The brief thriving scale: Assessing the ability to learn, grow, and find benefits in stressful events

While much research has focused on the ability to recover from the negative effects of stress, little has examined our potential for benefitting from stressful events. The current studies validated the Brief Thriving Scale (BTS), which assesses the ability to learn, grow, and benefit from stress. Participants were 855 undergraduate who completed the BTS, a battery of health-related measures, and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS; Smith et al., 2008), which assesses resilience as the ability to bounce back from stress. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated the construct validity of the BTS and correlation analyses supported convergent and divergent validity. Multiple regression analyses showed that the BTS was consistently related to better health when controlling for the BRS. While the BRS was a stronger predictor of negative mental health (e.g., lower negative emotion, depression), the BTS was a stronger predictor of positive mental health (e.g., higher positive emotion, meaning) and general physical health

Seasonal Variations in Mood and Behavior in Romanian Postgraduate Students

To our knowledge, this paper is the first to estimate seasonality of mood in a predominantly Caucasian sample, living in areas with hot summers and a relative unavailability of air conditioning. As a summer pattern of seasonal depression was previously associated with a vulnerability to heat exposure, we hypothesized that those with access to air conditioners would have a lower rate of summer seasonal affective disorder (SAD) compared to those without air conditioning. A convenience sample of 476 Romanian postgraduate students completed the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), which was used to calculate a global seasonality score (GSS) and to estimate the rates of winter- and summer-type SAD. The ratio of summer- vs. winter-type SAD was compared using multinomial probability distribution tests. We also compared the ratio of summer SAD in individuals with vs. without air conditioners. Winter SAD and winter subsyndromal SAD (S-SAD) were significantly more prevalent than summer SAD and summer S-SAD. Those with access to air conditioners had a higher, rather than a lower, rate of summer SAD. Our results are consistent with prior studies that reported a lower prevalence of summer than winter SAD in Caucasian populations. Finding an increased rate of summer SAD in the minority of those with access to air conditioners was surprising and deserves replication

Distinct cerebellar foliation anomalies in a Chd7 haploinsufficient mouse model of CHARGE syndrome

Mutations in the gene encoding the ATP dependent chromatin‐remodeling factor, CHD7 are the major cause of CHARGE (Coloboma, Heart defects, Atresia of the choanae, Retarded growth and development, Genital‐urinary anomalies, and Ear defects) syndrome. Neurodevelopmental defects and a range of neurological signs have been identified in individuals with CHARGE syndrome, including developmental delay, lack of coordination, intellectual disability, and autistic traits. We previously identified cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and abnormal cerebellar foliation in individuals with CHARGE syndrome. Here, we report mild cerebellar hypoplasia and distinct cerebellar foliation anomalies in a Chd7 haploinsufficient mouse model. We describe specific alterations in the precise spatio‐temporal sequence of fissure formation during perinatal cerebellar development responsible for these foliation anomalies. The altered cerebellar foliation pattern in Chd7 haploinsufficient mice show some similarities to those reported in mice with altered Engrailed, Fgf8 or Zic1 gene expression and we propose that mutations or polymorphisms in these genes may modify the cerebellar phenotype in CHARGE syndrome. Our findings in a mouse model of CHARGE syndrome indicate that a careful analysis of cerebellar foliation may be warranted in patients with CHARGE syndrome, particularly in patients with cerebellar hypoplasia and developmental delay

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamento del Tolima Ibagué.

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamento del Tolima Ibagué.En la fase final del diplomado, se hizo una profundización y acompañamiento psicosocial en escenarios de violencia, para lo cual se trabajó a través de narrativas en forma de historias de vida (relacionadas con entornos atroces ocasionados por actores del conflicto armado que ha acontecido en nuestro país), con el fin de establecer un escenario de reflexión. Desde la lógica narrativa que integra los relatos, se desarrolló un ejercicio de análisis del contexto, exaltando los esfuerzos personales, familiares, colectivos y comunitarios que en él se movilizaron. Además, se realizó énfasis de las actividades y acciones que generaron impactos psicosociales por parte de los protagonistas en cada una de las historias relatadas dentro de esos escenarios de violencia (entornos ligados al empoderamiento y resiliencia), con el fin de generar proactividad ante esas situaciones adversas que han tenido que enfrentar las víctimas, y así buscar mejorar la calidad de vida de los protagonistas y sus comunidades, ante los flagelos generados por el conflicto armado.In the final phase of the course, a depth and psychosocial accompaniment was made in the scenes of violence, for what can be seen through the narratives in the form of life stories. country), in order to establish a reflection scenario. From the narrative logic that integrates the stories, it has become an exercise in analyzing the context, extolling the personal, family, collective and community efforts that were mobilized. In addition, it is about the activity of the activities and the actions that are produced psychosocial by the protagonists in each of the stories. the victims have had to face, and thus improve the quality of life of the protagonists and their communities, before the errors generated by the armed conflict

Prohormone convertase 1/3 deficiency causes obesity due to impaired proinsulin processing

Defective insulin processing is associated with obesity and diabetes. Prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3) is an endopeptidase required for the processing of neurotransmitters and hormones. PC1/3 deficiency and genome-wide association studies relate PC1/3 with early onset obesity. Here, we find that deletion of PC1/3 in obesity-related neuronal cells expressing proopiomelanocortin mildly and transiently change body weight and fail to produce a phenotype when targeted to Agouti-related peptide- or nestin-expressing tissues. In contrast, pancreatic β cell-specific PC1/3 ablation induces hyperphagia with consecutive obesity despite uncontrolled diabetes with glucosuria. Obesity develops not due to impaired pro-islet amyloid polypeptide processing but due to impaired insulin maturation. Proinsulin crosses the blood-brain-barrier but does not induce central satiety. Accordingly, insulin therapy prevents hyperphagia. Further, islet PC1/3 expression levels negatively correlate with body mass index in humans. In this work, we show that impaired PC1/3-mediated proinsulin processing, as observed in human prediabetes, promotes hyperphagic obesity

Increased function of pronociceptive TRPV1 at the level of the joint in a rat model of osteoarthritis pain

Objectives Blockade of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) with systemic antagonists attenuates osteoarthritis (OA) pain behaviour in rat models, but on-target-mediated hyperthermia has halted clinical trials. The present study investigated the potential for targeting TRPV1 receptors within the OA joint in order to produce analgesia. Methods The presence of TRPV1 receptors in human synovium was detected using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. In a rat model of OA, joint levels of an endogenous ligand for TRPV1, 12- ydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), were quantified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/MS). Effects of peripheral administration of the TRPV1 receptor antagonist JNJ-17203212 on afferent fibre activity, pain behaviour and core body temperature were investigated. Effects of a spinal administration of JNJ-17203212 on dorsal horn neuronal responses were studied. Results We demonstrate increased TRPV1 immunoreactivity in human OA synovium, confirming the diseased joint as a potential therapeutic target for TRPV1-mediated analgesia. In a model of OA pain, we report increased joint levels of 12-HETE, and the sensitisation of joint afferent neurones to mechanical stimulation of the knee. Local administration of JNJ- 17203212 reversed this sensitisation of joint afferents and inhibited pain behaviour (weight-bearing asymmetry), to a comparable extent as systemic JNJ- 17203212, in this model of OA pain, but did not alter core body temperature. There was no evidence for increased TRPV1 function in the spinal cord in this model of OA pain. Conclusions Our data provide a clinical and mechanistic rationale for the future investigation of the therapeutic benefits of intra-articular administration of TRPV1 antagonists for the treatment of OA pain

StrokeCog Markov Model Projected Prevalent and Incident Cases of Stroke and Poststroke Cognitive Impairment to 2035 in Ireland

Background and Purpose: Cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND) and dementia are common stroke outcomes, with significant health and societal implications for aging populations. These outcomes are not included in current epidemiological models. We aimed to develop an epidemiological model to project incidence and prevalence of stroke, poststroke CIND and dementia, and life expectancy, in Ireland to 2035, informing policy and service planning. Methods: We developed a probabilistic Markov model (the StrokeCog model) applied to the Irish population aged 40 to 89 years to 2035. Data sources included official population and hospital-episode statistics, longitudinal cohort studies, and published estimates. Key assumptions were varied in sensitivity analysis. Results were externally validated against independent sources. The model tracks poststroke progression into health states characterized by no cognitive impairment, CIND, dementia, disability, stroke recurrence, and death. Results: We projected 69 051 people with prevalent stroke in Ireland in 2035 (22.0 per 1000 population [95% CI, 20.8-23.1]), with 25 274 (8.0 per 1000 population [95% CI, 7.1-9.0]) of those projected to have poststroke CIND, and 12 442 having poststroke dementia (4.0 per 1000 population [95% CI, 3.2-4.8]). We projected 8725 annual incident strokes in 2035 (2.8 per 1000 population [95% CI, 2.7-2.9]), with 3832 of these having CIND (1.2 per 1000 population [95% CI, 1.1-1.3]), and 1715 with dementia (0.5 per 1000 population [95% CI, 0.5-0.6]). Life expectancy for stroke survivors at age 50 was 23.4 years (95% CI, 22.3-24.5) for women and 20.7 (95% CI, 19.5-21.9) for men. Conclusions: This novel epidemiological model of stroke, poststroke CIND, and dementia draws on the best available evidence. Sensitivity analysis indicated that findings were robust to assumptions, and where there was uncertainty a conservative approach was taken. The StrokeCog model is a useful tool for service planning and cost-effectiveness analysis and is available for adaptation to other national contexts.Peer reviewe

Looking Back, Looking Forward: A New Look at the Historic Resources of the Maryland Port Towns

This document has had referenced material removed in respect for the owner's copyright. A complete version of this document, which includes said referenced material, resides in the University of Maryland, College Park's library collection.During the fall of 2008, the historic preservation studio of the University of Maryland’s Graduate Program in Historic Preservation developed a heritage resource study for the Maryland Port Towns, a group of four individual municipalities located on the Anacostia River in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The client, the Port Towns Community Development Corporation, made it clear from the beginning that the study was to dovetail with their already extensive efforts for social and economic development in the Port Towns. The study that follows is the culmination of the efforts of the nine-member studio team. Titled Looking Back, Looking Forward: A New Look at the Heritage Resources of the Maryland Port Towns, the study initially developed from two principal questions: • What existing historic resources are located in the Port Towns? • What can be done to preserve, enhance, and highlight the existing historic resources located in the Port Towns to meet the socioeconomic goals set by the Port Towns Community Development Corporation

Satellite image classification for environmental change prediction using image processing and machine learning techniques

In this research satellite image classification for environmental change prediction using image processing and machine learning methods is used. As we know satellite images is one of the important sources of collecting information for all area and region of interest which is suitable for any difficult situation around the world. The satellite image helps in collecting information on areas which is unpredictable and unreachable through digital cameras. In this research work, an advanced study on environmental change perdition has been examined using three classes’ ice land area, cropland area, and forest area. This research help in characterizing the type of satellite image classification for the particular three classes. The following stages have been considered are preprocessing, segmentation, and classification methods using K- Nearest Neighbor classifier. The present investigation results that db5 analysis works well in the classification of satellite image for environmental image prediction challenges with an accuracy of 94% using K- Nearest Neighbor classifier.Campus Chiclay