Internet Gaming Disorder Behaviors in emergent adulthood: a pilot study examining the interplay between anxiety and family cohesion

Understanding risk and protective factors associated with Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been highlighted as a research priority by the American Psychiatric Association, (2013). The present study focused on the potential IGD risk effect of anxiety and the buffering role of family cohesion on this association. A sample of emerging adults all of whom were massively multiplayer online (MMO) gamers (18–29 years) residing in Australia were assessed longitudinally (face-to-face: N = 61, Mage = 23.02 years, SD = 3.43) and cross-sectionally (online: N = 64, Mage = 23.34 years, SD = 3.39). IGD symptoms were assessed using the nine-item Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS-SF9; Pontes & Griffiths Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.12.006, 2015). The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI; Beck and Steer, 1990) and the balanced family cohesion scale (BFC; Olson Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 3(1) 64–80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2009.00175.x, 2011) were applied to assess anxiety and BFC levels, respectively. Linear regressions and moderation analyses confirmed that anxiety increased IGD risk and that BFC weakened the anxiety-related IGD risk

Building a model: developing genomic resources for common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) with low coverage genome sequencing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Milkweeds (<it>Asclepias </it>L.) have been extensively investigated in diverse areas of evolutionary biology and ecology; however, there are few genetic resources available to facilitate and compliment these studies. This study explored how low coverage genome sequencing of the common milkweed (<it>Asclepias syriaca </it>L.) could be useful in characterizing the genome of a plant without prior genomic information and for development of genomic resources as a step toward further developing <it>A. syriaca </it>as a model in ecology and evolution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A 0.5× genome of <it>A. syriaca </it>was produced using Illumina sequencing. A virtually complete chloroplast genome of 158,598 bp was assembled, revealing few repeats and loss of three genes: <it>accD, clpP</it>, and <it>ycf1</it>. A nearly complete rDNA cistron (18S-5.8S-26S; 7,541 bp) and 5S rDNA (120 bp) sequence were obtained. Assessment of polymorphism revealed that the rDNA cistron and 5S rDNA had 0.3% and 26.7% polymorphic sites, respectively. A partial mitochondrial genome sequence (130,764 bp), with identical gene content to tobacco, was also assembled. An initial characterization of repeat content indicated that Ty1/<it>copia</it>-like retroelements are the most common repeat type in the milkweed genome. At least one <it>A. syriaca </it>microread hit 88% of <it>Catharanthus roseus </it>(Apocynaceae) unigenes (median coverage of 0.29×) and 66% of single copy orthologs (COSII) in asterids (median coverage of 0.14×). From this partial characterization of the <it>A. syriaca </it>genome, markers for population genetics (microsatellites) and phylogenetics (low-copy nuclear genes) studies were developed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results highlight the promise of next generation sequencing for development of genomic resources for any organism. Low coverage genome sequencing allows characterization of the high copy fraction of the genome and exploration of the low copy fraction of the genome, which facilitate the development of molecular tools for further study of a target species and its relatives. This study represents a first step in the development of a community resource for further study of plant-insect co-evolution, anti-herbivore defense, floral developmental genetics, reproductive biology, chemical evolution, population genetics, and comparative genomics using milkweeds, and <it>A. syriaca </it>in particular, as ecological and evolutionary models.</p

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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Not AvailableSUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT DECISIONS AT ALL SCALES REQUIRE SOLID, SCIENCE - BASED INFORMATION. SOIL QUALITY ASSESSMENT CAN PROVIDE THIS REGARDING SOIL PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE ECOSYSTEM AND SOCIETAL SERVICES. OUR OBJECTIVE WAS TO MAKE A REGIONAL ASSESSMENT OF SOILS IN THE GARHWAL HIMALAYAS TO DETERMINE THEIR ABILITY TO PERFORM VARIOUS FUNCTIONS AND RESPOND TO EXTERNAL INFLUENCES. FIVE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES WERE ASSESSED USING 13 SOIL PARAMETERS FOCUSED ON ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY . HUMAN LAND USE EFFECTS ON SOILS WERE REFERRED TO NATURAL WOODLANDS AT EACH LANDSCAPE POSITION. WITHIN UPPER SLOPE REGIONS, FLORA AND FAUNA HABITAT, MOISTURE RETENTION , ORGANIC MATTER AND NUTRIENT CYCLING, AIR AND WATER INFILTRATION AND RESISTANCE TOEROSION DECREASED 35,27, 24,AND 9% RESPECTIVELY. AT MID - SLOPE POSITIONS THE ORDER AND MAGNITUDE OF DECREASE WERE ORGANIC MATTER AND NUTRIENT CYCLING, FLORA FAUNA HABITAT AND MOSITURE RETENTION (26,22 AND 16% RESPECTIVELY) . CHANGES WITHIN THE VALLEY WERE LOWEST AVERAGING - 3% FOR FLORA AND FAUNA HABITAT AND 13% FOR ORGANIC MATTER AND NUTRIENT CYCLING. WE CONCLUDE THAT THE MINIMUM DATA SET (MDS) USED PROVIDED A REPRESENTATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SOIL QUALITY AND COULD SERVE AS A BASIS FOR ASSESSMENT IN SIMILAR TROPICAL WATERSHEDS.Not Availabl

Assessment of distribution of Interstitial cell of Cajal like cell across upper urinary tract region in children with pelvic ureteric junction obstruction

Aims and objectives: To study the distribution of Interstitial cell of Cajal like cell (ICC-LC) across upper urinary tract region in children presenting with pelvic ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) and its association with renal functional and sonological parameters of patients. Material and method: A prospective study was done on twenty children (excluding neonates) with primary PUJO undergoing dismembered pyeloplasty. All subject underwent renal sonography [anteroposterior diameter of pelvis (APPD), pelvi-calyceal ratio (P/C ratio), mid-polar renal parenchymal thickness (MPPD)] and functional imaging scan.Three specimens were taken intra-operatively from above, at and below PUJ and were examined immunohistochemically using CD-117 to count ICC-LC using standard criteria. ICC-LC distribution was correlated with above stated parameters. Result: The number of ICC-LC showed a continuous decreasing trend craniocaudally across PUJ. P/C ratio and APPD showed parallel trend with ICC-LC distribution across PUJ, while split renal function (SRF) showed inverse relationship with expression of ICC-LC. Group with lesser severity of obstruction (APPD&lt;30 mm, SRF&gt;40%) showed uniform decreasing trend in number of ICC-LC craniocaudally across PUJ. More severely obstructed patients (APPD&gt;30 mm, SRF&lt;40%) had decreasing trend up to the level of PUJO followed by a sudden relatively increased expression of ICC-LC below PUJ. Conclusion: The expression of ICC-LC shows a uniformly decreasing trend across PUJ when the severity of obstruction is less. Resurgence in the number of ICC-LC below PUJ in subjects with severe obstruction hints at emergence of new pacemaker area below severely blocked PUJ akin to that seen in complete heart-block patients and deserve early attention