A goal-striving life event and the onset of hypomanic and depressive episodes and symptoms: Perspective from the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) dysregulation theory.

On the basis of the behavioral approach system (BAS) dysregulation theory of bipolar disorder, this study examined the relation between occurrence of a BAS activation-relevant life event--goal striving--and onset of hypomanic and depressive episodes and symptoms. In particular, the authors examined the relation between preparing for and completing final exams (a goal-striving event) and onset of bipolar spectrum episodes and symptoms in college students with bipolar II disorder or cyclothymia (i.e., "soft" bipolar spectrum conditions). One hundred fifty-nine individuals with either a bipolar spectrum disorder (n=68) or no major affective psychopathology (controls; n=91) were further classified on the basis of whether they were college students (i.e., completed final exams). Consistent with the BAS dysregulation theory, preparing for and completing final exams was associated with an increase in hypomanic but not depressive episodes and symptoms in individuals with a soft bipolar spectrum diagnosis. Furthermore, self-reported BAS sensitivity moderated the presence of certain hypomanic symptoms during final exams. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Control of contact in robots and biological systems

Summary form only given. The consequences of dynamic interaction caused by physical contact with objects is discussed. Robotic experience has demonstrated that contact with objects can result in unstable behavior, yet humans contact and manipulate objects with no evidence of contact instability. It is shown that impedance control may be used in a robot or prosthesis to eliminate contact instability. Evidence that a similar approach may be the basis of human motor behavior in comparable tasks is reviewed. A model based on exploitation of apparent neuromuscular impedance is shown to be remarkably competent to reproduce fine details of multi-joint reaching behavior. The implication of this model is that some of the stability properties associated with posture are preserved during movement and may be used to simplify its execution. Experiments in which human subjects held the handle of a manipulandum and performed simple reaching motions to visually presented targets are described     

The importance of choosing attractors for optimizing chaotic communications

In this brief, we consider methods to improve the performance of chaotic communication schemes. We study a system using a receiver which explicitly includes the presence of noise in the channel. We show how the choice of chaotic dynamical system generating the transmitted signal is crucial. We observe a large variation in bit error rate performance of the system as parameters in the maps are changed, and we propose a simple explanation for this variation.     

A piece wise linear suspension bridge model: nonlinear dynamics and orbit continuation

The effect of harmonic excitation on suspension bridges is examined as a first step towards the understanding of the effect of wind, and possibly certain kinds of earthquake, excitation on such structures. The Lazer-McKenna suspension bridge model is studied completely for the first time by using a methodology that has been successfully applied to models of rocking blocks and other free-standing rigid structures. An unexpectedly rich dynamical structure is revealed in this way. Conditions for the existence of asymptotic periodic responses are established, via a complicated nonlinear transcen- dental equation. A two-part Poincare map is derived to study the orbital stability of such solutions. Numerical results are presented which illustrate the application of the analytical procedure to find and classify stable and unstable solutions, as well as determine bifurcation points accurately. The richness of the possible dynamics is then illustrated by a menagerie of solutions which exhibit fold and flip bifurcations, period doubling, period adding, and sub- and superharmonic coexistence of solutions. The solutions are shown both in the phase plane and as Poincare map fixed points under parameter continuation using the package AUTO. Such results illustrate the possibility of the coexistence of 'dangerous', large-amplitude responses at the same point of parameter space as 'safe' solutions. The feasibility of experimental verification of the results is discussed.     

A fast analog mean-timer

A circuit is described that determines the average of the transit time of light from an event in a scintillation counter to the two ends of that counter. The design offers superior time resolution and a novel gating scheme that significantly reduces circuit dead-time.     

How Non-native Species in Lake Erie Influence Trophic Transfer of Mercury and Lead to Top Predators

Lake Erie's food web has been dramatically modified by exotic species. Both exotic dreissenid mussels and the round goby Neogobius melanastomus have shifted the food web from a pelagicbased to a benthic-based one, potentially creating a new pathway for contaminant transfer to top predators. Before the invasion of round gobies, few predators of dreissenids occurred in Lake Erie, allowing contaminants to be confined to these benthic organisms. The invasion of the round goby has produced a new pathway through which these contaminants can enter the food web. To characterize heavy-metal transfer through this new food web and to assess risk to humans, water, surficial sediment, dreissenid, round goby, and smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieui samples were collected at three sites during summers, 2002 and 2003, and analyzed for total lead (Pb), total mercury (Hg), and methyl mercury (MeHg). In addition, we compared smallmouth bass Pb and Hg concentrations to those measured in 1993/1994, before round gobies were prevalent. Pb biodiminished and MeHg biomagnified through the food web to smallmouth bass; patterns were similar among our three sites. Total Pb concentrations in smallmouth bass were higher before the incorporation of round gobies into their diet. We attributed this decline to changes in food web structure, changes in contaminant burdens in prey, or declines in sediment Pb concentrations in Lake Erie. By comparison, Hg concentrations in smallmouth bass changed little, before and after the round goby invasion, possibly due to a shift in diet that increased growth. Despite a decline in sediment Hg concentrations in Lake Erie, smallmouth bass continued to accumulate Hg at historical rates possibly because of their high consumption rates of benthivorous round gobies. As smallmouth bass continue to consume round gobies during their lives, their Hg concentrations may well continue to increase, potentially increasing the risk of Hg contamination to humans.     

Peripheral O2 diffusion does not affect V(O2)on-kinetics in isolated insitu canine muscle

To test the hypothesis that muscle O2 uptake (V(O2)) on-kinetics is limited, at least in part, by peripheral O2 diffusion, we determined the V(O2) on-kinetics in 1) normoxia (Control); 2) hyperoxic gas breathing (Hyperoxia); and 3) hyperoxia and the administration of a drug (RSR-13, Allos Therapeutics), which right-shifts the Hb-O2 dissociation curve (Hyperoxia+RSR-13). The study was conducted in isolated canine gastrocnemius muscles (n = 5) during transitions from rest to 3 min of electrically stimulated isometric tetanic contractions (200-ms trains, 50 Hz; 1 contraction/2 s; 60-70% peak V(O2)). In all conditions, before and during contractions, muscle was pump perfused with constantly elevated blood flow (Q), at a level measured at steady state during contractions in preliminary trials with spontaneous Q x Adenosine was infused intra-arterially to prevent inordinate pressure increases with the elevated Q x Q was measured continuously, arterial and popliteal venous O2 concentrations were determined at rest and at 5- to 7-s intervals during contractions, and V(O2) was calculated as Q x arteriovenous O2 content difference. PO2 at 50% HbO2 saturation (P50) was calculated. Mean capillary PO2 (Pc(O2)) was estimated by numerical integration. P50 was higher in Hyperoxia+RSR-13 [40 +/- 1 (SE) Torr] than in Control and in Hyperoxia (31 +/- 1 Torr). After 15 s of contractions, Pc(O2) was higher in Hyperoxia (97 +/- 9 Torr) vs. Control (53 +/- 3 Torr) and in Hyperoxia+RSR-13 (197 +/- 39 Torr) vs. Hyperoxia. The time to reach 63% of the difference between baseline and steady-state V(O2) during contractions was 24.7 +/- 2.7 s in Control, 26.3 +/- 0.8 s in Hyperoxia, and 24.7 +/- 1.1 s in Hyperoxia+RSR-13 (not significant). Enhancement of peripheral O2 diffusion (obtained by increased PcO2 at constant O2 delivery) during the rest-to-contraction (60-70% of peak V(O2)) transition did not affect muscle V(O2) on- kinetics.     

Compton scattering in a large-aperture positron imaging system

Compton scattering of gamma rays within the image volume has been assessed for a large-aperture positron-emission-tomography imaging system. The Compton scattered attenuation and the Compton scattered background were both modeled and measured for point sources centered in scattering spheres up to 10 cm in diameter. Good agreement was obtained between simulations and measurements. The attenuation problem is independent of the detector system, but its correction is more difficult in a large-aperture system. The scattered coincidence background is large in this system (43% for a 10-cm-diameter scattering sphere), but the background overlap is reduced with 3D imaging.     

免疫细胞素Hu14.18-IL-2对黑色素瘤病人的免疫激活作用

目的评估免疫细胞素Hu14.18-IL-2对黑色素瘤病人体内免疫作用。方法33位黑色素瘤病人用一种人源化抗神经节苷脂GD-2的单抗与IL-2融合的免疫细胞素进行治疗,按每天0.8、1.6、3.2、4.8、6.0、7.5 mg/m2静脉滴注,连续3 d为一疗程,病情稳定或缓解后,在第5周接受第2疗程治疗。观察病人外周血单核淋巴细胞抗体依赖的细胞毒性、自然杀伤细胞活性、IL-2的体外增殖以及IL-2可溶性受体的变化。结果Hu14.18-IL-2能诱导病人淋巴细胞的吞噬作用,增强外周血中自然杀伤细胞的杀伤能力和数目,使血清中IL-2受体复合体的可溶性受体α链水平上升。结论免疫细胞素Hu14.18-IL-2对黑色素瘤病人具有免疫激活作用。