Physical, Mental, and Social Catastrophic Cognitions as Prognostic Factors in Cognitive-Behavioral and Pharmacological Treatments for Panic Disorder.

The authors explored the prognostic value of 3 different types of catastrophic cognitions in the treatment of panic disorder with and without mild-to-moderate agoraphobia using a sample of 143 participants who received either cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or imipramine in a randomized controlled trial. Stronger fears of social catastrophes both prior to and following treatment with CBT or imipramine were associated with a poorer outcome. In contrast, cognitions involving physical or mental catastrophes were unrelated to outcome, regardless of whether these thoughts were measured prior to or following treatment. These findings are consistent with the notion that although the intensity of physical catastrophe cognitions may best discriminate between panic disorder and other anxiety disorders, it is the intensity of social catastrophe cognitions that is most closely tied to success in treating this disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpreting the Good Life: Growth Memories in the Lives of Mature, Happy People.

In 2 studies, the authors examined autobiographical memories for the presence of 2 growth orientations that were expected to correspond differentially to maturity and well-being, which are considered to be key facets of "the good life" by L. A. King (2001). Mature participants emphasized integrative memories (conceptual integration and learning), whereas happy participants emphasized intrinsic memories (humanistic concerns). Both kinds of growth memories correlated more strongly with eudaimonic than with hedonic measures of well-being. Growth memories were largely independent of Big Five traits in relation to maturity and well-being. Finally, older participants were more likely than younger participants to have greater maturity (marginally) and well-being, but this was in part explained by older participants' greater tendency to have growth memories. The discussion considers the role of growth memories in the intentional cultivation of the good life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Overconfidence in Interval Estimates.

Judges were asked to make numerical estimates (e.g., "In what year was the first flight of a hot air balloon?"). Judges provided high and low estimates such that they were X% sure that the correct answer lay between them. They exhibited substantial overconfidence: The correct answer fell inside their intervals much less than X% of the time. This contrasts with choices between 2 possible answers to a question, which showed much less overconfidence. The authors show that overconfidence in interval estimates can result from variability in setting interval widths. However, the main cause is that subjective intervals are systematically too narrow given the accuracy of one's information-sometimes only 40% as large as necessary to be well calibrated. The degree of overconfidence varies greatly depending on how intervals are elicited. There are also substantial differences among domains and between male and female judges. The authors discuss the possible psychological mechanisms underlying this pattern of findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using Ordinal Optimization Approach to Improve Efficiency of Selection Procedures

Indifference-zone selection procedures have been widely studied and applied to determine the sample sizes for selecting a good design among k alternative designs. However, efficiency is still a key concern for using simulation to solve ranking and selection problems. Ordinal optimization has emerged as an effective technique to improve efficiency of simulation and optimization. In this paper, we incorporate the concept of ordinal optimization with ranking-and-selection methodology and propose using a normal approximation to estimate the probability of correct selection. The proposed procedure takes into account not only the sample variances but also the difference of sample means when determining the sample sizes. Furthermore, the procedure is valid with the variance reduction technique of common random numbers. An experimental performance evaluation demonstrates the efficiency of the new procedure.     

Tandem mass spectrometry in the study of fatty acids,bile acids,and steroids

Over the last 50 years, the mass spectrometry of lipids has evolved to become one of the most mature techniques in biomolecule analysis. Many volatile and non-polar lipids are directly amenable to analysis by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), a technique that combines the unsurpassed separation properties of gas-chromatography with the sensitivity and selectivity of electron ionization mass spectrometry. Less volatile and/or thermally labile lipids can be analyzed by GC-MS, following appropriate sample derivatization. However, many complex lipids are not readily analyzed by GC-MS, and it is these molecules that are the subject of the current review. Since the early 1970s, there have been three outstanding developments in mass spectrometry that are particularly appropriate in lipid analysis; i.e., the introduction of (i) fast atom bombardment (FAB); (ii) electrospray (ES); and (iii) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The FAB and ES ionization techniques will be discussed in relation to MS/MS, and examples of their application in biochemical studies will be presented. The review will concentrate on the analysis of fatty acids, bile acids, steroid conjugates, and neutral steroids.     

Self-generated validity and other effects of measurement on belief, attitude, intention, and behavior.

Drawing from recent developments in social cognition, cognitive psychology, and behavioral decision theory, we analyzed when and how the act of measuring beliefs, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors affects observed correlations among them. Belief, attitude, or intention can be created by measurement if the measured constructs do not already exist in long-term memory. The responses thus created can have directive effects on answers to other questions that follow in the survey. But even when counterparts to the beliefs, attitudes, and intentions measured already exist in memory, the structure of the survey researcher's questionnaire can affect observed correlations among them. The respondent may use retrieved answers to earlier survey questions as inputs to response generation to later questions. We present a simple theory predicting that an earlier response will be used as a basis for another, subsequent response if the former is accessible and if it is perceived to be more diagnostic than other accessible inputs. We outline the factors that determine both the perceived diagnosticity of a potential input, the likelihood that it will be retrieved, and the likelihood that some alternative (and potentially more diagnostic) inputs will be retrieved. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Targeting PSEN1 by lnc-CYP3A43-2/miR-29b-2-5p to Reduce β Amyloid Plaque Formation and Improve Cognition Function

Presenilin-1 (PSEN1) is a crucial subunit within the γ-secretase complex and regulates β-amyloid (Aβ) production. Accumulated evidence indicates that n-butylidenephthalide (BP) acts effectively to reduce Aβ levels in neuronal cells that are derived from trisomy 21 (Ts21) induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, the mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. This article aims to investigate the possible mechanisms through which BP ameliorates the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and verify the effectiveness of BP through animal experiments. Results from RNA microarray analysis showed that BP treatment in Ts21 iPSC-derived neuronal cells reduced long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) CYP3A43-2 levels and increased microRNA (miR)-29b-2-5p levels. Bioinformatics tool prediction analysis, biotin-labeled miR-29b-2-5p pull-down assay, and dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed a direct negative regulatory effect for miRNA29b-2-5p on lnc-RNA-CYP3A43-2 and PSEN1. Moreover, BP administration improved short-term memory and significantly reduced Aβ accumulation in the hippocampus and cortex of 3xTg-AD mice but failed in miR-29b-2-5p mutant mice generated by CRISP/Cas9 technology. In addition, analysis of brain samples from patients with AD showed a decrease in microRNA-29b-2-5p expression in the frontal cortex region. Our results provide evidence that the LncCYP3A43-2/miR29-2-5p/PSEN1 network might be involved in the molecular mechanisms underlying BP-induced Aβ reduction.     

HER2 c-Terminal Fragments Are Expressed via Internal Translation of the HER2 mRNA

The HER2/neu signaling pathway is one of the most frequently mutated in human cancer. Although therapeutics targeting this pathway have good efficacy, cancer cells frequently develop resistance. The HER2 gene encodes the full-length HER2 protein, as well as smaller c-terminal fragments (CTFs), which have been shown to be a cause of resistance. Here, we show that HER2 CTFs, exclusive from the full-length HER2 protein, are generated via internal translation of the full-length HER2 mRNA and identify regions which are required for this mechanism to occur. These regions of the HER2 mRNA may present novel sites for therapeutic intervention via small molecules or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs).     

Clinically Applicable Assessment of Tisagenlecleucel CAR T Cell Treatment by Digital Droplet PCR for Copy Number Variant Assessment

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is an innovative immunotherapy for treating cancers in both children and adults with proven utility in numerous clinical trials. Significantly, some CAR T cell therapies have now been approved by relevant national regulatory bodies across numerous countries for clinical therapeutic use outside of clinical trials. One such recently licensed product is tisagenlecleucel, a CAR T therapy approved for the treatment of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) using autologous T cells from the patient. The genetically engineered T cells target a protein called CD19, common to B cells, through a CAR incorporating a 4-1BB costimulatory domain to improve response. Since tisagenlecleucel is now a standard of care treatment for B-ALL, it is clinically essential to be able to accurately monitor these CAR T cells in patients. Assessment of the copy number variant (CNV) of the CAR T cell products allows this within a clinically acceptable timeframe for optimal patient benefit. However, no standardized method with high reproducibility and efficiency has been described within a routine clinical laboratory setting. Here, we demonstrated a novel digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)-based methodology for the study of CNV (ddPCR-CNV) in 4-1BB CD19-specific CAR T cells with universal applicability across clinical diagnostic laboratories.     

Development and Verification of Simulation Model Based on Real MANET Experiments for Transport Layer Protocols （UDP and TCP）

There is a lack of appropriate guidelines for realistic user traces, mobility models, routing protocols, considerations of real-life challenges, etc. for general-purpose mobile ad hoc networks (MANET). In this paper, four laptops are used in an open field environment in four scenarios to evaluate the performances of Internet control message protocol (ICMP) based ping and transmission control protocol (TCP) based streaming video applications using optimised link state routing (OLSR) implementation in an IEEE 802.11g wireless network. Corresponding simulations are developed in Network Simulator ns-2 by setting simulation parameters according to the real experiments. Difficulties faced to regenerate real-life scenarios have been discussed and the gaps between reality and simulation are identified. A setup guideline to produce realistic simulation results has been established.