Haemophilia

Although the nature of haemophilia has been understood for thousands of years, knowledge of its molecular genetics is recent. These X-linked bleeding disorders have diverse underlying DNA defects and, in 1992, DNA inversion within the X chromosome was found to explain half of the most serious cases of haemophilia A. The life-span and quality of-life for patients with haemophilia had improved steadily throughout the early 1980s but the principal cause of death remained intracranial haemorrhage until the epidemic of HIV infection due to contaminated factor concentrates. Infection with hepatitis C virus is almost universal for patients treated with clotting factors before 1985. No curative treatment is available for hepatitis C at present. Knowledge of the transmission of viruses in concentrates has led to important developments in processing techniques to eliminate them. Recombinant technology has produced factor VIII and, more recently, factor IX concentrate which is likely to be very safe. Development of inhibitors to factor concentrates (especially factor VIII) remains one of the most serious complications of haemophilia. The variety of treatments available testifies to the lack of a single universally efficacious one. The use of prophylactic treatment has been conclusively demonstrated to result in a preservation of joint function in severely affected patients who might otherwise develop significant joint problems. The many facets of the care of patients with severe haemophilia, ranging from dental care to genetic counselling, can be advantageously co-ordinated in a haemophilia comprehensive care centre

Development Of Third Harmonic Generation As A Short Pulse Probe Of Shock Heated Material

We are studying high-pressure laser produced shock waves in silicon (100). To examine the material dynamics, we are performing pump-probe style experiments utilizing 600 ps and 40 fs laser pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser. Two-dimensional interferometry reveals information about the shock breakout, while third harmonic light generated at the rear surface is used to infer the crystalline state of the material as a function of time. Sustained third harmonic generation (THG) during a similar to 100 kbar shock breakout indicate that the rear surface remains crystalline for at least 3 ns. However, a decrease in THG during a similar to 300 kbar shock breakout suggests a different behavior, which could include a change in crystalline structure.Mechanical Engineerin

The spin vector of Venus determined from Magellan data

A control network of the north polar region of Venus has been established by selecting and measuring control points on full-resolution radar strips. The measurements were incorporated into a least-squares adjustment program that improved initial estimates of the coordinates of the control points, pole direction, and rotation rate of Venus. The current dataset contains 4206 measurements of 606 points on 619 radar strips. The accuracy of the determination is driven by spacecraft ephemeris errors. An accurate estimate of the rotation period of Venus was obtained by applying an ephemeris improvement technique. The second cycle closure orbits improved ephemeris solutions for 40 orbits (376-384, 520-528, 588-592, 658-668, 1002-1010, 1408-1412, 1746-1764, and 2166-2170) are included and fixed in the geodetic control computations, thus trying the network to the J2000 coordinate system

On the equation of state of a dense columnar liquid crystal

An accurate description of a columnar liquid crystal of hard disks at high packing fractions is presented using an improved free-volume theory. It is shown that the orientational entropy of the disks in the one-dimensional fluid direction leads to a different high-density scaling pressure compared to the prediction from traditional cell theory. Excellent quantitative agreement is found with recent Monte-Carlo simulation results for various thermodynamic and structural properties of the columnar state.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Energy Efficiency Ratios of Surface Mining Systems for a Small Iowa Coal Mine

The normal criterion used to determine if a mining venture should be started or continued is its financial profitability. Energy efficiency is another criterion for dealing with public energy decisions. The energy efficiency ratios (output/input) of a large bulldozer, a scraper ripper, a small dragline, and a large dragline system were calculated for the Iowa Coal Project Demonstration Mine #1 (ICPDM #1) located between Oskaloosa and Bussey, Iowa. Even though the large dragline had the lowest cost and highest energy efficiency, it would not be used on this site without having other nearby sites available to allow long-term use

Water Table Level as Influenced by Tiling Method

Sections of the research farm were tiled in the fall of 1979. The primary reason for the tiling was to provide a good soil environment for large tillage trial plots that had been previously established. This was also used as an opportunity to install a comparison of tile installation with a conventional (at that time) trenching machine and a relatively new system of installing the tile with a trenchless “tile plow” machine. The tile plow inserted plastic tile using a mole approach, which opened the soil and inserted the tile without leaving an open trench, that would later require backfilling. The heaving of the soil by the tile plow did require packing and some soil manipulation to allow cropping. The primary reason for using this type of installation was cost. At the time of this installation, the cost of tiling could be reduced substantially (in some cases by over 50%) by using the plow method rather than the trench

Impact of Manure and N-Management Systems on Water Quality

Nitrate from fertilizers and manure application have been detected in the surface and ground water in many agricultural regions of the country including Iowa. The current practices of fertilizer application methods and rates are believed to be contributing significantly in the contamination of groundwater. Therefore, it is imperative that tillage and planting systems, regarded as best management practices for agricultural sustainability, minimize the potential for chemical runoff and leaching losses to groundwater with alternative chemical management systems. If the potential for contamination is not reduced by developing and successfully demonstrating the innovative nitrogen and pesticide management practices, the potential for contamination will remain and could result in additional regulations. Because of these concerns, researchers must develop alternative farming practices with the goals of reducing the input costs, and preserving the resource base for the sustainability of our agriculture and protecting the environment

Spatial Variability Analysis: A First Step in Site-Specific Management

Small-scale spatial variability of selected soil-test parameters in two adjacent central Iowa fields is discussed. We used semivariance analysis to detect the distance to which parameters were correlated and to estimate the strength of each correlation. Distinct differences in spatial dependence patterns were observed for the two farming systems

Monodisperse, polymeric microspheres produced by irradiation of slowly thawing frozen drops

Monodisperse, polymeric microspheres are formed by injecting uniformly shaped droplets of radiation polymerizable monomers, preferably a biocompatible monomer, having covalent binding sites such as hydroxyethylmethacrylate, into a zone, impressing a like charge on the droplet so that they mutually repel each other, spheroidizing the droplets within the zone and collecting the droplets in a pool of cryogenic liquid. As the droplets enter the liquid, they freeze into solid, glassy microspheres, which vaporizes a portion of the cryogenic liquid to form a layer. The like-charged microspheres, suspended within the layer, move to the edge of the vessel holding the pool, are discharged, fall and are collected. The collected microspheres are irradiated while frozen in the cryogenic liquid to form latent free radicals. The frozen microspheres are then slowly thawed to activate the free radicals which polymerize the monomer to form evenly-sized, evenly-shaped, monodisperse polymeric microspheres