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Objective—To determine whether results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are associated with postoperative outcome in working dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.Design—Prospective cohort study.Animals—12 dogs treated surgically for degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.Procedure—Procedure—The lumbosacral vertebral column was examined before surgery by use of MRI and CT and after surgery by use of CT. Outcome, based on performance in standardized training exercises, was assessed 6 months after decompressive surgery. Associations between imaging results and postoperative outcome were determined by use of a Fisher exact test and logistic regression.Results—None of the dogs were able to perform their duties before surgery. By 6 months after surgery, 8 of 12 dogs had been returned to full active duty. Nerve tissue compression was effectively localized by use of CT and MRI. Significant associations between results of imaging studies and postoperative outcome were not identified.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Surgical intervention is justified in high-performance working dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. However, results of imaging studies may be less important than clinical or surgical factors for predicting outcome in affected dogs. (J Am Vet Med Assoc2000;216:1769–1774)

The Future of new electronic systems application in the automobile is extremely promising. New systems such as mobile multimedia, control-by-wire systems, advanced safety interiors, and collision avoidance coupled with smart sensors and actuators, in a potentially new integrated vehicle wiring system, means significantly more electronic content in the automobile of the future. The challenge of the automotive electronics industry is to develop a vision of these future products, and then follow a defining process to develop the technologies necessary to offer timely, reliable, and cost effective products to the automotive consumer. This paper presents a methodology by which global market trends, market considerations, and engineering developments are combined to create a product vision. This vision is used to generate technology roadmaps that spawn technology development projects. Technology projects in turn help to create product strategies that result in new marketable products. Delphi Automotive System's vision of “Next Century Winners,” which are stimulating new product development and technology projects that enabled new product developments, are examined in this paper.

The assessment of flash flood potential of wadi (dry river) systems in arid lands is often difficult because of the lack of sufficiently long rainfall and discharge records of the infrequent and spatially variable rainfall events. Characterization of active wadi systems by remote sensing may offer an alternative solution. A methodology is presented to characterize the channel infill of wadi systems based on the soil composition, and the geomorphic and geologic properties of drainage basins. Spectral mixture modeling is performed on a Landsat TM image to identify the source material (endmembers) and source upland area of the alluvial infill. Endmembers are determined by two methods: (1) identifying pure image pixels, and (2) using spectral libraries representing main rock units of the drainage basin. Both methods are evaluated in terms of their ability to establish the relative contribution of upland source rocks to the overall alluvium composition in the lowland. The identification of wadi systems that are presently most active (high stream-power values) and efficient in transporting sediments to the basin outlet may enable identification of areas prone to flash floods.

Damage to materials by continuous wave (CW) irradiation of an infrared (IR) laser is dependent on thermal transfer, resulting from absorption of laser energy into the material. Under laser illumination conditions, the thermal radiative properties of a material are often not constant. Reflectance, for example, can vary dramatically as a result of thermal decomposition of paints and coatings. The Air Force Research Laboratory Laser Effects Branch designed and fabricated unique reflectometers for making accurate measurements of surface reflectance under conditions of continuous heating. A number of structural materials, paints, and films were tested to determine their temperature dependent reflectance characteristics in vacuum and laboratory ambient environments. The experiment series produced temperature-dependent reflectance data needed for accurate computation of laser coupling for thermal control surface degradation analyses. Previous prediction algorithms relied solely upon ambient, room temperature reflectance data to determine the thermal response of paints and films, oftentimes leading to inaccurate results. Much was learned about the breakdown of typical aerospace thermal control materials in vacuum and ambient conditions. Temperature-dependent 1.31 micrometer laser reflectance models, developed from the in-vacuo data, are presented for nine coatings (paints and films) on aluminum and titanium substrates.

La arteria umbilical única [AUU) es una malformación centinela que debe orientar a la búsqueda mas exhaustiva de malformaciones asociadas que pueden no ser siempre evidentes, ya sea que estas se presenten en forma de síndromes a bien cor un patrón desconocido. Este estudio incluye a las casos registrados de AUU en la Unidad de Neonatología del Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile desde enero de 1978 hasta abril de 1998. Observamos, como se ha reportado en la literatura, que la AUU aislada o asociada a malformaciones menores tiene buen pronostico, en contraposición a lo que ocurre cuando se acompaña de uno o mas malformaciones mayores. Se encontró a la AUU como parte de un síndrome en un 36,4% de los casos y se detectaron causas cromosomicas en 10,9% de ellos. Es importante intentar realizar un diagnostico preciso, de manera de estimar el riesgo de recurrencia que puedan tener los padres en futuros embarazos. Single umbilical artery |SUA) is a sentinel malformation which should guide lo the more exhaustive search of congenital associated anomalies which are not always evident, whether as part of well-identified syndromes or as part of unrecognized malformation patterns In 'his study., which includes the cases of SJA registered in the Neonatology Unit of the University of Chile Cirical Hospital, between January of 1978 and aprJ of 1998, we found that when SUA is accompanied with one or more major malformations there is a poor prognosis, confirming previous reports. We found SUA as part of a syndrome in 36,4% of the cases and a chromosomal abnormality in 10,9% of them. ( is important to intend to perform an accurate diagnosis, because of the implicctions for the parents in relation to recurrence risk in a next pregnancy.

La hernia diafragmatica congenita (HDC) continua siendo me patologia que pone en peligro la vida a pesar de los adelantos en su manejo. Las malformaciones congenitas asociadas resultan ser uno de los factores mas importantes que contribuyen a elevar los tasas de mortalidad en estos pacientes. En este trabajo presentamos nuestra experiencia con relacion a esta anomalia, la cual forma parte del Estudio Colaborativo Latinoamericano de Malformaciones Congenitos (ECLAMC), enfocado principalmente en lo asociacion de la HDC con otras malformaciones Congenitas, y revise mas los aspectos relacionadcs con el patron de herencia involucrado en los casos familiares de HDC. En este estudio encontramos que las malformaciones mayo res, especialmente las cardiacas, y un bajo peso al nacer confieren un mal pronostico a los recien nacidos con HDC.

Dual-modular femoral stems with exchangeable necks theoretically allow optimization of hip joint biomechanics via selective restoration of femoral anteversion, offset, and limb length. A potential disadvantage is the possible generation of metal ions and debris by fretting and crevice corrosion at the additional stem-neck interface. We present 2 cases of early-onset adverse inflammatory tissue reactions as a result of accelerated corrosion at the stem-neck interface of a dual-modular implant, requiring subsequent revision of well-fixed components.

Application of sound ocular therapeutic principle is more difficult in food animals than most other species. Financial or husbandry constraints limit the practitioner's ability to use the entire range of ocular drugs available or to use them with adequate frequency. These problems may be dealt with by using systemically administered drugs when effective or by employing vehicles or delivery techniques that necessitate minimal dosing frequency. By far the most important medically treatable eye disease encountered in food animal practice is IBK. Effective therapies include systemic administration of long-acting oxytetracycline, subconjunctival administration of a variety of antibiotics, or topical application of benzathine cloxacillin. Infectious conjunctivitis in sheep and goats due to a variety of agents may be treated successfully with tetracycline in most cases. Conjunctivitis and keratitis secondary to IBR virus usually are given supportive therapy only, although specific antiviral drugs have been used in the treatment of herpetic eye disease in other species. Anterior uveitis is best treated by corticosteroid and mydriatic therapy in addition to treatment of the underlying cause, if identified.

Endostatin prevents angiogenesis and tumor growth by inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation and migration. The purpose of thisstudy was to determine serum endostatin concentrations in 53 healthy dogs and in 38 dogs with confirmed malignant neoplasms.Endostatin concentration was determined with a competitive enzymatic immunoassay (EIA) with rabbit polyclonal antibody gen-erated against a recombinant canine endostatin protein. Both the presence of cancer and increasing age were associated withincreased serum concentration of endostatin. Endostatin concentration in healthy dogs was 87.7 3.5 ng/mL. Upper and lowerlimits of the reference range for serum endostatin concentration in healthy dogs were 60 and 113 ng/mL. Dogs with lymphoma(LSA) and hemangiosarcoma (HSA) had endostatin concentrations of 107 9.3 ng/mL. In conclusion, this study demonstratesthat endostatin can be quantified in dogs and that endostatin concentrations are high in dogs with HSA and LSA.Key words: Angiogenesis; Neoplasia; Vascular biology.

New combinations are made for the following species and varieties within the flora of Florida: Agaloma oerstediana, Agaloma pubentissima, Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana, Asimina spatulata, Deeringothamnus rugelii var. pulchellus, Erianthus brevibarbis var. contortus, Ludwigia curtissii var. simpsonii, Nyssa biflora var. ursina, Pentalinon luteum var. sericeum, Peperomia humilis var. cumulicola, Ptelea trifoliata var. baldwinii, Stipulicida setacea var. filiformis, Zamia floridana var. umbro

Medical records and endoscopy images were examined for 209 horses that had gastroscopic examinations performed with a 2.5- or 3-m-long endoscope by one of the authors (MJM) during a 4-year period (1996-2000). The antrum and pylorus were viewed in 162 horses, and the duodenum was viewed in 94 horses. Of these 162 horses, the gastric squamous mucosa was seen in 157 horses and 50% or more of the glandular mucosa of the body of the stomach was seen in 156 horses. Erosions or ulcers were seen in the gastric squamous mucosa in 91 (58%) horses. Erosions or ulcers were seen in the glandular mucosa of the body of the stomach in only 8% of the horses. Lesions consisting of erosion or ulceration were seen in the antrum or pylorus in 94 (58%) horses. Lesions consisting of hyperemia and a rough or "bumpy" appearance were seen in the mucosa of the duodenum of 16 horses. An association between the presence of lesions in the squamous mucosa and the presence of lesions in the mucosa of the antrum/pylorus was examined by Fisher's exact test, and the linear association of lesion severity scores between the squamous mucosa and the mucosa of the antrum/pylorus was tested using a Monte Carlo estimate for linear-by-linear association. There was no association (P = .88) between these sites for presence of lesions or lesion severity scores. Similarly, there was no association between scores for the glandular mucosa in the gastric body and those in the antrum/pylorus. Because of the high prevalence of lesions in the antrum and pylorus of the stomachs of adult horses examined in a hospital setting, the entire stomach should be viewed during a gastroscopic examination.

Background Diaper dermatitis is the most common dermatologic disorder of infancy. This study evaluates the frequency of outpatient visits resulting in this diagnosis, specialties of physicians providing services, demographics of patients, and leading agents used in treatment. Design Records of 272,841 encounters from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (1990-1997) were examined for visits in which diaper dermatitis was diagnosed in children. The likelihood of diagnosis in the general pediatric population was calculated and the leading treatment agents were ranked. Results There were approximately 8.2 million visits in which diaper dermatitis was diagnosed. For the pediatric population in the at-risk age range, there was a 1 in 4 likelihood of being diagnosed with the skin disorder. Pediatricians provided 75% of services for the treatment of diaper dermatitis; the demographics of patients were similar to those of comparably aged individuals in the general population. Nystatin was the leading treatment agent prescribed (27% of visits), followed by clotrimazole (16%), a combination product of nystatin and triamcinolone (16%), hydrocortisone (8%), and a combination product of clotrimazole and betamethasone dipropionate (6%). Conclusions Visits for diaper dermatitis are frequent, and pediatricians are the physicians most often called on to provide treatment. No portion of the pediatric population is disproportionately diagnosed. The frequent use of potent corticosteroids contained in combination agents is a potential target for improving the management of diaper dermatitis.

Methods are needed to quickly assess the efficacy of chemical thinning treatments, so, if needed, additional treatments can be applied. When fruit diameter averaged 19 mm, `Smoothee' trees were sprayed with Ethrel at the rate of 3.7 ml formulation/L to induce abscission of most fruits on the tree. The diameter of 10 fruit/tree were measured daily and fruits were sampled 2, 4, and 6 days after treatment (DAT) to evaluate fruit development. Fruit on nontreated trees increased in diameter at the rate of about 0.7 to 0.9 mm/day. Fruit growth on treated trees was normal for 1 day, slowed to 0.5 mm for 2 days, and grew

The factors controlling preharvest drop are poorly understood. The number of viable seeds in apple fruit has been associated with fruits retained following June drop. Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of seed number on time of preharvest drop. In two experiments treatments were imposed to induce variability in seed numbers. Trees of `Redchief Delicious' were covered with 92% shade fabric for 0, 1, 2, or 3 days when fruits averaged 13 mm in diameter. In a second experiment `Redchief Delicious', `Smoothee', and `Commander York' flowers had 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or all 5 stigmas excised at early “popcorn” stage and the remaining stigmas were hand-pollinated. The third experiment investigated drop of the same three cultivars as affected by the natural variability in seed number. Fruits were gathered from under the trees daily from 26 Aug. until all the fruits had fallen from the trees. Fruits were weighed and the number of filled, large aborted and small aborted seeds were counted. Neither total number of seeds, number of filled seeds, total number of aborted seeds, number of large aborted seeds nor number of small aborted seeds explained any appreciable amount of the variation in date of drop (R2 < 0.13). Fruit mass was positively related to seed number for `Delicious', but not for `Smoothee' or `York'.

Release LC (Abbott Laboratories), a commercial formulation of gibberellins, was applied to apricot, cling peach, freestone peach, nectarine, and plum varieties. Application was by commercial airblast sprayer. Fruit firmness was increased in the season of application in all crops. Meta analysis of the data indicated a maximum response for each crop differed over the rate range of 16 to 48 g a.i./acre. Changes in fruit soluble solids were slight. No differences in fruit color were observed. Reduction in flower bud density (thinning) was observed the following season. The reduction in bud density reduced the time required to hand-thin to a commercially acceptable level. A difference in thinning sensitivity to gibberellin was evident between crops.

Les AA. etudient le processus de transformation des partis politiques au niveau de l'Etat pour les Etats-Unis, et au niveau du departement en France. Ils se sont plus particulierement attaches a elucider les relations causales parmi les parametres systematiques de l'environnement des partis, la competition entre les partis, et l'organisation des partis.

The search for party influence in the U.S. Congress has focused on floor voting patterns. By shifting the focus of attention to the committee setting, this paper shows that previous measures of party influence have generally underestimated the strength of parties in Congress and have invariably presented a simplified version of their activity. Measures of party conflict, unity, and success in four House committees show that, in the differentiated committee system, parties structure voting differently across decision-making environments and are stronger than on the floor. In the legislative environment of the 1980s, voting patterns in all committees and on the floor converged toward partisanship, even as electoral and organizational indicators of party remained relatively weak. For nearly two decades the debate over whether parties are in decline or in resurgence has raged in political science. It focuses primarily on the increase in partisan independence in the electorate, weakened ties among partisans, and the relative strength and weakness of party organizations and nonparty political associations, such as political action committees and candidate-centered campaigns. At the periphery of this debate, but central to the issue, stands the question of party in government. In this paper, I apply common measures of party strength in Congress, previously used to examine floor roll-call voting, to the committee setting. Shifting attention from floor activity to committees highlights the complexity of legislative parties, showing that party structures behavior differently across institutional settings. Ultimately, the internal structure of the

G A3 sprays were applied to 10 primary scaffold limb replications with a handgun at three concentrations (25, 50, 100 mg/l), from May to September 1989. Flower bud thinning with G A3 applied in the year prior to bloom was examined for its effect on the developmental fate of lateral meristems. Limbs treated in late May had, on average, 45% more flower buds survive near-critical winter temperatures than did controls. During the period of greatest sensitivity to Flower Bud Density (FBD) reduction, GA3 treated limbs had vegetative bud densities (VBD) higher than control (on average 45% greater at 100 mg/l). On 9 June 100 mg/l reduced FBD by 78% compared to control and increased VBD by 57%, while on 6 July the same concentration. reduced FBD by 94% but VBD was increased by only 32%. These results appear to support the hypothesis that GA3 induced FBD reduction has more than one mode of action.

Footdrumming and visual displays associated with territorial defense in the bannertail kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis) were studied in the field in Arizona. We predicted that foot-drumming functioned like bird song in territorial advertisement. Rats were tested in their territories for their responses to the presentation of four different stimuli: a playback of airborne footdrumming patterns (audio); a stuffed and mounted kangaroo rat in an aggressive posture (visual); a combination of both (audio-visual); and a playback of cricket stridulation as a control. Kangaroo rats investigated all experimental stimuli equally by becoming alert, approaching, and retreating (Fig. 2). Rats, therefore, seemed to assess the amount of threat and footdrummed at higher rates and sooner in response to the more threatening visual stumulus of a stuffed rat than to the apparently less threatening ones of a airborne footdrumming playback or cricket stridulation (Fig. 1). We conclude that rats footdrum at long ranges to repel a potential intruder and also at close ranges when territories are threatened by a persistent intruder. Chase and attack, as in territorial birds, are the final lines of defense.

The effectiveness of cromolyn sodium and theophylline on asthma in children was compared during a 3-month trial. Forty-six children (aged 5 to 15 years) with asthma were assigned at random to cromolyn or theophylline (Theo-Dur) treatment groups. Each subject received theophylline placebo or cromolyn placebo in addition to the active drugs. A methacholine challenge test was done at the start of the study to document asthma and was repeated during the third month. The theophylline dosage was regulated to obtain serum levels of 10 to 15 µg/mL by a physician not involved directly with patient care. Forty patients completed the study. Both theophylline and cromolyn treatment groups showed improvement from base-line status in terms of symptom scores, pulmonary function, and decreased use of inhaled albuterol. Patients treated with theophylline had more side effects and required more frequent office visits than those treated with cromolyn. Both groups had decreased sensitivity to methacholine, and for one statistical test patients treated with cromolyn improved significantly. These results indicate that cromolyn is as effective as theophylline in treating mild to moderate asthma in children; additional benefits were fewer side effects and a possible decrease in bronchial hyperactivity.

In 1981, the authors' company initiated a loss measurement study involving the collection of a large amount of loss data on older distribution transformers. The objective was to better characterize their losses for such studies as economic replacement, voltage conversion and economic loading. This paper is a discussion and analysis of that data.

Utilization of Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) is examined throughout the range of the species. The most important production area is North Carolina, with New Jersey and panhandle Florida-southern Alabama as secondary centers. The wood is used where its light weight, resistance to decay, and fragrance are of value—as siding and paneling for houses, planking for small- to mediumsized boats, fencing, decking, and lawn furniture, with smaller quantities used for such specialities as shingles and duck decoys. Harvest and manufacturing strategies are examined. Wholesale value of the manufactured products is calculated at $10 to $11.5 million. Annual production is estimated as 19 million board feet. The present forest inventory of standing trees is believed to be between 170 and 180 million board feet.

SYNOPSIS Whole blood serotonin levels and headache symptoms were studied in 26 migrainous patients during a three day period with administration of tyramine the first day, reserpine the second day. No significant changes in serotonin occurred after tyramine; headache severity was not associated with change in blood serotonin, which dropped to low levels after a small dose of reserpine without precipitating migraine in most patients.

Five species of Sisyrinchium (Iridaceae) are of common occurrence in northeastern North America. A sixth species is endemic to Bermuda. Their rather similar morphology has led to differing applications of the names given the various species. Examination of materials available to the original authors indicates the correct names for these species to be as follows: S. angustifolium Mill. (= S. graminoides Bicknell, S. bermudiana sensu authors), with branched, relatively broad stems, broad leaves, and small blue flowers; S. atlanticum Bicknell, with branched, narrow stems with many geniculate nodes, narrow leaves, usually drying pale green; S. arenicola Bicknell, a provisional name, with branched, narrow stems and few or no geniculate nodes, narrow leaves, drying dark, and often with a fibrous base; S. mucronatum Michx., with very narrow leaves, unbranched and non-geniculate stems, often purplish spathes, and large violet flowers; S. montanum Greene (= S. angustifolitum sensu Bicknell), similar but with somewhat broader leaves, larger capsules, and green spathes; and S. bermudiana L. (= S. iridioides Curtis), the coarse and ornamental, branched, Bermuda endemic.

A 19-year-old woman, recently discharged from the hospital and being treated for schizophrenia, presented with an unusual reaction to trifluoperazine. She complained of nausea and vomiting and experienced bilateral swelling of the tongue. Symptoms subsided when the medication was discontinued. Although dystonic reactions to high doses of phenothiazines are not uncommon, we postulate that this case represented an unusual allergic reaction to the medication.

This report describes a system designed to measure the concentrations of potassium, uranium, and thorium in boreholes. The system is divided into a linear pulse processing subsystem that consists of the probe and part of the surface electronics, and a digital recording subsystem. Gamma rays are detected in one of two NaI (Tl) crystals and the voltage pulses resulting from the scintillations in the crystal are linearly transmitted to the surface. The pulses are separated and counted in each of three channels corresponding to a window of energies in the gamma-ray spectrum. The resulting counts are then recorded on magnetic tape and optionally listed on a printer and strip-chart recorder. The recorded data are processed at a central computer where a graphic display of potassium, uranium, and thorium concentrations is constructed. Following a detailed description of the spectrometer system, some geologic/lithologic relationships are suggested where this system can be applied; some examples of log data obtained with this system are also included. 22 figures, 6 tables.

Understanding spatial variations in climates that are crucial for crop suitability form the basis of zonation studies in viticulture. This research applies principal components analysis and cluster analysis to 39 climate stations in the Galician region of northwest Spain to examine the applicability for zonation in the region and produce a better understanding of the spatial climate structure in Galicia. Roughly 90 % of the spatial variation in climate types is explained by three main components, which are defined by precipitation, temperature, and frost risk variations across the region. The climate variables or indices most important for the Galician region include the three main indices (Huglin index, Dryness index, and Cool night index) used within the Multicriteria Climatic Classification System (Geoviticulture MCC System). The results provide evidence that the Geoviticulture MCC System, which was developed at the global scale, has tremendous applicability at the mesoscale. The identification of six climate types of the Geoviticulture MCC System, which are used quite extensively for wine growing in the region, depicts the great spatial diversity of viticultural potential found within the relatively small area of Galicia., VITIS - Journal of Grapevine Research, Vol. 46 No. 2 (2007): Vitis