The influence of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors on the probability of sustaining an injury

This study was designed to quantify the relative contributions of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors to the probability of an injury event. A case-control design was used with data collected from injured patients at an emergency department (n=797) and a community sample matched on area of residence and time of injury (n=797). Principal components analysis was used to develop scales for the measurement of 'intrinsic' risk taking tendencies that were slightly modified versions of previously published measures. Two principal components were identified: 'health risk taking' (HRT) and 'adventurous risk taking' (ART). Logistic regression analysis identified variables that significantly predicted membership of the group of injured cases. The main hypothesis was supported by the results: that 'extrinsic' factors such as location, activity, drug and alcohol use and the type of people present at the time of the injury were related to a greater risk of injury than 'intrinsic' variables (health and adventurous risk taking tendencies). The results suggest that injury research and prevention efforts should continue to focus on the identification and modification of situational risk factors for injury rather developing programs that focus on high-risk individuals. High-risk alcohol use, use of prescribed drugs and aspects of work and recreational environments were identified as warranting particular attention.     

Lithium isotope composition of basalt glass reference material

We present data on the lithium isotope compositions of glass reference materials from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) determined by multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS), thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), and secondary ionization mass spectrometry (SIMS). Our data on the USGS basaltic glass standards agree within 2 per thousand, independent of the sample matrix or Li concentration. For SIMS analysis, we propose use of the USGS glasses GSD-1G (delta(7)Li 31.14 +/- 0.8 per thousand, 2sigma) and BCR-2G (delta(7)Li 4.08 +/- 1.0 per thousand, 2sigma) as suitable standards that cover a wide range of Li isotope compositions. Lithium isotope measurements on the silica-rich NIST 600 glass series by MC-ICPMS and TIMS agree within 0.8 per thousand, but SIMS analyses show systematic isotopic differences. Our results suggest that SIMS Li isotope analyses have a significant matrix bias in high-silica materials. Our data are intended to serve as a reference for both microanalytical and bulk analytical techniques and to improve comparisons between Li isotope data produced by different methodologies.     

Counting moles automatically from back images

Density of moles is a strong predictor of malignant melanoma, therefore, enumeration of moles is often an integral part of many studies that look at malignant melanoma. An automatic method of segmenting and counting moles would help standardize studies, compared with manual counting. We have developed an unsupervised algorithm for segmenting and counting moles from two-dimensional color images of the back torso region, as part of a study to evaluate the effectiveness of sunscreen. The method consists of a new variant of mean shift filtering that forms clusters in the image and removes noise, a region growing procedure to select candidates, and a rule-based classifier to identify moles. When this algorithm was compared to an assessment by an expert dermatologist, the algorithm showed a sensitivity rate of 91% and diagnostic accuracy of 90% on the test set, for moles larger than 1.5 mm in diameter.     

Simulation of medical electron linac bremsstrahlung beam transport in typical shielding materials

The Monte Carlo N-particle code MCNP version 4C3 was used to investigate the backscattering and transmission of high-energy photons in concrete, iron and lead at deep penetration. A typical bremsstrahlung beam from a 24 MV linac was used, and the transmission up to 15 mean-free paths was studied. Broad beam slab geometry was used. Estimates of the transmission in terms of absorbed dose to tissue ratio and air kerma ratio were performed for the primary and secondary components of the transmitted beam in the three materials. The tissue dose and air kerma buildup factors were calculated and fitted to Berger's equation. Finally, the differential dose albedo values for common reflected angles were determined.     

Supramolecular nanostamping: using DNA as movable type

Here we present a novel printing technique (that we call supramolecular nanostamping), based on the replication of single-stranded DNA features through a hybridization-contact-dehybridization cycle. On a surface containing features each made of single-stranded DNA molecules of known sequence, the complementary DNA molecules are hybridized, spontaneously assembling onto the original pattern due to sequence-specific interactions. These complementary DNA strands, on the end that is assembled far from the original surface, are 5' modified with chemical groups ("sticky ends") that can form bonds with a target surface that is brought into contact. Heating induces dehybridization between DNA strands, leaving the original pattern on the original surface and the copied pattern on the secondary substrate, and thus stamping (see Figure 1). Molecular recognition provides the unique and disruptive ability of transferring large amounts of information in a single printing cycle, that is the simultaneous stamping of spatial information (i.e., the patterns) and of chemical information (i.e., the features' DNA sequence--their chemical composition). This method combines high resolution (<40 nm) with the advantage of an exponential increase in the number of masters; in fact, any printed substrate can be reused as a master. Patterns fabricated via very different lithographic techniques can be replicated.     

Two-dimensional imaging without scanning by multifocal multiphoton microscopy

We describe multifocal multiphoton microscopy giving images without laser scanning. A multitude of 8 x 8 laser beams is focused into a sample yielding two-photon excitation in a plane. The focal spots are arranged in a rectangular array with close spacing between individual points (approximately 0.5 microm). The fluorescence emission from the sample is recorded with a CCD camera, but, owing to the close distance between the beams, they can no longer be regarded as individual points but rather as an illumination of the plane that is covered by the array of focal points. The axial sectioning capability is comparable with an ordinary single-beam two-photon microscope. Interference between the beams that could compromise the axial sectioning capability does not occur in our setup owing to small temporal delays between the individual beams. The axial sectioning capability of the setup is discussed in detail by means of the step response in which the foci are scanned axially into a uniformly fluorescent medium.     

The effect of selected water-soluble excipients on the dissolution of paracetamol and Ibuprofen

The purpose of this investigation was to study the dissolution behavior of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the presence of a range of selected potential excipients. First, a pH-solubility profile was generated for both drugs, and the effect of changing hydrodynamic conditions on the intrinsic dissolution rate was investigated. It was established that both drugs dissolved according to the diffusion-layer model. Paracetamol solubility (approximately 20.3 mg mL^- 1) did not vary from pH 1.2-8.0, corresponding to the in vivo range in the gastrointestinal tract. Ibuprofen had an intrinsic solubility of approximately 0.06 mg mL^- 1, and pK_a was calculated as 4.4. Second, the effects of selected potential excipients (lactose, potassium bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and tartaric acid) were evaluated by measuring the effect of the inclusion of each additive in the dissolution medium on drug solubility, drug intrinsic dissolution rate, and solution viscosity. The results were evaluated using the diffusion-layer model, and it was determined that for paracetamol, the collected data fitted the model for all the excipients studied. For ibuprofen, it was found that there were differences between the excipients that raised the solution pH above the pK_a to those that did not. For the excipients raising the pH above the pK_a, the effect on intrinsic dissolution rate was not as high as that expected from the change in drug solubility. It was postulated that this might be due to lack of penetration of the excipient into the drug boundary layer microenvironment. Formulators may calculate the effect of adding an excipient based on solubility increases but may not find the dissolution rate improvement expected.     

Exercise thermoregulation and hyperprolactinaemia

The anterior pituitary hormone prolactin (PRL), measured in the peripheral blood circulation, reflects alterations in central brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) and dopaminergic activity and is used as a marker of 'central fatigue' during active heat exposure. Significant correlations have consistently been found between PRL and core temperature (T(CORE)) during prolonged exercise. There has been no investigation into the relationship between PRL and other key thermoregulatory variables during exercise, such as weighted mean skin (T(SK)) and mean body temperature (T(B)), heat storage (HS), thermal gradient (T(GRAD)), heart rate (HR) and skin blood flow (cutaneous vascular conductance, CVC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to ascertain if a significant relationship exists between PRL and these thermoregulatory variables during prolonged exercise. Nine active male subjects conducted three trials of approximately 60% VO(2peak) at 70-80 rpm for 45 min on a semi-recumbent cycle ergometer at three different ambient temperatures [6 degrees C (Cold), 18 degrees C (Neutral) and 30 degrees C (Hot)] to elicit varying levels of thermoregulatory stress during exercise. Significant differences existed in T(SK), T(B), HS, T(GRAD) and CVC across the environmental conditions (p < 0.001). Core temperature (T(CORE)), HR and PRL were significantly elevated only in Hot (p < 0.05). Moderate correlations were found for T(CORE), T(SK), T(B), HS, T(GRAD), HR and CVC with post-exercise PRL (rho = 0.358-0.749). The end-of-exercise <38.0 degrees C T(CORE) responses were not (rho = -0.129, p > 0.05) but the >38.0 degrees C T(CORE) responses were (rho = 0.845, p < 0.001) significantly related to their corresponding PRL responses. The significant relationships between PRL release and T(SK), T(B), HS, T(GRAD), HR and CVC have extended previous research on T(CORE) and PRL release and indicate an association between these thermoregulatory variables, as well as T(CORE), and serotonergic/dopaminergic activity during prolonged exercise.     

Customisable Hardware Compilation

Hardware compilers for high-level languages are increasingly recognised to be the key to reducing the productivity gap for advanced circuit development in general, and for reconfigurable designs in particular. This paper explains how customisable frameworks for hardware compilation can enable rapid design exploration, and reusable and extensible hardware optimisation. It describes such a framework, based on a parallel imperative language, which supports multiple levels of design abstraction, transformational development, optimisation by compiler passes, and metalanguage facilities. Our approach has been used in producing designs for applications such as signal and image processing, with different trade-offs in performance and resource usage.     

Characterization of Condensed Tannins Purified From Legume Forages: Chromophore Production,Protein Precipitation,and Inhibitory Effects on Cellulose Digestion

To identify simple screening tools for selecting condensed tannin (CT)-containing forages as candidate sources for further study, CT were isolated from nine legumes, and their molecular weights (MW), chromophore production, capacity to precipitate bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Fraction 1 protein (Rubisco) isolated from alfalfa, and inhibition of filter paper digestion were compared. Sources were as follows: leaves of sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata Dum.-Cours.), crown vetch (Coronilla varia L.), and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.); stems of hedysarum (Hedysarum alpinum L.); seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.); and whole plants of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus L.) and three varieties of big trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus Cav.), viz., Lotus uliginosus Schkuhr, L. uliginosus var. glabriusculus, and L. uliginosus var. villosus. Molecular weights and sizes (degrees of polymerization) of the CT varied considerably within and among plant species. Average MW ranged from 3036 Da (crown vetch) to 7143 Da (lespedeza). All CT exhibited greater capacity (w/w basis) to bind alfalfa Rubisco than BSA. Relative astringencies (μg CT required to precipitate 1 mg protein) against BSA ranged from 262.5 for CT from lespedeza to 435.5 for CT from L. corniculatus, and against Rubisco, from 49.6 (sainfoin) to 108.2 (alfalfa seed). Including CT at 300 μg/ml in cultures of Fibrobacter succinogenes reduced digestion of cellulose filter paper by 19.8% (sainfoin) to 92.4% (crown vetch) and increased the specific activity of cell-associated endoglucanase. There were no correlations between inhibitory effects of CT on filter paper digestion and (1) chromophore formation during CT assay by butanol–HCl, vanillin–HCl, or H₂SO₄; (2) precipitation of BSA or alfalfa Rubisco; and (3) MW of CT. The most inhibitory CT for cellulose digestion included those with broad and with narrow MW distributions. Sainfoin was the most desirable source of CT, as it had the highest capacity to bind alfalfa protein and was least inhibitory to cellulose digestion by F. succinogenes. This study suggests that these properties are not easily defined via chemical means, and that biological assays using rumen bacteria may help identify those CT with properties of nutritional interest.