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New experiments are performed using a gamma ray spectrometer installed at the cosmic ray station in Apatity. The spectrometer monitors the differential spectrum of gamma radiation coming from the atmosphere in the 0.1–4 MeV range of energies. Analysis of the gamma radiation spectra in dozens of increases shows that the effect of growing gamma radiation during precipitation is not related to the presence of radionuclides, or the additional release of radionuclides from the soil. The characteristics of the gamma ray spectra indicate meteorological processes in the atmosphere as the primary cause of the increase effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mussel shells are often found in archaeological excavations and can provide information useful for ecological reconstruction and assessment of anthropogenic impact on waters. In this study, two sample groups of swollen river mussel (Unio tumidus) which occurred during the Early Middle Ages (EMS) and currently (MS) in the Oder river estuary (Baltic basin) were compared. Allometric shell growth, morphological characteristics of the shell (length, width, height and thickness), age structure and growth of mussels were analysed using the von Bertalanffy equation. All three types of allometric growth (isometry and both positive and negative allometry) were observed in the studied mussels. In both groups, typical values of shell length, width, height and thickness were recorded. However, higher values of these morphological characteristics were recorded in the EMS group. Moreover, the EMS group, compared with the MS group of U. tumidus, was characterised by a higher longevity (12 and 10 years, respectively) and asymmetric length (L∞) (93.09 and 83.23 mm, respectively). Both groups of mussels had a similar growth rate (k). Larger shell sizes in the EMS group were probably caused by differential preservation and/or differential archaeological recovery, and resulted from differences in the age structure, especially higher mortality rate amongst individuals older than 6 years in the MS group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increases in seizure threshold (ST) over a course of brief pulse ECT can be predicted by decreases in EEG quality, informing ECT dose adjustment to maintain adequate supra-threshold dosing. ST increases also occur over a course of right unilateral ultrabrief (RUL UB) ECT, but no data exist on the relationship between ST increases and EEG indices. This study ( n = 35) investigated if increases in ST over RUL UB ECT treatments could be predicted by a decline in seizure quality. ST titration was performed at ECT session one and seven, with treatment dosing maintained stable (at 6-8 times ST) in intervening sessions. Seizure quality indices (slow-wave onset, mid-ictal amplitude, regularity, stereotypy, and post-ictal suppression) were manually rated at the first supra-threshold treatment, and last supra-threshold treatment before re-titration, using a structured rating scale, by a single trained rater blinded to the ECT session being rated. Twenty-one subjects (60%) had a ST increase. The association between ST changes and EEG quality indices was analysed by logistic regression, yielding a significant model ( p < 0.001). Initial ST ( p < 0.05) and percentage change in mid-ictal amplitude ( p < 0.05) were significant predictors of change in ST. Percentage change in post-ictal suppression reached trend level significance ( p = 0.065). Increases in ST over a RUL UB ECT course may be predicted by decreases in seizure quality, specifically decline in mid-ictal amplitude and potentially in post-ictal suppression. Such EEG indices may be able to inform when dose adjustments are necessary to maintain adequate supra-threshold dosing in RUL UB ECT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the number of annual hospital discharges for inflammatory bowel diseases in Chile. The hypothesis is that there is a significant increase in the hospital discharges due to this disease from 2001 to 2012.Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study. Data were obtained from the Web site of the Department of Health Statistics. All hospital discharges from 2001 to 2012 were included. The following variables were analyzed: length of stay, hospital mortality, and eventual surgical procedure. Data are presented as descriptive statistics. The B-coefficient was calculated to establish the significance of the annual trend.Results: There were 13,001 hospital discharges with the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, corresponding to 0.067% of all hospital discharges in the whole period. Within these discharges, 31.2% were Crohn's disease and 68.8% were ulcerative colitis. At least one surgical procedure was performed in 12.9% of the hospitalizations. There was a significant increase in the annual rate of hospital discharges from 5.25 in 2001 to 8.64 per 100 thousand inhabitants in 2012. This increase was from 1.68 to 3.11 in Crohn's disease and from 3.58 to 5.53 in ulcerative colitis. However, a decrease was observed in length of stay, need of surgical treatment and in-hospital mortality.Conclusion: From 2001 until 2012, there has been a significant increase in hospital discharges for inflammatory bowel diseases in Chile, associated with a decrease in length of stay, need of surgery and in-hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rwanda has experienced a dramatic increase in contraceptive use and concomitant fertility decline between 2005 and 2010. The contraceptive prevalence rate has increased from 17 to 52 %. During this period, Rwanda was strongly promoting family planning and making socio-economic progress. This study analyses the shift in contraceptive use by investigating the contribution attributable to the family planning program and that resulting from socio-economic progress. Using data from the 2005 and 2010 Rwanda Demographic and Health Surveys, we apply the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition technique to separate the increase in contraceptive use due to population composition change, which result mostly from socio-economic and attitudinal developments, from the increase attributable to changes (improvement) in contraceptive behaviour. The contraceptive increase is mainly attributable to contraceptive behavioural change (78 %). Factors that show a significant contribution are women's education, experience of child mortality, and place of residence. The contribution of changes in population composition is limited (12 %). Effects are relatively higher for exposure to family planning messages and husband's desire for children compared to that of his wife's. Contraceptive uptake improved mostly in the low socio-economic stratum of the population, among the rural and less educated population. This finding suggests that a strong family planning program supported by political leaders can remove persistent socio-economic and cultural barriers and enable a massive popular contraceptive uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate incidence trend of childhood type 1 diabetes in Shanghai, a megalopolis in east China. We established a population-based retrospective registry for the disease in the city's registered population during 1997-2011 and collected 622 incident type 1 diabetes in children aged 0-14 years. Standardized incidence rates and 95 % CI were estimated by applying the capture-recapture method and assuming Poisson distribution. Incidence trend was analyzed using the Poisson regression model. The mean annual incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes was 3.1 per 100,000 person-years. We did not observe significant difference in incidence between boys and girls. The incidence is unstable and had a mean annual increase 14.2 % per year during the studied period. A faster annual increase was observed in boys, warmer seasons, and in the outer regions of the city. If present trends continue, the number of new type 1 diabetes cases will double from 2016 to 2020, and prevalent cases will sextuple by 2025. Our results showed the incidence of childhood type 1 diabetes was rising rapidly in Shanghai. More studies are needed to analyze incidence changes in other regions of China for appropriate allocation of healthcare resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a focused ion beam (FIB)-scanning electron microscopy (SEM) dual beam system was successfully built by integrating a FIB column and a graphics generator onto a SEM. Real-time observation can be realized by SEM during the process of FIB milling. All kinds of graphics at nanoscale regime, such as lines, characters, and pictures, were achieved under the control of graphics generator. Moreover, the FIB milling line width can be reduced nearly 27% by the introduction of simultaneous electron beam, and a line width as small as 10 nm was achieved. The numerical analysis indicates that the significant improvement on line width is induced by the Coulomb interaction between the electrons and ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of the investigation of the lowland wisent state in Altai Republic, submits data on the wisent relocation to experimental agricultural farm of SB RAS in Altai Republic. It describes the wisent nursery, its climatic and natural conditions, including herbage and forage composition, as well as the dynamics of gender and age structure of animals in 1989-2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this article, we reported a novel experiment results on Ag-doped DNA conductor in transverse direction. I– V characteristics were measured and the relative conductances were calculated for different silver ions concentrations. With the increase of the concentration of silver ions, the conductive ability of DNA risen rapidly, the relative conductance of DNA enhanced about three magnitudes and reached a stable value when Ag+ concentration was up to 0.005 mM. In addition, Raman spectra were carried out to analyse and confirm conduction mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To evaluate an anomalous increase in the specific surface area of budesonide during storage postmicronization. Methods. Budesonide was micronized using a conventional air-jet mill. Surface areas and total pore volumes were measured using nitrogen sorption. Porosity was measured using mercury intrusion porosimetry. Particle size was measured using laser diffraction. Results. Budesonide exhibited a surface area increase of 22 ± 2% when stored at 25°C following micronization. The rate of surface area increase was lower at 20°C, suggesting a temperature-dependent stress relaxation mechanism for the micronized particles. The increase in surface area was accompanied by: (a) an increase in total pore volume; (b) a shift of the pore size distribution to smaller pore sizes; (c) a decrease in size of particles above ∼1 μm; and (d) an increase in rugosity/surface roughness. Conclusions. Freshly micronized budesonide exhibited an unusual and significant postmicronization increase in specific surface area upon storage under ambient conditions. Postmicronization stress-relief by intraparticle crack formation, crack propagation with time, and particle fracture seems to be the primary mechanism behind this surface area increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/ hypothesis. Several reports on the incidence of Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus have suggested that the incidence is increasing. The aim of this study was to find out whether the incidence is increasing globally or restricted to a selected populations only and to estimate the magnitude of the change in incidence.¶ Methods. During 1960 to 1996 37 studies in 27 countries were carried out. To fulfil the inclusion criteria the study periods ranged from 8–32 years. The temporal trend was fitted by linear regression, with the logarithm of the age-standardized incidence as the dependent variable and the calendar year as the independent variable. Then, the regression coefficient ( × 100 %) is approximately the average relative increase in incidence per year (as percentage).¶ Results. Results from the pooled data from all 37 populations showed that the overall increase in incidence was 3.0 % per year (95 % CI 2.6; 3.3, p = 0.0001). The statistically significant increase was found in 24 of 37 populations including all high incidence ( > 14.6 per 100 000 a year) populations. The relative increase was, however, steeper in the populations with a lower incidence. The correlation between logarithm of the incidence and the increase in incidence was r = –0.56, p = 0.0004.¶ Conclusion/ interpretation. The incidence of Type I diabetes is increasing worldwide both in low and high incidence populations. By the year 2010 the incidence will be 50 per 100 000 a year in Finland and also in many other populations it will exceed 30 per 100 000 a year. [Diabetologia (1999) 42: 1395–1403] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the secular trend of weight, height and obesity among young Portuguese males at the time of military inspection for national conscription purposes in the region of Lisbon, during the last thirty years. Design: Cross-sectional study, based on the review of military census files. Setting: Military selection centre of Lisbon. Subjects and methods: In Portugal, military service is obligatory and medical inspections are carried out every year on males at the age of twenty. For study purposes, representative samples were taken from the young male population undergoing inspection for the Armed Forces on a five year basis, between 1960 and 1990 in the region of Lisbon. Weight and height were evaluated by a trained team, using standard measurement instruments and procedures. Results: A progressive and significant increase in weight, height and BMI of the young male population was found between 1960 and 1990. For certain variables the increase was also statistically significant within a five-year period, as it was the case for height between 1965–1980 and for weight between 1985–1990. The increase in BMI experienced some minor fluctuation along the reference period, however, it was statistically significant between 1985–1990. The increase in weight and in BMI was greater in the highest percentiles and particularly noticeable between 1985 and 1990. The percentage of young males with BMI over 25 kg/m2 was of 8.1% in 1960 and of 18.0% in 1990, while those having a BMI over 27 kg/m2 varied between 3.6% and 6.4% in the same period, respectively. The percentage of young adult males with BMI higher than 25 kg/m2 doubled between 1960 and 1990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Langenbecks Archiv fuer Chirurgie is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Eine retrospektive Auswertung der ambulanten Patienten der Universitäts-Augenklinik Graz ergab einen Anstieg der Patienten mit Sicca-Syndrom von 2% im Jahre 1960 auf 5% im Jahre 1989. Prospektiv wurde für März 1993 bis Feburar 1994 die Anzahl der Patienten mit trokkenem Auge mit 6.2% ermittelt. 65% waren Frauen mit einem Altersgipfel zwischen dem 40. und 70. Lebensjahr. Bei den Männern wurde kein Altersgipfel festgestellt. 25% der Sicca-Patienten weisen verschiedene Allergien auf. 15% sind Raucher, 3% tragen Kontaktlinsen. Keine jahreszeitliche Häufung und kein Zusammenhang mit der Berufsausübung konnte festgestellt werden. In a retrospective study on the outclinic patients of the University Eye Hospital Graz we determined an increase of patients suffering from the sicca syndrome from 2% in 1960 to 5% in 1989. In a prospective study from March 1993 to February 1994 we found that 6.2% of all outclinic patients showed symptoms of the dry eye. 65% were female with an age summit between 40 and 70 years. The male patients showed no age summit. 25% of the sicca patients suffer from different allergies, 15% are smokers, 3% wear contact lenses. No seasonal frequency and no relationship between the profession and the incidence of the dry eye syndrome was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]