Left hemispheric specialization for learned, skilled, and purposeful action.

Three-dimensional motion analyses were performed on trajectories of repetitive "slicing" gestures by 4 participants with left-hemisphere lesions and limb apraxia, 6 participants with right-hemisphere lesions, and 7 neurologically intact participants. Left hemispheric lesioned participants with apraxia, but not right hemispheric lesioned participants showed impaired coupling of spatial and temporal aspects of wrist trajectories and deficits in interjoint coordination. Both groups of brain-lesioned participants differed from control participants in the 3-D plane of the wrist motion. The deficits of some right hemispheric lesioned participants in controlling the plane of wrist motion may be a consequence of left hemispatial neglect with rightward deviations. In contrast, the deficits of apraxic participants in controlling wrist trajectories and coordinating joint motions seem to reflect a deficit in these participants for the movement plan. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between depression and marital maladjustment in a clinic population: A multitrait-multimethod study.

Took depression and marital maladjustment measures of all 154 couples attending a clinic. Average age for men was 38 yrs, for women 35 yrs; average length of marriage was 19 yrs. A significant correlation between depression and marital maladjustment was found for self-report data and was replicated by therapists' ratings. Women were significantly more depressed than men though similar in average ratings of marital adjustment. Women's depression ratings were minimally related to their own their husbands' marital ratings. Men's depression ratings were related to both their own and their wives' marital ratings. Convergent validity was demonstrated for the Locke and Wallace Marital-Adjustment Test and the Beck Depression Inventory. Clinical implications of findings concerning both depression and marital maladjustment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Ability of Chlorophyll to Trap Carcinogen Aflatoxin B1: A Theoretical Approach

The coordination of one and two aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁, a potent carcinogen) molecules with chlorophyll a (chl a) was studied at a theoretical level. Calculations were performed using the M06-2X method in conjunction with the 6-311G(d,p) basis set, in both gas and water phases. The molecular electrostatic potential map shows the chemical activity of various sites of the AFB₁ and chl a molecules. The energy difference between molecular orbitals of AFB₁ and chl a allowed for the establishment of an intermolecular interaction. A charge transfer from AFB₁ to the central cation of chl a was shown. The energies of the optimized structures for chl a show two configurations, unfolded and folded, with a difference of 15.41 kcal/mol. Chl a appeared axially coordinated to the plane (α-down or β-up) of the porphyrin moiety, either with the oxygen atom of the ketonic group, or with the oxygen atom of the lactone moiety of AFB₁. The complexes of maximum stability were chl a 1-α-E-AFB₁ and chl a 2-β-E-AFB₁, at −36.4 and −39.2 kcal/mol, respectively. Additionally, with two AFB₁ molecules were chl a 1-D-2AFB₁ and chl a 2-E-2AFB₁, at −60.0 and −64.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Finally, biosorbents containing chlorophyll could improve AFB₁ adsorption.     

Compartment modeling for mammalian protein turnover studies by stable isotope metabolic labeling

Protein turnover studies on a proteome scale based on metabolic isotopic labeling can provide a systematic understanding of mechanisms for regulation of protein abundances and their transient behaviors. At this time, these large-scale studies typically utilize a simple kinetic model to extract protein dynamic information. Although many high-quality, protein isotope incorporation data are available from those experiments, accurate and additionally useful protein dynamic information cannot be extracted from the experimental data by use of the simple kinetic models. In this paper, we describe a formal connection between data obtained from elemental isotope labeling experiments and the well-known compartment modeling, and we demonstrate that an appropriate application of a compartment model to turnover of proteins from mammalian tissues can indeed lead to a better fitting of the experimental data.     

A Graphical Method Predicting the Compressive Strength of Toughened Unidirectional Composite Laminates

The in-plane shear and compressive properties of unidirectional (UD) HTS40/977-2 carbon fibre-toughened resin (CF/TR) laminates are investigated. Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy are used to reveal the failure mechanisms developed during compression. It is found that damage initiates by fibre microbuckling (a fibre instability failure mode) which then is followed by yielding of the matrix to form a fibre kink band zone that leads to final fracture. Analytical models are briefly reviewed and a graphical method, based on the shear response of the composite system, is described in order to estimate the UD compressive strength. Predictions for the HTS40/977-2 system are compared to experimental measurements and to data of five other unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites that are currently used in aerospace and other structural applications. It is shown that the estimated values are in a good agreement with the measured results.     

Flash flooding in Spain: geomorphological approaches supporting flood frequency analysis, and the implications for the design of structures

Conventional methods for the estimation of flood frequency are generally based on the statistical analysis of data series resulting from the measurement of water levels at specific locations, which are translated into discharges (m³/s) using standard stage/discharge relationships. Subsequently, these gauged flows are used to identify the largest flood event experienced by a river or catchment, and to produce growth curves used in the estimation of the return periods of specific flood events, as well as in the calculation of discharges for specific required design events (e.g. return period 1 in 100 year). In areas where gauging data records are scarce, and/or the data series are short or interrupted, geomorphological interpretation of the physical environment, dating of fluvial deposits and flooding episodes and hydraulic reconstruction of past flood events can be used as complementary tools aiding conventional hydrological and flood frequency analysis methods. This paper will discuss the undertaking of this approach in the Guadalope Catchment in northeast Spain. It will examine the findings in relation to the inadequate design of existing structures such as dams, spillways, canals and reservoirs, and will also look at the potential risks associated with flooding at present.     

The High Resolution NMR Structure of Parvulustat (Z‐2685) from Streptomyces parvulus FH‐1641: Comparison with Tendamistat from Streptomyces tendae 4158

The protein parvulustat (Z‐2685) from Streptomyces parvulus comprises 78 amino acids and functions as a highly efficient α‐amylase inhibitor. Parvulustat shares 29.6 % overall amino acid sequence identity to the well‐known α‐amylase inhibitor tendamistat. Among the conserved residues are the two disulfide bridges (C9–C25, C43–C70) and the active‐site motif (W16, R17, Y18). Here, we report the high‐resolution NMR structure of parvulustat based on NOEs, J couplings, chemical shifts and hydrogen‐exchange data. In addition, we studied the dynamical properties of parvulustat by heteronuclear relaxation measurements. We compare the structure of parvulustat with the structure of tendamistat in terms of secondary structure elements, charges and hydrophobicity. The overall structural composition is very similar, but there are distinct differences including the active‐site region. These structural and dynamical differences indicate that for parvulustat an induced‐fit mechanism for binding to α‐amylase might take place, since the structure of tendamistat does not change upon binding to α‐amylase.     

Determination of the biodegradation of phenolated wood-based molding materials by strength loss method

The biodegradability of new molding materials from HCl-catalyzed phenolated wood was investigated by using some dynamic and static mechanical strength loss methods.