An opportunity sample of 98, mostly undergraduate [1], participants completed Thalbourne's Transliminality Scale (Form B) [2-3] plus three subscales from Hartmann's Boundary Structure Questionnaire [4] (sleep/wake/dream, unusual experiences, thoughts/feelings/moods) plus a psychic experiences scale which included some of Hartmann's items' The results support the hypothesis, and Houran et al.'s [5] findings, that there is a significant positive correlation between selected boundary structure subscales and a measure of transliminality (range r: .384-.615). Our results are similar to Houran et al.'s in that only certain subscales were significant predictors of transliminality when the effects of others are taken into account. In this study only the psychic experiences scale, which is not one of Hartmann's original subscales [4, 6], was a significant predictor when the effects of the three other subscales were accounted for. The theories behind the concepts of boundary structure and transliminality suggest that individuals differ according to the extent to which different areas of the brain/mind are separated.

Alkali basaltic diatremes such as Elie Ness (Fife, Scotland) expose a range of volcanic lithofacies that points to a complex, multi-stage emplacement history. Here, basanites contain phenocrysts including pyrope garnet and sub-calcic augites from depths of ~60km. Volcanic rocks from all units, pyroclastic and hypabyssal, are characterised by rare earth element (REE) patterns that show continuous enrichment from heavy REE (HREE) to light REE (LREE), and high Zr/Y that are consistent with retention of garnet in the mantle source during melting of peridotite in a garnet lherzolite facies. Erupted garnets are euhedral and unresorbed, signifying rapid ascent through the lithosphere. The magmas also transported abundant pyroxenitic clasts, cognate with the basanite host, from shallower depths (~35–40km). These clasts exhibit wide variation in texture, mode and mineralogy, consistent with growth from a range of compositionally diverse melts. Further, clinopyroxene phenocrysts from both the hypabyssal and pyroclastic units exhibit a very wide compositional range, indicative of polybaric fractionation and magma mixing. This is attributed to stalling of earlier magmas in the lower crust — principally from ~22 to 28km — as indicated by pyroxene thermobarometry. Many clinopyroxenes display chemical zoning profiles, occasionally with mantles and rims of higher magnesium number (Mg#) suggesting the magmas were mobilised by juvenile basanite magma. The tuffs also contain alkali feldspar megacrysts together with Fe-clinopyroxene, zircon and related salic xenoliths, of the ‘anorthoclasite suite’ — inferred to have crystallised at upper mantle to lower crustal depths from salic magma in advance of the mafic host magmas. Despite evidence for entrainment of heterogeneous crystal mushes, the rapidly ascending melts experienced negligible crustal contamination. The complex association of phenocrysts, megacrysts and autoliths at Elie Ness indicates thorough mixing in a dynamic system immediately prior to explosive diatreme-forming eruptions.

Hoarding disorder (HD) was recognized as a psychiatric disorder in 2013. Existing literature suggests room for improvement in its treatment. The current pilot study aimed to provide an initial evaluation on the potential of compassion‐focused therapy (CFT) as an intervention for HD, with the primary aim being assessing its feasibility and acceptability, and the secondary being evaluating its effects. Both CFT and a second round of the current standard of treatment and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) were investigated in the current study as follow‐up treatment options for individuals who had completed CBT but were still significantly symptomatic. Forty eligible individuals were enrolled (20 in each treatment). Treatment feasibility and acceptability were assessed by quantitative and qualitative measures. To explore treatment effects, HD symptom severity, HD‐related dysfunctions, and their underlying mechanisms were assessed pre‐treatment and post‐treatment. Retention rates were 72% for CFT and 37% for CBT. All participants and 79% of the participants rated CFT and CBT, respectively, as good or excellent. After receiving CFT as a follow‐up treatment, HD symptom severity dropped below the cut‐off point for clinically significant HD for 77% of the treatment completers, and 62% achieved clinically significant reduction in symptom severity. In contrast, after completing a second course of CBT, 23% had HD symptom severity dropped below the cut‐off threshold, and 29% achieved clinically significant symptom reduction. The current study showed satisfactory feasibility and acceptability of CFT. Moreover, it also found promising effects of CFT in addressing hoarding‐related mechanisms that may not have been sufficiently addressed by CBT. The results suggest promising potential of CFT as a treatment for HD. Further investigation on this intervention is needed. CFT may be a promising treatment option, particularly for those who do not respond well to CBT. Improving emotion regulation and negative self‐perception by applying CFT interventions may help relieve hoarding symptoms. Generalization of the findings should be applied with caution given the small convenience sample of the current study. Statistical comparison on treatment effect measures between CFT and CBT as follow‐up treatments was not available due to small sample size. Therefore, the comparative conclusions based on this pilot study should be made with caution.

Carbonatites and alkaline-silicate rocks are the most important sources of rare earth elements (REE) and niobium (Nb), both of which are metals imperative to technological advancement and associated with high risks of supply interruption. Cooling and crystallizing carbonatitic and alkaline melts expel multiple pulses of alkali-rich aqueous fluids which metasomatize the surrounding country rocks, forming fenites during a process called fenitization. These alkalis and volatiles are original constituents of the magma that are not recorded in the carbonatite rock, and therefore fenites should not be dismissed during the description of a carbonatite system. This paper reviews the existing literature, focusing on 17 worldwide carbonatite complexes whose attributes are used to discuss the main features and processes of fenitization. Although many attempts have been made in the literature to categorize and name fenites, it is recommended that the IUGS metamorphic nomenclature be used to describe predominant mineralogy and textures. Complexing anions greatly enhance the solubility of REE and Nb in these fenitizing fluids, mobilizing them into the surrounding country rock, and precipitating REE- and Nb-enriched micro-mineral assemblages. As such, fenites have significant potential to be used as an exploration tool to find mineralized intrusions in a similar way alteration patterns are used in other ore systems, such as porphyry copper deposits. Strong trends have been identified between the presence of more complex veining textures, mineralogy and brecciation in fenites with intermediate stage Nb-enriched and later stage REE-enriched magmas. However, compiling this evidence has also highlighted large gaps in the literature relating to fenitization. These need to be addressed before fenite can be used as a comprehensive and effective exploration tool.

Altered expressions of receptor tyrosine kinases drive the growth and metastasis of several cancers. RON is a single pass transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) shown to be aberrantly expressed in various cancer types. However, target validation and successful therapeutic targeting of RON in cancers is hampered by the co-existence of unknown number/types of isoforms, which are structurally similar but functionally diverse. The objective of this study was to identify differential splicing in the C-terminal region of RON transcripts to better understand RON signaling in cancers. mRNA transcript sequence between exons 14 and 20 of RON was PCR amplified and sequenced using cDNA from 10 SCLC and 13 NSCLC cell lines. Specific exon deletions were identified by aligning sequencing chromatograms with reference RON cDNA sequence. We identified the presence of four unique transcript sequence variants of RON formed through skipping of exons 15–19, 16–19, 16–17 and 16. The transcript variants, except the one lacking exons 15–19, were found in more than one cell line. Several cell lines contained two to four of these uniquely spliced transcript variants. dbEST (Expressed Sequence Tags database) or other DNA sequence databases did not contain RON cDNA sequences corresponding to any of the above exon deletions indicating that all these transcript sequence alterations are novel. Results of our study indicate common occurrence of different types of alternatively spliced transcripts of RON in lung cancer with potential to be translated into proteins lacking active kinase domain. Our findings suggest that tumors produce several dominant negative isoforms which probably inhibit ligand dependent RON signaling, and hence, raise important questions regarding the appropriateness of blocking wild type RON signaling for therapy. Further, presence of transcript variants and their isoform products may interfere with quantitative and functional analysis during target validation.

The aim of this study was to generate a subject-specific musculoskeletal muscle model, based on isometric and isovelocity measurements of the whole lower extremity. A two-step optimisation procedure is presented for optimising the muscle-tendon parameters for isometric and isovelocity joint torque profiles. A significant improvement in the prediction of joint torque profiles for both the solely isometric and a combined isometric and dynamic method of optimization when compared to the standard scaling method of The AnyBody Modeling System was observed. Depending on the specific purpose of the model, it may be worth considering whether the isometric-only would be sufficient, or the additional dynamic data are required for the combined approach.

In obesity, excess nutrients and an increased demand for protein synthesis contribute to unfolded proteins accumulating within the endoplasmic reticulum and consequent activation of unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR in adipose tissue (AT) is critical to the initiation and integration of inflammation and insulin signalling pathways in obese and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The aim of this study was to examine whether novel malabsorptive or bypass bariatric surgery in obese women with T2DM leads to reduction in UPR. Abdominal subcutaneous (AbSc) AT was isolated from 30 Caucasian obese T2DM women aged 54.1±1.3 (mean±S.E.M.) years, BMI 41.21±1.0 kg/m2, that had undergone bariatric surgery of malabsorptive; gastric band (n=9) or novel gastric plication (n=13), or bypass; biliopancreatic diversion (n=8) type. Biopsies and anthropometric data were collected at the time of surgery and 6 months post-surgery. UPR markers were measured by qRT-PCR and western blotting and correlation analysis was performed. Six months post-operation all subjects significantly reduced body weight (P<0.001) with mean excess BMI lost 33.4±2.4%. Anthropometric measurements were significantly improved; fat mass, HbA1c, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and total cholesterol (all P<0.001). ATF6, IRE1α, XBP1s, ATF4, and CHOP10 mRNAs and ATF6, pIRE1α, XBP1s, Calnexin and Bip proteins were all significantly (P<0.05) reduced post-surgery irrespective of operation type. Correlations between UPR mRNAs were strengthened post-surgery for ATF4 and CHOP10 (P=0.041–P<0.001) and IRE1α and ATF6 (P=0.853–P<0.001). Post-surgery plasma glucose correlated significantly (P=0.034) with XBP1s mRNA. This study highlights that bariatric surgery induced weight loss is coupled with improved glucose homeostasis and reduced UPR expression in AT. Furthermore post weight loss there are enhanced associations identified between UPR and XBP1 in AT and plasma glucose which may arise due to improved glucose homeostasis. This suggests UPR regulation in AT is linked to plasma glucose levels which aligns to metabolic health.

This study determined the effects of a high-fat meal on circulating endotoxin and cardiometabolic indices in adult Arab women. The cohort consisted of 92 consenting Saudi women (18 non-diabetic (ND)) control subjects; Age 24.4 ± 7.9 year; body mass index (BMI) 22.2 ± 2.2 Kg/m2), 24 overweight/obese (referred to as overweight-plus (overweight+)) subjects (Age 32.0 ± 7.8 year; BMI 28.5 ± 1.5 Kg/m2) and 50 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients (Age 41.5 ± 6.2 year; BMI 35.2 ± 7.7 Kg/m2). All were given a high-fat meal (standardized meal: 75 g fat, 5 g carbohydrate, 6 g protein) after an overnight fast of 12–14 h. Anthropometrics were obtained and fasting blood glucose, lipids, and endotoxin were serially measured for four consecutive postprandial hours. Endotoxin levels were significantly elevated prior to a high-fat meal in the overweight+ and T2DM than the controls (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the postprandial cardiometabolic changes led to a more detrimental risk profile in T2DM subjects than other groups, with serial changes most notable in glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), and insulin levels (p-values < 0.05). The same single meal given to subjects with different metabolic states had varying impacts on cardiometabolic health. Endotoxemia is exacerbated by a high-fat meal in Arab subjects with T2DM, accompanied by a parallel increase in cardiometabolic risk profile, suggesting disparity in disease pathogenesis of those with or without T2DM through the altered cardiometabolic risk profile rather than variance in metabolic endotoxinaemia with a high-fat meal.

Lead-zinc exploration drilling within the Limerick Basin (SW Ireland) has revealed the deep internal architecture and extra-crater deposits of five alkali-basaltic maar-diatremes. These were emplaced as part of a regional north-east south-west tectonomagmatic trend during the Lower Carboniferous Period. Field relationships and textural observations suggest that the diatremes erupted into a shallow submarine environment. Limerick trace element data indicates a genetic relationship between the diatremes and extra-crater successions of the Knockroe Formation, which records multiple diatreme filling and emptying cycles. Deposition was controlled largely by bathymetry defined by the surrounding Waulsortian carbonate mounds. An initial non-diatreme forming eruption stage occurred at the water-sediment interface, with magma-water interaction prevented by high magma ascent rates. This was followed by seawater incursion and the onset of phreatomagmatic activity. Magma-water interaction generated poorly vesicular blocky clasts, although the co-occurrence of plastically deformed and highly vesicular clasts indicate that phreatomagmatic and magmatic processes were not mutually exclusive. At a later stage, the diatreme filled with a slurry of juvenile lapilli and country rock lithic clasts, homogenised by the action of debris jets. The resulting extra-crater deposits eventually emerged above sea level, so that water ingress significantly declined, and late-stage magmatic processes became dominant. These deposits, largely confined to the deep vents, incorporate high concentrations of partially sintered globular and large ‘raggy’ lapilli showing evidence for heat retention. Our study provides new insights into the dynamics and evolution of basaltic diatremes erupting into a shallow water (20–120 m) submarine environment.

The notion that psi may be able to function without conscious intent and mediate adaptive consequences is a feature of several theories of psi. In particular, Stanford’s “Psi-mediated Instrumental Response” (PMIR) model predicts that psi can operate without conscious awareness, facilitating advantageous outcomes by triggering preexisting behaviours in response to opportunities or threats in the environment. Luke and colleagues tested elements of this model over 4 studies involving an implicit, forced-choice precognition task in which participants were positively or negatively rewarded based on their performance in relation to the MCE. The 4 studies combined yielded significant evidence of an implicit precognition effect. The present study attempted to replicate this precognition effect using a more refined contingent reward system employing images from the International Affective Picture System. The number of trials per participant was increased to enhance statistical power, whereas all other design elements remained consistent with the original studies. Fifty participants achieved a tacit precognition hit rate marginally greater than the MCE, but the extent of their outperformance was not significant. Nevertheless, together with Luke and colleagues’ 4 studies, the combined effect size remains significant (Stouffer Z = 3.25, p = 0.001). Findings are interpreted in relation to Stanford’s PMIR model.