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Performance of psychiatric hospital discharges in strict and tolerant environments.

Community mental health professionals are greatly concerned with the type of social environment most conducive to helping patients remain outside psychiatric institutions and improving the quality of their lives in the community. This paper examines the tolerance of deviance characterizing significant others in the patients' environment as it relates to community tenure and selected measures of performance and quality of life of the older patient in the community. A possible role is suggested for differential tolerance of deviance in the lives of patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals. Although it would appear that patients may return to the hospital at a higher rate from low tolerance environments, it may be that for patients who remain in the community, the quality of life may be better in low tolerance environments in terms of social interaction and life satisfaction. The deviance model is of value in the continuing efforts to understand the role of the social environment in the community life of discharged patients.

Attitude↗

The development of sensitization to the psychomotor stimulant effects of amphetamine is enhanced in a novel environment.

Two experiments were designed to assess the effect of a "novel" environment on the development of sensitization to the psychomotor activating effects of d-amphetamine. In the first experiment, rats with a unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesion of the mesostriatal dopamine system received ten daily injections of amphetamine (2 mg/kg), either in their home cages or in novel test cages. The home and novel cages were physically identical (cylindrical transparent buckets), but one group lived and were tested in these cages, whereas the other group was transported from the stainless steel hanging cages where they lived to these novel test cages, for each test session. The first injection of amphetamine produced significantly more rotational behavior in animals tested in a novel environment than in animals tested at home. In addition, animals tested in a novel environment showed greater sensitization than animals tested at home, so the difference between the two groups was even more pronounced following the last injection. In a second experiment, locomotor activity was quantified in rats that received ten injections of either saline or 1.5 mg/kg amphetamine, in their home cages or in a physically identical novel environment. Again, there was a significantly greater locomotor response to the first injection of amphetamine, and greater sensitization, in animals tested in a novel environment than in animals tested at home. These data indicate that environmental factors can exert a large effect on the susceptibility to sensitization, and mechanisms by which this may occur are discussed.

Amphetamine↗

Variation in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects in novel versus familiar environments in two Drosophila species.

Models of competitor coevolution, especially the genetic feedback hypothesis, suggest that a negative correlation between intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects may be important in sustaining competitor coexistence, and can give rise to oscillatory dynamics with repeated reversals of competitive superiority. I reanalyzed previously published census data from an experiment in which populations of Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans underwent competitive coevolution in one familiar and two novel environments, to specifically look for any evidence of a negative relationship between intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects on population growth rates, and for any indication of short period cycling in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects. While there was considerable variation in the relative magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects over generations, among both populations and environments, there was no clear evidence supporting the genetic feedback hypothesis. Intraspecific and interspecific competitive effects on population growth rates were strongly positively correlated in novel environments, and uncorrelated in the familiar environment. Data from the familiar environment indicated that indices of competition of populations of the initially superior competitor, D. melanogaster, might be showing some cyclic behaviour, but I argue that this is likely to be transient, and not suggestive of sustained oscillatory dynamics predicted by the genetic feedback model. I discuss the results in the context of the importance of the genetic architecture of intraspecific and interspecific competitive abilities in determining the coevolutionary trajectory of competitive interactions.

Animals↗

Use of artificial environments to reproduce and exploit genotype x location interaction for lucerne in northern Italy.

Genotype x environment interaction effects can be exploited by breeding for specific adaptation to well-defined subregions within a target region. Previous work showed that genotype x location interaction for dry matter (DM) yield of lucerne (Medicago sativa L. subsp. sativa) cultivars in northern Italy is large and associated with soil type and level of summer drought stress of locations, suggesting the presence of two contrasting subregions. Thirteen farm landraces collected across the region and four control varieties were evaluated for DM yield in four artificial environments created at one site by the factorial combination of soil type (sandy loam or silty clay) and drought stress level (almost nil or high) for: (1) exploring the possibility to reproduce in artificial environments the adaptation patterns occurring across the region; (2) investigating the adaptation pattern of landraces and its relationship with environmental factors at collecting sites; and (3) providing a preliminary comparison of wide- versus specific-adaptation strategies based on yield gains predicted from selection of populations. Different soils filled large (24.0x1.6x0.8-m deep), bottomless containers in concrete. Water amounts were controlled by irrigation under a moving rain shelter. Cultivars varied largely for adaptation pattern across the artificial environments, mainly due to cultivar x stress interaction. Better response to stress conditions of landraces was closely associated with the level of summer drought at collecting sites (r=0.82), highlighting the importance of evolutionary adaptation. The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction-modelled responses of control cultivars successfully reproduced those observed across locations, candidating the artificial environments as a cheaper alternative to more selection locations when breeding for wide or specific adaptation. The latter implied about 40-50% greater estimated gains relative to breeding for wide adaptation.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Social environment and psychiatric illnessA follow-up study of 9,170 women and men in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this follow-up study is to examine whether the individual's social and physical environment predicts incidence rates of psychiatric illness, after adjusting for demographic and socio-economic characteristics. METHODS: A random sample of the Swedish population (9,170 women and men, aged 25-74) were interviewed between 1990 and 1991 and followed through December 1998 for incidence rates of psychiatric illness. A social participation index and a physical environment index were constructed, based on the interview data. Cox's regression was used to estimate relative risks expressed as hazard ratios (HR). We also stratified for self-reported long-term psychiatric illness at the time of the interview. RESULTS: Respondents with low scores in the social participation index exhibited an increased age- and sex-adjusted risk of psychiatric illness with an HR = 2.00 (95 % CI 1.32-3.03) compared with individuals with high scores in the social participation index. After inclusion of education, housing tenure and the physical environment index, the HR of psychiatric illness decreased only slightly to 1.69 (95% CI 1.07-2.66) for respondents with low scores in the social participation index. There was no relationship between the physical environment index and psychiatric illness. CONCLUSIONS: In order to prevent and treat psychiatric illness, it is of importance also to consider the individual's social environment.

Adult↗

Social environment factors associated with suicide attempt among low-income African Americans: the protective role of family relationships and social support.

BACKGROUND: Suicide and suicide attempts are important public health concerns, and recent decades have witnessed a rising rate of suicide among African Americans. A history of prior attempts is a leading risk factor for completed suicide. Further research is needed into the social environment risk factors for suicide attempt among African Americans. This study focused on two important dimensions of the social environment, family relationships and social support, as well as an important person-level risk factor--depressive symptoms. METHOD: Data were obtained from a case-control study of 200 African American men and women aged 18-64 years, who sought services at a large, urban, public hospital. Odds ratios adjusted for significant sociodemographic differences between groups (aORs) were calculated for environment risk factors for suicide attempt among the cases and controls. The role of depressive symptoms was also studied. RESULTS: Lower levels of family adaptability and family cohesion increased the relative rate of suicide attempt in the sample. The aOR associated with the lowest quartile of family adaptability was 3.90, and the aORs associated with the first and second quartiles of family cohesion were 8.91 and 5.51, respectively. Lower levels of social embeddedness and social support increased the relative rate of suicide attempt in our sample. The aOR associated with the first and second quartiles of social embeddedness were 5.67 and 4.93, respectively, and the aOR associated with the lowest quartile of social support was 6.29. A mediating role of depression was discovered when depressive symptoms were entered into the logistic regression models. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that social environment factors including deficits in family functioning and social support are associated strongly with suicide attempts among low-income African American men and women seeking treatment in a large, urban hospital. Thus, better family functioning and social supports can be considered protective factors in this population. The presence of depressive symptoms, a well-known risk factor for suicide attempts and suicide, appears to mediate the association between social environment factors and suicide attempt.

Adolescent↗

Associations between nonshared environment and child problem behaviour.

BACKGROUND: Twin studies suggest that environmental effects on the development of child psychopathology largely involve nonshared environmental processes. However, the influence of the nonshared environment may have been overestimated, as the relationship between environment and behaviour may be genetically mediated. A direct measure of the nonshared environment (using the Sibling Inventory of Differential Experience - SIDE) was investigated in relation to child psychopathology, and tested for possible genetic mediation. METHOD: Parent-rated versions of the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) and the SIDE were collected in 760 twin pairs aged 6-17 years. Multilevel regression analysis was used to assess the influence of SIDE scores on CBCL total problem scores, internalising symptoms, externalising symptoms and depressive symptom scores. Genetic mediation was assessed by examining interaction with zygosity in the association between SIDE scores and differences in CBCL scores (absence of interaction indicating no genetic mediation). RESULTS: The results revealed significant associations between SIDE dimensions on the one hand, and degree of internalising, externalising, depression and total symptom scores on the other. However, the effects were non-linear, and especially apparent for the extremes of differential environmental experience within twin pairs. Overall, there was no strong evidence for genetic mediation of associations between nonshared environment and symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Direct, genetically unconfounded but skewed relationships may exist between nonshared environment on the one hand and behavioural differences on the other, although longitudinal data are necessary to determine the direction of effects.

Adolescent↗

Positive relationship between activity in a novel environment and operant ethanol self-administration in rats.

RATIONALE: The study of individual differences in drug addiction may have important implications both for understanding the etiology of addiction and for strategies for treatment. Activity of rodents in novel environments, presumably related to the novelty-seeking trait in humans, is the primary behavioral feature that is hypothesized to predict a predisposition for drug self-administration by rodents. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between motor activity in a novel environment and operant ethanol self-administration using the sucrose-substitution procedure. METHODS: Male Long-Evans rats were exposed to a novel environment for 2 h, and the distance traversed, rearing, and defecation was recorded. After 3 days of forced exposure to ethanol the sucrose-substitution procedure began and lasted for 23 days. Following sucrose substitution the animals were maintained on a schedule of ethanol (10% v/v) self-administration with a fixed ratio 3 (FR3) for 15 days. RESULTS: The activity (distance traversed) in the novel environment was positively correlated with initial ethanol self-administration under the FR3 schedule ( r=0.87) but not with the number of inactive lever presses or active lever presses for ethanol or for sweetened ethanol solutions with lower ratios of response. In contrast, rearing was correlated positively only with the number of inactive lever presses for sucrose. CONCLUSIONS: Motor activity in a novel environment may be related to the acquisition of operant ethanol self-administration only when a given ratio of response is required.

Animals↗

Policy requirements and performance indicators for good practice in health, environment and social management in the enterprises.

This paper presents the concept and objectives of good practice in health, environment and social management in enterprises (GP HESME). Major criteria for establishing this approach and possible indicators to assess progress at the enterprise and municipal level are also outlined. Employers and employees make a huge number of decisions at work which have an influence on the use of natural resources, the ambient environment, quality of living and working environment, work organization and work cultures. These decisions have an obvious impact on their own health as well as on that of their families, neighbours and customers. Recognizing that, the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health noted in June 1999 in the London Declaration the need for development of a holistic concept of good practice in health, environment and safety management in enterprises. In response to this request the WHO Regional Office for Europe, working jointly with governmental and non-governmental experts, scientists and practitioners, has developed the new concept of workplace health.

Decision Making↗

Heritability and shared environment estimates for myopia and associated ocular biometric traits: the Genes in Myopia (GEM) family study.

To examine the familial correlations, heritability (h(2)) and common environmental components (c(2)) of myopia and ocular biometric traits (all treated as continuous outcomes) in families collected through the Genes in Myopia (GEM) family study in Australia. A total of 132 pedigrees (723 participants) were recruited for this study. All individuals completed a risk factor questionnaire and underwent a detailed eye examination including spherical equivalent (SphE) and ocular biometric measurements of axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD) and corneal curvature (CC). Familial correlations were calculated and h(2) and c(2) were estimated using a variance component model that assumes a multivariate t distribution within each pedigree. Two definitions of common environments (c(2)) were considered: nuclear family (current) shared environment (Model 1) and sib-ship (childhood) shared environment (Model 2). Population ascertainment adjustment was performed using the Blue Mountains eye study dataset. The trends observed for familial correlations suggested that SphE is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors whereas AL, ACD and CC are predominantly genetically determined. This was largely confirmed by variance components modelling. Heritability estimates (adjusted for age, sex and years of education) from the best fitting ACE model (Model 2, childhood shared environment) were 0.50 +/- 0.05 for SphE, 0.73 +/- 0.04 for AL, 0.78 +/- 0.04 for ACD and 0.16 +/- 0.06 for CC. Childhood environmental effects were significant with c(2) estimated to be 0.33 +/- 0.04 for SphE, 0.06 +/- 0.03 for AL, 0.22 +/- 0.04 for ACD and 0.10 +/- 0.05 for CC. Age was associated with SphE, total years of education was associated with AL and sex was associated with all traits studied. We used a novel and conservative approach to account for and estimate common environmental effects by specifying either nuclear family or sib-ship environment when estimating heritability estimates and showed that all traits examined (SphE, AL, ACD and CC) are heritable, thus reflecting a genetic component. These traits therefore all represent candidates for quantitative trait linkage analyses.

Adult↗

A multi-environment comparison of senescence between sister species of Daphnia.

Senescence is a general decline of physiological state that accompanies advancing age. It affects nearly all organisms, but patterns of senescence vary markedly, even among closely related taxa. Understanding the evolution of this diversity requires information about environmental effects on the expression of variation among taxa. I examined genetically-based variation of senescence within and between two species complexes of Daphnia in four environments. The environments were defined by large differences in food and temperature, two factors known to influence senescence. The species studied were chosen to represent sister species that likely experience divergent (D. pulex and D. pulicaria) or similar (D. mendotate and D. dentifera) selection pressures on senescence. Overall, D. pulex expressed the greatest demographic senescence, D. mendotae and D. dentifera were intermediate, and D. pulicaria expressed the least. In environments representative of typical natural conditions, D. pulex had greater senescence than D. pulicaria, regardless of how late-life performance was assessed. This shows that genetic-environment interactions do not confound the interpretation of senescence differences between these species as the result of selective differences between their habitats. Comparison of D. mendotae and D. dentifera primarily revealed similar life histories, although differences in reproductive declines occurred in some environments. The joint observation of similar mortality patterns but dissimilar fecundity declines suggests that the trade-off between survival and reproduction changes with age. This calls into question the utility of only studying mortality for understanding evolutionary change of senescence in nature.

Aging↗

Way finding and cognitive mapping in large-scale environments: a test of a developmental model.

First, fourth, and seventh graders (7, 10, and 13 years of age, respectively) were given a series of tasks to assess their spatial competency in and their cognitive mapping of their school campus. Measures of way-finding, landmark, route, and configurational knowledge were obtained and analyzed to (1) assess way-finding skills in the same environment as that in which their cognitive representations were inferred and assessed; (2) determine the validity of the hierarchical model of cognitive mapping development proposed by Siegel and White by examining individual children's performance patterns as well as between-group performance; and (3) investigate the relationship between grade level and familiarity within an environment where familiarity within subsets of the environment varied by grade. Subjects were asked to create and walk three novel and efficient routes, to select photographs of scenes belonging to the three routes, to correctly order and metrically relate those scenes, and to make bearing and distance estimates from four sighting locations to six targets within the environment. Results indicated that all children were extremely competent way finders. Guttman scale analysis revealed that 93% of all children exhibited performance patterns predicted by the proposed model. Further support of the model was found in grade level differences on cognitive mapping measures. Reversals in the developmental trend were found, however, on some portions of the route and configuration measures, and were significantly related to degree of familiarity within the environment.

Adolescent↗

Rearing piglets in a poor environment: developmental aspects of social stress in pigs.

Effects of rearing conditions on the development of social relationships were investigated in female pigs. For that purpose, one group of piglets was reared in a poor environment (i.e., a commercially used indoor 4.2-m2 standard farrowing crate) and the other in an enriched environment (i.e., 0.5-ha outdoor pasture with half-open farrowing crates). After weaning, all piglets were housed in pairs under standard conditions. Dominant and subordinate individuals were distinguished within pairs and social relationships between members of a pair were studied in adulthood. The results show that pairs reared in a poor environment behave more aggressively. The subordinates of these pairs also develop symptoms indicative of chronic social stress exposure: i.e., they show a delayed onset of puberty, a smaller daily weight gain, and elevated basal cortisol levels that are also higher 5 h after an acute restraint stressor (tethering stress). No such deviations were found in subordinates reared in an enriched environment. It is concluded that rearing piglets in a poor environment may facilitate the development of social stress in adult (subordinate) pigs. Two underlying mechanisms may be proposed: a) deteriorated social skills lead to increased social stress, or b) a failure to cope with stressors in general, and the stress of being subordinate in particular, occurs in animals reared under poor conditions.

Aggression↗

Effect of the richness of the environment on neurons in cat visual cortex. II. Spatial and temporal frequency characteristics.

The quantitative distribution of synaptic contacts in the cat cerebral cortex is affected by the richness of the environment: the number of round-asymmetrical (RA) synapses per neuron is higher while the number of flat-symmetrical (FS) contacts is lower in the visual cortex of cats raised in an enriched environmental condition (EC) compared to those reared in an impoverished condition (IC). The size of FS synaptic contacts is also affected by the complexity of the animal's environment. It has been suggested that these morphological synaptic changes induced by the richness of the environment correlate with differences in physiological properties of the visual cortex. This question has been explored by assessing the cortical unit contrast sensitivity as a function of spatial and temporal frequency of area 17 cells in cats raised either in isolation (IC) or in a colony with ample environmental stimulation (EC). Contrast sensitivity is affected by the richness of the environment: at the preferred spatial frequency, an average enriched unit can detect lower contrasts (mean = 0.6%) than an average impoverished cell (0.9%; P less than 0.002). In addition, the mean highest spatial frequency that can be resolved (acuity) is greater in EC than in IC cells (1.7 and 1.2 cycles per degree, respectively, P less than 0.0001), whereas the spatial frequency at which units respond best is not statistically affected by the environment. The preferred temporal frequency also show a significant difference in EC (1.0-6.5 Hz) and IC units (0.9-4.0 Hz; P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Somatotroph, lactotroph and thyrotroph function in three-week-old gilts reared in a hot or cool environment.

The influence of the thermal environment on the ability of the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was examined in gilts reared under hot (H: 27-32 degrees C, 50-90% RH, n = 6) or cool (C: 20 degrees C, 50% RH, n = 6) conditions. Piglets were sacrificed at 3 wks of age. Pituitary cells from each animal were cultured and exposed to vehicle (culture medium); 1, 1, and 10 nM thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH); .1, 1, and 10 nM growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH); 59 mM KCl; 2 mM 8-Br-cAMP; and 100 nM phorbol myristate acetate. Rearing in the H, compared to the C, environment increased plasma PRL concentrations (p < .001), in vitro PRL secretion subsequent to all secretagogue treatments (p < .001), and cellular PRL content (p < .001). The stimulated release of TSH in culture was reduced (p < .001), but cellular TSH content was increased (p < .05) by exposure to the H environment. The total amount of TSH in culture (secreted + cellular) was not affected by thermal environment. The release of GH in vitro, cellular GH content, total GH in culture, and plasma GH concentrations were similar between H and C groups. The only dose-response curves that differed in slope between thermal groups were those produced by the TSH response to TRH (p < .001). The results of this study suggest that chronic exposure to a hot environment can 1) enhance PRL secretion by a mechanism which affects the quantity of releasable PRL rather than lactotroph sensitivity to secretagogues and 2) reduce TSH secretion by inhibiting thyrotroph secretory response to stimulation.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Initial characterization of the microgravity environment of the international space station: increments 2 through 4.

The primary objective of the International Space Station (ISS) is to provide a long-term quiescent environment for the conduct of scientific research for a variety of microgravity science disciplines. This paper reports to the microgravity scientific community the results of an initial characterization of the microgravity environment on the International Space Station for increments 2 through 4. During that period almost 70,000 hours of station operations and scientific experiments were conducted. 720 hours of crew research time were logged aboard the orbiting laboratory and over half a terabyte of acceleration data were recorded and much of that was analyzed. The results discussed in this paper cover both the quasi-steady and vibratory acceleration environment of the station during its first year of scientific operation. For the quasi-steady environment, results are presented and discussed for the following: the space station attitudes Torque Equilibrium Attitude and the X-Axis Perpendicular to the Orbital Plane; station docking attitude maneuvers; Space Shuttle joint operation with the station; cabin de-pressurizations and the station water dumps. For the vibratory environment, results are presented for the following: crew exercise, docking events, and the activation/de-activation of both station life support system hardware and experiment hardware. Finally, a grand summary of all the data collected aboard the station during the 1-year period is presented showing where the overall quasi-steady and vibratory acceleration magnitude levels fall over that period of time using a 95th percentile benchmark.

Acceleration↗

A status report on the characterization of the microgravity environment of the International Space Station.

A primary objective of the International Space Station is to provide a long-term quiescent environment for the conduct of scientific research for a variety of microgravity science disciplines. Since continuous human presence on the space station began in November 2000 through the end of Increment-6, over 1260 hours of crew time have been allocated to research. However, far more research time has been accumulated by experiments controlled on the ground. By the end of the time period covered by this paper (end of Increment-6), the total experiment hours performed on the station are well over 100,000 hours (Expedition 6 Press Kit: Station Begins Third Year of Human Occupation, Boeing/USA/NASA, October 25, 2002). This paper presents the results of the on-going effort by the Principal Investigator Microgravity Services project, at NASA Glenn Research Center, in Cleveland, Ohio, to characterize the microgravity environment of the International Space Station in order to keep the microgravity scientific community apprised of the reduced gravity environment provided by the station for the performance of space experiments. This paper focuses on the station microgravity environment for Increments 5 and 6. During that period over 580 Gbytes of acceleration data were collected, out of which over 34,790 hours were analyzed. The results presented in this paper are divided into two sections: quasi-steady and vibratory. For the quasi-steady analysis, over 7794 hours of acceleration data were analyzed, while over 27,000 hours were analyzed for the vibratory analysis. The results of the data analysis are presented in this paper in the form of a grand summary for the period under consideration. For the quasi-steady acceleration response, results are presented in the form of a 95% confidence interval for the station during "normal microgravity mode operations" for the following three attitudes: local vertical local horizontal, X-axis perpendicular to the orbit plane and the Russian torque equilibrium attitude. The same analysis was performed for the station during "non-microgravity mode operations" to assess the station quasi-steady acceleration environment over a long period of time. The same type of analysis was performed for the vibratory, but a 95th percentile benchmark was used, which shows the overall acceleration magnitude during Increments 5 and 6. The results, for both quasi-steady and vibratory acceleration response, show that the station is not yet meeting the microgravity requirements during the microgravity mode operations. However, it should be stressed that the requirements apply only at assembly complete, whereas the results presented below apply up to the station's configuration at the end of Increment-6.

Acceleration↗

Deep space environments for human exploration.

Mission scenarios outside the Earth's protective magnetic shield are being studied. Included are high usage assets in the near-Earth environment for casual trips, for research, and for commercial/operational platforms, in which career exposures will be multi-mission determined over the astronaut's lifetime. The operational platforms will serve as launching points for deep space exploration missions, characterized by a single long-duration mission during the astronaut's career. The exploration beyond these operational platforms will include missions to planets, asteroids, and planetary satellites. The interplanetary environment is evaluated using convective diffusion theory. Local environments for each celestial body are modeled by using results from the most recent targeted spacecraft, and integrated into the design environments. Design scenarios are then evaluated for these missions. The underlying assumptions in arriving at the model environments and their impact on mission exposures within various shield materials will be discussed.

Aerospace Medicine↗