scholarly journals Introducing the Fear Learning and Anxiety Response (FLARe) app and web portal for the remote delivery of fear conditioning experiments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas McGregor ◽  
Kirstin Lee Purves ◽  
Tom Joseph Barry ◽  
Elena Constantinou ◽  
Michelle G. Craske ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fear Learning ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Web Portal ◽  
Delivery Platform ◽  
Anxiety Response ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Feasible Outcome ◽  
Conditioning Experiments

Experimental paradigms measuring key psychological constructs can enhance our understanding of mechanisms underlying human psychological well-being and mental health. Delivering such paradigms remotely affords opportunities to reach larger, more representative samples than is typically possible with in-person research. The efficiency gained from remote delivery makes it easier to test replication of previously established effects in well-powered samples. There are several challenges to the successful development and delivery of remote experimental paradigms, including use of an appropriate delivery platform, identifying feasible outcome measures, and metrics of participant compliance. In this paper, we present FLARe (Fear Learning and Anxiety Response), open-source software in the form of a smartphone app and web portal for the creation and delivery of remote fear conditioning experiments. We describe the particular benefits and challenges associated with the creation of a remote delivery platform for fear conditioning, before presenting in detail the resultant software suite, and one particular instance of deploying this using the FLARe research infrastructure. We provide examples of the application of FLARe to a number of research questions which illustrate the particular benefits of the remote approach to experiment delivery. The FLARe smartphone app and web portal are available for use by other researchers and have been designed to be user friendly and intuitive. We hope that FLARe will be a useful tool for those interested in conducting well-powered fear conditioning studies to inform our understanding of the development and treatment of anxiety disorders.

scholarly journals Validating the Use of a Smartphone App for Remote Administration of a Fear Conditioning Paradigm

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirstin Lee Purves ◽  
Elena Constantinou ◽  
Thomas McGregor ◽  
Kathryn J. Lester ◽  
Tom Joseph Barry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Fear Learning ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Total N ◽  
Conditioning Paradigm ◽  
Large Samples ◽  
Conditioning Experiment

Fear conditioning models key processes related to the development, maintenance and treatment of anxiety disorders and is associated with group differences in anxiety. However, laboratory administration of tasks is time and cost intensive, precluding assessment in large samples, necessary for analysis of individual differences. This study introduces a newly developed smartphone app that delivers a fear conditioning paradigm remotely. Three groups of participants (total n=152) took part in three studies involving a differential fear conditioning experiment to assess the reliability and validity of a smartphone administered fear conditioning paradigm. This comprised of fear acquisition, generalisation, extinction, and renewal phases. We show that smartphone app delivery of a fear conditioning paradigm results in a pattern of fear learning comparable to traditional laboratory delivery, and is able to detect individual differences in performance that show comparable associations with anxiety to the prior group differences literature.

Vaccines for aquaculture overview

2020 ◽  
pp. 42-43
Author(s):  
Andrey S. Khishov ◽  
◽  
Galina I. Burlakova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Pharmaceutical Drugs ◽  
Short Development Time ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Basic And Applied Research ◽  
North And South America ◽  
Aquaculture Production

Aquaculture production is a promising direction for the development of food production. Like traditional types of animal husbandry, it needs effective medicines for veterinary use, which would ensure not only the well-being of farmed aquatic organisms, but also increase the safety of the fish products and non-fish objects of fishing. The development of measures to control epizootic processes in aquatic organisms is impossible without the creation of new immunological preparations. The development and use of immunobiological drugs will reduce the use of antimicrobial agents. The corresponding set of pharmaceutical drugs was transferred from the traditional veterinary medicine, but due to the peculiarities of the biology of aquatic animals, their immunity and the characteristics of specific pathogens, this could not be done with biological products. The short development time in the aquaculture industry poses current challenges in the form of a lack of basic and applied research for relatively poorly understood groups of new pathogens. The immunological processes associated with the development and intensity of the immune response in aquatic organisms require a detailed study. For domestic aquaculture producers, the analysis and dissemination of the experience accumulated by mankind and the application of advanced developments in this area are even more relevant, since Russia is just beginning its path of intensifying aquaculture production. At the same time, it is clear that the prohibition of the use and monitoring of antimicrobial agents in food products and feed requires a change in the approach to the problem and will lead to the creation of new immunobiological drugs. The market for immunobiological preparations for aquaculture is the most promising for development. In the article, the authors provide data on the development and registration of vaccines for aquaculture in Europe, North and South America.

scholarly journals Fear conditioning and stimulus generalization in association with age in children and adolescents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Reinhard ◽  
Anna Slyschak ◽  
Miriam A. Schiele ◽  
Marta Andreatta ◽  
Katharina Kneer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Conditioned Fear ◽  
Fear Learning ◽  
Stimulus Generalization ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Current Task

AbstractThe aim of the study was to investigate age-related differences in fear learning and generalization in healthy children and adolescents (n = 133), aged 8–17 years, using an aversive discriminative fear conditioning and generalization paradigm adapted from Lau et al. (2008). In the current task, participants underwent 24 trials of discriminative conditioning of two female faces with neutral facial expressions, with (CS+) or without (CS−) a 95-dB loud female scream, presented simultaneously with a fearful facial expression (US). The discriminative conditioning was followed by 72 generalization trials (12 CS+, 12 GS1, 12 GS2, 12 GS3, 12 GS4, and 12 CS−): four generalization stimuli depicting gradual morphs from CS+ to CS− in 20%-steps were created for the generalization phases. We hypothesized that generalization in children and adolescents is negatively correlated with age. The subjective ratings of valence, arousal, and US expectancy (the probability of an aversive noise following each stimulus), as well as skin conductance responses (SCRs) were measured. Repeated-measures ANOVAs on ratings and SCR amplitudes were calculated with the within-subject factors stimulus type (CS+, CS−, GS1-4) and phase (Pre-Acquisition, Acquisition 1, Acquisition 2, Generalization 1, Generalization 2). To analyze the modulatory role of age, we additionally calculated ANCOVAs considering age as covariate. Results indicated that (1) subjective and physiological responses were generally lower with increasing age irrespective to the stimulus quality, and (2) stimulus discrimination improved with increasing age paralleled by reduced overgeneralization in older individuals. Longitudinal follow-up studies are required to analyze fear generalization with regard to brain maturational aspects and clarify whether overgeneralization of conditioned fear promotes the development of anxiety disorders or vice versa.

scholarly journals A Smartphone App to Support Carers of People Living With Cancer: A Feasibility and Usability Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Heynsbergh ◽  
Leila Heckel ◽  
Mari Botti ◽  
Patricia M Livingston
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Technical Support ◽  
Smartphone App ◽  
Attrition Rates ◽  
Specific Content ◽  
Instructional Videos ◽  
Living With Cancer ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND Carers experience unique needs while caring for someone with cancer. Interventions that address carers’ needs and well-being have been developed and tested; however, the use of smartphone apps to support adult carers looking after another adult with cancer has not been assessed. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to test the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of a smartphone app, called the Carer Guide App, for carers of people with colorectal cancer. METHODS We recruited carers of people with colorectal cancer from outpatient day oncology units and provided them with access to the smartphone app for 30 days. Carers had access to video instructions and email contact details for technical support. Carers received 2 email messages per week that directed them to resources available within the app. Carers completed demographic questions at baseline and questions related to feasibility and usability at 30 days post app download. We used recruitment and attrition rates to determine feasibility and relevance of content to carers’ needs as self-reported by carers. We assessed usability through the ease of navigation and design and use of technical support or instructional videos. Acceptability was measured through self-reported usage, usage statistics provided by Google Analytics, and comments for improvement. RESULTS We recruited 31% (26/85) eligible carers into the trial. Of the 26 carers, the majority were female (19, 73%), on average 57 years of age, were caring for a spouse with cancer (19, 73%), and held a university degree (19, 73%). Regarding feasibility, carers perceived the content of the Carer Guide App as relevant to the information they were seeking. Regarding usability, carers perceived the navigation and design of the app as easy to use. Of the 26 carers, 4 (15%) viewed the downloading and navigation video and 7 (27%) used the contact email address for queries and comments. Acceptability: On average, carers used the smartphone app for 22 minutes (SD 21 minutes) over the 30-day trial. Of 26 participants, 19 completed a follow-up questionnaire. Of 19 carers, 7 (37%) logged on 3 to 4 times during the 30 days and 5 (26%) logged on more than 5 times. The majority (16/19, 84%) of carers stated that they would recommend the app be available for all carers. Comments for improvement included individualized requests for specific content. CONCLUSIONS The Carer Guide App was feasible and usable among carers of people with colorectal cancer. Acceptability can be improved through the inclusion of a variety of information and resources. A randomized controlled trial is required to assess the impact of the Carer Guide App on carers’ health and well-being.

THE TREND OF CHANGES IN PRICES AND TARIFFS FOR UTILITIES ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE SUGHD REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN

2020 ◽  
pp. 45-51
Author(s):  
Ustuvorshokh A. Kuliyev ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Residential Buildings ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Economic Indicators ◽  
Housing Sector ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Management Groups

The article discusses the features of the regulation of the housing and communal services market. It was noted that the housing sector is one of the key and plays a key role in human life. Utilities are highly dependent on a person’s well-being and health. The article presents an analysis of the growth in prices for utilities and housing, taking into account the available statistics. Also, in connection with the growth of paid services, including the cost of housing and communal services in the Sughd region of the Republic of Tajikistan, an analysis of wages and other economic indicators was carried out. In the article, the author explains the development of the industry with proposals for the reform of housing and communal services, the implementation of tariffs, the creation of management groups near residential buildings.

The Preconditions of Social Identity of a Small State in Transition to Democracy

1998 ◽  
pp. 33-39
Author(s):  
Jurate Morkuniene
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Social Identity ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Active Agent ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Transition To Democracy ◽  
Essential Condition ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Definition Of

The definition of social identity consists of two parts. First, it means protection against threats to the nation’s existence and well-being. Second, it means the search for measures and possibilities to achieve the goals of social development and improvement. Social identity implies the creation and preservation of conditions in which each citizen can develop as educated, creative and responsible persons. Today, especially for nations throughout the former Soviet Union, the chief danger to social identity lies in the adverse conditions of continued underdevelopment. It follows that for these nations, identity means first of all development. The essential condition for a small nation’s identity and survival is based on the people’s resolution to rely on themselves and to envision the potential for their own country. The modern strategy for ensuring social identity would essentially rely on the principle that every citizen is part of the national identity, i.e., its active agent. For this reason, of central importance is the creation of equal starting possibilities (equality of opportunities) for everyone.

The Patronymic of Her Choice

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-55
Author(s):  
Mie Nakachi
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Government Policy ◽  
Family Law ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Fundamental Change ◽  
Soviet Leadership ◽  
The Creation ◽  
New Vision ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Masses

As the victory over the Nazis came into sight and the demographic disaster became apparent, the Soviet leadership keenly felt the need to strengthen pronatalist policy. Several proposals submitted in 1943–1944 expanded existing pronatalist measures without a fundamental change in the vision of population growth. However, Khrushchev, proconsul of devastated Ukraine, submitted the most comprehensive overhaul based on a new vision for population and pronatalism. The government policy reveals a two-faced practice of Bolshevik language, claiming to “protect motherhood” when addressing the masses, and non-Bolshevik discourse, population engineering language, among the top leadership. In the final law, policymakers prioritized giving men the incentive to father extramarital children over assuring the overall well-being of unmarried mothers and their children. This chapter traces the creation of the 1944 Family Law, legislation that definitively shaped the postwar generation in a deeply gendered manner.

Behavioral Neuroscience of Circuits Involved in Fear Processing

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth P. Bauer ◽  
Denis Paré
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Brain Structures ◽  
Fear Learning ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Insight Into

Normal fear regulation includes the ability to learn by experience that some circumstances predict danger. This process, which can be modeled in the laboratory using Pavlovian fear conditioning, appears to be disrupted in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Understanding of the mechanisms underlying fear learning has progressed tremendously in the last 25 years, and constitutes a promising paradigm to study the neural bases of PTSD. This chapter first reviews current knowledge of the brain structures involved in fear learning, expression and extinction, including the contributions of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. It then addresses how these circuits are affected by PTSD and how fear processing is altered in PTSD. Understanding PTSD within a fear-conditioning and extinction framework provides insight into why certain individuals are susceptible to developing PTSD and suggests potential therapies.

scholarly journals Influence of intranasal oxytocin on fear consolidation in healthy humans

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. e100131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Hoge ◽  
Eric Bui ◽  
Peter Rosencrans ◽  
Scott Orr ◽  
Rachel Ross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Skin Conductance Response ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Fear Learning ◽  
Drug Trials ◽  
Conditioning Procedure ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Main Effects

BackgroundAlthough recent data in healthy humans suggestthat treatment with intranasal oxytocin (OT) may facilitate extinction recall,to date, little is known about the effects of OT on memory consolidationprocesses.AimTo examine the effect of intranasal administration of OT compared with placebo on memory consolidation blockade of a de novo fear memory in a classical 2-day fear conditioning procedure.ResultsThere were no significant differences between the OT and the placebo groups on the first two extinction trials (mean (SD)=0.01 (0.39) vs 0.15 (0.31), t=−1.092, p=0.28). Similarly, during early extinction, analysis of variance for repeated measures failed to show significant main effects of extinction trials: trials (F(4, 112)=1.58, p=0.18), drug (F(1, 112)=0.13, p=0.72) or drug × trials interaction (F(4, 112)=0.76, p=0.56).ConclusionOur results suggest that OT administered in a double-blind fashion immediately after fear conditioning does not significantly reduce consolidation of fear learning as measured by a differential skin conductance response tested at the beginning of extinction.

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