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Theory and empirical evidence suggest that those with higher posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and better attentional control (i.e., the strategic control of higher-order executive attention in regulating bottom-up, stimulus driven responses to prepotent stimuli; Sarapas et al., 2017) can use that ability to disengage and shift attention away from threat stimuli and reduce threat-related attentional dysregulation (i.e., avoidance/overcontrollers). Those with relatively worse attentional control lack the requisite resources to do this, leading to prolonged attentional engagement with threat stimuli and threat-related attention dysregulation (i.e., maintenance/undercontrollers). Given that attentional control is a limited resource, strategic avoidance of threat information or reduced threat-related attention dysregulation may not be possible among those with relatively higher attentional control when cognitive load is relatively high. To test this hypothesis, the interaction between PTS symptoms, attentional control, and cognitive load was examined as a predictor of threat-related attentional bias and threat-related attention bias variability. Participants (N = 125 undergraduate students) were randomly assigned to high or low load conditions. Participants completed self-report measures of PTS symptoms, a behavioral measure of attentional control, and a novel task that assessed threat-related attentional bias via eye movements and threat-related attention bias variability via button press. The results of a series of hierarchical regressions showed that attentional control moderated the relationship between PTS symptoms and threat-related attention bias variability in the low, but not high, load condition. This moderation effect was not observed for threat-related attentional bias assessed via eye-tracking. Consistent with theory, under conditions of higher cognitive load, overcontrollers may not be able to use attentional control to consistently regulate threat-related attention. Study findings suggest that it may be important to consider contextual factors that increase cognitive load, as well as individual differences in attentional control, when developing attention bias modification interventions to reduce PTS symptomatology.

In the Spare-the-Nephron (STN) Study, kidney transplant recipients randomized about 115 days posttransplant to convert from CNI (calcineurin inhibitor)/MMF to sirolimus (SRL)/MMF had a significantly greater improvement in measured GFR (mGFR) at 12 months compared with those kept on CNI/MMF. The difference at 24 months was not statistically significant. From 14 top enrolling centers, 128 of 175 patients identified with a functioning graft at 2 years consented to enroll in an observational, noninterventional extension study to collect retrospectively and prospectively annual follow-up data for the interval since baseline (completion of the parent STN study at 24 months posttransplant). Overall, 11 patients died, including 5 (7.6%) in the SRL/MMF group and 6 (9.7%) in the CNI/MMF group. Twenty-two grafts have been lost including 10 (15.2%) in the SRL/MMF arm and 12 (19.4%) in the CNI/MMF arm. Death and chronic rejection were the most common causes of graft loss in both arms. There were modestly more cardiovascular events in the MMF/SRL group. Estimated creatinine clearance (Cockcroft-Gault) from baseline out to 6 additional years (8 years posttransplant, ITT analysis, SRL/MMF, n = 34; CNI/MMF, n = 26) was 63.2 ± 28.5 mL/min/1.73 m in the SRL/MMF group and 59.2 ± 27.2 mL/min/1.73 m in the CNI/MMF group and was not statistically significant, but there is a clinically meaningful trend for improved long-term renal function in the SRL/MMF group compared with the CNI/MMF group. The long-term decision for immunosuppression needs to be carefully individualized.

Individual differences in attentional control may explain null findings and inconsistent patterns of threat-related attentional bias (ABT) that are common in the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) literature. At Time 1 (T1), trauma-exposed community participants (N = 89) completed a clinical interview, self-report measures, and an eye-tracking task developed to assess ABT. Participants completed follow-up assessments online 6 (T2) and 12 (T3) months later. Those with higher PTSD symptoms and deficits in attentional control exhibited a pattern of undercontrol, characterized by attention maintenance on threat and increased arousal. In contrast, those with higher PTSD symptoms and relatively better attentional control exhibited a pattern of overcontrol, characterized by threat avoidance and reduced arousal. These effects were specific to threat stimuli. Among PTSD symptom clusters, symptoms of hyperarousal were of central importance to the observed effects. Results from the longitudinal analysis indicate that both of these patterns of ABT are maladaptive, resulting in symptom maintenance at T2 and T3. These results have implications for (a) reconciling tensions between disparate models of ABT (i.e., vigilance-avoidance vs. attention maintenance), (b) precision medicine based approaches to targeting PTSD-related ABT, and (c) understanding the transdiagnostic role that attentional control may play in influencing ABT expression.

OBJECTIVE: Research on biases in attention related to children’s aggression has yielded mixed results. Some research suggests that inattention to social cues and reliance on maladaptive social schemas underlie aggression. Other research suggests that maladaptive social schemas lead aggressive individuals to attend to non-hostile cues. The primary objective of this study was to test the proposition that aggression is related todelayed attention to cuesfollowed by selective attention to non-hostile cues after the provocation has occurred. A second objective was to test whether these biases are associated with aggression only when children hold negative social schemas. METHOD: The eye fixations of seventy children (34 boys; 36 girls; M(age) =11.71 years) were monitored with an eye tracker as they watched video clips of child actors portraying scenes of ambiguous provocation. Aggression was measured using peer-, teacher-, and parent-reports, and children completed a measure of antisocial and prosocial peer beliefs. RESULTS: Aggressive behavior was associated withgreater time until fixation on the provocateur among youth who held antisocial peer beliefs. Aggression was also associated with greater time until fixation onan actor displaying empathy for the victim among children reporting low levels of prosocial peer beliefs. After the provocation, aggression was associated with suppressed attention to an amused peer among children who held negative peer beliefs. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing attention to cues in a scene of ambiguous provocation, in conjunction with fostering more positive beliefs about peers, may be effective in reducing hostile responding among aggressive youth.

As approximately one-third of peer-victimized children evidence heightened aggression (Schwartz, Proctor, & Chien, 2001), it is imperative to identify the circumstances under which victimization and aggression co-develop. The current study explored two potential moderators of victimization–aggression linkages: (a) attentional bias toward cues signaling threat and (b) attentional bais toward cues communicating interpersonal support. Seventy-two fifth- and sixth-grade children (34 boys; Mage = 11.67) were eye tracked while watching video clips of bullying. Each scene included a bully, a victim, a reinforcer, and a defender. Children's victimization was measured using peer, parent, and teacher reports. Aggression was measured using peer reports of overt and relational aggression and teacher reports of aggression. Victimization was associated with greater aggression at high levels of attention to the bully. Victimization was also associated with greater aggression at low attention to the defender for boys, but at high attention to the defender for girls. Attention to the victim was negatively correlated with aggression regardless of victimization history. Thus, attentional biases to social cues integral to the bullying context differentiate whether victimization is linked to aggression, necessitating future research on the development of these biases and concurrent trajectories of sociobehavioral development.

The subgenus Sidonis Mulsant, 1850 is elevated to generic status and two new species from Brazil are described and illustrated: Sidonis bira sp. nov. and Sidonis biguttata sp. nov. New geographic distribution records are provided. In addition, lectotypes of Sidonis consanguinea (Mulsant, 1850) and S. guttata (Sicard, 1912) are designated. Illustrations of diagnostic characters from five of six species of the genus, comments on the differences from similar species and a key to all recognized taxa are included.

DELLACASAM., DELLACASA G., GORDONR. D. 2011.Cephalocyclus pseudofuliginosus new species from Mexico (Oaxaca) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae). Acta zoologica cracoviensia, 54B(1-2): 31-36. Abstract. The new speciesCephalocyclus pseudofuliginosus fromOaxaca (Mexico) is described and figured. A key to species of Cephalocyclus M. DELLACASA, GORDON & G. DELLACASA, 1998 is presented.

Received: 10 September 2010 Accepted: 15 March 2011 DELLACASA M., DELLACASA G., GORDON R. D., STEBNICKA Z. T. 2011. Skelleyanus eremita new genus and new species of Mexican Aphodiini (Coleoptera: Aphodiidae). Acta zoologica cracoviensia, 54B(1-2): 1-4. Abstract. The new genus and new species Skelleyanus eremita fromMexico (Sinaloa) are described and figured.

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of scene context on rapid object recognition using both behavioral and electrophysiological measures. Participants performed an animal/non-animal go/no-go categorization task in which they had to decide whether or not a flashed scene contained an animal. Moreover, the influence of scene context was manipulated either by retaining, deleting, or phase-randomizing the original scene background. The results of Experiments 1 and 2 showed that participants responded more accurately and quickly to objects appearing with their original scene backgrounds. Moreover, the event-related potential (ERP) data obtained from Experiment 2 showed that the onset latency of the frontal go/no-go ERP difference was delayed for objects appearing with phase-randomized scene backgrounds compared to objects appearing with their original scene backgrounds, providing direct evidence that scene context facilitates object recognition. Additionally, an increased frontal negativity along with a decreased late positive potential for processing objects presented in meaningless scene backgrounds suggest that the categorization task becomes more demanding when scene context is eliminated. Together, the results of the current study are consistent with previous research showing that scene context modulates object processing.

Currently used immunosuppressants exacerbate cardiovascular risk. However, attempts to limit the use of these agents increase the risk of allograft rejection. Immunosuppressants targeting signal 2 and signal 3 lymphocyte activation pathways are under clinical development. Clinical data from trials of the Janus family protein tyrosine kinase-3 inhibitor tasocitinib and the costimulation blocker belatacept are presented. Additional pipeline agents are described. Results from two phase III clinical trials of belatacept revealed efficacy that is not inferior to that provided by cyclosporine (CsA). In the Belatacept Evaluation of Nephroprotection and Efficacy as First-line Immunosuppression Trial enrolling recipients of standard criteria living or deceased donor organs, the risk of rejection was higher among patients treated with a more intensive treatment regimen. Increased risk of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder, particularly among Epstein-Barr virus-patients, was a notable adverse event. Data from a phase II trial of tasocitinib suggested good prophylaxis of rejection. Safety signals included increased risk of infection and potential myelosuppression, leading to anemia, neutropenia, and leukopenia. Both belatacept and tasocitinib were associated with a low cardiovascular risk profile and improved renal function compared with CsA. New immunosuppressive regimens should maintain the effectiveness provided by current agents while preserving renal function and cardiovascular health. Surveillance for new adverse events must be an integral part of the long-term management strategy.

In three experiments, we investigated transsaccadic object file representations. In each experiment, participants moved their eyes from a central fixation cross to a saccade target located between two peripheral objects. During the saccade, this preview display was replaced with a target display containing a single object to be named. On trials in which the target identity matched one of the preview objects, its color either matched or did not match the previewed object color. The results indicated that color changes disrupt perceptual continuity, but only for the class of objects for which color is diagnostic of object identity. When the color is not integral to identifying an object (for example, when the object is a letter or an object without a characteristic color), object continuity is preserved regardless of changes to the object's color. These results suggest that object features that are important for defining the object are incorporated into its episodic representation. Furthermore, the results are consistent with previous work showing that the quality of a feature's representation determines its importance in preserving continuity.

The present study examined influences of semantic characteristics of objects in real-world scenes on allocation of attention as reflected in eye movement measures. Stimuli consisted of full-color photographic scenes, and within each scene, the semantic salience of two target objects was manipulated while the objects’ perceptual salience was kept constant. One of the target objects was either inconsistent or consistent with the scene category. In addition, the second target object was either smoking-related or neutral. Two groups of college students, namely current cigarette smokers (N = 18) and non-smokers (N = 19), viewed each scene for ten seconds while their eye movements were recorded. While both groups showed preferential allocation of attention to inconsistent objects, smokers also selectively attended to smoking-related objects. Theoretical implications of the results are discussed.

Type specimens of Hinda in the Zoologisches Museum der Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany, and other institutions were studied. Lectotypes and paralectotypes of Hinda quindecimmaculata Weise (1895) and of H. modesta Weise (1910) are designated. An error by Almeida and Milléo (2000) in designating a lectotype for Hinda regularis Erichson (1847) is corrected. Known geographical distributions of H. modesta and H. humerata are expanded.

El género Cephalocyclus Dellacasa M., Gordon & Dellacasa G. es revisado por primera vez. Se describen diez nuevas especies: Cephalocyclus bordati, C. carmenae, C. cartagoensis, C. costaricensis, C. halffteri, C. howdenorum, C. lagoi, C. ordonezi, C. potosinus, and C. rockefelleri. Aphodius luteolus Horn, 1887 es transferido al género Cephalocyclus; Aphodius pugil Balthasar, 1946 resulta ser una sinonimia menor de Cephalocyclus durangoensis (Bates, 1887) y Aphodius transversus Robinson, 1940 resultó una sinonimia menor de Cephalocyclus hogei (Bates,1887). Se presenta una clave para las 21 especies conocidas de Cephalocyclus así como las descripciones e ilustraciones de todos los taxones.

Previous research has shown that trait anger is associated with biases in attention and interpretation, but the temporal relation between these two types of biases remains unresolved. Indeed, two very different models can be derived from the literature. One model proposes that interpretation biases emerge from earlier biases in attention, whereas the other model proposes that hostile interpretations occur quickly, even prior to the allocation of attention to specific cues. Within the context of integrated visual scenes of ambiguously intended harm, the two models make opposite predictions that can be examined using an eye-tracking methodology. The present study (N = 45) therefore tracked participants’ allocation of attention to hostile and non-hostile cues in ambiguous visual scenes, and found support for the idea that high anger individuals make early hostile interpretations prior to encoding hostile and non-hostiles cues. The data are important in understanding associations between trait anger and cognitive biases.

Pseudogonaphodiellus zdzislawae, new genus and new species of Mexican Aphodiini, is described and figured.

The genus Liothorax Motschulsky, 1859 is herein reviewed and considered to consist of 10 species. A key to species and diagnoses of each species are given to facilitate identification. Based on the study of type material, Aphodius bytinskisalzi Petrovitz, 1971 is placed as a junior synonym of A. isikdagensis Balthasar, 1952 and Aphodius nigroclavus Hinton, 1934 is placed as a junior synonym of A. levatus Schmidt, 1907. A lectotype is designated for A. levatus Schmidt, 1907. The following new combinations are formulated: Liothorax alternatus (Horn, 1870), Liothorax consociatus (Horn, 1887), Liothorax isikdagensis (Balthasar, 1952), Liothorax kraatzi (Harold, 1868), Liothorax levatus (Schmidt, 1907), Liothorax rusakovi (Gusakov, 2004), and Liothorax subaeneus (LeConte, 1857).

The genus Liothorax Motschulsky, 1859 is herein reviewed and considered to consist of 10 species. A key to species and diagnoses of each species are given to facilitate identification. Based on the study of type material, Aphodius bytinskisalzi Petrovitz, 1971 is placed as a junior synonym of A. isikdagensis Balthasar, 1952 and Aphodius nigroclavus Hinton, 1934 is placed as a junior synonym of A. levatus Schmidt, 1907. A lectotype is designated for A. levatus Schmidt, 1907. The following new combinations are formulated: Liothorax alternatus (Horn, 1870), Liothorax consociatus (Horn, 1887), Liothorax isikdagensis (Balthasar, 1952), Liothorax kraatzi (Harold, 1868), Liothorax levatus (Schmidt, 1907), Liothorax rusakovi (Gusakov, 2004), and Liothorax subaeneus (LeConte, 1857).

Aims: Pharmacokinetic studies of the immunosuppressive compound mycophenolic acid (MPA) have shown a structural decrease in clearance (CL) over time after renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to characterize the time-dependent CL of MPA by means of a population pharmacokinetic meta-analysis, and to test whether it can be described by covariate effects. Methods: One thousand eight hundred and ninety-four MPA concentration-time profiles from 468 renal transplant patients (range 1-9 profiles per patient) were analyzed retrospectively by nonlinear mixed effect modelling. Sampling occasions ranged from day 1-10 years after transplantation. Results: The pharmacokinetics of MPA were described by a two-compartment model with time-lagged first order absorption, and a first-order term for time-dependent CL. The model predicted the mean CL to decrease from 35 l h-1(CV = 44%) in the first week after transplantation to 17 l h-1(CV = 38%) after 6 months. In a covariate model without a term for time-dependent CL, changes during the first 6 months after transplantation in creatinine clearance from 19 to 71 ml min-1, in albumin concentration from 35 to 40 g l-1, in haemoglobin from 9.7 to 12 g dl-1and in cyclosporin predose concentration from 225 to 100 ng ml-1corresponded with a decrease of CL from 32 to 19 l h-1. Creatinine clearance, albumin concentration, haemoglobin and cyclosporin predose concentration explained, respectively, 19%, 12%, 4% and 3% of the within-patient variability in MPA CL. Conclusions: By monitoring creatinine clearance, albumin concentration, haemoglobin and cyclosporin predose concentration, changes in MPA exposure over time can be predicted. Such information can be used to optimize therapy with mycophenolate mofetil.

The allocation of organs and the optimal form of postoperative management are two of the most important issues in renal transplantation. On 1 January 1986, a system for equitable deployment of cadaveric organs was put into place at the University of Pittsburgh Transplantation Center [1]. The system provided merit points for time waiting, quality of antigen match, degree of presensitization as reflected by a preformed antibody analysis (PRA), medical urgency, and logistical factors which would add to the risk by increasing preservation time. The point system was a step toward avoiding ad hoc decisions about who would receive a given kidney and a movement toward computerization in selection. Ultimately, the foregoing point system was adopted essentially without change for national use by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), a private and previously voluntary organization which had been given by law the responsibility for developing a distribution scheme. However, the influence of such a system which systemically assures equitable access for all patients, including those at high medical and immunologic risk, has never been assessed. It is our intention to analyze here our experience with the point system, with particular reference to the effect of immunosuppressive regimens.

Large between- and within-patient variability has been observed in the pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid (MPA). However, conflicting results exist about the influence of patient characteristics that explain the variability in MPA exposure. This population pharmacokinetic meta-analysis of MPA in renal transplant recipients was performed to explore whether race, renal function, albumin level, delayed graft function, diabetes, and co-medication are determinants of total MPA exposure. A total of 13,346 MPA concentration-time data points from 468 renal transplant patients who participated in six clinical studies were combined and analyzed retrospectively. Sampling occasions ranged from day 1 after transplantation to 10 yr after transplantation. Concentration-time data were analyzed with nonlinear mixed-effect modeling. Exposure to total MPA, as determined by MPA clearance, significantly increased with increasing renal function, albumin level, and hemoglobin as well as decreasing cyclosporine predose level (P

The present study investigated the safety of induction therapy with daclizumab (compared with no induction treatment), in adult renal transplant patients reported to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) database between January 1, 1998 and July 27, 2003. Patients who were discharged from the hospital on mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, or sirolimus were divided into two groups: induction treatment with daclizumab (n = 8203) and no induction treatment (n = 25,368). Patient survival, death due to infection and death due to malignancy were evaluated at 1 and 3 yr post-transplantation. Rejection and graft survival were also examined. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used to evaluate outcomes. No significant differences were found between patients treated with daclizumab compared with patients who received no induction therapy for death due to infection or malignancy at 1 and 3 yr post-transplantation. Patients treated with daclizumab (compared with no induction treatment) had statistically significantly better survival rates at 1 (96.9% vs. 96.2%, p = 0.003) and 3 yr (92.4% vs. 91.4%, p = 0.004) although absolute differences were minimal. This was confirmed in the multivariable Cox regression analysis for patient death at 1 (HR = 0.77, p < 0.001) and 3 yr (HR = 0.83, p = 0.001) post-transplantation. Patients treated with daclizumab compared to no induction had lower rejection rates at 1 (13.1% vs. 17.3%, p < 0.001) and 3 yr post-transplantation (16.7% vs. 21.3%, p < 0.001). Cox regression confirmed a decreased risk for rejection at 1 (HR = 0.74, p < 0.001) and 3 yr (HR = 0.75, p < 0.001). Treatment with daclizumab was associated with reduced risk for graft loss at 1 (HR = 0.82, p < 0.001) and 3 years (HR = 0.86, p < 0.001). In conclusion, daclizumab was associated with a significantly reduced risk for rejection and graft loss compared with no induction treatment, and improved patient survival. In addition, daclizumab was not associated with an increase in risk of death due to infection or malignancy, when compared with no induction therapy. These findings demonstrate the short and long-term safety and efficacy of daclizumab in patients transplanted between January 1998 and July 2003.

This study reports the 36-month results of a randomized, double-blind, active-controlled trial of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) vs azathioprine (AZA) in heart transplant patients.Patients were randomized at the time of transplant to receive MMF (1,500 mg twice a day, N = 327) or AZA (1.5 to 3 mg/kg in 4 daily doses, N = 323) in addition to cyclosporine and corticosteroids; 289 patients in each group received study drug. Data were analyzed in all randomized patients (enrolled) and in patients who received study medications (treated). Clinical and graft assessments continued for 36 months.For the co-primary end-point, 53 of 289 (18.3%) AZA-treated patients either died or received another transplant compared with 34 of 289 (11.8%) MMF-treated patients (p0.01). Time to re-transplantation or patient death was significantly shorter for AZA- than MMF-treated patients (p = 0.029). In patients undergoing intravascular ultrasound, the change in mean maximal intimal thickness was less for the MMF group than for the AZA group (0.06 +/- 0.03 mm vs 0.13 +/- 0.03 mm, respectively; p = 0.056). No significant differences between treatments were observed in quantitative coronary angiographic measurements of transplant coronary vasculopathy. Congestive heart failure, atrial arrhythmia and leukopenia were more common in the AZA group, whereas diarrhea, esophagitis, Herpes simplex, Herpes zoster and cytomegalovirus (CMV) tissue invasion were more common in MMF-treated patients.MMF reduces mortality and graft loss up to 36 months after transplantation.

Background. Sparse published data exist on outcomes in daclizumab-treated cardiac transplant patients. One trial observed an increased mortality risk 6 and 12 months posttransplant in patients receiving daclizumab plus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), cyclosporine, and steroids. This study further investigates the safety profile of daclizumab with this same immunosuppressive regimen from a large registry. Methods. Data obtained at hospital discharge on all adult cardiac transplants performed in the USA between January 1998 and October 2003 for patients receiving MMF plus cyclosporine and steroids were accessed from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Patients were selected based on induction treatment: daclizumab (n = 684) or no induction (n = 2525). Outcomes were evaluated at 6 months, 12 months, and 3 years posttransplant. Univariate Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox models were used to evaluate the effect of treatment on outcomes. Patient survival and infectious death were the primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included rejection within the first year posttransplant (acute rejection; AR) and total rejection episodes over time. The two treatment groups shared similar demographics and transplant procedure details. Results. Daclizumab (vs no induction) patients had no increased risk of patient death nor infectious death. Daclizumab patients had a lower incidence of AR at 6 months (P = .005) and 12 months (P

The variable impact of specific risk factors on survival outcomes based on pre-transplantation diagnosis was analyzed in adult liver transplant recipients reported to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients: 778 with hepatitis B (HBV), 3463 with hepatitis C (HCV) and 7429 without viral hepatitis. Graft and patient survival for the HBV and no viral hepatitis groups did not differ significantly. The HCV group had significantly lower graft (p = 0.0019) and patient survival (p0.0001) than the no viral hepatitis group. Patient survival was significantly lower (p = 0.0011) for HCV compared to HBV patients; differences in graft survival approached significance (p = 0.0561). Donor age, which was not a risk factor in patients with HBV, was the strongest predictor of graft loss and death in patients with HCV, starting with donors40 years. Donor age60 years was the strongest predictor of graft loss and death in patients without viral hepatitis. The risks of graft loss and death were reduced for patients on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression with mycophenolate mofetil, regardless of disease etiology. There are clear differences in risk factors for poor outcomes based on underlying liver disease, particularly with regard to the impact of donor age.

To evaluate the association between a regimen of cyclosporine microemulsion (CsA) + sirolimus (Rapa) treatment versus CsA and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and renal allograft survival, we analyzed 23 016 primary recipients reported to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients between January 1, 1998 and July 26, 2003. Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models correcting for demographic and clinical covariates were used to estimate the relative risks for CsA+Rapa versus CsA+MMF-treated patients reaching study endpoints. Subgroup analyses were conducted for recipient ethnicity and donor type. CsA+Rapa was associated with significantly lower graft survival (74.6% vs. 79.3% at 4 years, p = 0.002) and death-censored graft survival (83.7% vs. 87.2%, p = 0.003) compared to CsA+MMF. In multivariate analyses, CsA+Rapa was associated with a significantly increased risk for graft loss, death-censored graft loss and decline in renal function (HR = 1.22, p = 0.002; HR = 1.22, p = 0.018 and HR = 1.25, p < 0.001, respectively). Similar results were obtained in recipient ethnicity and donor type subgroups. In summary, CsA+Rapa was associated with significantly worse graft survival and death-censored graft survival compared to CsA+MMF, and likely reflects full-dose CsA +Rapa. Outcomes regarding alternative strategies of Rapa utilization with reduced CsA, with alternative agents or with no calcineurin inhibitor cannot be extrapolated from these data.

The genus Thalassa Mulsant, 1850 is revised. Its five species are redescribed: T. pentaspilota (Chevrolat, 1853), T. flaviceps Mulsant, 1850, T. similaris Mulsant, 1850, T. montezumae Mulsant, 1850, and T. glauca (Mulsant, 1850). A new species is proposed, Thalassa korschefskyi sp.nov., from Colombia. The species are illustrated and a key to species is also provided. Lectotype of Thalassa reyi Mulsant, 1850 is here designated.Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) da América do Sul. Parte X: Revisão sistemática de Thalassa Mulsant (Hyperaspidinae). O gênero Thalassa Mulsant, 1850 é revisado. Suas cinco espécies são redescritas: T. pentaspilota (Chevrolat, 1853), T. flaviceps Mulsant, 1850, T. similaris Mulsant, 1850, T. montezumae Mulsant, 1850 e T. glauca (Mulsant, 1850). Uma nova espécie é proposta, Thalassa korschefskyi sp. nov., da Colômbia. São fornecidas ilustrações e chave para as espécies. O lectótipo de Thalassa reyi Mulsant, 1850 é aqui designado.

Background. To evaluate the association of long-term continuous mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) versus azathioprine (AZA) therapy and renal allograft function, as measured by the slope of reciprocal creatinine, we analyzed 49,666 primary renal allograft recipients reported to the United States Renal Data System between October 31, 1988 and June 30, 1998. Methods. The primary study endpoint was defined as a greater than 20% decrease below a 6-month baseline of 1/serum creatinine (SCr) (slope of reciprocal creatinine) at or beyond 1 year after transplantation. A secondary endpoint was defined as reaching an SCr value greater than 1.6 mg/dL. Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the risk of reaching the study endpoints. Multivariate analyses were corrected for potential confounding covariates. Results. According to the Cox proportional hazard model, 12-month continued therapy of MMF versus AZA was associated with a protective effect against declining renal function, as measured by the slope of reciprocal creatinine (relative risk [RR]=0.84, confidence interval 0.78-0.91, P

To evaluate the association of long-term continuous (minimum 1 year) mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) vs. azathioprine (AZA) therapy with the incidence of late acute rejection, we analyzed 47 693 primary renal allograft recipients reported to the United States Renal Data System between 1988 and 1998. The primary study endpoint was acute rejection beyond 1 year after transplantation. Univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate the risk of reaching the study endpoints. All multivariate analyses were corrected for potential confounding covariates. Mycophenolate mofetil was associated with a 65% decreased risk of developing late acute rejection as compared to AZA (RR = 0.35, CI 0.27-0.45, p < 0.001). The incidence of acute rejection episodes at 2 and 3 years post-transplantation was significantly lower in the MMF group (0.9% at 2 years, 1.1% at 3 years) than the AZA group (6.1% at 2 years, 9.3% at 3 years). In the primary vs. repeat late rejection analysis, MMF patients exhibited a decreased late acute rejection risk of 72% (RR = 0.28, p < 0.001) and 60%, respectively (RR = 0.40, p < 0.001). In African Americans, the late acute rejection risk was 70% lower in MMF patients than AZA patients (RR = 0.30, p < 0.001). Further study is indicated to determine the optimal duration of MMF therapy after renal allograft transplantation.

Species of Aphodius described or recorded by Bates (1887, 1889) in the Biologia Centrali-Americana are discussed, resulting in some new combinations or new status as follows: Aphodius dugesi Bates, 1887 = Diapterna dugesi (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius sallei Harold, 1863 = Agrilinus sallei (Harold, 1863) n. comb.; Aphodius lansbergei Harold, 1874 = Agrilinus lansbergei (Harold, 1874) n. comb.; Aphodius indutilis Harold, 1874 = Agrilinus indutilis (Harold, 1874) n. comb.; Aphodius azteca Harold, 1863 = Agrilinus (s. l.) azteca (Harold, 1863) n. comb.; Aphodius oleosus Harold, 1871 = Pharaphodius (s. l.) oleosus (Harold, 1871) n. comb.; Aphodius innexus Say, 1835 = Liothorax innexus (Say, 1835) n. comb.; Aphodius cruentatus LeConte, 1878 = Agoliinus (s. l.) cruentatus (LeConte, 1878) n. comb.; Aphodius glyptus Bates, 1887 = Trichonotuloides glyptus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius latecrenatus Bates, 1887 = Trichonotuloides latecrenatus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius euprosopus Bates, 1887 = Agrilinus (s. l.) azteca ab. euprosopus (Bates, 1887) n. stat. and n. comb.; Aphodius constricticollis Bates, 1889 = Imelda constricticollis (Bates, 1889) n. comb.; Aphodius opisthius Bates, 1887 (new name for Aphodius duplex Bates, 1887) = Gonaphodiellus opisthius (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius panamensis Harold, 1859 = Aidophus panamensis (Harold, 1859) n. comb. [Didactyliini]; Aphodius guatemalensis Bates, 1887 = Blackburneus (s. l.) guatemalensis (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius guatemalensis var. scotinus Bates, 1887 = Blackburneus (s. l.) guatemalensis ab. scotinus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius guatemalensis var. chiriquinus Bates, 1887 = Blackburneus (s. l.) guatemalensis ab. chiriquinus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius charmionus Bates, 1887 = Blackburneus (s. l.) charmionus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius diminutus Bates, 1887 = Blackburneus (s. l.) diminutus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius erythrinus Bates, 1887 = Blackburneus (s. l.) erythrinus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius xanthus Bates, 1887 = Blackburneus (s. l.) xanthus (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius larreae Horn, 1887 (senior synonym of Aphodius bifrons Bates, 1887) = Drepanocanthoides larreae (Horn, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius hogei Bates, 1887 = Cephalocyclus hogei (Bates, 1887) n. comb.; Aphodius hogei var. durangoensis Bates, 1887 = Cephalocyclus durangoensis (Bates, 1887) n. stat. and n. comb. Moreover, the new combination for Aphodius pseudolividus Balthasar, 1941 is Labarrus pseudolividus (Balthasar, 1941). The new genus Imelda is described with Aphodius constricticollis as the type species. Aphodius (Trichonotuloides) fossulatipennis Balthasar, 1945 is considered a junior synonym of Trichonotuloides latecrenatus (Bates, 1887); and Aphodius omiltemius Bates, 1889 is placed as a junior synonym of Cephalocyclus mexicanus (Harold, 1862). Lectotypes and paralectotypes are designated where necessary.

SUMMARY Estimates of national population were studied in two experiments. In Experiment 1, Canadian and Chinese undergraduates rated their knowledge of 112 countries and then estimated the population of each. In Experiment 2, Canadians rated their knowledge of 52 countries and then provided population estimates for these primed countries and for a comparable set of 52 unprimed countries. In Experiment 1, participants from both nations produced estimates that resembled those obtained from Americans in prior studies (Brown and Siegler, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2001). However, there were several reliable cross-national differences in performance which appear to reflect cross-cultural differences in task-relevant naive domain knowledge. In addition, both experiments produced findings consistent with the claim that availability-based intuitions play an important role in this task. In Experiment 1, cross-national differences in rated knowledge predicted cross-national differences in estimated population; in Experiment 2, primed country names elicited larger population estimates than unprimed country names. We conclude by arguing for the general utility of this hybrid approach to real-world estimation. Copyright # 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Recent research has found visual object memory can be stored as part of a larger scene representation rather than independently of scene context. The present study examined how spatial and nonspatial contextual information modulate visual object memory. Two experiments tested participants’ visual memory by using a change detection task in which a target object’s orientation was either the same as it appeared during initial viewing or changed. In addition, we examined the effect of spatial and nonspatial contextual manipulations on change detection performance. The results revealed that visual object representations can be maintained reliably after viewing arrays of objects. Moreover, change detection performance was significantly higher when either spatial or nonspatial contextual information remained the same in the test image. We concluded that while processing complex visual stimuli such as object arrays, visual object memory can be stored as part of a comprehensive scene representation, and both spatial and nonspatial contextual changes modulate visual memory retrieval and comparison.

While previous studies suggest that identity, but not color, plays a role in episodic object representation, such studies have typically used tasks in which only identity is relevant, raising the possibility that the results reflect task demands, rather than the general principles that underlie object representation. In the present study, participants viewed a preview display containing one (Experiments 1 and 2) or two (Experiment 3) letters, then viewed a target display containing a single letter, in either the same or a different location. Participants executed an immediate saccade to fixate the target; saccade latency served as the dependent variable. In all experiments, saccade latencies were longer to fixate a target appearing in its previewed location, consistent with a bias to attend to new objects rather than to objects for which episodic representations are being maintained in visual working memory. The results of Experiment 3 further demonstrate, however, that changing target color eliminates these latency differences. The results suggest that color and identity are part of episodic representation even when not task relevant and that examining biases in saccade execution may be a useful approach to studying episodic representation.

The genus Leiopsammodius Rakovic is reviewed for America north of Mexico. Three new species are described and a key is provided to the four currently known species; Leiopsammodius acei, new species from coastal North and South Carolina, L. ocmulgeei, new species from Georgia, and L. deyrupi, new species and L. malkini (Cartwright) both from Florida. Publication funded in part by the Patricia Vaurie bequest.

The lectotype of Aphodius (Platyderides) pullatus A. Schmidt, 1913 is designated, the new combination is established and the redescription, supported by iconographical coverage, is supplied. A peculiar character of male Cephalocyclus mexicanus (Haroid, 1863), is recorded. The new synonymy of Aphodius (Agrilinus) freyi Balthasar, 1941 versus Aphodius sallei Haroid, 1863 is ascertained on the basis of study of the types.

In the present work, the tweive Mexican species of Aphodiini described by Haroid (azteca, flavocinctus, fuliginosus, gravidus, indutilis, lansbergei, luridiventris, mexicanas, oleosus, puncticeps, sallei and villosipes) are redescribed and illustrated with modern criteria based on the study of type material, leclotypes are aiso designated, The new genus Cephalocyclus is proposed for fuliginosus (type species), gravidus, luridiventris, mexicanus, puncticeps and villosipes. The taxonomia position of the remaining species-group taxa is aiso discussed in remarks.

The eyes make rapid, saccadic movements from point to point in space several times each second. It is generally assumed that some mental representation of the visual environment is maintained across eye movements in a trans-saccadic memory. We examined the role of attention in the encoding of information into trans-saccadic memory using a partial report procedure. A letter array was presented in one fixation, then a bar marker probed report of one array position after a saccade was made to a new location. Accuracy was high for positions that subjects had been told to attend to, but it was also high for positions near the saccade target, even if subjects had been instructed to attend elsewhere. These results indicate that attention determines what information is encoded into trans-saccadic memory and hence remembered across eye movements. Because attention automatically precedes the eyes to the saccade target location, information near the saccade target is likely to be encoded. The results are discussed i...

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a newly described RNA virus that is parenterally transmitted and has been found frequently in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. To determine the impact of hepatitis G virus co-infection on morbidity and mortality following liver transplantation, we measured HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction in pre and posttransplantation sera from a cohort of patients transplanted for chronic hepatitis C and a control group of patients transplanted for nonviral causes who were negative for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum. The overall prevalence rate of HGV RNA in transplanted patients with chronic hepatitis C was 20.7%. HGV infection was present before transplantation in 13% while it appeared to have been acquired at the time of transplantation in 7.4%. Mean serum alanine aminotransferase activity, hepatic histological activity, and patient and graft survival were similar between HGV-positive and HGV-negative patients. The prevalence rate of HGV RNA in transplanted controls was 64% (P < .01) with a significantly higher rate of acquisition of HGV infection following transplantation (53%, P < .001) when compared with patients with chronic hepatitis C. Mean serum alanine aminotransferase activity was significantly lower in the control patients with HGV infection alone following transplantation than in patients co-infected with hepatitis C (37 ± 9 vs. 70 ± 33 U/L, P < .01). Thus, HGV is frequently found in transplantation patients co-infected with hepatitis C although it appears to have minimal clinical impact. In patients transplanted for nonviral causes of end-stage liver disease, a high rate of hepatitis G acquisition at the time of transplantation may occur but does not appear to predispose to chronic hepatitis.

Six experiments were conducted to investigate the nature of the contents of object files, temporary representations that store information about objects. Experiment 1 used a lexical priming paradigm with a lexical decision task, in which the prime and target could appear in either the same or different locations. The results indicated a greater priming effect when the prime and target appeared in the same location than when they appeared in different locations (object- or location-specific priming). Experiment 2 replicated these findings for objects that changed position during the display. Experiment 3 demonstrated that these findings reflected the inclusion of abstract identity information, rather than physical form, in object files. Three additional experiments tested for the presence of three types of semantic information (related concepts, semantic features, and category membership) in object files. No object-specific priming effects were found. Taken together, these experiments suggest that an object file includes identity information, but not semantic information. Implications of the results for object file theory are discussed.

A new assignment for the S0→S1 transition of N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA) and related derivatives is presented. The low frequency bands and long Franck–Condon envelope observed in DMA‐h6 and DMA‐d6 are assigned to the coupled methyl torsion mode of the amino group, not to torsion of the amino substituent about the C–N bond. This new assignment is consistent with the change in frequency of the excitation bands upon deuteration of the methyl groups and the strong origin transitions observed in the excitation spectra of other alkyl anilines. The assignment was confirmed by simulations of the excitation spectra of DMA‐h6 and DMA‐d6, with parameters of the calculated potential energy surface determined to be V3=148.0±0.5 cm−1, V+=−31.6±0.5 cm−1, V−=8.5±0.5 cm−1, and V6=−15±0.5 cm−1. By Franck–Condon analysis, it was determined that the weak origin transition is due to the shifting of the S1 torsion minimum by 40° along the gearing coordinate relative to the corresponding minimum in the ground state.

Coupling between the methyl torsion (υ15) and inversion (υ14) modes is used to model the singlet π*←n spectrum of jet‐cooled acetaldehyde and its deuterated analogs. The anomalies observed in the two torsion progressions built onto the lowest inversion doublet are accurately reproduced by using a potential of the form 1/2V3[1−cos3(τ−kq)], where k indicates the proportionality of interaction between the torsion and inversion motions. The coupling also results in intensity to torsion–inversion combination levels that, in the absence of coupling, would not be observed. Consequently, many of the observed transitions are simultaneously Franck–Condon allowed and vibronically induced. The weak origin transition and long progression in the methyl torsion mode is also reproduced in the intensity calculation, indicating that the equilibrium position of the methyl rotor has changed from the S0 eclipsed position to a nearly staggered geometry in the S1 state. The calculated potential energy surface and Franck–Condon ...

A class of metaphors links the experience of anger to perceptions of redness. Whether such metaphors have significant implications for understanding perception is not known. In Experiment 1, anger (versus sadness) concepts were primed and it was found that priming anger concepts led individuals to be more likely to perceive the color red. In Experiment 2, anger states were directly manipulated, and it was found that evoking anger led individuals to be more likely to perceive red. Both experiments showed that the observed effects were independent of the actual color presented. These findings extend the New Look, perceptual, metaphoric, and social cognitive literatures. Most important, the results suggest that emotion representation processes of a metaphoric type can be extended to the perceptual realm.

We have reviewed the long term results of the first 500 liver transplant recipients performed by our group during the cyclosporine era. Three hundred and forty-nine recipients lived (69.8%) more than 1 year and the projected 5 year actuarial survival for this sub-group of patients is 88%. The two most common causes of graft dysfunction after the first year were recurrence of the original disease, usually malignancy, and chronic rejection. Most episodes of rejection can be controlled with medical treatment; however, 16 patients of 34 patients who experienced rejection episodes after the first year required retransplantation. Eleven of these 16 are currently alive and free of jaundice. Another common cause of late graft dysfunction is biliary strictures. The recognized side effects of cyclosporine such as nephrotoxicity and lymphoproliferative disease have been lesser problems as a result of the judicious use of the drug. The quality of life of long term survivors is excellent.