partner evaluation, as well as explicit measures of self-, relationship, and partner evaluation, to examine the link between self-evaluations and changes in relationship evaluations over the first 3 years of marriage. Whereas explicit self-evaluations were unrelated to changes in all interpersonal measures, implicit self-evaluations positively predicted changes in implicit partner evaluations. This finding adds to previous research by highlighting the importance of automatic processes and implicit measures in the study of close interpersonal relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

For any prime p, the theory of p-local compact groups is modelled on the p-local homotopy theory of classifying spaces of compact Lie groups and p-compact groups and generalises the earlier concept of p-local finite groups. These objects have maximal tori and Weyl groups, although the Weyl groups need not be generated by pseudoreflections. In this paper, we study the rational p-adic cohomology of the classifying space of a p-local compact group and prove that just as for compact Lie groups, it is isomorphic to the ring of invariants of the Weyl group action on the cohomology of the classifying space of the maximal torus. This is applied to show that unstable Adams operations on p-local compact groups are determined in the appropriate sense by the map they induce on rational cohomology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing interdependence in an intimate relationship requires engaging in behaviors that risk rejection, such as expressing affection and asking for support. Who takes such risks and who avoids them? Although several theoretical perspectives suggest that self-esteem plays a crucial role in shaping such behaviors, they can be used to make competing predictions regarding the direction of this effect. Six studies reconcile these contrasting predictions by demonstrating that the effects of self-esteem on behaviors that risk rejection to increase interdependence depend on relational seif-construal—that is, the extent to which people define themselves by their close relationships. In Studies 1 and 2, participants were given the opportunity to disclose negative personal information (Study 1) and feelings of intimacy (Study 2) to their dating partners. In Study 3, married couples reported the extent to which they confided in one another. In Study 4, we manipulated self-esteem and relational self-construal, and participants reported their willingness to engage in behaviors that increase interdependence. In Studies 5 and 6, we manipulated the salience of interpersonal risk, and participants reported their willingness to engage in behaviors that risk rejection to increase interdependence. In all 6 studies, self-esteem was positively associated with behaviors that can increase interdependence among people low in relational self-construal but negatively associated with those behaviors among people high in relational self-construal. Accordingly, theoretical descriptions of the role of self-esteem in relationships will be most complete to the extent that they consider the degree to which people define themselves by their close relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attachment theory providcs a useful framework for predicting marital infidelity. However, most research has eaamined the association between attachment and infidelity in unmarried individuals, and we are aware of no research that has examined the role of partner attachment in predicting infidelity. In contrast to research showing that attachment anxiety is unrelated to infidelity among dating couples, 2 longitudinal stadies of 207 newlywed marriages demonstrated that own and partner attachment anxiety interacted to predict marital infidelity, snch that spouses were more likely to perpetrate infidelity when either they or their partner was high (vs. low) in attachment anxiety. Farther, and also in contrast to research on dating couples, own attachment avoidance was anrelated to infidelity, whereas partner attachment avoidance was negatively associated with infidelity, indicating that sponses were less likely to perpetrate infidelity when their partner was high (vs. low) in attachment avoidance. These effects emerged controlling for marital satisfaction, sexual frequency, and personality; did not differ across husbands and wives; and did not differ across the two studies, with the exception that the negative association between partner attachment avoidance and own infidelity only emerged in 1 of the 2 studies. These findings offer a more complete understanding of the implications of attachment insecurity for marital infidelity and ssggest that studies of unmarried individuals may not provide complete insights into the implications of various psychological traits and processes for marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined how various biases operate in combination to influence performance judgments. Along these lines, the current study used experimental methods to test four competing models of the combined influence of ratee's bodyweight and past performance information on performance judgments. Results were consistent with an additive model, such that ratee's bodyweight and information about ratee's past performance combined independently to affect performance judgments. Consistent with a double disadvantage effect, the least favorable performance judgments were made for an overweight ratee with poor previous performance. Finally, mixed evidence was obtained for the interaction of ratee's bodyweight and perceptions of ratee's physical attractiveness, such that high-perceived attractiveness buffered against the otherwise negative performance ratings associated with overweight status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Should intimates respond to their interpersonal mistakes with self-criticism or with self-compassion? Although it is reasonable to expect self-compassion to benefit relationships by promoting self-esteem, it is also reasonable to expect self-compassion to hurt relationships by removing intimates' motivation to correct their interpersonal mistakes. Two correlational studies. I experiment, and I longitudinal study demonstrated that whether self-compassion helps or hurts relationships depends on the presence versus absence of dispositional sources of the motivation to correct interpersonal mistakes. Among men, the implications of self-compassion were moderated by conscientiousness. Among men high in conscientiousness, self-compassion was associated with greater motivation to correct interpersonal mistakes (Studies I and 3), observations of more constructive problem-solving behaviors (Study 2), reports of more accommodation (Study 3), and fewer declines in marital satisfaction that were mediated by decreases in interpersonal problem severity (Study 4); among men low in conscientiousness, self-compassion was associated with these outcomes in the opposite direction, Among women, in contrast, likely because women are inherently more motivated than men to preserve their relationships for cultural and/or biological reasons, self-compassion was never harmful to the relationship. Instead, women's self-compassion was positively associated with the motivation to correct their interpersonal mistakes (Study 1) and changes in relationship satisfaction (Study 4), regardless of conscientiousness. Accordingly, theoretical descriptions of the implications of self-promoting thoughts for relationships may be most complete to the extent that they consider the presence versus absence of other sources of the motivation to correct interpersonal mistakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Supported Pt, Pd, and Au catalysts were evaluated in the aqueous-phase oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) at 295K and high pH in a semibatch reactor. The intermediate reaction product 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HFCA) was formed in high yield over Au/C and Au/TiO2 at 690kPa O2, 0.15M HMF and 0.3M NaOH, but did not continue to react substantially to FDCA at the specified O2 pressure and base concentration. In contrast, the final reaction product FDCA was formed over Pt/C and Pd/C under identical conditions. The initial turnover frequency of HMF conversion was an order of magnitude greater on Au catalysts compared to either Pt or Pd. Increasing the O2 pressure and NaOH concentration facilitated the conversion of HFCA to FDCA over the supported Au. The significant influence of base concentration on the product distribution indicates an important role of OH− in the activation, oxidation and degradation of HMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online social networking services are Internet websites that allow individuals to learn about and communicate with others. This study investigated the association between use of these websites and friendship quality for individuals varying in shyness. Participants (N = 241) completed questionnaires assessing their use of Facebook, an online social networking service, shyness, perceived available social support, loneliness, and friendship quality. Results indicated an interaction between shyness and Facebook usage, such that individuals high in shyness (when compared to less shy individuals) reported stronger associations between Facebook use and friendship quality. Facebook use, however, was unrelated to loneliness among highly shy individuals. Therefore, online social networking services may provide a comfortable environment within which shy individuals can interact with others. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Study design:Prospective population-based open-ended study. This paper is part of the Stockholm–Thessaloniki Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Study.Objectives:To calculate incidence and evaluate the epidemiological profile of the incident population with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI).Settings:The greater Thessaloniki region in Greece and the greater Stockholm region in Sweden.Methods:TSCI individuals, older than 15 years of age, who had survived the first 7 days post-trauma, were identified through an active surveillance system. The forms of the Nordic Spinal Cord Injury Registry were used.Results:87 individuals were injured in the greater Thessaloniki and 49 in the greater Stockholm region. Annual crude incidence was 33.6 per million for Thessaloniki and 19.5 per million for the Stockholm region. The leading causes of injury for the Thessaloniki region were transportation accidents (51%) and falls (37%), and those for the Stockholm region were falls (47%) and transportation accidents (23%). A significantly larger number of individuals of the Thessaloniki group were injured in transportation accidents. There was no significant difference between regions with regard to the type of resulting impairment.Conclusions:Incidence of TSCI was considerably higher in the Thessaloniki region as compared with that in the Stockholm region, probably chiefly reflecting differences in preventative measures with regard to driving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last years, researchers have been paying particular attention to scheduling problems integrating production environments and distribution systems to adopt more realistic assumptions. This paper aims to present a new biased random key genetic algorithm with an iterated greedy local search procedure (BRKGA-IG) for open shop scheduling with routing by capacitated vehicles. We propose approximation and exact algorithms to obtain high-quality solutions in acceptable computational times. This paper presents a new integer linear programming model. The proposed integer model has not been addressed in the revised literature. The objective function adopted is makespan minimization, and we use the relative deviation as performance criteria. BRKGA-IG has a new decoding scheme for OSSP-VRP solutions, an intensive exploitation mechanism with an iterated greedy local search procedure, and a restart mechanism to reduce premature population convergence. With these new mechanisms, the extensive computational experience carried out shows that the proposed metaheuristic BRKGA-IG is promising in solving large-sized instances for the new proposed problem, outperforming all other tested methods. • We study an integrated open shop scheduling problem with the vehicle routing problem. • This problem is modeled and solved by a MILP and a metaheuristic approach. • The biased random key genetic algorithm and the iterated greedy algorithm are used. • The proposed metaheuristic gets competitive results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic wet air oxidation of aqueous solution containing 1000 ppm aniline was conducted in a trickle-bed reactor packed with a novel nanocasted Mn-Ce-oxide catalyst (surface area of 300 m²/g) prepared using SBA-15 silica as a hard template. A range of liquid hourly space velocities (5-20 h-1) and temperatures (110-140 °C) at 10 bar of oxygen were tested. The experiments were conducted to provide the intrinsic performance of the catalysts. Complete aniline conversion, 90% TOC conversion, and 80% nitrogen mineralization were achieved at 140 °C and 5 h-1. Blank experiments yielded relatively low homogeneous aniline (<35%) and negligible TOC conversions. Fast deactivation of the catalysts was experienced due to leaching caused by complexation with aniline. Acidification of the solution with HCI (molar HCI to aniline ratio of 1.2) was necessary to avoid colloidization and leaching of the nanoparticulate catalyst components. The catalyst displayed stable performance for over 200 h on stream. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terror-related multiple casualty incidents (MCI) in Israel since September 2000 have resulted in a new pattern of injury as a result of the mechanisms of trauma. The objective of this study was to asses the temporal death distribution among the civilian casualties in the Jerusalem vicinity during a 3-year period. All terrorist attacks in the Jerusalem district from September 2000 to September 2003 were included in this study. The data of all deaths were processed including the time of the attack, the evacuation time to the hospitals, and the time of death. During the study period 28 terror-related MCI occurred. A total of 2328 victims were injured and 273 died, for an overall fatality rate of 11.7%. A unique temporal death distribution was identified; 82.8% of the deaths occurred immediately, at the scene of the attack (scene death); of the remaining 17.2% of patients who died in the hospital, half died within 4 hours of arrival (immediate death), one quarter within 5–24 hours (early death), and one quarter later than that (late death). The temporal death distribution was significantly different when classifying the mechanism of trauma to suicide bombings versus shooting. The scene mortality was higher in the suicide bombings than in shooting attacks (86.7% versus 77%, P = 0.039 ). In contrast, the mortality within 1–24 hours was higher in the shooting attacks (17% versus 6.3%, P = 0.05). Terror-related MCI occurring in civilian settings have a unique temporal death distribution. A very high scene mortality is seen compared to the classical description of Donald Trunkey in 1983. The late deaths, which composed 30% of the mortality in civilian settings, comprise only 4.4% of the total mortality in MCIs. A rough estimate of the in-hospital mortality could be achieved after the first 4 hours, allowing the assessment and distribution of hospital resources. Futile care should be identified early and availability of ICU beds can be calculated according to the immediate mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN::Consecutive inclusion of spinal cord injured patients admitted for postacute rehabilitation from June 2000 to January 2002. OBJECTIVE::Assessment of prevalence of indicators of psychological distress in the subacute and early chronic stages after acute-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING::A Swedish rehabilitation center. METHODS::In all, 36 patients participated. Psychological assessment was obtained at admission, discharge and 6 months follow-up by psychological measures based on the DSM-IV (ie Beck's Depression Inventory, SPIFA, SCID-screen, AUDIT) and clinical interview. Ongoing psychotropic medication was noted. RESULTS::Clinical depression was infrequent. However, ongoing psychotropic medication was common, possibly indicating a relatively high incidence of underlying depressive and anxiety disorders. In all, 25%of the sample showed indicators of high alcohol consumption. Few patients had a previously diagnosed personality disorder. By contrast, there was frequent occurrence of personality traits outside normal ranges. CONCLUSION::Medication of psychological problems commonly occurs after SCI, especially for depression and anxiety. There are indications of alcohol overconsumption in a substantial minority of SCI patients. The study raises the question of whether suppression of psychological symptoms by drug therapy is the optimal treatment of such problems in a rehabilitation process. SPONSORSHIP::This study was funded by grants from‘Stiftelsen Tekniska Hjälpmedelåt Handikappade’.Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 223-229. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101703; Published online 7 December 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the possibility of political change through the examination of ontological concepts pertaining to the social as drawn from the thought of Lacan and Deleuze. Distinguishing between the virtual and the actual, I argue that a politics of the actual, which is premised on conflicts between social groups, fails to produce real social change by leaving the virtual social structure organizing relationships between these groups intact. By contrast, a politics of the virtual makes these structures the direct object of its struggle, and seeks to determine the void underlying social relations as the place where real change is possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mollusks, statocyst receptor cells (SRCs) interact with each other forming a neural network; their activity is determined by both the animal's orientation in the gravitational field and multimodal inputs. These two facts suggest that the function of the statocysts is not limited to sensing the animal's orientation. We studied the role of the statocysts in the organization of search motion during hunting behavior in the marine mollusk, Clione limacina. When hunting, Clione swims along a complex trajectory including numerous twists and turns confined within a definite space. Search-like behavior could be evoked pharmacologically by physostigmine; application of physostigmine to the isolated CNS produced "fictive search behavior" monitored by recordings from wing and tail nerves. Both in behavioral and in vitro experiments, we found that the statocysts are necessary for search behavior. The motor program typical of searching could not be produced after removing the statocysts. Simultaneous recordings from single SRCs and motor nerves showed that there was a correlation between the SRCs activity and search episodes. This correlation occurred even though the preparation was fixed and, therefore the sensory stimulus was constant. The excitation of individual SRCs could in some cases precede the beginning of search episodes. A biologically based model showed that, theoretically, the hunting search motor program could be generated by the statocyst receptor network due to its intrinsic dynamics. The results presented support for the idea that the statocysts are actively involved in the production of the motor program underlying search movements during hunting behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the implications and predictive value of estradiol concentrations following pituitary down-regulation with gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for assisted reproductive technology. Study design: A total of 277 patients undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were enrolled into the study and the patients were divided into four groups according to estradiol levels on the initial day of stimulation of which group-A consisted of the patients who had ≤25 pg/ml (n=90), group-B with levels between 26 and 50 pg/ml (n=104), group-C with levels between 51 and 75 pg/ml (n=67) and group-D with levels ≥76–90 pg/ml (n=16) and the results were compared. The primary outcome measures included ovarian response and the clinical pregnancy rates. Results: The clinical pregnancy rates in groups-A, B, C and D were 33.3% (30/90), 26.0% (27/104), 35.8% (24/67), and 25.0% (4/16), respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference (P=0.482). The mean number of oocytes retrieved in groups were (9.7±5.8, 10.3±6.5, 11.0±6.8, and 12.1±6.6), respectively (P=0.453) and the fertilization rates in groups-A, B, C and D were found to be similar (75, 80, 73 and 79%, respectively; P=0.658). Conclusion: Complete and deep desensitization obviously seems not to be mandatory for successful stimulation in wassisted reproductive technology cycles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

STUDY DESIGN:: Retrospective descriptive study. OBJECTIVES:: To assess incidence, causes and early outcome of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) among children in Sweden, thereby identifying high-risk groups and situations as a basis for preventative measures and improved care. METHODS:: Data from population registers, County Habilitation Centers as well as from informal sources were used to estimate the incidence of SCI in Sweden during the years 1985-1996 among children aged 0-15 years. Contacts with the treating hospitals, reviews of medical records and/or personal interviews were used to verify primary data. In total, 92 children were thus identified. RESULTS:: The incidence was found to be 4.6/million children/year (95% CI 3.6-5.5). When excluding prehospital fatalities, the incidence was 2.4 (95% CI 1.8-3.1). The main cause of injury among fatalities was traffic accidents. Associated injuries occurred in 41% of the children. Among survivors (10-15 years), sports-related injuries (43%) were as common a cause as traffic accidents (39%). The survivors were treated in 18 different hospitals. CONCLUSION:: Pediatric SCI in Sweden is rare, presumably because of effective primary prevention. Preventative measures should be further differentiated for each age group of children in accordance with their differing risk profiles. In contrast to the effective preventative measures that have been implemented in Sweden, care of these patients is still too fractionated and decentralized for sufficient specialization to emerge.Spinal Cord (2003) 41, 328-336. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101478 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Societal services after traumatic spinal cord injury in Sweden were investigated, including self-rated levels of satisfaction with the application process and resource allocation. DESIGN: Survey of an incidence population. SUBJECTS: Thirty-four persons of a total regional incidence population (n = 48) with traumatic spinal cord injury. METHODS: Structured interviews using a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: About 25 separate services were identified being available for persons with traumatic spinal cord injury. The average number of applications per person was 5 (range 0-11). The most common service was 'transportation service'. Of the applications, 17% were partially or totally rejected. Most subjects received information about available services from a social worker. For 13 available services at least 1 subject claimed ignorance about its existence. CONCLUSIONS: In Sweden, significant resources are allocated for allowing independence and financial compensation for individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury. However, this support system sometimes also results in frustration and disappointment. Insufficient information and co-ordination are reported as weaknesses. The persons' efforts to acquire knowledge of how the system works take time which could be better used for rehabilitation and full integration into the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied the Ca2+ dynamics of bursting–spiking neurons in the lobster stomatogastric ganglion. Neurons in this ganglion undergo spontaneous oscillations in membrane voltage with a period of 1–10 s in situ. We found that neurons isolated from the ganglion and filled with the fluorescent calcium indicator Fluo-4 show simultaneous changes of membrane potential and cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]I). These Ca2+ signals are highly heterogeneous both in terms of amplitude and time constants. They showed variable spatial distributions with the soma exhibiting low and slow signals, and a region in the process with large and fast signals.Ca2+ transients in the processes are dependent on external Ca2+ and can be blocked by Co2+, but not other, more specific Ca2+ current blockers. Rather, nifedipine a known Ca2+ current blocker, affects the distribution of the Ca2+ signal, which suggests a specific localization of Ca2+ channels. Although the signal is not absolutely dependent on action potentials, it is greatly reduced when action potentials are blocked by tetrodotoxin. Termination of the signal depends only slightly on Ca2+ buffering mechanisms such as mitochondria, Ca2+/Na+ and Ca2+/H+ exchangers.We also demonstrate the presence of caffeine-sensitive internal stores in stomatogastric ganglion cells. The store distribution is different but overlaps with the voltage-dependent distribution. The maximal caffeine-activated Ca2+ signal is in the soma and it is smaller in the processes. Unlike the voltage-activated Ca2+ signal this signal is not blocked by Co2+. Nevertheless, the two types of signal interact during caffeine application. This unique spatial separation of two Ca2+ sources may have important functional implication. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Malignancy associated primary thiamine deficiency has been documented in several experimental tumours, sporadic clinical case reports, and in a number of patients with fast growing haematological malignancies. Thiamine status was assessed prospectively in 14 untreated B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients, and in 14 age matched control patients with non-malignant disease. Patients with any known cause of absolute, relative, or functional thiamine deficiency were excluded. High (>15%) thiamine pyrophosphate effect (TPPE), indicating thiamine deficiency, was found in five out of 14 CLL patients (35.7%) and in none of the controls (p=0.057). Mean (SD) TPPE in the thiamine deficient patients group was 21.6 (3.4)%. In all the patients, thiamine deficiency was subclinical. No correlates for the thiamine deficiency have been found save for an increment of more than 20% in the total leucocyte count over the preceding three months, which was found in all five thiamine deficient patients compared with only one of the nine non-thiamine deficient CLL patients. Thus, CLL patients may be prone to develop primary thiamine deficiency possibly promoted by the increased leucocytes span, which may increase thiamine consumption. Since even subclinical thiamine deficiency may be detrimental to the patient's clinical course, and in view of the theoretical danger of thiamine promoted tumour cell proliferation, further large scale studies are warranted to confirm this observation, and to elucidate the issue of thiamine supplementation to CLL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and chronic pain are prevalent and associated. We examined the prevalence and distribution of chronic pain in adolescents and young adults with ADHD using 9-years longitudinal data (from T1:2009–2011 to T3:2018–2019) with three time points from a clinical health survey compared to two age-matched reference population-based samples. Mixed-effect logistic regression and binary linear regression were used to estimate the probability for chronic and multisite pain at each time point and to compare the prevalence of chronic pain with the reference populations. The prevalence of chronic and multisite pain was high in those with ADHD, especially in female young adults, with highly prevalent chronic pain at 9 years of follow-up (75.9%) compared to 45.7% in females in the reference population. The probability of having pain was only statistically significant for chronic pain in males at 3 years of follow-up (41.9%, p = 0.021). Those with ADHD were at higher risk of reporting single-site and multisite pain compared to the general population at all measurement points. Longitudinal studies should be tailored to further understand the complex sex differences of comorbid chronic pain and ADHD in adolescents, exploring predictive factors of pain assessing long-term associations with bodyweight, psychiatric comorbidities, and possible mechanisms of stimulant use effects on pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to illuminate sexual experiences in women after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), including psychological, physical and social barriers that will have to be overcome to resume a sexually active life with a partner. Interviews with eight women were performed. The women were 20-43 years old, previously healthy, with experience of stable heterosexual relationships both before and after SCI. The interviews covered three main areas: 1. The first sexual contact after injury: expectations, concerns, outcome; 2. Communication with partner on sexual matters, before and after injury; and 3. Sexual activity after injury: limitations, compensatory strategies. In addition, advice from the women to newly injured and rehabilitation staff/counselors was requested. Results suggest a strong influence of pre-injury sexual behaviour on post-injury sexual adaptation. A positive attitude towards sexuality and good communicative skills seem to be of particular importance for a favourable outcome of sexual rehabilitation. Even under such circumstances, however, SCI as a rule leads to significant loss of sexual ability. A realistic approach is therefore recommended in counseling, taking the mourning of loss of function into consideration, and allowing the patients to express their grief. Thus, sexual rehabilitation programs need to address a dynamic process of mourning and coping, rather than merely teaching skills for having sexual intercourse after SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:Case report on the successful treatment with pramipexole in four men with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) suffering from refractory symptoms that were previously considered to be manifestations of a post-traumatic spastic syndrome or neuropathic pain.Objective:To raise awareness among health professionals regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic possibility of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and periodic limb movements (PLMs) in some patients with SCI responding poorly to conventional treatment for spasticity or neuropathic pain.Setting:Neurorehabilitation department of the Rehabilitation Medicine Center of Northern University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.Methods:Medical records and clinical data were retrospectively reviewed.Results:All cases obtained treatment with pramipexole, initially 0.09-0.72 mg day−1. Two of the cases had RLS and PLMs, one RLS only and one PLMs only. All four reported symptoms in the lower extremities and one also in the upper extremities. Three patients with residual gait function reported RLS score with/without treatment as follows: 32/11, 37/12 and 33/12. One patient with complete paraplegia (with incomplete RLS score) reported 22/10. After a follow-up period of 16, 20, 43 and 49 months, respectively, all four still reported excellent outcomes. Two remained on initial dosage; one had increased dosage from 0.09 to 0.18 mg day−1 and one from 0.27 to 0.80 mg day−1 during the follow-up period.Conclusions:In persons with SCI suffering from infralesional involuntary movements and/or dysesthesia and with poor response to conventional antispastic or analgesic treatment, the possibility of RLS or PLMs should be considered, as these conditions seem eminently treatable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved, exact analysis of surface Ostwald ripening of a collection of nanoparticles is presented in an effort to redefine the critical radius involved in the kinetic models of ripening. In a collection of supported particles of different sizes, the critical radius is the size of the particle that is in equilibrium with the surrounding adatom concentration. Such a particle neither grows nor shrinks due to Ostwald ripening, whereas larger particles grow and smaller particles shrink. We show that previous definitions of critical radius are applicable only for limiting regimes where the Kelvin equation has been linearized. We propose a more universally applicable definition of critical radius that satisfies the constraints of mass balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppressing the expression of negative emotions tends to undermine individuals' and their partners' wellbeing. However, sometimes expressive suppression may be relatively innocuous given that individuals commonly withhold negative emotions in order to maintain close relationships, and this may be especially the case when expressive suppression is enacted by people who exhibit amplified expressions of negative emotions, such as those high in attachment anxiety. The current research examined when and for whom expressive suppression may be more or less costly by testing whether the curvilinear effect of individuals' expressive suppression on individuals' and partners' outcomes is moderated by individuals' attachment anxiety. Our results across 3 dyadic studies revealed a linear effect of expressive suppression when predicting individuals' outcomes: greater expressive suppression had costs for individuals (lower relationship satisfaction, reported responsiveness and discussion success, and greater discussion threat). Furthermore, in 4 of the 5 models, a moderated curvilinear effect of expressive suppression emerged when predicting partners' outcomes. For individuals low in attachment anxiety, low levels of expressive suppression did not incur costs for their partners' relationship satisfaction, perceptions of individuals' responsiveness, discussion success, and discussion threat. Once expressive suppression surpassed moderate levels, however, greater expressive suppression had a detrimental effect on partners' outcomes. In contrast, for individuals high in attachment anxiety, the negative effect of moderate-to-high levels of expressive suppression on partners' outcomes was attenuated. These novel results demonstrate how considering curvilinear methods can uncover when and for whom expressive suppression may be more or less costly in intimate relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 poses a considerable threat to adolescent mental health. We investigated depression rates in teens from pre to post‐COVID. We also explored if leveraging a growth mindset intervention ("Healthy Minds") could improve adolescent mental health outcomes during the pandemic, especially for adolescents experiencing the most distress. In Study 1, we recruited youth from schools in a rural southern community (N = 239) and used a pre‐post design. In Study 2, we recruited an online sample (N = 833) and used a longitudinal randomized control trial design to test the effectiveness of Healthy Minds. Across both studies, there is evidence of higher rates of depression in youth during COVID‐19, relative to pre‐pandemic numbers. In Study 1, the intervention effectively changed psychological and behavioral processes related to mental health, especially for adolescents experiencing greater COVID‐19 stress. However, in Study 2, the intervention failed to impact depression rates or symptoms at follow‐up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Investigations of emotion regulation, which includes both subjective affect and observable behaviors, could benefit from widespread adoption of multi-informant approaches. Currently, informants are infrequently used when studying adults, due to the complexity of interpreting differences among multiple reports. Method: To identify factors that predict disagreement between informants, this study evaluated self-reported and partner-reported emotion regulation abilities for each member of 81 adult couples. Ratings of each partner's perceived stress, symptoms of psychopathology, couple satisfaction, and intimate partner victimization were collected as potential sources of discordance. Results: Intrapersonal characteristics appeared to contribute most to diverging reports: women and men experiencing higher stress (and marginally their psychopathology) reported worse emotion regulation abilities in comparison to their partners' ratings of their abilities, underscoring the value of having multiple reports. Additionally, women's reports about their partners corresponded with their partners' self-reports but men's reports about their partners did not. Men with higher couple satisfaction reported better emotion regulation abilities compared to their partner's reports. Conclusions: More work is needed to understand multi-informant differences in adult reports of psychological functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Due to limited research on the association between recurrence of mood episodes and the longitudinal course of neurocognitive functioning in early phase bipolar I disorder (BD I), the impact of recurrence on neurocognition remains unclear. Further, a strong correlation between neurocognitive impairment and functional impairment has been demonstrated. The longitudinal relationship between neurocognitive impairment and functional outcome in relation to recurrence is, however, not established. Methods: The current study investigated the longitudinal relationship between neurocognition, recurrence of mood episodes and functional outcome in a sample of first‐treatment (FT) BD I patients (N = 42), with and without relapse, during a 1‐year follow‐up period. The longitudinal course of neurocognitive functioning in the patients was also compared to that of a group of healthy controls (N = 143). Results: Compared to both patients with relapse and healthy controls, no‐relapse patients showed neurocognitive improvements. The polarity of the relapse episodes was mostly depressive, and for the no‐relapse patients, reduction of symptoms was associated with neurocognitive improvement. No‐relapse patients showed better global and occupational functioning. Conclusions: The current study found different neurocognitive and functional trajectories in FT BD I patients with and without relapse, with differences at follow‐up to some degree being mediated by current symptoms. The current findings highlight the importance of treatment focusing on neurocognition and symptom states with the aim of improving functional recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous literature examining parent-child aggression (PCA) risk has relied heavily upon mothers, limiting our understanding of paternal risk factors. Moreover, the extent to which factors in the couple relationship work in tandem with personal vulnerabilities to impact PCA risk is unclear. The current study examined whether personal stress and distress predicted PCA risk (child abuse potential, over-reactive discipline style, harsh discipline practices) for fathers as well as mothers and whether couple functioning mediated versus moderated the relation between personal stress and PCA risk in a sample of 81 couples. Additionally, the potential for risk factors in one partner to cross over and affect their partner’s PCA risk was considered. Findings indicated higher personal stress predicted elevated maternal and paternal PCA risk. Better couple functioning did not moderate this relationship but partially mediated stress and PCA risk for both mothers and fathers. In addition, maternal stress evidenced a cross-over effect, wherein mothers’ personal stress linked to fathers’ couple functioning. Findings support the role of stress and couple functioning in maternal and paternal PCA risk, including potential cross-over effects that warrant further inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are indications that low S-25(OH)D is associated with increased disease severity in psychotic disorder. Our first aim was to investigate the relations between low S-25(OH)D and positive, negative and depressive symptoms. Our second aim was to explore if associations between S-25(OH)D and symptoms were influenced by levels of inflammatory markers.Methods: Participants (N=358) with a medical history of one or more psychotic episodes were recruited. Current symptomatology was assessed by The Structured Interview for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scaleanalyzed by a five-factor model. The Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia was used to assess depression and suicidal ideation. Blood samples were analyzed for S-25(OH)D, CRP, sTNF-R1, IL-Ra and OPG. We performed bivariate correlations and multiple regression models to evaluate the effect of S-25(OH)D on the outcomes.Results: Low S-25(OH)D was significantly associated with negative symptoms (adjusted R2=0.113, F(6,357)=8.58, p<0.001) and with depression (adjusted R2=0.045, F(4,357)=5.233, p<0.001) when adjusting for possible confounding factors (i.e. gender, education, diagnose, hospitalization status, ethnicity, season and thyroid status). CRP was correlated with both S-25(OH)D (rho=-0.13, p=0.02) and negative symptoms (rho=0.14, p=0.01), but did not act as a mediator. The correlations between S-25(OH)D and the inflammatory markers sTNF-R1, IL-Ra and OPG were not significant.Conclusion: There is a strong association between low S-25(OH)D and higher negative and depressive symptoms in psychotic disorders. Randomized controlled trials should be performed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation as adjuvant treatment strategy in patients with prominent negative or depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the paper "Health promotion in spinal cord rehabilitation" by A. Lagerström and R. Levi is presented.