bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Current CAPE‐15: a measure of recent psychotic‐like experiences and associated distress
Authors: Capra Carina , Kavanagh David J. , Hides Leanne , Scott James G. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimPsychotic‐like experiences (PLEs) are common in young people and are associated with both distress and adverse outcomes. The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences‐Positive Scale (CAPE‐P) provides a 20‐item measure of lifetime PLEs. A 15‐item revision of this scale was recently published (CAPE‐P15). Although the CAPE‐P has been used to assess PLEs in the last 12 months, there is no version of the CAPE for assessing more recent PLEs (e.g. 3 months). This study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of the current CAPE‐P15 and assess its relationship with current distress.MethodA cross‐sectional online survey of 489 university students (17–25 years) assessed lifetime and current substance use, current distress, and lifetime and 3‐month PLEs on the CAPE‐P15.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis indicated that the current CAPE‐P15 retained the same three‐factor structure as the lifetime version consisting of persecutory ideation, bizarre experiences and perceptual abnormalities. The total score of the current version was lower than the lifetime version, but the two were strongly correlated (r = .64). The current version was highly predictive of generalized distress (r = .52) and indices that combined symptom frequency with associated distress did not confer greater predictive power than frequency alone.ConclusionThis study provided preliminary data that the current CAPE‐P15 provides a valid and reliable measure of current PLEs. The current CAPE‐P15 is likely to have substantial practical utility if it is later shown to be sensitive to change, especially in prevention and early intervention for mental disorders in young people.
Individual differences in perceptual abilities predict target visibility during masking
Authors: Pagano Silvia , Mazza Veronica 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMany studies have shown that the visual system can implicitly process a single stimulus under conditions of low visibility. However, it remains unknown whether this ability extends when viewing conditions become more difficult, and whether differences in early perceptual abilities modulate masking sensitivity. To address these issues, participants enumerated a variable number of target elements among distracters in two electroencephalography experiments. Either one (Experiment 1) or all targets (Experiment 2) were masked through object‐substitution. Results showed that an event‐related potential measure of selective individuation, the N2pc component, was modulated by target numerosity in both masked and unmasked trials, suggesting that multiple object individuation can operate in conditions of limited visibility. However, this effect was present mainly for participants with low masking effects, who overall showed more pronounced N2pc modulations as a function of target numerosity. Finally, oscillatory activity analyses revealed that early segmentation mechanisms, as reflected by lateralized gamma synchronization, were more active in participants with low sensitivity to masking, suggesting that individual variation in early perceptual functions is associated with susceptibility to masking such that more efficient segmentation and individuation mechanisms reduce the effects of masking. These findings cast doubt on the claim that effectively masked stimuli can be individuated.
A randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of rasagiline on depressive symptoms in non‐demented Parkinson's disease patients
Authors: Barone P. , Santangelo G. , Morgante L. , Onofrj M. , Meco G. , Abbruzzese G. , Bonuccelli U. , Cossu G. , Pezzoli G. , Stanzione P. , Lopiano L. , Antonini A. , Tinazzi M. 
Published: May 2015

Background and purposeDepressed mood is a common psychiatric problem associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), and studies have suggested a benefit of rasagiline treatment.MethodsACCORDO (see the ) was a 12‐week, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial to evaluate the effects of rasagiline 1 mg/day on depressive symptoms and cognition in non‐demented PD patients with depressive symptoms. The primary efficacy variable was the change from baseline to week 12 in depressive symptoms measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐IA) total score. Secondary outcomes included change from baseline to week 12 in cognitive function as assessed by a comprehensive neuropsychological battery; Parkinson's disease quality of life questionnaire (PDQ‐39) scores; Apathy Scale scores; and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) subscores.ResultsOne hundred and twenty‐three patients were randomized. At week 12 there was no significant difference between groups for the reduction in total BDI‐IA score (primary efficacy variable). However, analysis at week 4 did show a significant difference in favour of rasagiline (marginal means difference ± SE: rasagiline −5.46 ± 0.73 vs. placebo −3.22 ± 0.67; P = 0.026). There were no significant differences between groups on any cognitive test. Rasagiline significantly improved UPDRS Parts I (P = 0.03) and II (P = 0.003) scores versus placebo at week 12. Post hoc analyses showed the statistical superiority of rasagiline versus placebo in the UPDRS Part I depression item (P = 0.04) and PDQ‐39 mobility (P = 0.007) and cognition domains (P = 0.026).ConclusionsTreatment with rasagiline did not have significant effects versus placebo on depressive symptoms or cognition in PD patients with moderate depressive symptoms. Although limited by lack of correction for multiple comparisons, post hoc analyses signalled some improvement in patient‐rated cognitive and depression outcomes.
The development of a crack propagation model for railway wheels and rails
Authors: Dirks B. , Enblom R. , Ekberg A. , Berg M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractRolling contact fatigue (RCF) and wear of railway wheels and rails are the main phenomena that affect their maintenance costs. When crack propagation and wear rates can be predicted, maintenance planning can be optimised, and cost‐effective measures can be developed. Several RCF models exist, but none which can be used in combination with vehicle dynamics simulations and can predict the actual crack depth. This study shows the development of a crack propagation model that can be applied for both railway wheels and rails. Two unknown material parameters in the model were calibrated against crack measurements in a curve on the Dutch railways over a period of 5 years. Two different RCF models were used to calculate the stress magnitudes for the propagation model. The propagation model can be used in combination with vehicle‐track dynamics simulations and shows promise in predicting the actual crack depth and/or surface length. Further research is needed to determine the model's validity for other operational conditions.
Mammalian herbivores confer resilience of Arctic shrub‐dominated ecosystems to changing climate
Authors: Kaarlejärvi Elina , Hoset Katrine S. , Olofsson Johan 
Published: May 2015

AbstractClimate change is resulting in a rapid expansion of shrubs in the Arctic. This expansion has been shown to be reinforced by positive feedbacks, and it could thus set the ecosystem on a trajectory toward an alternate, more productive regime. Herbivores, on the other hand, are known to counteract the effects of simultaneous climate warming on shrub biomass. However, little is known about the impact of herbivores on resilience of these ecosystems, that is, the capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and still remain in the same regime, retaining the same function, structure, and feedbacks. Here, we investigated how herbivores affect resilience of shrub‐dominated systems to warming by studying the change of shrub biomass after a cessation of long‐term experimental warming in a forest–tundra ecotone. As predicted, warming increased the biomass of shrubs, and in the absence of herbivores, shrub biomass in tundra continued to increase 4 years after cessation of the artificial warming, indicating that positive effects of warming on plant growth may persist even over a subsequent colder period. Herbivores contributed to the resilience of these systems by returning them back to the original low‐biomass regime in both forest and tundra habitats. These results support the prediction that higher shrub biomass triggers positive feedbacks on soil processes and microclimate, which enable maintaining the rapid shrub growth even in colder climates. Furthermore, the results show that in our system, herbivores facilitate the resilience of shrub‐dominated ecosystems to climate warming.
Toxic epidermal necrolysis induced by methazolamide in a Chinese–Korean man carrying HLA‐B*59:01
Authors: Shu Chang , Shu Dan , Tie Duerna , Yu Mengqing , Zhang Rui , Wang Tong , Dong Qi , Sun Qiuning , Mao Xuming , Yan Yan 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundMethazolamide is used to lower intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma. Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) associated with methazolamide treatment have been diagnosed in Korean, Japanese, and Japanese‐American patients. According to recent research, the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele HLA‐B*59:01 is strongly linked to SJS/TEN associated with methazolamide treatment.ObjectiveA patient of Chinese–Korean ethnicity was diagnosed with TEN associated with methazolamide treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential genetic basis of this disease.MethodsA polymerase chain reaction sequence‐specific primer (PCR‐SSP) typing system was used to genotype this patient's peripheral blood DNA for HLA‐B*59.ResultsThe genotype HLA‐B*59:01 was detected in the patient.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the genotype of HLA‐B*59:01 in a patient with TEN associated with methazolamide treatment and thus supports the possible correlation between genetic background and methazolamide‐associated SJS/TEN.
Enhanced differentiation of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the intestine of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor‐deficient mice
Authors: Kato‐Nagaoka Noriko , Shimada Shin‐Ichiro , Yamakawa Yoko , Tsujibe Satoshi , Naito Tomoaki , Setoyama Hiromi , Watanabe Yohei , Shida Kan , Matsumoto Satoshi , Nanno Masanobu 
Published: May 2015

SummaryTo clarify the effect of secretory IgA (sIgA) deficiency on gut homeostasis, we examined intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the small intestine (SI) of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor‐deficient (pIgR−/−) mice. The pIgR−/− mice exhibited the accumulation of CD8αβ+ T‐cell receptor (TCR)‐αβ+ IELs (CD8αβ+αβ‐IELs) after weaning, but no increase of CD8αβ+γδ‐IELs was detected in pIgR−/− TCR‐β−/− mice compared with pIgR+/+ TCR‐β−/− mice. When 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) was given for 14 days, the proportion of BrdU‐labelled cells in SI‐IELs was not different between pIgR+/+ mice and pIgR−/− mice. However, the proportion of BrdU‐labelled CD8αβ+‐IELs became higher in pIgR−/− mice than pIgR+/+ mice 10 days after discontinuing BrdU‐labelling. Intravenously transferred splenic T cells migrated into the intraepithelial compartments of pIgR+/+ TCR‐β−/− mice and pIgR−/− TCR‐β−/− mice to a similar extent. In contrast, in the case of injection of immature bone marrow cells, CD8αβ+αβ‐IELs increased much more in the SI of pIgR−/− TCR‐β−/− mice than pIgR+/+ TCR‐β−/− mice 8 weeks after the transfer. αβ‐IELs from pIgR−/− mice could produce more interferon‐γ and interleukin‐17 than those of pIgR+/+ mice, and intestinal permeability tended to increase in the SI of pIgR−/− mice with aging. Taken together, these results indicate that activated CD8αβ+αβ‐IELs preferentially accumulate in pIgR−/− mice through the enhanced differentiation of immature haematopoietic precursor cells, which may subsequently result in the disruption of epithelial integrity.
Role of verapamil in preventing and treating hypertrophic scars and keloids
Authors: Wang Ru , Mao Yu , Zhang Zhenyu , Li Zhengyong , Chen Junjie , Cen Ying 
Published: May 2015

AbstractKeloid and hypertrophic scars are difficult to manage and remain a therapeutic challenge. Verapamil has shown a great potential in the management of keloid and hypertrophic scars. Comparing with conventional corticosteroid injections, verapamil could improve the appearance of keloid and hypertrophic scars, and is associated with a lower incidence of adverse effects. Is verapamil an effective alternative modality in the prevention and treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars? The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of verapamil in preventing and treating keloid and hypertrophic scars. Searches were conducted in Medline, EMbase and Cochrane databases from 1974 to January 2015. The selection of articles was limited to human subjects. Five randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or cluster‐randomised trials or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing the efficacy of verapamil with conventional treatments were identified. The results showed that verapamil could improve keloid and hypertrophic scars, and was not significantly different from conventional corticosteroid injections. Few adverse effects were observed. However, this result should be considered carefully, as most of the included studies have a high risk of bias because of issues with randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, incomplete outcomes and selective reporting. In conclusion, verapamil could act as an effective alternative modality in the prevention and treatment of keloid and hypertrophic scars. More high‐quality, multiple‐centre, large‐sample (RCTs) are required to define the role of verapamil in preventing and treating keloid and hypertrophic scars.
Variables affecting tooth survival and changes in probing depth: a long‐term follow‐up of periodontitis patients
Authors: Saminsky Michael , Halperin‐Sternfeld Michal , Machtei Eli E. , Horwitz Jacob 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAimTo retrospectively assess tooth‐survival rate and its association with patient and oral variables in periodontal office patients, followed up to 18 years.Material and MethodsPatients in a private periodontal office whose files included initial examination (T0), reevaluation (TRe) and ≥10 years after T0 (TF) chartings, and received periodontal therapy and supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) after TRe were included. General health, plaque scores (PI), probing depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP) at six points/tooth, tooth extractions, and SPT visits were extracted from patient files at T0, TRe, and TF. Descriptive statistics and Cox regression analysis were performed.ResultsFifty patients (mean 26 ± 4 teeth/patient, 1301 teeth) fulfilled inclusion criteria. About 20 and 129 teeth respectively were extracted before/after TRe, 96 of them for periodontal causes. PPD>7 mm at TRe (HR = 17.7, 95%CI 8.6, 36.6), age above 60 years (HR = 3.3, 95%CI 1.5, 7.2), multi‐rooted teeth (HR = 1.9, 95%CI 1.2, 3.1) and SPT<3 times/year (HR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.1, 2.9), were the best prognostic factors for tooth loss during follow‐up. (p < 0.05, Cox regression analysis). A continuous, statistically significant reduction was observed in mean PPD among teeth that survived follow‐up [4.3 ± 1.8 mm, 3.5 ± 1.4 mm, 3.2 ± 1.3 mm, at T0, TRe, TF, respectively. (p < 0.001, Repeated‐measures test)].ConclusionRegular SPT was associated with low tooth‐loss rates and continuous reductions in probing depth. PPD after initial therapy, age above 60, multi‐rooted teeth and infrequent SPT were strong negative prognostic factors for long‐term tooth survival among periodontal patients.
Euduboscquella costata n. sp. (Dinoflagellata, Syndinea), an Intracellular Parasite of the Ciliate Schmidingerella arcuata: Morphology, Molecular Phylogeny, Life Cycle, Prevalence, and Infection Intensity
Authors: Jung Jae‐Ho , Choi Jung Min , Coats D. Wayne , Kim Young‐Ok 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe syndinean dinoflagellate Euduboscquella costata n. sp., an intracellular parasite of the tintinnid ciliate Schmidingerella arcuata, was discovered from Korean coastal water in November of 2013. Euduboscquella costata parasitized in about 62% of the host population, with infection intensity (= number of trophonts in a single host cell) ranging from 1 to 8. Based on morphology and nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, the parasite is new to science. Euduboscquella costata n. sp. had an infection cycle typical of the genus, but had morphological and developmental features that distinguished it from congeneric species. These features include: (1) episome of the trophont with 25–40 grooves converging toward the center of the shield; (2) a narrow, funnel‐shaped lamina pharyngea extending from the margin of the episomal shield to the nucleus; (3) persistence of grooves during extracellular development (sporogenesis); (4) a single food vacuole during sporogenesis; (5) separation of sporocytes early in sporogenesis, regardless of type of spore formed; and (6) dinospore size (ca. 14 μm in length) and shape (bulbous episome with narrower, tapering hyposome). After sporogenesis, E. costata produced four different types of spore that showed completely identical 18S rRNA gene sequences. The gene sequence was completely identical with a previously reported population, Euduboscquella sp. ex S. arcuata, from Assawoman Bay, USA, indicating that the two populations are likely conspecific. Favella ehrenbergii, a widely recorded tintinnid known to host Euduboscquella spp., co‐occurred with S. arcuata, but was not infected by E. costata in field samples or during short‐term, cross‐infection experiments.
Applicability of BALAD score in prognostication of hepatitis B‐related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chan Stephen L , Mo Frankie , Johnson Philip , Li Leung , Tang Nelson , Loong Herbert , Chan Anthony W H , Koh Jane , Chan Anthony T C , Yeo Winnie 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsThe BALAD score is developed to provide an objective determination of prognosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by incorporating five serum markers, namely albumin, bilirubin, alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), agglutinin‐reactive alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP‐L3), and des‐γ‐carboxy prothrombin. We aim to study the applicability of BALAD score and prognostication of the three tumor markers in hepatitis B virus‐related HCC.MethodsPatients with newly diagnosed HCC were prospectively enrolled. All of the baseline characteristics and serum albumin and bilirubin level were documented at baseline. The levels of the three tumor markers (AFP, AFP‐L3, and des‐γ‐carboxy prothrombin) were determined in archival serum samples. Patients were followed up for survivals according to local practice. The prognostic performances of the three markers and BALAD score were studied in association with overall survival (OS).ResultsA total of 198 patients with hepatitis B‐related HCC were recruited. AFP and AFP‐L3 levels were independent prognostic factors. The number of elevated tumor markers was also predictive of worse OS. BALAD score could stratify the cohort into different patient groups with distinct median OS. The median OS of BALAD score of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 was not reached, 26.6, 8.3, 2.6, and 1.9 months, respectively (P < 0.0001). BALAD score could further stratify outcomes in each Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) subgroup. In particular, BALAD score of 3–4 had median OS of 2.6 months only in BCLC stage C patients.ConclusionBALAD score is applicable in the population of hepatitis B virus‐related HCC. The combined use of BALAD score and BCLC staging system could help identify more suitable candidates for clinical trial.
Differential regulation of the high‐affinity choline transporter by wild‐type and Swedish mutant amyloid precursor protein
Authors: Cuddy Leah K. , Seah Claudia , Pasternak Stephen H. , Rylett Rebecca Jane 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe high‐affinity choline transporter (CHT) is responsible for choline uptake into cholinergic neurons, with this being the rate‐limiting step for acetylcholine production. Altering CHT protein disposition directly impacts choline uptake activity and cholinergic neurotransmission. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) interacts with CHT proteins and increases their endocytosis from the cell surface. The goal of this study was to examine regulation of CHT trafficking and activity by wild‐type APP (APPwt) and determine if this differs with Swedish mutant APP (APPSwe) in SH‐SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. APPSwe differs from APPwt in its trafficking from the cell surface through endosomes. We report for the first time that CHT interacts significantly less with APPSwe than with APPwt. Surprisingly, however, CHT cell surface levels and choline uptake activity are decreased to the same extent and CHT co‐localization to early endosomes increased similarly in cells expressing either APPwt or APPSwe. A critical observation is that CHT co‐immunoprecipitates with βCTF from APPSwe‐expressing cells. We propose that decreased CHT function is mediated differently by APPwt and APPSwe; APPwt interaction with CHT facilitates its endocytosis from the cell surface, whereas the effect of APPSwe on CHT is mediated indirectly potentially by binding to the βCTF fragment or by Aβ released from cells.
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High‐affinity choline transporter (CHT) takes choline into cholinergic neurons for acetylcholine synthesis. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) interacts with CHT proteins, but this is decreased for Swedish mutant APP (APPSwe). CHT cell surface levels and localization to early endosomes, and choline uptake activity are changed similarly by APPwt or APPSwe. APPSwe mediates effects indirectly potentially by βCTF or Aβ.
Weekly Cycles in Daily Report Data: An Overlooked Issue
Authors: Liu Yu , West Stephen G. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractDaily diaries and other everyday experience methods are increasingly used to study relationships between two time‐varying variables X and Y. Although daily data potentially often have weekly cyclical patterns (e.g., stress may be higher on weekdays and lower on weekends), the majority of daily diary studies have ignored this possibility. In this study, we investigated the effect of ignoring existing weekly cycles. We reanalyzed an empirical dataset (stress and alcohol consumption) and performed Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the impact of omitting weekly cycles. In the empirical dataset, ignoring cycles led to the inference of a significant within‐person X–Y relation whereas modeling cycles suggested that this relationship did not exist. Simulation results indicated that ignoring cycles that existed in both X and Y led to bias in the estimated within‐person X–Y relationship. The amount and direction of bias depended on the magnitude of the cycles, magnitude of the true within‐person X–Y relation, and synchronization of the cycles. We encourage researchers conducting daily diary studies to address potential weekly cycles in their data. We provide guidelines for detecting and modeling cycles to remove their influence and discuss challenges of causal inference in daily experience studies.