Increasing compliance with wearing a medical device in children with autism

Health professionals often recommend the use of medical devices to assess the health, monitor the well-being, or improve the quality of life of their patients. Children with autism may present challenges in these situations as their sensory peculiarities may increase refusals to wear such devices. To address this issue, we systematically replicated prior research by examining the effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) to increase compliance with wearing a heart rate monitor in 2 children with autism. The intervention increased compliance to 100% for both participants when an edible reinforcer was delivered every 90 s. The results indicate that DRO does not require the implementation of extinction to increase compliance with wearing a medical device. More research is needed to examine whether the reinforcement schedule can be further thinned

Towards a framework for critical citizenship education

Increasingly countries around the world are promoting forms of "critical" citizenship in the planned curricula of schools. However, the intended meaning behind this term varies markedly and can range from a set of creative and technical skills under the label "critical thinking" to a desire to encourage engagement, action and political emancipation, often labelled "critical pedagogy". This paper distinguishes these manifestations of the "critical" and, based on an analysis of the prevailing models of critical pedagogy and citizenship education, develops a conceptual framework for analysing and comparing the nature of critical citizenship

Landmarking the brain for geometric morphometric analysis: An error study

Neuroanatomic phenotypes are often assessed using volumetric analysis. Although powerful and versatile, this approach is limited in that it is unable to quantify changes in shape, to describe how regions are interrelated, or to determine whether changes in size are global or local. Statistical shape analysis using coordinate data from biologically relevant landmarks is the preferred method for testing these aspects of phenotype. To date, approximately fifty landmarks have been used to study brain shape. Of the studies that have used landmark-based statistical shape analysis of the brain, most have not published protocols for landmark identification or the results of reliability studies on these landmarks. The primary aims of this study were two-fold: (1) to collaboratively develop detailed data collection protocols for a set of brain landmarks, and (2) to complete an intra- and inter-observer validation study of the set of landmarks. Detailed protocols were developed for 29 cortical and subcortical landmarks using a sample of 10 boys aged 12 years old. Average intra-observer error for the final set of landmarks was 1.9 mm with a range of 0.72 mm-5.6 mm. Average inter-observer error was 1.1 mm with a range of 0.40 mm-3.4 mm. This study successfully establishes landmark protocols with a minimal level of error that can be used by other researchers in the assessment of neuroanatomic phenotypes. © 2014 Chollet et al

Interactions between subunits a and b in the rotary ATP synthase as determined by cross-linking

The interaction of the membrane traversing stator subunits a and b of the rotary ATP synthase was probed by substitution of a single Cys into each subunit with subsequent Cu2+ catalyzed cross-linking. Extensive interaction between the transmembrane (TM) region of one b subunit and TM2 of subunit a was indicated by cross-linking with 6 Cys pairs introduced into these regions. Additional disulfide cross-linking was observed between the N-terminus of subunit b and the periplasmic loop connecting TM4 and TM5 of subunit a. Finally, benzophenone-4-maleimide derivatized Cys in the 2–3 periplasmic loop of subunit a were shown to cross-link with the periplasmic N-terminal region of subunit b. These experiments help to define the juxtaposition of subunits b and a in the ATP synthase

The impact of parent reaction to sexual orientation on depressive symptoms and sex risk among Hispanic men who have sex with men

Session presented on Friday, July 25, 2014: Purpose: The study aimed to examine the impact of parents\u27 reaction to their sons\u27 sexual orientation on the son\u27s depressive symptoms and sexual risk behaviors among Hispanic adult men who have sex with men (MSM). We also sought to examine whether the son\u27s level of acculturation would moderate the relationship between parental reaction and the outcome variables. The study tested the following hypotheses: Lower parental acceptance will be related to depressive symptoms; Lower parental acceptance will be related to sexual risk behavior behaviors; The relationship between lower parental acceptance and depressive symptoms will be stronger for men who are less acculturated; The relationship between lower parental acceptance and sexual behaviors will be stronger for men who are less acculturated. Methods: This is a secondary analysis from a larger mixed methods study that assessed cultural influences on risk behaviors and mental health among Hispanic MSM. The segment of the study being reported in this presentation used a quantitative cross-sectional design. Participants for the study were recruited from a community-based organization that provides HIV testing and counseling to MSM. After participation in the study, men were provided business cards with study information and were encouraged to refer other potential participants. The study was approved by the University of Miami Institutional Review Board and participants were compensated for their time. The sample consisted of 125 community-dwelling Hispanic MSM. Most (53%) of the men were born in Cuba, 14% born in the U.S., 10% born in Puerto Rico, and the remainder in other Latin American nations. Participants had a mean of 14.26 (SD = 3.20) years of education, and 58% were currently employed. Most men identified themselves as homosexual (87%). The mean age of the participants was 43.02 years (range 21-65, SD = 10.34). Of 125, 78 (62%) said their mother (or mother-figure) and 55 (44%) said their father (or father-figure) knew about their sexual orientation. Only those men with at least one parent who knew about their sexual orientation contributed data for this analysis, and mother and father reactions were analyzed separately. GZLM in SPSS 19 was used for all analyses. Parental reaction to their son\u27s sexual orientation was assessed using the Perceived Parent Reaction Scale (Willoughby, Malik, & Lindahl, 2006). This measure includes 32 items that assess an individual\u27s perception of their parent\u27s level of general homophobia, shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance of their child\u27s sexual orientation. Scores range from 32 to 160 and higher scores indicate more negative perceptions (i.e., lower acceptance), the study asked participants to report separately on their mother and father\u27s current attitudes. Cronbach\u27s alpha for this sample were .96 for mother, and .96 for father; reactions were standardized when testing interactions. Acculturation was assessed using the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale (Marin & Gamba, 1996). This measure includes 24 items regarding the respondent\u27s English and Spanish language behaviors in the domains of language use, language proficiency, and language use in media. Two subscales of 12 items each assess Hispanicism and Americanism. Cronbach\u27s alpha for this sample were .94 for Americanism and .83 for Hispanicism. Only acculturation to the U.S., i.e., Americanism, was used in this study; acculturation was standardized when testing interactions. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D; Radloff, 1977). The CES-D includes 20 items that measure the frequency of depressive symptoms. Cronbach\u27s alpha for this sample was .90. Sexual risk was assessed using the Safer Sex Behavior Questionnaire (DiIorio, Parsons, Lehr, Adame, & Carlone, 1992). The measure includes 27-items addressing condom usage, high risk sexual behaviors, and sexual communication and negotiation. Lower scores indicate higher sexual risk. Cronbach\u27s alpha for this sample was .82. Results: Lower acceptance from mother, B = 3.61, SE = 1.68, p = .032, and from father, B = 5.35, SE = 1.88, p = .004, were related to higher depressive symptoms. Mother and father reaction were not directly related to sexual risk. There was no significant interaction between mother or father reaction and acculturation to the U.S. with respect to depression. There was a significant interaction between mother reaction and acculturation to the U.S. with safer sex behaviors, B = -2.64, SE = 1.27, p= .037. Acculturation to the U.S. was directly linked to lower sexual risk behavior, but lower acceptance from the mother tempered the protective effects of acculturation. There was no significant father reaction x acculturation interaction with safer sex behaviors. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of parental acceptance for the mental health of Latino MSM. Men who perceived that their mother or father currently held a negative attitude towards their sexual orientation experienced more depressive symptoms. Men who were less acculturated and who perceived their mothers as non-accepting of their sexual orientation were also more likely to engage in riskier sexual behaviors. This study suggests the need for family-based interventions to improve relationships among Latino MSM and their parents. It is noteworthy that parental reactions were influential in this sample of grown men, whose average age was in their 40\u27s, suggesting that family acceptance is important well into adulthood

Evolution of metabolic divergence in <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> during long-term infection facilitates a proto-cooperative interspecies interaction

The effect of polymicrobial interactions on pathogen physiology and how it can act either to limit pathogen colonization or to potentiate pathogen expansion and virulence are not well understood. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are opportunistic pathogens commonly found together in polymicrobial human infections. However, we have previously shown that the interactions between these two bacterial species are strain dependent. Whereas P. aeruginosa PAO1, a commonly used laboratory strain, effectively suppressed S. aureus growth, we observed a commensal-like interaction between the human host-adapted strain, DK2-P2M24-2003, and S. aureus. In this study, characterization by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) and mass spectral (MS) molecular networking revealed a significant metabolic divergence between P. aeruginosa PAO1 and DK2-P2M24-2003, which comprised several virulence factors and signaling 4-hydroxy-2-alkylquinoline (HAQ) molecules. Strikingly, a further modulation of the HAQ profile was observed in DK2-P2M24-2003 during interaction with S. aureus, resulting in an area with thickened colony morphology at the P. aeruginosa–S. aureus interface. In addition, we found an HAQ-mediated protection of S. aureus by DK2-P2M24-2003 from the killing effect of tobramycin. Our findings suggest a model where the metabolic divergence manifested in human host-adapted P. aeruginosa is further modulated during interaction with S. aureus and facilitate a proto-cooperative P. aeruginosa–S. aureus relationship

MED12 regulates a transcriptional network of calcium-handling genes in the heart

The Mediator complex regulates gene transcription by linking basal transcriptional machinery with DNA-bound transcription factors. The activity of the Mediator complex is mainly controlled by a kinase submodule that is composed of 4 proteins, including MED12. Although ubiquitously expressed, Mediator subunits can differentially regulate gene expression in a tissue-specific manner. Here, we report that MED12 is required for normal cardiac function, such that mice with conditional cardiac-specific deletion of MED12 display progressive dilated cardiomyopathy. Loss of MED12 perturbs expression of calcium-handling genes in the heart, consequently altering calcium cycling in cardiomyocytes and disrupting cardiac electrical activity. We identified transcription factors that regulate expression of calcium-handling genes that are downregulated in the heart in the absence of MED12, and we found that MED12 localizes to transcription factor consensus sequences within calcium-handling genes. We showed that MED12 interacts with one such transcription factor, MEF2, in cardiomyocytes and that MED12 and MEF2 co-occupy promoters of calcium-handling genes. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MED12 enhances MEF2 transcriptional activity and that overexpression of both increases expression of calcium-handling genes in cardiomyocytes. Our data support a role for MED12 as a coordinator of transcription through MEF2 and other transcription factors. We conclude that MED12 is a regulator of a network of calcium-handling genes, consequently mediating contractility in the mammalian heart

American Association for Anatomy recommendations for the management of legacy anatomical collections

Collections of human remains in scientific and private institutions have a long tradition, though throughout history there has often been variable regard for the respect and dignity that these tissues demand. Recent public scandals around the use of human remains, coupled with an increasing community awareness around accountability in such instances, forces scholars to confront the ethical and moral concerns associated with these collections. This includes specific focus on the acquisition, storage, use, and disposition of these remains, which were often collected with no consent and with little knowledge, or concern, about the individual or their respective culture and practices surrounding death and postmortem treatment. As a response, the American Association for Anatomy convened a Legacy Anatomical Collections Task Force to consider these issues and to develop recommendations to assist those working with these tissues in education, research, and museum collections. This has culminated with the development of Recommendations for the Management of Legacy Anatomical Collections. The recommendations provide both an ethical foundation and practical considerations for the use, storage, and disposition of legacy collections of human tissues, and deliver guidance for establishing appropriate management and oversight, investigating provenance, and engaging with communities of care. While these Recommendations are considered a living document which will change over time as ethical principles concerning human tissue evolve, they currently represent ‘best practice’ recommendations that can guide researchers, teachers, and museum associates as they consider the future of legacy anatomical collections in their care

On perhaps becoming what you had previously despised: Psychologists as prescribers of medication

The authors contend that organized psychology's efforts to gain limited prescriptive privileges may be misguided. The modification of psychology's traditional scope of practice may produce harm in the form of lessened patient regard, devaluation of nonpharmacologic elements of practice, and markedly increased exposure to claims of malpractice. The authors also decry the disingenuous use of psychopharmacologically “underserved” populations as rationales for the pursuit of prescriptive privileges. Psychology may mount a major effort to make this change without sufficient justification, in the view of the authors.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44851/1/10880_2005_Article_BF01989620.pd