Developing a mental toughness program for basic military training.

To build a warfighter from the ground up, training should include not only the core competencies required for job performance in the Fleet but also the mental toughness expected to handle the stress, fatigue, and call for sudden action required of all sailors on duty, regardless of occupation. Recruit Training Command (RTC) has embarked on a program to provide explicit training to recruits on the development of toughness in boot camp. This program is multifaceted, including three pilot programs (two all-male pilots, one integrated/mixed gender pilot) for mental skill training. Recruit divisions were assigned to either mental toughness (MT) condition or active control (AC). The MT group received daily, 10-min guided mindfulness exercises, three "just-in-time" trainings in sports psychology skills, and an on-command focusing exercise. Results varied across the three pilots with the exception of on-time graduation rates, which favored the MT condition in every pilot. Taken together, the three MT pilot studies show possible benefits for performance during boot camp with MT practice, and predictable advantages for graduation rates.

ANO1, CaV1.2, and IP3R form a localized unit of EC-coupling in mouse pulmonary arterial smooth muscle.

Pulmonary arterial (PA) smooth muscle cells (PASMC) generate vascular tone in response to agonists coupled to Gq-protein receptor signaling. Such agonists stimulate oscillating calcium waves, the frequency of which drives the strength of contraction. These Ca2+ events are modulated by a variety of ion channels including voltage-gated calcium channels (CaV1.2), the Tmem16a or Anoctamin-1 (ANO1)-encoded calcium-activated chloride (CaCC) channel, and Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through inositol-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R). Although these calcium events have been characterized, it is unclear how these calcium oscillations underly a sustained contraction in these muscle cells. We used smooth muscle-specific ablation of ANO1 and pharmacological tools to establish the role of ANO1, CaV1.2, and IP3R in the contractile and intracellular Ca2+ signaling properties of mouse PA smooth muscle expressing the Ca2+ biosensor GCaMP3 or GCaMP6. Pharmacological block or genetic ablation of ANO1 or inhibition of CaV1.2 or IP3R, or Ca2+ store depletion equally inhibited 5-HT-induced tone and intracellular Ca2+ waves. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that an anti-ANO1 antibody was able to pull down both CaV1.2 and IP3R. Confocal and superresolution nanomicroscopy showed that ANO1 coassembles with both CaV1.2 and IP3R at or near the plasma membrane of PASMC from wild-type mice. We conclude that the stable 5-HT-induced PA contraction results from the integration of stochastic and localized Ca2+ events supported by a microenvironment comprising ANO1, CaV1.2, and IP3R. In this model, ANO1 and CaV1.2 would indirectly support cyclical Ca2+ release events from IP3R and propagation of intracellular Ca2+ waves.

Perceptions and responses to rising salinity intrusion in the Mekong River Delta: What drives a long-term community-based strategy?

This study analyses data on perceptions of the adverse impacts of salinity intrusion on rice farming in the Mekong River Delta. Collected via interviews with the head of 441households and several focus group meetings, the data is used to provide an understanding of current adaptation or coping strategies and, from the insights gained, make recommendations for the management of this increasing challenge. We find that most households are concerned about the impact of salinity intrusion on their livelihood and their capacity to cope in the future. Some strategies are already failing and many farmers will struggle to adapt in the medium-term. Censored generalised Poisson regression and negative binomial regression models are used to identify and test the effectiveness of alternative management strategies. The results suggest that farmers have a preference for the construction of dykes as a means to prevent salinity intrusion. We conclude that farmer willingness to support the construction and improvement of dykes can be improved by providing more information and training.

Inferred valuation versus conventional contingent valuation: A salinity intrusion case study.

People's willingness-to-pay values may be inflated by a variety of influences (e.g. hypothetical bias), which means that stated preference validity tests remain relevant. Recently developed inferred valuation approaches may serve to identify and/or reduce inflated stated preference values. However, economic applications of inferred valuation approaches are relatively limited in the literature, and the evidence remains mixed. This paper examines farmers' willingness-to-pay for salinity intrusion mitigation programs in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam using both conventional contingent and inferred valuation approaches. Inferred valuation estimates were as much as 31 per cent lower than conventional estimates of willingness-to-pay, and averaged about 24 per cent lower across the groups. We discuss these findings, and the role that commitment costs and provision point mechanism payment vehicles may play. Public policy implications for any future salinity intrusion mitigation program are also outlined.

Stress, Mindsets, and Success in Navy SEALs Special Warfare Training.

Mindsets can impact an individual's performance in stressful experiences such as public speaking or receiving negative feedback. Yet we know little about the boundary conditions of where these mindsets predict success, and where they may become irrelevant or even maladaptive. The current research asks whether mindsets are beneficial in environments of extreme physical and mental stress using participants undergoing the notoriously challenging Navy SEALs training. We hypothesized that participants with stress-is-enhancing mindsets - who believe stress enhances their health, performance and wellbeing - will outperform those with stress-is-debilitating mindsets. In addition, we explore whether other mindsets about willpower and failure predict success in a similar manner. Following 174 Navy SEALs candidates, we find that, even in this extreme setting, stress-is-enhancing mindsets predict greater persistence through training, faster obstacle course times, and fewer negative evaluations from peers and instructors. We also find evidence that failure-is-enhancing mindsets may be detrimental to candidates' success, and non-limited willpower mindsets prompt negative evaluations from others. Multiverse analyses were conducted to test for the robustness of these effects across researcher analytical decisions, which produced consistent results. We discuss how findings in this unique environment can provide insight into the importance of mindsets in other organizations and propose future avenues of research to further understand the causal role of mindsets in diverse workplace contexts.

Superresolved multiphoton microscopy with spatial frequency-modulated imaging.

Superresolved far-field microscopy has emerged as a powerful tool for investigating the structure of objects with resolution well below the diffraction limit of light. Nearly all superresolution imaging techniques reported to date rely on real energy states of fluorescent molecules to circumvent the diffraction limit, preventing superresolved imaging with contrast mechanisms that occur via virtual energy states, including harmonic generation (HG). We report a superresolution technique based on spatial frequency-modulated imaging (SPIFI) that permits superresolved nonlinear microscopy with any contrast mechanism and with single-pixel detection. We show multimodal superresolved images with two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second-harmonic generation (SHG) from biological and inorganic media. Multiphoton SPIFI (MP-SPIFI) provides spatial resolution up to 2η below the diffraction limit, where η is the highest power of the nonlinear intensity response. MP-SPIFI can be used to provide enhanced resolution in optically thin media and may provide a solution for superresolved imaging deep in scattering media.

Simultaneous spatial frequency modulation imaging and micromachining with a femtosecond laser.

A Ti:Al2O3 chirped-pulse amplification system is used to simultaneously image and machine. By combining simultaneous spatial and temporal focusing (SSTF) with spatial frequency modulation for imaging (SPIFI), we are able to decouple the imaging and cutting beams to attain a resolution and a field-of-view that is independent of the cutting beam, while maintaining single-element detection. This setup allows for real-time feedback with the potential for simultaneous nonlinear imaging and imaging through scattering media. The novel SSTF machining platform uses refractive optics that, in general, are prohibitive for energetic, amplified pulses that might otherwise compromise the integrity of the focus as a result of nonlinear effects.

Using Telehealth to Train Providers of a Cancer Support Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Group interventions are effective for addressing the transition from cancer treatment to survivorship but are not widely available outside of urban areas. In addition, minimal training is available for group facilitators outside of the mental healthcare discipline. Telehealth as a medium can facilitate conversation and interactive learning and make learning accessible to individuals in areas that lack resources for traditional classroom teaching. Little is known, however, regarding the feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth training program for group leaders. This project aimed to investigate the utility of a telehealth training program for the delivery of a copyrighted, manualized psychosocial group intervention, Cancer Transitions: Moving Beyond Treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine group leaders attended one in-person orientation, four telehealth training classes, and four telehealth supervision sessions, completing self-report measures of content knowledge, quality satisfaction, and self-confidence. Following the completion of their last Cancer Transitions facilitation, group leaders participated in a focus group to provide qualitative feedback regarding their experiences in training for and leading the respective groups in eight urban and rural North Carolina communities. RESULTS: Group leaders rated the training program highly across the domains of content knowledge, quality satisfaction, and self-confidence. Satisfaction with the technology itself was equivocal. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth represents a feasible avenue for training and supporting leaders of psychosocial interventions. In addition, telehealth is particularly well suited to the need for training group leaders in areas outside urban centers or academic communities.

A pragmatic guide to multiphoton microscope design.

Multiphoton microscopy has emerged as a ubiquitous tool for studying microscopic structure and function across a broad range of disciplines. As such, the intent of this paper is to present a comprehensive resource for the construction and performance evaluation of a multiphoton microscope that will be understandable to the broad range of scientific fields that presently exploit, or wish to begin exploiting, this powerful technology. With this in mind, we have developed a guide to aid in the design of a multiphoton microscope. We discuss source selection, optical management of dispersion, image-relay systems with scan optics, objective-lens selection, single-element light-collection theory, photon-counting detection, image rendering, and finally, an illustrated guide for building an example microscope.

Multiphoton imaging with a direct-diode pumped femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser.

A direct-diode pumped Ti:sapphire femtosecond oscillator is used to perform multiphoton imaging for the first time.

Eliminating the scattering ambiguity in multifocal, multimodal, multiphoton imaging systems.

In this work we present how to entirely remove the scattering ambiguity present in existing multiphoton multifocal systems. This is achieved through the development and implementation of single-element detection systems that incorporate high-speed photon-counting electronics. These systems can be used to image entire volumes in the time it takes to perform a single transverse scan (four depths simultaneously at a rate of 30 Hz). In addition, this capability is further exploited to accomplish single-element detection of multiple modalities (two photon excited fluorescence and second harmonic generation) and to perform efficient image deconvolution. Finally, we demonstrate a new system that promises to significantly simplify this promising technology.

Differential Multiphoton Laser Scanning Microscopy.

Multifocal multiphoton microscopy (MMM) in the biological and medical sciences has become an important tool for obtaining high resolution images at video rates. While current implementations of MMM achieve very high frame rates, they are limited in their applicability to essentially those biological samples that exhibit little or no scattering. In this paper, we report on a method for MMM in which imaging detection is not necessary (single element point detection is implemented), and is therefore fully compatible for use in imaging through scattering media. Further, we demonstrate that this method leads to a new type of MMM wherein it is possible to simultaneously obtain multiple images and view differences in excitation parameters in a single shot.

Remote focusing for programmable multi-layer differential multiphoton microscopy.

We present the application of remote focusing to multiphoton laser scanning microscopy and utilize this technology to demonstrate simultaneous, programmable multi-layer imaging. Remote focusing is used to independently control the axial location of multiple focal planes that can be simultaneously imaged with single element detection. This facilitates volumetric multiphoton imaging in scattering specimens and can be practically scaled to a large number of focal planes. Further, it is demonstrated that the remote focusing control can be synchronized with the lateral scan directions, enabling imaging in orthogonal scan planes.

Characterization of a complex chemosensory signal transduction system which controls twitching motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Virulence of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa involves the coordinate expression of a wide range of virulence factors including type IV pili which are required for colonization of host tissues and are associated with a form of surface translocation termed twitching motility. Twitching motility in P. aeruginosa is controlled by a complex signal transduction pathway which shares many modules in common with chemosensory systems controlling flagella rotation in bacteria and which is composed, in part, of the previously described proteins PilG, PilH, PilI, PilJ and PilK. Here we describe another three components of this pathway: ChpA, ChpB and ChpC, as well as two downstream genes, ChpD and ChpE, which may also be involved. The central component of the pathway, ChpA, possesses nine potential sites of phosphorylation: six histidine-containing phosphotransfer (HPt) domains, two novel serine- and threonine-containing phosphotransfer (SPt, TPt) domains and a CheY-like receiver domain at its C-terminus, and as such represents one of the most complex signalling proteins yet described in nature. We show that the Chp chemosensory system controls twitching motility and type IV pili biogenesis through control of pili assembly and/or retraction as well as expression of the pilin subunit gene pilA. The Chp system is also required for full virulence in a mouse model of acute pneumonia.

Phosphorylation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa response regulator AlgR is essential for type IV fimbria-mediated twitching motility.

The response regulator AlgR is required for both alginate biosynthesis and type IV fimbria-mediated twitching motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, the roles of AlgR signal transduction and phosphorylation in twitching motility and biofilm formation were examined. The predicted phosphorylation site of AlgR (aspartate 54) and a second aspartate (aspartate 85) in the receiver domain of AlgR were mutated to asparagine, and mutant algR alleles were introduced into the chromosome of P. aeruginosa strains PAK and PAO1. Assays of these mutants demonstrated that aspartate 54 but not aspartate 85 of AlgR is required for twitching motility and biofilm initiation. However, strains expressing AlgR D85N were found to be hyperfimbriate, indicating that both aspartate 54 and aspartate 85 are involved in fimbrial biogenesis and function. algD mutants were observed to have wild-type twitching motility, indicating that AlgR control of twitching motility is not mediated via its role in the control of alginate biosynthesis. In vitro phosphorylation assays showed that AlgR D54N is not phosphorylated by the enteric histidine kinase CheA. These findings indicate that phosphorylation of AlgR most likely occurs at aspartate 54 and that aspartate 54 and aspartate 85 of AlgR are required for the control of the molecular events governing fimbrial biogenesis, twitching motility, and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa.