bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correctional Officer Attitudes Toward Inmates with Mental Disorders
Authors: Callahan Lisa
Published: February 2012

The prevalence of mental disorder among state prison inmates is well documented and either on the rise or more extensively diagnosed. Inmates with mental illness are most often in general population and in the custody of correctional officers, yet little it known about officers' views toward these inmates. The research reported here is based on a large sample of correctional officers from a U.S. state. In addition to answering general survey questions, each officer received one of six randomly assigned vignettes that varied mental health symptoms (schizophrenia, major depression, no disorder) and the presence (or absence) of violent behavior in a male inmate. These findings focus on officer attitudes toward mental illness generally and their own experiences with mental illness. Based on the vignette inmate, officers were asked questions about the causes of mental illness and how inmates with mental illness should be managed in a correctional setting. Findings show that officers distinguish between symptoms of schizophrenia and major depression, evaluating schizophrenia as a more serious problem than either depression or no symptoms of mental illness. Further, the presence of violent behavior results in officers viewing the inmates' problems as more serious, especially when violence and mental disorder are both present. These findings have implications for training in the area of correctional mental health.
Legal Compensability of Symptoms Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Canadian Perspective
Authors: Samra Joti , Connolly DeborahA.
Published: February 2012

Canadian courts are increasingly recognizing the legal compensability of symptoms associated with psychological injuries resulting from civil torts. One of the most common psychological injuries that arises following tortious actions is Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In this article, a review of the law on the compensability of symptoms of psychological injury generally—and PTSD specifically—is offered. The laws that directly pertain to clinical assessments of psychological injury caused by tortious behavior are highlighted. As the legal system is an important mechanism through which redress for PTSD-related losses may be sought, the literature on personal costs of PTSD is reviewed. Guidelines for mental health professionals who conduct assessments in PTSD civil litigation contexts are offered.
Type of Discharge and Risk of Recidivism Measured by the HCR-20: A Retrospective Study in a Dutch Sample of Treated Forensic Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Vogel Viviennede , Ruiter Corinede , Hildebrand Martin , Bos Brechje , van de Ven Peter
Published: February 2012

This retrospective study examined the predictive validity of the HCR-20, a violence risk assessment instrument. The HCR-20 as well as the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) were coded on the basis of file information of 120 patients discharged from a Dutch forensic psychiatric hospital between 1993 and 1999 (average follow-up period 72.5 months). The patients were divided into four groups according to type of discharge: 1) discharge by the court in line with the hospital staff's advice and after a transmural phase; 2) discharge by the court in line with the hospital staff 's advice, but without a preceding transmural phase; 3) discharge by the court against the hospital staff's advice; and 4) readmission to another institution. Recidivism data (reconvictions) from the Ministry of Justice were related to the risk assessments. The base rate for violent recidivism was 36%, and 52% for general recidivism. The HCR-20 and PCL-R total scores demonstrated good predictive validity for violent recidivism (AUC = .82 and .75, respectively). The HCR-20 was a significantly better predictor of violent recidivism than unstructured clinical judgment stated in hospital staff 's advice to the court. In addition, the HCR-20 total score predicted significantly better than the PCL-R total score, although the difference in AUC values was no longer significant when the item ‘Psychopathy’ was removed from the HCR-20 total score.
Managing Problematic Anger: The Development of a Treatment Program for Personality Disordered Patients in High Security
Authors: Jones David , Hollin CliveR.
Published: February 2012

Anger can present as a significant component in the expression of aggression and violence. Anger management is one therapeutic approach that has recorded some success in reducing levels of anger. However, there is a lack of studies that examine the efficacy of anger management with mentally disordered offenders. The present study reviews the development and implementation of an anger management program specifically designed for mentally disordered offenders in a high security setting. Eight male patients who exhibited aggressive behavior within the hospital and had a significant anger problem participated in a 36-week treatment program. The design of the program was successful in ensuring a low dropout rate. Patients were assessed in relation to the frequency and intensity of anger incidents and on a number of psychological variables. Repeated assessment showed positive changes on these measures both during the program and at follow-up. There was a significant reduction in both the frequency and intensity of anger incidents during treatment, which was maintained at 4-week follow-up. The findings are preliminary but encouraging in suggesting that both the style of the program and the evaluation strategy may be appropriate for aggressive mentally disordered offenders within high security settings.
A Developing World Perspective on Homicide and Mental Disorder: An Eighteen-Year Retrospective Study (1980–1998) at Jos, Nigeria
Authors: Ayuba LarryNanjul , Audu MosesDavid , Choji AliRuth , Mela Mansfield
Published: February 2012

We examined the association between mental disorder and homicide in a developing country. Specifically, we studied culpable homicide offenders referred for psychiatric evaluation in Northern Nigeria, including their psychiatric diagnoses and their relationship with victims. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect forensic, demographic, and clinical information from 12,500 patients who underwent court-ordered psychiatric evaluations at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Of all patients evaluated at the hospital, 1.3% had committed a homicide. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis among homicide offenders; there were relatively low rates of antisocial personality disorder and substance dependence. Most offenders knew their victims. The mean duration of time between arrest and psychiatric assessment was 24 months, with a range between 6 to 192 months. We discuss the implications of these findings with respect to motivations for homicide, the evaluation of offenders, and the need for treatment and follow-up of patients.
The Security Needs Assessment Profile: A Multidimensional Approach to Measuring Security Needs
Authors: Collins Michael , Davies Steffan
Published: February 2012

Although levels of security in UK forensic psychiatric services are generally accepted as being divided into high, medium and low security there are few detailed descriptors beyond those of high security. The lack of clear definitions of security poses problems for researchers, clinicians and patients. Developments in forensic care increasingly demand that patients should receive care under conditions of security that are no greater than necessary to manage the risks they present. This is not a simple proposition; a number of complex areas have to be addressed by clinicians when defining a patient's individual needs for security. In an attempt to provide a more comprehensive description of patients' security needs the authors developed the Security Needs Assessment Profile (S.N.A.P). This instrument builds on the three traditional dimensions of security: physical, procedural and relational. Each dimension is sub-divided into a number of items, 22 overall. Each item was described on a four-point scale, each point being carefully defined to provide reference points for users. This article briefly outlines the background, instrument development, instrument structure, sample and results. Initial results indicate that the instrument can distinguish between patients who require different levels of security. An emerging component structure is also described. A preliminary version of the instrument is described for use in forensic settings.
Patients Leaving English High Security Hospitals: Do Discharge Cohorts and Their Progress Change Over Time?
Authors: Jamieson Liz , Taylor PamelaJ.
Published: February 2012

Long-term outcome studies may be confounded by change in baseline characteristics over time. Our aims were to compare (1) patients' admission characteristics in six high security hospital discharge cohorts (1984, 1996; 1997–2000) and (2) 5-year outcomes for the first two. The special hospitals' case register was used to identify all discharge and individual admission data. Follow-up data were from multiple records sources. The 1984 and 1996 discharge cohorts were similar in size and admission characteristics, except 1996 had fewer people under the legal category ‘psychopathic disorder’ and more prison transfers, similar to later cohorts. Length of high security hospital stay was similar on discharge in 1984 and 1996, but fewer in 1996 went directly to the community and more to other secure settings. Death rates, and high security returns, were similar. Against prediction, the proportion of people re-convicted was not lower in 1996, despite longer overall in specialist security. Relative over-representation of transferred prisoners in 1996 mainly accounted for the effect. Future research might focus on rehabilitative pathways.
Killing Again: A Review of Research on Recidivistic Single-Victim Homicide
Authors: Bjørkly Stål , Waage Leif
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on a possible subgroup of homicide, namely recidivistic single-victim homicide (RSVH). This subgroup includes people who commit a homicide, are institutionalized in a prison or psychiatric facility as a consequence, and then commit a second homicide after release. The main purpose of the review was to find out more about the prevalence of this type of offence; the type of research methods and designs used in past research; and known characteristics of perpetrators, their victims, and the crime scenes. Searches were conducted in the English language literature in five databases. A total of 11 relevant studies were identified, but only three studies had RSVH as the main focus. Most were register studies. There was a striking paucity of studies that presented detailed information concerning perpetrator, victim and crime scene characteristics. In studies that examined mental disorder in the perpetrators, personality disorder and alcohol/drug dependence were the most prevalent diagnoses. The primary methodological problems concerned inclusion criteria and sampling. We conclude that more research is needed to distinguish RSVH from other forms of multiple homicide.
Perceived Fairness and Effectiveness of Leveraged Community Treatment Among Public Mental Health Consumers in Five U.S. Cities
Authors: Van Dorn RichardA. , Swartz Marvin , Elbogen EricB. , Swanson JeffreyW.
Published: February 2012

Policies to leverage adherence with community-based mental health treatment have become widespread; however, little research exists on the attitudes of persons with psychiatric disorders regarding such leverage. This study examines the appraisals of 1,011 persons with psychiatric disorders regarding the fairness and effectiveness of leverage. A majority of consumers perceives leverage to be both fair and effective; these perceptions are highly correlated. Multivariate models suggest that perceived coercion and insight into illness are associated with both outcomes while number of hospitalizations, years in treatment, and appointment reminders are associated with either outcome. However, consumers with a psychotic diagnosis and high barriers to care view leverage as unfair when controlling for effectiveness. Consumers who experience less coercion and have better insight believe that they benefit from formal and informal sanctions to adhere to treatment. However, perceived barriers to care impact the evaluation of the fairness of leverage.
The Influence of Parental Emotional Support and Monitoring on Self-Reported Delinquent Impulsive Behavior and Noncompliance Among Juvenile Offenders: An Examination of Gender Differences
Authors: Silverman JennaR. , Caldwell RoslynM.
Published: February 2012

This study examined the relationships and influence of parental emotional support and monitoring on impulsive delinquent behavior and noncompliance among a sample of 288 adjudicated juvenile offenders (203 males and 85 females). Among males, increased levels of maternal and paternal supervision and monitoring were associated with decreased levels of noncompliance, and increased maternal supervision significantly decreased impulsive delinquent behavior. Among females, increased maternal and paternal supervision and paternal emotional support was significantly associated with decreased impulsive delinquent behavior, and paternal emotional support was significantly associated with decreased noncompliance among females. For both males and females, parental emotional support and monitoring significantly predicted impulsive delinquent behavior and noncompliance. Maternal monitoring best predicted impulsive delinquent behavior and noncompliance among males. Results revealed no significant gender differences in the prediction of impulsive delinquent behavior. Among females, paternal emotional support better predicted noncompliance. The findings in the current study highlight the significance of gender differences among juvenile offenders when examining the effects of parental involvement and risk to delinquency related behavior.
Understanding the Downward Extension of Psychopathy to Youth: Implications for Risk Assessment and Juvenile Justice
Authors: Vitacco MichaelJ. , Vincent GinaM.
Published: February 2012

Psychopathy is an important construct in adult risk assessment resulting from strong associations to antisocial behavior and criminal recidivism. A recent trend is the downward extension of psychopathic traits to explain juvenile violence. Applying the concept of psychopathy to youthful offenders has great potential; however, its application to adolescence is fraught with uncertainty. This article discusses how the search for causes of violence along with the changing juvenile justice system have encouraged psychopathy to be used for informing policies related to the assessment and treatment of juvenile offenders. Based on established research and clinical practice, we make the case that if applied judiciously, psychopathy can be a critical component in identifying youth most at-risk for short-term violence.
Predicting Violent and Antisocial Behavior in Hospital Using the HCR-20: The Effect of Diagnoses on Predictive Accuracy
Authors: Tengström Anders , Hodgins Sheilagh , Müller-Isberner Rüdiger , Jöckel Dieter , Freese Roland , Özokyay Kemal , Sommer Jens
Published: February 2012

Before risk assessment instruments can be used to guide treatment, it is necessary to demonstrate accurate identification of patients at high risk for violence and of the factors associated with these behaviors for each individual. Predictors of violence vary by diagnosis, setting, and behavior being predicted. The present study examined violent and antisocial behavior of 216 patients in a forensic hospital during a one year period. The HCR-20 was completed by trained raters independent of those who collected information on antisocial and violent behavior. The HCR-20 predicted antisocial but not violent behavior. Different predictors were associated with different types of behaviors for different diagnostic groups. The HCR-20 score was highly positively correlated with patients' level of security.
Stability of and Change in Criminal Behavior: A Prospective Study of Young Male Lawbreakers and Controls
Authors: Eklund JennyM. , Klinteberg Brittaf
Published: February 2012

With Moffitt's developmental typology of antisocial behavior as a starting point, the general aim of the study was to investigate the stability of and change in criminal behavior from early adolescence to early adult age. The purpose was also to explore the role of individual, family, peer and school related risk factors in the development of criminal behavior. The study was based on data from the prospective longitudinal research project ‘Young Lawbreakers as Adults’, in which a group of adolescent male lawbreakers and controls were followed from the 1960s into the 1990s. The results were in favor of a distinction between adolescencelimited and persistent criminality, and supported the suggestion of a common set of risk factors dimensionally related to offending, rather than trajectory-specific risk factors. The findings indicated that, in addition to these common risk factors, early attention deficits and manifestations of aggression might be of specific importance to persistent criminality.
Aggressive Behavior in a High Security Ward: Analysis of Patterns and Changes Over a Ten-Year Period
Authors: Urheim Ragnar , VandenBos GaryR.
Published: February 2012

The pattern of aggressive and violent behaviour in a maximum security forensic hospital ward, assessed by the Staff Observation Aggression Scale over a 10-year period is described. These results are compared to two other similar Norwegian projects addressing patient violence in a forensic hospital setting. Over 90% of patients had a primary diagnosis of psychotic, and 50% had a secondary diagnosis of personality disorder. Twenty percent of patients caused 80% of violent encounters, and most encounters appeared to result from limit setting actions. Only 36% of violence was viewed by staff as without clear precipitant. Female patients caused 50% more violent encounters than their representation among the patient population, but their violent behaviour was less dangerous and more often directed toward female staff than that of male patients. Overall staff were far more likely to be the targets of violence than other patients.
Psychopathy, Empathy, and Perspective -Taking Ability in a Community Sample: Implications for the Successful Psychopathy Concept
Authors: Mullins-Nelson JanaL. , Salekin RandallT. , Leistico Anne-MarieR.
Published: February 2012

This study examined the relationship between psychopathy and two components of empathy including a cognitive component (e.g., perspective-taking ability) and an affective component (e.g., compassion) in a community sample. The Psychopathic Personality Inventory Short Form was used to assess psychopathy and several psychological measures were used to test empathy including the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, the Diagnostic Analysis of Nonverbal Accuracy-2, and the Test of Self Conscious Affect -3. Across instruments, psychopathy (as a unitary construct) appeared to be negligibly correlated with perspective-taking scales and negatively correlated with the affective components of empathy. Findings indicated that the emotional deficits were noted most prominently for the behavioral component of psychopathy. Results also showed that higher psychopathy scores in community participants were linked to higher levels of antisocial conduct.
Application and Impact of the Psychopathy Label to Juveniles
Authors: Chauhan Preeti , Reppucci N.Dickon , Burnette MandiL.
Published: February 2012

With the development of new instruments that formally measure psychopathy in juveniles, questions regarding the negative associations with the psychopathy label have emerged. Using a vignette design, we examined whether the psychopathy label and several characteristic traits elicited punitive sanctions with regard to transfer to adult court, amenability to treatment, punishment, and dangerousness. Five groups were examined; undergraduate college students, law students, judges, clinicians, and developmental experts. We hypothesized that the traits and the label would result in negative associations, with the strongest effect resulting from the presence of both the psychopathy label and its associated traits. Results demonstrated: (1) undergraduate college students believed individuals were more dangerous when psychopathic traits were present; (2) clinicians were less likely to believe the youth was amenable to treatment if the label was present; (3) developmental experts focused on both the label and its corresponding traits in their decision making; and (4) no significant results emerged for either the law students or judges. The psychopathy label had some decision making impact on those familiar with the diagnosis but not with legal experts or undergraduate college students.
Media Coverage of Homicide Involving Mentally Disordered Offenders: A Matched Comparison Study
Authors: McKenna Brian , Thom Katey , Simpson AlexanderI. F.
Published: February 2012

Research highlights the distorted nature of print media reporting of both mental illness and homicide. However there are few studies that focus exclusively on the media depiction of homicide perpetrated by mentally ill offenders. The aim of this study was to compare the print media coverage of homicides involving mentally disordered offenders found ‘not guilty by reason of insanity’(NGRI) with a matched sample of homicides involving convicted offenders who did not have a mental illness at the time of the offence. Articles covering twenty cases of NGRI homicide and convicted homicide between 1996 and 2000 in New Zealand were analyzed (N = 207). Coverage of NGRI homicide was more inclined to be highlighted with bold sensationalized titles and photographs; and to attract comments by the friends and relatives of the victims close to the time of the homicide. Furthermore, the past private life of the mentally ill offender was more likely to be revealed and partial blame apportioned to external agencies linked to the event. We conclude that such revelations profile the NGRI offender giving the person a public identity, which assists in etching the event in the public mind.
Treatment and Security Outside the Wall: Diverse Approaches to Common Challenges in Community Forensic Mental Health
Authors: Brett Adam , Carroll Andrew , Green Bob , Mals Peter , Beswick Scott , Rodriguez Marcello , Dunlop David , Gagliardi Cinzia
Published: February 2012

This article describes the Community Forensic Mental Health Services in Australia and their different service models. It discusses the service models used and why they have developed this way. The interface between CFMHS, mainstream mental health and secure inpatient forensic mental health services needs to be clear and common issues are outlined. The future directions for CFMHS are suggested, which include demonstrating that CFMHS are effective in delivering what they profess to do.
Micromagnetic modelling of the anisotropy properties of permalloy antidot arrays with hexagonal symmetry
Authors: Manzin A , Bottauscio O
Published: February 2012

The hysteresis and anisotropy properties of permalloy antidot arrays with hexagonal symmetry are investigated in detail, focusing on the influence of the hole size, lattice packing fraction and scale factor. The analysis is performed via a micromagnetic numerical approach, where the hysteresis loops are computed by integrating the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation. We show that the ratio of the hole diameter to the centre-to-centre nearest-neighbour hole distance influences not only the remanent state and the coercive field but also the easy and hard-axis directions. Then, we put in evidence the dominant role of the local magnetostatic field in determining the anisotropy properties of the considered patterned nanostructures, analysing the magnetic domain configuration and the behaviour of the magnetostatic energy versus the applied field.
Dependence of polymer main-chain structure on roughness formation of ArF photoresists in the plasma etching processes
Authors: Uesugi Takuji , Okada Takeru , Wada Akira , Kato Keisuke , Yasuda Atsushi , Maeda Shinichi , Samukawa Seiji
Published: February 2012

In 193 nm lithography processes that use ArF photoresists, roughness formation caused by plasma etching is a serious problem. We previously found that a decisive factor affecting roughness formation in an ArF photoresist is chemical reactions caused by irradiated species from plasma. In this paper, we investigated the structural dependence of a polymer main chain to find the degradation mechanism of ArF photoresists in plasma etching processes. The glass transition temperature of photoresist polymer depends on the structure of the main chain, and a low glass transition temperature causes increases in the flow property at the molecular level, which leads to a reduction in roughness formation in plasma etching. Therefore, the glass transition temperature is a key factor in designing a novel ArF photoresist polymer.
Compatibility study of thin passivation layers with hydrazine for silicon-based MEMS microthruster
Authors: Kundu Pijus , Ghosh Avijit , Das Soumen , Bhattacharyya T K
Published: February 2012

In this work, the compatibility studies of silicon and its different multilayer structures with hydrazine for possible applications to MEMS have been reported. Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction patterns of the r.f. sputtered Si/SiO2/Si3N4 stack layer show preferably oriented crystalline structure after hydrazine treatment at different temperatures. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic measurement reveals that local bonding of the constituent atoms of the surface layers, where Si–O bond is replaced partially by Si–N bond while treated. Further, the surface morphology carried out by atomic force microscopy exhibits the tendency of reducing surface roughness with the increase in temperature during hydrazine treatment. From the axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA), it is observed that static contact angle changes slightly for different wettability nature of solid surface due to aggregation of crystallites in the valley of the surface fluctuation and anisotropic modification in preferred orientation of the film surface. On the basis of equation of state theory with approximation of solid surface–liquid, interfacial energy was applied to determine the solid surface free energy providing the limited variation in different stack layers. Lastly, the J–V characteristic of the stack layer treated by hydrazine at different temperatures shows multiple current conduction regions with the same current density for varying electric field. Therefore, among various single or multilayer silicon-based thin film combinations, the Si/SiO2/Si3N4 stack layer is the most promising passivation layer for hydrazine-based MEMS applications.
Nanoscale mechanical and tribological properties of fluorocarbon films grafted onto plasma-treated low-density polyethylene surfaces
Authors: Cheng Q , Komvopoulos K
Published: February 2012

Fluorocarbon (FC) films were grafted onto Ar plasma-treated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) surfaces by plasma polymerization and deposition. The evolution of the surface morphology of the grafted FC films was investigated at different scales with an atomic force microscope. Nanoscale sliding experiments performed with a surface force microscope provided insight into the nanotribological properties of Ar plasma-treated LDPE, with and without grafted FC films, in terms of applied normal load and number of sliding cycles. The observed trends are explained in the context of microstructure models accounting for morphological and structure changes at the LDPE surface due to the effects of plasma treatment (e.g., selective etching of amorphous phase, chain crosslinking and FC film grafting) and surface sliding (e.g., crystalline lamellae alignment along the sliding direction). Nanoindentation experiments elucidated the effect of plasma treatment on surface viscoelasticity and global contact stiffness. The results of this study demonstrate that plasma-assisted grafting of FC films is an effective surface modification method for tuning the nanomechanical/tribological properties of polymers.
DOMIRE: a web server for identifying structural domains and their neighbors in proteins
Authors: Samson Franck , Shrager Richard , Tai Chin-Hsien , Sam Vichetra , Lee Byungkook , Munson Peter J. , Gibrat Jean-François , Garnier Jean
Published: February 2012

Summary: The DOMIRE web server implements a novel, automatic, protein structural domain assignment procedure based on 3D substructures of the query protein which are also found within structures of a non-redundant protein database. These common 3D substructures are transformed into a co-occurrence matrix that offers a global view of the protein domain organization. Three different algorithms are employed to define structural domain boundaries from this co-occurrence matrix. For each query, a list of structural neighbors and their alignments are provided. DOMIRE, by displaying the protein structural domain organization, can be a useful tool for defining protein common cores and for unravelling the evolutionary relationship between different proteins.

Availability:  http://genome.jouy.inra.fr/domire

Contact:  jean.garnier@jouy.inra.fr
C—H...X(X= O, N or π) interactions in benzyl carbamate
Authors: Mata Ignasi , Molins Elies , Amat Mercedes , Llor Núria , Checa Begoña
Published: February 2012

The crystal packing and interaction energy of benzyl carbamate, C8H9NO2, have been analysed in detail by thePIXELmethod. Benzyl carbamate forms layers of hydrogen-bonded molecules, with the layers connected by weaker C—H...π interactions. According to thePIXELanalysis, combinations of C—H...X(X= O, N or π) interactions are comparable in energy with hydrogen bonding. These interactions are necessary for explaining the geometry and the assembly of the layers.
Clinical correlates of co‐occurring cannabis and tobacco use: a systematic review
Authors: Peters Erica N. , Budney Alan J. , Carroll Kathleen M.
Published: February 2012

Aims  A growing literature has documented the substantial prevalence of and putative mechanisms underlying co‐occurring (i.e. concurrent or simultaneous) cannabis and tobacco use. Greater understanding of the clinical correlates of co‐occurring cannabis and tobacco use may suggest how intervention strategies may be refined to improve cessation outcomes and decrease the public health burden associated with cannabis and tobacco use.

Methods  A systematic review of the literature on clinical diagnoses, psychosocial problems and outcomes associated with co‐occurring cannabis and tobacco use. Twenty‐eight studies compared clinical correlates in co‐occurring cannabis and tobacco users versus cannabis‐ or tobacco‐only users. These included studies of treatment‐seekers in clinical trials and non‐treatment‐seekers in cross‐sectional or longitudinal epidemiological or non‐population‐based surveys.

Results  Sixteen studies examined clinical diagnoses, four studies examined psychosocial problems and 11 studies examined cessation outcomes in co‐occurring cannabis and tobacco users (several studies examined multiple clinical correlates). Relative to cannabis use only, co‐occurring cannabis and tobacco use was associated with a greater likelihood of cannabis use disorders, more psychosocial problems and poorer cannabis cessation outcomes. Relative to tobacco use only, co‐occurring use did not appear to be associated consistently with a greater likelihood of tobacco use disorders, more psychosocial problems or poorer tobacco cessation outcomes.

Conclusions  Cannabis users who also smoke tobacco are more dependent on cannabis, have more psychosocial problems and have poorer cessation outcomes than those who use cannabis but not tobacco. The converse does not appear to be the case.
Accelerating regrowth of temperate‐maritime forests due to environmental change
Authors: Hember Robbie A. , Kurz Werner A. , Metsaranta Juha M. , Black T. Andy , Guy Robert D. , Coops Nicholas C.
Published: February 2012

To understand how environmental changes have influenced forest productivity, stemwood biomass (B) dynamics were analyzed at 1267 permanent inventory plots, covering a combined 209 ha area of unmanaged temperate‐maritime forest in southwest British Columbia, Canada. Net stemwood production (ΔB) was derived from periodic remeasurements of B collected over a 40‐year measurement period (1959–1998) in stands ranging from 20 to 150 years old. Comparison between the integrated age response of net stemwood production, ΔB(A), and the age response of stemwood biomass, B(A), suggested a 58 ± 11% increase in ΔB between the first 40 years of the chronosequence period (1859–1898) and the measurement period. To estimate extrinsic forcing on ΔB, several different candidate models were developed to remove variation explained by intrinsic factors. All models exhibited temporal bias, with positive trends in (observed minus predicted) residual ΔB ranging between of 0.40 and 0.64% yr−1. Applying the same methods to stemwood growth (G) indicated residual increases ranging from 0.43 and 0.67% yr−1. Higher trend estimates corresponded with models that included site index (SI) as a predictor, which may reflect exaggeration of the age‐decline in SI tables. Choosing a model that excluded SI, suggested that ΔB increased by 0.40 ± 0.18% yr−1, while G increased by 0.43 ± 0.12% yr−1 over the measurement period. Residual G was significantly correlated with atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature (T), and climate moisture index (CMI). However, models driven with climate and CO2, alone, could not simultaneously explain long‐term and measurement‐period trends without additional representation of indirect effects, perhaps reflecting compound interest on direct physiological responses to environmental change. Evidence of accelerating forest regrowth highlights the value of permanent inventories to detect and understand systematic changes in forest productivity caused by environmental change.
Patterns of interactions of a large fish–parasite network in a tropical floodplain
Authors: Lima Dilermando P. , Giacomini Henrique C. , Takemoto Ricardo M. , Agostinho Angelo A. , Bini Luis M.
Published: February 2012

1. Describing and explaining the structure of species interaction networks is of paramount importance for community ecology. Yet much has to be learned about the mechanisms responsible for major patterns, such as nestedness and modularity in different kinds of systems, of which large and diverse networks are a still underrepresented and scarcely studied fraction.

2. We assembled information on fishes and their parasites living in a large floodplain of key ecological importance for freshwater ecosystems in the Paraná River basin in South America. The resulting fish–parasite network containing 72 and 324 species of fishes and parasites, respectively, was analysed to investigate the patterns of nestedness and modularity as related to fish and parasite features.

3. Nestedness was found in the entire network and among endoparasites, multiple‐host life cycle parasites and native hosts, but not in networks of ectoparasites, single‐host life cycle parasites and non‐native fishes. All networks were significantly modular. Taxonomy was the major host’s attribute influencing both nestedness and modularity: more closely related host species tended to be associated with more nested parasite compositions and had greater chance of belonging to the same network module. Nevertheless, host abundance had a positive relationship with nestedness when only native host species pairs of the same network module were considered for analysis.

4. These results highlight the importance of evolutionary history of hosts in linking patterns of nestedness and formation of modules in the network. They also show that functional attributes of parasites (i.e. parasitism mode and life cycle) and origin of host populations (i.e. natives versus non‐natives) are crucial to define the relative contribution of these two network properties and their dependence on other ecological factors (e.g. host abundance), with potential implications for community dynamics and stability.
Impacts of highway crossings on density of brook charr in streams
Authors: Pépino Marc , Rodríguez Marco A. , Magnan Pierre
Published: February 2012

1. Habitat degradation and fragmentation are growing concerns in ecology, yet distinguishing between the effects of these processes can be a challenging task. In riverine landscapes, roads impact fish populations mainly through: (i) restriction of passage of individuals (fragmentation) and (ii) reduction in habitat quality downstream by increases in sediment load (habitat degradation). These two processes can be differentiated during road construction projects.

2. This study examines the impacts of a highway expansion and the presence of existing highway crossings on local population density of brook charr Salvelinus fontinalis in stream reaches traversed by the highway. Density was estimated on three consecutive summers in 212 sections distributed among 36 streams. This extensive sampling design focused on replicated comparison of sites upstream and downstream of highway crossings and included different stages of highway construction (before, during and after) and types of highway crossing (low, intermediate and high passability). Mixed models were used to examine the impacts of the highway on population density.

3. Highway construction activities had no detectable effect on density. However, existing highway crossings appeared to have a strong effect on density, which differed markedly between upstream and downstream sites near highway crossings of intermediate and low passabilities.

4. A Markovian movement model yielded estimates of passability that were consistent with the classification of crossing types and provided evidence for the restriction of upstream movement at crossings as a plausible explanation for observed differences in local population density.

5.
Synthesis and applications. Habitat fragmentation resulting from restriction of passage at highway crossings had markedly greater effects on local population density than short‐term impacts arising from construction activities. The modelling approaches used in this study can be useful management tools for the conservation of mobile fish species in fragmented riverine landscapes.
Healthy weight management during pregnancy: what advice and information is being provided
Authors: Brown A. , Avery A.
Published: February 2012

How to cite this article
 Brown A. & Avery A. (2012) Healthy weight management during pregnancy: what advice and information is being provided. J Hum Nutr Diet. 25, 378–388

Background:  Being overweight or obese during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality attributed to pregnancy‐related complications and also poses risks to the baby. The present study explores the information and advice given to pregnant women of different prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) classifications.

Methods:  Women with singleton pregnancies and members of the National Childbirth Trust were invited to take part in the study via either National Childbirth Trust antenatal classes or e‐mail invitation. A questionnaire was developed to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The number of times that women from different BMI groups were weighed, whether weight gain, diet or exercise advice was received, as well as knowledge of weight gain recommendations was compared using Mann–Whitney U‐tests and chi‐squared tests. Qualitative data were analysed by thematic content analysis.

Results:  Sixty women took part in the study with complete data set available for 59 of them. The majority of participants (84.1%) were weighed at least once during pregnancy; overweight/obese women were weighed significantly more times than those who were underweight/normal weight (P = 0.014). Only 25.4% of women received weight gain advice; 64.3% received diet/exercise advice from a healthcare source. No significant difference was found with respect to whether advice was received or not when comparing BMI groups. Underweight/normal weight women tended to underestimate, whereas those who were overweight or obese overestimated weight gain recommendations. Themes derived from the qualitative data were: weight gain advice wanted, diet and exercise advice wanted, lack of advice and support, and anxiety.

Conclusions:  Advice women receive antenatally on weight gain, diet and exercise is brief and generally not related to weight management. Clearer, more detailed and personalised advice is wanted, particularly on weight gain. A lack of advice and support from healthcare professionals leads women to seek information for themselves from potentially un‐regulated sources, and also to feelings of anxiety in some cases.
Steroid Sensitive kiss2 Neurones in the Goldfish: Evolutionary Insights into the Duplicate Kisspeptin Gene‐Expressing Neurones
Authors: Kanda S. , Karigo T. , Oka Y.
Published: February 2012

The KISS1/Kiss1/kiss1 gene product kisspeptin is suggested to be involved in the steroid feedback system in vertebrates. In addition to kiss1, kiss2 has been identified in many vertebrates, including some mammals, suggesting that the both genes were originally expressed in the common ancestor of teleosts and tetrapods. Moreover, peptides from both genes have been shown to activate the kisspeptin receptors. To investigate the involvement of kiss1 or kiss2 neurones in steroid feedback, we used a seasonal breeder, the goldfish (Carassius auratus). We found that kiss2 is expressed in the preoptic area (POA), nucleus lateralis tuberis and nucleus recessus lateralis, and that kiss1 is expressed in the habenula. Greater mRNA expression in breeding than in nonbreeding condition animals and conspicuous up‐regulation of gene expression by gonadal steroids was seen only in the kiss2 neurones of the POA. Furthermore, double in situ hybridisation suggested that these neurones express oestrogen receptors. Given that amphibians express kiss2 in POA and mammalian anteroventral periventricular nucleus/POA Kiss1 neurones show similar expression dynamics as goldfish POA Kiss2 neurones, we hypothesise that kiss1 and kiss2 share the same evolutionary origin; and, after the loss of kiss2, kiss1 became active for steroid feedback in mammals.
Factors predictive of length of stay for women in medium secure settings
Authors: LONG C. G. , DOLLEY O.
Published: February 2012

Accessible summary

Factors predicting length of stay in a women's secure service were analyzed.

Patients were divided into short‐ and long‐stay groups.

Longer stay patients differed in terms of symptomatology, personality scale scores and need. Shorter stay patients engaged more in treatment.

Attempts to understand determinates of length of stay in secure settings has been given increased impetus by minimum standard setting and payment by results initiatives. Factors predictive of length of stay in the extant literature include, index offence, previous engagement in therapy, symptomatology, personality pathology and need. These factors were assessed for their predictive validity in a sample of 70 consecutive admissions to a women's medium secure service. Patients were divided into short‐ and long‐stay groups A loglinear analysis of intake variables indicated that the highest order interaction (duration of stay × diagnosis × index offence/previous engagement in therapy) was significant. Analysis of dynamic variables indicated that longer stays were associated with total symptomatology, paranoid pathological personality scale scores and Camberwell Assessment of Need Forensic Version need items of psychotic symptoms and psychological distress. Short‐stay patients showed higher levels of therapy engagement. Findings are confirmatory of some of the key variables to be considered when estimating length of stay and when planning treatment.
Involvement of PDK1, PKC and TOR signalling pathways in basal fluconazole tolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Lee Hyeseung , Khanal Lamichhane Ami , Garraffo H. Martin , Kwon‐Chung Kyung J. , Chang Yun C.
Published: February 2012

This study shows the importance of PDK1, TOR and PKC signalling pathways to the basal tolerance of Cryptococcus neoformans towards fluconazole, the widely used drug for treatment of cryptococcosis. Mutations in genes integral to these pathway resulted in hypersensitivity to the drug. Upon fluconazole treatment, Mpk1, the downstream target of PKC was phosphorylated and its phosphorylation required Pdk1. We show genetically that the PDK1 and TOR phosphorylation sites in Ypk1 as well as the kinase activity of Ypk1 are required for the fluconazole basal tolerance. The involvement of these pathways in fluconazole basal tolerance was associated with sphingolipid homeostasis. Deletion of PDK1, SIN1 or YPK1 but not MPK1 affected cell viability in the presence of sphingolipid biosynthesis inhibitors. Concurrently, pdk1Δ, sin1Δ, ypk1Δ and mpk1Δ exhibited altered sphingolipid content and elevated fluconazole accumulation compared with the wild type. The fluconazole hypersensitivity phenotype of these mutants, therefore, appears to be the result of malfunction of the influx/efflux systems due to modifications of membrane sphingolipid content. Interestingly, the reduced virulence of these strains in mice suggests that the cryptococcal PDK1, PKC, and likely the TOR pathways play an important role in managing stress exerted either by fluconazole or by the host environment.
Predicting large fetuses at birth: do multiple ultrasound examinations and longitudinal statistical modelling improve prediction?
Authors: Zhang Jun , Kim Sungduk , Grewal Jagteshwar , Albert Paul S.
Published: February 2012

Zhang J, Kim S, Grewal J, Albert PS. Predicting large fetuses at birth: do multiple ultrasound examinations and longitudinal statistical modelling improve prediction? Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology 2012; 26: 199–207.

Predicting large fetuses at birth has long been a challenge in obstetric practice. We examined whether ultrasound examinations at multiple times during pregnancy improve the accuracy of prediction using repeated, longitudinal statistical modelling, and whether adding maternal characteristics improves the accuracy of prediction. We used data from a previous study conducted in Norway and Sweden from 1986 to 1989 in which each pregnant woman had four ultrasound examinations at around 17, 25, 33 and 37 weeks of gestation. At birth, infant size was classified as large‐for‐gestational age (LGA, >90th centile) and macrosomia (>4000 g) or not. We used a longitudinal random effects model with quadratic fixed and random effects to predict term LGA and macrosomia at birth. Receiver–operator curves and mean‐squared error were used to measure accuracy of the prediction. Ultrasound examination around 37 weeks had the best accuracy in predicting LGA and macrosomia at birth. Adding multiple ultrasound examinations at earlier gestations did not improve the accuracy. Adjusting for maternal characteristics had limited impact on the accuracy of prediction. Thus, a single ultrasound examination at late gestation close to birth is the simplest method currently available to predict LGA and macrosomia.