bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aspectos virológicos e clínico-patológicos da infecção genital aguda e latente pelo herpesvírus bovino tipo 1.2 em bezerras infectadas experimentalmente
Authors: Henzel Andréia , Diel Diego G. , Arenhart Sandra , Vogel Fernanda S. Flores , Weiblen Rudi , Flores Eduardo F.
Published: June 2009

A infecção genital de vacas pelo herpesvírus bovino tipo 1.2 (BoHV-1.2) pode resultar em vulvovaginite e infertilidade temporária. Após a infecção aguda, o BoHV-1 estabelece infecção latente, que pode cursar com episódios periódicos de reativação. O presente trabalho descreve os aspectos virológicos e clínico-patológicos da vulvovaginite aguda e infecção latente resultantes da inoculação de bezerras com uma amostra de BoHV-1.2 isolada de casos de balanopostite em touros. A inoculação do vírus em quatro bezerras pela via genital (10(8.1)TCID50/animal) resultou em replicação viral na mucosa genital e no desenvolvimento de vulvovaginite moderada a severa. Os animais inoculados excretaram o vírus nas secreções genitais até o dia 10 pós-inoculação (p.i.) com título máximo de 10(7.3)TCID50/mL. Foram observados congestão e edema da mucosa vulvovestibular, e formação de pequenas vesículas e pústulas. Durante a progressão clínica, as vesículas e pústulas aumentaram de tamanho e eventualmente se tornaram coalescentes e recobertas por um exsudato fino de coloração amarelada. Estes sinais foram observados a partir do dia 2 p.i. e aumentaram progressivamente de severidade até os dias 5-8 p.i. A administração de dexametasona no dia 55 p.i. resultou em excreção viral nas secreções genitais dos quatro animais por até 10 dias. A reativação da infecção latente foi acompanhada de recrudescência clínica, porém com sinais menos severos e com menor duração do que na infecção aguda. O DNA viral latente foi detectado por PCR, aos 36 dias pós-reativação (p.r.), nos seguintes tecidos: gânglio sacrais: pudendo (4/4); genitofemoral e retal caudal (3/4) e obturador (4/4) e em alguns linfonodos regionais. Estes resultados demonstram que o isolado SV-56/90 é virulento para fêmeas soronegativas, após inoculação genital, e pode ser utilizado em estudos de patogenia e de desafio vacinal.
Occurrence of Amblyomma longirostre in Ramphastos dicolorus in Southern Brazil
Authors: Soares João Fabio , Soares Claudia Dal Molin , Gallio Miguel , Silva Aleksandro Schafer da , Moreira Juliana Pereira , Barros-Battesti Darci M , Monteiro Silvia Gonzalez
Published: June 2009

The species Amblyomma longirostre Koch, 1844 is poorly known in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Usually the adult stage could be found on Sphigurus spp. and the immatures on birds (Passeriformes). Although A. longirostre is distributed in the Neotropical region, from Panama to Uruguay, it also occurs in Central America and the United States. The aim of this study was to report that Ramphastos dicolorus Linnaeus 1766 is a new host record for this tick species.
Percutaneous injuries correlates in the nursing team of a Brazilian tertiary-care university hospital
Authors: Canini Silvia Rita Marin da Silva , Moraes Suzana Alves de , Gir Elucir , Freitas Isabel Cristina Martins
Published: June 2009

The study aims to identify percutaneous injuries correlates in the nursing team from a Brazilian tertiary-care hospital. A case-control study was conducted from January 2003 to July 2004, including 200 cases and 200 controls. Cases and controls were paired by gender, professional category, and work section. To evaluate the relationship between potential risk/protective factors and the outcome, odds ratios were estimated, using multivariate logistic regression methods. The results shown six predictors of percutaneous injuries: "recapping needles" (OR 9.48; CI(95%): 5.29-16.96); "hours worked per week > 50 hours" (OR 2.47; CI(95%): 1.07-5.67); "years in nursing practice < 5 years" (OR 6.70; CI(95%): 2.42-18.53); "work shift in night" (OR 2.77; CI(95%): 1.35-5.70); "low self evaluation of risk" (OR 10.19; CI(95%): 3.67-28.32) and "previous percutaneous injuries" (OR 3.14; CI(95%): 1.80-5.48). The results support the recommendation of applying effective strategies to prevent percutaneous injuries in the nursing team working on tertiary-care institutions.
Water use prediction by radial and feed-forward neural nets
Authors: Yurdusev M. A. , Firat M. , Mermer M. , Turan M. E.
Published: June 2009

In this study, applicability of feed-forward and radial-basis neural networks for monthly water consumption prediction from several socio-economic and climatic factors affecting water use is investigated. A data set including a total of 108 data records is divided into two subsets: training and testing. Firstly, the models based on a single input variable are trained and tested by feed-forward and radial methods and feed-forward and radial performances of the models are compared. Then, the models based on multiple input variables are constructed according to performances of the models based on a single input variable. The performances of feed-forward and radial models in training and testing phases are compared with the observations and the best-fit model is identified. For this purpose, several criteria such as normalised root mean square error, efficiency and correlation coefficient are calculated for all models. Subsequently, the best-fit models are also trained and tested by multiple linear regression for comparison. The results indicated that feed-forward and radial methods can be applied successfully for monthly water consumption prediction.
Embedded modified Euler method: an efficient and accurate model
Authors: Afshar M. H. , Rohani M.
Published: June 2009

In this paper, an efficient and accurate method for the extended period simulation of pipe networks under dynamic loading is proposed. The method uses the modified Euler method to discretise the ordinary differential equation governing the variation of water level in the reservoirs to yield a non-linear algebraic equation in terms of the reservoir head and inflow. These equations are then embedded into the non-linear system of equations describing the steady-state flow in the pipe network to obtain the final system of equations. A Newton–Raphson method of linearisation is used for the equation governing the tank water level variation along with a gradient formulation of the pipe networks. The solution of the resulting system of equations automatically yields the distribution of nodal heads along with the reservoir head at the end of each period. The method uses only one steady-state simulation per period to predict accurately and efficiently the reservoir water elevation. Application of the proposed method does not require special coding and can be easily embedded into the existing pipe network simulation codes. The method is applied to four test problems and the results are presented and compared with those of a conventional extended period simulation method and some other existing methods. The results show that the proposed method is considerably more accurate than the conventional algorithm and more efficient than existing improved methods of dynamic simulation.
Field survey of desiccation fissuring of flood embankments
Authors: Dyer M. , Utili S. , Zielinski M.
Published: June 2009

Early studies on the 1953 North Sea floods showed that desiccation fissuring of clay fill can play a major role in the failure of flood embankments under overflow conditions. However, the onset of desiccation fissuring in embankments and its contribution towards breach initiation has not been fully researched. Field and laboratory studies were thus carried out into the desiccation fissuring of clay flood embankments in the UK. The work found that a critical condition is reached when desiccation creates an interconnected network of sub-vertical and sub-horizontal fissures, which significantly increases the mass permeability of the fill material and hence allows rapid seepage of flood water through the surface layer of the embankment. It is suggested high rates of seepage cause localised uplifting of clay blocks, leading to progressive slope failure and successive breaching. Small-scale desiccation tests carried out on discs of soil in pressure plates showed very good agreement between the onset of cracking in the pressure plates and the moisture content recorded in the field. This suggests that it is possible to assess the susceptibility of a fill material to desiccation fissuring from the soil water characteristic curve.
Green payments and the US Farm Bill: information and policy challenges
Authors: Batie Sandra S
Published: June 2009

Agriculture in the United States is heavily influenced by the Farm Bill and has considerable negative impacts on ecosystem functioning. Could the Farm Bill be redesigned to fund “green” payments that would encourage producers to provide beneficial ecological services? Such a change would be a complex undertaking, involving missing or uncertain information, heterogeneous systems, and challenging political and budgetary realities. Much of the information necessary for Farm Bill redesign is available, but is not being used; however, there remain critical gaps in our understanding of how to structure science‐based, producer‐relevant policy. One way to fill these information gaps is to fund cooperative pilot projects, based on environmental units of interest, such as watersheds. Nevertheless, political and budgetary constraints may mean that such information is more likely to inform policy and activities outside of the Farm Bill.
INTRODUCTION TO THE SPECIAL ISSUE ON THE BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT OF DRUG ADDICTION
Authors: Silverman Kenneth , Roll John M. , Higgins Stephen T.
Published: June 2009

Extensive evidence from the laboratory and the clinic suggests that drug addiction can be viewed as operant behavior and effectively treated through the application of principles of operant conditioning. Contingency management interventions that arrange for the direct reinforcement of drug abstinence or of other therapeutically important target behaviors (e.g., regular use of drug abuse treatment medications) are among the most studied type of operant treatments. Behavior analysts have contributed to the substantial and rapidly growing literature on operant treatments for drug addiction, but the publications of this work usually appear in medical, clinical psychology, or drug abuse journals. This special issue of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis represents an effort to bring this important work to the attention of the behavior‐analytic community. The articles in this special issue illustrate both the enormous potential of contingency management interventions to address the serious and seemingly intractable problem of drug addiction as well as the real challenges involved in attempting to develop and disseminate treatments that will produce substantial and lasting changes in the lives of individuals plagued by the chronic problem of drug addiction.
EFFECTS OF INITIAL ABSTINENCE AND PROGRAMMED LAPSES ON THE RELATIVE REINFORCING EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING
Authors: Chivers Laura L. , Higgins Stephen T. , Heil Sarah H. , Proskin Rebecca W. , Thomas Colleen S.
Published: June 2009

Fifty‐eight smokers received abstinence‐contingent monetary payments for 1 (n= 15) or 14 (n= 43) days. Those who received contingent payments for 14 days also received 0, 1, or 8 experimenter‐delivered cigarette puffs on 5 evenings. The relative reinforcing effects of smoking were assessed in a 3‐hr session on the final study day, when participants made 20 choices between smoking or money. The reinforcement contingencies exerted robust control over smoking, and programmed smoking lapses produced few discernible effects. These results further illustrate the robust control that reinforcement contingencies can exert over cigarette smoking and suggest that any effects of lapses on the relative reinforcing effects of smoking are modest under conditions involving abstinence‐contingent reinforcement contingencies.
ATTENDANCE RATES IN A WORKPLACE PREDICT SUBSEQUENT OUTCOME OF EMPLOYMENT‐BASED REINFORCEMENT OF COCAINE ABSTINENCE IN METHADONE PATIENTS
Authors: Donlin Wendy D. , Knealing Todd W. , Needham Mick , Wong Conrad J. , Silverman Kenneth
Published: June 2009

This study assessed whether attendance rates in a workplace predicted subsequent outcome of employment‐based reinforcement of cocaine abstinence. Unemployed adults in Baltimore methadone programs who used cocaine (N = 111) could work in a workplace for 4 hr every weekday and earn $10.00 per hour in vouchers for 26 weeks. During an induction period, participants provided urine samples but could work independent of their urinalysis results. After the induction period, participants had to provide urinalysis evidence of cocaine abstinence to work and maintain maximum pay. A multiple regression analysis showed that induction period attendance was independently associated with urinalysis evidence of cocaine abstinence under the employment‐based abstinence reinforcement contingency. Induction period attendance may measure the reinforcing value of employment and could be used to guide the improvement of employment‐based abstinence reinforcement.
CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR ATTENDANCE TO GROUP SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT ADMINISTERED BY CLINICIANS IN COMMUNITY CLINICS
Authors: Ledgerwood David M. , Alessi Sheila M. , Hanson Tressa , Godley Mark D. , Petry Nancy M.
Published: June 2009

Contingency management (CM) is effective in enhancing retention in therapy. After an 8‐week baseline, four community‐based substance abuse treatment clinics were exposed in random order to 16 weeks of standard care with CM followed by 16 weeks of standard care without CM or vice versa. In total, 75 outpatients participated. Patients who were enrolled in the clinics when the CM treatment phase was in effect attended a significantly greater percentage of therapy sessions than patients who were enrolled in treatment when CM was not in effect. This study is one of the first to investigate CM in community settings implemented entirely by community clinicians, and results suggest that CM is effective in improving therapy attendance.
VOUCHER‐BASED CONTINGENT REINFORCEMENT OF SMOKING ABSTINENCE AMONG METHADONE‐MAINTAINED PATIENTS: A PILOT STUDY
Authors: Dunn Kelly E. , Sigmon Stacey C. , Thomas Colleen S. , Heil Sarah H. , Higgins Stephen T.
Published: June 2009

This study evaluated the efficacy of a contingency management (CM) intervention to promote smoking cessation in methadone‐maintained patients. Twenty participants, randomized into contingent (n= 10) or noncontingent (n= 10) experimental conditions, completed the 14‐day study. Abstinence was determined using breath carbon monoxide and urine cotinine levels. Contingent participants received voucher‐based incentives for biochemical evidence of smoking abstinence. Noncontingent participants earned vouchers independent of smoking status. Contingent participants achieved significantly more smoking abstinence and longer durations of continuous smoking abstinence than did noncontingent participants. These results support the potential efficacy of using voucher‐based CM to promote smoking cessation among methadone‐maintained patients.
EFFECT OF REINFORCEMENT PROBABILITY AND PRIZE SIZE ON COCAINE AND HEROIN ABSTINENCE IN PRIZE‐BASED CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT
Authors: Ghitza Udi E. , Epstein David H. , Schmittner John , Vahabzadeh Massoud , Lin Jia‐Ling , Preston Kenzie L.
Published: June 2009

Although treatment outcome in prize‐based contingency management has been shown to depend on reinforcement schedule, the optimal schedule is still unknown. Therefore, we conducted a retrospective analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial (Ghitza et al., 2007) to determine the effects of the probability of winning a prize (low vs. high) and the size of the prize won (small, large, or jumbo) on likelihood of abstinence until the next urine‐collection day for heroin and cocaine users (N = 116) in methadone maintenance. Higher probability of winning, but not the size of individual prizes, was associated with a greater percentage of cocaine‐negative, but not opiate‐negative, urines.
RANDOMIZED TRIAL COMPARING TWO TREATMENT STRATEGIES USING PRIZE‐BASED REINFORCEMENT OF ABSTINENCE IN COCAINE AND OPIATE USERS
Authors: Preston Kenzie L. , Ghitza Udi E. , Schmittner John P. , Schroeder Jennifer R. , Epstein David H.
Published: June 2009

We compared two strategies of prize‐based contingency management (CM) in methadone‐maintained outpatients. Urine was tested thrice weekly for 5 weeks pre‐CM, 12 weeks CM, and 8 weeks post‐CM. Participants were randomly assigned to a cocaine contingency (four prize draws for each cocaine‐negative urine,N= 29) or an opiate‐cocaine contingency (one draw for each urine negative for opiates or cocaine, four draws if negative for both,N= 38). There were no group differences in cocaine abstinence during CM or post‐CM and no differences in opiate abstinence during CM. Opiate abstinence was greater in the opiate‐cocaine group post‐CM, and heroin craving was reduced in this group during and post‐CM. Draws earned per cocaine‐negative urine (four vs. one) did not affect cocaine use.
AN EFFECTIVENESS TRIAL OF CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT IN A FELONY PREADJUDICATION DRUG COURT
Authors: Marlowe Douglas B. , Festinger David S. , Dugosh Karen L. , Arabia Patricia L. , Kirby Kimberly C.
Published: June 2009

This study evaluated a contingency management (CM) program in a drug court. Gift certificates for compliance were delivered at 4‐ to 6‐week intervals (total value = $390.00). Participants in one condition earned gift certificates that escalated by $5.00 increments. Participants in a second condition began earning higher magnitude gift certificates, and the density of reinforcement was gradually decreased. No main effects of CM were detected, which appears to be attributable to a ceiling effect from the intensive contingencies already delivered in the drug court and the low density of reinforcement. Preplanned interaction analyses suggested that participants with more serious criminal backgrounds might have performed better in the CM conditions. This suggests that CM programs may be best suited for more incorrigible drug offenders.
INTERDEPENDENT GROUP CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR COCAINE‐DEPENDENT METHADONE MAINTENANCE PATIENTS
Authors: Kirby Kimberly C. , Kerwin MaryLouise E. , Carpenedo Carolyn M. , Rosenwasser Beth J. , Gardner Robert S.
Published: June 2009

Contingency management (CM) for drug abstinence has been applied to individuals independently even when delivered in groups. We developed a group CM intervention in which the behavior of a single, randomly selected, anonymous individual determined reinforcement delivery for the entire group. We also compared contingencies placed only on cocaine abstinence (CA) versus one of four behaviors (CA, treatment attendance, group CM attendance, and methadone compliance) selected randomly at each drawing. Two groups were formed with 22 cocaine‐dependent community‐based methadone patients and exposed to both CA and multiple behavior (MB) conditions in a reversal design counterbalanced across groups for exposure order. The group CM intervention proved feasible and safe. The MB condition improved group CM meeting attendance relative to the CA condition.
A WEB‐BASED CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM WITH ADOLESCENT SMOKERS
Authors: Reynolds Brady , Dallery Jesse , Shroff Palak , Patak Michele , Leraas Kristen
Published: June 2009

The present study evaluated a new 30‐day Web‐based contingency management program for smoking abstinence with 4 daily‐smoking adolescents. Participants made 3 daily video recordings of themselves giving breath carbon monoxide (CO) samples at home that were sent electronically to study personnel. Using a reversal design, participants could earn money for continued abstinence during the treatment phases (CO ≤ 5 ppm). All participants were compliant with the treatment (submitting 97.2% of samples), and all achieved prolonged abstinence from smoking.
OPIOID ABSTINENCE REINFORCEMENT DELAYS HEROIN LAPSE DURING BUPRENORPHINE DOSE TAPERING
Authors: Greenwald Mark K.
Published: June 2009

A positive reinforcement contingency increased opioid abstinence during outpatient dose tapering (4, 2, then 0 mg/day during Weeks 1 through 3) in non‐treatment‐seeking heroin‐dependent volunteers who had been maintained on buprenorphine (8 mg/day) during an inpatient research protocol. The control group (n = 12) received $4.00 for completing assessments at each thrice‐weekly visit during dose tapering; 10 of 12 lapsed to heroin use 1 day after discharge. The abstinence reinforcement group (n = 10) received $30.00 for each consecutive opioid‐free urine sample; this significantly delayed heroin lapse (median, 15 days).
A DEPOSIT CONTRACT METHOD TO DELIVER ABSTINENCE REINFORCEMENT FOR CIGARETTE SMOKING
Authors: Dallery Jesse , Meredith Steven , Glenn Irene M.
Published: June 2009

Eight smokers were randomly assigned to a deposit contract ($50.00) or to a no‐deposit group. Using a reversal design, participants could recoup their deposit (deposit group) or earn vouchers (no‐deposit group) for smoking reductions and abstinence (breath carbon monoxide [CO] ≤ 4 parts per million) during treatment phases. Treatment was delivered via a novel Internet‐based method to monitor smoking status. Although equivalent decreases in breath CO and abstinence were observed during treatment in both groups, $178.50 in vouchers were distributed to participants in the no‐deposit group, whereas a small surplus remained in the deposit group. A deposit contract method may represent a cost‐effective model to deliver abstinence reinforcement for cigarette smoking.
CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PROMOTES SMOKING REDUCTIONS IN RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE PATIENTS
Authors: Alessi Sheila M. , Petry Nancy M. , Urso Julie
Published: June 2009

Rates and consequences of cigarette smoking are more severe in substance abusers. In this 12‐week pilot study, residential substance abuse treatment patients received standard care for smoking cessation (n = 12) or prize contingency management (n = 12) for expired carbon monoxide (CO) tests ≤ 8 ppm and salivary cotinine < 10 ng/ml, which are indicative of smoking abstinence. Percentage of negative CO tests and the highest number of consecutive negative CO tests were greater in contingency management compared to standard care.
FINANCING A VOUCHER PROGRAM FOR COCAINE ABUSERS THROUGH COMMUNITY DONATIONS IN SPAIN
Authors: García‐Rodríguez Olaya , Secades‐Villa Roberto , Higgins Stephen T. , Fernández‐Hermida José R. , Carballo José L.
Published: June 2009

This study analyzed the viability of financing a voucher program for cocaine addicts in Spain through public and private donations. Of the 136 companies contacted, 52 (38%) provided donations. The difference between the benefits (15,670€/$20,371) and the costs (3,734€/$4,854) was 11,936€/$15,517. The type of reinforcer a company can offer, the size of the company, and the time elapsed before responding may be determining variables in a company's decision whether to collaborate.
THE RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION OF ECONOMIC VALENCE TO CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT EFFICACY: A PILOT STUDY
Authors: Roll John M. , Howard Joni T.
Published: June 2009

We investigated the extent to which a contingency management (CM) procedure that deducted money from a grand total available at the end of the study compared to a procedure in which money accumulated with continued abstinence from cigarette smoking. Results suggested that the procedure in which money increased contingent on abstinence resulted in a significantly greater likelihood of obtaining a clinically relevant (i.e., 48‐hr) period of abstinence. In terms of attendance, participants in the condition in which monetary reinforcement accrued with consecutive instances of abstinence were significantly less likely to miss consecutive appointments than those in which money was deducted for failure to abstain.
USING THE EXPERIENCE SAMPLING METHOD IN THE CONTEXT OF CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
Authors: Husky Mathilde M. , Mazure Carolyn M. , Carroll Kathleen M. , Barry Danielle , Petry Nancy M.
Published: June 2009

Contingency management (CM) treatments have been shown to be effective in reducing substance use. This manuscript illustrates how the experience sampling method (ESM) can depict behavior and behavior change and can be used to explore CM treatment mechanisms. ESM characterizes idiosyncratic patterns of behavior and offers the potential to determine how behavioral patterns are affected by the operant conditioning principles that drive CM. It may also lead to the identification of new target behaviors for CM in the context of substance abuse treatment.
ASSOCIATIVE SYMMETRY, ANTISYMMETRY, AND A THEORY OF PIGEONS' EQUIVALENCE‐CLASS FORMATION
Authors: Urcuioli Peter J.
Published: June 2009

Five experiments assessed associative symmetry in pigeons. In Experiments 1A, 1B and 2, pigeons learned two‐alternative symbolic matching with identical sample‐ and comparison‐response requirements and with matching stimuli appearing in all possible locations. Despite controlling for the nature of the functional stimuli and insuring all requisite discriminations, there was little or no evidence for symmetry. By contrast, Experiment 3 demonstrated symmetry in successive (go/no‐go) matching, replicating the findings of Frank and Wasserman (2005). In view of these results, I propose that in successive matching, (1) the functional stimuli are stimulus‐temporal location compounds, (2) continual nonreinforcement of some sample‐comparison combinations juxtaposed with reinforcement of other combinations throughout training facilitates stimulus class formation, (3) classes consist of the elements of the reinforced combinations, and (4) common elements produce class merger. The theory predicts that particular sets of training relations should yield “antisymmetry”: Pigeons should respond more to a reversal of the nonreinforced symbolic baseline relations than to a reversal of the reinforced relations. Experiment 4 confirmed this counterintuitive prediction. These results and other theoretical implications support the idea that equivalence relations are a natural consequence of reinforcement contingencies.
REINFORCER ACCUMULATION IN A TOKEN‐REINFORCEMENT CONTEXT WITH PIGEONS
Authors: Yankelevitz Rachelle L. , Bullock Christopher E. , Hackenberg Timothy D.
Published: June 2009

Four pigeons were exposed to a token‐reinforcement procedure with stimulus lights serving as tokens. Responses on one key (the token‐production key) produced tokens that could be exchanged for food during an exchange period. Exchange periods could be produced by satisfying a ratio requirement on a second key (the exchange‐production key). The exchange‐production key was available any time after one token had been produced, permitting up to 12 tokens to accumulate prior to exchange. Token accumulation, measured in terms of both frequency (percent cycles with accumulation) and magnitude (mean number of tokens accumulated), decreased as the token‐production ratio increased from 1 to 10 across conditions (with exchange‐production ratio held constant), and increased as the exchange‐production ratio increased from 1 to 250 across conditions (with token‐production ratio held constant). When tokens were removed, accumulation decreased markedly compared to conditions with tokens and the same schedules. These data show that token accumulation is an orderly function of token‐production and exchange‐production schedules, and they are broadly consistent with a unit‐price model based on local and global responses per reinforcer.
SENSITIVITY OF CONDITIONAL‐DISCRIMINATION PERFORMANCE TO WITHIN‐SESSION VARIATION OF REINFORCER FREQUENCY
Authors: Ward Ryan D. , Odum Amy L.
Published: June 2009

The present experiment developed a methodology for assessing sensitivity of conditional‐discrimination performance to within‐session variation of reinforcer frequency. Four pigeons responded under a multiple schedule of matching‐to‐sample components in which the ratio of reinforcers for correct S1and S2 responses was varied across components within session. Initially, five components, each arranging a different reinforcer‐frequency ratio (from 1:9 to 9:1), were presented randomly within a session. Under this condition, sensitivity to reinforcer frequency was low. Sensitivity failed to improve after extended exposure to this condition, and under a condition in which only three reinforcer‐frequency ratios were varied within session. In a later condition, three reinforcer‐frequency ratios were varied within session, but the reinforcer‐frequency ratio in effect was differentially signaled within each component. Under this condition, values of sensitivity were similar to those traditionally obtained when reinforcer‐frequency ratios for correct responses are varied across conditions. The effects of signaled vs. unsignaled reinforcer‐frequency ratios were replicated in two subsequent conditions. The present procedure could provide a practical alternative to parametric variation of reinforcer frequency across conditions and may be useful in characterizing the effects of a variety of manipulations on steady‐state sensitivity to reinforcer frequency.
CONCURRENT RESURGENCE AND BEHAVIORAL HISTORY
Authors: Silva Stephanie P. da , Maxwell Megan E. , Lattal Kennon A.
Published: June 2009

The contribution of past experiences to concurrent resurgence was investigated in three experiments. In Experiment 1, resurgence was related to the length of reinforcement history as well as the reinforcement schedule that previously maintained responding. Specifically, more resurgence occurred when key pecks had been reinforced on a variable‐interval 1‐min schedule than a variable‐interval 6‐min schedule, but this effect may have been due either to the differential reinforcement rates or differential response rates under the two schedules. When reinforcement rates were similar (Experiment 2), there was more resurgence of high‐rate than low‐rate responding. When response rates were similar (Experiment 3), resurgence was not related systematically to prior reinforcement rates. Taken together, these three experimental tests of concurrent resurgence illustrate that prior response rates are better predictors of resurgence than are prior reinforcement rates.
STEADY‐STATE ASSESSMENT OF IMPULSIVE CHOICE IN LEWIS AND FISCHER 344 RATS: BETWEEN‐CONDITION DELAY MANIPULATIONS
Authors: Madden Gregory J. , Smith Nathaniel G. , Brewer Adam T. , Pinkston Jonathan W. , Johnson Patrick S.
Published: June 2009

Previous research has shown that Lewis rats make more impulsive choices than Fischer 344 rats. Such strain‐related differences in choice are important as they may provide an avenue for exploring genetic and neurochemical contributions to impulsive choice. The present systematic replication was designed to determine if these findings could be reproduced using a procedure less susceptible to within‐ or between‐session carry‐over effects that may have affected previous findings. Specifically, delays to the larger‐later food reinforcer were manipulated between conditions following steady‐state assessments of choice, and the order of delays across conditions was mixed. The results confirmed previous findings that Lewis rats made significantly more impulsive choices than Fischer 344 rats. Fischer 344 rats' preference for the larger‐later reinforcer, on the other hand, was less extreme than reported in prior research, which may be due to carry‐over effects inherent to the commonly used technique of systematically increasing delays within session. Previously reported across‐strain motor differences were reproduced as Lewis rats had shorter latencies than Fischer 344 rats, although these latencies were not correlated with impulsive choice. Parallels between reduced dopamine function in Lewis rats and clinical reports of impulse‐control disorders following treatment of Parkinson patients with selective D2/D3 dopamine agonists are discussed.
INTERRESPONSE TIME STRUCTURES IN VARIABLE‐RATIO AND VARIABLE‐INTERVAL SCHEDULES
Authors: Bowers Matthew T. , Hill Jade , Palya William L.
Published: June 2009

The interresponse‐time structures of pigeon key pecking were examined under variable‐ratio, variable‐interval, and variable‐interval plus linear feedback schedules. whereas the variable‐ratio and variable‐interval plus linear feedback schedules generally resulted in a distinct group of short interresponse times and a broad distribution of longer interresponse times, the variable‐interval schedules generally showed a much more continuous distribution of interresponse times. The results were taken to indicate that a log survivor analysis or double exponential fit of interresponse times may not be universally applicable to the task of demonstrating that operant behavior can be dichotomized into bouts of engagement and periods of disengagement.
AN ANALYTIC FORM FOR THE INTERRESPONSE TIME ANALYSIS OF SHULL, GAYNOR, AND GRIMES WITH APPLICATIONS AND EXTENSIONS
Authors: Kessel Robert , Lucke Robert L.
Published: June 2009

Shull, Gaynor and Grimes advanced a model for interresponse time distribution using probabilistic cycling between a higher‐rate and a lower‐rate response process. Both response processes are assumed to be random in time with a constant rate. The cycling between the two processes is assumed to have a constant transition probability that is independent of bout length. This report develops an analytic form of the model which has a natural parametrization for a higher‐rate within‐bout responding and a lower‐rate visit‐initiation responding. The analytic form provides a convenient basis for both a nonlinear least‐squares data reduction technique to estimate the model's parameters and Monte Carlo simulations of the model. In addition, the analytic formulation is extended to both a refractory period for the rats' behavior and, separately, the strongly‐banded behavior seen with pigeons.
A COMPUTATIONAL THEORY OF SELECTION BY CONSEQUENCES APPLIED TO CONCURRENT SCHEDULES
Authors: McDowell J. J , Caron Marcia L. , Kulubekova Saule , Berg John P.
Published: June 2009

Virtual organisms animated by a computational theory of selection by consequences responded on symmetrical and asymmetrical concurrent schedules of reinforcement. The theory instantiated Darwinian principles of selection, reproduction, and mutation such that a population of potential behaviors evolved under the selection pressure exerted by reinforcement from the environment. The virtual organisms' steady‐state behavior was well described by the power function matching equation, and the parameters of the equation behaved in ways that were consistent with findings from experiments with live organisms. Together with previous research on single‐alternative schedules (McDowell, 2004; McDowell & Caron, 2007) these results indicate that the equations of matching theory are emergent properties of the evolutionary dynamics of selection by consequences.
PIONEER IN BEHAVIORAL PHARMACOLOGY: A TRIBUTE TO JOSEPH V. BRADY
Authors: Barrett James E.
Published: June 2009

The contributions of Joseph V. Brady to behavioral pharmacology span more than 50 years and range from early studies using the Estes‐Skinner (conditioned emotional response) procedure to examine drug effects and various physiological processes in experimental animals to the implementation of mobile methadone treatment services and to small group behavioral analyses in simulated space environments. This expansive range of activities is based on Brady's insight and innovative use of behavioral procedures, his spirited and unabashed enthusiasm for the discipline and its philosophical underpinnings, together with a collegiality and commitment to the experimental analysis of behavior that is both legendary and inspirational. These contributions are summarized and highlighted in this tribute that focuses primarily on Brady's contributions to behavioral pharmacology but which also acknowledges his conceptual and technical contributions spanning multiple disciplines.
Incident Dysglycemia and Progression to Type 1 Diabetes Among Participants in the Diabetes Prevention Trial–Type 1
Authors: Sosenko Jay M. , Palmer Jerry P. , Rafkin-Mervis Lisa , Krischer Jeffrey P. , Cuthbertson David , Mahon Jeffery , Greenbaum Carla J. , Cowie Catherine C. , Skyler Jay S. ,   the Diabetes Prevention Trial–Type 1 Study Group
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVE

We studied the incidence of dysglycemia and its prediction of the development of type 1 diabetes in islet cell autoantibody (ICA)-positive individuals. In addition, we assessed whether dysglycemia was sustained.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Participants (n = 515) in the Diabetes Prevention Trial–Type 1 (DPT-1) with normal glucose tolerance who underwent periodic oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were followed for incident dysglycemia (impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, and/or high glucose levels at intermediate time points of OGTTs). Incident dysglycemia at the 6-month visit was assessed for type 1 diabetes prediction.

RESULTS

Of 515 participants with a normal baseline OGTT, 310 (60%) had at least one episode of dysglycemia over a maximum follow-up of 7 years. Dysglycemia at the 6-month visit was highly predictive of the development of type 1 diabetes, both in those aged <13 years (P < 0.001) and those aged ≥13 years (P < 0.01). Those aged <13 years with dysglycemia at the 6-month visit had a high cumulative incidence (94% estimate by 5 years). Among those who developed type 1 diabetes after a dysglycemic OGTT and who had at least two OGTTs after the dysglycemic OGTT, 33 of 64 (52%) reverted back to a normal OGTT. However, 26 (79%) of the 33 then had another dysglycemic OGTT before diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

ICA-positive individuals with normal glucose tolerance had a high incidence of dysglycemia. Incident dysglycemia in those who are ICA positive is strongly predictive of type 1 diabetes. Children with incident dysglycemia have an especially high risk. Fluctuations in and out of the dysglycemic state are not uncommon before the onset of type 1 diabetes.
Italian Version of Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale: Normative Data in Patients Undergoing Oral Surgery and Relationship With the ASA Physical Status Classification
Authors: Facco Enrico , Zanette Gastone , Manani Giovanni
Published: June 2009

To test the Italian translation of Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) and to check the relationship between dental anxiety and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification (ASA-PS), the DAS was translated into Italian and administered to 1072 Italian patients (620 male and 452 female patients, ages 14–85 years) undergoing oral surgery. Patients' conditions were checked and rated according to the ASA-PS. The DAS ranged from 4 to 20 (modus  =  8, median  =  10); 59.5% of patients had a DAS of 7–12, 26.1% had a DAS >12, and 10.3% had a DAS >15. The mean DAS was 10.29 (95% confidence limit  =  0.19); female patients were more anxious than male patients (P < .001), while patients older than 60 years showed a significant decrease in the level of anxiety. Five hundred two patients were rated as ASA-PS class P1, 502 as ASA-PS class P2, and 68 as ASA-PS class P3, with a mean DAS score of 9.69, 10.78, and 11.09, respectively: the DAS difference between groups was significant (P < .001).
Retrospective Outcomes Evaluation of 100 Parenteral Moderate and Deep Sedations Conducted in a General Practice Dental Residency
Authors: Messieha Zakaria , Cruz-Gonzalez Wanda , Hakim Michel I.
Published: June 2009

An abstract of this study was presented at the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) Dental Anesthesiology Research Group in Honolulu, Hawaii, in March of 2004. This study was conducted to correlate the intraoperative and postoperative morbidity associated with moderate and deep sedation, also known as monitored anesthesia care (MAC), provided in a General Practice Residency (GPR) clinic under the supervision of a dentist anesthesiologist. After internal review board approval was obtained, 100 parenteral moderate and deep sedation cases performed by the same dentist anesthesiologist in collaboration with second year GPR residents were randomly selected and reviewed by 2 independent evaluators. Eleven morbidity criteria were assessed and were correlated with patient age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiology Physical Status Classification (ASAPS), duration of procedure, and anesthetic protocol. A total of 39 males and 61 females were evaluated. Patients' ASAPS were classified as I, II, and III, with the average ASAPS of 1.61 and the standard deviation (STDEV) of 0.584. No ASPS IV or V was noted. Average patient age was 33.8 years (STDEV, 14.57), and the average duration of procedure was 97.5 minutes (STDEV, 42.39). Three incidents of postoperative nausea and vomiting were reported. All 3 incidents involved the ketamine-midazolam-propofol anesthetic combination. All patients were treated and were well controlled with ondansetron. One incident of tongue biting in an autistic child was regarded as an effect of local anesthesia. One patient demonstrated intermittent premature atrial contractions (PACs) intraoperatively but was stable. Moderate and deep sedation, also known as MAC, is safe and beneficial in an outpatient GPR setting with proper personnel and monitoring. This study did not demonstrate a correlation between length of procedure and morbidity. Ketamine was associated with all reported nausea and vomiting incidents because propofol and midazolam are rarely associated with such events.
Perioperative Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea With Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Authors: Arisaka Hirofumi , Sakuraba Shigeki , Kobayashi Reiko , Kitahama Homare , Nishida Naofumi , Furuya Munetaka , Yoshida Kazu-ichi
Published: June 2009

The high risks associated with general anesthesia in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients have been reported. Many authors have suggested that the intraoperative administration of opioids and sedatives should be limited or avoided because these drugs selectively impair muscle activity in the upper airway. We report the case of an OSAS patient who was managed with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) and treated safely in spite of the use of conventional anesthetic and analgesic agents typically used for patients without OSAS. She had little pain during the perioperative period. It is suggested that NCPAP is an effective treatment for not only preventing airway obstructive apnea but for allowing the administration of anesthetic and analgesic drugs without major complications.
Nitrous Oxide and the Inhalation Anesthetics
Authors: Becker Daniel E. , Rosenberg Morton
Published: June 2009

Nitrous oxide is the most commonly used inhalation anesthetic in dentistry and is commonly used in emergency centers and ambulatory surgery centers as well. When used alone, it is incapable of producing general anesthesia reliably, but it may be combined with other inhalation and/or intravenous agents in deep sedative/general anesthestic techniques. However, as a single agent, it has impressive safety and is excellent for providing minimal and moderate sedation for apprehensive dental patients. To gain a full appreciation of the pharmacology, physiologic influences, and proper use of nitrous oxide, one must compare it with other inhalation anesthetics. The purpose of this CE article is to provide an overview of inhalation anesthetics in general and to address nitrous oxide more specifically in comparison.
Autopsy Findings of a Case with Oxalosis
Authors: Doganavsargil Basak , Akil Ipek , Sen Sait , Mir Sevgi , Basdemir Gulcin
Published: June 2009

Oxalosis, deposition of calcium oxalate in tissues, is the final stage of hyperoxaluric syndromes. Being a rare entity, it is often missed, or the diagnosis is delayed, since the definitive diagnosis requires special laboratory tests. Kidneys, the walls of blood vessels, and bones are the major sites for crystal deposition. We report the autopsy findings of a 4-year-old girl who presented with end-stage renal disease in which the clinical presentation was consistent with primary hyperoxaluria Type I. The case is unusual, as there was extensive crystal deposition throughout the body, including in tissues that are rarely involved, such as ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, thymus, salivary glands, pancreas, and bladder.
Incidence of acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, and other health-care–associated pathogens by dogs that participate in animal-assisted interventions
Authors: Lefebvre Sandra L. , Reid-Smith Richard J. , Waltner-Toews David , Weese J. Scott
Published: June 2009

Objective—To determine whether dogs that visited human health-care facilities were at greater risk of acquiring certain health-care–associated pathogens, compared with dogs performing animal-assisted interventions in other settings, and to identify specific behaviors of dogs associated with an increased risk of acquiring these pathogens.

Design—Prospective cohort and nested case-control studies.

Animals—96 dogs that visited human health-care facilities and 98 dogs involved in other animal-assisted interventions.

Procedures—Fecal samples and nasal swab specimens were collected from dogs at the time of recruitment and every 2 months for 1 year and were tested for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile, and other selected bacteria. Information was also obtained on facilities visited during animal-assisted interventions, dog diet, dog illnesses, and antimicrobial use within the home. At the end of the study, dog handlers were asked about the behavior of their dogs during visits to health-care facilities.

Results—Rates of acquisition of MRSA and C difficile were 4.7 and 2.4 times as high, respectively, among dogs that visited human health-care facilities, compared with rates among dogs involved in other animal-assisted interventions. Among dogs that visited human health-care facilities, those that licked patients or accepted treats during visits were more likely to be positive for MRSA and C difficile than were dogs that did not lick patients or accept treats.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that dogs that visited human health-care facilities were at risk of acquiring MRSA and C difficile, particularly when they licked patients or accepted treats during visits.
Prevalence and nature of cost discussions during clinical appointments in companion animal practice
Authors: Coe Jason B. , Adams Cindy L. , Bonnett Brenda N.
Published: June 2009

Objective—To determine prevalence and nature of cost discussions between veterinarians and pet owners during clinical appointments in companion animal practice.

Design—Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Sample Population—20 veterinarians in companion animal practice in eastern Ontario and 350 clients and their pets.

Procedures—200 veterinarian-client-patient interactions were randomly selected from all videotaped interactions and analyzed with the Roter interaction analysis system. Additional proficiency codes and blocking functions were developed to capture the prevalence, nature, and context of cost discussions.

Results—58 of the 200 (29%) appointments that were analyzed included a discussion of cost. During 38 of these 58 (66%) appointments, the discussion involved costs associated with the veterinarian's time or with services provided by the veterinarian. Overall, reference to a written estimate was made during only 28 of the 200 (14%) appointments. Cost discussions were most common during appointments in which a decision related to diagnostic testing or dentistry was made. Appointments were significantly longer when a cost discussion was included than when it was not.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results of the present study suggested that discussions related to cost were relatively uncommon during clinical appointments in companion animal practice and that written estimates were infrequently used to aid these discussions. When discussions of cost did occur, veterinarians appeared to focus on explaining costs in terms of the veterinarian's time or services provided by the veterinarian, rather than on the medical information that could be obtained or the benefits to the future health or function of the pet.