Complete nucleotide sequence of HTLV-II isolate NRA: comparison of envelope sequence variation of HTLV-II isolates from U.S. blood donors and U.S. and Italian i.v. drug users

Seven cardiac electrophysiology stimulators from four manufacturers (Biotronik, Bloom, Digitimer and Medtronic) in common current use are reviewed. The stimulators differ in the features provided and the design adopted to achieve these features. The number of output channels ranges from one to four, the number of extra-stimuli available ranges from two to six, and these can be delivered as a variety of sequences. Some of the stimulators (Digitimer and Bloom) are modular while others (Biotronik and Medtronic 532 series) are of an integrated design comprising a single physical unit. The design of the Medtronic EP-2 has both integrated and modular characteristics. The features of the stimulators associated with input, output, control and the user interface are specifically reviewed. The features are also compared against the published recommendations of the American Heart Association. In addition, a summary of stimulator user comments from a number of electrophysiology centres is presented. All of the stimulators fulfil, or are close to fulfilling, basic electrophysiological requirements, but some provide more complex facilities such as would be required by specialist centres.     

Laser pumped molecular lasers--Part I: Theory

The density matrix formalism describing the interaction between a three level molecular system and two nearly resonant laser fields of arbitrary intensity is extended to include the molecularM-level degeneracy. Expressions for gain on the two possible relative polarizations of a laser pumped molecular laser are derived and its saturation behavior discussed. Numerical results for the 385 μm transition in D2O and 496 μm transition in CH3F are presented.     

Electron transport in semiconductors under a strong high frequency electric field

We propose an analytical approach to study the electron transport in semiconductors when a strong high frequency (HF) electric field is applied together with a weak direct current (DC) electric field. We derive a set of dynamic equations, from which the amplitude and phase of each harmonic component of the electron drift velocity and the electron temperature can be obtained. Our calculation shows that the DC conductivity in an n-GaAs sample decreases dramatically with increase of the first and second harmonic applied electric fields and definitely becomes negative.     

Study of silicon photomultipliers fast amplifier and thermoregulation

The silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) are adopted in various physical applications, from medical physics to astrophysics, for their advantages in terms of cost and weight with respect to traditional photo detectors. Their low bias voltage supply (about 30 V), hardiness and resistance to magnetic field are ideal characteristics for space application. In the frame of INFN-Irst collaboration, some of them have been developed and produced at FBK (Trento-Italy), and have been characterized in the INFN laboratories of Bologna (DaSiPM2 collaboration).The SiPM can be used in conjunction with fibres and counters in high energy physics experiments. To exploit the SiPM time resolution, a fast amplifier has been studied. The SiPM gain depends critically on temperature and a thermal stabilization is also necessary. The use of a thermoelectric cooler module based on a Peltier cell has been investigated, and the results are shown.     

A Framework for Using Web Services to Enhance QoS for Content Delivery

An integrated approach to quality of service for content delivery using Web services includes quality definitions, user contracts, and fault monitoring.     

Radiosurgical lesions in the normal human brain 17 years after gamma knife capsulotomy

OBJECTIVE: To our knowledge, this is the first long-term follow-up study of high-dose single-session irradiation to the human brain and provides new data concerning late tissue reactions after irradiation to small target volumes. The long-term lesional brain changes in 14 patients subjected to bilateral gamma knife capsulotomy for otherwise intractable anxiety disorders were retrospectively analyzed by magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: The prototype gamma unit was used for the radiosurgical procedure, and the collimators provided rectangular cross-sectional fields with an anteroposterior diameter of 3 mm and a transverse diameter of 5 or 11 mm. Maximum target doses were 120 to 180 Gy. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed 15 to 18 years (mean, 17 yr) after treatment, and dose-volume histograms were calculated for the dose distributions. RESULTS: One patient had been irradiated twice on one side. In all but one of the remaining 27 targets, lesions with a volume of less than 100 mm3 were revealed by magnetic resonance imaging. The volumes of the lesions were confined within the volume corresponding to a minimum dose of approximately 110 Gy, with one exception. In one of three targets receiving a maximum dose of 120 Gy, no lesion was detected. There were no late radiation effects such as cyst formations, telangiectasias, hemorrhagic infarctions, or neoplasms. CONCLUSION: This investigation indicates that a minimum dose of 110 Gy, with the currently used 4-mm collimator, to the edge of the target volume is required to create a lesion. The results prove that gamma knife surgery can be used in functional neurosurgery for producing small permanent lesions in the normal human brain.     

Freud's views and the changing perspective on femaleness and femininity: What my female analysands taught me.

Examines Freud's views on female psychosexual development and femininity. The effect of Freud's patriarchal bias on the manner in which his followers analyzed women and the goals they set for the analysis of women are shown via vignettes. The feminist reexamination of previously accepted Freudian postulates yielded an examination of countertransference so that women began to be listened to during their analyses rather than told how it is and should be. Analysis of the pathological conformity to gender stereotypes and to gender mythologies is considered, as these determine not only the external realities in which women and men live but also the content and shape of the psychic world of each gender. Vignettes illustrate technical suggestions applicable to the analysis of women. New findings are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)