ALBERT

Notes: Abstract We reexamine the canonical adverse selection insurance economy first studied by Rothschild and Stiglitz [1976]. We define blocking in a way that takes private information into account and define a coalition-proof correspondence as a mapping from coalitions to allocations with the property that allocations are in the correspondence, if and only if, they are not blocked by any other allocations in the correspondence for any subcoalition. We prove that the Miyazaki allocation—the Pareto-optimal allocation (possibly cross-subsidized) most preferred by low-risk agents—is coalition-proof.

Notes: Abstract Consider an agent facing a risky distribution of losses who can change this distribution by exerting some effort. Should he exert more effort when he becomes more risk-averse? For instance, should we expect more risk-averse drivers to drive more cautiously? In this article, we give sufficient conditions under which the answer is positive, using results presented in Jewitt (1989). We first extend the standard models of self-insurance and self-protection and show that the comparative statics depends only on the effect of effort on the net loss. We then present conditions for the continuous case with applications.

Notes: Abstract We provide a characterization of an optimal insurance contract (coverage schedule and audit policy) when the monitoring procedure is random. When the policyholder exhibits constant absolute risk aversion, the optimal contract involves a positive indemnity payment with a deductible when the magnitude of damages exceeds a threshold. In such a case, marginal damages are fully covered if the claim is verified. Otherwise, there is an additional deductible that disappears when the damages become infinitely large. Under decreasing absolute risk aversion, providing a positive indemnity payment for small claims with a nonmonotonic coverage schedule may be optimal.

Notes: Abstract There have been major changes in the way European insurance markets are regulated, and there is still considerable debate about what the form and scope of regulation should be. This article examines the arguments for solvency regulation when consumers are fully informed of the insurer's insolvency risk. It is shown firms always provide enough capital to ensure solvency, unless there are restrictions on the composition of their asset portfolios. The conclusion holds even when competition means that only normal profits can be earned. This suggests that the role of regulation in insurance markets should be confined to providing consumers with information about the default risk of insurers.

Notes: Abstract This article presents a valuation model of futures contracts and derivatives on such contracts, when the underlying delivery value is an insurance index, which follows a stochastic process containing jumps of random claim sizes at random time points of accident occurrence. Applications are made on insurance futures and spreads, a relatively new class of instruments for risk management launched by the Chicago Board of Trade in 1993, anticipated to start in Europe and perhaps also in other parts of the world in the future. The article treats the problem of pricing catastrophe risk, which is priced in the model and not treated as unsystematic risk. Several closed pricing formulas are derived, both for futures contracts and for futures derivatives, such as caps, call options, and spreads. The framework is that of partial equilibrium theory under uncertainty.

Notes: Abstract We present in this article some questions related to risk classification. These are discussed depending on the information used—either data on conditional characteristics or also including data on claim histories or on endogenous insurance demand by the agents.

Notes: Abstract Insurance has for a long time been perceived as a way of transferring responsibility from insured agents to insurers and thus as potentially influencing insured agents' behavior. Two particular opportunistic behaviors have been analyzed. First, the theory of adverse selection predicts that high-risk agents are likely to demand more insurance than are low-risk agents. Second, the theory of moral hazard predicts that the wider the insurance coverage, the less agents will try to prevent accidents. Both theories thus conclude that agents who are totally insured should have a higher probability of accident than those with only partial insurance, ceteris paribus. Nevertheless, one of the aims of insurance rating systems is to control for these opportunistic behaviors. In this article, we use individual data to see if the French automobile insurance rating system has achieved this aim. We do this using a two-step maximum-likelihood method. First, we compute a probit model to estimate the probability of taking out comprehensive versus third-party insurance. We then calculate the generalized residual, which is included as an independent variable in a negative binomial model estimating the probability of having an accident. The coefficient of this variable is argued to represent adverse selection and ex-ante moral-hazard behavior.

Notes: Abstract We attempt to explain the coexistence of two distribution systems when consumers are poorly informed about price distribution. The interaction of price dispersion and consumer search behavior is shown to affect the choice of marketing systems. We provide a necessary and sufficient condition for the coexistence as a long-run equilibrium. The market may observe the coexistence of the two agency systems regardless of the relative efficiency of agency types, or the domination by the less efficient agency system offering higher average price.

Notes: Abstract This article focuses on the design of a crop insurance contract when the indemnity is based on the aggregate yield of a surrounding geographical area. Coinsurance under a critical yield often provides an efficient sharing of systemic risk. Under a linear relationship between individual yield and aggregate yield, the optimal form depends on the individual beta coefficient, which measures the sensitivity of individual yield to aggregate yield. The optimal hedging position of the producer on the yield options market is to buy put options or call options depending upon whether his beta coefficient is positive or negative.

Notes: Abstract A major characteristic of insurance markets is information asymmetry that may lead to phenomena such as adverse selection and moral hazard. Another aspect of markets with asymmetric information is self-selection, which refers to the pattern of choices that individuals with different personal characteristics make when facing a menu of contracts or options. To combat problems of asymmetric information, insurance firms can use screening. That is, they can offer the clients a menu of choices and infer their characteristics from their choices. This article reports the results of several studies that examined the degree to which people behave according to the notions of self-selection and screening. Subjects played the role of either insurance buyers or sellers. The results of these studies provide partial support for the hypothesis that subjects use self-selection and screening in insurance markets. Our study also points at the importance of learning in experimental studies. In one-stage experiments where subjects did not get feedback, screening was not detected. When multistage experiments were conducted, and the subjects learned from experience and were also taught the relevant theories, their decisions were more aligned with screening.

Notes: Abstract Existing literature argues that corporate insurance is purchased because the insurance company produces risk management information for publicly held corporations. In this article, we address a fundamental question as to why other financial intermediaries cannot perform the same information production function as the insurance company. We argue that when the risk manager of the firm performs multiple tasks and needs consulting and investigation services from an outside agent for efficient risk management, the optimal contract with the agent has to be in the form of an insurance contract. Other types of contracts, such as flat-fee contracts, cannot be optimal. Therefore, the insurance company is ideally suited to provides these services.

Notes: The purpose of this article is to report on an integrated system that uses GPS and other low cost sensors for azimuth and pitch determination. The ability of the integrated system to maintain a solution over periods of induced GPS outage is also demonstrated. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The Global Positioning System (GPS) satellita navigation aiding system, sometimes called NAVSTAR, has become a utility to the military and many civilian areas. GPS, currently consisting of 24 satellites, is used by the military for navigation, precision weapons delivery, and the future digital battlefield. In the civilian sector, GPS is widely used as the primary or secondary aid for land, water, and air navigation; as a surveying aid; as a vehicle location system; and as a precision time standard for cellular and ATM sites. In the aviation community, GPS is becoming an integral part of the WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) and the LAAS (Local Area Augmentation System) for en route navigation in North America and Category II and III precision approach, and for surface navigation. The vulnerability of GPS have become the vulnerabilities of WAAS and LAAS, and require consideration of interference mittigation techniques. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The growing importance and effectiveness of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in positioning geophysical surveys is now well established. In Ecuador's Amazon basin the use of GPS was the determining factor in the successful completion of a gravity survey carried out in 1994. Over 500 gravity stations, spaced from 1 to 5 km apart and positioned by GPS, were collected in the jungle environment in the country's southeast, where the preexisting data, of variable and unknown quality, were mostly confined to areas along the major rivers. This station densification, which includes the reoccupation of selected points, contributed to increase the gravity coverage; it also allowed us to evaluate and correct 1100 preexisting data points in the area, so that the different surveys can be merged. The composite data set is used for a geologic analysis of the study area, where previously unknown structures are discovered. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The permanent GPS tracking site at Annapolis, MD shows a 7-mm seasonal signal primarily in its horizontal position. It is suggested that thermal expansion of the pier on which the antenna rests is the source of this motion. A simple numerical model of the pier reproduces the observed motion of the GPS antenna, lending credence to this hypothesis. Although adding an additional level of complexity, this motion is predictable and the site retains it s value for high precision monitoring. Although the arrangement of this GPS site it somewhat uncommon, these results emphasize the importance of the underlying antenna monumentation when measuring crustal motions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: GPS ambiguity resolution is the process of resolving the unknown cycle ambiguities of double-difference (DD) carrier-phase data as integers. It is the key to fast and high-precision relative GPS positioning. Critical in the application of ambiguity resolution is its reliability. Unsuccessful ambiguity resolution, when passed unnoticed, will too often lead to unacceptable errors in the positioning results. High success rates are required for ambiguity resolution to be reliable. In this contribution we will introduce and evaluate such diagnostic measures. They complement existing methods of ambiguity resolution and allow the user and/or analyst to infer their reliability. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The largest error in currently used GPS orbit models is due to the effect of solar radiation pressure. Over the last few years many improvements were made in modeling the orbits of GPS satellites within the International GPS Service (IGS). Howeer, most improvements were achieved by increasing the number of estimated orbit and/or solar radiation pressure parameters. This increase in the number of estimated satellite parameters weakens the solutions of all estimated parameters (not only orbit parameters). Because of correlations the additional orbit parameters may introduce biases in other estimated quantities, for example the length of day. We present a recently developed solar radiation pressure model for the GPS satellites. This model is based on experiences and results gained at the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) in the context of its IGS activities since June 1992. The performance of the new model is almost an order of magnitude better than that of the existing ROCK models. It also allows a reduction of the number of orbit parameters that have to be estimated. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: A solar-powered GPS receiver has been installed near Beaver Lake, Antarctica, to monitor postglacial isostatic rebound that may be occurring as a result of ice thinning near the Lambert Glacier since the last glacial maximum. The equipment is 400 km from the nearest Australian Antarctic base and is completely automated. It is expected that there will be sufficient solar power to operate the equipment from January 1998 to May 1998, but the data will not be recovered until the following summer season. The scatter in height computed from the first 25 days of data is ± 7.5 mm. If such precision is representative of the accuracy of the height estimates, isostatic rebound of 〈 1 mm/yr will be able to be detected after a few years of observations at the site. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: Automatic analysis of geodetic-quality GPS data is available with the use of e-mail and ftp (file transfer program) as an interface to a computer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where precise transmitter parameters – GPS ephemerides and clock errors – are computed regularly. The interface is such that e-mail from an external user causes the JPL computer to fetch the user's data. The computer than analyzes the data, and places the results in an area accessible to the user. An e-mail to the user gives information on the location of the analysis results, which the user can subsequently fetch. Operations on the JPL computer are entirely automatic, and require essentially no labor. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: This article describes the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) service being developed in the United States and the enormous benefits to federal agencies, state governments, and the general public. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The noise term of GPS phase data can be calculated from the measured carrier-to-noise power density ratios (C/N0). The C/N0 values are used in the proposed SIGMA-ɛ model to calculate the variance matrix of double-differenced GPS phase data. Examples show the capability of this model to yield higher accuracies for GPS surveys than the use of the standard weighting scheme. Most importantly, the SIGMA-ɛ model allows the use of noisier phase data from very low elevation satellites to overcome poor satellite geometry problems. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: Investigations of deformation styles in Asia have already led to new kinematic models that predict the spatial and temporal evolution of deformations in the region. Testing these models is now within realm of current GPS technology. In this study, GPS data during 4 months from six stations in Asia, including a new station from Hong Kong whose data were not in public domain, were analyzed for generating kinematic geophysical constraints for the deformations at the regional scale. Processing of 4 months' continuous GPS data from all stations shows small relative station velocities (Wuhan, Shanghai, Xian, and Hong Kong stations in China), except the Lhasa station, which has a northeasterly velocity of about 3 cm/year with respect to the fixed GPS station operating in Taiwan. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: Accurate estimates of the velocity and acceleration of a platform are often needed in high dynamic positioning, airborne gravimetry, and geophysics. In turn, differentiation of GPS signals is a crucial process for obtaining these estimates. It is important in the measurement domain where, for example, the phase measurements are used along with their instantaneous derivative (Doppler) to estimate position and velocity. It is also important in postprocessing, where acceleration is usually estimated by differentiating estimates of position and velocity. Various methods of differentiating a signal can have very different effects on the resulting derivative, and their suitability varies from situation to situation. These comments set the stage for the investigations in this article. The objective is twofold: (1) to carry out a comprehensive study of possible differentiation methods, characterizing each in the frequency domain; and (2) to use real data to demonstrate each of these methods in both of the measurement and position domains, in conditions of variable, high, or unknown dynamics. Examples are given using real GPS data in both the measurement domain and in the position and velocity domain. The appropriate differentiator is used in several cases of varying dynamics to derive a Doppler signal from carrier phase measurements (rather than using the raw Doppler generated by the receiver). In the statistic case, it is seen that the accuracy of velocity estimates can be improved from 4.0 mm/s to 0.7 mm/s by using the correct filter. In conditions of medium dynamics experienced in an airborne gravity survey, it is demonstrated that accelerations as the 2–4 mGal level (1 mGal = 0.00001 m/s2) can be obtained at the required filtering periods. Finally, a precision motion table is used to show that when using the correct filter, velocity estimates under high dynamics can be improved by an order of magnitude to 27.0 mm/s. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: LandStar is a differential global positioning service (DGPS) that provides 24-h real-time positioning for various applications on land, water, and air in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and Africa. Its focus is on real-time applications requiring a submeter positioning capability such as agriculture, forestry, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), survey/mapping, and land/vehicular navigation. LandStar uses a Wide Area Network of reference stations to derive DGPS corrections to model the variation of GPS error sources over a large area. These model parameters are used by the Virtual Reference Station processors to calculate standard corrections that are available for all predefined locations in the network. The corrections are transmitted to the user by L-band satellite communication in the standard RTCM SC104 DGPS correction format. This article investigates the performance of the LandStar Mk III system under various operational conditions and assesses its performance in both static and kinematic modes. Four field tests were conducted during 12 months that tested the sysem in clear static and kinematic conditions as well as suboptimal environments associated with low and heavy foliage conditions. Both the accuracy and availability of the system under these conditions is investigated, with an emphasis on whether the above variables are caused by the LandStar system differential corrections, the GPS measurements, or a combination of both. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: From time to time, this column will include short contributions from invited guest contributors on specialized subjects pertaining to inonospheric effects on GPS signals. In this issue, Dr. A. J. Van Dierendonck discusses the required specifications of a civilian GPS receiver specially designed to make quantitative measurements of both ionospheric amplitude and carrier phase scintillation effects from GPS signals. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: A modular approach consisting of three steps is presented for precise positioning with GPS: integrity, monitoring (data validation), ambiguity resolution, and positioning. Results of one step are used as input for the next. After a brief description of reliability and testing and techniques for GPS ambiguity resolution, the observation equations for the geometry-free GPS model are given, used for integrity monitoring, followed by those for single-difference relative positioning with the double-difference ambiguities removed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: GPS technology will face not one but two critical rollover dates over the next eight months. One is the millennium (Y2K) rollover. The other is the GPS week 1024 rollover also known as the GPS End of the Week (EOW). Each rollover dat has the potential to cause severe problems in GPS receivers and related software. This article expolres the reasons why these dates are a problem and describes choices that must be made as to their solution. The paper also describes some verification methods that may be used to test GPS receivers and software. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The Global Positioning System (GPS), in addition to providing precise navigation and positioning information, produces precise time and frequency measurements. These measurements result from the atomic clocks in the GPS satellites, which are closely coupled to Universal Coordinated Time as maintained by the U. S. Naval Observatory [UTC(USNO)]. The application of these measurements to timekeeping and other systems requiring precise time and frequency is distinct from the navigation/positioning mission. This article will describe the differences in application of GPS to time and frequency uses. These uses will be described in the major areas of timekeeping; stationary uses, such as communications networking; and mobile use for aircraft and shipboard applications. The major considerations in application and operation with precise and less-capable oscilators will be described. Examples and data will be presented to illustrate the applications. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: High-accuracy real-time GPS-based attitude determination requires that integer ambiguities be resolved very quickly so that the attitude angles can be output with minimum delay. This article describes an attitude determination algorithm that can resolve integer ambiguities instantaneously, relative to one antenna of a multi-antenna array configuration. The carrier phase and pseudorange observations are used with fixed baseline length constraints and fiberoptic gyro data. Real-time stochastic model improvement using empirical elevation-dependent standard deviation function and an estimated scale factor are a feature of this algorithm. Integer ambiguity search using the LAMBDA method, sophisticated validation criteria, and an adaptive procedure has also been implemented within the software. An experiment was carried out using four Leica dual-frequency GPS receivers (but only the L1 carrier phase and pseudorange data were used) and a low-cost fiberoptic on a car. The results indicate that integer ambiguities can be resolved on a single-epoch basis with a 98.9% success rate. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The 29th Research Institute recently published its latest transformation parameters for WGS and PZ 90. Because these tranformation parameter estimates were derived from stations located within Russia, variance-covariance propagation was carried out to study the benefits of a better global distribution of stations. An example that includes two stations in North America is presented. The transformation improves significantly. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: Considering GLONASS as one of the pillars of the international Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), the Russian Federation works toward the integration of GLONASS with other navigation systems, cooperates with the internal user community, and contributes to the development and coordination of standards concerning GLONASS and the combined use of GLONASS and the global positioning system (GPS). This work is pursued in conformity with recommendations of respective international organizations. Most users recognize that the GLONASS/GPS combination has better characteristics in terms of availability, accuracy, integrity, and so on. However, the combined use of these satellite systems raises problems that must be addressed. This article reviews problems encountered when using two different navigation systems. Solutions developed thus far are outlined. The potential of GLONASS and approaches for high accuracy UTC time transfer are discussed. The transformation between the WGS 84 and PZ 90 reference frames and their conformity with the international terrestrial reference frame (ITRF) is considered. Various solutions are viewed in connections with recommendations made by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Global Navigation Satellite System Panel (GNSP), and the Consultative Committee for Definition of the Second (CCDS) concerning the desirability of using either or both systems interchangeably. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The hybridization of GPS with GLONASS has formed a first stage in GNSS development. We examine the performance of the hybrid system in the position domain for both code and carrier phase cases. Several major differences exist between GPS and GLONASS; most significant is GLONASS's signal frequency diversity, which can lead to measurement bias, particularly so when a pair of receivers are operating at different temperatures. Unless signal frequency diversity is addressed either on-receiver or at the data processing stage, positioning errors can occur at the centimeter level. We outline the difficulties of combining observations from the two systems and discuss how these may be overcome. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: For many common GPS/GLONASS native receiver formats, a single freeware program called TEQC now allows the user to translate from the binary receiver format to the standard Receiver Independent Exchange (RINEX) format, to edit existing RINEX files, and to quality-check the data before postprocessing. TEQC is 100% noninteractive and has a command line interface modeled after common UNIX commands. This combined with TEQC's extensive documentation makes it simple to use for new and experienced users and in automated processing scripts. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The precise point whose position is being measured when a GPS baseline is determined is generally assumed to be the phase center of the GPS antenna. However, the phase center of a GPS antenna is neither a physical point nor a stable point. For any given GPS antenna, the phase center will change with the changing direction of the signal from a satellite. Ideally, most of this phase center variation depends on satellite elevation. Azimuthal effects are only introduced by the local environment around each individual antenna site. These phase center variations affect the antenna offsets that are needed to connect GPS measurements to physical monuments. Ignoring these phase center variations can lead to serious (up to 10 cm) vertical errors. This article will describe the procedure by which the National Geodetic Survey is calibrating GPS antennas and how this information may be obtained and used to avoid problems from these antenna variations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: Since its official start in January 1994, the International GPS Service (IGS) has been distributing, as part of its product combination, two distinct Earth rotation parameter (ERP) series: the IGS Rapid series and the IGS Final series. Initially, the IGS Rapid ERP values were interpolations of the International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) Bulletin A, whereas the IGS Final ERP series was based on the IERS Bulletin B. Since June 1996, the IGS has been generating its own Final ERP series consistent with the IGS combined orbit products and based on weighted means of individual IGS analysis center (AC) solutions. At first, only the polar motion (PM) coordinates and their rates were combined. Length of Day (LOD) and Universal Time (UT) solutions, also based on separate weighted mean combinations, followed in March 1997. Currently, the IGS Rapid and Final combinations are produced and made available within 17 hours and 11 days, respectively, after the last observation. Both IGS and the best AC series are consistent and precise at the 0.1-milliarcsecond (mas) level for PM and at about 30 μs for LOD. Biases in some AC solutions may exceed these consistency levels. Comparisons of both IGS ERP series with external standards, such as the IERS multitechnique Bulletins and atmospheric angular momentum series, confirm the estimated precisions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL's) automated GPS data analysis service, which is available via the Internet, has been tested. This service is attractive not only because data submission and retrieval are entirely automated on the Internet, but also because it makes centimeter positioning possible for individual dual-frequency receivers. To learn more about this service, the repeatability of position solutions were investigated by means of two simple experiments. The positions of a continuously operating reference station have been computed repeatedly for observation times ranging from 1 hour to 24 hours. In addition, short baseline repeatability and accuracy were tested. Centimeter-level results were obtained. The difference in the vertical definition of the electronic center for antennas of different types could readily be identified. The JPL service is easy to use, even in its present form (which one might label version 1.0). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: In this article, the influence of biases in GPS code observations on the estimated parameters of the geometry-free model is investigated. This is done for undifferenced as well as double-differenced data from short baselines, that is, baselines for which ionospheric effects may be assumed absent. It is shown how introducing a linear model for code multipath affects the original model parameters. The performance of the original and extended model is illustrated by analyzing data from a single receiver and a short baseline. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The Global Positioning System (GPS) and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) provide lower power signals that are susceptible to interference. The potential exists for a person or organization to jam GPS or WAAS signals, causing a loss of service over a large area. Accidental interence by extraneous radio transmissions on the GPS frequency also can cause loss of service. Jamming has become a serious issue for GPS, and the U. S. military is making a significant effort to mitigate jamming effects. While jamming is a major concern of the military, interference is of a no lesser concern to the civilian sector. In fact, with varying emphasis both jamming and interference are concerns of the entire GPS user community. This article explores jamming and interference threats to the GPS. We provide a general overview of the GPS signal structure, discuss jamming effects on the GPS, and consider mitigating options. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The management of the Global Positioning System (GPS) by the U. S. Department of Defense (DoD) has been the subject of persistent criticism by the global community of users in general and particularly in Europe. The European Union (EU) is considering various global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that would provide it with varying degrees of control, autonomy, and specificity of use. The gamut of options includes various augmentations of GPS, a combination of GLONASS and GPS, and its own GNSS, dubbed Galileo. We discuss the concerns of the global community with respect to GPS and the motives that drive the GPS globalization debate. We also describe the various European GNSS concepts and initiatives, and the likelihood for their realization as substitutes to the GPS. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: Recent studies have shown the capabilities of Global Positioning System (GPS) carrier phases for frequency transfer based on the observations from geodetic GPS receivers driven by stable atomic clocks. This kind of receiver configuration is the kind primarily used within the framework of the International GPS Service (IGS). The International GPS Service/Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (IGS/BIPM) pilot project aims at taking advantage of these GPS receivers to enlarge the network of Time Laboratories contributing to the realization of the International Atomic Time (TAI). In this article, we outline the theory necessary to describe the abilities and limitations of time and frequency transfer using the GPS code and carrier phase observations. We report on several onsite tests and evaluate the present setup of our 12-channel IGS receiver (BRUS), which uses a hydrogen maser as an external frequency reference, to contribute to the IGS/BIPM pilot project. In the initial experimental setup, the receivers had a common external frequency reference; in the second setup, separate external frequency references were used. Independent external clock monitoring provided the necessary information to validate the results. Using two receivers with a common frequency reference and connected to the same antenna, a zero baseline, we were able to use the carrier phase data to derive a frequency stability of 6 × 10−16 for averaging times of one day. The main limitation in the technique originates from small ambient temperature variations of a few degrees Celsius. While these temperature variations have no effect on the functioning of the GPS receiver within the IGS network, they reduce the capacities of the frequency transfer results based on the carrier phase data. We demonstrate that the synchronization offset at the initial measurement epoch can be estimated from a combined use of the code and carrier phase observations. In our test, the discontinuity between two consecutive days was about 140 ps. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: GLONASS is a Russian military navigation satellite system. Even if the constellation is far from being operational, a large community is potentially interested in using its signal in combination with GPS to improve availability, integrity, or precision. The goal of this article is to present the international GLONASS campaign, named IGEX-98, which is really the first attempt to obtain precise GLONASS orbits for geodetic applications. A world-wide network of GLONASS receivers has been deployed and is still operational. Several analysis centers process the GLONASS data on a regular basis in the same way it is done for GPS within the International GPS Service. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: The use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for position and attitude determination has been exploited for many years. In these systems, it was required that multiple antennas maintained phase lock to common view satellites for long periods of time in order to determine integer ambiguities. The challenge to overcome with the ballistic space probe is the high rotational spin of this particular rocket. The antennas, mounted on the outside skin of the rocket, are in full view of each satellite only for a fraction of a second before the rocket core eclipses them as it rotates. The antennas rarely see common satellites. This article describes as system that overcomes these obstacles and provides position, acceleration, attitude, and rotation rate. The approach uses a two-antenna system. One antenna is mounted either side of the rocket facing out. A hybrid tracking channel combines signals from both antennas to overcome the signal blockage due to the rocket core as well as to defeat the effect on the tracking channel due to the spin. The amplitude and phase of the spin rotation signature from each satellite is extracted from the dual antenna data and used to compute the attitude and spin rate of the vehicle. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: A significant impediment to real-time centimeter survey and vehicle guidance in difficult reception environments is the underlying signal tracking performance of the receiver. A number of researchers have investigated receiver signal tracking enhancements that take advantage of intersatellite path correlations, of particular benefit in environments with multiple satellite attenuations and blockages. This article surveys work in the area, with a focus upon an optimal estimation scheme known as integrated demodulation/navigation (IDN). By contrast with other techniques, IDN employs a high update rate extended Kalman filter to combine and process raw correlator data across satellites. Nonlinear loop simulations of real time kinematic (RTK) tracking during high-g aircraft maneuvers with vehicle-induced blockages are used to illustrate the filtering method and it s robustness. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: With the availability of high-accuracy, differential global positioning system (GPS) results in real-time, there is a new opportunity to use GPS to accurately measure a marine vessel's dynamic draft (settlement and squat) and 3D attitude (roll, pitch, and heading). The National Geodetic Survey (NGS) and the Coast Survey (CS), offices of the National Ocean Service (NOS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), propose to transfer this technology to the shipping industry. The overall goal of this project is to provide the position of a vessel's keel in real time to within 10 cm (about 4 inches) relative to the bottom of the shipping channel. In support of this phase of the project, there were three meetings hosted by the Port of Oakland, California and NOS to discuss the real-time positioning of vessels project. On December 3 and 4, 1996, CS, NGS, Trimble Navigation Ltd., and the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) performed GPS tests on a USCG buoy-tender ship. GPS data were used to compute the vessel's dynamic draft and 3D attitude. During the test, five receivers continually collected data; one receiver was located at a base station on the USCG pier on Yerba Buena Island, and four were on the ship: two on the stern and two on the bow. CS installed a TSS-335B vertical reference unit (to measure heave, pitch, and roll) in the engine room of the ship. NOS processed the GPS data and computed the vessel's dynamic draft and 3D attitude. The results indicate that the linear equivalent to the vessel's dynamic draft and 3D attitude were accurate to the 10-cm level using GPS. It was also demonstrated how a ship can be used to measure local water-level changes and actual water-level values everywhere it travels. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: A. J. VanDierendonck joins the regular contributors to this column to discuss potential solar radio burst effects on GPS. While this topic does not spedivically involve ionospheric effects on GPS, it falls under the general area of environmental concerns that are of importance to the GPS community. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Notes: Summary Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that occur ubiquitously in foods of plant origin. Their proposed protective role in tumor development may prevail especially in the intestinal tract due to direct exposure of intestinal epithelia to these dietary ingredients. We have screened more than 30 flavonoids for their effects on cell proliferation and potential cytotoxicity in the human colon cancer cell lines Caco-2, displaying features of small intestinal epithelial cells, and HT-29, resembling colonic crypt cells. In addition, for selected compounds we assessed whether they induce apoptosis by determining caspase-3 activation. Studies on the dose dependent effects of the flavonoids showed antiproliferative activity of all compounds with EC50 values ranging between 39.7 ± 2.3 μM (baicalein) and 203.6 ± 15.5 μM (diosmin). In almost all cases, growth inhibition by the flavonoids occured in the absence of cytotoxicity. There was no obvious structure-activity relationship in the antiproliferative effects either on basis of the subclasses (i.e., isoflavones, flavones, flavonols, flavanones) or with respect to kind or position of substituents within a class. In a subset of experiments we examined the antiproliferative activities of the most potent compound of each flavonoid subgroup in addition in LLC-PK1, a renal tubular cell line, and the human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Out of four flavonols tested, three displayed almost equal antiproliferative activities in all cell lines but fisetin was less potent in MCF-7 cells. The flavanones bavachinin and flavanone inhibited growth of Caco-2 and HT-29 cells with lower EC50 values than that obtained in LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 cells. The lower susceptibility of LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 cells towards growth arrest was even more pronounced in the case of the flavone baicalein. Half maximal growth-inhibition in LLC-PK1 and MCF-7 required 2.5 and 6.6 fold higher concentrations than that needed in the intestinal cell lines. The flavonoids failed to affect apoptosis in LLC-PK1 and MCF-7, whereas baicalein and myricetin were able to induce apoptosis in HT-29 and Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, flavonoids of the flavone, flavonol, flavanone, and isoflavone classes possess antiproliferative effects in different cancer cell lines. The capability of flavonoids for growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis can not be predicted on the basis of their chemical composition and structure.

Notes: Abstract Variations in total energy intake and composition of daily food play an important role in the regulation of metabolic processes and so, in the control of body weight. This study was designed in order to investigate the effect of a high-fat diet on lipolysis in isolated adipocytes. For this purpose, fourteen Wistar rats were divided into two groups and fed either a standard-fat diet or a high-fat diet ad libitum for 7 weeks. Adipocytes were prepared from fat pads by collagenase digestion and incubated in vitro in the absence or presence of various lipolytic agents. Lipolysis was measured by the release of glycerol into the medium during 90 min of incubation. We observed that a high amount of fat in the diet induced an enlargement of adipose tissue, which was accompanied by a reduction of β-adrenergic agonist-induced lipolysis, that could be due to a loss of β1 and β3-adrenoceptor number or to alterations of their coupling to adenylate-cyclase through the guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. New data about regional differences were provided by comparing two adipose locations (subcutaneous and visceral).

Notes: Summary Background: Flavonoids are polyphenolic antioxidants occuring in vegetables and fruits as well as beverages such as tea and wine which have been thought to influence oxidative damage. Aim of the study: We wanted to verify whether a complex mixture of wine tannins (wine complex polyphenols and tannins, WCPT) prevent chemically-induced oxidative DNA damage in vivo. Methods: Oxidative DNA damage was evaluated by measuring the ratio of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (80HdG)/ 2-deoxyguanosine (2dG) × 10−6 in hydrolyzed DNA using HPLC coupled with electrochemical and UV detectors. Results: We treated rats with WCPT (57 mg/kg p.o.) for 14 d, a dose 10-fold higher than what a moderate wine drinker would be exposed to. WCPT administration significantly reduced the ratio of 80HdG/2dG × 10−6 in liver DNA obtained from rats treated with 2-nitropropane (2NP) relative to controls administered 2NP only (33.3 ± 2.5 vs. 44.9 ± 3.2 × 10−6 2dG; μ± SE; p〈0.05). On the contrary, pretreatment with WCPT for 10 d did not protect the colon mucosa from oxidative DNA damage induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). 2NP and DMH are hepatic and colon carcinogens, respectively, capable of inducing oxidative DNA damage. Conclusions: WCPT have protective action against some types of chemically-induced oxidative DNA damage in vivo.

Notes: Summary Anthocyanins are common colored plant flavonoids, occurring as glycosides of the respective anthocyanidin-chromophores. Like other flavonoids, anthocyanidins are also expected to have antioxidative and antimutagenic properties in vivo, although only few data are available. To gain more knowledge on possible protective mechanisms in mammalian cells, we have compared their extracellular and intracellular antioxidative potential in vitro and in human colon tumor cells. We used Aronia melanocarpa Elliot anthocyanin (AA) concentrates, fractions thereof, concentrates from Elderberry, Macqui, and Tintorera fruits, as well as pure compounds. In vitro, antioxidative properties of the samples were studied with the ferric reducing ability assay (FRA assay). As a measure of intracellular oxidative/antioxidative effects, H2O2-induced strand breaks as well as oxidized DNA bases were determined in human tumor HT29 clone 19A cells using a microgelelectrophoresis assay (comet test). Major results were that isolated compounds (aglycons and glycosides) and complex plant samples are powerful antioxidants in vitro. In fact their activities by far exceeded those of Trolox and vitamin C in the FRA assay. Also H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks were reduced in cells treated with the complex plant extracts. In contrast, endogenous generation of oxidized DNA bases was not prevented. In summary, the intracellular steady state of oxidized DNA bases is not altered by anthocyanins or anthocyanidins. This findings raises questions with respect to the cancer preventive potential of anthocyanidins within specific tissues, such as the colon. Extracellularly, however, the compounds are potent antioxidants. This points to their potential for providing systemic protection in vivo, e.g., by scavenging oxidants in the blood stream and in the colon. Notably, both aglycons and glycosides have equally strong antioxidant activity.

Notes: Summary Background Estrone is a relatively abundant hormone widely distributed in tissues of animal and plant origin. It is a mild estrogen that induces increases in body weigt in experimental animals. The relative abundance of estrone esters in animal tissues suggests that it may also be found in foods, from which it may alter the mechanisms of body weight control. Aim of the study To measure the total estrone content in food and to determine whether this may affect body weight. Methods In the first part of the study, a method was devised for the measurement of total estrone content in food. This was applied to the analysis of estrone content in a variety of food. Finally, hyperlipidic diets (18.6 MJ/kg) with a total estrone content 0.89 ± 0.21 μmol/kg (control group) and 1.37 ± 0.13 μmol/kg (laced with estrone fatty esters) were given to rats during 15 days, in order to determine the influence of dietary estrone on the body mass. Zucker lean (Fa/?) rats weighting initially 200–215 g were used. The total estrone (essentially as fatty esters) content of food was investigated by combining a dried methanol extraction with saponification and measurement of the free estrone evolved through radioimmunoassay. Result The content of estrone was zero in some vegetables, but significant in fruits, meats, and especially fats, both of plant and animal origin. The application of these analyses to a standard recommended diet for humans may result in intakes of more than 1 μmol of estrone per day, a figure comparable to the estrogen production by women. When rats were exposed to a raised estrone content in a fat-rich diet, they significantly increased their body weights, doubling their rate off growth (1.99 g/day) compared with controls (0.81 g/day), but maintaining their plasma composition and the proportions of lipid, water, and protein in their carcasses. Conclusion The widely distributed estrone esters in food and their relatively high concentrations may result in high free hormone intakes in humans. The continued and massive intake of estrone may enhance tissue deposition and lead to obesity.

Notes: Summary Background: Plant fats and oils are major sources of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as vitamin E, the major fat-soluble antioxidants in human nutrition. Dietary antioxidants are expected to reduce cancer risk by minimizing DNA damage. Aim of the study: To compare the effects of γ-tocopherol rich corn oil and the mixture of the α-tocopherol rich olive/sunflower oil on plasma concentration of tocopherols and on the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE), an indicator of DNA damage. Methods: This study had a double-blind, cross-over design and was conducted in 20 normal healthy non-smoking males aged 19–31 years. Design included a 2-week adjustment period and two 2-week test periods in which diets containing 30% energy as fat including either 80 g of corn oil (CO) (20 mg α-tocopherol, 100 mg γtocopherol) or 80 g of olive/sunflower oil (OSO) (24 mg α-tocopherol, 2.4 mg γ-tocopherol) as the main fat-source, were given. Blood samples for analysis of SCE rate and content of tocopherols were collected at the beginning (T0), after adjustment (T1) and after the test period (T2) in intervals of 2 weeks. Results: After two weeks of the corn oil diet, the plasma concentration of γ-tocopherol increased but α-tocopherol decreased significantly compared to the olive/sunflower oil diet. The concentration of α-tocopherol increased (CO: 22.99 ± 1.11 vs. OSO: 24.40 ± 1.49 μmol/l) and that of γ-tocopherol decreased (CO: 4.19 ± 0.29 vs. OSO: 2.99 ± 0.25 μmol/l) after the olive/sunflower oil diet. Intake of the corn oil diet was associated with reduced SCE rate and intensity, whereas there was no change in SCE after the olive/sunflower oil diet (CO: 7.66 ± 0.25 vs. OSO: 8.06 ± 0.47 mean SCE/cell). Conclusions: The combination of γ-tocopherol with α-tocopherol in corn oil diet despite the lower α-tocopherol equivalents/diene acid equivalents ratio achieved better protection against DNA damage than α-tocopherol alone in the olive/sunflower oil diet.

Notes: Summary Many new substances are currently being investigated for their usefulness in the pharmacotherapy of obesity. Most drugs interfere with monoamine neurotransmitter (serotonin, noradrenalin, dopamine and histamine) effects and act as an appetite suppressant. Other approaches are to primarily increase thermogenesis (e.g. β3-adrenoceptor agonists), or to decrease fat absorption by inhibiting the pancreatic lipase (orlistat). New promising agents are substances that increase the effect of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) or urocortin in the brain (CRF-binding protein ligand inhibitor) and a neuropeptide Y (NPY) Y5 receptor antagonist. The clinical relevance of leptin in the therapy of obesity is probably limited, but can not be fully evaluated at the moment. As obesity has a multifactorial basis, all these substances have in common the fact that they can not cure obesity. They should only be used as an adjunct to classical strategies like diet and exercise in severe obesity. For developing new, perhaps even more specific pharmacological agents, further research is needed to understand the individually different genetic and physiological basis of obesity.

Notes: Summary Aim of the study: The present study was conducted to investigate changes in the plasma concentration of carotenoids and carotenoid oxidation products, vitamin A, α- and γ-tocopherol, and ubiquinone-10 during a dietary intervention trial with 23 male healthy volunteers. Method: A two week carotenoid depletion period was followed by a daily consumption of 330 mL tomato juice (40 mg lycopene), then by 330 mL carrot juice (15.7 mg α-carotene and 22.3 mg β-carotene), and then by a 10 g spinach powder preparation (11.3 mg lutein and 3.1 mg β-carotene) served with main meals for two weeks, respectively. Blood samples were collected in the morning after an overnight fasting and carotenoids, vitamin A, tocopherols, and ubichinone were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC. Results: During the tomato juice intervention, plasma concentrations of trans- and cis-lycopene increased 2-fold compared to the depletion period. Lycopene oxidation products could be demonstrated in plasma and were significantly elevated compared to control (p〈0.001). After two weeks of carrot juice consumption, α-carotene and β-carotene concentrations increased 8.6- and 3.2-fold, respectively. Finally, during the spinach consumption period the lutein concentration increased 2-fold, while the β-carotene concentrations were still elevated 2-fold. Conclusions: The moderate change in dietary habits, e.g., the consumption of 330 mL of carotenoid-rich vegetable juices caused significant changes in the plasma carotenoid concentrations, indicating a high bioavailability of carotenoids from the processed vegetable products. The changes in plasma carotenoid concentrations reflected the carotenoid composition of the consumed foods. However, particularly during the tomato juice intervention period the occurrence of lycopene oxidation products and cis-lycopene isomers in plasma was eminent. The formation may be due to antioxidant reactions of lycopene in the organism.

Notes: Summary In this review a broad overview of historical and current methods for the assessment of iron bioavailability was given. These methods can be divided into iron solubility studies, iron absorption studies, endpoint measures, and arithmetic models. The pros and cons of all methods were discussed. First, studies on in vitro and in vivo iron solubility have been described. The disadvantages of iron solubility include the impossibility of measuring absorption or incorporation of iron. Furthermore, only the solubility of nonheme iron, and not heme iron, can be studied. Second, we focused on iron absorption studies (either with the use of native iron, radioiron or stable iron isotopes), in which balance techniques, whole-body counting or postabsorption plasma iron measurements can be applied. In vitro determination of iron absorption using intestinal loops or cell lines, was also discussed in this part. As far as absorption studies using animals, duodenal loops, gut sacs or Caco-2 cells were concerned, the difficulty of extrapolating the results to the human situation seemed to be the major drawback. Chemical balance in man has been a good, but laborious and expensive, way to study iron absorption. Whole-body counting has the disadvantage of causing radiation exposure and it is based on a single meal. The measurement of plasma iron response did not seem to be of great value in determining nutritional iron bioavailability. The next part dealt with endpoint measures. According to the definition of iron bioavailability, these methods gave the best figure for it. In animals, the hemoglobin-repletion bioassay was most often used, whereas most studies in humans monitored the fate of radioisotopes or stable isotopes of iron in blood. Repletion bioassays using rats or other animals were of limited use because the accuracy of extrapolation to man is unknown. The use of the rat as a model for iron bioavailability seemed to be empirically based, and there were many reasons to consider the rat as an obsolete model in this respect. The double-isotope technique was probably the best predictor of iron bioavailability in humans. Disadvantages of this method are the single meal basis and the exposure to radiation (as far as radioisotopes were used). Finally, some arithmetic models were described. These models were based on data from iron bioavailability studies and could predict the bioavailability of iron from a meal.

Notes: Summary Background: Oleoyl-estrone elicits powerful slimming effects on lean and obese rats, sparing protein, lowering appetite and maintaining energy expenditure. Leptin synthesis is markedly reduced by oleoyl-estrone. However, this effect is not observed in the obese Zucker fa/fa rats; these rats do not fully respond to leptin but they lose fat under oleoyl-estrone treatment. Aim of the study: To determine the role of leptin in the conversion of estrone to fatty-acyl estrone in white adipose tissue both in vivo in Zucker lean and obese rats, and in vitro. Methods: Two series of experiments were performed: a) Growth and differentiation of 3T3L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes followed by incubation with tritium-labeled estrone in the medium in the presence / absence of 1 nM leptin, and estimation of the incorporation of label into estrone and estrone ester fractions of cell extracts. b) Zucker lean (Fa/?) [ZL] and obese (fa/fa) [ZO] rats were injected i.v. with carrier-free oleoyl-estrone in chylomicra-sized liposomes, then euthanized after 10 min. Free and esterified estrone were measured in blood, liver, muscle, skin, white adipose tissue (WAT), and brown adipose tissue(BAT). Results: In the first study, in a 72-h incubation, adipocytes took up 20-27% of the medium estrone. In the leptin(−) controls, 47% of the label in the cell fraction was in the form of estrone esters and 45% as free estrone; in the leptin (+) cells, 71% of the label was in the estrone ester fraction and 24% was free estrone. In the second study, a large part of the injected tritium-label remained in the ZO blood, with only a small part remaining in ZL. In ZL 39% of the label was found in the tissues in the form of free estrone, and in ZO only 22%; in both cases about half of it was in WAT. Plasma free estrone levels were 0.3±0.1 nM in ZL and 0.5±0.3 nM in ZO, and esterified estrone was 242±99 nM for ZL and 201±29 nM for ZO. Plasma leptin levels were 1.73±0.16 ng/ml in ZL and 61.0±1.4 ng/ml in ZO. Conclusion: The presence of an intact leptin pathway is critical for the uptake and synthesis of estrone esters as well as for the plasma acyl-estrone turnover. The presented results show a direct relationship between oleoyl-estrone and leptin in the WAT. A fully functional leptin pathway is needed for the synthesis of acyl-estrone and the removal of free estrone from the bloodstream, as well as for the disposal of excess circulating oleoyl-estrone. This has a direct bearing on human and animal obesity, since estrone induces increases in fat deposition.

Notes: Summary Background: Phytoestrogens are a major component of Asian diets and may be protective against certain hormone-dependent cancers (breast and prostate) and coronary heart disease. They may also have antioxidant function in scavenging potentially harmful free radicals and thus decreasing oxidative attack on DNA. Aims of the study: A pilot study to determine the effects of a phytoestrogen supplement, in the form of soy milk, on plasma LDL and HDL cholesterol levels and DNA damage in men. Methods: Ten healthy men participated in the study and were assigned to one of three groups consuming 1 litre of either soy milk, rice dream (vegetable protein control) or semi-skimmed cow's milk (animal protein control) each day for 4 weeks. Results: The soy supplement caused significant increases in plasma genistein and daidzein concentrations despite considerable interindividual variation (P〈0.001). Supplementation with soy resulted in a decrease in oxidative damage to DNA bases detected using the comet assay compared with controls (P〈0.05). However, there was no significant effect of the soy supplement on plasma cholesterol or triglyceride levels in comparison with control groups. Conclusions: A 4 week soy milk supplementation in healthy volunteers does not alter serum cholesterol levels but can have a protective effect against oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes.

Notes: Summary Background: Green tea contains polyphenolic catechins which can act as antioxidants and thus decrease the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Aim of the study: To investigate whether green tea extract differs from placebo in its effects on markers of antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide production, thromboxane production, and blood coagulation during a controlled high linoleic acid diet in healthy subjects. Methods: Twenty healthy non-smoking females (23–50 years) participated in a 4-week controlled intervention study. The experimental diet was rich in linoleic acid (9 en%) and contained fat, protein and carbohydrates: 27, 14, and 59 en%, respectively. In addition, the subjects ingested encapsulated green tea extract (3 g/d) or placebo mixture in a double-blind manner. Fasting blood samples and five 24-hour urines were collected before and at the end of the 4-week experimental period. Same samples were received from 10 control subjects. Results: Green tea extract significantly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in comparison with the placebo treatment. The treatments did not differ in serum lipids, indicators of antioxidant status, urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B2, nitric oxide metabolites or coagulation indicators. Conclusions: We conclude that an amount of green tea extract which corresponds to 10 cups of tea per day for 4 weeks does not have specific effects on several indicators related to risk of cardiovascular diseases in comparison with placebo treatment. The relatively small but significant decrease in lipid peroxidation indicated by decreased plasma MDA was not associated with changes in markers of oxidative stress (urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α and blood oxidized glutathione) or hemostasis.

Notes: Summary Background: Tissue 10:4(n-6) and 22:6(n-3) status have been correlated with neonatal development and growth. Artificial formulas for neonates have been supplemented with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCP) from animal and marine sources which may enhance sensitivity of cellular membranes to oxidative damage. Diet-derived antioxidants like vitamin E play a key role in the protection of tissue lipids against oxidation. Aim of the study: We seek to determine the influence of dietary vitamin E on tissue sensitivity to oxidative stress in rats fed for 4 weeks on diets enriched in (n-3) and (n-6) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Methods: Weanling rats received 10% fat diets that provided 18:1(n-9), 18:2(n-6) and 18:3(n-3) in a similar ratio to that of rat milk (group A), supplemented with fish oil (groups B and B+E) and supplemented with (n-6) and (n-3) LCP from an animal phospholipid concentrate (groups C and C+E). Vitamin E (500 mg vitamin E/kg fat) was added to diets B+E and C+E. Tissue fatty acid content and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione transferase und glutathione peroxidase in liver and brain were measured. Glutathione status, vitamin E and the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) after incubation of erythrocyte, liver and brain lipids with inducers of enzymatic or non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation was measured. Results: Group B registered significantly lower total superoxide dismutase acitvity than group B+. Catalase activity was significantly higher in group C than in group C+E. Hepatic total and reduced glutathione levels were decreased in vitamin E supplemented groups compared to unsupplemented ones. TBARs production in erythrocyte lipids was significantly higher in groups B and C compared to vitamin E supplemented groups B+E and C+E. Conclusions: This study shows that the addition of vitamin E protected erythrocyte and liver microsome lipids enriched in (n-3) and (n-6) LCP from lipid peroxidation during the postnatal development of rats. The protection was more effectively in group C+E than in group B+E.

Notes: Summary An intervention study by documented dietary counselling was carried out in a sample of 9 children and adolescents (12–,15 years) living in a full-time institution in Dortmund. Three weighed dietary records were collected over 3–7 days, one before and one after each of two individual nutrition counselling sessions, which were based on the recommended intake of food groups defined by the Optimized Mixed Diet (OMD), a quantitative preventive dietary conception for children and adolescents. As univariate dietary parameters (e.g., cholesterol intake), which are often used to show the effectiveness of nutrition counselling, do not take into account the multivariate complexitiy of nutrition, we developed 3 multivariate scores to measure the effectiveness of nutrition counselling. The are definded as: Recommended Food group change Score (RFS): Average change in the amounts of the deviations (%) from the reference food groups values (OMD = 100 %) before and after counselling taking into account the aim (eat mor/less) of the counselling session, exclusively based on the food groups addressed during counselling. Total Food group change Score (TFS): Average change in the amounts of the deviations (%) from the reference food group values (OMD = 100 %) before and after counselling based on all food groups consumed. Nutrient Improvement Score (NIS): Average change in the negative deviations (%) of 8 vitamins and 8 minerals from the German reference values for nutrient intake (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) = 100 %) before and after counselling. On average, the intakes of the food groups mentioned during the first counselling session improved considerably (RFS = +36 %), the change in the intake of all food groups was small (TFS = +6 %) and the nutrient intakes did not improve (NIS = 0 %). From the second counselling session the values of the RFS was +10 %, of the TFS was +6% and of the NIS +3 %. This means that the success of counselling on one dietary criterion does not guarantee success on others. Our food and nutrient based scores together with a detailed food intake assessment give an example of multivariate measurements of nutrition counselling outcomes.

Notes: Summary The hydrogen breath analysis test was performed in healthy Thai adults to determine lactitol tolerance. The study was conducted in 39 individuals (11 males and 28 females) aged 18–41 years. All volunteers agreed to participate in this study after the risks and benefits had been fully explained. Subjects were requested not to consume milk, milk products, or high-vegetable diets for a day and to fast from 10 p.m. of the day preceding the test day. After consumption on the test diet (12 and 20 g of lactose or lactitol, respectively, in 250 mL water), the subjects recorded the severity of symptoms for 24 hours. Breath samples were collected after fasting and after consumption of the test diet at 30 min intervals over the 7-hour study period. Breath samples were analyzed for hydrogen using gag chromatography. After consumption of 12 g lactose, the prevalence of lactose malabsorbers was established. The increment of a peak breath hydrogen level of ≥ 20 ppm above the baseline level was used as an indicator of lactose malabsorption. The lactose malabsorbers were further classified as lactose tolerants or lactose intolerants according to the gastrointestinal symptoms observed. All 39 healthy Thai adults could be classified into 3 groups as follows: 9 (23%) lactose absorbers (LA), 15 (38.5%) lactose malabsorber/tolerants (LMT) and 15 (38.5%) lactose malabsorber/intolerants (LMI). Using the hydrogen breath test, 67% of the subjects were identified as lactitol intolerants after the consumption of 12 g lactitol. The lactitol intolerants comprised 53.8% of LMI, 34.6% of LMT, and 11.5% of LA. Among all subjects, one third of LA (33%), two thirds of LMT (60%), and 93% of LMI were lactitol intolerant. In addition, gastrointestinal symptoms such as flatulence and abdominal pain were most pronounced in LMI. Diarrhea was also a prominent manifestation after consumption of 12 g lactitol. Therefore, it was finally decided that 20 g lactose or lactitol were not given to LMI because of the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms. After high doses (20 g) of lactose and lactitol consumption, most LMT developed more symptoms than did LA and the main symptom was diarrhea. Consumption of 20 g lactose resulted in fewer symptoms than 20 g lactitol in both LA and LMT. On the basis of the hydrogen breath test, most LA tolerated 12 g lactitol without gastrointestinal symptoms except some flatulence whereas most LMT and LMI did not. Twenty g lactitol was not tolerated by both LA and LMT because there was diarrhea among the subjects, especially in LMT. Although the hydrogen breath analysis test is the best method for identification of lactose malabsorption, it is not the best method to identify lactitol intolerance. A hydrogen concentration of 15 ppm above the baseline level was found to be the best cut-off point to indicate lactitol intolerance although sensitivity was 85% and specificity only 38% in this study. It was further concluded that there is a greater susceptibility to lactitol in human lactose malabsorbers than in lactose absorbers. Our findings might be relevant for the limited use of lactitol in Thailand.

Notes: Summary Background: Athletes consume arginine and/or aspartate as potential nutritional ergogenics. Their metabolic effects are controversial and there is some evidence that ingestion of large doses of single amino acids can adversely affect the nitrogen balance or induce an amino acid imbalance. Nevertheless, the general metabolic influence of an arginine aspartate supplementation during a prolonged exercise bout has not yet been investigated. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the general metabolic impact of a chronic supplementation with arginine aspartate in endurance-trained athletes at rest and during a marathon run. Methods: Fourteen endurance-trained runners participated in this field study which was carried out according to a double-blind crossover design. 15 g of arginine aspartate or a carbohydrate-based placebo were supplemented daily for 14 days before a marathon run. Blood samples for analysis of metabolites and hormones were collected shortly before the run, after 31 km, at the end of the run, and after a recovery period of two hours. Additionally, the respiratory exchange ratio was determined during the run. Results: The plasma level of carbohydrate (glucose, lactate, pyruvate) and fat metabolites (fatty acids, glycerol, β-hydroxybutyrate), cortisol, insulin, ammonia, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase as well as the respiratory exchange ratio were unaffected by the supplementation. In contrast, the plasma level of somatotropic hormone, glucagon, urea, and arginine were significantly increased, and the level of most of the remaining plasma amino acids as well as their sun was significantly reduced. Conclusions: There was no obvious metabolic benefit derived from the chronic supplementation with arginine aspartate. And since furthermore the consequences of a reduction of the total plasma amino acid level are not known, the practice of using single amino acid supplements as potential ergogenics should be critically reevaluated.

Notes: Summary Background: Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA)# refer to a group of linoleic acid (18:2)-derived isomers with conjugated double bonds mostly at carbon atoms 9 and 11 or 10 and 12, and with all possible cis and trans combinations. CLA is a newly recognized nutrient that functions to regulate energy retention and metabolism and that causes a serum lipoprotein profile considered to be less atherogenic. However, rodent models that have been frequently used for these studies are only of limited use because of distinct differences in physiology, compared with man. Additionally, possible differences in food intake between the experimental groups remained often unconsidered in those studies. Thus, it can not be excluded that the beneficial effects of CLA reported in a series of studies may be due, at least partially, to differences in nutrient and energy ingested. Aim of the study: This prompted us to undertake an investigation on the action of CLA by using a pig model and a feeding regimen with controlled amounts of food and antioxidants. The parameters used to assess CLA-specific action were selected hormones and metabolites involved in energy metabolism, individual lipoproteins and the appearance of CLA in fasting serum and erythrocyte membranes. Blood as an easily available biological sample was used for investigation. Methods: For that purpose 16 adult female pigs were divided into two groups of 8 each, and were isoenergetically fed diets containing 0 (control diet) or 1% level of CLA (by weight) for 6 weeks. Plasma concentrations of total and free thyroxine (T4), total and free triiodothyronine (T3), and insulin were measured by radioimmunoassays. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate, circulating blood ATP and other clinical chemical variables were determined using enzymatic assays. The concentration of α-tocopherol was determined by high perfomrance liquid chromatography. The lipoproteins VLDL (density 〈1.019 kg/L), LDL (density 1.019 – 1.063 kg/L), and HDL (density 〉1.063 kg/L) were isolated by step-wise ultracentrifugation. Fatty acids of the dietary oils, serum and blood cell membranes were separated and quantified by gas chromatography. Results: At week 6, body weights of the pigs fed the CLA-supplemented diet were not different from that of the controls. CLA-treated pigs exhibited a 37% higher concentration of fasting serum insulin than their controls receiving no CLA (P = 0.11). Circulating free and total T4 and T3 as well as serum levels of β-hydroxybutyrate, α-tocopherol, protein, glucose, urea, creatinine and circulating blood ATP remained unaffected by CLA supplementation. Serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids were reduced by 38% in CLA-treated pigs relative to the controls, although this difference was not significant. CLA-treated pigs tended to have lower leukocyte counts in blood than their controls (P 〈0.1). Erythrocyte and platelet counts, the hematocrit and hemoglobin concentration were similar between the groups. Serum of CLA-treated pigs showed a trend toward increased levels of triacylglycerols, cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine in the very low density and low density lipoproteins (LDL), without distinct changes in the high density lipoprotein fraction (HDL). The LDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio was significantly increased by CLA. When pigs were fed CLA at a dietary level of 1%, limited proportions of CLA appeared in fasting serum (1.6%) and erythrocyte membranes (1.1%). Conclusions: Under the present experimental conditions there appeared to be parallels between the effects of CLA and the reported effects of trans fatty acids in the mode of action on lipoproteins and insulin. The failure to demonstrate significant beneficial effects of CLA on the lipoprotein profile which have been observed in other studies requires further research.

Notes: Abstract. The paper gives a slightly generalised version of the well–known Ho–Lee–model of the term structure of interest rates. The Ho–Lee–model is reconstructed by the method of stochastic discounting; continuous time limits are considered which are parallel to the work of Heath, Jarrow and Morton. In contrast to the existing literature the model makes explicit use of the empirical rather than the risk–neutralized probabilities. Consequently, the market's risk aversion plays a specific role in the resulting interest rate process.

Notes: Abstract. We present an expected utility maximisation framework for optimally controlling a portfolio of options. By combining the replication approach to option pricing with ideas of the martingale approach to (stock) portfolio optimisation we arrive at an explicit solution of the option portfolio problem. Its characteristics are illustrated by some specific examples. As an application, we calculate an optimal option and consumption strategy for an investor who is obliged to hold a stock position until the time horizon.

Notes: Zusammenfassung. Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit Wirkungen des Insiderhandels auf die Liquidität und Informationseffizienz von Finanzmärkten. Im Vordergrund steht die intertemporale Handelsstrategie eines monopolistischen Insiders. Ausgangspunkt ist ein grundlegendes Modell von Kyle 1985. Es wird um den Aspekt erweitert, daß der Zeitpunkt der Veröffentlichung der Insiderinformation nicht mehr sicher ist und die Insiderinformation in einem frühen oder einem späten Zeitpunkt veröffentlicht werden könnte. Die Analyse weist plausible Ergebnisse nach: Je wahrscheinlicher der frühe Veröffentlichungszeitpunkt ist, desto intensiver handelt der Insider und desto mehr spiegelt der Kurs die Insiderinformation wider. Gleichzeitig sinkt aber die Marktliquidität. Der komparativ-statische Vergleich zeigt also, daß sich Handelsintensität des Insiders und Marktliquidität in unterschiedliche Richtungen verändern können.

Notes: Zusammenfassung. Diese Arbeit behandelt die Bewertung diskreter Knock-Out-Optionen mit Hilfe von Baumverfahren. Die naive Anwendung der Baumverfahren kann bekanntermaß en zu erheblichen Bewertungsfehlern führen. In Anlehnung an einen Vorschlag von Derman et al. (1995) für kontinuierliche Knock-Out-Optionen entwickeln wir für den diskreten Fall ein erweitertes Korrekturverfahren, das sowohl auf das Binomial- als auch das Trinomialmodell anwendbar ist und sich durch eine große Flexibilität auszeichnet. Die Ergebnisse der abschließenden Simulation zeigen, daß die hier vorgestellten Modelle schon bei geringer Baumtiefe sehr genaue Optionspreise liefern.

Notes: Zusammenfassung. Ein Vorteil bei den heute etablierten Ansätzen zur Bewertung von Optionen ist darin zu sehen, daß im Bewertungszeitpunkt mit Ausnahme der Volatilität des Basisobjekts alle Parameter direkt am Markt beobachtet werden können. Die Volatilität wird entweder auf der Basis historischer Daten geschätzt (historische Volatilität) oder über die relevante Bewertungsgleichung bestimmt, indem der zuletzt am Markt beobachtete Optionspreis in die Bewertungsgleichung eingesetzt und daraus die Volatilität errechnet wird (implizite Volatilität). Die exakte Ermittlung der impliziten Volatilität kann jedoch bei umfangreichen Datensätzen mit unangenehmen Voraussetzungen verbunden sein (z.B. Programmierkenntisse), sodaß häufig analytische Approximationen eingesetzt werden. Im vorliegenden Beitrag werden analytische Approximationen zur Bestimmung der impliziten Volatilität ermittelt, wobei als in diesem Zusammenhang neues methodisches Werkzeug die Genetische Programmierung zum Einsatz kommt. Auf der Basis umfangreicher Datensätze und einer systematischen Analyse wird gezeigt, daß die genetisch bestimmten Näherungsformeln alternative, in der Literatur vorgestellte Approximationsformeln dominieren und zu signifikanten Verbesserungen bei der approximativen Bestimmung der impliziten Volatilität führen.

Notes: Zusammenfassung. Ein Value-at-Risk-Limit wird als DM-Betrag gekennzeichnet, der von den tatsächlichen Handelsverlusten innerhalb einer bestimmten Zeitdauer nur mit geringer Wahrscheinlichkeit überschritten werden darf. Da der Bankvorstand i.d.R. Jahres-Value-at-Risk-Limite beschließt, im Handelsbereich die Geschäfte aber für einen kurzfristigen – unterstellt wird ein eintägiger – Planungshorizont abgeschlossen werden, ist zu klären, wie Jahreslimite in Tageslimite umgerechnet und während des Jahres realisierte Gewinne und Verluste auf die Limite angerechnet werden können. Auf der Grundlage des Umrechnungsverfahrens nach der Quadratwurzel-T-Formel lassen sich drei Verfahren für die Ermittlung des Tageslimits unterscheiden: 1. Realisierte Gewinne und Verluste werden nicht angerechnet (starres Limit). 2. Bei Verlusteintritt vermindert sich das Tageslimit für die Restperiode, realisierte Gewinne machen Kürzungen rückgängig (Verlustbegrenzungslimit). 3. Tageslimite werden um Gewinne und Verluste angepaßt, wodurch eine Erweiterung des Handlungsspielraumes möglich ist (dynamisches Limit). Die drei Limite werden in einem Simulationsmodell gegeneinander abgewogen, wobei unterstellt wird, ein Händler handle nur eine einzige Aktie und antizipiere in 55% der Fälle die Kursrichtung. Die Simulationsergebnisse sind bei den unterstellten Renditeprozessen (geometrisch Brownsche Bewegung und reale Renditen von 77 deutschen Aktien für die Zeit vom 01.01.1974 bis 31.12.1995) weitgehend identisch. Das dynamische Limit produziert deutlich höhere durchschnittliche Ergebnisse als das starre Limit und das Verlustbegrenzungslimit. Überschreitungen des Jahreslimits treten nur beim starren Verfahren auf, die Häufigkeit ist allerdings wesentlich geringer als die zulässige Wahrscheinlichkeit von 1%.

Notes: Abstract. This paper deals with integral inventory control in multi-echelon divergent systems with stochastic lead times. The policy considered is an echelon stock, periodic review, order-up-to (R, S) policy. A computational method is derived to obtain the order-up-to level and the allocation fractions required to achieve given target fill rates. Extensive numerical experimentation shows that the accuracy of our approximate method is satisfactory. Further we show that variation in the lead times may have a significant effect on the stock levels required to achieve given target fill rates, hence this variation may not be ignored. Also, it appears that the correlation structure in the lead times may have a significant impact as well.

Notes: Abstract. This paper is concerned with a two-machine sequencing problem with overlapping processing times and machine repetition. Though its structure appears comparatively simple the problem under consideration belongs to the class of NP-complete problems. Based on the (well-known) concept of dominating processing times / dominated machines conditions are identified which permit the construction of solutions minimising the maximum flow-time within polynomial time. Besides providing a solution to the investigated problem this paper also extends some famous results by Johnson to more complex production environments.

Notes: Zusammenfassung. Um einen Aktienindex exakt nachzubilden, muß man die Gewichtungsfaktoren des Indexes mit dem gewünschten Index-Vielfachen multiplizieren und erhält so die Anzahlen der jeweils zu haltenden Aktien. Rundet man diese Anzahlen auf herkömmliche Art, so weicht man vom gewünschten Nachbildungsergebnis häufig weiter als nötig ab. In dieser Arbeit wird ein leicht zu implementierender Algorithmus vorgestellt, der dieses Problem auf Basis einer Multiplikator-Rundungsmethode löst. Als konkretes Anwendungsbeispiel wird gezeigt, wie man dieses Verfahren beim Nachbilden des Deutschen Aktien-Indexes (DAX) anwenden kann. Dabei finden auch im Xetra-Handel übliche Stückzahlrestriktionen Berücksichtigung. Der Algorithmus reduziert den Nachbildungsfehler und damit auch den daraus resultierenden Tracking-Error auf einen Bruchteil des Wertes, den man bei herkömmlicher Rundung erhält.

Notes: Zusammenfassung. In der vorliegenden Fallstudie aus der fleischverarbeitenden Industrie wird gezeigt, wie sich traditionelle Methoden des Operations Research, nämlich Standardansätze der Mischungsoptimierung, unter Verwendung moderner Informationstechniken so aufbereiten lassen, da{ß} sie auch von einem nicht mit OR-Methoden vertrauten Benutzer eingesetzt werden können. Die entwickelte Software erweist sich dabei gegenüber dem herkömmlichen Planungsansatz nicht nur im Hinblick auf Kostenaspekte als überlegen. Sie führt im praktischen Einsatz auch zu einer Verstetigung der Produktqualität und zu einer Verringerung der Arbeitsbelastung des Sachbearbeiters.

Notes: Abstract. Krugman states that “Regional science is not a unified subject. It is best described as a collection of tools.” Unfortunately such a perspective fails to fully acknowledge theoretical dimensions of the accompanying refocusing on geographic expressions of economic linkages, such as those highlighted in spatial externalities specifications. Such promulgated aspects of the spatial economic landscape relate to map pattern, and certainly the spatial statistics and spatial econometrics theory that accompanies it, as well as the underlying substantive theory garnered from a variety of sources. The principal implication is other than “loose- jointed, do-the-best-you-can theorizing”.

Notes: Abstract. Although a variety of modifications of classical central place theory has been proposed, one area that remains unexplored is the effect of relaxing the nearest centre assumption for the purchase of a specified basket of goods within a given hierarchical level. This article examines the effect of such a relaxation on central place market areas by using higher-order Voronoi diagrams. When used to model market areas, higher-order Voronoi diagrams can be interpreted as overlapping and probabilistic regions. These diagrams construct market areas based on the assumption that consumers choose from a set of $k (k = 1, 2, \ldots, n)$ nearest centres of the same hierarchical level. If consumers are assumed to be indifferent between the k centres, the appropriate market areas are given by the order-k Voronoi diagram. In this case, it is shown that sales potentials are consistent with those that result when the nearest centre assumption is in effect. If consumers are assumed to have a preference for nearer centres, market areas are defined by the ordered, order-k Voronoi diagram. This situation generates sales potentials which can vary between centres.

Notes: Abstract. Corneal topography has, due to developments in refractive surgery and contact lens fitting, become a widely used diagnostic tool. Many types of topographers have been introduced, but there is some confusion on classification and subsequent principal possibilities of the various devices offered to the practitioner. The purpose of the study reported here was to make an inventory of developed devices, analyse the basic principles and create a classification based on optical principles. A literature search was done using Medline, the IBM Patent Server, and references found in articles and patents. This search resulted in a variety of descriptions that could be classified into 12 groups according to their use of light source and light-matter interaction of which four groups have representatives on the commercial market. This classification can be used by researchers and practitioners to gain insight into the possibilities of a given device in relation to the desired application.

Notes: Abstract. A newly developed diffusing laser applicator was examined for interstitial laser coagulation (ILC) of liver tumours. The applicator consisted of a matted quartz core and a quartz glass dome, also matted on its inner surface and sealed to the fibre. The applicator provided a homogeneous light intensity distribution over an active length of about 20 mm. Lesions were created in an ex-vivo porcine liver model using a Nd-YAG laser comparing the new diffusing tip with a Ringmode®-ITT applicator in order to find optimal laser parameters and damage thresholds. The lesions were investigated using macroscopic size measurement, volume calculation and histological examination (H&E, NADPH-dehydrogenase). The damage threshold of the diffusing tip was 6 W at 14 min exposure time whereas the Ringmode®-ITT applicator had its limit at 5 W and 12 min exposure. Comparing various exposure times showed that treatment over a time of more than 840 s did not significantly increase the lesion volume. At 5 W and 720 s the mean lesion volume was 6.9±1.1 cm3 with the diffusing tip and 6.3±0.6 cm3 with the Ringmode®-ITT applicator, both having a slight ellipsoidal shape. Hence, the created lesions were not significantly different for both applicators when the same laser parameters were applied. On the other hand, the new diffusing tip had a higher damage threshold and was therefore capable of producing maximal coagulation volumes of up to 7.9±0.5 cm3 at 5 W and 20 min. The experiments showed that lesions with a dimension of 31×22 mm can be achieved with the diffusing applicator which seem suitably sized for treating small human liver metastases in a single laser session.

Notes: Abstract. A prospective comparative study was done to assess the validity of laser myringotomy (L-myringotomy) when compared to the insertion of ventilating tubes (VT). In 23 children with chronic otitis media with effusion, a VT was inserted in the left ear while a laser myringotomy was performed in the right ear by using the CO2 Sharplan 1030 laser. After a six month follow-up conducted during the winter months, the results with the laser myringotomy were equal to those in the left ear with the VT. During the follow-up period, three ears required additional laser myringotomy either for early closure or because of otitis media and the accumulation of effusion in the middle ear cavity. Nevertheless, the use of laser has the advantage that there is no foreign body in the ear, the tympanic membrane is closed after four to seven weeks, and since the procedure is very short, the time for anaesthesia is minimal.

Notes: Abstract. The disappointing results with either surgery alone and/or chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant ovarian tumours have led to an increased interest in additional treatment schedules. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a modality involving the use of a photosensitising drug and activating light, is being used increasingly as a local treatment for neoplastic lesions. The synthesis and evaluation of new photosensitisers for the treatment of gynaecological lesions and malignancies continues to be an active area of investigation for proper application of the photodynamic process in the gynaecological field. The effect of PDT using methylene blue (free and combined with liposomes) as a photosensitiser for treating human ovarian malignant tumours cultivated on the chorioallantoic membrane was evaluated. Two days after PDT, the treated implanted tumours were markedly decreased in size. Areas of necrosis with black coloration, dryness and eschar formation were observed. Five days after PDT, tumour remission was clearly observed in all the treated tumours. Photodynamic therapy using methylene blue (aqueous and coupled with liposomes) is effective for treating the ovarian malignancies and it will be capable of achieving complete eradication of visible tumours in patients with superficial lesions.

Notes: Abstract. The method of surface-detected fluorescence has been used to monitor the emission intensity from 5-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA)-induced protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in lesions and corresponding adjacent normal skin. Three types of lesions were examined: psoriatic plaques, actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma. This study included a total of 14 human volunteers on whom ALA-induced PpIX formation and clearance was monitored for a total of 48 h post-ALA application. Both an ALA dose-ranging study, as well as a comparison of results between normal and lesional tissue at a fixed ALA dose, were carried out. For the dose range examined (10–30%), there was no ALA dose dependency of the PpIX fluorescence for any of the lesions tested. Although all three lesions tested did show enhanced PpIX fluorescence as compared with normal skin, there was considerable lesion-to-lesion variability. Thick psoriatic plaques seem to give longer PpIX retention times than those of thin lesions. Limitations of the surface-detected fluorescence methodology are discussed.

Notes: Abstract. Interstitial laser Doppler flowmetry was used to measure the effect of interstitial laser-induced thermotherapy on local blood perfusion in normal rat liver in the peripheral treatment region elevated to hyperthermic temperatures. The Nd:YAG laser emitting at 1064 nm was utilised as heat generation source. The plane-cut tip of an optical fibre was placed in the middle of the exteriorised left liver lobe. Blood perfusion and temperature were measured in the liver parenchyma 4 mm from the laser fibre. The temperature at the location of the liver temperature sensor was maintained at 41 or 44°C during 30 min by regulating the power of the heating laser. The laser Doppler signal was recorded during and after heat treatment, for a total time of 60 min. At 41°C, a significant increase in perfusion up to 1.3 times the initial value was observed 2–16 min after start of treatment. At 44°C, perfusion decreased continuously during and after treatment, and was significantly different from control 40 min after start of treatment. The results may be valuable in assessing the thermal response of tissues surrounding the target in interstitial laser-induced thermotherapy of liver tumours during conditions of normal blood flow.

Notes: Abstract . The interaction of picosecond laser radiation with human dental tissue was investigated in this study, in order to determine the ablation rates and the surface characteristics of the dentine by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Dentine ablation was performed by using tooth sections of different thicknesses (0.5–2.0 mm). Dental tissue samples were irradiated in air with the fundamental wavelength and first harmonic of a regenerative amplifier Nd:YAG laser system, at 1064 nm and 532 nm, respectively, with a pulse duration of 100 ps and a pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz. The results showed very clean craters surrounded by minimum melting of the surface of dentine when the 1064 nm pulses were used. In contrast, when the first harmonic 532 nm pulses were used, the SEM examinations revealed cracks and melting of dentine with irregular surface modification. Consequently, it seems that cleaning and shaping of the root canal walls during endodontic therapy with the picosecond Nd:YAG laser application may be possible in the future. The, as yet unexplored, field of the picosecond laser interaction with hard dental tissue is expected to be a potential alternative for powerful laser processing of biomedical structures.