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Background:The treatment of displaced intra-articular calcaneal fractures remains a challenge and the optimal approach is still controversial. The main reason to avoid the extended lateral approach is the high complication rate due to wound healing problems. We report on 16 years of experience with a standardized limited open reduction and internal fixation technique.Methods:Between 2001 and 2017, we prospectively followed 240 consecutive patients operatively treated for a displaced intra-articular calcaneal fracture. Patients with open, multiple, bilateral, extra-articular, and Sanders IV fractures and those lost to follow-up were excluded. A lateral subtalar approach was used, with a cast for 8 weeks and full weightbearing allowed after 12 weeks. Follow-up examinations were scheduled until 24 months. Subjective and clinical assessment included gait abnormality, subtalar and ankle range of motion, and stability and alignment. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score was calculated. Alignment was analyzed on standard radiographs. In total, 131 patients were excluded. The remaining 109 patients were followed for a minimum of 24 months (34.4 ± 14.2 [range, 24-102] months).Results:The mean AOFAS score was 87 ± 13 (range, 32-100). “Excellent” and “good” results, as well as hindfoot motion with “normal/mild” and “moderate” restrictions, were seen in 80% of patients. Early reoperations were performed for insufficient reduction (2 patients), delayed wound healing (debridement, 3 patients), and hematoma (1 patient). Late revisions were arthrodesis (3 patients), medializing calcaneal osteotomy (1 patient), and implant removal (53 patients; 49%).Conclusion:The presented approach has remained unmodified for 16 years and resulted in consistently good functional results. The main disadvantage was the high rate of heel screw removal.Level of Evidence:Level IV, retrospective case series.

A revised and updated classification for the families of the flowering plants is provided. Newly adopted orders include Austrobaileyales, Canellales, Gunnerales, Crossosomatales and Celastrales. Pertinent literature published since the first APG classification is included, such that many additional families are now placed in the phylogenetic scheme. Among these are Hydnoraceae (Piperales), Nartheciaceae (Dioscoreales), Corsiaceae (Liliales), Triuridaceae (Pandanales), Hanguanaceae (Commelinales), Bromeliacae, Mayacaceae and Rapateaceae (all Poales), Barbeuiaceae and Gisekiaceae (both Caryophyllales), Geissolomataceae, Strasburgeriaceae and Vitaceae (unplaced to order, but included in the rosids), Zygophyllaceae (unplaced to order, but included in eurosids I), Bonnetiaceae, Ctenolophonaceae, Elatinaceae, Ixonanthaceae, Lophopyxidaceae, Podostemaceae (Malpighiales), Paracryphiaceae (unplaced in euasterid II), Sladeniaceae, Pentaphylacaceae (Ericales) and Cardiopteridaceae (Aquifoliales). Several major families are recircumscribed. Salicaceae are expanded to include a large part of Flacourtiaceae, including the type genus of that family; another portion of former Flacourtiaceae is assigned to an expanded circumscription of Achariaceae. Euphorbiaceae are restricted to the uniovulate subfamilies; Phyllanthoideae are recognized as Phyllanthaceae and Oldfieldioideae as Picrodendraceae. Scrophulariaceae are recircumscribed to include Buddlejaceae and Myoporaceae and exclude several former members; these are assigned to Calceolariaceae, Orobanchaceae and Plantaginaceae. We expand the use of bracketing families that could be included optionally in broader circumscriptions with other related families; these include Agapanthaceae and Amaryllidaceae in Alliaceae s.l. , Agavaceae, Hyacinthaceae and Ruscaceae (among many other Asparagales) in Asparagaceae s.l. , Dichapetalaceae in Chrysobalanaceae, Turneraceae in Passifloraceae, Erythroxylaceae in Rhizophoraceae, and Diervillaceae, Dipsacaceae, Linnaeaceae, Morinaceae and Valerianaceae in Caprifoliaceae s.l. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 399‐436.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird ein Konzept zur Ordnungsreduktion von höherdimensionalen nichtlinearen Oszillatormodellen vorgestellt. Hierbei werden zwei wesentliche Ziele verfolgt. Zum einen wird eine höherdimensionale Modellierung der Oszillatorschaltung verwendet. Hierdurch lassen sich die Einflüsse parasitärer Effekte sowie struktureller Erweiterungen auf das dynamische Verhalten des Systems berücksichtigen. Zum anderen wird durch eine anschließende Ordnungsreduktion über die Methode der Zentrumsmannigfaltigkeit eine zweidimensionale Systembeschreibung erzeugt, deren wesentliche Dynamik derjenigen des höherdimensionalen Systems entspricht. Durch diese, in der Ordnung reduzierte, nichtlineare und parameterabhängige Systembeschreibung wird die Anwendbarkeit nichtlinearer Analysemethoden ermöglicht bzw. vereinfacht. Mit der Anwendung der Andronov-Hopf-Bifurkationsanalyse auf das reduzierte System lässt sich eine Stabilitätsuntersuchung durchführen sowie die Amplitude und Frequenz aller Zustandsgrößen approximieren. Das vorgestellte Konzept wird anhand des Beispielsystems eines LC-Tank-VCOs durchgeführt. In this paper, an order reduction technique for higher-dimensional nonlinear oscillator models, based on a center manifold approach, is presented. By modeling the oscillator circuit in the higher-dimensional state space, influences of parasitic elements and of structural extensions of the oscillator architecture on the dynamical system behavior can be examined. Using the proposed order reduction technique, a generalized second order model will be derived, which includes selected design parameters of the higher order model. By using an Andronov-Hopf bifurcation analysis, the reduced system can be studied with respect to stability as well as the amplitude and frequency of the individual state variables. The concept is applied to the design of LC-tank VCOs.

In dieser Arbeit wird ein analytisches Simulationsmodell für MOS Varaktoren zur Entwurfsunterstützung von integrierten CMOS LC-Tank VCO-Schaltungen präsentiert. Das analytische Simulationsmodell wurde auf Basis des EKV-Transistormodells implementiert und beinhaltet ausschließlich Design- und Prozessparameter für die Berechnung der Varaktorkapazität. Dieses Simulationsmodell ermöglicht es, die verwendeten Varaktoren im Vorfeld des VCO-Entwurfs zu dimensionieren, die effektive Großsignalkapazität in Abhängigkeit des Ausgangssignals zu berechnen und einzelne Eigenschaften der Varaktoren, wie z.B. das AM-FM Konversionsverhalten zu optimieren. Die Gültigkeit des vorgestellten analytischen Simulationsmodells zur Beschreibung der Varaktorkapazität in CMOS LC-Tank VCOs, wird anhand von Spectre (Cadence) Simulationen auf Basis eines 0.25 μm CMOS Prozesses der Firma IHP (SGB25) und eines 0.35 μm CMOS Prozesses der Firma AMS (C35) verifiziert. In this work an analytical simulation model for MOS varactors, that can be used in a systematically VCO design flow, is presented. The simulation model is based on the EKV transistor model and includes only design and process parameters of the used CMOS technology. The proposed simulation model allows calculating the required design parameters and the effective large signal capacitance of the varactors incorporated into the VCO as a function of the output signal of the VCO. Based on the expression for the effective large signal capacitance it is possible to optimize the AM-FM conversion behavior of the used varactors. The validity and accuracy of the simulation model is verified by Spectre simulations which are based on a 0.25 μm CMOS process (SGB25) from the company IHP and a 0.35 μm CMOS process (C35) from the company AMS. The simulation results show a good accordance in all transistor operating regions for NMOS varactors as well as PMOS varactors.

In dieser Arbeit wird ein Konzept vorgestellt, die Schaltungsarchitektur des LC-Tank-VCOs im höherdimensionalen Zustandsraum zu modellieren. Dabei wurde die VCO-Schaltung auf dominante nichtlineare und asymmetrische Effekte näher untersucht. Das entwickelte Modell bildet die Grundlage für nachfolgende parameterabhängige Analysen der Oszillatorschaltung mittels der Andronov-Hopf Bifurkationsanalyse. Zu diesem Zweck wurde ein höherdimensionales Modell entwickelt, welches für die Bifurkationsanalyse auf ein System 2. Ordnung reduziert werden muss. Als mathematisches Hilfsmittel zur Ordnungsreduktion des Systems wird das Verfahren der Zentrumsmannigfaltigkeit verwendet. Das Differentialgleichungssystem wird sehr schaltungsnah aufgestellt, daraus resultiert der Vorteil einer genaueren Repräsentation des physikalischen Verhaltens der Schaltung. Ziel ist es möglichst viele Effekte die sich auf das Verhalten des VCOs auswirken können, mit zu berücksichtigen.

In this chapter we present more specific fibre types for particular applications. Starting with the multi-core fibre, which can be used as a substitution for ordinary SI-POF transmission fibres, but with better bending losses, over the ever increasing range of micro-structured POF for diverse sensing applications to fibres for illumination purposes or tubular fibres for the detection of sparks in electrical cables. Finally, a review on gratings in optical fibres and POFs in particular concludes the chapter. The different grating types, manufacturing methods and applications will be presented.​

Modification of mitochondrial content demands the synthesis of hundreds of proteins encoded by nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. The responsibility for coordination of this process falls to nuclear-encoded master regulators of transcription. DNA-binding proteins and coactivators integrate information from energy-sensing pathways and hormones to alter mitochondrial gene expression. In mammals, the signaling cascade for mitochondrial biogenesis can be described as follows: hormonal signals and energetic information are sensed by protein-modifying enzymes that in turn regulate the post-translational modification of transcription factors. Once activated, transcription-factor complexes form on promoter elements of many of the nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes, recruiting proteins that remodel chromatin and initiate transcription. One master regulator in mammals, PGC-1α, is well studied because of its role in determining the metabolic phenotype of muscles, but also due to its importance in mitochondria-related metabolic diseases. However, relatively little is known about the role of this pathway in other vertebrates. These uncertainties raise broader questions about the evolutionary origins of the pathway and its role in generating the diversity in muscle metabolic phenotypes seen in nature.

Background: Acute traumatic rupture of the Achilles tendon can be treated operatively or nonoperatively. Throughout the literature, there is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment protocol. Purpose: To report on 17 years of experience with treating this injury with a standardized nonoperative treatment protocol. Study Design: Case Series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The treatment protocol was based on a combination of an equinus cast and rehabilitation boot, which promoted immediate full weightbearing and early functional rehabilitation. A total of 171 patients were consecutively treated and prospectively followed from 1996 to 2013. Assessed were subjective parameters such as pain, loss of strength, return to previous activity level, meteosensitivity, and general satisfaction with the treatment outcome. Clinical assessment included testing of plantar flexion strength and endurance, calf circumference, and tendon length. Subjective and clinical parameters were then used to calculate a modified Thermann score. The correlation between tendon lengthening and function was calculated using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: A total of 114 patients were followed for a minimum of 12 months (mean, 27 ± 20 months; range, 12-88 months). The mean Thermann score was 82 ± 13 (range, 41-100), and subjective satisfaction was rated “very good” and “good” in 90%. An inverse correlation was found between tendon length and muscle strength ( R = −0.3). There were 11 reruptures (8 with and 3 without an adequate trauma). General complications were 5 deep venous thromboses, 1 complex regional pain syndrome, and minor problems such as transient heel pain (n = 3), heel numbness (n = 1), and cast-associated skin abrasions (n = 4). Conclusion: Seventeen years of experience with a nonoperative treatment protocol for acute rupture of the Achilles tendon confirmed good functional outcome and patient satisfaction. Reruptures mostly occurred with new traumatic events in the vulnerable phase from 6 to 12 weeks after the initial injury. Muscle strength correlated to tendon length, making its assessment a crucial follow-up parameter. The protective equinus cast and boot can protect against excessive tendon lengthening during the healing process.

Hybridization has the potential to exert pleiotropic effects on metabolism. Effects on mitochondrial enzymes may arise through incompatibilities in nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded subunits of the enzyme complexes of oxidative phosphorylation. We explored the metabolic phenotype of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), and their unidirectional F(1) hybrids (male bluegill × female pumpkinseed). In hybrids, glycolytic enzyme activities were indistinguishable from (aldolase, pyruvate kinase) or intermediate to (lactate dehydrogenase, phosphoglucoisomerase) parentals, but complex IV activities aligned with pumpkinseed, both 30% lower than bluegill. In isolated mitochondria, the specific activities of complexes I, II, and V were indistinguishable between groups. However, both complex III and IV showed indications of depressed activities in hybrid mitochondria, though no effects on mitochondrial state 3 or state 4 respiration were apparent. The patterns in complex IV activities were due to differences in enzyme content rather than enzyme V(max); immunoblots comparing complex IV content with catalytic activity were indistinguishable between groups. The sequence differences in complex IV catalytic subunits (CO1, CO2, CO3) were minor in nature; however, the mtDNA-encoded subunit of complex III (cytochrome b) showed eight differences between bluegill and pumpkinseed, several of which could have structural consequences to the multimeric enzyme, contributing to the depressed complex III catalytic activity in hybrids.

This paper discusses a Single Wavelength Interrogation (SWI) technique used to measure fast changing pressure related signals and over a large operational temperature range. The novel technique is based on a fiber-optic pressure and temperature hybrid sensor, and a feedback stabilization technique for a tunable laser source. The fiber-optic hybrid sensor consists of a miniature diaphragm based all-silica Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometric (EFPI) Fiber-Optic Pressure Sensor (FOPS) which additionally incorporates a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) temperature sensor. The FBG temperature sensor is used as a feedback element to stabilize the output wavelength of the tunable laser source to operate always in the linear range of the EFPI FOPS.

Modern communication systems are working on industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio frequency (RF) bands. Today most research and development activities in industrial companies and universities are concentrated to frequency bands between 1GHz and 24GHz up to 60GHz. For the construction of mixed-signal chips for cellular telephones and other wireless LAN applications (Bluetooth, HIPERLAN, etc.) different semiconductor technologies are used. In order to combine analogue functionality for the RF front end and digital functionality for high-speed signal processing nonlinear circuit concepts must be used and CMOS technology has to be applied. In order to construct high-quality RF transceiver chips a submicron CMOS technology (180 nm and below) is needed. Therefore we come into the Nano-GHz Era of circuit design. In this work corresponding mathematical challenges of modern RF CMOS design of transceiver circuits, with a focus on oscillator circuits, are discussed. It is shown that these circuits can be modelled as dynamical systems and their environment and their devices by partial differential equations. For circuit design aspects bifurcation theory and other mathematical concepts from dynamical systems as well as advanced numerical methods can be applied in order to build up an efficient design system for these RF CMOS circuits. In this paper some key aspects of future circuit design will be presented and discussed.

After problem-free induction of narcosis in an 84-year-old female patient an intra-operative drop in sevoflurane and oxygen concentrations occurred during low-flow anesthesia. Although the concentrations of sevoflurane and oxygen in the fresh gas flow were increased no adequate elevation of the inspiratory concentrations could be achieved. Disconnection of the Drager Primus IE manual bag-valve-mask could be identified as the cause of the drop in concentrations. Interestingly no error alarm function was initiated. This case demonstrates how important knowledge of the function, set-up and alarm conditions of respiratory machines is. This should be an important component of training in anesthesiology as well as securely established algorithms for difficult ventilation to ensure safe anesthesia despite technical failures.

Peripheral lymph was studied in 11 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) with blood lymphocyte counts between 2,100 and 93,000/μl and in 8 control patients with solid tumours and haematologically normal with lymphocyte counts below 3,500/μl. The mean lymphocyte count in peripheral lymph in the two groups was about the same order, 123 and 149/μ1 respectively despite marked differences in blood lymphocyte count. This demonstrates that the leukaemic cells do not migrate to any significant extent into the subcutaneous tissue and back to the lymphatics. 5 of the 6 CLL patients studied had > 90 % B-lymphocytes (identified by their membrane bound immunoglobulin) in the blood representing both relatively and absolutely much higher blood B-lymphocyte values than normal (3–22 %). The percentage of B-lymphocytes in the lymph was 5 % or less with the exception of one patient with 50%. It is concluded that reduced lymphocyte recirculation in CLL does not depend on functionally altered lymph nodes since a direct effect of the lymph node on the cell number in peripheral lymph can be excluded. Our data indicate that the minimal recirculation to peripheral lymph depends on properties of the leukaemic cell possibly reflecting a normal B-cell characteristic.

In vitro labelling of lymphocytes by RNA precursors is a useful tool to study the characteristics of normal and leukaemic cell populations. Basic conditions have been studied for in vitro labelling and indicated a desired level of cell concentration (2 × 104 to 2 × 105) and temperature (37° C). Normal leukocytes showed a fairly constant behaviour with respect to total uptake of radioactivity, incorporation into intracellular fractions and the ratio of 3H-cytidine to 3H-uridine incorporation (average ratio 10 ± 1). In contrast, the blood lymphocytes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) exhibited a great variation in the parameters studied, ranging from below normal to several times normal values. This broad spectrum of in vitro characteristics has to be taken into consideration when populations of CLL lymphocytes are compared to normal lymphocytes and to those of other lymphatic disorders.

Es wird ein alternativer Ansatz zum Entwurf von vollintegrierten LC Oszillatoren mit Hilfe der Andronov-Hopf Bifurkationsanalyse unter Einbeziehung eines nichtlinearen Overall-Modells für MOS-Transistoren (EKV-Modell) vorgestellt. Das in dieser Arbeit vorgestellte Verfahren beschreibt die MOS-Kapazität des VCOs über geometrische Gundgrößen, die damit nur als Längen- und Weitenverhältnisse in die Bifurkationsanalyse eingehen. Zur Beschreibung der MOS-Kapazität wurde ein Basic-Charge-Modell, wie es in den Arbeiten von Enz und Vittoz vorgestellt wurde, in Verbindung einer expliziten analytischen Näherung des Oberflächenpotenzials verwendet. Das Verfahren ermöglicht es, als zusätzlichen Freiheitsgrad für den Designer auch die Amplitude zur Optimierung der Bauteilparameter heranzuziehen und vorab eine genauere Abschätzung der Parameter des Varaktors zu erhalten. Zusammengefasst in einer Toolbox führt die Anwendung des Verfahrens auf einen grafischen Optimierungsprozess, mit dessen Hilfe die Parameter analytisch bestimmt werden können. Die verwendete Methode erweitert den von Hajimiri und Ham vorgestellten Entwurfsprozess von LC-Tank VCOs um eine Stabilitätsanalyse, die Berücksichtigung harmonischer höherer Ordnung und die physikalisch exakte Modellierung der Varaktorkapazitäten.

Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wird ein alternativer Ansatz zur Phasenrauschoptimierung von LC-Tank Oszillatoren (VCOs) unter Verwendung stochastischer Differentialgleichungen vorgestellt. Zunächst werden die linearen Ansätze von Leeson, Hajimiri und Lee analysiert und bewertet. Danach wird ein Konzept vorgestellt, mit dem man die Rauscheigenschaften von VCOs auf der Grundlage stochastischer Differentialgleichungen und Fokker-Planck-Gleichungen untersuchen kann. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist eine Beschreibung des Phasenrauschens auf der Basis einer nichtlinearen Rauschmodellierung, welche Parameter eines VCOs für eine Optimierung beinhaltet. Es wurde ein Matlab-Tool erstellt und die Funktionalität anhand von Simulationen verifiziert.

43 patients with metastasizing sarcomas were treated with a combination of either vincristin, adriamycin and cis-platinum (n = 21) or ifosfamide and cis-platinum at three weeks' intervals in each case. Ten patients responded to the first combination and nine to the second combination with objective tumor regression. Particularly the latter result is remarkable since 16 of the 22 patients had already been pretreated with combinations containing adriamycin. Obviously the combination of ifosfamide and cis-platinum is a promising alternative in metastasizing sarcomas of the bones and soft tissue, especially if the CYVADIC combination--which is often regarded as standard treatment--remained unsuccessful. This has no bearing on additional surgical measures or on radiotherapy which may be necessary in some patients.

In a randomized single-blind international multicentre trial, two antiemetic regimens were compared in 115 oncology patients undergoing chemotherapy for the first time (cisplatin greater than 15 mg/m2, or ifosfamide greater than 1200 mg/m2 or etoposide greater than 120 mg/m2). One group received granisetron, a 5-hydroxytryptamine type-3-receptor antagonist, 40 micrograms/kg alone intravenously before chemotherapy, with, if necessary, up to two further doses daily of 40 micrograms/kg. The second group received a combination of alizapride plus dexamethasone (4 mg/kg alizapride and 8 mg/kg dexamethasone before chemotherapy, repeated, if necessary, after 4 and 8 hours up to two additional doses). There was good antiemetic efficacy (a maximum of one episode of vomiting in 24 hours = "major efficacy") in 50 of 62 patients (80.7%) in the granisetron group, and in 37 out of 53 (69.8%) of those treated with alizapride and dexamethasone; failure of antiemetic therapy occurred in 4.8% (granisetron) and 15.1% (combination) of patients. For the first day of each 5-day chemotherapy cycle, there was a higher rate of excellent antiemetic efficacy (no or only mild nausea, and no vomiting) with granisetron (90.3% vs 69.8%, P less than 0.006). The frequency (29% vs 32%) and nature of side effects (obstipation, diarrhoea, headaches, anxiety, vertigo), the causes of which were not differentiated, were similar. No extrapyramidal reactions occurred with granisetron. Of the 62 patients treated with granisetron, 47 did not require any further granisetron after the single daily prophylactic dose.

Aufgrund der Bedeutung der MOS-Technologie für Halbleiterindustrie und deren fortschreitende Miniaturisierung ist es wichtig sicherzustellen, dass die klassischen Schaltungskonzepte für stark skalierte Bauelemente nicht ihre Gültigkeit verlieren. Ziel unserer Arbeitsgruppe ist es ein Simulatorpaket zu entwickeln, welches von einer physikalischen Sicht heraus quantenmechanische Einflüsse in integrierten Schaltungen ermittelt und Konsequenzen für zukünftiges Schaltungsdesign prognostiziert. Zur Berechnung und Modellierung der Quanteneffekte wird ein auf dem "non equilibrium Green's functions" (NEGF) Formalismus basierender numerischer 1-dimensionaler Simulator entwickelt. Auf der Basis von numerischen Transportsimulationen werden Ersatzschaltbilder für die SPICE Simulationsumgebung erstellt, um den Einfluss der Quanteneffekte in die Schaltungssimulation einzubinden. In this paper we discuss the expected impact of quantum effects in nanostructured CMOS circuits. In order to describe transport in mesoscopic electronic systems our group develops a 1-d numerical simulation packet based on the "non equilibrium Green's functions" (NEGF) formalism. By means of the obtained simulation results we develop extended SPICE circuit models. With these SPICE models the influence of quantum effects to the functionality of classical circuit concepts can be studied. Using these results it is our intention to develop circuits with a higher robustness against these quantum effects. For the illustration of our simulation concept we discuss some results of some circuit examples.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of bendamustine, vincristine + prednisone (BOP) with a standard regimen of cyclophosphamide, vincristine + prednisone (COP) in patients with previously untreated advanced indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and mantle cell lymphoma. Methods: A total of 164 patients with follicular lymphoma (grade 1/2), mantle cell lymphoma or lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (immunocytoma) was randomised to treatment with vincristine 2 mg (day 1) and prednisone 100 mg/m2 (days 1–5) + bendamustine 60 mg/m2 (days 1–5) or + cyclophosphamide 400 mg/m2 (days 1–5) for a total of eight 21-day cycles. Results: The rate of complete remission was 22% with BOP and 20% with COP. The projected 5-year survival rate was 61% with BOP and 46% with COP. The BOP-associated 5-year survival advantage almost reached significance in the subgroup of patients who responded to therapy (74% vs. 56%; P=0.05), and did reach significance in responders who did not receive interferon maintenance therapy (70% vs. 47%; P=0.03). Toxicity was acceptable in both treatment groups, although alopecia and leucopenia were more severe with COP. Conclusions: Bendamustine can efficaciously and safely replace cyclophosphamide, as used in standard COP therapy, for the treatment of patients with indolent NHL and mantle cell lymphoma. Long-term survival data suggest a clinically significant benefit for patients treated with BOP

Background Dairy intake is likely to influence dietary energy density (ED) and nutrient density (ND), which are factors representing aspects of dietary quality. Although evidence suggests dairy intake is unlikely to contribute to obesity, intake tends to decrease over adolescence, potentially as a result of concerns around weight gain. We examined associations between dairy intake, ED and ND, and investigated relationships with obesity in adolescents. Methods The present study comprised a cross-sectional study of 1613 14-year-olds in the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study. Adolescents completed a 212-item food frequency questionnaire. Nutrient Rich Food index 9.3 (NRF9.3) was used to estimate ND. Age-specific body mass index (BMI) and waist–height cut-offs were used to categorise obesity risk. Results Mean (SD) dairy intake was: 2.62 (1.51) servings daily; ED was 4.53 (0.83) (food and beverage) and 6.28 (1.33) (food only); ND was 373 (109). Dairy intake was inversely associated with ED and positively associated with ND. The odds of being overweight (as assessed by BMI) increased by 1.24 (95% confidence interval = 1.09–1.42) with each 100-point increase in ND, after adjustment for potential confounders and energy intake. ED measures and dairy intake were inversely associated with obesity after adjustment for confounders; associations became nonsignificant after energy adjustment. Conclusions The NRF9.3 was originally designed to assess foods, not diets. Further research in other cohorts to determine whether similar findings exist, or investigations into alternate measures of dietary ND, may prove useful. Our findings may be the result of factors such as an excess consumption of refined but fortified foods. Although higher dairy intakes were associated with higher ND, intakes were not associated with higher obesity risk.

Recent research has shown that the transmission spectrum of a long period grating (LPG) written into an optical fiber is sensitive to the thickness and the refractive index (RI) of a thin layer deposited on it, a concept which forms the basis of a number of optical fiber sensors. The research reported herein is focused, in particular, on sensors of this type to create a design with an optimized thickness of the deposited layers of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on LPGs forming the basis of a highly sensitive probe. In creating such sensors, the dip-coating technique is used to minimize deleterious effects in the attenuation bands resulting from the inhomogeneity of the coated surface. In this paper, LPGs with different coating thicknesses are uniformly coated with thin layers of PVA and submerged in oils of known RI over the range from 1.30 to 1.70, to create effective RI probes. It is observed that when the coating thickness reaches a particular value that enables a substantial redistribution of the optical power within the overlay, a maximum sensitivity of the sensor can be achieved, even when the overlay has a RI higher than that of the cladding. The experimental results obtained through the characterization of the devices developed are shown to be in good agreement with the results of a theoretical model.

Background: Tumor marker determinations are helpful parameters in the control and follow-up of the clinical course of neoplastic diseases. The serum concentrations of the three tumor markers CEA, CA 15-3 and MCA have been evaluated to comparatively investigate their clinical relevance in breast cancer patients. Patients and Methods: Simultaneous determinations of the serum concentrations of the three tumor markers CEA, CA 15-3 and MCA were performed in 419 sequential breast cancer patients. CEA and MCA were determined by means of enzyme immunoassays and CA 15-3 by a radio-immunoassay. Results: The serum concentrations of all three tumor markers correlate with tumor activity and tumor mass. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves show that CA 15-3 has the greatest sensitivity and specificity. All three tumor markers did not reveal any dependence on age, but on the location of metastases; the median serum values decrease in the following sequence: osseous, visceral, and soft-tissue metastases. With a combination of tumor markers, the gain in sensitivity is associated with a loss of specificity, the combination of CEA + CA 15-3 appears to be the most favorable one. The combination of all three tumor markers does not show any advantage over the double combination CEA + CA 15-3. Conclusions: CA 15-3 has the highest sensitivity and specificity. As a combination of tumor markers CA 15-3 + CEA is recommended in breast cancer patients.

The cosmogenic radionuclides 10Be, 26Al and 53Mn and stable He-, Ne- and Ar-isotopes were measured in differentiated meteorites from Antarctica using accelerator mass spectrometry, γ-γ-coincidence techniques, radiochemical neutron activation analysis and conventional mass spectrometry. No depth effects were seen in meteorites from which several samples were analyzed. In most of the meteorites 10Be and 26Al were in saturation at time of fall, but the 26Al concentrations are partially lowered by substantial terrestrial ages. For 10Be some extremely low concentrations were found which cannot be explained by the decay during terrestrial residence. The experimental data are discussed together with rare gas measurements in the context of model calculations of the depth- and size-dependent production of cosmogenic nuclides in differentiated stony meteorites. Based on the model calculations minimal exposure ages, 21 Ne 53 Mn and shielding corrected 21Ne exposure ages were calculated. A detailed discussion of the production rates and of possible pairing of meteorites is given.

Background : Anemia in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is usually put down to ineffective erythropoiesis, although the contributory role of other mechanisms has not bee