A novel apparatus for the investigation of material properties for the storage of ultracold neutrons

We have built a novel apparatus for the investigation of materials for the storage of ultracold neutrons. Neutrons are filled into a storage volume, confined at the bottom by a magnetic field, at the top by gravity and at the sides by the slit-less sample surface under investigation. For different beryllium and diamond-like carbon samples, storage times up to 200 s were obtained at room temperature. The corresponding loss parameters η for ultracold neutrons varied between 4.2 and 6.8×10^-4 per wall collision.     

Post-traumatic reconnection of the cervical spinal cord with skeletal striated muscles. Study in adult rats and marmosets

In an attempt at repairing the injured spinal cord of adult mammals (rat, dog and marmoset) and its damaged muscular connections, we are currently using: 1) peripheral nerve autografts (PNG), containing Schwann cells, to trigger and direct axonal regrowth from host and/or transplanted motoneurons towards denervated muscular targets; 2) foetal spinal cord transplants to replace lost neurons. In adult rats and marmosets, a PNG bridge was used to joint the injured cervical spinal cord to a denervated skeletal muscle (longissimus atlantis [rat] or biceps brachii [rat and marmoset]). The spinal lesion was obtained by the implantation procedure of the PNG. After a post-operative delay ranging from 2 to 22 months, the animals were checked electrophysiologically for functional muscular reconnection and processed for a morphological study including retrograde axonal tracing (HRP, Fast Blue, True Blue), histochemistry (AChE, ATPase), immunocytochemistry (ChAT) and EM. It was thus demonstrated that host motoneurons of the cervical enlargement could extend axons all the way through the PNG bridge as: a) in anaesthetized animals, contraction of the reconnected muscle could be obtained by electrical stimulation of the grafted nerve; b) the retrograde axonal tracing studies indicated that a great number of host cervical neurons extended axons into the PNG bridge up to the muscle; c) many of them were assumed to be motoneurons (double labelling with True Blue and an antibody against ChAT); and even alpha-motoneurons (type C axosomatic synapses in HRP labelled neurons seen in EM in the rat); d) numerous ectopic endplates were seen around the intramuscular tip of the PNG. In larger (cavitation) spinal lesions (rat), foetal motoneurons contained in E14 spinal cord transplants could similarly grow axons through PNG bridges up to the reconnected muscle. Taking all these data into account, it can be concluded that neural transplants are interesting tools for evaluating both the plasticity and the repair capacities of the mammalian spinal cord and of its muscular connections.     

Clinical study of the efficacy of albendazole treatment in human hydatidosis]

Feeding abilities in 20 individuals with Rett syndrome aged 1 1/2 to 33 years were investigated by history and clinical assessment during a meal, followed by videofluoroscopy of feeding. All were shown to have reduced movements of the mid and posterior tongue, with premature spillover of food and liquid from the mouth into the pharynx. They also showed delayed pharyngeal swallow, but otherwise pharyngeal problems were minimal. These findings were noted to be similar to those in Parkinson's disease. Those individuals with the most general neurological impairment tended to have the worst feeding problems and were smaller and malnourished.     

Detection of human herpesvirus 8 DNA in Kaposi''s sarcoma lesions and peripheral blood of human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients and correlation with serologic measurements

PURPOSE: We reviewed our experience with a clinical pathway instituted in December 1993 for all nonurgent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. METHODS: We analyzed a reference group of 49 consecutive pre-pathway AAA patients (group I) and the 44 patients enrolled in the first year of the pathway (group II). On the basis of the interim review of data collected during the first year, pathway modifications were made, and 34 patients enrolled after these modifications (group III) were also analyzed. RESULTS: Comparison of groups I and II showed that institution of the pathway resulted in a marginally significant reduction in mean charges of 14.7% (p = 0.09), and a slight fall in mean length of stay (LOS) (13.8 vs 13.1 days, NS) and mortality rate (4.1% vs 2.3%, NS). For group II, a significant correlate (p < 0.05) of increased charges was fluid overload as diagnosed by chest radiograph. This recognition led to active efforts to reduce perioperative fluid administration. Comparison of groups II and III revealed that the practice modifications led to marked reduction in the incidence of fluid overload (73% vs 24%; p < 0.01), mean charges (30.4% reduction; p < 0.05), mean LOS (13.1 vs 10.2 days; p < 0.05), and median LOS (11 vs 8 days). Multiple regression analysis of all pathway patients showed that preoperative renal insufficiency is a significant predictor of both increased LOS (p < 0.01) and charges (p < 0.01), but that age, sex, and coronary disease were not predictive. Of the postoperative parameters analyzed, important correlates of increased charges were acute renal failure (p < 0.01) and fluid overload (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Institution of a clinical pathway for AAA repair resulted in significant charge reduction and a slight reduction in stay. Practice modifications based on interim data analysis yielded further significant reductions in charges and LOS, with overall per-patient charge savings (group I vs III) of 40.6% (p < 0.05) and overall LOS reduction of 3.5 days (p < 0.05). The reduction in actual charges was seen despite an overall increase in the hospital rate structure. Comparing groups I, II, and III, we found no indication of increasing mortality rate. Ongoing analysis has identified correlates of increased charges, potentially permitting identification of high-cost subgroups and more focused cost-control efforts. Rather than restricting management, clinical pathways with periodic data analysis may improve quality of care.     

The dependence of the escape of characteristic X-rays from planar germanium detectors on the direction of the incident radiation

The escape of germanium K_α X-rays from two planar germanium detectors for photons of 22.1 keV, incident at angles , was measured. Applications of the measurements are discussed.     

Identification of 2, 4, 6-trialkyl-1, 3, 5-trioxanes from autoxidized methyl linoleate by mass spectrometry

2,4-Dibutyl-6-pentyl-1,3,5-trioxane, 2-butyl-4,6-dipentyl-1,3,5-trioxane, and 2,4,6-tripentyl-1,3,5-trioxane have been identified in the volatile products from autoxidizing methyl linoleate by mass spectrometry. The principal component is 2,4,6-tripentyl-1,3,5-trioxane. These compounds appear to be formed from condensation of hexanal and pentanal, the two major aldehydes in the volatiles from autoxidizing methyl linoleate (5). Presented at the Symposium on Mass Spectrometry Applied to Lipids, AOCS Meeting, Cincinnati, October 1965. W. Utiliz. Res. Dev. Div., ARS. USDA.     

Improving the ISO/IEC 11770 standard for key management techniques

We provide the first systematic analysis of the ISO/IEC 11770 standard for key management techniques (2009, 2009), which describes a set of key establishment, key agreement, and key transport protocols. We analyse the claimed security properties, as well as additional modern requirements on key management protocols, for over 30 protocols and their variants. Our formal, tool-supported analysis of the protocols uncovers several incorrect claims in the standard. We provide concrete suggestions for improving the standard.     

Three-dimensional modelling of mercury cycling in the Gulf of Trieste

The Gulf of Trieste (Northern Adriatic) is subject to mercury pollution from a former mercury mine in Idrija, located along a river which transports mercury-contaminated sediments into the Gulf. Concentrations in suspended and bottom sediments are up to two orders of magnitude higher than in the central and southern Adriatic. Extensive research has been carried out on measurements and modelling of the transport and fate of mercury in the Gulf. Two- and three-dimensional models have been developed to include the influence of the significant advective transport due to currents. Wind, thermohaline forcing, and the Soca river momentum are the most important forcing factors. A two-dimensional model simulated the transport of non-methylated and methylated mercury in dissolved, particulate and plankton fractions. Mercury processes included the input of atmospheric mercury, sedimentation, reduction, methylation and demethylation. The model simulations gave basically what were proper trends of the phenomena; quantitatively the measured and computed results are mainly within a factor of three. To simulate the non-uniform distribution of parameters over the depth, an existing three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic and transport-dispersion (TD) model, PCFLOW3D, was adapted and applied. As it was found that most mercury transport is related to suspended sediment particles, a new 3D sediment transport module was also developed and included in the model. Three cases are presented: one describing the simulation of TD of dissolved total mercury; another the simulation of the TD of particulate mercury in the Gulf during a river flood; and the third simulating sediment transport in the Gulf during a period of strong ENE wind. Comparison with measurements was only partly possible, but mainly the computed and measured results were within a factor of two and proper trends of the phenomena were obtained by the simulations. The combination of modelling and measurements has resulted in some interesting conclusions about the phenomenon of the transport and fate of mercury in a coastal sea.     

Integrated life-cycle design of building enclosures

In spite of the progress in developing methods and tools to support sustainable building design, there is still a lack of a formal approach to bridge the “no man’s land” gap between the traditional building engineering disciplines, and between these and the architecture, to achieve the level of building integration required for sustainability. This paper presents an integration framework that aims at facilitating the inclusion of life-cycle considerations in the design process from the outset, so that materials and systems are selected not only from environmentally friendly resources, but most importantly, to match service life performance expectations. The framework describes an iterative methodology to evaluate these expectations in practice, which is based on an understanding and modeling of the dynamics of the built environment to which materials, components, and systems are exposed. Quantitative methods and test protocols can be incorporated into the framework for assessing function-performance aspects of alternative solutions. Due to its complexity stemming from its inherent exposure to variable environmental loads and its multi-functionality, the framework focuses on addressing the life cycle of the building enclosure system. It is expected that the organization of the underlying principles of building life-cycle performance described in this paper will become a knowledge core that will facilitate a more integrated treatment of buildings in research, education, and practice.