499 research outputs found
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Understanding anhedonia: a qualitative study exploring loss of interest and pleasure in adolescent depression
Anhedonia (or loss of interest and pleasure) is a core symptom of depression and may predict poor treatment outcome. However, little is known about the subjective experience of anhedonia, and it is rarely targeted in psychological treatment for depression. The aim of this study is to examine how young people experience anhedonia in the context of depression.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 adolescents with a primary diagnosis of depression (N=12) or elevated depressive symptoms (N=22). Thematic analysis was used to identify important aspects of adolescents’ experiences. Four main themes were identified: 1) Experiencing a loss of joy and a flattening of emotion; 2) Struggling with motivation and active engagement; 3) Losing a sense of connection and belonging; 4) Questioning sense of self, purpose, and the bigger picture. The results challenge the framing of anhedonia as simply the loss of interest and pleasure. Adolescents reported a range of experiences that mapped closely onto the cluster of negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia and were similar to the sense of ‘apathy’ characteristic in Parkinson’s disease. This highlights the potential benefit of taking a trans-diagnostic approach to understanding and treating reward deficits associated with mental health problems
Fast and accurate clothoid fitting
An effective solution to the problem of Hermite interpolation with a
clothoid curve is provided. At the beginning the problem is naturally
formulated as a system of nonlinear equations with multiple solutions that is
generally difficult to solve numerically. All the solutions of this nonlinear
system are reduced to the computation of the zeros of a single nonlinear
equation. A simple strategy, together with the use of a good and simple guess
function, permits to solve the single nonlinear equation with a few iterations
of the Newton--Raphson method.
The computation of the clothoid curve requires the computation of Fresnel and
Fresnel related integrals. Such integrals need asymptotic expansions near
critical values to avoid loss of precision. This is necessary when, for
example, the solution of interpolation problem is close to a straight line or
an arc of circle. Moreover, some special recurrences are deduced for the
efficient computation of asymptotic expansion.
The reduction of the problem to a single nonlinear function in one variable
and the use of asymptotic expansions make the solution algorithm fast and
robust.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 9 Algorithm Table
Adaptation of an evidence-based cardiovascular health intervention for rural African Americans in the Southeast
Background: African Americans (AA) living in the southeast United States have the highest prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and rural minorities bear a significant burden of co-occurring CVD risk factors. Few evidence-based interventions (EBI) address social and physical environmental barriers in rural minority communities. We used intervention mapping together with community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles to adapt objectives of a multi-component CVD lifestyle EBI to fit the needs of a rural AA community. We sought to describe the process of using CPBR to adapt an EBI using intervention mapping to an AA rural setting and to identify and document the adaptations mapped onto the EBI and how they enhance the intervention to meet community needs. Methods: Focus groups, dyadic interviews, and organizational web-based surveys were used to assess content interest, retention strategies, and incorporation of auxiliary components to the EBI. Using CBPR principles, community and academic stakeholders met weekly to collaboratively integrate formative research findings into the intervention mapping process. We used a framework developed by Wilstey Stirman et al. to document changes. Results: Key changes were made to the content, context, and training and evaluation components of the existing EBI. A matrix including behavioral objectives from the original EBI and new objectives was developed. Categories of objectives included physical activity, nutrition, alcohol, and tobacco divided into three levels, namely, individual, interpersonal, and environmental. Conclusions: Intervention mapping integrated with principles of CBPR is an efficient and flexible process for adapting a comprehensive and culturally appropriate lifestyle EBI for a rural AA community context
PCR-Directed Formation of Viral Hybridsin Vitro
AbstractWhen constructing viruses that have desired hybrid phenotypes, anticipated difficulties include the nonviability of many, possibly most, of the hybrid genomes that can be constructed by incorporation of DNA fragments. Therefore, many different hybrid genomes may have to be constructed in order to find one that is viable. To perform this combinatorial work in a single experiment, we have used bacteriophage T7-infected cell extracts to transfer DNAin vitro.In an extract, we have incubated T7 DNA, together with DNA obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the gene (gene 17) for the tail fiber of the T7-related bacteriophage, T3. Afterin vitropackaging of DNA in the extract, hybrid progeny bacteriophage were detected by probing with a T3-specific oligonucleotide; hybrids are found at a frequency of 0.1%. By determination of the nucleotide sequence of the entire gene 17 of 14 independently isolated hybrids, both right and left ends of the PCR fragment are found to be truncated in all hybrids. For all 14 hybrids, the right end is in the same location; the left end is found at 3 different locations. The nonrandom location of the ends is explained by selection among different inserts for viability; that is, most of the hybrid genomes are nonviable. Some hybrids acquire from T3 the desirable phenotype of nonadherence to agarose gels during agarose gel electrophoresis
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Development and validation of a new adolescent self-report scale to measure loss of interest and pleasure: the anhedonia scale for adolescents (ASA)
Anhedonia, the loss of interest and pleasure in previously enjoyable experiences, is a core symptom of depression and a characteristic of other mental health and physical health problems. Most self-report measures of anhedonia has been developed for use with adults and their suitability for adolescents is questionable. In this article, we describe the development and psychometric qualities of a new measure, the Anhedonia Scale for Adolescents (ASA), designed specifically for use with adolescents aged 11–18 years. Items were generated from in-depth qualitative interviews with depressed young people, and then reviewed by an independent group of young people and clinically qualified experts in adolescent mental health. After piloting the new scale (n = 66), we established the structural validity of the measure with two groups of young people using exploratory (n = 1057) and confirmatory (n = 1041) factor analysis. The final scale consisted of 14 items, with 1 general factor and 3 specific factors producing the best fit to the data, (1) Enjoyment, Excitement, and Emotional Flattening (negatively framed); (2) Enthusiasm, Connection, and Purpose (positively framed); and (3) Effort, Motivation, and Drive (negatively framed). The ASA had high test-retest reliability and converged with standardized measures of depression, negative symptoms of schizophrenia, pleasure, and positive affect. Findings from these analyses provided evidence of incremental validity, as the ASA was a stronger predictor of clinical group (high vs. low depressive symptoms) than existing measures used to assess anhedonia. The ASA has potential as a new clinical and research tool to assess adolescent anhedonia. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved
The structure of Onsala 1 star forming region
We present new high-sensitivity high-resolution mm-wave observations of the
Onsala 1 ultra-compact HII region that bring to light the internal structure of
this massive star forming cloud. The 1.2 mm continuum map obtained with the
IRAM 30-m radiotelescope (~11" resolution) shows a centrally peaked
condensation of 1' size (~0.5 pc at the assumed distance of 1.8 kpc) which has
been further investigated at higher resolution in the 3 mm continuum and in the
emission lines of H13CO+ J=1--0 and SiO J=2--1 with the IRAM Plateau de Bure
interferometer. The 3 mm data, with a resolution of ~5" X 4", displays a
unresolved continuum source at the peak of the extended 1.2 mm emission and
closely associated with the ultra-compact HII region. The H13CO+ map traces the
central condensation in good agreement with previous NH_3 maps of Zheng et al.
(1985). However, the velocity field of this central condensation, which was
previously thought to arise in a rapidly rotating structure, is better
explained in terms of the dense and compact component of a bipolar outflow.
This interpretation is confirmed by SiO and CO observations of the full region.
In fact, our new SiO data unveils the presence of multiple (at least 4)
outflows in the region. In particular, there is an important center of outflow
activity in the region at about 1' north of the UCHII region. Indeed the
different outflows are related to different members of the Onsala 1 cluster.
The data presented here support a scenario in which the phases of massive star
formation begin much later in the evolution of a cluster and/or UCHII region
last for much longer than 10^5 yrs.Comment: 6 pages and 3 figure
The Millimeter Astronomy Legacy Team 90 GHz (MALT90) Pilot Survey
We describe a pilot survey conducted with the Mopra 22-m radio telescope in
preparation for the Millimeter Astronomy Legacy Team Survey at 90 GHz (MALT90).
We identified 182 candidate dense molecular clumps using six different
selection criteria and mapped each source simultaneously in 16 different lines
near 90 GHz. We present a summary of the data and describe how the results of
the pilot survey shaped the design of the larger MALT90 survey. We motivate our
selection of target sources for the main survey based on the pilot detection
rates and demonstrate the value of mapping in multiple lines simultaneously at
high spectral resolution.Comment: Accepted to ApJS. 23 pages and 16 figures. Full resolution version
with an appendix showing all the data (12.1 MB) is available at
http://malt90.bu.edu/publications/Foster_2011_Malt90Pilot.pd
The Social Psychology of Religion and Wellbeing: Is a Belief in a God, Good for one’s Wellbeing? An Empirical Inquiry
Objectives: The correlations between religion, age, education, ethnicity, social class, and subjective psychological wellbeing (SWB) of Jamaicans were examined and the predictability of those selected predisposing conditions on SWB were determined.Method: Analysis of the data was by bivariate and multivariate analyses, taken from a nationally representative survey of 1,338 Jamaican adults ≥18 years. The survey was conducted between July and August 2006 by the Centre of Leadership and Governance (CLG), Department of Government, the University of the West Indies, Mona-Jamaica.Findings: The findings indicated that religiosity was positively correlated with SWB as well as ethnicity, education and social class, and that gender was negatively related to SWB. It can be generalized, using multiple regressions, that religiosity, race, gender, education and social class can explain 7.7% of the variance in SWB of Jamaicans. Religiosity was found to be a weak predictor of subjective wellbeing (SWB), (1%), with race contributing 0.4% and gender at 0.3% been among the least suppliers to the model. However, self-reported social class made the most significant contribution to SWB - (3.9%) - along with years of schooling which contributed 2.2%.Conclusion: The study showed that religion provides for a different psychological state for its practitioners as well as influences the general state of wellbeing
A (sub)millimetre study of dense cores in Orion B9
We aim to further constrain the properties and evolutionary stages of dense
cores in Orion B9. The central part of Orion B9 was mapped at 350 micron with
APEX/SABOCA. A sample of nine cores in the region were observed in C17O(2-1),
H13CO+(4-3) (towards 3 sources), DCO+(4-3), N2H+(3-2), and N2D+(3-2) with
APEX/SHFI. These data are used in conjunction with our previous APEX/LABOCA
870-micron dust continuum data. Many of the LABOCA cores show evidence of
substructure in the higher-resolution SABOCA image. In particular, we report on
the discovery of multiple very low-mass condensations in the prestellar core
SMM 6. Based on the 350-to-870 micron flux density ratios, we determine dust
temperatures of ~7.9-10.8 K, and dust emissivity indices of ~0.5-1.8. The CO
depletion factors are in the range ~1.6-10.8. The degree of deuteration in N2H+
is ~0.04-0.99, where the highest value (seen towards the prestellar core SMM 1)
is, to our knowledge, the most extreme level of N2H+ deuteration reported so
far. The level of HCO+ deuteration is about 1-2%. We also detected D2CO towards
two sources. The detection of subcondensations within SMM 6 shows that core
fragmentation can already take place during the prestellar phase. The origin of
this substructure is likely caused by thermal Jeans fragmentation of the
elongated parent core. A low depletion factor and the presence of gas-phase
D2CO in SMM 1 suggest that the core chemistry is affected by the nearby
outflow. The very high N2H+ deuteration in SMM 1 is likely to be remnant of the
earlier CO-depleted phase.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures, 10 tables. Accepted for publication in
Astronomy and Astrophysic
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