146 research outputs found
Large enhancement of radiative strength for soft transisitons in the quasicontinuum
Radiative strength functions (RSFs) for the 56,57-Fe nuclei below the
separation energy are obtained from the 57-Fe(3-He,alpha gamma)56-Fe and
57-Fe(3-He,3-He' gamma)57-Fe reactions, respectively. An enhancement of more
than a factor of ten over common theoretical models of the soft (E_gamma ~< 2
MeV) RSF for transitions in the quasicontinuum (several MeV above the yrast
line) is observed. Two-step cascade intensities with soft primary transitions
from the 56-Fe(n,2gamma)57-Fe reaction confirm the enhancement.Comment: 4 pages including 3 figure
Partial level density of the n-quasiparticle excitations in the nuclei of the 39< A <201 region
Level density and radiative strength functions are obtained from the analysis
of two-step cascades intensities following the thermal neutrons capture. The
data on level density are approximated by the sum of the partial level
densities corresponding to n quasiparticles excitation. The most probable
values of the collective enhancement factor of the level density are found
together with the thresholds of the next Cooper nucleons pair breaking. These
data allow one to calculate the level density of practically any nucleus in
given spin window in the framework of model concepts, taking into account all
known nuclear excitation types. The presence of an approximation results
discrepancy with theoretical statements specifies the necessity of rather
essentially developing the level density models. It also indicates the
possibilities to obtain the essentially new information on nucleon correlation
functions of the excited nucleus from the experiment.Comment: 29 pages, 8 figures, 2 table
Regular Matching and Inclusion on Compressed Tree Patterns with Context Variables
International audienceWe study the complexity of regular matching and inclusion for compressed tree patterns extended by context variables. The addition of context variables to tree patterns permits us to properly capture compressed string patterns but also compressed patterns for unranked trees with tree and hedge variables. Regular inclusion for the latter is relevant to certain query answering on Xml streams with references
Use of medications by people with chronic fatigue syndrome and healthy persons: a population-based study of fatiguing illness in Georgia
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition of unknown etiology and no definitive pharmacotherapy. Patients are usually prescribed symptomatic treatment or self-medicate. We evaluated prescription and non-prescription drug use among persons with CFS in Georgia and compared it to that in non-fatigued <it>Well </it>controls and also to chronically <it>Unwell </it>individuals not fully meeting criteria for CFS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A population-based, case-control study. To identify persons with possible CFS-like illness and controls, we conducted a random-digit dialing telephone screening of 19,807 Georgia residents, followed by a detailed telephone interview of 5,630 to identify subjects with CFS-like illness, other chronically <it>Unwell</it>, and <it>Well </it>subjects. All those with CFS-like illness (n = 469), a random sample of chronically <it>Unwell </it>subjects (n = 505), and <it>Well </it>individuals (n = 641) who were age-, sex-, race-, and geographically matched to those with CFS-like illness were invited for a clinical evaluation and 783 participated (48% overall response rate). Clinical evaluation identified 113 persons with CFS, 264 <it>Unwell </it>subjects with insufficient symptoms for CFS (named ISF), and 124 <it>Well </it>controls; the remaining 280 subjects had exclusionary medical or psychiatric conditions, and 2 subjects could not be classified. Subjects were asked to bring all medications taken in the past 2 weeks to the clinic where a research nurse viewed and recorded the name and the dose of each medication.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>More than 90% of persons with CFS used at least one drug or supplement within the preceding two weeks. Among users, people with CFS used an average of 5.8 drugs or supplements, compared to 4.1 by ISF and 3.7 by <it>Well </it>controls. Persons with CFS were significantly more likely to use antidepressants, sedatives, muscle relaxants, and anti-acids than either <it>Well </it>controls or the ISF group. In addition, persons with CFS were significantly more likely to use pain-relievers, anti-histamines and cold/sinus medications than were <it>Well </it>controls.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Medical care providers of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome should be aware of polypharmacy as a problem in such patients, and the related potential iatrogenic effects and drug interactions.</p
Molecular Ecology and Natural History of Simian Foamy Virus Infection in Wild-Living Chimpanzees
Identifying microbial pathogens with zoonotic potential in wild-living primates can be important to human health, as evidenced by human immunodeficiency viruses types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and Ebola virus. Simian foamy viruses (SFVs) are ancient retroviruses that infect Old and New World monkeys and apes. Although not known to cause disease, these viruses are of public health interest because they have the potential to infect humans and thus provide a more general indication of zoonotic exposure risks. Surprisingly, no information exists concerning the prevalence, geographic distribution, and genetic diversity of SFVs in wild-living monkeys and apes. Here, we report the first comprehensive survey of SFVcpz infection in free-ranging chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) using newly developed, fecal-based assays. Chimpanzee fecal samples (n = 724) were collected at 25 field sites throughout equatorial Africa and tested for SFVcpz-specific antibodies (n = 706) or viral nucleic acids (n = 392). SFVcpz infection was documented at all field sites, with prevalence rates ranging from 44% to 100%. In two habituated communities, adult chimpanzees had significantly higher SFVcpz infection rates than infants and juveniles, indicating predominantly horizontal rather than vertical transmission routes. Some chimpanzees were co-infected with simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVcpz); however, there was no evidence that SFVcpz and SIVcpz were epidemiologically linked. SFVcpz nucleic acids were recovered from 177 fecal samples, all of which contained SFVcpz RNA and not DNA. Phylogenetic analysis of partial gag (616 bp), pol-RT (717 bp), and pol-IN (425 bp) sequences identified a diverse group of viruses, which could be subdivided into four distinct SFVcpz lineages according to their chimpanzee subspecies of origin. Within these lineages, there was evidence of frequent superinfection and viral recombination. One chimpanzee was infected by a foamy virus from a Cercopithecus monkey species, indicating cross-species transmission of SFVs in the wild. These data indicate that SFVcpz (i) is widely distributed among all chimpanzee subspecies; (ii) is shed in fecal samples as viral RNA; (iii) is transmitted predominantly by horizontal routes; (iv) is prone to superinfection and recombination; (v) has co-evolved with its natural host; and (vi) represents a sensitive marker of population structure that may be useful for chimpanzee taxonomy and conservation strategies
What Research Has to Say About Gender-Linked Differences in CMC and Does Elementary School Children’s E-mail Use Fit This Picture?
This paper first reviews the literature on computer mediated communication (CMC) to examine whether claims about gender-linked differences in specific attitudes, styles and content in CMC have been validated. Empirical studies were limited, with considerable variation in audiences, tasks, and contexts that was related to varied outcomes. The paper next describes an empirical study on the e-mail communication of elementary school children from ten Dutch classrooms. No gender-linked preference for a person or task-oriented attitude was found. Girls significantly more often employed an elaborate style. Differences between boys and girls on content of communication were subtle rather than robust. The conclusion discusses the functional embedding of CMC and the need to examine jointly antecedents, language acts and consequences. (http://www.springerlink.com/content/28181t88lxg835q2
Patient-reported quality of life outcomes for children with serious congenital heart defects
Objective To compare patient-reported, health-related
quality of life (QoL) for children with serious congenital
heart defects (CHDs) and unaffected classmates and to
investigate the demographic and clinical factors
influencing QoL.
Design Retrospective cohort study.
Setting UK National Health Service.
Patients UK-wide cohort of children with serious CHDs
aged 10–14 years requiring cardiac intervention in the
first year of life in one of 17 UK paediatric cardiac
surgical centres operating during 1992–1995. A
comparison group of classmates of similar age and sex
was recruited.
Main outcome measures Child self-report of healthrelated QoL scores (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory,
PedsQL) and parental report of schooling and social
activities.
Results Questionnaires were completed by 477
children with CHDs (56% boys; mean age 12.1 (SD 1.0)
years) and 464 classmates (55%; 12.0 (SD 1.1) years).
Children with CHDs rated QoL significantly lower than
classmates (CHDs: median 78.3 (IQR 65.0–88.6);
classmates: 88.0 (80.2–94.6)) and scored lower on
physical (CHDs: 84.4; classmates: 93.8; difference 9.4
(7.8 to 10.9)) and psychosocial functioning subscales
(CHDs: 76.7, classmates: 85.0; difference 8.3 (6.0 to
10.6)). Cardiac interventions, school absence, regular
medications and non-cardiac comorbidities were
independently associated with reduced QoL. Participation
in sport positively influenced QoL and was associated
with higher psychosocial functioning scores.
Conclusions Children with serious CHDs experience
lower QoL than unaffected classmates. This appears
related to the burden of clinical intervention rather than
underlying cardiac diagnosis. Participation in sports
activities is positively associated with increased
emotional well-being. Child self-report measures of QoL
would be a valuable addition to clinical outcome audit
in this age group.RLK was awarded an MRC Special Training Fellowship in Health of the Public and Health Services Research (reference G106/1083). TD was supported by an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship. This work was supported by a British Heart Foundation project grant (reference PG/02/065/13934). The Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics benefits from funding support from the Medical Research Council in its capacity as the MRC Centre of Epidemiology for Child Health (reference G04005546). Great Ormond St Hospital for Children NHS Trust and the UCL Institute of Child Health receives a proportion of funding from the Department of Health’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centres schem
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