Maximizing ecological and evolutionary insight in bisulfite sequencing data sets

Genome-scale bisulfite sequencing approaches have opened the door to ecological and evolutionary studies of DNA methylation in many organisms. These approaches can be powerful. However, they introduce new methodological and statistical considerations, some of which are particularly relevant to non-model systems. Here, we highlight how these considerations influence a study’s power to link methylation variation with a predictor variable of interest. Relative to current practice, we argue that sample sizes will need to increase to provide robust insights. We also provide recommendations for overcoming common challenges and an R Shiny app to aid in study design

Psychol Men Masc

Both rape myth acceptance (RMA) and rape proclivity are associated with acts of sexual aggression. Although this relationship is assumed to be unidirectional with RMA contributing to rape proclivity, no studies have examined the possibility of a predictive relationship, with proclivity to perpetrate also impacting RMA. This is important to consider in a longitudinal context, as both constructs may increase risk of sexual assault perpetration and support each other over time, further escalating the risk of a sexual assault. Using longitudinal data with a sample of 488 college men, this study employed cross-lagged panel analysis to investigate these relationships across four time points according to two models: autoregressive effects of RMA and rape proclivity, meaning each construct predicts itself over time, and RMA and rape proclivity predicting each other over time. The results of this study indicate that causality exists for RMA and rape proclivity. These findings have implications for prevention efforts directed towards modifying attitudes associated with sexual assault perpetration-particularly for men who are at high-risk of perpetrating sexual assault, including those with high rates of RMA and rape proclivity.R01 CE001855/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/2022-08-16T00:00:00Z35979223PMC93804341179

Prev Sci

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a seven-session, bystander-focused, classroom-delivered curriculum (i.e., Bringing in the Bystander-High School Curriculum [BITB-HSC]) in reducing rates of interpersonal violence among high school students. High schools (N\u2009=\u200926) were randomly assigned to the treatment or control condition. In classrooms in treatment schools, students (n\u2009=\u20091081) completed a baseline survey, participated in the BITB-HSC, and completed an immediate post-test, a short-term post-test (approx. 2\ua0months after intervention), and a long-term post-test (approx. 1\ua0year after intervention). Youth in control schools (n\u2009=\u20091322) completed surveys at similar time points but did not participate in the BITB-HSC. Participants were 15.8\ua0years old on average and largely White (85.1%) and heterosexual (84.5%). Students exposed to the BITB-HSC demonstrated significant short-term changes in victim empathy and bystander barriers/facilitators, and long-term changes in rape myths, media literacy, bystander readiness, and knowledge relative to youth in the control condition. Although the BITB-HSC had little long-term impact on actual bystander behavior, there were reductions in some forms of violence among students in the BITB-HSC condition relative to the control condition. Future research is needed to determine if, for whom, why, and in what contexts (e.g., classroom-based versus school-wide initiatives) bystander-focused violence prevention initiatives reduce violence.R01 CE002542/CE/NCIPC CDC HHS/United StatesR01-CEO02524/CC/CDC HHS/United States2020-05-01T00:00:00Z30762156PMC65201138874vault:3218

A Biased Review of Sociophysics

Various aspects of recent sociophysics research are shortly reviewed: Schelling model as an example for lack of interdisciplinary cooperation, opinion dynamics, combat, and citation statistics as an example for strong interdisciplinarity.Comment: 16 pages for J. Stat. Phys. including 2 figures and numerous reference

Social, Cultural and Economic determinants of HIV/AIDS: A community case report of Bhutan

Background: Bhutan has a low-level HIV epidemic, with sporadic cases across the whole population. Our society is witnessing momentous social and cultural changes coinciding with the arc of the HIV pandemic. Therefore, this paper systematically assesses socio cultural determinants of HIV in Bhutan for appropriate responses to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Methods: We reviewed the literature relevant to HIV in Bhutan using appropriate search engines. We adapted Dahlgren and Whitehead’s model of social health determinants in the population as a conceptual framework. Results: Young age played the salient role between rapid sociocultural changes and HIV in Bhutan. Most teens are sexually active, has relaxed sexual norms, low condom use, and has multiple sexual partners. Gender identity and sexual orientation are increasingly fluid among transgender and gay/bisexual men. Worksites with migrants and entertainment venues are nexuses for sexual networking resulting in transactional/sex work. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a high potential for a shift from diffuse cases of HIV to more concentrated HIV epidemic. HIV responses need to be tailored specifically for key populations instead of the current generalized approach. We recommend community-based HIV Self Testing and social support to overcome the structural barriers to enhance case diagnosis.&nbsp

Int J Educ Res

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects children's ability to succeed at school. Few educators have the necessary training and knowledge needed to adequately monitor and treat students with a TBI, despite schools regularly serving as the long-term service provider. In this article, we describe a | model used in Oregon that implements best practices indicated by the extant literature, as well as our research protocol for evaluating this model. We discuss project aims and our planned procedures, including the measures used, our quasi-experimental design using matched controls, statistical power, and impact analyses. This project will provide the evidential base for implementation of a return to school model at scale.U01 CE003163/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/2022-01-01T00:00:00Z33927471PMC807687110747vault:3700

Cortical gray-matter thinning is associated with age-related improvements on executive function tasks

Across development children show marked improvement in their executive functions (EFs), including the ability to hold information in working memory and to deploy cognitive control, allowing them to ignore prepotent responses in favor of newly learned behaviors. How does the brain support these age-related improvements? Age-related cortical gray-matter thinning, thought to result from selective pruning of inefficient synaptic connections and increases in myelination, may support age-related improvements in EFs. Here we used structural MRI to measure cortical thickness. We investigate the association between cortical thickness in three cortical regions of interest (ROIs), and age-related changes in cognitive control and working memory in 5–10 year old children. We found significant associations between reductions in cortical thickness and age-related improvements in performance on both working memory and cognitive control tasks. Moreover, we observed a dissociation between ROIs typically thought to underlie changes in cognitive control (right Inferior Frontal gyrus and Anterior Cingulate cortex) and age-related improvements in cognitive control, and ROIs for working memory (superior parietal cortex), and age-related changes in a working memory task. These data add to our growing understanding of how structural maturation of the brain supports vast behavioral changes in executive functions observed across childhood

AIDS Care

Black youth face significant disparities in HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) disease burden. Mental illness and emotion regulation are ontributors to HIV/STI risk, yet many HIV/STI prevention interventions do not address these factors. Project GOLD was a pilot randomized controlled trial of a psychoeducational HIV/STI prevention intervention designed to address the role of mental illness and emotion regulation in HIV/STI risk among heterosexually active Black youth aged 14-17 (|\u2009=\u2009108). Participants were recruited from outpatient mental health treatment programs and general community settings via community partner referrals, face-to-face encounters, flyers and social media. Assessments were conducted pretest, immediate posttest, and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Although there were no statistically significant differences in behavior change from baseline, there were practically significant effect sizes among HIV condition participants when compared to the general health condition (e.g., fewer sexual partners at 6 months). An increase in theoretical mediators (e.g., condom use negotiation beliefs) was sustained at 12 months. HIV condition participants also reported lower depressive symptom severity, with statistical significance noted at immediate post and at 3 months. The findings highlight the importance and challenges of engaging Black youth in culturally and contextually relevant, developmentally and psychologically appropriate HIV/STI prevention interventions.P30 MH097488/MH/NIMH NIH HHSUnited States/U01 PS003304/PS/NCHHSTP CDC HHSUnited States/2022-06-01T00:00:00Z33550841PMC849407211425vault:3963

AIDS Behav

We evaluated the effect of an option B-plus Enhanced Adherence Package (BEAP), on early ART uptake in a randomized controlled trial. HIV-positive, ART na\uefve pregnant women in Lusaka, Zambia, were randomized to receive BEAP (phone calls/home visits, additional counseling, male partner engagement and missed-visit follow-up) versus standard of care (SOC). The primary outcome was initiating and remaining on ART at 30\ua0days. Analysis was by intention to treat (ITT) using logistic regression. Additional per protocol analysis was done. We enrolled 454 women; 229 randomized to BEAP and 225 to SOC. Within 30\ua0days of eligibility, 445 (98.2%) initiated ART. In ITT analysis, 82.5% BEAP versus 80.4% SOC participants reached primary outcome (crude relative risk [RR] 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-1.16; Wald test statistic\u2009=\u20090.44; p-value\u2009=\u20090.66). In per protocol analysis, (92 participants (40.2%) excluded), 91.9% BEAP versus 80.4% SOC participants reached primary outcome (crude RR 1.14; 95% CI 1.02-1.29; Wald test statistic\u2009=\u20092.23; p-value\u2009=\u20090.03). Early ART initiation in pregnancy was nearly universal but there was early drop out suggesting need for additional adherence support.This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (trials number NCT02459678) on May 14, 2015.CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/U01GH000530/CC/CDC HHSUnited States