The Uncertain Scope of Sovereign Immunity in Washington after \u3ci\u3eSavage v. State\u3c/i\u3e

In a recent decision, Savage v. State, the Washington Supreme Court declined to extend a parole officer\u27s personal qualified immunity to the State where the plaintiff alleged negligent supervision of a parolee. This Note examines the effects of the Savage decision on the scope of sovereign immunity in Washington. It argues that the court has needlessly confused the boundaries of sovereign immunity, and should act either to abolish all judicially created limits on state liability, or create a clear test to determine under what circumstances an underlying immunity will be extended to a government employer sued on a respondeat superior theory of liability

Compensatory Mechanisms and T Cell Migration In Mouse Models of Dopaminergic Loss

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder and second most common neurodegenerative disorder. PD is characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons and dopamine neurotransmitter within the substantia nigra and termini in the striatum. Progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons occurs over many years in PD, and by the time movement disorder symptoms manifest, up to 50-70% of dopaminergic neurons have been lost. Several aspects of PD pathology have been described in detail, but a better understanding of PD progression is needed to develop more efficient treatments. Motor symptoms associated with PD do not manifest until significant numbers of dopaminergic neurons are lost, suggesting compensatory mechanisms play a role in maintaining normal motor function. However, little is known about these mechanisms and the role they play in delaying PD symptom onset. Only palliative treatment is now available for PD. This consists of principally of dopamine replacement therapy and L-DOPA considered the gold treatment standard. In the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of PD, chronic administration of dopamine replacement drugs, L-DOPA or BL-1023 in the absence of further degeneration, resulted in improved motor function and consistent increases in the number of TH+ neurons in the substantia nigra. The increase in TH+ neurons was not associated with dopaminergic neurogenic activity, but rather a phenotypic shift of GAD67+ GABAergic neurons to express TH. These data represent a novel effect of dopamine replacement therapy as triggering putative compensatory mechanisms, presumably to restore dopamine levels in a dopamine depleted environment. An interleukin-23 (IL-23) knock-out mouse strain proven to have significantly reduced dopaminergic neuron population was used to test motor control and behavior. No significant differences were observed between knock-out and wild-type in any of the forced or unforced motor tests. These data suggest either insufficient dopaminergic loss to afford functional alterations or that compensation to the dopaminergic signaling pathway allowed for normal functioning. Taken together, compensatory mechanisms represent a novel pathway for PD treatment that include symptomatic benefits as well as potential regenerative strategies. Targeting such pathways may provide more effective therapeutics by avoiding the secondary toxicities of current pharmaceuticals

Bluetooth headset specifications and its possible effects on hearing loss

The purpose of this study was to determine Bluetooth headset specifications and its potential effects on hearing loss. The following research questions were assessed: (1) what is the maximum peak output of various Bluetooth headsets coupled to a cellular phone; (2) what is the average output of various Bluetooth headsets coupled to a cellular phone; and (3) what is the frequency response of various Bluetooth headsets coupled to a cellular phone? Sixteen Bluetooth headset devices of various manufacturers were used for this study. Bluetooth headsets used for this study were determined by consumer demands and lack of output specifications provided by their manufacturers. Each Bluetooth device was coupled to a Blackberry Curve cellular phone and volume level was set to maximum intensity for both devices. Sound pressure levels were obtained for each Bluetooth device using KEMAR to measure average SPLs using the A-weighted scale and a speech stimulus at input levels of 50, 70, and 75 dB SPL and a 90 dB SPL input swept-tone. SPLs measurements were also obtained using a 2cc coupler for a 50, 70, and 75 dB input speech stimulus and a 90dB swept-tone. The results revealed that most Bluetooth devices measured on KEMAR produced peak and average SPL values greater than 90 dBA SPL using a 70 and 75 dB SPL input speech stimulus and a 90 dB SPL swept-tone. Measurements obtained on a 2cc coupler showed that most Bluetooth devices produced mean averages of 90dB SPL or more using a 70 and 75 dB SPL input speech stimulus. Mean peak values exceeded 100 dB SPL with a 70 and 75 dB input speech stimulus. Additionally, frequency response for most Bluetooth devices measure on KEMAR and 2cc coupler produced a relatively flat frequency response in the low frequency range, peaked around 2500 Hz, and then rolled-off. Overall, most Bluetooth devices coupled to a cellular phone produced SPL values that exceeded OSHA standards. Therefore, Bluetooth devices used for an extended amount of time could possibly but hearing sensitivity at risk resulting in temporary and/or permanent hearing loss

The Effect of Oral Reading Rate Feedback on Reading Performance

An attempt was made to determine the effects or oral reading rate feedback on reading performance of third grade children in a self-contained classroom, using self-selected materials. Two measuring devices were used. The Botel Reading Inventory (Word Opposites Test-Reading) showed a mean gain of 1.75 grade levels. The oral reading rate mean increase was 57 words per minute. All students achieved at third grade level or higher

Rasedus pärast elundisiirdamist

1956. aastast, mil rasestus esimene siiratud elundiga naine, on peatselt möödas 60 aastat. Elundisiirdamine suurendab viljatute naiste rasestumise tõenäosust ning täiustunud meditsiinilised teadmised võimaldavad ka siirikutega naistel raseduse edukat kulgu. Kõige rohkem on kirjeldatud rasedusi neerusiirikuga naistel, kuid see on võimalik ka pärast maksa, südame, kopsude, peensoole või isegi mitme elundi samaaegset siirdamist. Eestis on elundisiirdamisjärgseid rasedusi olnud väga vähe, kuid siirdamiste hulga suurenemine on muutnud teema aktuaalseks ka siinse arstkonna jaoks.Artikli eesmärk on selgitada, milline on seos elundisiirdamise ja viljakuse vahel, kas ja kuidas mõjutavad rasedusaegsed immunoloogilised muutused siiratud elundit, millised on sagedasemad tüsistused siirikutega rasedatel ning mida on teada immunosupressiivse ravi mõjust loote arengule.Eesti Arst 2016; 95(2):98–10

Fire Island

The intention of this thesis is to integrate a contemporary building type into a historical urban context. To show that contemporary construction can be sensitive can reinforce/clarify the existing architectural conditions. The intent is to create a firehouse that acknowledges and celebrates its place as a public building. By creating a unique building in the city this thesis hopes to clarify the role of the public building in the contemporary city structure without denying the historical roots from which it grew

Otsides nõela heinakuhjast – endometrioosi biomarkerid

Endometrioosi diagnoosimiseks puuduvad siiani mitteinvasiivsed ja minimaalselt invasiivsed biomarkerid ning haiguse diagnoos põhineb peamiselt laparoskoopilisel operatsioonil ja endometrioosikollete histoloogilisel uuringul. Kuigi endometrioosi biomarkereid on vereplasmast ja -seerumist, uriinist, menstruaalverest, emakaõõne aspiraadist ja ka endomeetriumi koest aktiivselt otsitud, on leitud markerite usaldusväärsus endometrioosi diagnoosimisel jäänud siiski tagasihoidlikuks. Ülevaates on tehtud kokkuvõte endometrioosi biomarkerite otsingute hetkeseisust ja leitud markerite kasutatavusest kliinilises praktikas. Eesti Arst 2017; 96(6):335–34

Effects of subtherapeutic concentrations of antimicrobials on gene acquisition events in Yersinia, Proteus, Shigella, and Salmonella recipient organisms in isolated ligated intestinal loops of swine

Objective—To assess antimicrobial resistance and transfer of virulence genes facilitated by subtherapeutic concentrations of antimicrobials in swine intestines. Animals—20 anesthetized pigs experimentally inoculated with donor and recipient bacteria. Procedures—4 recipient pathogenic bacteria (Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella flexneri, or Proteus mirabilis) were incubated with donor bacteria in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of 1 of 16 antimicrobials in isolated ligated intestinal loops in swine. Donor Escherichia coli contained transferrable antimicrobial resistance or virulence genes. After coincubations, intestinal contents were removed and assessed for pathogens that acquired new antimicrobial resistance or virulence genes following exposure to the subtherapeutic concentrations of antimicrobials. Results—3 antimicrobials (apramycin, lincomycin, and neomycin) enhanced transfer of an antimicrobial resistance plasmid from commensal E coli organisms to Yersinia and Proteus organisms, whereas 7 antimicrobials (florfenicol, hygromycin, penicillin G, roxarsone, sulfamethazine, tetracycline, and tylosin) exacerbated transfer of an integron (Salmonella genomic island 1) from Salmonella organisms to Yersinia organisms. Sulfamethazine induced the transfer of Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 from pathogenic to nonpathogenic Salmonella organisms. Six antimicrobials (bacitracin, carbadox, erythromycin, sulfathiazole, tiamulin, and virginiamycin) did not mediate any transfer events. Sulfamethazine was the only antimicrobial implicated in 2 types of transfer events. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—10 of 16 antimicrobials at subinhibitory or subtherapeutic concentrations augmented specific antimicrobial resistance or transfer of virulence genes into pathogenic bacteria in isolated intestinal loops in swine. Use of subtherapeutic antimicrobials in animal feed may be associated with unwanted collateral effects