On fighting versus accepting stressful circumstances: Primary and secondary control among HIV-positive men in prison.

The primacy of primary control over secondary control and ethnic differences in control processes were tested in HIV-positive male state prison inmates. They rated their perceptions of control and psychological distress at an initial interview (N?=?95) and 3 months later (N?=?78). Regression analyses revealed that primary control had primacy as it had greater adaptive value. However, secondary control did not function as a backup to primary control, and temporal differences in control were not found. No mean differences due to ethnicity (African American vs. White) were found, but there was a strong ethnic difference in the effects of primary control. White participants showed the expected negative relationship between distress and primary control, but African American participants did not. The idea that the benefits of primary control would be the same across various subcultures was not supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

CW operation of GaInAsP stripe lasers

A quantitative investigation of the constraints on dc operation of GaInAsP stripe-geometry lasers at room temperature and above has been made. Laser pulse threshold current, its temperature sensitivity, electrical series resistance, and the thermal resistance of the bonded device are critical parameters in this respect. Sets of theoretical curves have been generated that allow expected de thresholds to be determined from the value of the pulsed threshold. Experimental results confirm the accuracy of the expressions. For GaInAsP lasers, the low values of T0reported in the literature (47-80 K) imply that both electrical series resistance and thermal resistance must be minimized in order to obtain stable dc operation over a reasonable temperature range in conventional oxide or proton isolated stripe structures. Both parameters are calculated theoretically for a range of structures. The calculations show that thermal runaway is sensitive to electrical resistance in the range1-10 Omegathis suggests an area where improvements are possible. To this end, the use of tunneling Schottky contacts to a ternary InGaAs p-capping layer has been developed to minimize contact resistance.     

The importance of three-body processes to reaction kinetics atatmospheric pressures. III. Reactions of He2+ withselected atomic and molecular reactants

For pt.II see ibid., vol.22, p.47-50 (1986). Results are presented from studies of the reactions He₂⁺ with five species displaying a wide variation of molecular structures and polarizabilities: Ar, Xe, Ne, O₂, and CO₂. Measurements were made in the afterglows of preionized discharges into the reactant gas mixtures diluted in 1-6-atm pressures of helium. Effective rates of reaction were obtained that could be separated into contributions from bimolecular and termolecular channels. The latter generally dominated, showing no evidence of saturation up to 6 atm pressure of diluent. These results continue to confirm earlier reports that the initial capture step in the reaction is not limited by the Langevin rate as usually applied. Such super-Langevin rates appear to be a general phenomenon at high pressures, at least for the reactions of He ₂⁺. In the most extreme case examined, He₂ ⁺+CO₂, the effective rate of reaction contributed by all channels was found to exceed Langevin by a factor of five at 6-atm pressure of diluent     

Physico-chemical and nutritional properties of cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) heated under pressure

Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp) at four stages of maturity were heated in water at 34.5 kPa for varying times up to 40 min. All measurements except ash were affected by the stage of maturity and time of heating. Changes occurred most rapidly during the first 10 min of heating. The greenness of the most immature cowpeas was lost. The degrees of firmness of all groups differed initially but decreased rapidly during the first 5 min and more slowly thereafter. Fresh cowpeas were softened sufficiently for eating after 10 min at which time pH increased 0.65 units to pH 6.75 and acidity decreased to 0.17%. In-vitro protein digestibility of the most mature, unheated cowpeas was 70.7% and increased to 83.4% after 10 min heating. Heating decreased the original trypsin inhibitor activity by 81.7% after 5 min and 85.9% after 10 min.     

CD1d-restricted immunoglobulin G formation to GPI-anchored antigens mediated by NKT cells

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses require major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-restricted recognition of peptide fragments by conventional CD4(+) helper T cells. Immunoglobulin G responses to glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)- anchored protein antigens, however, were found to be regulated in part through CD1d-restricted recognition of the GPI moiety by thymus-dependent, interleukin-4-producing CD4(+), natural killer cell antigen 1.1 [(NK1.1)+] helper T cells. The CD1-NKT cell pathway regulated immunogobulin G responses to the GPI-anchored surface antigens of Plasmodium and Trypanosoma and may be a general mechanism for rapid, MHC-unrestricted antibody responses to diverse pathogens.     

Effectiveness of a multi-species attractant in two different trap types under practical grain storage conditions

Commodities may be attacked by a multitude of pest species simultaneously and so to be cost-effective any lure must be attractive to a range of target species. The objective of this study was to test a multi-species lure formulation with different dispensers under conditions as close as possible to their use in practice. The attractant effect of the multi-species lure formulation was tested using two types of dispensers with populations of the three principal grain beetle pests in the UK (Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Sitophilus granarius and Cryptolestes ferrugineus). The trials were performed over a period of six weeks with the lures tested in PC™ Traps: first in a grain bulk and in six grain bins and second in the surrounding area using PC™ Floor Traps. The amounts of volatiles released in and around in situ traps were measured using Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME).The first lure dispenser tested was attractive to O. surinamensis and C. ferrugineus but it attracted fewer S. granarius than the control traps. It was shown that most of the volatiles were released at the beginning of the trial and therefore lures were not effective over the whole six-week period. The second lure dispenser released the attractant volatiles more consistently over six weeks and exerted significant attraction to O. surinamensis and C. ferrugineus in PC™ Traps in the grain bulk and to O. surinamensis and S. granarius in floor traps. Too few C. ferrugineus were caught in floor traps to make a comparison. The reason for the repellent effect on S. granarius in the grain bulk was unclear and this is discussed along with the importance of measuring volatiles released by the lure.     

A broad-spectrum microbicide with virucidal activity against sexually transmitted viruses

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an alkyl sulfate surfactant derived from an organic alcohol, possesses surfactant properties but also denatures and unfolds both monomeric and subunit proteins. In preliminary experiments, we demonstrated that SDS is a potent inactivator of herpes simplex virus type 2 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 at concentrations comparable to those used for the surfactant nonoxynol-9. We hypothesized that SDS might be capable of denaturing the capsid proteins of nonenveloped viruses. In this report, we demonstrate inactivation of rabbit, bovine, and human papillomaviruses after brief treatment with dilute solutions of SDS. Effective concentrations were nontoxic to rabbit skin and to split-thickness grafts of human foreskin epithelium. This is the first report of a microbicidal surfactant that will inactivate papillomaviruses. We propose that SDS is now a candidate microbicide for formulation and testing with humans.     

Kinetic properties of the activator complexes plasmin--staphylokinase and plasmin(ogen)--streptokinase in vitro

The thiazole orange dye 1,1'-(4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4, 8-diazaundecamethylene)-bis-4-[(3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-2(3H)-benzo-1 ,3-thiazolylidene)methyl]quinolinium tetraiodide (TOTO) binds to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in a sequence selective bis-intercalation. We have examined the binding of derivatives of TOTO with different substituents on the benzothiazole ring. The analogues are the following: 1,1'-(4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4, 8-diazaundecamethylene)-[4-[3-(benzyl-2, 3-dihydro-2-(3H)-benzothiazolylidene)methyl]quinolinium]-[4-[3-(++ +methy l-2, 3-dihydro-2-(3H)-benzothiazolylidene)methyl]quinolinium]tetraio dide (TOTOBzl) and 1,1'-(4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4, 8-diazaundecamethylene)-bis-4-[(3-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-2(3H)-benzo-1, 3-thiazole)methyl]quinolinium tetraiodide (TOTOEt). In this paper, we report the synthesis of TOTOBzl and TOTOEt together with the one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR investigations of complexes between these TOTO analogues and the dsDNA oligonucleotide d(CGCTAGCG)2. Both analogues yield extremely stable complexes in which each chromophore is sandwiched between two base pairs in a (5'-CpT-3'):(5'-ApG-3') site. The linker spans over two base pairs in the minor groove. The benzyl group in TOTOBzl and the ethyl groups in TOTOEt is pointing outward in the major groove.     

How to resolve stool retention in a child. Underwear soiling is not a behavior problem

Many parents do not realize their child has stool retention when they bring him or her for an office visit. Some complaints that may be a tip-off and should prompt questioning about stool frequency and underwear soiling are vague abdominal pain, urinary incontinence, and stools so large they plug the toilet. A rectal examination is usually adequate to confirm the diagnosis. Management begins with educating parents that leaking of liquid stool around impaction and onto underwear is completely involuntary, so the child should never be scolded or embarrassed. Stool retention may begin because of unpleasant or unavailable toilet facilities, constipation, or painful elimination and often becomes self-perpetuating. Impaction must be removed immediately; magnesium citrate solution is usually effective. To allow the rectum to return to its normal size, which can take an extended time, stool must be kept soft and movable with administration of mineral oil and appropriate dietary choices (eg, fruit, juice, fiber). Recurrence is common, so ongoing measures and follow-up are important.