Photoreactivation of UV-Induced Damage in G1 Phase Xenopus Cells That Leads to a Sister Chromatid Exchanged and Cell Death

Experiments were conducted with the A87 Xenopus tissue culture cell line which centered on use of the line\u27s efficient photoreactivation (PR) mechanism to: (1) determine the extent to which sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), induced by exposing early G1 phase cells to low UV fluenced, are photoreactivable, and (2) determine the extent to which the photoreactivable SCEs resulting from these low UV fluences constitute lethal lesions. For the first determination, UV fluences - SCE frequency relations and UV fluence + PR fluence - SCE frequency relations were established for UV fluences in the range 0-12 J/m2 and a single PR fluence of 22,000 J/m2. Comparison of these relations indicated that the cells photoreactivated a predominant fraction (near .70) of the induced SCEs. For the second determination, a detailed time course of PR of induced SCEs relation and a time course of PR of induced lethality relation were established for the cells, using a single UV fluence of 5.0 J/m2 and a single PR fluence of 22,000 J/M2.Comparison of these relations indicated that few, if any, photoreactivable SCEs constituted photoreactivable lethal lesions. This comparison also suggested that further high resolution cytological studies of time course of PR of UV-induced SCEs may reveal additional relations between repair of SCEs and changes in vertebrate chromosome structure as cells progress through interphase

My way or the highway: High narcissism and low self-esteem predict decreased support for democracy

In two studies, we analyzed the relationships between different types of self-evaluation (i.e., narcissism and self-esteem) and support for democracy. Support for democracy requires the ability to respect the views and opinions of others, even if one disagrees with them. Classic studies have linked support for democracy with high self-evaluation, which should assume psychological security and, thus, the ability to trust others. However, not all forms of high self-evaluation are secure. Narcissists have high feelings of self-worth, but tend to be defensive: they are easily threatened by criticisms or conflicting views. We then expected that while support for democracy should be positively predicted by secure, non-narcissistic self-evaluation, it should be negatively predicted by narcissistic self-evaluation. In two studies, conducted in the U.S. (Study 1, n=407) and in Poland (Study 2, n=405), support for democracy was positively predicted by self-esteem and negatively predicted by narcissism. Study 2 additionally demonstrated that interpersonal trust mediated the effects of self-esteem on support for democracy. We discuss the role of psychological predispositions in understanding support for democratic systems

American welfare strategies: Three programs under the social security act

In the United States, a single piece of legislation, the Social Security Act, is the major vehicle through which the cash assistance to citizens is provided. This act contains many subprograms, programs so different in concept, administration and programmatic implication that many people do not know that the same piece of legislation makes them all possible. In this paper three programs—“social security,” “unemployment compensation,” and “public assistance”—are examined in a sociohistorical, sociocultural context. The roots of these programs are analyzed, their current operations outlined, and the policy problems currently confronting them are detailed. The ways in which the programs relate to the political mythology of the society is seen as important. Because of the continual conflicts arising out of the administration of public assistance, three special cases involving that program are mentioned.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45457/1/11077_2005_Article_BF01727600.pd

Clinical and Economic Considerations Based on Persistency with a Novel Insulin Delivery Device versus Conventional Insulin Delivery in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Analysis

Objective: Insulin is one of the most efficacious treatments for hyperglycemia; however, adherence to insulin therapy is poor, impacting its efficacy. Thus, the objectives of this study were to determine if persistent use of a new insulin delivery option, V-Go, improved clinical outcomes and secondly compare clinical and economic outcomes between persistent use of V-Go and conventional insulin delivery (CID). Methods: A retrospective review of an outpatient clinic\u27s records was performed. Patients initiating V-Go with documented persistent use of V-Go or resumed persistent use of CID after short-term V-Go use were included (≥5 months of persistency). Baseline data and a total of two post-V-Go or CID initiation visits were examined for clinical and economic outcomes. Cost-effectiveness of each therapy was calculated by dividing the mean cost difference (baseline to office visit 2) by the mean change in A1c (baseline to office visit 2). Results: V-Go persistent patients had a significant decrease in A1c (−1.42; p \u3c 0.001). Between baseline and office visit two, they required less insulin units/day and units/kg and had significantly lower A1c, insulin units/day, insulin units/kg, and 30-day insulin costs than CID patients. V-Go persistent patients had a lower incremental cost by $695.61 per 1% change in A1c compared to CID persistent patients. Conclusions: Utilization of a new insulin delivery option resulted in improved clinical outcomes compared to CID and was more cost-effective. Clinicians and health plans should consider the use of new insulin delivery options for the management of patients with diabetes on insulin therapy to promote persistence