Dissociation constants and thermodynamic properties of amino acids used in CO2 absorption from (293 to 353) K

The second dissociation constants of the amino acids βalanine, taurine, sarcosine, 6-aminohexanoic acid, DL-methionine, glycine, L-phenylalanine, and L-proline and the third dissociation constants of L-glutamic acid and L-aspartic acid have been determined from electromotive force measurements at temperatures from (293 to 353) K. Experimental results are reported and compared to literature values. Values of the standard state thermodynamic properties are derived from the experimental results and compared to the values of commercially available amines used as absorbents for CO 2 capture.

Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? An update on current evidence and a comprehensive model for future research

Despite the many positive outcomes, excessive mobile phone use is now often associated with potentially harmful and/or disturbing behaviors (e.g., symptoms of deregulated use, negative impact on various aspects of daily life such as relationship problems, and work intrusion). Problematic mobile phone use (PMPU) has generally been considered as a behavioral addiction that shares many features with more established drug addictions. In light of the most recent data, the current paper reviews the validity of the behavioral addiction model when applied to PMPU. On the whole, it is argued that the evidence supporting PMPU as an addictive behavior is scarce. In particular, it lacks studies that definitively show behavioral and neurobiological similarities between mobile phone addiction and other types of legitimate addictive behaviors. Given this context, an integrative pathway model is proposed that aims to provide a theoretical framework to guide future research in the field of PMPU. This model highlights that PMPU is a heterogeneous and multi-faceted condition

Bovine Herpesvirus Type 1 (BHV-1) UL49.5 Luminal Domain Residues 30 to 32 Are Critical for MHC-I Down-Regulation in Virus-Infected Cells

Bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) UL49.5 inhibits transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) and down-regulates cell-surface expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules to promote immune evasion. We have constructed a BHV-1 UL49.5 cytoplasmic tail (CT) null and several UL49.5 luminal domain mutants in the backbone of wild-type BHV-1 or BHV-1 UL49.5 CT- null viruses and determined their relative TAP mediated peptide transport inhibition and MHC-1 down-regulation properties compared with BHV-1 wt. Based on our results, the UL49.5 luminal domain residues 30–32 and UL49.5 CT residues, together, promote efficient TAP inhibition and MHC-I down-regulation functions. In vitro, BHV-1 UL49.5 Δ30–32 CT-null virus growth property was similar to that of BHV-1 wt and like the wt UL49.5, the mutant UL49.5 was incorporated in the virion envelope and it formed a complex with gM in the infected cells

Growth Rate Responses of Missouri and Lower Yellowstone River Fishes to a Latitudinal Gradient

Notropis atherinoides, freshwater drums Aplodinotus grunniens, river carpsuckers Carpiodes carpio and saugers Stizostedion canadense collected in 1996-1998 from nine river sections of the Missouri and lower Yellowstone rivers at two life-stages (young-of-the-year and age 1+ years) were significantly different among sections. However, they showed no river-wide latitudinal trend except for age 1+ years emerald shiners that did show a weak negative relation between growth and both latitude and length of growing season. The results suggest growth rates of fishes along the Missouri River system are complex and could be of significance in the management and conservation of fish communities in this altered system

Assessing Internet addiction using the parsimonious Internet addiction components model - a preliminary study [forthcoming]

Internet usage has grown exponentially over the last decade. Research indicates that excessive Internet use can lead to symptoms associated with addiction. To date, assessment of potential Internet addiction has varied regarding populations studied and instruments used, making reliable prevalence estimations difficult. To overcome the present problems a preliminary study was conducted testing a parsimonious Internet addiction components model based on Griffiths’ addiction components (2005), including salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse. Two validated measures of Internet addiction were used (Compulsive Internet Use Scale [CIUS], Meerkerk et al., 2009, and Assessment for Internet and Computer Game Addiction Scale [AICA-S], Beutel et al., 2010) in two independent samples (ns = 3,105 and 2,257). The fit of the model was analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Results indicate that the Internet addiction components model fits the data in both samples well. The two sample/two instrument approach provides converging evidence concerning the degree to which the components model can organize the self-reported behavioural components of Internet addiction. Recommendations for future research include a more detailed assessment of tolerance as addiction component

The experimental analysis of problematic video gaming and cognitive skills: a systematic review

There is now a growing literature demonstrating the excessive gaming can have negative detrimental effects on a small minority of gamers. This has led to much debate in the psychological literature on both the positive and negative effects of gaming. One specific area that has been investigated is the effect of gaming on different types of cognitive skills. The present study carried a systematic review examining the studies that have examined the impact of problematic gaming on cognitive skills. Following a number of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 18 studies were identified that had investigated three specific cognitive skills: (i) multi-second time perception (4 studies), inhibition (7 studies), and decision-making (7 studies). Based on the studies reviewed, the findings demonstrate that the pathological and/or excessive use of videogames leads to more negative consequences on cognitive processes. Contexte et objectifs: Jouer aux jeux vidéo est devenu l’une des activités mondiales majeures avec des millions de personnes y jouant tous les jours. Suivant ce succès, les jeux vidéo ont grandement évolué, multipliant les genres (p.ex., MMORPG, MOBA, FPS); certains de ces jeux demandant un grand investissement de la part des joueurs. Cet investissement peut devenir excessif, voire pathologique, et de nombreuses études ont exploré ce risque, menant à l’inclusion de l’« Usage pathologique des jeux sur Internet » dans l’appendice du DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Cependant, malgré les risques sous-jacents d’une addiction (p.e.x., pertes de relations, difficultés scolaires), il a également été démontré que le jeu vidéo pouvait significativement améliorer les performances des joueurs (p.ex., performances sur un simulateur de chirurgie, Fanning, Fenton, Johnson, Johnson, & Rehman, 2011; meilleure recherche visuelle, Sims & Mayer, 2002). De plus, il a été démontré que le fait de jouer à ces jeux pouvait impacter les capacités cognitives des joueurs (p.ex., Durlach, Kring, & Bowens, 2009). Une revue systématique sur l’impact d’une utilisation pathologique/excessive sur ces capacités a donc été menée. Méthode: La recherche d’articles a été menée sur quatre bases de données (p.ex., Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, PsychINFO). Afin d’être inclus dans cette revue, les articles revus par les pairs devaient: (i) dater d’au moins 2000 (les jeux vidéo ayant grandement évolué depuis), (ii) inclure au moins une étude expérimentale sur les processus cognitifs des joueurs, (iii) inclure des joueurs excessifs/pathologiques, (iv) être publiés en anglais, et (v) Ne pas avoir été utilisés dans une revue de littérature auparavant (p.ex., études en fMRI). Après sélection des articles et tri des doublons, la recherche a mené à 18 résultats dans 3 sections différentes (c.-à-d., Perception du temps supérieur à la seconde, Inhibition, et Prise de décision). Résultats: Les expériences sur la perception du temps montrent des résultats hétérogènes, certaines études ne montrant aucun résultat (p.ex.., Rivero, Covre, Reyes, & Bueno, 2012), d’autres des résultats partiels (Rau, Peng, & Yang, 2006), voire des résultats significatifs (Tobin & Grondin, 2009). Cependant, les études démontrant des résultats (potentiellement) significatifs incluaient des utilisateurs pathologiques, contrairement aux études sans résultats significatifs. Cette différence de population pouvant potentiellement expliquer cette différence. Les études sur l’inhibition montrent le même type de résultats hétérogènes, cependant, une fois ces études classées par type d’inhibition, il apparaîtrait que les joueurs montrent une inhibition de la réponse prépotente réduite (p.ex., au travers de tâches Go/Nogo, Littel et al., 2012), celle-ci étant aggravée lorsque des stimuli liés aux jeux étaient inclus dans la tâche (p.ex., Liu et al., 2014). Cependant, la seule étude ayant exploré l’annulation d’une réponse prépotente n’a pas démontré d’inhibition réduite, les joueurs de jeux-vidéos d’action présentant des temps de réactions réduits (Colzato, van den Wildenberg, Zmigrod, & Hommel, 2013). Finalement, Les études sur la prise de décision montrent des résultats similaires au travers des études, c’est-à-dire des lacunes à prendre des décisions dans des contextes de risque (p.ex., Pawlikowski & Brand, 2011), une prise de décision intacte dans les tâches à contextes ambigus (p.ex., Nuyens et al., 2016), et une tendance à préférer une récompense moindre immédiate à une récompense plus importante après un délai variable (Weinstein, Abu, Timor, & Mama, 2016). Discussion: Malgré les divers résultats contraires, et le peu d’étude sur certains processus, il est clair qu’une utilisation pathologique des jeux vidéo peut mener à des difficultés cognitives. Cependant, sachant que les études sur les performances susmentionnées ne recrutaient que des participants sains, il est supposable qu’une utilisation normale mènerait à des performances améliorées, sans aucune contrepartie négative. Plus d’études seraient donc nécessaires afin de déterminer l’impact différent des jeux vidéo sur les processus cognitifs en fonction du degré et type d’utilisation de ceux-ci (c.-à-d., utilisation occasionnelle, fréquente, ou pathologique)

The empirical analysis of non-problematic video gaming and cognitive skills: a systematic review

Videogames have become one of the most popular leisure activities worldwide, including multiple game genres with different characteristics and levels of involvement required. Although a small minority of excessive players suffer detrimental consequences including impairment of several cognitive skills (e.g., inhibition, decision-making), it has also been demonstrated that playing videogames can improve different cognitive skills. Therefore, the current paper systematically reviewed the empirical studies experimentally investigating the positive impact of videogames on cognitive skills. Following a number of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 32 papers were identified as empirically investigating three specific skills: taskswitching (eight studies), attentional control (22 studies), and sub-second time perception (two studies). Results demonstrated that compared to control groups, non-problematic use of videogames can lead to improved task-switching, more effective top-down attentional control and processing speed and increased sub-second time perception. Two studies highlighted the impact of gaming on cognitive skills differs depends upon game genre. The studies reviewed suggest that videogame play can have a positive impact on cognitive processes for players

DNA vaccination for prostate cancer: key concepts and considerations

While locally confined prostate cancer is associated with a low five year mortality rate, advanced or metastatic disease remains a major challenge for healthcare professionals to treat and is usually terminal. As such, there is a need for the development of new, efficacious therapies for prostate cancer. Immunotherapy represents a promising approach where the host’s immune system is harnessed to mount an anti-tumour effect, and the licensing of the first prostate cancer specific immunotherapy in 2010 has opened the door for other immunotherapies to gain regulatory approval. Among these strategies DNA vaccines are an attractive option in terms of their ability to elicit a highly specific, potent and wide-sweeping immune response. Several DNA vaccines have been tested for prostate cancer and while they have demonstrated a good safety profile they have faced problems with low efficacy and immunogenicity compared to other immunotherapeutic approaches. This review focuses on the positive aspects of DNA vaccines for prostate cancer that have been assessed in preclinical and clinical trials thus far and examines the key considerations that must be employed to improve the efficacy and immunogenicity of these vaccines