Performance evaluation for an optical hybrid switch with circuit queued reservations.

We provide here a new loss model for an optical hybrid switch that can function as an optical burst switch or optical circuit switch or both simultaneously. We introduce the feature of circuit queued reservation. That is, if a circuit request arrives and cannot find a free wavelength, and if there are not too many requests queued for reservations, it may join a queue and wait until such wavelength becomes available.

Quantifying CBF with pulsed ASL: technical and pulse sequence factors.

We summarize here current methods for the quantification of CBF using pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) methods. Several technical issues related to CBF quantitation are described briefly, including transit delay, signal from larger arteries, radio frequency (RF) slice profiles, magnetization transfer, tagging efficiency, and tagging geometry. Many pulsed tagging schemes have been devised, which differ in the type of tag or control pulses, and which have various advantages and disadvantages for quantitation.

Management of central nervous system lymphomas using monoclonal antibodies: challenges and opportunities.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) may change the management of central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas. This is due to the fact that traditional chemotherapies lack specificity for B-lymphoma cells and blood-brain barrier prevents adequate chemotherapy dosing in the CNS without significant systemic side effects. But in the past 5 years, the emergence of mAbs against specific receptors on B-lymphoma cells, either as a single agent or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapies, may offer a better therapeutic index than conventional chemotherapies.

Resistin in preterm and term newborns: relation to anthropometry, leptin, and insulin.

This study aimed to investigate 1) the plasma resistin concentration at birth, 2) the relationship of resistin with leptin and insulin, and 3) the association of resistin with anthropometric indexes in newborn infants. Blood samples for hormonal assay were obtained from preterm and term newborns within the first 2 h of life and before milk feeding or energy intake. Although these infants required blood sampling for clinical reasons, all were proved to be noninfected.

Carbon nanotube Schottky diodes using Ti-Schottky and Pt-Ohmic contacts for high frequency applications.

We have demonstrated Schottky diodes using semiconducting single-walled nanotubes (s-SWNTs) with titanium Schottky and platinum Ohmic contacts for high-frequency applications. The diodes are fabricated using angled evaporation of dissimilar metal contacts over an s-SWNT. The devices demonstrate rectifying behavior with large reverse bias breakdown voltages of greater than -15 V.

Improvement of feeding independence in end-stage cancer patients under palliative care--a prospective, uncontrolled study.

Purpose: Feeding independence is important to improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients receiving palliative care. Studies on feeding independence among cancer patients under palliative care are unavailable. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of occupational therapy in promoting feeding independence in end-stage cancer patients in palliative care.

Anti-SARS-CoV IgG response in relation to disease severity of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Background: The association between a robust or depressed antibody response and clinical severity of SARS remains unknown.

Objectives: To study seroconversion and the magnitude of IgG responses in a SARS cohort with different disease severities.

Study Design And Method: A retrospective analysis of all acute and convalescent-phase sera collected from a cohort of laboratory-confirmed SARS cases.

Ghrelin in preterm and term newborns: relation to anthropometry, leptin and insulin.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate (i) the plasma ghrelin concentration at birth, (ii) the relationship of ghrelin with metabolic hormones, including leptin and insulin, and (iii) its association with anthropometric parameters, in appropriately grown preterm (23-36 weeks gestation) and term (37-42 weeks gestation) newborns.

Patients And Methods: Blood samples for hormonal assay were obtained from preterm (n = 81) and term newborns (n = 40) within the first 2 h of life and before milk feeding or energy intake. The relationship between plasma ghrelin and other metabolic hormones or anthropometric parameters was evaluated.

The Geriatric Depression Scale should be shortened: results of Rasch analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the unidimensionality, item fit, redundancy and differential item functioning (DIF) of the 15-item version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) in a community sample of 300 Hong Kong Chinese patients with pneumoconiosis.

Methods: Participants were randomly selected from the case register of the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board of Hong Kong. A trained research assistant administered the GDS to all participants.

Risk factors for otitis media with effusion in Chinese schoolchildren: a nested case-control study and review of the literature.

Objective: To identify the risk factors for otitis media with effusion (OME) in Chinese schoolchildren and analyse the results with reference to the review of the literature.

Methods: The study subjects were 6-7-year-old children drawn from a school-screening program for OME in Hong Kong. Both positive and negative screens attended a hospital clinic for further assessment with repeated otoscopic examination and tympanometry as well as pure tone audiometry within 3 weeks after the initial school-screening.

Monoclonal antibody therapy for central nervous system lymphomas: an emerging treatment paradigm.

The management of CNS lymphomas is poised for another revolution due to the emergence of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. As the technology for generating monoclonal antibodies matures and obstacles are solved, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies will play an increasing role in the management of cancer. This article will review the biology of CNS lymphomas, monoclonal antibody technology, limitation of existing chemotherapies and the application of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of CNS lymphomas.

SARS-related perceptions in Hong Kong.

To understand different aspects of community responses related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), 2 population-based, random telephone surveys were conducted in June 2003 and January 2004 in Hong Kong. More than 70% of respondents would avoid visiting hospitals or mainland China to avoid contracting SARS. Most respondents believed that SARS could be transmitted through droplets, fomites, sewage, and animals.

Dietary protein level and stage of development affect expression of an intestinal peptide transporter (cPepT1) in chickens.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary protein intake and stage of development on chicken intestinal peptide transporter (cPepT1) mRNA abundance. Chicks were sampled at embryonic d 16 (e 16) until the day of hatch (d 0). After hatch, mixed sex Cobb chicks were randomly assigned to diets containing 12, 18, or 24% crude protein (CP).

A randomized, single-blind and crossover study of an amino acid-based milk formula in treating young children with atopic dermatitis.

Cow's milk and soy protein allergies are commonly associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) in young children. Amino acid (AA)-based elemental milk formula may improve AD control in these patients. This study investigates the efficacy of AA-based formula in treating young AD patients irrespective of their food allergy status.

A signal processing model for arterial spin labeling functional MRI.

A model of the signal path in arterial spin labeling (ASL)-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is presented. Three subtraction-based methods for forming a perfusion estimate are considered and shown to be specific cases of a generalized estimate consisting of a modulator followed by a low pass filter. The performance of the methods is evaluated using the signal model.

Correlation of viral factors with cervical cancer in Taiwan.

The correlation of viral factors with cervical cancer was investigated. 27 cervical cancer biopsies and 29 normal cervical scrapings were determined by polymerase chain reaction method for 6 viruses, including human papillomavirus (HPV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, and human herpes virus (HHV)-8. Among 27 biopsies of cervical cancer, HPV was identified in 18.

Effects of early corticosteroid treatment on plasma SARS-associated Coronavirus RNA concentrations in adult patients.

Background: The effect of corticosteroid treatment on the viral load of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients is unknown.

Objective: To compare the plasma SARS-CoV RNA concentrations in ribavirin-treated patients who received early hydrocortisone therapy with those who received placebo.

Study Design: Serial plasma SARS-CoV RNA concentrations measured in the setting of a prospective, randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial designed to assess the efficacy of "early" (<7 days of illness) hydrocortisone use in previously healthy SARS patients were analyzed.

Site- and exercise-related variation in structure and function of cartilage from equine distal metacarpal condyle.

Objective: Determine (1) the site-associated response of articular cartilage of the equine distal metacarpal condyle to training at a young age as assessed by changes in indentation stiffness and alterations in cartilage structure and composition, and (2) relationships between indentation stiffness and indices of cartilage structure and composition.

Method: Experimental animals (n=6) were trained on a track (increasing exercise to 1km/day by 5 months); controls (n=6) were pasture-reared. Animals were euthanized at 18 months and four osteochondral samples were harvested per metacarpal condyle from dorsal-medial, dorsal-lateral, palmar-medial, and palmar-lateral aspects.

An intervention study to evaluate nursing management of peripheral intravascular devices.

This study examined the impact that implementation of guidelines for the management of peripheral intravascular devices had on nurses' knowledge and practice as well as patient outcome. A pre- and posttest nonequivalent experimental study was conducted in a Hong Kong tertiary care teaching hospital. The results showed that the percentage of correct answers for all questions was significantly higher at the posttest.

Neutrophil CD64 is a sensitive diagnostic marker for early-onset neonatal infection.

This prospective study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utilities of neutrophil CD64 expression for the identification of early-onset clinical infection and pneumonia in term infants and to define the optimal cutoff value so that it may act as a reference with which future studies can be compared. Term newborns in whom infection was suspected when they were <72 h of age were recruited into the study. C-reactive protein (CRP) and expression of CD64 on neutrophils were measured at 0 h (at the time of sepsis evaluation) and 24 h.

Turkey prolactin gene regulation by VIP through 35-bp cis-acting element in the proximal promoter.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been shown to increase prolactin (PRL) gene expression and secretion in turkey primary anterior pituitary cells. To characterize cis-acting elements involved in stimulation of PRL gene expression by VIP, 5'-flanking deletions and/or mutations of the turkey PRL promoter fused to the luciferase (Luc) reporter gene have been constructed for use in transient transfection assays. Deletion analysis of the turkey PRL promoter (tPRLP) indicated that the VIP-stimulated tPRLP activity was controlled by three major positive regulatory regions and two negative regions.