Proteomic and molecular analysis of neural tube defects in the mouse embryo

The aim of this project was to investigate the causes of spinal neural tube defects (NTDs), using the curly tail (ct/ct) mouse as a model system. The ct mutant allele corresponds to a hypomorphic allele of grainyhead-like-3 (Grhl3) gene. A two-dimensional protein gel electrophoresis (2-DE) based approach was used to compare the proteome profile of ct/ct embryos with a genetically matched wild-type strain at the stage of spinal neural tube closure. This analysis revealed a series of proteins whose abundance or 2-DE gel migration are abnormal in ct/ct embryos. Detailed follow-up analysis was performed on one protein, lamin B1. Differential migration of lamin B1 on ct/ct compared with wild-type 2-DE gels was found to result from a sequence change in Lmnb1, resulting in the deletion of a glutamic acid (E) in a region of 9 glutamic acids in the wild-type protein. Lamin B1 in ct/ct therefore only has 8 glutamic acids in this part of the protein. Further analysis showed that the lamin B1 variants functionally differ. Genetic crosses were performed to generate sub-strains of ct/ct mice carrying different combinations of the Grhl3 mutation and lamin B1 variants. These studies support the hypothesis that Lmnb1 can modify the risk of NTDs in the ct/ct strain. Finally, while ct/ct NTDs result from diminished Grhl3 expression, the effects of Grhl3 over-expression were also investigated by intercrossing curly tail Grhl3-transgenic mice (ct/ctTgGrhl3). High levels of Grhl3 expression were found to cause NTDs at high frequency, indicating that Grhl3 regulation is an important requirement for neural tube closure. Morphological and gene expression analysis in Grhl3 over-expressing transgenic embryos suggest that the cellular mechanism underlying NTDs differs from that in the ct/ct hypomorphic mutant

Photoelectron Spectra Of Amorphous Sixhy Alloy Films: The Effect Of Microstructure On The Si-2p Level Shift

Depending on the deposition conditions, amorphous SixH y alloy films prepared by planar rf reactive magnetron sputtering exhibit one of three types of microstructure: (i) type A with no discernible microstructural features down to the 20-Å level and with a smooth uniform density; (ii) type B consisting of high-density regions of 50-200-Å lateral dimensions separated by a low-density network; and (iii) a two-level (type C) microstructure consisting of 300-500-Å dimensions columns separated by a pronounced low-density network. The columns, in turn, are composed of 50-200-Å dimension high-density regions interspersed with low-density network. The Si-2p level in these alloy films, determined by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is observed to be strongly influenced by the microstructure of the film. A shift in the Si-2p level, systematically varying with the hydrogen concentration, is observed in alloy films with type B and type C microstructures. No shift is observed, irrespective of the hydrogen concentration, in alloy films with type A microstructure. The photoelectron spectra are examined in the light of the vibrational spectra of the films as measured by Fourier transform infrared techniques. The dependence of the Si-2p level shift on the microstructure and the variation with hydrogen concentration are explained qualitatively in terms of the differences in the silicon-hydrogen bonding in amorphous SixHy films with dissimilar microstructures.6072530253

Hostile interpretation as a transdiagnostic factor for cooccurring anxiety in boys with aggressive behavior problems

Many children with aggressive behavior problems also suffer from anxiety. This cooccurrence may perhaps be explained by transdiagnostic factors. Identifying these factors seems crucial, as they may be important targets to treat these cooccurring problems effectively. This two-study paper investigates whether hostile interpretation of others’ intentions is a transdiagnostic factor for cooccurring aggression and anxiety problems, examining two samples of boys in middle childhood. We assessed boys’ aggression and anxiety using teacher-report in Study 1 (N = 84, Mage = 10.10), and parent-report in Study 2 (N = 115, Mage = 10.55). In both studies, we assessed hostile interpretation using vignettes describing ambiguous provocations by peers. Both studies revealed a strong association between aggression and anxiety problems, underscoring the necessity to examine factors that can explain this cooccurrence. However, in neither study was this association reduced when we added hostile interpretation to the model, suggesting that hostile interpretation did not function as a transdiagnostic factor in our samples. One possible explanation for these findings is that hostile interpretation predicts both aggression and anxiety problems, but in different children. We, therefore, encourage scholars to conduct more research to explain the high comorbidity of aggression and anxiety problems in children. Future research should also examine hostile interpretation as predictor or transdiagnostic factor for aggression and anxiety problems in more diverse population, including girls and other age groups

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy And Mossbauer Spectroscopy Study Of Iron(iii) And Antimony(v) Oxides Grafted Onto A Silica Gel Surface

[No abstract available]191325132

Using virtual reality to treat aggressive behavior problems in children: A feasibility study

Evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapies (CBTs) for children with aggressive behavior problems have only modest effects. Research is needed into new methods to enhance CBT effectiveness. The aims of the present study were to (1) examine whether interactive virtual reality is a feasible treatment method for children with aggressive behavior problems; (2) investigate children’s appreciation of the method; and (3) explore whether children’s aggression decreased during the ten-session treatment. Six boys (8–12 years) participated at two clinical centers in the Netherlands. Newly developed weekly reports were collected on treatment feasibility (therapist-report), treatment appreciation (child report), and children’s aggression (child/parent report). Results supported treatment feasibility: therapists delivered on average 98% of the session content, provided more than the recommended practice time in virtual reality, experienced few technical issues, and were satisfied with their treatment delivery. Children highly appreciated the treatment. Parents reported decreases in children’s aggression over the treatment period (i.e., between week 1 and week 10), but children did not. The promising findings of this feasibility study warrant randomized controlled trials to determine whether interactive virtual reality enhances CBT effectiveness for children with aggressive behavior problems

Capturing mechanisms of change: Weekly covariation in anger regulation, hostile intent attribution, and children's aggression

Interventions for children's aggression typically target assumed underlying mechanisms, such as anger regulation and hostile intent attribution. The expectation here is that targeting these mechanisms will result in within-person changes in aggression. However, evidence for these mechanisms is mostly based on between-person analyses. We, therefore, examined whether within-person changes in adaptive anger regulation and hostile intent attribution covaried with within-person changes in children's aggression. Children (N = 223; age 7–12; 46% boys) filled out four weekly report measures to assess adaptive anger regulation, hostile intent attribution, and aggression. The psychometric properties of these novel measures were adequate. Results of multi-level analyses revealed within-person effects: weekly changes in adaptive anger regulation and hostile intent attribution covaried with changes in children's aggression. This corresponded with between-person findings on the same data: children with lower levels of adaptive anger regulation and higher levels of hostile intent attribution reported more aggression than other children. These findings support the idea that targeting anger regulation and hostile intent attribution in interventions may lead to changes in individual children's aggression

Antimony(v) Oxide Grafted Onto A Silica Gel Surface: Acidic Properties And Thermal Stability

Antimony(v) oxide grafted onto a silica gel surface was obtained in highly dispersed form, with antimony density of 0.65 atoms nm-2. The material presents Brønsted and Lewis acid properties different from pyrochlore, Sb2O5. These sites disappear upon thermal treatment at 500°C owing to reaction of antimony oxide with the silica surface.88213193319

Radio Frequency Sputtered Cobalt Oxide Coating: Structural, Optical, And Electrochemical Characterization

Cobalt oxide thin films (thickness 2000 Å) with different stoichiometries were deposited by reactive rf sputtering. The variation of the oxygen partial pressure lead to films with compositions varying from metallic cobalt to CO3O4, as determined by x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochromic properties of the films were investigated in aqueous electrolytes (0.1 M KOH). The initial electrochemical behavior of the films is strongly dependent on the film deposition conditions, but after cycling the electrochemical/electrochromic characteristics of the different deposits were quite similar. Transmittance changes and electrochromic efficiency are discussed.7495835584