Statistical Physics of Self-Replication

Self-replication is a capacity common to every species of living thing, and simple physical intuition dictates that such a process must invariably be fueled by the production of entropy. Here, we undertake to make this intuition rigorous and quantitative by deriving a lower bound for the amount of heat that is produced during a process of self-replication in a system coupled to a thermal bath. We find that the minimum value for the physically allowed rate of heat production is determined by the growth rate, internal entropy, and durability of the replicator, and we discuss the implications of this finding for bacterial cell division, as well as for the pre-biotic emergence of self-replicating nucleic acids.Comment: 4+ pages, 1 figur

An investigation of children's peer trust across culture: is the composition of peer trust universal?

The components of children's trust in same-gender peers (trust beliefs, ascribed trustworthiness, and dyadic reciprocal trust) were examined in samples of 8- to 11-year-olds from the UK, Italy, and Japan. Trust was assessed by children's ratings of the extent to which same-gender classmates kept promises and kept secrets. Social relations analyses confirmed that children from each country showed significant: (a) actor variance demonstrating reliable individual differences in trust beliefs, (b) partner variance demonstrating reliable individual differences in ascribed trustworthiness, and (c ) relationship variance demonstrating unique relationships between interaction partners. Cultural differences in trust beliefs and ascribed trustworthiness also emerged and these differences were attributed to the tendency for children from cultures that value societal goals to share personal information with the peer group

1022-107 Outcome of Different Reperfusion Strategies in Thrombolytic “Eligible” versus “Ineligible” Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

Pts considered “not eligible” for inclusion in most early U.S. thrombolytic trials because of advanced age, late presentation, prior CABG or shock have avery poor prognosis; thus, some have suggested broadening the criteria for lyric eligibility. To examine the role of different reperfusion strategies in pts traditionally considered lytic “eligible” vs. “ineligible” (age>70, MI onset>4 hours, or prior CABG), we examined the PAMI database in which 395 pts of any age within 12 hours onset of MI were randomized to t-PA or primary PTCA (pts with shock were excluded). Compared to lyric eligible pts, ineligible pts were o1der(67 vs. 56 yrs, p<0.0001). more frequently female (38% vs. 20%, P<0.0001), diabetic (17% vs. 10%, P=0.03), had prior CABG (8% vs. 0%, P<0.0001), presented later (4.4 vs. 2.2 hours, p<0.0001), and were more likely to present in CI-1F (20% vs. 11%, P=0.01). Endpoints included death (D), reinfarction (R), recurrent ischemic events (RIE) and stroke:Thrombolytic eligibleThrombolytic ineligiblePTCA (n=127)t-PA (n=117)PPTCA (n=68)t-PA (n=83)Pin-hosp. D2.4%1.7%NS2.9%13.3%0.025in-hosp. D or R5.5%9.4%NS4.4%15.7%0.026in-hosp. RIE11.8%29.1%0.00087.4%26.6%0.002in-hasp. stroke0%1.7%NS0%6.0%0.046 month D3.9%1.7%NS2.9%15.7%0.0096 month D or R8.7%12.8%NS7.4%22.9%0.009In conclusion: Pts traditionally considered thrombolytic eligible comprise a low risk cohort, and have a favorable prognosis whether treated with primary PTCA or t-PA. In contrast, pts historically excluded from most early lytic trials because of advanced age, late presentation or prior CABG are at increased risk, and may have improved survival with primary PTCA rather than thrompresented laterbolysis

Parents’ Ethnotheories of Maladaptive Behavior in Young Children

Parents’ culturally influenced belief systems, or ethnotheories, are critical components of children’s socialization. Beliefs about children’s desirable characteristics motivate specific parenting activities and moderate the effectiveness of childrearing practices. However, relatively little attention has been given to parents’ ethnotheories of children’s undesirable behavior. From a few studies, we know that parents have culturally specific theories about the nature and management of children’s maladaptive behavior that motivate their socialization practices. In this review, we identify gaps in the research and suggest that qualitative studies of parents’ ethnotheories about the nature and management of children’s deviant behavior have strong theoretical, empirical, and practical benefits for developmental science.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151344/1/cdep12330.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151344/2/cdep12330_am.pd

1022-103 Does Primary Angioplasty Improve the Prognosis of Patients with Diabetes and Acute Myocardial Infarction?

To examine the effect of different reperfusion modalities in pts with DM, the multicenter PAMI database was analyzed, in which 395 pts within 12 hours onset of acute MI were prospectively randomized to treatment with t-PA (n=200) vs. primary PTCA (n=195). DM was present in 50 (13%) pts. Compared to pts without DM, pts with DM were older (65 vs. 59 yrs, p=0.002), more often female (40% vs. 25%, p=0.03), more frequently had HTN (68% vs. 39%, P=0.0001), prior CHF (8% vs. 1%, P=0.0001). multivessel disease (76% vs. 51%, P=0.01) and presented later (3.8 vs. 3.0hours, p=0.03).In-hospital mortality was 10.0% in pts with DM vs. 3.8% in pts without DM (p<0.05). By multivariate analysis of 16 variables, however, advanced age and treatment by PTCA rather than t-PA, but not DM correlated with in-hospital mortality.Mortality stratified by treatment appears in the graph. Despite the apparently improved prognosis of pts with DM treated with PTCA vs. t-PA, the p value forthe x2 test for interaction effect between DM and treatment modality was 0.86; most of the benefit of PTCA was present in the elderly population.In conclusionPts with DM and acute MI have increased mortality, primarily because of advanced age. The outcome after PTCA compared to t-PA is improved in DM largely because of PTCA's beneficial effect in the elderly

Cultural Aspects of Attachment Anxiety, Avoidance, and Life Satisfaction: Comparing the US and Turkey

Attachment insecurity can interfere with the experience, expression, and benefits of positive emotions, including happiness and life satisfaction (LS). However, both the pattern and effects of insecure attachment orientations on LS vary across cultures. Considering that attachment anxiety is higher in collectivist cultures and attachment avoidance is relatively high in individualistic cultures, the present chapter elaborates on the idea that anxious and avoidant attachment would have varying effects on LS in individualistic and collectivistic cultural contexts. Study 1 (N = 2456) involved a community sample of married couples in Turkey and demonstrated that attachment avoidance was a stronger predictor of LS than attachment anxiety in Turkish collectivist context. Study 2 tested the hypothesis that the roles of attachment anxiety and avoidance in predicting LS would vary between collectivistic and individualistic cultures. Mothers’ adult attachment dimensions and LS in Turkey (N = 89) and the United States (N = 91) were measured. As expected, results indicated that LS was predicted only by attachment avoidance in Turkey and by attachment anxiety in the United States. These findings are in line with the cultural fit hypothesis, suggesting that culturally incongruent attachment orientations have a stronger negative impact on individuals’ LS

D-cycloserine augmentation of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data

Importance: Whether and under which conditions D-cycloserine (DCS) augments the effects of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders is unclear. Objective: To clarify whether DCS is superior to placebo in augmenting the effects of cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders and to evaluate whether antidepressants interact with DCS and the effect of potential moderating variables. Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to February 10, 2016. Reference lists of previous reviews and meta-analyses and reports of randomized clinical trials were also checked. Study Selection: Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were (1) double-blind randomized clinical trials of DCS as an augmentation strategy for exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy and (2) conducted in humans diagnosed as having specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Raw data were obtained from the authors and quality controlled. Data were ranked to ensure a consistent metric across studies (score range, 0-100). We used a 3-level multilevel model nesting repeated measures of outcomes within participants, who were nested within studies. Results: Individual participant data were obtained for 21 of 22 eligible trials, representing 1047 of 1073 eligible participants. When controlling for antidepressant use, participants receiving DCS showed greater improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment (mean difference, -3.62; 95% CI, -0.81 to -6.43; P = .01; d = -0.25) but not from pretreatment to midtreatment (mean difference, -1.66; 95% CI, -4.92 to 1.60; P = .32; d = -0.14) or from pretreatment to follow-up (mean difference, -2.98, 95% CI, -5.99 to 0.03; P = .05; d = -0.19). Additional analyses showed that participants assigned to DCS were associated with lower symptom severity than those assigned to placebo at posttreatment and at follow-up. Antidepressants did not moderate the effects of DCS. None of the prespecified patient-level or study-level moderators was associated with outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance: D-cycloserine is associated with a small augmentation effect on exposure-based therapy. This effect is not moderated by the concurrent use of antidepressants. Further research is needed to identify patient and/or therapy characteristics associated with DCS response.2018-05-0

Rape-related symptoms in adolescents: short- and long-term outcome after cognitive behavior group therapy

Background: Efficacy studies on treatment in adolescent victims of single rape are lacking, even though sexual victimization is most likely to occur during adolescence and despite the fact that adolescents are at risk to develop subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder. Aim: The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of a nine-session cognitive behavior group therapy (STEPS), including a parallel six-session parents’ group on rape-related symptomatology in female adolescents (13–18 years). STEPS includes psychoeducation, exposure in sensu as well as in vivo, cognitive restructuring, and relapse prevention. Methods: Fifty-five female adolescents with mental health problems due to single rape, but without prior sexual trauma, received STEPS while their parents participated in a support group. Subjects were assessed on posttraumatic stress (PTS) and comorbid symptoms using self-report questionnaires prior to and directly after treatment, and at 6 and 12 months follow-up. Results: Repeated measures analysis showed a significant and large decrease in symptoms of PTS, anxiety, depression, anger, dissociation, sexual concerns, and behavior problems directly after treatment, which maintained at 12 months follow-up. Time since trauma did not influence the results. Dropout during STEPS was 1.8%. Conclusions: The results potentially suggest that the positive treatment outcomes at short- and long-term may be caused by STEPS. The encouraging findings need confirmation in future controlled studies on the effectiveness of STEPS because it may be possible that the treatment works especially well for more chronic symptoms, while the less chronic part of the sample showed considerable improvement on its own

Parenting and child adjustment: a comparison of Turkish and English families

The links between parenting and child behaviour in cultural context have received increasing research attention. We investigated the effect of parenting on child adjustment using a multi-method design, comparing English and Turkish families. The socioeconomically diverse samples included 118 English and 100 Turkish families, each with two children aged 4–8 years. Mothers completed questionnaires as well as parent–child interaction being assessed using a structured Etch-a-Sketch task with each child separately. Children were interviewed about their relationships with their mothers using the Berkeley Puppet Interview. Multiple-group Confirmatory Analysis was used to test Measurement Invariance across groups, and a multi-informant approach was used to assess parenting. We found partial cross-cultural measurement invariance for parenting and child adjustment. Strikingly, the association between parenting and child adjustment was stronger among English families than Turkish families. Culturally distinct meanings of both parenting and child behaviour must be considered when interpreting their association