Nonverbal involvement and social control.

Reviews research on the role of nonverbal involvement (e.g., distance, gaze, touch, lean, orientation, paralinguistic cues, and facial expression) in the interactive function of social control (SC). The SC function describes a general goal of exercising influence to change the behavior of others. Specifically, that process is designed to produce reactions not likely in the absence of such influence. Patterns of nonverbal involvement in the service of the SC function are reviewed in the areas of status, power, and dominance; persuasion; feedback/reinforcement; deception; and impression management. The role of these patterns in the employment interview and counseling situation is addressed. In contrast to the common assumption that nonverbal behavior usually reflects a spontaneous and consistent affective reaction, this research strongly suggests that in many instances nonverbal behavior may be managed to influence the behavior of others. (127 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accurate location and marking of grain boundaries using focused ion and electron beams

We have investigated the 2×12° symmetric grain boundary of (0 0 1) oriented bicrystalline silicon substrates for high-T_c superconductor applications using scanning focused ion beam (FIB) and electron beam (SEM). We successfully used the focused ion beam to detect and to mark the grain boundary and hence, to increase the accuracy of positioning the Josephson device with respect to the grain boundary of the silicon substrate. Both imaging methods have been compared using channeling effects of focused ion and electron beams in a dual beam system.     

Use of GPR1, GPR15, and STRL33 as coreceptors by diverse human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and simian immunodeficiency virus envelope proteins

Human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV, respectively) use chemokine receptors as coreceptors along with CD4 to mediate viral entry. Several orphan receptors, including GPR1, GPR15, and STRL33, can also serve as coreceptors for a more limited number of HIV and SIV isolates. We investigated whether these orphan receptors could function as efficient coreceptors for a diverse group of HIV and SIV envelopes (Envs) in comparison with the principal coreceptors CCR5 and CXCR4. We found that a limited number of HIV-1 isolates could mediate inefficient cell-cell fusion with the orphan receptors relative to CCR5 and CXCR4; however, none of the orphan receptors tested could support pseudotype virus infection despite robust infection via CCR5 or CXCR4. All except one of the SIV Envs tested mediated some degree of cell-cell fusion and pseudotype infection, with target cells expressing at least one of these orphan receptors, although CCR5 proved to be the most efficient coreceptor for infection. Only one SIV Env protein, BK28, could mediate infection using GPR1 as a coreceptor, albeit much less efficiently than with CCR5. In addition, use of these coreceptors did not correlate with the published tropism of the SIV clones and was strictly CD4 dependent for both SIV and HIV. We also examined the expression of these molecules in cell lines and primary cells widely used for virus propagation and as targets for infection. All cells examined expressed STRL33, a more limited number expressed GPR15, and GPR1 was much more restricted in its expression pattern. Taken together, our results indicate that GPR15 and STRL33 are rarely used by HIV-1 but are more frequently used by SIV strains, although not in a manner that correlates with SIV tropism.     

Testosterone's Analgesic, Anxiolytic, and Cognitive-Enhancing Effects May Be Due in Part to Actions of Its 5α-Reduced Metabolites in the Hippocampus.

Although testosterone (T) may decrease anxiety and enhance cognitive performance, its mechanisms are not well understood. The authors hypothesized that if T's effects are mediated in part through actions of its 5α-reduced, nonaromatizable metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and/or its 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase reduced metabolite 3α-androstanediol (3α-diol) in the hippocampus, then T, DHT, and 3α-diol administration should produce similar behavioral effects concomitant with elevating T metabolites in the hippocampus. Gonadectomized male rats administered T, DHT, or 3α-diol via Silastic capsules or intrahippocampal infusions had greater analgesia (tail flick, paw lick), less anxiety behavior (plus-maze, open field, defensive freezing), and better learning (inhibitory avoidance) compared with vehicle control rats. Only 3α-diol levels in the hippocampus were consistently elevated in conjunction with these behavioral effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivating and demotivating forces in teams: Cross-level influences of empowering leadership and relationship conflict.

Using cross-cultural laboratory and field studies with samples of leaders, employees, and students from the United States and the People's Republic of China, we examined how team-level stimuli, including empowering leadership and relationship conflict, combine to influence individual members' motivational states of psychological empowerment and affective commitment. As predicted, we found that these motivational states are individually and jointly influenced by teams' level of empowering leadership and relationship conflict and that these motivational states mediate the relationships between team stimuli and team members' innovative and teamwork behaviors and turnover intentions. In addition, results held despite controlling for team members' nationality and collectivism. We discuss contributions of our study to the team motivation, conflict, and stress literatures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interleukin 7 enhances the proliferation and effector function of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from renal-cell carcinoma

Previous studies have documented the effects of IL2 on the growth and effector function of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in cancer patients. Since IL7 is known to induce T- and NK-cell responses in the peripheral blood, we examined the immuno-enhancing effects of IL7 on TIL derived from human renal-cell carcinoma (RCC). Whereas IL2 induced the growth of freshly isolated TIL in vitro, IL7 was ineffective alone and failed to increase the total number of cells proliferating to IL2. However, IL7 did provide a proliferative signal to TIL that were initially expanded in culture with either IL2 or IL2/IL7 for 2 weeks. IL7 also induced the proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ TIL lines that have specificity for RCC. The proliferative response induced by IL7 was independent of IL2, since anti-IL2 antibodies did not block IL7-induced proliferation of TIL. IL7 did cooperate with anti-CD3 stimulation for the induction of proliferation; however, the magnitude of this interaction was variable and the response usually additive. In addition, IL7 synergized with anti-CD3 to induce the secretion of IFN gamma from short-term-cultured TIL and from a TIL line. Although IL7 did not promote the development of a tumor-specific T-cell response from IL2-expanded TIL, IL7 enhanced lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity from some short-term-cultured TIL. These results illustrate that IL7 can potentiate the growth and production of IFN gamma from RCC-reactive TIL and, to a lesser extent, enhance IL2-induced LAK activity of TIL.     

A cognitive-behavioral therapy for sleep-maintenance insomnia in older adults.

Older adults (3 men, 4 women, aged 55–68 yrs) with chronic sleep-maintenance insomnia were treated sequentially with relaxation therapy (RXT) and then with a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically designed for alleviating sleep maintenance problems. Sleep diaries and an objective measure of sleep, the sleep assessment device, showed only modest improvements in measures of wake time after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, and night-to-night sleep variability following RXT. However, significant improvements in these measures were observed following CBT and at a 3-mo follow-up. These findings, considered in conjunction with previous reports, suggest that CBT specifically addresses factors that sustain sleep maintenance complaints. Additional trials of CBT with larger samples are warranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Defective granzyme B gene expression and lytic response in T lymphocytes infiltrating human renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: For over 60 yr, researchers and engineers have based investigations and the design of cockpit displays and structures upon the presupposition that during flight the pilot maintains a head alignment coincident with the aircraft's vertical axis (z-axis). Recent simulator studies have verified the existence of a pilot neck reflex which refutes this long-standing assumption. This reflex, named the opto-kinetic cervical reflex (OKCR), occurs during visual flight and is theorized to be an attempt by the pilot to stabilize a retinal image of the horizon to maintain spatial orientation. As a result, during initial banking maneuvers, pilots view a fixed-horizon image and not a moving-horizon. The research objectives were to determine if the OKCR occurs during actual flight of high performance jet aircraft and to model the response. HYPOTHESIS: Pilots of high performance aircraft will exhibit the OKCR. Additionally, the OKCR is dependent on the phase of banking (entering into or exiting from a banked position). METHODS: This was an observational study in which the head positions of nine pilots were recorded during actual F-15 aircraft flight and subsequently analyzed. RESULTS: Objective data indicate the OKCR caused pilots to tilt their heads during aircraft bank (p < 0.0001). Also, the reflex was found to be independent of the bank phase. CONCLUSION: The OKCR was shown to be a strong, natural response and the flight results correlated closely with simulator results. The effect of these results on pilot training, spatial disorientation, physiological injury and safety, and the redesign of displays for aircraft attitude and virtual reality are discussed.