bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does an encouraging letter encourage attendance at psychiatric out-patient clinics? The Leeds PROMPTS randomized study
Authors: Kitcheman J. , Adams C. E. , Pervaiz A. , Kader I. , Mohandas D. , Brookes G. 
Published: October 2007

BackgroundThe aim was to reduce non-attendance for first-time consultations at psychiatric out-patient clinics.MethodThe study was a pragmatic randomized controlled trial; the setting was seven inner-city UK out-patient clinics in Leeds. The participants were 764 subjects of working age with an appointment to attend a psychiatric out-patient clinic for the first time. The intervention was an ‘orientation statement’ letter delivered 24–48 h before the first appointment compared with standard care. The primary outcome measure was attendance at the first appointment; secondary outcomes included hospitalization, transfer of care, continuing attendance, discharge, presentation at accident and emergency and death by 1 year.ResultsFollow-up was for 763 out of 764 subjects (>99%) for primary and for 755 out of 764 subjects (98.8%) of secondary outcome data. The orientation statement significantly reduced the numbers of people failing to attend [79 out of 388 v. 101 out of 376 subjects, relative risk 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59–0.98, number needed to treat 16, 95% CI 10–187].ConclusionsPrompting people to go to psychiatric out-patient clinics for the first time encourages them to attend. Pragmatic trials within a busy working environment are possible and informative.
Urban residence, victimhood and the appraisal of personal safety in people with schizophrenia: results from the European Schizophrenia Cohort (EuroSC)
Authors: Schomerus G. , Heider D. , Angermeyer M. C. , Bebbington P. E. , Azorin J.-M. , Brugha T. , Toumi M. 
Published: October 2007

BackgroundPatients with schizophrenia are at increased risk of being victims of violent and non-violent crimes. We have determined how the experience of crime and subjective feelings of safety differ between urban and rural residential areas.MethodWe analysed data from the European Schizophrenia Cohort (EuroSC), a 2-year follow-up study of 1208 patients in the UK, France and Germany. Subjective safety and a history of victimhood were elicited with Lehman's Quality of Life Inventory. Regression models adjusted the effects of living environment for country, education, employment, financial situation, drug and alcohol abuse, criminal arrests and the level of schizophrenic symptoms.ResultsTen per cent of patients were victims of violent and 19% of non-violent crimes. There was no significant relationship between victim status and residential area. However, subjective safety was clearly worse in cities than in rural areas. Aspects of objective and subjective safety were related to different factors: being the victim of violence was most strongly associated with alcohol and drug abuse and with criminal arrests of the patients themselves, whereas impaired subjective safety was most strongly associated with poverty and victimhood experience.ConclusionsAlthough urban living was not associated with increased objective threats to their security, patients did feel more threatened. Such stress and anxiety can be related to concepts of social capital, and may contribute unfavourably to the course of the illness, reflecting the putative role of appraisal in cognitive models of psychosis. Securing patients’ material needs may provide a way to improve subjective safety.
Differential criterion functioning of alcohol use symptomatology in major depressive disorder?
Authors: Lynskey M. T. , Agrawal A. 
Published: October 2007

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders and are frequently co-morbid. However, some component of this co-morbidity may be artifactual and arise from the influence of current mental state on self-reports of AUD.MethodThis study examined whether past-year MDD is associated with differential criterion functioning (DCF) in reports of AUD symptomatology in male and female participants in the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NEASRC).ResultsReports of past-year AUD symptomatology were adequately summarized by a single-factor model in which each of the 11 abuse and dependence criteria had high factor loadings (0.71–0.93) and did not vary between men and women after allowing for threshold differences. Co-morbid MDD was associated with higher AUD mean scores. There was some evidence for DCF with past-year MDD being associated with a lower endorsement of use in hazardous situations among men whereas women with MDD were more likely to endorse both social/interpersonal problems and emotional/physical problems.ConclusionsSeveral items assessing AUD display DCF in the presence of MDD. While these findings highlight the need to consider the possibility that mental state can influence reporting of psychiatric symptoms and potentially inflate estimates of co-morbidity, they suggest that only a negligible component of the co-morbidity between MDD and AUDs can be attributed to over-reporting of alcohol symptomatology conditional on current MDD.
Psychotic-like experiences and other antecedents of schizophrenia in children aged 9–12 years: a comparison of ethnic and migrant groups in the United Kingdom
Authors: Laurens K. R. , West S. A. , Murray R. M. , Hodgins S. 
Published: October 2007

BackgroundThe incidence of schizophrenia and the prevalence of psychotic symptoms in the general adult population are elevated in migrant and ethnic minority groups relative to host populations. These increases are particularly prominent among African-Caribbean migrants to the UK. This study examined the associations of ethnicity and migrant status with a triad of putative antecedents of schizophrenia in a UK community sample of children aged 9–12 years. The antecedent triad comprised: (i) psychotic-like experiences; (ii) a speech and/or motor developmental delay or abnormality; and (iii) a social, emotional or behavioural problem.MethodChildren (n=595) and their primary caregivers, recruited via schools and general practitioners in southeast London, completed questionnaires. Four indices of risk were examined for associations with ethnicity and migrant status: (i) certain experience of at least one psychotic-like experience; (ii) severity of psychotic-like experiences (total psychotic-like experience score); (iii) experience of the antecedent triad; and (iv) severity of antecedent triad experiences (triad score).ResultsAfrican-Caribbean children, as compared to white British children, experienced greater risk on all four indices. There were trends for South Asian and Oriental children to present lowered risk on several indices, relative to white British children. Migration status was unrelated to any risk index.ConclusionPrevalence of the putative antecedents of schizophrenia is greater among children of African-Caribbean origin living in the UK than among white British children. This parallels the increased incidence of schizophrenia and elevated prevalence of psychotic symptoms among adults of African-Caribbean origin.
Family study of subthreshold psychopathology in a community sample
Authors: Shankman S. A. , Klein D. N. , Lewinsohn P. M. , Seeley J. R. , Small J. W. 
Published: October 2007

BackgroundThere has been increasing interest in the validity and familial transmission of subthreshold psychiatric conditions and the relationship between subthreshold conditions and full syndrome (FS) disorders. However, most of these studies examined a single subthreshold condition and thus fail to take into account the high co-morbidity among subthreshold conditions and between subthreshold conditions and FS disorders.MethodA family study of subthreshold psychiatric conditions was conducted with 739 community-drawn young adults and their 1744 relatives. We examined (1) whether relatives of probands with subthreshold major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, alcohol use, substance use, and/or conduct disorder exhibited an increased rate of the corresponding (homotypic) FS disorder; (2) whether subthreshold disorders were associated with increased familial rates of other (heterotypic) FS disorders; (3) whether subthreshold and FS conditions are associated with similar familial liabilities; and (4) whether these homotypic and heterotypic associations persisted after controlling for co-morbidity.ResultsSignificant homotypic associations were observed for subthreshold anxiety, alcohol, conduct, and a trend was observed for major depression. Only the homotypic association for alcohol and conduct remained after controlling for co-morbid subthreshold and FS conditions. Many heterotypic associations were observed and most remained after controlling for co-morbidity.ConclusionsIt is important to broaden the study of subthreshold psychopathology to multiple disorders. In particular cases, controlling for co-morbidity with other subthreshold and FS conditions altered the patterns of familial aggregation. Etiological processes that are common to particular disorders and subthreshold conditions are discussed.
The influence of an intense laser beam interaction with preformed plasma on the characteristics of emitted ion streams
Authors: Láska L. , Badziak J. , Gammino S. , Jungwirth K. , Kasperczuk A. , Krása J. , Krouský E. , Kubeš P. , Parys P. , Pfeifer M. , Pisarczyk T. , Rohlena K. , Rosinski M. , Ryc´ L. , Skála J. , Torrisi L. , Ullschmied J. , Velyhan A. , Wolowski J. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIntense laser-beam interactions with preformed plasma, preceding the laser-target interactions, significantly influence both the ion and X-ray generation. It is due to the laser pulse (its total length, the shape of the front edge, its background, the contrast, the radial homogeneity) as well as plasma (density, temperature) properties. Generation of the super fast (FF) ion groups is connected with a presence of non-linear processes. Saturated maximum of the charge states (independently on the laser intensity) is ascribed to the constant limit radius of the self-focused laser beam. Its longitudinal structure is considered as a possible explanation for the course of some experimental dependencies obtained.
Equation of state and optimum compression in inertial fusion energy
Authors: Eliezer S. , Murakami M. , Martinez Val J.M. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe inertial confinement fusion (ICF) philosophy is based on high compression. The reasoning is that (a) it is cheaper (energetically) to compress than to heat and (b) nuclear reactions are proportional to density square, therefore the more you compress the better you are in ICF. Of course the only limitations of compression are the hydrodynamic instabilities (like Rayleigh-Taylor, etc). Many of the references in the literature require extremely high compression and in particular the pB11 needs extremely huge compressions. In this paper it is shown that there is an optimum of compression, namely gain G is maximum for a definite compression. The value of this density (for a given fuel mass and particular ICF scheme) depends on the equation of state (EOS). We calculate this value for fast ignition (FI) schemes and compare it with the central spark ignition (CSI) model. The gain calculations are based on the ideal gas for the ions and the Fermi-Dirac EOS for the electrons with an effective alpha, as usually suggested from simulations. The “optimum compression” idea is easily understood from the following argument: From EOS data one needs an infinite energy to compress to an infinite density. Since the energy output is finite it is clear that G is zero for infinite compression. On the other hand for normal density with small fuel mass (~ few mg) the gain is also zero. Therefore a maximum should exist somewhere. For the deuterium-tritium fuel with a mass of few mg one gets an optimum at few hundred g/cc. If you compress more then the gain is going down. So there is a desired maximum compression fixed by EOS. Last but not least, bremsstrahlung losses in degenerate plasma are discussed and the clean fusion (i.e., without neutrons) of proton + B11 → 4α is analyzed.
Numerical simulations of the projectile ion charge difference in solid and gaseous stopping matter
Authors: Eisenbarth S. , Rosmej O.N. , Shevelko V.P. , Blazevic A. , Hoffmann D.H.H. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe dependence of calcium ion subshell populations on the target density during the ion stopping process was analyzed using a five charge-state collisional-radiative model. The model, which consists of the ground and three excited states for every ion charge, was successfully compared with the experiment. The gas-solid difference of calcium ion charge state distribution has been numerically demonstrated. For Ca projectiles with energies of 4–11 MeV/u, the increase of the mean ion charge in solid target is explained by the increase of the total ionization rate and by suppression of the bound electron capture process at high densities of the stopping medium.
Holistic Simulation for FIREX Project with FI3
Authors: Johzaki T. , Sakagami H. , Nagatomo H. , Mima K. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractIn fast ignition research, the clarification of core heating mechanism is one of the most critical issues. To understand and identify the crucial physics in fast heating, we developed the fast ignition integrated interconnecting code FI3 and carried out the core heating simulations for fast heating experiments with cone-guided targets. It was found that the scale length of the pre-plasma at the inner-surface of the cone and the density gap at the contact surface between the cone tip and the imploded core plasma strongly affect the efficiency of core heating. In the case of heating laser with intensity of 1020 W/cm2 and duration of 1 ps, the pre-plasma scale length of 1.5 µm is optimum for the core heating; the dense core is heated up to 0.86 keV. In the double scale length case (long scale of ~5 µm in underdense region and short scale of ~ 1 µm in overdense region), of which generation due to the pre-pulse irradiation of heating pulse is observed at the radiation–hydro simulations, the dense core is heated more efficiently than single short scale length cases. The contribution of fast ions to the core heating is also discussed.
Intense local plasma heating by stopping of ultrashort ultraintense laser pulse in dense plasma
Authors: Yu W. , Yu M. Y. , Xu H. , Tian Y. W. , Chen J. , Wong A. Y. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractSelf-trapping, stopping, and absorption of an ultrashort ultraintense linearly polarized laser pulse in a finite plasma slab of near-critical density is investigated by particle-in-cell simulation. As in the underdense plasma, an electron cavity is created by the pressure of the transmitted part of the light pulse and it traps the latter. Since the background plasma is at near-critical density, no wake plasma oscillation is created. The propagating self-trapped light rapidly comes to a stop inside the slab. Subsequent ion Coulomb explosion of the stopped cavity leads to explosive expulsion of its ions and formation of an extended channel having extremely low plasma density. The energetic Coulomb-exploded ions form shock layers of high density and temperature at the channel boundary. In contrast to a propagating pulse in a lower density plasma, here the energy of the trapped light is deposited onto a stationary and highly localized region of the plasma. This highly localized energy-deposition process can be relevant to the fast ignition scheme of inertial fusion.
Kinematic reductions for uncertain mechanical contact
Authors: Murphey Todd D. 
Published: October 2007

SUMMARYThis paper describes the methods applicable to the modeling and control of mechanical contact, particularly those systems that experience uncertain stick/slip phenomena. Geometric kinematic reductions are used to reduce a system's description from a second-order dynamic model with frictional disturbances coming from a function space to a first-order model with frictional disturbances coming from a space of finite automata over a finite set. As a result, modeling for purposes of control is made more straight-forward by getting rid of some dependencies on low-level mechanics (in particular, the details of friction modeling). Moreover, the online estimation of the uncertain, discrete-valued variables has reduced sensing requirements. The primary contributions of this paper are the introduction of a simplifying representation of friction and formal tests for kinematic reducibility. Results are illustrated using a slip-steered vehicle model and an actuator array model.
Influence of temperature and moisture availability on physical rock weathering along the Victoria Land coast, Antarctica
Authors: Elliott Christine 
Published: October 2007

AbstractRock weathering plays an important role in soil development. A better understanding of how different temperature and moisture regimes impact on the rates of rock breakdown can thus contribute to our knowledge of how rates of soil production might be affected by changes in climate. Laboratory simulations using two temperature cycles determined from field data and three moisture levels were carried out on samples of granite from three locations along the Victoria Land coast. Estimates of weathering rate from these experiments were of the same order of magnitude as some other more field based studies undertaken in similar environments. However, actual values for samples from the three locations varied depending on the specific characteristics of the rock, especially grain size, porosity and extent of micro-cracking. Moisture availability was found to be an important factor in determining weight loss in the samples from Gneiss Point but not in those from Terra Nova Bay or Teall Island with the moderate level of moisture application having the greatest impact. Spring/autumn temperature cycles had a different effect on the breakdown of the rock samples compared to summer cycles but the magnitude of the effect was dependent on moisture level and rock characteristics, especially quartz content and the ability to absorb heat and moisture. The samples of rock from Terra Nova Bay and Gneiss Point where no moisture had been applied had significantly higher rates of breakdown under spring/autumn cycles than summer ones. However, this effect was reversed in the Gneiss Point samples after moisture was added. A future climate scenario using the weathering rates found in this research where there was, for example, a 10% increase in summer temperature cycles and a corresponding decrease in spring/autumn cycles predicted that a reduction in weathering would occur in conditions of little or no precipitation at Terra Nova Bay and Gneiss Point but there would be limited effect under higher levels of moisture.
Factors affecting food choice in Greek primary-school students: ELPYDES study
Authors: Risvas Grigoris , Panagiotakos Demosthenes B , Zampelas Antonis 
Published: October 2007

AbstractObjectiveTo measure factors affecting food choice in a sample of Greek schoolchildren attending 5th and 6th grade.DesignThree self-administered questionnaires were distributed to the participants – one on nutritional knowledge, one on self-efficacy and social support for dietary change and a food-frequency questionnaire.SettingOne hundred Greek primary schools from Attica and Thessaloniki regions.SubjectsIn total, 2439 students in 5th and 6th grades.ResultsPrincipal components analysis was applied to extract the main factors affecting food choice of our subjects. Six components were derived explaining 66% of the total variation in factors affecting food choice. The first component was characterised by readiness to make the healthier choice when competitive foods are considered (explained variation 29%); the second was characterised by the impact of parents, friends and advertisements on students’ choices and also the impact of taste, smell and cooking method on the consumption of vegetables (explained variation 11%); the third component was characterised by readiness to choose fresh foods instead of ready-to-eat, pre-packaged choices as a main meal and awareness of the health value of fruits and vegetables (explained variation 8%); the other components mainly expressed the interdependence of the main factors.ConclusionsNutrition education and health promotion programs in Greece must include family members and activities regarding food preparation, as well as education and environmental changes in schools. Public health measures must include regulation of advertising. Moreover, the categorisation of foods as ‘healthier but less tasty’ and ‘appealing but unhealthy’ needs to be challenged in the future, since balanced nutrition is founded in variety and norm.
Targeting the lipids LPA and S1P and their signalling pathways to inhibit tumour progression
Authors: Murph Mandi , Mills Gordon B. 
Published: October 2007

AbstractThe bioactive lipids lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), the enzymes that generate and degrade them, and the receptors that receive their signals are all potential therapeutic targets in cancer. LPA and S1P signalling pathways can modulate a range of cellular processes that contribute to tumourigenesis, such as proliferation and motility, and components of the signalling pathways often show aberrant expression and altered activity upon malignant transformation. This article reviews LPA- and S1P-mediated activities that might contribute to the aetiology of cancer, and examines the potential of the many antagonists that have been developed to inhibit LPA and S1P signalling pathways. In addition, the outcomes of various clinical trials using LPA- and S1P-associated targets in cancer and other diseases are described, and future directions are discussed.
Cardiovascular effects of a novel potent and highly selective azaindole‐based inhibitor of Rho‐kinase
Authors: Kast R , Schirok H , Figueroa‐Pérez S , Mittendorf J , Gnoth M J , Apeler H , Lenz J , Franz J K , Knorr A , Hütter J , Lobell M , Zimmermann K , Münter K , Augstein K H , Ehmke H , Stasch J P 
Published: October 2007

Background and purpose:Rho‐kinase (ROCK) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of altered vasoregulation leading to hypertension. Here we describe the pharmacological characterization of a potent, highly selective and orally active ROCK inhibitor, the derivative of a class of azaindoles, azaindole 1(6‐chloro‐N

4‐{3,5‐difluoro‐4‐[(3‐methyl‐1H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐b]pyridin‐4‐yl)oxy]‐phenyl}pyrimidine‐2,4‐diamine).Experimental approach:Pharmacological characterization of azaindole 1was performed with human recombinant ROCK in vitro. Vasodilator activity was determined using isolated vessels in vitro and different animal models in vivo.Key results:This compound inhibited the ROCK‐1 and ROCK‐2 isoenzymes with IC50 s of 0.6 and 1.1 nM in an ATP‐competitive manner. Although ATP‐competitive, azaindole 1was inactive against 89 kinases (IC50>10 μM) and showed only weak activity against an additional 21 different kinases (IC50=1 ‐ 10 μM). Only the kinases TRK und FLT3 were inhibited by azaindole 1in the sub‐micromolar range, albeit with IC50 values of 252 and 303 nM, respectively. In vivo, azaindole 1lowered blood pressure dose‐dependently after i.v. administration in anaesthetized normotensive rats. In conscious normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats azaindole 1induced a dose‐dependent decrease in blood pressure after oral administration without inducing a significant reflex increase in heart rate. In anaesthetized dogs, azaindole 1induced vasodilatation with a moderately elevated heart rate.Conclusions and implications:Azaindole 1is representative of a new class of selective and potent ROCK inhibitors and is a valuable tool for the elucidation of the role of ROCK in the cardiovascular system.British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152, 1070–1080; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707484; published online 15 October 2007