The Relationships Between Personality, Perceived Social Support, and Structure of Friend Groups

Friendship formation has been studied by many psychologists, focusing predominately on connectedness within the friendship and less focused on variation of characteristics within the group that influence group dynamic (Laakasu et. al., 2016). Personality traits are a large contributing factor when determining relationship satisfaction, specifically Neuroticism and Extraversion. Having high Neuroticism has shown to be a consistent predictor of low relationship quality (Finn, Mite, & Neyer, 2013). On the contrary, Extraversion’s positive affect (i.e. characterized as being cheerful, energetic, and social) is associated with better relationship outcomes (Lyubomirsky, King, & Deiner, 2005). Undergraduate students (N = 50) completed a survey containing a personality assessment, perceived social support questionnaire, friendship structure questionnaire, and demographics on Qualtrics. We anticipate participants who score higher on neuroticism will report less perceived social support and feeling less at the center of the friend group. Participants who score higher on extraversion will perceive social support positively and will report feeling at the center of the friend group. Assessing the perceived social support and structure of a friend group from an individual allows us to better understand that individual’s associated personality traits

Towards typologies of virtual maltreatment: Sport, digital cultures and dark leisure.

A changing technological context, specifically that of the growth of social media, is transforming aspects of leisure behaviour, especially in terms of negative interactions between followers of sport and athletes. There is a growing body of research into the maltreatment of adult athletes, exploring issues such as abusive acts or behaviours against the individual, including acts of physical and/or psychological violence to the person. Existing research however, focuses upon face-to-face behaviours, and to date the nature of abuse in online spaces has been overlooked. It is becoming ever more apparent that virtual environments create optimal climates for abuse to occur due to the ability for individuals to communicate in an instantaneous, uncontrolled and often anonymous manner in virtual worlds. Using a netnographic approach, an analysis of a popular social media platform (Twitter) was conducted to examine the types of abuse present in online environments. This paper presents a conceptual typology, identifying four broad types of abuse in this setting; physical, sexual, emotional and discriminatory; examples of each form are presented. Findings highlight how online environments can pose a significant risk to individual emotional and psychological safety

Family Matters: Immigrant Women’s Activism in Ontario and British Columbia, 1960s -1980s

This article uses oral history interviews to explore the ways in which different attitudes towards family and motherhood could create major tensions between mainstream feminists and immigrant women’s activists in Ontario and British Columbia between the 1960s and the 1980s.  Immigrant women’s belief in the value of the family did not prevent immigrant women from going out to work to help support their families or accessing daycare and women’s shelters, hard fought benefits of the women’s movement.  However, these women demanded access to job training, English language classes, childcare, and women’s shelters on their own terms, in ways that minimized the racism they faced, respected religious and cultural values, and respected the fact that the heterosexual family remained an important resource for the majority of immigrant women.  Immigrant women activists were less likely to accept a purely gender-based analysis than mainstream feminists. They often sought to work with men in their own communities, even in dealing with violence against women. And issues of violence and of reproductive rights often could not be understood only within the boundaries of Canada. For immigrant women violence against women was often analyzed in relation to political violence in their homelands, while demands for fully realized reproductive rights drew on experiences of coercion both in Canada and transnationally.Cet article s’appuie sur des entrevues d’histoire orale pour explorer les façons dont différentes attitudes à l’égard de la famille et de la maternité pouvaient créer des tensions considérables entre les féministes traditionnelles et les femmes immigrantes activistes en Ontario et en Colombie-Britannique entre les années 1960 et 1980. L’attachement des femmes immigrantes aux valeurs familiales ne les a pas empêchées d’aller travailler pour aider à nourrir leur famille et de se prévaloir des garderies et des refuges pour femmes battues, avantages gagnés de haute lutte par le mouvement féministe. Toutefois, ces femmes ont exigé d’avoir accès à la formation professionnelle, aux cours d’anglais, aux garderies et aux refuges pour femmes battues à leur façon, de manière à minimiser le racisme qu’elles rencontraient, à honorer leurs valeurs religieuses et culturelles et à respecter le fait que la famille hétérosexuelle restait une ressource importante pour la majorité des immigrantes. Les immigrantes militantes étaient moins susceptibles d’accepter une analyse purement sexospécifique que les féministes traditionnelles. Elles cherchaient souvent à travailler avec les hommes dans leur propre communauté, même dans le domaine de la violence contre les femmes. Et les questions de violence et de droits génésiques ne peuvent souvent pas être comprises uniquement à l’intérieur des frontières du Canada. Pour les femmes immigrantes, la violence à l’égard des femmes était souvent analysée en liaison avec la violence politique dans leur pays d’origine, tandis que leurs exigences en faveur de la pleine réalisation de leurs droits génésiques s’appuyaient sur des expériences de coercition tant au Canada que dans d’autres pays

Patterns of Exposure to Cumulative Risk Through Age 2 and Associations with Problem Behaviors at Age 4.5: Evidence from Growing Up in New Zealand.

Exposure to cumulative risk (CR) has important implications for child development, yet little is known about how frequency, persistence, and timing of CR exposure during early childhood predict behavioral problems already before school start. We examine prospective longitudinal associations between patterns of CR exposure from third trimester through 2 years and subsequent behavior problems at 4.5 years. In 6156 diverse children in the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study, the presence of 12 risk factors, spanning maternal health, social status, and home and neighborhood environment, defined CR and were assessed at last trimester and 9 months and 2 years of age. At child age 4.5 years, mothers completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, where a score ≥ 16 indicated an abnormal level of problem behaviors (ALPB). Children exposed to a CR ≥ 1 at least once in early development, compared to those with consistent CR = 0, showed a significantly higher likelihood of ALPB at 4.5 years. Consistent high exposure to CR ≥ 4 across all three assessments had the highest prevalence (44%) of ALPB at age 4.5. Children with high CR exposure on two of three, compared to on all three, time points in early development did not evidence a significantly reduced prevalence (32%-41%) of ALPB. The common co-occurrence of risk factors and their significant developmental impact when accumulated early in life underscore the need for systematic multisector intervention and policy implementation during pregnancy and shortly after birth to improve outcomes for vulnerable children

Multicentre randomised controlled trial: protocol for Plasma-Lyte Usage and Assessment of Kidney Transplant Outcomes in Children (PLUTO)

INTRODUCTION: Acute electrolyte and acid-base imbalance is experienced by many children following kidney transplantation. When severe, this can lead to complications including seizures, cerebral oedema and death. Relatively large volumes of intravenous fluid are administered to children perioperatively in order to establish perfusion to the donor kidney, the majority of which are from living and deceased adult donors. Hypotonic intravenous fluid is commonly used in the post-transplant period due to clinicians' concerns about the sodium, chloride and potassium content of isotonic alternatives when administered in large volumes.Plasma-Lyte 148 is an isotonic, balanced intravenous fluid that contains sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium with concentrations equivalent to those of plasma. There is a physiological basis to expect that Plasma-Lyte 148 will reduce the incidence of clinically significant electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities in children following kidney transplantation compared with current practice.The aim of the Plasma-Lyte Usage and Assessment of Kidney Transplant Outcomes in Children (PLUTO) trial was to determine whether the incidence of clinically significantly abnormal plasma electrolyte levels in paediatric kidney transplant recipients will be different with the use of Plasma-Lyte 148 compared with intravenous fluid currently administered. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: PLUTO is a pragmatic, open-label, randomised controlled trial comparing Plasma-Lyte 148 to current care in paediatric kidney transplant recipients, conducted in nine UK paediatric kidney transplant centres.A total of 144 children receiving kidney transplants will be randomised to receive either Plasma-Lyte 148 (the intervention) intraoperatively and postoperatively, or current fluid. Apart from intravenous fluid composition, all participants will receive standard clinical transplant care.The primary outcome measure is acute hyponatraemia in the first 72 hours post-transplant, defined as laboratory plasma sodium concentration of <135 mmol/L. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of acute hyponatraemia, other electrolyte and acid-base imbalances and transplant kidney function.The primary outcome will be analysed using a logistic regression model adjusting for donor type (living vs deceased donor), patient weight (<20 kg vs ≥20 kg pretransplant) and transplant centre as a random effect. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial received Health Research Authority approval on 20 January 2020. Findings will be presented to academic groups via national and international conferences and peer-reviewed journals. The patient and public involvement group will play an important part in disseminating the study findings to the public domain

Dynamic CpG methylation delineates subregions within super-enhancers selectively decommissioned at the exit from naive pluripotency.

Clusters of enhancers, referred as to super-enhancers (SEs), control the expression of cell identity genes. The organisation of these clusters, and how they are remodelled upon developmental transitions remain poorly understood. Here, we report the existence of two types of enhancer units within SEs typified by distinctive CpG methylation dynamics in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We find that these units are either prone for decommissioning or remain constitutively active in epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs), as further established in the peri-implantation epiblast in vivo. Mechanistically, we show a pivotal role for ESRRB in regulating the activity of ESC-specific enhancer units and propose that the developmentally regulated silencing of ESRRB triggers the selective inactivation of these units within SEs. Our study provides insights into the molecular events that follow the loss of ESRRB binding, and offers a mechanism by which the naive pluripotency transcriptional programme can be partially reset upon embryo implantation

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of serum neuronal cell surface antibodies in first-episode psychosis: a case-control study

$\textbf{Background}$ Psychosis is a common presenting feature in antibody-mediated encephalitis, for which prompt recognition and treatment usually leads to remission. We aimed to investigate whether people with circumscribed schizophrenia-like illnesses have such antibodies—especially antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)—more commonly than do healthy controls. $\textbf{Methods}$ We recruited patients aged 14–35 years presenting to any of 35 mental health services sites across England with first-episode psychosis, less than 6 weeks of treatment with antipsychotic medication, and a score of 4 or more on at least one selected Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) item. Patients and controls provided venous blood samples. We completed standardised symptom rating scales (PANSS, ACE-III, GAF) at baseline, and tested serum samples for antibodies against NMDAR, LGI1, CASPR2, the GABAA receptor, and the AMPA receptor using live cell-based assays. Treating clinicians assessed outcomes of ICD diagnosis and functioning (GAF) at 6 months. We included healthy controls from the general population, recruited as part of another study in Cambridge, UK. $\textbf{Findings}$ Between Feb 1, 2013, and Aug 31, 2014, we enrolled 228 patients with first-episode psychosis and 105 healthy controls. 20 (9%) of 228 patients had serum antibodies against one or more of the neuronal cell surface antibodies compared with four (4%) of 105 controls (unadjusted odds ratio 2·4, 95% CI 0·8–7·3). These associations remained non-significant when adjusted for current cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use. Seven (3%) patients had NMDAR antibodies compared with no controls (p=0·0204). The other antibodies did not differ between groups. Antibody-positive patients had lower PANSS positive, PANSS total, and catatonia scores than did antibody-negative patients. Patients had comparable scores on other PANSS items, ACE-III, and GAF at baseline, with no difference in outcomes at 6 months. $\textbf{Interpretation}$ Some patients with first-episode psychosis had antibodies against NMDAR that might be relevant to their illness, but did not differ from patients without NMDAR antibodies in clinical characteristics. Our study suggests that the only way to detect patients with these potentially pathogenic antibodies is to screen all patients with first-episode psychosis at first presentation.Medical Research Counci

Estimating the long-term effects of mass screening for latent and active tuberculosis in the Marshall Islands

BACKGROUND: Ambitious population-based screening programmes for latent and active tuberculosis (TB) were implemented in the Republic of the Marshall Islands in 2017 and 2018. METHODS: We used a transmission dynamic model of TB informed by local data to capture the Marshall Islands epidemic's historical dynamics. We then used the model to project the future epidemic trajectory following the active screening interventions, as well as considering a counterfactual scenario with no intervention. We also simulated future scenarios including periodic interventions similar to those previously implemented, to assess their ability to reach the End TB Strategy targets and TB pre-elimination in the Marshall Islands. RESULTS: The screening activities conducted in 2017 and 2018 were estimated to have reduced TB incidence and mortality by around one-third in 2020, and are predicted to achieve the End TB Strategy milestone of 50% incidence reduction by 2025 compared with 2015. Screening interventions had a considerably greater impact when latent TB screening and treatment were included, compared with active case finding alone. Such combined programmes implemented at the national level could achieve TB pre-elimination around 2040 if repeated every 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Our model suggests that it would be possible to achieve TB pre-elimination by 2040 in the Marshall Islands through frequent repetition of the same interventions as those already implemented in the country. It also highlights the importance of including latent infection testing in active screening activities

Contralateral Hemispheric Cerebral Blood Flow Measured With Arterial Spin Labeling Can Predict Outcome in Acute Stroke.

Background and Purpose- Imaging is frequently used to select acute stroke patients for intra-arterial therapy. Quantitative cerebral blood flow can be measured noninvasively with arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging. Cerebral blood flow levels in the contralateral (unaffected) hemisphere may affect capacity for collateral flow and patient outcome. The goal of this study was to determine whether higher contralateral cerebral blood flow (cCBF) in acute stroke identifies patients with better 90-day functional outcome. Methods- Patients were part of the prospective, multicenter iCAS study (Imaging Collaterals in Acute Stroke) between 2013 and 2017. Consecutive patients were enrolled after being diagnosed with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke. Inclusion criteria were ischemic anterior circulation stroke, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score ≥1, prestroke modified Rankin Scale score ≤2, onset-to-imaging time &lt;24 hours, with imaging including diffusion-weighted imaging and arterial spin labeling. Patients were dichotomized into high and low cCBF groups based on median cCBF. Outcomes were assessed by day-1 and day-5 National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale; and day-30 and day-90 modified Rankin Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test whether cCBF predicted good neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2) at 90 days. Results- Seventy-seven patients (41 women) met the inclusion criteria with median (interquartile range) age of 66 (55-76) yrs, onset-to-imaging time of 4.8 (3.6-7.7) hours, and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 13 (9-20). Median cCBF was 38.9 (31.2-44.5) mL per 100 g/min. Higher cCBF predicted good outcome at day 90 (odds ratio, 4.6 [95% CI, 1.4-14.7]; P=0.01), after controlling for baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, diffusion-weighted imaging lesion volume, and intra-arterial therapy. Conclusions- Higher quantitative cCBF at baseline is a significant predictor of good neurological outcome at day 90. cCBF levels may inform decisions regarding stroke triage, treatment of acute stroke, and general outcome prognosis. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02225730

Using 16s rRNA sequencing to characterize the microbiome of tropical cutaneous ulcer disease: insights into the microbial landscape and implications for diagnosis and treatment.

Cutaneous ulcers are common in yaws-endemic areas. Although often attributed to 'Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue' and Haemophilus ducreyi, quantitative PCR has highlighted a significant proportion of these ulcers are negative for both pathogens and are considered idiopathic. This is a retrospective analysis utilising existing 16S rRNA sequencing data from two independent yaws studies that took place in Ghana and the Solomon Islands. We characterized bacterial diversity in 38 samples to identify potential causative agents for idiopathic cutaneous ulcers. We identified a diverse bacterial profile, including Arcanobacterium haemolyticum, Campylobacter concisus, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus pyogenes, consistent with findings from previous cutaneous ulcer microbiome studies. No single bacterial species was universally present across all samples. The most prevalent bacterium, Campylobacter ureolyticus, appeared in 42% of samples, suggesting a multifactorial aetiology for cutaneous ulcers in yaws-endemic areas. This study emphasizes the need for a nuanced understanding of potential causative agents. The findings prompt further exploration into the intricate microbial interactions contributing to idiopathic yaw-like ulcers, guiding future research toward comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies