Mediators of a coping and communication-enhancing intervention and a supportive counseling intervention among women diagnosed with gynecological cancers.

The authors evaluated mechanisms of change for a coping and communication-enhancing intervention (CCI) and supportive counseling (SC). They proposed that the effects of CCI on depressive symptoms would be mediated by psychological processes targeted by CCI, namely increases in the following: positive reappraisal, acceptance, planful problem solving, attempts to understand emotional reactions to cancer, emotional expression, seeking of emotional and instrumental support, and self-esteem. The authors hypothesized that the effects of SC on depressive symptoms would be mediated by the processes encouraged by SC, in this case increases in the following: expression of emotions, attempts to understand emotional reactions to cancer, and self-esteem. Three hundred fifty-three women were randomized to a CCI, SC, or usual care control group and completed measures at preintervention and 3, 6, and 9 months later. The effects of CCI were fully mediated by positive reappraisal, problem solving, and self-esteem and partially mediated by emotional expression. The effects of SC were partially mediated by positive reappraisal. These findings provide support for hypothesized mediators for CCI. The authors were less able to identify mediators for SC. Future research might benefit from identifying SC mediators. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Phosphine‐Free Palladium‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Coupling of Alkynylcarboxylic Acids with Aryl and Heteroaryl Halides

We herein report the design and development of a carboxyamido/carbene ligand and its Pd‐complex for the decarboxylative coupling of alkynylcarboxylic acids with aryl and heteroaryl halides to afford arylalkynes.     

Tailored versus generic interventions for skin cancer risk reduction for family members of melanoma patients.

Background: Improving strategies for risk reduction among family members of patients with melanoma may reduce their risk for melanoma. Objective: To evaluate the effects of two behavioral interventions designed to improve the frequency of total cutaneous skin examination by a health provider (TCE), skin self-examination (SSE), and sun protection among first degree relatives of patients with melanoma; and to evaluate whether increased intentions, increased benefits, decreased barriers, and improved sunscreen self-efficacy mediated the effects of the tailored intervention, as compared with the generic intervention on TCE, SSE, or sun protection. Methods: Four hundred forty-three family members (56 parents, 248 siblings, 239 children) who were nonadherent with these practices were randomly assigned to either a generic (N = 218) or a tailored intervention (N = 225) which included 3 print mailings and 1 telephone session. Participants completed measures of TCE, SSE, and sun protections at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year, and measures of intentions, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy at baseline and 6 months. Results: Those enrolled in the tailored intervention had almost a twofold increased probability of having a TCE ( p     

Inhibition of tissue factor surface expression in human peripheral blood monocytes exposed to cytokines

Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-13 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) are known to regulate several monocyte functions, including inhibition of the synthesis of different cytokines. Using quantitative RT-PCR and flow cytometry analysis we investigated the effects of these cytokines on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced tissue factor (TF) expression in human monocytes. The effects of IL-4 and IL-10 on monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)-and C-reactive protein (CRP)-induced TF expression were also studied. A direct comparison revealed that IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 all down-regulated LPS-induced TF expression in a concentration-dependent manner without the need for priming. In contrast, TGF-beta required 4 h of priming to inhibit TF expression induced by LPS. IL-10 was the most powerful inhibitor, causing almost complete inhibition at 5 ng/ml. IL-4 and IL-13 exhibited a significantly lower inhibitory capacity even at concentrations of 100 ng/ml. IL-4 and IL-10 showed similar concentration-dependent inhibition of MCP-1- and CRP-induced TF expression. We also showed that the regulatory effect of the interleukins occurred at the mRNA level. In vivo, these inhibitory cytokines may play an important regulatory role in preventing thrombosis. IL-10, in particular, may be a possible candidate as a TF-preventing drug.     

Adult-child interaction during invasive medical procedures.

Adult–child interactions during stressful medical procedures were investigated in 43 pediatric patients (aged 36–212 mo) videotaped during a venipuncture procedure in the course of cancer treatment. Relations among 6 adult behavior categories (explain, distract, command to engage in coping behavior, give control to the child, praise, and criticize/threat/bargain) and 3 child behavior categories (momentary distress, cry/scream, and cope) were examined using correlational and sequential analysis. Results indicate that adult distraction resulted in increased child coping and reduced momentary distress and crying. Adult explanations did not result in a reduction of these behaviors. Attempts to give control to the child reduced child crying. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Asim: a performance model framework

The longevity and usefulness of a microprocessor performance model has historically depended on the model writer's skills and discipline. However, at Compaq the models became extremely complex and unmanageable because designers lacked a structured way to develop them. To cope with these complexities, Compaq researchers began developing Asim in late 1998 to allow model writers to faithfully represent the detailed timing of complex modern machines and effectively manage the large software projects needed to model such machines. Asim addresses these needs by providing a modular and reusable framework for creating many models. The framework's modularity helps break down the performance-modeling problem into individual pieces that can be modeled separately, while its reusability allows using a software component repeatedly in different contexts     

Prognostic influence of increased fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels in unstable coronary artery disease. FRISC Study Group. Fragmin during Instability in Coronary Artery Disease

BACKGROUND: The prognostic influences of fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels and their relations to myocardial damage in unstable coronary artery syndromes have not been well described. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fibrinogen and C-reactive protein were determined at inclusion and related to outcome after 5 months in 965 patients with unstable angina or non-Q-wave myocardial infarction randomized to 5 weeks with low-molecular-weight heparin or placebo. The probabilities of death were 1.6%, 4.6%, and 6.9% (P=.005) and the probabilities of death and/or myocardial infarction were 9.3%, 14.2%, and 19.1% (P=.002), respectively, in patients stratified by tertiles of fibrinogen (< 3.38, 3.38 to 3.99, and > or = 4.0 g/L). The probabilities of death were 2.2%, 3.6%, and 7.5% (P=.003) after stratification of patient data by tertiles of C-reactive protein level (< 2, 2 to 10, and > 10 mg/L). In logistic multiple regression analysis, increased fibrinogen levels were independently associated with the incidence of death and/or myocardial infarction (P=.013), and elevated C-reactive protein level was associated with the incidence of death (P=.012). The increased relative risk of subsequent death or myocardial infarction in individuals with an elevated fibrinogen level was consistent in most subgroups evaluated; although significantly so only in patients with signs of myocardial damage. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of both fibrinogen and C-reactive protein are associated with a worse outcome in patients with unstable coronary artery disease. The increased risk associated with elevated fibrinogen levels is independent of, and additive to, the prognostic influence of myocardial damage.     

Long-term energy projections for the U.S.A.

This report starts by surveying a series of papers that are representative of recent U.S. work on national and international energy policy. Among professional analysts, there are the beginnings of a consensus on energy demand projections and on energy-economy interactions. Moreover, it is recognized that conservation policies will be difficult to implement unless domestic prices are raised to the international level. The paper includes a series of long-term energy projections based upon ETA-MACRO. This model allows for: energy-economy interactions, cost-effective conservation and interfuel substitution between electric and nonelectric energy. the calculations are based upon a somewhat less optimistic view of synthetic fuels and of ‘backstop’ technologies than appear in the Carter Administration's recent proposals. With synfuels, backstops and nuclear energy—and with realistically reduced projections of demand growth—there is a reasonable prospect that the U.S. could meet an international commitment to limit oil and gas imports. U.S. import reductions could be achieved directly through the market price mechanism, without tariffs or quota limitations. For this to happen, however, the international price of oil would have to be doubled (in constant dollar terms) by the year 2000. A policy of gradual OPEC oil price increases would facilitate the transition away from oil, and could serve the long-run interests of both the producing and consuming nations.