When debiasing backfires: Accessible content and accessibility experiences in debiasing hindsight.

Two studies demonstrated that attempts to debias hindsight by thinking about alternative outcomes may backfire and traced this to the influence of subjective accessibility experiences. Participants listed either few (2) or many (10) thoughts about how an event might have turned out otherwise. Listing many counterfactual thoughts was experienced as difficult and consistently increased the hindsight bias, presumably because the experienced difficulty suggested that there were not many ways in which the event might have turned out otherwise. No significant hindsight effects were obtained when participants listed only a few counterfactual thoughts, a task subjectively experienced as easy. The interplay of accessible content and subjective accessibility experiences in the hindsight bias is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vasodilation with sodium nitroprusside does not improve insulin action in essential hypertension

Our previous studies demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) levels were significantly higher in human glioblastoma tissue samples than in low-grade brain tumors and normal brain tissue (Rao et al., Cancer Res. 53, 2208-2211, 1993). In the present study, we measured the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 during the growth of glial tumors in nude mice by intracerebral injection of glioblastoma cells. Using gelatin zymography, densitometry, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we found that the enzyme activity and protein count of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were a respective 3- to 10- and 2- to 30-fold higher in tumors at day 14 and 28 than in normal tissue. Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-9 showed strong immunoreactivity in tumor cells and the staining intensity was much higher at day 28, compared to day 14. These results suggest that upregulation of MMP-9 plays a major role in the glioma tumor growth in vivo.     

Propofol analogues. Synthesis, relationships between structure and affinity at GABAA receptor in rat brain, and differential electrophysiological profile at recombinant human GABAA receptors

A number of propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) congeners and derivatives were synthesized and their in vitro capability to affect GABAA receptors determined by the inhibition of the specific [35S]-tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding to rat whole brain membranes. Introduction of halogen (Cl, Br, and I) and benzoyl substituents in the para position of the phenyl group resulted in ligands with higher potency at inhibiting [35S]TBPS binding. A quantitative structure-affinity relationship (QSAR) study demonstrated that affinity is enhanced by increases in lipophilicity of the ligand whereas affinity is adversely affected by increases in size of the substituent para to the phenolic hydroxyl group. Consistent with the displacement of [35S]TBPS and with the activation of GABAA receptors, we demonstrate that ligands displaying high affinity (i.e., 2-4, and 8) are able to increase GABA-stimulated chloride currents in oocytes expressing human GABAA receptors and to directly activate chloride currents in an electrophysiological assay. Among them, compound 4 showed a rather peculiar profile in the electrophysiological examination with cloned alpha1beta2gamma2 GABAA receptors. Indeed, compared to propofol, it displayed a much greater efficacy at potentiating GABA-elicited chloride currents, but a much lower efficacy at producing a direct activation of the chloride channel in the absence of GABA. This behavior may give to compound 4 pharmacological properties that are more similar to anxiolytic and anticonvulsant drugs than to those of general anesthetics.     

Effect of husbandry methods on seropositivity to African swine fever virus in Sardinian swine herds

Early release after cardiac surgery can be facilitated by the implementation of a standard protocol for pre- and postoperative care. This protocol involves aggressive pharmacological therapy, in combination with education and support. Accelerated recovery and release is inherently attractive because the duration of intensive care unit stay and of total hospital stay are the most important determinants of costs. However, in addition to the desire for reduced costs, the patients must be clearly seen to benefit from earlier rehabilitation and release. Retrospective studies have shown no significant differences in mortality or morbidity between patients who have received conventional care and those given 'fast-tracked' care after cardiac surgery, and follow-up surveys have shown a high level of patient satisfaction with the care. Some centres report that all cardiac surgery patients are now fast-tracked.     

Selective activation of JNK1 is necessary for the anti-apoptotic activity of hILP

The balance between the inductive signals and endogenous anti-apoptotic mechanisms determines whether or not programmed cell death occurs. The widely expressed inhibitor of apoptosis gene family includes three closely related mammalian proteins: c-IAP1, c-IAP2, and hILP. The anti-apoptotic properties of these proteins have been linked to caspase inhibition. Here we show that one member of this group, hILP, inhibits interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme-induced apoptosis via a mechanism dependent on the selective activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1. These data demonstrate that apoptosis can be inhibited by an endogenous cellular protein by a mechanism that requires the activation of a single member of the mitogen-activating protein kinase family.     

Nursing in Brazil

The goal of International Perspectives is to share the views of nurse leaders, from countries other than the United States, on global healthcare issues. The focus is on identifying healthcare management problems and their implications, research priorities, policy development, and ethical-moral dilemmas faced by nurse administrators. You are encouraged to send the names and addresses of international nurse leaders who might be interested in participating, as well as your ideas, for format and content of the department.     

Ion-exchanged glass waveguides with low birefringence for a broad range of waveguide widths

Optical communications networks require integrated photonic components with negligible polarization dependence, which typically means that the waveguides must feature very low birefringence. Recent studies have shown that waveguides with low birefringence can be obtained, e.g., by use of silica-on-silicon waveguides or buried ion-exchanged glass waveguides. However, many integrated photonic circuits consist of waveguides with varying widths. Therefore low birefringence is consequently required for waveguides having different widths. This is a difficult task for most waveguide fabrication technologies. We present experimental results on waveguide birefringence for buried silver-sodium ion-exchanged glass waveguides. We show that the waveguide birefringence of the order of 10(-6) for waveguide mask opening widths ranging from 2 to 10 microm can be obtained by postprocessing the sample through annealing at an elevated temperature. The measured values are in agreement with the values calculated with our modeling software for ion-exchanged glass waveguides. This unique feature of ion-exchanged waveguides may be of significant importance in a wide variety of integrated photonic circuits requiring polarization-independent operation.     

Temporal trends of synthetic musk compounds in mother's milk and associations with personal use of perfumed products

We analyzed two nitro musks (musk xylene and musk ketone) and five polycyclic musks (HHCB, AHTN, ADBI, ATII, and AHDI) in mother's milk from primiparae women (N = 101) living in Uppsala County, Sweden, 1996-2003. Possible temporal trends in musk concentrations and associations with lifestyle/medical factors, such as use of perfumed products during pregnancy were studied. HHCB showed the highest median concentration (63.9 ng/g lipid) followed by AHTN (10.4 ng/g) and musk xylene (MX) (9.5 ng/g). Concentrations of the other substances were, in most cases, below the quantification limit (2.0-3.0 ng/g). Women with a high use of perfume during pregnancy had elevated milk concentrations of HHCB, and elevated concentrations of AHTN were observed among women reporting use of perfumed laundry detergent. This strongly suggests that perfumed products are important sources of musk exposure both among the mothers and the nursed infants. Concentrations of AHTN and MX declined significantly between 1996 and 2003, suggesting a decline in the industrial use of the compounds in consumer products, or alterations in the consumer use pattern of perfumed products. No temporal trend in HHCB concentrations was seen. The lack of toxicity data makes it difficult to generalize about the safety of musk exposure of breast-fed infants.     

Experiencing CSCL: from motivation to the embodied experience and beyond

International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning -     

Building community together: towards equitable CSCL practices and processes

International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning -