Anxiety in eating disorders: a comparative study

Scientific literature shows that anxiety is an important factor in eating disorders. The aim of this case-control study was to compare the anxiety manifestations obtained by means of the Anxiety Situations and Responses Inventory of in a clinical sample of 74 females (46, anorexia nervosa; 28, bulimia) to those obtained by a control group (130 girls without disorders). The between-group ANOVA results showed higher anxiety scores in the clinical group with a medium effect size for the anxiety trait, finding a flat profile (within-group ANOVA) for the three response systems (cognitive, physiological and motor) and the four specific anxiety traits (test, interpersonal, phobic, and daily life situations). Moreover, high scores in anxiety involved a greater risk of being diagnosed with an eating disorder in the 8 bivariate comparisons. The estimations were more precise for cognitive anxiety and for the specific interpersonal anxiety trait.     

From synaptic transmission to cognition: an intermediary role for dendritic spines

Dendritic spines are cytoplasmic protrusions that develop directly or indirectly from the filopodia of neurons. Dendritic spines mediate excitatory neurotransmission and they can isolate the electrical activity generated by synaptic impulses, enabling them to translate excitatory afferent information via several types of plastic changes, including neoformation, disappearance, redistribution and changes in geometric shape. The fine line between normal and abnormal excitatory neurotransmission is mediated by the concerted action of glutamate-mediated stimulation and calcium ion entry into spines. Moreover, within the range of normal excitatory activity, dendritic spines undergo specific plastic changes to regulate different forms of afferent information that are often related to distinct modes of cognition-related electrophysiological stimulation, such as long-term potentiation or long-term depression.     

Confirmatory Factor Analysis,Reliability, and Validity of a Spanish Version of FACES III

This study tested the properties of a Spanish version of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scales III (FACES III) in a Spanish sample. Participants were 632 adults with children attending several school institutions from day care to undergraduate university. Confirmatory factor analyses replicated the factor structure of the original American version. Reliability coefficients were higher for the cohesion ( f = .72) than the adaptability scale ( f = .68). Convergent and discriminant validity was supported through a MTMM approach. The Spanish FACES III seems to be a valid and reliable measure.     

Thomas Aquinas Holds Fast: Objections to Aquinas within Today's Debate on Divine Action

Various authors within the contemporary debate on divine action in nature and contemporary science argue both for and against a Thomistic account of divine action through the notions of primary and secondary causes. In this paper I argue that those who support a Thomistic account of divine action often fail to explain Aquinas' doctrine in full, while those who argue against it base their objections on an incomplete knowledge of this doctrine, or identify it with Austin Farrer's doctrine of double agency – again failing to do Aquinas justice. I analyse these objections, indicating how they do not address Aquinas' doctrine by offering a brief but full account of the latter.     

Marcos de referencia en el estudio de los mapas cognitivos de ambientes urbanos

Resumen

El presente artículo ofrece una revisión de los estudios realizados en las dos últimas décadas sobre mapas cognitivos aplicados al mundo urbano a partir de las investigaciones llevadas a cabo por los autores de primera línea en el tema. El conjunto de tales trabajos hace patente la falta de articulación en que se encuentra el constructo «mapa cognitivo». Sin embargo, ofrecen unas orientaciones a tener en cuenta necesariamente en cualquier futura investigación.     

Die Atomistik bei Ludwig Boltzmann. Zur wissenschaftlichen und philosophischen Bedeutung einer kontroversen Position am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts

The atomic hypothesis according to Ludwig Boltzmann. The scientific and philosophical importance of a controversial position at the close of the 19th century. This paper examines Boltzmann’s standpoint in the controversy over the existence of atoms between himself on the one hand and Mach, Ostwald, Helm and to some extent Duhem on the other hand. The latter wanted to develop a physics only constructed with perceptible phenomena. Because of the lack of empirical evidence of the atoms at that time they did not accept them for the construction of physics. In contrast, Boltzmann found the acceptance of atoms to be a fruitful assumption, since for him the construction of physics required going beyond perceptible phenomena. Two different conceptions of nature and of the ways to know nature clashed in this disagreement between Boltzmann and his opponents. Op-posing one-sided positions, Boltzmann supported the hypothetical character of science, in which more than one basic hypothesis can be advanced: he was open to the possibility of fundamental revolutions in science.

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Die Atomistik bei Ludwig Boltzmann. Zur wissenschaftlichen und philosophischen Bedeutung einer kontroversen Position am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts

     

Personality,amphetamine and intracranial self-stimulation in rats

The relationship between open-field ambulation and intracranial self-stimulation (ICSS) at the lateral hypothalamic area was studied in rats. A treatment with i.p. saline of d-amphetamine was also applied to the animals prior to ICSS tests. High-ambulatory rats (comparable to human extraverts) showed an equally higher susceptibility to ICSS reward than low-ambulatory rats (comparable to human introverts) with both saline and amphetamine. These findings were interpreted comsidering the ICSS as a strong stimulation which would tend to produce ‘unconditioned inhibition’ much earlier in low-ambulatory rats than high-ambulatory rats thus leading to a better conditioning among the high-ambulatory Ss.     

International visibility of periodicals from Ireland,India, and Latin America

The present research attempts to evaluate the level of bibliographic control, and the consequent international visibility of the periodical publications of three countries in different stages of development. India, Latin America and Ireland. A search was performed on the December 1990 CD-ROM version of The Serials Directory, a commercially produced international reference source on periodical publications. A random sample of 758 periodical publications was downloaded to a local data base. Publications were sorted thematically and indicators of bibliographic control, and of international visibility were recorded. The indicators of bibliographic control and international visibility per country were contrasted. India has established for a number of years a consistent policy of bibliographic control, particularly in the case of scientific periodical publications. Latin America has followed on the other hand, a rather erratic approach to bibliographic control, and information policy. Ireland on the other hand shows a high level of bibliographic control, and the establishment of a commercial publishing industry specialized in the medical sciences. This development was not found in any of the other countries studied. Suggestions for the improvement of the international visibility and bibliographic control of periodicals from peripheral countries are presented.     

Memory for stereotype-related material–a replication study with real-life social groups

This paper reports a study comparing the memorability of information that either confirmed, disconfirmed, or was irrelevant to, particular real-life social group stereotypes. Memory for both stereotype-confirming and stereotype-disconfirming material was enhanced relative to that for material which was stereotype-irrelevant. Further, there were no differences between the memory for stereotype-confirming and -disconfirming information. Implications for stereotype stability and change are noted.     

The Self in Movement: Being Identified and Identifying Oneself in the Process of Migration and Asylum Seeking

How migration influences the processes of identity development has been under longstanding scrutiny in the social sciences. Usually, stage models have been suggested, and different strategies for acculturation (e.g., integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization) have been considered as ways to make sense of the psychological transformations of migrants as a group. On an individual level, however, identity development is a more complex endeavor: Identity does not just develop by itself, but is constructed as an ongoing process. To capture these processes, we will look at different aspects of migration and asylum seeking; for example, the cultural-specific values and expectations of the hosting (European) countries (e.g., as identifier), but also of the arriving individuals/groups (e.g., identified as refugees). Since the two may contradict each other, negotiations between identities claims and identity assignments become necessary. Ways to solve these contradictions are discussed, with a special focus on the experienced (and often missing) agency in different settings upon arrival in a new country. In addition, it will be shown how sudden events (e.g., 9/11, the Charlie Hebdo attack) may challenge identity processes in different ways.