bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of Herbal and Specialty Supplements with Lung and Colorectal Cancer Risk in the VITamins And Lifestyle Study
Authors: Satia Jessie A. , Littman Alyson , Slatore Christopher G. , Galanko Joseph A. , White Emily
Published: May 2009

Millions of Americans use dietary supplements with little knowledge about their benefits or risks. We examined associations of various herbal/specialty supplements with lung and colorectal cancer risk. Men and women, 50 to 76 years, in the VITamins And Lifestyle cohort completed a 24-page baseline questionnaire that captured duration (years) and frequency (days per week) of use of commonly used herbal/specialty supplements. Dose was not assessed due to the lack of accurate potency information. Supplement exposure was categorized as “no use” or “any use” over the previous 10 years. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated by multivariate Cox regression models. Incident lung (n = 665) and colorectal cancers (n = 428) were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry. Any use of glucosamine and chondroitin, which have anti-inflammatory properties, over the previous 10 years, was associated with significantly lower lung cancer risk: HR 0.74 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.58-0.94] and HR 0.72 (95% CI, 0.54-0.96) and colorectal cancer risk: HR 0.73 (95% CI, 0.54-0.98) and HR 0.65 (95% CI, 0.45-0.93), respectively. There were also statistically significantly inverse associations of fish oil: HR 0.65 (95% CI, 0.42-0.99), methylsulfonylmethane: HR 0.46 (95% CI, 0.23-0.93), and St. John's wort: HR 0.35 (95% CI, 0.14-0.85) with colorectal cancer risk. In contrast, garlic pills were associated with a statistically significant 35% elevated colorectal cancer risk. These results suggest that some herbal/specialty supplements may be associated with lung and colorectal cancer risk; however, these products should be used with caution. Additional studies examining the effects of herbal/specialty supplements on risk for cancer and other diseases are needed. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(5):1419–28)
BRCA1 Breast Cancer Risk Is Modified by CYP19 Polymorphisms in Ashkenazi Jews
Authors: Raskin Leon , Lejbkowicz Flavio , Barnett-Griness Ofra , Dishon Sara , Almog Ronit , Rennert Gad
Published: May 2009

Exposure to sex hormones is a major risk factor for breast cancer and current treatments include hormone modifying drugs, among them aromatase inhibitors. We studied the association of CYP19 (Val80 and [TTTA]n) polymorphisms, the gene translated to aromatase, and the risk of breast cancer in BRCA carriers and noncarriers. The study consisted of 958 cancer cases and 931 healthy controls, including 474 carriers and 1,415 noncarriers. Cases and controls came from a population-based study of breast cancer in Israel, enriched with BRCA carriers from a clinical familial cancer service. Val80 G/G genotype was associated with significantly increased risk of breast cancer compared with the Val80 A/A genotype in BRCA1 carriers ages <50 years (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-7.22; P = 0.032) but not in BRCA2 carriers or noncarriers of any age. A similar magnitude suggestive association, although nonstatistically significant, was found between Val80 polymorphism and estrogen receptor-negative status of the breast tumors. A common haplotype composed of the Val80 G allele and three haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs727479, rs10046, and rs4646) in the CYP19 coding region showed a trend to association with breast cancer risk in BRCA1 carriers ages <50 years. Published expression data show higher estrogen levels with higher repeats in [TTTA]n found in linkage disequilibrium with Val80. The present study suggests that the CYP19 Val80 polymorphism and a haplotype that includes this polymorphism are associated with increased breast cancer risk in young women with BRCA1 mutations. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(5):1617–23)
Effects of Age on the Clinical Features of Men with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Chung Seockhoon , Yoon In-Young , Lee Chul Hee , Kim Jeong-Whun
Published: May 2009

Background: There is little information on the differences in polysomnographic findings in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) between elderly and young or middle-aged adults. Objectives: The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of elderly patients compared to young or middle-aged patients with OSAS. Methods: A total of 757 male patients who were found to have OSAS (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI ≥ 5) were enrolled. After nocturnal polysomnography, patients also completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Results: The patients were divided into three groups: ages 20–44 (n = 254), ages 45–64 (n = 373), and ages 65–86 (n = 130). Body mass index (BMI) and the proportion of overweight patients (BMI ≥25) were lower in the elderly group (ages 65–84) than in the other age groups (all p < 0.01). However, in the elderly group, there was a significant correlation between AHI and BMI (r = 0.28, p < 0.01), and BMI was a significant determinant of AHI (β = 0.30, p < 0.01). In addition, the elderly group showed a high percentage of apneas among apneas and hypopneas ( p = 0.02) and increased duration of apnea-hypopnea (p < 0.01) compared to the other age groups. Conclusions: Despite the occurrence of OSAS in the elderly with low BMI, the influence of body weight on the severity of OSAS was still significant in elderly patients. Age-related high collapsibility of the upper airways could explain the higher percentage of apneas and longer duration of apnea-hypopnea in the elderly compared to young or middle-aged patients with OSAS.
Multiple Eccrine Hidrocystomas – from Diagnosis to Treatment: The Role of Dermatoscopy and Botulinum Toxin
Authors: Correia Osvaldo , Duarte Ana Filipa , Barros Ana Margarida , Rocha Natividade
Published: May 2009

Background: Eccrine hidrocystomas are rarely described benign cystic lesions, mainly presenting in middle-aged women in the centrofacial area and usually associated with a chronic course, seasonal variability and no proved and consistently efficacious treatments. Case Report: We report 2 patients, a 45- and a 56-year-old woman, with multiple facial eccrine hidrocystomas suggested by dermatoscopy, confirmed by histology and treated with botulinum toxin A with excellent results. Conclusion: Our report stresses the role of dermatoscopy in the diagnosis and follow-up of these lesions, as well as the impact of repeated treatments with botulinum toxin A in eccrine hidrocystomas suggesting it as a first-line treatment for multiple eccrine hidrocystomas because it is easy to use and has no risk of scars.
Impact of FDG-PET-Induced Treatment Choices on Long-Term Outcome in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Wauters Isabelle , Stroobants Sigrid , De Leyn Paul , D’Hoore Isabelle , Nackaerts Kris , Dooms Christophe , Vansteenkiste Johan
Published: May 2009

Background: The TNM staging reflects the anatomic extent of lung cancer and estimates the survival expectation. Addition of FDG-PET to conventional staging (CS) improves accuracy, but few data have described the impact of this on long-term survival in relation to treatment. Objectives: To study the influence of FDG-PET on long-term outcome. Methods: Long-term outcome data of patients were retrieved out of previously published PET studies of the Leuven Lung Cancer Group. All patients had a potential for radical treatment, and at least 5-year follow-up data. Patients were dichotomized in early (I–IIIA) versus late (IIIB–IV) stages. Results: A first analysis – comparison of the 2 staging algorithms, CS alone versus CS+PET – confirmed the better staging capabilities of the latter. A second analysis, focusing on discordant findings and interaction of both staging algorithms, demonstrated that patients with early stage on PET did well, while those with late stage on PET did poorly, irrespective of findings on CS. The third analysis focused on the relation between treatment choices at the multidisciplinary board and outcome, which is especially relevant in patients with discordant finding on CS and CS+PET. From all radically treated patients, only those with early stage on CS+PET had a good outcome, but not those with early stage on CS and an unexplained late stage finding on PET. Conclusion: This long-term follow-up analysis confirms that addition of PET to CS results in better stage designation and prognosis. Additionally, discordant findings between CS and CS+PET should be considered relevant, with need for cytological/histological examination.
Familiarity or Conceptual Priming? Good Question! Comment on Stenberg, Hellman, Johansson, and Rosén (2009)
Authors: Lucas Heather D. , Voss Joel L. , Paller Ken A.
Published: May 2009

Stenberg et al. argued that FN400 brain potentials index familiarity rather than conceptual priming. Their data from a test of name recognition showed that both familiarity and FN400s were influenced by frequency but not fame, whereas separate behavioral measures of priming were influenced by fame but not frequency. However, this apparent dissociation was gravely weakened by confounds in task demands and inadequate behavioral measures of priming. Although Stenberg et al. failed to provide evidence suitable for disentangling neural correlates of familiarity from those of conceptual priming, an analysis of their report can be used to highlight difficulties that remain to be surmounted to understand recognition and the neural events that signal distinct memory functions engaged during recognition.
“Do You See Yonder Cloud?”—On Priming Concepts, A New Test, and a Familiar Outcome. Reply to Lucas et al.: “Familiarity or Conceptual Priming? Good Question! Comment on Stenberg, Hellman, Johansson, and Rosén (2009)”
Authors: Stenberg Georg , Johansson Mikael , Hellman Johan , Rosén Ingmar
Published: May 2009

Lucas, Voss, and Paller sympathize with our intentions but disagree with our findings. They argue that a relation between frequency and conceptual priming may have been obscured by methodological details in our second experiment, therefore failing to complete a bridge between conceptual priming and FN400 with name frequency as the mediator. However, renewed inspections of our experiment and a new additional experiment, designed to meet the objections, fail to find any role for name frequency in conceptual priming and therefore re-establish the dissociation of priming and the FN400. On closer inspection, our differing views seem to derive from different interpretations of the term “concept.”
Monopolizing the Master: Henry James, “Publishing Scoundrels,” and the Politics of Modern Literary Scholarship
Authors: Anesko Michael
Published: May 2009

Leon Edel's virtual monopoly on Henry James studies in the twentieth century has long been recognized but little explored. Through evidence gleaned from the biographer's personal archive, this essay gives chapter and verse as to how he came to dominate a major field of modern scholarship.
“A Perfect Republic”: The Mosaic Constitution in Revolutionary New England, 1775–1788
Authors: Shalev Eran
Published: May 2009

Between the United States' declaration of independence and the country's attempt to construct a federal Constitution, a group of New England ministers proclaimed Israel's biblical history an exemplum for their republican and federal aspirations. Tracing this unique interpretive discourse, the essay underscores the importance of political Hebraism to the intellectual history of the early United States.
“This Is Not a Catholic Nation”: The Ku Klux Klan Confronts Franco-Americans in Maine
Authors: Richard Mark Paul
Published: May 2009

During the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan expanded to the northeastern United States, where it confronted Franco-American Catholics throughout Maine. In response, this ethnic population modeled an appropriate resistance to the KKK's unyielding message of Americanism and nativism, helping to precipitate the demise of this reactionary mass movement.
Progress and Preservation: Representing History in Boston's Landscape of Urban Reform, 1820–1860
Authors: Martinko Whitney A.
Published: May 2009

Examining transformations of the antebellum Boston cityscape, in form and in print, this article revises scholarly understanding of historic preservation by illuminating how city residents adapted the uses of old buildings, represented demolished sites, and used innovations in print culture to preserve the historic landscape while making way for modern urban improvements.
Sea-Breeze Convergence Zones from AVHRR over the Iberian Mediterranean Area and the Isle of Mallorca, Spain
Authors: Azorin-Molina Cesar , Connell Bernadette H. , Baena-Calatrava Rafael
Published: May 2009

The aim of this study was to identify clear air boundaries and to obtain spatial distribution of convective areas associated with the sea breeze over the Iberian Mediterranean zone and the isle of Mallorca, both in Spain. Daytime Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) polar-orbiting satellites were collected for May–October 2004. A cloud detection algorithm was used to identify clouds to derive daytime sea-breeze cloud frequency composites over land. The high-resolution composites aided in identifying the location of five preferential sea-breeze convergence zones (SBCZ) in relation to the shape of coastline and orographic effects. Additionally, eight regimes were designated using mean boundary layer wind speed and direction to provide statistics about the effect of prevailing large-scale flows on sea-breeze convection over the five SBCZ. The offshore SW to W and the NW to N regimes were characterized by high cloud frequencies parallel to the coast. Small differences in mean cloud frequency values from morning to afternoon composites were detected with these regimes because sea-breeze fronts tended to form early and persist into the afternoon. Just the opposite occurred under the onshore NE to E and SE to S regimes. It was found that light to moderate (≤5.1 m s−1) winds aloft result in more clouds at the leading edge of sea breezes. In contrast, strong synoptic-scale (>5.1 m s−1) flows weaken boundary layer convergence. The results from this satellite meteorology study could have practical applications for many people including those that forecast the weather and those that use the forecast for making decisions related to energy use, fishing, recreation, or agriculture activities, as well as for estimating pollution or issuing warnings for heavy rain or flash flooding.
Investigation of Upstream Boundary Layer Influence on Mountain Wave Breaking and Lee Wave Rotors Using a Large-Eddy Simulation
Authors: Smith Craig M. , Skyllingstad Eric D.
Published: May 2009

Interactions between a turbulent boundary layer and nonlinear mountain waves are explored using a large-eddy simulation model. Simulations of a self-induced critical layer, which develop a stagnation layer and a strong leeside surface jet, are considered. Over time, wave breaking in the stagnation region forces strong turbulence that influences the formation and structure of downstream leeside rotors. Shear production is an important source of turbulence in the stagnation zone and along the interface between the stagnation zone and surface jet, as well as along the rotor edges. Buoyancy perturbations act as a source of turbulence in the stagnation zone but are shown to inhibit turbulence generation on the edges of the stagnation zone.

Surface heating is shown to have a strong influence on the strength of downslope winds and the formation of leeside rotors. In cases with no heating, a series of rotor circulations develops, capped by a region of increased winds. Weak heating disrupts this system and limits rotor formation at the base of the downslope jet. Strong heating has a much larger impact through a deepening of the upstream boundary layer and an overall decrease in the downslope winds. Rotors in this case are nonexistent. In contrast to the cases with surface warming, negative surface fluxes generate stronger downslope winds and intensified rotors due to turbulent interactions with an elevated stratified jet capping the rotors. Overall, the results suggest that for nonlinear wave systems over mountains higher than the boundary layer, strong downslope winds and rotors are favored in late afternoon and evening when surface cooling enhances the stability of the low-level air.
Evaluation of an Analytical Model for the Maximum Intensity of Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Bryan George H. , Rotunno Richard
Published: May 2009

Several studies have shown that the intensity of numerically simulated tropical cyclones can exceed (by 50%) a theoretical upper limit. To investigate the cause, this study evaluates the underlying components of Emanuel’s commonly cited analytic theory for potential intensity (herein referred to as E-PI). A review of the derivation of E-PI highlights three primary components: a dynamical component (gradient-wind and hydrostatic balance); a thermodynamical component (reversible or pseudoadiabatic thermodynamics, although the pseudoadiabatic assumption yields greater intensity); and a planetary boundary layer (PBL) closure (which relates the horizontal gradients of entropy and angular momentum at the top of the PBL to fluxes and stresses at the ocean surface). These three components are evaluated using output from an axisymmetric numerical model. The present analysis finds the thermodynamical component and the PBL closure to be sufficiently accurate for several different simulations. In contrast, the dynamical component is clearly violated. Although the balanced portion of the flow (υg, to which E-PI applies) appears to also exceed E-PI, it is shown that this difference is attributable to the method used to calculate υg from the model output. Evidence is shown that υg for a truly balanced cyclone does not exceed E-PI. To clearly quantify the impact of unbalanced flow, a more complete analytic model is presented. The model is not expressed in terms of external conditions and thus cannot be used to predict maximum intensity for a given environment; however, it does allow for evaluation of the relative contributions to maximum intensity from balanced and unbalanced (i.e., inertial) terms in the governing equations. Using numerical model output, this more complete model is shown to accurately model maximum intensity. Analysis against observations further confirms that the effects of unbalanced flow on maximum intensity are not always negligible. The contribution to intensity from unbalanced flow can become negligible in axisymmetric models as radial turbulence (i.e., viscosity) increases, and this explains why some previous studies concluded that E-PI was an accurate upper bound for their simulations. Conclusions of this study are also compared and contrasted to those from previous studies.
A Theoretical Framework for Energy and Momentum Consistency in Subgrid-Scale Parameterization for Climate Models
Authors: Shaw Tiffany A. , Shepherd Theodore G.
Published: May 2009

A theoretical framework for the joint conservation of energy and momentum in the parameterization of subgrid-scale processes in climate models is presented. The framework couples a hydrostatic resolved (planetary scale) flow to a nonhydrostatic subgrid-scale (mesoscale) flow. The temporal and horizontal spatial scale separation between the planetary scale and mesoscale is imposed using multiple-scale asymptotics. Energy and momentum are exchanged through subgrid-scale flux convergences of heat, pressure, and momentum. The generation and dissipation of subgrid-scale energy and momentum is understood using wave-activity conservation laws that are derived by exploiting the (mesoscale) temporal and horizontal spatial homogeneities in the planetary-scale flow. The relations between these conservation laws and the planetary-scale dynamics represent generalized nonacceleration theorems. A derived relationship between the wave-activity fluxes—which represents a generalization of the second Eliassen–Palm theorem—is key to ensuring consistency between energy and momentum conservation. The framework includes a consistent formulation of heating and entropy production due to kinetic energy dissipation.
Nonlinear Baroclinic Dynamics of Surface Cyclones Crossing a Zonal Jet
Authors: Gilet Jean-Baptiste , Plu Matthieu , Rivière Gwendal
Published: May 2009

Mechanisms leading a synoptic surface cyclone to cross an upper-level zonal jet and its subsequent deepening are investigated using a two-layer model on a β plane. The baroclinic interaction of a low-level circular cyclonic perturbation with an upper-level one is first studied in vertical and horizontal cyclonic or anticyclonic uniform shears. A first nonlinear effect acting on the shape and energetics of the perturbations is analyzed. If the background shear is anticyclonic, the perturbations are stretched horizontally; they lose energy barotropically but gain it baroclinically by a well-maintained westward tilt with height. Conversely, if the shear is cyclonic, perturbations remain quite isotropic, but they do not keep a favorable vertical tilt with time and the baroclinic interaction is thus only transient. The latitudinal motion of the perturbations also results from a nonlinear effect. It is found to depend strongly on the background potential vorticity (PV) gradient. This effect is a baroclinic equivalent of the so-called nonlinear barotropic “β drift” and combines the nonlinear advection and vertical stretching terms.

These results are confirmed when the anomalies are initially located south of a confined westerly jet. The poleward shift of the lower cyclonic anomaly occurs faster when the vertically averaged PV gradient is strongly positive, which happens when the jet has a large barotropic component. The lower anomaly crosses the jet from the warm to the cold side and deepens afterward. After a detailed description of this regeneration process with the help of an energy budget, it is shown that linear dynamics are not able to reproduce such behavior.
Attribution of Seasonal and Regional Changes in Arctic Moisture Convergence
Authors: Skific Natasa , Francis Jennifer A. , Cassano John J.
Published: May 2009

Spatial and temporal changes in high-latitude moisture convergence simulated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Climate System Model, version 3 (CCSM3) are investigated. Moisture convergence is calculated using the aerological method with model fields of specific humidity and winds spanning the periods from 1960 to 1999 and 2070 to 2089. The twenty-first century incorporates the A2 scenario from the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios. The model’s realism in reproducing the twentieth-century moisture convergence is evaluated by comparison with values derived from the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40). In the area north of 75°N, the simulated moisture convergence is similar to observations during summer, but it is larger in winter, spring, and autumn. The model also underestimates (overestimates) the mean annual moisture convergence in the eastern (western) Arctic. Late twenty-first century annual, seasonal, and regional changes are determined by applying a self-organizing map technique to the model’s sea level pressure fields to identify dominant atmospheric circulation regimes and their corresponding moisture convergence fields. Changes in moisture convergence from the twentieth to the twenty-first century result primarily from thermodynamic effects (∼70%), albeit shifts in the frequency of dominant circulation patterns exert a relatively large influence on future changes in the eastern Arctic. Increased moisture convergence in the central Arctic (North Atlantic) stems mainly from thermodynamic changes in summer (winter). Changes in the strength and location of poleward moisture gradients are most likely responsible for projected variations in moisture transport, which are in turn a consequence of increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions as prescribed by the A2 scenario.
The Interannual Stability of Cumulative Frequency Distributions for Convective System Size and Intensity
Authors: Mohr Karen I. , Molinari John , Thorncroft Chris D.
Published: May 2009

The characteristics of convective system populations in West Africa and the western Pacific tropical cyclone basin were analyzed to investigate whether interannual variability in convective activity in tropical continental and oceanic environments is driven by variations in the number of events during the wet season or by favoring large and/or intense convective systems. Convective systems were defined from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data as a cluster of pixels with an 85-GHz polarization-corrected brightness temperature below 255 K and with an area of at least 64 km2. The study database consisted of convective systems in West Africa from May to September 1998–2007, and in the western Pacific from May to November 1998–2007. Annual cumulative frequency distributions for system minimum brightness temperature and system area were constructed for both regions. For both regions, there were no statistically significant differences between the annual curves for system minimum brightness temperature. There were two groups of system area curves, split by the TRMM altitude boost in 2001. Within each set, there was no statistically significant interannual variability. Subsetting the database revealed some sensitivity in distribution shape to the size of the sampling area, the length of the sample period, and the climate zone. From a regional perspective, the stability of the cumulative frequency distributions implied that the probability that a convective system would attain a particular size or intensity does not change interannually. Variability in the number of convective events appeared to be more important in determining whether a year is either wetter or drier than normal.
Toward the Use of Integral Radar Volume Descriptors for Quantitative Areal Precipitation Estimation: Results from Pseudoradar Observations
Authors: Trömel Silke , Simmer Clemens , Braun Jürgen , Gerstner Thomas , Griebel Michael
Published: May 2009

The central objective of this analysis is to significantly enhance the quality of radar-derived precipitation estimates by as fully as possible exploiting the information contained in the spatial and temporal variability of 3D radar volume data. The results presented are based on pseudoradar data and rain rates of a regional weather forecasting model and 12 true radiosoundings as well. Two approaches are pursued: the first approach estimates total rainfall from an individual storm over its lifetime, whereas the second approach assesses the areawide instantaneous rainfall from a multiplicity of such storms by the use of measurements of the areal coverage of the storms exceeding a threshold radar reflectivity. The concept is extended by adding more predictors to significantly enhance the rainfall estimates. The horizontal expected value and the horizontal standard deviation of enclosed reflectivities at the ground, the mean brightband fraction and its trend, the fractional area with reflectivities exceeding a threshold τ, and an orographic rainfall amplifier provide relative errors smaller than 10% in approximately 75% of the considered rain events in the first approach. In the second approach, a relative error is achieved that is below 10% in approximately 63% elements of the test set.
Parameterization of an Iceberg Drift Model in the Barents Sea
Authors: Keghouche Intissar , Bertino Laurent , Lisæter Knut Arild
Published: May 2009

The problem of parameter estimation is examined for an iceberg drift model of the Barents Sea. The model is forced by atmospheric reanalysis data from ECMWF and ocean and sea ice variables from the Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM). The model is compared with four observed iceberg trajectories from April to July 1990. The first part of the study focuses on the forces that have the strongest impact on the iceberg trajectories, namely, the oceanic, atmospheric, and Coriolis forces. The oceanic and atmospheric form drag coefficients are optimized for three different iceberg geometries. As the iceberg mass increases, the optimal form drag coefficients increase linearly. A simple balance between the drag forces and the Coriolis force explains this behavior. The ratio between the oceanic and atmospheric form drag coefficients is similar in all experiments, although there are large uncertainties on the iceberg geometries. Two iceberg trajectory simulations have precisions better than 20 km during two months of drift. The trajectory error for the two other simulations is less than 25 km during the first month of drift but increases rapidly to over 70 km afterward. The second part of the study focuses on the sea ice parameterization. The sea ice conditions east of Svalbard in winter 1990 were too mild to exhibit any sensitivity to the sea ice parameters.
Long-Term Trend and Decadal Variability of Persistence of Daily 500-mb Geopotential Height Anomalies during Boreal Winter
Authors: Ding Ruiqiang , Li Jianping
Published: May 2009

An analysis has been made of the trend and decadal variability of persistence of daily 500-mb (hPa) geopotential height anomalies for the winter season. The persistence is measured based on autocorrelations at 1- and 5-day lags (denoted r1 and r5, respectively) and the effective time between independent samples T0. The results from linear trend analysis show that there exist significant trends of persistence of daily 500-mb geopotential height anomalies in some regions of the world. The regions with a significant decreasing trend are found to be mainly located at mid–high latitudes of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, while the regions with a significant increasing trend are mainly located in the tropical Pacific Ocean. For other variables including sea level pressure (SLP), 1000-mb height, and 200-mb height, the persistence of daily anomalies also exhibits similar trends in these regions. It is speculated that the enhanced baroclinicity and advection are possibly responsible for the significant downward trend of persistence mainly occurring in the southern and northern mid–high latitudes, while the increased coupling between the atmospheric circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) could contribute to the increase of persistence in the tropical Pacific. An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis based on the 7-yr Gaussian low-pass-filtered series of winter season r1 and r5 of 500-mb height (linear trend removed before the low-pass filtering) is presented. The results suggest that there is prominent decadal variability of persistence in some regions of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and tropics. When compared with r1, r5 has decadal variations with larger magnitude and larger spatial scale. It is found that the decadal variability of persistence is closely related to decadal fluctuations of large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns.
Once-Daily Atomoxetine for Treating Pediatric Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Comparison of Morning and Evening Dosing
Authors: Block Stan L. , Kelsey Douglas , Coury Daniel , Lewis Donald , Quintana Humberto , Sutton Virginia , Schuh Kory , Allen Albert J. , Sumner Calvin
Published: May 2009

In this 3-arm, randomized, double-blind trial, once-daily morning-dosed atomoxetine, evening-dosed atomoxetine, and placebo were compared for treating pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Patients received morning atomoxetine/evening placebo (n = 102), morning placebo/evening atomoxetine (n = 93), or morning placebo/evening placebo (n = 93) for about 6 weeks. Core symptom efficacy was measured at weeks 0, 1, 3, and 6. Parent assessments of the child’s home behaviors in the evening and early morning were collected daily during the first 2 weeks of treatment. Morning-dosed and evening-dosed atomoxetine significantly decreased core ADHD symptoms relative to placebo and produced symptom improvements that were measured up to 24 hours later. Morning dosing was superior to evening dosing on some efficacy measures. Evening dosing showed greater tolerability with significantly more patients receiving morning atomoxetine reporting at least 1 adverse event than those receiving evening atomoxetine.
Travel Patterns to School Among Children with Asthma
Authors: Oreskovic Nicolas M. , Sawicki Gregory S. , Kinane T. Bernard , Winickoff Jonathan P. , Perrin James M.
Published: May 2009

Background. Active commuting to school provides regular exercise, which can improve asthma symptoms. Little is known about how children with asthma travel to school. Objective. To identify travel patterns and parental perceptions surrounding mode of travel to school among children with asthma. Methods. Cross-sectional study of 176 children with asthma aged 5 to 15 years. Parents completed questionnaires assessing mode of travel to school, physical activity, asthma control, physician counseling, and factors influencing parental decisions. Data analysis included descriptive and bivariate statistics. Results. Few (16%) children with asthma actively commute to school. Active travelers lived closer to school, and “distance” was the most frequently reported factor influencing a parent's decision regarding travel mode to school. Parents reported few concerns about pollution and little physician counseling on active travel. Conclusion. Few children with asthma actively travel to school. Asthma-specific concerns do not appear to guide parental decisions on travel mode to school.
Escherichia coli—Infected Cephalohematoma in an Infant
Authors: Weiss Katherine J. , Edwards Morven S. , Hay Liliane M. , Allen Coburn H.
Published: May 2009

This report describes a 1-month-old female with bacteremia and meningitis complicated by an infected cephalohematoma that resulted from hematogenous seeding. This report serves as a reminder that, although occurring rarely, inflammation overlying a cephalohematoma in an infant with bacteremia can indicate focal infection that requires incision and drainage for resolution.
Social Capital and Educational Organizing in Low Income, Minority, and New Immigrant Communities
Authors: Krasner Michael Alan , Pierre-Louis Francois
Published: May 2009

A college-based program that combines training, direct support, and technical assistance was found to produce significant gains in bonding and bridging social capital and key political attributes among low-income, minority, and immigrant groups organizing to enhance their power to influence public school politics and policies in New York City.
The First Dime
Authors: Jones Richard S. , Ross Jeffrey Ian , Richards Stephen C. , Murphy Daniel S.
Published: May 2009

This article discusses the historical origins of Convict Criminology (CC); intellectual legacy of CC; organization of the CC group; allies in the CC struggle; recent activities of the CC group; impact of CC on the study of jails, prisons, and community corrections; and the authors' future plans. Thus, the focus of this article is on taking stock of the development of CC and identifying the accomplishments to date.
Psychopathic Traits and Perceptions of Victim Vulnerability
Authors: Wheeler Sarah , Book Angela , Costello Kimberly
Published: May 2009

This study examines whether psychopathic traits in a nonreferred (and presumably nonpsychopathic) sample could enhance the accuracy of perceptions of victim vulnerability. In a previous study, the interpersonal and affective component of psychopathy was associated with increased accuracy in assessing vulnerability in dyadic conversations, and Grayson and Stein (1981) established that vulnerability could be assessed by observing targets walking. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individuals scoring higher on psychopathic traits would be better able to judge vulnerability to victimization after viewing short clips of targets walking. Participants provided a vulnerability estimate for each target and completed the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale: Version III (SRP-III). Higher SRP-III scores were associated with greater accuracy in assessing targets' vulnerability to victimization. Implications for the prevention of victimization are discussed.
Care Alternatives in Prison Systems
Authors: Phillips Laura L. , Allen Rebecca S. , Salekin Karen L. , Cavanaugh Ronald K.
Published: May 2009

The authors examined age at the end of prison sentence, race, and psychosocial factors on end-of-life treatment preferences among 73 male inmates (28 nonlifers, 45 lifers) from the Alabama Aged and Infirmed Correctional Facility. All measures (e.g., Brief Symptom Inventory, Death Anxiety Scale) were administered in an interview format. A significant amount of variance in treatment preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, feeding tube, and palliative care was predicted by race, lifer status, and death anxiety. Inmates who were members of minority groups, nonlifers, and those with high death anxiety expressed greater desire for a feeding tube, whereas inmates who were Caucasian or lifers expressed a greater desire for palliative care. Given the aging of the inmate population and increasing health care costs, further exploration of end-of-life treatment preferences among older inmates is warranted.
Attachment figures in middle childhood
Authors: Seibert Ashley C. , Kerns Kathryn A.
Published: May 2009

Previous research has focused on who the primary attachment figures are for children in middle childhood, but there has been relatively little research on other important people who may fulfill attachment needs. The goal of the study was to identify who children use as non-parental attachment figures and to examine whether children's use varies with certain child characteristics. Children 7—12 years of age completed an open-ended interview to identify attachment figures. This study suggests that children may, at times, direct secure base behavior towards peers, siblings, grandparents, and teachers. The study also shows that the identity and use of attachment figures may vary with certain child characteristics such as age, gender, and sibling status. Older siblings were more likely than younger siblings to be used as attachment figures, and older children were more likely than younger children to turn to peers to fulfill attachment needs.
Feasibility of an Internet Physical Activity Intervention
Authors: Bosak Kelly A. , Yates Bernice , Pozehl Bunny
Published: May 2009

The Internet is a relatively new method of delivering strategies for health behavior change. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of delivering a physical activity intervention by the Internet to improve outcomes in adults with the metabolic syndrome. Twenty-two participants (16 males; 6 females) were recruited from a cardiology clinic database, age range 32-66 years. Participants were randomly assigned to the Internet intervention ( n = 12) or the usual care ( n = 10) group. The mean total dose, in terms of the time the intervention Web site was accessed was 2 hours over 6 weeks, which was greater than the time spent delivering usual care. Overall, participants' evaluations of the Internet intervention were positive. The costs of development and delivery of the Internet intervention were less than that of a consultation and follow-up in the cardiology clinic for this sample. The Internet intervention appears feasible for testing in a larger study.
A Review of Discharge Planning Research of Older Adults 1990-2008
Authors: Popejoy Lori Lea , Moylan Kyle , Galambos Colleen
Published: May 2009

This integrative review of the literature analyzed the research about hospital discharge planning within the historical timeline of public policy changes that affected service utilization. There were 36 articles reviewed that represented a variety of disciplines, nursing ( n = 21), social work ( n = 6), medicine ( n = 5), and sociology ( n = 4). The review revealed several interesting findings. Though the family is the first line of defense against problems, little work done has been done that focuses on building partnerships between patients, families, and health care providers. The costs of care drive the health care system; yet costs of interventions were rarely described. Intensive case management of at-risk populations has neither been widely adopted nor is it reimbursed through public funding, even though it has been found to be cost effective.
Violent Patients
Authors: Catanesi Roberto , Carabellese Felice , Candelli Chiara , Valerio Antonia , Martinelli Domenico
Published: May 2009

The study takes a detailed look at psychiatric patient violence towards their psychiatrists. It takes into consideration the views and opinions of Italian psychiatrists, whether they have experienced violent behaviour firsthand and, if so, which type of aggression and whether this caused them to modify their behaviour towards the patient and his or her treatment. A multiple-choice questionnaire is sent to all members of the Italian Society of Psychiatry, with 1,202 psychiatrists responding (20.23% of the sample). The data are evaluated using SPSS with chi-square test calculations for discrete and continuous variables and t-testing for independent samples (significance p < .05). Almost all psychiatrists (90.9%) have experienced verbal aggression; 72% have been threatened with dangerous objects and 64.58% have suffered physical aggression. Physical aggression experiences result in a 50% increase in the probability of modifying one’s therapeutic behaviour. Significant differences emerge between the psychiatrists, according to differences in age and career experience. Psychiatrists state that they do not consider themselves to be adequately prepared to deal with the violence of patients, and almost all psychiatrists felt the need for specific training in how to manage such violence.
Staff and Patient’s Perceptions of Each Other’s Interpersonal Style
Authors: Daffern Michael , Duggan Conor , Huband Nick , Thomas Stuart
Published: May 2009

Extreme and varied reactions are often encountered when working with patients with personality disorders. Similarly, patients with personality disorder may also hold polarised opinions of the staff involved in their treatment. This study explored the relationship between severity of personality disorder and interpersonal style in patients admitted for treatment to a secure psychiatric unit. Up to four nurses rated each patient’s interpersonal style using the Impact Message Inventory, a self-report transactional inventory. Patients then rated the interpersonal style of these same staff. Contrary to expectations, severity of personality disorder was not associated with patients’ interpersonal style or to variance in nurses’ assessments of patients’ interpersonal style. However, patients with more severe personality disorder tended to show greater variability in their assessment of nurses’ interpersonal style, specifically their appraisal of staff members’ interpersonal dominance. Implications for the assessment of offenders admitted for treatment of their personality disorder are discussed.
Kinetic and Structural Modeling Mechanisms of Melatonin Transport from an Electrolytically Regulated Salted-out PLGA Scaffold
Authors: Sibambo Sibongile R. , Pillay Viness , Choonara Yahya E. , Du Toit Lisa C. , Khan Riaz A. , Penny Clement
Published: May 2009

This study focused on optimizing the mechanism of zero-order active pre-programmed release of melatonin from a salted-out PLGA scaffold. A Box—Behnken design, modeled the formulations, required for optimizing the melatonin entrapment efficiency (EE), mean dissolution time at 30 days (MDT30) and the release rate constant ( k). Response Surface Methodology depicted the influence of NaCl, CaCl2, and AlCl3 on the release kinetics. Qualitative structural kinetic modeling and quantitative mathematical modeling of release data supported the kinetic events, interaction parameters, and melatonin transport phenomena that resolved the constraints governing the rate and extent of melatonin release. A salted-out PLGA chain was evaluated by rheological studies and braided rope-coiling and nonbraided nonrope coiling with dynamic simulations capturing the coherent structural transitions in the turbulent release medium with the influence of salts on the swelling or erosion, energy dissipation, and subsequent melatonin release. The release was mainly governed by erosion and not affected by time-dependent diffusion resistance (Hopfenberg model; n = 0.95; R2 = 0.96; ke = 0.11—4.69×10-3mm/min; D = 0.110—0.893 × 10 -8 cm2/s; Debrelease = 0.016—1.312). Swelling parameters confirmed that polymer swelling did not significantly influence melatonin release (δ = 0.232.00 mm, v = 0.027—0.181 cm/s, S w = 0.010—0.542). EE values ranged between 46% and 90% and were dependant on the salt type and concentration. AlCl3 and NaCl blends increased the k values (0.0050) indicating their significance in melatonin release. The optimal scaffold (EE = 95%; MDT30 = 1; k = 0.0050) was predicted to comprise 1.1451 and 0.8264 w/v of NaCl and AlCl3, respectively, with the exclusion of CaCl2 in order to achieve zero-order kinetics over 30 days. The kinetic modeling approach enabled a qualitative and quantitative description of melatonin release patterns from the salted-out PLGA scaffolds thus facilitating the manipulation and prediction of drug release from PLGA modification by salting-out.
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Modified with Nogo-66 Receptor Antibody and Poly(L-Lysine) Enhancement of Adherence and Survival of Primary Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Wei Yue-Teng , Sun Xiao-Dan , Xue Xia  , Cui Fu-Zhai , Yu He  , Liu Bing-Fang , Xu Qun-Yuan
Published: May 2009

Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel was modified with poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and Nogo-66 Receptor antibody (antiNgR) to enhance the repair of central nervous system (CNS) injuries. The immobilization of PLL was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the immobilization of antiNgR was studied by immunofluorescence. The cytocompatibility of this modified hydrogel was analyzed by culturing primary hippocampal neurons. The quantity and morphology of the neurons were influenced by different modifications; the primary hippocampal neurons cultured with modified HA hydrogel exhibited multipolar and bipolar morphology were compared with unmodified hydrogel cultures. The number of neurons obtained by culturing with HA hydrogel modified with both PLL and antiNgR was almost twice the number of neurons cultured with HA modified with only PLL or antiNgR. This phenomenon was attributed to the collaborative effect of PLL and antiNgR on the neurons. The characteristics of this new hydrogel system, including pore structure, water absorption, hydrolysis degradation did not change much when compared with the hydrogel modified with PLL or antiNgR, respectively. It is expected that this modified HA hydrogel has potential as a CNS tissue engineering material.