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There is a growing body of evidence that cannabis may be effective as an analgesic with potential to reduce opioid usage in chronic pain. This review synthesizes the available literature to elucidate the possible role that cannabis might play in reducing opioid use in gynecological disorders that may potentially lead to a recommendation of substituting opioids with cannabis. With reports of a decrease in opioid use after cannabis initiation, an opioid-sparing effect has been seen in gynecologic malignancies such as ovarian, uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancers, in addition to chronic pelvic pain (CPP). Though many studies have found an association between cannabis and various adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials making it difficult to claim a directly causal relationship between cannabis and these adverse outcomes. Additionally, with increased use of cannabis during pregnancy, the evidence of possible benefits and risks to mothers and fetuses is examined.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive genetic disease characterized by muscular weakness with a global prevalence of 7.1 cases per 100,000 males. DMD is caused by mutations of the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome, which is responsible for dystrophin protein production. Dystrophin is a cytoskeletal protein that contributes to structural support in muscle cells. DMD mutations result in dystrophin protein deficiency, which leads to muscle damage and the associated clinical presentation.Corticosteroids such as prednisone and deflazacort are routinely given to patients to treat inflammation, but their use is limited by the occurrence of side effects and a lack of standardized prescribing. Exon-skipping medications are emerging as treatment options for a small portion of DMD patients, even though efficacy is uncertain. Many new therapeutics are under development that target inflammation, fibrosis, and dystrophin replacement.Because of side effects associated with corticosteroid use, there is need for better alternatives to the standard of care. Excessive cost is a barrier to patients receiving medications that have yet to have established efficacy. Additional therapies have the potential to help patients with DMD, although most are several years away from approval for patient use.

Different sputtering techniques were investigated for coating deposition on Alexandrite laser crystals. The use of advanced optical coating deposition increased the final optical component's resistance to laser-induced damage by more than twice.

We present a high-performance Alexandrite laser for LIDAR applications with repetition rates up to 20 kHz in cavity-dumped Q-switched operation continuous-wave diode-pumped in the red spectral region. With a double-pass pump configuration, short pulses with 2.8 ns duration at repetition frequencies ranging from 1 kHz to 20 kHz could be demonstrated. At 5 kHz a – to our knowledge – record pulse energy of over 500 µJ could be achieved at 755 nm in TEM00. Furthermore, a stability measurement at an energy of around 350 µJ with 5 kHz showed no degradation over 150 Mega-shots. The influence of the crystal temperature on the laser performance is also investigated, first in continuous-wave and secondly in cavity-dumped Q-switched operation.

We performed two simulation studies that investigated dimensionality recovery in NPD tetrachoric correlation matrices using parallel analysis. In each study, the NPD matrices were rehabilitated by three smoothing algorithms. In Study 1, we replicated the work by Debelak and Tran on the assessment of dimensionality in one- or two-dimensional common factor models. In Study 2, we extended the Debelak and Tran design in three important ways. Specifically, we investigated: (a) a wider range of factors; (b) models with varying amounts of model error; and (c) models generated from more realistic population item parameters. Our results indicated that matrix smoothing of NPD tetrachoric correlation matrices improves the performance of parallel analysis with binary data. However, these improvements were modest and often of trivial size. To demonstrate the effect of matrix smoothing on an empirical data set, we applied parallel analysis and factor analysis to Adjective Checklist data from the California Twin Registry.

A space-qualified flight model of a pulsed ultraviolet (UV) laser has been developed for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument of the ExoMars 2020 mission. The design is based on a passively Q-switched Nd:Cr:YAG laser oscillator with subsequent two-stage frequency quadrupling. It emits nanosecond pulses with an energy tuneable between 13 μJ and 130 μJ at a wavelength of 266 nm. Considering its small physical dimensions and weight, the interior of the laser head is rather complex. Besides the aforementioned infrared oscillator and frequency conversion stage it contains the pump optics, two wavelength division assemblies within main beam path, a complex monitoring stage including two photodiodes for pulse energy measurement, a beam shaping setup and a deflection unit for fine adjustment of the beam pointing towards the sample location within the instrument. Most of the laser head is enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing, while the deflection unit is sealed separately. Both volumes are filled with 1 bar of dry, filtered air.

For the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars 2020 mission a pulsed UV laser source as part of the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument was developed, assembled and thoroughly tested concerning thermal, vibrational and shock loads. The characterization was performed before and after integration to a mass spectrometer, which serves as the detector for ionized fragments desorbed from the Martian soil samples due to UV irradiation. The opto-mechanical design of the flight model and the verification of its suitability for the mission requirements are presented here. A longitudinally pumped, passively Q-switched oscillator emits bursts of up to 50 pulses with an output energy of 1.1 mJ at 1064 nm and an intra-burst repetition rate of 100 Hz. Via a two-stage frequency quadrupling with a KTP and a BBO crystal this radiation is converted to 1.5 ns long pulses at 266 nm with an output energy of 130 μJ which can be decreased by temperature tuning of the nonlinear crystals to less than 10% of the nominal energy. The laser head also comprises beam shaping and steering optics to adjust the spot size and position on the sample and the capability to measure the UV energy and the pulse release time. The complex opto-mechanical design is realized within an envelope of less than 220×57×45 mm3 and has a total mass of less than 220 g. To minimize negative effects of the harsh Martian environment on the coatings the laser head is enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing filled with dry synthetic air.

A laser-desorption mass spectrometer will be part of the ESA-led ExoMars mission with the objective of identifying organic molecules on planet Mars. A UV laser source emitting nanosecond pulses with pulse energy of about 250 μJ at a wavelength of 266 nm is required for the ionization of nonvolatile soil constituents. A passively q-switched, diode-pumped NdrYAG laser oscillator with external frequency quadrupling has been developed. The basic optical concept and a previously developed flight-near prototype are redesigned for the engineering qualification model of the laser, mainly due to requirements updated during the development process and necessary system adaptations. Performance issues like pulse energy stability, pulse energy adjustment, and burst mode operation are presented in this paper.

A near-flight prototype of a pulsed UV laser has been developed for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) of the ExoMars mission. The laser head is based on a Nd:YAG oscillator with subsequent frequency quadrupling and emits nanosecond pulses with an energy of > 300 μJ at a wavelength of 266 nm. The design is compact and lightweight. Tests in relevant environment regarding temperature, vibration, and radiation have been performed.

A prototype of a compact light-weight passively Q-switched diode pumped Nd:YLF solid-state laser system for harsh environments has been developed. It emits 2ns pulses at a wavelength of 1053nm with a repetition rate of up to 50Hz and an energy of 1.5mJ. The beam propagation factor M2-has a value of 1.2. The total mass of the prototype electronics, consisting of an electronic board including pump diodes and thermal control to be accommodated with other electronics in a shared electronics box, and the complete solid-state laser head is 189g with further potential for mass reduction with respect to a flight model development. Applications of this laser system are amongst others laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for planetary surface exploration or short range altimetry.

Risikofaktoren Bei Kindern mit chronischer Niereninsuffizienz sind die kardiovaskulare Morbiditat und Mortalitat deutlich erhoht, wozu neben den traditionellen auch vielfaltige uramieassoziierte Risikofaktoren beitragen. Die wichtigsten Risikofaktoren sind arterielle Hypertonie, Hyperlipidamie, Aktivierung des Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosteron-Systems, uramiebedingte Storungen des Knochenstoffwechsels, chronische Inflammation und Mangelernahrung, renale Anamie sowie chronische Volumenbeladung bei Dialysepatienten.

The crystal structure of all trans-diphenyloctatetraene has been refined. The C-C bond lenghts from previous work were confirmed. The experimental bond lenghts are compared with the values calculated by the Huckel method both with constant and variable β, and with those calculated by the approximate SCMO method for three sets of parameters. The discrepancies between the best theoretical bond lengths and the experimental values need not be significant.

Understanding the gain dynamics of fiber amplifiers is essential for the implementation and active stabilization of low noise amplifiers or for coherent beam combining schemes. The gain dynamics of purely Ersup3+/supor Ybsup3+/supdoped fiber amplifiers are well studied, whereas no analysis for co-doped systems, especially for Ersup3+/sup:Ybsup3+/supco-doped fiber amplifiers has been performed, so far. Here, we analyze for the first time the gain dynamics of Ersup3+/sup:Ybsup3+/supco-doped fiber amplifiers theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that due to the energy transfer between the Ybsup3+/supand Ersup3+/supions a full analytical solution is not possible. Thus, we used numerical simulations to gain further insights. Comparison of experimental and numerical results shows good qualitative agreement. In addition, we were able to determine the Ybsup3+/sup-Ersup3+/suptransfer function of the energy transfer experimentally.

We appreciate the comments about the approach to the measurement of carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT), which address important aspects about ultrasound image analysis and reproducibility. According to the Mannheim cIMT consensus statement,1 the use of automatic detection software is preferred, but manual measurements are accepted provided that quality control is assured. As clearly described in the Methods section of our publication,2 either the caliper method or a semiautomatic contour detection software (Syngo, Siemens) was used in this multisite study, and comparison of 74 samples measured with both methods showed excellent concordance. To validate further the reference values obtained in our cohort and to place them into a broader context, we compared our results with 2 large reference studies in healthy adults. Our …

WOS: 000323149700027, PubMed ID: 23817494, Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid artery distensibility are reliable screening methods for vascular alterations and the assessment of cardiovascular risk in adult and pediatric cohorts. We sought to establish an international reference data set for the childhood and adolescence period and explore the impact of developmental changes in body dimensions and blood pressure (BP) on carotid wall thickness and elasticity. cIMT, the distensibility coefficient, the incremental modulus of elasticity, and the stiffness index were assessed in 1155 children aged 6 to 18 years and sex-specific reference charts normalized to age or height were constructed from 1051 nonobese and nonhypertensive children. The role of body dimensions, BP, and family history, as well as the association between cIMT and distensibility, was investigated. cIMT increased and distensibility decreased with age, height, body mass index, and BP. A significant sex difference was apparent from the age of 15 years. Age- and height-normalized cIMT and distensibility values differed in children who are short or tall for their age. By stepwise multivariate analysis, standardized systolic BP and body mass index were independently positively associated with cIMT SD scores (SDS). Systolic BP SDS independently predicted all distensibility measures. Distensibility coefficient SDS was negatively and SDS positively associated with cIMT SDS, whereas incremental modulus of elasticity was independent of cIMT. Morphological and functional aspects of the common carotid artery are particularly influenced by age, body dimensions, and BP. The reference charts established in this study allow to accurately compare vascular phenotypes of children with chronic conditions with those of healthy children., KfH Foundation for Preventive Medicine; European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association; German Federal Ministry of Education and ResearchFederal Ministry of Education & Research (BMBF) [01EO0802], The study has been made possible by grants of the KfH Foundation for Preventive Medicine, the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (www.era-edta.org) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (reference number: 01EO0802).

Recent progress in laser system technology enables innovative techniques for the machining of CFRPs. A representative application is the layer-by-layer removal of damaged composite material to provide a cavity for refilling with repair plies. Results show that it is possible to achieve a reliable and automatable removal rate to perform arbitrary repair cavity geometries, obtaining a relevant time reduction with respect to the conventional manual grinding process. The combination of modern UV-laser sources with a scanning technology enables scanning speeds of up to 4.0 m s–1, and suppresses heat affected zones and detachment of fibers from the polymer matrix. The interlaminar shear strength of repaired laminates and reference specimens have been measured and evaluated according to DIN 65148, and the results are reported here.

Background Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is an indicator of aortic stiffness and a predictor of cardiovascular risk. Applanation tonometry (e.g., SphygmoCor) is a well-established method to measure aortic PWV (aPWV). The Vicorder, a new oscillometric device, has not been validated in children and adolescents. Methods We performed intra- and interobserver repeatability studies in 14 individuals using the Vicorder. Vicorder and SphygmoCor measurements were compared in 156 healthy children (6-18 years) using two different path length measurements. Results Intra- and interobserver repeatabilities of the Vicorder were excellent with coefficients of variation of 5.6% and 5.8% and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.8 and 1.0. aPWV calculated using the distances (suprasternal notch-to-femoral recording point) - (suprasternal notch-to-carotid artery), the path length most commonly used in adults, revealed a mean of 4.8 ± 0.7 m/s for SphygmoCor and 4.9 ± 0.6 m/s for Vicorder. The percentage deviation between both devices was 13.0% and the limit of agreement (LoA) ranged from -1.0 to 1.7 m/s reflecting a good concordance. Using a path length that measured the distance from suprasternal notch to femoral recording point via the umbilicus (Umb), an even better agreement was found (percentage deviation: 11.8%, LoA: -1.0 to 1.6 m/s). Conclusions Vicorder aPWV values are similar to those obtained by SphygmoCor applanation tonometry. The best agreement between devices was obtained with the path length that most accurately describes the aortic tree. Excellent intra- and interobserver repeatability and ease of measurements make Vicorder appropriate for large multicentre studies in children and adolescents.

Laser cutting of CFRP-laminates with high-power lasers has a faster cycle time and an improved automatability in comparison to milling or water jet cutting. Since laser cutting is a thermal process, a reduction of the matrix material is induced close to the cutting kerf. The exposed carbon fibers may cause contact corrosion. With the aim of covering the cutting edge to prevent corrosion a novel process has been developed, that guides thermoplastic powder through the cutting zone. In order to use the residual heat at the cutting edge to melt the powder, the process is performed in-situ. The main focus of this work is the optical characterization of the sealing and the evaluation of selected process parameters with their effects on the sealing. Primarily PPS-CFRP-laminates and PPS-powders were used and the angle of incidence between powder nozzle and the cutting edge was varied in the range of 60° to 80°. Good results were achieved using an angle less than 70°. The laser power and the focal plane have the most significant effect on the quality. Due to the investigations, a sealing ratio of larger than 95% of the cutting edge was demonstrated and the water adsorption has been significantly reduced by the sealing.Laser cutting of CFRP-laminates with high-power lasers has a faster cycle time and an improved automatability in comparison to milling or water jet cutting. Since laser cutting is a thermal process, a reduction of the matrix material is induced close to the cutting kerf. The exposed carbon fibers may cause contact corrosion. With the aim of covering the cutting edge to prevent corrosion a novel process has been developed, that guides thermoplastic powder through the cutting zone. In order to use the residual heat at the cutting edge to melt the powder, the process is performed in-situ. The main focus of this work is the optical characterization of the sealing and the evaluation of selected process parameters with their effects on the sealing. Primarily PPS-CFRP-laminates and PPS-powders were used and the angle of incidence between powder nozzle and the cutting edge was varied in the range of 60° to 80°. Good results were achieved using an angle less than 70°. The laser power and the focal plane have the m...

Background and aims: Aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) estimates aortic stiffness and predicts cardiovascular mortality risk in adults. Since children with kidney disease are at high risk for cardiovasular mortality later in life, it would be important to detect advanced arterial stiffening early. There are different ways to assess aPWV. This study compares aPWV values of young individuals measured by applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor) and with a new oscillometric device (Vicorder). Methods: aPWV in 131 healthy children (age 6-18 years) was measured 1. by sequential tonometry and 2. by oscillometry in a synchronic manner. SphygmoCor aPWV was calculated with distance 1 (dist.1) [=(Suprasternal notch(SSN) to Umbilicus(Umb)) + (Umb to A.fem.) - (SSN to A.car.)]. For Vicorder 3 additional distances were measured and used: dist.2 [=(SSN to Umb) + (Umb to A.fem.)]; dist.3 [=SSN to A.fem.]; dist.4 [=(SSN to A.fem.) - (SSN to A.car.)]. Results: Mean SphygmoCor aPWV was 4.9±0.6 m/s. Vicorder aPWV were 4.6±0.6 m/s (dist.1; r=0.46 for correlation with Sphygmocor; p< 0.0001); 5.3±0.7 m/s (dist.2; r=0.44; p< 0.0001); 5.2±0.7 m/s (dist.3; r=0.45; p< 0.0001); 4.6±0.6 m/s (dist.4; r=0.46; p< 0.0001). Using dist.1, the lowest deviation was seen (11.3±8.1%). Conclusions: The variability between both methods is well acceptable using dist.1. Since the Vicorder is easier to handle, needs less operator training and measurements are done more quickly, it seems the appropriate device for larger cohort studies in children.

Summary form only given. For selective photocoagulation in ophthalmology /spl mu/s-laser pulse durations with pulse energies of some millijoules at a repetition rate of 500 Hz in the green spectral range are required. A suitable solid state laser medium to achieve Q-switched pulse durations of some hundred /spl mu/s is Nd:LiYF/sub 4/ due to its low stimulated emission cross section. In order to further extend the pulse duration highly efficient intracavity SHG is applied.

Difference-frequency generation (DFG) of two CW single-mode diode lasers with powers of 30 and 50 mW and an AgGaS/sub 2/ crystal with a cut for type I noncritical phase matching are used to set up a very compact and tunable diode laser system for the mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range, which operates at room temperature. For sensitive recording of absorption spectra a thermoelectrically cooled IR detector, 2f-modulation spectroscopy, and lock-in techniques are used. The MIR-spectrometer has a geometrical size of 30/spl times/90 cm/sup 2/. The signal and pump waves for the DFG process in the AgGaS/sub 2/ are generated by standard diode lasers and the output wavelengths are centered at /spl lambda//sub s/=791 nm and /spl lambda//sub p/=682 nm. In theory this gives a tuning range in the MIR from 4.9 to 5.1 /spl mu/m by proper setting the temperature of the diode lasers and the nonlinear crystal.

Polylactic membranes were evaluated for vertical ridge augmentation around immediate implants in periodontally compromised extraction sites. Ligature-induced periodontitis was produced in 10 adult beagle dogs. The periodontium was allowed to heal for 6 weeks. All premolar teeth were extracted and three implants were placed immediately into the extraction sockets on either side of the mandible so that the polished cone extended above the alveolar bone level. On one side of the mandible, the implants were covered with a 0.2-mm-thick polylactic membrane (DL-lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate in a ratio of 7:3). Histologic and morphometric analyses performed after 3 and 5 months revealed that the membrane group did not exhibit significantly greater bone-implant contact than the controls. The occurrence of dehiscences correlated significantly with use of the membrane. Use of the membrane was associated with significantly less peri-implant bone height after 5 months. No remnants of the membrane material could be identified after 3 or 5 months, indicating rapid resorption during the first weeks of implantation. The tested membrane material did not fulfill the requirements of resorption kinetics and space maintenance for guided bone regeneration in vertical ridge augmentation.

Surface texturing is an established method for altering the structure of a surface. All known methods deal with material removal. For applications where only small walls remain on the surface, this means that most of the surface must be treated. In this paper, a new approach is presented in which texturing and laser cladding are combined in a single-step buildup process. Since only small selected areas are built up, instead of removing large areas, optimization of the processing time is expected. A galvanometer scanner and a lateral flat-bed powder nozzle are used. First results showed proof of the principle. Cladding thicknesses of more than 100 μm can be generated for small structures as well as for large areas.

16 Normal Values for Arterial Stiffness in a Large Cohort of Healthy Children and Adolescents

Ab initio SCF calculations including different basis sets have been performed for the ground state of the LiBO 2 molecule. It is shown that the bent structure of the LiBO 2 molecule has a lower energy than the linear structure, which is in agreement with Walsh's rules. The calculations without polarization function failed to predict this result.

From the calculations of electron scattering by the helium atom, the authors present a rule showing how to choose an arbitrary basis set of Slater-type orbitals for the scattering electron such that the R-matrix becomes convergent.

It is shown that the relation proposed by Linderberg for the resonance integral in MO theory cannot be applied in CNDO theory. In PPP theory where the relation gives correct values for the resonance integral, it can be used to simplify substantially the expressions appearing in the treatment of optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism spectra.

A photophase of 18 hrs interrupts the annual anecdysis of Orconectes limosus, which does not constitute an irrefutable evidence of a photoperiodic control in the cessation of anecdysis, since molts are also induced during the annual rest by an abnormally high temperature after a stay at low temperature. On the contrary, long photophases (18 and 24 hrs), dispensed from the beginning of the molting period, do not inhibit the start of the anecdysis of adults on the express condition that the covers are reconstituted.

A space-qualified frequency quadrupled passively Q-switched Nd:Cr:YAG-laser with a pulse energy of 130 µJ at a pulse duration of 1.5 ns and a wavelength of 266 nm is developed for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer.