Ignition temperatures of dust layers: Flaming and non-flaming

Combustible dusts, based on tests conducted in the Setchkin Furnace on five representative dusts, are shown to have two distinct layer minimum ignition temperatures, designated MIT_non-flaming and MIT_flaming. The MIT_non-flaming is the one usually reported in the literature; the MIT_flaming is determined by starting at a much higher temperature and working downwards. MIT_flaming can yield a different ranking of dust flammability than MIT_non-flaming. The MIT_flaming appears to be more closely correlated to the MIT of dust clouds and to the test prescribed for flammable solids in the US Code of Federal Regulations than the MIT_non-flaming.     

Melanocyte culture lines from Tyr-SV40E transgenic mice: models for the molecular genetic evolution of malignant melanoma

Transgenic Tyr-SV40E mice previously produced on the C57BL/6 inbred-strain background, with SV40 oncogenic sequences specifically expressed in pigment cells, are predisposed to melanoma [Bradl, M., Klein-Szanto, A., Porter, S. & Mintz, B. (1991). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88, 164-168]. Separate lines of these animals differ genetically only in the number of copies and chromosomal site of integration of the transgene. Skin melanocytes from young mice with no apparent skin lesions were established in continuous culture from hemizygous donors with low, medium and high numbers of transgene copies, and from a homozygous offspring of the low-copy mouse line. The standard culture conditions enable C57BL/6 wild-type melanocytes to become stably immortalized without transformation. The transgenic cell lines all changed over time in an orderly progression. However, with greater numbers of transgene copies, the cells more rapidly displayed shorter doubling times, increased anchorage independence, reduced serum and growth factor requirements, decreased tyrosinase expression and melanin content, increased oncogene expression, and capacity to form malignant melanomas when tested by grafting. Melanocytes with the lowest number of transgene copies were of special interest. They grew more rapidly than the wild-type cells from the outset, but did not become tumorigenic until an apparently small number of still-unknown genetic changes had spontaneously occurred, or until the number of transgene copies was increased slightly by homozygosity. In contrast to the hemizygous low-copy cells, the homozygous counterparts underwent striking and rapid transformational changes and early conversion to malignancy. Thus such low-copy transgenic melanocyte lines afford an exceptional opportunity for molecular analysis of somatic genetic evolution toward malignant melanoma.     

Expressed emotion and subclinical psychopathology observable within the transactions between schizophrenic patients and their family members.

The authors examined whether young, recently discharged schizophrenic patients from high (n?=?34) and low (n?=?14) expressed emotion (EE) families differ in their level of subclinical symptomatology during a direct interaction task. Compared with patients from low-EE homes, patients from high-EE homes showed significantly more odd and disruptive behavior with family members. High-EE relatives were more likely than low-EE relatives to respond with criticism to the first unusual thought verbalized by the patient; when this occurred, the probability of a second unusual thought was augmented. Results suggest that high-EE family members may display negative attitudes toward patients in part because they are exposed to higher levels of unusual or disruptive behavior than low-EE relatives. The data also support a bidirectional, transactional model of the relationship between relatives' EE and patient psychopathology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Recognizing, assessing, and intervening with problems of professional competence.

Working collaboratively, psychologist educators and trainers at the doctoral, internship, and postdoctoral levels; credentialers; practitioners; and students offer 8 proposals for psychologists to consider in recognizing, assessing, and intervening with problems of professional competence in students and practicing professionals. In the proposals, the authors address the following topics: definitions and categories; preparing the system; self-assessment; remediation; diversity; communication across various levels of the system; confidentiality; and ethical, regulatory, and legal underpinnings. They also propose future directions for the assessment of problems in professional competence in both students and practicing psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Humic Acid by Palladium-Modified Nitrogen-Doped Titanium Oxide

Palladium-modified nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (TiON/PdO) nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol–gel process, for visible-light-induced photocatalysis using humic acid (HA) as a target. Our work shows that palladium modification has strong effects on the optical and photocatalytic properties of nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (TiON) photocatalysts. TiON/PdO nanoparticles demonstrated an enhanced photocatalytic activity over TiON within a narrow range of palladium concentration. Beyond this range, the adverse effect of palladium modification was observed in the visible-light-induced degradation of HA. The effects of palladium modification are discussed in terms of its role in controlling electron–hole recombination.     

ASGPR‐Mediated Uptake of Multivalent Glycoconjugates for Drug Delivery in Hepatocytes

Liver cells are an essential target for drug delivery in many diseases. The hepatocytes express the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR), which promotes specific uptake by means of N‐acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) recognition. In this work, we designed two different chemical architectures to treat Wilson's disease by intracellular copper chelation. Two glycoconjugates functionalized with three or four GalNAc units each were shown to enter hepatic cells and chelate copper. Here, we studied two series of compounds derived from these glycoconjugates to find key parameters for the targeting of human hepatocytes. Efficient cellular uptake was demonstrated by flow cytometry using HepG2 human heptic cells that express the human oligomeric ASGPR. Dissociation constants in the nanomolar range showed efficient multivalent interactions with the receptor. Both architectures were therefore concluded to be able to compete with endogeneous asialoglycoproteins and serve as good vehicles for drug delivery in hepatocytes.     

Intravascular ultrasound findings in stenting of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis

We evaluated the role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in 16 patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenting compared with 80 patients with other (non-LMCA) native coronary artery stenting and found that (1) additional high-pressure or larger size balloon dilations were more frequently performed in LMCA stenting than in non-LMCA stenting (p <0.05) and (2) after IVUS-guided stent implantation, minimum lumen area was > or = 9 mm2 in 88% of patients who underwent LMCA stenting and in 19% of those who underwent non-LMCA stenting (p <0.001). IVUS guidance may be a more important adjunctive imaging modality in the stenting of unprotected LMCA stenoses than in stenting of non-LMCA stenoses.     

On rating empathy and other psychotherapy variables: An experience with the effects of training.

Compared 3 methods of assessing the psychotherapist's empathy: (a) the Accurate Empathy Scale, (b) the Conjunctive Empathy Scale, and (c) the Raskin Empathy Scale. 5 moderately to very experienced judges rated 10 4-min segments of a tape-recorded psychotherapy session during pre- and posttraining phases. The mean reliability of the 3 scales increased significantly, and intercorrelations were nearly perfect when corrected for unreliability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patient fees and psychotherapeutic transactions.

Notes that little discussion about fees has appeared in the literature on therapeutic practice, technique, or training. 3 published questionnaire studies concerning basic therapeutic procedures reveal information about therapists' orientations toward fees. While therapists generally are alert to interpret patient remarks and concerns about fees, they often are defensive and doctrinaire about their own attitudes regarding finances. Economic aspects of human interaction and of psychotherapeutic transaction partly have replaced sexual ones as areas which badly need elucidation. Questions are raised about the rationale for various financial practices, and some historical, cultural, and personal factors bearing on the economic aspects of psychotherapy suggested. 3 case examples highlight some effects of these factors on the therapy situation. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)