An existential look at B. F. Skinner.

Perhaps surprisingly, radical behaviorism has much in common with the modern rebellion against classical philosophy known as existentialism. Similarities could have been shaped by a verbal community that included Skinner. Radical behaviorism is seen as part of a discussion becoming increasingly reliable in its treatment of human behavior, and as an effective philosophy of science. The concept of despair is discussed, followed by a consideration of modernist thinking in general. Six dimensions of inquiry on which radical behaviorism and existentialism share similar positions are treated, and the concept of freedom is discussed. Skinner's lifelong devotion to writing is viewed as a bridge linking science with art. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neurotrophins regulate agrin-induced postsynaptic differentiation

The precise orchestration of synaptic differentiation is critical for efficient information exchange in the nervous system. The nerve-muscle synapse forms in response to agrin, which is secreted from the motor nerve terminal and induces the clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and other elements of the postsynaptic apparatus on the subjacent muscle cell surface. In view of the highly restricted spatial localization and the plasticity of neuromuscular junctions, it seems likely that synapse formation and maintenance are regulated by additional, as-yet-unidentified factors. Here, we tested whether neurotrophins modulate the agrin-induced differentiation of postsynaptic specializations. We show that both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) inhibit agrin-induced AChR clustering on cultured myotubes. Nerve growth factor and NT-3 are without effect. Muscle cells express full-length TrkB, the cognate receptor for BDNF and NT-4. Direct activation of this receptor by anti-TrkB antibodies mimicked the BDNF/NT-4 inhibition of agrin-induced AChR clustering. This BDNF/NT-4 inhibition is likely to be an intrinsic mechanism for regulating AChR clustering, because neutralization of endogenous TrkB ligands resulted in elevated levels of AChR clustering even in the absence of added agrin. Finally, high concentrations of agrin can occlude the BDNF/NT-4 inhibition of AChR clustering. These results indicate that an interplay between agrin and neurotrophins can regulate the formation of postsynaptic specializations. They also suggest a mechanism for the suppression of postsynaptic specializations at nonjunctional regions.     

Uptake, Selectivity, and Inhibition of Hydroponic Treatment of Contaminants

It is estimated that the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Agriculture will spend up to 300 billion federal dollars on environmental remediation during the next century. Phytoremediation, the use of vegetation for the remediation of contaminated sediments, soils, and ground water, is an emerging technology for treating several categories of persistent, toxic contaminants. Although effective, phytoremediation is still in a developmental stage and therefore is not a widely accepted technology by regulatory agencies and public groups. Research is currently being conducted to validate the process effectiveness as well as increase regulatory and community acceptance. This research will focus on the ability of plants to hydroponically treat water contaminated with cadmium, chromium, nickel, radionuclides (cesium and strontium), and∕or phthalates. Specifically, the effectiveness of dwarf sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) and two strains of mustard seed (Brassica juncea) were investigated. The selectivity, on a mass basis, for the sunflowers and Indian mustard was Cd > Ni > Cr and Cr > Ni > Cd, respectively. This selectivity order did not change when cesium was present. For the individual phthalate treatment, the selectivity was dibutyl phthalate > benzylbutyl phthalate > dioctyl phthalate. When metals were present, the uptake of phthalates was severely limited.     

Effect of sampling fat location and cooking on fatty acid composition of beef steaks

To investigate the impact of sampling fat location and cooking on fatty acid composition of beef steaks, 21 raw steaks from crossbred steers were dissected to obtain outer (OSC) and inner subcutaneous fat (ISC), seam fat, marbling, and lean muscle. Twenty-one cooked steaks were dissected to obtain OSC, ISC, seam fat, surface and inner muscle. Trans-vaccenic acid and c9, t11-CLA percentages were lower (P < 0.05) in lean muscle than subcutaneous (s.c.) fat or marbling. Monounsaturated: saturated fatty acid ratios were lower (P < 0.05) in seam fat and marbling than s.c. fat or lean muscle. Linoleic and linolenic acid levels were highest in lean muscle and longer chain n−6 and n−3 fatty acids were only detected in lean muscle. Cooking did not change fatty acid composition dramatically except that n−6: n−3 ratio in s.c. and seam fat decreased after cooking (P < 0.05).     

Evaluation and critique of Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis applied in a radiotherapy case study

Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA®) has been developed to support the proactive analysis of health care treatment processes. Its use has been reported in several studies with both positive and negative comments regarding the quality of the results and the efficacy of the method. This paper examines the HFMEA® methodology and discusses the challenges that were encountered during its application to a proactive analysis of radiotherapy patient record systems in a large public hospital. Several weaknesses in the HFMEA® method and particularly in the HFMEA Decision Tree^TM are also discussed. Recommendations to support future HFMEA® studies and also for the re‐design of the HFMEA Decision Tree^TM to overcome the identified weaknesses are included. Based on these recommendations, a new decision tree is presented to guide future analyses. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The relationship between personality psychopathology and aggressive behavior in research volunteers.

Theorists and clinicians have long believed that personality psychopathology is a risk factor for aggressive behavior. Previous investigations in this area, however, have provided mixed results. In this study, the relationship between personality psychopathology and aggressive behavior was examined in 137 research volunteers. The influences of gender and coexisting major mental disorders were statistically controlled. Aggressive behavior was associated with criteria for 7 of the I I personality disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Except for schizoid criteria, all relationships with aggressive behavior were in the positive direction. When all personality disorders were considered simultaneously, paranoid and passive-aggressive criteria were significant predictors of aggressive behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of cerebral blood flow during cardiopulmonary bypass with near-infrared spectroscopy

OBJECTIVES: We sought to assess the incidence and clinical relevance of examination data to recurrent ischemia within an international randomized trial. BACKGROUND: Ischemic symptoms commonly recur after thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Patients (n = 40,848) were prospectively evaluated for recurrent angina and transient electrocardiographic (ECG) or hemodynamic changes. Five groups were developed: Group 1, patients with no signs or symptoms of recurrent ischemia; Group 2, patients with angina only; Group 3, patients with angina and ST segment changes; Group 4, patients with angina and hemodynamic abnormalities; and Group 5, patients with angina, ST segment changes and hemodynamic abnormalities. Baseline clinical and outcome variables were compared among the five groups. RESULTS: Group 1 comprised 32,717 patients, and Groups 2 to 5 comprised 20% of patients (4,488 in Group 2; 3,021 in Group 3; 337 in Group 4; and 285 in Group 5). Patients with recurrent ischemia were more often female, had more cardiovascular risk factors and less often received intravenous heparin. Significantly more extensive and more severe coronary disease, antianginal treatment, angioplasty and coronary bypass surgery were observed as a function of ischemic severity. The 30-day reinfarction rate was 1.6% in Group 1, 6.5% in Group 2, 21.7% in Group 3, 13.1% in Group 4 and 36.5% in Group 5 (p < 0.0001); in contrast, the 30-day mortality rate was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in Groups 1, 2 and 3 (6.6%, 5.4% and 7.7%, respectively) than in Groups 4 and 5 (21.8% and 29.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Postinfarction angina greatly increases the risk of reinfarction, especially when accompanied by transient ECG changes. However, mortality is markedly increased only in the presence of concomitant hemodynamic abnormalities.     

Psychiatric manifestations of Lyme borreliosis

BACKGROUND: Lyme borreliosis (Lyme disease), a tick-borne spirochetal illness, has later manifestations that may include arthritic, neurologic, ophthalmologic, and cardiac symptoms. Recent reports suggest psychiatric symptoms may also be part of the clinical picture. METHOD: Using a structured interview (SCID), we interviewed three patients who had developed a psychiatric disorder for the first time after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. RESULTS: During Lyme borreliosis, one patient had major depression and panic disorder, one patient had an organic mood syndrome with both depression and mania, and the third patient had panic disorder. These disorders remitted after adequate antibiotic treatment. CONCLUSION: While depression has been previously linked to neuroborreliosis, this is the first report to link panic disorder and mania with borrelial infection. Because of the rapid rise of Lyme borreliosis nationwide and the need for antibiotic treatment to prevent severe neurologic damage, mental health professionals need to be aware of its possible psychiatric presentations.