Personality and affect characteristics of outpatients with depression.

This investigation was designed to examine the relationship between depression severity and personality disorders measured by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (Millon, 1987) and affectivity measured by the Positive Affectivity/Negative Affectivity Schedule (Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). Discriminant analyses were employed to identify the personality and affective dimensions that maximally discriminate between 4 different levels of depressive severity. Differences between the 4 levels of depressive severity are suggestive of unique patterns of personality characteristics. Discriminant analysis showed that 74.8% of the cases were correctly classified by a single linear discriminant function, and that 61% of the variance in depression severity was accounted for by selected personality and affect variables. Results extend current conceptualizations of comorbidity and are discussed with respect to depression severity.

Early maladaptive schemas of personality disorder subtypes.

This investigation attempted to examine the cognitive schemas of five distinct clusters that emerged from a cluster analysis of the personality disorder scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (Millon, 1987). Specifically, the degree to which early maladaptive schemas, as measured by the Cognitive Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (Young, 1994), could correctly identify empirically derived patterns of personality disorders was examined. Between-cluster differences centered on five personality components and five schemas. Discriminant analyses revealed two significant functions composed of cognitive schemas, which correctly identified 61.2% of the entire sample in terms of cluster group membership. The total proportion of variance in the two significant functions associated with cluster group differences was 76.8%. Findings are discussed in relation to the domain theory of personality disorders posited by Millon and Davis (1996).

Brain-computer interfaces based on the steady-state visual-evoked response.

The Air Force Research Laboratory has implemented and evaluated two brain-computer interfaces (BCI's) that translate the steady-state visual evoked response into a control signal for operating a physical device or computer program. In one approach, operators self-regulate the brain response; the other approach uses multiple evoked responses.

The JAK/STAT signaling pathway is required for the initial choice of sexual identity in Drosophila melanogaster.

The choice of sexual identity in Drosophila is determined by a system that measures the X chromosome to autosome ratio (X/A). This system depends upon unequal expression of X-linked numerator genes in 1X and 2X nuclei. The numerators activate a special Sxl promoter, Sxl-Pe, in 2X/2A nuclei, but not 1X/2A nuclei. By multimerizing a conserved Sxl-Pe sequence block, we generated a gain-of-function promoter, Sxl-PeGOF, that is inappropriately active in 1X/2A nuclei. GOF activity requires the X-linked unpaired (upd) gene, which encodes a ligand for the Drosophila JAK/STAT signaling pathway. upd also functions as a numerator element in regulating wild-type Sxl-Pe reporters. We demonstrate that the JAK kinase, Hopscotch, and the STAT DNA-binding protein, Marelle, are also required for Sxl-Pe activation.

Novel functions of nanos in downregulating mitosis and transcription during the development of the Drosophila germline.

It has previously been shown that germ cells in embryos derived from nos mutant mothers do not migrate to the primitive gonad and prematurely express several germline-specific markers. In the studies reported here, we have traced these defects back to the syncytial blastoderm stage. We show that pole cells in nos embryos fail to establish/maintain transcriptional quiescence; the sex determination gene Sex-lethal (Sxl) and the segmentation genes fushi tarazu and even-skipped are ectopically activated in nos- germ cells. We show that nos- germ cells are unable to attenuate the cell cycle and instead continue dividing. Unexpectedly, removal of the Sxl gene in the zygote mitigates both the migration and mitotic defects of nos- germ cells. Supporting the conclusion that Sxl is an important target for nos repression, ectopic, premature expression of Sxl protein in germ cells disrupts migration and stimulates mitotic activity.

The N-terminal domain of Sxl protein disrupts Sxl autoregulation in females and promotes female-specific splicing of tra in males.

Sex determination in Drosophila depends upon the post-transcriptional regulatory activities of the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene. Sxl maintains the female determined state and activates female differentiation pathways by directing the female-specific splicing of Sxl and tra pre-mRNAs. While there is compelling evidence that Sxl proteins regulate splicing by directly binding to target RNAs, previous studies indicate that the two Sxl RNA-binding domains are not in themselves sufficient for biological activity and that an intact N-terminal domain is also critical for splicing function. To further investigate the functions of the Sxl N terminus, we ectopically expressed a chimeric protein consisting of the N-terminal 99 amino acids fused to ss-galactosidase. The Nss-gal fusion protein behaves like a dominant negative, interfering with the Sxl autoregulatory feedback loop and killing females. This dominant negative activity can be attributed to the recruitment of the fusion protein into the large Sxl:Snf splicing complexes that are found in vivo and the consequent disruption of these complexes. In addition to the dominant negative activity, the Nss-gal fusion protein has a novel gain-of-function activity in males: it promotes the female-specific processing of tra pre-mRNAs. This novel activity is discussed in light of the blockage model for the tra splicing regulation.

An N-terminal truncation uncouples the sex-transforming and dosage compensation functions of sex-lethal.

In Drosophila melanogaster, Sex-lethal (Sxl) controls autoregulation and sexual differentiation by alternative splicing but regulates dosage compensation by translational repression. To elucidate how Sxl functions in splicing and translational regulation, we have ectopically expressed a full-length Sxl protein (Sx.FL) and a protein lacking the N-terminal 40 amino acids (Sx-N). The Sx.FL protein recapitulates the activity of Sxl gain-of-function mutations, as it is both sex transforming and lethal in males. In contrast, the Sx-N protein unlinks the sex-transforming and male-lethal effects of Sxl. The Sx-N proteins are compromised in splicing functions required for sexual differentiation, displaying only partial autoregulatory activity and almost no sex-transforming activity. On the other hand, the Sx-N protein does retain substantial dosage compensation function and kills males almost as effectively as the Sx.FL protein. In the course of our analysis of the Sx.FL and Sx-N transgenes, we have also uncovered a novel, negative autoregulatory activity, in which Sxl proteins bind to the 3' untranslated region of Sxl mRNAs and decrease Sxl protein expression. This negative autoregulatory activity may be a homeostasis mechanism.

Sex-specific control of Sex-lethal is a conserved mechanism for sex determination in the genus Drosophila.

In D. melanogaster the binary switch gene Sex-lethal (Sxl) plays a pivotal role in somatic sex determination -- when the Sxl gene is on the female pathway is followed, while the male pathway is followed when the gene is off. In the present study we have asked whether the Sxl gene is present in other species of the genus Drosophila and whether it is subject to a similar sex-specific on-off regulation. Sxl proteins were found in all of the drosophilids examined, and they display a sex-specific pattern of expression. Furthermore, characterization of the Sxl gene in the distant drosophilan relative, D. virilis, reveals that the structure and sequence organization of the gene has been well conserved and that, like melanogaster, alternative RNA processing is responsible for its sex-specific expression. Hence, this posttranscriptional on-off regulatory mechanism probably existed before the separation of the drosophilan and sophophoran subgenera and it seems likely that Sxl functions as a sex determination switch gene in most species in the Drosophila genus. Although alternative splicing appears to be responsible for the on-off regulation of the Sxl gene in D. virilis, this species is unusual in that Sxl proteins are present not only in females but also in males. The D. virilis female and male proteins appear to be identical over most of the length except for the amino-terminal approx. 25 aa which are encoded by the differentially spliced exons. In transcriptionally active polytene chromosomes, the male and female proteins bind to the same cytogenetic loci, including the sites corresponding to the D. virilis Sxl and tra genes. Hence, though the male proteins are able to interact with appropriate target pre-mRNAs, they are apparently incapable of altering the splicing pattern of these pre-mRNAs.

The neophyte female delinquent: a review of the literature.

During the 1950s, most of the attention on juvenile delinquency concentrated on males. Recently, however, the incidence of female delinquency has escalated. Female delinquency that did exist a generation ago centered primarily on sexual misconduct; today, much greater numbers of females are involved in armed robbery, gang activity, drug trafficking, burglary, weapons possession, aggravated assault, and prostitution. Research on the etiology of this behavior is inconclusive, with some of the theories centering around dysfunctional families, victimization, aggression, neglect, rejection, physical and sexual abuse, self-perception, gender role, and intellectual ability. This paper attempts to ascertain the status of female delinquency, with special focus on definition, etiology, and treatment.

The association between community physician's attendance at a medical center's CME courses and their patient referrals to the medical center.

This study attempts to quantify an overall association between CME course attendance and referrals. Attendance at formal CME courses given by the University of Michigan Medical School and referrals to the University Hospitals were examined over a two-year period. Attendance and referrals were linked to physicians in Michigan identified through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulation and through the American Medical Association. For physicians who are office-based and likely to be in active practice (age less than 70), those who attended at least one of the University's CME courses referred more patients than those who did not attend one (means of 1.9 referrals per physician and 1.3 referrals per physician, p less than .001). The causal direction of the relationship is not clear, but probably operates in both directions. It is reasonable for medical center marketers to consider CME as an indirect method for marketing clinical services. It is also reasonable for CME directors to identify referring physicians as high-priority groups for marketing CME. Both marketing efforts may be significantly enhanced by linking data bases for referrals and for CME attendance. CME directors must also ensure that marketing efforts do not compromise the objectivity and integrity of the content of the institution's CME program.

Enhancing self-perception through bibliotherapy.

Bibliotherapy has been used for generations by professionals in medicine, psychology, counseling, social work, and education. A selected review of the literature is provided to show how bibliotherapy was used in the past and how it is currently employed to implement and facilitate self-identification and to enhance self-perception. Researchers concur that the process of providing pupils with carefully monitored literature will result in positive or negative changes in their self-perception.

Hypnotherapy: a possible alternative for treating pupils affected with attention deficit disorder.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in treating attention-deficit-hyperactivity by certified psychologist and physicians. The 7 boys and 4 girls were enrolled in a Special Day classroom for hyperkinesis and behavior problems and were being given methylphenidate (Ritalin). Three attempts were made to hypnotize these subjects; however, the group had to be reduced from 11 to 3 and finally, from 3 to a single child to be successful. A significant improvement from pre- and post-hypnotic sessions was noted.