Violence Victimization And Perpetration: Potential Mediators Of The Relationship Between Sexual Minority Status And Suicide Risk

Suicide is an area of significant public health concern, particularly for vulnerable populations such as youth and sexual minority students. Sexual minority youth (SMY) are at an additional risk, given their higher prevalence rates of suicidality. Rates of violence victimization and perpetration are also higher among SMY. Prior research has shown links between victimization and suicide risk, as well as perpetration and suicide risk, but has not examined the mechanisms behind the specific impact of these factors on suicide risk in SMY; we aimed to address this gap in the literature. The present study examined whether violence victimization and perpetration independently mediate the relationship between being a sexual minority and suicide risk, using a large (N = 14,107), nationally representative sample of high school student responses on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). We ran separate binary logistic regression models to examine whether or not victimization and perpetration mediated this relationship. All four models were statistically significant and showed partial mediation, although none were clinically significant (see Figures 1-4). More research on the specific mechanisms that underlie suicide risk for SMY is needed, since identifying the pathways that lead to increased risk can inform new targets for suicide prevention

Little genomic support for Cyclophilin A-matrix metalloproteinase-9 pathway as a therapeutic target for cognitive impairment in APOE4 carriers

Therapeutic targets for halting the progression of Alzheimer’s disease pathology are lacking. Recent evidence suggests that APOE4, but not APOE3, activates the Cyclophilin-A matrix metalloproteinase-9 (CypA-MMP9) pathway, leading to an accelerated breakdown of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and thereby causing neuronal and synaptic dysfunction. Furthermore, blockade of the CypA-MMP9 pathway in APOE4 knock-in mice restores BBB integrity and subsequently normalizes neuronal and synaptic function. Thus, CypA has been suggested as a potential target for treating APOE4 mediated neurovascular injury and the resulting neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. The odds of drug targets passing through clinical trials are greatly increased if they are supported by genomic evidence. We found little evidence to suggest that CypA or MMP9 affects the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive impairment using two-sample Mendelian randomization and polygenic risk score analysis in humans. This casts doubt on whether they are likely to represent effective drug targets for cognitive impairment in human APOE4 carriers

Establishing a Community of Practice for Doctoral Studies Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this discussion paper, we describe our experience completing the first year of the doctorate in nursing program at a large urban academic centre during the COVID-19 pandemic. We highlight the current nursing shortage and the importance of supporting all nursing students, including nurses in doctoral programs, towards successful graduation. We describe the development of a virtual community of practice incorporating five key strategies: Building community, fostering collaboration, strengthening connection, enhancing creativity, and promoting consistency. We believe that utilizing these strategies will contribute to our success and may be relevant to nursing leaders seeking to support the development of more doctorally prepared nurses. Participation in a community of practice early on in doctoral education will not only better prepare students for success in their program, but also continued success as they progress through their careers. It is important for students to not only make connections with peers in their area of academic study, but to also reach out to peers in other disciplines to improve both individual and interdisciplinary growth. Program administrators and educators can encourage the formation of community of practice among novice doctoral students. This encouragement can be achieved using a virtual platform, or in-person networking opportunities. Inviting incoming graduate students to connect with each other and with students from previous cohorts also fosters community of practice formation. Résumé Dans ce texte de discussion, nous décrivons notre expérience relative à la première année du doctorat en sciences infirmières dans un grand centre universitaire urbain pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Nous soulignons la pénurie actuelle d’infirmières et l’importance de soutenir toutes les étudiantes en sciences infirmières, y compris les infirmières inscrites à un programme de doctorat, vers la réussite de leurs études. Nous décrivons le développement d’une communauté virtuelle de pratique intégrant cinq stratégies clés : créer une communauté, favoriser la collaboration, renforcer les liens, mettre en valeur la créativité et promouvoir la cohérence. Nous pensons que l’utilisation de ces stratégies contribuera à notre succès et pourrait être pertinente pour les infirmières chefs de file qui cherchent à soutenir le développement d’un plus grand nombre d’infirmières préparées au doctorat. La participation à une communauté de pratique dès le début de la formation doctorale permettra non seulement de mieux préparer les étudiantes à réussir dans leur programme, mais favorisera également leur poursuite d’une carrière fructueuse. Il est important pour les étudiantes d’établir des liens non seulement avec des pairs dans leur domaine d’études universitaires, mais qu’ils entrent également en contact avec des pairs d’autres disciplines pour améliorer à la fois leur croissance individuelle et interdisciplinaire. Les administratrices de programme et les enseignantes peuvent encourager la formation d’une communauté de pratique parmi les doctorantes novices. Cet encouragement peut être réalisé à l’aide d’une plateforme virtuelle ou d’occasions de réseautage en personne. Inviter les étudiantes diplômées à entrer en contact les unes avec les autres et avec les étudiantes des cohortes précédentes favorise également la formation d’une communauté de pratique

Exploring the spectral diversity of low-redshift Type Ia supernovae using the Palomar Transient Factory

We present an investigation of the optical spectra of 264 low-redshift (z < 0.2) Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory, an untargeted transient survey. We focus on velocity and pseudo-equivalent width measurements of the Si II 4130, 5972, and 6355 A lines, as well those of the Ca II near-infrared (NIR) triplet, up to +5 days relative to the SN B-band maximum light. We find that a high-velocity component of the Ca II NIR triplet is needed to explain the spectrum in ~95 per cent of SNe Ia observed before -5 days, decreasing to ~80 per cent at maximum. The average velocity of the Ca II high-velocity component is ~8500 km/s higher than the photospheric component. We confirm previous results that SNe Ia around maximum light with a larger contribution from the high-velocity component relative to the photospheric component in their Ca II NIR feature have, on average, broader light curves and lower Ca II NIR photospheric velocities. We find that these relations are driven by both a stronger high-velocity component and a weaker contribution from the photospheric Ca II NIR component in broader light curve SNe Ia. We identify the presence of C II in very-early-time SN Ia spectra (before -10 days), finding that >40 per cent of SNe Ia observed at these phases show signs of unburnt material in their spectra, and that C II features are more likely to be found in SNe Ia having narrower light curves.Comment: 18 page, 10 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Single-Session Growth Mindset Intervention As A Precursor To School Mental Health Services For Rural Youth: A Pilot Study

Approximately 80% of children experiencing mental health concerns do not receive treatment. Even when youth do have access to services, treatment dropout rates are high and the modal number of therapy sessions attended is one. Evidence-based treatments are sparse, however single-session interventions (SSIs) eliminate several traditional barriers to treatment and have shown preliminary effectiveness in preventing and reducing psychopathology in youth. A specific type of SSI that could be effective for youth are growth mindset interventions, which aim to enhance growth mindset (i.e., a belief in malleability or that an individual’s traits, abilities, and/or thoughts are malleable rather than fixed). The present study utilized an experimental, repeated measures design to pilot test an adapted, computerized growth mindset SSI as a precursor to mental health services in a sample of rural, treatment-seeking youth. Due to a small sample size obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic, only three participants fully completed the intervention. It was hypothesized that the growth mindset SSI will increase growth mindset with changes seen across measures of mindset at pre-intervention and post-intervention. Percentage of non-overlapping data results were promising and in the predicted direction, thus future research should continue to examine growth mindset SSIs in treatment-seeking populations with larger samples, comparison to an active control condition, and longer follow-up

Singing and music making: physiological responses across early to later stages of dementia

Background: Music based interventions have been found to improve wellbeing for people with dementia. More recently there has been interest in physiological measures to provide additional information about how music and singing impact this population. Methods: This multiple-case study design explored physiological responses (heart rate-HR, electrodermal activity-EDA, movement, and skin temperature-ST) of nine people with mild-to-moderate using simulation modelling analysis. Results: In study 1, the singing group showed an increase in EDA (p < 0.01 for 8/9 participants) and HR (p < 0.01 for 5/9 participants) as the session began. HR (p < 0.0001 for 5/9 participants) and ST (p < 0.0001 for 6/9 participants) increased during faster tempos. EDA (p < 0.01 all), movement (p < 0.01 for 8/9 participants) and engagement were higher during singing compared to a baseline control. In study 2 EDA (p < 0.0001 for 14/18 data points [3 music conditions across 6 participants]) and ST (p < 0.001 for 10/18 data points) increased and in contrast to the responses during singing, HR decreased as the sessions began (p < 0.002 for 9/18 data points). EDA was higher during slower music (p < 0.0001 for 13/18 data points), however this was less consistent in more interactive sessions than the control. There were no consistent changes in HR and movement responses during different music genre. Conclusions: Physiological measures provide valuable information about the experiences of people with dementia participating in musical activities, particularly for those with verbal communication difficulties. Future research should consider using physiological measures. video-analysis and observational measures to explore further how engagement in specific activities, wellbeing and physiology interact

Digital clinical communication for families and caregivers of children or young people with short- or long-term conditions : rapid review

Background The communication relationship between parents of children or young people with health conditions and health professionals is an important part of treatment, but it is unclear how far the use of digital clinical communication tools may affect this relationship. Objective The objective of our study was to describe, assess the feasibility of, and explore the impact of digital clinical communication between families or caregivers and health professionals. Methods We searched the literature using 5 electronic databases. We considered all types of study design published in the English language from January 2009 to August 2015. The population of interest included families and caregivers of children and young people aged less than 26 years with any type of health condition. The intervention was any technology permitting 2-way communication. Results We included 31 articles. The main designs were randomized controlled trials (RCTs; n=10), cross-sectional studies (n=9), pre- and postintervention uncontrolled (pre/post) studies (n=7), and qualitative interview studies (n=2); 6 had mixed-methods designs. In the majority of cases, we considered the quality rating to be fair. Many different types of health condition were represented. A breadth of digital communication tools were included: videoconferencing or videoconsultation (n=14), and Web messaging or emails (n=12). Health care professionals were mainly therapists or cognitive behavioral therapists (n=10), physicians (n=8), and nurses (n=6). Studies were very heterogeneous in terms of outcomes. Interventions were mainly evaluated using satisfaction or acceptance, or outcomes relating to feasibility. Clinical outcomes were rarely used. The RCTs showed that digital clinical communication had no impact in comparison with standard care. Uncontrolled pre/post studies showed good rates of satisfaction or acceptance. Some economic studies suggested that digital clinical communication may save costs. Conclusions This rapid review showed an emerging body of literature on the use of digital clinical communication to improve families’ and caregivers’ involvement in the health management of children or young people. Further research with appropriate study designs and longer-term outcome measures should be encouraged. Trial Registration: PROSPERO CRD42016035467; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD 42016 035467(Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6vpgZU1FU