Smoothing over the intervals of orthogonally sampled signals

A method for smoothing and interpolating a Fourier sine series representation of a continuous signal is developed to take advantage of the relative ease with which since pulse forming networks can be built. With this method it is possible both to accurately approximate the signal at the points where the sine harmonics are all zero and to smooth the signal. A method is also developed to combat round-off error in the extraction of the harmonic coefficients, and an expression is derived for the maximum error in the representation. Finally, examples are presented to show the effectiveness of this method.     

Therapists' needs for training in counseling lesbians and gay men.

A survey of 112 therapists' attitudes, knowledge, concerns, and strategies in counseling lesbians and gay men clients revealed a strong need for therapist training. Although Ss showed generally liberal attitudes toward homosexuals, they admitted a lack of knowledge concerning lesbian and gay male lifestyles. Ss' major concerns in counseling gay clients were the maintenance of objectivity, countertransference, and lack of knowledge of homosexuality. It is recommended that training in counseling lesbian/gay clients become a standard feature of accredited training programs in clinical psychology, that competence in counseling lesbian/gay clients become a prerequisite for state licensure, and that the availability of continuing education regarding therapy for lesbian/gay clients continue for practicing clinical psychologists. (62 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of titanium substratum and grooved surface topography on metalloproteinase-2 expression in human fibroblasts

Human placental trophoblast expresses as unusual repertoire of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I products that appears to reflect the unique role of this epithelium in mediating feto-maternal relations during pregnancy. Trophoblast is devoid of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A,-B antigens but can express one or more non-HLA-A,-B class I proteins. The human choriocarcinoma cell lines JEG-3, BeWo and JAR are widely used as models to study trophoblast. During attempts to isolate non-HLA-A,-B class I from JEG-3 and BeWo by immunoaffinity chromatography using a monoclonal antibody to beta 2-microglobulin we observed a 55,000 MW protein co-purifying with class I. N-terminal amino acid sequencing and immunoblotting using a specific antiserum identified this product as calreticulin, a molecule recently shown to be involved in the assembly of classical class I in human B-lymphoblastoid cells. In our hands JEG-3 and BeWo were found to express 45,000 MW non-HLA-A,-B class I proteins while the 40,000 MW HLA-G product was identified only in JEG-3. Our data suggest that calreticulin associates with non-HLA-A,-B class I heterodimers and with free 45,000 MW non-HLA-A,-B class I H chains in JEG-3. JAR was found to be devoid of detectable class I H chains but contained beta 2-microglobulin and calreticulin. However, calreticulin-beta 2-microglobulin complexes were not detected in JAR. Calreticulin and class I were apparently co-localized within the endoplasmic reticulum of JEG-3 cells whereas only class I was expressed at the cell surface. These studies demonstrate that calreticulin is associated with non-HLA-A,-B class I products in human choriocarcinoma cells.     

Aortic and lower-extremity arterial disease: evaluation with MR angiography versus conventional angiography

BACKGROUND: Few data are available regarding the impact of improved depression treatment on daily functioning and disability. METHODS: In two studies of more intensive depression treatment in primary care, patients initiating antidepressant treatment were randomly assigned to either usual care or to a collaborative management programme including patient education, on-site mental health treatment, adjustment of antidepressant medication, behavioural activation and monitoring of medication adherence. Assessments at baseline as well as 4 and 7 months included several measures of impairment, daily functioning and disability: self-rated overall health, number of bodily pains, number of somatization symptoms, changes in work due to health, reduction in leisure activities due to health, number of disability days and number of restricted activity days. RESULTS: Average data from the 4- and 7-month assessments in both studies, intervention patients reported fewer somatic symptoms (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.46, 0.99) and more favourable overall health (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28, 0.91). While intervention patients fared better on other measures of functional impairment and disability, none of these differences reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: More effective acute-phase depression treatment reduced somatic distress and improved self-rated overall health. The absence of a significant intervention effect on other disability measures may reflect the brief treatment and follow-up period and the influence of other individual and environmental factors on disability.     

Response to cold pressor pain and to acupuncture analgesia in Oriental and Occidental subjects

On a no treatment trial, a group of 24 oriental subjects rated cold pressor pain as significantly more painful and distressing than did a group of 24 occidental subjects. For half of the Orientals and half of the Occidentals, a second trial was conducted after acupuncture analgesia had been induced. The remaining 12 Orientals and 12 Occidentals served as no treatment controls on trial 2. Regardless of racial group, there was no difference between the pain of those experimental subjects who received acupuncture and the pain of those controls who did not. As they had on trial 1, Orientals reported significantly more pain and distress in response to ice water on trial 2. It is concluded that: (1) if acupuncture does work better for the Chinese than for other racial groups, the likely cause is a more refined patient selection procedure rather than an inherent difference in response to acupuncture; (2) evidence does not support the stereotyped view of Orientals as stoical in the face of physical pain.