Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses.

Decades of behavioral science research have documented functional shifts in attitudes and ideological adherence in response to various challenges, but little work to date has illuminated the neural mechanisms underlying these dynamics. This paper describes how continuous theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation may be employed to experimentally assess the causal contribution of cortical regions to threat-related ideological shifts. In the example protocol provided here, participants are exposed to a threat prime-an explicit reminder of their own inevitable death and bodily decomposition-following a downregulation of the posterior medial frontal cortex (pMFC) or a sham stimulation. Next, disguised within a series of distracter tasks, participants' relative degree of ideological adherence is assessed-in the present example, with regard to coalitional prejudice and religious belief. Participants for whom the pMFC has been downregulated exhibit less coalitionally biased responses to an immigrant critical of the participants' national in-group, and less conviction in positive afterlife beliefs (i.e., God, angels, and heaven), despite having recently been reminded of death. These results complement prior findings that continuous theta burst stimulation of the pMFC influences social conformity and sharing and illustrate the feasibility of investigating the neural basis of high-level social cognitive shifts using transcranial magnetic stimulation

Maternal Effects and Offspring Behavior: Potential Contributors to the Lack of Recruitment in Mississippi Gopher Tortoises (\u3ci\u3eGopherus polyphemus\u3c/i\u3e)

Federally threatened in Mississippi, gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) populations within the state have strongly variable recruitment and are generally in decline. Hatching success is significantly lower in Mississippi than in any other part of the species’ range , and most hatchlings die within the first year. There are few refuges where survival and hatching success is high. Here I compare two populations that differ in recruitment and offspring survival for differences in corticosterone. Corticosterone is a hormone that influences both energy availability and is released in elevated levels during stressful events, like living in poor quality habitat. Prolonged corticosterone elevation can impede growth and immune responses and result in early death. To assess adult stress, I utilized leukocyte profiles as they are influenced by prolonged elevation of corticosterone. A viable yolk sampling technique was used to collect yolk samples to determine levels of yolk CORT. Hatchlings were then kept in captivity for two years to observe growth rates and burrowing behavior before being released and monitored via radiotelemetry to monitor dispersal and survival. I found no differences in adult stress or egg yolk CORT between populations. This suggests adults are not excessively stressed. Survival of hatchlings did not differ between sites. Captive-reared hatchlings were larger and may have better survival than similar aged wild hatchlings. Overall, the poor survival of gopher tortoises may be more strongly linked to environmental variables such as soil structure than physiological ones

Structure-activity relationships of synthetic analogs of jasmonic acid and coronatine on induction of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid accumulation in Eschscholzia californica cell cultures

A facile test system based on the accumulation of benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids in Eschscholzia californica cell suspension culture (an indicator of defense gene activation) has been used to analyze a series of synthetic compounds for elicitor-like activity. Of the 200 jasmonic acid and coronatine analogs tested with this system, representative results obtained with 49 of them are presented here. The following can be summarized concerning structure-actvity relationships: there is a large degree of plasticity allowed at the C-3 of jasmonic acid in the activation of defense genes. The carbonyl moiety is not strictly required, but exocyclic double bond character appears necessary. The pentenyl side chain at C-2 cannot tolerate bulky groups at the terminal carbon and still be biologically active. Substitutions to the C-1' position are tolerated if they can potentially undergo beta-oxidation. Either an alkanoic acid or methyl ester is required at c-l, or a side chain that can be shortened by beta-oxidation or by peptidase hydrolysis. Coronatine and various derivatives thereof are not as effective as jasmonic acid, and derivatives in inducing benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloid accumulation. Jasmonic acid rather than the octadecanoic precursors is therefore considered to be a likely signal transducer of defense gene activation in planta

DISCOVERY OF NEW ANTIMICROBIAL OPTIONS AND EVALUATION OF AMINOGLYCOSIDE RESISTANCE ENZYME-ASSOCIATED RESISTANCE EPIDEMIC

The extensive and sometimes incorrect and noncompliant use of various types of antimicrobial agents has accelerated the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In fact, AMR has become one of the greatest global threat to human health in this era. The broad-spectrum antibiotics aminoglycosides (AGs) display excellent potency against most Gram-negative bacteria, mycobacteria, and some Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The AG antibiotics amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin are still commonly prescribed in the U.S.A. for the treatment of serious infections. Unfortunately, bacteria evolve to acquire resistance to AGs via four different mechanisms: i) changing in membrane permeability to resist drugs from entering, ii) upregulating efflux pumps for active removal of intracellular AGs, iii) modifying the antimicrobial target(s) to prevent drugs binding to their targets, and iv) acquiring resistance enzymes to chemically inactivate the compounds. Amongst all, the acquisition of resistance enzymes, AG-modifying enzymes (AMEs), is the most common resistance mechanism identified. Depending on the chemistry each enzyme catalyzes, AMEs can be further divided into AG N-acetyltransferases (AACs), AG O-phosphotransferases (APHs), and AG O-nucleotidyltransferases. To overcome AME-related resistance, we need to better understand these resistance enzymes and further seek ways to either escape or inhibit their actions. In this dissertation, I summarized my efforts to characterize the AAC(6\u27) domain and its mutant enzymes from a bifunctional AME, AAC(6\u27)-Ie/APH(2 )-Ia as well as another common AME, APH(3\u27)-IIa. I also explained my attempt to inhibit the action of various AAC enzymes using metal salts. In an effort to explore the current resistance epidemic, I evaluated the resistance against carbapenem and AG antibiotics and the correlation between the resistance profiles and the AME genes in a collection of 122 Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates obtained from the University of Kentucky Hospital System. Besides tackling the resistance mechanisms in bacteria, I have also attempted to explore a new antifungal option by repurposing an existing antipsychotic drug, bromperidol, and a panel of its derivatives into a combination therapy with the azole antifungals against a variety of pathogenic yeasts and filamentous fungi

La Grippe

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Preliminary results of simulated vortex encounters by a twin-engine, commercial aircraft during final landing approach

Piloted simulations of encounters with vortices of various ages and degrees of attenuation were performed with the Visual Motion Simulator. In the simulations, a twin engine, commercial transport on final approach, encountered the modeled vortices of a four engine, wide body, commercial transport. The data show the effect of vortex age and attenuation on the severity of the initial upset, as well as the effect of the vortex encounters on the landing capability

Measuring Knowledge Management: A New Indicator of Innovation in Enterprises

This paper is part of a larger research project, which has two primary goals: (1) To develop analytic tools for examining Regional Systems of Innovation for policy makers, and (2) To identify and design new indicators of innovation and knowledge-creation in this context. It draws on the results of research conducted in a non-metropolitan region of British Columbia, in this case the Okanagan region of south-central B.C

The Link between Innovation and the Use of Human Resources in BC Enterprises

This research finds that firms serving non-metropolitan regional markets tend to have low exports, relying on suppliers and customers as sources of innovation. These firms import knowledge to a region. On the other hand, firms serving transnational markets export products or services beyond their regional or national milieu, and rely on internal R&D as a source of innovation

Innovation and the Management of Human Resources

Regional innovation clusters are the building blocks of the Canadian national system of innovation. But in the knowledge-based economy, where knowledge, embedded in the training of the human capital of the innovative firm is the primary resource for the innovative firms. This paper addresses the question: What is the relationship between the innovative behavior of the firm and the way it manages its human resources