bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Religious service attendance and spiritual well-being are differentially associated with risk of major depression
Authors: Maselko J. , Gilman S. E. , Buka S. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundThe complex relationships between religiosity, spirituality and the risk of DSM-IV depression are not well understood.MethodWe investigated the independent influence of religious service attendance and two dimensions of spiritual well-being (religious and existential) on the lifetime risk of major depression. Data came from the New England Family Study (NEFS) cohort (n=918, mean age=39 years). Depression according to DSM-IV criteria was ascertained using structured diagnostic interviews. Odds ratios (ORs) for the associations between high, medium and low tertiles of spiritual well-being and for religious service attendance and the lifetime risk of depression were estimated using multiple logistic regression.ResultsReligious service attendance was associated with 30% lower odds of depression. In addition, individuals in the top tertile of existential well-being had a 70% lower odds of depression compared to individuals in the bottom tertile. Contrary to our original hypotheses, however, higher levels of religious well-being were associated with 1.5 times higher odds of depression.ConclusionsReligious and existential well-being may be differentially associated with likelihood of depression. Given the complex interactions between religiosity and spirituality dimensions in relation to risk of major depression, the reliance on a single domain measure of religiosity or spirituality (e.g. religious service attendance) in research or clinical settings is discouraged.
Influence of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on the inhibition of emotional information in healthy volunteers
Authors: Leyman L. , De Raedt R. , Vanderhasselt M.-A. , Baeken C. 
Published: October 2008

BackgroundEvidence suggests that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) might be a promising new treatment procedure for depression. However, underlying working mechanisms of this technique are yet unclear. Multiple sessions of rTMS may – apart from the reported antidepressant effects – cause primary improvements in attentional control over emotional information, modulated by changes in cortical brain excitability within stimulated prefrontal regions.MethodIn two experiments, we examined the temporary effects of high-frequency (HF) rTMS (10 Hz) applied over the left and right DLPFC on the attentional processing of emotional information and self-reported mood within samples of healthy volunteers.ResultsThe present study showed that one session of HF-rTMS over the right DLPFC produces instant impairments in the ability to inhibit negative information, in line with a characteristic cognitive vulnerability found in depressive pathology, whereas HF-rTMS of the left DLPFC did not lead to significant changes in attentional control. These effects could not be attributed to mood changes.ConclusionsThe findings of the present study may suggest a specific involvement of the right DLPFC in the attentional processing of emotional information.
Non-word repetition assesses phonological memory and is related to vocabulary development in 20- to 24-month-olds
Authors: HOFF ERIKA , CORE CYNTHIA , BRIDGES KELLY 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTTwo studies test the hypotheses that individual differences in phonological memory among children younger than two years can be assessed using a non-word repetition task (NWR) and that these differences are related to the children's rates of vocabulary development. NWR accuracy, real word repetition accuracy and productive vocabulary were assessed in 15 children between 1 ; 9 and 2 ; 0 in Study 1 and in 21 children between 1 ; 8 and 2 ; 0 in Study 2. In both studies, NWR accuracy was significantly related to vocabulary percentile and, furthermore, uniquely accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in vocabulary when real word repetition accuracy was held constant. The findings establish NWR as a valid measure of phonological memory in very young children, and they open the door for further studies of the role of phonological memory in early word learning.
Acoustical cues and grammatical units in speech to two preverbal infants
Authors: SODERSTROM MELANIE , BLOSSOM MEGAN , FOYGEL RINA , MORGAN JAMES L. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTThe current study examines the syntactic and prosodic characteristics of the maternal speech to two infants between six and ten months. Consistent with previous work, we find infant-directed speech to be characterized by generally short utterances, isolated words and phrases, and large numbers of questions, but longer utterances are also found. Prosodic information provides cues to grammatical units not only at utterance boundaries, but also at utterance-internal clause boundaries. Subject–verb phrase boundaries in questions also show reliable prosodic cues, although those of declaratives do not. Prosodic information may thus play an important role in providing preverbal infants with information about the grammatically relevant word groupings. Furthermore, questions may play an important role in infants' discovery of verb phrases in English.
The psycholinguistics of developing text construction
Authors: BERMAN RUTH A. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTThis paper outlines functionally motivated quantifiable criteria for characterizing different facets of discourse – global-level principles, categories of referential content, clause-linking complex syntax, local linguistic expression and overall discourse stance – in relation to the variables of development, genre and modality. Concern is with later, school-age language development, in the conviction that the long developmental route of language acquisition can profitably be examined in the context of extended discourse. Findings are reviewed from a cross-linguistic project that elicited narrative and expository texts in both speech and writing at four age groups: (9–10 years, 12–13, 16–17 and adults). Clear developmental patterns emerge from middle childhood to adulthood, with significant shifts in adolescence; global-level text organization is mastered earlier in narratives than in expository essays, but the latter promote more advanced use of local-level lexicon and syntax; and spoken texts are more spread out than their denser written counterparts in clause-linkage, referential content and lexical usage. These and other findings are discussed in terms of the growth and reorganization of knowledge about types of discourse and text-embedded language use.
The role of evidentiality in Bulgarian children's reliability judgments
Authors: FITNEVA STANKA A. 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTEvidentials are grammatical source-of-knowledge markers. In Bulgarian they provide information about authorship – whether the speaker has personally acquired the information or not – and modality – whether perceptual or cognitive mechanisms were involved in the information's generation. In two experiments, Bulgarian kindergarteners and third-graders (ages 6 and 9,N=96) had to decide which one of two utterances containing different evidentials to believe. Experiment 1 showed that children draw on modality information in their decisions: Third-graders favored perceptual over cognitive and kindergartners cognitive over perceptual sources. Experiment 2 showed that third-graders can also draw on the authorship information carried by evidentials: they favored first- over second-hand information. The discussion focuses on understanding the development of children's use of evidentials.
Audiovisual speech recalibration in children*
Authors: VAN LINDEN SABINE , VROOMEN JEAN 
Published: October 2008

ABSTRACTIn order to examine whether children adjust their phonetic speech categories, children of two age groups, five-year-olds and eight-year-olds, were exposed to a video of a face saying /aba/ or /ada/ accompanied by an auditory ambiguous speech sound halfway between /b/ and /d/. The effect of exposure to these audiovisual stimuli was measured on subsequently delivered auditory-only speech identification trials. Results were compared to a control condition in which the audiovisual exposure stimuli contained non-ambiguous and congruent sounds /aba/ or /ada/. The older children learned to categorize the initially ambiguous speech sound in accord with the previously seen lip-read information (i.e. recalibration), but this was not the case for the younger age group. Moreover, all children displayed a tendency to report the stimulus that they were exposed to during the exposure phase. Methodological improvements for adjusting such a response bias are discussed.
America's first monetary policy: inflation and seigniorage during the Revolutionary War
Authors: Baack Ben 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis examination of America's original monetary policy as implemented by the Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War finds that the extreme inflation experienced during the war resulted from a policy designed to circumvent a free-rider problem institutionalised by the Articles of Confederation, and that war news played a critical role in the behaviour of the money base over time. Furthermore, despite the extreme inflation, the inflation tax that accrued to Congress remained on the left side of the Laffer curve.
The secondary market for bank shares in nineteenth-century Britain
Authors: Acheson Graeme G. , Turner John D. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractStock transferability and liquidity are viewed as vital characteristics of capital markets. Surprisingly, we know very little about the level of trading activity on, and liquidity of the market for, company stock during the rapid growth of the British capital market in the nineteenth century. This article attempts to shed some light on this important issue by examining the market for bank shares using trading data collected from bank archives. Our evidence suggests that trading activity and liquidity changed imperceptibly over the century. We also find that ownership structure is a major determinant of trading activity and liquidity; whereas shareholder liability regimes don't appear to affect liquidity.
Central banking in nineteenth-century Belgium: was the NBB a lender of last resort?
Authors: Buyst Erik , Maes Ivo 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe creation of the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) in 1850 marked a fundamental reform of the Belgian financial system. It clearly aimed at rendering the financial system more crisis resistant, especially by restricting the leverage of the banking sector. The NBB, which received the privilege to issue banknotes, was subject to strict rules to grant only short-term credit against collateral. The NBB took up a key role in maintaining monetary stability, especially by safeguarding the convertibility of banknotes. The NBB also took part in certain rescue operations of financial institutions. However, this was mostly on explicit demand from the finance minister and for crises concerning discount banks. It would then be an exaggeration to consider it as a lender of last resort, in the sense of taking responsibility for the stability of the financial system. This should be no surprise, given the limitations imposed by its statutes, especially the limitation to short-term credits and the strict rules on collateral, the role of the profit motive in its commercial activities and the priority for safeguarding the convertibility of banknotes.
Free banking and bank entry in nineteenth-century New York
Authors: Bodenhorn Howard 
Published: October 2008

AbstractPrevious studies of entry under New York's free banking law of 1838 have generated conflicting results. This article shows that different measures of entry lead to different conclusions about the competitive effects of the law. Measured by the entry of new banks, New York's free banking law led to increased rates of entry relative to other states. Free banking did not, however, lead to significant increases in capital accumulation in the industry. This paradoxical outcome resulted from the regulatory features of free banking, especially the bond security feature, which reduced profitability and incentives to invest in banking.
Slow delayed rectifier K+ current block by HMR 1556 increases dispersion of repolarization and promotes Torsades de Pointes in rabbit ventricles
Authors: So P P‐S , Backx P H , Dorian P 
Published: October 2008

Background and purpose:The slow delayed rectifier K+ current (IKs) contributes to ventricular repolarization when the action potential (AP) is prolonged. IKs block during drug‐induced AP prolongation may promote Torsades de Pointes (TdP), but whether this is due to additional AP prolongation is uncertain.Experimental approach:In bradycardic perfused rabbit ventricles, the incidence of spontaneous TdP, monophasic AP duration at 90% repolarization (MAPD90) and ECG interval between the peak and the end of T wave (Tpeak−end) (index of dispersion of repolarization) were measured after the administration of veratridine (125 nM, slows Na+ channel inactivation), dofetilide (7.5 or 10 nM, a rapid delayed rectifier blocker) and HMR 1556 (HMR, 100 nM, an IKs blocker), alone or in combinations (n=6 each).Key results:HMR did not prolong MAPD90, whereas veratridine or 7.5 nM dofetilide prolonged MAPD90 (P<0.01) without inducing TdP. Veratridine+7.5 nM dofetilide additively prolonged MAPD90 (P<0.05), induced 4±6 TdP per heart and prolonged Tpeak−end by 12±10 ms. Subsequent addition of HMR did not further prolonged MAPD90, but increased the number of TdP to 22±18 per heart and increased Tpeak−end by 39±21 ms (P<0.05). Increasing dofetilide concentration from 7.5 to 10 nM (added to veratridine) produced a longer MAPD90, but fewer TdP (5±5 per heart) and less Tpeak−end prolongation (17±8 ms) compared to the veratridine+7.5 nM dofetilide+HMR group (P<0.05).Conclusions and implications:Adding IKs block markedly increases TdP incidence in hearts predisposed to TdP development by increasing the dispersion of repolarization, but without additional AP prolongation.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 1185–1194; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.354; published online 6 October 2008
Neural Mechanisms of Selective Auditory Attention in Rats (Dissertation)
Authors: Tai Lung-Hao , Zador Anthony 
Published: October 2008

AbstractHow does attention modulate sensory representations? In order to probe the underlying neural mechanisms, we established a simple rodent model of modality-specific attention. Rats were trained to perform distinct auditory two-tone discrimination and olfactory odor discrimination in a two alternative choice (2AC) paradigm. To determine auditory cortex’s role in this frequency discrimination task, we used GABA-A receptor agonist muscimol to transiently and reversibly inactivate auditory cortexes bilaterally in rats performing simple interleaved auditory and olfactory discrimination. With olfactory discrimination performance serving as internal control for motivation and decision making capability, we found only auditory two-tone discrimination was selectively impaired in these rats. This shows the auditory cortex is involved in this two-tone discrimination task.To investigate the neural correlate of modality-specific attention in the auditory cortex, we trained rats to perform interleaved auditory and olfactory blocks (of 50~70 trials each) in a single session. In auditory blocks, pure tones were either presented with or without a neutral odor (caproic acid, n=2 and 3 respectively), and subjects were rewarded for discriminating auditory stimuli. In olfactory blocks, both task odors and pure tones were presented simultaneously, and subjects were rewarded for discriminating olfactory stimuli. We recorded neural responses in primary auditory cortex (area A1) in freely moving rats while subjects performed this behavior. Single unit responses to tones were heterogeneous, and included transient, sustained, and suppressed. We found 205 of 802 units recorded responsive to the stimuli we used. Of these 205 units, 18.5% showed modality-specific attentional modulation of the anticipatory activity before tone onset. In addition, we also observed in smaller proportion of units (11.2%) modality-specific attentional modulation of the tone-evoked responses; in most cases, the responses to a particular auditory stimulus was enhanced in the auditory block (or, equivalently, suppressed in the olfactory block). Attention increased choice probability of the population in the auditory block. We have also observed significant behavior choice probability in small proportions of units. Our results suggest that shifting attention between audition to olfaction tasks can modulate the activity of single neurons in primary auditory cortex.
Characterization of the ubinuclein protein as a new member of the nuclear and adhesion complex components (NACos)
Authors: Aho Sirpa , Lupo Julien , Coly Pierre‐Alain , Sabine Amélie , Castellazzi Marc , Morand Patrice , Sergeant Alain , Manet Evelyne , Boyer Véronique , Gruffat Henri 
Published: October 2008

Background information. We characterized previously a cellular protein through its interaction with cellular and viral transcription factors from the bZip family. The corresponding mRNA was detected in a wide range of cell types and the protein was highly expressed in the nucleus of human keratinocytes. On the basis of these observations, we named this protein ubinuclein.Results. Using a specific monoclonal antibody, we have shown in the present study that, although endogenous ubinuclein was mainly nuclear in sparse MDCK (Madin—Darby canine kidney) cells, it was exclusively present in the cell—cell junctions in confluent MDCK cultures or in polarized HT29 cells, where it co‐localized with the tight junction marker ZO‐1 (zonula occludens 1). In accordance with this, we have shown that ubinuclein interacted with ZO‐1 in vitro and in vivo. In cultures of undifferentiated human keratinocytes, ubinuclein was essentially nuclear, but in differentiated cells, in which involucrin and periplakin reside at the apical cell membrane and at the cell—cell junctions, ubinuclein staining was observed at the lateral cell—cell borders. In human skin, ubinuclein appeared as a thread‐like pattern between the upper granular cell layer and the cornified cell layer. In mouse epithelia, including bile canaliculi, bronchioli, salivary gland ducts, and oral and olfactory epithelium, ubinuclein co‐localized with tight junction markers. Ubinuclein was, however, not present in endothelial cell—cell junctions. In addition, when overexpressed, ubinuclein localized to the nucleus and prevented MDCK cells from entering cytokinesis, resulting in multinucleated giant cells after several cycles of endoreplication.Conclusions. Ubinuclein mRNA and its corresponding protein are expressed in almost all cell types. Analyses have revealed that in most cells ubinuclein occurred in the nucleoplasm, but in cells forming tight junctions it is recruited to the plaque structure of the zonula occludens. This recruitment appeared to be dependent on cell density. Therefore ubinuclein is a new NACos (nuclear and adhesion complex component) protein.
Discovery of a new RNA‐containing nuclear structure in UVC‐induced apoptotic cells by integrated laser electron microscopy
Authors: Karreman Matthia A. , Agronskaia Alexandra V. , Verkleij Arie J. , Cremers Fons F.M. , Gerritsen Hans C. , Humbel Bruno M. 
Published: October 2008

Background information. Treatment of cells with UVC radiation leads to the formation of DNA cross‐links which, if not repaired, can lead to apoptosis. γ‐H2AX and cleaved caspase 3 are proteins formed during UVC‐induced DNA damage and apoptosis respectively. The present study sets out to identify early morphological markers of apoptosis using a new method of correlative microscopy, ILEM (integrated laser electron microscopy). Cleaved caspase 3 and γ‐H2AX were immunofluorescently labelled to mark the cells of interest. These cells were subsequently searched in the fluorescence mode of the ILEM and further analysed at high resolution with TEM (transmission electron microscopy).Results. Following the treatment of HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells) with UVC radiation, in the majority of the cells γ‐H2AX was formed, whereas only in a subset of cells caspase 3 was activated. In severely damaged cells with high levels of γ‐H2AX a round, electron‐dense nuclear structure was found, which was hitherto not identified in UV‐stressed cells. This structure exists only in nuclei of cells containing cleaved caspase 3 and is present during all stages of the apoptotic process. Energy‐loss imaging showed that the nuclear structure accumulates phosphorus, indicating that it is rich in nucleic acids. Because the nuclear structure did not label for DNA and was not affected by regressive EDTA treatment, it is suggested that the UV‐induced nuclear structure contains a high amount of RNA.Conclusions. Because the UV‐induced nuclear structure was only found in cells labelled for cleaved caspase 3 it is proposed as an electron microscopic marker for all stages of apoptosis. Such a marker will especially facilitate the screening for early apoptotic cells, which lack the well‐known hallmarks of apoptosis within a cell population. It also raises new questions on the mechanisms involved in the UV‐induced apoptotic pathway.
NFAT directly regulates Nkx2‐5 transcription during cardiac cell differentiation
Authors: Chen Yong , Cao Xinmin 
Published: October 2008

Background information. The transcription factor NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T‐cell) family comprises important regulators in immuno‐responses and mouse embryonic development, including early cardiovascular and heart valve development. The mechanism involved, however, is not fully understood. Nkx2‐5 (NK2 transcription factor related, locus 5) is one of the earliest genes expressed in early cardiac progenitor cells and is essential for heart tube development by control of a subset of cardiac muscle‐specific genes. Previously we found that downregulation of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I caused severe cardiac deficiencies during heart tube development in Xenopus embryos associated with compromised Nkx2‐5 expression. However, the heart defects and Nkx2‐5 expression could be rescued by a constitutively activated NFAT, suggesting a possible link between NFAT and Nkx2‐5 during early heart development.Results. In the present study, we demonstrate that NFAT regulates Nkx2‐5 expression in both mouse ES (embryonic stem) cells and P19 cells, a mouse model for embryonic differentiation. We found that there are six core NFAT‐binding elements in the 5′ regulatory region of the Nkx2‐5 gene. Although NFAT is able to bind directly to all but one of these elements, it activates Nkx2‐5 transcription only via a specific binding site in the distal enhancer region. Interestingly, the transcriptional activity of NFAT is largely dependent on the co‐factor GATA (GATA‐binding transcription factor), which binds to an element adjacent to this key NFAT‐binding site. Furthermore, binding of the endogenous NFAT to this particular site was observed during cardiac differentiation in mouse ES and P19 cells.Conclusions. The results suggest that Nkx2‐5 is a direct target of NFAT that co‐ordinates with other transcription factors such as GATA4 to regulate Nkx2‐5 during cardiogenesis.