Unique Associations Research Articles

Developmental cascades of behavior problems and cognitive ability from toddlerhood to middle childhood: A 9-year longitudinal study

Little is known about the direction, ordering, and uniqueness of longitudinal associations between behavior problems and cognitive ability, from toddlerhood to middle childhood. A developmental cascade model was tested in the present study to examine the transactional processes in 103 Chinese children at the ages of 1, 2, 7, and 9 years. Behavior problems were assessed using the maternal reported Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment at the ages of 1, 2 and parental reported Children Behavior Checklist at the ages of 7, 9. Cognitive ability was measured using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development at the ages of 1, 2 and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children at the ages of 7, 9. The results revealed the stability of behavior problems and cognitive ability from age 1 to age 9 years and concurrent associations between externalizing and internalizing problems. Unique longitudinal associations were identified between (1) age 1 cognitive ability and age 2 internalizing problems, (2) age 2 externalizing problems and age 7 internalizing problems, (3) age 2 externalizing problems and age 7 cognitive ability, (4) age 7 cognitive ability and age 9 externalizing problems. The results indicated essential targets for future interventions aimed at reducing children's behavior problems at 2 years old and promoting cognitive ability at 1 year old and 7 years old.

Reciprocal associations between social media use and self-perception of aging among older adults: Do men and women differ?

PurposeDespite the positive impact of social media use in late adulthood, social media use is still low among older adults. Research in technology adoption and utilization indicates the importance of age-specific factors, such as self-perception of aging (SPA). As it is unclear whether SPA facilitates social media use or social media use promotes SPA, reverse causality has emerged as a major point of contention within this literature, with several studies reporting conflicting results. Thus, in this study, we aim to contribute unique insight by examining (1) whether positive and negative SPAs demonstrate unique associations with social media use and (2) whether these reciprocal associations differ by gender. MethodsUsing two waves (2014 and 2018) from the Health and Retirement Study, 4101 older Americans (age ≥65 years) with normal baseline cognition were included in this study. Autoregressive cross-lagged analyses were conducted to assess reciprocal associations between SPA and social media use among the total sample and by gender subgroups. ResultsControlling for covariates, we found that more frequent social media use marginally predicted higher positive SPA four years later (B = 0.02, p = .07), and higher negative SPA marginally predicted less frequent social media use four years later (B = −0.07, p = .08). However, the by-gender analysis showed that the positive effect of social media use on positive SPA was only significant among older men (B = 0.04, p < .05), whereas the negative impact of negative SPA on social media use only existed among older women (B = −0.13, p < .01). ConclusionsThe reciprocal associations between SPA and social media use differ by the valence of SPA (positive/negative) and gender. Future interventions for SPA and digital technology use among older adults should be gender-tailored.

The impact of alcoholic drinks and dietary factors on epigenetic markers associated with triglyceride levels.

Background: Many epigenetic loci have been associated with plasma triglyceride (TG) levels, but epigenetic connections between those loci and dietary exposures are largely unknown. This study aimed to characterize the epigenetic links between diet, lifestyle, and TG. Methods: We first conducted an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) for TG in the Framingham Heart Study Offspring population (FHS, n = 2,264). We then examined relationships between dietary and lifestyle-related variables, collected four times in 13years, and differential DNA methylation sites (DMSs) associated with the last TG measures. Third, we conducted a mediation analysis to evaluate the causal relationships between diet-related variables and TG. Finally, we replicated three steps to validate identified DMSs associated with alcohol and carbohydrate intake in the Genetics of Lipid-Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN) study (n = 993). Results: In the FHS, the EWAS revealed 28TG-associated DMSs at 19 gene regions. We identified 102 unique associations between these DMSs and one or more dietary and lifestyle-related variables. Alcohol and carbohydrate intake showed the most significant and consistent associations with 11TG-associated DMSs. Mediation analyses demonstrated that alcohol and carbohydrate intake independently affect TG via DMSs as mediators. Higher alcohol intake was associated with lower methylation at seven DMSs and higher TG. In contrast, increased carbohydrate intake was associated with higher DNA methylation at two DMSs (CPT1A and SLC7A11) and lower TG. Validation in the GOLDN further supports the findings. Conclusion: Our findings imply that TG-associated DMSs reflect dietary intakes, particularly alcoholic drinks, which could affect the current cardiometabolic risk via epigenetic changes. This study illustrates a new method to map epigenetic signatures of environmental factors for disease risk. Identification of epigenetic markers of dietary intake can provide insight into an individual's risk of cardiovascular disease and support the application of precision nutrition. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), NCT00005121; the Genetics of Lipid Lowering Drugs and Diet Network (GOLDN), NCT01023750.

The amicable rabbit – interactions between pet rabbits and their caregivers based on a questionnaire survey

As the popularity of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) kept as pets is steadily growing, the applied aspects of rabbit-human interactions draws increased attention. Factors, such as human-directed aggression and friendliness, are important from the aspect of animal welfare and owner satisfaction. In an online questionnaire for Hungarian pet rabbit owners (N = 1039 entries), we targeted the interactions between rabbits and their owners as well as interactions with strangers. The sex, reproductive status, breed, origin, keeping conditions of the rabbit, diet, and the owners’ knowledge about sensitive period treatment, were asked in the questionnaire. Principal Component Analysis yielded three behavioral dimensions (explaining the 63.5% of total variance) – which, based on the encompassed items, were named ‘Amicable’, ‘Aggression towards strangers’ and ‘Aggression towards the owner’. In the next step we looked for significant associations between the three behavioral components and the aforementioned fixed factors. We found that ‘Amicable’ had higher scores in the case of male rabbits (vs. females, P < 0.001), intact rabbits (vs. spayed/neutered, P < 0.05), and dwarf pet rabbit breeds (vs. large traditional meat rabbits, P < 0.001). Low ‘Amicable’ scores were given to rabbits that were adopted from shelters (P < 0.01), and also to those that were never let out from their cages/pens (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the owners who knew about the importance of the early socialization period, had the most ‘Amicable’ rabbits (P < 0.05). Finally, individually kept rabbits and those that received the longest time of maternal care (kept with the mother even after weaning), were considered as more ‘Amicable’ than those rabbits that had other rabbit companions (P < 0.05); or were separated from their mother before normal weaning time (P < 0.05). We found similarly detailed results regarding the associations between the independent variables and the two ‘Aggression’ components. We also found more unique associations, for example between the type of food and aggressiveness; rabbits fed with muesli-type feed reportedly behaved more aggressively with humans (P < 0.05) than those that were fed mainly pellets with additional hay. Understandably, there are also limitations as we could not establish causality from these results and also the distribution of the subjects among the various categories was sometimes far from balanced, which may lessen the representativity of the results in particular cases.

A Comparison of Task-Based and Questionnaire Assessments of Executive Control Aspects in Relation to Adolescent Marijuana Initiation

Prior research has linked deficits in executive control (EC) to marijuana use in adolescents but has relied either primarily on adolescent self-report of EC or tasked-based EC, and focused on limited aspects of EC, usually inhibitory control. We examined unique associations of three established aspects of EC (inhibitory control, working memory, and flexible shifting) assessed with both performance on laboratory tasks and self-report in relation to marijuana initiation. Participants were 260 youth (ages 14-18 years) from a small Midwestern city in the United States enrolled in the adolescent phase (beginning in 2017) of an ongoing study of EC development recruited originally between 2006 and 2012 (46% male, 72% European American). The three aspects of executive control were measured in a laboratory setting with well-established performance-based measures and with a psychometrically-sound self-report survey instrument. Youth also provided self-report of marijuana initiation in a phone survey administered during their laboratory visit. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that flexible shifting as measured by a performance-based task was negatively and uniquely associated with marijuana initiation (AOR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.48 - 0.91), and self-reported deficits in inhibitory control were positively associated with marijuana initiation (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.15 - 3.21). Although larger-scale longitudinal research is needed, findings of this study suggest that screening efforts to identify youth at risk of marijuana initiation might rely on more cost-effective self-report assessment of inhibitory control, but further valuable information can come from more resource-intensive but sensitive performance-based assessment of flexible shifting.

Tumor mutations associated with outcomes in colorectal peritoneal metastases.

196 Background: The association between tumor mutations beyond KRAS and BRAF for patients with peritoneal metastases (PM) from colorectal cancer (CRC) are poorly understood. Here we describe these associations with survival after diagnosis of PM. Methods: CRC patients with PM with or without synchronous liver or lung metastases treated at a single institution from 2016 to 2020 were retrospectively studied. Standard of care next-generation sequencing was performed on tissue specimens with a targeted panel of genes frequently mutated in cancer. Clinical data, including survival and last contact, were obtained from medical records. Multivariate Cox regression was used to identify associations between overall survival after diagnosis of PM (OS) with clinical, histopathologic and somatic mutation data. Results: Of 526 PM patients, 179 (34.2%) also had synchronous liver metastases, and these patients had worse OS compared to PM alone (HR 1.67, [1.26-2.22], p=0.0003). Lung metastases were identified in 57 (10.8%) and were not associated with worse OS (HR 1.34, [0.90-1.97], p=0.15). Poorly differentiated grade (HR 2.08, [1.42-3.04], p=0.0002), mucinous histology (HR 1.44, [1.07-1.94], p=0.016), male gender (HR 1.37, [1.05-1.78), p=0.019), and age (HR 1.02, [1.01-1.04], p=0.004) were independently associated with OS. Tumor sequencing data was available for 442 (87%) patients. TP53 was the most common mutation (61.5% of patients) and was associated with decreased OS (HR=1.51 [1.12-2.02], p=0.005). BRAF mutation (85% of which were V600E) was identified in 9.7% of patients and was also associated with decreased OS (HR=1.88 [1.23-2.86], p=0.003). In contrast, PTEN mutation (4.3%) was associated with improved OS (0.41 (0.17-0.99), p=0.049), while both KRAS (51.4%) and SMAD4 mutations (16%) were not (KRAS: HR 0.94, [0.72-1.24], p=0.68; SMAD4: HR 0.78, [0.53-1.16], p=0.21). Conclusions: Mutational data for PM patients has a distinct profile and unique associations with OS when compared to other sites of metastatic disease. TP53 and BRAF mutations were associated with worse survival, while PTEN mutation was associated with improved OS. KRAS mutation was more prevalent than expected in an unselected cohort, and not associated with OS. A better understanding of PM-specific associations with survival may influence treatment strategies for this difficult disease site.

An experimental investigation of spontaneous emotion regulation variability, negative affect, and posttraumatic stress disorder among traumatized refugees.

Emotion regulation (ER) may be an important psychological mechanism underpinning the development, and management, of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in refugees. Despite this, little is known about the ER strategies that refugees spontaneously deploy under stress, nor how effective different approaches may be at reducing distress. This was the first study to identify individual differences in patterns of spontaneous ER among refugees and explore their unique associations with negative affect and PTSD. Spontaneous reappraisal and suppression use was measured among 82 refugees following a 5-min exposure to trauma-salient images. Negative affect was indexed before and after the exposure task. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to identify distinct profiles of participants based on differing levels of ER use. LPA revealed two distinct profiles: a high ER variability profile (37%; high suppression/moderate-high reappraisal) and a low ER variability profile (63%; low suppression/moderate reappraisal). The low ER variability profile was associated with increased negative affect during the experimental paradigm, greater PTSD avoidance symptoms, and greater likelihood of insecure visa status compared with the high ER variability profile. Our findings suggest that a more variable ER approach in response to trauma-salient stressors results in lower distress and is associated with less severe PTSD symptoms. Better understanding the links between patterns of ER strategy use and psychopathology has important implications for the development of effective treatments for refugees. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Machine learning and deep learning systems for automated measurement of "advanced" theory of mind: Reliability and validity in children and adolescents.

Understanding individual differences in theory of mind (ToM; the ability to attribute mental states to others) in middle childhood and adolescence hinges on the availability of robust and scalable measures. Open-ended response tasks yield valid indicators of ToM but are labor intensive and difficult to compare across studies. We examined the reliability and validity of new machine learning and deep learning neural network automated scoring systems for measuring ToM in children and adolescents. Two large samples of British children and adolescents aged between 7 and 13 years (Sample 1: N = 1,135, Mage = 10.22 years, SD = 1.45; Sample 2: N = 1,020, Mage = 10.36 years, SD = 1.27) completed the silent film and strange stories tasks. Teachers rated Sample 2 children's social competence with peers. A single latent-factor explained variation in performance on both the silent film and strange stories task (in Sample 1 and 2) and test performance was sensitive to age-related differences and individual differences within each age-group. A deep learning neural network automated scoring system trained on Sample 1 exhibited interrater reliability and measurement invariance with manual ratings in Sample 2. Validity of ratings from the automated scoring system was supported by unique positive associations between ToM and teacher-rated social competence. The results demonstrate that reliable and valid measures of ToM can be obtained using the new freely available deep learning neural network automated scoring system to rate open-ended text responses. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Good, bad, and beyond: Perils of partialing positive and negative couple variables within individuals.

Partialing correlated predictors to test independent effects is an essential tool in couple research. In actor-partner models, partners' parallel scores are partialed in tests of unique associations with outcomes. Correlated aspects of couple functioning are also often partialed within individuals to examine separate effects. Partialed versions of measures are typically interpreted as assessing the same construct as original unadjusted variables, but in fact their meaning can change. Extending a prior report on changes in construct validity resulting from partialing partners' parallel scores, the present analyses examined effects of partialing measures of positive and negative relationship variables within individuals, specifically perceived support from the partner and relationship conflict. In 300 middle-aged and older couples, we utilized participants' interpersonal circumplex ratings of their partner's typical behavior during marital interactions to compare interpersonal correlates of unadjusted and within-person partialed forms of the Quality of Relationships Inventory Support and Conflict scales. Compared to unadjusted scores, partialed support scores (i.e., adjusted for conflict) were substantially less closely associated with ratings of partner's warmth, and were associated with a less submissive (i.e., less agreeable, cooperative) form of warmth. Compared to unadjusted scores, partialed conflict scores (i.e., adjusted for support) were substantially less closely correlated with ratings of the partner's hostility, and were associated with a more controlling (i.e., critical, coercive) form of hostility. Results were nearly identical for wives and husbands. Partialing correlated scores within individuals can alter the construct validity of relationship measures, suggesting the need for careful reporting and interpretation in couple research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

An exploration of potential pressures to engage in parenting accommodation of PTSD symptoms for military couples.

In the context of service member posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, intimate partners may experience pressure to take over parenting roles and run interference between the service member and the children; that is, to engage in partner accommodation focal to parenting. The current study quantitatively assessed potential pressures to engage in parenting accommodation (PPEPA) in a sample of 207 female partners married to male service members with at least one child in the home and the convergence of PPEPA with service member PTSD symptoms, general partner accommodation, couple functioning, parenting, and child functioning. Partners' reports of PPEPA were associated with higher levels of service member PTSD symptoms and partners' general accommodation of PTSD symptoms. When controlling for service member PTSD symptoms and general partner accommodation, partner reports of PPEPA still accounted for unique variance in lower parenting alliance (as reported by both service member and partner), lower levels of service members' reports of closeness with children in the home, higher levels of harsh parenting by both the service member and partner, and greater child behavioral difficulties. Findings support PPEPA as related to partners' accommodative responses to PTSD but demonstrating unique associations with parenting alliance, parenting, and child outcomes. Parenting interventions in the context of PTSD may benefit from conjoint or family approaches that attend to the intersection of PTSD and broader family functioning, including pressures to engage in accommodation focal to the parenting domain.

The family business brand: cross-fertilization between fields

PurposeFollowing a bibliometric approach, this study examines research on brand and branding in family businesses (FBs) to identify influential sources and main areas of knowledge, proposes an integrative framework that provides a holistic perspective of this field with an interdisciplinary cross-fertilization view and explores new avenues for future research and practice.Design/methodology/approachBased on 449 bibliographic references retrieved from the Web of Science database through a systematic process, the authors employed bibliographic coupling analysis to visualize the relationships among key works in the field and subsequently performed a literature review to deepen the analysis.FindingsThe bibliographic coupling analysis structured the existing research into six thematic clusters. Four of them follow an internal perspective and focus on FB identity and its influence on the construction of corporate brand identity, whereas the other two follow an external perspective that explores how FB brands are communicated and perceived by stakeholders and the influence of corporate brands and branding on FB image and reputation. Drawing from an in-depth review of the literature, this study offers a novel integrative framework, together with a set of proposals with managerial and theoretical implications.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework aims to clarify the relationship between internal identity and management to build and communicate a FB brand. The study also shows the symbiosis that exists among family values, corporate reputation, brand equity and awareness in FBs. The existing interconnection between the family and business generates unique associations that are difficult to imitate.Originality/valueThis study is the first documented attempt at a bibliometric analysis of brands and branding in FBs, which serves to clarify the linkages between different research streams and connecting marketing, organization and FB literature to guide future research. Moreover, the integrative framework provides researchers and practitioners with a better understanding of its scope, highlighting the importance of corporate brand strategies beyond the boundaries of marketing departments.

Structure of psychopathology in adolescents and its association with high-risk personality traits.

The present study examined high-risk personality traits and associations with psychopathology across multiple levels of a hierarchical-dimensional model of psychopathology in a large adolescent, general population sample. Confirmatory factor analyses were run using data from two randomized controlled trials of Australian adolescents (N = 8,654, mean age = 13.01 years, 52% female). A higher-order model - comprised of general psychopathology, fear, distress, alcohol use/harms, and conduct/inattention dimensions - was selected based on model fit, reliability, and replicability. Indirect-effects models were estimated to examine the unique associations between high-risk personality traits (anxiety sensitivity, negative thinking, impulsivity, and sensation seeking) and general and specific dimensions and symptoms of psychopathology. All personality traits were positively associated with general psychopathology. After accounting for general psychopathology, anxiety sensitivity was positively associated with fear; negative thinking was positively associated with distress; impulsivity was positively associated with conduct/inattention; and sensation seeking was positively associated with alcohol use/harms and conduct/inattention, and negatively associated with fear. Several significant associations between personality traits and individual symptoms remained after accounting for general and specific psychopathology. These findings contribute to our understanding of the underlying structure of psychopathology among adolescents and have implications for the development of personality-based prevention and early intervention programs.

Drinking Motives Mediate the Relation between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Alcohol-Related Problems among College Students

Evidence demonstrates an association between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol outcomes, though mechanisms underlying relations are unclear. Given that drinking motives (coping-anxiety, coping-depression, enhancement, social, and conformity) appear to serve as a mediator through which other factors influence drinking behavior, the current multi-site study examined the relation between ADHD symptoms and alcohol outcomes through motives. Past-month drinkers completed online measures assessing ADHD symptoms, alcohol use and problems, and drinking motives. A multiple-mediator model found inattention symptoms were: 1) positively associated with coping-depression, which positively related to alcohol use, which positively related to alcohol problems; 2) positively associated with enhancement motives, which positively related to use, which positively related to problems; and 3) positively associated with coping-anxiety, which negatively related to use, which positively related to problems. No indirect relations via motives were found for hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Findings highlight unique associations depending on ADHD symptoms and specific drinking motives.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder traits are a more important predictor of internalising problems than autistic traits

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are both linked to internalising problems like anxiety and depression. ASD and ADHD also often co-occur, making their individual statistical contributions to internalising disorders difficult to investigate. To address this issue, we explored the unique associations of self-reported ASD traits and ADHD traits with internalising problems using a large general population sample of adults from the United Kingdom (N = 504, 49% male). Classical regression analyses indicated that both ASD traits and ADHD traits were uniquely associated with internalising problems. Dominance and Bayesian analyses confirmed that ADHD traits were a stronger, more important predictor of internalising problems. However, brief depression and anxiety measures may not provide a comprehensive index of internalising problems. Additionally, we focused on recruiting a sample that was representative of the UK population according to age and sex, but not ethnicity, a variable that may be linked to internalising disorders. Nevertheless, our findings indicate that while ASD and ADHD uniquely predict internalising problems, ADHD traits are a more important statistical predictor than ASD traits. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying this pattern of results and the implications for research and clinical practice concerning neurodevelopmental conditions.

Genetic dissection of marker trait associations for grain micro-nutrients and thousand grain weight under heat and drought stress conditions in wheat.

Wheat is grown and consumed worldwide, making it an important staple food crop for both its calorific and nutritional content. In places where wheat is used as a staple food, suboptimal micronutrient content levels, especially of grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), can lead to malnutrition. Grain nutrient content is influenced by abiotic stresses, such as drought and heat stress. The best method for addressing micronutrient deficiencies is the biofortification of food crops. The prerequisites for marker-assisted varietal development are the identification of the genomic region responsible for high grain iron and zinc contents and an understanding of their genetics. A total of 193 diverse wheat genotypes were evaluated under drought and heat stress conditions across the years at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, under timely sown irrigated (IR), restricted irrigated (RI) and late sown (LS) conditions. Grain iron content (GFeC) and grain zinc content (GZnC) were estimated from both the control and treatment groups. Genotyping of all the lines under study was carried out with the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from Breeder's 35K Axiom Array. Three subgroups were observed in the association panel based on both principal component analysis (PCA) and dendrogram analysis. A large whole-genome linkage disequilibrium (LD) block size of 3.49Mb was observed. A genome-wide association study identified 16 unique stringent marker trait associations for GFeC, GZnC, and 1000-grain weight (TGW). In silico analysis demonstrated the presence of 28 potential candidate genes in the flanking region of 16 linked SNPs, such as synaptotagmin-like mitochondrial-lipid-binding domain, HAUS augmin-like complex, di-copper center-containing domain, protein kinase, chaperonin Cpn60, zinc finger, NUDIX hydrolase, etc. Expression levels of these genes in vegetative tissues and grain were also found. Utilization of identified markers in marker-assisted breeding may lead to the rapid development of biofortified wheat genotypes to combat malnutrition.

#ContextMatters! A network tree approach to model the link between social media use and well-being

Use of social networking sites (SNS) has been related to both positive as well as more detrimental outcomes, where effects of SNS use on functioning may be moderated by contextual factors. The coronavirus pandemic provides a context in which intensity of SNS use to stay connected or informed may differentially impact functioning depending on specific contexts of SNS use. This cross-sectional study investigated whether patterns of connectivity between SNS use to stay connected or informed and broader indicators of functioning (social provision, loneliness, internalizing symptoms, and quality of life) differed depending on COVID-19 relevant context factors. We applied network tree analysis on self-report data collected during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (N = 1433). The unique associations between the constructs of interest differed depending on illness (COVID-19) status and housing condition. Intensity of SNS use, depressive symptomatology, and loneliness were more strongly connected in network models obtained for COVID-19 unaffected individuals. Several unique associations were identified for those living alone, among which an association between SNS use to stay connected and quality of life. This study is the first to demonstrate complex moderation of patterns of connectivity between indicators of SNS use and (dys)functioning, by contextual factors.

New co-drawing strategies for the fabrication of glass/polymer fibers

Among the different fundamental aspects that govern the design and development of elongated multimaterial structures via the preform-to-fiber technique, material association methodologies hold a crucial role. They greatly impact the number, complexity and possible combinations of functions that can be integrated within single fibers, thus defining their applicability. In this work, co-drawing strategies to produce monofilament microfibers from unique glass-polymer associations are discussed.

Peer Community and Teacher Closeness as Moderators of the Association Between Peer Status and Aggression

The goal of this study was to examine the unique associations of aggression with peer status in a non-Western context. The moderating effects of peer community and teacher closeness at the classroom level and gender and grade at the individual level were considered. Participants were 1954 third to sixth grade students (Mage = 9.60 years, SD = 0.97; 49% girls) in South Korea. As in Western studies, overt aggression negatively predicted preference, relational aggression positively predicted popularity, and these associations were stronger in early adolescence than in middle childhood. Whereas the association between relational aggression and peer status was stronger for boys than girls and peaked in sixth grade. Peer community moderated the association between relational aggression and popularity. Specifically, relational aggression predicted popularity in non-communal classrooms, but not in communal classrooms. Future research should address cultural differences in social relatedness and their implications for fostering peer community in classrooms.

Tumor Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Melanoma In-Transit Metastases.

Few studies have investigated the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with melanoma in-transit metastases (ITM). The aim was to investigate the association between tumor burden and HRQOL, including disparities pertaining to sex and age, in treatment-naïve patients with ITM. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Melanoma (FACT-M) questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL Pairwise comparisons using t-tests between clinical cutoffs are presented and multiple linear regression analysis showing the unique associations of gender, age, number of tumors, tumor size, presence of lymph node metastases, and tumor localization. A total of 95 patients, 47% females and 53% males (median age 72 years) were included between 2012 and 2021. Women scored significantly lower on emotional well-being (p = 0.038) and lower on FACT-M (p = 0.058). Patients who had ≥10 tumors scored significantly lower on FACT-M (p = 0.015), emotional- and functional well-being (p = 0.04, p = 0.004, respectively), melanoma scale (p = 0.005), and FACT-G (p = 0.027). There was no significant difference in HRQOL depending on age, size of tumors, localization, or presence of lymph node metastases. For patients with melanoma ITMs, the female sex and higher tumor burden (i.e., number of tumors) were significantly correlated with lower HRQOL. However, these findings do not fully explain HRQOL for this patient population, and future research should consider the possibility that there are specific questions for patients with ITM where current instruments might fail to measure their discomfort to the full extent.

Genetic Diagnosis for 64 Patients with Inherited Retinal Disease.

The overlapping genetic and clinical spectrum in inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) creates challenges for accurate diagnoses. The goal of this work was to determine the genetic diagnosis and clinical features for patients diagnosed with an IRD. After signing informed consent, peripheral blood or saliva was collected from 64 patients diagnosed with an IRD. Genetic testing was performed on each patient in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) certified laboratory. Mutations were verified with Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis when possible. Visual acuity was measured with a traditional Snellen chart and converted to a logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR). Fundus images of dilated eyes were acquired with the Optos® camera (Dunfermline, UK). Horizontal line scans were obtained with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT; Spectralis, Heidelberg, Germany). Genetic testing combined with segregation analysis resolved molecular and clinical diagnoses for 75% of patients. Ten novel mutations were found and unique genotype phenotype associations were made for the genes RP2 and CEP83. Collective knowledge is thereby expanded of the genetic basis and phenotypic correlation in IRD.