A variational approach to magnetoelastic buckling problems for systems of superconducting tori

A variational principle for the magnetoelastic stability problem of superconductors is constructed. Independently, a pair of integral equations is derived, from which the initial and the perturbed field can be computed. The integral equations are solved for in-plane buckling of a slender pair of concentric tori, and out-of-plane buckling of a slender pair of equal coaxial tori. By using the variational principle, it is shown that both cases can become unstable when the currents on the two tori are equally directed, and the pertinent buckling values are calculated. The thus obtained buckling values are compared with the results of an alternative, mathematically less rigorous, method. A good correspondence between the two methods is found (at least as long as the two tori are not too near).     

电容位移法精确测量磁性薄膜的磁致伸缩系数

介绍了一种精确测量磁性薄膜磁致伸缩系数方法－电容位移法，并自行研制组装了一套测量装置，通过误差分析，仪器的精确标定，对稀土－铁超磁致伸缩薄膜的磁致伸缩系数进行了测量，获得满意的结果。     

Developmental pattern of fetal growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, growth hormone binding protein and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3

AIMS: To evaluate the developmental pattern of fetal growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), GH binding protein (GHBP) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGF-3); to determine the implications for fetal growth. METHODS: Serum GH, IGF-I, GHBP and IGFBP-3 were measured in 53 fetuses, 41 aged 20-26 weeks (group A) and 12 aged 31-38 weeks (group B). Fetal blood samples were obtained by direct puncture of the umbilical vein in utero. Fetal blood samples were taken to rule out beta thalassaemia, chromosome alterations, mother to fetus transmissible infections, and for maternal rhesus factor. GHBP was determined by gel filtration chromatography of serum incubated overnight with 125I-GH. GH, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Fetal serum GH concentrations in group A (median 29 micrograms/l, range 11-92) were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those of group B (median 16.7 micrograms/l, range 4.5-29). IGF-I in group A (median 20 micrograms/l, range 4.1-53.3) was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in group B (median 75.2 micrograms/l, range 27.8-122.3). Similarly, IGFBP-3 concentrations in group A (median 950 micrograms/l, range 580-1260) were significantly lower than those of group B (median 1920 micrograms/l, range 1070-1770). There was no significant difference between GHBP values in group A (median 8.6%, range 6.6-12.6) and group B (median 8.3%, range 6-14.3). Gestational age correlated positively with IGF-I concentrations (P < 0.0001) and IGFBP-3 (P < 0.0001) and negatively with GH (P < 0.0001). GHBP values did not correlate with gestational age. Multiple regression analysis showed a negative correlation between GH:IGF-I ratio and fetal growth indices CONCLUSIONS: The simultaneous evaluation of fetal GH, IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and GHBP suggests that the GH-IGF-I axis might already be functional in utero. The progressive improvement in the efficiency of this axis in the last part of gestation does not seem to be due to an increase in GH receptors.     

Retinoic acid conjugates as potential antitumor agents: synthesis and biological activity of conjugates with Ara-A, Ara-C, 3(2H)-furanone, and aniline mustard moieties

In a dual targeting approach, to explore the ability of tretinoin (all-trans-retinoic acid) to behave as a covalent carrier for cytotoxic entities, conjugates of retinoic acid with a few representative molecules, being important examples of antitumor pharmacophores (i.e., nucleoside analogues and alkylating agents), have been synthesized and tested for their cytostatic and differentiating activity. All compounds were stable to in vitro hydrolysis in human plasma and more lipophilic than the parent compounds, thus consenting enhanced uptake into the cells. Among the nucleoside analogues the Ara-C derivatives 3 and 6 and the Ara-A derivative 7 proved the most cytostatic (IC50 < 0.32 microgram/mL) resulting from 25- to > 144-fold more active (Ara-A derivatives) or at least as equally active (Ara-C derivatives) as compared to the parent nucleosides. Compound 3, endowed with a highly lipophilic silyl moiety at the 3' and 5' positions, showed the highest differentiating activity (54% and 44% differentiated HL-60 cells at 0.2 and 0.05 microgram/mL respectively). With regard to the retinoic acid conjugates of alkylating agents, compound 10 was the most cytostatic agent (IC50 < 0.32 microgram/mL) and the most potent differentiating agent (33-34% at 0.32 and 0.08 microgram/mL). These structures may also be regarded as analogs of either retinoic acid or the cytotoxic compound.     

Primary lymphoma of the breast. Three cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Primary and sole breast lymphoma is a very rare disease. With the review of our series of 616 cases operated on for breast cancer, only 3 cases (0.48%) of primary breast non-Hodgkin lymphoma (LNH) have been observed. The authors outline the problems concerning diagnosis and therapy of this rare disease: pathological and immunohistochemical aspects are discussed. They stress the importance of staging in order to plan a correct multidisciplinary approach.     

Effects of e-enforcement in the Netherlands

E-enforcement, or electronic enforcement, is the use of electronic tools in law enforcement. We shall distinguish between the first and second generations of e-enforcement. The first generation of e-enforcement tools provided means of "automated enforcement". This article is based on our research into the effects of two forms of second generation e-enforcement: the digital tachograph and 'Weigh in Motion' (WIM). The digital tachograph replaces the analog tachograph in all heavy goods vehicles within the European Union. The equipment registers drivers' driving and rest times. Weigh in Motion with Video (WIM-Vid) is a system involving sensors in the road and cameras, which detect and register overloading of heavy goods vehicles. The WIM-Vid system was developed and implemented in the Netherlands and is currently attracting international attention. We compare the situation prior to the introduction of these e-enforcement measures to the situation after the introduction of e-enforcement.     

A variational principle for magneto-elastic buckling

A variational principle that can serve as the basis for a magneto-elastic stability (or buckling) problem is constructed. For the two cases of soft ferromagnetic media and superconductors, respectively, it is shown how the variational principle directly yields an explicit expression for the buckling value. The formulation starts from a specific choice for a magneto-elastic Lagrangian L (associated with the so-called Maxwell-Minkowski model for magneto-elastic interactions). For the evaluation of the principle the first and second variations of L are calculated both inside and outside the solid magneto-elastic body. Thus, a general buckling criterion, consisting of an expression for the critical field value, together with a set of constraints for the field variables occurring in the right-hand side of this expression, is constructed. Finally, more detailed formulations are given for, successively, soft ferromagnetic bodies and superconductors. Applications to specific structures, yielding explicit numerical values for the magneto-elastic buckling fields, will be given in a forthcoming paper.     

Recurrent hyperparathyroidism due to parathyroid autografts: incidence, presentation, and management

Recurrent hyperparathyroidism (HPT) occurs in a small percentage of patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary HPT and is usually due to inadequate excision of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue in the neck, a missed ectopic and hyperplastic parathyroid, or, less commonly, parathyroid carcinoma and parathyroid autografts. In order to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of patients with recurrent HPT due to parathyroid autografts, we reviewed our experience with 604 consecutive patients operated on for primary HPT between 1965 and 1989. One hundred of these patients received parathyroid autografts consisting of portions of one or more parathyroid glands. Three patients with autografts, placed in the sternocleidomastoid muscle, developed recurrent HPT due to their autografts for an incidence of 3 per cent. Recurrent disease was diagnosed between 62 and 113 months with an average of 89 months. The autotransplants in all three of these patients were from hyperplastic or adenomatous parathyroid tissue. Two patients had a history of neck irradiation. Preoperative thallium scans accurately localized the hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue in all three patients. At operation, the hyperfunctioning autografts had grown into a discrete mass with a single vascular pedicle and were resected. Histologic examination disclosed either hyperplastic or adenomatous tissue, and corresponded to the histology and location of the original tissue transplanted in each case. Follow-up ranges from 12 to 67 months, with an average of 48 months. All patients remain cured and none require oral calcium supplementation. We conclude that graft-dependent recurrent HPT is due to the autotransplantation of hyperplastic or adenomatous parathyroid tissue and that thallium scanning is instrumental for diagnosis and localization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antiproteinuric effect predicts renal protection by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition in rats with established adriamycin nephrosis

1. The mechanism of renal protection by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition is still the subject of debate. Inhibition of proteinuria might play a role. If so, a good antiproteinuric response to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition should predict subsequent protection against renal structural damage. This hypothesis has not been tested in models where treatment is started after the renal disease is well established, i.e. models that mimic the clinical situation. 2. We therefore investigated this hypothesis in 96 male Wistar rats with established adriamycin nephrosis. Reduction of proteinuria was achieved by lisinopril (0, 2, 5 and 10 mg day-1 kg-1) on two different sodium diets (0.3% and 0.05% NaCl). Therapy started 6 weeks after adriamycin (at stable proteinuria) and was continued for 6 weeks. 3. Lisinopril reduced blood pressure by 32 +/- 4% and proteinuria by an average of 72 +/- 7%, with stabilization after 2 weeks. Considerable interindividual differences in antiproteinuric response was found. Glomerulosclerosis score was reduced by 15 +/- 5%. All the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were enhanced by sodium depletion, but sodium depletion in itself did not affect blood pressure (124 +/- 4 mmHg), proteinuria (664 +/- 68 mg/day) or glomerulosclerosis score (30 +/- 5%). Interestingly, the more proteinuria was reduced initially in an individual rat, the less sclerosis was found in the long term in that rat. 4. In conclusion, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition lowers proteinuria and prevents glomerulosclerosis in established adriamycin nephrosis. These effects are enhanced by sodium depletion. The individual short-term antiproteinuric effect predicts the protection against ultimate glomerular damage. This is consistent with the hypothesis that reduction of proteinuria is a mechanism by which angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors exert renoprotection.     

The application of semantic classification trees to naturallanguage understanding

This article describes a new method for building a natural language understanding (NLU) system, in which the system's rules are learnt automatically from training data. The method has been applied to design of a speech understanding (SU) system. Designers of such systems rely increasingly on robust matchers to perform the task of extracting meaning from one or several word sequence hypotheses generated by a speech recognizer. We describe a new data structure, the semantic classification tree (SCT), that learns semantic rules from training data and can be a building block for robust matchers for NLU tasks. By reducing the need for handcoding and debugging a large number of rules, this approach facilitates rapid construction of an NLU system. In the case of an SU system, the rules learned by an SCT are highly resistant to errors by the speaker or by the speech recognizer because they depend on a small number of words in each utterance. Our work shows that semantic rules can be learned automatically from training data, yielding successful NLU for a realistic application