Obese people who seek treatment have different characteristics than those who do not seek treatment.

A group of obese people who had not sought treatment; an obese group who had sought treatment in a professional, hospital-based program; and normal-weight controls (N?=?547) were compared in regard to level of psychopathology, binge eating, and negative emotional eating. Because the groups differed significantly on several demographic variables, 3 demographically matched groups were created and compared (n?=?177, 59 per group). In the matched subgroups, obese people who had sought treatment reported greater psychopathology and more binge eating than did normal-weight controls or those who had not sought treatment. Both obese groups (including those who had not sought treatment) endorsed more symptoms of distress, negative emotional eating, overeating, difficulty resisting temptation, and less exercise than did normal-weight controls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The frequency of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast and its clinical significance in mitral valve insufficiency

The authors investigated the frequency of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in mitral valve disease. They also tested whether there was any correlation between the presence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast and the severity of the mitral valve disease. Echocardiographic investigations were performed using both transthoracal and transesophageal echocardiographic methods employing monoplane transducer. The authors carried out 273 transesophageal investigations over a period of 2 years and found left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in 85 patients, who had mitral valve disease. Of this, in 18 cases thrombi were also detected in the left atrium and/or auricula. The diagnoses of mitral stenosis were made in 24 patients, of whom in 12 cases the stenosis were found to be severe, whilst in 12 cases to be moderate. Furthermore insufficiency of the mitral valve was detected in 35 cases. 20 patients had artificial mitral valve implanted, they received long term anticoagulant treatment. 59 patients had no spontaneous echo contrast. 14 patients had previous embolic events of which 9 were cerebral and in other cases arteries of the kidney, eye and extremities were affected. 71 patients had no history of embolism. The authors concluded that mitral valve disease, particularly mitral stenosis is frequently associated with left atrial spontaneous echo contrast. It has been also observed, that the more severe the mitral valve disease, the greater the probability of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast. In all cases where thrombi were found, left atrial echo contrast were demonstrated and the risk of embolism is high. In these cases anticoagulant therapy is suggested.     

Computer generation of harmonic equihue color scales

Equihue color scales are among the simplest types of color harmonies. They are particularly suited to teach and study theories of harmony. Ordered color scales allow color coding and scientific visualization. Here we describe a teaching program that supports the study of equihue harmony. Methods for the generation of harmonies are presented, and the resulting aesthetic impressions are discussed.     

Aging in rhesus monkeys: Different windows on behavioral continuity and change.

Rhesus monkeys were observed longitudinally from 6 to 20 years of age, the period encompassing early to late adulthood in this species. Repeated-measures analyses of the monkeys' behavioral repertoire revealed 3 quite different pictures of the aging process. First, there were significant systematic changes in the levels of many categories of behavior with increasing age, although the direction and timing of change varied from category to category. Second, for most categories, individual differences among the monkeys were highly stable from early to late adulthood. Finally, there was remarkable consistency within individual behavioral profiles across the entire study such that each monkey retained its distinctive behavioral features (personality) throughout its adult years. Thus, aging in rhesus monkeys is characterized by both continuity and change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preparation, Characterization and Catalytic Activities of Immobilized Enzyme Mimics

In order to find highly active and selective oxygen-transfer catalysts with appreciable durability, Cu(II)–histidine complexes were covalently grafted onto a chlorinated polystyrene resin as copper-containing enzyme mimics. The Cu(II)-histidine complexes and the mobile polymer were to resemble the active center and the proteomic skeleton of the enzymes, respectively. The resulting heterogenized complexes were expected to be nearly so active and more durable catalysts that are easier to recycle than their homogeneous counterparts. The substances were tested in a superoxide radical anion dismutation reaction. Control for the syntheses was exerted by protecting either the N-terminal or the C-terminal of the covalently grafted l-histidine molecules. During the preparative work generally applied methods of synthetic organic chemistry (alkylation or esterification) were used. Various anchored complexes were prepared and characterized by classical analytical methods, different forms of spectroscopy as well as molecular modeling. The covalently grafted complexes having the protected amino acids as ligands displayed remarkably high activities in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) test reaction.     

加拿大萨斯喀彻温省Bakken组致密油生产特征及甜点分布预测

为对加拿大萨斯喀彻温省东南部Williston盆地中Bakken段致密油产区"甜点"进行预测,在大量生产数据分析基础上,根据致密油生产井产量与成藏要素间的定量关系,提出了一套识别潜在"甜点"的多元统计方法。在筛选和分析控制油气"甜点"地质要素的过程中,发现一些制约常规油气成藏的地质因素同样适用于中Bakken段致密油区,这些因素包括:(1)北东走向的Torqunay-Rocanville构造带可能是连接Williston盆地南部成熟烃源岩灶和研究区内Bakken组致密储集层之间的主要油气运移通道;(2)美国和加拿大边界Bakken段致密储集层中的油可能由当地局部成熟的Bakken组烃源岩提供;(3)正向构造有利于油气聚集;(4)顶部盖层和侧向封堵有利于油气的聚集与保存,从而增加单井产量;(5)单井最终可采储量方向变差函数的空间连续性方向与最大水平应力方向一致,水平井的走向对致密油的产量有实质影响。     

Consistent flavor naming predicts recognition memory in children and young adults

The relationship between flavor naming and recognition memory was evaluated in groups of children and young adults who either self-generated flavor names or chose flavor names from a list of four alternatives. The adults were more successful at naming and remembering the flavors, with the age differences in naming performance tending to be larger than differences in memory performance. Differences in recognition memory among the age groups were modest, ranging from 3% to 12%. Providing flavor labels improved naming accuracy, but not naming consistency or memory for younger children (4-7 years old). Labels improved naming accuracy and consistency for the older children (8-11 years old), and showed a trend toward improving memory. Labels improved naming accuracy, consistency and recognition memory in adults. Consistent naming was a powerful predictor of recognition memory for each age group and test condition. Consistently named flavors were remembered correctly on 88% of the trials while inconsistently named flavors showed no evidence of memory. It was concluded that flavor recognition memory and naming consistency were both rooted in successfully matching flavor percepts to a multi-dimensional flavor representation that includes semantic information.     

Native Mass Spectrometry for the Study of PROTAC GNE-987-Containing Ternary Complexes

PRO teolysis TA rgeting C himeras (PROTACs) promote the degradation, rather than inhibition, of a drug target as a mechanism for therapeutic treatment. Bifunctional PROTAC molecules allow simultaneous binding of both the target protein and an E3-Ubiquitin ligase, bringing the two proteins into close spatial proximity to allow ubiquitinylation and degradation of the target protein via the cell's endogenous protein degradation pathway. We utilized native mass spectrometry (MS) to study the ternary complexes promoted by the previously reported PROTAC GNE-987 between Brd4 bromodomains 1 and 2, and Von Hippel Lindeau E3-Ubiquitin Ligase. Native MS at high resolution allowed us to measure ternary complex formation as a function of PROTAC concentration to provide a measure of complex affinity and stability, whilst simultaneously measuring other intermediate protein species. Native MS provides a high-throughput, low sample consumption, direct screening method to measure ternary complexes for PROTAC development.     

Using visual assessment as a foundation for greenway planning in the St. Lawrence River Valley

The growth of the ‘greenway’ as a fundamental planning concept has provided guidance for many communities locally and around the world. In the St. Lawrence River Valley, the idea is providing a common physical and cultural reference for the management of landscapes in communities along a 100 mile international corridor. Over the past 10 years, the College of Environmental Science and Forestry of the State University of New York has worked with the St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission to examine the unique visual and scenic resources of the region as the foundation for establishing a greenway tracing the St. Lawrence River. Although the idea of a greenway in the St. Lawrence River Valley is not new or unusual, the inventory and assessment of visual or scenic linear resources as a foundation is a departure from typical practice, and an experiment in defensible and rational planning. As a major summer tourism destination, the region is well aware of the critical value of its scenic resources. In our effort to identify and assess various vital resources for planning, we found an indicator in the visual nature of the landscape—both as a resource in and of itself, and as a reflection of the underlying values held by local communities for natural and cultural resources. This paper describes, as a case study, the process used to identify and assess visual and scenic resources in the region, and the use of the resulting database to initiate delineation of the proposed greenway. A discussion of the rationale and significance of the method is presented, including comments on the direction and progress in the region today.     

Roofing Materials’ Contributions to Storm-Water Runoff Pollution

Development in sensitive watersheds continues to pose environmental problems for receiving waters. One contributor to this long-term pollution is building and other construction materials. However, the long-term effect of many building materials on the environment has not been quantified due to limited testing of these materials prior to sales and installation. Laboratory “leach” testing of commercially available roofing materials by this research group indicated that the potential for release (primarily nutrients, lighter hydrocarbons, pesticides, and metals) is substantial. Testing of metals’ release from aged roofing panels also has shown that the potential for pollutant release still exists after 60?years. The data missing from a complete evaluation of many roofing materials is behavior over the lifespan of the material, including the critical period of initial exposure. The 2?years of runoff data from a pilot-scale testing of these materials indicated substantial concerns regarding zinc from uncoated galvanized metals and copper from treated woods in this early part of the materials’ lifespan, plus the potential for long-term nutrient releases in the runoff from several roofing types.