Multinational evaluation of the measurement invariance of the level of personality functioning scale–brief form 2.0: comparison of student and community samples across seven countries

DSM-5’s Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS) was introduced as a dimensional rating of impairments in self- and interpersonal functioning, and the LPFS – Brief Form (LPFS-BF) was the first published corresponding self-report. The updated LPFS-BF 2.0 has been translated into several languages and international research supports many of the instrument’s psychometric properties; however, its measurement invariance has only been evaluated across a few countries. This study expands previous studies as an introductory step in a global evaluation of the LPFS-BF 2.0’s measurement invariance. Archival data (N = 5,618, 57% female) from seven countries (Canada, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Italy, United Arab Emirates, United States of America) were used for this study. Participants were recruited from both community (n = 4,677) and student (n = 941) populations. After confirming adequate model fit separately in the community and student samples, we evaluated a series of increasingly stringent model comparisons to test three aspects of measurement invariance (configural, metric, scalar) and then examined latent mean differences across countries. Full scalar invariance was supported in the community sample and partial scalar invariance was supported in the student sample. Evaluation of latent mean differences revealed multiple significant differences. Overall, the LPFS-BF 2.0 appears to assess self- and interpersonal functioning impairment similarly across the included countries. Findings are discussed through the lenses of the cultures from which participants were recruited, as well as in the context of alternative explanations. Limitations, plans for future research, and implications for both research and clinical practice are offered

Universal crossing probability in anisotropic systems

Scale-invariant universal crossing probabilities are studied for critical anisotropic systems in two dimensions. For weakly anisotropic standard percolation in a rectangular-shaped system, Cardy's exact formula is generalized using a length-rescaling procedure. For strongly anisotropic systems in 1+1 dimensions, exact results are obtained for the random walk with absorbing boundary conditions, which can be considered as a linearized mean-field approximation for directed percolation. The bond and site directed percolation problem is itself studied numerically via Monte Carlo simulations on the diagonal square lattice with either free or periodic boundary conditions. A scale-invariant critical crossing probability is still obtained, which is a universal function of the effective aspect ratio r_eff=c r where r=L/t^z, z is the dynamical exponent and c is a non-universal amplitude.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Novel Glial Cells Missing-2 (GCM2) variants in parathyroid disorders

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze variants of the gene glial cells missing-2 (GCM2), encoding a parathyroid cell-specific transcription factor, in familial hypoparathyroidism and in familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP) without and with parathyroid carcinoma. Design: We characterized 2 families with hypoparathyroidism and 19 with FIHP in which we examined the mechanism of action of GCM2 variants. Methods: Leukocyte DNA of hypoparathyroid individuals was Sanger sequenced for CASR, PTH, GNA11 and GCM2 mutations. DNA of hyperparathyroid individuals underwent MEN1, CDKN1B, CDC73, CASR, RET and GCM2 sequencing. The actions of identified GCM2 variants were evaluated by in vitro functional analyses. Results: A novel homozygous p.R67C GCM2 mutation which failed to stimulate transcriptional activity in a luciferase assay was identified in affected members of two hypoparathyroid families. Oligonucleotide pull-down assay and in silico structural modeling indicated that this mutant had lost the ability to bind the consensus GCM recognition sequence of DNA. Two novel (p.I383M and p.T386S) and one previously reported (p.Y394S) heterozygous GCM2 variants that lie within a C-terminal conserved inhibitory domain were identified in three affected individuals of the hyperparathyroid families. One family member, heterozygous for p.I138M, had parathyroid carcinoma (PC), and a heterozygous p.V382M variant was found in another patient affected by sporadic PC. These variants exerted significantly enhanced in vitro transcriptional activity, including increased stimulation of the PTH promoter. Conclusions: We provide evidence that two novel GCM2 R67C inactivating mutations with an inability to bind DNA are causative of hypoparathyroidism. Additionally, we provide evidence that two novel GCM2 variants increased transactivation of the PTH promoter in vitro and are associated with FIHP. Furthermore, our studies suggest that activating GCM2 variants may contribute to facilitating more aggressive parathyroid disease

The genome of the yellow potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, reveals insights into the basis of parasitism and virulence

BACKGROUND: The yellow potato cyst nematode, Globodera rostochiensis, is a devastating plant pathogen of global economic importance. This biotrophic parasite secretes effectors from pharyngeal glands, some of which were acquired by horizontal gene transfer, to manipulate host processes and promote parasitism. G. rostochiensis is classified into pathotypes with different plant resistance-breaking phenotypes. RESULTS: We generate a high quality genome assembly for G. rostochiensis pathotype Ro1, identify putative effectors and horizontal gene transfer events, map gene expression through the life cycle focusing on key parasitic transitions and sequence the genomes of eight populations including four additional pathotypes to identify variation. Horizontal gene transfer contributes 3.5 % of the predicted genes, of which approximately 8.5 % are deployed as effectors. Over one-third of all effector genes are clustered in 21 putative ‘effector islands’ in the genome. We identify a dorsal gland promoter element motif (termed DOG Box) present upstream in representatives from 26 out of 28 dorsal gland effector families, and predict a putative effector superset associated with this motif. We validate gland cell expression in two novel genes by in situ hybridisation and catalogue dorsal gland promoter element-containing effectors from available cyst nematode genomes. Comparison of effector diversity between pathotypes highlights correlation with plant resistance-breaking. CONCLUSIONS: These G. rostochiensis genome resources will facilitate major advances in understanding nematode plant-parasitism. Dorsal gland promoter element-containing effectors are at the front line of the evolutionary arms race between plant and parasite and the ability to predict gland cell expression a priori promises rapid advances in understanding their roles and mechanisms of action.SE-vdA is supported by BBSRC grant BB/M014207/1. Sequencing was funded by BBSRC grant BB/F000642/1 to the University of Leeds and grant BB/F00334X/1 to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute). DRL was supported by a fellowship from The James Hutton Institute and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh. GK was supported by a BBSRC PhD studentship. The James Hutton Institute receives funding from the Scottish Government. JAC and NEH are supported by the Wellcome Trust through its core funding of the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (grant 098051). This work was also supported by funding from the Canadian Safety and Security Program, project number CRTI09_462RD

Towards different enterprise architecture project types

This research is in the enterprise architecture (EA) research field. EA is a developing discipline that in broad terms emphasizes all aspects of organizational design and development, including enabling information technology. However, there are various interpretations and understandings of EA, with little agreement on them. Therefore, organizations use EA in numerous ways to achieve different goals. These vary from purely information technology- (IT) related, internal business and IT-related to business environment-related goals. Enterprise architects also have different understandings of EA, which influence the way they perform EA work and consequently EA deliverables and achievement of EA project goals. In this paper a preliminary list of different EA project types is compiled through a hermeneutic literature review, aiming to establish a comprehensive list of EA project types. It is suggested that knowledge of different EA project types assist in the selection of suitable enterprise architects to achieve specific EA project goals.http://www.springer.com/series/7911hj2021Informatic

Visual Representation of the TOGAF Requirements Management Process

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