The ABC’s of Suicide Risk Assessment: Applying a Tripartite Approach to Individual Evaluations

There is considerable need for accurate suicide risk assessment for clinical, screening, and research purposes. This study applied the tripartite affect-behavior-cognition theory, the suicidal barometer model, classical test theory, and item response theory (IRT), to develop a brief self-report measure of suicide risk that is theoretically-grounded, reliable and valid. An initial survey (n = 359) employed an iterative process to an item pool, resulting in the six-item Suicidal Affect-Behavior-Cognition Scale (SABCS). Three additional studies tested the SABCS and a highly endorsed comparison measure. Studies included two online surveys (Ns = 1007, and 713), and one prospective clinical survey (n = 72; Time 2, n = 54). Factor analyses demonstrated SABCS construct validity through unidimensionality. Internal reliability was high (α = .86-.93, split-half = .90-.94)). The scale was predictive of future suicidal behaviors and suicidality (r = .68, .73, respectively), showed convergent validity, and the SABCS-4 demonstrated clinically relevant sensitivity to change. IRT analyses revealed the SABCS captured more information than the comparison measure, and better defined participants at low, moderate, and high risk. The SABCS is the first suicide risk measure to demonstrate no differential item functioning by sex, age, or ethnicity. In all comparisons, the SABCS showed incremental improvements over a highly endorsed scale through stronger predictive ability, reliability, and other properties. The SABCS is in the public domain, with this publication, and is suitable for clinical evaluations, public screening, and research.     

A neural network study on the dynamic identification of a fermentation system

The objective of this paper is to propose neural networks for the study of dynamic identification and prediction of a fermentation system which produces mainly 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDL). The metabolic products of the fermentation, acetic acid, acetoin, ethanol, and 2,3-BDL were measured on-line via a mass spectrometer modified by the insertion of a dimethylvinylsilicone membrane probe. The measured data at different sampling times were included as the input and output nodes, at different learning batches, of the network. A fermentation system is usually nonlinear and dynamic in nature. Measured fermentation data obtained from the complex metabolic pathways are often difficult to be entirely included in a static process model, therefore, a dynamic model was suggested instead. In this work, neural networks were provided by a dynamic learning and prediction process that moved along the time sequence batchwise. In other words, a scheme of two-dimensional moving window (number of input nodes by the number of training data) was proposed for reading in new data while forgetting part of the old data. Proper size of the network including proper number of input/output nodes were determined by trained with the real-time fermentation data. Different number of hidden nodes under the consideration of both learning performance and computation efficiency were tested. The data size for each learning batch was determined. The performance of the learning factors such as the learning coefficient η and the momentum term coefficient α were also discussed. The effect of different dynamic learning intervals, with different starting points and the same ending point, both on the learning and prediction performance were studied. On the other hand, the effect of different dynamic learning intervals, with the same starting point and different ending points, was also investigated. The size of data sampling interval was also discussed. The performance from four different types of transfer functions, x/(1+|x|), sgn(x)·x ²/(1+x ²), 2/(1+e ^{? x} )?1, and 1/(1+e ^{? x} ) was compared. A scaling factor b was added to the transfer function and the effect of this factor on the learning was also evaluated. The prediction results from the time-delayed neural networks were also studied.     

Immobilization materials mixed with activated sludge as column biofilters for the treatment of gaseous stream containing benzene and toluene

Activated sludge has been utilized for the treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are emitted from industrial processes. Nevertheless, activated sludge systems often suffer from the problem caused by concentration gradients as well as pressure drops. Channeling is also a major problem in the treatment process. As the bed height of the packed activated sludge system increases, the pressure drop increases accordingly. To solve these problems, we proposed immobilized activated sludge column reactors for treating VOCs in air. The immobilization material used to mix with activated sludge was properly selected in this work. Elemental compositions of these materials were analyzed. In this study, we also proposed a VOC feed system so that more stable inlet concentrations could be achieved. Hence, the equipment and operating costs were reduced and the problem of VOCs leaking from peristaltic pumps was avoided. The moisture content of the system was well maintained and better VOC removal efficiency was achieved. With an operation condition of progressive VOC inlet concentrations, better removal efficiency of benzene and toluene was then obtained. In conclusion, by the utilization of immobilization materials selected from wastes as well as immobilized activated sludge column reactors, significant removal efficiency for both benzene and toluene was demonstrated.     

Body mass and behavior in Swiss mice subjected to continuous or discontinuous food restriction and refeeding

Food restriction (FR) is hypothesized to decrease body fat content of an animal and thus prevent obesity. However, the response of energy budget to a continuous (CFR) or discontinuous FR (DFR) remains inconsistent. In the present study, effects of CFR or DFR and refeeding on energy budget and behavior were examined in male Swiss mice. CFR significantly decreased the energy expenditure associated with basal metabolic rate (BMR) and activity behavior, but not sufficiently to compensate for energy deficit and thus resulted in lower body mass and fat content. DFR mice had a significantly higher food intake on ad libitum days and showed increases in BMR and activity after 4 weeks’ DFR, which might resulted in lower body mass and less body fat than controls. After being refed ad libitum, both CFR and DFR mice had similar body mass, BMR, and behavioral patterns to controls but had 95% and 75% higher fat content. This suggested that not only CFR but also DFR would be a significant factor in the process of obesity for animals that were refed ad libitum. It also indicated that food restriction interrupted many times by periods of ad libitum feeding had the same long-term effects like continuous underfeeding.     

Protein Interactions and Regulation of EscA in Enterohemorrhagic E. coli

Infections caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) can lead to diarrhea with abdominal cramps and sometimes are complicated by severe hemolytic uremic syndrome. EHEC secretes effector proteins into host cells through a type III secretion system that is composed of proteins encoded by a chromosomal island, locus for the enterocyte effacement (LEE). EspA is the major component of the filamentous structure connecting the bacteria and the host''s cells. Synthesis and secretion of EspA must be carefully controlled since the protein is prone to polymerize. CesAB, CesA2, and EscL have been identified as being able to interact with EspA. Furthermore, the intracellular level of EspA declines when cesAB, cesA2, and escL are individually deleted. Here, we report a LEE gene named l0033, which also affects the intracellular level of EspA. We renamed l0033 as escA since its counterpart in enteropathogenic E. coli has been recently described. Similar to CesAB, EscL, and CesA2, EscA interacts with EspA and enhances the protein stability of EspA. However, EscA is also able to interact with inner membrane-associated EscL, CesA2, and EscN, but not with cytoplasmic CesAB. In terms of gene organizations, escA locates in LEE3. Expression of EscA is faithfully regulated via Mpc, the first gene product of LEE3. Since Mpc is tightly regulated to low level, we suggest that EscA is highly synchronized and critical to the process of escorting EspA to its final destination.     

Reproductive competition between females in the matrilineal Mosuo of southwestern China

The matrilineal Mosuo of southwestern China live in communal households where brothers and sisters of three generations live together (duolocal residence), and men visit their wives, who reside elsewhere, only at night in ‘visiting’ marriages. Here we show that these communally breeding sisters are in reproductive conflict, in the sense that they share the resources needed to reproduce. We analyse determinants of reproductive success in females and males, and show that co-resident female kin are in competition; the more female kin reside in the household, the more reproductive success is reduced. Male reproductive success, however, is not determined by the kin in his natal household; duolocal males are not in reproductive conflict with their siblings. Competition with female cousins can be worse than that between sisters. We also find that female work on the farm (which is the main communal resource) is not equal. We use a ‘tug-of-war’ model of reproductive skew generated by incomplete control, to model the patterns of effort put into competition between sisters and cousins. The model predicts that more dominant (older) sisters will put less effort into reproductive conflict than will less dominant (younger) sisters; but younger sisters will also have lower reproductive success because they are less efficient at gaining access to the shared resource. Both predictions are consistent with our data. Younger sisters work less in the fields than do older sisters, which may represent a form of conflict or may be because their average relatedness to the household is lower than that of their more fertile older sisters.     

突触小体相关蛋白SNAP25的原核表达、纯化及鉴定

目的:克隆突触小体相关蛋白(SNAP25)基因,原核表达、纯化并鉴定SNAP25蛋白。方法:PCR扩增SNAP25基因,克隆至表达质粒pTIG-Trx,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)感受态细胞,IPTG诱导表达,Ni2+-NTA亲和层析纯化目的蛋白,SDS-PAGE及Western印迹分析肉毒神经毒素BoNT/A轻链对该蛋白的裂解情况。结果:构建了pTIG-SNAP25表达质粒,经IPTG诱导表达,目的蛋白占全菌蛋白的26.2%,表达形式为可溶性表达,表达量达115.4mg/L,纯化后蛋白纯度达95%以上;经SDS-PAGE及Western印迹分析,SNAP25蛋白可被BoNT/A轻链特异降解。结论:克隆了SNAP25基因,在原核系统中表达、纯化并鉴定了重组SNAP25蛋白。     

协惯量分析与典范对应分析在植物群落排序中的应用比较

采用协惯量分析(PCA-CA COIA)和典范对应分析(CCA)两种排序方法, 对北京小龙门林场的黄檗 (Phellodendron amurense)群落进行了分析, 并用Spearman秩相关系数检验了对应排序轴的相关性。两种排序方法得出的结果基本一致, 两者的第一排序轴都反映了海拔高度和坡向对群落分布的影响, 而各自第二、第三排序轴所代表的环境意义有所差异, 并出现了交叉, 但是两者的前3个排序轴均反映了海拔、坡位、土壤厚度和凋落物层厚度的变化趋势, 说明在环境因子个数较少或共线性效应不明显的情况下, 协惯量分析也能达到CCA的分析效果, 并且在排序轴特征值解释量上高于典范对应分析。     

分离自海洋沉积物的四个中国真菌新记录种

报道了分离自渤海沉积物的4个中国真菌新记录种：黄褐隐囊菌Aphanoascus fulvescens、小翅孢壳Emericellopsis minima、弗氏光黑壳Preussia flanaganii和湿生假散囊菌Pseudeurotium hygrophila。其中,隐囊菌属Aphanoascus为中国新记录属。研究菌株保存于中国海洋大学海洋生物标本室（OUCMB）。