Kurdish Landmine Plight Across and Along the Borders

This article discusses the intricate global and internal conflicts that plague the Kurdish region with emphasis on the profound impact these conflicts have on mine action in this area of the Middle East

Synthesis of highly alkylated functionalized cyclopentadienes

Tetra- and pentaalkylated cyclopentadienyl ketones and carboxylic acids are prepared by electrophilic allylation of enolizible 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and successive acid catalyzed cyclisation

Oesophageal atresia: what has changed in the last 3 decades?

The aim of the study was to analyse the outcomes of children born with oesophageal atresia over the last 3 decades. The records of 104 patients born between 1973 and 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. To evaluate changes over time, the analysis was done for three consecutive time periods: 1973-79, 1980-89, and 1990-99. Mean birth weight was 2553g (SD 640), and mean gestational age was 39 weeks (SD 4). Forty-two newborns (40%) had one or more associated congenital malformations, and 30% had associated cardiac malformations. There was no change in incidence of associated anomalies over the three time periods studied. Mortality of patients decreased from 33% to 14% ( p =0.048). There was a significant association between the presence of a major cardiac malformation and survival (survival: 88% vs. 57%, p =0.004). Analysing the three different time periods separately reveals that cardiac disease was not a significant risk factor in the first period but became significant in the period from 1980-99 (relative risk: 6.76, 95% CI 1.44-31.77). Birth weight was significantly higher in infants who survived (2626g, SD 642) compared with those who died (2290, SD 570, p =0.028). This effect, however, is mainly based on the difference during the first period and is lost later. Early and late postoperative complications occurred in 44/102 patients. Strictures developed in 33/91 patients who survived the first month of life (33%). The rate of symptomatic strictures decreased significantly over the three time periods, from 50% to 23% ( p =0.022). In summary, this study shows no significant change in patient characteristics over the last 3 decades, but mortality and postoperative complication rates decreased, and associated cardiac anomalies became the far most important risk factor for mortalit

URANOS v1.0 – the Ultra Rapid Adaptable Neutron-Only Simulation for Environmental Research

The understanding of neutron transport by Monte Carlo simulations led to major advancements towards precise interpretation of measurements. URANOS (Ultra Rapid Neutron-Only Simulation) is a free software package which has been developed in the last few years in cooperation with particle physics and environmental sciences, specifically for the purposes of cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS). Its versatile user interface and input/output scheme tailored for CRNS applications offers hydrologists straightforward access to model individual scenarios and to directly perform advanced neutron transport calculations. The geometry can be modeled layer-wise, whereas in each layer a voxel geometry is extruded using a two-dimensional map from pixel images representing predefined materials and allowing for the construction of objects on the basis of pixel graphics without a three-dimensional editor. It furthermore features predefined cosmic-ray neutron spectra and detector configurations and also allows for a replication of important site characteristics of study areas – from a small pond to the catchment scale. The simulation thereby gives precise answers to questions like from which location do neutrons originate? How do they propagate to the sensor? What is the neutron's response to certain environmental changes? In recent years, URANOS has been successfully employed by a number of studies, for example, to calculate the cosmic-ray neutron footprint, signals in complex geometries like mobile applications on roads, urban environments and snow patterns.</p

The CASCADE 10B thermal neutron detector and soil moisture sensing by cosmic-ray neutrons

This work connects the three domains of experimental nuclear physics, computational physics and environmental physics centered around the neutron. The CASCADE thermal neutron detector is based on a combination of solid 10B coatings in several layers, GEMs as gas amplification stages, a microstructured readout, multichannel ASICs and FPGA hardware triggered data acquisition. The detailed analysis to improve the system in terms of time-of-flight resolution for Neutron Resonance Spin Echo Spectroscopy required for a simulation model of the detector. The limitations of existing codes led to the development of the Monte Carlo transport code URANOS, which fully integrates the detector components and features a voxel-based geometry definition. The simulation could then successfully be applied to precisely understand neutron transport within the frame of Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing. This novel and interdisciplinary method offers the possibility to non-invasively measure soil moisture on the hectare scale using neutrons of the environmental radiation. The endeavor of this work led to the development of the footprint weighting function, which describes the neutron density change by different hydrogen pools in the air-ground interface. Significant influences of the near-field topology around the sensor were predicted by this work, experimentally verified and correction methods were successfully tested

Induction of Specific Immunotherapy with Hymenoptera Venoms Using Ultrarush Regimen in Children: Safety and Tolerance

Background & Objective. Ultrarush induction for specific venom immunotherapy has been shown to be reliable and efficacious in adults. In this study its safety and tolerance in children was evaluated. Methods. Retrospective analysis of 102 ultrarush desensitizations carried out between 1997 and 2005 in 94 children, aged 4 to 15 years. Diagnosis and selection for immunotherapy were according to recommendations of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Systemic adverse reactions (SARs) were described using the classification of H. L. Mueller. Results. All patients reached the cumulative dose of 111.1 μg hymenoptera venom within 210 minutes. Six patients (6%) had allergic reactions grade I; 2 patients (2%) grade II and 5 patients (5%) grade III. Three patients (3%) showed unclassified reactions. SARs did not occur in the 15 patients aged 4 to 8 years and they were significantly more frequent in girls (29%) compared with boys (12%) (P = 0.034, multivariant analysis) and in bee venom extract treated patients (20%) compared to those treated with wasp venom extract (8%) (OR 0.33, 95% Cl 0.07–1.25). Conclusion. Initiation of specific immunotherapy by ultrarush regimen is safe and well tolerated in children and should be considered for treating children with allergy to hymenoptera venom