Coil‐Type Asymmetric Supercapacitor Electrical Cables

Cable‐shaped supercapacitors (SCs) have recently aroused significant attention due to their attractive properties such as small size, lightweight, and bendability. Current cable‐shaped SCs have symmetric device configuration. However, if an asymmetric design is used in cable‐shaped supercapacitors, they would become more attractive due to broader cell operation voltages, which results in higher energy densities. Here, a novel coil‐type asymmetric supercapacitor electrical cable (CASEC) is reported with enhanced cell operation voltage and extraordinary mechanical‐electrochemical stability. The CASECs show excellent charge–discharge profiles, extraordinary rate capability (95.4%), high energy density (0.85 mWh cm⁻³), remarkable flexibility and bendability, and superior bending cycle stability (≈93.0% after 4000 cycles at different bending states). In addition, the CASECs not only exhibit the capability to store energy but also to transmit electricity simultaneously and independently. The integrated electrical conduction and storage capability of CASECS offer many potential applications in solar energy storage and electronic gadgets.     

An extended pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model describing quantitatively the influence of plasma protein binding, tissue binding, and receptor binding on the potency and time course of action of drugs

An extended pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model is presented, in which the effect of binding of the drug to plasma proteins and to tissue binding sites in a peripheral compartment, and nonspecific and receptor binding in the effect compartment are taken into account. It represents an extension of the classical Sheiner model, and the model proposed by Donati and Meistelman. The present model is characterized by the following parameters: Kue (exit rate constant of unbound drug from the effect compartment), Pue (ratio of the unbound clearances to and from the effect compartment), fue (fraction of drug in effect compartment that is not bound to nonspecific binding sites), Kd (equilibrium dissociation constant of drug-receptor binding), and Rtot (concentration of receptor binding sites in effect compartment). The rate of association and dissociation of the drug-receptor complex can be incorporated in the model. The influence of the pharmacokinetic parameters (V1, V2, fu, fu2, CLu10, CLu20, CLu12, CLu21) and the PK/PD model parameters (kue, Pue, fue, Kd, Rtot) on various dynamic parameters is analyzed. These include potency (single dose needed to produce 90% effect, ED90), constant infusion dosing rate needed to maintain a constant effect of 90%, time to maximum effect (onset time), and duration to 90% recovery. The neuromuscular blocking agent vecuronium is used as an example. It is shown that both potency and time course of action are strongly dependent on the ratio V1/fu, CLu10, kue, Pue (at equipotent doses the time course is not affected by Pue), fue, Kd, and Rtot (only if Rtot is high), whereas they are less affected by the ratio V2/fu2, CLu20, CLu12, and CLu21. In general, the model parameters affect the ED90 and the time course of action in the same direction, e.g., an increase of V1 results in an increase of ED90 and an increase of onset time and duration. However, the unbound clearance CLu10, the intercompartmental unbound clearance CLu12 and the receptor affinity Kd have an opposite effect on ED90 and the time course parameters, e.g., an increase of CLu10 results in an increase of ED90 and a decrease of onset time and duration. This effect may be responsible for the inverse relationship between onset time and potency of neuromuscular blocking drugs observed in animal experiments and clinical studies. We demonstrate that PK/PD analysis using the traditional effect compartment model (Sheiner model) results in an apparent value of keo, which is a function of kue, fue, Kd, Rtot, as well as the unbound drug concentration in the effect compartment Cue. On the other hand, the model proposed by Donati and Meistelman gives correct values of keo (equal to the product fue.kue), but the receptor affinity Kd and the receptor density Rtot obtained by this method are apparent values, which depend on fu, fue, and Pue.     

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the central skull base: MR manifestations

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the MR characteristics of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the skull base to help in the differential diagnosis of this neoplasm from other conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR of five patients, 7-64 years old, with pathologically proved lymphomas of the skull base were reviewed. Three cases had primary skull base lesions involving the sphenoid bone and the cavernous sinus. One case with a nasal cavity lesion involving the skull base and one with a relapsing skull base lesion of previously treated tonsillar lymphoma were included. RESULTS: The lesions had signal intensities that were similar to that of gray matter of brain on both T1- and T2-weighted imaging. Bilateral cavernous sinuses were involved with encasement of internal carotid arteries in every case. Postcontrast MR showed homogeneous enhancement of the tumor with dural infiltration along the planum sphenoidale, clivus, or tentorium. The clivus was destroyed or replaced by tumors in adult cases but in two children the clivus was preserved with intact sphenooccipital synchondrosis. In one case the tumor extended to the extracranial portion through the jugular foramen. CONCLUSION: The MR findings of a permeative lesion of the skull base, invasion of the cavernous sinus without arterial narrowing, infiltration along the dural surface, and an iso- or hypointensity with brain on T2-weighted imaging should suggest lymphoma.     

Live animal performance, carcass traits, and meat palatability of calf- and yearling-fed cloned steers

Two groups of Brangus steers produced by nuclear transplantation cloning were used in parallel studies investigating the impact of calf- and yearling-feeding. The first group (n = 8) were fed as calves (CF; n = 4) or yearlings (YF; n = 4) to a constant age end point of 16 mo. The second group (n = 10) were fed as calves (CF; n = 5) or yearlings (YF; n = 5) to a constant live weight end point (530 kg). When slaughtered at the same age, CF and YF steers did not differ (P > .05) in feedlot ADG, but the CF steers were heavier and had higher dressing percentages, numeric yield grades, and quality grades (P < .05). Top loin steaks from the groups of steers did not differ (P > .05) in palatability traits. When fed to a constant live weight, the YF steers gained more rapidly (P < .05) and had lower (P < .05) numeric yield grades than did CF steers. Again CF steers had higher (P < .05) dressing percentages. There was no difference (P > .05) between the treatments in carcass quality grade or meat palatability characteristics. Thus, when finished to a constant weight end point, YF steers gained more rapidly, with no adverse effects on carcass quality grade or palatability traits; however, CF steers consistently produced higher dressing percentages, largely due to greater external fatness.     

Update on Alzheimer''s disease

The nation's health care system is undergoing a period of rapid change that will profoundly affect women's health care services and, ultimately, women's health. Although managed care is quickly becoming the predominant mode of health care delivery in the United States, a new, more consumer-focused, and accountable model known as organized systems of care (OSC) is emerging. OSC development has been driven by large private and public employers seeking to purchase the highest quality health care for the best price. The changes in health care delivery encouraged by these innovative employers will provide women with optimal care and attention, which will in turn help them attract and retain a competitive and productive workforce.     

Long-term follow-up of a randomized post-induction therapy trial in acute myelogenous leukemia (a Southeastern Cancer Study Group trial)

A phase III clinical trial was designed to determine if more intensive induction and consolidation therapy for acute myeloblastic leukemia increases the remission rate and prolongs survival. A minor objective was to determine if the use of non-cross resistant drugs was more effective than the same drugs used for induction. Patients with untreated leukemia between the ages of 15 and 50 were given daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 for the first 3 days of a 10-day continuous infusion of cytosine arabinoside, initially at a dose of 2000 mg/m2 but reduced to 100 mg/m2 because of toxicity. Those under 36 achieving a complete remission and with an histocompatible donor were assigned to a transplant arm. The rest were randomized to receive one of three consolidation arms: A, cytosine arabinoside, 200 mg/m2 daily for 7 days and daunorubicin 45 mg/m2 daily for 3 days for three courses; B, one course as in Arm A followed by amsacrine, 120 mg/m2 daily for 5 days followed by a 5-day continuous infusion of azacytidine, 150 mg/m2/day; C, thioguanine and cytosine arabinoside, 100 mg/m2 every 12 h and daunorubicin 10 mg/m2 daily for 5 days for three courses followed by four maintenance courses of cytosine arabinoside, 100 mg/m2 daily for 5 days and daunorubicin, 45 mg/m2 for 2 days every 13 weeks. From 1981 to 1986, 398 eligible patients were enrolled and 219 achieved a complete remission. The initial induction dose of cytosine arabinoside was reduced after five of 29 patients exhibited fatal gastrointestinal toxicity. Only 11 patients were assigned to the transplant arm. There were no significant differences in the consolidation arms. The 5 year disease-free survivals were 38, 31 and 27% in arms A, B, and C respectively. Intensive consolidation therapy with the same or different drugs used in induction was as effective as lower dose consolidation followed by maintenance therapy.