Grain boundary migration during heating of an ensemble of small molybdenum particles

Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 6(354), pp. 83–89, June, 1992.     

Human African trypanosomiasis: an emerging public health crisis

There is a dramatic resurgence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in sub-Saharan Africa. T.b. gambiense is spreading epidemically in large areas of Central Africa, especially the Southern Sudan, Congo-Zaire, Angola, Uganda and the Central African Republic. Devastating epidemics of T.b. rhodesiense have occurred in south-eastern Uganda. The causes of the re-emergence of sleeping sickness as a public health problem include widespread civil disturbance and war, declining economies, reduced health financing and the dismantling of disease control programmes. Despite the inevitably fatal outcome without treatment, HAT is often given low priority by donors and national governments. The advances made in diagnosis, treatment and vector control have not been sufficiently implemented. To limit the human impact in some of the poorest communities in Africa, endemic countries will require external support to implement strategies for disease control. Donor agencies, NGOs and mission organisations could play an important role in supporting control efforts. National authorities will need to control and co-ordinate these efforts with assistance from WHO and the international community.     

Theory of non-linear transport in quantum waveguides

The equations for quantum ballistic transport in inhomogeneous quantum wire structures are transformed into a set of one-dimensional coupled mode equations where the coupling parameters are explicitly dependent on the shape parameters for the confinement potential. In the adiabatic approximation or in the extreme quantum limit the resulting motion is governed by an effective Hamiltonian which contains the influence of quasi-electric fields and quasi-momentum dependent forces which arise from the inhomogeneous shape parameter variation along the quantum waveguide. The subsequent transport may be described by a Boltzmann-like kinetic equation and hot-electron effects arising from variations in the waveguide profile are predicted. It is shown that transport through a wide region of an otherwise narrow wire leads to multiply-connected electron paths which will produce Aharonov-Bohm resonances. The analytical formalism is underpinned by a new numerical method suitable for 3-D studies based on representing the inhomogeneous waveguide by an equivalent network of one-dimensional wires.     

Evaluation of left visuospatial neglect: Norms and discrimination power of two tests.

Conducted 2 cancellation tests, Albert's Test and the Bells Test, which are both used for the evaluation of unilateral visuospatial neglect, with 40 neurologically normal adults and 47 right cerebrovascular accident patients (aged 32–87 yrs), 4–22 wks after stroke. Norms are proposed for both tests. Results show that the Bells Test has greater discrimination power than Albert's Test. In both tasks, a left-to-right gradient of neglect is found in Ss who show neglect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toxicity assessment of 16 inorganic environmental pollutants by six bioassays

ATP and ADP are simultaneously released from activated platelets in equimolar concentrations. Micromolar concentrations of ATP inhibit platelet aggregation by both competitive and non-competitive mechanisms. The current studies addressed the question of how platelets respond to agonists in the presence of nanomolar and micromolar concentrations of ATP and ADP alone or in combination. This is a significant issue since the concentration of ATP +/- ADP may vary widely within a microenvironment depending upon the source and cause for the release of the nucleotides. ATP (1-10 nM) was found to significantly enhance the thromboxane A2 analog, U44619-, collagen- and thrombin-induced platelet aggregations. Conversely, ATP at 1-100 microM inhibited these same reactions. ADP, in general, behaved exactly opposite to ATP. When equal amounts of ATP and ADP were added together the ADP response appeared to predominate. The observed ATP-induced response was not due to a hydrolytic product as evidenced by an unaltered response to ATP in the presence of adenosine deaminase or the ATP generating system, creatine phosphate plus creatine phosphokinase. Adenosine (1-10 nM), like ADP, inhibited agonist-induced platelet aggregation. The stimulation of agonist-induced platelet aggregation by 1-10 nM extracellular ATP appears to depend upon the phosphorylation of platelet membrane ecto proteins. The ATP analog, beta gamma-methylene ATP, that is incapable of serving as a phosphate donor for protein kinases, inhibited rather than stimulated agonist-induced platelet aggregation. The dual response of platelets to low and high concentrations of extracellular ATP +/- ADP may play a physiological role in hemostasis and thrombosis under normal and pathological conditions.     

Multilayer ceramic capacitor electrdes: powder technology and fired properties

The properties of Pd/Ag thick-film multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLC) electrode pastes are directly related to the characteristics of the metal powders. Better performance is obtained when deagglomerated powders are used. Improvements in precious metal powder technology has produced electrodes that permit a 30% reduction in precious metal consumption with superior functional and cosmetic properties. Use of deagglomerated powders also enables manufacture of MLC electrode pastes which print smooth enough so as to be compatible with wet stack process, where the surface roughness of the dried electrode is a primary concern.     

Sub-Kelvin Thermal Conductivity and Radioactivity of Some Useful Materials in Low Background Cryogenic Experiments

We present measurements of the thermal conductivity between 0.05 and 1 K, and radioactive contamination levels, for some thermally isolating materials. TIMET Ti 15-3-3-3, Mersen grade 2020 graphite, Vespel SP-1, Vespel SP-22, Vespel SCP-5000, Vespel SCP-5050, Graphlite CFRP, and a Kapton/epoxy composite are all investigated. Thermal conductivities were measured using a single-heater longitudinal heat flow method. Material radioactivity was determined for the materials at a low background counting facility using a high-purity gamma detector and GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulations.     

Cognitive executive dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) after CPAP treatment

OBJECTIVE: To determine seasonal variations in circulating concentrations of growth hormone and IGF-I in healthy, free-living elderly and to identify correlates between dietary intake, growth hormone and IGF-I concentrations in this population. METHODS: Seven-day diet records and plasma samples were collected throughout a 1-year period. Plasma growth hormone and IGF-I were determined by RIA. Dietary macronutrient intake was determined using Nutritionist IV. RESULTS: The dietary intake of the population corresponded to the established recommendations for percentage of fat, carbohydrate and protein. Carbohydrate intake differed significantly during the year, but protein and fat did not. Hormone concentrations were constant throughout the year, with no significant differences observed. No correlation between plasma growth hormone and IGF-I was observed. Growth hormone and IGF-I concentrations did not correlate with macronutrient intake, however subjects with the lowest energy intakes tended to have higher growth hormone and lower IGF-I than those with higher energy intakes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides important information on the dietary intake and hormone concentrations in normal, healthy elderly which will be useful in comparison with persons of similar age with complicating illnesses or nutrient deficiencies.     

Simultaneous laboratory-based comparison of ResMed Autoset with polysomnography in the diagnosis of sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome

ResMed Autoset (AS) is a simplified diagnosis system for obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAS) based on the respiratory flow/time relationship by pressure variation measured through simple nasal prongs. A multicentre prospective trial was used to compare AS and polysomnography (PSG) for diagnosing 95 patients, with suspected OSAS. Physicians gave a pretest probability of the patient having OSAS. The apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) was compared between the two methods of diagnosis for the whole population and for subgroups according to the pretest probability. Twenty-four patients had AHI < 15 events x h(-1) on PSG and 19 AHI 15-30, and 52 patients had AHI > or = 30. Correlation between AHI assessed by AS and PSG was r=0.87 for total sleep time (TST), p<0.0001. A Bland and Altman plot gave an agreement between the two methods of +/-40%. For a threshold of AHI > or = 15 events x h(-1) to diagnose OSAS, AS has a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 79%, positive predictive value of 93% and negative predictive value of 76%. With a pretest probability > or = 80%, sensitivity and positive predictive value were 98 and 100% respectively. Of six false negative, four had a high pretest probability (> 80%) or Epworth score > or = 10. Using these parameters as a criterion for proceeding to PSG after a negative AS study would mean that two apnoeic patients (AHI 20 and 17 events x h(-1) by PSG) would escape detection. The Autoset is useful for the detection of obstructive sleep apnoea but with high pretest probability and a negative Autoset result polysomnography should be performed.