Isoforms p69 and p100 of 2'',5''-oligoadenylate synthetase induced differentially by interferons in vivo and in vitro

There is no better place to test life-saving resuscitation interventions than in the prehospital setting. Patients rarely survive cardiac arrest if resuscitation techniques have failed before leaving the scene. Also, paramedics are usually very experienced in key initial resuscitative techniques, and they routinely operate under strict paramilitary protocol, resulting in better study compliance. In addition, the large study populations that are derived from emergency medical services (EMS) systems lead to faster study completion and statistically stronger data. Most important, by reinforcing standardized care, rigidly scrutinized trials improve patient care, regardless of the effect of the study intervention. The success of productive EMS research centers requires routine communication between hospital and EMS administrators and their medical directors, designation of mutually acceptable data collectors who guarantee confidentiality, reciprocal exchange of study data provided as educational seminars to the hospitals, commitments to support the budget requests of an EMS program and appropriate system modifications, inclusion of EMS personnel in study design from the very beginning, prospective education of the medical community and media before protocol implementation, an authoritative grassroots medical director, and a paramedic supervisor system.     

Prenatal development of intrafetal and maternal-fetal synchrony.

Fetal and maternal data were monitored serially at 6 gestational ages from 20 to 38 weeks in 195 Peruvian fetuses. Digitized data included fetal heart rate and motor activity, as well as maternal heart rate and electrodermal conductance. Time series analysis evaluated the development of synchrony in 2 streams of fetal functioning and between mothers and fetuses. Intrafetal synchrony between heart rate and motor activity developed in an orderly fashion, with peak cross-correlation approaching an asymptote at 5 s at 28 weeks. Synchrony was not observed between fetal heart rate and maternal measures. Fetal motor activity exhibited synchrony with both maternal electrodermal and heart rate activity. Implications for revealing fundamental properties of neural development prior to birth are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rectal sexual trauma including foreign bodies

We used a potent and specific monoclonal antibody to somatostatin to test the physiologic inhibitory role of the tetradecapeptide somatostatin on pancreatic secretion. Somatostatin immunoneutralization increased both the total amylase and volume of pancreatic secretion. Cholecystokinin-A receptor antagonism abolished the stimulatory effect of somatostatin immunoneutralization. We conclude that somatostatin tonically inhibits, pancreatic secretion in fasted rats via inhibition of the release or action of cholecystokinin. Furthermore, the source of these peptides is likely islet delta cells and intrapancreatic neurons, respectively.     

Effect of Safety and Environmental Variables on Task Durations in Steel Erection

In spite of the efforts by government agencies, labor organizations, and researchers in the field of health and safety, injuries and fatalities continue to affect the construction industry. In 2002 the construction industry had the undesirable distinction of having two of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, with fatalities among structural steel workers at 58.2 per 100,000 workers (fourth highest rate) and among construction laborers at 27.7 per 100,000 workers (ninth highest rate). Costs associated with construction accidents, such as increased insurance premiums and medical expenses, and loss of productivity are also concerns in the industry. It has not been demonstrated how unsafe working conditions affect worker performance, and the impact of unsafe work practices on worker performance has not been quantified. This paper describes a methodology that included direct observation of steel erection activities and statistical analysis of task duration data. The data collected at steel erection sites included safety conditions such as the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), elevation of the work area, environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity, and worker performance in the form of task durations. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) analysis of 186 of steel erection task durations collected over a six-month period showed that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), the time of day during which the operation was being performed, the elevation at which the work was being performed, and the presence of decking below the work area had statistically significant effects on the durations of steel erection tasks.     

Spanish Content on Hospital Websites: An Analysis of U.S. Hospitals' in Concentrated Latino Communities

This study explores the nature and extent of Spanish language translation of hospital websites. A quantitative content analysis of 121 U.S. hospital websites located in Hispanic communities was conducted. Results indicate that a significant number of U.S. hospitals fail on their websites to offer equal content for Spanish language users. The study also examines several factors potentially associated with the incidence of website translation. First, organizational factors such as hospital size, ownership type and formal statements of diversity commitment are investigated. Second, demographic factors such as county population size and Hispanic population size are also considered. Hispanics' use of the Internet, the digital divide, culture's impact on Internet use, and eHealth provide a background for discussion of the findings.     

Physical anhedonia and schizophrenia.

Assessed the relation of anhedonia to schizophrenia using 69 schizophrenics and 54 psychiatric control outpatients from 3 mental health centers. In addition to indexes of schizophrenia, each S was given the Physical Anhedonia Scale, a measure of premorbidity, and a vocabulary test. Measures of chronicity and education were also included. ANOVAs indicated no significant differences in anhedonia among 4 diagnostic groups: paranoid schizophrenics, nonparanoid schizophrenics, unipolar affective psychiatric control Ss, and other psychiatric control Ss. Intercorrelations showed that anhedonia was negatively related to premorbid social status, years of education and vocabulary, but it was not significantly related to hospitalization. Data do not support the hypothesis that anhedonia is a consistent sign of schizophrenia but are compatible with the notion that anhedonia is the consequence of such liabilities as psychiatric disturbance, poor premorbid status, low educational level, and low verbal ability. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Exploring conscious imitation of style with ready-made software

This article describes some approaches to imitation analysis and the use of ready-made software for this task. Devising computer-assisted techniques for exploring the conscious literary imitation of style is an application of particular relevance to contemporary Hispanic narrative and one that can be handled with a microcomputer and readily accessible software. The article describes some approaches to imitation analysis and the use of ready-made software to assess the effectiveness of stylistic imitation of eighteenth-century historical chronicle in La renuncia del héroe Baltasar (The Renunciation of the Hero Baltasar), by the Puerto Rican novelist Rodríguez Juliá. Even when employing familiar procedures of text analysis with computer, comparing a fictional text with a multiple and diverse corpus of authentic historical documents requires somewhat unique assumptions and hypotheses, since neither authorship, influence, or authenticity are in question.Estelle Irizarry is Professor of Spanish at Georgetown University, Washington, D. C., and author of 18 books and annotated editions dealing with modern Hispanic literature, art, and hoaxes.