The Role of Gender on Perceptions of Stalking and Harassment Behaviour within Same and Cross-Sex Relationships: Evidence from University and Law Enforcement Samples

Researchers investigating perceptions of stalking have enhanced understanding of the role of gender (i.e., perceived social roles based on sex) on subjective appraisals of harassment behaviour following the dissolution of a romantic relationship. According to data collected from student and community samples, a man harassing a woman (M-W) elicits greater recommendations for police intervention, as well as a tendency to anticipate more harm, than when the same behaviour is perpetrated by a woman against a man (W-M; Cass, 2008; Finnegan & Fritz, 2012; Phillips et al., 2004; Sheridan & Scott, 2010). Although cases of stalking often come to the attention of law enforcement, no research to date to the author’s knowledge has been conducted with police officers. By manipulating a real stalking (i.e., criminal harassment) case, study 1 examined the role of actor sex (M-W, W-M) on perceptions of stalking in a sample of local police officers. Findings were consistent with previous research. Officers who read the M-W case anticipated more physical, emotional, psychological, and economic harm than officers who read the W-M case. Research has also focused almost exclusively on cross-sex stalking. Study 2 extended previous research by examining perceptions of harassment scenarios using four different actor sex permutations (M-W, W-M, M-M, and W-W) in a sample of university students. Male and female participants anticipated less physical and nonphysical harm for W-M compared to M-W, M-M, and W-W harassment. The findings have implications for research on the relation between sex and perceptions of gender, and may be used to develop intervention programs aimed at educating law enforcement, social support workers, and community agencies to ensure appropriate protection and treatment of individuals harassed by same-sex or cross-sex former partners

Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase activity by leflunomide

AbstractThe active metabolite of leflunomide, A77 1726 inhibits the proliferation of a variety of mammalian cell lines in culture. Epidermal growth factor (EGF)-dependent proliferation is inhibited by A77 1726 at an effective dose of 30–40 μM. A77 1726 appears to directly inhibit the EGF receptor tyrosine-specific kinase activity both in intact cells and purified EGF receptors at the same effective dose. These data suggest that leflunomide inhibits cellular proliferation by the inhibition of tyrosine-specific kinase activities

Collagen-induced arthritis is exacerbated in IL-10-deficient mice

IL-10 is a potent immunoregulatory cytokine attenuating a wide range of immune effector and inflammatory responses. In the present study, we assess whether endogenous levels of IL-10 function to regulate the incidence and severity of collagen-induced arthritis. DBA/1 wildtype (WT), heterozygous (IL-10(+/-)) and homozygous (IL-10(-/-)) IL-10-deficient mice were immunized with type II collagen. Development of arthritis was monitored over time, and collagen-specific cytokine production and anticollagen antibodies were assessed. Arthritis developed progressively in mice immunized with collagen, and 100% of the WT, IL-10(+/-), and IL-10(-/-) mice were arthritic at 35 days. However, the severity of arthritis in the IL-10(-/-) mice was significantly greater than that in WT or IL-1(+/-) animals. Disease severity was associated with reduced IFN-γ levels and a dramatic increase in CD11b-positive macrophages. Paradoxically, both the IgG(1) and IgG(2a) anticollagen antibody responses were also significantly reduced. These data demonstrate that IL-10 is capable of controlling disease severity through a mechanism that involves IFN-γ. Since IL-10 levels are elevated in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid, these findings may have relevance to rheumatoid arthritis

Impact of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis on caregivers: caregiver-reported outcomes from the multinational PICTURE study.

From Europe PMC via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: ppub 2022-02-01, epub 2022-02-02Publication status: PublishedFunder: Albireo Pharma, Inc.BackgroundProgressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a spectrum of rare genetic diseases characterized by inadequate bile secretion that requires substantial ongoing care, though little research is published in this area. We report health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work productivity outcomes from the retrospective, cross-sectional PICTURE study investigating the burden of PFIC on caregivers. Information from caregivers of patients with PFIC 1 or 2 in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States from September 2020 to March 2021 was included.ResultsThe PICTURE study sample comprised HRQoL responses from 22 PFIC caregivers. Patients were on average 8.2 years old; most caregivers were 30-49 years old (68%) and mothers (77%). Median CarerQoL-7D score was 67.7/100; mean CarerQoL-VAS score for general happiness was 5.7/10 (SD 2.1). Most caregivers reported fulfilment in their caregiving responsibilities, but problems with mental and physical health, finances, and relationships. When stratified by patient's PFIC type, mean CarerQoL-7D and CarerQoL-VAS scores suggested worse HRQoL outcomes with PFIC2 versus PFIC1 (59.4 vs. 71.2, and 5.3 vs. 6.5, respectively). Additionally, more caregivers reported impact on sleep in the PFIC2 versus PFIC1 subgroup (93% vs. 75%). When stratified by history of PFIC-related surgeries, mean CarerQoL-7D and VAS scores were higher among those whose children had no specified surgeries (67.7 vs. 59.0/100 and 6.2 vs. 5.2/10, respectively). Nearly all caregivers reported an impact of caregiving responsibilities on sleeping (86%) and on personal relationships (82%). No caregivers reported having formal care support. Most caregivers were employed (73%); a third reported mean productivity loss of 12.9 days (SD 19.3) over the last 3 months, and a mean of 2.8 (SD 9.5) missed years of employment during their career. A higher number of workdays were missed by PFIC 2 caregivers compared to PFIC1 over last 3 months (16 days vs. 3 days).ConclusionsThe PICTURE study has demonstrated the prevalent, comprehensive, and meaningful burden that caring for an individual with PFIC has on caregivers. Despite fulfilment from caregiving, the breadth and depth of these responsibilities reduced caregiver reported HRQoL including mental and physical health, productivity, career prospects, sleep, relationships and finances

Correction to: The LUCID study: living with ulcerative colitis; identifying the socioeconomic burden in Europe.

From Europe PMC via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: ppub 2021-12-01, epub 2021-12-15Publication status: Publishe

The Geozoic Supereon

Geological time units are the lingua franca of earth sciences: they are a terminological convenience, a vernacular of any geological conversation, and a prerequisite of geo-scientific writing found throughout in earth science dictionaries and textbooks. Time units include terms formalized by stratigraphic committees as well as informal constructs erected ad hoc to communicate more efficiently. With these time terms we partition Earth’s history into utilitarian and intuitively understandable time segments that vary in length over seven orders of magnitude: from the 225-year-long Anthropocene (Crutzen and Stoermer, 2000) to the ,4-billion-year-long Precambrian (e.g., Hicks, 1885; Ball, 1906; formalized by De Villiers, 1969)