Spironolactone and acute mountain sickness

Thirteen adults trekking in Nepal in 1974 to altitudes between 4,300 m and 5,500 m remained free from acute mountain sickness while taking spironolactone as a prophylactic measure. Two years previously five of these adults trekking at similar altitudes, but without treatment, had suffered from acute mountain sickness. The regime used was spironolactone in a dosage of 25 mg three times a day for two days preceding and during the periods spent at altitudes above 3,000 m.     

Biological and phytochemical evaluation of plants. XIV. Antiinflammatory evaluation of 163 species of plants

One hundred and seventy-seven plant extracts, representing 163 species of plants and/or fungi, were evaluated in rats to determine their antiinflammatory activity using the carrageenin-induced pedal edema assay. Of the 163 species of plants and/or fungi tested, 17 exhibited between 30--39 per cent inhibition of inflammation, 21 between 40-49 per cent, 15 between 50--59 per cent, four between 60--69 per cent, and two gave greater than 70 per cent inhibition of carrageenin-induced pedal edema.     

Design of angle trusses by codes and second-order analysis with experimental verification

Popular national design codes provide varied buckling formulae for design of trusses composed of angle members under different end conditions. The reliability of these design methods highly depends on the accuracy in estimating the effective length, slenderness modification equations and the interaction equations. To date, design method using the second-order analysis has become popular because it captures directly the behavior in analysis and eliminates the error in a linear analysis and design such as assumption of the effective length factor. In this paper, the predicted failure loads of the angle trusses by different codified method would be compared with test results. Further, a refined second-order analysis method is proposed here to the design of angle trusses composed of single angle members with accuracy verified by comparing the predicted and the test results.     

Neutron diffraction of chlorine substituted fluorapatite

Fluorapatite, chlorapatite and a mixed apatite synthesised by a high temperature solid state reaction route were analysed using time-of-flight neutron diffraction of the series Ca₅(PO₄)₃F_1 − xCl_x, where x = 0.0, 0.5 and 1.0. Fluorapatite and the mixed apatite were found to be hexagonal in crystal structure. The chlorapatite was monoclinic in structure. The lattice parameters a and b increased with chlorine addition while c decreased. The unit cell volume increased linearly with chlorine content and the density decreased. The Ca(1)O₆ metaprism twist angle (φ) decreased with chlorine addition indicating a tendency towards ideal hcp packing.     

Reaction synthesis of layered ternary Ti2AlC ceramic

Reactive sintering of 8Ti:Al₄C₃:C powder mixtures to form the ternary carbide Ti₂AlC is studied in the temperature range 570–1400 °C. After sintering at 1400 °C for 1 h, only the MAX phase Ti₂AlC and some TiC are produced. A series of intermediate phases, such as TiC, Ti₃Al, Ti₃AlC are detected during the reactive sintering process. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterizations, a reaction path is proposed for the intermediate phases and Ti₂AlC formation. Results show that reaction kinetics may play an important role in the understanding of the reaction mechanisms.     

A Simple Method for Measuring Si-Fin Sidewall Roughness by AFM

The gate oxide reliability and the electrical behavior of FinFETs are directly related to the surface characteristics of the fin vertical sidewalls. The surface roughness of the fin sidewalls is one of the most important structural parameters to be monitored in order to optimize the fin patterning and postetch treatments. Because of the nanometer-scale dimensions of the fins and the vertical orientation of the sidewall surface, their roughness measurement is a serious challenge. In this paper, we describe a simple and effective method for measuring the sidewall morphology of silicon fins by conventional atomic force microscopy. The present methodology has been employed to analyze fins as etched by reactive ion etching and fins repaired by sacrificial oxidation. The results show that sacrificial oxidation not only reduces the roughness of the sidewalls, but also rounds the top corners of silicon fins. The present method can also be applied to characterize sidewall roughness of other nanostructures and materials such as the polysilicon gate of transistors or nanoelectromechanical beams.     

Effects of salts and organic matter on Atterberg limits of dredged marine sediments

This paper examines the effects of treatments inducing the reduction of salts and the organic content on the Atterberg limits of marine dredged sediments. To define the liquid limits of the sediments, the results of the percussion-cup test and the fall cone test are compared for raw sediments and treated sediments. For the determination of the plastic limit, the results of the rolling test method are compared to the prediction of the fall cone test. Finally, the relationship between the water contents and the penetration depths between the liquid limit and the plastic limit is explored.     

The conceptual framework of the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Project

This paper describes the conceptual model that underlies the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project (ITC Project), whose mission is to measure the psychosocial and behavioural impact of key policies of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) among adult smokers, and in some countries, among adult non-smokers and among youth. The evaluation framework utilises multiple country controls, a longitudinal design, and a pre-specified, theory-driven conceptual model to test hypotheses about the anticipated effects of specific policies. The ITC Project consists of parallel prospective cohort surveys of representative samples of adult smokers currently in nine countries (inhabited by over 45% of the world's smokers), with other countries being added in the future. Collectively, the ITC Surveys constitute the first-ever international cohort study of tobacco use. The conceptual model of the ITC Project draws on the psychosocial and health communication literature and assumes that tobacco control policies influence tobacco related behaviours through a causal chain of psychological events, with some variables more closely related to the policy itself (policy-specific variables) and other variables that are more downstream from the policy, which have been identified by health behaviour and social psychological theories as being important causal precursors of behaviour (psychosocial mediators). We discuss the objectives of the ITC Project and its potential for building the evidence base for the FCTC.