The Optimal Calibration Hypothesis: How Life History Modulates the Brain\u27s Social Pain Network

A growing body of work demonstrates that the brain responds similarly to physical and social injury. Both experiences are associated with activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and anterior insula. This dual functionality of the dACC and anterior insula underscores the evolutionary importance of maintaining interpersonal bonds. Despite the weight that evolution has placed on social injury, the pain response to social rejection varies substantially across individuals. For example, work from our lab demonstrated that the brain\u27s social pain response is moderated by attachment style: anxious-attachment was associated with greater intensity and avoidant-attachment was associated with less intensity in dACC and insula activation. In an attempt to explain these divergent responses in the social pain network, we propose the optimal calibration hypothesis, which posits variation in social rejection in early life history stages shifts the threshold of an individual\u27s social pain network such that the resulting pain sensitivity will be increased by volatile social rejection and reduced by chronic social rejection. Furthermore, the social pain response may be exacerbated when individuals are rejected by others of particular importance to a given life history stage (e.g., potential mates during young adulthood, parents during infancy and childhood)

Trophic modes of large Antarctic Foraminifera: roles of carnivory, omnivory, and detritivory

Astrammina rara, Crithionina delacai, and Notodendrodes hyalinosphaira are 3 of the largest and most abundant members of the foraminiferal assemblage at a shallow-water (28 to 32 m) site in Explorers Cove, Antarctica. This study summarizes observations from 2 decades of research, during which we employed laboratory-based feeding experiments and fatty acid biomarker analysis to characterize trophic dynamics and ecological roles of the 3 species, In feeding experiments, A. rara consumed a variety of co-occurring metazoans (several Crustacea, Mollusca, Echinodermata, and a Nephtys species). C. delacai, N. hyalinosphaira, and a number of other foraminiferal species from Explorers Cove successfully trapped Artemia sp. nauplius prey in a setup designed to examine the efficiency of prey capture. Fatty acid analyses on samples from early (November 7, 2001) and late (January 31, 2002) austral summer revealed that the 3 species contained substantial amounts (33 to 45.5%) of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are produced by microalgae, indicating the downwards transfer of carbon from sea-ice associated primary production. In the case of A. rara, this may be due to the ingestion of herbivorous metazoa, rather than direct uptake of microalgal material. A. rara contained significantly (p < 0.05) higher amounts of the zooplankton biomarkers 20:1(n-9) and 22:1(n-11), and C. delacai contained more PUFAs early, compared to late, in the season. Two morphotypes of N. hyalinosphaira had different fatty acid Profiles, indicating distinct trophotypes. Our results illustrate specific adaptations to different trophic resources in these protists, and they demonstrate the potential impact that large carnivorous species of Foraminifera may have on the structure of benthic communities where they are abundant

Detection of low prevalence somatic mutations in solid tumors with ultra-deep targeted sequencing

Ultra-deep targeted sequencing (UDT-Seq) can identify subclonal somatic mutations in tumor samples. Early assays' limited breadth and depth restrict their clinical utility. Here, we target 71 kb of mutational hotspots in 42 cancer genes. We present novel methods enhancing both laboratory workflow and mutation detection. We evaluate UDT-Seq true sensitivity and specificity (> 94% and > 99%, respectively) for low prevalence mutations in a mixing experiment and demonstrate its utility using six tumor samples. With an improved performance when run on the Illumina Miseq, the UDT-Seq assay is well suited for clinical applications to guide therapy and study clonal selection in heterogeneous samples

An unclear self leads to poor mental health: Self-concept confusion mediates the association of loneliness with depression

Past research has established that loneliness is associated with both self-concept confusion and depression. The present work ties these disparate lines of research together by demonstrating that self-concept confusion mediates the relationship between loneliness and depression. Three studies, one cross-sectional and two longitudinal, supported this hypothesis. Moreover, the model was supported both in samples of dating and married couples and in samples of noncouples. This research contributes to a greater understanding of why people who feel socially disconnected have poor mental health. Understanding this mechanism has important implications for strategies targeting the early prevention of depression and improving mental health outcomes

One- and Two-Photon Spectroscopy of Donor−Acceptor−Donor Distyrylbenzene Derivatives: Effect of Cyano Substitution and Distortion from Planarity

The one- and two-photon spectroscopic properties of four symmetrically substituted donor−acceptor−donor distyrylbenzenes with either di-n-butyl- or diphenylamino donor groups and cyano acceptor groups are reported. It has been found that the position of the substitution of the electron-withdrawing cyano groups on the central phenylene ring as compared to the vinylene bond strongly affects the observed properties. In particular, the molecules with cyano substitution on the α-carbon of the vinylene linkage are characterized by weak fluorescence, short fluorescence lifetimes, and two-photon cross sections (δ) that are comparable to analogous molecules with no acceptor groups. In contrast, the molecules with acceptor substitution on the central phenylene ring are strongly fluorescent and have δ values roughly twice those of the vinyl-substituted molecules. These results are discussed in terms of the larger deviation of the conjugated backbone from planarity and the smaller distance between the donors and acceptors when the cyano groups are substituted on the vinylene carbon rather than the central phenylene ring

One- and Two-Photon Spectroscopy of Donor−Acceptor−Donor Distyrylbenzene Derivatives: Effect of Cyano Substitution and Distortion from Planarity

The one- and two-photon spectroscopic properties of four symmetrically substituted donor−acceptor−donor distyrylbenzenes with either di-n-butyl- or diphenylamino donor groups and cyano acceptor groups are reported. It has been found that the position of the substitution of the electron-withdrawing cyano groups on the central phenylene ring as compared to the vinylene bond strongly affects the observed properties. In particular, the molecules with cyano substitution on the α-carbon of the vinylene linkage are characterized by weak fluorescence, short fluorescence lifetimes, and two-photon cross sections (δ) that are comparable to analogous molecules with no acceptor groups. In contrast, the molecules with acceptor substitution on the central phenylene ring are strongly fluorescent and have δ values roughly twice those of the vinyl-substituted molecules. These results are discussed in terms of the larger deviation of the conjugated backbone from planarity and the smaller distance between the donors and acceptors when the cyano groups are substituted on the vinylene carbon rather than the central phenylene ring

Genome sequencing reveals diversification of virulence factor content and possible host adaptation in distinct subpopulations of Salmonella enterica

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Divergence of bacterial populations into distinct subpopulations is often the result of ecological isolation. While some studies have suggested the existence of <it>Salmonella enterica </it>subsp. <it>enterica </it>subclades, evidence for these subdivisions has been ambiguous. Here we used a comparative genomics approach to define the population structure of <it>Salmonella enterica </it>subsp. <it>enterica</it>, and identify clade-specific genes that may be the result of ecological specialization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) data for 16 newly sequenced and 30 publicly available genomes showed an unambiguous subdivision of <it>S. enterica </it>subsp. <it>enterica </it>into at least two subpopulations, which we refer to as clade A and clade B. Clade B strains contain several clade-specific genes or operons, including a β-glucuronidase operon, a S-fimbrial operon, and cell surface related genes, which strongly suggests niche specialization of this subpopulation. An additional set of 123 isolates was assigned to clades A and B by using qPCR assays targeting subpopulation-specific SNPs and genes of interest. Among 98 serovars examined, approximately 20% belonged to clade B. All clade B isolates contained two pathogenicity related genomic islands, SPI-18 and a cytolethal distending toxin islet; a combination of these two islands was previously thought to be exclusive to serovars Typhi and Paratyphi A. Presence of β-glucuronidase in clade B isolates specifically suggests an adaptation of this clade to the vertebrate gastrointestinal environment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>S. enterica </it>subsp. <it>enterica </it>consists of at least two subpopulations that differ specifically in genes involved in host and tissue tropism, utilization of host specific carbon and nitrogen sources and are therefore likely to differ in ecology and transmission characteristics.</p