Prospects for measuring the 229Th isomer energy using a metallic magnetic microcalorimeter

The Thorium-229 isotope features a nuclear isomer state with an extremely low energy. The currently most accepted energy value, 7.8 +- 0.5 eV, was obtained from an indirect measurement using a NASA x-ray microcalorimeter with an instrumental resolution 26 eV. We study, how state-of-the-art magnetic metallic microcalorimeters with an energy resolution down to a few eV can be used to measure the isomer energy. In particular, resolving the 29.18 keV doublet in the \gamma-spectrum following the \alpha-decay of Uranium-233, corresponding to the decay into the ground and isomer state, allows to measure the isomer transition energy without additional theoretical input parameters, and increase the energy accuracy. We study the possibility of resolving the 29.18 keV line as a doublet and the dependence of the attainable precision of the energy measurement on the signal and background count rates and the instrumental resolution.Comment: 32 pages, 8 figures, eq. (3) correcte

Intravenous digital subtraction angiography in the assessment of patients with left to right shunts before and after surgical correction

Pre- and postoperative structural changes and pulmonary to systemic flow (QP/QS) ratios were assessed using digital angiography in 34 patients documented to have a left to right shunt at cardiac catheterization. There were 16 men and 18 women whose ages ranged from 4 months to 60 years. The radiographic single mask mode was used for all digital subtraction angiographic studies with a typical radiographic sequence being 80 to 100 kV, 5 to 10 mA/frame at six frames/s for 15 seconds. Renografin-76 was used as a bolus injection at 0.5 to 1.0 ml/kg via an arm vein in most patients. The level of the left to right shunt and any associated anomalies were noted and compared with results from cardiac catheterization. Digital subtraction angiographic flow curves were generated from the pulmonary arteries, and QP/QS ratios were calculated pre- and postoperatively using the gamma variate fit method and compared with the QP/QS ratio from first pass radionuclide studies.A strong correlation between preoperative digital subtraction angiographically derived QP/QS ratio and radionuclide-derived QP/QS ratio was found, with an r value equal to 0.89, p < 0.0001. Postoperatively, all patients had a QP/QS ratio less than 1.2:1.0 for both digital subtraction angiography and radionuclide studies. The level of left to right shunt was accurately assessed in all patients, and its absence observed postoperatively. Associated anomalies, such as a persistent left superior vena cava, coarctation of the aorta and partial anomalous venous return, were identified in all cases.Intravenous digital subtraction angiography provides accurate quantitative and anatomic data in patients with a left to right shunt, is potentially an important outpatient method to assess adequate surgical correction and may suffice preoperatively to proceed to cardiac surgery without preoperative cardiac catheterization

Basophil Phenotypes in Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria in Relation to Disease Activity and Autoantibodies

Potentially pathogenic IgG autoantibodies to IgE or its receptor, FcεRIα, have been detected in ~40% of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) patients. CIU patients' basophils display distinct altered FcεRIα-mediated degranulation. CIU patients with basophil histamine release in response to polyclonal goat anti-human IgE ≥10% are classified as CIU responders (CIU-R) and <10% are CIU non-responders (CIU-NR). We compared the presence of autoantibodies to basophil degranulation phenotypes and to disease status (active or inactive). Sera were collected from non-CIU subjects and CIU subjects who participated in a longitudinal study of disease severity and had defined basophil degranulation phenotypes. Immunoenzymetric assays (IEMA) quantified IgG anti-FcεRIα and anti-IgE. IgG anti-FcεRIα antibody was detected in 57% of CIU-R (n=35), 55% of CIU-NR (n=29), and 57% of non-CIU subjects (n=23), whereas IgG anti-IgE was present in 43% of CIU-R, 45% of CIU-NR, and 30% of non-CIU subjects. Both the autoantibody levels and the functional basophil phenotype remained stable in subjects with active disease (n=16), whereas there was an enhancement in basophil function as subjects evolved into a state of remission (n=6), which appears independent of the presence of autoantibody. IEMAs detected a similar frequency of autoantibodies in CIU-R, CIU-NR, and non-CIU subjects. Basophil function may be independent of IEMA-detected autoantibodies

Settling the half-life of ⁶⁰Fe: fundamental for a versatile astrophysical chronometer

In order to resolve a recent discrepancy in the half-life of ⁶⁰Fe, we performed an independent measurement with a new method that determines the ⁶⁰Fe content of a material relative to Fe55 (t1/2=2.744yr) with accelerator mass spectrometry. Our result of (2.50±0.12)×10⁶yr clearly favors the recently reported value (2.62±0.04)×10⁶yr, and rules out the older result of (1.49±0.27)×10⁶yr. The present weighted mean half-life value of (2.60±0.05)×10⁶yr substantially improves the reliability as an important chronometer for astrophysical applications in the million-year time range. This includes its use as a sensitive probe for studying recent chemical evolution of our Galaxy, the formation of the early Solar System, nucleosynthesis processes in massive stars, and as an indicator of a recent nearby supernova.Part of this work was funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) Projects No. AP20434 and AI00428 (FWF and CoDustMas, Eurogenesis via ESF)

Fibrinogen-related proteins in ixodid ticks

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fibrinogen-related proteins with lectin activity are believed to be part of the tick innate immune system. Several fibrinogen-related proteins have been described and characterised mainly on the basis of their cDNA sequences while direct biochemical evidence is missing. One of them, the haemolymph lectin Dorin M from the tick <it>Ornithodoros moubata </it>was isolated and characterised in more depth.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Several fibrinogen-related proteins were detected in the haemolymph of ixodid ticks <it>Dermacentor marginatus</it>, <it>Rhipicephalus appendiculatus</it>, <it>R. pulchellus</it>, and <it>R. sanguineus</it>. These proteins were recognised by sera directed against the tick lectin Dorin M and the haemagglutination activity of the ticks <it>R. appendiculatus </it>and <it>D. marginatus</it>. Cross-reactivity of the identified proteins with antibodies against the fibrinogen domain of the human ficolin was also shown. The carbohydrate-binding ability of tick haemolymph was confirmed by haemagglutination activity assays, and this activity was shown to be inhibited by neuraminic acid and sialylated glycoproteins as well as by N-acetylated hexosamines. The fibrinogen-related proteins were shown to be glycosylated and they were localised in salivary glands, midguts, and haemocytes of <it>D. marginatus</it>. Hemelipoglycoprotein was also recognised by sera directed against the fibrinogen-related proteins in all three <it>Rhipicephalus </it>species as well as in <it>D. marginatus</it>. However, this protein does not contain the fibrinogen domain and thus, the binding possibly results from the structure similarity between hemelipoglycoprotein and the fibrinogen domain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The presence of fibrinogen-related proteins was shown in the haemolymph of four tick species in high abundance. Reactivity of antibodies directed against ficolin or fibrinogen-related proteins with proteins which do not contain the fibrinogen domain points out the importance of sequence analysis of the identified proteins in further studies. Previously observed expression of fibrinogen-related proteins in haemocytes together with the results of this study suggest involvement of fibrinogen-related proteins in tick immunity processes. Thus, they have potential as targets for anti-tick vaccines and as antimicrobial proteins in pharmacology. Research on fibrinogen-related proteins could reveal further details of tick innate immunity processes.</p

Performance of a 229 Thorium solid-state nuclear clock

The 7.8 eV nuclear isomer transition in 229 Thorium has been suggested as an etalon transition in a new type of optical frequency standard. Here we discuss the construction of a "solid-state nuclear clock" from Thorium nuclei implanted into single crystals transparent in the vacuum ultraviolet range. We investigate crystal-induced line shifts and broadening effects for the specific system of Calcium fluoride. At liquid Nitrogen temperatures, the clock performance will be limited by decoherence due to magnetic coupling of the Thorium nucleus to neighboring nuclear moments, ruling out the commonly used Rabi or Ramsey interrogation schemes. We propose a clock stabilization based on counting of flourescence photons and present optimized operation parameters. Taking advantage of the high number of quantum oscillators under continuous interrogation, a fractional instability level of 10^{-19} might be reached within the solid-state approach.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figure

Developing a National Implementation Strategy to accelerate Uptake of Evidence-Based Family Caregiver Support in Us Cancer Centers

OBJECTIVE: Characterize key factors and training needs of U.S. cancer centers in implementing family caregiver support services. METHODS: Sequential explanatory mixed methods design consisting of: (1) a national survey of clinicians and administrators from Commission-on-Cancer-accredited cancer centers (N = 238) on factors and training needed for establishing new caregiver programs and (2) qualitative interviews with a subsample of survey respondents (N = 30) to elicit feedback on survey findings and the outline of an implementation strategy to facilitate implementation of evidence-based family caregiver support (the Caregiver Support Accelerator). Survey data was tabulated using descriptive statistics and transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: top factors for developing new caregiver programs were that the program be: consistent with the cancer center\u27s mission and strategic plan (87%), supported by clinic leadership (86.5%) and providers and staff (85.7%), and low cost or cost effective (84.9%). top training needs were how to: train staff to implement programs (72.3%), obtain program materials (63.0%), and evaluate program outcomes (62.6%). Only 3.8% reported that no training was needed. Qualitative interviews yielded four main themes: (1) gaining leadership, clinician, and staff buy-in and support is essential; (2) cost and clinician burden are major factors to program implementation; (3) training should help with adapting and marketing programs to local context and culture; and (4) the Accelerator strategy is comprehensive and would benefit from key organizational partnerships and policy standards. CONCLUSION: Findings will be used to inform and refine the Accelerator implementation strategy to facilitate the adoption and growth of evidence-based cancer caregiver support in U.S. cancer centers

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE): an underrecognized complication?

PubMe

Association of Inventory to Measure and Assess imaGe Disturbance - Head and Neck Scores With Clinically Meaningful Body Image-Related Distress Among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors

Objective: The Inventory to Measure and Assess imaGe disturbance - Head and Neck (IMAGE-HN) is a validated patient-reported outcome measure of head and neck cancer-related body image-related distress (BID). However, the IMAGE-HN score corresponding to clinically relevant BID is unknown. The study objective is to determine the IMAGE-HN cutoff score that identifies head and neck cancer patients with clinically relevant BID. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study at six academic medical centers. Individuals ≥18 years old with a history of head and neck cancer treated with definitive intent were included. The primary outcome measure was the IMAGE-HN. A Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis was performed to identify the IMAGE-HN score that maximized sensitivity and specificity relative to a Body Image Scale score of ≥10 (which indicates clinically relevant BID in a general oncology population). To confirm the validity of the IMAGE-HN cutoff score, we compared the severity of depressive [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)] and anxiety symptoms [Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)], and quality of life [University of Washington-QOL (UW-QOL)] in patients with IMAGE-HN scores above and below the cutoff. Results: Of the 250 patients, 70.4% were male and the mean age was 62.3 years. An IMAGE-HN score of ≥22 was the optimal cutoff score relative to a Body Image Scale score of ≥10 and represents a clinically relevant level of head and neck cancer-related BID. Relative to those with an IMAGE-HN score of \u3c22, patients with IMAGE-HN scores of ≥22 had a clinically meaningful increase in symptoms of depression (mean PHQ-9 score difference = 5.8) and anxiety (mean GAD-7 score difference = 4.1) as well as worse physical (mean UW-QOL score difference = 18.9) and social-emotional QOL (mean UW-QOL score difference = 21.5). Using an IMAGE-HN cutoff score ≥22, 28% of patients had clinically relevant BID. Conclusion: An IMAGE-HN score of ≥22 identifies patients with clinically relevant head and neck cancer-related BID. This score may be used to detect patients who could benefit from strategies to manage their distress, select patients for studies evaluating interventions to manage head and neck cancer-related BID, and improve our understanding of the underlying epidemiology of the disorder