A Comparison of Voucher-Delivery Schedules for the Initiation of Cocaine Abstinence.

Studies on the use of shaping procedures to increase rates of cocaine abstinence have produced promising results. This study used a Brief Abstinence Test to examine the impact of reinforcement for initial reductions in cocaine use on a subsequent abstinence reinforcement test. Methadone maintenance patients showing evidence of cocaine use were exposed to two 1-week reinforcement conditions. During the shaping condition, participants could earn $50 vouchers on Wednesday and Friday for meeting quantitative urinalysis criteria and a $100 voucher on the following Monday for meeting the more stringent qualitative criteria. During the terminal condition, only the $100 earning opportunity for meeting the qualitative criteria was provided. Participants were more likely to meet the qualitative reinforcement criteria on Wednesday and Friday in the shaping condition than in the terminal condition. However, contrary to the initial hypothesis, the shaping reinforcement condition did not increase rates of abstinence on the final abstinence test. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Dark Side of Relational Pursuit: From Attraction to Obsession and Stalking,.

Review declaring pleasant surprise with this relatively short book on stalking. It contains 164 pages of text, and provides a thorough context for understanding and treating stalking behavior, including a focus on both victim and perpetrator. The book is divided into five chapters. The first of these defines the nature of stalking behavior. Stalking is defined as harmful conduct, which involves unwanted communication and repeated unwanted intrusion by one individual upon another. The review notes that stalking behavior has three defining characteristics--(a) relentless and persistent contact, which is (b) unwanted and (c) adverse to the recipient. It is further observed that there is no single motive for stalking, nor any specific psychological profile for the personality of stalkers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Elevated temperature testing for comparison of glass/resin composites

Static test methods were used to evaluate and compare the thermal and mechanical properties of several glass/thermoset laminated composites between 25° and 400°C. The unidirectional matrix composites consisted of phenolic-modified epoxy, epoxy novolac, epoxy, and modified phenolic resins. These materials were selected as potential alternative materials for rotary compressor vanes. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques were selected to evaluate elevated temperature performance. The short-beam shear test was chosen to measure interlaminar shear properties. The results indicated that an elevated-temperature matrix, such as the modified phenolic resin, may not result in optimum composite strengths. Instead, an epoxy resin reinforced with glass fibers provides a better balance between elevated-temperature performance and interlaminar shear strength. The test results of this study, in addition to being adequate for discriminating the materials for initial selection purposes, were obtained quickly and easily. Moreover, the thermal results provide a more realistic understanding of composite elevated-temperature characteristic than do those of the present standard test.     

Reconceptualizing feeding and feeding disorders in interpersonal context: The case for a relational disorder.

The feeding of young children is fundamentally a relational and multisystemic process. Successful treatment of clinically significant feeding problems involves careful assessment of the full range of influences on the feeding relationship and integrated treatment approaches. However, current diagnostic approaches to feeding disorders tend to be reductionistic, exclusively focused on the child as an individual, and overly concerned with exclusionary criteria. Criteria are proposed for "Feeding Disorder Between Parent and Child" that address these limitations and embrace the complexity of feeding problems. A multiaxial diagnosis that describes the child (including medical, developmental, and behavioral characteristics); the parent; the parent-child relationship; and the social and nutritional context of feeding will more accurately speak to treatment planning in this population. The proposed diagnostic criteria were developed and refined on the basis of the available literature and many years of treatment experience across the authors of this article. The proposed diagnosis will support the development and evaluation of treatment packages with components specifically targeted to issues of the child, parent, parent-child interaction, and the broader environment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of fibroblast growth factor-2 on longitudinal bone growth

In vivo, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) inhibits longitudinal bone growth. Similarly, activating FGF receptor 3 mutations impair growth in achondroplasia and thanatophoric dysplasia. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we chose a fetal rat metatarsal organ culture system that would maintain growth plate histological architecture. Addition of FGF-2 to the serum-free medium inhibited longitudinal growth. We next assessed each major component of longitudinal growth: proliferation, cellular hypertrophy, and cartilage matrix synthesis. Surprisingly, FGF-2 stimulated proliferation, as assessed by [3H]thymidine incorporation. However, autoradiographic studies demonstrated that this increased proliferation occurred only in the perichondrium, whereas decreased labeling was seen in the proliferative and epiphyseal chondrocytes. FGF-2 also caused a marked decrease in the number of hypertrophic chondrocytes. To assess cartilage matrix synthesis, we measured 35SO4 incorporation into newly synthesized glycosaminoglycans. Low concentrations (10 ng/ml) of FGF-2 stimulated cartilage matrix production, but high concentrations (1000 ng/ml) inhibited matrix production. We conclude that FGF-2 inhibits longitudinal bone growth by three mechanisms: decreased growth plate chondrocyte proliferation, decreased cellular hypertrophy, and, at high concentrations, decreased cartilage matrix production. These effects may explain the impaired growth seen in patients with achondroplasia and related skeletal dysplasias.     

A physiologically based approach to the study of bisphenol A and other estrogenic chemicals on the size of reproductive organs, daily sperm production, and behavior

Two chemicals previously shown to have estrogenic activity, bisphenol A and octylphenol, were examined for their effects on accessory reproductive organs and daily sperm production in male offspring of mice fed these chemicals during pregnancy. These chemicals are used in the manufacture of plastics and other products, and have been detected in food and water consumed by animals and people. From gestation day 11-17 female mice were fed an average concentration (dissolved in oil) of bisphenol A or octylphenol of 2 ng/g body weight (2 ppb) and 20 ng/g (20 ppb). The 2 ppb dose of bisphenol A is lower than the amount reported to be swallowed during the first hour after application of a plastic dental sealant (up to 931 micrograms; 13.3 ppb in a 70 kg adult). We found that the 2 ng/g dose of bisphenol A permanently increased the size of the preputial glands, but reduced the size of the epididymides; these organs develop from different embryonic tissues. At 20 ng/g, bisphenol A significantly decreased efficiency of sperm production (daily sperm production per g testis) by 20% relative to control males. The only significant effect of octylphenol was a reduction in daily sperm production and efficiency of sperm production at the 2 ng/g dose. A new approach to studying physiologically relevant doses of environmental endocrine disruptors is discussed, particularly with regard to the development of the reproductive organs, the brain, and behavior.     

Suc-Phe-Leu-Phe-SBzl--a new substrate for functional study of Escherichia coli ATP-dependent Lon-proteinase and its modified forms

A new efficient substrate, Suc-Phe-Leu-Phe-SBzl, was proposed for studying the function of the Escherichia coli ATP-dependent Lon protease and its modified forms. The kinetic parameters of hydrolysis of the substrate were determined. The esterase activity of protease Lon was found to be nucleotide-regulated.     

Menin, the product of the MEN1 gene, is a nuclear protein

The MEN1 gene, mutations in which are responsible for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), encodes a 610-amino acid protein, denoted menin. The amino acid sequence of this putative tumor suppressor offers no clue to the function or subcellular location of the protein. We report herein, based on immunofluorescence, Western blotting of subcellular fractions, and epitope tagging with enhanced green fluorescent protein, that menin is located primarily in the nucleus. Enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged menin deletion constructs identify at least two independent nuclear localization signals (NLS), both located in the C-terminal fourth of the protein. Among the 68 known independent disease-associated mutations, none of the 22 missense and 3 in-frame deletions affect either of the putative NLS sequences. However, if expressed, none of the truncated menin proteins resulting from the 43 known frameshift/nonsense mutations would retain both the NLSs. The precise role(s) of menin in the nucleus remain to be understood.