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Selected AbstractsIDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT OF DOMOIC ACID PRODUCTION IN OCEANIC PSEUDO-NITZSCHIA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) FROM IRON-LIMITED WATERS IN THE NORTHEAST SUBARCTIC PACIFIC,JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Adrian Marchetti We identified and investigated the potential toxicity of oceanic Pseudo-nitzschia species from Ocean Station Papa (OSP), located in a high-nitrate, low-chlorophyll (HNLC) region of the northeast (NE) subarctic Pacific Ocean. Despite their relatively low abundances in the indigenous phytoplankton assemblage, Pseudo-nitzschia species richness is high. The morphometric characteristics of five oceanic Pseudo-nitzschia isolates from at least four species are described using SEM and TEM. The species identified are Pseudo-nitzschia dolorosa Lundholm et Moestrup, P. granii Hasle, P. heimii Manguin, and P. cf. turgidula (Hust.) Hasle. Additional support for the taxonomic classifications based on frustule morphology is provided through the sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) rDNA. Pseudo-nitzschia species identification was also assessed by the construction of ITS1 clone libraries and using automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA) for environmental samples collected during the Subarctic Ecosystem Response to Iron Enrichment Study (SERIES), conducted in close proximity to OSP in July of 2002. Based on ITS1 sequences, the presence of P. granii, P. heimii, P. cf. turgidula, and at least five other putative, unidentified Pseudo-nitzschia ITS1 variants was confirmed within iron-enriched phytoplankton assemblages at OSP. None of the oceanic isolates produced detectable levels of particulate domoic acid (DA) when in prolonged stationary phase due to silicic acid starvation. The lack of detectable concentrations of DA suggests that either these strains produce very little or no toxin, or that the physiological conditions required to promote particulate DA production were not met and thus differ from their coastal, toxigenic congeners. [source] Species discovery in marine planktonic invertebrates through global molecular screeningMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2010ERICA GOETZE Abstract Species discovery through large-scale sampling of mitochondrial diversity, as advocated under DNA barcoding, has been widely criticized. Two of the primary weaknesses of this approach, the use of a single gene marker for species delineation and the possible co-amplification of nuclear pseudogenes, can be circumvented through incorporation of multiple data sources. Here I show that for taxonomic groups with poorly characterized systematics, large-scale genetic screening using a mitochondrial DNA marker can be a very effective approach to species discovery. Global sampling (120 locations) of 1295 individuals of 22 described species of eucalanid copepods identified 15 novel evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) within this marine holoplanktonic family. Species limits were tested under reciprocal monophyly at the mitochondrial (mt) gene 16S rRNA, and 13 of 15 lineages were reciprocally monophyletic under three phylogenetic inference methods. Five of these mitochondrial ESUs also received moderate support for reciprocal monophyly at the independently-inherited nuclear gene, internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). Additional support for the utility of mt DNA as a proxy for species boundaries in this taxon is discussed, including results from related morphological and biogeographic studies. Minimal overlap of intra-ESU and inter-ESU 16S rRNA genetic distances was observed, suggesting that this mt marker performs well for species discovery via molecular screening. Sampling coverage required for the discovery of new ESUs was found to be in the range of >50 individuals/species, well above the sampling intensity of most current DNA Barcoding studies. Large-scale genetic screening can provide critical first data on the presence of cryptic species, and should be used as an approach to generate systematic hypotheses in groups with incomplete taxonomies. [source] Secular Trends in the Incidence of Female Breast Cancer in the United States, 1973,1998THE BREAST JOURNAL, Issue 2 2004Kiumarss Nasseri DVM Abstract: , Statistical modeling suggests a causal association between the rapid increase in the incidence of female breast cancer (FBC) in the United States and the widespread use of screening mammography. Additional support for this suggestion is a shift in the stage at diagnosis that consists of an increase in early stage diagnosis followed by a decrease in late-stage diagnosis. This has not been reported in the United States. The objective of this study was to examine the secular trends in the incidence of FBC in search of empirical support for this shift. FBC cases in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1973 through 1998 were dichotomized into early and late detection based. Early detection included all the in situ and invasive cases with local spread. Late detection included cases with regional spread and distant metastasis. Joinpoint segmented regression modeling was used for trend analysis. Early detection in white and black women followed a similar pattern of significant increase in the early 1980s that continued through 1998 with slight modification in 1987. The expected shift in stage was noticed only for white women when the incidence of late detection in them began to decline in 1987. The incidence of late detection in black women has remained stable. These results provide further support for the previously implied causal association between the use of screening mammography and the increased incidence of FBC in the United States. It also shows that the expected stage shift appeared in white women 50,69 years of age after an estimated detection lead time (DLT) of about 5 years. This is the first estimate of DLT in the United States that is based on actual data. The subsequent increase in late detection in white women since 1993 may be due to changes in case management and the increased use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) rather than changes in the etiology or biology of FBC., [source] Moisture,convection feedback in the tropicsTHE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 604 2004W. W. Grabowski Abstract This paper discusses the large-scale moisture,convection feedback in the tropics, where spatial fluctuations of deep convection cause perturbations of free-tropospheric moisture which, in turn, affect the spatial distribution of deep convection. A simple heuristic argument using the timescale of free-tropospheric humidity change explains why moisture,convection feedback is particularly relevant for tropical intraseasonal oscillations. The large-scale dynamical context for moisture,convection feedback is investigated in idealized rotating constant-sea-surface-temperature (,tropics everywhere') aquaplanet using cloud-resolving convection parametrization (CRCP; super-parametrization) and a traditional convective parametrization (the Emanuel scheme). The large-scale organization of convection within the equatorial waveguide takes the form of MJO-like (Madden,Julian Oscillation) coherent structures. First, CRCP simulations are performed in which development of large-scale free-tropospheric moisture perturbations is artificially suppressed using relaxation with a timescale of one day. As in previous simulations where much shorter relaxation timescale was used, MJO-like coherences do not develop and, if already present, they disintegrate rapidly. Second, CRCP simulations that start from planetary-scale moisture perturbation in the free troposphere are conducted. The ensuing large-scale velocity perturbations have e-folding times of five and seven days, respectively, for interactive and prescribed radiation simulations. This supports the conjecture that interactive radiation enhances moisture,convection feedback; an enhanced large-scale circulation results from differences in radiative cooling between areas having enhanced and suppressed convectively-generated moisture and cloudiness. Additional support for the role of moisture,convection feedback in intraseasonal oscillations is seen in simulations that apply the Emanuel scheme. The standard configuration of the Emanuel scheme is insensitive to free-tropospheric humidity and results in weak MJO-like coherences. A simple modification of the Emanuel scheme that enhances its sensitivity to free-tropospheric humidity dramatically improves the simulated MJO-like coherences. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Loss of income and levels of scholarship support for students on rural clinical placements: A survey of medical, nursing and allied health studentsAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2009Deborah Schofield Abstract Objective:,To quantify the financial impact of rural clinical placements on medical, nursing and allied health students in rural Australia. Design:,The Careers in Health Tracking Survey provided data on whether students were employed, usual weekly hours of employment and a range of covariates, such as age, sex, course of study, marital status, dependants and rural or urban origin. Participants:,A total of 121 students from a range of health professions completed the Careers in Health Tracking Survey while on rural placement at the Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health. Outcome measures:,Survey data. Results:,Forty-one per cent of respondents were working immediately before their clinical placements. Nursing students worked the longest hours by far and were significantly more financially disadvantaged than both medical and allied health students (P < 0.01). Scholarship support was unevenly distributed, with nursing and allied health students being relatively under-supported in relation to lost earnings. Conclusion:,Recruitment of students can be an effective strategy to address the rural health workforce shortage throughout Australia. However, there are a number of financial disincentives for students to undertake rural clinical placements. Additional support for some disciplines is needed to provide equitable distribution of scholarship support to offset this financial burden. Establishing an employment scheme for students on rural clinical placements and a scholarship for income replacement where employment is not available would also alleviate income loss. [source] It Is Not What You Have; It Is What You Do With It: Support for Addis's Gendered Responding FrameworkCLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY: SCIENCE AND PRACTICE, Issue 3 2008Susan Nolen-HoeksemaArticle first published online: 21 AUG 200 Depression in men is a critical topic but unfortunately there has been more rhetoric than research on the nature, extent, and treatment of depression in men. Many of the models of depression in men are based on a medical model view of "big D" depression. Addis's gendered responding framework provides an innovative perspective on depression in men that has important implications for theories, research, and clinical interventions. Additional support for Addis's model is provided from existing studies on substance use as a response to negative affect and gender differences in rumination, and from new results presented here. [source] Infant information processing and family history of specific language impairment: converging evidence for RAP deficits from two paradigmsDEVELOPMENTAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007Naseem Choudhury An infant's ability to process auditory signals presented in rapid succession (i.e. rapid auditory processing abilities [RAP]) has been shown to predict differences in language outcomes in toddlers and preschool children. Early deficits in RAP abilities may serve as a behavioral marker for language-based learning disabilities. The purpose of this study is to determine if performance on infant information processing measures designed to tap RAP and global processing skills differ as a function of family history of specific language impairment (SLI) and/or the particular demand characteristics of the paradigm used. Seventeen 6- to 9-month-old infants from families with a history of specific language impairment (FH+) and 29 control infants (FH,) participated in this study. Infants' performance on two different RAP paradigms (head-turn procedure [HT] and auditory-visual habituation/recognition memory [AVH/RM]) and on a global processing task (visual habituation/recognition memory [VH/RM]) was assessed at 6 and 9 months. Toddler language and cognitive skills were evaluated at 12 and 16 months. A number of significant group differences were seen: FH+ infants showed significantly poorer discrimination of fast rate stimuli on both RAP tasks, took longer to habituate on both habituation/recognition memory measures, and had lower novelty preference scores on the visual habituation/recognition memory task. Infants' performance on the two RAP measures provided independent but converging contributions to outcome. Thus, different mechanisms appear to underlie performance on operantly conditioned tasks as compared to habituation/recognition memory paradigms. Further, infant RAP processing abilities predicted to 12- and 16-month language scores above and beyond family history of SLI. The results of this study provide additional support for the validity of infant RAP abilities as a behavioral marker for later language outcome. Finally, this is the first study to use a battery of infant tasks to demonstrate multi-modal processing deficits in infants at risk for SLI. [source] Overview of interventions to enhance primary-care provider management of patients with substance-use disordersDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 5 2009PETER ANDERSON Abstract Issues. Despite the evidence for the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions to manage substance use disorders, which are common presenting complaints in primary care, primary-care providers find managing substance use disorders a difficult business. This paper provides an overview of the evidence for interventions, including training and education programmes, in enhancing the management of alcohol- and tobacco-use disorders by health-care providers. Approach. The Cochrane Library and the database of the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care Group were searched for answers to five questions: (i) Can education and training increase the involvement of primary care providers? (ii) Can education and training cause harm? (iii) Can education and training be enhanced with support and other organisational factors? (iv) Can finance systems change provider behaviour? and (v) Is political support needed? Key Findings. Education and training can increase the involvement of primary-care providers in managing alcohol- and tobacco-use disorders, with the impact enhanced by additional support and other organisational factors. There is some evidence that if education and training does not take account of providers' attitudes, then harm can be caused. There is limited evidence that finance systems can change provider behaviour, and that comprehensive policy, in which a health sector response is a part, can increase the potential of primary-care management of alcohol- and tobacco-use disorders. Conclusions. Tailored education and training programmes for the management of alcohol- and tobacco-use disorders need to be broadly implemented and embedded in overall comprehensive policies that provide the necessary organisational and financial incentives for enhancing provider behaviour. There is an urgent need to extend the evidence base on the impact of education and training and other strategies to increase the involvement of providers in managing substance-use disorders.[Anderson P. Overview of interventions to enhance primary-care provider management of patients with substance-use disorders. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009;28:567,574] [source] Body size and invasion success in marine bivalvesECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 2 2002Kaustuv Roy The role of body size in marine bivalve invasions has been the subject of debate. Roy et al. found that large-bodied species of marine bivalves were more likely to be successful invaders, consistent with patterns seen during Pleistocene climatic change, but Miller et al. argued that such selectivity was largely driven by the inclusion of mariculture species in the analysis and that size-selectivity was absent outside of mariculture introductions. Here we use data on non-mariculture species from the north-eastern Pacific coast and from a global species pool to test the original hypothesis of Roy et al. that range limits of larger bivalves are more fluid than those of smaller species. First, we test the hypothesis that larger bivalve species are more successful than small species in expanding their geographical ranges following introduction into new regions. Second, we compare body sizes of indigenous and non-indigenous species for 299 of the 303 known intertidal and shelf species within the marine bivalve clade that contains the greater number of non-mariculture invaders, the Mytilidae. The results from both tests provide additional support for the view that body size plays an important role in mediating invasion success in marine bivalves, in contrast to Miller et al. Thus range expansions in Recent bivalves are consistent with patterns seen in Pleistocene faunas despite the many differences in the mechanisms. [source] Seizures in the Developing Brain Cause Adverse Long-term Effects on Spatial Learning and AnxietyEPILEPSIA, Issue 12 2004Umit Sayin Summary:,Purpose: Seizures in the developing brain cause less macroscopic structural damage than do seizures in adulthood, but accumulating evidence shows that seizures early in life can be associated with persistent behavioral and cognitive impairments. We previously showed that long-term spatial memory in the eight-arm radial-arm maze was impaired in rats that experienced a single episode of kainic acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus during early development (postnatal days (P) 1,14). Here we extend those findings by using a set of behavioral paradigms that are sensitive to additional aspects of learning and behavior. Methods: On P1, P7, P14, or P24, rats underwent status epilepticus induced by intraperitoneal injections of age-specific doses of KA. In adulthood (P90,P100), the behavioral performance of these rats was compared with that of control rats that did not receive KA. A modified version of the radial-arm maze was used to assess short-term spatial memory; the Morris water maze was used to evaluate long-term spatial memory and retrieval; and the elevated plus maze was used to determine anxiety. Results: Compared with controls, rats with KA seizures at each tested age had impaired short-term spatial memory in the radial-arm maze (longer latency to criterion and more reference errors), deficient long-term spatial learning and retrieval in the water maze (longer escape latencies and memory for platform location), and a greater degree of anxiety in the elevated plus maze (greater time spent in open arms). Conclusions: These findings provide additional support for the concept that seizures early in life may be followed by life-long impairment of certain cognitive and behavioral functions. These results may have clinical implications, favoring early and aggressive control of seizures during development. [source] Cost and cost-effectiveness of standard methadone maintenance treatment compared to enriched 180-day methadone detoxificationADDICTION, Issue 6 2004Carmen L. Masson ABSTRACT Aims To compare the cost and cost-effectiveness of methadone maintenance treatment and 180-day methadone detoxification enriched with psychosocial services. Design Randomized controlled study conducted from May 1995 to April 1999. Setting Research clinic in an established drug treatment program. Participants One hundred and seventy-nine adults with diagnosed opioid dependence. Intervention Patients were randomized to methadone maintenance (n = 91), which required monthly 1 hour/week of psychosocial therapy during the first 6 months or 180-day detoxification (n = 88), which required 3 hours/week of psychosocial therapy and 14 education sessions during the first 6 months. Measurements Total health-care costs and self-reported injection drug use. A two-state Markov model was used to estimate quality-adjusted years of survival. Findings Methadone maintenance produced significantly greater reductions in illicit opioid use than 180-day detoxification during the last 6 months of treatment. Total health-care costs were greater for maintenance than detoxification treatment ($7564 versus $6687; P < 0.001). Although study costs were significantly higher for methadone maintenance than detoxification patients ($4739 versus $2855, P < 0.001), detoxification patients incurred significantly higher costs for substance abuse and mental health care received outside the study. Methadone maintenance may provide a modest survival advantage compared with detoxification. The cost per life-year gained is $16 967. Sensitivity analysis revealed a cost-effectiveness ratio of less than $20 000 per quality-adjusted life-year over a wide range of modeling assumptions. Conclusions Compared with enriched detoxification services, methadone maintenance is more effective than enriched detoxification services with a cost-effectiveness ratio within the range of many accepted medical interventions and may provide a survival advantage. Results provide additional support for the use of sustained methadone therapy as opposed to detoxification for treating opioid addiction. [source] Neuroanatomical specificity in the expression of the immediate early gene c-fos following expression of appetitive and consummatory male sexual behaviour in Japanese quailEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 7 2006M. Taziaux Abstract We investigated the neural sites related to the occurrence of appetitive (ASB) and consummatory (CSB) aspects of male sexual behaviour in Japanese quail. Castrated males treated with testosterone were exposed for 5 min to one of four experimental conditions: (i) free interaction with a female (CSB group); (ii) expression of rhythmic cloacal sphincter movements in response to the visual presentation of a female (ASB-F group); (iii) or a male (ASB-M group), and (iv) handling as a control manipulation. Brains were collected 90 min after the start of behavioural tests and stained by immunocytochemistry for the FOS protein. An increase in FOS expression was observed throughout the rostro-caudal extent of the medial preoptic nucleus (POM) in CSB males, whereas the view of a female (ASB-F) induced an increased FOS expression in the rostral POM only. In the CSB group, there was also an increase in FOS expression in the bed nucleus striae terminalis, and both the CSB and ASB-F groups exhibited increased FOS expression in aspects of the ventro-lateral thalamus (VLT) related to visual processing. Moreover, both the CSB and ASB-M groups showed increased FOS expression in the lateral septum. These data provide additional support to the idea that there is a partial anatomical dissociation between structures involved in the control of both aspects of male sexual behaviour and independently provide data consistent with a previous lesion study that indicated that the rostral and caudal POM differentially control the expression of ASB and CSB in quail. [source] Big diameter tunnelling beneath low rock cover.GEOMECHANICS AND TUNNELLING, Issue 3 2009Bau eines Großtunnels unter geringer Felsüberdeckung Abstract The Clem Jones Tunnel (former North-South Bypass Tunnel) is the first project to get underway as part of Brisbane's transport plan which aims to improve the urban road network. The total length to be excavated is 6.8 km which includes 4.8 km of driven tunnel and associated road connections. Construction commenced in August 2006 with project completion targeted well before the contractual completion date of October 2010. Due to the local geology, in particular the hard Brisbane tuff and Neranleigh-Fernvale formation a combination of tunnel excavation methods are used. The majority of the tunnel is excavated by two tunnel boring machines in rock having a compressive strength of between 80 and 150 MPa. Ten roadheaders are excavating the remaining tunnels such as ramps, access tunnels, cross passages and merges. A major challenge arose during the planning of the initial mainline excavation underneath the Royal National Association Showground in Bowen Hills. This section contains low rock cover and historical maps indicate that the Showground is located within a former topographic depression (alluvial valley) where a creek once flowed through. Due to traffic merge design requirements, both TBM and roadheader excavation methods were required to be used in this challenging geological profile. The answer was to stabilise the alluvium above both TBM section tunnels from the surface prior to excavation and to operate the TBM in single shield mode with immediate grouting of annular void from the tail shield. In addition, the roadheader section of tunnel required additional support by spiles and canopy tubes installed from the tunnel face. Der Clem Jones Tunnel (ehemals North South Bypass Tunnel) ist das erste in Angriff genommene Projekt des Brisbane-Transportplans. Dieser Plan hat das Ziel, das städtische Straßennetzwerk zu verbessern. Insgesamt wird eine Strecke von 6,8 km aufgefahren, einschließlich 4,8 km bergmännische Tunnel und zugehörige Straßenanbindungen. Die Bauarbeiten begannen im August 2006, und die Fertigstellung des Projekts ist deutlich vor dem vertraglich vereinbarten Fertigstellungstermin im Oktober 2010 geplant. Der größte Teil der Tunnel wird durch zwei Tunnelbohrmaschinen im Hartgestein mit einer Druckfestigkeit zwischen 80 und 150 MPa ausgebrochen. Zehn Teilschnittmaschinen fahren die übrigen Tunnel wie Rampen, Zugangstunnel, Querschläge und Verbindungen auf. Eine große Herausforderung ergab sich während der Planung des Haupttunnelvortriebs unter dem Ausstellungsgelände der Royal National Association in Bowen Hills. Dieses Gebiet besitzt eine geringe Felsüberdeckung, und aus historischen Karten weiß man, dass das Ausstellungsgelände in einer ehemaligen topografischen Senke (alluviales Tal) liegt, durch die früher ein Bach floss. Aufgrund von Verkehrsplanungsanforderungen war es notwendig, sowohl Tunnelbohrmaschinen als auch Teilschnittmaschinen in dieser schwierigen geologischen Situation zu verwenden. Die Lösung bestand darin, das Schwemmland über beiden TBMTunneln von oben her zu stabilisieren und die Tunnelbohrmaschine in der Einfachschildbetriebsart zu fahren, wobei der Ringspalt vom Schildschwanz aus verpresst wird. Die durch Teilschnittmaschinen ausgebrochenen Tunnel mussten außerdem zusätzlich durch Spieße und eine Rohrschirmsicherung gestützt werden. [source] 5-Chloro-3-methylthio-1,2,4-thiadiazol-2-ium chlorides as useful synthetic precursors to a variety of 6a,4 -thiapentalene systemsHETEROATOM CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2003Georges Morel Title salts 3 were easily obtained by treatment of formimidoyl isothiocyanates 1 with a twofold excess of methanesulfenyl chloride. They showed interesting chemical behavior toward several nitrogen and carbon nucleophiles. Substitution reactions with isothioureas and acetamide in the presence of triethylamine gave the 1H, 6H -6a,4 -thia-1,3,4,6-tetraazapentalenes 7 and 6H -6a,4 -thia-1-oxa-3,4,6-triazapentalene 9, respectively. Addition of p -toluidine furnished the 5-imino-thiadiazole derivatives 10, which reacted further with diverse heterocumulenes to yield the corresponding thiatriaza- and tetraazapentalene species 11. The N,N,-bis(1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-ylidene)diaminobenzenes 13 were also prepared and reacted with phenyl isothiocyanate. Two stable rotational isomers were separated for the 1,2-phenylene product 14b. Other ,-hypervalent sulfur compounds 16 were synthesized under similar conditions from salts 3 and methyl cyanoacetate or dimethyl malonate. The structural assignments were discussed on the basis of IR and NMR spectroscopic data and received additional support from X-ray analysis of substrate 16a. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:95,105, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10106 [source] Verbal memory performance improved via an acute administration of D -amphetamineHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 5 2007Inge Zeeuws Abstract Background An improved long-term retention of verbal memory was observed after an acute D -amphetamine administration. It was proposed that D -amphetamine modulates consolidation, but a possible drug effect on retrieval could not be rejected. Objectives We want to provide additional support for the consolidation hypothesis, and investigate whether an influence on intervening retrieval can be refuted. Methods Thirty-six male paid volunteers participated in a double blind, counterbalanced, placebo-controlled design in which the number of intermediate free recall tests was manipulated. Results A significant D -amphetamine facilitation effect on recall performance emerged 1 h and 1 day after list learning. In line with the consolidation hypothesis, no effect was found on immediate tests. Importantly, the number of intermediate retrievals did not affect the magnitude of the drug effect, suggesting that the D -amphetamine facilitation effect is independent of retrieval. Conclusion The D -amphetamine facilitation effect on verbal memory does not involve a modulation of the initial encoding or short-term memory (STM) processes. Moreover, the drug does not enhance long-term retention by acting on intervening retrieval processes. The current findings are in line with the conjecture of an involvement of the consolidation process in the D -amphetamine facilitation effect on verbal memory in healthy humans. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Seasonal variations in [3H]citalopram platelet binding between healthy controls and violent offenders in FinlandHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 7 2005James Callaway Abstract Monthly binding densities (Bmax) of [3H]citalopram to the platelet serotonin transporter (SERT) was measured longitudinally over 1 year in a control group of 18 healthy Finnish male volunteers. Single platelet samples were also analysed from 33 men who were incarcerated for violent crimes during the same calendar year. A statistically significant seasonal variation in SERT Bmax was observed in both data sets, and bi-monthly floating averages for SERT Bmax were calculated and then fit to an annual sinusoidal curve for both groups. The Bmax for platelet [3H]citalopram binding showed a statistically significant (p,=,0.001) seasonal variance between a winter (January,February) maximum of 1590 fmol/mg protein and a summer (July,August) minimum of 1216 fmol/mg protein for the control group, with an R2 of 70% for the annual sinusoidal curve fit. A statistically significant (p,=,0.007) seasonal variance was also observed between a winter (January,February) maximum of 1980 fmol/mg protein and an autumnal (August,September) minimum of 1234 fmol/mg protein for the violent offenders, again with an R2 of 70% for the annual sinusoidal curve fit. This observation lends additional support to the idea that violent human behavior and impulsivity may be directly linked to values of SERT Bmax, which can be affected by various psychoactive drugs and also varies with the natural change of seasons. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Serving two organizations: Exploring the employment relationship of contracted employeesHUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2006Jacqueline A-M Coyle-Shapiro Although growth has occurred in contract employment arrangements both in the public and private sectors, scant research has been conducted on the organizations and employees affected by these arrangements. This study examines the employment relationship of long-term contracted employees using a social exchange framework. Specifically, we examine the effects of employee perceptions of organizational support from contracting and client organizations on their (a) affective commitment to each organization and (b) service-oriented citizenship behavior. We also examine whether felt obligation toward each organization mediates this relationship. Our sample consists of 99 long-term contracted employees working for four contracting organizations that provide services to the public on behalf of a municipal government. Results indicate that the antecedents of affective commitment are similar for the client and contracting organization. Employee perceptions of client organizational supportiveness were positively related to felt obligation and commitment to the client organization. Client felt obligation mediated the effects of client perceived organizational support (POS) on the participation dimension of citizenship behavior. Our study provides additional support for the generalizability of social exchange processes to nontraditional employment relationships. Implications for managing long-term contracted employees are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] A review of ageing and an examination of clinical methods in the assessment of ageing skin.INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 5 2008Part 2: Clinical perspectives, clinical methods in the evaluation of ageing skin Synopsis With the advancement of skin research, today's consumer has increased access to technological information about ageing skin and hair care products. As a result, there is a rapidly increasing demand for proof of efficacy of these products. Recognizing these demands has led to the development and validation of many clinical methods to measure and quantify ageing skin and the effects of anti-ageing treatments. Many of the current testing methods used to research and evaluate anti-ageing product claim to employ sophisticated instruments alongside more traditional clinical methods. Intelligent use of combined clinical methods has enabled the development of technologically advanced consumer products providing enhanced efficacy and performance. Of non-invasive methods for the assessment and quantification of ageing skin, there is a plethora of tools available to the clinical researcher as defined by key clinically observed ageing parameters: skin roughness and surface texture; fine lines and wrinkles; skin pigmentation; skin colour; firmness and elasticity; hair loss; and proliferative lesions. Furthermore, many clinical procedures for the evaluation of ageing skin treatments are combined with invasive procedures, which enable added-value to claims (such as identification and alteration of biochemical markers), particularly in those cases where perception of product effect needs additional support. As discussed herein, clinical methods used in the assessment of skin ageing are many and require a disciplined approach to their use in such investigations. Résumé Avec les progrès des recherches sur la peau, les consommateurs aujourd'hui ont un accès accru aux informations technologiques concernant le vieillissement de la peau et les produits de soins capillaires. Il en découle une demande rapidement croissante des preuves d'efficacité de ces produits. La reconnaissance de ces demandes a conduit au développement et à la validation de nombreuses méthodes cliniques pour mesurer et quantifier la peau âgée ou le vieillissement de la peau et les effets des traitements anti-âge. Beaucoup des méthodes de test classiques utilisées pour rechercher et évaluer les revendications des produits antivieillissement reposent sur des instruments sophistiqués, à côté des méthodes cliniques plus traditionnelles. La combinaison intelligente de méthodes cliniques a permis le développement de produits commerciaux aux technologies avancées, possédant une efficacité et une performance améliorées. A partir de méthodes non invasives pour la détermination et la quantification des peaux âgées, une pléthore d'outils utilisables par les chercheurs cliniciens a été développée. Elle repose sur les paramètres cliniques-clés observés lors du vieillissement : rêcheur de la peau et texture de surface, ridules et rides, pigmentation de la peau, couleur de la peau, fermeté et élasticité, chute des cheveux et lésions proliférantes. De plus, de nombreuses procédures cliniques pour l'évaluation des traitements des peaux âgées sont combinées à des procédures invasives qui permettent des revendications à valeur ajoutée comme l'identification et l'altération de marqueurs biochimiques, en particulier dans les cas où la perception de l'effet du produit nécessite une argumentation complémentaire. Comme discuté ici, les méthodes cliniques utilisées pour la détermination du vieillissement de la peau sont nombreuses et nécessitent une approche contrôlée pour pouvoir les utiliser dans de telles recherches. [source] Pharmacists' role in smoking cessation: an examination of current practice and barriers to service provisionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 4 2006David Edwards PhD student Objective This study addressed the potential role of pharmacists in helping their patients to quit smoking by providing a summary of their self-reported levels of current activities, confidence, and readiness to change around the provision of brief advice and support for patients who smoke. In addition to investigating which barriers are perceived to be most important, this study also examined the relative importance of confidence, barriers and practice factors in relation to pharmacists' smoking cessation practices. Method A 58-item questionnaire was mailed to 720 pharmacists. The questionnaire measured demographic and background variables, level of smoking cessation activity (asking, advising, assessing, assisting and arranging including follow-up), confidence in undertaking smoking-cessation activities, readiness to change, perceived importance of barriers to providing smoking-cessation services, and further education or training in relation to smoking cessation. Setting Community pharmacists in South Australia. Key findings Respondents indicated high rates of activity in relation to assessing and assisting patients to quit smoking, with lower rates of advising and arranging including following up. Recording of smoking status was very low. Confidence emerged as the most important predictor of smoking-cessation activities, with pharmacist barriers including fear of alienating patients approaching significance. Reported levels of smoking-specific education and training were low. Conclusions South Australian pharmacists are contributing to the prevention of tobacco-related harms. With additional support there is a greater scope for involvement. Results indicate a need for a team-based, systematic and multifaceted approach to address barriers and enhance pharmacists' confidence. Further implementation research is required to assess the effectiveness of multifaceted pharmacy support programmes on the uptake and sustainability of smoking-cessation services. [source] Reliability and Validity of Prehospital Case Finding for Depression and Cognitive ImpairmentJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2009Manish N. Shah MD OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the test,retest reliability, the concurrent criterion validity, and the construct validity of prehospital, emergency medical service (EMS) case finding for depression and cognitive impairment in older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Prehospital EMS system and hospital emergency department. PARTICIPANTS: EMS providers and community-dwelling older adult (aged ,60) patients. INTERVENTIONS: Case finding instruments for depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-2; PHQ-2) and cognitive impairment (Six-Item Screener). MEASUREMENTS: The reliability and validity of these instruments. RESULTS: Moderate test,retest reliability was found for prehospital application of the PHQ-2 (kappa=0.50) and Six-Item Screener (kappa=0.52), fair concurrent criterion validity for depression (kappa=0.36), and slight to fair concurrent criterion validity for cognitive impairment (kappa=0.11,0.23). Construct validity was demonstrated using the Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix. CONCLUSION: Moderate test,retest reliability and construct validity were demonstrated for prehospital case finding by EMS providers for cognitive impairment and depression using these instruments. Slight to fair concurrent criterion validity was found, a result that methodological limitations could explain. These findings provide additional support for the concept of using EMS providers to detect older adults at risk for these conditions. Further work is needed to confirm the validity and effectiveness of prehospital screening before such programs are implemented. [source] Psychometric evaluation of the body investment scale for use with adolescentsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Augustine Osman Abstract We conducted two studies to examine the psychometric properties of the Body Investment Scale (BIS; Orbach & Mikulincer, 1998) in U.S. adolescent samples. The BIS was designed to assess bodily experiences that are associated with suicide-related behaviors. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with data from a combined sample of 204 high school adolescents (83 boys, 121 girls) and 197 psychiatric inpatient (101 boys, 96 girls) adolescents provided moderate support for the oblique four-factor solution: Body Feelings (,=.86, 95% CI=.83,.89), Body Touch (,=.71, 95% CI=.65,.76), Body Care (,=.78, 95% CI=.71,.81), and Body Protection (,=.78, 95% CI=.73,.82); robust comparative fit index=.88 and the robust Tucker Lewis Index=.83. The second-order factor model also provided moderate fit to the data. In Study 2, results of the CFA with data from adolescent psychiatric inpatients (N=205; 101 boys, 104 girls) provided additional support for the four-factor solution. In addition, results of the receiver operating characteristic and logistic regression analyses showed that scores on the Body Feelings and Body Protection scales were most useful in differentiating the responses of suicidal and nonsuicidal adolescents, all Cohen's d values >.30. The study also examined associations between scores on the BIS scales and the validation self-report measures of hopelessness, suicide-related behavior, and reasons for living. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 66: 259,276, 2010. [source] Do aggression and rule-breaking have different interpersonal correlates?AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 6 2009A study of antisocial behavior subtypes, hostile perceptions of others, negative affect Abstract There is mounting evidence that physical aggression and nonaggressive, rule-breaking delinquency constitute two separable though correlated subtypes of antisocial behavior. Even so, it remains unclear whether these behavioral subtypes have meaningfully different interpersonal correlates, particularly as they are subsumed within the same broad domain of antisocial behavior. To evaluate this, we examined whether hostile perceptions of others (assessed via exposure to a series of neutral unknown faces) were linked to level and type of antisocial behavior aggression vs. rule-breaking, and moreover, whether this association persisted even when also considering the common association with negative affect (as manipulated via written recollection of one's best and worst life experiences). Analyses revealed that aggression, but not rule-breaking, was uniquely tied to hostile perceptions of others. Furthermore, this association persisted over and above the common association of both hostile perceptions and aggression with negative affect (at both trait and state levels). Such results provide additional support for clinically meaningful differences between the behavioral subtypes of aggression and nonaggressive rule-breaking and for the independent role of hostile perceptions in aggressive behavior. Aggr. Behav. 35:453,461, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Evaluating the inter-respondent (consumer vs. staff) reliability and construct validity (SIS vs.JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2009Vineland) of the Supports Intensity Scale on a Dutch sample Abstract Background Despite various reliability studies on the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS), to date there has not been an evaluation of the reliability of client vs. staff judgments. Such determination is important, given the increasing consumer-driven approach to services. Additionally, there has not been an evaluation of the instrument's construct validity on a non-English speaking sample. This is important as the SIS is currently translated into 13 languages. Method Data were collected in two different samples, using the Dutch translation of the SIS and the Vineland-Z. Results There was a significant correlation between ratings of staff and consumers on the SIS; however, the relationship between the mean scores of consumer and staff responses indicated significant differences in staff and consumer scores. All correlations between the Vineland-Z domains and the SIS subscales were significant and negative, ranging from ,0.37 to ,0.89. Conclusions Analyses of the inter-respondent reliability suggest that one needs to consider the source of information regarding needed supports carefully. The significant negative correlations between SIS and Vineland-Z reflect that the SIS is measuring a different construct (needed support) than the Vineland-Z (adaptive behaviour). The results of the two studies provide additional support for the etic (universal) properties of the SIS, as both hypotheses were confirmed. In conclusion, SIS users are provided with a wealth of information that can be used for multiple purposes. [source] Safe Criteria and Procedure for Kangaroo Care With Intubated Preterm InfantsJOURNAL OF OBSTETRIC, GYNECOLOGIC & NEONATAL NURSING, Issue 5 2003FAAN professor, Susan M. Ludington-Hoe CNM Kangaroo care (KC) was safely conducted with mechanically ventilated infants who weighed less than 600 grams and were less than 26 weeks gestation at birth. These infants, ventilated for at least 24 hours at the time of the first KC session, were considered stable on the ventilator at low settings (intermittent mandatory ventilation < 35 breaths per minute and FiO2 < 50%), had stable vital signs, and were not on vasopressors. A protocol for implementation of KC with ventilated infants that uses a standing transfer, with two staff members assisting to minimize the possibility of extubation, is presented. Also discussed is the positioning of the ventilator tubing during KC. This protocol was implemented without any accidental extubation throughout an experimental research study. The criteria and protocol were compared to those available in published reports and revealed many similar elements, providing additional support for the recommended protocol. No adverse events occurred with the criteria and protocol reported here, suggesting that they can be adopted for broader use. [source] Narcissistic Subtypes and Contingent Self-Esteem: Do All Narcissists Base Their Self-Esteem on the Same Domains?JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 4 2008Virgil Zeigler-Hill ABSTRACT It has been suggested that there are two forms of narcissism: a grandiose subtype and a vulnerable subtype. Although these forms of narcissism share certain similarities, it is believed that these subtypes may differ in the domains upon which their self-esteem is based. To explore this possibility, the present study examined the associations between these narcissistic subtypes and domain-specific contingencies of self-worth. The results show that vulnerable narcissism was positively associated with contingencies of self-worth across a variety of domains. In contrast, the associations between grandiose narcissism and domain-specific contingencies of self-worth were more complex and included both positive and negative relationships. These results provide additional support for the distinction between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism by showing that the domains of contingent self-esteem associated with grandiose narcissism may be more limited in scope than those associated with vulnerable narcissism. [source] Characterization of a Functional Polymorphism in the 3, UTR of SLC6A4 and its Association With Drinking IntensityALCOHOLISM, Issue 2 2009Chamindi Seneviratne Background:, The propensity for severe drinking is hypothesized to be regulated by differential expression of serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) in the human brain. The SLC6A4 promoter region 5-HTTLPR has been examined previously as a candidate polymorphic variant associated with severe drinking. In this study, we investigated whether other SLC6A4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with drinking intensity among treatment-seeking alcoholics and whether these polymorphic variants result in differential SLC6A4 expression levels. Methods:, We analyzed associations of drinking intensity in 275 (78.5% male) treatment-seeking alcoholics of Caucasian and Hispanic origin, with 6 SLC6A4 polymorphisms. Next, to examine the functionality of the SNP that showed a significant association with drinking intensity, we transfected the 2 alleles of rs1042173 into HeLa cell cultures and measured serotonin transporter mRNA and protein expression levels by using qRT-PCR and western blotting techniques. Results:, One of the 6 polymorphisms we examined, rs1042173 in the 3, untranslated region (3,-UTR) of SLC6A4, showed a significant association with drinking intensity. The G allele carriers for rs1042173 were associated with significantly lower drinking intensity (p = 0.0034) compared to T-allele homozygotes. In HeLa cell cultures, the cells transfected with G allele showed a significantly higher mRNA and protein levels than the T allele-transfected cells. Conclusion:, These findings suggest that the allelic variations of rs1042173 affect drinking intensity in alcoholics possibly by altering serotonin transporter expression levels. This provides additional support to the hypothesis that SLC6A4 polymorphisms play an important role in regulating propensity for severe drinking. [source] Toward implementing distributed scaffolding: Helping students learn science from designJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 2 2005Sadhana Puntambekar In this article, we present two studies that helped us understand the kinds of support that students need to learn science successfully from design activities. Both were enacted in the context of an approach to learning science from design called learning by design (LBD). In our first study, we designed and integrated a paper-and-pencil scaffolding tool, the design diary, into an LBD unit to support students' design-related activities. We learned two important lessons from the first study. First, we refined our understanding of the processes involved in designing and the ways we might present those processes to students. Second, and more important, we observed that in the dynamic, complex environment of the classroom, not all of the scaffolding could be provided with any one tool or agent. We found that students need multiple forms of support and multiple learning opportunities to learn science successfully from design activities. In our next study, we provided additional support through an organized system of tools and agents. Our analysis of data from the second study leads us to believe that supporting multiple students in a classroom requires us to rethink the notion of scaffolding as it applied to groups of learners in a classroom. We put forth the notion of distributed scaffolding as an approach to supporting hands-on inquiry learning in a classroom. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 42: 185,217, 2005 [source] Association Between Alcoholism and ,-Amino Butyric Acid ,2 Receptor Subtype in a Russian PopulationALCOHOLISM, Issue 4 2005Jaakko Lappalainen Background: Two recent large genetic studies in the US population have reported association between genetic variation in ,-amino butyric acid ,2 receptor subtype (GABRA2) and risk for alcohol dependence. The goal of this study was to test whether GABRA2 is associated with alcohol dependence in a sample of Russian alcohol-dependent men. Methods: A total of 113 Russian alcohol-dependent men and 100 male population control subjects were recruited in St. Petersburg and genotyped for seven GABRA2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using real-time PCR (TaqMan). Six SNPs were located in a GABRA2 haplotype block previously associated with alcohol dependence (AD) in the US population. SNPs and haplotypes were tested for an association to AD using ,2 analysis and a likelihood ratio-based statistic implemented in the software COCAPHASE. Results: Significant associations between two SNPs and AD were observed (p < 0.05). In addition, a trend-level association was observed between AD and three adjacent SNPs (p < 0.1). Associated alleles were carried in a haplotype that was present at frequencies of 0.37 and 0.48 in the control and alcohol-dependent populations, respectively (p < 0.06). Tight linkage disequilibrium spanning from the central portion of the gene to the 3, end was observed in this population. Comparison of the findings to the previously published studies in the US population revealed a highly similar linkage disequilibrium pattern in this population. Conclusions: These findings suggest that genetic variants of GABRA2 increase risk for AD in the Russian population and provide additional support to the hypothesis that polymorphic variation at the GABRA2 locus plays an important role in predisposing to AD at least in European-ancestry populations. [source] National pholcodine consumption and prevalence of IgE-sensitization: a multicentre studyALLERGY, Issue 4 2010S. G. O. Johansson To cite this article: Johansson SGO, Florvaag E, Öman H, Poulsen LK, Mertes PM, Harper NJN, Garvey LH, Gerth van Wijk R, Metso T, Irgens A, Dybendal T, Halsey J, Seneviratne SL, Guttormsen AB. National pholcodine consumption and prevalence of IgE-sensitization: a multicentre study. Allergy 2010; 65: 498,502. Abstract Background:, The aim of this study was to test, on a multinational level, the pholcodine (PHO) hypothesis, i.e. that the consumption of PHO-containing cough mixtures could cause higher prevalence of IgE antibodies to PHO, morphine (MOR) and suxamethonium (SUX). As a consequence the risk of anaphylaxis to neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) will be increased. Methods:, National PHO consumptions were derived from the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) database. IgE and IgE antibodies to PHO, MOR, SUX and P-aminophenyl-phosphoryl choline (PAPPC) were measured in sera from atopic individuals, defined by a positive Phadiatop® test (>0.35 kUA/l), collected in nine countries representing high and low PHO-consuming nations. Results:, There was a significant positive association between PHO consumption and prevalences of IgE-sensitization to PHO and MOR, but not to SUX and PAPPC, as calculated both by exposure group comparisons and linear regression analysis. The Netherlands and the USA, did not have PHO-containing drugs on the markets, although the former had a considerable PHO consumption. Both countries had high figures of IgE-sensitization. Conclusion:, This international prevalence study lends additional support to the PHO hypothesis and, consequently, that continued use of drugs containing this substance should be seriously questioned. The results also indicate that other, yet unknown, substances may lead to IgE-sensitization towards NMBAs. [source] Prior academic background and student performance in assessment in a graduate entry programmeMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 11 2004P L Craig Objectives, This study aims to identify whether non-science graduates perform as well as science graduates in Basic and Clinical Sciences (B & CS) assessments during Years 1,3 of a four-year graduate-entry programme at the University of Sydney (the ,USydMP'). Methods, Students were grouped into five categories: Health Professions (HP), Biomedical Sciences (BMS), Other Biology (BIOL), Physical Sciences (PHYS) or Non-Science (NONS). We examined the performance rank of students in each of the five groups for single best answer (SBA) and modified essay (MEQ) assessments separately, and also calculated the relative risk of failure in the summative assessments in Years 2 and 3. Results, Students with science-based prior degrees performed better in the SBA assessments. The same occurred initially in the MEQs, but the effect diminished with time. The HP students performed consistently better but converged with other groups over time, particularly in the MEQs. Relative performance by the NONS students improved with time in both assessment formats. Overall, differences between the highest and lowest groups were small and very few students failed to meet the overall standard for the summative assessments. HP and BMS students had the lowest failure rate. NONS students were more likely to fail the assessments in Year 2 and 3, but their pass rates were still high. Female students performed significantly better overall at the end of Year 2 and in Year 3. There were only minor differences between Australian resident and International students. Conclusion, While there are small differences in performance in B & CS early in the programme, these lessen with time. The study results will inform decisions regarding timing of summative assessments, selection policy and for providing additional support to students who need it to minimize their risk of failure. Readers should note that this paper refers to student performance in only one of the four curriculum themes, where health professional and science graduates would be expected to have a significant advantage. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||