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PubMed1996

Crystal structure of three consecutive laminin-type epidermal growth factor-like (LE) modules of laminin gamma1 chain harboring the nidogen binding site.

The structure of three consecutive laminin-type EGF-like (LE) modules of mouse laminin gammma1 chain, gamma1III3-5 (positions 738 to 899), has been determined by multiple isomorphous replacement in a crystal of space group p6(4)22 (a=b=74.57 angstroms, c = 185.11 angstroms and gamma = 120 degrees). The crystal structure was refined using restrained crystallographic refinement to an R-factor of 19.72% for 14,983 independent reflections with intensities F(obs)> 0 at 2.1 angstroms resolution, with root mean square deviation of 0.012 angstroms and 1.690 degrees from ideal bond lengths and bond angles, respectively. The final model consisted of 1179 (non-hydrogen) protein atoms within 162 residues and 119 water molecules. The molecule showed a rod-like structure of about 76 angstroms length with individual modules twisted relative to each other by about 70 degrees. Each module has the same disulfide bond connections Cys1-Cys3 (loop a), Cys2-Cys4 (loop b), Cys5-Cys6 (loop c) and Cys7-Cys8 (loop d), the first three being identical to epidermal growth factor (EGF). All three LE modules showed little secondary structure which was mainly restricted to loop d, but they differed in several other details of their structure. The interface contacts between the LE modules are based on hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions between the hydrophobic core of loop d of the preceding module and the first cysteine and an exposed residue in loop b of the following module. Module 4 was previously shown to contribute the major nidogen binding site of laminis and site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated a specific binding role for Asp800, Asn802, Val804 and Tyr819 in loops a and c. The side-chain of these four residues are all located on the surface in a linear array and separated by a distance of 17 angstroms between Tyr819 and Val804. The entire nidogen binding site is stabilized via main-chain hydrogen bonds which are in part derived from the link between loops b and c (residues Leu815 and Lys816). The data demonstrate the unique nature of the LE modules and only a remote similarity to EGF. They also indicate that the crucial residues in the binding loops provide direct contacts with nidogen and explain the synergism between loops a and c which is essential for binding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

A comparison of the folding kinetics and thermodynamics of two homologous fibronectin type III modules.

The homologous ninth and tenth type III modules of human fibronectin share identical topologies and nearly identical core structures. Despite these structural similarities, the refolding characteristics of the two modules, which have a sequence identity of less than 30 %, are very different; in the absence of denaturant the ninth module folds several hundred times more slowly than the tenth and, although both modules contain numerous proline residues, only the ninth exhibits a slow, proline isomerization-limited folding phase. The different folding kinetics of the two modules coincide with a large difference in their thermodynamic stability, with the folding free energy of the tenth being approximately five fold greater than that of the ninth. This may be the reason why the ninth module, unlike the rapidly folding tenth module, is apparently unable to overcome characteristics of the fibronectin type III modules that can slow the folding process. The non-proline-limited folding kinetics are, however, very similar for the two modules when compared under conditions where their overall stabilities are similar. The significance of this finding is discussed in terms of possible determinants of the kinetics of protein folding.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1998

Solution structure of the glycosylated second type 2 module of fibronectin.

Fibronectin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that plays a role in a number of physiological processes involving cell adhesion and migration. The modules of the fibronectin monomer are organized into proteolytically resistant domains that in isolation retain their affinity for various ligands. The tertiary structure of the glycosylated second type 2 module (2F2) from the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin was determined by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and simulated annealing. The structure is well defined with an overall fold typical of F2 modules, showing two double-stranded antiparallel beta-sheets and a partially solvent-exposed hydrophobic cluster. An N-terminal beta-sheet, that was not present in previously determined F2 module structures, may be important for defining the relative orientation of adjacent F2 modules in fibronectin. This is the first three-dimensional structure of a glycosylated module of fibronectin, and provides insight into the possible role of the glycosylation in protein stability, protease resistance and modulation of collagen binding. Based on the structures of the isolated modules, models for the 1F22F2 pair were generated by randomly changing the orientation of the linker peptide between the modules. The models suggest that the two putative collagen binding sites in the pair form discrete binding sites, rather than combining to form a single binding site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

NMR structure and backbone dynamics of a concatemer of epidermal growth factor homology modules of the human low-density lipoprotein receptor.

The ligand-binding region of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor is formed by seven N-terminal, imperfect, cysteine-rich (LB) modules. This segment is followed by an epidermal growth factor precursor homology domain with two N-terminal, tandem, EGF-like modules that are thought to participate in LDL binding and recycling of the endocytosed receptor to the cell surface. EGF-A and the concatemer, EGF-AB, of these modules were expressed in Escherichia coli. Correct protein folding of EGF-A and the concatemer EGF-AB was achieved in the presence or absence of calcium ions, in contrast to the LB modules, which require them for correct folding. Homonuclear and heteronuclear 1H-15N NMR spectroscopy at 17.6 T was used to determine the three-dimensional structure of the concatemer. Both modules are formed by two pairs of short, anti-parallel beta-strands. In the concatemer, these modules have a fixed relative orientation, stabilized by calcium ion-binding and hydrophobic interactions at the interface. 15N longitudinal and transverse relaxation rates, and [1H]-15N heteronuclear NOEs were used to derive a model-free description of the backbone dynamics of the molecule. The concatemer appears relatively rigid, particularly near the calcium ion-binding site at the module interface, with an average generalized order parameter of 0.85+/-0.11. Some mutations causing familial hypercholesterolemia may now be rationalized. Mutations of D41, D43 and E44 in the EGF-B calcium ion-binding region may affect the stability of the linker and thus the orientation of the tandem modules. The diminutive core also provides little structural stabilization, necessitating the presence of disulfide bonds. The structure and dynamics of EGF-AB contrast with the N-terminal LB modules, which require calcium ions both for folding to form the correct disulfide connectivities and for maintenance of the folded structure, and are connected by highly mobile linking peptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Down-modulation of the costimulatory molecule, CD28, is a conserved activity of multiple SIV Nefs and is dependent on histidine 196 of Nef.

In this study Nef proteins derived from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were compared to assess their abilities to down-modulate the cell surface levels of the T-cell costimulatory molecule CD28. We demonstrate that in addition to Nef derived from the prototypic SIVmac239, Nef proteins encoded by the pathogenic SIVsmmPBj molecular clone and the SIVsmmB670 isolate also down-modulate cell surface CD28. In contrast, Nef proteins derived from HIV failed to down-modulate CD28. We have also identified H196 as a critical residue which influences the capacity of SIVmac Nef to down-modulate CD28. Nef derived from SIVmacJ5 failed to down-modulate cell surface CD28, whereas a Q196H substitution mutant of SIVmacJ5 Nef was able to down-modulate cell surface CD28. Conversely, substitution of H196 to Q196 in SIVmac239 Nef resulted in a mutant that had minimal effect on cell surface CD28 expression, despite retaining the capacity to down-modulate cell surface CD3epsilon. H196 lies immediately adjacent to a documented di-leucine endocytic motif and mutation of this motif also abrogated the ability of SIVmac239 Nef to down-modulate CD28. These findings demonstrate that down-modulation of the costimulatory molecule, CD28, and clonotypic TCR/CD3 complex are conserved attributes of SIV Nef.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Coding of sinusoidally amplitude modulated acoustic stimuli in the inferior colliculus of the rufous horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus rouxi.

Single neuron responses to sinusoidally amplitude modulated (SAM) signals were studied in the inferior colliculus of the horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus rouxi. 57% of the neurons responded to SAM stimuli with periodical discharges synchronized to the modulation cycle. The proportion of cells driven by amplitude modulated signals was independent of the best frequency of the neurons. Best modulation frequencies were at or below 100 Hz in about 70% of the neurons. Synchronized activity could be elicited by modulation frequencies up to 400 Hz. Best SAM responses were observed at stimulus intensities 10 dB above threshold. Generally the BMF of a neuron did not change with intensity. The BMF decreased with decreasing modulation depth of the amplitude modulation. A trend for a topographical organization of neurons according to best modulation frequencies was detected. The results did not reveal any significant specialization of the bat's auditory system for coding of amplitude modulations as compared to other mammals.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Differential effectiveness of a range of novel drug-resistance modulators, relative to verapamil, in influencing vinblastine or teniposide cytotoxicity in human lymphoblastoid CCRF-CEM sublines expressing classic or atypical multidrug resistance.

A series of five potential modulators of resistance were tested for their relative ability, as compared with verapamil, to sensitize CEM lymphoblastoid leukemia drug-resistant tumor sublines expressing either the classic or the atypical multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenotype to vinblastine or teniposide. Maximal non-cytotoxic concentrations of each modulator were tested and sensitization induces (SIs) were derived by comparing the drug concentration required to inhibit growth by 50% in their presence or absence. Like verapamil (10 microM) itself, three of the other modulators tested, namely, S9788 (4 microM), flunarizine (20 microM) and quinidine (30 microM), resulted in 2- to 3-fold sensitization of vinblastine against the parental CEM cells, and comparable effects were noted in the CEM/VM-1 cells, which were not cross-resistant to vinblastine. In contrast, cyclosporin A (0.5 microM) and B859-35 (2 microM) did not enhance vinblastine growth inhibition in these lines. However, the greatest sensitization with all the modulators was noted in the classic MDR VBL1000 cells, with SIs ranging from 40- to 350-fold, except for cyclosporin A, which proved ineffective at the concentration tested (SI, 2.6). The greatest extent of differential sensitization of these VBL1000 tumor cells occurred with quinidine or B859-35, which proved significantly more effective than verapamil alone. Combinations of modulators resulted in additive effects, with B859-35 plus cyclosporin A proving superior to B859-35 plus verapamil. In contrast, none of these compounds proved effective as a sensitizer to teniposide. The growth-inhibitory effects of this drug were not modified significantly in either the 92-fold teniposide-resistant VM-1 cells or in the parental cells. Addition of verapamil itself also failed to modulate teniposide growth inhibition in the VBL1000 cells, which express significant cross-resistance to this drug (36-fold). However, SI values of 3- to 5-fold were obtained using quinidine or B859-35. These results serve (a) to emphasise the need to monitor the effects of modulators not only on drug-resistant cells but also on their drug-sensitive counterparts so as to ensure differential sensitization such that normal sensitive tissues are not likely to be adversely influenced and (b) to highlight the observation that the extent of modulation differs depending not only on the antitumor drug used but also on the mechanism of drug resistance expressed. This in vitro model system appears to provide a useful screening system for resistance modulators and certainly could be used in attempts to identify alternative agents that may influence teniposide sensitivity in these drug-resistant sublines.

Cyclosporine↗
PubMed2002

Non-invasive Wedensky modulation within the QRS complex.

To investigate non-invasively induced Wedensky modulation, 2ms pulses of 5, 20 and 40mA were delivered between precordial and subscapular patches synchronously with the ORS complex. Wavelet vector magnitude was obtained for averaged modulated and non-modulated complexes. The surface area of a 3D-envelope of their difference (WSR) was compared in 59 patients with an uncomplicated follow-up after myocardial infarction (MI) (42 men, 64.3+/-9.1 years), in 30 patients with ischaemic heart disease and a history of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) (29 men, 63.1+/-9.8 years), and in 53 healthy subjects (control) (22 men, 56.6+/-10.1 years). Reproducibility of the assessment was tested by computing relative errors in a sub-population of 30 VT/VF patients and 47 controls. Wedensky modulation parameters differed significantly between control, MI and VT/VF subjects. In 10 ms post-modulation windows, the following WSR values were obtained: controls: 1184+/-496 (5mA), 1553+/-838 (20 mA) and 2092+/-1488 (40 mA); VT/VF: 861+/-412 (5mA), 1134+/-636 (20 mA) and 1320+/-1036 (40 mA); MI: 1305+/-885 (5mA) and 1779+/-1169 (20 mA). With all modulating energies used, the VT/VF patients differed significantly from both the controls and MI patients; control patients against VT/VF patients: p<0.004 (5 mA), p<0.01 (20 mA) and p<0.001 (40 mA); VT/VF patients against MI patients: p<0.02 (5mA), p<0.01 (20 mA); control patients against MI patients: all p=NS. The reproducibility assessment showed an acceptable stability of Wedensky modulation parameters. This study demonstrated that wavelet decomposition detects non-invasive Wedensky modulation within the QRS complex, and VT/VF patients are less sensitive to Wedensky modulation than control and MI patients.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1983

Modulation of T lymphocyte differentiation antigens: influence of aging.

In vitro modulation of human T lymphocyte surface differentiation antigens T3, T8, and T4, by their respective monoclonal antibodies, was studied as a function of donor age. Kinetic studies performed on lymphocytes from young adults indicated that modulation is dependent on concentration of antibody used and duration of culture. OKT3 modulates T3 rapidly (maximum at less than 24 hr) and relatively completely (79% at the highest concentration of antibody used). By 48 hr, regeneration of the T3 antigen is apparent. T8 modulation by OKT8 is slower (continued modulation at 48 hr) and less complete than is T3 modulation by OKT3. OKT4 does not modulate the T4 antigen. In elderly individuals modulation of T3 by OKT3 is preserved whereas modulation of T8 by OKT8 is significantly reduced (24 +/- 8% at 48 hr vs 53 +/- 4% for young controls). These observations document further age-related changes in properties of human T suppressor cells.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Perceived motion of contrast-modulated gratings: predictions of the multi-channel gradient model and the role of full-wave rectification.

The paper examines the perception of motion in contrast-modulated sine-wave grating patterns. These non-rigid motion patterns give rise to a spatially-structured motion percept in which perceived speed varies with spatial position. We measured the perceived motion of the low contrast regions of amplitude-modulated gratings as a function of the carrier frequency, the carrier speed, the shape of the modulation signal and the modulation depth. We found that for static carriers perceived speed was greatest in the low contrast regions of the display. The speed of the low contrast regions was underestimated and perceived speed decreased as the spatial frequency of the carrier increased. When the direction of the motion of the carrier was opposite to that of the contrast modulation, the low contrast regions could appear to be stationary. The perceived speed of the contrast modulation increased with modulation depth. The brightness contrast of the carrier grating had little effect on perceived speed of contrast-modulated patterns for average contrasts of over 10%. A motion model which had full-wave rectification as an explicit pre-processing stage followed by low-pass filtering or some other selection criterion, would predict that the motion of contrast-modulated gratings should appear rigid and that the motion of the envelope should be judged correctly. The Multi-channel Gradient Model however predicts both the structured motion field experienced when viewing these second-order motion patterns and the reductions in perceived speed as a function of carrier spatial frequency and carrier speed.

Contrast Sensitivity↗
PubMed1985

Adaptation effects on amplitude modulation detection: behavioral and neurophysiological assessment in the goldfish auditory system.

The ability of goldfish to detect the presence of amplitude modulations (AM) impressed on 200, 570 and 800 Hz tones was measured under stimulus conditions producing intermittent, short-term adaptation and continuous, long-term adaptation. Sensitivity to AM under intermittent conditions increased as a function of modulation rate, with thresholds of AM detection occurring between 10 and 25% modulation at 10 Hz and around 2% modulation at 100 Hz. AM sensitivity was independent of carrier frequency and did not change under randomly varying intensity changes. Under long-term adaptation, thresholds of AM detection ranged from 1.3% at 100 Hz to 2.1% at 10 Hz, showing increased sensitivity and less dependence on modulation rate. The effects of overall intensity on AM sensitivity were the same for both conditions, with sensitivity being relatively independent of overall signal level at 10 Hz modulation and dependent on level at 100 Hz. The responses of goldfish auditory neurons to modulated and unmodulated signals were measured under stimulus conditions similar to those for behavioral studies. Single saccular neurons responded to modulated signals with both an increase in average rate above that evoked by the unmodulated signal and with phase-locking to the AM envelope. Rate increments and phase-locking responses were observed in neurons showing significant short-term adaptation to the unmodulated signal, whereas neurons showing no increase in rate or synchronization to the AM envelope showed little or no adaptation to the unmodulated signal. The effects of overall intensity, modulation rate and adaptation duration on neural responses were similar to behaviorally measured effects. These results show that adaptation affects AM detection and that phase-locking to the AM envelope is the most likely basis for behavioral detection.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

Spectral characteristics of the responses of primary auditory-nerve fibers to frequency-modulated signals.

The spectral responses of cat single primary auditory nerve fibers to sinusoidal frequency-modulated acoustic signals applied to the ear are examined. Period histograms were constructed from the neural spike-train data, and the frequency spectrum was determined by Fourier transforming these histograms. Several clusters of spectral components were present. The lowest-frequency cluster consists of components at DC, at the modulation frequency, and at its harmonics. In the next cluster, components surround the carrier frequency and are separated from it by the modulation frequency and its harmonics. Higher-frequency clusters surround frequencies that are twice and three times the carrier frequency. The components in each cluster are separated from the multiples of the carrier frequency by the modulation frequency and its harmonics. The magnitudes of the spectral components were investigated for carrier frequencies located below, at, and above the unit characteristic frequency, and for different signal levels, modulation frequencies, and modulation indices. The components at the modulation frequency and its harmonics were strong and present over a wide range of signal levels, carrier frequencies, modulation frequencies, and nerve-fiber characteristics. The presence of components at the modulation frequency indicates that a demodulation process is occurring. This process may be significant for speech recognition.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2005

Resistance to sliding with 3 types of elastomeric modules.

INTRODUCTION: Super Slick (TP Orthodontics, LaPorte, Ind), a polymeric-coated ligature, has recently been introduced to the orthodontic market. The manufacturer claims it will significantly reduce friction. The purposes of this study were to determine whether Super Slick modules show lower friction than round and rectangular modules and to put the frictional forces into perspective with a self-ligating bracket. METHODS: Maxillary premolar, stainless steel, self-ligating, and monocrystalline brackets with .022-in slots were used with straight lengths of .018-in and .019 x .025-in stainless steel wires. Buccal segment models were set up with 1 molar band and 2 premolar brackets for each test group: self-ligating brackets with the slide closed, self-ligating brackets with the slide open, and monocrystalline brackets. The latter 2 groups were tested with all 3 types of elastomeric module. Each setup was tested both under dry conditions and after soaking in a water bath for 1 hour. RESULTS: The self-ligating brackets demonstrated virtually zero friction with each combination of wire and environmental condition. When the different bracket and elastomeric module combinations were compared, significant differences were observed. In all but 2 combinations, round modules provided the least resistance to sliding and rectangular modules the greatest, with Super Slick modules in between the 2. The self-ligating bracket provided the least resistance to sliding of all the bracket/ligation combinations and almost entirely eliminated friction under the conditions of this experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Super Slick modules demonstrated greater resistance to sliding than conventional round modules, but not rectangular. Self-ligating brackets provided the least resistance to sliding of all bracket/ligation combinations and were the only method that almost entirely eliminated friction. The .018-in and .019 x .025-in wires exhibited similar friction in the dry state, but, when wet, the .018-in wire produced less friction. Ceramic brackets demonstrated greater resistance to sliding than stainless steel brackets. Lubrication reduced the friction with .018-in wires and increased it for .019 x .025-in wires.

Ceramics↗
PubMed2005

The effects of affective picture stimuli on blink modulation in adults and children.

Two experiments examined blink modulation during viewing of pleasant, neutral and unpleasant picture stimuli in non-selected adults (N = 21) and children (N = 60) and children with anxiety disorders (N = 12). Blink reflexes were elicited by a white noise probe of 105 dB at lead stimulus intervals of 60, 240, 3500, and 5000 ms and during intertrial intervals. Blink modulation during unpleasant pictures was significantly different from blink modulation during neutral pictures at the 60 ms lead interval in children whereas adults showed no significant differences. Picture content had no differential effect on the extent of blink modulation for adults or children at the 240 ms lead interval. At the long lead intervals, blink modulation during unpleasant and pleasant pictures was significantly larger than during neutral pictures in adults. Picture valence did not differentially affect the extent of blink modulation at long lead intervals in children. Comparing the extent of blink modulation in anxious and non-selected children, blinks were significantly modulated during unpleasant pictures at the 60 ms lead interval for both groups. However, the extent of blink modulation was larger overall at this very short lead interval in anxious children. Children did not differ at other lead intervals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Dynamic aspects of the continuity illusion: perception of level and of the depth, rate, and phase of modulation.

The perception of modulation of a tone interrupted by a noise burst was investigated. The tone and its modulation were perceived as continuing through the noise. In experiment 1, subjects rated the similarity of an uninterrupted tone and a tone interrupted by noise, in terms of the perceived level and modulation depth of the sinusoidal carrier. The values of these parameters in the central portion of the uninterrupted tone were systematically varied. Both amplitude and frequency modulation (AM and FM) were used. The results indicated that the perceived level and modulation depth of the carrier did not change greatly during the noise burst. When the modulation rate differed before and after the noise burst, the modulation-rate transition was perceived to occur near the end of the noise burst for the FM stimuli. Hence, for these stimuli, the continuity illusion appears to be dominated by the portion of the tone before, rather than after, the interruption. Results for the AM stimuli showed a non-significant trend in the same direction. Experiment 2 used forced-choice tasks to evaluate the ability to detect a change in the ongoing phase of AM and FM following interruption by a noise burst. The results confirmed earlier findings for FM tones, and extended them to AM tones, showing that listeners lost track of the phase of the modulation, even though the modulation was perceived as continuous.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2025

Prenatal pyrethroid exposure, placental gene network modules, and neonatal neurobehavior.

Prenatal pesticide exposure may adversely affect child neurodevelopment which may partly arise from impairing the placenta's vital role in fetal development. In a cohort of pregnant farmworkers from Thailand (N&#xa0;=&#xa0;248), we examined the links between urinary metabolites of pyrethroid pesticides during pregnancy, placental gene expression networks derived from transcriptome sequencing, and newborn neurobehavior assessed using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scales (NNNS) at 5 weeks of age. Focusing on the 21 gene network modules in the placenta identified by Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis, our analysis revealed significant associations between metabolites and nine distinct modules, and between thirteen modules and NNNS, with eight modules showing overlap. Notably, stress was negatively associated with the interferon alpha response and Myc target modules, and the interferon alpha response module was correlated positively with attention, and negatively with arousal, and quality of movement. The analysis also highlighted the early and late trimesters as critical periods for the exposures influence on placental function, with pyrethroid metabolites measured early in pregnancy significantly negatively associated with the protein secretion module, and those measured later in pregnancy negatively associated with modules related to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and DNA repair. Additionally, the cumulative sum of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid across pregnancy was significantly negatively associated with the OXPHOS module. These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to pyrethroids may influence neonatal neurobehavior through specific placental mechanisms that impact gene expression of metabolic pathways, and these effects may be pregnancy period specific. These results offer valuable insights for future risk assessment and intervention strategies.

Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects↗
PubMed2005

The impacts of the "Immune of Life" for teens module application on the coping behaviors and mental health of early adolescents.

This quasi-experimental research is the subsequent part of the Health Promotion for Early Adolescents Project, which focuses on the training of schoolteachers in using the module Immune of Life for Teens, which was developed in 1999, for evaluating its impact. The module consists of a manual and a VDO cassette display of a story of a teenager who has difficulty adjusting to life changes. The program aimed at improving the coping skills and psychological health or mental health of junior high school students. Schoolteachers from 13 schools participated nationwide as part of an experimental group and received training in the use of the module in their schools with students in Grades 7-9. The control group was composed of 3 schools that did not apply the module. Each school performed the pretest and posttest 1 month after the module's application. The total number of the students in the study was 1,580. There were 445 students in the control group, 474 in the experimental I group (intensive training) group, and 661 in the experimental II group (nonintensive group). The instruments used to evaluate impact were the following: (1) Young Adult Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences, which was developed by Patterson, McCubbin, and Grochowski in 1983, and the (2) Thai Mental Health Questionnaire, a 70-item self-administered questionnaire developed by Pattrayuwat in 1999 to assess mental health status. The findings reveal that both experimental groups had better coping behaviors than the control group when using pretest scores as covariates (experimental I group: F = 9.425, p < .01; experimental II group: F = 22.446, p < .001) 1 month after the module was implemented. They also show that both experimental groups had better mental health than the control group when using pretest scores as covariates (experimental I group: F = 6.034, p < .05; experimental II group: F = 6.596, p < .001) 1 month after the module was implemented. The study confirmed the impact of the Immune of Life for Teens module on better coping behaviors and better mental health status among the subjects after it was implemented by their teachers. Thus, for further use of the module, intensive training for schoolteachers is recommended for the health promotion of early adolescents.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2005

Sensitivity to spatial and temporal modulations of first-order and second-order motion.

This study characterises the spatiotemporal "window of visibility" for first-order motion (luminance-modulated noise) and three varieties of second-order motion (contrast-modulated, polarity-modulated and spatial length-modulated noise). Direction-identification thresholds (minimum modulation depth producing 79.4% correct) were measured for each motion pattern (acuity permitting) over a five octave range of spatial and temporal frequencies (0.5-16 c/deg and 0.5-16 Hz respectively). Thresholds were converted into modulation sensitivity (1/threshold). For first-order motion patterns, sensitivity functions were generally bandpass. However, for second-order motion patterns, functions were predominantly lowpass in nature. In particular, the functions corresponding to contrast-modulated and polarity-modulated noise were virtually identical in terms of shape and sensitivity. However, sensitivity to modulations of spatial length was extremely poor and more lowpass, suggesting that additional strategies, perhaps a feature-based system, may be required for encoding motion of images of this type.

Contrast Sensitivity↗