bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Signs and symptoms in the pre-psychotic phase: description and implications for diagnostic trajectories
Authors: Iyer S. N. , Boekestyn L. , Cassidy C. M. , King S. , Joober R. , Malla A. K. 
Published: March 2008

BackgroundFew studies have examined the underlying factor structure of signs and symptoms occurring before the first psychotic episode. Our objective was to determine whether factors derived from early signs and symptoms are differentially associated with non-affective versus affective psychosis.MethodA principal components factor analysis was performed on early signs and symptoms reported by 128 individuals with first-episode psychosis. Factor scores were examined for their associations with duration of untreated illness, drug abuse prior to onset of psychosis, and diagnosis (schizophrenia versus affective psychosis).ResultsOf the 27 early signs and symptoms reported by patients, depression and anxiety were the most frequent. Five factors were identified based on these early signs and symptoms: depression, disorganization/mania, positive symptoms, negative symptoms and social withdrawal. Longer duration of untreated illness was associated with higher levels of depression and social withdrawal. Individuals with a history of drug abuse prior to the onset of psychosis scored higher on pre-psychotic depression and negative symptoms. The two mood-related factors, depression and disorganization/mania, distinguished the eventual first-episode diagnosis of affective psychosis from schizophrenia. Individuals with affective psychosis were also more likely to have a ‘mood-related’ sign and symptom as their first psychiatric change than individuals later diagnosed with schizophrenia.ConclusionsFactors derived from early signs and symptoms reported by a full diagnostic spectrum sample of psychosis can have implications for future diagnostic trajectories. The findings are a step forward in the process of understanding and characterizing clinically important phenomena to be observed prior to the onset of psychosis.
Correlated genetic and non-shared environmental influences account for the co-morbidity between female sexual dysfunctions
Authors: Witting K. , Santtila P. , Rijsdijk F. , Varjonen M. , Jern P. , Johansson A. , von der Pahlen B. , Alanko K. , Sandnabba N. K. 
Published: March 2008

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown moderate heritability for female orgasm. So far, however, no study has addressed the pattern of genetic and environmental influences on diverse sexual dysfunctions in women, nor how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the associations between them.MethodThe sample was drawn from the Genetics of Sex and Aggression (GSA) sample and consisted of 6446 female twins (aged 18–43 years) and 1994 female siblings (aged 18–49 years). The participants responded to the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), either by post or online.ResultsModel fitting analyses indicated that individual differences on all six subdomains of the FSFI (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) were primarily due to non-shared (individual-specific) environmental influences. Genetic influences were modest but significant, whereas shared environmental influences were not significant. A correlated factors model including additive and non-additive genetic and non-shared environmental effects proved to have the best fit and suggested that both correlated additive and non-additive genetic factors and unique environmental factors underlie the co-occurrence of the sexual function problems.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that female sexual dysfunctions are separate entities with some shared aetiology. They also indicate that there is a genetic susceptibility for sexual dysfunctions. The unique experiences of each individual are, however, the main factors determining if, and which, dysfunction develops.
Respiratory and Laryngeal Function During Spontaneous Speaking in Teachers With Voice Disorders
Authors: Lowell Soren Y. , Barkmeier-Kraemer Julie M. , Hoit Jeannette D. , Story Brad H. 
Published: March 2008

Purpose
To determine if respiratory and laryngeal function during spontaneous speaking were different for teachers with voice disorders compared with teachers without voice problems.

Method
Eighteen teachers, 9 with and 9 without voice disorders, were included in this study. Respiratory function was measured with magnetometry, and laryngeal function was measured with electroglottography during 3 spontaneous speaking tasks: a simulated teaching task at a typical loudness level, a simulated teaching task at an increased loudness level, and a conversational speaking task. Electroglottography measures were also obtained for 3 structured speaking tasks: a paragraph reading task, a sustained vowel, and a maximum phonation time vowel.

Results
Teachers with voice disorders started and ended their breath groups at significantly smaller lung volumes than teachers without voice problems during teaching-related speaking tasks; however, there were no between-group differences in laryngeal measures. Task-related differences were found on several respiratory measures and on one laryngeal measure.

Conclusions
These findings suggest that teachers with voice disorders used different speech breathing strategies than teachers without voice problems. Implications for clinical management of teachers with voice disorders are discussed.
Vocal Hygiene Education, Voice Production Therapy, and the Role of Patient Adherence: A Treatment Effectiveness Study in Women With Phonotrauma
Authors: Behrman Alison , Rutledge John , Hembree Amanda , Sheridan Sarah 
Published: March 2008

Purpose
To assess the effectiveness of vocal hygiene education (VHE) and voice production therapy (VP) in altering patient perception of vocal handicap in adult women with benign, bilateral phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions and the role of adherence in that perception.

Method

Sixty-two women were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of VP (
n
= 31) or VHE (
n
= 31), followed by 4 weeks of self-study. The primary outcome measure was the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) score, assessed at baseline, post-therapy, and post–self-study. Patient adherence was assessed as a cofactor.

Results
Both groups achieved a decrease in VHI scores from baseline to completion of the study, although the improvement was significantly greater for the VP group. The treatment effect size was large for the VP group and small for the VHE group. More participants adhered to VP than to VHE. Only adherent participants achieved significant improvement. Only adherent participants in the VP group improved with self-study. More than two thirds of the VP group achieved final VHI scores within normal limits, compared with approximately one third of those in the VHE group.

Conclusions
VP therapy may be more effective than VHE in addressing patient perception of vocal handicap in adult women with phonotrauma, and self-study may be an important component of therapy. However, adherence is a critical mediator of outcome.
Language Outcomes of 7-Year-Old Children With or Without a History of Late Language Emergence at 24 Months
Authors: Rice Mabel L. , Taylor Catherine L. , Zubrick Stephen R. 
Published: March 2008

Purpose
The aim of this study was to investigate the language outcomes of 7-year-old children with and without a history of late language emergence at 24 months.

Method
One hundred twenty-eight children with a history of late language emergence (LLE) at 24 months and 109 children with a history of normal language emergence (NLE) at 24 months participated in direct behavioral assessment of multiple dimensions of language at 7 years. The children were recruited from a prospective cohort study of 1,766 epidemiologically ascertained 24-month-old singleton children.

Results
The group mean for the LLE children was within the typical range on an omnibus measure of general language ability and measures of specific dimensions of language. However, a greater percentage of LLE children, relative to NLE children, performed below normative expectations on a measure of general language ability (20% versus 11%), speech (7% versus 2%), syntax (18% versus 8%), and morphosyntax (9%–23% versus 2%–14%), but not vocabulary or semantics.

Conclusion
The results provide support for growth models of language impairment that predict that late onset of language foretells a protracted growth difference for some LLE children relative to NLE children, particularly for syntax and morphosyntax.
Written and Oral Narratives of Children and Adolescents With Down Syndrome
Authors: Kay-Raining Bird Elizabeth , Cleave Patricia L. , White Denise , Pike Heather , Helmkay April 
Published: March 2008

Purpose
This study describes written and spoken narrative skills of school-age individuals with Down syndrome (DS).

Method
Twenty-one students with DS (age 6;6 [years;months]–19;10) and 17 reading-matched, typically developing (TD) controls (age 4;9–10;9) were matched using Word Identification subtest raw scores (Woodcock Reading Mastery Tests—Revised; R. W. Woodcock, 1987; age equivalents: 5;0–9;7 for both groups). Matching on reading resulted in significantly higher mental ages and vocabulary comprehension age-equivalent scores for the controls. Narratives were elicited in 3 modes (oral, handwritten, and word-processed) using single-episode picture sequences. Narratives were analyzed for length, linguistic complexity, narrative structure, spelling, punctuation, and handwriting legibility.

Results
Analyses revealed significant group differences only for measures of narrative length (DS > TD) and handwriting legibility (TD > DS). Oral narratives were longer and more complex than written narratives for both groups. Regression analyses revealed that vocabulary comprehension was the best predictor of narrative skills for the group with DS; age was the best predictor of narrative skills for the TD group.

Conclusions
These school-age students with DS exhibited many oral and written narrative abilities that were comparable with those of real-word-reading-matched controls. Several findings suggest a possible increased constraint of fine-motor skill in the DS group.
Instability of Magnetostatic Modes in a Microwave Magnetic Field Applied Parallel to the dc Field
Authors: Schlömann E. , Joseph R. I. 
Published: March 2008

Previous calculations of the instability threshold have been based on a plane-wave analysis which is strictly applicable only in an infinite medium. This paper describes a more rigorous theory in which the boundary conditions at the surface of the sample are taken into account. The refined theory admits instabilities at frequencies different from half the pump frequency, which are forbidden according to the less rigorous plane-wave analysis. The general theory is applied to the magnetostatic modes of a long, circular cylinder, which is magnetized along its axis. It is concluded that:
1. Pairs of surface modes (with frequencies higher than the highest plane-wave frequency) are not subject to instability.
2. Instability at half the pump frequency can occur only for those cases in which the magnetostatic potential is invariant under rotation around the cylinder axis (m = 0). The instability threshold for these modes is identical to that deduced on the basis of the plane-wave analysis, except that the frequencies now have to satisfy the characteristic equation derived from the boundary conditions.
3. Instabilities at frequencies different from half the pump frequency can occur, but generally have a higher threshold.
Metallurgy and Magnetic Properties of an Fe-Co-V Alloy
Authors: Chen C. W. 
Published: March 2008

A comprehensive study of the Fe-49% Co-2% V alloy has revealed many new aspects of the metallography of the alloy and led to a better understanding of its mechanical and magnetic properties. Results of the study necessitate revision of previous reports on the metallography by Greiner and Ellis and Köster and Schmidt. In addition to the well-known phase transformation of γ(fcc) to α(bcc) and the ordering of the αphase, a martensitic transformation has been established. The rapid kinetics of theγ→α transformation can be suppressed by drastic quenching in favor of a diffusionless transformation. Martensite is a metastable bcc structure which decomposes slowly into ordered α at intermediate temperatures. Ordering of the α phase is accompanied by pronounced grain refining. X-ray diffraction studies, elevated temperature measurements of saturation, and metallographic examination have not, however, confirmed the decomposition of the ordered α phase suggested by Greiner and Elli.
The problem of brittleness has been broadly investigated. Cleavage fracture is a major cause of brittleness. Other causes include the gaseous (hydrogen and oxygen) embrittlement at grain boundaries and the cracking at the incoherent interface between the α phase and martensite. Unless specially treated,all bcc constituents, including disordered α, are inherently susceptible to cleavage fracture. The effect of order on the susceptibility to cleavage fracture and the multiple functions of quenchingin the attainment of ductility have been elucidated in terms of current theories of cleavage fracture and lattice imperfections. The main purpose of quenching is to produce a martensitic structure. Only when a ductile matrix has been prepared, can ordering exert an adverse effect on the ductility of the alloy.
Measurements of saturation magnetic moment at elevated temperatures disclose a 2% increase caused by ordering. Room-temperature magnetization curves are compared for different microstructures. The electronic configuration outside the argon core of vanadium atoms is discussed in relation to the composition variation of the average magnetic moment of Fe-Co-V alloys.
Coincident-Current Nondestructive Readout from Thin Magnetic Films
Authors: Oakland Lewis J. , Rossing Thomas D. 
Published: March 2008

By using cores which consist of two-vacuum-deposited ferromagnetic films it is possible to build memory arrays from which data can be read out nondestructively by use of coincident-current selection. It is thus possible to eliminate the external selection matrices commonly associated with nondestructive readout memories. This system promises to be inexpensive, reliable, and fast, especially in a memory in which read operations occur more frequently than write operations.
Three different devices are described which fulfill the criterion of coincident-current nondestructive readout. Good signal to noise has been achieved with each of these.
The prevalence of methamphetamine and amphetamine abuse in North America: a review of the indicators, 1992–2007
Authors: MAXWELL JANE CARLISLE , RUTKOWSKI BETH A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIntroduction. This paper reviews epidemiological information about methamphetamine production and use in North America. Methods. Information is drawn from a range of sources, including, but not limited to, historical accounts, peer‐reviewed papers, population surveys and large national databases. Results. Methamphetamine and amphetamine use in North America is characterised by geographic variations, with different types of the drug, different routes of administration and different types of users at various times. Unlike some other drug use patterns in North America, the nature of methamphetamine use in Canada, Mexico and the United States has been linked closely in terms of production and supply of the drug. According to their national household surveys, the annual prevalence for ‘speed’ use in Canada was 0.8% in 2004, 0.3% for ‘anfetaminas’ and 0.1% for ‘metanfetaminas’ in Mexico in 2002, and 1.4% for ‘stimulants’ in the United States in 2006. Discussion. Although the data sources in the three North American countries are not consistent in methodology, terminology or frequency of reporting, all show similar trends. The type of stimulant most used has shifted from non‐medical use of pharmaceutical amphetamine to use of powder methamphetamine and then to use of ‘ice’. The indicators show the problem is greatest in the western parts of the countries and is moving eastward, but the decreased availability of pseudoephedrine may have a significant impact on the nature of the epidemic in the future. Nevertheless, use of methamphetamine poses a number of risks for users and specialised treatment resources for these various populations are needed.
Characteristics and harms associated with injecting versus smoking methamphetamine among methamphetamine treatment entrants
Authors: McKETIN REBECCA , ROSS JOANNE , KELLY ERIN , BAKER AMANDA , LEE NICOLE , LUBMAN DAN I. , MATTICK RICHARD 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIntroduction and Aims. To compare the characteristics and harms associated with injecting and smoking methamphetamine among methamphetamine treatment entrants. Method and design. A structured face‐to‐face interview was used to assess demographics, drug use patterns and harms [physical and mental health, psychological distress, psychotic symptoms, crime and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviour] among 400 methamphetamine treatment entrants in Sydney and Brisbane, Australia. Participants who had injected but not smoked methamphetamine in the month before treatment (n = 195, injectors) were compared to participants who had either: (a) injected and smoked (n = 90, injectors who smoke), or (b) smoked but not injected (n = 73, smokers), during this time. Results. In comparison with injectors, smokers were primarily non‐injecting drug users, who were younger, more likely to be female and use ecstasy rather than heroin. After adjusting for these differences smokers were less dependent on methamphetamine than injectors, but they took the drug as often and had similarly high levels of psychological distress, poor physical and mental health, psychotic symptoms, sexual risk behaviour and criminal involvement. Injectors who smoked had a similar demographic and clinical profile to injectors, including comparable levels of needle sharing, but they used methamphetamine more often and had greater criminal involvement. Conclusion. Within this treatment sample, smoking methamphetamine occurred among both long‐standing injecting drug users and a comparatively younger group of non‐injecting drug users. It was associated with less severe methamphetamine dependence than injecting, but more intense use patterns and similar levels of other harms.
The epidemiology of methamphetamine use and harm in Australia
Authors: DEGENHARDT LOUISA , ROXBURGH AMANDA , BLACK EMMA , BRUNO RAIMONDO , CAMPBELL GABRIELLE , KINNER STUART , FETHERSTON JAMES 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIntroduction and aims. There has been considerable media attention recently upon possible increases in methamphetamine use in Australia. Much of this debate has focused upon extreme cases of problematic crystal methamphetamine use, without reference to the broader population context. This paper provides data on methamphetamine use in Australia, and documents trends in methamphetamine‐related harms. Design and Methods. Data used were from: (1) Australian Customs Service drug detections; (2) Australian Crime Commission drug seizure, arrest and clandestine laboratory detections data; (3) National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) and Australian Secondary Student Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSADS); (4) data from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) and Ecstasy and related Drug Reporting System (EDRS); and (5) data from NSW Emergency Department Information System, National Hospital Morbidity Database and Australian Bureau of Statistics causes of death databases. Results. There appears to have been an increase in both importation and local manufacture of meth/amphetamine. Population data show that meth/amphetamine use remains low and stable. However, clear increases in crystal methamphetamine use have occurred among sentinel groups of regular drug users. Frequent crystal use among regular injecting drug users is associated with earlier initiation to injecting, greater injection risk behaviours and more extensive criminal activity. In recent years, indicators of meth/amphetamine‐related harm have stabilised, following steady increases in earlier years. Discussion and Conclusions. Some methamphetamine users experience significant problems related to their use; harms are particularly prevalent among regular IDU. Methamphetamine users, however, are a diverse group, and strategies need to be appropriately targeted towards different kinds of users.
Mode of Inheritance of Primary Metabolic Traits in Tomato
Authors: Schauer Nicolas , Semel Yaniv , Balbo Ilse , Steinfath Matthias , Repsilber Dirk , Selbig Joachim , Pleban Tzili , Zamir Dani , Fernie Alisdair R. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract
To evaluate components of fruit metabolic composition, we have previously metabolically phenotyped tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) introgression lines containing segmental substitutions of wild species chromosome in the genetic background of a cultivated variety. Here, we studied the hereditability of the fruit metabolome by analyzing an additional year's harvest and evaluating the metabolite profiles of lines heterozygous for the introgression (ILHs), allowing the evaluation of putative quantitative trait locus (QTL) mode of inheritance. These studies revealed that most of the metabolic QTL (174 of 332) were dominantly inherited, with relatively high proportions of additively (61 of 332) or recessively (80 of 332) inherited QTL and a negligible number displaying the characteristics of overdominant inheritance. Comparison of the mode of inheritance of QTL revealed that several metabolite pairs displayed a similar mode of inheritance of QTL at the same chromosomal loci. Evaluation of the association between morphological and metabolic traits in the ILHs revealed that this correlation was far less prominent, due to a reduced variance in the harvest index within this population. These data are discussed in the context of genomics-assisted breeding for crop improvement, with particular focus on the exploitation of wide biodiversity.
A muscle transcriptome analysis identifies positional candidate genes for a complex trait in pig
Authors: Lobjois V. , Liaubet L. , SanCristobal M. , Glénisson J. , Fève K. , Rallières J. , Le Roy P. , Milan D. , Cherel P. , Hatey F. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryMuscle tenderness is an important complex trait for meat quality and thus for genetic improvement through animal breeding. However, the physiological or genetic control of tenderness development in muscle is still poorly understood. In this work, using transcriptome analysis, we found a relationship between gene expression variability and tenderness. Muscle (longissimus dorsi) samples from 30 F2 pigs were characterized by Warner–Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) on cooked meat as a measurement of muscle tenderness. Gene expression levels were measured using microarrays for 17 muscle samples selected to represent a range of WBSF values. Using a linear regression model, we determined that samples with WBSF values above 30 N could be effectively analysed for genes exhibiting a significant association of their expression level on shear force (false discovery rate <0.05). These genes were shown to be involved in three functional networks: cell cycle, energy metabolism and muscle development. Twenty‐two genes were mapped on the pig genome and 12 were found to be located in regions previously reported to contain quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting pig meat tenderness (chromosomes 2, 6 and 13). Some genes appear therefore as positional candidate genes for QTL.