Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression among bereaved and non-bereaved survivors following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake

Many studies have suggested that unexpected death of a loved one is an important risk factor of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among disaster survivors, but few have examined the magnitude of psychiatric morbidities among bereaved survivors. This study examined the prevalence rates of clinically significant PTSD and depressive symptoms and their associated risk factors among Chinese adult survivors following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. Two hundred and fifty-one bereaved adults were compared with 1474 non-bereaved adult survivors. The estimated rates of PTSD and depressive symptoms were 65.6% and 64.8% for those who lost first-degree family members, 34.1% and 45.5% for those who lost second-degree relatives, and 27.1% and 37.5% for non-bereaved survivors respectively. Loss of a child was a significant predictor of psychopathological symptoms. The results suggested that effective and sustainable mental health services were required, especially for bereaved single-child parents. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.postprin

The reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Abbreviated PAD Emotion Scales

The study aimed at testing the reliabilityand validity of the Chinese version of Abbreviated PAD Emotion Scales using a Chinese sample. 297 Chinese undergraduate students were tested with the Chinese version of Abbreviated PAD Emotion Scales; 98 of them were retested with the same scales after seven days in order to assess thetest-retest reliability; and 102 of them were tested with SCL-90 at the same time which was intended as criteria for validity to assess the criterion validity. The results showedthat the Chinese version of Abbreviated PAD Emotion Scales displayed satisfying reliability and validity on P (pleasure-displeasure), only moderate reliability and validityon D (dominance-submissiveness), but quite low reliability and validity on A(arousal-nonarousal)The study aimed at testing the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of Abbreviated PAD Emotion Scales using a Chinese sample. 297 Chinese undergraduate students were tested with the Chinese version of Abbreviated PAD Emotion Scales; 98 of them were retested with the same scales after seven days in order to assess the test-retest reliability; and 102 of them were tested with SCL-90 at the same time which was intended as criteria for validity to assess the criterion validity. The results showed that the Chinese version of Abbreviated PAD Emotion Scales displayed satisfying reliability and validity on P (pleasure-displeasure), only moderate reliability and validity on D (dominance-submissiveness), but quite low reliability and validity on A (arousal-nonarousal)

The space group classification of topological band insulators

Topological band insulators (TBIs) are bulk insulating materials which feature topologically protected metallic states on their boundary. The existing classification departs from time-reversal symmetry, but the role of the crystal lattice symmetries in the physics of these topological states remained elusive. Here we provide the classification of TBIs protected not only by time-reversal, but also by crystalline symmetries. We find three broad classes of topological states: (a) Gamma-states robust against general time-reversal invariant perturbations; (b) Translationally-active states protected from elastic scattering, but susceptible to topological crystalline disorder; (c) Valley topological insulators sensitive to the effects of non-topological and crystalline disorder. These three classes give rise to 18 different two-dimensional, and, at least 70 three-dimensional TBIs, opening up a route for the systematic search for new types of TBIs.Comment: Accepted in Nature Physic

Resolving the strange behavior of extraterrestrial potassium in the upper atmosphere

It has been known since the 1960s that the layers of Na and K atoms, which occur between 80 and 105 km in the Earth's atmosphere as a result of meteoric ablation, exhibit completely different seasonal behavior. In the extratropics Na varies annually, with a pronounced wintertime maximum and summertime minimum. However, K varies semiannually with a small summertime maximum and minima at the equinoxes. This contrasting behavior has never been satisfactorily explained. Here we use a combination of electronic structure and chemical kinetic rate theory to determine two key differences in the chemistries of K and Na. First, the neutralization of K+ ions is only favored at low temperatures during summer. Second, cycling between K and its major neutral reservoir KHCO3 is essentially temperature independent. A whole atmosphere model incorporating this new chemistry, together with a meteor input function, now correctly predicts the seasonal behavior of the K layer

Relationship between land subsidence and hydraulic head under Jacob assumptions

A time-space distribution of large-scale land subsidence resulted from groundwater extraction frequently corresponds terrifically to that of groundwater level, which always behaves like a descent funnel, in a plain or basin region. In this paper, a theory of linear functional relationship between land subsidence and hydraulic head drawdown is developed under Jacob assumptions and then verified and perfected by cases study. The theoretical research and the cases study indicate: drawdown can lead to land subsidence; land subsidence value depends on not only the drawdown but also thickness and skeletal elastic specific storage of vertical compaction layer; just like seepage starts to happen in clayed formation only if hydraulic head gradient is greater than the initial, an initial drawdown is needed to start up the vertical water release and compaction; the vertical compaction of clayed formations satisfies Jacob assumptions; the vertical compaction formations consist mainly of clayed layers and interbeds, which coincides with the research conclusion of Thomas J. Burbey, Virginia University, on major directions of deformation of water-bearing deposits; land subsidence is mostly resulted from the vertical compression strain of clayed water-bearing deposits

Speciation analysis of 129I in seawater using coprecipitationand accelerator mass spectrometry and its applications

Speciation analysis of long-lived 129I in seawater can provide useful information on the source of water masses. This paper presents an improved method for speciation analysis of 129I based on coprecipitation of iodide as AgI with Ag2SO3 and AgCl. By adding a small amount of 127I carrier, the separation efficiency of iodine species and the accuracy and precision of 129I measurement are remarkably improved. 129I species in depth profiles of seawater from the Antarctic were analyzed for investigation of water circulation in the Antarctic