Neuroticism and depressive symptoms among spouse caregivers: Do health behaviors mediate this relationship?

This study examined the mediating role of health behaviors in the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms among spouse caregivers. Path analysis was used to test a model of the caregiver stress process among 233 caregivers of people with dementia. Results indicate that neuroticism has a significant direct effect on depressive symptoms and also indirectly influences depressive symptoms through health behaviors and perceived stress. When individual health behaviors were examined in the path model, only physical activity served a significant mediating role. These findings suggest that neuroticism may lead to depressive symptoms among caregivers partly through declines in physical activity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interstate forensic psychology consultations: A call for reform and proposal of a model rule.

Forensic psychology has made important gains in professional recognition and stature in the courts, resulting in increasing demands for mobility of expertise. Current regulations regarding the interjurisdictional temporary forensic practice of psychology, however, are characterized by variability of regulations, ambiguity and inaccessibility, and continuing total barriers. A uniform, well-reasoned policy is needed. A conceptual basis for such a policy is provided by a discussion of licensing rationales and the application of these to forensic practice. Uniformity, public and professional protection, and practicability are identified as fundamental regulatory criteria. A Model Rule Regarding the Temporary Forensic Practice of Psychology is proposed for adoption by state licensing boards on a nationwide basis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Certified dental assistants. Dentistry''s newest professional category

The authors observed 224 patients with neglected forms of carcinoma of distal portions of the colon, 171 (76.3%) of them being considered to be operable. The character of operative interventions depended on neglect of the tumour process which was determined by its spread to the neighbouring organs and tissues. The endolymphatic antibacterial therapy through the inguinal lymph node allowed the perifocal inflammation to be controlled which made the ablation of the tumour and the involved lymph nodes easier. The veritable ingrowth of the tumour into the neighbouring organs and tissues was noted in 15.4% of the patients. Radical operations were performed on 128 patients (74.9%), the other patients were submitted to palliative operations. The strategy of surgical treatment must be based upon the detailed diagnosis of the tumour growth and adequate preoperative preparation including endolymphatic infusions of antibacterial medicine. It allows to increase the amount of radical interventions and widen the indications for performing sphincter-saving operations.     

Explosive Testing of Polymer Retrofit Masonry Walls

The most widely used terrorist tactic is the improvised explosive device, which can range in size from hand-held to truck-size. Most casualties and injuries sustained in such an attack are not caused by the blast itself, but rather by the disintegration and fragmentation of walls, the shattering of windows, and by nonsecured objects propelled at high velocities by the blast. Since 1995, the Air Force Research Laboratory at Tyndall Air Force Base has investigated methods of retrofitting wall structures to better resist blast loads from external explosions. This paper summarizes results from recent tests that involve an innovative use of a sprayed-on polymer to increase blast resistance of unreinforced concrete masonry walls. Test methodology, retrofit materials considered, material properties, mechanisms of effectiveness, and research challenges are discussed.     

Bending diamonds by femtosecond laser ablation

We present a new method based on femtosecond laser ablation for the fabrication of statically bent diamond crystals. Using this method, curvature radii of 1 m can easily be achieved, and the curvature obtained is very uniform. Since diamond is extremely tolerant to high radiation doses, partly due to its densely packed lattice, such bent crystals are optimal solutions for crystal-based collimation and/or extraction. Furthermore, using interlaced ablation on both sides, the technique opens for the possibility of constructing a crystalline undulator based on the best material known, to approach the enormous beam densities required for lasing operation of such a device.     

Discovery of Ubonodin,an Antimicrobial Lasso Peptide Active against Members of the Burkholderia cepacia Complex

We report the heterologous expression, structure, and antimicrobial activity of a lasso peptide, ubonodin, encoded in the genome of Burkholderia ubonensis. The topology of ubonodin is unprecedented amongst lasso peptides, with 18 of its 28 amino acids found in the mechanically bonded loop segment. Ubonodin inhibits RNA polymerase in vitro and has potent antimicrobial activity against several pathogenic members of the Burkholderia genus, most notably B. cepacia and B. multivorans, causative agents of lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.     

Electrochemical process for the lamination of magnetic cores in thin-film magnetic components

The lamination of the core in thin film magnetic components is necessary to reduce the eddy current losses of the structure at high frequencies. The usual way to achieve lamination of the core is by physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques. These methods are however costly and the deposition of layers is non selective. In this article, an almost entirely aqueous-based electrochemical process for the lamination of magnetic cores is presented. The process uses an electrodepositable photoresist Eagle 2100 ED codeposited with a catalyst (palladium). The Eagle layer is left as an insulator and the catalyst allows the activation of the layer for subsequent metallization. The process can be reproduced as many times as required for producing the multilayers. It is also selective: it does not require multiple photolithography steps. As a demonstration of the multilayer process, a core constituted of two layers of Ni/sub 80/Fe/sub 20/ (6 /spl mu/m each layer), separated by an Eagle insulating layer, electroplated over three-dimensional structures, was produced.     

煤层气产量预测和矿区优化的储层模拟

SIMEDⅡ煤层气储层模拟器是一个高精度的，可以对非稳态的储层状态、多组份气体以及三维立体的储层结构进行模拟的软件。本文具体阐述了SIMEDⅡ模拟器的工作流程。以及如何将它应用于预测气体产量以及模拟储层中煤层气的抽采过程。     

Delayed maturation of the interstitial cells of Cajal: a new diagnosis for transient neonatal pseudoobstruction. Report of two cases

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested altered responses to repeat skin tests in the sites of IgE-mediated late-phase reactions (LPRs) induced within the previous 48 hours. To explore the possible modulation of LPRs in such rechallenge sites, we compared inflammatory responses in skin chambers induced over previous LPR and control sites. METHODS: Skin blisters were induced and unroofed in 12 human subjects over two sites of previous LPRs induced by intradermal injection of pollen antigens 24 hours or 48 hours earlier and two sites previously injected with buffer diluent (B). Skin chambers containing the same antigens were appended to one intradermal antigen site (called Ag/Ag) and one intradermal B site (B/Ag), and B-containing chambers were placed over antigen (Ag/B) and B (B/B) intradermal sites. Fluids were collected after the first and the second through fifth hours of challenge. RESULTS: In skin chamber challenges 24 hours after the intradermal injection, there was no significant difference after the first hours between the Ag/Ag or B/Ag sites in either histamine or tryptase levels; both were significantly higher than at Ag/B or B/B sites (p < 0.01). The same pattern of events was seen in fluids obtained from the second through fifth hours. The same pattern of findings was seen in examination of levels of the total leukocyte accumulation, total eosinophil accumulation, and frequency of activated (EG2+) eosinophils. Levels of lactoferrin, released from activated neutrophils, and eosinophil cationic protein, released from activated eosinophils, were also similar at Ag/Ag and B/Ag sites; both were significantly higher than at B/B sites, whereas levels at Ag/B sites were intermediate between those found at B/Ag and B/B sites. The pattern of events in skin chamber challenges 48 hours after intradermal injection was similar to that seen at 24 hours, except that levels of inflammatory mediators/cells in Ag/B sites were more intermediate between the B/Ag and B/B sites. CONCLUSION: There is no significant alteration of mediator or inflammatory cell responses after antigen rechallenge of previous LPR sites when compared with those found in antigen challenge of non-LPR sites.