In the present research we examined the effects of bodily experience on processing of insults in a series of semantic categorization tasks we call insult detection tasks (i.e., participants decided whether presented stimuli were insults or not). Two types of insults were used: more embodied insults (e.g., asswipe, ugly), and less embodied insults (e.g., cheapskate, twit), as well as non-insults. In Experiments 1 and 2 the non-insults did not form a single, coherent category (e.g., airbase, polka), whereas in Experiment 3 all the non-insults were compliments (e.g., eyeful, honest). Regardless of type of non-insult used, we observed facilitatory embodied insult effects such that more embodied insults were responded to faster and recalled more often than less embodied insults. In Experiment 4 we used a larger set of insults as stimuli, which allowed hierarchical multiple regression analyses. These analyses revealed that bodily experience ratings accounted for a significant amount of unique response latency, response error, and recall variability for responses to insults, even with several other predictor variables (e.g., frequency, offensiveness, imageability) included in the analyses: responses were faster and more accurate, and there was greater recall for relatively more embodied insults. These results demonstrate that conceptual knowledge of insults is grounded in knowledge gained through bodily experience.

Physical movement as a conduit for experiential learning within the academic context of anatomy is a strategy currently used in university dance education. This same approach can be applied to other movement-based practices, for example, yoga. The primary purpose of this study was to pilot a novel teaching curriculum to yoga practitioners, based on Bruner's Theory of Instruction, which incorporated the four adaptive modes of Kolb's Theory of Experiential Learning. The secondary purpose was to assess the applicability of anatomical knowledge within the participants' yoga practice. Following the development of a curriculum appropriate for a spectrum of academic backgrounds, participants were recruited to attend a 2-hour learning session within the Department of Anatomy at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The learning session guided participants through the bones and muscles of the lower limb pertaining to five specific yoga poses. Based on participant feedback, the sessions were positively received and consistent. In addition, learning session participants were able to apply the anatomical information they were taught to their yoga practice 1-month later. Bruner and Kolb's independent theories on curriculum design and effective learning practice were successfully incorporated to create a 2-hour learning session. The potential use of experiential learning to compliment and/or enhance traditional didactic teaching in the academic context of anatomy should be further explored.

The constraints influencing the development of nurse education are widely debated and discussed within the academic, professional and public arena. In order to challenge these constraints it is proposed that nurse education should promote every opportunity for students to engage in critical dialogue with a range of influential sources. This paper will report on an integrated educational model for graduate entry curriculum design. The model capitalises on the skills and attributes students bring to the course, which are collectively termed "graduateness," by utilising a range of teaching and learning approaches which compliment and build upon each other to foster the characteristics of a capable practitioner. It is envisaged that this will better enable those graduating from this programme to respond to the changing context of healthcare.

The penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) are peripheral membrane enzymes that catalyze the final steps for the biosynthesis of the essential bacterial cell wall heteropolymer peptidoglycan. Bacteria produce a number and variety of PBPs which are classified as either high molecular weight or low molecular weight PBPs. The high molecular weight PBPs are multimodular being comprised of an N-terminal membrane anchor followed by a non-penicillin binding domain and a C-terminal penicillin-binding domain. The penicillin-binding domain functions as a serine-acyl transpeptidase to catalyze the crosslinking of neighboring glycan strands within the peptidoglycan sacculus. PBP 3 from Escherichia coli has been studied extensively and it has been shown to be responsible for the synthesis of peptidoglycan during the division and septation of the cells. The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a similar compliment of PBPs to E. coli, but differences in their organization and function have been noted. To investigate these differences further, appropriate quantities of each of the P. aeruginosa PBPs are required in forms amenable for study both in vivo and in vitro. Herein, we describe the cloning and expression of the ftsI gene encoding PBP 3from P. aeruginosa. The PBP was engineered in soluble form to facilitate its study in vitro and with a hexa-His tag to permit its facile purification by affinity chromatography. The recombinant proteins were demonstrated to bind penicillin and these forms of the PBPs were shown to be useful in studying their localization within their host cells by immunogold transmission electron microscopy.

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is a versatile imaging tool that brings much to the assessment of valvular heart disease. Although it is best known for myocardial imaging (even in valve disease), it provides excellent assessment of all 4 heart valves, with some distinct advantages, including a free choice of image planes and accurate flow and volumetric quantification. These allow the severity of each valve lesion to be characterized, in addition to optimal visualization of the surrounding outflow tracts and vessels, to deliver a comprehensive package. It can assess each valve lesion separately (in multiple valve disease) and is not affected by hemodynamic status. The accurate quantitation of regurgitant lesions and the ability to characterize myocardial changes also provides an ability to predict future clinical outcomes in asymptomatic patients. This review outlines how CMR can be used in cardiac valve disease to compliment echocardiography and enhance the patient assessment. It covers the main CMR methods used, their strengths and limitations, and the optimal way to apply them to evaluate valve disease.

Keywords: cardiac magnetic resonance; flow quantification; valve disease.

Covalent inhibition has recently gained a resurgence of interest in several drug discovery areas. The expansion of this approach is based on evidence elucidating the selectivity and potency of covalent inhibitors when bound to particular amino acids of a biological target. The Nedd4-1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, is characterized by two covalent binding sites, of which catalytic Cyscat and allosteric Cysallo are enclosed. This enzyme has demonstrated inhibition at both the above-mentioned binding sites; however, a detailed molecular understanding of the structural mechanism of inhibition upon Cyscat and Cysallo binding remains vague. This prompted us to provide the first account of investigating the preferential covalent binding mode and the underlying structural and molecular dynamic implications. Based on the molecular dynamic analyses, it was evident that although both catalytic and allosteric covalent binding led to greater stability of the enzyme, a preferential covalent mechanism of inhibition was seen in the allosteric-targeted system. This was supported by a more favorable binding energy in the allosteric site compared to the catalytic site, in addition to the larger number of residue interactions and stabilizing hydrogen bonds occurring in the allosteric covalent bound complex. The fundamental dynamic analysis presented in this report compliments, as well as adds to previous experimental findings, thus leading to a crucial understanding of the structural mechanism by which Nedd4-1 is inhibited. The findings from this study may assist in the design of more target-specific Nedd4-1 covalent inhibitors exploring the surface-exposed cysteine residues.

A well-designed self-defense curriculum, congruent with psychophysiologically informed trauma research and treatment, and integrated with input from therapists, can serve as an important adjunctive treatment. We provide a detailed description of such a program modified to be an experiential, psychoeducational intervention for female survivors of trauma. Recent research on the role of blocked motor responses in the development of pathology post-trauma is explored as a potential explanatory mechanism for the therapeutic benefits of self-defense training. Through specific examples and descriptions of teaching methods, we examine how this intervention compliments and augments traditional psychotherapeutic treatment of trauma sequelae.

One important method to obtain the continuous surfaces of soil properties from point samples is spatial interpolation. In this paper, we propose a method that combines ensemble learning with ancillary environmental information for improved interpolation of soil properties (hereafter, EL-SP). First, we calculated the trend value for soil potassium contents at the Qinghai Lake region in China based on measured values. Then, based on soil types, geology types, land use types, and slope data, the remaining residual was simulated with the ensemble learning model. Next, the EL-SP method was applied to interpolate soil potassium contents at the study site. To evaluate the utility of the EL-SP method, we compared its performance with other interpolation methods including universal kriging, inverse distance weighting, ordinary kriging, and ordinary kriging combined geographic information. Results show that EL-SP had a lower mean absolute error and root mean square error than the data produced by the other models tested in this paper. Notably, the EL-SP maps can describe more locally detailed information and more accurate spatial patterns for soil potassium content than the other methods because of the combined use of different types of environmental information; these maps are capable of showing abrupt boundary information for soil potassium content. Furthermore, the EL-SP method not only reduces prediction errors, but it also compliments other environmental information, which makes the spatial interpolation of soil potassium content more reasonable and useful.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are relatively rare diseases. Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are more common in women than men (2:1 ratio), while inclusion body myositis is twice as common in men. Inflammatory myopathies are a heterogeneous group of chronic systemic autoimmune diseases with an annual incidence of two to five cases per million, characterized by muscle inflammation and progressive muscle weakness. There are three major diseases which includes Dermatomyositis (DM) including a distinct juvenile subtype (JDM), Polymyositis (PM), and Inclusion Body Myositis. DM is a compliment mediated microangiopathy affecting skin and muscle. PM and IBM are T-cell mediated disorders, where CD8 positive cytotoxic T cells invade muscle fibers expressing MHC class I antigens, this leading to fiber necrosis. In IBM, vacuolar formation with amyloid deposits are also present. This article summarizes the clinical, histochemical and immunological features as well as the treatment options of the inflammatory myopathies.

Fever is a prominent sign of an acute-phase response induced by microbial invasion, tissue injury, immunologic reactions, or inflammatory processes. This generalized host response is produced by a multiplicity of localized or systemic diseases and characterized by acute, subacute, or chronic changes in metabolic, endocrinologic, neurologic, and immunologic functions. The fundamental event is an initiation of the acute-phase response by the production of a mediated molecule called IL-1. This polypeptide is produced primarily from phagocytic cells such as blood monocytes, phagocytic lining cells of the liver and spleen, and other tissue macrophages. IL-1 produces a local reaction but also enters the circulation, acting as a hormone to mediate distant organ system responses to infection, immunologic reaction, and inflammatory processes. Fever is the result when IL-1 initiates the synthesis of prostaglandins, notably prostaglandin E2 in the thermoregulatory center located in the anterior hypothalamus. The thermostatic set point is then raised and mechanisms to conserve heat (vasoconstriction) and to produce heat (shivering) are initiated. The result is a sudden rise in body temperature. The same basic mechanisms are involved in FUO. Many of the biologic and biochemical changes that are seen in FUO are also evidence of an acute-phase response. The elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate is partly due to increased synthesis of hepatic proteins, including compliment components, ceruloplasmin, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein. IL-1 acts directly on the bone marrow to increase absolute numbers and immaturity of circulating neutrophils. Anemia is produced by many mechanisms, including the reduction of circulating serum iron. Although fever production in the elderly maybe delayed or of less intensity, it is still a marker of significant disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Fetal hepatic ultrastructure was examined from 18 days gestation to term. Such structure was compared to that of tissue obtained at 18 days gestation which had been maintained in organ culture for 24, 48, and 72 h. In addition, the effects of maternal glucocorticoid administration in vivo and in vitro organ culture glucocorticoid exposure upon fetal hepatic morphogenesis were examined. Enhanced fetal hepatocyte ultrastructural maturation, characterized by a reduction in hematopoietic percursors, an increased frequency of hepatocyte-hepatocyte contact, a complete compliment of intracellular organelles, and the development of bile canaliculi by either maternal in vivo or in vitro fetal organ culture glucocorticoid exposure, was demonstrated. These studies extend previous observations concerning bile salt synthesis and secretion by fetal hepatic tissue both in vivo and in vitro by providing an ultrastructural basis for the functional changes observed and reported to occur in response to steroid therapy

Protein is a principal component in commonly used dietary supplements and health food products. The analysis of these products, within the consumer package form, is of critical importance for the purpose of ensuring quality and supporting label claims. A rapid test method was developed using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a compliment to current protein determination by the Dumas combustion method. The NIR method was found to be a rapid, low-cost, and green (no use of chemicals and reagents) complimentary technique. The protein powder samples analyzed in this study were in the range of 22-90% protein. The samples were prepared as mixtures of soy protein, whey protein, and silicon dioxide ingredients, which are common in commercially sold protein powder drink-mix products in the market. A NIR regression model was developed with 17 samples within the constituent range and was validated with 20 independent samples of known protein levels (85-88%). The results show that the NIR method is capable of predicting the protein content with a bias of ±2% and a maximum bias of 3% between NIR and the external Dumas method.

OBJECTIVE

Although the pathogeneses of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and periodontal diseases have overlapping features, including ageing and chronic inflammation, the association between AD and periodontitis remains unclear. To explore the pathogenesis of periodontitis, a comprehensive gene expression/transcriptome analysis in periodontitis-affected gingival tissues found that the AD pathway was significantly up-regulated in periodontitis-affected gingival tissues. AD-related genes, amyloid beta precursor protein (APP), interleukin-1 beta and compliment 1QA, were significantly elevated in periodontitis. In the present study, balance between mRNA expression of APP and a potent amyloid degradation enzyme, neprilysin (NEP), as well as protein localisation of APP and NEP were analysed.

METHODS

Eighteen periodontitis-affected and 18 clinically healthy control gingival tissues were taken from patients with severe chronic periodontitis or undergoing tooth extraction. Total RNA was purified and used for quantitative reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The localisation of APP and NEP was analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

Both APP and NEP genes were up-regulated in periodontitis-affected gingival tissues. APP-expressing macrophages and NEP-expressing neutrophils and fibroblasts, reflecting inflammatory stages, were detected in inflamed gingival tissues by IHC.

CONCLUSIONS

The up-regulation of APP and NEP mRNA levels in periodontitis-affected gingival tissues compared with healthy controls was confirmed by qRT-PCR analyses. Since NEP is one of the primary enzymes that degrades amyloid beta, increased NEP mRNA levels in periodontitis may act as an inhibitor of amyloid beta accumulation in gingival tissues, balancing increased APP mRNA expression. However, NEP has several effects including degradation of vasoactive substances; therefore, further sresearch is needed.

The male-specific H-Y antigen is present on mammalian cell membranes and has been identified by various methods, including antiserum cytotoxicity. The objective of the present study was to determine the sex of in vitro produced (IVP) bovine embryos, at varying stages of development, by culturing in the presence of rat monoclonal H-Y antibodies. Embryos derived from IVM/IVF were classified according to the interval after IVF (48, 96 or 120 h) as Category 1, 2 or 3 if they had 4 to 8, <32, and >32 cells, respectively. Embryos of each category were cultured for 24h in TCM-199 supplemented with bovine oviductal epithelial cells, fetal calf serum (FCS), and antibiotics (Control group), to which the following had been added: guinea pig serum (GPS; C' group); H-Y antiserum (HY group); or GPS and H-Y antiserum (C' + HY group). After culture, embryos were designated as "affected" when development was arrested or one or more blastomeres was degenerate; embryos lacking these changes were designated "unaffected." The sex of each embryo was subsequently determined by chromosome analysis. After 48h of IVF (Category 1), within each of the four treatments, the proportion of unaffected embryos was higher than the proportion of unaffected embryos (81% versus 19%, P < 0.05). Similarly, the Control, C' and HY groups of Categories 2 and 3 embryos had different proportions of unaffected versus affected embryos (75% versus 25%, P < 0.05). In all these groups, the male:female ratio did not significantly differ from 1:1. In contrast, in the C' + HY group of Categories 2 and 3 embryos, the ratio of unaffected versus affected embryos was 41% versus 59% (P < 0.05) and the male:female ratio differed (P < 0.05) from the expected 1:1 ratio (approximately 0.3:1 and 4.5:1 for unaffected versus affected, respectively). In conclusion, when bovine embryos were cultured in the presence of rat monoclonal H-Y antibodies and compliment, alterations occurred in embryos that were beyond the 8-cell stage; we inferred that the antibodies cross-reacted with H-Y antigens.

Intensity of luminescence quenching in recombinant strains of Escherichia coli with cloned lux-operones by human blood serum is directly proportional to the degree of bactericidal effect assessed by nephelometric and bacteriological methods. This correlation was most characteristic of E. coli with luminescence genes from Photobacterium leiognathi, which substantiates its use in the development of the kinetic bioluminescent method to determine of serum bactericidal activity. The possibility of using this method for evaluation of activity of classic and alternative pathways of compliment activation was demonstrated by using zymosan or EGTA-Mg(2+)-treated sera and C1-C5-deficient sera.

Compliments are often viewed primarily as a linear event in which one person expresses approval or admiration of another. Far less attention has been given to the circular nature of compliments and the manner in which they enhance the positions of both the giver and the receiver of the compliment. Therapeutic compliments have proven to be highly effective means of motivating clients, while at the same time increasing therapeutic leverage. This article proposes that compliments should be purposefully given, and that the type of compliment should vary with the stage of therapy and the intended response of the client to the compliment.

A comprehensive study of ultrafast molecular relaxation processes of isomeric meso-(pyridyl) porphyrins (TpyPs) has been carried out by using femtosecond time-resolved emission and absorption spectroscopic techniques upon pumping at 400 nm, Soret band (B band or S2), in 4:1 dichloromethane (DCM) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent mixture. By combined studies of fluorescence up-conversion, time-correlated single photon counting, and transient absorption spectroscopic techniques, a complete model with different microscopic rate constants associated with elementary processes involved in electronic manifolds has been reported. Besides, a distinct coherent nuclear wave packet motion in Qy state is observed at low-frequency mode, ca. 26 cm(-1) region. Fluorescence up-conversion studies constitute ultrafast time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) over the whole emission range (430-710 nm) starting from S2 state to Qx state via Qy state. Careful analysis of time profiles of up-converted signals at different emission wavelengths helps to reveal detail molecular dynamics. The observed lifetimes are as indicated: A very fast decay component with 80 ± 20 fs observed at ∼435 nm is assigned to the lifetime of S2 (B) state, whereas being a rise component in the region of between 550 and 710 nm emission wavelength pertaining to Qy and Qx states, it is attributed to very fast internal conversion (IC) occurring from B → Qy and B → Qx as well. Two distinct components of Qy emission decay with ∼200-300 fs and ∼1-1.5 ps time constants are due to intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) induced by solute-solvent inelastic collisions and vibrational redistribution induced by solute-solvent elastic collision, respectively. The weighted average of these two decay components is assigned as the characteristic lifetime of Qy, and it ranges between 0.3 and 0.5 ps. An additional ∼20 ± 2 ps rise component is observed in Qx emission, and it is assigned to the formation time of thermally equilibrated Qx state by vibrational cooling/relaxations of excess energy within solvent. This relaxed Qx state decays to ground as well as triplet state by 7-8 ns time scale. The femtosecond transient absorption studies of TpyPs in three different excitations at S2 (400 nm), Qy (515 nm), and Qx (590 nm) along with extensive global and target model analysis of TA data exclusively generate the true spectra of each excited species/state with their respective lifetimes along with microscopic rate constants associated with each state. The following five exponential components with lifetime values of 65-70 fs, ∼0.3-0.5 ps, ∼20 ± 2 ps, ∼7 ± 1 ns, and 1-2 μs are observed which are associated with S2, Qy, hot Qx, thermally relaxed Qx, and lowest triplet (T1) states, respectively, when excited at S2, and four (Qy, hot Qx, thermally relaxed Qx, and lowest triplet (T1) states) and three (hot Qx, thermally relaxed Qx, and lowest triplet (T1) states) states are obtained when excited at 515 nm (Qy) and 590 nm (Qx), respectively, as expected. The TA results parallel the fluorescence up-conversion studies, and both the results not only compliment each other but also unveil the ultrafast internal conversion from S2 to Qy, S2 to Qx, and Qy to Qx for all three isomers in a similar fashion with nearly equal characteristic decay times.

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to investigate the seroprevalence of ovine and bovine brucellosis in the livestock-wildlife interface area of Nechisar National Park, Ethiopia. Furthermore, producer's knowledge about brucellosis and its zoonotic potential was assessed using a structured questionnaire. A total of 268 cattle and 246 goat sera were collected from 50 herds and 46 flocks and subjected to Rose Bengal test (RBT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in parallel to detect anti-Brucella species antibodies. Positive reactions were further confirmed with compliment fixation test (CFT). Flock and herd level seroprevalence rate was 12.8% (95% CI 4.8-25.7) and 32.0% (95% CI 19.5-46.7) in goats and cattle, respectively. An overall animal-level seroprevalence of 4.5% (95% CI 2.25-7.86) and 9.7% (95% CI 6.44-13.89) was recorded for goats and cattle, respectively. Seroprevalence showed an increasing trend with age, where adult cattle>> 2 years. Goats >> 1 year) recorded relatively higher seroprevalence, but the differences were not statistically significant. Similarly, female cattle and goats recorded a relatively higher seroprevalence, 11 and 5.6%, respectively, compared to males but the difference was not significant. However, a significant (P < 0.01) variation of seroprevalence was noted for parity (bovine), higher in animals in second parity, and abortion history, in both species, higher in animals that experienced abortion. Interviews revealed lack of awareness about brucellosis and food safety related to the zoonotic potential from consuming raw animal products (milk and meat). Ninety-eight percent of respondents did not consider handling abortion material is risky, and only a very low proportion (8%, n = 50) was able to mention limited zoonotic diseases (anthrax and Taenia cysticercosis) could be transmissible to people. The study indicated that brucellosis is endemic in domestic animals in the interface area and calls for further broad epidemiological investigation of the disease in livestock, human and wildlife following 'one health' unified research approaches beside enhancing public awareness.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of alpha- and beta-diastereomers of arteether in healthy male volunteers.

METHODS

The study was a single-centre clinical pharmacokinetic trial in healthy male subjects. A group comprising 13 subjects aged 25-50 years received a single intramuscular 150 mg individual dose of the arteether formulation containing alpha- and beta-isomers in a 30:70 ratio. Serial blood samples collected over a period of 0-192 hours were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation/tandem mass spectrometry and the plasma concentrations were subjected to compartmental and noncompartmental analyses. Pharmacodynamic parameters such as area under the inhibitory curve, ratio of area under the concentration-time curve to minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC), maximum plasma concentration to MIC (Cmax/MIC) and time that plasma concentration exceeds the MIC (T>MIC) were calculated in vitro in four strains of Plasmodium falciparum to evaluate the in vivo effectiveness of the proposed dosage regimen.

RESULTS

There were no adverse effects observed during the study. The extent of metabolism of arteether to dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was low (approximately 5%) so as to be therapeutically nonsignificant. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the arteether diastereomers were different, and the maximum plasma concentrations of alpha- and beta-isomers were reached at 4.77+/-1.21 hours and 6.96+/-1.62 hours, respectively, after which they showed biphasic decline with apparent terminal elimination half-lives of 13.24+/-1.08 hours and 30.17+/-2.44 hours, respectively. The plasma and renal clearances, as well as whole blood to plasma partition ratios of the isomers, were comparable, while the apparent volume of distribution during terminal phase of the beta-isomer was approximately 3-fold higher than that of the alpha-isomer. In vitro erythrocyte culture experiments with four strains of P. falciparum showed similar MICs for both isomers of arteether. The highest observed MIC of 8 microg/L was selected for estimating the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters, which showed excellent correlation with published data on the clinical efficacy of arteether.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacokinetics of arteether isomers demonstrated stereoselectivity, which was reflected mainly in the volume of distribution and the terminal elimination half-life. The alpha- and beta-isomers of arteether appeared to compliment each other pharmacokinetically, with the alpha-isomer providing comparatively rapid and higher plasma concentrations resulting in immediate reduction in percentage parasitaemia, while the beta-isomer, with its longer terminal elimination half-life, mean residence time and sustained plasma concentrations, maintained the activity for longer periods. The extent of metabolic conversion of arteether to DHA was minimal, so as to have any therapeutic or toxic significance.

High rates of comorbidity and overlapping diagnostic criteria between pediatric bipolar disorder (BD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) contribute to diagnostic and treatment confusion. To advance what is known about both disorders, we compared effect of emotional stimuli on response control in children with primary BD, primary ADHD and typically developing controls (TDC). Participants included 7-17 year olds with either "narrow-phenotype" pediatric BD (n = 25), ADHD (n = 25) or TDC (n = 25). Groups were matched on participant age and FSIQ. The effect of emotional stimuli on response control was assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery Affective Go/No-Go task (CANTAB AGN). We found a group by target valence interaction on commission errors [F(2,71) = 5.34, p < 0.01, ƞ p (2) = 0.13] whereby ADHD, but not TDC participants, made more errors on negative than positive words [t(24) = -2.58, p < 0.05, r = 0.47]. In contrast, there was a nonsignificant trend for BD participants to make fewer errors on negative versus positive words compared to ADHD and TDC participants. Between-subjects effects showed that ADHD participants made more errors than TDC, but not BD participants. Our main finding advances what is known about the effect of emotional stimuli on response control in children with ADHD. Our results suggesting a positive affective processing bias in children with ADHD compliment emerging literature show that difficulties with emotional processing and regulation may be core features of ADHD. Further, given the observed pattern of results in children with ADHD compared to BD children, our behavioral results suggest the importance of examining differences in the brain-behavior mechanisms involved in affective processing in children with ADHD compared to BD children.

BACKGROUND

The national health service in the Republic of Ireland is one of a number of European health services currently undergoing significant reform. Out-of-hours primary care has been at the forefront of this process of change, and although patients appear satisfied, the complexity of their response to changes in out-of-hours care has not been fully explored.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct an analysis of qualitative data collected during a recent study of patients' satisfaction with out-of-hours care in order to explore the full range of patients' views and experiences.

METHODS

All patients contacting a family-doctor out-of-hours cooperative over a designated 24-day period were forwarded a postal questionnaire. The questionnaire contained a section giving the patient the opportunity to add qualitative comments concerning their experience. The data were analysed according to the principles framework analysis using Nvivo software.

RESULTS

Analysis of the data resulted in the development of the following thematic categories: service availability, service accessibility, efficiency, continuity of care and quality of care. There was a range of views, both positive and negative, apparent around these themes, with evidence of patients engaging in careful decisions and "trade-offs" in respect of their options for out-of-hours care.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients hold a range of views that suggests the complexity around patient satisfaction with out-of-hours care. A qualitative methodological approach can compliment current approaches to the evaluation of patient satisfaction, facilitating the exploration of the full range of patients' views and experiences.

The present study extended findings of contrast effects in an auditory sarcasm perception task manipulating context and tone of voice. In contrast to previous research that had used sarcastic and sincere statements with a positive literal meaning, the present experiment examined how statements with a negative literal meaning would affect the results. Eighty-four undergraduate students completed a task in which an ambiguous, positive, or negative computer-generated context spoken in a flat emotional tone was followed by a statement with a negative literal meaning spoken in a sincere or sarcastic tone of voice. Results for both the proportion of sarcastic responses and response time showed a significant context by tone interaction, reflecting relatively fast sarcastic responses for the situation in which sarcasm would turn the statement into a compliment (positive context, sarcastic intonation) and fast sincere responses when the literal insult was emphasized (negative context, sincere intonation). However, the ambiguous context produced a pattern of results modulated by the tone of voice that was similar to that observed when the context/intonation pairing could not be interpreted as a compliment or an insult (negative context/sarcastic intonation or positive context/sincere intonation). These findings add to the body of literature suggesting that situational contrast, context, and intonation influence how sarcasm is perceived while demonstrating the importance of the literal meaning in sarcasm perception. They can be interpreted in the context of models of sarcasm comprehension that postulate two stages of processing.