Attenuated Face Processing during Mind Wandering.

Mind wandering (MW) has been recently investigated in many studies. It has been suggested that, during MW, processing of perceptual stimuli is attenuated in favor of internal thoughts, a phenomenon referred to as perceptual decoupling. Perceptual decoupling has been investigated in ERP studies, which have used relatively simple perceptual stimuli, yet it remains unclear if MW can impact the perceptual processing of complex stimuli with real-world relevance.

How Do Men Construct and Explain Men's Violence?

In this study, we examine men's constructions of violence and their explanations of their own violent behavior. Interviews were conducted with 12 adult men, employed in industrial and manual labor, regarding their associations with violence, their reasons for engaging in violent behavior, and their reasons for not engaging in violent behavior. Utilizing consensual qualitative research methodology, our findings indicated that men's constructions of violence and their justifications for engaging in violence were linked to their constructions of masculinity and what it meant to them to be a man.

Commonality and specificity of acupuncture action at three acupoints as evidenced by FMRI.

Previous work from our team and others has shown that manual acupuncture at LI4 (hegu), ST36 (zusanli), and LV3 (taichong) deactivates a limbic-paralimbic-neocortical brain network, and at the same time activates somatosensory regions of the brain. The objective of the present study was to explore the specificity and commonality of the brain response to manual acupuncture at LI4, ST36, and LV3, acupoints that are located on different meridians and are used to treat pain disorders. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to monitor the brain responses to acupuncture at three different acupoints; we examined 46 healthy subjects who, according to their psychophysical responses, experienced deqi sensation during acupuncture.

Inactivation of Bacillus atrophaeus spores with surface-active peracids and characterization of formed free radicals using electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

This study investigated microbial inactivation via surface-active peracids and used electron spin resonance spectroscopy to characterize the active components and free radical formation. Bacillus atrophaeus spores were injected directly into 3 different concentrations of the peracid disinfectant (1.1%, 1.

Effect of the extent of thiolation and introduction of phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages on the anti-HIV activity of Suligovir [(s4dU)35].

Suligovir is a 35-mer homo-oligonucleotide, containing exclusively 4-thio deoxyuridylate, proved to be a potent inhibitor of HIV entry. In this paper, we described the effect of extent of thiolation and the introduction of nuclease-resistant phosphorothioate linkages on the anti-HIV activity of Suligovir. We found that the decreased thiolated nucleotide content decreases the anti-HIV potency of the compound and the introduction of phosphorothioate linkages does not improve its antiviral activity.

Potent inhibition of HIV-1 entry by (s4dU)35.

We have previously reported the potent in vitro HIV-1 anti-reverse transcriptase activity of a 35-mer of 4-thio-deoxyuridylate [(s(4)dU)(35)]. In efforts to define its activity in a more physiological system, studies were carried out to determine the stage of viral infection that this compound mediates its anti-viral effect. Results of the studies reported herein show that (s(4)dU)(35) is nontoxic and is capable of inhibiting both single and multi-drug resistant HIV strains (IC(50): 0.

Effect of increasing thiolation of the polycytidylic acid strand of poly I:poly C on the alpha, beta and gamma interferon-inducing properties, antiviral and antiproliferative activities.

Double-stranded RNAs induce interferons and cause the development of antiviral and antiproliferative activities. Antiviral activity is related to the production of interferons and other proteins that stimulate various immunologic activities, which appear to contribute to their overall antiproliferative activity. The most active double-stranded RNA, polyI:polyC, was shown to be too toxic for therapeutic use.

Long-term intrathecal opioid therapy with a patient-activated, implanted delivery system for the treatment of refractory cancer pain.

The present study evaluated the safety and efficacy of patient-activated delivery of intrathecal morphine sulfate boluses delivered by way of a novel internalized intrathecal delivery system. Patients with refractory cancer pain or uncontrollable side effects were enrolled at 17 US and international sites in this prospective, open-label study. Pain relief, reduction in systemic opioid use, and reduction in opioid-related complications were analyzed both individually and together as a measure of overall success.

Field evaluation of capsaicin as a rodent aversion agent for poultry feed.

Developing additional techniques for reducing animal feed contamination by rodents and controlling rodent populations is critical to efforts aimed at reducing the occurrence of Salmonella spp infection on poultry farms. Capsaicin, a compound found in chili peppers of the genus Capsicum, produces a burning sensation in the mouth of mammals and is used effectively as an animal deterrent for some pest species. Applied to poultry feed, capsaicin may be effective as an aversive agent to deter rodent feeding and enhance acceptability of rodenticide baits.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty in the management of a patient with malignant pain and associated osteolytic compression fractures.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that is effective in the treatment of pain resulting from pathologic compression fractures, osteolytic bone metastases from solid tumors, myeloma, vertebral hemangioma, and osteoporotic compression fractures. A discussion of a patient with severe, aggressive metastatic breast cancer to the spine with compression and osteolysis of multiple lumbar vertebral bodies is presented. Despite treatment with opiates, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and the implantation of a morphine pump, her pain was not adequately treated until she underwent multilevel vertebroplasty.