Impact of Overweight and Obesity on Disease Outcome in the Pediatric Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort.

Given the paucity of data, we aimed to assess the impact of obesity on disease activity, complications, and quality of life (QoL) in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Prospective analysis of pediatric IBD patients. Patients were categorized into 4 groups according to the World Health Organization (WHO) child growth standards: obese, overweight, normal weight, and underweight. Three hundred twenty-seven pediatric patients were included (146 with Crohn's disease [CD], 181 with ulcerative colitis of whom 13 [4%] were underweight, 272 [83.2%] had normal weight, 22 [6.7%] were overweight, and 20 [6.1%] were obese). Compared with normal weight patients, obese ulcerative colitis had a significantly higher clinical but not biological disease activity nor severity. Compared with normal weight patients, overweight/obese CD patients did not have higher clinical or biological disease activity nor severity. Perianal abscesses and surgery for this purpose were more frequently observed in overweight/obese CD patients compared with normal weight controls. Overweight/obese IBD patients were similarly hospitalized in the last 12 months compared with normal weight controls. Prevalence of overweight/obesity was 12.8% in pediatric IBD patients. Obesity was not associated with a decrease in disease remission rates nor an increase in the risk of complicated disease progression in IBD pediatric patients, except for the occurrence of perianal abscesses and related surgery in CD patients

Nonlinear electrodynamics of p-wave superconductors

We consider the Maxwell-London electrodynamics of three dimensional superconductors in p-wave pairing states with nodal points or lines in the energy gap. The current-velocity relation is then nonlinear in the applied field, cubic for point nodes and quadratic for lines. We obtain explicit angular and depth dependent expressions for measurable quantities such as the transverse magnetic moment, and associated torque. These dependences are different for point and line nodes and can be used to distinguish between different order parameters. We discuss the experimental feasibility of this method, and bring forth its advantages, as well as limitations that might be present.Comment: Fourteen pages RevTex plus four postscript figure

Hadron Energy Reconstruction for the ATLAS Calorimetry in the Framework of the Non-parametrical Method

This paper discusses hadron energy reconstruction for the ATLAS barrel prototype combined calorimeter (consisting of a lead-liquid argon electromagnetic part and an iron-scintillator hadronic part) in the framework of the non-parametrical method. The non-parametrical method utilizes only the known $e/h$ ratios and the electron calibration constants and does not require the determination of any parameters by a minimization technique. Thus, this technique lends itself to an easy use in a first level trigger. The reconstructed mean values of the hadron energies are within $\pm 1$ of the true values and the fractional energy resolution is $[(58\pm3)/\sqrt{E}+(2.5\pm0.3)$. The value of the $e/h$ ratio obtained for the electromagnetic compartment of the combined calorimeter is $1.74\pm0.04$ and agrees with the prediction that $e/h > 1.7$ for this electromagnetic calorimeter. Results of a study of the longitudinal hadronic shower development are also presented. The data have been taken in the H8 beam line of the CERN SPS using pions of energies from 10 to 300 GeV.Comment: 33 pages, 13 figures, Will be published in NIM

Construction, assembly and tests of the ATLAS electromagnetic end-cap calorimeters

The construction and the assembly of the two end-caps of the ATLAS liquid argon electromagnetic calorimeter as well as their test and qualification programs are described. The work described here started at the beginning of 2001 and lasted for approximately three years. The results of the qualification tests performed before installation in the LHC ATLAS pit are given. The detectors are now installed in the ATLAS cavern, full of liquid argon and being commissioned. The complete detectors coverage is powered with high voltage and readout

Improvement of physicochemical parameters of acyclovir using cocrystallization approach

ABSTRACT Acyclovir is an antiviral drug having potent activity against the virus of herpes family and varicella zoster. Unfortunately, drug suffers very poor oral bioavailability (15-30%). The main objective of present study was to develop acyclovir cocrystals with improved solubility which may result in improvement of bioavailability. Hansen solubility approach was used as a tool to predict the cocrystal formation of a drug with selected coformer. Cocrystals of acyclovir with various coformers were screened in order to enhance their water solubility. Cocrystals of the drug were prepared using various methods like solvent evaporation, wet grinding, and antisolvent addition. Formation of cocrystals by solvent evaporation method was found to be better method amongst all. Optimization of cocrystal formation was carried out by employing different solvents as well as the stoichiometric ratio of acyclovir with that of coformer. Synthesis of cocrystals was optimized using water as a solvent system resulted in good agreements. The potential cocrystal formation of acyclovir was characterized by IR, PXRD and DSC techniques. An in-vitro dissolution study was performed to determine the dissolution rate of cocrystals. The results suggest that acyclovir forms cocrystals with tartaric acid and the initial dissolution rate of synthesized cocrystals were considerably faster as compared to pure acyclovir

Development and Construction of Large Size Signal Electrodes for the ATLAS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

We describe the electric circuits (electrodes) which polarize and read out the Lead-Liquid Argon electromagnetic calorimeter for the ATLAS detector. The paper covers design and material choices of the circuits as well as their production in industry. We also show how the electrodes integrate into the calorimeter and conclude with results from groups of electrodes making up calorimeter modules