Promotion of Xyloglucan Metabolism by Acid pH

Like indoleacetic acid, buffers of acidic pH, which stimulate elongation of pea (Pisum sativum var. Alaska) stem tissue, induce the appearance within the tissue of a watersoluble xyloglucan polymer that probably arises from previously deposited wall material. Neutral pH buffers, which inhibit the elongation response to indoleacetic acid in this tissue, inhibit indoleacetic acid-induced increase in soluble xyloglucan. The findings provide further evidence that release of soluble xyloglucan from the cell walls of pea results from the biochemical action on the cell wall that is responsible for wall extension. The data also indicate that treatment of tissue with either auxin or acidic pH has a similar biochemical effect on the cell wall. This is consistent with the H(+) secretion theory of auxin action.

Fibrinous uremic pleuritis: a surgical entity

Fibrosing uremic pleuritis is a newly recognized late complication of uremia. Extreme incarceration of the lining and chest wall can occur with disabling restriction of pulmonary function. Decortication of the chest wall and the lung can be carried out safely with minimal bleeding and restoration of pulmonary function.

Combination Adriamycin and radiation therapy in gynecologic cancers

Anthracyclic antibiotics, of which Adriamycin is representative, have the ability to bind to cellular DNA and thereby interfere with the X-ray repair process. When radiation survival curves of tissue cultures were studied, increased cell-killing was noted in those cultures with Adriamycin over those without the drug. The mechanism by which this occurs may be related to a reduced rate of DNA strand break rejoining, as demonstrated by use of alkaline sucrose gradient techniques. A preliminary clinical Phase I study, in which patients with advanced gynecologic malignancy were treated by simultaneous Adriamycin and X radiation, suggests that combined therapy is well-tolerated, and that such combinations may prove useful in selected patients.

Effects of internal and external control of reinforcement on binary-choice probability learning

This study investigated the relationship between belief in one's ability to control reinforcements and performance in a binary-choice probability-learning situation under varying conditions of risk. The probability-learning task required S repeatedly to predict whether a red or green bulb would light up next. Red was programmed to occur 75% of the time. The sequence was random and not contingent upon Ss' responses. Rotter's Internal-External scale was used to select Ss who generally believed reinforcements were affected by their own behavior (internals) to compare with individuals who believed that most reinforcements were beyond personal control (externals). The conditions of risk were no-payoff, win or lose, win or break even, lose or break even, and reverse (lose for a correct guess and break even for an incorrect one). Performance on the reverse condition differed from all others, with Ss selecting the objectively more frequent event significantly less often. The difference resulted from the behavior of male externals and female internals, who predicted the less frequent event to avoid loss of chips. This is discussed within the framework of social learning theory.