Maternal serum total estrogens (O(T)) human placental lactogen (HPL), pregnancy specific β1-glycoprotein (SP1) and progesterone (P) were measured by enzymeimmunoassays (EIA) in pregnancies with placental insufficiency and low birthweight infants (LBWI). It was demonstrated that these cases could be classified into three groups: Group I: The low levels of placental hormones and O(T) were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.05 - p < 0.001), as well as with the low birthweight (p < 0.001) in pregnancies with placental insufficiency and LBWI, in which a high percentage (50%) were small for gestational age (SGA). Group II: In cases of simple placental insufficiency, the low levels of placental hormones showed a significant correlation with each other (p < 0.05) whereas only the rather normal O(T) values were correlated with the birthweight of the infant (p < 0.02). Group III: IN pregnancies with SGA, but without apparent placental insufficiency the normal concentration of placental hormones showed a high correlation with each other (p < 0.001) while only the subnormal O(T) levels were correlated significantly with the low infant birthweight (p < 0.05). SP1 values showed abnormally steep increase in cases with perinatal asphyxia.
The dynamical properties and stellar content of some cluster pairs in the LMC were studied, using UKST plates. Positive evidence was found for significant distortions in the density profiles of the clusters, particularly in the outer regions. These disturbances were interpreted as indications of dynamical interaction between the pair members. Some of the pairs were found to have very similar stellar content, and ages ranging from a few 107yr to several 108yr.
In 23 mechanically ventilated anuric (six) or oliguric (17) patients (< 16 ml/h of urine output) with severe gas exchange abnormality, we investigated the effect of furosemide on intrapulmonary shunt (Q̇S/Q̇T). Before and after 0.5, 1, and 2 h of IV administration of 200 mg of furosemide, we assessed the intrapulmonary shunt and PaO2 while patients' hemodynamic measurements were monitored. Ventilatory parameters remained constant throughout the study. While the urine output was minimal and no alteration in hemodynamic values was found, the Q̇S/Q̇T decreased from 27.7 ± 2.3 percent (mean ± SEM) at control to 24.3 ± 2.1 percent (p < 0.01) at 0.5 h, 21.7 ± 2.1 percent (P < 0.001) at 1 h, and 18.1 ± 1.8 percent (p < 0.001) at 2 h. The PaO2 showed no significant difference at 0.5 h but rose significantly from 96 ± 14 to 105 ± 14 mm Hg (p < 0.05) and 111 ± 14 mm Hg (p < 0.01) at 1 and 2 h, respectively. Since we observed no changes in hemodynamics, we speculate a direct effect of furosemide in the pulmonary vasculature affecting the ventilation-perfusion mismatch and, therefore, the Q̇S/Q̇T and PaO2.
We present ab initio calculations for dilute Fe alloys with 3d and 4d elements. The calculations are based on local-density approximation of density-functional theory and employ the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker Green’s-function method. Results are given for the densities of states, the local moments, and the magnetization oscillations around the impurities. A detailed comparison is made with measurements of the electronic specific heat, with neutron-scattering results for the moments of the impurity and the neighboring host atoms, and with magnetization measurements. Contrary to the case of Co and Ni alloys, the majority-spin band contributes most to the screening in the Fe alloys. This arises from the fact that the Fermi energy falls into the minimum of the minority-spin density of states. The results are in qualitative agreement with a proposed pseudogap theory and naturally explain why Fe alloys show such a complicated magnetic behavior.
Available from UMI in association with The British Library. Requires signed TDF. The purpose of this study is to achieve an improved and more complete understanding of the structure and evolutionary history of the Small Magellanic Cloud, the second nearest galaxy to our own. The study was focused on the northeastern and west/southwestern outer parts of the SMC, including populations at projected distances larger than 2.2 kpc from the centre of the SMC. These regions have scarcely been studied in detail in the past. The observational material consisted of good quality B and R photographic plates taken with the U.K. Schmidt Telescope in Australia, digitised by the COSMOS automatic microdensitometer and calibrated by a series of CCD photometric sequences obtained at the European Southern Observatory (with the 1.5m Danish Telescope) and at the Anglo-Australian Observatory (with the 4m Telescope). Colour-magnitude diagrams were constructed over the whole of the area measured. The analysis of the properties of these diagrams resulted in (a) establishing the population synthesis in the outer parts of the SMC as a function of position with respect to the centre, and (b) probing the geometrical structure (in three dimensions) of these outlying regions of the SMC, which led to the discovery of a significant line-of-sight depth in the NE outer parts. A study of the carbon star population in the SMC outer regions was also conducted, using UKST prism plates. The carbon stars were used as probes of the intermediate-age populations in the outer parts of the SMC.
The paper is an analysis of Plato's "proof" of the immortality of the soul in Phaedrus 245c-246a. It points out that the "proof" consists of two arguments: one intended to show that, as long as it exists, the soul does not cease to be alive, and one meant to demonstrate that the soul never ceases to exist.
Papadrakakis M, Dracopoulos MC. Improving the Efficiency of Preconditioning for Iterative Methods. In: Topping BHV Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Civil and Structural Engineering Computing ({CIVIL-COMP} 89). City University, London; 1989. pp. 297–306.
A recently proposed acceleration mechanism for ultra relativistic particles in the central engines of AGN's suggests that protons are the particles which are accelerated initially, and that these subsequently inject the electrons and positrons supposed responsible for the continuum emission. This model necessarily leads to the prediction of a strong flux of neutrons (with a luminosity at least as great as that in the photon continuum) from the central engine. We investigate some of the consequences of such a model. In particular, the neutron flux will, by means of spallation reactions, produce amounts of boron in the surrounding material which it may be possible to observe in the optical spectrum. In addition, the central engine will act as a source of high energy gamma-rays. Those which can propagate to the Earth (i.e., those with energy < 10^14^ eV) may be observed directly, whereas those of higher energy will be absorbed by radio photons from either the microwave background or the AGN itself. If this occurs in a typical interstellar magnetic field, the energy of the gamma-rays will be reradiated in the form of X-rays.
Most studies of the morphological and structural properties of the SMC to date were based on very young and young populations essentially confined in space to the bar, arms, and wing. In this project, the authors cover a much larger area of the SMC and a much broader range in ages, with the purpose of performing a thorough study of the structure and population synthesis in the outer regions of the SMC.
A case of pure rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis is reported. The origin of these tumors is discussed and it is believed that they are teratomas with rhabdomyoblastic overgrowth of the cells. Prophylactic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is recommended at the time of the orchiectomy, in those cases where there is no evidence of lymph node metastases.
An unusual presentation of a renal pelvis squamous cell carcinoma is reported; a loin sinus with excessive pyorrhea was the only complaint of a man with a long history of renal calculus disease.
An area of 48.5 square degrees covering the north-east and south-west outer regions of the Small Magellanic Cloud is studied with the use of the UK-Schmidt Telescope plates (taken from B_J_ and R filters). The plates were measured with the COSMOS microdensitometer and calibrated with a number of charge-coupled devices to observe sequences in the region. The resulting data set will be used for a detailed study of stellar populations and the geometry of the Small Magellanic Cloud outer regions. In this paper the production of the data set and an assessment of its accuracy are presented.
The three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the old disc and halo populations in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) outlying (projected distances from the optical centre larger than 2kpc) north-eastern and south-western regions is presented. The magnitudes of the Horizontal Branch (HB)/clump stars in these regions are used as distance indicators. It is shown that in the north-eastern regions there is a significant line-of-sight depth of 17kpc on average, reaching a maximum value of 23kpc. These regions are ~10kpc deeper than the south-western regions. This result is attributed to the disruptive effect of the tidal field of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) on the SMC. The possibility of the existence of two separate entities along the line-of-sight is examined.
The observed X-ray spectra reported by the GINGA and MIR-HEXE satellite experiments contain information on the metallicity of the Supernova's expanding envelope. Using a Monte Carlo code to simulate the Compton degradation of the ^56^Co -produced γ-rays, we calculate the emerging X-ray spectrum for various metallicities. The observed spectra are compatible with a low (less than solar) metal abundance, while an additional soft component, independent of the ^56^Co source is probably required in order to account for the data. The evolution of the spectral hardness is used as a sensitive indicator of the nature of the soft component, and of the possible contribution of an imbedded pulsar to the X-ray spectrum.
Στο μονόπρακτο "Ο Πράσινος Παπαγάλος" - που ο Σνίτσλερ χαρακτηρίζει <γκροτέσκο> - το θέμα είναι η σχέση ανάμεσα στην αλήθεια και το θέατρο, την ψευδαίσθηση και την πραγματικότητα, είναι ο προβληματισμός γύρω από την αισθητική στάση απέναντι στη ζωή: την παραμονή της Επανάστασης Γάλλοι αριστοκράτες παρακολυθούν σ' ένα καπηλειό του Παρισιού μια ιδιότυπη παράσταση. Ηθοποιοί παριστάνουν θαμώνες του καπηλειού, πόρνες, απατεώνες και δολοφόνους που έρχονται να πιούν και να διηγηθούν τα δήθεν κατορθώματα και τα εγκλήματά τους που στρέφονται πάντα κατά των αριστοκρατών. Οι ευγενείς έρχονται για να αισθανθούν έντονες συγκινήσεις και απολαμβάνουν την - όπως νομίζουν - φαινομενική απειλή εναντίον τους. Στην πραγματικότητα ακούν αυτό που τους μέλλεται. Την ίδια στιγμή ξεσπάει έξω, στους δρόμους του Παρισιού, σαν <σιγανό βουητό κεραυνού> η Γαλλική Επάνασταση.
