Effects of maternal mental disorders on mother-infant emotional availability in the perinatal period

Background: Maternal depressive symptoms are recognised as a significant risk factor for disturbances to the mother-infant relationship and child developmental outcomes. Less is known about the effects of specific maternal mental disorders, particularly comorbid or severe mental illness, on the mother-infant relationship. Aims: This dissertation aimed to gather new insights regarding mother-infant interaction quality in the context of maternal mental disorders (Study One and Two) and the assessment of mother-infant interaction quality in research (Study Three) and its application to clinical practice (Study Four). Methods: Empirical (Study One and Two), psychometric (Study Three), and translational (Study Four) research methods were used. Study One (N = 115) and Study Two (N = 127) involved a longitudinal pregnancy cohort of mother-infant dyads with repeated measurement of maternal disorders (major depression, generalised anxiety, bipolar disorder), symptoms (depressive, anxiety), and antidepressant use over the perinatal period, and assessment of mother-infant interaction quality at six months postpartum using the Emotional Availability Scales (EAS). Study Three (N =342) involved a higher-order factor analysis of EAS data followed by multigroup measurement invariance testing comparing a depressive disorder group to a comparison group not meeting diagnostic criteria. Lastly, Study Four (N =329) employed a translational approach using an online, cross-sectional survey and distributed globally to explore the parent-infant assessment practices and preferences of perinatal and infant mental health (PIMH) clinicians. Results: Compared to a comparison group, the risk of emotional unavailability was higher among dyads with lifetime major depression and even higher among dyads with a comorbid perinatal generalised anxiety disorder. Compared to no disorder or major depressive disorder, the risk of emotional unavailability was also higher among dyads with bipolar disorders. Psychometric evaluation of the EAS showed comparison group EAS data best fit a unidimensional factor solution and the EAS to be only partially invariant between a depressed and nondepressed group. The translational study indicated a strong endorsement of parent-infant relationship assessments independent of demographic or service characteristics among PIMH clinicians globally. Regardless of service context and framework, most clinicians endorsed a dyadic focus to assessment as their individual preference. Conclusions. Findings extend existing knowledge regarding parent-infant relationship quality in a mental health context, including assessment practices in research and practice settings and the potential effects of a range of maternal mental disorders on mother-infant emotional availability. Specifically, findings may support the identification of at-risk dyads who may require additional supports or specialised psychological interventions to assist them to improve emotional availability. Ongoing empirical, psychometric, and translational research involving mental health samples are needed to facilitate agreement among researchers and clinicians on optimal measures of parent-infant interaction quality

EPITHELIAL TO MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION AS A PREDICTOR OF RESPONSE TO POLO-LIKE KINASE 1 INHIBITION-INDUCED APOPTOSIS IN NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CARCINOMA

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Outcomes are poor for patients with recurrent, advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), involved in the regulation of mitotic processes and the response to DNA damage, is overexpressed in NSCLC. Inhibiting PLK1 may be an effective treatment for NSCLC patients as it is involved in the mechanisms of resistance to several chemotherapy drugs. PLK1 inhibition or knock-down has various effects in cancer cells, including mitotic arrest, apoptosis, and senescence. Predictive biomarkers have not been identified to select those patients who are likely to respond to PLK1 inhibitors although a small subset of NSCLC patients respond well to single agent therapy. Our lab found that mesenchymal NSCLC cell lines were more sensitive to PLK1 inhibitors than the epithelial cell lines in vitro. The induction of an epithelial phenotype using miR-200 expression increased resistance to PLK1 inhibition, whereas the induction of a mesenchymal phenotype using ZEB1 expression or TGF-β increased PLK1 inhibition–induced apoptosis. To elucidate the mechanisms of resistance to PLK1 inhibition, our lab compared gene and protein expression in sensitive and resistant NSCLC cell lines and we identified β-Catenin, SMAD4 and PDK1 to be differentially regulated between epithelial and mesenchymal NSCLC cell lines after PLK1 inhibition. We tested the role of β-Catenin, SMAD4 and PDK1 in PLK1 inhibition induced apoptosis in NSCLC. Here, we demonstrate that mesenchymal NSCLC tumors are more sensitive to PLK1 inhibition compared to epithelial NSCLC in vivo in patient derived-xenograft (PDX) models as well as orthotopic mouse models in which the EMT properties are manipulable by modulating the miR200/ZEB1 axis. To facilitate analysis of these in vivo studies, we developed a novel semi-automated method of metastatic lung tumor burden calculation from computed tomography images by the calculation of the mass of the thoracic cavity. This method takes into account the aggregate tumor metastases in the thoracic cavity which significantly accounts for tumor burden in lung adenocarcinoma and provides details about the dynamic processes that occur in vivo over time

Dynamic ant colony optimization for globally optimizing consumer preferences

Consumer preference for any product or product feature can be expressed in the form of a utility function. Many such utility functions form a part of a preference map, where each of these are expressed in terms of the attributes defining the product or the product feature. In order to optimize the design, it is required to optimize the overall utility function obtained by a mathematical combination of individual utility functions defined in the preference map. The objective of this research is to devise and implement an algorithm to optimize all the individual utility functions comprised in a preference map for a product or product feature. Executed together, this will optimize the overall utility function, U(x). So, an algorithm is needed to compute the optimal values for each attribute forming the individual utility functions by efficiently and thoroughly testing the entire allowed range of values in the function domain, i.e. the global optimum. The challenges faced in this include the presence of a complex space created by interactions between the various attributes in the preference map. This makes it prohibitive to solve using traditional algorithms. Thus, software agents aid in the computation as two or more software agents can collaborate on the task of optimization, enabling every single software agent to cater to a single attribute. Thus, any number of software agents can be employed to run synchronously so that all the concerned attributes can be efficiently optimized --Abstract, page iii

Asian American Political Participation: An Analysis of the Influences On Immigrant Political Efficacy In the United States

Honors (Bachelor's)Political ScienceUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112144/1/pavitras.pd

Love v. Virginia: The Constitutionality of the Marshall/Newman Amendment

My comment explores the constitutionality of a recent amendment in Virginia, the Marshall/Newman Amendment, which bans gay marriage and civil unions between unmarried people, and precludes Virginia from recognizing such arrangements formed in other states. The analysis is particularly timely, because even though the Democrats have regained a majority in Congress, and a traditionally Republican Virginian constituency just elected a Democratic senator, a majority of Virginians adopted this Amendment, indicating conservative values still reign. The comment argues that the Amendment is demonstrably inconsistent with the mandates of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Federal Constitution. The first provision seeks to ban same-sex marriage, restricting individuals’ right to marry and violating the Due Process Clause. The second provision attacks all nontraditional unions, contravening the Due Process Clause as well as Equal Protection under the 14th Amendment

Towards Healthier Choices: An Investigation into Sugar Label Design

A pandemic of obesity and diabetes is intensifying in every country, posing a serious challenge to public health and consumer well-being. In order to generate benefits and cost-savings in healthcare, sugar labeling policies are sometimes used in an attempt to nudge consumers towards healthier food choices. Consequently, this research examines how sugar label design would be best implemented for curbing unhealthy choices, by investigating the effect of label designs used for displaying the sugar limit information which underpins consumer responses.  Four major attributes of the sugar label are examined; these are symbols, symbol colors, text colors and layout. The investigation utilizes a mixed logit model on Thai conjoint choice data.  The results show that a “teaspoon” symbol, symbols in “red” color, text in “black” color, and layouts with the “text on the left and the symbol on the right” generate the most favorable consumer responses to the sugar intake information provided on labels. This suggests an optimal sugar label design for Thai consumers. The paper provides insights into consumer label preference which could be used to promote healthier consumption in Thailand

The Time of Television: Broadcasting, Daily Life, and the New Indian Middle Class

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138335/1/cccr12164.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138335/2/cccr12164_am.pd

Sexual Selection and Sex Ratios in Anolis Lizards

Biased sex ratios, or unequal numbers of males and females in a population, can alter the intensity of sexual selection by enhancing competition for mates, and thus may affect the evolution of reproductive strategies. Studies of sex ratio variation across a clade provide an opportunity to examine the morphological or behavioral consequences of different levels of sexual selection. We examined sex ratio variation, using phylogenetic comparative methods, across a diverse clade of terrestrial vertebrates, the Anolis lizards. Across a sample of 14 species in 21 localities, we found remarkable bidirectional variation in sex ratios across the Anolis clade: males are more common in some populations and females in others. However, we find no evidence that sex ratio bias is associated with sexual size dimorphism, a proxy for sexual selection. Nor do we find an association of sex ratio bias with ecological niches (i.e. ecomorphs), which vary in sexual selection pressures and mating systems. The observed inter-specific variation in sex ratio suggests that a balance of different, possibly opposing, factors, including sex-specific dispersal and mortality rates, may play a role in determining population sex ratio

Arkapushpa Taila - Pharmaceutical review w.s.r. to Artavakshaya

Women undergo rhythmic and periodic changes in the body that reflect and maintain fertility. These changes are externally visible as menstrual cycle. Menstruation is affected by a multitude of factors. There are issues related to menstruation that affect other systems and vice versa. It could also lead to sub fertility and infertility. Artavakshaya is one among those, where the menstruation is affected. Even though it is not mentioned separately as a disease but it appears as a symptom in many of the gynaecological disorders like oligomenorrhea / hypomenorrhea. In Ayurveda we have plenty of Dravyas and Yogas which help to treat the same. Even though we have plenty of options there are many formulations which are not yet explored, Arka (Calotropis procera) is one among them. We get reference of Arkapushpa Taila from Bharata Bhaishajya Ratnakara for Rudhirasrava. This basic concept is taken and an effort is made to understand the utility of this Taila in Artavakshaya. Even though the drug Arka is widely available, the unavailability of Arkapushpa Taila in the market made to prepare the Arkapushpa Taila and see the efficacy, difficulty and clinical utility of it