bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytokeratin expression patterns in jaw cyst linings with metaplastic epithelium
Authors: Lu Da‐Peng , Tatemoto Yukihiro , Yokoyama Takeshi , Kimura Tsuyoshi , Osaki Tokio
Published: October 2010

Background: Cytokeratin (CK) expression patterns have been studied in numerous intact and diseased oral tissues. However, CK expression in metaplastic squamous cells has not been explored in depth and the origin of metaplastic epithelial linings of the jaw cysts has not been sufficiently investigated.

Methods: We examined CK expression in 46 postoperative maxillary cysts (POMCs) which were lined with pseudostratified columnar cells only, columnar and squamous cells, and squamous cells only, in 13, 30 and 3 cases, respectively.

Results: The expression of CK8, CK13 and CK18 were observed in 39, 9 and all 43 of the columnar epithelial linings, respectively. Metaplastic squamous epithelia expressed more CK13, and less CK18 and CK8. Of the 33 metaplastic linings, 24 expressed CK8, 23 CK13 and 26 linings expressed CK18. The patterns of expression of CK13 and CK18 observedwere CK18(+)–CK13(−) in 10 metaplastic linings, CK18(+)–CK13(+) in 16, and CK18(−)–CK13(+) in 7. The expression of CK13‐ and CK18‐mRNA was generally correlated with level of protein expressed. CK18‐mRNA expression was observed byin situhybridization, not only in the 26 metaplastic linings which were positive for CK18 protein, but also in five of the seven metaplastic linings which did not express CK18 protein. In addition, RT‐PCR revealed an expression of CK18‐mRNA in all metaplastic squamous linings, although the expression level was weaker than that in the columnar epithelial linings. The CK13‐mRNA was expressed inversely to the CK18‐mRNA.

Conclusions: These results indicate that CK18‐mRNA is preserved through metaplasia, although the protein expression decreased. Metaplastic squamous cells differentiate with a decrease of CK18 and an increase of CK13 expression.
The mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in DMBA‐induced hamster buccal‐pouch carcinomas using reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Chen Yuk‐Kwan , Hsue Shui‐Sang , Lin Li‐Min
Published: October 2010

Background:  Three isoforms of NO synthase (NOS) have been identified: endothelial NOS, neuronal NOS, and inducible NOS (iNOS). The enhanced expression of iNOS, at the protein level, has been reported previously in certain chemically induced oral carcinomas in hamster buccal‐pouch mucosa, however, the corresponding expression of iNOS, at the mRNA level, has not yet been demonstrated. The purpose of the present study is to assess the iNOS mRNA expression level in 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)‐induced hamster buccal‐pouch carcinomas using a reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR).

Methods:  Thirty‐three outbred, young (six‐weeks old), male, Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricatus auratus) were randomly divided into one experimental group (13 animals) and two control groups (10 animals each). The pouches of a group of 13 animals of the experimental group were bilaterally painted with a 0.5% DMBA solution three times a week for 12 weeks. Each animal of one control group was similarly treated with mineral oil only, while the other control group of 10 animals remained untreated throughout the experiment.

Results:  Areas of dysplasia and squamous‐cell carcinomas, with a 100% tumor incidence, developed for all of the DMBA‐treated buccal pouches. The mineral oil‐treated and untreated pouches had no obvious changes. A band of 499‐bp, corresponding to iNOS mRNA, was present in all the DMBA‐treated hamster buccal‐pouch mucosa animals, but not in the untreated animals or the animals treated with mineral oil. Upon direct sequencing, this 499‐bp band was confirmed to be part of the iNOS gene.

Conclusions:  This study demonstrated that increased iNOS mRNA expression could contribute to the mechanism for experimentally induced oral carcinogenesis.
Interobserver and intraobserver variability in the clinical assessment of oral lichen planus
Authors: Van Der Meij E. H. , Schepman K. P. , Plonait D. R. , Axéll T. , Van Der Waal I.
Published: October 2010

Background:  In 1978, a clinical definition of OLP was formulated by the WHO. To date, the validation results of this clinical definition have not been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver variability in the clinical assessment of oral lichen planus (OLP).

Methods:  Four clinicians examined a set of 159 clinical pictures of a white lesion in a group of 60 patients. Each reviewing examiner was asked to apply the WHO definition of OLP from 1978, and to categorise each case as either: (i) diagnostic of OLP, (ii) other definable lesion, or (iii) leukoplakia. After three months, each of the four reviewing clinicians was given the clinical pictures of 45 randomly retrieved cases from the original 60. Interobserver and intraobserver variability were assessed by calculation of unweighted kappa statistics.

Results:  Interobserver agreement varied from 0.43 (moderate) to 0.77 (substantial), while the intraobserver agreement varied from 0.62 (substantial) to 0.92 (good).

Conclusions:  Although the clinical WHO definition of OLP seems to be more reproducible than the histopathological one, there is still a significant amount of subjectivity in using this definition. A set of clinical and histopathological diagnostic criteria with good interobserver and intraobserver agreements (kappa values > 0.8) is very important in enabling reproducible and reliable studies on OLP to be performed.
Adhesion of a chondrocytic cell line (USAC) to fibronectin and its regulation by proteoglycan
Authors: Imoto Emi , Kakuta Saburo , Hori Mayumi , Yagami Kimitosi , Nagumo Masao
Published: October 2010

Background:  Chondrocytes produce various extracellular matrices during chondrogenesis. Fibronectin and proteoglycan are major extracellular matrix proteins in cartilage tissue, but the interactions between them are not clear.

Methods:  Recently, we succeeded in establishing a cell line (USAC) with phenotypes of chondrocytes from a human osteogenic sarcoma of the mandible. Using this cell line, cell adhesion to fibronectin, the effect of proteoglycan on the cell adhesion and expression of integrin α5β1 were investigated.

Results:  Cells immediately adhered to fibronectin and then spread. Proteoglycan inhibited cell adhesion to fibronectin dose‐dependently, whereas collagen did not. The expression of both mRNAs of α5 and β1 subunits was detected 12 h after treatment with proteoglycan, but the expression of β1 subunit mRNA had diminished by 24 h after treatment.

Conclusions:  These findings suggest that proteoglycan might modulate signal transduction from fibronectin by decreasing the expression of α5β1 integrin.
Association between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and tumor angiogenesis in ameloblastomas
Authors: Kumamoto Hiroyuki , Ohki Kousuke , Ooya Kiyoshi
Published: October 2010

Background:  Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major angiogenic factor, and microvessel density (MVD), assessed by the use of anti‐CD34 antibody, were immunohistochemically examined in benign and malignant ameloblastomas, as well as tooth germs, to clarify the possible role of angiogenesis in epithelial odontogenic tumors.

Methods:  Specimens of 5 tooth germs, 35 benign ameloblastomas and 5 malignant ameloblastomas were examined by immunohistochemistry using anti‐VEGF and CD34 monoclonal antibodies.

Results:  Immunoreactivity for VEGF was detected in both normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells, and weakly in microvessels near odontogenic epithelial cells, suggesting that this angiogenic factor acts on endothelial cells via a paracrine mechanism in odontogenic tissues. Both benign and malignant ameloblastomas showed elevated VEGF expression as compared to tooth germs. VEGF expression was low in keratinizing cells in acanthomatous ameloblastomas and granular cells in granular cell ameloblastomas, and acanthomatous ameloblastomas showed the lowest VEGF reactivity among the subtypes of ameloblastomas. MVD in both benign and malignant ameloblastomas was higher than that in tooth germs, indicating increased demands for blood in the neoplastic tissues. CD34‐positive microvessels in follicular ameloblastomas were numerous and small, whereas those in plexiform ameloblastomas were scattered and dilated. MVD tended to depend on VEGF expression levels in both benign and malignant ameloblastomas.

Conclusions:  VEGF was considered to be an important mediator of angiogenesis in these epithelial odontogenic tumors, and up‐regulation of VEGF might be associated with neoplastic or malignant changes of odontogenic epithelial cells.
Expression of ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin in gingival tissues of smokers and non‐smokers with periodontitis
Authors: Rezavandi K. , Palmer R. M. , Odell E. W.E. W. , Scott D. A. , Wilson R. F.
Published: October 2010

Background: Tobacco smoking affects systemic concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1, but its effect on local expression of adhesion molecules in gingival tissue has not been studied previously.

Methods: E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 expression on small blood vessel endothelia in gingival biopsies obtained from smokers (n=17) and non‐smokers (n=17) with periodontitis was examined with immunohistochemistry. Blood vessels were identified with monoclonal antibody for von Willebrand's factor.

Results: A significantly larger number of vessels were observed in inflamed tissues of non‐smokers than smokers (P<0.05). The number and proportion of vessels expressing both ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin was greater in sites with inflammation compared to non‐inflamed sites in both smokers and non‐smokers (P<0.05). The proportion of the total number of vessels expressing ICAM‐1 in non‐inflamed sites was greater in non‐smokers compared with smokers (P<0.05).

Conclusions: These results suggest that the inflammatory response in smokers with periodontitis may not be accompanied by an equivalent increase in vascularity. Reduced ICAM‐1 expression in non‐inflamed areas of smokers could reflect a systemic effect of tobacco smoking on ICAM‐1 independent of inflammation.
Emerging viral pathogens in long‐term expatriates (II): dengue virus
Authors: Jänisch Th. , Preiser W. , Berger A. , Niedrig M. , Mikulicz U. , Thoma B. , Doerr H. W.
Published: October 2010

Dengue virus infections have been well known for many years; still dengue virus is regarded as an ‘emerging’ pathogen, as the disease profile is changing. Its geographical range and oveall incidence, and the incidence of the associated complications, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), are on the increse. Modern‐day travel and increasing urbanization seem to be the main contributing factors. In order to estimate the risk of infection during long‐term stays in dengue‐endemic countries, we tested sera obtained from 323 development aid workers and their family members who had spent on average 9.8 years in dengue‐endemic regions for the presence of dengue virus antibodies.

Dengue virus antibody screening was done by a commercially available immunofluorescence test (IF). Reactive samples were re‐tested by an in‐house IF and also tested for cross‐reactivity to yellow fever virus using yellow fever IF and neutralization test (NT). Evaluation of the results revealed that the screening test has a specificity of at least 63.2%. In 12 of 19 initially positive cases crossreacting antibodies against yellow fever virus could be ruled out. Three cases remained indeterminable, whereas four of the reactive and 10 (out of 12) of the borderline reactive cases showed crossreactivity with yellow fever virus, probably due to previous vaceination.

We found seroprevalence rates of 4.3% with no significant differences related to gender or area of upbringing. Scroprevalence rates were evaluated according to region of suspected or confirmed infection. In two cases the dengue infection had taken a classical clinical course; in another three cases an extraordinary febrile illness was reported in the history. None of the other seropositive individuals had a history of an illness possibly attributable to dengue virus infection. Our results show that there definitely is a risk for long‐term expatriates to acquire (mostly non‐ or oligo‐symptomatic) dengue infection, which might be important especially in the light of the supposed aetiology of DHF or DSS as a secondary infection with another dengue virus serotype.
A bioassay for evaluating antimalarial activity and for measuring concentration in plasma
Authors: Traore Boubacar , Lazaro Enrico , Gay Frédérick
Published: October 2010

Our objective was to develop a bioassay method based on the isotopic microtest of Desjardins and to validate it by comparing the results with high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The bioassay was developed using a continuous culture of P. falciparum, and the test material consisted of 32 human serum samples from 22 Filipino patients treated only with chloroquine (CQ) for noncomplicated malaria. A blind assay of the serum was done using the Desjardins method and HPLC. A good correlation (r2= 0.90, n = 32) was observed between the CQ plus monodesethylchloroquine (DCQ) concentrations obtained by HPLC and the equivalent CQ by bioassay. It was also shown that the antimalarial activity of CQ is practically identical to that of its main metabolite DCQ, the activity of DCQ being 0.9 times the activity of CQ. The bioassay is reliable, semi‐automated, and reproducible. This method may be used as a complementary technique to HPLC for determining biological activity in serum and for measuring the kinetics of this activity, as well as to indicate the existence of new metabolites. The bioassay can be applied to other protozoans for which an in vitro model is available.
Evaluation of a commercial immunodiagnostic kit incorporating lipoarabinomannan in the serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Ghana
Authors: Lawn S. D. , Frimpong E. H. , Nyarko E.
Published: October 2010

We evaluated ‘Mycodot’, a commercially maiketed immunodiagnostic test for tuberculosis which detects antibodies to lipoarabinomannan antigen. Serum was tested from 52 pitients with newly diagnosed smear‐positive pulmonary tuberculosis, of whom 20 were HIV‐positive and 32 HIV‐negative. Control sera were taken from 40 patients of whom 20 had acute non‐tuberculous lobar pneumonia and 20 patients had no respiratory disease. The test was found to have a very high specificity of 97.5% (95%Cl:92.5–100%). However, the sensitivity in HIV‐negative patients was 56% (95%Cl:39–73%), and was substantially lower at 25% (95%Cl:6–44%) in HIV‐positive patients. In conclusion: ‘Mycodot’ was found to be a highly specific and easily performed assay. However, the poor sensitivity, especially in HIV‐infected patients, renders it unlikely to be useful either as a primary or adjunctive diagnostic test for tuberculosis, particularly in countries with a high prevalence of HIV. A larger trial of this assay in Ghana was not deemed necessary.
The pharmacokinetics of a single dose of artemisinin in subjects with liver cirrhosis
Authors: de Vries Peter J. , Khanh Nguyen Xuan , Dien Tran Khac , Binh Le Nguyen , Yen Nguyen Thi , Due Dao Dinh , van Boxtel Chris J. , Kager Piet A. , van de Berg Bob , Butter Jan , Hien Bui , Koopman R. , Portier Els , Song Pham , Thach Nguyen Cam , Yen Nguyen Thi
Published: October 2010

Artemisinin is mainly eliminated by hepatic transformation. To investigate whether the clearance of artemisinin in patients with liver cirrhosis is different from healthy volunteers, a pharmacokinetic study was performed in male Vietnamese patients with Child B cirrhosis of the liver who received 500 mg of artemisinin orally. The results were compared to those found in a previous study in healthy subjects. The mean (± SD) area under the concentration time curve was 2365 (± 1761)h ng/ml; the mean (± SD) clearance, 382 (± 303)L/h. The elimination half life was 4 (± 1.3)h extimated by log‐linear regression and 2.4 ± 0.9h estimated by non‐linear regression using a one‐compartment first order elimination model. The mean (± SD) absorption time was 1.55 (± 0.8)h. These results were not different from the results of healthy subjects and show that liver disease has no effect on the availability and clearance of oral artemisinin, indicating that artemisinin has an intermediate hepatic extraction ratio and that there is no significant first pass effect.
Studies of the hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal mixed‐function oxidase system during Plasmodium yoelii infection and inducer treatment in Swiss albino mice
Authors: Srivastava P. , Sharma S. N. , Shukla O. P. , Pandey V. C.
Published: October 2010

Plasmodium yoelii infection resulted in depression of hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal mixed‐function oxidase system indices, e.g. cytochrome P‐450, cytochrome b5 and phase II detoxification enzyme glutathione‐S‐transferase, while heam and haemozoin registered a marked increase in Swiss albino mice. Phenobarbitone (inducer) treatment showed induced levels of hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome P‐450 and glutathione‐S‐transferase in normal as well as in infected mice. The induced cytochrome P‐450 and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities were similar in normal and infected mice. The findings were further supported by the isoenzymic profile and drug‐binding properties of the terminal monoxygenase, cytochrome P‐450.
Successful control of onchocerciasis with community‐based ivermectin distribution in the Rio Santiago focus in Ecuador
Authors: Guderian R. H. , Anselmi M. , Espinel M. , Mancero T. , Rivadeneira G. , Proan̄o R. , Calvopina H. M. , Vieira J. C. , Cooper P. J.
Published: October 2010

Onchocerciasis is a major blinding disease in equatorial Africa and Central and South America. Ivermectin is a safe and effective drug in the treatment of this disease and now forms the basis of disease control in most endemic areas. We report the findings of long‐term control of this infection in the Rio Santiago focus in Ecuador, between January 1990 and December 1996, using a strategy of giving ivermectin treatments biannually in hyperendemic communities and annually in mesoand hypoendemic communities. Ivermectin was administered by local health workers from each community. A high level of compliance to ivermectin was achieved, with 81.9% to 98.0% of those eligible receiving the drug at each treatment instance. The impact of ivermectin therapy was monitored using a cohort of 120 randomly selected infected individuals from 8 hyperendemic communities. The geometric mean microfilarial density of this group declined from 19.3 to 0 mf/mg over the 84‐month observation period. Ivermectin had a significant impact on anterior segment ocular disease, acute onchodermatitis and sowda. The rate of infection of blackflies declined from 1.1% in 1989–0.08% in 1996, which is below the vectorial capacity of the Simulium vector and, as no new nodules were detected after 1994 and no children under 5 became infected over the observation period, it is likely that the transmission of this infection was interrupted in the study area.
Poverty and mortality among the elderly: measurement of performance in 33 countries 1960–92
Authors: Wang Jia , Jamison Dean T. , Bos Eduard , ThiVu My
Published: October 2010

This paper analyses the effect of income and education on life expectancy and mortality rates among the elderly in 33 countries for the period 1960–92 and assesses how that relationship has changed over time as a result of technical progress. Our outcome variables are life expectancy at age 60 and the probability of dying between age 60 and age 80 for both males and females. The data are from vital‐registration based life tables published by national statistical offices for several years during this period. We estimate regressions with determinants that include GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power), education and time (as a proxy for technical progress). As the available measure of education failed to account for variation in life expectancy or mortality at age 60, our reported analyses focus on a simplified model with only income and time as predictors. The results indicate that, controlling for income, mortality rates among the elderly have declined considerably over the past three decades. We also find that poverty (as measured by low average income levels) explains some of the variation in both life expectancy at age 60 and mortality rates among the elderly across the countries in the sample. The explained amount of variation is more substantial for females than for males. While poverty does adversely affect mortality rates among the elderly (and the strength of this effect is estimated to beincreasingover time), technical progress appears far more important in the period following 1960. Predicted female life expectancy (at age 60) in 1960 at the mean income level in 1960 was, for example 18.8 years; income growth to 1992 increased this by an estimated 0.7 years, whereas technical progress increased it by 2.0 years.

We then use the estimated regression results to compare country performance on life expectancy of the elderly, controlling for levels of poverty (or income), and to assess how performance has varied over time. High performing countries, on female life expectancy at age 60, for the period around 1990, included Chile (1.0 years longer life expectancy), China (1.7 years longer), France (2.0 years longer), Japan (1.9 years longer), and Switzerland (1.3 years longer). Poorly performing countries included Denmark (1.1 years shorter life expectancy than predicted from income), Hungary (1.4 years shorter), Iceland (1.2 years shorter), Malaysia (1.6 years shorter), and Trinidad and Tobago (3.9 years shorter). Chile and Switzerland registered major improvements in relative performance over this period; Norway, Taiwan and the USA, in contrast showed major declines in performance between 1980 and the early 1990s.
Verbal autopsies for adult deaths: their development and validation in a multicentre study
Authors: Chandramohan Daniel , Maude Gillian H. , Rodrigues Laura C. , Hayes Richard J.
Published: October 2010

Summary

background Verbal autopsy (VA) has been widely used to ascertain causes of child deaths, but little is known about the usefulness of VA for adult deaths. This paper describes the process used to develop a VA tool for adult deaths and the results of a multicentre validation of this tool.

methods A mortality classification was developed by including causes of death that might be arrived at by VAs and causes that are responsive to public health interventions. An algorithm was designed for each cause in the classification, based on classifying symptoms into essential, supportive and differential. A structured questionnaire designed to elicit information on these symptoms was developed in English translated into the local languages. The tool was validated on deaths occurring at hospitals in Tanzania (315 deaths), Ethiopia (249) and Ghana (232). Hospital records of all adult deaths occurring at the study hospitals from June 1993 to April 1995 were collected prospectively. Non‐medical interviewers with at least 12 years of formal education conducted VA interviews. Causes of death were diagnosed by a panel of physicians and by a computerized algorithm. The validity of the VA was assessed by comparing the VA diagnoses with hospital diagnoses.

results Specificity of VAs by physicians fell below 95% only for acute febrile illness (AFI) and TB/AIDS. Sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV), however, varied widely both across the sites and between causes. Sensitivity was > 75% for tetanus, rabies, direct maternal causes, injuries and TB/AIDS and ranged between 60% and 74% for diarrhoea, acute abdominal conditions and AFI. The PPV was > 75% for tetanus, rabies, hepatitis and injuries and ranged between 60 and 74% for meningitis, AFI, TB/AIDS and direct maternal causes. When the communicable diseases were combined in a single group, the sensitivity was 82%, specificity 78% and PPV 85%. For the group of noncommunicable diseases the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and PPV were 71%, 87% and 67%, respectively. Use of an algorithm resulted in lower sensitivity, specificity and PPV than the VAs by physician.

conclusion VAs by a panel of physicians performed better than an opinion‐based algorithm. The validity of VA diagnosis was highest for AFI, direct maternal causes, TB/AIDS, tetanus, rabies and injuries.
How robust are district health systems? Coping with crisis and disasters in Rutshuru, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Porignon Denis , Porignon Denis , Mugisho Soron‘Gane Etienne , Elongo Lokombe Tarcisse , Katulanya Isu Déogratias , Philippe Hennart  , Van Lerberghe Wim
Published: October 2010

background Since the eighties, the North Kivu Province socio‐economic environment has been deteriorating. This province also faced an influx of Rwandan refugees in July 1994. The objective of the paper is to show how a rural health district has been able to adjust and maintain its medical activities under unfavourable conditions.

method Performances of the local health system were assessed through the analysis of routine medical data collected in the Rutshuru Health District (RHD) between 1985 and 1995. Specific data collected during the Rwandan refugee crisis measured the workload of RHD due to the refugees.

results For 11 years, health infrastructures have remained accessible and functional in RHD. The curative utilization and preventive coverage rates increased. Obstetrical activities were intensified from a quantitative as well as from a qualitative point of view. Between July and October 1994, the RHD treated 65 000 cases of various pathological conditions in Rwandan refugees settled outside the camps. This corresponds to 9.3% of consultations for Rwandan refugees settled on RHD's territory and represents a 400% increase in the curative workload for the RHD health services. Human and financial resources remained at a very low level, especially when compared with those available in the camps through relief agencies.

conclusion The RHD was severely affected by various stresses but its services managed to provide significant and efficient response to these crises. Health district systems may constitute an effective tool to provide health care under adverse conditions.
Acute bacterial meningitis in children admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi in 1996–97
Authors: Molyneux Elizabeth , Walsh Amanda , Phiri Amos , Molyneux Malcolm
Published: October 2010

To design appropriate interventions, we collected clinical and demographic data prospectively on all children aged one day to 14 years admitted with a diagnosis of bacterial meningitis (BM) from April 1st 1996 to March 31st 1997 to the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre, Malawi. During the study period 267 children (2.7% of all paediatric admissions) were found to have BM; 83% were under 5 years of age, 61% under one year and 23% under one month. The most common causative organisms in the post neonatal period (n= 206) were Streptococcus pneumoniae (27%), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) 21%, and Salmonella typhimurium (6%). In the neonatal group (< 1 month, n= 61) the most common causes were Streptococcus agalactiae (23%), S. typhimurium (15%), S. pneumoniae (11.5%) and other Gram negative rods (11.5%). Nineteen of 21 salmonella infections were in children under one year of age and all S. agalactiae were in infants under three months. There was delay on presentation: the average length of fever was 4.6 days, 39.5% had convulsed prior to arrival and 57% had an altered level of consciousness. An initial diagnosis of malaria had probably contributed to the delay in 22.5% (42 of 186 tested). 48% were < 80% weight for age, with 18% < 60% weight for age. The overall mortality was 40%. The outcome was worst in salmonella infections, particularly neonatal salmonella BM with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 89% (8 of 9 cases). Coma on presentation worsened prognosis (mortality 64% if Blantyre Coma Score < 3, 26% if > 3). 15% of survivors had sequelae on discharge. 20% of Hib isolates were resistant to chloramphenicol, but all salmonellae were sensitive. 5% of S. pneumoniae were resistant to penicillin and 8% to chloramphenicol. Earlier access to adequate health care and awareness of BM in a malaria‐endemic area would reduce mortality and morbidity. Vaccination against Hib infection would have reduced death by 18 (17%) and prevented sequelae in 7 cases.
Sonographic prediction of variceal bleeding in patients with liver fibrosis due to Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Richter J. , Correia Dacal A. R. , Vergetti Siqueira J. G. , Poggensee G. , Mannsmann U. , Deelder A. , Feldmeier H.
Published: October 2010

Summary Several studies have shown that the characteristic hepatic abnormalities induced by Schistosoma mansoni detectable by ultrasound correlate with the degree of oesophageal varices. So far the value of ultrasound for predicting variceal haemorrhage has not been assessed. Fifty Brazilian patients with schistosomal periportal fibrosis from Alagoas State, 18 of whom had already bled from oesophageal varices, were enrolled in a combined cross‐sectional and longitudinal study and investigated clinically, by endoscopy and by ultrasound. Twenty‐seven of the patients were monitored until another bleeding episode, death or for a minimum of 28 months. Eight of these patients could be followed up for a further three years. A sonographic score, which accounts for the degree of echogenic periportal thickening and of portal vein dilatation, was calculated for all patients. A highly significant correlation (P < 0.0001) existed between the sonographic score and the occurrence of previous variceal haemorrhage, paralleled by a similar correlation between the sonographic score and the degree of oesophageal varices (P < 0.001). In the 27 patients monitored longitudinally, the sonographic score indicated the risk of future variceal bleeding (P < 0.0001). The sonographic score reliably predicts the risk of variceal bleeding in individual patients with periportal fibrosis. Hence, the application of endoscopy, if available at all in endemic areas, may be restricted to the patients at risk of future variceal bleeding, as determined by ultrasound. Since portable devices can be carried even to remote areas, the application of the proposed score in community surveys could provide a new means for the identification of high‐risk patients in S. mansoni‐infected populations.
Recent developments of the JET far-infrared interferometer-polarimeter diagnostic
Authors: Boboc A. , Gelfusa M. , Murari A. , Gaudio P. ,   JET-EFDA Contributors
Published: October 2010

The far-infrared diagnostic provides essential internal measurements of the plasma density and magnetic field topology (q-profile via Faraday rotation angle) in real-time. The diagnostic capabilities have recently been extended in a number of key areas. Fast interferometer data, with 10 μs time resolution, and a new MATLAB code have allowed improved analysis of the evolution of density profiles during fast events such as vertical plasma displacements, edge localized mode, pellet fuelling, and disruptions. Using the polarimeter measurements in real-time, a new calibration procedure has been developed based on a propagation code using the Mueller matrix formalism. A further major upgrade of the system is presently underway: adding a second color laser to the vertical channels and implementing a new phase counter based on analog zero crossing and field-programmable gate array boards.
Hot electron measurements in ignition relevant Hohlraums on the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Dewald E. L. , Thomas C. , Hunter S. , Divol L. , Meezan N. , Glenzer S. H. , Suter L. J. , Bond E. , Kline J. L. , Celeste J. , Bradley D. , Bell P. , Kauffman R. L. , Kilkenny J. , Landen O. L.
Published: October 2010

On the National Ignition Facility (NIF), hot electrons generated in laser heated Hohlraums are inferred from the >20 keV bremsstrahlung emission measured with the time integrated FFLEX broadband spectrometer. New high energy (>200 keV) time resolved channels were added to infer the generated >170 keV hot electrons that can cause ignition capsule preheat. First hot electron measurements in near ignition scaled Hohlraums heated by 96–192 NIF laser beams are presented.
A hardened gated x-ray imaging diagnostic for inertial confinement fusion experiments at the National Ignition Facility
Authors: Glenn S. , Koch J. , Bradley D. K. , Izumi N. , Bell P. , Holder J. , Stone G. , Prasad R. , MacKinnon A. , Springer P. , Landen O. L. , Kyrala G.
Published: October 2010

A gated x-ray detector is under development for use at the National Ignition Facility that is intended to provide plasma emission images in the presence of neutron yields up to 1015 expected during inertial confinement fusion experiments with layered cryogenic targets. These images are expected to provide valuable time-resolved measurements of core and fuel symmetries. Additional capabilities of this instrument will include the ability to make spatially resolved electron temperature measurements. A description of this instrument and its operation is given with emphasis on features that differentiate it from previous designs.
Spectroscopy of betatron radiation emitted from laser-produced wakefield accelerated electrons
Authors: Thorn D. B. , Geddes C. G. R. , Matlis N. H. , Plateau G. R. , Esarey E. H. , Battaglia M. , Schroeder C. B. , Shiraishi S. , Stöhlker Th. , Tóth C. , Leemans W. P.
Published: October 2010

X-ray betatron radiation is produced by oscillations of electrons in the intense focusing field of a laser-plasma accelerator. These hard x-rays show promise for use in femtosecond-scale time-resolved radiography of ultrafast processes. However, the spectral characteristics of betatron radiation have only been inferred from filter pack measurements. In order to achieve higher resolution spectral information about the betatron emission, we used an x-ray charge-coupled device to record the spectrum of betatron radiation, with a full width at half maximum resolution of 225 eV. In addition, we have recorded simultaneous electron and x-ray spectra along with x-ray images that allow for a determination of the betatron emission source size, as well as differences in the x-ray spectra as a function of the energy spectrum of accelerated electrons.
Collective Thomson scattering of a high power electron cyclotron resonance heating beam in LHD (invited)
Authors: Kubo S. , Nishiura M. , Tanaka K. , Shimozuma T. , Yoshimura Y. , Igami H. , Takahash H. , Mutoh T. , Tamura N. , Tatematsu Y. , Saito T. , Notake T. , Korsholm S. B. , Meo F. , Nielsen S. K. , Salewski M. , Stejner M.
Published: October 2010

Collective Thomson scattering (CTS) system has been constructed at LHD making use of the high power electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) system in Large Helical Device (LHD). The necessary features for CTS, high power probing beams and receiving beams, both with well defined Gaussian profile and with the fine controllability, are endowed in the ECRH system. The 32 channel radiometer with sharp notch filter at the front end is attached to the ECRH system transmission line as a CTS receiver. The validation of the CTS signal is performed by scanning the scattering volume. A new method to separate the CTS signal from background electron cyclotron emission is developed and applied to derive the bulk and high energy ion components for several combinations of neutral beam heated plasmas.
Pressure tuning the magnetocaloric effect in valence transition compound YbInCu4
Authors: Sharma A. L. Lima , Gomes A. M. , Mejia C. Salazar , Drymiotis F. R. , Carvalho A. Magnus G.
Published: October 2010

We have obtained the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in YbInCu4 under different pressures and magnetic fields. The MCE at the valence transition could be maximized using a combination of magnetic field and applied pressure. The maximum value of the MCE for ΔH=7 T showed significant changes with pressure and peaked at 6.6 kbar. The temperature of the maximum MCE occurs near the assumed Kondo temperature for this compound. Using differential scanning calorimetry, we found that the entropy associated with the valence transition is nearly reversible under heating and cooling.
Nonstoichiometry of LixCu2O2+δ single crystal and its relation to magnetic ordering
Authors: Yeh K. W. , Huang T. W. , Ke C. T. , Wu P. M. , Zhao L. , Chao W. H. , Lee Y. C. , Chen C. L. , Wu M. K.
Published: October 2010

We report the first systematic study on the nonstoichiometry of Li/Cu ionic ratios x and oxygen defect concentrations δ in LixCu2O2+δ solid solution. Nonstoichiometric crystals with intentional Li-deficient (x=0.97) or Li-excessive (x=1.06) concentrations were prepared by slow-cooling and floating-zone methods. By applying different oxygen pressures during growth, different magnitudes of oxygen defects were obtained, revealing varied magnetic and electrical properties. Our results strongly suggest that Li/Cu and oxygen nonstoichiometry in these crystals are responsible for the varied temperatures of helimagnetic ordering.
Grating translation technique as a tool for monitoring phase shifts during holographic recording in azo-polymers
Authors: Silva Daniel L. , Schab-Balcerzak Ewa , Miniewicz Andrzej
Published: October 2010

Grating translation technique, elaborated for photorefractive materials, can be used for determination of amplitude and phase grating contributions to light diffraction efficiency after holographic recording in photochromic polymer films. Here, we report application of this technique to in situ analysis of the formation of light inscribed diffraction gratings in azo-functionalized polymers. This technique allows for monitoring amplitudes and phase shifts between phase and amplitude gratings during holographic recording. For the investigation, we chose two azo-polymers with identical azo-substituents and characterized by qualitatively different temporal evolutions of grating build-up process during holographic recording with light s-s polarization geometry. The observed differences in grating recording kinetics for these polymers are explained by the difference in dynamics of build-up of amplitude and phase gratings including surface relief gratings and the spatial phase shifts between them and light interference pattern. Methodology described in this work could be applied to systems in which complex mechanism of refractive index changes upon light illumination are expected.
Analytical and numerical investigations of laminar and turbulent Poiseuille–Ekman flow at different rotation rates
Authors: Mehdizadeh A. , Oberlack M.
Published: October 2010

Laminar and turbulent Poiseuille–Ekman flows at different rotation rates have been investigated by means of analytical and numerical approaches. A series of direct numerical simulations (DNSs) with various rotation rates (Ro2=0–1.82) for Reynolds number Reτ0=180 based on the friction velocity in the nonrotating case has been conducted. Both (laminar and turbulent) flow states are highly sensitive to the rotation. Even a small rotation rate can reduce the mean streamwise velocity and induce a very strong flow in the spanwise direction, which, after attaining a maximum, decreases by further increasing the rotation rate. It has been further observed that turbulence is damped by increasing the rotation rate and at about Ro2=0.145 a transition from the fully turbulent to a quasilaminar state occurs. In this region Reynolds number is only large enough to sustain some perturbations and the mean velocity profiles have inflection points. The instability of the turbulent shear stress is probably the main reason for the formation of the elongated coherent structures (roll-like vortices) in this region. In the fully turbulent parameter domain all six components of Reynolds stress tensor are nonzero due to the existence of the spanwise mean velocity. The Poiseuille–Ekman flow in this region can be regarded as a turbulent two-dimensional channel flow with a mean flow direction inclining toward the spanwise direction. Finally, due to the further increase in the rotation rate, at about Ro2=0.546 turbulence is completely damped and the flow reaches a fully laminar steady state, for which an analytical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations exists. The DNS results reproduce this analytical solution for the laminar state.
Unified interpretation of Hund’s first and second rules for 2p and 3p atoms
Authors: Oyamada Takayuki , Hongo Kenta , Kawazoe Yoshiyuki , Yasuhara Hiroshi
Published: October 2010

A unified interpretation of Hund’s first and second rules for 2p (C, N, O) and 3p (Si, P, S) atoms is given by Hartree–Fock (HF) and multiconfiguration Hartree–Fock (MCHF) methods. Both methods exactly satisfy the virial theorem, in principle, which enables one to analyze individual components of the total energy E(=T+Ven+Vee), where T, Ven, and Vee are the kinetic, the electron-nucleus attraction, and the electron-electron repulsion energies, respectively. The correct interpretation for each of the two rules can only be achieved under the condition of the virial theorem 2T+V=0 by investigating how Ven and Vee interplay to attain the lower total potential energy V(=Ven+Vee). The stabilization of the more stable states for all the 2p and 3p atoms is ascribed to a greater Ven that is caused by contraction of the valence orbitals accompanied with slight expansion of the core orbitals. The contraction of the valence orbitals for the two rules is a consequence of reducing the Hartree screening of the nucleus at short interelectronic distances. The reduced screening in the first rule is due to a greater amount of Fermi hole contributions in the state with the highest total spin-angular momentum S. The reduced screening in the second rule is due to the fact that two valence electrons are more likely to be on opposite sides of the nucleus in the state with the highest total orbital-angular momentum L. For each of the two rules, the inclusion of correlation does not qualitatively change the HF interpretation, but HF overestimates the energy difference |ΔE| between two levels being compared. The magnitude of the correlation energy is significantly larger for the lower L states than for the higher L states since two valence electrons in the lower L states are less likely to be on opposite sides of the nucleus. The MCHF evaluation of |ΔE| is in excellent agreement with experiment. The present HF and MCHF calculations demonstrate the above statements that were originally given by Katriel [Theor. Chem. Acta 23, 309 (1972); 26, 163 (1972)]. We have, for the first time, analyzed the correlation-induced changes in the radial density distribution for the excited LS terms of the 2p and 3p atoms as well as for the ground LS term.
Phase transitions and domain stabilities in biaxially strained (001) SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films
Authors: Sheng G. , Li Y. L. , Zhang J. X. , Choudhury S. , Jia Q. X. , Gopalan V. , Schlom D. G. , Liu Z. K. , Chen L. Q.
Published: October 2010

We applied phase-field approach to investigate both ferroelectric and antiferrodistortive transitions in (001) SrTiO3 epitaxial thin films that are strained biaxially. A domain/phase stability diagram of “misfit strain-temperature” was constructed for equibiaxially strained (001) SrTiO3 thin films, which exhibits significant differences from previous diagrams obtained using thermodynamic analysis of a single domain. For unequibiaxially strained (001) SrTiO3 thin films, “misfit strain-misfit strain” domain stability diagrams at several representative temperatures were obtained. The predicted phase transitions, domain stabilities, and domain structures in three different SrTiO3 thin films under either equibiaxial or unequibiaxial strains agree well with experimental observations.
Axial pressure-difference between far-fields across a sphere in viscous flow bounded by a cylinder
Authors: Navardi Shahin , Bhattacharya Sukalyan
Published: October 2010

The presence of a particle with specified velocity inside a cylindrical channel affects the pressure-field along the length of the conduit. In this article, we quantify this effect by using a new general method, which describes hydrodynamic interactions between a cylindrical confinement and a spherical particle under creeping flow assumption. The generality of the scheme enables us to consider arbitrary values for system-defining parameters like cylinder-to-sphere ratio or separation between their centers. As a result, we can obtain accurate results for the parameter values hitherto unexplored by previous studies. Our simulations include three cases. First, we consider a fixed spherical obstacle in a pressure-driven flow through the cylinder and find the additional pressure drop due to the blockage. Then, we compute the pressure created by the pistonlike effect of a translating sphere inside a cylinder-bound quiescent fluid. Finally, we analyze the far-field pressure variation due to rotation of an asymmetrically situated sphere in confined quiescent fluid. For limiting cases, our calculations agree with existing results within 0.5% relative error. Moreover, the efficiency of the scheme is exploited in a dynamic simulation where flow dynamics due to a sedimenting sphere under gravity inside a cylinder with different inclination is explored. We determine the particle trajectory as well as the time-dependent far-field pressure-difference created due to the sedimentation process. The results agree well with approximate analytical expressions describing the underlying physics.
A new imaging method for understanding chemical dynamics: Efficient slice imaging using an in-vacuum pixel detector
Authors: Jungmann J. H. , Gijsbertsen A. , Visser J. , Visschers J. , Heeren R. M. A. , Vrakking M. J. J.
Published: October 2010

The implementation of the Timepix complementary metal oxide semiconductor pixel detector in velocity map slice imaging is presented. This new detector approach eliminates the need for gating the imaging detector. In time-of-flight mode, the detector returns the impact position and the time-of-flight of charged particles with 12.5 ns resolution and a dynamic range of about 100 μs. The implementation of the Timepix detector in combination with a microchannel plate additionally allows for high spatial resolution information via center-of-mass centroiding. Here, the detector was applied to study the photodissociation of NO2 at 452 nm. The energy resolution observed in the experiment was ΔE/E=0.05 and is limited by the experimental setup rather than by the detector assembly. All together, this new compact detector assembly is well-suited for slice imaging and is a promising tool for imaging studies in atomic and molecular physics research.
Biasing, acquisition, and interpretation of a dense Langmuir probe array in NSTX
Authors: Jaworski M. A. , Kallman J. , Kaita R. , Kugel H. , LeBlanc B. , Marsala R. , Ruzic D. N.
Published: October 2010

A dense array of 99 Langmuir probes has been installed in the lower divertor region of the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). This array is instrumented with a system of electronics that allows flexibility in the choice of probes to bias as well as the type of measurement (including standard swept, single probe, triple probe, and operation as passive floating potential and scrape-off-layer SOL current monitors). The use of flush-mounted probes requires careful interpretation. The time dependent nature of the SOL makes swept-probe traces difficult to interpret. To overcome these challenges, the single- and triple-Langmuir probe signals are used in complementary fashion to determine the temperature and density at the probe location. A comparison to midplane measurements is made.