Telephone multiline signaling using common signal pair

An operator can rapidly and automatically produce coded electrical signals by manipulating mechanical thumb wheel switches so as to instruct a service center to connect any number of telephone lines to the console thus enabling the operator to listen and/or talk over several lines simultaneously. The system includes an on-site console having several mechanically operated thumb wheel switches to which the desired lines to be connected can be dialed in. Electrical coded signals are fed to a number of banks of line AND gates representing units, tens and hundreds, a group of channel gates, and a command gate. These signals are gated out in a controlled manner to an encoder which generates tones that are transmitted over a single line to a communication service center

La Transformacion de una Economia: Observaciones de un Viaje a Mexico

This paper describes macroeconomic management and commercial policy reforms in Mexico during the 1980s and 1990s and reports the observations of a group of Costa Rican authorities and prominent businessmen who traveled to Mexico in June, 1991 in order to observe the implementation of these policy reforms. Interviews with government officials, private sector representatives and labor leaders are described. The government has been able to formulate a very effective and coherent strategy, based on rapid integration to the world economy and a change in the role of the state in the economy

Peripheral blood lymphocyte cell subsets in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: association with smoking, IgE and lung function

In contrast to the numerous studies which show that lymphocytes play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma, few studies have investigated the role of lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of the present study was to investigate lymphocyte subsets in peripheral venous blood of smoking and non-smoking COPD patients and healthy controls. The interaction of smoking and IgE has also been assessed, and it was investigated whether a lower level of FEV1 was associated with changes in lymphocyte subsets. In the present study, peripheral venous blood lymphocyte subsets were investigated in 42 smoking and non-smoking, non-atopic subjects with a clear diagnosis of COPD (43-74 years) who all used bronchodilator therapy only, and in 24 normal, healthy control subjects (40-72 years). No significant differences in lymphocyte subsets were found when either total groups or smoking subjects of both groups were compared. However, the percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes (suppressor/ cytotoxic T-cells) was significantly higher in the non-smoking COPD subjects compared with the non-smoking, healthy control subjects (P < 0.05). In addition, within the group of non-smoking COPD subjects, a higher CD4:CD8 ratio was associated with a higher FEV1 as a percentage of predicted (% pred.) (r = 0.55, P = 0.01) and a lower total serum IgE (r = -0.45, P = 0.04). Within the group of smoking COPD subjects, a higher FEV1 % pred. was associated with a higher percentage of CD19+ lymphocytes (B-cells) (r = 0.65, P < 0.01). The present study provides further evidence that the changes in the balance of T-cell subsets and IgE synthesis possibly plays a role in the pathogenesis of COPD

Clinically Actionable Hypercholesterolemia and Hypertriglyceridemia in Children with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in whom intervention for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglycerides was indicated based on National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: This multicenter, longitudinal cohort study included children with NAFLD enrolled in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network. Fasting lipid profiles were obtained at diagnosis. Standardized dietary recommendations were provided. After 1 year, lipid profiles were repeated and interpreted according to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction. Main outcomes were meeting criteria for clinically actionable dyslipidemia at baseline, and either achieving lipid goal at follow-up or meeting criteria for ongoing intervention. RESULTS: There were 585 participants, with a mean age of 12.8 years. The prevalence of children warranting intervention for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at baseline was 14%. After 1 year of recommended dietary changes, 51% achieved goal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 27% qualified for enhanced dietary and lifestyle modifications, and 22% met criteria for pharmacologic intervention. Elevated triglycerides were more prevalent, with 51% meeting criteria for intervention. At 1 year, 25% achieved goal triglycerides with diet and lifestyle changes, 38% met criteria for advanced dietary modifications, and 37% qualified for antihyperlipidemic medications. CONCLUSIONS: More than one-half of children with NAFLD met intervention thresholds for dyslipidemia. Based on the burden of clinically relevant dyslipidemia, lipid screening in children with NAFLD is warranted. Clinicians caring for children with NAFLD should be familiar with lipid management

National implementation of an optimal standardised technique for right-sided colon cancer:protocol of an interventional sequential cohort study (Right study)

Purpose: Minimally invasive right hemicolectomy (MIRH) is the cornerstone of treatment for patients with right-sided colon cancer. This operation has evolved during recent decades, with many innovations and improvements but this has also resulted in high variability of uptake with subsequent substantial variableness. The aim of this ongoing study is to identify current surgical variations, determine the most optimal and standardised MIRH and nationally train and implement that technique to improve short-term clinical and long-term oncological outcomes. Methods: The Right study is a national multicentre prospective interventional sequential cohort study. Firstly, current local practice was evaluated. Subsequently, a standardised surgical technique for right-sided colon cancer was determined using the Delphi consensus method, and this procedure was trained during hands-on courses. The standardised MIRH will be implemented with proctoring (implementation cohort), after which the performance will be monitored (consolidation cohort). Patients who will receive a minimally invasive (extended) right hemicolectomy for cT1-3N0-2M0 colon cancer will be included. The primary outcome is patient safety reflected in the 90-day overall complication rate according to the Clavien–Dindo classification. Secondary outcomes will include intraoperative complications, 90-day mortality rate, number of resected tumour-positive lymph nodes, completeness of mesocolic excision, surgical quality score, locoregional and distant recurrence and 5-year overall survival. A total number of 1095 patients (365 per cohort) will be included. Discussion: The Right study is designed to safely implement the best surgical practice concerning patients with right-sided colon cancer aiming to standardise and improve the surgical quality of MIRH at a national level. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04889456, May 2021.</p

Identification of genes encoding squalestatin S1 biosynthesis and in vitro production of new squalestatin analogues

A gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of squalestatin S1 (SQS1, 1) was identified by full genome sequencing of two SQS1-producing ascomycetes: Phoma sp. C2932 and unidentified fungus MF5453. A transformation protocol was established and a subsequent knockout of one PKS gene from the cluster led to loss of SQS1 production and enhanced concentration of an SQS1 precursor. An acyltransferase gene from the cluster was expressed in E. coli and the expressed protein MfM4 shown to be responsible for loading acyl groups from CoA onto the squalestatin core as the final step of biosynthesis. MfM4 appears to have a broad substrate selectivity for its acyl CoA substrate, allowing the in vitro synthesis of novel squalestatins

Radiative capture of protons by deuterons

The differential cross section for radiative capture of protons by deuterons is calculated using different realistic NN interactions. We compare our results with the available experimental data below $E_x = 20 MeV$. Excellent agreement is found when taking into account meson exchange currents, dipole and quadrupole contributions, and the full initial state interaction. There is only a small difference between the magnitudes of the cross sections for the different potentials considered. The angular distributions, however, are practically potential independent.Comment: 4 pages (twocolumn), 4 postscript figures included, submitted for publication, revised versio

The Landscape of Particle Production: Results from PHOBOS

Recent results from the PHOBOS experiment at RHIC are presented, both from Au+Au collisions from the 2001 run and p+p and d+Au collisions from 2003. The centrality dependence of the total charged particle multiplicity in p+p and d+Au show features, such as Npart-scaling and limiting fragmentation, similar to p+A collisions at lower energies. Multiparticle physics in Au+Au is found to be local in (pseudo)rapidity, both when observed by HBT correlations and by forward-backward pseudorapidity correlations. The shape of elliptic flow in Au+Au, measured over the full range of pseudorapidity, appears to have a very weak centrality dependence. Identified particle ratios in d+Au reactions show little difference between the shape of proton and anti-proton spectra, while the absolute yields show an approximate m_T scaling.Comment: 8 Pages, 11 Figures, Plenary talk at Quark Matter 2004, Oakland, CA, January 11-18, 200

Photonuclear Reactions of Three-Nucleon Systems

We discuss the available data for the differential and the total cross section for the photodisintegration of $^3$He and $^3$H and the corresponding inverse reactions below $E_\gamma = 100$ MeV by comparing with our calculations using realistic $NN$ interactions. The theoretical results agree within the errorbars with the data for the total cross sections. Excellent agreement is achieved for the angular distribution in case of $^3$He, whereas for $^3$H a discrepancy between theory and experiment is found.Comment: 11 pages (twocolumn), 12 postscript figures included, uses psfig, RevTe