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Objective To evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively lation between age and the sexual symptom scores for each of the three categories (sexual drive, erection the degree of sexual dysfunction in an unselected population of men attending a prostate-assessment and ejaculation), but no correlation between age and the problem assessment scores for these domains, clinic using a sexual-function inventory, and to ascertain the degree of correlation between sexual dysfuncsuggesting that the older patients are just as bothered by their sexual dysfunction as the younger men. tion, urinary symptoms and age.Patients and methods In all, 168 men with symptomatic Furthermore, the BPHII scores correlated weakly but significantly with all aspects of sexual function, includ-BPH attending a prostate assessment clinic were investigated prospectively using the International ing overall sexual satisfaction, in contrast to the poor correlation seen with the total IPSS and sexual funcProstate Symptom Score (IPSS), BPH Impact Index (BPHII), a measurement of urinary flow rate and tion scores. Conclusion There is a significant number of patients residual urine volume, and a sexual function questionnaire. The results were assessed using Spearman's with symptomatic BPH who have sexual dysfunction, with the proportion increasing with advancing age rank order correlation to discern any correlations between the measured variables.and with the older men still showing a high degree of bother from their symptoms. Sexual function scores Results The data from 140 patients were available for analysis; of these, low scores were obtained in 59% were better correlated with BPHII scores than with the total IPSS, although some of the individual IPSS for sexual drive, in 56% for erections (with 46% of men satisfying the National Institute of Health criquestions correlated well. Keywords Benign prostatic hyperplasia, sexual function, terion for impotence) and in 38% for ejaculation. There was a statistically significant rank order correquestionnaire, age, correlation toms, using the BPH impact index (BPHII) [5]. However,

A digital method for the discrimination of neutron and-ray events from an organic scintillator has been investigated by using frequency gradient analysis (FGA) based on the Fourier transform. Since the scintillation process and the photomultiplier tube (PMT) anode signal are often very noisy, most pulse-shape discrimination methods in a scintillation detection system (e.g., the charge comparison (CC) method or pulse gradient analysis (PGA)) using time-domain features of the signal depend greatly on the associated de-noising algorithm. In this research, the performance of the new FGA method and the PGA method have been studied and compared on a theoretical basis and then verified by time-offlight (TOF). The frequency-domain features extracted by the FGA method exhibit a strong insensitivity to the variation in pulse response of the photomultiplier tube (PMT) and can be used to discriminate neutron and-ray events in a mixed radiation field. It is shown that the FGA method results in an increased figure of merit (FOM) which corresponds to a reduction in the area of overlap between neutron and-ray events. The FGA method has the potential to be implemented in current embedded electronic systems to provide real-time discrimination in standalone instruments.

The viscosity of nonsolid foods and the stability of their viscosity over time is critical in managing dysphagia. The time-dependent viscosity of liquids thickened with starch-based thickeners was measured at constant temperature and shear rate. Viscosity was measured between 30-min intervals of rest (zero shear) over a period of 17 h at 20.0 degrees C. Two common types of thickeners were evaluated: maize-based and maltodextrin-based (the latter commonly used in pediatrics). The maize-based thickeners undergo a significant decrease in viscosity over the initial 1-4 h following preparation. The maltodextrin-based thickener's viscosity increases significantly 30 min following preparation and is then more stable over time than its maize-based equivalent. These findings suggest that the success of current dysphagia therapies that use thickeners could be influenced by the time-dependent nature of thickened fluid viscosity. Acknowledgment and appropriate selection of the thickener type is shown to be of great importance.

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The application of the droplet quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) to the measurement of viscosity for industrial oils is reported. In this approach a small-volume droplet of fluid is investigated via its influence on the resonant frequency of a quartz oscillator. The droplet QCM viscosity response is investigated for a selection of industrial oils, including commercial automotive lubricants, heavy fuel oils, calibration oils and used automotive lubricating oils. This approach shows significant analytical promise for distinguishing between heavy fuel oils dyed to indicate their duty status. It is also demonstrated that lubricating oils aged in engine tests exhibit an enhanced QCM viscosity response than accepted viscosity measurements would otherwise indicate. The locus at which the viscosity response saturates due to violation of the small loading approximation (extreme viscosities) is identified and found to be qualitatively consistent with established equivalent circuit models. The identification of commercial lubricating oils is observed to be unreliable on the basis of viscosity response alone.

The synthesis of new S(2)O(4)-crown annelated tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) derivatives substituted with one terminal thiol group is described. Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of these compounds have been assembled on gold and platinum surfaces, the latter substrate giving improved quality films. SAMs of TTF derivative 16b are the most stable of those we have studied. Electrochemical data for SAMs of 5a, 5b, 8, 16a, and 16b in acetonitrile reveal two reversible one-electron waves, typical of the TTF system; the current increased linearly with scan rate, indicating a surface wave response. SAMs of 8, 16a, and 16b exhibited an electrochemical response in aqueous electrolytes, which was observed between 50 and 100 cycles. Moreover, if the potential scanned was limited to the first TTF oxidation, the cyclic voltammetry response was observed for at least 1000 cycles. Metal complexation by the crown ionophore of the SAMs in acetonitrile has been monitored by a positive shift in the first oxidation potential of the TTF unit (maximum DeltaE(1)(1/2) = 80 mV for Ag(+)). We also report the X-ray crystal structure of TTF-crown derivative 21 bearing two hydroxymethyl substituents, synthesized during the course of this work. The structure is characterized by infinite chains of molecules linked by strong intrachain hydrogen bonds between the terminal hydroxy groups.