Some notes on the action of African cobra venom (Naja haja)

The following research las conducted by me while holding the Vans Dunlop Scholarship in Materia Medica. Professor Sir Thomas R. Fraser suggested as a subject of enquiry the investigation of the action of the venom of the African Cobra (Naja Raja), and placed at my disposal an ample supply of this venom. He himself had obtained in 1895 and 1896 a number of the dried poison glands from Mr. J. W. Dari - Pùttén of the Clan ';william district of South Africa, and from them had extracted the venom in a nearly pure state

Observations of energetic low frequency current fluctuations in the Charlie-Gibbs fracture zone

Also published as: Journal of Marine Research 36 (1978): 725-734Relatively energetic low frequency fluctuations in horizontal currents are found to exist below the thermocline in the northern trough of the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone. For example, deep eddy kinetic energy levels there are about twice as large as those observed at similar relative depths in the MODE-I region. Eddy kinetic energies are about 2-10 times larger than mean kinetic energies. The vertical distribution of eddy kinetic energy is frequency dependent, increasing toward the thermocline for the longer time scales and intensifying toward the bottom at higher frequencies. In addition to the expected mean westward motion of Norwegian Sea Overflow Water through the northern trough of the fracture, rather consistent mean southward flow is observed at a depth immediately above the overflow.Prepared f or the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-76-C-0197; NR 083- 400

Comparative Efficiency Assessment of Primary Care Models Using Data Envelopment Analysis

This paper compares the productive efficiencies of four models of primary care service delivery in Ontario, Canada, using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. Particular care is taken to include quality of service as part of our output measure. The influence of the delivery model on productive efficiency is disentangled from patient characteristics using regression analysis. Significant differences are found in the efficiency scores across models and within each model. In general, the fee-for-service arrangement ranks the highest and the community-health-centre model the lowest in efficiency scoring. The reliance of our input measures on costs and number of patients, clearly favours the fee-for-service model. Patient characteristics contribute little to explaining differences in the efficiency ranking across the models.Productive Efficiency; DEA; Primary Health Care

Observations of energetic low frequency current fluctuations in the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone

Relatively energetic low frequency fluctuations in horizontal currents are found to exist below the thermocline in the northern trough of the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone. For example, deep eddy kinetic energy levels there are about twice as large as those observed at similar relative depths in the MODE-I region. Eddy kinetic energies are about 2-10 times larger than mean kinetic energies...

Exploratory observations of abyssal currents in the South Atlantic near Vema Channel

Vema Channel (nominal location 30S, 40W) is a major passage for the flow of Antarctic Bottom Water on its way northward from the Argentine Basin to the Brazil Basin. New data based on approximately year-long current meter deployments at abyssal depths yield mean or time-averaged kinetic energies as strong as 240 cm2s−2, and eddy kinetic energies from 8 to 40 cm2s−2. We observe a persistent northward flow of AABW with maximum speed near 40 cm s−1, as is found at abyssal depths in the vicinity of the Gulf Stream. The highest value of mean kinetic energy in Vema Channel (240 cm2 s−2) is much larger than that (∼20 cm2 s−2) found in the flow of Antarctic Bottom Water near the Ceara Rise, and comparable to values of 220 cm2 s−2 for the southward flow of North Atlantic Deep Water on the Blake-Bahama Outer Ridge. Existing observations of mean kinetic energy at locations near the Gulf Stream System do not exceed 100 cm2 s−2 in the abyssal depth range.Eddy kinetic energies of 8 cm−2 s−2 are comparable to estimates (at similar depths) from areas at roughly equivalent latitudes, like MODE (Mid-Ocean Dynamics Experiment, nominal location 28N, 70W). However, abyssal kinetic energies as large as 40 cm2 s−2 are normally found only near strong current regimes, in contrast to values of roughly 1 cm2 s−2 in the ocean interior. Values of 18 to 64 cm2 s−2 have been observed near the southward flow of North Atlantic Deep Water on and adjacent to the Blake-Bahama Outer Ridge near 30N, and up to 20 cm2 s−2 in the flow of Antarctic Bottom Water over the Ceara Rise. The strongest abyssal eddy field yet observed, ∼100 to 150 cm2 s−2, occurs near the Gulf Stream

A Cost-Consequences Analysis of a Primary Care Librarian Question and Answering Service

Background - Cost consequences analysis was completed from randomized controlled trial (RCT) data for the Just-in-time (JIT) librarian consultation service in primary care that ran from October 2005 to April 2006. The service was aimed at providing answers to clinical questions arising during the clinical encounter while the patient waits. Cost saving and cost avoidance were also analyzed. The data comes from eighty-eight primary care providers in the Ottawa area working in Family Health Networks (FHNs) and Family Health Groups (FHGs). // Methods - We conducted a cost consequences analysis based on data from the JIT project. We also estimated the potential economic benefit of JIT librarian consultation service to the health care system. // Results - The results show that the cost per question for the JIT service was $38.20. The cost could be as low as$5.70 per question for a regular service. Nationally, if this service was implemented and if family physicians saw additional patients when the JIT service saved them time, up to 61,100 extra patients could be seen annually. A conservative estimate of the cost savings and cost avoidance per question for JIT was $11.55. // Conclusions - The cost per question, if the librarian service was used at full capacity, is quite low. Financial savings to the health care system might exceed the cost of the service. Saving physician's time during their day could potentially lead to better access to family physicians by patients. Implementing a librarian consultation service can happen quickly as the time required to train professional librarians to do this service is short

Proposals for the proving and exploitation of the Buller Gorge uranium field

The discovery was followed by extensive prospecting in the area and early in 1956, prospectors employed by Nelson Lime and Marble Co. Ltd. found highly radioactive conglomerate boulders in the Buller River, in the vicinity of the original discovery. Chemical assays of samples from these boulders have yielded up to 2% U3O8. The third, and so far the most significant discovery was the finding of a radioactive horizon in Uranium Creek, on the north side of the Buller River, at an elevation of approximately 1200 feet. This horizon (the "A” horizon) has been traced over a distance of over one mile. Subsequently, other radioactive outcrops, at higher elevations, have been located in the Hawks Crag Braccia. The work was done by prospectors employed by Mr. T. J. McKee (of Lime and Marble Ltd., Nelson) who holds Mineral Prospecting Warrants covering the area containing the uranium outcrops. The Rio Tinto group displayed an interest in the uranium discoveries when in November 1956, geologists from Rio Australian Exploration Pty. Ltd., inspected the uranium outcrops and made an airborne scintillometer reconnaissance survey of the area. The results were generally negative, with an absence of both strong "background and significant radioactive anomalies. Although they hold extensive applications for Mineral Prospecting Warrants over ground on the south side of the Buller River, no subsequent field interest has been shown by Rio Tinto. Two geologists of the N.Z. Geological Survey have been in the area for the past two years. Aerial photographs were used extensively for mapping, for the compilation of a contour map, and for structural interpretations. Mines Department surveyors triangulated the area and mapped two of the radioactive horizons by stadia traverse. The construction of an access road from the Tiriroa railway siding up the steep slope to Dee Point ridge (see Fig. 2) was financed by the Mines Department. To date, the only consistent prospecting efforts have been made by the team employed by McKee, whose finances are limited. Mining and geological officials from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority have inspected the uraniferous horizons and the appointment to the area of one of their geologists in September 1958 probably means that proving of the deposit will be undertaken. [Introduction

Endogenous reductions in N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor activity inhibit nitric oxide production in the anoxic freshwater turtle cortex

AbstractIncreased nitric oxide (NO) production from hypoxic mammalian neurons increases cerebral blood flow (CBF) but also glutamatergic excitotoxicity and DNA fragmentation. Anoxia-tolerant freshwater turtles have evolved NO-independent mechanisms to increase CBF; however, the mechanism(s) of NO regulation are not understood. In turtle cortex, anoxia or NMDAR blockade depressed NO production by 27±3% and 41±5%, respectively. NMDAR antagonists also reduced the subsequent anoxic decrease in NO by 74±6%, suggesting the majority of the anoxic decrease is due to endogenous suppression of NMDAR activity. Prevention of NO-mediated damage during the transition to and from anoxia may be incidental to natural reductions of NMDAR activity in the anoxic turtle cortex