Invasiveness of LiTaO/sub 3/ and GaAs probes in external E-O sampling

Disturbances of signals on a coplanar waveguide (CPW) induced by the presence of LiTaO/sub 3/ and GaAs electrooptic probes in external electrooptic (EO) sampling have been simulated and compared quantitatively. The finite-difference-time-domain method is used to simulate the full wave field around a coplanar waveguide on a GaAs substrate in an external EO sampling configuration. The results indicate that the induced signal disturbance, or invasiveness, of a LiTaO/sub 3/ probe is almost ten times that of a GaAs probe in terms of the magnitude of S/sub 11/, but that LiTaO/sub 3/ yields about two times the EO response for a given S/sub 11/ and optical probing wavelength. The transparency of LiTaO/sub 3/ to shorter wavelengths, however, allows an even higher sensitivity for this material relative to GaAs. The results suggest that these probes do not exhibit significant invasiveness (magnitude of S/sub 11/ smaller than -40 dB), if they are removed from contact by the distance of CPWs center conductor width.<>     

Acute kidney failure in hypothermia

Two cases with acute renal failure after prolonged hypothermia are presented. Both patients were found in come, became rapidly uremic and required hemodilaysis treatment. Although the laboratory findings were typical of severe muscle damage, e.g. elevated levels of serum creatinine phosphokinase, serum lactic dehydrogenase and serum aldolase activities, visible "crush-injuries" were not found. Acute renal failure was characterized by extreme catabolism and severe metabolic acidosis. After 4 and 10 hemodialyses respectively, the patients became polyuric and finally were discharges with normal renal and muscle function. Hypotension with diminished renal perfusion and nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis due to prolonged hypothermia are regarded as the dominant pathogenetic factors in the acute renal failure.     

Diagnosis and treatment of aortic valve stenosis

The present review has attempted to summarize the classic symptoms and signs of aortic valve stenosis, especially in an adult. It is emphasized that all the classic signs rarely are present and their absence may mislead an unwary clinician. The diagnostic help provided by noninvasive tests, including echocardiography and phonocardiography, has been emphasized. A need for cardiac catheterization and angiography in most patients prior to corrective surgery is stressed. The natural history of the disease without operative intervention is dim and a significant risk of sudden death exists. The current surgical approach with immediate and long-term results is summarized. Finally, attention has been drawn to the special clinical circumstances when the aortic valve stenosis provides a strinkingly different clinical picture. We cannot find a better way to end this review than by quoting a warning note given by Thomas Lewis in 1920: "It is the faint cry of an anguished and fast failing muscle, which, when it comes, all should strain to hear, for it is not long repeated. A few months, a few years at most, and the end comes."     

What do children value in entertainment programs? A cross-cultural investigation

We investigated which program characteristics in children's entertainment television programs children between 6 and 11 years of age value. We collected data by means of questionnaires among 100 Dutch and 100 U.S. first through fourth graders. The most important characteristics for both Dutch and U.S. children were comprehensibility and action, closely followed by humor, interestingness, innocuousness, realism, violence, and romance, respectively. Compared to Dutch children, U.S. children attached more value to realism, innocuousness, and interestingness. Boys in both samples attached more value to action and violence in a children's program, whereas girls in both samples attached more value to innocuousness and comprehensibility.     

"聪明的药丸"智能、可连网的药物分配机

本文介绍俄"聪明的药丸"可帮助解决许多错误用药的问题。它是一个具备数据库构件、网页连接、计时功能以及I/O设备控制等功能的小型嵌入式计算机。     

The UWMAK-II study: A conceptual design of a helium cooled, solid breeder, Tokamak fusion reactor system

UWMAK-II is a conceptual design study of a low ß, circular Tokamak fusion power reactor. The aim of the study has been to perform a self-consistent analysis of a probable future fusion power system based on the philosophy that design decisions, wherever possible, should be conservative and should be based on present technology. As such, this system will not be the smallest, the least expensive, or the optimum Tokamak reactor. Rather, it represents a feasible system which we use to assess the technological problems uncovered and to examine possible solutions. The plasma is designed to generate 5000 MW(th) during a pulse and 1709 MW(e) continuously based upon a burn cycle with a 90 min burn and a 6.5 min rejuvenation period. The plasma carries a current of 14.9 MA and is designed with a double null poloidal divertor for impurity control and particle pumping. In addition, a low Z liner in the form of a carbon curtain is included to eliminate any source of high Z impurities. Plasma heating to ignition involves the use of neutral beam heating for a 10 sec period during which 200 MW of 500 keV deuterium atoms are injected into the plasma.The blanket design employs helium cooling and the solid lithium-bearing compound, lithium aluminate (Li₂Al₂O₄) for breeding tritium. The structural material is 316 stainless steel and beryllium is used as a neutron multiplier. The neutron radiation environment produces radiation damage that considerably influences blanket and system performance. The most significant effect is the loss of ductility which appears to limit the usable lifetime of the blanket first wall to about 2 yr at a 14 MeV neutron wall loading of 1.16 MW/m². The solid breeder blanket minimizes the tritium inventory but because of the low fractional burnup in the plasma and the need for roughly a one day reserve of fuel, the inventory is 17.7 kg. Induced radioactivity levels in the structure are of the order of 1 Ci/W(th) at shutdown after two years of operation. The main contributors to the activity are ) and ). Afterheat levels are slightly above 1% of thermal power but the afterheat power density is low, less than 0.1 w/g. The power cycle involves a He---Na intermediate heat exchanger followed by a sodium—steam system. The sodium intermediary is used to minimize tritium leakage through the power cycle and to provide a working fluid for thermal energy storage such that continuous electrical output is produced despite a pulse plasma cycle. A materials resource study has been completed for a UWMAK-II type system and beryllium appears to present a particular problem with regard to adequate resources. Other materials that could present problems of procurement include chromium and nickel. A preliminary economic analysis has been carried out to identify major cost areas and this is described.     

Misinterpretation of body sensations in panic disorder

Cognitive accounts of panic predict that panic disorder patients will be particularly prone to misinterpret autonomic sensations. Several studies have produced results consistent with this prediction, but each is open to alternative interpretation. To clarify matters, 2 studies administered the Body Sensations Interpretation Questionnaire (BSIQ) to panic patients and controls. Panic patients were more likely to interpret ambiguous autonomic sensations as signs of immediately impending physical or mental disaster and were more likely than other anxiety disorder patients and nonpatients to believe these interpretations. In a 3rd study, a brief version of the BSIQ was shown to have satisfactory test-retest reliability, to change with treatment, and to discriminate treatments that varied in their effects on panic.