bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS): Independent validation in a large sample of Italian patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Mucci A. , Galderisi S. , Merlotti E. , Rossi A. , Rocca P. , Bucci P. , Piegari G. , Chieffi M. , Vignapiano A. , Maj M. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) was developed to address the main limitations of the existing scales for the assessment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. The initial validation of the scale by the group involved in its development demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity, and a factor structure confirming the two domains of negative symptoms (reduced emotional/verbal expression and anhedonia/asociality/avolition). However, only relatively small samples of patients with schizophrenia were investigated. Further independent validation in large clinical samples might be instrumental to the broad diffusion of the scale in clinical research.MethodsThe present study aimed to examine the BNSS inter-rater reliability, convergent/discriminant validity and factor structure in a large Italian sample of outpatients with schizophrenia.ResultsOur results confirmed the excellent inter-rater reliability of the BNSS (the intraclass correlation coefficient ranged from 0.81 to 0.98 for individual items and was 0.98 for the total score). The convergent validity measures had r values from 0.62 to 0.77, while the divergent validity measures had r values from 0.20 to 0.28 in the main sample (n = 912) and in a subsample without clinically significant levels of depression and extrapyramidal symptoms (n = 496). The BNSS factor structure was supported in both groups.ConclusionsThe study confirms that the BNSS is a promising measure for quantifying negative symptoms of schizophrenia in large multicenter clinical studies.
Combined Neurocognitive And Metacognitive Rehabilitation In Schizophrenia: Effects On Bias Against Disconfirmatory Evidence
Authors: Buonocore M. , Bosia M. , Riccaboni R. , Bechi M. , Spangaro M. , Piantanida M. , Cocchi F. , Guglielmino C. , Bianchi L. , Smeraldi E. , Cavallaro R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractBackgroundA Metacognitive Training for Schizophrenia patients (MCT) was developed to target the cognitive biases that characterize the illness. Results suggest positive MCT effects encompassing several aspects of psychopathology and subjective well-being. There are still open questions concerning the effect on different cognitive biases and the interplay between them and both psychopathology and neurocognition. Specifically, the bias against disconfirmatory evidence (BADE) has never been tested in previous trials on MCT. In this study we evaluated the feasibility of MCT combined with a cognitive remediation therapy (CACR) in schizophrenia and its effect on BADE. Moreover, we investigated the relationships between BADE and both neuropsychology and psychopathology, taking into account mutual influences on the degree of improvement.MethodsFifty-seven schizophrenia outpatients were randomly assigned to CACR + control group or MCT+CACR and assessed at baseline and after treatment for psychopathology, neurocognition and BADE.ResultsAfter MCT+CACR patients showed significantly greater improvements on BADE. Although BADE baseline performances correlated with several cognitive domains, no association was found between BADE improvement and neurocognitive nor psychopathological measures.ConclusionsThis study enlightened for the first time the efficacy of MCT+CACR on BADE in schizophrenia, suggesting the importance to develop a more specific intervention tailored on individual needs of patients.
Physical Medicine Interventions to Avoid Acute Respiratory Failure and Invasive Airway Tubes
Authors: Bach John R. , Takyi Selorm L. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis article describes the use of physical medicine noninvasive inspiratory and expiratory muscle aids to prevent ventilatory/respiratory failure and to permit the extubation and tracheostomy tube decannulation of patients with little or no autonomous ability to breathe (ie, those who cannot be weaned from ventilator support). Noninvasive airway pressure aids can provide continuous ventilatory support and effective cough flows for patients with severely dysfunctional respiratory muscles.
MINORITY RELIGIONS IN ISRAEL
Authors: Sapir Gideon , Statman Daniel 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe article discusses the question of how Israel ought to treat its minority religions and whether its actual policies towards them accord with her moral and constitutional obligations. The first part of the paper offers three arguments purporting to show that Israel is justified in granting privileged status to the Jewish religion over other religions, and rejects each of them in turn. In particular, it rejects the view that Israel is allowed to privilege Judaism over other religions as far as the funding of religious services and needs is concerned. Nonetheless, the possibility that, on the symbolic level, weak privileging of Judaism may be permissible is left open. The second part of the paper questions whether the State of Israel guarantees equal treatment to all religions, and the answer is in the negative. Finally, the paper discusses the religious freedom of non-Jews in Israel and the way it has been interpreted by the courts. It is contended that both in terms of the freedom of religion and in terms of the freedom from religion, the protection of non-Jews is somewhat weaker than that granted to Jews, a state of affairs that ought to be remedied.
Late Cambrian (middle Furongian) shallow-marine dysoxic mudstone with calcrete and brachiopod–olenid–Lotagnostusfaunas in Avalonian Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Authors: LANDING ED , WESTROP STEPHEN R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe common belief that organic-rich mudstones formed in quiescent, distal settings is further weakened by study of an upper Cambrian (Leptoplastus– lowerPelturasuperzones) succession in the Chesley Drive Group in Avalonian Cape Breton Island that is comparable to Alum Shale successions in Baltica. Dramatic sea-level (likely eustatic) changes are now recognized by punctuation of deposition of shallow, wave-influenced black mudstone with brachiopod (Orusia lenticularis) and olenid trilobite-bearing limestones by offlap and formation of a subaerially cemented calcrete-clast conglomerate. Subaerial exposure was followed by transgression and accumulation of clastic pyrite sand and phosphatic granules withLeptoplastusSuperzone (L. ovatusZone) trilobite sclerites. Dynamic processes are shown by wave ripples in the mudstone and limestone, sorting and winnowing of fossil rudstones, and pre-compactional fracture of the conglomerate and rudstones.Orusiarudstones in the succession below the conglomerate are regarded as analogues ofEoorthisandBillingsellarudstones in the ‘biomere’ extinction intervals of the Laurentian basal Sunwaptan. The lowestOrusia-rich beds are no older than theP. spinulosaZone but, as elsewhere in Avalonia, they range into the higherLeptoplastus(Cape Breton) and even thePeltura(Britain, New Brunswick) superzones. Rare agnostoid sclerites in lowerPelturaSuperzone (Ctenopyge tumidaZone) olenid rudstone resemble those traditionally assigned toLotagnostus trisectusin Avalonian Britain and Sweden, and are distinct from LaurentianL. americanus. AnL. americanusZone cannot be identified in Avalonia or Baltica, and the first appearance datum (FAD) of purported ‘L. americanus’ is not suitable as a standard for the base of the highest Cambrian stage.
Steinernema jeffreyensen. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from South Africa
Authors: Malan A.P. , Knoetze R. , Tiedt L.R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractDuring a non-targeted survey for entomopathogenic nematodes in South Africa, a new species ofSteinernemawas isolated from a soil sample collected from underneath a guava tree, close to the shore at Jeffrey's Bay. The nematode was isolated by means of the insect-baiting technique using last-instar larvae ofGalleria mellonella. It is described herein asSteinernema jeffreyensen. sp. The nematode can be separated from other described, closely related species in terms of the morphological and morphometric characteristics of the different life stages, and in terms of the characterization and phylogeny of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA of the 18S gene, and of the D2D3 region of the 28S rDNA gene. The new species is placed molecularly in thearenarium–glaseri–karii–longicaudatumgroup characterized by the following morphological characters: infective third-stage juvenile with a body length of 926 (784–1043) μm, distance from head to excretory pore of 87 (78–107) μm, tail length of 81 (50–96) μm, with an E% of 109 (86–169), and eight evenly spaced ridges (i.e. nine lines) in the middle of the body. First-generation males have a spicule length of 88 (79–95) μm and gubernaculum length of 57 (51–61) μm. Male mucron is absent in both generations. First-generation females have an asymmetrical protuberance and a short, double-flapped epiptygmata, with both flaps directed to the front. The tail of the first-generation female is shorter than the anal body width, with a mucron on the dorsal tail tip, with D% = 78 (59–99). Cross-hybridization withS. khoisanae,S. tophusandS. innovationishowed the new species to isolate reproductively from the others. The analyses of ITS rDNA and D2D3 sequence of the 18S and 28S rDNA genes support the studied nematode isolate to be a valid new species belonging to the ‘glaseri’ group (Clade V).
Molecular evidence shows that the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica is the predominant Fasciola species in ruminants from Pakistan
Authors: Chaudhry U. , van Paridon B. , Shabbir M.Z. , Shafee M. , Ashraf K. , Yaqub T. , Gilleard J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractFascioliasis is an important disease affecting livestock, with great costs to producers worldwide. It has also become a serious issue for human populations in some endemic areas as an emerging zoonotic infection. There are two Fasciola species of liver fluke responsible for this disease, which occur worldwide, Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Identifying these two species on the basis of adult or egg morphology requires specialist knowledge due to the similarity of characters, and may misidentify putative intermediate or hybrid forms. In this study we sequenced the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) rDNA of liver flukes collected from multiple species of hosts from seven localities in the Punjab and Baluchistan provinces of Pakistan, to determine the distribution of these two species. All 46 flukes processed in this study, collected from seven sites, showed the rDNA ITS-2 genotype corresponding to F. gigantica, contradicting previous reports, based on adult and egg morphology, that both species are present in Pakistan, with F. hepatica being the more common.
Philosophy: Scientific or Humanistic?
Authors: Kekes John 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAre or should the assumptions, methods, and aims of philosophy be scientific or humanistic? I take Quine to represent the view that if philosophy is done as it should be, it is scientific. A contrary view is that philosophy rightly pursued is humanistic. I consider Williams' defense of it. My aim in this paper is to show that each view is partly right and partly wrong and to propose an alternative that includes what I take to be right and excludes what I take to be wrong in both views.
The effect of social participation on the subjective and objective health status of the over-fifties: evidence from SHARE
Authors: LEONE TIZIANA , HESSEL PHILIPP 
Published: March 2015

ABSTRACTIncreasing social participation among older individuals to increase health and wellbeing has become a distinct policy goal of many national governments and the European Commission. However, to date the evidence on how social participation affects health, both subjective and objective, remains limited, especially since most studies do not account for the reciprocal relationship. The aim of this study is to analyse how changes in social participation affect both the subjective and objective health of older Europeans as well as how changes in health status affect social participation. Using longitudinal data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), the results suggest that both the uptake as well as the continuation of social activities increase the chances of improvements in subjective as well as objective health. Furthermore, improvements in self-rated health as well as grip strength significantly increase the chances of taking up new activities as well as continuing with existing ones. Country effect is not as strong as expected and the benefits could be homogeneous across different cultures once we control for socio-economic status. Overall, the results stress the need for taking into account the reciprocal relationship between social participation and health. The paper highlights the importance of focusing on both uptake and continuation of social participation when devising policy aimed at improving healthy ageing.
A new seed coat water-impermeability mechanism in Chaetostoma armatum (Melastomataceae): evolutionary and biogeographical implications of physiophysical dormancy
Authors: Ribeiro Rafaella C. , Oliveira Denise M.T. , Silveira Fernando A.O. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractDetermining the phylogenetic and biogeographic distribution of physical dormancy remains a major challenge in germination ecology. Here, our goal was to describe a novel water-impermeable seed coat mechanism causing physical dormancy (PY) in the seeds of Chaetostoma armatum (Melastomataceae). Although seed coat permeability tests indicated a significant increase in seed weight after soaking in distilled water, anatomical and dye-tracking analyses showed that both water and dyes penetrated the seed coat but not the embryo, which remained in a dry state. The water and dye penetrated the lumen of the exotestal cells, which have a thin outer periclinal face and thickened secondary walls with U-shaped phenolic compounds. Because of this structure, water and dye do not penetrate the inner periclinal face of the exotestal cells, indicating PY. Puncturing the seeds increased germination more than tenfold compared to that of the control, but GA3 did not increase germination further. A significant fraction of the seeds did not germinate after puncturing, indicating that embryos are also physiologically dormant (PD). This paper constitutes the first report of the water-impermeable seed coat in the Myrtales and the first report of physiophysical (PD+PY) dormancy in a shrub from a tropical montane area.
Socio-economic influences on anthropometric status in urban South African adolescents: sex differences in the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort
Authors: Pradeilles Rebecca , Griffiths Paula L , Norris Shane A , Feeley Alison B , Rousham Emily K 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the associations of household and neighbourhood socio-economic position (SEP) with indicators of both under- and overnutrition in adolescents and to explore sex differences.DesignAnalysis of anthropometric, household and neighbourhood SEP data from the Birth to Twenty Plus cohort born in 1990. Anthropometric outcomes were BMI (thinness, overweight and obesity) and percentage body fat (%BF; low, high). Associations between these and the household wealth index, caregiver education and neighbourhood SEP tertile measures were examined using binary logistic regression.SettingJohannesburg–Soweto, South Africa.SubjectsAdolescents aged 17–19 years (n 2019; 48·2 % men).ResultsWomen had a significantly higher combined prevalence of overweight/obesity (26·2 %) than men (8·2 %) whereas men had a significantly higher prevalence of thinness than women (22·2 % v. 10·6 %, respectively). Having a low neighbourhood social support index was associated with higher odds of high %BF in women (OR=1·59; 95 % CI 1·03, 2·44). A low household wealth index was associated with lower odds of both overweight (OR=0·31; 95 % CI 0·12, 0·76) and high %BF in men (OR=0·28; 95 % CI 0·10, 0·78). A low or middle household wealth index was associated with higher odds of being thin in men (OR=1·90; 95 % CI 1·09, 3·31 and OR=1·80; 95 % CI 1·03, 3·15, respectively). For women, a low household wealth index was associated with lower odds of being thin (OR=0·49; 95 % CI 0·25, 0·96).ConclusionsThe study highlights that even within a relatively small urban area the nutrition transition manifests itself differently in men and women and across SEP indicators. Understanding the challenges for different sexes at different ages is vital in helping to plan public health services.
Mid upper-arm circumference is an effective tool to identify infants and young children with severe acute malnutrition in India
Authors: Aguayo Victor M , Aneja Satinder , Badgaiyan Nina , Singh Karanveer 
Published: March 2015

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the appropriateness of current mid upper-arm circumference (MUAC) cut-offs to identify children with severe acute malnutrition in India.DesignThe analysis concerned 6307 children admitted to nutrition rehabilitation centres (2009–2011) where they received therapeutic care as per guidelines by WHO and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.SettingStates of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, India.SubjectsChildren aged 6–59 months with bilateral pitting oedema or weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ)<−3 or MUAC<115 mm at admission.ResultsChildren aged 6–23 months represented ~80 % of the admissions. Among them, the proportion with WHZ<−3 was similar to that with MUAC<115 mm (85·7 % v. 81·8 %); the proportion with MUAC<115 mm whose WHZ was <−3 was 82·6 %; and the proportion with WHZ<−3 whose MUAC<115 mm was 78·8 %. MUAC<115 mm was as effective as WHZ<−3 in identifying 6–59-month-old children with medical complications (32·2 % v. 31·6 %, respectively), the most important risk factor of death among oedema-free children. Furthermore, death rates in children with MUAC<115 mm were higher than in children with WHZ<−3 (0·61 % v. 0·58 %, respectively) and 91 % of the deaths among oedema-free children were deaths of children with MUAC<115 mm.ConclusionsIn populations similar to those included in our analysis, MUAC<115 mm appears to be an appropriate criterion to identify children with severe acute malnutrition who are at a greater risk of medical complications and death, particularly among children 6–23 months old.
Choice-correlated activity fluctuations underlie learning of neuronal category representation
Authors: Engel Tatiana A. , Chaisangmongkon Warasinee , Freedman David J. , Wang Xiao-Jing 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe ability to categorize stimuli into discrete behaviourally relevant groups is an essential cognitive function. To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying categorization, we constructed a cortical circuit model that is capable of learning a motion categorization task through reward-dependent plasticity. Here we show that stable category representations develop in neurons intermediate to sensory and decision layers if they exhibit choice-correlated activity fluctuations (choice probability). In the model, choice probability and task-specific interneuronal correlations emerge from plasticity of top-down projections from decision neurons. Specific model predictions are confirmed by analysis of single-neuron activity from the monkey parietal cortex, which reveals a mixture of directional and categorical tuning, and a positive correlation between category selectivity and choice probability. Beyond demonstrating a circuit mechanism for categorization, the present work suggests a key role of plastic top-down feedback in simultaneously shaping both neural tuning and correlated neural variability.
Cytological and Subcellular Response of Cells Exposed to the Type-1 RIP Curcin and its Hemocompatibility Analysis
Authors: Mohamed M. Sheikh , Veeranarayanan Srivani , Minegishi Hiroaki , Sakamoto Yasushi , Shimane Yasuhiro , Nagaoka Yutaka , Aki Atsushi , Poulose Aby Cheruvathoor , Echigo Akinobu , Yoshida Yasuhiko , Maekawa Toru , Kumar D. Sakthi 
Published: March 2015

AbstractCurcin, a type 1 ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) is investigated here for its cellular competence on six mammalian cell lines. Cells exposed to curcin (100 μg/ml) for 72 h exhibited significant cellular metabolic arrest, with the cancer cell lines being more sensitive. The viability assessment of the cancer cells in a 3D cell culture based assay revealed highly restricted sprouting and proliferation with near to complete dead cell population. Prominent mitochondrial dysfunction, elevated reactive oxygen species levels, nuclear degeneration, structural/mechanical destabilization and suppression of defense mechanisms were imminent with the RIP treated cells. Expression levels of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), cytoskeletal focal adhesion kinases (FAK) and vinculin were significantly diminished. Vital cellular organelles as nucleus, mitochondria and actin were severely incapacitated on RIP exposure resulting in multimodal apoptosis and necrosis. The ability of curcin to impart comprehensive shutdown of the cells, especially cancer cells, complemented with its hemocompatibility, opens up possibilities of utilizing this ribotoxin as a prospective therapeutic candidate against cancers of diverse origins.
The vaginal microbiome during pregnancy and the postpartum period in a European population
Authors: MacIntyre David A. , Chandiramani Manju , Lee Yun S. , Kindinger Lindsay , Smith Ann , Angelopoulos Nicos , Lehne Benjamin , Arulkumaran Shankari , Brown Richard , Teoh Tiong Ghee , Holmes Elaine , Nicoholson Jeremy K. , Marchesi Julian R. , Bennett Phillip R. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe composition and structure of the pregnancy vaginal microbiome may influence susceptibility to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Studies on the pregnant vaginal microbiome have largely been limited to Northern American populations. Using MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons, we characterised the vaginal microbiota of a mixed British cohort of women (n = 42) who experienced uncomplicated term delivery and who were sampled longitudinally throughout pregnancy (8–12, 20–22, 28–30 and 34–36 weeks gestation) and 6 weeks postpartum. We show that vaginal microbiome composition dramatically changes postpartum to become lessLactobacillusspp. dominant with increased alpha-diversity irrespective of the community structure during pregnancy and independent of ethnicity. While the pregnancy vaginal microbiome was characteristically dominated byLactobacillusspp. and low alpha-diversity, unlike Northern American populations, a significant number of pregnant women this British population had aL. jensenii-dominated microbiome characterised by low alpha-diversity.L. jenseniiwas predominantly observed in women of Asian and Caucasian ethnicity whereasL. gasseriwas absent in samples from Black women. This study reveals new insights into biogeographical and ethnic effects upon the pregnancy and postpartum vaginal microbiome and has important implications for future studies exploring relationships between the vaginal microbiome, host health and pregnancy outcomes.