Variability in perceived social competence as a predictor of emotional reactivity in early adolescence

The present research examines the long-hypothesized association between variability of self-esteem and emotional reactivity within the context of peer interactions. Self-esteem variability is defined as short-term fluctuations in self-esteem and operationalized as the standard deviation of multiple assessments. Emotional reactivity is defined as the association between the perception of an event and the emotional response to it. 102 male adolescents (ages 13 to 15) participated in the research. Multiple data on self-perceived social competence were collected using Time Sampling. These repeated data were averaged into a measure of level of perceived social competence and the standard deviation used as a measure of variability of perceived social competence. Using the Experience Sampling Method, repeated data were collected in situ on the perceptions of the quality of participants' peer interactions (1144 distinct peer events) and on the emotional reactions following them as measured by scales of sadness, anxiety, anger and positive affect. Individual difference data (e.g., popularity) were collected during group testing. Hierarchical Linear Modeling was used for analyses. The predictive power of (1) level and (2) variability of perceived social competence, (3) emotional distress (measured with depression and anxiety scales), (4) popularity (measured by peer rated friendship nominations and liking ratings), (5) scores on Stability of Self scale and (6) the interaction between level and variability of perceived social competence were tested concurrently. Consistent with hypotheses, variability was associated with increased emotional reactivity to events, that is, it was a significant moderator of the association between perceptions of interaction quality and feelings of sadness, anxiety and positive affect. For example, participants with higher variability reported more sadness when interaction was perceived as negative than did their peers with less variable perceived social competence; no differences between participants were noted when the interaction was perceived as positive. Emotional distress was a significant predictor of the negative association between interaction quality and feelings of anger. Popularity acted as a 'buffer' to temper the association between interaction quality and sadness. Consistent with hypotheses, variability of perceived social competence was a significant predictor of higher levels of sadness, anxiety and anger. Unexpectedly, average level of perceived social competence was a significant predictor of higher levels of sadness, anxiety and anger. Results are discussed in terms of the nature and measurement of self-esteem variability, its role as a vulnerability factor for the experience of negative affect, and popularity's role as a protective factor

Qualité relationnelle des couples gais et conduites sexuelles à risque

La présente étude teste l'hypothèse suivant laquelle la qualité relationnelle des couples gais est positivement associée à l'adoption de conduites sexuelles à risque réduit, dans les situations de monogamie et de non-monogamie. Des mesures d'ajustement relationnel et de comportements sexuels sont recueillies auprès de 29 couples (58 hommes) homosexuels de la région de Montréal. Conformément à l'hypothèse, la distribution des couples selon un index multifactoriel de risque indique une relation entre la satisfaction de couple et le niveau de risque encouru dans les relations sexuelles à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur du couple. Les résultats sont discutés à la lumière des données existantes sur la relation santé-qualité relationnelle chez les couples hétérosexuels.This study examines the hypothesis by which quality relationships among gay couples is closely related to the adoption of low-risk sexual behaviours, in monogamous and non-monogamous situations. Data was collected from 29 homosexual couples (58 men) of the Montréal area. The survey, which graded sexual conduct as well as adjustments made within the relationship, confirmed the author's hypothesis. Indeed, the distribution of couples according to a multifactorial risk index does in fact establish a connection between the couple's happiness and the level of risk during sexual relations within and outside the couple. These conclusions are discussed in light of existing data pertaining to the link between health and the quality of a relationship among heterosexual couples

Phenotype and genotype of 197 British patients with McArdle disease: An observational single-centre study

McArdle disease is caused by recessive mutations in PYGM gene. The condition is considered to cause a “pure” muscle phenotype with symptoms including exercise intolerance, inability to perform isometric activities, contracture, and acute rhabdomyolysis leading to acute renal failure. This is a retrospective observational study aiming to describe phenotypic and genotypic features of a large cohort of patients with McArdle disease between 2011 and 2019. Data relating to genotype and phenotype, including frequency of rhabdomyolysis, fixed muscle weakness, gout and comorbidities, inclusive of retinal disease (pattern retinal dystrophy) and thyroid disease, were collected. Data from 197 patients are presented. Seven previously unpublished PYGM mutations are described. Exercise intolerance (100%) and episodic rhabdomyolysis (75.6%) were the most common symptoms. Fixed muscle weakness was present in 82 (41.6%) subjects. Unexpectedly, ptosis was observed in 28 patients (14.2%). Hyperuricaemia was a common finding present in 88 subjects (44.7%), complicated by gout in 25% of cases. Thyroid dysfunction was described in 30 subjects (15.2%), and in 3 cases, papillary thyroid cancer was observed. Pattern retinal dystrophy was detected in 15 out of the 41 subjects that underwent an ophthalmic assessment (36.6%). In addition to fixed muscle weakness, ptosis was a relatively common finding. Surprisingly, dysfunction of thyroid and retinal abnormalities were relatively frequent comorbidities. Further studies are needed to better clarify this association, although our finding may have important implication for patient management

Characterization of yeasts isolated from parmigiano reggiano cheese natural whey starter: From spoilage agents to potential cell factories for whey valorization

Whey is the main byproduct of the dairy industry and contains sugars (lactose) and proteins (especially serum proteins and, at lesser extent, residual caseins), which can be valorized by the fermentative action of yeasts. In the present study, we characterized the spoilage yeast population inhabiting natural whey starter (NWS), the undefined starter culture of thermophilic lactic acid bacteria used in Parmigiano Reggiano (PR) cheesemaking, and evaluated thermotolerance, mating type, and the aptitude to produce ethanol and bioactive peptides from whey lactose and proteins, respectively, in a selected pool of strains. PCR-RFLP assay of ribosomal ITS regions and phylogenetic analysis of 26S rDNA D1/D2 domains showed that PR NWS yeast population consists of the well-documented Kluyveromyces marxianus, as well as of other species (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Wickerhamiella pararugosa, and Torulaspora delbrueckii), with multiple biotypes scored within each species as demonstrated by (GTG)5-based MSP-PCR. Haploid and diploid K. marxianus strains were identified through MAT genotyping, while thermotolerance assay allowed the selection of strains suitable to grow up to 48◦C. In whey fermentation trials, one thermotolerant strain was suitable to release ethanol with a fermentation efficiency of 86.5%, while another candidate was able to produce the highest amounts of both ethanol and bioactive peptides with potentially anti-hypertensive function. The present work demonstrated that PR NWS is a reservoir of ethanol and bioactive peptides producer yeasts, which can be exploited to valorize whey, in agreement with the principles of circularity and sustainability

Studies to Assess the Utility of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common and disabling dose-limiting toxicities of chemotherapy. We report here the results of two separate non-interventional studies (49 patients), which evaluated blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a biomarker of CIPN in breast cancer patients treated with paclitaxel. All patients underwent a standard treatment protocol that was established independently of the present studies. NfL was measured in serum using an ultrasensitive single-molecule array and compared with the self-administered European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-CIPN twenty-item scale (CIPN20) and Total Neuropathy Score clinical version (TNSc), a clinician-reported measure of neuropathy progression. The TNSc increased with cumulative dose compared with baseline, and the NfL concentrations were also strongly associated with the cumulative dose of chemotherapy. The analysis showed a correlation between TNSc and NfL. Both TNSc and NfL showed weak to moderate associations with CIPN20 subscores, with a better association for the CIPN20 sensory compared with motor and autonomic subscores. Data from the two studies provide evidence that serum NfL has the potential to be used as a biomarker to monitor and mitigate CIPN. However, studies with additional patients planned in the ongoing clinical trial will determine the universal application of NfL as a biomarker in CIPN

Cultivable microbial diversity, peptide profiles, and bio-functional properties in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Introduction: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) communities shape the sensorial and functional properties of artisanal hard-cooked and long-ripened cheeses made with raw bovine milk like Parmigiano Reggiano (PR) cheese. While patterns of microbial evolution have been well studied in PR cheese, there is a lack of information about how this microbial diversity affects the metabolic and functional properties of PR cheese. Methods: To fill this information gap, we characterized the cultivable fraction of natural whey starter (NWS) and PR cheeses at different ripening times, both at the species and strain level, and investigated the possible correlation between microbial composition and the evolution of peptide profiles over cheese ripening. Results and discussion: The results showed that NWS was a complex community of several biotypes belonging to a few species, namely, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus helveticus, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis. A new species-specific PCR assay was successful in discriminating the cheese-associated species Lacticaseibacillus casei, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, and Lacticaseibacillus zeae. Based on the resolved patterns of species and biotype distribution, Lcb. paracasei and Lcb. zeae were most frequently isolated after 24 and 30 months of ripening, while the number of biotypes was inversely related to the ripening time. Peptidomics analysis revealed more than 520 peptides in cheese samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive survey of peptides in PR cheese. Most of them were from β-caseins, which represent the best substrate for LAB cell-envelope proteases. The abundance of peptides from β-casein 38–88 region continuously increased during ripening. Remarkably, this region contains precursors for the anti-hypertensive lactotripeptides VPP and IPP, as well as for β-casomorphins. We found that the ripening time strongly affects bioactive peptide profiles and that the occurrence of Lcb. zeae species is positively linked to the incidence of eight anti-hypertensive peptides. This result highlighted how the presence of specific LAB species is likely a pivotal factor in determining PR functional properties

Tracing the identity of Parmigiano Reggiano “Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio” cheese using NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analysis

Background Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the well-established tools for food metabolomic analysis, as it proved to be very effective in authenticity and quality control of dairy products, as well as to follow product evolution during processing and storage. The analytical assessment of the EU mountain denomination label, specifically for Parmigiano Reggiano "Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio" (Mountain-CQ) cheese, has received limited attention. Although it was established in 2012 the EU mountain denomination label has not been much studied from an analytical point of view. Nonetheless, tracing a specific profile for the mountain products is essential to support the value chain of this specialty. Results The aim of the study was to produce an identity profile for Parmigiano Reggiano “Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio” (Mountain-CQ) cheese, and to differentiate it from Parmigiano Reggiano PDO samples (conventional-PDO) using 1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis. Three different approaches were applied and compared. First, the spectra-as-such were analysed after proper preprocessing. For the other two approaches, Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) was used for signals resolution and features extraction, either individually on manually-defined spectral intervals or by reapplying MCR-ALS on the whole spectra with selectivity constraints using the reconstructed “pure profiles” as initial estimates and targets. All approaches provided comparable information regarding the samples’ distribution, as in all three cases the separation between the two product categories conventional-PDO and Mountain-CQ could be highlighted. Moreover, a novel MATLAB toolbox for features extraction via MCR-ALS was developed and used in synergy with the Chenomx library, allowing for a putative identification of the selected features. Significance A first identity profile for Parmigiano Reggiano “Prodotto di Montagna - Progetto Territorio” obtained by interpreting the metabolites signals in NMR spectroscopy was obtained. Our workflow and toolbox for generating the features dataset allows a more straightforward interpretation of the results, to overcome the limitations due to dimensionality and to peaks overlapping, but also to include the signals assignment and matching since the early stages of the data processing and analysis

Data and performances evaluation of the SPIDIA-DNA Pan-European External Quality Assessment: 2nd SPIDIA-DNA laboratory report.

AbstractWithin the EU-SPIDIA project (www.spidia.eu), the quality parameters of blood genomic DNA were defined [SPIDIA-DNA: an External Quality Assessment for the pre-analytical phase of blood samples used for DNA-based analyses – [1]; Influence of pre-analytical procedures on genomic DNA integrity in blood samples: the SPIDIA experience – [2]; Combining qualitative and quantitative imaging evaluation for the assessment of genomic DNA integrity: the SPIDIA experience – [3]. DNA quality parameters were used to evaluate the laboratory performance within an External Quality Assessment (EQA) [Second SPIDIA-DNA External Quality Assessment (EQA): Influence of pre-analytical phase of blood samples on genomic DNA quality – [4]. These parameters included DNA purity and yield by UV spectrophotometric measurements, the presence of PCR interferences by Kineret software and genomic DNA integrity analysis by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis.Here we present the specific laboratory report of the 2nd SPIDIA-DNA EQA as an example of data and performances evaluation

The importance of a well defined analytical strategy to solve complex murder cases

Abstract. Forensic techniques are becoming more and more powerful and affordable. This allows labs to utilise precise strategies, permitting multiple analytical approaches on the same evidence, thus obtaining precious information to solve criminal cases. This paper refers to a murder in which we received a plastic bottle and four latex gloves. These items were collected near a stolen car used to perpetrate the murder, and then burnt in order to destroy evidence linked to the murderer. We collected samples of saliva from the neck of the bottle and one glove underwent three different analyses, which were: ! Sampling and genetic analyses of sweat traces taken from the internal surface of the glove, corresponding to the lower palm area; ! Detection of palm-prints from the internal surface of the glove, corresponding to the upper palm area; ! Collection of gun shot residues (GSR) from the edge of the glove. Two full genetic profiles were obtained from the biological traces collected, one from the glove and the other one from the bottle. The analyses were instrumental in permitting the identification of the shooter who had played an important role in the murder. D 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V