Unique Relationships Research Articles

Associations between transdiagnostic traits of psychopathology and hybrid posttraumatic stress disorder factors in a trauma-exposed community sample.

Dimensional conceptualizations of psychopathology hold promise for understanding the high rates of comorbidity with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Linking PTSD symptoms to transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology may enable researchers and clinicians to understand the patterns and breadth of behavioral sequelae following traumatic experiences that may be shared with other psychiatric disorders. To explore this premise, we recruited a trauma-exposed online community sample (N = 462) and measured dimensional transdiagnostic traits of psychopathology using parceled facets derived from the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Faceted-Short Form. PTSD symptom factors were measured using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 and derived using confirmatory factor analysis according to the seven-factor hybrid model (i.e., Intrusions, Avoidance, Negative Affect, Anhedonia, Externalizing Behaviors, Anxious Arousal, And Dysphoric Arousal). We observed hypothesized associations between PTSD factors and transdiagnostic traits indicating that some transdiagnostic dimensions were associated with nearly all PTSD symptom factors (e.g., emotional lability: rmean =.35), whereas others showed more unique relationships (e.g., hostility-Externalizing Behavior: r =.60; hostility with other PTSD factors: rs =.12-.31). All PTSD factors were correlated with traits beyond those that would appear to be construct-relevant, suggesting the possibility of indirect associations that should be explicated in future research. The results indicate the breadth of trait-like consequences associated with PTSD symptom exacerbation, with implications for case conceptualization and treatment planning. Although PTSD is not a personality disorder, the findings indicate that increased PTSD factor severity is moderately associated with different patterns of trait-like disruptions in many areas of functioning.

Language and Persuasion: An Exploratory Analysis of Rhetorical Elements in Celebrities’ Social Media Posts

This paper adapted the framework of rhetorical devices developed by Michalik-Suchanek to examine the language used in social media posts of Ghanaian celebrities, focusing specifically on the use of rhetorical elements. Instagram and Twitter were chosen as the primary platforms for analysis due to their popularity among Ghanaians. The dataset consisted of posts from 15 Ghanaian celebrities, sourced from either one or both platforms. The study adopted the embedded mixed-methods approach. A total of 130 celebrity posts from Instagram and 70 from Twitter, all from April 2022, were collected using mobile phones and laptops through an observational guide. Through a critical analysis of the sampled data, 22 rhetorical devices were identified, with syntactic devices being the most commonly used. The study revealed that most Ghanaian celebrities prefer to use Standard English in their posts. It was also revealed that these rhetorical devices were employed by celebrities to establish unique relationships with their followers, persuade them to take action, express intentions, caption videos and pictures, and enhance the overall meaning of their posts. The research showed that the use of rhetorical devices was effective in enriching the language of the posts. Based on these findings, it was recommended that further studies be conducted to explore the use of rhetorical elements in social media posts of politicians, businesspeople, entertainers, and other public figures in Ghana. Such studies would contribute to a deeper understanding of how rhetorical strategies are employed in the digital communication landscape. This study contributes to existing knowledge on social media research conducted in Ghana. Keywords: Rhetorical Elements, Language, Persuasion, Celebrities, Social Media, Ghana

Deaths among adults under supervision of the England and Wales’ probation services: variation in individual and criminal justice-related factors by cause of death

BackgroundThe mortality rate among people under probation supervision in the community is greater than that among incarcerated people and that among the general population. However, there is limited research on the distinct vulnerabilities and risks underlying the causes of death in this population. In this retrospective cohort study, we examined the individual and criminal justice-related factors associated with different causes of death. Factors were assessed in relation to the type of supervision, distinguishing between those under post-custodial release and those serving a community sentence.ResultsThe study utilised the official data held by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in England and Wales on the deaths of men and women under probation supervision between 01 April 2019 and 31 March 2021 where the cause of death had been definitively recorded (n = 1770). The high risk of deaths primarily caused by external factors (i.e., suspected suicide (10%), homicide (5%), and drug-related death (26%)) in this population was confirmed. A Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) demonstrated unique relationships with suspected suicide and drug-related deaths for known suicide risk, history of drug use and recent (< 28 days of death) enforcement action due to a breach of probation conditions. Our findings suggest that that familial violence and abuse may be relevant in suicide and drug-related deaths and that minority groups may experience disproportional risk to certain types of death.ConclusionsThis study identified unique risk indicators and modifiable factors for deaths primarily caused by external factors in this population within the health and justice spheres. It emphasised the importance of addressing health inequalities in this population and improved joint-working across health and justice. This involves ensuring that research, policies, training, and services are responsive to the complex needs of those under probation supervision, including those serving community sentences. Only then can we hope to see lower rates of death within this population.

Between ‘Cultural richness’ and ‘useful enemy’: the securitization and instrumentalization of Christians in Turkey

ABSTRACT This article employs interviews and primary and secondary sources to examine the discrimination, securitization, and instrumentalization faced by four main Christian denominations throughout Turkish history: the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, and Protestant communities. We shed light on how some religious minority groups have been utilized and represented within the framework of Turkish diplomacy and the pursuit of neo-Ottomanism. We contend that the blanket term ‘Christian’ is less applicable in Turkey's context, where religion becomes intricately intertwined with ethnicity. Thus, it becomes imperative to investigate each non-Muslim community independently, considering their unique trajectories, historical traumas, internal divisions, and relationships with the state.

The everyday speech environments of preschoolers with and without cochlear implants.

Children who receive cochlear implants develop spoken language on a protracted timescale. The home environment facilitates speech-language development, yet it is relatively unknown how the environment differs between children with cochlear implants and typical hearing. We matched eighteen preschoolers with implants (31-65 months) to two groups of children with typical hearing: by chronological age and hearing age. Each child completed a long-form, naturalistic audio recording of their home environment (appx. 16 hours/child; >730 hours of observation) to measure adult speech input, child vocal productivity, and caregiver-child interaction. Results showed that children with cochlear implants and typical hearing were exposed to and engaged in similar amounts of spoken language with caregivers. However, the home environment did not reflect developmental stages as closely for children with implants, or predict their speech outcomes as strongly. Home-based speech-language interventions should focus on the unique input-outcome relationships for this group of children with hearing loss.

Proteomic profiles of Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo strains JB197 and HB203 cultured at different temperatures

Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic disease affecting humans, domestic, and wild animals. Leptospira are typically shed in the urine of reservoir hosts which persist in suitable environments where incidental host transmission occurs after direct contact with infected urine or contaminated environments. Interestingly, serologically identical L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo strains JB197 and HB203 show divergent disease severity in the hamster model; JB197 causes severe acute infection while HB203 causes persistent chronic infection. Historically, serovar Hardjo was limited to culture at 29 °C, but utilization of HAN media allows propagation from host tissues at 37 °C. Here, the proteome of strains JB197 and HB203 were characterized after culture from experimentally challenged hamsters at 29 °C and 37 °C. Comparative analyses of JB197 and HB203 samples cultured at 29 °C yielded 425 significantly differentially expressed (DE) proteins, while strains at 37 °C yielded 613 DE proteins including prominent outer membrane proteins and known virulence factors. In agreement, membrane protein GO terms were identified by STRING network analyses along with numerous metabolic KEGG pathways consistent with condition differences. Within strain, JB197 cultured at 29 °C vs 37 °C identified 529 DE proteins, while HB203 identified 524 DE proteins. Investigating differential protein profiles provide insights into strain specific behaviors with implications for better understanding host-pathogen interactions, disease transmission, and response to environmental conditions which can contribute to vaccine development, diagnostic improvement, and ultimately leptospirosis control. SignificanceLeptospirosis is a devastating zoonotic disease affecting humans, wild and domestic animals around the globe. Different species and serovars of Leptospira can affect various animal host species differently; for instance, a serovar that is asymptomatic in the rat may cause severe disease in a dog or human. These differences in host response are not only found at the species and serovar level for Leptospira, but also at the strain level. A prime example comes from strains JB197 and HB203, both species L. borgpetersenii, both serovar Hardjo. Interestingly, JB197 causes a severe acute infection in the hamster while HB203 causes an asymptomatic chronic infection. Understanding these unique relationships between pathogen and host species is important, especially in the context of prevention technologies such as vaccine design, where the strain of Leptospira used as a bacterin might have different efficiencies in different hosts. In this study, proteomic profiles of strains JB197 and HB203 were analyzed, and results revealed diverse protein expression profiles of outer membrane proteins, as well as proteins functioning in motility and growth.

Complexities of urban impacts on long-term seasonal trends in a mid-sized arid city

The variability of surface air temperature is of great importance for both society and the environment, is impacted by global warming and local-scale changes. In the arid eastern part of Washington state of USA, substantial urbanization has transformed the Tri-cities into the state’s third-largest urban cluster. This study utilizes a combination of in situ observations and reanalysis datasets to investigate the influence of land use changes on the region’s 2-meter temperature, revealing local effects that compensate for the background global warming. Within the urban fabric, distinct microclimates have emerged due to varying land use, establishing unique relationships between greenness and temperature alterations caused by land use transitions. Notably, our findings demonstrate that the observed compensating signal in the temperature of farmland locations is primarily attributed to local vegetation increases. Through these observations, this research highlights the urban impacts on local climate, offering valuable insights into the complexities surrounding land use and its consequences on the environment.

Quantity and quality: Dimensions and provisions of social support inform the role of social pain minimization in the discrimination-to-mental health relation among Black Americans

Introduction: Despite growing evidence that emotion invalidation, termed social pain minimization (SPM), contributes to discrimination's negative effect on mental health and suicidality (Benbow et al., 2022; Kinkel-Ram et al., 2021), it is unclear what elements of social support give rise to SPM. Is SPM related to social support quantity (e.g., the number of support providers and frequency with which people seek support)? Or, is social support quality (e.g., active versus passive destructive responses and threatened support needs) most central to SPM? This work addresses these questions and provides evidence that support quality rather than quantity shapes feelings of SPM and informs SPM's mediating role in the discrimination-to-mental health relation. Methods: With a cross-sectional correlational design, 232 Black participants (42.9% female; Mage = 34.86, SDage = 11.15) completed measures of daily discrimination, social support quantity and quality, SPM, and mental health. Results: At a bivariate level, indices of support quality, but not quantity, predicted SPM and mental health. However, when these indices of support quality were entered simultaneously in multiple regression, only passive destructive (PD) treatment and provisions of worth positively and negatively predicted SPM, respectively. Serial parallel mediation analysis further revealed that PD treatment and threats to self-worth fueled SPM's mediating role in the association between discrimination and mental health. Discussion: The results suggest that support quality, not quantity, sets the stage for SPM. Although many dimensions of support quality related to SPM, PD treatment and threats to self-worth had the strongest unique relationships to minimization. Moreover, these support dimensions contributed to SPM's mediating role in the link between discrimination and mental health. In discrimination's wake, PD responses and threatened self-worth increased SPM, which then undermined mental health.

The role of hope in college transition: Its cross-lagged relationships with psychosocial resources and emotional well-being in first-year college students.

College transition is often regarded as the most stressful phase of life by college students. Hence, it is necessary to find ways to help them adjust more smoothly to this transition. Hope, as conceptualized by C. R. Snyder, has been widely studied as a predictor of optimal functioning and has been shown to be associated with better adjustment among college students. This study aimed to shed light on the role of hope in college transition by examining its unique reciprocal relationships with an array of important psychosocial resources and emotional well-being among first-year college students. Data were collected from a sample of Hong Kong college freshmen (N = 433, Medianage = 18 years old, 63.7% female) at two time points. At each time point, participants completed self-reported measures tapping into their levels of hope, psychosocial resources, and emotional well-being. Psychological resources included general and academic self-efficacy, meaning in life, and optimism. Social resources included secure attachment, perceived school environment, and social support. Emotional well-being was operationalized as positive and negative emotions. Cross-lagged panel models were constructed and tested by path analyses. When autoregression and the effects of other variables were controlled, a greater sense of hope uniquely predicted higher levels of general and academic self-efficacy, greater presence of life meanings, more secure attachment, and more positive and fewer negative emotions. On the other hand, higher levels of meaning in life (both presence and search) and social support uniquely predicted greater hope. Academic hope and presence of life meanings reciprocally predicted one another, whereas other significant cross-lagged relationships were unidirectional. The findings suggest interventions that promote hope can be useful in helping college freshmen adjust to the new college environment by enhancing their psychosocial resources and emotional well-being. Such interventions would be more effective if they included elements that boost meaning in life and social support, which are expected to further enhance the perceptions of hope.

Abundance of five sympatric stream dwelling mussels varies with physical habitat

Abstract Freshwater mussel species regularly co‐occur in streams forming assemblages, but the extent of shared versus unique instream habitat features that contribute to their distribution and abundance is poorly understood. In Massachusetts, a rare species, Alasmidonta varicosa, is often found with four other species: Alasmidonta undulata, Strophitus undulatus, Margaritifera margaritifera, and Elliptio complanata, yet variation in species composition within assemblages raises questions of potential species‐specific habitat associations. Identifying species‐level habitat information is critical at a spatial scale that malacologists can use to identify translocation or restoration areas. This study investigated whether species abundance varied by mesohabitat type (riffle, run, dam pool, scour pool), instream habitat characteristics, and within‐reach location (centre versus edge). From 2016 to 2019, freshwater mussel surveys were conducted in nine streams across Massachusetts and associated habitat information was collected. Species abundances were similar across mesohabitat types. Elliptio complanata was the exception, whereby higher abundances occurred in runs and dammed pools than in riffles. Unique species relationships with habitat existed for M. margaritifera with macroalgae and emergent vegetation, and A. varicosa with heterogeneous substrate. Flow transitions, such as depositional areas that create heterogeneous substrates, may provide habitats for A. varicosa. Most mussel species were distributed with higher abundance in the river centre than the edge; E. complanata was the only species with a higher abundance at the river edge. Locations with high abundance varied based on unique relationships with pebble heterogeneity (A. varicosa), depth (A. undulata), large wood (A. undulata), and canopy closure (E. complanata). Including physical characteristics in a holistic assessment of habitat that incorporates fish and landscape attributes may further an understanding of river reaches that best support translocated and propagated freshwater mussels.

Plotting against justice: Conspiracy theory endorsement and opposition to criminal justice reform

AbstractConspiracy theories about criminal justice reform are an unexplored domain with unique relationships to system justification and resistance to criminal justice reform. Across two studies, we developed and began to validate a measure of conspiracies about criminal justice reform, the CCJR. The CCJR was predicted by system justification, general conspiracy mentality, and political ideology (Study 1). The CCJR also mediated the relationship between system justification and resistance to information about criminal justice reform (Study 2). These studies suggest that conspiracy theories contribute to opposition to criminal justice reform, and that criminal justice reform‐related conspiracy theories serve a system‐justifying function, that is, atypical of conspiracy theories. These findings suggest new avenues for research on both conspiracy theories and criminal justice reform.

Workers, Wives and Radicals: Women and Abolitionism in the North-East of England, 1792–1865

ABSTRACT This article provides a systematic and localized analysis of how female anti-slavery activity in the North-East of England influenced and impacted the transatlantic campaign to abolish slavery in the West Indies and then the United States. Female anti-slavery societies in Newcastle and Darlington organized local meetings with prominent African American anti-slavery campaigners, leading regional and national conversations about abolition and wider discussions about race and slavery. This article argues that regional conceptions of race and identity were shaped by local religious dissenting cultures and the unique professional relationships formed between African American abolitionists and North-East women’s societies. This study is nonetheless critical of the way white female anti-slavery activism often envisioned emancipation as a fulfilment of maternal and imperialistic duties, arguing that the notion of a ‘transatlantic sisterhood’ espoused by British and American female abolitionists only served to further subjugate those who had previously been enslaved, delaying any unified political response from women on both sides of the Atlantic.

Exploring diagram-based visual problem representation and relational abstraction

ABSTRACT For visual information processing, the derivation of meaningful low-level spatio-temporal information is challenging. In line with human visualisation and perception in spatial problem-solving, we believe explicit representations hold promise for efficient low-level abstractions. An approach for mapping spatial objects and relations, exploring diagrams’ representation power for problem visualisation, is presented. Combined, qualitative spatio-temporal reasoning and diagrammatic reasoning directly influence information visualisation and abstraction over the physical substrate of a problem. The framework preserves objects’ low-level spatio-temporal information over time, facilitating the interpretation of unique relationships. A 78% average activity recognition accuracy on the CAVIAR and Mind’s Eye datasets demonstrates the effectiveness of the suggested abstraction approach.

Application of quantum technology Variational Quantum Classifier in agriculture for classification of wheat varieties

This study proposes the use of Variational Quantum Classifier for automated classification of wheat varieties. A model trained on a large data set will be able to identify unique patterns and relationships between seed characteristics and cultivar membership. This will allow farmers and researchers to more accurately identify wheat varieties, which in turn can improve growing and crop management processes. This approach is justified not only by the need to optimize agricultural production, but also in the context of the use of advanced technologies to achieve precision and efficiency in the agricultural sector. As a result of this research, it is expected that the quality and sustainability of wheat production will improve, which is important for food security and sustainable agricultural development. The goal of the problem is to classify wheat varieties based on seed characteristics. VQC is trained on the training dataset and then evaluated on the test dataset. To evaluate the performance of the model, various metrics are used, such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score and Confusion Matrix.

Gender Differences in Benign Vocal Fold Mass Treatment

Abstract: Benign vocal fold masses are seen commonly in amateur and professional voice users. Data shows that patients presenting with similar benign vocal fold masses are treated with different modalities at different rates based on their gender identity and patient preference. Professional and amateur voice users are also found to have different rates of treatment. Singing teachers have unique longitudinal relationships with their students. Knowledge of the effects of benign focal fold masses on the voice and glottic function along with treatment modalities can help singing teachers provide extra surveillance to students who may be at risk of suboptimal treatment. This article focuses on benign vocal fold mass classification, causes, symptoms, medical diagnosis, and treatment relevant to singing teachers with respect to the patient’s gender. Professional voice use is discussed as a potentially confounding factor to seeking treatment of benign vocal fold masses in the context of gender differences.

Genetic Diversity and Its Relationship of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae) Based on Bioactive Compounds and Their Biological Activities: A Meta-Analysis

Information on genetic diversity and its relationship is fundamental for the preservation and improvement of orchid germplasm. For Dendrobium, such information, particularly by a meta-analysis, was limited. The study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and relationships of Dendrobium germplasm based on bioactive compounds, their biological activities, and plant organs by a meta-analysis approach. A total of 51 species of Dendrobium have been collected and identified as producing bioactive compounds, including their biological activities and plant organs (parts). In this case, the highest genetic diversity was shown by polyphenols (H' index = 0.90) as substances, neuroprotective (H' = 0.80) for activity, and the leaf organ with an H' index of 0.89. The UPGMA analysis showed that Dendrobium grouped into seven clusters, where the furthest relationship was presented by D. moschatum and D. catenatum. However, the closest relation was by D. scabrilingue with D. delacourii, including D. snowflake and D. ovatum. Following these parameters, Dendrobium shows unique genetic diversity and relationships. Thus, it is valuable for future preservation and improvement programs of Dendrobium.

Trajectory modeling of cannabis use over 30 years identifies five unique longitudinal patterns

Cannabis is the most prevalently used psychoactive substance in the United States. Cannabis has conflicting federal and state legal status in the US, however medical and recreational cannabis use are increasing. When assessing health outcomes, cannabis use classification has been modeled largely as current use status (never/former/current) or cumulative use (joint-years). These methods do not describe longitudinal patterns of use which may have unique relationships with health outcomes. We used cannabis use data spanning 30 years from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Cohort (CARDIA) to create trajectories of current cannabis use during young and middle adulthood. We identified 5 unique patterns of the probability of cannabis use during young and middle adulthood in the CARDIA Cohort. To support the cannabis probability trajectories, we qualitatively examined cumulative cannabis use as joint-years for each trajectory group. Trajectory group 5 had high probability of consistent cannabis use (0.8–0.9% probability of use) and had the highest number of joint-years (0.6 +/− 0.4). Trajectory group 1 who had a lower probability of cannabis use (0.05–0% probability of use) with the lowest number of joint-years (0.1 +/− 0.1).

Examining the unique and interactive impacts of anhedonia and fear of happiness on depressive symptoms

BackgroundDepression is often found to be treatment resistant. Examining the disorder as a homogenous entity could be hindering progress. Research focusing on unique pathways toward the development of depression could better inform treatment. Thus, the goal of this present study is to assess the unique and interactive relationships of fear of happiness (FOH) and anhedonia on depression. MethodsParticipants (N = 379) completed self-report measures of anhedonia, FOH, and depressive symptoms via Amazon Mechanical Turk. We investigated whether FOH moderated the relationship between anhedonia and depressive symptoms via model 1 in PROCESS. ResultsFOH did not significantly moderate the relationship between anhedonia and depressive symptoms. However, FOH and anhedonia both uniquely predicted depression, when controlling for the other. LimitationsThis was a non-clinical community sample demonstrating mild depressive symptoms. ConclusionsBoth pathways of FOH and anhedonia should be properly evaluated and targeted in the assessment and treatment of depressive symptoms.

Enhancing Temperature-Dependent Li-Ion Battery Behavior Predictions with Transfer Learning

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are crucial in modern energy applications, with their performance significantly influenced by temperature variations. LiBs undergo temperature-dependent chemo-mechanical processes that contribute to capacity fade. Accurate assessment of capacity degradation during cycling necessitates consideration of various factors, including temperature, depth of discharge, cell chemistry, charge/discharge rate, and others. Publicly accessible datasets often encompass only a restricted spectrum of the aforementioned battery health influencers. However, obtaining comprehensive real-world data encompassing diverse temperature conditions poses challenges and requires substantial resources. To address the data scarcity, we propose a novel approach utilizing transfer learning to improve predictive models for temperature-dependent behavior in Li-ion batteries. In this study, we generate synthetic data simulating battery behavior under specific temperature ranges. The pre-training of the machine learning model on this synthetic data enables the capture of complex interplays between temperature and battery phenomena, identifying unique patterns and relationships. Subsequently, we transfer the acquired knowledge to the target domain, facilitating predictions for battery behavior under varying temperature conditions. Fine-tuning the pre-trained model using real-world data from the target domain ensures adaptability to new temperature conditions. The data efficiency gained from synthetic data generation in the source domain allows effective pre-training, even with limited real-world data in specific temperature regimes. Moreover, the model with its transfer learning method acquires a robust understanding of the underlying features governing temperature-dependent battery behavior, enabling better generalization and enhanced predictions for effective battery management across diverse environmental conditions. In addition to the sensitivity analysis to identify the most significant impact on the predictive model’s performance in the focused temperature range, we compare the performance of the fine-tuned model with other predictive models that do not utilize transfer learning. Our findings could offer cost-effective, rapid, and accurate predictions, ensuring robust performance in scenarios with limited real-world data. As the demand for Li-ion batteries grows across various applications, these insights hold significant potential in advancing the development of efficient and reliable energy storage systems.

GERIATRIC WORKFORCE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS AS AAA AGE-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES PARTNER

Abstract The Health Resources and Services Administration funded 48 Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Programs (GWEPs) to partner with community-based organizations in addressing gaps in health care for older adults, promoting Age-Friendly ecosystems, and addressing social determinants of health. This paper discusses three GWEPs collaborative projects with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that deliver community-based programs . The University of Utah’s GWEP, a rural AAA, the Alzheimer’s Association, and the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs provided a hybrid Dementia Caregiver Conference to six counties, reaching 65 in-person attendees and 10 senior centers online. Attendees agreed the content met their educational needs, would positively influence care, and was motivation to form a caregiver coalition. The University of Louisville Trager Institute (Trager), AAA, and Kentucky Coalition for Healthy Communities provided focused regional training and sharing of community resources utilizing the Project ECHO training model for 11 AAA regions, reaching 412 home and community-based services professionals. The University of North Texas Health Science Center, AAA, and emergency management services expanded evidence-based programs in falls prevention, medication safety, and dementia caregiving, serving an additional 23 urban postal codes, rural counties, and over 1,900 individuals. These examples utilize unique community relationships and partnership strategies to identify local needs, maximize older adult and family caregiver engagement, measure outcomes, and achieve GWEP goals to educate diverse, underserved and rural communities.