Diphtheria antitoxin levels in the 14-30-year age group in Italy

Two patients with diabetes mellitus sustained spontaneous calcaneus fracture after deep heel burns. Both cases had avulsion type fracture of the os calcis. The authors discuss the incidence and possible etiology with literature review.     

Existence of boths andd-wave solutions of Eliashberg equations

We solve Eliashberg equations in the case of strong anisotropic electron-phonon coupling and low energy cutoff. In a simplified model representing the Fermi Surface of (CuO₂)_n planes, we exhibit ad-wave solution as well as a generalizeds-wave one.     

Localized osteomyelitis following a restorative procedure

This case report describes a localized interproximal soft-tissue lesion in the anterior maxillary area that may have been caused by a composite curing light. Following clinical examination and histological analysis, the diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis was made. Palliative treatment and debridement resulted in complete resolution.     

Thomson-scattering diagnostic on the Frascati tokamak upgrade

The Frascati tokamak upgrade Thomson-scattering system is used for the measurement of electron-temperature and electron-density spatial profiles along the vertical diameter of the tokamak at 19 spatial points up to 10 times in a single plasma discharge, with a spatial resolution that ranges from 2 cm in the central region to 4 cm in the plasma edge. The radiation source is a Nd:YLF laser that operates at 1053 nm, with a divergence of 0.4 mrad full angle, and is capable of delivering a burst of 10 pulses with energies of 4.5 J/pulse; the interpulse time can be regulated from 20 to 100 ms. The scattered radiation is collected by two objectives: the first looks at the plasma center, and the second at the plasma edge. Bundles of optical fibers in the focal plane of the objectives carry the scattered light from the tokamak hall to a set of 19 interference-filter polychromators, whose transmission is 70%, and the rejection of the stray light at the laser wavelength is 1/10(7). The detectors are avalanche photodiodes ith a noise-equivalent power of the order of 10(-13) W/(Hz)(?) at 1053 nm. The spectral calibration of the polychromators is presented. The absolute calibration of the scattering system for the electron-density measurement has been carried out by the use of Raman scattering on hydrogen and deuterium. Examples of the results of the temporal evolution of T(e) and n(e) spatial profiles are presented for ohmic plasma heating, lower-hybrid current drive, and a pellet-injection experiment. The electron-temperature and electron-density profiles measured through Thomson scattering are compared with the temperatures measured through the use of electron-cyclotron emission and the density profiles obtained from the interferometer data.     

Reinforcement Learning Based Q-Routing: Performance Evaluation on Cognitive Radio Network Topologies

Wireless Personal Communications - The present work explores the scope of cognitive radio networks (CRNs) to support the spectrum demand on future diverse application specific wireless services...     

Stochastic finite element simulation of random structure on uncertain foundation under random loading

Statistical uncertainty is bound to occur due to the randomness in material and geometric properties, support conditions, soil variability, etc. in structural engineering problems. An attempt has been made to study the stochastic structural responses, in particular, their mean and variances under such uncertain system parameters. The random parameters are modeled as homogeneous Gaussian stochastic processes and discretized by efficient local averaging method. The discretized Gaussian field is simulated by Cholesky decomposition of the respective covariance matrix. The present paper takes the advantage of Neumann expansion technique in deriving the finite element solution of response variability within the framework of Monte Carlo simulation. Neumann expansion technique needs inversion of only the deterministic part of the stiffness matrix for all sample structures, and thus increases the computational efficiency. Numerical examples are presented to study the advantage of Neumann expansion based simulation method with respect to accuracy and efficiency. The comparison of the results shows that the values approach towards that obtained by direct Monte Carlo simulation as the order of expansion in Neumann series is increased.     

Results of surgical resection in patients over the age of 70 years with non small-cell lung cancer

Calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) depending on depolarization of the transverse tubular membrane (TTM) caused by rapid ionic replacement was measured in skeletal muscle triadic vesicles using a stopped-flow apparatus and Fura-2, a membrane-impermeable Ca2+ indicator. Calcium release was triggered by an increase in the magnitude of depolarization. This Ca2+ release was inhibited by ruthenium red, digoxin and dantrolene, and enhanced by caffeine. Thus, Ca2+ release was found to occur through the SR Ca2+ release channel via TTM depolarization and to be able to cause skeletal muscle contraction. Calcium release curves could be divided into two phases. In contrast to other previous studies, in the fast phase the amount of released Ca2+ increased with an increase in the magnitude of depolarization but the Ca2+ release rate did not; on the other hand, in the slow phase the Ca2+ release rate increased but the amount of Ca2+ did not. Furthermore, the Ca2+ release rate was controlled by the luminal Ca2+ concentration of the SR only in the fast phase. These independent dual kinetics of Ca2+ release were explained by the calsequestrin regulation model.     

The solubility of heavy metal soaps in co-solvent mixtures of chloroform and propylene glycol

Summary The solubilities of the myristates, laurates, palmitates, and stearates of magnesium, lead, calcium, barium, and zinc have been measured at 25° C. in chloroform and in propylene glycol and in their mixtures. Even where they are sparingly soluble in the solvents separately, they dissolve freely in mixtures of the two. For each metal the solubility is greatest for laurate and least for stearate and it is very low for zinc soaps, particularly zinc stearate. Heavy metal soaps may be directly titrated with acid in mixtures of propylene glycol and chloroform using thymol blue as indicator (yellow to pink).