Microtubule-associated phase separation of MIDD1 tunes cell wall spacing in xylem vessels in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Properly patterned cell walls specify cellular functions in plants. Differentiating protoxylem and metaxylem vessel cells exhibit thick secondary cell walls in striped and pitted patterns, respectively. Cortical microtubules are arranged in distinct patterns to direct cell wall deposition. The scaffold protein MIDD1 promotes microtubule depletion by interacting with ROP GTPases and KINESIN-13A in metaxylem vessels. Here we show that the phase separation of MIDD1 fine-tunes cell wall spacing in protoxylem vessels in Arabidopsis thaliana. Compared with wild-type, midd1 mutants exhibited narrower gaps and smaller pits in the secondary cell walls of protoxylem and metaxylem vessel cells, respectively. Live imaging of ectopically induced protoxylem vessels revealed that MIDD1 forms condensations along the depolymerizing microtubules, which in turn caused massive catastrophe of microtubules. The MIDD1 condensates exhibited rapid turnover and were susceptible to 1,6-hexanediol. Loss of ROP abolished the condensation of MIDD1 and resulted in narrow cell wall gaps in protoxylem vessels. These results suggest that the microtubule-associated phase separation of MIDD1 facilitates microtubule arrangement to regulate the size of gaps in secondary cell walls. This study reveals a new biological role of phase separation in the fine-tuning of cell wall patterning.

The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities: Measurement Invariance and Psychometric Properties in an Adult Japanese Sample.

Hedonic pleasure orientation (seeking enjoyment), hedonic relaxation orientation (seeking comfort), and eudaimonic orientation (seeking meaning) are major ways that people pursue well-being. We investigated the measurement invariance and psychometric properties of the Hedonic and Eudamonic Motives for Activities (HEMA) scale in a Japanese adult sample (N = 1,892). The Japanese HEMA scale demonstrated measurement invariance at the configural, metric, scalar, and strict levels across gender and age groups. Latent mean differences of the scale across these demographic groups were less than small. The scale showed high internal consistency and six-week test-retest reliability and reasonable correlations with life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, psychological well-being, and interdependent happiness. In sum, these findings suggest that the Japanese HEMA scale is useful to capture hedonic and eudaimonic conceptions of well-being as orientations. It is hoped that our findings will stimulate further research on well-being using the HEMA scale.

Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Elementary Schoolers (JSQ-ES): validation and population-based score distribution.

OBJECTIVE: The Japanese Sleep Questionnaire for Elementary Schoolers (JSQ-ES) was developed to measure the sleep habits and disturbances of Japanese children. The current study aimed to present psychometric properties and describe the score distribution of the JSQ-ES. In addition, it examined correlations between the sleep and daytime behavior of school-aged children. METHOD: Guardians of 4369 elementary school children and 100 children diagnosed with sleep disorders in two clinics completed the JSQ-ES. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a nine-factor structure. The JSQ-ES internal consistency was 0.876 and 0.907 for the community and clinical groups, respectively. Score distribution differences were observed between the two groups. A cut-off point of 80 was identified for the total JSQ-ES score. CONCLUSIONS: Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis suggested a nine-factor structure: (1) restless legs syndrome; (2) sleep-disordered breathing; (3) morning symptoms; (4) nighttime awakenings; (5) insomnia; (6) excessive daytime sleepiness; (7) daytime behavior; (8) sleep habits; and (9) irregular/delayed sleep phase. The study verified that the JSQ-ES is a valid and reliable instrument with which to evaluate Japanese sleep habits using a large population-based sample. The JSQ-ES may be useful in both clinical and academic settings.

Correction: Shared Relationship Efficacy of Dyad Can Increase Life Satisfaction in Close Relationships: Multilevel Study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159822.].

Season of Birth Predicts Emotional and Behavioral Regulation in 18-Month-Old Infants: Hamamatsu Birth Cohort for Mothers and Children (HBC Study).

BACKGROUND: Previous research has demonstrated that the season of birth may predict development of emotional and behavioral regulation during childhood or adolescence. This study examined whether the season of birth predicts effortful control (i.e., the ability to voluntarily choose course of actions during conflict and to plan for the future) and aggression (i.e., the use of physical force and expression of anger toward others) in 18-month-old infants. METHODS: Participants included 885 infants who were enrolled in the Hamamatsu Birth Cohort for Mothers and Children in Hamamatsu, Japan. Seasons of birth were categorized into winter (December, January, and February), spring (March, April, and May), summer (June, July, and August), and autumn (September, October, and November). At 18 months of age, effortful control was assessed using the Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire, and aggression was measured using the Cardiff Infant Contentiousness Scale. Structural equation modeling analysis with measurement and structural equations was conducted to test our prediction. RESULTS: Effortful control was higher in infants born in spring [B = 0.095, 95% CI (0.014 to 0.175), p = 0.021, ß = 0.146] and summer [B = 0.078, 95% CI (0.001 to 0.156), p = 0.049, ß = 0.118] than in those born in winter. In addition, aggression was lower in those born in spring [B = -0.286, 95% CI (-0.551 to -0.021), p = 0.035, ß = -0.135] than those born in winter, even after controlling for seven covariates. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that season of birth may determine development of emotional and behavioral regulation skills during early infancy. Future research should pay more attention to the underlying mechanisms of the effects of birth season on development of emotional and behavioral regulation during infancy.

Shared Relationship Efficacy of Dyad Can Increase Life Satisfaction in Close Relationships: Multilevel Study.

Characteristics of relationship itself play an important role in determining well-being of individuals who participate in the relationship. We used efficacy expectations mutually shared between close friends or romantic partners as a characteristic of relationship and investigated its impact on their life satisfaction. In Study 1, we conducted a cross-sectional study among 137 pairs of close same-sex friends to test whether the efficacy expectations shared between friends are associated with levels of life satisfaction. In Study 2, we conducted a longitudinal study among 114 heterosexual romantic couples to test predictive validity of the efficacy expectations shared between couples predict levels of life satisfaction 2 month later. In both studies we found a consistent result that as degrees of the efficacy expectations shared between individuals in a relationship increased, the degree of their life satisfaction also increased. Underlying mechanisms that explain how characteristics of relationship itself increase life satisfaction are discussed.

Identification of neurodevelopmental trajectories in infancy and of risk factors affecting deviant development: a longitudinal birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We investigate patterns of neurodevelopmental trajectories in infants, using a representative population, and identify risk factors that predict delayed growth. METHODS: Participating infants (n = 952; 82.8% of the total sample) were assessed by Mullen Scales of Early Learning at seven time points, from 1 month to 24 months of age. Mothers were recruited in early pregnancy and data on demographic characteristics were collected during pregnancy. Trajectory patterns were investigated using latent class growth analysis, and risk factors for the derived trajectory classes were investigated by multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Participants were found to be a fairly representative sample with respect to their demographic characteristics. Five classes of high normal (11.5%), normal (49.2%), low normal (21.2%), delayed (14.1%), and markedly delayed (4.0%) were identified. The markedly delayed class was characterized by overall delay from the early developmental stages; notably, such delay first became salient in motor domains and was then exceeded by language domains, especially receptive language. This class was predicted by male sex (odds ratio 4.0; 95% confidence interval 1.7-9.1), small for gestational age (2.8; 1.0-7.5), low placenta-to-birthweight ratio (2.8; 1.2-6.4) and low maternal education (4.7; 1.2-19.0). The delayed class was characterized by gradual downward deviation after the first birthday, and was predicted by male sex (2.5; 1.5-4.2), preterm birth (4.4; 1.6-12.6) and advanced paternal age (1.9; 1.0-3.5). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that about 1 out of 5 infants exhibits delayed neurodevelopment. Infants with distinct patterns of delayed trajectories and varying risk factors are considered to have different pathophysiological mechanisms.

[Effects of parental parenting attitudes on adolescents' socialization via adolescents' perceived parenting].

The domain-specific approach to socialization has classified socialization mechanisms into several domains, including the protection and control domains, and postulates that parent­child interactions that promote socialization in each domain are different. However, there are few empirical investigations of the domain­specific approach. This study examined whether parental parenting attitudes affected early adolescents' empathy, including empathic concern and perspective taking, and social cognitive biases, including cognitive distortion and general beliefs about aggression, through the mediation of adolescents' perceptions. Junior high school students and their parents (N = 448) completed a questionnaire. Results of structural equation modeling indicated (a) parental acceptance and control increased empathy via adolescents' perceived acceptance and control, (b) parental acceptance and control decreased social cognitive biases via adolescents' perceived acceptance and control, and (c) parental control directly increased empathy. In addition, multiple group analyses indicated the validity of gender- and age-invariant models. These findings suggest that parental parenting attitudes are essential for appropriate socialization during early adolescence.

[The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities (HEMA) in Japan: the pursuit of well-being].

Hedonia (seeking pleasure and relaxation) and eudaimonia (seeking to improve oneself in congruence with one's values) uniquely contribute to well-being. The authors developed and tested the construct validity of a Japanese version of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities (HEMA) scale that had been originally developed in North America. Drawing on the theoretical and empirical evidence from research on emotion, we proposed that people would pursue well-being in three different directions: pleasure, relaxation, and eudaimonia. In Study 1, we used the original HEMA scale to examine the Japanese attainment of well-being. The results supported the hypothesized three-factor model. Study 2 revealed that the Japanese version of the HEMA scale measured pleasure, relaxation, and eudaimonia. Each of these subscales showed statistically sufficient internal consistency. There was no gender difference in any of these measures. Scores on the scale systematically corresponded with external criterion variables, such as life satisfaction, affect, Ryff's psychological well-being, social support, and lifestyle. Implications for psychological research and public policies that cover the topic of the pursuit of well-being are discussed.

[Effects of relational efficacy on two attachment functions: evidence from romantic relationships and same-sex friendships].

This study investigated how relational efficacy affects functions of safe haven and secure base in romantic relationships and same-sex friendships. Relational efficacy, which is a shared or intersubjective efficacy of relationship partners, refers to a pair's belief that they can mutually coordinate and integrate their resources to prevent and resolve any problems. Participants were 97 dating heterosexual couples and 119 same-sex friendships. Multilevel structural equation modeling suggested that relational efficacy promotes the safe haven function and the secure base function in romantic relationships and same-sex friendships, controlled for sex, relationship longevity, irreplaceability, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance. Additionally, the effects of relational efficacy on the safe haven function and the secure base function in romantic relationships are stronger than in same-sex friendships. These results are discussed in terms of the association between intersubjective processes in close relationships and individuals' hedonic/eudaimonic well-being.