bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictors of first lifetime episodes of major depression in midlife women
Authors: Bromberger J. T. , Kravitz H. M. , Matthews K. , Youk A. , Brown C. , Feng W. 
Published: April 2008

BackgroundLittle is known about factors that predict first lifetime episodes of major depression in middle-aged women. It is not known whether health-related factors and life stress pose more or less of a risk to the onset of clinical depression than does the menopausal transition.MethodThe Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) was used to assess diagnoses of lifetime, annual and current major depression in a community-based sample of premenopausal or early perimenopausal African American and White women. Menstrual cycle characteristics, psychosocial and health-related factors, and blood samples for assay of reproductive hormones were obtained annually. Two hundred and sixty-six women without a history of major depression at baseline constituted the cohort for the current analyses.ResultsOver 7 years of follow-up, 42 (15.8%) women met criteria for a diagnosis of major depression. Frequent vasomotor symptoms (VMS; hot flashes and/or night sweats) (HR 2.14,p=0.03) were a significant predictor of major depression in univariate analyses. After simultaneous adjustment for multiple predictors in Cox proportional hazards analyses, frequent VMS were no longer significant; lifetime history of an anxiety disorder (HR 2.20,p=0.02) and role limitations due to physical health (HR 1.88,p=0.07) at baseline and a very stressful life event (HR 2.25,p=0.04) prior to depression onset predicted a first episode of major depression.ConclusionsBoth earlier (e.g. history of anxiety disorders) and more proximal factors (e.g. life stress) may be more important than VMS in contributing to a first episode of major depression during midlife.
Lifetime course of eating disorders: design and validity testing of a new strategy to define the eating disorders phenotype
Authors: Anderluh M. , Tchanturia K. , Rabe-Hesketh S. , Collier D. , Treasure J. 
Published: April 2008

BackgroundAetiological studies of eating disorders would benefit from a solution to the problem of instability of eating disorder symptoms. We present an approach to defining an eating disorders phenotype based on the retrospective assessment of lifetime eating disorders symptoms to define a lifetime pattern of illness. We further validate this approach by testing the most common lifetime categories for differences in the prevalence of specific childhood personality traits.MethodNinety-seven females participated in this study, 35 with a current diagnosis of restricting anorexia nervosa, 32 with binge/purging subtype of anorexia nervosa and 30 with bulimia nervosa. Subjects were interviewed by a newly developed EATATE Lifetime Diagnostic Interview for a retrospective assessment of the lifetime course of eating disorders symptoms and childhood traits reflecting obsessive–compulsive personality.ResultsThe data illustrate the extensive instability of the eating disorders diagnosis. Four most common lifetime diagnostic categories were identified that significantly differ in the prevalence of childhood traits. Perfectionism and rigidity were more common in groups with a longer duration of underweight status, longer episodes of severe food restriction, excessive exercising, and shorter duration of binge eating.ConclusionsThe assessment of lifetime symptoms may produce a more accurate definition of the eating disorders phenotype. Obsessive–compulsive traits in childhood may moderate the course producing longer periods of underweight status. These findings may have important implications for nosology, treatment and future aetiological studies of eating disorders.
group shifts and Bernoulli factors
Authors: BOYLE MIKE , SCHRAUDNER MICHAEL 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn this paper, a group shift is an expansive action of $\Z ^d$ on a compact metrizable zero-dimensional group by continuous automorphisms. All group shifts factor topologically onto equal-entropy Bernoulli shifts; abelian group shifts factor by continuous group homomorphisms onto canonical equal-entropy Bernoulli group shifts; and completely positive entropy abelian group shifts are weakly algebraically equivalent to these Bernoulli factors. A completely positive entropy group (even vector) shift need not be topologically conjugate to a Bernoulli shift, and the Pinsker factor of a vector shift need not split topologically.
On spectral properties of a family of transfer operators and convergence to stable laws for affine random walks
Authors: GUIVARC’H Y. , LE PAGE EMILE 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe consider a random walk on the affine group of the real line, we denote by P the corresponding Markov operator on $\mathbb {R}$, and we study the Birkhoff sums associated with its trajectories. We show that, depending on the parameters of the random walk, the normalized Birkhoff sums converge in law to a stable law of exponent α∈ ]0,2[ or to a normal law. The corresponding analysis is based on the spectral properties of two families of associated transfer operators Pt,Tt. The operator Pt is a Fourier operator and is considered here as a perturbation of the Markov operator P=P0 of the random walk. The operator Tt is related to Pt by a symmetry of Heisenberg type and is also considered as a perturbation of the Markov operator T0=T. We prove that these operators have an isolated dominant eigenvalue which has an asymptotic expansion involving fractional powers of t. The parameters of this expansion have simple expressions in terms of tails and moments of the stationary measures of P and T.
Excitation of an upper hybrid wave by a high power laser beam in plasma
Authors: Purohit G. , Chauhan P.K. , Sharma R.P. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn the present investigation, the excitation of an upper hybrid wave (UHW) in a hot collisionless magneto-plasma by a relativistic laser beam propagating perpendicular to the static magnetic field and having its electric vector polarized along the direction of the static magnetic field (ordinary mode) is presented. Due to nonuniform intensity distribution of pump laser, the background electron concentration is modified. The amplitude of the UHW, which depends on the background electron concentration, is thus nonlinearly coupled with the laser beam. The effect of nonlinear coupling between the pump laser and UHW is studied. The effect of the relativistic electron mass nonlinearity and the relativistic self-focusing of the pump laser on the excitation of the UHW have been incorporated. The dynamics of the excitation of the UHW in different power domains of the laser beam is accordingly modified. It has been seen that the effect of changing the strength of the static magnetic field on the nonlinear coupling and the dynamics of the excitation of the UHW is significant. The focusing behavior of the UHW may find its relevance in the heating of plasmas near the upper hybrid resonance.
Inhibition factor reduces fast ignition threshold for laser fusion using nonlinear force driven block acceleration
Authors: Ghoranneviss M. , Malekynia B. , Hora H. , Miley G.H. , He X. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractFast ignition for fusion energy by using petawatt-picosecond (PW-ps) laser pulses was modified due to an anomaly based on extremely clean suppression of prepulses. The resulting plasma blocks with space charge neutral ion current densities above 1011Amp/cm2may be used to ignite deuterium-tritium at densities at or little above solid state density. The difficulty is to produce extremely high energy flux densities of the blocks. Results are reported how the threshold can be reduced by a factor up to fife if the inhibition factor for thermal conductivity due to electric double layers is included in the hydrodynamic analysis.
Pelvic floor muscle training in the prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence in women – what is the evidence?
Authors: BROSTRØM SØREN , LOSE GUNNAR 
Published: April 2008

AbstractMany women suffer from urinary incontinence (UI). During and after pregnancy, women are advised to perform pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) to prevent the development of UI. In established UI, PFMT is prescribed routinely as first‐line treatment. Published studies are small, underpowered and of uneven methodological quality. Variations in study populations, intervention types and outcome measures make comparisons difficult. While further studies are needed, the available evidence suggests a lack of long‐term efficacy of peripartum PFMT. In established UI, there seems to be a modest immediate response to PFMT. Based on the available evidence, we believe that a critical reappraisal of PFMT is needed, and judgments on the place of PFMT in current clinical practice should be reserved until further evidence, including cost‐benefit analyses, has unequivocally demonstrated a clinically relevant efficacy.
Transrectal ultrasound and the diagnosis of rectovaginal endometriosis: a prospective observational study
Authors: GRIFFITHS ANTHONY , KOUTSOURIDOU ROXANI , VAUGHAN SUE , PENKETH RICHARD , ASHLEY ROBERTS S. , TORKINGTON JARED 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground. Rectovaginal endometriosis is a severe form of pelvic endometriosis in which pharmacological treatment is relatively ineffective (Vercellini et al., Fertil Steril. 2005;84:1375–87). Laparoscopic surgical treatment is effective, but has the potential risks of bowel perforation and colostomy formation (Darai et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005;192:394–400). Transrectal ultrasound scanning can be applied as a preoperative tool to predict the presence of rectovaginal endometriosis and bowel wall involvement (Abrao et al., J Am Assoc Gynecol Laparosc. 2004;11:50–4). Methods. Thirty‐two women underwent transrectal ultrasound followed by therapeutic laparoscopy. Likelihood ratios and post‐test prevalences were calculated with Fagan's normogram. This was then extrapolated with the aid of a mathematical model to a low‐risk population. Results. A positive likelihood ratio was found to be 10.89 (95% confidence ratio (CI): 1.62–73.15) and a negative likelihood ratio was found to be 0.24 (95% CI: 0.1–0.57). The pre‐test prevalence of rectovaginal endometriosis was 56%. The positive post‐test prevalence probability was 93%, and the negative post‐test prevalence probability was 23%. Conclusion. Preoperative transrectal ultrasound scanning for rectovaginal endometriosis is an extremely accurate predictive test, and strongly predicts the need for extensive laparoscopic dissection and potential bowel resection.
Long‐term consequences of gynecological cancer treatment on urinary incontinence: a population‐based cross‐sectional study
Authors: EGIL SKJELDESTAD FINN , HAGEN BJØRN 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective. To study urinary incontinence among long‐term survivors of gynecological cancer. Study design. In a population‐based, cross‐sectional design, we identified 319 recurrence‐free survivors of gynecological cancer, and 1,276 controls without a history of gynecological cancer. All participants were addressed with a 16‐pages questionnaire covering issues of quality of life, general health, daily living conditions, natural functions and co‐morbidities. Following 1 reminder, the response rates were 55 and 41% for cases and controls, respectively. Urinary incontinence (total, stress, urge and mixed) was in agreement with definitions of the International Continence Society. Results. Mean relapse‐free follow‐up time after treatment was 12 years (range: 8–17 years) for cases. The prevalence of total, stress, urge and mixed urinary incontinence were 34.3, 24, 0.8 and 9.5%, respectively. Previous gynecological cancer treatment was not associated with any outcomes of urinary incontinence. Obesity, previous and current use of HRT were associated with total, stress and mixed urinary incontinence, whereas increasing parity order was associated with total and stress urinary incontinence. In comparison with single factor analyses, the combination of obesity and parity 2+ had a multiplicative effect on total, stress and mixed incontinence. Conclusion. Recurrence‐free long‐term survivors of gynecological cancer are not at increased risk for urinary incontinence.
MRI anatomical study of the outside‐in transobturator suburethral tape procedure
Authors: FERNANDEZ PEDRO , RAIFFORT CYRIL , DELANEY SARAH , SALOMON LAURENCE , CARBONNE BRUNO , DELMAS VINCENT , ANSQUER YAN 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground. This study aims to clarify the relationship between the outside‐in transobturator suburethral tape and the anatomical structures at the blind passage of the obturator foramen, and to detail the tape position, shape, and the factors on which they are dependent. Methods. MRI scans were performed on 30 patients operated on with a dermal porcine collagen suburethral tape, indicated for urodynamically proven stress incontinence. Results. The lateral bladder wall was the closest structure to the tape at the passage of the obturator foramen, whereas vascular injuries appeared to be minimal using the outside‐in technique. The distance from tape to bladder neck was correlated with the distance from tape to pubococcygeal line (PCL) (p = 0.001), and with urethral length (p = 0.049). From the obturator foramen to its passage under the urethra, the tape was U‐shaped with a cranio‐caudal and antero‐posterior orientation. The cranio‐caudal tape shape was correlated with the distance between the tape and the PCL (p = 0.002), and to the patient's anatomical characteristics: distance between the bladder neck and the pubis (p = 0.01), and the urethral length (p = 0.01). The antero‐posterior shape was correlated with the urethral length (p = 0.02). Conclusion. The lateral bladder wall is the structure most at risk during the outside‐in transobturator suburethral tape procedure. The distance from tape to bladder neck is dependent on the vertical position of the tape. The tape shape is dependent on both tape position under the urethra and the patient's anatomical characteristics.
Pregnancy outcomes of women with pruritus, normal bile salts and liver enzymes: a case control study
Authors: YOONG WAI , MEMTSA M. , PUN S. , WEST P. , LOO C. , OKOLO S. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground. Obstetric cholestasis (OC) is associated with increased maternal and perinatal complications. Nevertheless, data on pregnancy outcomes of women who experience pruritus on a transient basis, but have normal bile salts and liver function tests (LFT) is scarce. Methods. The maternal and fetal outcomes of 144 women with pruritus but normal bile salts and LFTs were compared with the next delivered patient without itch who matched for age, ethnicity and parity. Results. The study and control groups had similar mean gestational ages at delivery and birth weights (p>0.05, t test). However, women with pruritus were more likely to have meconium‐stained liqor, abnormal intrapartum cardiotocography and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) (p<0.05, Fisher's exact test). There appears to be a trend towards a higher rate of instrumental delivery (p = 0.07) in the study compared to the control group, although this did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion. This study suggests that women who have transient pruritus with normal bile salts and liver biochemistry appear to have higher intrapartum and postpartum complications and require increased vigilance. In order to evaluate this finding, further prospective studies will be required.
Modifiable determinants of fetal macrosomia: role of lifestyle‐related factors
Authors: VOLDNER NANNA , FRØSLIE KATHRINE F. , BO KARI , HAAKSTAD LENE , HOFF CAMILLA , GODANG KRISTIN , BOLLERSLEV JENS , HENRIKSEN TORE 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground. Newborn macrosomia is associated with both short‐ and long‐term health risks for the infant, and increases the prevalence of birth complications. Parity, maternal age and gender of the child are known variables that influence fetal growth. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate prospectively the contributions of modifiable maternal predictors of fetal macrosomia (≥4,200 g), which included lifestyle‐related factors, such as nutritional intake, physical activity, and plasma glucose values, in addition to overweight and pregnancy weight gain. Methods. Some 553 women were followed through pregnancy. Predictive variables were subjected to univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. Among these were: body mass index (BMI), weight gain, maternal subcutaneous fat (mm), fasting and 2‐h plasma glucose, self‐reported physical activity before and during pregnancy, and nutritional intake of macronutrients. Gestational age, parity and gender were also included in the model. All continuous variables were dichotomized using the upper quartile as the cut‐off point in most cases. Results. If physical activity was left out of the analyses, BMI, weight gain, plasma glucose and gestational age were independent determinants of macrosomia. After including low level pre‐gestational physical activity in the model, we found that this was now a significant determinant of delivering a macrosomic infant with an OR = 2.9 (95% CI: 1.9, 7.3). Conclusion. The present study indicates that a low level of pre‐gestational physical activity adds to the modifiable determinants of newborn macrosomia.
Anterior vaginal wall reconstruction: anterior colporrhaphy reinforced with tension free vaginal tape underneath bladder base
Authors: TANTANASIS T. , GIANNOULIS C. , DANIILIDIS A. , PAPATHANASIOU K. , LOUFOPOULOS A. , TZAFETTAS J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractObjective. To assess the effectiveness of the polypropylene tape in preventing cystocele recurrence. Methods. Fifty Caucasian women aged 50‐77 years (mean age 66.6 years), with stage II–IV pelvic organ prolapse, enrolled into the study. Vaginal reconstructive surgery included an anterior colporrhaphy on all patients, posterior colpoperineorrhaphy on 28 patients and hysterectomy on 36 patients. Patients were divided into a study group of 28 women and a control group of 22 women. As reinforcement to the anterior colporrhaphy procedure, in the study group a polypropylene tape (TVT‐O) was placed underneath the bladder base and fixed with polyglactin sutures. Postoperative follow‐up was carried out every 4 months (total 48 months). The assessment of the anatomic result included both clinical evaluation of the operated sites and perineal sonography. Results. The mean postoperative distance of the bladder base to the inferior edge of the symphysis pubis was 1.5 cm (range: 1.0–2.2 cm) in the study group and 2.8 cm (range: 2.0–3.8) in the control group. Postoperatively, there were two cases of stress incontinence and two cases of urge incontinence, one in each group. No case of tape erosion was noted, no dyspareunia and no recurrent cystocele in the study group. Four cases of recurrent cystocele (20%) were reported in the control group. Conclusion. While the preliminary results of our study are encouraging, larger series of patients and longer follow‐up are required to verify the effectiveness of the aforementioned modification.
China & India as Africa's New Donors: The Impact of Aid on Development
Authors: McCormick Dorothy 
Published: April 2008

Using a two-analytical framework and drawing on a wide range of secondary data, this article attempts to assess the likely impact of aid from China and India on the development of Africa. The framework treats aid as one of four main channels through which China and India influence the shape and performance of particular sectors and, through them, development outcomes. The first stage of analysis examines the varying patterns of Chinese and Indian aid and the multiple impacts such aid has on one key sector: manufacturing. The main findings from this level of analysis have to do with the differing patterns of Indian and Chinese aid, differences between Chinese and Indian aid, and aid from western countries, and the interconnections between the impact channels.
India and China have different patterns of aid. India concentrates on non-monetary aid mainly in the form of technical assistance and scholarships, while China offers a wider range of monetary and non-monetary aid packages, which include grants and loans for infrastructure, plant and equipment, as well as scholarships, training opportunities, and technical assistance. Chinese monetary aid is tied to the use of Chinese goods and services, and requires adherence to the 'One China' policy, but does not carry the 'good governance' conditionalities that currently characterise western donors. The impact channels of trade, FDI, aid, and migration overlap to some degree, especially in the case of China. The line between FDI and aid is often blurred, as is the line between aid and trade. The second stage of the analysis looks at the implications of Chinese and Indian aid to manufacturing for development outcomes such as growth, distribution, governance, and environment. The analysis shows clearly that the potential impact of Chinese and Indian aid on Africa is significant, but that the actual effects of these emerging donors on particular countries depends to a large extent on the institutional and structural conditions of the recipients.
Variations in Reflex Blink-Rate during Visual-Motor Tasks
Authors: Drew G. C. 
Published: April 2008

The influence of the performance of various tasks on the reflex blink rate has been investigated repeatedly, but the results obtained have been somewhat contradictory. More recently, it has been suggested that the reflex blink rate may be a considerable factor in the accuracy with which visual-motor tasks are performed. The aim of the present experiment was to attempt to obtain further evidence on both these questions. The experiment was carried out in two parts. The main part was done in the laboratory, while a validating experiment was carried out on the road. In the laboratory, subjects were required to steer a pencil along a moving track which varied in difficulty. The difficulty of the response was varied by using a direct control on some trials and a velocity control on others. Blink rate, errors, and control measurements were recorded throughout. In the road experiment, cine films were taken of the driver's eyes while driving in heavy traffic and in open country. The results of both experiments show: (a) That there are marked individual differences in blink rate, the relative order of which is maintained in spite of variations in the actual blink rate. (b) That there is no relationship between the accuracy with which a particular individual carries out a task of this sort and his blink rate. The rapid “blinker” is no more and no less likely to be accurate than the infrequeiit I “blinker.” (c) That the actual blink rate for all individuals varies inversely with the difficulty of the task and the amount of control movement necessary. The blink rate decreases as the necessity for detailed visual control of movement increases. Blink rates when driving a car in heavy traffic, or when steering along an oscillating track, are considerably lower than when driving in open country or when following a straight track. (d) That the adjustment of the blink rate to the difficulty of the task is achieved not only by an alteration in overall blink rate, but also by a change in the distribution of blinking. The blink rate is approximately constant under constant conditions, but when the task is varying in difficulty, blinking occurs just before and just after periods of maximum difficulty, but is completely inhibited during the periods of maximum difficulty itself.