bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual change after genocide in Bosnian survivors of “ethnic cleansing”: Assessing personality dysfunction
Authors: Weine Stevan M. , Becker Daniel F. , Vojvoda Dolores , Hodzic Emir , Sawyer Marie , Hyman Leslie , Laub Dori , McGlashan Thomas H.
Published: September 2003

The authors used the SCID‐DES (disorders of extreme stress) instrument to assess for personality change in Bosnian survivors of “ethnic cleansing.” Twenty four refugees underwent systematic, trauma‐focused, research assessments, including the SCID‐DES interview. Overall, this group of Bosnian survivors had been severely traumatized as a result of the Serbian nationalists' genocide. However, no subject met diagnostic criteria for DES. The SCID‐DES yields far lower rates of trauma‐related personality change in Bosnian survivors of genocide than in adult survivors of prolonged early life traumas. Therefore, the DES construct may have better application to prolonged, interpersonal, early life traumas than to the prolonged, communal traumas of genocide.
Anniversary reactions in Gulf War veterans: A naturalistic inquiry 2 years after the Gulf War
Authors: Morgan C. A. , Kingham Peter , Nicolaou Andreas , Southwick S. M.
Published: September 2003

The goal of this study was to assess the occurrence of anniversary reactions in Gulf War veterans 2 years after the conclusion of Operation Desert Storm. Subjects were administered questionnaires and asked to identify specific months of best and worst functioning, and months of least or most symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Negatively experienced months were compared to documented dates of exposure to traumatic events during the war. Anniversary reactions occurred with a frequency greater than chance and were seen most in individuals exposed to a greater number, and to more severe types, of traumatic events. This suggests that anniversary reactions are etiologically linked to traumatic events and may be a part of the syndrome of PTSD.
Consistency of retrospective reporting about exposure to traumatic events
Authors: Krinsley Karen E. , Gallagher James G. , Weathers Frank W. , Kutter Catherine J. , Kaloupek Danny G.
Published: September 2003

Lifetime exposure to traumatic events was assessed by means of a multimethod protocol applied to 76 male military veterans. Consistency of retrospective reporting was determined for physical and sexual assault and abuse, accidents, disasters, combat and warzone experiences, serious illness or injury, and hazardous duty. Findings demonstrate that respondents are generally consistent in reporting traumatic events, although the majority report more events upon reevaluation. Reporting about traumatic events shows some variation as a function of the life epoch in which events occurred, whether they were directly or indirectly experienced, and the type of trauma involved. Discussion addresses memory‐related processes triggered by trauma evaluation or tied to characteristics of events themselves as potential sources of inconsistency.
Mass spectrometric analysis of glycans in elucidating the pathogenesis of CDG type IIx
Authors: Mills P. B. , Mills K. , Mian N. , Winchester B. G. , Clayton P. T.
Published: September 2003

Summary: The majority of secreted or membrane‐bound proteins are glycosylated. The glycans attached to glycoproteins can affect a range of physicochemical and biological properties of the glycoprotein and appropriate glycosylation is essential for many normal cellular functions, with aberrant glycosylation often leading to disease. This short review briefly outlines the methodology used to release glycans from proteins and analyse them by mass spectrometry. The technology is illustrated by the description of a rapid and sensitive method for profiling glycoproteins of patients with congenital disorders of glycosylation type II. This methodology can rapidly pinpoint the defective step(s) in the processing pathway of N‐linked glycans, thereby focusing the biochemical analyses that need to be performed to define the genetic basis of these diseases.
Gender, social support, and PTSD in victims of violent crime
Authors: Andrews Bernice , Brewin Chris R. , Rose Suzanna
Published: September 2003

Gender differences in social support levels and benefits were investigated in 118 male and 39 female victims of violent crime assessed for PTSD symptomatology 1 and 6 months postcrime. Within 1 month postcrime both genders reported similar levels of positive support and support satisfaction, but women reported significantly more negative responses from family and friends. Women also reported an excess of PTSD symptoms that was similar at 1 and 6 months postcrime, and negative responses mediated the relationship between gender and later symptoms. Overall negative response and support satisfaction, but not positive support, were significantly associated with PTSD symptoms. However, the effects of support satisfaction and negative response on 6‐month symptoms were significantly greater for women than men. The findings are consistent with previous studies of predominantly female assault victims concerning the stronger impact of negative over positive support, and might help explain women's higher PTSD risk in civilian samples.
Carnitine transport: Pathophysiology and metabolism of known molecular defects
Authors: Tein I.
Published: September 2003

Summary: Early‐onset dilatative and/or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with episodic hypoglycaemic coma and very low serum and tissue concentrations of carnitine should alert the clinician to the probability of the plasmalemmal high‐affinity carnitine transporter defect. The diagnosis can be established by demonstration of impaired carnitine uptake in cultured skin fibroblasts or lymphoblasts and confirmed by mutation analysis of the human OCTN2 gene in the affected child and obligate heterozygote parents. The institution of high‐dose oral carnitine supplementation reverses the pathology in this otherwise lethal autosomal recessive disease of childhood, and carnitine therapy from birth in prospectively screened siblings may altogether prevent the development of the clinical phenotype. Heterozygotes may be at risk for cardiomyopathy in later adult life, particularly in the presence of additional risk factors such as hypertension and competitive pharmacological agents. OCTN2 belongs to a family of organic cation/carnitine transporters that function primarily in the elimination of cationic drugs and other xenobiotics in kidney, intestine, liver and placenta. The high‐ and low‐affinity human carnitine transporters, OCTN2 and OCTN1, are multifunctional polyspecific organic cation transporters; therefore, defects in these transporters may have widespread implications for the absorption and/or elimination of a number of key pharmacological agents such as cephalosporins, verapamil, quinidine and valproic acid. A third organic/cation carnitine transporter with high specificity for carnitine, Octn3, has been clonedin mice. The juvenile visceral steatosis (jvs) mouse serves as an excellent clinical, biochemical and molecular model for the high‐affinity carnitine transporter OCTN2 defect and is due to a spontaneous point mutation in the murine Octn2 gene on mouse chromosome 11, which is syntenic to the human locus at 5q31 that harbours the human OCTN2 gene.
Psychiatric symptomatology associated with contemporary peacekeeping: An examination of post‐mission functioning among peacekeepers in Somalia
Authors: Orsillo Susan M. , Roemer Lizabeth , Litz Brett T. , Ehlich Pete , Friedman Matthew J.
Published: September 2003

Contemporary peacekeepers frequently confront complex stressors including the need to directly enforce peace between warring factions, to deliver humanitarian aid in the midst of political‐social devastation, and to balance shifting rules of engagement. As such, it is proposed that participants may be at increased risk for the development of psychiatric distress. The present study examined the types of stressors encountered by 3,461 peacekeepers in Somalia, their current psychiatric functioning as measured by the Brief Symptom Inventory, and the relationship between exposure to various stressors and adjustment. Over one third of participants met criteria for psychiatric caseness. The most commonly reported symptoms included hostility, psychoticism, depression, and paranoid ideation. The best predictors of current functioning were found to be exposure to traditional war‐zone‐related stressors and general military pride and cohesion. These findings highlight the mental health consequences that service in a peacekeeping mission may have for United States soldiers. Further research is needed to investigate potential mechanisms that could serve as buffers to the stress associated with peacekeeping service.
L‐Carnitine in inborn errors of metabolism: What is the evidence?
Authors: Walter J. H.
Published: September 2003

Summary: A questionnaire was posted on the electronic mailing‐list Metab‐l to determine current practice as regards the use of oral L‐carnitine in medium‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency, propionic acidaemia (PA) and methylmalonic acidaemia (MMA). Thirty‐one centres replied: L‐carnitine was used routinely by 94% of respondents in PA and MMA but by only 36% in MCAD deficiency. A search was made for published papers on the use of L‐carnitine in organic acidaemias and in MCAD deficiency. The quality of evidence to support the use of L‐carnitine was graded according to the scale published by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network. No high‐quality evidence was identified.
Prevalence of traumatic events and peritraumatic predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms in a nonclinical sample of college students
Authors: Bernat Jeffrey A. , Ronfeldt Heidi M. , Calhoun Karen S. , Arias Ileana
Published: September 2003

This study investigated lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among 937 college students. Participants rated their lifetime experiences of traumatic events and, in response to their “most stressful” event, completed measures of objective stressor dimensions, PTSD, and peritraumatic reactions. Approximately 67% of respondents reported at least one traumatic event. An estimated 4% of the full sample (12% of traumatized individuals) met PTSD criteria within the past week. After controlling for vulnerability factors and objective characteristics, peritraumatic reactions remained strongly predictive of PTSD symptoms. Results are discussed with respect to immediate reactions to traumatic events as potential precursors of PTSD symptomatology.
Mitochondrial disorders: Clinical presentation and diagnostic dilemmas
Authors: Smeitink J. A. M.
Published: September 2003

Summary: The number of genes known to be involved in mitochondrial energy production and the elucidation of the function of their individual transcripts is still increasing. Although at this stage it is impossible to predict the number of human genes necessary for mitochondrial biogenesis and maintenance, the total number in humans will most probably exceed the number of mitochondrial genes found in, for example, the budding yeast, which is about 800. Without doubt we have only seen the tip of the iceberg of the clinical spectrum of mitochondrial disorders. Recent findings such as mutations in structural complex II genes in certain tumours emphasize the need to think outside the classical clinical presentation. We propose the consideration of a mitochondrial disorder in every chronic, intermittent or progressive disorder with single system or multisystem involvement, even if lactic acid is normal, and discuss such dilemmas as whether we should ‘scrape the barrel’ in every patient that are raised by this statement. The characterization of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA mutations in patients with enzymatically established mitochondrial defects has taught us that several of the current clinical and diagnostic assumptions have to be altered or even eliminated. The most challenging future task will be the development of new diagnostic criteria covering the expanding clinical spectrum of mitochondrial disorders.
The function of image control in the psychophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Laor Nathaniel , Wolmer Leo , Wiener Zeev , Reiss Ahuva , Muller Uri , Weizman Ronit , Ron Samuel
Published: September 2003

The physiological response to trauma‐related stimuli of up to one third of participants with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cannot be discriminated from that of controls. Psychophysiological measures (heart rate and blood pressure) of 22 PTSD and 23 control civilian participants, all exposed to missile attacks during the Gulf War, were recorded while listening to five scripts. The physiological response of PTSD subjects with high image control (IC) was lower than that of PTSD participants with low IC and similar to that of non‐PTSD subjects. The physiological response poorly discriminated high IC PTSD participants from controls, but was successful in discriminating low IC PTSD subjects from controls with 91% specificity and 92% sensitivity. Image control is proposed as a function influencing physiological response in PTSD.
Factors associated with PTSD symptoms following treatment for breast cancer: Test of the Andersen model
Authors: Andrykowski Michael A. , Cordova Mathew J.
Published: September 2003

The utility of Andersen's (1993, 1994) model of psychologic morbidity following cancer treatment for predicting PTSD symptoms in breast cancer survivors (N = 82) was examined. PTSD symptoms, physical comorbidity, social support, depression history, and pre‐cancer traumatic stressors were assessed in a structured telephone interview. Multiple regression analysis indicated that Andersen model variables (physical comorbidity, education, disease stage, cancer treatment, depression history, social support) accounted for 39% of variance in PTSD symptom reports (p < .001). Addition to the model of time since treatment completion, pre‐cancer traumatic stressors, age at diagnosis, and tamoxifen usage accounted for an additional 16% of variance (p < .001). Higher levels of PTSD symptoms were associated with less social support, greater pre‐cancer trauma history, less time since treatment completion, and more advanced disease.
The eye as a window to inborn errors of metabolism
Authors: Poll‐The B. T. , Maillette De Buy Wenniger‐Prick L. J. , Barth P. G. , Duran M.
Published: September 2003

Summary: Ocular manifestations in inborn errors of metabolism occur in many diseases and may be associated with any part of all eye components. In a minority of diseases it is possible to attribute the eye symptoms to a single hereditary pathogenetic mechanism. More often the aetiological relationship of the ocular defects to the metabolic disease is unknown. Diverse pathogenetic mechanisms may act via a common pathological pathway inducing ocular damage. The occurrence of eye abnormalities in metabolic disorders suggests that they are associated with direct toxic actions, errors of synthetic pathways or deficient energy metabolism. In this review, metabolic disorders with major abnormalities in the cornea, lens, retina and optic nerve are presented. In all cases, an appropriate combined approach by the ophthalmologist, paediatrician/neurologist, geneticist and clinical biochemist is the only way to diagnostic success.
Degree of somatoform and psychological dissociation in dissociative disorder is correlated with reported trauma
Authors: Nijenhuis Ellert R. S. , Spinhoven Philip , van Dyck Richard , van der Hart Onno , Vanderlinden Johan
Published: September 2003

In this study, the prevalence and severity of traumatic experiences as reported by patients with dissociative disorders and with other DSM‐IV psychiatric diagnoses were compared. Furthermore, the predictive value of emotional, physical, and sexual trauma with respect to somatoform and psychological dissociation was analyzed. In contrast with comparison patients, dissociative disorder patients reported severe and multifaceted traumatization. Physical and sexual trauma predicted somatoform dissociation, sexual trauma predicted psychological dissociation as well. According to the memories of the dissociative disorder patients, this abuse occurred in an emotionally neglectful and abusive social context. Pathological dissociation was best predicted by early onset of reported intense, chronic and multiple traumatization. Methodological limitations restricting causal inferences between reported trauma and dissociation are discussed.
“Seeking safety”: Outcome of a new cognitive‐behavioral psychotherapy for women with posttraumatic stress disorder and substance dependence
Authors: Najavits Lisa M. , Weiss Roger D. , Shaw Sarah R. , Muenz Larry R.
Published: September 2003

Women with current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comprise 30‐59% of substance abuse treatment samples and experience a more severe course than women with either disorder alone. As yet, no effective treatment for this population has been identified. This paper reports outcome results on 17 women who completed a new manual‐based 24‐session cognitive behavioral group therapy protocol treatment, based on assessments at pretreatment, during treatment, posttreatment, and at 3‐month follow‐up. Results showed significant improvements in substance use, trauma‐related symptoms, suicide risk, suicidal thoughts, social adjustment, family functioning, problem solving, depression, cognitions about substance use, and didactic knowledge related to the treatment. Patients' treatment attendance, alliance, and satisfaction were also very strong. Treatment completers were more impaired than dropouts, yet more engaged in the treatment. Overall, our data suggest that women with PTSD and substance abuse can be helped when provided with a treatment designed for them. All results are clearly tentative, however, due to the lack of a control group, multiple comparisons, and absence of assessment of dropouts.
Classical homocystinuria: Vascular risk and its prevention
Authors: Yap S.
Published: September 2003

Summary. Homocystinuria due to cystathionine β‐synthase deficiency is the second most treatable aminoacidopathy. The reported incidence varies from 1 in 344 000 worldwide to 1 in 65 000 in Ireland. Untreated patients with homocystinuria have severe hyperhomocysteinaemia. Amongst its pathological sequelae, which include mental retardation, ectopia lentis and osteoporosis, vascular events remain the major cause of morbidity and mortality in untreated patients. Recognized modalities of treatment include pyridoxine, in combination with folic acid and vitamin B12; methionine‐restricted, cystine‐supplemented diet; and betaine. The natural history of vascular events is such that half will have an event before age 30 years and there is a predicted one event per 25 years at the time of maximal risk. In 158 patients with 2822 patient‐years of treatment, there would be a predicted 112 events if left untreated, but instead only 17 vascular events were recorded during treatment (relative risk 0.09, 95% CI 0.036 to 0.228; p<0.0001). Appropriate chronic treatment to lower hyperhomocysteinaemia is effective in reducing the potentially life‐threatening vascular risk in patients with homocystinuria. These findings may also have relevance to the significance of mild hyperhomocysteinaemia that is commonly found in patients with premature vascular disease.
The development of a measure of correlates of child sexual abuse: The traumatic sexualization survey
Authors: Matorin Abigail I. , Lynn Steven Jay
Published: September 2003

The present research developed an instrument which assesses congitive and behavioral factors purportedly associated with child sexual abuse histories. Finkelhor and Browne's construct of traumatic sexualization served as a guide for item selection. The study resulted in a 38‐item reliable measure consisting of four subscales: Avoidance and Fear of Sexual and Physical Intimacy, Thoughts About Sex, Role of Sex in Relationships, and Attraction/Interest and Sexuality. Construct validity was established using a variety of self‐report instruments associated with the dimensions of traumatic sexualization Sexually abused women scored higher than nonabused women on three TSS factors. Physically abused women differed from nonabused women on only one factor. Sexually abused women did not score significantly higher than physically abused women on any factors.
The Performance Analysis of a Quantum Brayton Refrigeration Cycle with an Ideal Bose Gas
Authors: Lin Bihong , Chen Jincan
Published: September 2003

A Brayton refrigeration cycle using an ideal Bose gas as the working substance is simply referred to as a quantum Brayton refrigeration cycle, which consists of two constant-pressure and two adiabatic processes. The influence of quantum degeneracy on the performance of the cycle is investigated, based on the correction equation of state of an ideal Bose gas. The general expressions of the coefficient of performance, refrigeration load and work input of the cycle are calculated. The lowest temperature of the working substance and the minimum pressure ratio of the two constant-pressure processes for a quantum Brayton refrigeration cycle are determined. The variations of the relative refrigeration load with the temperature of the cooled space and the pressure of the low constant-pressure process are discussed for three special cases. Some curves related to the important performance parameters are given. The results obtained here are compared with those of a classical Brayton refrigeration cycle using an ideal gas as the working substance. Some significant conclusions are obtained.
On the Semantics and Operations of Primary Prevention and Wellness Enhancement (Or Will the Real Primary Prevention Please Stand Up?)
Authors: Cowen Emory L.
Published: September 2003

Compared two recent, major reviews of primary prevention program evaluation research (i.e., Durlak and Wells' meta‐analysis of 177 such studies and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report's summary of research studies of preventive intervention programs) with respect to specific studies included and input sources used. Whereas the IOM Report defined the goal of primary prevention as reducing the occurrence of new cases of mental disorder, Durlak and Wells' broader definition included both that goal and the promotion of psychological wellness. Overlap in journal sources used by the two reviews was modest and overlap in the actual primary prevention program evaluation studies included was minimal (≅7%). These findings bespeak somewhat different views of primary prevention and suggest a need for the complementary development of both the above approaches as alternatives, individually and collectively, to mental health's past established restorative ways.
Adolescent AIDS Prevention in Context: The Impact of Peer Educator Qualities and Classroom Environments on Intervention Efficacy
Authors: Ozer Emily J. , Weinstein Rhona S. , Maslach Christina , Siegel David
Published: September 2003

Peer‐led, school‐based interventions show promise for preventing AIDS among adolescents, but little is known about the processes underlying effective peer education or the conditions that promote its efficacy. This study examined the implementation in one school of an effective, peer‐led AIDS prevention program for inner‐city 7th‐grade participants (n = 123) and identified the qualities of peer educators (n = 15) and classroom environments (n = 5) that contributed to improvement in participants' postintervention AIDS‐related attitudes. The Peer Educator Rating Scale was developed to assess two dimensions of participants' perceptions of peer educators: “positive regard” and “perceived similarity.” Participants reported greater positive regard for more highly individuated and less shy peer educators, and participants' positive regard for peer educators in turn was associated with lowered AIDS risk as measured by perceptions of peer norms regarding sexual activity and self‐efficacy for peer communication regarding sexual topics and condoms. Participants' perceived similarity was not associated with any postintervention improvements in AIDS‐related knowledge and attitudes. Participants' classroom membership was associated with improvements in all 5 knowledge and attitude scales, and exploratory classroom‐level findings indicated that classroom intervention environments perceived as more organized by participants showed slightly greater overall improvements across AIDS‐related knowledge and attitudes scales. Consistent with individual‐level findings regarding participants' positive regard for peer educators, the two classrooms with the greatest positive regard for their peer educator teams showed the most student improvement. Implications for further research and the design of future prevention and promotion programs for adolescents are discussed.
The Person/Environment Dynamics of Employee Empowerment: An Organizational Culture Analysis
Authors: Foster-Fishman Pennie G. , Keys Christopher B.
Published: September 2003

Using an organizational culture framework, this case study examines the critical preconditions necessary for employee empowerment and highlights how the multiple cultures within one public bureaucracy differently impacted their implementation. SERVE, a large human service organization, initiated an employee empowerment program that contradicted and thus collided with many elements of its overall organizational culture. Despite the best intentions of the organizational leaders, upper management support, and opportunities for participatory decision making, the organization could not foster the critical preconditions needed for employee empowerment. Leaders had difficulty expanding the employees' power and promoting member inclusion. Concurrently, most employees rejected these new opportunities for control and distrusted the leader's intentions. Yet, despite the widespread rejection of these empowerment initiatives, most employees described their work lives as empowering. The role the local site subculture played in promoting employee empowerment is examined. We discuss how a localized (vs. system‐wide) empowerment endeavor may be a more appropriate and feasible focus for public bureaucracies seeking to initiate greater staff empowerment. Particular attention is paid to the interaction between individuals and their environments, and how this interaction affects the empowerment process.
African American Women in the Workplace: Relationships Between Job Conditions, Racial Bias at Work, and Perceived Job Quality
Authors: Hughes Diane , Dodge Mark A.
Published: September 2003

Although studies have described work processes among employed African American women, few have examined the influence of these processes on job outcomes. This study examined relationships between African American women's exposure to a range of occupational stressors, including two types of racial bias—institutional discrimination and interpersonal prejudice—and their evaluations of job quality. Findings indicated that institutional discrimination and interpersonal prejudice were more important predictors of job quality among these women than were other occupational stressors such as low task variety and decision authority, heavy workloads, and poor supervision. Racial bias in the workplace was most likely to be reported by workers in predominantly white work settings. In addition, Black women who worked in service, semiskilled, and unskilled occupations reported significantly more institutional discrimination, but not more interpersonal prejudice, than did women in professional, managerial, and technical occupations or those in sales and clerical occupations.
Illness‐Related Support and Negative Network Interactions: Effects on HIV‐Infected Men's Depressive Symptomatology
Authors: Siegel Karolynn , Raveis Victoria H. , Karus Daniel
Published: September 2003

Data collected as part of a psychosocial study of gay and bisexual men's experiences of living with HIV infection as a chronic illness were examined to investigate the psychological impact of the perceived availability of illness‐related support and negative illness‐related network interactions in a sample of men from this population. The sample was comprised of 144 HIV‐infected non‐Hispanic white, African American, and Puerto Rican men living in the New York City metropolitan area. Analyses found evidence of a conjoint (interactive) effect between perceived support and negative network interactions. There was no evidence of either perceived availability of illness‐related network support buffering or negative illness‐related network interactions amplifying the effect of HIV/AIDS‐related physical symptomatology on depressive symptomatology.
The Complexity of Support: The Impact of Family Structure and Provisional Support on African American and White Adolescent Mothers' Well‐Being
Authors: Henly Julia R.
Published: September 2003

The importance of social support to the well‐being of adolescent parents is a frequently discussed topic in the teen parenting literature. However, the meaning and conceptualization of social support varies across study and the heterogeneity within the teen parent population is often overlooked. In an effort to understand its role more precisely, the present study defined support both in terms of its structural and provision components, and examined the association of these components with both perceived psychological and behavioral measures of maternal well‐being for a sample of white and African American teen mothers. Specifically, the relative contribution of household structure and provisional social support to the well‐being of a sample of 107 African American and 146 white teen mothers was measured respectively. Results indicate great variability in the structural and provisional support adolescent mothers receive, regardless of race. Independent of other effects, provisional supports are more strongly associated with maternal well‐being than is family structure. Further, the impact of these different types of support varies by race.
Assessment of Major Life Events for Hong Kong Adolescents: The Chinese Adolescent Life Event Scale
Authors: Cheng Cecilia
Published: September 2003

Previous Chinese research on adolescent life stress adopted life event scales that were directly translated from Western measures. To address the methodological and cultural issues overlooked by the “import” approach, the present research aimed at constructing a life event scale for Hong Kong adolescents. Study 1 was conducted to congregate items for the Chinese Adolescent Life Event Scale (CALES). The CALES contains 44 items derived from 618 Hong Kong adolescents. Study 2 revealed adequate test–retest reliability and criterion‐related validity for the CALES. Moreover, the CALES yielded stronger relationships with depression than did the translated life event measures. Results suggest that the CALES is appropriate for assessing life events for Hong Kong adolescents. Both unique features of the CALES and life events found only in the translated measures are examined. Implications for Chinese research on life stress are discussed.
Extreme Social Isolation, Use of Community‐Based Senior Support Services, and Mortality Among African American Elderly Women
Authors: LaVeist Thomas A. , Sellers Robert M. , Brown Karin A. Elliott , Nickerson Kim J.
Published: September 2003

The effect of extreme social isolation and use of community‐based senior services on longevity was examined in a national sample of African American elderly women (ages 55–96). Consistent with previous research on the social integration/mortality link, African American elderly women who were extremely socially isolated were hypothesized to have a higher 5‐year mortality rate. It was also hypothesized that use of community senior services would be negatively associated with 5‐year mortality. Results of logistic regression analysis controlling for age, education, income, and health status found that extremely socially isolated African American elderly women were three times more likely than the nonisolated women to die within the 5‐year period from the initial survey. Use of community senior services did not have a relationship on mortality. Results are discussed in terms of directions for future research and intervention.
Control Beliefs and Faith as Stress Moderators for Korean American Versus Caucasian American Protestants
Authors: Bjorck Jeffrey P. , Lee Yung Soon , Cohen Lawrence H.
Published: September 2003

Examined relationships among negative life events, four locus of control attributions (Internality, Powerful Others, Chance, and God Control), and psychological distress for Korean American versus Caucasian American Protestants. Negative events and Powerful Others beliefs were positively related to distress, whereas Internality was negatively related to distress. Ethnicity and God Control interacted: The relationship between God Control beliefs and anxiety was negative for Caucasians but positive for Koreans. Three‐way interactions (Ethnicity × Locus of Control × Negative Events) also emerged. As Caucasians' Powerful Others beliefs increased, the positive relationship between negative events and depression became stronger; Koreans' Powerful Others beliefs had no such effect. As Caucasians' God Control beliefs increased, the negative event–depression relationship changed from positive to negative; the reverse was true for Koreans. Findings support the value of assessing ethnoculture and religiousness in stressful life events research.
Primary Prevention Mental Health Programs for Children and Adolescents: A Meta‐Analytic Review
Authors: Durlak Joseph A. , Wells Anne M.
Published: September 2003

Used meta‐analysis to review 177 primary prevention programs designed to prevent behavioral and social problems in children and adolescents. Findings provide empirical support for further research and practice in primary prevention. Most categories of programs produced outcomes similar to or higher in magnitude than those obtained by many other established preventive and treatment interventions in the social sciences and medicine. Programs modifying the school environment, individually focused mental health promotion efforts, and attempts to help children negotiate stressful transitions yield significant mean effects ranging from 0.24 to 0.93. In practical terms, the average participant in a primary prevention program surpasses the performance of between 59% to 82% of those in a control group, and outcomes reflect an 8% to 46% difference in success rates favoring prevention groups. Most categories of programs had the dual benefit of significantly reducing problems and significantly increasing competencies. Priorities for future research include clearer specification of intervention procedures and program goals, assessment of program implementation, more follow‐up studies, and determining how characteristics of the intervention and participants relate to different outcomes.
Thermodynamic Properties of a q-Boson Gas Trapped in an n-Dimensional Harmonic Potential
Authors: Su Guozhen , Chen Lixuan , Chen Jincan
Published: September 2003

The thermodynamic properties of an ideal q-boson gas trapped in an n-dimensional harmonic potential are studied, based on the distribution function of q-bosons. The critical temperature Tc,q of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) and the heat capacity C of the system are derived analytically. It is shown that for the q-boson gas trapped in a harmonic potential, BEC may occur in any dimension when q ≠ 1, the critical temperature is always higher than that of an ordinary Bose gas (q = 1), and the heat capacity is continuous at Tc,q for a one-dimensional system but discontinuous at Tc,q for a two- or multi-dimensional system.
In Praise of a Cumulative Prevention Science
Authors: Price Richard H.
Published: September 2003

Durlak and Wells (1997) provide a pivotal appraisal of prevention research on children and adolescents. Their meta‐analytic approach has the advantages of reducing scientific misjudgments based on single studies, and providing a more balanced evaluation of impact of various interventions; it provides an opportunity for hypothesis finding, helps set methodological standards, allows assessment of working classifications in the field, and an evaluation of the maturity of the prevention field itself. New developmental tasks for the field include incorporating and pursuing the leads produced by these findings, conducting similar research syntheses with other populations and outcomes, and using the results as an impetus to increased operational precision and parsimony.
Toward Cultural Oncology: The Evolutionary Information Dynamics of Cancer
Authors: Wallace Rodrick , Wallace Deborah , Wallace Robert G.
Published: September 2003

‘Racial’ disparities among cancers, particularly of the breast and prostate, are something of a mystery. For the US, in the face of slavery and its sequelae, centuries of interbreeding has greatly leavened genetic differences between ‘Blacks’ and ‘Whites’, but marked contrasts in disease prevalence and progression persist. ‘Adjustment’ for socioeconomic status and lifestyle, while statistically accounting for much of the variance in breast cancer, only begs the question of ultimate causality. Here we propose a more basic biological explanation that extends the theory of immune cognition to include an elaborate tumor control mechanism constituting the principal selection pressure acting on pathologically mutating cell clones. The interplay between them occurs in the context of an embedding, highly structured, system of culturally-specific psychosocial stress. A rate distortion argument finds that larger system able to literally write an image of itself onto the disease process, in terms of enhanced ‘risk behaviour’, accelerated mutation rate, and depressed mutation control. The dynamics are analogous to punctuated equilibrium in simple evolutionary systems, accounting for the staged nature of disease progression. We conclude that ‘social exposures’ are, for human populations, far more than incidental cofactors in cancer etiology. Rather, they are part of the ‘basic biology’ of the disorder. The aphorism that ‘culture is as much a part of human biology as the enamel on our teeth’ appears literally true at a fundamental cellular level.
Prevention Research in Rural Communities: Overview and Concluding Comments
Authors: St. Lawrence Janet S. , Ndiaye Serigne M.
Published: September 2003

This paper provides an overview of the challenges that confront researchers in rural settings, synthesizing the manuscripts in this special issue of The American Journal of Community Psychology. Researchers typically focus on issues of research design, measurement, and data analyses. However, when applied research is conducted in rural settings, greater time and attention are required to identify how the research can be conducted successfully. In this overview of the challenges that confront researchers in rural contexts, qualitative differences between rural and urban environments are described with particular attention to their implications for the conduct of rural research. Finally, theoretical and research topics that can better inform future rural research efforts are disucssed.
The Structure of Problem and Positive Behavior Among American Indian Adolescents: Gender and Community Differences
Authors: Mitchell Christina M. , Beals Janette
Published: September 2003

Using Problem‐Behavior Theory as a framework, the latent structure of problem and positive behaviors was examined within a sample of 1,894 American Indian adolescents. Support was found for a two‐factor second‐order structure in which problem behaviors (antisocial behavior, alcohol use, drug use, and risky sexual behavior) and positive behaviors (school success, cultural activities, competencies, and community‐mindedness) represented two relatively uncorrelated aspects of behavior. Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrated that the positive behaviors construct contributed significant incremental construct validity in the statistical prediction of psychosocial outcomes, over and above the problem behaviors. In addition, the fit of the structure was examined across gender and the four participating communities. The importance of the inclusion of positive behaviors is discussed from the standpoint of both prevention/promotion activities and the communities' perceptions. Further recommendations are made for deeper understandings of community concerns and strengths in conducting preventive/promotive research efforts.
Primary Prevention Mental Health Programs: The Future is Exciting
Authors: Durlak Joseph A. , Wells Anne M.
Published: September 2003

Current outcome research on primary prevention mental health programs is encouraging and the future is exciting. Data continue to accumulate regarding the efficacy of preventive intervention. Exemplary programs can prevent multiple problems across different outcome domains suggesting the need for collaboration among preventionists across disciplines and research areas. The commentators on our review (Durlak and Wells, 1997) offered many useful suggestions to improve the next generation of research. Most recommendations fall broadly under the rubric of increasing the precision of theory, design, and program evaluation. If current recommendations for improving future research are followed, the next reviewers of primary prevention mental health programs for children and adolescents will have a more complete and useful database for analysis.
Mood Management Mail Intervention Increases Abstinence Rates for Spanish‐Speaking Latino Smokers
Authors: Muñoz Ricardo F. , VanOss Marín Barbara , Posner Samuel F. , Pérez-Stable Eliseo J.
Published: September 2003

A self‐administered mood management intervention program for smoking cessation provided through the mail to Spanish‐speaking Latinos resulted in a 23% abstinence rate at 3 months compared to an 11% abstinence rate for a smoking cessation guide alone. Participants (N = 136) were randomly assigned to receive either the cessation guide (the Guía), or the Guía plus a mood management intervention (Tomando Control de su Vida) presented in writing and in audiotape format. At 3 months after random assignment, 16 out of 71 of those assigned to the Guía‐plus‐mood management condition reported being abstinent (not smoking for at least 7 days) compared to 7 out of 65 in the Guía‐only condition (z = 1.8; p = .04, one‐tailed). Moreover, those with a history of major depressive episodes, but not currently depressed, reported an even higher abstinence rate in the Guía‐plus‐mood management condition, compared to the Guía‐only condition (31 vs. 11%, z = 1.8, p = .04, one‐tailed). We conclude that the mood management mail intervention substantially increases abstinence rates, especially for those with a history of major depressive episodes.
Large Fluctuations and Axiom-C Structures in Deterministically Thermostatted Systems
Authors: Rondoni L. , Morriss G. P.
Published: September 2003

The Gallavotti-Cohen fluctuation theorem concerns large deviations in the time evolution of global quantities such as the phase space contraction rate of gaussian thermostatted particle systems, which in some cases is proportional to the entropy production rate. In this paper, we analyze the scaling properties of the probability distribution functions of the fluctuations of the phase space contraction rate of gaussian thermostatted shearing systems, at high shear rates. This leads us to argue that the dynamics of gaussian thermostatted shearing systems is closely related to that of the axiom- C systems defined by Bonetto and Gallavotti.
Homeless Youths and Young Adults in Los Angeles: Prevalence of Mental Health Problems and the Relationship Between Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders
Authors: Unger Jennifer B. , Kipke Michele D. , Simon Thomas R. , Montgomery Susanne B. , Johnson Christine J.
Published: September 2003

Although understanding of the subsistence patterns, service utilization, and HIV‐risk behaviors of homeless youths and young adults is increasing, relatively little is known about the epidemiology of mental health problems in this group or the relationships between mental health problems and substance use. This study measured symptoms of depression, low self‐esteem, ADHD, suicidality, self‐injurious behavior (SIB), and drug and alcohol use disorder in a sample of homeless youth and young adults living in Hollywood, CA. Results indicated extremely high prevalences of mental health problems, as compared with corresponding rates of mental health problems found among housed youths in previous studies. Prevalence of mental health problems differed by age and ethnicity. African Americans were at lower risk of suicidal thoughts and SIB than were those of other ethnicities. Older respondents and females were at increased risk of depressive symptoms, and younger respondents were at increased risk of SIB. Previous history of sexual abuse and/or assault was associated with increased risk of suicidality and SIB. Risk factors for drug abuse disorder included ethnicity other than African American, homelessness for 1 year or more, suicidality, SIB, depressive symptoms, and low self‐esteem. Risk factors for alcohol abuse disorder included male gender, white ethnicity, homelessness for 1 year or more, suicidality, and SIB. Extremely high rates of mental health problems and substance abuse disorders in this sample suggest the need for street‐based and nontraditional mental health services targeted toward these youths and young adults.
Latinas with Arthritis: Effects of Illness, Role Identity, and Competence on Psychological Well‐Being
Authors: Abraído-Lanza Ana F.
Published: September 2003

Tested a theoretical model on the effects of social role identity, illness intrusion, and competence on psychological well‐being among 109 low‐income Latinas with arthritis. All six roles studied were rated as highly important identities. Sex‐role nontraditionalism was associated with less importance of the homemaker, mother, and grandmother roles. Negative affect increased as a function of intrusions into valued identities. Having important role identities contributed to feelings of competence (i.e., self‐esteem and self‐efficacy), which in turn, contributed to psychological well‐being. Competence also mediated the effects of pain, identity, and illness intrusions on psychological well‐being. Results suggest competence processes play an important role in well‐being.
Effects of Concerns About Child Care Among Single, Employed Black Mothers with Preschool Children
Authors: Jackson Aurora P.
Published: September 2003

This study investigated whether differences in child care arrangements and mothers' attitudes about leaving their child in nonmaternal care were associated with maternal psychological well‐being and perceptions of children in a sample of single, employed, low‐income, Black mothers who were former welfare recipients. Feelings of discomfort with regard to nonmaternal care were associated with higher levels of maternal depressive symptomatology, which, in turn, predicted more negative perceptions of children. Preference for employment and increased working hours were associated with greater life satisfaction. Maternal education and the gender of the child were important moderating variables. Type of child care arrangement was nonsignificant. Policy implications are discussed.