One hundred years of orthopedics in the Netherlands. IV. Spinal abnormalities]

In recent years there has been spectacular progress in the approach to various disorders of the spinal column. Owing to improved methods of osteosynthesis there is no longer so much need for long periods of postoperative bed rest. Of all the scolioses, idiopathic scoliosis is most common. The vast majority of these cases are not clinically significant. What is seen in the remaining cases if left untreated is a progression in the curvature during growth. Progressive idiopathic scoliosis can be effectively treated using conservative methods. Screening at school is an important part of this process. If the curvature proves progressive and skeletal growth is not complete a brace can be prescribed. Use of this strategy and form of treatment can avoid progression of the curvature and development of serious deformities. This conservative therapy has markedly reduced the need for corrective surgery. Scheuermann's disease is characterized by a fixed dorsal thoracic kyphosis. Progressive Scheuermann's kyphosis can be effectively treated using a brace. The majority of fractures of the vertebral bodies can be treated conservatively. However, serious fractures normally require surgical intervention. In the industrialised Western world, low back pain is a major health problem and the foremost cause of disability and unfitness for work. Low back pain caused by degenerative disease of the spinal column should be treated using a multidisciplinary approach. The development of advanced operative techniques and osteosynthesis methods has made it possible to treat metastases of the spine surgically. The effects of this treatment on the quality of life are encouraging.     

A G protein gamma subunit-like domain shared between RGS11 and other RGS proteins specifies binding to Gbeta5 subunits

Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins act as GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) toward the alpha subunits of heterotrimeric, signal-transducing G proteins. RGS11 contains a G protein gamma subunit-like (GGL) domain between its Dishevelled/Egl-10/Pleckstrin and RGS domains. GGL domains are also found in RGS6, RGS7, RGS9, and the Caenorhabditis elegans protein EGL-10. Coexpression of RGS11 with different Gbeta subunits reveals specific interaction between RGS11 and Gbeta5. The expression of mRNA for RGS11 and Gbeta5 in human tissues overlaps. The Gbeta5/RGS11 heterodimer acts as a GAP on Galphao, apparently selectively. RGS proteins that contain GGL domains appear to act as GAPs for Galpha proteins and form complexes with specific Gbeta subunits, adding to the combinatorial complexity of G protein-mediated signaling pathways.     

Potent piperazine hydroxyethylamine HIV protease inhibitors containing novel P3 ligands

The 2-isopropyl thiazolyl group is a highly optimized P3 ligand for C2 symmetry-based HIV protease inhibitors, as exemplified in the drug ritonavir. Here we report that incorporation of this P3 ligand into a piperazine hydroxyethylamine series also yielded novel, highly potent inhibitors. In tissue culture assays, the presence of human serum was less deleterious to the activity of these inhibitors than to that of ritonavir. Furthermore, potent activity against ritonavir resistant HIV was observed.     

Testicular lymphoma: a population-based study of incidence, clinicopathological correlations and prognosis. The Danish Lymphoma Study Group, LYFO

In a Danish population-based non-Hodgkin's lymphoma registry, 2687 newly diagnosed patients were registered from 1983 to 1992. 39 had testicular involvement (TL) (incidence 0.26/10(5)/year). Median age was 71 years. 24 cases had localised and 15 had disseminated disease. Histologically, all cases were diffuse (65% diffuse centroblastic type). Of the 27 tested, 11% were of T- and 89% of B-immunophenotype. In localised cases, where surgery was supplemented by combination chemotherapy (CCT), the relapse rate was 15.4%. The relapse rate for cases with localised disease treated with other regimens (orchiectomy and/or radiotherapy) was 63.6% (P < 0.05). Median relapse-free survival was 28 and 14 months, respectively. Overall 5-year survival for all cases was 17%. Adverse prognostic factors at the univariate level were stage IV, constitutional symptoms, serum lactic dehydrogenase elevation and performance score (WHO 3-4). It is suggested that the treatment of stage IE/IIE TL should include early CCT and CNS prophylaxis.     

Report on a new OED project: A study of the history of new words in the new OED

The study of the history of new words in theNewOED described in this paper was undertaken in 1986-87, and is based on the material then available. Since then, theNewOED has been finished, and PAT, the inquiry system developed at the University of Waterloo for the investigation of theNewOED data base, has been much altered and improved. Nevertheless, this report should prove useful in indicating the potentiality for analyzing the computerizedNewOED and some of the problems. This project is a study of the ways in which new words are created in English at various periods of time. A chronological dictionary 's created listing words introduced into the language over 50 year increments. These words are then classified by the processes used in forming them to show, in proportional terms, if certain processes are more common at some times than at others.H. M. Logan, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, has written The Dialect of the Middle English Life of St. Katherine (Mouton, 1973), making use of the computer in a study of medieval dialectology. He has also written articles on computer stylistics and literary analysis inCHum, ALLC Journal, Language and Style, College Literature, and on the dictionary inDictionaries.     

Overview of Tiber-II—Evolution toward an Engineering Test Reactor

TIBER II is designed to be a minimum size and cost candidate for an international Engineering Test Reactor. High-current density Nb₃Sn superconducting magnets with radiation-tolerant polymide insulation is combined with a minimum thickness tungsten inbored shield and a common, external vacuum boundary to minimize the inner radial build of the tokamak core. This results in a major radius of 3 m, compared to 5 m for previous ETR designs such as INTOR, with correspondingly lower costs expected. Cyclic stress fatigue limits the number of pulses so that steady-state current drive, based on a combination of neutral beams, lower hybrid and ECH, is designed to achieve reactor-relevant nuclear testing conditions (Fluence 3MW yr/m², rwall > 1 MW/m² in steady state).This report is abstracted from a more complete information document UCID-20863 with numerous authors. See Ref. l for complete credits.     

The dielectric properties of glass-ceramic-on-metal substrates for microelectronics packaging

The dielectric properties of some glass-ceramic-on-metal substrates have been determined over the frequency range 500 Hz to 5 MHz using a.c. bridge techniques. The substrates consisted of cordierite-based glass-ceramics screen printed on molybdenum. For glass layers of thickness greater than 100 m both the permittivity, and the dielectric loss, , are frequency independent over this frequency range at room temperature giving the value of =6.5 and tan =8×10^–3; the room-temperature data are consistent with the universal law of dielectric response. The variation of permittivity with temperature has also been examined and, below 120 °C, the temperature coefficient [(–1) (+2)]^–1 (/T)_p, was found to be 1.3×10^–5 K^–1. The results are compared with those previously reported for Al₂O₃ and AIN substrates.     

The in-line inspection of carbon anodes for aluminum production

In this paper, methods for measuring the quality of carbon anodes consumed in the commercial production of aluminum are discussed. The electrical and mechanical qualities of these anodes are important for the economic operation of the aluminum plant. While the investigation is ongoing, results from tests made at an aluminum reduction plant are included. The methods reviewed include direct resistivity measurement using core samples, ultrasonic measurement, the hammer method, analysis of the Hall effect, the four-probe method, and use of magnetic coils (various arrangements).     

Gaming Social Capital: Exploring Civic Value in Multiplayer Video Games

Recent research suggests that social interactions in video games may lead to the development of community bonding and prosocial attitudes. Building on this line of research, a national survey of U.S. adults finds that gamers who develop ties with a community of fellow gamers possess gaming social capital, a new gaming‐related community construct that is shown to be a positive antecedent in predicting both face‐to‐face social capital and civic participation.