bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ecology and physiology of the Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus, in Lake St. Lucia, Kwazulu/Natal, South Africa
Authors:   , Leslie Alison Jane , Spotila James Robert
Published: July 2024

Lake St. Lucia, located in Kwazulu/Natal, South Africa, supports what appears to be a relatively stable population of the Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus. Distribution of crocodiles [greater than or equal to]2.0 m in total length varied seasonally and from year to year and distribution patterns were influenced primarily by the availability of fresh water and the presence of humans. Fish made up the majority of the diet or the subadult/adult crocodiles in the lake system, followed by crustaceans. Six primary nesting areas were identified in the lake system. Although the population of adult crocodiles appeared to be stable only a small percentage of the mature females nested every year. The low reproductive effort may be directly related to food quality. Laboratory incubation of eggs and histology of gonads indicated that the lower and upper pivotal temperature for St. Lucia's Nile crocodiles was 31.7 and 34.5[degrees]C, respectively. Crocodylus niloticus therefore had a female:male:female pattern of temperature-dependent sex determination. Incubation period and relative developmental rate were strongly temperature dependent. The majority of nesting crocodiles selected open, sunny, sandy areas in which to deposit their eggs. Nests were only found in shaded sites in the Mpate river nesting area and these sites were shaded by an alien plant known as Chromolaena odorata. Shaded site temperatures were below the pivotal temperature for St. Lucia's crocodiles and nests therefore probably produced a female-biased sex ratio. This plant is posing a serious threat to the continued survival of the Nile crocodile in St. Lucia. Our osmoregulatory study demonstrated that the Nile crocodile has the physiological ability to survive and thrive in periodically hyperosmotic environments, and that this species is considerably more euryhaline than has been acknowledged previously. However, its euryhalinity is of a somewhat restricted nature in that acute exposure to sea water leads to dehydration, mass loss and possibly death, but with a short acclimation period at lower salinities it survives and thrives in sea water. We concluded this study with management recommendations for the St. Lucia Nile crocodile population.
Surface characteristics which influence cell interaction with PMMA intraocular lenses
Authors:   , Kitinoja David Michael
Published: July 2024

A radio-frequency (RF) plasma/glow discharge surface polymerization process which significantly decreases the amount of physical cell outgrowth on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) squares has been studied. A statistically significant reduction in cell attachment, adhesion and spreading of bovine lens epithelial or rabbit corneal endothelial cells onto RF-plasma modified PMMA intraocular lenses (IOLs) compared to standard, commercial (as received) PMMA intraocular lenses (IOLs) in cell culture has also been shown. The surface modification process utilizes an argon RF-plasma "non-polymer forming" surface activation as well as a RF-plasma polymerization surfacing technique. The RF-plasma surface polymerization process decreases the amount of cell outgrowth and cell attachment, adhesion and spreading on the RF-plasma modified PMMA substrates. The final RF-plasma modified PMMA substrates are also microscopically smoother and/or have improved surface energy characteristics as compared to the unmodified PMMA squares and unmodified PMMA IOLs manufactured using the currently available mechanical, tumble polishing techniques. The RF-plasma surface polymerization process can generate the same chemical surface composition as the PMMA substrates, using RF-plasma polymerized methyl methacrylate, or can have the potential of changing the surface chemistry on the PMMA substrates using various RF-plasma polymerized hydrophilic or hydrophobic organic monomers. The irregular, semi-smooth hydrophobic PMMA substrates were surface grafted and exhibited an ultrasmooth, pinhole free surface with the same surface chemistry and energy using special RF-plasma polymerization techniques by covalenting bonding RF-plasma polymerized MMA. The PMMA substrates also exhibited a relatively smoother surface finish combined with different surface chemistry and energy characteristics by covalently bonding RF-plasma polymerized hydrophilic acrylic acid or ethylenediamine and hydrophobic hexamethyldisiloxane organic monomers. This research has shown that the modified surface of the RF-plasma polymerized PMMA IOLs showed a statistically significant decrease in the amount of cell attachment, adhesion and spreading as compared with extensive cell attachment, adhesion, and spreading on the unmodified PMMA IOLs. Therefore, due to the reduced amount of cell activity, secondary opacification, pseudophakic precipitates, and synechiae, are less likely to occur on the RF-plasma modified IOLs after surgical implantation.
The regulation of the axonal cytoskeleton by extracellular and intrinsic factors
Authors:   , Ketschek Andrea Ruth , Gallo Gianluca
Published: July 2024

Axon extension and branching involves the coordinated regulation of the neuronal cytoskeleton, consisting of microtubules and actin. Growing evidence suggests that extracellular signaling cues contribute to regulating the roles of cytoskeletal proteins. The overall goal of the work presented in this thesis is to explore the effects of two extracellular signaling cues, laminin (LN) and nerve growth factor (NGF), on the neuronal cytoskeleton during axon extension and branching. Myosin II is a mechanoenzyme that generates contractile forces on actin filaments and is thought to regulate multiple aspects of axon extension. However, little is known on how extracellular guidance cues influence the role of myosin II during axon extension. In Chapter II, I report that in the presence of NGF, inhibition of myosin II differentially affects the rate of axon extension on LN and polylysine (PL) in embryonic sensory neurons. The differential effects of myosin II inhibition on axon extension rate are attributable to myosin II having the primary function of mediating substratum attachment on LN, while conversely on PL, the primary function of myosin II is to inhibit microtubule engorgement. In Chapter III, I investigated the requirement of myosin II activity during axon extension on LN in the absence of NGF. In the absence of NGF, inhibition of myosin II results in a loss of microtubules and the termination of axon extension and protrusive activity. Treatment with NGF restores microtubule polymerization, protrusive activity and axon advance even though myosin II is inhibited. The data indicates that NGF provides signals that bypass the strict requirement of myosin II for axon extension in the absence of myosin II activity. In Chapter IV, the mechanism by which NGF induces filopodia formation was addressed. I report that NGF-induced filopodia formation is a result of an increase in the frequency of axonal F-actin patch formation mediated by the PI3K-Akt pathway. In summary the work presented in this thesis contributes to our knowledge of understanding the effects of molecular signals on the neuronal cytoskeleton. This dissertation advances our understanding of the roles of myosin II activity in axon extension and filopodial formation.
Breast self examination
Authors:   , Saad Rima Maria
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this investigation was twofold. The primary objective was to determine if social problem solving would moderate the relationship between barriers to breast self examination (BSE) and BSE frequency. The role of knowledge about BSE, motivation towards health, and barriers to BSE was also examined. A secondary objective involved the assessment of a novel method of measuring BSE frequency prospectively. To accomplish these objectives, a diverse sample of 228 women, ages 18-64, was recruited to complete measures regarding BSE knowledge, health motivation, barriers to BSE, and problem-solving ability. BSE frequency was measured retrospectively as well as prospectively by means of a BSE record that documented BSE performance over a three month period. Several hierarchical multiple regressions were performed with BSE frequency as the dependent variable. The control variables were found to, contribute significantly to the variance thereby replicating previous literature. Social problem solving was also found to contribute to BSE frequency, but not moderate the relationship between barriers and the dependent variable. Specifically, rational problem solving and avoidance were found to uniquely contribute to retrospective BSE frequency. Suggestions were made on means of improving the prospective measure of BSE.
Autoignition chemistry studies of primary reference fuels and their mixtures with oxygenates in a research engine
Authors:   , Li Houliang
Published: July 2024

Autoignition chemistry plays an important role in engine knock which limits the thermal efficiency of spark ignition engines. To develop a better understanding of autoignition chemistry, this study investigated the primary reference fuels (PRF's), i.e., n-heptane and iso-octane (2,2,4-trimethyl pentane), their blends, and their mixtures with oxygenates which have been proposed as gasoline additives. The approach used was to conduct experiments in a motored research engine fueled with neat PRF's, an 87 octane blend of PRF's (87 PRF), and 87 PRF blended with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), methyl tert-amyl ether (TAME), diisopropyl ether (DIPE), methanol and ethanol. Detailed evolution profiles of reactants, molecular intermediates, and products were measured prior to autoignition via in-cylinder sampling combined with gas chromatographic analysis. The experiments provided kinetic and mechanistic information on oxidation reactions leading to autoignition. An oxidation mechanism was assembled to describe the chemical processes responsible for the measured species and ignition behavior. Some key reactions were examined and discussed in detail based on the species data. In addition, the interaction between n-heptane and iso-octane oxidation was addressed using the results of 87 PRF. The effects of adding the oxygenates on the oxidation and autoignition of 87 PRF were identified. The results showed that all of the ethers and alcohols were effective in reducing preignition reactivity and retarding autoignition, and mechanistic explanations for the behavior were proposed. In addition to the experimental approach, this study also included a modeling effort. Based on an existing ignition model, a reduced chemical kinetic model was developed for prediction of major oxidation behavior of PRF's, using the experimental results primarily from this study. The model was tuned to be applicable for the neat PRF's, 87 PRF and 63 PRF, and at various engine conditions. At a constant inlet condition, the model predicted oxidation behavior is in fairly good agreement with experiments, including ignition delay(s), preignition heat release, fuel consumption, CO formation, and production of other species classes. In addition, the model reproduced the experimentally observed dependence of overall reactivity on temperature and pressure.
Physical therapy intervention for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors:   , Gocha Victoria Ann
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of physical therapy intervention on specific measures of body function, activity, and participation and the relationships between these components in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Twenty-nine children ages 4 to 17 years with ALL in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy participated in the study. Children were stratified by risk group and time in maintenance therapy then randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group received five sessions of physical therapy over 4 months. The model of service delivery included procedural interventions and consultation with an emphasis on promoting active involvement of the child and family: specifically with interventions that included functional exercises that can be incorporated into the child's daily routine. Children in the experimental group mean ankle dorsiflexion active range of motion (AROM) and knee extension strength increased from pre- to post-test where the control groups remained stable, p < 0.01. There was little to no relationship (r ranging 0.00 to 0.25) between hemoglobin and Timed Up and Down Stairs (TUDS) (r = 0.07), hemoglobin and 9-minute run walk (r = 0.02), ankle dorsiflexion AROM and TUDS (r = 0.24), ankle dorsiflexion AROM and 9-minute run walk (r = 0.25), and knee extension strength and 9 minute-run walk (r = 0.21). Fair relationships (r ranging 0.25 to 0.50) were found between ankle dorsiflexion strength and TUDS ( r = 0.42, p < 0.05) and ankle dorsiflexion strength and 9-minute run walk (r = 0.416, p < 0.05). Eighteen percent of the variance accounted for in the parent general PedsQL, a health related quality of life measure, was explained by the TUDS. Twenty-two percent of the variance accounted for in the child cancer PedsQL was explained by ankle dorsiflexion strength. No variables explained the variance in parent cancer PedsQL or child general PedsQL. This study identified significant improvements in ankle dorsiflexion AROM and knee extension strength in children with ALL following 4 months of physical therapy. In children with ALL there are relationships between specific measures of body function, activity, and participation.
Adaptive Algorithm for High Data Rate Through-Metal Communication
Authors:   , Bielinski Magdalena M. , Dandekar Kapil R
Published: July 2024

A number of control network applications necessitate data transmission in environments where metallic structures radio frequency network connectivity. In a majority of these applications, it is also highly undesirable to physically penetrate the impeding structure to enable communication through wires or cabling. One such example regards the deployment of wireless sensing and control networks on U.S. Navy vessels for vital automated ship operation maintenance. The ship hull obstructs electromagnetic wave propa- gaLion and limits network connectivity. However, mechanically penetratmg the bulkhead compromises the structural integrity of the ship compartments and the requirement for the vessel to remain watertight. In such applications, ultrasonic signaling has been proposed to achieve reliable data communication without penetration of the metallic structure. The reverberant nature of the acoustic channel generated between the interface of the transducers and metal wall becomes a network throughput bottleneck, bounding narrowband communication techniques to maximum data rates of roughly 5 Mbps in practice. Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) has smce been shown as a promising technique to mitigate the fre- qucncy selectivity of the ultrasonic channel and increase achievable data rates without the need for complex equalizers. However, OFDM is prone to high peak-to-avemge power ratios (PAPR) in the transmitted signal which can lead to decreased system performance. This thesis presents a link adaptive OFDM-based ultrasonic physical layer created to enhance through-metal communication by exploiting the slow-varying nature of the ultrasonic channel and employing a combined rate adaptive and PAPR reduction algorithm. Simulated and measured results obtained using this novel Joint Adaptive Algorithm suggest that an increase in throughput rates, reduction in PAPR, and adherence to a desired quality of service constraint can be simultaneously achieved in the ultrasonic channel. These enhancements provide throughput and reliability to support a variety of high-data-rate network applications in environments where metallic structures would otherwise compromise data transmission.
Induction of B cell tolerance by gene therapy
Authors:   , Bracy Jennifer L. , Galili Uri
Published: July 2024

Shortages of human organs for transplantation have made it necessary to examine the possibility of using non-human organs for xenotransplantation-the transplantation of tissues between different species. Pigs are regarded as the most likely species to serve as donors for clinical xenotransplantation. However, rejection of pig tissues, mediated by the host's immune system, remains a major barrier to successful xenotransplantation. The primary immunological barrier to overcome before clinical xenotransplantation can be successful is rejection mediated by preformed natural antibodies in the host directed toward a single carbohydrate epitope Gal[alpha]1-3Gal[beta]1-4GlcNAc-R ([alpha]Gal) present on porcine tissue encoded for by the enzyme glucosyltransferase UDP galactose:[beta]-D-galactosyl-1,4-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminide [alpha](1-3)galactosyltransferase (E. C. 2.4.1.151) or simply [alpha]GT. While the most stable means of inducing tolerance relies on bone marrow transplantation to achieve a state of mixed hematopoietic cellular chimerism, the use of xenogeneic bone marrow transplantation to induce tolerance is not yet acceptable clinically because of the severity of the host preparative regimen required to allow engraftment; the potential for graft-versus-host disease; and difficulty in establishing bone marrow engraftment across species barriers. Herein is demonstrated in [alpha]GT knockout mice (GT0 mice), which like humans contain in their serum antibodies that bind [alpha]Gal, that efficient transduction and expression of a retrovirally transduced [alpha]GT gene in bone marrow derived cells induces stable long-term tolerance to the [alpha]Gal epitope. GT0 mice reconstituted with [alpha]GT transduced bone marrow were unable to produce antibodies that bind [alpha]Gal after extensive immunization with pig cells. Using ELISPOT assays, B cells that produce [alpha]Gal reactive antibodies were undetectable following immunization, suggesting that such B cells were eliminated from the immunological repertoire following gene therapy. Furthermore, hyperacute rejection of [alpha]Gal expressing H-2 matched heart grafts was prevented in GT0 mice that received [alpha]GT transduced bone marrow. After tolerance to [alpha]Gal was induced by gene therapy, the anti-porcine non-[alpha]Gal humoral response changed from a predominantly IgM to IgG response. This suggests that once the natural antibody barrier is eliminated by the induction of tolerance, the anti-pig response changes to a typical T cell dependent response involving isotype switching. Thus, gene therapy approaches may be used to overcome immunological responses leading to xenograft rejection.
Treatment utilization and community adjustment of dually diagnosed and singly diagnosed/psychiatric adults at a partial hospital program
Authors:   , Sassoon Stephanie Ann Olszowka
Published: July 2024

In this research, differences were elucidated between chronically mentally iii patients presenting with and without comorbid substance use disorder diagnoses, who sought treatment at a partial hospital program. Data from 96 dually diagnosed (DD) patients and 93 singly diagnosed (SD) patients were compared. Differences were examined in the areas of (1) demographic characteristics, (2) utilization of the program, and (3) treatment outcome. Dually diagnosed patients had a significantly greater hospitalization history when compared to SD patients, due to DDs' substance use history. The DD group had a greater history of arrests than the SD group, also due to substance-related infractions of the law. Regarding treatment utilization, as predicted, DDs left the program earlier than SDs. Significantly more DDs than SDs dropped out of the program during their second month in treatment. No difference in type of discharge or track record of attendance was found between the groups. Regarding community adjustment, there was no difference in the number and length of hospitalizations required by patients in either group during their course of treatment at the program. However, DDs required hospitalization earlier, most notably at around the ninth month of treatment. Contrary to initial hypothesis, both groups were found to be functioning initially at a similar level, as measured by GAF and SLOF scores. On the GAF, both groups demonstrated significant improvement over time. On the SLOF, both groups demonstrated significant improvement in interpersonal relationships over time, although there was no change for either group regarding work skills. Results indicated that a highly-structured program, which offered a novel approach to treating both DD and SD patients within a holistic model, served as a catalyst for change for both of these groups. Contrary to reports in the research literature, the DD patients in this study benefited from the program, to the same degree as the SD patients. Moreover, during their course of treatment, DD patients utilized the same number of inpatient services as SDs, despite their addiction histories, again suggesting a positive effect of the program. Ways to target particular timepoints for risks of dropout or rehospitalization were addressed.
The effectiveness of perceived coercive and noncoercive pressures to enter methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction
Authors:   , Glass David J.
Published: July 2024

Coercion has been acknowledged as a common factor affecting clients' decisions to enter addictions treatment. Coercion may be present in many forms, some of which are formal, such as legal mandates from presentence diversion programs, probation, or parole, and some of which are more informal, such as pressure from family members and friends. Until recently, however, relatively little research has examined the effectiveness of either the informal forms of coercion or of other noncoercive pressures. This study examines the relationship between perceptions of both coercive and noncoercive pressures to enter treatment and treatment retention and outcome in participants in an outpatient treatment program for heroin addiction. Perceived pressures to enter treatment are measured using the two available instruments: the Treatment Coercion Interview (TCI), which measures perceived coercive and noncoercive pressures to enter treatment in multiple psychosocial domains (family, social. legal, financial, medical, psychiatric, religious, and drug), and the MacArthur Admission Experience Scale - Short Form (AES), which focuses on perceived coercive pressures exclusively. Substantive analyses indicate that among patients in outpatient methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction, coercion represents only a small part of the total range of reported pressures. Furthermore, perceived coercive and noncoercive pressures operate in multiple psychosocial domains, with legal sources of pressure representing a surprisingly small percent of total responses. Comparisons of the two instruments reveal that the TCI's broader definition of perceived pressure allows for greater and more detailed reporting of significant influences experienced by patients than does the AES, which tends to focus primarily on formal, legal coercion. Multiple regression analyses, using counseling session attendance, the number of weeks in treatment, and urinalysis results as criterion measures revealed that perceived pressures in the psychological, financial, and medical domains best predicted successful treatment outcome, and that perceived pressures in the legal domain were only predictive of linger treatment tenure without increased levels of drug sobriety. Additionally, the Voice subscale of the AES was found to be predictive of linger stays in treatment. Finally, exploratory factor analysis utilizing the coded interview answers from the TCI produced four interpretable factors that offer a tentative first look at how the different types of sources perceived pressure to enter treatment may work in concert. These four factors were named Medical Concerns, Financial Concerns, Family Concerns, and Legal Concerns. Implications for future drug treatment policy and other mental health treatment planning are discussed and directions for future research are proposed.
Dose reduction through variable dose scanning
Authors:   , Stanton Robert Edward
Published: July 2024

This thesis proposes and evaluates a novel approach to patient radiation dose reduction in x-ray C. T. scanning, Variable Dose Scanning. This technique spares radiosensitive tissues from the insult of unnecessary radiation when they are not in the area of immediate clinical interest. Specifically evaluated is the potential for reduction of dose to the eye and active bone marrow in head transmission computerized tomography. Using computer simulations, doses are calculated for an easily implementable two level exposure variation, and results are discussed for the fully optimized case where the intensities of all pencil beams are independently variable. The dose reduction possible for one case is 65% and another, 78%. This thesis then determines whether the current conventional reconstruction algorithms in C. T. (filtered back projection or Fourier reconstruction) are optimal in terms of signal to noise ratio of the final images for this novel scanning technique. To do this, a Cramer-Rao lower bound to noise in the image which is independent of reconstruction algorithm is derived and calculated for several types of scan. Input to this calculation comprises optimized photon distributions in the sense that the minimum dose is given while constraining the noise in the region of clinical interest. The bound uses the photon distributions determined from this mathematical optimization and is compared with the actual noise of these reconstructions. The comparison indicates that little if any improvement can be expected in signal to noise ratio using reconstruction algorithms other than the filtered back projection. The conclusion is that Variable Dose Scanning is a clinically useful technique of regional scanning which does not adversely effect image noise while it significantly reduces the radiation dose to the patient.
Determination of the viscosity of certain liquid metal glass-forming alloys
Authors:   , Steinberg Jerry I.
Published: July 2024

The viscosities of Fe(,40)Ni(,40)P(,14)B(,6), Fe(,40)Ni(,40)B(,20), Pd(,82)Si(,18) and Pd(,77.5)Si(,16.5)Cu(,6) were measured. These alloys exhibit deep eutectics and become amorphous when rapidly quenched to ambient temperatures. The iron based alloys which require large cooling rates, have viscosities in the centipoise range, typical of other liquid metals. Both palladium based alloys which require relatively low cooling rates, have viscosities which are two orders of magnitude larger than any other known liquid metals. The measurement of these anomalous viscosities was accomplished using an Oscillating Cup Viscometer. The normal operating range of this instrument was extended to include the case of large viscosity liquids. Using standard fluids it is shown that accurate measurements of viscosity can be obtained for both large and small values of viscosity. Using the results of the viscosity measurements for the liquid metal glass forming alloys, the viscosity temperature relationship between the melting point and the glass temperature are proposed. Calculation of the critical cooling rates for glass formation from time-temperature-transformation theory is compared with experimental values.
Characterization of phosphoinositide-linked dopamine receptor
Authors:   , Jin Li-Qing , Friedman Eitan
Published: July 2024

Evidence has accumulated suggesting that stimulation with dopamine or dopamine D1 agonists can activate phosphoinositide metabolism. Mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain to be solved. Does the dopamine D1A receptor mediate the activation? Does dopamine interact with other receptors, which are known to link to phosphoinositide hydrolysis? Is phosphoinositide hydrolysis secondary to receptor-stimulated Ca²⁺ influx? What kind of G-protein subunits and phospholipase C isozymes are involved in the cascade? Clarification of these issues will help better our understanding of this novel dopamine system. With the aid of the dopamine D1A knockout animal model, the present study clearly excluded the involvement of this receptor in dopamine-induced phosphoinositide metabolism. It was found that when dopamine-mediated activation of adenylyl cyclase is blocked, dopamine or dopamine D1 agonist, SKF38393, stimulated inositol phosphates formation remains unchanged in this transgenic model. Difficulties have been only recently overcome with regard to using cell-free membrane preparations in studies of phosphoinositide metabolism. With this technique, it was demonstrated that aforementioned agonists possess the ability to stimulate the hydrolysis of exogenously provided phosphoinositide substrates. It was also shown that phosphoinositide formation in response to dopamine or SKF38393 was not mediated by the release of other neurotransmitters or by changes in intracellular Ca²⁺ level. Many efforts have been made to clone this novel dopamine receptor. One of factors that prevent this ambition becoming reality is the low abundance of this receptor in the brain. After screening of several cell lines, HN33.11 cell (a hybrid neuroblastoma x hippocampal neuron cell line) was found to duplicate most pharmacological features of dopamine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in the brain. In this homogeneous cell population, dopamine or SKF38393 elicited inositol phosphate accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. This activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis was specifically blocked by the dopamine D1 antagonist, SCH23390, but not by other receptor antagonists such as prazosin ([alpha]1-adrenoceptor), mesulergine (5-HT2/1C receptor), or atropine (muscarinic acetylcholine receptor). Extracellular calcium appeared to play little if any role in dopaminergic regulation of phosphoinositide metabolism. It was further demonstrated that Gq[alpha] subunit and phospholipase C [beta]3/[beta]4 relay the signals produced by stimulation of phosphoinositide-linked dopamine receptor in this cell line.
The West Haven-Yale multidimensional pain inventory as a predictor of outcome in chronic pain patients who undergo spinal cord stimulator or infusion pump implantations
Authors:   , Mesholam Raquelle I. , Barakat Lamia
Published: July 2024

Spinal cord stimulator (SCS) and infusion pump (IP) implantations have become increasingly popular for treating patients suffering from intractable, chronic pain. However, SCS and IP are still viewed as invasive procedures and their efficacy may vary widely. Adhering to a cognitive-behavioral framework of evaluating pain, four subscales from the West Haven-Yale Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) were chosen to determine their contribution to the variability of SCS and IP outcome. Several unanticipated, but clinically- and empirically-meaningful findings emerged. First, both response style on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 2 (MMPI-2) and the 4 MPI scales significantly discriminated between patients whose trial implants were failures and those whose trial implants were successful, with response style and the Negative Mood scale from the MPI being the most significant contributors to accurate classification. An underreporting response bias was more prevalent in the trial failure group, and increased negative mood symptoms predominated the trial success group. Second, for the trial success group, the 4 MPI scales together did not significantly predict any of the 4 aspects of outcome examined (pain intensity, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and participation in common daily activities) above and beyond that accounted for by demographic/clinical variables. Considered individually, the Negative Mood scale significantly predicted pain severity post-implant, and was the only one of the 4 MPI scales to significantly predict any of the 4 outcome dimensions after the effects of demographic/clinical variables were controlled. Of the demographic/clinical variables assessed, education level, pain duration, employment status, and primary pain site significantly predicted at least one of the four components of outcome. Finally, of the 4 outcome dimensions, only pain severity showed a significant change pre- to post-implant, was significantly influenced by any of the 4 MPI scales (i.e., Negative Mood), and was best predicted by the independent variables. Factors that may have contributed to variance in the findings are discussed, and clinical and research implications are proposed.
Complex partial seizures
Authors:   , Winfrey Angela
Published: July 2024

The research effort documented impulsive and explosive behaviors in children diagnosed with complex partial seizures of fronto-temporal origin. Based on literature some "bizarre", aggressive and destructive behaviors, identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III-R as criteria for Impulse Control Disorders, may be early indicators of complex partial seizures (Stores, Zawailla, & Bergel, 1991; Monroe, 1989; Williamson, 1992; Weiser, Swartz, Delgado-Escueta, Bancaud, Walsh, Maldonado & Saint-Hilaire, 1992). Little research verifies when conditions emerge, develop and continue during the early and middle childhood life span. The study design was retrospective and correlational with CPSs as the predictor variable and impulsive and/or explosive behaviors as the criterion variables. Participants were parents of children diagnosed with CPSs of fronto-temporal origin between the ages of 4 and 10 years old. Chart review of medical records, EEG studies supporting the diagnosis, the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS) were completed to document parent observations of prediagnostic and current behavioral functioning. Paired t-tests for one tailed significance were calculated on criteria scores of CBCL and VABS and was only found to be statistically significant at the.05 confidence level on the VABS. Paired t-tests for two tailed significance on the VABS revealed statistically significant findings between.001 and.05 for Daily Living compared to Communication and Socialization skills.
DSM-III controversies with two illustrative cases
Authors:   , Berenson Laurie
Published: July 2024

Due to the continued presence of criticisms levied against the current official psychiatric diagnostic nomenclature (DSMIII and its revision) and the continued requirements of its use by insurance companies and the federal government, the controversies surrounding the DSMIII are explored. This was done in an effort to understand the uses and misuses of the system. (i) A history of the development of the DSMIII-R is given, along with statements of purposes and goals. (ii) The major diagnostic controversies are discussed. These include issues of the philosophical approaches inherent within the manual, research considerations, treatment connections, views of normality and bias, and the labeling of deviance. (iii) Two examples of recent diagnostic controversies, those of homosexuality and the self-defeating personality disorder, are discussed. Views regarding homosexuality and masochism are discussed, the controversies regarding the specific diagnoses are traced, and these controversies are used to illustrate the major controversial issues surrounding the DSMIII. (iv) It is concluded that, although the DSMIII clearly has flaws, it also has strengths that would make the abandonment of the system premature.
Preclinical Development of a Prophylactic Gentoype 1A/1B consensus Hepatitis C Virus DNA Vaccine
Authors:   , Latimer Brian Paul , Kutzler Michele A
Published: July 2024

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections can progress to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, 170-185 million individuals are infected, and 3-4 million new infections occur annually. Medications are too costly to meaningfully control HCV. Vaccination is the most cost-effective means to control disease. However, an effective HCV vaccine remains an unmet need. A prophylactic HCV vaccine is necessary to impact HCV-associated disease burden globally. Because a minority of acute infections resolve spontaneously, a prophylactic vaccine strategy is feasible. Viral clearance is associated with early, strong, and durable CD4+ and cytolytic CD8+ T cell responses that are broadly reactive to multiple nonstructural viral proteins. These correlates of acute resolution have provided immunological benchmarks for vaccine development. To address an urgent need, we have formulated a prophylactic HCV DNA vaccine candidate designed to achieve acute resolution immune correlates. Our vaccine encodes four synthetic consensus nonstructural antigens of genotype 1a/1b HCV, which maximizes the opportunity to mount a broadly reactive HCVspecific T cell response. In both mice and Rhesus macaques, immunization followed by in vivo electroporation elicited broadly reactive HCV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In mice, durable memory T cells demonstrated rapid recall and functional killing of antigen-expressing hepatocytes in vivo. In Rhesus macaques, immunization induced cytolytic CD8+ T cells, and HCV-specific T cells exhibiting phenotypes associated with immune memory. Additionally, our collaborators at lnovio Pharmaceuticals have initiated a Phase I clinical trial to test our HCV vaccine candidate for safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity in human volunteers. Taken together, we are the first to (1) formulate a multi-antigenic HCV DNA vaccine candidate using consensus antigens to combat the genetic diversity of HCV, (2) deliver our HCV DNA vaccine candidate using the CELLECTRA® 2000 in vivo electroporation device, which has been extensively tested in clinical studies, (3) demonstrate strong DNA vaccine-induced T cell responses reactive to multiple HCV antigens, (4) establish an animal model with chronic hepatocyterestricted expression of an HCV antigen, (5) demonstrate a self-limiting recall of HCV DNA vaccine-induced memory T cells that rapidly killed antigen-expressing hepatocytes, and (6) achieve acute resolution correlates with our vaccine candidate in non-human primates.
Socioeconomic conditions relating to the level of information activity in less developed countries
Authors:   , Eres Beth Krevitt
Published: July 2024

Information is essential to the conduct of science and the creation of technology. Yet, the less developed countries (LDC's) have particular difficulty in assessing and acquiring scientific and technological information. It has been suggested that this difficulty is related to prevailing social and economic conditions in the LDC. The goal of this research has been to describe the patterns that this relationship takes. Data were collected on socioeconomic conditions and information activities in the LDCs. The socioeconomic data were comprised of 100 variables selected from the World Bank's World Tables, 1980. The information activity data were comprised of 49 variables representing a variety of sources and original survey data. These two data sets were factor analysed yielding seven socioeconomic dimensions (i.e., SOCIAL INDICATORS, GROSS ECONOMY, TRADE, NONFOOD AGRICULTURE, POPULATION STRUCTURE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and INFLATION INDICES) and three information activity dimensions (i.e., WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY, and LIBRARIES). WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS is an indicator of a country's general ability to communicate in writing and to publish in mainstream scientific and technical publications. TECHNOLOGY is an indicator of a country's ability to use foreign and create indigenous technology. LIBRARIES measures the library resources of a country. Each of the 87 countries in the final factor analysis was assigned a composite factor score establishing relative rank and distance on each dimension. Multiple regression analyses were performed with each of the three information dimensions acting as dependent variables and the seven socioeconomic dimension as the independent variables. Select information activity variables were also analysed using this procedure. It was found that the WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS composite factor could be explained by GROSS ECONOMY and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. TECHNOLOGY was best explained by SOCIAL INDICATORS, GROSS ECONOMY, NONFOOD AGRICULTURE and ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. The LIBRARIES factor was predicted by GROSS ECONOMY. The 87 LDC's studied fall into two tiers based on GROSS ECONOMY forming two distinct distributions. Each of these, in conjunction with SOCIAL INDICATORS, TRADE and/or ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, is related to the level of information activity. However, information activity is itself three dimensional with each dimension being only slightly correlated with the other two. The research suggests that any national information policy should be deliberately aimed at the dimension to be impacted and should consider the relationship between trade, on the one hand, and scientific and technological development, on the other.
On the structure and properties of 3-D braid reinforced composites
Authors:   , Whyte Dennis Winston
Published: July 2024

The development of 3-D braid reinforced composites is gaining increasing importance for use in engineering structural applications. In this study, a design methodology has been developed for the design, manufacture and analysis of the 3-D braid reinforced composite. Incorporated in this design methodology is the processing science base relating the fiber architecture, fiber material properties, fiber volume fraction, and the composite geometry to the structural characteristics of the braiding machine. To provide a link between the processing science base and the mechanical behavior of the composite, a mathematical model has been developed. The model is referred to as the "Fabric Geometry Model" and is based on a combination of structural textile mechanics, a 3-D laminate theory type of analogy and numerical techniques. Loading of the composite is simulated by an incremental strain method and failure is determined by a maximum strain energy criterion. Excellent correlation between predicted values and experimental test values have been observed for tensile, compressive and shear stress states. The procedure can be applied to 3-D braid reinforced ceramic, metallic or resin matrix composite systems under tensile, compressive, shear and bending stress states.
A 94-GHz transceiver with fiber optic feed
Authors:   , Niehenke Edward C. , Herczfeld Peter R
Published: July 2024

The use of fiber optic links has the advantage of providing a low loss connection between microwave/millimeter wave elements eliminating heavy waveguide and coaxial connections with immunity from electromagnetic interference. For transmit/receive applications, the phase noise is an important system parameter and needs to be minimized. Millimeter waves have many applications such as signal distribution and radar. Working at 94 GHz has the advantage of operating in the atmospheric low-loss window with the potential for miniature equipment. Unfortunately, the hardware is generally bulky and expensive requiring novel techniques for miniaturization and cost reduction to make these systems practical. This dissertation addresses two of the key technology areas, namely, providing a low-cost, miniature 94-GHz transceiver, and innovating a fiber optic link architecture with low phase noise for this W-band frequency range. A unique, low-cost, planar transceiver has been conceived, developed, and tested that includes a two axis, monopulse fed, four element, switchable, right hand-left hand circularly polarized patch antenna. All circuits are microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs) (amplifiers, mixer, and PIN diode switch) interconnected with low-loss Z-cut quartz microstrip. The miniature 1.1-inch diameter by 0.25-inch thick transceiver operated both in the transmit as well as the receive mode with 3-dB beamwidth of 58 degrees. When mounted as a feed for a 5-inch diameter parabolic dish, the assembly exhibited a 1.7 degree 3-dB beamwidth, 12-dB sidelobes, a gain of 26 dB, with a difference pattern null of 30 dB. A low phase noise optical link was innovated, fabricated, and evaluated. The link is at Ku band with an input power of 5 mW compatible with direct frequency coherent synthesizer, followed with a low-cost MMIC X6 multiplier/amplifier for W-band output of 70 mW and X3 multiplier/amplifier for the W-band X2 subharmonic mixer with an output of 33 mW. A diode pumped YAG laser at 1319 nm is modulated with a Mach-Zehnder modulator at Ku band and detected with a PIN diode photodetector. The measured Ku band phase noise floor of -145 dBc/Hz was obtained with a projected W-band phase noise of -129.4 dBc/Hz.
Identification of central nervous system structures involved in mediating conditioned hyperactivity responses to a cocaine-paired environment
Authors:   , Franklin Teresa R.
Published: July 2024

Conditioned hyperactivity in rats may be related to the excited state that human cocaine abusers report following exposure to drug-related stimuli and may contribute to craving. Therefore, this model can be used to investigate the neurobiological processes underlying the associations made between the effects of cocaine and environmental stimuli in humans. A better understanding of the neurobiology underlying this Pavlovian conditioned response will aid in the development of pharmacotherapies that can prevent cravings in abstinent individuals wishing to remain drug-free. This thesis used two different methodologies and the conditioned hyperactivity model to examine the participation of forebrain regions in rats exposed to an environment previously paired with cocaine. Method 1 involved quantifying the expression of fos-related antigens (FRAs) in forebrain regions following a test for conditioned hyperactivity. Method 2 consisted of functionally inhibiting select CNS regions implicated in mediating the Pavlovian conditioned response prior to a test for conditioning. For each experiment, rats were conditioned by repeatedly exposing them to an environment either paired (Paired group) or explicitly unpaired (Unpaired group) with systemic cocaine injections. The preliminary and FRA experiments included a Control group that never received cocaine. In all experiments, a subsequent cocaine-free test for conditioning revealed that the Paired group was hyperactive relative to Unpaired and Control groups. FRA expression measured following the conditioning test revealed a significant and selective context-dependent enhancement of FRA-positive nuclei in the caudal nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the Paired group relative to the Unpaired and Control groups. Subsequent experiments used the second method, functional inhibition of select CNS regions, to further examine the participation of the basolateral amygdala, ventral subiculum, mPFC, secondary motor cortex, NAc and the caudate nucleus in mediating conditioned hyperactivity. Conditioned hyperactivity responses were prevented by GABA agonist infusions into the mPFC and the NAc prior to the conditioning test, but not in other regions tested. Both techniques led to the conclusion that the mPFC and the NAc are crucial elements of the neural circuitry underlying the expression of conditioned hyperactivity responses to cocaine-related stimuli.