455 research outputs found
Lightweight orthotic braces
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ANOPP programmer's reference manual for the executive System
Documentation for the Aircraft Noise Prediction Program as of release level 01/00/00 is presented in a manual designed for programmers having a need for understanding the internal design and logical concepts of the executive system software. Emphasis is placed on providing sufficient information to modify the system for enhancements or error correction. The ANOPP executive system includes software related to operating system interface, executive control, and data base management for the Aircraft Noise Prediction Program. It is written in Fortran IV for use on CDC Cyber series of computers
Assessment of cognitive self-statements during marital problem solving: A comparison of two methods
Twenty maritally distressed couples (DC) and 20 nondistressed couples (NDC) were recruited and asked to undertake 10 minutes of problem-solving discussions, which were videotaped. Each individual partner’s cognitive self-statements during the interaction were assessed using two methods: video-assisted recall (VR) and thought listing (TL). Reported cognitions from each method were content- analysed and classified into five categories: partner- referent positive, partner- referent negative, self-referent positive, self- referent negative, and other. Proportions of reported cognitions falling into each category were analysed in two separate two-way MANOVAs (marital distress/ nondistress x sex) for the VR and TL measures. Results of each MANOVA indicated a highly significant effect of marital distress on cognitions, and a significant effect of sex on the VR but not the TL measure. Discriminant analyses showed that the VR and TL methods both discriminated between DC and NDC groups. Post hoc univariate ANOVAs indicated that DC had significantly higher proportions of negative partner- referent cognitions, and lower proportions of positive partner- referent cognitions, than NDC while problem solving. The relative merits of each cognitive assessment method, and their potential use in increasing marital therapy effectiveness, are discussed
LTR retrotransposon dynamics in the evolution of the olive (Olea europaea) genome.
Improved knowledge of genome composition, especially of its repetitive component, generates important information for both theoretical and applied research. The olive repetitive component is made up of two main classes of sequences: tandem repeats and retrotransposons (REs). In this study, we provide characterization of a sample of 254 unique full-length long terminal repeat (LTR) REs. In the sample, Ty1-Copia elements were more numerous than Ty3-Gypsy elements. Mapping a large set of Illumina whole-genome shotgun reads onto the identified retroelement set revealed that Gypsy elements are more redundant than Copia elements. The insertion time of intact retroelements was estimated based on sister LTR's divergence. Although some elements inserted relatively recently, the mean insertion age of the isolated retroelements is around 18 million yrs. Gypsy and Copia retroelements showed different waves of transposition, with Gypsy elements especially active between 10 and 25 million yrs ago and nearly inactive in the last 7 million yrs. The occurrence of numerous solo-LTRs related to isolated full-length retroelements was ascertained for two Gypsy elements and one Copia element. Overall, the results reported in this study show that RE activity (both retrotransposition and DNA loss) has impacted the olive genome structure in more ancient times than in other angiosperms
Stress Crossover in Intimate Relationships: A New Framework for Studying Dynamic Co-Regulation Patterns in Dyadic Interactions
It has been demonstrated that stress, experienced outside of a relationship, can spill into a relationship and cross over during interactions from one partner to the other. However, the mechanism of how stress cross over in real-time between partners is still unknown. To overcome this limitation, we invited 189 couples (N = 378 individuals) for two interactions and stressed either the man, the woman, or both partners between the interactions with a standardized stress-induction procedure. Vocally-encoded emotional arousal (i.e., fundamental frequency, indexed as fo) was extracted from both partners in 25,834 talk turns. Dynamical systems modeling revealed four patterns of dynamic influence prior to stress induction, which started to erode after the stress induction. This demonstrates that the initially unstressed mates become stressed during the behavioral exchange and stress crosses over from the unstressed partner to the stressed mates, interfering with their ability to down-regulate stress
Visualizing dynamic patterns of binge and purge episodes using passive sensor data
Bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge-eating disorder (BED) are similar in that both are characterized by recurrent episodes of binge-eating, but diverge in that BN but not BED includes recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors to limit weight gain or counteract the effects of a binge. Binge (B) and purge (P) "events" are often conceptualized and studied as a series of brief snap shots where changing circumstances increase or decrease the likelihood of these disordered behaviors. We propose that B and P episodes can be better conceptualized as changes in patterns that unfold over time and that shifts between normative and dysfunctional patterns are observable using passive sensing methodologies and may be precluded by physiological or behavioral warning signs. In this paper, we introduce conceptual and theoretical approaches to consider B and P events from this perspective. We then use two illustrative case examples from a larger parent study to demonstrate how recent technologies can be used to collect intensive longitudinal data and how such data can be used to visualize normative and dysfunctional patterns. Finally, we close with discussion of the implications of this conceptualization and the corresponding data collection and visualization methods for basic science and intervention in eating disorders
Preventing and Treating Women’s Postpartum Depression: A Qualitative Systematic Review on Partner-Inclusive Interventions
Partner-related factors associated with the occurrence of Postpartum Depression (PPD) may justify the partner’s inclusion in preventive and treatment approaches. The aim of this qualitative systematic review was to synthesize the literature on partner-inclusive interventions designed to prevent or treat postpartum depression (PPD) in women. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, the systematic search of studies published between 1967 and May 2015 in PsycINFO and PubMed identified 26 studies that met the inclusion criteria, which reported on 24 interventions. The following partner parameters were analyzed: participation type, session content, mental health assessment, attendance assessment, and the effects of partner’s participation on the women’s response to the interventions. Total participation by the partner was mostly reported in the prevention studies, whereas partial participation was reported in the treatment studies. The session content was mostly based on psychoeducation about PPD and parenthood, coping strategies to facilitate the transition to parenthood such as the partner’s emotional and instrumental support, and problem-solving and communication skills. Some benefits perceived by the couples underscore the relevance of the partner’s inclusion in PPD interventions. However, the scarce information about the partner’s attendance and the associated effects on the women’s intervention outcomes, along with methodological limitations of the studies, made it difficult to determine if the partner’s participation was associated with the intervention’s efficacy. Conclusions about the clinical value of including partners in PPD interventions are still limited. More research is warranted to better inform health policy strategies
Examining the Interpersonal Context of Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Emotional Communication and Relationship Distress
In many community samples of couples, intimate partner violence (IPV) can be defined as a dyadic phenomenon that occurs during conflict escalation. Yet, among the risk factors associated with male-to-female (M-F) IPV (i.e., physical, psychological, and sexual violence), the interpersonal context is one of the least understood. Thus, identifying which aspects of communication are associated with IPV is critical to inform emerging models of relational violence. Although heightened emotional arousal and poor emotion regulation are common experiences reported among individuals who engage in IPV, no investigation has explored patterns of emotional arousal during conversations involving couples with M-F IPV. Therefore, the current study is the first to examine patterns of vocally-encoded emotional arousal during couple conversations between husbands who previously engaged in IPV and their wives (N = 149). Couples were recruited using a 2x2 design that crossed relationship distress and mild physical IPV. Emotional arousal was measured continuously during two problem-solving conversations using vocal fundamental frequency. Three sets of analyses were used to explore different aspects of emotional communication. These included (a) growth curve models to examine overall trajectories of emotional arousal, (b) cross-lagged actor-partner interdependence models to assess emotional reactivity between partners, and (c) coupled-linear oscillator models to examine emotion co-regulation. Results indicate that male partners in distressed/IPV relationships were responsive to their female partner’s arousal, took longer to return to their typical level of arousal when their partner became upset, and demonstrated continuous increases in arousal across the conversation. This differed from distressed/no IPV and non-distressed/IPV couples: While these partners were also reactive to each other’s arousal and slowed each other’s returns to baseline, both men and women demonstrated overall patterns of de-escalation by the end of the conversation. These findings suggest a particular gender orientation for the unique impact of relationship distress and IPV on emotional communication: Within such interpersonal contexts, men, relative to women, might have greater difficulty down-regulating their emotions—a process that has implications for risk of physical violence. Additionally, in line with the conference theme, these findings provide support for the use of novel methodologies to examine vulnerability factors among couples for whom other forms of violence are a problem (e.g., sexual coercion). Given that individuals who commit acts of sexual aggression also report difficulties in emotional expression and dampening of negative mood states, using tools such as vocal fundamental frequency might offer a window into interpersonal processes that are associated with sexual violence
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