Factors Affecting Agreement between Alcohol Abusers\u27 and Their Collaterals\u27 Reports

Objective: Because of their low cost and ease of use, collaterals\u27 reports are the most frequent source of independent corroboration with alcohol abusers\u27 self-reports of drinking and related events. Although several reviews have shown that we can have confidence in the accuracy of alcohol abusers\u27 reports of their drinking and in the use of collateral reports as an independent validity criterion, neither data source is error free. This study examined factors that influence the level of agreement between collaterals\u27 and alcohol abusers\u27 reports. Method: Using data from a study of natural recoveries from alcohol-related problems, this study examined how agreement between 120 alcohol abusers\u27 (79.2% male) and their collaterals\u27 reports varied as a function of collateral type and of the collaterals\u27 ratings of their confidence in the accuracy of their reports of the subjects\u27 drinking and related behaviors. Collaterals\u27 awareness of nonalcohol-related levels was also examined. Results: The best agreement occurred for reports from alcohol abusers\u27 spouses who were fairly confident about the information provided. For all variables, some proportion of collaterals respond to demand characteristics of the interview by providing very specific information about subjects\u27 behavior yet admit to being unsure of this information. Conclusions: Collaterals who are fairly sure of the information they provide are the preferred informants to corroborate alcohol abusers\u27 reports of drinking and related behaviors. In some cases the best collaterals are spouses who are fairly sue of the information they reported. It is also recommended that treatment outcome studies should accept reports only from collaterals who are confident about the information they report

Macro-to-Micro Interface for the Control of Cellular Organization

The spatial organization of cellular communities plays a fundamental role in determining intercellular communication and emergent behavior. Few tools, however, exist to modulate tissue organization at the scale of individual cells, particularly in the case of dynamic manipulation. Micromechanical reconfigurable culture achieves dynamic control of tissue organization by culturing adherent cells on microfabricated plates that can be shifted to reorganize the arrangement of the cells. Although biological studies using this approach have been previously reported, this paper focuses on the engineering of the device, including the mechanism for translating manual manipulation to precise microscale position control, fault-tolerant design for manufacture, and the synthetic-to-living interface.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Faculty Early Career Development Program)National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U.S.)David & Lucile Packard FoundationNational Institutes of Health (U.S.). Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awar

Hepatorenal protective action of Spirulina platensis against beryllium induced hepatorenal dysfunction and histopathological alterations in rats

23-32Beryllium (Be) is highly toxic to human, induces oxidative stress and leads to Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) or berylliosis, apoptosis and cancer. In this study, we have investigated the antioxidative and hepatorenal protective potential of Spirulina platensis (SP) against beryllium (Be) induced alterations in hepatorenal biochemical parameters, oxidative stress and histopathological alterations in rats. Different doses of SP (50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered (once a day daily for 7 days) against Be(NO3)2 (1 mg/kg, i.p. once a day daily, for 28 days) induced toxic menifestations in female Wistar rats. Be decreased GSH, SOD, CAT, G-6-Pase, ALP and ATPase activities and increased TBARS and ACP activity in liver and kidney. Be enhanced ALT, AST, bilirubin, uric acid, creatinine, total cholesterol and decreased haemoglobin, total protein, sugar in blood. Be deposited in vital organs of rats and altered the histoarchitecture of liver and kidney. Different doses of SP showed dose dependent recovery. SP @400 mg/kg showed significant recovery against Be induced oxidative stress, maintained hepatorenal function towards normal and reduced beryllium body burden. Results of the study. well supported by histopathological observations, conclude that SP possesses hepatorenal protective potential against Be induced toxicity in rats

Protective potential of Moringa oleifera Lam. along with curcumin and piperine against beryllium-induced alterations in hepatorenal biochemistry and ultramorphology in rats

Moringa oleifera Lam. (Moringaceae) is a medicinally important plant, used as traditional medicine all over the world particularly in South Asia and India. Hydroalcoholic (50% v/v) root extract of M. oleifera (150 mg/kg, p.o.) with piperine (2.5 mg/kg, p.o), or curcumin (5.0 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered daily for 1 week in Female Wistar albino rats against beryllium toxicity (1.0 mg/kg, i.p. daily for 5 weeks). Beryllium altered hepatorenal function and enhanced the leakage of AST, ALT, and LDH, depleted SALP activity, and increased the level of urea, uric acid, creatinine, triglyceride and total cholesterol in the blood. Beryllium altered tissue biochemical parameters by a decrease in SDH, ALPase, ATPase activities, and increased ACPase activity, depleted hemoglobin and ALAD activity with an increase in ALAS activity and serum bilirubin. A significant amount of beryllium deposited in the liver, kidney, spleen, and bones. M. oleifera with curcumin showed better antitoxic potential by reversal of hepatorenal function towards normal and restored the activity of SDH, ALPase, ATPase, ACPase, and hemoglobin level normal. M. oleifera with curcumin effectively mobilized beryllium from the body and restored ultrastructure of liver and kidney. It was concluded that curcumin enhances the antitoxic potential of M. oleifera root extract and reduces beryllium body burden in rats

Values of sleep/wake, activity/rest, circadian rhythms, and fatigue prior to adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy.

Fatigue is the most prevalent and distressing symptom experienced by patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. Higher fatigue levels have been related to sleep maintenance problems and low daytime activity in patients who have received chemotherapy, but knowledge describing these relationships prior to chemotherapy is sparse. The Piper Integrated Fatigue Model guided this study, which describes sleep/wake, activity/rest, circadian rhythms, and fatigue and how they interrelate in women with Stage I, II, or IIIA breast cancer during the 48 hours prior to the first adjuvant chemotherapy treatment. The present report describes these variables in 130 females, mean age=51.4 years; the majority were married and employed. Subjective sleep was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and fatigue was measured by the Piper Fatigue Scale. Wrist actigraphy was used to objectively measure sleep/wake, activity/rest, and circadian rhythms. Mean Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score was 6.73+/-3.4, indicating poor sleep. Objective sleep/wake results were within normal limits established for healthy individuals, except for the number and length of night awakenings. Objective activity/rest results were within normal limits except for low mean daytime activity. Circadian rhythm mesor was 132.3 (24.6) and amplitude was 97.2 (22.8). Mean Piper Fatigue Scale score was 2.56+/-2, with 72% reporting mild fatigue. There were significant relationships between subjective and objective sleep, but no consistent patterns. Higher total and subscale fatigue scores were correlated with most components of poorer subjective sleep quality (r=0.25-0.42, P\u3c or =0.005)

Bupropion and Nicotine Patch as Smoking Cessation Aids in Alcoholics

This is a double blind placebo controlled study of sustained release bupropion as a smoking cessation aid in alcoholics undergoing treatment for their alcoholism. Participants (N=58) were enrolled within one week of entry into alcohol treatment from community and Veterans Affairs Substance Use Disorder programs. All participants received nicotine patch and were invited to attend a smoking cessation lecture and group. Cigarette smoking and alcohol outcomes were measured at six months. Bupropion when added to nicotine patch did not improve smoking outcomes. One-third of participants on bupropion reported discontinuing the drug during weeks 1-4. Participants reported cigarette outcomes with nicotine patch which are similar to those seen in the general population. All study participants significantly reduced cigarette use. Co-morbid affective disorder or antipersonality disorder did not affect outcomes. Alcohol outcomes were improved in those who discontinued cigarettes

Comparison of a Quick Drinking Screen with the Timeline Followback for Individuals with Alcohol Problems

Objective: Two major strategies have typically been used to assess recent drinking: (1) Daily Estimation (DE) measures such as the Timeline Followback (TLFB) and (2) Quantity-Frequency (QF) summary measures. Although QF measures provide a quick and easy measure of consumption, they have been criticized as not being able to capture sporadic and unpatterned drinking (e.g., days that reflect important social and/or health risks). The TLFB, a psychometrically sound drinking assessment method, is able to capture all drinking, including sporadic heavy days and unpatterned drinking. In some situations, however, recall of daily drinking may not be possible or practical (e.g., limited time; no resources). This article compares results obtained by using a QF measure and a DE measure to assess problem drinkers’ pretreatment drinking. Method: The current study, part of a large community mail intervention with 825 alcohol abusers, compared results from two drinking measures covering the same time interval that were administered on two different occasions approximately 2.5 weeks apart. Both measures, the Quick Drinking Screen (QDS; a QF summary measure that collected data by telephone) and the TLFB (a self-administered daily estimation measure), collected drinking data for the year prior to the interview. Results: Although the QDS and the TLFB are very different drinking measures, remarkably similar aggregate drinking data were obtained for five drinking variables. Conclusions: When it is not necessary or possible to gather detailed drinking data, the QDS produces reliable brief summary measures of drinking, at least for not severely alcohol dependent individuals. Also, respondents do not appear to use a repetitive response pattern when completing the TLFB

A honeypot based network security system

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a honeypot based network security system (100) and a data processing method (200) thereof. In an aspect, the honeypot-based network security system (100) comprises of: an attacking terminal (102) which sends a source data to the honeypot (104), and a honeypot (104) for acquiring the source data sent by the attacking terminal and comprising of bogus data. The method (200) of data processing on a honeypot-based network security system method comprises of: acquiring (202) a plurality of transmission control protocol (TCP) type source data set that are sent by the attack terminal, simulating (204) a TCP protocol for constructing a TCP feedback data packet which meets the pre-set requirement, and sending (206) the TCP feedback data packet to the attack terminal

Mask Use pattern, Public Perception and Barriers to Effective Mask Usage-A battle far from over

Background & Objective: Proper mask wearing reduces the transmissibility and risk of Covid-19 infection still compliance to mask use is low. This study was conducted to observe the mask usage pattern, perception and barriers to effective mask usage (EMU). Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in collaboration with district police administration to observe mask usage pattern in various crowded places. Methods and Material: Participants from general public (n=6995) in 10 preselected areas of city were observed and then interviewed about their perceptions about EMU. Indirect observation of EMU was also done by screening CCTV footage, followed by another set of observation at same places after conducting a health education campaign. Data was entered in Microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: EMU was seen in nearly 62% participants. Younger age, native population, education above matric, persons driving two & four wheelers, had significantly higher compliance. During CCTV observation, EMU was 57.5%, and was highest near public places, roads and intersections while lowest near bus stand and religious places. Some improvement in compliance was seen after health education at these places. Breathing difficulty, no use of wearing mask and feeling uncomfortable were the most common reasons given by participants for non-compliance.Conclusions: EMU was lower in elderly, migrants, less educated, unemployed, daily wage workers, so these groups should be especially sensitized about preventive measures. There is need for extensive public education to bring out behavioral change regarding proper mask wearing to control this pandemic and prevent further waves