Fluoroscopically measured bronchial collapse in healthy dogs during cough exceeds 25%, and a cutoff of 60% bronchial collapse can be used to distinguish healthy from chronically coughing dogs.

Bronchomalacia, the weakening of bronchial cartilage, is a common cause of cough in dogs. The gold standard for diagnosis of bronchomalacia is bronchoscopy; however, fluoroscopy is often used as a preliminary diagnostic test due to its noninvasiveness. The normal amount of bronchial collapse in healthy dogs using fluoroscopy has not been previously established, with some authors citing <25%. The aims of this prospective and retrospective analytical observational study were to determine the normal amount of airway collapse in healthy animals, the amount of airway collapse in dogs with chronic cough and presumed bronchomalacia, and cut-off values of airway collapse during expiration and cough to distinguish between the two groups. Thoracic fluoroscopy was performed in right and left lateral recumbency during inspiration, expiration, and cough to evaluate the percentage collapse of the trachea and lobar bronchi in 45 healthy and 76 chronically coughing dogs. The bronchi of chronically coughing dogs exhibited a significantly greater amount of collapse during both expiration and cough compared with healthy dogs. Chronically coughing dogs exhibited up to 31.7 ± 26.6% collapse in expiration and 87.5 ± 23.7% collapse during cough, whereas healthy dogs exhibited 14.9 ± 6.1% collapse in expiration and 35.0 ± 13.7% collapse during cough. Based on ROC curves, the authors suggest using cut-off values of 30% during expiration and 60% during cough to distinguish between healthy dogs and those with presumed bronchomalacia. Findings suggest that though healthy dogs can exhibit a greater degree of airway collapse than previously thought, fluoroscopy can be used to distinguish between healthy and presumed bronchomalacic dogs.

"I Know Correlation Doesn't Prove Causation, but . . .": Are We Jumping to Unfounded Conclusions About the Causes of Sexual Offending?

Identifying causes of sexual offending is the foundation of effective and efficient assessment, intervention, and policy aimed at reducing sexual offending. However, studies vary in methodological rigor and the inferences they support, and there are differences of opinion about the conclusions that can be drawn from ambiguous evidence. To explore how researchers in this area interpret the available empirical evidence, we asked authors of articles published in relevant specialized journals to identify (a) an important factor that may lead to sexual offending, (b) a study providing evidence of a relationship between that factor and sexual offending, and (c) the inferences supported by that study. Many participants seemed to endorse causal interpretations and conclusions that went beyond the methodological rigor of the study they identified. Our findings suggest that some researchers may not be adequately considering methodological issues when making inferences about the causes of sexual offending. Although it is difficult to conduct research in this area and all research designs can provide valuable information, sensitivity to the limits methodology places on inferences is important for the sake of accuracy and integrity, and to stimulate more informative research. We propose that increasing attention to methodology in the research community through better training and standards will advance scientific knowledge about the causes of sexual offending, and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of practice and policy.

From outgroups to allied forces: Effect of intergroup cooperation in violent and nonviolent video games on boosting favorable outgroup attitudes.

Here we addressed whether even violent video games can improve intergroup attitudes if played cooperatively with an outgroup, in keeping with the Contact Hypothesis. In addition, we examined potential mechanisms of this effect. In Experiment 1 (N = 77), Canadians played a violent video game (Call of Duty: Black Ops) against zombies, either cooperatively or independently (i.e., at the same time but solo) with a (supposed) University of Buffalo participant. As expected, cooperative (vs. solo) play significantly improved outgroup attitudes and pro-outgroup participant behavior, effects explained by heightened 1-group recategorization (i.e., feeling psychologically on the same team and connected with the outgroup member). In Experiment 2 (N = 239), effects of cooperation (vs. solo play) held whether playing a violent or nonviolent video game. Importantly, our findings offer an engaging and pragmatic solution to the pervasive issue of setting up and negotiating opportunities for successful intergroup cooperation.

Exploring the impact of multiple sclerosis on couples: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the everyday lives of people with MS and their partners. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of MS on the lives of two couples living with this disease and their coping strategies. METHODS: Three semi-structured interviews with each couple were completed. Partners were interviewed together as a couple and separately. RESULTS: Two major themes emerged from the analysis: increasing awareness of change and use of coping strategies. Participants expressed concerns stemming from the progression of MS and changes related to this progression over time. They discussed several coping strategies. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These findings offer occupational therapists guidance with their treatment focus in clinical practice and suggest topics for further qualitative research on couples living with MS.