Teaching counselor trainees to respond consistently to different aspects of anger.

Examined the effects of verbal practice training procedures in teaching counselor trainees to consistently respond to 2 aspects of client anger: form (passive or aggressive manner) and direction (toward or away from the counselor). 48 graduate students were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 videotaped counselor training procedures. After training, each S was assigned to 2 of the 4 anger conditions and was asked to conduct 2 10-min counseling sessions. Ss in either of the 2 experimental conditions, verbal practice with modeling or verbal practice without modeling, were significantly more consistent in responding to the confederate clients' anger than were those in the control group. The treatment effects were maintained 1 wk later. Significant differences were also found for direction of client anger and the interaction between treatments and direction. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sex Attractant Pheromones of Virgin Queens of Sympatric Slave-Making Ant Species in the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polyergus,</Emphasis> and their Possible Roles in Reproductive Isolation

Species of the ant genus Polyergus are social parasites that steal brood from colonies of their hosts in the closely related genus Formica. Upon emergence as adults in a mixed population, host Formica workers carry out all the normal worker functions within the Polyergus colony, including foraging, feeding, grooming, and rearing brood of the parasitic Polyergus ants. Some unmated Polyergus gynes (queens) run in the raiding columns of their colonies and attract males by releasing a pheromone from their mandibular glands. There are two Polyergus species groups in North America: an eastern P. lucidus group and a western P. breviceps group. One species of each of these groups, P. lucidus Mayr and P. mexicanus Emery, are sympatric in Missouri. In this study, we characterized the sex pheromones of virgin queens of two species of the P. lucidus group (P. lucidus sensu stricto and P. sanwaldi) and one species of the P. breviceps group (P. mexicanus), and compared these with the previously identified sex pheromone of P. topoffi of the P. breviceps group. We then used sex pheromone blends reconstructed from synthesized components of the two groups to test their efficacy at reproductively isolating these species. We found that methyl 6-methylsalicylate is conserved as the major component of the pheromone blends for both Polyergus species groups; however, methyl (R)-3-ethyl-4-methylpentanoate is the species-specific minor component produced by P. lucidus group queens, and (R)-3-ethyl-4-methylpentan-1-ol is the crucial minor component for P. breviceps group queens. The optimal ratio of the major and minor components for P. lucidus group queens was about 100:1 salicylate to ester. In concurrent field trials in Missouri, males of P. lucidus sensu stricto and P. mexicanus (a member of the P. breviceps group) were attracted almost exclusively to their particular blends of sex pheromone components. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a possible sex-pheromone-based reproductive isolating mechanism in ants.     

Properties and Biotechnological Applications of Acyl‐CoA:diacylglycerol Acyltransferase and Phospholipid:diacylglycerol Acyltransferase from Terrestrial Plants and Microalgae

Triacylglycerol (TAG) is the major storage lipid in most terrestrial plants and microalgae, and has great nutritional and industrial value. Since the demand for vegetable oil is consistently increasing, numerous studies have been focused on improving the TAG content and modifying the fatty‐acid compositions of plant seed oils. In addition, there is a strong research interest in establishing plant vegetative tissues and microalgae as platforms for lipid production. In higher plants and microalgae, TAG biosynthesis occurs via acyl‐CoA‐dependent or acyl‐CoA‐independent pathways. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the last and committed step in the acyl‐CoA‐dependent biosynthesis of TAG, which appears to represent a bottleneck in oil accumulation in some oilseed species. Membrane‐bound and soluble forms of DGAT have been identified with very different amino‐acid sequences and biochemical properties. Alternatively, TAG can be formed through acyl‐CoA‐independent pathways via the catalytic action of membrane‐bound phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT). As the enzymes catalyzing the terminal steps of TAG formation, DGAT and PDAT play crucial roles in determining the flux of carbon into seed TAG and thus have been considered as the key targets for engineering oil production. Here, we summarize the most recent knowledge on DGAT and PDAT in higher plants and microalgae, with the emphasis on their physiological roles, structural features, and regulation. The development of various metabolic engineering strategies to enhance the TAG content and alter the fatty‐acid composition of TAG is also discussed.     

Sex Attractant Pheromone from the Neotropical Red-Shouldered Stink Bug, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thyanta perditor</Emphasis> (F.)

Olfactometer bioassays showed that odors from mature Thyanta perditor males attracted females but not males. Furthermore, odors from females did not attract either sex, indicating that like other phytophagous pentatomid bugs, the males produce a sex pheromone. Attraction appeared to peak in late afternoon to evening. The headspace volatiles collected from male and female T. perditor were analyzed by GC-MS and HPLC. A male-specific compound, methyl (2E,4Z,6Z)-decatrienoate (2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe), was identified along with a number of other compounds found in extracts from both sexes. Bioassays carried out with 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe showed it was as attractive to females as the crude extract of male volatiles, suggesting that the male-produced sex pheromone consists of 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe as a single component. Consecutive volatiles collections from males showed that 2E,4Z,6Z-10:COOMe began appearing in extracts from males about 9 d after the final molt, as the males became sexually mature.     

Energy metabolism,body composition,and urea generation rate in hemodialysis patients

Hemodialysis (HD) adequacy is currently assessed using normalized urea clearance (Kt/V), although scaling based on Watson volume (V) may disadvantage women and men with low body weight. Alternative scaling factors such as resting energy expenditure and high metabolic rate organ mass have been suggested. The relationship between such factors and uremic toxin generation has not been established. We aimed to study the relationship between body size, energy metabolism, and urea generation rate. A cross‐sectional cohort of 166 HD patients was studied. Anthropometric measurements were carried on all. Resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry, fat‐free mass by bio‐impedance and total energy expenditure by combining resting energy expenditure with a questionnaire‐derived physical activity data. High metabolic rate organ mass was calculated using a published equation and urea generation rate using formal urea kinetic modeling. Metabolic factors including resting energy expenditure, total energy expenditure and fat‐free mass correlated better with urea generation rate than did Watson volume. Total energy expenditure and fat‐free mass (but not Watson Volume) were independent predictors of urea generation rate, the model explaining 42% of its variation. Small women (<mean V) had a significantly higher urea generation rate per kg than women with higher V. Similarly urea generation rate normalized to fat‐free mass was significantly greater in small women than in all others (significant only in comparison to larger men). Exercise‐related energy expenditure correlated significantly with urea generation rate. Energy metabolism, body composition and physical activity play important roles in small solute uremic toxin generation in HD patients and hence may impact on minimum dialysis requirements. Small women generate relatively more small solute toxins than other groups and thus may have a higher relative need for dialysis.     

(E4,Z9)-TETRADECADIENAL, A SEX PHEROMONE FOR THREE NORTH AMERICAN MOTH SPECIES IN THE GENUS Saturnia

The lepidopteran genus Saturnia has three representatives in North America, S. walterorum, S. mendocino, and S. albofasciata. (E4,Z9)-Tetradecadienal (E4,Z9–14 : Ald) was identified as a sex pheromone component for all three species by combinations of coupled gas chromatography–electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD), GC–mass spectrometry (MS), and field trials. In field trials, all three species were strongly attracted to (E4,Z9–14 : Ald) as a single component. Small amounts of (Z)-9-tetradecenal (Z9–14 : Ald) also were found in extracts of all three species, but blends of this compound with E4,Z9–14 : Ald were no more attractive to male moths than E4,Z9–14 : Ald alone. Extracts of pheromone glands of female S. walterorum occasionally contained a third, trace compound eliciting responses from male antennae in GC-EAD experiments, but this compound was not identified. It is suggested that the three species can use the same, single component as a sex attractant because the flight period of S. albofasciata (fall) is different than that of the other two species (spring), whereas the geographic distributions of S. mendocino and S. walterorum overlap over only small portions of their ranges. Furthermore, the latter two species readily hybridize, so there may be minimal fitness cost to cross-attraction.     

Thermodynamic analysis of a diabatic two-phase flow for a pure refrigerant and a refrigerant/oil mixture under equilibrium conditions

Two different definitions of the vapor quality during a diabatic two-phase flow with and without the presence of oil are presented in this paper: the well-known vapor flow quality and the thermodynamic vapor quality. The vapor flow quality is based on the mass flow rates whereas the thermodynamic vapor quality is based on the mass. Two-phase thermodynamic diagrams for pure R-134a and R-134a/oil mixture are plotted for different slip ratios. It is shown that the iso-flow quality lines are moved to lower enthalpies for larger slip ratios. In addition, the maximum vapor flow quality of a fluid/oil mixture is shown to increase when increasing the slip ratio whereas the maximum thermodynamic vapor quality remains constant. In addition, the correct expression of the elementary derivative of the vapor quality is also proposed, highlighting the role of the heat capacity at constant vapor quality.     

A Gland of Many Uses: a Diversity of Compounds in the Labial Glands of the Bumble Bee Bombus impatiens Suggests Multiple Signaling Functions

Journal of Chemical Ecology - Communication in social insect colonies depends on signals accurately reflecting the identity and physiological state of the individuals. Such information is coded by...