bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatobiliary disease after bone marrow transplant: A cross‐sectional study of 377 patients
Authors: Dezan Maria Gabriela Fernandes , Cavalcante Lourianne Nascimento , Silva Hugo Rodrigues Carvalho , de Moura Almeida Alessandro , dos Santos de Assis Luiz Henrique , de Freitas Tiago Thalles , de Araújo Marco Aurélio Salvino , Cotrim Helma Pinchemel , Lyra Andre Castro
Published: October 2023

Background

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a standard treatment for several haematologic conditions. Following BMT, patients may develop hepatobiliary complications that impact morbidity and mortality. The differential diagnosis may include drug‐induced liver injury (DILI), sepsis‐associated liver injury (SALI), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), viral hepatitis, ischaemic hepatitis, and fulminant hepatitis.

Aims

To evaluate the frequency, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients with hepatobiliary alterations associated with BMT in a tertiary referral centre.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study with data collected from the medical records of patients undergoing BMT between January 2017 and June 2022. We diagnosed hepatobiliary complications based on established criteria.

Results

We included 377 patients; 55.7% had hepatobiliary complications. Female gender, pre‐BMT hepatobiliary alteration, and haploidentical allogeneic transplantation were associated with increased risk with odds ratios (OR) of 1.8 (p = 0.005), 1.72 (p = 0.013) and 3.25 (p = 0.003), respectively. Patients with hepatobiliary complications spent longer in the hospital than those without (27.7 × 19.3 days, respectively; p < 0.001). Among 210 patients with hepatobiliary complications, 28 died compared to 5 of 167 without complications (OR 4.98; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Hepatobiliary complications are frequent in patients undergoing BMT. There is a greater risk of their occurrence in women, people with pre‐BMT liver alterations, and in haploidentical transplants. The occurrence of these complications increases the length of stay and is associated with a higher risk of death.
Quad‐class exposed/refractory myeloma is associated with short survival
Authors: Piron Bénédicte , Costes‐Tertrais Domitille , Gastinne Thomas , Fourmont Aude Marie , Dubruille Viviane , Blin Nicolas , Moreau Philippe , Touzeau Cyrille , Tessoulin Benoit
Published: October 2023

Very scarce data exist about outcomes of relapsed multiple myeloma patients who have failed proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulatory drug, anti‐CD38 monoclonal antibody and therapies targeting B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA) (Quad‐class exposed [QCE]). In this retrospective single‐centre study, we determined progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from anti‐BCMA failure in 45 QCE patients. Seven (16%) patients received antibody‐drug conjugate, 20 (44%) bispecific antibodies and 18 (40%) CAR‐T cell. Thirty patients (67%) received ≥1 subsequent line of treatment. PFS was 4.4 months (95% CI = 2.4–12.5) and OS 6.3 months (95% CI = 3.9–14.4). Having an adverse prognosis, QCE myeloma patients remain an unmet medical need.
Effect of class size on student achievement in the COVID‐19 “new normal”
Authors: Carro Jesús M. , Gallardo Pedro
Published: October 2023

The COVID‐19 pandemic implied measures, such as school closures at the outbreak of the pandemic, negatively affected children's human capital. However, in some places, the situation later resulted in a reduction in class sizes in order to avoid the spread of SARS‐Cov‐2 in schools. We take advantage of this unexpected event to evaluate the effect on school performance of a significant class size reduction implemented in Spain, when schools were reopened. We find a positive and significant effect of the class size reduction of 0.11 standard deviations on overall students' performance. Given the situation and nature of our data, we interpret our estimates as a lower bound for the true effect of the reduction in class size. We conclude that the reduction in class size served, on average, to at least compensate for the other negative effects on learning. Our findings also point out the importance of evaluating the quality of the new and inexperienced additional teachers that need to be hired when implementing a general reduction of class size.
Trade‐agreement compensation in supply‐managed industries
Authors: Cardwell Ryan , Biden Scott
Published: October 2023

Recent Canadian preferential trade agreements (PTAs) include increased market access for imports of supply‐managed products (dairy and poultry). Such agreements are typically expected to create trade flows and increase supply of relatively low‐priced products in Canada. Industry groups representing Canadian producers and processors of supply‐managed products negotiated to receive approximately C$5 billion in payments from the federal government as compensation for the prospects of facing more international competition and reduced domestic sales. We discuss partial‐equilibrium simulation models that are commonly used by academics and governments to project market effects of new trade agreements, and conceptually illustrate how different assumptions about import supply conditions generate different projected market outcomes. We focus on the quota fill rates of new access commitments—most studies, including those used to inform government policies on compensation payments, assume imports increase in an amount equal to new commitments. This is often not the case, including with recent Canadian trade agreements. We apply a conceptual framework to Canada's supply‐management industry by re‐simulating a quantitative model of the Canadian dairy industry with updated information on implementation and quota fill rates. Projected market effects of trade agreements under the assumption of full import quotas are markedly different from projections that account for unfilled quotas. We discuss the political economy and welfare implications of compensation payments in light of our analysis.
Phylogenomic analysis of Tachinidae (Diptera: Calyptratae: Oestroidea): a transcriptomic approach to understanding the subfamily relationships
Authors: de Paula Letícia Chiara Baldassio , Dios Rodrigo de Vilhena Perez , Gudin Filipe Macedo , de Santis Marcelo Domingos , Alvarez‐Garcia Deivys Moises , Antunes Júnior Manuel , Freire Beatriz Vieira , Marques Fernando Portella de Luna , Lahr Daniel José Galafasse , Nihei Silvio Shigueo
Published: October 2023

Tachinidae is the second most species‐rich family of Diptera. It comprises four subfamilies, and all of its members have parasitoid habits. We present the first phylogenomic analysis of Tachinidae using transcriptomic data, based on 30 species. We constructed four datasets: three using translated data at the amino acid level (100% coverage, with 106 single‐copy protein‐coding genes; 75% coverage, with 1359 genes; and 50% coverage, with 1942 genes). The trees were estimated by analysing four matrices using maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony inferences, and only minor differences were found among them. Overall, our topologies are well resolved, with high node support. Polleniidae is corroborated as a sister group to Tachinidae. Within Tachinidae, our results confirm the hypothesis (Phasiinae + Dexiinae) + (Tachininae + Exoristinae). Phasiinae, Dexiinae and Exoristinae are recovered as monophyletic, and Tachininae as polyphyletic. Once again, the tribe Myiophasiini (Tachininae) composes a fifth lineage, clade sister to all the remaining Tachinidae. The Neotropical tribe Iceliini, formerly in Tachininae, is recovered within Exoristinae, sister to Winthemiini. In general, our results are congruent with recent phylogenetic studies that include tachinids, with the important confirmation of the subfamilial relationships and the existence of a fifth lineage of Tachinidae.
Effects of tension on mitochondrial autophagy and osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells
Authors: Shao Xiaoru , Hu Zhong , Su Huiqin , Wang Yuzhong , Lin Yunfeng
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to explore the osteogenic ability and mitochondrial autophagy of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) under cyclic tensile stress (CTS). Primary PDLSCs were isolated from the periodontal membrane and cultured by passage. Alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase detection, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and Western blotting were used to detect the osteogenic differentiation level of PDLSCs. Mitochondrial autophagy in PDLSCs after CTS was measured using a mitochondrial autophagy detection kit, and the expression levels of autophagy‐related proteins LC3B, LAMP1 and Beclin1 were measured using cellular immunofluorescence technology, RT‐PCR and Western blot. After applying CTS, the osteogenic differentiation ability of PDLSCs was significantly improved, and the expression of alkaline phosphatase on the surface of the cell membrane and the formation of calcium nodules in PDLSCs were significantly increased respectively. We also studied the relevant mechanism of action and found that applying CTS can promote the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSCs and is related to the activation of mitochondrial autophagy. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of increased osteogenic differentiation on the tension side of orthodontic teeth and provides new experimental evidence for the involvement of mitochondrial autophagy in the regulation of osteogenic differentiation.
Local Currency Bond Markets in Africa: Resilience and Subordination
Authors: Dafe Florence , Kaltenbrunner Annina , Kvangraven Ingrid Harvold , Weigandi Iván
Published: October 2023

This article examines the development and implications of local currency bond markets (LCBMs) in African countries in the context of international financial subordination (IFS). Despite the promotion of LCBMs as a solution to debt vulnerability, there is a dearth of research that offers a systematic empirical examination of their actual benefits along with conceptual explanations as to when and why such benefits may or may not materialize. This is especially true for countries at the bottom of the global economic hierarchy. To explore how the subordination in global production and financial systems shapes LCBM development, the article offers an empirical analysis of selected African countries that combines interviews with policy makers, officials and experts with statistical data. The findings suggest that while LCBMs offer some benefits, such as mitigating risks associated with foreign currency debt, their potential is limited by the structural processes created by IFS, such as their dependence on the global financial cycle, the relatively higher costs of this debt and the sustained constraint on macroeconomic policy making. However, there are also domestic factors which shape how these structural constraints are mediated in the context of LCBM development — in particular, historically developed financial structures of developing countries, the political economy of the state and the structure of production. This study thus contributes to the debate about the developmental benefits of domestic debt market development and the emerging research agenda on IFS.
CO‐OP helps children and young people with executive function deficits achieve their occupational performance goals
Authors: Froude Elspeth H
Published: October 2023

This commentary is on the original article by Lebrault et al. on pages 501–513 of this issue.
The association of testosterone with sarcopenia and frailty in chronic liver disease
Authors: Chrysavgis Lampros , Adamantou Magdalini , Angelousi Anna , Cholongitas Evangelos
Published: October 2023

Background

Testosterone is an important anabolic hormone responsible for maintaining body composition and muscle mass and circulates mostly albumin‐bound, or sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)‐bound or free in the plasma. Of these fractions, the latter is bioactive and exerts the androgenic effects on male population. Liver cirrhosis, the advanced stage of any chronic liver disease characterized by permanent distortions to the hepatic architecture, disrupts the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis, leading to diminished levels of free testosterone and hypogonadism.

Methods

We retrieved the PubMed database to provide a synopsis of testosterone's physiology and action and summarize the effect of sarcopenia in pre‐cirrhotic and cirrhotic patients. Moreover, we scoped to provide insight into the relationship of testosterone levels with sarcopenia, frailty and survival in cirrhotic and non‐cirrhotic population as well as to discuss the efficacy of exogenous testosterone supplementation on the anthropometric parameters and survival of those patients.

Results

Low testosterone levels have been associated with sarcopenia, reduced body lean mass, decreased bone mineral density and frailty, thus leading to increased morbidity and mortality especially among cirrhotic patients. Furthermore, exogenous testosterone administration significantly ameliorated body composition on patients with chronic hepatic disease, without significant adverse effects. However, the current literature does not suggest any significant effect on survival of those patients. Moreover, the long‐term safety of testosterone use remains an open question.

Conclusion

Low serum testosterone is strongly correlated with sarcopenia, frailty, higher rate of hepatic decompensation and mortality. Nonetheless, exogenous supplementation of testosterone did not ameliorate the liver‐related outcomes and complications.
Cultivation increased soil potential denitrification rates by modifying denitrifier communities in desert‐oasis ecotone
Authors: Wang Lisha , He Zhibin , Wang Chuan , Chen Longfei , Yang Rong
Published: October 2023

Oases soils in northwestern China are used widely for agricultural production, but low soil moisture and fertility necessitate high volumes of irrigation and fertilization, with significant losses of water via evaporation and nitrogen via denitrification. The dynamics of denitrifying communities and their responses to potential denitrification rate (PDR) in continuously irrigated oases remain unclear. In this study, we examined the dynamics of nirK and nirS denitrifying communities in three distinct areas, an old oasis field (OOF, 54 years of cultivation), a young oasis field (YOF, 20 years) and an adjacent uncultivated sandy land (USL, 0 years), and used the partial least squares path model (PLS‐PM) to predict how and to what extent soil properties and denitrifying communities may be responsible for changes in PDR. Our findings indicate that cultivation, compared with the USL treatment, improved soil structure and fertility and increased the abundance and diversity of denitrifying microbes, resulting in a further elevation of soil PDR in YOF and OOF. Additionally, our analysis highlights the potential dominance of the nirK gene in denitrification. PLS‐PM revealed that soil chemical properties and microbial biomass indirectly affected soil PDR by regulating the abundance and diversity of nirK and nirS genes. Conversely, soil physical properties had a direct negative impact on PDR. Alterations in PDR were, in part, attributed to changes in abundance, richness and beta‐diversity, but not correlated with changes in alpha‐diversity. Notably, the standardized total effect demonstrated that the denitrifier community exhibited greater responsiveness to changes in PDR than did soil properties. Overall, our findings suggest that denitrifying communities may play a more important role than soil properties in PDR, and an increased understanding of denitrifying communities allows PDR prediction during conversion of oasis to cultivated land.
Shaped by you: The effect of social partner on cortisol and behavior during adolescence in a female rodent
Authors: Rystrom Taylor L. , Wesseler Yvonne , Richter S. Helene , Sachser Norbert , Kaiser Sylvia
Published: October 2023

Adolescence is a sensitive phase when cues from the social environment can shape consistent individual differences in behavioral and hormonal profiles, but the effect of the social partner on these phenotypes is not well‐understood, especially for females. We therefore aimed to investigate whether the age class and sex of the housing partner affect social behavior and cortisol concentrations in female guinea pigs during adolescence and estimate the repeatability of cortisol concentrations in this life stage. Female guinea pigs were housed upon weaning for 4 weeks with either an adult female, adolescent female, or adolescent male. Social behavior was observed in the home enclosure and a preference test and social interaction test were carried out at the end of the experiment. Cortisol concentrations (baseline and response to a challenge) were measured prior to the start of the experiment and 2 and 4 weeks after pair formation. We hypothesized that the social partner would affect behavior and cortisol concentrations. We found that females housed with an adult female were less aggressive and more consistently displaced by their housing partner than females housed with an adolescent female. Sex of the housing partner did not affect focal female behavior. Regarding hormones, baseline cortisol concentration was neither significantly repeatable nor significantly affected by the housing partner. However, cortisol responsiveness was highly repeatable both 1 h and 2 h after the onset of a challenge. The age class of the housing partner affected cortisol responsiveness, with higher cortisol concentrations measured at 1 h in females housed with an adult female. These results indicate that adolescent female guinea pigs exhibit consistent individual differences in cortisol responsiveness while retaining plasticity to adjust to cues from the social environment. Taken together, we show in a female rodent that the social environment can significantly shape behavioral and endocrine parameters during adolescence.
Primary apical periodontitis correlates to elevated levels of interleukin‐8 in a Swedish population: A report from the PAROKRANK study
Authors: Sebring Dan , Kvist Thomas , Lund Henrik , Jonasson Peter , Lira‐Junior Ronaldo , Norhammar Anna , Rydén Lars , Buhlin Kåre ,   EndoReCo
Published: October 2023

Aim

To explore associations between root filled teeth, primary and secondary apical periodontitis, and levels of inflammatory markers in blood from patients with a first myocardial infarction and matched controls.

Methodology

Between May 2010 and February 2014, 805 patients with a first myocardial infarction and 805 controls, matched for sex, age, and postal code area, were recruited to the multicentre case–control study PAROKRANK (periodontitis and its relation to coronary artery disease). All participants underwent a physical and oral examination, as well as blood sampling. Using panoramic radiography, root filled teeth, primary apical periodontitis, and secondary apical periodontitis were assessed by three independent observers. Blood samples were analysed with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method for the following inflammatory markers: interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), IL‐2, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐12p70, tumour necrosis factor‐α, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP). Additionally, white blood cell count and plasma‐fibrinogen were analysed. Associations between endodontic variables and the levels of inflammatory markers were statistically analysed with Mann–Whitney U‐test and Spearman correlation, adjusted for confounding effects of baseline factors (sex, age, myocardial infarction, current smoking, diabetes, family history of cardiovascular disease, education, marital status, and periodontal disease).

Results

Mean age of the cohort was 62 years, and 81% were males. Root fillings were present in 8.4% of the 39 978 examined teeth and were associated with higher levels of hsCRP, fibrinogen, and leukocyte count, but lower levels of IL‐2 and IL‐12p70. After adjusting for confounders, root filled teeth remained associated with higher levels of fibrinogen, but lower levels of IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐6, and IL‐12p70. Primary apical periodontitis was found in 1.2% of non‐root filled teeth and associated with higher levels of IL‐8 (correlation 0.06, p = .025). Secondary apical periodontitis was found in 29.6% of root filled teeth but did not relate to the levels of any of the inflammatory markers.

Conclusions

This study supports the notion that inflammation at the periapex is more than a local process and that systemic influences cannot be disregarded. Whether the observed alterations in plasma levels of inflammatory markers have any dismal effects on systemic health is presently unknown but, considering the present results, in demand of further investigation.
Opsin diversity and evolution in the Elateroidea superfamily: Insights from transcriptome data
Authors: Amaral Danilo T. , Bonatelli Isabel A. S.
Published: October 2023

Vision plays a vital biological role in organisms, which depends on the visual pigment molecules (opsin plus chromophore). The expansion or reduction of spectral channels in the organisms is determined by distinct opsin classes and copy numbers resulting from duplication or loss. Within Coleoptera, the superfamily Elateroidea exhibits a great diversity of morphological and physiological characteristics, such as bioluminescence, making this group an important model for opsin studies. While molecular and physiological studies have been conducted in Lampyridae and Elateridae, other families remain unexplored. Here, we reused transcriptome datasets from Elateroidea species, including members of Elateridae, Lampyridae, Phengodidae, Rhagophthalmidae, Cantharidae, and Lycidae, to detect the diversity of putative opsin genes in this superfamily. In addition, we tested the signature of sites under positive selection in both ultraviolet (UV)‐ and long‐wavelength (LW)‐opsin classes. Although the visual system in Elateroidea is considered simple, we observed events of duplication in LW‐ and UV‐opsin, as well as the absence of UV‐opsin in distinct families, such as larval Phengodidae individuals. We detected different copies of LW‐opsins that were highly expressed in the eyes of distinct tribes of fireflies, indicating the possible selection of each copy during the evolution of the sexual mating to avoid spectrum overlapping. In Elateridae, we found that the bioluminescent species had a distinct LW‐opsin copy compared with the non‐bioluminescent species, suggesting events of duplication and loss. The signature of positive selection showed only one residue associated with the chromophore binding site in the Elateroidea, which may produce a bathochromic shift in the wavelength absorption spectra in this family. Overall, this study brings important content and fills gaps regarding opsin evolution in Elateroidea.
Nursing and midwifery research priorities for Kenya: Results from a national Delphi survey
Authors: Mutisya Albanus , Wagoro Miriam , Nzengya Daniel , Edwards Joan , Secor‐Turner Molly
Published: October 2023

Background

The International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization have prioritized evidence‐based nursing and midwifery practice derived from nurse‐led research. However, in a low‐resource country like Kenya, there is a need to identify research priorities to optimize utilization of limited existing research infrastructure and funding. Kenya lacks a nursing and midwifery research strategy to guide research prioritization.

Introduction

The goal of this study was to identify and describe nursing and midwifery research priorities for Kenya.

Methods

A cross‐sectional Delphi survey using two iterative rounds of electronic data collection was used to reach a consensus about priorities for nursing and midwifery research in Kenya. NVivo‐12 was used to analyze the qualitative data to identify categories, sub‐themes, and themes; descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data.

Results

Participants included 159 nurse managers, administrators, and educators representing regional, county, and national referral, private, and faith‐based hospitals, nurse training schools, research institutions, and nursing organizations in Kenya. Staffing challenges, motivation, remuneration, and funding for higher education were ranked as the top critically important issues using a cutoff point of ≥ 70% agreement.

Conclusion

There is a need for the development of a National Framework for Nursing and Midwifery Research Priorities in Kenya to guide research that builds excellence in meeting nursing and midwifery human resource concerns and ultimately improves patient care practices and outcomes.

Implications for nursing and nursing policy

The objective of Kenya's health goals delineated within three key national health documents cannot be attained without adequate numbers of nursing and midwifery professionals and policies that address nursing and midwifery staffing challenges, remuneration for employment, and improved funding for higher education.
Using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) to detect and define initiatives that facilitate hemodynamic laboratory management
Authors: Çipi Amali , Ferreira Alexandra C. , Ferreira Fernando A. F. , Ferreira Neuza C. M. Q. F.
Published: October 2023

Healthcare organizations are constantly changing—as are many companies in other business sectors—and the quest for ways to improve requires these organizations to examine continuously the processes involved in their daily activities. This study sought to analyze hemodynamic laboratories’ operating activities using problem structuring methods. The main aims were to understand underlying processes more fully and to delineate initiatives that can facilitate better management (e.g., the use of cutting‐edge technology based on artificial intelligence). The data analysis focused on the particular case of the Laboratório de Hemodinâmica do Hospital de Santa Marta (LHHSM) (Santa Marta Hospital Hemodynamic Laboratory) and relied on interpretive structural modeling. The data were collected during a brainstorming session with a panel of experts in the selected area and combined with the key concepts identified by a literature review of hemodynamic laboratory management studies. The results provide a better understanding of the relationships between variables that influence the dynamics of these laboratories, thereby providing the LHHSM with the information needed to select appropriate improvement initiatives. A follow‐up session with the LHHSM service director was held to consolidate the findings. This study's contributions and limitations were also defined.
Vital Process in Suicide Prevention: Group Psychotherapy as a Community of Concern*
Authors: Farberow Norman L.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Surprisingly little has been written about the treatment of suicidal persons. Group psychotherapy would seem to hold great promise in offering caring, concern, and companionship—all important factors in recovery from suicidal impulses. Conceptualizations and models of group treatment can be tailored to fit the varied needs and objectives of suicidal persons. The unique aspects of working with suicidal patients in a group are listed, and detailed descriptions are given of two kinds of groups now operating in the Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center. One group is a traditional insight‐oriented long‐term group; another is a drop‐in nongroup. The latter, a relatively new approach to treating chronic suicidal patients, fosters commitment to the Center rather than to the group. The process provides a significant resource for chronic, severely suicidal, borderline ill patients. The question is also considered whether the process of identifying with the Center establishes a suicide identity for the patient. For some patients this seems to be the price that needs to be paid in order that they may survive.
The Adolescent Attempter: Sex, Sibling Position, and Family Constellation
Authors: Cantor Pamela
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Data from 17 adolescents who attempted suicide and came to the attention of the Payne Whitney Suicide Prevention Clinic during the years 1968–70 were analyzed for information regarding sex, birth order, sex of siblings, and family constellation. The results indicated that there was a significant trend for firstborn females to be overrepresented among adolescent suicide attempters. In addition, father loss was frequently noted in their histories. A theoretical rationale for the investigation is presented with the results of the study.
The Do‐It‐Yourself Death Certificate as a Research Technique
Authors: Sabatini Paul , Kastenbaum Robert
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: The Do‐It‐Yourself Death Certificate (DIYDC) is a slightly abridged facsimile of the Michigan death certificate. In its first series of research applications, the DIYDC was administered to 158 subjects who had chosen death‐related courses or occupations; other questionnaires were also administered. Among the findings: (a) death by cancer was markedly underestimated; (b) a quick death was heavily preferred; and (c) the measure of proportion‐of‐life‐remaining was helpful in differentiating preferences for mode of body disposal and attitude toward cryonics. The DIYDC appears to offer a useful supplement to existing techniques for studying orientations toward life and death.
Some Personality Characteristics of Skydivers
Authors: Delk John L.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Forty‐one male skydivers from the southeastern United States, with a mean of 531 sport‐parachute jumps (freefalls), were administered: (a) a skydiver questionnaire, designed to gather personal, sociological, and skydiving data; (b) the Shipley Vocabulary Test; and (c) the MMPI. Shipley data indicated that skydivers are of superior verbal intelligence, with a mean I.Q. of 122. Analysis of MMPI items revealed that, as compared to the MMPI Adult Male Normative Group, skydivers are significantly more free from anxiety, phobia, and depression; open and lacking in defensiveness; socially deviant and anticonventional; inclined to reject traditional religious beliefs; self‐confident and positive; impulsive and oriented toward physical action; hedonistic and thrill seeking; sociable and extroverted; and free from health worries. The mean MMPI profile had high peaks on the Pd and Ma scales, with a low point on the Si scale.
The Epidemiology of Life‐Threatening Events*
Authors: Berman Alan L.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the epidemiology and impact (both short‐ and long‐term) of acute life‐threatening experiences among a youthful population. Interviews were conducted with 649 individuals between the ages of 13 and 30. Thirty‐four percent of these respondents reported a total of 290 analyzable, subjectively perceived death confrontation experiences. An estimate of over 2 1/2 million living ex‐suicide attempters, under age 30, was derived, and suicide was found to be a significantly unique form of death confrontation. In contrast to earlier work, panic and fear were found significantly to describe the majority of impacts reported, while avoidance appears to be the modal long‐term effect. Differential impacts and effects are reported by mode of event, and results are discussed in relation to their impact for crisis counseling.
The Anticipation of Death by Violence
Authors: Mahoney John , Kyle Diane , Katz Gary
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: College students (n = 172) completed Cattell's personality factor questionnaire, Rotter's locus of control scale, Speilberger's trait anxiety measure, and Sabatini and Kastenbaum's self‐completed death certificate. Comparison of profiles for subjects anticipating sudden violent death (SVD, n = 59) with those anticipating natural death (ND, n = 113) disclosed that the SVD group was characteristically more anxious and socially isolated. A sex‐by‐type of death interaction occurred for locus of control, with SVD females being the most external, suggesting that this group was more likely to “give up” in response to stress. The data support Shneidman's concept of subintentioned death in disclosing that several personality factors may be associated with violent death.
Hopelessness
Authors: Kovacs Maria , Beck Aaron T. , Weissman Arlene
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: In a sample of 87 hospitalized suicide attempters, a hopelessness scale was found to be significantly better than a depression inventory as an indicator of suicidal risk. Hopelessness also correlated better than depression with self‐ratings of the attenuation of the desire to go on living.
A Discriminant Function Procedure for Identifying Abusing Parents
Authors: Paulson Morris J. , Afifi Abdelmonem A. , Chaleff Anne , Liu Vinnie Y. , Thomason Mary L.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT:From 60 abusive parents was selected a sample of 15 males and 18 females, each identified as the primary abusive parent in the home. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory of each was subjected to a series of discriminant function analyses. Recognizing that sex is an important determinant in understanding and predicting child abuse, separate scales were derived for males, females, and sexes combined. A graph is included that allows for estimating the probability of an individual's being an abusive parent. Using these scales in conjunction with clinical interviews and medical history, there is thus an increased probability of identifying parents “at risk.” Content analyses of the scale items reflect specific conflict areas for males and females that make for increased understanding of the psychology of child abuse.
Suicide Prevention for High‐Risk Persons Who Refuse Treatment*
Authors: Motto Jerome A.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: A program was developed to exert a suicide prevention influence on high‐risk persons who decline to enter the health care system. There were 3,006 patients admitted to a psychiatric in‐patient service because of a depressive or suicidal state who were contacted to determine if the post‐discharge plan was followed. Half of those who refused their treatment program were contacted by telephone or letter on a set schedule. The contact was limited to expressing interest in the person's well‐being. Mortality in the contact group was compared with the no‐contact subjects and with the subjects who had accepted treatment, after 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. Suicidal deaths were found to diverge progressively in the three groups, the treatment subjects showing the highest rates, the no‐contact group coming next, and the contact subjects showing the lowest. The observed divergence between the contact and no‐contact groups provides tentative evidence that a high‐risk population for suicide can be identified and that a systematic approach to reducing that risk can be applied.
A Follow‐up Program for Suicide Attempters: Evaluation of Effectiveness
Authors: Welu Thomas C.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Suicide attempters are a high‐risk group in relation to ultimately completing suicide and are usually “treated and released” with little or no follow‐up care. A 4‐month follow‐up outreach program for suicide attempters seen in the emergency room was developed with an emphasis on continuity and quantity of “treatment” received. Suicide attempters were randomly assigned to the “follow‐up outreach” or “normal” treatment programs. Measures for the evaluation of effectiveness were (a) incidence of suicide reattempts and purposive accidents and (b) prevalence of drug misuse and excessive use of alcohol. The experimental group showed a statistically significant reduction in suicide reattempts and excessive use of alcohol, while the reduction of drug abuse, although not statistically significant, did conform to a trend indicating improvement. Purposive accidents occurred at a relatively equal rate among both groups.
Lunar Association with Suicide*
Authors: Jones Paul K. , Jones Susan L.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: Suicides in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, for 1972–1975 are tabulated by year, month of year, day of week, lunar phase, and holiday occurrence. Only lunar phase demonstrates a significant (p < .01) variation in suicide rate; an increase is observed in this sample with respect to new moon phase but not for full moon phase. Explanations for this finding are considered, but the precise reasons remain unknown.
An Integrative Model of Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Rudd M. David
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: An integrative path model is presented that details the relationships among several demographic variables, life stress, depression, hopelessness, social support, and suicidal ideation. The sample consisted of 737 university students, 287 males and 450 females. Negative life stress was found to be a significant predictor of both depression and hopelessness, which, in turn, mediated the relationship between life stress and suicidal ideation. Contrary to previous findings, depression proved to be a better predictor of suicidal ideation than hopelessness. Findings also illustrated the importance of including social support measures in the model, as significant relationships were discovered between social support and both life stress and suicidal ideation. The model accounted for a total of 34% of the variance in suicidal ideation. Individual findings are interpreted; the ways in which they reflect on previous research, and future efforts, are discussed.
The Connection between Macro and Micro Levels: States' Spending for Hospitals and Their Suicide Rates
Authors: Zimmerman Shirley L.
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT: A trend analysis of states' spending for hospitals and their suicide rates in 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1984 showed that states' spending for hospitals was not directly related to their suicide rates until 1984. The analysis also showed that in 1984, states' spending for hospitals was not only directly and inversely related to their suicide rates, but also accounted for a 5% increase in their variance. Drawing on Durkheim's theory of social integration, the analysis took into account the effects of states' divorce rates, rates of population change, population density, and the economic level and racial composition of states' population. Following policy trends in health care more generally, the findings call attention to the wider implications of institutional norms of cost containment at all costs and states' suicide rates, and thus to the largely ignored connection between macro and micro levels.
Stressful Life Events, Psychopathology, and Adolescent Suicide: A Case Control Study
Authors: Brent David A. , Perper Joshua A. , Moritz Grace , Baugher Marianne , Roth Claudia , Balach Lisa , Schweers Joy
Published: October 2023

The relationship between stressful life events and adolescent suicide was assessed in 67 adolescent suicide victims and 67 matched community controls. In the year before death, suicide completers were more likely to have experienced: (1) interpersonal conflict with parents and with boy/girlfriends, (2) disruption of a romantic attachment, (3) legal or disciplinary problems. Legal or disciplinary problems were more commonly associated with suicide in conduct and substance abuse disordered youth. Interpersonal loss was more commonly associated with suicide in substance abuse as well. Even after controlling for psychopathology, legal and disciplinary problems in the past year were associated with an increased risk of suicide.
The Suicide of Anne Sexton
Authors: Hendin Herbert
Published: October 2023

Anne Sexton, a distinguished poet, killed herself in 1974. Sexton's poems, many of which deal with suicide, read together with a richly researched recent biography – enhanced by the biographer's access to tapes of Sexton's sessions with her psychiatrist and by a foreword by that psychiatrist – permit an unusual opportunity to understand the interrelationship of her illness, her treatment, and the meaning of suicide in her life.
Changing the Legacy of Suicide
Authors: Campbell Frank R.
Published: October 2023

In the United States, despite the increase in knowledge about suicide, the rate of suicide has remained virtually unchanged for the past 30 years. The members of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) are uniquely qualified to determine what, if anything, can be done to reduce the rate of suicide. The restructuring of the association has produced the potential for cross‐divisional collaboration, and yet conventional membership boundaries have resulted in unrealized opportunities to impact the rate of suicide. Dr. Edwin Shneidman, stated in Albert Cain's 1972 landmark book Survivors of Suicide that “post‐vention is prevention for the next generation” (p. x). The ability to design, implement, and study an effective model of postvention is within the considerable talents of our membership; however, doing so will require the commitment and flexibility of the entire association. By making postvention collaboration a goal of the association we can bring a national focus on suicide that could change the legacy of suicide.
Meanings of Gender and Suicidal Behavior during Adolescence
Authors: Canetto Silvia Sara
Published: October 2023

In the United States, gender differences in suicidal behavior rates emerge during adolescence, when females are more likely to engage in suicidal behavior, but are less likely to die as a result of a suicidal act than males. These gender patterns of suicidal behavior are common but not universal, suggesting cultural influences. This article reviews the highlights of the research on cultural meanings of gender and suicidal behavior. Studies suggest that U.S. adolescents perceive nonfatal suicidal behavior as more “feminine” and less potent than killing oneself. Persons who are suicidal in response to a relationship problem are considered more “feminine” than persons who become suicidal in response to an achievement failure. Males are more critical and avoidant of suicidal persons than females, especially when the suicidal person is a male. These beliefs may play a role in decisions about suicidal behavior (what kinds of suicidal behavior are chosen, and under what conditions). Cultural narratives of gender and suicidal behavior may be particularly influential for adolescents because adolescents are in the process of defining their identity, and often take cultural messages about “appropriate” gender behavior more seriously and more literally than adults. The implications of the findings from the research on cultural meanings of gender and suicidal behavior for prevention programs are outlined.
Perceptions of Suicide Risk and the Helpfulness of Intervention Strategies: A Comparison of Students and Mothers
Authors: Lang Alison , Lovejoy M. Christine
Published: October 2023

College students (n= 132) and mothers (n= 64) listened to simulated hotline calls and rated level of suicide risk and the helpfulness of interventions. Students also rated their intent to take action in a similar situation; mothers rated their child's intent to take action. Students, more than mothers, perceived emotional problems to be associated with risk; mothers, more than students, perceived changes in behavior to be associated with risk. Students and mothers generally agreed regarding the helpfulness of different interventions, rating talking as most helpful. However, students, more than mothers, perceived social distraction as helpful. Mothers were generally accurate in their perceptions of their children's intended actions. Results suggest the need for additional research on the skills adolescents bring to crisis situations.
Elevated Suicide Levels Associated with Legalized Gambling
Authors: Phillips David P. , Welty Ward R. , Smith Marisa M.
Published: October 2023

There has been no systematic, large‐scale statistical investigation of the link between gambling and suicide, despite the suggestion of such a link from small‐scale case studies. This article examines whether gamblers or those associated with them are prone to suicide and whether gaming communities experience atypically high suicide rates. Las Vegas, the premier U.S. gambling setting, displays the highest levels of suicide in the nation, both for residents of Las Vegas and for visitors to that setting. In general, visitors to and residents of major gaming communities experience significantly elevated suicide levels. In Atlantic City, abnormally high suicide levels for visitors and residents appeared only after gambling casinos were opened. The findings do not seem to result merely because gaming settings attract suicidal individuals.
The Decline of Youth Suicidal Behavior in an Urban, Multicultural Public School System Following the Introduction of a Suicide Prevention and Intervention Program
Authors: Zenere Frank J. , Lazarus Philip J.
Published: October 2023

A 5‐year longitudinal study of suicidal behavior of students attending Dade County Public Schools (DCPS) in Miami, Florida, between the 1989–1990 and 1993–1994 school years, is described. As the fourth largest public school system in the United States, DCPS is representative of an urban, multicultural community. The prevalence of suicidal behavior among DCPS students necessitated the development of a districtwide Suicide Prevention and School Crisis Management Program (SPSCMP), including the creation of the “Youth in Crisis Hotline.” A review of eight national school districts' suicide prevention and intervention programs indicates similarities with the DCPS model. Statistical data compiled by the DCPS program are organized into annual, monthly, grade level, and school level classifications, and are analyzed to determine the degree and direction of self‐destructive behavior among youth in a culturally and linguistically diverse school population following the introduction of a suicide prevention and intervention program. Evaluative data regarding the effectiveness of the program as well as implications for suicide prevention and intervention are discussed.
Factors Associated with Suicide Ideation among American Indian Adolescents: Does Culture Matter?
Authors: Novins Douglas K. , Beals Janette , Roberts Robert E. , Manson Spero M.
Published: October 2023

Data from self‐report surveys of 1,353 high school students representing three culturally distinct American Indian tribes were analyzed for tribal differences in factors associated with suicidal ideation. In the multivariate analysis, no single correlate of suicide ideation was common to all three tribes. The correlates of suicide ideation were consistent with each tribe's social structure, conceptualization of individual and gender roles, support systems, and conceptualization of death. These results underscore the heterogeneity of suicide ideation across three distinct American Indian tribes consistent with their cultural heterogeneity. Suicide prevention and screening programs may be difficult to adapt from one tribe to another.