bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-symmetric Hamiltonians (II): Variational resolutions for Navier–Stokes and other nonlinear evolutions
Authors: Ghoussoub Nassif , Moameni Abbas
Published: January 2008

The nonlinear selfdual variational principle established in a preceding paper [N. Ghoussoub, Anti-symmetric Hamiltonians: Variational resolution of Navier–Stokes equations and other nonlinear evolutions, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 60 (5) (2007) 619–653] – though good enough to be readily applicable in many stationary nonlinear partial differential equations – did not however cover the case of nonlinear evolutions such as the Navier–Stokes equations. One of the reasons is the prohibitive coercivity condition that is not satisfied by the corresponding selfdual functional on the relevant path space. We show here that such a principle still hold for functionals of the form

I(u)\! =\!\! \int \limits_{0}^{T}\!\left[L\left(t,u(t),\.{u}(t)\! +\! \Lambda u(t)\right) +\langle \Lambda u(t),u(t)\rangle \right] dt\! +\! ℓ\! \left(u(0)\!−\!u(T),\frac{u(T)\! +\! u(0)}{2}\right)

where

L

(resp.,

ℓ

) is an anti-selfdual Lagrangian on state space (resp., boundary space), and

Λ

is an appropriate nonlinear operator on path space. As a consequence, we provide a variational formulation and resolution to evolution equations involving nonlinear operators such as the Navier–Stokes equation (in dimensions 2 and 3) with various boundary conditions. In dimension 2, we recover the well-known solutions for the corresponding initial-value problem as well as periodic and anti-periodic ones, while in dimension 3 we get Leray solutions for the initial-value problems, but also solutions satisfying

u(0) = \alpha u(T)

for any given

α

in

(−1,1)

. Our approach is quite general and does apply to many other situations.

Le principe variationnel auto-dual nonlinéaire établi par le premier auteur dans un article antérieur – quoique suffisant pour les équations nonlinéaires stationnaires – ne couvrait pas le cas des équations d'évolution de Navier–Stokes. Celà est dû aux hypothèses de coercivité forte requises, qui sont rarement satisfaites par les fonctionnelles auto-duales une fois définies sur les espaces de trajectoires. Dans cet article, on établit un nouveau principe variationnel qui s'applique à des fonctionnelles de la forme

I(u)\! =\!\! \int \limits_{0}^{T}\!\left[L\left(t,u(t),\.{u}(t)\! +\! \Lambda u(t)\right) +\langle \Lambda u(t),u(t)\rangle \right] dt\! +\! ℓ\! \left(u(0)\!−\!u(T),\frac{u(T)\! +\! u(0)}{2}\right)

où

L

(resp.,

ℓ

) est un Lagrangien anti-autodual sur l'espace des états (resp., sur la frontière), et

Λ

est un opérateur convenable sur un espace de trajectoires. Comme application, on retrouve variationellement entre autres, les solutions de Leray pour les équations de Navier–Stokes en dimension 2 et 3 avec, soit des conditions initiales, ou soit des conditions au bord de type périodiques. L'approche est assez générale pour s'appliquer à d'autres équations d'évolution non linéaire.
Boundary controllability for the nonlinear Korteweg–de Vries equation on any critical domain
Authors: Cerpa Eduardo , Crépeau Emmanuelle
Published: January 2008

It is known that the linear Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions and Neumann boundary control is not controllable for some critical spatial domains. In this paper, we prove in these critical cases, that the nonlinear KdV equation is locally controllable around the origin provided that the time of control is large enough. It is done by performing a power series expansion of the solution and studying the cascade system resulting of this expansion.
Asymptotic analysis of the p-Laplacian flow in an exterior domain
Authors: Iagar Razvan Gabriel , Vázquez Juan Luis
Published: January 2008

We consider the Dirichlet problem for the
p
-Laplacian evolution equation,

u_{t} = \mathrm{\Delta }_{p}u

, where

p > 2

, posed in an exterior domain in

\mathbf{R}^{N}

, with zero Dirichlet boundary condition and with integrable and nonnegative initial data. We are interested in describing the influence of the holes of the domain on the large time behaviour of the solutions. Such behaviour varies depending on the relative values of
N
and
p
. We must distinguish between the behaviour near infinity of space (outer analysis), and near the holes (inner analysis). We obtain that the outer analysis is given in all cases by certain self-similar solutions and the inner analysis is given by quasi-stationary states. Logarithmic corrections to exact self-similarity appear in the critical case

N = p

, which is mathematically more interesting. In this first paper we treat only the cases

N > p

and

N = p

, the case

N < p

will be considered in a companion work.
Validity and Reliability of the Japanese Version of the European Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale
Authors: Kato Naoko , Ito Naomi , Kinugawa Koichiro , Kazuma Keiko
Published: January 2008

Background: It is important to assess the self-care behavior of patients with heart failure. However, in Japan, there is no valid and reliable scale for this purpose. The European Heart Failure Self-Care Behavior Scale (EHFScBS) is used to measure the self-care behavior of heart failure patients. The purpose of this study was to translate the EHFScBS into Japanese and evaluate its validity and reliability.

Methods and results: A convenience sample of 116 outpatients with heart failure completed the Japanese version of the EHFScBS. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated the one-dimensionality of the scale. The Japanese version of the EHFScBS was significantly correlated with another scale, which was considered to evaluate the concept linked with the self-care behavior theoretically. These confirm its construct validity. Cronbach's alpha was 0.71, suggesting that internal consistency was satisfactory. Test–retest reliability was evaluated. The intraclass correlation coefficient of the scale was 0.69 and weighted kappa for individual items was 0.33–0.87, suggesting that test–retest reliability is adequate.

Conclusions: The Japanese version of the EHFScBS was showed acceptable validity and reliability. It can be used to evaluate self-care behavior of Japanese patients with heart failure.
Electroacupuncture attenuates bone cancer‐induced hyperalgesia and inhibits spinal preprodynorphin expression in a rat model
Authors: Zhang Rui‐Xin , Li Aihui , Liu Bing , Wang Linbo , Xin Jiajia , Ren Ke , Qiao Jian‐Tian , Berman Brian M. , Lao Lixing
Published: January 2008

Cancer pain impairs the quality of life of cancer patients, but opioid intervention can cause significant side effects that further decrease quality of life. Although electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to treat cancer pain, its mechanisms are largely unknown. To examine its effects and underlying mechanisms on cancer pain, we injected AT‐3.1 prostate cancer cells into the tibia to induce bone cancer in the male Copenhagen rat. The resulting pain was treated with 10Hz/2mA/0.4ms pulse EA for 30min daily at the point equivalent to the human acupoint GB30 (Huantiao) between days 14 and 18 after the injection. For sham control, EA needles were inserted into GB30 without stimulation. Thermal hyperalgesia, a decrease in paw withdrawal latency (PWL) to a noxious thermal stimulus, and mechanical hyperalgesia, a decrease in paw withdrawal pressure threshold (PWPT), was measured at baseline and 20min after the EA treatment. Preprodynorphin mRNA and dynorphin were determined by RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia developed ipsilaterally between days 12 and 18 after cancer cell inoculation. EA significantly (P<0.05) attenuated this hyperalgesia, as shown by increased PWL and PWPT, and inhibited up‐regulation of preprodynorphin mRNA and dynorphin compared to sham control. Intrathecal injection of antiserum against dynorphin A (1–17) also significantly inhibited the cancer‐induced hyperalgesia.

These results suggest that EA alleviates bone cancer pain at least in part by suppressing dynorphin expression, and they support the clinical use of EA in the treatment of cancer pain.
Mitochondrial function, content and ROS production in rat skeletal muscle: Effect of high‐fat feeding
Authors: Hoeks Joris , Briedé Jacob J. , de Vogel Johan , Schaart Gert , Nabben Miranda , Moonen-Kornips Esther , Hesselink Matthijs K.C. , Schrauwen Patrick
Published: January 2008

A high intake of dietary fat has been suggested to diminish mitochondrial functioning in skeletal muscle, possibly attributing to muscular fat accumulation. Here we show however, that an 8‐week high‐fat dietary intervention did not affect intrinsic functioning of rat skeletal muscle mitochondria assessed by respirometry, neither on a carbohydrate‐ nor on a lipid‐substrate. Interestingly, PPARGC1A protein increased by ∼2‐fold upon high‐fat feeding and we observed inconsistent results on different markers of mitochondrial density. Mitochondrial ROS production, assessed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy remained unaffected. Intramyocellular lipid levels increased significantly illustrating that a reduced innate mitochondrial function is not a prerequisite for intra‐muscular fat accumulation.
Loss of expression of N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase Va results in altered gene expression of glycosyltransferases and galectins
Authors: Guo Hua-Bei , Nairn Alison , Harris Kyle , Randolph Matthew , Alvarez-Manilla Gerardo , Moremen Kelley , Pierce Michael
Published: January 2008

We isolated mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) from N‐acetylglucosaminyltransferase Va (GnT‐Va) knockout mice and studied the effects of loss of expression of GnT‐Va on asparagine‐linked glycans (N‐glycan) synthesis and the gene expression of groups of glycosyltransferases and galectins. Loss of GnT‐Va expression caused aberrant expression of several N‐glycan structures, including N‐linked β(1,6) branching, poly‐N‐lactosamine, bisecting N‐acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and sialic acid. Using quantitative reverse transcriptase‐PCR (qRT‐PCR), altered gene expression of several groups of glycosyltransferases and galectins was observed in GnT‐Va null MEFs, supporting the observed changes in N‐glycan structures. These results suggest that genetic disruption of GnT‐Va ultimately resulted in altered MEFs gene expression and decreased tumor progression associated with loss of GnT‐Va observed may result in part from a combination of effects from these altered gene expressions.
Domain movement of iron sulfur protein in cytochrome bc1 complex is facilitated by the electron transfer from cytochrome bL to bH
Authors: Cen Xiaowei , Yu Linda , Yu Chang-An
Published: January 2008

The key step of the “protonmotive Q‐cycle” mechanism for cytochrome bc
1 complex is the bifurcated oxidation of ubiquinol at the Qp site. ISP is reduced when its head domain is at the b‐position and subsequent move to the c
1 position, to reduce cytochrome c
1, upon protein conformational changes caused by the electron transfer from cytochrome b
L to b
H. Results of analyses of the inhibitory efficacy and the binding affinity, determined by isothermal titration calorimetry, of Pm and Pf, on different redox states of cytochrome bc
1 complexes, confirm this speculation. Pm inhibitor has a higher affinity and better efficacy with the cytochrome bH reduced complex and Pf binds better and has a higher efficacy with the ISP reduced complex.
Heparanase expression increases throughout the endometrial hyperplasia–cancer sequence
Authors: Canaani Jonathan , Ilan Neta , Back Stella , Gutman Guy , Vlodavsky Israel , Grisaru Dan
Published: January 2008

Objective

To assess the expression of heparanase in the different stages leading to endometrial cancer.

Methods

The 38 examined specimens included adenocarcinoma, hyperplasia, and normal endometrium specimens. Heparanase, estrogen, and progesterone receptor expressions were analyzed immunohistochemically and the intensity was scored.

Results

Secretory normal endometrium and simple hyperplasia specimens expressed the lowest mean values of expression (1.00 and 0.63, respectively); the complex hyperplasia specimens and G2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma showed the highest values of expression (2.33 and 2.71, respectively). A linear trend (P = 0.005) of heparanase expression was observed when comparing the normal endometrium and simple hyperplasia group with the complex hyperplasia + G1 carcinoma group and the G2 + G3 carcinoma group. Evaluation of atrophic and inactive endometrium compared with papillary serous carcinomas yielded no significant differences. We found no significant correlation between heparanase expression and estrogen receptor or progesterone receptor expression.

Conclusion

Heparanase expression was tightly regulated in endometrial tumorigenesis.
Hysterosalpingographic findings in infertile women with genital tuberculosis
Authors: Sharma Jai Bhagwan , Pushparaj Mohanraj , Roy Kallol Kumar , Neyaz Zafar , Gupta Nupur , Jain Sunesh Kumar , Mittal Suneeta
Published: January 2008

Objectives

To evaluate the hysterosalpingographic findings from infertile women who were subsequently diagnosed with genital tuberculosis.

Methods

A retrospective study of 70 infertile women who underwent hysterosalpingography to investigate infertility and were subsequently diagnosed with genital tuberculosis.

Results

The mean age of the women was 27.3 years and the mean duration of infertility was 6.1 years. A total of 57 (81.4%) women had primary infertility while 13 had secondary infertility. Diagnosis of genital tuberculosis was made by polymerase chain reaction (54.3%), tuberculous granuloma on biopsy (22.8%), acid‐fast bacilli culture (2.8%), and at laparoscopy or hysteroscopy (20%). Hysterosalpingographic findings were a normal uterine cavity observed in 57.1% of women, an irregular cavity in 18.5%, a shrunken cavity in 2.8%, and an irregular filling defect in 18.5%. Synechiae were observed in 17.1% of women.

Conclusion

Genital tuberculosis is a common cause of infertility in India, causing significant uterine and tubal pathologies.
Wide genital hiatus is a risk factor for recurrence following anterior vaginal repair
Authors: Medina Carlos A. , Candiotti Keith , Takacs Peter
Published: January 2008

Objective

To determine if a wide genital hiatus is a risk factor for recurrence of anterior vaginal wall prolapse following anterior vaginal repair.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients who had undergone an anterior vaginal wall repair. Patients were placed into 1 of 2 groups: wide genital hiatus (≥ 5 cm) or normal genital hiatus (< 5 cm). The wide genital hiatus group (n = 35) was compared with the normal genital hiatus group (n = 30) for surgical failure.

Results

There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in demographic data, additional operative procedures, or apical suspensions. The rate of postoperative anterior vaginal wall prolapse was greater in patients with a wide genital hiatus compared with those with a normal genital hiatus (34.3% vs 10% respectively; odds ratio 4.7 [95% confidence interval, 1.0–24.1]; P = 0.02).

Conclusion

The rate of recurrent anterior vaginal wall prolapse is higher in patients with a wide genital hiatus.
Drain‐site metastasis after radical hysterectomy for squamous cervical cancer
Authors: Iavazzo Christos , Vorgias George , Katsoulis Michael
Published: January 2008

Drain‐site metastasis occurred after radical hysterectomy for squamous cervical cancer.
Reconstruction of Holocene lake level from diatoms, chrysophytes and organic matter in a drainage lake from the Experimental Lakes Area (northwestern Ontario, Canada)
Authors: Laird Kathleen R. , Cumming Brian F.
Published: January 2008

A paleolimnological study of lake-level changes in Lake 239 (Rawson Lake), a headwater lake in the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario, indicates large fluctuations have occurred over the Holocene. Analyses are based on diatoms, the proportion of chrysophyte scales to diatoms and organic matter content from near-shore sediment cores. Quantitative estimates of lake level are based on a diatom-inferred depth model that was developed from surficial sediments collected along several transects in Lake 239. Declines of ∼ 1–3 m occurred during the late Holocene, whereas declines of at least 8 m occurred during the more arid mid-Holocene. These results provide the first substantive evidence of large declines in lake level in northwestern Ontario during the mid-Holocene. Conditions during the mid-Holocene may provide a partial view of future conditions under increasing global temperatures.
Identification of 14 new single nucleotide polymorphisms in the bovineSLC27A1gene and evaluation of their association with milk fat content
Authors: Ordovas Laura , Zaragoza Pilar , Altarriba Juan , Rodellar Clementina
Published: January 2008

The solute carrier family 27 member 1 (SLC27A1) is an integral membrane protein involved in the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the plasma membrane. This protein has been implicated in diet-induced obesity and is thought to be important in the control of energy homeostasis. In previous reports, our group described the isolation and characterization of the bovineSLC27A1gene. The bovine gene is organized in 13 exons spanning over more than 40 kb of genomic DNA and maps in BTA 7 where several quantitative trait loci for fat related traits have been described. Because of its key role in lipid metabolism and its genomic localization, in the present work the search for variability in the bovineSLC27A1gene was carried out with the aim of evaluating its potential association with milk fat content in dairy cattle. By sequencing analysis of all exons and flanking regions 14 new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified: 1 in the promoter, 7 in introns and 6 in exons. Allele frequencies of all the SNPs were calculated by minisequencing analysis in two groups of Holstein-Friesian animals with highest and lowest milk-fat content estimated breeding values as well as in animals of two Spanish cattle breeds, Asturiana de los Valles and Menorquina. In the conditions assayed, no significant differences between Holstein-Friesian groups were found for any of the SNPs, suggesting that theSLC27A1gene may have a poor or null effect on milk fat content. In Asturiana and Menorquina breeds all the positions were polymorphic with the exception of SNPs 1 and 8 in which C allele was fixed in both of them.
Identification of peptides in milk as a result of proteolysis at different levels of somatic cell counts using LC MALDI MS/MS detection
Authors: Wedholm Anna , Møller Hanne S , Lindmark-Månsson Helena , Rasmussen Morten D , Andrén Anders , Larsen Lotte B
Published: January 2008

The somatic cell count (SCC) in milk is associated with increasing proteolytic degradation of caseins and it has been suggested that enzymes derived from somatic cells contribute to a lower yield and poorer quality of cheese. It is essential to increase the knowledge on naturally occurring milk proteinase activities to better understand how to improve the technological quality of milk. The aim of this work was to identify peptides actually present in milk as a result of proteolysis at different levels of SCC and to assign these peptides to potential responsible proteases where possible. Peptide fractions were prepared from acid whey by ultrafiltration at a molecular cut-off value of 10 000 Da. The peptides were separated using capillary reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS/MS). Peptides identified ranged in mass from 1023 to 2000 Da, and originated from αS1-, αS2- or β-casein. Possible responsible proteases that could be suggested when examining the peptide cleavage sites included plasmin, cathepsin B, D and leukocyte elastase. The results indicated that plasmin was primarily responsible for the observed proteolysis in milk at low cell count, whereas the cathepsins and elastase became implicated at elevated cell count. Specificity and activity of cathepsins and elastase has earlier mainly been studied in model systems, whereas less is known about their activities in milk itself. This is also the first indication of involvement of elastase in milk proteolysis through the unequivocal determination of cleavage sites.
Activity againstListeria monocytogenesof human milk during lactation. A preliminary study
Authors: López-Expósito Iván , Manso María Asunción , López-Fandiño Rosina , Recio Isidra
Published: January 2008

Human milk samples from three healthy donors were investigated in order to evaluate the antibacterial activity during lactation againstEscherichia coliATCC 25922 andListeria monocytogenes. The concentration of the main human-milk antimicrobial proteins (lactoferrin (LF), lysozyme (LZ) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA)) was determined by ELISA. Results showed that human milk exhibited antibacterial activity againstList. monocytogenes, although it was weakly active againstEsch. coliATCC 25922. The observed antilisterial activity was positively correlated with LZ concentration. In addition, the effect of gastrointestinal proteases, at different pH conditions, that prevail in the stomach of infants (pH 2·0–6·5), on antilisterial activity and protein degradation was evaluated. Hydrolysis with pepsin at pH 4·0–6·5, followed by treatment with pancreatic enzymes, resulted in a decreased hydrolysis of LZ, LF and sIgA and an enhanced antibacterial activity againstList. monocytogenes. It is suggested that partial degradation of certain milk proteins at the gastrointestinal level may produce peptides that could act synergistically with the remnant intact proteins.
Milk quality as affected by grazing time of day in Mediterranean goats
Authors: Avondo Marcella , Bonanno Adriana , Pagano Renato I , Valenti Bernardo , Grigoli Antonio Di , Luigia Alicata M , Galofaro Vittorio , Pennisi Pietro
Published: January 2008

We evaluated the effect of grazing time of day on goat milk chemical composition, renneting properties and milk fatty acid profile in a Mediterranean grazing system. Sixteen lactating Girgentana goats were divided into two experimental groups and housed in individual pens, where they received 500 g/d of barley grain. For 5 weeks the two groups were left to graze in two fenced plots on a ryegrass sward as follows: morning group (AM), from 9·00 to 13·00; afternoon group (PM), from 12·00 to 16·00. In selected herbage, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) increased in the afternoon (204 v. 174 g/kg dry matter, DM; P=0·01), whereas crude protein (CP) and linolenic acid decreased (respectively, 16·7 v. 19·8% DM; P<0·01 and 26·8 v. 30·4 g/kg DM; P<0·01). Pasture dry matter intake (DMI) was significantly higher in the afternoon (0·82 v. 0·75 kg/d; P=0·026). Fat corrected milk production (FCM), milk fat and lactose content were not affected by treatment, whereas protein and titrable acidity (°SH) increased in the PM group (respectively 3·56 v. 3·42%; P=0·01; 3·55 v. 3·22°SH/50 ml; P=0·01). In contrast, milk urea content was significantly higher in the AM group (381 v. 358 mg/l; P=0·037). The results seem to indicate that an improvement in ruminal efficiency might be obtained by shifting grazing time from morning to afternoon, as a consequence of a more balanced ratio between nitrogenous compounds and sugars. Indeed, the higher linolenic acid and the lower conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (respectively 1·02 v. 0·90, P=0·037; 0·71 v. 0·81% of total fatty acids, P=0·022) in the milk of goats grazing in the afternoon seem to indicate a reduced biohydrogenation activity in the PM group.
A novel method for species identification in milk and milk-based products
Authors: Reale Silvia , Campanella Angela , Merigioli Amalia , Pilla Fabio
Published: January 2008

This study describes a method for species-specific detection of animal DNA from different species (cattle, sheep, goat, water buffalo) in milk and dairy products. A primer set was designed in conserved region on the basis of the alignment of the sequence codifying the genomic κ-casein gene in order to amplify all four species with a single primer pair. Polymorphisms were detected via minisequencing with extension primers designed in conserved sequences for haplotype determination that allow unambiguous assignment to each species. The method was successfully applied to the detection of raw and pasteurized milk from the four different species considered as well as to cheese products from the retail trade. Estimation of the limit of detection was carried out using a progression of dilutions of genomic DNA as well as DNA isolated from milk of a known number of somatic cells from different species in order to be able to achieve detection rates as low as 0·1% bovine milk mixed with buffalo milk.
Ultra-High Pressure Homogenization-Induced Changes in Skim Milk: Impact on Acid Coagulation Properties
Authors: Serra Mar , Trujillo Antonio J , Jaramillo Pamela D , Guamis Buenaventura , Ferragut* Victoria
Published: January 2008

The effects of ultra-high pressure homogenization (UHPH) on skim milk yogurt making properties were investigated. UHPH-treated milk was compared with conventionally homogenised (15 MPa) heat-treated skim milk (90°C for 90 s), and to skim milk treated under the same thermal conditions but fortified with 3% skim milk powder. Results of the present study showed that UHPH is capable of reducing skim milk particle size which leads to the formation of finer dispersions than those obtained by conventional homogenisation combined with heat treatment. In addition, results involving coagulation properties and yogurt characteristics reflected that, when increasing UHPH pressure conditions some parameters such as density of the gel, aggregation rate and water retention are improved.
Risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder among UK Armed Forces personnel
Authors: Iversen A. C. , Fear N. T. , Ehlers A. , Hacker Hughes J. , Hull L. , Earnshaw M. , Greenberg N. , Rona R. , Wessely S. , Hotopf M.
Published: January 2008

Background

There is considerable interest in understanding further the factors that increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for military personnel. This study aimed to investigate the relative contribution of demographic variables; childhood adversity; the nature of exposure to traumatic events during deployment; appraisal of these experiences; and home-coming experiences in relation to the prevalence of PTSD ‘caseness’ as measured by a score of ⩾50 on the PTSD Checklist (PCL) in UK Armed Forces personnel who have been deployed in Iraq since 2003.

Method

Data were drawn from the first stage of a retrospective cohort study comparing UK military personnel who were deployed to the 2003 Iraq War with personnel serving in the UK Armed Forces on 31 March 2003 but who were not deployed to the initial phase of war fighting. Participants were randomly selected and invited to participate. The response rate was 61%. We have limited these analyses to 4762 regular service individuals who responded to the survey and who have been deployed in Iraq since 2003.

Results

Post-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with lower rank, being unmarried, having low educational attainment and a history of childhood adversity. Exposure to potentially traumatizing events, in particular being deployed to a ‘forward’ area in close contact with the enemy, was associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Appraisals of the experience as involving threat to one's own life and a perception that work in theatre was above an individual's trade and experience were strongly associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Low morale and poor social support within the unit and non-receipt of a home-coming brief (psycho-education) were associated with greater risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Conclusions

Personal appraisal of threat to life during the trauma emerged as the most important predictor of post-traumatic stress symptoms. These results also raise the possibility that there are important modifiable occupational factors such as unit morale, leadership, preparing combatants for their role in theatre which may influence an individual's risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Therefore interventions focused on systematic preparation of personnel for the extreme stress of combat may help to lessen the psychological impact of deployment.
A hierarchy of distress: Mokken scaling of the GHQ-30
Authors: Watson R. , Deary I. J. , Shipley B.
Published: January 2008

Background

Hierarchical cumulative scales are common and informative in psychology. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) does not appear to have been subjected to an analysis that examines the hierarchical and cumulative nature of its items. We report an analysis of data from the 30-item GHQ (GHQ-30) as part of the Health and Lifestyle Survey (HALS).

Method

Data from 6317 participants who completed the GHQ-30 as part of the HALS were analysed using the Mokken Scaling Procedure (MSP), which is a computer program that searches polychotomous data for hierarchical and cumulative scales on the basis of a range of diagnostic criteria.

Results

A final scale consisting of nine items from the GHQ-30 was obtained that, according to the criteria for a Mokken scale, was a reliable and very strong scale. The least difficult item in the scale is ‘been (un)able to face up to your problems?’ and the most difficult item is ‘felt that life isn't worth living?'

Conclusions

Items from the GHQ-30 form a short hierarchical and cumulative scale. The majority of these items also appear in the GHQ-12. The nine-item GHQ shows better distribution properties than the GHQ-30 and compares very favourably with the GHQ-12.
CloudSat shedding new light on high‐reaching tropical deep convection observed with Meteosat
Authors: Chung Eui‐Seok , Sohn Byung‐Ju , Schmetz Johannes
Published: January 2008

Characteristics of warmer water vapor pixels (WWVPs) defined by brightness temperature difference (ΔTB) between 6.2 μm and 10.8 μm channel of Meteosat‐8 greater than zero were examined using collocated CloudSat data during the period from 15 October to 15 November 2006 over tropical Africa. On the basis of CloudSat we provide a physical interpretation of ΔTB > 0. It is found that WWVPs occur in deep convective areas where cloud tops are in the tropical tropopause layer above 14 km. It is also found that the relationship between 10.8 μm TB and ΔTB is generally linear and WWVPs are frequent with very cold cloud top temperatures lower than the cold‐point tropopause temperature. These findings suggest that WWVPs are explained by the contrast between colder background of 10.8 μm TB associated with overshooting tropical deep convection and warmer water vapor channel temperature due to the emission from water vapor lines in the warmer stratosphere above.
Photolysis of surface O3 and production potential of OH radicals in the atmosphere over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Lin Weili , Zhu Tong , Song Yu , Zou Han , Tang Mingyu , Tang Xiaoyan , Hu Jiangxin
Published: January 2008

With an area of 2.5 million km2 and an average altitude of about 4000 m above sea level, the Tibetan Plateau is the largest and highest plateau in the mid‐latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The high altitude, low latitude, and large snow coverage create strong surface solar radiation on the plateau. It is therefore likely that the atmosphere over the plateau is very photochemically active, with a high production potential for OH radicals by ozone photolysis. We used the Tropospheric Ultraviolet‐Visible Radiation (TUV) model to calculate the photolysis rate of ozone in the Mt. Qomolangma (Everest) region under clear sky conditions. Field measurement data were used to calculate the production rate and concentration of OH radicals in the atmosphere. In the summer noon, over non‐snow‐covered area, surface ozone photolysis rates J(O1D) were 4–5 × 10−5 s−1, the OH radical production rate range was 1–4 × 106 s−1, and the OH concentrations range was 106 to 107 cm−3. Over areas covered with ice and snow, the J(O1D) and OH production rates could be as high as 1.3 × 10−4 s−1 and 5.5 × 106 cm−3 s−1, respectively, because of strong snow albedo. We also calculated the spatial distributions of J(O1D) and OH production over the whole Tibetan Plateau. Because of the large area covered with snow, the O3 photolysis rates in winter could be equal to or even higher than the rates in summer and might create as photochemically active an atmosphere as in summer.
Auditory Processing Disorders: An Update for Speech-Language Pathologists
Authors: DeBonis David A. , Moncrieff Deborah
Published: January 2008

Purpose

Unanswered questions regarding the nature of auditory processing disorders (APDs), how best to identify at-risk students, how best to diagnose and differentiate APDs from other disorders, and concerns about the lack of valid treatments have resulted in ongoing confusion and skepticism about the diagnostic validity of this label. This poses challenges for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who are working with school-age children and whose scope of practice includes APD screening and intervention. The purpose of this article is to address some of the questions commonly asked by SLPs regarding APDs in school-age children. This article is also intended to serve as a resource for SLPs to be used in deciding what role they will or will not play with respect to APDs in school-age children.

Method

The methodology used in this article included a computerized database review of the latest published information on APD, with an emphasis on the work of established researchers and expert panels, including articles from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Academy of Audiology.

Conclusions

The article concludes with the authors' recommendations for continued research and their views on the appropriate role of the SLP in performing careful screening, making referrals, and supporting intervention.
Psychometric Evaluation of Condition-Specific Instruments Used to Assess Health-Related Quality of Life, Attitudes, and Related Constructs in Stuttering
Authors: Franic Duska M. , Bothe Anne K.
Published: January 2008

Purpose

This study assessed the psychometric properties of instruments used to measure constructs similar to stuttering-specific health-related quality of life. In the stuttering literature, most such instruments were originally intended to measure speakers' attitudes about, or reactions to, their stuttering.

Method

Seventeen instruments were identified through a comprehensive literature search. Based on specific criteria from previous publications, 10 were selected for complete review and evaluated using 15 measurement standards related to conceptual model, reliability, validity, responsiveness, interpretability (norms), burden (respondent and administrative), depth, and versatility.

Results

None of the available instruments met more than 8 of the 15 measurement standards assessed.

Conclusions

Available instruments do not satisfy psychometric criteria for use in individual or group-level decision making, either as measures of their originally intended constructs or as measures of health-related quality of life. Problems with the conceptual model, reliability, validity, and responsiveness of available instruments, as well as the lack of comprehensive normative data, combine to suggest the need for development and validation of a stuttering-specific health-related quality of life measure.
A Review of Standardized Tests of Nonverbal Oral and Speech Motor Performance in Children
Authors: McCauley Rebecca J. , Strand Edythe A.
Published: January 2008

Purpose

To review the content and psychometric characteristics of 6 published tests currently available to aid in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of motor speech disorders in children.

Method

We compared the content of the 6 tests and critically evaluated the degree to which important psychometric characteristics support the tests' use for their defined purposes.

Results

The tests varied considerably in content and methods of test interpretation. Few of the tests documented efforts to support reliability and validity for their intended purposes, often when relevant information was probably available during the test’s development.

Conclusions

Problems with the reviewed tests appear related to overly broad plans for test development and inadequate attention to relevant psychometric principles during the development process. Recommendations are offered for future test revisions and development efforts that can benefit from recent research in test development and in pediatric motor speech disorders.
Syntactic Complexity During Conversation of Boys With Fragile X Syndrome and Down Syndrome
Authors: Price Johanna R. , Roberts Joanne E. , Hennon Elizabeth A. , Berni Mary C. , Anderson Kathleen L. , Sideris John
Published: January 2008

Purpose

This study compared the syntax of boys who have fragile X syndrome (FXS) with and without autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with that of (a) boys who have Down syndrome (DS) and (b) typically developing (TD) boys.

Method

Thirty-five boys with FXS only, 36 boys with FXS with ASD, 31 boys with DS, and 46 TD boys participated. Conversational language samples were evaluated for utterance length and syntactic complexity (i.e., Index of Productive Syntax; H. S. Scarborough, 1990).

Results

After controlling for nonverbal mental age and maternal education levels, the 2 FXS groups did not differ in utterance length or syntactic complexity. The FXS groups and the DS group produced shorter, less complex utterances overall and less complex noun phrases, verb phrases, and sentence structures than did the TD boys. The FXS with ASD group and the DS group, but not the FXS-only group, produced less complex questions/negations than did the TD group. Compared with the DS group, both FXS groups produced longer, more complex utterances overall, but on the specific complexity measures, they scored higher only on questions/negations.

Conclusion

Boys with FXS and DS have distinctive language profiles. Although both groups demonstrated syntactic delays, boys with DS showed greater delays.
Initial Validity and Reliability of the SCCAN: Using Tailored Testing to Assess Adult Cognition and Communication
Authors: Milman Lisa H. , Holland Audrey , Kaszniak Alfred W. , D’Agostino Jerry , Garrett Merrill , Rapcsak Steve
Published: January 2008

Purpose

The Scales of Cognitive and Communicative Ability for Neurorehabilitation (SCCAN; L. Milman & A. Holland, 2007) was developed in the hospital setting to address changes in assessment practice. The SCCAN was designed to provide an overview of impairment and activity limitations across 8 cognitive scales (Speech Comprehension, Oral Expression, Reading, Writing, Orientation, Attention, Memory, and Problem Solving). The scales were developed using item response theory so that tailored testing could be implemented to reduce test administration time. This research investigated the validity and reliability of the SCCAN.

Method

A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered to 40 neurologically healthy control participants and 51 participants diagnosed with left-hemisphere pathology, right-hemisphere pathology, or probable Alzheimer’s disease. Analyses were performed to assess test sensitivity and specificity, construct validity, administration time, and reliability.

Results

The test accurately classified 95% of the control participants and 98% of the participants diagnosed with neurological disorders. Results indicate that the test also differentiated the performance profiles of the 3 clinical populations. In addition, test scores correlated significantly with external measures of the same cognitive areas. Mean administration time was 34 min. Test–retest stability (
r
= .96,
p
< .001) and internal consistency (
r
= .99,
p
< .001) coefficients were both significant, indicating that tailored testing procedures generated reliable test scores.
The Efficacy of Fast ForWord Language Intervention in School-Age Children With Language Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gillam Ronald B. , Loeb Diane Frome , Hoffman LaVae M. , Bohman Thomas , Champlin Craig A. , Thibodeau Linda , Widen Judith , Brandel Jayne , Friel-Patti Sandy
Published: January 2008

Purpose

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the language and auditory processing outcomes of children assigned to receive the Fast ForWord Language intervention (FFW-L) with the outcomes of children assigned to nonspecific or specific language intervention comparison treatments that did not contain modified speech.

Method

Two hundred sixteen children between the ages of 6 and 9 years with language impairments were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions: (a) Fast ForWord Language (FFW-L), (b) academic enrichment (AE), (c) computer-assisted language intervention (CALI), or (d) individualized language intervention (ILI) provided by a speech-language pathologist. All children received 1 hr and 40 min of treatment, 5 days per week, for 6 weeks. Language and auditory processing measures were administered to the children by blinded examiners before treatment, immediately after treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 6 months after treatment.

Results

The children in all 4 conditions improved significantly on a global language test and a test of backward masking. Children with poor backward masking scores who were randomized to the FFW-L condition did not present greater improvement on the language measures than children with poor backward masking scores who were randomized to the other 3 conditions. Effect sizes, analyses of standard error of measurement, and normalization percentages supported the clinical significance of the improvements on the Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (E. Carrow-Woolfolk, 1999). There was a treatment effect for the Blending Words subtest of the Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (R. K. Wagner, J. K. Torgesen, & C. A. Rashotte, 1999). Participants in the FFW-L and CALI conditions earned higher phonological awareness scores than children in the ILI and AE conditions at the 6-month follow-up testing.

Conclusion

Fast ForWord Language, the intervention that provided modified speech to address a hypothesized underlying auditory processing deficit, was not more effective at improving general language skills or temporal processing skills than a nonspecific comparison treatment (AE) or specific language intervention comparison treatments (CALI and ILI) that did not contain modified speech stimuli. These findings call into question the temporal processing hypothesis of language impairment and the hypothesized benefits of using acoustically modified speech to improve language skills. The finding that children in the 3 treatment conditions and the active comparison condition made clinically relevant gains on measures of language and temporal auditory processing informs our understanding of the variety of intervention activities that can facilitate development.
The Acquisition of Tense and Agreement Morphemes by Children With Specific Language Impairment During Intervention: Phase 3
Authors: Leonard Laurence B. , Camarata Stephen M. , Pawłowska Monika , Brown Barbara , Camarata Mary N.
Published: January 2008

Purpose

The goals of this investigation were to determine whether gains in the use of tense and agreement morphemes by children with specific language impairment (SLI) during a 96-session intervention period would still be evident 1 month following treatment and whether these treatment effects would be greater than those seen in children with SLI receiving otherwise similar treatment that did not emphasize tense and agreement morphemes.

Method

Thirty-three children with SLI (age 3;0 to 4;8 [years;months]) served as participants. The children participated in 1 of 3 treatment conditions. The conditions emphasized 3rd person singular –
s,
auxiliary
is/are/was,
or general language stimulation. The children’s use of 3rd person singular –
s,
auxiliary
is/are/was,
and past tense –
ed
was assessed through probes administered throughout treatment and 1 month later.

Results

The children in the conditions that targeted 3rd person singular –
s
and auxiliary
is/are/was
showed significant gains on their respective target morphemes, and these gains were maintained 1 month later. These gains were significantly greater than the gains seen on the same morphemes by the children receiving general language stimulation. For most children, use of the target morphemes did not approach mastery levels by the end of the study.

Conclusion

Intervention that emphasizes morphemes that mark both tense and agreement can be relatively successful, with gains still apparent at least 1 month following intervention.
Relationship Between Acceptable Noise Level and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit
Authors: Freyaldenhoven Melinda C. , Nabelek Anna K. , Tampas Joanna W.
Published: January 2008

Purpose

This study investigated the relationship between acceptable noise levels (ANLs) and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB; R. M. Cox & G. C. Alexander, 1995). This study further examined the APHAB’s ability to predict hearing aid use.

Method

ANL and APHAB data were collected for 191 listeners with impaired hearing, separated into 3 groups based on hearing aid use: full-time, part-time, or nonuse.

Results

Results demonstrated ANLs were not correlated with APHAB scores. Results further demonstrated 2 of the 4 APHAB subscales (Ease of Communication [EC] and Background Noise [BN]) predicted hearing aid success with 60% accuracy, which is 25% poorer than that observed using the ANL alone. When combining the ANL with the EC and BN subscales, accuracy of the prediction increased to 91%. Lastly, 3 of the 4 APHAB subscales (EC, BN, and Reverberation) enhanced the present prediction of hearing aid use for patients with mid-range ANLs.

Conclusions

These results indicate that ANLs and APHAB scores provide unique information regarding hearing aid use. These results further indicate that the prediction can be enhanced by administering both the ANL and the EC and BN APHAB subscales. Lastly, some of the ambiguity of the prediction of hearing aid use for listeners with mid-range ANLs may be eliminated.
Preferred and Minimum Acceptable Listening Levels for Musicians While Using Floor and In-Ear Monitors
Authors: Federman Jeremy , Ricketts Todd
Published: January 2008

Purpose

This study examined the impact that changing on-stage music and crowd noise levels during musical performance had on preferred listening levels (PLLs) and minimum acceptable listening levels (MALLs) across both floor and in-ear monitors.

Method

Participants for this study were 23- to 48-year-old musicians, with and without hearing loss, who had 10 years of musical training or comparable professional experience. For this study, PLLs and MALLs were established for the musician’s own voice, whereas the levels of other onstage musical signals were systematically varied. PLLs for in-ear monitors were found at significantly lower levels than for floor monitors (approximately 0.6 dB).

Results

PLLs for in-ear monitors were found at significantly lower levels than for floor monitors (approximately 0.6 dB). However, despite large spectral differences, PLLs across the 2 monitor types were small enough that the same recommended exposure time would be advocated based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommendations. MALL data also indicated significantly lower levels (approximately 6.0 dB) when musicians were using in-ear monitors in comparison to floor monitors.

Conclusion

The much larger difference suggests that musicians’ risk of noise exposure may be reduced by the use of in-ear monitors. However, given the similar PLL results and known monitor output levels, proper counseling would likely be required before this potential advantage would be realized.