Examining aspects of psychological flexibility within the integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behavior: A prospective investigation.

BACKGROUND: According to the integrated motivational-volitional model of suicide, feelings of entrapment are related to the emergence of suicidal ideation (SI). However, this relation can be moderated by certain protective factors. METHODS: This study examined whether aspects of psychological flexibility (i.e., experiential avoidance, experiential acceptance, harnessing) moderated the relation between aspects of entrapment and SI severity in college students experiencing SI (N = 553) both cross-sectionally and when SI severity was measured 1 week later (N = 247). RESULTS: At baseline, experiential acceptance, but not experiential avoidance or harnessing, significantly moderated the relation between external entrapment and SI severity and internal entrapment and SI severity. No aspects of psychological flexibility prospectively moderated relations between entrapment and SI severity. CONCLUSIONS: Aspects of psychological flexibility may influence immediate vulnerability to SI severity among young adults experiencing feelings of entrapment. Implications for clinical interventions influencing changes in psychological flexibility are discussed.

The development of internal pressure standards for in-house elastic wave velocity measurements in multi-anvil presses.

Ultrasonic systems are powerful tools to determine elastic wave velocities of minerals and materials at high pressure and temperature and have been extensively developed in recent decades. However, accurate measurement of sample length is required to convert travel times into wave velocities, limiting their use to synchrotron facilities or room temperature experiments in laboratories. We have made use of a close collaboration between the Bayerisches Geoinstiut and the P61B end-station beamline (PETRA III - DESY) to install ultrasonic systems and develop a novel dual travel time method for in situ pressure determination without the need for synchrotron radiation. Our method relies on the travel times of elastic waves through a reference material; it requires a thermocouple and is non-intrusive, with the reference material replacing the backing plate of the high-pressure assembly. Pressures obtained from this dual travel time method show excellent agreement with those obtained from x-ray diffraction using synchrotron radiation on standard materials. Our novel method enables in situ pressure determination at varying temperatures during in-house ultrasonic interferometry experiments. This allows us not only to determine the elastic behavior of minerals and materials but also to investigate phase diagrams, solidus, or liquidus conditions at varying pressures and temperatures during in-house experiments. During the installation of the pulse-echo ultrasonic system, we identified critical parameters for obtaining reliable data. While these requirements are well-known to experts, this study presents a comprehensive review of the different characteristics of ultrasonic systems, providing user-friendly guidelines for new users installing and operating such systems in high-pressure and high-temperature conditions.

Suicide Cognitions Scale: Psychometric Support in a Community Sample Using Bifactor Modeling and Altered Item Content.

The Suicide Cognitions Scale (SCS) measures suicide-related beliefs proposed by the Fluid Vulnerability Theory. A recent investigation of a revised version of the SCS (i.e., SCS-R) which omits items explicitly referencing suicide has indicated that the measure is highly influenced by a general factor and may be useful for distinguishing severity levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors; however, limited concurrent validity studies with a range of suicide-related experiences have been conducted. As such, this study replicated and extended previous psychometric research on the SCS-R in an online survey study with a community sample of N = 10,625 U.S. adults. Results confirmed the unidimensional structure of the SCS-R. Logistic regression analyses indicated that the total score of the SCS-R is useful in distinguishing varying levels of suicidal thoughts and behaviors such as past-month planning for suicide without attempt versus past-month suicide attempt. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Defeat, Entrapment, and Hopelessness: Clarifying Interrelationships between Suicidogenic Constructs.

Psychological theories of suicide posit conceptually similar constructs related to the development of suicidal thinking. These constructs often evince high-magnitude interrelationships across studies. Within these theories, defeat, entrapment and hopelessness standout as conceptually and quantitatively similar. Theoretical improvements may be facilitated through clarifying the subscale and item-level similarities among these constructs. Factor analytic and phenomenological work has demonstrated equivocal evidence for a distinction between defeat and entrapment; hopelessness is not typically analyzed together with defeat and entrapment despite evidence of large-magnitude interrelationships. This study explored the interrelationships among the foregoing constructs within a sample of undergraduate students (N = 344) from two universities within the Southeastern United States. Participants, oversampled for lifetime history of suicidal ideation and attempts, completed an online cross-sectional survey assessing defeat, entrapment, hopelessness and SI. Exploratory factor and parallel analyses demonstrated support for a one factor solution when analyzed at subscale level of the three measures as well as when all items of the three measures were analyzed together. Ad hoc exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) bifactor results evinced support for the existence of a single, general factor at the item level. Item level communalities and bifactor fit indices suggest that hopelessness may be somewhat distinct from defeat and entrapment. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed in the context of study limitations.

Entrapment and suicidal ideation: The protective roles of presence of life meaning and reasons for living.

OBJECTIVE: The integrated motivational-volitional model of suicide proposes that feelings of entrapment play a key role in the development of suicidal ideation. The model also posits a set of motivational moderators which either facilitate or hinder the development of suicidal thinking when entrapment is present. These motivational moderators include factors such as attitudes, future goals, thwarted belongingness, and social support. Two previously studied protective factors against suicide, reasons for living and life meaning, have received support in suicidology and might serve as motivational moderators in this model. METHODS: The current cross-sectional study included college students (N=195) oversampled for recent suicidal ideation who took a series of self-report questionnaires online. RESULTS: Our findings demonstrated that both reasons for living and life meaning are protective against the relation between entrapment and suicidal ideation, especially when presence of life meaning and reasons for living of high. Search for life meaning was found demonstrated a less protective relation with SI severity, particularly when reasons for living were low. CONCLUSION: Both motivational moderators demonstrated protective relationships with suicidal ideation and may be relevant to suicide prevention strategies. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Verbal Response Latency as a Behavioral Indicator of Diminished Wish to Live in a Clinical Sample of Active Duty Army Personnel with Recent Suicidal Ideation.

OBJECTIVE: Research on risk factors of suicide attempt has yielded little improvement in imminent risk detection for clinicians, due in part to the inherent limitations of self-report methodologies. Therefore, objective behavioral indicators of suicide risk that can be implemented practically with little cost in clinical settings are needed. METHOD: The current study examined verbal response latency, measured as the length of time to answer a question asking about reasons for living (i.e., What are your reasons for living or not killing yourself?), as a potential indicator of suicide risk among 97 active duty Army personnel presenting to an emergency department or behavioral health clinic for current suicide ideation and/or a recent suicide attempt. RESULTS: Verbal response latency was significantly correlated with diminished wish to live at the participant level but was not significantly correlated with wish to die or overall severity of suicidal ideation. CONCLUSION: Verbal response latency may serve as an objective indicator of suicide risk. HighlightsResponse latency to a life construct may be an objective indicator of suicide riskDelayed response latency is indicative of diminished wish to livePathological mechanisms may manifest within dyadic interactions via verbal behaviors.

Internal entrapment and fearlessness about death as precipitants of suicidal thoughts and planning in the context of post-traumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) has been extensively studied but explanatory mechanisms remain inconclusive. Entrapment is one variable that evinces a mechanistic relationship with PTSD and STB. The current study examined the indirect effect of PTSD screen on suicide ideation (SI), planning, and likelihood of future suicide attempt through internal (IE) and external entrapment (EE), moderated by levels of fearlessness about death (FAD). METHOD: The cross-sectional sample consisted of military service members and civilians recruited from primary care clinics across the United States (N = 2690). RESULTS: Moderated mediation models indicated an indirect relationship between a positive PTSD screen, past-month SI, and past-month suicide planning through IE but not EE at low, moderate, and high levels of FAD. These relationships were replicated for the association between positive PTSD screen and concurrent self-rated likelihood of a future suicide attempt through both IE and EE at moderate and high levels of FAD. CONCLUSIONS: Phenomenological implications are discussed, including IE as a mechanism of action in the PTSD/SI pathway and FAD as necessary to potentiate suicidal planning for those experiencing IE.

Building a novel occupational rehabilitation program to support cancer survivors to return to health, wellness, and work in Australia.

PURPOSE: With a substantial increase in the population of cancer survivors of working age, issues concerning sustainable employment must be addressed. The health benefits of work are well established; however, the lack of support to transition back to work is a gap in survivorship care. Researchers, occupational rehabilitation and insurance sectors, cancer support services, and consumers have collaborated to develop a tailored, multimodal occupational rehabilitation program to support resumption of meaningful work for cancer survivors. This paper describes intervention development and refinement based on pilot results and expert- and consumer-recommendations. METHODS: The pilot was conducted within the life insurance sector, a collaboration fostered by global reinsurance company Swiss Re, with cancer survivors referred to an Australian provider of occupational rehabilitation services. RESULTS: Preliminary outcomes from 15 of 72 cancer survivors following adequate engagement (excluding those who withdrew or were still actively engaged) showed 10 (67%) with improved certified capacity to work, translating to 13 (87%) with improved work status. Consultant survey results indicated barriers to participation in and engagement with the program, including referral delays, health concerns, and cancer recurrence. Expert panel recommendations were used to refine the intervention and tailor to breast cancer survivors for the feasibility stage. CONCLUSIONS: Strengths include an innovative model of referral and funding, through a life insurance provider, the involvement of a multidisciplinary collaborative team to design, develop and implement the pilot, and considerable consumer involvement. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: The refined intervention will address a critical gap to improve reintegration into work and society, contributing to improved quality of life for cancer survivors in Australia. Models of referral through insurers to rehabilitation services could be adopted in other jurisdictions.

Unwanted sexual experiences and retraumatization: Predictors of mental health concerns in veterans.

OBJECTIVE: Repeated exposure to traumatic events has consistently been shown to negatively impact mental health functioning; however, the role of timing of such events has received less attention. The present study evaluated the role of trauma that has occurred prior to military service, during service, and across both points in contributing to the most common and deleterious mental health concerns experienced by military personnel: posttraumatic stress, depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. METHOD: Utah and Idaho National Guard personnel (n = 997) completed online self-report questionnaires of their current posttraumatic stress and depression symptoms, as well as history of potentially traumatic experiences, suicidal thoughts, and actions. RESULTS: Results indicated that history of trauma across time points is associated with negative outcomes across each of these outcomes, with the exception of suicide attempts. Exploratory analyses further revealed that unwanted or uncomfortable sexual experiences (not sexual assault) is the most robust predictor of negative outcomes, with approximately 2 to 7.5 times increased risk for PTSD, depression, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that individuals with history of trauma prior to military service are at increased risk for developing clinically significant mental health problems if exposed to additional potentially traumatic experiences. Further, other unwanted sexual experiences appear to be particularly detrimental to mental health functioning. Potential implications for military recruitment and conceptualization of traumatic events are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Author Correction: Evidence for a Fe3+-rich pyrolitic lower mantle from (Al,Fe)-bearing bridgmanite elasticity data.

In Extended Data Table 1 of this Letter, some of the elastic constants were reported incorrectly. This occurred as a result of an error in the script used to generate the numbers. The values of the elastic constants at room pressure cited in the manuscript on page 544 were derived using the same erroneous script, and the correct values and 1σ-uncertainties in the last given digit are C11 = 461.3(17) GPa instead of 462.7(17) GPa; C22 = 509.7(26) GPa instead of 504.9(26) GPa; C33 = 425.7(5) GPa instead of 426.6(5) GPa; C44 = 188.8(6) GPa instead of 188.4(6) GPa; C55 = 166.5(4) GPa instead of 166.6(4) GPa; C66 = 127.2(17) GPa instead of 129.7(17) GPa; C12 = 141.7(14) GPa instead of 140.2(14) GPa; C13 = 130.0(11) GPa instead of 132.2(11) GPa; and C23 = 161.0(12) GPa instead of 159.3(12) GPa. These errors do not affect any of the conclusions and we apologize for any confusion this may have caused. Extended Data Table 1 and the room-pressure values in the text have been corrected online. The Supplementary Information of this Author Correction contains the original, incorrect Extended Data Table 1, for transparency.

Evidence for a Fe3+-rich pyrolitic lower mantle from (Al,Fe)-bearing bridgmanite elasticity data.

The chemical composition of Earth's lower mantle can be constrained by combining seismological observations with mineral physics elasticity measurements. However, the lack of laboratory data for Earth's most abundant mineral, (Mg,Fe,Al)(Al,Fe,Si)O3 bridgmanite (also known as silicate perovskite), has hampered any conclusive result. Here we report single-crystal elasticity data on (Al,Fe)-bearing bridgmanite (Mg0.9Fe0.1Si0.9Al0.1)O3 measured using high-pressure Brillouin spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Our measurements show that the elastic behaviour of (Al,Fe)-bearing bridgmanite is markedly different from the behaviour of the MgSiO3 endmember. We use our data to model seismic wave velocities in the top portion of the lower mantle, assuming a pyrolitic mantle composition and accounting for depth-dependent changes in iron partitioning between bridgmanite and ferropericlase. We find excellent agreement between our mineral physics predictions and the seismic Preliminary Reference Earth Model down to at least 1,200 kilometres depth, indicating chemical homogeneity of the upper and shallow lower mantle. A high Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio of about two in shallow-lower-mantle bridgmanite is required to match seismic data, implying the presence of metallic iron in an isochemical mantle. Our calculated velocities are in increasingly poor agreement with those of the lower mantle at depths greater than 1,200 kilometres, indicating either a change in bridgmanite cation ordering or a decrease in the ferric iron content of the lower mantle.

Lactadherin is a candidate oviduct Lewis X trisaccharide receptor on porcine spermatozoa.

A recent study has demonstrated that porcine spermatozoa recognize with high affinity carbohydrate structures containing Lewis X motifs. Sperm adhesion to Lewis X is proposed to mediate sperm binding to the oviduct epithelium to form a reservoir. The objective of this study was to identify Lewis X-binding proteins from porcine spermatozoa as candidate receptors for oviduct glycans. To identify low-abundance proteins typically masked by proteins originating from seminal fluid, Lewis X candidate receptors were enriched from cauda epididymal boar spermatozoa. Plasma membrane preparations from cauda epididymal spermatozoa were subjected to RP-HPLC and glycan blotting assays to isolate and detect proteins that bind Lewis X. Following bottom-up LC-MS/MS analysis, among the two bands that bound sulfated Lewis X, ADAM5, which spermatozoa, was confidently identified. ADAM family members have been established as contributors to sperm entry into the oviduct. A second sulfated Lewis X-binding protein identified was the peripheral membrane protein lactadherin (also known as P47, SED1 and MFG-E8 in different species). The interaction between Lewis X and lactadherin was functionally important because competitive inhibition by soluble recombinant lactadherin reduced sperm binding to the oviduct epithelium. Furthermore, far-western blotting demonstrated that purified lactadherin could bind oviduct cells. In summary, these findings reveal that, in addition to the previously reported glycan affinity of accessory gland proteins that adhere to spermatozoa, multiple proteins intrinsic to spermatozoa have affinity for a specific oviduct glycan. Further, in addition to binding to the zona pellucida, lactadherin is now implicated in binding to oviduct glycans to promote formation of the sperm reservoir.

The cost and distribution of firefighter injuries in a large Canadian Fire Department.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data available regarding the cost of firefighter injuries. This information is necessary to develop targeted injury prevention strategies. OBJECTIVE: To categorize the cost of injuries filed in 2012 by firefighters from a from a large department by job duty, injury type, body part affected, and the general motion pattern employed at the time of injury. METHODS: Data were taken from reports filed by CFD personnel and claims filed with the Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) of Alberta between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. RESULTS: Of the 244 injuries reported, 65% were categorized as sprains and strains, the most frequent of which affected the back (32%). The total cost of all claims was $555,955; 77% were sprain/strain-related. Knee and back injuries were most costly ($157,383 and $100,459). Categorized by job duty, most sprains/strains (31%) were sustained while attending to fire station responsibilities, although physical training was associated with the highest costs (34%). Fireground operations were attributed to 18% of sprains/strains and 16% of costs. Lifting injuries were more frequent (23%) and costly (20%) than all injuries. CONCLUSIONS: The most common and costly injuries occurred while attending to fire station-related responsibilities and during physical training.

The effect of electrical stimulation on post mortem myofibrillar protein degradation and small heat shock protein kinetics in bull beef.

This study aimed to determine the effect of electrical stimulation and ultimate pH (pHu) on shear force, myofibrillar protein degradation and small heat shock protein (sHSP) concentrations in M. longissimus lumborum (LL). The LL from both sides of carcasses (n=15) was excised with low voltage electrical stimulation (ES) applied to an LL muscle from one side, while the opposing LL muscle was not stimulated (NS). Muscles were categorised into low (pHu<5.8), intermediate (5.8≤pHu<6.2) and high pHu (pHu≥6.2) and aged for up to 28days post mortem at -1.5°C. High pHu meat tenderised faster which corresponded with the faster degradation of titin and desmin in this group compared with low and intermediate pHu meat. Electrical stimulation significantly affected the variable levels of αß-crystallin and HSP20 with higher concentrations of these sHSP in ES muscles at later ageing timepoints compared with NS muscles.

Firefighter injuries are not just a fireground problem.

BACKGROUND: Linking firefighter injury reporting to general motion patterns may provide insight into potential injury mechanisms and the development of prevention strategies. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the injuries sustained by members of a large Canadian metropolitan fire department over a 5-year span. METHODS: Data were taken from injury reports filed by career firefighters between 2007 and 2011. Injuries were described by job duty, type, body part affected, and the general motion pattern employed at the time of injury (e.g. lifting). RESULTS: Of the 1311 injuries reported, 64% were categorized as sprains and strains (musculoskeletal disorders -MSDs), the most frequent of which affected the back (32%). Categorized by job duty, 65% of MSDs were sustained while working at the fire station or during physical training-related activities. Only 15% were attributed to fireground operations. Furthermore, the associated job duty could not differentiate the types of injuries sustained; back injuries occurred primarily while lifting, knee injuries while stepping, and shoulder injuries during pushing/pulling-related activities. CONCLUSIONS: Firefighter injuries are not just a fireground problem. Injury causation may be better understood by linking the injury location and type with motion patterns rather than job duties. This information could assist in developing general prevention strategies for the fire service.

The protection of bovine skeletal myofibrils from proteolytic damage post mortem by small heat shock proteins.

This study aimed to determine how small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) protect myofibrillar proteins from µ-calpain degradation during ageing. Immunoprecipitation experiments with M. longissimus dorsi (LD) from Angus heifers (n = 14) examined the interaction between αß-crystallin, desmin, titin, HSP20, HSP27 and µ-calpain. Results showed that αß-crystallin associated with desmin, titin, HSP20, HSP27 and µ-calpain. Exogenous αß-crystallin reduced desmin and titin degradations in myofibrillar extracts and attenuated µ-calpain activity. In a second experiment, bull LD (n = 94) were aged at -1.5°C for up to 28 days post mortem. µ-Calpain autolysed faster in high ultimate pH (pH(u)) meat (pH(u)≥6.2) and this was concomitant with the more rapid degradation of titin and filamin in this pH(u) group. Desmin stability in intermediate pH(u) meat (pH(u) 5.8 to 6.19) may be due to the protection of myofibril-bound sHSPs combined with the competitive inhibition of µ-calpain by sHSPs.

Small heat shock proteins and toughness in intermediate pHu beef.

Bull M. longissimus dorsi (n=94) categorised into high (n=28), intermediate (n=14) and low (n=52) ultimate pH (pHu) were aged at -1.5°C for 28days. Shear force was higher and more variable (p<0.05) in intermediate pHu samples during ageing. Titin, filamin and desmin degradation was also less extensive in intermediate pHu samples compared to the other two pH categories. The extent of the decline of HSP20, HSP27 and αß-crystallin concentrations during post mortem ageing was pHu related such that high pHu meat maintained the highest concentration of small heat shock proteins followed by intermediate and low pHu meat. µ-Calpain autolysis was slowest in intermediate pHu and cathepsin B activities remained consistently low during ageing in this group (p<0.05). Meat toughness in the intermediate pHu group may be attributed to the combination of a larger pool of sHSP with a sub-optimal cathepsin B activity and intermediary µ-calpain activities.

Case report: Aortoduodenal fistula presenting as iron-deficiency anaemia.

Aortoenteric fistulae are a rare cause of gastrointestinal bleeding. If undiagnosed, mortality is high. The outcome of aortoenteric fistula has improved significantly due to better diagnostic modalities, advances in anaesthesia and surgical techniques including endovascular aortic repair. Early diagnosis requires a high index of clinical suspicion. An aortoenteric fistula should be suspected in every patient with a history of surgical or endovascular repair of aortic disease who presents with gastrointestinal bleeding. Most patients present with massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Presentation with iron-deficiency anaemia on routine blood analysis, as in our case report, is extremely unusual.

Evaluation of the XRCC1 gene as a phenotypic modifier in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Results from the consortium of investigators of modifiers of BRCA1/BRCA2.

BACKGROUND: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in DNA repair are good candidates to be tested as phenotypic modifiers for carriers of mutations in the high-risk susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. The base excision repair (BER) pathway could be particularly interesting given the relation of synthetic lethality that exists between one of the components of the pathway, PARP1, and both BRCA1 and BRCA2. In this study, we have evaluated the XRCC1 gene that participates in the BER pathway, as phenotypic modifier of BRCA1 and BRCA2. METHODS: Three common SNPs in the gene, c.-77C>T (rs3213245) p.Arg280His (rs25489) and p.Gln399Arg (rs25487) were analysed in a series of 701 BRCA1 and 576 BRCA2 mutation carriers. RESULTS: An association was observed between p.Arg280His-rs25489 and breast cancer risk for BRCA2 mutation carriers, with rare homozygotes at increased risk relative to common homozygotes (hazard ratio: 22.3, 95% confidence interval: 14.3-34, P<0.001). This association was further tested in a second series of 4480 BRCA1 and 3016 BRCA2 mutation carriers from the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1 and BRCA2. CONCLUSIONS AND INTERPRETATION: No evidence of association was found when the larger series was analysed which lead us to conclude that none of the three SNPs are significant modifiers of breast cancer risk for mutation carriers.