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Biomedical subjects

Robert D Miller

Publications and source records attributed to Robert D Miller.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Disability and psychotherapy: a response to Bursztajn et al.

In their recent Analysis and Commentary article Bursztajn and colleagues argue persuasively that to provide comprehensive independent medical evaluations (IMEs), forensic psychiatrists must take into account the managed care context of a claimant's case. The author of this article agrees with that assessment, but adds that another significant problem in his practice occurs when disability claimants who have severe disabling personality disorders resist psychotherapy and when, as is often the case, there are no experienced psychotherapists available to provide the needed treatment.

Bipolar Disorder↗
PubMed2003

Primary structure and variation of the T-cell receptor delta-chain from a marsupial, Macropus eugenii.

Although gammadelta T-cells form only a small portion of circulating T-cells in mice and humans, they are more frequent in many other types of mammals and this has lead to speculation regarding their roles and the evolutionary significance of their relative abundance. Moreover, whilst clear homologues of four types of T-cell receptor (TCR) chains (alpha, beta, delta and gamma) have been identified in vertebrates as distantly related as eutherian mammals and cartilaginous fish, there are still many gaps in our knowledge of these TCR components from various taxa. Such knowledge would further illuminate the evolution and function of these receptors and of gammadelta T-cells. Here, we report the molecular cloning of a TCR-delta chain cDNA from the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) which represents the first component of the gammadelta TCR to be characterised from a marsupial. A PCR-based survey of variable (V) segment usage in tammar wallaby mammary-associated lymph node indicated that, although gammadelta T-cells may be sparse in this type of tissue, this species has at least three subfamilies of V genes that have been broadly conserved across vertebrate evolution. Two V subfamilies found in the tammar wallaby were relatively similar and may have diverged more recently, an event that probably occurred at some point in the marsupial lineage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2003

Versatile synthesis of nanometer sized hollow silica spherest.

Using the controlled precipitation of silicic acid on functionalized polystyrene latexes, nanometer sized silica-coated spheres could be prepared and subsequently modified to allow dispersion in non-aqueous solvents; removal of the interior polymer by calcination resulted in the formation of hollow silica spheres.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

A survey of type I interferons from a marsupial and monotreme: implications for the evolution of the type I interferon gene family in mammals.

Sequence data for type I interferons (IFNs) have previously only been available for birds and eutherian ('placental') mammals, but not for the other two groups of extant mammals, the marsupials and monotremes. This has left a large gap in our knowledge of the evolutionary and functional relationships of what is a complex gene family in eutherians. In this study, a PCR-based survey of type I IFN genes from a marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), and a monotreme, the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), was conducted. Along with Southern blot and phylogenetic analysis, this revealed a large number of type I IFN genes for the wallaby, rivalling that of eutherians, but relatively few type I IFN genes in the echidna. The wallaby genes include both IFNA and IFNB orthologues, indicating that the gene duplication leading to these subtypes occurred prior to the divergence of marsupials and eutherians some 130 million years ago. Results from this study support the idea that the expansion of type I IFN gene complexity in mammals coincides with a concomitant expansion in the functionality of these molecules. For example, this expansion in complexity may have, at least partially, facilitated the evolution of viviparity in marsupials and eutherians. Other evolutionary aspects of these sequences are also discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Hospitalization of criminal defendants for evaluation of competence to stand trial or for restoration of competence: clinical and legal issues.

The clinical and legal literature abounds with articles dealing with competence to stand trial; while most agree that criminal defendants must be capable of defending themselves before the state can bring them to trial, a number of articles are quite critical of the procedures by which these concepts are operationalized, some even going so far as to suggest abolishing the requirement for competence altogether. One of the major problems leading to the criticisms is the unnecessary loss of liberty involved. Although the length of incarceration has decreased significantly since the 1970s, the majority of states still permit, or require, hospitalization for evaluation of competence, and even more so for treatment to restore competence. The author reviews case law and presents data from his survey of current state statutes and responses from state forensic mental health program directors, to demonstrate the rarity of outpatient treatment to restore competence. He argues that outpatient treatment for defendants who do not require hospitalization on clinical or public safety grounds should be available, on both clinical and legal grounds, and provides recommendations for establishing such programs in the community.

Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders↗
PubMed2003

Characterization of beta(2)-microglobulin coding sequence from three non-placental mammals: the duckbill platypus, the short-beaked echidna, and the grey short-tailed opossum.

To further characterize genes of immunological importance from non-placental mammals, cDNAs encoding beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) were isolated from two prototherians, the platypus and an echidna, and one metatherian, a grey short-tailed opossum. In addition, a second allele of beta(2)m was identified in another metatherian species, the brushtail possum. Analysis of the deduced translations revealed conservation of key residues in these molecules over a long evolutionary history. The types of nucleotide substitutions present among the various taxa are also consistent with purifying selection at this conserved locus. An evolutionary tree of beta(2)m was constructed that supports the classic view of evolution with prototherians as the basal mammalian group.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Application of complex macromolecular architectures for advanced microelectronic materials.

The distinctive features of well-defined, three-dimensional macromolecules with topologies designed to enhance solubility and amplify end-group functionality facilitated nanophase morphologies in mixtures with organosilicates and ultimately nanoporous organosilicate networks. Novel macromolecular architectures including dendritic and star-shaped polymers and organic nanoparticles were prepared by a modular approach from several libraries of building blocks including various generations of dendritic initiators and dendrons, selectively placed to amplify functionality and/or arm number, coupled with living polymerization techniques. Mixtures of an organosilicate and the macromolecular template were deposited, cured, and the phase separation of the organic component, organized the vitrifying organosilicate into nanostructures. Removal of the sacrificial macromolecular template, also denoted as porogen, by thermolysis, yielded the desired nanoporous organosilicate, and the size scale of phase separation was strongly dependent on the chain topology. These materials were designed for use as interlayer, ultra-low dielectric insulators for on-chip applications with dielectric constant values as low as 1.5. The porogen design, chemistry and role of polymer architecture on hybrid and pore morphology will be emphasized.

Electronics↗
PubMed2002

A facile approach to architecturally defined nanoparticles via intramolecular chain collapse.

A novel approach is presented for the controlled intramolecular collapse of linear polymer chains to give well-defined single-molecule nanoparticles whose structure is directly related to the original linear polymer. By employing a combination of living free radical polymerization and benzocyclobutene (BCB) chemistry, nanoparticles can be routinely prepared in multigram quantities with the size being accurately controlled by either the initial degree of polymerization of the linear chain or the level of incorporation of the BCB coupling groups. The latter also allows the cross-link density of the final nanoparticles to be manipulated. In analogy with dendritic macromolecules, a significant reduction of up to 75% in the hydrodynamic volume is observed on going from the starting random coil linear chains to the corresponding nanoparticles. The facile nature of the living free radical process also permits wide variation in monomer selection and functional group incorporation and allows novel macromolecular architectures to be prepared. Furthermore, the use of block copolymers functionalized with benzocyclobutene groups in only one of the blocks gives, after intramolecular collapse, a hybrid architecture in which a single linear polymer chain is attached to the globular nanoparticle.

Acrylic Resins↗
PubMed2002

The major histocompatibility complex in monotremes: an analysis of the evolution of Mhc class I genes across all three mammalian subclasses.

We report the isolation and characterization of cDNA clones of expressed, functional major histocompatibility complex class-I ( Mhc-I) genes from two species of monotremes: the duck-billed platypus and the short-beaked echidna. The cDNA clones were isolated from libraries constructed from spleen RNA, clearly establishing their expression in at least this one peripheral lymphoid organ. From the presence of conserved amino acid residues, it appears the expressed sequences encode molecules that likely function as classical Mhc-I. These clones were isolated using monotreme Mhc-I processed pseudogenes as probes. These processed pseudogenes were isolated from genomic DNA and, based on their structure, are likely independently derived in the platypus and echidna. When all the monotreme sequences were included in phylogenetic analyses, we found no apparent orthologous relationships between the platypus and echidna Mhc-I. Analyses that included a large number of Mhc-I sequences from other taxa support a separate monotreme Mhc-I clade, basal to a therian Mhc-I clade that is comprised of sequences from marsupial and placental mammals. The phylogenies also support the hypothesis that Mhc-I genes of placental mammals, marsupials, and monotremes are derived from three separate lineages of Mhc-I genes, best explained by two rounds of duplications and deletions. The first round would have occurred prior to the divergence of monotremes and therians, and the second prior to the divergence of marsupials and placental mammals. The sequences described here represent the first reported functional monotreme Mhc-I, as well as the first processed pseudogenes of any type from monotremes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Nonsexual boundary violations: sauce for the gander.

Numerous articles in the mental health literature concern sexual contact between therapists and patients, which is explicitly prohibited by all four mental health professions' ethical codes. There is relatively little about nonsexual boundary violations, which are often covert and much more difficult to recognize (particularly in their early stages) than sexual violations; what little there is assumes that the clinician has the power in the relationship and uses that power for personal advantage. In this article the authors discuss the situation, rare in civil mental health facilities but common in correctional and forensic mental health facilities, in which personality-disordered patients manipulate and coerce clinicians to cross appropriate professional nonsexual boundaries for the patients' benefit; this reversal of the usual power dynamics between treaters and patients requires recognition of the role reversals present and requires different strategies for preventing such violations (hence "sauce for the gander").

Coercion↗
PubMed2002

Hendricks v. People: forcing the insanity defense on an unwilling defendant.

At least 17 jurisdictions permit insanity defenses to be entered over the objections of defendants. Those jurisdictions believe that society's interest in a just determination of the charges outweighs a competent defendant's choice. If competency includes the ability to rationally choose a plea, competent defendants should not be forced to enter insanity defenses against their wills.

Colorado↗