Decision rules for selecting effect sizes in meta-analysis: A review and reanalysis of psychotherapy outcome studies.

This study deals with some of the judgmental factors involved in selecting effect sizes from within the studies that enter a meta-analysis. Particular attention is paid to the conceptual redundancy rule that Smith, Glass, and Miller (1980) used in their study of the effectiveness of psychotherapy for deciding which effect sizes should and should not be counted in determining an overall effect size. Data from a random sample of 25 studies from Smith et al.'s (1980) population of psychotherapy outcome studies were first recoded and then reanalyzed meta-analytically. Using the conceptual redundancy rule, three coders independently coded effect sizes and identified more than twice as many of them per study as did Smith et al. Moreover, the treatment effect estimates associated with this larger sample of effects ranged between .30 and .50, about half the size claimed by Smith et al. Analyses of other rules for selecting effect sizes showed that average effect estimates also varied with these rules. Such results indicate that the average effect estimates derived from meta-analyses may depend heavily on judgmental factors that enter into how effect sizes are selected within each of the individual studies considered relevant to a meta-analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transfer of lymphocytic choriomeningitis disease in beta 2-microglobulin-deficient mice by CD4+ T cells

In this study we have investigated the role of CD4+, MHC class II-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the disease caused by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) in beta 2-microglobulin deficient (beta 2m-) mice. Intracranial (i.c.) infection with LCMV resulted in death of six out of 11 beta 2m- mice. Mice that survived showed a marked loss in body weight. Death and loss of body weight could be prevented by immunosuppressing the mice with irradiation or cyclosporine prior to i.c. injection of LCMV. This treatment also prevented induction of virus-specific, MHC class II-restricted CTL following peripheral inoculation with LCMV. In vivo depletion of CD4+ cells with antibody also prevented death following i.c. injection whereas in vivo depletion of CD8+ cells had no effect. Disease could be transferred to recipient beta 2m- mice by adoptive transfer of beta 2m- derived immune spleen cells. Transfer of non-immune spleen cells did not result in illness. In vitro treatment of immune spleen cells with anti-CD4 antibody and complement eliminated class II-restricted CTL activity and also prevented mortality of recipients after adoptive transfer. Treatment with anti-CD8 antibody had no effect. We were unable to transfer LCM disease to beta 2m- recipients by adoptive transfer of immune spleen cells from C57BL/6 mice. These results suggest that, unlike normal mice, the pathology of LCM disease in beta 2m- mice is dependent upon virus-specific, CD4+CD8-, MHC class II-restricted T cells.     

Long-wavelength 640×486 GaAs-AlGaAs quantum well infraredphotodetector snap-shot camera

A 9-μm cutoff 640×486 snap-shot quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) camera has been demonstrated. The performance of this QWIP camera is reported including indoor and outdoor imaging. The noise equivalent differential temperature (NEΔT) of 36 mK has been achieved at 300 K background with f/2 optics. This is in good agreement with expected focal plane array sensitivity due to the practical limitations on charge handling capacity of the multiplexer, read noise, bias voltage, and operating temperature     

Response mechanism of SiC-based MOS field-effect gas sensors

SiC-based field-effect gas sensors with catalytic platinum electrodes (Pt-MOSiC) have been subjected to a series of gas response measurements. Structural analysis of the Pt electrodes revealed that the gas sensitivity and the selectivity of Pt-MOSiC gas sensors depend on two major parameters: the porosity and the catalytic activity of the Pt electrodes. Pt-MOSiC gas sensors with thick, dense Pt electrodes only exhibit hydrogen sensitivity, whereas Pt-MOSiCs with thin porous gates exhibit a broad range of gas sensitivities similar to resistive metal-oxide gas sensors. A model is put forward that explains the nonhydrogen gas response of Pt-MOSiC devices and of conventional polycrystalline metal-oxide materials on a common basis.     

Low dark current quasi-Schottky barrier MSM-photodiode structures on n-Ga/sub 0.47/In/sub 0.53/As with p/sup +/-Ga/sub 0.47/In/sub 0.53/As cap layer

The p/sup +/-cap layer was used to fabricate a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) interdigitated photodetector on Ga/sub 0.47/In/sub 0.53/As. The measured barrier height was Phi /sub Bn=/0.52 V, the ideality factor n=1.1 and average dark current density 2 mA/cm/sup 2/. A rise time of 45 ps at lambda =1.3 mu m under 2 V bias was measured for an MSM photodiode with 3 mu m finger width and finger gaps and an active area of 100*100 mu m/sup 2/.<>     

The significance of spinal cord compression as the initial manifestation of lymphoma

Sex hormones have profound effects on immune responses and may influence the outcome of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated the effect of gonadal steroids on the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6, cytokines believed to be important in the pathogenesis of RA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy male donors and male patients with RA, and were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence of different concentrations of 17-beta-estradiol, progesterone or testosterone. In studies of cells from normal male donors, 17-beta-estradiol at pharmacological concentrations (> or = 10(-6) M) enhanced IL-1 and IL-6 secretion as well as the production of cell-associated IL-1. Progesterone and testosterone at similar concentrations inhibited IL-1 secretion but had no significant effect on IL-6 secretion or on the production of cell-associated IL-1. In studies of male RA donors, 17-beta-estradiol failed to enhance IL-1 or IL-6 secretion and progesterone failed to inhibit IL-1 secretion. The inhibitory effects of testosterone, however, appeared to be similar to that in normal donors. It is suggested that 17-beta-estradiol may promote IL-1 and IL-6 production and release, while gestation hormone, progesterone, and testosterone may inhibit IL-1 release in vivo. These data may partly explain the gender and age differences in the incidence of RA and the development of the disease in men with low and androgen levels.     

The effect of cooking on proteins from acha (Digitaria exilis) and durum wheat

The effect of cooking on proteins from acha and durum wheat was assessed from an analysis of protein extractability, gel electrophoretic profiles, in-vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) and the amino acid compositions of wholemeal flour and residue proteins. Heating wholemeal flour samples at 100–140°C (t = 10–40 min) resulted in 0–30% and 45–55% decreases in acha and durum protein solubility, respectively. In general, high molecular weight (30–70 k Da) protein subunits were more susceptible to heat damage. For both cereals, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS; 10 g litre^?1) and/or dithiothrcitol (DTT; 10 mM ) increased protein solubility in unheated and heated samples. The IVPD index was 90–91% and was not significantly altered by cooking (100–120°C, t = 40 min). Cooking at extreme temperatures (140°C, t = 40 min) reduced the IVPD by 8% (P = 0.05). Osborne fractionation resulted in a durum or acha residue level of 7.8% or 55.2%. Treatment with solvent containing propanol, SDS and/or DTT at room temperature followed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of non-solubilised proteins showed that the glutelin fraction of acha, with the exception of a 65 kDa subunit, was insoluble owing to strong inter-subunit hydrophobic and disulphide interactions. Wholemeal acha flour and residue protein showed a significantly greater level of hydrophobic and sulphur amino acids as well as glutamine which is associated with H-bonding. The possibility that cereal protein solubility is also dependent on protein-carbohydrate links is discussed.