"Experienced emotion and affect recognition in adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder": Correction to Rapport et al. (2002).

Reports an error in "Experienced emotion and affect recognition in adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder" by Lisa J. Rapport, Sara L. Friedman, Angela Tzelepis and Amy Van Voorhis (Neuropsychology, 2002[Jan], Vol 16[1], 102-110). On Page 102, in the byline and in the author note, and on page 109 in the Rapport et al. (2001) reference, Sara Friedman's middle initial incorrectly reads "L." Her correct middle initial is "R." (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2002-00339-011.) Emotional competence and deficits that may disrupt interpersonal interactions were evaluated in 28 adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 28 demographically equivalent controls. Participants completed tasks assessing affect recognition and experienced emotional intensity. Adults with ADHD performed worse in affect recognition than did adults without the disorder; however, the impairment was unrelated to gross perceptual processes, fundamental abilities in facial recognition, or attentional aspects of affect perception. Moreover, intensity of experienced emotion moderated affect recognition: Among controls, experienced emotion facilitated affect recognition. Among adults with ADHD, who reported significantly greater intensity, experienced emotion was inversely related to affect recognition. Results are consistent with theories of ADHD as a deficit in behavioral inhibition; yet, results may merely reflect a constellation of deficits associated with the disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hydrodynamic Changes in Sand due to Biogrowth on Naphthalene and Decane

Biological activity in zones of chemical contamination changes the pore characteristics that control the flow of water and transport of dissolved chemicals in soils. To further the understanding of these processes, column experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of biomass growth on decane or naphthalene dissolved in simulated groundwater on the hydraulic conductivity and dispersivity of sand. The effect of grain size, groundwater flowrate, and nitrogen limitation were investigated. Given the low carbon loading resulting from the solubility of decane and naphthalene, sparse and discontinuous biomass growth reduced the hydraulic conductivity of the sand by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude after 35 to 63 days. This biogrowth initially increased dispersivity of the sand, but after longer periods of growth dispersivity, decreased to stable values near that of the clean sand. The results indicate that biogrowth can have significant effects in natural systems with low carbon loading and nitrogen availability, and should be taken into account when using models to predict contaminant transport in the field.     

Child-Centered Kinder Training for Teachers of Pre-School Children Deemed At-Risk.

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of child-centered kinder training on both at-risk children and their teachers using Landreth's 10-week filial training model. In this project, the teachers received 30 minutes of immediate feedback following their play sessions with individual children. Following the 10-week training, teachers participated in 13 group sessions to help them generalize the use of the skills into their classrooms. The findings indicate that changes occurred in both the children and the teachers. The children who participated in play sessions with their teachers improved in three of the four composite scales of the Behavior Assessment Scale for Children (Internalizing Problems, Behavioral Symptoms Index, and Adaptive Skills), when compared to a control group of children who did not have the play sessions. The teachers demonstrated better play therapy skills and higher levels of empathic responding with children in the playroom. In addition, teachers were able to generalize the skills into their classrooms when compared to teachers who had not received kinder training. The findings of this study indicate that child-centered kinder training is an effective strategy for both at-risk pre-school children and their teachers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Targeting Glycolysis in Macrophages Confers Protection Against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Inflammation in the tumor microenvironment has been shown to promote disease progression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, the role of macrophage metabolism in promoting inflammation is unclear. Using an orthotopic mouse model of PDAC, we demonstrate that macrophages from tumor-bearing mice exhibit elevated glycolysis. Macrophage-specific deletion of Glucose Transporter 1 (GLUT1) significantly reduced tumor burden, which was accompanied by increased Natural Killer and CD8+ T cell activity and suppression of the NLRP3-IL1β inflammasome axis. Administration of mice with a GLUT1-specific inhibitor reduced tumor burden, comparable with gemcitabine, the current standard-of-care. In addition, we observe that intra-tumoral macrophages from human PDAC patients exhibit a pronounced glycolytic signature, which reliably predicts poor survival. Our data support a key role for macrophage metabolism in tumor immunity, which could be exploited to improve patient outcomes.     

Selection Ability in Alzheimer's Disease: Investigation of a Component of Semantic Processing.

Selection ability (selecting a response from several competing semantic and/or lexical representations) was tested in 21 participants with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 28 control participants to help clarify the nature of semantic impairments in AD. Selection demands were manipulated in 3 tasks (lexical fluency, comparison, and verb generation). In each, high-selection conditions required response selection from competing alternatives, whereas low-selection conditions had a reduced need for selection. Patients with AD were disproportionately impaired on the high-selection conditions of all tasks, even when this condition was easier. Selection deficits on verb generation were evident only relative to nonspeeded controls. Overall results indicate impaired semantic selection abilities in AD, which may contribute to poor performance on some semantic tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Paclitaxel and other taxanes in hazelnut

Small amounts of paclitaxel (Taxol^®) were isolated from Tombul hazelnut (Corylus arellana L.) hard shells, green shell covers and leaves. In addition to paclitaxel, 10-deacetyl baccatin III, baccatin III and cephalomannine were found in the extracts. Taxanes were not detected in nut kernels or hulls from this cultivar. The amounts present varied between 8.61 and 68.22 micrograms per gram sample on a defatted and dried basis. While it is possible that these taxanes may have been made by fungi associated with the hazelnut, it is likely that they are made by the plant tissues.     

Development of an Apparatus for the Determination of Spectral Reflectivity at High Temperatures in the Visible

The paper presents a reflectometer for high temperature measurements. In this apparatus, the directional-hemispherical spectral reflectivity is measured by comparing the optical response of the sample to white light with the response of a reference material. The reflected light, collected by an integrating sphere, is dispersed in a spectrograph and detected by an ICCD camera. This procedure allows the simultaneous measurement of the reflectivity in a large, continuous wavelength range (presently 510 to 860 nm). An electrical resistance heater is used to heat the samples up to about 1200 K; for higher temperatures a flash-lamp pumped dye laser is used. To avoid laser induced plasma generation, the integrating sphere is placed inside a vacuum chamber, which also allows measurements under a controlled atmosphere. The response of the apparatus is calibrated to an absolute scale which allows the determination of the sample temperature by fitting the thermal emission spectrum with Planck's formula. To check the performance of the apparatus, measurements on Fe₂O₃ (hematite) and NiO have been carried out.     

Comparison of the coupling behaviour of diisocyanate and bisoxazolines in modification of liquid crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-oxybenzoate)s

Methylene-4,4′-diphenyldiisocyanate and two different bisoxazolines were used for coupling reactions in carboxy-terminated liquid crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-oxybenzoate). In order to guarantee defined conditions, copolyesters with different carboxylic group concentrations were synthesized. The determination of the carboxylic group content is described. The coupling behaviour of both types of chain extenders has been compared. It was evidenced that the bisoxazolines reacted significantly faster than the diisocyanate. A slight excess of bisoxazoline in the reaction mixture prevented thermomechanical degradation. Depending on the amount of coupling agent added, an oxazoline termination of the copolyester was observed. Additionally, probable crosslinking reactions and the thermal stability have been discussed.     

Modification reactions on thermotropic liquid-crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-oxybenzoate)s with bi- and trivalent 2-oxazoline couplers

Carboxy-terminated liquid-crystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate-co-oxybenzoate)s with 60 and 75 mol-% oxybenzoate units were modified with phenyl-1,4-bis(2-oxazoline) and phenyl-1,3,5-tris(2-oxazoline) in plasticorder and extruder. The modification gave rise to significant increase in molecular weights and also slight crosslinking and branching. The course of the reaction was followed by means of torque-vs.-time curves measured during the plasticorder modification. In spite of strong increase in melt viscosities the processability of the modified copolyesters was not worsened. Samples were injection-moulded and tested. Modifications improved the mechanical properties, distinctly. Especially, samples which were slightly crosslinked with phenyl-1,3,5-tris(2-oxazoline) demonstrated outstanding tensile and impact strengths. Significant differences in fracture behaviour could be evidenced by recording impact bending tests.     

Time course of natural killer cell activity and lymphocyte proliferation in response to two acute stressors in healthy men.

To clarify the time course of immune system activity during and after acute stressor exposure, this study collected immune measures from 31 men at 6 times (before. during, and after 2 common laboratory stressors: mental arithmetic with harassment or a cold pressor task). The 6-min stressor period was associated with increased self-report of pain and distress in both stressor groups and with increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in the mental arithmetic group. Increased natural killer cell activity in this group was observed during the task (2 and 5 min into the task) and 5 min after the task ended. A significant Group?×?Time effect was observed for lymphocyte proliferation to pokeweed mitogen, and a significant Group?×?Time?×?Dilution effect was observed for proliferation to concanavalin A. Inspection of the data suggested that this interaction was due to a reduction in proliferation in both stressor groups during the task period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)