Database management and design

The use of a central repository for data and a database management system that enables programs to share data more efficiently and ensures the consistency of the data across the system is discussed. Relational databases, which represent both entities and relationships using tables, are described. It is shown that by proper design of the relational tables, the redundancy and wasted space of many ad hoc databases can be eliminated. Data are retrieved from a relational database through the use of a procedural query language. The leading query language for relational databases, the Structured Query Language (SQL), is examined     

Demonstration of protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the second of two homologous domains of CD45

It has been reported that alteration of deletion of critical residues within one of the two homologous protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase)-like domains of CD45 completely abolishes all activity, suggesting that only the more N-terminal domain is catalytically active. However, we now demonstrate, by two independent techniques, that the second (C-terminal) domain is also a viable phosphatase. Limited proteolysis by endoproteinase Lys-C or trypsin increased the phosphatase activity toward reduced, carboxymethylated, and maleylated lysozyme approximately 8-fold. A 50-kDa fragment, isolated by ion exchange chromatography, was found to be responsible for this activity. N-terminal sequencing revealed that this fragment includes less than half of the first phosphatase domain and most, if not all, of the second. In a second experiment, 109 residues, including the presumed catalytic region, were removed from domain I by site-directed mutagenesis. Expression of this construct in a mammalian cell line resulted in increased PTPase activity over nontransfected control cells. Isolation of the recombinant CD45 by immunoprecipitation and immunoaffinity chromatography revealed that it had phosphatase activity. Both of these experimental approaches demonstrate that the second conserved PTPase domain of CD45 is a functioning PTPase, but that external regulation may be required to express its activity in the context of the native molecule.     

The hyperkinetic child: Effect of incentives on the speed of rapid tapping.

Studied 36 hyperkinetic and 36 control boys, ages 8-11, on a rapid-tapping task. Ss were divided into 3 incentive groups: 1 allowed to respond freely (U), 1 encouraged to tap rapidly (S), and 1 given pennies for increasing their tapping rate (R). As expected, the R and S groups tapped more rapidly than the U groups. When analyzed separately, no significant incentive group differences were found for hyperkinetics. The moderately fast tapping of the hyperkinetics, regardless of group, resulted in U hyperkinetics tapping more rapidly than U controls, but when incentive was introduced (S and R groups), controls were able to tap faster than the hyperkinetics. This inability of the hyperkinetics to adaptively adjust to the changing incentive conditions is suggested to be a function of defects in brain structures regulating arousal and concentration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some reactive processing aspects of high-temperature aluminides Nb3Al and RuAl

In the present investigation elemental powder mixtures with nominal composition of Nb-25at. % Al and Ru-50at.% Al corresponding to Nb₃Al and RuAl intermetallic phases were prepared. Green compacts from these mixtures were reactive sintered in vacuum or hot isostatically pressed after being encapsulated and reacted in quartz capsules. In the absence of pressure, reactive sintering at temperatures up to 1800 °C did not lead to densification, and swelling effects were observed. Reactions of formation of Nb₃Al and RuAl were found to take place at different temperature regions characteristic for each aluminide system, with clear dependence of the reaction temperature on the heating rate of the powder mixtures. Dilatometry studies showed that swelling occurred instantaneously at temperatures corresponding to the reaction temperature and led to a volume increase of about 25% and 42% for Nb₃Al and RuAl, respectively. The activation energy for the reactions was estimated from the differential thermal analysis. Similar data for the NiAl intermetallic phase were also obtained for comparison. The densification behavior and the phase composition of the reaction products were investigated and correlated with the heating rate, the mutual solubility of the reactants, and the amount of liquid phase available during the reaction.     

Neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid reflect pathological activity

Reduced bone mineral density (BMD), termed diabetic osteopenia, has been reported in patients with insulin-dependent (Type 1) diabetes mellitus (IDDM). To examine BMD in long-term IDDM patients with normal kidney function, but with different degrees of urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), compared to that of patients with elevated plasma creatinine, 36 IDDM male patients (mean duration 27 years) were subdivided according to UAER (<30, 30-300, >300, >300 mg 24 h(-1) and plasma creatinine 0.120-0.350 mmol l(-1)) and 15 controls were recruited. BMD was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and UAER by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. BMD was normal in IDDM patients with normal UAER and reduced in the femoral neck, the trochanter major, and the Wards triangle in patients with increased UAER (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.02). BMD correlated to creatinine clearance in both cortical and cancellous bone sites (p < 0.001, p < 0.0001), and inversely to the levels of plasma PTH (p < 0.0005). We conclude that BMD is normal in long-term IDDM male patients with normal kidney function and normal UAER and reduced in patients with increased UAER. Diabetic osteopenia seems to be a progressive phenomenon related to diabetic nephropathy and associated with the decrease in creatinine clearance and with the resulting rise in plasma PTH.     

Interventions for intimate partner violence: Review and implications for evidence-based practice.

The objective of this article was to survey available intimate partner violence (IPV) treatment studies with (a) randomized case assignment, and (b) at least 20 participants per group. Studies were classified into 4 categories according to primary treatment focus: perpetrator, victim, couples, or child-witness interventions. The results suggest that extant interventions have limited effect on repeat violence, with most treatments reporting minimal benefit above arrest alone. There is a lack of research evidence for the effectiveness of the most common treatments provided for victims and perpetrators of IPV, including the Duluth model for perpetrators and shelter–advocacy approaches for victims. Rates of recidivism in most perpetrator- and partner-focused treatments are approximately 30% within 6 months, regardless of intervention strategy used. Couples treatment approaches that simultaneously address problems with substance abuse and aggression yield the lowest recidivism rates, and manualized child trauma treatments are effective in reducing child symptoms secondary to IPV. This review shows the benefit of integrating empirically validated substance abuse and trauma treatments into IPV interventions and highlights the need for more work in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)