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[Extract] Globally, more than 1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence (SV) from intimate partners or SV from non-partners [1]. Furthermore, over 10% of all girls are estimated to have experienced a forced sexual act, with the highest rates of SV against girls found in sub-Saharan Africa [2]. Although public recognition of SV is growing in Zambia, reliable data on the nature and extent of such violence is limited. Approximately 20% of Zambian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced some form of sexual violence; however, this is likely underestimated due to underreporting [3]. Previous research in Zambia suggests that exposure to SV is equally pervasive among adolescent girls [4,5]. The risks associated with SV, especially among young women, are numerous. Immediate health consequences include unwanted pregnancy, physical trauma, mental distress and acquisition of HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections. The linkage between sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and risk of HIV has been well documented in Africa and is especially pronounced in countries with high HIV prevalence, such as Zambia [3,6-8]. Growing awareness of these negative consequences of SGBV led the Government of Zambia to develop a set of national guidelines for the management of SGBV, highlighting the need for a response system linking the health, police, and social services sectors. A critical component of this response is the prevention of HIV infection in SV survivors through the provision of preventive anti-retroviral therapy, or HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The initial dose of PEP must be taken within 72 hours of exposure to HIV [9]. Given the time sensitivity of PEP and the fact that police and health services are often the first points of contact for SV survivors, strong coordination between these two sectors is central to the effective medical management of SV cases in Zambia [10]. Building on the results of previous research in Zambia, which demonstrated that trained Victim Support Unit (VSU) police officers could effectively administer the emergency contraception pill to SV survivors, the Population Council, Zambia Police Service, and Ministry of Health aimed to assess the feasibility of having trained VSU police officers safely and effectively provide a PEP starter dose to SV survivors with immediate referral to comprehensive medical services [10].

A spectral radiant power scale based on a synchrotron radiation has been established for ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet radiations. The absolute spectral radiant power of an under-test light source was determined by comparing the radiant power of the under-test source with that of the synchrotron radiation by using an optical system. Polarization state of synchrotron radiation is extremely different from that of the under-test source, and hence we introduced a special polarimeter for evaluating the polarization dependence of the optical system. We determined the absolute spectral radiant power of an under-test light source and evaluated the uncertainty of it.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) plays an inhibitory role in the fibrinolytic enzyme system and is associated with thrombotic diseases. The gene for PAI-1 has an insertion/deletion polymorphism at the promoter region, the 4G/5G polymorphism, which is related to differences in transcription activity in vitro. Association of the 4G/5G polymorphism with plasma PAI-1 levels, however, has not been uniformly reported. We evaluated the relationship between the 4G/5G polymorphism and plasma PAI-1 antigen levels in 104 Japanese males not taking lipid-lowering drugs and without non-insulin-dependent (type 2) diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. The genotype frequency was 37.5%, 50.0%, and 12.5% for 4G/4G, 4G/5G, and 5G/5G genotypes, respectively, which differs from that reported for healthy Caucasian males (P0.01), with the 4G allele more frequently found in the Japanese population. No association was found between the 4G/5G polymorphism and plasma PAI-1 antigen levels. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant (P0.01) contribution of triglyceride (TG) levels to variations in plasma PAI-1 antigen levels. The correlation between TG levels and plasma PAI-1 antigen levels was not 4G/5G genotype-specific. These findings suggest that PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism is not associated with plasma PAI-1 antigen levels among healthy Japanese males and that TG levels correlate to plasma PAI-1 antigen levels in all PAI-1 4G/5G genotypes.

We report a new family with hereditary factor X deficiency. The propositus had a markedly prolonged prothrombin time, a mild prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time and a clotting time activated by Russell's viper venom. Factor X activity in plasma was 3 u/dl (normal range 56-138 u/dl). Factor X antigen level was 61 u/dl. Molecular analysis revealed a homozygous mutation, Glu (GAG) to Gln (CAG) at residue 32 which normally undergoes gamma-carboxylation within the gamma-carboxyglutamic acid rich domain. The genotypes of family members completely correlated with their factor X activities. It is suggested that the Glu32 to Gln mutation is the molecular basis for the abnormal factor X in this family.

Resistance to activated protein C (APC), recently reported to be the most prevalent inherited cause of thrombosis among Caucasians, is associated with a single point mutation in the coagulation factor V gene. We investigated the prevalence of APC resistance and the factor V gene mutation (R506Q) in 34 consecutive Japanese patients with venous thrombosis or pulmonary thromboembolism and 63 control subjects. Three of the 33 patients examined (9%) had an APC ratio below the 5th percentile of control values (2.27), but all were above 2.0. The factor V mutation (R506Q) was not detected in the 29 patients studied, including the 3 patients whose APC ratios were below 2.27, or in 53 controls. In a tissue factor-based factor V assay to detect APC resistance recently described by Le et al. (Blood 1995;85:1704-1711), all patients studied were found to be normal including the three with a low APC ratio. We conclude that APC resistance and factor V gene mutation are less prevalent in Japan than in several European countries.

An experimental study of a coupled resonant directive antenna consisting of a \lambda/2 dipole ( \lambda is wavelength), a reflector of about 2\lambda diameter, and disks of about \lambda/2 diameter is presented. The \lambda/2 spacing between the reflector and a disk and the \lambda/2 spacing between disks constitute leaky resonant cavities which are mutually coupled. The antenna shows a relatively high gain per element and a good suppression of sidelobes. Its simple and axially symmetric structure makes the antenna suitable for elements of an array antenna. Characteristics are mostly studied by models at 5 GHz and summarized in the form of equicontour maps. The antenna at 1.6 GHz yields a gain of 12.8 dB above a \lambda/2 dipole. An array of 16 elements at 400 MHz yields a gain of 24.3 dB above an isotropic source.

The stability of MC precipitates in the Japanese PCA is investigated by the following two methods. First, recoil resolution of the precipitates under heavy-ion irradiation was investigated using techniques for in-situ observation. The size and morphology of the precipitates (> 20 nm) did not change for irradiation up to a dose of 100 dpa. Secondly, the distribution of alloying elements during irradiation at high temperature was measured by X-ray EDS Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Irradiation caused the enrichment of Ni and Si atoms around the precipitates, while in the case of simultaneous injection of helium. Si atoms were found to be absorbed into the precipitates.

This study was undertaken to further investigate how the nature of the irradiation condition affects precipitation in a dilute Ni-Si system. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) discs of a solution annealed Ni alloy containing 5 at% Si were irradiated with 400 keV Ar+ ions, 200 keV He+ ions and 1 MeV electrons at average displacement rates in the range 2 × 10−5dpa/s to 2 × 10−3dpa/s at temperatures in the range 25°C to 450°C. Samples irradiated with electrons were observed in situ in an HVEM, while ion irradiated specimens were examined in a TEM after irradiation. Precipitation of Ni3Si was detected by the appearance of superlattice spots in the electron diffraction patterns. It was found that as the mass of the irradiating species increased, the lower bound temperature at which Ni3Si precipitation was first observed increased. For electron irradiation, the lower bound temperature at 2 × 10−3dpa/s was ∼125°C, whereas for 400 keV Ar+ irradiation at a similar average displacement rate the lower boundary was approximately 325°C. This suggests that cascade disordering competes with radiation induced solute segregation.