Examination of coping resources and family adaptation in mothers and daughters of incestuous versus nonclinical families.

Mother–daughter dyads from incestuous vs nonclinical families were compared in terms of (1) family life stress, (2) problem-solving appraisal, (3) direct coping behaviors, (4) mother–daughter communication, and (5) family adaptation and cohesion. 15 mother–daughter pairs from an incestuous family involving an adult male caretaker were matched on several variables to 16 mother–daughter pairs from a nonclinical family. The results revealed that mothers from the incest group (compared with the nonclinical group) reported greater amounts of family life stress, had more negative perceptions of their problem-solving appraisal, and reported more communication difficulties. The daughters from the incest group appeared to be quite similar to the nonclinical group daughters, although they did acknowledge more family stress. Implications of the results for therapeutic interventions as well as future research were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Luminescent Conjugated Oligothiophenes for Sensitive Fluorescent Assignment of Protein Inclusion Bodies

Small hydrophobic ligands identifying intracellular protein deposits are of great interest, as protein inclusion bodies are the pathological hallmark of several degenerative diseases. Here we report that fluorescent amyloid ligands, termed luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs), rapidly and with high sensitivity detect protein inclusion bodies in skeletal muscle tissue from patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (s‐IBM). LCOs having a conjugated backbone of at least five thiophene units emitted strong fluorescence upon binding, and showed co‐localization with proteins reported to accumulate in s‐IBM protein inclusion bodies. Compared with conventional amyloid ligands, LCOs identified a larger fraction of immunopositive inclusion bodies. When the conjugated thiophene backbone was extended with terminal carboxyl groups, the LCO revealed striking spectral differences between distinct protein inclusion bodies. We conclude that 1) LCOs are sensitive, rapid and powerful tools for identifying protein inclusion bodies and 2) LCOs identify a wider range of protein inclusion bodies than conventional amyloid ligands.     

Compression of femtosecond optical pulses with dielectric multilayer interferometers

The group velocity dispersion of a multilayer thin film Gires-Tournois interferometer used for reflection of ultrashort optical pulses can be continuously tuned from positive to negative values at an extremely low loss in pulse energy. Thus, this device can be applied for compression of femtosecond pulses independent of the sign of the frequency chirp by simple angle tuning of the interferometer. This has been demonstrated with up-chirped 210 fs pulses which have been compressed to an almost transform-limited duration of 115 fs.     

Role of causal attribution in personal problem solving.

In 2 studies with 180 undergraduates, self-appraised effective problem solving was associated with a unique pattern of causal attributions. In the 1st study, self-appraised effective relative to ineffective problem solvers tended to view the etiology of personal problems as largely within their own control and as due to their own failure to exert effort in the situations. In the 2nd study, self-appraised effective relative to ineffective problem solvers exhibited a more pronounced self-serving bias regarding successful and unsuccessful problem-solving attempts; effort attributions emerged as a distinguishing characteristic between the 2 groups. Self-appraised effective problem solvers viewed lack of effort as a primary component when their attempts to solve personal problems were unsuccessful. Results are discussed in relation to previous findings regarding causal attributions among different populations and to appropriate clinical interventions. (28 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Value of reversed saphenous vein in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft procedures

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft procedures are gaining acceptance for revision as well as primary coronary revascularization. When suitable, the left and right internal mammary arteries are preferred as bypass conduits; in other cases, the greater saphenous vein, used for standard coronary artery bypass graft procedures, may be useful to revascularize coronary artery branches during minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft procedures. METHODS: We used the greater saphenous vein on three occasions during minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft procedures (1) to revascularize the left anterior descending coronary artery by anastomosis to the left axillary artery in the infraclavicular region, (2) as an extension to the left internal mammary artery to reach the left anterior descending coronary artery, and (3) as a bridge from the splenic artery to bypass the distal right coronary artery. RESULTS: Postoperatively, all 3 patients had relief from symptoms of coronary artery insufficiency and none has been readmitted to the hospital with symptoms. Angiography or thallium studies were not performed to confirm graft patency because all patients were elderly and the risks of these procedures were considered to outweigh their potential benefit. CONCLUSIONS: The greater saphenous vein is a potential bypass conduit for use in minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass graft procedures as well as for coronary artery bypass graft procedures.     

Characteristics of testing conditions for constitutive models in metal plasticity

We propose a method of identifying constitutive models and material parameters in engineering applications. The presented method is used in the setting of optimal experimental design and is based on successive optimization of a finite set of possible material models. The goal is, for an initially unknown material, to define an optimal test bed based on a given set of constitutive models and a range of possible parameters. As a result of the algorithm, suitable observation operators and external loads are identified. These are then the optimal experimental conditions under which the parameters of the unknown material are tested.     

Prediction of the Crevice Corrosion Incubation Period of Passive Metals at Elevated Temperatures: Part I — Mathematical Model

Previous researchers have numerically modelled the crevice corrosion of particular classes of metals and alloys. Applicable to passive metals immersed in an appropriate electrolyte, a new crevice corrosion model simulates the general passive crevice corrosion problem. Rapid approach of chemical equilibrium is assumed. Equilibrium constants and transport properties are adjusted for elevated temperature via the correspondence principle (Criss and Cobble, 1964) and the Nernst‐Einstein equation, respectively. The corrosion rate is adjusted for thermal and acidity effects via an Arrhenius expression and a Freundlich isotherm, respectively. Presented in a sequel publication, the predictions compare favourably with experimental results.     

Decreased transforming growth factor beta type II receptor expression in intestinal adenomas from Min/+ mice is associated with increased cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 expression

Two cases of cavitary lung cancer with pulmonary aspergillosis were experienced. Case 1 was a 45-year-old male. Chest X-ray and Chest CT revealed a round shadow in the thin-wall cavity of the upper lobe of the right lung. Upper lobectomy of the right lung was performed. Histologically large cell carcinoma was found to invade the entire cavity wall, and aspergillus was not detected in the intracavitary space. Case 2 was a 75-year-old male. Chest X-ray and Chest CT revealed a round shadow in the thin-wall cavity of the upper lobe S1 + 2 of the left lung. As a result of upper lobectomy of the left lung and S6 partial resection, large cell carcinoma was found to invade the entire cavity wall, and aspergillus was not detected in the intracavitary space. Only 19 cases including ours are reported about cases of lung cancer complicated by pulmonary aspergillosis at the same site in Japan. The mechanism of aspergillus infection had not been clarified in the discussions of the reported literature and nothing characteristic could be pointed out in our cases except for the assumption that the presence of cancer was a factor triggering Aspergillus implantation.