Showing papers by "University of Alabama published in 1985"

Midazolam: pharmacology and uses.

Abstract: Midazolam is an imidazobenzodiazepine with unique properties when compared with other benzodiazepines It is water soluble in its acid formulation but is highly lipid soluble in vivo Midazolam also has a relatively rapid onset of action and high metabolic clearance when compared with other benzodiazepines The drug produces reliable hypnosis, amnesia, and antianxiety effects when administered orally, intramuscularly, or intravenously There are many uses for midazolam in the perioperative period including premedication, anesthesia induction and maintenance, and sedation for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures Midazolam is preferable to diazepam in many clinical situations because of its rapid, nonpainful induction and lack of venous irritation Compared with thiopental, midazolam is not as rapid acting nor predictable in hypnotic effect It will not replace thiopental as an induction agent Advantages of midazolam over thiopental are those of the more versatile pharmacologic properties of a benzodiazepine compared with a barbiturate such as amnestic and anxiolytic properties Midazolam should be a useful addition to the formulary

Bromocriptine as Primary Therapy for Prolactin-Secreting Macroadenomas: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study*

Abstract: To assess the effectiveness of bromocriptine in reducing the size of PRL-secreting macroadenomas with extrasellar extension, we conducted a prospective multicenter trial in patients without prior radiotherapy, applying a standard protocol of treatment and tumor size evaluation. Basal serum PRL levels [1441 +/- 417 (+/- SEM) ng/ml for women; 3451 +/- 1111 ng/ml for men] fell in all patients and to 11% or less of basal values in all patients but 1. Normal PRL levels were reached in 18 of the 27 patients. In 13 patients (46%), tumor size was reduced by greater than 50%, in 5 patients (18%) by about 50%, and in 9 patients (36%) by approximately 10-25%. The extent of tumor size reduction did not correlate with basal PRL, nadir PRL, percent fall in PRL, or whether PRL levels reached normal. However, a reduction in PRL levels always preceded any detectable change in tumor size. In 19 patients, reduction in tumor size was evident by 6 weeks, but in the other 8, such reduction was not noted until the 6 month evaluation. In the 4 patients in whom bromocriptine was discontinued at the end of 1 yr, tumor reexpansion occurred in 3. Visual fields improved in 9 of the 10 patients in whom they were abnormal. Because of the excellent results found in most of the patients in this series, we suggest that therapy with bromocriptine should be considered as initial management for patients with PRL-secreting macroadenomas.

Importance of Snag Habitat for Animal Production in Southeastern Streams

Abstract: The Satilla River in southeastern Georgia is a low gradient coastal plain stream with large quantities of woody debris (snags) along its banks. The major objective of this study was to assess the relative importance of the snag habitat as a site of invertebrate production in comparison to benthic habitats. This was accomplished from quantitative sampling of invertebrate habitats, analysis of drifting organisms, and gut analyses of the major fish species. Invertebrate diversity, biomass, and production were considerably higher on snag surfaces than in either sandy or muddy benthic substrates. Although snags represented a relatively small habitat surface (4% of total habitat surfaces), snags supported 60% of total invertebrate biomass and 16% of the production for a stretch of river. Drift densities from night samples collected throughout the year were relatively high, and approximately 78% of drifting invertebrate biomass originated from the snags. Four of the eight major fish species obtained at ...

The cleft ion fountain

Abstract: Low-energy (below approximately 50 eV) ionospheric ions, injected into the magnetosphere at the dayside cleft, are studied using data from the retarding ion mass spectrometer (RIMS) experiment on the Dynamics Explorer 1 satellite. It is concluded that upwelling ions at the cleft form an ion fountain and are blown into the polar cap by antisunward convection. At high Kp (>4), convection is generally strong enough to fill the entire polar magnetosphere with low-energy O+ ions, whereas at low kp (<2) they are largely restricted to the dayside half of the cap. Using a two-dimensional kinetic ion trajectory model, the locations where RIMS detected O+ within the cap are shown to be consistent with the spatial distributions of O+ density, predicted for an upwelling ion source at the cleft and various dawn-dusk convection electric fields. A detailed study is made of one polar pass of DE 1, during which RIMS detected He+, N+, O+, and O++ ions, the ion trajectory model being used to trace all these ions back to a common source at an observed upwelling ion event near the cleft. All observed species are deduced to be falling earthward in the nightside of the cap, as predicted from the model, indicating the dominance of gravity over upward field-aligned acceleration (such as by the ambipolar electric field). Comparison of field-aligned velocities observed for O+ and O++ ions defines a maximum limit to the upward electrostatic acceleration present within the cap which was only sufficient to eject ionospheric H+ ions, all heavier ions being supplied from the dayside by the cleft ion fountain.

Genetic Algorithms In Pipeline Optimization

Abstract: The application of a genetic algorithm to the steady state optimization of a serial liquid pipeline is considered. Genetic algorithms are search procedures based upon the mechanics of natural genet...

The effectiveness of smoking cessation methods for smokers in public health maternity clinics: a randomized trial.

Abstract: Little insight is available in the literature on how best to assist the pregnant smoker in public health maternity clinics to quit during pregnancy. A randomized pretest/posttest experiment was used to evaluate the effectiveness of two different self-help cessation methods. Three hundred and nine pregnant women from three public health maternity clinics were assigned randomly to one of three groups with one-third assigned to each: a control group; a group receiving the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking Manual; and those receiving A Pregnant Woman's Self-Help Guide to Quit Smoking. Using a saliva thiocyanate (SCN) and behavioral report at mid-pregnancy and end of pregnancy to confirm cessation or reduction, 2 per cent in the control group quit and 7 per cent reduced their SCN levels substantially. Of the women assigned to the ALA method, 6 per cent quit and 14 per cent reduced their SCN levels substantially. Of the women who used the Guide, 14 per cent quit and 17 per cent reduced their SCN ...

Extended family relationships, social support, and mental health in a southern black community

Abstract: Les perspectives contemporaines sur la famille noire suggerent que la famille etendue est une source essentielle de support social a l'interieur de la communaute noire. Les influences sur l'etat depressif d'un certain nombre de relations sociales sont examinees; on passe en revue: les dimensions de la parente etendue et la perception comparee du soutien venant de la parente et venant des non-parents. Les symptomes depressifs ont paru en raison inverse du soutien par la parente. L'effet tampon du soutien de la parente etendue sur les evenements existentiels n'est evident que chez les hommes. Il n'y a pas d'effet tampon du support social sur les facteurs chroniques de stress...

Chemical Budgets for Channel Catfish Ponds

Abstract: Budgets for water, nitrogen, phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand (organic matter), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were estimated over a growing season (March-October) for three Alabama ponds used for culture of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. In addition to rainfall and runoff, 190 cm of water were applied from a pipe line to offset seepage and evaporation. Production of each kilogram of live fish required 1.32 kg of feed and released to the water in metabolic wastes 51.1 g nitrogen, 7.2 g phosphorus, and 1.1 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD). Metabolic wastes resulting from production of 1 kg of fish led to the synthesis of an additional 2.59 kg of COD in photosynthesis. Thus, 1 kg of live fish resulted in 3.69 kg COD. Fish harvest accounted for only 26.8% of nitrogen, 30.1% of phosphorus, and 25.5% of organic matter (COD) applied in feed. The remainder of the nitrogen and organic matter was apparently lost from ponds for no accumulation of these substances was detected in muds. Denitrification and...

Rubber‐toughening in polypropylene

Abstract: To deformation and fracture behavior of several polypropylene (PP) and rubber-modified PP materials have been investigated. Plastic deformation mechanisms of these systems depend upon the test rate and temperature with high rates and low temperatures being in favor of crazing. The ductility and toughness of these materials are explained in light of the competition between crack formation and the degree of plastic deformation through crazing and shear yielding. The second phase morphology with smaller average rubber particle diameter D appears to be more efficient than that with larger D in toughening PP. Theoretical calculations indicate that the stresses imposed upon the rubber particles due to volume shrinkage of PP during crystallization are sufficient to compensate for the stresses due to differential thermal contraction in cooling from solidification temperature to end-use temperature. The difference between these two is small, and therefore they provide very little contribution to interfacial adhesion between rubber particle and PP matrix, the adhesion being insufficient for the rubber particles to be effective in controlling craze propagation. The rubber particles, in addition to promoting crazing and shear yielding, can also improve the fracture resistance of PP by varying the crystalline structure of PP (e.g., reducing the spherulite dimensions).

A Scale to Measure Attitudes toward Prisoners

Abstract: The construction and validation of the Attitudes toward Prisoners (ATP) scale are described. Factor analysis resulted in a 36-item Likert scale with the items correlating at least .47 with a genera...

Attitude change and information integration in fear appeals

Abstract: A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment investigated the combinatorial rule individuals use to integrate information about the components of a fear appeal. Individuals were presented information about a h...

Epidemiology and Transmission of Cytomegalovirus

Abstract: Although a great deal has been learned about cytomegalovirus (CMV), it remains the most important cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, a significant cause of transfusion-acquired infection (especially in small premature newborns), and a frequent cause of morbidity among organtransplant recipients and other immunocompromised patients. Continued development of antiviral drugs may eventually allow effective treatment of some CMV infections, but chemotherapy cannot be expected to be of much help in treating congenital CMV infections. Of primary maternal gestational infections, >90% are asymptomatic and therefore clinically undetectable [1-3]. Antiviral treatment of the newborn with congenital infection is not likely to reverse the damage done in utero. Prevention of CMV infections, especially in pregnant women, should be our ultimate goal. Immunization has been spectacularly successful against other viral infections, e.g., smallpox, measles, mumps, polio, and rubella. Congenital infection with rubella is now a rarity in the United States [4]. In addition, it appears that we will be able to reduce greatly the carriage of hepatitis B virus and attendant long-term sequelae by combined use of active and passive immunization of the newborn to prevent perinatal transmission of virus [5, 6]. Successful preventive strategies against these viral infections were employed by using immunization, and in each case knowledge of the epidemiology and transmission of the virus was a key element. Although multiple factors, including the need for a safe, effective vaccine, hinder application of previously successful approaches directly to CMV, the lack of information on CMV transmis-

Vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide in the treatment of malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary. A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study (a final report).

Abstract: Seventy-six patients with malignant germ cell tumors of the ovary received vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide (VAC) postoperatively. Fifty-four were treated after removal of all gross disease. The majority of these remain disease-free. Indeed, only 15 (28%) have failed, including 11 of 24 with pure endodermal sinus tumor, 3 of 11 (27%) with mixed germ cell tumor containing endodermal sinus elements, and only 1 of 20 with immature teratoma grade 2 or 3, a patient seen initially with recurrent disease. Postoperative VAC therapy, however, did not appear to be effective in patients with unresectable or incompletely resected germ cell tumors of the ovary. Fifteen of 22 patients (68%) with incompletely resected germ cell tumors failed VAC therapy, including 4 of 7 with pure endodermal sinus tumor, 5 of 5 with mixed germ cell tumors containing endodermal sinus elements, 2 of 2 with embryonal carcinoma, and 4 of 8 with immature teratoma. In failing, patients' median time to progression was 8 months. Dose-limiting toxicity was seen in 30% of the entire group. Combined cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin therapy now is being tested in this group of tumors.

Optimal Policy for a Two-Stage Assembly System under Random Demand

Abstract: This paper considers an inventory system in which an end product is assembled from two components, each of which is ordered from an external supplier. Only the end product has final demand, which is assumed to be random. Using the functional equation approach of dynamic programming, we characterize the forms of both the optimal order policy for the components and the optimal assembly policy of the end product for a multiperiod problem of arbitrary, but finite length. We believe that this work represents the only exact analysis of an MRP-type assembly system when demand is stochastic.

Optimal Allocation of Redundant Components for Large Systems

Abstract: This paper discusses allocating redundant components subject to resource constraints so as to optimize some measure of system performance. Two new exact algorithms are presented for the case where the objective and constraint functions are stagewise separable. Both are branch and bound algorithms. The first, BLE1, is based on an underlying knapsack structure, while the second, BLE2, exploits a multiple-choice knapsack structure. BLE1 can solve problems with 100 stages and 10 constraints in just a few seconds of CPU time on an IBM 3033. For larger problems, BLH, a heuristic procedure, is proposed. The heuristic is based on the ``slippery algorithm'' for knapsack problems. Computational testing indicates BLH often finds the optimal solution, and when it doesn't, the solutions are quite close to optimal.

The cleft ion fountain: A two‐dimensional kinetic model

Abstract: The transport of ionospheric ions from a source in the polar cleft ionosphere through the polar magnetosphere is investigated using a two-dimensional, kinetic, trajectory-based code. The transport model includes the effects of gravitation, longitudinal magnetic gradient force, convection electric fields, and parallel electric fields. Individual ion trajectories as well as distribution functions and resulting bulk parameters of density, parallel average energy, and parallel flux for a presumed cleft ionosphere source distribution are presented for various conditions to illustrate parametrically the dependences on source energies, convection electric field strengths, ion masses, and parallel electric field strengths. The essential features of the model are consistent with the concept of a cleft-based ion fountain supplying ionospheric ions to the polar magnetosphere, and the resulting plasma distributions and parameters are in general agreement with recent low-energy ion measurements from the DE 1 satellite.

S-1, S Policies for Perishable Inventory

Abstract: We consider S-1, S policies for a single item whose lifetime is fixed and known with certainty. Demands are generated by a stationary Poisson process and there is a positive leadtime for replenishment. We believe this study gives the only analysis for perishables with a positive order leadtime. The analysis involves the derivation of the stationary distribution of the S-dimensional stochastic process corresponding to the time elapsed since the last S orders were placed. This distribution is then used to obtain an expression for the expected cost rate of operating the system in steady state as a function of S. A computer program has been developed to compute optimal S values and expected annual costs. We report a computation for a variety of system parameters which show some of the unusual features of the problem. Finally, we show how this model can be used in the context of a problem of optimizing availability of operating equipment subject to scheduled maintenance as well as random failure.

Fairness and Formality: Minimizing the Risk of Prejudice in Alternative Dispute Resolution

Abstract: Presents an overview of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and contrasts the quality of justice it affords to that of the in-court variety. Concludes, based on social science literature, that ADR is likely to increase the risk of prejudicial behavior and outcomes, especially for disempowered disputants. Summarizes criticisms of ADR and suggests ways of lessening prejudice in alternative disputing without sacrificing its benefits of speed and low cost.

A method for quantifying F-actin in chemotactic peptide activated neutrophils: study of the effect of tBOC peptide.

Abstract: The studies presented here characterize a simple, quantitative NBDphallacidin extraction assay for determining the F-actin content of fMLP-activated neutrophils. The NBDphallacidin extraction assay is based upon the specificity of NBDphallacidin binding to F-actin and the solubility of NBDphallacidin in methanol. Cells are fixed, permeabilized, and stained with NBDphallacidin; the cells are then pelleted, the bound NBDphallacidin is extracted into methanol, and the RFI (excite 465; emit 535) of the solution is determined. Binding of NBDphallacidin to neutrophils is saturable and 90% of bound NBDphallacidin is displaced by nonfluorescent phalloidin. The extraction of bound NBDphallacidin into methanol is complete and the excitation/emission characteristics of NBDphallacidin are not altered by extraction. The assay is relatively inexpensive, applicable to the study of cells in suspension or on substratum, allows kinetic studies with 5-10s time resolution, and is not affected by the shape of the cell or the distribution of the probe. We used the NBDphallacidin extraction assay to study the kinetics of fMLP-induced change in the F-actin content of neutrophils and the effect of tBOC peptide, an inhibitor of fMLP binding, on these changes. The extraction assay reveals a rapid, sequential fMLP-induced increase followed by a decrease in F-actin content. The tBOC peptide inhibits fMLP-induced actin polymerization. Addition of tBOC during fMLP-induced polymerization or at times when F-actin content is maximal enhances F-actin depolymerization. The rate of F-actin depolymerization is greater than or equal to fourfold faster in the presence than in the absence of tBOC. The results show that The NBDphallacidin extraction assay is useful for studying the kinetics of change in F-actin content of nonmuscle cells; fMLP receptor occupancy is required for fMLP-dependent polymerization but not depolymerization; and both the actin polymerizing and depolymerizing processes are active in the cell within 5 s after fMLP stimulation. Implications of these observations for understanding the observed increase and, then, decrease in F-actin content of fMLP-activated cells are discussed.

Modernization, migration and obesity among Samoan adults.

Abstract: SummaryModernization and migration have biological as well as social effects on people. In this study, 2657 Samoan adults from Western Samoa, American Samoa and Hawaii were surveyed in an attempt to examine the relationships between modernization, migration and obesity. The Samoan men showed an increase in the frequency of obesity with increasing modernity of residence or occupation. While the women in American Samoa had the highest frequency of obesity of any subsample, Samoan women also demonstrated a pattern of higher adiposity in more modern jobs. Young women tended to show a negative relationship between obesity frequency and education, with college-educated women having the lowest average levels of adiposity. Time since migration to Hawaii was not found to exert a major effect on frequency of obesity.

Multiple criteria approach to the facilities layout problem

Abstract: Thin paper presents a multiple criteria model for combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to plant layout. The quantitative factor (work flow) is weighted by the qualitative factor (closeness rating) to form the model. The objective is to minimize the total weighted work flow volume between departments. An heuristic approach is used on an initial layout to improve it in a multiple puss step-by-step pairwise exchange. The results indicate that the model does an excellent job, especially in separating those departments which have an undesirable closeness rating.