An RNA virus hijacks an incognito function of a DNA repair enzyme

A previously described mammalian cell activity, called VPg unlinkase, specifically cleaves a unique protein-RNA covalent linkage generated during the viral genomic RNA replication steps of a picornavirus infection. For over three decades, the identity of this cellular activity and its normal role in the uninfected cell had remained elusive. Here we report the purification and identification of VPg unlinkase as the DNA repair enzyme, 5'-tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase-2 (TDP2). Our data show that VPg unlinkase activity in different mammalian cell lines correlates with their differential expression of TDP2. Furthermore, we show that recombinant TDP2 can cleave the protein-RNA linkage generated by different picornaviruses without impairing the integrity of viral RNA. Our results reveal a unique RNA repair-like function for TDP2 and suggest an unusual role in host-pathogen interactions for this cellular enzyme. On the basis of the identification of TDP2 as a potential antiviral target, our findings may lead to the development of universal therapeutics to treat the millions of individuals afflicted annually with diseases caused by picornaviruses, including myocarditis, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, hepatitis, and the common cold.     

Radiocarbon dates from the Grotte du Renne and Saint-C��saire support a Neandertal origin for the Chatelperronian

The transition from the Middle Paleolithic (MP) to Upper Paleolithic (UP) is marked by the replacement of late Neandertals by modern humans in Europe between 50,000 and 40,000 y ago. Châtelperronian (CP) artifact assemblages found in central France and northern Spain date to this time period. So far, it is the only such assemblage type that has yielded Neandertal remains directly associated with UP style artifacts. CP assemblages also include body ornaments, otherwise virtually unknown in the Neandertal world. However, it has been argued that instead of the CP being manufactured by Neandertals, site formation processes and layer admixture resulted in the chance association of Neanderthal remains, CP assemblages, and body ornaments. Here, we report a series of accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dates on ultrafiltered bone collagen extracted from 40 well-preserved bone fragments from the late Mousterian, CP, and Protoaurignacian layers at the Grotte du Renne site (at Arcy-sur-Cure, France). Our radiocarbon results are inconsistent with the admixture hypothesis. Further, we report a direct date on the Neandertal CP skeleton from Saint-Césaire (France). This date corroborates the assignment of CP assemblages to the latest Neandertals of western Europe. Importantly, our results establish that the production of body ornaments in the CP postdates the arrival of modern humans in neighboring regions of Europe. This new behavior could therefore have been the result of cultural diffusion from modern to Neandertal groups.     

A cross-cultural comparison of pressures to switch left-hand writing: Brazil versus Canada

Attempts to switch left-hand preferences towards the right side are socialisation practices found in many countries (Perelle & Ehrman, 1994). Although researchers acknowledge that pressures against left-hand use contribute to the cross-cultural fluctuations in the prevalence of left- versus right-hand preference, there has been little systematic cross-cultural study of how these pressures are applied, and who are the major agents applying the pressures to change. Our study explored specific rightward conversion practices and the results of these practices among individuals from two countries. One sample of participants was from a culture categorised as formal, Brazil, and the second sample was from Canada, a nonformal culture (Hofstede, 2001). Researchers have argued that prevalence rates of right-handedness should be higher in cultures that value conformity, called formal cultures, and lower among members of nonformal cultures where conformity pressures are lax (Medland, Perelle, De Monte, & Ehrman, 2004). The socialisation practices used to foster a change from the left to the right side are also predicted to differ in frequency and in kind in formal versus nonformal cultural settings. These cultural differences are assumed to result in differences in success rates of the conversion attempts, with formal cultures producing higher numbers of successfully converted right-handers. Our findings indicate that the formal versus nonformal cultural explanation for cross-cultural fluctuations in the prevalence of hand preference types does not account for the characteristics of the rightward conversion experiences reported by participants in the two groups. We propose that hypotheses concerning the effects of cultural differences on hand preference formation be expanded to include possible biological or genetic variance between groups.     

Persian version of the geriatric anxiety scale: Translation and preliminary psychometric properties among Iranian older adults

Objective: The Geriatric Anxiety Scale (GAS) is a new self-report screening measure designed for older adults. Due to the burgeoning Iranian population of older adults and the need for validated, culturally-appropriate screening measures for anxiety in Iran, the purposes of the present study were to translate the GAS into Persian and to explore its preliminary psychometric properties.

Method: Iranian older adults (N = 295; M age = 67.0 years) completed the GAS and the Iranian version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15).

Results: Cronbach's alpha for the GAS total score and the GAS subscales were excellent (Total score α = .92; Cognitive α = .81; Somatic α = .84; Affective α = .80). As expected, each subscale was significantly positively correlated (all p's < .01) with the other subscales. The subscales share common variance ranging from 42% to 56%. The GAS total score and GAS subscale scores were significantly positively correlated with the GDS-15, with medium effect sizes (GAS Total r = .55; Cognitive r = .51; Somatic r = .50; Affective r = .48). Finally, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to investigate the factor structure of the Persian version of the GAS. Results support a one factor solution (general anxiety) for this Iranian sample.

Conclusion: This study provides preliminary psychometric support for the Persian version of the GAS as a screening measure for anxiety in Iranian older adults, with a one-dimensional factor structure.     

Validation of the Greek version of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales for Elderly People (HoNOS65+, version 3)

Objectives: There is a growing need for evaluation of the results of mental health services and clinical treatment in older people, but evidence for effectiveness is limited in Greece. The Health of the Nations Outcome Scales for Elderly People (HoNOS65+) are promising instruments for the assessment of mental, physical and social health in older persons. They have been translated into the Greek language but have not been validated. The aim was to assess the inter-rater reliability, intraclass correlation, concurrent validity, internal consistency and sensitivity to change of HoNOS65+ in a Greek sample of older people with mental health problems.

Method: Two samples, one of inpatients in a psychiatric hospital and the other of older people living in the community were used. In order to test the extent to which the HoNOS65+ were sensitive to change the first sample was reassessed after two months and the second after three months. For each participant HoNOS65+ were completed by two independent raters, and the clinician rated blindly each participant on the Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale and a scale which measured behavioural, physical, cognitive and emotional status.

Results: In both groups (inpatients n?=?50, community n?=?65), the inter-rater reliability, intraclass correlation and concurrent validity were high while internal consistency of the scales taken together was low. At reassessment in 98 participants, HoNOS65+ showed changes comparable to clinician ratings.

Conclusion: The Greek version of HoNOS65+ can achieve high levels of reliability, validity and sensitivity to change for measuring outcomes in older people with mental health problems.     

A brief treatment approach for sexual aversions in a young,single Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) Jewish female

For those adhering to Ultra-Orthodox Jewish practices, any pre-marital physical contact is forbidden. As a consequence, most young married couples begin their physical relationship with no prior sexual experience and with minimal specific information. This situation can engender a level of anxiety, which impedes or prevents the creation of a positive intimate relationship. This client expressed no conflict with her religious identification, but adherence to religious expectations had contributed to a lack of both sexual knowledge and experience. The resulting sex-negative impression became the source of considerable anxiety. Making use of religious symbols and metaphors allowed her to reconstruct her views of sexuality without doubt or guilt, underscoring the capacity and permissibility of her body to experience sexual pleasure. This modified perspective opened the door for her to accept a short-term behavioral intervention sequence with little resistance, leading to a successful resolution of the presenting problem.     

Changing Selves in Changing Worlds: Youth Suicide on the Fault-Lines of Colliding Cultures

Abstract

A time series study of the Japanese suicide rate from 1970 to 1989 indicated that the establishment of suicide prevention centers may have been associated with a reduced suicide rate above and beyond the impact of social and economic factors. The effect was small and significant at only the 0.07 level, but sufficiently stable as to encourage further research to evaluate the effectiveness of suicide prevention centers.