Dietary omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids uniquely enhance allograft survival in cyclosporine-treated and donor-specific transfusion-treated rats

BACKGROUND: Both laboratory and clinical studies have shown that dietary lipids may affect immunologic responses. This study was conducted to compare different classes of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids for their effect on allograft survival in animals receiving a donor-specific transfusion and a short course of low-dose cyclosporine (CsA). METHODS: Heterotopic ACI strain cardiac allografts were transplanted to Lewis strain rat recipients given diets with different lipid composition. In experiment 1, animals received CsA for 14 days and different diets were enriched with lipids with high concentrations of omega-3, omega-6, or omega-9 fatty acids. In experiment 2, animals received CsA for only 8 days and different diets were enriched with corn oil (omega-6), canola oil (omega-3 and omega-9), fish oil (omega-3) or a mixture of sunflower oil and fish oil (omega-3 and omega-9). RESULTS: In experiment 1, animals receiving the diet with 30% sunflower oil had the best allograft survival (200+/-42 days vs. 53+/-8 days for regular chow plus donor-specific transfusion and CsA, P<0.05). In experiment 2, diets containing canola oil (a mixture of omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids) were associated with the best survival (P=0.0011 vs. regular chow). CONCLUSION: Dietary omega-3 and omega-9 fatty acids both enhanced cardiac allograft survival in a stringent rat strain combination. Canola oil is a convenient oil for administering both alpha-linoleic acid (omega-3) and oleic acid (omega-9) in a palatable form for human consumption. Further investigation of the potential usefulness of lipids in transplant therapy is warranted.     

Eliciting "hot cognitions" in cognitive behaviour therapy: Rationale and procedural guidelines.

A distinction can be drawn between "hot" or affectively laden cognitions, and "cold" or rational, affect free cognitions. The present authors argue that the cognitive therapists should be particularly interested in their clients' hot cognitions since the problems that bring people into therapy rarely stem from cold cognitions, independent of affective processes. Four procedures that can be useful for eliciting hot cognitions in therapy are discussed: educating clients as to the existence of intuitive appraisals, helping them distinguish between appraisals and reappraisals, promoting vivid reconstruction of past experiences, and guiding attention to intuitive appraisals. The relationship between eliciting hot cognitions and behavioral skill training is also discussed. (French abstract) (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF SELECTIVITY IN SLOW AROMATIC CHLORINATIONS

A dispersion plug flow reactor model (DPFR) has been derived and experimentally verified to predict product distribution and selectivity for commercial aromatic halogenation reactions. From the model recommendations for process modifications to reduce the amounts of undesirable byproducts arising from similar reactions can be obtained. The selectivity of the monochlorinated product is shown to depend on kinetic and hydrodynamic parameters, mixing in the reactor and chlorine solubility. The pertinent variables are arranged in five dimensionless groups which include the kinetic and hydrodynamic Damkohler Numbers, the Peclet Number, ratio of the rate constants and the ratio of chlorine solubility to the inlet aromatic concentration.

A micro pilot plant which duplicates industrial conditions for benzene and toluene chlorination was constructed to test the DPFR model. Chlorination studies were performed under a range of conditions. Hydrodynamic parameters required for the model were obtained from published correlations. The model prediction of selectivity agreed within 8% for all the experimental results, and actually better than 5% for most runs.

A graphical technique which provides recommendations for reducing the dichlorinated products is presented along with examples for both the design of a reactor, and troubleshooting of an existing reactor system.     

Cellular pathways acting along the germband and in the amnioserosa may participate in germband retraction of the Drosophila melanogaster embryo

Germband retraction in Drosophila melanogaster, like most embryonic morphogenetic events in this organism and in higher eukaryotes, is not well understood. We have taken several approaches to study the relationships between previously identified mutations (u-shaped, serpent, hindsight and tailup) that selectively cause germband retraction defects in homozygous embryos, and a more pleiotropically acting locus, DER/faint little ball. Our observations from genetic, immunohistochemical, and embryo culture experiments suggest that the former four loci are elements of at least two parallel and partially redundant cellular pathways that affect germband retraction by acting in amnioserosal development or maintenance. An additional discrete and unique pathway, represented by DER/faint little ball, is likely to function in the germband itself. While the role of the amnioserosa during germband retraction appears to be permissive, the action of DER in the germband may be mediated by the cytoskeleton.     

Effects of contingency-contracting and decision-making groups with chronic mental patients.

Placed 74 29-74 yr. old institutionalized male mental patients in 1 of 3 treatment conditions for a 4-mo period. Ss in the milieu condition received the customary hospital treatment; Ss in the interaction condition received the same treatment as the milieu condition but received 2 hr. additional weekly group therapy; Ss in the incentive condition were placed in groups responsible for making decisions concerning group members. Ss in the incentive condition were rewarded with funds and canteen books contingent upon recommendations from the groups and attendance of Ss in each group at all activities. Results show the incentive condition as superior on percentage of attendance at activities, town passes taken, and days spent out of the hospital, while the interaction condition was superior on nurses' rating scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of job attitudes, training, and organization climate on performance of the hard-core unemployed.

Examined potential contributors toward the job performance and retention of 478 hard-core unemployed (hcu): (a) the hcu's biographic and demographic background, (b) attitudes toward work, (c) the organizational climate in which he is placed, and (d) the effect of a 2-wk training/orientation program. The sole correlate of the hcu's work effectiveness and behavior was the degree of supportiveness of the organizational climate in which he was placed. In addition, the hcu saw this climate as far less supportive than did his supervisor. Results indicate that programs geared primarily toward adapting the hcu's work attitudes to the predominant social structure in the organization are far less potent than those that also incorporate the adaptation of the organizational climate. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A design for an immersable pressure-capacitance gauge

An immersable pressure-capacitance gauge has been designed which has a linearity over a pressure range, is non-magnetic and has twice the sensitivity of a single diaphragm     

Rockford, Ill.: Cognitive and Affective Outcomes

Small but significant and possibly critical differences favor two-way system of in-service training program for city firefighters.     

Protestant ethic endorsement and attitudes toward commuting to work among mass transit riders.

273 suburban adult commuters completed a survey assessing attitudes toward commuting to and from work by train, behavior while commuting, and endorsement of the Protestant work ethic. It was found that Protestant ethic endorsement was positively correlated with perceiving the commute as being part of the work day, engaging in work-related behavior while in transit, and a stronger preference for working than for commuting. However, endorsement of the Protestant ethic was uncorrelated with the frequency with which respondents' jobs provided them with differential opportunities to actually do work while commuting. Findings suggest that work values can account for behavior and attitudes that extend beyond the work place. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Pulmonary cytopathology of former asbestos workers. Report of the first year

Five hundred fifty-four workers, 84% of whom are chronic cigarette smokers, have been examined during the past year with emphasis on the role of sputum cytopathology in the early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer. Of the 554, 232 (42%) have shown squamous metaplasia, 44 (8%), mild to moderate atypias, 18 (3.2%), severe atypias, and two (0.4%), squamous carcinoma. Both of the carcinomas were in x-ray negative, cytopathology-positive elderly cigarette smokers. Ferruginous bodies have been found in the sputa of 187 (33%) workers. Ferruginous bodies in the sputum do not appear to be a marker for severe atypias; rather, their presence correlates best with duration and extent of industrial exposure to asbestos.