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Author(s): Betsy Kemeny [sup.1] , Steffanie Burk [sup.2] , Deborah Hutchins [sup.1] , Courtney Gramlich [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.263717.6, 0000 0001 2150 8792, Department of Recreational Therapy, Slippery Rock [...], Therapeutic riding (THR) and HeartMath (HM) mindfulness-based interventions have promise for reducing stress in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. In three 10-week periods, this study compared THR, HM, and control on salivary cortisol, self-reported stress, parent-reported social responsiveness, and heart-rate variability. This crossover design included 27 participants (12-21 years) randomly assigned to order of intervention. Findings suggest that HM and THR manualized protocols are equally beneficial in decreasing cortisol levels immediately following a session, but HM sessions had more impact on heart-rate variability. There was no significant effect on follow-up cortisol levels within a week after either intervention, but THR had more impact on decreasing some self-reported stressors.

Author(s): Yuzhen Yan [sup.1] , Michael L. Bender [sup.1] [sup.2] , Edward J. Brook [sup.3] , Heather M. Clifford [sup.4] , Preston C. Kemeny [sup.1] [sup.5] , Andrei V. Kurbatov [...], Over the past eight hundred thousand years, glacial-interglacial cycles oscillated with a period of one hundred thousand years ('100k world'.sup.1). Ice core and ocean sediment data have shown that atmospheric carbon dioxide, Antarctic temperature, deep ocean temperature, and global ice volume correlated strongly with each other in the 100k world.sup.2-6. Between about 2.8 and 1.2 million years ago, glacial cycles were smaller in magnitude and shorter in duration ('40k world'.sup.7). Proxy data from deep-sea sediments suggest that the variability of atmospheric carbon dioxide in the 40k world was also lower than in the 100k world.sup.8-10, but we do not have direct observations of atmospheric greenhouse gases from this period. Here we report the recovery of stratigraphically discontinuous ice more than two million years old from the Allan Hills Blue Ice Area, East Antarctica. Concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane in ice core samples older than two million years have been altered by respiration, but some younger samples are pristine. The recovered ice cores extend direct observations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane, and Antarctic temperature (based on the deuterium/hydrogen isotope ratio [delta]D.sub.ice, a proxy for regional temperature) into the 40k world. All climate properties before eight hundred thousand years ago fall within the envelope of observations from continuous deep Antarctic ice cores that characterize the 100k world. However, the lowest measured carbon dioxide and methane concentrations and Antarctic temperature in the 40k world are well above glacial values from the past eight hundred thousand years. Our results confirm that the amplitudes of glacial-interglacial variations in atmospheric greenhouse gases and Antarctic climate were reduced in the 40k world, and that the transition from the 40k to the 100k world was accompanied by a decline in minimum carbon dioxide concentrations during glacial maxima. Analysis of two-million-year-old ice from Antarctica provides a direct comparison of atmospheric gas levels before and after the shift from glacial cycles of 100 thousand years to 40-thousand-year cycles around one million years ago.

Author(s): Jennifer L. Hay[sup.1] , Marcel Ramos[sup.1] , Yuelin Li[sup.1] , Susan Holland[sup.1] , Debra Brennessel[sup.2] , M. Margaret Kemeny[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial [...], Cancer risk perceptions may involve intuitions-including both affect as well as gut-level thoughts about risk-and deliberative risk magnitudes. Yet, little research has examined the potentially diverse relations between risk perceptions and behavior across time. A highly diverse primary care sample (N = 544, aged [greater than or equal to]50) was utilized to compare how deliberative and intuitive perceptions of risk relate to chart-confirmed colorectal cancer screening at cross-sectional and prospective time points. At baseline, deliberative and intuitive risk perceptions were negatively associated with chart-confirmed colorectal cancer screening adherence in bivariable but not multivariable analyses. Among those who were non-adherent with colorectal cancer screening at baseline, deliberative and intuitive risk perceptions were positively associated with prospective uptake of chart-confirmed colorectal cancer screening adherence at 12-months in bivariable analyses; only deliberative risk perceptions remained significant in the multivariable model. This study indicates that diverse risk perceptions are differentially important for screening at different time points.

The U.S. Surgeon General (2010) responded to the obesity epidemic by recommending that all individuals benefit from healthy lifestyle behaviors including moderate physical activity and healthy eating. Unfortunately, individuals with [...]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.03.001 Byline: Thomas Kemeny Keywords: knowledge spillovers; social capability; technology; innovation; diffusion Abstract: This paper evaluates whether inward foreign direct investment stimulates technological upgrading, and if its impact depends on an economy's level of social capability. FDI inflows exert a positive influence on technological upgrading over a lengthy time period for a large and diverse sample of countries. This effect is conditioned by an economy's level of social capability, as well as its income. Among poor countries the effect of FDI on upgrading is bolstered for those endowed with higher levels of social capability. The effect of FDI on upgrading in rich countries remains positive but is weaker, and social capability exerts little disparate influence among these similarly socially capable economies. Author Affiliation: Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, USA Article History: Accepted 20 February 2010

Introduction Using a special nonlinear regression algorithm, the receptorial responsiveness method (RRM) is capable of determining an increase in the near-receptor concentration of an agonist. The theoretical basis, execution, advantages, [...], The receptorial responsiveness method (RRM) was proposed to estimate changes in the concentration of an agonist in the microenvironment of its receptor. Usually, this is done by providing the equieffective concentration of another agonist for the same receptor or for a largely overlapping postreceptorial signaling ('test agonist'). The RRM is a special nonlinear regression algorithm to analyze a concentration-response (E/c) curve that represents the simultaneous actions of a single agonist concentration to be estimated and of increasing concentrations of the test agonist. The aim of this study was to explore whether asymmetry of the E/c curve to be analyzed influences the reliability of the RRM. For this purpose, computer simulation was performed by constructing symmetric and asymmetric E/c curves using the operational model of agonism, and then these curves were analyzed with the RRM. To perform the RRM, 2 types of equations were used: one involving the Hill equation, the simplest model of the E/c relationship, and one containing the Richards equation, an advanced model properly handling E/c curve asymmetry. Results of this study indicate that E/c curve asymmetry does not significantly influence the accuracy of the estimates provided by the RRM. Thus, when using the RRM, it is not necessary to replace the Hill equation with the Richards equation to obtain useful estimates. Furthermore, it was found that estimation of a high concentration of a high-efficacy agonist can fail when the RRM is performed with a low-efficacy test agonist in a system characterized by a small operational slope factor. Key words: concentration-response curve, symmetry, operational model, efficacy, slope, concentration estimation, receptorial responsiveness method, RRM. On a propose la methode de reactivite des recepteurs (RRM pour receptorial responsiveness method) pour eevaluer les modifications de la concentration d'un agoniste dans le microenvironnement de son recepteur. L'evaluation est habituellement effectuee a partir des concentrations d'un agoniste distinct pour le meme recepteur ou pour une voie de signalisation post-recepteurs chevauchante etendue (<< agoniste temoin >>). La RRM est un algorithme de regression non lineaire special qui analyse une courbe concentration-response (E/c) representant les actions simultanees d'une concentration de l'agoniste a estimer et de concentrations croissantes de l'agoniste temoin. La presente etude a eu pour but d'examiner si l'asymetrie de la courbe E/c a analyser influence la fiabilite de la RRM. A cet effet, on a effectuee une simulation par ordinateur en construisant des courbes E/c symetriques et asymetriques a l'aide du modele operationnel d'agonisme, puis on a analyse ces courbes avec la RRM. Pour appliquer la methode, on a utilise: deux equations : l'une faisant appel a l'equation de Hill, le modele le plus simple de la relation E/c, et l'autre contenant l'equation de Richards, un modele avance capable de prendre en compte adequatement l'asymetrie de la courbe E/c. Les resultats de cette etude indiquent que l'asymetrie des courbes E/c n'influence pas significativement la precision des estimations fournies par la RRM. Ainsi, avec la RRM, il n'est pas necessaire de remplacer l'equation de Hill par l'equation de Richards pour obtenir de bonnes estimations. De plus, l'etude a montre que l'estimation d'une concentration elevee d'un agoniste de grande efficacite pourrait echouer lorsque la RRM est realisee avec un agoniste temoin de faible efficacitee dans un systeme caracterisee par un facteur de pente operationnel de faible amplitude. Mots-cles: courbe concentration-response, symetrie, modele operationnel, efficacite, pente, estimation de concentration, methode de reactivite des recepteurs, RRM. [Traduit par la Redaction]

Introduction The functions of multicellular organisms (possessing a 'milieu interieur') are influenced by several endogenous regulatory molecules, most of which can be considered receptor agonists. The link between the concentration [...], The receptorial responsiveness method (RRM) was proposed to characterize changes in the concentration of degradable agonists in the microenvironment of their receptors. The characterization is done by providing concentrations of a stable agonist for the same receptor that is equieffective with the change in concentration to be characterized. RRM is based on the analysis of concentration--effect (E/c) curves reflecting the simultaneous action of the degradable and the stable agonist. In the present study, we investigated whether dissimilar affinity and (or) efficacy of the coacting agonists as well as the steepness of the E/c curves influence the reliability of RRM. E/c curves were simulated based on the operational model and then analyzed with RRM. We found that dissimilarity in affinity of the coacting agonists did not affect the accuracy of RRM estimates. In contrast, accuracy of the estimation depended on the magnitude of the concentration to be assessed, the operational slope factor, and the operational efficacy ratio of the coacting agonists. However, our results suggest that proper choice of a stable agonist for a degradable one can help to ensure reliable results, since information about the change in concentration of a degradable agonist is otherwise difficult to obtain. Key words: concentration estimation, affinity, efficacy, slope, receptorial responsiveness method, RRM. On a propose; la methode de reactivite des recepteurs (RRM : receptorial responsiveness method) pour caracteriser les changements de concentration des agonistes deegradables dans le microenvironnement de leurs recepteurs. La caracterisation est effectuee a partir des concentrations d'un agoniste stable pour un recepteur dont l'efficacite reste constante avec le changement de concentration de l'agoniste degradable. La RRM repose sur l'analyse des courbes de concentration--effet (E/c) refletant l'action simultanee de l'agoniste degradable et de l'agoniste stable. Dans la presente etude, nous avons examine; si la difference d'affinite et (ou) d'efficacite des deux agonistes et de la raideur des courbes E/c influent sur la fiabilite de la RRM. Nous avons simulee les courbes E/c a partir du modele operationnel, puis nous les avons analysees avec la RRM. Nous avons trouve que la divergence d'affinite des deux agonistes n'influence pas la precision des estimations de la RRM. En revanche, la precision de l'estimation a ete fonction de la concentration a analyser, du facteur de pente operationnel et du rapport d'efficacite; operationnel des deux agonistes. Toutefois, nos reesultats donnent a penser que le choix judicieux de l'agoniste stable pour un agoniste degradable peut garantir la fiabilite des resultats, et permettre de disposer d'une information sur le changement de concentration d'un agoniste degradable, qui, autrement, serait difficile a determiner. Mots-cles: estimation de la concentration, affinite, efficacite, pente, methode de reactivite des reecepteurs, RRM. [Traduit par la Redaction]

The three clinical syndromes that make up AAV (Wegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis and Churg-Strauss syndrome) have diverse and overlapping clinical features, including acute glomerulonephritis and granulomatous inflammation of the respiratory [...], Autoimmune diseases are common and debilitating, but their severe manifestations could be reduced if biomarkers were available to allow individual tailoring of potentially toxic immunosuppressive therapy. Gene expression-based biomarkers facilitating such tailoring of chemotherapy in cancer, but not autoimmunity, have been identified and translated into clinical practice (1,2). We show that transcriptional profiling of purified [CD8.sup.+] T cells, which avoids the confounding influences of unseparated cells (3,4), identifies two distinct subject subgroups predicting long-term prognosis in two autoimmune diseases, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV), a chronic, severe disease characterized by inflammation of medium-sized and small blood vessels (5), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), characterized by autoantibodies, immune complex deposition and diverse clinical manifestations ranging from glomerulonephritis to neurological dysfunction (6). We show that the subset of genes defining the poor prognostic group is enriched for genes involved in the interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) pathway and T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and those expressed by memory T cells. Furthermore, the poor prognostic group is associated with an expanded [CD8.sup.+] T cell memory population. These subgroups, which are also found in the normal population and can be identified by measuring expression of only three genes, raise the prospect of individualized therapy and suggest new potential therapeutic targets in autoimmunity.

AFTER laboring on the outside margins of polite literary circles for his entire career, Walt Whitman traveled to Boston in August 1881 to oversee the publication of his Leaves of [...]

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02437.x Byline: Sally S. Dickerson (1), Shelly L. Gable (2), Michael R. Irwin (3), Najib Aziz (4), Margaret E. Kemeny (5) Abstract: ABSTRACT This study experimentally tested whether a stressor characterized by social-evaluative threat (SET), a context in which the self can be judged negatively by others, would elicit increases in proinflammatory cytokine activity and alter the regulation of this response. This hypothesis was derived in part from research on immunological responses to social threat in nonhuman animals. Healthy female participants were assigned to perform a speech and a math task in the presence or absence of an evaluative audience (SET or non-SET, respectively). As hypothesized, stimulated production of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-[alpha] (TNF-[alpha]) increased from baseline to poststressor in the SET condition, but was unchanged in the non-SET condition. Further, the increases in TNF-[alpha] production correlated with participants' cognitive appraisals of being evaluated. Additionally, the ability of glucocorticoids to shut down the inflammatory response was decreased in the SET condition. These findings underscore the importance of social evaluation as a threat capable of eliciting proinflammatory cytokine activity and altering its regulation. Author Affiliation: (1)Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine (2)Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara (3)Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (4)Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (5)Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco Article History: (R eceived 10/24/08; R evision accepted 2/6/09) Article note: Address correspondence to Sally S. Dickerson, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 3340 Social Ecology II, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, e-mail: sdickers@uci.edu.

Introduction CD133 (also known as Prominin-1 or AC133), a transmembrane pentaspan protein, was initially described as a surface antigen specific for human hematopoietic stem cells (1), (2) and as a [...], Colon cancer stem cells are believed to originate from a rare population of putative [CD133.sup.+] intestinal stem cells. Recent publications suggest that a small subset of colon cancer cells expresses CD133, and that only these [CD133.sup.+] cancer cells are capable of tumor initiation. However, the precise contribution of [CD133.sup.+] tumor-initiating cells in mediating colon cancer metastasis remains unknown. Therefore, to temporally and spatially track the expression of CD133 in adult mice and during tumorigenesis, we generated a knockin lacZ reporter mouse ([CD133.sup.lacZ/+]), in which the expression of lacZ is driven by the endogenous CD133 promoters. Using this model and immunostaining, we discovered that CD133 expression in colon is not restricted to stem cells; on the contrary, CD133 is ubiquitously expressed on differentiated colonic epithelium in both adult mice and humans. Using Il10-/-[CD133.sup.lacZ] mice, in which chronic inflammation in colon leads to adenocarcinomas, we demonstrated that CD133 is expressed on a full gamut of colonic tumor cells, which express epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Similarly, CD133 is widely expressed by human primary colon cancer epithelial cells, whereas the [CD133.sup.-] population is composed mostly of stromal and inflammatory cells. Conversely, CD133 expression does not identify the entire population of epithelial and tumor-initiating cells in human metastatic colon cancer. Indeed, both [CD133.sup.+] and [CD133.sup.-] metastatic tumor subpopulations formed colonospheres in in vitro cultures and were capable of long-term tumorigenesis in a NOD/SCID serial xenotransplantation model. Moreover, metastatic [CD133.sup.-] cells form more aggressive tumors and express typical phenotypic markers of cancer-initiating cells, including CD44 ([CD44.sup.+][CD24.sup.-]), whereas the [CD133.sup.+] fraction is composed of [CD44.sup.low][CD24.sup.+] cells. Collectively, our data suggest that CD133 expression is not restricted to intestinal stem or cancer-initiating cells, and during the metastatic transition, [CD133.sup.+] tumor cells might give rise to the more aggressive [CD133.sup.-] subset, which is also capable of tumor initiation in NOD/SCID mice.

Research findings within posttraumatic growth (PTG) and terror management theory (TMT) currently appear contradictory. Following confrontations with mortality, PTG research demonstrates intrinsic goal shifts, whereas TMT suggests extrinsic shifts. The current studies examine factors contributing to these inconsistent results. Study 1 demonstrates that perceived death threat is associated with PTG effects. Study 2 illuminates the importance of duration of death processing. Study 3 demonstrates that existing goal values and duration and type of processing all interact in determining ultimate goal structure, with a match between level of goals and processing producing the most psychologically advantageous outcomes. Although previous research suggests that short-term confrontations with death may lead to defensiveness, the current studies suggest that encountering death over a longer period or in a manner consistent with goal structure may lead individuals to transcend defensiveness and maintain intrinsic goals or become more intrinsically oriented. Keywords: posttraumatic growth; terror management; intrinsic and extrinsic goals; earthquake; terrorism

To the Editor.-- The number of individuals with large numbers of common and atypical melanocytic nevi has been continuously increasing in several white populations. Subjects with dysplastic nevi are at [...]

The yeast S. cerevisiae is a central model organism in eukaryotic cell studies and a major component in many food and biotechnological industrial processes. However, the wide knowledge regarding genetics and molecular biology of S. cerevisiae is based on an extremely narrow range of strains. Studies of natural populations of S. cerevisiae, not associated with human activities or industrial fermentation environments, are very few. We isolated a panel of S. cerevisiae strains from a natural microsite, 'Evolution Canyon' at Mount Carmel, Israel, and studied their genomic biodiversity. Analysis of 19 microsatellite loci revealed high allelic diversity and variation in ploidy level across the panel, from diploids to tetraploids, confirmed by flow cytometry. No significant differences were found in the level of microsatellite variation between strains derived from the major localities or microniches, whereas strains of different ploidy showed low similarity in allele content. Maximum genetic diversity was observed among diploids and minimum among triploids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed clonal, rather than sexual, structure of the triploid and tetraploid subpopulations. Viability tests in tetrad analysis also suggest that clonal reproduction may predominate in the polyploid subpopulations.

A double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was carried out to test the acute and long-term hemodynamical and beneficial cognitive effects of the vasoactive agent vinpocetine on patients suffering from [...]

This meta-analysis reviews 208 laboratory studies of acute psychological stressors and tests a theoretical model delineating conditions capable of eliciting cortisol responses. Psychological stressors increased cortisol levels; however, effects varied widely across tasks. Consistent with the theoretical model, motivated performance tasks elicited cortisol responses if they were uncontrollable or characterized by social-evaluative threat (task performance could be negatively judged by others), when methodological factors and other stressor characteristics were controlled for. Tasks containing both uncontrollable and social-evaluative elements were associated with the largest cortisol and adrenocorticotropin hormone changes and the longest times to recovery. These findings are consistent with the animal literature on the physiological effects of uncontrollable social threat and contradict the belief that cortisol is responsive to all types of stressors.

J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003;74:1536-1542 Objective: To evaluate the clinical results achievable using current techniques of gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery to treat sporadic unilateral acoustic neuromas. Methods: A retrospective review [...]

Substantial numbers of children with significant health problems live in our communities, and because their needs are different from those of their healthier peers, they present challenges to the institutions […]

This paper deals with the solution of the inverse kinematic problem for kinematically redundant robots. After summarizing the most widespread methods currently used, a new algorithm is proposed which finds the solution with a constrained optimization, using a parameterized form of the kinematic equation's null space. Along with the derivation of the new algorithm, extension possibilities (e.g., singularity handling) are also described. Further comparison then shows the relation between gradient projection and optimization methods through a special case. Finally, application examples are presented for an eight-degrees-of-freedom arm and a mobile manipulator. Index Terms--Differential kinematics, mobile manipulator, parameterization through null space, redundancy resolution.

The relationship between muscle endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) content and nutritive flow was investigated in nonobese sedentary young (27.7 [+ or -] 2.6 years) and older (56.6 [+ or -] 2.1 years) women matched for body composition and V[O.sub.2] peak. A muscle biopsy was taken and nutritive blood flow was determined under resting conditions in the vastus lateralis of the quadriceps femoris muscle group. Muscle eNOS protein content correlated with muscle nutritive blood flow (r = .66, p < .05) and body mass index (r = .74, p < .05), but it did not correlate with V[O.sub.2] peak. Muscle eNOS content was 35% lower in young than in older women (266 [+ or -] 36 vs 407 [+ or -] 53 pg/mg total protein; p < .05). The mean ethanol outflow-to-inflow ratio was higher (indicating lower nutritive flow) in older and young women (.666 [+ or -] .042 and .546 [+ or -] .043, respectively: p < .05). Resting skeletal nutritive blood flow and muscle eNOS content was lower in older than in young women. A low muscle eNOS protein content may be linked to a low muscle nutritive blood flow in healthy women.

The transition from a ferromagnetic to a superparamagnetic regime has been studied in a Cr-containing FINEMET-type alloy. Cr enhances the thermal stability of the alloy against nanocrystallization and reduces the Curie temperature of the remaining amorphous phase. Above room temperature, the temperature dependent hysteresis loop of a nanocrystalline sample can be described by a model of interacting superparamagnetic particles. The temperature dependence of the apparent magnetic moment of the particles obtained from the fittings is interpreted in an extended version of the model. Index Terms--Hysteresis, magnetic materials, magnetization processes.

The generalization of Estes' original statistical learning theory (Estes, 1950) was published by him and Straughan in 1954 (Estes & Straughan, 1954). It has come to be known as the [...], Reexmination of anomalous data from an old study sheds new light on statistical learning theory and deterministic assumptions about human behavior.

Cux-1 is a murine homeobox gene that is highly expressed in the developing kidney with expression restricted to the nephrogenic zone. Cux-1 is highly expressed in cyst epithelium of polycystic kidneys from C57BL/6J-cpk/cpk mice, but not in kidneys isolated from age-matched phenotypically normal littermates. To further elucidate the role of Cux-1 in renal development, we generated transgenic mice expressing Cux-1 under the control of the CMV immediate early gene promoter. Mice constitutively expressing Cux-1 developed multiorgan hyperplasia and organomegaly, but not an overall increase in body size. Transgenic kidneys were enlarged 50% by 6 weeks of age, with the increased growth primarily restricted to the cortex. Proliferating cells were found in proximal and distal tubule epithelium throughout the cortex, and the squamous epithelium that normally lines Bowman's capsule was replaced with proximal tubule epithelium. However, the total number of nephrons was not increased. In the developing kidneys of transgenic mice, Cux-1 was ectopically expressed in more highly differentiated tubules and glomeruli, and this was associated with reduced expression of the cyclin kinase inhibitor, p27. Transient transfection experiments revealed that Cux-1 is an inhibitor of p27 promoter activity. These results suggest that Cux-1 regulates cell proliferation during early nephrogenesis by inhibiting expression of p27. Key Words: nephrogenesis; Cux-1; cyclin kinase inhibitor; transgenic; p27; hyperplasia; proliferation.

Research examines the rationale of the patients to make decisions about the recommended treatments. The treatment decision model for chronic illness accounts for 57.8% of the variance in medication-taking intention, suggesting that relationship factors, health beliefs, and health status may influence the decision process.

Workaholics can be seen either as obsessive-compulsive and emotionally crippled or as self-motivated and achievement-oriented. Over one-fourth of Canadian adults describe themselves as workaholics, tending to earn high incomes, work long hours, and have children between 5 and 18.

Predictions generated by cognitive adaptation theory and conservation of resources theory were tested with regard to positive and negative changes associated with HIV infection in an ethnically diverse, low socioeconomic status sample of 189 HIV-positive women. Women reported a significantly greater number of benefits than losses' in their experiences with HIV infection. Changes in the domains of the self and life priorities were significantly positive, whereas changes in romantic/sexual relations and view of body were significantly negative. Women who reported more benefits were less likely to report depressive and anxious symptoms. Although health status and optimism significantly predicted depression, anxiety, and negative HIV-related changes, socioeconomic resources (education and income) were the most significant predictors of HIV-related benefit finding. Implications of these results are discussed.

Objectives--Although functional MRI is widely used for preoperative planning and intraoperative neuronavigation, its accuracy to depict the site of neuronal activity is not exactly known. Experience with methods that may [...]

********** Experimental studies show that automobile drivers adjust their speed in curves so that maximum vehicle lateral accelerations decrease at high speeds. This pattern of lateral accelerations is described by [...], Gilles Reymond received an Engineering degree from Ecole Centrale Paris in 1993 and is a research engineer at the Renault Research Department. Andras Kemeny received a Ph.D. in applied computer science from University Paris XII Creteil, France, in 1983, and is manager of the Vehicle Simulation and Perception research group at the Renault Research Department, Guyancourt, France. Jacques Droulez received his M.D. in 1982 at the Lariboisiere-St. Louis Hospital in Paris. He is head of the visual psychophysics research group at the Laboratory of Physiology of Perception and Action at College de France, Paris. Alain Berthoz is director of the Laboratory of Physiology of Perception and Action and a professor at the College de France, Paris.

Various techniques have been used to investigate Cr-substituted Finemet-type nanocrystalline alloy (Fe63.5Cr10Si13.5B9Cu1Nb3). The Cr addition boosts the thermal stability of the amorphous phase against nanocrystallization and produces a slightly reduced mean grain size of the Fe3Si-type nanophase.

Psychological beliefs such as optimism, personal control, and a sense of meaning are known to be protective of mental health. Are they protective of physical health as well? The authors present a program of research that has tested the implications of cognitive adaptation theory and research on positive illusions for the relation of positive beliefs to disease progression among men infected with HIV. The investigations have revealed that even unrealistically optimistic beliefs about the future may be health protective. The ability to find meaning in the experience is also associated with a less rapid course of illness. Taken together, the research suggests that psychological beliefs such as meaning, control and optimism act as resources, which may not only preserve mental health in the context of traumatic or life-threatening events but be protective of physical health as well.

Patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver may benefit from chemotherapy in addition to surgery. Researchers randomly assigned 156 patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer to receive surgery and chemotherapy but in half the chemotherapy was infused directly into the major artery that supplies blood to the liver. Two years later, these patients had higher survival rates and higher rates of survival free of recurring cancer. Chemotherapy included floxuridine, dexamethasone, fluorouracil, and leucovorin.

An analysis is presented of statistics measuring social and psychological well-being of Canadian married seniors. Topics include socioeconomic factors and the influence of health and emotional support.

Byline: Maria Kiss (1), Lajos Kemeny (1), Rolland Gyulai (1), Gunter Michel (2), Sandor Husz (1), Reka Kovacs (1), Attila Dobozy (1), Thomas Ruzicka (2) Abstract: The neuropeptides substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and [alpha]-melanocyte-stimulating hormone ([alpha]-MSH) are known to be able to regulate the production of cytokines in the skin. Since IL-8 plays an important role in cutaneous inflammation, the effects of SP, CGRP and [alpha]-MSH on the IL-8/IL-8 receptor (IL-8RA) systems of these cell types were studied. Cultures of human dermal fibroblasts and an immortalized keratinocyte cell line HaCaT were treated with 10.sup.-8 M SP, CGRP or [alpha]-MSH. The results demonstrated that these neuropeptides have different effects on the IL-8 and IL-8RA expressions of the cells. SP and CGRP upregulated the IL-8RA mRNA expression in HaCaT cells, but had no influence on their IL-8 production, whereas, [alpha]-MSH had no effect on either the IL-8 or the IL-8RA mRNA expression in HaCaT cells. In contrast, [alpha]-MSH resulted in a time-dependent induction of the IL-8 mRNA expression in dermal fibroblasts. This induction was already detectable after 6 h, and after 12 h there was a 5-fold change in comparison with the controls. The IL-8 content of the supernatant was also increased, with a maximum at 48 h after [alpha]-MSH treatment. The data established in the present study support the notion that neuropeptides can directly modulate the IL-8/IL-8RA system of keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Dermatology, Albert Szent-Gyorgyi Medical University, H-6701, Szeged, P.O. Box 480, Hungary (2) Department of Dermatology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Dusseldorf, D-40225, Moorenstr. 5, Dusseldorf, Germany Article History: Registration Date: 30/09/2004

This article presents research on how bereavement and disease expectancies affected asymptomatic HIV-positive gay men. This study confirmed that negative HIV-specific expectancies combined with bereavement significantly predicted symptom onset.

This study investigated whether finding meaning in response to an HIV-related stressor was associated with changes in immune status and health. Forty HIV-seropositive men who had recently experienced an AIDS-related bereavement completed interviews assessing cognitive processing and finding meaning after the loss and provided blood samples for a 2- to 3-year follow-up. AIDS-related mortality over an extended follow-up was determined from death certificates. As predicted, men who engaged in cognitive processing were more likely to find meaning from the loss. Furthermore, men who found meaning showed less rapid declines in CD4 T cell levels and lower rates of AIDS-related mortality (all ps < .05), independent of health status at baseline, health behaviors, and other potential confounds. These results suggest thai positive responses to stressful events, specifically the discovery of meaning, may be linked to positive immunologic and health outcomes.

A study was conducted on impaired driving charges, alcohol use among fatally injured drivers and attitudes towards drinking and driving in Canada from 1981-1996. The findings indicate that the number and the rate of individuals charged with impaired driving have declined. The percentage of people who reported driving after drinking has also dropped. Moreover, the results show that society regards drinking and driving as a serious and socially unacceptable offense.