Guinea pig fetus does not change its presentation during second half of gestation

Objectives: The aims of this paper are: 1. To investigate spontaneous changes in fetal presentation during the second half of gestation in guinea pig fetus, 2. to observe provoked changes of fetal presentation, by passive positioning fetus into an upside-down position and “sitting” position. Eight fetuses from singleton pregnancies were included. Experimental design: Ultrasound examinations (Toshiba Nemio SSA-550A apparatus) were started on the 26th day of gestation (GD). Each fetus was examined 2-3 times in each 5-day interval until the end of gestation. First the spontaneous orientation of fetus was determined by tracking along the longitudinal and transversal axes of the fetus with the ultrasound probe. Then the fetus was brought into a head-down position relative to gravity for 5 minutes. The examination was repeated with the fetus in the head-up position. Results: In the period from the 26th – 30th GD in 7 of 21 observations spontaneous changes of presentation were observed. From the 31st GD all 133 observations were negative regarding spontaneous changes of presentation and situs. The chi-squared test showed that difference in spontaneous changes of presentation and situs before versus after 30th day of gestation had a statistical significance (χ² = 25.16 p 0.05). Fetuses were brought into a head-down and head-up 154 times. In none of these attempts did a fetus change presentation during the five minutes of observation. Conclusion: Guinea pig fetuses do not spontaneously or at provocation change presentation after 30th GD

Prompt fission γ-ray data from spontaneous fission and the mechanism of fission-fragment de-excitation

The investigation of prompt γ-ray emission in nuclear fission has a great relevance for the assessment of prompt heat generation in a reactor core and for the better understanding of the de-excitation mechanism of fission fragments. Some years ago experimental data was scarce and available only from a few fission reactions, 233,235U(nth, f), 239Pu(nth, f), and 252Cf(sf). Initiated by a high priority data request published by the OECD/NEA a dedicated prompt fission γ-ray measurement program is being conducted at the Joint Research Centre Geel. In recent years we obtained new and accurate prompt fission γ-ray spectrum (PFGS) characteristics (average number of photons per fission, average total energy per fission and mean photon energy) from 252Cf(sf), 235U(nth, f) and 239,241Pu(nth, f) within 2% of uncertainty. In order to understand the dependence of prompt fission γ-ray emission on the compound nuclear mass and excitation energy, we started a first measurement campaign on spontaneously fissioning plutonium and curium isotopes. Results on PFGS characteristics from 240,242Pu(sf) show a dependence on the fragment mass distribution rather than on the average prompt neutron multiplicity, pointing to a more complex competition between prompt fission γ-ray and neutron emission.JRC.G.2-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard

Impact of risk factors on serum levels of vasoactive substances in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease at different Fontaine’s stages

Introduction: There is a bulk of literature data on the physiological roles of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1), but many facts remain unknown, especially in certain diseases such as peripheral arterial disease. Material and methods: This is an observational cross-sectional study. The subjects were patients diagnosedwith PAD. Serum levels of NO and ET-1 were determined for all patients, and statistical data processing wasperformed according to the set goals. Results: The study included 64 patients with mean age 60.2 ± 12.7 years, mostly in stage II PAD accordingto Fontain (46.9%). Statistical analysis failed to determine a significant difference in serum NO or ET-1 valueswith respect to disease stage, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Certain oscillations were found in the meanvalues of NO related to smoking and diabetes but without statistical significance. There were also oscillationsin the values of ET-1, with higher levels found in women, smokers and non-diabetics in whom this differencereached statistical significance (p = 0.041). Conclusion: Serum levels of NO and ET-1 in this study show some causal relationship with certain risk factors forPAD such as diabetes and smoking, but additional research is needed to fully understand their effects and interactions

Radon variability due to floor level in two typical residential buildings in Serbia

It is well known that one of the factors that influence the indoor radon variability is the floor level of the buildings. Considering the fact that the main source of indoor radon is radon in soil gas, it is expected that the radon concentration decreases at higher floors. Thus at higher floors the dominant source of radon is originating from building materials, and in some cases there may be deviations from the generally established regularity. In such sense, we chose one freestanding single-family house with loft and other 16-floor high-rise residential building for this study. The indoor radon measurements were performed by two methods: passive and active. We used passive devices based on track-etched detectors: Radtrak2 Radonova. For the short-term indoor radon measurements, we used two active devices: SN1029 and SN1030 (manufactured by Sun Nuclear Corporation). The first device was fixed in the living room at the ground level and the second was moved through the floors of the residential building. Every measuring cycle at the specified floor lasted seven days with the sampling time of 2 h. The results show two different indoor radon behaviours regarding radon variability due to floor level. In the single-family house with loft we registered intense difference between radon concentration in the ground level and loft, while in the high-rise residential building the radon level was almost the same at all floors, and hence we may conclude that radon originated mainly from building materials

Znaczenie stężenia NT-proBNP w określaniu rokowania i ocenie diagnostycznej u chorych z ostrymi zespołami wieńcowymi

Background and aim: N terminal-proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is synthesised and secreted from the ventricularmyocardium. This marker is known to be elevated in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated NT-proBNP asa significant diagnostic marker and an important independent predictor of short-term mortality (one month) in patients with ACS.Methods: NT-proBNP and cardiac troponin I (cTI) were assessed in 134 consecutive patients (median age 66 years, 73% male)hospitalised for ACS in a cardiological university department. The patients were classified into ST-elevation ACS (STE-ACS, n = 74) and non-ST-elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS, n = 60) groups based on the ECG findings on admission. Patients with Killipclass ≥ II were excluded.Results: The serum level of NT-proBNP on admission was significantly higher (p < 0.0005), while there was no differencein cTI serum level in the NSTE-ACS patients compared to STE-ACS patients. There was a significant positive correlation betweenNT-proBNP and cTI in the NSTE-ACS (r = 0.338, p = 0.008) and STE-ACS (r = 0.441, p < 0.0005) patients. Therewas a significant difference in NT-proBNP (p < 0.0005) and cTI (p < 0.0005) serum level between ACS patients who diedwithin 30 days or who survived after one month. The increased NT-proBNP level is the strongest predictor of mortality in ACSpatients, also NT-proBNP cut-point level of 1,490 pg/mL is a significant independent predictor of mortality.Conclusions: We demonstrated the differences and the correlation in the secretion of NT-proBNP and cTI in patients withSTE-ACS vs. NSTE-ACS. Our results provide evidence that NT-proBNP is a significant diagnostic marker and an importantindependent predictor of short-term mortality in patients with ACS.Wstęp i cel: N-końcowy fragment propeptydu natriuretycznego typu B (NT-proBNP) jest syntetyzowany i wydzielany przezmiokardium komór serca. Wiadomo, że stężenie tego wskaźnika jest podwyższone u chorych z ostrymi zespołami wieńcowymi (ACS). Autorzy ocenili znaczenie stężenia NT-proBNP jako istotnego wskaźnika diagnostycznego i ważnego niezależnegoczynnika prognostycznego śmiertelności krótkoterminowej (w ciągu 1 miesiąca) u chorych z ACS.Metody: Oznaczono stężenia NT-proBNP i sercowej troponiny I (cTI) u 134 kolejnych chorych (mediana wieku 66 lat, 73%mężczyzn) hospitalizowanych z powodu ACS na oddziale kardiologicznym szpitala uniwersyteckiego. Pacjentów przydzielanodo grupy ACS z uniesieniem odcinka ST (STE-ACS, n = 74) lub do grupy ACS bez uniesienia odcinka ST (NSTE-ACS, n = 60)na podstawie EKG wykonanego przy przyjęciu. Chorych w klasie Killipa ≥ II wykluczono z badania.Wyniki: Stężenie NT-proBNP w surowicy przy przyjęciu do szpitala było istotnie wyższe (p < 0,0005) u pacjentów z NSTE--ACS niż u osób z STE-ACS, natomiast surowicze stężenia cTI były podobne w obu grupach. Stwierdzono istotną dodatniąkorelację między stężeniami NT-proBNP i cTI u chorych z NSTE-ACS (r = 0,338; p = 0,008) i u osób z STE-ACS (r = 0,441;p < 0,0005). Stężenia NT-proBNP (p < 0,0005) i cTI (p < 0,0005) w surowicy różniły się istotnie między chorymi z ACS,którzy zmarli w ciągu 30 dni, a pacjentami, którzy żyli dłużej niż miesiąc. Zwiększone stężenie NT-proBNP jest najsilniejszymczynnikiem prognostycznym zgonu u chorych z ACS. Ponadto stężenie NT-proBNP powyżej progowej wartości 1490 pg/mL jest istotnym niezależnym czynnikiem prognostycznym zgonu.Wnioski: Autorzy wykazali różnice w wydzielaniu NT-proBNP i cTI między chorymi ze STE-ACS i chorymi z NSTE-ACS orazkorelacje między tymi wskaźnikami. Uzyskane przez nich wyniki dowodzą, że NT-proBNP jest istotnym niezależnym wskaźnikiemdiagnostycznym i ważnym niezależnym czynnikiem prognostycznym śmiertelności krótkoterminowej u chorych z ACS

Determination of the nuclear level densities and radiative strength function for 43 nuclei in the mass interval 28≤A≤200

The determination of nuclear level densities and radiative strength functions is one of the most important tasks in low-energy nuclear physics. Accurate experimental values of these parameters are critical for the study of the fundamental properties of nuclear structure. The step-like structure in the dependence of the level densities p on the excitation energy of nuclei Eex is observed in the two-step gamma cascade measurements for nuclei in the 28 ≤ A ≤ 200 mass region. This characteristic structure can be explained only if a co-existence of quasi-particles and phonons, as well as their interaction in a nucleus, are taken into account in the process of gamma-decay. Here we present a new improvement to the Dubna practical model for the determination of nuclear level densities and radiative strength functions. The new practical model guarantees a good description of the available intensities of the two step gamma cascades, comparable to the experimental data accuracy

Determination of the nuclear level densities and radiative strength function for 43 nuclei in the mass interval 28≤A≤200

The determination of nuclear level densities and radiative strength functions is one of the most important tasks in low-energy nuclear physics. Accurate experimental values of these parameters are critical for the study of the fundamental properties of nuclear structure. The step-like structure in the dependence of the level densities ρ on the excitation energy of nuclei Eex is observed in the two-step gamma cascade measurements for nuclei in the 28 ≤ А ≤ 200 mass region. This characteristic structure can be explained only if a co-existence of quasi-particles and phonons, as well as their interaction in a nucleus, are taken into account in the process of gamma-decay. Here we present a new improvement to the Dubna practical model for the determination of nuclear level densities and radiative strength functions. The new practical model guarantees a good description of the available intensities of the two step gamma cascades, comparable to the experimental data accuracy.JRC.G.2-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard