Individuals with and without child maltreatment experiences are evaluated similarly and do not differ in facial affect display at zero- and first-acquaintance

Abstract: Background Individuals with a history of child maltreatment (CM) are more often disliked, rejected and victimized compared to individuals without such experiences. However, contributing factors for these negative evaluations are so far unknown. Objective: Based on previous research on adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD), this preregistered study assessed whether negative evaluations of adults with CM experiences, in comparison to unexposed controls, are mediated by more negative and less positive facial affect display. Additionally, it was explored whether level of depression, severity of CM, social anxiety, social support, and rejection sensitivity have an influence on ratings. Methods: Forty adults with CM experiences (CM +) and 40 non‑maltreated (CM‑) adults were filmed for measurement of affect display and rated in likeability, trustworthiness, and cooperativeness by 100 independent raters after zero‑acquaintance (no interaction) and 17 raters after first‑acquaintance (short conversation). Results: The CM + and the CM‑ group were neither evaluated significantly different, nor showed significant differences in affect display. Contrasting previous research, higher levels of BPD symptoms predicted higher likeability ratings (p = .046), while complex post‑traumatic stress disorder symptoms had no influence on ratings. Conclusions: The non‑significant effects could be attributed to an insufficient number of participants, as our sample size allowed us to detect effects with medium effect sizes (f2 = .16 for evaluation; f2 = .17 for affect display) with a power of .95. Moreover, aspects such as the presence of mental disorders (e.g., BPD or post‑traumatic stress disorder), might have a stronger impact than CM per se. Future research should thus further explore conditions (e.g., presence of specific mental disorders) under which individuals with CM are affected by negative evaluations as well as factors that contribute to negative evaluations and problems in social relationships. Keywords: Child maltreatment, Zero‑acquaintance, First‑acquaintance, Facial emotion expressio

Oral mucosal lesions diagnosed in a stomatology service. An examination of clinico-pathological findings from the year 2003

During 2003, a total of 258 new patients with oral soft tissue lesions were admitted at the Stomatology Service of the Department of Oral Surgery and Stomatology at the University of Berne. For the present study, 185 patients with clinically and histopathologically verified diagnoses were included. The following data was collected: prevalence of oral mucosal lesions, distribution of benign, precancerous and malign lesions in different age groups, and the concordance of the referral with the working diagnosis at the Stomatology Service. The most frequent pathological soft tissue findings were fibrous hyperplasias (n = 44) and oral lichen planus (n = 30). Precancerous lesions were present in 41 cases (30 patients with oral lichen planus, eleven oral leukoplakias), and ten patients had oral malignomas. Most lesions were found in patients between the age of 40 and 60 years. The referral diagnosis concurred in 36.6% (n = 67) of the cases with the definite diagnosis before initiation of treatment, the working diagnosis in 70% (n = 128) of the cases. Therefore, it can be concluded that a specialised Stomatology Service serves as a center of competence due to large numbers of patients/cases seen and treated, and the resulting high level of clinical experience of the staff. Moreover, it is important in the primary diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma, in collaboration with the referring dentist in private practice.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Don’t get too close to me: depressed and non-depressed survivors of child maltreatment prefer larger comfortable interpersonal distances towards strangers

Background: Childhood maltreatment (CM) is frequently linked to interpersonal problems such as difficulties in social relationships, loneliness, and isolation. These difficulties might partly stem from troubles regulating comfortable interpersonal distance (CIPD). Objective: We experimentally investigated whether CM manifests in larger CIPD and whether all subtypes of CM (i.e., physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and physical or emotional neglect) affect CIPD. Methods: Using the stop-distance method (i.e. a team member approached participants until the latter indicated discomfort), we assessed CIPD in 84 adults with a self-reported history of CM (24 with depressive symptoms) and 57 adult controls without a history of CM (without depressive symptoms). Results: Adults with CM showed a larger CIPD (Mdn = 86 cm) than controls (Mdn = 68 cm), and CIPD was largest for those with CM combined with current depressive symptoms (Mdn = 145 cm) (p's < .047). In the latter group, all subtypes of CM were associated with a larger CIPD compared to controls (p's < .045). In the CM group without depressive symptoms, only those with emotional abuse (p = .040) showed a larger CIPD than controls. Conclusions: These results add to findings of differential socio-emotional long-term consequences of CM, depending upon the subtype of CM. Future research should explore whether a larger CIPD has a negative impact on social functioning in individuals exposed to CM, particularly in those with depressive symptoms. Highlights: Adults with child maltreatment (CM) prefer larger physical distances.• This effect is more pronounced in those with CM and depressive symptoms.• Troubled regulation of physical distance might contribute to interpersonal problems. Keywords: Personal space; abuse; depressive symptoms; neglect; social functioning

Larger comfortable interpersonal distances in adults exposed to child maltreatment : The role of depressive symptoms and social anxiety

Previous studies report a preference for larger comfortable interpersonal distance (CIPD) in individuals with child maltreatment (CM) when being approached by others. Yet, research on approaching others, as opposed to being approached, as well as on potential effects of social anxiety and depression is lacking. We investigated if CM and depressive symptoms influence CIPD and if social anxiety mediates the possible association of CM and CIPD when approaching a female stranger. One hundred ten participants with CM (CM) and 58 participants without CM (non-CM) experiences performed the stop-distance paradigm and stopped first when feeling uncomfortable (D1) and again when feeling very uncomfortable (D2). CM experiences were associated with a preference for larger CIPD, independent of depressive symptoms. All CM subtypes were associated with a larger D2. The relationship between CM and CIPD was partially mediated by social anxiety. These novel findings can help to develop interventions strengthening socially relevant skills and processes in those affected by CM, targeting alterations in social anxiety and depression.

Bestimmung von Triiodthyronin im Serum mit einem heterogenen Enzymimmunoassay: Ergebnisse einer gemeinsamen Erprobung

Peer Reviewe

Individuals with and without child maltreatment experiences are evaluated similarly and do not differ in facial affect display at zero- and first-acquaintance

Abstract Background Individuals with a history of child maltreatment (CM) are more often disliked, rejected and victimized compared to individuals without such experiences. However, contributing factors for these negative evaluations are so far unknown. Objective Based on previous research on adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD), this preregistered study assessed whether negative evaluations of adults with CM experiences, in comparison to unexposed controls, are mediated by more negative and less positive facial affect display. Additionally, it was explored whether level of depression, severity of CM, social anxiety, social support, and rejection sensitivity have an influence on ratings. Methods Forty adults with CM experiences (CM +) and 40 non-maltreated (CM-) adults were filmed for measurement of affect display and rated in likeability, trustworthiness, and cooperativeness by 100 independent raters after zero-acquaintance (no interaction) and 17 raters after first-acquaintance (short conversation). Results The CM + and the CM- group were neither evaluated significantly different, nor showed significant differences in affect display. Contrasting previous research, higher levels of BPD symptoms predicted higher likeability ratings (p = .046), while complex post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms had no influence on ratings. Conclusions The non-significant effects could be attributed to an insufficient number of participants, as our sample size allowed us to detect effects with medium effect sizes (f2 = .16 for evaluation; f2 = .17 for affect display) with a power of .95. Moreover, aspects such as the presence of mental disorders (e.g., BPD or post-traumatic stress disorder), might have a stronger impact than CM per se. Future research should thus further explore conditions (e.g., presence of specific mental disorders) under which individuals with CM are affected by negative evaluations as well as factors that contribute to negative evaluations and problems in social relationships

Individuals with and without child maltreatment experiences are evaluated similarly and do not differ in facial affect display at zero- and first-acquaintance

Background: Individuals with a history of child maltreatment (CM) are more often disliked, rejected and victimized compared to individuals without such experiences. However, contributing factors for these negative evaluations are so far unknown. Objective: Based on previous research on adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD), this preregistered study assessed whether negative evaluations of adults with CM experiences, in comparison to unexposed controls, are mediated by more negative and less positive facial affect display. Additionally, it was explored whether level of depression, severity of CM, social anxiety, social support, and rejection sensitivity have an influence on ratings. Methods: Forty adults with CM experiences (CM+) and 40 non-maltreated (CM-) adults were filmed for measurement of affect display and rated in likeability, trustworthiness, and cooperativeness by 100 independent raters after zero-acquaintance (no interaction) and 17 raters after first-acquaintance (short conversation). Results: The CM+ and the CM- group were neither evaluated significantly different, nor showed significant differences in affect display. Contrasting previous research, higher levels of BPD symptoms predicted higher likeability ratings (p = .046), while complex post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms had no influence on ratings. Conclusions: The non-significant effects could be attributed to an insufficient number of participants, as our sample size allowed us to detect effects with medium effect sizes (f2=.16 for evaluation; f2=.17 for affect display) with a power of .95. Moreover, aspects such as the presence of mental disorders (e.g., BPD or post-traumatic stress disorder), might have a stronger impact than CM per se. Future research should thus further explore conditions (e.g., presence of specific mental disorders) under which individuals with CM are affected by negative evaluations as well as factors that contribute to negative evaluations and problems in social relationships

First comprehensive inter-comparison of aerosol electrometers for particle sizes up to 200 nm and concentration range 1000 cm−3 to 17 000 cm−3

The concentration of nanometre-sized particles is frequently measured in terms of particle number concentration using well-established measuring instruments, e.g. condensation particle counters. Traceability for these measurements can be achieved by means of calibrations using an aerosol electrometer (AE) as a reference. A number of national metrology institutes (NMIs) and expert laboratories provide such calibrations, but the metrological basis is at present not well established because the equivalence between the unit realizations has not been investigated by means of an inter-laboratory comparison. This paper presents the results of the first comprehensive comparison of AEs involving NMIs and expert laboratories worldwide. The comparison covered the particle size and charge concentrations ranges 20 nm to 200 nm and 0.16 × 10−15 C cm−3 to 2.72 × 10−15 C cm−3 (equivalent to 1000 cm−3 to 17 000 cm−3 singly charged particles), respectively. The obtained results agreed to within about ±3%, which was within stated uncertainties, with only a few exceptions, such as at low concentrations. Additional measurements with sub-20 nm particles show that comparisons in this size range are more challenging and require special considerations, though agreement to within about ±5% was still found with 6 nm particles. This comparison is the first and vital step towards internationally recognized SI traceability in particle number concentration measurements.JRC.F.8-Sustainable Transpor