Impact of Event Scale: A cross-validation study and some empirical evidence supporting a conceptual model of stress response syndromes.

Conducted a cross-validational study on the Impact of Event Scale (IES), a self-report instrument assessing the essential characteristics associated with stress disorders. 35 bereaved outpatients completed the IES before entering time-limited dynamic psychotherapy and at 4 and 12 mo following termination. A further 28 Ss, not participating in therapy, completed the measure at similar intervals. Results confirm the scale's relevance, internal consistency, and sensitivity. In addition, data are interpreted as consistent with a clinically derived theoretical model of the pattern of response to serious life events. As predicted by the theory, the syndromatic group showed greater intensity of intrusive and avoidance states; the relevant salience of reported experience was similar across groups; and the syndromatic group before intervention was characterized by an absence of a movement toward completion of processing the meaning of the event. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lipopolysaccharide-related stimuli induce expression of the secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor, a macrophage-derived lipopolysaccharide inhibitor

Mouse secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) was recently characterized as a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced product of macrophages that antagonizes their LPS-induced activation of NF-kappaB and production of NO and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) (F. Y. Jin, C. Nathan, D. Radzioch, and A. Ding, Cell 88:417-426, 1997). To better understand the role of SLPI in innate immune and inflammatory responses, we examined the kinetics of SLPI expression in response to LPS, LPS-induced cytokines, and LPS-mimetic compounds. SLPI mRNA was detectable in macrophages by Northern blot analysis within 30 min of exposure to LPS but levels peaked only at 24 to 36 h and remained elevated at 72 h. Despite the slowly mounting and prolonged response, early expression of SLPI mRNA was cycloheximide resistant. Two LPS-induced proteins-interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-6-also induced SLPI, while TNF and IL-1beta did not. The slow attainment of maximal induction of SLPI by LPS in vitro was mimicked by infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vivo, where SLPI expression in the lung peaked at 3 days. Two LPS-mimetic molecules-taxol from yew bark and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from gram-positive bacterial cell walls-also induced SLPI. Transfection of macrophages with SLPI inhibited their LTA-induced NO production. An anti-inflammatory role for macrophage-derived SLPI seems likely based on SLPI's slowly mounting production in response to constituents of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, its induction both as a direct response to LPS and as a response to anti-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS, and its ability to suppress the production of proinflammatory products by macrophages stimulated with constituents of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.     

Moisture in Epoxy Resin Composites

The effect of external loading on the rate of water uptake by unidirectional composites is examined as a function of the loading angle (0) with respect to the fibre direction in glass and graphite-reinforced epoxies. The moisture uptake under the effect of the external load increases with 0, suggesting a dependence on the matrix volume increase, itself a function of the strain and of the Poisson's ratio.     

Shostrom's group therapy on commercial television.

Comments on E. L. Shostrom's (1968) article on witnessed group therapy, focusing on the nature and purpose of commercial TV and possible effects of TV presentations of group therapy sessions on viewers and group members. Hurvitz supports Shostrom's conclusion that educational TV presentation of sessions may be preferable to commercial presentations. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electrical and structural characteristics of non-stoichiometric Cu-based delafossites

Non-stoichiometric Cu^xGaO² polycrystalline ceramics were prepared using solid-state synthesis methods and their structural and electrical properties were characterized as a function of x. While single phase delafossite could only be confirmed for the stoichiometric composition, X-ray diffraction results show that the a and c lattice parameters were stable from Cu^0.98GaO² to Cu^1.02GaO². Below x = 0.97, the structure underwent a 0.4% decrease in cell volume. For compositions rich in Cu, the a parameter remained constant while the c parameter shrank at a constant rate. Despite these changes in cell dimensions, the results of current-voltage and impedance spectroscopy measurements indicate that both the conductivity and the activation energy do not vary with x. The absence of a change in electrical properties as well as the formation of secondary phases in non-stoichiometric compositions suggests that CuGaO² does not allow significant deviations from the ideal CuGaO² stoichiometry. This implies that the p-type conductivity is fixed by a defect species that does not vary with the Cu stoichiometry.     

Wavelength references for interferometry in air

Cavity-mode wavelengths in air are determined by measuring a laser's frequency while it is locked to the mode in vacuum during a calibration step and subsequently correcting the mode wavelength for atmospheric pressure compression, temperature difference, and material aging. Using a Zerodur ring cavity, we demonstrate a repeatability of +/- 2 x 10(-8) (3sigma), with the wavelength accuracy limited to +/- 4 x 10(-8) by knowledge of the absolute helium gas temperature during the pressure calibration. Mirror cleaning perturbed the mode frequency by less than deltav/v approximately 3 x 10(-9), limited by temperature correction residuals.     

Wholesale Competition in the International Telecommunications System

In the last ten years, the international telecommunications industry has undergone important changes from both the legislative (regulatory reforms) and the technological points of view. The liberalization of the telecommunications market has, consequently, affected the dynamics of the bilateral agreements between international carriers. In this paper, the international wholesale market in which carriers compete over the tariffs in order to increase their market share is analyzed. In particular, this paper examines the interactions between fixed telephony TLC carriers belonging to various countries and analyzes the possible strategic choices of the market leader induced by changes in competitor behavior.