606 research outputs found

    Factors Surrounding and Influencing the Primary Disclosure in Child Sexual Abuse

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    This study aimed to investigate the context within which children initially disclose their sexual abuse. The study sought to identify triggers that prompted the initial disclosure event, and to investigate the relationship between the choice of initial confidante and the childs age and likelihood of disclosing during formal interview. Data were obtained in a prospective fashion from 60 alleged child sexual abuse victims referred to the Yale Child Sexual Abuse Clinic (CSAC). Inclusion criteria required that a child must have disclosed to a confidante prior to referral to the Clinic; 57 of 60 children met this criterion and are included. Victim and perpetrator demographics, details of the initial disclosure event, and any identified triggers were obtained in a systematic fashion as part of the standard clinical evaluation by CSAC social workers. Analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between childs age and choice of confidante, and childs choice of confidante and likelihood of disclosing in a formal interview. Of 57 children, 23% were abused by immediate family members and 39% by extended family members; 49% of cases involved penetrative abuse; and 51% of perpetrators were aged 18 or younger. The three most common triggers for disclosure included: questioning by an adult (26.3%), witnessed abuse (12.3%), and safety of being away from perpetrator (10.5%). The three most common initial confidantes included parent-figures (42%), DCF workers or police (15%), and child peers (12%). The majority of children (81%) disclosed during a formal interview with a Clinic social worker. There was a statistically significant relationship between victims age and choice of confidante: 60% of children aged 2-7 initially disclosed to a parent figure, in comparison to only 28% of children aged 8-15 (p=0.034). Additionally, 21% of older children first disclosed to a child peer or sibling, while no younger children did so. We found no relationship between a childs initial choice of confidante and likelihood of disclosing during formal interview (p=0.06). No relationship existed between a childs age and likelihood of disclosing during formal interview (p=0.43); older children, however, were more likely to provide detailed disclosures during formal interview than younger children (p=0.054). In support of our first hypothesis, our data showed a statistically significant relationship between victims age and choice of confidante. Of equal interest, the results did not support our hypothesis that there would exist a relationship between a childs initial choice of confidante and likelihood of disclosing during the formal interview, nor our hypothesis that educational programs or discussions would result in spontaneous disclosures. Of central importance to the understanding of childrens disclosures, our sample most frequently disclosed to a parent-figure while at home and often while engaging in one-on-one activities with the trusted adult confidante to whom they disclosed

    The New Pharmacological Approaches for the Regulation of Functional Activity of G Protein-Coupled Receptors

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    The G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a large family of the receptors that specifically interact with a number of signal molecules, play a key role in the regulation of fundamental cell processes, and the pharmacological action of over 40% of drugs is carried out through GPCRs. In the last years, a significant progress was made in the creation of selective regulators of GPCRs interacting with their allosteric sites, such as the synthetic peptides corresponding to intracellular regions of receptors (GPCR-peptides) and the low-molecular weight agonists and antagonists of GPCRs. This review describes the recent results obtained by us and other authors in the development of GPCR-peptides and low-molecular weight agonists and the prospects of their use in clinics

    Real-time observation of interfering crystal electrons in high-harmonic generation

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    Accelerating and colliding particles has been a key strategy to explore the texture of matter. Strong lightwaves can control and recollide electronic wavepackets, generating high-harmonic (HH) radiation which encodes the structure and dynamics of atoms and molecules and lays the foundations of attosecond science. The recent discovery of HH generation in bulk solids combines the idea of ultrafast acceleration with complex condensed matter systems and sparks hope for compact solid-state attosecond sources and electronics at optical frequencies. Yet the underlying quantum motion has not been observable in real time. Here, we study HH generation in a bulk solid directly in the time-domain, revealing a new quality of strong-field excitations in the crystal. Unlike established atomic sources, our solid emits HH radiation as a sequence of subcycle bursts which coincide temporally with the field crests of one polarity of the driving terahertz waveform. We show that these features hallmark a novel non-perturbative quantum interference involving electrons from multiple valence bands. The results identify key mechanisms for future solid-state attosecond sources and next-generation lightwave electronics. The new quantum interference justifies the hope for all-optical bandstructure reconstruction and lays the foundation for possible quantum logic operations at optical clock rates

    Signatures of a gearwheel quantum spin liquid in a spin-12\frac{1}{2} pyrochlore molybdate Heisenberg antiferromagnet

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    We theoretically investigate the low-temperature phase of the recently synthesized Lu2_2Mo2_2O5_5N2_2 material, an extraordinarily rare realization of a S=1/2S=1/2 three-dimensional pyrochlore Heisenberg antiferromagnet in which Mo5+^{5+} are the S=1/2S=1/2 magnetic species. Despite a Curie-Weiss temperature (ΘCW\Theta_{\rm CW}) of −121(1)-121(1) K, experiments have found no signature of magnetic ordering oror spin freezing down to T∗≈0.5T^*\approx0.5 K. Using density functional theory, we find that the compound is well described by a Heisenberg model with exchange parameters up to third nearest neighbors. The analysis of this model via the pseudofermion functional renormalization group method reveals paramagnetic behavior down to a temperature of at least T=∣ΘCW∣/100T=|\Theta_{\rm CW}|/100, in agreement with the experimental findings hinting at a possible three-dimensional quantum spin liquid. The spin susceptibility profile in reciprocal space shows momentum-dependent features forming a "gearwheel" pattern, characterizing what may be viewed as a molten version of a chiral noncoplanar incommensurate spiral order under the action of quantum fluctuations. Our calculated reciprocal space susceptibility maps provide benchmarks for future neutron scattering experiments on single crystals of Lu2_2Mo2_2O5_5N2_2.Comment: Published version. Main paper (6 pages, 3 figures) + Supplemental Material (4 pages, 3 figures, 1 table

    The Regulation of the Male Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis and Testosterone Production by Adipokines

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    There is evidence that the mass and metabolic status of the adipose tissue that produces adipokines significantly affect the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and the synthesis of testosterone. This is due to the fact that adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, visfatin and resistin have an important role in the regulation of the male HPG axis and steroidogenesis in the testes. The regulation of the HPG axis by adipokines can be carried out both through the changes the plasma levels of adipokines (a systemic regulation) and through the changes in the expression and activity of adipokines in the pituitary and testes, the components of the HPG axis (an autonomous regulation). This review presents the comprehensive analysis of the involvement of leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin in the regulation of the male HPG axis and the testosterone production, as well as of the possible mechanisms of this regulation. The role of adipokines in the dysregulation of the male reproductive system and the impaired steroidogenic activity in the testes in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are also discussed

    The Low-Molecular-Weight Ligands of the Gonadotropin Receptors as the New Generation of the Regulators of the Reproductive Functions and Steroidogenesis

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    In clinic, the luteinizing (LH) and follicle-stimulating (FSH) hormones and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are used to treat reproductive dysfunctions and in assisted reproductive technology. They are the αβ-heterodimeric complexes and specifically bind to ectodomain of G protein-coupled LH and FSH receptors. This leads to activation of many signaling cascades; some of which are responsible for steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, and spermatogenesis, while the others, such as β-arrestin pathways, trigger the downregulation of gonadotropin receptors. A low selectivity of the intracellular signaling of gonadotropins and a large number of their isoforms are the main causes of undesirable effects of gonadotropins, limiting their clinical applications. Unlike gonadotropins, the low-molecular-weight (LMW) ligands interact with an allosteric site located in the transmembrane domain of the LH and FSH receptors and selectively activate the certain signaling pathway, preventing a number of side effects of gonadotropins. The LMW ligands are characterized by activity of the full and inverse agonists and neutral antagonists, as well as the positive and negative modulators, and they have the in vivo activity, including when administered orally. This review focuses on the advances in the development of LMW allosteric ligands of the LH and FSH receptors and the prospects for their use in reproductive medicine

    History of On-orbit Satellite Fragmentations (14th Edition)

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    Since the first serious satellite fragmentation occurred in June 1961 (which instantaneously increased the total Earth satellite population by more than 400%) the issue of space operations within the finite region of space around the Earth has been the subject of increasing interest and concern. The prolific satellite fragmentations of the 1970s and the marked increase in the number of fragmentations in the 1980s served to widen international research into the characteristics and consequences of such events. Continued events in all orbits in later years make definition and historical accounting of those events crucial to future research. Large, manned space stations and the growing number of operational robotic satellites demand a better understanding of the hazards of the dynamic Earth satellite population
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