Measuring Five Dimensions of Religiosity Across Adolescence

This paper theorizes and tests a latent variable model of adolescent religiosity in which five dimensions of religiosity are interrelated: religious beliefs, religious exclusivity, external religiosity, private practice, and religious salience. Research often theorizes overlapping and independent influences of single items or dimensions of religiosity on outcomes such as adolescent sexual behavior, but rarely operationalizes the dimensions in a measurement model accounting for their associations with each other and across time. We use longitudinal structural equation modeling (SEM) with latent variables to analyze data from two waves of the National Study of Youth and Religion. We test our hypothesized measurement model as compared to four alternate measurement models and find that our proposed model maintains superior fit. We then discuss the associations between the five dimensions of religiosity we measure and how these change over time. Our findings suggest how future research might better operationalize multiple dimensions of religiosity in studies of the influence of religion in adolescence

Self-Compassion, emotion regulation and stress among australian psychologists: Testing an emotion regulation model of self-compassion using structural equation modeling

Psychologists tend to report high levels of occupational stress, with serious implications for themselves, their clients, and the discipline as a whole. Recent research suggests that selfcompassion is a promising construct for psychologists in terms of its ability to promote psychological wellbeing and resilience to stress; however, the potential benefits of self-compassion are yet to be thoroughly explored amongst this occupational group. Additionally, while a growing body of research supports self-compassion as a key predictor of psychopathology, understanding of the processes by which self-compassion exerts effects on mental health outcomes is limited. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test an emotion regulation model of self-compassion and stress among psychologists, including postgraduate trainees undertaking clinical work (n = 198). Self-compassion significantly negatively predicted emotion regulation difficulties and stress symptoms. Support was also found for our preliminary explanatory model of self-compassion, which demonstrates the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in the self-compassion-stress relationship. The final self-compassion model accounted for 26.2% of variance in stress symptoms. Implications of the findings and limitations of the study are discussed

Landsat 9 TIRS-2 Architecture and Design

TIRS-2 will fly on the LandSat 9. Like TIRS on Landsat 8, TIRS-2 will produce radiometrically calibrated, geo-located thermal image data. USGS is responsible for operational code. TIRS-2 image data will have the same performance characteristics as that of TIRS on Landsat 8 except better in some cases

Plasma Neurofilament Light for Prediction of Disease Progression in Familial Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) identifies asymptomatic carriers of familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)-causing mutations at risk of disease progression. Methods: Baseline plasma NfL concentrations were measured with single-molecule array in original (n = 277) and validation (n = 297) cohorts. C9orf72, GRN, and MAPT mutation carriers and noncarriers from the same families were classified by disease severity (asymptomatic, prodromal, and full phenotype) using the CDR Dementia Staging Instrument plus behavior and language domains from the National Alzheimer's Disease Coordinating Center FTLD module (CDR+NACC-FTLD). Linear mixed-effect models related NfL to clinical variables. Results: In both cohorts, baseline NfL was higher in asymptomatic mutation carriers who showed phenoconversion or disease progression compared to nonprogressors (original: 11.4 ± 7 pg/mL vs 6.7 ± 5 pg/mL, p = 0.002; validation: 14.1 ± 12 pg/mL vs 8.7 ± 6 pg/mL, p = 0.035). Plasma NfL discriminated symptomatic from asymptomatic mutation carriers or those with prodromal disease (original cutoff: 13.6 pg/mL, 87.5% sensitivity, 82.7% specificity; validation cutoff: 19.8 pg/mL, 87.4% sensitivity, 84.3% specificity). Higher baseline NfL correlated with worse longitudinal CDR+NACC-FTLD sum of boxes scores, neuropsychological function, and atrophy, regardless of genotype or disease severity, including asymptomatic mutation carriers. Conclusions: Plasma NfL identifies asymptomatic carriers of FTLD-causing mutations at short-term risk of disease progression and is a potential tool to select participants for prevention clinical trials. Trial registration information: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02372773 and NCT02365922. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that in carriers of FTLD-causing mutations, elevation of plasma NfL predicts short-term risk of clinical progression

The authors reply: Safety and feasibility of platelet rich fibrin matrix injections for treatment of common urologic conditions

Purpose: Autologous platelet rich plasma (PRP) is used increasingly in a variety of settings. PRP injections have been used for decades to improve angiogenesis and wound healing. They have also been offered commercially in urology with little to no data on safety or efficacy. PRP could theoretically improve multiple urologic conditions, such as erectile dysfunction (ED), Peyronie's disease (PD), and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A concern with PRP, however, is early washout, a situation potentially avoided by conversion to platelet rich fibrin matrix (PRFM). Before clinical trials can be performed, safety analysis is desirable. We reviewed an initial series of patients receiving PRFM for urologic pathology to assess safety and feasibility. Materials and Methods: Data were reviewed for patients treated with PRFM at our center from November 2012 to July 2017. Patients were observed immediately post-injection and at follow-up for complications and tolerability. Where applicable, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores were reviewed before and after injections for ED and/or PD. Pad use data was collected pre/post injection for SUI. Results: Seventeen patients were identified, with a mean receipt of 2.1 injections per patient. Post-procedural minor adverse events were seen in 3 men, consisting of mild pain at injection site and mild penile bruising. No patients experienced complications at follow-up. No decline was observed in men completing pre/post IIEF-5 evaluations. Conclusions: PRFM appears to be a safe and feasible treatment modality in patients with urologic disease. Further placebo-controlled trials are warranted

Infection following penile prosthesis placement at an academic training center remains low despite involvement of surgeons-in-training

Purpose: Primary care providers harbor misconceptions regarding penile prosthetic surgery, largely overestimating the rate of infection. Rates of infection following surgery for primary placement and revision are estimated as 1% to 3% and 10% to 18%, respectively. Our objective was to determine the contemporary incidence of infection following inflatable penile prostheses surgery at an academic training center where surgeons-in-training are routinely involved. Materials and Methods: Review of a prospectively collected single-surgeon database was performed. All cases of inflatable penile prostheses placement from January 2011 through June 2017 were reviewed. Information regarding training level of assistant surgeon(s) was collected, and follow-up data was compiled regarding postoperative infections and need for revision surgery. Results: Three hundred nine cases meeting inclusion criteria were identified. Mean patient age was 64.2 years, and mean follow-up was 28.7 months. Distribution involved 257 (83.2%) for primary placement, 45 (14.6%) for removal/replacement, and 7 (2.3%) in setting of prior device removal. Diabetes was noted in 31.1% of men. Surgeon-in-training involvement was noted in 100% of cases. Infection was confirmed in a patient who had skin breakdown over an area of corporal reconstruction with polytetrafluoroethylene. The overall postoperative infection rate was 0.3%. Conclusions: In this series from an academic training center, infection following penile prosthetic surgery is low, similar to other centers of excellence, even with 100% involvement of surgeons-in-training. This data should be used to better inform primary care providers and members of the general public potentially interested in restoration of sexual function

An evaluation of the Manufacturer And User Facility Device Experience database that inspired the United States Food and Drug Administration's Reclassification of transvaginal mesh

Purpose: To assess the utility of the Manufacturer And User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database in objectively capturing adverse events for transvaginal mesh in the United States. Materials and Methods: We reviewed 1,103 individual medical device reports submitted to the MAUDE database that inspired the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration's 2008 Public Health Notification. Entries were compiled into a categorical database that reported manufacturer, brand, reporter type, report source, and type of adverse event. Results: There were numerous examples of missing, duplicated, and non-standardized entries. Analysis revealed 64 reports with duplicated information, and six reports representing multiple patients. Forty-seven percent of medical device reports did not identify a reporter source. At least 28% of reported devices are no longer on the US market. There was wide variability in the quality and completeness of submitted reports and true adverse event rates could not be accurately calculated because the number of total cases was unknown. Conclusions: The MAUDE database was limited in its ability to collect, quantify, and standardize real-life adverse events related to transvaginal mesh. While it functions to collect information related to isolated adverse events, systematic limitations of the MAUDE database, that no doubt extend to other medical devices, necessitate the development of new reporting systems. Alternatives are under development, which may allow regulators to more accurately scrutinize the safety profiles of specific medical devices

Optimal emergency personnel allocation after a natural disaster

Little work has been devoted to the links between natural disasters, subsequent Emergency Medical Services (EMS) network utilization, triage, and public awareness. The aim of this study was to investigate the types and distribution of emergency calls recorded after each South Florida hurricane during the 2005 season, identifying target areas for public health education, and emergency personnel use and training. Retrospective database review. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) emergency dispatch headquarters. All persons making 911 phone calls to the MDFR emergency dispatch headquarters in the 3 days before and after category 3 or higher hurricanes during 2005. None. There were 192,363 emergencies reported in 2005. The mean number of 911 emergencies reported per day for the 3 days before and after Katrina was 503 +/- 26 and 819 +/- 105, respectively (p = 0.007). The mean number for Wilma was 533 +/- 42 before and 800 +/- 63 after (p = 0.004). However, Rita had no impact on the number of 911 emergencies reported. Katrina resulted in a statistically significant increase in 911 calls for breathing (p = 0.03), convulsions and seizures (p = 0.02), and hazardous situations (p = 0.04). Rita led to an increase in convulsions and seizures (p = 0.03). Lastly, Wilma caused a rise in breathing emergencies (p = 0.02) and hazardous situations (p = 0.02). This study suggests that 911 calls regarding respiratory complaints, convulsions, seizures, and hazardous situations can be expected to significantly increase after a hurricane. Educational initiatives, EMS resource allocation, and modified triage systems designed to target these areas may limit EMS system-wide strain and improve health outcomes following natural disasters