Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita diagnosed by direct immunoelectron microscopy of the conjunctiva

OBJECTIVE: To describe for the first time the direct immunoelectron microscopic pattern of immune deposits on the conjunctival basement membrane in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). DESIGN: Case reports. PARTICIPANTS: Two patients. INTERVENTION: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita associated with cicatrizing conjunctivitis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Direct immunofluorescence and direct immunoelectron microscopy without freezing on conjunctival and skin biopsy specimens, indirect immunofluorescence, Western immunoblot analysis. RESULTS: Results of direct immunoelectron microscopic examination of the conjunctiva showed the presence of immune deposits in the anchoring fibril zone, just beneath the lamina densa, in both patients. This finding was the same as the direct immunoelectron microscopic pattern shown in the skin of these patients, which is known to be very specific for EBA. Direct immunofluorescence was positive in the conjunctiva of only one patient. Indirect immunofluorescence and Western immunoblot analysis failed to detect circulating autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Direct immunoelectron microscopy on the conjunctiva is a useful diagnostic tool to differentiate EBA from other related autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering diseases.     

Establishing the isotropy of displacement cascades in UO2 through molecular dynamics simulation

Simulation of displacement cascades is a valuable approach in furthering our understanding of how the physical properties of nuclear fuel evolve. Molecular dynamics simulations of displacement cascades in uranium dioxide have been performed at three different primary knock-on atom energies. Various properties of the cascade (such as the spatial extent and total number of defects) are monitored as the cascade progresses. Both the statistical variation of these properties and the dependence on the crystallographic direction of the primary knock-on atom are investigated in order to determine the isotropy of these events.     

Working memory for complex figures: An fMRI comparison of letter and fractal n-back tasks.

n-back letter and fractal tasks were administered to I I participants during functional magnetic resonance imaging to test process specificity theories of prefrontal cortex (PFC) function and assess task validity. Tasks were matched on accuracy, but fractal n-back responses were slower and more conservative. Maintenance (1-back minus O-back) activated inferior parietal and dorsolateral PFC, with additional activation in right ventrolateral PFC during letter n-back and left lingual gyrus during fractal n-back. Maintenance plus manipulation (2-back minus 0-back) activated inferior parietal, Broca's area, insula, and dorsolateral and ventral PFC, with greater right dorsolateral PFC activation for letter n-back. Manipulation only (2-back minus 1-back) produced additional and equivalent dorsolateral PFC and anterior cingulate activation in both tasks. Results support fractal n-back validity and indicate substantial overlap in working memory functions of dorsal and ventral PFC. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

气冷堆氦气净化系统改进设计与分析

为防止高温材料的腐蚀,需要通过氦气净化系统对气冷堆回路中各种气体杂质含量进行控制。本文基于高温氧化铜床、室温分子筛床和深冷活性炭床的氧化以及吸附成熟技术,通过比较分析当前各国已有的典型氦气净化回路设计,提出一项改进设计方案。计算结果表明,在保证系统净化效率的前提下,改进设计不增加系统设备,可以明显地降低系统能耗。对回热器回热度的敏感性分析结果表明,回热器回热度并非越高越好。     

Changing knowledge and attitudes about skin cancer risk factors in adolescents.

Examined knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to skin cancer (SC), sun exposure, sunscreen use, and use of tanning booths in 903 female and 800 male adolescents. The effectiveness of a brief, school-based intervention designed to increase teens' knowledge and preventive attitudes about SC was also evaluated. Females, older students, and those with high-risk skin types were most likely to use sunscreen and to take precautions. However, overall level of protection was low. Intentions to take precautions were associated with levels of perceived susceptibility to SC, attitudes about the benefits of sun exposure, skin type, and sex. Beyond intentions, sunscreen use was associated with perceived susceptibility and skin type. The 1-session, school-based intervention significantly increased knowledge of and perceived susceptibility to SC but not behavioral intentions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of Sn on the Dehydrogenation Process of TiH2 in Al Foams

The study of the dehydrogenation process of TiH₂ in aluminum foams produced by the powder metallurgy technique is essential to understanding its foaming behavior. Tin was added to the Al foam to modify the dehydrogenation process and stabilize the foam. A gradual decomposition and more retention of hydrogen gas can be achieved with Sn addition resulting in a gradual and larger expansion of the foam.     

Reaction mechanism of trypsin-catalysed semisynthesis of human insulin studied by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

The production of semisynthetic human insulin for therapeuticpurposes is of considerable importance. During trypsin-catalysedtransformation of pig insulin into an ester of insulin of humansequence, the alanyl residue at position B³⁰ is removed andreplaced with an esterified residue of threonine. We have carriedout this transformation in a medium enriched in ¹⁸OH₂ and studiedthe product by MS. In contrast to a previous report, we findthat incorporation of label into the B²⁹–B³⁰ peptide bondoccurs during the transformation with threonine methyl esterin aqueous N, N-dimethylacetamide. Quantitative data are presentedand the implications of these findings are discussed.     

Detection of polymer transitions by measurement of thermal properties

Thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and specific heat per unit volume were measured for the following polymers: poly(ethylene terephthalate), polytetrafluoroethylene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, and three poly(vinyl chloride) samples plasticized to different levels. First- and second-order transitions can be identified and located by the following features in the thermal property-temperature curves: discontinuities, sharp inflections, broad inflections, sharp maxima, broad maxima, and change in linear slope. The results for poly(vinyl chloride) indicate the possibility of the use of plasticizer to control the thermal insulation properties of polymers, both for steady-state and unsteady-state conduction.     

Social influence on group moral decisions: The interactive effects of moral reasoning and sex role orientation.

In this study, we examined the effects of moral reasoning level and sex role orientation on social influence in group decision making. We predicted that these two individual difference constructs would have an interactive effect such that people who are compatible or nonconflicted on the two dimensions would have more influence on a group task with moral implications than would people who are conflicted. All subjects individually completed a distributive decision task that required ranking terminally ill patients for access to a life-saving kidney machine. They then met in small groups and reached a group decision on the same task. The subjects' moral reasoning level and sex role orientation—assessed via the Rest Defining Issues Test (Rest, 1979) and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (Bem, 1974), respectively—were used to predict influence on the group decision. Influence was measured in three ways: similarity between individual and group ranks, self-rated influence, and selection of the most influential group member. The results of all three influence measures provided support for the interactive hypothesis. In the discussion we consider the implications of the data for individual difference models of moral reasoning, the need for further understanding of goal competition and personality conflict, and the importance of considering the impact of moral factors on group decision-making processes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cesarean childbirth and psychosocial outcomes: A meta-analysis.

A comprehensive literature review with meta-analysis examines the differences between vaginal and cesarean delivery on 23 psychosocial outcomes of childbirth. The most robust findings suggest that cesarean mothers, compared with mothers who delivered vaginally, expressed less immediate and long-term satisfaction with the birth, were less likely ever to breast-feed, experienced a much longer time to first interaction with their infants, had less positive reactions to them after birth, and interacted less with them at home. Some differences were also found between unplanned and planned cesarean sections; none were found between birthing methods for maternal confidence for infant caretaking soon after birth, maternal anxiety in the hospital and at home, maternal stress at home, maternal return to work, and continuation of breast-feeding once begun. Implications of these findings for theory, research, and childbirth practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)