Advective-acoustic cycle in a shallow water standing accretion shock experiment.

The surface height in a shallow water accretion flow experiment is measured by means of Fourier transform profilometry and the fluctuations are characterized. The shallow water analog of the standing accretion shock instability (SWASI) appears with an azimuthal mode number of one in the presence of supercritical flow in the radial direction. During the occurrence of the SWASI, surface gravity waves preferentially propagate radially outward. This is consistent with the advective-acoustic cycle driving the shallow water analog of the standing accretion shock instability.

SIESTA: A high current ion source for erosion and retention studies.

Second ion experiment for sputtering and TDS analysis is a high-current ion source for erosion and retention studies with focus on wall materials for fusion devices. The system is composed of a DuoPIGatron type ion source, three consecutive grids for ion extraction, acceleration and beam focusing, a differential pumping stage, a dipole magnet for mass filtering, a quadrupole doublet lens, a target chamber, a load-lock, and a chamber for thermal desorption spectrometry. The acceleration potential of the source can be varied between 500 V and 10 kV. The target chamber has a base pressure of 10-8 mbar and an operating pressure of 5 × 10-7 mbar. The target can be rotated to study angle-dependent effects and can be heated via electron-impact heating up to 1300 K for high temperature erosion and implantation studies. The target chamber is equipped with an in situ magnetic suspension balance. The operating parameters of the ion source were mapped to achieve the maximum ion current at the target for various gas species and accelerating potentials. The beam emittance for a D3 + ion beam was measured after deflection in the dipole magnet. This was used for ion beam simulations, which were instrumental for the design of the quadrupole lenses. If the quadrupole doublet is used, the ion flux to the target is increased by up to a factor of 4. Additionally, the relative population of neutral particles present in the beam at the target was quantified and is equal to 0.8% when averaged over the measurement positions. The typical beam footprint at the target under normal incidence has an area of 0.5 cm2. The ion current reaching the target increases with the accelerating potential. Due to this effect, the ion flux density at the target in the low-ion-impact-energy range can be increased by operating the source at a higher extraction potential and by applying a (decelerating) potential to the target. Ion impact energies as low as 200 eV/D are achieved this way with a D3 + current of 100 µA when focusing the beam with the quadrupole doublet lens, equating to a D particle flux density of 3.7 × 1019 m-2 s-1. At ion impact energies of 2 keV/D, the maximum achievable flux density with D3 + is 6 × 1019 D m-2 s-1. Experimental determination of sputter yields was performed via ex situ weight loss measurement for bulk Au samples, showing reasonably good agreement with simulations and experimental data from the literature.

Determination of SCN1A genetic variants in Mexican patients with refractory epilepsy and Dravet syndrome.

Mutations in the SCN1A gene can result in syndromes associated with epilepsy, including the Dravet syndrome (DS). However, the prevalence of such mutations in these diseases varies widely between different studies, and has not been examined in Mexican patients with epilepsy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the frequency of SCN1A mutations (in the exon 26) in a cohort of Mexican patients with DS and refractory epilepsy (RE). We recruited 24 Mexican patients (14 males and 10 females), of which 15 were diagnosed with RE and 9 were diagnosed with DS. The SCN1A gene was sequenced to uncover mutations in exon 26. We detected 2 novel genotypes in 2 DS patients. One was a synonymous variant, c.5418 G > A (E1806E), and the other was a missense variant, c. 5324 T > C (L1775P). The missense mutation was predicted to be damaging with a score of 100% by the PolyPhen-2 program. The frequency of pathogenic variants was 4.17% in all the patients and 11.1% in DS patients, which, together with other publications, emphasize that specific and more severe phenotypes are associated with SCN1A mutations.

SEVERE HYDROCEPHALUS, KIDNEY AND SKELETAL ANOMALIES IN A FEMALE PATIENT WITH MILD NEUROLOGICAL ALTERATIONS.

The appearance of untreated severe hydrocephalus with long-term survival is infrequent; here we report a case with these characteristics, mild neurological alterations and kidney and skeletal anomalies. A female patient showed severe hydrocephalus (initially mistaken with hydranencephaly) at 4 years old and left kidney ectopia (initially mistaken with renal agenesis); however, she was derived to the neurology service until she was 12 years old, when she began to present migraine and seizures. At 13 years old the patient was diagnosed with arrested hydrocephalus secondary to aqueduct stenosis, and the seizures worsen thereafter from atonic seizures to complex partial seizures (at 14 years old), presenting generalized seizures at 15 years old. At 17 years old, the seizures were more frequent despite the anticonvulsant treatment and also presented automations, she was also diagnosed with genu recurvatinn and scoliosis. The seizures finally diminished and partially controlled at 19 years old. Despite a cerebral mantle < 2.0 cm at the computer tomography, the patient always presented a satisfactory intellectual development. In this case, the relatively good and long evolution of the severe hydrocephalus is probably related with the late-onset of the disease that permitted a better development of the brain; however, the worsening of the seizures after the hydrocephalus arrested, suggests that arrest is not necessarily associated with a compensation and better evolution of the disease, at least at the beginning of the process. The presence of kidney ectopia and skeletal alterations did not associate with a known genetic disease, however a possible inheritance mechanism is not discarded.

Pure 9p trisomy derived from a terminal balanced unreciprocal translocation.

The 9p trisomy is a relatively frequent disorder, while pure 9p trisomies are less frequent and usually derived from 9;22 translocations, duplications or 9p extra chromosomes. Here we report a patient with pure trisomy 9p derived from a terminal balanced unreciprocal translocation. The patient derived to the genetic service by psychomotor delay, presented at 2 years and 11 months: short stature, open anterior fontanelle, dysplastic ears, facial dysmorphisms, long and broad first toes with hypoplastic nails, central nervous system and skeletal alterations. The patient karyotype was: 46,XY,der(10)t(9;10) (p13.1;qter)mat while the mother karyotype was: 46,XX,t(9;10)(p13.1;qter). The presence of the subtelomeric region of 10q showed by FISH as well as the duplication of 9p subtelomere was further confirmed with multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for the subtelomeric region of all chromosomes. The mechanism of formation seems to be due to a telomere break in 10q leading to loss of telomeric functions, permitting the 9p fusion; this has been supported with molecular probes showing telomere shortening in interstitial telomeric repeats, which are unable to prevent chromosome fusion. This is one of the few cases reported with terminal translocations (not jumping) preserving the subtelomeric region and highlights the importance of subtelomeric probes in terminal arrangements, and the utility of molecular probes, such as MLPA in defining this kind of abnormalities. In the clinical context, the patient presented a high proportion of 9p trisomy features which is expected considering the large 9p segment involved and the presence of the critical region 9p22.

Internal structure of the MMPI-2 Addiction Potential Scale in alcoholic and psychiatric inpatients.

Recently, Weed, Butcher, McKenna, and Ben-Porath (1992) introduced two new scales for assessing alcohol and drug abuse with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989): the Addiction Potential Scale (APS), an empirically derived measure similar to the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC; MacAndrew, 1965), and the Addiction Acknowledgement Scale. Like the MAC, the APS was designed to identify the personality dimensions associated with substance abuse. Although there has been evidence to support the discriminative validity of the APS among samples of abusers, nonabusers, and psychiatric inpatients (Greene, Weed, Butcher, Arrendondo, & Davis, 1992; Weed et al., 1992), there has been no attempt to determine the personality dimensions tapped by the APS. Thus our study investigated the internal complexities of the APS. Using MMPI-2 protocols from a sample of alcoholic and psychiatric inpatients, we subjected the APS to a principal components analysis with subsequent varimax rotation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to name the components that were identified. Five components consistently emerged across settings: Satisfaction/Dissatisfaction with Self, Powerlessness/Lack of Self-Efficacy, Antisocial Acting-Out, Surgency, and Risk-Taking/Recklessness, Clinical advantage gained from a knowledge of the internal structure of the APS was illustrated using 6 patients from the alcoholic sample. A rational approach to validating the empirical structure of the APS was discussed as a potential avenue for future research.

Partial Removal of Lipopolysaccharide from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans Affects Its Adhesion to Solids.

Conditions for the partial removal of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Thiobacillus ferrooxidans are described. Raising the pH of the solution containing the cells from pH 1.5 to pH 6.8 to 8.0 releases about 50% of the LPS without cell lysis. The release of LPS begins at pH 3.5, and it was not affected by EDTA concentration. Partial removal of LPS exposed higher amounts of a 40-kDa outer membrane protein in the bacteria, as detected by a dot immunoassay employing an antiserum against the T. ferrooxidans surface protein. This higher protein exposure and the reduced LPS content increased the hydrophobicity of the cell surface, as determined by an increased adhesion (50%) to hydrophobic sulfur prills and C-dodecanoic acid binding (2.5-fold) compared with control cells. In addition, adhesion of radioactively labeled microorganisms to a sulfide mineral was inhibited (40%) in the presence of previously added LPS. Our results suggest that not only LPS but also surface proteins probably play important roles in T. ferrooxidans adhesion to solid surfaces.

MMPI-2 Normative Data for the F-K Index: Implications for Clinical, Neuropsychological, and Forensic Practice

The F-K index has long been used as a validity indicator with the MMPI to help identify subjects who may be over- or underreporting psychological problems. The revision of the MMPI necessitates the collection of new norms and development of cutoff scores for the F-K index due to changes in the test itself as well as changes in the way subjects respond to items since the time of the development of the original test. Continuation of the use of old cutoff scores and clinical lore may lead to erroneous conclusions and decisions in the clinical and forensic arenas in which the index is used. MMPI-2 norms for the F-K index are provided for the standardization sample, and additional data are presented for samples of psychiatric patients, head injured patients, individuals seeking disability benefits, job applicants for police and priest positions, and substance abusers. Implications for use of the tables for interpretation of F-K scores are discussed.

Treatment outcome for substance misuse patients with personality disorder.

Treatment outcome was compared for three groups of patients in a chemical dependency unit--14 patients with personality disorder, 16 patients with traits of personality disorder, and 34 patients with no personality disorder. Patients with personality disorder were as likely as other patients to complete the 4-month aftercare program and to maintain abstinence while in the aftercare program.

Ethnic and Cultural Factors in Substance Abuse.

Health care providers must recognize the importance of multicultural training in any effective diagnostic, treatment, or prevention service for substance abuse among adolescents. Current estimates indicate that by the year 2020, minorities will constitute 40% of all school-age Americans. The authors examine the cultural differences among the four major ethnic groups-African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Native/Alaskan Americans-and then discuss the design of programs targeted at each.

A cross-validation of MMPI-2 substance abuse scales.

We evaluated the efficacy of the Addiction Potential Scale (APS) and the Addiction Acknowledgement Scale (AAS), two new scales designed to assess substance abuse problems with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), in samples from settings different from those used in their development. Results replicate earlier findings that both scales discriminate between psychiatric and substance abuse samples and do so more effectively than other substance abuse scales designed for use with the MMPI and carried over to the MMPI-2. Results also suggest that APS may be more resistant than AAS to response distortion.

Effect of external pH perturbations on in vivo protein synthesis by the acidophilic bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.

The response of the obligate acidophilic bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans to external pH changes is reported. When T. ferrooxidans cells grown at pH 1.5 were shifted to pH 3.5, there were several changes in the general protein synthesis pattern, including a large stimulation of the synthesis of a 36-kDa protein (p36). The apparent low isoelectric point of p36, its location in the membrane fraction, and its cross-reaction with anti-OmpC from Salmonella typhi suggested that it may be a porin whose expression is regulated by extracellular pH.

Immunological methods for the quantitation of the industrially important bioleaching microorganisms.

To monitor the levels of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in bioleaching operations, we have developed a specific and very sensitive dot-immunobinding assay. Polyclonal antisera against whole T. ferrooxidans cells was used, and the bacteria-antibody reaction was visualized by employing either 125I-labeled or peroxidase-conjugated protein A or 125I-labeled or peroxidase-conjugated goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G. A minimum of 10(3) cells per dot could be easily detected. Therefore, the method allows the sensitive, and specific simultaneous processing of numerous samples in a short time.

Implementing a substance abuse curriculum in a medical school.

Recent attention to the need for integration of substance abuse education throughout medical education prompted this description of one such program.

Alcoholism in Mexican-Americans: intervention and treatment.

Studies have shown that Hispanic males have higher rates of heavier drinking and problems associated with drinking than the general population. The authors discuss Mexican-American cultural and religious views on alcohol consumption and sex-role differences that influence drinking behavior and intervention. Then, drawing on their experience with a chemical dependence program that serves a catchment area that is one-fifth Mexican-American, they discuss how clinicians can work with cultural beliefs and practices to effectively treat Mexican-American alcoholics within a traditional treatment program.

Efecto crónico de Li en la presión arterial de rata / Chronic effect of Li ion on the blood pressure of the rat

El ion Li es absorbido con rapidez, se distribuye en todo el organismo y filtra en el glomérulo, pero es reabsorbido en un alto porcentaje por los túbulos. En el presente trabajo se investiga su papel fisiológico en la función renal, en relación con la presión arterial por ingestión crónica; para lo cual se observa presión arterial directa, volúmenes de orina, los electrolitos sodio y potasio y calicreína urinaria. A un grupo de ratas hembras de la cepa Wistar se les trató con solución de LiCl cada 48 horas por vía intragástrica y en forma crónica por un mes. Se realizaron observaciones cada diez días que demostraron los cambios que se producen en la presión arterial, los volúmenes y componentes de la orina: disminución de la, aumento del potasio plasmático, aumento de la calicreína urinaria y marcado efecto poliúrico durante todo el tratamiento, con marcado aumento de la excreción total de sodio y potasio urinarios

[Discrimination parameters for cellular polymorphism in dysplasias of the vaginal mucosa]. / Parámetros discriminatorios del polimorfismo celular en las displasias de la mucosa vaginal.

By using cytophometric methods, two populations of vaginal cells, normal and displasic, have been studied, evaluating the morphological differences existing between them.