Cephalic vasomotor feedback in the modification of migraine headache

The effect of cephalic vasomotor response (CVMR) and frontalis electromyographic (EMG) feedback on control of temporal arterial vasoconstriction and frontalis muscle activity in migraine and muscle contraction headache patients was investigated. A single subject multiple baseline design (across subjects and responses) was introduced to evaluate (1) patterning in the two physiological systems and (2) the effects of CVMR and EMG feedback on headache activity. The data indicated that (a) all four patients demonstrated an ability to control CVMR activity during CVMR feedback and EMG during EMG feedback, (b) idiosyncratic patterns of physiological activity emerge during feedback training, and (c) learned control of the pain mechanism for muscle contraction and migraine headaches was related to reduced frequency and duration of these headaches.Portions of this paper were presented at the Ninth Annual Convention of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, San Francisco, 1975.     

A bar code scoring system for behavioral research

A data collection method using lap-top computers and bar codes was developed and used in behavioral research. The studies involved several common sampling methods and a variety of study subjects. Advantages and restrictions of the system are discussed. Overall, we found bar code technology to increase both efficiency and accuracy of behavioral data collection.     

Temperature and Photoperiod Influence Postharvest Needle Abscission of Selected Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea L. (Mill.)) Genotypes by Modulating ABA Levels

Seasonal changes in the concentration of abscisic acid (ABA) in current-year needles of two different genotypes (AB-NSD-004 and AB-NSD-184) were monitored in branches collected from 20-year-old balsam fir (Abies balsamea L. (Mill.)) trees over a period of 11 months. A significant genotype × harvesting time interaction was observed for endogenous ABA levels and postharvest needle retention duration (NRD). A consistent pattern of seasonal variation in ABA concentration was observed in both genotypes, with the highest amount of ABA (7,887 ng g^?1 DW) accumulating in April and May. The highest levels of ABA coincided with the lowest postharvest NRD regardless of genotype. Nevertheless, genotypes differed in their ABA concentrations. Branches of genotype AB-NSD-184 sampled during August exhibited 170 days of NRD whereas those collected in May and June registered the lowest NRD of around 40 days. There was a significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) between endogenous ABA concentrations and postharvest NRD in genotype AB-NSD-184. Also, an inverse relationship was observed between the average daily photoperiod and the postharvest NRD (R ² = 0.35; P = 0.000) in the same genotype. Together with average daily temperature, the R ² value for this correlation reached the highest (0.75; P ≤ 0.00). Genotypes differed in their physiological responses to environmental cues and thus differed in their postharvest qualities. Average daily photoperiod and maximum daily temperature are strongly linked to the postharvest NRD through modulating endogenous ABA concentration.     

Microbial transformation ofN-heptyl physostigmine,a semisynthetic alkaloid inhibitor of cholinesterase

The microbiological transformation ofN-heptyl physostigmine (L-693, 487) (1), a semisynthetic physostigmine cholinesterase inhibitor, was investigated usingVerticillium lecanii MF 5713 (ATCC 74148),Acremonium sp MF 5723 (ATCC 74164) andActinoplanes sp MA 6559 (ATCC 53771). Nine microbial metabolites (2–10) of 1 were isolated and purified using reversed-phase HPLC. The structures of the metabolites were established using spectroscopic techniques including MS and NMR. Some of the microbial metabolites were identical to metabolites present in urine of a dog treated with 1.