Self-anchoring and differentiation processes in the minimal group setting.

In-group favoritism in the minimal group setting was hypothesized to be a function of 2 processes: a tendency to base in-group judgments on the self (self-anchoring) and a tendency to assume 1 group to be the opposite of the other (differentiation). In the first 3 experiments, in which the order of rating the self and target group was varied, categorized and uncategorized participants were given trait information about 1 group and were asked to estimate the level of those traits in the other group. In-group judges tended to base group ratings on the self, whereas out-group and uncategorized judges inferred the 2 groups to be opposite of one another. Experiment 4 attempted to directly assess the direction of inference between self and in-group by giving feedback about self or in-group on unfamiliar dimensions and found that participants were more willing to generalize from self to in-group than from in-group to self. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the stability of the one-step exact collocation method for the second kind volterra integral equation with degenerate kernel

The local stability properties of the collocation method applied to a second kind Volterra integral equation with degenerate kernel are investigated. A finite length recurrence relation is derived and theorems for the local stability of the methods are proved.     

Suitability of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus plantarum as Probiotics Intended for Fruit Juices Containing Citrus Extracts

A strain of Lactobacillus plantarum and 4 strains of bifidobacteria were inoculated in apple juice and in a commercial beverage labeled as “red‐fruit juice,” containing citrus extracts as natural preservatives; the suitability of the probiotics was evaluated in relation to their resistance to 2 kinds of citrus extracts (biocitro and lemon extract), survival in juices at 4 and 37 °C, and inhibition of Zygosaccharomyces bailii. Cell count of L. plantarum and bifidobacteria over time was fitted through the Weibull equation, for the evaluation of the first reduction time (δ), death time, and microbiological shelf life (the break‐point was set to 7 log cfu/mL). Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis experienced the highest δ‐value (23.21 d) and death time (96.59 d) in the red‐fruit juice at 4 °C, whereas L. plantarum was the most promising strain in apple juice at 37 °C. Biocitro and lemon extract did not exert a biocidal effect toward probiotics; moreover, the probiotics controlled the growth of Z. bailii and the combination of L. plantarum with 40 ppm of biocitro reduced the level of the yeast after 18 d by 2 log cfu/mL.     

Results of an integration study of a diagnostics port plug in ITER

Diagnostics in ITER are mandatory to characterize the parameters of plasma and study its interactions with plasma-facing components. Diagnostics components in the vicinity of the plasma are supported by metallic structures called port plugs. At the tokamak mid-plane, these components are installed in port plugs through intermediate structures called drawers. Apart from hosting the diagnostics, the port plugs act as shielding against neutrons and gammas, in order to limit the nuclear loads in crucial components (such as diagnostics and superconducting coils) as well as the dose levels in the controlled zones of the tokamak. The radiation shielding function of the port plugs is ensured through an optimized mixture of heavy metallic materials and water, forming shielding blocks surrounding the diagnostics and called Diagnostic Shield Modules (DSMs). These DSMs constitute the rear part of the drawers (the front part being composed of the Diagnostic First Wall). This paper presents the main results of a study performed in Europe on the integration of a particular diagnostics port plug, the Equatorial Port Plug 1 (EPP1). The paper first provides the results of the EPP1 diagnostics integration analysis. In a second step it focuses on the design of the EPP1 DSMs and summarizes the major results of a thorough set of analyses aiming at studying the DSMs behaviour under different loads, suggesting recommendations to improve their current design.     

Antibiotic and Nematocidal Metabolites from Two Lichen Species Collected on the Island of Lampedusa (Sicily)

The antibiotic and nematocidal activities of extracts from two coastal lichen species collected on Lampedusa Island (Sicily), Ramalina implexa Nyl. and Roccella phycopsis Ach., were tested. Methyl orsellinate, orcinol, (+)-montagnetol, and for the first time 4-chlororcinol were isolated from Roccella phycopsis. (+)-Usnic acid was obtained from Ramalina implexa. The crude organic extract of both lichen species showed strong antibiotic activity against some bacterial species and nematocidal activity. Among all the pure metabolites tested against the infective juveniles (J2) of the root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloydogine incognita, (+)-usnic acid, orcinol, and (+)-montagnetol had significant nematocidal activity, comparable with that of the commercial nematocide Velum^® Prime, and thus they showed potential application in agriculture as a biopesticide. On the contrary, methyl orsellinate and 4-chlororcinol had no nematocidal effect. These results suggest that the substituent pattern at ortho-para-position in respect to both hydroxyl groups of resorcine moiety, which is present in all metabolites, seems very important for nematocidal activity. The organic extracts of both lichens were also tested against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Both extracts were active against Gram-positive species. The extract of Ramalina implexa showed, among Gram-negative species, activity against Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii, while that from Roccella phycopsis was effective towards all test strains, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial activity of (+)-usnic acid, methyl orsellinate, and (+)-montagnetol is already known, so tests were focused on orcinol and 4-chlororcinol. The former showed antibacterial activity against all Gram positive and Gram-negative test strains, with the exception of A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae, while the latter exhibited a potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive test strains and among Gram-negative strains, was effective against A. baumannii and K. pneumonia. These results suggest, for orcinol and 4-chlororcinol, an interesting antibiotic potential against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains.     

The L-Rhamnose Biosynthetic Pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis: Identification and Characterization of UDP-D-Glucose 4,6-dehydratase

Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of one of the most widespread sexually transmitted diseases in the world. The adhesion of the parasite to the vaginal epithelial cells is mediated by specific proteins and by a complex glycan structure, the lipoglycan (TvLG), which covers the pathogen surface. L-rhamnose is an important component of TvLG, comprising up to 40% of the monosaccharides. Thus, the inhibition of its production could lead to a severe alteration in the TvLG structure, making the L-rhamnose biosynthetic pathway an attractive pharmacologic target. We report the identification and characterization of the first committed and limiting step of the L-rhamnose biosynthetic pathway, UDP-D-glucose 4,6-dehydratase (UGD, EC 4.2.1.76). The enzyme shows a strong preference for UDP-D-glucose compared to dTDP-D-glucose; we propose that the mechanism underlying the higher affinity for the UDP-bound substrate is mediated by the differential recognition of ribose versus the deoxyribose of the nucleotide moiety. The identification of the enzymes responsible for the following steps of the L-rhamnose pathway (epimerization and reduction) was more elusive. However, sequence analyses suggest that in T. vaginalis L-rhamnose synthesis proceeds through a mechanism different from the typical eukaryotic pathways, displaying intermediate features between the eukaryotic and prokaryotic pathways and involving separate enzymes for the epimerase and reductase activities, as observed in bacteria. Altogether, these results form the basis for a better understanding of the formation of the complex glycan structures on TvLG and the possible use of L-rhamnose biosynthetic enzymes for the development of selective inhibitors.     

Modulation of Glia Activation by TRPA1 Antagonism in Preclinical Models of Migraine

Preclinical data point to the contribution of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels to the complex mechanisms underlying migraine pain. TRPA1 channels are expressed in primary sensory neurons, as well as in glial cells, and they can be activated/sensitized by inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TRPA1 channels and glial activation in the modulation of trigeminal hyperalgesia in preclinical models of migraine based on acute and chronic nitroglycerin challenges. Rats were treated with ADM_12 (TRPA1 antagonist) and then underwent an orofacial formalin test to assess trigeminal hyperalgesia. mRNA levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and glia cell activation were evaluated in the Medulla oblongata and in the trigeminal ganglia. In the nitroglycerin-treated rats, ADM_12 showed an antihyperalgesic effect in both acute and chronic models, and it counteracted the changes in CGRP and cytokine gene expression. In the acute nitroglycerin model, ADM_12 reduced nitroglycerin-induced increase in microglial and astroglial activation in trigeminal nucleus caudalis area. In the chronic model, we detected a nitroglycerin-induced activation of satellite glial cells in the trigeminal ganglia that was inhibited by ADM_12. These findings show that TRPA1 antagonism reverts experimentally induced hyperalgesia in acute and chronic models of migraine and prevents multiple changes in inflammatory pathways by modulating glial activation.     

Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated Loss of Heterozygosity in Melanoma

ATM germline pathogenic variants were recently found enriched in high-risk melanoma patients. However, ATM loss of heterozygosity (LOH) has never been investigated in melanoma and, therefore, a causal association with melanoma development has not been established yet. The purpose of this study was to functionally characterize 13 germline ATM variants found in high-risk melanoma patients—and classified by in silico tools as pathogenic, uncertain significance, or benign—using multiple assays evaluating ATM/pATM expression and/or LOH in melanoma tissues and cell lines. We assessed ATM status by Immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western Blot, Whole-Exome Sequencing/Copy Number Variation analysis, and RNA sequencing, supported by Sanger sequencing and microsatellite analyses. For most variants, IHC results matched those obtained with in silico classification and LOH analysis. Two pathogenic variants (p.Ser1135_Lys1192del and p.Ser1993ArgfsTer23) showed LOH and complete loss of ATM activation in melanoma. Two variants of unknown significance (p.Asn358Ile and p.Asn796His) showed reduced expression and LOH, suggestive of a deleterious effect. This study, showing a classic two-hit scenario in a well-known tumor suppressor gene, supports the inclusion of melanoma in the ATM-related cancer spectrum.