Testing the fading affect bias for healthy coping in the context of death.

Affect fades faster for unpleasant events than for pleasant events (e.g., Walker, Vogl, & Thompson, 1997 ), which is referred to as the fading affect bias (FAB; Walker, Skowronski, Gibbons, Vogl, & Thompson, 2003 ). Although research has generally shown that the FAB is a healthy coping mechanism, this same finding has not been demonstrated at a specific level of analysis accounting for particular event types and related individual differences (e.g., Gibbons et al., 2013 ). Given the strong unpleasant emotions associated with death (Rask, Kaunonen, & Paunonen-Ilmonen, 2002 ), the current study examined FAB in the context of death events and participant attitudes toward death. General healthy coping was shown by robust FAB across death and control (i.e., everyday) events and by a negative correlation between negative religious coping and FAB. Although healthy coping at a specific level of analysis was supported by increased FAB for participants who held accepting attitudes toward death when they recalled everyday events, it was not supported by decreased FAB for the same participants when they recalled death events. This effect was mediated by rehearsal ratings, not depression. Implications are discussed.

The N-terminal protein of the polyprotein encoded by the potyvirus tobacco vein mottling virus is an RNA-binding protein.

The first predicted polypeptide encoded by the potyvirus tobacco vein mottling virus (TVMV) is a highly positively charged protein of predicted M(r) 29K that functions as a protease to perform the first predicted cleavage in the potyvirus polyprotein. We expressed this protein (P1pro) fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST) and purified the fusion protein from engineered Escherichia coli. We found that the intact fusion protein, as well as samples in which the P1pro portion was liberated from GST by pretreatment with thrombin, was able to bind RNA. Binding activity was optimal at relatively high KCl concentrations, suggesting an interaction dependent on a specific protein structure and not just on the binding of the negatively charged phosphate backbone by the positively charged P1pro polypeptide. The TVMV P1pro preferred ssRNA over DNA or dsRNA, and showed a possible preference for sequences containing oligo(G) tracts. Like other potyvirus-encoded proteins, the TVMV P1pro therefore possesses more than one demonstrable biochemical activity and probably plays multiple roles in the TVMV life cycle.

Gene-specific labeling of chromatin for electron microscopy.

In restriction enzyme digested Xenopus laevis erythrocyte chromatin, the 5S oocyte genes were specifically labeled with colloidal gold so they could be identified in an electron microscopic study. Nuclei were digested first with HindIII restriction endonuclease followed by T7 exonuclease to leave single-stranded 3' tails on the fragments. A biotinylated 15-mer oligonucleotide complementary to the tail on the 3' end of the 5S gene was annealed to the chromatin, and streptavidin complexed colloidal gold was bound to it. In a spread for electron microscopy the labeled fragments were readily recognized.

Cardiovascular collapse during laparoscopy: a report of two cases.

Cardiovascular collapse is a rare but serious complication of laparoscopy. Presented here are two cases of sudden cardiovascular collapse during laparoscopy. Possible causes include severe atypical vagal reactions and carbon dioxide embolism. Arterial blood gases indicated pulmonary vascular shunting.

Antiandrogenic treatment of a gender-dysphoric transvestite.

A synthetic ovarian hormone, diethylstilbestrol, was used to reduce the desire to cross-dress in a 65-year-old, gender-dysphoric transvestite. Antiandrogens may be of use in treating patients refractory or inaccessible to other clinical approaches.

Lichen planus pemphigoides: clinical and immunofluorescent findings in four cases.

During the last 5 years we examined four black male patients who had features of both lichen planus (LP) and bullous pemphigoid (BP). The clinical disorder included classical lesions of LP along with bullae that developed subsequently and arose on both lesional and nonlesional skin. Histologic findings correlated well with the type of lesion on which biopsy was done, as did the immunofluorescent findings. All patients had features of both LP and BP by direct immunofluorescence and of BP by indirect immunofluorescence of serum and blister fluid.

Social class differences in children's comprehension of adult language.

Twenty-five mothers of all social class levels were asked to tell, as if to a 6-year-old child, the stories suggested by several cartoon picture sequences. These stories, tape-recorded, were played to a hundred 6-year-old white male children of high and low social class levels, who were then asked standard comprehension questions about their content. Analysis of the comprehension scores revealed significant main effects of social class of adult speaker and of social class of child listener but no interaction of these two variables. Further analysis of transcriptions of the stories revealed two characteristics, namely the factual information included in the stories and the use of nonstandard grammar, which seemed to mediate the effects of both social class and speaker IQ on comprehension.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the genital tract.

Four cases of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the genital tract in young women are presented. All patients were treated with radiation therapy. Two of the patients subsequently developed chest metastases. Three patients have died of the disease, and the other is without evidence of disease. Two patients were treated with chemotherapy, and a positive response to the chemotherapy was observed. Because this is an aggressive disease, one should consider the use of chemotherapeutic agents as a part of the primary therapy.

Improving a cerbral palsied child's typing with operant techniques.

A 7-yr.-old cerebral palsied girl was taught to correct responses on two typing tasks using reinforcement contingent on number of correctly typed words. Maintenance of the behavior remained contingent on the presence of tangible reinforcement.

Mass purification of nucleopolyhedrosis virus inclusion bodies in the K-series centrifuge.

Nucleopolyhedrosis virus inclusion bodies specific for Hemerocampa pseudotsugata, Neodiprion sertifer, Porthetria dispar, and Heliothis zea have been purified by using a continuous-sample-flow-with-isopycnic-banding centrifuge in quantities up to 6 x 10(13) polyhedral inclusion bodies per day. Continuous-flow methods for S-rho type purification have been evolved to deal with mass isolation of bioparticles.