Childhood Maltreatment and Adult Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptomotology in Abused, Suicidal, Low-Income, African American Women: A Moderated Mediational Model

There are elevated rates of childhood maltreatment and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology in low-income, abused, suicidal African American women. This investigation aimed to: (1) identify the components of childhood maltreatment in this sample; (2) ascertain whether or not the constructs of childhood maltreatment and PTSD symptomatology were associated in this sample; and (3) examine if maladaptive coping mediated the childhood maltreatment-PTSD symptomatology link and if the magnitude of the mediated relationship was influenced by level of social support (i.e., moderated mediation). Specific types of childhood maltreatment generally loaded onto three components according to a principal components analysis (PCA) of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire: physical-emotional abuse, sexual-emotional abuse, and neglect. Women who endorsed experiencing higher levels of two of the childhood maltreatment components (physical-emotional abuse and sexual-emotional abuse) reported higher levels of current PTSD symptomatology. However, contrary to the study hypotheses, current level of maladaptive coping did not mediate the relationship between child maltreatment and current PTSD symptomatology. Further, the addition of social support did not change this finding. Results are discussed, clinical implications are explored, and recommendations for future studies are offered

Interviewing Pre-school Age Victims of Child Sexual Abuse: Interviewing Methods and Disclosure Outcomes

Disclosure rates among pre-school age victims of alleged sexual abuse were related to the type of investigative interview (forensic evaluation or forensic interview) that they received following a report of abuse. Variables expected to affect the likelihood of the child making a valid disclosure of sexual abuse including the relationship of the child to the offender and the severity of the abuse were also examined. The results indicated that children who underwent a structured, one-time 30 minute forensic interview were significantly less likely to make a valid disclosure of sexual abuse than children who underwent a semi-structured, therapeutic style evaluation over the course of several weeks. The current findings do not suggest that either offender relationship or severity of abuse significantly moderate the relationship between interview type and disclosure status. Limitations of the current study and future directions are discussed

College Student Sleep and Quality of Life

Lack of sleep has been found to negatively impact one’s health. Not only can a lack of sleep make one feel tired or impact their mood, there are many other significant health problems that result from less sleep. On the other hand, getting adequate sleep offers several health benefits which may positively influence one’s quality of life. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between sleep and quality of life in college students over the age of 18 years old. METHODS: College students of all genders and ethnicities from 18 years of age and older were able to participate in a study assessing the relationship between hours of sleep and quality of life (QOL). Following IRB approval, data was gathered electronically in the Fall of 2021 from college students (eligibility was 18 years+ and enrolled in college) using Qualtrics. The CDC-HRQOL survey was administered along with researcher developed questions on sleep habits. All data was analyzed using a non-parametric Spearman Rank Order Correlation in IBMs SPSS and a 95% confidence interval with a P value RESULTS: No significant correlation between hours of sleep and QOL was found although the relationship was trending (P = 0.069). Therefore, the hypothesis was rejected. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study revealed a trending non-significant correlation between college student hours of sleep and QOL. Further research given the current times and looming COVID-19 pandemic is needed on college students\u27 perceived QOL and sleep. Additionally, assessing sleep habits based on demographics, institution, or status in school (first year, second year, etc.) may help further elucidate the relationship between the variables

Evaluating Educational Delivery Models at Zoos Victoria

To assist Zoos Victoria in their goal of becoming the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organisation, we established a system to determine the effectiveness of the three different educational delivery models at Melbourne Zoo. By analysing observations, surveys, and teacher interviews from school excursions, we were able to detect numerous correlations and trends between the data sets. By comparing the efficiency of each model in increasing students’ understanding of the zoo’s conservation campaigns while also promoting positive behavioural changes, we were able to determine which delivery model was the most effective in achieving Zoos Victoria’s mission. Recommendations could then be made to the organisation about improvements to the different models for future educational programs

A year in the life of a North Atlantic seabird: behavioural and energetic adjustments during the annual cycle

During their annual cycles, animals face a series of energetic challenges as they prioritise different life history events by engaging in temporally and potentially spatially segregated reproductive and non-breeding periods. Investigating behaviour and energy use across these periods is fundamental to understanding how animals survive the changing conditions associated with annual cycles. We estimated year-round activity budgets, energy expenditure, location, colony attendance and foraging behaviour for surviving individuals from a population of common guillemots Uria aalge. Despite the potential constraints of reduced day lengths and sea surface temperatures in winter, guillemots managed their energy expenditure throughout the year. Values were high prior to and during the breeding season, driven by a combination of high thermoregulatory costs, diving activity, colony attendance and associated flight. Guillemots also exhibited partial colony attendance outside the breeding season, likely supported by local resources. Additionally, there was a mismatch in the timing of peaks in dive effort and a peak in nocturnal foraging activity, indicating that guillemots adapted their foraging behaviour to the availability of prey rather than daylight. Our study identifies adaptations in foraging behaviour and flexibility in activity budgets as mechanisms that enable guillemots to manage their energy expenditure and survive the annual cycle

Commercialization of an Ergonomic Scalpel

The goal of this project was to analyze the feasibility of commercializing a newly patented ergonomic surgical scalpel. In order to achieve this, we collected data, performed a feasibility analysis, and provided recommendations. We evaluated four areas: the medical device market, manufacturing, consumer research, and intellectual property. We concluded that this product would not be viable for commercialization as a stand-alone product. Alternative methods to commercialization may be required in order to generate future success if this product reaches market

Three-dimensional Structure of Victorivirus HvV190S Suggests Coat Proteins in Most Totiviruses Share a Conserved Core

Double-stranded (ds)RNA fungal viruses are currently assigned to six different families. Those from the family Totiviridae are characterized by nonsegmented genomes and single-layer capsids, 300–450 Å in diameter. Helminthosporium victoriae virus 190S (HvV190S), prototype of recently recognized genus Victorivirus, infects the filamentous fungus Helminthosporium victoriae (telomorph: Cochliobolus victoriae), which is the causal agent of Victoria blight of oats. The HvV190S genome is 5179 bp long and encompasses two large, slightly overlapping open reading frames that encode the coat protein (CP, 772 aa) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, 835 aa). To our present knowledge, victoriviruses uniquely express their RdRps via a coupled termination–reinitiation mechanism that differs from the well-characterized Saccharomyces cerevisiae virus L-A (ScV-L-A, prototype of genus Totivirus), in which the RdRp is expressed as a CP/RdRp fusion protein due to ribosomal frameshifting. Here, we used transmission electron cryomicroscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction to determine the structures of HvV190S virions and two types of virus-like particles (capsids lacking dsRNA and capsids lacking both dsRNA and RdRp) at estimated resolutions of 7.1, 7.5, and 7.6 Å, respectively. The HvV190S capsid is thin and smooth, and contains 120 copies of CP arranged in a “T = 2” icosahedral lattice characteristic of ScV-L-A and other dsRNA viruses. For aid in our interpretations, we developed and used an iterative segmentation procedure to define the boundaries of the two, chemically identical CP subunits in each asymmetric unit. Both subunits have a similar fold, but one that differs from ScV-L-A in many details except for a core α-helical region that is further predicted to be conserved among many other totiviruses. In particular, we predict the structures of other victoriviruses to be highly similar to HvV190S and the structures of most if not all totiviruses including, Leishmania RNA virus 1, to be similar as well

The prevalence and causes of vision loss in Indigenous Australians: the National Indigenous Eye Health Survey

Aim: To determine the prevalence and causes of vision loss in Indigenous Australians. Design, setting and participants: A national, stratified, random cluster sample was drawn from 30 communities across Australia that each included about 300 Indigenous people of all ages. A sample of non-Indigenous adults aged 40 years was also tested at several remote sites for comparison. Participants were examined using a standardised protocol that included a questionnaire (self-administered or completed with the help of field staff), visual acuity (VA) testing on presentation and after correction, visual field testing, trachoma grading, and fundus and lens photography. The data were collected in 2008. Main outcome measures: VA; prevalence of low vision and blindness; causes of vision loss; rates of vision loss in Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous adults. Results: 1694Indigenouschildrenand1189Indigenousadultswereexamined, representing recruitment rates of 84% for children aged 5–15 years and 72% for adults aged 40 years. Rates of low vision (VA \u3c 6/12 to 6/60) were 1.5% (95% CI, 0.9%–2.1%) in children and 9.4% (95% CI, 7.8%–11.1%) in adults. Rates of blindness (VA \u3c 6/60) were 0.2% (95% CI, 0.04%–0.5%) in children and 1.9% (95% CI, 1.1%–2.6%) in adults. The principal cause of low vision in both adults and children was refractive error. The principal causes of blindness in adults were cataract, refractive error and optic atrophy. Relative risks (RRs) of vision loss and blindness in Indigenous adults compared with adults in the mainstream Australian population were 2.8 and 6.2, respectively. By contrast, RRs of vision loss and blindness in Indigenous children compared with mainstream children were 0.2 and 0.6, respectively. Conclusion: Many causes of vision loss in our sample were readily avoidable. Better allocation of services and resources is required to give all Australians equal access to eye health services

Treatment compliance and effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural intervention for low back pain : a complier average causal effect approach to the BeST data set

Background: Group cognitive behavioural intervention (CBI) is effective in reducing low-back pain and disability in comparison to advice in primary care. The aim of this analysis was to investigate the impact of compliance on estimates of treatment effect and to identify factors associated with compliance. Methods: In this multicentre trial, 701 adults with troublesome sub-acute or chronic low-back pain were recruited from 56 general practices. Participants were randomised to advice (control n = 233) or advice plus CBI (n = 468). Compliance was specified a priori as attending a minimum of three group sessions and the individual assessment. We estimated the complier average causal effect (CACE) of treatment. Results: Comparison of the CACE estimate of the mean treatment difference to the intention-to-treat (ITT) estimate at 12 months showed a greater benefit of CBI amongst participants compliant with treatment on the Roland Morris Questionnaire (CACE: 1.6 points, 95% CI 0.51 to 2.74; ITT: 1.3 points, 95% CI 0.55 to 2.07), the Modified Von Korff disability score (CACE: 12.1 points, 95% CI 6.07 to 18.17; ITT: 8.6 points, 95% CI 4.58 to 12.64) and the Modified von Korff pain score (CACE: 10.4 points, 95% CI 4.64 to 16.10; ITT: 7.0 points, 95% CI 3.26 to 10.74). People who were non-compliant were younger and had higher pain scores at randomisation. Conclusions: Treatment compliance is important in the effectiveness of group CBI. Younger people and those with more pain are at greater risk of non-compliance

Morphological Observations of Mineralizing Pericardium Cardiac Grafts

Pericardial patch grafters were implanted in the hearts of young sheep for periods ranging from two to 120 days. Explants seven to 21 days old revealed the formation of a pseudoneointima (PNI) on the blood contacting surface of the pericardium. The PNI was more heavily mineralized than the pericardium. Mineralization was most intense on the blood contacting surface of the PNI and on the chamber surface of the pericardium. After three weeks of implantation, the PNI was much thinner and was organized into a thin fibrous capsule without any signs of mineralization. In the pericardium, mineral deposits were seen in fibroblasts. Moreover, cell-related mineralization was evident prior to calcification of the surrounding collagen matri