Sexology of ictal masturbation in infancy

In 1952, under the title of "Masturbation in Infants," Bakwin reported three cases of females all younger than one year of age. Bakwin's type of so-called masturbation has been considered in the differential diagnosis of epilepsy in several papers published since 1975. The cases reported display a great similarity and underscore an ictal explanation of the syndrome.     

Using river distances in the space/time estimation of dissolved oxygen along two impaired river networks in New Jersey

Understanding surface water quality is a critical step towards protecting human health and ecological stability. Because of resource deficiencies and the large number of river miles needing assessment, there is a need for a methodology that can accurately depict river water quality where data do not exist. The objective of this research is to implement a methodology that incorporates a river metric into the space/time analysis of dissolved oxygen data for two impaired river basins. An efficient algorithm is developed to calculate river distances within the BMElib statistical package for space/time geostatistics. We find that using a river distance in a space/time context leads to an appreciable 10% reduction in the overall estimation error, and results in maps of DO that are more realistic than those obtained using a Euclidean distance. As a result river distance is used in the subsequent non-attainment assessment of DO for two impaired river basins in New Jersey.     

Abdominal and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

Most abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) are asymptomatic and are found on physical exam or incidentally during radiological studies for other indications. These aneurysms are repaired primarily because their risk of rupture increases geometrically as the size exceeds 5 cm. The potential morbidity of intraoperative visceral and spinal ischemia involved with TAAA repair may be reduced with various adjunctive maneuvers.     

Sin, sickness, or status? Homosexual gender identity and psychoneuroendocrinology.

Contends that animal experiments show conclusively that sex hormones influence the male/female dimorphism of the brain, prenatally, in 4 possible ways (i.e., masculinizing, demasculinizing, feminizing, defeminizing). The human counterparts of devised animal experiments are clinical intersexual (hermaphroditic) syndromes that occur spontaneously as experiments of nature. The 2 sources of data supplement one another. Both lead to the conclusion that prenatal hormonalization of the brain influences the subsequent sexual status or orientation as bisexual, heterosexual, or homosexual. This effect is more robot-like in subprimate than in primate species. As in subhuman primates, in the human species sexuoertic status is dependent not only on prenatal hormonalization, but also on postnatal socialization effects. There are several different human hermaphroditic syndromes each of which makes its own specific contribution to the science of homosexology and to the understanding of genetic, prenatal-hormonal, pubertal-hormonal, and socialization determinants of being gay, straight, or bisexual. In combination, they indicate that sexual orientation is not under the direct governance of chromosomes and genes, and that, whereas it is not foreordained by prenatal brain hormonalization, it is influenced thereby, and is also strongly dependent on postnatal socialization. The latter is, like native language, programmed into the brain through the senses. Postnatal programming may become incorporated into the brain's immutable biology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The incidence, morbidity, and mortality of surgical procedures after orthotopic heart transplantation

OBJECTIVE: The authors present their experience with patients having undergone orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) in whom surgical conditions subsequently developed that required operative intervention. The incidence, morbidity, and mortality of these procedures are reported. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Several studies have evaluated the management options of biliary tract disease after OHT. Multiple reports of patients having undergone OHT who subsequently underwent peripheral vascular reconstructions, plastic reconstructive, and thoracic procedures also have been published. METHODS: A chart review of 349 patients who underwent OHT between 1985 and 1996 was conducted to identify surgical procedures that were required in the post-transplant period. Their outcomes are reported. RESULTS: Of 349 patients who underwent OHT, conditions requiring 94 surgical procedures developed in 54 patients (15%). Biliary tract disease developed in 17 patients (5%) who required cholecystectomy, 2 of the 5 patients with acute cholecystitis died. Eight patients (2%) underwent orthopedic procedures with no operative mortality. Flap advancements for sternal wound infections were performed in five patients and four deaths occurred. Seventeen thoracic procedures were performed in 11 patients with an overall mortality of 45%. Twenty-one vascular procedures were performed on 17 patients with 1 delayed death due to a malignancy. Seven patients underwent procedures of the colon and rectum with no mortality. Seven patients underwent repair of inguinal or incisional hernias with no mortality. Various infections occurred with one resultant death after operative intervention. Six procedures were performed for diseases of the small intestine with no resultant mortalities. CONCLUSIONS: Patients having undergone OHT and chronic immunosuppression are at increased risk of having complications develop from infection. Acute cholecystitis and sternal wound infection caused an inordinate risk of complications and death. Malignancies developed in four patients who required surgical intervention. A heightened awareness of coexisting peripheral vascular disease in patients transplanted for ischemic cardiomyopathy should exist. Close screening before surgery and surveillance after surgery to identify risk factors for infection and vascular disease and to screen for malignancies are essential.     

Gait adaptations before and after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery

Gait analyses of rehabilitated individuals with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiency and reconstruction have identified the final adaptations of increased hip extensor torque and hamstring electromyography (EMG) and decreased knee extensor torque and quadriceps EMG during stance. The initial adaptations to injury and surgery are, however, unknown as are the factors that influence the development of the adaptations. Identification of the initial response to injury would provide a basis for determining whether the final adaptations are learned automatically or if they are the result of a lengthy training period in which various factors may affect their development. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the initial effects of ACL injury and reconstruction surgery on joint kinematics, kinetics, and energetics, during walking. Injured limbs from nine subjects with ACL injury were tested 2 wk after injury, and 3 and 5 wk after surgery. Ten healthy subjects were tested. Kinematic and ground reaction data were collected and combined with inverse dynamics to calculate the joint torques and powers. A knee extensor torque throughout most of stance was observed in the injured limbs at all test sessions. This result was in conflict with previous observations of reduced extensor torque or a flexor torque in rehabilitated patients with ACL reconstruction and patients with ACL deficiency. This result also differed from the typical midstance extensor then flexor torque in healthy control subjects. Trend analysis showed a significant (P < 0.001) change in average position at the hip and knee, extensor angular impulse at the hip, and positive work done at the hip 3 wk after surgery followed by a partial rehabilitation at 5 wk after surgery. Power and work produced at the knee were reduced fivefold (P < 0.001) after 5 wk of rehabilitation and did not recover to pre-surgical levels. The existence of a long-lasting knee extensor torque 2 wk after injury indicated that the adaptation process to ACL deficiency is lengthy, requiring many gait cycles, and that numerous factors could be involved in learning the adaptations.     

Design considerations for the DASTEK 4830 disk drive

The DASTEK 4830 Disk Drive is designed to provide minicomputer original equipment manufacturers (OEM) with direct access storage having the performance, reliability, and cost/MB characteristics of drives attached to large mainframe computers. This was accomplished by utilizing state-of-the -art technologies in the areas of read/write heads, media, data encoding/decoding, and read/write head positioning as well as packaging improvements and microprocessor based electronics.