Threat directionality modulates defensive reactions in humans: cardiac and electrodermal responses.

Features of threatening cues and the associated context influence the perceived imminence of threat and the defensive responses evoked. To provide additional knowledge about how the directionality of a threat (i.e. directed-towards or away from the viewer) might impact defensive responses in humans, participants were shown pictures of a man carrying a gun (threat) or nonlethal object (neutral) directed-away from or towards the participant. Cardiac and electrodermal responses were collected. Compared to neutral images, threatening images depicting a gun directed-towards the participant induced sustained bradycardia and an increased electrodermal response, interpreted as immobility under attack. This defensive immobility reaction is evoked by high perceived threat and inescapable situations and indicates intense action preparation. Pictures of guns directed-away from the participant induced shorter bradycardia and no significant modulation of the electrodermal response compared to neutral pictures, which might be consistent with the perception of a less threatening situation. The results show that the directionality of threat stimuli is a key factor that prompts different patterns of defensive responses.

Irrigation level and substrate type on the acclimatization and development of mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC.): an emblematic cactus from Brazilian semiarid region.

Mandacaru is a cactus with great socioeconomic potential, but lack of information about its cultivation hinders its domestication. Here, we aimed to evaluate the acclimatization and vegetative development of mandacaru under different substrates and irrigation levels. For this, seeds inoculated in vitro were grown for 120 days, being transplanted to pots containing four types of substrate (S1-caatinga soil + gravel; S2-washed sand + organic matter + soil + charcoal; S3-washed sand + cattle manure + soil + sand; S4-commercial organic substrate). Pots were irrigated with 100% of the field capacity (FC) once-a-week, or with 50% FC twice-a-week, and kept in a greenhouse for six months. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4 × 2 factorial scheme, with six replications. Plant height and diameter, axial and radial growth rate, fresh and dry mass of stem and root, water content, and photosynthetic pigments were determined. Growth was affected mainly by the substrate, with S4 resulting in higher growth and pigment content, while S1 was impaired and S2 and S3 resulted in intermediate growth. The use of S4 and 100% FC once per week was the best condition for mandacaru.

A novel approach for lactose determination in cow's milk exploiting smartphone-based digital-image photometry.

Lactose, the main carbohydrate in cow's milk, may cause health problems for consumers with intolerance. Lactose determination in milk is hindered by the matrix complexity and lack of chromophore groups. Chromatography, volumetric, and spectrophotometric approaches involving chemical derivatization are time-consuming and require laborious sample preparation, which is incompatible with the high analytical demand. In this context, a novel approach is presented for lactose determination in milk exploiting smartphone-based digital-image photometry. It was based on a modification of the Benedict's method, involving formation of the violet Cu(I)/2,2'-biquinoline-4,4'-dicarboxylate (BCA) complex instead of the copper(I) oxide precipitate, aiming at improvement of sensitivity and precision. Sample pretreatment and analyte derivatization were performed in Eppendorf tubes with minimal reagent amounts and a smartphone camera was used for image acquisition under controlled conditions. Measurements were based on the RGB color system, taking channel G as the analytical response because of the complementarity with the color of the complex. Under the optimized conditions, the proposed procedure yielded a linear response up to 20 mg L-1 (r = 0.999), with a limit of detection of 1.5 mg L-1, which is compatible with determination of lactose in milk and dairy products categorized with low content of the sugar. The procedure takes less than 10 min, with a coefficient of variation of 3.0% (n = 12) and consumes as low as 160 µg Cu and 430 µg BCA per determination, thus being a more practical, fast, cost-effective, and environmental friendly analytical method.

Comparing explosive cyclogenesis cases of different intensities occurred in Southern Atlantic.

Six events of explosive cyclogenesis occurred in the south Atlantic were compared using reanalysis data and satellite water vapor imagery. Cases of different intensities (weak, moderate and strong) occurred during 2014 summer season and 2012 winter season were studied. Despite the similarities the tropopause anomaly was more prominent and vertical movements were stronger in the strong cyclogenesis cases. The tropopause anomalies behind the cold front and ahead of the warm front appear only in the mature stage of the weak and moderate cases while in the strong case it is already evident and more intense behind the cold front since the beginning of the cycle. In all the cases confluence of the jet streams took place at higher levels forming a jet streak with difluence occurring downstream and the cyclone beginning in the exit region. The trajectories of the cyclones were in the southeast direction but longer and more meridional in the strong cases. The results indicated the baroclinicity of the region as the main mechanism for the development of these cyclones as well as the amplitude of the upper level jet stream perturbation. Furthermore, all the explosive cyclones developed following the Shapiro & Keyser cyclone conceptual model.

Classification of homogeneous regions of vegetation cover in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and its temporal dynamics, using AVHRR GIMMS and MODIS data sets.

This study aimed to classify the homogeneous regions of vegetation cover, which occur in Rio Grande do Sul, formed by clustering of pixels with same pattern of temporal variability of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of AVHRR GIMMS and MODIS series and to compare their temporal dynamics. We use K means cluster analysis for defining homogeneous regions, based on the temporal variability of GIMMS (8 km spatial resolution) and MODIS (1 km spatial resolution) NDVI data sets, using monthly images mean from 2000 to 2008 (overlapping period); and we analyzed the annual pattern of NDVI. Accuracy assessment was done with Landsat images. The results show that the temporal variability of GIMMS and MODIS NDVI allows to delimit similar homogeneous regions in order to mapping the main vegetation cover. MODIS series shows a greater detail in the definition of the regions, but with compatibility with those generated by GIMMS. The temporal dynamics show a typical seasonal pattern, with variations of NDVI amplitude between the groups, that allow to monitor phenological changes. The deviations from calibration between times series are linear, which would facilitate a correction in order to construct a long synthetic time series for studies of land cover change.

Asymmetric parasitic twins - Heteropagus.

BACKGROUND: Asymmetric or heteropagus conjoined twins is a rare occurrence, with an incidence of one case in 1-2 million. Conjoined twins are classified according to their symmetry, place of fusion, and grade of duplication. METHODS: We report here an extremely rare presentation of parasitic twins not described before. We describe macro and micro anatomic alterations and discuss the aspects of this peculiar presentation and the importance of prenatal diagnosis. RESULTS: The case of a twenty-three-year-old patient, with monochorionic, monoamniotic asymmetrically-conjoined twin pregnancy, discovered at 29 weeks of gestational age. We believe that this report calls attention to this presentation and the importance of prenatal care and management. The twins were delivered vaginally without life. The twins' combined weight was 1.300 gr. They were bonded in the left cervical region. CONCLUSION: This report may help to find strategies for clinical decisions in future cases. Antepartum diagnosis is important to the management, preoperative planning, and outcomes. Prenatal imaging exams like echocardiography, CT, MRI, and ultrasonography are feasible and can provide relevant information about malformation severity and prognosis.

Increased [CO2] Causes Changes in Physiological and Genetic Responses in C4 Crops: A Brief Review.

Climate change not only worries government representatives and organizations, but also attracts the attention of the scientific community in different contexts. In agriculture specifically, the cultivation and productivity of crops such as sugarcane, maize, and sorghum are influenced by several environmental factors. The effects of high atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide ([CO2]) have been the subject of research investigating the growth and development of C4 plants. Therefore, this brief review presents some of the physiological and genetic changes in economically important C4 plants following exposure periods of increased [CO2] levels. In the short term, with high [CO2], C4 plants change photosynthetic metabolism and carbohydrate production. The photosynthetic apparatus is initially improved, and some responses, such as stomatal conductance and transpiration rate, are normally maintained throughout the exposure. Protein-encoding genes related to photosynthesis, such as the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, to sucrose accumulation and to biomass growth and are differentially regulated by [CO2] increase and can variably participate owing to the C4 species and/or other internal and external factors interfering in plant development. Despite the consensus among some studies, mainly on physiological changes, further studies are still necessary to identify the molecular mechanisms modulated under this condition. In addition, considering future scenarios, the combined effects of high environmental and [CO2] stresses need to be investigated so that the responses of maize, sugarcane, and sorghum are better understood.

Seasonal variation of vitamin D among healthy adult men in a subtropical region.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate seasonal variation of 25(OH)vitamin D [25(OH)D3] levels, and factors associated with it, in healthy adult men, who exercised outdoors for 50 min., at least twice a week, from 10AM to 4PM, in a Brazilian semitropical region. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at the end of each season for 25(OH)D3, measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Ultraviolet irradiation was estimated by radiometer, calculating the daily photobiological response to vitamin D synthesis in human skin (D-VitD). The prevalence of 25(OH)D3 <20ng/mL changed with the seasons (p=0.000): 8.7% (n=6/69), 1.5% (n=1/66), 0 (n=0/64), and 21.7% (n=13/60), respectively, at the end of winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The prevalence, adjusted for multiple comparisons, was higher in winter than summer (p=0.026), and in autumn than spring (p=0.001) and summer (p=0.000). There were no associations of 25(OH) D3 levels with BMI (p=0.207), body fat (p=0.064), and phototype (p=0.485), in univariate analysis. It was associated with D-VitD in the 30 days before blood sampling (p=0.000), after adjustment to body fat. The prevalence of 25(OH)D3 <30ng/mL varied seasonally (p=0.000): 69.6% (n=48/69), 68.2% (n=45/66), 43.8% (n=28/64), and 88.4% (n=53/60), respectively, in winter, spring, summer, and autumn. CONCLUSIONS: In a Brazilian subtropical region, a seasonal variation in 25(OH)D3 was observed in healthy adult males, although they spent at least 50 min outdoors twice a week, wearing shorts and T-shirts. 25(OH)D3 <20ng/mL was 21.7% in autumn; D-vitD 30 days prior to blood sampling was the only factor independently associated with 25(OH)D3 levels.

Asymmetric parasitic twins - Heteropagus

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: Asymmetric or heteropagus conjoined twins is a rare occurrence, with an incidence of one case in 1-2 million. Conjoined twins are classified according to their symmetry, place of fusion, and grade of duplication. METHODS: We report here an extremely rare presentation of parasitic twins not described before. We describe macro and micro anatomic alterations and discuss the aspects of this peculiar presentation and the importance of prenatal diagnosis. RESULTS: The case of a twenty-three-year-old patient, with monochorionic, monoamniotic asymmetrically-conjoined twin pregnancy, discovered at 29 weeks of gestational age. We believe that this report calls attention to this presentation and the importance of prenatal care and management. The twins were delivered vaginally without life. The twins' combined weight was 1.300 gr. They were bonded in the left cervical region. CONCLUSION: This report may help to find strategies for clinical decisions in future cases. Antepartum diagnosis is important to the management, preoperative planning, and outcomes. Prenatal imaging exams like echocardiography, CT, MRI, and ultrasonography are feasible and can provide relevant information about malformation severity and prognosis.

RESUMO BACKGROUND: Gêmeos parasitas assimétricos ou heterópagos são uma ocorrência rara, com incidência de um caso em 1-2 milhões. Os gêmeos siameses são classificados de acordo com sua simetria, local de fusão e grau de duplicação. MÉTODOS: Relatamos aqui uma apresentação extremamente rara de gêmeos parasitários não descritos anteriormente. São descritas alterações macro e microscópicas e discutidos aspectos relevantes dessa malformação e da importância do diagnóstico pré-natal. RESULTADOS: Um caso de uma paciente de 23 anos de idade, com gestação monocoriônica, monoamniótica de gêmeos siameses assimétricos diagnosticada com 29 semanas de idade gestacional. Acreditamos que este relato chama a atenção para esta apresentação e para a importância do cuidado e manejo pré-natal. Os fetos nasceram de parto vaginal já sem vida, pesando em conjunto 1.300 gramas, e eram unidos pela região cervical esquerda. CONCLUSÃO: Este relato pode ajudar a encontrar estratégias para a decisão clínica em casos futuros. O diagnóstico pré-natal é fundamental para o manejo e planejamento pré-operatório. Exames de imagem como ecocardiografia, tomografia computadorizada, ressonância magnética e ultrassonografia são factíveis e podem fornecer informações-chave sobre a gravidade e prognóstico da malformação.

Seasonal variation of vitamin D among healthy adult men in a subtropical region

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate seasonal variation of 25(OH)vitamin D [25(OH)D3] levels, and factors associated with it, in healthy adult men, who exercised outdoors for 50 min., at least twice a week, from 10AM to 4PM, in a Brazilian semitropical region. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at the end of each season for 25(OH)D3, measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Ultraviolet irradiation was estimated by radiometer, calculating the daily photobiological response to vitamin D synthesis in human skin (D-VitD). The prevalence of 25(OH)D3 <20ng/mL changed with the seasons (p=0.000): 8.7% (n=6/69), 1.5% (n=1/66), 0 (n=0/64), and 21.7% (n=13/60), respectively, at the end of winter, spring, summer, and autumn. The prevalence, adjusted for multiple comparisons, was higher in winter than summer (p=0.026), and in autumn than spring (p=0.001) and summer (p=0.000). There were no associations of 25(OH) D3 levels with BMI (p=0.207), body fat (p=0.064), and phototype (p=0.485), in univariate analysis. It was associated with D-VitD in the 30 days before blood sampling (p=0.000), after adjustment to body fat. The prevalence of 25(OH)D3 <30ng/mL varied seasonally (p=0.000): 69.6% (n=48/69), 68.2% (n=45/66), 43.8% (n=28/64), and 88.4% (n=53/60), respectively, in winter, spring, summer, and autumn. CONCLUSIONS: In a Brazilian subtropical region, a seasonal variation in 25(OH)D3 was observed in healthy adult males, although they spent at least 50 min outdoors twice a week, wearing shorts and T-shirts. 25(OH)D3 <20ng/mL was 21.7% in autumn; D-vitD 30 days prior to blood sampling was the only factor independently associated with 25(OH)D3 levels.

RESUMO OBJETIVOS: Avaliar a sazonalidade da 25(OH)vitamina D3 [25(OH)D3] e fatores associados em homens adultos saudáveis, que se exercitavam ao ar livre pelo menos 50 min duas vezes por semana, das 10 às 16h, em uma região subtropical. MÉTODOS: Sangue foi colhido no fim das estações para medir 25(OH)D3, por cromatografia líquida em tandem com espectroscopia de massas. A radiação ultravioleta foi estimada por radiômetro, calculando diariamente a resposta fotobiológica para sintetizar vitamina D na pele humana (D-VitD). RESULTADOS: A prevalência de 25(OH)D3 <20ng/mL foi sazonal (p=0.000): 8.7% (n=6/69), 1.5% (n=1/66), 0% (n= 0/64), e 21.7% (n=13/60), respectivamente, no final do inverno, primavera, verão e outono. A prevalência, ajustada para comparações múltiplas, foi maior no inverno do que no verão (p=0.026) e no outono do que na primavera (p=0.001) e verão (p=0.000). A 25(OH)D3 não se associou com o índice de massa corporal (p=0.207), gordura corporal (p=0.064) ou fototipo (p=0.485), na análise univariada. Associou-se à D-VitD nos 30 dias antes da coleta de sangue (p=0.000), ajustada para gordura corporal. Houve sazonalidade na prevalência de 25(OH)D3 <30ng/mL (p=0.000): 69.6% (n=48/69), 68.2% (n=45/66), 43.8% (n=28/64), e 88.4% (n=53/60), respectivamente, no inverno, primavera, verão e outono. CONCLUSÕES: Em uma região subtropical, houve sazonalidade na 25(OH)D3 em homens adultos, saudáveis, embora se exercitassem ao ar livre pelo menos 50 minutos duas vezes por semana, usando shorts e camiseta. 25(OH)D3 <20ng/mL foi 21.7% no outono e a D-vitD 30 dias antes da coleta do sangue foi o único fator associado de modo independente à 25(OH)D3.

Exogenous silicon and salicylic acid applications improve tolerance to boron toxicity in field pea cultivars by intensifying antioxidant defence systems.

Field peas (Pisum sativum L.) are widely cultivated throughout the world as a cool season grain and forage crop. Boron (B) toxicity is caused by high B concentration in the soil or irrigation water, and is particularly problematic in medium or heavier textured soil types with moderate alkalinity and low annual rainfall. Previous studies have indicated that B-toxicity increases oxidative stress in plants, and B-tolerance has been considered an important target in field pea plant breeding programmes. Inducers of tolerance may be a promising alternative for plant breeding. Little research has been conducted on the combined use of silicon (Si) and salicylic acid (SA) to remediate B-toxicity in field peas. The present study revealed the physiological and biochemical plant responses of applying Si + SA under B-toxicity (15 mg B L-1) on two Brazilian field pea cultivars (Iapar 83 and BRS Forrageira). A semi-hydroponic experiment was conducted using a completely randomized factorial design (2 × 5): with two field pea cultivars and five treatments which were formed by individual and combined applications of Si and SA under B-toxicity plus a control (control, B, B + Si, B + SA, and B + Si + SA). Si (2 mmol L-1) was applied to plants in two forms (root and leaf), while for SA (36 µmol L-1) only foliar applications were applied. Our results demonstrated that the combined use of exogenous Si + SA in field peas increased tolerance to B-toxicity through an intensified antioxidant plant defence system, resulting in a better regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and degradation. It significantly increased total chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, the activities of major antioxidant enzymes, and reduced MDA and H2O2 contents, resulting in increased fresh shoot and total plant dry biomass. The application of Si + SA alleviated the inhibitory effects of boron toxicity in field peas, resulting in greater plant growth by preventing oxidative membrane damage through an increased tolerance to B-excess within the plant tissue. Therefore, the use of Si + SA is an important and sustainable strategy to alleviate B-toxicity in field pea cultivation.

Interactions between emotion and action in the brain.

A growing literature supports the existence of interactions between emotion and action in the brain, and the central participation of the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) in this regard. In the present functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we sought to investigate the role of self-relevance during such interactions by varying the context in which threating pictures were presented (with guns pointed towards or away from the observer). Participants performed a simple visual detection task following exposure to such stimuli. Except for voxelwise tests, we adopted a Bayesian analysis framework which evaluated evidence for the hypotheses of interest, given the data, in a continuous fashion. Behaviorally, our results demonstrated a valence by context interaction such that there was a tendency of speeding up responses to targets after viewing threat pictures directed towards the participant. In the brain, interaction patterns that paralleled those observed behaviorally were observed most notably in the middle temporal gyrus, supplementary motor area, precentral gyrus, and anterior insula. In these regions, activity was overall greater during threat conditions relative to neutral ones, and this effect was enhanced in the directed towards context. A valence by context interaction was observed in the aMCC too, where we also observed a correlation (across participants) of evoked responses and reaction time data. Taken together, our study revealed the context-sensitive engagement of motor-related areas during emotional perception, thus supporting the idea that emotion and action interact in important ways in the brain.

Overexpression of PIK3CA impacts global survival of patients with HER2 subtype breast carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the expression of proteins fosfatidilinositol-4,5-bifosfate 3-quinase (PIK3CA) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in HER2-positive breast cancer and verify their associations with clinical and pathological variables. METHODS: We assessed PTEN and PIK3CA status using immunohistochemistry (IHC), which was performed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsies from 50 patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Medical records were studied for collection of clinical-pathological information, including overall survival (OS). The HIC markers PTEN and PIK3CA were analyzed semi-quantitatively by two blinded independent researchers. The relationship between the variables were evaluated using the chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier curves plus log-rank test for survival. RESULTS: In IHC, the expression level of PIK3CA was 86%, and loss of PTEN expression was observed in 46% of the cases. The expression of the markers showed no significant correlation with each other or with the clinical and pathological parameters studied: tumor grade, staging, ER, PR, Ki67 and recurrence. The highest expression of PIK3CA was associated with lower number of deaths (p=0.016) and longer OS of patients (p=0.001). The PTEN marker showed no significant effect on OS. CONCLUSIONS: The PIK3CA expression showed a protective effect in relation to the OS of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

How do you perceive threat? It's all in your pattern of brain activity.

Whether subtle differences in the emotional context during threat perception can be detected by multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) remains a topic of debate. To investigate this question, we compared the ability of pattern recognition analysis to discriminate between patterns of brain activity to a threatening versus a physically paired neutral stimulus in two different emotional contexts (the stimulus being directed towards or away from the viewer). The directionality of the stimuli is known to be an important factor in activating different defensive responses. Using multiple kernel learning (MKL) classification models, we accurately discriminated patterns of brain activation to threat versus neutral stimuli in the directed towards context but not during the directed away context. Furthermore, we investigated whether it was possible to decode an individual's subjective threat perception from patterns of whole-brain activity to threatening stimuli in the different emotional contexts using MKL regression models. Interestingly, we were able to accurately predict the subjective threat perception index from the pattern of brain activation to threat only during the directed away context. These results show that subtle differences in the emotional context during threat perception can be detected by MVPA. In the directed towards context, the threat perception was more intense, potentially producing more homogeneous patterns of brain activation across individuals. In the directed away context, the threat perception was relatively less intense and more variable across individuals, enabling the regression model to successfully capture the individual differences and predict the subjective threat perception.

Qualitative evaluation of spatial complementarity between renewable energy resources with complementarity roses.

Energetic complementarity is a subject that has been concentrating more and more attention of the researchers around the world in the last years, a concept that can be applied both in energy planning and in operation of energy systems based on renewable energy resources. Spatial complementarity is the energetic complementarity evaluated between two renewable resources in different locations and, as well as the complementarity evaluated between resources in the same location, has three components: time-complementarity, energy-complementarity and amplitude-complementarity. At the same site, however, complementarity assessment can involve multiple resources simultaneously, and the study of these circumstances requires appropriate tools to handle such information.This method paper describes a method to build complementarity roses expressing the spatial complementarity between two or more renewable energy resources throughout a region, appropriate for the expression of this complementarity through maps.

The partial root-zone saline irrigation system and antioxidant responses in tomato plants.

Salinity is a limiting factor that can affect plant growth and cause significant losses in agricultural productivity. This study provides an insight about the viability of partial root-zone irrigation (PRI) system with saline water supported by a biochemical approach involving antioxidant responses. Six different irrigation methods using low and high salt concentrations (S1-0.5 and S2-5.0 dS m-1) were applied, with or without PRSI, so that one side of the root-zone was submitted to saline water while the other side was low salinity water irrigated. The results revealed different responses according to the treatments and the PRSI system applied. For the treatments T1, T2 and T3, the PRSI was not applied, while T4, T5 and T6 treatments were applied with PRSI system. Lipid peroxidation, proline content, and activities of SOD, CAT, APX, GR and GSH in tomato plants subjected to PRSI system were analyzed. Plant growth was not affected by the salt concentrations; however, plants submitted to high salt concentrations showed high MDA content and Na+ accumulation when compared to the control plants. Plants submitted to treatments T4, T5 and T6 with PRSI system exhibited lower MDA compared to the control plants (T1). Proline content and activities of SOD, CAT, APX, GR and GSH content were maintained in all treatments and tissues analyzed, with only exception for APX in fruits and GSH content, in roots. The overall results showed that PRSI system could be an applicable technique for saline water supply on irrigation since plants did not show to be vulnerable to salt stress, supported by a biochemical approach involving antioxidant responses.

Decoding negative affect personality trait from patterns of brain activation to threat stimuli.

INTRODUCTION: Pattern recognition analysis (PRA) applied to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to decode cognitive processes and identify possible biomarkers for mental illness. In the present study, we investigated whether the positive affect (PA) or negative affect (NA) personality traits could be decoded from patterns of brain activation in response to a human threat using a healthy sample. METHODS: fMRI data from 34 volunteers (15 women) were acquired during a simple motor task while the volunteers viewed a set of threat stimuli that were directed either toward them or away from them and matched neutral pictures. For each participant, contrast images from a General Linear Model (GLM) between the threat versus neutral stimuli defined the spatial patterns used as input to the regression model. We applied a multiple kernel learning (MKL) regression combining information from different brain regions hierarchically in a whole brain model to decode the NA and PA from patterns of brain activation in response to threat stimuli. RESULTS: The MKL model was able to decode NA but not PA from the contrast images between threat stimuli directed away versus neutral with a significance above chance. The correlation and the mean squared error (MSE) between predicted and actual NA were 0.52 (p-value=0.01) and 24.43 (p-value=0.01), respectively. The MKL pattern regression model identified a network with 37 regions that contributed to the predictions. Some of the regions were related to perception (e.g., occipital and temporal regions) while others were related to emotional evaluation (e.g., caudate and prefrontal regions). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that there was an interaction between the individuals' NA and the brain response to the threat stimuli directed away, which enabled the MKL model to decode NA from the brain patterns. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that PRA can be used to decode a personality trait from patterns of brain activation during emotional contexts.

MYC amplification is associated with poor survival in small cell lung cancer: a chromogenic in situ hybridization study.

PURPOSE: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly aggressive tumor, and few studies have examined the amplification status of the MYC gene in tumor samples using chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Emerging target treatments associated with MYC status in SCLC necessitates the evaluation of MYC using current methodologies, such as CISH. In this study, we evaluated tissue samples from untreated patients to determine the relation between MYC amplification and clinical and pathological factors, including survival. METHODS: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor samples were obtained from 77 patients with SCLC who underwent a diagnostic biopsy for SCLC. The samples were analyzed by CISH using a MYC probe (ZytoDot(®) CISH probe). The relationship between cytogenetic analysis, pathologic characteristics and survival time was evaluated using the Chi-square test, Fisher's test and Mann-Whitney method. A regression model was constructed to exclude any confounding factors. RESULTS: Of 77 samples, 64.9 % were from bronchi biopsy and the remainder was from the mediastinal, cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes. The MYC oncogene was amplified in 20 % of the tumors. After the multivariate regression analysis, patients with MYC amplification had a significantly shorter survival time (4.67 weeks) versus patients without MYC amplification (26.15 weeks) (p = 0.02, CI 1.355-10.261). CONCLUSION: MYC amplification is a frequent event in SCLC and is related to a short survival time. MYC amplification may be an independent prognostic factor for SCLC. Further studies are required to support this finding and clarify the role of MYC in SCLC tumorigenesis.

Exposure to trauma-relevant pictures is associated with tachycardia in victims who had experienced an intense peritraumatic defensive response: the tonic immobility.

Tonic immobility is an involuntary, last-ditch defensive reaction characterized by physical inactivity in a context of inescapable threat that has been described in many species, including humans. The occurrence of this defensive response is a predictor of the severity of psychiatric disorders and may be considered as an index of an intense reaction to a traumatic event. Here, we investigated whether the retrospective reports of peritraumatic tonic immobility reaction in participants exposed to a traumatic event would modify their cardiac responses to pictures related to their trauma. Using a questionnaire of life-threating events, we selected students who experienced violent crime as their most intense trauma and students who had never experienced a violent crime trauma, but experienced other traumatic events. All participants completed a questionnaire that estimated the intensity of tonic immobility during their most intense trauma. Electrocardiographic recordings were collected during exposure to pictures. Participants viewed emotional pictures (human attack with guns) and neutral pictures. These emotional stimuli were selected to be trauma-relevant to the violent crime group and non trauma-relevant to the no violent crime trauma group. Violent crime group showed a positive correlation between heart rate changes after viewing trauma-related pictures and tonic immobility scores. We observed that low tonic immobility scores were associated with bradycardia and high scores with tachycardia in response to trauma-relevant pictures. For the no violent crime group, no significant correlation was detected. These results suggest that the relevance of the stimuli and the magnitude of the defensive response during a previous trauma event were important factors triggering more intense defensive responses.

Peritraumatic tonic immobility is associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in undergraduate Brazilian students.

OBJECTIVE: Tonic immobility is a defensive reaction occurring under extreme life threats. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reporting peritraumatic tonic immobility show the most severe symptoms and a poorer response to treatment. This study investigated the predictive value of tonic immobility for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a non-clinical sample. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight college students exposed to various life threatening events were selected to participate. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C) and tonic immobility questions were used. Linear regression models were fitted to investigate the association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PCL-C scores. Peritraumatic dissociation, peritraumatic panic reactions, negative affect, gender, type of trauma, and time since trauma were considered as confounding variables. RESULTS: We found significant association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PTSD symptoms in a non-clinical sample exposed to various traumas, even after regression controlled for confounding variables (ß = 1.99, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This automatic reaction under extreme life threatening stress, although adaptive for defense, may have pathological consequences as implied by its association with PTSD symptoms.