Characterization of retinal ganglion cell damage at single axon bundle level in mice by visible-light optical coherence tomography fibergraphy

Retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)receive synaptic inputs through their dendritic trees in the inner plexiform layer(IPL)and convey the visual information via their axons which form the optic nerve to the brain(Sanes and Masland,2015).In glaucoma,RGCs and their axons degenerate and die,leading to irreversible vision loss and eventually blindness if left untreated(Quigley,2016).

Social Determinants of Social Zapping:Exploring Predictors of Planned Scheduled Social Events with Others

Social zapping has gained popularity as a term that refers to canceling plans or appointments at the last minute to attend other,supposedly more appealing events.This behavior resembles rapidly switching channels on a television,as individuals frequently jump between different social engagements.The present study examined potential behavioral trait predictors of social zapping,such as belongingness,self-esteem,sense of control,and meaningful existence among community residents ranging from 40 to 75 years of age(n=48).The study utilized simple linear regressions to identify potential predictors of social zapping,exploring how the four fundamental needs(belongingness,self-esteem,sense of control,and meaningful existence)might be linked.Results indicated that belongingness and self-esteem are significant predictors of social zapping tendencies.Additionally,an independent samples t-test was conducted to determine the relationship both older and younger adults have with the four fundamental needs as well as the role age plays in social zapping tendencies.Older adults exhibited a significant and more positive association with self-esteem,sense of control,and meaningful existence compared to individuals aged 39 and younger.Social zapping frequency was nonsignificant for both older adults and younger adults.Furthermore,a separate set of linear regression analyses were completed to determine how social desirability affects social zapping across age groups.Social desirability significantly predicted both self-esteem and meaningful existence.Overall,the present study builds on what is currently a new phenomenon in research and will provide new information on the relationship between age,social zapping,and behavioral traits.

The Powerful Role of Mothers in Adolescent Purpose Development

Adolescence is a critical time for the cultivation of life purpose,also known as a meaningful long-term aim focused on contribution to others.Youth with purpose,especially marginalized youth,report a number of positive outcomes.Relationships with caring adults appear to be particularly helpful in guiding young people on their path to purpose,but little work has focused specifically on the role of mothers.This qualitative study,approved by a Institutional Review Board,examines how twenty adolescents from marginalized communities describe their sense of purpose and its relationship to their caregivers.The sample size was determined based on saturation,a process in qualitative research when the researchers begin to observe redundancy in the data.Through content analysis,a major theme emerged:the role of mothers and their impact on purpose development on their children.Results showed that mothers helped their adolescents develop their sense of purpose through serving as a sense of inspiration,providing the adolescents with support,sparking a desire for the adolescents to make their mothers proud,and through the mothers and adolescents in engaging in conversations about one’s future.

Cronbach's a reliability, concurrent validity, and factorial structure of the Death Depression Scale in an Iranian hospital staff sample

Objective: Death depression is an important component in the process of death and dying. Death depression is the second element of death. Depression is one of the important features in death distress. The aim of this study was to explore the performance of the Farsi version of the Death Depression Scale with an Iranian convenience sample of nurses (n =106).Methods: Nurses were selected using a convenience sampling method, and completed the Death Depression Scale (DDS), Death Concern Scale (DCS), Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale (CLFDS), Reasons for Death Fear Scale (RDFS), Templer's Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and Death Obsession Scale (DOS). Results: The results of exploratory factor analysis on DDS identified 4 factors (56.16%of variance). Factor 1 labeled"Death sadness", Factor 2 labeled"Death finality/end and Death dread/fear", Factor 3 labeled"Death despair and Death depression", and Factor 4 labeled"Death loneliness". Cronbach's a coefficient was 0.84, Spearman-Brown coefficient 0.85, and Guttman Split-Half coefficient 0.81 The DDS correlated 0.40 with the DCS, 0.39 with the CLFDS, 0.50 with the DAS, 0.35 with the RDFS, and 0.44 with the DOS, indicating good construct and criterion-related validity. Concurrent validity for the DDS with the other scales were significant. Conclusions: The DDS has good validity and reliability, and it can use in clinical and research settings.

Psychosocial Aspects of Disability

In this paper, we will address common psychological reactions to disability such as anxiety, depression, denial, and anger in the framework of a stage model. In addition, this paper will discuss specific societal aspects that can impact reaction and adjustment to disability. In this vein, we will examine the specific effects of societal attitudes and stigma upon individuals with disabilities. Strategies for changing attitudes and facilitating adjustment to disability will also be discussed.

死亡恐惧原因量表的心理测量学评价

目的死亡恐惧是死亡学的主要科目,有些研究人员已经定义了对死亡的恐惧原因。本研究以106名伊朗护士作为研究样本,目的是探索波斯语版死亡恐惧量表的信效度。方法采用方便抽样方法选取研究对象,并采用死亡恐惧量表(the Reasons for Death Fear Scale,RDFS)、死亡担忧量表(Death Concern Scale,DCS)、Collett-Lester死亡恐惧量表(Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale,CLFDS)、死亡焦虑量表(Death Anxiety Scale,DAS)、死亡抑郁量表(Death Depression Scale,DDS)和死亡困扰量表(Death Obsession Scale,DOS)进行调查。结果量表的Cronbach’sα系数为0.90,重复测量信度为0.64。RDFS与5个量表的相关系数分别为0.34,0.39,0.50,0.35和0.39,显示较好的结构效度和效标关联效度。经过探索性因子分析,确定RDFS包括“疼痛和惩罚的恐惧”“离开人世的恐惧”“宗教的罪过及失败”“与亲人分离”4个因子,可解释66.20%的变异。结论RDFS具有良好的效度和可靠性,且可以应用于临床和研究工作。

Validation of the Farsi version of the Death Obsession Scale among nurses

Objectives:Obsession is one of the important aspects in death distress.The objective of this study was to estimate the reliability,validity,and factorial structure of the Farsi version of the Death Obsession Scale(DOS).Methods:A convenience sample of 106 Iranian nurses from two hospitals at Tehran city,Iran was recruited.They completed the DOS,Death Concern Scale,Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale,Death Anxiety Scale,Reasons for Death Fear Scale,and Death Depression Scale.Results:Cronbach's a for the DOS was 0.95,and 2-week test-retest reliability was 0.74.The DOS correlated 0.48,0.46,0.47,0.39 and 0.44 with the last mentioned scales,respectively(P<0.01),indicating good construct and criterion-related validity.Principle components analysis of the DOS identified three factors accounted for 74.82%of the variance.Factor 1 labeled“Death rumination”(34.78%of the variance),Factor 2 labeled“Death dominance”(29.65%of the variance),and Factor 3 labeled“Death idea repetition”(10.38%of the variance).Conclusions:The DOS has good validity and reliability,and it could be recommended for use in clinical and research settings to assess the death obsession in Iranian nurses.

单配制啮齿动物PairBond形成的神经调节机制(英文)

单配制啮齿动物社会结构的神经生物学原理可以通过实验室研究Socialbonding而获得。在本文中,我们探讨了如何利用单配制的草原田鼠(Microtusochrogaster)作为研究模型揭示pairbond形成的神经调控机制。我们进而探讨了单配制与多配制田鼠之间神经解剖学的差异以及神经化学物质的调节是怎样影响pairbond的。本篇综述还讨论了与pairbond形成有关的神经化学系统之间的相互影响以及pairbond形成过程中的两性差异。最后,我们预测了这一研究领域的未来研究方向以及研究socialbonding的神经调控对人类健康的重要性。

哺乳动物成体神经元的再生:内、外环境因子的作用(英文)

哺乳动物成体神经元的再生现象是最近三十年才被科学家们所认识并逐渐接受的。随着科研方法与实验技术的发展 ,在成年哺乳动物的一些特定脑区 ,比如海马齿状回 (Dentategyrusofthehippocampus)、室下区(Subventricularzone)和杏仁核 (Amygdala)中发现了新生细胞。研究表明 ,内外环境因子可影响成体神经元的再生。具体表现在环境多样性、自主活动、有益社会交往、短日光照、化学刺激以及诸如 5 -羟色胺和脑源性神经营养因子等神经递质水平的增加 ,都会促进新生细胞的增生或存活。而负面社会交往及应激激素皮质酮对成体神经元的再生有抑制和降低作用。研究还表明 ,根据种和性别的差异 ,类脂醇激素对成体神经元的再生起到促进或抑制作用。

Neuroprotection and recovery from early-life adversity: considerations for environmental enrichment

In the laboratory,environmental enrichment（EE）is used as a protocol to understand the functional,behavioral and molecular mechanisms that underlie neural plasticity（van Praag et al.,2000;Sale et al.,2014）.In addition,it is utilized to provide supplementary resources to animals in order to maintain their well-being and to preserve the scientific validity of the study at hand（see http：//www.nap.edu/catalog/12910/guide-for-thecare-and-use-of-laboratory-animals-eighth）.

How Do Humans Perceive Emotion?

Emotion carries crucial qualities of the human condition,representing one of the major challenges in artificial intelligence.Research in psychology and neuroscience in the past two to three decades has generated rich insights into the processes underlying human emotion.Cognition and emotion represent the two main pillars of the human psyche and human intelligence.While the human cognitive system and cognitive brain has inspired and informed computer science and artificial intelligence,the future is ripe for the human emotion system to be integrated into artificial intelligence and robotic systems.Here,we review behavioral and neural findings in human emotion perception,including facial emotion perception,olfactory emotion perception,multimodal emotion perception,and the time course of emotion perception.It is our hope that knowledge of how humans perceive emotion will help bring artificial intelligence strides closer to human intelligence.

Female Carriers of the Met Allele of the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Develop Weaker Fear Memories in a Fear-Potentiated Startle Paradigm

The val66met polymorphism of the bdnf gene, which is associated with compromised brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, impaired synaptic plasticity, and impaired learning, may increase one’s susceptibility to stress- and anxiety-related disorders. Indeed, previous work has reported greater anxiety-related behaviors and impairments of fear conditioning and extinction in individuals who carry the met allele that results from this polymorphism. Nevertheless, findings in this area of research have been equivocal. Thus, we examined the influence of the val66met polymorphism on fear conditioning, extinction, and extinction memory testing. One hundred and twenty healthy participants completed differential fear conditioning in a fear-potentiated startle paradigm, followed by extinction and extinction memory testing 24 and 48 hr later, respectively. Participants were genotyped for the val66met polymorphism and divided into met allele carriers and non-carriers. Results revealed that, although both met-carriers and non-carriers developed conditioned fear, met-carriers exhibited significantly weaker fear acquisition than non-carriers. This difference persisted throughout extinction and extinction memory testing and, during these last two days of testing, was primarily evident in females. These results are consistent with previous work demonstrating that this polymorphism is associated with impaired amygdala-dependent fear learning and extend such findings by demonstrating that females may be more sensitive to such effects.

Effects of Neurokinin-1 Receptor Inhibition on Anxiety Behavior in Neonatal Rats Selectively Bred for an Infantile Affective Trait

Interest in understanding the etiology and developing new treatments for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents has led to recent studies of neurotransmitters not traditionally associated with neural pathways for fear and anxiety. The binding of the neurotransmitter substance P (SP) to its neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor may be a crucial component in mediating the anxiety response. While previous studies using rodent models have documented the anxiolytic effects of SP antagonists, the role of individual differences in affective temperament has not yet been examined in studies of drug response. This study used intracerebroventricular injections of the NK1 antagonist Spantide II at concentrations of 10 and 100 pmol to examine the consequences of blocking the SP-NK1 pathway in high and low line rats selectively bred for high or low levels of ultrasonic distress calls after a brief maternal separation. Affective temperament was a significant factor in determining drug response. Spantide II resulted in a significant reduction of distress calls in subjects in the high anxiety line, while low line subjects with low anxiety were resistant to the drug. These data indicate that the SP-NK1 pathway could be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of various stress disorders, but drug response might be influenced by the individual’s state anxiety or history of chronic stress.

Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Brazilian Population: Occupational Analysis

Context and objectives :The unexpected pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) affected several activities and exposed workers, students and the large mass of unemployed people to an economic and psychological pressure that could lead to various problems, such as anxiety, fear, depression and insomnia, consequently causing impairment of quality of life. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the COVID-19 Peri-Traumatic Distress Index (CPDI) and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) to measure peri-traumatic stress and fear, such as psychological reactions during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. An online spreadsheet was used as a data collection tool to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1,844 participants. Data were analyzed in groups of health professionals, students and teachers, and an analysis was performed between unemployed and employed people in order to evaluate the impact of employment on the population’s mental health. Results: All groups presented from moderate to high CPDI and FCV-19S scores, and students and unemployed people had higher levels of stress and fear. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Brazilian population, with students and the unemployed showing the highest rates of stress and fear.

Psychological Impacts Related to Stress and Fear during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes and Psychological Disorders as Risk Factors

Background and Aims: Patients and the general public are under insurmountable psychological pressure which may lead to various psychological problems, such as anxiety, fear, depression, and insomnia, causing, consequently, the impaired quality of life. Psychological crisis intervention plays a pivotal role in the overall deployment of health-related quality of life and disease control. A novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS- CoV-2), a pathogen of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has affected several sector activities, including people’s health. To enhance infection control methods, appropriate interventions, and public health policies, the present study aims to assess the fear and peri-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 inBrazil. Method: A cross-sectional survey has been conducted from April 12th to 18th from 2020, using the Peri-Traumatic Distress Scale (CPDI) and the Fear Scale (FCV-19S) aiming to measure the peri-traumatic stress and fear as psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, an online spreadsheet was used to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1844 participants as a collecting information tool. After the data analysis, the individuals were separated into 4 groups: Group 1 (1232) population without chronic health conditions;group 2 (298) patients with previous psychological suffering, group 3 (229) patients with cardiovascular diseases, group 4 (71) patients with diabetes. For analysis, G1 were considered control for comparison with groups 2, 3 and 4. Results: All the groups showed the CPDI and FCV-19S increased in comparison with the G1 group. Concerning CPDI, the G 3 was increased when compared to G1, G2 and G4. The G3 had the FCV-19S higher in comparison with G1, G2 and G4. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test showed a statistical difference between the control group in comparison with 2 and 3 groups (Mann-Whitney p < 0.05). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Brazilian population, with patients with heart disease and hypertension presenting the highest numbers of stress and fear, with numbers comparable and even higher than those who reported previous psychological distress.

Evaluation of Fear and Peritraumatic Distress during COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread exponentially worldwide, especially in America. At the end of August 2020, Brazil is one of the most affected countries with more than three and a half million cases and up to 114,250 deaths. This study aims to assess the fear and peri-traumatic stress during the COVID-19 pandemics in Brazil, to enhance infection control methods, appropriate interventions, and public health policies. A cross-sectional survey has been conducted from April 12th to 18th using the Peri-Traumatic Distress Scale (CPDI) and the Fear Scale (FCV-19S) aiming to measure the peri-traumatic stress and fear as psychological reactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, an online spreadsheet was used to send the questionnaire and scales to a sample of 1844 participants as a collecting information tool. Significant positive relationship (r = 0.660, p < 0.001) and internal consistencies on CPDI and FCV-195 scales (Cronbach Alfa scores 0.90 and 0.88 respectively) were shown. Results highlight significant gender differences as in both scales women’s mean scores are higher showing that it is paramount that women’s voices were represented in policy spaces as socially constructed gender roles place them in a strategic position to enhance multi-level interventions (primary and secondary effects of COVID-19), equitable policies, and new approaches to control the pandemic.

Brain weight predicts yawn duration across domesticated dog breeds

Previous research shows that yawning enhances intracranial circulation and regulates brain temperature. Consistent with these functional outcomes, yawn duration correlates positively with interspecies variation in brain weight across mammals, with robust relationships documented at both the taxonomic rank of class and the more restricted scale of family (e.g., Felidae). This study provides the first investigation into whether differences in brain weight within a single species, domesticated dogs Canis lupus familiaris, can predict intraspecific variation in yawn duration. Measures of yawn duration were obtained from public videos available online and then paired with previously published brain and body weight data of different dog breeds. The final sample consisted of 272 yawns from 198 dogs across 23 breeds. Consistent with recent studies, we find robust correlations between yawn duration and brain weight across breeds. Moreover, these correlations remain significant after controlling for differences in body weight across breeds. These findings replicate and extend upon past work in this area and provide further support that yawns evolved to serve an important and large-scale neurophysiologic function.

Eating as a motivated behavior:modulatory effect of high fat diets on energy homeostasis,reward processing and neuroinflammation

Eating is a basic motivated behavior that provides fuel for the body and supports brain function.To ensure survival,the brain’s feeding circuits are tuned to monitor peripheral energy balance and promote food-seeking behavior when energy stores are low.The brain’s bias toward a positive energy state,which is necessary to ensure adequate nutrition during times of food scarcity,is evolutionarily conserved across mammalian species and is likely to drive overeating in the presence of a palatable,energy-dense diet.Animal models of diet-induced overeating have played a vital role in investigating how the drive to consume palatable food may override the homeostatic processes that serve to maintain energy balance.These animal models have provided valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying homeostatic and non-homeostatic eating,motivation and food reward,and the development of obesity and related comorbidities.Here,we provide a brief review of this literature and discuss how diet-induced inflammation in the central nervous system impacts the neural control of food intake and regulation of body weight.The connection between diet and the immune system provides an exciting new direction for the study of ingestive behavior and the pathophysiology of obesity.

Density-induced social stress alters oxytocin and vasopressin activities in the brain of a small rodent species

It is known that social stress could alter oxytocin(OT)and arginine-vasopressin(AVP)expression in specific regions of brains which regulate the aggressive behavior of small rodents,but the effects of density-induced social stress are still unknown.Brandt’s voles(Lasiopodomys brandtii)are small herbivores in the grassland of China,but the underlying neurological mechanism of population regulation is still unknown.We tested the effects of housing density of Brandt’s voles on OT/AVP system with physical contact(allowing aggression)and without physical contact(not allowing aggression)under laboratory conditions.Then,we tested the effects of paired-aggression(no density effect)of Brandt’s voles on OT/AVP system under laboratory conditions.We hypothesized that high density would increase aggression among animals which would then increase AVP but reduce OT in brains of animals.Our results showed that high housing density induced more aggressive behavior.We found high-densityinduced social stress(with or without physical contact)and direct aggression significantly increased expression of mRNA and protein of AVP and its receptor,but decreased expression of mRNA and protein of OT and its receptor in specific brain regions of voles.The results suggest that density-dependent change of OT/AVP systems may play a significant role in the population regulation of small rodents by altering density-dependent aggressive behavior.