Understanding the discrete genetic toggle switch phenomena using a discrete 'nullcline' construct inspired by the Markov chain tree theorem

Nullclines provide a convenient way of characterising and understanding the behaviour of low dimensional nonlinear deterministic systems, but are, perhaps not unsurprisingly, a poor predictor of the behaviour of discrete state stochastic systems in the low numbers regime. Such models are appropriate in many biological systems. In this paper we propose a graphical discrete `nullcline-like' construction, inspired by the Markov chain tree theorem, and investigate its application to the original genetic toggle switch, which is a feedback interconnection of two mutually repressing genes. When the feedback gain (the `cooperativity') is sufficiently large, the deterministic system exhibits bistability, which shows itself as a bimodal stationary distribution in the discrete stochastic system for sufficiently large numbers. However, at small numbers a third mode appears corresponding to roughly equal numbers of each molecule. Without cooperativity, on the other hand (i.e. low feedback gain), the deterministic system has just one stable equilibrium. Nevertheless, the stochastic system can still exhibit bimodality. In this paper, we illustrate that the discrete `nullclines' proposed can, without the need to calculate the steady state distribution, provide an efficient graphical way of predicting the shape of the stationary probability distribution in different parameter regimes, thus allowing for greater insights in the observed behaviours

\u201cGive, but Give until It Hurts\u201d: The Modulatory Role of Trait Emotional Intelligence on the Motivation to Help

Two studies investigated the effect of trait Emotional Intelligence (trait EI) on people\u2019s moti- vation to help. In Study 1, we developed a new computer-based paradigm that tested partic- ipants\u2019 motivation to help by measuring their performance on a task in which they could gain a hypothetical amount of money to help children in need. Crucially, we manipulated partici- pants\u2019 perceived efficacy by informing them that they had been either able to save the chil- dren (positive feedback) or unable to save the children (negative feedback). We measured trait EI using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire\u2013Short Form (TEIQue-SF) and assessed participants\u2019 affective reactions during the experiment using the PANAS-X. Results showed that high and low trait EI participants performed differently after the presen- tation of feedback on their ineffectiveness in helping others in need. Both groups showed increasing negative affective states during the experiment when the feedback was negative; however, high trait EI participants better managed their affective reactions, modulating the impact of their emotions on performance and maintaining a high level of motivation to help. In Study 2, we used a similar computerized task and tested a control situation to explore the effect of trait EI on participants\u2019 behavior when facing failure or success in a scenario unre- lated to helping others in need. No effect of feedback emerged on participants\u2019 emotional states in the second study. Taken together our results show that trait EI influences the impact of success and failure on behavior only in affect-rich situation like those in which people are asked to help others in need

Objective identification and analysis of physiological and behavioral signs of schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: A patient\u27s physical activity is often used by psychiatrists to contribute to the diagnostic process for mental disorders. Typically, it is based mostly on self-reports or observations, and hardly ever upon actigraphy. Other signals related to physiology are rarely used, despite the fact that the autonomic nervous system is often affected by mental disorders. AIM: This study attempted to fuse physiological and physical activity data and discover features that are predictive for schizophrenia. METHOD: Continuous simultaneous heart rate (HR) and physical activity recordings were made on 16 individuals with schizophrenia and 19 healthy controls. Statistical characteristics of the recorded data were analyzed, as well as non-linear rest-activity measures and disorganization measures. RESULTS: Four most predictive features for schizophrenia were identified, namely, the standard deviation and mode of locomotor activity, dynamics of Multiscale Entropy change over scales of HR signal and the mean HR. A classifier trained on these features provided a cross-validation accuracy of 95.3% (AUC = 0.99) for differentiating between schizophrenia patients and controls, compared to 78.5 and 85.5% accuracy (AUC = 0.85 and AUC = 0.90) using only the HR or locomotor activity features. CONCLUSION: Physiological and physical activity signals provide complimentary information for assessment of mental health

Expressing one’s feelings and listening to others increases emotional intelligence: a pilot study of Asian medical students

<p>Background: There has been considerable interest in Emotional Intelligence (EI) in undergraduate medical education, with respect to student selection and admissions, health and well-being and academic performance. EI is a significant component of the physician-patient relationship. The emotional well-being of the physician is, therefore, a significant component in patient care. The aim is to examine the measurement of TEIQue-SF in Asian medical students and to explore how the practice of listening to the feelings of others and expressing one’s own feelings influences an individual’s EI, set in the context of the emotional well-being of a medical practitioner.</p> <p>Methods: A group of 183 international undergraduate medical students attended a half-day workshop (WS) about mental-health and well-being. They completed a self-reported measure of EI on three occasions, pre- and post-workshop, and a 1-year follow-up.</p> <p>Result: The reliability of TEIQue-SF was high and the reliabilities of its four factors were acceptable. There were strong correlations between the TEIQue-SF and personality traits. A paired t-test indicated significant positive changes after the WS for all students (n=181, p= .014), male students (n=78, p= .015) and non-Japanese students (n=112, p= .007), but a repeated measures analysis showed that one year post-workshop there were significant positive changes for all students (n=55, p= .034), female students (n=31, p= .007), especially Japanese female students (n=13, p= .023). Moreover, 80% of the students reported that they were more attentive listeners, and 60% agreed that they were more confident in dealing with emotional issues, both within themselves and in others, as a result of the workshop.</p> <p>Conclusion: This study found the measurement of TEIQue-SF is appropriate and reliable to use for Asian medical students. The mental health workshop was helpful to develop medical students’ EI but showed different results for gender and nationality. The immediate impact on the emotional awareness of individuals was particularly significant for male students and the non-Japanese group. The impact over the long term was notable for the significant increase in EI for females and Japanese. Japanese female students were more conscious about emotionality. Emotion-driven communication exercises might strongly influence the development of students’ EI over a year.</p&gt

Emotional intelligence buffers the effect of physiological arousal on dishonesty

We studied the emotional processes that allow people to balance two competing desires: benefitting from dishonesty and keeping a positive self-image. We recorded physiological arousal (skin conductance and heart rate) during a computer card game in which participants could cheat and fail to report a certain card when presented on the screen to avoid losing their money. We found that higher skin conductance corresponded to lower cheating rates. Importantly, emotional intelligence regulated this effect; participants with high emotional intelligence were less affected by their physiological reactions than those with low emotional intelligence. As a result, they were more likely to profit from dishonesty. However, no interaction emerged between heart rate and emotional intelligence. We suggest that the ability to manage and control emotions can allow people to overcome the tension between doing right or wrong and license them to bend the rules

Trait emotional intelligence and attentional bias for positive emotion: An eye tracking study

Emotional intelligence (EI) may promote wellbeing through facilitation of adaptive attentional processing patterns. In the current study, a total of 54 adults (43 females, mean age = 25 years, SD = 10 years) completed a Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI) scale and took part in three eye-tracking tasks, where they viewed (1) faces with different emotions (happy, angry, fearful, neutral), (2) 16-face crowds with varying ratios of happy to angry faces, and (3) 4 visual scenes (physical threat, social threat, positive social, neutral). Findings showed that higher TEI was associated with more attention to positive emotional stimuli (happy faces, positive social scenes), relative to negative and neutral stimuli. An attentional preference for positive rather than negative emotional stimuli may be one way that TEI affords protection from stressors to promote mental health

DENDRITIC AND SPINAL PATHOLOGY OF THE PURKINJE CELLS FROM THE HUMAN CEREBELLAR VERMIS IN ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

Background: Alzheimer’s disease constitutes one of the main causes of dementia. It is clinically characterized by memory impairment, deterioration of intellectual faculties and loss of professional skills. Furthermore changes in equilibrium and limb coordination are clinically demonstrable in persons with Alzheimer’s disease. In the present study we tried to figure out possible changes of the Purkinje cells in Alzheimer’s disease brains. Subjects and methods: We studied the Purkinje cells from the vermis of the cerebellum in 5 Alzheimer’ disease brains Golgi technique. Results: In the Purkinje cells from the inferior surface of the cerebellar hemispheres severe dendritic and spinal pathology consisting of loss of distal dendritic segments and alterations of dendritic spine morphology can be noticed in Alzheimer’s disease brains. Conclusions: The morphological and morphometric estimation of the dendrites and the dendritic spines of the Purkinje cells from the inferior surface of the cerebellar hemispheres in Alzheimer’s disease brains revealed substantial alterations of the dendritic arborization and marked loss of the dendritic spines, which may be related to cognitive impairment and motor deficits in Alheimer’s disease