Ultrastructural and paraphenylene studies of degeneration in the primate visual system: Degenerative remnants persist for much longer than expected

It is a widely held belief that the products of axonal degeneration in the CNS are transitory and are caused by metabolic and phagocytic processes. However, recent light microscopic examinations of human and primate brains using the paraphenylene diamine staining method (PPD), which stains degenerating axons, have confirmed that the products of degeneration persist for years in visual pathways. The routine utilization of the PPD method for delineating human visual pathways requires further confirmation of axonal degeneration. Optic nerves, optic tracts, and lateral geniculate nuclei were collected from human brains that had clinical documentation of optic nerve damage prior to death. Optic nerves, optic tracts, and lateral geniculate nuclei taken from the brains of cynomolgus monkeys that had undergone enucleation 3 months to 1 year prior to sacrifice were also examined. All tissue was processed for electron microscopy; ultrathin sections were cut for electron microscopy, and consecutive sections were cut for light microscopy. In all cases, the homology of the degenerated processes was confirmed between the light microscopic (PPD) and the electron microscopic sections. Such ultrastructural examination demonstrates that the products of axonal degeneration remain in the primate visual system longer than previously supposed.     

Patterns of social preference across different social contexts in golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia).

We investigated the role of mutual and circumstantial factors in maintaining exclusive social relationships in a New World primate. Four breeding pairs of golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia) were allowed to interact with their mate or an unfamiliar, opposite-sex adult in each of 4 different social contexts: in view of the mate, out of the mate's view, with only the mate present, and with only the unfamiliar animal present. Males and females were in proximity to, approached, and sniffed their mates significantly more often than they did unfamiliar tamarins. These behaviors suggest a preference for the familiar mate. However, when mates were absent, tamarins demonstrated significantly higher levels of approach and sniffs toward unfamiliar animals. These patterns of behavior indicate that circumstantial factors, such as social context, may regulate social interactions between paired tamarins and unfamiliar, opposite-sex conspecifics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electrochemical behaviour and antioxidant capacity of anthocyanins from Chilean red wine,grape and raspberry

The anthocyanin fractions were extracted from Cabernet Sauvignon red wine, skins of Vitis vinifera grapes and raspberry fruits (Rubus idaeus). In red wine extract, 16 anthocyanins were identified, malvidin-3-O-glucoside being the main anthocyanin, which comprised 53.6% of the total anthocyanin in grape extract. Raspberry extract contained mainly delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside. The antioxidant capacity of the extracts was assayed by electrochemical methods. Best resolution of the oxidation peaks for the extracts and diluted wine was obtained by pulse differential voltammetry. The wine diluted 20× presented values of P1 (443 mV) and P2 (676 mV) similar to those corresponding to wine extract, and to the anthocyanin malvidin-3-O-glucoside. The antioxidant capacity of anthocyanins in extracts of wine, grape skin and raspberry fruit was also determined by the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) method.     

Children’s response to adult disgust elicitors: Development and acquisition.

Little is known about when or how different disgust elicitors are acquired. In Study 1, parents of children (0–18 years old) rated how their child would react to 22 disgust elicitors. Different developmental patterns were identified for core, animal, and sociomoral elicitors, with core elicitors emerging first. In Study 2, children (2–16 years old) were exposed alone and then with their parent to a range of elicitors derived from Study 1. Self-report, behavioral, and facial expression data were obtained along with measures of contagion, conservation, and contamination. Convergent evidence supported the developmental patterns reported in Study 1. Evidence for parent–child transmission was also observed, with parents of young children emoting more disgust to their offspring and showing greater behavioral avoidance. Moreover, child reactivity to animal and sociomoral elicitors and contamination correlated with parental responsiveness. Finally, young children who failed to demonstrate contagion and conservation knowledge were as reactive to core elicitors and contamination as children of the same age who demonstrated such knowledge. These findings are interpreted within an evolutionary framework in which core disgust responses are acquired early to promote avoidance of pathogens. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

BRET-Based Biosensors to Measure Agonist Efficacies in Histamine H1 Receptor-Mediated G Protein Activation,Signaling and Interactions with GRKs and β-Arrestins

The histamine H₁ receptor (H₁R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and plays a key role in allergic reactions upon activation by histamine which is locally released from mast cells and basophils. Consequently, H₁R is a well-established therapeutic target for antihistamines that relieve allergy symptoms. H₁R signals via heterotrimeric G_q proteins and is phosphorylated by GPCR kinase (GRK) subtypes 2, 5, and 6, consequently facilitating the subsequent recruitment of β-arrestin1 and/or 2. Stimulation of a GPCR with structurally different agonists can result in preferential engagement of one or more of these intracellular signaling molecules. To evaluate this so-called biased agonism for H₁R, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET)-based biosensors were applied to measure H₁R signaling through heterotrimeric G_q proteins, second messengers (inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate and Ca²⁺), and receptor-protein interactions (GRKs and β-arrestins) in response to histamine, 2-phenylhistamines, and histaprodifens in a similar cellular background. Although differences in efficacy were observed for these agonists between some functional readouts as compared to reference agonist histamine, subsequent data analysis using an operational model of agonism revealed only signaling bias of the agonist Br-phHA-HA in recruiting β-arrestin2 to H₁R over G_q biosensor activation.     

Developing fluent text processing with practice: Memorial influences on fluency and comprehension.

A great deal of research has examined predictors related to the development of reading fluency and reading comprehension. Whilst a number of studies support the relationship between the development of reading fluency and subsequent improvements in reading comprehension, many studies have shown faster and more accurate decoding does not automatically lead to better comprehension. Often overlooked is the role of the text representation that is encoded in memory during reading and its influence on skilled reading comprehension. In this article, the authors review literature that explores the relationship between text representation and fluent reading. Based upon the results of this review, the authors suggest that the type of representation formed during reading is closely related to the development of both skilled reading comprehension and fluent reading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Linking psychology and public health: A predoctoral clinical training program in youth violence prevention.

Although clinical psychology has made strides in developing prevention and intervention strategies to reduce youth violence, there has been little attention to skills-oriented preprofessional training to prepare graduate students for practice roles in this emerging area of public health concern. This article describes a practicum training experience that prepares doctoral-level clinical psychology trainees to serve as youth violence prevention service providers, trainers, and consultants. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology's role in the public health response to assaultive violence among young African-American men.

African-American male adolescents face disproportionate risk for death or injury resulting from assaultive violence. This article presents a public health framework for examining the problem and developing interventions. A brief interdisciplinary review of research is provided on the nature and extent of the problem, its etiology, and current approaches to prevention. Attention is called to intra- and intergroup differences in patterns among White and ethnic minority youth and to specific theories and research about assaultive violence among young African-American men. Emerging imperatives in the search for solutions are identified, emphasizing the need for cultural sensitivity in the design of preventive interventions and an expanded role for psychologists in the public health response to this critical health problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)