Evaluation of commercially available materials to prevent child sexual abuse and abduction.

Complemented an analysis by N. D. Reppucci and J. J. Haugaard (see record 1990-02054-001) by surveying 33 authors and publishers about the development of commercially available sexual abuse prevention materials. Results from questionnaires show that little empirical validation took place in the development of the prevention materials surveyed. Many Ss reported that informal field testing took place, at least in the development process. During this testing, materials were reviewed by a panel of experts, children, or parents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Energy balance of rats subjected to continuous and intermittent food restriction

A 64-year-old woman complained of multiple blisters in 1990. She had had a productive cough since 1975. Immunofluorescence study of a specimen obtained from a skin biopsy showed staining in a linear pattern for both IgG and C3 in the epithelial basement membrane zone (BMZ) of the dermal-epidermal junction, and a high titer of anti-BMZ antibody. These findings led to the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid. Corticosteroid therapy was started, and resulted in some stabilization of the skin lesion. Exertional dyspnea and a productive cough developed gradually, and the patient was referred to our department in 1992. Chest X-ray film and CT findings revealed a diffuse granular shadow and bronchiectatic change, predominantly in the lower lung fields. Laboratory tests showed a high titer of cold hemagglutinin and a high level of serum immunoglobulin A. Pulmonary function tests showed a combined destructive-restrictive defect and hypoxemia (PaO2 = 58.5 Torr). From these findings diffuse panbronchiolitis was diagnosed. A low dose of erythromycin alleviated the patient's pulmonary symptoms and improved the chest radiographic findings.     

The effect of intermittent punishment-partial reward training on resistance to continuous punishment.

Investigated the effect of adding a partial reinforcement procedure to an intermittent punishment procedure on subsequent resistance to continuous punishment. 36 naive male albino Wistar rats served as Ss. Results indicate that the addition of partial reinforcement training increases the resistance to continuous punishment. This superior resistance cannot be seen as being equal to a simple sum of resistance due to intermittent punishment alone or partial reward alone. Results are discussed in terms of theories of resistance to fear and frustration. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Identification of "Streptococcus milleri" group isolates to the species level with a commercially available rapid test system

Clinical isolates of the "Streptococcus milleri" species group were examined by conventional methods and a rapid, commercially available method for the identification of these strains to the species level. The levels of agreement between the identifications obtained with the commercially available system (Fluo-Card Milleri; KEY Scientific, Round Rock, Tex.) and conventional methods were 98% for 50 Streptococcus anginosus strains, 97% for 31 Streptococcus constellatus strains, and 88% for 17 isolates identified as Streptococcus intermedius. Patient records were also studied in order to gain information on the frequency and sites of isolation of each of the three "S. milleri" group species.     

Expression of glycosylated and nonglycosylated human transferrin in mammalian cells. Characterization of the recombinant proteins with comparison to three commercially available transferrins

The coding sequence for human serum transferrin was assembled from restriction fragments derived from a full-length cDNA clone isolated from a human liver cDNA library. The assembled clone was inserted into the expression vector pNUT and stably transfected into transformed baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells, leading to secretion of up to 125 mg/L recombinant protein into the tissue culture medium. As judged by mobility on NaDodSO4-PAGE, immunoreactivity, spectral properties (indicative of correct folding and iron binding), and the ability to bind to receptors on a human cell line, initial studies showed that the recombinant transferrin, is identical to three commercial human serum transferrin samples. Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS), anion-exchange chromatography, and urea gel analysis showed that the recombinant protein has an extremely complex carbohydrate pattern with 16 separate masses ranging from 78,833 to 80,802 daltons. Mutation of the two asparagine carbohydrate linkage sites to aspartic acid residues led to the expression and secretion of up to 25 mg/L nonglycosylated transferrin. ESMS, anion-exchange chromatography, and urea gel analysis showed a single molecular species that was consistent with the expected theoretical mass of 75,143 daltons. In equilibrium binding experiments, the nonglycosylated mutant bound to HeLa S3 cells with the same avidity and to the same extent as the glycosylated protein and the three commercial samples. These studies demonstrate conclusively that carbohydrate has no role in this function.     

Design of experiments to estimate heritability when observations are available on parents and offspring

The design of experiments to estimate heritability when data are available on both parents and offspring and the offspring data have a hierarchical structure is considered. Univariate maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is discussed, and extensions to the multivariate case are outlined. The efficiency of ML estimation is evaluated in cases where simple regression estimators are available. Optimum designs for ML estimation are given when various strategies of selecting and mating are followed. The variance of the heritability estimate can be approximately halved relative to designs in which no selection of parents is done.     

Cardiac Troponin T to evaluate myocardial protection via intermittent cold blood or continuous warm blood cardioplegia in coronary artery bypass grafting

The effects of a speech-coding strategy of cochlear implant (CI) on cortical activity were evaluated using positron emission tomography. The CIs used in the present study were those of a 22-channel system using the Multipeak speech-coding strategy (MPEAK) and the spectral peak strategy (SPEAK). On comparing the 2 groups, it was found that the speech-tracking performance was significantly higher in the SPEAK group than in the MPEAK group. Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was measured during the silent resting, noise stimulus and speech stimulus periods. The increase in rCBF was localized mainly in the primary auditory area during the noise stimulus period. The increase in rCBF in the auditory association area during the speech stimulus period was stronger in the SPEAK group than in the MPEAK group. This finding suggests that the SPEAK strategy activates more speech processing neuronal networks in the auditory association area than the MPEAK strategy.