Sniffing in Infant Rats During Sleep and Wakefulness.

Sniffing, a behavior that enhances detection and localization of odorants, is typically assumed to require behavioral arousal. In an effort to determine whether sniffing and arousal are dissociable, dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) was presented to 8-day-old rats while respiration and behavioral state were monitored. Pups sniffed in response to the highest concentrations of DMDS, exhibiting a lower olfactory threshold when awake. Surprisingly, sniffing occurred even while pups remained asleep. Sniffing was mediated by the olfactory system, as evidenced by the abolition of sniffing when the lateral olfactory tracts, were cut and the retention of rapid arousal in response to a trigeminal stimulant, acetic acid. Finally, sleeping pups presented with acetic acid awakened without sniffing. Thus, although olfactory threshold increases during sleep, sleeping does not preclude sniffing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of instructions and stimulus representation on selective learning in children.

Studied the effects of 2 types of incidental learning paradigms and the influence of different kinds of stimulus relationships on 168 1st and 6th graders' selective learning processes. Eight pairs of colored pictures were presented in each experimental condition. Incidental instructions were varied with respect to the absence vs presence of a concurrent intentional task. Within both instructional conditions, pairs of stimuli were either conceptually related, perceptually related, or unrelated. Free recall and pair retention were measured. Developmental similarities in selective learning processes were evidenced by younger and older children's equivalent patterns of stimulus selection. These patterns were significantly related to the type of incidental paradigm and stimulus relationship presented. Absolute amount of retention was positively related to age. It is concluded that patterns of stimulus selection and amount of learning reflect different processes and that both should serve as a criteria for developmentally studying selectivity. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Getting academic jobs: Are women equally qualified—and equally successful?

Two studies compared the contents of 66 male and 31 female job applicants' curriculum vitae and letters of recommendation to determine whether there were differences in their actual accomplishments or how they were perceived by their recommenders. A follow-up compared the types of jobs Ss ultimately obtained. Overall results indicate that while females were at least as well qualified as males, they tended to obtain jobs with lower statuses and at institutions of lower prestige, possibly due to the greater experience of the males. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An approach to usability evaluation of e-learning applications

Despite recent advances of electronic technologies in e-learning, a consolidated evaluation methodology for e-learning applications is not available. The evaluation of educational software must consider its usability and more in general its accessibility, as well as its didactic effectiveness. This work is a first step towards the definition of a methodology for evaluating e-learning applications. Specific usability attributes capturing the peculiar features of these applications are identified. A preliminary user study involving a group of e-students, observed during their interaction with an e-learning application in a real situation, is reported. Then, the proposal is put forward to adapt to the e-learning domain a methodology for systematic usability evaluation, called SUE. Specifically, evaluation patterns are proposed that are able to drive the evaluators in the analysis of an e-learning application.     

Nano-crystalline pulsed laser deposition hydroxyapatite thin films on Ti substrate for biomedical application

Hydroxyapatite (HA) thin coating has been coated on titanium substrates by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Structural and morphological studies by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were performed. The HA film is polycrystalline and irregular with a range size of particulates from 100 nm to 1 μm. Adhesion of the HA films to the Ti substrates was excellent as observed by cross-scanning electron microscopy (X-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). The residual stresses state determined on uncoated Ti substrates was compressive. After deposition of thin PLD HA on titanium substrates at 400°C the residual stress state was in a very low tensile state.     

Biosynthesis and Cellular Localization of Functional Polyketides in the Gastropod Mollusc Scaphander lignarius

Opisthobranchs belong to a subclass of highly evolved and specialised marine gastropods that rely on the use of secondary metabolites for their survival. Here we report the full elucidation of the biosynthesis of aromatic metabolites, lignarenones, in one of these gastropods, the cephalaspidean Scaphander lignarius. Feeding experiments with (2) H- and (13) C-labelled precursors revealed a mixed acetate/propionate polyketide pathway primed by benzoic acid. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), unprecedented in animals, is central to the synthesis of this aromatic precursor by oxidative deamination of L-phenylalanine to cinnamic acid. Lignarenones are synthesised in the cytoplasm of specialised eukaryotic cells named Blochmann's glands, which are distributed in biosynthetic tissue localised in the vulnerable mantle of the mollusc. This result supports the hypothesis that this lineage of gastropods has acquired the genetic information to produce the chemical substances that they use for their survival.     

Label-free comparative analysis of proteomics mixtures using chromatographic alignment of high-resolution muLC-MS data

Label-free relative quantitative proteomics is a powerful tool for the survey of protein level changes between two biological samples. We have developed and applied an algorithm using chromatographic alignment of microLC-MS runs to improve the detection of differences between complex protein mixtures. We demonstrate the performance of our software by finding differences in E. coli protein abundance upon induction of the lac operon genes using isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside. The use of our alignment gave a 4-fold decrease in mean relative retention time error and a 6-fold increase in the number of statistically significant differences between samples. Using a conservative threshold, we have identified 5290 total microLC-MS regions that have a different abundance between these samples. Of the detected difference regions, only 23% were mapped to MS/MS peptide identifications. We detected 74 proteins that had a greater relative abundance in the induced sample and 21 with a greater abundance in the uninduced sample. We have developed an effective tool for the label-free detection of differences between samples and demonstrate an increased sensitivity following chromatographic alignment.     

Methylglyoxal Impairs Sister Chromatid Separation in Lymphocytes

The accurate segregation of sister chromatids is complex, and errors that arise throughout this process can drive chromosomal instability and tumorigenesis. We recently showed that methylglyoxal (MGO), a glycolytic by-product, can cause chromosome missegregation events in lymphocytes. However, the underlying mechanisms of this were not explored. Therefore, in this study, we utilised shotgun proteomics to identify MGO-modified proteins, and label-free quantitation to measure changes in protein abundance following exposure to MGO. We identified numerous mitotic proteins that were modified by MGO, including those involved in the separation and cohesion of sister chromatids. Furthermore, the protein abundance of Securin, an inhibitor of sister chromatid separation, was increased following treatment with MGO. Cytological examination of chromosome spreads showed MGO prevented sister chromatid separation, which was associated with the formation of complex nuclear anomalies. Therefore, results from this study suggest MGO may drive chromosomal instability by preventing sister chromatid separation.     

Early alliance, alliance ruptures, and symptom change in a nonrandomized trial of cognitive therapy for avoidant and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders.

Participants were 30 adult outpatients diagnosed with avoidant personality disorder or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder who enrolled in an open trial of cognitive therapy for personality disorders. Treatment consisted of up to 52 weekly sessions. Symptom evaluations were conducted at intake, at Sessions 17 and 34, and at the last session. Alliance variables were patients' first alliance rating and "rupture-repair" episodes, which are disruptions in the therapeutic relationship that can provide corrective experiences and facilitate change. Stronger early alliances and rupture-repair episodes predicted more improvement in symptoms of personality disorder and depression. This work points to potentially important areas to target in treatment development for these personality disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)