Violence is a curvilinear function of temperature in Dallas: A replication.

Data on weather and aggravated assaults were obtained to determine whether the curvilinear relationship between temperature and violence previously observed in Minneapolis, Minnesota (E. G. Cohn & J. Rotton, 1997), could be replicated. The data consisted of calls for services received by police in Dallas between January 1, 1994, and December 31, 1995. Controlling for holidays, school closings, time of day, day of the week, season of the year, and their interactions, moderator-variable autoregression analyses indicated that assaults were an inverted U-shaped function of temperature. Replicating past research, the curvilinear relationship was dominant during daylight hours and spring months, whereas linear relationships were observed during nighttime hours and other seasons. The results are interpreted in terms of routine activity theory and the negative affect escape model of aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is the curve relating temperature to aggression linear or curvilinear? A response to Bell (2005) and to Cohn and Rotton (2005).

P. Bell (2005) recommended examining the relationship between temperature and assaults during the hottest times of day and during the hottest months of the year. The authors' analyses of these data show a linear rather than inverted U-shaped relationship between temperature and assault during the hottest times of day and in the hottest months of the year. E. Cohn and J. Rotton (2005) recommended analyzing the 6 hr with the highest assaults versus the 6 hr with the lowest assaults. During high assault periods, there is a strong positive linear relationship between temperature and assault. During low assault periods, there is no relationship between temperature and assaults. Assaults and other violent crimes might decrease when temperatures are very hot, but the Minneapolis data set does not allow for testing of this hypothesis because Minneapolis is too cold. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Air pollution, weather, and violent crimes: Concomitant time-series analysis of archival data.

Archival data covering a 2-yr period were obtained from 3 sources to assess relations among ozone levels, meteorological conditions, day of the week, holidays, seasonal trends, family disturbances, and assaults against persons. Sources for the data were (1) logged calls to police for assistance in assaults and other family and household disturbances, (2) 1-hr readings for ozone by an environmental protection agency, and (3) meteorological conditions published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which included percentage of sunshine; 24-hr averages for temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and wind speed; fog; thunderstorms; and smoke/haze. More family disturbances were recorded when ozone levels were high than when they were low. Two-stage regression analyses indicated that disturbances and assaults were also positively correlated with daily temperatures and negatively correlated with wind speed and levels of humidity. Analyses indicated that high temperatures and low winds preceded violent episodes, which occurred more often on dry than humid days. Assaults followed complaints about family disturbances, which suggests that the latter could be used to predict and lessen physical violence. It is concluded that atmospheric conditions and violent episodes are not only correlated but also appear to be linked in a causal fashion. (65 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of the NOSIE to predict assaults among acute psychiatric patients. Nurses' Observational Scale for Inpatient Evaluation

OBJECTIVE: The study evaluated the Nurses' Observational Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and other measures as predictors of assaults that occurred during psychiatric hospitalization. METHODS: On admission, the MMSE was administered to 335 acutely ill psychiatric patients, and diagnostic and demographic data were recorded. Immediately after admission, patients were rated by nurses using the NOSIE and by psychologists using the BPRS. Patients who committed assaults during hospitalization (N = 47) and those who did not were compared, and relationships between several variables and assaults were evaluated by t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, chi square tests, and analyses of variance. RESULTS: A high score on the irritability factor of the NOSIE and failure to complete the MMSE correctly predicted the occurrence or nonoccurrence of assault 81 percent of the time. None of the other variables examined were significantly related to assaults, including total scores on the BPRS and MMSE, psychiatric diagnosis, and several demographic variables. CONCLUSIONS: Scores on a test of distress level shortly after admission and failure to complete the MMSE on admission can help the clinician predict who will later engage in an assault.     

Association between ozone and asthma emergency department visits in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

This study examines the relationship of asthma emergency department (ED) visits to daily concentrations of ozone and other air pollutants in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Data on ED visits with a presenting complaint of asthma (n = 1987) were abstracted for the period 1984-1992 (May-September). Air pollution variables included ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfate, and total suspended particulate (TSP); weather variables included temperature, humidex, dewpoint, and relative humidity. Daily ED visit frequencies were filtered to remove day of the week and long wave trends, and filtered values were regressed on air pollution and weather variables for the same day and the 3 previous days. The mean daily 1-hr maximum ozone concentration during the study period was 41.6 ppb. A positive, statistically significant (p < 0.05) association was observed between ozone and asthma ED visits 2 days later, and the strength of the association was greater in nonlinear models. The frequency of asthma ED visits was 33% higher (95% CI, 10-56%) when the daily 1-hr maximum ozone concentration exceeded 75 ppb (the 95th percentile). The ozone effect was not significantly influenced by the addition of weather or other pollutant variables into the model or by the exclusion of repeat ED visits. However, given the limited number of sampling days for sulfate and TSP, a particulate effect could not be ruled out. We detected a significant association between ozone and asthma ED visits, despite the vast majority of sampling days being below current U.S. and Canadian standards.     

"Did you have a nice evening?" A day-level study on recovery experiences, sleep, and affect.

In this study, the authors used a within-person design to examine the relation between recovery experiences (psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery experiences) during leisure time, sleep, and affect in the next morning. Daily survey data gathered over the course of 1 work week from 166 public administration employees analyzed with a hierarchical linear modeling approach showed that low psychological detachment from work during the evening predicted negative activation and fatigue, whereas mastery experiences during the evening predicted positive activation and relaxation predicted serenity. Sleep quality showed relations with all affective states variables. This study adds to research on job-stress recovery and affect regulation by showing which specific experiences from the nonwork domain may improve affect before the start of the next working day. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of diurnal variation on the regional differences in sweating and skin blood flow during exercise

The aim of the present study was to examine changes in the control of heat-dissipation responses to exercise associated with the diurnal variation in core temperature from the viewpoint of the regional response patterns. We studied seven men during exercise on a cycle ergometer at 100 W for 40 min at 25 degrees C at 0630 (morning) 1630 (evening) hours on 2 separate days. Oesophageal temperature (T(oes)), local skin temperature, local sweating rate (msw) on the forehead, back, forearm and thigh, and skin blood flow by laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) on the back and forearm were measured continuously. The T(oes) at rest was significantly higher in the evening than in the morning, the difference averaging approximately 0.4 degrees C (P < 0.05). The T(oes) thresholds for each site in msw and that for back in LDF were significantly different between the two times of day (P < 0.05). The change in T(oes) thresholds for sweating and vasodilatation for morning and evening were similar to T(oes) at rest. Although msw on the forehead was significantly higher in the morning than in the evening, msw on the back was significantly higher in the evening than in the morning (P < 0.05). Total local sweating rate (msw,tot) for each site during exercise was significantly higher on the forehead than on the forearm in the morning, and on the back than on the forearm in the evening, respectively (P < 0.05). The results would suggest that the diurnal variation of heat-dissipation responses to exercise is influenced not only by a central controlling mechanism but also by changes in the regional differences.     

Is the association between drug use and delinquency weakening?

In this paper we examine period or secular changes in the association between drug use and delinquency among Ontario adolescent students between 1983 and 1991. The results show that during this period drug use and drug-selling declined significantly, whereas reported non-drug-related delinquency increased. In addition to differing secular trends in rates of drug use and delinquent behaviour, the association between the two behaviours weakened. There was a steady decline in the correlations between drug use and delinquency across time, and the typological patterning of drug use and delinquency changed significantly.     

Family system variables and the health status of adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Investigated the associations between dimensions of family relations and the metabolic control of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in 94 adolescents (mean age 14.4 yrs) from intact families. Metabolic control was determined by adolescents' levels of hemoglobinHbA1c, and family relations were assessed with the Marital Adjustment Test and the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scales. Although zero-order correlations showed that good metabolic control was associated with high family cohesion, family flexibility, and high marital satisfaction, hierarchical regression analyses revealed that these associations were attenuated when demographic variables, especially the duration of IDDM, were controlled. Follow-up analyses showed that the associations between family relations and metabolic control were mediated by the duration of IDDM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Discriminant analysis of risk factors for sexual victimization among a national sample of college women.

Examined the accuracy with which rape and lesser sexual assaults were predicted among a representative national sample of 2,723 college women. A total of 14 risk variables operationalized three vulnerability hypotheses: (a) vulnerability-creating traumatic experiences, (b) social-psychological vulnerability, and (c) vulnerability-enhancing situations. Each hypothesis was tested individually, and a composite model was developed via discriminant analysis. Only the traumatic experiences variables clearly improved over the base rates in identifying rape victims, but risk variables from each vulnerability hypothesis met criteria for inclusion in the composite model. A risk profile emerged that characterized only 10% of the women, but among them the risk of rape was twice the rate of women without the profile. The concept of traumatic sexualization was used to explain this finding. However, the vast majority of sexually victimized women (75–91%) could not be differentiated from nonvictims. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The recent decline in mortality from coronary heart disease, 1980-1990. The effect of secular trends in risk factors and treatment

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether secular trends in risk factor levels and improvements in treatment can account for the observed decline in coronary heart disease mortality in the United States from 1980 to 1990 and to analyze the proportional contribution of these changes. DATA SOURCES: Literature review, US statistics, health surveys, and ongoing clinical trials. STUDY SELECTION: Data representative of the US situation nationwide reported in adequate detail. DATA EXTRACTION: A computer-simulation state-transition model of the US population between the ages of 35 and 84 years was developed to forecast coronary mortality. The input variables were estimated such that the combination of values led to an adequate agreement with reported coronary mortality figures. Subsequently, secular trends were modeled. DATA SYNTHESIS: Actual coronary mortality in 1990 was 34% (127,000 deaths) lower than would be predicted if risk factor levels, case-fatality rates, and event rates in those with and without coronary disease remained the same as in 1980. When secular changes in these factors were included in the model, predicted coronary mortality in 1990 was within 3% (10,000 deaths) of the observed mortality and explained 92% of the decline; only 25% of the decline was explained by primary prevention, while 29% was explained by secondary reduction in risk factors in patients with coronary disease and 43% by other improvements in treatment in patients with coronary disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that primary and secondary risk factor reductions explain about 50% of the striking decline in coronary mortality in the United States between 1980 and 1990 but that more than 70% of the overall decline in mortality has occurred among patients with coronary disease.     

Effects of a preventive cardiology curriculum on behavioral cardiovascular risk factors and knowledge of medical students

We evaluated a Preventive Cardiology Academic Award (PCAA) program designed to integrate preventive cardiology concepts into the medical school curriculum. Diet, preventive cardiology knowledge, preventive cardiology attitudes, exercise behavior, and body mass index were compared at entrance to medical school and during the graduation year. Complete data were available on 94 students (65 men and 29 women). Similar data from students who graduated in 1987, prior to the introduction of the PCAA curriculum, served as a control. Women showed a significant enhancement in attitude towards cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, while both men and women significantly increased their knowledge about CVD prevention. The frequency of planned physical activity decreased significantly in both sexes and men showed a significant increase in body mass index. Men significantly reduced total calories, percent of calories from fat and saturated fat and dietary cholesterol and increased fiber intake. In women, the only significant reduction was in total calories. In comparison to the control class that did not have the program, men receiving the PCAA curriculum reduced dietary cholesterol, dietary fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat. Changes in these dietary parameters were nonsignificant for women in comparison to the control class women. Additional analyses showed no systematic secular trends in dietary or other variables in classes entering from 1986 to 1990. We conclude that the PCAA curriculum changes have favorably affected the preventive cardiology knowledge, attitudes and diet of medical students.     

Factors influencing successful discontinuance of mechanical ventilation after open heart surgery: a clinical study of 41 patients

Circulatory, respiratory, and metabolic variables were measured with a mobile clinical bedside unit in 41 patients during the first 48 hours after open heart surgery. Calculations were carried out off-line by a computer program. The variables were measured during controlled mechanical ventilation and compared with those obtained during spontaneous breathing and after resumption of mechanical ventilation; attempts at spontaneous breathing were categorized as successful or unsuccessful. The variables were compared before, during, and after the successful and the unsuccessful attempts at spontaneous breathing. In the series as a whole, the onset of spontaneous breathing was characterized by increases in cardiac output, radial arterial and pulmonary arterial pressures, and mixed venous oxygen tension (PVO2) and content (CVO2), as well as diminished arterial and mixed venous oxygen content differences (avDO2); no significant changes in oxygen consumption (VO2) were seen. Unsuccessful attempts disturbed the patient's physiological equilibrium by reducing oxygen delivery and not increasing VO2, while increasing ventilatory work. In general, resumption of controlled ventilation restored the physiological variables to their control conditions. Successful attempts at spontaneous breathing did not greatly affect the physiological variables. The indication for resumption of controlled ventilation after periods of spontaneous breathing is the combination of increased ventilatory work with diminished circulatory and respiratory functions.     

Cross-reactivity between Ficus benjamina (weeping fig) and natural rubber latex

The efficacy of hydroxyzine and buspirone, controlled by placebo, was investigated in a double-blind, parallel group, multicentre study conducted in France and the UK. A total of 244 patients with generalised anxiety disorder in primary care was allocated randomly to treatments with hydroxyzine (12.5 mg morning and mid-day, 25 mg evening), buspirone (5 mg morning and mid-day, 10 mg evening) or placebo (three capsules/day) for 4 weeks, preceded by a 1-week single-blind placebo run-in and followed by 1-week single-blind placebo administration. Rating scales were applied on days -7,0,7,14, 12,28 and 35. Seventy percent of the patients were female, the average age was 41 +/- 11 years, and the mean Hamilton Anxiety Score at day 0 was 26.5 +/- 4.2. Only 31 of the 244 patients dropped out, but equally in the three groups. Intention-to-treat LOCF analyses on the primary variable showed a significant difference only between hydroxyzine and placebo with respect to improvement on the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (10.75 versus 7.23 points, respectively). Secondary variables such as CGI and self-ratings (HAD scale) showed both hydroxyzine and buspirone to be more efficacious than placebo. Thus, hydroxyzine is a useful treatment for GAD.     

The sucking reflex: The effects of long feeding vs. short feeding on the behavior of a human infant.

"In order to investigate the effects of long feeding time and short feeding time on non-nutritive sucking and other behavioral variables in the newborn infant, a three-week-old child was given a series of long feedings and short feedings over a period of approximately 30 days… . It was found that more non-nutritive sucking occurred during the long feeding sessions. In addition, more crying, more general restlessness, and more difficulty in sleeping occurred during the long feeding periods… . The hypothesis that nonnutritive sucking results from inadequate use of the sucking response was not supported by the data in this study." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Diagnostic, demographic, memory quality, and cognitive variables associated with acute stress disorder in children and adolescents.

To date, no studies have investigated factors associated with acute stress disorder (ASD) in children and adolescents. Relationships between ASD and a number of demographic, trauma, cognitive, and trauma memory variables were therefore investigated in a sample (N=93) of children and adolescents involved in assaults and motor vehicle accidents. Several cognitive variables and the quality of trauma memories, but not demographic or trauma variables, were correlated with ASD and also mediated the relationship between peritraumatic threat and ASD. Finally, nosological analyses comparing ASD with indexes of posttraumatic stress disorder in the month posttrauma revealed little support for the dissociation mandate that uniquely characterizes ASD. The results are discussed with respect to assessment and treatment for the acute traumatic stress responses of children and young people. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Displacement Accuracy of Discontinuous Deformation Analysis Method Applied to Sliding Block

Discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA) is a discrete element method that was developed for computing large deformation in fractured rock masses. In this paper, we present an alternative derivation of the basic theory of DDA for planar (two-dimensional) problems, and we address the accuracy of the DDA method for sliding blocks using sensitivity analyses. Results of analyses with different parameters show that the residual and relative errors in the displacement of a frictional sliding block are controlled by the perturbation in the initial time steps of the simulation. In addition, we expose a systematic error induced by the DDA penalty formulation. Overall, the initial perturbation of the solution decreases with decreasing friction angle and increasing contact penalty and, counterintuitively, decreases with increasing time step size. All analyses show that the long runout behavior of the system trends toward the analytic solution, independent of the initial perturbation. The resulting precision of the long runout simulation is more than sufficient for all problems of engineering interest.     

Psychosocial sequelae of violent victimization in a national youth sample.

In a national telephone sample of youths aged 10–16 years, over one third reported having been the victims of an assault. Victimized respondents displayed significantly more psychological and behavioral symptomatology than did non victimized respondents (more symptomatology related to post traumatic stress disorder, more sadness, and more school difficulties), even after controlling for some other possible sources of distress. Sexual assault was associated with particularly high levels of symptomatology. However, victims of other forms of assault—nonfamily assaults involving weapons or physical injury (aggravated assaults), assaults by parents, violence to genitals, and attempted kidnappings—also evidenced levels of distress that were not statistically lower than those suffered by victims of sexual assault. The findings suggest that substantial mental health morbidity in the general child and adolescent population is associated with victimization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)