Small Percentage Of Variance Research Articles

The great challenge: bone fragility and environment.

Osteoporosis is a worldwide common disease characterised by reduced bone mass and increased risk of fractures.Many genetic variants are associated with the disease, but they account for only a small percentage of variance in individual bone mineral density and fragility fracture risk. Only recently have researchers recognised the role of a broad variety of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis, which has led to a further step: how genetic and environmental factors can interact, which is the next frontier in research on bone fragility.

PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSION AMONG MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER MEN AND WOMEN IN EUROPE: A MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH

Abstract The high prevalence of depression in a growing aging population represents a critical public health issue. It is unclear how social, health, cognitive, and functional variables rank as risk/protective factors for depression among older adults and whether there are conspicuous differences among men and women. We utilized random forest analysis (RFA), a machine learning method, to compare 56 risk/protective factors for depression in a large representative sample of European older adults (N = 67,603; ages 45-105y; 56.1% women; 18 countries represented) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE Wave 6). Self-rated social isolation and self-rated poor health were the most salient risk factors, jointly accounting for 22.0% (in men) and 22.3% (in women) of variability in depression. Difficulties in mobility (in both sexes), difficulties in instrumental activities of daily living (in men), and higher self-rated family burden (in women) accounted for an additional but small percentage of variance in depression risk (2.2% in men, 1.5% in women). To our knowledge, this is the first large, multi-country study to use machine learning to compare a broad range of social, health, functional, and cognitive variables as concurrent risk/protective factors for depression in middle-aged and older adults—and with analyses conducted independently for women and men. The results point to the importance of screening for depression risk within this age demographic during routine medical visits (i.e., when assessing general health status) and further indicate that such screening may be improved by inclusion of measures of perceived social isolation.

Limited clinical utility for GWAS or polygenic risk score for postoperative acute kidney injury in non-cardiac surgery in European-ancestry patients

BackgroundPrior studies support a genetic basis for postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS), assessed the clinical utility of a polygenic risk score (PRS), and estimated the heritable component of AKI in patients who underwent noncardiac surgery.MethodsWe performed a retrospective large-scale genome-wide association study followed by a meta-analysis of patients who underwent noncardiac surgery at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (“Vanderbilt” cohort) or Michigan Medicine, the academic medical center of the University of Michigan (“Michigan” cohort). In the Vanderbilt cohort, the relationship between polygenic risk score for estimated glomerular filtration rate and postoperative AKI was also tested to explore the predictive power of aggregating multiple common genetic variants associated with AKI risk. Similarly, in the Vanderbilt cohort genome-wide complex trait analysis was used to estimate the heritable component of AKI due to common genetic variants.ResultsThe study population included 8248 adults in the Vanderbilt cohort (mean [SD] 58.05 [15.23] years, 50.2% men) and 5998 adults in Michigan cohort (56.24 [14.76] years, 49% men). Incident postoperative AKI events occurred in 959 patients (11.6%) and in 277 patients (4.6%), respectively. No loci met genome-wide significance in the GWAS and meta-analysis. PRS for estimated glomerular filtration rate explained a very small percentage of variance in rates of postoperative AKI and was not significantly associated with AKI (odds ratio 1.050 per 1 SD increase in polygenic risk score [95% CI, 0.971–1.134]). The estimated heritability among common variants for AKI was 4.5% (SE = 4.5%) suggesting low heritability.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that common genetic variation minimally contributes to postoperative AKI after noncardiac surgery, and likely has little clinical utility for identifying high-risk patients.

Can Enjoyment and Physical Self-Perception Mediate the Relationship between BMI and Levels of Physical Activity? Preliminary Results from the Regional Observatory of Motor Development in Italy.

Physical education during adolescence, supported by evidenced-based methodologies, offers many different opportunities to practice structured physical activity and promote the development of motor skills, motor coordination, and conditioning. The present study aimed to assess differences in the levels of physical activity, enjoyment, and self-perception in a sample (n = 1029, M = 505, F = 524) of 11–12-year-old secondary schoolchildren according to gender and BMI and determine (a) the mediation effects of physical self-perception in the association between BMI and physical activity and (b) the role of enjoyment in mediating the relation between physical self-perception and physical activity. As part of the Regional Observatory of Motor Development Project (Apulia, Southern Italy), the assessment involved three questionnaires for physical activity levels (PAL), physical self-perception (PSP_C), and enjoyment (PACES). The results showed significant differences in PSP between normal-weight, overweight, and obese children (especially in girls), while there were no significant differences in enjoyment. Physical self-perception partially mediates the relationship between BMI and PAL (R2 = 7.94% for males, 95% C.I.: −0.013, −0.004; R2 = 14.70% for females, 95% C.I.: −0.25, −0.009), and the enjoyment partially mediates the relationship between physical self-perception and PAL (R2 = 6.83% for males, 95% C.I. = 0.003, 0.012; R2 = 13.45% for females, 95% C.I. = 0.002, 0.014). However, only a small percentage of variance was explained, precluding the extension and generalization of the results obtained.

Predictors of depression among middle-aged and older men and women in Europe: A machine learning approach.

SummaryBackgroundThe high prevalence of depression in a growing aging population represents a critical public health issue. It is unclear how social, health, cognitive, and functional variables rank as risk/protective factors for depression among older adults and whether there are conspicuous differences among men and women.MethodsWe used random forest analysis (RFA), a machine learning method, to compare 56 risk/protective factors for depression in a large representative sample of European older adults (N = 67,603; ages 45-105y; 56.1% women; 18 countries) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE Wave 6). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the EURO-D questionnaire: Scores ≥ 4 indicated depression. Predictors included a broad array of sociodemographic, relational, health, lifestyle, and cognitive variables.FindingsSelf-rated social isolation and self-rated poor health were the strongest risk factors, accounting for 22.0% (in men) and 22.3% (in women) of variability in depression. Odds ratios (OR) per +1SD in social isolation were 1.99x, 95% CI [1.90,2.08] in men; 1.93x, 95% CI [1.85,2.02] in women. OR for self-rated poor health were 1.93x, 95% CI [1.81,2.05] in men; 1.98x, 95% CI [1.87,2.10] in women. Difficulties in mobility (in both sexes), difficulties in instrumental activities of daily living (in men), and higher self-rated family burden (in women) accounted for an additional but small percentage of variance in depression risk (2.2% in men, 1.5% in women).InterpretationAmong 56 predictors, self-perceived social isolation and self-rated poor health were the most salient risk factors for depression in middle-aged and older men and women. Difficulties in instrumental activities of daily living (in men) and increased family burden (in women) appear to differentially influence depression risk across sexes.FundingThis study was internally funded by Colorado State University through research start-up monies provided to Stephen Aichele, Ph.D.

Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease: Limited Clinical Utility for GWAS or Polygenic Risk Scores in a Clinical Trial Setting

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurological disease. The genetics and molecular mechanisms underpinning differential cognitive decline in AD are not well understood; the genetics of AD risk have been studied far more assiduously. Materials and Methods: Two phase III clinical trials measuring cognitive decline over 48 weeks using Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog, n = 2060) and Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB, n = 1996) were retrospectively genotyped. A Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) was performed to identify and replicate genetic variants associated with cognitive decline. The relationship between polygenic risk score (PRS) and cognitive decline was tested to investigate the predictive power of aggregating many variants of individually small effect. Results: No loci met candidate gene or genome-wide significance. PRS explained a very small percentage of variance in rates of cognitive decline (ADAS-cog: 0.54%). Conclusions: These results suggest that incorporating genetic information in the prediction of cognitive decline in AD currently appears to have limited utility in clinical trials, consistent with small effect sizes estimated elsewhere. If AD progression is more heritable soon after disease onset, genetics may have more clinical utility.

ЛИЧНОСТНЫЕ ДЕТЕРМИНАНТЫ СУБЪЕКТИВНОГО КАЧЕСТВА ЖИЗНИ РАБОТАЮЩЕЙ СЕЛЬСКОЙ И ГОРОДСКОЙ МОЛОДЕЖИ

At present, to solve the problem of the life quality of the population has become an integral criterion for evaluating the effectiveness and success of the state's socio-economic policy. The appeal to the study of the quality of life among young people in its objective, subjective and person’s aspects is determined by the fact that youth as a social group differs from other groups of the population. It is more active, has relevant knowledge and skills, an accelerated adaptation process, greater migration mobility and material needs. It faces the task of self-determination in socio-economic and political changes and the choice of life orientations. The aim is to determine the contribution of personal resources to the subjective assessment of the quality of life among representatives of socio-demographic youth groups with different perceptions of self-realization opportunities in living conditions. The research is based on the newly developed conceptual working model of the quality of life by D.A. Leontiev (2020), which integrates objective, subjective and person’s factors of environmental assessment. The methods used are: the questionnaire «Quality of life and satisfaction», «Life satisfaction» scale, «Self-realization satisfaction index in living conditions», questionnaire «Self-organization activity», questionnaire «Differential diagnosis of reflexivity», «Self-determination of personality and basic beliefs» scale. Sample is 280 people aged 18 to 40 years, including 140 people living in the rural municipality of the North of the Tomsk region (Siberian region), and 140 residents of the city of Tomsk. As a result, we have found out that there is some general dissatisfaction with the quality of life, but the representatives of rural youth are less satisfied with the quality of their lives than the representatives of urban working youth. Personal resources are significantly more pronounced in the urban working youth group; many representatives of rural youth have deficits in personal resources. It is revealed that such a personal resource as self-identity can me-diate the impact of assessing the opportunities for self-realization in environmental conditions on the quality of life among urban and rural youth. At the same time, we have identified specific personal resources that can serve as mediators in assessing opportunities for self-realization in living conditions and the quality of life among urban and rural youth. However, a small percentage of variance indicates the need to refine the results and include new personal resources in the search for mediators of this relationship. The data revealed in both groups on the mediation nature of assessing the possibility of self-realization in living conditions indicate the importance of creating conditions for self-realization for young people, both in urban and rural living environments.

Osobine ličnosti i lokus kontrole kao prediktori građanskog aktivizma

The aim of this study was to verify the possibility of predicting various forms of civil activism based on personality traits, locus of control, and some sociodemographic variables. In this study the participants were 278 activists from 25 NGOs. Data was collected using the Big Five Inventory, Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale, Index of Civil Activism, and Activism Orientation Scale. The results indicated that Extraversion was a positive predictor of civil activism and conventional activism. Openness to experience was a positive predictor of conventional activism, while consciousness was a negative predictor of high risk activism. Locus of control, neuroticism and agreeableness were not significant predictors of any of the various activism forms. Personality traits, locus of control, and sociodemographic variables were able to explain a relatively small percentage of variance (< 26%) in different forms of activism.

Abstract 406: Are Providers Overconfident in Predicting Outcome After Cardiac Arrest?

Objective: Prognostication after cardiac arrest is challenging. We tested if providers’ confidence in their neuroprognostic assessments correlates with accuracy. Methods: We presented physicians with clinical synopses using data from real-time, post-arrest patients being treated at a single academic medical center. We allowed providers to ask for any additional data available at the time the assessment was performed. We asked providers: (1) will the patient survive to hospital discharge?; (2) will the patient have favourable function at discharge?; and, (3) their confidence in each prediction (0-100%). We repeated assessments daily until death or post-arrest day 5. Results: We completed 414 assessments of 51 patients with 59 providers. Of patients, 79% died, 8% were discharged with unfavourable function and 12% had functionally favourable survival. Providers accurately predicted survival in 257/414 (62%) assessments. In most errors (136/141, 96%), providers predicted survival in a patient who died. Providers accurately predicted function in 282/414 (68%) assessments. In most errors (125/132, 95%), providers incorrectly predicted a favourable outcome. Providers were confident in their assessments (median confidence predicting survival 80 [IQR 60 - 90]; median confidence predicting function 80 [IQR 60 - 95]). Accuracy predicting survival and function were both positively correlated with confidence (both P&lt;0.001), but confidence explained only 7% and 15% of observed variance in accuracy, respectively. When providers reported 100% confidence predicting survival, they were correct in 31/42 (74%) cases. Accuracy did not vary over time. Attending physicians were not more accurate than trainees predicting survival (65% vs 60% accurate) and were less accurate prediciting functional outcome (62% vs 84% accurate, P&lt; 0.001). Confidence did not differ between attendings and trainees. Conclusions: Providers were overly optimistic predicting outcomes at discharge. Self-reported confidence explained only a small percentage of variance in accuracy. Even when extremely confident, providers were often wrong. Our future work will explore patient and provider factors that contribute to error.

Shared variance of oculomotor phenotypes in a large sample of healthy young men

This study used canonical correlation analysis to investigate patterns of shared variance between parameters measured in seven different occulomotor function tasks, namely the visually guided saccade task, the antisaccade task, the closed-loop smooth-pursuit task, the open-loop smooth-pursuit task, and three active visual fixation tasks. These tasks were performed by 2130 young army recruits. Only a small percentage (1-10%) of shared variance existed between sets of parameters for all oculomotor function tasks measured. The most correlated tasks were the visually guided saccade and the antisaccade. The first common factor correlated with speed of performance between these tasks (latency), while the second and third correlated with accuracy of performance. Better performance in active visual fixation tasks correlated with better performance accuracy (lower error rate) and increased speed (lower latency) in the antisaccade and saccade tasks as well as better performance in the closed-loop smooth-pursuit task (increase in gain and decrease in the rate of unwanted saccades during pursuit). Better performance in the closed-loop smooth-pursuit task (increased gain and decreased number of unwanted saccades) also correlated with increased accuracy and increased speed of performing saccades and antisaccades. Finally, the open-loop fixation task had no correlation with all other oculomotor tasks except for a very weak negative correlation with the closed-loop pursuit task where better performance (increased gain) in one correlated with worse performance (decreased gain) in the other. The results of this analysis showed that a small percentage of variance is shared among different oculomotor function tasks. The structure of this shared variance could be used to derive common oculomotor function indices to study their relation to genetic and other sources of inter-subject variation.

Mindfulness and Children’s Physical Activity, Diet, Quality of Life, and Weight Status

Our purpose was to examine the relationship of mindfulness with weight status, physical activity, screen time, diet (fruit, vegetable, and junk food intake), and health-related quality of life in children living in a low-socioeconomic status community. Children (N = 754; 8–13 years) completed surveys, and height and weight were measured. Regression analysis evaluated the relationship of mindfulness with weight status (body mass index percentile), physical activity, screen time, diet, health-related quality of life, and dummy-coded moderator race, grade, and sex. Average mindfulness was 23.4 ± 9.5 and was higher in black children (24.4 ± 9.3) vs. multi-racial/other children (22.1 ± 9.7), boys (24.2 ± 9.2) vs. girls (22.6 ± 9.8), and in sixth (25.1 ± 9.4) vs. fifth (23.0 ± 9.2) or fourth (21.9 ± 9.8) graders. Overall, the model was significant (adjusted R 2 = 0.201, P < .001). Grade level (fourth grade, β = −0.163, P = .002 and fifth grade, β = −0.144, P = .007), junk food intake (β = −0.160, P = .001), and parent- and autonomy-related (β = −0.136, P = .017) and psychological quality of life (β = 0.416, P < .001) were associated with mindfulness. Psychological and parent- and autonomy-related quality of life and junk food intake accounted for a small percentage of variance in mindfulness, with parent-related quality of life contributing in the unexpected direction. Mindfulness may have benefits not captured in this study, but more research is needed on its relationship with health variables.

Founded in adversity: Operations-based survival strategies of ventures founded during a recession

We examine the survival of 404 new ventures founded during the 2008 recession. We find that industry explains a significant but small percentage of variance in survival (2.81 percent), and therefore focus on which operations-related actions could enhance ventures’ odds of survival. We find marginally significant support for our hypotheses that a venture founded during a recession is more likely to survive if it increases its production efficiency, increases both its production efficiency and variable costs, or increases both its production efficiency and fixed costs in property, plant and equipment. Our findings demonstrate that operational decisions are key determinants of survival for ventures founded during a recession.

Confidence of social judgments is not just error: Individual differences in the structure, stability, and social functions of perceptual confidence

The present research uses a Social Relations Model approach to focus on individual differences in perceptual confidence – a person’s confidence in her or his impressions of others. Across two samples of group interactions, we found that the majority of variance in perceptual confidence was explained by individual differences in how people tended to perceive others (i.e., perceiver effects). A smaller percentage of variance was explained by differences in how people tended to be perceived by others (i.e., target effects). Both these individual differences were stable over time, were related to relevant personality measures, and group outcomes. Together, these results demonstrate that although perceptual confidence may not be substantially related to accuracy, it exists as a stable individual difference dimension that has important consequences for social interactions.

Job satisfaction and subjective well‐being among Czech nurses

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between domains of the job satisfaction and components of subjective well-being in nurses. A convenience sample of hospital nurses was recruited from six hospitals in Czech Republic. Data were collected using a set of questionnaires that included the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale, the Positive Affect Scale, the Negative Affect Scale and the Personal Well-being Index. We confirmed low association between job satisfaction and subjective well-being of nurses. Satisfaction with extrinsic rewards, co-workers and family/work balance accounted for only a small percentage of variance in cognitive component of subjective well-being. Positive affect was predicted by interaction opportunities and scheduling. Negative affect was predicted by interaction opportunities and scheduling and intention to leave the actual workplace. Low percentage of the variance suggests that subjective well-being is not strongly influenced by job satisfaction.

Assessing Determinants of Exonic Evolutionary Rates in Mammals

From studies investigating the differences in evolutionary rates between genes, gene compactness and gene expression level have been identified as important determinants of gene-level protein evolutionary rate, as represented by nonsynonymous to synonymous substitution rate (d(N)/d(S)) ratio. However, the causes of exon-level variances in d(N)/d(S) are less understood. Here, we use principal component regression to examine to what extent 13 exon features explain the variance in d(N), d(S), and the d(N)/d(S) ratio of human-rhesus macaque or human-mouse orthologous exons. The exon features were grouped into six functional categories: expression features, mRNA splicing features, structural-functional features, compactness features, exon duplicability, and other features, including G + C content and exon length. Although expression features are important for determining d(N) and d(N)/d(S) between exons of different genes, structural-functional features and splicing features explained more of the variance for exons of the same genes. Furthermore, we show that compactness features can explain only a relatively small percentage of variance in exon-level d(N) or d(N)/d(S) in either between-gene or within-gene comparison. By contrast, d(S) yielded inconsistent results in the human-mouse comparison and the human-rhesus macaque comparison. This inconsistency may suggest rapid evolutionary changes of the mutation landscape in mammals. Our results suggest that between-gene and within-gene variation in d(N)/d(S) (and d(N)) are driven by different evolutionary forces and that the role of mRNA splicing in causing the variation in evolutionary rates of coding sequences may be underappreciated.

Diagnostic delay in pediatric solid tumors: A population based study on determinants and impact on outcomes

Despite socioeconomic and clinical progress, pediatric tumors continue to present in advanced stage, and may be due to delays in diagnosis. This study aimed to identify factors associated with diagnostic delay (time between symptom onset and diagnosis) in pediatric tumors in a population-based study, and to assess the impact of delay on subsequent outcome. Natural logarithm of delay was retrospectively described for 390 newly diagnosed tumors reported to the Singapore Childhood Cancer Registry from 1997 to 2007. Delay was correlated with socio-demographic, disease and healthcare-system factors using multivariate linear regression, and with event-free survival (EFS) using Cox regression analysis. Total median delay was 5.3 weeks (range 0.1-283.1). Shorter delay was independently associated with younger patient age (P = 0.006), abdominal and pelvic sites (P < 0.001 and P = 0.036, respectively), incidental diagnoses by healthcare staff (P = 0.002), and when pediatric emergency units were the first contacted healthcare facilities and the first to raise suspicion of malignancy (P = 0.034, and P = 0.018, respectively). These factors explained only a small percentage of variance in delay times (21%). Delay was not associated with EFS and disease stage, with 24% of tumors presenting in stage 4. Diagnostic delay was independently associated with age and site of presentation, and points of first symptom detection, first healthcare contact, and first suspicion of malignancy. The broad range of clinical variables analyzed could only account in a small way for differences in delay times observed. While overall delay times were short, they did not influence disease stage at presentation and eventual outcome.

Dose–Response Characteristics in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treated with OROS® Methylphenidate in a 4-Week, Open-Label, Dose-Titration Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate dose-response characteristics in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treated with once-daily OROS methylphenidate (OROS MPH) during the 4-week, open-label, escalating dose-titration phase of a larger multisite, placebo-controlled trial. Patient factors such as age, height, weight, and baseline symptom severity were evaluated as predictors of selected dose, as was the degree of incremental response with each successive dose escalation. Adolescents 13-18 years of age with ADHD underwent a 4-week, open-label, escalating dose-titration trial to determine the minimal effective dose (18, 36, 54, or 72 mg once daily) of OROS to be used in a multiphase, placebo-controlled study (NCT00249353). Both final absolute dose and mean weight-adjusted dose were used to assess predictors of response, using a one-way analysis of variance and regression analyses. The majority of subjects who did not respond at lower doses achieved response at each escalating dose level. Approximately two-thirds of subjects required a dose of 54 mg or greater to achieve improvement criteria. Minimal effective dose correlated modestly with baseline symptom severity. Age, height, and weight did not correlate with absolute dose and accounted for only a small percentage of variance in weight-based dose. Weight was not a major factor in predicting effective dose; however, using weight-adjusted rather than absolute dose proved slightly superior for modeling of adverse effects. Adolescents required, on average, a higher absolute dose but a lower weight-adjusted dose (mg/kg) of OROS) than was previously reported in children. There were few predictors of optimal dose of OROS other than baseline symptom severity. The increased percentage of adolescent responders at each dose level using this clinically driven approach to titration differs from recent findings from randomized forced dose titration studies in adults with ADHD.

Alcohol Use, Predisposing, Enabling, and Oral Health Need Variables as Predictors of Preventive and Emergency Dental Service Use

Analyses of the 2002 U.S. National Health and Examination Survey (1,490 adults) examined relationships between alcohol frequency, quantity, and total weekly consumption and preventive and emergency dental service use during the past 12 months. Logistic regression analyses indicated a significant, small percentage of variance in dental service use explained by alcohol use (1%), controlling for predisposing (19%), enabling (18%), or need (4%) covariates. Preventive and emergency service use were associated with higher frequency drinking, but lower total consumption (significant only for preventive services). Limitations and implications for brief alcohol interventions in dental practice are discussed.

Sea surface height variability in the Rio de la Plata estuary from synoptic to inter-annual scales: Results of numerical simulations

A long term simulation of the barotropic circulation in the Río de la Plata estuary was performed with the aim of identifying the characteristic patterns of sea surface height (SSH) variability from synoptic to inter-annual time scales and their forcing mechanisms. Hamburg Shelf Ocean Model (HamSOM), forced by tides, monthly mean runoffs and 4-daily 10 m winds and surface atmospheric pressure from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis was run. The solution was analyzed for the period 1965–2004. Inter-annual variability accounts for almost 10% of the variance. The first EOF mode of SSH variability on this time scale is associated with a mean anomaly of approximately 0.25 m at the upper estuary forced by both runoff and winds, which seems to be strongly associated with the ENSO cycles. Other two modes, with periodicities around 2.5 and 10 years were also found. Even though they are linked to weaker SSH anomalies, they are consistent with inter-annual modes of wind variability reported by other authors. Those modes are important, particularly if they act in phase, because they can provide a background for stronger surges. In contrast with the salinity field, SSH variability on seasonal time scales accounts for a very small percentage of variance and it is the combination of an annual and a semi-annual signal forced by winds and runoff, respectively. Approximately 90% of the variance is due to wind driven variability on sub-annual time scales. The most significant SSH anomalies in this band are associated with cyclogenetic events in the atmosphere, occurring either over Uruguay or over the Patagonian Shelf, whereas the strengthening or weakening of the semi-permanent South Atlantic anticyclone displays a relatively smaller influence. In agreement with previous publications, the estuary's spatial patterns in response to short-scale wind variability seem to be determined by wind direction more than by wind speed.

Organizational and Individual Level Determinants of Stigmatization in Mental Health Services

Despite the large amount of research on the existence and the negative consequences of stigmatization of clients of mental health services, little is known about the differences between services. Using data from 520 clients of 47 rehabilitation centers in a multilevel design, we studied organizational and individual characteristics explaining variation in social rejection and self-rejection. The results reveal that only a very small percentage of variance in stigmatization is explained by organizational features, such as size, composition of the client population and the kind of supplied activities. Client level characteristics affecting stigmatization are current mental health status, former mental hospitalization, and participation in psychotherapeutic activities.