bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Central Role for the Cardiotonic Steroid Marinobufagenin in the Pathogenesis of Experimental Uremic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Kennedy David J. , Vetteth Sandeep , Periyasamy Sankaridrug M. , Kanj Mohamed , Fedorova Larisa , Khouri Samer , Kahaleh M. Bashar , Xie Zijian , Malhotra Deepak , Kolodkin Nikolai I. , Lakatta Edward G. , Fedorova Olga V. , Bagrov Alexei Y. , Shapiro Joseph I.
Published: January 2006

Patients with chronic renal failure develop a “uremic” cardiomyopathy characterized by diastolic dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, and systemic oxidant stress. Patients with chronic renal failure are also known to have increases in the circulating concentrations of the cardiotonic steroid marinobufagenin (MBG). On this background, we hypothesized that elevations in circulating MBG may be involved in the cardiomyopathy. First, we observed that administration of MBG (10 μg/kg per day) for 4 weeks caused comparable increases in plasma MBG as partial nephrectomy at 4 weeks. MBG infusion caused increases in conscious blood pressure, cardiac weight, and the time constant for left ventricular relaxation similar to partial nephrectomy. Decreases in the expression of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase, cardiac fibrosis, and systemic oxidant stress were observed with both MBG infusion and partial nephrectomy. Next, rats were actively immunized against a MBG-BSA conjugate or BSA control, and partial nephrectomy was subsequently performed. Immunization against MBG attenuated the cardiac hypertrophy, impairment of diastolic function, cardiac fibrosis, and systemic oxidant stress seen with partial nephrectomy without a significant effect on conscious blood pressure. These data suggest that the increased concentrations of MBG are important in the cardiac disease and oxidant stress state seen with renal failure.
Evidence Supporting a Functional Role for Intracellular Renin in the Brain
Authors: Lavoie Julie L. , Liu Xuebo , Bianco Robert A. , Beltz Terry G. , Johnson Alan Kim , Sigmund Curt D.
Published: January 2006

The brain renin–angiotensin system is implicated in the regulation of blood pressure (BP) and fluid homeostasis. Recent studies reveal that 2 forms of renin are expressed in the brain of rodents and humans: secreted prorenin and a nonsecreted intracellular form of active renin (icREN). Although the intracellular action of renin has long been postulated, no data supporting its role in BP regulation has been reported. Therefore, we directly evaluated whether this form of renin has physiological implications for BP regulation by characterizing transgenic mice expressing human icREN driven by the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter and comparing it with similar mice expressing the secreted form of renin. GFAP-icREN mice express hREN primarily in the brain and at the same level of expression as GFAP-secreted prorenin. Unlike the secreted form, which can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid, no human renin could be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of GFAP-icREN mice. GFAP-icREN mice were then bred with transgenic mice expressing human angiotensinogen, also driven by the GFAP promoter. Double-transgenic mice expressing either the intracellular renin (2.0±0.12 mL/10 g/day) or secreted renin (2.8±0.3 mL/10 g/day) exhibited an increase in drinking volume compared with nontransgenic littermates (1.5±0.1 mL/10 g/day). Both models exhibited an increase in mean arterial pressure (137±5 and 133±8 mm Hg, respectively) compared with control littermates (115±3 mm Hg), which could be rapidly reduced after ICV injection of losartan. These data support the concept of an intracellular form of renin in the brain, which may provoke functional changes in fluid homeostasis and BP regulation.
Sympathetic Activity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Men in the Low, Normal, and High Blood Pressure Ranges
Authors: Flaa Arnljot , Mundal Håvard H. , Eide Ivar , Kjeldsen Sverre , Rostrup Morten
Published: January 2006

We hypothesized that resting blood pressure is related to sympathetic activity in young men who are unaware of their blood pressure status in high, normal, and low ranges and that there is a relationship between sympathetic activity and coronary risk factors. Forty-three healthy, young men from the 1st [group 1, 106/52±2/2 mm Hg (±SEM), n=15], 50th (group 2, 129/79±2/1 mm Hg, n=15), and 98th to 99th percentile (group 3, 166/97±3/1 mm Hg, n=13) at a blood pressure screening were studied with intraarterial blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial plasma catecholamine responses to a mental, cold pressor, and orthostatic stress test. At baseline, group 3 had significant higher blood pressure (137/74±3/2 mm Hg) than group 2 (126/66±3/2 mm Hg;
P
<0.01) and group 1 (116/62±2/1 mm Hg;
P
<0.001). Group 1 had lower systolic blood pressure than group 2 (
P
=0.007). Baseline epinephrine and norepinephrine showed a clear positive linear trend (
P
<0.05), with the lowest values being in group 1 and highest in group 3. High-density lipoprotein was negatively related to epinephrine (
r
=−0.387;
P
=0.010). Mental stress was the only test that showed significant differences in cardiovascular and sympathetic responses among the groups, where group 3 had a more pronounced response in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate compared with group 1 (
P
<0.001) and group 2 (
P
<0.01). Furthermore, we found significant positive linear trends for Δcatecholamines during mental stress across the groups (Δepinephrine
P
=0.001 and Δnorepinephrine
P
=0.026, ANOVA). We conclude that resting blood pressure reflects both variation in resting arterial catecholamines and variation in cardiovascular and sympathetic responses specifically to mental stress.
Prehypertension, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in a Population-Based Sample
Authors: Zhang Ying , Lee Elisa T. , Devereux Richard B. , Yeh Jeunliang , Best Lyle G. , Fabsitz Richard R. , Howard Barbara V.
Published: January 2006

There are few data about the impact of the recently-defined category of prehypertension (systolic blood pressure 120 to 139 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure 80 to 89 mm Hg) on cardiovascular disease incidence. It is also unknown whether this association differs between individuals with or without diabetes. A total of 2629 Strong Heart Study participants free from hypertension and cardiovascular disease at baseline examination were followed for 12 years to observe incident cardiovascular disease. Approximately 42% of the 2629 participants had diabetes. We assessed the prevalence of prehypertension and the hazard ratios of incident cardiovascular disease associated with prehypertension. Prehypertension was more prevalent in diabetic than nondiabetic participants (59.4% versus 48.2%,
P
<0.001 adjusted for age). Compared with nondiabetic participants with normal blood pressure, the hazard ratios of cardiovascular disease were 3.70 (95% confidence interval: 2.66, 5.15) for those with both prehypertension and diabetes, 1.80 (1.28, 2.54) for those with prehypertension alone and 2.90 (2.03, 4.16) for those with diabetes alone. Impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose also greatly increased the cardiovascular disease risk in prehypertensive people. Clinical investigation of more aggressive interventions, such as drug treatment for blood pressure control for prehypertensive individuals with impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, or diabetes is warranted.
Electrocardiographic Abnormalities That Predict Coronary Heart Disease Events and Mortality in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Rautaharju Pentti M. , Kooperberg Charles , Larson Joseph C. , LaCroix Andrea
Published: January 2006

Background—

Information is limited about the independent prognostic value of repolarization abnormalities in women.

Methods and Results—

We evaluated hazard ratios for ECG variables for combined fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD) events and for CHD mortality using Cox regression in 38 283 Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) participants during up to 9.2 years of follow-up. All risk models were adjusted for demographic, clinical, and therapeutic variables. Evaluated as single ECG variables, wide QRS/T angle and ECG-demonstrated myocardial infarction (ECG-MI) were the strongest predictors of CHD events, with hazard ratios (95% CI) of 1.90 (1.50 to 2.42) and 1.62 (1.29 to 2.03), respectively. Six other repolarization variables were also significant, strong predictors of CHD events. Wide QRS/T angle, ECG-MI, and QT prolongation appeared as dominant predictors when evaluated simultaneously with other ECG variables in a multiadjusted risk model. QRS/T angle, ECG-MI, and high QRS nondipolar voltage were the strongest predictors of CHD mortality, with hazard ratios of 2.70, 2.41, and 2.18, respectively. The risk increase ranged from 63% to 95% for the other 4 significant predictors. Five ECG abnormalities were identified as dominant mortality risk predictors: wide QRS/T angle, ECG-MI, high QRS nondipolar voltage, reduced heart rate variability, and QT prolongation (in the cardiovascular disease–free group only).

Conclusions—

Ventricular repolarization abnormalities in postmenopausal women are as important predictors of CHD events and CHD mortality as ECG-MI and other QRS abnormalities. Repolarization variables and QRS nondipolar voltage warrant attention in future investigations.
National Study of Women’s Awareness, Preventive Action, and Barriers to Cardiovascular Health
Authors: Mosca Lori , Mochari Heidi , Christian Allison , Berra Kathy , Taubert Kathryn , Mills Thomas , Burdick Keisha Arrowood , Simpson Susan Lee
Published: January 2006

Background—

There is growing awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as the leading cause of death in women, but whether this greater awareness is associated with increased action by women to lower their personal or family’s risk is unknown.

Methods and Results—

A nationally representative sample of 1008 women selected through random-digit dialing were given a standardized questionnaire about history of CVD/risk factors, awareness of leading cause of death, knowledge of healthy and personal levels of CVD risk factors, self-reported actions taken to reduce risk, and barriers to heart health. The rate of awareness of CVD as the leading cause of death has nearly doubled since 1997 (55% versus 30%) was significantly greater for whites compared with blacks and Hispanics (62% versus 38% and 34%, respectively) and was independently correlated with increased physical activity (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.83) and weight loss (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.02) in the previous year in logistic regression models. Fewer than half of the respondents were aware of healthy levels of risk factors. Awareness that personal level was not healthy was positively associated with action. Most women took steps to lower risk in family members and themselves. The most frequently cited barriers for heart health were confusion in the media (49%), the belief that health is determined by a higher power (44%), and caretaking responsibilities (36%).

Conclusions—

General awareness of CVD risk among women is associated with preventive action. Educational interventions need to be targeted at racial/ethnic minority women.
Long-Duration Drought Variability and Impacts on Ecosystem Services: A Case Study from Glacier National Park, Montana
Authors: Pederson Gregory T. , Gray Stephen T. , Fagre Daniel B. , Graumlich Lisa J.
Published: January 2006

Instrumental climate records suggest that summer precipitation and winter snowpack in Glacier National Park (Glacier NP), Montana, vary significantly over decadal to multidecadal time scales. Because instrumental records for the region are limited to the twentieth century, knowledge of the range of variability associated with these moisture anomalies and their impacts on ecosystems and physical processes are limited. The authors developed a reconstruction of summer (June–August) moisture variability spanning a.d. 1540–2000 from a multispecies network of tree-ring chronologies in Glacier NP. Decadal-scale drought and pluvial regimes were defined as any event lasting 10 yr or greater, and the significance of each potential regime was assessed using intervention analysis. Intervention analysis prevents single intervening years of average or opposing moisture conditions from ending what was otherwise a sustained moisture regime. The reconstruction shows numerous decadal-scale shifts between persistent drought and wet events prior to the instrumental period (before a.d. 1900). Notable wet events include a series of three long-duration, high-magnitude pluvial regimes spanning the end of the Little Ice Age (a.d. 1770–1840). Though the late-nineteenth century was marked by a series of >10 yr droughts, the single most severe dry event occurred in the early-twentieth century (a.d. 1917–41). These decadal-scale dry and wet events, in conjunction with periods of high and low snowpack, have served as a driver of ecosystem processes such as forest fires and glacial dynamics in the Glacier NP region.

Using a suite of paleoproxy reconstructions and information from previous studies examining the relationship between climate variability and natural processes, the authors explore how such persistent moisture anomalies affect the delivery of vital goods and services provided by Glacier NP and surrounding areas. These analyses show that regional water resources and tourism are particularly vulnerable to persistent moisture anomalies in the Glacier NP area. Many of these same decadal-scale wet and dry events were also seen among a wider network of hydroclimatic reconstructions along a north–south transect of the Rocky Mountains. Such natural climate variability can, in turn, have enormous impacts on the sustainable provision of natural resources over wide areas. Overall, these results highlight the susceptibility of goods and services provided by protected areas like Glacier NP to natural climate variability, and show that this susceptibility will likely be compounded by the effects of future human-induced climate change.
A Photograph of a Wavenumber-2 Asymmetry in the Eye of Hurricane Erin
Authors: Aberson Sim D. , Dunion Jason P. , Marks Frank D.
Published: January 2006

A photograph of a wavenumber-2 asymmetry in the eye of Hurricane Erin taken during a NOAA WP-3D research flight during the Fourth Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX-4) field program on 10 September 2001 is described. The photograph of the cloud structure within the eye is evaluated using airborne and satellite remote sensing observations, and a possible explanation for the asymmetry is presented.
High-Resolution Simulation of Hurricane Bonnie (1998). Part I: The Organization of Eyewall Vertical Motion
Authors: Braun Scott A. , Montgomery Michael T. , Pu Zhaoxia
Published: January 2006

The fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to simulate Hurricane Bonnie at high resolution (2-km spacing) in order to examine how vertical wind shear impacts the distribution of vertical motion in the eyewall on both the storm and cloud scale. As in many previous studies, it is found here that the shear produces a wavenumber-1 asymmetry in the time-averaged vertical motion and rainfall. Several mechanisms for this asymmetry are evaluated. The vertical motion asymmetry is qualitatively consistent with an assumed balance between horizontal vorticity advection by the relative flow and stretching of vorticity, with relative asymmetric inflow (convergence) at low levels and outflow (divergence) at upper levels on the downshear side of the eyewall. The simulation results also show that the upward motion portion of the eyewall asymmetry is located in the direction of vortex tilt, consistent with the vertical motion that required to maintain dynamic balance. Variations in the direction and magnitude of the tilt are consistent with the presence of a vortex Rossby wave quasi mode, which is characterized by a damped precession of the upper vortex relative to the lower vortex.

While the time-averaged vertical motion is characterized by ascent in a shear-induced wavenumber-1 asymmetry, the instantaneous vertical motion is typically associated with deep updraft towers that generally form on the downtilt-right side of the eyewall and dissipate on the downtilt-left side. The updrafts towers are typically associated with eyewall mesovortices rotating cyclonically around the eyewall and result from an interaction between the shear-induced relative asymmetric flow and the cyclonic circulations of the mesovortices. The eyewall mesovortices may persist for more than one orbit around the eyewall and, in these cases, can initiate multiple episodes of upward motion.
Numerical Simulation of Hurricane Bonnie (1998). Part II: Sensitivity to Varying Cloud Microphysical Processes
Authors: Zhu Tong , Zhang Da-Lin
Published: January 2006

In this study, the effects of various cloud microphysics processes on the hurricane intensity, precipitation, and inner-core structures are examined with a series of 5-day explicit simulations of Hurricane Bonnie (1998), using the results presented in Part I as a control run. It is found that varying cloud microphysics processes produces little sensitivity in hurricane track, except for very weak and shallow storms, but it produces pronounced departures in hurricane intensity and inner-core structures.

Specifically, removing ice microphysics produces the weakest (15-hPa underdeepening) and shallowest storm with widespread cloud water but little rainwater in the upper troposphere. Removing graupel from the control run generates a weaker hurricane with a wider area of precipitation and more cloud coverage in the eyewall due to the enhanced horizontal advection of hydrometeors relative to the vertical fallouts (or increased water loading). Turning off the evaporation of cloud water and rainwater leads to the most rapid deepening storm (i.e., 90 hPa in 48 h) with the smallest radius but a wider eyewall and the strongest eyewall updrafts. The second strongest storm, but with the most amount of rainfall, is obtained when the melting effect is ignored. It is found that the cooling due to melting is more pronounced in the eyewall where more frozen hydrometeors, especially graupel, are available, whereas the evaporative cooling occurs more markedly when the storm environment is more unsaturated.

It is shown that stronger storms tend to show more compact eyewalls with heavier precipitation and more symmetric structures in the warm-cored eye and in the eyewall. It is also shown that although the eyewall replacement scenarios occur as the simulated storms move into weak-sheared environments, the associated inner-core structural changes, timing, and location differ markedly, depending on the hurricane intensity. That is, the eyewall convection in weak storms tends to diminish shortly after being encircled by an outer rainband, whereas both the cloud band and the inner eyewall in strong storms tend to merge to form a new eyewall with a larger radius. The results indicate the importance of the Bergeron processes, including the growth and rapid fallout of graupel in the eyewall, and the latent heat of fusion in determining the intensity and inner-core structures of hurricanes, and the vulnerability of weak storms to the influence of large-scale sheared flows in terms of track, inner-core structures, and intensity changes.
A Vortical Hot Tower Route to Tropical Cyclogenesis
Authors: Montgomery M. T. , Nicholls M. E. , Cram T. A. , Saunders A. B.
Published: January 2006

A nonhydrostatic cloud model is used to examine the thermomechanics of tropical cyclogenesis under realistic meteorological conditions. Observations motivate the focus on the problem of how a midtropospheric cyclonic vortex, a frequent by-product of mesoscale convective systems during summertime conditions over tropical oceans, may be transformed into a surface-concentrated (warm core) tropical depression. As a first step, the vortex transformation is studied in the absence of vertical wind shear or zonal flow.

Within the cyclonic vorticity-rich environment of the mesoscale convective vortex (MCV) embryo, the simulations demonstrate that small-scale cumulonimbus towers possessing intense cyclonic vorticity in their cores [vortical hot towers (VHTs)] emerge as the preferred coherent structures. The VHTs acquire their vertical vorticity through a combination of tilting of MCV horizontal vorticity and stretching of MCV and VHT-generated vertical vorticity. Horizontally localized and exhibiting convective lifetimes on the order of 1 h, VHTs overcome the generally adverse effects of downdrafts by consuming convective available potential energy in their local environment, humidifying the middle and upper troposphere, and undergoing diabatic vortex merger with neighboring towers.

During metamorphosis, the VHTs vortically prime the mesoscale environment and collectively mimic a quasi-steady diabatic heating rate within the MCV embryo. A quasi-balanced toroidal (transverse) circulation develops on the system scale that converges cyclonic vorticity of the initial MCV and small-scale vorticity anomalies generated by subsequent tower activity. The VHTs are found to accelerate the spinup of near-surface mean tangential winds relative to an approximate axisymmetric model that excises the VHTs. This upscale growth mechanism appears capable of generating a tropical depression vortex on time scales on the order of 1–2 days, for reasonable parameter choices.

Further tests of the VHT paradigm are advocated through diagnoses of operational weather prediction models, higher resolution simulations of the current configuration, examination of disruption scenarios for incipient vortices, and a meteorological field experiment.
Overview of the Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX)
Authors: Kakar Ramesh , Goodman Michael , Hood Robbie , Guillory Anthony
Published: January 2006

This paper presents an overview of the Convection and Moisture Experiment (CAMEX), including the field operations, aircraft platforms and missions, instrumentation, and data acquired during 1998 and 2001 field campaigns. A total of eight tropical storms and hurricanes were investigated during the CAMEX field campaigns including Bonnie, Danielle, Earl, and Georges during 1998 and Chantal, Erin, Gabrielle, and Humberto during 2001. Most of these storms were sampled with aircraft over the open ocean, but Hurricanes Bonnie (1998), Georges (1998), and Gabrielle (2001) also provided opportunities to monitor landfalling impacts. A few of the storms were sampled on multiple occasions during a course of several days. Most notable of these was Hurricane Humberto, which was sampled on three consecutive days during a cycle of both increasing and decreasing intensity change. Information collected for each of the eight CAMEX tropical storms as well as the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission validation activities are accessible via the CAMEX Web site and archived at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Marshall Space Flight Center.
Doppler Profiler and Radar Observations of Boundary Layer Variability during the Landfall of Tropical Storm Gabrielle
Authors: Knupp Kevin R. , Walters Justin , Biggerstaff Michael
Published: January 2006

Detailed observations of boundary layer structure were acquired on 14 September 2001, prior to and during the landfall of Tropical Storm Gabrielle. The Mobile Integrated Profiling System (MIPS) and the Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radar (SMART-R) were collocated at the western Florida coastline near Venice, very close to the wind center at landfall. Prior to landfall, the boundary layer was rendered weakly stable by a long period of evaporational cooling and mesoscale downdrafts within extensive stratiform precipitation that started 18 h before landfall. The cool air mass was expansive, with an area within the 23°C surface isotherm of about 50 000 km2. East-northeasterly surface flow transported this cool air off the west coast of Florida, toward the convergent warm core of the Gabrielle, and promoted the development of shallow warm and cold fronts that were prominent during the landfall phase.

Airflow properties of the boundary layer around the coastal zone are examined using the MIPS and SMART-R data. Wind profiles exhibited considerable temporal variability throughout the period of observations. The stable offshore flow within stratiform precipitation exhibited a modest jet that descended from about 600 to 300 m within the 20-km zone centered on the coastline. In contrast, the onshore flow on the western side of the wind center produced a more turbulent boundary layer that exhibited a well-defined top varying between 400 and 1000 m MSL. The horizontal variability of each boundary layer is examined using high-resolution Doppler radar scans at locations up to 15 km on either side of the coastline, along the mean flow direction of the boundary layer. These analyses reveal that transitions in boundary layer structure for both the stable and unstable regimes were most substantial within 5 km of the coastline.
High-Resolution Simulation of Hurricane Bonnie (1998). Part II: Water Budget
Authors: Braun Scott A.
Published: January 2006

The fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research (PSU–NCAR) Mesoscale Model (MM5) is used to simulate Hurricane Bonnie at high resolution (2-km spacing) in order to examine budgets of water vapor, cloud condensate, and precipitation. Virtually all budget terms are derived directly from the model (except for the effects of storm motion). The water vapor budget reveals that a majority of the condensation in the eyewall occurs in convective hot towers, while outside of the eyewall most of the condensation occurs in weaker updrafts, indicative of a larger role of stratiform precipitation processes. The ocean source of water vapor in the eyewall region is only a very small fraction of that transported inward in the boundary layer inflow or that condensed in the updrafts. In contrast, in the outer regions, the ocean vapor source is larger owing to the larger area, counters the drying effect of low-level subsidence, and enhances the moisture transported in toward the eyewall. In this mature storm, cloud condensate is consumed as rapidly as it is produced. Cloud water peaks at the top of the boundary layer and within the melting layer, where cooling from melting enhances condensation. Unlike in squall lines, in the hurricane, very little condensate produced in the eyewall convection is transported outward into the surrounding precipitation area. Most of the mass ejected outward is likely in the form of small snow particles that seed the outer regions and enhance in situ stratiform precipitation development through additional growth by vapor deposition and aggregation.

This study also examines artificial source terms for cloud and precipitation mass associated with setting to zero negative mixing ratios that arise from numerical advection errors. Although small at any given point and time, the cumulative effect of these terms contributes an amount of mass equivalent to 13% of the total condensation and 15%–20% of the precipitation. Thus, these terms must be accounted for to balance the model budgets, and the results suggest the need for improved model numerics.
Environmental Comfort in School Buildings
Authors: Bernardi Núbia , Kowaltowski Doris C. C. K.
Published: January 2006

This article describes the results of a study on user behavior in relation to environmental comfort conditions. A case study was conducted in school buildings in the region of the city of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The methodology adopted was based on field observations of technical aspects of the school environment and of types of user behavior (interventions) that introduced changes in the classroom space. Questionnaires were applied to users. A follow-up study evaluated user perception of possible interventions. User knowledge on environmental comfort concepts was also assessed. The results of the case study showed few interventions by users in favor of their own comfort. Low participation results may, in part, be attributed to the context, where users, schoolchildren, are subject to discipline codes with restricted spontaneous behavior in favor of individual comfort. Environmental awareness should therefore be stimulated by teaching concepts of environmental comfort in primary and secondary schools.
Perceived Distance in the City as a Function of Time
Authors: Crompton Andrew
Published: January 2006

Estimates of walking distances up to 2 miles along a busy road were correlated with the length of time, between 2 and 26 months, that participants had been acquainted with the route in question. It was discovered that perceived distances increased the longer participants had known them. A mile was estimated, on average, to be 1.24 miles by a 1st-year student, 1.33 miles by a 2nd-year student, and 1.45 miles by a 3rd-year student. It is argued that this increase supports the feature-accumulation hypothesis of distance perception as opposed to the route-segmentation hypothesis. This result is used to explain Lee’s anomaly that distances into a city are seen as shorter than equal outward journeys. A case is made for investigating distance perception in real rather than reduced-cue environments.
Is My Home My Castle? Place Attachment, Risk Perception, and Religious Faith
Authors: Billig Miriam
Published: January 2006

This study dealt with place and home attachment of Jewish settlers in the Gaza region affected by hostilities incurring risk to the settlers’ lives. It evaluated the variables related to the settlers’ risk perception and their tendency to stay or leave their homes in a sample consisting of 156 of 947 households interviewed by telephone. The researchers evaluated how risk perception and the tendency to stay were related to demographic characteristics such as gender and length of time living in the region and to cultural characteristics such as place and home attachment, ideology, and religious faith. In spite of the dangerous environment, the settlers were found to have a strong tendency to stay in the area, related to their firm ideology of holding on to the land, profound religious faith, strong place and home attachment, and low risk perception of their situation.
Child Adoption in Contemporary Rural China
Authors: Zhang Weiguo
Published: January 2006

Based on qualitative information from in-depth interviews and quantitative data from a survey of 425 adoptive families conducted in summer 2001 in rural China, this study attempts to explain the social and demographic patterns of adoption and investigate the roles of the State and families in adoption processes in contemporary rural China. Within the changing context of the new political economy, culture, and social conditions brought about by market reforms (1978) and the “one-child” policy (1979), this study shows that adoption is nowincreasingly used as a strategy for the childless as well as reproductive couples to reach ideal family size and particularly ideal sex composition of children. Moreover, Chinese families are willing to adopt girls, though strong son preference persists. Overall, it appears that individual adoptions of children in rural China follow increasingly individual desires rather than State directives.
Gender Ideology, Household Behavior, and Backlash in Urban China
Authors: Pimentel Ellen Efron
Published: January 2006

This article analyzes gender attitudes and behaviors of husbands and wives across three urban Chinese cohorts. Whilewomen remain egalitarian in gender ideology across cohorts, the percentage of men who hold egalitarian gender attitudes declines significantly across cohorts. At the same time, the division of household labor has become somewhat less inequitable for women; however, their expectations of equality appear to have changed faster than the division of labor. Men's attitudes reflect a backlash to egalitarian pressures from their wives and the state, with significantly negative implications for their partner's marriage quality.
Spatial Test for Agricultural Pesticide “Blow-In” Effect on Prevalence of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Yesavage J. A. , Sheikh J. , Noda A. , Murphy G. , O’Hara R. , Hierholzer R. , Battista M. , Ashford J. W. , Schneider B. , Hoblyn J. , Kraemer H. C. , Tinklenberg J.
Published: January 2006

The current study used Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) clinical records, State of California pesticide application records, spatial maps of distribution of Parkinson’s disease patients, and pesticide applications to determine if there was evidence for “blow-in” of pesticides as a factor in explaining the prevalence of Central Valley Parkinson’s disease. The results did not support the hypothesis of increasing prevalence of Parkinsonism attributable to wind drift.
Arts in Health Care
Authors: Lane Mary Rockwood
Published: January 2006

Bringing creativity into health care has opened up a new dimension in nursing. Creative interventions have been shown to shorten hospital stays and reduce the patient's need for pain medication. In response to these benefits, many major medical centers around theworld have instituted arts in health care programs. Arts in Medicine is one such program that serves hundreds of patients. Itwas established by a nurse at the University of Florida and is directly tied to nursing care. Programs like this provide clinical models for nurses who want to integrate the arts into their health care practice. This article presents these models and discusses ways that nurses can easily implement creative interventions into their practice.
What Does the Use of a Computerized Checklist Mean for Patient-Centered Care? The Example of a Routine Diabetes Review
Authors: Rhodes Penny , Langdon Mark , Rowley Emma , Wright John , Small Neil
Published: January 2006

The authors examine the interaction between nurses and patients with type 2 diabetes during routine consultations in primary care settings in the United Kingdom. Through preconsultation interviews, the authors identified the patients’ expectations. The article draws on videotaped consultations with 25 patients with type 2 diabetes. Using conversation analysis, the authors examine the use of a rigid agenda, imposed via a computerized checklist, and consider how far this is able to suppress the patient's agenda. They consider the potential impact for the patient and the factors that might encourage the clinician, and the nurse specifically, to adopt a narrowly task-based approach to the consultation. They identify two potentially conflicting strands within contemporary diabetes care, patient-centered practice and an emphasis on biomedical audit, and suggest that achievement of the former might be compromised by the demands of the latter.
What's in a Number? Issues in Providing Evidence of Impact and Quality of Research(ers)
Authors: Cheek Julianne , Garnham Bridget , Quan James
Published: January 2006

One of the challenges facing qualitative researchers in a climate in which audit culture has permeated many facets of the institutions in which they research is how to establish the impact and quality of their research. When examining track records, granting institutions place significant emphasis on publication performance. Although the quality and impact of publications have traditionally been assessed by peer review, there is currently a global trend toward the development, refinement, and increased use of quantitative metrics, particularly citation analysis and journal impact factor. In this article, the authors share their experience of using the metrics citation analysis and journal impact factor in the preparation of an application for funding. Their aim is twofold: to raise awareness about potential issues in the practical application of these metrics; and to offer critique about and, they hope, “quality” to the writing and rhetoric concerning how to measure publication impact and quality.
Suicide in mental health in-patients and within 3 months of
discharge
Authors: Meehan Janet , Kapur Navneet , Hunt Isabelle M. , Turnbull Pauline , Robinson Jo , Bickley Harriet , Parsons Rebecca , Flynn Sandra , Burns James , Amos Tim , Shaw Jenny , Appleby Louis
Published: January 2006

Background

Suicide prevention is a health service priority. Suicide risk may be
greatest during psychiatric in-patient admission and following
discharge.

Aims

To describe the social and clinical characteristics of a comprehensive
sample of in-patient and post-discharge cases of suicide.

Method

A national clinical survey based on a 4-year (1996–2000) sample of cases
of suicide in England and Wales who had been in recent contact with
mental health services (n=4859).

Results

There were 754 (16%) current in-patients and a further 1100 (23%) had
been discharged from psychiatric in-patient care less than 3 months
before death. Nearly a quarter of the in-patient deaths occurred within
the first 7 days of admission; 236 (31%) occurred on the ward, the
majority by hanging. Post-discharge suicide was most frequent in the
first 2 weeks after leaving hospital; the highest number occurred on the
first day.

Conclusions

Suicide might be prevented among in-patients by improving ward design and
removing fixtures that can be used in hanging. Prevention of suicide
after discharge requires early community follow-up and closer supervision
of high-risk patients.
Rates of mental disorder in people convicted of homicide
Authors: Shaw Jenny , Hunt Isabelle M. , Flynn Sandra , Meehan Janet , Robinson Jo , Bickley Harriet , Parsons Rebecca , McCann Kerry , Burns James , Amos Tim , Kapur Navneet , Appleby Louis
Published: January 2006

Background

Previous studies of people convicted of homicide have used different definitions of mental disorder.

Aims

To estimate the rate of mental disorder in people convicted of homicide; to examine the relationship between definitions, verdict and outcome in court.

Method

A national clinical survey of people convicted of homicide (n=1594) in England and Wales (1996–1999). Rates of mental disorder were estimated based on: lifetime diagnosis, mental illness at the time of the offence, contact with psychiatric services, diminished responsibility verdict and hospital disposal.

Results

Of the 1594, 545 (34%) had a mental disorder: most had not attended psychiatric services; 85 (5%) had schizophrenia (lifetime); 164 (10%) had symptoms of mental illness at the time of the offence; 149 (9%) received a diminished responsibility verdict and 111 (7%) a hospital disposal – both were associated with severe mental illness and symptoms of psychosis.

Conclusions

The findings suggest an association between schizophrenia and conviction for homicide. Most perpetrators with a history of mental disorder were not acutely ill or under mental healthcare at the time of the offence. Some perpetrators receive prison sentences despite having severe mental illness.
Trauma exposure in pre-school children in a war
zone
Authors: Mousa Thabet Abel Aziz , Karim Khalid , Vostanis Panos
Published: January 2006

Background

There has been little reported research into the effect of war on the
behaviour and emotional well-being of pre-school children.

Aims

To investigate the relationship between exposure to war trauma and
behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children.

Method

Atotal of 309 children aged 3–6 years were selected from kindergartens in
the Gaza Strip, and were assessed by parental reports in regard to their
exposure to war trauma, using the Gaza Traumatic Checklist, and their
behavioural and emotional problems, using the Behaviour Checklist (BCL)
and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).

Results

Pre-school children were exposed to a wide range of traumatic events. The
total number of traumatic events independently predicted total BCL and
SDQ scores. Exposure to day raids and shelling of the children's houses
by tanks were significantly associated with total behavioural and
emotional problems scores.

Conclusions

Direct and non-direct exposure to war trauma increases the risk of
behavioural and emotional problems among pre-school children, which may
present as non-specific psychopathology.
Psychological impact of stillbirth on fathers in the subsequent pregnancy and puerperium
Authors: Turton Penelope , Badenhorst William , Hughes Patricia , Ward Julia , Riches Samantha , White Sarah
Published: January 2006

Background

Approximately 1 in 200 UK pregnancies ends in stillbirth. Although serious psychological effects of stillbirth on mothers are well established, much less is known about the impact of such loss on fathers.

Aims

To assess the psychological morbidity of fathers in the pregnancy and post-partum year subsequentto a stillbirth, to test within-couple effects and to identify risk factors.

Method

This was a community-based cohort study of 38 pregnant couples whose previous pregnancy had ended in stillbirth, and 38 pair-matched controls. Psychological assessments took place antenatally and at 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year postnatally.

Results

Fathers in the index group experienced significant levels of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder antenatally, but all of their symptoms remitted postnatally (after the birth of a live baby). Fathers' symptom levels were lower than those of mothers at all time points. In contrast to mothers, fathers experienced greater anxiety when a subsequent pregnancy (following stillbirth) was delayed.

Conclusions

The vulnerability of fathers to psychological distress during the pregnancy after a stillbirth needs to be recognised.
Two-week delay in onset of action of antidepressants: new
evidence
Authors: Mitchell Alex J.
Published: January 2006

Many sources purport that antidepressants have a delayed onset of action,
measured in weeks rather than days. Recent data using weekly or daily mood
ratings demonstrate that maximum improvement occurs during the first 2
weeks, with some improvement within the first 3 days. Methodological issues
may underlie the delayed-onset hypothesis.
Use of cognitive–behavioural therapy skills among trained psychiatrists
Authors: Whitfield Graeme , Connolly Moira , Davidson Alan , Williams Chris
Published: January 2006

Aims and Method

Previous studies have suggested that despite the cost of attendance at postgraduate cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) courses, psychiatrists are unable to engage in CBT after qualification. A postal survey of psychiatrists with postgraduate CBT training currently practising in Scotland was performed to assess the levels of training and supervision that they provide, therapeutic CBT activity, and supervision and continued professional development that they receive.

Results

Of the 58 psychiatrists, 51 replied to the survey (88%). Less than half of the respondents supervised other staff. Although 43 (84%) engaged in some therapeutic CBT activity, only 25 (49%) received supervision for their own practice. The main reasons given for not engaging in CBT therapeutic activity were that there was inadequate ‘protected time’ and that CBT had not been included in ‘job plans'.

Clinical Implications

Psychiatrists can help to disseminate CBT skills. To do this, they require personal supervision, and time for the development and maintenance of therapeutic skills as well as for the training and supervision of others. This survey builds on the results of others and indicates that these requirements are currently being inadequately met.
Developing partnerships for research: training workshops for mental health service users, carers and workers
Authors: Simpson E. L. , Bryant L. D. , Ruddy R. , Atkin K.
Published: January 2006

Aims and Method

We aimed to introduce mental health service users, carers and workers to working as research partners with an academic unit, and provide training to facilitate participation. We achieved this by running workshops covering different stages of the research process.

Results

Service users, carers and workers attended the workshops, although carers were under-represented. Feedback was generally positive, and some participants have since become involved as researchers with projects at the Academic Unit.

Discussion

Detailed planning was crucial for deciding the course content, recruiting participants, responding to participant feedback and ensuring future research opportunities were available.
Taking on the management: training specialist registrars in child and adolescent psychiatry
Authors: Hewson Lesley , Hooper Susie , Worrall-Davies Anne
Published: January 2006

The proposal that management training should be integral to the training of all doctors, including psychiatrists, is not new (Gadd, 1990). The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist Advisory Sub-Committee (CAPSAC) training guidelines (1999) recognise that future consultants will need sufficient management skills to be leaders in service development as well as effective clinicians, and outline the knowledge and experience to be gained during higher professional training (Box 1). This paper describes the Yorkshire scheme's approach to supporting trainees to achieve these objectives and highlights the need to engage trainees, trainers and managers in taking forward this important agenda.
Randomized Study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynaekologische Onkologie Ovarian Cancer Study Group Comparing Quality of Life in Patients With Ovarian Cancer Treated With Cisplatin/Paclitaxel Versus Carboplatin/Paclitaxel
Authors: Greimel Elfriede R. , Bjelic-Radisic Vesna , Pfisterer Jacobus , Hilpert Felix , Daghofer Fedor , du Bois Andreas
Published: January 2006

Purpose

The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QoL) of ovarian cancer patients treated with paclitaxel/carboplatin (TC) versus paclitaxel/cisplatin (PT) and to determine the impact of treatment toxicity on the various QoL domains.

Patients and Methods

In this phase III trial, 798 patients with ovarian cancer stages IIB-IV were randomly assigned to receive TC or PT. The primary end point was progression-free survival; secondary end points included toxicity, QoL, and response to treatment. Patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 before treatment, within 3 days before the second and the fourth chemotherapy cycle, and 3 weeks after completion of chemotherapy.

Results

Previously reported data showed that patients undergoing TC or PT did not differ in progression-free survival and overall survival. However, the TC arm was superior, indicating a better overall QoL compared with the PT arm. Controlling for toxicity and age, a significant treatment by assessment time interaction was found for four QoL functioning scales and three symptoms scales. Patients in the TC arm showed better means scores after treatment on overall QoL (P = .012), physical functioning (P = .012), role functioning (P = .005), and cognitive functioning (P = .024), compared with the PT arm. Concerning symptom experience, patients undergoing TC showed less nausea and vomiting (P < .001), less appetite loss (P < .001), and less fatigue (P = .033) after completion of treatment compared with patients undergoing PT.

Conclusion

The TC regimen achieved better QoL outcomes compared with the PT regimen. Thus, clinicians may consider replacing cisplatin with carboplatin when treating ovarian cancer patients with chemotherapy.