An examination of the psychometric properties of measures of negative affect in the PANAS-X scales.

This research challenges the claim made by D. Watson and L. A. Clark (see PA, Vols 78:27347 and 79:18429) that the negative affects (fear, sadness, hostility, and guilt) are organized in a hierarchical structure and at the same time achieve discriminant validity. These reanalyses of the data in Watson and Clark provide strong support for both the hierarchical representation of the negative affects under a single valence factor and convergent validity. However, although weak support exists for discriminant validity of self-report measures of the negative affects, discriminant validity is rejected when the negative affects are measured either with self- and peer-reports or self-reports over time treated as 2 methods. Limitations of Watson and Clark's procedures are pointed out, and the advantages of new methods are described. A rationale is provided for the interaction of traits and methods, where support is found in 1 of 4 data sets investigated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Molecular-biological approaches to studying gene expression during regeneration

This paper constitutes a review of the methodical approaches allowing analysis of the mechanisms underlying development and differentiation. Progress in investigation of the mechanisms underlying embryogenesis is related to the discovery of genic families in the Drosophila genome, which are responsible for different periods of embryogenesis. The true revolution in studies of developmental mechanisms began with the application of molecular-genetic methods for analysis of Drosophila mutant lines. The clarification and analysis of the genes controlling regeneration is one of the most effective paths toward an understanding of the mechanisms underlying regeneration. No mutations affecting regeneration are, and the development of alternative (i.e., not based on mutation analysis) methods of discovery of the genes controlling regeneration is necessary for investigation of the genetic mechanisms of regeneration. The advantages and drawbacks of the two main approaches for discovery of the genes controlling regeneration are considered. The first approach is based on the production of a bank of sequences expressed in the regenerating structures and subsequent screening of the bank by the known probes. This approach also involves analysis of the structure, function, and expression pattern of the obtained homologs. The second approach is based on subtractive hybridization, which allows identification of the genes specifically expressed in the regenerating structures. This approach was made it possible to identify, for the first time, new genes specifically expressed during lens and retina regeneration in amphibians.     

Potentially rapid walking in cellular regulatory networks using the gene-gene interference method in yeast

The recognition that cellular regulatory circuitry is composed of antagonistic elements has made possible a new approach to the selection of regulatory genes, called the gene-gene interference method. The method was used to identify and isolate genes possibly related in an antagonistic way to protein kinase A. Two such genes were recovered: ART1 encodes a potential regulator of cytokinesis and KAI1 appears to be involved in the Start control. The principles of the gene-gene interference method are discussed, as well as its possible general use for 'walking' within the cellular regulatory networks of eukaryotes.     

Structural convergence of mood and personality: Evidence for old and new directions.

Using factor analytic techniques, extensively researched 2-dimensional models of mood structure (D. Watson and A. Tellegen; see record 1986-00110-001) and personality structure (H. J. and M. W. Eysenck, 1985) were examined for their degree of convergence. As hypothesized, it was shown that extraversion and positive affect share a common dimension in combined mood–personality space and that neuroticism and negative affect together define the 2nd dimension of this space. Significantly, this finding held whether mood was assessed as a state or a trait. The circumplex structure of trait and state mood was also assessed, providing strong support for most octants of the Watson and Tellegen model. Finally, scales of state mood, trait mood, and personality were assessed and differentiated according to theoretical expectations. Implications for research based on a unified map of the 2-dimensional personality–mood space were elucidated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Grass genomes

For the most part, studies of grass genome structure have been limited to the generation of whole-genome genetic maps or the fine structure and sequence analysis of single genes or gene clusters. We have investigated large contiguous segments of the genomes of maize, sorghum, and rice, primarily focusing on intergenic spaces. Our data indicate that much (>50%) of the maize genome is composed of interspersed repetitive DNAs, primarily nested retrotransposons that insert between genes. These retroelements are less abundant in smaller genome plants, including rice and sorghum. Although 5- to 200-kb blocks of methylated, presumably heterochromatic, retrotransposons flank most maize genes, rice and sorghum genes are often adjacent. Similar genes are commonly found in the same relative chromosomal locations and orientations in each of these three species, although there are numerous exceptions to this collinearity (i.e., rearrangements) that can be detected at the levels of both the recombinational map and cloned DNA. Evolutionarily conserved sequences are largely confined to genes and their regulatory elements. Our results indicate that a knowledge of grass genome structure will be a useful tool for gene discovery and isolation, but the general rules and biological significance of grass genome organization remain to be determined. Moreover, the nature and frequency of exceptions to the general patterns of grass genome structure and collinearity are still largely unknown and will require extensive further investigation.     

Four ubiquitously expressed genes, RD (D6S45)-SKI2W (SKIV2L)-DOM3Z-RP1 (D6S60E), are present between complement component genes factor B and C4 in the class III region of the HLA

The association of the HLA class III region with many diseases motivates the investigation of unidentified genes in the 30-kb segment between complement component genes Bf and C4. RD, which codes for a putative RNA binding protein, is 205 bp downstream of Bf. SKI2W (HGMW-approved symbol SKIV2L), a DEVH-box gene probably involved in RNA turnover, is 171 bp downstream of RD (HGMW-approved symbol D6S45). RP1 (HGMW-approved symbol D6S60E) is located 611 bp upstream of C4. The DNA sequence between human RD and RP1 was determined and the exon-intron structure of SKI2W elucidated. SKI2W consists of 28 exons. The putative RNA helicase domain of Ski2w is encoded by 9 exons. Further analysis of the 2.5-kb intergenic sequence between SKI2W and RP1 led to the discovery of DOM3Z. The full-length cDNA sequence of DOM3Z encodes 396 amino acids with a leucine zipper motif. Dom3z-related proteins are present in simple and complex eukaryotes. In Caenorhabditis elegans, Dom3z-related protein could be involved in the development of germ cells. Human RD-SKI2W and DOM3Z-RP1 are arranged as two head-to-head oriented gene pairs with unmethylated CpG sequences at the common 5' regulatory region of each gene pair. The ubiquitous expression pattern suggests that these four genes are probably housekeeping genes.     

Evaluation of dysfunction of individual endocrine organs in Sheehan''s syndrome--various endocrine function tests in a clinical case

A previously described GLC method has been modified and applied to measurement of antipyrine levels in plasma, blood and saliva of man following administration of a single oral dose (10 mg/kg). Tery time studied. The half-life of antipyrine determined in blood, plasma or saliva in any given individual was similar. The intersubject variation in half-life was about two-fold (n = 5). Antipyrine levels in saliva were not affected by the rate of saliva flow when collections were made continuously for 20 minutes. This study has demonstrated that kinetic data about antipyrine comparable to that from plasma may also be obtained from readily accessible tissue fluids, such as saliva and capillary blood.     

Colour is what the eye sees best

It has been argued by Watson, Barlow and Robson that the visual stimulus that humans detect best specifies the spatial-temporal structure of the receptive field of the most sensitive visual neurons. To investigate 'what the eye sees best' they used stimuli that varied in luminance alone. Because the most abundant primate retinal ganglion cells, the P cells, are colour-opponent, we might expect that a coloured pattern would also be detected well. We generalized Watson et al.'s study to include variations in colour as well as luminance. We report here that our best detected coloured stimulus was seen 5-9-fold better than our best luminance spot and 3-8-fold better than Watson's best luminance stimulus. The high sensitivity to colour is consistent with the prevalence and high colour contrast-gain of retinal P cells, and may compensate for the low chromatic contrasts typically found in natural scenes.     

The identity status of African Americans in middle adolescence: a reexamination of Watson and Protinsky (1991)

In contrast to earlier research, Watson and Protinsky (1991) found that African American students did not experience identity foreclosure to a greater extent than did their Caucasian peers. Watson and Protinsky, however, examined only ideological identity. The purpose of the present study was to extend this line of research by examining identity development in the interpersonal domain as well as the ideological domain. Forty-eight African American students completed a revised version of the Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status (EOM-EIS II). Supporting the conclusions of Watson and Protinsky, the results showed that few of the African American students were foreclosed. Instead, most of the students were in moratorium; that is, they were engaged in the identity-exploration process. Results for the interpersonal domain were similar to those for the ideological domain.     

The pilH gene encodes an ABC transporter homologue required for type IV pilus biogenesis and social gliding motility in Myxococcus xanthus

Type IV pilus genes have been shown to be required for social gliding motility in Myxococcus xanthus. We report the discovery of four additional pil genes: pilD, a homologue of type IV prepilin leader peptidases; and pilG, pilH and pilI, which have no known homologues in other type IV pilus systems. pilH encodes an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter homologue, the first such homologue to be required for the biogenesis of any bacterial pilus type. pilG and pilI are co-transcribed with pilH and appear to be functionally related to pilH. Null mutants of pilG, pilH and pilI all lack social motility, are deficient in pilus production, have elevated sporulation efficiencies and display similar developmental abnormalities. In addition, all three mutations reduced the amount of PilA found in the supernatant after cells were sedimented from liquid culture. We suggest that the products of these three genes form a single ABC exporter complex, in which pilI is an integral membrane protein with membrane-spanning domains, and pilG is an accessory factor. The complex may participate in pilus assembly and/or the export of PilA pilin.     

The experience and meta-experience of mood.

Mood experience is comprised of at least two elements: the direct experience of the mood and a meta-level of experience that consists of thoughts and feelings about the mood. In Study 1, a two-dimensional structure for the direct experience of mood (Watson & Tellegen, 1985) was tested for its fit to the responses of 1,572 subjects who each completed one of the three different mood scales, including a brief scale developed to assist future research. The Watson and Tellegen structure was supported across all three scales. In Study 2, meta-mood experience was conceptualized as the product of a mood regulatory process that monitors, evaluates, and at times changes mood. A scale to measure meta-mood experience was administered to 160 participants along with the brief mood scale. People's levels on the meta-mood dimensions were found to differ across moods. Meta-mood experiences may also constitute an important part of the phenomenology of the personal experience of mood. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tripartite model of anxiety and depression: Psychometric evidence and taxonomic implications.

Reviews psychometric and other evidence relevant to mixed anxiety-depression. Properties of anxiety and depression measures, including the convergent and discriminant validity of self- and clinical ratings, and interrater reliability, are examined in patient and normal samples. Results suggest that anxiety and depression can be reliably and validly assessed; moreover, although these disorders share a substantial component of general affective distress, they can be differentiated on the basis of factors specific to each syndrome. L. A. Clark and D. Watson also review evidence for these specific factors, examining the influence of context and scale content on ratings, factor analytic studies, and the role of low positive affect in depression. With these data, Clark and Watson argue for a tripartite structure consisting of general distress, physiological hyperarousal (specific anxiety), and anhedonia (specific depression), and they propose a diagnosis of mixed anxiety-depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Watson's Canadian summer retreat.

The article describes some interesting Canadian-related personal history of John B. Watson. Particular reference is made to his working summers in the Kawartha Lakes of Ontario. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The molecular genetics of endocrine tumours

The molecular genetics of endocrine tumours is an area of great interest, due to the heterogeneity of endocrine tumour types, the association of hormone over-production in some cases, and the wide variation in tumour behaviour. Genes implicated fall into functional categories such as oncogenes, in which mutations tend to cause activation, and tumour suppressor genes, in which mutations lead to loss of function. Oncogenes include the receptor tyrosine kinases such as RET, signal transduction proteins and other molecules such as cell cycle regulators and nuclear proteins. Tumour suppressor genes include cell cycle regulators such as p53 and other molecules such as the MEN 1 gene. Loss of heterozygosity studies help in the initial localisation of the latter. Endocrine tumours, as with other tumours, develop as a result of a combination of genetic events, and in the paediatric age group they often occur in the setting of familial cancer syndromes. In this review we analyse the main genetic lesions which have been described in endocrine tumours. There has been an explosion of knowledge in the last 5 years including the identification of the causative genes for MEN 2 and most recently for MEN 1. Characterisation of such genes also aids in the study of somatic mutations in sporadic versions of the same tumour types as occur in the familial syndromes. Identification of a genetic predisposition to a certain tumour has management implications that are still to be clarified in most cases, although in the case of MEN 2 the guidelines for prophylactic thyroidectomy are generally well accepted.     

The evidence supports Douglas Merritte as Little Albert.

Replies to the comments made by R. A. Powell (see record 2010-08987-015) and H.W. Reese (see record 2010-08987-016) on the authors' original article (see record 2009-18110-004). The authors' recent article summarized the results of a seven-year search to determine the identity and fate of “Little Albert.” Examinations of Watson’s scientific production, correspondence, and public documents suggested that an employee at the Harriet Lane Hospital was Albert’s mother. The child’s birth records and contact with the woman’s descendents led us to Douglas Merritte, the individual we believe to be Watson and Rayner’s (1920) famous participant. Powell (2010, this issue) and Reese (2010, this issue) brought forth considerations that they believe are contrary to our conclusion. We thank these authors for their interest in our work and the American Psychologist for allowing us to elaborate on and provide additional support for the thesis that Douglas was Little Albert. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural and sequence elements required for the self-cleaving activity of the hepatitis delta virus ribozyme

The hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a subviral RNA that contains a self-cleaving activity that is similar to the ribozyme activity found in certain plant pathogens. However, the sequences surrounding the cleavage site are unrelated to the hammerhead or hairpin ribozyme motifs, and it is considered to be a distinct ribozyme type. We made site-specific changes within two regions of the smallest contiguous HDV sequence that has optimal activity and kinetically analyzed the data at different temperatures to determine the potential roles of the residues. We distinguish between those changes that affect the rate of catalysis and those that promote the formation of inactive structures. We find that nucleotides +45 to +72 downstream from the cleavage site, which can form a hairpin structure, are dispensable for catalytic activity but that they enhance the cleavage efficiency. Nucleotides +17 to +19 and +28 to +30 form Watson and Crick base pairs that are important for activity, but the actual sequence is not critical. In contrast, the nucleotides between +21 and +26 are important for activity, and they may be involved in significant tertiary interactions.