Parenting moderates a genetic vulnerability factor in longitudinal increases in youths' substance use.

The authors used a longitudinal, prospective design to investigate a moderation effect in the association between a genetic vulnerability factor, a variable nucleotide repeat polymorphism in the promoter region of 5HTT (5-HTTLPR), and increases in youths' substance use. The primary study hypothesis predicted that involved-supportive parenting would attenuate the link between the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and longitudinal increases in substance use. African American youths residing in rural Georgia (N = 253, mean age = 11.5 years) provided 4 waves of data on their own substance use; the mothers of the youths provided data on their own parenting practices. Genetic data were obtained from youths via saliva samples. Latent growth curve modeling indicated that 5-HTTLPR status (presence of 1 or 2 copies of the s allele) was linked with increases in substance use over time; however, this association was greatly reduced when youths received high levels of involved-supportive parenting. This study demonstrates that parenting processes have the potential to ameliorate genetic risk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of the irradiation temperature on the dosimetric and high temperature TL peaks of Al2O3:C

The TL glow curves of Al2O3:C crystals have been investigated as a function of the irradiation temperature. The nature of the observed TL peaks has been studied by optical annealing. The filling of traps was found strongly dependent on the irradiation temperature in the case of UV exposure, which has been explained by the temperature dependence of the photoionisation of F centres. This latter phenomenon could have a part in the luminescence quenching and UV bleaching of F centres.     

Thyroid carcinoma in intrathoracic goiter

While research on spinal cord injury (SCI) is abundant, few studies focus on women. This population-based study investigates differences in the prevalence of secondary conditions between 128 women and 522 men. Case managers retrospectively interviewed 650 persons regarding medical and psychological conditions secondary to SCI, as well as other life issues. Overall, males and females show more similarities than differences in the ways in which they manage life with SCI. Differences were found, though, regarding etiology of initial injury, insurance coverage, caregiver use, transportation use, medication use, and in other medical and behavioral areas. Females are significantly involved in more automobile crashes than males, while males are involved in more galls than females. Females are more reliant on Medicaid, while males report more Medicare and Worker's Compensation coverage. Females are more likely to have a paid attendant as a caregiver while males are more likely to have their spouse or parents assist. Males report more independence in their use of transportation than females. Males and females also report significant differences in the use of medication. Females are more likely to use medication any time it is a treatment option. Males are more active, use tobacco more and have more arm fractures postinjury than females.     

Sequences in the ligand-binding domains of the human androgen and progesterone receptors which determine their distinct ligand identities

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to describe risk-taking behaviors and to assess the knowledge and risk perception of HIV and AIDS among young males aged 18 to 29 years in 82 villages in Longchuan, Yunnan, China, in 1994. Information on demographic, behavioral, and drug-using factors, and knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention, and risk perception was collected using an interviewer-administered anonymous questionnaire. A total of 1,548 individuals were interviewed and 433 drug users, including 52 nonsharing injectors and 140 sharing injectors, were identified. Over half the individuals scored 0 on HIV knowledge, but knowledge was greater among nonsharing drug injectors. Most drug injectors had initiated drug injection after 1990. The reported incidence continues to increase in all three major ethnic groups. Sharing of equipment was common (73%) among injectors. Drug users were four times more likely to have had premarital or extramarital sex, but condoms were used by only 2.5%. Thus, factors promoting spreading of HIV are common in this area. We recommend that a community-based intervention program, targeting both young men and women, be implemented and evaluated in Longchuan as soon as possible.     

Optical bleaching, TSL and OSL features of CVD diamond

Luminescence and optical features of chemical vapour deposition (CVD) diamond have been studied in view of the potential application of this material in ionising radiation dosimetry field. For this purpose, thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques have been used. A large amount of work has emphasised the excellent dosimetric properties of CVD diamond. Nevertheless, TSL measurements showed that after irradiation, this material is extremely sensitive to ambient light and the stored dose information is drastically affected by optical bleaching. From OSL analysis, it follows that both types of processes (TSL and OSL) were characterised by the same excitation and emission spectra and that optical bleaching originated from a broad stimulation band lying from visible to near infrared with a continuous character.     

Thermoluminescence properties of CVD diamond for clinical dosimetry use

The application of diamond to dosimetry is desirable because of its tissue equivalence, chemical inertness and small size, but this has not been commercially viable owing to the non-reproducible response of natural diamond. The chemical vapour deposition (CVD) of diamond permits controlled, reproducible and large-scale production of this material at potentially low cost. An investigation of some clinically relevant features like the depth-dose distribution as well as the absorbed dose profile, obtained using thermoluminescence (TL), is reported for several CVD diamond films. The TL characterisation presented here shows that CVD diamond films should be excellent TL-mode detectors in instances of radiotherapy and in vivo radiation dosimetry.     

Child maltreatment moderates the association of MAOA with symptoms of depression and antisocial personality disorder.

There is a growing body of data indicating that Gene × Child Maltreatment interactions at monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) play a role in vulnerability to symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) but not major depression (MD). Using a sample of 538 participants from the Iowa Adoption Studies, we introduce a conceptual model that highlights two distinct pathways from child maltreatment to symptoms of MD, suggesting that maltreatment has different effects depending on genotype and highlighting the importance of including the indirect pathway through ASPD. As predicted by the model, high activity alleles predispose to symptoms of MD in the context of child maltreatment whereas low activity alleles predispose to symptoms of ASPD. We conclude that the Gene × Environment interplay at this locus (MAOA) contributes to both symptoms of ASPD and MD and that careful specification of child maltreatment may be essential if genetic association research is to produce replicable results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Differential susceptibility to parenting among African American youths: Testing the DRD4 hypothesis.

To test the differential susceptibility to parenting hypothesis, a 4-wave, randomized prevention design was used to examine the impact of the Strong African American Families program on past-month substance use across 29 months as a function of DRD4 genotype. Youths (N = 337; M age = 11.65 years) were assigned randomly to treatment condition. Those carrying a 7-repeat allele showed greater differential response to intervention vs. control than those with two 4-repeat alleles. Control youths but not treatment youths with a 7-repeat allele reported increases in past-month substance use across the 29-month study period, but this pattern did not emerge for those with the 4-repeat allele. Supporting the differential susceptibility to parenting hypothesis, the results suggest a greater preventive effect for youths carrying a 7-repeat allele, a role for DRD4 in the escalation of substance use during adolescence, and potential for an enhanced understanding of early-onset substance use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An approximate treatment of the transient state in the corrosion of binary alloys forming the most-stable oxide. Part I: Solid-solution alloys

The initial transient stage in the oxidation of binary alloys forming scales exclusively composed of the most stable oxide is examined by means of a simplified approach which avoids the numerical integration of the diffusion equation for the transport of the metal components in the alloy. At variance with previous solutions to this problem obtained by means of numerical methods, this treatment takes into account also the effect of the gas-scale reaction at the outer surface of the oxide. The concentration of the most-reactive component at the alloy surface changes gradually with time from the initial bulk value towards the corresponding steady-state value without involving any minimum, while the overall rate of the reaction presents a gradual transition from an initial nearly linear towards final parabolic behavior.     

5-HTTLPR status moderates the effect of early adolescent substance use on risky sexual behavior.

Objective: A longitudinal, prospective design was used to investigate a moderation effect in the association between early adolescent substance use and risky sexual behavior 2 years later. A genetic vulnerability factor, a variable nucleotide repeat polymorphism (VNTR) in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4, known as 5-HTTLPR, was hypothesized to moderate the link between substance use at age 14 and risky sexual behavior at age 16. This VNTR has been associated with risk-taking behavior. Design: African American youths in rural Georgia (N = 185) provided 2 waves of data on their substance use and sexual behavior. Genetic data were obtained via saliva samples. Main Outcome Measures: Substance use and sexual risk behavior were assessed using youth self-report items developed for this investigation. Results: Multiple regression analyses indicated that the presence of 1 or 2 copies of the short allele of the VNTR interacted with substance use to predict sexual behavior. Substance use had little effect on sexual behavior for youths without the short allele; this effect was greatly increased for youths with the short allele. Conclusion: Genetic vulnerability affected the implications of early onset substance use for later sexual behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)