bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Orthographic revision: A developmental study of how revisers check verbal agreements in written texts
Authors: Largy Pierre , Dédéyan Alexandra , Hupet Michel
Published: November 2004

Background: Writing is a complex activity involving various cognitive processes in the planning, the transcription and the revision of written texts. The present study focused on the revision of written texts within a developmental approach.

Aims: The study aimed to examine whether children and adults use different procedures to detect and revise erroneous grammatical agreements. It was predicted that children would use a slow algorithmic procedure while adults would use a fast automatized procedure.

Sample: One hundred and twenty participants from 5th grade to undergraduate levels (24 per level) participated in the study.

Method: The participants were asked to decide as quickly as possible whether a visually presented sentence had any agreement error. The French experimental sentences were of the type ‘The N1 of the N2 + Verb’, in which N2 was either a plausible subject of the following verb (e. g., The guard of the prisoners watches) or an implausible subject (e. g., The guard of the safes watches). Correctness and latency of the responses were recorded.

Results: The main results showed that only the younger participants were affected by the subject‐role plausibility of N2, and that there was no difference in response latency between their correct and incorrect responses. These observations support the hypothesis that the younger participants systematically apply a time‐consuming algorithmic procedure to verify the agreement; since one step of this procedure consists in searching for the subject of the verb, these participants were frequently misled by the subject‐role plausibility of N2. On the contrary, the older participants were not affected by the plausibility of N2, but were frequently misled by erroneous agreements between N2 and the verb. These observations support the view that these older participants use a fast decision strategy based on the co‐occurrence of formal indices. Their correct answers, however, were slower than their incorrect ones; this suggests that they also sometimes use a time‐consuming controlled procedure.

Conclusion: The study shows that along with the acquisition of writing expertise, the revising activity itself is progressively facilitated and gradually automatized by substituting a fast direct decision strategy for a slow and laborious use of revision rules.
‘What about bullying?’ An experimental field study to understand students' attitudes towards bullying and victimisation in Italian middle schools
Authors: Baldry Anna C.
Published: November 2004

Background: Attitudes towards bullying at school are influential in understanding and preventing bullying behaviour but they should be measured with reference to the particular conditions under which bullying takes place.

Aims: To establish how far positive and negative judgments of bullying and victims and blaming of the victim vary according to the gender of observers, gender of bullies and of victims and whether the bullying took place alone or in group.

Sample: Participants were 117 students (49 boys and 68 girls), aged 11–12, recruited from a middle school in Italy randomly allocated to one of four independent groups according to experimental condition: bullying alone among girls, bullying alone among boys, bullying in groups among girls, bullying in groups among boys.

Method: Participants watched one of four versions of a video according to experimental condition showing a brief standardized bullying episode taking place at a school; they then had to fill in a self‐report questionnaire measuring the dependent variables: respondents' positive or negative judgments towards the bully and the victim shown in the video and how far the victim was blamed for what had happened.

Results: Overall, results indicate students have positive attitudes towards the victims of bullying and tend not to blame them for what has happened. However, same gender identification lead girls to blame male victims more than female victims and the reverse applies in case of boys providing their judgments. A bully acting alone is considered stronger and braver than when acting in a group.

Conclusions: The limits and potential of the study are presented with special attention to implications for intervention strategies in school by focusing on the role observers could play in supporting the victims and discouraging the bullies.
The interactive effects of prior knowledge and text structure on memory for cognitive psychology texts
Authors: Wylie Judith , McGuinness Carol
Published: November 2004

Background: Interest in the interactive effects of prior knowledge and text structure on learning from text is increasing but experimental manipulations of knowledge and structure variables often produce findings that do not help teachers to select expository texts for students.

Aims: We aimed to extend the ecological validity of previous findings by asking students with a high or low level of discipline‐relevant knowledge to read texts characteristic of those they would normally encounter. A compensation effect was hypothesized, where high prior knowledge would compensate for a lack of text structure and text structure would compensate for a lack of prior knowledge.

Samples: One hundred and ninety‐five undergraduate psychology students (144 Year 1 students and 51 Year 3 students) were allocated to a high knowledge (HiPK) or low knowledge (LoPK) group on the basis of their performance on a word association test.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to one of five text structure groups (compare/contrast, sequence, classification, enumeration, generalization) and asked to study two cognitive psychology passages before recalling the main points of the text immediately afterwards and after a delay of 2 weeks. The five text structures were placed on an ‘organizational continuum’ according to the degree of structure/organization in the 10 passages.

Results: A compensation effect did not emerge. Recall was high when texts were well structured and readers had prior knowledge, but recall was poor when texts were less structured, regardless of the level of prior knowledge.

Conclusions: Readers benefit most from texts that challenge pre‐existing mental representations.
Profiles of non‐victims, escaped victims, continuing victims and new victims of school bullying
Authors: Smith Peter K. , Talamelli Lorenzo , Cowie Helen , Naylor Paul , Chauhan Preeti
Published: November 2004

Background: Victims of school bullying are known to be at risk in peer relationships and to sometimes use ineffective coping strategies, but little previous research has examined differences among escaped victims, continuing victims and new victims.

Aim: A follow‐up design compared friendships, behavioural characteristics, victimisation experiences and coping strategies of pupils who had 2 years previously answered a questionnaire identifying themselves as victims (V) or non‐victims (NV) of school bullying and whose current victim status could be identified.

Sample: 406 pupils aged 13–16 years (190 boys, 216 girls): 175 non‐victims (NV‐NV), 146 escaped victims (V‐NV), 27 new victims (NV‐V) and 58 continuing victims (V‐V).

Method: Structured interviews were given to pupils, together with the SDQ. Teachers also filled in the SDQ. School records of attendance were obtained.

Results: Escaped victims did not differ greatly from non‐victims, but had some self‐perception of continuing peer relationship difficulties. Continuing victims, irrespective of gender, liked other pupils and breaktime less (but did not dislike other aspects of school), had fewer friends in school (but not outside school), more often missed school (sometimes because of bullying), scored high on problem scales of the SDQ, and were more likely to be involved in bullying others as well as being bullied. New victims tended to resemble continuing victims. Continuing victims did not differ from escaped victims on type of bullying, but new and continuing victims less often reported talking to someone about a specific incident of bullying. Most victims gave mainly victim‐related reasons for the bullying having taken place.

Conclusion: The results are discussed in relation to why some pupils become or continue to be victims in secondary school, and recommendations for anti‐bullying procedures in schools designed to help such victims.
The relation of depression and anxiety to life‐stress and achievement in students
Authors: Andrews Bernice , Wilding John M.
Published: November 2004

Objectives: An apparent increase in seriously disturbed students consulting student health services in the UK has led to concern that increasing financial difficulties and other outside pressures may affect student mental health and academic performance. The current research investigated whether student anxiety and depression increases after college entry, the extent to which adverse life experiences contribute to any increases, and the impact of adversity, anxiety and depression on exam performance.

Method: 351 UK‐domiciled undergraduates completed questionnaires one month before university entry and mid‐course. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS: Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) was administered at both time points and a modified List of Threatening Experiences (Brugha, Bebbington, Tennant, & Hurry, 1985) was administered mid‐course.

Results: By mid‐course 9% of previously symptom‐free students became depressed and 20% became anxious at a clinically significant level. Of those previously anxious or depressed 36% had recovered. After adjusting for pre‐entry symptoms, financial difficulties made a significant independent contribution to depression and relationship difficulties independently predicted anxiety. Depression and financial difficulties mid‐course predicted a decrease in exam performance from first to second year.

Conclusions: This is the first study to confirm empirically that financial and other difficulties can increase British students' levels of anxiety and depression and that financial difficulties and depression can affect academic performance. However, university life may also have a beneficial effect for some students with pre‐existing conditions. With widening participation in higher education, the results have important implications for educational and health policies.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Induces Mammalian Target of Rapamycin-Dependent Local Activation of Translation Machinery and Protein Synthesis in Neuronal Dendrites
Authors: Takei Nobuyuki , Inamura Naoko , Kawamura Mihoko , Namba Hisaaki , Hara Kenta , Yonezawa Kazuyoshi , Nawa Hiroyuki
Published: November 2004

In neurons, perisynaptic or dendritic translation is implicated in synapse-wide alterations of function and morphology triggered by neural activity. The molecular mechanisms controlling local translation activation, however, have yet to be elucidated. Here, we show that local protein synthesis and translational activation in neuronal dendrites are upregulated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in a rapamycin and small interfering RNA specific for mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-sensitive manner. In parallel, BDNF induced the phosphorylation of tuberin and the activation of mTOR in dendrites and the synaptoneurosome fraction. mTOR activation stimulated translation initiation processes involving both eIF4E/4E-binding protein (4EBP) and p70S6 kinase/ribosomal S6 protein. BDNF induced phosphorylation of 4EBP in isolated dendrites. Moreover, local puff application of BDNF to dendrites triggered S6 phosphorylation in a restricted area. Taken together, these data indicate that mTOR-dependent translation activation is essential for the upregulation of local protein synthesis in neuronal dendrites.
Late Calcium EDTA Rescues Hippocampal CA1 Neurons from Global Ischemia-Induced Death
Authors: Calderone Agata , Jover Teresa , Mashiko Toshihiro , Noh Kyung-min , Tanaka Hidenobu , Bennett Michael V. L. , Zukin R. Suzanne
Published: November 2004

Transient global ischemia induces a delayed rise in intracellular Zn2+, which may be mediated via glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2)-lacking AMPA receptors (AMPARs), and selective, delayed death of hippocampal CA1 neurons. The molecular mechanisms underlying Zn2+toxicityin vivoare not well delineated. Here we show the striking finding that intraventricular injection of the high-affinity Zn2+chelator calcium EDTA (CaEDTA) at 30 min before ischemia (early CaEDTA) or at 48-60 hr (late CaEDTA), but not 3-6 hr, after ischemia, afforded robust protection of CA1 neurons in ∼50% (late CaEDTA) to 75% (early CaEDTA) of animals. We also show that Zn2+acts via temporally distinct mechanisms to promote neuronal death. Early CaEDTA attenuated ischemia-induced GluR2 mRNA and protein downregulation (and, by inference, formation of Zn2+-permeable AMPARs), the delayed rise in Zn2+, and neuronal death. These findings suggest that Zn2+acts at step(s) upstream from GluR2 gene downregulation and implicate Zn2+in transcriptional regulation and/or GluR2 mRNA stability. Early CaEDTA also blocked mitochondrial release of cytochromecand Smac/DIABLO (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases/direct inhibitor of apoptosis protein-binding protein with low pI), caspase-3 activity (but not procaspase-3 cleavage), p75NTRinduction, and DNA fragmentation. These findings indicate that CaEDTA preserves the functional integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane and arrests the caspase death cascade. Late injection of CaEDTA at a time when GluR2 is downregulated and caspase is activated inhibited the delayed rise in Zn2+, p75NTRinduction, DNA fragmentation, and cell death. The finding of neuroprotection by late CaEDTA administration has striking implications for intervention in the delayed neuronal death associated with global ischemia.
p53 Activation Domain 1 Is Essential for PUMA Upregulation and p53-Mediated Neuronal Cell Death
Authors: Cregan Sean P. , Arbour Nicole A. , MacLaurin Jason G. , Callaghan Steven M. , Fortin Andre , Cheung Eric C. C. , Guberman Daniel S. , Park David S. , Slack Ruth S.
Published: November 2004

Thep53tumor suppressor gene has been implicated in the regulation of apoptosis in a number of different neuronal death paradigms. Because of the importance of p53 in neuronal injury, we questioned the mechanism underlying p53-mediated apoptosis in neurons. Using adenoviral-mediated gene delivery, reconstitution experiments, and mice carrying a knock-in mutation in the endogenousp53gene, we show that the transactivation function of p53 is essential to induce neuronal cell death. Although p53 possesses two transactivation domains that can activate p53 targets independently, we demonstrate that the first activation domain (ADI) is required to drive apoptosis after neuronal injury. Furthermore, the BH3-only proteins Noxa and PUMA exhibit differential regulation by the two transactivation domains. Here, we show that Noxa can be induced by either activation domain, whereas PUMA induction requires both activation domains to be intact. Unlike Noxa, the upregulation of PUMA alone is sufficient to induce neuronal cell death. We demonstrate, therefore, that the first transactivation domain of p53 is indispensable for the induction of neuronal cell death.
Microglial Phagocytosis of Fibrillar β-Amyloid through a β1Integrin-Dependent Mechanism
Authors: Koenigsknecht Jessica , Landreth Gary
Published: November 2004

Microglia are the principle immune effector and phagocytic cells in the CNS. These cells are associated with fibrillar β-amyloid (fAβ)-containing plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The plaque-associated microglia undergo a phenotypic conversion into an activated phenotype and are responsible for the development of a focal inflammatory response that exacerbates and accelerates the disease process. Paradoxically, despite the presence of abundant activated microglia in the brain of AD patients, these cells fail to mount a phagocytic response to Aβ deposits but can efficiently phagocytose Aβ fibrils and plaquesin vitro.

We report that exposure of microglia to fAβin vitroinduces phagocytosis through mechanisms distinct from those used by the classical phagocytic receptors, the Ig receptors (FcRγI and FcγRIII) or complement receptors. Microglia interact with fAβ through a recently characterized Aβ cell surface receptor complex comprising the B-class scavenger receptor CD36, α6β1integrin, and CD47 (integrin-associated protein). Antagonists specific for each component of the receptor complex blocks fAβ-stimulated phagocytosis. These data demonstrated that engagement of this ensemble of receptors is required for induction of phagocytosis. The phagocytic response stimulated by this receptor complex is driven principally by a β1integrin-linked process that is morphologically and mechanistically distinct from the classical type I and type II phagocytic mechanisms. These data provide evidence for phagocytic uptake of fAβ through a receptor-mediated, nonclassical phagocytic mechanism.
An Early Broad Competence of Motoneurons to ExpressER81Is Later Sculpted by the Periphery
Authors: Wang Guoying , Scott Sheryl A.
Published: November 2004

The ETS transcription factor ER81 is expressed in sensory neurons and motoneurons that innervate the adductor and femorotibialis muscles in chick hindlimb and is essential for the development of monosynaptic connections between these two populations of neurons. Neurons need a signal(s) from limb bud mesoderm to initiate ER81 expression. It is not known whether the mature expression pattern arises because adductor and femorotibialis motoneurons are uniquely competent to respond to peripheral signals and express ER81, or whether all motoneurons are competent to express ER81, but normally only adductor and femorotibialis motoneurons are exposed to the requisite activating signal. To investigate these possibilities, we examinedER81expression in motoneurons that encountered limb tissue surgically mismatched with their target identity at stages after motor pool identities are established. We found thatER81expression was not invariably linked to motor pool identity or target innervation and was more malleable in later-born femorotibialis motoneurons than in earlier-born adductor motoneurons. We also found thatER81expression is regulated differently in sensory neurons and motoneurons. Most striking was the observation that motoneurons caudal to the normal adductor and femorotibialis pools could expressER81when exposed to the appropriate peripheral signals, although this competence did not extend through the entire lumbosacral (LS) region. Thus, it appears that a prepattern of competence to expressER81is established in early LS motoneurons, most likely in concert with their target identity, and that the expression domains of motoneurons are subsequently refined by peripheral signals at later stages.
The Zn(II)2Cys6 Putative Aspergillus nidulans Transcription Factor Repressor of Sexual Development Inhibits Sexual Development Under Low-Carbon Conditions and in Submersed CultureSequence data from this article have been deposited with the EMBL/GenBank Data Libraries under accession no. CAD58393.
Authors: Vienken Kay , Scherer Mario , Fischer Reinhard
Published: November 2004

Here we have characterized the putative Zn(II)2Cys6 transcription factor RosA from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The rosA gene encodes a protein of 713 aa, which shares 38% sequence similarity to Pro1 from Sordaria macrospora. In contrast to Pro1, which promotes the transition from protoperithecia to perithecia, RosA is a negative regulator of sexual development in A. nidulans. Transcript levels of rosA were usually very low and were only transiently upregulated upon carbon starvation and at 12 hr of asexual development. Deletion of rosA only slightly induced fruiting-body formation under standard culture conditions, but enabled sexual development under low-glucose and high-osmolarity conditions and the production of Hülle cells under submersed growth conditions. Stimulation of fruiting-body formation on agar surfaces was dependent on veA. In ΔrosA strains, transcript levels of the sexual developmental regulators nsdD, veA, and stuA were increased. Overexpression of rosA led to a reduction of hyphal growth and to a fluffy phenotype. Post-transcriptional regulation of RosA, with a regulated accumulation in the nucleus, was shown using a RosA-GFP fusion protein. We propose that RosA represses sexual development upon integration of several environmental signals.
Analysis of Conditional Paralytic Mutants in Drosophila Sarco-Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium ATPase Reveals Novel Mechanisms for Regulating Membrane Excitability
Authors: Sanyal S , Consoulas C , Kuromi H , Basole A , Mukai L , Kidokoro Y , Krishnan K S , Ramaswami M
Published: November 2004

Individual contributions made by different calcium release and sequestration mechanisms to various aspects of excitable cell physiology are incompletely understood. SERCA, a sarco-endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, being the main agent for calcium uptake into the ER, plays a central role in this process. By isolation and extensive characterization of conditional mutations in the Drosophila SERCA gene, we describe novel roles of this key protein in neuromuscular physiology and enable a genetic analysis of SERCA function. At motor nerve terminals, SERCA inhibition retards calcium sequestration and reduces the amplitude of evoked excitatory junctional currents. This suggests a direct contribution of store-derived calcium in determining the quantal content of evoked release. Conditional paralysis of SERCA mutants is also marked by prolonged neural activity-driven muscle contraction, thus reflecting the phylogenetically conserved role of SERCA in terminating contraction. Further analysis of ionic currents from mutants uncovers SERCA-dependent mechanisms regulating voltage-gated calcium channels and calcium-activated potassium channels that together control muscle excitability. Finally, our identification of dominant loss-of-function mutations in SERCA indicates novel intra- and intermolecular interactions for SERCA in vivo, overlooked by current structural models.
Genomic Heterogeneity of Background Substitutional Patterns in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Singh Nadia D , Arndt Peter F , Petrov Dmitri A
Published: November 2004

Mutation is the underlying force that provides the variation upon which evolutionary forces can act. It is important to understand how mutation rates vary within genomes and how the probabilities of fixation of new mutations vary as well. If substitutional processes across the genome are heterogeneous, then examining patterns of coding sequence evolution without taking these underlying variations into account may be misleading. Here we present the first rigorous test of substitution rate heterogeneity in the Drosophila melanogaster genome using almost 1500 nonfunctional fragments of the transposable element DNAREP1_DM. Not only do our analyses suggest that substitutional patterns in heterochromatic and euchromatic sequences are different, but also they provide support in favor of a recombination-associated substitutional bias toward G and C in this species. The magnitude of this bias is entirely sufficient to explain recombination-associated patterns of codon usage on the autosomes of the D. melanogaster genome. We also document a bias toward lower GC content in the pattern of small insertions and deletions (indels). In addition, the GC content of noncoding DNA in Drosophila is higher than would be predicted on the basis of the pattern of nucleotide substitutions and small indels. However, we argue that the fast turnover of noncoding sequences in Drosophila makes it difficult to assess the importance of the GC biases in nucleotide substitutions and small indels in shaping the base composition of noncoding sequences.
Genetic Analysis of RpL38 and RpL5, Two Minute Genes Located in the Centric Heterochromatin of Chromosome 2 of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Marygold Steven J , Coelho Carmen M A , Leevers Sally J
Published: November 2004

The Minute mutations of Drosophila melanogaster are thought to disrupt genes that encode ribosomal proteins (RPs) and thus impair ribosome function and protein synthesis. However, relatively few Minutes have been tied to distinct RP genes and more Minute loci are likely to be discovered. We have identified point mutations in RpL38 and RpL5 in a screen for factors limiting for growth of the D. melanogaster wing. Here, we present the first genetic characterization of these loci. RpL38 is located in the centric heterochromatin of chromosome arm 2R and is identical to a previously identified Minute, M(2)41A, and also l(2)41Af. RpL5 is located in the 2L centric heterochromatin and defines a novel Minute gene. Both genes are haplo-insufficient, as heterozygous mutations cause the classic Minute phenotypes of small bristles and delayed development. Surprisingly, we find that RpL38−/+ and RpL5−/+ adult flies have abnormally large wings as a result of increased cell size, emphasizing the importance of translational regulation in the control of growth. Taken together, our data provide new molecular and genetic information on two previously uncharacterized Minute/RP genes, the heterochromatic regions in which they reside, and the role of their protein products in the control of organ growth.
Mapping Multiple Quantitative Trait Loci by Bayesian Classification
Authors: Zhang Min , Montooth Kristi L , Wells Martin T , Clark Andrew G , Zhang Dabao
Published: November 2004

We developed a classification approach to multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping built upon a Bayesian framework that incorporates the important prior information that most genotypic markers are not cotransmitted with a QTL or their QTL effects are negligible. The genetic effect of each marker is modeled using a three-component mixture prior with a class for markers having negligible effects and separate classes for markers having positive or negative effects on the trait. The posterior probability of a marker's classification provides a natural statistic for evaluating credibility of identified QTL. This approach performs well, especially with a large number of markers but a relatively small sample size. A heat map to visualize the results is proposed so as to allow investigators to be more or less conservative when identifying QTL. We validated the method using a well-characterized data set for barley heading values from the North American Barley Genome Mapping Project. Application of the method to a new data set revealed sex-specific QTL underlying differences in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activity between two Drosophila species. A simulation study demonstrated the power of this approach across levels of trait heritability and when marker data were sparse.
The Novel Drosophila timblind Mutation Affects Behavioral Rhythms but Not Periodic Eclosion
Authors: Wülbeck Corinna , Szabo Gisela , Shafer Orie T , Helfrich-Förster Charlotte , Stanewsky Ralf
Published: November 2004

Circadian clock function depends on the tightly regulated exclusion or presence of clock proteins within the nucleus. A newly induced long-period timeless mutant, timblind, encodes a constitutively hypophosphorylated TIM protein. The mutant protein is not properly degraded by light, and timblind flies show abnormal behavioral responses to light pulses. This is probably caused by impaired nuclear accumulation of TIMBLIND protein, which we observed in brain pacemaker neurons and photoreceptor cells of the compound eye. timblind encodes two closely spaced amino acid changes compared to the wild-type TIM protein; one of them is within a putative nuclear export signal of TIM. Under constant conditions, timblind flies exhibit 26-hr free-running locomotor rhythms, which are not correlated with a period lengthening of eclosion rhythms and period-luciferase reporter-gene oscillations. Therefore it seems possible that TIM—in addition to its well-established role as core clock factor—functions as a clock output factor, involved in determining the period length of adult locomotor rhythms.
Haplotype Analysis of the β2 Adrenergic Receptor Gene and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Humans
Authors: Zee Robert Y L , Cook Nancy R , Reynolds Rebecca , Cheng Suzanne , Ridker Paul M
Published: November 2004

Polymorphisms in the β2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2), in particular G16R, Q27E, and T164I, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and metabolic phenotypes. However, no prospective, genetic-epidemiological data are available on the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with these variants. Using DNA samples collected at baseline in a prospective cohort of 14,916 initially healthy American men, we evaluated the G16R, Q27E, and T164I polymorphisms among 523 individuals who subsequently developed myocardial infarction and among 2092 individuals who remained free of reported cardiovascular events during follow-up. The haplotype frequency distribution was significantly different among cases and controls ($\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{{\chi}}^{2}_{7\mathrm{d.f}.}\ =\ 20.92\) \end{document}$, P = 0.0039). Haplotype-based logistic regression, adjusting for age, smoking, and randomized treatment group, indicated that G16-Q27-I164 (odds ratio 0.178, 95% C.I. 0.043–0.737, P = 0.017) and (non-G16-Q27)-T164 (odds ratio 1.235, 95% C.I. 1.031–1.480, P = 0.022) haplotypes were significantly associated with altered risk of myocardial infarction. These findings remained after further adjustment for BMI, history of hypertension, and presence or absence of diabetes. In conclusion, variation in haplotype frequencies for the β2 adrenergic receptor gene was found to be associated with risk of myocardial infarction.
Power concavity on nonlinear parabolic flows
Authors: Lee Ki‐Ahm
Published: November 2004

Our object in this paper is to show that the concavity of the power of a solution is preserved in the parabolic p‐Laplace equation, called power concavity, and that the power is determined by the homogeneity of the parabolic operator. In the parabolic p‐Laplace equation

for the density u, the concavity of u(p−2)/p is considered, which indicates why the log‐concavity has been considered in heat flow, p = 2. In addition, the long time existence of the classical solution of the parabolic p‐Laplacian equation can be obtained if the initial smooth data has ${p-2 \over p}$‐concavity and a nondegenerate gradient along the initial boundary. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Selective memory impairment on an adapted Mini‐Mental State Examination increases risk of future dementia
Authors: Olazarán J. , Trincado R. , Bermejo F. , Benito‐León J. , Díaz J. , Vega S.
Published: November 2004

Objective

To determine whether selective memory impairment (SMI) on an adapted Mini‐Mental State Examination (aMMSE) test increases risk of future dementia in a population‐based survey of central Spain.

Background

SMI is a strong predictor of dementia in the elderly. However, most approaches have used extensive memory batteries, which are not always suitable for screening purposes.

Methods

The basal cohort consisted of 2982 poorly educated individuals aged 65 or over. Dementia, stroke and parkinsonism cases were previously excluded. At entry, participants received a structured interview including an aMMSE. Two groups were created according to basal cognitive performance, namely: (1) aMMSE > 23 and no word remembered on the aMMSE delayed‐recall task (SMI group); and (2) aMMSE > 23 and at least one word remembered on the delayed‐recall task (control group). In a three‐year follow‐up wave, conversion rate to dementia was calculated and logistic regression was performed.

Results

Of a total of 2507 subjects who completed the two evaluations, 280 qualified for SMI at entry. In the SMI group, 25 subjects (8.9%) developed dementiavs26 subjects (1.2%) in the control group. Taking the two groups together, and once demographic and medical variables had been controlled, a low delayed‐recall score increased dementia conversion rate (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.34–0.64). Alzheimer's disease was the main cause of dementia (79.8%).

Conclusions

Memory impairment is a risk factor for future dementia in the neurologically‐healthy elderly. This can be observed in a subgroup of subjects with SMI defined on the aMMSE delayed‐recall subscore. Some other measurements should be added to the SMI construct to improve its predictive validity. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A DNA uptake‐stimulating protein increases the antiproliferative effect of c‐myb antisense oligonucleotide on leukemic cells
Authors: Tóth György , Schlammadinger József , Aradi János , Antal‐Szalmás Péter , Sipka Sándor , Balázs Margit , Kovács Péter , Fehér Zsigmond , Falus András
Published: November 2004

Proliferation of HL‐60 and MOLT4 leukemia cells was inhibited by a c‐myb antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) in the presence of a DNA uptake‐stimulating protein (DNA uptake‐stimulating factor, DUSF). The inhibitory effect was very mild in the absence of DUSF. Sense oligonucleotides or DUSF, alone or in combination, were found to be ineffective. Cellular expression of the c‐myb protein was significantly more inhibited by the c‐myb ASO in the presence than in the absence of DUSF. In the presence of DUSF, c‐myb protein practically disappeared from the nuclei of HL‐60 and MOLT4 cells treated with the ASO. Thus, DUSF appears to effectively stimulate the uptake of c‐myb ASO into tumor cells in vitro, augmenting its antiproliferative effect by decreasing c‐myb expression.
Validation of the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire self-report version in two samples of French-speaking individuals exposed to trauma
Authors: Birmes Philippe , Brunet Alain , Benoit Maryse , Defer Sabine , Hatton Leah , Sztulman Henri , Schmitt Laurent
Published: November 2004

Background

Peritraumatic dissociation is a risk factor for developing PTSD. The Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire (PDEQ) is a self-report inventory used to assess dissociation that occurred at the time of a trauma. The aim of this study was the validation the PDEQ in French.

Methods

Ninety French speaking traumatized victims presenting to the emergency department were recruited. They were administered the PDEQ shortly after exposure and others trauma-related measures 2 weeks and 1 month posttrauma.

Results

Principal components factor analyses suggested a single factor solution for the PDEQ. Significant correlations between the PDEQ and acute and posttraumatic stress symptoms indicated moderate to strong convergent validity. The PDEQ also showed satisfactory test–retest reliability and internal consistency.

Conclusions

This study is the first one to investigate such detailed psychometric findings on the PDEQ. This confirms the unity of the concept of peritraumatic dissociation and the value of the PDEQ-French Version to assess it.
Obstetric complications in patients with schizophrenia and their unaffected siblings
Authors: Walshe M. , McDonald C. , Taylor M. , Zhao J. , Sham P. , Grech A. , Schulze K. , Bramon E. , Murray R.M.
Published: November 2004

Objective

We sought to explore whether obstetric complications (OCs) are more likely to occur in the presence of familial/genetic susceptibility for schizophrenia or whether they themselves represent an independent environmental risk factor for schizophrenia.

Methods

The presence of OCs was assessed through maternal interview on 216 subjects, comprising 36 patients with schizophrenia from multiply affected families, 38 of their unaffected siblings, 31 schizophrenic patients with no family history of psychosis, 51 of their unaffected siblings and 60 normal comparison subjects. We examined the familiality of OCs and whether OCs were commoner in the patient and sibling groups than in the control group.

Results

OCs tended to cluster within families, especially in multiply affected families. Patients with schizophrenia, especially those from multiply affected families, had a significantly higher rate of OCs compared to normal comparison subjects, but there was no evidence for an elevated rate of OCs in unaffected siblings.

Conclusion

Our data provides little evidence for a link between OCs and genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia. If high rates of OCs are related to schizophrenia genes, this relationship is weak and will only be detected by very large sample sizes.
Incidence of eating disorders in Navarra (Spain)
Authors: Lahortiga-Ramos Francisca , De Irala-Estévez Jokin , Cano-Prous Adrián , Gual-García Pilar , Martínez-González Miguel Ángel , Cervera-Enguix Salvador
Published: November 2004

Background

To estimate the overall annual incidence and age group distribution of eating disorders in a representative sample of adolescent female residents of Navarra, Spain.

Methods

We studied a representative sample of 2734 adolescent Navarran females between 13 and 22 years of age who were free of any eating disorder at the start of our study. Eighteen months into the study, we visited the established centers and the eating attitudes test (EAT-40) and eating disorder inventory (EDI) Questionnaires were administered to the entire study population. We obtained a final response of 92%. All adolescents whose EAT score was over 21 points and a randomized sample of those who scored 21 or below, were interviewed. Any person meeting the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for Anorexia Nervosa (AN), Bulimia Nervosa (BN) or eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) was considered a case.

Results

We detected 90 new cases of eating disorders. Taking into consideration the randomly selected group whose EAT score was 21 points or below, we estimated the overall weighted incidence of eating disorders to be 4.8% (95% CI: 2.8–6.8), after 18 months of observation, in which EDNOS predominated with an incidence of 4.2% (95% CI: 2.0–6.3). The incidence of AN was 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2–0.5), while that of BN was also found to be 0.3% (95% CI: 0.2–0.5). The highest incidence was observed in the group of adolescents between 15 and 16 years of age.

Conclusions

The overall incidence of ED in a cohort of 2509 adolescents after 18 months of follow-up was 4.8% (95% CI: 2.8–6.8), with EDNOS outweighing the other diagnoses. The majority of new cases of eating disorders were diagnosed between ages 15 and 16.
Clinical outcome and olanzapine plasma levels in acute schizophrenia
Authors: Mauri M.C. , Steinhilber CPC , Marino R. , Invernizzi E. , Fiorentini A. , Cerveri G. , Baldi M.L. , Barale F.
Published: November 2004

Purpose

This open label study was performed to evaluate the relationship between the plasma concentration of olanzapine and the response in acute schizophrenic inpatients.

Material and methods

A total of 54 inpatients, 38 males and 16 females, age ranging from 18 to 75 years, affected by Schizophrenia (DSM IV criteria) during an exacerbation phase were included in the study. Olanzapine (OLZ) was started at a dose of 5–20 mg/day and was increased to a mean dose of 15.27 mg ±5.53 S.D. Patients were evaluated at baseline, and after 2 weeks, by using BPRS, PANNS, HRS-D, EPSE, and ACS.

Results

BPRS and total PANSS showed a statistically significant improvement at the end of the study. Olanzapine plasma levels (PL) ranged from 5 to 120 ng/ml (mean 33.15 ng/ml ± 28.28 S.D.) and showed a positive correlation with OLZ dosage. A significant curvilinear correlation between OLZ PL and clinical improvement (BPRS, PANSS and HRS-D percent of amelioration) was observed.

Conclusion

Olanzapine plasma level determination seems to be a useful tool in optimizing acute treatment particularly for more problematic cases.
The consumption of cigarettes, coffee and sweets in detoxified alcoholics and its association with relapse and a family history of alcoholism
Authors: Junghanns Klaus , Backhaus Jutta , Tietz Ulrike , Lange Wolfgang , Rink Lothar , Wetterling Tilman , Driessen Martin
Published: November 2004

Thirty male alcohol dependent inpatients without concurrent depressive disorder, 13 of them with a positive family history of alcohol dependence in a first degree relative (PFH), were questioned about their desire and consumption habits with respect to cigarettes, coffee, and sweets while on a three-week inpatient treatment after detoxification from alcohol. Six weeks after discharge from hospital, the patients were reassessed for relapse. Eleven patients (36.6%) had relapsed at follow-up. Relapsers were younger than abstainers. The days until relapse correlated negatively with intensity of desire to drink alcohol, desire to smoke cigarettes, and with a higher consumption of cigarettes. PFH patients did not relapse earlier but they had a stronger desire to drink coffee and eat sweets and had a higher coffee consumption.
Paroxysmal MEG activity in obsessive compulsive patients without SSRIs therapy
Authors: Amo C. , Fernández A. , León J.M. , Ortiz T. , Maestú F. , Ferre F. , López-Ibor M.I. , López-Ibor J.J.
Published: November 2004

We describe a fronto-temporal paroxysmal rhythmic activity registered by magnetoencephalography (MEG) in two patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) without SSRIs treatment. The localization of the activity involves cingulate cortex and frontal areas. We think that these MEG findings are related to the disease itself, rather than representing pharmacological SSRIs effect.
Effects of climate on admission rates of schizophrenia patients to psychiatric hospitals
Authors: Shiloh Roni , Shapira Avraham , Potchter Oded , Hermesh Haggai , Popper Miriam , Weizman Abraham
Published: November 2004

Data on admissions of schizophrenia- and schizoaffective disorder patients to Tel-Aviv’s seven public psychiatric hospitals during 11 consecutive years were obtained along with relevant meteorological information. Mean monthly admission rates were significantly higher during the summer (for schizophrenia patients) and fall (for schizoaffective patients). Schizophrenia patients’ mean monthly admission rates correlated with mean maximal monthly environmental temperature (R =0.35, N =132 months, P <0.001). The present study may indicate that persistent high environmental temperature may be a contributing factor for psychotic exacerbation in schizophrenia patients and their consequent admission to mental hospitals.
Trotskyism Emerges from Obscurity: New Chapters in Its Historiography
Authors: Stutje Jan Willem
Published: November 2004

BENSAÏD, DANIEL. Les trotskysmes. Deuxième éd. [Que sais-je?, 3629.] Presses Universitaires de France, Paris 2002. 128 pp. € 6.50.

CHARPIER, FRÉDÉRIC. Histoire de l'extrême gauche trotskiste. De 1929 à nos jours. Editions 1, Paris 2002. 402 pp. € 22.00.

MARIE, JEAN-JACQUES. Le trotskysme et les trotskystes. D'hier à aujourd'hui, l'ideologie et les objectifs des trotskystes à travers le monde. [Collection L'Histoire au present.] Armand Colin, Paris 2002. 224 pp. € 21.00.

NICK, CHRISTOPHE. Les Trotskistes. Fayard, [Paris] 2003. 618 pp. € 23.00.

The Trotskyist Fourth International went through many quarrels and splits after its foundation in 1938 – understandably, given the political and social isolation in which the movement generally functioned. Its enemies to its left and right crowded the Trotskyists into an uncomfortably narrow space. Trotskyists' intense internal discussions functioned as a sort of immune response, which could only be effective if theoretical and programmatic issues were clearly formulated. The more practical success eluded them, the more programmatic clarity served as compensation and monopolized their attention. In the name of various “isms” their passions sometimes took acute forms, while, under the surface, “ordinary” human shortcomings threw oil on the fire.
Mediating ethnic conflict at the grassroots: the role of local associational life in shaping political values in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana
Authors: MacLean Lauren Morris
Published: November 2004

This article attempts to understand why ethnic-regional civil war has challenged the national unity of Côte d'Ivoire and not Ghana, two neighbouring countries with nearly identical ethnic, religious and regional divisions, by examining politics at the grassroots. Based on a carefully controlled comparison of two similar regions of Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, the study investigates how participation in local voluntary associations reinforces the local experience of the state to shape the ongoing development of political values and affect the prospects for ethnic peace and democracy. The article finds that participation in ethnically heterogeneous voluntary associations does not necessarily promote democratic values and practice. In fact, in Côte d'Ivoire, participation in ethnically heterogeneous cocoa producer and mutual assistance organisations reinforces vertical patronage networks based on narrower ethnic identities. In contrast, in Ghana, participation in more ethnically homogeneous local church groups encourages the development of democratic values and practices at the local level that mediate the potential for ethnic conflict and support the consolidation of a democratic regime.
Mutual criticism and state/society interaction in Botswana
Authors: Maundeni Zibani
Published: November 2004

State/civil society interaction in Botswana displays patterns characterised by mutual criticism in each other's presence, the willingness of state officials to meet and exchange views with non-state leaders, and the media's role of reminding the contestants to meet and exchange views. The Botswana political culture compels/constrains contestants to meet and exchange views rather than to disengage and resort to the trading of unpleasant remarks in the media and to industrial action on the street. The theoretical implication is that political culture vitally shapes state/civil society interaction and should not be ignored by researchers who seek to define/characterise strong/weak civil societies.
Acidocalcisomes ofPhytomonas françaiPossess Distinct Morphological Characteristics and Contain Iron
Authors: Miranda Kildare , Rodrigues Claudia O. , Hentchel Joachim , Vercesi Anibal , Plattner Helmut , de Souza Wanderley , Docampo Roberto
Published: November 2004

Acidocalcisomes are acidic calcium storage compartments described initially in trypanosomatid and apicomplexan parasites, and recently found in other unicellular eukaryotes. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of acidocalcisomes in the plant trypanosomatidPhytomonas françai. Electron-dense organelles ofP. françaiwere shown to contain large amounts of oxygen, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc as determined by X-ray microanalysis, eitherin situor when purified using iodixanol gradient centrifugation or by elemental mapping. The presence of iron is not common in other acidocalcisomes.In situ, but not when purified, these organelles showed an elongated shape differing from previously described acidocalcisomes. However, these organelles also possessed a vacuolar H+-pyrophosphatase (V-H+-PPase) as determined by biochemical methods and by immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies against the enzyme. Together, these results suggest that the electron-dense organelles ofP. françaiare homologous to the acidocalcisomes described in other trypanosomatids, although with distinct morphology and elemental content.