Search

The Microchannel X-ray Telescope (MXT) will be the first focusing X-ray telescope based on a narrow field "Lobster-Eye" optical design to be flown on a satellite, namely the Sino-French mission SVOM. SVOM will be dedicated to the study of Gamma-Ray Bursts and more generally time-domain astrophysics. The MXT telescope is a compact (focal length ∼ 1.15 m) and light (< 42 kg) instrument, sensitive in the 0.2–10 keV energy range. It is composed of an optical system, based on micro-pore optics (MPOs) of 40 μ m pore size, coupled to a low-noise pnCDD X-ray detector. In this paper we describe the expected scientific performance of the MXT telescope, based on the End-to-End calibration campaign performed in fall 2021, before the integration of the SVOM payload on the satellite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Combined acetabular and pelvic ring injuries represent a unique subset of pelvic trauma and little is known regarding their complications and outcomes. We sought to further evaluate these injury patterns and quantify their outcomes. Methods: A retrospective review at a single level 1 trauma center was performed on all patients with operatively treated combined ring and acetabulum injuries during a seven-year period. Main outcome measurements include all-cause complication including residual neurologic deficit, deep infection, conversion to total hip arthroplasty, deep venous thrombosis and mortality. Results: Seventy operatively treated combined ring and acetabulum patients with one-year follow-up were reviewed. The overall complication rate was 44%. Hip dislocation occurred in 40% of the cohort and was significantly associated with residual neurologic deficit and all-cause complication. Angiography with embolization was not associated with an increased rate of deep infection. Open acetabular approaches had a significantly higher complication rate compared to percutaneous procedures. Delay to definitive fixation greater than 36 h trended toward but did not reach association with all complications. Conclusion: Combined injuries to the acetabulum and pelvic ring have high rates of complications. No individual fracture patterns were identified as risk factors, but hip dislocation was associated with an increased rate of complications. When possible, percutaneous reduction and fixation of acetabular fractures and early definitive fracture fixation lead to lower rates of complications. Use of angiography with embolization appears to be safe and does not increase the risk of infection or other complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are developing a low- T c TES-based large-area and low-threshold detector targeting a variety of potential applications. The detector consists of a 50.8-mm-diameter Si wafer as the substrate and radiation absorber, a single Ir/Pt bilayer TES sensor in the center, and normal metal Au pads added to the TES to strengthen the TES–absorber thermal coupling. Tight TES–absorber thermal coupling improves detector sensitivity and response uniformity. Here, we report on the electron–phonon (e–ph) coupling strengths for the Ir/Pt bilayer and Au that are measured with our prototype detectors and TES devices. We found that a second weak thermal link besides the one due to e–ph coupling in Ir/Pt or Au was required to explain our data. With the effects of the second weak link accounted for, the extracted e–ph coupling constant Σ for Ir/Pt bilayer in the T c range between 32 and 70 mK is 1.9 × 10 8 WK - 5 m - 3 , and Σ 's for Au at 40 mK and 55 mK are 2.2 × 10 9 WK - 5 m - 3 and 3.2 × 10 9 WK - 5 m - 3 , respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in the development of prediction tools for wave overtopping allow now for overtopping volumes to be estimated with good accuracy, with the combined use of mean overtopping rates and maximum wave by wave overtopping volumes in a sequence of wave overtopping events. While previous literature has tended to focus on mean overtopping rates at coastal structures, limited studies have investigated the wave by wave overtopping volumes at coastal sea defences; in particular, a paucity of studies have focussed on the prediction of the shape parameter in the Weibull distribution (i.e., Weibull b) of overtopping volumes. This study provides new insights on the probability distribution of individual wave overtopping volumes at plain vertical seawalls by analysing the measured Weibull b values derived from a series of laboratory experiments on seawalls performed on a wide range of wave conditions and crest freeboards. The influence of wave conditions (wave steepness, significant wave height), structural parameters (crest freeboard, toe water depth), impulsiveness, probability of overtopping waves, and overtopping discharge on Weibull b parameter were examined, and then compared with the well-established empirical formulae. For the conditions covered within this study, it was found that the probability distribution of wave-by-wave overtopping volumes follow a 2-parameter Weibull distribution. No apparent differences in Weibull b values were reported with the variation of incident wave steepness and impulsiveness parameter. Results of this study revealed that Weibull b values at vertical walls, subjected to non-impulsive wave conditions, can be predicted reasonably well using relative freeboard and relative overtopping rates. A new unified formula is proposed for the estimation of Weibull b values at vertical walls under impulsive and non-impulsive wave attack. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One way of making a transition-edge sensor (TES) is by utilizing the proximity effect, in which the T C of a superconducting film is reduced with a normal metal film in metallic contact. The T C of a bilayer TES can be estimated by solving the Usadel equations with given boundary conditions. The classical boundary conditions of a bilayer include a specific interface resistance being temperature-independent. In this paper, we will introduce a temperature-dependent specific interface resistance. By fitting the measured T C data of Ir/Au bilayers from the literature to a T C calculation model, we will compare the fit parameters and fit errors with the temperature-dependent specific interface resistance described in this work and with the classical temperature-independent specific interface resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequency-domain multiplexing is a readout technique for transition-edge sensor bolometer arrays used on modern cosmic microwave background experiments, including the SPT-3G receiver. Here, we present design details and performance measurements for a low-parasitic frequency-domain multiplexing readout. Reducing the parasitic impedance of the connections between cryogenic components provides a path to improve both the crosstalk and noise performance of the readout. Reduced crosstalk will in turn allow higher-multiplexing factors. We have demonstrated a factor of two improvement in parasitic resistance compared to SPT-3G hardware. Reduced parasitics also permits operation of lower-resistance bolometers optimized for improved readout noise performance. We demonstrate that a module in the prototype system has comparable readout noise performance to an SPT-3G module when operated with dark TES bolometers in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a new transition-edge sensor material with critical temperature (Tc) in the range 100–200 mK. The new material is a solid solution of two superconducting components, MoxNb1−x, co-sputtered from two high-purity single-component targets (Mo and Nb). The Tc has a minimum (dTc/dx = 0) at an intermediate concentration of the components. We have optimized the deposition parameters and composition to provide films with a sharp superconducting transition at ~ 150 mK. We investigated structural features of the films and surface morphology using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. The XRD measurements indicate that the grown films are polycrystalline, with a preferred orientation along the (110) crystal direction and a clear correlation between superconducting properties and film microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine whether cytomegalovirus is causally associated with breast cancer and whether cytomegalovirus should be categorised as an oncogenic virus. Methods: We undertook a review of published epidemiological and laboratory studies, using established causal criteria: Bradford Hill criteria to determine whether cytomegalovirus is associated with breast cancer; and Evans/Mueller criteria to determine whether cytomegalovirus should be categorised as an oncogenic virus. Results: Although there are inconsistencies in the findings of published epidemiological and laboratory studies, these may be explained by factors such as: differences in timing of blood samples, differences in selection of cases and controls, or high cytomegalovirus seroprevalence among participants in the epidemiological studies; and, in the laboratory studies, differences in sample preparations, age of sample, whether or not paired breast cancer and normal breast tissue samples were used, differences in the tests, primers and/or antibodies used, differences in histological types of breast cancer studied, and/or features of the virus. Conclusions: Overall, the results of published studies of cytomegalovirus and breast cancer suggest cytomegalovirus is a causal factor for at least some types of breast cancer. If the evidence for a link between cytomegalovirus and breast cancer continues to strengthen, further research could lead to: targeted screening; therapy using antiviral drugs; and, perhaps, primary prevention of a significant proportion of breast cancer. Vaccination against viruses has already been shown to be effective in preventing cervix and liver cancer; cytomegalovirus vaccines are already under development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the effect of spatially inhomogenous magnetic fields on vortex nucleation in magnetically coupled superconductor/ferromagnet hybrid structures. Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (LT-STM/STS) we have studied Pb/[Co-Pd] systems with slightly inhomogeneous magnetic domain width throughout the sample. Visualization of the underlying magnetic template structure is achieved through field dependent conductance maps. In the case of zero applied fields, these maps reveal the absence of vortices below a threshold domain width. At those locations with insufficient domain width to support generation of vortices in zero applied fields, nucleation can be restored through the application of an external magnetic field, with vortices nucleating above the domain parallel to the external field. For the magnetic domain width studied in this work, local tunneling spectroscopy reveals uniform superconducting critical temperature as a function of location, despite of local differences in the stray field experienced by the superconductor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to assess the accuracy of MRI alone in the differentiation of soft cervical disc protrusion from osteophytic compression in cervical disc disease. In a retrospective study, the MRI scans of 41 patients with cervical disc disease, who had previously undergone surgery, were presented to three independent observers, randomly on two different occasions, to identify the accuracy of the diagnosis of the presence of hard or soft disc or both as a cause of compression. The observers (two neurosurgeons and one neuroradiologist) were not involved with the treatment of the cases at any stage and were unaware of the surgical findings. Their observations were compared with those of the surgeon recorded at operation. The intra-observer agreement was poor for diagnosis into three categories as hard or soft disc or both. In distinguishing between the presence or absence of hard disc, there was moderate to good (Kappa = 0.6) intra observer and fair to moderate (Kappa = 0.4) interobserver agreement. The sensitivity of diagnosis of a hard disc was high (87%) but specificity was low (44%), due to the overestimation of the presence of hard disc. There was a significantly higher incidence of hard disc in the elderly age group (76% over the fifth decade, P = 0.0073). It is concluded that MRI alone is not a very efficient diagnostic tool in distinguishing between hard and soft disc in the cervical disc disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an avian embryo grows within an eggshell, the whole egg is moved by embryonic activity and also by the embryonic heartbeat. A technical interest in detecting minute biological movements has prompted the development of techniques and systems to measure the cardiogenic ballistic movement of the egg or ballistocardiogram (BCG). In this context, there is interest in using an electromagnetic induction coil (solenoid) as another simple sensor to measure the BCG and examining its possibility for BCG measurement. A small permanent magnet is attached tightly to the surface of an incubated egg, and then the egg with the magnet is placed in a solenoid. Preliminary model analysis is made to design a setup of the egg, magnet and solenoid coupling system. Then, simultaneous measurement with a laser displacement measuring system, developed previously, is made for chicken eggs, indicating that the solenoid detects the minute cardiogenic ballistic movements and that the BCG determined is a measure of the velocity of egg movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous noninvasive studies of the mean heart rate of embryonic birds have prompted an investigation into the instantaneous heart rate (IHR), which may be informative in developmental studies of cardiac rhythm. Using the acoustocardiogram (ACG), a noninvasive, long-term measuring system for embryonic IHR is developed, and the IHR in chickens during the last half of embryonic development is determined. The system, which uses a micro-computer, samples the ACG at a frequency of 50 Hz, restores the ACG wave by sinc function and calculates the IHR with an error in accuracy of less than 1 beat min-1. It was found that characteristic, transient bradycardia begins to appear late in the second week of incubation, and, with the additional development of transient tachycardia, the embryonic cardiac rhythm becomes more arrhythmic towards hatching. Simultaneous measurements of IHR with somatic movements showed no relationship between arrhythmia and embryonic activities. This system is useful, providing new evidence on long-term IHR developmental patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we explore a technical path to defining the normal-to-superconducting transition profile of a superconducting transition edge sensor (TES) using normal metal stripes on surface. The stripes modify the TES transition through the lateral proximity effect. We experimentally demonstrate that varying the width, thickness and spacing of the normal metal stripes alters the TES resistive transition profile as a function of temperature and current. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of processes, from material sterilization and cancer treatment to used nuclear fuel recycling, benefit from quantifying the sensitivity of the system to radiation. Determining the effects of alpha irradiation on a system may be of complementary interest to the effects of gamma irradiation, as alpha radiation has higher linear energy transfer (LET) and will likely result in different chemical damage effects. This becomes important in advanced nuclear fuel cycle processes where the radioactive materials to be handled in solutions contain significant amounts of alpha emitters. Here we describe a method for studying high LET radiation in a liquid system using a TRIGA reactor and the B(n,α)Li reaction. By fitting a model based on neutron diffusion and absorption to experimentally obtained Fricke dosimetry data, the high LET dose to a sample was predictable over the full range of reactor power available and varying B concentration. This method may be applied to study the effects of high LET radiation on any liquid system as long as a suitable molecule containing boron is used and appropriate neutron diffusion coefficients are known. A wide range of high LET dose rates from <10 Gy/h to >1,000 kGy/h may be obtained with this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of the low velocity impact and quasi-static failure of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based on global and local post-impact strain measurements was conducted. Local strains were obtained from surface mounted Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors, and they were combined with global measurements from quasi-static indentation and low-velocity impact experiments, and finite-element analyses to obtain detailed maps of how failure spatially initiates and evolves. For both loading regimes, the interactions between the host PMMA specimens and the sensors played a crucial role in the evolution of residual strains. A mapping of the strains clearly shows that strains decrease radially, from high values near the point of impact to far-field values. Sensors located in critical locations, which are near the impact region, had the highest residual strains prior to PMMA fracture. Furthermore, it was determined that strain transfer to the sensor is strongly influenced by the bonding conditions at the specimen's surface. Due to the debonding of the sensor and the frictional effects associated with the bonding agent, compressive residual strains occurred on the rear-surface. Hence, a detailed understanding of how strain evolves due to sensor-host interactions and catastrophic fracture can be obtained, which can potentially be used to mitigate damage in PMMA for a range of strain-rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the impact of infectious diseases consultation (IDC) in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. All MRSA bacteraemia and a random subset of MSSA bacteraemia were retrospectively analysed. Out of 599 SAB episodes, 162 (27%) were followed by an IDC. Patients with IDC were younger and more frequently intravenous drug users, but fewer resided in a long-term care facility or were indigenous. Hospital length of stay was longer (29.5 vs 17 days, p < 0.001), and endocarditis (19.1% vs 7.3%, p < 0.001) and metastatic seeding (22.2% vs 10.1%, p < 0.001) were more frequent in the IDC group; however, SAPS II scores were lower in the IDC group (27 vs 37, p < 0.001). ICU admission rates in the two groups were similar. The isolate tested susceptible to empirical therapy more frequently in the IDC group (88.9% vs 78.0%, p = 0.003). Seven-day (3.1 vs 16.5%), 30-day (8.0% vs 27.0%) and 1-year mortality (22.2% vs 44.9%) were all lower in the IDC group (all p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that effective initial therapy was the only variable associated with the protective effect of IDC. In patients with SAB, all-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients who had an IDC, because of the higher proportion of patients receiving effective initial antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced chemical treatment processes such as aqueous separation techniques can be used to separate the reusable materials from used nuclear fuel, reducing the radiotoxicity and storage time of the remaining waste. The degradation of chemicals in these processes has been studied utilizing gamma radiation. However, radiolytic degradation by internal alpha emitters has not been as widely investigated due to the difficulty of finding appropriate internal sources. This work presents results using a method to produce alpha particles in situ in aqueous and organic solvents representative of liquid-liquid extraction systems. The method is based on the widely studied B(n,α)Li reaction which has previously been studied in aqueous solutions. Neutrons were supplied from the UCI TRIGA nuclear reactor. Comparisons were also made to gamma radiation from a Cs source. We report that the method is useful for inducing high linear energy transfer (LET) doses in aqueous and organic solutions. We used the classic iron sulfate-based Fricke dosimeter for dosimetry in aqueous solutions and methyl red (2-[(4-dimethylaminophenyl)diazenyl]benzoic acid) dissolved in n-dodecane for organic solvents. High LET doses in both aqueous and organic solvents are well described and a simple linear relationship was found based on the neutron flux and total boron concentration. We have established, using spectroscopic determination, that methyl red degrades in a linear fashion with absorbed dose up to 80 kGy and G-values for the methyl red degradation in n-dodecane were found to be 4.66 × 10 μmol/J for external Cs gamma radiation and 3.0 × 10 μmol/J for B(n,α)Li induced high LET radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES:Perianal Crohn's disease (CD) affects around one-quarter of CD patients and represents a distinct disease phenotype. The objective of this study was to investigate a large population-based cohort of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients to identify clinical and genetic risk factors for perianal CD.METHODS:Data were collected in the Canterbury IBD database, estimated to include 91% of all patients with IBD in Canterbury, New Zealand. Genotyping was performed for selected loci previously demonstrated to be associated with CD. Patients with perianal disease were then compared with both CD patients without perianal disease and healthy controls to assess the presence of potential phenotypic, environmental, and genetic risk factors.RESULTS:Of the 715 CD patients in the database, 190 (26.5%) had perianal disease. In all, 507 patients with genotype data available were analyzed. Perianal disease was associated with younger age at diagnosis (P<0.0001), complicated intestinal disease (P<0.0001), and ileal disease location (P=0.002). There was no association with gender, ethnicity, smoking, or breast feeding. Genotype analysis revealed an association with the neutrophil cytosolic factor 4 (NCF4) gene compared with both non-perianal CD patients (odds ratio (OR): 1.47; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.99) and healthy controls (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.10-1.95). There was no association identified with other genes, including IBD5 (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.69-1.20), tumor necrosis factor α (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.56-1.85), and IRGM (immunity-related guanosine triphosphatase protein type M) (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.80-1.82).CONCLUSIONS:This study suggests that younger age at diagnosis, complicated disease behavior, and ileal disease location are risk factors for perianal CD. In addition, this paper represents the first report of an association of the NCF4 gene with perianal disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high-energy ball-milling method was used for fabricating NiMnIn fine-sized particles. The as-melt polycrystalline NiMnIn alloy exhibits a 14 M modulated martensite structure at room temperature (RT). The atomic pair distribution function analysis together with the differential scanning calorimetry technique proved that the 14 M modulated martensite transformed to a metastable amorphous-like structure after ball milling for 8 hours. Annealing of the ball-milled particles with the amorphous-like phase first led to the crystallization to form a B2 structure at 523 K (250 °C), and then an ordered Heusler L2 structure (with a small tetragonal distortion) at 684 K (411 °C). The annealed particles undergo different structural transitions during cooling, tailored by the atomic arrangements of the high-temperature phase. Low-field thermomagnetization measurements show that the ball-milled particles with the amorphous-like structure or the atomically disordered crystalline structure exhibit a magnetic transition from the paramagnetic-like to the spin-glass state with decreasing temperature, whereas the crystalline particles with the ordered Heusler L2 structure present a ferromagnetic behavior with the Curie temperature T ≈ 310 K (37 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differences between the features of invasive community-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (cMRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (cMSSA) infections are incompletely understood. Fifty-seven patients with invasive cMRSA infection were prospectively identified at two teaching hospitals; for each cMRSA case, two cases of invasive cMSSA infection acted as controls. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Patients with invasive cMRSA infection were more likely to be Aboriginal (25% vs. 14%, age-adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.5, p = 0.037), reside in a long-term care facility and/or have been hospitalised in the previous year (51% vs. 34%, p = 0.04) and less likely to have endocarditis (2% vs. 12%, p = 0.02) or require admission to an intensive care unit or high-dependency area (7% vs. 21%, p = 0.02). All-cause mortality at 30 days was similar in the cMRSA and cMSSA groups (9% vs. 7%, p = 0.68). Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes were detected in a similar proportion of cMRSA and cMSSA isolates (32% vs. 27%, p = 0.49) and the presence of PVL genes was associated with younger age (35 years vs. 55 years, p < 0.001), Aboriginal ethnicity (38% vs. 10%, p < 0.001), skin and soft-tissue infection (54% vs. 19%, p < 0.001), lower illness severity at presentation (SAPS II score 9 vs. 21, p = 0.001) and shorter hospitalisation (9 days vs. 24 days, p < 0.001). Patients with “PVL-positive” and “PVL-negative” S. aureus infection had similar 30-day all-cause mortality (4% vs. 9%, p = 0.28). Few clinical features differentiated patients with invasive cMRSA infection from those with infection caused by cMSSA. Invasive “PVL-positive” S. aureus infection was associated with less morbidity but similar mortality to “PVL-negative” infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review our recent achievements in the construction of microscopic mass tables based on the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov method with Skyrme effective interactions. In the latest of our series of HFB mass models, we have obtained our best fit ever to essentially all the available mass data, by treating the pairing more realistically than in any of our earlier models. The rms deviation on the 2149 measured masses of nuclei with N and Z $ \ge$8 has been reduced for the first time in a mean-field approach to 0.581MeV. With the additional constraint on the neutron matter equation of state, this new force is thus very well-suited for the study of neutron-rich nuclei and for the description of astrophysical environments like supernova cores and neutron star crusts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to compare the epidemiology and outcome of healthcare- (HA-) and community-associated (CA-) MRSA bacteraemia. A 10-year retrospective study of MRSA bacteraemia was carried out. Episodes were classified according to established criteria. Molecular typing was performed on a subset of isolates. Of 197 MRSA bacteraemia episodes, 178 (90.4%) were classified as HA-MRSA and 19 (9.6%) as CA-MRSA. All-cause 7- and 30-day mortality rates were similar in the HA and CA-MRSA bacteraemia groups; however, 1-year mortality was higher in the HA-MRSA bacteraemia group (48.3% vs 21.1% [ p = 0.023]). Thirty-day all-cause mortality was significantly lower if empiric antimicrobial therapy included agent(s) to which the isolate tested susceptible, compared with patients receiving “inactive” therapy (19% vs 35.1% [ p = 0.011]). The majority of MRSA bacteraemia episodes were caused by clones known to circulate in the community. All-cause mortality is as high in HA- as in CA-MRSA bacteraemia. Thirty-day mortality was significantly reduced if the patient received an antibiotic with activity against the MRSA isolate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two predominant theories for lumen formation in tissue morphogenesis: cavitation driven by cell death, and membrane separation driven by epithelial polarity. To define the mechanism of lumen formation in prostate acini, we examined both theories in several cell lines grown in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel culture. Lumen formation occurred early in culture and preceded the expression of cell death markers for apoptosis (active caspase 3) and autophagy (LC-3). Active caspase 3 was expressed by very few cells and inhibition of apoptosis did not suppress lumen formation. Despite LC-3 expression in all cells within a spheroid, this was not associated with cell death. However, expression of a prostate-secretory protein coincided with lumen formation and subsequent disruption of polarized fluid movement led to significant inhibition of lumen formation. This work indicates that lumen formation is driven by the polarized movement of fluids and proteins in 3D prostate epithelial models and not by cavitation.Cell Death and Differentiation (2009) 16, 475–482; doi:10.1038/cdd.2008.181; published online 19 December 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bis(pentafluorophenyl)phosphinic acid, (C6F5)2PO2H, forms thermally stable, anhydrous salts with rare earth ions such as Er3+ and Y3+; these materials adopt polymeric structures. The erbium(III) salt displays photoinduced luminescence at 1,545 nm, decay of which is mediated by erbium–erbium energy migration. The average luminescence lifetime, $$ {\left\langle \tau \right\rangle } = 0.44\,{\text{ms}} $$ , is remarkably long for a solid erbium complex with organic ligands. This is attributed to the exclusion of solvents by the bulky ligands and the absence of any C–H bonds or other high frequency oscillators that could cause vibrational quenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TACTIC (TACTIC web site: http://tactic.triumf.ca) is a new detector for low-energy nuclear reactions currently under development at TRIUMF. The cylindrical ionization chamber allows three-dimensional reconstruction of particle tracks by means of a two-dimensional anode array combined with a TOF measurement of the drift electrons. In addition, the integrated charge for each pulse provides information about the energy loss of the particle and therefore allows a better identification of the nuclear species producing the track. The geometry of TACTIC covers a large angular range permitting the measurement of differential cross-sections over a large solid angle. It will be ideal for investigations of nuclear processes pertinent to the field of nuclear astrophysics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National Blood Service (NBS) Tissue Services (TS) operates living donor and deceased donor tissue banking programmes. The living bone donor programme operates in collaboration with 91 orthopaedic departments across the country and collects bone donations, in the form of surgically removed femoral heads (FHs), from over 5000 patients per annum undergoing total hip replacement. Bone donated via the living programme constitutes approximately 55% of the total bone donated to NBS. Non-NBS tissue banks, primarily in hospital orthopaedic departments, also bank donated bone for the UK. A survey of information received from 16 collaborating orthopaedic centres, between April 2003 and August 2004, identified 709 excluded donors. The total number of donations banked from these sites was 1538. Donations can be excluded before collection if there are contraindications noted in a potential donor’s medical history before their operation. Donors may also be excluded after collection of the FH, for instance because of reactive microbiology tests for blood borne viruses, or if the donation storage conditions or related documentation have not met stringent quality requirements. In this survey, bone or joint conditions were the major reasons for excluding potential donors before donation (154 of 709 exclusions, 22%), followed by a current or a past history of malignancy (139 of 709 exclusions, 20%). Local staffing and operational difficulties sometimes resulted in potential donors being missed, or specific reasons for exclusion not being reported (117 exclusions). These out numbered exclusions due to patient refusal (80 exclusions). A small number (< 5) appear to have been excluded erroneously. There was considerable local variation in the reasons given for exclusion and certainly under-reporting. A survey of donations discarded after collection in the same period highlighted that 43% were donor related; 110 of 370 did not provide a follow-up blood sample. More than 30% were due to delays in forwarding blood samples to the microbiological laboratory for testing, resulting in deterioration of the sample quality. Training to ensure that standards are complied with and a firm evidence base for exclusion criteria, applied uniformly, will help focus donor identification efforts on individuals meeting rational criteria so that fewer potential donations are lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the latest efforts devoted to the global prediction of atomic masses. Special attention is paid to the new developments made within the Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov framework. So far, 9 HFB mass tables based on different parametrizations of the effective interactions in the Hartree-Fock and pairing channels have been published. We analyze their ability to reproduce experimental masses as well as nuclear-matter and giant-resonance properties. The possibility to derive within the HFB framework a universal effective interaction that can describe all known properties of the nuclei (including their masses) and of asymmetric nuclear matter is critically discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examined the available prevalence estimates of suicidality (suicide deaths, attempts, and ideation including thoughts of self harm) in pregnancy and the postpartum. Studies that used defined community or clinic samples were identified through multiple electronic databases and contacts with primary authors. Definitions of and measurement of suicide deaths, intentional self-harming behavior, suicide attempts, and thoughts of death and self-harm were varied and are described with each study. While suicide deaths and attempts are lower during pregnancy and the postpartum than in the general population of women, when deaths do occur, suicides account for up to 20% of postpartum deaths. Self-harm ideation is more common than attempts or deaths, with thoughts of self-harm during pregnancy and the postpartum ranging from 5 to 14%. The risk for suicidality is significantly elevated among depressed women during the perinatal period, and suicide has been found to be the second or leading cause of death in this depressed population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on tree N cycling and identify potential biomarkers forNdeposition. Between April and October 2002 extensive fieldwork was undertaken at Mardley Heath in Hertfordshire. This woodland, located adjacent to the A1(M) motorway, is exposed to high levels of atmospheric nitrogen oxides from the traffic. Measurements of d15N,in vivonitrate reductase (NR) activity, tissue, xylem and surface nitrate concentrations as well as N concentration and growth were made along a 700-m transect at 90° to the motorway. The d15N data show that oxidised N from the road traffic is taken up by nearby trees and is incorporated into plant tissues. Our measurements of NR activities suggest elevated rates close to the motorway. However, xylem sap, leaf tissue and leaf surface nitrate concentrations showed no differences between the roadside location and the most distant sampling point from the motorway. Taken together the d15N and nitrate reductase data suggest uptake and assimilation of N through the foliage.We conclude that for this lowland deciduouswoodland, tissue, xylem and surface measurements of nitrate are unreliable biomarkers for N deposition whereas d15N, growth measurements and integrated seasonal NR might be useful. The results also point to the benefit of roadside tree planting to screen pollution from motor vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Functional Living Index-Emesis (FLIE), a patient-reported outcome measure, was originally developed to assess the impact of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) on patients' daily lives over the 3 days following chemotherapy. More recent studies of CINV include assessments covering the 5 days following chemotherapy in an effort to capture information during both the acute (within 24 h) and delayed (up to 5-7 days) phases of CINV.Goals: To assess the measurement characteristics of a modified version of the FLIE with 5-day recall. Instrument reliability, validity, and missing data were assessed.Patients and Methods: Data were collected from 183 patients receiving cisplatin >or=70 mg/m(2) as part of a phase IIb antiemetic trial of an NK-1 receptor antagonist (MK-0869). Patients recorded the number of vomiting episodes and nausea ratings in a 5-day daily diary.Results: The 5-day FLIE had: (1) excellent internal consistency within FLIE Nausea and Vomiting domains (Cronbach's alpha 0.77-0.78), (2) acceptable construct validity shown by FLIE item-total correlations stronger within domains ( r=0.74-0.97) than across domains ( r=0.52-0.76), and (3) acceptable convergent validity as shown by moderate to strong correlations between FLIE domain scores and independent endpoints of emetic episodes, nausea ratings, and use of rescue medications. The extent of missing data was within acceptable limits with less than 2% of patients missing data.Conclusion: The 5-day FLIE had adequate measurement characteristics for studying the impact of CINV on patients' daily lives during the period covering both the acute and delayed phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary.This article summarizes the proceedings of a roundtable sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health on January 31, 2001. The objective of this meeting was to discuss the current status and future directions of research on the prevention and treatment of depression in pregnancy and the postpartum period from multidisciplinary and public health perspectives. The major foci included current U.S. federal initiatives, nosology/diagnosis, approaches to assessment, psychosocial and pharmacological interventions, prevention approaches, and service delivery systems. This summary presents the pertinent topics of discussion from the group of experts and identifies key areas for future research and public health directives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The presence of a protective adherent mucus gel barrier against gastric reflux, in the healthy esophagus is uncertain. The aim was to characterize the surface mucin composition and determine the extent of any adherent mucus gel layer on the normal esophagus, and compare this with that in Barrett's esophagus. METHODS: Isolated surface mucins were characterized by density centrifugation. gel filtration chromatography, and chemical composition. Adherent surface mucus was visualized in situ on unfixed and cryostat sections of mucosa and biopsies using a method that preserves mucus layer thickness. RESULTS: There was a complete absence of adherent mucus gel layers on normal human, pig, and rat esophagi. This was in contrast to the thick adherent mucous layer (median thickness - 100-200 µm) seen on the corresponding gastric mucosa. Small quantities of glycoprotein with a composition characteristic of a secretory mucin were isolated from the pig esophagus surface. The mucin. density range between 1.44 and 1.48 g⋅ml-1. contained 80% carbohydrate and was rich in serine, threonine, and proline. The mucin fragmented into smaller glycoprotein units on proteolysis and partially on reduction. Cryostat sections from columnar-lined esophageal biopsies had a substantial adherent surface mucous layer (median thickness = 90 µm. interquartile range = 84-94 µm) staining for neutral mucins (gastric-type epithelium) and acidic mucins (intestinal metaplasia). CONCLUSIONS: A secretory mucin, with an analysis distinct from that of gastric or salivary mucin, is present in very small quantities on the esophageal mucosa and in amounts insufficient to form an adherent gel layer. It is unlikely that mucus has a role in protecting the normal esophagus against reflux. However, an adherent mucous layer was observed over columnar-lined esophagus, and this may protect against reflux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After stressing how well the purely macroscopic 1935 mass formula of von Weizsäcker works, we discuss the general problem of deriving nuclear masses from basic nucleonic interactions. We then describe the very recent Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-BCS mass formula of Goriely et al., the first and only to be entirely microscopic. We conclude by stressing how much more work has to be done before reliable extrapolations can be made from the mass data out to the highly neutron-rich part of the nuclear chart where the r-process of nucleosynthesis takes place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychiatrists place great weight on impaired insight in schizophrenia, generally attributing it to pathological mental processes. However, denial of illness may be based on attitudes common in patients' social and cultural groups. Moreover, even where denial of illness has a pathological element, it may be affected by the social context. In this paper, we predicted that denial of illness would be associated with social distance between clinician and patient, and reduced by access to 'normalizing' social interaction.Method: One hundred and fifty patients with schizophrenia in the London arm of the European Schizophrenia cohort were assessed using the 'Awareness of Illness' (AI) subscale of David's Assessment of Insight. Clinical and social attributes were related to AI.Results: There was little evidence for our social distance hypotheses: there was little variation in AI by social class, ethnicity, membership of a drug taking culture or the presence of strongly held religious beliefs. However, there were strong relations between AI and the size of primary group, consistent with our normalizing hypothesis.Conclusions: The normalizing function of social support is in line with modern psychological models of delusion formation. Longitudinal data will eventually be available from the current study that will assist in establishing the causal direction of this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of surface roughness on the properties of the oxide scale formed on Fe–Cr–Al alloys during oxidation in air at high temperatures has been investigated. Large and systematic differences in scale thickness, in the composition of the oxides forming the scale, and in the residual stess levels are found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared the developmental patterns of mean heart rate in Larus crassirostris and L. schistisagus embryos and chicks with other avian species of different hatchling developmental modes. We proposed that, since mean heart rate is inversely related to fresh egg mass in all birds, larger species reached a higher fraction of their hatchling mean heart rate by the end of the early phase of incubation and that heart rate contributions to supplying the increasing metabolic demands during mid and late incubation phases were less important than in smaller avian species. Mean heart rate was essentially independent of age throughout the mid-incubation phase (33% of normalised incubation until pipping), but increased with time during early (L. schistisagus only investigated) and late-incubation phases in both species. The O2 pulse of L. schistisagus embryos and chicks increased linearly with yolk-free body mass (log-log) after the early-phase of incubation until shortly before pipping, but was independent of body mass in the periods before and after. We conclude that a high heart rate in this first period is probably more important for increasing the circulation of nutrients to the embryo at a stage when extra-embryonic circulation to the yolk sac is limited by the size of the growing area vaculosa. Furthermore, large increases in mean heart rate during the late-incubation phase are probably important for increasing the cardiac output to hatching levels with onset of endothermy. However, mean heart rate is stable over the mid-incubation while O2 pulse increases, suggesting that increases in stroke volume and other circulatory adjustments may be entirely responsible for the largest increases in O2 transport during incubation of large avian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serotonin (5-HT) exerts a variety of effects on the excitability of motoneurons, interneurons, and ascending tract cells. Spinocerebellar-tract cells in the dorsal horn receive synaptic connections from serotoninergic axons, but little is known about the relationships between serotoninergic axons and dorsal spinocerebellar tract (DSCT) cells in Clarke's column. We studied these relationships by using a combination of immunohistochemical localization of 5-HT-immunoreactive boutons and intracellular staining with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or neurobiotin of identified DSCT cells in vivo. In the adult cat, Clarke's column displayed a lower density of 5-HT-immunoreactive axons and boutons than adjacent regions of the spinal gray matter. Eleven intracellularly stained DSCT cells were analyzed with light microscopy, and six of these cells were entirely reconstructed in three dimensions. A total of 3,739 close appositions (340±101 per postsynaptic neuron: mean±SD) were observed on the labeled DSCT cells. The majority (97%) of the appositions were formed on dendrites, including proximal and distal branches, with an average density of about 1.4 appositions per 1,000 µm2 of dendritic membrane. These results indicate that the bulbo-spinal serotoninergic system(s) provide direct innervation of Clarke's column-DSCT cells in the upper lumbar spinal cord and that the inputs are spread widely over all regions of the target neurons' soma-dendritic membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To benefit from definitive local therapy, men with clinically localized prostate cancer should have organ-confined disease. We discuss the use of multivariate analysis using serum PSA, biopsy Gleason score and clinical stage to improve the prediction of pathologic stage. Serum PSA, biopsy Gleason scores and clinical stage correlate with pathologic stage by univariate analysis are used in this study. However, each of these variables cannot accurately predict stage for the individual patient. Several investigators have proposed clinical algorithms based on multivariate analysis to enhance pretreatment staging. For men with clinically localized prostate cancer, multivariate algorithms are useful to determine the probability of a man having organ-confined disease, seminal vesicle invasion and lymph node involvement. This information will better enable clinicians and patients to make informed decisions about appropriate treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 10% of patients in hospital develop a hospital-acquired infection (HAI); the most commonly affected site is the urinary tract. Many studies have examined risk factors for HAI but few have adjusted for confounding and interaction. We performed a prospective case-control study on six acute wards of a busy English teaching hospital to assess risk factors for hospital-acquired urinary tract infection (HAUTI). Over a 2-year period, 136 cases were identified (2.8% of all patient episodes) along with 408 controls. Multiple logistic regression revealed that female sex, increased length of stay, elective admission, surgical operation, and transurethral and repeated intermittent catheterization were all significant independent risk factors for HAUTI. However, specialty of admission was also a significant risk factor when added to the model and, under these conditions, only length of stay and catheterization also remained significant. We detected significant interactions suggesting that the risk of HAUTI is maximal among women undergoing elective surgery, especially those who are catheterized; however, the overall risk of HAUTI among patients admitted electively was greater than for patients admitted as emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have measured bone mineral density (BMD) using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the spine and hip, spinal quantitative computed tomography (QCTspi), and peripheral radial quantitative computed tomography (pQCTrad) in 334 spine and 51 hip fracture patients. The standardized hip and spine BMD for each patient was calculated and compared with the combined reference ranges published previously, each densitometer having been cross-calibrated with the prototype European Spine Phantom (ESPp) or the European Forearm Phantom (EFP). Male and female fracture cases had similar BMD values after adjusting for body size, where appropriate. This suggests that the relationship between bone density (mass per unit volume) and fracture risk is similar between men and women. However, compared with age-matched controls, mean decreases in BMD ranged from 0.78 SD units (women with hip fracture, DXAspi) to 2.57 SD units (men with spine fractures, QCTspi). The proportion of spine and hip fracture patients falling below the cutoff for osteoporosis (T-score <−2.5 SD) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) study group varied according to different BMD measurement procedures (range 18–94%). This finding suggests that the WHO definition requires different thresholds when used with non-DXA BMD measurement techniques. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare measurement techniques for their ability to discriminate between cases and controls. Among DXA sites, the proximal femur was preferred when evaluating generalized bone loss, particularly in elderly people. An additional spinal BMD measurement may add clinical value if spine fracture risk assessment has a high priority. Both axial and peripheral QCT techniques performed comparably to DXA in spinal osteoporosis, so investigators and clinicians may use any of the three technologies with similar degrees of confidence for the diagnosis of generalized or site-specific bone loss providing straightforward clinical guidelines are followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalently immobilized pore-surface gel phases were prepared in a functionalized macroporous ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene by covalent coupling of lightly cross-linked polymer colloid particles [50% styrene, 49.8% (chloromethyl)stryrene, 0.2% divinylbenzene] to the interstitial pore surfaces. Swelling the covalently coupled colloid particles in a good solvent followed by chemical derivitization resulted in an immobilized pore-surface gel phase rich in primary amine groups. The macromolecular reactivity and molecular size-exclusion characteristics of the aminated pore-surface gel phase were then determined using monofunctional, amine-reactive, poly (ethylene glycol)s (PEG). Pegylated pore-surface gel phases that ranged from 71% (10,000 molecular weight PEG) to 56% (40,000 molecular weight PEG) PEG by weight resulted from reaction of the aminated gel phase with the PEG probe molecules. The number of PEG molecules reacting with the aminated pore-surface gel phase depends only on the Flory radius (or radius of gyration) of the PEG molecule to the negative 2.49th power i.e., 1/ Rf 2.49, corresponding to a M−1.48 dependence. The immobilized and pegylated polymer colloid particles swell by a factor of 16–25 times the diameter of the original polymer colloid particles in water, thereby demonstrating that pegylation occurred though a substantial fraction of the volume of the immobilized colloid particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report synthesis and characterization of a macroporous polymeric material containing a covalently immobilized pore-surface phase of well-defined thickness, gel-phase porosity and organic functional group content. The pore surfaces of otherwise inert macroporous (32 μm mean pore size) ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are aminated throughout using a low-pressure flowing-discharge process to enable covalent immobilization of lightly cross-linked polymer colloid particles on all pore surfaces in the monolith. Solvent swelling and chemical derivitization of the covalently immobilized polymer colloid particles produce a pore-surface gel phase of well-defined thickness, organic amine content, and gel-phase porosity. The low degree of cross-linking in the polymer colloid particles prevents dissolution of the immobilized colloid in good solvents and enables the formation of pore-surface gel phases having high gel porosity on swelling in good solvents. The pore-surface amination introduced by the flowing discharge process varies by less than 17% through 5-mm thickness of the macroporous UHMWPE material. The properties of the pore-surface gel phase also vary by less than 17% through the cross section. The pore-surface immobilized polymer colloid particles swell by a factor of 10 in water and tetrahydrofuran after derivitization with polyethylene glycol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]