Exploring the structure of the N-terminal domain of CP29 with ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy

A high-throughput Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) study was performed on the approximately 100 amino acids long N-terminal domain of the photosynthetic complex CP29 of higher plants. For this purpose, CP29 was singly mutated along its N-terminal domain, replacing one-by-one native amino acids by a cysteine, which was labeled with a BODIPY fluorescent probe, and reconstituted with the natural pigments of CP9, chlorophylls and xanthophylls. Picosecond fluorescence experiments revealed rapid energy transfer (~20–70 ps) from BODIPY at amino-acid positions 4, 22, 33, 40, 56, 65, 74, 90, and 97 to Chl a molecules in the hydrophobic part of the protein. From the energy transfer times, distances were estimated between label and chlorophyll molecules, using the Förster equation. When the label was attached to amino acids 4, 56, and 97, it was found to be located very close to the protein core (~15 Å), whereas labels at positions 15, 22, 33, 40, 65, 74, and 90 were found at somewhat larger distances. It is concluded that the entire N-terminal domain is in close contact with the hydrophobic core and that there is no loop sticking out into the stroma. Most of the results support a recently proposed topological model for the N-terminus of CP29, which was based on electron-spin-resonance measurements on spin-labeled CP29 with and without its natural pigment content. The present results lead to a slight refinement of that model

Pre-divorce problems in 3-year-olds: a prospective study in boys and girls

Objective: We examined to what extent internalizing and externalizing problems at age 3 preceded and predicted parental divorce, and if divorce and the time lapse since divorce were related to internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12. Methods: Parental ratings of internalizing and externalizing problems were collected with the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in a large sample (N = 6,426) of 3-yearold children. All these children were followed through the age of 12 years, at which parents completed the CBCL again, while teachers completed the Teacher's Report Form. Children whose parents divorced between age 3 and age 12 were compared with children whose families remained intact. Results: Girls whose parents divorced between ages 3 and 12 already showed more externalizing problems at age 3 than girls whose parents stayed married. Higher levels of externalizing problems in girls at age 3 predicted later parental divorce. Parental reports indicated that 12-year-olds with divorced parents showed more internalizing and externalizing problems than children with married parents. Levels of teacher-reported problems were not different between children with married versus divorced parents. However, children whose parents divorced between ages 3 and 12 showed more teacher-rated internalizing problems at age 12 when the divorce was more recent than when the divorce was less recent. Parental ratings of both internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12 were not associated with the time lapse since divorce. Conclusion: Externalizing problems in girls precede and predict later parental divorce. Post-divorce problems in children vary by raters, and may depend on the time lapse since divorce

Pleasure in decision-making situations

BACKGROUND: This study explores the role of pleasure in decision making. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, 12 subjects were presented with a questionnaire containing 46 items taken from the literature. Twenty-three items described a situation where a decision should be made and ended with a suggested solution. The other items served as filler items. The subjects were requested not to make a decision but to rate the pleasure or displeasure they experienced when reading the situation described in the item. The subjects' ratings were then compared to the decisions on the same situations made by the other subjects of the studies published by other workers. The ratings of pleasure/displeasure given by our subjects correlated significantly with the choices published by other authors. This result satisfies a necessary condition for pleasure to be the key of the decision making process in theoretical situations. In Experiment 2, a new group of 12 subjects rated their experience of pleasure/displeasure when reading various versions of 50 situations taken from daily life where an ethical decision had to be made (Questionnaire I) including 200 items. This was followed by a multiple-choice test with the 50 situations (Questionnaire II) using the same 200 items and offering the various behaviors. Subjects tended to choose ethical and unethical responses corresponding to their highest pleasure rating within each problem. In all cases the subjects' behavior was higher than chance level, and thus, followed the trend to maximize pleasure. In Experiment 3, 12 subjects reading 50 mathematical short problems followed by correct and incorrect versions of the answer to the problem (Questionnaire III), including 200 items. This was followed by a multiple-choice mathematical test with the 50 problems (Questionnaire IV) using the same 200 items and offering the correct and incorrect answers. In questionnaire IV, subjects tended to choose correct as well as incorrect responses corresponding to their highest hedonic rating within each problem. In all cases the subjects' behavior was higher than chance level, and thus, followed the trend to maximize pleasure. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the three experiments support the hypothesis according to which decisions are made in the hedonic dimension of conscious experience

Neurobiology of rodent self-grooming and its value for translational neuroscience

Self-grooming is a complex innate behaviour with an evolutionarily conserved sequencing pattern and is one of the most frequently performed behavioural activities in rodents. In this Review, we discuss the neurobiology of rodent self-grooming, and we highlight studies of rodent models of neuropsychiatric disorders-including models of autism spectrum disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder-that have assessed self-grooming phenotypes. We suggest that rodent self-grooming may be a useful measure of repetitive behaviour in such models, and therefore of value to translational psychiatry. Assessment of rodent self-grooming may also be useful for understanding the neural circuits that are involved in complex sequential patterns of action.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant NS025529)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant HD028341)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant MH060379

Analysis of incidents with hazardous substances at Seveso companies 2023

Het RIVM analyseert elk jaar de aard, omvang en oorzaak van incidenten bij bedrijven die in Nederland met grote hoeveelheden gevaarlijke stoffen werken. Het gaat om 15 van 24 incidenten waarvan de Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie de onderzoeken tussen 2019 en 2021 heeft afgerond en waarover genoeg informatie bekend was voor een analyse. Bij veertien incidenten kwamen gevaarlijke stoffen vrij. Bij één incident explodeerde afdichtingmateriaal. Eén persoon heeft aan een chemische verbranding waarschijnlijk blijvend letsel overgehouden. Overige slachtoffers hadden tijdelijk letsel door ademhalingsproblemen, irritaties en brandwonden. Bedrijven zijn ervoor verantwoordelijk dat installaties op orde zijn en werknemers de productieprocessen en werkzaamheden veilig kunnen uitvoeren. Net als uit eerdere analyses bleek dat veel van deze incidenten hadden kunnen worden voorkomen. Het is daarom belangrijk dat bedrijven leren van deze incidenten en maatregelen nemen om ze te voorkomen. Zo waren bij acht incidenten de factoren waarmee processen onder controle worden gehouden, zoals druk, temperatuur of chemische reacties, niet in orde. Hierdoor konden ze afwijken van de veilige eisen die ervoor bestaan. Doordat de afwijkingen vaak niet zijn opgemerkt, konden gevaarlijke stoffen ontsnappen of kon een explosie ontstaan. Soms kunnen noodmaatregelen helpen om een incident te voorkomen. Zo zijn er systemen die een installatie automatisch uitschakelen om te voorkomen dat een gevaarlijke stof wegstroomt. Bij zeven incidenten waren geen noodmaatregelen getroffen of werkten ze niet goed. Bij veertien incidenten schoten plannen en procedures voor de werkzaamheden tekort. Soms waren ze niet gemaakt omdat de gevaren van tevoren niet waren verwacht. Soms zag het bedrijf er niet op toe dat instructies voor werkzaamheden werden nageleefd. Of de instructies waren niet duidelijk genoeg opgesteld. Deze rapportage maakt deel uit van de opdracht van het ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid om incidenten te analyseren die de Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie heeft onderzocht. Het RIVM gaat na wat de overeenkomsten en verschillen tussen deze incidenten zijn. De resultaten kunnen worden gebruikt voor inspecties, of om het veiligheidsbeleid van bedrijven te verbeteren.Each year, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) analyses the nature, scale and cause of incidents at companies working with large quantities of hazardous substances in the Netherlands. These are 15 of 24 incidents for which the Dutch Labour Inspectorate completed investigations between 2019 and 2021 and for which enough information was known for an analysis. Fourteen incidents involved the release of hazardous substances. In one incident sealing material exploded. One person probably sustained permanent injuries from a chemical burn. Other casualties suffered temporary injuries due to breathing problems, irritation and burns. Companies are responsible for ensuring that installations are in order and that a safe working environment is provided so that employees can work safely. As previous analyses showed, many of the incidents could have been prevented. It is therefore important that companies learn from these incidents and take measures to prevent them. For example, in eight incidents, the factors used to control processes, such as pressure, temperature or chemical reactions, were not in order. This allowed them to deviate beyond the safe design requirements. Because the deviations often went undetected, hazardous substances could escape or an explosion could occur. Sometimes emergency measures can help prevent an incident. For instance, there are systems that automatically shut down an installation to prevent a hazardous substance from escaping. In seven incidents, emergency measures were not in place or did not work properly. In fourteen incidents, plans and procedures for the work were inadequate. Sometimes they were not made because the risks were not anticipated beforehand. Sometimes the company did not ensure that work instructions were followed. Or the instructions were not drafted clearly enough. This report is part of the assignment from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment to analyse incidents investigated by the Netherlands Labour Authority. RIVM examines the similarities and differences between these incidents. The results can be used for inspections or to improve companies’ safety policies