Cognitive flexibility reflects both a trait that reliably differs between individuals and a state that can fluctuate moment-to-moment. Whether individuals can undergo persistent changes in cognitive flexibility as a result of reward learning is less understood. Here, we investigated whether reinforcing a periodic shift in an object selection strategy can make an individual more prone to switch ...

The lipid bilayer component of biological membranes is important for the distribution, organization, and function of bilayer-spanning proteins. This regulation is due to both specific lipid-protein interactions and general bilayer-protein interactions, which modulate the energetics and kinetics of protein conformational transitions, as well as the protein distribution between different membrane...

background: defects in endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis are common occurrences in different diseases, such as diabetes, in which the function of endoplasmic reticulum is disrupted. it is now well established that ion channels of endoplasmic reticulum membrane have a critical role in endoplasmic reticulum luminal homeostasis. our previous studies showed the presence of an atp-sensitive cationic...

Previous electron microscopic studies of bacterial RCLH1 complexes demonstrated both circular and elliptical conformations of the LH1 ring, and this implied flexibility has been suggested to allow passage of quinol from the QB site of the RC to the quinone pool prior to reduction of the cytochrome bc1 complex. We have used atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that these are just two of many c...

Previous electron microscopic studies of bacterial RCLH1 complexes demonstrated both circular and elliptical conformations of the LH1 ring, and this implied flexibility has been suggested to allow passage of quinol from the Q(B) site of the RC to the quinone pool prior to reduction of the cytochrome bc(1) complex. We have used atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that these are just two of ma...

Deposition of behenic acid (B.A) mono and bilayers onto gold coated surfaces was performed by Langmuir-Blodget dip-casting technique. Surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) and ellipsometry methods were employed for investigation of the monolayer and bilayer films. The adsorption of the biologically important molecule Concanavalin A (Con A) from bulk solution to these monolayers and bilayers as we...

It is becoming increasingly apparent that the vast blue expanse of ocean—the last frontier—is not as inexhaustible as it once seemed. While we have yet to fully explore the reaches of the sea, technology has granted humans the ability to harvest its wealth. We can now fi sh anywhere, at any depth, for any species. Like the American frontier range’s bison and wolf populations brought to the brin...

Economic integration between North and South Korea occurs through three modalities: traditional arm’s-length trade and investment, processing on commission (POC) trade, and operations within the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC). In order, these three modalities are characterized by decreasing exposure of South Korean fi rms to North Korean policy and infrastructure. Th rough a survey of 200 Sou...

Different subregions of nucleus accumbens (NAc) have been implicated in reward seeking, promoting flexible approach responses, suppressing nonrewarded actions, and facilitating shifts between different discrimination strategies. Interestingly, the NAc does not appear to mediate shifting between stimulus-reward associations (i.e., reversal learning) when reinforcement is predictable. How these n...