An Integrated Experimental and Modeling Approach for Assessing High-Temperature Decomposition Kinetics of Explosives.

We present a new integrated experimental and modeling effort that assesses the intrinsic sensitivity of energetic materials based on their reaction rates. The High Explosive Initiation Time (HEIT) experiment has been developed to provide a rapid assessment of the high-temperature reaction kinetics for the chemical decomposition of explosive materials. This effort is supported theoretically by quantum molecular dynamics (QMD) simulations that depict how different explosives can have vastly different adiabatic induction times at the same temperature.

An updated technique to obtain explosive kinetics data on microsecond timescales.

There are few techniques available for chemists to obtain time-to-explosion data with known temperature inputs at the early stages of the design and synthesis of new explosives. In the 1960s, a technique was developed to rapidly heat milligram-quantities of confined explosives to ∼1000 K on microsecond timescales. Wenograd [Trans.

Regulation of cell survival by sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor S1P1 via reciprocal ERK-dependent suppression of Bim and PI-3-kinase/protein kinase C-mediated upregulation of Mcl-1.

Although the ability of bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) to positively regulate anti-apoptotic/pro-survival responses by binding to S1P1 is well known, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that expression of S1P1 renders CCL39 lung fibroblasts resistant to apoptosis following growth factor withdrawal. Resistance to apoptosis was associated with attenuated accumulation of pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein Bim.

Development of required postgraduate palliative care training for internal medicine residents and medical oncology fellows.

Background: The need for better care for terminally ill patients led us to create an educational program to provide internal medicine residents and medical oncology fellows basic competency in palliative and end-of-life care.

Methods: An interdisciplinary team identified educational strategies, course objectives, content, and evaluation instruments.

Results And Conclusions: Our strategy is to use a required Web-based course to establish a knowledge base upon which specific training during clinical rotations build skills.

Haemoperitoneum from benign ileal leiomyoma.

Intraluminal gastrointestinal haemorrhage is a common feature of benign leiomyoma of the small bowel. A case is reported of an ileal leiomyoma which caused free intraperitoneal haemorrhage. It is believed that such an occurrence has not been reported previously.

Comparative biliary excretion of cephalosporins in normal and partially hepatectomized rats.

The biliary excretion of six cephalosporins was examined in normal and partially hepatectomized rats. Cefamandole, cefazolin, cefuroxime, cefoxitin, and cephradine were excreted well in normal animals. In partially hepatectomized rats, the cumulative percentage of excretion reached only 11 to 36.

The office retinal electrophysiology laboratory.

The "Visual Retinal Profile" can be obtained in the complete office evaluation of patients with night vision disorders, unexplained poor visual acuity, or undiagnosed retinal and/or choroidal diseases. This profile allows later follow-up evaluations and comparisons of previous tests to document improvement or progression of disease. The profile consists of the usual ophthalmologic evaluation plus color vision testing Amsler grid, stereoacuity, visual fields, electroretinogram (ERG), and electrooculogram (EOG).

Use of the ERG and EOG in evaluating the effect of sleep deprivation on visual function in flying personnel.

The electroretinogram (ERG) and electrooculogram (EOG) are electrophysiological tests employed in ophthalmology to diagnose degeneration or injury to the outer half of the retina, including the rods and cones of the visual system. This pilot study was undertaken to determine if sleep deprivation of more than 24 h in rated flying personnel may show an abnormality in retinal function as measured by the ERG and/or EOG. This may give insight to the visual function in flying personnel on deployment or other long missions where uninterrupted sleep may be a problem.