Social Media and Relationship Satisfaction

In this study, researchers looked at several factors between social media use and different relationships. One study showed that relationships can be torn apart if the members have different opinions on controversial topics (Kruse et al., 2008). The family systems theory suggests that family structure could shape social development and emotional functioning, caused by differences in family–level contexts (Wikle & Hoagland, 2020). Researchers looked to see if high utilization of social media within a relationship will result in lower satisfaction. To test the hypothesis, several Likert scales were put into a survey and distributed online to students from Susquehanna University enrolled in psychology courses. Questions within the scales related to information about student demographics, social media use, and self-efficacy. Students had the option to voluntarily take the survey as well as the option to withdraw at any time, but surveys that were withdrawn were not counted as part of the data. Our results did not support the hypothesis. The statistics from the t-test and the Pearson’s r correlation did not provide the statistical data that we hypothesized, t(143) = 0.21, p = 0.98, r(145) = 0.11, p = 0.201. One limitation was that we had a limited sample of psychology students at a small campus. Future research could include larger and broader sample sizes, along with more age-appropriate relationship scales. Even though the amount of time on social media did not cause less satisfaction, our implications included to use social media with caution as it could lead to potential harm, like self- consciousness or cyber-bullying

Creating a Patient Navigation Model to Address Cervical Cancer Disparities in a Rural Hispanic Farmworker Community

This report describes the implementation of a pilot patient navigation (PN) program created to address cervical cancer disparities in a predominantly Hispanic agricultural community. Since November 2009, a patient navigator has provided services to patients of Catholic Mobile Medical Services (CMMS). The PN program has resulted in the need for additional clinic sessions to accommodate the demand for preventive care at CMMS

Spatiotemporal Imaging of Zinc Ions in Zebrafish Live Brain Tissue Enabled by Fluorescent Bionanoprobes

The zebrafish is a powerful model organism to study the mechanisms governing transition metal ions within whole brain tissue. Zinc is one of the most abundant metal ions in the brain, playing a critical pathophysiological role in neurodegenerative diseases. The homeostasis of free, ionic zinc (Zn2+) is a key intersection point in many of these diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. A Zn2+ imbalance can eventuate several disturbances that may lead to the development of neurodegenerative changes. Therefore, compact, reliable approaches that allow the optical detection of Zn2+ across the whole brain would contribute to our current understanding of the mechanisms that underlie neurological disease pathology. We developed an engineered fluorescence protein-based nanoprobe that can spatially and temporally resolve Zn2+ in living zebrafish brain tissue. The self-assembled engineered fluorescence protein on gold nanoparticles was shown to be confined to defined locations within the brain tissue, enabling site specific studies, compared to fluorescent protein-based molecular tools, which diffuse throughout the brain tissue. Two-photon excitation microscopy confirmed the physical and photometrical stability of these nanoprobes in living zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain tissue, while the addition of Zn2+ quenched the nanoprobe fluorescence. Combining orthogonal sensing methods with our engineered nanoprobes will enable the study of imbalances in homeostatic Zn2+ regulation. The proposed bionanoprobe system offers a versatile platform to couple metal ion specific linkers and contribute to the understanding of neurological diseases

Importancia de la jerarquía social sobre los comportamientos alimenticios y parasitarios de ovinos criados en dos sistemas pastoriles

In sheep the interaction between social hierarchy, forage preference and parasite load effects production. A study was done of this interaction in two grazing systems (silvopastoral, SSP; star grass monoculture, PE) with twenty-two Pelibuey sheep per system. Tests were done of social hierarchy to calculate dominance index values, of forage plant species (C. nlemfuensis, L. leucocephala, G. sepium, G. ulmifolia and H. rosa-sinensis) preference, of parasite load (gastrointestinal nematode egg count per gram of feces), and of hematocrit levels. A generally nonlinear hierarchy was present in both systems, with linear dominance (h=0.75) in the SSP and bidirectional dominance (h=0.5) in the PE. In both systems the most dominant individuals had the highest number of aggressive behaviors (SSP: rs= 0.790909, P=0.05; PE: rs= 0.845455, P=0.05) and the lowest parasite loads (SSP: rs= -0.909091, P=0.05; PE: rs = -0.727273, P=0.05). In the SSP, the animals had greater preference for C. nlemfuensis but those that consumed more L. leucocephala had higher hematocrit levels (rs=0.694269, P=0.05). Sheep grazing in silvopastoral systems consume more arboreal and shrub species foliage which helps to control parasite load and maintain stable hematocrit levels regardless of group social rank.Para determinar la relación entre el nivel jerárquico, preferencias por forraje y parasitismo de ovinos en dos sistemas de pastoreo (sistema silvopastoril: SSP y monocultivo de pasto estrella: PE), se utilizaron 22 ovinos Pelibuey mantenidos en pastoreo diurno, a los cuales se les aplicaron pruebas de jerarquía social para obtener el índice de dominancia, pruebas de selectividad de especies vegetales forrajeras (C. nlemfuensis, L. leucocephala, G. sepium, G. ulmifolia y H. rosa-sinensis), análisis parasitario de huevecillos por gramo de excremento y determinación de hematocrito. Se observó una jerarquía no lineal con dominancia lineal y bidireccional para los grupos, de h=0.75 en el SSP y h=0.5 en PE. Los ovinos más dominantes presentaron mayor cantidad de conductas agresivas en el SSP y PE (rs= 0.790909, P=0.05 y rs= 0.845455, P=0.05); y menor carga parasitaria (rs= -0.909091, P=0.05) en el SSP y PE (rs= -0.727273, P=0.05). Los ovinos del SSP tuvieron preferencia por C. nlemfuensis, pero los animales que consumieron más follaje de L. leucocephala presentaron mayor nivel de hematocrito (rs=0.694269, P=0.05). Se concluye que los ovinos con mayor índice de dominancia que pastorearon en el sistema silvopastoril y en potreros con pasto estrella, tuvieron menores cargas parasitarias, y que el pastoreo en sistemas silvopastoriles ofrece a los ovinos el consumo de follaje de especies arbóreas y arbustivas, que promueve la capacidad de resistir cargas parasitarias elevadas, y mantener niveles estables de hematocrito independientemente de su nivel jerárquico dentro del grupo

Stated benefits from urban afforestation in an arid city: a contingent valuation in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

The pervasiveness of particulate matter in arid cities has yet to be discussed and tackled. Given that urban trees have been documented to provide air-filtering and dry deposition services, this study documents the stated benefits from an urban afforestation scenario in Mexicali –an arid city located northwest Mexico at the US-Mexico border. Our doublebounded dichotomous contingent valuation protocol yields an estimated average annual willingness to pay (WTP) of USD 88 per household. Variations in the WTP are associated with perception of air quality and presence of respiratory symptoms in the respondent’s household. The smallest WTP (USD 75) is reported by respondents perceiving poor air quality in their neighborhood and with no household members affected by respiratory symptoms. In contrast, respondents perceiving good air quality and with at least one household member facing respiratory symptoms reported a WTP of USD 99. The average stated benefits represent around 0.8% of the annual household income

Stated benefits from air quality improvement through urban afforestation in an arid city – A contingent valuation in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

Cities in drylands are expected to experience increasing challenges when it comes to air pollution. Currently, concentrations of particulate matter in these cities frequently reach dangerous levels. Urban afforestation represents an alternative to increase human health in arid cities via air-filtering and dry deposition. By simulating a non-existing market through a contingent valuation protocol, this study estimates the willingness to contribute monetarily to an urban afforestation scenario in Mexicali -an arid city located at the US-Mexico border. We estimate an average annual willingness to pay (WTP) of (2019) USD 88 per household. Variations in WTP are associated with the respondent's perception of air quality and the presence of respiratory symptoms in the respondent's household. The smallest WTP (USD 75) is reported by those perceiving poor air quality in their neighborhood and with no household members affected by respiratory symptoms. Respondents perceiving good air quality and with at least one household member facing respiratory symptoms report a WTP of USD 99. The highest WTP represents around 0.8 % of the annual household income. This WTP, when extrapolated to and aggregated over the total number of households in Mexicali, justifies the implementation of an urban afforestation program supplying 30 thousand tree seedlings annually

A SCN9A gene-encoded dorsal root ganglia sodium channel polymorphism associated with severe fibromyalgia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A consistent line of investigation suggests that autonomic nervous system dysfunction may explain the multi-system features of fibromyalgia (FM); and that FM is a sympathetically maintained neuropathic pain syndrome. Dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are key sympathetic-nociceptive short-circuit sites. Sodium channels located in DRG (particularly Nav1.7) act as molecular gatekeepers for pain detection. Nav1.7 is encoded in gene SCN9A of chromosome 2q24.3 and is predominantly expressed in the DRG pain-sensing neurons and sympathetic ganglia neurons. Several SCN9A sodium channelopathies have been recognized as the cause of rare painful dysautonomic syndromes such as paroxysmal extreme pain disorder and primary erythromelalgia. The aim of this study was to search for an association between fibromyalgia and several SCN9A sodium channels gene polymorphisms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied 73 Mexican women suffering from FM and 48 age-matched women who considered themselves healthy. All participants filled out the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Genomic DNA from whole blood containing EDTA was extracted by standard techniques. The following SCN9A single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were determined by 5' exonuclease TaqMan assays: rs4371369; rs4387806; rs4453709; rs4597545; rs6746030; rs6754031; rs7607967; rs12620053; rs12994338; and rs13017637.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The frequency of the rs6754031 polymorphism was significantly different in both groups (<it>P </it>= 0.036) mostly due to an absence of the GG genotype in controls. Interestingly; patients with this rs6754031 GG genotype had higher FIQ scores (median = 80; percentile 25/75 = 69/88) than patients with the GT genotype (median = 63; percentile 25/75 = 58/73; <it>P </it>= 0.002) and the TT genotype (median = 71; percentile 25/75 = 64/77; <it>P </it>= 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this ethnic group; a disabling form of FM is associated to a particular SCN9A sodium channel gene variant. These preliminary results raise the possibility that some patients with severe FM may have a dorsal root ganglia sodium channelopathy.</p