Social Connectedness in Schizotypy: The Role of Cognitive and Affective Empathy

Social connectedness is increasingly understood to be a resilience factor that moderates vulnerability to poor physical and mental health. This study examines cognitive and affective processes that support normal socialization and social connectedness, and the impact of schizotypy, in well-functioning college students. In this study, a total of 824 college students completed a series of self-report questionnaires, and structural equation modeling was then employed to identify relationships between cognitive and affective empathy, alexithymia, distress tolerance, social connectedness, and schizotypy. Schizotypy is a trait-like condition, presumed to be genetic in origin, associated with the risk for schizophrenia. Like schizophrenia, schizotypy is thought to have three distinct dimensions or categories, termed positive, negative, and disorganized. Results indicate that the respective dimensions of schizotypy have different pathways to social connectedness, through both direct and indirect effects. Positive schizotypy exerts a counterintuitive positive influence on social connectedness, mediated by positive effects on cognitive empathy, but this is obscured by the high correlations between the schizotypal dimensions and the strong negative influences on empathy and social connectedness of the negative and disorganized dimensions, unless all those intercorrelations are taken into account. Overall, the pathways identified by structural equation modeling strongly support the role of empathy in mediating the impact of schizotypy on social connectedness. Implications for the etiology of social impairments in schizotypy, and for interventions to enhance social connectedness to improve quality of life and reduce health disparities in people at risk for severe mental illness, are discussed

Expanding the diversity of mycobacteriophages: insights into genome architecture and evolution.

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All mycobacteriophages characterized to date are dsDNA tailed phages, and have either siphoviral or myoviral morphotypes. However, their genetic diversity is considerable, and although sixty-two genomes have been sequenced and comparatively analyzed, these likely represent only a small portion of the diversity of the mycobacteriophage population at large. Here we report the isolation, sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of 18 new mycobacteriophages isolated from geographically distinct locations within the United States. Although no clear correlation between location and genome type can be discerned, these genomes expand our knowledge of mycobacteriophage diversity and enhance our understanding of the roles of mobile elements in viral evolution. Expansion of the number of mycobacteriophages grouped within Cluster A provides insights into the basis of immune specificity in these temperate phages, and we also describe a novel example of apparent immunity theft. The isolation and genomic analysis of bacteriophages by freshman college students provides an example of an authentic research experience for novice scientists

Harnessing the NEON data revolution to advance open environmental science with a diverse and data-capable community

It is a critical time to reflect on the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) science to date as well as envision what research can be done right now with NEON (and other) data and what training is needed to enable a diverse user community. NEON became fully operational in May 2019 and has pivoted from planning and construction to operation and maintenance. In this overview, the history of and foundational thinking around NEON are discussed. A framework of open science is described with a discussion of how NEON can be situated as part of a larger data constellation—across existing networks and different suites of ecological measurements and sensors. Next, a synthesis of early NEON science, based on >100 existing publications, funded proposal efforts, and emergent science at the very first NEON Science Summit (hosted by Earth Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder in October 2019) is provided. Key questions that the ecology community will address with NEON data in the next 10 yr are outlined, from understanding drivers of biodiversity across spatial and temporal scales to defining complex feedback mechanisms in human–environmental systems. Last, the essential elements needed to engage and support a diverse and inclusive NEON user community are highlighted: training resources and tools that are openly available, funding for broad community engagement initiatives, and a mechanism to share and advertise those opportunities. NEON users require both the skills to work with NEON data and the ecological or environmental science domain knowledge to understand and interpret them. This paper synthesizes early directions in the community’s use of NEON data, and opportunities for the next 10 yr of NEON operations in emergent science themes, open science best practices, education and training, and community building

Protist community diversity in relation to resources in bromeliads

Protists are microscopic organisms which play an important role in nutrient degradation in tank bromeliads (Carrias et al 2001). Their diverse communities provide good subjects of study on community assembly and their existence in bromeliads make them a unique, yet accessible case study. Resource based models suggest that an increase in resources leads to an increase in biodiversity. Since no two species can occupy the same niche, increased resources can lead to niche differentiation, promoting community diversity (Osborne 2000). This study hypothesized that as the amount of light, area, water, and food sources increase in a bromeliad community, the diversity of protists will also increase. Data were collected among 48 bromeliads at the Ecolodge San Luis (1100 m), Monteverde, Costa Rica, at the end of dry season, between April 20 and May 5, 2005. Shannon Weiner indices (H’, N, S, and E) were calculated and analyzed against the four resources (light, area, water, and food source) using a multiple regression. The results of the multiple regression showed that an increase in these resources had no significant effect on protist diversity in bromeliads (p values \u3e 0.05). This study indicates that there may have been other factors influencing protist diversity in bromeliads. An increase in resource diversity may have effects on protist diversity, but further study is needed. Los protistas son organismos microscópicos que juegan un papel importante en la degradación de nutrientes en los tanques de bromelias (Carrias et al 2,001). Sus comunidades diversas proporcionan especímenes adecuados para el estudio de la composición de comunidades y su existencia en las bromelias las convierte en temas de estudios únicos y accesibles. Los modelos basados y los recursos sugieren que un incremento en los recursos conlleva un aumento en la biodiversidad. Ya que dos especies no pueden ocupar el mismo nicho, un aumento en los recursos puede producir diferenciación de nichos, promoviendo la diversidad de comunidades (Osborne 2,000). Este estudio propuso la hipótesis que conforme la luz, el agua, el área y las fuentes de alimento aumentan en la comunidad de las bromelias, la diversidad de los protistas también aumenta. Se recolectaron datos de 48 bromelias en el Ecolodge de San Luis (1,100 m), Monteverde, Costa Rica, hacia el final de la estación seca entre el 20 de abril y el 5 de mayo del 2,005. Los índices de Shannon Weiner (H’, N, S, y E) fueron calculados y analizados comparando los cuatro recursos (luz, área, agua, y fuentes de alimento) usando regresiones múltiples. Los resultados de las regresiones múltiples mostraron que el incremento en estos recursos no tenía un efecto significativo en la comunidad de protistas en las bromelias (p \u3e 0.05). Este estudio indicó que puede haber habido otros factores que influencian la diversidad de protistas en las bromelias. Un aumento en la diversidad de recursos puede tener efectos en la diversidad de protistas, pero se necesitan más estudios al respecto.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/1602/thumbnail.jp

Protist community diversity in relation to resources in bromeliads

Protists are microscopic organisms which play an important role in nutrient degradation in tank bromeliads (Carrias et al 2001). Their diverse communities provide good subjects of study on community assembly and their existence in bromeliads make them a unique, yet accessible case study. Resource based models suggest that an increase in resources leads to an increase in biodiversity. Since no two species can occupy the same niche, increased resources can lead to niche differentiation, promoting community diversity (Osborne 2000). This study hypothesized that as the amount of light, area, water, and food sources increase in a bromeliad community, the diversity of protists will also increase. Data were collected among 48 bromeliads at the Ecolodge San Luis (1100 m), Monteverde, Costa Rica, at the end of dry season, between April 20 and May 5, 2005. Shannon Weiner indices (H’, N, S, and E) were calculated and analyzed against the four resources (light, area, water, and food source) using a multiple regression. The results of the multiple regression showed that an increase in these resources had no significant effect on protist diversity in bromeliads (p values \u3e 0.05). This study indicates that there may have been other factors influencing protist diversity in bromeliads. An increase in resource diversity may have effects on protist diversity, but further study is needed. Los protistas son organismos microscópicos que juegan un papel importante en la degradación de nutrientes en los tanques de bromelias (Carrias et al 2,001). Sus comunidades diversas proporcionan especímenes adecuados para el estudio de la composición de comunidades y su existencia en las bromelias las convierte en temas de estudios únicos y accesibles. Los modelos basados y los recursos sugieren que un incremento en los recursos conlleva un aumento en la biodiversidad. Ya que dos especies no pueden ocupar el mismo nicho, un aumento en los recursos puede producir diferenciación de nichos, promoviendo la diversidad de comunidades (Osborne 2,000). Este estudio propuso la hipótesis que conforme la luz, el agua, el área y las fuentes de alimento aumentan en la comunidad de las bromelias, la diversidad de los protistas también aumenta. Se recolectaron datos de 48 bromelias en el Ecolodge de San Luis (1,100 m), Monteverde, Costa Rica, hacia el final de la estación seca entre el 20 de abril y el 5 de mayo del 2,005. Los índices de Shannon Weiner (H’, N, S, y E) fueron calculados y analizados comparando los cuatro recursos (luz, área, agua, y fuentes de alimento) usando regresiones múltiples. Los resultados de las regresiones múltiples mostraron que el incremento en estos recursos no tenía un efecto significativo en la comunidad de protistas en las bromelias (p \u3e 0.05). Este estudio indicó que puede haber habido otros factores que influencian la diversidad de protistas en las bromelias. Un aumento en la diversidad de recursos puede tener efectos en la diversidad de protistas, pero se necesitan más estudios al respecto.https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/1602/thumbnail.jp

Social Connectedness in Schizotypy: The Role of Cognitive and Affective Empathy

Social connectedness is increasingly understood to be a resilience factor that moderates vulnerability to poor physical and mental health. This study examines cognitive and affective processes that support normal socialization and social connectedness, and the impact of schizotypy, in well-functioning college students. In this study, a total of 824 college students completed a series of self-report questionnaires, and structural equation modeling was then employed to identify relationships between cognitive and affective empathy, alexithymia, distress tolerance, social connectedness, and schizotypy. Schizotypy is a trait-like condition, presumed to be genetic in origin, associated with the risk for schizophrenia. Like schizophrenia, schizotypy is thought to have three distinct dimensions or categories, termed positive, negative, and disorganized. Results indicate that the respective dimensions of schizotypy have different pathways to social connectedness, through both direct and indirect effects. Positive schizotypy exerts a counterintuitive positive influence on social connectedness, mediated by positive effects on cognitive empathy, but this is obscured by the high correlations between the schizotypal dimensions and the strong negative influences on empathy and social connectedness of the negative and disorganized dimensions, unless all those intercorrelations are taken into account. Overall, the pathways identified by structural equation modeling strongly support the role of empathy in mediating the impact of schizotypy on social connectedness. Implications for the etiology of social impairments in schizotypy, and for interventions to enhance social connectedness to improve quality of life and reduce health disparities in people at risk for severe mental illness, are discussed

Baby's not for sale.

Gift of Dr. Mary Jane Esplen.Piano vocal [instrumentation]B flat major [key]Moderato con espress [tempo]Popular song [form/genre]Romanesque couple [illustration]Publisher's advertisement on back cover [note

National and Tennessee Trends in BMI Percentile, Obesity, and Overweight Rates Among Youth Using YRBSS Data 1999-2017

Adolescents in the United States continue to exhibit epidemic proportions of obesity and overweight, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality rates. Obesity and overweight are also found to be associated with other unhealthy behaviors in adolescents, such as physical inactivity and smoking. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the annual rates of adolescent obesity in the U.S.; however, comparative trends for the past two decades and comparisons of rates between general U.S. and Tennessee, a tobacco-producing state in the stroke belt, are not available. To compare trends in rates of BMI percentile, overweight, and obesity among adolescents, grades 9th through 12th, between the U.S. and Tennessee during 2003-2017 and identify critical factors associated with them. Both national and Tennessee BMI trends show different patterns from 1999 to 2017; further analysis of covariate factors will provide more information on this difference in trends. We expect to find little variation between the United States and Tennessee when comparing the age of high school obesity rates. However, previous trends in racial and ethnic disparities for BMI percentiles, obesity, and overweight suggest there will be differences among these variables. Preventable chronic diseases should not affect children. The outcomes of childhood obesity are too severe to ignore. Understanding the risk factors, risk behaviors, and prevalence of adolescent obesity is the first step in addressing this public health crisis

Oxytocin and Food Intake Control: Neural, Behavioral, and Signaling Mechanisms

The neuropeptide oxytocin is produced in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. In addition to its extensively studied influence on social behavior and reproductive function, central oxytocin signaling potently reduces food intake in both humans and animal models and has potential therapeutic use for obesity treatment. In this review, we highlight rodent model research that illuminates various neural, behavioral, and signaling mechanisms through which oxytocin’s anorexigenic effects occur. The research supports a framework through which oxytocin reduces food intake via amplification of within-meal physiological satiation signals rather than by altering between-meal interoceptive hunger and satiety states. We also emphasize the distributed neural sites of action for oxytocin’s effects on food intake and review evidence supporting the notion that central oxytocin is communicated throughout the brain, at least in part, through humoral-like volume transmission. Finally, we highlight mechanisms through which oxytocin interacts with various energy balance-associated neuropeptide and endocrine systems (e.g., agouti-related peptide, melanin-concentrating hormone, leptin), as well as the behavioral mechanisms through which oxytocin inhibits food intake, including effects on nutrient-specific ingestion, meal size control, food reward-motivated responses, and competing motivations