Mann proposed a non-parametric test for trend for independent non-seasonal observations. In this paper we generalize the test to m-dependent seasonal observations. Furthermore, an estimator of trend, based on Kendall's tau, is studied and its asymptotic distribution is proved to be normal. The results are exemplified by a moving average process.

Porous media can be characterized by studying the kinetics of liquid rise within the pore spaces. Although porous media generally have a complex structure, they can be modeled as a single, vertical capillary or as an assembly of such capillaries. The main difficulties lie in separately estimating the effective mean radius of the capillaries and the contact angle between the liquid and the pore. In

The apparent permeability index is widely used as part of a general screening process to study drug absorption, and is routinely obtained from in vitro or ex vivo experiments. A classical example, widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, is the in vitro Caco-2 cell culture model. The index is defined as the initial flux of compound through the membrane (normalized by membrane surface area and d

Impaired serotonin transmission has been suggested to be implicated in the pathophysiology of bulimia nervosa. As an indirect measure of brain serotonergic activity, the binding of tritiated ligands to platelet serotonin transporters has been studied in bulimia nervosa as well as in other putatively serotonin-related psychiatric disorders. In this study, the density and affinity of platelet seroto

Neuronal apoptosis was observed in the rat dentate gyrus in two experimental models of human limbic epilepsy. Five hours after one hippocampal kindling stimulation, a marked increase of in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) of fragmented DNA was observed in nuclei located within and on the hilar border of the granule cell layer and in the polymorphic

Objective: Preventive measures to contain the epidemic of obesity have become a major focus of attention. This report reviews the scientific evidence for medical interventions aimed at preventing obesity during childhood and adolescence. Design: A systematic literature review involving selection of primary research and other systematic reviews. Articles published until 2004 were added to an earlie

The beta-triketone core of the antidepressant phloroglucinol hyperforin (1) undergoes a series of peroxide-induced oxidative rearrangements leading to compound 5, which is formed by opening of ring A, and compound 6, which is formed by removal of the C-1 carbonyl bridge. A mechanistic rationale for this process is proposed. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004).

PURPOSE: The design concept and the dosimetric characteristics of an applicator system for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) with special emphasis on alignment methods, the effect of a plastic scatterer in the beam, radiation leakage, and misalignment dosimetry, are presented in this paper. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A soft-docking system for a linear accelerator, which enables collimation of el

Over 70 equations approximating thermodynamic and transport properties of water and steam at pressure 1 bar and saturated pressure as well as air at pressure 1 bar were tested against reference data. Their accuracy and relative computing time were reported.

The first excited 2(+) state of the unstable isotope Sn-110 has been studied in safe Coulomb excitation at 2.82 MeV/u using the MINIBALL array at the REX-ISOLDE post accelerator at CERN. This is the first measurement of the reduced transition probability of this state using this method for a neutron deficient Sn isotope. The strength of the approach lies in the excellent peak-to-background ratio t

In October 1998 Stockholm County launched a 3-year vaccination campaign with the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23) directed towards all elderly persons. We analysed the impact of this campaign on the incidence and serotype distribution of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Stockholm County, where the vaccine coverage was 36%, as compared to Skane County, where no vaccinati

Among the Cyanoprokaryota (blue-green algae), the genus Phormidium has thus far rarely been studied with respect to toxin production and potentially resulting human and environmental health effects. We here show that five previously unexplored freshwater species of this genus (Ph. bijugatum, Ph. molle, Ph. papyraceum, Ph. uncinatum, Ph. autumnale) are indeed capable of producing bioactive compound

The effects of the finite size of a liquid drop undergoing a phase transition are described in terms of the complement, the largest (but mesoscopic) drop representing the liquid in equilibrium with the vapor. Vapor cluster concentrations, pressure, and density from fixed mean density lattice gas (Ising) calculations are explained in terms of the complement generalization of Fisher's model. Account

We have found the equations that determine the self-adjoint extensions, and thus the boundary conditions, of the differential operator used in the multi-band k.p-theory, when the coefficients in the Kane-matrix are piecewise constant. Both the one-dimensional and the three-dimensional case have been investigated. A numerical calculation shows that the choice of boundary conditions affects the ener

PURPOSE: There is considerable evidence that the presence of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-like gene sequences in human breast cancer is highly associated with human breast carcinoma. Previous studies have found MMTV-like gene sequences in 38% of breast cancer tissue from United States women. The prevalence of these sequences in Australian and Vietnamese women has never been reported. EXPERIMEN

Background: Whether correction of anemia in patients with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease improves cardiovascular outcomes is not established. Methods: We randomly assigned 603 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 15.0 to 35.0 ml per minute per 1.73 m(sup 2) of body-surface area and mild-to-moderate anemia (hemoglobin level, 11.0 to 12.5 g per deciliter) to a target h

Mucosal hyperplasia is a characteristic component of otitis media. The present study investigated the participation of signaling via the Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinase in middle ear mucosal hyperplasia in animal models of bacterial otitis media. Otitis media was induced by the inoculation of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae into the middle ear cavity. Wester

A series of triclinic Fe1−xAlxVO4 phases with 0