Showing papers by "Saint Anselm College published in 2002"
TL;DR: Analysis of naturally occurring wasp attack ‘runs’ showed that the per-attack run and per-spider capture success of wasps decreased significantly with increased spider colony size, and the ‘early warning’ hypothesis of antipredator benefits for colonial web-building spiders was supported.
95 citations
TL;DR: In this experimental model system in vitro assays of cell proliferation and invasion do not accurately reflect in vivo observations, perhaps due to autocrine and paracrine effects of TGF-β that influence the important in vivo-based phenomena of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
Abstract: To characterize the impact of increased production of TGF-β in a xenograft model of human breast cancer, TGF-β-responsive MDA-231 cells were genetically modified by stable transfection so as to increase their production of active TGF-β1. Compared with control cells, cells that produced increased amounts of TGF-β proliferated in vitro more slowly. In vivo, however, tumors derived from these cells exhibited increased proliferation and grew at an accelerated pace. To evaluate the role of autocrine TGF-β signaling, cells were also transfected with a dominant-negative truncated type II TGF-β receptor (TβRII). Disruption of autocrine TGF-β signaling in the TGF-β-overexpressing cells reduced their in vivo growth rate. Co-inoculation of Matrigel with the TGF-β-overexpressing cells expressing the truncated TβRII compensated for their diminished in vivo growth capacity, compared with the TGF-β-overexpressing cells with an intact autocrine loop. Tissue invasion by the tumor was a distinctive feature of the TGF-β-overexpressing cells, whether or not the autocrine loop was intact. Furthermore, tumors derived from TGF-β-overexpressing cells, irrespective of the status of the autocrine TGF-β-signaling pathway, had a higher incidence of lung metastasis. Consistent with the suggestion that TGF-β's enhancement of invasion and metastasis is paracrine-based, we observed no significant differences among the cell clones in an in vitro invasion assay. Thus, in this experimental model system in vitro assays of cell proliferation and invasion do not accurately reflect in vivo observations, perhaps due to autocrine and paracrine effects of TGF-β that influence the important in vivo-based phenomena of tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis.
60 citations
TL;DR: Findings suggest that target P3b amplitude and P2 amplitude/intensity slope abnormalities reflect different pathophysiological processes.
Abstract: Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found to show several event-related brain potential (ERP) abnormalities including reduced target P3b amplitude, P50 suppression, and P2 amplitude/intensity slope. Female Vietnam nurse veterans with (n = 29) and without (n = 38) current PTSD completed P50 paired-click, three-tone "oddball" and four-tone stimulus-intensity modulation procedures. Opposite to previous findings, the current PTSD group had larger target P3b amplitudes and increased P2 amplitude/intensity slopes. Reduced P50 suppression was associated with increased severity of general psychopathology, but not with PTSD diagnosis. Findings suggest that target P3b amplitude and P2 amplitude/intensity slope abnormalities reflect different pathophysiological processes. Future research is needed to determine whether the opposite ERP abnormalities observed in this PTSD sample reflect gender-, trauma-, or sample-specific findings.
46 citations
TL;DR: Results of this study suggest that selection pressures from a highly specialized predator may also result in evolution of predator-specific prey responses.
Abstract: Earlier studies have shown that the sarcophagid fly Arachnidomyia lindae is the principal egg-sac predator of the colonial orb-weaving spider Metepeira incrassata, and that risk of egg-sac loss increases with group size Observations of specialized behaviors for attack (flies) and defense (spiders) suggest that this predator–prey relationship may incorporate elements of ploy and counterploy behavior Here we explore this relationship in detail and test hypotheses regarding efficacy of attack and defense behaviors Egg-sac guarding by the spider includes defensive behaviors specific to this fly predator, which were observed during experimental "attacks" with tethered A lindae, but not with similar presentations of non-predatory Musca domestica Experimental studies also show that Metepeira incrassata recognizes this predatory fly by airborne cues (ie, the signature frequency of wing-beats), and can distinguish between this predator and other flies (potential prey) on the basis of wing-beat frequency differences Removal of female spiders results in a significantly higher probability of unguarded egg-sacs being parasitized, demonstrating the adaptive value of spider defensive behaviors We also present evidence that A lindae utilizes a behavioral ploy for circumventing spider guarding behavior (aggressive mimicry – producing vibrations of captured prey in the web), and that Metepeira incrassata, in turn, exhibits a counter-ploy behavior (signal thread cutting) to eliminate this potentially distracting vibratory information While previous studies have shown that this colonial web-building spider uses a number of general attack-abatement mechanisms against a diversity of predators and parasitoids, results of this study suggest that selection pressures from a highly specialized predator may also result in evolution of predator-specific prey responses
14 citations
TL;DR: The results fail to support the hypothesis that the stress of a traumatic event and/or resultant PTSD damages the nervous system.
Abstract: This study examined eight neurological soft signs (NSSs), which had previously proved successful in discriminating medication-free post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from non-PTSD combat veterans and sexually abused women, in 82 unmedicated female nurse Vietnam veterans, 32 with and 50 without PTSD. The increased NSSs observed in the previously studied PTSD samples were not found in the nurses with PTSD. The results fail to support the hypothesis that the stress of a traumatic event and/or resultant PTSD damages the nervous system.
13 citations
09 Jan 2002
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report the results of three campaigns in which the horizontal wind vector at cloud altitudes was measured using the holographic, conical-scan lidar HARLIE in its zenith-viewing mode.
Abstract: We report the results of three campaigns in which the horizontal wind vector at cloud altitudes was measured using the holographic, conical-scan lidar HARLIE in its zenith-viewing mode. Measurements were made during the HOLO-1 and HOLO-2 tests in Utah and New Hampshire in March and June 1999, respectively, and at the DoE-ARM site in Oklahoma in September/October 2000. A novel algorithm facilitates the wind vector analysis of the HARLIE data. Observed wind velocity and direction were compared with radiosonde records and with other data obtained from video cloud imagery and independent lidar ranging. The results demonstrate good agreement between HARLIE data and the results of other methods. The conically scanning holographic lidar opens up new possibilities for obtaining the vertical profile of horizontal winds.
9 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines assemblies of the clergy in early modern Castile and France and provides a short overview of the representative nature of these assemblies, their functions, and their power over the ecclesiastical purse strings, arguing that historians need to take a closer look at ecclesiastical assemblies in order to understand politics, finance and representation in Catholic polities.
Abstract: SUMMARY This paper examines assemblies of the clergy in early modern Castile and France. It provides a short overview of the representative nature of these assemblies, their functions, and their power over the ecclesiastical purse strings. In the process it argues that, in addition to secular representative institutions, historians need to take a closer look at ecclesiastical assemblies in order to understand politics, finance and representation in Catholic polities.
1 citations
TL;DR: Making a decision about HRT may seem more difficult now than ever before, but one thing is clear: It's a highly personal decision that each woman must make after discussing it with her health care provider.
Abstract: Making a decision about HRT may seem more difficult now than ever before, but one thing is clear: It's a highly personal decision that each woman must make after discussing it with her health care provider. Nearly 1.3 million women reach menopause in the U.S. each year and the number is growing as the baby‐boom generation reaches midlife. During the decision‐making process, it's important to discuss a woman's reasons for considering or taking HRT as well as her personal risk profile. No particular approach is the "best" one. Instead, what is most important is helping individual women to choose the course that best suits them.