The Effect of Color Temperature of Lighting Sources on Mental Activity Level.

Abstract Kinetochores are instrumental for accurate chromosome segregation by binding to microtubules in order to move chromosomes and by delaying anaphase onset through the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Dynamic phosphorylation of kinetochore components is key to control these activities and is tightly regulated by temporal and spatial recruitment of kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPPs). Here we focus on PP1, PP2A-B56 and PP2A-B55, three PPPs that are important regulators of mitosis. Despite the fact that these PPPs share a very similar active site, they target unique ser/thr phosphorylation sites to control kinetochore function. Specificity is in part achieved by PPPs binding to short linear motifs (SLiMs) that guide their substrate specificity. SLiMs bind to conserved pockets on PPPs and are degenerate in nature, giving rise to a range of binding affinities. These SLiMs control the assembly of numerous substrate specifying complexes and their position and binding strength allow PPPs to target specific phosphorylation sites. In addition, the activity of PPPs is regulated by mitotic kinases and inhibitors, either directly at the activity level or through affecting PPP–SLiM interactions. Here, we discuss recent progress in understanding the regulation of PPP specificity and activity and how this controls kinetochore biology.

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Pedometer Use Increases Physical Activity Level

Clinical Endocrinology News ◽

10.1016/s1558-0164(07)70641-7 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2 (12) ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

MARY ANN MOON

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Activity Level ◽

Activity Level

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Self-Referent Thoughts in Exercise: The Self-Perception in Exercise Questionnaire

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.13.3.195 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 195-205 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Marit Sorensen

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Physical Activity Level ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

English Language ◽

Lifestyle Changes ◽

Activity Level ◽

Language Version ◽

Social Comfort ◽

And Gender

Adherence to lifestyle changes - beginning to exercise, for example - is assumed to be mediated by self-referent thoughts. This paper describes a pilot study and three studies conducted to develop and validate a questionnaire for adults to determine their self-perceptions related to health-oriented exercise. The pilot study identified items pertinent to the domains considered important in this context, and began the process of selecting items. Study 2 examined the factor structure, reduced the number of items, determined the internal consistency of the factors, and explored the discriminative validity of the questionnaire as to physical activity level and gender. Four factors with a total of 24 items were accepted, measuring mastery of exercise, body perception, social comfort/discomfort in the exercise setting, and perception of fitness. All subscales had acceptable internal consistencies. Preliminary validity was demonstrated by confirming hypothesized differences in scores as to gender, age, and physical activity level. The third study examined and demonstrated convergent validity with similar existing subscales. The fourth study examined an English-language version of the questionnaire, confirming the existence of the factors and providing preliminary psychometric evidence of the viability of the questionnaire.

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Pleasure as a Sign of Efficacy of Mental Activity

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040.2.3.226 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 226-234 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Michel Cabanac ◽

Chantal Pouliot ◽

James Everett

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary Psychology ◽

Magnitude Estimation ◽

Mental Activity ◽

Point Of View ◽

Macintosh Computer ◽

Science Students ◽

Cognitive Efficiency ◽

Sensory Pleasure ◽

The Difference ◽

Mental Tasks

Previous work has shown that sensory pleasure is both the motor and the sign of optimal behaviors aimed at physiological ends. From an evolutionary psychology point of view it may be postulated that mental pleasure evolved from sensory pleasure. Accordingly, the present work tested empirically the hypothesis that pleasure signals efficacious mental activity. In Experiment 1, ten subjects played video-golf on a Macintosh computer. After each hole they were invited to rate their pleasure or displeasure on a magnitude estimation scale. Their ratings of pleasure correlated negatively with the difference par minus performance, i.e., the better the performance the greater the pleasure reported. In Experiments 2 and 3, the pleasure of reading poems was correlated with comprehension, both rated by two groups of subjects, science students and arts students. In the majority of science students pleasure was significantly correlated with comprehension. Only one arts student showed this relationship; this result suggests that the proposed relationship between pleasure and cognitive efficiency is not tautological. Globally, the results support the hypothesis that pleasure is aroused by the same mechanisms, and follows the same laws, in physiological and cognitive mental tasks and also leads to the optimization of performance.

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