bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hemispheric antagonism in visuo-spatial neglect: A case study
Authors: Marshall John C. , Halligan Peter W. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe report a case of severe visuo-spatial neglect consequent upon right-hemisphere stroke. At the time of testing, the patient had no visual field cut and no significant hemiparesis. Conventional testing on cancellation tasks with the right hand revealed reliable left neglect, but performance was significantly improved when the left hand was used. Investigations of (manual) line bisection showed normal performance with the right hand but right neglect when the left hand was used. Right neglect was also observed on a purely perceptual version of the line bisection task. We argue that the attentional vectors of the cerebral hemispheres can be modulated by (perceptual) task-demands and by (motorie) response demands. (JINS, 1996, 2, 412–418.)
Perceptual and premotor components of unilateral auditory neglect
Authors: Sterzi Roberto , Piacentini Sylvie , Polimeni Mario , Liverani Francesco , Bisiach Edoardo 
Published: February 2009

AbstractRecent investigations have distinguished between ophthalmokinetic and melokinetic factors of unilateral neglect. The aim of our study was to investigate the possible dissociation between melokinetic (premotor) and perceptual factors, avoiding any overt oculokinctic components. We asked four blindfolded left neglect patients to set a dichotic sound in central position, by moving a handle controlling the difference of intensity between the sounds delivered to the left and to the right cars. Two conflicting conditions were used. In the congruent condition, the sound moved in the same direction as the hand movement; in the noncongruent condition, it moved in the opposite direction. One patient performed as if suffering from melokinetic neglect, and another as if suffering from perceptual neglect. The behavior of the other two subjects did not lend itself to a clearcut interpretation. (JINS, 1996, 2, 419–425.)
Modulation of neglect hemianesthesia by transcutaneous electrical stimulation
Authors: Vallar Giuseppe , Rusconi Maria Luisa , Bernardini Bruno 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation on deficits of tactile perception contralateral to a hemispheric lesion were investigated in 10 right brain-damaged patients and in four left brain-damaged patients. The somatosensory deficit recovered, transiently and in part, after stimulation of the side of the neck contralateral to the side of the lesion, in all 10 patients with lesions in the right hemisphere, both with (six cases) and without (four cases) left visuo-spatial hemineglect, and in one left brain-damaged patient with right hemineglect. In three left brain-damaged patients without hemineglect, the treatment had no detectable effects. In one right brain-damaged patient, the stimulation of the side of the neck ipsilateral to the side of the lesion temporarily worsened the somatosensory deficit. These effects of transcutaneous electrical stimulation are similar to those of vestibular stimulation. The suggestion is made that these treatments modulate, through afferent sensory pathways, higher-order spatial representations of the body, which are pathologically distorted toward the side of the lesion. The modulatory effect is direction-specific: the defective internal representation of the contralesional side may be either partly restored, improving the disorder of tactile perception, or further impoverished, worsening the deficit. The possible neural basis of this modulation is discussed. (JINS, 1996, 2, 452–459.)
Motor dysfunction profiles in traumatic brain injury and postconcussion syndrome
Authors: Greiffenstein Manfred F. , Baker W. John , Gola Thomas 
Published: February 2009

AbstractMotor measures are sensitive to central lesions, but they are also affected by peripheral injury and motivation. The motor skills profiles of proven brain injury clients were compared with the profiles of healthy postconcussion patients. The chief result was a double dissociation: The traumatic brain injury (TBI) group produced a motor dysfunction gradient consistent with upper motor neuron disease, while the compensation-seeking postconcussion group produced a nonphysiologic pattern. Objective measures of behavioral pain and emotional distress did not correlate with the findings. Motor skill deficiencies in postconcussion syndrome (PCS) are probably functional in nature. (JINS, 1996,2, 477–485.)
Comparison of neuropsychological functioning in Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Pachana Nancy Ann , Boone Kyle Brauer , Miller Bruce L. , Cummings Jeffrey L. , Berman Nancy 
Published: February 2009

AbstractNeuropsychological changes distinguishing mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) from frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have been described, but empirical verification of differential cognitive characteristics is lacking. Archival neuropsychological data on 15 FTD patients, 16 AD patients, and 16 controls were compared. Controls outperformed both patient groups on measures of verbal and nonverbal memory, executive ability, and constructional skill, with AD patients showing more widespread memory decline. No differences were found between the 3 groups in confrontation naming, recognition memory, or basic attention. Patient groups differed only in nonverbal memory, with FTD patients performing significantly better than AD patients. However, patient groups also differed in pattern of performance across executive and memory domains. Specifically, AD patients exhibited significantly greater impairment on memory than executive tasks, whereas the opposite pattern characterized ther FTD group. These findings suggest that examination of relative rankings of scores across cognitive domains, in addition to interpretation of individual neuropsychological scores, may be useful in differential diagnosis of FTD versus AD. (JINS, 1996, 2, 505–510.)
Nonfluent progressive aphasia and semantic dementia: A comparative neuropsychological study
Authors: Hodges John R. , Patterson Karalyn 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTwo patients with nonfluent progressive aphasia, who have been studied longitudinally, are contrasted with a group of 5 patients with fluent progressive aphasia or semantic dementia. The most prominent feature of the nonfluent syndrome is the severe distortion of speech output with phonological errors and agrammatic sentence structure. This contrasts with the fluent, well articulated and syntactically correct, but empty, anomic speech found in semantic dementia. Performance on tests of comprehension separates the patient groups: The nonfluent patients show normal single-word comprehension, but marked impairment on tests of syntactic comprehension, while those with semantic dementia demonstrate the opposite pattern. Category fluency is severely defective in semantic dementia, but initial letter-based fluency is more impaired in the nonfluent syndrome. Performance on nonverbally mediated tests of semantic knowledge is impaired in semantic dementia only. The 2 forms of progressive aphasia have in common the sparing of perceptual and visuospatial skills, nonverbal problem solving abilities, and day-to-day (episodic) memory. Neuroradiological investigations have shown marked selective and striking inferolateral left temporal lobe atrophy in all 5 patients with semantic dementia. The changes in nonfluent progressive aphasia appear to be less focal and involve left perisylvian structures more diffusely. These 2 forms of progressive aphasia are, we argue, distinct in their manifestations. (JINS, 1996, 2, 511–524.)
Premorbid intelligence estimation and level of dementia in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Maddrey A. Matt , Cullum C.M. , Weiner M.F. , Filley C.M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractSimple sight-word reading tasks have demonstrated utility in the estimation of premorbid intelligence, although the effects of progressive dementia on such tasks has not been thoroughly examined. The present investigation sought to examine estimated IQ scores from the National Adult Reading Test-Revised (NART-R; Blair & Spreen, 1989) in relation to a WAlS-R-bascd (Wechsler, 1981) estimate of IQ in a series of patients with probable Alzheimer's disease across varying levels of dementia. Results suggest that while NART-R scores do show a decrement with dementia severity, this decline is mild, in contrast to traditionally based IQ scores and other measures of cognitive function, which show more marked declines. Similarly, compared with other tasks, the NART-R showed the strongest correlation with education across the sample as a whole, while the other indices were more related to level of dementia. These findings support the use of measures such as the NART-R in estimating premorbid intellectual functioning in patients at various levels of dementia severity, including those with more advanced cognitive deterioration. (JINS, 1996, 2, 551–555.)
Empirical methods for assessing meaningful neuropsychological change following epilepsy surgery
Authors: Sawrie Stephen M. , Chelune Gordon J. , Naugle Richard I. , Lüders Hans O. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTraditional methods for assessing the neurocognitive effects of epilepsy surgery are confounded by practice effects, test-retest reliability issues, and regression to the mean. This study employs 2 methods for assessing individual change that allow direct comparison of changes across both individuals and test measures. Fifty-one medically intractable epilepsy patients completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery twice, approximately 8 months apart, prior to any invasive monitoring or surgical intervention. First, a Reliable Change (RC) index score was computed for each test score to take into account the reliability of that measure, and a cutoff score was empirically derived to establish the limits of statistically reliable change. These indices were subsequently adjusted for expected practice effects. The second approach used a regression technique to establish “change norms” along a common metric that models both expected practice effects and regression to the mean. The RC index scores provide the clinician with a statistical means of determining whether a patient's retest performance is “significantly” changed from baseline. The regression norms for change allow the clinician to evaluate the magnitude of a given patient's change on 1 or more variables along a common metric that takes into account the reliability and stability of each test measure. Case data illustrate how these methods provide an empirically grounded means for evaluating neurocognitive outcomes following medical interventions such as epilepsy surgery. (JINS, 1996, 2, 556–564.)
The politics of developing reference standards for nutrient intakes: the case of Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Thuraisingam Shanthi , Riddell Lynn , Cook Kay , Lawrence Mark 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveNutrient Reference Values (NRV) are evidence-based benchmarks for assessing the dietary adequacy of individuals and population groups as well as informing public health nutrition policies and programmes. The present paper presents the findings of an analysis of the views of submitters to a draft document associated with the development of the 2006 NRV for Australia and New Zealand. The aim of the study was to explore how these views were reflected in the policy-making process and final policy document.DesignThe information necessary to fulfil this aim required access to stakeholder submissions to the NRV development process and this necessitated exploiting the provisions of the Commonwealth of Australia’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1982. We understand that the present research represents the first time that an FOI request seeking information about a National Health and Medical Research Council food and nutrition policy process has been made and therefore is novel in its approach to public health nutrition policy analysis.ResultsThe analysis of stakeholder submissions identified that stakeholders had particular concerns about the conduct of the review process and the future application of the nutrient values to policy and programmes. There is a lack of evidence that the majority of stakeholder comments were addressed in the final NRV document.ConclusionAlthough these findings cannot be interpreted to assess the validity or otherwise of the set nutrient values, they do raise questions about the process for their development and the adequacy of the final document to reflect the views of key stakeholders.
A multilevel study of area socio-economic status and food purchasing behaviour
Authors: Turrell Gavin , Bentley Rebecca , Thomas Lyndal R , Jolley Damien , Subramanian SV , Kavanagh Anne M 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveThe present study examined the association between area socio-economic status (SES) and food purchasing behaviour.DesignData were collected by mail survey (64·2 % response rate). Area SES was indicated by the proportion of households in each area earning less than $AUS 400 per week, and individual-level socio-economic position was measured using education, occupation and household income. Food purchasing was measured on the basis of compliance with dietary guideline recommendations (for grocery foods) and variety of fruit and vegetable purchase. Multilevel regression analysis examined the association between area SES and food purchase after adjustment for individual-level demographic (age, sex, household composition) and socio-economic factors.SettingMelbourne city, Australia, 2003.SubjectsResidents of 2564 households located in fifty small areas.ResultsResidents of low-SES areas were significantly less likely than their counterparts in advantaged areas to purchase grocery foods that were high in fibre and low in fat, salt and sugar; and they purchased a smaller variety of fruits. There was no evidence of an association between area SES and vegetable variety.ConclusionsIn Melbourne, area SES was associated with some food purchasing behaviours independent of individual-level factors, suggesting that areas in this city may be differentiated on the basis of food availability, accessibility and affordability, making the purchase of some types of foods more difficult in disadvantaged areas.
Plasman-3 fatty acids and psychological distress in aboriginal Cree Indians (Canada)
Authors: Lucas Michel , Dewailly Éric , Blanchet Carole , Gingras Suzanne , Holub Bruce J 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the relationship between psychological distress (PD) and plasman-3 long-chain (LC) PUFA, i.e. EPA, docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn-3) and DHA.DesignPopulation-based, cross-sectional Santé-Québec Health Survey (1991). Participants were categorized as high-level PD if they scored over the 80th percentile of the PD Index in the Santé-Québec Survey; non-distressed subjects were those who scored less than this cut-off. Associations between tertiles ofn-3 fatty acids (FA) and the risk of high-level PD were expressed as odds ratios, with the lowest tertile as the reference group.SettingQuébec, Canada.SubjectsData were analysed from a representative sample of 852 James Bay Cree Indian adults aged 18 years and over.ResultsProportions ofn-3 FA were statistically significantly lower in the PD than in the non-distressed group. After adjustment for confounders, EPA was the only individualn-3 FA significantly associated with the risk of high-level PD. Combinations of EPA + DHA or EPA + DPAn-3 + DHA or the sum ofn-3 were also associated with the risk of high-level PD. Compared with the lowest tertile of EPA + DHA, the OR for high-level PD was 0·89 (95 % CI 0·59, 1·36) for the second and 0·56 (95 % CI 0·32, 0·98) for the third tertile, after controlling for confounders.ConclusionsIn the present retrospective, cross-sectional study, we found that proportions ofn-3 LC PUFA in plasma phospholipids, markers ofn-3 LC PUFA consumption from fish, were inversely associated with PD.
Fast-food and sweetened beverage consumption: association with overweight and high waist circumference in adolescents
Authors: Francis Damian K , Van den Broeck Jan , Younger Novie , McFarlane Shelly , Rudder Kimberley , Gordon-Strachan Georgianna , Grant Andrienne , Johnson Ayesha , Tulloch-Reid Marshall , Wilks Rainford 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectiveOverweight and obesity have increased to epidemic proportions among adolescents and are associated with chronic non-communicable diseases and excess mortality in adulthood. The association of overweight/obesity with poor dietary habits has not been studied in adolescents in middle-income developing countries. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight, obesity and high waist circumference (WC) in 15–19-year-old Jamaican adolescents and to investigate the association with fast-food and sweetened beverage consumption.DesignThe study enrolled 1317 (598 male, 719 female) adolescents aged 15–19 years using multistage, nationally representative sampling. Age-specific prevalence calculation used internalZ-score lines connecting with the WHO adult cut-off points. Logistic regression was used to examine the association of overweight or high WC with fast-food and sweetened beverage consumption, adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsThe overall prevalence of overweight, obesity and high WC was approximately 15 %, 6 % and 10 %, respectively. Prevalence estimated using internalZ-scores was similar to that using the International Obesity Taskforce cut-off points. Obesity (8·0 % in females, 3·3 % in males) and high WC (16·2 % in females, 1·7 % in males) were significantly more prevalent in females when using internalZ-score cut-offs. High WC was associated with the absence of fruit consumption (P= 0·043) and overweight with high sweetened beverage consumption (P= 0·018).ConclusionOverweight occurs frequently among Jamaican 15–19-year-olds and is associated with increased consumption of sweetened beverages. High WC is more prevalent among females and is related to low consumption of fruits and vegetables. Measures to reduce the consumption of sweetened beverages and increase fruit intake may reduce the prevalence of excess body fat among adolescents.
Meal patterns among children and adolescents and their associations with weight status and parental characteristics
Authors: Würbach Ariane , Zellner Konrad , Kromeyer-Hauschild Katrin 
Published: February 2009

AbstractObjectivesTo describe the meal patterns of Jena schoolchildren and their associations with children’s weight status and parental characteristics.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingTwenty schools in Jena (∼100 000 inhabitants), south-east Germany.SubjectsA total of 2054 schoolchildren aged 7–14 years with information on BMI standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) and weight status (based on German reference values), of whom 1571 had additional information about their parents (parental education and employment status, weight status according to WHO guidelines) and meal patterns (school lunch participation rate, meal frequencies, breakfast consumption and frequency of family meals).ResultsWeight status of the children was associated with weight status, education and employment status of the parents. Meal patterns were strongly dependent on children’s age and parental employment. As age increased, the frequency of meal consumption, participation rate in school lunches and the number of family meals decreased. Using linear regression analysis, a high inverse association between BMI-SDS and meal frequency was observed, in addition to relationships with parental weight status and paternal education.ConclusionsAge-specific prevention programmes should encourage greater meal frequency. The close involvement of parents is essential in any strategy for improving children’s (families’) diets.
Effect of different cover crops on organic tomato production
Authors: Lenzi Anna , Antichi Daniele , Bigongiali Federica , Mazzoncini Marco , Migliorini Paola , Tesi Romano 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWhen animal husbandry is not included in organic farming systems, green manure may be crucial to preserve or increase soil organic matter content and to ensure an adequate N supply to crops. Different species, both legumes and nonlegumes, may be used as cover crops. The present research was carried out to investigate the effect of different green manure crops [oats and barley mixture (Avena sativaL. andHordeum vulgareL.), rye (Secale cerealeL.), brown mustard (Brassica junceaL.), flax (Linum usitatissimumL.), pigeon bean (Vicia fabaL.var.minor)] on the production of the following tomato crop. A field trial was conducted for two cropping seasons (2003–2004 and 2004–2005) in a commercial organic farm. The yield of tomato crop was positively affected by pigeon bean, although statistically significant differences in comparison with the other treatments were observed only in 2004–2005, when the experiment was conducted in a less fertile soil. This was probably due mainly to the effect of the pigeon bean cover crop on N availability. In fact, this species, in spite of a lower biomass production than the other cover crops considered in the study, provided the highest N supply and a more evident increase of soil N-NO3. Also, cover crop efficiency, evaluated using the N recovery index, reached higher values in pigeon bean, especially in the second year. The quality of tomato fruits was little influenced by the preceding cover crops. Nevertheless, when tomato followed pigeon bean, fruits showed a lower firmness compared to other cover crops, and in the second year this was associated with a higher fruit N content.
Actinorhodopsin genes discovered in diverse freshwater habitats and among cultivated freshwater Actinobacteria
Authors: Sharma Adrian K , Sommerfeld Katrin , Bullerjahn George S , Matteson Audrey R , Wilhelm Steven W , Jezbera Jan , Brandt Ulrike , Doolittle W Ford , Hahn Martin W 
Published: February 2009

Abstract
Microbial rhodopsins are membrane proteins that utilize a retinal chromophore to harvest sunlight for energetic and photosensory functions. Recently, a group of novel rhodopsin sequences named ‘actinorhodopsins’ (ActRs) was hypothesized to exist among uncultured planktonic Actinobacteria. ActRs were discovered by mining metagenomic data obtained during the Venter Institute's Global Ocean Sampling expedition, from a hypersaline lagoon, two estuaries and a freshwater lake. On the basis of these findings, and many studies that show Actinobacteria are common inhabitants of lakes, we predicted that ActR genes would likely be present in other freshwater habitats and among the genomes of cultivated Actinobacteria. Using degenerate polymerase chain reaction primers, we discovered an ActR gene present in an actinobacterial isolate of the family Microbacteriaceae. Isolate MWH-Uga1 was cultivated prior to this study from a freshwater pond in Uganda and belongs to a group of Actinobacteria previously identified in freshwater ecosystems. ActR genes were also discovered present in numerous mixed cultures containing freshwater Actinobacteria and among environmental DNA samples obtained from three freshwater sources; a small woodland pond and the Laurentian Great Lakes Superior and Erie. An analysis of small subunit ribosomal RNA genes from metagenomic DNA samples harboring ActR genes suggests that organisms belonging to the acI lineage, an uncultured group of Actinobacteria commonly present in fresh waters, may utilize rhodopsins. The co-occurrence of an acI organism with a specific ActR variant in a mixed culture supports our hypothesis.