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Objectives: Depression and other mental disorders are more prevalent among individuals living with spinal cord injury (SCI) than in the community at large, and have a strong association with quality of life. Yet little is known about the prevalence and predictors of mental disorders among U.S. military Veterans living with SCI. The primary aim of this study was to present an estimate of mental disorder point prevalence in this population. The secondary aim was to examine the relationship of mental disorders to demographics, injury characteristics, and other clinically relevant features such as impairment from mental health problems and life satisfaction.Design: Cross-sectional.Setting: A SCI & Disorders Center at a U.S. Veterans Affairs Medical Center.Participants/Methods: Administrative and medical records of 280 Veterans who attended annual comprehensive SCI evaluations were evaluated. Demographics, injury characteristics, self-reported mental and emotional functioning (i.e. SF-8 Health Survey), and clinician-determined mental disorder diagnoses were attained.Results: Overall, 40% of patients received at least one mental disorder diagnosis, most commonly depressive disorders (19%), posttraumatic stress disorder (12%), and substance or alcohol use disorders (11%). Several patient characteristics predicted mental disorders, including age, racial minority identity, non-traumatic SCI etiology, and incomplete (i.e. AIS D) vs. complete injury. Mental disorders were associated with greater impairment from health and mental health-related problems and less satisfaction with life.Conclusions: Mental disorders are common among outpatients receiving VA specialty care for SCI. These findings highlight the importance of having adequate and effective available mental health services available for Veterans with SCI.

Context. The asteroid (21) Lutetia is the target of a planned close encounter by the Rosettaspacecraft in July 2010. To prepare for that flyby, Lutetia has been extensively observed by a variety of astronomical facilities.Aims. We used the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)to determine the albedo of Lutetia over a wide wavelength range, extending from ~1500 Å to ~7000 Å.Methods. Using data from a variety of HSTfilters and a ground-based visible light spectrum, we employed synthetic photometry techniques to derive absolute fluxes for Lutetia. New results from ground-based measurements of Lutetia's size and shape were used to convert the absolute fluxes into albedos.Results. We present our best model for the spectral energy distribution of Lutetia over the wavelength range 1200-8000 Å. There appears to be a steep drop in the albedo (by a factor of ~2) for wavelengths shorter than ~3000 Å. Nevertheless, the far ultraviolet albedo of Lutetia (~10%) is considerably larger than that of typical C-chondrite material (~4%). The geometric albedo at 5500 Å is 16.5 ±1%. Conclusions. Lutetia's reflectivity is not consistent with a metal-dominated surface at infrared or radar wavelengths, and its albedo at all wavelengths (UV-visibile-IR-radar) is larger than observed for typical primitive, chondritic material. We derive a relatively high FUV albedo of ~10%, a result that will be tested by observations with the Alicespectrograph during the Rosettaflyby of Lutetia in July 2010.

Context. The asteroid (21) Lutetia is the target of a planned close encounter by the Rosettaspacecraft in July 2010. To prepare for that flyby, Lutetia has been extensively observed by a variety of astronomical facilities.