Neural correlates of intrusion of emotion words in a modified Stroop task

Behavioural studies have demonstrated that the emotional Stroop task is a valuable tool for investigating emotion-attention interactions in a variety of healthy and clinical populations, showing that participants are typically more distracted by negative stimuli as compared to neutral or positive stimuli. The main aim of this study was to find and examine the neural correlates of this greater intrusion from negative emotional stimuli. Reliable reaction time (RT) and event-related potential (ER-P) data were collected from 23 participants who performed a manual emotional Stroop, task with short (40 ins) and long (500 ms) inter-trial intervals. In the short interval condition, participants were found to produce longer RTs for negative than neutral words, suggesting that these stimuli were more difficult to ignore. This RT effect disappeared in the long interval condition, although larger PI amplitudes were found for the negative words. This suggests that differences in early attention allocation may be unrelated to the degree of intrusion at the behavioural level. In addition, a larger negative slow wave around 300-700 ms post-stimulus was observed in the long interval condition, but only for those negative words that produced prolonged RTs as compared to their matched controls. This late and broadly distributed effect is believed to reflect suppression of meaning representations

VAPO as catalyst for liquid phase oxidation reactions

Abstract The preparation, characterisation and catalytic properties of vanadium containing aluminophosphate molecular sieves (type AEL and AbT) are described in this paper. The molecular sieves were prepared by post-synthesis treatment and hydrothermal procedures. Several parameters were varied: nature of the template, crystallisation procedure and vanadium content. Tri-propylamine appeared to be the best template for the preparation of VAPO-5: highly crystalline, homogeneous batches (crystallite size: 2x I x 1 ~tm) with a maximum of about 2 wt% vanadium could be obtained in high yield (75-80%). Crystallographically pure VAPO-11 with a maximum of only 0.5 wt% of vanadium could be prepared. In VAPO the incorporation mode of vanadium gradually changes from tetra-to penta-coordinated when the amount of vanadium is increased. However the formation of vanadium pentoxide could not be detected. The vanadium containing molecular sieves were used as catalyst for the oxidation of allylic and secondary alcohols by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the liquid phase. Compared with a homogeneous catalyst, bis(2,4-pentandionato)-oxovanadium(IV) (VO(acac)2), the activity of vanadium containing molecular sieves is a factor 3-100 times lower. The activity of VAPO becomes higher when the vanadium content is increased. The decomposition rate of the peroxide is influenced by the pore structure, whereas no other effects on the selectivity are found

Good results at 2-year follow-up of a custom-made triflange acetabular component for large acetabular defects and pelvic discontinuity:a prospective case series of 50 hips

Background and purpose — Custom triflange acetabular components (CTACs) are suggested as good solutions for large acetabular defects in revision total hip arthroplasty. However, high complication rates have been reported and most studies are of limited quality. This prospective study evaluates the performance of a CTAC in patients with large acetabular defects including pelvic discontinuity. Patients and methods — Prospectively collected data of 49 consecutive patients (50 hips), who underwent an acetabular revision with a CTAC were analyzed. Follow-up (FU) was 2 years. The median age of the patients was 68 years (41–89) and 41 were women. Primary outcomes were re-revision of the CTAC and differences between the modified Oxford Hip Score (mOHS) preoperatively and at 2-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes included several patient-reported outcomes (PROMs), radiological results, complications, and a comparison between hips with and without pelvic discontinuity (PD). Results — 1 patient (1 hip) was lost to the 2-year FU. No CTAC needed re-revision. The preoperative and 2-year FU mOHS were available in 40 hips and improved statistically significantly. All of the other secondary outcomes improved over time. 5 hips (of 45 with radiological 2-year FU) had loosening of screws. 8 hips had complications, including 3 persistent wound leakage, 3 pelvic fractures, and 1 dislocation. The mOHS and complication rate were similar in hips with and without PD. Interpretation — Reconstruction of large acetabular defects with and without PD with this CTAC showed good improvement in patient-reported daily functioning, high patient-reported satisfaction, few complications, and no re-revisions at 2-year FU

Mental Health in the Australian Defence Force - 2010 ADF Mental Health Prevalence and Wellbeing Study: Executive Report

S. E. Hodson, A. C. McFarlane, M. Van Hooff and C. Davie

Kinetoplastid kinetochore proteins KKT14–KKT15 are divergent Bub1/BubR1–Bub3 proteins

Faithful transmission of genetic material is crucial for the survival of all organisms. In many eukaryotes, a feedback control mechanism called the spindle checkpoint ensures chromosome segregation fidelity by delaying cell cycle progression until all chromosomes achieve proper attachment to the mitotic spindle. Kinetochores are the macromolecular complexes that act as the interface between chromosomes and spindle microtubules. While most eukaryotes have canonical kinetochore proteins that are widely conserved, kinetoplastids such as Trypanosoma brucei have a seemingly unique set of kinetochore proteins including KKT1–25. It remains poorly understood how kinetoplastids regulate cell cycle progression or ensure chromosome segregation fidelity. Here, we report a crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of KKT14 from Apiculatamorpha spiralis and uncover that it is a pseudokinase. Its structure is most similar to the kinase domain of a spindle checkpoint protein Bub1. In addition, KKT14 has a putative ABBA motif that is present in Bub1 and its paralogue BubR1. We also find that the N-terminal part of KKT14 interacts with KKT15, whose WD40 repeat beta-propeller is phylogenetically closely related to a direct interactor of Bub1/BubR1 called Bub3. Our findings indicate that KKT14–KKT15 are divergent orthologues of Bub1/BubR1–Bub3, which promote accurate chromosome segregation in trypanosomes

Oxidation of linear alcohols with hydrogen peroxide over titanium silicate-1

Abatract In this paper different parameters affecting the oxidation of alcohols with hydrogen peroxide are described. The influence of the amount and of the crystallite size of the catalyst, as well as the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and substrate have been studied. The influence of the reaction temperature, the chain length of the alcohol (C6, C7, C8 and C9 ) and the position of the alcohol group (a, /3 or y) on the reaction rate has also been investigated. As a result of this study it can be reported that the reaction is first order with respect to the amount of catalyst and the hydrogen peroxide concentration, and zero order in alcohol concentration. The activation energy for the oxidation of 2-octanol is 71 kJ/ mol. The particle size has a considerable effect on the reaction rate; larger particles result slower reaction. There is a remarkable effect of the chain length on the reaction rate (C6<C7<C8% C9) and the position of the hydroxyl group has a strong effect on the activity of TS-1 (fl> (Y > y ) . The crystallite size effect can be explained by means of diffusion limitations, as could be illustrated by Weisz modulus calculations. The observed difference in activity between jI and y alcohols can not be related to differences in diffusion (single component diffusion of /I and y alcohols show little difference) and therefore transition state restrictions of the alcohols in the pores of the TS-1 may be a possible explanation for this effect

Variation in grouping patterns, mating systems and social structure: what socio-ecological models attempt to explain

Socio-ecological models aim to predict the variation in social systems based on a limited number of ecological parameters. Since the 1960s, the original model has taken two paths: one relating to grouping patterns and mating systems and one relating to grouping patterns and female social structure. Here, we review the basic ideas specifically with regard to non-human primates, present new results and point to open questions. While most primates live in permanent groups and exhibit female defence polygyny, recent studies indicate more flexibility with cooperative male resource defence occurring repeatedly in all radiations. In contrast to other animals, the potential link between ecology and these mating systems remains, however, largely unexplored. The model of the ecology of female social structure has often been deemed successful, but has recently been criticized. We show that the predicted association of agonistic rates and despotism (directional consistency of relationships) was not supported in a comparative test. The overall variation in despotism is probably due to phylogenetic grade shifts. At the same time, it varies within clades more or less in the direction predicted by the model. This suggests that the model's utility may lie in predicting social variation within but not across clades