New continuous wave infrared Ar‐Xe laser at intermediate gas pressures pumped by a transverse radio frequency discharge

An atomic Xe laser with a transverse rf excitation has been operated in a cw mode in the intermediate pressure regime. The laser output spectrum consisted of 5 Xe lines with wavelengths of 2.03, 2.63, 2.65, 3.37, and 3.51 μm. The unoptimized total output power of 330 mW was obtained for a gas mixture Ar:He:Xe=59:40:1 at a pressure of 85 Torr and a rf input power of 150 W and excitation frequency of 121 MHz

Diet quality and colorectal tumor risk in persons with Lynch syndrome

Contains fulltext : 229397.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Persons with Lynch syndrome (LS) have an increased risk of developing colorectal tumors (CRTs). Adherence to diet quality indices associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in the general population has not been studied before in LS. METHODS: Dietary habits of 490 participants with LS from a prospective cohort study was collected using a food frequency questionnaire. The Dutch Healthy Diet index 2015 (DHD15-index) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) were used to score food-based diet quality. Diet quality scores were divided into tertiles where a higher tertile reflects a higher diet quality. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to estimate the association between the DHD15-index, DASH score and CRT risk. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 53.4 months, 210 participants (42.9%) developed CRTs. The DHD-index and DASH score were not associated with CRT risk; hazard ratios for highest vs. lowest tertile were 1.00 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.67-1.48) and 1.11 (95% CI: 0.74-1.69), respectively. No linear trends across the DHD-index and DASH score tertiles were observed (P-trend = 0.97 and 0.83 respectively). CONCLUSION: In contrast to observations in the general population, no evidence for an association between the food-based DHD15-index or DASH score and CRT risk was observed in persons with LS. Further studies are needed investigating the association between diet quality and mechanisms leading to the development of LS-associated tumors

Body mass index in early adulthood and colorectal cancer risk for carriers and non-carriers of germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes

BACKGROUND: Carriers of germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes have a high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the modifiers of this risk are not well established. We estimated an association between body mass index (BMI) in early adulthood and subsequent risk of CRC for carriers and, as a comparison, estimated the association for non-carriers. METHODS: A weighted Cox regression was used to analyse height and weight at 20 years reported by 1324 carriers of MMR gene mutations (500 MLH1, 648 MSH2, 117 MSH6 and 59 PMS2) and 1219 non-carriers from the Colon Cancer Family Registry. RESULTS: During 122,304 person-years of observation, we observed diagnoses of CRC for 659 carriers (50%) and 36 non-carriers (3%). For carriers, the risk of CRC increased by 30% for each 5 kg m(-2) increment in BMI in early adulthood (hazard ratio, HR: 1.30; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.08-1.58; P=0.01), and increased by 64% for non-carriers (HR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.02-2.64; P=0.04) after adjusting for sex, country, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking (and the MMR gene that was mutated in carriers). The difference in HRs for carriers and non-carriers was not statistically significant (P=0.50). For MLH1 and PMS2 (MutLα heterodimer) mutation carriers combined, the corresponding increase was 36% (HR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.05-1.76; P=0.02). For MSH2 and MSH6 (MutSα heterodimer) mutation carriers combined, the HR was 1.26 (95% CI: 0.96-1.65; P=0.09). There was no significant difference between the HRs for MutLα and MutSα heterodimer carriers (P=0.56). CONCLUSION: Body mass index in early adulthood is positively associated with risk of CRC for MMR gene mutation carriers and non-carriers

Body mass index in early adulthood and colorectal cancer risk for carriers and non-carriers of germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes

BACKGROUND: Carriers of germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes have a high risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the modifiers of this risk are not well established. We estimated an association between body mass index (BMI) in early adulthood and subsequent risk of CRC for carriers and, as a comparison, estimated the association for non-carriers. METHODS: A weighted Cox regression was used to analyse height and weight at 20 years reported by 1324 carriers of MMR gene mutations (500 MLH1, 648 MSH2, 117 MSH6 and 59 PMS2) and 1219 non-carriers from the Colon Cancer Family Registry. RESULTS: During 122,304 person-years of observation, we observed diagnoses of CRC for 659 carriers (50%) and 36 non-carriers (3%). For carriers, the risk of CRC increased by 30% for each 5 kg m(-2) increment in BMI in early adulthood (hazard ratio, HR: 1.30; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.08-1.58; P=0.01), and increased by 64% for non-carriers (HR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.02-2.64; P=0.04) after adjusting for sex, country, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking (and the MMR gene that was mutated in carriers). The difference in HRs for carriers and non-carriers was not statistically significant (P=0.50). For MLH1 and PMS2 (MutLα heterodimer) mutation carriers combined, the corresponding increase was 36% (HR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.05-1.76; P=0.02). For MSH2 and MSH6 (MutSα heterodimer) mutation carriers combined, the HR was 1.26 (95% CI: 0.96-1.65; P=0.09). There was no significant difference between the HRs for MutLα and MutSα heterodimer carriers (P=0.56). CONCLUSION: Body mass index in early adulthood is positively associated with risk of CRC for MMR gene mutation carriers and non-carriers

Die verskynsel van die eenheid-verskeidenheid van die kerk: In gesprek met Calvyn

The phenomenon of the unity-diversity of the church: A conversation with Calvin This article engages' in a critical dialogue with Calvin's conception of the unity-diversity of the church. Calvin, by understanding faith as the believer's personal relationship with God, stresses the dynamic character of the church. Concerning unity and diversity, Calvin held the view that there is only one Christ. Calvin distinguished between fundamental and secondary truths. In Calvin's view the redemption in Christ is reported monotonously in the New Testament. Contrary to Calvin the article shows that there are diverse interpretations of the Jesus-'Sache' in' the New Testament itself. However, in appreciation of Calvin, it is argued that he - because of the dynamic structure of the church - did not insist on one visible form of organisation for the church

A Low-voltage CMOS op amp with a rail-to-rail constant-gm input stage and a class AB rail-to-rail output stage.

In this paper a low-voltage two-stage Op Amp is presented. The Op Amp features rail-to-rail operation and has an input stage with a constant transconductance (gm) over the entire common-mode input range. The input stage consists of an n-and a p-MOS differential pair connected in parallel. The constant gm is accomplished by regulating the tail-currents with the aid of an MOS translinear (MTL) circuit. The resulting gm is constant within 5%. The common-source output range employs a feedback circuit which also contains an MTL circuit. This feedback circuit ensures class AB operation and prevents the transistors in the output stage from cutting off. The Op Amp will be realized in a semi custom CMOS process with minimum channel lengths of 10μm. Simulations show that the minimum supply voltage is less than 2.5 V. A unity gain bandwidth of 550kHz and a DC voltage gain larger than 80 dB are feasible. The input range exceeds the supply rails, whereas the output range reaches the rails within 130 m V

Onaanvaarbare verskeidenheid in Galasiers: έκκλησία en συνγωγη<Sup>1<Sup>

Unacceptable diversity in Galatians: έκκλησία and συνγωγη. This article proceeds from the thesis that the formula έν Χριστώ forms the basisof Pauline ecclesiology. To be "in Christ" means to participate in the "Sache Jesu". Participation also means that the believer becomes part of the church. From this thesis the problem of unity and diversity in Galatians is argued. According tot Galatians 2:1-14 it is clear that the "Sache Jesu" was interpreted in diverse ways. The diverse interpretations gave way to conflict between Christian parties. The Christians in Antioch did not follow the Jewish law. Their opponents however felt that it was imperative to hold to circumsicion and the Jewish law. Itis argued that the term έκκλησία was chosen against the term συνγωγη because of the latter term's affiliation with Christians who held to the Jewish law