Comparison of the locus of control expectancies of two groups of older adults in relation to participation in higher education /

A significant difference in locus of control was found between males and females in the total group of subjects but no significant differences were identified on any of the variables between the participants and non-participants and the locus of control for the two groups although both groups were very internal in their locus of control.In a sample of 118 older adults, a comparison was made between the 53 subjects who were participating and the 65 subjects who were not participating in a program in higher education for which they could be granted adademic credit. This comparison was made to ascertain the relationship between locus of control as measured by the Rotter I-E Scale and participation in a program in higher education by participation or non-participation, gender, ages 50 to 55 and ages 60 to 70, and educational level.Locus of control was determined not to be a description of a personality characteristic that was significantly related to participation in higher education; however, implications for program planning are discussed.A further comparison with another study (Wolk and Kurtz, 1975) also indicated no significant differences between that study group and the participant group in this study

Similar gene expression patterns characterize aging and oxidative stress in Drosophila melanogaster

Affymetrix GeneChips were used to measure RNA abundance for ≈13,500 Drosophila genes in young, old, and 100% oxygen-stressed flies. Data were analyzed by using a recently developed background correction algorithm and a robust multichip model-based statistical analysis that dramatically increased the ability to identify changes in gene expression. Aging and oxidative stress responses shared the up-regulation of purine biosynthesis, heat shock protein, antioxidant, and innate immune response genes. Results were confirmed by using Northerns and transgenic reporters. Immune response gene promoters linked to GFP allowed longitudinal assay of gene expression during aging in individual flies. Immune reporter expression in young flies was partially predictive of remaining life span, suggesting their potential as biomonitors of aging

CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase and protein kinase C recognize different physical features of membranes: differential responses to an oxidized phosphatidylcholine

AbstractProtein kinase C (PKC) and CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT) are two examples of enzymes that are regulated by reversible binding to membranes, and this binding is influenced by membrane physical properties. CT activation by oxidized phosphatidylcholines was recently demonstrated and was linked to the acyl chain disordering effect of the oxidized species (Biochemistry 38, 15606). In this paper, we compare the responses of PKC and CT to an oxidized PC, and investigate the physical properties of lipid bilayers that modulate the activity of these enzymes. We show that 1-palmitoyl, 2-(11,15 dihydroxy) eicosatrienoyl PC (diOH-PAPC) caused less of an increase in the temperature of the lamellar to hexagonal II transition (TH) of an unsaturated PE, compared to its parent, PAPC. Using a polarity-sensitive interfacial probe, we also found evidence to suggest that this oxidized PC increases interfacial packing pressure. We found that whereas diOH-PAPC activates CT, it inhibits PKC relative to the parent PAPC. The activities of both CT and PKC are known to increase in the presence of non-lamellar forming lipids. The greater activating effect of diOH-PAPC compared with PAPC, is consistent with a stimulation of the activity of CT by negative curvature strain. However, this is not the case with PKC, for which we suggest that surface packing pressure is of prime importance