Intraindividual stability in the organization and patterning of behavior: incorporating psychological situations into the idiographic analysis of personality

In nomothetic analyses, the cross-situational consistency of individual differences in social behavior, assessed in vivo in a camp setting, dependent on the similarity in the psychological features of situations. As predicted by the social-cognitive theory of personality, idiographic analyses revealed that individuals were characterized by stable profiles of if ... then ...,situation-behavior relationships that formed "behavioral signatures" of personality (e.g., he aggresses when warned by adults but complies when threatened by peers. Thus, the intraindividual organization of behavior variation across situations was enduring but discriminatively patterned, visible as distinctive profiles of situation-behavior relationships. Implications were examined for an idiographic reconceptualization of personality coherence and its behavioral expressions in relation to the psychological ingredients of situations.

Intraindividual stability in the organization and patterning of behavior: incorporating psychological situations into the idiographic analysis of personality

In nomothetic analyses, the cross-situational consistency of individual differences in social behavior, assessed in vivo in a camp setting, dependent on the similarity in the psychological features of situations. As predicted by the social-cognitive theory of personality, idiographic analyses revealed that individuals were characterized by stable profiles of if ... then ...,situation-behavior relationships that formed "behavioral signatures" of personality (e.g., he aggresses when warned by adults but complies when threatened by peers. Thus, the intraindividual organization of behavior variation across situations was enduring but discriminatively patterned, visible as distinctive profiles of situation-behavior relationships. Implications were examined for an idiographic reconceptualization of personality coherence and its behavioral expressions in relation to the psychological ingredients of situations.

Sensory nerve conduction velocity of the dorsal penile nerves of bulls

Mean conduction velocity of sensory axons of the dorsal penile nerves of clinically normal bulls was determined by recording action potentials evoked by cutaneous stimulation. Locations of stimulating and recording electrodes were standardized. Overall mean +/- SD conduction velocity was 55.1 +/- 5.1 m/s. Mean +/- SD velocity recorded from the distal electrode was 53.3 +/- 4.9 m/s; velocity recorded from the middle electrode was 55.3 +/- 5.0 m/s; and velocity recorded from the proximal electrode was 56.7 +/- 5.1 m/s. Differences among means were not significant. Four bulls had mean conduction velocities of 54.0 m/s and 48.4 m/s before and 3 weeks after castration, respectively.

Which dogs bite? A case-control study of risk factors

OBJECTIVE

Dog bites cause an estimated 585,000 injuries resulting in the need for medical attention yearly and children are the most frequent victims. This study sought to determine dog-specific factors independently associated with a dog biting a nonhousehold member.

METHODS

A matched case-control design comprising 178 pairs of dogs was used. Cases were selected from dogs reported to Denver Animal Control in 1991 for a first-bite episode of a nonhousehold member in which the victim received medical treatment. Controls were neighborhood-matched dogs with no history of biting a nonhousehold member, selected by modified random-digit dialing based on the first five digits of the case dog owner's phone number. Case and control dog owners were interviewed by telephone.

RESULTS

Children aged 12 years and younger were the victims in 51% of cases. Compared with controls, biting dogs were more likely to be German Shepherd (adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 16.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.8 to 71.4) or Chow Chow (ORa = 4.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 13.7) predominant breeds, male (ORa = 6.2, 95% CI 2.5 to 15.1), unneutered (ORa = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.3), residing in a house with > or = 1 children (ORa = 3.5, 95% CI 1.6 to 7.5), and chained while in the yard (ORa = 2.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatricians should advise parents that failure to neuter a dog and selection of male dogs and certain breeds such as German Shepherd and Chow Chow may increase the risk of their dog biting a nonhousehold member, who often may be a child. The potential preventability of this frequent public health problem deserves further attention.

Concomitant brainstem axonal dystrophy and necrotizing myopathy in vitamin E-deficient rats

The purpose of this study was to simultaneously evaluate in rats the effects of vitamin E depletion on tissue alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T) concentrations, electrophysiologic measurements and histopathology. Rats (21-day-old male Wistar) were fed either vitamin E-deficient or supplemented (control) diets (n = 6/group) for 10, 16, and 61 weeks. At these times, electrophysiologic tests (electromyography, spinal and somatosensory evoked potentials, and motor nerve conduction velocity) were performed, the rats were killed and alpha-T concentrations of adipose tissue, sciatic nerve, and cervical and lumbar spinal cord were measured along with histopathologic evaluation of skeletal muscles and the nervous system. By 61 weeks, depletion of alpha-T from adipose tissue and peripheral nerve was more severe (< 1% of controls) than from cervical and lumbar spinal cord (15 and 8% of controls, respectively). Electrophysiologic tests were normal at all times. Histopathologic evaluation at 61 weeks revealed normal peripheral nerve structure, but necrosis of type 1 muscle fibers and increased numbers of spheroids in the gracile and cuneate nuclei. Our results confirm that low alpha-T concentrations in tissues precede histologic changes in peripheral nerves and skeletal muscle. Furthermore, pathologic changes associated with vitamin E deficiency occur independently in muscle and nervous tissue of rats.

Accuracy of LOWTRAN 7 and MODTRAN in the 2.0-5.5-µm region

LowTRAN 7 and MODTRAN were evaluated in the 2.0-5.5-µm region against field-collection data at high zenith angles and long path lengths to determine the degree of uncertainty associated with these models under these conditions. Matching data sets were developed with data from the U.S. Air Force Geophysics Laboratory's Flying Infrared Signatures Technology Aircraft (FISTA) as the field reference. The percent difference between the model and the field data was determined. Agreement between the model and the field data was found to be better than 97% for most cases. Median percent difference was within 10% for zenith angles less than 90°.

Noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus in a system for in vitro production of bovine embryos

Techniques for in vitro production of bovine embryos have evolved to the extent that applications for the commercial production of calves have been proposed. However, little is known about the epidemiological implications of the procedures. One concern is the introduction of noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). In this study, follicular oocytes (n=247) collected from 10 cows were matured and fertilized in vitro and presumptive zygotes were cultured for 7 d. Primary cultures of bovine oviductal epithelial cells for use during in vitro fertilization and culture were divided into 2 groups. Treated oviductal cells were infected with BVDV while control cells were not exposed to the virus. Two approximately equal groups of mature oocytes from each cow were inseminated, and the presumptive zygotes were cultured with infected or noninfected oviductal cells. After 7 d in culture, zona pellucida-intact morulae/blastocysts and degenerated ova were washed, sonicated and assayed for the presence of virus. The rates of cleavage and development were also compared by Chi-square analysis. After washing, virus was not isolated from morulae and blastocysts but was isolated from some groups of degenerated ova. Infections of oviductal cells were inapparent and did not significantly (P>0.05) affect rates of cleavage or development.

The role of situational demands and cognitive competencies in behavior organization and personality coherence

Consistency in the natural organization of aggressive and prosocial (constructive) behavior, assessed repeatedly in vivo over a summer in a residential camp for children, was predicted from situational and personal characteristics. Similarity of situations in the types of competencies they demand in part predicted cross-situational consistency in individual differences in aggressive behaviors (Study 1). Study 2 examined the effect of cognitive competence on the discriminative patterning of behavior variation across situations. More cognitively competent Ss showed such discriminative patterning, which was reflected in greater Person X Situation interaction variance in their prosocial behavior.

Use of prostaglandin products by dairy cattle owners, beef cattle owners, and veterinarians

Questionnaires regarding the use of prostaglandin F2 alpha and its analogues (hereafter referred to as PG) were sent to 332 Alabama beef cattle owners and to 279 Alabama dairy cattle owners after attempting to contact them by telephone to request their participation in the survey. Questionnaires concerning the use of PG in their clients' herds were likewise sent to 147 food animal and mixed animal practitioners in Alabama after attempting telephone contact. Response among beef cattle owners, dairy cattle owners, and veterinarians to whom questionnaires were mailed was 64.5, 61.6, and 75.5%, respectively. Only 7.4% (13 of 175) of respondent beef cattle owners reported use of PG in their herds, and this use was predominantly for artificial insemination and embryo transfer. In contrast, 66.5% (109 of 164) of respondent dairy cattle owners reported use of PG, generally with satisfactory results, for some of the following conditions: unobserved estrus (n = 77), uterine infections (n = 74), retained placenta (n = 65), cystic ovaries (n = 56), estrus synchronization (n = 45), and induction of parturition (n = 13). Although 94.9% of respondent veterinarians treated cattle with PG, those attending beef herds thought that more important strategies were available for improvement of beef cattle productivity than increased use of PG. Among these strategies were shorter calving seasons, improved nutrition, better record keeping, more frequent herd health visits, improved animal identification, and increased use of bull breeding soundness examinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The role of situational demands and cognitive competencies in behavior organization and personality coherence

Consistency in the natural organization of aggressive and prosocial (constructive) behavior, assessed repeatedly in vivo over a summer in a residential camp for children, was predicted from situational and personal characteristics. Similarity of situations in the types of competencies they demand in part predicted cross-situational consistency in individual differences in aggressive behaviors (Study 1). Study 2 examined the effect of cognitive competence on the discriminative patterning of behavior variation across situations. More cognitively competent Ss showed such discriminative patterning, which was reflected in greater Person X Situation interaction variance in their prosocial behavior.

Scanning electron microscopy of intraocular lenses that had been implanted in dogs

Scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate changes on the surfaces of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), silicone, and polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) intraocular lenses (IOL) that had been implanted in the anterior chambers of the right eyes of 15 dogs. Five dogs received PMMA IOL; 5 dogs received silicone IOL; and 5 dogs received HEMA IOL. Twenty-eight days after surgery, the IOL were removed and processed for scanning electron microscopy. Nonimplanted IOL of each type were processed identically for comparison. Implanted PMMA IOL had significantly more debris and macrophages on their surfaces than did silicone IOL or HEMA IOL. Silicone IOL had significantly less fibrin deposition than did PMMA or HEMA IOL. Silicone IOL had surface defects attributable to handling by surgical instruments. Implanted HEMA IOL had multiple pits that appeared to be caused by biodegradation.

Development of a DNA probe for identification of bovine herpesvirus 4

A sensitive and specific DNA probe for detection and identification of bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV-4) was developed. Cloned fragments from a library of HindIII fragments of the BHV-4 (DN-599) genome were labeled with 32P or digoxigenin and were tested for sensitivity and specificity in detecting viral DNA by dot-blot hybridization. Two probes were identified that detected 10 pg of purified viral DNA, and detected viral DNA in 0.001 micrograms of total DNA extracted from BHV-4-infected cells. Both probes labeled with 32P and 1 labeled with digoxigenin detected viral DNA in samples prepared from cells infected with 2 prototype strains (DN-599 and Movar 33/63) and 4 field isolates of BHV-4. The DNA probes did not hybridize to total DNA prepared from uninfected bovine cells or from cells infected with BHV-1, BHV-2, alcelaphine herpesvirus 1, pseudorabies virus, or equine herpesvirus 1. One probe, labeled with digoxigenin, was tested further by dot-blot hybridization with infected cell lysates that were simply treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate and proteinase K prior to application to the membrane, avoiding extensive DNA purification procedures. This simplified procedure also resulted in specific detection of field isolates of BHV-4 and prototype strains of BHV-4.

Use of in vitro fertilization for production of calves from involuntary cull cows

PURPOSE

The main purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of a combined system for in vitro maturation of oocytes, in vitro fertilization, and in vitro culture of embryos for production of calves from cows that have to be removed prematurely from production units.

RESULTS

Eighteen cows that were to be culled from experimental dairy production units were ovariectomized. An average of 45.7 oocytes per cow was collected from the ovaries. After in vitro maturation and fertilization of the oocytes, an average of 40.8 presumptive zygotes was placed into in vitro culture, with an average of 16.1 cleaving by day 2 and an average of 5.7 developing to morulae/blastocysts by day 6 or 7. A greater mean quantity of oocytes was collected from cows that were ovariectomized between day 5 and day 13 of the estrous cycle than from those that were ovariectomized between day 0 and day 3 of the estrous cycle. Correspondingly larger mean numbers of cleaved zygotes and morulae/blastocysts were produced from the cows that were ovariectomized between day 5 and day 13 of the cycle. Transferable embryos were produced from 17 of the 18 cows. Eighteen embryos from six oocyte donor cows were transferred to recipients. Six of the eighteen recipients were confirmed to be pregnant after 40 days. Three of the pregnant recipients delivered live calves at term. Two others remain pregnant but have not reached term. The sixth recipient aborted at approximately 120 days of gestation.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from the preliminary study indicate that this system can be used for production of calves from cull cows. Although transferable embryos were produced from all except one cow, there was a high degree of variability among cows in total number of oocytes recovered and embryos produced. More donors need to be evaluated to determine the effects of age, breed, reason for culling, and source of semen.

Atmospheric Water Absorption and the Water Budget of Terrestrial Isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Studies of terrestrial isopods (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) have revealed a capacity for active water vapor absorption (WVA) in the taxonomic sections Crinocheta and Diplocheta but not in Synocheta. Uptake thresholds in Crinocheta are modest by comparison with other vapor absorbers, but standardized uptake fluxes are among the highest recorded and are probably an adaptive requirement to counter the high transpiratory losses. Comparative data for uptake fluxes, thresholds, and transpiratory losses allows the compilation of water budgets in hypothetical temperature and humidity regimes. Given a 12-h light-dark cycle, with saturated ambient activities for diurnal WVA, all species could recover water losses incurred during nocturnal foraging in an ambient water activity of 0.75, and xeric species could forage in activities below 0.30. Xeric trends based on these models agree closely with predictions from ecotypic surveys. In the littoral Ligia oceanica (Diplocheta) haemolymph hyperosmosis and periodic submergence provide additional means of water balance regulation. It is proposed that WVA in Ligia provides an essentially solute-free water source to counteract salt-loading in the splash-zone. The absence of WVA in synochetes, together with their cryptozoic habits, reflects an alternative terrestrial strategy to those of other oniscideans.

Clinicopathologic findings after experimental implantation of synthetic intraocular lenses in dogs

Clinical findings indicate that canine eyes tolerate implantation of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) intraocular lenses (IOL) well, although inflammation and ocular damage attributable to the implants is not known. The use of silicone or polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) IOL has not been reported in dogs. In this study, 15 conditioned, mixed-breed dogs were allotted to 3 groups: 5 received PMMA IOL; 5 received silicone IOL; and 5 received HEMA IOL. The IOL optic was inserted into the anterior chamber of the right eye and anchored to the cornea. An identical surgical procedure was done on the left eye, except that no lens optic was inserted. Clinical examination and measurement of corneal thickness were done immediately prior to and after surgery. Aqueous humor samples were collected at the time of surgery and 28 days after surgery. Only mild and transient inflammation was observed in IOL-implanted eyes. On several postoperative days, it was found that PMMA IOL induced significantly greater corneal thickness, aqueous flare, anterior uveal irritation, and corneal edema than did other IOL. Significantly more anterior uveal irritation and increased aqueous humor protein concentration was observed with HEMA IOL than with PMMA or silicone IOL. Silicone IOL induced significantly less fibrin deposition than did PMMA or HEMA IOL.

Corneal thickness measured by ultrasonic pachymetry in cats

Ultrasonic pachymetry was used to measure central, superior peripheral, and temporal peripheral corneal thickness of 35 cats (70 eyes) with normal corneas, anterior chambers, and intraocular pressures. Mean central corneal thickness for both eyes in 3 locations for 35 cats was 578 +/- 64 microns. Significant differences did not exist between central and peripheral corneal thickness. Corneal thickness increased significantly (P < 0.0001) with age up to 100 months. There was no significant difference in corneal thickness with regard to sex of the cats when adjusted for age.

Heterogenic properties of clonal cell lines derived from canine mammary carcinomas and sensitivity to tamoxifen and doxorubicin

Five clonal cell lines were established from each of 3 cell lines derived from 3 primary malignant canine mammary tumors. The clonal lines in each series were compared with one another and to the respective parent cell line with regard to cellular morphology, growth on plastic, cloning efficiency (CE) and colony sizes in soft agar, estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER, PR) status, and response to tamoxifen or doxorubicin in clonogenic assays. The most remarkable differences observed among the cell lines were in CE, colony sizes, and sensitivity to doxorubicin. The clonal line which contained measurable ER, had a shift in colony-size distribution to smaller colonies when exposed to tamoxifen or tamoxifen with estradiol that may have been estrogen-receptor mediated.

Differentiation of benign from malignant breast masses by time-intensity evaluation of contrast enhanced MRI

Using gadolinium-DTPA enhanced MRI we analyzed the enhancement characteristics of palpable breast masses in 23 patients--10 cancers and 13 benign lesions. The most specific finding for separating benign from malignant lesions was a ratio of maximum intensity change divided by the time interval during which this first occurred. Designated ranges of this ratio were specific for benign disease and sensitive for malignancy in this small patient group. Three of eight fibroadenomas exhibited enhancement patterns indistinguishable from cancer.

Measurement of left ventricular mass in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using MRI: comparison with echocardiography

Left ventricular mass (LVM) is an important consideration in the management of cardiac hypertrophy associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), systemic hypertension, and other diseases. A brief MRI cardiac imaging procedure used to monitor regression of LVM during treatment would be beneficial in management of these patients, since echocardiograms cannot be obtained in all patients and since the volume of a hypertrophic heart can straightforwardly be assessed from a series of tomographic slices. The present study was designed to evaluate a brief cardiac MRI procedure for measurement of LVM in HCM and compare it to echocardiography. MRI images acquired in a simulated transverse body plane were used to evaluate the mass of the left ventricle in 6 ex vivo human hearts obtained at autopsy. The estimates of LVM by MRI in the ex-vivo hearts were within 8% of the actual LVM. MRI images were acquired to evaluate LVM in 5 normal subjects and 12 patients diagnosed with HCM. Echocardiography was accomplished on 4 of the normal subjects and 10 of the patients having HCM. There were no significant differences in LVM by MRI and echocardiographic techniques in normal subjects. Transverse MRI images acquired on normal subjects demonstrated that estimates of LVM are reproducible when repeated over 3-w to 3-mo intervals. Images selected for analysis represented the heart in an early diastolic phase. MRI and echocardiographic techniques demonstrated significant differences in LVM in HCM patients. Estimates of LVM in normal subjects and patients diagnosed with HCM were normalized for body weight. The LVM estimates for HCM patients were very significantly different than normal subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of four erythrocyte fragility tests as indicators of vitamin E status in adult dogs

Plasma alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T) concentrations, erythrocyte osmotic fragility and detergent sensitivity were measured at 8 week intervals in two 1-year-old male beagle dogs fed a vitamin E-deficient diet (< 0.08 mg per kg alpha-T) and in two control beagles fed the same diet supplemented with vitamin E (> 90 mg per kg alpha-T). Beginning at 24 weeks, dialuric acid haemolysis and spontaneous haemolysis were evaluated also. In the vitamin E-deficient dogs, plasma alpha-T concentrations declined progressively from baseline values of 20.5 and 31.3 micrograms per ml to 0.11 and 0.07 micrograms per ml, respectively, by 90 weeks. The supplemented dogs maintained alpha-T concentrations between 18.3 and 38.4 micrograms per ml. Both dialuric acid haemolysis (R = -0.89) and spontaneous haemolysis (R = -0.91) increased with declining plasma alpha-T concentration. In the dialuric acid haemolysis assay, 50 per cent haemolysis occurred when plasma alpha-T declined to 1.7 micrograms per ml, compared with spontaneous haemolysis in which 50 per cent haemolysis occurred when plasma alpha-T declined to 0.5 micrograms per ml. Osmotic fragility and detergent sensitivity remained unchanged in the vitamin E-deficient dogs throughout the study. Of the four tests, dialuric acid haemolysis was the most sensitive in-vitro assay for vitamin E deficiency in adult dogs.

Orbital neoplasms in cats: 21 cases (1974-1990)

Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common neoplasm found in a review of case records of 21 cats with histopathologically confirmed orbital neoplasms. Other neoplasms found were lymphosarcoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, malignant melanoma, adenocarcinoma, fibrosarcoma, chondroma, and hemangiosarcoma. Three (14%) neoplasms were primary, 15 (71%) were secondary, invading the orbit from adjacent tissues, and 3 (14%) were a manifestation of multicentric disease. The most common clinical sign was exophthalmia, followed by chronic epiphora, enophthalmia, and strabismus. Mean survival time after diagnosis was 1.9 months. Ten cats were euthanatized at the time of diagnosis because of extensive disease. Mean survival time of the other 11 cats was 4.3 months. Skull radiography was helpful in diagnosing orbital neoplasms in 8 of 11 cats that had invasion of the orbit by adjacent neoplasms.

Evaluation of sodium carboxymethylcellulose for prevention of adhesions after uterine trauma in ewes

Efficacy of a 1% solution of sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) infused into the peritoneal cavity of ewes was evaluated for prevention of intraperitoneal adhesions resulting from surgery of the reproductive tract. Six ewes were assigned to each of 4 groups. Group-1 ewes were controls that underwent ventral midline celiotomy and exploration of the abdominal viscera. Group-2 ewes were treated similarly to group-1 ewes, except that a 1% solution of CMC (14 ml/kg of body weight) was infused into the peritoneal cavity. This group was studied to determine whether CMC would cause changes in the peritoneal cavity. Group-3 comprised ewes representing a uterine trauma model. Ewes underwent abdominal exploration, but in addition had a standard embryo collection technique performed on 1 uterine horn and hysterotomy performed on the opposite uterine horn. Group-4 ewes were treated like group-3 ewes, except that, similar to treatment of group-2 ewes, CMC was infused into the peritoneal cavity. All ewes were euthanatized and necropsied 12 to 14 days after surgery. Abdominal adhesions were evaluated, and an adhesion severity score was assigned to each ewe on the basis of number and severity of the adhesions. Ewes of all groups had abdominal adhesions. Significantly (P less than 0.05) lower adhesion score was observed in ewes given CMC (groups 2 and 4) than in the adhesion model (group 3). Significant difference was not observed in adhesion score when groups 1, 2, or 4 were compared. Though not statistically significant, fewer adhesions were observed in ewes of groups 2 and 4 than in group-1 ewes.