Verbal Representation and Therapeutic Change in Anaclitic and Introjective Inpatients.

This study examined the relation between changes in clinical functioning and changes in verbal expression in 81 seriously disturbed and treatment-resistant young adults seen in a comprehensive, psychoanalytically oriented inpatient treatment. Clinical functioning was evaluated with a battery of clinical and social measures. Verbal representations were assessed using computer-assisted scoring of Thematic Apperception Test responses. Changes in the frequency of verbal content and style in the narratives of these patients covaried with changes in clinical functioning. Significantly different covariations of verbal and clinical change, particularly differences in covariates of referential activity, were found for patients with anaclitic versus introjective personality configurations. The implications of these findings for understanding and treating severe psychopathology are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of hepatitis C virus gene expression in transformed hepatocytes

Genetic and biochemical studies have provided convincing evidence that the 5' noncoding region (5' NCR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly conserved among viral isolates worldwide and that translation of HCV is directed by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located within the 5' NCR. We have investigated inhibition of HCV gene expression using antisense oligonucleotides complementary to the 5' NCR, translation initiation codon, and core protein coding sequences. Oligonucleotides were evaluated for activity after treatment of a human hepatocyte cell line expressing the HCV 5' NCR, core protein coding sequences, and the majority of the envelope gene (E1). More than 50 oligonucleotides were evaluated for inhibition of HCV RNA and protein expression. Two oligonucleotides, ISIS 6095, targeted to a stem-loop structure within the 5' NCR known to be important for IRES function, and ISIS 6547, targeted to sequences spanning the AUG used for initiation of HCV polyprotein translation, were found to be the most effective at inhibiting HCV gene expression. ISIS 6095 and 6547 caused concentration-dependent reductions in HCV RNA and protein levels, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 0.1 to 0.2 microM. Reduction of RNA levels, and subsequently protein levels, by these phosphorothioate oligonucleotides was consistent with RNase H cleavage of RNA at the site of oligonucleotide hybridization. Chemically modified HCV antisense phosphodiester oligonucleotides were designed and evaluated for inhibition of core protein expression to identify oligonucleotides and HCV target sequences that do not require RNase H activity to inhibit expression. A uniformly modified 2'-methoxyethoxy phosphodiester antisense oligonucleotide complementary to the initiator AUG reduced HCV core protein levels as effectively as phosphorothioate oligonucleotide ISIS 6095 but without reducing HCV RNA levels. Results of our studies show that HCV gene expression is reduced by antisense oligonucleotides and demonstrate that it is feasible to design antisense oligonucleotide inhibitors of translation that do not require RNase H activation. The data demonstrate that chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides can be used as tools to identify important regulatory sequences and/or structures important for efficient translation of HCV.     

Psychological and physical benefits of circuit weight training in law enforcement personnel.

The effects of circuit weight training on mood, perceived stress, job satisfaction, and physical symptoms were investigated in a sample of state law enforcement officers. 43 male officers who were not regularly exercising were assigned to either 4 mo of circuit weight training or a wait-list control condition. Four months of circuit weight training led to a significant increase in strength on cardiovascular fitness. Ss also demonstrated significant improvements in mood, including decreases in somatization, anxiety, depression, and hostility. Circuit weight training also resulted in a decrease in reports of physical symptoms and in improvements in job satisfaction. Results indicate that Ss who dropped out of the exercise training program evidenced significantly greater anxiety, depression, and hostility at pretreatment than Ss who completed the program. These findings suggest that circuit weight training programs may contribute to important psychological benefits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Study of specific absorption rate (SAR) induced in two child head models and in adult heads using mobile phones

This paper gives a first comparison of specific absorption rate (SAR) induced in a child-sized (CS) head and an adult head using a dual-band mobile phone. In the second study, the visible human head is considered and comparison of SAR induced in a CS or child-like (CL) head and an adult head using a dual-band mobile phone is given. All the peaks of average SAR over a mass of 10 and 1 g in the head and the power budget are determined in the two comparisons using the finite-difference time-domain method. The differences between the results for adult and CS or CL heads are given at 900 and 1800 MHz. No important differences are noted for the peak SAR averaged over 10 g (SAR10 g), between the two adult head models, as well as between the two child head models. The peak SAR10 g in the brain of the CS or CL head is slightly more significant than that for the adult one.     

Mixed anaclitic-introjective psychopathology in treatment-resistant inpatients undergoing psychoanalytic psychotherapy.

Utilizing data from the Riggs-Yale Project, 45 male and 45 female 18-29-year-old treatment-resistant inpatients undergoing intensive psychoanalytically oriented treatment were studied. Twenty-seven mixed-type anaclitic-introjective inpatients were compared with 29 "pure" anaclitic and 34 "pure" introjective inpatients. At intake, mixed-type inpatients were more clinically impaired (i.e., were more symptomatic, cognitively impaired, and thought disordered) and more vulnerable (i.e., less accurate object representations and more frequently used maladaptive defense mechanisms) in comparison with clearly defined anaclitic and introjective patients. Mixed-type patients, however, improved significantly more in the course of psychoanalytically oriented treatment, in terms of clinical functioning (i.e., symptoms, cognitive functioning) and psychological vulnerability (i.e., utilization of more adaptive defense mechanisms). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Multichannel Security Protocols

Multichannel security protocols transmit messages over multiple communication channels, taking into account each channel's security properties. Our first intentional use of these protocols goes back to a 1999 article that proposed physical contact for imprinting as opposed to the wireless channel used in subsequent operations. Only later did we understand three key points. First, explicit use of multiple channels in the same protocol can offer significant advantages for both security and usability. Second, explicitly stating the properties of the channel on which each protocol message is transmitted is useful for understanding one's own protocol in greater depth and therefore for addressing subtle vulnerabilities early on. Third, multichannel protocols existed long before we recognized them as such - think of the courier handcuffed to the briefcase carrying the code book that will later protect postal or telegraphic traffic. The paper presents a security protocol that exploit additional transmissions over lower-capacity channels, typically found in ubicomp environments, that offer a different combination of security properties.     

Healing substrates with mobile, particle-filled microcapsules: designing a 'repair and go' system.

We model the rolling motion of a fluid-driven, particle-filled microcapsule along a heterogeneous, adhesive substrate to determine how the release of the encapsulated nanoparticles can be harnessed to repair damage on the underlying surface. We integrate the lattice Boltzmann model for hydrodynamics and the lattice spring model for the micromechanics of elastic solids to capture the interactions between the elastic shell of the microcapsule and the surrounding fluids. A Brownian dynamics model is used to simulate the release of nanoparticles from the capsule and their diffusion into the surrounding solution. We focus on a substrate that contains a damaged region (e.g. a crack or eroded surface coating), which prevents the otherwise mobile capsule from rolling along the surface. We isolate conditions where nanoparticles released from the arrested capsule can repair the damage and thereby enable the capsules to again move along the substrate. Through these studies, we establish guidelines for designing particle-filled microcapsules that perform a 'repair and go' function and thus, can be utilized to repair damage in microchannels and microfluidic devices.     

Roles for Psychologists in End-of-Life Care: Emerging Models of Practice.

Professional psychologists are increasingly likely to encounter opportunities to work with patients and families facing end-of-life issues. Psychologists can provide psychological assessment, intervention for patients and families, consultation with and support of health care team members, grief therapy, and program development and evaluation. Psychological services are useful for healthy individuals who wish to make thoughtful plans about their own future care, patients with life-limiting illnesses, families stressed by providing end-of-life care, bereaved individuals, and health care providers who face issues of burnout and strain. Several challenges for psychologists working in end-of-life care are noted, including training, development of clear roles, and reimbursement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)