Contourograph display system for monitoring electrocardiograms

Electrocardiogram is displayed as a contourogram on the cathode ray tube of a variable-persistence oscilloscope. Each cycle is stacked below its predecessors giving a three dimensional effect. A major change in the signal is apparent as a change in the contourogram pattern

Automated analysis of blood pressure measurements (Korotkov sound)

Automatic system for noninvasive measurements of arterial blood pressure is described. System uses Korotkov sound processor logic ratios to identify Korotkov sounds. Schematic diagram of system is provided to show components and method of operation

Apparatus and method for processing Korotkov sounds

A Korotkov sound processor, used in a noninvasive automatic blood measuring system where the brachial artery is occluded by an inflatable cuff, is disclosed. The Korotkoff sound associated with the systolic event is determined when the ratio of the absolute value of a voltage signal, representing Korotkov sounds in the range of 18 to 26 Hz to a maximum absolute peak value of the unfiltered signals, first equals or exceeds a value of 0.45. Korotkov sound associated with the diastolic event is determined when a ratio of the voltage signal of the Korotkov sounds in the range of 40 to 60 Hz to the absolute peak value of such signals within a single measurement cycle first falls below a value of 0.17. The processor signals the occurrence of the systolic and diastolic events and these signals can be used to control a recorder to record pressure values for these events

Implications of the Optical Observations of Neutron Stars

We show that observations of pulsars with pulsed optical emission indicate that the peak flux scales according to the magnetic field strength at the light cylinder. The derived relationships indicate that the emission mechanism is common across all of the observed pulsars with periods ranging from 33ms to 385 ms and ages of 1000-300,000 years. It is noted that similar trends exist for $\gamma$ ray pulsars. Furthermore the model proposed by Pacini (1971) and developed by Pacini and Salvati (1983,1987) still has validity and gives an adequate explanation of the optical phenomena.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Socio-ecological analysis of natural resource use in Betampona Strict Natural Reserve

Without an adequate understanding of the socio-political context in which a natural environment is embedded, it is impossible to prevent, mitigate and adapt to future unwanted changes in the socio - ecological system. It is advantageous for environmental managers to see the social aspects of the socio-ecological system so that they can understand not only the effects but also the motivations of natural resource use. In Madagascar, lemurs and other mammalian wildlife are hotly contested resources because they are threatened and endemic biodiversity and yet are hunted for food throughout the island. Using semi - structured interviews in nearly 300 households in 19 communities surrounding the Betampona Strict Natural Reserve, our team found that more than 60 % of households had consumed wildlife within the past year, with approximately a quarter of wildlife harvest being illegal and nearly 95 % of wildlife harvest being directed to subsistence consumption and not for sale. Although rates of wildlife consumption were quite low throughout the region, we found a strong effect of the pres­ence of the Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group research station. We found that the rates of wildlife consumption increased by 1.3 times for each kilometer distance from the station. Due to the low rates of wildlife consumption, we did not find a significant impact on human health and anemia (as measured through hemoglobin levels), and very low prevalence of anemia generally compared to other regions of Madagascar. Wildlife consumption does not appear to play a tremendous economic or health role in the communities surrounding this particular protected area, and thus increased enforcement of seasonal infractions of legal species and of all illegal species would be warranted. To improve current levels of nutrition, targeted interventions could focus on domesticated livestock diseases that plague the region.  RÉSUMÉLorsque des changements inopinés surviennent dans un sys­tème socio-écologique, il est impossible de prévenir, d’atté­nuer et d’adapter si le contexte socio-politique dans lequel un environnement naturel évolue n’est pas bien compris. Les gestionnaires de l’environnement ont tout intérêt à considérer les aspects sociaux du système socio-écologique de manière à comprendre non seulement les effets de l’utilisation des res­sources naturelles mais aussi ce qui motive cette utilisation. A Madagascar, les lémuriens et d’autres mammifères sont des ressources vivement contestées car ces espèces sont mena­cées et tout en représentant la biodiversité endémique, elles sont cependant chassées pour leur viande sur l’ensemble de l’île. En utilisant des entretiens semi-structurés auprès de 300 ménages dans 19 communautés villageoises de la périphérie de la Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Betampona, la présente étude a montré que plus de 60 % des ménages avaient consommé du gibier au cours de l’année écoulée dont environ un quart de manière illégale et près de 95 % pour répondre à des besoins de subsistance mais pas pour la vente. Bien que les taux de consommation de gibier étaient plutôt faibles sur l’ensemble de la région, un fort effet de la présence de la station de recherche de Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group a été noté avec des taux de consommation de gibier multipliés par un facteur de 1,3 pour chaque km distant de la station de recherche. En raison des faibles taux de consommation de gibier, aucun impact signifi­catif sur la santé humaine et l’anémie n’a été observé (tel que mesuré par le taux d’hémoglobine) et une prévalence extrême­ment faible de l’anémie générale par rapport à d’autres régions de Madagascar. La consommation de gibier ne semble pas jouer un rôle économique ou sanitaire majeur pour les communautés de la périphérie de cette aire protégée en particulier, de sorte qu’il serait justifié d’appliquer plus strictement les lois portant sur le calendrier de chasse du gibier autorisé et l’interdiction de chasser d’autres espèces. Pour améliorer les niveaux actuels de la nutrition, des interventions ciblées pourraient se concentrer sur les maladies des animaux domestiques qui sévissent dans la région.

Collective Modes in Strongly Coupled Elecronic Bilayer Liquids

We present the first reliable calculation of the collective mode structure of a strongly coupled electronic bilayer. The calculation is based on a classical model through the $3^{rd}$ frequency-moment-sum-rule preserving Quasi Localized Charge Approximation, using the recently calculated Hypernetted Chain pair correlation functions. The spectrum shows an energy gap at $k=0$ and the absence of a previously conjectured dynamical instability.Comment: 4 pages, 4 .ps figure

Observation of cosmic ray positrons from 5 to 25 GeV

The positron data gathered in conjunction with electron data published elsewhere is reported. The basic recognition scheme was to look for low mass positive particles that cause a cascade in a 7 radiation length shower counter. The mass criteria is imposed by selecting particles that were accompanied by Cherenkov light but whose rigidity was below the proton Cherenkov threshold. Thus the proton Cherenkov threshold represents an upper limit to the range of the experiment

Unpulsed UBV Optical Emission from the Crab Pulsar

Based on observations of the Crab pulsar using the TRIFFID high speed imaging photometer in the UBV bands using the Special Astrophysical Observatory's 6m telescope in the Russian Caucasus, we report the detection of pronounced emission during the so-called `off' phase of emission. Following de-extinction, this unpulsed component of emission is shown to be consistent with a power law with an exponent of alpha = -0.60 +/- 0.37, the uncertainty being dominated by the error associated with the independent CCD photometry used to reference the TRIFFID data. This suggests a steeper power law form than that reported elsewhere in the literature for the total integrated spectrum, which is essentially flat with alpha ~ 0.1, although the difference in this case is only significant at the ~ 2 sigma level. Deeper reference integrated and TRIFFID phase-resolved photometry in these bands in conjunction with further observations in the UV and R region would constrain this fit further.Comment: 26 pages, 2 figures, uses aasms4.sty, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Promotions on Newport and Marlboro Cigarette Packages: A National Study

INTRODUCTION: While cigarette pack designs are part of integrated marketing efforts, it is unclear the degree to which packs are used to advertise promotions and whether the tobacco retailers' neighborhood characteristics influence the likelihood and type of pack-based promotion in the United States. METHODS: Between June and October 2012, data collectors purchased packs of either Marlboro Red (n = 1090) or Newport Green (n = 1057) cigarettes at 2147 stores that were part of a national sample of tobacco retailers in the contiguous US. Coders rated packs for the presence of an exterior and interior pack promotion, placement of exterior promotion (eg, front, back), presentation of exterior promotion (eg, onsert, tear strip), and nature of the promotion (eg, contest/give/away). Using Census tract data, we examined the association of pack promotions with tobacco retailers' neighborhood demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Marlboro packs were approximately twice as likely to have promotions as Newport packs (31.7% vs. 14.7%). Fewer Marlboro packs (14.6%) and no Newport packs had interior promotions. The majority of exterior promotions were for contests (>80% for both brands), while almost all interior Marlboro promotions (97.5%) were for a discounted price. There were few differences in presence or type of promotion by tobacco retailers' neighborhood characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Exterior packs promotions, in particular, were fairly common and may contribute to the allure of tobacco products. IMPLICATIONS: Use of promotions on the interior and exterior of cigarette packs are a mechanism that the tobacco industry uses to sell its products and should be continually assessed for their influence on consumer behavior