Conceptualising Relational Normality in Psychoanalytically-Informed Couple Psychotherapy

A review of the psychotherapy literature highlighted an absence of publications exploring the conceptualisation of relational normality in adult couple relationships. This research set out to address this gap in theoretical and clinical reflection. The central aim was to contribute to an enriched understanding of the manner in which explicit theory-derived concepts and implicit notions of relational normality are applied in couple psychotherapy. A qualitative design was adopted. Twenty-seven psychoanalytically-trained couple psychotherapists participated in one of the four focus groups used for data collection. Thematic Analysis led to the identification of three main themes namely: Political, Indigenous to psychoanalysis and Non-native paradigms. The ‘Political’ theme refers to the discernment of who carries the responsibility to define relational normality. It captures the weighting couple psychotherapists give to their role and expertise, patients’ views and experience as well as socio-cultural imperatives. Additionally, it highlights how their discernment is complicated by a degree of ambivalence. The second theme, ‘Indigenous’ denotes how psychoanalytic thinking is brought to bear in evaluating the quality of dynamic processes within and between partners, their psychic capacities and the genesis of difficulty. Participants concurrently maintained the view that sub-optimal states are normal. The third theme ‘Non-native paradigms’ refers to ideas sourced from outside the psychoanalytic tradition highlighting the contribution made by statistical and medico-legal models of normality. The main strength of this research lies in having recruited a sizable number of highly experienced couple psychotherapists. Limitations relate to the poor representation in terms of gender and ethnicity. This study recommends further research on factors influencing the consideration of the three identified themes. The research outcomes can also inform future training of professionals. This study identifies how couple psychotherapists seek to move away from their initial, potentially biased appraisal of normality towards a sophisticated reflexive position. Holding rigidly to normative theory and personal belief is considered ineffectual. Conceptualising normality is not simply about discerning facts but involves the attainment of a sense of dynamic equilibrium between the multiple perspectives couple therapists contemplate

Imaging of the Cytoplasmic Leaflet of the Plasma Membrane by Atomic Force Microscopy

The cytoplasmic face of ventral cell membranes of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells grown on glass coverslips was imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air and under aqueous medium, in contact mode. Micrometer range scans on air-dried samples revealed a heterogeneous structure with some filaments, likely corresponding to actin filaments that abut the inner leaflet of the membrane, and a few semi-organized lattice structures that might correspond to clathrin lattices. Experiments in phosphate-buffered saline confirmed the heterogeneity of the inner membrane surface with the presence of large (\u3e 100 nm) globular structures emerging from the surface. Using sub-micrometer scan ranges, protruding particles, that occupy most of the membrane surface, were imaged in liquid medium and in air. These particles, 8 to 40 nm x-y size, were still present following ethanol dehydration which extracts a large fraction of membrane lipids, indicating their proteic nature. Due, at least partly, to the presence of some peripheral proteins, high magnification images of the inner membrane surface were heterogeneous with regard to particle distribution. These data compare with those previously reported for the external membrane leaflet at the surface of living MDCK cells. They show that details of the cytosolic membrane surface can be resolved by AFM. Finally, the images support the view of a plasma membrane organization where proteins come into close proximity

Procedural generation of music-guided weapons

Beyond the standard use of music as a passive and, sometimes, optional component of player experience the impact of music as a guide for the procedural generation of game content has not been explored yet. Being a core elicitor of player experience music can be used to drive the generation of personalized game content for a particular musical theme, song or sound effect being played during the game. In this paper we introduce a proof-of-concept game demonstrator exploring the relationship between music and visual game content across different playing behaviors and styles. For that purpose, we created a side-scroller shooter game where players can affect the relationship between projectiles’ trajectories and the background music through interactive evolution. By coupling neuroevolution of augmented topologies with interactive evolution we are able to create an initial arsenal of innovative weapons. Those weapons are both interesting to play with and also create novel fusions of visual and musical aesthetics.Thanks to Ryan Abela for his input on designing the sound extraction methods. The research was supported, in part, by the FP7 Marie Curie CIG project AutoGameDesign (project no: 630665).peer-reviewe

Mapping the Early Cortical Folding Process in the Preterm Newborn Brain

In the developing human brain, the cortical sulci formation is a complex process starting from 14 weeks of gestation onward. The potential influence of underlying mechanisms (genetic, epigenetic, mechanical or environmental) is still poorly understood, because reliable quantification in vivo of the early folding is lacking. In this study, we investigate the sulcal emergence noninvasively in 35 preterm newborns, by applying dedicated postprocessing tools to magnetic resonance images acquired shortly after birth over a developmental period critical for the human cortex maturation (26-36 weeks of age). Through the original three-dimensional reconstruction of the interface between developing cortex and white matter and correlation with volumetric measurements, we document early sulcation in vivo, and quantify changes with age, gender, and the presence of small white matter lesions. We observe a trend towards lower cortical surface, smaller cortex, and white matter volumes, but equivalent sulcation in females compared with males. By precisely mapping the sulci, we highlight interindividual variability in time appearance and interhemispherical asymmetries, with a larger right superior temporal sulcus than the left. Thus, such an approach, included in a longitudinal follow-up, may provide early indicators on the structural basis of cortical functional specialization and abnormalities induced by genetic and environmental factor

Primary cortical folding in the human newborn: an early marker of later functional development

In the human brain, the morphology of cortical gyri and sulci is complex and variable among individuals, and it may reflect pathological functioning with specific abnormalities observed in certain developmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. Since cortical folding occurs early during brain development, these structural abnormalities might be present long before the appearance of functional symptoms. So far, the precise mechanisms responsible for such alteration in the convolution pattern during intra-uterine or post-natal development are still poorly understood. Here we compared anatomical and functional brain development in vivo among 45 premature newborns who experienced different intra-uterine environments: 22 normal singletons, 12 twins and 11 newborns with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dedicated post-processing tools, we investigated early disturbances in cortical formation at birth, over the developmental period critical for the emergence of convolutions (26-36 weeks of gestational age), and defined early ‘endophenotypes' of sulcal development. We demonstrated that twins have a delayed but harmonious maturation, with reduced surface and sulcation index compared to singletons, whereas the gyrification of IUGR newborns is discordant to the normal developmental trajectory, with a more pronounced reduction of surface in relation to the sulcation index compared to normal newborns. Furthermore, we showed that these structural measurements of the brain at birth are predictors of infants' outcome at term equivalent age, for MRI-based cerebral volumes and neurobehavioural development evaluated with the assessment of preterm infant's behaviour (APIB

The SIGMA rat brain templates and atlases for multimodal MRI data analysis and visualization

Preclinical imaging studies offer a unique access to the rat brain, allowing investigations that go beyond what is possible in human studies. Unfortunately, these techniques still suffer from a lack of dedicated and standardized neuroimaging tools, namely brain templates and descriptive atlases. Here, we present two rat brain MRI templates and their associated gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid probability maps, generated from ex vivo [Formula: see text]-weighted images (90 µm isotropic resolution) and in vivo T2-weighted images (150 µm isotropic resolution). In association with these templates, we also provide both anatomical and functional 3D brain atlases, respectively derived from the merging of the Waxholm and Tohoku atlases, and analysis of resting-state functional MRI data. Finally, we propose a complete set of preclinical MRI reference resources, compatible with common neuroimaging software, for the investigation of rat brain structures and functions.This work is part of the SIGMA project with the reference FCT-ANR/NEU-OSD/0258/2012, co-financed by the French public funding agency ANR (Agence Nationale pour laRecherche, APP Blanc International II 2012), the Portuguese FCT (Fundação para aCiência e Tecnologia) and the Portuguese North Regional Operational Program (ON.2—O Novo Norte) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), through theEuropean Regional Development Fund (FEDER) as well as the Projecto Estratégico co-funded by FCT (PEst-C/SAU/LA0026-/2013) and the European Regional DevelopmentFund COMPETE (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037298). D.A.B. and A.N. were funded bygrants from FCT-ANR/NEU-OSD/0258/2012. R.M. was supported by the FCT fellow-ship grant with the reference PDE/BDE/113604/2015 from the PhDiHES program. A.C.was supported by a grant from the foundation NRJ. P.M. was funded by FundaçãoCalouste Gulbenkian (Portugal;‘Better mental health during ageing based on temporalprediction of individual brain ageing trajectories TEMPO’) with Grant Number P-139977. France Life Imaging is acknowledged for its support in funding the NeuroSpinplatform of preclinical MRI scanners. The authors also acknowledge and thank EdwardGanz, MD, for proof reading our work

Roti jduru

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Kwartini ta’ C. Cassar – Dak li ħalla l-ħares ta’ Pawlu Cachia – Epigrammi ta’ Peter A. Caruana – Lill-Madonna tal-arju ta’ Mario Agius – Il-fatati li ħatfu lil Ġomu “Xewka” ta’ Ġużè Dimech Debono – Bla mħabba ta’ Ġorġ Borg – Il-bieb ta’ l-infern ta’ P. Jos. Cremona – Roti jduru ta’ C. Cassar.peer-reviewe

Can the domestic politics of small island states lead to international in/stability? A case study of Malta

Small islands states have an ambiguous role in the international arena; their political role has evolved from their pre-statehood days as naval outposts and “unsinkable aircraft carriers” to their post-independence role as sovereign states in the international arena. Nominally, each state enjoys sovereign equality both in regional and international institutions. In practice, however, their role has been more contentious and less clear cut. Recent literature makes reference to the “negative strategic value” that such states possess, thus turning these apparently-innocuous polities into potential sources of stability or instability. This paper seeks to outline the role of small island states in international relations. It analyses whether such states can be a source of stability or instability in a regional and international context. Malta is taken as its case study. Malta is both a border-state and the smallest EU member state. Questions over measures adopted by the Government of Malta, such as the Individual Investment Programme (IIP) scheme, and antimoney laundering legislation have intensified during the 2014 – 2019 period. On the reverse side, as an EU member state with a positive economic record, it has sometimes been hailed as an example of stability and a reliable partner in a troubled region. In addition, it managed to host the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a time when Europe was experiencing a large wave of migration from Syria and Libya while attempting to deal with the the aftermath of the Brexit referendum. This case study argues that the role of small island states, though marginal, can become more critical as a result of political developments. Such developments can contribute both to stability and instability.peer-reviewe

Ġmiel?

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Għada ta’ Dun Ġużepp Abela – Ruħ imnikkta ta’ Ġużè Galea – B’salibi ta’ Oliver Friggieri – Meta l-qalb ma tweġibx ta’ A. Cremona – Is-sena l-oħra ta’ Pawlu Cachia – Ma jdumx id-dlam! ta’ Alfred Degabriele – Fittixt dar oħra... ta’ A. Cremona – Il-ħarba ta’ Ġesù fl-Eġittu ta’ A. Tabone – Eħlisni, għajn ta’ tjieba ta’ P. Alb. Sammut – Ġmiel? ta’ Joseph Sciberras.peer-reviewe

Lill-Patri Ġużeppi Delia, S.J.

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Ir-rebbiegħa ta’ Bro. Henry – Il-filosofija fil-ħanut tal-kafè ta’ Albert M. Cassola – Lil Malta ta’ Ġużepp Abela – Waħda minn tagħhom ta’ Pawlu Mifsud – Nawfraġju ta’ Ġużepp Abela – Għadira ta’ V. M. Pellegrini – Din tassew ta’ V. M. Pellegrini – Memento ta’ V. M. Pellegrini – Nofs in-nhar ta’ Joe Mejlak – Żewġt erwieħ ta’ P. P. Theuma – Nieqa mqaddsa ta’ Ġużè Galea – Il-kelb tas-Sur Manifk ta’ Pawlu Cachia – Lill-Patri Ġużeppi Delia, S.J. ta’ Ġużè Cardona.peer-reviewe