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Summary: Neutrophils are often exclusively considered as a first‐line innate immune defence, able to rapidly kill or trap pathogens and causing in case of over‐activation tissue damage. In the female reproductive tract, however, the presence and activity of neutrophils seems to be tightly regulated. Major players in orchestrating this regulation are cyclical steroid sex hormones present during the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. This review describes the role of sex hormones in regulating directly or indirectly the functionality of neutrophils, the role of neutrophils during fertilization and pregnancy and in controlling viral, fungal and bacterial infection. This review also discusses the consequence of overt neutrophil activation in pregnancy pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study that investigated the rapid thermal annealing of thermal donors in silicon by infrared absorption and resistivity measurements. Information on a tool used for investigating defect annealing mechanisms in solids; Illustration of wafer position and temperature response for a wire thermocouple embedded in silicon within the heat pulse system.

Explains the quasiequilibrium, morphological and structural characteristics of thermally induced oxide precipitates in Czochralski silicon. Information on Czochralski silicon; Thermal annealing of Czochralski silicon; Morphological and crystallographic characteristics of stacking faults in doped Czochralski silicon materials.

Presents a study which characterized the electrical properties of mercury[sub1-x]cadmium[subx]tellurium grown by organic vapor phase epitaxy. Experimental details; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

Presents a study on surface photovoltage measurement of long diffusion length silicon. Limitations of the surface photovoltage method; Principal source of error in thin wafers of long diffusion length material; Possibility of measuring large diffusion lengths in a reliable manner.

Focuses on a study that investigated the thermal donor formation and annihilation in oxygen-implanted float-zone silicon. Annihilation characteristics of thermal donors formed in the oxygen implanted layers; Basis for the tentative conclusion that both old and new thermal donors exist in the oxygen-implanted layer; Formulation and annihilation of thermal donors.

Studies the effect of heavy boron doping upon oxygen precipitation in Czochralski silicon. Information on the x-ray theoretical considerations; Details on the experiment; Bragg line profiles; Conclusions.

Presents information on a study which investigated the impact of high carbon concentration on oxygen precipitation and related phenomena in Czochralski silicon (CzSi). Enhancement of oxygen precipitation; Thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of oxygen precipitate morphology in high carbon content; Experimental details; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

Background: Autoantibodies, in particular those against aquaporin-4 and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG), aid as biomarkers in the differential diagnosis of demyelination. Here, we report on discovery of autoantibodies against flotillin in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods: The target antigen was identified by histo-immunoprecipitation using the patients' sera and cryosections of rat or pig cerebellum combined with mass spectrometrical analysis. Correct identification was ascertained by indirect immunofluorescence and neutralization tests using the target antigens recombinantly expressed in HEK293 cells.Results: Serum and CSF of the index patient produced a fine-granular IgG indirect immunofluorescence staining of the hippocampal and cerebellar molecular layers. Flotillin-1 and flotillin-2 were identified as target autoantigens. They also reacted with recombinant human flotillin-1/2 co-expressed in HEK293 cells, but not with the individual flotillins in fixed- and live-cell assays. Moreover, neutralization using flotillin-1/2, but not the single flotillins, abolished the tissue reactivity of patient serum. Screening of 521 patients, for whom anti-aquaporin-4 testing was requested and negative, revealed 8 additional patients with anti-flotillin-1/2 autoantibodies. All eight were negative for anti-MOG. Six patients ex post fulfilled the revised McDonald criteria for MS. Vice versa, screening of 538 MS sera revealed anti-flotillin-1/2 autoantibodies in eight patients. The autoantibodies were not found in a cohort of 67 patients with other neural autoantibody-associated syndromes and in 444 healthy blood donors.Conclusions: Autoantibodies against the flotillin-1/2 heterocomplex, a peripheral membrane protein that is involved in axon outgrowth and regeneration of the optic nerve, are present in 1-2% of patients with bona fide MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epitaxial films have the potential to be used as model systems for fundamental investigations on the martensitic transformation in binary NiTi. In this paper, we discuss growth of binary NiTi thin films on single crystalline MgO substrates. Sputter deposition is used to grow NiTi films. Films prepared by complementary preparation routes (with different deposition temperatures and subsequent heat treatments) are investigated by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and electrical resistivity measurements, with the aim of optimizing film properties, particularly to obtain a well defined orientation of the austenitic unit cell and smooth surfaces. Our results show that deposition at elevated temperatures and carefully controlled subsequent heat treatments allow to produce epitaxially grown and smooth NiTi films that exhibit reversible one- or two-step martensitic transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case report of intra-abdominal pseudotumour complicated with fistula formation to the duodenum in 30-year-old male patient with haemophilia B and high titre of inhibitor. It notes that patient faced a life-threatening condition due to bleeding and abscess formation of the hematoma. The patient's management include bypassing agents, such as factor eight inhibitor bypassing activity and activated recombinant factor VII.

Background Regulatory T cells (Treg) represent a promising target for novel treatment strategies in patients with inflammatory/allergic diseases. A soluble derivate of the Treg surface molecule glycoprotein A repetitions predominant ( sGARP) has strong anti-inflammatory and regulatory effects on human cells in vitro as well as in vivo through de novo induction of peripheral Treg. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory function of sGARP and its possible role as a new therapeutic option in allergic diseases using a humanized mouse model. Methods To analyze the therapeutic effects of sGARP, adult NOD/ Scidγc−/− ( NSG) mice received peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMC) derived from allergic patients with sensitization against birch allergen. Subsequently, allergic inflammation was induced in the presence of Treg alone or in combination with sGARP. Results In comparison with mice that received Treg alone, additional treatment with sGARP reduced airway hyperresponsiveness ( AHR), influx of neutrophils and macrophages into the bronchoalveolar lavage ( BAL), and human CD45+ cells in the lungs. Furthermore, the numbers of mucus-producing goblet cells and inflammatory cell infiltrates were reduced. To elucidate whether the mechanism of action of sGARP involves the TGF-β receptor pathway, mice additionally received anti- TGF-β receptor II ( TGF-β RII) antibodies. Blocking the signaling of TGF-β through TGF-β RII abrogated the anti-inflammatory effects of sGARP, confirming its essential role in inhibiting the allergic inflammation. Conclusion Induction of peripheral tolerance via sGARP is a promising potential approach to treat allergic airway diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been reported that supersonic molecular beam injection (SMBI) is an effective means of edge localized mode (ELM) mitigation. This paper newly reports the changes in the ELM, plasma profiles, and fluctuation characteristics during ELM mitigation by SMBI in Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research. During the mitigated ELM phase, the ELM frequency increased by a factor of 2-3 and the ELM size, which was estimated from the Dα amplitude, the fractional changes in the plasma-stored energy and the line-averaged electron density, and divertor heat flux during an ELM burst, decreased by a factor of 0.34-0.43. Reductions in the electron and ion temperatures rather than in the electron density were observed during the mitigated ELM phase. In the natural ELM phase, frequency chirping of the plasma fluctuations was observed before the ELM bursts; however, the ELM bursts occurred without changes in the plasma fluctuation frequency in the mitigated ELM phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the optimization procedure for a no-insulation (NI) multi-width (MW) REBCO magnet, which enables the fabrication of a highly compact and competitively priced superconducting magnet. In order to identify the design considerations for the NI-MW magnet, the electromagnetic performances of 3 different magnets were investigated using the finite element method (FEM). Based on the comparison results, it was verified that the critical current distribution-factor (CCD-factor), which is the ratio of the highest pancake critical current ( I c ) to the lowest pancake I c within the magnet, should be close to 1.00 for the MW configuration to be most effective. In the optimized MW magnet, the center B z (7.54 T) remarkably exhibited an ∼ 51% increase compared to the 4-mm single width magnet (5.00 T). Furthermore, the CCD-factor of the optimized MW magnet was 1.04, which is quite close to 1.00, sufficiently demonstrating the validity of the optimization process and result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report a feasibility study for elimination of the screening current-induced field (SCIF) in fully insulated (INS) and no-insulation (NI) GdBCO coated conductor (CC) coils exposed to an external AC magnetic field generated by background solenoid copper coils. Prior to investigating the effects of external AC magnetic fields on SCIF in the GdBCO CC coils, the magnetic flux density ( B) was calculated using the equivalent circuit model and compared to the B obtained empirically to quantify the SCIF in the INS and NI coils. The value of the SCIF in the NI coil was smaller than that in the INS coil without the use of an external AC magnetic field, due to the current paths originating from the turn-to-turn and layer-to-layer contacts, suggesting that the screening current dissipated by contact resistance during charging. When the INS and NI coils were exposed to the external AC magnetic field, the B of the coils increased gradually, and eventually saturating to the calculated B values, indicating full removal of the SCIF. In addition, the SCIF of the NI coil could be removed under subjection to a lower external AC magnetic field compared to the INS coil, due to the lower SCIF occurring in the NI coil after charging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To compare the HbA1c-lowering efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 ( GLP-1) analogues between Asians and non-Asians with type 2 diabetes. Methods We searched randomized controlled trials from MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, CENTRAL and . Studies described in English were included if the treatment duration was 12 weeks or more, information about ethnicity and baseline HbA1c values were available and a GLP-1 analogue was compared with a placebo. For the ethnic comparison, we divided the studies into Asian-dominant studies (≥50% Asian participants) and non-Asian-dominant studies (<50% Asian participants). Results Among the 837 searched studies, 15 trials were included for the meta-analysis. The weighted mean difference of HbA1c with GLP-1 analogues was −1.16% [95% confidence interval ( CI) −1.48, −0.85] in the Asian-dominant studies and −0.83% (95% CI −0.97, −0.70) in the non-Asian-dominant studies. The between-group difference was −0.32% (95% CI −0.64, −0.01; p = 0.04). The relative risk ( RR) with 95% CIs for achieving the target HbA1c ≤7.0% tended to be greater in the Asian-dominant studies [ RR 5.7 (3.8, 8.7)] than in the non-Asian-dominant studies [ RR 2.8 (2.4, 3.3)]. Body weight changes were similar between the two groups. Hypoglycaemia tended to be more common in Asian-dominant studies ( RR 2.8 [2.3, 3.5]) than in non-Asian-dominant studies ( RR 1.5 [1.2, 1.8]), but severe hypoglycaemia was very rare in both groups. Conclusion GLP-1 analogues lower HbA1c more in Asian-dominant studies than in non-Asian-dominant studies. Further studies are warranted to explore the potential mechanisms of the ethnic difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone Marrow (BM) remains a common source for hematopoietic SCT. Due to the transcutaneous approach, contamination with skin bacteria is common. The delay between harvest and transfusion can be considerable, potentially allowing for bacterial proliferation. The optimal transportation temperature, specifically with respect to bacterial growth and consequences thereof for hematopoietic quality, remain undefined. For 72 h, 66 individual BM samples, non-spiked/spiked with different bacteria, stored at 20-24 °C room temperature (RT) or 3-5 °C (cold), were serially analyzed for hematopoietic quality and microbial burden. Under most conditions, hematopoietic quality of BM was equal or better at RT: Typical BM contaminants (P. acnes and S. epidermidis) and E. coli were killed or bacterial proliferation was arrested at RT; hematopoietic quality was not impacted by the contamination. However, several pathogenic bacteria not typically found in BM (S. aureus and K. pneumoniae) proliferated dramatically at RT and impaired hematopoietic quality. Bacterial proliferation was arrested in the cold. The overwhelming majority of BM samples, that is, those that are sterile or contaminated only with skin commensals, will benefit from transportation at RT. Those bacteria that proliferate and perturb hematopoietic quality are not typically found in BM. Our data support recommendations for RT transportation and storage of BM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cauchy Condition Surface (CCS) method is a numerical approach to reconstruct the plasma boundary and calculate the quantities related to plasma shape using the magnetic diagnostics in real time. It has been applied to the KSTAR plasma in order to establish the plasma shape reconstruction with the high elongation of plasma shape and the large effect of eddy currents flowing in the tokamak structures for the first time. For applying the CCS calculation to the KSTAR plasma, the effects by the eddy currents and the ferromagnetic materials on the plasma shape reconstruction are studied. The CCS calculation includes the effect of eddy currents and excludes the magnetic diagnostics, which is expected to be influenced largely by ferromagnetic materials. Calculations have been performed to validate the plasma shape reconstruction in 2012 KSTAR experimental campaign. Comparison between the CCS calculation and non-magnetic measurements revealed that the CCS calculation can reconstruct the accurate plasma shape even with a small IP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spin waves in the rare-earth orthorferrite YFeO3 have been studied by inelastic neutron scattering and analyzed with a full four-sublattice model including contributions from both the weak ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic orders. Antiferromagnetic exchange interactions of J1 = -4.23 ± 0.08 (nearest neighbors only) or J1 = -4.77 ± 0.08 meV and J2 = -0.21 ± 0.04 meV lead to excellent fits for most branches at both low and high energies. An additional branch associated with the weak antiferromagnetic order was observed. This work paves the way for studies of other materials in this class containing spin reorientation transitions and magnetic rare-earth ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contagious ecthyma (orf) is a highly contagious viral disease of small domestic and wild ruminants usually affecting young animals with economic and zoonotic implications. The disease is characterized by the formation of vesiculo-proliferative lesions on the lips, nostrils and around the eyes, also on the udder of nursing ewes of affected lambs. Rarely the lesions can be seen in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. In this case 2 lambs of 4 month of age where submitted to the Kimron Veterinary Institute for post mortem examination. This report describes findings of proliferations consistent with orf found on gingival mucosa and ruminal epithelium which are relatively rare, however without external lesions. The diagnosis of ecthyma was confirmed by PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoluminal vacuum-assisted therapy and transanal minimally invasive surgery closure of leak following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis - a video vignette I Dear Editor i , Anastomotic leak (AL) after ileal pouch procedure occur in 4-17% of cases and can lead to pelvic sepsis, stricture, delayed ileostomy closure, and pouch failure [1]. Endoluminal vacuum-assisted therapy and TAMIS closure of leak following ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: We evaluated the diagnostic role of ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) according to ultrasonography features of thyroid nodules that had inconclusive ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) results. Methods: A total of 88 thyroid nodules in 88 patients who underwent ultrasonography-guided CNB because of previous inconclusive FNA results were evaluated. The patients were classified into three groups based on ultrasonography findings: Group A, which was suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC); Group B, which was suspicious for follicular (Hurthle cell) neoplasm; and Group C, which was suspicious for lymphoma. The final diagnoses of the thyroid nodules were determined by surgical confirmation or follow-up after ultrasonography-guided CNB. Results: Of the 88 nodules, the malignant rate was 49.1% in Group A, 12.0% in Group B and 90.0% in Group C. The rates of conclusive ultrasonography-guided CNB results after previous incomplete ultrasonography-guided FNA results were 96.2% in Group A, 64.0% in Group B and 90.0% in Group C (p=0.001). 12 cases with inconclusive ultrasonography-guided CNB results were finally diagnosed as 8 benign lesions, 3 PTCs and 1 lymphoma. The number of previous ultrasonography-guided FNA biopsies was not significantly different between the conclusive and the inconclusive result groups of ultrasonography-guided CNB (p=0.205). Conclusion: Ultrasonography-guided CNB has benefit for the diagnosis of thyroid nodules with inconclusive ultrasonography-guided FNA results. However, it is still not helpful for the differential diagnosis in 36% of nodules that are suspicious for follicular neoplasm seen on ultrasonography. Advances in knowledge: This study shows the diagnostic contribution of ultrasonography-guided CNB as an alternative to repeat ultrasonography-guided FNA or surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phonon dispersion was measured at room temperature along (0,0,L) in the tetragonal phase of LaFeAsO using inelastic x-ray scattering. Spin-polarized first-principles calculations imposing various types of antiferromagnetic order are in better agreement with the experimental results than nonmagnetic calculations, although the measurements were made well above the magnetic ordering temperature, TN. Splitting observed between two A1g phonon modes at 22 and 26 meV is only reproduced in spin-polarized calculations. Magnetostructural effects similar to those observed in the AFe2As2 (A=Ca,Sr,Ba,Eu) materials are present in LaFeAsO. The inclusion of Fe spin is necessary to find reasonable agreement of the calculations with the measured spectrum well above TN. On-site Fe and As force constants show significant softening compared to nonmagnetic calculations, however an investigation of the real-space force constants associates the magnetoelastic coupling with a complex renormalization instead of softening of a specific pairwise force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have performed detailed studies of the temperature evolution of the electronic structure in Ba(Fe1-xRux)2As2 using angle resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Surprisingly, we find that the binding energy of both hole and electron bands changes significantly with temperature in both pure and Ru substituted samples. The hole and electron pockets are well nested at low temperature in unsubstituted (BaFe2As2) samples, which likely drives the spin density wave and resulting antiferromagnetic order. Upon warming, this nesting is degraded as the hole pocket shrinks and the electron pocket expands. Our results demonstrate that the temperature dependent nesting may play an important role in driving the antiferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Although chemotherapeutic regimens containing a taxane or platinum agent have been widely recommended for unfavourable carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP), no evidence exists for the superiority of any administered regimens. To date, the efficacy has been mostly assessed in the limited setting of phase II trials, and few attempts have been made to synthesise all available data for survival outcomes.Methods:Electronic databases were searched from 1980 to 2011. Survival results were combined for each pre-specified category of regimens using a random-effects model, and meta-regression models were used to adjust for heterogeneity in some known prognostic factors.Results:A total of 32 studies were included for meta-analysis. Tendency towards better survival outcome by platinums or taxanes was indicated. After adjustment for important prognostic factors, however, the difference between the platinum-based and non-platinum regimens became no longer significant. Survival benefits by the taxane-based regimens remained significant, with a prolonged median survival time of 1.52 months (P=0.03) and a higher 1-year survival rate of 6.25% (P=0.05), but the benefit did not sustain for 2 years.Conclusion:Although no effective therapies have been established, this meta-analysis helps to fill an important gap of evidence. However, caution should still be taken because of the potential unmeasured confounding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous authors have reported that chronic eccentric cycling facilitates greater changes in multi-joint leg function (hopping frequency, maximum jumping height) compared with concentric cycling. Our purpose was to evaluate changes in leg spring stiffness and maximum power following eccentric and concentric cycling training. Twelve individuals performed either eccentric ( n=6) or concentric ( n=6) cycling for 7 weeks (3 sessions/week) while training duration progressively increased. Participants performed trials of submaximal hopping, maximal counter movement jumps, and maximal concentric cycling to evaluate leg spring stiffness, maximum jumping power, and maximum concentric cycling power respectively, before and 1 week following training. Total work during training did not differ between eccentric and concentric cycling (126 ± 15-728 ± 91 kJ vs 125 ± 10-787 ± 76 kJ). Following training, eccentric cycling exhibited greater changes in kleg and jumping Pmax compared with CONcyc (10 ± 3% vs −2 ± 4% and 7 ± 2% vs −2 ± 3%, respectively, P=0.05). Alterations in CONcyc Pmax did not differ between ECCcyc (1035 ± 142 vs 1030 ± 133 W) and CONcyc (1072 ± 98 vs 1081 ± 85 W). These data demonstrate that eccentric cycling is an effective method for improving leg spring stiffness and maximum power during multi-joint tasks that include stretch-shortening cycles. Improvements in leg spring stiffness and maximum power would be beneficial for both aging and athletic populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since December 2008, the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites has been operationally distributing a global 25-km surface soil moisture product derived from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) onboard the meteorological operational platform (METOP) satellite METOP-A. Soil moisture is retrieved by using the semiempirical change detection method originally developed by the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) for the Active Microwave Instrument (AMI) flown on the European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2. With the launch of the first of the three Meteorological Operational Platforms (METOP-A) in October 2006, ASCAT onboard METOP-A inherits and continues the role of his predecessor AMI. The original soil moisture retrieval algorithm (TU Wien model) was expected to be almost directly applicable for ASCAT with only minor changes, since the configuration and technical design is similar to the ERS scatterometers. Since the TU Wien model requires a robust historic long-term reference of scattering parameters, the initial near real-time METOP ASCAT soil moisture product had to rely on the model parameters derived from over 15 years of ERS-1/2. However, the combination of ASCAT backscatter measurements and ERS-1/2 historic long-term reference introduced some artifacts in the soil moisture product. The objectives of this paper were to analyze and investigate the impact of the ERS-1/2 historic long-term reference on the soil moisture retrieval. An error model has been developed to quantify the effects of the two main error sources: differences in spatial resolution and absolute calibration. The results of the study show that a simple model is able to describe the artifacts in the initial near real-time METOP ASCAT soil moisture product, which frequently occur in areas characterized by sharp backscatter contrasts. The expected overestimation of soil moisture using ERS-1/2 model parameters due to a calibration bias between AMI and ASCAT could be modeled as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients acquired 60 min after FDG administration is reported to be only moderate, especially due to low sensitivity. Purpose: To test whether a delayed scan 90 min after FDG administration could enhance the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases. Material and Methods: Thirty-eight women suffering from primary breast cancer (mean age 52 years; range 25-78 years; standard deviation 14 years) underwent a pre-therapeutic dual-time-point FDG-PET/CT scan. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of axillary lymph nodes was measured at two different time points (time point T1: 60 min after FDG injection, time point T2: 90 min after FDG injection). SUVmax of axillary lymph nodes at T1 and T2 were assessed for statistical significance using a paired Wilcoxon-Test (P < 0.05). At T1 a qualitative analysis of the FDG-PET/CT scan was performed to define physiologic and metastatic lymph nodes. At T2 an increase of the SUVmax of at least 3.75% over time was rated as indicating malignancy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases was calculated at time points T1 and T2. Statistically significant differences were determined using Fisher's exact test (P < 0.05). Histopathology served as the standard of reference. A compartment based analysis was done. Results: Axillary lymph nodes had a mean SUVmax of 1.6 (range 0.6-10.8; SD 1.9) at T1 and a mean SUVmax of 1.8 (range 0.5-17.9; SD 3.5) at T2. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.047). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases was 81%, 100%, 100%, 88%, and 92% at T1, and 88%, 50%, 56%, 85%, and 66% at T2, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.27). Conclusion: There is a slight increase of the FDG accumulation of axillary lymph nodes between 60 and 90 min after FDG administration. This increase did not translate into a statistical significant enhancement of the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for the detection of axillary lymph nodes. Especially due to false-positive results a delayed FDG-PET/CT scan 90 min after FDG administration is not able to enhance the diagnostic accuracy for the detection of lymph node metastases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The morphological and chemical changes of CdTe surface in CdTe/CdS/ITO/glass solar cells, due to CdCl2 solution treatment followed by annealing in air from 340 to 420°C were studied using SEM and XPS. SEM micrographs showed that the supersaturated CdCl2 samples exhibited recrystallization and a progressive increase in grain sizes upon annealing. The grain sizes of the samples increased up to about 3–4μm when annealed above 410°C. XPS spectra for the S 2p, Cd 3d and for the Te 3d were recorded and analyzed for the as-grown structures and for structures annealed at different temperatures with and without CdCl2 treatment. The spectra clearly show that annealing the CdCl2 supersaturated samples removes TeO3 peaks, while annealing the structures without CdCl2 treatment enhances the TeO3 peaks. The I–V measurements revealed that V oc higher than 680mV and J sc close to 20mA/cm2 were obtained for CdTe/CdS solar cells annealed under optimum conditions of 410°C for 15min. The improvement of V oc and J sc after CdCl2 heat treatment can be attributed to dissolving the oxidations at the free surfaces and recrystallizations of CdTe layer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Bone scintigraphy is the standard procedure for the detection of bone metastases in breast cancer patients. FDG-PET/CT has been reported to be a sensitive tool for tumor staging in different malignant diseases. However, its accuracy for the detection of bone metastases has not been compared to bone scintigraphy. Purpose: To compare whole-body FDG-PET/CT and bone scintigraphy for the detection of bone metastases on a lesion basis in breast cancer patients. Material and Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive women (mean age 58 years, range 35-78 years) with histologically proven breast cancer were assessed with bone scintigraphy and whole-body FDG-PET/CT. Twenty-one patients (72%) were suffering from primary breast cancer and eight patients (28%) were in aftercare with a history of advanced breast cancer. Both imaging procedures were assessed for bone metastases by a radiologist and a nuclear medicine physician. Concordant readings between bone scintigraphy and FDG-PET/CT were taken as true. Discordant readings were verified with additional MRI imaging in all patients and follow-up studies in most patients. Results: A total of 132 lesions were detected on bone scintigraphy, FDG-PET/CT or both. According to the reference standard, 70/132 lesions (53%) were bone metastases, 59/132 lesions (45%) were benign, and three lesions (2%) remained unclear. The sensitivity of bone scintigraphy was 76% (53/70) compared to 96% (67/70) for FDG-PET/CT. The specificity of bone scintigraphy and FDG-PET/CT was 95% (56/59) and 92% (54/59), respectively. According to the reference standard bone metastases were present in eight out of the 29 patients (28%), whereas 20 patients (69%) were free of bone metastases. One (3%) patient had inconclusive readings on both modalities as well as on MRI and follow-up studies. Bone scintigraphy and FDG-PET/CT correctly identified seven out of eight patients with bone metastases and 20 out of 20 patients free of metastases. Conclusion: On a lesion-basis whole-body FDG-PET/CT is more sensitive and equally specific for the detection of bone metastases compared with bone scintigraphy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 10-week old female Italian Cane Corso puppy was presented with a history of mucoid diarrhea and vomiting, and a presumptive diagnosis of parvoviral infection. The dog presented with severe leukopenia and was hospitalized and treated intensively with intravenous fluids, electrolytes, glucose, antibiotics, human albumin and antiemetics. Clinical and hematological improvement was noted, and the white blood cell count normalized. However, on the fifth day, neurological signs and intractable hypoglycemia had occurred and the dog was euthanized. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and necropsy revealed bacterial meningoencephalitis due to a multi-resistant Escherichia coli strain. This same E. coli was isolated also from the lungs, liver and spleen, and likely spread systemically due to septicemia. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of blood identified the presence of DNA of the recently discovered canine parvovirus strain 2c (CPV-2c). Five of the puppy's six siblings exhibited clinical signs suggestive of parvovirus enteritis and died, despite conventional supportive treatment and hospitalization. Moreover, two littermates presented neurological abnormalities as well. The litter was vaccinated at the age of six weeks, and again two days prior to the appearance of clinical signs. Immunization failure due to interference by maternal antibodies was suspected to have occurred. Furthermore, the efficacy of maternally derived antibodies from bitches vaccinated with other CPV-2 strains to protect against the new strains is debatable, and might have put the puppies at risk of infection with CPV-2c. This is the first record of CPV-2c strain infection in dogs in Israel, as well as the first documentation of E. coli meningoencephalitis in a CPV-infected dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of fused fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance mammography (FDG-PET/MRM) in breast cancer patients and to compare FDG-PET/ MRM with MRM. Methods: 27 breast cancer patients (mean age 58.9±9.9 years) underwent MRM and prone FDG-PET. Images were fused software-based to FDG-PET/MRM images. Histopathology served as the reference standard to define the following parameters for both MRM and FDG-PET/MRM: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy for the detection of breast cancer lesions. Furthermore, the number of patients with correctly determined lesion focality was assessed. Differences between both modalities were assessed by McNemars test (p<0.05). The number of patients in whom FDG-PET/MRM would have changed the surgical approach was determined. Results: 58 breast lesions were evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 93%, 60%, 87%, 75% and 85% for MRM, respectively. For FDG-PET/MRM they were 88%, 73%, 90%, 69% and 92%, respectively. FDG-PET/MRM was as accurate for lesion detection (p=1) and determination of the lesions' focality (p=0.7722) as MRM. In only 1 patient FDG-PET/MRM would have changed the surgical treatment. Conclusion: FDG-PET/MRM is as accurate as MRM for the evaluation of local breast cancer. FDG-PET/MRM defines the tumours' focality as accurately as MRM and may have an impact on the surgical treatment in only a small portion of patients. Based on these results, FDG-PET/MRM cannot be recommended as an adjunct or alternative to MRM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore nurses' experiences with patient and visitor violence, as well as other related factors, in Swiss general hospital settings. Patient and visitor violence is a complex occupational hazard among health care professions, with nursing in general, experiencing the highest rate of patient and visitor violence. International research has found that staff and patient attributes, interaction between staff and patients, as well as environmental characteristics are important factors associated with the occurrence of patient and visitor violence. Previous studies, however, have only partially described these factors in the general hospital setting. Mainland European general hospital settings are even less well researched. A retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2007. A total of 291 nurses working in different clinical departments in general hospitals provided data. The questionnaire used was a modified German version of the Survey of Violence Experienced by Staff. The findings revealed that 72% of nurses had experienced verbal patient and visitor violence and 42% physical patient and visitor violence in the past 12 months. Also, 23% were physically injured and 1·4% took one or more days of sick leave. Patient and visitor violence was distressing for the nursing staff. A higher risk for patient and visitor violence was observed with registered nurses nursing anxious or cognitively impaired patients, for rehabilitation units with longer-term nurse-patient/nurse-relative interactions and for workplaces with an absence of formal procedures for patient and visitor violence. The results indicate that the clinical setting has little impact on the occurrence of patient and visitor violence. Patient and visitor violence appears to be influenced more by the additional factors specific to the type of interaction and situation. Research should follow up on these specific findings to further improve policies, procedures and intervention strategies. To prevent patient and visitor violence, Swiss general hospitals should take into consideration the risk factors associated with patient and visitor violence. Existing policies, procedures and staff education should be improved on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In 2008, the Phase 3 program to complete a 1.3GHz (30.5T) NMR magnet started at the Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It comprises two sub-phases, 3A and 3B. In Phase 3A, a 600MHz high temperature superconductor (HTS) insert magnet (H600) will be designed, constructed, and operated in the bore of a 500MHz low temperature superconductor (LTS) background magnet. This will be followed by Phase 3B, in which the H600 will be combined with a 700MHz LTS background magnet to complete a 1.3GHz NMR LTS/HTS magnet. This paper presents and discusses design issues for two conductor options for H600: BiSCCO-2223 (Bi2223) and coated-YBCO or its variants, here designated as YBCO. For each conductor option, we focused on the following issues: (1) elastic and thermal properties; (2) critical current vs. field performance; (3) splice and index heat dissipations; (4) mechanical and thermal stresses; and (5) protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Focus groups were conducted in a mid-sized community to explore community members’ awareness and perceptions of genomic medicine and identify effective methods to educate the public about this topic. Methods: Thirteen focus groups were conducted with a demographically representative pool of 121 participants using a semi-structured interview guide. Transcripts were analyzed through a computer assisted approach with Atlas TI consisting of coding, categorizing, comparing, and contrasting relevant data. Results: Identified categories were organized into 6 main themes, which were similar across the groups and included: a lack of awareness, perceived benefits, concerns about genomic medicine, reasons for poor health related behavior, the potential impact of genetic information on health behavior, and the best ways to educate the community. Common concerns included lack of affordability, unanticipated physical harm, mistrust of the government and researchers, downstream effects like overpopulation, playing God/disturbing the natural order, lack of regulations, loss of privacy, genetic discrimination, and moral dilemmas posed by genetic engineering, cloning, choosing traits, and abortions resulting from genetic information. Participants also discussed ways to educate the community. Conclusions: While individuals recognized that diseases run in families, personal experience was a driving factor in participants’ level of knowledge. Many expressed optimism about genomic medicine. However, the lack of depth in responses and their misconceptions reflect a deficiency of knowledge, which along with their personal, moral, and global concerns could impede acceptance and utilization of genomic medicine. Many community members are receptive to learning more about genomic medicine, and many of their concerns and misconceptions can be addressed through a well designed education strategy. Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal gastrointestinal 2-deoxy-2-[(18)F]-fluoro-D: -glucose (FDG) uptake can frequently be found on FDG-PET/CT even in patients without known gastrointestinal malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether increased gastrointestinal FDG uptake without CT correlate is an early indicator of patients developing gastrointestinal malignancies. A total of 1,006 patients without esophagogastric or anorectal malignancies underwent FDG-PET/CT. The esophagogastric junction, the stomach and the anorectum were evaluated for increased FDG uptake. Patients without elevated uptake were assigned to group A, patients with elevated uptake were allocated to group B. The SUVmax values of both groups were tested for significant differences using the U test. A follow-up of longer than 1 year (mean 853 +/- 414 days) served as gold standard. A total of 460 patients had to be excluded based on insufficient follow-up data. For the remaining 546 patients the mean SUVmax was as follows: (a) esophagogastric junction, group A 3.1 +/- 0.66, group B 4.0 +/- 1.11, p < 0.01; (b) stomach, group A 2.8 +/- 0.77, group B 4.1 +/- 1.33, p < 0.01; (c) rectal ampulla, group A 2.8 +/- 0.83, group B 3.9 +/- 1.49, p < 0.01; (d) anal canal, group A 2.7 +/- 0.55, group B 3.9 +/- 1.59, p < 0.01. Only one patient developed gastric cancer. In the case of an unremarkable CT, elevated esophagogastric or anorectal FDG uptake does not predict cancer development and does not have to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The osteoblastic response (OR) phenomenon as a healing reaction during effective chemotherapy-defined by the appearance of new osteoblastic bone lesions while disease response in other tumor sites was well documented-has previously been described for breast and prostate cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate this phenomenon that could erroneously be interpreted as progressive disease in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and to establish guidelines for interpretation of follow-up computed tomography (CT) examinations in this situation. Twenty-four patients with newly diagnosed SCLC and bone metastases were retrospectively included in this study. The characteristics of bone lesions in CT examinations were correlated with bone scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging, if available. In target lesions the CT density quantified in Hounsfield units (HU) was evaluated at baseline and during follow-up. New osteoblastic lesions occurred during follow-up in 17 of 24 patients. OR was proven in 4 patients and considered most likely in 11 patients; mean density increase in target lesions was 153 HU. The study indicates that osteoblastic response as a healing reaction seems to occur in the majority of patients with SCLC and bone metastases and should not be misinterpreted as progressive disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrence after percutaneous ethanol ablation (PEA) of benign hepatic and renal cysts has been common, resulting in re-treatment or additional surgery. However, in recent years, a few cases of spontaneous regression of recurrent cysts following PEA have been experienced, which led to the design of this study to evaluate cyst recurrence after PEA and the necessity of additional treatment. Purpose: To evaluate whether the initial recurrence after PEA of benign hepatic, renal, and splenic cysts is true recurrence, and to decide whether additional treatment is needed. Material and Methods: Thirty-nine benign cysts (21 hepatic, 17 renal, and one splenic) were treated with PEA. PEA was performed with injection of 13-900 ml (40-50% of the volume of aspirated fluid) of absolute ethanol into the cysts. For cysts larger than 100 ml, two or more PEAs were given in one session. Ultrasonography was then performed during a period of 12 months with 1-2-month intervals. Results: Two months after PEA, eight cysts (20.5%) regressed completely; another 31 cysts recurred with decreased size. After 6 months, 10 of the recurrent cysts had regressed spontaneously. Another four recurrent cysts regressed after 8 months, and three regressed after 12 months. Hence, 25 out of 39 (64.1%) cysts regressed within 12 months after PEA. The mean regression time of the 25 recurrent cysts was 6.3 months. All recurrent cysts, including the 14 that were lost to complete follow-up, showed gradual decrease overtime. There were no major complications associated with PEA. Conclusion: Initial relapse of a cyst following PEA does not signify true recurrence, but transient, reactive, or inflammatory fluid collections which eventually disappear within several months, and thus does not necessitate additional treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: This paper is a report of a study to determine the transferability of the Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale to European mental health inpatient settings. BACKGROUND: Incidents of patient aggression and violence are common in psychiatric in-patient facilities, and nurses' attitudes may play a part in how they are managed. METHODS: Nursing staff from acute psychiatric in-patient units in Switzerland and the United Kingdom completed the Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale. Data were collected in the UK in 2001 and Switzerland in 2003. The Swiss sample comprised 75 respondents: 45 female, mean age 36.24, mean experience 7.35 years, 60 Registered Nurses. The United Kingdom sample was 75 respondents: 58 female, mean age 32, mean experience 5.25 years, 48 Registered Nurses. T-tests identified differences between the groups in their responses to each Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale statement. RESULTS: There was 66% concordance of views between the groups. Swiss nurses were, however, more likely to regard factors internal to the patient as contributory to aggression while United Kingdom nurses perceived environmental factors to be more important. Both groups endorsed physical means of aggression management, Swiss nurses more so. CONCLUSION: There are both commonalities and differences between the attitudes of Swiss and United Kingdom nursing staff regarding patient aggression. Differences may relate to rates of aggression, variations in management approaches, training and policy. The Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale is a potentially effective tool for making comparisons about perspectives on patient aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Waterbirds are considered to import large quantities of nutrients to freshwater bodies but quantification of these loadings remains problematic. We developed two general models to calculate such allochthonous nutrient inputs considering food intake, foraging behaviour and digestive performance of waterbirds feeding in terrestrial habitats: an intake model (IM), mainly based on an allometric relationship for energy requirements and a dropping model (DM), based on allometric relationships for defaecation. 2. Reviewed data of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content of herbivorous food varied according to diet type (foliage, seeds and roots), season and fertilization. For model parameterization average foliage diet contained 38.20 mg N g−1 and 3.21 mg P g−1 (dry weight), whereas mean faeces composition was 45.02 mg N g−1 and 6.18 mg P g−1. 3. Daily allochthonous nutrient input increased with body mass ranging from 0.29 g N and 0.03 g P in teals Anas crecca to 5.69 g N and 0.57 g P in mute swans Cygnus olor. Results from IM differed from those of DM from ducks to swans by 63–108% for N and by −4 to 23% for P. Model uncertainty was lowest for the IM and mainly caused by variation in estimates of food retention time (RT). In DM food RT and dropping mass determined model uncertainty in similar extent. 4. Exemplarily applying the models to Dutch wetlands resulted in mean annual contribution of herbivorous waterbirds to allochthonous nutrient loading of 382.8 ± 167.1 tonnes N a−1and 34.7 ± 2.3 tonnes P a−1, respectively, which corresponds to annual surface-water loadings of 1.07 kg N ha−1 and 0.10 kg P ha−1. 5. There was a distinct seasonal pattern with peak loadings in January, when bird abundances were highest. Lowest inputs were in August, when bird abundance and nutrient content in food was low and birds foraged less in terrestrial habitats. Three-quarters of all nutrient input was contributed by greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons, greylag goose Anser anser, wigeon Anas penelope and barnacle goose Branta leucopsis alone. 6. We provide general, easy to use calculation methods for the estimation of allochthonous nutrient inputs by waterbirds, which are applicable to a range of waterbird species, a variety of potential diets and feeding behaviours, and across spatial scales. Such tools may greatly assist in the planning and execution of management actions for wetland nutrient budgets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggression in healthcare systems poses a major problem for nurses because they are the most susceptible to suffer violence. Studies demonstrate that attitudes of nurses influence their behaviour regarding aggression and violence. Training programmes can positively change nurses' attitudes. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of a systematic training course in aggression management on mental health nurses' attitudes about the reasons for patients' aggression and on its management. Sixty-three nurses (29 in the intervention and 34 in the control group) participated in this quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study. The attitude of the participants of a training course was recorded by the German version of the Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale (MAVAS). No significant attitude changes occurred in the intervention group at post-test. It is concluded that trainings intending to influence attitudes regarding the reason for patient aggression should consider the impact of the pedagogical quality of the training course, organizational support, and the user's perception. Moreover, it remains questionable to what extent a single instrument of measurement can record attitude changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggression in healthcare systems poses a major problem for nurses because they are the most susceptible to suffer violence. Studies demonstrate that attitudes of nurses influence their behaviour regarding aggression and violence. Training programmes can positively change nurses’ attitudes. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of a systematic training course in aggression management on mental health nurses’ attitudes about the reasons for patients’ aggression and on its management. Sixty-three nurses (29 in the intervention and 34 in the control group) participated in this quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study. The attitude of the participants of a training course was recorded by the German version of the Management of Aggression and Violence Attitude Scale (MAVAS). No significant attitude changes occurred in the intervention group at post-test. It is concluded that trainings intending to influence attitudes regarding the reason for patient aggression should consider the impact of the pedagogical quality of the training course, organizational support, and the user's perception. Moreover, it remains questionable to what extent a single instrument of measurement can record attitude changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To examine reasons given for the use of unequal randomisation in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Main Measures: Setting of the trial; intervention being tested; randomisation ratio; sample size calculation; reason given for randomisation. Methods: Review of trials using unequal randomisation. Databases and sources: Cochrane library, Medline, Pub Med and Science Citation Index. Results: A total of 65 trials were identified; 56 were two-armed trials and nine trials had more than two arms. Of the two-arm trials, 50 trials recruited patients in favour of the experimental group. Various reasons for the use of unequal randomisation were given. Six studies stated that they used unequal randomisation to reduce the cost of the trial, with one screening trial limited by the availability of the intervention. Other reasons for using unequal allocation were: avoiding loss of power from drop-out or cross-over, ethics and the gaining of additional information on the treatment. Thirty seven trials papers (57%) did not state why they had used unequal randomisation and only 14 trials (22%) appeared to have taken the unequal randomisation into account in their sample size calculation. Conclusion: Although unequal randomisation offers a number of advantages to trials the method is rarely used and is especially under-utilised to reduce trial costs. Unequal randomisation should be considered more in trial design especially where there are large differences between treatment costs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The newly developed methods of microwave detected photoconductivity (MDP) and microwave detected photo-induced current transient spectroscopy (MD-PICTS) were applied to characterize defects in as-grown and wafer annealed Fe-doped SI-InP. It is shown that as-grown samples differ in their defect content in dependence on the crystal position they originate from. In wafer-annealed samples an equivalent set of defect levels is prominent, which is independent of the crystal position of the samples. Some of the levels, which occur in wafer-annealed samples, seem to be due to the annealing process; however, their origins are still under investigation. From the experimental results it must be furthermore concluded that the occurrence of different defect levels before and after the annealing process may have some impact on the spatial distribution of the electrical properties of the samples. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective:To compare different approaches (visual estimation of individual BMI curves with polynomial models) to estimate age at adiposity rebound (AR), as different approaches might lead to different results. AR has been suggested as a critical period between intra-uterine life and early adulthood, and recent data showed that early age at AR is associated with higher body mass later in life.Methods:Longitudinal anthropometric data from the DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) Study were used to obtain individual BMI growth curves. We then compared the visual estimation approach to polynomial models in three different scenarios reflected by different data sets: an idealistic, an realistic, and a realistic scenario with imputed values.Results:In all three scenarios, the visual estimation yielded significantly higher estimates than the polynomial models of 2nd or 3rd order. Cross-tabulations of groups of age at AR (early, medium, and late) showed that truly concordant classification was low, ranging only from 51 to 63%. A closer examination of the data indicated that the differences in estimates were mainly due to differences in the underlying definitions: the polynomial models select the nadir in the growth curve as the age at AR, whereas the visual estimation deviates from this concept in those cases where there is plateau in the growth curve. In the latter instance, the turning point of the growth curve before its increase is selected as the age at rebound.Conclusions:Estimating AR with the visual approach appears to best reflect the physiological basis of the AR, and is also preferable, because it resulted in the lowest number of children with missing estimates for age at AR.Only when the underlying criteria for the estimation of AR with the visual approach were modified, could concordant results between the two approaches be obtained. Considering the underlying physiological basis, it became clear that approaches which determine AR by simply identifying the nadir in the BMI curve do not reflect AR appropriately. This refers to those cases in which the nadir in the growth curve and the turning point at the onset of the adiposity increase are not identical.International Journal of Obesity (2006) 30, 261–266. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803143; published online 18 October 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An edge localized mode event is known to transport a significant portion of pedestal plasma across the separatrix and increase the divertor heat load to a possibly intolerable level in a tokamak fusion reactor. In the present work, a large random-walk transport is introduced in a plasma edge in a guiding-center orbit following code XGC [C. S. Chang, S. H. Ku, and H. Weitzner, Phys. Plasmas 11, 2649 (2004)] to understand the effect of edge radial electric-field shear on the wall-intersection location of large-transport orbits. It is found that without an edge radial electric field, Er, the majority of large-diffusion-induced ion orbital loss is to the outer divertor near the separatrix surface. However, with a large negative Er in the plasma edge with the ion grad-B drift into the single-null divertor, ion orbits with their kinetic energy less than the potential energy shift their wall-intersection locations to the inner divertor, while those with their kinetic energy higher than the potential energy retain their wall intersections at the outer divertor. If the ion grad-B is away from the single-null divertor, the ion orbital loss is always to the outer wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]