Subjective versus Objective Measures of Tic Severity in Tourette Syndrome – The Influence of Environment

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of environmental challenges on tic expression by subjective and objective measures. The study group consisted of 41 children aged 6–18 years (M=10.15, SD=2.73) with a primary diagnosis of Tourette syndrome. Subjective measures included the Functional Assessment Interview developed for this study and three standard validated instruments. The objective measure was a video-recording of the patients in five daily-life situations: watching television, doing homework, being alone, receiving attention when ticcing, and talking to a stranger. In addition, the effect of premonitory urges on assessment of tic expression was evaluated. The associations between the subjective and objective measures of tic expression were moderate to low. A significantly higher number of tics were observed in the television situation, and a significantly lower number in the alone situation, compared to the other situations. Higher levels of premonitory urge were associated with greater awareness of objectively measured tic expression. In conclusion, tic expression is significantly influenced by the environment. Subjective measures of tic expression may be misleading. These results have implications for refining the clinical assessment of tics, improving research methodology, and developing new therapeutic strategies

Decomposition of Random Errors Inherent to HOAPS-3.2 Near-Surface Humidity Estimates Using Multiple Triple Collocation Analysis

Latent heat fluxes (LHF) play an essential role in the global energy budget and are thus important for understanding the climate system. Satellite-based remote sensing permits a large-scale determination of LHF, which, amongst others, are based on near-surface specific humidity qa. However, the qa random retrieval error (Etot) remains unknown. Here, a novel approach is presented to quantify the error contributions to pixel-level qa of the Hamburg Ocean Atmosphere Parameters and Fluxes from Satellite (HOAPS, version 3.2) dataset. The methodology makes use of multiple triple collocation (MTC) analysis between 1995-2008 over the global ice-free oceans. Apart from satellite records, these datasets include selected ship records extracted from the Seewetteramt Hamburg (SWA) archive and the International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS), serving as the in-situ ground reference. The MTC approach permits the derivation of Etot as the sum of model uncertainty EM and sensor noise EN, while random uncertainties due to in-situ measurement errors (Eins) and collocation (EC) are isolated concurrently. Results show an Etot average of 1.1 ± 0.3 g kg-1, whereas the mean EC (Eins) is in the order of 0.5 ± 0.1 g kg-1 (0.5 ± 0.3 g kg-1). Regional analyses indicate a maximum of Etot exceeding 1.5 g kg-1 within humidity regimes of 12-17 g kg-1, associated with the single-parameter, multilinear qa retrieval applied in HOAPS. Multi-dimensional bias analysis reveals that global maxima are located off the Arabian Peninsula

How Does Child Maltreatment Impact Social Emotional Development in Children Under Five?

Research examined in this paper found that children under the age of five years old who are victims of child maltreatment, can display hindered development in social emotional behavioral domains. Being that the brain develops so rapidly and is fragile during this age, there is a plethora of developmental, mental struggles, personal struggles, and complications that children can face during the remaining years of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as a result (Campbell, Walker, & Egede, 2016; Kahr Nilsson, Landorph, Houmann, Olsen & Skovgaard, 2019; & McKelvey, Edge, Mesman, Whiteside-Mansell & Bradley, 2018). Effects can range from short term to long term and include attachment struggles, taking initiative, self-help skills, sexual exploitation, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, suicide, and lack of socialization ability (Fusco and Cahalane, 2013; Srivastav, Strompolis, Moseley, & Daniels, 2019). Much of the research obtained on child maltreatment is based on parent and caregiver reports, interviews, and questionnaires, due to the fact that many children between the ages of birth to five are nonverbal or just beginning to develop vocabulary. When trauma is recognized, specific methods can be implemented to help children cope and begin to heal from past or current maltreatment. When children are placed in a safe, secure environment with loving, strong relationships, the negative impacts of maltreatment begin to be replaced with positive progress in social emotional abilities and result in better adult life outcomes (Bath, 2012; Srivastav, et al., 2019). In additional healing from child maltreatment, research conducted by Golding (2015) explained the benefits and successes for children through preventative care and early detection

HOAPS precipitation validation with ship-borne rain gauge measurements over the Baltic Sea

Global ocean precipitation is an important part of the water cycle in the climate system. A number of efforts have been undertaken to acquire reliable estimates of precipitation over the oceans based on remote sensing and reanalysis modelling. However, validation of these data is still a challenging task, mainly due to a lack of suitable in situ measurements of precipitation over the oceans. In this study, validation of the satellite-based Hamburg Ocean Atmosphere Parameters and fluxes from Satellite data (HOAPS) climatology was conducted with in situ measurements by ship rain gauges over the Baltic Sea from 1995 to 1997. The ship rain gauge data are point-to-area collocated against the HOAPS data. By choosing suitable collocation parameters, a detection rate of up to about 70% is achieved. Investigation of the influence of the synoptic situation on the detectability shows that HOAPS performs better for stratiform than for convective precipitation. The number of collocated data is not sufficient to validate precipitation rates. Thus, precipitation rates were analysed by applying an interpolation scheme based on the Kriging method to both data sets. It was found that HOAPS underestimates precipitation by about 10%, taking into account that precipitation rates below 0.3 mm h−1 cannot be detected from satellite information

A comparison of SSM/I-derived global marine surface specific humidity datasets

Satellite-based microwave sensors have, since the 1980s, provided a means to retrieve near-surface marine specific humidity (qa), accurate estimation of which is necessary for climate and air–sea interaction applications. Seven satellite measurement-derived monthly mean humidity datasets are compared with one another and with a dataset constructed from in situ measurements. The means, spatial and temporal structures of the datasets are shown to be markedly different, with a range of yearly, global mean qa of ?1?g?kg–1. Comparison of the datasets derived using the same satellite measurements of brightness temperature reveals differences in qa that depend on the source of satellite data; the processing and quality control applied to the data; and the algorithm used to derive qa from the satellite measurements of brightness temperature. Regional differences between satellite-derived qa due to the choice of input data, quality control and retrieval algorithm can all exceed the accuracy requirements for surface flux calculation of ?0.3?g?kg–1 and in some cases can be several g kg–1 in monthly means for some periods and regions

Adapting Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT) for Adolescents: Preliminary Testing of Mechanisms of Change

Background: Overcontrol is a phenotype characterized by inflexibility, perfectionism, and a need for control or structure, which increases risk for disorders such as anorexia nervosa, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Given high comorbidity and limited efficacy of current treatments for these disorders, Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy for adolescents (RO DBT-A) attempts to improve outcomes by targeting overcontrol as a transdiagnostic mechanism. This study aimed to test preliminary efficacy of telehealth-delivered RO DBT-A in targeting overcontrol as a mechanism of psychopathology in a heterogeneous clinical sample. Method: Participants were female adolescents (ages 13-21; 83% white; 80% non-Hispanic/Latino) who presented with elevated overcontrol. RO DBT-A was provided as the sole psychological treatment for those who wanted it (n = 13) over 16 weeks via skills group and individual sessions. Therapy was delivered via online platform due to the study being during the 2020 COVID pandemic. Non-treatment seeking participants served as controls (n = 7). Outcomes measured at baseline and post-treatment included psychiatric symptoms and overcontrol self-report, and neural responses to reward (wins/losses) and errors via electroencephalogram (EEG). Results: There were significant improvements in depression (t(10.3) = -1.78, p = 0.01) and quality of life (W = 75, p = 0.02) in the RO DBT group compared to the control group. Testing change within the RO DBT group from baseline to post treatment demonstrated significant improvements in overcontrol (t(12) = 2.76, p = 0.04), anxiety (t(12) = 2.91, p = 0.04), depression (V = 82.5, p = 0.04) and quality of life (t(12) = -3.01, p = 0.04), even after FDR correction. No change in EEG based neural markers was found, although the study was underpowered to detect neural changes. Discussion: This study provides preliminary evidence for efficacy of telehealth-delivered RO DBT-A in targeting behavioral overcontrol, decreasing symptomology, and importantly, improving quality of life, in a heterogenous clinical sample of teens. Future studies should employ randomized design and examine neural markers in larger sample sizes

Einfluss verschiedener Spüllösungen auf den Haftverbund des Sealers Apexit Plus zum Wurzelkanaldentin

Der Misserfolg einer Wurzelkanalbehandlung hat viele Ursachen, die nicht immer eindeutig sind. Dem Behandler stehen zahlreiche Herangehensweisen und Medikamente zur Verfügung, um eine endodontische Behandlung durchzuführen. Sie umfasst das mechanische Aufbereiten des Kanals, das Spülen mit geeigneter Flüssigkeit sowie einen bakterien- und flüssigkeitsdichten Verschluss. Zum einen sollte dieses Material eine Haftkraft zum umgebenden Wurzeldentin ausbilden, zum anderen sollte zum gewählten Kernmaterial ebenfalls eine Adhäsion entstehen [101]. In dieser In-vitro-Studie sollte der Einfluss verschiedener Spüllösungen auf den Haftverbund zwischen Wurzelkanaldentin und dem calciumsalicylatbasierten Sealers Apexit Plus untersucht werden. In dieser Studie wurden 60 extrahierte, kariesfreie und unbehandelte Zahnwurzeln auf fünf Gruppen randomisiert verteilt (n=12). Sie wurden dekapitiert und mit dem maschinellen Feilensystem BioRaCe bei einer Arbeitslänge von 8 mm bis .02#60 aufbereitet. Die zuvor gebildeten Gruppen wurden einer Spüllösung zugeteilt: A = Chlorhexidindiglukonat (CHX) 2%, B = Ethylendiamintetraacetat (EDTA) 16%, C = Natriumhypochlorit (NaOCl) 3%, D = Zitronensäure 40%, E = Aqua dest. Nachdem die Proben mit ihrer zugeordneten Flüssigkeit gespült wurden, erfolgte die sorgfältige Trocknung mit Papierspitzen und anschließendem Einbringen des vorbereiteten Stahlspreaders mit dem zu untersuchenden Sealer. Die Wurzeln lagerten 14 Tage unter feuchten Bedingungen. Anschließend fanden die Pullout-Tests in einer Universalprüfmaschine statt. Es wurde die maximale Kraft bis zum adhäsiven Versagen bei einer Prüfgeschwindigkeit von 2 mm/min ermittelt. Zusätzlich erfolgte eine Auswertung der Frakturmodi an den experimentellen Spreadern. Apexit Plus zeigte in Kombination mit CHX (0,73 MPa) und NaOCl (0,62 MPa) die höchsten Haftwerte. Nach einer Spülung mit EDTA zeigten sich insgesamt die geringsten Haftwerte (0,21 MPa). Es ergab sich ein signifikanter Einfluss der Spülungen auf die Haftwerte (Kruskal-Wallis Test p= 0,034). Unter den Bedingungen dieser Studie profitierte der Sealer Apexit Plus nicht von der Schmierschichtentfernung durch EDTA. Die Spülung führte zu geringen Haftwerten. Der calciumsalicylatbasierte Sealer verhielt sich somit gegensätzlich zu den meisten anderen Wurzelkanalsealern, die in der Regel zu besseren Haftwerten nach Schmierschichtentfernung gelangen. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen dieser Studie mit Apexit Plus ist eine alleinige Spülung mit EDTA nicht empfehlenswert. Ob Apexit Plus eine Verbesserung der Haftkraft durch eine zusätzliche Spülung mit CHX erlangen kann, war nicht Ziel dieser Arbeit und ist anderweitig zu erforschen

Early psychological responses of children and caregivers in the immediate aftermath of release from war captivity

BackgroundCaptivity—particularly the captivity of children—is one of the most extreme violations of civilian rights in armed conflict. Despite this, most research on war captivity has focused on adult soldiers, leaving largely unexplored the unique psychological reactions of children subjected to such trauma.ObjectiveThis study aims to (1) describe the early psychological responses of children and caregivers' early psychological responses immediately following their release from captivity in the Israeli-Hamas war and (2) examine the clinical interventions used to manage these reactions.MethodsThis qualitative study analyzed the psychological reactions of children and their caregivers (N = 26) who were released from captivity and received care at {masked}. Data collection methods included a review of medical files and in-depth interviews with practitioners (n = 37), including social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, and pediatricians, who provided health- and psychosocial care.ResultsPsychological responses were influenced by developmental stage and captivity context. Among young children (2–11 years), predominant reactions included excessive worry, repetitive questioning, traumatic reenactment (e.g., through play), separation anxiety, hypervigilance, anger outbursts, low frustration tolerance, and sleep disturbances. Adolescents (12–18 years) primarily exhibited avoidance, hyperarousal, sleep disturbances, and excessive sharing of traumatic experiences. Caregivers (19–80 years) displayed reactions similar to those of adolescents but also demonstrated dissociative reactions. Interventions were based on the principles of the Psychological First Aid (PFA) model and tailored to the specific reactions of children and caregivers.Conclusions: This study is the first to provide qualitative data on the psychological responses of children and caregivers following war captivity. The findings highlight the need for a family-oriented approach to mental health interventions, particularly for supporting young children and their caregivers. Training practitioners to recognize developmentally specific reactions in the immediate aftermath of captivity is critical for effective assessment, care, and psychopathology prevention. The study concludes with recommendations for improving practice and policy to address this severe and complex violation of children's rights