Infant gaze following depends on communicative signals: An eye‐tracking study of 5‐ to 7‐month‐olds in Vanuatu

Gaze is considered a crucial component of early communication between an infant and her caregiver. When communicatively addressed, infants respond aptly to others’ gaze by following its direction. However, experience with face‐to‐face contact varies across cultures, begging the question whether infants’ competencies in receiving others’ communicative gaze signals are universal or culturally specific . We used eye‐tracking to assess gaze‐following responses of 5‐ to 7‐month olds in Vanuatu, where face‐to‐face parent–infant interactions are less prevalent than in Western populations. We found that—just like Western 6‐month‐olds studied previously—5‐ to ‐7‐month‐olds living in Vanuatu followed gaze only, when communicatively addressed. That is, if presented gaze shifts were preceded by infant‐directed speech, but not if they were preceded by adult‐directed speech. These results are consistent with the notion that early infant gaze following is tied to infants’ early emerging communicative competencies and rooted in universal mechanisms rather than being dependent on cultural specificities of early socialization.     

Hidden reality: sexual sphere in brain tumor patients

Most reports emphasize that tumors and their treatments affect sexual function. To date, no studies have focused on sexual functioning in patients with brain tumors. Our study’s objective is to describe the sexual sphere of patients with brain tumors and examine the possible differences between patients who reported sexual dysfunctions and those who did not with respect to their psychological and functional status. We tested 46 patients with brain tumors. We used an ad hoc questionnaire to assess patients’ subjective perception of their own sexual sphere. To assess patients’ psychological status, we used the following questionnaires: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; Psychological Distress Inventory; EORTC QLQ-C30; EORTC QLQ-BN20. Fifty-eight percent of patients reported sexual disturbance. Our data showed that a lack of or decrease in sexual desire is the most common sexual problem reported by our patients (56%). Patients with sexual problems reported higher levels of anxiety and depression and a worse self-reported quality of life (QoL) than did those who did not perceive adverse changes in their sexual sphere. In addition, we found that patients with a better performance status (KPS) reported more changes in sexual behaviors than did those who had performance difficulties. Of the patients, 15.2% received information regarding possible changes in the sexual sphere by physicians. Additionally, 10.8 of 15.2% of the patients reported having explicitly requested information from physicians. The study demonstrated a relation between QoL and sexual function. Therefore, it would be important to encourage clinicians to ask questions regarding patients’ sexual issues, thus providing them with an opportunity to expose their difficulties and receive adequate support.     

Conversation: The challenges of teaching in a “nano department”

A panel at the 2016 American Academy of Religion conference staged, taped, transcribed, and edited this conversation about the challenges and opportunities of teaching in a “nano department” – an undergraduate religion or religious studies department (or combined religion and philosophy department) with only one, two, or three faculty members. Two things quickly become evident: one is the impossibility of coverage of the full religious studies curriculum, and the other is the necessity for collaboration with other departments. Neither of these is unique to nano departments, but there exists an intimacy between students and faculty in small departments, a necessary freedom to rethink the place of the study of religion in the liberal arts curriculum, and a disruptive value in what can be critiqued and contributed from a marginalized position. Arguably, nano departments are the canaries in the academic coal mine, charting the future of the humanities that cannot be discerned from the vantage point of Research‐1 contexts.     

Accommodating Small Sample Sizes in Three-Level Models When the Third Level is Incidental

Small samples sizes are a pervasive problem when modeling clustered data. In two-level models, this problem has been well studied, and several resources provide guidance for modeling such data. However, a recent review of small-sample clustered data methods has noted that no studies have investigated methods for modeling three-level data with small sample sizes. Furthermore, strategies for two-level models do not necessarily translate to the three-level context. Moreover, three-level models are prone to small samples because the “small sample” designation is primarily based on the sample size of the highest level, and large samples are increasingly difficult to amass as one progresses up a hierarchy. In this study, we focus on the case when the third level is incidental, meaning that the third level is important to consider but there are no explicit research questions at the third level. This study performs a simulation study to examine the performance of seven methods for modeling three-level data with a small sample at the third level. A motivating educational psychology example is also provided to demonstrate how the choice of method can greatly affect results.     

Social exchange styles: Measurement,validation, and application

Drawing on evolutionary psychology, social exchange styles were conceptualized in terms of two dimensions of individual differences in approaching exchange relationships: Benefit‐seeking and cost‐vigilance. In Study 1, a principal components analysis of the Social Exchange Styles Questionnaire (SESQ) in 156 undergraduates confirmed the presence of two dimensions that were very similar to the expected dimensions: Equitable alliance building (EAB) and vigilant alliance management (VAM). The SESQ scales showed good internal consistency and construct validity. Multiple regressions confirmed that social exchange styles were distinct from other personality variables. In Study 2, multilevel modelling conducted on 45 small work groups demonstrated that EAB positively predicted members' subjective performance, while VAM positively predicted objective performance. Theoretical questions and future research directions are discussed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

从系统论分析慢性炎症向肿瘤的恶性转化

慢性炎症相关肿瘤疾病,其机制涉及到的不再是个别的基因产物或蛋白分子,也不再是单一的信号通路或代谢途径,而是众多的基因、蛋白质和代谢小分子等各种生物分子构成的复杂的调控网络。这一网络中的相互联系、动态以及突变特性,要求运用系统论的方法来分析。这种分析将拓展临床医生的研究思路,推动对炎症向肿瘤转化本质的认识。     

循环肿瘤细胞的研究进展

循环肿瘤细胞（circulating tumor cells,CTCs）指自发或因诊疗操作由实体瘤或转移灶释放进入外周血循环的肿瘤细胞。CTCs能被看作液体活检,具有实时监测功能,是一种非侵入性的新型诊断工具,有助于早期发现肿瘤的微转移,可评估预后,在治疗的监测及个体化治疗上具有重要的临床意义。     

如何避免卵巢良性肿瘤的过度治疗

卵巢肿瘤是妇科常见肿瘤之一,可分为良性、恶性、交界性肿瘤,及时处理卵巢良性肿瘤具有重要意义,但关于如何避免卵巢良性肿瘤的过度治疗,尚无定论。目前为止,关于卵巢肿瘤发生、发展机制的基础研究和诊疗技术正在取得较大的进步,对临床医师发挥着重要的指导和辅助作用。如何正确诊断卵巢良性肿瘤,如何选择合适的手术方式、实现个体化治疗,是避免卵巢良性肿瘤的过度治疗的关键。     

高渗氯化钠羟乙基淀粉40注射液对肝肿瘤并高血压患者硬膜外复合全身麻醉诱导期的脑保护作用

观察预注高渗氯化钠羟乙基淀粉40注射液对肝肿瘤合并高血压患者硬膜外复合全身麻醉诱导期的脑保护作用。选择50例患有高血压ASA分级Ⅱ级～Ⅲ级肝肿瘤手术患者,随机分为高渗氯化钠羟乙基淀粉40注射液(H)组和复方氯化钠(复方乳酸林格液R)组,每组25例。于输注前(T0)、输注完毕即刻(T1)、气管插管后即刻(T2)、气管插管后5min(T3)、气管插管后15min(T4)、气管插管后30min(T5)抽取静脉血离心后检测血清中S100B、IL-6、TNF-a的浓度。与T0点相比,H组,T5点S100B轻度降低但无统计学差异(P0.05),IL-6、TNF-a无明显变化(P0.05);R组在T5点S100B明显上升(P0.01);IL-6、TNF-a明显上升(P0.05或P0.01)。与R组相比,H组患者在T3-5时点S100B、IL-6和TNF-a均低(P0.05或P0.01)。结论为预注高渗氯化钠羟乙基淀粉40注射液在肝肿瘤合并高血压患者硬膜外复合全身麻醉诱导期具有脑保护作用。