February 13th to 17th is the University of British Columbia’s Reading Week and we here at the SCQ are following suit with a title page each day this week that will both impress and amaze you. First up, the braniac mouse… – – – Genetic enhancement of learning and memory in mice (pdf). (1999) Nature 401:p63 In which mankind inches closer to the production of mice that can appreciate but not necessarily enjoy Jane Austen literature. – – – ABSTRACT: Hebb’s rule (1949) states that learning and memory are based on modifications of synaptic strength among neurons that are simultaneously…

Xanthohumol REFERENCE: Xanthohumol and related prenylflavonoids from hops and beer: to your good health! (2004) Jan F. Stevens and Jonathan E. Page. Phytochemistry 65 (2004) 1317–1330 ABSTRACT: Xanthohumol (3’ -[3,3-dimethyl allyl]-2’ ,4’ ,4-trihydroxy-6’ -methoxychalcone) is the principal prenylated flavonoid of the female inflorescences of the hop plant (‘hops’), an ingredient of beer. Human exposure to xanthohumol and related prenylflavonoids, such as 8-prenylnaringenin and isoxanthohumol, is primarily through beer consumption. Xanthohumol has been characterized a ‘broad-spectrum’ cancer chemopreventive agent in in vitro studies, while 8-prenylnaringenin enjoys fame as the most potent phytoestrogen known to date. These biological activities suggest that prenylflavonoids…

The Structure of Romantic and Sexual Relations at “Jefferson High School.” Each circle represents a student and lines connecting students represent romantic relations occuring within the 6 months preceding the interview. Numbers under the figure count the number of times that pattern was observed (i.e. we found 63 pairs unconnected to anyone else) REFERENCE: Chains of Affection: The Structure of Adolescent Romantic and Sexual Networks. (2004) Peter S. Bearman , James Moody, and Katherine Stovel , American Journal of Sociology 110: 44–91 ABSTRACT: This article describes the structure of the adolescent romantic and sexual network in a population of over…

The Structure of Romantic and Sexual Relations at “Jefferson High School.” Each circle represents a student and lines connecting students represent romantic relations occuring within the 6 months preceding the interview. Numbers under the figure count the number of times that pattern was observed (i.e. we found 63 pairs unconnected to anyone else) REFERENCE: Chains of Affection: The Structure of Adolescent Romantic and Sexual Networks. (2004) Peter S. Bearman , James Moody, and Katherine Stovel , American Journal of Sociology 110: 44–91 ABSTRACT: This article describes the structure of the adolescent romantic and sexual network in a population of over…

REFERENCE: Fear of Spiders Questionnaire. (1995) Jeff Szymanski and William O’Donohue. J. Behav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiat. 26(1):31–34. ABSTRACT: The Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ), an 18-item self-report questionnaire assessing spider phobia, was developed in an attempt to complement the information provided by the Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ). Data obtained from 338 undergraduates revealed that the FSQ was able to discriminate phobics from nonphobics, and indicated decrements in phobic responding from pretest to posttest following cognitive therapy. Test-retest data, obtained from no-treatment control groups, indicated that scores on the FSQ are stable over a one month period. The FSQ also…

REFERENCE: Fear of Spiders Questionnaire. (1995) Jeff Szymanski and William O’Donohue. J. Behav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiat. 26(1):31–34. ABSTRACT: The Fear of Spiders Questionnaire (FSQ), an 18-item self-report questionnaire assessing spider phobia, was developed in an attempt to complement the information provided by the Spider Phobia Questionnaire (SPQ). Data obtained from 338 undergraduates revealed that the FSQ was able to discriminate phobics from nonphobics, and indicated decrements in phobic responding from pretest to posttest following cognitive therapy. Test-retest data, obtained from no-treatment control groups, indicated that scores on the FSQ are stable over a one month period. The FSQ also…

“The 30 minute non-workout” REFERENCE: The metabolic cost of hatha yoga. (2005) Clay, C.C., L.K. Lloyd, J.L. Walker, K.R. Sharp, and R.B. Pankey. J. Strength Cond. Res. 19(3):604–610. ABSTRACT: To determine the metabolic and heart rate (HR) responses of hatha yoga, 26 women (19–40 years old) performed a 30-minute hatha yoga routine of supine lying, sitting, and standing asanas (i.e., postures). Subjects followed identical videotaped sequences of hatha yoga asanas. Mean physiological responses were compared to the physiological responses of resting in a chair and walking on a treadmill at 93.86 m·min-1 [3.5 miles per hour (mph)]. During the 30-minute…

“The 30 minute non-workout” REFERENCE: The metabolic cost of hatha yoga. (2005) Clay, C.C., L.K. Lloyd, J.L. Walker, K.R. Sharp, and R.B. Pankey. J. Strength Cond. Res. 19(3):604–610. ABSTRACT: To determine the metabolic and heart rate (HR) responses of hatha yoga, 26 women (19–40 years old) performed a 30-minute hatha yoga routine of supine lying, sitting, and standing asanas (i.e., postures). Subjects followed identical videotaped sequences of hatha yoga asanas. Mean physiological responses were compared to the physiological responses of resting in a chair and walking on a treadmill at 93.86 m·min-1 [3.5 miles per hour (mph)]. During the 30-minute…