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The thermal and dynamical structure of Titan's middle atmosphere (the stratosphere and mesosphere) has been observed to evolve over seasonal timescales. Measurements from the Composite Infrared Spectrometer on the Cassini spacecraft indicated the presence of a westerly jet with the strongest winds exceeding 200 m s−1 near the autumn and spring poles. The strength of the winds varied substantially with latitude and altitude, and weakened throughout most of winter. The strong winds also served to trap short‐lived trace molecules near the winter pole, leading to a chemically enriched environment. Here, to better understand the evolution of the middle atmosphere jet, we quantify the heat and zonal momentum budgets in Titan's stratosphere and mesosphere over the course of a Titan year using a three‐dimensional general circulation model. We confirm that the dominant heating balance is between the net radiative and adiabatic heating rates, and also show that the convergence of sensible heat by the atmospheric flow is important at low stratospheric altitudes above the winter pole. We show that the polar jet is maintained by the convergence of zonal momentum by the mean meridional flow, while the low‐latitude winds are maintained by an up‐gradient transport of momentum by eddies that occur on time scales of less than one Titan day. The heat and momentum budgets we determine here will be useful in constraining the factors controlling the evolution of Titan's middle atmosphere over the coming decades. Plain Language Summary: Titan is the largest moon of Saturn, and possesses a thick, nitrogen dominated atmosphere with surface pressure that is greater than Earth's. The middle atmosphere of Titan includes the stratosphere and mesosphere and extends from about 60 km through about 600 km above its surface. Winds in Titan's middle atmosphere can be up to 200 m s−1 (∼450 miles per hour) and play an important role in moving trace molecules throughout the atmosphere. In this paper, we perform the first numerical study to determine what causes the temperature and winds in Titan's middle atmosphere to change over the course of Titan's 29.5 Earth‐year trip around the sun. We find that the temperatures in Titan's middle atmosphere are driven primarily by solar heating and infrared cooling, and by compressional heating of descending air; however, the transport of heat by the winds is also important. The winds are primarily accelerated by the large‐scale transport of momentum toward the high winter latitudes, but are balanced by the transport of momentum toward the equator by atmospheric waves. Our results will be important to predicting the changes that will be seen in Titan's atmosphere as it progresses through northern autumn in 2025. Key Points: Heating in the middle atmosphere is balanced between radiative and adiabatic effects, but convergence of heat is important near the polesThe acceleration of the polar jet is balanced between the transport of momentum by the mean flow and deceleration by transient eddiesThe transition of the polar jet from one hemisphere to the other is a complex process that involves changing structure over all latitudes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased feelings of insecurity and anxiety for the health of oneself and those of one’s loved ones, as well as for the future, which has led to an increased level of stress. This has resulted in a tendency to use alcohol and drugs. Studies show that such behaviors are triggered both by external and internal factors. Therefore, the study has looked for interrelations between personality traits, mental state, and learning mode (online versus hybrid) and the frequency of stimulants and tranquilizers consumption in the last 6-12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved 113 university students aged 19-34. Due to pandemic-related limitations, 51.3% of students took online courses, while 48.7% were involved in hybrid learning. The participants were all asked to complete an online questionnaire that included 17 questions regarding mental health, drug and alcohol use. Additionally, the TIPI questionnaire was used to assess personality traits. The study found that online learning as well as feelings of loneliness and emptiness resulted in increased use of alcohol, antidepressants and sleeping pills. On the other hand, personality traits such as extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability helped to limit the use of this type of stimulants. Online learners more often reported deterioration in their mental state, related to difficulties in adapting to pandemic-related conditions. This group was also more likely to use sedatives, sleeping pills, and antidepressants, with a significant difference in means, compared to hybrid students. In contrast, hybrid learners frequently reported a sense of the loss of meaning as well as worrying about the fate of loved ones, thinking back to a situation no longer under their control, and difficulties in making decisions. At the same time, most respondents of this group reported a positive vision of their future and a high sense of responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the associations between maternal depression and oxytocin in pregnancy, caregiving sensitivity and adult attachment style, and infant temperament. One hundred and six women recruited from a public hospital antenatal clinic in Australia, and their infants completed assessments at three time points (Time 1: pregnancy; Time 2: 3-month postpartum; Time 3: 12-month postpartum). Mothers completed self-report questionnaires assessing maternal depression symptom severity at Time 1-3, adult attachment style at Time 2, and infant temperament at Time 3. At Time 1, they also provided a blood sample to assess peripheral oxytocin levels, and at Time 2, participated in a parent-child interaction session, which was later coded for caregiving behavior (sensitivity). Neither maternal depression nor lower levels of oxytocin during pregnancy predicted difficult infant temperament; rather, it was predicted by non-Caucasian ethnicity. When all other variables were free to vary, adult attachment avoidance mediated an association between maternal depression during pregnancy and difficult infant temperament. Results highlight the potential value of interventions focusing on adult attachment insecurity for pregnant women and raise questions about associations between culture/ethnicity and infant temperament., (© 2024 The Author(s). Infant Mental Health Journal published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.)

Background: Microbial dysbiosis in infancy can influence long-term health outcomes such as childhood obesity. The aim of this study is to explore relationships among maternal well-being during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and the infant gut microbiome. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of healthy pregnant women from the MicrobeMom study, a double-blind randomized control trial of maternal probiotic supplementation (Bifidobacterium breve 702258) versus placebo antenatally and up to 3 months postpartum. Maternal well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 well-being index at 16 weeks' and 34 weeks' gestation. Breastfeeding practices were recorded at discharge from hospital and at 1 month postpartum. Infant stool samples were obtained at 1 month of age. Next generation shotgun sequencing determined infant microbial diversity. Independent sample t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests informed adjusted regression analysis, which was adjusted for delivery mode, antibiotics during delivery, maternal age and body mass index (BMI), and probiotic vs. control study group. Results: Women (n = 118) with at least one measure of well-being were on average 33 years (SD 3.93) of age and 25.09 kg/m2 (SD 3.28) BMI. Exclusive breastfeeding was initiated by 65% (n = 74). Any breastfeeding was continued by 69% (n = 81) after 1 month. In early and late pregnancy, 87% (n = 97/111) and 94% (n = 107/114) had high well-being scores. Well-being was not associated with infant microbial diversity at 1 month. In adjusted analysis, exclusive breastfeeding at discharge from hospital was associated with infant microbial beta diversity (PC2; 0.254, 95% CI 0.006, 0.038). At 1 month postpartum, any breastfeeding was associated with infant microbial alpha diversity (Shannon index; -0.241, 95% CI -0.498, -0.060) and observed species; (-0.325, 95% CI -0.307, -0.060), and infant microbial beta diversity (PC2; 0.319, 95% CI 0.013, 0.045). Exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month postpartum was associated with infant alpha diversity (Shannon index -0.364, 95% CI -0.573, -0.194; Simpson index 0.339, 95% CI 0.027, 0.091), and infant's number of observed microbial species (-0.271, 95% CI -0.172, -0.037). Conclusion: Breastfeeding practices at 1 month postpartum were associated with lower microbial diversity and observed species in infants at 1 month postpartum, which is potentially beneficial to allow greater abundance of Bifidobacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Results are given for a study of the formation and decomposition of natural gas hydrates in quartz sand in the presence of fresh water as well as 0.25 and 2 mass % aqueous sodium bicarbonate and 5 mass % aqueous sodium chloride. These solutions are models of stratum water of subpermafrost aquifers of the Vilyui syneclise. We studied the effect of the porous medium and salinity on hydrate formation using differential thermal analysis with initial pressure from 4 to 7 MPa. Equilibrium conditions and kinetic parameters for hydrate formation were determined. The hydrate formation kinetic parameters in porous media decrease for each initial pressure depending on the salinity in the following order: 0.25 mass % NaHCO3 ≈ H2O > 2 mass % NaHCO3 > 5 mass % NaCl. We studied the stability of the hydrates obtained in porous media with different salinity. The stability of the hydrates in the porous media decreases with increasing salt concentration in the solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the fear of COVID-19 and the quality of life of patients with transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) during the pandemic. This descriptive cross-sectional study included 132 TAVI patients. Data were collected using a patient information form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), and the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D). The mean FCV-19S score of the patients was 17.37 ± 6.12. The mean EQ-5D index score was 0.56 ± 0.37 and the mean VAS score was 65.5 ± 11.5. As per the dimensions of the EQ-5D index, 75% of the patients had mobility problems. According to the logistic regression analysis results, mobility was the most affected parameter, as demonstrated by the worsening in symptoms during the pandemic (odds ratio: 7.370, 95% CI [2.183, 24.881]). The patients with TAVI had a moderate level of fear associated with COVID-19, and the pandemic negatively affected their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The influence of postpartum depression (PPD) on child development has been a source of professional interest and practical relevance., Objective: This study investigated the association of early PPD symptoms with developmental domains., Design and Method: This historical cohort study included 574,282 children attending Mother Child Healthcare Centers in Israel from January 1, 2014 to July 31, 2020, who underwent at least one developmental screening examination by public health nurses up to age 36 months, and whose mothers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) postnatally. Developmental milestone tasks included four domains: fine and gross motor, language/communication, and social/behavioral., Results: The rate of failure to complete age-appropriate tasks was higher among children whose mothers had scored ≥ 10 on the EPDS on the majority of tasks in every domain., Discussion: This large population-based study has demonstrated the association between early maternal postnatal depressive symptoms and failure to meet developmental milestones across domains, until three years. Recommendations for practice focus on the mother, the child, and health policy., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The authors explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on families and nurses. Topics discussed include the challenges associated with COVID-19 treatment uncertainty faced by nurses, the family conflicts triggered by the public health measures implemented by governments during the pandemic, and the increased demand for family nursing due to the prolonged grief brought by the unexpected loss of loved ones during the health crisis.

Titan’s stratosphere has been observed in a superrotation state, where the atmosphere rotates many times faster than the surface does. Another characteristic of Titan’s atmosphere is the presence of a thick haze layer. In this paper, we performed numerical experiments using a general circulation model to explore the effects of the haze layer on the stratospheric superrotation. We employed a semigray radiation model of Titan’s atmosphere following McKay et al., which takes account of sunlight absorption by the haze particles. The phase change of methane or seasonal changes were not taken into account. Our model with radiation parameters tuned for Titan yielded a global eastward wind around the equator with larger velocities at higher altitudes, except at around 70 km, after 105 Earth days. Although the atmosphere is not in an equilibrium state, the zonal wind profiles are approximately consistent with the observed one. By changing the parameters of the radiation model, we found that the intensity and the location of the maximum zonal wind velocity highly depended on the optical thickness and the altitude of the haze layer, respectively. Analysis of our experiments suggests that the quasi-stationary stratospheric superrotation is maintained by the balance between the meridional circulation decoupled from the surface and the eddies that transport angular momentum equatorward. This is different from, but similar to, the so-called Gierasch mechanism, in which momentum is supplied from the surface. This structure may explain the no-wind region at about 80 km in altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active layer thicknesses (ALTs) from sites along a transect through the Mackenzie Valley, Northwest Territories, Canada, were analyzed to explore variation in thickness within and between ecoregions. At an ecoregional scale the relation between ALT, latitude, freezing and thawing degree-days, and snowfall were examined to determine the presence of trends. Site-specific variables including dominant vegetation and substrate were explored to explain spatial variability in ALT within ecoregions. Generally, average ALT increases moving southward through the comprising ecoregions (68 cm to 126 cm), following the increase in air temperature. Spatial variability in ALT within ecoregions was greater than that between ecoregions (up to 145 cm), which may be attributed to site-specific conditions (vegetation and snow cover). Most notable, sites with shrubs had thicker than average active layers likely because of increased snow retention leading to warmer overall ground conditions. Despite a warming trend in air temperatures, only one northern ecoregion showed a corresponding thickening trend in ALT. Sites located in southern ecoregions with mature forests showed limited response to changes in air temperature. For these locations, disturbance, specifically changes in thermally protective vegetation cover, rather than changing air temperature could potentially have a larger impact on ALT into the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the great diversity of atmospheric circulation patterns observed throughout the solar system, polar vortices stand out as a nearly ubiquitous planetary‐scale phenomenon. In recent years, there have been significant advances in the observation of planetary polar vortices, culminating in the fascinating discovery of Jupiter's polar vortex clusters during the Juno mission. Alongside these observational advances has been a major effort to understand polar vortex dynamics using theory, idealized and comprehensive numerical models, and laboratory experiments. Here, we review our current knowledge of planetary polar vortices, highlighting both the diversity of their structures, as well as fundamental dynamical similarities. We propose a new convention of vortex classification, which adequately captures all those observed in our solar system, and demonstrates the key role of polar vortices in the global circulation, transport, and climate of all planets. We discuss where knowledge gaps remain, and the observational, experimental, and theoretical advances needed to address them. In particular, as the diversity of both solar system and exoplanetary data increases exponentially, there is now a unique opportunity to unify our understanding of polar vortices under a single dynamical framework. Plain Language Summary: Polar vortices are often described as the rotational motion of air in the polar regions of planets, this includes large vortices where flow circumnavigates the pole and smaller vortices that are centered within polar regions. The most commonly discussed polar vortices are those in Earth's stratosphere, which have given rise to the ozone hole. More recently a number of other circulation patterns have been described as polar vortices, on Earth, and other planets. We review key features of these different polar vortices, and explain their similarities and differences using decades of theory, observations and modeling from the geophysical fluid dynamics community. We review how the different dynamical and chemical structures evolve as features of the polar vortex structures, and why they are integral to the makeup of planetary atmospheres. We conclude by summarizing the latest knowledge on potential polar vortices outside of our solar system, which to date are only theorized. Key Points: Earth is not unique in having polar vortices, every well‐observed planetary body with a substantial atmosphere appears to have oneThe range of vortices in our solar system is diverse, but much of their character can be explained in terms of the fluid dynamics for EarthClassifying vortices into those with predominantly circumpolar flow and those with large zonal asymmetries captures all that we know about [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study investigated the relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding duration, and maternal psychological well-being in the perinatal period. Methods: A longitudinal study involving a retrospective follow-up of a group of 1080 women from pregnancy to the 1st year postpartum, who gave birth during the 5-year period between January 2014 and January 2019 in Athens, Greece, was designed. Women's history and two psychometric tools--the Edinburg Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) administered at 5-time points--were used for data collection. Logistic regression analysis and a series of multiple analysis of variance (MANOVA) tests were performed. Results: The chance for exclusive breastfeeding (giving only breast milk) appeared to decrease (a) with an increase of the scores for psychometric tools antenatally (PHQ-9, p = 0.030) or at the 6th week postpartum (EPDS, p < 0.001 and PHQ-9, p < 0.001), (b) with an increase in the number of psychotherapeutic sessions needed antenatally (p = 0.030), and (c) when the initiation of psychotherapy was necessary postpartum (p = 0.002). Additionally, a shorter duration of any breastfeeding (with or without formula or other types of food/drink) seems to be associated with (a) the occurrence of pathological mental health symptoms (p = 0.029), (b) increased PHQ-9 scores antenatally (p = 0.018), (c) increased EPDS scores at the 6th week (p = 0.004) and the 12th month postpartum (p = 0.031), (d) the initiation of psychotherapy postpartum (p = 0.040), and e) the need for more than 13 psychotherapeutic sessions (p = 0.020). Conclusions: This study demonstrates a negative relationship between exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding duration, and poor maternal mental health in the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antenatal exposure to maternal stress is a factor that may impact on offspring cognitive development. While some evidence exists of an association between maternal antenatal depressive or anxiety symptoms and infants' cognitive outcomes, less is known about the role of biological indices of maternal antenatal stress in relation to infant cognitive development. The current study investigated the association between maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms, stress and inflammatory markers during pregnancy and infant's cognitive development in a sample of 104 healthy pregnant women (mean gestational age = 34.76; SD = 1.12) and their 12‐week‐old infants (mean postnatal weeks = 11.96; SD = 1.85). Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were evaluated during pregnancy, alongside measurements of serum Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), C‐Reactive Protein (CRP), salivary cortisol, and alpha amylase (sAA) concentrations. Infant cognitive development, maternal caregiving and concurrent anxiety or depressive symptoms were assessed 12 weeks after delivery. Hierarchical linear regressions indicated that higher maternal diurnal cortisol and CRP levels were independently associated with lower infant cognitive development scores, while adjusting for infant gender and gestational age, maternal IQ, caregiving, depressive, or anxiety symptoms. Though correlational, findings seem suggestive of a role for variation in maternal biological stress signals during pregnancy in influencing infants' early cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present multiwavelength measurements of the thermal, chemical, and cloud contrasts associated with the visibly dark formations (also known as 5‐μm hot spots) and intervening bright plumes on the boundary between Jupiter's Equatorial Zone (EZ) and North Equatorial Belt (NEB). Observations made by the TEXES 5‐ to 20‐μm spectrometer at the Gemini North Telescope in March 2017 reveal the upper‐tropospheric properties of 12 hot spots, which are directly compared to measurements by Juno using the microwave radiometer (MWR), JIRAM at 5 μm, and JunoCam visible images. MWR and thermal‐infrared spectroscopic results are consistent near 0.7 bar. Mid‐infrared‐derived aerosol opacity is consistent with that inferred from visible‐albedo and 5‐μm opacity maps. Aerosol contrasts, the defining characteristics of the cloudy plumes and aerosol‐depleted hot spots, are not a good proxy for microwave brightness. The hot spots are neither uniformly warmer nor ammonia‐depleted compared to their surroundings at p<1 bar. At 0.7 bar, the microwave brightness at the edges of hot spots is comparable to other features within the NEB. Conversely, hot spots are brighter at 1.5 bar, signifying either warm temperatures and/or depleted NH3 at depth. Temperatures and ammonia are spatially variable within the hot spots, so the precise location of the observations matters to their interpretation. Reflective plumes sometimes have enhanced NH3, cold temperatures, and elevated aerosol opacity, but each plume appears different. Neither plumes nor hot spots had microwave signatures in channels sensing p>10 bars, suggesting that the hot spot/plume wave is a relatively shallow feature. Plain Language Summary: To date, our only direct measurement of Jupiter's gaseous composition came from the descent of the Galileo probe in 1995. However, the results from Galileo appeared to be biased due to the unusual meteorological conditions of its entry location: a dark, cloud‐free region just north of the equator, known as a hot spot. One of the aims of NASA's Juno mission was to place the findings of the Galileo probe into broader context, which requires a detailed characterization of these equatorial hot spots and their neighboring plumes. We combine (a) data from Juno (microwave observations sounding conditions below the clouds and visible/infrared observations revealing variations in cloud opacity) with (b) observations from amateur observers (to track the hot spots over time) and (c) observations from the TEXES infrared spectrometer mounted on the Gemini‐North telescope. The latter provides the highest‐resolution thermal maps of Jupiter's tropics ever obtained and reveals contrasts within and between the individual hot spots and plumes. We find that the hot spots are distinguishable from their surroundings for relatively shallow pressures but that the deep measurements from Juno and Galileo are probably more representative of Jupiter's North Equatorial Belt than previously thought. Key Points: Gemini TEXES spectral mapping reveals temperature, aerosol, and ammonia contrasts associated with plumes and hot spots on Jupiter's NEB jetstreamJuno microwave measurements are consistent with the infrared mapping and reveals that hot spot ammonia contrasts are confined to pressures less than 8–10 barsHot spots and plumes are primarily contrasts in aerosols, with only subtle upper‐tropospheric ammonia and temperature variations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]