Design considerations for low switching voltage crossing channelswitches

Demonstrates both theoretically and experimentally that low switching voltage, in comparison to those characterizing other modulators, can be obtained with single-mode crossing channel structures at the wavelength of 1.32 μm. Design considerations for obtaining the low switching voltage are presented     

Surgical treatment of lymphadenopathy in children

Clinical observations of 1365 children with the lymph nodes affection were summarized. The diagnosis verification was conducted using the broad arsenal of general clinical and special methods of investigation. In complicated situations the histochemical and immunogenetic methods were applied for the diagnosis. The structure and dynamics of children's morbidity with lymphadenopathies (LAP) was studied up, the age, sexual and seasonal peculiarities were systematized, the analysis of primary localizations and clinico-morphological comparisons was conducted. The basic thesises of the standardized approach were elaborated on the ground of the diagnostical and tactical mistakes results analysis.     

Prevention of subclinical vitamin K deficiency based on PIVKA-II levels: oral versus intramuscular route

A 20-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of hemoptysis. A bruit was best heard at the lower portion of the left posterior chest. CT scan and MRI revealed clearly the existence of a large aberrant vessel from the descending thoracic aorta. Aorto- and pulmonary arteriography demonstrated that a large systemic artery from the descending thoracic aorta supplied the basilar segments of the left lower lobe, and to which there was no pulmonary artery supply. The pulmonary veins from these segments drained into the left atrium. The properative diagnosis was Pryce's type I pulmonary sequestration. A left lower lobectomy was performed. The aberrant vessel was 15 mm in diameter and was elastic walled. The systemic artery of the basilar segments revealed proliferation of media and obstructive changes. Some discussions were made about hemoptysis and bruit in 23 cases of Pryce's type I pulmonary sequestration in Japan.     

Response of Brazilian crossbred cows to varying doses of bovine somatotropin

The effect of n-methionyl bovine somatotropin (bST) on milk yield was evaluated in crossbred cows (40 1/2 Bos indicus x 1/2 Bos taurus and 18 1/4 B. indicus x 3/4 B. taurus) in Brazil. Cows were randomly assigned to treatments within stage of lactation [stage 1 = 56 to 100 d in milk (DIM); stage 2 = 101 to 199 DIM] and breed groups (1/2 vs. 1/4 B. indicus blood). Treatments were 250 or 500 mg of bST administered every 14 d. Cows in the control group did not receive bST or a placebo. Treated cows received bST injected subcutaneously in the postscapular region, alternating between the left and right sides. The 26-wk experiment consisted of 2 wk of pretreatment and 24 wk of treatment. Cows were housed in an open lot with regulated access to pasture. Cows were milked twice daily and scored for body condition at 2-wk intervals. Compared with controls, milk yield increased equally (22%) for cows receiving 250 or 500 mg of bST. Milk yield response to bST was higher and persisted longer during stage 1 of lactation than during stage 2 of lactation. No difference in response to bST was noted between cows with 1/2 or 1/4 B. indicus blood. Cows treated with 500 mg of bST tended to have more mastitis, but no other adverse health effects were observed. The potential use of 250-mg doses of bST at 14-d intervals in crossbred cattle in Brazil and other subtropical regions throughout the world is suggested, particularly before about 220 DIM.     

Electroneurography during facial nerve expansion

BACKGROUND: The use of plasma-exchange therapy has increased the longevity of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HFH), and pregnancy in affected women is expected to become more common. We describe the clinical course, feasibility and risks of repeated pregnancies in patients with HFH treated by long-term plasma exchange. METHODS: We followed the clinical course of five pregnancies in two HFH patients, with attention to the effect of repeated plasma exchange on maternal and fetal status; specifically, lipid profile, hemodynamics, and uteroplacental circulation on Doppler flow study. RESULTS: Increasing the frequency of plasma-exchange therapy prevented the extreme serum cholesterol elevation that occurs in pregnant HFH patients and was associated with a significant improvement in uteroplacental circulation. In four pregnancies the clinical course was uneventful, ending in normal deliveries of full-term infants with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The third pregnancy of one of the patients had to be terminated owing to the development of hypotension and syncope during plasma exchange because of severe aortic stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated pregnancies in HFH patients treated by long-term plasma exchange are feasible but may be associated with untoward effects, especially hemodynamic compromise. The frequency of plasma exchange therapy should be increased to prevent marked hypercholesterolemia and its possible deleterious effect on maternal and fetal status. Cardiac evaluation with close hemodynamic monitoring are needed during pregnancy to detect complications of the cardiac valvular lesion and the coronary atherosclerosis that are associated with HFH.     

Paralytic poliomyelitis (1989-1994): report from a sentinel center

OBJECTIVE: To study the trends of paralytic poliomyelitis in pre Pulse Polio Immunization period. SETTING: Hospital based sentinel surveillance. METHODS: Analysis of 6704 line-listed poliomyelitis cases from January 1989 to December 1994 attending the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. RESULTS: 85% of all cases reported in Delhi were from this center. A decline in alternate year peaks was observed from 1621 cases in 1990 to 1062 cases in 1994. There was an increase in proportion of cases with poliomyelitis in fully vaccinated children from 14% to 22.9%. Polio type I virus was the commonest isolated virus in all the years except 1993, when type II was isolated in 38.7% of cases. CONCLUSION: Despite improvement in immunization coverage, the study reveals that a large number of children (67.2%) who suffer from poliomyelitis are unvaccinated. This stresses need to intensify and sustain high level of immunization coverage with effective vaccine.     

Evaluation of domicilliary management of protein-calorie malnutrition

An approach to tackle protein-calorie malnutrition through domiciliary management is described. Children suffering from moderate and severe protein-calorie malnutrition were managed using a food supplement containing low cost locally available foodstuffs and nutrition education. An evaluation showed that the anthropometric improvement was closely associated with better concepts in nutrition and improved dietary practices following nutrition education. Parents of children suffering from kwashiorkor had better knowledge and practice compared with those of marasmus.     

Heavy ion beam driven inertial confinement fusion target studies and reactor chamber neutronic analysis

A review of heavy ion beam driven target studies and reactor chamber neutronic analysis at the Institute for Neutron Physics and Reactor Technology of the Nuclear Research Center Karlsruhe is presented. Based on a single shell, multi-layered 4 mg deuterium-tritium (DT) target design, key issues of the inertial confinement fusion target behavior are discussed. These issues are: ion beam energy deposition within the target; equations of state for the different target materials under the extreme conditions encountered; numerical simulation of target compression, ignition and burn including possible instabilities; transport processes of photons, neutrons, gammas, and alphas; and reactor chamber neutronics including target spectra, blanket and first wall analysis. For most of these issues the present physics understanding is briefly reviewed, the available calculational tools are mentioned, and key problems, which need further research and development efforts, are identified. One important feature of this paper is a consistent treatment of the 4 mg DT target behavior and of the corresponding reactor chamber neutronic analysis.