Can Hyperfine Excitation explain the Observed Oscillation-Puzzle of Nuclear Orbital Electron Capture of Hydrogen-like Ions?

Modulated in time orbital electron capture (EC) decays have been observed recently in stored H-like $^{140}$Pr$^{58+}$ and $^{142}$Pm$^{60+}$ ions. Although, the experimental results are extensively discussed in literature, a firm interpretation has still to be established. Periodic transitions between the hyperfine states could possible lead to the observed effect. Both selected nuclides decay to stable daughter nuclei via allowed Gamow-Teller transitions. Due to the conservation of total angular momentum, the allowed EC decay can only proceed from the hyperfine ground state of parent ions. In this work we argue that periodic transitions to the excited hyperfine state (sterile) in respect to the allowed EC decay ground state cannot explain the observed decay pattern

Treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia by transurethral ultrasound- guided laser-induced prostatectomy (TULIP): Effects on urodynamic parameters and symptoms

Objectives This prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the effects oftransurethral ultrasound-guided laser-induced prostatectomy (TULIP) on urodynamic, symptomatic, and prostate volume parameters as well as serum prostate-specific antigen. Methods The TULIP procedure was performed in 33 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia with a mean age of 66 years. Patients were evaluated by pressure—flow studies, prostate volume measurement by transrectal ultrasound, and the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score. Results At 3-month follow-up, laser prostatectomy has resulted in an increased maximum flow rate from 6.6±0.5 to 11.2±0.6 mL/s and in an objectively proven relief of the urodynamic obstruction, as is evident by a decrease of the average value of the urethral resistance parameter URA and the detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate from 38.3 ± 2.7 to 21.3 ± 1.3 cm water and from 62.7 ±4 to 38.9 ± 2.1 cm water, respectively. Symptomatic improvement is evident from a decrease in the AUA symptom score from 20.4 at baseline to 8.8 at 6-month follow-up. Although the total symptom score did not change significantly between 6 months and 1 year follow-up, the score of the symptom “weak stream” was significantly higher again at 12 months follow-up. Conclusions The TULIP procedure is a urodynamically and symptomatically effectivetreatment. Conclusions about the durability of this treatment modality should be made with reser

Preparation for the measurement of the bound-state beta-decay of bare 205Tl ions at the ESR

Bound-state beta-decay (βb) accompanied by the emission of a monochromatic antineutrino, was first predicted by Daudel et al [1] in 1947 and then discussed in detail by Bahcall [2]. The first direct observation of the bound-state beta decay (βb decay) was done in 1992 by Jung et al [3] with the use of bare 163Dy66+ ions stored in the heavy ion storage ring ESR at GSI. In the present study we aim at measuring the bound-state beta-decay rate of fully-ionized 205Tl, which is needed to determine the matrix element for the electron capture decay from the 2.3 keV excited state in 205Pb to the ground state of 205Tl. This matrix element is important for constraining of neutrino capture probability into the 2.3 keV state of 205Pb [4] and for modelling of the s-process [5] in the Hg-Pb region. The experiment proposal has been approved by the GSI program advisory panel. We aim at conducting the experiment in 2018, when the accelerator complex of GSI will restart its operatio

Natural history of benign prostatic hyperplasia: Appropriate case definition and estimation of its prevalence in the community

There is no consensus about a case definition of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the present study, BPH prevalence rates were determined using various case definitions based on a combination of clinical parameters used to describe the properties of BPH: symptoms of prostatism, prostate volume increase, and bladder outflow obstruction. The aim of this study—in a community-based population of 502 men (55–74 years of age) without prostate cancer—was to determine the relative impact on prevalence rates of the inclusion of these different parameters (and of different cutoff values for these parameters) in a case definition of BPH. There is agreement that age is the dominant determinant of BPH. However, of 28 different case definitions that were formulated only eight gave a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of BPH with age. The highest overall prevalence of 19% (95% confidence interval [CI], 15–23%) occurred using the definition that combines a prostate volume >30 cm3 and an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) >7. The lowest prevalence rate of 4.3% (95% CI, 2-6%) occurred using the definition that combines a prostate volume >30 cm3, an IPSS >7, a maximum flow rate 50 mL Thus, prevalence rates depend very much on the parameters used in a case definition. Follow-up will establish which men will eventually request a workup and treatment for BPH and will help determine the best clinical definition of BPH

Dependence of male voiding efficiency on age, bladder contractility and urethral resistance: development of a voiding efficiency nomogram

The influence of age, urethral resistance and bladder contractility on voiding efficiency was evaluated by pressure-flow studies in 138 men of a mean age of 60 years (range 18 to 86). From these studies the urethral resistance parameter was calculated and the maximum bladder contraction strength was determined. Premature fading of the bladder contraction was quantified by a bladder contraction strength decay factor. Voiding efficiency was expressed by the parameter of post-void residual urine volume as a percentage of the initial bladder volume. Multiple regression analysis showed that voiding efficiency depended significantly in descending order of importance on urethral resistance, maximum bladder contraction strength and bladder contraction strength decay factor. Patient age was not an independent factor. Maximum bladder contraction strength and bladder contraction strength decay factor were not correlated, suggesting that maximum bladder contraction strength and its decay constitute different properties of bladder contractile function. A voiding efficiency nomogram is proposed, making use of the values for maximum bladder contraction strength and urethral resistance in individual patients. Such a nomogram may have predictive value for the occurrence of acute retention but it must be tested prospectively

Prostate specific antigen in a community-based sample of men without prostate cancer: Correlations with prostate volume, age, body mass index, and symptoms of prostatism

The correlation between both prostate specific antigen levels (PSA) and prostate specific antigen density (PSAD) and age, prostate volume parameters, body mass index, and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) were studied in a community‐based population. A sample of 502 men aged 55 through 74 years was evaluated, excluding those with a serum PSA above 10 ng/ml, those with biopsy proven prostate cancer, and those who had previously undergone a prostate operation. PSA and PSAD did not correlate with the body mass index. Weak correlations were found betwe

Reasons for the weak correlation between prostate volume and urethral resistance parameters in patients with prostatism

In an attempt to increase our understanding of the clinical syndrome of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) an analysis was made of the association between prostate volume as measured by transrectal ultrasound and several reported urodynamically determined urethral resistance parameters. Two types of obstruction can be recognized on the basis of urodynamic data: a compressive type characterized by a high urethral opening pressure and a prolonged isovolumetric contraction phase before urine flow can start, and a constrictive type characterized by a normal opening pressure and an increased slope of the urethral resistance relation. A combination of both types is often seen in BPH. In our study, parameters that selectively quantify compression correlate weakly to moderately with prostate volume, whereas parameters that mainly quantify constriction do not correlate at all with prostate volume. Parameters that combine a measure for compression and constriction correlate less well with prostate volume than parameters that mainly quantify compression. The variation in prostate volume was found to determine the variation in urethral resistance by 15% or less depending on the parameter used, which implies that the different pathophysiological mechanisms that can increase urethral resistance in the complex process of clinical BPH are mainly determined by factors other than the volume of the prostate. Thus, despite the lack of correlation between prostate volume and urethral resistance, pressure-flow studies and the determination of urethral resistance parameters provide a valuable contribution to the understanding of the pathophysiology of voiding dysfunction in men with symptoms of prostatism

Erosion rate study at the Allchar deposit (Macedonia) based on radioactive and stable cosmogenic nuclides (26Al, 36Cl, 3He, and 21Ne)

This paper focuses on constraining the erosion rate in the area of the Allchar Sb-As-Tl-Au deposit (Macedonia). It contains the largest known reserves of lorandite (TlAsS2), which is essential for the LORanditeEXperiment (LOREX), aimed at determining the long-term solar neutrino flux. Because the erosion history of the Allchar area is crucial for the success of LOREX, we applied terrestrial in situ cosmogenic nuclides including both radioactive (26Al and 36Cl) and stable (3He and 21Ne) nuclides in quartz, dolomite/calcite, sanidine, and diopside. The obtained results suggest that there is accordance in the values obtained by applying 26Al, 36Cl, and 21Ne for around 85% of the entire sample collection, with resulting erosion rates varying from several tens of m/Ma to ∼165 m/Ma. The samples from four locations (L-8 CD, L1b/R, L1c/R, and L-4/ADR) give erosion rates between 300 and 400 m/Ma. Although these localities reveal remarkably higher values, which may be explained by burial events that occurred in part of Allchar, the erosion rate estimates mostly in the range between 50 and 100 m/Ma. This range further enables us to estimate the vertical erosion rate values for the two main ore bodies Crven Dol and Centralni Deo. We also estimate that the lower and upper limits of average paleo-depths for the ore body Centralni Deo from 4.3 Ma to the present are 250–290 and 750–790 m, respectively, whereas the upper limit of paleo-depth for the ore body Crven Dol over the same geological age is 860 m. The estimated paleo-depth values allow estimating the relative contributions of 205Pb derived from pp-neutrino and fast cosmic-ray muons, respectively, which is an important prerequisite for the LOREX experiment

First Measurement of the 96^{96}Ru(p,γ\gamma)97^{97}Rh Cross Section for the p-Process with a Storage Ring

This work presents a direct measurement of the $^{96}$Ru($p, \gamma$)$^{97}$Rh cross section via a novel technique using a storage ring, which opens opportunities for reaction measurements on unstable nuclei. A proof-of-principle experiment was performed at the storage ring ESR at GSI in Darmstadt, where circulating $^{96}$Ru ions interacted repeatedly with a hydrogen target. The $^{96}$Ru($p, \gamma$)$^{97}$Rh cross section between 9 and 11 MeV has been determined using two independent normalization methods. As key ingredients in Hauser-Feshbach calculations, the $\gamma$-ray strength function as well as the level density model can be pinned down with the measured ($p, \gamma$) cross section. Furthermore, the proton optical potential can be optimized after the uncertainties from the $\gamma$-ray strength function and the level density have been removed. As a result, a constrained $^{96}$Ru($p, \gamma$)$^{97}$Rh reaction rate over a wide temperature range is recommended for $p$-process network calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figs, Accepted for publication at PR