Memory Reflected in Our Decisions: Working Memory and Risky Choice Framing

The current study looks at the role working memory plays in risky-choice framing. Eighty-six participants took the Automatic OSPAN, a measurement of working memory; this was followed by a risky-choice framing task. Results show that participants with high working memory capacities demonstrate well-pronounced framing effects, whereas those with low working memory capacities do not. This pattern suggests that, in a typical risky-choice decision task, individuals with high working memory capacity are especially likely to be influenced by contextual factors, such as the frame, and consequently demonstrate stronger framing effects

The Effect of Episodic Stream Acidification on the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis)

The Southern Appalachian Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) are currently undergoing declines in their native ranges; major causes of these declines are episodic stream acidification events. The habitats in which these animals live can regularly experience pH drops of up to 0.5-2.0 units (Neff, Schwartz, Henry, Robinson, Moore, & Kulp, 2009). When environmental pH drops this low, organisms must prevent these acids from affecting their systemic pH. The primary method of accomplishing this is through the use of the ion transporting mechanisms (Claiborne, Edwards, & Morrison-Shetlar, 2002). Previous studies on the Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have shown the H+-ATPase and NHE3 to increase expression when exposed to low environmental pH (Perry, Shahsavarani, Georgalis, Bayaa, Furimsky, & Thomas, 2003). It was hypothesized that these ion transporters would be used when Southern Appalachian Brook Trout were exposed to a lowered environmental pH and that the stream sodium level would dictate which transporter was most highly expressed. To date, we have shown the presence of the H+-ATPase and NHE3 transporters in the gills of the Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, as well as suggested that these animals change use of transporter based on current energy level and sodium content of the stream

Organic Frameworks for Novel Cobalt Glyoximes as Potential Hydrogen Catalysts

No abstract availabl

What are the current barriers to effective cancer care coordination? A qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>National cancer policies identify the improvement of care coordination as a priority to improve the delivery of health services for people with cancer. Identification of the current barriers to effective cancer care coordination is needed to drive service improvement.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative study was undertaken in which semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with those best placed to identify issues; patients who had been treated for a range of cancers and their carers as well as health professionals involved in providing cancer care. Data collection continued until saturation of concepts was reached. A grounded theory influenced approach was used to explore the participants' experiences and views of cancer care coordination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 20 patients, four carers and 29 health professionals participated. Barriers to cancer care coordination related to six aspects of care namely, recognising health professional roles and responsibilities, implementing comprehensive multidisciplinary team meetings, transitioning of care: falling through the cracks, inadequate communication between specialist and primary care, inequitable access to health services and managing scarce resources.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study has identified a number of barriers to coordination of cancer care. Development and evaluation of interventions based on these findings is now required.</p

Membrane anchoring stabilizes and favors secretion of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase

Carbapenems, 'last-resort' β-lactam antibiotics, are inactivated by zinc-dependent metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). The host innate immune response withholds nutrient metal ions from microbial pathogens by releasing metal-chelating proteins such as calprotectin. We show that metal sequestration is detrimental for the accumulation of MBLs in the bacterial periplasm, because those enzymes are readily degraded in their nonmetallated form. However, the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM-1) can persist under conditions of metal depletion. NDM-1 is a lipidated protein that anchors to the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Membrane anchoring contributes to the unusual stability of NDM-1 and favors secretion of this enzyme in outer-membrane vesicles (OMVs). OMVs containing NDM-1 can protect nearby populations of bacteria from otherwise lethal antibiotic levels, and OMVs from clinical pathogens expressing NDM-1 can carry this MBL and the bla[subscript NDM] gene. We show that protein export into OMVs can be targeted, providing possibilities of new antibacterial therapeutic strategies.Kinship Foundation. Searle Scholars ProgramMassachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistr

DNA breaks at fragile sites generate oncogenic RET/PTC rearrangements in human thyroid cells

Human chromosomal fragile sites are regions of the genome that are prone to DNA breakage, and are classified as common or rare, depending on their frequency in the population. Common fragile sites frequently coincide with the location of genes involved in carcinogenic chromosomal translocations, suggesting their role in cancer formation. However, there has been no direct evidence linking breakage at fragile sites to the formation of a cancer-specific translocation. Here, we studied the involvement of fragile sites in the formation of RET/PTC rearrangements, which are frequently found in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). These rearrangements are commonly associated with radiation exposure; however, most of the tumors found in adults are not linked to radiation. In this study, we provide structural and biochemical evidence that the RET, CCDC6 and NCOA4 genes participating in two major types of RET/PTC rearrangements, are located in common fragile sites FRA10C and FRA10G, and undergo DNA breakage after exposure to fragile site-inducing chemicals. Moreover, exposure of human thyroid cells to these chemicals results in the formation of cancer-specific RET/PTC rearrangements. These results provide the direct evidence for the involvement of chromosomal fragile sites in the generation of cancer-specific rearrangements in human cell