The "difference of means" may not be the "effect size".

Comments on J. Cohen's (see record 1995-12080-001) article with the purpose of restraining enthusiasm for the report of effect size in the form of a confidence interval for the differences of means, rather than the null hypothesis significance testing declaration that the effect size is not zero. Three examples are given in which measurement of effect sizes in the scale of the dependent variable tells researchers little that they need to know. It is suggested that better information might be obtained from effect sizes measured using the d statistic. (N. Cliff; see record 1994-08169-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cry Woolf

The Woolf Reforms, recently instituted to make civil litigation more user friendly, targeted, amongst other things, the investigator’s best friend, the Anton Piller Order (AP). The Order was targeted directly, by having its name changed to the Search Order, and indirectly, in that Woolf aimed to make claimants expend more effort in finding solutions before resorting to the “nuclear option” of the AP.     

Effect of Floodwater Extraction on Mountain Stream Morphology

Floodwater is often extracted for consumptive purposes from western mountain streams in the United States. The long-term extraction of floodwater may alter the morphological and ecological balance of such streams. Scale model experiments based on eight mountain gravel-bed streams in Idaho were conducted to test the effects of floodwater extraction on stream morphology. The model channel transported a poorly sorted mix of model “gravel,” as well as copious amounts of model “sand.” The channel had a discontinuous floodplain, developed its own bar morphology, and contained large model colluvium as well as a bedrock platform. A mobile-bed equilibrium was first developed using a repeated hydrograph. The experiment was then repeated using a sliding cutoff discharge. The discharges in the hydrograph that were below a given cutoff discharge were reduced to 30% of bankfull discharge. By raising the cutoff discharge, it was possible to study the effect of increasing severity of floodwater extraction on stream morphology. The experiments indicated an increase in sand content on the bed surface and a decrease in the standard deviation of fluctuations in bed elevation with increasing severity of floodwater extraction.     

Residual phase noise measurements of VHF, UHF, and microwavecomponents

The results of residual phase noise measurements on a number of VHF, UHF, and microwave amplifiers, both silicon (Si) bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) field effect transistor (FET) based, electronic phase shifters, frequency dividers and multipliers, etc., which are commonly used in a wide variety of frequency source and synthesizer applications are presented. The measurement technique has also been used to evaluate feedback oscillator components, such as the loop and buffer amplifiers, which can play important roles in determining an oscillator's output phase noise spectrum (often in very subtle ways). While some information has previously been published related to component residual phase noise properties, it generally focused on the flicker noise levels of the devices under test, for carrier offset frequencies less than 10 kHz. The work reported herein makes use of an extremely low noise, 500 MHz surface acoustic wave resonator oscillator (SAWRO) test source for residual phase noise measurements, both close-to-and far-from-the-carrier. Using this SAWRO-based test source at 500 MHz, we have been able to achieve a measurement system phase noise floor of -184 dBc/Hz, or better, for carrier offset frequencies greater than 10 kHz, and a system flicker phase noise floor of -150 dBc/Hz, or better, at 1 Hz carrier offset. The paper discusses the results of detailed residual phase noise measurements performed on a number of components using this overall system configuration. Several interesting observations related to the residual phase noise properties of moderate to high power RF amplifiers, i.e., amplifiers with 1 dB gain compression points in the range of +20 to +33 dBm, are highlighted     

Substance P modulates NMDA responses and causes long-term protein synthesis-dependent modulation of the lamprey locomotor network

Tachykinin immunoreactivity is found in a ventromedial spinal plexus in the lamprey. Neurons in this plexus project bilaterally and are thus in a position to modulate locomotor networks on both sides of the spinal cord. We have examined the effects of the tachykinin substance P on NMDA-evoked locomotor activity. Brief (10 min) application of tachykinin neuropeptides results in a prolonged concentration-dependent (>24 hr) modulation of locomotor activity, shown by the increased burst frequency and more regular burst activity. These effects are blocked by the tachykinin antagonist spantide II. There are at least two phases to the burst frequency modulation. An initial phase (approximately 2 hr) is associated with the protein kinase C-dependent potentiation of cellular responses to NMDA. The long-lasting phase (>2 hr) appears to be protein synthesis-dependent, with protein synthesis inhibitors causing the increased burst frequency to recover after washing for 2-3 hr. The modulation of the burst regularity is caused by a separate effect of tachykinins, because unlike the burst frequency modulation it does not require the modulation of NMDA receptors for its induction and is blocked by H8, an inhibitor of cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases. The effects of substance P were mimicked by the dopamine D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride. The effects of eticlopride were blocked by the tachykinin antagonist spantide II, suggesting that eticlopride may endogenously release tachykinins. Because locomotor activity in vitro corresponds to that during swimming in intact animals, we suggest that endogenously released tachykinins will result in prolonged modulation of locomotor behavior.     

Extrahepatic metabolism of 4-methylumbelliferone and lidocaine in the anhepatic rabbit

OBJECTIVE: The initially well-fixed implants of total hip replacement (THR) are in the long-term subject to aseptic loosening. Many cytokines can contribute to osteolysis due to osteoclast recruitment and/or activation. However, in this respect tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) plays a pivotal role, because it upregulates interleukin-1 and 6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor. The aim of this study was to assess the eventual presence, cellular localization and extent of expression of TNF-alpha in the synovial-like membrane at the implant or at the cement to bone interface compared to control synovial membrane. METHODS: Twenty samples from the synovial-like membrane of the periprosthetic tissues were compared to control samples. TNF-alpha containing cells were visualized using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) method and analyzed by light microscopy, double labelling and image analysis. RESULTS: TNF-alpha was found in the periprosthetic tissues in fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells, but mainly in the macrophages was it found to coincide with areas containing implant-derived debris. TNF-alpha containing cells were more numerous in the synovial-like membrane in the interface tissue from the proximal stem area (2816 +/- 318 cells) than in the control synovial membrane (565 +/- 93 cells, p < 0.01). Interestingly, similarly high TNF-alpha expression (3452 +/- 582 cells) was also seen in the synovial-like membrane of the pseudocapsule. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the foreign body-type host reaction caused by THR is characterized by the high expression of TNF-alpha. Because such expression occurred in the interface tissue between the implant and surrounding bone, TNF-alpha, due to its pivotal direct and indirect role in the activation and recruitment of osteoclasts, may contribute to periprosthetic osteolysis and to the loosening of THR.     

Transient thermal performance of line traps

This paper develops a transient thermal model for line traps. The model was incorporated into a computer program that numerically integrates the governing nonlinear differential equation in time to predict critical temperatures and component short and long term ratings for a wide range of operating conditions. The model accounts for many factors including: variable air properties, variable material properties, environmental conditions, and a wide variety of component geometries and orientations. To verify the temperatures predicted by the thermal model, The Georgia Power Research Center carried out an extensive series of indoor laboratory tests to experimentally measure temperatures of energized line traps under transient loading conditions. Model predictions were within 8°C for 75 percent of the data. This paper presents the development of the governing equations and describes in detail the calculation of the convective and radiative components of heat transfer. Comparisons of the model predictions for two different line trap designs in different orientations to experimental data are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and flexibility of the thermal model     

Percutaneous fluoroscopic screw fixation of acetabular fractures

Over a 2-year period eight patients underwent percutaneous fluoroscopic fixation of their acetabular fractures. Average patient age was 43 and mean ISS was 27. Mean blood loss was less than 100 ml. There were five transverse fractures, one affecting both columns, one anterior column-posterior hemitransverse and one T-type fracture. There were two ipsilateral femoral and two ipsilateral tibial fractures. Mean follow-up was 15 months. Three broad patient groups were identified. One patient died, one was lost to follow-up, four had full range of motion of the affected hip, one had good range with Brooker II heterotopic ossification and one was wheelchair-bound with Brooker IV heterotopic ossification. The technique, which requires only cannulated screws and fluoroscopy, is described.     

EEG monitoring during carotid surgery: who should do the monitoring?

Recently, a new hematopoietic growth factor, stem cell factor, the ligand for the c-kit-proto-oncogene, has been cloned. The gene for this factor or for its receptor are deleted in two well known series of mice mutants which display pleiotropic stem cell defects. Therefore, this factor supposedly plays an important role in stem cell biology. This paper reviews some of the elegant genetic work which led to the discovery of the factor and of its receptor, the biological effects that this factor exerts in the hematopoietic system in normal individuals and in patients with Diamond-Blackfan anemia and speculates on some of its potential clinical applications.