Transition from subbarrier to deep subbarrier regimes in heavy-ion fusion reactions

We analyze the recent experimental data of heavy-ion fusion cross sections available up to deep subbarrier energies in order to discuss the threshold incident energy for a deep subbarrier fusion hindrance phenomenon. To this end, we employ a one-dimensional potential model with a Woods-Saxon internuclear potential. Fitting the experimental data in two different energy regions with different Woods-Saxon potentials, we define the threshold energy as an intersect of the two fusion excitation functions. We show that the threshold energies so extracted are in good agreement with the empirical systematics as well as with the values of the Krappe-Nix-Sierk (KNS) potential at the touching point. We also discuss the asymptotic energy shift of fusion cross sections with respect to the potential model calculations, and show that it decreases with decreasing energies in the deep subbarrier region although it takes a constant value at subbarrier energies.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Plasmodium vivax resistance to chloroquine in Dawei, southern Myanmar.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of chloroquine in the treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria in in Dawei District, southern Myanmar. METHODS: Enrolled patients at Sonsinphya clinic >6 months of age were assessed clinically and parasitologically every week for 28 days. To differentiate new infections from recrudescence, we genotyped pre- and post-treatment parasitaemia. Blood chloroquine was measured to confirm resistant strains. RESULTS: Between December 2002 and April 2003, 2661 patients were screened, of whom 252 were included and 235 analysed. Thirty-four per cent (95% CI: 28.1-40.6) of patients had recurrent parasitaemia and were considered treatment failures. 59.4% of these recurrences were with a different parasite strain. Two (0.8%) patients with recurrences on day 14 had chloroquine concentrations above the threshold of 100 ng/ml and were considered infected with chloroquine resistant parasites. 21% of failures occurred during the first 3 weeks of follow-up: early recurrence and median levels of blood chloroquine comparable to those of controls suggested P. vivax resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Plasmodium vivax resistance to chloroquine seems to be emerging in Dawei, near the Thai-Burmese border. While chloroquine remains the first-line drug for P. vivax infections in this area of Myanmar, regular monitoring is needed to detect further development of parasite resistance

Beneficial effect of ustekinumab in familial pityriasis rubra pilaris with a new missense mutation in CARD14

Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) represents a group of rare chronic inflammatory skin disorders in which ~1 in 20 affected individuals show autosomal dominant inheritance. In such cases, there may be gain-of-function mutations in CARD14, encoding caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 14 (CARD14) that activates the non-canonical nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, thereby promoting cutaneous inflammation. Here, we report a mother and son with PRP due to a new missense mutation in CARD14 and describe the beneficial clinical effects of ustekinumab, a monoclonal antibody against interleukins-12 and -23, in both subjects. A 49 year-old female and her 20 year-old son had lifelong, generalised, patchy erythematous scale with a few islands of sparing, as well as minor nail ridging and mild palmoplantar keratoderma, features consistent with generalised PRP. Topical steroids, phototherapy and oral retinoids proved ineffective therapies. Following informed consent, Sanger sequencing of CARD14 in both individuals revealed a new heterozygous single nucleotide transversion in exon 16, c.356T>G, resulting in the missense mutation, p.Met119Arg. Ustekinumab, at a dose of 45mg every 12 weeks, brought about a significant physical and emotional improvement in both the mother and son within a few days of the initial dose, which was sustained on maintenance dosing. This report highlights the therapeutic potential of biologics that downregulate NF-kB signalling in familial PRP with mutations in CARD14. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Modal analysis of holey fiber mode-selective couplers

Mode Division Multiplexing is currently investigated as a possible way to increase fiber system capacity. With this approach, different modes of the same fiber carry distinct information. One of the problems to be solved in these systems concerns coupling/decoupling of the various modes to/from the same fiber. In this presentation, the mode features of a mode mux/demux based on holey fibers are investigated, with particular emphasis on optimal device design. Some preliminary experimental results will also be presented

Validity of Fusion Imaging of Hamster Heart obtained by Fluorescent and Phase-Contrast X-Ray CT with Synchrotron Radiation

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In-vivo Fluorescent X-ray CT Imaging of Mouse Brain

Using a non-radioactive iodine-127 labeled cerebral perfusion agent (I-127 IMP), fluorescent X-ray computed tomography (FXCT) clearly revealed the cross-sectional distribution of I-127 IMP in normal mouse brain in-vivo. Cerebral perfusion of cortex and basal ganglion was depicted with 1 mm in-plane spatial resolution and 0.1 mm slice thickness. Degree of cerebral perfusion in basal ganglion was about 2-fold higher than that in cortical regions. This result suggests that in-vivo cerebral perfusion imaging is realized quantitatively by FXCT at high volumetric resolution