A Commentary on Trauma’s Different Layers

This article highlights how trauma may be caused by factors aside from catastrophic events, physical violence or accidents resulting in physical injury. Examples of trauma beyond the more commonly known causes are detailed. This article also emphasizes how individuals engaging in psychotherapy may at times lack awareness that their self-reported dilemma, or symptoms, may stem from early relational trauma. The following commentary originated with first-hand clinical experience and was reinforced by literature. It is important to recognize that individuals reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety are most effectively treated in psychotherapy when past trauma is accurately identified as the root of their dilemma

Are victims of bullying primarily social outcasts? Person-group dissimilarities in relational, socio-behavioral, and physical characteristics as predictors of victimization

Existing literature has mostly explained the occurrence of bullying victimization by individual socioemotional maladjustment. Instead, this study tested the person-group dissimilarity model (Wright et al., Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50: 523–536, 1986) by examining whether individuals’ deviation from developmentally important (relational, socio-behavioral, and physical) descriptive classroom norms predicted victimization. Adolescents (N = 1267, k = 56 classrooms; Mage = 13.2; 48.7% boys; 83.4% Dutch) provided self-reported and peer-nomination data throughout one school year (three timepoints). Results from group actor–partner interdependence models indicated that more person-group dissimilarity in relational characteristics (fewer friendships; incidence rate ratios [IRR]T2 = 0.28, IRRT3 = 0.16, fewer social media connections; IRRT3 = 0.13) and, particularly, lower disruptive behaviors (IRRT2 = 0.35, IRRT3 = 0.26) predicted victimization throughout the school year

Regulated complex assembly safeguards the fidelity of Sleeping Beauty transposition

The functional relevance of the inverted repeat structure (IR/DR) in a subgroup of the Tc1/mariner superfamily of transposons has been enigmatic. In contrast to mariner transposition, where a topological filter suppresses single-ended reactions, the IR/DR orchestrates a regulatory mechanism to enforce synapsis of the transposon ends before cleavage by the transposase occurs. This ordered assembly process shepherds primary transposase binding to the inner 12DRs (where cleavage does not occur), followed by capture of the 12DR of the other transposon end. This extra layer of regulation suppresses aberrant, potentially genotoxic recombination activities, and the mobilization of internally deleted copies in the IR/DR subgroup, including Sleeping Beauty (SB). In contrast, internally deleted sequences (MITEs) are preferred substrates of mariner transposition, and this process is associated with the emergence of Hsmar1-derived miRNA genes in the human genome. Translating IR/DR regulation to in vitro evolution yielded an SB transposon version with optimized substrate recognition (pT4). The ends of SB transposons excised by a K248A excision(+)/integration(-) transposase variant are processed by hairpin resolution, representing a link between phylogenetically, and mechanistically different recombination reactions, such as V(D)J recombination and transposition. Such variants generated by random mutation might stabilize transposon-host interactions or prepare the transposon for a horizontal transfer

Equivalence of the realized input and output oriented indirect effects metrics in ecological network analysis

A new understanding of the consequences of how ecosystem elements are interconnected is emerging from the development and application of Ecological Network Analysis. The relative importance of indirect effects is central to this understanding, and the ratio of indirect flow to direct flow (I/D) is one indicator of their importance. Two methods have been proposed for calculating this indicator. The unit approach shows what would happen if each system member had a unit input or output, while the realized technique determines the ratio using the observed system inputs or outputs. When using the unit method, the input oriented and output oriented ratios can be different, potentially leading to conflicting results. However, we show that the input and output oriented I/D ratios are identical using the realized method when the system is at steady state. This work is a step in the maturation of Ecological Network Analysis that will let it be more readily testable empirically and ultimately more useful for environmental assessment and management.Comment: 13 pages, 1 figure, 1 tabl

Associations Between Air Pollution Exposure and Empirically Derived Profiles of Cognitive Performance in Older Women

Background:Elucidating associations between exposures to ambient air pollutants and profiles of cognitive performance may provide insight into neurotoxic effects on the aging brain. Objective:We examined associations between empirically derived profiles of cognitive performance and residential concentrations of particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter \u3c 2.5 (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in older women. Method:Women (N = 2,142) from the Women’s Health Initiative Study of Cognitive Aging completed a neuropsychological assessment measuring attention, visuospatial, language, and episodic memory abilities. Average yearly concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2 were estimated at the participant’s addresses for the 3 years prior to the assessment. Latent profile structural equation models identified subgroups of women exhibiting similar profiles across tests. Multinomial regressions examined associations between exposures and latent profile classification, controlling for covariates. Result:Five latent profiles were identified: low performance across multiple domains (poor multi-domain; n = 282;13%), relatively poor verbal episodic memory (poor memory; n = 216; 10%), average performance across all domains (average multi-domain; n = 974; 45%), superior memory (n = 381; 18%), and superior attention (n = 332; 15%). Using women with average cognitive ability as the referent, higher PM2.5 (per interquartile range [IQR] = 3.64μg/m3) was associated with greater odds of being classified in the poor memory (OR = 1.29; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.10–1.52) or superior attention (OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.10–1.53) profiles. NO2 (per IQR = 9.86 ppb) was associated with higher odds of being classified in the poor memory (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.17–1.63) and lower odds of being classified with superior memory (OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.67–0.97). Conclusion:Exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 are associated with patterns of cognitive performance characterized by worse verbal episodic memory relative to performance in other domains

Chemostratigraphy of Neoproterozoic carbonates: implications for 'blind dating'

The delta C-13(carb) and Sr-87/Sr-86 secular variations in Neoproteozoic seawater have been used for the purpose of 'isotope stratigraphy' but there are a number of problems that can preclude its routine use. In particular, it cannot be used with confidence for 'blind dating'. The compilation of isotopic data on carbonate rocks reveals a high level of inconsistency between various carbon isotope age curves constructed for Neoproteozoic seawater, caused by a relatively high frequency of both global and local delta C-13(carb) fluctuations combined with few reliable age determinations. Further complication is caused by the unresolved problem as to whether two or four glaciations, and associated negative delta C-13(carb) excursions, can be reliably documented. Carbon isotope stratigraphy cannot be used alone for geological correlation and 'blind dating'. Strontium isotope stratigraphy is a more reliable and precise tool for stratigraphic correlations and indirect age determinations. Combining strontium and carbon isotope stratigraphy, several discrete ages within the 590-544 Myr interval, and two age-groups at 660-610 and 740-690 Myr can be resolved

Consumer mobility and well-being among changing places and shifting ethnicities

International audience(Market)places are spatial entities which individuals and groups might experience as meaningful. By highlighting the role of place in ethnic consumer research, this article argues that increased mobility and changing places render relatively stable notions of ethnicity outdated. We identify three main trajectories to revitalize future research on ethnicity. First, we demonstrate the need for research on ethnic identity to be underpinned by a better understanding of the role of place in identity processes. Second, we contend that the established migration/acculturation paradigm should be replaced by the mobility/adaptiveness paradigm. Third, we consider the profound effects of interethnic contact among mobile and immobile populations within shared places on individual and societal well-being

Tune in to your emotions: a robust personalized affective music player

The emotional power of music is exploited in a personalized affective music player (AMP) that selects music for mood enhancement. A biosignal approach is used to measure listeners’ personal emotional reactions to their own music as input for affective user models. Regression and kernel density estimation are applied to model the physiological changes the music elicits. Using these models, personalized music selections based on an affective goal state can be made. The AMP was validated in real-world trials over the course of several weeks. Results show that our models can cope with noisy situations and handle large inter-individual differences in the music domain. The AMP augments music listening where its techniques enable automated affect guidance. Our approach provides valuable insights for affective computing and user modeling, for which the AMP is a suitable carrier application

Adherence to a MIND-Like Dietary Pattern, Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution, and MRI-Based Measures of Brain Volume: The Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study-MRI

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that certain dietary patterns and constituents may be beneficial to brain health. Airborne exposures to fine particulate matter [particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5)] are neurotoxic, but the combined effects of dietary patterns and PM2.5 have not been investigated. OBJECTIVES: We examined whether previously reported association between PM2.5 exposure and lower white matter volume (WMV) differed between women whose usual diet during the last 3 months before baseline was more or less consistent with a Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND)-like diet, a dietary pattern that may slow neurodegenerative changes. METHODS: This study included 1,302 U.S. women who were 65-79 y old and free of dementia in the period 1996-1998 (baseline). In the period 2005-2006, structural brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed to estimate normal-appearing brain volumes (excluding areas with evidence of small vessel ischemic disease). Baseline MIND diet scores were derived from a food frequency questionnaire. Three-year average PM2.5 exposure prior to MRI was estimated using geocoded participant addresses and a spatiotemporal model. RESULTS: Average total and temporal lobe WMVs were 0:74 cm3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.001, 1.48) and 0:19 cm3 (95% CI: 0.002, 0.37) higher, respectively, with each 0.5-point increase in the MIND score and were 4:16 cm3 (95% CI: -6:99, -1:33) and 1:46 cm3 (95% CI: -2:16, -0:76) lower, respectively, with each interquartile range (IQR) (IQR = 3:22 μg/m3) increase in PM2.5. The inverse association between PM2.5 per IQR and WMV was stronger (p-interaction <0:001) among women with MIND scores below the median (for total WMV, -12:47 cm3; 95% CI: −17:17, −7:78), but absent in women with scores above the median (0:16 cm3; 95% CI: −3:41, 3.72), with similar patterns for WMV in the frontal, parietal, and temporal lobes. For total cerebral and hippocampus brain volumes or WMV in the corpus callosum, the associations with PM2.5 were not significantly different for women with high MIND scores and women with low MIND scores

Ambient air pollution and long-term trajectories of episodic memory decline among older women in the whims-echo cohort

BACKGROUND: Episodic memory decline varies by age and underlying neuropathology. Whether ambient air pollution contributes to the heterogeneity of episodic memory decline in older populations remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: We estimated associations between air pollution exposures and episodic memory decline according to pollutant, exposure time window, age, and latent class subgroups defined by episodic memory trajectories. METHODS: Participants were from the Women’s Health Initiative Memory Study–Epidemiology of Cognitive Health Outcomes. Older women (n = 2,056; 74–92 years of age) completed annual (2008–2018) episodic memory assessments using the telephone-based California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). We estimated 3-y average fine particulate matter [PM with an aerodynamic diameter of ≤2:5 lm (PM2:5)] and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 ) exposures at baseline and 10 y earlier (recent and remote exposures, respectively), using regionalized national universal kriging. Separate latent class mixed models were used to esti-mate associations between interquartile range increases in exposures and CVLT trajectories in women ≤80 and &gt;80 years of age, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Two latent classes were identified for women ≤80 years of age (n = 828), “slow-decliners” {slope = − 0:12=y [95% confidence interval (CI): −0:23, −0:01] and “fast-decliners” [slope = − 1:79=y (95% CI: −2:08, −1:50)]}. In the slow-decliner class, but not the fast-decliner class, PM2:5 exposures were associated with a greater decline in CVLT scores over time, with a stronger association for recent vs. remote exposures [−0:16=y (95% CI: −2:08, −0:03) per 2:88 lg=m3 and −0:11=y (95% CI: −0:22, 0.01) per 3:27 lg=m3, respectively]. Among women ≥80 years of age (n = 1,128), the largest latent class comprised “steady-decliners” [slope = − 1:35=y (95% CI: −1:53, −1:17)], whereas the second class, “cognitively resilient”, had no decline in CVLT on average. PM2:5 was not associated with episodic memory decline in either class. A 6:25-ppb increase in recent NO2 was associated with nonsignificant acceleration of episodic memory decline in the ≤80-y-old fast-decliner class [−0:21=y (95% CI: −0:45, 0.04)], and in the &gt;80-y-old cognitively resilient class [−0:10=y (95% CI: −0:24, 0.03)] and steady-decliner class [−0:11=y (95% CI: −0:27, 0.05)]. Associations with recent NO2 exposure in women &gt;80 years of age were stronger and statistically significant when 267 women with incident probable dementia were excluded [e.g., −0:12=y (95% CI: −0:22, −0:02) for the cognitively resilient class]. In contrast with changes in CVLT over time, there were no associations between exposures and CVLT scores during follow-up in any subgroup. DISCUSSION: In a community-dwelling U.S. population of older women, associations between late-life exposure to ambient air pollution and episodic memory decline varied by age-related cognitive trajectories, exposure time windows, and pollutants