Inherited Obsession: The Role of Genetics and Serotonin in the Etiology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

We still do not understand why some individuals are more likely to develop OCD than others. Research has implicated the serotonin system specifically the serotonin transporter and the 5-HT2A receptor as potential neurochemical underpinnings of OCD. Innovations in genetics have allowed research to hone in on the specific genes which code for the neurochemical dysfunction implicated in OCD. In this literature review, I gathered data in the form of research which addresses the neurochemical and genetic underpinnings of OCD in order to gain a better understanding of the etiology of the disorder. The findings presented represent my analysis of current research in the field in the hopes of drawing conclusions about the etiology of OCD. My conclusions implicate the specific genes which code for the serotonin transporter and the 5-HT2A receptor as the potential neurochemical and genetic underpinnings of OCD

Cheating in the Digital Age: Do Students Cheat More in Online Courses?

With the assistance of the Internet and related technologies, students today have many more ways to be academically dishonest than students a generation ago. With more and more Internet based course offerings, the concern is whether cheating will increase as students work and take tests away from the eyes of instructors. While the research on academic dishonesty in general is quite extensive, there is very limited research on student cheating in online courses. This study of 635 undergraduate and graduate students at a medium sized university focused on student cheating behaviors in both types of classes (on-line and face to face), by examining cheating behavior and perceptions of whether on-line or traditional face-to-face classes experienced greater cheating behaviors. (Contains 6 tables.

The Secant Conjecture in the real Schubert calculus

We formulate the Secant Conjecture, which is a generalization of the Shapiro Conjecture for Grassmannians. It asserts that an intersection of Schubert varieties in a Grassmannian is transverse with all points real, if the flags defining the Schubert varieties are secant along disjoint intervals of a rational normal curve. We present theoretical evidence for it as well as computational evidence obtained in over one terahertz-year of computing, and we discuss some phenomena we observed in our data.Comment: 19 page

Differences in Perceived Issues in Teacher Preparation Between First-Year Teachers and Their Principals

The perspectives of both teachers and principals are valuable in understanding to what extent recent graduates from formal educator preparation programs are ready to take on teaching roles and tasks as a teacher. The understanding gained may contribute to bettering initiatives targeted on teacher retention, particularly in those critical beginning years of practice. This study examined the perceived effectiveness of first-year teachers’ preparation from the perspectives of the teachers and the principals, utilizing three-year survey data of 644 first-year teachers who graduated from a higher education institution and 497 hosting principals in a Midwest state. The findings note that the first-year teachers and principals, in general, had similar views regarding the preparation of the teachers. Significant differences were found related to certain competency domains as identified in the state’s teaching standards. Also discussed in the article are longitudinal trends and recommendations for addressing noted challenges faced by first-year teachers

Caffeine exposure induces browning features in adipose tissue in vitro and in vivo

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is able to rapidly generate heat and metabolise macronutrients, such as glucose and lipids, through activation of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Diet can modulate UCP1 function but the capacity of individual nutrients to promote the abundance and activity of UCP1 is not well established. Caffeine consumption has been associated with loss of body weight and increased energy expenditure, but whether it can activate UCP1 is unknown. This study examined the effect of caffeine on BAT thermogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Stem cell-derived adipocytes exposed to caffeine (1mM) showed increased UCP1 protein abundance and cell metabolism with enhanced oxygen consumption and proton leak. These functional responses were associated with browning-like structural changes in mitochondrial and lipid droplet content. Caffeine also increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha expression and mitochondrial biogenesis, together with a number of BAT selective and beige gene markers. In vivo, drinking coffee (but not water) stimulated the temperature of the supraclavicular region, which co-locates to the main region of BAT in adult humans, and is indicative of thermogenesis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that caffeine can promote BAT function at thermoneutrality and may have the potential to be used therapeutically in adult humans

Low-energy electronic excitations and band-gap renormalization in CuO

Combining nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments with state-of-the-art ab initio many-body calculations, we investigate the electronic screening mechanisms in strongly correlated CuO in a large range of energy and momentum transfers. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment, including the low-energy charge excitations, allows us to use the calculated dynamical screening as a safe building block for many-body perturbation theory and to elucidate the crucial role played by d-d excitations in renormalizing the band gap of CuO. In this way we can dissect the contributions of different excitations to the electronic self-energy which is illuminating concerning both the general theory and this prototypical material.Combining nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments with state-of-the-art ab initio many-body calculations, we investigate the electronic screening mechanisms in strongly correlated CuO in a large range of energy and momentum transfers. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment, including the low-energy charge excitations, allows us to use the calculated dynamical screening as a safe building block for many-body perturbation theory and to elucidate the crucial role played by d-d excitations in renormalizing the band gap of CuO. In this way we can dissect the contributions of different excitations to the electronic self-energy which is illuminating concerning both the general theory and this prototypical material.Combining nonresonant inelastic x-ray scattering experiments with state-of-the-art ab initio many-body calculations, we investigate the electronic screening mechanisms in strongly correlated CuO in a large range of energy and momentum transfers. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment, including the low-energy charge excitations, allows us to use the calculated dynamical screening as a safe building block for many-body perturbation theory and to elucidate the crucial role played by d-d excitations in renormalizing the band gap of CuO. In this way we can dissect the contributions of different excitations to the electronic self-energy which is illuminating concerning both the general theory and this prototypical material.Peer reviewe

Enabled plays key roles in embryonic epithelial morphogenesis in Drosophila

Studies in cultured cells and in vitro have identified many actin regulators and begun to define their mechanisms of action. Among these are Enabled (Ena)/VASP proteins, anti-Capping proteins that influence fibroblast migration, growth cone motility, and keratinocyte cell adhesion in vitro. However, partially redundant family members in mammals and maternal Ena contribution i