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This article describes the first detections of disease due to natural infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIv) H5N1 of the Eurasian lineage goose/Guangdong clade 2.3.4.4b in wild terrestrial mammals throughout the United States during 2021-2022. Affected mammalian species include 50 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 6 striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), 4 raccoons (Procyon lotor), 2 bobcats (Lynx rufus), 2 Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana), 1 coyote (Canis latrans), 1 fisher (Pekania pennanti), and 1 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Infected mammals primarily exhibited neurological signs. Necrotizing meningoencephalitis, interstitial pneumonia, and myocardial necrosis were the most common lesions; however, species variations in lesion distribution were observed. Genotype analysis of sequences from 48 animals indicates that these cases represent spillover infections from wild birds.

Contains fulltext : 288722.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Cognitive reappraisal has been shown to be an effective emotion regulation strategy that contributes to mental health. Previous studies focused on sex differences in the frequency of use and ability to use this strategy, and the association of fequency of use and ability with executive functioning. However, there is a lack of behavioral studies examining whether the involvement of executive functions in cognitive reappraisal use and ability differs for men and women. Such a sex difference may inform the design of cognitive interventions directed at enhancing cognitive reappraisal use and ability. The present study used a sample of 125 Chinese university students and focused on one key component of executive functioning: working memory updating. Frequency of cognitive reappraisal use was assessed by self-report. Ability to use cognitive reappraisal and working memory updating capacity were each assessed with a laboratory task. The results revealed no sex difference in cognitive reappraisal use or ability. However, of primary interest, the ability to apply cognitive reappraisal was associated with working memory updating performance, but only for women. If confirmed in further studies, these findings suggest that cognitive interventions in general, and working memory updating trainings more specifically, are more likely to enhance the ability to use cognitive reappraisal as a means to regulate emotions in women than in men. 10 p.

Contains fulltext : 291491.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Family socioeconomic status (SES) is positively associated with executive functioning. This study tested whether parental educational involvement mediates this association. Two hundred and sixty, 12-15-year-old adolescents completed working memory updating (WMU) and general intelligence tasks, and questionnaires on SES and parental educational involvement. SES and WMU ability were positively associated; there was no difference between the fathers and mothers for three types of educational involvement. The mothers' behavioural involvement positively mediated the SES-WM updating association, whereas a negative mediation was observed for the mothers' intellectual involvement. The fathers’ educational involvement did not play a significant mediating role. These results might inform interventions targeting educational involvement for enhancing the cognitive development of children from low SES families. 30 maart 2023 12 p.

Contains fulltext : 292572.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Previous research revealed associations between an individual's occupation and cognitive abilities. However, the underlying causal relation is not always clear and only few studies focused on a critical component of executive functioning, namely working memory updating (WMU). Study 1 examined whether restaurant ticket collectors (N = 53) have a better WMU ability compared to a group of security guards (N = 49) that was matched on relevant variables. Study 2 examined transfer effects of a computerized working memory training program in students. The program simulated elements of a restaurant ticket collector's daily work requirements. In Study 1, the ticket collectors performed better than the guards on WMU tasks. In Study 2, using an active control group (N = 33) as comparison, the trained students (N = 33) displayed beneficial training effects on transfer WMU tasks but not on general intelligence tasks. The results support the general notion of repeated experience with occupation-specific demands affecting specific objectively-assessed cognitive abilities. 11 p.

Contains fulltext : 284952.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Objectives: Executive functioning (EF) is a key topic in neuropsychology. A multitude of underlying processes and constructs have been suggested to explain EF, which are measured by at least as many different neuropsychological tests. However, these tests often refer to summary statistics to quantify the construct under study, failing to capture the dynamic nature of EF. An alternative to these summary statistics is a time-series approach that quantifies all the available temporal information. Methods: We used recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) to quantify the characteristics of any temporal pattern in random number generation data and we compared RQA to the traditional and static analysis of random number sequences. Results: The traditional measures yield inconsistent results with increasing sequences length, both for computer-generated and human-generated sequences, whereas the RQA measures do not. Conclusion: The results suggest that a time-series approach does a better job at modelling what is happening on different time-scales, and, therefore, is better at explaining how EF is changing in the course of the random number generation task. We argue that it is likely that these findings also apply to other neuropsychological EF tests, and that a time-series approach is an important addition to the study of EF. 11 p.

Air quality currently poses a major risk to human health worldwide. Transportation is one of the principal contributors to air pollution due to the quality of exhaust gases. For example, the widely used diesel fuel is a significant source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). To reduce the content NOx and PM, different oxygenated compounds were mixed into a mineral diesel available at the pump, and their effect on the composition of exhaust gas emissions was measured using a one-cylinder diesel generator. In this setup, adding methanol gave the best relative results. The addition of 2000 ppm of methanol decreased the content of NO by 56%, 2000 ppm of isopropanol decreased NO

Contains fulltext : 283820.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Objective: Previous research revealed that a low childhood socioeconomic status, including low parental education, correlates with impaired executive functioning. However, there is a lack of research on the association of working memory updating (WMU) ability, which is one of the major components of executive functioning, and of resilience with educational mobility. The purpose of the present two studies was to further examine these associations. Method: In Study 1, 180, 60-88-year old adults with different levels of educational mobility performed a WMU task. In Study 2, 130, 60-89-year old adults that had experienced different levels of upward educational mobility completed a WMU task and a resilience questionnaire. Results: Study 1 revealed that extent of educational mobility was significantly positively associated with WMU ability. Study 2 revealed significant positive associations among extent of educational mobility, resilience, and WMU task performance. Conclusion: The results were discussed in terms of possible causal relations between the variables and implications for interventions that aim to enhance upward educational mobility and cognitive functioning in late adulthood. 03 november 2022 8 p.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) currently are the main pollutants emitted by diesel engines. While there is a start in using hybrid and electric cars, ships will still be fueled by mineral oil products. In the quest to achieve zero-pollution and carbon-free shipping, alternative forms of energy carriers must be found to replace the commonly used mineral oil products. One of the possible alternative fuels is biodiesel. This paper explores the optimization of the composition of biodiesel in order to reduce the concentration of particulate matter and NOx in exhaust gases of a one-cylinder diesel generator.

Contains fulltext : 234275.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) The Random Number Generation (RNG) task has a long history in neuropsychology as an assessment procedure for executive functioning. In recent years, understanding of human (executive) behavior has gradually changed from reflecting a static to a dynamic process and this shift in thinking about behavior gives a new angle to interpret test results. However, this shift also asks for different methods to process random number sequences. The RNG task is suited for applying non-linear methods needed to uncover the underlying dynamics of random number generation. In the current article we present RandseqR: an R-package that combines the calculation of classic randomization measures and Recurrence Quantification Analysis. RandseqR is an easy to use, flexible and fast way to process random number sequences and readies the RNG task for current scientific and clinical use. 8 p.

We report a case of a 19-year-old woman who ingested Digitalis purpurea leaves as a suicide attempt. She developed gastro-intestinal symptoms, loss of colour vision, cardiac conduction disturbances as well as an elevated serum potassium. Treatment was initiated in analogy to medicinal digoxin poisoning by means of digoxin-specific Fab-fragments with a good effect. However during the further course we faced difficulties of prolonged intestinal absorption and inability to estimate the ingested dose or half-life of the vegetal cardiac glycoside compounds. To prevent further absorption and interrupt enterohepatic recycling, multi-dose activated charcoal was administered. Because of a relapse of cardiac conduction disturbances and hyperkalemia, two supplementary doses of Fab-fragments were given, up to a total dose of nineteen vials (one vial containing 40 mg). The important diagnostic and therapeutic differences of vegetal digitalis intoxication as compared to medicinal intoxication and the applicability of existing guidelines on medicinal digitalis intoxication in the light of these differences will be discussed here.

It has been suggested that people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have an increased tendency to use explicit (or intentional) learning strategies. This altered learning may play a role in the development of the social communication difficulties characterizing ASD. In the current study, we investigated incidental and intentional sequence learning using a Serial Reaction Time (SRT) task in an adult ASD population. Response times and event related potentials (ERP) components (N2b and P3) were assessed as indicators of learning and knowledge. Findings showed that behaviorally, sequence learning and ensuing explicit knowledge were similar in ASD and typically developing (TD) controls. However, ERP findings showed that learning in the TD group was characterized by an enhanced N2b, while learning in the ASD group was characterized by an enhanced P3. These findings suggest that learning in the TD group might be more incidental in nature, whereas learning in the ASD group is more intentional or effortful. Increased intentional learning might serve as a strategy for individuals with ASD to control an overwhelming environment. Although this led to similar behavioral performances on the SRT task, it is very plausible that this intentional learning has adverse effects in more complex social situations, and hence contributes to the social impairments found in ASD. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1533-1543. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

On the basis of structural data gathered during our ongoing HIV-1 protease inhibitors program, from which our clinical candidate TMC114 9 was selected, we have discovered new series of fused heteroaromatic sulfonamides. The further extension into the P2' region was aimed at identifying new classes of compounds with an improved broad spectrum activity and acceptable pharmacokinetic properties. Several of these compounds display an exceptional broad spectrum activity against a panel of highly cross-resistant mutants. Certain members of these series exhibit favorable pharmacokinetic profiles in rat and dog. Crystal structures and molecular modeling were used to rationalize the broad spectrum profile resulting from the extension into the P2' pocket of the HIV-1 protease.

In two experiments, the behavioral effects of different response-feedback contingencies were examined with a task requiring human subjects to repeatedly type three-key sequences on a computer keyboard. In Experiment 1, the subjects first received positive feedback for response variability, followed by no feedback, or vice versa In Experiment 2, the subjects first received positive feedback for response variability, followed by response-independent positive feedback, or vice versa. Response stability and variability were examined using different measures, such as percentage of trials meeting the variability criteria, frequency of use of the different response alternatives, and autocorrelations as an index of response randomness. The subjects' behavior in the first phase in each condition came to reflect the current feedback contingency. Depending on the measure examined, responding after each contingency change was characterized by both response stability and decreases or increases in response variability. The collective results are discussed in the framework of previous animal and human studies on behavioral stability and variability.

A device for electricity generation from ocean waves has been developed for installation on the Brazilian northeast coast. It is based on pumping modules and a two-stage accumulator linked to a hyperbaric chamber in order to provide a prescribed high pressure water flow, which operates a turbine coupled with an electrical generator. In the period between 2001 and 2007, wave tank testing of small-scale models have been carried out. A prototype with two pumping modules is presently installed in the Port of Pecem. This paper describes an overview of the device development since the first tests to the installation of the prototype. Wave climate analysis, design analysis and optimization studies have been developed and are briefly revised in this study. Furthermore, control strategies are proposed to optimize the electrical output considering the proper combination of both pressure and flow rate as a function of the predominant wave climate, when the applied pressure is constant and the generator is a synchronous machine.Copyright © 2012 by ASME

Cocaine dependence is associated with orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)-dependent cognitive inflexibility in both humans and laboratory animals. A critical question is whether cocaine self-administration affects pre-existing individual differences in cognitive flexibility. Serotonin transporter knockout (5-HTT(-/-) ) mice show improved cognitive flexibility in a visual reversal learning task, whereas 5-HTT(-/-) rats self-administer increased amounts of cocaine. Here we assessed: (1) whether 5-HTT(-/-) rats also show improved cognitive flexibility (next to mice); and (2) whether this is affected by cocaine self-administration, which is increased in these animals. Results confirmed that naïve 5-HTT(-/-) rats (n = 8) exhibit improved cognitive flexibility, as measured in a sucrose reinforced reversal learning task. A separate group of rats was subsequently trained to intravenously self-administer cocaine (0.5 mg/kg/infusion), and we observed that the 5-HTT(-/-) rats (n = 10) self-administered twice as much cocaine [632.7 mg/kg (±26.3)] compared with 5-HTT(+/+) rats (n = 6) [352.3 mg/kg (±62.0)] over 50 1-hour sessions. Five weeks into withdrawal the cocaine-exposed animals were tested in the sucrose-reinforced reversal learning paradigm. Interestingly, like the naïve 5-HTT(-/-) rats, the cocaine exposed 5-HTT(-/-) rats displayed improved cognitive flexibility. In conclusion, we show that improved reversal learning in 5-HTT(-/-) rats reflects a pre-existing trait that is preserved during cocaine-withdrawal. As 5-HTT(-/-) rodents model the low activity s-allele of the human serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region, these findings may have heuristic value in the treatment of s-allele cocaine addicts.

The importance of identifying true learning needs prior to planning and conducting educational programs is well documented. In this study a collection of 579 clinical questions forwarded by 87 family physicians in southern Alberta was reviewed and analysed to determine if the questions would cluster and, therefore, be useful as sources for planning continuing medical education (CME) conferences and newsletters. The nature of submitted questions was also examined to determine if particular groups of physicians, as identified by socio-demographic characteristics, significanly differed by type of questions submitted. The study findings indicate that the questions generated by the clinical practices of family practitioners did cluster into meaningful categories, and did vary significantly by identified physician groups. Questions relating to the genito-urinary system; adverse drug effects, interactions and contraindications; and nervous system and sense organs were most frequently submitted. The nature of questions generated differed significantly by gender, size of practice setting, and year and place of medical graduation. When highly relevant and specific clinical questions, as contrasted with broadly expressed needs, serve as sources of identified learning needs for CME planners, the daily clinical problems faced by practitioners are better addressed. The learning needs identified by this approach provide an optimum framework for planned CME to influence physician behaviour or practice patterns.

This study tested whether a general increase in emotional arousal is a sufficient determinant for the evocation of the N150, a negative wave in amygdalar Auditory Evoked Potentials (AEPs). Rats received one of three conditioning protocols: either conditioned stimulus (CS) presentations alone (Control) CS-shock pairings (Paired) or unpaired presentations of the CS and shock (Unpaired). Amygdalar AEPs were recorded in response to the CS. It was hypothesized that if a state of emotional arousal is a sufficient condition for the manifestation of the N150, its amplitude should be enhanced in the Paired and Unpaired conditions relative to the Control condition, which was indeed found. In addition, it was found that the N150 had a larger amplitude in the Paired than in the Unpaired condition. This suggests that an additional N150 increase is established when animals learn the CS-US association. The results are discussed in relation to literature on amygdala function.

Summary. This study reports the nature of non-emergency, day-to-day practice-related questions which arose in rural practice and were phoned in to a medical information system (MIS). The usefulness of these questions, and their responses, to clinical decision-making is outlined. Sixty-seven practitioners from 10 rural communities enrolled in the project. In response to each inquiry two or three articles were sent to the practitioner and to a consultant for validation. At the conclusion of the study the questions posed, and their responses, were examined. Forty-six per cent of the questions received were categorized as diagnostic; 30% as management; and 24% as therapeutic. Questions were classified using the ICD.9.CM. Those most frequently posed were in the nervous system/sense organs (13%), injury/poisoning (9%), and genito-urinary (9%) categories. Interviews with doctors and consultants were conducted to assess the usefulness of the service. Study findings suggest that an MIS can provide helpful information for improving daily aspects of clinical care, doctor-patient communication, administrative decision-making, and physician education. Practitioners, consultants, and medical librarians reported benefits from this service.

The evolving nature of medical knowledge and technology requires that the practitioners of tomorrow be able to develop practice management and computer skills in order to enhance quality patient care, ongoing education, and research. The paper describes how the discipline of medical informatics can be integrated into an undergraduate medical curriculum, not as a course or series of courses but as a repeated theme throughout the 3-year system-based curriculum. Recommendations specific to integrating medical informatics into an undergraduate curriculum are outlined with respect to: (1) content; (2) content organization; (3) management; and (4) evaluation. Six areas of information and computer management applications are discussed. These are computer-assisted learning, retrieving and organizing information from computerised databases, the application of medical informatics tools to the critical appraisal of literature and associated statistical software packages, hospital- and office-based information systems, and electronic communications. Medical education has a history of resistance to change. Reference to guidelines and experiences of others who have negotiated information management and medical informatics changes into medical school environments can therefore be helpful. It is in this context that this paper is presented.

A medical information system (MIS) pilot project was conducted to provide reading material to physicians in rural communities to supplement their continuing medical education. Stimulated by the patient problems they encountered, the physicians phoned questions into a telephone answering machine. A trained librarian conducted a search and sent the physician one or two key articles. The question and the response were simultaneously sent to a volunteer consultant who reviewed the materials for appropriateness and had the option of forwarding additional material. Over the course of the project, 240 questions were submitted to the MIS by the 47 participating physicians in 10 communities in rural Alberta, Canada. The average number of questions submitted per physician and per community was 5.1 and 24, respectively. Physicians received initial information in a median time of 7.3 hr. A decentralized option enabled physicians to conduct their own computerized searches with support available from the University of ...

This paper reports on a one-year experience with an information networking system (MIS) between 47 rural practitioners and an academic center. Physicians were invited to phone in non-emergency clinical questions specific to daily practice needs to a telephone answering service located in the medical school library. Two-hundred-forty questions triggered by patient visits, colleagues, local rounds, allied health or local professionals, and on-site administrative meetings were forwarded to the MIS. All inquiries were classified according to the International Classification of Disease-9th Revision-Clinical Modification, and categorized into three areas of practice: diagnostic/investigative, general treatment, and pharmacology (therapeutics). The paper outlines how specific practice questions are being screened and adopted for decisions relating to four current activities which assist the ongoing maintenance of competence: 1) CME program planning, 2) residency/undergraduate curriculum development, 3) individualized CME for specific practitioners and sites, and 4) future CME research. The physician inquiries represent true needs in rural medical practice and as such should be given high priority in programs and assessments addressing the maintenance of competence.

Contains fulltext : 54561.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Various types of discrimination learning tasks, such as so-called nonconditional, conditional, and biconditional tasks, are generally held to differ in complexity and to require different amounts of training. However, rather than a difference in rule complexity, between-task performance differences may reflect a difference in number of underlying rules. Accordingly, in the present study, human participants were subjected to tasks differing in number and/or complexity of rules. In Experiments 1 and 3, participants learned to differentially respond to visual-target stimuli, each of which was preceded by a visual feature. Conditions differed in the number of different features and in the informational value of individual features and/or targets. In Experiment 2, participants were fully informed about all relevant stimulus-response mappings prior to each trial. Performance accuracy was primarily determined by number of underlying rules in the initial phase of discrimination learning, especially when the time available for responding was restricted. However, when participants had attained a high accuracy level, performance was solely determined by rule complexity. Apparently, number and complexity of rules have a different weight, depending on the stage of discrimination learning. 8 p.

The loads supported by the feet can be appreciated by the analysis of footprints. X-rays of the feet in weight-bearing complete the static analysis of the foot. The footprints and X-rays of the feet allow to obtain a static assessment of the loads applied on the foot. With the evolution of the technology, the EMED system for measuring dynamic foot pressures is appeared. The EMED system with the different clinical applications is described.

The authors present a prospective study on the potential correlations between eight footprint parameters and three radiological parameters in the study of the plantar arch. Seventy nine patients were evaluated in 2001. The eight footprint parameters were as fellows : the arch angle, the Chippaux-Smirak's index, the Quamra's contact index 2,3 and 4, the Schwartz's footprint angle, the Staheli's arch index and the arch length index. The three radiological parameters were as fellows : the Djian-Annonier's angle, the Méary's angle and the calcaneal inclination. This prospective study confirms the best correlation, found in others studies, obtained between the Djian-Annonier's angle and the Chippaux-Smirak. The use of the Méary's angle and the calcaneal inclination is not justified because they have bad correlations with footprint parameters.

Avulsion of the distal biceps brachii tendon at the elbow is uncommon. We analyzed cases operated in our department in order to define etiological factors and surgical treatment outcome.We reviewed retrospectively eleven patients, ten male patients, average age 43 years (range 37-59) with distal biceps tendon ruptures repaired anatomically with a double-incision technique and one other male patient whose tendon was attached to the brachialis anterior. Nine patients were seen for clinical assessment at least two years after operation.Average follow-up was 7 years (range 1-10). Patient satisfaction was good and all stated they would opt for surgical treatment again. The most common mechanism of injury was heavy weight lifting with the elbow at 90 degrees flexion or excentric loading on a flexed elbow. The dominant limb was injured in all patients. Eight patients had sustained injury during domestic activities and three during sports activities. Clinical diagnosis was the rule. MRI was useful in patients seen late after injury. We found nine cases of avulsion located at the bicipital tuberosity. All subjective results were good. Strength testing of the injured limbs revealed a loss of 30% supination strength and 40% supination endurance for the anatomic reinsertions. For the non-anatomic reinsertion, there was a 50% decrease in strength and 60% decrease in endurance. Clinical follow-up after seven years showed no nerve damage or heterotopic bone formation.Anatomic repair of distal biceps tendon rupture provides consistently good results. Attachment of the brachial tendon to the brachial anterior muscle cannot restore supination force. The two-incision technique with the extensor mass-splitting approach described by Boyd and Anderson lessens the risk of radial nerve plasty.Early anatomic reconstruction can restore more strength and endurance for supination. Attachment of the brachialis muscle must be considered in the event of late reconstruction. Subjective satisfaction with functional outcome has been excellent for all patients.

The incidence of the peritalar dislocations has been estimated to be approximately 1% of all dislocations. If they are missed, the consequences are serious and lead to an important surgery of the hindfoot. Lateral dislocation is most rare than medial dislocation. The diagnosis of this lesion often requires X-rays of the foot. The CT-scan allows to confirm the diagnosis and to appreciate the associated intra-articular fracture. The reduction must be realized in urgency under anaesthesia. If the orthopaedic reduction is impossible, the surgery allows to obtain an anatomical reduction with the removal of obstacles and the fixation of the associated intra-articular fractures. The prognosis of this lesion is better if there is an appropriate and rapid treatment.

The SRM6200E is a frequency hopping spread spectrum Ethernet radio modem that operates in the 902 to 928 MHz frequency band. It is based on the SRM6000 radio modem that operates using the same technology. It has a 10baseT interface with a 10baseFL available. The SRM6200E can operate in transparent simplex, half duplex or full duplex modes. In order to increase the throughput efficiency, the SRM6200E learns the MAC addresses on the LAN to which it is connected and forwards only those frames destined for another LAN. Its LAN table stores up to 10000 addresses and is automatically updated. and forwarding is at the maximum theoretical rate of 15000 frames per second (wire speed). The buffer can hold 256 frames with a throughput latency of one frame. Filtering can be disabled for extender or segmented applications, allowing all traffic to flow over the WAN.

A novel serine protease inhibitor peptide family, designated as the 'pacifastin family', has recently been described in insects (locusts, lepidopterans) and crustaceans (crayfish). This study presents the cDNA cloning of two isoforms of SGPP-3, a novel pacifastin-related precursor in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, which codes for three putative inhibitor peptides. The precursor isoforms differ at a single amino acid position in the third, C-terminal peptide. Northern blot analysis confirmed the presence of two different transcripts (0.75 and 0.90 kb). Both transcripts are most abundant in the fat body and appear to be strongly regulated during the moulting cycle. In addition, the amount of transcript proved to be strictly regulated in the ovaries during the female reproductive cycle.

20 to 25% of all the injuries are due to traumas of the knee since forty years. The amount of serious sprains has been in constant increasing during the last four decades. The ratio of one to two in 1960 between and ankle injuries was of six to one in 1987. The inversion of this ratio is probably due to the evolution of technics from 1960 forth, to plastic shoes with thicker soles, to the wrong adjustment of binding and to the higher speed of the skiers thanks to better mending of tracks. The frequency of injury of ligamental structures is higher for the internal lateral ligament and for the anterior cruciate ligament. A valgus associated to internal leg rotation in consequence of blocking of internal edge and of forward falling causes internal lateral ligament injury. The three lesional mechanisms of the anterior cruciate ligament are the valgus connected with external rotation, the anterior draw caused by the shoe in case of backward falling and the association valgus-flexion-internal rotation ("foot-phantom"). These lesions of ligaments are often connected with lesions of the external meniscus and with osseous contusions concerning the external femoral condyle and the external tibial plate.

Schizophrenia patients subjected to the A-X Continuous Performance Test (A-X CPT) show cognitive deficits that are thought to reflect impaired representation and maintenance of context information. An issue deserving attention is to what extent the acute amphetamine model of schizophrenia also models these cognitive deficits. The present experiment examined the effect of acute d-amphetamine (AMP) on the performance of rats in an animal analogue of the A-X CPT. Subjects first learned to solve an A [.arrowright] X+, B [.arrowright] X–, A [.arrowright] Y– discrimination task, with A and B representing visual features; X and Y designating auditory target stimuli; [.arrowright] signifying a serial presentation; and + and – referring to food reinforcement and non reinforcement, respectively. Frequency of food-magazine visits was the dependent measure. After mastering the discrimination, rats received test trials under either saline or 0.5 mg/kg AMP (s.c.). At test, the interval between feature and target presentation was varied; reinforcement contingencies were maintained. AMP significantly impaired performance on the A [.arrowright] X+/B [.arrowright] X– discrimination by increasing the response level on B [.arrowright] X– trials. AMP did not significantly affect performance on the A [.arrowright] X+/A [.arrowright] Y– discrimination. However, AMP also increased magazine responding in the absence of the presentation of features and targets. A parsimonious conclusion based on these preliminary results is that acute AMP does not affect processing of context information provided by the visual features in this procedure. It rather has a more nonspecific response-enhancing effect, especially with respect to stimuli associated with the delivery of food.

The humoral immune response occurring during mycobacterial infections was analysed with an ELISA test based on antigen 60. With tuberculosis, IgM antibodies indicate a primo-infection or a process of reactivation while IgG determinations allow an evaluation of the intensity of the infectious process. The test is also applicable to extrapulmonary tuberculosis, provided its sensitivity be adapted to these particular cases. This is particularly clear for tuberculous meningitis. The test is not species-specific and allows the detection of antibodies in atypical mycobacterioses and in leprosy patients. The final differentiation must be done by clinical examinations and cultures. In leprosy patients, IgM antibodies are detected nearly as frequently as IgG antibodies. In HIV-seropositive patients, the A60 seropositivity is correlated with a reactivation of former tuberculous infections and with primary tuberculous infections. At the AIDS stage, the A-60 seropositivity is due to atypical mycobacteria, with a better IgM than IgG response. Healthy people are negative in serology: the positive cases observed are due to inapparent infections gained by contact with an infectious focus. The seropositive cases observed in non-tuberculous hospitalized patients are restricted to some disease types, essentially lung infections (cystic fibrosis, cancer pneumopathies, sarcoidosis). Some patients have low levels of antibodies. This anergy may be traced to the formation of immune complexes or else to a weak avidity of the specific antibodies produced. This test should not be considered to be a diagnostic tool by itself. It should be used in conjunction with other diagnostic means that, together, allow the determination of a diagnosis.

Physicians most often use the medical literature, discussions with their colleagues, and consultants’ advice to learn of innovations in clinical practice. However, because medical information is growing exponentially, it is increasingly difficult for practitioners to readily access up-to-date, practice-related information from printed material or fellow physicians. As we approach the 21st century, it is evident that physicians can no longer depend upon memory in their attempts to stay current. Services which can aid physicians to utilize and manage medical knowledge, as well as provide networks between colleagues and experts on a day-to-day basis, are critically needed to assist physicians to practice optimal medicine in the 1990s and beyond.1

There is renewed interest in saliva as a “non-invasive” specimen for therapeutic drug monitoring, diagnosis and doping control

The goal of this study was to investigate why GPs have little or no involvement in the medical process relating to any of their patients when they are admitted to a palliative care unit (PCU) and what solutions they suggest. The study took the form of a descriptive pilot study based on a short questionnaire. It emerged that GPs felt their involvement was influenced by their job description, by practical factors (time investment, distance between practice and PCU, remuneration, referral) and personal issues (e.g. dealing with dying). It is concluded that GPs need education in palliative/supportive care and approved remuneration as well as knowledge about their task in the PCU.

We have recently described the formation of Chloroethylamine (CEA) and 1,3-Oxazolidine-2-one (OXAZ) in humans following Ifosfamide (IF) administration † , and have now determined these levels in the plasma of 12 patients, ten of whom received 500 mg oral (o) IF, and two 3 g m−2 intravenous (iv) IF. GC-MS was used to measure IF, CEA and OXAZ. Mean CEA/IF peak ratios were 0.072 (o) and 0.49 (iv) and corresponding values for OXAZ/IF 0.011 (o) and 0.029 (iv). As only equimolar quantities of CEA and OXAZ can be formed from isophosphoramide mustard, the relatively high amount of CEA after iv dosing is generated directly by the hydrolysis of IF. This was confirmed by the detection of 2-chloroethyl-3-hydroxypropylamine, its phosphoric acid ester, and CEA, on incubation of IF solution in vitro at 37 °C. The rate of formation of CEA was consistent with pseudo-first order reaction kinetics. We conclude that significant hydrolysis of IF occurs, both in vivo and in vitro, at 37 °C.

The starting-point of this paper is that the transparency of a large number of managerial decisions is highly obscured by their logical complexity. The logical component of a managerial DSS-generator is outlined. Its main features are a human-oriented propositional formalism and a powerful yet simple intermediate representation scheme. It is indicated how this scheme can be used to introduce pattern recognition techniques.

In a double-blind cross-over study, the effects of slow release (S-R) terbutaline tablets (b.i.d. 0.25 mg/kg per day) and S-R theophylline (5.31 mg/kg morning and 10.62 mg/kg evening) were compared in eleven patients with nocturnal asthma. On day seven of each treatment period, drug serum concentrations and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured every 2h over a 24-h period. During daytime, terbutaline concentrations ranged from 1.6-14.1 (median 4.5) microgram/l and during the night from 2.1-18.7 (median 4.9) micron/l. Theophylline concentrations ranged from 3.9-24.3 (median 11.5) mg/l during the day and from 3.3-20.9 (median 10.4) mg/l at night. Nocturnal wheezing occurred during theophylline treatment in four patients 7 times and during terbutaline treatment in six patients 22 times. Daytime PEF values were 472 +/- 161 l/min during theophylline therapy versus 445 +/- 169 l/min during terbutaline therapy (p less than 0.05). In the night and early morning there was no significant difference between PEF values with the two treatment forms. During theophylline treatment, fewer inhalations of beta 2-sympathomimetics were used, and there were fewer side effects. One patient experienced severe asthmatic attacks during the terbutaline treatment period. The patients preferred theophylline for the treatment of nocturnal asthma.

This research was designed to construct an instrument, the Teacher Role Survey, to measure teachers* expectancies for internal or external control of important aspects of the work of teaching. Items were composed for initial trial based on 14 areas which past research has shown to be important satisfiers in teaching. The 75 items in the initial pool were administered to 321 teachers of varied teaching levels and years of experience who were enrolled in graduate courses in education. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was administered as a measure of the influence of a generalized attitude of social desirability on item responding. Correlations of individual items with social desirability clustered around zero. Therefore, no items were eliminated because of susceptibility to the influence of social desirability . Based on the correlation with total score, 32 items were selected for inclusion in the final form of the Teacher Role Survey. Of the seven major logically construed categories or...

This study compares the subject matter acquisition of a lecture-discussion group and a game-playing group in a graduate course in personality theory. The performance of the group which played only two personality theory games during the five-week summer session was at least as good as that of a lecture-discussion group attending the same session. An additional, unanticipated gain for the game-playing group was consistently high motivational level and esprit de corps.