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To determine the shape of 132Ba Coulomb excitation measurement has been performed at U-200P cyclotron at Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw, Poland. A 32S beam of ~90 MeV energy has been bombarded on enriched 132Ba-target to Coulomb excite the latter nuclei. EAGLE gamma-ray spectrometer consisting of 15 single crystal HPGe detectors has been used to detect the deexcited gamma-rays from Coulomb excited Ba nuclei. The data has been collected using Particle-gamma coincidence technique for a period of seven days. The back scattered projectiles have been identified with 48 PiN diodes of 0.5 X 0.5 cm² active area mounted in a scattering chamber of ~5 cm radius called as ‘Munich chamber’. The energy states up to ~1127 keV energy have been populated in the interested 132Ba isotope. The preliminary results of the data analysis are presented here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to gain further information on the electromagnetic properties of the low-lying states in 45Sc, a Coulomb excitation measurement was carried out at the IUAC, New Delhi. The 45Sc target nuclei were Coulomb excited by the 70 MeV 32S beam from the 15UD tandem accelerator. The -rays depopulating Coulomb excited states in 45Sc were detected by four Clover detectors in coincidence with the forward scattered ions. The main aim of the experiment was to determine the B(E3; 7=2- → 3=2+) and B(E3; 7=2- → 5=2+) transition probabilities, as well as the transitional electromagnetic matrix elements for low-lying intruder states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last stable tellurium nucleus on the neutron-deficient side, 120Te, was Coulomb excited using two different projectiles. The low-lying collective states were populated in a multi-step Coulomb excitation process. Magnitudes and relative signs of the reduced E2 matrix elements were determined using the GOSIA code. The resulting set of E2 matrix elements was analysed using the quadrupole sum rules approach to determine the quadrupole deformation parameters for the 0+1 and 2+1states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, people diagnosed with cancer are surviving and continuing to participate in the work force. This trend brings with it new issues regarding survivors' employment-related needs. OBJECTIVE: The research team's objective is to explore cancer survivors' employment-related needs and supports with the ultimate goal of developing a training intervention for them. METHODS: Data were collected via an online survey. This article reports on the findings from the pilot stage of the study, which included 32 respondents. RESULTS: Many cancer survivors experience cancer symptoms at work, but do not tend to seek reasonable accommodations. Levels of awareness of possible programmatic and legal supports are low. Respondents reported that neither employers nor medical practitioners are primary sources of information regarding their individual employment-related concerns. Instead, they relied on general information from cancer advocacy organizations. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors, employers, and practitioners who treat cancer patients could benefit from training resources about how survivors might address their employment-related needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) eggs in combination with RCAS retrovirus, a member of the Avian Sarcoma-Leukosis Virus (ASLV) family, is of standard practice to study gene function and development. SPF eggs are certified free of infection by specific pathogen viruses of either exogenous or endogenous origin, including those belonging to the ASLV family. Based on this, SPF embryos are considered to be free of ASLV viral protein expression, and consequently in developmental research studies RCAS infected cells are routinely identified by immunohistochemistry against the ASLV viral proteins p19 and p27. Contrary to this generally accepted notion, observations in our laboratory suggested that certified SPF chicken embryos may endogenously express ASLV viral proteins p19 and p27. Since these observations may have significant implications for the developmental research field we further investigated this possibility. Results: We demonstrate that certified SPF chicken embryos have transcriptionally active endogenous ASLV loci (ev loci) capable of expressing ASLV viral proteins, such as p19 and p27, even when those loci are not capable of producing viral particles. We also show that the extent of viral protein expression in embryonic tissues varies not only among flocks but also between embryos of the same flock. In addition, our genetic screening revealed significant heterogeneity in ev loci composition even among embryos of the same flock. Conclusions: These observations have critical implications for the developmental biology research field, since they strongly suggest that the current standard methodology used in experimental studies using the chick embryo and RCAS vectors may lead to inaccurate interpretation of results. Retrospectively, our observations suggest that studies in which infected cells have been identified simply by pan-ASLV viral protein expression may need to be considered with caution. For future studies, they point to a need for careful selection and screening of the chick SPF lines to be used in combination with RCAS constructs, as well as the methodology utilized for qualitative analysis of experimental results. A series of practical guidelines to ensure research quality animals and accuracy of the interpretation of results is recommended and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-lying excited states of 104Pd were investigated by means of Coulomb excitation using the 32S beam. Gamma-ray spectra resulting from the deexcitation of these levels were measured with the EAGLE gamma-ray spectrometer at the Heavy Ion Laboratory, University ofWarsaw. The first three excited states above the ground state up to 6+ level were populated alongwith the low-lying non-yrast states. Excitation of the 3- state at 2194 keV energy was also observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifetimes of high-spin states in As have been measured using Doppler shift attenuation technique with the GASP and RFD set-up. The nucleus of interest was populated in the 40Ca(32S, 3p) 69As reaction at beam energy of 95 MeV. Extracted lifetimes for the 33/2+ state at 7897 keV and 37/2+ state at 9820 keV are 72 (-45, +55) fs and 25(-25, +50) fs, respectively. The transition quadrupole moment resulting from the measurement can serve as a test of the TRS calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lifetimes of high-spin states in 66Ge have been measured using Doppler shift attenuation technique with the GASP and RFD setup. The 66Ge nucleus was populated in the 40Ca(32S, α2p) reaction at beam energy of 95 MeV. The transition quadrupole moment, Qt, of the negative parity band in this nucleus has been determined to be approx. 0.9γ 0.1 eb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on preliminary results from the experiment performed at Legnaro National Laboratories aiming at the investigation of the shape evolution of the 88Mo nucleus. The GDR spectra obtained for two data sets measured at 48Ti beam energy of 300 and 450 MeV corresponding to 3 and 3.8 MeV temperatures, respectively, are presented. The low energy component in GDR strength functions, similar to the theoretical predictions of LSD model, possibly indicates the presence of Jacobi shape transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yrast structure of the neutron-rich nucleus 97Zr has been studied using fission of target-like products in the reaction of a 48Ca beam on a thick 238U target. The level scheme known from the previous studies up to an energy and spin of approx. 4619 keV and 23/2-, respectively, has been extended by about 3 MeV and a few units of angular momentum. The located structure can be discussed in terms of shell model configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of methanol extract of Aegle marmelos (AM) leaves as well as its interaction with conventional anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs using elevated plus maze and tail suspension test in mice. Albino mice were treated with AM (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg, po), imipramine (20 mg/kg, po), fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, po), and combination of sub-effective dose of AM with imipramine or fluoxetine. Effects were observed on (a) time spent on (b) number of entries into (c) number of stretch attend postures (d) number of head dips in arms of elevated plus maze and on duration of immobility in tail suspension test. Effects of pretreatment with prazosin (0.062 mg/kg, po), haloperidol (0.1 mg/kg, po) and baclofen (10 mg/kg, po) were also studied on AM induced decrease in duration of immobility. Effects of AM (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg po) were observed on locomotor activity using photoactometer. Results showed that AM significantly (P<0.05) and dose dependently increased proportionate time spent on and number of entries into open arms while decreased number of stretch attend postures and head dips in closed arms. Dose dependent and significant (P<0.05) anti-immobility effect was found in mice treated with AM. Combination of AM (75 mg/kg, po) with imipramine (5 mg/ kg, po) or fluoxetine (5 mg/kg, po) also produced significant (P<0.05) anxiolytic and antidepressant activity. Antidepressant activity of AM (150 mg/kg, po) was significantly (P<0.05) decreased by prazosin, haloperidol and baclofen. Methanol extract showed insignificant (P>0.05) effect on locomotor activity of mice. It is concluded that AM possess potential anxiolytic and antidepressant activities and it enhances the anxiolytic and antidepressant activities of imipramine and fluoxetine.

Mycoplasma hyopharyngis is a commensal bacterium in the upper respiratory tract of swine. As it is recognized to be apathogenic, examinations regarding this species are scarce, compared to other swine mycoplasmas. However, in a few cases, M. hyopharyngis was detected in lesions of different organs. This report presents a case study in which M. hyopharyngis (along with other bacteria) was isolated from the joint of a pig showing lameness. A Hungarian farm was repopulated with 250 gilts and 1,700 finishers after undergoing a complete depopulation and disinfection. Two days later, cases of diarrhoea and septicaemia caused by Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium were seen in the finishers. At the same time, following the first farrowing, swollen joints were observed in 21–25 days old piglets. Joint samples were collected, and isolation of Mycoplasma sp. and other bacteria was attempted. Analysis of the joint samples revealed the presence of Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hyicus, Aerococcus viridans, Trueperella pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae and M. hyopharyngis. This is the second isolation of M. hyopharyngis from joints, which highlights the necessity of a better understanding the biology of this often-overlooked species, and its role in the progress of arthritis or other lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The RAD Laboratory measured annual means of radon activity concentrations in 15 277 first-floor rooms of dwellings and in 325 rooms on upper floors in Hungary (1994-2004). The original purpose of the survey was to find radon-prone area in Hungary. The maximum measured value was 5800 Bq m(-3), while the minimum was 10 Bq m(-3). Due to geological diversity and different structures of buildings, the data set of first-floor rooms did not follow the lognormal distribution. Therefore, strata were chosen so that the measured data fitted the lognormal distribution. The numbers of dwellings above a given radon level were determined in each stratum. The national distribution was then taken as the sum of the individual distributions of all strata. This distribution was not lognormal. The parameters of the best fitting lognormal distribution were GM = 58 Bq m(-3), GSD = 2.2. The weighted averages of strata values GM = 62 Bq m(-3), GSD=2.1 were obtained corresponding to 92% of Hungarian dwellings.

Human infection with Mycoplasma species other than M. pneumoniae are infrequent, but may be encountered in patients with immunodeficiencies. We report a patient with combined variable immunodeficiency that developed multiple abscesses and destructive bone disease caused by M. orale, an organism generally considered to be non-pathogenic. Molecular laboratory methods, 16S rRNA sequence analysis, were used to detect the organism directly in the surgical specimen and confirmed following isolating of the organism. This case demonstrates the importance of molecular technology in the diagnosis of difficult infectious disease problems.

Archival paraffin-embedded tissue from 5 normal adrenal glands (including 1 from a fetus of 28 weeks' gestation), 6 cases of adrenal cortical hyperplasia, 9 cortical adenomas, 14 cortical carcinomas, and 11 pheochromocytomas were immunostained with monoclonal antibody against bcl-2. Ultrastructural localization of bcl-2 protein was also performed on selected cases. Positive immunostaining for bcl-2 was seen in all of the layers of the normal adrenal cortex, with different staining characteristics. bcl-2 expression was never observed in the normal adrenal medulla. Electron microscopic studies revealed bcl-2 to be localized predominantly to mitochondria, with a small number of labels along the nuclear envelope. Analysis of adrenal neoplasms showed expression of bcl-2 in cortical tumors, but only one positive case in pheochromocytomas. Restriction of bcl-2 expression to adrenal cortex-derived tissue versus adrenal medulla-derived tissue might prove to be helpful for the differential diagnosis between cortical and medullary tumors.

Background: The nuclear shape is a macroscopic feature of an atomic nucleus that is sensitive to the underlying nuclear structure in terms of collectivity and the interaction between nucleons. Therefore, the evolution of nuclear shapes has attracted many theoretical and experimental nuclear structure studies. The structure of the A≈70, N≈Z nuclei, lying far from the stability line, is interesting because a particularly strong proton-neutron correlation may occur here due to the occupation of the same orbits by nucleons of both types. In this region, different particle configurations drive a nucleus towards various deformed shapes: prolate, oblate, octupole, or nonaxial. These nuclear shapes change rapidly with nucleon number and also with angular momentum. This is reflected by a presence of different structures (bands) of excited states which exhibit a broad range of lifetimes. Purpose: The aim of this paper is to determine lifetimes of some high-spin excited states in 69As and 66Ge nuclei to examine the shape evolution in these neutron-deficient nuclei. Methods: Lifetimes of high-spin states in 69As and 66Ge have been measured by using the Doppler-shift attenuation technique with the GASP and recoil filter detector setup at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. The nuclei of interest were produced in the 32S(95MeV)+0.8mg/cm² 40Ca fusion-evaporation reaction. The strongest reaction channels 3p and α2p led to the 69As and 66Ge final nuclei, respectively. Using γ-γ-recoil coincidences we were able to determine very short lifetimes (in the femtosecond range) in the residual nuclei of interest. Results: In 69As, the extracted lifetimes are τ=72 (-32, +45) fs for the 33/2+ state at 7897 keV and τ<85 fs for the 37/2+ state at 9820 keV. For the 66Ge case, the lifetime of the 11- state at 7130 keV is τ=122(±41) fs. Lifetimes in 69As and 66Ge reported in this paper have been measured for the first time in the present experiment. Conclusions: The results are discussed in the terms of deformation and shape evolution in 69As and 66Ge. The quadrupole moments deduced from the measured lifetimes were compared with the cranked Woods-Saxon-Strutinsky calculations by means of the total Routhian surface method. It turns out that Band 3 in 69As shows an oblate-prolate shape transition, and above spin 33/2+ it corresponds to a prolate collective structure with β2≈0.27 and γ≈20∘. In turn, in 66Ge the negative-parity band built on the 7- state at 4205 keV corresponds to a triaxial shape with β2=0.33 and γ=31∘. Analysis of the transitional quadrupole moments derived from the experimental and theoretical ones points to a significant change of deformation in the 69As and 66Ge nuclei with increasing rotational frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human exposure to indoor radon has been a subject of continuous concern due to its health implications, especially as it relates to lung cancer. Radon contaminates indoor air quality and poses a significant health threat if not abated/controlled. A seasonal indoor radon assessment of residential buildings of Obafemi Awolowo University was carried out to determine radon seasonal variability and to evaluate the cancer risk to the residents. AT-100 diffusion-based track detectors were deployed within living rooms and bedrooms for the radon measurement. During the rainy season, the average indoor radon concentration was 18.4 ± 10.1 Bq/m3, with higher concentrations observed in bedrooms compared to living rooms, whereas the average radon concentration was 19.0 ± 4.4 Bq/m3 in the dry season, with similar radon levels in living rooms and bedrooms. The potential alpha energy concentration values ranged from 1.62 to 7.57 mWL. The annual effective dose equivalent values were below the world average and recommended limits for public exposure. Of the three geological units underlying the residences, the buildings overlying the granite gneiss lithology have the highest radon concentrations with average value of 21.4 Bq/m3. The soil gas radon concentration to indoor radon concentration ratio over the granite gneiss lithology is 0.006. The estimated average lifetime cancer risk due to radon inhalation in the residences indicated a potential risk of cancer development in 178 persons in 100 000 population over a lifetime period. The average indoor radon concentrations were below the recommended limit, requiring no immediate remediation measures. Improved ventilation of residential apartments is recommended to minimize residents' risk to indoor radon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validation is a critical aspect of product development for meeting design goals and mitigating risk in the face of considerable cost and time commitments. In this research article, uncertainty quantification (UQ) for efficiency testing of an Electric Drive Unit (EDU) is demonstrated, considering confidence in simulations with respect to the validation campaign. The methodology used for UQ is consistent with the framework mentioned in the guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM). An analytical evaluation of the measurement chain involved in EDU efficiency testing was performed and elemental uncertainties were derived, later to be propagated to the derived quantity of efficiency. When uncertainties were associated with measurements, the erroneous measurements made through sensors in the measurement chain were highlighted. These results were used for the assessment of requirement coverage and the validation of test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crafting is the intentional and proactive behavioural or cognitive changes people make to satisfy their psychological needs. This can take place across life domains, including at work, at home, and in broader life goals, though little research exists comprehensively integrating the different crafting types. Psychological needs are one way that these various crafting types are related. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review of the literature on crafting and the satisfaction of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and meaning in life to better understand how these psychological needs relate to or impact the crafting process. We systematically searched four databases and found 134 papers that met the inclusion criteria. We found that autonomy and meaning in life were two psychological needs that were frequently related to the process of crafting and that competence and relatedness were important but less researched. The satisfaction of psychological needs were often an outcome of crafting, though only job crafting consistently measured psychological needs as the antecedent to crafting. We conclude with recommendations for future research and questions to be addressed. This review may be useful for future basic and applied crafting research by better understanding how specific psychological needs relate to the process of crafting and how individuals may proactively shape their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention designed to enhance motivation and competencies in job crafting, and to identify selected factors that may influence the outcomes. The study examined the extent to which participation in a one-day workshop would enhance levels of task crafting, relational crafting, and cognitive crafting, as well as verifying whether employees' engagement would increase, and perceived work-related stress would decrease. Design/methodology/approach: A quasi-experimental procedure was used to achieve a goal. The procedure includes several stages, one of which was participation in a one-day workshop. Sample size of the intervention group (with workshop) was n = 23 of administrative employees from a private higher education institution, and control group n = 21 employees from the same organisation with comparable job characteristics. Findings: The results showed that the level of job crafting is related to individual characteristics such as self-efficacy and proactive attitude. In contrast, it does not depend on job characteristics such as autonomy and skill variety. In the conducted studies, no positive effects of the workshop on employee well-being were confirmed; however, it was noted that the workshop might act as a buffer protecting against a decline in well-being due to organizational factors. Research limitations/implications: The limitations of the research result from both the small size of the research sample and the narrow specialization of the surveyed employees. There is a need for research on other professional groups and in other sectors. Practical implications: Due to the pilot nature of the study and the limitations of the study mentioned above - no practical implications are identified. Originality/value: The research represents the first attempt in Poland to verify effects the of organizational intervention related to job crafting among administrative university employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]