cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in locomotor activity, core temperature, and heart rate in response to repeated cocaine administration.

Abstract The effects of daily single injections of 20 mg/kg cocaine on locomotor activity, core temperature, and heart rate were determined by radiotelemetry. There was a progressive increase in locomotor activity over the 30-day treatment period. Cocaine-induced activity was 9–12-fold greater than that of saline-treated animals. Cocaine also caused increases in core temperature and heart rate. Tolerance did not develop to the locomotor, hyperthermic, and tachycardic responses resulting from repeated cocaine administration. Comparison of the time-course of the cocaine-induced responses revealed that, on Day 1 and 3, the peak locomotor activity was observed 15 min after cocaine administration, whereas the hyperthermic response peaked at 95 min on those days. The fact that the peak locomotor activity and the hyperthermic response occurred at different times suggests that different processes acting independently or interacting may be involved in these actions of cocaine.
The application of anodic stripping voltammetry to forensic science. II. Anodic stripping voltammetric analysis of gunshot residues

Abstract Non-destructive analysis of gunshot residues on hands was studied by anodic stripping voltammetry using a low-cost home-constructed polarograph. The washing solution was 0.5 M HCl. Antimony was first analyzed in 4 M HCl solution; and zinc, lead and copper were then simultaneously analyzed in 0.2 M acetate buffer (pH 5.9 ± 0.1).
Disk-tape joins: synchronizing disk and tape access

Today large amounts of data are stored on tertiary storage media such as magnetic tapes and optical disks. DBMSs typically operate only on magnetic disks since they know how to maneuver disks and how to optimize accesses on them. Tertiary devices present a problem for DBMSs since these devices have dismountable media and have very different operational characteristics compared to magnetic disks. For instance, most tape drives offer very high capacity at low cost but are accessed sequentially, involve lengthy latencies, and deliver lower bandwidth. Typically, the scope of a DBMS's query optimizer does not include tertiary devices, and the DBMS might not even know how to control and operate upon tertiary-resident data. In a three-level hierarchy of storage devices (main memory, disk, tape), the typical solution is to elevate tape-resident data to disk devices, thus bringing such data into the DBMS' control, and then to perform the required operations on disk. This requires additional space on disk and may not give the lowest response time possible. With this challenge in mind, we studied the trade-offs between memory and disk requirements and the execution time of a join with the help of two well-known join methods. The conventional, disk-based Nested Block Join and Hybrid Hash Join were modified to operate directly on tapes. An experimental implementation of the modified algorithms gave us more insight into how the algorithms perform in practice. Our performance analysis shows that a DBMS desiring to operate on tertiary storage will benefit from special algorithms that operate directly on tape-resident data and take into account and exploit the mismatch in disk and tape characteristics.
Telestroke: State of the Science and Steps for Implementation

Telemedicine or telehealth has been broadly defined as the use of telecommunications technologies to provide medical information and services. The use of telemedicine in the treatment of stroke-telestroke-has shown great promise in improving patient access to recommended stroke treatments in rural and other underserved areas. This article reviews the literature, discusses the potential impact, and makes recommendations for the use of this technology. It concentrates on the role of nurses, the potential impact, barriers, and promises of telestroke science.
Processing parameters for filament winding thick-section PEEK/carbon fiber composites

The consolidation pressure and winding speed for thermoplastic filament winding were studied. Thermoplastic composite parts were manufactured from tape prepreg (APC-2); powder-coated, semi-consolidated towpreg; and commingled fiber towpreg. The material used was carbon fiber (AS-4) (60 vol%) in a PEEK matrix. The parts made were open-ended cylinders of the three materials, 177.8-mm ID, 228.6 mm long, 17 plies thick with a 0° lay-up angle; and rings, 50 plies of APC-2 thick, 6.35 mm wide (one strip wide), 177.8-mm ID, and a lay-up of 0°. Their quality was determined by surface finish and void percentage. The tubes made from APC-2 appeared to have the best quality of the three prepregs. For the rings, the speed of lay-down had a significant effect (at a 99% confidence level) on both the final width of the parts and on the percentage of voids. The pressure of the roller had a significant effect on the final widths at a 99% confidence level, but a significant effect on the percentage of voids at only a 95% confidence level.
Medical comorbidity in late-life depression.

Objectives Medical comorbidity is common in elderly patients with depression, however the difference between depressed and non-depressed elderly populations is not well established. Additionally, differences between subgroups of depressed populations, including those with MRI-defined vascular depression and those with late-onset compared with early-onset depression are not well described. Methods We compared self-report of medical disorders between 370 depressed elders and 157 non-depressed control subjects. Subjects were additionally dichotomized based on presence or absence of subcortical MRI lesions and age of onset. Medical comorbidity was assessed by self report only, and depressed subjects were additionally assessed by the clinician-rated Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. Results When compared with the non-depressed group, depressed subjects were significantly more likely to report the presence of hypertension, heart disease, gastrointestinal ulcers, and ‘hardening of the arteries’. Analyses of subjects with subcortical disease demonstrated they were significantly older, more likely to have depression, and more likely to report the presence of hypertension. Finally, the depressed cohort with late-onset depression (occurring after age 50 years) had more male subjects, exhibited greater CIRS scores, and greater prevalence of hypertension, but these did not reach a level of statistical significance after applying a Bonferroni correction. Conclusions Vascular comorbidities are common in depressed elders. The differences in the report of hypertension supports past work investigating a vascular contribution to late-life depression. Given the association between depression and poor medical outcomes of cardiac disease, this population deserves clinical scrutiny and further research. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacist involvement in a rapid-response team at a community hospital.

In hospital cardiac arrest is associated with high mortality rates.[1][1] Many patients who suffer cardiac arrest or pulmonary arrest have preexisting respiratory or metabolic abnormalities and clinical deterioration.[2][2] Risk factors for avoidable inhospital cardiac arrests include abnormal
Further Support for a Hierarchical Model of Affect: Reply to Green and Salovey

Green and Salovey agree with us that happiness and sadness are strongly bipolar, and that Positive and Negative Activation are not. However, Green and Salovey subscribe to the two-dimensional circumplex, a model we find wanting. Actually, the problems they discuss arise from the limitations of the circumplex rather than from issues fundamental to affective structure. And they do not consider the evidence, reported in our target article, that supports an alternative to the circumplex: a three-level hierarchical model. In this reply, we take a closer look at the empirical findings supporting this model, and we emphasize its heuristic promise.
Bayesian Inference with Missing Data Using Bound and Collapse

Abstract Current Bayesian methods to estimate conditional probabilities from samples with missing data pose serious problems of robustness and computational efficiency. This article introduces a new method, called bound and collapse (BC) to tackle these problems. BC first bounds the possible estimates consistent with the available information and then collapses these bounds to a point estimate using information about the pattern of missing data. Deterministic approximations of the variance and of the posterior distribution are proposed, and their accuracy is compared to stochastic approximations in a real dataset of polling data subject to nonresponse.
Grounded Constraints and The Consonants of Setswana

Abstract The article examines the phonology and phonetics of Setswana obstruents and the well known and controversial post-nasal devoicing rule, which has been cited as a counterexample to the claim that markedness constraints are phonetically grounded ( Hyman, 2001 ). We re-examine the case of Setswana and argue that it must be analyzed in terms of grounded constraints. Our evidence comes from two sources. First, we report on the results of a phonetic study of six speakers of the Sengwato dialect of Setswana. We found that some of our speakers did not have voiced obstruents in any context. Those speakers that did devoice post-nasally also devoiced in other contexts. Thus, a phonetic examination of the purported counterexample to phonetically grounded constraints fails to support the traditional descriptions. Second, we examine the larger phonological context in which the Setswana alternations occur. Setswana has a gapped system of laryngeal contrasts, so the evidence for post-nasal devoicing comes almost entirely from labial stops. The language also has a series of so-called strengthening alternations that affect consonants such as liquids and fricatives post-nasally—alternations that we propose to analyze in terms of the Syllable Contact Law.
Numerical simulation of plasma processes occurring in the ram region of the tethered satellite

Plasma processes affecting collection of electrons by a conducting body in a magnetized plasma are studied using a fully 3-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation, including a relative drift (Vo) between the plasma and the body. The main focus of the paper is on the plasma processes occurring in the ram region when the body potential Φo > Wo /e where Wo is the ram energy of the ions in the rest frame of the body. The potential structure near the body and the resulting flow of electrons and ions are critically examined to determine the sources of free energy for exciting plasma waves, which can possibly accelerate electrons to superthermal energies. Simulations reveal that the E × Bo drift of the electrons in the body's sheath, shifted toward the ram region and extended along the magnetic field Bo, produces sufficiently large relative drifts between the electrons and ions across Bo to excite lower hybrid waves. It is estimated that such drifts in the sheath of the tethered satellite was able to produce lower hybrid waves which could accelerate the electrons up to a few hundred electron volts.
Union Effects on Nonunion Wages: Evidence from Panel Data on Industries and Cities

The authors test for threat and crowding effects of unions on non-union wages at the industry and city levels, using panel data on the percent organized and nonunion industry and city wage differentials constructed from Current Population Surveys over the period 1973–89. At the industry level, increases in the percent organized were associated with decreases in the nonunion industry wage differential, suggesting that crowding effects were the predominant union effect on nonunion industry wage differentials. In contrast, at the city level increases in the percent organized were associated with increases in the nonunion city wage differential, suggesting that threat effects predominated. The authors also find evidence of negative cross-occupation union effects on nonunion industry wage differentials, supporting their hypothesis that the industry-level results were partly driven by complementarity between union and nonunion labor.
Denaturalizing Ecological Politics: Alienation from Nature from Rousseau to the Frankfurt School and Beyond

Denaturalizing Ecological Politics: Alienation from Nature from Rousseau to the Frankfurt School and Beyond. By Andrew Biro. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2005. 270p. 24.95 paper.Andrew Biro's dense argument for a “denaturalized ecological politics” should have wide appeal. At one level, it should make political theorists generally—whether or not they consider themselves “ecological theorists”—reflect more systematically on how concepts of nature structure the ideas of canonical thinkers. Political ecology is too often treated like a specialty shop in the theory emporium, a boutique that one enters or not according to the inclinations of taste. In fact, its insights recast the central concerns of political theory broadly conceived. Just as feminists have uncovered how gendered concepts are woven throughout the entire fabric of political discourse, so ecological political theorists demonstrate how nature in multiple guises (wildness, savagery, emotional connectedness, fecundity, scarcity, etc.) subtly inflects the meaning of notions of rights, justice, and human well-being. In this regard, Biro's perceptive analyses of Rousseau and Marx—like John Meyer's reading of Aristotle and Hobbes in Political Nature (2001)—add heft to a growing literature that, in the name of environmental concern, wrings new meaning from familiar theorists.
Predominance of distinct viral genotypes in brain and lymph node compartments of HIV-1-infected individuals.

ABSTRACT A modified polymerase chain reaction protocol was used to amplify the entire envelope-coding region of HIV-1 directly from brain and lymph node tissue obtained at autopsy from three HIV-1-...
3D diffusion tensor MRI with isotropic resolution using a steady-state radial acquisition.

Purpose To obtain diffusion tensor images (DTI) over a large image volume rapidly with 3D isotropic spatial resolution, minimal spatial distortions, and reduced motion artifacts, a diffusion-weighted steady-state 3D projection (SS 3DPR) pulse sequence was developed. Materials and Methods A diffusion gradient was inserted in a SS 3DPR pulse sequence. The acquisition was synchronized to the cardiac cycle, linear phase errors were corrected along the readout direction, and each projection was weighted by measures of consistency with other data. A new iterative parallel imaging reconstruction method was also implemented for removing off-resonance and undersampling artifacts simultaneously. Results The contrast and appearance of both the fractional anisotropy and eigenvector color maps were substantially improved after all correction techniques were applied. True 3D DTI datasets were obtained in vivo over the whole brain (240 mm field of view in all directions) with 1.87 mm isotropic spatial resolution, six diffusion encoding directions in under 19 minutes. Conclusion A true 3D DTI pulse sequence with high isotropic spatial resolution was developed for whole brain imaging in under 20 minutes. To minimize the effects of brain motion, a cardiac synchronized, multiecho, DW-SSFP pulse sequence was implemented. Motion artifacts were further reduced by a combination of linear phase correction, corrupt projection detection and rejection, sampling density reweighting, and parallel imaging reconstruction. The combination of these methods greatly improved the quality of 3D DTI in the brain. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;29:1175–1184. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Tracking and characterizing knocks atop large interactive displays

Purpose – To describe the development of and experience with a system that tracks the position of knocks and taps atop a large sheet of glass for use as an inexpensive retrofit that can make large windows into interactive interfaces.Design/methodology/approach – The structural‐acoustic wavefront coming from the impact is simultaneously recorded by four contact piezoelectric pickups mounted near the sheet's corners. A digital signal processor extracts relevant characteristics from these signals, such as amplitudes, frequency components, and differential timings, which are used to estimate the location of the hit and derive other parameters, including a degree of confidence in the position accuracy, the strike intensity and the nature of each hit (e.g. knuckle knock, metal tap, or fist bang – our system responds to any kind of impact). A set of heuristically‐guided rules are employed to compare the waveforms recorded by different sensors and determine the differential timing.Findings – Across sensitive area...
Gender in American Tobacco Cards 1880–1920: The Role of Coercive Competition

This paper adds to the literature on Marxian coercive competition and its negative economic and social outcomes. An historical and econometric analysis of competitive intensity and the portrayal of women in one early form of tobacco advertising is conducted using an original data set. The historical analysis establishes the nature and intensity of competitive relations. Estimation results for a multinomial logit model for various portrayals of women show that a 1% increase in the market share of independent producers caused a 0.35–0.7% and 2.5–4.5% increase in the likelihood that women were included and treated exploitatively in ads in early and late competitive periods, respectively.
Steady natural convection in a two-layer system of immiscible liquids

Abstract Thermal convection in two horizontal layers of immiscible liquids that are differentially heated from the side is studied analytically, numerically and experimentally. The flow in the two layers is thermally and mechanically coupled. Flow in both layers is visualized and the flow pattern is found to be in agreement with theoretical predictions. Flow velocities in the core region of the cavity are found to be in quantitative agreement with theory.
Randomized clinical trial of intravenous magnesium sulfate as an adjunctive medication for emergency department treatment of migraine headache

Abstract Study Objective: We test the hypothesis that intravenous magnesium sulfate is an effective adjunctive medication for treatment of acute migraine. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, adults presenting to 2 urban emergency departments with headache meeting International Headache Society criteria for acute migraine received either 20 mg of intravenous metoclopramide plus 2 g of intravenous magnesium sulfate or 20 mg of intravenous metoclopramide plus a placebo of intravenous saline solution at 15-minute intervals for a maximum of 3 doses or until pain relief occurred. At 0, 15, 30, and 45 minutes, patients recorded pain intensity using a standard visual analog scale (VAS). The primary study end point was the between-group difference in pain improvement when initial and final VAS scores were compared. Results: Of 44 patients enrolled (21 randomized to metoclopramide plus magnesium and 23 to metoclopramide plus placebo), 42 (95%) were women. Baseline features were comparable in both groups. Each group experienced a more than 50-mm improvement in VAS score during the study. However, this improvement was smaller in the magnesium group for the primary end point (16-mm difference favoring placebo [95% confidence interval (CI) –2 to 34 mm]), as was the proportion with normal functional status at their final rating (36% absolute difference also favoring placebo [95% CI 7% to 65%]). Using a 50% reduction in pain to dichotomize VAS scores, the number needed to harm with magnesium plus metoclopramide versus metoclopramide alone is 4 patients (95% CI 2 to 36). Conclusion: Although this result was unexpected, our data suggest that the addition of magnesium to metoclopramide may attenuate the effectiveness of metoclopramide in relieving migraine. Countertherapeutic cerebral vasodilatation caused by magnesium is a plausible, although unproven, explanation for this finding. Because of the preponderance of women in our trial, these data may not be generalizable to men. [Corbo J, Esses D, Bijur PE, Iannaccone R, Gallagher EJ. Randomized clinical trial of intravenous magnesium sulfate as an adjunctive medication for emergency department treatment of migraine headache. Ann Emerg Med. December 2001;38:621-627.]
Stimulation of pituitary glucose oxidation by thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Abstract Pituitary halves from normal or thyroidectomized rats were incubated in media containing glucose-l- or glucose-6- 14 C and the 14 C0 2 produced in 45 min was measured. Synthetic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulated oxidation of glucose-6- 14 C to 14 C0 2 but not C-1 labeled glucose. The effect was most consistent and prominent in pituitaries from thyroidectomized rats and was blocked by the addition of thyroxine to the medium. TRH exerted no comparable stimulatory action on liver, brain, kidney, or muscle under comparable conditions.
Engaged moments: Mediated action and children with autism in the classroom setting

The purpose of this microethnographic study is to explore ways to better understand engagement in occupation of children with autism spectrum disorder. Using video data, moments of engagement were examined in a child with autism spectrum disorder during the daily classroom activity of Circle Time. The interpretive frame focused on mediated action, the interaction between the agent, and cultural tools. Three scenes were analyzed using narrative and micro-analytic strategies. Analyses of two scenes highlighted how social and material mediators offer opportunities for engagement. Other children with autism provided appropriate scaffolds and demonstrated evidence of intersubjectivity, whereas material tools provided proximal prompts that enabled the child to engage. The third scene suggests that engagement may not always be observable (i.e., engagement may be a subjective state). Implications for practice and methodological insights are offered.
Quantitative Separation of Ether-Soluble Acidic and Neutral Materials

Abstract The separation of neutral from acidic components of lipophilic materials (e.g., ether extractives, rosins, tall oil) can be accomplished rapidly and quantitatively without chemical alteration of the components using DEAE-Sephadex. Details and applications of the methodology are presented.
Sexism Versus Partisanship: A New Look at the Question of Whether America is Ready for a Woman President

We question the validity of traditional polling about the likelihood of respondents to vote for a woman president and argue that the use of such polls may overestimate sexism and underestimate the role that party identification and individual characteristics play in deciding about whether to vote for a woman president. Our analysis of data collected in May–June 2004 show that many people who say they will not vote for a woman for president would do so if given realistic, specific, political scenarios via head-to-head match-ups with potential candidates. Although survey respondents preferred George W. Bush to Hillary Clinton, the margin between these candidates was close especially considering that Bush had been actively campaigning for months, whereas Clinton had not.
Field additivity of Stiles's Pi-4 color mechanism.

Stiles’s middle-wave color mechanism Pi-4 is field additive for mixtures of 410-, 480-, 530-, 622-, and 670-nm adaptation fields, when studied with a 1-deg, 200-msec, 500-nm foveal test flash at 10 times absolute threshold.
WHAT PECULIARITIES IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO PROFESS: AN ESSAY

The purpose of this paper is to outline the peculiarities of educational administration. The author's approach is admittedly intuitive and impressionistic. It is argued that several features of the knowledge base of administration and of its graduate teaching‐learning system place extraordinary demands on departments providing training in this field. Similarly, the teaching‐learning system brings both professor and practitioner into a strange relationship. The professor must deal with students who are practicing administrators, many of whom are “good” or “successful” in their profession, display an enormous range of competencies, and are disdainful of the academic pursuit of educational administration. The author suggests that only through the type of interaction between professor and student and the analysis of important problems accessible to reasoned intervention, may a satisfactory solution be found.
Retrograde axonal transport of antibodies to synaptic membrane components.

Abstract It is well known that several exogenous substances, including, for example, lectins, nerve growth factor and several toxins, are retrogradely transported in axons after selectively binding to molecules on the surface of the synaptic membrane. In the present study, we sought to determine if antibodies to components of the synaptic membrane are also retrogradely transported. Retrogradely axonal transport of antibodies to the Con A-positive fraction of synaptic membranes was studied in the rat hypoglossal and facial nerves. After injection of antibodies into the tongue and facial muscles, labeled cells were present in the hypoglossal nucleus and facial nucleus, respectively. Injections of normal serum produced no labeling in either system.
Effect of Lumbricus terrestris L. burrows on hydrology of continuous no-till corn fields.

Abstract This paper reviews research performed at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, North Appalachian Experimental Watershed, Coshocton, Ohio into the importance of earthworm burrows, primarily those made by Lumbricus terrestris L., on the hydrology of no-till corn fields. Long-term runoff records showed that infiltration and therefore, potential ground water recharge, could increase by more than 100 mm yr−1 in watersheds farmed with no-till practices as compared to similar fields that were conventionally tilled. The difference in hydrologic response appeared to be due to differences in soil physical properties, possibly those attributable to earthworm activity. When crop residues were left on the surface under continuous no-till corn management, earthworms thrived and their large, nearly vertical burrows persisted. Field studies showed that dye and chemical tracers applied in simulated rainfall moved in the earthworm burrows. The number and sizes of burrows and other macropores were determined and water and nitrate movement in > mm diameter burrows were measured. Flow in these earthworm burrows during 12 growing season storms accounted for an average of 4% of rainfall, (range 1–10%) or 13 times more than would be predicted based solely on their cross-sectional area. Total movement of nitrate in the burrows during these 12 storms was estimated to be
Neurotensin-immunoreactive neurons in the ventral striatum of the adult rat: ventromedial caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle.

Sections through rat striatum pretreated with colchicine displayed large numbers of neurotensin (NT)-immunoreactive (IR) neurons which were most concentrated in the ventral striatum, i.e. in rostral ventromedial parts of the caudate-putamen and in the nucleus accumbens and olfactory tubercle. Such neurons were clustered coextensively in the ventromedial caudate-putamen and caudal nucleus accumbens with dense patches of NT-IR fiber and puncta staining. NT-IR neurons were sparsely distributed in other parts of the striatum, except in a thin lamina adjacent to the lateral ventricle and globus pallidus, and along the course of the temporal limb of the anterior commissure.
Racial variation in the relationship of anemia with mortality and mobility disability among older adults

Anemia is more common among older blacks than older whites. However, it is unclear whether anemia predicts adverse events similarly in both races. Data on 1018 black and 1583 white adults aged 71 to 82 years were analyzed. Anemia, as defined by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, was used to predict mortality over 6 years and incidence of mobility disability over 4 years. In proportional hazards models of mortality in whites, the age-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for anemia in men was 1.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35, 2.83) and in women was 2.86 (95% CI: 1.69, 4.82). In contrast, anemia was not associated with mortality in black men (HR = 1.15 [95% CI: 0.77, 1.72]) or women (HR = 1.39 [95% CI: 0.91, 2.14]). Higher mortality rate was observed only in black men with hemoglobin values more than 20 g/L (2.0 g/dL) below the WHO cutoff, whereas mortality rates were elevated in white men with hemoglobin values 1 to 10, 11 to 20, and more than 20 g/L below the WHO cutoff. In conclusion, anemia was significantly associated with increased risk of death and mobility disability in community-dwelling older whites. Conversely, older blacks classified as anemic by WHO criteria were not at risk for adverse events, indicating that alternative criteria are warranted.
Implementation of an intrusion detection system based on wireless positioning

WLAN networks are widely deployed and can be used for testbed and application developments in academic environments. This paper presents wireless positioning testbed and a related application implementation methodology as a case study. Nowadays state-of-the-art WLAN positioning systems achieve high location estimation accuracy. In designated areas the signal profile map can be designed and used for such a positioning. Coverage of WLAN networks is typically wider than the authorized areas and there might be network intrusion attempts from the vicinity areas such as parking lots, cafeterias, etc. In addition to conventional verification and authorization methods, the network can locate the user, verify if his location is in the authorized area and apply additional checks to find the violators.
A triple-resonance pulse scheme for selectively correlating amide 1HN and 15N nuclei with the 1H alpha proton of the preceding residue.

A 3D1H−15N−13C triple resonance experiment is presented that contains exclusively cross peaks between the1HN and15N nuclei of one residue with the Hα of the preceding residue. The pulse sequence, designed to minimize the time coherence, is transverse on nuclei with short T2 values. The experiment consists of coherence transfers via one-bond couplings from the HN via N, CO, Cα to the Hα and back to the HN for detection; it is called HN(COCA)HA. The experiment was tested on uniformly15N- and13C-enriched T4 lysozyme.
Biomechanics of posterior dynamic stabilizing device (DIAM) after facetectomy and discectomy

Abstract Background context Lumbar fusion has been associated with inconsistent clinical outcomes and significant complications. Posterior dynamic devices have been developed to stabilize painful diseased lumbar motion segments while avoiding fusion. The Device for Intervertebral Assisted Motion (DIAM) is a silicone interspinous process “bumper” that is being clinically implanted for varied indications. Purpose We analyzed the effects of the DIAM device on the biomechanical response of the lumbar spine in flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation after partial facetectomy and discectomy; the clinical situations in which its use might be considered. Study design/setting A biomechanical study was performed using whole lumbar spine specimens (L1–sacrum). Surgical interventions were simulated at the L4–L5 level, and motions were measured at the operated and adjacent segments. Patient sample Six fresh human lumbar spine specimens were used. Methods The lumbar spines were subjected to moments in flexion-extension (±6 Nm), lateral bending (±5 Nm), and axial rotation (±4 Nm). The specimens were tested under the following conditions: 1) intact; 2) after unilateral hemifacetectomy at L4–L5; 3) #2 and discectomy; and 4) #3 with DIAM. The angular motion values at the operated and adjacent segments were analyzed using analysis of variance and multiple comparisons with Bonferroni correction. Results Unilateral hemifacetectomy did not increase angular motion. Subsequent discectomy increased L4–L5 angular motion (degrees) from 9.2±1.6 to 11.7±2.0 in flexion-extension (p=.01), from 6.7±1.1 to 8.5±1.5 in lateral bending (p=.01), and from 2.6±0.7 to 3.8±0.8 in axial rotation (p=.00). Insertion of the DIAM device after discectomy restored the angular motion to below the level of the intact segment in flexion-extension (6.7±0.7 vs. 9.2±1.6, p=.02). In lateral bending, DIAM reduced the increased motion induced by discectomy (7.8±1.0 vs. 8.5±1.5, p Conclusions The DIAM device is effective in stabilizing the unstable segment, reducing the increased segmental flexion-extension and lateral bending motions observed after discectomy. In flexion-extension the DIAM restored postdiscectomy motion to below the intact values (p
Expression of Thyroid Hormone Receptor Isoforms in Rat Growth Plate Cartilage In Vivo

Although thyroid hormone has been known for many years to be a potent regulator of skeletal maturation in vivo, it has not definitively been determined whether this effect is a result of a direct or indirect action of the hormone. Previous in vivo studies have suggested that thyroid hormone may stimulate longitudinal bone growth by increasing the secretion of growth hormone; however, growth hormone alone is unable to stimulate cartilage maturation. There are also indications that thyroid hormone is able to act directly on growth plate chondrocytes through growth hormone–independent mechanisms. In this study, we demonstrate that rat growth plate chondrocytes in vivo express genes encoding three of the four isoforms of the thyroid hormone receptors described to date, but the corresponding protein can only be detected for the TRα1 and TRβ1 isoforms of the receptor. As has been noted in other tissues, there is generally poor correlation between the mRNA levels for each isoform and the relative amount of corresponding protein as measured by immunoblotting, suggesting the possibility that receptor expression may be regulated by post-transcriptional mechanisms.
Ethical issues in genetic counseling: A comparison of M.S. counselor and medical geneticist perspectives

New technologies available in the field of medical genetics have increased the importance of responsible ethical decision-making among genetic counselors. A 1985 national survey of M.D. and Ph.D. genetic counselors assessed ethical attitudes using case scenarios designed to simulate dilemmas faced in genetic counseling (Wertz and Fletcher, 1988b). The current study focuses on attitudes of M.S. genetic counselors using similar scenarios, allowing for effective comparisons. M.S. counselors were more willing than M.D. and Ph.D. counselors to maintain patient confidentiality when screening for Huntington's Disease and occupational diseases, and a greater number would agree to counsel patients pursuing prenatal testing for sex selection. A majority of M.S. counselors would disclose an XY karyotype to a phenotypically female patient. M.S. counselors reasoned that respect for patient autonomy and patient confidentiality justified their decisions in many cases. The importance of these principles is discussed and questioned.
Criteria for successful estrogen therapy in osteoporosis

Estrogens are well established as agents that stabilize the skeleton and reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures among postmenopausal women. For maximum benefit, preventive therapy should begin as early as possible after ovarian failure begins to occur. Efforts to prevent bone loss are likely to achieve the best results when initiated prior to significant loss of bone tissue and trabecular penetration. An effect on skeletal bone mass can be obtained by any route of administration and transdermal estrogen use is an alternative to oral estrogen. Long-term therapy may reduce the risk of hip fracture by 50% and of vertebral fracture by a greater amount. The minimum effective dose is probably that which achieves circulating estrogen levels in the mid-follicular range. For women with a uterus in place, a progestin usually is provided to protect the endometrium; it is given cyclically in younger women but may be given continuously in women several years past menopause. Progestins do not interfere with the effects of estrogen on the skeleton, and it is possible that some progestins enhance the skeletal effects of estrogen. For patients with osteoporosis, estrogens can be used as first-line therapy since in these patients they have the same skeletal stabilizing effect and reduce the risk of recurrent fracture.
Estrus after treatment with Syncro-Mate B* in ovariectomized heifers is dependent on the injected estradiol valerate.

Abstract A series of experiments was conducted to determine why ovariectomized heifers exhibit estrus after they are treated with the estrus synchronization product, Syncro-Mate B • (SMB). In Experiment 1, 23 of 40 (58%) ovariectomized heifers exhibited estrus after treatment with SMB. The mean concentration of estradiol-17β (E 2 ) in serum was lower (P 2 for 3 d after implant removal was lower (P 2 was lower (P 2 in serum on the days when synchronized estrus would be expected following SMB treatment. The results indicate that the SMB-induced estrus in ovariectomized heifers is dependent upon EV in the SMB treatment. Apparently, EV elevates the concentration of E 2 in serum, and the E 2 remains sufficiently high to induce estrus after implant removal.
Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids, Hypertension, and Kidney Injury

Kidney disease afflicts 33 million in the United States, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) accounts for >$60 billion in Medicare costs.1,2 Hypertension afflicts 75 million in the United States, and significant portions of those patients develop CKD and progress to end-stage renal disease.1–5 Interestingly, resistant hypertension which is defined as uncontrolled hypertension, despite 3 antihypertensive medication classes, increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and end-stage renal disease.6 These recent findings in the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) highlights the fact that current treatments only slow the loss of kidney function, or have no benefit at all.5,6 New therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Development of drugs to increase a novel class of fatty acids, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), represents a unique approach to treat hypertension and kidney disease. EETs are generated from the substrate arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450 (CYP) epoxygenase enzymes.7,8 There are 4 regioisomeric EETs formed: 5,6-EET; 8,9-EET; 11,12-EET; and 14,15-EET. These regioisomeric EETs are further metabolized to less active or inactive diols by the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH; Ephx2 ) enzyme. For clarity, EETs will be used as a general term and regioisomers mentioned when actions can be attributed to a specific regioisomeric EET. In the majority of circumstances, the primary EETs evaluated for cardiovascular and renal function have been 11,12-EET and 14,15-EET.7 Once formed, EETs act in an autocrine or paracrine manner to elicit biological responses. Vascular endothelial and renal epithelial cells are major sites for EET production.7,8 This localized EET generation aligns with the biological actions and contribution of EETs to cardiovascular and renal function. Prominent biological actions of EETs include their role as endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factors and regulation of tubular sodium reabsorption by inhibiting epithelial …
An approximation method for the determination of diffusion and permeability coefficients in nerve trunks

A recently introduced approximation method is applied in order to obtain an expression for the amount of a substance remaining within a nerve at any time, the nerve having been soaked for a long time in a solution containing the substance until the time zero when it is bathed in the same solution but without the substance. The case of a uniform nerve without a sheath leads to substantially the same results as previously obtained by A. V. Hill (1928) for this case. A solution is given for the case of a nerve without sheath but having fibers which are permeable. In this case it is shown how an effective diffusion coefficient for the interstitial fluid can be obtained, as well as the effective inward and outward fiber permeabilities. A solution is given for the case of a nerve with a sheath in which the substance considered does not penetrate the fibers, and it is shown how the effective diffusion coefficients of the sheath and the interstitial fluid can be obtained.
Time series analysis of emergency department length of stay per 8-hour shift.

Author(s): Rathlev, Niels K.; Obendorfer, Daniel; White, Laura F.; Rebholz, Casey M.; Magauran, Brendan; Baker, Willie; Ulrich, Andrew; Fisher, Linda; Olshaker, Jonathan | Abstract: Introduction: The mean emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) is considered a measure of crowding. This paper measures the association between LOS and factors that potentially contribute to LOS measured over consecutive shifts in the ED: shift 1 (7:00 AM to 3:00 PM), shift 2 (3:00 PM to 11:00PM), and shift 3 (11:00 PM to 7:00 AM).Methods: Setting: University, inner-city teaching hospital. Patients: 91,643 adult ED patients between October 12, 2005 and April 30, 2007. Design: For each shift, we measured the numbers of (1) ED nurses on duty, (2) discharges, (3) discharges on the previous shift, (4) resuscitation cases, (5) admissions, (6) intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and (7) LOS on the previous shift. For each 24-hour period, we measured the (1) number of elective surgical admissions and (2) hospital occupancy. We used autoregressive integrated moving average time series analysis to retrospectively measure the association between LOS and the covariates.Results: For all 3 shifts, LOS in minutes increased by 1.08 (95% confidence interval 0.68, 1.50) forevery additional 1% increase in hospital occupancy. For every additional admission from the ED, LOS in minutes increased by 3.88 (2.81, 4.95) on shift 1, 2.88 (1.54, 3.14) on shift 2, and 4.91 (2.29, 7.53) onshift 3. LOS in minutes increased 14.27 (2.01, 26.52) when 3 or more patients were admitted to the ICU on shift 1. The numbers of nurses, ED discharges on the previous shift, resuscitation cases, andelective surgical admissions were not associated with LOS on any shift.Conclusion: Key factors associated with LOS include hospital occupancy and the number of hospital admissions that originate in the ED. This particularly applies to ED patients who are admitted to the ICU. [West J Emerg Med. 2012;13(2):163–168.]
Area—time tradeoffs for matrix multiplication and related problems in VLSI models☆

Abstract Two models for very-large scale integrated (VLSI) semiconductor circuits are considered that have been developed by Thompson and by Brent and Kung. The models permit the study of tradeoffs between chip area and computation time. We show that these tradeoffs can be derived from a single common complexity measure of a problem. We derive bounds on this measure for matrix multiplication under weak assumptions about the operations of addition and multiplication. The assumptions are such that the bounds can be applied directly to transitive closure and matrix inversion.
Photon-Photon Scattering Contribution to the Sixth-Order Magnetic Moment of the Muon

We report a calculation of the three-photon-exchange (electron-loop) contribution to the sixth-order anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. Our result, which contains a logarithmic dependence on the muon-to-electron mass ratio, brings the theoretical prediction into agreement with the CERN measurements, within the 1-standard-deviation experimental accuracy.
Computer Simulation Model for Coupled Grain Growth and Ostwald Ripening—Application to Al2O3‐ZrO2 Two‐Phase Systems

A kinetic model based on generalized continuum time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equations is proposed for studying coupled grain growth and Ostwald ripening in multiphase systems. In this model, an arbitrary multiphase microstructure is described by many orientation field variables which represent crystallographic orientations of grains in each phase and by n— 1 composition field variables which distinguish the compositional differences among n phases. Microstructural development during simultaneous grain growth and Ostwald ripening is predicted by the temporal evolution of these field variables by numerically solving the TDGL equations. A particular example, Al2O3-ZrO2 particulate composite, was considered. The effects of the volume fraction of ZrO2 on the microstructural features and their evolution were studied and compared to experimental observations and previous thermodynamic analysis.
Why children need to be loved

I have argued elsewhere that children have a moral right to be loved. Mhairi Cowden challenges my arguments. Among other things, Cowden believes that children do not need to be loved. In this paper, I explain why Cowden’s arguments fail and offer additional evidence for why children need to be loved.
Structure-Activity Relationships of 2′,5′-Oligoadenylate Analogue Modifications of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Antagonists

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is an ideal biomarker for prostate cancer. A previously reported 2-5A conjugate RBI1033 (3) showed binding affinity more than 10 times higher than the parent urea-based compound (S)-2-(3-((S)-5-amino-1-carboxypentyl)ureido) pentanedioic acid (1). The purpose of this work is to further optimize the structure of 3 to identify highly selective ligands of PSMA. It was found that conjugates having 2-5A in their structure showed extraordinary improved binding affinity to PSMA compared with compound 1. Removal of 2-5A significantly reduced its biological activity. The results will provide a path to agents for targeted imaging and treatment of prostate cancer.
Synthesis and conformational studies of poly-β-(γ-glutamyl)-aspartic acid

Abstract High molecular-weight ( M W 28,000) water-soluble poly-β-(γ-glutamyl)-aspartic acid (X) was synthesized in both l - and d - series through the polymerization of α- t -butylglutamyl-α- t -butylaspartic acid pentachlorophenyl ester hydrochloride (VI), followed by the removal of the carboxyl protecting group. The ORD and CD spectra of X are reported. This polymer is a model to test the structural requirements for the precipitation reaction with antianthrax immune serum.
Peptide mapping of the [125I]Iodoazidoketanserin and [125I]2-N-[(3'-iodo-4'-azidophenyl)propionyl]tetrabenazine binding sites for the synaptic vesicle monoamine transporter.

Next Section Abstract The full-length cDNA for the rat recombinant synaptic vesicle monoamine transporter (rVMAT2) containing a COOH-terminal polyhistidine epitope was engineered into baculovirus DNA for expression in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. Using this recombinant baculovirus and cultured Sf9 cells, rVMAT2 has been expressed to high levels and purified to >95% homogeneity using immobilized Ni2+-affinity chromatography followed by lectin (concanavalin A) chromatography. Purified transporter was photolabeled using [125I]-7-azido-8-iodoketanserin ([125I]AZIK) and [125I]2-N-[(3′-iodo-4′-azidophenyl)propionyl]tetrabenazine ([125I]TBZ-AIPP). Both [125I]AZIK and [125I]TBZ-AIPP photoaffinity labeling of purified rVMAT2 were protectable by 10 μm tetrabenazine (TBZ), 10 μm 7-aminoketanserin, and 1 mm concentrations of the transporter substrates dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Radiolabeled peptides were generated using enzymatic and chemical methods, purified using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and NH2-terminal microsequenced. Radiosequencing of [125I]AZIK-labeled rVMAT2 indicated derivatization of Lys-20 in the NH2 terminus, just prior to putative transmembrane domain 1 (TMD1). [125I]TBZ-AIPP derivatized a segment of rVMAT2 between Gly-408 and Cys-431 in TMD10 and 11. These data implicate juxtaposition of TMD1 and 10/11.