IBD sharing around the PPARG locus is not increased in dizygotic twins or their mothers

We observe no evidence of linkage to the region around the PPARG locus in several samples of DZ twins who have been genotyped at multiple markers on chromosome 3 (Fig. 1). Among 199 Australian DZ twins ascertained for a history of wheezing2, mean identity by descent (IBD) sharing at the position of PPARG is 0.463 (99% bootstrapped confidence interval=0.412−0.516). We obtained a similar result with 232 pairs of Australian adolescent DZ twins taking part in a longitudinal study of naevus development3 (0.444, 0.390−0.499), and a set of 125 Australian adult DZ twin pairs assessed for anxiety4 (0.508, 0.435−0.580). A Dutch scan of 160 DZ twin pairs5 obtained slightly more encouraging results (0.553, 0.482−0.587, peak maximum lod score (MLS)=0.57). Pooling all these samples gives 0.477 (0.454−0.512) at the position of PPARG. The test for heterogeneity of sharing between studies was not significant (P=0.10). In the combined dataset, the peak IBD sharing (MLS=0.70) is 50 cM closer to the centromere than PPARG. Finally, in a sample of 203 Australian and New Zealand sister pairs where each had given birth to DZ twins6, sharing across the region is also not increased (0.433). We do not replicate linkage in the populations we study to survival of a twin pregnancy or polyovulation.

Memory awareness and schematization: Learning in the university context

Following the application of the remember/know paradigm to student learning by Conway et al. (1997), this study examined changes in learning and memory awareness of university students in a lecture course and a research methods course. The proposed shift from a dominance of 'remember' awareness in early learning to a dominance of 'know' awareness as learning progresses and schematization occurs was evident for the methods course but not for the lecture course. The patterns of remember and know awareness and proposed associated levels of schematization were supported by a separate measure of the quality of student learning using the SOLO (Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes) Taxonomy. As found by previous research, the remember-to-know shift and schematization of knowledge is dependent upon type of course and level of achievement. Findings are discussed in terms of the utility of the methodology used, the theoretical implications and the applications to educational practice. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Status, legitimacy and ingroup bias in the context of an organizational merger

Adopting an intergroup perspective, the research was designed to examine predictors of employee responses to an organizational merger. Data were collected from 120 employees of a newly merged scientific organization. As predicted from social identity theory, the most negative responses to the merger were apparent among the employees of the low status premerger organization. There was also evidence of ingroup bias among both groups of employees involved in the merger—as expected, the bias was most marked on the status-irrelevant dimensions for the employees of the lower status organization, but most marked on the status-relevant dimensions for the employees of the high status organization. Also, in support of social identity theory, the perceived legitimacy of the basis for the status differentiation between the groups was associated with more positive responses to the merger among employees of the low status premerger organization, but with poorer responses among employees of the high status premerger organization. There was consistent evidence that the status by legitimacy interaction was mediated through the extent to which employees of the newly merged organization perceived a common ingroup identity

A Context Noise Model of Episodic Recognition Memory

Item noise models of recognition assert that interference at retrieval is generated by the words from the study list. Context noise models of recognition assert that interference at retrieval is generated by the contexts in which the test word has appeared. The authors introduce the bind cue decide model of episodic memory, a Bayesian context noise model, and demonstrate how it can account for data from the item noise and dual-processing approaches to recognition memory. From the item noise perspective, list strength and list length effects, the mirror effect for word frequency and concreteness, and the effects of the similarity of other words in a list are considered. From the dual-processing perspective, process dissociation data on the effects of length. temporal separation of lists, strength, and diagnosticity of context are examined. The authors conclude that the context noise approach to recognition is a viable alternative to existing approaches. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved)

Emotional cue exposure for alcohol abuse: Development of a new treatment procedure to train moderation drinking in the context of dysphoria

Negative mood states are credited to exacerbate excessive drinking among problem drinkers. We developed an emotional cue exposure treatment procedure and applied it to three problem drinkers who have a history of drinking excessively under stressful emotional states. All three preferred a controlled drinking goal and received an average of seven sessions of treatment. Treatment comprised of providing alcohol (priming doses), followed by negative mood induction and response prevention of further drinking. Reductions were observed in the quantity and frequency of drinking, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (Form C) and the Impaired Control Questionnaire scores. Increments were observed in self-efficacy to face different difficult situations. These gains were maintained at the 6-month follow-up. Providing alcohol to problem drinkers in treatment, followed by negative mood induction and response prevention, is clinically feasible and may benefit clients who drink under a variety of stressful mood states. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nuclear RelB(+) cells are found in normal lymphoid organs and in peripheral tissue in the context of inflammation, but not under normal resting conditions

Differentiated dendritic cells (DC) have been identified by the presence of nuclear RelB (nRelB) and HLA-DR, and the absence of CD20 or high levels of CD68, in lymph nodes and active rheumatoid arthritis synovial tissue. The current studies aimed to identify conditions in which nRelB is expressed in human tissues, by single and double immunohistochemistry of formalin-fixed peripheral and lymphoid tissue. Normal peripheral tissue did not contain nRelB(+) cells. nRelB(+) DC were located only in T- or B-cell areas of lymphoid tissue associated with normal organs or peripheral tissues, including tonsil, colon, spleen and thymus, or in association with T cells in inflamed peripheral tissue. Inflamed sites included skin delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, and a wide range of tissues affected by autoimmune disease. Nuclear RelB(+) -HLA-DR- follicular DC were located in B-cell follicles in lymphoid organs and in lymphoid-like follicles of some tissues affected by autoimmune disease. Lymphoid tissue T-cell areas also contained nRelB(-) -HLA-DR+ cells, some of which expressed CD123 and/or CD68. Nuclear RelB(+) cells are found in normal lymphoid organs and in peripheral tissue in the context of inflammation, but not under normal resting conditions.