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OBJECTIVE: We explore the personality of counties as assessed through linguistic patterns on social media. Such studies were previously limited by the cost and feasibility of large-scale surveys; however, language-based computational models applied to large social media datasets now allow for large-scale personality assessment. METHOD: We applied a language-based assessment of the five factor model of personality to 6,064,267 U.S. Twitter users. We aggregated the Twitter-based personality scores to 2,041 counties and compared to political, economic, social, and health outcomes measured through surveys and by government agencies. RESULTS: There was significant personality variation across counties. Openness to experience was higher on the coasts, conscientiousness was uniformly spread, extraversion was higher in southern states, agreeableness was higher in western states, and emotional stability was highest in the south. Across 13 outcomes, language-based personality estimates replicated patterns that have been observed in individual-level and geographic studies. This includes higher Republican vote share in less agreeable counties and increased life satisfaction in more conscientious counties. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that regions vary in their personality and that these differences can be studied through computational linguistic analysis of social media. Furthermore, these methods may be used to explore other psychological constructs across geographies.

The positivity resonance theory of coexperienced positive affect (Fredrickson, 2016) identifies the emotion of love as a collective state. This state, termed positive resonance, is defined by the presence of three key features: shared positive affect, caring nonverbal synchrony, and biological synchrony. The current study examined whether a modest behavioral intervention focused on increasing social connectedness could increase study participants' perceptions of day-to-day positivity resonance with corollary impacts on their tendencies for prosociality and self-centeredness. Adults (N = 416, M age = 33.8) were randomized to one of four study conditions: either of two variants of the social connectedness intervention or either of two control groups. Positivity resonance, prosociality, and self-centeredness were measured nightly for 35 consecutive days. Dynamic multilevel factor models of nightly reports showed significant growth in positivity resonance, relative to a passive control group, for the two intervention groups and higher mean levels of prosociality for one of them. In addition, significant dose-response relations were evident (both between persons and within persons), linking positivity resonance to both prosociality and self-centeredness. The within-persons effect for prosociality (but not self-centeredness) was significantly stronger for those randomized to the intervention groups, relative to both passive and active control groups. Taken together, findings suggest that the affective quality of people's day-to-day social encounters may have implications for community flourishing. Discussion centers on theoretical and practical implications as well as directions for future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Shared positive emotions involving caring and synchrony – termed ‘positivity resonance’ – are associated with mental health. We hypothesized that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, individual differenc...

Positivity resonance is a type of interpersonal connection characterized by shared positivity, mutual care and concern, and behavioral and biological synchrony. Perceived positivity resonance is hypothesized to be associated with well-being. In three studies (N = 175; N = 120; N = 173), perceived positivity resonance was assessed at the trait level (Study 1) or the episode level, using the Day Reconstruction Method (Studies 2 and 3). Primary analyses reveal that perceived positivity resonance is associated with flourishing mental health, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and illness symptoms. These associations largely remain statistically significant when controlling for daily pleasant emotions or social interaction more generally. Ancillary analyses in Studies 2 and 3 support the construct validity of the episode-level assessment of perceived positivity resonance. The overall pattern of results is consistent with Positivity Resonance Theory (Fredrickson, 2016). Discussion centers on avenues for future research and the need for behavioral interventions.

Combinations of multiple meditation practices have been shown to reduce the attrition of telomeres, the protective caps of chromosomes ( Carlson et al., 2015 ). Here, we probed the distinct effects on telomere length (TL) of mindfulness meditation (MM) and loving-kindness meditation (LKM). Midlife adults (N = 142) were randomized to be in a waitlist control condition or to learn either MM or LKM in a 6-week workshop. Telomere length was assessed 2 weeks before the start of the workshops and 3 weeks after their termination. After controlling for appropriate demographic covariates and baseline TL, we found TL decreased significantly in the MM group and the control group, but not in the LKM group. There was also significantly less TL attrition in the LKM group than the control group. The MM group showed changes in TL that were intermediate between the LKM and control groups yet not significantly different from either. Self-reported emotions and practice intensity (duration and frequency) did not mediate these observed group differences. This study is the first to disentangle the effects of LKM and MM on TL and suggests that LKM may buffer telomere attrition.

Mystical experiences are often described as “ineffable,” or beyond language. However, people readily speak about their mystical experiences if asked about them. How do people describe what is supposedly indescribable? In this study, we used quantitative linguistic analyses to interpret the writings of 777 participants (45.5% female, 51.0% male) who recounted their most significant spiritual or religious experience as part of an online survey. High and low scorers on a measure of mystical experiences differed in the language they used to describe their experiences. Participants who have had mystical experiences used language that was more socially and spatially inclusive (e.g., “close,” “we,” “with”) and used fewer overtly religious words (e.g., “prayed,” “Christ,” “church”) than participants without such experiences. Results indicated that people can meaningfully communicate their mystical experiences, and that quantitative language analyses provide a means for understanding aspects of such experiences.

The ensuing research has revealed that positive emotions serve a wide range of essential human needs. Happier people have better physical health, live longer and are more successful, creative, and socially connected. Emotions are a subclass of affective phenomena. Affect is a neurophysiological state that is subjectively experienced as being pleasant versus unpleasant and being sleepy versus activated. Beyond building psychological resilience, positive emotions may also build behavioral and biological resources that benefit physical health. The effects of positive emotions on well-being may depend on a person's cultural context. Cultures have different conceptions of well-being, and as such, well-being appears to be attained by pursuing diverging goals. Ample evidence has shown that negative emotions narrow attention and cognition, and trigger specific action tendencies. An increasing body of research has supported the broaden-and-build theory by shedding light on the causal effect of positive emotions on well-being via biological and psychological pathways.

Experiences of profound existential or spiritual significance can be triggered reliably through psychopharmacological means using psychedelic substances. However, little is known about the benefits of religious, spiritual, or mystical experiences (RSMEs) prompted by psychedelic substances, as compared with those that occur through other means. In this study, 739 self-selected participants reported the psychological impact of their RSMEs and indicated whether they were induced by a psychedelic substance. Experiences induced by psychedelic substances were rated as more intensely mystical ( d = .75, p < .001), resulted in a reduced fear of death ( d = .21, p < .01), increased sense of purpose ( d = .18, p < .05), and increased spirituality ( d = .28, p < .001) as compared with nonpsychedelically triggered RSMEs. These results remained significant in an expanded model controlling for gender, education, socioeconomic status, and religious affiliation. These findings lend support to the growing consensus that RSMEs induced with psychedelic substances are genuinely mystical and generally positive in outcome.

The race-specific peptide elicitor AVR9 of the fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum specifically induces a hypersensitive response in tomato genotypes carrying the complementary resistance gene Cf-9. The total chemical syntheses of this 28-residue AVR9 peptide containing three disulfide bonds, and of three mutant peptides [R8K]AVR9, [F10A]AVR9 and [F21A]AVR9, have been accomplished. The syntheses were carried out using a stepwise solid-phase approach based on tBoc chemistry. The disulfide bridges were formed by air oxidation. The correctness of the chemical structure of all folded synthetic peptides was confirmed by combined NMR and MS analyses. The biological activity and a number of physicochemical properties of folded synthetic AVR9 are identical to those of native fungal 28-residue AVR9. The overall conformations of the folded synthetic mutant peptides were comparable to that of synthetic wild-type AVR9 as demonstrated by NMR spectroscopy. Mutant [R8K]AVR9 showed a threefold higher, and mutant [F10A]AVR9 a threefold lower necrosis-inducing activity when compared to synthetic wild-type AVR9. However, mutant [F21A]AVR9 showed hardly any necrosis-inducing activity. Affinity for polyclonal antibodies raised against native fungal AVR9 is positively correlated with the necrosis-inducing activity of the synthetic AVR9 peptides ([R8K]AVR9 > wild-type AVR9 > [F10A]AVR9 > [F21A]AVR9).

The Vasoactive Intestinal Contractor peptide has been synthesized and studied by 1 H NMR in 50/50 acetonitrile/water mixture. All spin systems were identified and assigned with the aid of 2D experiments. Modeling was performed with constraints obtained by NOEs. Some distances used in modeling were calculated from build-up data. Kinetic exchange of the amide protons showed that the 9-15 helical segment is stabilized by at least three hydrogen bonds. The proposed structure is compared with those of Nle-7 endothelin and Sarafotoxin-S6b previously obtained in same conditions.

The TCPI peptide which inhibits both trypsin and carboxypeptidase A has been chemically engineered by modification of the EETI-II inhibitor. The solution conformation of TCPI has been studied by 2D NMR and shown to be very close to those of other squash inhibitors. To evaluate the conformational mobility of the trypsin binding loop of TCPI in solution, distance driven dynamics and restrained molecular dynamics calculations were performed on distance geometry models. Only limited deviations of the binding loop from its location in the EETI-II/trypsin complex crystals were detected.

Microproteins with proteinase inhibitory activity, 28 to 30 amino acids long, with 3 disulfide bridges have been isolated from Ecballium elaterium seeds. A peptide (EETI II) was isolated and behaved as a powerful trypsin inhibitor (Kd = 10(-11) to 10(-12) M). It was sequenced, chemically synthesized and the 3-D structure determined by 2-D 1H NMR. The information gained in the process enabled us to synthesize modified derivatives with inhibitory activity towards pancreatic elastase, chymotrypsin and human leucocyte elastase (Kd = 10(-7) to 10(-9) respectively). The most striking characteristic that appeared during the synthetic approach was the unfailing ability of the 28 amino acid peptides to refold and correctly close the 3 disulfide bridges, giving in each case an active compound. These disulfide bridges are assembled in a particular knotted structure, shared by few other bioactive peptides and called the 'knottin' structure. Molecular modeling of the peptide and a comparison with the other active molecules with similar topology allowed the synthesis of a chimaeric peptide, bearing 1 active site against a seryl-protease (trypsin), and 1 against a metallo-protease (carboxypeptidase A). The bis-headed peptide was able to inhibit both enzymes separately and concomitantly.

PyBOP® (benzotriazolyloxy-tris[pyrrolidino]-phosphonium hexafluorophosphate), an analog of BOP where dimethylamino groups are replaced with pyrrolidino, is the only analog exhibiting equivalent properties in peptide bond formation. It can be used instead of BOP for the sake of safety.

UNLABELLED Glicentin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (7-36) amide (GLP-1) are gut hormones released during digestion. Glicentin and GLP-1 slow down gastric emptying and glicentin can switch off the duodenojejunal fed motor pattern. The effect of glicentin on the motor activity of colon has never been reported in humans. Our aim was to determine if circular smooth muscle cells (SMC) from the human colon are target cells for glicentin or GLP-1, and if their motility is dependent upon these digestive hormones. METHODS Twenty-two resections were performed on patients operated for colon adenocarcinoma. The SMC were isolated from colonic circular muscle layer and cell contraction was assessed. RESULTS Glicentin caused a dose-related contraction of SMC, when GLP-1 determined a contraction of weak amplitude. Exendin-(9-39), described as a GLP-1 receptor antagonist, inhibited contraction due to glicentin or GLP-1. In contrast, on antral SMC from rabbit, GLP-1 exerts neither relaxation nor contraction; however, exendin-(9-39) dose dependently reduced the contractile activity of glicentin [glicentin EC(50) = 5 pM, exendin-(9-39) pA(2) = -9.36]. CONCLUSIONS The circular muscle from the human colon is a target tissue for glicentin and GLP-1. Whereas glicentin is a long-life digestive hormone which would contribute to segmental contraction, the biological activity of GLP-1 remains unknown on this tissue. On the digestive smooth muscle, exendin-(9-39) behaved as an antagonist for two members of the glucagon-receptor family, GLP-1 and glicentin.

Glicentin (GLIC) and oxyntomodulin (OXM or GLIC 33-69) are gut hormones which regulate digestion. They are known to reduce digestive secretions and to delay gastric emptying. Their biological activities on intestinal motility are still unknown. The effect of a systemic GLIC or OXM increase was investigated in rats on the food intake, the postprandial myoelectrical activity of small intestine and the orocaecal transit. An OXM or GLIC i.v. infusion was applied during the 5 min preceding food onset and during the first 15 min of food intake. This determined a three- to fourfold increase of the preprandial OXM–GLIC level. The OXM or GLIC plasma increase did not modify food intake. OXM infusion slowed down gastric emptying when the stomach contained 3/4 of the ingested food (before T 3 h). The quantity of food delivered in jejunum was subsequently smaller (P

The race-specific peptide elicitor AVR9 of the fungal pathogen Cladosporium fulvum specifically induces a hypersensitive response in tomato genotypes carrying the complementary resistance gene Cf-9. The total chemical syntheses of this 28-residue AVR9 peptide containing three disulfide bonds, and of three mutant peptides [R8K]AVR9, [F10A]AVR9 and [F21A]AVR9, have been accomplished. The syntheses were carried out using a stepwise solid-phase approach based on tBoc chemistry. The disulfide bridges were formed by air oxidation. The correctness of the chemical structure of all folded synthetic peptides was confirmed by combined NMR and MS analyses. The biological activity and a number of physicochemical properties of folded synthetic AVR9 are identical to those of native fungal 28-residue AVR9. The overall conformations of the folded synthetic mutant peptides were comparable to that of synthetic wild-type AVR9 as demonstrated by NMR spectroscopy. Mutant [R8K]AVR9 showed a threefold higher, and mutant [F10A]AVR9 a threefold lower necrosis-inducing activity when compared to synthetic wild-type AVR9. However, mutant [F21A]AVR9 showed hardly any necrosis-inducing activity. Affinity for polyclonal antibodies raised against native fungal AVR9 is positively correlated with the necrosis-inducing activity of the synthetic AVR9 peptides ([R8K]AVR9wild-type AVR9[F10A]AVR9[F21A]AVR9).

We have investigated the transduction pathways mediating the contractile effect of two glucagon-containing peptides, glicentin (GLIC) and oxyntomodulin (OXM), on smooth muscle cells isolated from rabbit antrum. Low concentrations of GLIC induced a biphasic and rapid (first phase at 5-8 sec) Ins(1,4,5)P3 production. By comparison, higher concentrations of OXM or OXM(19-37) were required to obtain biphasic time-courses of Ins(1,4,5)P3 production. In a Ca2+ free medium, the first phase of Ins(1,4,5)P3 production induced by GLIC or OXM was maintained, while the second phase disappeared. In saponin-permeabilized cells, all three peptides induced cell contraction with similar efficacies and potencies. Exogenous Ins(1,4,5)P3 mimicked the contractile effect of the peptides and heparin, which inhibits the Ins(1,4,5)P3 binding to its receptor, prevented contraction stimulated by each effector. We conclude that a Ca2+ mobilization from the intracellular stores is essential in the contractile effects of GLIC and OXM. Using the fluo-3 probe, a [Ca2+]i increase was observed in the presence of GLIC, OXM, or OXM(19-37). The three peptides reduced by 30-40% the cAMP content of cells stimulated by forskolin. This effect was pertussis toxin sensitive as demonstrated with OXM(19-37). Our data constitute important clues for the existence in smooth muscle cells of receptor(s) specific for the GLIC/OXM hormones, coupled via G protein(s) to both Ca2+ and cAMP pathways.

The 5-hydroxytryptamine1A receptor (5-HT1AR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase (AC). We have studied the functional domains of 5-HT1AR using synthetic peptides to block or mimic receptor function. The entire second intracellular loop (5-HT1AR-i2) and the carboxyl end of the third intracellular loop (5-HT1AR-i3-C) strongly inhibited forskolin-stimulated AC activity. These effects were not additive with those of 5-HT. Like 5-HT, the peptides 5-HT1AR-i3-C and -i2 weakly inhibited AIF4- and Mn2+ stimulated AC activity. 5-HT1AR binding assays indicated that peptides could interact with the same G-protein pool as the 5-HT1AR. 5-HT1AR-i3-C- and -i2-stimulated [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) binding on Go/Gi proteins. Only 5-HT1AR-i3-C partially adopted an alpha-helical conformation in solution. These data show that different domains in the 5-HT1AR second and third intracellular loops can couple to and activate Gi proteins in order to mediate AC inhibition. Peptide-induced AC inhibition was not sensitive to pertussis toxin as opposed to the 5-HT1AR-mediated effect. Our data show that the 5-HT1AR and the 5-HT1AR peptides activate Gi proteins in a slightly different manner.

Functional development of the adrenocorticotropic axis was inferred from plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels in intact and embryonically bursectomized (BFX) embryos and chicks from 8 days before to 56 days after hatch. Bursectomy was surgically made at 80 h of incubation and resulted in various alterations in developing adrenocorticotropic axis: ether stress-induced hormonal stimulation could be detected more precociously in BFX (day-6) than in intact embryos; the non stress-responsive period of newly hatched controls did not appear in BFX chicks; BFX young adult chicken exhibited quite smaller responses to stress than controls. In ovo injection of bursin (Lys-His-Gly-NH2) to 6- and 9-days old BFX embryos could restore normal adrenocorticotropic development provided convenient doses of tripeptide were used: administration of 100 fg or 100 pg of bursin was effective to restore normal hormonal levels at all stages studied whereas 100 micrograms was effective at embryonic stages only. The tripeptide Lys-His-Gly-NH2 is suggested as a possible signal from the immune B system directed at the hypothalamo-hypophysial-adrenocortical axis.

High-affinity specific receptors of endothelin (ET-1) were identified on primary cultures of mouse embryo striatal astrocytes by binding experiments performed with 125I-ET-1. Stimulation of production of inositol phosphates, a biphasic increase of the intracellular calcium concentration, and inhibition of cyclic AMP accumulation were observed in the same cells under ET-1 stimulation. Pretreatment of these cells with Bordetella pertussis toxin affected these effects to different extends, an observation suggesting that they are mediated by multiple transduction pathways, possibly involving several guanine nucleotide-binding proteins.

Human plasma has been shown to contain a low molecular weight factor that potentiates human IGF-I stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in chick embryo cartilage. The peptide was purified and characterized by Edman degradation and electrospray mass spectrometry. The primary structure determined was: Trp-Gly-His-Glu. A homologous synthetic peptide similarly promoted matrix biosynthesis in cartilage exposed to IGF-I.Human plasma has been shown to contain a low molecular weight factor that potentiates human IGF-I stimulation of glycosaminoglycan synthesis in chick embryo cartilage. The peptide was purified and characterized by Edman degradation and electrospray mass spectrometry. The primary structure determined was: Trp-Gly-His-Glu. A homologous synthetic peptide similarly promoted matrix biosynthesis in cartilage exposed to IGF-I.

The solution conformation of synthetic Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor II, a 28-residue peptide with 3 disulfide bridges, has been studied by 1H 2D NMR measurements. Secondary structure elements were determined: a miniantiparallel beta-sheet Met 7-Cys 9 and Gly 25-Cys 27, a beta-hairpin 20-28 with beta-turn 22-25, and two tight turns Asp 12-Cys 15 and Leu 16-Cys 19. A set of interproton distance restraints deduced from two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectra and 13 phi backbone torsion angles restraints were used as the basis of three-dimensional structure computations including disulfide bridges arrangement by using distance geometry calculations. Computations for the 15 possible S-S linkage combinations lead to the proposal of the array 2-19, 9-21, 15-27 as the most probable structure for EETI II.

Upon incubation with hepatic plasma membranes, glucagon is processed into its (19-29) C-terminal fragment. This suggests that, in physiological conditions, glucagon is processed in a target tissue at the level of its Arg17-Arg18 basic doublet, leading to the production of a fragment which is known to display an original biological specificity, namely the modulation of the calcium pump present in hepatocyte plasma membrane.

Porcine trypsin has been crystallized either free or complexed with synthetic Ecballium elaterium trypsin inhibitor II, a 28-residue peptide with three disulfide bridges. The crystals diffract beyond 2.0 A. Crystals are orthorhombic, space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with cell dimensions a = 77.32 A, b = 53.81 A, c = 46.91 A, for the free trypsin, and a = 62.25 A, b = 62.27 A, c = 84.66 A for the complex with E. elaterium trypsin inhibitor II.

The tetradecapeptide Ac-Asp1-Arg2-Val3-Tyr4-lle5-His6-Pro7-Phe8-His9-Leu10-Leu11-Val12-Tyr13-Ser14-OH has been synthesized by a three-segment coupling strategy. All the coupling steps were carried out with benzotriazolyloxytris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate (BOP reagent). Histidine was incorporated in good yield by using Boc(Nim-Boc)histidine (DCHA).