Comparative Studies of the Superconducting Properties of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ and Bi1.7Pb0.3Sr2CaCu2O8+δ/Ag Random Composites

We report the results of the study of the resistive transition and the screening effect on similar random composites made of a silver matrix containing sintered superconducting grains of bismuth phase with two different stoichiometries. We show that most of the observed behaviors are compatible with a phenomenological approach in which the intergrain junctions behave as weak links whose the state depends strongly on temperature and field. We find that these links a much weaker in one of the series of samples.     

Design of evolutionary algorithms-A statistical perspective

This paper describes a statistical method that helps to find good parameter settings for evolutionary algorithms. The method builds a functional relationship between the algorithm's performance and its parameter values. This relationship-a statistical model-can be identified thanks to simulation data. Estimation and test procedures are used to evaluate the effect of parameter variation. In addition, good parameter settings can be investigated with a reduced number of experiments. Problem labeling can also be considered as a model variable and the method enables identifying classes of problems for which the algorithm behaves similarly. Defining such classes increases the quality of estimations without increasing the computational cost     

Borderline pathology: An integration of cognitive therapy and psychodynamic therapy.

Because of the belated interest in borderline pathology outside of the psychoanalytic arena, there is a relative paucity of integrative models for the treatment and understanding of borderline pathology. This article compares and contrasts the practice of A. T. Beck and A. Freeman's (1990) cognitive treatment of borderline pathology with 0. F. Kernberg's (Kernberg, Selzer, Koenigsberg, Carr, & Appelbaum, 1989) psychodynamic approach. An integrative model of borderline pathology is proposed, building on Beck and Freeman's and Kernberg's shared use of the notion of schema-representation. The practice implications of the proposed integrative model are consequently entertained. A brief case study is provided to illustrate the integration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultrasmall Nanoplatforms as Calcium‐Responsive Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The preparation of ultrasmall and rigid platforms (USRPs) that are covalently coupled to macrocycle‐based, calcium‐responsive/smart contrast agents (SCAs), and the initial in vitro and in vivo validation of the resulting nanosized probes (SCA‐USRPs) by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is reported. The synthetic procedure is robust, allowing preparation of the SCA‐USRPs on a multigram scale. The resulting platforms display the desired MRI activity—i.e., longitudinal relaxivity increases almost twice at 7 T magnetic field strength upon saturation with Ca²⁺. Cell viability is probed with the MTT assay using HEK‐293 cells, which show good tolerance for lower contrast agent concentrations over longer periods of time. On intravenous administration of SCA‐USRPs in living mice, MRI studies indicate their rapid accumulation in the renal pelvis and parenchyma. Importantly, the MRI signal increases in both kidney compartments when CaCl₂ is also administrated. Laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy experiments confirm accumulation of SCA‐USRPs in the renal cortex. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first studies which demonstrate calcium‐sensitive MRI signal changes in vivo. Continuing contrast agent and MRI protocol optimizations should lead to wider application of these responsive probes and development of superior functional methods for monitoring calcium‐dependent physiological and pathological processes in a dynamic manner.     

Fate of N-nitrosodimethylamine, trihalomethane and haloacetic acid precursors in tertiary treatment including biofiltration

The presence of disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and N-nitrosamines in water is of great concern due to their adverse effects on human health. In this work, the removal of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), total THM and five HAA precursors from secondary effluent by biological activated carbon (BAC) is investigated at full and pilot scale. In the pilot plant two filter media, sand and granular activated carbon, are tested. In addition, we evaluate the influence of ozonation prior to BAC filtration on its performance. Among the bulk of NDMA precursors, the fate of four pharmaceuticals containing a dimethylamino moiety in the chemical structure are individually investigated. Both NDMA formation potential and each of the studied pharmaceuticals are dramatically reduced by the BAC even in the absence of main ozonation prior to the filtration. The low removal of NDMA precursors at the sand filtration in comparison to the removal of NDMA precursors at the BAC suggests that adsorption may play an important role on the removal of NDMA precursors by BAC. Contrary, the precursors for THM and HAA formation are reduced in both sand filtration and BAC indicating that the precursors for the formation of these DBPs are to some extent biodegradable.     

Motion segmentation and qualitative dynamic scene analysis from an image sequence

This article deals with analysis of the dynamic content of a scene from an image sequence irrespective of the static or dynamic nature of the camera. The tasks involved can be the detection of moving objects in a scene observed by a mobile camera, or the identification of the movements of some relevant components of the scene relatively to the camera. This problem basically requires a motion-based segmentation step. We present a motion-based segmentation method relying on 2-D affine motion models and a statistical regularization approach which ensures stable motion-based partitions. This can be done without the explicit estimation of optic flow fields. Besides these partitions are linked in time. Therefore, the motion interpretation process can be performed on more than two successive frames. The ability to follow a given coherently moving region within an interval of several images of the sequence makes the interpretation process more robust and more comprehensive. Identification of the kinematic components of the scene is induced from an intermediate layer accomplishing a generic qualitative motion labeling. No 3-D measurements are required. Results obtained on several real-image sequences corresponding to complex outdoor situations are reported.     

Open, randomized, multicenter trial of raltitrexed versus fluorouracil plus high-dose leucovorin in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Tomudex Colorectal Cancer Study Group

PURPOSE: To compare raltitrexed (Tomudex; Zeneca Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Macclesfield, United Kingdom) a direct, specific thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor with fluorouracil (5-FU) plus high-dose leucovorin (LV) as first-line treatment for advanced colorectal cancer (ACC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 495 patients were randomized to raltitrexed (3 mg/m2) once every 3 weeks or 5-FU (400 mg/m2) plus LV (200 mg/m2) daily for 5 days every 4 weeks. RESULTS: The randomized groups were well balanced demographically. With a minimum 17-month follow-up, median survival was comparable between groups (10.9 months raltitrexed v 12.3 months 5-FU/LV; hazards ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93 to 1.42; P=.197), although time to progression was statistically significantly shorter in the raltitrexed group. Overall objective responses were comparable (19% raltitrexed v 18% 5-FU/LV), with more than 50% of patients in each group having stable disease. Significantly less World Health Organization (WHO) grade 3 and 4 stomatitis (2% v 16%, P < .001) and a reduced incidence of leukopenia (6% v 13%) and diarrhea (10% v 19%) occurred in the raltitrexed group (particularly at cycle 1 ). This resulted in fewer dose reductions at cycle 2 (4% raltitrexed v 28% 5-FU/LV) and early quality-of-life (QoL) benefits for raltitrexed patients. Reversible, clinically insignificant increases in transaminases were reported in 13% of raltitrexed patients. Palliative benefits of weight gain, improved performance status, and reduced disease-related symptoms were evident in both groups. CONCLUSION: Raltitrexed is confirmed as an effective option in the first-line palliative management of ACC, with comparable efficacy to and tolerability advantages (in terms of reduced incidence of stomatitis, diarrhea, and leukopenia) over 5-FU/LV. Raltitrexed has the added convenience of an every 3 weeks dosing schedule.     

Report of the Second Fusion Energy Sciences Committee of Visitors

This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of the second Committee of Visitors (COV) whose charge was to review the manner in which the U. S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fusion Energy Science (OFES) manages certain programs under its charter. The specific programs reviewed by this COV involve confinement innovation and basic plasma sciences. The charge letter from the Department of Energy is included as Appendix A.     

Determination of volatile compounds to characterize fish spoilage using headspace/mass spectrometry and solid‐phase microextraction/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Changes in volatile compounds were monitored in whiting (Merlangius merlangus), cod (Gadus morhua) and mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and related to spoilage. Data are presented from headspace/mass spectrometric (HS/MS) analysis and solid‐phase microextraction/gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (SPME/GC/MS) analysis at two time points (day 0 and day 10) during storage at 4 °C. HS/MS revealed 24 ions that could be used as markers of spoilage. SPME/GC/MS identified 86 compounds, 20 of which could perhaps be used to characterize freshness: principally alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and C₂–C₁₁ esters. Compounds common to the three species studied appear to be generated by microbial degradation. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

What function for human lithostathine?: structural investigations by three-dimensional structure modeling and high-resolution NMR spectroscopy

Human lithostathine is a 144-residue protein, expressed in variousorgans and pathologies. Several biological functions have beenproposed for this protein. Among others, inhibition of nucleationand growth of CaCO₃ crystals in the pancreas and bacterial aggregationhas retained attention, because lithostathine presents highsequence similarities with calcium-dependent (or C-type) lectins.To study its structure-function relationship and compare itwith that of C-type lectins, we have built a model for lithostathine.This model is derived from the only two C-type lectins of knownstructures: rat mannose binding protein and human E-selectin.An original strategy, inspired by that proposed by Havel andSnow, was designed for model building. We have undertaken NMRstudies on the natural protein. Although complete structuredetermination has not yet been achieved, the NMR studies didconfirm the main characteristics of the model. From analysisof the proposed model, we concluded that lithostathine is notexpected to present sugar- or calcium-binding properties. Therefore,the mechanisms of bacterial aggregation and inhibition of CaCO₃nucleation and growth have not yet been elucidated.