MDMA-assisted brief cognitive behavioral conjoint therapy for PTSD: Study protocol for a pilot study.

Background: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) impacts both individual and relational functioning. Veteran couples are at increased risk of relationship distress due to military stressors such as deployment, family reintegration, and traumatic stress. Although both Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) and its brief version (bCBCT) consistently have large effects on reducing PTSD symptoms, these treatments have more variable effects on relational outcomes. Given the impact of relationship functioning on the overall health of veterans, improving the effect of PTSD treatments on relationship functioning is an essential area of research. One promising path is the role of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted therapy in augmenting the relational impact of established therapeutic interventions such as bCBCT. Method/Design: This is a single site, open-label study assessing the preliminary efficacy, safety, and acceptability of MDMA-assisted therapy in combination with bCBCT in 8 veterans with PTSD and their intimate partners (N = 16). Therapy teams trained in bCBCT and MDMA-assisted therapy will deliver bCBCT combined with two MDMA sessions and two couple emotion focused integration sessions. PTSD symptom severity and relationship functioning outcomes will be evaluated. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the efficacy of MDMA-assisted bCBCT for improving PTSD and relationship functioning among a sample of U.S. military veterans and their partners. This project could provide an opportunity to pilot a scalable model of treating PTSD within the Veterans Affairs healthcare system and leverage the benefits of MDMA for veterans with PTSD, as well as the downstream benefits to their partner on both individual and relationship functioning. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05979844.

Combining sterile and incompatible insect techniques for the population suppression of Drosophila suzukii.

The spotted wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has recently invaded Europe and the Americas, and it is a major threat for a wide variety of commercial soft fruits both in open field and greenhouse production systems. D. suzukii infests a wide range of ripening fruits, leading to substantial yield and revenue losses. As the application of insecticides close to the harvest period poses great concerns, the development of an efficient environment-friendly control approach to fight D. suzukii is necessary. In this study, we exploited the sterile insect technique (SIT) in combination with Wolbachia symbiosis as a population suppression approach that can constitute a potential component of an area-wide integrated pest management program. We aimed to establish a combined SIT/incompatible insect technique (IIT) protocol that would require lower irradiation doses as a complementary tool for D. suzukii management. Two D. suzukii lines trans-infected with the Wolbachia wHa and wTei strains were irradiated at doses four times less than usual (e.g., 45 Gy), and the egg hatching and adult emergence were determined. Our results indicated that wHa and wTei females as well as wHa males were sterile at this low dose. The longevity, adult emergence and flight ability of adults were evaluated, and no major effect caused by irradiation was detected. Our data indicate that a SIT/IIT protocol can be a competent approach for D. suzukii management.

Project Career: Perceived benefits of iPad apps among college students with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

BACKGROUND: Project Career is an interprofessional five-year development project designed to improve academic and employment success of undergraduate students with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at two- and four-year colleges and universities. Students receive technology in the form of iPad applications ("apps") to support them in and out of the classroom. OBJECTIVE: To assess participants' perspectives on technology at baseline and perceived benefit of apps after 6 and 12 months of use. METHODS: This article address a component of a larger study. Participants included 50 college-aged students with traumatic brain injuries. Statistical analysis included data from two Matching Person and Technology (MPT) assessment forms, including the Survey of Technology Use at baseline and the Assistive Technology Use Follow-Up Survey: Apps Currently Using, administered at 6- and 12-months re-evaluation. Analyses included frequencies and descriptives. RESULTS: Average scores at baseline indicated positive perspectives on technology. At 6 months, quality of life (67%) and academics (76%) improved moderately or more from the use of iPad apps. At 12 months, quality of life (65%) and academics (82%) improved moderately or more from the use of iPad apps. CONCLUSION: Students with a TBI have positive perspectives on technology use. The results on perceived benefit of apps indicated that students with a TBI (including civilians and veterans) report that the apps help them perform in daily life and academic settings.

Inclusion of Radiation Environment Variability in Total Dose Hardness Assurance Methodology.

Variability of the space radiation environment is investigated with regard to parts categorization for total dose hardness assurance methods. It is shown that it can have a significant impact. A modified approach is developed that uses current environment models more consistently and replaces the radiation design margin concept with one of failure probability during a mission.

Measurement of Cosmic Ray and Trapped Proton LET Spectra on the STS-95 HOST Mission.

This paper reports on in situ measurements of the Linear-Energy-Transfer (LET) spectra of galactic cosmic rays and their progeny and of trapped Van Allen belt protons as recorded by a Pulse Height Analyzer (PHA) radiation spectrometer which flew on the STS-95 DISCOVERY mission on the Hubble Orbital Systems Test (HOST) cradle. The Shuttle was launched on 29 October 1998 and had a mission duration of 8.5 days during the minimum phase of the solar activity cycle. The orbit of the STS-95 was about 550 km altitude and 28.5° inclination. Close agreement was seen between radiation environment model predictions and the measurements of the PHA. Agreement is obtained by considering the directionality of the radiation interacting with the Shuttle structure.

Complex postglacial history of the temperate bark beetle Tomicus piniperda L. (Coleoptera, Scolytinae).

Tomicus piniperda is an economically important pine bark beetle infesting European Pinus spp. stands. We sequenced and analyzed 797 bp of the mitochondrial genome from individuals obtained from 34 populations sampled throughout the European range. We obtained 36 haplotypes, from which a haplotype network was constructed. In the Iberian Peninsula, high-genetic variability was detected with numerous endemic haplotypes. In contrast, the other European populations were less diverse with a single haplotype predominating from the Pyrenees to Scandinavia. Nevertheless, even within Europe, a few populations showed significant amounts of diversity. Four groups were obtained by Spatial Analysis of Molecular Variance, illustrating the regional characteristics of the species. T. piniperda had multiple fragmented refugia in the Iberian Peninsula. These currently isolated populations only partly contributed to postglacial re-colonizations of Northern Europe during interglacials. Nevertheless, few long-range migration events up to Northern Europe were detected, mostly originating from the Pyrenees. In the rest of Europe, the phylogeographical patterns were unclear, because of repeated cycles of contraction and expansion. The genetic analysis showed one glacial refugium in North-Central Europe, whereas other refugia most likely occurred in the Southern Alps, Apennine and the Balkans. The phylogeographical pattern depicted here reflects partly the postglacial history of the beetles' main host tree P. sylvestris.

No sympatric speciation here: multiple data sources show that the ant Myrmica microrubra is not a separate species but an alternate reproductive morph of Myrmica rubra.

No aspect of speciation is as controversial as the view that new species can evolve sympatrically, among populations in close physical contact. Social parasitism has been suggested to yield necessary disruptive selection for sympatric speciation. Recently, mitochondrial DNA phylogeography has shown that the ant Myrmica microrubra is closely related to its host, Myrmica rubra, leading to the suggestion that sympatric speciation has occurred. We investigated the relationships between the two ant forms using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, microsatellite genotyping and morphometrics. Molecular phylogenetic and population structure analyses showed that M. microrubra does not evolve separately to its host but rather shares a gene pool with it. Probability analysis showed that mitochondrial DNA data previously adduced in favour of sympatric speciation do not in fact do so. Morphometrically, M. microrubra is most readily interpreted as a miniature queen form of M. rubra, not a separate species. Myrmica microrubra is not an example of speciation. The large (typical M. rubra) and small (M. microrubra) queen forms are alternative reproductive strategies of the same species. Myrmica microrubraSeifert 1993 is consequently synonymized here with M. rubra Linnaeus, 1758.

Expression of a catalytically inactive H118Y mutant of nm23-H2 suppresses the metastatic potential of line IV Cl 1 human melanoma cells.

Nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 are putative metastasis suppressor genes that encode nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) A and B. NDPKs form oligomers distributed between soluble and particulate fractions of cells and therefore may exert their effects as either soluble or bound proteins. To determine whether metastasis-related functions of NDPKs are mediated by their catalytic activity in membrane bound or soluble complexes, we have stably transfected highly metastatic human melanoma Line IV Cl 1 cells with wild-type and catalytically inactive (H118Y) nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 genes and assayed their metastatic potential in nude mice. Transfection with wild-type nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 genes and catalytically inactive nm23-H1 did not significantly (all p > 0.10) alter the metastatic potential of Line IV Cl 1 cells while transfection with catalytically inactive nm23-H2 significantly (p < 0.01) reduced their metastatic potential. The lack of effect of transfection with wild-type and catalytically inactive nm23-H1 suggests that neither soluble nor membrane bound NDPK A affect the metastatic potential of Line IV Cl 1 cells. The metastasis suppressive effect of catalytically inactive NDPK B overexpression suggests that competition with bound complexes containing catalytically active NDPK B inhibits metastasis of Line IV Cl 1 cells. These results imply that bound NDPK B promotes metastasis and suggest that inhibition of its function or of its binding to critical sites may be a useful approach to limit the development of metastases in human melanoma.

Practical applications of genotypic surveys for forensic STR testing.

Legitimate genotype frequency estimation for multiallelic loci relies on component allele frequencies, as population surveys represent only a fraction of possible DNA profiles. Multilocus genotypes from two ethnic human populations, African American (n=195) and U.S. Caucasian (n=200), were compiled at 13 STR loci that are used worldwide in forensic investigation (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D16S539, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, and D7S820). Sex-specific AmpFlSTR multiplexes provided stringent PCR-based STR typing specifically optimized for multicolor fluorescence detection. Heterozygosity at each STR locus ranged from 0.57 to 0.89 and encompassed from seven (TH01) to twenty-one (D21S11) alleles. Homozygosity tests, tests based on the distinct numbers of observed homozygous and heterozygous classes, log likelihood ratio tests, and exact tests assessed that the degree of divergence from theoretical Hardy-Weinberg proportions for all 13 STRs does not have practical consequence in genotype frequency estimation. Departures from linkage equilibrium, between loci, that imposed significance to forensic calculations were not indicated by observed variance of the number of heterozygous loci or Karlin interclass correlation tests. For forensic casework, reliable multilocus profile estimates may be obtained from the product of component genotype frequencies, each calculated through application of the Hardy-Weinberg equation to population database allele frequency estimates reported here. The average probability that two randomly selected, unrelated individuals possess an identical thirteen-locus DNA profile was one in 1.8x10(15) African Americans and one in 3.8x10(14) U.S. Caucasians.

Mitochondrial DNA regions HVI and HVII population data.

Data from 1393 unrelated individuals have been compiled from eight population groups: African Americans, Africans (Sierra Leone), U.S. Caucasians, Austrians, French, Hispanics, Japanese, and Asian Americans. The majority of the mtDNA sequences were observed only once within each population group (i.e., ranging from a low of 60.3% (35/58) of the Asian American sequences to a high of 85.3% (93/109) of the French sequences). Genetic diversity ranged from 0.990 in the African sample to 0.998 in African Americans. Random match probability ranged from 2.50% in the Asian American sample to 0.52% in U.S. Caucasians. The average number of nucleotide differences between individuals in a database is greatest for the African American and African samples (14.1 and 13.1, respectively), and the least variable are the Caucasians (ranging from 7.2 to 8.4). Substitutions are the predominate polymorphism, and at least 92% of the substitutions are transitions. The most prevalent transversions are As substituted for Cs and Cs substituted for As. For most population groups these transversions occurred predominately in the HVI region; however, the African, African American, and Hispanic samples also demonstrated a large portion of their C to A and A to C transversions in the HVII region (at sites 186 and/or 189). Most insertions occur in the HVII region at sites 309.1 and 315.1, within a stretch of C's. Insertions of an additional C are common in all population groups. The sequence data were converted to SSO mtDNA types and compared with population data on Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Japanese, and Mexicans described by Stoneking et al. [M. Stoneking, D. Hedgecock, R.G. Higuchi, L. Vigilant, H.A. Erlich, Population variation of human mtDNA control region sequences detected by enzymatic amplification and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 48 (1991) 370-382] using an R x C contingency table test. Differences between major population groups (i.e., between African, Caucasian, and Asian) are quite evident, and similar ethnic population groups carried similar SSO polymorphism frequencies. There were only a few SSO types that showed significant differences between subpopulation groups. The SSO data alone can not be used to describe the population genetics with complete sequence data. However, the results of the SSO comparisons are similar to other analyses, and differences in sequence data in regions HVI and HVII are greater between major population groups than between subgroups.

Building pyramids.

PIP: It is easy to build the population pyramids which demographers use to represent the age and sex distribution of a particular population at a specific point in time. With relatively high fertility, the population distribution in most developing countries conforms to the classic pyramid shape. Some developed countries, however, are beginning to show pillar-like shapes, while graphs for selected population subgroups may be considerably different. An inverted pyramid graph is used to illustrate the population distribution of Sun City, Arizona, with the largest population age group being over 79 years old. Instructions are given on how to create population pyramids using Microsoft Excel, a commonly available spreadsheet software program. Population pyramids can also be generated using Population Pyramids 98, a software utility from HPN Technologies, Inc.^ieng

The phylogenetic relationships of seven European Ips (Scolytidae, Ipinae) species.

In Central Europe seven lps species are characterized by differences in morphology, structure of galleries, host specificity and aggressiveness. These species were analysed by allozyme markers and by sequencing 567 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene, in order to define their phylogenetic relationships. Orthotomicus erosus and Tomicus minor were taken as outgroup species. The data revealed high inter-specific and low intra-specific sequence divergence. Plotting the observed sequence divergence caused by transversions (Tv) and transitions (Ts) and the level of saturation for Ts and Tv of each codon position showed that the third positions were highly saturated by multiple substitutions. Maximum parsimony analysis produced two groups: (1) I. typographus, I. cembrae, I. amitinus, I. duplicatus and I. acuminatus; (2) I. mannsfeldi, I. sexdentatus and the two outgroups. In all analyses the species of the first cluster were put together and I. typographus and I. cembrae, and I. mannsfeldi and O. erosus emerged as sister pairs. The data do not support a common ancestor for the seven European lps species. The eight-spined bark beetles (except I. mannsfeldi) and I. acuminatus formed a monophyletic group. The close relationship of I. mannsfeldi and O. erosus supports the latter belonging to the genus lps as proposed by Wood (1982) and Escherich (1923). However, more genetic markers and more species of the genera Orthotomicus and Pityokteines have to be analysed to resolve the phylogenetic positions of I. sexdentatus I. mannsfeldi within the tribe lpinl.

Analysis of space radiation data of semiconductor memories.

This article presents an analysis of radiation effects for several select device types and technologies aboard the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) satellite. These space-flight measurements covered a period of about 14 months of mission lifetime. Single Event Upset (SEU) data of the investigated devices from the Microelectronics Package (MEP) were processed and analyzed. Valid upset measurements were determined by correcting for invalid readings, hard failures, missing data tapes (thus voids in data), and periods over which devices were disabled from interrogation. The basic resolution time of the measurement system was confirmed to be 2 s. Lessons learned, important findings, and recommendations are presented.

Seed set after pollination with in-vitro-matured, isolated pollen of Triticum aestivum.

Immature pollen of two varieties of Triticum aestivum, at the stage right after the first pollen mitosis, was isolated from individual anthers and cultured in microcultures of microliter droplets. In a specifically designed medium, some of the pollen grains developed to maturity. These were applied to excised stigmas on agar, where they produced pollen tubes. Application to flowers in vivo led to seed set. Pollen was matured in vitro from a variety that produced a different protein banding pattern on SDS-PAGE as compared to the variety that was pollinated. The protein banding in the produced seeds showed the hybrid pattern, demonstrating that the seeds were not produced by self-pollination in this in-breeding species but by pollination with the in-vitro-matured pollen.

Fibronectin levels in male ejaculate and evidence for its role in unexplained infertility.

Vasovasostomy has become a popular and highly successful method of restoring fertility to those who have undergone a vasectomy. However, there is a high correlation between vasostomy and antisperm antibody production leading to spontaneous sperm agglutination and immobilization. There is still considerable disagreement on whether antibodies are the primary causative agent. Our study provides evidence that fibronectin, a ubiquitous glycoprotein whose major function is cell-to-cell adhesion, could be a "subfertility" factor and contribute to male "unexplained infertility." Semen from control, random, and vasovasostomy populations was studied using a sophisticated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results show that fibronectin is significantly present in all groups. The mean concentrations (micrograms/mL) were 753.9 for control, 566.4 for random, followed by significantly higher 1267.3 for the vasovasostomy group (p less than 0.05). The spermatozoa were assayed for bound fibronectin by flow cytometry. The mean percentage of cells bound after background subtract was 29.7 for control and 48.2 for the vasovasostomy group; the difference was significant (p less than 0.05). We conclude that fibronectin is present in semen and bound to sperm cells in great concentrations for individuals having undergone surgical insult and may contribute to male infertility particularly by sperm agglutination.

Reversible inactivation of bladder surface glycosaminoglycan antibacterial activity by protamine sulfate.

Prior studies in our laboratory have shown that the bladder surface is lined with glycosaminoglycans which appear to be an important antibacterial defense mechanism that operates by resisting bacterial adherence and infection. The present study further implicates bladder surface glycosaminoglycans as the key antiadherent factor and also suggests a potential model for diseases (such as urinary tract infections) whereby the antiadherent surface of the bladder is inactivated biochemically. Protamine sulfate treatment of bladder tissue was found to significantly increase bacterial adherence to the urinary bladder by approximately 2.3-fold. This effect was reversed by a second treatment of the bladder with pentosanpolysulfate (a polysaccharide known to duplicate the surface antiadherent effect). Protamine sulfate had no effect on bacterial viability or bacterial adherence when bacteria were pretreated with it.

Effect of ammonium on bacterial adherence to bladder transitional epithelium.

The virulence of urease-producing bacteria depends on the ability of urease to degrade urea into ammonia and thereby to alkalinize the urine. Infections caused by urease-producing organisms such as Proteus mirabilis are particularly difficult to manage clinically. We have shown that the layer of glycosaminoglycans at the bladder surface protects against infection by blocking the adherence of bacteria to the epithelium. To determine whether urease-producing urinary pathogens owe their virulence in part to an ability to inactivate the protective effect of the glycosaminoglycan layer, we tested the ability of ammonium chloride to alter bacterial adherence to the normal vesical mucosa. We used an in vivo adherence assay that we have described previously in rabbits. Control animals received sodium chloride adjusted to the same pH as the ammonium chloride. We found that 0.25 M ammonium chloride significantly increases bacterial adherence to normal vesical mucosa as compared to adherence in controls receiving 0.25 M sodium chloride (p less than 0.05). These data suggest that urease plays a hitherto undescribed role in bacterial virulence by altering the antiadherence activity of the glycosaminoglycan layer present at the transitional cell surface.

Bladder-surface glycosaminoglycans: an efficient mechanism of environmental adaptation.

The transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder secretes and binds to its surface a glycosaminoglycan than inhibits the adherence of bacteria. Synthetic sulfonated glycosaminoglycans instilled intraluminally into bladders whose natural mucin layer has been removed are as effective as the natural mucin in preventing bacterial adherence. It also appears that adherence of calcium and protein is reduced in the presence of both the natural mucin layer and the synthetic sulfonated glycosaminoglycan sodium pentosanpolysulfate, suggesting that the antiadherence activity of both natural and synthetic surface glycosaminoglycans in the bladder extends to the molecular and ionic levels.

Antibacterial activity of bladder surface mucin duplicated in the rabbit bladder by exogenous glycosaminoglycan (sodium pentosanpolysulfate).

Previous data from our laboratory suggest that the transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder secretes and binds to its surface a glycosaminoglycan. The presence of this substance at the bladder surface markedly reduces the ability of microorganisms to adhere to the mucosa. Furthermore, this glycosaminoglycan can be removed (with acid) and replaced by intravesical instillation of a synthetic sulfonated glycosaminoglycan (heparin), whose presence is as effective as that of the natural glycosaminoglycan in reducing adherence. We conducted the current study with a different sulfonated glycosaminoglycan to determine whether the antiadherence activity is generalized to heparin congeners and whether the antiadherence effect of heparin is independent of its known anticoagulant activity. In this study we examined the sulfonated glycosaminoglycan, sodium pentosanpolysulfate, which lacks significant anticoagulant activity, and found it to have a mechanism of antiadherence analogous to that of heparin and almost equally as active on a weight basis.