bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transitions to adulthood in first‐episode psychosis: a comparative study
Authors: Roy Laurence , Rousseau Jacqueline , Fortier Pierre , Mottard Jean‐Pierre 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimThe first aim of this study is to compare attainment of five markers of transition to adulthood between young adults with first‐episode psychosis and young adults without any psychopathology. The second aim is to examine if the association between age group and transition to adulthood is similar for individuals who experience first‐episode psychosis versus those who do not.MethodsParticipants were 50 young adults with first‐episode schizophrenia aged between 18 and 30 years old, and 50 volunteers without any psychopathology matched for sex and age. Participants were assessed with the Quality of Life Scale and a questionnaire on markers of transition to adulthood.ResultsSignificant differences appear between the groups for three of the five markers of transition to adulthood, namely: residential/financial independence, educational attainment and involvement in a romantic relationship. The effect of age on several markers is significant for the comparison group only.ConclusionRehabilitation interventions should be informed by a developmental perspective on community functioning for young adults with first‐episode schizophrenia. Vocational rehabilitation should be extended to focus more extensively on supported education and not only on supported employment, and interventions targeting residential independence should be granted more attention.
Not all first‐episode psychosis is the same: preliminary evidence of greater basic self‐disturbance in schizophrenia spectrum cases
Authors: Nelson Barnaby , Thompson Andrew , Yung Alison R. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimDisturbance in the basic sense of self has previously been found to characterize schizophrenia spectrum disorders and to predict onset of psychosis in the ultra‐high‐risk population. The current study examined basic self‐disturbance in a first‐episode psychosis (FEP) population. We hypothesized that basic self‐disturbance would be more prominent in cases with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder compared to those with other psychoses.MethodSixteen FEP patients from Orygen Youth Health, Melbourne, were recruited to the study. Participants were assessed using the Examination of Anomalous Self‐Experience and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV.ResultsBasic self‐disturbance scores were significantly higher in patients with a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis (n = 8) compared to patients with other psychotic diagnoses (n = 8).ConclusionsThe findings are consistent with previous work indicating that the disturbance of the basic sense of self is more characteristic of schizophrenia spectrum psychosis than other psychoses. This may have implications for early diagnosis, clinical formulation and intervention.
Pilot study of a mindfulness‐based, multi‐component, in‐school group sleep intervention in adolescent girls
Authors: Bei Bei , Byrne Michelle L. , Ivens Clare , Waloszek Joanna , Woods Michael J. , Dudgeon Paul , Murray Greg , Nicholas Christian L. , Trinder John , Allen Nicholas B. 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimExisting literature links poor sleep and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. This pilot study aimed to develop a practical method through which a program to improve sleep could reach adolescents in need and to examine the feasibility of a mindfulness‐based, multi‐component group sleep intervention using sleep and anxiety as outcome measures.MethodsSixty‐two grade 9 students (aged 13–15) at a girls’ school were screened with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS). Ten participants with self‐reported poor sleep were enrolled into a six‐session program based on Bootzin & Stevens, with added stress/anxiety‐specific components. Sessions covered key aspects of basic mindfulness concepts and practice, sleep hygiene, sleep scheduling, evening/daytime habits, stimulus control, skills for bedtime worries and healthy attitudes to sleep. Treatment changes were measured by pre‐post scores on the PSQI, SCAS and 7‐day actigraphy‐measured sleep.ResultsThe program demonstrated high acceptability, with a completion rate of 90%. Based on effect‐size analysis, participants showed significant improvement on objective sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency and total sleep time; actigraphy data also showed significantly earlier bedtime, rise time and smaller day‐to‐day bedtime variation. Post‐intervention global PSQI scores were significantly lower than that of pre‐intervention, with significant improvement in subjective SOL, sleep quality and sleep‐related daytime dysfunction. There were small improvements on some subscales of the SCAS, but change on its total score was minimal.ConclusionsA mindfulness‐based, multi‐component, in‐school group sleep intervention following brief screening is feasible, and has the potential to improve sleep. Its impact on anxiety needs further investigation.
Predictive utility of blood pressure, waist circumference and body mass index for metabolic syndrome in patients with schizophrenia in Singapore
Authors: Nurjono Milawaty , Lee Jimmy 
Published: July 2012

AbstractAimsThis study aims to examine and compare the predictive utility of blood pressure (BP), waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI), and to determine optimal cut‐off values in prediction of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with chronic schizophrenia.MethodsAbout 100 patients with chronic schizophrenia were recruited. BMI and BP were measured and laboratory tests to evaluate patients’ high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose levels were performed. Presence of MetS was examined according to AHA/NHLBI guidelines. Predictive utility of BP, WC and BMI was examined using receiver operating curve and discriminant indices were determined accordingly.ResultsForty‐six (46%) patients were identified to have MetS. BMI of ≥23 kg m−2 was most accurate (AUC = 0.83, P < 0.001), with sensitivity of 93.5%, specificity of 48.1%, positive predictive value of 60.6% and negative predictive value of 92.9% in identifying MetS.ConclusionThis finding has immediate and significant clinical implications in the local population with schizophrenia.
Biogeographic patterns and conservation priorities for the dung beetle tribePhanaeini (Coleoptera:Scarabaeidae:Scarabaeinae) inBolivia
Authors: Hamel‐Leigue A. Caroli , Herzog Sebastian K. , Larsen Trond H. , Mann Darren J. , Gill Bruce D. , Edmonds W. D. , Spector Sacha 
Published: July 2012

AbstractThe New World Phanaeini are the best known Neotropical dung beetle tribe and a conservation priority among the Scarabaeinae, an ideal focal taxon for biodiversity research and conservation.We compiled a comprehensive distributional database for 39 phanaeine species in Bolivia and assessed patterns of species richness, body size and endemism in relation to abiotic variables and species richness and body mass of medium to large mammals across nine ecoregions.Pair‐wise linear regressions indicated that phanaeine richness, mean size and endemism are determined by different factors. In all cases mammal body mass had greater explanatory power than abiotic variables or mammal richness. Phanaeine richness was greater in ecoregions with on average smaller mammals and greater mammal richness. Mean phanaeine size increased with mean body mass of the largest herbivorous and omnivorous mammals. Endemism was greater in ecoregions with on average smaller herbivorous and omnivorous mammals. On average, smaller phanaeines had more restricted distributions than larger species; ecoregional endemism and mean body size were negatively correlated.Large phanaeines probably depend on large mammals to provide adequate food resources. Greater richness of smaller mammal species may allow for greater temporal and spatial resource partitioning and therefore greater phanaeine species richness. Low numbers of large mammal species may favour the persistence of geographically restricted phanaeine species by reducing interspecific competition with larger, more geographically widespread and presumably dominant phanaeines.Cerrado, Southwest Amazonia and Yungas are priority ecoregions for phanaeine conservation due to high total and endemic species richness.
Stability in forest lepidopteran communities: how sensitive are pest species to experimental forest management?
Authors: Summerville Keith S. , Lane Jamie , Courard‐Hauri David 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWe tested how abundance shifts in lepidopteran species might impact two different aspects of moth community structure within managed forest stands of Morgan‐Monroe State Forest, Indiana.Significant changes in species abundance and species richness were observed post‐harvest. Sudden eruptions in abundance, however, were not observed at the scale of the regional forest moth metacommunity. The form of the species‐abundance distribution within most forest stands did not deviate from the best‐fit log‐normal model across all three sampling years. Abundance shifts thus appeared to be spatially extensive, low density events.Frequency of stands occupied by early seral moths increased significantly post‐harvest. Several species with larvae known to be row crop or forage pests were widespread throughout Morgan‐Monroe State Forest (Ostrinia nubilialis,Hypsopygia costalis,Noctua pronuba,Helicoverpa zea) 2 years post‐logging. Potential canopy defoliators were negatively affected by time since harvest even in unmanaged stands suggesting that outbreaks may not be expected as a consequence of harvest disturbance.This suggests that pre‐harvest abundance is not a good predictor of a species' resilience to forest management. Importantly, weather‐related stochastic changes in abundance might obscure forestry effects.
Blood Pressure in Renal Disease: How to Accomplish the Goal?
Authors: Robles Nicolás R. , Hernandez‐Gallego Roman 
Published: July 2012

SummaryThe Avoiding Cardiovascular Events through Combination Therapy in Patients Living with Systolic Hypertension (ACCOMPLISH) trial showed that initial antihypertensive therapy with benazepril plus amlodipine was superior to benazepril plus hydrochlorothiazide in reducing progression of chronic kidney disease as well as cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in renal patients. The renal results of the ACCOMPLISH trial strongly support the recommendation of using calcium channel blockers as second antihypertensive agent added to renin–angiotensin axis‐blocking drugs. This review discusses the validity of these data and their relationship with the cumulative evidence on the effects of calcium antagonists on renal disease progression.
Cognition and the Evolution of Music: Pitfalls and Prospects
Authors: Honing Henkjan , Ploeger Annemie 
Published: July 2012

AbstractWhat was the role of music in the evolutionary history of human beings? We address this question from the point of view that musicality can be defined as a cognitive trait. Although it has been argued that we will never know how cognitive traits evolved (Lewontin, 1998), we argue that we may know the evolution of music by investigating the fundamental cognitive mechanisms of musicality, for example, relative pitch, tonal encoding of pitch, and beat induction. In addition, we show that a nomological network of evidence (Schmitt & Pilcher, 2004) can be built around the hypothesis that musicality is a cognitive adaptation. Within this network, different modes of evidence are gathered to support a specific evolutionary hypothesis. We show that the combination of psychological, medical, physiological, genetic, phylogenetic, hunter–gatherer, and cross‐cultural evidence indicates that musicality is a cognitive adaptation.
A note on gene pleiotropy estimation from phylogenetic analysis of protein sequences
Authors: CHEN Wen‐Hai , SU Zhi‐Xi , GU Xun 
Published: July 2012

AbstractRecently, several statistical methods have been independently proposed for estimating the degree (n) of gene pleiotropy (i.e. the capacity of a gene to affect many phenotypes) without knowing measurable phenotypic traits. However, the theoretical limitation of these approaches has not been well demonstrated. In this short note, we show that our previous method based on the phylogeny of protein sequences is, in fact, an effective estimate of a parameter that can be written symbolically as K = min(n,r), where r is the rank of mutations at an amino acid site. Hence, understanding of r is crucial for appropriate interpretation of the estimated K, denoted by Ke (the effective gene pleiotropy). Indeed, when protein sequence alignment is used to estimate effective gene pleiotropy (Ke) by this method, Ke can be interpreted as an effective estimate of n when n ≤ 20, as long as the phylogeny is sufficiently large. If n > 20, Ke → 20, although the true n could be much higher.
Structured elicitation of expert judgments for threatened species assessment: a case study on a continental scale using email
Authors: McBride Marissa F. , Garnett Stephen T. , Szabo Judit K. , Burbidge Allan H. , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Christidis Les , Dutson Guy , Ford Hugh A. , Loyn Richard H. , Watson David M. , Burgman Mark A. 
Published: July 2012

Summary1. Expert knowledge is used routinely to inform listing decisions under the IUCN Red List criteria. Differences in opinion arise between experts in the presence of epistemic uncertainty, as a result of different interpretations of incomplete information and differences in individual beliefs, values and experiences. Structured expert elicitation aims to anticipate and account for such differences to increase the accuracy of final estimates.2. A diverse panel of 16 experts independently evaluated up to 125 parameters per taxon to assess the IUCN Red List category of extinction risk for nine Australian bird taxa. Each panellist was provided with the same baseline data. Additional judgments and advice were sought from taxon specialists outside the panel. One question set elicited lowest and highest plausible estimates, best estimates and probabilities that the true values were contained within the upper and lower bounds. A second question set elicited yes/no answers and a degree of credibility in the answer provided.3. Once initial estimates were obtained, all panellists were shown each others’ values. They discussed differences and reassessed their original values. Most communication was carried out by email.4. The process took nearly 6 months overall to complete, and required an average of 1 h and up to 13 h per taxon for a panellist to complete the initial assessment.5. Panellists were mostly in agreement with one another about IUCN categorisations for each taxon. Where they differed, there was some evidence of convergence in the second round of assessments, although there was persistent non‐overlap for about 2% of estimates. The method exposed evidence of common subjective biases including overconfidence, anchoring to available data, definitional ambiguity and the conceptual difficulty of estimating percentages rather than natural numbers.6. This study demonstrates the value of structured elicitation techniques to identify and to reduce potential sources of bias and error among experts. The formal nature of the process meant that the consensus position reached carried greater weight in subsequent deliberations on status. The structured process is worthwhile for high profile or contentious taxa, but may be too time intensive for less divisive cases.
Cyclothiazide‐induced persistent increase in respiratory‐related activity in vitro
Authors: Babiec Walter E. , Faull Kym F. , Feldman Jack L. 
Published: July 2012

Key points
Hypoglossal (XII) motoneurons (MNs) innervate the genioglossus muscle of the tongue, which plays an important role in maintaining upper airway patency and modulating upper airway resistance.
Cyclothiazide (CTZ) is a diuretic, anti‐hypertensive, AMPA receptor modulator.
We show that CTZ induces a profound and long‐lasting increase in the amplitude of respiratory‐related XII nerve activity in rhythmically active neonatal rat medullary slices, with integrated XII nerve burst amplitude rising to 262 ± 23% of pre‐treatment control at 1 h post‐treatment and much of this increase lasting at least 12 h.
This phenomenon is not plasticity and does not depend on AMPA or NMDA receptor activation or on coincident protein kinase A or C activity for its induction.
Electrophysiological and mass spectrometric analyses indicate that the cause is prolonged bioavailability of CTZ.
Discovering methods for inducing long‐term increases in genioglossal motoneuronal excitability to AMPA‐mediated drive may help in the development of therapeutics for upper airway motor disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). These results illustrate a latent residual capacity for potentiating AMPA‐mediated inspiratory drive to XII MNs that might be applied to the treatment of upper airway motor deficits such as OSA.
Abstract  Hypoglossal (XII) motoneurons (MNs) innervate the genioglossus muscle of the tongue, which plays an important role in maintaining upper airway patency, particularly during sleep, and modulating upper airway resistance. Discovering methods for inducing long‐term increases in genioglossal motoneuronal excitability to AMPA‐mediated drive may help in the development of therapeutics for upper airway motor disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea. We show that the diuretic, anti‐hypertensive, AMPA receptor modulator cyclothiazide (CTZ) induces a profound and long‐lasting increase in the amplitude of respiratory‐related XII nerve activity in rhythmically active neonatal rat medullary slices. Treatment of the slice with CTZ (90 μm) for 1 h increased the integrated XII (∫XII) nerve burst amplitude to 262 ± 23% of pre‐treatment control at 1 h post‐treatment; much of this increase lasted at least 12 h. The amount of CTZ‐induced facilitation (CIF) was dependent upon both CTZ dose and exposure time and was accompanied by a long‐lasting increase in endogenous AMPA‐mediated drive currents to XII MNs. CIF, however, is not a form of plasticity and does not depend on AMPA or NMDA receptor activation for its induction. Nor does it depend on coincident protein kinase A or C activity. Rather, measurement of mEPSCs along with mass spectrometric analysis of CTZ‐treated slices indicates that the cause is prolonged bioavailability of CTZ. These results illustrate a latent residual capacity for potentiating AMPA‐mediated inspiratory drive to XII MNs that might be applied to the treatment of upper airway motor deficits.
Sequential interaction of chloride and proton ions with the fast gate steer the voltage‐dependent gating in ClC‐2 chloride channels
Authors: Sánchez‐Rodríguez Jorge E. , De Santiago‐Castillo José A. , Contreras‐Vite Juan Antonio , Nieto‐Delgado Pablo G. , Castro‐Chong Alejandra , Arreola Jorge 
Published: July 2012

Key points
Plasma membrane ClC‐2 chloride channels are widely distributed in our body and are important for vision and fertility.
ClC‐2 channels are gated by changes in transmembrane voltage despite of lacking a voltage sensor device. It has been hypothesized that the interaction of an external proton with the gating machinery is responsible for voltage‐dependent gating.
Here we used electrophysiological recordings and quantitative analysis under different external proton and internal chloride concentrations and found that the voltage dependence of gating is due to interaction between the passing chloride ion and the permeation pathway, with the external proton stabilizing the open state of the channel.
Abstract  The interaction of either H+ or Cl− ions with the fast gate is the major source of voltage (Vm) dependence in ClC Cl− channels. However, the mechanism by which these ions confer Vm dependence to the ClC‐2 Cl− channel remains unclear. By determining the Vm dependence of normalized conductance (Gnorm(Vm)), an index of open probability, ClC‐2 gating was studied at different [H+]i, [H+]o and [Cl−]i. Changing [H+]i by five orders of magnitude whilst [Cl−]i/[Cl−]o= 140/140 or 10/140 mm slightly shifted Gnorm(Vm) to negative Vm without altering the onset kinetics; however, channel closing was slower at acidic pHi. A similar change in [H+]o with [Cl−]i/[Cl−]o= 140/140 mm enhanced Gnorm in a bell‐shaped manner and shifted Gnorm(Vm) curves to positive Vm. Importantly, Gnorm was >0 with [H+]o= 10−10 m but channel closing was slower when [H+]o or [Cl−]i increased implying that ClC‐2 was opened without protonation and that external H+ and/or internal Cl− ions stabilized the open conformation. The analysis of kinetics and steady‐state properties at different [H+]o and [Cl−]i was carried out using a gating Scheme coupled to Cl− permeation. Unlike previous results showing Vm‐dependent protonation, our analysis revealed that fast gate protonation was Vm and Cl− independent and the equilibrium constant for closed–open transition of unprotonated channels was facilitated by elevated [Cl−]i in a Vm‐dependent manner. Hence a Vm dependence of pore occupancy by Cl− induces a conformational change in unprotonated closed channels, before the pore opens, and the open conformation is stabilized by Cl− occupancy and Vm‐independent protonation.
Human phase response curve to intermittent blue light using a commercially available device
Authors: Revell Victoria L. , Molina Thomas A. , Eastman Charmane I. 
Published: July 2012

Key points
Misalignment between the internal circadian clock driving daily rhythms in physiology and behaviour, such as sleepiness, performance and metabolism, and the sleep–wake schedule, as occurs in jet lag and night shift work, can have profound, harmful consequences for health, performance and safety.
Light applied at specific times of day can be used to shift the timing of the clock and reduce this circadian misalignment.
We show for the first time that a small, commercially available, portable blue light device is capable of shifting the clock when it is administered daily over a 2 h window (90 min blue light as 30 min pulses with 15 min breaks).
The direction and amount that the clock is shifted depends on the time of day that the light is administered.
The results of this work provide a practical, effective light treatment that can be used in the real world.
Abstract  Light shifts the timing of the circadian clock according to a phase response curve (PRC). To date, all human light PRCs have been to long durations of bright white light. However, melanopsin, the primary photopigment for the circadian system, is most sensitive to short wavelength blue light. Therefore, to optimise light treatment it is important to generate a blue light PRC. We used a small, commercially available blue LED light box, screen size 11.2 × 6.6 cm at ∼50 cm, ∼200 μW cm−2, ∼185 lux. Subjects participated in two 5 day laboratory sessions 1 week apart. Each session consisted of circadian phase assessments to obtain melatonin profiles before and after 3 days of free‐running through an ultradian light–dark cycle (2.5 h wake in dim light, 1.5 h sleep in the dark), forced desynchrony protocol. During one session subjects received intermittent blue light (three 30 min pulses over 2 h) once a day for the 3 days of free‐running, and in the other session (control) they remained in dim room light, counterbalanced. The time of blue light was varied among subjects to cover the entire 24 h day. For each individual, the phase shift to blue light was corrected for the free‐run determined during the control session. The blue light PRC had a broad advance region starting in the morning and extending through the afternoon. The delay region started a few hours before bedtime and extended through the night. This is the first PRC to be constructed to blue light and to a stimulus that could be used in the real world.