The Woods-Saxon Potential in the Dirac Equation

The two-component approach to the one-dimensional Dirac equation is applied to the Woods-Saxon potential. The scattering and bound state solutions are derived and the conditions for a transmission resonance (when the transmission coefficient is unity) and supercriticality (when the particle bound state is at E=-m) are then derived. The square potential limit is discussed. The recent result that a finite-range symmetric potential barrier will have a transmission resonance of zero-momentum when the corresponding well supports a half-bound state at E=-m is demonstrated.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to JPhys

Associer sylviculture et pâturage en forêt de production. Le cas du mélézin des Alpes du sud

Décrit la pérennité des peuplements et la stabilité de la ressource pastorale, la forêt communale de Saint-Vincent-les-Forts (04) et son mélézin, l'aménagement forestier du mélézin et son exploitation pastorale initiale et la réorganisation de la gestion pastorale et ses premiers résultats

What do people do with porn? qualitative research into the consumption, use and experience of pornography and other sexually explicit media

This article reviews qualitative research into the consumption of pornography and other sexually explicit media emerging from a range of subject areas. Taking a critique of quantitative methods and a focus on measuring sexual effects and attitudes as a starting point, it considers the proposition that qualitative work is more suited to an examination of the complex social, cultural and political constructions of sexuality. Examining studies into the way men, women and young people see, experience, and use explicit media texts, the article identifies the key findings that have emerged. Qualitative work shows that sexuality explicit media texts are experienced and understood in a variety of ways and evoke strong and often contradictory reactions, not all of which are represented in public debates about pornography. These texts function in a range of different ways, depending on context; as a source of knowledge, a resource for intimate practices, a site for identity construction, and an occasion for performing gender and sexuality. The article reviews these studies and their findings, identifying what they suggest about directions for future research, both in terms of developing methodology and refining approaches to sexuality and media consumption.</p

Comparative effects of teriparatide and ibandronate on spine bone mineral density (BMD) and microarchitecture (TBS) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a 2-year open-label study

Summary: Treatment effects over 2years of teriparatide vs. ibandronate in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were compared using lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS). Teriparatide induced larger increases in BMD and TBS compared to ibandronate, suggesting a more pronounced effect on bone microarchitecture of the bone anabolic drug. Introduction: The trabecular bone score (TBS) is an index of bone microarchitecture, independent of bone mineral density (BMD), calculated from anteroposterior spine dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. The potential role of TBS for monitoring treatment response with bone-active substances is not established. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of recombinant human 1-34 parathyroid hormone (teriparatide) and the bisphosphonate ibandronate (IBN), on lumbar spine (LS) BMD and TBS in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Methods: Two patient groups with matched age, body mass index (BMI), and baseline LS BMD, treated with either daily subcutaneous teriparatide (N = 65) or quarterly intravenous IBN (N = 122) during 2years and with available LS BMD measurements at baseline and 2years after treatment initiation were compared. Results: Baseline characteristics (overall mean ± SD) were similar between groups in terms of age 67.9 ± 7.4years, body mass index 23.8 ± 3.8kg/m2, BMD L1-L4 0.741 ± 0.100g/cm2, and TBS 1.208 ± 0.100. Over 24months, teriparatide induced a significantly larger increase in LS BMD and TBS than IBN (+7.6% ± 6.3 vs. +2.9% ± 3.3 and +4.3% ± 6.6 vs. +0.3% ± 4.1, respectively; P < 0.0001 for both). LS BMD and TBS were only weakly correlated at baseline (r 2 = 0.04) with no correlation between the changes in BMD and TBS over 24months. Conclusions: In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, a 2-year treatment with teriparatide led to a significantly larger increase in LS BMD and TBS than IBN, suggesting that teriparatide had more pronounced effects on bone microarchitecture than IBN

Switching the stereochemical outcome of 6-endo-trig cyclizations; Synthesis of 2,6-Cis-6-substituted 4-oxopipecolic acids

A base-mediated 6-endo-trig cyclization of readily accessible enone-derived α-amino acids has been developed for the direct synthesis of novel 2,6-cis-6- substituted-4-oxo-L-pipecolic acids. A range of aliphatic and aryl side chains were tolerated by this mild procedure to give the target compounds in good overall yields. Molecular modeling of the 6-endo-trig cyclization allowed some insight as to how these compounds were formed, with the enolate intermediate generated via an equilibrium process, followed by irreversible tautomerization/neutralization providing the driving force for product formation. Stereoselective reduction and deprotection of the resulting 2,6-cis-6-substituted 4-oxo-L-pipecolic acids to the corresponding 4-hydroxy-L-pipecolic acids was also performed

South Dakota Retained Ownership Demonstration

Seven hundred six calves representing 81 cow-calf producers were consigned to a custom feedlot. Steer calves (421 head) consigned in October weighed 562 Ib initially, gained 2.75 Ib per head daily, and averaged 1153 1b at slaughter after an average of 207 days on feed. Average cost of gain and profitability were $61.48 per cwt and -$86.61 per head, respectively. Steers consigned in January weighed 738 Ib initially, gained 3.36 Ib per head daily, and averaged 1,196 Ib at slaughter after 137 days on feed. Average cost of gain and profitability were $55.55 per cwt and 4123.1 1 per head, respectively. Heifers consigned in January weighed 683 Ib initially, gained 3.17 Ib per head daily, and averaged 1063 1b at slaughter after 122 days on feed. Average cost of gain and profitability were$58.39 per cwt and -$95.63 per head, respectively. Severe losses observed for 1993-94 were due to a crash in the carcass beef market in late May through July as compared to the previous 3years of the Retained Ownership Demonstration. As in previous years, average daily gain, days on feed and percentage of choice appear to be related to differences in profit between cattle

Menstrual cycle and timing of breast surgery in premenopausal node-positive breast cancer: Results of the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) Trial VI

Purpose It has been postulated that breast cancer surgery performed during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is associated with poorer outcome. Patients and methods We tested this hypothesis by evaluating disease-free survival (DFS) for 1033 premenopausal patients who received definitive surgery either during the follicular phase (n = 358) or the luteal phase (n = 675). All patients were enrolled in a randomized trial conducted between July 1986 and April 1993. All had node positive breast cancer and randomization was stratified by estrogen receptor (ER) status. AU patients received at least three cycles of adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF). The median follow-up was 60 months. Results Patients who underwent definitive surgery for breast cancer in the follicular phase had a slightly worse disease-free survival than those operated on during the luteal phase (five-year DFS percentage: 53% versus 58%; hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.94-1.38; P = 0.20). The effect was significantly greater for the subpopulation of 300 patients with ER-negative primaries (P = 0.02 interaction effect; five-year DFS percentages 42% vs. 59%; hazard ratio 1.60; 95% CI, 1.12-2.25; P 0.008). The effect of timing of surgery diminished for analyses based on lesser surgical procedures, e.g., excisional biopsies. In particular, no effect of timing was observed for fine needle aspiration procedures. Conclusion Surgical procedures which are more extensive than a fine needle aspiration biopsy might be associated with worse prognosis if conducted during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. This phenomenon was seen predominantly for high risk breast cancer with low levels or no estrogen receptors in the primary tumo

Spatial heterogeneity of benthic methane dynamics in the subaquatic canyons of the Rhone River Delta (Lake Geneva)

Heterogeneous benthic methane (CH4) dynamics from river deltas with important organic matter accumulation have been recently reported in various aquatic and marine environments. The spatial heterogeneity of dissolved CH4 concentrations and associated production and diffusion rates were investigated in the Rhone River Delta of Lake Geneva (Switzerland/France) using sediment cores taken as part of the éLEMO Project. Benthic CH4 dynamics within the complex subaquatic canyon structure of the Rhone Delta were compared (1) between three canyons of different sedimentation regimes, (2) along a longitudinal transect of the ‘active' canyon most influenced by the Rhone River, and (3) laterally across a canyon. Results indicated higher CH4 diffusion and production rates in the ‘active' compared to the other canyons, explained by more allochthonous carbon deposition. Within the active canyon, the highest diffusion and production rates were found at intermediate sites further along the canyon. Stronger resuspension of sediments directly in front of the river inflow was likely the cause for the variable emission rates found there. Evidence also suggests more CH4 production occurs on the levees (shoulders) of canyons due to preferred sedimentation in those locations. Our results from the heterogeneous Rhone delta in Lake Geneva further support the concept that high sedimentary CH4 concentrations should be expected in depositional environments with high inputs of allochthonous organic carbon

Hsp21potentiates antifungal drug tolerance in Candida albicans

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Characteristics of Sexual Abuse in Childhood and Adolescence Influence Sexual Risk Behavior in Adulthood

Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse has been associated with subsequent (adult) sexual risk behavior, but the effects of force and type of sexual abuse on sexual behavior outcomes have been less well-studied. The present study investigated the associations between sexual abuse characteristics and later sexual risk behavior, and explored whether gender of the child/adolescent moderated these relations. Patients attending an STD clinic completed a computerized survey that assessed history of sexual abuse as well as lifetime and current sexual behavior. Participants were considered sexually abused if they reported a sexual experience (1) before age 13 with someone 5 or more years older, (2) between the ages of 13 and 16 with someone 10 or more years older, or (3) before the age of 17 involving force or coercion. Participants who were sexually abused were further categorized based on two abuse characteristics, namely, use of penetration and force. Analyses included 1177 participants (n=534 women; n=643 men). Those who reported sexual abuse involving penetration and/or force reported more adult sexual risk behavior, including the number of lifetime partners and number of previous STD diagnoses, than those who were not sexually abused and those who were abused without force or penetration. There were no significant differences in sexual risk behavior between nonabused participants and those who reported sexual abuse without force and without penetration. Gender of the child/adolescent moderated the association between sexual abuse characteristics and adult sexual risk behavior; for men, sexual abuse with force and penetration was associated with the greatest number of episodes of sex trading, whereas for women, those who were abused with penetration, regardless of whether the abuse involved force, reported the most episodes of sex trading. These findings indicate that more severe sexual abuse is associated with riskier adult sexual behavior