cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of multiple gene products simultaneously by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in whole mounts of avian embryos

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews protocols and instructions for designing appropriate controls and tips for trouble-shooting different problems. It should be borne in mind that most of these techniques are still under development because improvements are made continuously. For in situ hybridization with two probes, one probe is transcribed exactly as described previously, and the second probe is transcribed by the same method except that FITC-labeled uridine triphosphate (UTP; Boehringer-Mannheim) mixed with unlabeled nucleotides replaces the digoxigenin-nucleotide mix (the proportion of FITC-labeled to unlabeled nucleotides is described in the sheet supplied by the manufacturers). In experiments, it is often desirable to study the distribution of different mRNAs and proteins at a given stage of development in one embryo. For example, it may be of interest to detect the ectopic expression of a gene introduced with a retroviral vector, at the same time as studying the expression of one or more of its putative target genes.
Development of a grape seed polyphenolic extract with anti-oligomeric activity as a novel treatment in progressive supranuclear palsy and other tauopathies

A diverse group of neurodegenerative diseases - including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration and Alzheimer's disease among others, collectively referred to as tauopathies - are characterized by progressive, age-dependent intracellular formations of misfolded protein aggregates that play key roles in the initiation and progression of neuropathogenesis. Recent studies from our laboratory reveal that grape seed-derived polyphenolic extracts (GSPE) potently prevent tau fibrillization into neurotoxic aggregates and therapeutically promote the dissociation of preformed tau aggregates [J. Alzheimer's Dis. (2009) vol. 16, pp. 433]. Based on our extensive bioavailability, bioactivity and functional preclinical studies, combined with the safety of GSPE in laboratory animals and in humans, we initiated a series of studies exploring the role of GSPE (Meganatural-Az(®) GSPE) as a potential novel botanical drug for the treatment of certain forms of tauopathies including PSP, a neurodegenerative disorder involving the accumulation and deposition of misfolded tau proteins in the brain characterized, in part, by abnormal intracellular tau inclusions in specific anatomical areas involving astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons [J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol. (2002) vol. 61, pp. 33]. In this mini-review article, we discuss the biochemical characterization of GSPE in our laboratory and its potential preventative and therapeutic role in model systems of abnormal tau processing pertinent to PSP and related tauopathies.
Reducing back stress to nursing personnel: an ergonomic intervention in a nursing home

A prospective epidemiologic study was conducted in two units (140 beds and 57 nursing assistants) of a nursing home to demonstrate the efficacy of an ergonomic intervention strategy to reduce back stress to nursing personnel. The total programme involved the following: determining patient handling tasks perceived to be most stressful by the nursing assistants (NAs); performing an ergonomic evaluation of these tasks; and conducting a laboratory study to select patient transferring devices perceived to produce less physical stress than existing manual patient-handling methods. The intervention phase included training NAs in the use of these devices, modifying toilets and shower rooms, and applying techniques to patient care. Immediately after completing the intervention programme, a post-intervention analysis (which lasted eight months in unit 1 and four months in unit 2) was performed. A biomechanical evaluation of the physical demands required to perform stressful patient-handling tasks showed that the me...
Constitutive EGFR signaling confers a motile phenotype to neural stem cells

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been shown to play an important role in brain development, including stem and precursor cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and migration. To further examine the temporal and spatial requirements of erbB signals in uncommitted neural stem cells (NSCs), we expressed the ligand-independent EGF receptor, EGFRvIII, in C17.2 NSCs. These NSCs are known to migrate and to evince a tropic response to neurodegenerative environments in vivo but for which an underlying mechanism remains unclear. We show that enhanced erbB signaling via constitutive kinase activity of EGFRvIII in NSCs sustains an immature phenotype and enhances NSC migration.
Comparison of diffuse reflectance fourier transform mid-infrared and near-infrared spectroscopy with grating-based near-infrared for the determination of fatty acids in forages.

Diffuse reflectance Fourier transform mid infrared (FTMIR) and near-infrared spectroscopy (FTNIR) were compared to scanning monochromator-grating-based near-infrared spectroscopy (SMNIR), for their...
A new rotating parachute design having high performance

A new concept of rotating parachute has been designed primarily for recovery of high-performance re-entry vehicles. Design and development/testing results are presented from low-speed wind tunnel testing, free-flight deployments at transonic speeds, and tests in a supersonic wind tunnel at Mach 2.0. Drag coefficients of 1.25 based on the disk area of the 2-ft-diam rotor have been measured in the wind tunnel. The stability of the rotor is excellent, with oscillation of its centerline being less than 3 deg. Good agreement between theoretical and measured performance parameters is shown.
A general solution procedure for fracture mechanics weight function evalution based on the boundary element method

This paper reports on the development of an efficient and accurate means for the direct computation of crack surface weight functions for two dimensional fracture mechanics analysis. Weight functions are mathematical representations which can be used to efficiently calculate stress intensity factors for a variety of crack loading and boundary conditions. The method is inherently capable of handling mixed-mode problems. The weight function capability is especially important for problems of fatigue crack growth modeling where the efficient calculation of stress intensity factors is crucial. The basis of the new formulation and numerical solution method is the boundary element method (BEM), as implemented for two dimensional fracture mechanics analysis. The paper will review the analytical formulation of the new BEM, the numerical solution algorithm, and a limited number of validation examples.
Association for Academic Surgery presidential address Episode VI: The return of the surgeon.

As a young boy growing up in rural Wisconsin, 1977 was a special year. In that year, the original STAR WARS movie was released. I must have watched it five to six times that year. Since then a total of six episodes have been filmed, which detail the struggles of the good Jedi Knights against the evil Empire. During this address, I want to illustrate the similarities between the Jedi Knight in the Star Wars series and modern day surgeons. As the Jedi utilized high tech light sabers to battle against the evil Dark Sith, surgeons utilize high tech laparoscopes and robots to battle against evil human diseases and pathology (Fig. 1). In fact, both Jedi and surgeons are generally extremely talented at cutting. In Episode III: the Rise of the Empire, the Jedi almost undergo extinction, when the Empire slays virtually all Jedi knights. Similarly and unfortunately, surgeons in the United States today are almost undergoing extinction. We are facing a vast shortage of surgeons in our hospitals across this country In Wisconsin, we are particularly in trouble. In a summary by the Wisconsin Hospital Association and the Wisconsin Medical Society, the population of our state is projected to increase by 8.8%, resulting in an increase in the projected demand for surgery by 50% by the year 2020. Unfortunately, the number of surgeons in Wisconsin is not predicted to increase at all during this time period. Drs. Jay Grosfeld and George Sheldon, and colleagues from the American Surgical Association, issued a health force position statement addressing the shortage of general surgeons in the
Hereditary cranium bifidum persisting as enlarged parietal foramina (Catlin marks) on cephalometric radiographs

Cranium bifidum occultum is a rare skull ossification disorder referred to as the Catlin mark characterized by ossification defects in the parietal bones. Evidence suggests that this condition has a strong genetic heterogenicity. It is believed that, as calvarial growth continues, ossification in parietal bones fills these defects, and they can remain as parietal foramina on either side of the sagittal suture. During the conversion phase of cranium bifidum to the persistent parietal foramen, there will be periods when the brain is unprotected because of the delay in the ossification of the parietal bones. This report describes cranium bifidum occultum diagnosed as an incidental finding in a 14-year-old boy who initially had large bilateral unossified parietal bones and many congenital abnormalities. The patient underwent various surgical procedures over 6 years for the correction of cleft lip and palate. With craniofacial corrections and orthodontic treatment, the patient now has stable dentition and a firm palate with most of the parietal bones ossified. Cranioplasty was not recommended by his family physician after consultation with a neurosurgeon. Orthodontists should be familiar with this genetic abnormality because it causes delay in parietal bone ossification, and they should be able to distinguish between anatomic parietal foramina and enlarged parietal foramina (persistent unossified areas of cranium bifidum occultum), especially when craniofacial abnormalities are noticed.
Parkinson's disease: Mitochondrial damage control.

Defects in mitochondria are implicated in Parkinson's disease. Study of a quality-control pathway involving the proteins PINK1 and Parkin provides further clues about the mechanism involved.
Components of Rater Error in a Complex Performance Assessment

Numerous studies have examined performance assessment data using generaliz-ability theory. Typically, these studies have treated raters as randomly sampled from a population, with each rater judging a given performance on a single occasion. This paper presents two studies that focus on aspects of the rating process that are not explicitly accounted for in this typical design. The first study makes explicit the “committee” facet, acknowledging that raters often work within groups. The second study makes explicit the “rating-occasion” facet by having each rater judge each performance on two separate occasions. The results of the first study highlight the importance of clearly specifying the relevant facets of the universe of interest. Failing to include the committee facet led to an overly optimistic estimate of the precision of the measurement procedure. By contrast, failing to include the rating-occasion facet, in the second study, had minimal impact on the estimated error variance.
Ranking Relative Hydrogen‐Bond Strengths in Hydroxybenzoic Acids for Crystal‐Engineering Purposes

Systematic co-crystallizations resulting in a total of six new crystal structures involving either 3-hydroxy- or 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, complemented by calculated molecular electrostatic potential surfaces and existing structural data, have shown that in a competitive molecular recognition situation, the -OH moiety is a more effective hydrogen-bond donor than the -COOH moiety which, in turn, highlights that electrostatic charge can offer more useful guidance than acidity for predicting competitive hydrogen-bond preferences.
The Use of Microblogging for Field-Based Scientific Research

Documenting the context in which data are collected is an integral part of the scientific research lifecycle. In field-based research, contextual information provides a detailed description of scientific practices and thus enables data interpretation and reuse. For field data, losing contextual information often means losing the data altogether. Yet, documenting the context of distributed, collaborative, field-based research can be a significant challenge due to the unpredictable nature of real-world settings and to the high degree of variability in data collection methods and scientific practices of different researchers. In this article, we propose the use of microblogging as a mechanism to support collection, ingestion, and publication of contextual information about the variegated digital artifacts that are produced in field research. We perform interviews with scholars involved in field-based environmental and urban sensing research, to determine the extent of adoption of Twitter and similar microblogging platforms and their potential use for field-specific research applications. Based on the results of these interviews as well as participant observation of field activities, we present the design, development, and pilot evaluation of a microblogging application integrated with an existing data collection platform on a handheld device. We investigate whether microblogging accommodates the variable and unpredictable nature of highly mobile research and whether it represents a suitable mechanism to document the context of field research data early in the scientific information lifecycle.
ASSESSING THE RELATIVE RUTTING SUSCEPTIBILITY OF HMA IN THE LABORATORY WITH THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT ANALYZER

The Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) identified rutting as a major cause of distress for Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) pavements. The resulting Superior Performing Asphalt Pavements (Superpave(TM)) mix design system specifically addressed the aggregate and asphalt binder properties that contribute to permanent deformation. However, the Superpave(TM) system does not currently include a laboratory proof-test to quickly assess the rutting susceptibility of HMA. In the early 1980's, the Georgia Department of Transportation funded research to develop and refine a laboratory wheel-tracking device. Based on the results of this research, Pavement Technology, Inc. (PTI) developed the Asphalt Pavement Analyzer (APA). Various laboratory studies have been conducted since the development of the APA to assess the suitability of this device as a proof-test for HMA. In 1998, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) initiated a study with the University of Tennessee to further evaluate the merits of the APA. In ...
An exploratory examination of student attitudes toward impaired peers in clinical psychology training programs

Do psychology students view their training programs as doing enough to appropriately identify, accommodate, and possibly dismiss students who manifest significant impairment? This study reports the general findings of an exploratory survey distributed to clinical psychology graduate students. Overall, students viewed impairment as a highly sensitive and inadequately addressed issue. Students commonly reported frustration with and concern for impaired colleagues. A few respondents indicated that the terms impaired and problem student were insensitive and that greater attention needed to be given to "impaired" training contexts. Implications regarding formal standards for interpersonal functioning and programmatic supports for students are discussed.
Factors affecting the validity of both calculated and experimental phase diagrams

The validity of phase diagram information is affected by many factors. With regard to experimental determination of phase information, any experimental approach must have adequate resolution to provide accuracy and adequate precision to define the specific equilibria that are in question. Such things as possible side reactions, strain effects, purity, homogeneity, atomic ordering, magnetic and/or electric dipole interactions, kinetic inhibition to equilibria, and environmental effects can individually or in combination lead to erroneous interpretations. Calculation of phase equilibria is also subject to various sources of uncertainty. To do a complete calculation from first principles is indeed a difficult undertaking because the energy difference between one phase form and another is a tiny fraction of the total cohesive energy. Thus, in practice, calculated phase equilibria are generally dependent upon some experimental input data in combination with approximations. The calculated results are thus weighted by the quality of input. Computer people describe this as, “Garbage in = Garbage out” The choice of mathematical and physical models may also affect the results.
A digitized global flood inventory (1998–2008): compilation and preliminary results

Floods have profound impacts on populations worldwide in terms of both loss of life and property. A global inventory of floods is an important tool for quantifying the spatial and temporal distribution of floods and for evaluating global flood prediction models. Several global hazard inventories currently exist; however, their utility for spa- tiotemporal analysis of global floods is limited. The existing flood catalogs either fail to record the geospatial area over which the flood impacted or restrict the types of flood events included in the database according to a set of criteria, limiting the scope of the inventory. To improve upon existing databases, and make it more comprehensive, we have compiled a digitized Global Flood Inventory (GFI) for the period 1998-2008 which also geo-references each flood event by latitude and longitude. This technical report presents the methodology used to compile the GFI and preliminary findings on the spatial and temporal distributions of the flooding events that are contained in the inventory.
ATMOSPHERIC INFRARED RADIATION OVER MINNEAPOLIS TO 30 MILLIBARS

Abstract This paper presents some of the conclusions from the results of about 300 Black Ball flights in which the total atmospheric infrared radiation is measured in terms of an equivalent radiation temperature. The data presented include typical measurements and a seasonal analysis of the radiation at various pressures. The measurements indicate that the net loss of energy to space by infrared radiation is considerably less than calculations have indicated and cast doubt on some of the assumptions implicit in those calculations.
A retrospective study of memantine in children and adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders

There are no drugs that have been shown to effectively treat the core social impairment of autism. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness and tolerability of memantine for social impairment in children and adolescents with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs). Medical records of 18 patients with PDDs consecutively treated with open-label memantine were retrospectively reviewed. The data reviewed included prospectively obtained assessments of severity (S) and improvement (I) using the Clinical Global Impressions Scale (CGI). Pretrial and follow-up parent ratings were also available on six patients using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). Eighteen patients (15 male, 3 female; mean age=11.4 years, range 6–19 years) received memantine (mean dosage=10.1 mg/day, range 2.5–20 mg/day) over a mean duration of 19.3 weeks (range 1.5–56 weeks). Eleven of 18 (61%) patients were judged responders to memantine based on a rating of “much improved” or “very much improved” on the CGI-I. Significant improvement was also seen on the CGI-S. Improvement was primarily seen clinically in social withdrawal and inattention. Adverse effects occurred in 7 of 18 (39%) patients and led to drug discontinuation in 4 of 18 (22%) patients. Thirteen of 18 (72%) patients received stable doses of concomitant medications during the memantine trial. In this open-label retrospective study, memantine was effective in a number of patients with PDDs. Controlled studies are warranted to further assess the efficacy and safety of memantine in PDDs.
Regulation of Src Family Kinases in Human Cancers

The nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase Src plays a crucial role in the signal transduction pathways involved in cell division, motility, adhesion, and survival in both normal and cancer cells. Although the Src family kinases (SFKs) are activated in various types of cancers, the exact mechanisms through which they contribute to the progression of individual tumors remain to be defined. The activation of Src in human cancers may occur through a variety of mechanisms that include domain interaction and structural remodeling in response to various activators or upstream kinases and phosphatastes. Because of Src's prominent roles in invasion and tumor progression, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and the development of metastasis, Src is a promising target for cancer therapy. Several small molecule inhibitors of Src are currently being investigated in clinical trials. In this article, we will summarize the mechanisms regulating Src kinase activity in normal and cancer cells and discuss the status of Src inhibitor development against various types of cancers.
Water calorimetry for radiation dosimetry

Calorimetry has a long history as a technique for establishing the absorbed dose, and graphite calorimetry has often been used to establish absorbed dose standards for use in radiation therapy. However, a conversion process is necessary to convert from dose to graphite to dose to water, which is the quantity of clinical interest. In order to more directly measure the dose to water, considerable effort has been devoted in the last fifteen years to the development of water calorimetry. This article reviews these developments and summarizes the present status of water calorimetry. Absorbed dose standards based on water calorimetry and with a relative standard uncertainty of 0.5-1% now seem achievable.
VARIATION IN SOIL PARAMETERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR MODELING SURFACE FLUXES AND ATMOSPHERIC BOUNDARY-LAYER DEVELOPMENT

Soil texture can be heterogeneous; however for land surface-atmospheric modeling purposes, it is often considered homogeneous at a particular point and described by empirical equations which have been formulated to describe ‘average’ hydraulic and thermodynamic processes in the soil. Large deviations in the variables and coefficients used in these empirical equations have been previously documented. One of the coefficients is varied by plus-and-minus one standard deviation about its mean, and tested in a coupled atmospheric-plant-soil model. Results of model simulations show that the effects on surface fluxes and boundary-layer development are larges for dry to moderate values of soil moisture, particularly for bare soil conditions.
Left anterior oblique view for evaluation of left atrial size.

The left anterior oblique film of the chest provides a sensitive and accurate gauge of left atrial enlargement. The posterior wall of the atrium, which distends when the chamber enlarges, is seen in profile in this view. Dilatation of the left atrium is almost always reflected by this segment which assumes a convexly, curved contour. This finding is independent of most of the conditions that can alter the other roentgen signs of left atrial enlargement.
Lessons from a bacterial cocaine esterase.

The structure of a bacterial cocaine esterase provides important new insight into the selectivity of the carboxylesterase enzyme family and the information gained from this work could lead to improved catalytic antibody-based therapies for cocaine toxicity.
Contemporaneous comparison of the Yasui and Norwood procedures at a single institution.

Objective It is recognized that there are numerous anatomic variants that result in hypoplastic left heart physiology. One such variant includes critical aortic stenosis or atresia, a hypoplastic aortic arch, and a reasonably well-developed left ventricle due to the presence of a ventricular septal defect. These patients are candidates for 1 of 3 surgical options: (1) a Norwood procedure followed by a single-ventricle pathway; (2) a Norwood procedure followed by a Rastelli procedure (2-stage Yasui); or (3) a single-stage Yasui procedure. Because 2 of the 3 options include a Norwood procedure as the initial step, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the contemporaneous results of the Yasui and Norwood procedures at a single institution. Methods This was a retrospective review of patients who underwent a Yasui or Norwood procedure at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital between 2004 and 2013. Eighteen patients underwent a Yasui, of whom 15 had a single-stage procedure and 3 had a 2-stage procedure. During this time frame, 113 patients underwent a Norwood procedure. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and freedom from reoperation were compared for the 2 procedures. Results The operative mortality (using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons definition) for the single-stage Yasui was 6.7% compared with 16% for the Norwood procedure ( P P = .06). The average interval to first reoperation was 13.5 ± 3 months versus 4.5 ± 1 months for the Yasui and Norwood procedures, respectively ( P Conclusions The Yasui procedure had a significantly lower operative mortality compared with the Norwood procedure. Early and midterm survival was also higher in the Yasui group versus the Norwood followed by a single ventricle pathway. These results indicate that the Yasui procedure has significant midterm benefits compared with the Norwood procedure and should be pursued when the anatomy is amenable for this approach.
Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions to β-Lactam Antibiotics

In this review the immune reactions to p-lactam antibiotics are discussed. The discussion is limited to the penicillin and cephalosporin families because there is little data available on the potential of the newer nonpenicillin, noncephalosporin p-lactam antibiotics to cause adverse immune reactions. However, the discussion of cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins gives some idea as to what to expect with these newer agents. This discussion dwells almost exclusively on IgE-mediated (immediate) reactions because these reactions are the most dangerous, are purported to cross-react between p-lactam antibiotics, and because concern about the occurrence of these reactions frequently prevents administration of the drug. Furthermore, we can expect the availability of prospective testing for IgE-mediated reactions in the near future.
Waveguide arrays for passive temporal mode-locking

A novel mode-locking technique is presented in which the intensity dependent spatial coupling dynamics of a waveguide array is used to achieve temporal (soliton) mode-locking in a passive optical fiber laser.
B7-1/2, but not PD-L1/2 molecules, are required on IL-10-treated tolerogenic DC and DC-derived exosomes for in vivo function

Costimulatory molecules, such as B7-1/2 and PD-L1/2 play an important role in the function of APC. The regulation of the surface levels of costimulatory molecules is one mechanism by which APC maintain the balance between tolerance and immunity. We examined the contributions of B7-1/2 and PD-L1/2 to the function of IL-10-treated, immunosuppressive DC as well as therapeutic exosomes derived from these DC. IL-10 treatment of DC significantly downregulated surface expression of MHC II, B7-1, B7-2, and decreased levels of MHC I and PD-L2. IL-10 treatment of DC resulted in a modified costimulatory profile of DC-secreted exosomes with a reduction in B7-1, PD-L1 and PD-L2. We further demonstrate that absence of B7-1 or B7-2 on donor DC results in a loss of ability of IL-10-treated DC and their exosomes to suppress the delayed-type hypersensitivity response, whereas IL-10-treated DC deficient in PD-L1/2 as well as their secreted exosomes retained the ability to suppress delayed-type hypersensitivity responses. We conclude that B7-1 and B7-2, but not PD-L1 and PD-L2, on IL-10-treated DC and DC-derived exosomes play a critical role in immunosuppressive functions of both DC and exosomes.
The Undereducation and Overcriminalization of U.S. Latinas/os: A Post-Los Angeles Riots LatCrit Analysis

At 40.4 million strong (14% of the U.S. population; U.S. Bureau of the Census 2005), Latinas/os are the largest and fastest growing U.S. ethnic minority group. In the last 15 years, since the Los Angeles riots of 1992, Anglo perceptions that the Latina/o population is too large, growing too fast, and too illegal have both continued and perpetuated anti-Latina/o educational policy and criminal law that influence Latina/o perceptions of U.S. education, law, society, justice, and equity. The central question of the article is, What have been the effects of the last 15 years of educational and criminal justice policy on present-day urban Latina/o injustice and inequality? A Latino Critical Theory framework is used to interpret and understand the nexus of Anglo reaction (through educational policy and criminal law) to a perceived U.S. Latina/o-ization, and Latina/o counterreaction through resistance, agency, and protest. We focus on the ways in which education and criminal justice policies at the federal and s...
Media Exposure and Viewers' Attitudes Toward Homosexuality: Evidence for Mainstreaming or Resonance?

This study explored connections between media use and college students' attitudes of acceptance towards homosexuality (AATH). Data were collected from 1,761 undergraduates (62.7% female, MAge = 19 years). Results varied by the gender, ethnicity, and religiosity of the participants. Overall, greater media consumption among men and those who are highly religious was associated with greater AATH, whereas the reverse was true among women and those who are less religious. Although the associations were modest, the results support evidence of a mainstreaming effect, whereby increased media exposure may draw groups with disparate attitudes towards a more similar viewpoint on homosexuality.
The Transformation of the Purpose of a School-Based Supervision Group during Tough Economic Times: Challenges and Considerations for the Worker

This article describes the dramatic change in purpose in a group supervision that was faced with an economic crisis. For 7 years the group flourished, providing clinical and emotional support for social work staff and interns. During a time of economic hardship, the program faced the threat of closing, and, in response the group transformed itself from a clinical supervision group to a social-action task group. This article details the trajectory and transformation of the group's focus from clinical supervision to social action with a special emphasis on (1) group supervision, (2) social action, and (3) the concept of purpose in group work. The complexities, consequences, surprises, and rewards of this process, especially for the group worker, are described. The creative use of supervision groups and worker flexibility and self awareness are discussed.
Why do patients with manic-depressive illness stop their lithium?

ATIENTS with manic-depressive illness may refuse to take lithium carbonate. Melia,’ in a study of 29 patients, noted that 7 (3 1%) stopped coming to clinic or failed to take lithium. Baastrup2 noted that 75% of all relapses among patients on lithium were due to negligence. Schou3 found that 25 (28%) of 88 patients successfully maintained on lithium stopped taking lithium against medical advice. Angst et aL4 reported that 30 (18%) of 168 patients in Glostrup stopped lithium prophylaxis within 6 months. Wolpert and Mueller,” in a 24month study, noted that 2 of 10 patients on lithium prophylaxis experienced relapses because they discontinued lithium. Schlagenhauf et aL6 reported that 3 of 10 patients successfully maintained on lithium defaulted (2 experienced relapses within 14 days), and Spring et a1.7 found that 3 of 11 patients on lithium prophylaxis took lithium unreliably (2 relapsed). It would appear from the above that from 20% to 30% of patients with manic-depressive illness discontinue their treatment with lithium against medical advice. Patients may discontinue the prophylactic use of lithium because they do not want to be deprived of their periodic hypomania. Lithium prophylaxis does not affect normal mental functioning or deprive a patient of normal human sorrow or elation, but it can prevent the “slight, endogenous mood swings of subpsychotic intensity” that many patients with manic-depressive illness experience during the intervals between psychotic episodes .8 While all patients welcome the reprieve from periodic depression, some miss the extra enthusiasm and self-confidence of their hypomanic periods. 2*8*g Schous an ardent advocate of lithium prophylaxis, postulates that patients who profit personally and professionally from frequent and long periods of hypomania may be more effective without lithium. This may be particularly true for authors with mild manic-depressive illness who may be unable to be creative if lithium deprives them of their periodic hypomania.‘O,” Also, some patients may become less attractive to their spouses when lithium interferes with their hypomanic zest and ebullient spirits. Particularly adolescents with manic-depressive illness may discontinue therapy with lithium because they regard the hypomanic state as their norm.‘“.‘” Aside from an understandable preference for sustained hypomania, the most frequent reason that patients give their doctor for stopping lithium prophylaxis is that they feel well and see no further need for medication.3 Infrequent reasons that patients give for stopping lithium are side effects (particularly weight gain) or a depressive relapse. I4 The present report concerns 6 patients with severe manic---depressive illness who refused prescribed treatment with lithium despite the fact that the drug was established to be of value for each one of them. The
Ureteropelvic junction obstruction and sibling uropathology.

Abstract Thirty-seven siblings of 20 probands with ureteropelvic junction obstruction were evaluated evaluated with an intravenous pyelogram (IVP) and a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Fourteen (38 per cent) had uropathology and 13 of 14 (93 per cent) required some form of therapy. Fifty-five per cent of the families had an additional child with uropathology. The recommendation concluded from this and a previous study on reflux is that all siblings of children with uropathology be investigated with an IVP and VCUG regardless of age or sex.
A study of axial mixing in column flotation

Abstract Pulsed tracer tests have been conducted to quantify the effect of physical variables on axial mixing in column flotation. The tracer studies were used to determine the residence time distribution (RTD) for different column geometries and operating conditions. For each test, the Peclet number and mean residence time were determined from the RTD data. Based on these results and industrial test data, a dimensional analysis approach was taken to develop an expression that relates Peclet number to column geometry and operating variables. Using this expression, it is possible to estimate the scale-up factors, in terms of retention time, that are necessary to account for increased mixing in larger columns.
Effect of Precursor Ratio on Synthesis and Optical Absorption of TiON Photocatalytic Nanoparticles

A simple sol–gel process was developed to synthesize a nitrogen-doped titanium oxide (TiON) nanoparticle photocatalyst. Our work shows that the precursor ratio (tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide (TMA)/titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP)) has significant effects on the structure, composition, and optical properties of TiON nanoparticles. At high initial TMA/TTIP ratios, crystallization of the sol–gel TiON nanoparticle powders was sluggish, requiring a higher calcination temperature. As a high calcination temperature caused greater nitrogen loss, a high initial TMA/TTIP ratio in the TiON precursor did not ensure a high N/Ti atomic ratio in the TiON powders. By optimizing the initial TMA/TTIP ratio and the calcination temperature, crystalline powders were obtained with high nitrogen concentrations. These sol–gel TiON nanoparticles showed strong visible light absorbance.
Discrete-time quantum mechanics. II. Systems with several degrees of freedom

On utilise la methode des elements finis pour traiter des systemes de mecanique quantique unitaire en temps discret a 2 dimensions
Calcified pseudocyst of the pancreas

Pancreatic pseudocysts are encapsulated collections of fluid which may complicate trauma or inflammation of the pancreas. The correct preoperative diagnosis of the pseudocyst can be established easily by the modern techniques of ultrasonography or computed tomography (1–3). However, recognition of the lesion on plain radiographs of the abdomen is rarely possible because the wall and content of pancreatic pseudocysts do not show a visually perceptible difference in density from the adjacent soft tissues (4). This report concerns an exceptional instance whereby a pancreatic pseudocyst was clearly demarcated by virtue of radiographically detectable calciumd eposits in its wall.
Wasn't That a Good Special Education Lesson?.

When evaluating special education teachers, observers need to focus on the effective teaching strategies that are common to both regular and spe cial education teachers. Where varia tions in the central act of instruction do exist, they are usually differences in emphasis that are justified by the unique requirements of special edu cation students.
Auditory deficits and motor dysfunction following iminodipropionitrile administration in the rat.

Abstract The behavioral effects of 3,3′-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) were studied using reflex modification of the acoustic startle response and figure-eight maze activity. A number of experiments were conducted with separate groups of adult male Long-Evans hooded rats exposed to saline or 50–500 mg/kg IDPN for 3 consecutive days. Auditory thresholds (reflex modification), motor activity, and grip strength were measured 1 day, and 1, 3, and 9 weeks postdosing. Reflex inhibition was monitored daily, prior to, during, and for 7 days following exposure. Auditory thresholds for 5-and 40-kHz tones were elevated approximately 25 dB and 50 dB, respectively. The onset of this auditory dysfunction in the 200-mg/kg/day group, as demonstrated by a loss of reflex inhibition, was 2 days for the 40-kHz tone and 4 days for the 5-kHz tone. Motor activity was increased up to 400% in the 200-mg/kg group, whereas there was no alteration in hindlimb grip strength. These data demonstrate dosage- and time-dependent alterations in auditory and motor function following IDPN exposure.
Tumors of the connective and supporting tissues

Abstract There has been a continuous acceleration of medical/scientific inquiry and of actual improvements in management of patients with neoplasms of the mesenchymal tissues over the last four decades. The number of publications in this field has increased from 1140 in 1970 and then to 1700 in 1990. Important advances discussed over this period include: establishment of sarcoma teams in major oncology centers; staging systems for both soft tissue and osseous sarcomas; demonstration of genetic determinants in the development of, at least, some of the sarcomas; the revolutionary change in quality of diagnostic imaging by the introduction of CT and MRI; use of immunohistochemistry in diagnostic pathology; the drastic gains in survival of patients with osteogenic sarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma due to the efficacy of multi-drug and multi-cycle chemotherapy protocols; major advances in surgical techniques which have made limb salvage practical; cell lines derived from human sarcomas have been shown to have in vitro radiation sensitivity comparable to that of cell lines from epithelial tumors; the combination of conservative surgery and moderate doses of radiation yields local control and survival results equivalent to that of radical surgery with a much improved functional and cosmetic outcome; intra-operative electron beam radiation therapy improves the outcome of patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas when given after grossly complete resection combined with external beam radiation therapy (pre- or post-operatively); radiation is a highly effective alternative to extensive surgery for desmoid tumors; local control of giant cell tumors by modern radiation techniques is ≈80% and the incidence of radiation induced tumors at 10 years is ≈3%; to decrease the incidence of radiation induced sarcoma, resection has replaced radiation in the management of selected patients with primary Ewing's sarcoma when the response to chemotherapy has been excellent and the morbidity/functional decrement consequent upon the surgery judged reasonable; proton beam radiation therapy has been accepted as being superior to conventional external beam radiation therapy for chondrosarcoma and chordoma of the skull base; and attempts to utilize brachytherapy for sarcomas of the spine/sacrum appear to offer promise. Projected advances in the coming two decades include: designation of sarcoma type on genetic characterization; molecular genetics will provide prognostic information as to probability of distant metastasis, response to chemotherapeutic agents and radiation; important further reductions in the radiation treatment volume due to the many technical developments entering, or soon to enter, the clinic; non-invasive assessment of the response to chemotherapy; much increased appreciation of the late sequella of treatment, both radiation and chemotherapy.
A brief review of extensor tendon injuries specific to the pediatric patient

Extensor tendon injuries in the pediatric population require careful evaluation and treatment. This article focuses on the differences in injury type and treatment of pediatric versus adult extensor tendon injuries. A detailed history and physical examination is crucial in the management of extensor tendon injuries of the young patient. Treatment of pediatric extensor tendon injuries depends largely on the site of injury. A majority of these injuries may be treated with splinting or primary repair. Treatment methods that require high compliance must be adjusted for the young child.
Probable identity of NILE glycoprotein and the high-molecular-weight component of L1 antigen.

: We report here that anti-L1 antiserum, raised against material from embryonic brain, and anti-NILE antiserum, raised against purified NILE (nerve growth factor-inducible large external) glycoprotein of PC12 cells, immunoprecipitate from PC12 cells material of the same apparent molecular weight (230 kilodaltons) by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, each of these immune reagents has the capacity to clear from a PC12 cell extract all of the 230-kilodalton antigen recognized by the other antiserum. Finally, in immunohistochemicai staining of developing cerebellum the two antisera exhibit very similar staining patterns. We suggest that the NILE glycoprotein and the high-molecular-weight component of L1 antigen are closely related molecules, and probably the same.
Pretreatment of diabetic rats with lipoic acid improves healing of subsequently-induced abrasion wounds

The etiology of delayed or impaired wound-healing in diabetic individuals is multifactoral, but peripheral vascular dysfunction is an underlying factor in the majority of cases. Recent studies have shown that lipoic acid improves vascular function in diabetic skin and reduces the symptoms associated with the diabetic peripheral neuropathy. In this study, rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ) and treated systemically on alternative days with lipoic acid (100 mg/kg given via intraperitoneal injection) for 8 weeks. Untreated STZ-diabetic rats and non-diabetic rats served as control. At the end of the 8-week period, rats from all the three groups were subjected to abrasion wound formation. Skin wounds healed more rapidly in untreated non-diabetic rats than in the untreated diabetic rats. Wounds in lipoic acid-treated diabetic rats healed more rapidly than wounds in untreated diabetic rats. Subsequent in vitro studies demonstrated that lipoic acid protected endothelial cells from oxidant injury. At the same time, lipoic acid had no apparent effect on endothelial cell proliferation and had no measurable effect on fibroblast function (proliferation, collagen synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase expression). These findings suggest that prophylactic use of lipoic acid might be useful in preventing the development of non-healing skin ulcers from minor traumas in at-risk skin.
High resolution observations of the 2.125-μm feature in Io's spectrum during 1975 and 1976

High resolution observations of a weak absorption feature in the Io spectrum, obtained in 1975-1976 indicate that, if this feature is indicative of the presence of a new class of material, it may be the only diagnostic feature in Io's near-IR spectrum that can be distinguished by terrestrial telescopes. It appears unlikely that the absorber is a gas, or that gaseous CO2 contributes to the line shape.
Correlation of Tricuspid Annular Velocities With Invasive Hemodynamics in Pulmonary Hypertension

The authors performed tissue Doppler imaging of the tricuspid annulus in patients with pulmonary hypertension to assess its correlation with invasive indices of right ventricular function. The study population consisted of 32 patients with suspected pulmonary hypertension who underwent pulsed tissue Doppler imaging of the tricuspid annulus and right heart catheterization. Peak systolic (Sa), early diastolic (Ea), and late diastolic (Aa) velocities of the lateral tricuspid annulus were measured and correlated with hemodynamic variables. Peak Sa demonstrated excellent correlation with hemodynamic variables, including cardiac index (r=0.78; P<.001), pulmonary vascular resistance (r=−0.79; P<.001), and transpulmonary gradient (r=−0.72; P<.001). Peak Sa <10 cm/s predicted cardiac index <2.0 L/min/m2 with 89% sensitivity and 87% specificity. In conclusion, tissue Doppler imaging of the tricuspid annulus is a complementary method to assess right ventricular function in pulmonary hypertensive patients.
Evaluation of in situ albumin binding surfaces: a study of protein adsorption and platelet adhesion

Surface modification strategies that take advantage of the passivation effects of albumin are important in the development of biomaterial surfaces. In this study, linear peptides (LP1, LP2) and a small chemical ligand (SCL) with albumin binding affinities were grafted onto silane functionalized silicon substrates. Surfaces were characterized with contact angle and ellipsometric measurements, and densities of immobilized ligands were assessed spectroscopically. Ellipsometrically measured thickness correlated with the predicted molecular lengths of grafted moieties. Contact angle analysis indicated that the LP1 and LP2 functionalized surfaces were hydrophilic compared to SCL functionalized and control surfaces. Adsorption of albumin from human serum was evaluated and quantified via specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and 2D gel electrophoresis. The following trend was noted for surface adsorbed albumin: LP1 > LP2 > SCL > C, with LP1 derivatized surfaces having ~2.450 μg/cm2 of bound albumin. LP1 derivatized surfaces possessed the least number of adsorbed platelets with rounded platelet morphology when compared to control surface.
MOSFET global modeling for deep submicron devices with a modified BSIM1 SPICE model

A modified Berkeley short-channel IGFET model (BSIM1) has been developed to accurately model the I-V characteristics and circuit performance of deep submicron MOSFET devices. The improved model provides a simple and more efficient parameter acquisition procedure for MOSFET global modeling in comparison to the original BSIM1 model. The procedure for extracting the global geometry scalable model parameters is described. The extraction procedure provides a decoupling between DC and AC modeling resulting in more accurate time-domain circuit simulations. The proposed modeling procedure eliminates the negative conductance problem experienced in the original BSIM1. The validity of the model is supported by comparisons between measured and simulated results. The focus of this paper is on the digital applications of the BSIM1 SPICE model.