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Individual differences in reactivity to unpredictable threat (U‐threat) have repeatedly been linked to symptoms of anxiety and drinking behavior. An emerging theory is that individuals who are hyper‐reactive to U‐threat experience chronic anticipatory anxiety, hyperarousal, and are vulnerable to excessive alcohol use via negative reinforcement processes. Notably, anxiety and alcohol use commonly relate to disruptions in sleep behavior and recent findings suggest that sleep quality may impact the link between reactivity to U‐threat and psychiatric symptoms and behaviors. The aim of the current study was to examine the unique and interactive effects of reactivity to U‐threat and sleep quality on anxiety symptoms and drinking behavior in a cohort of youth, ages 16–19 years. Participants (N = 112) completed a well‐validated threat‐of‐shock task designed to probe individual differences in reactivity to U‐threat and predictable threat (P‐threat). Startle eyeblink potentiation was recorded during the task as an index of aversive reactivity. Participants also completed well‐validated self‐report measures of anxiety and depression symptoms, lifetime alcohol use, and current sleep quality. Results revealed significant startle reactivity to U‐threat by sleep quality interactions on anxiety symptoms and lifetime drinking behavior. At high levels of sleep disturbance (only), greater reactivity to U‐threat was associated with greater anxiety symptoms and total number of lifetime alcoholic beverages. These results suggest that sensitivity to uncertainty and chronic hyperarousal increases anxiety symptoms and alcohol use behavior, particularly in the context of poor sleep quality. The results suggest that sensitivity to uncertainty and chronic hyperarousal increases anxiety symptoms and alcohol use. These findings also show for the first time that these associations are particularly robust in the context of poor sleep quality. Sleep quality is often overlooked in youth but could represent a modifiable prevention target for mental health and substance use outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate seasonal forecasts of the winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and their relationship with the stratosphere. Climatological frequencies of sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) and strong polar vortex (SPV) events are well represented and the predicted risk of events varies between 25 and 90% from winter to winter, indicating predictability beyond the deterministic range. The risk of SSW and SPV events relates to predicted NAO as expected, with NAO shifts of −6.5 and +4.8 hPa in forecast members containing SSW and SPV events. Most striking of all is that forecast skill of the surface winter NAO vanishes from these hindcasts if members containing SSW events are excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrogen retention/outgassing model with distributed hydrogen energy states in material is proposed. The model considers hydrogen in co-deposits to occupy continuous energy states arising from all realizable local atomic arrangements in a medium with some degree of disorder. The outgassing flux of hydrogen from a sample is described via occupancy evolution of energy states corresponding to free hydrogen. We apply the model to analysis of hydrogen thermo-desorption experiments on beryllium co-deposits produced in a Be capable sputter magnetron system at the UCSD PISCES laboratory. It is demonstrated that the model can describe experimentally obtained time evolutions of hydrogen desorption flux from co-deposits in different thermal outgassing regimes. (© 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cell-free DNA reflects both normal and tumor-derived DNA released into the circulation through cellular necrosis and apoptosis. The authors sought to determine the role of preoperative total plasma cell-free DNA levels in predicting clinical outcome in patients with ovarian cancer.Methods: After institutional review board consent, DNA was extracted from plasma of 164 women with invasive epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), 49 with benign ovarian neoplasms, and 75 age-matched controls. The samples were randomly divided into training (n = 144) and validation (n = 144) sets. Quantification of cell-free DNA was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction for beta-globin, and the number of genome equivalents (GE) per milliliter of plasma was determined. Cell-free DNA was correlated with clinicopathologic parameters.Results: The training and validation sets were similar in terms of demographic features. In the training set, EOC patients had a median preoperative cell-free DNA level of 10,113 GE/mL, compared with patients with benign ovarian neoplasms (median, 2365 GE/mL; P < .0001) and controls (median, 1912 GE/mL, P < .0001). Cell-free DNA >22,000 GE/mL was significantly associated with decreased patient survival (P < .001). After adjusting for other clinical variables, preoperative cell-free DNA >22,000 GE/mL was an independent predictor (P = .02) for disease-specific survival. Analysis of the validation set confirmed significantly higher cell-free DNA levels in EOC (median, 13,672 GE/mL) and that cell-free DNA >22,000 GE/mL was associated with a 2.83-fold increased risk of death from disease (P < .001).Conclusions: Preoperative plasma total cell-free DNA levels are significantly elevated in patients with EOC. Elevated plasma cell-free DNA is an independent predictor for death from disease in ovarian cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the neurobehavioral functioning after cessation of manganese exposure in humans. A battery of neuron-functional tests was performed to 77 Manganese (Mn) workers and 81 referents in 2004, where workers had poorer scores compared to referents both in the initial and follow-up tests for various motor tasks of the Luria Motor Scale. Mn workers who were older than 45 years old at the cessation of exposure, demonstrated poorer scores than referents for tests of cognitive flexibility. Accumulated exposure was linked with poorer test scores for neuron-motor and cognitive tests and on a mood scale. Mn exposure was related to persistent deficits for neuron-motor functions, cognitive flexibility and adverse mood conditions, while recovery related to other functions.

Background: Malignancies of the external auditory canal and temporal bone are uncommon. A retrospective review was conducted of a large series treated at the Prince of Wales hospital between 1974 and 1995. Methods: Retrospective review of 59 cases of ear canal and temporal bone malignancies. These were analysed according to histopathology, disease extent, surgery, margin status and survival. A TNM-type staging system was applied to 51 cases and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis applied to this group. Results: The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) for the series was 54%. For stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 disease, the CSS were 90, 45, 40 and 19%, respectively. Survival was significantly higher where clear surgical margins were achieved (80 vs 35%). Conclusions: Carcinoma of the external ear canal is rare and, in Australia, is often related to recurrence of periauricular cutaneous malignancy. Surgical extirpation with clear margins provides the best survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike the minority groups covered by civil rights laws in the past, the disabled population is a heterogeneous group. Because of differences in the nature and onset of health conditions, it is important to study the labor market experiences of different impairment groups separately, rather than treating "disabled workers" as a single group. This article uses data from the 1984 and the 1990 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation to analyze trends in the employment and wages of six impairment groups in the years immediately preceding the ADA. The results confirm the diversity of labor market experiences within the disabled population and suggest that policies designed to improve labor market outcomes for workers with disabilities in response to the ADA should be targeted to the different needs of different impairment groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each amino acid in a peptide has a characteristic immonium ion (H2N+CHR), the presence of which in a mass spectrum can indicate the presence of that amino acid. High-energy collision-induced decomposition studies on small peptide ions formed by fast atom bombardment showed the relative intensities of these immonium ions to be dependent on the relative positions of the amino acids in the peptide chain: C-terminal, N-terminal or in-chain. Evidence in favour of competition in the formation of immonium ions is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinetics of the binding of the neurotoxin acrylamide to the cysteine residue of glutathione has been studied. At 37 °C and pH 7.3 the second order rate constant has been determined to be 0.72 ± 0.06 mol−1 dm3 min−1 by thermospray mass spectrometry. The critical energy at pH 11.5 measured over the temperature range 10-37°C by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry was measured as 24.6 kJ mol−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive networks of metastable ions link the major peaks in the electron impact mass spectra of two crown ethers containing 2,6-pyrido units. High-resolution mass measurements and the metastable peaks allow the elucidation of the fragmentation pathways. The spectra are influenced more by the presence of aromatic substituents than by the 2,6-pyrido units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement and interpretation of the ionization potentials of some (methylated) phosphoramides, acetamides and formamides is reported. Additivity rules for the prediction of ionization potentials are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionization potentials of a series of N-methyl, N′-R-1,2,4-phosphadiazetidine-3-ones and related compounds have been determined. The nature of the highest occupied orbital of the molecules and the use of empirical rules to rationalize the variations in the ionization potentials are discussed. The changes in the fragmentation patterns are related to the different low ionization potential site(s) in each molecule. The occurrence of various rearrangement ions are discussed on a similar basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By direct explosure of the sample to the ion plasma in a chemical ionization source, spectra of many relatively involatile compounds can be obtained with sample temperatures at least 150° below those usually required. A number of peptides that have not been derivatized are shown as examples. Determination of the complete amino acid sequence is possible with samples of 10−7 g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass spectra of some alkyl thioureas, alkyl-aryl and aryl thioureas are presented and discussed. The main primary fragmentation pathways are cleavage next to the central carbon atom, with the charge residing on either fragment, and the loss of sulphydryl or substituted sulphydryl radicals. The differences in behaviour of the methyl ureas and thioureas are discussed on the basis of a preferred charge location on sulphur in the thioureas but on nitrogen in the ureas. Also, where appropriate, the spectra of all the alkyl compounds are compared with those of the alkyl guanidines. The effect of chain length of alkyl groups and of charge location on the fragmentation pattern is discussed using the spectra of the ethyl and butyl thioureas and the ethyl ureas. The sensitivity of alkyl thioureas to pyrolysis is noted and the sensitivity of phenyl substituted thioureas to pyrolysis confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent theoretical and experimental studies are in conflict with our previous neutralization-reionization evidence for the surprising stability of simple ylides such as H2CCIH. Neutralization of [H2CCIH]+˙ ions from CICH2COOH with Hg followed by reionization of the resulting neutral molecules with O2 produces intense [CCIH3]+˙ parent ions. Collisionally activated dissociation of these mass-selected ions shows that 47 ± 5% are the [H2CCIH]+˙ isomer. This demonstrates that stable H2CCIH molecules can be formed by neutralization, surviving intact for the lifetime of the experiment (10−6 s). Field ionization conditions effective in ionizing excited argon atoms do not produce appreciable ionization of the neutrals from [H2CCIH]+˙, suggesting that the stable H2CCIH neutrals are not Rydberg state molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "A randomized controlled trial of bilateral dual transversus abdominis plane blockade for laparoscopic appendicectomy" by K. Tanggaard and colleagues.

Mass spectra of solutes can be obtained by direct introduction of the solution into a chemical ionization source. This should facilitate direct monitoring of the effluent from liquid chromatography columns with nanogram sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes maternal attitudes to universal neonatal hearing screening. Assessment of the degree of anxiety generated by the process; Advocacy of the early detection of infants with sensorineural hearing loss; Trade-off between the benefits accruing from early detection and the potential harm for mislabeled infants undergoing the screen.

Objectives: When things go wrong for people they can become self-critical or focus on positive, reassuring aspects of the self. This study explored the relationship between forms of self-criticism and self-reassurance, recall of parental experiences and attachment style in relation to depressed symptoms in students., Methods: A sample of 197 undergraduate students from the UK and Canada completed self-report questionnaires measuring recall of parental styles, attachment, forms of self-criticism, self-reassurance, and depression symptoms., Results: Recall of parents as rejecting and overprotecting was significantly related to both inadequacy and self-hating self-criticism. In contrast, parental warmth was negatively correlated with these forms of self-criticism. In addition, when things go wrong for the person, recall of parental warmth was associated with the ability to be self-reassuring. A mediator analysis suggested that (I) the impact of recall of negative parenting on depression is mediated through the forms of self-criticism and (2) the effect of parental warmth on depression was mediated by the ability to be self-reassuring., Conclusions: The impacts of negative parenting styles may translate into vulnerabilities to depression via the way children (and later adults) develop their self-to-self relating (e.g. as self-critical versus self-reassuring). Hence, there is a need for further research on the link between attachment experiences, recall of parental rejection/warmth and their relationship to internal, self-evaluative and affect systems in creating vulnerabilities to psychopathology.

Background: Results from a 1990-1992 longitudinal study of several reinforced plastics plants showed that for those workers whose styrene exposure had decreased, color vision (CV) improved; while near visual contrast sensitivity (CS) was poorer., Methods: In 1999, we retested these visual functions in 18 workers with good visual acuity. A cumulative exposure index (CEI), corrected for respirator use, was calculated for each worker., Results: Intra-individual comparison of mandelic acid (MA) showed a significant decrease over time (Friedman; P = 0.015), but current values were not related to CEI. For CV, no significant difference was observed between 1992 and 1999; present results were not related to MA or CEI. The CS profile decreased over time, with significant differences at 3 cpd (Friedman; P < 0.05). CS did not vary with MA levels, but was significantly depressed at the intermediate frequencies among those in the upper CEIH category (Kruskal-Wallis; P < 0.05)., Conclusions: These findings suggest that CS loss increases with long-term cumulative exposure, reflecting chronic damage to the neuro-optic pathways.

Background: The impact on family life and social relations that may result from symptoms associated with exposure to neurotoxic substances has never been addressed. This exploratory study assessed the associations between exposure to neurotoxic agents in the workplace, mental health, and marital difficulties., Methods: Fifty-five (55) male workers and their spouses completed standardized measures of mental health and marital difficulties. Workers' exposure to neurotoxic substances was evaluated by questionnaire and interview, using a semiquantitative classification system., Results: A positive relation was observed between exposure level and measures of workers' psychological symptoms and marital stress; no relation was observed between workers' exposure level and wives' psychological symptoms. More severe exposure to neurotoxic substances was associated with wives' reports of more severe marital conflicts, and this association was mediated by husbands' psychological symptoms. As compared to low exposure husbands, high exposure husbands reported higher degrees of stress surrounding marital discussions, more consistent incidence of minor physical assaults by wives, and stronger associations between their levels of stress, the verbal aggressions of wives, and the number of marital conflicts., Conclusions: The results of this study confirm that neurotoxic exposure is a risk factor for mental health and suggest how this may influence marital relations. Because of the importance of these findings for the well-being of workers and their families, these associations should be further studied., (Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

This article uses data from The Survey of Ontario Workers With Permanent Impairments. the world's largest survey of injured workers, to show that, as currently used, return-to-work is a misleading measure of the effectiveness of health care. The article discusses examples of two serious limitations on the use of return-to-work to measure the outcomes of health care, where health care refers to all the medical and rehabilitative services provided to a worker following a workplace injury. The first limitation is that return-to-work, like many other outcomes of health care, is influenced by factors that are not directly related to health care. Using a logit model to estimate the determinants of first absences from work after an injury, we find that socioeconomic characteristics, economic incentives, and job characteristics have a significant influence on return-to-work. The second limitation on return-to-work as an outcome measure is that the first return-to-work after an injury, like a hospital discharge, frequently marks the end of only the first of several episodes of work disability caused by the original injury. Using first post-injury returns-to-work as a proxy for recovery, we would assume that 85% of the Ontario workers recovered from their injury when, in fact, 61% had subsequent spells of work disability. We identified four mutually exclusive patterns of post-injury work and work disability. Multinomial logit estimates of the determinants of the patterns show that health care is only one of several influences on return-to-work. The results also demonstrate that if return-to-work is used to measure outcomes, it must be evaluated over a time horizon that permits multiple spells of work disability.