bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information Technology and Emergency Medical Care during Disasters
Authors: Chan Theodore C. , Killeen Jim , Griswold William , Lenert Leslie
Published: November 2004

Disaster response to mass‐casualty incidents represents one of the greatest challenges to a community's emergency response system. Rescuers, field medical personnel, and regional emergency departments and hospitals must often provide care to large numbers of casualties in a setting of limited resources, inadequate communication, misinformation, damaged infrastructure, and great personal risk. Emergency care providers and incident managers attempt to procure and coordinate resources and personnel, often with inaccurate data regarding the true nature of the incident, needs, and ongoing response. In this chaotic environment, new technologies in communications, the Internet, computer miniaturization, and advanced “smart devices” have the potential to vastly improve the emergency medical response to such mass‐casualty incident disasters. In particular, next‐generation wireless Internet and geopositioning technologies may have the greatest impact on improving communications, information management, and overall disaster response and emergency medical care. These technologies have applications in terms of enhancing mass‐casualty field care, provider safety, field incident command, resource management, informatics support, and regional emergency department and hospital care of disaster victims.
Using Data from Hospital Information Systems to Improve Emergency Department Care
Authors: Husk Gregg , Waxman Daniel A.
Published: November 2004

The ubiquity of computerized hospital information systems, and of inexpensive computing power, has led to an unprecedented opportunity to use electronic data for quality improvement projects and for research. Although hospitals and emergency departments vary widely in their degree of integration of information technology into clinical operations, most have computer systems that manage emergency department registration, admission–discharge–transfer information, billing, and laboratory and radiology data. These systems are designed for specific tasks, but contain a wealth of detail that can be used to educate staff and improve the quality of care emergency physicians offer their patients. In this article, the authors describe five such projects that they have performed and use these examples as a basis for discussion of some of the methods and logistical challenges of undertaking such projects.
Medical Informatics Standards Applicable to Emergency Department Information Systems: Making Sense of the Jumble
Authors: Coonan Kevin M.
Published: November 2004

The adoption of medical informatics standards by emergency department information systems (EDISs) is not universal, despite obvious benefits. Clinicians and administrators looking to obtain an EDIS need to know exactly what the various standards can do for them and how the systems they depend on can be integrated and extended. In addition to the standard methods for systems to communicate (chiefly Health Level 7 [HL7]) and those required for submission of claims (Current Procedural Terminology [CPT]‐4, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD‐9‐CM], and X12N), there are several other available standards that are clinically useful and can greatly improve the ability to access and exchange patient information. Major advances in the Unified Medical Language System of the National Library of Medicine have made the patient medical record information standards (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine [SNOMED], Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes [LOINC], RxNorm) easily accessible. Detailed knowledge of the arcana associated with the technical aspects of the standards is not needed (or desired) by clinicians to use standards‐based systems. However, some knowledge about the commonly used standards is helpful in choosing an EDIS, interfacing the EDIS with the other hospital information systems, extending or upgrading systems, and adopting decision support technologies.
Evolutionary diversification of specification mechanisms within the O/P equivalence group of the leech genusHelobdella
Authors: Kuo Dian-Han , Shankland Marty
Published: November 2004

Developmental fates and cell lineage patterns are highly conserved in the teloblast lineages that give rise to the segmental ectoderm of clitellate annelids. But previous studies have shown that the pathways involved in specification of the ventrolateral O lineage and the dorsolateral P lineage differ to some degree in distantly related clitellate species such as the leeches Helobdella and Theromyzon, and the sludgeworm Tubifex. To examine this developmental variation at a lower taxonomic level, we have explored the specification pathways of the O and P lineages in the leech genus Helobdella. In leech, the O and P lineages arise from a developmental equivalence group of O/P teloblasts. In this study, we demonstrate that the cell-cell interactions involved in cell fate specification of the O/P equivalence group differ among three laboratory colonies of closely related species. In two populations, the Q lineage is necessary to specify the P fate in the dorsalmost O/P lineage, but in the third population the P fate can be specified by a redundant pathway involving the M lineage. We also observe interspecific variation in the role played by cell interactions within the O/P equivalence group, and in the apparent significance of extrinsic signals from the micromere cell lineages. Our data suggest that cell fate specification in the O/P equivalence group is a complex process that involves multiple cell-cell interactions, and that the developmental architecture of the O/P equivalence group has undergone evolutionary diversification in closely related species, despite maintaining a conserved morphology.
Focal adhesion kinase is not required for integrin function or viability inDrosophila
Authors: Grabbe Caroline , Zervas Christos G. , Hunter Tony , Brown Nicholas H. , Palmer Ruth H.
Published: November 2004

The mammalian focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family of non-receptor protein-tyrosine kinases has been implicated in controlling a multitude of cellular responses to the engagement of cell-surface integrins and G-protein-coupled receptors. The high level of sequence conservation between the mammalian proteins and the Drosophila homologue of FAK, Fak56,suggested that it would have similar functions. However, we show here that Drosophila Fak56 is not essential for integrin functions in adhesion,migration or signaling in vivo. Furthermore, animals lacking Fak56 are viable and fertile, demonstrating that Fak56 is not essential for other developmental or physiological functions. Despite this, overexpressed Fak56 is a potent inhibitor of integrins binding to the extracellular matrix, suggesting that Fak56 may play a subtle role in the negative regulation of integrin adhesion.
Compartmentalization of visual centers in theDrosophilabrain requires Slit and Robo proteins
Authors: Tayler Timothy D. , Robichaux Myles B. , Garrity Paul A.
Published: November 2004

Brain morphogenesis depends on the maintenance of boundaries between populations of non-intermingling cells. We used molecular markers to characterize a boundary within the optic lobe of the Drosophila brain and found that Slit and the Robo family of receptors, well-known regulators of axon guidance and neuronal migration, inhibit the mixing of adjacent cell populations in the developing optic lobe. Our data suggest that Slit is needed in the lamina to prevent inappropriate invasion of Robo-expressing neurons from the lobula cortex. We show that Slit protein surrounds lamina glia, while the distal cell neurons in the lobula cortex express all three Drosophila Robos. We examine the function of these proteins in the visual system by isolating a novel allele of slit that preferentially disrupts visual system expression of Slit and by creating transgenic RNA interference flies to inhibit the function of each Drosophila Robo in a tissue-specific fashion. We find that loss of Slit or simultaneous knockdown of Robo, Robo2 and Robo3 causes distal cell neurons to invade the lamina,resulting in cell mixing across the lamina/lobula cortex boundary. This boundary disruption appears to lead to alterations in patterns of axon navigation in the visual system. We propose that Slit and Robo-family proteins act to maintain the distinct cellular composition of the lamina and the lobula cortex.
Assessment of train-overturning risk due to strong cross-winds
Authors: Andersson E , Häggström J , Sima M , Stichel S
Published: November 2004

This paper describes the methodology for safety assessment related to the risk of a train overturning in strong cross-winds. As an example, this methodology is applied on the high-speed line Botniabanan being built for a maximum speed of 250 km/h in the northeast coastal region of Sweden. The process starts with a systematic identification of locations along the line having a potential high risk of overturning due to cross-winds. This is followed by a cross-disciplinary study. The first step is to estimate the probabilities of wind velocity and wind directions. The next step is aerodynamic computation of overturning forces and moments acting on relevant types of train. Further, the critical overturning wind velocity is determined by a multi-body simulation technique. Finally, the overturning accident frequency is calculated. The calculated risk is compared with generally accepted risk levels in modern train operation.
A computational and experimental approach toward a priori identification of alternatively spliced exons
Authors: PHILIPPS DANA L. , PARK JUNG W. , GRAVELEY BRENTON R.
Published: November 2004

Alternative splicing is a powerful means of regulating gene expression and enhancing protein diversity. In fact, the majority of metazoan genes encode pre-mRNAs that are alternatively spliced to produce anywhere from two to tens of thousands of mRNA isoforms. Thus, an important part of determining the complete proteome of an organism is developing a catalog of all mRNA isoforms. Alternatively spliced exons are typically identified by aligning EST clusters to reference mRNAs or genomic DNA. However, this approach is not useful for genomes that lack robust EST coverage, and tools that enable accurate prediction of alternatively spliced exons would be extraordinarily useful. Here, we use comparative genomics to identify, and experimentally verify, potential alternative exons based solely on their high degree of conservation betweenDrosophila melanogasterandD. pseudoobscura. At least 40% of the exons that fit our prediction criteria are in fact alternatively spliced. Thus, comparative genomics can be used to accurately predict certain classes of alternative exons without relying on EST data.
Brief cognitive therapy of nightmares and post‐traumatic ruminations in a man with a learning disability
Authors: Willner Paul
Published: November 2004

Objectives: This is a case study of the treatment of two recurrent nightmares, one of which was accompanied by congruent post‐traumatic daytime ruminations, in a man with a mild to moderate learning disability.

Method: Treatment was by a cognitive intervention in which the patient was taught new positive endings to his dream stories.

Results: Both of the nightmares, as well as the post‐traumatic ruminations, responded to treatment, and gains were maintained at 12‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions: Cognitive treatment of nightmares can be successful even in a patient with very limited intellectual abilities. The discussion considers the factors that may have been responsible for the success of the intervention in a man who would not be considered an obvious candidate for cognitive therapy.
Overgenerality of autobiographical memory in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Moses Aida , Culpin Victoria , Lowe Christine , McWilliam Chris
Published: November 2004

Objectives: Overgenerality of autobiographical memory (ABM) is well documented in a range of clinical conditions, particularly in depressed and parasuicidal patients (e.g., Williams, 1996; Williams & Broadbent, 1986). This study extended the investigation to Alzheimer's disease (AD), and attempted to identify whether ABM overgenerality in the AD group is specifically expressed through an excess of categoric memories.

Design: AD sufferers and control participants were compared on their ABM specificity in a cued‐recall task.

Method: Ten AD patients and 10 controls, matched for age, gender and educational level, were administered an ABM specificity measure following their mental status assessment. A battery of neuropsychological tests provided an independent estimate of cognitive deficit severity in the following areas: long‐term memory, IQ, working memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency. A control for depression was also employed.

Results: Compared to control participants, AD participants produced significantly fewer specific autobiographical memories. Additionally, the number of produced categoric overgeneral memories was significantly greater in the AD group in comparison with the controls.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the existence of ABM overgenerality in AD, manifested through an excess of categoric memories. Consistent with the mnemonic interlock theory (Williams, 1996), AD sufferers seem to lack cognitive resources to conduct a directed search for a specific memory, and stop at the categoric descriptions stage. This may contribute to lack of specificity in ABM retrieval.
The self‐report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: Its psychometric properties in 8‐ to 13‐year‐old non‐clinical children
Authors: Muris Peter , Meesters Cor , Eijkelenboom Anneke , Vincken Manon
Published: November 2004

Objective: To examine the reliability and validity of the self‐report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in relatively young children.

Method: The SDQ was administered to a large sample of non‐clinical children (n = 1111) aged 8–13 years. In a subsample (n = 439), self‐report SDQ scores of children with and without behaviour problems were compared, and related to the teacher version of the SDQ, the Youth Self‐Report and the Teacher Report Form.

Results: Although the reliability of the self‐report SDQ was somewhat less satisfactory in the younger children of our sample, most other psychometric properties were acceptable and comparable to those obtained in older youths.

Conclusion: While the self‐report SDQ was designed for youths aged 11 years and above, the current data seem to suggest that the scale may provide useful information about psychopathological symptoms in children as young as 8 years old.
The role of overgeneral autobiographical memory in the development of adult depression following childhood trauma
Authors: Burnside Elizabeth , Startup Mike , Byatt Marie , Rollinson Lynn , Hill Jonathan
Published: November 2004

Objective: Overgeneral autobiographical memory (AM) has been associated with episodes of clinical depression in adults and also with reported experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). This study investigated whether AM has a role in the development of adult depression in survivors of CSA and whether it is related to circumstances of CSA.

Method: A community sample of women who reported a history of CSA (N = 41) completed the autobiographical memory test and were interviewed about any adult episodes of depression using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia — Lifetime.

Results: Women who reported episodes of depression recalled fewer categoric memories in response to cue words than those who reported no episodes of depression. Correlations indicated that the number of categoric memories recalled for all cue words was associated with early abuse and greater duration of abuse.

Conclusions: Relationships between AM and the age, and duration of abuse are consistent with previous findings of a relationship between CSA and AM. Categoric AM appears to serve as a defence against distressing memories. However, this suggestion needs to be tested with prospective studies showing whether AM recall style becomes more specific as a result of an episode of depression.
Thought‐shape fusion in eating disorders
Authors: Shafran Roz , Robinson Paul
Published: November 2004

Objectives: The aims of the present study were (1) to examine the association between a cognitive distortion (‘thought‐shape fusion’) and eating disorder psychopathology and (2) to examine the degree of thought‐shape fusion in people with eating disorders and a non‐eating‐disorder control group.

Design: Associations between thought‐shape fusion and eating disorder psychopathology were examined and the degree of thought‐shape fusion was compared between people with and without clinical eating disorders.

Method: Forty‐two women with clinical eating disorders and a group of 42 age‐matched women with no self‐reported history of an eating disorder completed self‐report questionnaires to assess thought‐shape fusion, eating disorder symptoms, body checking and body avoidance, and depression.

Results: Thought‐shape fusion was significantly associated with eating disorder psychopathology. The majority of the associations remained significant when controlling for levels of depression. Patients with eating disorders showed significantly more thought‐shape fusion than the non‐clinical controls.

Conclusions: Thought‐shape fusion is a cognitive distortion associated with eating disorders. It may be a direct expression of the overevaluation of eating, shape and weight. It is recommended that thought‐shape fusion be tackled directly in cases where it is a barrier to changing the core psychopathology of eating disorders.
Pharmaceuticals and the Worldwide HIV Epidemic: Can a Stakeholder Model Work?
Authors: Calfee John E. , Bate Roger
Published: November 2004

The worldwide HIV/AIDS epidemic has generated intense criticism of pharmaceutical drug prices, a natural consequence of the industry's unique cost structure. Many people have proposed that the industry adopt what might be called a stakeholder model in place of the traditional profit-driven model. However, the rapid drop in HIV drug prices, combined with generic entry and de facto abandonment of patent rights, has revealed the extremely limited role of drug prices and access in the face of fundamental problems in infrastructure, prevention, and other essential elements in battling HIV/AIDS. Adoption of a stakeholder approach is likely to undermine essential research and development while doing little to curtail the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Molecular signature associated with plasticity of bone marrow cell under persistent liver damage by self‐organizing‐map‐based gene expression
Authors: Omori Kaoru , Terai Shuji , Ishikawa Tsuyoshi , Aoyama Kouji , Sakaida Isao , Nishina Hiroshi , Shinoda Koh , Uchimura Shunji , Hamamoto Yoshihiko , Okita Kiwamu
Published: November 2004

The mechanism that regulates the plasticity of bone marrow cells (BMCs) into hepatocytes is poorly understood. We developed a green fluorescent protein/carbon tetrachloride model to find that BMC transplantation recovered liver damage. Serum albumin level and liver fibrosis were recovered by BMC transplantation. To understand the mechanism, we used DNA‐chip technology to profile the change of transient gene expression before and after BMC transplantation. On the basis of gene expression with self‐organizing map using specific equation, genes were classified into 153 clusters. The information is useful to understand the dramatic gene activation during the process of the plasticity of BMC.
Prothymosin α associates with the oncoprotein SET and is involved in chromatin decondensation
Authors: Karetsou Zoe , Martic Goran , Tavoulari Sotiria , Christoforidis Savvas , Wilm Matthias , Gruss Claudia , Papamarcaki Thomais
Published: November 2004

Prothymosin α (ProTα) is a histone H1‐binding protein that interacts with the transcription coactivator CREB‐binding protein and potentiates transcription. Based on coimmunoprecipitation and mammalian two‐hybrid assays, we show here that ProTα forms a complex with the oncoprotein SET. ProTα efficiently decondenses human sperm chromatin, while overexpression of GFP–ProTα in mammalian cells results in global chromatin decondensation. These results indicate that decondensation of compacted chromatin fibers is an important step in the mechanism of ProTα function.
Identification and characterization of a novel factor XIIa inhibitor in the hematophagous insect, Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Authors: Campos Ivan T.N. , Tanaka-Azevedo Anita M. , Tanaka Aparecida S.
Published: November 2004

Recently, we have cloned several Kazal‐type serine protease inhibitors from the midgut of the Triatoma infestans bug. A single gene composed of multi Kazal‐type domains, in tandem, encodes these inhibitors. In this work, we describe the purification and characterization of recombinant infestins 3‐4 and 4, which are potent factor XIIa inhibitors (K
i=67 pM and 128 pM, respectively). We also identified the first native factor XIIa inhibitor from a hematophagous insect. The factor XIIa inhibitory activity of infestin 4 demonstrates extremely efficient anticoagulant activity, prolonging activated partial thromboplastin time by approximately 3 times. Our results suggest that infestins perform a very important role in the T. infestans midgut during meal acquisition and digestion by controlling blood coagulation by means of inhibiting thrombin and factor XIIa.
Doxorubicin treatment in vivo activates caspase‐12 mediated cardiac apoptosis in both male and female rats
Authors: Jang Young Mok , Kendaiah Suma , Drew Barry , Phillips Tracey , Selman Colin , Julian David , Leeuwenburgh Christiaan
Published: November 2004

We investigated in vivo the chemotherapeutic anthracycline agents doxorubicin and its ability to activate mitochondrial‐mediated, receptor‐mediated and endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum‐mediated apoptosis transduction pathways in cardiac tissue from male and female rats. We administered a single low dose of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg of body weight, i.p.) and then isolated mitochondrial and cytosolic proteins one and four days later from the heart. Caspase‐3 protein content and caspase‐3 activity were significantly increased after day four of doxorubicin treatment in both male and female rats. However, while males had DNA fragmentation at day one but not day four following doxorubicin administration, females showed no significant increase in DNA fragmentation at either time. Caspase‐12, localized in the SR, is considered a central caspase, and its activation by cleavage via calpain indicates activation of the SR‐mediated pathway of apoptosis. Cleaved caspase‐12 content and calpain activity significantly increased after day four of doxorubicin treatment in both sexes. In the mitochondrial‐mediated pathway, there were no significant treatment effects observed in cytosolic cytochrome c and cleaved (active) caspase‐9 in either sex. In control rats (saline injection), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production were lower in females compared to males. Doxorubicin treatment did not significantly affect H2O2, GPX activity or ATP production in isolated mitochondria in either sex. Female rats produced significantly lower levels of H2O2 production one day after doxorubicin treatment, whereas male rats produced significantly less mitochondrial H2O2 four days after doxorubicin treatment. The receptor‐mediated pathway (caspase‐8 and c‐FLIP) showed no evidence of being significantly activated by doxorubicin treatment. Hence, doxorubicin‐induced apoptosis in vivo is mediated by the SR to a greater extent than other apoptotic pathways and should therefore be considered for targeted therapeutic interventions. Moreover, no major sex differences exist in apoptosis signaling transduction cascade due to doxorubicin treatment.
Catalytic domains of tyrosine kinases determine the phosphorylation sites within c‐Cbl
Authors: Grossmann A.H. , Kolibaba K.S. , Willis S.G. , Corbin A.S. , Langdon W.S. , Deininger M.W.N. , Druker B.J.
Published: November 2004

Catalytic (SH1) domains of protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) demonstrate specificity for peptide substrates. Whether SH1 domains differentiate between tyrosines in a physiological substrate has not been confirmed. Using purified proteins, we studied the ability of Syk, Fyn, and Abl to differentiate between tyrosines in a common PTK substrate, c‐Cbl. We found that each kinase produced a distinct pattern of c‐Cbl phosphorylation, which altered the phosphotyrosine‐dependent interactions between c‐Cbl and CrkL or phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase (PI3‐K). Our data support the concept that SH1 domains determine the final sites of phosphorylation once PTKs reach their target proteins.
Atg21p is essential for macropexophagy and microautophagy in the yeast Hansenula polymorpha
Authors: Leão-Helder Adriana N. , Krikken Arjen M. , Gellissen Gerd , van der Klei Ida J. , Veenhuis Marten , Kiel Jan A.K.W.
Published: November 2004

ATG genes are required for autophagy‐related processes that transport proteins/organelles destined for proteolytic degradation to the vacuole. Here, we describe the identification and characterisation of the Hansenula polymorpha ATG21 gene. Its gene product Hp‐Atg21p, fused to eGFP, had a dual location in the cytosol and in peri‐vacuolar dots. We demonstrate that Hp‐Atg21p is essential for two separate modes of peroxisome degradation, namely glucose‐induced macropexophagy and nitrogen limitation‐induced microautophagy. In atg21 cells subjected to macropexophagy conditions, sequestration of peroxisomes tagged for degradation is initiated but fails to complete.
Tetrahydrobiopterin protects phenylalanine hydroxylase activity in vivo: Implications for tetrahydrobiopterin‐responsive hyperphenylalaninemia
Authors: Thöny Beat , Ding Zhaobing , Martı́nez Aurora
Published: November 2004

The natural cofactor of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), regulates the enzyme activity as well as being essential in catalysis. BH4‐responsive PAH deficiency is a variant of hyperphenylalaninemia or phenylketonuria (PKU) caused by mutations in the human PAH gene that respond to oral BH4 loading by stimulating enzyme activity and therefore lowering serum phenylalanine. Here, we showed in a coupled transcription–translation in vitro assay that upon expression in the presence of BH4, wild‐type PAH enzyme activity was enhanced. We then investigated the effect of BH4 on PAH activity in transgenic mice that had a complete or partial deficiency in the endogenous cofactor biosynthesis. The rate of hepatic PAH enzyme activity increased significantly with BH4 content without affecting gene expression or Pah‐mRNA stability. These results indicate that BH4 has a chaperon‐like effect on PAH synthesis and/or is a protecting cofactor against enzyme auto‐inactivation and degradation also in vivo. Our findings thus contribute to the understanding of the regulation of PAH by its cofactor BH4 on an additional level and provide a molecular explanation for cofactor‐responsive PKU.
S‐Adenosyl‐l‐homocysteine hydrolase in yeast: key enzyme of methylation metabolism and coordinated regulation with phospholipid synthesis
Authors: Tehlivets Oksana , Hasslacher Meinhard , Kohlwein Sepp D.
Published: November 2004

S‐Adenosyl‐l‐homocysteine hydrolase (Sah1p, EC 3.3.1.1.) is a key enzyme of methylation metabolism. It catabolizes S‐adenosyl‐l‐homocysteine, which is formed after donation of the activated methyl group of S‐adenosyl‐l‐methionine (AdoMet) to an acceptor, and which acts as strong competitive inhibitor of all AdoMet‐dependent methyltransferases. Sah1p is an essential enzyme in yeast and one of the most highly conserved proteins with up to 80% sequence homology throughout all kingdoms of life. SAH1 expression in yeast is subject to the general transcriptional control of phospholipid synthesis. Profound changes in cellular lipid composition upon depletion of Sah1p support the notion of a tight interaction between lipid metabolism and Sah1p function.
Managerial choice and performance in service management—a comparison of private sector organizations with further education colleges
Authors: Voss Chris , Tsikriktsis Nikos , Funk Benjamin , Yarrow David , Owen Jane
Published: November 2004

The debate as to whether public sector organizations should emulate private sector managerial practices in light of contextual differences is long running. This paper reports the result of an empirical study comparing application of service management principles in one public sector area, further education (FE) colleges, with private sector service organizations. Although within our sample marked differences exist between the levels of service drivers and outcomes, our findings suggest that the same management model is applicable to both sectors. Based on a sample of 291 service organizations, we demonstrate that a managerial model, represented by the service profit chain, is valid in both our FE college and private sector sample. Specifically, progressive human resource management practices led to employee satisfaction, which in turn impacted both service quality and customer satisfaction in both the public and private organizations. The results indicate that the performance of FE colleges arose in part from the managerial choices made in adoption of practices, and that it is lack of employee focus that may be holding back performance. Relevant to both public and private sectors is that the research indicates that human resource factors have a stronger impact than quality procedures, on both service quality and customer satisfaction.
Voltage‐dependent transient currents of human and rat 5‐HT transporters (SERT) are blocked by HEPES and ion channel ligands
Authors: Li Ming , Farley Robert A , Lester Henry A
Published: November 2004

The hyperpolarization‐activated transient current of mammalian 5‐hydroxytryptamine transporters (SERT) expressed in Xenopus oocytes was studied. Human (h) and rat (r) SERT transient currents are blocked by HEPES with changes in the waveform kinetics, and the blockade of hSERT has use‐dependent properties. HEPES also changes the time course of the prepriming step, especially for hSERT. Transient currents at hSERT and rSERT are also blocked by spermine and spermidine in the mM range, and by fluoxetine, cocaine, QX‐314, and QX‐222 in the μM range. These pharmacological and kinetic properties of transient current blockade emphasize the similarities between the transient current and phenomena at ion channels.
Parts-of-speech systems and word order
Authors: HENGEVELD KEES , RIJKHOFF JAN , SIEWIERSKA ANNA
Published: November 2004

This paper argues that the word order possibilities of a language are partly determined by the parts-of-speech system of that language. In languages in which lexical items are specialized for certain functionally defined syntactic slots (e.g. the modifier slot within a noun phrase), the identifiability of these slots is ensured by the nature of the lexical items (e.g. adjectives) themselves. As a result, word order possibilities are relatively unrestricted in these languages. In languages in which lexical items are not specialized for certain syntactic slots, in that these items combine the functions of two or more of the traditional word classes, other strategies have to be invoked to enhance identifiability. In these languages word order constraints are used to make syntactic slots identifiable on the basis of their position within the clause or phrase. Hence the word order possibilities are rather restricted in these languages. Counterexamples to the latter claim all involve cases in which identifiability is ensured by morphological rather than syntactic means. This shows that there is a balanced trade-off between the syntactic, morphological, and lexical structure of a language.
Foundational issues
Authors: PHILLIPS COLIN , LAU ELLEN
Published: November 2004

Ray Jackendoff,Foundations of language. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Pp. xix+477.

Ray Jackendoff is well qualified to talk about the trend towards increasing specialization and fragmentation of the science of language. For over 30 years he has been a prolific contributor to a number of different topics in syntax and semantics, and has also made notable contributions to other areas of cognitive science, including music, consciousness, spatial cognition, and psycholinguistics. It's hard to find many in the field who can match Jackendoff's breadth. Therefore, all linguists should be interested in Jackendoff's most recent book, Foundations of language, in which he lays out a series of objectives for the science of language, and describes some of the steps that he believes are needed in order to reintegrate theoretical linguistics with psycholinguistics and even computational neuroscience.
Third person null subjects in Hebrew, Finnish and Rumanian: an accessibility-theoretic account
Authors: GUTMAN EYNAT
Published: November 2004

Hebrew (past and future tenses) and Standard Finnish exhibit limitations on third person pro-drop, although their first and second person pro-drop follows the well-known Spanish/Italian pattern. This paper aims to show that only a detailed theory of discourse anaphora, such as the one proposed by Ariel (1990, 2001), can account for the distribution of third person pro-drop in Hebrew and Finnish; accounts proposing a syntactic analysis of the phenomenon cannot explain the whole range of data. A comparison between Hebrew and Finnish reveals a difference in the distribution of third person null subjects: Finnish appears to be significantly more restrictive than Hebrew. These two languages are also compared to Rumanian, a typical pro-drop language, which shows almost free third person pro-drop across the board.
The Nottingham Study of Neurotic Disorder: predictors of 12-year outcome of dysthymic, panic and generalized anxiety disorder
Authors: TYRER PETER , SEIVEWRIGHT HELEN , JOHNSON TONY
Published: November 2004

Background. Controlled prospective studies of the simultaneous long-term outcome of several mental disorders are rare. This study sought to determine if there were important differences between the outcome of anxiety and depressive disorders after 12 years and to examine their main predictors.

Method. A cohort of 210 people seen in general practice psychiatric clinics with a DSM-III diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (71), panic disorder (74), or dysthymic disorder (65), including combined anxiety-depressive disorder (cothymia) (67) was followed up after 12 years. Interview assessments of symptoms, social functioning and outcome were made, the latter using a new scale, the Neurotic Disorder Outcome Scale. Seventeen baseline predictors were also examined.

Results. Data were obtained from 201 (96%) patients, 17 of whom had died. Only 73 (36%) had no DSM diagnosis at the time of follow-up. Using univariate and stepwise multiple linear regression those with cothymia, personality disorder, recurrent episodes and greater baseline self-rated anxiety and depression ratings had a worse outcome than others; initial diagnosis did not contribute significantly to outcome and instability of diagnosis over time was much more common than consistency.

Conclusion. Only two out of five people with the common neurotic disorders have a good outcome despite alleged advances in treatment. Those with greater mood symptoms and pre-morbid personality disorder have the least favourable outcome. It is suggested that greater attention be paid to the concurrent treatment of personality disorder and environmental factors rather than symptoms as these may be the real cause of apparent treatment resistance.
Cohabiting unions, repartnering and mental health
Authors: PEVALIN DAVID J. , ERMISCH JOHN
Published: November 2004

Background. A considerable body of research has established that transitions out of marriage are generally deleterious for mental health and some have examined transitions out of cohabitation. In this study we depart from these established areas to investigate the effects of poor mental health on the duration and outcome of cohabitations and on the time to, and likelihood of, repartnering after both cohabitation and marriage.

Method. Samples came from the British Household Panel Survey, 1991–2001. These were: (1) 447 cohabiting spells; (2) 5571 paired person-years during cohabitation; (3) 508 spells after cohabitation; (4) 1197 person-year observations within those spells; (5) 869 spells after marriage; and (6) 2736 person-year observations within those spells. Life tables, log-rank tests, multinomial logit and proportional hazard models were used. Mental health was measured by the 12-item General Health Questionnaire.

Results. Poor mental health increased the risk of dissolving a cohabiting union for both men and women. Poor mental health reduced the risk of repartnering after a cohabiting union but had no effect on the risk of repartnering after a marriage. Other factors such as past marital status, age and parental status also had significant effects.

Conclusions. This study provides evidence that poor mental health during a cohabiting union increases the chances of that union dissolving instead of turning into marriage and poorer mental health immediately after a transition out of a cohabiting union is associated with reduced chances of repartnering.
Perspective-taking deficits in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a prospective investigation
Authors: SCHIFFMAN JASON , LAM CECILIA W. , JIWATRAM TINA , EKSTROM MORTEN , SORENSEN HOLGER , MEDNICK SARNOFF
Published: November 2004

Background. This study examined data from a Danish prospective longitudinal project in attempt to address the state/trait controversy regarding theory of mind deficits in schizophrenia. Deficits in perspective-taking – a component of theory of mind – were investigated prospectively among children who developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders as adults in comparison to children who did not develop schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Method. A total of 265 high risk and control subjects were studied in 1972. At the time of initial assessment, the Role-Taking Task (RTT) was administered. Two hundred and forty-two of these children were evaluated in 1992 during follow-up examinations. Sixteen developed schizophrenia, 10 developed a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 70 had outcomes of other psychopathology, and 146 did not develop a mental illness.

Results. Children who later developed schizophrenia or a schizophrenia spectrum disorder had lower RTT scores, controlling for verbal IQ and age, compared to those who did not develop any mental illness. Although in the expected direction, RTT scores for those with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were not significantly different from those who developed a non-psychotic disorder.

Conclusions. Deficits in perspective-taking among children who later developed schizophrenia spectrum disorders suggest that a facet of theory of mind is impaired prior to development of schizophrenia. Our findings lend support to the hypothesis that theory of mind deficits in schizophrenia are trait markers of the disorder.
Common mental disorders and ethnicity in England: the EMPIRIC Study
Authors: WEICH SCOTT , NAZROO JAMES , SPROSTON KERRY , McMANUS SALLY , BLANCHARD MARTIN , ERENS BOB , KARLSEN SAFFRON , KING MICHAEL , LLOYD KEITH , STANSFELD STEPHEN , TYRER PETER
Published: November 2004

Background. There is little population-based evidence on ethnic variation in the most common mental disorders (CMD), anxiety and depression. We compared the prevalence of CMD among representative samples of White, Irish, Black Caribbean, Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani individuals living in England using a standardized clinical interview.

Method. Cross-sectional survey of 4281 adults aged 16–74 years living in private households in England. CMD were assessed using the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R), a standardized clinical interview.

Results. Ethnic differences in the prevalence of CMD were modest, and some variation with age and sex was noted. Compared to White counterparts, the prevalence of CMD was higher to a statistically significant degree among Irish [adjusted rate ratios (RR) 2·09, 95% CI 1·16–2·95, p=0·02] and Pakistani (adjusted RR 2·38, 95% CI 1·25–3·53, p=0·02) men aged 35–54 years, even after adjusting for differences in socio-economic status. Higher rates of CMD were also observed among Indian and Pakistani women aged 55–74 years, compared to White women of similar age. The prevalence of CMD among Bangladeshi women was lower than among White women, although this was restricted to those not interviewed in English. There were no differences in rates between Black Caribbean and White samples.

Conclusions. Middle-aged Irish and Pakistani men, and older Indian and Pakistani women, had significantly higher rates of CMD than their White counterparts. The very low prevalence of CMD among Bangladeshi women contrasted with high levels of socio-economic deprivation among this group. Further study is needed to explore reasons for this variation.
Anxiety and depression in parents 4–9 years after the loss of a child owing to a malignancy: a population-based follow-up
Authors: KREICBERGS ULRIKA , VALDIMARSDÓTTIR UNNUR , ONELÖV ERIK , HENTER JAN-INGE , STEINECK GUNNAR
Published: November 2004

Background. Some consider the loss of a child as the most stressful life event. When the death is caused by a malignancy, the parents are commonly exposed not only to their own loss, but also to the protracted physical and emotional suffering of the child. We investigated parental risk of anxiety and depression 4–9 years after the loss of a child owing to a malignancy.

Method. In 2001, we attempted to contact all parents in Sweden who had lost a child due to a malignancy during 1992–1997. We used an anonymous postal questionnaire and utilized a control group of non-bereaved parents with a living child.

Results. Participation among bereaved parents was 449/561 (80%); among non-bereaved 457/659 (69%). We found an increased risk of anxiety (relative risk 1·5, 95% confidence interval 1·1–1·9) and depression (relative risk 1·4, 95% confidence interval 1·1–1·7) among bereaved parents compared with non-bereaved. The risk of anxiety and depression was higher in the period 4–6 years after bereavement than in the 7–9 years period, during which the average excess risks approached zero. Psychological distress was overall higher among bereaved mothers and loss of a child aged 9 years or older implied an increased risk, particularly for fathers.

Conclusions. Psychological morbidity in bereaved parents decreases to levels similar to those among non-bereaved parents 7–9 years after the loss. Bereaved mothers and parents who lose a child 9 years or older have on average an excess risk for long-term psychological distress.
Juvenile- versus adult-onset depression: multiple differences imply different pathways
Authors: HILL JONATHAN , PICKLES ANDREW , ROLLINSON LYNN , DAVIES RACHEL , BYATT MARIE
Published: November 2004

Background. Several sources of heterogeneity in major depression have been identified. These include age of onset, presence of co-morbid disorders, and history of childhood sexual abuse. This study examined these factors in the context of the contrast between onset of depression in young women before and after age 16.

Method. Sampling was carried out in two phases. In the first, questionnaires were sent to women aged 25–36 in five primary care practices. Second-phase subjects for interview (n=197) were drawn from three strata defined on the basis of childhood adversities. Interviews conducted and rated independently assessed (1) recalled childhood experiences, psychopathology and parental psychiatric disorder, and (2) adult personality functioning and adult lifetime psychopathology. Frequencies of predictor and response variables, effect estimates and their confidence intervals were weighted back to the general population questionnaire sample.

Results. Compared with adult-onset depression, juvenile-onset adult depression was associated with co-morbid childhood psychopathology and peer problems, poor parental care, and childhood sexual abuse involving actual or attempted intercourse; in adult life there were higher levels of co-morbid psychiatric disorders, and personality dysfunction. The adult-onset depression group was characterized by a history of contact childhood sexual abuse without actual or attempted intercourse, and to a lesser extent, poor parental care.

Conclusions. The juvenile- versus adult-onset distinction appears to be important to heterogeneity in adult depression, implicating different individual and environmental factors during childhood, and different mechanisms in adult life.
Memory complaints in a community sample aged 60–64 years: associations with cognitive functioning, psychiatric symptoms, medical conditions, APOE genotype, hippocampus and amygdala volumes, and white-matter hyperintensities
Authors: JORM A. F. , BUTTERWORTH P. , ANSTEY K. J. , CHRISTENSEN H. , EASTEAL S. , MALLER J. , MATHER K. A. , TURAKULOV R. I. , WEN W. , SACHDEV P.
Published: November 2004

Background. Previous research has found that depression is a major cause of memory complaints. However, there is evidence that memory complaints also weakly predict cognitive decline and dementia. The present study examined a range of possible determinants of memory complaints, covering psychiatric and personality factors, medical history, cognitive test performance, and biological risk factors for dementia (APOE genotype, hippocampus and amygdala volumes, and white-matter hyperintensities).

Method. A community survey was carried out with 2546 persons aged 60–64 years living in Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia. Participants were asked about memory problems which interfered with daily life and whether medical help had been sought. A randomly selected subsample of 476 persons was given a brain MRI scan.

Results. Participants with memory complaints were found to have poorer memory test performance, more depression and anxiety symptoms, have higher scores on personality traits involving negative affect, and to have worse physical health. Multivariate analyses showed that measures of cognitive performance did not make a unique contribution to the prediction of memory complaints above that of the other categories of predictors. Those with memory complaints did not differ on any of the biological risk factors for dementia.

Conclusion. In a community sample aged 60–64 years, memory complaints were most closely related to psychiatric symptoms, personality characteristics and poor physical health. There was no evidence of brain changes indicating early dementia.
Do children's omissions leave traces?
Authors: CARTER ALLYSON , GERKEN LOUANN
Published: November 2004

When English-speaking two-year-olds begin producing polysyllabic words, they often omit unstressed syllables that precede syllables with primary stress (Allen & Hawkins, 1980; Klein, 1981; Gerken, 1994a). One proposed mechanism for these omissions is that children omit syllables at a phonological level, due to prosodic constraints that act on outputs. Under such accounts, it has been largely assumed that these syllables are simply missing, or deleted, from children's outputs. The present research consists of a pair of experiments that tested this assumption by investigating the acoustic properties of utterances manifesting or lacking weak initial syllable omissions. In the two experiments, 33 two-year-old children were asked to imitate sentences like ‘He kissed Lucinda’ (often reduced as expected to a disyllabic trochaic form, e.g. ‘He kissed _cinda’) and ‘He kissed Cindy’. Durations of each child's imitations were measured from the onset of the verb to the onset of the name, for each pair of sentences containing the reduced or unreduced disyllabic forms, for example, ‘kissed _cinda’ vs. ‘kissed Cindy’. Our results yielded a significantly longer duration for the verb-onset to name-onset portion of sentences containing reduced ‘_cinda’-type names than for sentences with ‘Cindy’-type names. This finding provides evidence that children do not completely delete weak syllables. Rather, the data from the phonetic analysis indicate that some prosodic trace exists of the omitted syllable.