Holistic numerical calibration of the iMESA electrostatic analyzer.

A drifted Maxwellian velocity distribution is the most common model used to interpret the data from low-energy charged-particle instruments onboard spacecraft that are used to investigate the ambient plasma environment in the low Earth orbit (LEO). An original method is presented for determining the flow parameters (density, temperature, and flow energy) of such a distribution from the output of the integrated miniaturized electrostatic analyzer, which has been successfully flown on several LEO missions. Rather than attempting to deconvolve from the on-orbit data the analyzer's response to an ideal, monoenergetic input, numerical simulation is used to predict and parameterize the response of the device to an input distribution that includes an isotropic, non-zero temperature, yielding a straightforward method for extracting the flow parameters from the spacecraft data. The method is computationally simple enough to be incorporated into a robust algorithm suitable for rapid batch processing or real-time analysis of data.

Implementation of ironXS: a study of the acceptability and feasibility of genetic screening for hereditary hemochromatosis in high schools.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), most often due to HFE C282Y homozygosity, is an iron overload disorder that can result in severe morbidity including hepatic cirrhosis. Predisposition to HH is easily diagnosed and morbidity is preventable by maintaining normal body iron and thus calls have been made to introduce community screening. The current study has been designed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of HH screening in high schools. Students (mostly 15-16 years of age) watched a purpose-designed DVD for education about HH. Those with parental consent were then offered cheek-brush screening for C282Y. Students completed a questionnaire prior to screening. The program was offered to 9187 students at 32 schools and 3489 (38%) had screening. Nineteen C282Y homozygotes (1 in 183) and 376 heterozygotes (1 in 9.3) were identified. More than 90% of students answered each of five knowledge questions correctly. Eight homozygotes (42%) had elevated transferrin saturation, but only two (10.5%) had marginally elevated serum ferritin (SF). We have shown that genetic screening for HH can successfully be offered in the high school setting. Ongoing research in this study will answer questions about the impact of high school students learning that they are at risk of HH.

The integrated miniaturized electrostatic analyzer: A space plasma environment sensor.

The integrated Miniaturized Electrostatic Analyzer (iMESA) was a satellite-based ionospheric sensor that operated on NASA's Space Test Program Satellite (STPSat-3) from December 2013 to July 2019. The instrument's scientific objective was to (1) measure the plasma density in low Earth orbit, (2) measure the plasma temperature in low Earth orbit, and (3) quantify the spacecraft potential with respect to the ambient plasma potential in the ionosphere. iMESA sampled the ionosphere every 10 s by measuring the ion current density through the ESA as a result of the motion of the spacecraft through the plasma. Current density spectra were transmitted to the ground where they were post-processed into ion density spectra and then analyzed numerically to determine the ion density, ion temperature, and spacecraft potential. This article discusses the instrument design and simulation, the determination of a geometric factor, and data processing procedures and evaluates the final data product with regard to the mission success criteria. The ion density and ion temperature captured by the iMESA instrument are on the same order and range as the values predicted in the literature. The spacecraft potential was also quantified. The conclusion after the evaluation of the instrument's data product is that the scientific mission is successful on all three points.

Structure--activity relationships of the didemnins.

Bioactivities of 42 didemnin congeners, either isolated from the marine tunicates Trididemnun solidum and Aplidium albicans or prepared synthetically and semisynthetically, have been compared. The growth inhibition of various murine and human tumor cells and plaque reduction of HSV-1 and VSV grown on cultured mammalian cells were used to assess cytotoxicity and antiviral activity. Biochemical assays for macromolecular synthesis (protein, DNA, and RNA) and enzyme inhibition (dihydrofolate reductase, thymidylate synthase, DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, and topoisomerases I and II) were also performed to specify the mechanisms of action of each analogue. Immunosuppressive activity of the didemnins was determined using a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay. These assays revealed that the native cyclic depsipeptide core is an essential structural requirement for most of the bioactivites of the didemnins, especially for cytotoxicities and antiviral activities. The linear side-chain portion of the peptide can be altered with a gain, in some cases, of bioactivities. In particular, dehydrodidemnin B, tested against several types of tumor cells and in in vivo studies in mice, as well as didemnin M, tested for the mixed lymphocyte reaction and graft vs host reaction in murine systems, showed remarkable gains in their in vitro and in vivo activities compared to didemnin B.

Observations on the variability of plasma estriol.

Total plasma estriol and unconjugated plasma estriol were measured daily for 8 days in 9 women during the 38th week of pregnancy. The average coefficient of variation of total estriol concentration was 15.0%; that of unconjugated estriol was 16.5 per cent.

Plasma estrogens and pregnancy-associated plasma proteins: a study of their variability in late pregnancy.

The plasma concentration of several estrogens (unconjugated estradiol and estriol, total estriol, and estriol sulfate) and of the placental proteins hPL and PAPP-C were measured daily for 8 days in 9 subjects. The steroids showed coefficients of variation ranging from 14 to 21%. The proteins were much less variable (PAPP-C 5% and hPL 6%).

Treatment of luteal phase inadequacy with bromocriptine.

A group of 15 women diagnosed as having luteal phase inadequacy (LPI) and a history of 1--2 years of infertility were treated with bromocriptine continuously for 4 months. Plasma levels of prolactin, progesterone, 17 alpha-hydroxy-progesterone and estradiol were measured by radioimmunoassay in a control month and each of the treatment months. There was no significant improvement in the levels of the steroids over the 4-month period, although the prolactin levels were depressed, and 2 subjects became pregnant during the study.

Maternal plasma estrogens after dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate injection into the fetus.

To study the biogenesis of estrogens by the fetoplacental unit in late pregnancy, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was injected directly into the fetus and maternal blood sampled at intervals for 2 hours thereafter. There was no increase of estrone, estradiol, or estriol concentration in the maternal circulation.

The composition and concentration of umbilical cord plasma lipoproteins; their relationship to the birth weight and other clinical factors of the newborn.

The present studies confirmed that plasma obtained from individual umbilical cords contains very low density, low density and high density lipoprotein particles whose mean compositions are similar to those of the adult, though they are present in considerably lower concentrations. A fairly wide variation in both composition and concentration was found between different individuals. For full-term deliveries, a positive correlation (p less than 0.01) was found between the cholesteryl ester: free cholesterol ratio of the high density lipoprotein fraction and the birth weight, suggesting differences in the distribution of the particles that constitute this lipoprotein fraction. Otherwise, no correlation was found between the composition or concentration of any lipoprotein fraction and birth weight, gestation, sex or other factor investigated. Premature newborns (30-36 weeks) had concentrations of high density lipoproteins and cholesteryl ester: free cholesterol ratios of the high density lipoprotein that were markedly high in relation to their birth weights and in the same range as full-term newborns (37-40 weeks).

Fatty acid composition of liver lipids in rats fed brominated fatty acids.

Feeding rats diets containing brominated corn oil or di- or tetrabromostearate as the monoglyceride produced changes in fatty acid composition of liver lipids. Those changes associated with the feeding of brominated corn oil or tetrabromostearate could be explained by the accumulation of triglyceride, and the changes associated with the feeding of dibromostearate could result from the proliferation of a membrane system. A unique response to the feeding of diets containing brominated corn oil is an increase in the level of gamma-linolenic acid.

Changes in peripheral hormone levels after therapeutic abortion.

Plasma levels of progesterone, 17 alpha-OH progesterone, hPL and beta-subunit hCG were measured in a group of women for 24 h after therapeutic abortion. Progesterone, hCG and hPL levels fell more rapidly than 17 alpha-OH progesterone levels. This might suggest that the main site of synthesis of 17 alpha-OH progesterone is probably in the corpus luteum of pregnancy or that the prolonged half-life of hCG maintains the corpus luteum to secrete longer. Human placental lactogen fell dramatically within 4 h but the hCG level was maintained. This difference probably reflects only the differences in half-lives of these hormones.

PIP: Plasma levels of progesterone, 17 alpha hydroxyprogesterone (OHP), human placental lactogen (hPL), and beta-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were measured in 9 Australian and 10 Scottish therapeutic abortion patients for 24 hours after the procedure. Progesterone levels fell to 50% within 4 hours of termination and were at 15% of preabortion levels at 24 hours in the Scottish group. Among Australian subjects, the progesterone level fell to 26% of the pretermination value by 4 hours and to 6% of this after 24 hours. The mean level of 17 alpha-OHP was 83% of the pretermination value at 4 hours and 63% at 24 hours. There was no significant change in the circulating level of hCG within the 1st 4 hours; at 24 hours, the level was still 43% of the pretermination value. hPL fell drastically, to 14% of the basal level, within the 1st 4 hours and remained at this level for the next 18 hours. Changes at 24 hours were statistically significant for hPL, hCG, and progesterone. Thus, these 3 hormones can be considered reliable indices of outcome in cases of threatened abortion. The finding that 17 alpha-OHP falls more slowly than the other parameters suggests that it is primarily produced by the corpus luteum of pregnancy, or that the prolonged half-life of hCG maintains the corpus luteum to secrete longer.

Postburn breast reconstruction: tissue expansion prior to contracture release.

Tissue expansion of the scarred chest following burns results in a poor breast mound shape with little projection or inframammary fold, since the expander, like normal developing breast tissue, is kept flat by the scarred skin envelope. We present a case that demonstrates that adequate projection of the breast and formation of an inframammary fold can be achieved by expansion if extensive release and skin grafting of contractures over the breast mound are performed after expansion. Maintained expansion will act as a stent reducing secondary contracture of the grafted-areas.

Adnexal adenocarcinoma of the upper lip.

A case of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of adnexal origin in the upper lip of a man aged 75 is reported which on presentation and initial biopsy was thought to be a salivary neoplasm. He had been aware of the lesion for 10 years but had sought treatment because of recent increase in size of the tumour. He subsequently developed bilateral metastases in cervical nodes. The histopathologic features and relationship of the tumour to the orbicularis oris muscle were consistent with a poorly differentiated adnexal adenocarcinoma of sweat-gland origin. Although carcinomas of skin adnexae are rare they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of tumours in the orofacial region.

Synchronization of estrus in beef cows and heifers with prostaglandin F(2alpha) and estradiol benzoate.

An experiment was conducted to study an estrous synchronization regimen that involved the use of prostaglandin F(2alpha) (PGF(2alpha)) alone or in combination with estradiol benzoate (EB) and appointment breeding. Fifty-three registered Angus yearling heifers and 167 registered Angus cows (3 to 9 yr of age) were given two injections of PGF(2alpha) 11 d apart. Forty-eight hours after the second injection of PGF(2alpha') a random sample consisting of 117 cows and heifers was injected with EB in sesame seed oil. All females in the herd were artificially inseminated 80 h after the second injection of PGF(2alpha). Nearly equal percentages (25.1 vs 25.6%; P = 0.93) of treated (EB) and control (no EB) females conceived at the appointment breeding. Use of EB tended to reduce (P = 0.06) natural service conception rate (83.4 vs 93.1% for EB and control groups, respectively). Estrous synchronization treatment did not affect interval from Day 1 of the breeding season to calving.

Synchronization of estrus in beef cows and heifers with fenprostalene, cloprostenol sodium, and prostaglandin F2 alpha.

The effects of fenprostalene, cloprostenol sodium and prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2alpha) on estrus, conception rate, pregnancy rate, and the interval from Day 1 of the breeding season to calving were studied on 135 purebred Angus cows and heifers. The cows and heifers were randomly allotted within age to the three estrus synchronization treatments and a control group. The calving percentages (for cows and heifers combined) that resulted from artificial insemination (AI) were 32.3, 31.4, 43.6, and 51.1% for the control, fenprostalene, cloprostenol sodium, and PGF2alpha groups, respectively. The calving percentage during the AI period by ages of dam at breeding were 54.2% for yearling heifers, 30.5% for two-year-olds, 47.6% for three-year-olds, and 26.1% for four-year-old or older cows. The percentage of cows and heifers detected in estrus and the percentage that conceived after the first injection for control, fenprostalene, cloprostenol sodium, and PGF2alpha groups were 51.6 and 22.3%, 59.3 and 32.1%, 76.8 and 44.1%, and 66.6 and 50.2%, respectively. The intervals from Day 1 of the breeding season to calving and from Day 1 of the calving season within each treatment to the birth of each calf were control, 285.9 and 23.8 d; fenprostalene, 283.6 and 13.4 d; cloprostenol sodium, 285.5 and 6.5 d; and PGF2alpha, 284.0 and 11.1 d.

Creating a research culture: what we can learn from residencies that are successful in research.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite a growing need for family practice to contribute to the national primary care research agenda, the specialty is ill-equipped to assume a more active role. Information about residency programs that are successful in research is a valuable resource for increasing family medicine's research capacity. METHODS: A three-stage investigation was completed in May 1996, consisting of 1) a telephone survey of family practice residency program directors, 2) a mail survey of recent graduates from relatively successful programs identified in stage 1, and 3) in-depth interviews with the program directors or research directors identified by combining data from the first two stages. RESULTS: Most residents in the programs included in stage 2 completed a research project (68.7%) and currently have an interest in practice-based research (57.2%). Residents from programs selected for the study's final stage were more likely to have published a research article (32% versus 20.3%) and to have completed a project while a resident (81% versus 60.1%) than those from the programs not selected. Virtually unanimous characteristics of successful programs include program director support of research, time for research, faculty involvement, a research curriculum, professional support, and opportunities for presenting research. CONCLUSIONS: Individual family practice residencies can be considered to be at one of three levels with respect to their level of research activity: 1) relatively undeveloped, 2) developing, or 3) relatively developed. Programs can expect successful results if they make research a priority, and means are needed for communicating successful strategies between programs.

Developing a research program in a community-based department of family medicine: one department's experience.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing consensus that an improved research environment is needed for family medicine to continue to evolve. At the same time, there is relatively little discussion about practical ways to implement such an environment. Many believe that our efforts in this area lag far behind our accomplishments in education, training, and the practice of family medicine. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: This manuscript discusses one community-based academic department's experience in formulating and implementing a research program. By slowly involving faculty in research and by instructing and encouraging residents, a research environment can be incorporated into a residency program's routine. The approach described in this manuscript is evolutionary and relies on committing resources to research while slowly involving faculty and residents in the process. PROGRAM EVALUATION: Measures of research output (funding, publishing in refereed journals, and presenting at professional conferences) suggest that the program has achieved some momentum in the area of research. Although relatively modest by the standards of some university-based programs, the program's achievements demonstrate that a community-based, university-affiliated program can initiate a viable research effort. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience has taught us that implementing a research program is a relatively lengthy process comprised of multiple components. First, individual projects typically consist of a process of funding, presenting, and publishing. Sharing research results with colleagues locally and at professional meetings is an especially important socialization component of research and scholarship. Second, it is important to use refereed and nonrefereed journals as outlets for scholarship, since the process of writing is itself important, especially for family physicians who lack formal research training. Finally, funding proposals and publications almost always require revision and resubmission, a process which contributes to creating and further refining the skills needed by successful researchers.

Family practice residency program directors' views on research.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The culture of family practice training programs does little to convince residents that research is a worthwhile and important activity. The traditional dichotomy between research and clinical medicine persists today, despite an identified clinical mission for research. METHODS: As part of an effort to build the research capacity of family practice training programs, a telephone survey was administered in August 1995 to the program directors of all residency programs listed in the American Academy of Family Physicians 1995 Directory of Family Practice Residency Programs. The directors were asked about their program's research environment, features designed to promote research activity, and the level of resident research productivity. RESULTS: More than half (53.6%) of the program directors felt that their training program actively promotes research. Three out of four indicated that involving residents in research is a goal of their program. However, only four of 10 (40.8%) programs provide specific time for research, and family practice residents appear to be relatively inactive by conventional measures of research productivity. CONCLUSIONS: Research appears to be developing a limited role in family practice training programs. Resident research productivity remains relatively low and may be a result of residency programs not providing specific time for participating in research. However, the program directors' supportive attitudes may contribute to research and scholarly activity becoming an integral part of a family physician's training.

African-American males and prostate cancer: assessing knowledge levels in the community.

Although the available evidence indicates that African-American males are at risk for developing prostate cancer, little is known about the level of awareness among African Americans about prostate cancer or how receptive they are to screening. This study examined the level of knowledge African-American males have about prostate cancer and the factors affecting knowledge levels. Face-to-face interviews were conducted among a sample of African-American males older than 25 years. All respondents were asked if they knew what prostate cancer was (N = 897), and those older than age 40 (N = 556) answered a series of seven questions related to prostate cancer. An index was created that reflected respondents level of knowledge about prostate cancer. Slightly more than 19% of the sample scored relatively high on the index related to prostate cancer knowledge, but 30% answered three or fewer questions correctly. Income, marital status, education, and type of insurance were significantly related to a respondent's level of knowledge. Having a regular physician and discussing prostate screening with a physician were both positively related to a respondent's level of understanding. This study indicates that African-American men do not have adequate knowledge about prostate cancer. Although many African Americans may be getting the prostate cancer message, educational efforts need to be strengthened to reach the less affluent and the less educated. These findings also raise questions about why more African-American men are not being screened and why more primary care physicians are not discussing prostate cancer with their African-American patients.

Haematology, weight and condition of captive red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) infected with caecal threadworm (Trichostrongylus tenuis).

Red grouse infected with the caecal threadworm Trichostrongylus tenuis developed a mild anaemia. Haemoglobin and albumin levels in the blood fell but there were no significant changes in the number of red blood cells or their size. In infected birds the numbers of circulating eosinophils and heterophils increase, as did the concentration of alpha, beta and gamma globulin. Body weights did not change but muscle masses shrank. Birds that subsequently died had the lowest concentration of haemoglobin and packed cell volumes and the highest counts of eosinophils. The survivors were affected little by worms and their haematology showed small deviations from normal.