Photonuclear reactions with Zinc: A case for clinical linacs

The use of bremsstrahlung photons produced by a linac to induce photonuclear reactions is wide spread. However, using a clinical linac to produce the photons is a new concept. We aimed to induce photonuclear reactions on zinc isotopes and measure the subsequent transition energies and half-lives. For this purpose, a bremsstrahlung photon beam of 18 MeV endpoint energy produced by the Philips SLI-25 linac has been used. The subsequent decay has been measured with a well-shielded single HPGe detector. The results obtained for transition energies are in good agreement with the literature data and in many cases surpass these in accuracy. For the half-lives, we are in agreement with the literature data, but do not achieve their precision. The obtained accuracy for the transition energies show what is achievable in an experiment such as ours. We demonstrate the usefulness and benefits of employing clinical linacs for nuclear physics experiments

Superdeformed and Triaxial States in Ca 42

Shape parameters of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in ^{42}Ca were determined from E2 matrix elements measured in the first low-energy Coulomb excitation experiment performed with AGATA. The picture of two coexisting structures is well reproduced by new state-of-the-art large-scale shell model and beyond-mean-field calculations. Experimental evidence for superdeformation of the band built on 0_{2}^{+} has been obtained and the role of triaxiality in the A∼40 mass region is discussed. Furthermore, the potential of Coulomb excitation as a tool to study superdeformation has been demonstrated for the first time

Quadrupole collectivity in Ca 42 from low-energy Coulomb excitation with AGATA

A Coulomb-excitation experiment to study electromagnetic properties of Ca42 was performed using a 170-MeV calcium beam from the TANDEM XPU facility at INFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro. γ rays from excited states in Ca42 were measured with the AGATA spectrometer. The magnitudes and relative signs of ten E2 matrix elements coupling six low-lying states in Ca42, including the diagonal E2 matrix elements of 21+ and 22+ states, were determined using the least-squares code gosia. The obtained set of reduced E2 matrix elements was analyzed using the quadrupole sum rule method and yielded overall quadrupole deformation for 01,2+ and 21,2+ states, as well as triaxiality for 01,2+ states, establishing the coexistence of a weakly deformed ground-state band and highly deformed slightly triaxial sideband in Ca42. The experimental results were compared with the state-of-the-art large-scale shell-model and beyond-mean-field calculations, which reproduce well the general picture of shape coexistence in Ca42

Lactobacilli-containing vaginal probiotics to cure or prevent bacterial or fungal vaginal dysbiosis: a systematic review and recommendations for future trial designs.

BACKGROUND:Vaginal probiotics claiming to cure and/or prevent bacterial and/or fungal vaginal dysbiosis are available on the market but did, until recently, not have to be approved as drugs for human use. OBJECTIVES:We evaluated the impact of vaginal probiotics on bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) cure and/or recurrence, as well as vaginal microbiota (VMB) composition and vaginal detection of probiotic strains. SEARCH STRATEGY:We performed a systematic literature search in MEDLINE and Embase up to 15 January 2019. SELECTION CRITERIA:There were no restrictions in probiotic strains/formulations, study populations, and designs. BV had to be diagnosed by Nugent or Ison-Hay Gram stain scoring, VVC by culture, wet mount, or PCR, and VMB composition/detection by molecular techniques. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS:The authors independently extracted data. MAIN RESULTS:All 22 vaginal probiotics evaluated in the 34 eligible studies contained Lactobacillus strains, and some contained additional active ingredients. The probiotics hold promise for BV cure and prevention, but much less so for VVC cure and prevention. No major safety concerns were reported in any of the studies. Vaginal detection of probiotic strains never lasted long beyond the dosing period, suggesting that they did not colonise the vagina. However, findings are not definitive because heterogeneity was high and the quality of most studies suboptimal. CONCLUSIONS:Availability of vaginal probiotics for vaginal health indications will likely decline in 2020 because of regulatory changes. We urge the field to invest in clinical evidence-based product development, and to conduct future trials more rigorously. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Measurement of radioactivity levels and assessment of radioactivity hazards of soil samples in Karaman, Turkey

WOS:000347733700024PubMed:24587487In this study, the levels of the natural and artificial radioactivity in soil samples collected from surrounding of Karaman in Turkey were measured. Activity concentrations of the concerned radionuclides were determined by gamma-ray spectrometry using a high-purity germanium detector with a relative efficiency of 40% at 1.332 MeV. The results obtained for the U-238 series (Ra-226, Pb-214 and Bi-214), Th-232 series (Ac-228), K-40 and fission product Cs-137 are discussed. To evaluate the radiological hazard of radioactivity in samples, the radium equivalent activity (Ra-eq), the absorbed dose rate (D), the annual effective dose and the external (H-ex) and internal hazard index (H-in) were calculated and presented in comparison with the data collected from different areas in the world and Turkey.Akdeniz University Scientific Research Projects Coordination UnitAkdeniz University; Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University Scientific Research ProjectKaramanoglu Mehmetbey University [23-M-13]This work is supported by Akdeniz University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit and Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University Scientific Research Project 23-M-13

Corneal topography, anterior segment and high-order aberration assessments in children with ≥ 2 diopter astigmatism

PMID = 3207696

What are the probable predictors of urinary incontinence during pregnancy?

Objectives. The frequency, predisposing factors and impact of urinary incontinence (UI) on quality of life (QoL) during pregnancy were investigated. Materials and Method. A preliminary cross-sectional survey was studied among pregnant women between January and July of 2014. A total of 132 pregnant women were recruited using a questionnaire form for sociodemographic features, the Turkish version of the International Consultation on Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), for the characteristics of UI and Wagner's Quality of Life scale to assess impact on QoL. p < 0.05 was set significant. Results. Urinary incontinence was present in 56 out of 132 pregnant women (42.4%, UI-present group): mean age, 26:7±5.4y (p=0.780); median height, 160 cm (min- max: 153-176, p=0.037); median BMI, 28.7 kg/m2(min-max: 22.4-50.0, p=0.881); urine leakage occurred per week once (n=18, 32.1%), twice or thrice (n=8, 14.3%); per day few times (n=14, 25%), once (n=5, 8.9%) and always (n=8, 14.3%) with mainly a small amount of urine leakage (n=33, 58.9%) or a moderate (n=4, 7.1%). There were statistically significant relationships between QoL scores and frequency of UI (p = 0.002) or amount of leakage (p = 0.002). Impact on QoL scores ranged from mild (n = 33, 58.9%), moderate (n = 4, 7.1%) to severe (n = 4, 7.1%) levels in daily life. UI impacted the daily life activities of women by making them less likely to undertake activities outside their homes (23.2%), by affecting their working performance and friendships (8.9%), their daily home activities (7.1%), their general health status (12.5%), their sexual relations (12.5%), by making them more nervous or anxious (10.7%) and by the need to wear pads or protectors (25%). ANOVA,Tukey, and Tamhane tests as the minimal important difference model yielded significant relevance between statistical analyses and clinical outcomes by using standard deviations (p = 0.001, 0.001 and 0.005 respectively). The following features favored the occurence of UI: Age (OR = 0.845, 95% CI [0.268-2.669]), being a housewife (OR = 1.800, 95% CI [0.850-3.810]), anemia (OR=0.939, 95% CI [0.464-1.901]), parity (OR=0.519, 95% CI [0.325-0.829]), miscarriage (OR=1.219, 95% CI [0.588-2.825]) and living in rural areas (OR=1:800, 95% CI [0.887-3.653]). Height (p=0;037), educational status (0.016), miscarriage (0.002), parity (0.006) and place of living (0.020) were significant factors. Conclusions. Many pregnant women are suffering from UI, which warrants a significant public health consideration in the region. Age, height, being a housewife or graduation level higher than primary school, living in rural, parity, miscarriage, and anemia were the factors in favor of the onset of UI. The authors plan a health promotion program in the region according to the results in order to provide information to health caregivers, especially family physicians, and to educate women about the predictors of UI and pelvic floor exercises for primary prevention and secondary relief of UI during and after pregnancy and provide some hygienic supplies to the poor in this aspect. © 2016 Demircan et al