Stony Brook University

About: Stony Brook University is a education organization based out in Stony Brook, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 32534 authors who have published 68218 publications receiving 3035131 citations. The organization is also known as: State University of New York at Stony Brook & SUNY Stony Brook.

Virus attenuation by genome-scale changes in codon pair bias.

Abstract: As a result of the redundancy of the genetic code, adjacent pairs of amino acids can be encoded by as many as 36 different pairs of synonymous codons. A species-specific "codon pair bias" provides that some synonymous codon pairs are used more or less frequently than statistically predicted. We synthesized de novo large DNA molecules using hundreds of over-or underrepresented synonymous codon pairs to encode the poliovirus capsid protein. Underrepresented codon pairs caused decreased rates of protein translation, and polioviruses containing such amino acid-independent changes were attenuated in mice. Polioviruses thus customized were used to immunize mice and provided protective immunity after challenge. This "death by a thousand cuts" strategy could be generally applicable to attenuating many kinds of viruses.

Activation of the Src-family tyrosine kinase Hck by SH3 domain displacement

Abstract: The protein Hck is a member of the Src family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases which is preferentially expressed in haematopoietic cells of the myeloid and B-lymphoid lineages. Src kinases are inhibited by tyrosine-phosphorylation at a carboxy-terminal site. The SH2 domains of these enzymes play an essential role in this regulation by binding to the tyrosine-phosphorylated tail. The crystal structure of the downregulated form of Hck has been determined and reveals that the SH2 domain regulates enzymatic activity indirectly; intramolecular interactions between the SH3 and catalytic domains appear to stabilize an inactive form of the kinase. Here we compare the roles of the SH2 and SH3 domains in modulating the activity of Hck in an investigation of the C-terminally phosphorylated form of the enzyme. We show that addition of the HIV-1 Nef protein, which is a high-affinity ligand for the Hck SH3 domain, to either the downregulated or activated form of Hck causes a large increase in Hck catalytic activity. The intact SH3-binding motif in Nef is crucial for Hck activation. Our results indicate that binding of the Hck SH3 domain by Nef causes a more marked activation of the enzyme than does binding of the SH2 domain, suggesting a new mechanism for regulation of the activity of tyrosine kinases.

Psychophysiology of aggression, psychopathy, and conduct problems: a meta-analysis.

Abstract: A meta-analysis of 95 studies was conducted to investigate the relations of heart rate (HR) and electrodermal activity (EDA) with aggression, psychopathy, and conduct problems Analyses revealed a complex constellation of interactive effects, with a failure in some cases of autonomic patterns to generalize across antisocial spectrum behavior constructs Low resting EDA and low task EDA were associated with psychopathy/sociopathy and conduct problems However, EDA reactivity was positively associated with aggression and negatively associated with psychopathy/sociopathy Low resting HR and high HR reactivity were associated with aggression and conduct problems Physiology--behavior relations varied with age and stimulus valence in several cases Empirical and clinical implications are discussed

Social comparison in adjustment to breast cancer.

Abstract: We investigated four theoretical perspectives concerning the role of social comparison (Festinger, 1954) in coping with a threatening event in a sample of breast cancer patients. According to the supercoper perspective, personal contact with comparison others is often unavailable to patients, and contact with media "supercopers"--fellow victims presented as adjusting very smoothly--may make patients feel inadequate by comparison. According to the similarity perspective, patients select comparison targets who are similar to themselves because those comparisons should be the most informative. The upward comparison perspective is predictive of comparisons to relatively advantaged or superior individuals. The downward comparison perspective leads to the prediction that under conditions of threat, individuals make comparisons to people who are inferior or less fortunate in order to enhance their self-esteem. We interviewed 78 breast cancer patients, and results of both closed-ended questions and spontaneously offered comparisons yielded a preponderance of downward comparisons. The results point to the value of using naturalistic methods for studying comparisons, and suggest a more active and cognitive role for social comparison than is usually portrayed.

On the Varieties of National Attachment: Blind Versus Constructive Patriotism

Abstract: Two studies explored a theoretical distinction between “blind” and “constructive” patriotism. Blind patriotism is defined as an attachment to country characterized by unquestioning positive evaluation, staunch allegiance, and intolerance of criticism. Constructive patriotism is defined as an attachment to country characterized by support for questioning and criticism of current group practices that are intended to result in positive change. Items designed to investigate these dimensions of national attachment were administered to two groups of undergraduates in separate surveys. Measures of the two constructs derived from factor analysis of the responses proved to be reliable and valid. Blind patriotism was positively associated with political disengagement, nationalism, perceptions of foreign threat, perceived importance of symbolic behaviors, and selective exposure to pro-U.S. information. In contrast, constructive patriotism was positively associated with multiple indicators of political involvement, including political efficacy, interest, knowledge, and behavior. The implications of this distinction for theory and research on patriotism are discussed.