Treatment of unawareness of memory deficits in adults with brain injury: Three case studies.

Examined the use of an intervention for reducing unawareness of memory deficits in 3 male adults (aged 20–25 yrs) with brain injury. High predicted test scores on a brief multiparametric memory test, relative to actual test scores, were considered underestimations of symptom severity (unawareness). An estimation technique, feedback, and explicit positive reinforcement for decreases in discrepancies between predicted and actual scores were used to reduce unawareness. Differences between Ss' predicted and actual scores decreased over time following treatment for all Ss. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis of Novel Phosphonic‐Type Activity‐Based Probes for Neutrophil Serine Proteases and Their Application in Spleen Lysates of Different Organisms

Neutrophils are a type of granulocyte important in the “first line of defense” of the innate immune system. Upon activation, they facilitate the destruction of invading microorganisms by the production of superoxide radicals, as well as the release of the enzymatic contents of their lysozymes. These enzymes include specific serine proteases: cathepsin G, neutrophil elastase, proteinase 3, as well as the recently discovered neutrophil serine protease 4 (NSP4). Under normal conditions, the proteolytic activity of neutrophil proteases is tightly regulated by endogenous serpins; however, this mechanism can be subverted during tissue stress, thereby resulting in the uncontrolled activity of serine proteases, which induce chronic inflammation and subsequent pathology. Herein, we describe the development of low‐molecular‐weight activity‐based probes that specifically target the active sites of neutrophil proteases.     

Physical and tribological properties of diamond films grown in argoncarbon plasmas

Nanocrystalline diamond films have been deposited using a microwave plasma consisting of argon, 2–10% hydrogen and a carbon precursor such as C₆₀ or CH₄. It was found that it is possible to grow the diamond phase with both carbon precursors, although the hydrogen concentration in the plasma was 1–2 orders of magnitude lower than normally required in the absence of the argon. Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction measurements and transmission electron microscopy indicate the films are predominantly composed of diamond. Surface roughness, as determined by atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicate the nanocrystalline films grown in low hydrogen content plasmas are exceptionally smooth (30–50 nm rms) to thicknesses of 10 m. The smooth nanocrystalline films result in low friction coefficients (μ = 0.04–0.06) and low average wear rates as determined by ball-on-disk measurements.     

Do patients change in the ways we intend? Assessing acquisition of coping skills among cocaine-dependent patients.

Few studies have evaluated whether substance users show changes associated with the hypothesized mechanisms of action of the treatments they receive. The Cocaine Risk Response Test (CRRT) is a role-play assessment of coping skills for high-risk situations associated with cocaine and other substance use. Initial psychometric analyses, using data from a series of randomized controlled trials, indicated very good interrater reliability and internal consistency, as well as significant increases from pre- to posttreatment in number, quality, and specificity of coping skills. Participants who had received different types of treatment were more likely to respond with coping skills characteristic of their assigned treatment, suggesting the measure may tap hypothesized mechanisms of treatment change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A portable cryo-plunger for on-site intact cryogenic microscopy sample preparation in natural environments

We present a modern, light portable device specifically designed for environmental samples for cryogenic transmission-electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) by on-site cryo-plunging. The power of cryo-TEM comes from preparation of artifact-free samples. However, in many studies, the samples must be collected at remote field locations, and the time involved in transporting samples back to the laboratory for cryogenic preservation can lead to severe degradation artifacts. Thus, going back to the basics, we developed a simple mechanical device that is light and easy to transport on foot yet effective. With the system design presented here we are able to obtain cryo-samples of microbes and microbial communities not possible to culture, in their near-intact environmental conditions as well as in routine laboratory work, and in real time. This methodology thus enables us to bring the power of cryo-TEM to microbial ecology.     

The effect of three-fold astigmatism on measurements of grain boundary volume expansion by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

In the absence of high-order aberrations, the lattice fringe technique should allow measurement of grain boundary rigid-body displacements to accuracies about an order of magnitude better than the point-to-point resolution of the transmission electron microscope. The three-fold astigmatism, however, introduces shifts of the lattice fringe pattern that depend on the orientation of the lattice relative to the direction of the three-fold astigmatism and thus produces an apparent shift between the two grains bordering the grain boundary. By image simulation of grain boundary model structures, the present paper explores the effect of these extraneous shifts on grain boundary volume expansion measurements. It is found that the shifts depend, among others, on zone axis direction and the magnitude of the lattice parameter. For many grain boundaries of interest, three-fold astigmatism correction to better than 100 nm appears necessary to achieve the desired accuracies.     

Effect of subliminal stimulation of symbiotic fantasies on behavior modification treatment of obesity.

Treated 30 obese women aged 22–59 yrs in a behavior modification program for overeating, in Study 1 for 8 wks and in Study 2 for 12 wks. In both studies, the behavior programs were accompanied by subliminal stimulation, with half of the Ss receiving the verbal message {mommy and i are one}, intended to stimulate symbiotic gratification fantasies, and the other half a control message. Weight loss was measured at the end of the program and at follow-up times: in Study 1, 4 wks after termination and in Study 2, at 4 and 12 wks posttermination. In both studies the symbiotic condition gave evidence of enhancing weight loss, though it was only at follow-up that the difference between the groups attained significance. This finding, when viewed in conjunction with results from earlier studies of schizophrenics and insect phobics, supports the proposition that the subliminal stimulation of symbiotic fantasies can enhance the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions of various kinds. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)