Mindfulness meditation and improvement in depressive symptoms among Spanish- and English speaking adults: A randomized, controlled, comparative efficacy trial.

ObjectiveLatino immigrants experience acculturative stress and increased depression risk. Mindfulness meditation improves depressive symptoms, yet the vast majority of research has focused on English speaking populations.MethodsIn this randomized clinical trial with 2 parallel treatment groups, adults with moderate levels of perceived stress (n = 76) were recruited from the Los Angeles community from October 2015 to March 2016, stratified into Spanish- (n = 36) and English speaking (n = 40) language groups, and randomized for 6 weeks of treatment with standardized mindful awareness practices (MAPs) or health education (HE). Main outcome measure was depressive symptoms, measured by the Beck Depression Inventory.ResultsUsing an intent-to-treat analysis, the primary outcome, depressive symptoms as indexed by the Beck Depression Inventory, showed greater improvement in MAPs vs. HE, with a between-group post-intervention mean difference of -2.2 (95% CI -4.4 - -0.07) and effect size of 0.28; similar effect sizes were found in the the Spanish- (0.29) and English speaking (0.30) groups. MAPs showed significant improvement relative to HE on secondary outcome of mindfulness with between group difference of 10.7 (95% CI4.5-16.9), but not perceived stress.ConclusionThe comparable efficacy of Spanish and English formats of mindfulness meditation in improving depressive symptoms suggests that this community based intervention may mitigate depression risk in Latino adults who are experiencing social adversity.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03545074

Photodisruption in Ocular Tissue Near and at the Boundary Between the Anterior Chamber and Crystalline Lens

Lasers have been involved in Ophthalmology in the treatment of myopia and hyperopia for several years. Laser systems have transformed patients‟ quality of life, freeing them from the need for glasses, as in the case of LASIK. Ultrafast lasers have played an important role in surgery of the eye. In LASIK, they are used to cut the flap that is lifted to expose the stroma for UV Excimer laser treatment of this region. They are now being used for surgery deeper into the eye,for instance, treating the lens as part of treatments for cataract surgery. The use of ultrafast lasers in cataract surgery and how they can be applied to achieve better surgical outcomes is the focus of this work. It reports on an investigation of laser interaction at and near the anterior of the lens, in particular the boundary between the fibrous mass, capsule, and anterior chamber of the eye. The study reviews the biomechanics of the eye, develops an interaction model with lens tissue, and reports for the first time clinically studies using ex vivo testing of porcine eyes. The components of the treatment laser system are described along with the requirements. Results of the experiments are outlined and discussed, followed by a summary and conclusions including discussion of areas for further research

Biological And Historical Factors Influencing Genetic Diversity In The Scutellaria Angustifolia Complex (Labiatae)

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137531/1/evo04279.pd

Solanum phylogeny inferred from chloroplast DNA sequence data

Journal ArticleA data set derived from gene sequences of ndhF is used to deduce phylogenetic relationships among the subgenera of Solanum, among related genera of the tribe Solaneae, and within selected Solanum clades. Complete ndhF sequences were obtained for 12 species o f Solanum, representing five of the seven subgenera. ndhF sequences also were obtained from species of Capsicum, Cyphomandra, Datura, jaltomata, Lycopersicon, Nicotiana, and Physalis. Results of a parsimony analysis of these data indicate that the Solanum species form a monophyletic clade with Capsicum rather weakly supported as the sister group

Phylogenetic relationships in Solanum (Solanaceae) based on ndhF sequences

Journal ArticleA phylogenetic analysis was conducted using sequence data from the chloroplast gene ndhF. Sequences were obtained from 25 species of Solanaceae, including 18 species of Solanum representing five of the seven conventionally recognized subgenera

Isozyme Number In Subtribe Oncidiinae (Orchidaceae): An Evaluation Of Polyploidy

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141405/1/ajb208815.pd

Phylogeny and provisional classification of the Solanaceae based on chloroplast DNA

Journal ArticleA phylogenetic analysis of the Solanaceae based on chloroplast DNA variation is presented. Restriction site maps were determined for 79 species (52 genera) for 11 restriction enzymes

Molecular phylogeny of the Solanaceae

Journal ArticleA phylogeny of Solanaceae is presented based on the chloroplast DNA regions ndhF and trnLF. With 89 genera and 190 species included, this represents a nearly comprehensive genus-level sampling and provides a framework phylogeny for the entire family that helps integrate many previously-published phylogenetic studies within Solanaceae. The four genera comprising the family Goetzeaceae and the monotypic families Duckeodendraceae, Nolanaceae, and Sclerophylaceae, often recognized in traditional classifications, are shown to be included in Solanaceae

Phylogenetic position of monotypic genus Verbenoxylum (Verbenaceae) and new combination under Recordia

In spite of the recent studies on the phylogeny of Verbenaceae, the position of the monotypic Verbenoxylum, endemic to the Atlantic rainforest in southeastern Brazil, remains unsolved. Molecular data were here analyzed to infer the phylogenetic placement of this genus; furthermore morphological data was studied in order to examine traits that support relationships among taxa. Sequences of the plastid regions of ndhF gene and trnL—trnF intergenic spacer were analyzed to conduct phylogenetic studies with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Morphological traits that had been traditionally used to distinguish tribes within Verbenaceae, as well as those employed to characterize Verbenoxylum, were examined. Verbenoxylum is nested within the tribe Duranteae, sister to Recordia, a monotypic genus endemic to Bolivia, a placement never reported before. The morphological traits analyzed prove not to be useful to distinguish tribes but are important at lower taxonomic levels. Based on the sister relationship and morphological similarities between the genera Verbenoxylum and Recordia, we propose the inclusion of Verbenoxylum reitzii into Recordia, forming the new combination Recordia reitzii.Fil: Thode, Veronica. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: O'leary, Nataly Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Olmstead, Richard. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Freitas, Loreta. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi