Tobacco withdrawal signs and symptoms among women with and without a history of depression.

A past history of depression is associated with a decreased likelihood of quitting smoking. Tobacco withdrawal may be a mechanism through which depression history impedes smoking cessation. This research examined the influence of depression history on unmedicated tobacco withdrawal signs (polysomnographic measures of sleep) and symptoms (self-reported urge, negative affect, hunger, and sleep) among women (N/& =/&13). Depression history was associated with differential withdrawal-induced changes in several REM sleep parameters. Self-report and other polysomnography (sleep fragmentation, slow-wave sleep) measures displayed statistically significant withdrawal effects but did not discriminate between depression history groups. These results suggest that REM sleep parameters may be sensitive to differential tobacco withdrawal responses that are not readily apparent through self-reported symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Systems analysis utilising pathway interactions identifies sonic hedgehog pathway as a primary biomarker and oncogenic target in hepatocellular carcinoma

The development and progression of cancer is associated with disruption of biological networks. Historically studies have identified sets of signature genes involved in events ultimately leading to the development of cancer. Identification of such sets does not indicate which biologic processes are oncogenic drivers and makes it difficult to identify key networks to target for interventions. Using a comprehensive, integrated computational approach, the authors identify the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway as the gene network that most significantly distinguishes tumour and tumour‐adjacent samples in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The analysis reveals that the SHH pathway is commonly activated in the tumour samples and its activity most significantly differentiates tumour from the non‐tumour samples. The authors experimentally validate these in silico findings in the same biologic material using Western blot analysis. This analysis reveals that the expression levels of SHH, phosphorylated cyclin B1, and CDK7 levels are much higher in most tumour tissues as compared to normal tissue. It is also shown that siRNA‐mediated silencing of SHH gene expression resulted in a significant reduction of cell proliferation in a liver cancer cell line, SNU449 indicating that SHH plays a major role in promoting cell proliferation in liver cancer. The SHH pathway is a key network underpinning HCC aetiology which may guide the development of interventions for this most common form of human liver cancer.Inspec keywords: bioinformatics, cancer, cellular biophysics, genetics, liver, molecular biophysics, RNA, systems analysis, tumoursOther keywords: biomedical informatics, human liver cancer, network underpinning HCC aetiology, liver cancer cell line, cell proliferation, SHH gene expression, siRNA‐mediated silencing, CDK7 levels, phosphorylated cyclin B1, Western blot analysis, in silico findings, SHH pathway, human hepatocellular carcinoma, tumour‐adjacent samples, gene network, integrated computational approach, oncogenic drivers, biologic processes, cancer development, biological networks, cancer progression, oncogenic target, primary biomarker, sonic hedgehog pathway, pathway interactions, systems analysis     

Experimental determination of 3D crack propagation scenario in resistance spot welds of a martensitic stainless steel

International Journal of Fracture - The development of high-performance automotive steels involves increasingly complex chemistries and heat treating sequences, to produce stronger and lighter...     

A Careful Balance: Materialist Concern Meets Spiritual Function in Balkh,Afghanistan

ABSTRACT

This article outlines the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s heritage preservation practices at the shrine of Khwaja Parsa in Balkh, Afghanistan. It explores how this organization’s approach to the preservation of authenticity supports both classic preservation principles whilst also showing allegiance to Islamic practices that are compatible with the way this mosque and shrine complex is used in Balkh. One focus of the critical approach to heritage research has been on describing the tension between a ‘preservationist’ approach to heritage work - with its attached focus on the values of materiality, monumentality and aesthetics - and an approach that shows allegiance to religious or spiritual traditions that make sense in situ. This paper argues against this constructed dichotomy to reveal how the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s heritage work in Balkh empowers a hybridized, vernacularized heritage preservation practice that reflects both this organisation’s worldview and political objectives.     

Gender differences in depressive symptoms in adolescence: Comparison of national samples of clinically referred and nonreferred youths.

Gender differences in depressed mood, a syndrome of mixed anxiety-depression. and an analogue of major depressive disorder were compared in parents' and adolescents' reports in 2 large, demographically matched national samples of clinically referred and nonreferred adolescents. Referral status accounted for the greatest share of the variance in these problems. Gender differences were moderate in size and consistent in referred youths, with referred girls scoring higher than referred boys on all measures, whereas gender differences in nonreferred adolescents were either nonsignificant or small in magnitude. Gender differences were also larger in magnitude in adolescents' self-reports than in parents' reports. The interaction of age and gender was nonsignificant in all analyses. Implications for understanding the extent of gender differences in adolescents' depressive symptoms are highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An empirically derived inventory to measure social fears and anxiety: The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory.

The development, reliability, and discriminative ability of a new instrument to assess social phobia are presented. The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) is an empirically derived instrument incorporating responses from the cognitive, somatic, and behavioral dimensions of social fear. The SPAI high test–retest reliability and good internal consistency. The instrument appears to be sensitive to the entire continuum of socially anxious concerns and is capable of differentiating social phobics from normal controls as well as from other anxiety patients. The utility of this instrument for improved assessment of social phobia and anxiety and its use as an aid for treatment planning are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dysfluency and topic orientation in bereaved individuals: Bridging individual and group studies.

Discourse of bereaved individuals talking about the deceased and other topics was examined using computer-based text analyses and judged ratings of verbal behavior for patterns indicating dysfluency and orientation toward topics. Using factor analysis, the discourse structure of low-distress bereaved individuals was compared with that of high-distress bereaved individuals and with that of a single bereaved individual both early and late in psychotherapy. Meaningful differences were observed for the distress groups and for the single individual early and late in therapy, and these findings indicate possible quantitative and qualitative means for detecting maladaptive responses to stressors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dimensions of dysfunctional attitudes as vulnerabilities to depressive symptoms.

Empirical tests of the diathesis-stress component of A. T. Beck's (1976; A. T. Beck, A. J. Rush, B. E. Shaw, & G. Emery, 1979) cognitive theory of depression have generally not yielded positive results. The resulting focus on conceptual and methodological concerns has diverted attention from the more fundamental issue of how validly vulnerability is measured. The present investigation uses the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS; A. N. Weissman, 1979; A. N. Weissman & Beck, 1978), the most commonly used measure of vulnerability in this area, but adopts a more in-depth approach by examining DAS factors in addition to the typical total score. This study involved a sample of undergraduates who had never before taken a college-level examination. The dimension of the DAS measured by the Perfectionistic Achievement factor had the strongest relationship to increased depressive symptoms in response to poorer-than-expected performance on the examination. Implications for future research in this area are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vulnerability to specific life events and prediction of course of disorder in unipolar depressed patients.

Tested a cognitive-life stress integrative model that predicted depressive symptoms following stressful life events when the negative events were personally meaningful to the individual, and likely to be interpreted as depletions or failure in the domain of central relevance to self-worth. 27 unipolar depressed outpatients completed a sociotropy-autonomy scale and were followed prospectively for periods of up to 2 yrs, with periodic assessments of life events and symptoms. As predicted, Ss' periods of worst symptoms followed a 3-mo period in which life event stress that matched their personally relevant domain significantly exceeded that of the nonrelevant domain. For Ss who experienced an onset following a symptom-free period, the severity of symptoms was significantly predicted by the interaction of their autonomy score and achievement events; however, the same pattern did not occur for sociotropy score and interpersonal events. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)