Desire for control, sense of control and obsessive-compulsive symptoms

While control-related cognitions have often been implicated in discussions of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), empirical investigations of the relationship between control-constructs and OCD symptoms have been relatively limited. In this article it was hypothesized that OCD symptoms may be linked with a higher desire to control (DC), but a lower sense of control (SC) over the self and environment, leading to motivation for compulsive symptoms. This hypothesis was investigated in an analogue population, using regression analyses controlling for depression and anxiety. Consistent with predictions, it was found that higher levels of DC and lower levels of SC were associated with higher levels of OCD-related beliefs and symptoms. While control cognitions were linked with the OCD-related beliefs of perfectionism and the over-estimation of threat, they did not relate to cognitions concerning the importance of/need to control thoughts. With respect to specific OCD-symptoms, control cognitions were most strongly related to contamination obsessions/washing compulsions. Implications for theory and treatment are discussed.

The relationship between neuropsychological performance, cognitive confidence, and obsessive-compulsive phenomena : a pilot study

Drawing on neuropsychological and cognitive-behavioral approaches to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), the present study examined the association between memory performance, cognitive confidence, and OCD phenomena. Forty-six analogue participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires and neuropsychological tasks before and after a manipulation of confidence in memory It was found that cognitive confidence predicts OCD symptoms over and above the influence of depressive symptoms and other OCD-related beliefs. Participants reported higher levels of cognitive confidence following positive feedback on the manipulation task. However, changes in cognitive confidence following the manipulation task were not reflected in neuropsychological performance. Implications for theory and treatment are discussed.

Metacognitive, cognitive and developmental predictors of generalised anxiety disorder symptoms

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most significant and common of the anxiety disorders. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and negative metacognitive beliefs are two prominent cognitive factors in models of GAD, however only one study to date has examined the relative contribution of these factors. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and compare these cognitive factors in their prediction of GAD symptoms, and also to examine possible developmental influences on GAD by examining the link between symptoms and the parentification style of childrearing. In this analogue study, 119 non-clinical participants (M age 22.90 years; 95 females, 24 males) completed measures of these constructs. Results indicated that both IU and negative beliefs about worry significantly related to GAD symptoms, however, the degree to which they predicted GAD symptoms did not significantly differ. Although a weak but significant relationship was found between parentification and GAD, this relationship did not remain significant after controlling for depression. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Benzene adsorption at the aqueous (011) α-quartz interface : is surface flexibility important?

Atomistic simulations of molecular adsorption onto inorganic substrates under aqueous conditions can be used to guide the rational design of new materials, fabricated using biomimetic methods. The success of such work depends critically on the model used. Here, we investigate the impact of using a rigid structural model of the (0 1 1) ?-quartz surface, over a fully flexible model, on the calculated free energy change in the adsorption of a single molecule of benzene (a simple analogue of the amino acid phenylalanine) from liquid water. Subtle differences in the mobility of the adsorbate close to the surface result in the free energy of adsorption being overestimated by the rigid model, relative to the fully flexible case. Moreover, we find that the distribution of bound configurations of the adsorbate at their respective free energy minima is different between the two models.

Structure of the analgesic μ-Conotoxin KIIIA and effects on the structure and function of disulfide deletion

μ-Conotoxin μ-KIIIA, from Conus kinoshitai, blocks mammalian neuronal voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) and is a potent analgesic following systemic administration in mice. We have determined its solution structure using NMR spectroscopy. Key residues identified previously as being important for activity against VGSCs (Lys7, Trp8, Arg10, Asp11, His12, and Arg14) all reside on an α-helix with the exception of Arg14. To further probe structure−activity relationships of this toxin against VGSC subtypes, we have characterized the analogue μ-KIIIA[C1A,C9A], in which the Cys residues involved in one of the three disulfides in μ-KIIIA were replaced with Ala. Its structure is quite similar to that of μ-KIIIA, indicating that the Cys1−Cys9 disulfide bond could be removed without any significant distortion of the α-helix bearing the key residues. Consistent with this, μ-KIIIA[C1A,C9A] retained activity against VGSCs, with its rank order of potency being essentially the same as that of μ-KIIIA, namely, NaV1.2 > NaV1.4 > NaV1.7 ≥ NaV1.1 > NaV1.3 > NaV1.5. Kinetics of block were obtained for NaV1.2, NaV1.4, and NaV1.7, and in each case, both kon and koff values of μ-KIIIA[C1A,C9A] were larger than those of μ-KIIIA. Our results show that the key residues for VGSC binding lie mostly on an α-helix and that the first disulfide bond can be removed without significantly affecting the structure of this helix, although the modification accelerates the on and off rates of the peptide against all tested VGSC subtypes. These findings lay the groundwork for the design of minimized peptides and helical mimetics as novel analgesics.

Binding affinities of amino acid analogues at the charged aqueous titania interface : implications for titania-binding peptides

Despite the extensive utilization of biomolecule-titania interfaces, biomolecular recognition and interactions at the aqueous titania interface remain far from being fully understood. Here, atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, in partnership with metadynamics, are used to calculate the free energy of adsorption of different amino acid side chain analogues at the negatively-charged aqueous rutile TiO2 (110) interface, under conditions corresponding with neutral pH. Our calculations predict that charged amino acid analogues have a relatively high affinity to the titania surface, with the arginine analogue predicted to be the strongest binder. Interactions between uncharged amino acid analogues and titania are found to be repulsive or weak at best. All of the residues that bound to the negatively-charged interface show a relatively stronger adsorption compared with the charge-neutral interface, including the negatively-charged analogue. Of the analogues that are found to bind to the titania surface, the rank ordering of the binding affinities is predicted to be "arginine" > "lysine" ≈ aspartic acid > "serine". This is the same ordering as was found previously for the charge-neutral aqueous titania interface. Our results show very good agreement with available experimental data and can provide a baseline for the interpretation of peptide-TiO2 adsorption data.

"Sometimes cathartic. Sometimes quite raw": Benefit and harm in an intimate partner violence trial

 Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) has increased over the past two decades, however empirical research on potential harm to participants is limited. The aim of this study was to assess whether 272 women involved in a general practice based IPV intervention trial (weave) reported more benefit or harm, whether this differed by intervention or comparison group, and what types of benefit and harm were reported. Feedback was obtained via adapted Consequences of Screening Tool, visual analogue scale and open-ended question in baseline, 6-month, 12-month and 24-month surveys (all participants), and semi-structured interviews (subset of 28 participants). Participants in both the intervention and comparison groups tended to respond positively on all quantitative items, although on a number of items, the intervention group responded even more positively. At 6 and 12 months, 51.1% and 54.7% of all participants, respectively, reported their quality of life as becoming better and over 40% of women at each time-point, indicated they felt more positive about themselves as a result of some aspect of their involvement in weave. 42% of all participants reported their home lives becoming less difficult. In qualitative analyses, positive themes identified were altruism, value, evaluation of relationship, validation, self-awareness, empowerment, positive reinforcement, catharsis, motivation to seek help, and response to the research process. Negative themes identified were short-term emotional reactions, long-term emotional reactions, recall, retraumatization and minimization. Many participants indicated short-term negative emotions had been balanced by longer-term positive benefits. Further research is needed regarding characteristics and experiences of the small minority of participants who did not report positive benefit. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Severe hypoglycaemia in type 1 diabetes mellitus: underlying drivers and potential strategies for successful prevention

Hypoglycaemia remains an over-riding factor limiting optimal glycaemic control in type 1 diabetes. Severe hypoglycaemia is prevalent in almost half of those with long-duration diabetes and is one of the most feared diabetes-related complications. In this review, we present an overview of the increasing body of literature seeking to elucidate the underlying pathophysiology of severe hypoglycaemia and the limited evidence behind the strategies employed to prevent episodes. Drivers of severe hypoglycaemia including impaired counter-regulation, hypoglycaemia-associated autonomic failure, psychosocial and behavioural factors and neuroimaging correlates are discussed. Treatment strategies encompassing structured education, insulin analogue regimens, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pumps, continuous glucose sensing and beta-cell replacement therapies have been employed, yet there is little randomized controlled trial evidence demonstrating effectiveness of new technologies in reducing severe hypoglycaemia. Optimally designed interventional trials evaluating these existing technologies and using modern methods of teaching patients flexible insulin use within structured education programmes with the specific goal of preventing severe hypoglycaemia are required. Individuals at high risk need to be monitored with meticulous collection of data on awareness, as well as frequency and severity of all hypoglycaemic episodes.

Design, characterization and application of a novel mono-layer pin-microvalve for microfluidic devices

Valves are one of the key components in microfluidic devices to control the fluid flow. In this paper we introduce a novel manual pin-valve which can operate in both analogue (partially close) and digital (on/off) states. We also demonstrate implementation of this pin-valve in a hydrodynamic flow focusing (HFF) device. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2014.

Comparisons in representational media use in design studios between Hong Kong and Australia

Representational media-analogue, physical, digital, or virtual-are employed by students in the conception, development and presentation. In 2013 a survey at two architectural schools was conducted to study the current representational media use in design studios. The survey examined the role digital and physical media play in students' design work and how students use the various media to generate and communicate their designs. This study presents its importance through the shift in architectural education whereby digital tools are not taught per se any longer, however expected to be mastered throughout the course. Yet students' learning experiences are strongly dependant on the successful acquisition of skills and its transfer to deep learning. Especially architectural design studios build upon the premises that re-representation leads to a better acquisition of knowledge. Architectural educators may use the study to revisit their studio and reposition the role of media as well as align learning outcomes, deliverables and communication tools with the actual workingand learning-styles of students. © 2014, The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), Hong Kong.

Acute mood but not cognitive improvements following administration of a single multivitamin and mineral supplement in healthy women aged 50 and above : a randomised controlled trial

A number of randomised controlled trials have indicated that multivitamin/mineral supplementation for a period of 4 weeks or greater can enhance mood and cognition. To date, no studies have investigated whether a single multivitamin dose can benefit mental function in older adults. This study investigated the acute effects of a single multivitamin and mineral and herbal (MVMH) supplement versus placebo on self ratings of mood and the performance of an effortful computerised cognitive battery in a sample of 76 healthy women aged 50-75 years. Mood was assessed using the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS), state trait anxiety inventory-state anxiety scale and visual analogue scales (VAS). Mood was rated at 1 h post supplementation and again after the competition of the cognitive assessments at 2 h post supplementation. It was demonstrated that the MVMH supplement improved overall DASS mood ratings; however, the most prominent effects appeared to be a reduction in ratings of perceived mental stress. These findings were confirmed using visual analogue scales, with these measures also demonstrating MVMH-related increased ratings of calmness. There were no benefits of the MVMH to mood ratings of depression and performance was not enhanced on the cognitive battery. Supplementation with a single multivitamin, mineral and herbal supplement reduces stress several hours after intake in healthy older people.

Protocols for finding the most orthogonal dimensions for two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography

The selection of two high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) columns with vastly different retention mechanisms is vital for performing effective two-dimensional (2D-) HPLC. This paper reports on a systematic method to select a pair of HPLC columns that provide the most different separations for a given sample. This was completed with the aid of a HPLC simulator that predicted retention profiles on the basis of real experimental data, which is difficult when the contents of sample matrices are largely-or completely-unknown. Peaks from the same compounds must first be matched between chromatograms to compare the retention profiles and optimised 2D-HPLC column selection. In this work, two methods of matching peaks between chromatograms were explored and an optimal pair of chromatography columns was selected for 2D-HPLC. First, a series of 17 antioxidants were selected as an analogue for a coffee extract. The predicted orthogonality of the standards was 39%, according to the fractional surface coverage 'bins' method, which was close to the actual space utilisation of the standard mixture, 44%. Moreover, the orthogonality for the 2D-HPLC of coffee matched the predicted value of 38%. The second method employed a complex sample matrix of urine to optimise the column selections. Seven peaks were confidently matched between chromatograms by comparing relative peak areas of two detection strategies: UV absorbance and potassium permanganate chemiluminescence. It was found that the optimal combinations had an orthogonality of 35% while the actual value was closer to 30%.

Digital shimmer: popular music and the intimate nexus between fan and star

Conception of ‘star performance’ through popular music is stratified which generates diverse and often contradictory forms of thought. For example, stars and celebrities plausibly act as a ‘culture medium’ in which, through imagination, one’s identity is assembled, realised or constructed. What to become and how to be are questions we individually and collectively contend with throughout our lives to varying degrees (Maslow, 1954; 1968). Predominant use of digital technologies has seen the delivery of sound much altered. Music, be it Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata or Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast, once sourced via analogue legacy devices such as ‘old-school’ tape cassette or vinyl record is now a series of zero and one digits. Advocates argue that the key benefit of digitalisation is the ability to compress data because sound generates large files of information. The discourse of digitalisation begs the question of how a series of ones and zeros, albeit in a plethora of configurations, registers with listening bodies and affects ‘the sublime’. It is without doubt that some musical experiences afford indescribable, unlocatable sensation—even enchantment (as defined by Bennett, 2001: 5 and called forth by Redmond: 2014: 126). Such musical experiences might be in the presence of the performer or in their absence such as in the case of recorded music. In this context, any sense of ’real’ space and place is less definitive allowing for ‘special encounters’ to be imagined and felt. For these reasons, music and all that the use of the word might convey, the proposed notion of phaino-ken here, acts as the lens through which to examine the meaning and value of celebrity and star embodiment.