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Toward the development of a new parent-rating for insomnia, this multi-site qualitative study explored sleep problems and related impacts in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. To ensure content validity of the measure, we conducted six focus groups with caregivers (N = 25) of 24 children (age 3 to 18 years) with ASD. Based on parent report, all children had a history of mild or greater insomnia. The focus group transcripts were systematically coded to identify major themes. Verbatim comments from caretakers were used to generate 134 candidate items. Further review by the research team and an expert panel followed by individual cognitive interviews with 12 parents reduced the item bank to 40. The thematic analysis of focus group transcripts identified 7 categories: (1) Trouble falling asleep; (2) trouble staying asleep; (3) early morning waking; (4) bedtime routines; (5) parental strategies for bedtime management; (6) impact of sleep problems on the child; and (7) impact of sleep problems on the family. The Flesch Kincaid Grade Level of the 40-item version was 7.2 (seventh grade reading level). Insomnia in children with ASD shares features in common with insomnia in the general pediatric population. However, perhaps owing to autistic features such as insistence on sameness, sensory sensitivities, communication impairments, insomnia in children with ASD appears to have unique behavioral manifestations. Content validity and item clarity of the 40-item bank were supported by expert panel review and cognitive interviews with caregivers of children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anisotropy in resonant tunneling transport through an electrostatic barrier in monolayer black phosphorus either in presence or in absence of an oscillating potential is studied. Non-perturbative Floquet theory is applied to solve the time dependent problem and the results obtained are discussed thoroughly. The resonance spectra in field free transmission are Lorentzian in nature although the width of the resonance for the barrier along the zigzag (Г–Y) direction is too thinner than that for the armchair (Г–X) one. Resonant transmission is suppressed for both the cases by the application of oscillating potential that produces small oscillations in the transmission around the resonant energy particularly at low frequency range. Sharp asymmetric Fano resonances are noted in the transmission spectrum along the armchair direction while a distinct line shape resonance is noted for the zigzag direction at higher frequency of the oscillating potential. Even after the angular average, the conductance along the Г–X direction retains the characteristic Fano features that could be observed experimentally. The present results are supposed to suggest that the phosphorene electrostatic barrier could be used successfully as switching devices and nano detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study is made between the collision cross sections of target ionization process of hydrogen and some hydrogenic ions by positronium impact. Calculations are performed in the framework of Coulomb distorted eikonal approximation. Interesting qualitative features are noted in both the scattered positronium and the ejected electron distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To review our practice of Meckel's Tc-99m pertechnetate scans over 18 years with regard to indications for the test, sensitivity and specificity in our particular referral patients' population. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective review of Meckel's scans performed in two paediatric tertiary care teaching hospitals from April 1993 to March 2011 and followed up till October 2011. The scan was performed according to published international guidelines. 183 patients were included in this study. We classified the patients into two groups: group 1, which included 77 patients (42 %) presenting with painless per rectum bleeding, and group 2, which included 106 patients (58 %) presenting with other non-specific symptoms (e.g. abdominal pain, possibly associated with nausea and/or vomiting, failure to thrive). Data were analysed using Chi square test, considering P value less than 0.05 as significant. The age of the patients ranged from 4 days to 16.5 years (median 3 years). Results: 161 of the total 183 children on the study (88 %) had a negative Meckel's scan, and 22 children (12 %) had a positive scan. In the group with a positive Meckel's scan (22 children), all patients underwent surgical exploration and ectopic gastric mucosa was found in 17 cases (77 %, true positives). In the remaining 5 cases (23 %), there was no evidence of ectopic gastric mucosa (false positives). Within the group with a negative scan, 8 children (5 %) underwent surgery; only 1 child had a ectopic gastric mucosa detected following surgery (false negative). In other 52 children (32 %) of the group with a negative Meckel's scan, an endoscopy was done, which showed a normal result in 21 children and was abnormal in 31 children. Of the remaining 101 (63 %) children with a negative Meckel's scan, 74 children (46 %) improved without any further intervention. In 13 cases (8 %), other pathologies were identified. The sensitivity and specificity of the Meckel's scan for ectopic gastric mucosa were 94 and 97 %, respectively. The Meckel's scan was positive in 26 % of the patients of group 1 and in only 2 % patients of group 2. The difference between the two groups was highly significant [ P < 0.0001 (Yates-corrected Chi square); odds ratio 18 (Woolf-logit method 95 % CI)]. Conclusion: The Meckel's scan retains a high diagnostic accuracy in children for detecting a Meckel's diverticulum with ectopic gastric mucosa within it, when performed according to the recommended guidelines. The test yields its highest positive result in children presenting with significant per rectum bleeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of the complete breakup process in an Ortho Ps-He system including electron loss to the continuum (ELC) is studied where both the projectile and the target get ionized simultaneously. The process is essentially a four body problem and the present model takes account of the two centre effect on the electron ejected from the Ps-atom which is crucial for a proper description of the ELC phenomena. The calculations are performed in the framework of Coulomb distorted eikonal approximation. The exchange effect between the target and the projectile electron is taken into account in a consistent manner. Interesting features are noted in the dynamics (FDCS) for both the electrons belonging to the target and the projectile. A distinct broad ELC peak is noted in the fully differential cross sections (FDCS) for the Ps electron. The exchange effect is found to play a dominant role in the FDCS both quantitatively and qualitatively depending on the kinematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Laryngotracheobronchial injuries (LTBI) are serious injuries because of their consequences in terms of ventilation, coupled with the severity of other injuries associated with them. We share our experience in managing these patients perioperatively in our level 1 trauma centre. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the records of 30 patients with LTBI who presented at Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Center (JPNATC) from December 2007 to February 2011 was done. The demographics, mechanism of injury, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, anaesthetic management and outcome in these patients were reviewed. Results: Intrathoracic location of the injury and Injury Severity Score (ISS) had a direct correlation with the outcome of the patients. The overall mortality was 6.7 %. Conclusion: Meticulous examination, details about the mechanism of injury, careful diagnostic evaluation, and skilful airway and surgical management are necessary for a better outcome in patients with airway injuries. A high degree of suspicion in occult injuries and liberal use of a fibreoptic bronchoscope aids diagnosis and management. Prompt airway management in the pre-hospital setting before transfer to a higher level trauma centre ensures better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of Al concentration on the current density in GaAs-AlGaAs heterostructure is studied for two different classes of the Generalized Thue-Morse superlattice (GTS): (i) width-barrier GTS and (ii) height-barrier GTS. The occurrence of resonances in the transmission is found to be highly dependent on the Al concentration as well as on the degree of quasi-periodicity of the system. Interesting features are noted for the current density profile with the increase in the Al content for the width-barrier case. The use of the height-barrier GTS with small Al content could be suggested to achieve the negative differential conducting regimes at comparatively low applied bias. The effects of the applied field as well as of the quasi-periodicity on the carrier localization are also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of the electron impact multiphoton ionization of a He atom in the presence of an intense laser field ( n $\gamma _e$, 2 e) is studied theoretically for laser polarization ( $\vert\vert^l$) and perpendicular ( $\bot^r$) to the incident momentum. The triple differential (TDCS) as well as the double differential (DDCS) cross sections are studied for the coplanar asymmetric geometry. The results are compared with the only available kinematically complete experiment at high incident energy (1000 eV). Significant laser modification (enhancement) is noted due to multiphoton effects in the present binary and recoil peak intensities of the TDCS for both the geometries, in qualitative agreement with the experiment. In the single photon case, the net effect of the laser field is to suppress the field free (FF) TDCS as well as the DDCS in the zeroth order approximation of the ejected electron wave function (CV), while in the first order (MCV), the cross sections are found to be enhanced. The CV multiphoton cross sections obey the famous Kroll Watson (KW) sum rule while the latter does not hold good in the corresponding MCV approximation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamics of the electron impact multiphoton ionization of a hydrogen atom in the presence of an intense laser field (e, n γ e) has been studied theoretically for laser polarization parallel ( $\vert \vert^{l}$) and perpendicular (⊥r) to the incident momentum, with a view to comparing (qualitatively) the results with the recent kinematically complete experiments of Höhr et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 153201 (2005)] for the He target. Significant laser modifications are noted in the present doubly (DDCS) and the fully differential multiphoton cross sections (TDCS) for both the geometries ( $\vert \vert^{l}$ and ⊥r). For most of the explored kinematics (chosen in accordance with the experiment), the present binary peak intensity of the laser-assisted multiphoton TDCS is significantly enhanced with respect to the field free ones, in qualitative agreement with the experiment. Importance of the multiphoton effects is also studied. The multiphoton cross sections in the zeroth order approximation of the ejected electron wavefunction (CV) obeys the Kroll Watson sum rule while it does not hold good in the corresponding first order approximation (MCV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragmentation of ground state ortho-positronium (Ps) in collision with Li ion (Li+) is studied in the framework of post-collisional Coulomb distorted eikonal approximation (CDEA), giving special emphasis on the dynamics of the electron loss to the continuum (ELC) that occurs when the electron (e) and the positron (e+) are very close to each other in the velocity space (ve ≈ vp). The present model takes account of the two-centre effect on the ejected e which is crucial for a proper description of the ELC phenomena. Both the fully differential cross-section (TDCS) and the doubly differential cross-section (DDCS) (energy spectra) are investigated at intermediate and high incident energies. A broad distinct ELC peak centred around ve ≈ vp is noted in the e energy spectrum in contrast to the sharp ELC peak for a heavy projectile, corroborating the experimental findings. Two salient features are noted in the present study: (i) the shift of the e DDCS peak (summed over e+ angles) towards higher ejection energy with respect to half the residual energy of the system, (ii) comparison of the e and e+ energy spectra reflect a strong e-e+asymmetry with respect to the ratio ve=vp = 1. Both these features are in qualitative agreement with the experimental observations due to Armitage et al for Ps-He atom system and could be attributed to the post-collisional two-centre effect on e due to its parent nucleus (e+) and the screened target ion. Two different wave functions of the Li ion are chosen in order to test the sensitivity of the present results with respect to the choice of the wave function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the excited states of Positronium (Ps) in the formation cross sections (both differential and total) of the negative hydrogen ion (H-) are investigated theoretically for the charge transfer reaction, Ps (n = 1, 2) + H ↦ e+ + H- for a wide range of incident energies (e.g., threshold – 500 eV). The calculations are performed in the frame work of a qualitative model, the post collisional Coulomb modified eikonal approximation (CMEA). A comparative study is also made between the capture from ground and excited states of the Ps. The present CMEA model takes account of higher order effects which is essential for a rearrangement process where the first Born type approximation (Coulomb Born for the ionic case) is not supposed to be adequate. At low incident energies, the excited states of Ps (2s, 2p) are found to play a dominant role in the H- formation cross sections. Significant deviations are noted between the present CMEA and the Coulomb Born (CBA) results even at very high incident energies (e.g., Ei = 500 eV), indicating the importance of higher order effects. At high incident energies the present CMEA differential cross section (DCS) exhibits a double peak structure which is totally absent in the CBA and could again be attributed to higher order effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A one channel distorted wave approximation has been used to calculate the ionization cross section for the 3s electron of Na atom by alpha particle impact. For a consistency check we have also run the standard CDW-EIS code of McSherry et al. [Comput. Phys. Commun. 155, 144 (2003)] and found reasonable agreement in the high energy region among the present results, the CDW-EIS results and the classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) calculations. It is also found that the present results tend to agree qualitatively with the low energy measurement of Knoop et al. [J. Phys. B 38, 1987 (2005)] at as low as 10 keV amu-1, although the present theoretical approach is expected to be suitable in the high energy area. This qualitative agreement in the low energy region is attributed to the partially correlated ground state wave function used in the present calculation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horizon of robotic paediatric surgery has grown in leaps and bounds with advances in technology. The aim of this study was to analyse the extent of robotic involvement in paediatric surgical practice. A systematic database search was performed. Data about children who had undergone robot-assisted procedures were reviewed retrospectively from all published reports up to October 2007. Success rates were defined in term of completion of the procedures, their complications, and the time taken. These results were further studied in comparison with the procedures performed by open and laparoscopic methods. A total of 31 studies were identified describing 566 patients. Of these, four studies were case control, comparing with either laparoscopic or open procedures, one study was a prospective trial, and the rest of the studies were either case reports or series. The most common robotic system used was the da Vinci (23 studies) followed by the Zeus (four studies). The mean age of the children was 8.3 years. The commonest operation was pyeloplasty (141 cases), followed by fundoplication (122 cases) and patent ductus arteriosus ligation (50 cases). The mean operation time for robot-assisted pyeloplasty was 221 min (open pyeloplasty 214 min). The mean operation times for fundoplication were robotic, 170 min, laparoscopic, 158 min, and open, 121 min. The mean operation times for patent ductus arteriosus ligation were 166 min (robotic) and 83 min (open). Overall conversion rate for all paediatric robotic procedures was 4.7% and complications ranged from 0 to 15%. For robotic fundoplications the conversion and complication rates were 0.8 and 3.3%, respectively. For robotic pyeloplasties the conversion and complication rates were 2.1 and 3.5%, respectively. Many other major operations were performed successfully. All studies recommended robotic procedure as safe and feasible. Currently, the most common robotic operations in practice are pyeloplasties and fundoplications. Most of the authors concluded that, despite taking more time, robotic surgery enables more refined hand–eye coordination, superior suturing skills, better dexterity, and precise dissection with minimal conversion and complication rates. The widespread acceptance of this technology largely depends on solving the issues: learning curve; suitable machine size for neonates and infants; ensuring efficacy and safety in all operations; and, most importantly, making this procedure cost effective, so as to cater for the needs of most, if not all, children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion transport and battery discharge characteristic studies are reported for a new Ag+ ion conducting two-phase composite electrolyte system (1−x)[0.75AgI: 0.25AgCl]: xFe2O3, where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 in molar weight fraction. An alternative single-phase host-matrix ‘annealed [0.75AgI: 0.25AgCl] mixed system/ solid solution’ has been used in place of the traditional host, AgI. Submicron size particles (<1 µm) of Fe2O3 has been used as second phase dispersoid. The composition 0.8[0.75AgI: 0.25AgCl]: 0.2Fe2O3, exhibiting the highest room temperature conductivity has been referred to as the optimum conducting composition (OCC). The reason for an enhancement of an order of magnitude in the conductivity from that of the pure host has been identified through direct determination of ionic mobility (μ) and mobile ion concentration (n) using transient ionic current (TIC) technique. The XRD study confirmed the coexistence of the constituent phases. The ionic transference number is found to be very close to unity. This reveals the fact that the silver ions are the sole charge carriers in the system. The results are discussed in the light of space-charge models proposed for the two-phase composite electrolyte systems. Solid state batteries, fabricated using OCC as electrolyte, Ag-metal as anode and mixtures of iodine & graphite, viz. (C+I2), (C+KI3), (C+(CH3)4NI3), (C+(C2H5)4NI3), etc. as cathodes, were discharged under different load conditions. The battery with (C+I2) cathode performed satisfactorily specially under low current drain states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (II) complexes of 1-alkyl-2-(arylazo)imidazoles ( p-R-CH-N=N-CHNN-1-R′, R = H ( a), Me ( b), Cl ( c) and R′ = Me ( 1/3), Et ( 2/4) have been synthesized and formulated as tris-chelates Fe(RaaiR′). They are characterized by microanalytical, conductance, UV-Vis, IR, magnetic (polycrystalline state) data. The complexes are low spin in character, t (Fe(II)) configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reaction between 3-formylsalicylic acid and bis-(2-aminophenyl)-disulphide yields a septadentate Schiff base with NSO donor frame of which the inner compartment is NSO and the outer is OO type. It forms several complexes with inner copper centre and outer nontransition/transition metal ions. The complexes have been characterised by elemental analyses, spectral (IR, absorption, diffused reflectance), thermal and magnetic data. Dinuclear copper complexes exhibit subnormal magnetic moments (≈ 0.80 BM), showing magnetic exchange, and six-line solid-state ESR spectra at 77 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple differential cross-sections (TDCS) of a hydrogenic (He+) ion has been studied by positron impact using coplaner geometry for both symmetric and asymmetric kinematics in the intermediate and medium high incident energy region. TDCS has also been studied of He+ ion by electron impact for symmetric kinematics taking account of the electron exchange effect. The final state wavefunction is chosen as the correlated 3-body Coulomb wavefunction satisfying the exact asymptotic boundary condition. The long range Coulomb interaction in the initial channel between the ionic target and the projectile has also been taken into account properly. For positron impact, the collision is found to be almost recoilless at lower incident energies, in contrast to the strong recoil peak noted in the case of electron impact ionisation. For electron impact, the exchange effect is found to be significantly high for equal energy sharing in the final channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positronium formation cross-sections in the ground and excited n=2 levels have been studied in an -He atom collision in the framework of eikonal approximation. Both the differential and total formation cross-sections have been investigated in the intermediate- and high-energy regime. Present eikonal results are found to differ appreciably from the corresponding first Born values even at very high incident energies. The total cross-section results have been compared with available experiments due to different groups as well as with other existing theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two cases of carcinoma of the rectum in children (10 and 11 years old) are presented. Both cases presented as acute intestinal obstruction with the history of bleeding per rectum, constipation, abdominal distention, and loss of weight and appetite. Carcinoma of the colon and rectum in children is rare. Its clinical, pathologic, and biological characteristics are different than those of adults. The prognosis is poorer in children, the reason for which is explained, and its management is briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple differential cross-section (TDCS) of hydrogen atom in its metastable (2 S) state is studied theoretically by electron and positron impact for coplanar and asymmetric geometry. The final-state wave function in the present model satisfies the asymptotic boundary condition for asymmetric geometry ( i.e. for k ≫ k ). In the absence of experiment, present results are compared with other existing theoretical results. Apart from the double-peaked structure of the TDCS as in ground-state ionization, some interesting secondary structures are found, in conformity with other theories for ionization from 2 S state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new chelating resin incorporating imidazolyl azo groups into a matrix of polystyrene divinylbenzene has been prepared. The exchange capacity of the resin for the ions mercury (II), silver(I) and lead(II) as a function of pH has been determined. The resin exhibits no affinity to alkali, or alkaline earth metals. It is highly selective for only mercury(II) and silver(I). In column operation it has been observed that mercury(II) in trace quantities is very effectively removed from river water spiked with mercury(II) at the usual pH of natural waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arylazopyridines (Haap, 1) are mercurated by Hg(OAc) in methanol followed by LiCl addition. Two classes of compounds are identified: Hg(Haap)Cl ( 2), a simple coordination compound of tetrahedral geometry, and organomercury compounds, Hg(aap)Cl( 3). The compounds are characterised by elemental analyses, IR andH NMR spectra. The NMR results suggest that mercury is directed to the C-5 position (meta to pyridine-N) in the pyridine fragment of the ligand. This assumption is supported by net atomic charge calculation using the MNDO method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique case of combined rectal atresia and rectal stenosis with a normal anal canal is reported. To our knowledge, no similar case has been reported to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diphallus is a rare congenital anomaly that is often associated with various other anomalies of the midline structures of the posterior portion of the body. We report a unique case of a 1-day-old male with complete diphallus, incomplete bilateral tubular duplications of the colon, ileal atresia, and an anorectal malformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed diagnosis of undescended testes is a major problem. A retrospective review of 298 testes units was performed to assess the age at referral, age at operation, complications and final outcome. The mean age at referral was 57 months. Only 24% of cases were operated below 2 years. A similar pattern of delayed orchidopexy has been reported by many other centres. As orchidopexy is recommended soon after 6-7 months of age, there is an urgent need for increased awareness of undescended testes and it's consequences at all levels of child health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is voluminous literature describing various aspects of hydatid disease in children, little attention has been paid to the small group of patients whose symptoms result in atypical presentation. This article addresses this problem, describing the features in ten children aged from 2 to 12 years. The sites of involvement were within a choledochal cyst (1). the pelvic cavity (1), the spleen (1), and transverse mesocolon. Albendazole was efficacious in the treatment of one recurrent case, as well as in preventing recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new variant of esophageal atresia (EA) with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) associated with duodenal atresia is reported. The TEF was between the lower pouch and the trachea, with a cystic dilatation in the midportion. The tracheal end of the fistula was obstructed by a membranous septum at both ends of a cystic dilatation, leading to a diagnosis of pure EA (gasless abdomen). After the lower pouch was opened beyond the cystic dilatation, 100 ml nonbilious fluid was obtained. A laparotomy revealed a type III atresia of the first part of the duodenum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]