The hexosamine and sulfate-containing components in the urine of normal children

Report of an infant with aplasia of the proximal part of the fibula on both sides; by our knowledge the second observation in the literature. Furthermore the infant shows an aplasia of the thyroidea, a coarctation of the aorta, an atrial septal defect and an intraperitoneally situated ascending as well as descending colon.     

The influence of tensile stress states on the failure of HY-100 steel

The failure of an HY-100 steel plate has been examined as a function of stress state using notched and un-notched axisymmetric tensile specimens. The results show that increasing stress triaxiality leads to a rapid decrease in failure strains in a manner that is exponentially dependent on the degree of triaxiality. Two ductile failure mechanisms are identified: a void coalescence process, in which relatively equiaxed voids grow to impingement, and a void-sheet process, which links by a shear instability process large, elongated inclusion-initiated voids. The void-sheet mechanism intervenes and limits ductility at high-stress triaxialities in transversely oriented HY steel plate material, whereas the former process controls failure in longitudinally oriented material. These orientation effects are related to the morphology and alignment of the nonmetallic inclusion stringers that act as the primary void nucleation sites. Calcium treatments for inclusion-shape control improve ductility, especially at intermediate-stress triaxialities, primarily by suppressing the local conditions which give rise to the void-sheet instability process.     

The plastic deformation of TiAl

The deformation substructure of TiAl (Llo type ordered lattice) tested in compression, and the factors determining it were investigated. Two types of dislocations take part in the plas-tic deformation, namely a/2 [110] and a/2 [Oil]. The latter type will disorder the Llo super-lattice and therefore would be expected to move in pairs as superdislocations. Some obser-vations are essentially in agreement with the predictions, however the large proportion and morphology of a/2 [O1l] dislocations observed was unexpected. Twins of the [112] (111) type play an important role in the deformation of the alloy, and the early stages of their formation have been recorded. Finally, equi-Schmid factor lines have been constructed in an attempt to evaluate the importance of the sense of the applied stress on the deformation capability of the alloy. Formerly visiting Scientist at the Aerospace Research Laboratories     

The effect of stress on hedonic capacity.

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of stress on hedonic capacity. In Exp 1, cadets in the US Army Reserve Officer Training Corps reported experiencing less pleasure while watching amusing film clips after participating in a weekend of field training exercises than they did on a control day. In Exp 2, college students reported experiencing less pleasure in their daily activities during final exam week than they did at the baseline assessment. Hedonic capacity was associated with positive affect but not with negative affect or reported stress levels. The deleterious effect of stress on hedonic capacity was particularly strong for Ss with family histories of depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heterogeneity of plasma glucagon. Circulating components in normal subjects and patients with chronic renal failure

Plasma immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) concentrations were measured in 36 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and 32 normal subjects. In addition, the components of circulating IRG were analyzed by gel filtration in the fasting state and after physiological stimuli. Fasting IRG was elevated (P less than 0.001) in CRF patients (534 +/- 32 pg/ml) compared with the levels found in healthy subjects (113 +/- 9 pg/ml). Oral glucose suppressed plasma IRG in CRF patients from a basal level of 568 +/- 52 to a nadir of 354 +/- 57 pg/ml (120 min). This degree of suppression (38%) was comparable to that found in normal subjects (basal = 154 +/- 20 to 100 +/- 23 pg/ml) at 120 min (35%). Intravenous infusion of arginine (250 mg/kg) resulted in a 71% rise in IRG in CRF patients and a 166% increase in normal subjects. Gel filtration of fasting plasma from CRF patients showed three major peaks. The earliest (A) was found in the void volume (mol wt greater than 40,000) and constituted 16.5 +/- 4.7% of the elution profile. The middle peak (B) eluted just beyond the proinsulin marker (approximately 9,000 mol wt) and constituted the largest proportion of the elution profile (56.5 +/- 3.4%). The third peak (C) coincided with the standard glucagon and [125I]glucagon markers (3,485 mol wt) and comprised 27.0 +/- 4% of the IRG profile. In contrast, only peaks A and C were found in fasting plasma of normal subjects (53.6 +/- 10.4% in A and 46.4 +/- 10.4 in C). After oral glucose, glucagon immunoreactivity in the 3,500 mol wt peak (C) was markedly suppressed, while the B peak in patients with CRF declined to a lesser extent. The A peak in both groups was unchanged. After an arginine infusion only the C peak increased in both groups of subjects. Gel filtration of plasma in 3 M acetic acid gave similar profiles to those obtained in glycine albumin buffer. Exposure of serum to trypsin indicated that the B and C peaks were digestible, while the A peak was resistant to the action of the enzyme. In one sample, peak C increased after a 2-h exposure of serum to trypsin. We conclude that circulating IRG in normal subjects and patients with CRF is heterogenous. The hyperglucagonemia of renal failure is largely due to an increase in IRG material of approximately 9,000 mol wt, consistent with proglucagon, although the 3,500 mol wt component is also considerably elevated (threefold). The significance of circulating IRG levels should be interpreted with caution until the relative biological activity of the three components is established.     

The effect of induced stress on free associations.

"The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the influence of stress on the common responses in free associations. On the basis of a dedifferentiation theory, it was predicted that stress would reduce the frequency of common responses. On the basis of a drive theory, one might anticipate an increase in frequency of common responses. Stress was operationally defined as a situation in which subjects had just taken a difficult course examination and were waiting to be told their grades. Results indicated highly significant decrements in common responses as a function of stress. There was no tendency toward 'novel' responses (responses not given to a stimulus in the Russell and Jenkins standardization [1954])." From Psyc Abstracts 36:01:3HJ61S. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of stress on the response of chickens to coccidiosis vaccination

Six-week-old Leghorn chickens, which had been adapted to both their environment and cage mates, were orally inoculated with 400 Eimeria tenella oocysts as a means of low-dose vaccination. At 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 days after vaccine administration, the birds were subject to 24 h of social stress through a prescribed method of random redistribution. Two weeks after vaccine administration, the birds were challenged by oral inoculation with 8000 oocysts. Caecal lesion scores were determined 6 days after challenge. Vaccinated chickens were more resistant to lesion formation than unvaccinated controls, and protection, as determined by lower lesion scores, was significantly enhanced when stress in the form of social disruption was applied on the fourth day following vaccine administration.     

The effect of continuous light on refractive error and the ocular components of the rat

The anti-emetic efficiency of orally administered ondansetron and granisetron has been tested in macaques exposed to a mixed y and neutron radiation (6 Gy) with a high neutron/gamma-ray ratio. Our experiments reveal that a single delivery of ondansetron (1 or 2 mg kg(-1)) or of granisetron (0.25 mg kg(-1)) 45-90 min before irradiation or 35-45 min after irradiation was not totally effective. Conversely, the delivery of two doses with the same delay prior to and after exposure led to a complete prevention of vomiting and retching. These observations can be explained by the dual mechanism of radiation-induced emesis: an early peripheral mechanism and a later central mechanism. Two deliveries of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists seem to disrupt serotonergic transmission at the brain stem structures and to affect the peripheral release of serotonin from the gut, thus completely preventing radiation-induced vomiting. This study confirms that the 5-HT3-dependent mechanisms that mediate emesis are similar for both neutron and gamma radiation.     

The effect of ordering on the yield stress of martensitic CuZnAI alloys

The structures of the martensite of four CuZnAI alloys with Al contents ranging from 9 to 20.8 at. pct were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the structure of the martensite changed from 9R (having formed from a parent phase with B₂ order) to 18R (DO₃ parent) as the Al content was increased from 9 to 13.6 at. pct. The 0.2 pct proof stress of polycrystalline specimens initially decreased with increasing Al, corresponding to the change of order, and then increased. It is argued that the mechanism of yielding is the formation of mechanical twins which reorient the martensite, and an explanation of the change of yield stress with composition is given in terms of changes in the nature and extent of ordering affecting the twin boundary energy.     

The effect of a normal vaginal delivery on anal function

BACKGROUND: To determine the effect of an uncomplicated vaginal delivery on anal sphincter function in primiparous women. METHODS: In a prospective study, anal manometry was performed prenatally and at 4-6 weeks postnatally in 18 primiparous women (11 undergoing vaginal delivery; seven having Cesarean section). No patient had any evidence of anal sphincter damage after delivery as determined by anal ultrasound and pudendal nerve terminal motor latency. RESULTS: Vaginal delivery was associated with a significant reduction in the squeeze pressure (SP: prenatal 269 cm H2O vs postnatal 204 cm H2O; p=0.004) but not the resting pressure (RP: prenatal 96 cm H2O vs postnatal 86 cm H2O; p=0.075). Cesarean section was not associated with any significant change in anal pressures. CONCLUSION: A normal vaginal delivery with no evidence of sphincter injury was associated with a significant effect on anal function when measured 4-6 weeks postnatally.     

X-ray determination of the stress state of rolling-stock components

For the example of steel rolling-stock components, the X-ray determination of the surface stress is considered, with special preparation of the surface at the point of measurement. The effectiveness of this method when using a prototype portable X-ray diffraction system is demonstrated. The operating principle of that system is as follows. In the presence of mechanical stress, the diffraction angle changes, and the diffraction peak is shifted in the recorded diffraction spectrum. The diffracted X-rays recorded by the detector are converted to digital information regarding their intensity distribution, by means of an analog–digital converter, and sent to a PC. STRESSCONTROLL software is developed for computer analysis of the diffraction spectra. That software displays the diffraction spectra in graphical form, controls the operation of the diffraction system, and calculates the stress by means of a database on metals and phases. The computer analysis includes determination of the spectrum’s center of gravity. The software separates out the background, approximates the data set as a curve, and permits precise calculation of the center of gravity of the smoothed profile. The surface stress is determined for fragments of a 20GL steel solebar cut from the edge of a bearing aperture of radius R55, Before testing, the fragments are subjected to normalization or to bulk–surface quenching. The surface stress is found to be close to zero for the normalized fragment, while considerable compressive stress is observed for the quenched sample. Thus, the shape of the diffraction peak and the level of surface stress are directly related to the microstructure of the steel. In that case, the X-ray determination of the surface stress may provide information regarding the state of the surface.     

The effects of success and failure on the discrimination learning of normal and retarded children.

30 normal and 30 retarded children learned a 3-choice size discrimination following exposure to experimental tasks under conditions of success, failure, or neutrality. Both normal and retarded children learned more quickly following success and failure than under the neutral condition. In a 2nd study, 32 normal and 32 retarded children learned the same criterion task under success or failure conditions. Here, both success and failure again facilitated the performance of both normal and retarded Ss. Also, social responsivity interacted with intelligence and exeprimental conditions in influencing the children's learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of pelvic floor exercise on stress urinary incontinence

Several randomised controlled trials have shown that pelvic floor muscle exercise has resulted in a 60-70% improvement or cure rate from stress incontinence. The aim of the present study was to assess whether these methods could be put into general use in a physiotherapy clinic in primary health care. 36 women, all with a diagnoses of stress urinary incontinence, mean age 49 (range 25-67 years), participated in the study. Before treatment they underwent vaginal examination to ensure there was proper pelvic floor muscle contraction. Pelvic floor muscle strength was assessed by vaginal pressure measurement. Urinary leakage was registered on a 13-item "leakage index", using a 5-point graded scale (1 = never leakage to 5 = always leakage). The women attended a six-month pelvic floor muscle exercise programme, training in groups led by a physiotherapist, and exercising at home with three series of 8-12 contractions a day. 12 patients reported to be cured, and 12 reported a significant improvement (67% in all). Five patients achieved some improvement, whereas in another five there was no change. None became worse. It is concluded that pelvic floor muscle exercises, under the guidance of trained physiotherapists, may be just as effective in clinical practice as in randomised controlled trials.     

The effect of multiple roles on caregiver stress outcomes.

Some caregivers focus exclusively on the caregiving role; others try to balance caregiving responsibilities with a simultaneous work role outside the home. This study examined competing hypotheses about the impact that greater immersion in a work role would have on the stress outcomes of individuals who provide care for a person with a disability. The authors used national survey data to examine whether hours of work were associated with caregiver stress outcomes. The authors also investigated whether type of disability moderated the relationship between hours worked and stress outcomes. Results suggest that spending more time in a work role generally has no effect on caregiver stress outcomes. However, caregivers who were caring for a person with a mental disability experienced significantly fewer stress outcomes as they spent more hours engaged in outside work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The use of hot spot stress for estimating the fatigue strength of welded components

The relatively complex geometry of welded joints makes an assessment of fatigue strength rather difficult in many cases, especially if the common nominal stress approach is applied. An alternative to this method is the hot spot stress approach which considers structural stress concentration factors at a welded discontinuity, in which a unified S‐N curve is used to estimate fatigue strength, rather than using numerous curves corresponding to welded joint categories of welded structures. In this paper, using numerical and experimental results for a variety of welded joint models, a unified S‐N curve was derived, which is independent of structural stress concentration factors. Based on a fatigue test of a real welded joint in a train bogie frame, it could be confirmed that the unified S‐N curve can be directly applied to the estimation of fatigue strength and fatigue design for general welded steel constructions.