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There has been a paucity in the literature on the protective effects of spiritual and social support as it pertains to trauma symptoms following a disaster. This secondary analysis investigated: a) the longitudinal analysis of the effect of perceived spiritual support (PSS; measured using PSSS-S2) on posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS); and b) the effect of social support and Wave-1 PTSS results on Wave-2 PTSS among Hurricane-Katrina (H-K) volunteers. We hypothesized that, 1. The shortform PSSS-S2 would have an adequate one-dimensional structure in our H-K sample; 2. PSSS-S2 would be inversely related to Wave-2 PTSS, after controlling for Wave-1 PTSS and other disaster factors; and 3. Wave-2 perceived social support would be inversely related to Wave-2 PTSS. In 2005, researchers of universities the Deep South conducted a questionnaire survey on H-K volunteers, some of whom were also disaster victims (N = 542; age = 29.66 + 9.10, African American = 55%). The Wave-1 survey was delivered at three-months after H-K, the Wave-2 survey was delivered six-months after H-K. Robust Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to verify the single-item structure of PSSS-S2. Multiple regression analysis was employed using SPSS27. The Robust CFA results indicate good model fit. In our final regression model, Wave-1 PTSS (β = 0.527, p < 0.001) and other H-K stressors (β = 0.154, p < 0.035) were positively associated with Wave-2 PTSS. Being older, having experienced less PTSS in Wave-1, and perceiving higher rates of social support were negatively related with Wave-2 PTSS. The present study demonstrated the lasting nature of PTSS. The present study demonstrated the lasting nature of PTSS. The six-months follow-up is important because it was the time a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could be established for volunteers. Our findings underscore the importance of social support and perceived spiritual support in fending off the negative role of disaster-induced stressors [1].

The larvae of Echinococcus (hydatidcyst) can parasitize humans and animals, causing a serious zoonotic disease-echinococcosis. The life history of Echinococcus is complicated, and as the disease progresses slowly after infection, early diagnosis is difficult to establish. Due to the limitations of imaging and immunological diagnosis in this respect, domestic and foreign scholars have established a variety of molecular detection techniques for the pathogen Echinococcus over recent years, mainly including nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiplex PCR, real-time quantitative PCR, and nucleic acid isothermal amplification technology. In this article, the research progress of molecular detection technology for Echinococcus infection currently was reviewed and the significance of these methods in the detection and diagnosis of hydatid and hydatid diseases was also discussed.

Media use can be beneficial in many ways, but little is known about how it might improve wellbeing outcomes following a traumatic natural disaster. Survivors (n = 491) of deadly Hurricane Michael, which struck the Florida (USA) coastline in 2018, completed an online survey, reporting indicators of post-traumatic growth (PTG) and stress (PTSS). A serial mediation model explored how hurricane-related stressors were related to both outcomes, as mediated by approach, avoidant, and support-seeking coping strategies and post-hurricane hedonic, eudaimonic, and self-transcendent media use as coping tools. Factors contributing to each type of post-hurricane media use were also explored. Results indicate that hurricane-related stressors were associated with PTG, serially mediated through approach coping strategies and self-transcendent media use, thus providing some of the first empirical evidence of the longer-term, beneficial wellbeing effects of media use on survivors of trauma. Additionally, hurricane-related stressors were associated with avoidant coping strategies, which were associated with increased eudaimonic media use. However, hedonic and eudaimonic media use were not associated with PTSS or PTG. Finally, factors known to be associated with media use were not predictive of post-hurricane media use, perhaps suggesting that media play a different role in survivors' lives in the months following a traumatic event.

Childhood mistreatment (CM) has been associated with adult posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) in the general population. Few studies have examined the role of PTSD in the CM-SUD association among Latinx. This cross-sectional study evaluated a theory-driven conceptual model with a specific focus on the impact of perceived discrimination, which may interfere with these associations. Using a nationally representative sample and structural equation modeling (SEM), the study evaluated the mediation of PTSD in the CM-SUD link, adjusting for or omitting discrimination and other sociodemographic variables that are known predictors of Latinx behavioral health. Multi-subsample analyses were then conducted to review nativity differences (US-born = 924.43% and immigrant = 1630.57%). The fully specified final model (model 1, covariates adjusted) failed to show a significant mediation of PTSD in the tested link, but a direct detrimental effect group of discrimination, for all Latinx. The mediation was only supported, when treating discrimination and other covariates as omitted variables (model 5), which also showed additional direct and indirect effect of CM on SUD. In subsample analyses, models of US-born and immigrant-Latinx subpopulations were identical but showed nativity differences when omitting covariates. When discrimination and other covariates were fully adjusted, Latinx exposed to trauma were more likely to develop SUD in adulthood, regardless of when traumatic exposure occurred. This unexpected finding challenges theories explaining the CM-SUD connection, suggesting possible model misspecifications of parametric SES; namely, omitting the unique impact of perceived discrimination in Latinx can lead to biased results. From a clinical standpoint, both trauma and discrimination must be addressed when assessing Latinx behavioral health.

Open-heart surgery (OHS) is common in late life and is expected to improve functioning despite aging of OHS patients. Few studies have explored the influence of both psychosocial strength factors, metal health, and pre- and peri-OHS medical factors, including cardiac indices, on post-OHS functioning. This study explores the role of character strengths (e.g., hope and spirituality) in post-OHS activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL), along with cardiac indices used by all cardio-thoracic surgeons, after controlling for self-reported pre-OHS depression, quality of life indicators, and non-cardiac medical comorbidities. Three waves of interview data and cardiac/surgical indices in the Society of Thoracic Surgeon (STS) national database were collected for a cohort of 481 patients (age = 62 +, female 42%). Multiple linear regression was used to identify pre-OHS predictors of post-OHS functional status. ADL and IADL statuses after OHS were better among those who pursued pre-OHS positive spiritual/religious coping than those who did not. Outcomes were poorer for those reporting poor pre-OHS, higher numbers of medical comorbidities, and use of more post-OHS prayer for coping. Perfusion time, a proxy for surgical complexity, was associated with poor IADL only. Pre-OHS positive spiritual coping, a common coping means used among cardiac patients in medical crises, could have played a positive role in better post-OHS functional status during the post-OHS recovery month. Cardiac health providers should pay more attention to patient-centered character strengths and coping and non-cardiac conditions. More nuanced interdisciplinary research is necessary to identify mechanisms underlying these associations.

Anxiety can contribute to poor prognosis in cardiac patients. Few studies have examined the role of optimism in anxiety after open heart surgery (OHS). This study investigated the influence of preoperative optimism on post-OHS anxiety, adjusting cardiac indices used by cardiac surgeons. Data were collected before and 1 month after OHS in 481 patients (58% men; age, 62.4 ± 11.94 years). Optimism was measured using the Life Orientation Test. Anxiety was measured using the Trait Anxiety Inventory. Medical and cardiac indices were retrieved from the Society of Thoracic Surgeon's national database. Multiple regression analyses showed that greater pre-OHS optimism was associated with lower levels of post-OHS anxiety (F[6, N = 306] = 50.18, p < 0.001, R = 0.502). No other factors showed similar protection. Pre-OHS anxiety, younger age, and minority status were associated with anxiety in the critical recovery month. The findings demonstrate the potential benefit of optimism against post-OHS anxiety, which may have clinical implications for improving disease management.

Quasars behind the Galactic plane (GPQs) are important astrometric references and valuable probes of Galactic gas, yet the search for GPQs is difficult due to severe extinction and source crowding in the Galactic plane. In this paper, we present a sample of 204 spectroscopically confirmed GPQs at |b, Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, published in ApJS. Tables and spectra in this paper are available at https://doi.org/10.12149/101095

To establish a nucleic acid assay for detection ofThe metacercariae ofA rapid, sensitive and specific fluorescent RAA assay is successfully established for nucleic acid detection of

INTRODUCTION Extreme disasters have increased exponentially in recent years and result in threats and traumatic reactions in communities globally. Humans turn to their existential relations for survival following disasters; yet, religion and spirituality (R/S) remains underinvestigated in disaster contexts, with most studies measuring general R/S concepts in Christian samples. To address the resulting gap, this study sought to (a) establish short form, disaster-specific scales of perceived spiritual support (PSS); (b) test the factor's relationships with mental health outcomes; and (c) explore moderators of those relationships. METHOD With strong community engagement, a culturally diverse sample (N = 566) completed an online survey after Hurricanes Maria and Michael (H-MM). Multivariate analyses established psychometric properties for 2 PSS short-form scales (PSSS-S1 and -S2) and revealed associations between and moderators of (disaster-related experiences and character strengths) the scales and 2 traumatic outcomes: posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic growth (PTG). RESULTS PSSS-S1 and -S2 demonstrated adequate reliability and validity. PSS was associated inversely with PTSD symptoms at a marginal level but positively and strongly with PTG. Character strengths moderated the link of PSS to PTSD but not PTG. Most disaster-related factors were associated with both outcomes. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the function of PSS in survival. PSSS-S1 and -S2 are adequate measures for rapid and cross-cultural data collection in extreme disasters. The differential associations of PSS and moderators with the 2 outcomes can be interpreted in light of 2 forms of well-being, which may have implications for theory, research, and practice in trauma psychology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

To construct a cDNA library ofTotal RNA was extracted fromThe SMATR cDNA library ofA SMART cDNA library of

SDSS J134244.4+053056 is a tidal disruption event candidate with strong temporal coronal line emitters and a long fading, mid-infrared dust echo. We present detailed analyses of X-ray emission from a Swift/XRT observation in 2009 and the most recent XMM-Newton/pn observation in 2020. The two spectra can be modeled with hard and soft components. While no significant variability is detected in the hard component above 2 keV between these two observations, the soft X-ray emission in 0.3-2 keV varies by a factor of $\sim5$. The luminosity of this soft component fades from $\sim1.8\times10^{41}$ to $\sim3.7\times10^{40}$ erg s$^{-1}$ from the observation in Swift to that of XMM-Newton, which are 8 and 19 years after the outburst occurred, respectively. The evolution of luminosity matches with the $t^{-5/3}$ decline law well; there is a soft X-ray peak luminosity of 10$^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$ at the time of the optical flare. Furthermore, the spectra of the soft component harden slightly in the decay phase, in which the photon index $\Gamma$ varies from $4.8^{+1.2}_{-0.9}$ to $3.7\pm0.5$, although they are consistent with each other if we consider the uncertainties. Additionally, by comparing the BH mass estimate between the $M-\sigma$ correlation, the broad H$\alpha$ emission, and the fundamental plane relation of BH accretion, we find that a value of $\sim10^{5}$Msun is favored. If so, taking its X-ray spectral variation, luminosity evolution, and further support from theory into account, we suggest that SDSS J134244.4+053056 is a long-lived tidal disruption event candidate lasting more than 18 years with an intermediate-mass black hole., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics

Anxiety is an under-investigated comorbidity in heart disease patients. Optimism/hope is a character strength that indicates confidence or favorable expectation about the future. Previous research has consistently reported optimal health outcomes among optimists. However, many studies have lacked adjustment for medical confounders and/or used small clinical samples. To bridge this gap, we tested the hypothesis that optimism/hope was inversely related to anxiety in 400+ patients with advanced heart disease during the stressful waiting period prior to open-heart surgery. The findings supported the hypothesis after controlling for general health, illness impact, behavioral risks, and cardiac medical indices used by surgeons.

Methylglyoxal (MG) has traditionally been known as a toxic byproduct of cellular metabolism in plants, which now has been found to function as a novel signaling molecule, participating in overall life cycle of plants from seed germination to senescence. However, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as the second crop in China, whether MG can remit the toxicity of plumbum (Pb) in plant is unknown. In this study, Pb stress showed a visible damage symptom, as reflected in a growth inhibition of wheat seedlings. The growth inhibition by Pb was mitigated by exogenous application of MG, implying that MG could alleviate Pb toxicity in wheat seedlings. To further understand the possible mechanisms of the MG-alleviated Pb toxicity, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase: APX, guaiacol peroxidase: GPX, catalase: CAT, and superoxide dismutase: SOD) and the contents of osmolytes, proline (Pro), trehalose (Tre), and total soluble sugar (TSS), were determined. The data exhibited that Pb stress activated APX, GPX, and CAT, as well as increased Pro, Tre, and TSS levels to varying degrees in both leaves and roots of wheat seedlings. This activation and increase was further intensified by the exogenous administration of MG, hinting that antioxidant enzyme and osmoregulation systems played a synergistic effect in MG-ameliorated the tolerance of wheat seedlings to Pb stress. The present study indicated that signaling molecule MG could remit the toxicity of Pb in wheat seedlings by modifying antioxidant enzyme and osmoregulation systems.

A new ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) antenna, instead of a B-port antenna, is installed at the N-port to improve the power coupling in the 2021 experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST) experimental campaign. In all the experiments, a frequency of 37 MHz is used, corresponding to hydrogen minority heating of deuterium plasma at B 0 = 2.5 T. The maximum coupling resistance is up to 10 Ω, which is close to two times the resistance of the original two antennas in EAST. The plasma stored energy is increased by 30 kJ MW−1, and significant core ion and electron heating are observed. For long pulse operation, we have achieved 1.5 MW/41 s and 1.1 MW/61 s with the new antenna in the high poloidal beta plasma discharge. ICRF power up to 1.8 MW is routinely coupled to the plasma for pulse lengths up to 21 s.

Asian-Americans (AAs) constitute the fastest growing minority group in the USA. AAs share a common emphasis on collective cultural strengths, especially family values. Using the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS) data, this study investigated the roles of family cohesiveness, along with other cultural strength factors and negative family interactions in three psychiatric disorders. Supporting the study's hypotheses, multivariate analyses showed that family cohesiveness was associated with a lower incidence of general anxiety disorder (GAD), while regular religious attendance was linked with a lower likelihood of having substance use disorder (SUD). Conversely, negative family interactions increased the likelihood of experiencing major depression disorder (MDD) and SUD. Whereas perceived discrimination was related to higher odds of all diagnoses, family cohesiveness moderated the relationship between discrimination and GAD. These findings suggest that family relationships play a critical role in AAs' mental health and should be further explored through a prospective design.

System Xc-, also named cystine/glutamate antiporter, is an important intracellular antioxidant element. It is composed of the light chain SLC7A11 (xCT) and the heavy chain SLC3A2 (4F2hc) and functions as raw materials for the synthesis of glutathione (GSH). Recent studies have demonstrated that system Xc- plays an important role in different types of regulated cell death, which is referred to cell death controlled by dedicated molecular machinery. It has been shown that system Xc- involves in ferroptosis, apoptosis, and autophagy-dependent cell death, contributing to different diseases and drug resistance, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and cisplatin resistance to cancers. To date, the intervention of system Xc- by its inhibitors or activators displays a beneficial effect on the treatment of certain diseases. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the role of system Xc- in regulated cell death, including molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications.

Generation of tolerogenic peripheral regulatory T (pTreg) cells is commonly thought to involve CD103+ gut dendritic cells (DCs), yet their role in commensal-reactive pTreg development is unclear. Using two Helicobacter-specific T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mouse lines, we found that both CD103+ and CD103– migratory, but not resident, DCs from the colon-draining mesenteric lymph node presented Helicobacter antigens to T cells ex vivo. Loss of most CD103+ migratory DCs in vivo using murine genetic models did not affect the frequency of Helicobacter-specific pTreg cell generation or induce compensatory tolerogenic changes in the remaining CD103– DCs. By contrast, activation in a Th1-promoting niche in vivo blocked Helicobacter-specific pTreg generation. Thus, these data suggest a model where DC-mediated effector T cell differentiation is ‘dominant’, necessitating that all DC subsets presenting antigen are permissive for pTreg cell induction to maintain gut tolerance.

Childhood mistreatment (CM) has been associated with adult posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorders (SUDs) in the general population. Few studies have examined the role of PTSD in the CM-SUD association among Latinx. This cross-sectional study evaluated a theory-driven conceptual model with a specific focus on the impact of perceived discrimination, which may interfere with these associations.Using a nationally representative sample and structural equation modeling (SEM), the study evaluated the mediation of PTSD in the CM-SUD link, adjusting for or omitting discrimination and other sociodemographic variables that are known predictors of Latinx behavioral health. Multi-subsample analyses were then conducted to review nativity differences (US-born = 924.43% and immigrant = 1630.57%).The fully specified final model (model 1, covariates adjusted) failed to show a significant mediation of PTSD in the tested link, but a direct detrimental effect group of discrimination, for all Latinx. The mediation was only supported, when treating discrimination and other covariates as omitted variables (model 5), which also showed additional direct and indirect effect of CM on SUD. In subsample analyses, models of US-born and immigrant-Latinx subpopulations were identical but showed nativity differences when omitting covariates.When discrimination and other covariates were fully adjusted, Latinx exposed to trauma were more likely to develop SUD in adulthood, regardless of when traumatic exposure occurred. This unexpected finding challenges theories explaining the CM-SUD connection, suggesting possible model misspecifications of parametric SES; namely, omitting the unique impact of perceived discrimination in Latinx can lead to biased results. From a clinical standpoint, both trauma and discrimination must be addressed when assessing Latinx behavioral health.

X-ray emission from quasars has been detected up to redshift $z=7.5$, although only limited to a few objects at $z>6.5$. In this work, we present new Chandra observations of five $z>6.5$ quasars. By combining with archival Chandra observations of six additional $z>6.5$ quasars, we perform a systematic analysis on the X-ray properties of these earliest accreting supermassive black holes (SMBHs). We measure the black hole masses, bolometric luminosities ($L_{\rm bol}$), Eddington ratios ($\lambda_{\rm Edd}$), emission line properties, and infrared luminosities ($L_{\rm IR}$) of these quasars using infrared and sub-millimeter observations. Correlation analysis indicates that the X-ray bolometric correction (the factor that converts from X-ray luminosity to bolometric luminosity) decreases with increasing $L_{\rm bol}$, and that the UV/optical-to-X-ray ratio, $\alpha_{\rm ox}$, strongly correlates with $L_{\rm 2500}$, and moderately correlates with $\lambda_{\rm Edd}$ and blueshift of CIV emission lines. These correlations are consistent with those found in lower-$z$ quasars, indicating quasar accretion physics does not evolve with redshift. We also find that $L_{\rm IR}$ does not correlate with $L_{\rm 2-10 keV}$ in these luminous distant quasars, suggesting that the ratio of the SMBH growth rate and their host galaxy growth rate in these early luminous quasars are different from those of local galaxies. A joint spectral analysis of the X-ray detected $z>6.5$ quasars yields an average X-ray photon index of $ \Gamma=2.32^{+0.31}_{-0.30}$, steeper than that of low-$z$ quasars. By comparing it with the $\Gamma-\lambda_{\rm Edd}$ relation, we conclude that the steepening of $\Gamma$ for quasars at $z>6.5$ is mainly driven by their higher Eddington ratios., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

The concept of perceived spiritual support (PSS) centers on an internalized resource derived from perception of an intimate relationship with a higher power, be it God, Jesus, a cosmic force, ancestral spirits, or a psychologically functional equivalent. The literature has indicated the increasing importance of spiritual support in crises and medical care, but previous assessments tended to focus on mainstream religions with inadequate validation. To meet the gap and based on related scientific theories, three crises-based studies were conducted to develop and validate a 12-item scale of perceived spiritual support (the PSSS) for assessing the spiritual resource of individuals with diverse belief systems. This endeavor was also a response to a long-standing call for measuring consciousness-related faith experience and to an assessment problem—the use of simple frequency measures in large-scale epidemiological or sociological surveys. Participants in the three studies reflect varied makeups of age, gender, generation, race, belief systems, and cultural backgrounds. The findings provide the adequate psychometric information for the PSSS and its predictive value for various outcomes. Multivariate analyses demonstrated the indirect mediating or pathway effect of the PSSS, simultaneously evaluated the effects of other established factors, and tested an explanatory mechanism underlying its predictive value. The results suggest that the PSSS, as a short and easy to use tool, can be used to predict important outcomes in crises and across different populations. More cross-cultural studies are warranted for further validation.

Chapters included in this volume highlight the vibrancy of research into diverse spiritualities. As shown by many of the book’s chapters, culturally specific measures enhance our ability to explain and understand the complexities of spiritual phenomena and help us appreciate religious traditions other than our own and humanize “the other.” The book includes chapters describing measures of Eastern forms of meditation, spiritual Jihad, afterlife beliefs associated with the three main religious worldviews, spirituality among Latin American youth, and Muslim religiousness. The case for particularism is not in conflict with that for universalism as some of the measures have been used cross-culturally. The challenge is to productively fuse these two research traditions. A second set of chapters explores the complex spiritual terrain of the Western world in the post-1960s era. These chapters illuminate a common theme of spirituality decoupled from traditional religiousness—all measures reflect a belief in interconnectedness between the person and the world at large—and articulate differences dependent on socio-cultural and historic contexts (e.g., the U.S. versus Western Europe) and field of inquiry (e.g., the psychology of religion versus transpersonal psychology). Other chapters demonstrate the empirical utility of assessing spirituality related concepts including spiritual support, modeling, struggle, well-being, as well as, prayer coping, faith, and meaning making. The new tools described in this book expand the understanding of the role played by spirituality in our rapidly changing and interconnected world while, at the same time, highlighting the aspects of spirituality common among all peoples and cultures.

A sense of meaning is widely considered to be a central human concern, and it is closely intertwined with religion and spirituality. Meaning in life is a highly desirable quality in and of itself, and it is also associated with many aspects of physical, spiritual, and mental well-being. In this chapter, we introduce the Multidimensional Existential Meaning Scale (MEMS), which is designed to capture three dimensions of meaning. Differing from the intent of several existing unidimensional measures of existential meaning, we assert that meaning in life reflects three distinct aspects—comprehension (a sense that one’s life and the world are understandable and coherent), purpose (a sense that one has valuable goals that one is working towards), and mattering (a sense that one’s existence is of significance in the world). We describe three recent studies in which we systematically developed and tested this new measure of existential meaning. Results of these studies indicate that the MEMS has good psychometric properties and that conceptualizing and measuring comprehension, purpose, and mattering separately is advantageous over using an aggregated single “meaning in life” score. We discuss cross-cultural issues in meaning in life assessment and describe how the MEMS may be useful in examining cultural aspects of meaning and spirituality. We conclude that studying meaning in life as three distinct dimensions advances the science of meaning in life research and enhances clinical applications.

Across diverse cultures, reverence is a cardinal virtue and a self-transcending positive emotion reflecting meaning and purpose in life. Yet, to date, few psychological studies have researched it. Addressing this gap, we drew two different study samples to develop and validate a self-report scale, Reverence in Religious and Secular Contexts (RRSC). Study 1, using a sample of cardiac patients, provided initial properties for the RRSC’s two subscales reflecting reverence in religious (e.g., churches/temples/mosques) and secular (e.g., nature) contexts (R-reverence and S-reverence) and also demonstrated the predictive validity of reverence for recovery from open-heart surgery. S-reverence, but not R-reverence, was related to shorter time of postoperative hospital stay and absence of post-operative complications, after controlling for demographics, mental health, key medical indices, and various measures of religiousness. Study 2 confirmed the structure of the scale and further validated it in samples of healthy Canadian and U.S. students. Using structural equation modeling, it demonstrated criterion related discriminant validity of R- and S-reverence. S-reverence was related to spiritual support from non-traditional religious sources, a belief in death as a natural end, and psychological functioning emphasizing personal growth as assessed by openness to experience and engagement in creative activities. R-reverence was associated with spiritual support from traditional religious sources, a belief in a rewarding afterlife, and psychological functioning connected with adjustment, as indicated by agreeableness, conscientiousness, and personal adjustment.