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Excited states in mirror nuclei 31S and 31P were populated in the 1n and 1p exit channels, respectively, of the reaction 20Ne + 12C. The beam of 20Ne, with an energy of 33 MeV, was delivered for the first time by the Piave-Alpi accelerator of the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. Angular correlations of coincident pairs and Doppler-shift attenuation lifetime measurements in 31S and 31P were performed using the multidetector array GASP in conjunction with the EUCLIDES charged particle detector. A comparison of the determined B(E1) strengths of the analog mirror 7/2- → 5/2+ transitions indicates the presence of a violation of isospin symmetry.

The investigation of the excitation energies of the 21+ –states in the neutron-rich Cd isotopes shows an irregular behaviour when approaching the neutron shell-closure at N = 82. The energy of the 21+–state in 128Cd is lower than the one in 126Cd. The transition strength B(E2, 0gs+ → 21+) in the even isotopes 122−128Cd was measured in Coulomb excitation experiments with the high-purity germanium detector array MINIBALL at REXISOLDE (CERN). The values for 122,124Cd coincide with beyond-mean-field calculations with a resultant prolate deformation, whereas 126,128Cd are better described by shell-model calculations.

The first EURICA campaign with high intensity Uranium beams took place at RIKEN in November/December 2012. Within this campaign experiment NP1112-RIBF85 was performed dedicated to the study of the isomeric and beta decays of neutronrich Cd, In, Sn and Sb isotopes towards and beyond the N=82 neutron shell closure. In this contribution we present a first status report of the analysis of the extensive data set obtained in this experiment.

The g factor of the first excited 2+ state of 72Zn has been measured using the Low Velocity Transient Field (LVTF) technique in combination with Coulomb excitation in inverse kinematics. The aim of the experiment was to test the viability of this method when applied to short-lived radioactive ISOL beams, in particular in comparison to the alternative High Velocity Transient Field (HVTF) technique using fragment beams. The result obtained for g(2+) in 72Zn in the present experiment follows the trend observed for the lighter stables Zn isotopes.

Chengetai R Mahomva,1,&ast; Kristine A Smith,1,&ast; Prince AB Minkah,2 Benjamin L Witt,3 Gretchen M Oakley,1 Richard R Orlandi,1 Jeremiah A Alt,1,2,4 Abigail Pulsipher1,2,4 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; 2Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; 3Cytopathology Section, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; 4Utah Center for Nanomedicine, University of Utah College of Pharmacy, Salt Lake City, UT, USA&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Abigail Pulsipher, University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 36 South Wasatch Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA, Tel +1 4342493268, Fax +1 8015855744, Email abigail.pulsipher@utah.eduBackground: CCL19 has been shown to predict disease severity in COVID-19 and treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis. CCL19 can exert both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects and is elevated in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, its role in CRS remains unknown. This study sought to determine the transcriptional changes in CCL19, its receptors, and associated cytokines and their association with disease severity in CRS.Methods: A clinical database of control subjects and patients with CRS was examined. Lund-Kennedy, Lund-Mackay, Sinonasal Outcomes Test 22 (SNOT-22), and rhinosinusitis disability index (RSDI) scores were collected at enrollment. mRNA was extracted from sinonasal tissues and subjected to multiplex gene expression analysis. Gene transcript differences between patients with CRS and controls were compared and correlated with disease severity metrics. Immunohistochemical analyses of CCL19, CCR7, and CCRL1 were conducted to compare differences in protein expression between cohorts. A subgroup analysis was performed to compare transcriptional and protein expression difference between patients with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps and controls.Results: Thirty-eight subjects (control group, n=7; CRS group, n=31) were included in this study. CCRL1 (p=0.0093) and CCR7 (p=0.017) levels were significantly elevated in CRS compared to those in controls. CCL19 (p=0.038) and CCR7 (p=0.0097) levels were elevated in CRSwNP and CCRL1 was elevated in CRSsNP (p=0.0004). CCR7 expression was significantly elevated in sinonasal epithelial cells in CRSwNP (p=0.04). CCL19 expression was positively correlated with TNFA expression (p< 0.0002). CCL19 and CCR7 expression was positively correlated with SNOT-22 and RSDI scores (p< 0.05).Conclusion: CCL19 and CCR7 may modulate TNF-α-driven pro-inflammatory signaling and contribute to increased disease severity in CRS. Mechanistic studies are required to further elucidate the role of CCRL1 in CRS.Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, chemokines, cytokines, gene expression, protein expression

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Spinal anesthesia is a common procedure performed in orthopedic surgery, and it is regarded as secure and safe. Although puncture-related complication of spinal anesthesia has a very low incidence, it would lead to dramatic neurological damage (tetra- or paraplegia). Early diagnosis and surgical decompression are mandatory to promote a better outcome. We present a case of acute spinal hematoma from T11 to L3, triggered by laborious anesthesia puncture after total knee arthroplasty. A prompt surgical decompression within few hours after diagnosis allowed rapid functional recovery and avoided permanent paraplegia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In atomic nuclei, the spin-orbit interaction originates from the coupling of the orbital motion of a nucleon with its intrinsic spin. Recent experimental and theoretical works have suggested a weakening of the spin-orbit interaction in neutron-rich nuclei far from stability. To study this phenomenon, we have investigated the spin-orbit energy splittings of single-hole and single-particle valence neutron orbits of 132Sn. The spectroscopic strength of single-hole states in 131Sn was determined from the measured differential cross sections of the tritons from the neutron-removing 132Sn(d, t)131Sn reaction, which was studied in inverse kinematics at the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The spectroscopic factors of the lowest 3 / 2 + , 1 / 2 + and 5 / 2 + states were found to be consistent with their maximal values of (2 j + 1) , confirming the robust N = 82 shell closure at 132Sn. We compared the spin-orbit splitting of neutron single-hole states in 131Sn to those of single-particle states in 133Sn determined in a recent measurement of the 132Sn(d, p)133Sn reaction. We found a significant reduction of the energy splitting of the weakly bound 3 p orbits compared to the well-bound 2 d orbits, and that all the observed energy splittings can be reproduced remarkably well by calculations using a one-body spin-orbit interaction and a Woods–Saxon potential of standard radius and diffuseness. The observed reduction of spin-orbit splitting can be explained by the extended radial wavefunctions of the weakly bound orbits, without invoking a weakening of the spin-orbit strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amarbir S Gill,1 Abigail Pulsipher,1 Jorgen S Sumsion,2 Gretchen M Oakley,1 Laurie W Leclair,3 Heather Howe,3 Richard R Orlandi,1 Jeremiah A Alt1 1Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; 2School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake, USA; 3Department of Pulmonology/Critical Care Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USACorrespondence: Jeremiah A AltDivision of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, 50 North Medical Drive, Room 3C120, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USATel +1 801 585-7143Fax +1 801 585-5744Email jeremiah.alt@hsc.utah.eduBackground: Data regarding the inflammatory profile of patients with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS-A) with (CRSwNP-A) and without (CRSsNP-A) nasal polyposis remain limited.Objective: Define and compare systemic transcriptional changes in patients with CRS-A to those with non-asthma-related CRS with (CRSwNP) and without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP).Methods: Thirty-four patients with CRS-A (n=19) and CRS (n=15) were prospectively enrolled into an observational study. Demographic information and subjective and objective disease severity measures were recorded. Multiplex gene expression analysis of mRNA extracted from peripheral blood was performed. A total of 594 genes associated with innate/adaptive immunity were analyzed using NanoString technology. Gene expression ratios were reported for genes that were differentially expressed among these cohorts. Linear regression analysis was used to compare the mRNA transcript copy numbers for each gene with disease severity.Results: There was no significant difference in age, gender, nasal polyposis, or health-related quality of life measures between the two groups (p> 0.05). HLA class II histocompatibility antigen, DRB3-1 beta chain (HLA-DRB3) was significantly upregulated in the peripheral blood of patients with CRSsNP-A compared to CRSsNP, whereas chemokine (C-C motif) ligands 4 (CCL4) and zinc finger protein helios (IKZF2) were significantly upregulated in CRSwNP-A compared to CRSwNP (p< 0.05).Conclusion: Patients with CRSsNP-A demonstrate a molecular endotype associated with a Th2-dominant inflammatory profile compared to CRSsNP. Patients with CRSwNP-A similarly demonstrate an overrepresentation of genes associated with Th2-driven inflammation compared to patients with CRSwNP.Keywords: chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, gene transcription, inflammatory markers, nasal polyposis, endotype

For the research and development of accelerator-driven systems (ADSs) and fundamental ADS reactor physics research using the Kyoto University Critical Assembly combined with the fixed-field alternating gradient (FFAG) accelerator, we are conducting a series of experiments on double-differential neutron yields using the FFAG accelerator at Kyoto University. This paper presents an overview of the experiments together with preliminary results.

Prostasome-like vesicles ( PV) are components of the canine prostatic fluid during ejaculation and despite some enzymatic activities have been identified recently, their functions in the reproductive events in this species are still poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated at neutral or slightly alkaline pH, the effects of different concentrations of purified PV on sperm cell motility characteristics and the impact on the short- and long-term preservation of preserved semen maintained at room temperature. Two different experiments were performed. In the first experiment, purified PV were added at increasing concentration (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μL equivalent to 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 μg of protein, respectively) to aliquots of 100 μL of preserved semen maintained at 22 °C at the following time points: 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 480 min. Computer-assisted sperm motility characteristics and pH were assessed three times at each time points, for each sample and for every concentrations. In the second experiment, the purified PV were added with the same methods as described above but only at time 0. Sperm motility characteristics and pH were assessed over the time. This study showed how the addition of purified PV to preserved semen affects negatively ( p < 0.05) at neutral and alkaline pH, both total and progressive motility in a concentration depending manner. Furthermore, prostasome addition was demonstrated to change the quality of sperm movement which may represent a mechanism facilitating sperm cells attachment to the uterine epithelium and facilitating energy preservation before fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the case of a woman who came to our attention for acute onset and very rapidly worsening left hemiplegia, vision loss and cognitive impairment. MRI, laboratory and clinical investigations were highly suggestive of an active inflammatory demyelinating disease. Following exclusion of other possible etiologies, a diagnosis of Marburg's variant multiple sclerosis was made. After repeated high-dose steroids and plasma-exchange, the patient was treated with a first course of alemtuzumab followed by improvement of the clinical and MRI picture. This is the first reported case of Marburg type multiple sclerosis treated with alemtuzumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost fully stripped Fe ions accelerated up to 0.9 GeV are demonstrated with a 200 TW femtosecond high-intensity laser irradiating a micron-thick Al foil with Fe impurity on the surface. An energetic low-emittance high-density beam of heavy ions with a large charge-to-mass ratio can be obtained, which is useful for many applications, such as a compact radio isotope source in combination with conventional technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a proof-of-principle measurement, the Maya active target detector was employed for a C( p, p) resonant elastic scattering experiment in inverse kinematics. The excitation energy region from 0 to 3MeV above the proton breakup threshold in N was investigated in a single measurement. By using the capability of the detector to localize the reaction vertex and record the tracks of the recoiling protons, data covering a large solid angle could be utilized, at the same time keeping an energy resolution comparable with that of direct-kinematics measurements. The excitation spectrum in N was fitted using the R-matrix formalism. The level parameters extracted are in good agreement with previous studies. The active target proved its potential for the study of resonant elastic scattering in inverse kinematics with radioactive beams, when detection efficiency is of primary importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-neutron states in the Z = 30 , N = 49 isotope 79 Zn have been populated using the 78 Zn(d, p) 79 Zn transfer reaction at REX-ISOLDE, CERN. The experimental setup allowed the combined detection of protons ejected in the reaction, and of γ rays emitted by 79 Zn. The analysis reveals that the lowest excited states populated in the reaction lie at approximately 1 MeV of excitation, and involve neutron orbits above the N = 50 shell gap. From the analysis of γ -ray data and of proton angular distributions, characteristic of the amount of angular momentum transferred, a 5 / 2 + configuration was assigned to a state at 983 keV. Comparison with large-scale-shell-model calculations supports a robust neutron N = 50 shell-closure for 78 Ni. These data constitute an important step towards the understanding of the magicity of 78 Ni and of the structure of nuclei in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present an exploratory experiment performed at REX-ISOLDE to investigate neutron-rich Sr, Y and Zr nuclei around mass A = 100 by cluster transfer reactions of radioactive 98Rb/98Sr beams on a 7Li target. The goal of the experiment is to test the potential of cluster-transfer mechanism to study the low-lying structure of neutron-rich nuclei, performing, as a first case, a γ-spectroscopy study of the structure in deformed nuclei beyond N = 60 populated, so far, only via ß decay and spontaneous fission experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents This study was carried out with the objectives to test the differences in the haemodynamic characteristics of the prostatic artery in normal and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-affected dogs using Doppler ultrasonography. In sixteen male German shepherd dogs, prostatic volume was detected and prostatic biopsy was performed. The prostatic artery blood flow parameters determined were as follows: peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), Resistive Index (RI) and Pulsatility Index. The power Doppler mode was used for colour flow mapping of the prostatic artery. In PW mode at marginal locations, the waveforms recorded showed a continuous pattern typical of the high-resistance vessels, while in subcapsular locations, the waveforms recorded were continuous characteristic of the low-resistance vessel. Peak systolic velocity and EDV in both locations were significantly higher in BPH group (p < 0.001) than normal group (p < 0.05). Pixel number in BPH group in both locations was significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the normal group. This study shows that Doppler ultrasonography represents a valid and non-invasive method for the characterization of the blood flow in the prostatic artery in dogs affected with BPH. Moreover, statistically significant differences of blood flow velocities in prostatic artery in normal and BPH-affected dogs were detected. The RI was not able to differentiate normal dogs from dogs affected by BPH and therefore is not a parameter usable for diagnostic purposes, while Power Doppler could represent an additional diagnostic tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents In six German Shepherds dogs, Gn RH agonist implants ( Deslorelin) were inserted subcutaneously one month after histological confirmation of benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH). Prostatic volume ( PV), characteristics of ejaculate, serum testosterone concentrations and Doppler parameters of prostatic and subcapsular arteries were detected at different time intervals, for 6 month. The prostatic volume showed a significantly reduction starting at day 37. The decrease in sperm concentration, motility and increase in morphological abnormal sperm were observed from day 22 to day 37, when it was no longer possible to obtain the ejaculate. The values of peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity in prostatic and subcapsular arteries showed from day 11 a gradual decrease, significant at day 22 until day 37 and reaching the lowest values at day 52 until the end of observation. The power Doppler pixel intensity of both arteries showed a gradual decrease from day 5 until day 52. In particular, a significant decrease was observed for both arteries from day 11. Testosterone serum concentration decreased to undetectable levels by day 11 until the end of the observations. All these Doppler parameters and testosterone values were positively correlated with the prostatic volume. Furthermore, testosterone values were positively correlated with peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity and pixel numbers. The use of implants containing Gn RH analogues, even in asymptomatic subjects, is effective for the control of BPH and the application of Doppler exam of prostatic blood flow represent an non-invasive tool for monitoring the response of medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep inelastic reaction 48Ca+64Ni at 6 MeV/A has been studied using the CLARA-PRISMA setup. Angular distributions for pure elastic scattering and total cross-sections of the most relevant transfer channels have been measured. The experimental results are compared with predictions from a semiclassical model, showing good agreement for the presently analyzed few neutrons transfer channels. The &gamm;-decay of the most intense reaction products has also been studied, giving indications of the population of states with very short lifetimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large solid angle magnetic spectrometer PRISMA coupled to the γ array CLARA represents a significant step forward in the field of binary reactions at energies close to the Coulomb barrier. With this set-up extensive investigations have been carried out for nuclear structure and reaction dynamics. Via γ-particle coincidences it is now experimentally possible to measure the transfer strength to specific final states with high efficiency. In reactions with heavy ions, one can populate states of high angular momentum and, at the same, one can probe the population of specific nuclear levels via transfer of multiple pairs. Valuable information about the structure of those states can be then derived from the study of their decay modes. In the present paper aspects of these studies will be presented, focusing more closely on the reaction mechanism, in particular on the properties of quasielastic and deep-inelastic processes and on nucleon-nucleon correlations at energies far below the Coulomb barrier. We concentrated on (near) closed shell systems as they allow a better quantitative comparison between experiment and theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently the first excited state in 135Sb has been observed at the unexpectedly low excitation energy of only 282keV and interpreted as mainly d 5/2 proton coupled to the 134Sn core. Based on theoretical considerations it was suggested that its low excitation energy is related to a relative shift of the proton d 5/2 and g 7/2 orbits induced by the neutron excess. We have measured the lifetime of the 282keV state by the advanced time-delayed βγγ( t) method. The measured half-life, T 1/2 = 6.1(4)ns, yields exceptionally low limits of B( M1;5/21 +→7/21 +)≤3.0×10-4 μ 2 N and B( E2;5/21 +→7/21 +)≤54 e 2 fm 4. These strongly hindered M1 and slow E2 transition rates are similar to those for the transition de-populating the first excited state at 405keV in 211Bi. Results of shell model calculations with realistic interactions are presented. The M1 decay rate was found to be extremely sensistive both to the wave function and to the M1 effective operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large variety of shapes may be observed in Sr and Zr nuclei of the A = 100 region when the number of neutrons increases from N = 58 to N = 64. The lighter isotopes are rather spherical. It is also well established that three shapes co-exist in the transitional odd-A, N = 59, Sr and Zr nuclei. For N > 59, strongly deformed axially symmetric bands are observed. Recently, a new isomer of half-life 1.4(2) µs was observed in 95Kr, the odd-odd 96Rb has been reinvestigated and a new high-spin isomer observed in the even-even 98Zr. These nuclei were studied by means of prompt γ-ray spectroscopy of the spontaneous fission of 248Cm using the EUROGAM 2 Ge array and/or measurements of µs isomers produced by fission of 239,241Pu with thermal neutrons at the ILL (Grenoble). To allow spectroscopic studies of isomeric states with lifetimes around 100 ns, across a broad range of medium-heavy neutron-rich nuclei, an experiment was performed at a neutron guide of the ILL using thermal-neutron-induced fission. Fission fragments were identified using a small spectrometer consisting of a section to measure time-of-flight and an ionization chamber. Isomeric rays emitted from complementary fragments were detected in an array of Ge detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CLARA-PRISMA setup consisting of the array of Euroball Clover detectors CLARA, coupled to the LNL large acceptance magnetic spectrometer PRISMA, has been successfully working since spring 2004. Recently, new developments such as the ancillary device DANTE and the use of the differential plunger technique has improved the capabilities of the setup. Results of experiments studying the structure of neutron-rich nuclei together with the preliminary results on the commissioning of the ancillary detector array DANTE and of the plunger technique will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]