On the structure of the geomagnetic field at great distances from earth

Solar wind and current sheet considered in determining shape of magnetosphere boundary and calculation of magnetic field line

Attenuated maladaptive emotion processing as a potential mediator of the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and mental health

The emotion processing and regulation mechanisms by which dispositional (personality trait) mindfulness exerts its positive effects on mental health remain unclear. Here, we tested, using structural equation modeling, whether the relationship between higher dispositional mindfulness and better mental health is mediated by reduced maladaptive processing of emotional information (e.g., expressive suppression, impoverished emotional experiences, unprocessed emotions, avoidance, externalizing strategies) and associated lower negative affect, enhanced adaptive processing of emotional information (e.g., cognitive reappraisal) and associated higher positive affect, or a combination of these two emotion processing styles. Dispositional mindfulness, mental health, diverse emotional constructs with adaptive and maladaptive dimensions (including range and differentiation of emotional experiences, use of specific emotion regulation strategies, emotion processing deficits, negative affect repair strategies, negative mood regulation expectancies), and positive and negative affect were assessed using self-report measures in a non-clinical sample of 256 adults. The relationship between higher dispositional mindfulness and better mental health was found to be best explained by reduced maladaptive emotion processing styles and associated lower negative affect, rather than by enhanced adaptive emotion processing and higher positive affect. Further research should investigate whether the same mechanisms explain psychological benefits of cultivated mindfulness in people with low dispositional mindfulness and/or with mental health disorders following mindfulness skills training.Bial Foundation (92/18; awarded to VK and RP) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (3/1/3-ICMR-JRF/2011/HRD/12/81003; awarded to SPM)

Camera-Based Visual Feedback Learning Aid for Recovering Sense of Smell and Taste in COVID-19 Survivors: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Introduction: A significant proportion of people report persistent COVID 19-related anosmia, hyposmia or parosmia, often accompanied with ageusia, hypogeusia or dysgeusia. Here, we present a proof-of-concept study that assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a new Camera-Based Visual Feedback Learning Aid (CVFLA) and explored its potential to restore or improve persistent COVID-19-related smell and/or taste impairment. Methods: Fifteen adult participants with persistent smell and/or taste impairment were randomly allocated to 7-, 14-, or 21-days baseline of symptom monitoring before receiving the intervention in up to 10 sessions (length and frequency determined by participant’s preference and progress) using a specialised CVFLA apparatus (patent no. 10186160). Smell and taste were assessed pre- and post intervention subjectively, and also objectively using the ODOFIN Taste Strips and Sniffin Sticks. Participant feedback about their experience of receiving CVFLA was obtained via a semi-structured interview conducted by someone not involved in delivering the intervention. Results: The intervention was extremely well received, with no dropouts related to the intervention. There was also a significant improvement in smell and taste from pre- to post-CVFLA intervention (mean number of sessions = 7.46, SD = 2.55; total duration = 389.96 min, SD = 150.93) both in subjective and objective measures. All participants, except one, reported experiencing some improvement from the 2nd or 3rd session. Discussion: This new CVFLA intervention shows promise in improving COVID-19 related impairment in smell and taste with a very high level of acceptability. Further studies with larger samples are required to confirm its potential in restoring, improving or correcting smell and/or taste impairment in relevant clinical and non-clinical groups.Brunel University London, and the European Research Development Fund (EDRF) and Learning JBE Ltd. via Anglia Ruskin University. Learning JBE Ltd. owns the patent on the camera-based feedback learning technique used in the study. Learning JBE Ltd. was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication

Evaluation of the elastic properties and topography of leukocytes’ surface in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using atomic force microscope

The aim of study was to examine some morphometrical parameters (height, diameter) of the leukocytes (white blood cells - WBCs), their specific surface morphology (globular prominences and depression in WBCs) as well as their local elastic properties (Young’s modulus) in healthy persons and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by means of the atomic force microscopy (AFM). Morphological and morphometrical parameters of human leukocytes were evaluated by AFM in tapped mod

More meditation, less habituation? The effect of mindfulness practice on the acoustic startle reflex

Background Mindfulness as a mode of sustained and receptive attention promotes openness to each incoming stimulus, even if repetitive and/or aversive. Mindful attention has been shown to attenuate sensory habituation in expert meditators; however, others were not able to replicate this effect. The present study used acoustic startle reflex to investigate the effect of mindfulness practice intensity on sensory habituation. Methods Auditory Startle Response (ASR) to 36 startling probes (12 trials x 3 block with 40ms inter-block intervals), was measured using electromyography (EMG) in three groups of participants (N = 12/group): meditation-naïve, moderate practice, and intensive practice. Results Intensive practice group showed attenuated startle habituation as evidenced by significantly less habituation over the entire experiment relative to the meditation-naïve and moderate practice groups. Furthermore, there was a significant linear effect showing between-block habituation in meditation-naïve and moderate practice groups, but not in the intensive practice group. However, the Block x Group interaction between the intensive practice and the meditation-naive groups was not significant. Moderate practice group was not significantly different from the meditation-naïve in the overall measure of habituation, but showed significantly stronger habituation than both meditation-naïve and intensive practice groups in Block 1. Greater practice intensity was significantly correlated with slower overall habituation and habituation rate in Blocks 2 and 3 in the intensive, but not in the moderate, practice group. Conclusions The study provides tentative evidence that intensive mindfulness practice attenuates acoustic startle habituation as measured by EMG, but the effect is modest. Moderate practice, on the other hand, appears to enhance habituation, suggesting the effect of mindfulness practice on startle habituation might be non-liner. Better understanding of the effect of mindful attention on startle habituation may shed new light on sensory information processing capacity of the human brain and its potential for de-automatisation of hard-wired processes.Templeton Positive Neuroscience Award (Grant number: PAHWPZA) (http://www. posneuroscience.org/research-awards.html)

Influence of ripening in mother solution on characteristics of magnesium-substituted calcium phosphate powders

Effect of ripening in the mother liquor on the degree of crystallinity and dispersity of mixed powders of calcium and magnesium phosphates is studied as a function of magnesium content with the elemental composition such that (Ca + Mg)/P = 2. Ripening is found to have a positive effect on crystallinity of the apatite phase of powders. Nanocrystals with lowered tendency to aggregation are formed during the ripening period, which affords the powders with specific surface area as high as 80 m2/g. The morphology of the constituent particles depends on the magnesium content. Crystallization processes are essentially completed by the 21st day of ripenin

Citizens' role in formation of urban environment design

The article considers citizens as a subject of forming the urban environment design. In the conditions of the city multi-functionality as a territorial entity, new requirements on the creation of urban spaces are imposed. The urban environment should meet the diversity of the population needs, while the city residents themselves become active participants in its planning and design. The primary data were collected using questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. 385 citizens of Yekaterinburg were questioned on the basis of quota sampling in order to the study citizens' opinions about the city of Yekaterinburg and to evaluate their role in the design of the urban environment. Semi-structured interviews (n=12) were organized for the citizens engaged in the city design on a regular basis. 94% of the respondents note the need to form a positive city image. 54% of the respondents believe that they are actors of urban planning. Yekaterinburg residents' express high willingness to participate in the city design (71%) and 78% of the respondents believe that they can influence on the making decisions by administrative structures. Our respondents consider the following basic mechanisms for implementing their own vision of urban space: Discussion in social networks and participation in public hearings. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd