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Selected AbstractsEvaluating the Evaluators: Perceptions of Interviewers by Rejected Job Applicants as a Function of Interviewer and Applicant Sex,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 11 2006Rebecca Holloway Students who had recently had an unsuccessful job interview rated the competence of their interviewer and completed the Women As Managers Scale (WAMS; Terborg, Peters, Ilgen, & Smith, 1977). The results showed an impact of the sex of interviewer on judgments of interviewer competence and WAMS scores, but only for male participants. Male participants gave lower ratings of interviewer competence to female than to male interviewers, and ratings for the female interviewers were also lower than those given by female participants. Scores on the WAMS were lower for male participants who were interviewed by a female interviewer than those interviewed by a male interviewer, and were lower for male than for female participants with a female interviewer. [source] Alcohol and Male Acceptance of Sexual Aggression: The Role of Perceptual Ambiguity,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2000James D. Johnson The present study assessed the effects of drinking and behavioral ambiguity on perceptions of sexual aggression. Male participants, randomly assigned to 1 of 4 alcohol conditions (low, moderate, placebo, or control) viewed a videotaped interaction involving a couple meeting before a blind date. In the receptive condition, the female was friendly and excited. In the nonreceptive condition, she showed rigid posture and lacked enthusiasm. Participants then judged the acceptability of sexual aggression against the female and the attribution of the female's responsibility. Findings indicated a significant interaction such that in the receptive condition, higher alcohol doses elicited both greater acceptance of sexual aggression and greater attribution of female responsibility. There was no impact of alcohol dosage in the nonreceptive condition. [source] Calming troubled waters: Peacemakers in a sports riotAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 4 2001Gordon W. Russell Abstract This investigation sought to identify a set of measures predictive of those who would intervene in a crowd disturbance with the intent of restoring order. Male participants (N = 74) completed a battery of social and personality measures. Men who had previously attempted to break up a fight(s), including those who had recently intervened and judged their efforts to have been successful, were most likely to step in. Additionally, peacemakers were subject to the false consensus effect and strongly believed in law and order. A multiple regression analysis yielded a solution that accounted for 40.3% of the variance, with previous experience as a peacemaker and attitudes toward law and order emerging as the best predictors. Aggr. Behav. 27:292,296, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The role of the inflammatory markers ferritin, transferrin and fibrinogen in the relationship between major depression and cardiovascular disorders , The German Health Interview and Examination SurveyACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2010B. T. Baune Baune BT, Neuhauser H, Ellert U, Berger K. The role of the inflammatory markers ferritin, transferrin and fibrinogen in the relationship between major depression and cardiovascular disorders , The German Health Interview and Examination Survey. Objective:, To determine levels of inflammation (ferritin, transferrin and fibrinogen) in major depression (MDD) and comorbid cardiovascular disease (CVD) in an adult population. Method:, In 4181 participants of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey MDD was assessed through the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Coronary heart disease, stroke, and hypertension were diagnosed by a computer-assisted physician interview. Analyses were performed using anova models stratified for gender. Results:, Ferritin, transferrin and fibrinogen levels showed opposing patterns in individuals with either CVD or MDD alone. In comorbidity analyses, male participants with MDD plus comorbid CHD or hypertension had lower levels of ferritin and lower fibrinogen levels in hypertension compared to men without MDD, while in women, results were inconsistent. Conclusion:, Opposing patterns of inflammatory markers in CVD or MDD alone were reversed when both conditions were present. MDD reduced levels of ferritin, transferrin and fibrinogen in CVD in a gender-specific way. [source] Young people at risk of psychosis: a user-led exploration of interpersonal relationships and communication of psychological difficultiesEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2010Rory Byrne Abstract Aim: The aim of the present study was to qualitatively explore experiences and perceptions of interpersonal relationships and interpersonal communication among young people at risk of psychosis. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted using a qualitative grounded theory approach. Participants had entered into a service providing psychological interventions for young people assessed to be at a high risk of developing psychosis (Northwest UK). Our sample comprised one female and seven male participants (n = 8), ranging in age from 16 to 28 years, with a mean age of 22.4 years. Results: Analyses identified three central themes: difficulty with interpersonal relationships and reduced opportunities for helpful communication, difficulty talking to others about psychological problems, and experiences of talking to others about psychological problems. Conclusions: Individuals at risk of psychosis may have experienced significant difficulties with interpersonal relationships. Such difficulties may contribute directly to the development of unusual psychological experiences, and to an inability or reluctance to communicate these to others. In addition, commonly held stigmatizing ideas associated with unusual psychological experiences may contribute to a fear among at-risk individuals that they are ,going mad', and this may lead to concealment of their difficulties, and to delayed help-seeking. For at-risk individuals, helpful communication of psychological distress offers significant benefits, including improved psychological and emotional well-being and reduced risk of psychosis. Thus, while concealment of distress may directly impact on the development of unusual psychological difficulties, communication of such difficulties may be central to recovery. [source] Journey into and through an early detection of psychosis service: the subjective experience of persons at risk of developing psychosisEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2009Kate V. Hardy Abstract Aim: This study aimed to explore how persons who have been assessed as being at risk of developing psychosis make sense of and understand their experiences, using a qualitative approach. Methods: The sample comprised six female and four male participants (n = 10), ranging in age from 16 to 30 years, with a mean age of 21.8 years. All the participants had entered into a National Health Service Early Detection service in the North of England, which provides interventions for persons assessed as being at a high risk of developing psychosis. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted to study how persons at risk of developing psychosis construct their understanding and perception of their experiences. Results: The analyses identified three central themes: (i) ,perception of needs', which highlighted how participants recognized the need to enter services and how they identified what they required from the service; (ii) participants' subjective journey; and (iii) participants' orientation to the future. Conclusions: The journey described by participants assessed as being at risk of developing psychosis provides further insight into how persons make sense of their experiences from a qualitative ,insider' perspective. The findings are discussed in relation to the existing literature relating to the early detection and intervention of psychosis and clinical implications are identified. [source] Spatiotemporal mapping of sex differences during attentional processingHUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 9 2009Andres H. Neuhaus Abstract Functional neuroimaging studies have increasingly aimed at approximating neural substrates of human cognitive sex differences elicited by visuospatial challenge. It has been suggested that females and males use different behaviorally relevant neurocognitive strategies. In females, greater right prefrontal cortex activation has been found in several studies. The spatiotemporal dynamics of neural events associated with these sex differences is still unclear. We studied 22 female and 22 male participants matched for age, education, and nicotine with 29-channel-electroencephalogram recorded under a visual selective attention paradigm, the Attention Network Test. Visual event-related potentials (ERP) were topographically analyzed and neuroelectric sources were estimated. In absence of behavioral differences, ERP analysis revealed a novel frontal-occipital second peak of visual N100 that was significantly increased in females relative to males. Further, in females exclusively, a corresponding central ERP component at around 220 ms was found; here, a strong correlation between stimulus salience and sex difference of the central ERP component amplitude was observed. Subsequent source analysis revealed increased cortical current densities in right rostral prefrontal (BA 10) and occipital cortex (BA 19) in female subjects. This is the first study to report on a tripartite association between sex differences in ERPs, visual stimulus salience, and right prefrontal cortex activation during attentional processing. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Measurement of physical work capacity during arm and shoulder lifting at various shoulder flexion and ad/abduction anglesHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 2 2003Jung-Yong Kim The purpose of this study was to provide information on physical work capacity during arm and shoulder lifting at various shoulder flexion and ad/abduction angles. We measured the maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) in 20 male participants during controlled one-arm lifting. The lifting involved upward motion of the scapula at various shoulder angles. Simultaneously, the electromyographic (EMG) activity of 3 shoulder muscles and psychophysical workload were also recorded. The various measurements were compared to provide a multidimensional assessment of the physical work capacity of the shoulder at various working angles. In particular, 90 and 120 degrees of flexion, 30 degrees of adduction, and 90 degrees of abduction were found to be the most vulnerable angles based on the measured MVCs. The average root mean square value of the EMG increased most significantly at 90 to 150 degrees of flexion and at 30 and 60 degrees of abduction. Slightly different measurements were compared to validate the results. In addition, a 3-D static biomechanical model was used to show whether the estimated shoulder workload matched the measured physical capacity of the shoulder. In conclusion, these results may help ergonomists to identify shoulder angles associated with a relatively high risk of injury, and to match the workload with the physical capacity of the shoulder. Task-specific information on shoulder work capacity is needed in the manufacturing and shipbuilding industries to protect workers from acute injuries and cumulative trauma disorders of the shoulder. Experimental results provide various data on shoulder work capacity during realistic multijoint arm and shoulder lifting, and should help lead to improvements in workplace ergonomic design. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Hum Factors Man 13: 153,163, 2003. [source] Comorbidity between obesity and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Population study with 13,15-year-oldsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EATING DISORDERS, Issue 6 2006Luis Rojo MD Abstract Objective: This study analyzes whether obese children have a higher risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity "characteristics" (AD/HD) than do children with other nutritional states. Method: This study included 35,403 participants from 486 community schools. They completed the AD/HD scale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and were weighed and measured. 2879 of the participants were obese and 78 were morbidly obese (BMI >40). Results: A discrete, nonsignificant, increment was found in the AD/HD characteristics of male participants with morbid obesity, as compared with the other nutritional states. Among morbidly obese females, the prevalence of AD/HD characteristics was slightly superior, although not significantly, to that found in participants with normal weight, overweight or obese (BMI <40). Conclusion: Among nonclinical populations with a communitarian origin, previous findings reporting high rates of AD/HD in obese children are not replicated. This increment in the prevalence of AD/HD among hospitalized obese children could be the result of selection bias. © 2006 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2006 [source] Multiprofessional collaboration promoting home care clients' personal resources: perspectives of older clientsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OLDER PEOPLE NURSING, Issue 2 2008Sini Eloranta MNSc Home care can be decisive in supporting older people in the home environment. However, one professional in home care cannot take the whole responsibility for promotion alone; on the contrary multiprofessional collaboration is needed. The aim of the study is to describe the experiences of multiprofessional collaboration in promoting personal resources among older home care clients (75+ years) in Finland. The data were collected by unstructured interviews with 21 older home care clients. Their mean age was 83.5 years, ranging from 75 to 91, with 17 female and four male participants. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the data. The interviewees described the work of professionals from four perspectives: expertise, communication, decision-making and responsibility. Multiprofessional collaboration promoted the personal resources of interviewees with physical, psychological and social support. This study showed that the professionals worked as being expert-oriented: in the multiprofessional collaboration, each expert took care of his/her own part of the client's situation. This included the risk,, that the client's overall situations remained uncharted. However, the client's overall situation is a very important aspect when professionals suppport older people living in their own homes as long as possible. This study revealed the need for developing collaboration skills between social and health care professionals so that the staffs serve the needs of aged clients better together. [source] Evaluating the Evaluators: Perceptions of Interviewers by Rejected Job Applicants as a Function of Interviewer and Applicant Sex,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 11 2006Rebecca Holloway Students who had recently had an unsuccessful job interview rated the competence of their interviewer and completed the Women As Managers Scale (WAMS; Terborg, Peters, Ilgen, & Smith, 1977). The results showed an impact of the sex of interviewer on judgments of interviewer competence and WAMS scores, but only for male participants. Male participants gave lower ratings of interviewer competence to female than to male interviewers, and ratings for the female interviewers were also lower than those given by female participants. Scores on the WAMS were lower for male participants who were interviewed by a female interviewer than those interviewed by a male interviewer, and were lower for male than for female participants with a female interviewer. [source] Cigarette Smoking in Popular Films: Does It Increase Viewers' Likelihood to Smoke?,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 11 2000David Hines The effect of viewing smoking in popular films was investigated. Participants were instructed to rate main characters in scenes from popular films on 12 characteristics (e. g., attractive, sexy, sociable). One group watched 6 scenes from popular films in which the main character they rated was smoking. The other group watched scenes from the same 6 films in which they rated the same main characters who were not smoking. The participants rated the female characters shown smoking less favorably on all rated characteristics, but not the male characters. The male regular and occasional smokers had a higher current desire to smoke if the film characters they had viewed smoked. Both female and male participants who viewed the characters smoking were more likely to indicate a likelihood to smoke than were the participants who viewed the nonsmoking scenes. [source] Effects of psychoeducation for offenders in a community correctional facilityJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Albert K. Liau The present study provided a randomized outcome evaluation of the psychoeducational component of the EQUIP program. The psychoeducational curriculum was implemented in a community correctional facility for adult felony offenders. The psychoeducational curriculum is designed to remedy offenders' delays in moral judgment maturity, social cognitive distortions, and social skill deficiencies. The participants were 316 felony offenders, 71% male, aged 18 to 61 years. Relative to a control group, participants who received portions of the curriculum reported fewer serious institutional violations. Female, but not male participants, who received the curriculum were less likely to recidivate than those in the control group at six months. Reductions in mediating factors,cognitive distortion for males and social skills for females,were associated with fewer serious institutional violations. Levels of substance abuse, exposure to violence, and number of serious violations were found to predict recidivism at six months. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 543,558, 2004. [source] Boys will be boys: a pre-line-up gameplay has beneficial effects on boys' but not girls' identification performanceJOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND OFFENDER PROFILING, Issue 3 2006Eric Rassin Abstract Fifty children, aged between 4 and 7 years, underwent a sequential photo line-up procedure in order to identify a man they had met the previous day. Half of the participants engaged in a pre-procedure gameplay with the female interviewer. It was hypothesised that the game would stimulate rapport building and would ultimately result in an increased performance during the line-up procedure. The beneficial effect was indeed observed, but only for the male participants. This finding suggests that gameplay may be a fruitful strategy to decrease child witness discomfort and to increase participation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Skin hydration and transepidermal water loss in patients with a history of sulfur mustard contact: a case,control studyJOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 8 2009Seyyed Masoud Davoudi Abstract Background,, Skin lesions are among the most common complications of contact with sulfur mustard. Objective,, This study was aimed to measure skin water content and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in patients with a history of sulfur mustard contact. Methods,, Three hundred ten male participants were included in this study: 87 (28.1%) sulfur mustard,exposed patients with current skin lesions (group 1), 71 (22.9%) sulfur mustard,exposed patients without skin lesions (group 2), 78 (25.2%) patients with dermatitis (group 3) and 74 (23.8%) normal controls (group 4) The water content and TEWL of skin was measured at four different locations of the body: forehead, suprasternal, palm and dorsum of hand. Nonparametric statistical tests (Kruskal,Wallis) were used to compare the four groups, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results,, The mean age of participants were 44.0 ± 6.7, 41.9 ± 5.9, 43.8 ± 9.3 and 44.8 ± 8.9 years in groups 1 to 4, respectively (P = 0.146). Xerosis, post-lesional hyperpigmentation and lichenification were significantly more common in either sulfur mustard,exposed participants or non-exposed participants with dermatitis (P < 0.05). Skin hydration was higher in subjects with sulfur mustard contact than in non-injured participants (P < 0.05) in the dorsum and palm of hands and forehead. TEWL was significantly higher in participants only in suprasternal area and dorsum of hand. Conclusion,, Contact with sulfur mustard agent can alter biophysical properties of the skin-especially the function of stratum corneum as a barrier to water loss-several years after exposure. Conflicts of interest None declared. [source] The effect of psychological motivation on volumes voided during uroflowmetry in healthy aged male volunteersNEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 1 2006Yat-Ching Tong Abstract Aims To study the effect of psychological motivation on the voided volume during uroflowmetry in aged-male volunteers. Methods An open contest of free-flow rate was held for the elderly community. People over 60 years old with no prior history of lower urinary tract symptoms were invited to compete. Participants were given the suggestion to void only when strong desire was experienced because greater the volume, faster the flow. One month later, 20 of the male participants were asked to come back for an office uroflowmetry, given the instruction to hold until strong desire was experienced. The results of the maximum flow rate, mean flow rate, and voided volume were compared between these two tests. Results In the first uroflowmetry, the average voided volume for the 20 participants was 532,±,109 ml; maximum flow rate and average flow rate were 27.1,±,9.4, and 17.2,±,6.4 ml/sec, respectively. The voided volume decreased significantly in the second uroflowmetry (338,±,82 ml, P,<,0.01); the maximum and average flow rates did not changed significantly (24.2,±,9.5 and 14.9,±,6.9 ml/sec, respectively). No participant had a shift of more than one standard deviation between the two tests on the Siroky's flow-rate nomogram. Conclusions With psychological motivation to win the contest, the participants showed greater tolerance to bladder filling. This suggests that the state of mind can affect the perception on bladder sensation. On the other, the performance on emptying function is not significantly improved by motivation. Neurourol. Urdynam. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Population-based research on occupational and environmental factors for leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: The Northern Germany Leukemia and Lymphoma Study (NLL),AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2008W. Hoffmann MPH Abstract Background The Northern Germany Leukemia and Lymphoma Study (NLL) is a population-based study designed to provide a quantitative basis for investigations into occupational and environmental risk factors for leukemia and lymphoma. Methods All incident cases of leukemia and lymphoma diagnosed between 1/1/1986 and 12/31/1998 in six counties in Northern Germany were actively ascertained. Controls were selected from population registries. Use of pesticides, sources of food supply, time spent at home and work, medical and family history were assessed via face-to-face interview. This self-reported information was used in conjunction with direct environmental measurements of pesticides in household dust and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). In addition, geographical information system (GIS) data were used to derive estimates of environmental exposure to pesticides, EMFs associated with transmission lines, and ionizing radiation from routine nuclear power reactor operations. Occupational exposure assessment was based on lifetime work history. For each job, information on branch of industry, company, job description, and duration of employment were ascertained. Results Fourteen hundred thirty cases and 3041 controls were recruited. Lifetime residential and workplace histories totaled 49,628 addresses. Occupational exposure to pesticides was reported by 15% of the male participants (women: 16%). Four percent of the men (women: 8%) were occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation for ,1 year over their lifetime. Sixty four percent of the participants had lived in the vicinity (20 km) of a nuclear power plant in operation. Conclusions The NLL illustrates the successful application of innovative methods to simultaneously assess occupational and environmental risk factors for leukemia and lymphoma including radiological hazards, pesticides, and EMFs. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:246,257, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Development of an activity of daily living scale for patients with COPD: The Activity of Daily Living Dyspnoea scaleRESPIROLOGY, Issue 3 2009Yoshiyasu YOZA ABSTRACT Background and objective: Patients with COPD often experience restriction in their activities of daily living (ADL) due to dyspnoea. This type of restriction is unique to patients with COPD and cannot be adequately evaluated by the generic ADL scales. This study developed an ADL scale (the Activity of Daily Living Dyspnoea scale (ADL-D scale)) for patients with COPD and investigated its validity and internal consistency. Methods: Patients with stable COPD were recruited and completed a pilot 26-item questionnaire. Patients also performed the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT), and completed the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea grade. Results: There were 83 male participants who completed the pilot questionnaire. Following the pilot, eight items that were not undertaken by the majority of subjects, and three items judged to be of low clinical importance by physical therapists were removed from the questionnaire. The final ADL-D scale contained 15 items. Scores obtained with the ADL-D scale were significantly correlated with the MRC dyspnoea grades, distance walked on the ISWT and SGRQ scores. The ADL-D scores were significantly different across the five grades of the MRC dyspnoea grade. The ADL-D scale showed high consistency (Chronbach's , coefficient of 0.96). Conclusions: The ADL-D scale is a useful scale for assessing impairments in ADL in Japanese male patients with COPD. [source] Chlamydia trachomatis infection as a problem among male partners of infertile couplesANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2009V. Ouzounova-Raykova Summary Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted disease supposed to cause urethritis, epididymitis, prostatitis and infertility in men. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of C. trachomatis infection in male partners of infertile couples at childbearing age. Sixty infertile couples and a control group of 40 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Urethral swabs were taken from all the male participants and cervical swabs from the female partners of the infertile couples. Culturing on McCoy cell line and PCR were the methods used for detection of the infection. C. trachomatis was found in five out of the 60 male urethral samples. Three of the female partners of these five positive males were diagnosed with C. trachomatis infection, too. We registered a woman with C. trachomatis infection whose partner's samples were negative for the bacterium. The control group showed one specimen positive for C. trachomatis. The frequency of C. trachomatis infection was 8.3% in the male partners of infertile couples at childbearing age when compared with 2.5% in the control group. It is most likely that infertility in the couples with chlamydial infection was due to the pathogen studied. [source] Parkinsonian signs and substantia nigra neuron density in decendents elders without PD,ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2004G. Webster Ross MD Substantia nigra (SN) neurons were counted on single, transverse caudal midbrain sections from 217 male participants in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study, aged 74,97 years at death. Quadrants areas within the SN were determined with a planimeter and neuronal density was expressed as neurons/mm2 for 10 Parkinson's disease (PD) cases, 29 incidental Lewy body cases, and 178 controls with neither condition. Mean densities in all quadrants were significantly lower in the PD group compared with the other groups (p = 0.006). This relationship was strongest in the ventrolateral quadrant. In a subgroup of 50 controls who were examined with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale an average of 2.1 years prior to death, there was an association of stooped posture (p = 0.009), postural instability (p = 0.013), body bradykinesia (p = 0.048), and gait disturbance (p = 0.05) with neuron density in the dorsolateral quadrant; and impaired speech (p = 0.014), abnormal facial expression (p = 0.022), and difficulty rising from a chair (p = 0.032) with neuron density in the dorsomedial quadrant. There was a significant association of increasing number of signs present with decreasing neuron density in both quadrants (p = 0.001 for trend). Low SN neuron density may be the basis for parkinsonian signs in the elderly without PD. Ann Neurol 2004 [source] The influence of heightened body-awareness on walking through aperturesAPPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Stacy Lopresti-Goodman The reported study measured the ratio between aperture-width and hip-width that marked the critical transition from frontal walking to body rotation for male and female participants. Half of the participants of each sex wore form-fitting lycra clothes and half loose-fitting jogging suits. Participants wearing the form-fitting clothing reported heightened body awareness relative to those wearing the loose-fitting clothing. For male participants this difference was reflected in a smaller aperture-to-hip ratio in the form-fitting than loose-fitting clothing condition. That is, males walked frontally through smaller apertures when wearing form-fitting than when wearing loose-fitting clothing. For females there was no difference in walking action as a function of clothing style. Results are discussed in terms of the perception of action opportunities in the environment, the influence of body awareness on such perception and sex differences. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A comprehensive volumetric analysis of the cerebellum in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorderAUTISM RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009Julia A. Scott Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and postmortem neuropathological studies have implicated the cerebellum in the pathophysiology of autism. Controversy remains, however, concerning the nature and the consistency of cerebellar alterations. MRI studies of the cross-sectional area of the vermis have found both decreases and no difference in autism groups. Volumetric analysis of the vermis, which is less prone to "plane of section artifacts" may provide a more reliable assessment of size differences but few such studies exist in the literature. Here we present the results of a volumetric analysis of the structure of the whole cerebellum and its components in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Structural MRI's were acquired from 62 male participants (7.5 to 18.5 years-old) who met criteria for the following age-matched diagnostic groups: low functioning autism, high functioning autism (HFA), Asperger syndrome, and typically developing children. When compared to controls, the midsagittal area of the vermis, or of subgroups of lobules, was not reduced in any of the autism groups. However, we did find that total vermis volume was decreased in the combined autism group. When examined separately, the vermis of only the HFA group was significantly reduced compared to typically developing controls. Neither IQ nor age predicted the size of the vermis within the autism groups. There were no differences in the volume of individual vermal lobules or cerebellar hemispheres. These findings are discussed in relation to the pathology of autism and to the fairly common alterations of vermal morphology in various neurodevelopmental disorders. [source] Serum sex hormones and the 20-year risk of lower urinary tract symptoms in community-dwelling older menBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2010Michael D. Trifiro Study Type , Prognosis (inception cohort) Level of Evidence 2b OBJECTIVE To evaluate serum sex steroid hormone concentrations and long-term risk of subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a cohort of community-dwelling older men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Between 1984 and 1987, serum sex hormone concentrations were measured in participants in the Rancho Bernardo Study, a prospective, community-based study. In 2006, the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-SI) was mailed to surviving male participants. Logistic regression was used to examine associations of baseline hormone concentrations with AUA-SI. RESULTS Among 158 surviving men with complete data and no history of prostate cancer, the mean (sd) age at serum sex steroid assessment was 58 (6.6) years with a mean (sd) follow-up of 20.3 (0.6) years. In age-adjusted logistic regression, there was a significant inverse association of testosterone : dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with LUTS (P = 0.05). Also, men with higher concentrations of bioavailable testosterone had a 56% decreased risk of LUTS compared with those with hypogonadal concentrations, although the association was not statistically significant (odds ratios 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.14,1.40) or distributed evenly among quartiles. There were no significant associations of total testosterone, oestradiol (E2), testosterone : E2, DHT, or dehydroepiandrosterone with LUTS or with any measured hormones and urinary bother. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort, men with higher mid-life levels of testosterone : DHT and bioavailable testosterone had a decreased 20-year risk of LUTS. These data support other studies reporting inverse associations of serum testosterone with LUTS. Clinical trials of testosterone therapy should include LUTS and clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia as outcomes. [source] Newly qualified teachers' learning related to their use of information and communication technology: a Swedish perspectiveBRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Sven B. Andersson This qualitative study focuses on newly qualified teachers' use of information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool for meeting the challenges of their everyday work. The overarching aim is to investigate whether they can contribute to new knowledge about learning in ICT contexts. Theoretical points of departure concern the changeable nature of learning in situations where ways of communicating knowledge and skills are changed. The study draws upon interviews and observations. The findings show intersections picturing the new technique as partly changing the circumstances for teaching, learning and collaboration between colleagues. The new teachers' utterances show that ICT utilisation is extensive and exhibits great variation both among female and among male participants. Boundary-crossing changes become visible in the collaboration between more experienced teachers and those who are newly qualified, especially when they work on a common development project. However, there are relatively few teachers who bring up active ICT use in connection with pupils' learning. Changed roles because of ICT competence raise questions about the importance of systematic ICT features within teacher education. Many of the newly qualified teachers wish they had more knowledge about ICT and related techniques. Another question is whether newly qualified teachers who show interest in using the technique can take on the role as agents of change in their active and creative use of ICT. [source] Gender and Personality Differences in Self- and Other Ratings of Business IntelligenceBRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2005Adrian Furnham This paper is concerned with people's understanding of, and self-estimation on, various new ,business intelligences' and aims to examine whether these estimates were systematically related to personality dimensions. A total of 184 adult working participants completed a three-part questionnaire that measured their ,big five' personality traits (NEO-FFI), various beliefs about intelligence and also their own and their boss's estimated overall IQ score and scores on eight multiple business intelligences. Males rated their overall IQ as well as their cognitive, creative and political intelligence as significantly higher than females. Females rated their boss's overall, emotional and organizational IQ significantly higher than did male participants. Participants believed they had higher emotional, but lower political, organizational and network intelligence than their boss. Regressions indicated that only one of the eight estimated business intelligences (cognitive intelligence) was related to overall (total, general) estimated intelligence in self, boss or boss's boss. Regressing the big-five personality factors onto each of the self-estimates showed openness-to-experience was positively, and agreeableness negatively, related to most of the estimates. Those who had taken an intelligence test tended to giver higher self-estimates on overall intelligence. Implications of these results for business life are considered. [source] Pilot intervention to enhance sexual rehabilitation for couples after treatment for localized prostate carcinoma,CANCER, Issue 12 2005Andrea L. Canada Ph.D. Abstract BACKGROUND The majority of prostate carcinoma survivors experience enduring sexual difficulties and associated distress in the years after definitive treatment. A counseling intervention aimed at improving levels of sexual satisfaction and increasing successful utilization of medical treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) was developed and pilot-tested for both the survivor of prostate carcinoma and his partner. METHODS All male participants were 3-month to 5-year survivors of localized prostate carcinoma who had been treated with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy, and were married or in a committed relationship. Couples were randomized to attend four sessions of counseling together or to have the man attend alone. In both groups, partners completed behavioral homework. The sessions included education on prostate carcinoma and sexual function and options to treat ED as well as sexual communication and stimulation skills. Standardized questionnaires at baseline, posttreatment, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up assessed sexual function, marital adjustment, psychologic distress, and utilization of treatments for ED. RESULTS Fifty-one of 84 couples randomized to treatment completed the intervention (61%). Attendance by the partner did not affect outcomes. Participants completing the intervention demonstrated improvment in male overall distress (P < 0.01), male global sexual function (P < 0.0001), and female global sexual function (P < 0.05) at 3-month follow-up, but regression toward baseline was noted at 6-month follow-up. However, utilization of ED treatments increased from 31% at the time of study entry to 49% at the 6-month follow-up (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS The results of this brief pilot counseling intervention demonstrated significant gains in sexual function and satisfaction and increased utilization of treatments for ED. However, modifications are needed in future randomized trials to reduce the rate of premature termination and to improve long-term maintenance of gains. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society. [source] Low Expression Myeloperoxidase Genotype Negatively Associated with Helicobacter pylori InfectionCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 5 2001Nobuyuki Hamajima Our previous study revealed that a polymorphism of the interleukin (IL) 1B gene, encoding the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-l,, influenced the prevalence of persistent Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. In this paper, a polymorphism of another inflammation-related enzyme, myeloperoxidase (MPO), was examined with respect to association with the HP infection. The polymorphism is due to a G-to-A transition at -463 in the promoter region of MPO. The G allele is the wild type with normal expression, while the A allele is a low expression allele. The subjects were 241 non-cancer outpatients (118 males and 123 females) aged 39 to 69 who participated in an HP eradication program at Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. High-molecular weight Campylobacter-Associated-Protein (HM-CAP) ELISA (Enteric Products Ins., Westbury, NY) was used for the identification of HP -infected participants. The frequency was 79.7% (192/241) for the GG genotype, 19.5% (47/241) for the GA genotype, and 0.8% (2/241) for the AA genotype. The sex-age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) relative to GG was 0.69 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.35,1.35) for individuals with the A allele, but among male participants the OR was 0.31 (0.11,0.84). Subgroup analysis revealed significantly reduced ORs with the GA/AA genotypes for current smokers (0.19, 0.04,0.96), and for those who were occasional/no milk drinkers (0.25, 0.09,0.72). These findings are consistent with the results for IL-1B in our earlier study, suggesting that inflammatory responses in the gastric mucosa may influence persistent HP infection, and that smoking and milk intake may be effect -modifiers. [source] Lifestyle pattern change in males following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty/intracoronary stentingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 2 2001CritCareCert, Glenn M Eastwood BN(Hons) Utilizing a naturalistic inquiry approach, a semi-structured interview schedule and non-probability purposive sampling, this study provided detail on the rationale and influences behind the decisions of four males participants to change or not change their lifestyle patterns 3 months after a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty/intracoronary stent procedure. One of the participants made a noticeable lifestyle pattern change in this period. The remaining participants failed to exhibit any discernible lifestyle pattern change or had continued with their previous behaviours. Results suggest a new ,positive' psychological health perspective, family considerations, return-to-work issues and a reluctance to participate in cardiac rehabilitation as the major factors influencing lifestyle pattern change. Because nurses spend the greatest amount of time with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty/intracoronary stent patients during hospitalization, they have the best opportunity to provide up-to-date and relevant information to patients that will enable them to then make decisions concerning cardiac healthy lifestyle changes. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||