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Objectives: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia solium. NCC mainly occurs in Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia and can cause a variety of clinical signs/symptoms. Although it is a rare disease in Europe, it should nonetheless be considered as a differential diagnosis. The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics and management of patients with NCC diagnosed and treated in Europe. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of published and unpublished data on patients diagnosed with NCC in Europe (2000–2019) and extracted demographic, clinical and radiological information on each case, if available. Results: Out of 293 identified NCC cases, 59% of patients presented initially with epileptic seizures (21% focal onset); 52% presented with headache and 54% had other neurological signs/symptoms. The majority of patients had a travel or migration history (76%), mostly from/to Latin America (38%), Africa (32%) or Asia (30%). Treatment varied largely depending on cyst location and number. The outcome was favorable in 90% of the cases. Conclusions: Management of NCC in Europe varied considerably but often had a good outcome. Travel and migration to and from areas endemic for T. solium will likely result in continued low prevalence of NCC in Europe.Therefore, training and guidance of clinicians is recommended for optimal patient management.

Objectives Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia solium. NCC mainly occurs in Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia and can cause a variety of clinical signs/symptoms. Although it is a rare disease in Europe, it should nonetheless be considered as a differential diagnosis. The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics and management of patients with NCC diagnosed and treated in Europe. Methods We conducted a systematic search of published and unpublished data on patients diagnosed with NCC in Europe (2000-2019) and extracted demographic, clinical and radiological information on each case, if available. Results Out of 293 identified NCC cases, 59% of patients presented initially with epileptic seizures (21% focal onset); 52% presented with headache and 54% had other neurological signs/symptoms. The majority of patients had a travel or migration history (76%), mostly from/to Latin America (38%), Africa (32%) or Asia (30%). Treatment varied largely depending on cyst location and number. The outcome was favorable in 90% of the cases. Conclusions Management of NCC in Europe varied considerably but often had a good outcome. Travel and migration to and from areas endemic for T. solium will likely result in continued low prevalence of NCC in Europe. Therefore, training and guidance of clinicians is recommended for optimal patient management.

A simple and selective new technique for atomic hydrogen flux measurements in a hydrogen plasma environment is introduced and demonstrated in this work. This technique works by measuring the etching rate of an amorphous carbon film and translating this to an incoming hydrogen radical flux through a well-defined carbon etch yield per radical. Ions present in the plasma environment have a much higher etch yield than radicals do. For that reason, suppression of the ion flux toward the carbon film is crucial to ensure that the observed carbon etch rate is dominated by atomic hydrogen etching. It is demonstrated that this can be achieved using a simple cylindrical pipe (hereinafter “chimney”) in which a bend is introduced to enforce ion-wall collisions, neutralizing the ions. The chimney is made out of Macor, a material with low catalytic surface activity, to preserve the incoming atomic hydrogen flux while effectively suppressing ions. Ultimately, the etching sensor is deployed in a radio frequency inductively coupled hydrogen plasma operated at low pressure (1-10 Pa). Atomic hydrogen fluxes are measured and compared with heat flux sensor and vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy measurements in the same setup. All sensors agreed within a factor 4 in the atomic hydrogen flux range 1019 to 1021 m−2 s−1.

A simple and selective new technique for atomic hydrogen flux measurements in a hydrogen plasma environment is introduced and demonstrated in this work. This technique works by measuring the etching rate of an amorphous carbon film and translating this to an incoming hydrogen radical flux through a well-defined carbon etch yield per radical. Ions present in the plasma environment have a much higher etch yield than radicals do. For that reason, suppression of the ion flux toward the carbon film is crucial to ensure that the observed carbon etch rate is dominated by atomic hydrogen etching. It is demonstrated that this can be achieved using a simple cylindrical pipe (hereinafter “chimney”) in which a bend is introduced to enforce ion-wall collisions, neutralizing the ions. The chimney is made out of Macor, a material with low catalytic surface activity, to preserve the incoming atomic hydrogen flux while effectively suppressing ions. Ultimately, the etching sensor is deployed in a radio frequency inductively coupled hydrogen plasma operated at low pressure (1-10 Pa). Atomic hydrogen fluxes are measured and compared with heat flux sensor and vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy measurements in the same setup. All sensors agreed within a factor 4 in the atomic hydrogen flux range 1019 to 1021 m−2 s−1.

The operation of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography scanners inherently goes hand-in-hand with the creation of highly transient pulsed plasmas in the optical path of these tools. These so-called EUV-induced plasmas are created upon photoionization events when a pulsed beam of EUV photons travels through the low pressure background gas. It is fully recognized by the lithography industry that EUV-induced plasmas may significantly impact the quality and life-time of expensive and delicate optical elements in the scanner. Research efforts into EUV-induced plasmas impacting plasma-facing surfaces have so far been limited to pure hydrogen (H2) plasmas. However, this hydrogen background gas may occasionally be diluted with a small fraction of another molecular gas such as nitrogen (N2). The impact on the relevant plasma parameters of such molecular contaminants has remained unknown until now. In this letter, we put forward measurements of energy-resolved fluxes of (positive) hydrogen ions, nitrogen ions, and hydrogen-nitrogen ions created in a pulsed N2-diluted EUV-induced plasma in H2 at approximately 5 Pa (typical EUV lithography scanner conditions). The data have been obtained using an electrostatic quadrupole plasma analyzer and show that although the N2-dilution fraction is small (∼2 × 10−3) compared to the H2 partial pressure, implications for the ion flux out of the plasma and the composition thereof are significant. Since the mass of nitrogen-containing ions is much higher in comparison to that of their hydrogen counterparts, and because of their potential chemical activity, this effect has to be taken into account while studying the surface impact of EUV-induced plasmas.

The operation of Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography scanners inherently goes hand-in-hand with the creation of highly transient pulsed plasmas in the optical path of these tools. These so-called EUV-induced plasmas are created upon photoionization events when a pulsed beam of EUV photons travels through the low pressure background gas. It is fully recognized by the lithography industry that EUV-induced plasmas may significantly impact the quality and life-time of expensive and delicate optical elements in the scanner. Research efforts into EUV-induced plasmas impacting plasma-facing surfaces have so far been limited to pure hydrogen (H2) plasmas. However, this hydrogen background gas may occasionally be diluted with a small fraction of another molecular gas such as nitrogen (N2). The impact on the relevant plasma parameters of such molecular contaminants has remained unknown until now. In this letter, we put forward measurements of energy-resolved fluxes of (positive) hydrogen ions, nitrogen ions, and hydrogen-nitrogen ions created in a pulsed N2-diluted EUV-induced plasma in H2 at approximately 5 Pa (typical EUV lithography scanner conditions). The data have been obtained using an electrostatic quadrupole plasma analyzer and show that although the N2-dilution fraction is small (∼2 × 10−3) compared to the H2 partial pressure, implications for the ion flux out of the plasma and the composition thereof are significant. Since the mass of nitrogen-containing ions is much higher in comparison to that of their hydrogen counterparts, and because of their potential chemical activity, this effect has to be taken into account while studying the surface impact of EUV-induced plasmas.

This work reports on the measurements of ion flux composition and ion energy distribution functions (IEDFs) at surfaces in contact with hydrogen plasmas induced by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. This special type of plasma is gaining interest from industries because of its appearance in extreme ultraviolet lithography tools, where it affects exposed surfaces. The studied plasma is induced in 5 Pa hydrogen gas by irradiating the gas with short (30 ns) pulses of EUV radiation (λ= 10-20 nm). Due to the low duty cycle (10 -4), the plasma is highly transient. The composition and IEDF are measured using an energy resolved ion mass spectrometer. The total ion flux consists of H+, H2+, and H3+. H3+ is the dominant ion as a result of the efficient conversion of H2+ to H3+ upon collision with background hydrogen molecules. The IEDFs of H2+ and H3+ appear similar, showing a broad distribution with a cut-off energy at approximately 8 eV. In contrast, the IEDF of H + shows an energetic tail up to 18 eV. Most probably, the ions in this tail gain their energy during their creation process by photoionization and dissociative electron impact ionization.

Retarding field energy analyzers (RFEAs) are used routinely for the measurement of ion energy distribution functions. By contrast, their ability to measure ion flux densities has been considered unreliable because of lack of knowledge about the effective transmission of the RFEA grids. In this work, we simulate the ion trajectories through a three-gridded RFEA using the simulation software SIMION. Using idealized test cases, it is shown that at high ion energy (i.e., >100 eV) the transmission is equal to the optical transmission rather than the product of the individual grid transparencies. Below 20 eV, ion trajectories are strongly influenced by the electric fields in between the grids. In this region, grid alignment and ion focusing effects contribute to fluctuations in transmission with ion energy. Subsequently the model has been used to simulate the transmission and energy resolution of an experimental RFEA probe. Grid misalignments reduce the transmission fluctuations at low energy. The model predicts the minimum energy resolution, which has been confirmed experimentally by irradiating the probe with a beam of ions with a small energy bandwidth.

The synthesis of 1,2-di-tert-butyl-3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (I) is performed and its IR and Raman spectra are measured. Optimized geometries of I are obtained at the HF/6-31G* and CCSD/cc-pVDZ levels. The ab initio calculated spectra are used for the assignments of the experimental spectral data. The results obtained are compared with the corresponding data for 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene and 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene. These experimental data and the total vibrational analysis of I supplement the information obtained in the series of investigations of tert-butyl, trimethylsilyl, trimethylgermyl, trimethylstannyl, and trimethylplumbyl derivatives of 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The synthesis of 1,2-di-tert-butyl-3,3-dimethylcyclopropene (I) is performed and its IR and Raman spectra are measured. Optimized geometries of I are obtained at the HF/6-31G* and CCSD/cc-pVDZ levels. The ab initio calculated spectra are used for the assignments of the experimental spectral data. The results obtained are compared with the corresponding data for 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene and 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene. These experimental data and the total vibrational analysis of I supplement the information obtained in the series of investigations of tert-butyl, trimethylsilyl, trimethylgermyl, trimethylstannyl, and trimethylplumbyl derivatives of 3,3-dimethylcyclopropene. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

A palladium-catalyzed reaction of methylenespiropentane (11) with iodobenzene (12) under typical Heck conditions [Pd(OAC)(2), PPh3, Et3N, DMF] produced a mixture of the unstable [3]dendralene 13 and allylidenecyclopropane 14 in 38 % yield. When an analogous reaction with iodobenzene was carried out in the presence of morpholine (25) and of tris(2-furyl)phosphane (TFP) instead of triphenylphosphane, the dienes 26, 28 and 31 were generated by nucleophilic trapping of pi-allylpalladium intermediates 30 and 32. The cross coupling of methylenespiropentane (11) with the functionalized aryl iodides 33a-g in the presence of a palladium precatalyst [Pd(OAc)2, TFP, Et3N, DMF] at 80 degrees C, 3 h, provided the seven-membered 3,4-dimethylene-substituted heterocycles 34a-g and 35b which, upon addition of dimethyl fumarate (19), underwent Diels-Alder reactions to furnish bicyclic and higher oligocyclic dihydrobenzoxepine and -benzazepine derivatives 36a-g and 37b, yet in rather moderate yields of 18-29 % only. The overall process constitutes a one-pot, two-step, three-component queuing cascade. (

A palladium-catalyzed reaction of methylenespiropentane (11) with iodobenzene (12) under typical Heck conditions [Pd(OAC)(2), PPh3, Et3N, DMF] produced a mixture of the unstable [3]dendralene 13 and allylidenecyclopropane 14 in 38 % yield. When an analogous reaction with iodobenzene was carried out in the presence of morpholine (25) and of tris(2-furyl)phosphane (TFP) instead of triphenylphosphane, the dienes 26, 28 and 31 were generated by nucleophilic trapping of pi-allylpalladium intermediates 30 and 32. The cross coupling of methylenespiropentane (11) with the functionalized aryl iodides 33a-g in the presence of a palladium precatalyst [Pd(OAc)2, TFP, Et3N, DMF] at 80 degrees C, 3 h, provided the seven-membered 3,4-dimethylene-substituted heterocycles 34a-g and 35b which, upon addition of dimethyl fumarate (19), underwent Diels-Alder reactions to furnish bicyclic and higher oligocyclic dihydrobenzoxepine and -benzazepine derivatives 36a-g and 37b, yet in rather moderate yields of 18-29 % only. The overall process constitutes a one-pot, two-step, three-component queuing cascade. (

The quantum mechanical force fields (QMFF's) of 3,3-dimethyl-1-(tert-butyl)cyclopropene (I), 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropene (II), 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylgermyl)cyclopropene (III), and 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylstannyl)cyclopropene (IV) were calculated at the HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* level. The set of scale factors for the correction of HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* QMFF of II was determined using its well-characterised vibrational spectrum. Transferral of the set of scale factors obtained for II to the QMFF's of I, III and IV and calculation of the fundamental frequencies resulted in good agreement between the calculated and previously assigned experimental frequencies of III. This again demonstrates the feasibility of transferral of a set of scale factors obtained for the correction of the QMFF of a molecule to others containing heteroatoms from the same column of the Mendeleyev Periodic Table. Thus the calculations performed permitted the accurate assignment of the fundamental vibrational frequencies in the experimental IR spectrum of IV. The vibrational frequencies of 3,3-dimethyl-1-(tert-butyl)cyclopropene (I) were also calculated from the HF/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* QMFF, scaled by the set of scale factors used previously for the HF/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* QMFF's of II and III. Regularities in the trends of some vibrational frequencies with increasing atomic number of the heteroatom are observed. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The quantum mechanical force fields of 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(tert-butyl)cyclopropene (I), 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropene (II), 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(trimethylgermyl)cyclopropene (III), and 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(trimethylstannyl)cyclopropene (IV) were calculated at the HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* level. The scale factors which were optimized previously for the HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* quantum mechanical force field of 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropene were used for correction of the force fields of these molecules. Good agreement between the frequencies calculated from these scaled force fields and the well-analyzed and assigned experimental frequencies of II and III suggests the transferability of these scale factors and the possibility of the spectroscopically accurate prediction of the vibrational spectrum of IV. Some regularities in the changes of the vibrational frequencies were found for this molecular series. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The quantum mechanical force fields (QMFF's) of 3,3-dimethyl-1-(tert-butyl)cyclopropene (I), 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropene (II), 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylgermyl)cyclopropene (III), and 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylstannyl)cyclopropene (IV) were calculated at the HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* level. The set of scale factors for the correction of HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* QMFF of II was determined using its well-characterised vibrational spectrum. Transferral of the set of scale factors obtained for II to the QMFF's of I, III and IV and calculation of the fundamental frequencies resulted in good agreement between the calculated and previously assigned experimental frequencies of III. This again demonstrates the feasibility of transferral of a set of scale factors obtained for the correction of the QMFF of a molecule to others containing heteroatoms from the same column of the Mendeleyev Periodic Table. Thus the calculations performed permitted the accurate assignment of the fundamental vibrational frequencies in the experimental IR spectrum of IV. The vibrational frequencies of 3,3-dimethyl-1-(tert-butyl)cyclopropene (I) were also calculated from the HF/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* QMFF, scaled by the set of scale factors used previously for the HF/6-31G*//HF/6-31G* QMFF's of II and III. Regularities in the trends of some vibrational frequencies with increasing atomic number of the heteroatom are observed. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The quantum mechanical force fields of 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(tert-butyl)cyclopropene (I), 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropene (II), 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(trimethylgermyl)cyclopropene (III), and 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-bis-(trimethylstannyl)cyclopropene (IV) were calculated at the HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* level. The scale factors which were optimized previously for the HF/3-21G*//HF/3-21G* quantum mechanical force field of 3,3-dimethyl-1-(trimethylsilyl)cyclopropene were used for correction of the force fields of these molecules. Good agreement between the frequencies calculated from these scaled force fields and the well-analyzed and assigned experimental frequencies of II and III suggests the transferability of these scale factors and the possibility of the spectroscopically accurate prediction of the vibrational spectrum of IV. Some regularities in the changes of the vibrational frequencies were found for this molecular series. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Linear free energy relationships (LFER) were applied to the H-1 and C-13 NMR chemical shifts (delta(N), N=H-1 and C-13, respectively) in the unsaturated backbone of cross-conjugated trienes 3-methylene-2-substituted-1,4-pentadienes. The NMR data were correlated using five different LFER models, based on the mono, the dual and the triple substituent parameter (MSP, DSP and TSP, respectively) treatment. The simple and extended Hammett equations, and the three postulated unconventional LFER models obtained by adaptation of the later, were used. The geometry data, which are needed in Karplus-type and McConnell-type analysis, were obtained using semi-empirical MNDO-PM3 calculations. In correlating the data the TSP approach was more successful than the MSP and DSP approaches. The fact that the calculated molecular geometries allow accurate prediction of the NMR data confirms the validity of unconventional LFER models used. These results suggest the s-cis conformation of the cross-conjugated triene as the preferred one. Postulated unconventional DSP and TSP equations enable the assessment of electronic substituent effects in the presence of other interfering influences.

Linear free energy relationships (LFER) were applied to the H-1 and C-13 NMR chemical shifts (delta(N), N=H-1 and C-13, respectively) in the unsaturated backbone of cross-conjugated trienes 3-methylene-2-substituted-1,4-pentadienes. The NMR data were correlated using five different LFER models, based on the mono, the dual and the triple substituent parameter (MSP, DSP and TSP, respectively) treatment. The simple and extended Hammett equations, and the three postulated unconventional LFER models obtained by adaptation of the later, were used. The geometry data, which are needed in Karplus-type and McConnell-type analysis, were obtained using semi-empirical MNDO-PM3 calculations. In correlating the data the TSP approach was more successful than the MSP and DSP approaches. The fact that the calculated molecular geometries allow accurate prediction of the NMR data confirms the validity of unconventional LFER models used. These results suggest the s-cis conformation of the cross-conjugated triene as the preferred one. Postulated unconventional DSP and TSP equations enable the assessment of electronic substituent effects in the presence of other interfering influences.

The complete absolute configuration of hormaomycin 1a has been established by HPLC and HPLC/MS experiments with appropriately derivatized 4-propylprolines, (2S,4S)-6 and (2R,4R)-6, as well as 4-(Z)-propenylprolines. cis-5 and trans-5, and also feeding experiments with enantiomerically pure samples of the deuterium-labeled 3-(2′-nitrocyclopropyl)alanine, (2S)-3,3-[D 2]15 and (2S)-2,2′-[D2]15, and 4-(Z)-propenylproline 2′,4-[D2]-(2S,4R)-5. The latter five amino acids were prepared for the first time and allowed one to unequivocally assign the hitherto unknown absolute configurations of the last four stereocenters in hormaomycin 1a. As a bonus, some new information about the biosynthesis of this molecule has also been gathered.