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Background The extension to which digital technologies are employed to promote the delivery of high-quality healthcare is known as Digital Maturity. Individuals’ and systems’ digital maturity are both necessary to ensure a successful, scalable and sustainable digital transformation in healthcare. Digital maturity in primary care has been scarcely evaluated. Objectives This study assessed the digital maturity - as a whole and in its dimensions - in General Practice and evaluated how participants’ demographic characteristics, practice characteristics and features of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) use are associated with digital maturity. Methods General Practitioners (GPs) across 20 countries completed an online questionnaire between June and September 2020. Demographic data, practice characteristics and features of EHRs use were collected. Digital maturity was evaluated through a framework built upon usage, resources and ability (divided in this study in its collective and individual components), interoperability, general evaluation methods and impact of digital technologies. Each dimension was rated as 1 or 0. The digital maturity score is the sum of the six dimensions and ranges from 0 to 6 (maximum digital maturity). Multivariable linear regression was used to model the total score, while multivariable logistic regression was used to model the probability of meeting each dimension of the score. Results 1,600 GPs (61% female, 68% Europeans) participated. GPs had a median digital maturity of 4 (P25-P75: 3-5). Positive associations with digital maturity were found for: being male (B=0.18 [95%CI 0.01;0.36]), use of EHRs for longer periods (B=0.45 [95%CI 0.35;0.54]) and higher frequencies of access to EHRs (B=0.33 [95%CI 0.17;0.48]). Practising in a rural setting was negatively associated with digital maturity (B=-0.25 [95%CI −0.43;-0.08]). Usage (90%) was the most acknowledged dimension while interoperability (47%) and use of best practice general evaluation methods (28%) were the least. Shorter durations of EHRs use were negatively associated with all digital maturity dimensions (aOR from 0.09 to 0.77). Conclusions Our study demonstrated notable factors that impact digital maturity and exposed discrepancies in digital transformation across healthcare settings. It provides a roadmap for policymakers to develop more efficacious interventions to hasten and take the best advantage of digital transformation in General Practice.

In 2006, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry received a request to determine whether a cluster of polycythemia vera patients existed in a northeast Pennsylvania community. A significant cluster of PV cases was identified at the nexus of three counties near several hazardous waste sites. The current study evaluated the potential for a select number of environmental contaminants previously detected in the cluster area to induce DNA damage using in vitro assays with hematopoietic stem-cell derived progenitor cells. CD34+ cells were isolated from normal cord blood samples and were cultured for 48-72 hours to generate erythroid progenitor cells. Eighteen compounds were chosen for the assay; arsenic trioxide, benzo(a)pyrene, benzene, methylene chloride, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), trichloroethylene, potassium chloride, ethylbenzene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, styrene, cadmium chloride, hydroquinone, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, sodium cyanide, manganese chloride, chromium oxide, lead oxide, and sodium arsenite. Genotoxicity of the compounds was determined using the comet assay, and toxicity determined via the cell viability assay. Using the comet assay, 16 compounds at 10 nM concentration, induced a significant amount of DNA damage compared to the control. When evaluating whether a dose-dependent relationship was present, seventeen of the eighteen compounds led to greater DNA damage with increasing exposure concentrations. 2,3,7,8-TCDD was particularly potent, inducing DNA damage in virtually all cells at 1 μM. In conclusion, most of the toxins evaluated using the comet assay showed potential to induce DNA damage in hematopoietic cells, and the genotoxic effects were dose-dependent.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 has challenged health service provision worldwide. This work evaluates safe surgical pathways and standard operating procedures implemented in the high volume, global city of London during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We also assess the safety of minimally invasive surgery(MIS) for anatomical lung resection. Methods: This multicentre cohort study was conducted across all London thoracic surgical units, covering a catchment area of approximately 14.8 Million. A Pan-London Collaborative was created for data sharing and dissemination of protocols. All patients undergoing anatomical lung resection 1st March-1st June 2020 were included. Primary outcomes were SARS-CoV-2 infection, access to minimally invasive surgery, post-operative complication, length of intensive care and hospital stay (LOS), and death during follow up. Results: 352 patients underwent anatomical lung resection with an median age of 69 (IQR: 35-86) years. Self-isolation and pre-operative screening were implemented following the UK national lockdown. Pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 swabs were performed in 63.1% and CT imaging in 54.8%. 61.7% of cases were performed minimally invasively. Median LOS was 6 days. Significant complications developed in 7.3% of patients (Clavien-Dindo Grade 3-4). There were 6 deaths(1.7%) and 12 re-admissions(3.4%). Seven patients(2.0%) were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, two of whom died (28.5%). Conclusions: Major elective surgery can be safely undertaken via open and MIS approaches at the peak of a viral pandemic if precautionary measures are implemented. High volume surgery should continue during further viral peaks to minimise health service burden and potential harm to cancer patients. Funding Statement: Nil. Declaration of Interests: None of the authors have conflict of interests to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: Institutional approval was obtained from all Trusts contributing to the collaborative. Approval was granted by each hospital trust for data sharing, collaborative work and retrospective review. Formal individual informed consent was not required due to the retrospective nature of the study.

There is a growing proportion of the elderly population in the Western world, and these individuals require special considerations regarding a broad variety of aspects, including treatment approaches to illnesses that affect all age groups. The hemostatic system in individuals changes considerably with aging. Specifically, changes in levels of procoagulant and natural anticoagulant factors along with thrombopathy simultaneously create a hypercoagulable state and hemostatic difficulties. Underlying morbidities, such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and cancer, increase the risk for venous and arterial thrombosis. This population is also increasingly affected by acquired bleeding disorders, including acquired hemophilia and acquired von Willebrand syndrome, as well as mild congenital bleeding disorders. Real-life data demonstrate that recurrent and fatal venous thromboembolism is the major hemostatic concern in the elderly. The fact that treatment of thrombotic complications increases the bleeding risk also has to be taken into consideration, particularly in the older age group. This remains true in the era of direct oral anticoagulants. In conclusion, maintaining a delicate balance between thrombosis and bleeding risks is the key issue in providing qualified treatment to elderly patients.

LADARs mounted on mobile platforms produce a wealth of precise range data on the surrounding objects and vehicles. The challenge we address is to infer from these raw LADAR data the location and orientation of nearby vehicles. We propose a novel view-dependent adaptive matched filter for obtaining fast and precise measurements of target vehicle pose. We derive an analytic expression for the matching function which we optimize to obtain target pose and size. Our algorithm is fast, robust and simple to implement compared to other methods. When used as the measurement component of a tracker on an autonomous ground vehicle, we are able to track in excess of 50 targets at 10 Hz. Once targets are aligned using our matched filter, we use a support vector-based discriminator to distinguish vehicles from other objects. This tracker provides a key sensing component for our autonomous ground vehicles which have accumulated hundreds of miles of on-road and off-road autonomous driving., Proc. of 14th IASTED Int. Conf. on Robotics and Applications, Cambridge, MA, USA, Nov 2-4, 2009

In 'America and the New Terrorism' (Survival, vol. 42, no. 1, Spring 2000, pp. 59-75), Steven Simon and Daniel Benjamin described the emergence of a new, religiously motivated terrorism that neither relies on the support of sovereign states nor is constrained by limits on violence. Survival has invited three experts in the field to comment on this thesis. A reply from Simon and Benjamin follows their responses.

Prior to 2011, uptake of PMTCT in Malawi remained low despite increased access to antiretrovirals. We sought to understand barriers to PMTCT in rural Malawi. Twenty-two HIV-infected pregnant and postpartum women in PMTCT programs were interviewed in Nkhoma, Malawi, between April-May 2010. All women were staged by WHO criteria or CD4 count as ineligible for three-drug treatment by Malawi’s HIV Guidelines at the time. The median age was 26 years (range 22-39) and 77% were married. Barriers to accessing PMTCT care included transportation to clinic, stigma in the community leading to avoidance of HIV disclosure, food insecurity, and providers’ attitudes towards HIV-infected pregnant women. Given Malawi’s transition to Option B+ for PMTCT in which women are initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy and continued for life, strategies to improve access and retention will need to address barriers and incorporate facilitators that motivate and retain women in HIV care. Afr J Reprod Health 2013 (Special Edition); 17[4]: 118-129).Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Malawi, maternal health, prevention of mother-to-child transmission

The Collective Article 'New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records' of the Mediterranean Marine Science journal offers the means to publish biodiversity records in the Mediterranean Sea. The current article is divided in two parts, for records of alien and native species respectively. The new records of alien species include: the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis (Crete and Lakonikos Gulf, Greece); the red alga Grateloupia turuturu (along the Israeli Mediterranean shore); the mantis shrimp Clorida albolitura (Gulf of Antalya, Turkey); the mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, Ionian Sea); the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Chios Island, Greece); the isopod Paracerceis sculpta (northern Aegean Sea, Greece); the sea urchin Diadema setosum (Gokova Bay, Turkey); the molluscs Smaragdia souverbiana, Murex forskoehlii, Fusinus verrucosus, Circenita callipyga, and Aplysia dactylomela (Syria); the cephalaspidean mollusc Haminoea cyanomarginata (Baia di Puolo, Massa Lubrense, Campania, southern Italy); the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Civitavecchia, Tyrrhenian Sea); the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina Plemmirio marine reserve, Sicily); the silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Saros Bay, Turkey; and Ibiza channel, Spain); the Indo-Pacific ascidian Herdmania momus in Kastelorizo Island (Greece); and the foraminiferal Clavulina multicamerata (Saronikos Gulf, Greece). The record of L. sceleratus in Spain consists the deepest (350-400m depth) record of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The new records of native species include: first record of the ctenophore Cestum veneris in Turkish marine waters; the presence of Holothuria tubulosa and Holothuria polii in the Bay of Igoumenitsa (Greece); the first recorded sighting of the bull ray Pteromylaeus bovinus in Maltese waters; and a new record of the fish Lobotes surinamensis from Maliakos Gulf.

The Collective Article 'New Mediterranean Biodiversity Records' of the Mediterranean Marine Science journal offers the means to publish biodiversity records in the Mediterranean Sea. The current article is divided in two parts, for records of alien and native species respectively. The new records of alien species include: the red alga Asparagopsis taxiformis (Crete and Lakonikos Gulf, Greece); the red alga Grateloupia turuturu (along the Israeli Mediterranean shore); the mantis shrimp Clorida albolitura (Gulf of Antalya, Turkey); the mud crab Dyspanopeus sayi (Mar Piccolo of Taranto, Ionian Sea); the blue crab Callinectes sapidus (Chios Island, Greece); the isopod Paracerceis sculpta (northern Aegean Sea, Greece); the sea urchin Diadema setosum (Gökova Bay, Turkey); the molluscs Smaragdia souverbiana, Murex forskoehlii, Fusinus verrucosus, Circenita callipyga, and Aplysia dactylomela (Syria); the cephalaspidean mollusc Haminoea cyanomarginata (Baia di Puolo, Massa Lubrense, Campania, southern Italy); the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Civitavecchia, Tyrrhenian Sea); the fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina (Plemmirio marine reserve, Sicily); the silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Saros Bay, Turkey; and Ibiza channel, Spain); the Indo-Pacific ascidian Herdmania momus in Kastelorizo Island (Greece); and the foraminiferal Clavulina multicamerata (Saronikos Gulf, Greece). The record of L. sceleratus in Spain consists the deepest (350-400m depth) record of the species in the Mediterranean Sea. The new records of native species include: first record of the ctenophore Cestum veneris in Turkish marine waters; the presence of Holothuria tubulosa and Holothuria polii in the Bay of Igoumenitsa (Greece); the first recorded sighting of the bull ray Pteromylaeus bovinus in Maltese waters; and a new record of the fish Lobotes surinamensis from Maliakos Gulf.

We discuss how objective guidance on selecting the most valuable atmospheric measurements on future Mars spacecraft missions can be provided through already developed Martian atmospheric data assimilation systems, and in particular through Observing System Simulation Experiments (OSSEs) which are widely used to design instruments for the Earth’s atmosphere.

International audience; BACKGROUND: A fixed-dose regimen of rivaroxaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, has been shown to be as effective as standard anticoagulant therapy for the treatment of deep-vein thrombosis, without the need for laboratory monitoring. This approach may also simplify the treatment of pulmonary embolism. METHODS: In a randomized, open-label, event-driven, noninferiority trial involving 4832 patients who had acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism with or without deep-vein thrombosis, we compared rivaroxaban (15 mg twice daily for 3 weeks, followed by 20 mg once daily) with standard therapy with enoxaparin followed by an adjusted-dose vitamin K antagonist for 3, 6, or 12 months. The primary efficacy outcome was symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism. The principal safety outcome was major or clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. RESULTS: Rivaroxaban was noninferior to standard therapy (noninferiority margin, 2.0; P=0.003) for the primary efficacy outcome, with 50 events in the rivaroxaban group (2.1%) versus 44 events in the standard-therapy group (1.8%) (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75 to 1.68). The principal safety outcome occurred in 10.3% of patients in the rivaroxaban group and 11.4% of those in the standard-therapy group (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.76 to 1.07; P=0.23). Major bleeding was observed in 26 patients (1.1%) in the rivaroxaban group and 52 patients (2.2%) in the standard-therapy group (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.79; P=0.003). Rates of other adverse events were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: A fixed-dose regimen of rivaroxaban alone was noninferior to standard therapy for the initial and long-term treatment of pulmonary embolism and had a potentially improved benefit-risk profile. (Funded by Bayer HealthCare and Janssen Pharmaceuticals; EINSTEIN-PE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00439777.).

We have previously reported the ability of uncharacterized human bone marrow (BM) cells to engraft into preimmune fetal sheep, thereby creating sheep-human chimera suitable for in vivo examination of the properties of human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). Adult human bone marrow CD34+ HLA-DR- cells have been extensively characterized in vitro and have been demonstrated to contain a number of primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells (PHPC). However, the capacity of such highly purified populations of human marrow CD34+ HLA-DR- cells to undergo in vivo self-renewal and multipotential lymphohematopoietic differentiation has not been previously demonstrated. To achieve that, human CD34+ HLA-DR- cells were transplanted in utero into immunoincompetent fetal sheep to investigate the BM-populating potential of these cells. Long-term chimerism, sustained human hematopoiesis, and expression of human cells belonging to all human blood cell lineages were demonstrated in two animals for more than 7 months' posttransplantation. Chimeric BM contained erythroid, granulocytic/monocytic, and megakaryocytic hematopoietic progenitor cells, as well as the primitive high proliferative potential colony- forming cell (HPP-CFC). Under a variety of in vitro experimental conditions, chimeric BM cells gave rise to human T cells expressing T- lymphocyte-specific markers, human natural killer (NK) cells, and human IgG-producing B cells. In vivo expansion and possibly self-renewal of transplanted PHPC was confirmed by the detection in chimeric BM 130 days' posttransplantation of CD34+ HLA-DR- cells, the phenotype of human cells constituting the stem-cell graft. These studies demonstrate not only the BM-populating capacity, multipotential differentiation, and most likely self-renewal capabilities of human CD34+ HLA-DR- cells, but also that this BM population contains human HSC. Furthermore, it appears that this animal model of xenogeneic stem-cell transplantation is extremely useful for in vivo examination of human hematopoiesis and the behavioral and functional characteristics of human HSC.

We evaluate two dominant nuclear reaction rates and their uncertainties that affect 44Ti production in explosive nucleosynthesis. Experimentally we develop thick-target yields for the 40Ca(alpha,gamma)44Ti reaction at E(alpha) = 4.13, 4.54, and 5.36 MeV using gamma-ray spectroscopy. At the highest beam energy, we also performed an activation measurement that agrees with the thick target result. From the measured yields a stellar reaction rate was developed that is smaller than current statistical-model calculations and recent experimental results, which would suggest lower 44Ti production in scenarios for the alpha-rich freeze out. Special attention has been paid to assessing realistic uncertainties of stellar rates produced from a combination of experimental and theoretical cross sections, which we use to develop a re-evaluation of the 44Ti(alpha,p)47V reaction rate. Using these we carry out a sensitivity survey of 44Ti synthesis in eight expansions representing peak temperature and density conditions drawn from a suite of recent supernova explosion models. Our results suggest that the current uncertainty in these two reaction rates could lead to as large an uncertainty in 44Ti synthesis as that produced by different treatments of stellar physics., Comments: 45 pages, 19 postscript figures Minor corrections from Referee and Proof Editors Figs 9 & 10 now in color

The electron emission properties of a material subject to incident radiation flux are key parameters in determining to what equilibrium charge a spacecraft will established under given environmental conditions. However, there is a complex relation between these emission properties and the charge built up in spacecraft insulators. Complex modeling codes have been developed to predict the potential a spacecraft will adopt as a consequence of its interaction with the space plasma. These require correct models of the electron yields as a function of charge to accurately predict the both the charge build up and the equilibrium potential of spacecraft components. This paper focuses on different methods appropriate to determine the fundamental electronic material property of total electron yield as the materials accumulates charge. Three methods for determining the uncharged total yield are presented: (i) The DC Continuous Beam Method is a relatively easy and accurate method appropriate for conductors and semi-conductors with maximum total electron yield σmaxρΩ-cm. (ii) The Pulse-Yield Method seeks to minimize the effects of charging and is applicable to materials with σmaxρ up to >1024 Ω-cm. (iii) The Yield Decay Method is a very difficult and time consuming that uses a combination of measurement and modeling to measure the most difficult materials with σmax>4 and ρ up to >1024 Ω-cm. Data for high purity polycrystalline Au, Kapton HN, and polycrystalline aluminum oxide ceramic are presented. These data demonstrate the relative strengths and weaknesses of each method, but more importantly show that the methods described herein are capable of reliably measuring the total electron yield of almost any spacecraft material.

As mankind reaches to explore extreme environments in space, the application of ceramics surface coatings is increasing. The 2005 mission concept for Solar Probe used a unique design to achieve the necessary thermal control for a very close approach to the solar corona, including the use of a highly refractory, electrically insulating ceramic coating over a carbon-carbon composite heat shield. The proposed trajectory takes the spacecraft from a Jovian fly-by to within 4 solar radii of the Sun, spanning 5 orders of magnitude in solar radiation and solar wind plasma density as well as spacecraft temperatures from 2000 K. Using the NASCAP-2K charging modeling program, the degree of charging expected for this spacecraft design has been calculated for this range of radiation environments. New measurements of the electron emission and estimates of related properties of the candidate materials—Al2O3, pyrolytic born nitride and barium zirconium phosphate—are presented. Absolute and differential surface charging are found to depend strongly on temperature through increased conductivity at higher temperatures and on radiation flux through enhanced charge accumulation and radiation induced conductivity. As the spacecraft approaches the Sun, the competition between increased charge dissipation at higher temperatures and increased charge accumulation at higher fluxes leads to a maximum in differential charging between 0.4 AU and 2 AU. While the spacecraft charging behavior of these materials is found to be significant, it is not severe enough to endanger the mission, and a number of options exist to mitigate the degree of charging. Among the ceramics considered, the use of Al2O3 coatings is found to minimize both absolute and differential spacecraft charging.

Einleitung: Die Prognose von Patienten mit metastasierten HNO-Tumoren ist eingeschränkt. Prognostische Parameter für Patienten mit einfachen und multiplen, uni- und bilateralen pulmonalen Metastasen sind bislang unbekannt. Ziel dieser Studie war es, das Überleben von Patienten nach Resektion[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 126. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Chirurgie

24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, 21-25 September 2009, Hamburg, Germany; 729-732, Stable performance has been observed for prototype 1 cm2 inverted metamorphic multijunction (IMM) solar cells (InGaP/InGaAs/InGaAs architecture) measured outdoors under continuous concentrated sunlight at geometric concentration ratios of 520 and 1090. Devices were permanently mounted to a conductive carrier material allowing front and backside contacts and subsequently integrated into optical subassemblies on passive heat sinks of design identical to those used for reference concentrator triple-junction (CTJ) cells (InGaP/InGaAs/Ge architecture). For the IMM device measured on-sun an increase in Voc of greater than 400 mV has been obtained. No degradation of bare solar cells has been observed following 750 thermal cycles from –40ºC to +110ºC, or after 5 months of exposure to concentrated sunlight. These results represent promising positive indicators of mechanical and electrical stability of IMM devices in this configuration.

Concept Mapping was used to structure knowledge elicitation interviews with a group of human factors specialists whose goal was to describe the business model of their Department. This novel use of cognitive task analysis to describe the business model of a human factors organization resulted in a number of Concept Maps on topics such as Department strengths and weaknesses, strategic plans and partnerships, and ambitions and goals. This work might be seen as a prototype for how other human factors organizations might brainstorm their activities, progress, and goals.

The Milliken Moment Method (MMM) is a way of efficiently organizing the results from a kinematically constrained vehicle test. Using the MMM and closed-loop dynamic simulation, the authors present a new method for evaluating vehicle handling, where the MMM assesses the overall performance capability of the vehicle, and the simulation determines how much of that performance is used for a closed-loop maneuver. By mapping the simulation data onto the yaw moment - lateral acceleration diagram from the MMM, this method allows a design engineer to explicitly quantify the tradeoff between the controllability and stability of a vehicle. Results from a design case study and comparison of the stability measure to phase plane analysis show that this method captures the tradeoff in design, and clearly represents the overall capability of the driver-vehicle system. Copyright © 2004 by ASME. 73 173 180 173-180

At least two classes of human megakaryocyte progenitor cells have been identified: the burst-forming unit megakaryocyte (BFU-MK) and the colony-forming unit megakaryocyte (CFU-MK). The BFU-MK is the most primitive progenitor cell committed to the megakaryocytic lineage. The CFU-MK appears to be a more differentiated megakaryocyte progenitor cell and is thought to be ultimately a descendant of the BFU-MK. A number of recombinant cytokines have recently been shown to be able to promote megakaryocyte colony formation in vitro. Recombinant GM-CSF and IL-3, in particular, have the ability to promote both CFU-MK- and BFU-MK-derived colony stimulatory formation. The activities of these two cytokines on in vitro megakaryocytopoiesis are also additive. Recent results of clinical trials in both primates and humans, in which these glycoproteins were administered in vivo, suggest that these cytokines, both alone and in combination, can enhance in vivo thrombopoiesis and therefore may be potentially useful in the treatment of thrombocytopenic disorders.

Recent nucleosynthesis calculations of Type II supernovae using advanced neutrino transport determine that the early neutrino winds are proton-rich. However, a fraction of the ejecta emitted at the same time is composed of neutron-rich pockets. In this paper we calculate the nucleosynthesis contribution from the neutron-rich pockets in the hot convective bubbles of a core-collapse supernova and show that they do not contribute significantly to the total nucleosynthesis., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

A review is given of the diplopod fauna of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, with special reference to that of the periodically inundated areas of the Pantanal. The Mato Grosso list is rich and diverse (at least 85 species, about 34 genera), but clearly biased toward fewer higher groups that only contain species of larger size: four orders and seven families, with only four really small-bodied (

The Milliken Moment Method (MMM) can be used to quantify the constraints imposed on vehicle stability and controllability by front and rear tire traction limitations. The main aspect of the Milliken Moment Method is the plot of vehicle's yaw moment versus lateral acceleration for given vehicle sideslip and steering angle ranges. This plot is typically called the Milliken Moment Diagram (MMD). This paper proposes a dynamic simulation approach to implementing the MMM that emulates the traditional experimental one. The approach embeds a vehicle dynamics model in a control loop that maintains a constant desired sideslip angle, and integrates the resulting controlled vehicle system model in time to generate the MMD. A numerical example demonstrates the approach and shows that the while the proposed approach may not be as efficient as the traditional computer based approach, it has the advantage of being able to used a variety of existing vehicle dynamics models with commonly available numerical simulation packages in order to generate the MMD's. Copyright © 2005 SAE International.

We use an inverse model analysis to compare the top-down constraints on Asian sources of carbon monoxide (CO) in spring 2001 from (1) daily MOPITT satellite observations of CO columns over Asia and the neighboring oceans and (2) aircraft observations of CO concentrations in Asian outflow from the TRACE-P aircraft mission over the northwest Pacific. The inversion uses the maximum a posteriori method (MAP) and the GEOS-CHEM chemical transport model (CTM) as the forward model. Detailed error characterization is presented, including spatial correlation of the model transport error. Nighttime MOPITT observations appear to be biased and are excluded from the inverse analysis. We find that MOPITT and TRACE-P observations are independently consistent in the constraints that they provide on Asian CO sources, with the exception of southeast Asia for which the MOPITT observations support a more modest decrease in emissions than suggested by the aircraft observations. Our analysis indicates that the observations do not allow us to differentiate source types (i.e., anthropogenic versus biomass burning) within a region. MOPITT provides ten pieces of information to constrain the geographical distribution of CO sources, while TRACE-P provides only four. The greater information from MOPITT reflects its ability to observe all outflow and source regions. We conducted a number of sensitivity studies for the inverse model analysis using the MOPITT data. Temporal averaging of the MOPITT data (weekly and beyond) degrades the ability to constrain regional sources. Merging source regions beyond what is appropriate after careful selection of the state vector leads to significant aggregation errors. Calculations for an ensemble of realistic assumptions lead to a range of inverse model solutions that has greater uncertainty than the a posteriori errors for the MAP solution. Our best estimate of total Asian CO sources is 361 Tg yr−1, over half of which is attributed to east Asia.

Alopecia areata (AA) is a chronic cutaneous disease with a suspected autoimmune origin. We evaluated the efficacy of 0.5% Cyclosporin A (CyA) in a topically applied liposomal formulation as a potential treatment for AA using the Dundee Experimental Bald Rat (DEBR) model. The vehicle consisted of liposomes (75% phosphatidylcholine, 5% lysophosphatidylcholine, 5% sterol, natural oils) of 10% wt. in ethanol with and without 2% wt. terpenes (d-limonene: citral: cineole, 10:45:45) as a penetration enhancer (PE). Fifteen DEBR were allocated to 3 groups of 5. Groups I, II and III received CyA vesicles with PE, CyA vesicles without PE, and CyA in ethanol respectively. All rats were treated twice a day for 6 weeks within a 4 cm2 area on one bald flank with CyA while the contralateral flank received an equivalent control formulation. Rats in group I exhibited visible hair regrowth on the drug treated site after one week of drug application. Group II rats had visible hair regrowth by the end of the second week. The hair growth was progressive and reached a maximum density at the site of application after six weeks in both groups. Histological examination revealed a reduced inflammatory infiltrate and improved hair follicle morphology within the drug treated area as compared to the contralateral vehicle treated skin. Group III rats showed neither visible signs of hair growth nor reduction of hair follicle inflammation. The results of this proof of concept preliminary study suggest that CyA vesicle formulations with and without PE have promising potential as a topical treatment for AA in humans.

Mestosoma junki n.sp., described from the vicinity of Iquitos, Peru, is distinguished from known relatives by the colour pattern (dorsally black with a bright red median band) and details in body, leg, and gonopod structure. It differs from other species of Mestosoma except M. hylaeicum JEEKEL, 1963, by inhabiting whitewater (varzea) inundation forest in which it appears to be possibly an obligate arboricole at least in the adult stage

El consumo de drogas ilegales en nuestro país ha experimentado un notable cambio en los últimos años, relegando a la heroína e incorporando la cocaína, los derivados anfetamínicos como el "éxtasis" (MDMA), el "éxtasis líquido" (GHB) y, en menor medida, la ketamina. Se lleva a cabo una revisión de la intoxicación aguda por opiáceos y de su tratamiento en los servicios de urgencias, teniendo en cuenta el descenso progresivo de los casos que se presentan con el advenimiento de nuevas formas de administración, así como la presencia de nuevas drogas adictivas que han dado lugar a un desplazamiento en los hábitos de consumo. Se expone la intoxicación por cocaína haciendo referencia a la clínica, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento. Se realiza una revisión sobre el cannabis y sus derivados, la historia de su consumo y preparaciones utilizadas, los efectos que producen en los distintos sistemas del organismo y sus principales mecanismos de acción. Por último se comentan los efectos del LSD y de las setas alucinógenas. A review is made of acute poisoning by opiates and its treatment in the emergency services, bearing in mind the progressive decline in the number of cases presented with the arrival of new forms of their administration, as well as the presence of new addictive drugs that have resulted in a shift in consumption habits. Reference is also made to the way in which the different types of existing substances originated, with the aim of achieving a better understanding of their use and in order to administer the most suitable treatment when poisoning occurs. Cocaine poisoning is discussed, with reference to its clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment. The consumption of illegal drugs in our country has undergone a notable change in recent years, with heroin being relegated and the incorporation of cocaine, amphetamine derivatives such as "ecstasy" (MDMA), "liquid ecstasy" (GHB) and, to a lesser extent, ketamine. A review is made of cannabis and its derivates, from the history of its consumption and the preparations employed to the effects produced in the different bodily systems. A brief explanation is also given of its metabolites and its principal mechanisms of action. Finally, we comment on the effects of LSD and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

In order to study the processes creating intermediate and heavy nuclei in massive stars it is necessary to provide neutron capture cross sections and reaction rates close to stability and for moderately unstable neutron-rich nuclei. Furthermore, one has to know the efficiency of neutron-releasing reactions in the main evolutionary phases of a massive star. We present simulations of the nucleosynthesis in a 15 and 25 solar mass star, for the first time followed completely from main sequence hydrogen burning until the type II supernova explosion including all nuclides up to Bi. Theoretical reaction rates were calculated with the NON-SMOKER code, providing a complete library of Hauser-Feshbach cross sections and rates for nuclear and astrophysical applications. Experimental rates at stability were taken from different sources. The impact of uncertainties in the rates on nucleosynthesis are illustrated by two examples, the reactions 62Ni(n,gamma)63Ni and 22Ne(alpha,n)25Mg., Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Proc. 9th Int. Seminar on Interactions of Neutrons with Nuclei (ISINN-9), Dubna, Russia, May 2001

We present the first calculations to follow the evolution of all stable isotopes (and their abundant radioactive progenitors) in a finely zoned stellar model computed from the onset of central hydrogen burning through explosion as a Type II supernova. The calculations were performed for a 15 solar mass Pop I star using the most recently available set of experimental and theoretical nuclear data, revised opacity tables, and taking into account mass loss due to stellar winds. We find the approximately solar production of proton-rich isotopes above a mass number of A=120 due to the gamma-process. We also find a weak s-process, which along with the gamma-process and explosive helium and carbon burning, produces nearly solar abundances of almost all nuclei from A=60 to 85. A few modifications of the abundances of heavy nuclei above mass 90 by the s-process are also noted and discussed. New weak rates lead to significant alteration of the properties of the presupernova core., 10 pages, 4 figures, Nuclear Astrophysics X Workshop proceedings

Chondrodesmus mamirauaensis n.sp. is described from Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, environs of Tefé, Amazonia, Brazil, with first ecological data given. The new species comes closest, both structurally and geographically, to Ch. mimus CHAMBERLIN, 1941, known from a single female (holotype) from Iquitos, Peru, but differs clearly at least by the much smaller body size (width up to 7.5 versus 13 mm) and the pallid versus brown epiproct. This is not only the first formal record of both the genus Chondrodesmus SILVESTRI, 1897 and the tribe Chondrodesmini in Brazil, but also the first representative of the entire family Chelodesmidae showing Vertical migrations in response to annual inundation in the Central Amazonian várzea forests.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of pregnancy and contraceptive use among female inpatients at a Denver detoxification center who were at risk of becoming pregnant. METHODS: The authors administered surveys and pregnancy tests to 373 female admissions to the Denver CARES detoxification center between March and September 1996. RESULTS: Most were admitted for alcohol-related reasons, and most reported previous pregnancies. Seven percent of admissions had positive pregnancy tests, and 56% of admissions reported not using contraceptives with every sexual encounter. CONCLUSIONS: Routine assessment of pregnancy status and contraceptive use in women admitted for detoxification, along with on-site family planning services, may be important components of efforts to prevent adverse outcomes associated with substance abuse during pregnancy, including fetal alcohol syndrome.

The millipede genus Pycnotropis CARL, 1914 is shown to be represented in the floodplains near Manaus by a single, highly variable and obviously eurytopic species which occurs also in secondary upland forest: P. epiclysmus HOFFMAN, 1996 (Polydesmida: Platyrhacidae). To facilitate recognition, especially so vis-a-vis a number of its nominal and by far more poorly known congeners, some of which are possibly its senior synonyms, the variation range of this species is briefly outlined. In addition, a direct, side-by- side re-examination of topotypes of Epinannolene arborea HOFFMAN, 1984 (Spirostreptida: Pseudonannolenidae) and the holotype of Pseudonannolene exilio BRÖLEMANN, 1904, all from Manaus, results in a new formal synonymy and combination: Epinannolene exilio (BRÖLEMANN. 1904), syn. n., comb. n.

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lllustrated keys are given to the 13 orders and 46 families of the Class Diplopoda known to occur in the Neotropical Region, viz., Middle America south of central Mexico, the Caribbean, and all of South America. Brief annotated summaries of each taxon, as represented in the region, are also provided.

To further define the hierarchy of human hematopoietic progenitor cells, we have attempted to identify antibodies to cell-surface molecules expressed on CD34+ progenitor cell subsets. Herein we describe the utility of a new monoclonal antibody, HCC-1, which binds to a novel epitope of CD59 differentially expressed among CD34+ progenitor cells. HCC-1 subdivides the adult marrow CD34+ population into HCC-1high and HCC-1low/- fractions of approximately equal size. Cobblestone area-forming cells (CAFC) in long-term bone marrow culture were enriched 10-30-fold in CD34+HCC-1high cells compared with CD34+HCC1-low/- cells and two-fold compared with CD34+ cells. When injected into fetal human bone fragments implanted in SCID mice, the CD34+HCC-1high population showed potent engrafting activity leading to the production of myeloid, lymphoid, and erythroid elements, as well as the retention of progenitor cell phenotype. These studies demonstrate that the CD34+HCC-1high population contains primitive pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. No hematopoietic engrafting activity was detected in the CD34+HCC-1low/- population. Consistent with this finding, simultaneous five-color flow cytometric analysis revealed that HCC-1high cells include virtually all CD34+Thy-1+Lin- cells, a cell population previously characterized as highly enriched for primitive pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells. The ability of CD34+ cells divided into subsets by HCC-1 to produce T cells was assessed by transplantation of sorted cells into human fetal thymus implanted into SCID mice. A higher frequency of thymus-engrafting activity was observed in the CD34+HCC-1high than in the CD34+HCC-1low/- population. Consistent with the limited ability to engraft in the SCID-hu thymus model, the CD34+HCC-1low/- population was shown to contain a low frequency of CD34+CD10+ lymphoid progenitor cells. We conclude that the HCC-1 epitope is expressed at high levels on a subset of CD34+ cells that contain virtually all primitive pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells and that the population of CD59 molecules expressed on CD34+ cells is not homogeneous.

Pycnotropis epiclysma is described from material collected in inundation forests near Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. The genus is redefined on the basis of an overlooked diagnostic character, gonopods of the type species P. taenia (PETERS) are illustrated, and a list of presumably congeneric species is provided. The generic names Phinotropis and Amydrinus (CHAMBERLIN 1941) are confirmed as junior synonyms of Pycnotropis, their respective type species being considered as conspecific. Difficulties associated with determining the relationships of the nominal subfamily Euryurinae are outlined for future consideration.