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Stronger Predictor (stronger + predictor)
Selected AbstractsFollowing in mother's footsteps?DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 3 2010Mother, cardiovascular disease 15 years after gestational diabetes, daughter risks for insulin resistance Diabet. Med. 27, 257,265 (2010) Abstract Aims, To determine effects on mothers and daughters of gestational diabetes mellitus/gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GDM/GIGT) on their future metabolic and cardiovascular risks. Methods, Case mothers who had GDM/GIGT in pregnancy (cases; n = 90) and normoglycaemic control women (n = 99) and their daughters underwent lifestyle assessment and metabolic tests 15-years post-partum. Results, Prevalence of glucose intolerance (GI) in daughters was 1.1%. Maternal prevalence was 44.4% in cases compared to 13.1% in controls, with conversion best predicted by weight gain. Case daughters had higher insulin resistance (IR) and greater waist circumference (WC) (51.2%) relative to control daughters (36.4%, p < 0.05) made worse if case mothers became GI at follow-up (65%) (relative risk =1.8; 95% confidence interval 1.2,2.9). In multivariable linear regression analyses adjusting for daughters' birthweight, maternal obesity (> 30.0 kg/m2) at 15years and mothers' case-control status were strong predictors of daughters' WC (p < 0.01; P < 0.01, respectively). For daughters' body mass index (BMI) percentile and percentage of body fat, maternal obesity was a stronger predictor (p < 0.01; p < 0.001)) than mothers' case-control status (p < 0.01; P = 0.09). Conclusions, GDM/GIGT pregnancies led to increased conversion to GI in mothers, minimal in daughters. Case daughters have increased risk of central adiposity and insulin resistance, whereas maternal obesity strongly predicted daughters' BMI percentile and per cent of body fat. Controlling hyperglycaemia in pregnancy and family weight management may provide the key to preventing offspring obesity and glucose intolerance post GDM/GIGT. [source] Comparing the effects of entertainment media and tobacco marketing on youth smoking in GermanyADDICTION, Issue 5 2009James D. Sargent ABSTRACT Aims To examine differential effects of smoking in films and tobacco advertising on adolescent smoking. We hypothesize that movie smoking will have greater effects on smoking initiation, whereas tobacco advertising receptivity will primarily affect experimentation. Design Longitudinal observational study of adolescents. Setting School-based surveys conducted in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Participants A total of 4384 adolescents age 11,15 years at baseline and re-surveyed 1 year later; ever smoking prevalence was 38% at time 1. Measurements The main outcome variable combined two items assessing life-time and current smoking (alpha = 0.87). Baseline never smokers were analyzed separately from those who had tried smoking (ever smokers). Exposure to smoking in 398 internationally distributed US movies was modeled as a continuous variable, with 0 corresponding to the 5th percentile and 1 to the 95th percentile of exposure. Tobacco marketing receptivity consisted of naming a brand for a favorite tobacco advertisement. Ordinal logistic regressions controlled for socio-demographics, other social influences, personality characteristics of the adolescent and parenting style. Findings Whereas 34% of ever smokers were receptive to tobacco marketing at time 1, only 6% of never smokers were. Among time 1 never smokers, exposure to movie smoking was a significantly stronger predictor of higher time 2 smoking level [adjusted proportional odds ratio = 2.76, 95% confidence interval (1.84, 4.15)] than was tobacco marketing receptivity (1.53 [1.07, 2.20]). Among time 1 ever smokers, both tobacco marketing receptivity and exposure to movie smoking predicted higher levels of time 2 smoking [2.17 (1.78, 2.63) and 1.62 (1.18, 2.23), respectively], and the two estimates were not significantly different. Conclusions In this longitudinal study, exposure to movie smoking was a stronger predictor of smoking initiation than tobacco marketing receptivity, which was more common among ever smokers. The results suggest that entertainment media smoking should be emphasized in programs aimed at preventing onset, and both exposures should be emphasized in programs aimed at experimental smokers. [source] High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and prevalence and severity of coronary artery disease in 5641 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiographyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 6 2008H. F. Alber ABSTRACT Background, Although high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are well-established predictors for future cardiovascular events, little information is available regarding their correlation with the prevalence and severity of angiographically evaluated coronary artery disease (CAD). Material and methods,, Five thousand six hundred forty-one consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD were analysed. Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by routine blood chemistry and questionnaire. CAD severity was graded by visual estimation of lumen diameter stenosis with significant stenoses defined as lumen diameter reduction of , 70%. Coronary angiograms were graded as one-, two- or three-vessel disease, as nonsignificant CAD (lumen irregularities < 70%) or non-CAD. Results,, HDL-C (60·3 ± 18·5 vs. 51·9 ± 15·3 mg dL,1; P < 0·001) was higher and CRP was lower (0·65 ± 1·68 vs. 1·02 ± 2·38 mg dL,1; P < 0·001) in non-CAD (n = 1517) compared to overall CAD patients (n = 4124). CAD patients were older (65·2 ± 10·5 years vs. 59·9 ± 11·4 years), more often diabetics (19·2% vs. 10·6%) and hypertensives (79·2% vs. 66·0%) and included more smokers (18·8% vs. 16·5%) (all P < 0·005). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (124·5 ± 38·3 vs. 126·0 ± 36·3 mg dL,1; P = NS) was similar in overall CAD and non-CAD patients with more statin users (43·4% vs. 27·9%; P < 0·001) among CAD patients. Comparing non-CAD with different CAD severities using analysis of variance, results did not change substantially. In a multivariate analysis, HDL-C and CRP remained independently associated with the prevalence of CAD. In addition, HDL-C is also a potent predictor for the severity of CAD. Conclusions,, In this large consecutive patient cohort, HDL-C and CRP are independently associated with the prevalence of CAD. In this analysis, HDL-C is an even stronger predictor for CAD than some other major classical risk factors. [source] Functional Impact of Relative Versus Absolute Sarcopenia in Healthy Older WomenJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 11 2007Marcos Estrada MD OBJECTIVES: To determine whether adjustment of muscle mass for height2 or for body mass represents a more-relevant predictor of physical performance. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, using baseline data from a trial comparing upper- and lower-body training. SETTING: Women recruited from the community and gynecological practices in Connecticut. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eighty-nine healthy older (aged 67.5 ± 4.8), active women receiving estrogen for osteoporosis over 2 years. MEASUREMENTS: Total and appendicular skeletal muscle (ASM) and fat mass (AFM) were determined using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Physical performance, muscle strength, and fitness measures were obtained at baseline. RESULTS: Adjusting ASM for height2 identifies lean women who are sarcopenic according to published standards yet fails to identify overweight and obese women whose ASM adjusted for body mass is low. ASM divided by body mass (ASM/body mass) is a stronger physical performance predictor, explaining 32.5%, 13.5%, 11.6%, 6.3%, and 6.8% of the variance in maximum time on treadmill, 6-minute walk, gait speed, 8-foot walk, and single leg stance, respectively, whereas ASM divided by height in m2 (ASM/height2) explained only 2.9%, 0.2%, 2.0%, 0.04%, and 0.1%. Multivariate modeling demonstrated considerable overlap in aspects of ASM/body mass and AFM/body mass associated with performance, with ASM/body mass dominant. In contrast, ASM/height2 is a much stronger predictor of leg press 1 repetition maximum and maximum power. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that relative sarcopenia with ASM adjusted for body mass is a better mobility predictor, with absolute sarcopenia a better indicator of isolated muscle group function in healthy postmenopausal women receiving estrogen replacement. [source] The Relationship Between Self-Rated Health and Mortality in Older Black and White AmericansJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 10 2007Sei J. Lee MD OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the association between self-rated health (SRH) and 4-year mortality differs between black and white Americans and whether education affects this relationship. DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Communities in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen thousand four hundred thirty-two subjects (14,004 white, 2,428 black) enrolled in the 1998 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a population-based study of community-dwelling U.S. adults aged 50 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were asked to self-identify their race and their overall health by answering the question, "Would you say your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?" Death was determined according to the National Death Index. RESULTS: SRH is a much stronger predictor of mortality in whites than blacks (c -statistic 0.71 vs 0.62). In whites, poor SRH resulted in a markedly higher risk of mortality than excellent SRH (odds ratio (OR)=10.4, 95% confidence interval (CI)=8.0,13.6). In blacks, poor RSH resulted in a much smaller increased risk of mortality (OR=2.9, 95% CI=1.5,5.5). SRH was a stronger predictor of death in white and black subjects with higher levels of education, but differences in education could not account for the observed race differences in the prognostic effect of SRH. CONCLUSION: This population-based study found that the relationship between SRH and mortality is stronger in white Americans and in subjects with higher levels of education. Because the association between SRH and mortality appears weakest in traditionally disadvantaged groups, SRH may not be the best measure to identify vulnerable older subjects. [source] Young People's Musical Taste: Relationship With Gender and Gender-Related Traits,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 8 2008Ann Colley The present study extended previous findings of gender differences in young people's musical taste by examining whether identification with gender-related expressive or instrumental traits contributes to these differences, and by examining the underlying structure of musical taste by gender. The results confirmed greater liking of heavier contemporary music among men and of chart pop music among women. Gender was a stronger predictor of taste for gender-stereotyped styles than identification with gender-related traits. The structure of style preferences in dimensions relating to mainstream styles varied by gender. Men and participants with higher scores on expressiveness gave higher ratings to more styles. The findings are discussed in relation to gender differences in the use of music and gender-role socialization. [source] Effects of Internal and External Pay Comparisons on Work Attitudes,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 10 2006Ted H. Shore The effects of internal and external pay comparisons on several work attitudes were assessed within an experimental design. Participants responded to hypothetical scenarios in which their pay was greater, less, or equal to an internal and external individual or group referent. As predicted, internal and external pay comparisons predicted pay satisfaction and perceived pay fairness. Also as expected, internal equity was the stronger predictor of work motivation and perceived organizational support, and external equity predicted turnover intention more strongly. Partial support was found for the hypothesis that work attitudes would be impacted more strongly when individuals made pay comparisons with a group referent than with an individual referent other. Implications for the design of compensation systems are discussed. [source] Self-Engagement Magnifies the Relationship Between Qualitative Overload and Performance in a Training Setting,JOURNAL OF APPLIED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 9 2006Thomas W. Britt The present study examined whether personal engagement in a leadership course would predict rated performance for the course, and whether qualitative overload would moderate the relationship. Participants were Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets participating in a 5-week long leadership assessment course. Participants completed measures of qualitative overload (the extent to which they felt they lacked the skills and expertise required for effective performance) and the degree to which they were engaged in the course during the 4th week. Results revealed that course engagement was a significant predictor of rated leadership performance, even after controlling for the personality variable of conscientiousness. Course engagement interacted with qualitative overload to predict rated performance, indicating that qualitative overload was a stronger predictor of rated performance for those cadets engaged in the course. Discussion of the results focuses on engagement as a predictor of performance, and how work-related impediments matter more for engaged individuals. [source] Effects of mesoscale environmental heterogeneity and dispersal limitation on floristic variation in rain forest fernsJOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2006MIRKKA M. JONES Summary 1Field studies to evaluate the roles of environmental variation and random dispersal in explaining variation in the floristic composition of rain forest plants at landscape to regional scales have yet to reach a consensus. Moreover, only one study has focused on scales below 10 km2, where the effects of dispersal limitation are expected to be easiest to observe. 2In the present study, we estimate the importance of differences in some key environmental variables (describing canopy openness, soils and topography) relative to the geographical distances between sample plots as determinants of differences in pteridophyte (ferns and fern allies) species composition between plots within a c. 5.7 km2 lowland rain forest site in Costa Rica. 3To assess the relative importance of environmental vs. geographical distances in relation to the length of environmental gradient covered, we compared the results obtained over the full range of soil types, including swamps, with those for upland soils alone. 4Environmental variability was found to be a far stronger predictor of changes in floristic differences than the geographical distance between sample plots. In particular, differences in soil nutrient content, drainage and canopy openness correlated with floristic differences. 5The decline in mean floristic similarity with increasing geographical distance was stronger than proposed by the random dispersal model over short distances (up to c. 100 m), which is probably attributable to both dispersal limitation and environmental changes. The scatter around the mean was large at all distances. 6Our initial expectation was that the effects of dispersal limitation (represented by geographical distance) on observed patterns of floristic similarity would be stronger, and those of environmental differences weaker, than at broader spatial scales. Instead, these results suggest that the niche assembly view is a more accurate representation of pteridophyte communities at local to mesoscales than the dispersal assembly view. [source] Identifying women with severe angiographic coronary diseaseJOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010C. Kreatsoulas Abstract., Kreatsoulas C, Natarajan MK, Khatun R, Velianou JL, Anand SS (McMaster University; CARING Network, McMaster University; Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences; Interventional Cardiology, Hamilton Health Sciences; Eli Lilly Canada,May Cohen Chair in Women's Health, McMaster University; Michael G. DeGroote-Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Chair in Population Health Research, McMaster University; Population Genomics Program, McMaster University; McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada). Identifying women with severe angiographic coronary disease. J Intern Med 2010; 268:66,74. Objectives., To determine sex/gender differences in the distribution of risk factors according to age and identify factors associated with the presence of severe coronary artery disease (CAD). Design., We analysed 23 771 consecutive patients referred for coronary angiography from 2000 to 2006. Subjects., Patients did not have previously diagnosed CAD and were referred for first diagnostic angiography. Outcome measures., Patients were classified according to angiographic disease severity. Severe CAD was defined as left main stenosis ,50%, three-vessel disease with ,70% stenosis or two-vessel disease including proximal left anterior descending stenosis of ,70%. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between risk factors and angina symptoms with severe CAD. Results., Women were less likely to have severe CAD (22.3% vs. 36.5%) compared with men. Women were also significantly older (69.8 ± 10.6 vs. 66.3 ± 10.7 years), had higher rates of diabetes (35.0% vs. 26.6%), hypertension (74.8% vs. 63.3%) and Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) class IV angina symptoms (56.7% vs. 47.8%). Men were more likely to be smokers (56.9% vs. 37.9%). Factors independently associated with severe CAD included age (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.05,1.05, P < 0.01), male sex (OR = 2.43; CI 2.26,2.62, P < 0.01), diabetes (OR = 2.00; CI 1.86,2.18, P < 0.01), hyperlipidaemia (OR = 1.50; CI 1.39,1.61, P < 0.01), smoking (OR = 1.10; CI 1.03,1.18, P = 0.06) and CCS class IV symptoms (OR = 1.43; CI 1.34,1.53, P < 0.01). CCS Class IV angina was a stronger predictor of severe CAD amongst women compared with men (women OR = 1.82; CI 1.61,2.04 vs. men OR = 1.28; CI 1.18,1.39, P < 0.01). Conclusions., Women referred for first diagnostic angiography have lower rates of severe CAD compared with men across all ages. Whilst conventional risk factors, age, sex, diabetes, smoking and hyperlipidaemia are primary determinants of CAD amongst women and men, CCS Class IV angina is more likely to be associated with severe CAD in women than men. [source] Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is a marker of dysmetabolism in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapyJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2008Ove Andersen Abstract Circulating soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) reflects the immune and pro-inflammatory status of the HIV-infected patient. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) suppresses suPAR. Independent of the immune response to HAART, suPAR remains elevated in some HIV-infected patients, reflecting possibly a low-grade pro-inflammatory state. Low-grade inflammation has been implicated in insulin resistance and other features of dysmetabolism. Accordingly it is hypothesized that circulating suPAR is associated with the metabolic status of HIV-infected patients on HAART. Fasting plasma suPAR was determined in 36 normoglycaemic HIV-infected patients on HAART (n,=,18 lipodystrophic, and n,=,18 non-lipodystrophic) who had estimated insulin sensitivity (Rd) and non-oxidative glucose disposal (NOGM) by euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamps, indirect calorimetry, and glucose tracer infusion. Five patients had circadian suPAR concentrations measured (24 hr, 20 min-intervals). suPAR and non-HDL-cholesterol were higher and Rd, NOGM, and limb fat were lower in lipodystrophic patients than in non-lipodystrophic patients (P,<,0.05). suPAR correlated positively with non-HDL-cholesterol and inversely with Rd, NOGM and limb fat (P,<,0.005, n,=,36). suPAR also correlated positively with leukocyte count and TNF-, (P,<,0.01, n,=,36) but not with IL-6. In multiple regression analyses suPAR was a stronger predictor of dysmetabolism than TNF-, and IL-6. Circadian suPAR did not systematically fluctuate. In conclusion, suPAR may reflect the metabolic status of the HIV-infected patient on HAART, thus linking low-grade inflammation, immune constitution, lipid and glucose metabolism, and fat redistribution. Circadian suPAR concentration appeared stable, suggesting that sampling schedule does not affect measurement. Further studies addressing whether suPAR predicts lipodystrophy and dysmetabolism in HIV-infected patients are warranted. J. Med. Virol. 80:209,216, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Is it pay levels or pay raises that matter to fairness and turnover?JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 8 2005Amanuel G. Tekleab Two studies examined the relationship between actual pay and distributive and procedural justice, and the extent to which these perceptions were related to two important pay satisfaction dimensions, pay level and pay raise, and ultimately, impacted turnover. For each study the measures of pay and justice variables were obtained on a cross-sectional basis, while the measure of turnover was necessarily lagged. Results showed that distributive justice mediated the relationship between pay and both pay level satisfaction and pay raise satisfaction. Furthermore, distributive justice was a stronger predictor of pay level satisfaction; whereas procedural justice was a stronger predictor of pay raise satisfaction. Procedural justice also played a moderating role in Study 2. The study also showed that only pay raise satisfaction was significantly and negatively related to turnover in Study 1, and to turnover via turnover intention in Study 2. Results support the value of considering pay satisfaction as multidimensional when evaluating justice issues in a compensation context. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Spouse Abuse and Alcohol Problems Among White, African American, and Hispanic U.S. Army SoldiersALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2006Nicole S. Bell Background: Prior studies suggest racial/ethnic differences in the associations between alcohol misuse and spouse abuse. Some studies indicate that drinking patterns are a stronger predictor of spouse abuse for African Americans but not whites or Hispanics, while others report that drinking patterns are a stronger predictor for whites than African Americans or Hispanics. This study extends prior work by exploring associations between heavy drinking, alcohol-related problems, and risk for spouse abuse within racial/ethnic groups as well as variations associated with whether the perpetrator is drinking during the spouse abuse incident. Methods: Cases (N=7,996) were all active-duty male, enlisted Army spouse abusers identified in the Army's Central Registry (ACR) who had also completed an Army Health Risk Appraisal (HRA) Survey between 1991 and 1998. Controls (N=17,821) were matched on gender, rank, and marital and HRA status. Results: We found 3 different patterns of association between alcohol use and domestic violence depending upon both the race/ethnicity of the perpetrator and whether or not alcohol was involved in the spouse abuse event. First, after adjusting for demographic and psychosocial factors, weekly heavy drinking (>14 drinks per week) and alcohol-related problems (yes to 2 or more of 6 alcohol-related problem questions, including the CAGE) were significant predictors of domestic violence among whites and Hispanics only. Also for the white soldiers, the presence of family problems mediated the effect of alcohol-related problems on spouse abuse. Second, alcohol-related problems predicted drinking during a spouse abuse incident for all 3 race groups, but this relation was moderated by typical alcohol consumption patterns in Hispanics and whites only. Finally, alcohol-related problems predicted drinking during a spouse abuse incident, but this was a complex association moderated by different psychosocial or behavioral variables within each race/ethnic group. Conclusion: These findings suggest important cultural/social influences that interact with drinking patterns. [source] Digit ratio (2D:4D) and sprinting speed in boysAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009J.T. Manning Digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative correlate of prenatal testosterone, has been found to relate to performance in sport and athletics such that low 2D:4D (high prenatal testosterone) correlates with high performance. Speed in endurance races is strongly related to 2D:4D, and may be one factor that underlies the link between sport and 2D:4D, but nothing is known of the relationship between 2D:4D and sprinting speed. Here we show that running times over 50 m were positively correlated with 2D:4D in a sample of 241 boys (i.e. runners with low 2D:4D ran faster than runners with high 2D:4D). The relationship was also found for 50 m split times (at 20, 30, and 40 m) and was independent of age, BMI, and an index of maturity. However, associations between 2D:4D and sprinting speed were much weaker than those reported for endurance running. This suggests that 2D:4D is a relatively weak predictor of strength and a stronger predictor of efficiency in aerobic exercise. We discuss the effect sizes for relationships between 2D:4D and sport and target traits in general, and identify areas of strength and weakness in digit ratio research. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Change in body mass index is a stronger predictor of change in fat mass than lean mass in elderly black and white womenAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Sigurbjörn Á. Arngrímsson The aim of this study was to determine the relation between change in body mass index (BMI) and changes in fat mass (FM), lean soft tissue (LST), and percentage body fat (%Fat) in elderly (67.6 ± 6.0 years) women varying in race (53 black, 144 white) who underwent measurements of BMI, FM, LST, and %Fat at baseline and after 2 years. The group did not markedly change body composition over 2 years (BMI = ,0.1 ± 1.5 kg/m2, P = 0.53; FM = 0.0 ± 2.8 kg, P = 0.95; LST = ,0.4 ± 1.7 kg, P < 0.001; %Fat = 0.3 ± 2.0%, P = 0.06). Change in BMI predicted change in FM (r = 0.90, SEE = 1.19 kg FM, P < 0.001) but was less predictive of change in %Fat (r = 0.64, SEE = 1.54%Fat, P < 0.001). Change in BMI was curvilinearly related to change in LST adjusted for change in height (R = 0.76, SEE = 1.10 kg LST, P < 0.001). Change in BMI more strongly predicts change in FM than LST and could be used to monitor change in FM in community-dwelling women. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Prevalence and Impact of Childhood Maltreatment in Incarcerated YouthAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2010Daniel Coleman The prevalence of childhood maltreatment and the magnitude of the association of maltreatment with internalizing mental health symptoms were examined in 398 incarcerated youth. The prevalence of abuse greatly exceeded general population rates. The proportion of variance in mental health symptoms accounted for by maltreatment was small but developmentally significant. Sexual abuse is a markedly stronger predictor of internalizing mental health problems in incarcerated youth than physical abuse. Consistent with a bio-psychological model of trauma, dissociation at the time of sexual abuse was the strongest nondemographic predictor of mental health symptoms. Physical abuse was associated with more internalizing mental health problems for children from families with mental health problems and families with lower socioeconomic status. Implications for practice and research are discussed. [source] Trends in the use of digital libraries by scientists in 2000-2005: A case study of finelibPROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2006Pertti Vakkari This study explores the trends in the use of electronic material and digital libraries by university faculty between the years 2000 and 2005. The data consist of nationwide web-based surveys of the end-users of FinELib, Finnish Electronic Library, at all Finnish universities. Although material provision has grown tremendously and consequently the use of electronic literature and of FinELib, the clients were polarizing into frequent and infrequent users. Perceived availability of the material provided was a major factor influencing this polarization. Availability was significantly stronger predictor of the use than users' discipline. It seems that availability underlies the disciplinary variation in the use of digital libraries. [source] Attachment Style Classification and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Former Prisoners of WarAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2001Michael Dieperink M.D., Ph.D. Adult attachment style and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology were investigated in 107 former prisoner of war veterans. Those with secure attachment styles scored significantly lower on measures of PTSD than did those with insecure styles, and attachment style was a stronger predictor of PTSD symptom intensity than was trauma severity. The suggested association between attachment style and PTSD's development and persistence are discussed in relation to research and clinical practice. [source] Fragmented QRS in Prediction of Cardiac Deaths and Heart Failure Hospitalizations after Myocardial InfarctionANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Petri Korhonen M.D. Background: Increased QRS fragmentation in visual inspection of 12-lead ECG has shown association with cardiac events in postmyocardial infarction (MI) patients. We investigated user-independent computerized intra-QRS fragmentation analysis in prediction of cardiac deaths and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations after MI. Methods: Patients (n = 158) with recent MI and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were studied. A 120-lead body surface potential mapping was performed at hospital discharge. Intra-QRS fragmentation was computed as the number of extrema (fragmentation index FI) in QRS. QRS duration (QRSd) was computed for comparison. Results: During a mean follow-up of 50 months 15 patients suffered cardiac death and 23 were hospitalized for HF. Using the mean + 1 SD as cut-point both parameters were univariate predictors of both end-points. In multivariate analysis including age, gender, LVEF, previous MI, bundle branch block, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes FI was an independent predictor for cardiac deaths (HR 8.7, CI 3.0,25.6) and HF hospitalizations (HR 3.8, CI 1.6,9.3) whereas QRSd only predicted HF hospitalizations (HR 4.6, CI 2.0,10.7). In comparison to QRSd, FI showed better positive (PPA) and equal negative (NPA) predictive accuracy for both end-points, and PPA was further improved when combined to LVEF < 40%. Limiting fragmentation analysis to 12-lead ECG or a randomly selected 8-lead set instead of all 120 leads resulted in an almost similar prediction. Conclusions: Increased QRS fragmentation in post-MI patients predicts cardiac deaths and HF progression. A computer-based fragmentation analysis is a stronger predictor than QRSd. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(2):130,137 [source] Schools as Socialisation Contexts: Understanding the Impact of School Climate Factors on Students' Sense of School BelongingAPPLIED PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Zeynep Cemalcilar Education is a top priority of the European Union (EU). The EU Education Council has declared that to be the world leader in terms of the quality of education and training systems by 2010, fundamental transformations in education should be carried out in each country according to its national context and traditions. As a candidate country, Turkey shares this common objective. Yet, the mean school attainment and net education enrollment rates in Turkey are still behind the EU averages. The education literature indicates students' sense of school belonging as an important predictor of school attainment. This study aims to identify the policy manipulable social aspects of schools that can be instrumental in increasing students' sense of school belonging in a sample of 799 middle school students attending public schools in Istanbul, Turkey. The conceptual model posits that students' satisfaction with both the social relationships in the school and the school environment has consequences for their sense of school belonging. The results of the structural equation model analysis revealed a plausible model. Satisfaction with social relationships emerged as a stronger predictor of sense of school belonging than satisfaction with the school environment. Further comparisons of the same conceptual model for schools with low and high socioeconomic conditions yielded different associations among the study variables. The findings are discussed in terms of their relevance to the education system in Turkey and other less affluent societies with similar social, cultural, and economic conditions. L'éducation est une priorité majeure de l'Union Européenne (UE). Le Conseil de l'Education de l'UE a déclaré que pour devenir le leader mondial de la qualité de l'éducation et de la formation en 2010, il fallait opérer des réformes d'importance dans le système d'éducation de chacun des pays dans le respect de leurs traditions et de leur contexte national. En tant que candidate pour intégrer l'Union, la Turquie partage cet objectif commun. Pourtant, les performances scolaires moyennes et le taux de scolarisation sont en Turquie toujours en-dessous des moyennes européennes. La littérature concernée montre que la conviction de l'élève d'être intégréà l'école est un prédicteur important de ses résultats scolaires. Cette étude cherche à définir les possibilités d'action politique sur les variables sociales scolaires susceptibles d'améliorer le sentiment d'appartenance à l'école, cela sur un échantillon de 799 élèves de collège fréquentant des établissements publics d'Istanbul. Le modèle pose que la satisfaction des élèves relative aux relations sociales à l'école et à l'environnement scolaire est en relation avec leur sentiment d'intégration à l'établissement. Les résultats de l'analyse en modèle d'équation structurale fournissent une structure plausible. La satisfaction liée aux relations sociales ressort comme un prédicteur du sentiment d'appartenance plus puissant que la satisfaction relative à l'environnement scolaire. Des manipulations complémentaires de ce même modèle à partir de conditions socio-économiques élevées ou basses débouchèrent sur de nouvelles associations entre les différentes variables. Ces résultats sont évalués sur la base de leur pertinence pour le système scolaire turque et celui d'autres pays moins prospères présentant des conditions économiques, sociales et culturelles analogues. [source] Religious and Non-Religious Pathways to Stress-Related Growth in Cancer SurvivorsAPPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, Issue 3 2009Crystal L. Park While religiousness and spirituality are important to many cancer survivors, relations of religiousness and spirituality with the stress-related growth commonly reported by survivors have not been well documented. In the present study, we examined the linkages between personal religiousness, religious control appraisals for the cancer, and religious coping with subsequent stress-related growth, and compared them with a parallel secular pathway, hope, self-control appraisals, and active coping. In all, 172 young to middle-aged adult survivors (113 women, 59 men, mean age = 45 years) of a variety of types of cancer who had been diagnosed approximately 2.5 years prior were assessed twice across a 1-year period. A structural equation model indicated that while both pathways predicted stress-related growth, the religious pathway was a much stronger predictor of subsequent stress-related growth than was the secular pathway. We suggest that more attention should be given to the influence of multiple dimensions of religiousness and spirituality on growth to better understand the transformative processes reported by many survivors. [source] Carotid Stenosis as Detected by Ultrasound in a General Population is a Strong Predictor of DeathACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 5 2001Oddmund Joakimsen Background and Purpose: In the last two decades, ultrasound examinations have increasingly been used as a noninvasive method to screen for carotid stenosis. Several clinical studies have shown that carotid stenosis is a risk factor for ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease and death. However, there is scarce information about stenosis as detected in a general population and the relation with mortality. The purpose of this population-based study was to assess whether carotid stenosis is a predictor of death. Methods: In 1994 to 1995, 248 subjects with suspected carotid stenosis were identified among 6727 men and women 25 to 84 years of age who were examined with ultrasound as part of the population-based Tromsø Study. These subjects and 496 age- and sex-matched control subjects were followed for 4.2 years, and the number and causes of deaths were identified. Results: The unadjusted relative risk for death was 2.72 (95% CI, 1.57 to 4.75) for subjects with stenosis compared with control subjects. Adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors increased the relative risk to 3.47 (95% CI, 1.47 to 8.19). The adjusted relative risk in persons with stenosis and no cardiovascular disease or diabetes was 5.66 (95% CI, 1.53 to 20.90), which was higher than in subjects with stenosis and self-reported disease (1.79; 95% CI, 0.75 to 4.27). There was a dose-response relationship between degree of stenosis and risk of death (P=0.002 for linear trend). Conclusion: Carotid stenosis as detected in a general population is a strong and independent predictor of death. Carotid stenosis was a stronger predictor of death than self-reported cardiovascular disease or diabetes. [source] Anthropometric correlates of lipoprotein profile and blood pressure in high BMI African American childrenACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 6 2010A Raman Abstract Objective:, To explore the association of anthropometric indices with lipoprotein profile and blood pressure as risk factors of cardiovascular disease, in African American (AA) children. Methods:, A cross-sectional analysis was carried out on children aged 9,13 years with BMI >85th percentile. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, % body fat and blood pressure [systolic (sBP) and diastolic (dBP)] were measured. Fasting plasma levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), intermediate density lipoprotein cholesterol (IDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were analysed. Results:, After accounting for age, gender and pubertal status of the child, multiple linear regression models showed that waist circumference and BMIz were strong predictors for lipoprotein variables. In independent analysis, waist circumference and BMI z-scores were found to be interdependently associated with TG, LDL-C:HDL-C ratio, VLDL-C and sBPz. However, for HDL-C, TG:HDL-C ratio and dBPz, waist circumference was independently and more strongly associated with these risk factors than BMI. Conclusion:, Waist circumference was a stronger predictor for lipoprotein variables and blood pressure in high BMI AA children than other anthropometric indices, and may be adequate as a screening test to identify children who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. [source] Does what happens in group care stay in group care?CHILD & FAMILY SOCIAL WORK, Issue 3 2010The relationship between problem behaviour trajectories during care, post-placement functioning ABSTRACT Residential programmes for youth may improve youth behaviour during placement, but it is not clear whether there is an association between a youth's behaviour pattern during placement and post-placement outcomes. Life course perspective has been used to understand longitudinal patterns and pathways, and new statistical methods have been developed to identify latent trajectory groups. This study used administrative data from a family-style group care programme to assess whether a youth's externalizing behaviour trajectory while in placement can significantly predict delinquency and adjustment outcomes at discharge and 6-month follow-up. Findings from multinomial logistic regression revealed a statistically significant relationship between a youth's behaviour trajectory class and outcomes. Behaviour pattern during care was a stronger predictor of outcome than cross-sectional measures such as other demographic factors, placement history or mental-health need indicators. [source] Employed Family Physician Satisfaction and Commitment to Their Practice, Work Group, and Health Care OrganizationHEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010Ben-Tzion Karsh Objective. Test a model of family physician job satisfaction and commitment. Data Sources/Study Setting. Data were collected from 1,482 family physicians in a Midwest state during 2000,2001. The sampling frame came from the membership listing of the state's family physician association, and the analyzed dataset included family physicians employed by large multispecialty group practices. Study Design and Data Collection. A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data about physician working conditions, job satisfaction, commitment, and demographic variables. Principal Findings. The response rate was 47 percent. Different variables predicted the different measures of satisfaction and commitment. Satisfaction with one's health care organization (HCO) was most strongly predicted by the degree to which physicians perceived that management valued and recognized them and by the extent to which physicians perceived the organization's goals to be compatible with their own. Satisfaction with one's workgroup was most strongly predicted by the social relationship with members of the workgroup; satisfaction with one's practice was most strongly predicted by relationships with patients. Commitment to one's workgroup was predicted by relationships with one's workgroup. Commitment to one's HCO was predicted by relationships with management of the HCO. Conclusions. Social relationships are stronger predictors of employed family physician satisfaction and commitment than staff support, job control, income, or time pressure. [source] Emotional Intelligence: Toward Clarification of a ConceptINDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 2 2010CARY CHERNISS There has been much confusion and controversy concerning the concept of emotional intelligence (EI). Three issues have been particularly bothersome. The first concerns the many conflicting definitions and models of EI. To address this issue, I propose that we distinguish between definitions and models and then adopt a single definition on which the major theorists already seem to agree. I further propose that we more clearly distinguish between EI and the related concept of emotional and social competence (ESC). The second issue that has generated concern is the question of how valid existing measures are. After reviewing the research on the psychometric properties of several popular tests, I conclude that although there is some support for many of them, they all have inherent limitations. We need to rely more on alternative measurement strategies that have been available for some time and also develop new measures that are more sensitive to context. The third area of contention concerns the significance of EI for outcomes such as job performance or leadership effectiveness. Recent research, not available to earlier critics, suggests that EI is positively associated with performance. However, certain ESCs are likely to be stronger predictors of performance than EI in many situations. Also, EI is likely to be more important in certain kinds of situations, such as those involving social interaction or significant levels of stress. Context makes a difference. [source] Insulin sensitivity, VO2max and body composition in severely obese Swedish children and adolescentsACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 1 2009Gunilla Morinder Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to identify relationships between insulin sensitivity (SI), cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in severely obese Swedish children and adolescents. Methods: Two hundred and twenty-eight obese children (119 girls, 8,16 years, body mass index (BMI) 23.2,57.0 kg/m2) performed a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT), a submaximal bicycle ergometry test and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Results: Mean SI (SD) was 0.38 (0.32) (×10,5/min/pM). SI correlated positively with relative body mass (BM) VO2max (r = 0.42) (p < 0.001), relative fat-free mass (FFM) VO2max (r = 0.36) (p < 0.001) and negatively with body mass index standard deviation score (BMI SDS) (r =,0.22) (p = 0.001). SI did not correlate with percent body fat (r =,0.01) and absolute VO2max (r = 0.01). In multiple regression analyses with SI as dependent variable, VO2max and body composition, together with gender, age and Tanner stage, explained 20,26% of the variance. Conclusion: Relative (BM) VO2max and relative (FFM) VO2max were stronger predictors of SI than percent body fat in severely obese children and adolescents. The study confirms that cardiorespiratory fitness is of importance for the metabolic syndrome in the studied population. Efforts to improve SI should include physical activity targeting cardiorespiratory fitness also in severely obese children and adolescents. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||