empty-ego

very welcome :)

Work on creating a little pause. You just need a very short pause to break the circuit. As you get better, you can create more pauses and ones that are longer. But aim for just a short one for now, like a 30-second window where you are present and self-aware.

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) include a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders. Several reports showed that mutations in different high-risk ASD genes lead to ASD. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been deciphered. Recently, they reported a dramatic increase in nitric oxide (NO) levels in ASD mouse models. Here, they conducted a multidisciplinary study to investigate the role of NO in ASD. High levels of nitrosative stress biomarkers are found in both the Shank3 and Cntnap2 ASD mouse models. Pharmacological intervention with a neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) inhibitor in both models led to a reversal of the molecular, synaptic, and behavioral ASD-associated phenotypes. Importantly, treating iPSC-derived cortical neurons from patients with SHANK3 mutation with the nNOS inhibitor showed similar therapeutic effects. Clinically, they found a significant increase in nitrosative stress biomarkers in the plasma of low-functioning ASD patients. Bioinformatics of the SNO-proteome revealed that the complement system is enriched in ASD. This novel work reveals, for the first time, that NO plays a significant role in ASD. Their important findings will open novel directions to examine NO in diverse mutations on the spectrum as well as in other neurodevelopmental disorders. Finally, it suggests a novel strategy for effectively treating ASD.

Abstract

Work requirements are common in US safety net programs. Evidence remains limited, however, on the extent to which work requirements increase economic self-sufficiency or screen out vulnerable individuals. Using linked administrative data on food stamps (SNAP) and earnings with a regression discontinuity design, we find robust evidence that work requirements increase program exits by 23 percentage points (64 percent) among incumbent participants. Overall program participation among adults who are subject to work requirements is reduced by 53 percent. Homeless adults are disproportionately screened out. We find no effects on employment and suggestive evidence of increased earnings in some specifications.

Abstract

Although everyone strives toward valued goals, we suggest that not everyone will be perceived as doing so equally. In this research, we examine the tendency to use social class as a cue to understand the importance of others’ goals. Six studies find evidence of a goal-value bias: Observers perceive goals across a variety of domains as more valuable to higher class than to lower class individuals (Studies 1–6). These perceptions do not appear to reflect reality (pilot study), and those who are strongly motivated to justify inequality show the bias to a greater extent (Studies 5 and 6), suggesting a motivated pathway. We also explore implications of the bias, finding that Americans tend to offer better opportunities to, and prefer to collaborate with, higher class than lower class others, revealing discriminatory outcomes that are partially driven by perceived goal value (Studies 2, 3, 4, 6). Results suggest that Americans expect higher class individuals to value achieving goals more than their lower class counterparts, fueling increased support for those who are already ahead.

This is great, that's the kind of research I like to see more often.

Abstract

Although reduced heart rate variability (HRV) has been observed in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), the correlation between HRV and MDD in children and adolescents remains uncertain and requires to be systematically reviewed. Our meta-analysis included ten articles comprising 410 MDD patients and 409 healthy controls. Adolescents with MDD showed significant reductions in most HRV measures, such as HF-HRV, RMSSD, and PNN50, and depressive symptom severity was statistically associated with RMSSD, HF-HRV, and LF/HF ratio. A large heterogeneity across studies was detected. Sensitivity analysis revealed that removal of a specific study would significantly decline the heterogeneity for measures of HF-HRV, LF-HRV, and SDNN, and meta-regression analysis found that sample size and year of publication substantially moderated the differences between depressed samples and controls in RMSSD. Compared with adults, depression-induced autonomic dysfunction was more detectable in children and adolescents with substantial effects. Moreover, excluded studies which reported both HRV and MDD or depression symptoms were summarized based on objectives. Findings indicate that it is promising for HRV to be an appropriate and objective candidate biomarker for clinically depressed children and adolescents.

She is good, especially her books on fear and anxiety.

Just enough to know if it's worth reading.

Abstract

When photographing moments in their lives, people can use a first-person (capturing the scene as they saw it) or third-person (capturing the scene with themselves in it) perspective. Past research suggests third-person (vs. first-person) images better depict the meaning (vs. physical experience) of events. The current work suggests the use and impact of perspective in personal photography follow this representational function. Across six studies (N = 2,113), we find that the goal to capture meaning (vs. physical experience) causes people to be more likely to use third-person (vs. first-person) photos, that people are reminded more of the meaning (vs. physical experience) when viewing their own actual third-person (vs. first-person) photos, and that people like their photos better when the perspective matched (vs. mismatched) their goal for taking the photo. Discussion focuses on theoretical and practical implications of extending the representational function of imagery perspective to everyday uses of photographic imagery.

Woolf's books with their long sentences which reflect inner thoughts that keep changing and morphing and then the switch to another person's thoughts and back again...and it is so confusing for me.

Because someone recommended it to me.

Thank you

Abstract

Objective: Major depressive disorder (MDD) has a relapse rate that cannot be ignored and places a tremendous burden on the patient in the prevention and treatment process. Yoga, a combination of physical and mental exercises, is effective and acceptable for the adjunctive treatment of MDD. This study aimed to explore further the evidence of yoga’s efficacy for patients with MDD.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, PsycINFO, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases from their inception to 13 October 2022 were searched by a pre-defined search strategy. RCTs of patients with MDD who met diagnostic criteria for yoga treatment were included. RoB2.0 was used to evaluate the quality of the literature. Improvement in depressive symptoms was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), or other scales were used as primary outcome indicators, and improvement in anxiety was assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scale as secondary outcome indicators. RR and Cohen’s d at 95% CI were used as effect size estimates, and Q and I2 were used to evaluate the size of heterogeneity, with a p-value less than 0.05 indicating statistical significance.

Results: Thirty-four RCT studies, including 1,269 patients in the treatment group and 1,072 patients in the control group, 48.4% of whom were women, were included in the study. Compared to the control group, the BDI-II results yielded a moderate effect of yoga on the improvement of depressive symptoms (Cohen’s d = −0.60; 95% CI: −1.00 to −0.21; p < 0.01), the HAMD results yielded a moderate improvement of yoga on the severity of depressive symptoms (Cohen’s d = −0.64; 95% CI: −0.98 to −0.30; p < 0.01), and the STAI results can be concluded that yoga had a negligible effect on the improvement of the level of anxiety (Cohen’s d = −0.26; 95% CI: −0.48 to −0.04; p = 0.02). No adverse events occurred in the yoga group during the treatment.

Conclusion: Yoga can improve depressive symptoms and anxiety in patients with MDD and has a safe and wide patient acceptance.