Lysosome dysfunction triggers Atg7-dependent neural apoptosis.

Macroautophagy (autophagy) is a process wherein bulk cytosolic proteins and damaged organelles are sequestered and degraded via the lysosome. Alterations in autophagy-associated proteins have been shown to cause neural tube closure defects, neurodegeneration, and tumor formation. Normal lysosome function is critical for autophagy completion and when altered may lead to an accumulation of autophagic vacuoles (AVs) and caspase activation.

Reduced chromatic discrimination in children with autism spectrum disorders.

Atypical perception in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is well documented (Dakin & Frith, 2005). However, relatively little is known about colour perception in ASD. Less accurate performance on certain colour tasks has led some to argue that chromatic discrimination is reduced in ASD relative to typical development (Franklin, Sowden, Burley, Notman & Alder, 2008).

A comprehensive analysis of the effect of DSP4 on the locus coeruleus noradrenergic system in the rat.

Degeneration of the noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) is a major component of Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), but the consequence of noradrenergic neuronal loss has different effects on the surviving neurons in the two disorders. Therefore, understanding the consequence of noradrenergic neuronal loss is important in determining the role of this neurotransmitter in these neurodegenerative disorders. The goal of the study was to determine if the neurotoxin N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP4) could be used as a model for either (or both) AD or PD.

WD repeat domain of Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain kinase C functions in both substrate targeting and cellular localization.

Myosin II disassembly in Dictyostelium discoideum is regulated by three structurally related myosin heavy chain kinases (myosin II heavy chain kinase A [MHCK-A], -B, and -C). We show that the WD repeat domain of MHCK-C is unique in that it mediates both substrate targeting and subcellular localization, revealing a target for regulation that is distinct from those of the other MHCKs.

Surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in the USA.

As part of the USA's National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, an Interagency Strategic Plan for the Early Detection of Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza in Wild Migratory Birds was developed and implemented. From 1 April 2006 through 31 March 2009, 261,946 samples from wild birds and 101,457 wild bird fecal samples were collected in the USA; no highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected. The United States Department of Agriculture, and state and tribal cooperators accounted for 213,115 (81%) of the wild bird samples collected; 31, 27, 21 and 21% of the samples were collected from the Atlantic, Pacific, Central and Mississippi flyways, respectively.

Reflections on ethnic minority psychology: learning from our past so the present informs our future.

Commentary on progress and reflections of conversations that undergirded the advancement of ethnic minority psychology are presented by the author as a perspective of an Elder. Articles in this special issue are considered in terms of the themes that emerged from their narratives on the history of ethnic psychological associations, Division 45, the Minority Fellowship Program, and governance's response to multicultural issues within the American Psychological Association. Themes in the history of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are discussed in terms of the centrality of culture, history, and pride in resilience, treatment in U.

Genetic variants cis-regulating Xrn2 expression contribute to the risk of spontaneous lung tumor.

Gene expression variation is an important mechanism underlying susceptibility to complex disease. In comparison with tobacco-related lung carcinogenesis, lung cancer in nonsmokers may involve important and etiologically distinct causal pathways. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study on spontaneous lung tumor incidence in inbred mice and identified a major susceptibility locus on mouse chromosome 2 (rs27328255, P=6.

Prosthesis and wheelchair use in veterans with lower-limb amputation.

We determined the demographic, health, functional, and satisfaction factors related to lower-limb prosthesis or wheelchair use among veterans with lower-limb amputation. Forty-two veterans were recruited from the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic and the 26th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. Participants were at least 18 years of age, had a lower-limb amputation, and were either prosthesis or wheelchair users.

Targeting retinal and choroid neovascularization using the small molecule inhibitor carboxyamidotriazole.

Neovascular ocular diseases as exemplified by proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are severe diseases affecting all age groups in the US. We asked whether a small molecule, carboxyamidotriazole (CAI) known for its anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor effects and its ability to be administered orally in humans, could have anti-angiogenic effects in ocular in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis models. The anti-proliferative effects of CAI were examined by BrdU incorporation using human retinal and dermal endothelial cells and human pigment epithelial cells.

Age-dependent changes in noradrenergic locus coeruleus system in wild-type and APP23 transgenic mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of neurons in specific regions of the CNS including the locus coeruleus (LC), the major noradrenergic locus in the CNS. Several animal models of AD have been developed that exhibit some of the pathophysiological changes in the CNS that are observed in AD patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if the integrity of the LC noradrenergic system is altered in the amyloid precursor protein 23 (APP23) mouse model of AD at the age of 3, 6 and 12 months through quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA expression.

Monitoring exposure to avian influenza viruses in wild mammals.

1Avian influenza (AI) viruses primarily circulate in wild waterfowl populations and are occasionally transmitted to domestic poultry flocks. However, the possible roles of other wildlife species, such as wild mammals, in AI virus ecology have not been adequately addressed.2Due to their habitat and behaviour, many wild mammals may be capable of transmitting pathogens among wild and domestic populations.

Evaluation of an epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies to influenza A virus in domestic and wild avian and mammalian species.

An epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (bELISA) was developed for the detection of antibodies to influenza A virus in taxonomically diverse domestic and wild vertebrate species. In contrast to the bELISAs published previously that require reagent production, manipulation by the end-user, or have not been evaluated for use with both mammalian and avian species, this assay is performed using commercially available recombinant nucleoprotein antigen and corresponding nucleoprotein-specific monoclonal antibody and has been shown to work with multiple avian and mammalian species. The efficacy of the bELISA as a serum screening assay was compared to the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) assay using 251 serum samples obtained from experimentally infected mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and raccoons (Procyon lotor).

Electrophysiological markers of categorical perception of color in 7-month old infants.

The origin of color categories has been debated by psychologists, linguists and cognitive scientists for many decades. Here, we present the first electrophysiological evidence for categorical responding to color before color terms are acquired. Event-related potentials were recorded on a visual oddball task in 7-month old infants.

Regulation of activation-induced cytidine deaminase DNA deamination activity in B-cells by Ser38 phosphorylation.

Human and mouse Ig genes are diversified in mature B-cells by distinct processes known as Ig heavy-chain CSR (class switch recombination) and Ig variable-region exon SHM (somatic hypermutation). These DNA-modification processes are initiated by AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase), a DNA cytidine deaminase predominantly expressed in activated B-cells. AID is post-transcriptionally regulated via multiple mechanisms, including microRNA regulation, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, ubiquitination and phosphorylation.

Metacarpophalangeal joint dislocation.

Traumatic dislocation of the metacarpophalangeal joint is a relatively uncommon injury. The dislocation may be easily reducible (ie, simple) or require surgical intervention (ie, complex). The flexor tendons, lumbrical muscle, natatory ligament, and superficial transverse metacarpal ligament combine with the displaced volar plate to create a tight noose, preventing reduction.

Spread without known selective pressure of a vancomycin-resistant clone of Enterococcus faecium among broilers.

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to describe an increased occurrence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in Swedish broilers since 2000 and to investigate the genetic relatedness of isolates.

Methods: Caecal content from slaughtered broilers was cultured for VRE on medium supplemented with vancomycin (16 mg/L). Species identification, antibiotic susceptibility determination, vancomycin resistance genotyping, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and characterization of Tn1546 were performed.

Electrochemical biosensor of nanocube-augmented carbon nanotube networks.

Networks of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) decorated with Au-coated Pd (Au/Pd) nanocubes are employed as electrochemical biosensors that exhibit excellent sensitivity (2.6 mA mM(-1) cm(-2)) and a low estimated detection limit (2.3 nM) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 (S/N = 3) in the amperometric sensing of hydrogen peroxide.

Integrity of the AID serine-38 phosphorylation site is critical for class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation in mice.

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a single-stranded (ss) DNA-specific cytidine deaminase that initiates Ig heavy chain (IgH) class switch recombination (CSR) and Ig somatic hypermutation (SHM) by deaminating cytidines within, respectively, IgH switch (S) regions and Ig variable region (V) exons. AID that is phosphorylated on serine residue 38 interacts with replication protein A (RPA), a ssDNA binding protein, to promote deamination of transcribed double-stranded DNA in vitro, which, along with other evidence, suggests that AID may similarly gain access to transcribed S regions and V exons in vivo. However, the physiological role of AID phosphorylation at serine residue 38 (S38), and even the requirement for the S38 residue, with respect to CSR or SHM has been debated.

Lateralization of categorical perception of color changes with color term acquisition.

Categorical perception (CP) of color is the faster and more accurate discrimination of two colors from different categories than two colors from the same category, even when same- and different-category chromatic separations are equated. In adults, color CP is lateralized to the left hemisphere (LH), whereas in infants, it is lateralized to the right hemisphere (RH). There is evidence that the LH bias in color CP in adults is due to the influence of color terms in the LH.

Post-translational regulation of activation-induced cytidine deaminase.

The assembled immunoglobulin genes in the B cells of mice and humans are altered by distinct processes known as class switch recombination (CSR) and somatic hypermutation, leading to diversification of the antibody repertoire. These two DNA modification processes are initiated by the B cell-specific protein factor activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). AID is post-translationally modified by phosphorylation at multiple sites, although functional significance during CSR has been implicated only for phosphorylation at serine-38 (S38).

Neurophysiological evidence for categorical perception of color.

The aim of this investigation was to examine the time course and the relative contributions of perceptual and post-perceptual processes to categorical perception (CP) of color. A visual oddball task was used with standard and deviant stimuli from same (within-category) or different (between-category) categories, with chromatic separations for within- and between-category stimuli equated in Munsell Hue. CP was found on a behavioral version of the task, with faster RTs and greater accuracy for between- compared to within-category stimuli.

What can we learn from toddlers about categorical perception of color? Comments on Goldstein, Davidoff, and Roberson.

We comment on Goldstein, Davidoff, and Roberson's replication and extension (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 102, 219-238 [2009]) of our study of the effect of toddlers' color term knowledge on their categorical perception (CP) of color (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 90, 114-141 [2005]). First, we discuss how best to assess color term knowledge when concerned with the effects of language on color CP. A reanalysis of our data indicates that even toddlers who do not know the terms for the relevant focal colors still show CP.