A large, long-lived structure near the trojan L5 point in the post common-envelope binary SDSS J1021+1744

SDSS J1021+1744 is a detached, eclipsing white dwarf / M dwarf binary discovered in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Outside the primary eclipse, the light curves of such systems are usually smooth and characterised by low-level variations caused by tidal distortion and heating of the M star component. Early data on SDSS J1021+1744 obtained in June 2012 was unusual in showing a dip in flux of uncertain origin shortly after the white dwarf’s eclipse. Here we present high-time resolution, multi-wavelength observations of 35 more eclipses over 1.3 years, showing that the dip has a lifetime extending over many orbits. Moreover the “dip” is in fact a series of dips that vary in depth, number and position, although they are always placed in the phase interval 1.06 to 1.26 after the white dwarf’s eclipse, near the L5 point in this system. Since SDSS J1021+1744 is a detached binary, it follows that the dips are caused by the transit of the white dwarf by material around the Lagrangian L5 point. A possible interpretation is that they are the signatures of prominences, a phenomenon already known from Hα observations of rapidly rotating single stars as well as binaries. What makes SDSS J1021+1744 peculiar is that the material is dense enough to block continuum light. The dips appear to have finally faded out around 2015 May after the first detection by Parsons et al. in 2012, suggesting a lifetime of year

Radioactivity control strategy for the JUNO detector

602siopenJUNO is a massive liquid scintillator detector with a primary scientific goal of determining the neutrino mass ordering by studying the oscillated anti-neutrino flux coming from two nuclear power plants at 53 km distance. The expected signal anti-neutrino interaction rate is only 60 counts per day (cpd), therefore a careful control of the background sources due to radioactivity is critical. In particular, natural radioactivity present in all materials and in the environment represents a serious issue that could impair the sensitivity of the experiment if appropriate countermeasures were not foreseen. In this paper we discuss the background reduction strategies undertaken by the JUNO collaboration to reduce at minimum the impact of natural radioactivity. We describe our efforts for an optimized experimental design, a careful material screening and accurate detector production handling, and a constant control of the expected results through a meticulous Monte Carlo simulation program. We show that all these actions should allow us to keep the background count rate safely below the target value of 10 Hz (i.e. ∼1 cpd accidental background) in the default fiducial volume, above an energy threshold of 0.7 MeV. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]openAbusleme A.; Adam T.; Ahmad S.; Ahmed R.; Aiello S.; Akram M.; An F.; An Q.; Andronico G.; Anfimov N.; Antonelli V.; Antoshkina T.; Asavapibhop B.; de Andre J.P.A.M.; Auguste D.; Babic A.; Baldini W.; Barresi A.; Basilico D.; Baussan E.; Bellato M.; Bergnoli A.; Birkenfeld T.; Blin S.; Blum D.; Blyth S.; Bolshakova A.; Bongrand M.; Bordereau C.; Breton D.; Brigatti A.; Brugnera R.; Bruno R.; Budano A.; Buscemi M.; Busto J.; Butorov I.; Cabrera A.; Cai H.; Cai X.; Cai Y.; Cai Z.; Cammi A.; Campeny A.; Cao C.; Cao G.; Cao J.; Caruso R.; Cerna C.; Chang J.; Chang Y.; Chen P.; Chen P.-A.; Chen S.; Chen X.; Chen Y.-W.; Chen Y.; Chen Y.; Chen Z.; Cheng J.; Cheng Y.; Chetverikov A.; Chiesa D.; Chimenti P.; Chukanov A.; Claverie G.; Clementi C.; Clerbaux B.; Conforti Di Lorenzo S.; Corti D.; Cremonesi O.; Dal Corso F.; Dalager O.; De La Taille C.; Deng J.; Deng Z.; Deng Z.; Depnering W.; Diaz M.; Ding X.; Ding Y.; Dirgantara B.; Dmitrievsky S.; Dohnal T.; Dolzhikov D.; Donchenko G.; Dong J.; Doroshkevich E.; Dracos M.; Druillole F.; Du S.; Dusini S.; Dvorak M.; Enqvist T.; Enzmann H.; Fabbri A.; Fajt L.; Fan D.; Fan L.; Fang J.; Fang W.; Fargetta M.; Fedoseev D.; Fekete V.; Feng L.-C.; Feng Q.; Ford R.; Formozov A.; Fournier A.; Gan H.; Gao F.; Garfagnini A.; Giammarchi M.; Giaz A.; Giudice N.; Gonchar M.; Gong G.; Gong H.; Gornushkin Y.; Gottel A.; Grassi M.; Grewing C.; Gromov V.; Gu M.; Gu X.; Gu Y.; Guan M.; Guardone N.; Gul M.; Guo C.; Guo J.; Guo W.; Guo X.; Guo Y.; Hackspacher P.; Hagner C.; Han R.; Han Y.; Hassan M.S.; He M.; He W.; Heinz T.; Hellmuth P.; Heng Y.; Herrera R.; Hor Y.K.; Hou S.; Hsiung Y.; Hu B.-Z.; Hu H.; Hu J.; Hu J.; Hu S.; Hu T.; Hu Z.; Huang C.; Huang G.; Huang H.; Huang W.; Huang X.; Huang X.; Huang Y.; Hui J.; Huo L.; Huo W.; Huss C.; Hussain S.; Ioannisian A.; Isocrate R.; Jelmini B.; Jen K.-L.; Jeria I.; Ji X.; Ji X.; Jia H.; Jia J.; Jian S.; Jiang D.; Jiang X.; Jin R.; Jing X.; Jollet C.; Joutsenvaara J.; Jungthawan S.; Kalousis L.; Kampmann P.; Kang L.; Karaparambil R.; Kazarian N.; Khan W.; Khosonthongkee K.; Korablev D.; Kouzakov K.; Krasnoperov A.; Kruth A.; Kutovskiy N.; Kuusiniemi P.; Lachenmaier T.; Landini C.; Leblanc S.; Lebrin V.; Lefevre F.; Lei R.; Leitner R.; Leung J.; Li D.; Li F.; Li F.; Li H.; Li H.; Li J.; Li M.; Li M.; Li N.; Li N.; Li Q.; Li R.; Li S.; Li T.; Li W.; Li W.; Li X.; Li X.; Li X.; Li Y.; Li Y.; Li Z.; Li Z.; Li Z.; Liang H.; Liang H.; Liao J.; Liebau D.; Limphirat A.; Limpijumnong S.; Lin G.-L.; Lin S.; Lin T.; Ling J.; Lippi I.; Liu F.; Liu H.; Liu H.; Liu H.; Liu H.; Liu H.; Liu J.; Liu J.; Liu M.; Liu Q.; Liu Q.; Liu R.; Liu S.; Liu S.; Liu S.; Liu X.; Liu X.; Liu Y.; Liu Y.; Lokhov A.; Lombardi P.; Lombardo C.; Loo K.; Lu C.; Lu H.; Lu J.; Lu J.; Lu S.; Lu X.; Lubsandorzhiev B.; Lubsandorzhiev S.; Ludhova L.; Luo F.; Luo G.; Luo P.; Luo S.; Luo W.; Lyashuk V.; Ma B.; Ma Q.; Ma S.; Ma X.; Ma X.; Maalmi J.; Malyshkin Y.; Mantovani F.; Manzali F.; Mao X.; Mao Y.; Mari S.M.; Marini F.; Marium S.; Martellini C.; Martin-Chassard G.; Martini A.; Mayer M.; Mayilyan D.; Mednieks I.; Meng Y.; Meregaglia A.; Meroni E.; Meyhofer D.; Mezzetto M.; Miller J.; Miramonti L.; Montini P.; Montuschi M.; Muller A.; Nastasi M.; Naumov D.V.; Naumova E.; Navas-Nicolas D.; Nemchenok I.; Nguyen Thi M.T.; Ning F.; Ning Z.; Nunokawa H.; Oberauer L.; Ochoa-Ricoux J.P.; Olshevskiy A.; Orestano D.; Ortica F.; Othegraven R.; Pan H.-R.; Paoloni A.; Parmeggiano S.; Pei Y.; Pelliccia N.; Peng A.; Peng H.; Perrot F.; Petitjean P.-A.; Petrucci F.; Pilarczyk O.; Pineres Rico L.F.; Popov A.; Poussot P.; Pratumwan W.; Previtali E.; Qi F.; Qi M.; Qian S.; Qian X.; Qian Z.; Qiao H.; Qin Z.; Qiu S.; Rajput M.U.; Ranucci G.; Raper N.; Re A.; Rebber H.; Rebii A.; Ren B.; Ren J.; Ricci B.; Robens M.; Roche M.; Rodphai N.; Romani A.; Roskovec B.; Roth C.; Ruan X.; Ruan X.; Rujirawat S.; Rybnikov A.; Sadovsky A.; Saggese P.; Sanfilippo S.; Sangka A.; Sanguansak N.; Sawangwit U.; Sawatzki J.; Sawy F.; Schever M.; Schwab C.; Schweizer K.; Selyunin A.; Serafini A.; Settanta G.; Settimo M.; Shao Z.; Sharov V.; Shaydurova A.; Shi J.; Shi Y.; Shutov V.; Sidorenkov A.; Simkovic F.; Sirignano C.; Siripak J.; Sisti M.; Slupecki M.; Smirnov M.; Smirnov O.; Sogo-Bezerra T.; Sokolov S.; Songwadhana J.; Soonthornthum B.; Sotnikov A.; Sramek O.; Sreethawong W.; Stahl A.; Stanco L.; Stankevich K.; Stefanik D.; Steiger H.; Steinmann J.; Sterr T.; Stock M.R.; Strati V.; Studenikin A.; Sun S.; Sun X.; Sun Y.; Sun Y.; Suwonjandee N.; Szelezniak M.; Tang J.; Tang Q.; Tang Q.; Tang X.; Tietzsch A.; Tkachev I.; Tmej T.; Treskov K.; Triossi A.; Troni G.; Trzaska W.; Tuve C.; Ushakov N.; van den Boom J.; van Waasen S.; Vanroyen G.; Vassilopoulos N.; Vedin V.; Verde G.; Vialkov M.; Viaud B.; Vollbrecht M.C.; Volpe C.; Vorobel V.; Voronin D.; Votano L.; Walker P.; Wang C.; Wang C.-H.; Wang E.; Wang G.; Wang J.; Wang J.; Wang K.; Wang L.; Wang M.; Wang M.; Wang M.; Wang R.; Wang S.; Wang W.; Wang W.; Wang W.; Wang X.; Wang X.; Wang Y.; Wang Y.; Wang Y.; Wang Y.; Wang Y.; Wang Y.; Wang Y.; Wang Z.; Wang Z.; Wang Z.; Wang Z.; Waqas M.; Watcharangkool A.; Wei L.; Wei W.; Wei W.; Wei Y.; Wen L.; Wiebusch C.; Wong S.C.-F.; Wonsak B.; Wu D.; Wu F.; Wu Q.; Wu Z.; Wurm M.; Wurtz J.; Wysotzki C.; Xi Y.; Xia D.; Xie X.; Xie Y.; Xie Z.; Xing Z.; Xu B.; Xu C.; Xu D.; Xu F.; Xu H.; Xu J.; Xu J.; Xu M.; Xu Y.; Xu Y.; Yan B.; Yan T.; Yan W.; Yan X.; Yan Y.; Yang A.; Yang C.; Yang C.; Yang H.; Yang J.; Yang L.; Yang X.; Yang Y.; Yang Y.; Yao H.; Yasin Z.; Ye J.; Ye M.; Ye Z.; Yegin U.; Yermia F.; Yi P.; Yin N.; Yin X.; You Z.; Yu B.; Yu C.; Yu C.; Yu H.; Yu M.; Yu X.; Yu Z.; Yu Z.; Yuan C.; Yuan Y.; Yuan Z.; Yuan Z.; Yue B.; Zafar N.; Zambanini A.; Zavadskyi V.; Zeng S.; Zeng T.; Zeng Y.; Zhan L.; Zhang A.; Zhang F.; Zhang G.; Zhang H.; Zhang H.; Zhang J.; Zhang J.; Zhang J.; Zhang J.; Zhang J.; Zhang P.; Zhang Q.; Zhang S.; Zhang S.; Zhang T.; Zhang X.; Zhang X.; Zhang X.; Zhang Y.; Zhang Y.; Zhang Y.; Zhang Y.; Zhang Y.; Zhang Y.; Zhang Z.; Zhang Z.; Zhao F.; Zhao J.; Zhao R.; Zhao S.; Zhao T.; Zheng D.; Zheng H.; Zheng M.; Zheng Y.; Zhong W.; Zhou J.; Zhou L.; Zhou N.; Zhou S.; Zhou T.; Zhou X.; Zhu J.; Zhu K.; Zhu K.; Zhu Z.; Zhuang B.; Zhuang H.; Zong L.; Zou J.Abusleme, A.; Adam, T.; Ahmad, S.; Ahmed, R.; Aiello, S.; Akram, M.; An, F.; An, Q.; Andronico, G.; Anfimov, N.; Antonelli, V.; Antoshkina, T.; Asavapibhop, B.; de Andre, J. P. A. M.; Auguste, D.; Babic, A.; Baldini, W.; Barresi, A.; Basilico, D.; Baussan, E.; Bellato, M.; Bergnoli, A.; Birkenfeld, T.; Blin, S.; Blum, D.; Blyth, S.; Bolshakova, A.; Bongrand, M.; Bordereau, C.; Breton, D.; Brigatti, A.; Brugnera, R.; Bruno, R.; Budano, A.; Buscemi, M.; Busto, J.; Butorov, I.; Cabrera, A.; Cai, H.; Cai, X.; Cai, Y.; Cai, Z.; Cammi, A.; Campeny, A.; Cao, C.; Cao, G.; Cao, J.; Caruso, R.; Cerna, C.; Chang, J.; Chang, Y.; Chen, P.; Chen, P. -A.; Chen, S.; Chen, X.; Chen, Y. -W.; Chen, Y.; Chen, Y.; Chen, Z.; Cheng, J.; Cheng, Y.; Chetverikov, A.; Chiesa, D.; Chimenti, P.; Chukanov, A.; Claverie, G.; Clementi, C.; Clerbaux, B.; Conforti Di Lorenzo, S.; Corti, D.; Cremonesi, O.; Dal Corso, F.; Dalager, O.; De La Taille, C.; Deng, J.; Deng, Z.; Deng, Z.; Depnering, W.; Diaz, M.; Ding, X.; Ding, Y.; Dirgantara, B.; Dmitrievsky, S.; Dohnal, T.; Dolzhikov, D.; Donchenko, G.; Dong, J.; Doroshkevich, E.; Dracos, M.; Druillole, F.; Du, S.; Dusini, S.; Dvorak, M.; Enqvist, T.; Enzmann, H.; Fabbri, A.; Fajt, L.; Fan, D.; Fan, L.; Fang, J.; Fang, W.; Fargetta, M.; Fedoseev, D.; Fekete, V.; Feng, L. -C.; Feng, Q.; Ford, R.; Formozov, A.; Fournier, A.; Gan, H.; Gao, F.; Garfagnini, A.; Giammarchi, M.; Giaz, A.; Giudice, N.; Gonchar, M.; Gong, G.; Gong, H.; Gornushkin, Y.; Gottel, A.; Grassi, M.; Grewing, C.; Gromov, V.; Gu, M.; Gu, X.; Gu, Y.; Guan, M.; Guardone, N.; Gul, M.; Guo, C.; Guo, J.; Guo, W.; Guo, X.; Guo, Y.; Hackspacher, P.; Hagner, C.; Han, R.; Han, Y.; Hassan, M. S.; He, M.; He, W.; Heinz, T.; Hellmuth, P.; Heng, Y.; Herrera, R.; Hor, Y. K.; Hou, S.; Hsiung, Y.; Hu, B. -Z.; Hu, H.; Hu, J.; Hu, J.; Hu, S.; Hu, T.; Hu, Z.; Huang, C.; Huang, G.; Huang, H.; Huang, W.; Huang, X.; Huang, X.; Huang, Y.; Hui, J.; Huo, L.; Huo, W.; Huss, C.; Hussain, S.; Ioannisian, A.; Isocrate, R.; Jelmini, B.; Jen, K. -L.; Jeria, I.; Ji, X.; Ji, X.; Jia, H.; Jia, J.; Jian, S.; Jiang, D.; Jiang, X.; Jin, R.; Jing, X.; Jollet, C.; Joutsenvaara, J.; Jungthawan, S.; Kalousis, L.; Kampmann, P.; Kang, L.; Karaparambil, R.; Kazarian, N.; Khan, W.; Khosonthongkee, K.; Korablev, D.; Kouzakov, K.; Krasnoperov, A.; Kruth, A.; Kutovskiy, N.; Kuusiniemi, P.; Lachenmaier, T.; Landini, C.; Leblanc, S.; Lebrin, V.; Lefevre, F.; Lei, R.; Leitner, R.; Leung, J.; Li, D.; Li, F.; Li, F.; Li, H.; Li, H.; Li, J.; Li, M.; Li, M.; Li, N.; Li, N.; Li, Q.; Li, R.; Li, S.; Li, T.; Li, W.; Li, W.; Li, X.; Li, X.; Li, X.; Li, Y.; Li, Y.; Li, Z.; Li, Z.; Li, Z.; Liang, H.; Liang, H.; Liao, J.; Liebau, D.; Limphirat, A.; Limpijumnong, S.; Lin, G. -L.; Lin, S.; Lin, T.; Ling, J.; Lippi, I.; Liu, F.; Liu, H.; Liu, H.; Liu, H.; Liu, H.; Liu, H.; Liu, J.; Liu, J.; Liu, M.; Liu, Q.; Liu, Q.; Liu, R.; Liu, S.; Liu, S.; Liu, S.; Liu, X.; Liu, X.; Liu, Y.; Liu, Y.; Lokhov, A.; Lombardi, P.; Lombardo, C.; Loo, K.; Lu, C.; Lu, H.; Lu, J.; Lu, J.; Lu, S.; Lu, X.; Lubsandorzhiev, B.; Lubsandorzhiev, S.; Ludhova, L.; Luo, F.; Luo, G.; Luo, P.; Luo, S.; Luo, W.; Lyashuk, V.; Ma, B.; Ma, Q.; Ma, S.; Ma, X.; Ma, X.; Maalmi, J.; Malyshkin, Y.; Mantovani, F.; Manzali, F.; Mao, X.; Mao, Y.; Mari, S. M.; Marini, F.; Marium, S.; Martellini, C.; Martin-Chassard, G.; Martini, A.; Mayer, M.; Mayilyan, D.; Mednieks, I.; Meng, Y.; Meregaglia, A.; Meroni, E.; Meyhofer, D.; Mezzetto, M.; Miller, J.; Miramonti, L.; Montini, P.; Montuschi, M.; Muller, A.; Nastasi, M.; Naumov, D. V.; Naumova, E.; Navas-Nicolas, D.; Nemchenok, I.; Nguyen Thi, M. T.; Ning, F.; Ning, Z.; Nunokawa, H.; Oberauer, L.; Ochoa-Ricoux, J. P.; Olshevskiy, A.; Orestano, D.; Ortica, F.; Othegraven, R.; Pan, H. -R.; Paoloni, A.; Parmeggiano, S.; Pei, Y.; Pelliccia, N.; Peng, A.; Peng, H.; Perrot, F.; Petitjean, P. -A.; Petrucci, F.; Pilarczyk, O.; Pineres Rico, L. F.; Popov, A.; Poussot, P.; Pratumwan, W.; Previtali, E.; Qi, F.; Qi, M.; Qian, S.; Qian, X.; Qian, Z.; Qiao, H.; Qin, Z.; Qiu, S.; Rajput, M. U.; Ranucci, G.; Raper, N.; Re, A.; Rebber, H.; Rebii, A.; Ren, B.; Ren, J.; Ricci, B.; Robens, M.; Roche, M.; Rodphai, N.; Romani, A.; Roskovec, B.; Roth, C.; Ruan, X.; Ruan, X.; Rujirawat, S.; Rybnikov, A.; Sadovsky, A.; Saggese, P.; Sanfilippo, S.; Sangka, A.; Sanguansak, N.; Sawangwit, U.; Sawatzki, J.; Sawy, F.; Schever, M.; Schwab, C.; Schweizer, K.; Selyunin, A.; Serafini, A.; Settanta, G.; Settimo, M.; Shao, Z.; Sharov, V.; Shaydurova, A.; Shi, J.; Shi, Y.; Shutov, V.; Sidorenkov, A.; Simkovic, F.; Sirignano, C.; Siripak, J.; Sisti, M.; Slupecki, M.; Smirnov, M.; Smirnov, O.; Sogo-Bezerra, T.; Sokolov, S.; Songwadhana, J.; Soonthornthum, B.; Sotnikov, A.; Sramek, O.; Sreethawong, W.; Stahl, A.; Stanco, L.; Stankevich, K.; Stefanik, D.; Steiger, H.; Steinmann, J.; Sterr, T.; Stock, M. R.; Strati, V.; Studenikin, A.; Sun, S.; Sun, X.; Sun, Y.; Sun, Y.; Suwonjandee, N.; Szelezniak, M.; Tang, J.; Tang, Q.; Tang, Q.; Tang, X.; Tietzsch, A.; Tkachev, I.; Tmej, T.; Treskov, K.; Triossi, A.; Troni, G.; Trzaska, W.; Tuve, C.; Ushakov, N.; van den Boom, J.; van Waasen, S.; Vanroyen, G.; Vassilopoulos, N.; Vedin, V.; Verde, G.; Vialkov, M.; Viaud, B.; Vollbrecht, M. C.; Volpe, C.; Vorobel, V.; Voronin, D.; Votano, L.; Walker, P.; Wang, C.; Wang, C. -H.; Wang, E.; Wang, G.; Wang, J.; Wang, J.; Wang, K.; Wang, L.; Wang, M.; Wang, M.; Wang, M.; Wang, R.; Wang, S.; Wang, W.; Wang, W.; Wang, W.; Wang, X.; Wang, X.; Wang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Wang, Y.; Wang, Z.; Wang, Z.; Wang, Z.; Wang, Z.; Waqas, M.; Watcharangkool, A.; Wei, L.; Wei, W.; Wei, W.; Wei, Y.; Wen, L.; Wiebusch, C.; Wong, S. C. -F.; Wonsak, B.; Wu, D.; Wu, F.; Wu, Q.; Wu, Z.; Wurm, M.; Wurtz, J.; Wysotzki, C.; Xi, Y.; Xia, D.; Xie, X.; Xie, Y.; Xie, Z.; Xing, Z.; Xu, B.; Xu, C.; Xu, D.; Xu, F.; Xu, H.; Xu, J.; Xu, J.; Xu, M.; Xu, Y.; Xu, Y.; Yan, B.; Yan, T.; Yan, W.; Yan, X.; Yan, Y.; Yang, A.; Yang, C.; Yang, C.; Yang, H.; Yang, J.; Yang, L.; Yang, X.; Yang, Y.; Yang, Y.; Yao, H.; Yasin, Z.; Ye, J.; Ye, M.; Ye, Z.; Yegin, U.; Yermia, F.; Yi, P.; Yin, N.; Yin, X.; You, Z.; Yu, B.; Yu, C.; Yu, C.; Yu, H.; Yu, M.; Yu, X.; Yu, Z.; Yu, Z.; Yuan, C.; Yuan, Y.; Yuan, Z.; Yuan, Z.; Yue, B.; Zafar, N.; Zambanini, A.; Zavadskyi, V.; Zeng, S.; Zeng, T.; Zeng, Y.; Zhan, L.; Zhang, A.; Zhang, F.; Zhang, G.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, H.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, P.; Zhang, Q.; Zhang, S.; Zhang, S.; Zhang, T.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, X.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Z.; Zhang, Z.; Zhao, F.; Zhao, J.; Zhao, R.; Zhao, S.; Zhao, T.; Zheng, D.; Zheng, H.; Zheng, M.; Zheng, Y.; Zhong, W.; Zhou, J.; Zhou, L.; Zhou, N.; Zhou, S.; Zhou, T.; Zhou, X.; Zhu, J.; Zhu, K.; Zhu, K.; Zhu, Z.; Zhuang, B.; Zhuang, H.; Zong, L.; Zou, J

Macular sensitivity after half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy in central serous chorioretinopathy

Thuss Sanguansak, Prapapan Pitujaturont, Yosanan Yospaiboon, Suthasinee Sinawat, Tanapat Ratanapakorn, Chavakij Bhoomibunchoo Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, KKU Eye Center, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Objective: To study the macular sensitivity after half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy in patients with resolved central serous chorioretinopathy using the automated static perimeter.Methods: Prospective consecutive case study of 24 patients with resolved central serous chorioretinopathy was performed. The macular sensitivity was measured using a conventional automated static perimeter with the Swedish interactive threshold algorithm 10-2 and foveal threshold. Best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, fundus examination, macular thickness, and volume were also examined. The mean macular sensitivities of the affected eyes and their normal fellow eyes were calculated and compared. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean macular sensitivities of the affected eyes were lower than the normal fellow eyes with a statistically significant difference in all areas of the study (P<0.05). Best corrected visual acuity improved significantly from pretreatment (0.26±0.3 logMAR) to posttreatment (0.075±0.15 logMAR, P<0.05). Macular thicknesses in affected eyes were 230.66±67.34 µm and in the normal eyes were 238.33±92.26 µm (P=0.68). Macular volumes in affected eyes were 8.77±0.49 and in the normal eyes were 8.70±0.50 (P=0.60). These findings were not statistically significant.Conclusion: Eyes with resolved central serous chorioretinopathy after half-dose verteporfin photodynamic therapy had lower macular sensitivity than normal fellow eyes. These findings agreed well with the previous microperimetric studies. The conventional automated static perimeter can also be used when a microperimeter is not available. Keywords: macular sensitivity, half-dose photodynamic therapy, automated static perimeter, central serous chorioretinopath

Factors affecting visual outcomes after treatment of infectious endophthalmitis in northeastern Thailand

Yosanan Yospaiboon, Anocha Intarapanich, Wipada Laovirojjanakul, Tanapat Ratanapakorn, Suthasinee Sinawat, Thuss Sanguansak, Chavakij Bhoomibunchoo KKU Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Objective: To determine factors affecting visual outcomes after treatment of infectious endophthalmitis during 2012–2016 at a large referral eye center in northeastern Thailand. Patients and methods: Medical charts of patients with a diagnosis of infectious endophthalmitis including demographic data, types of endophthalmitis, causative organisms, methods of treatment, anatomical, and functional outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Factors associated with improved visual outcomes were analyzed.Results: Four hundred and eleven patients (417 eyes) were recruited for the study. The three most common types were post-traumatic (44.53%), post-operative (31.87%), and endogenous endophthalmitis (17.52%). Vitreous cultures revealed causative organisms in 41.25%. Most common Gram-positive organisms were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus 30% (36/120), Bacillus spp. 20% (24/120), and Streptococcus pneumoniae 18.33% (20/120). Most common Gram-negatives were Pseudomonas spp. 24.32% (9/37), Klebsiella spp. 24.32% (9/37), and Enterobacter spp. 16.21% (6/37). Methods of treatment were medical treatment (18.71%) and surgical treatment (81.29%), including pars plana vitrectomy with or without silicone oil tamponade (62.59%) and destructive surgery (18.71%). After treatment, visual improvement was noted in 44.6%, stable vision in 18.47%, and worse vision in 36.93%. Factors associated with improved visual outcomes were post-operative endophthalmitis (P<0.001), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (P=0.003), and initial visual acuity before treatment of hand motion or better (P=0.017).Conclusion: Most infectious endophthalmitis patients were post-traumatic, post-operative, and endogenous. The most common method of treatment was pars plana vitrectomy. Treatment could improve visual outcomes and at least stabilize the vision in 63.07%. Factors associated with improved visual outcomes were types of endophthalmitis, causative organisms, and initial visual acuity before treatment. Keywords: visual outcome, infectious endophthalmitis, prognostic factor

Incidence of and risk factors for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine retinopathy in Thai rheumatologic patients

Nuanpan Tangtavorn, Yosanan Yospaiboon, Tanapat Ratanapakorn, Suthasinee Sinawat, Thuss Sanguansak, Chavakij Bhoomibunchoo, Wipada Laovirojjanakul KKU Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Objective: To study the incidences of and risk factors for chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy in Thai rheumatologic patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 234 rheumatologic patients receiving either CQ or HCQ was conducted. Patients were divided based on whether or not they developed retinopathy as retinopathy-positive or negative groups. Medical records giving details regarding age, gender, body weight, underlying diseases, daily doses, and cumulative doses of CQ or HCQ were reviewed. CQ and HCQ retinopathy were diagnosed by indirect ophthalmoscopy, Humphrey visual field test, and optical coherence tomography. The main outcome measures were incidences and risk factors of CQ and HCQ retinopathy. Results: The CQ retinopathy was detected in 14 of 173 patients (8.09%) who received CQ for 139–2,033 days, cumulative doses from 14.3 to 325.1 g, and daily doses from 0.8 to 18.5 mg/kg/d. Their ages ranged from 27 to 65 years. When compared to the CQ retinopathy-negative group, only age, body weight, and cumulative dose showed statistically significant differences. The HCQ retinopathy-positive group was comprised of 2 of 61 patients (3.28%) who received HCQ for 660–828 days, cumulative doses from 80 to 130 g, and daily dose from 1.9 to 4.4 mg/kg/d. Their ages were 36 and 39 years. Compared to the HCQ retinopathy-negative group, there were no statistically significant differences in studied risk factors. Conclusion: Incidences of and risk factors for CQ and HCQ retinopathy were reported. Since most patients developed retinopathy earlier than 5 years, it is suggested that patients taking long-term CQ or HCQ should undergo ophthalmologic screening annually after the baseline examination. Keywords: chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, retinopathy, incidence, risk factor

Predictive factors in the treatment of streptococcal endophthalmitis

Yosanan Yospaiboon, Kidakarn Meethongkam, Suthasinee Sinawat, Wipada Laovirojjanakul, Tanapat Ratanapakorn, Thuss Sanguansak, Chavakij Bhoomibunchoo KKU Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Objective: To evaluate visual outcomes and possible predictive factors in the treatment of infectious endophthalmitis caused by Streptococcus species during 2012–2016 at a large referral eye center in northeastern Thailand.Methods: A retrospective medical record chart review of patients with culture-positive endophthalmitis caused by Streptococcus species was conducted. Demographic data including age, gender, occupation, duration of symptoms, time to surgery, surgical procedures, initial visual acuity at presentation, and final visual acuity after treatment were collected and analyzed. Possible predictive factors associated with improved visual outcomes were also studied.Results: Forty-five eyes of 45 patients were recruited for the study. The 3 most common types of endophthalmitis were postoperative (35.56%), posttraumatic (20%), and endogenous (15.56%). At presentation, most patients (95.56%) had visual acuity of hand motion (55.56%), light perception (28.89%), or no light perception (11.11%). The 3 most common isolates were Streptococcus pneumoniae (44.44%), Group B β-hemolytic Streptococcus (26.68%), and Streptococcus viridans (20%). Most patients (62.22%) were treated with surgical interventions, either pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics or pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics and silicone oil tamponade. After treatment, improved visual outcome was noted in only 9 patients (20%), and no visual improvement was seen in 36 patients (80%). Evisceration and enucleation were performed in 15 patients (33.33%). The only possible predictive factor associated with improved visual outcomes was early vitrectomy, performed within 3 days.Conclusion: Streptococcal endophthalmitis is often associated with poor visual prognosis. Only 9 patients (20%) had improved vision after treatment. The only possible predictive factor associated with improved visual outcomes was vitrectomy within 3 days. Early diagnosis and early vitrectomy are therefore recommended. Keywords: streptococcus endophthalmitis, visual outcomes, predictive factor

Kysy asiantuntijalta riippuvuuksista : julkinen neuvontapalsta A-klinikkasäätiön Päihdelinkissä

Päihdelinkki on A-klinikkasäätiön ylläpitämä internetpalvelu päihteistä ja riippuvuuksista. Päihdelin-kissä on tarjottu henkilökohtaista verkkoneuvontaa vuodesta 1998 lähtien. Loppuvuodesta 2008 Päihde-linkin keskustelualueelle perustettiin julkinen neuvontapalsta, asiantuntijapalsta, joka oli toiminnassa 7.10-30.11.2008. Palstalle pystyi kirjoittamaan kysymyksen, johon asiantuntijat kävivät vastaamassa noin viikon kuluessa. Kysymysten kirjoittaminen ja lukeminen ei vaatinut rekisteröitymistä, vaan ky-symykset vastauksineen olivat kaikkien palstan kävijöiden nähtävissä. Palstan vastaajina toimi kahdek-san päihdealan ammattilaista. Tämän opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli kuvata palstan toimintaa ja sinne tulleita kysymyksiä: mitä aihealuetta palstalle tulleet kysymykset käsittelivät, koskivatko kysymykset kysyjän omaa vai jonkun läheisen tilannetta ja mitä kysyjä kysymyksellään palstalta haki. Tämän lisäksi tarkoituksena oli myös selvittää vastaajien näkemyksiä ja kokemuksia julkisesta neuvontapalvelusta. Opinnäytetyöni on triangulaatiotutkimus. Aineistona käytin palstalle tulleita kysymyksiä sekä materiaalia, jonka keräsin lähettämällä sähköisen kyselylomakkeen palstan vastaajille. Analyysimenetelminä käytin aineistolähtöistä sisällönanalyysiä ja tilastollisia menetelmiä, kuten ristiintaulukointia. Palstalle lähetettiin yhteensä 52 kysymystä. Suurin osa kysymyksistä käsitteli alkoholinkäyttöä, mutta kysymyksiä tuli runsaasti myös huumeista ja lääkkeistä. Kysymyksistä lähes kaksi kolmannesta koski kysyjän omaa tilannetta ja eniten kysymyksillä haettiin tukea omien valintojen tekemiseen. Myös faktatietoa päihteistä ja neuvoja riippuvuusongelman ratkaisemiseksi haettiin. Koska tulokset koskevat vain yksittäistä tapausta, ei niitä voida yleistää koskemaan kaikkia julkisia neuvontapalstoja. Tarpeen olisikin tutkia, haetaanko muiltakin julkisilta neuvontapalstoilta näitä samoja asioita. Sähköiseen kyselyyn vastasi viisi palstan vastaajaa. Palstan tekninen toteutus onnistui hyvin, lukuun ottamatta kysymysten varausjärjestelmää, joka koettiin aluksi hieman sekavaksi. Vastaajien mielestä julkinen neuvontapalsta on hyvä lisäpalvelu, mutta sitä ei ole tarpeen tarjota jatkuvasti. Palstan avulla voidaan auttaa useampia kuin henkilökohtaisella neuvontapalvelulla, sillä kysymyksiä vastauksineen voi lukea myös ne, jotka eivät itse uskalla kysyä. Toisten samankaltaisen tilanteen huomaaminen voi rohkaista ottamaan itsekin yhteyttä tai hakemaan muulla tavalla apua.AddictionLink is an online service maintained by the A-Clinic Foundation, which deals with drugs and addictions. AddictionLink has offered online advice for individuals since 1998. At the end of 2008 an open advice site, an expert advice column, was created on the AddictionLink's discussion site. This expert column was in operation from 7.10.2008 until 30.11.2008. People could write questions to this site which the experts would reply within a week. Creating questions for the experts and reading the column did not require registration; all questions and answers were available for all visitors. The expert board consisted of eight trained specialists working with substance abusers. The goal of this study was to describe the function of the column and the questions it received: what did the questions that were received deal with, did the questions concern the situation of the person posing the question or someone else, and what sort of an end result people were hoping for. In addition to this, one of the main purposes was to discover what kind of ideas and experiences the respondents had on the public advice services. The study was conducted by triangular research. The material consisted of questions sent to the ad-vice column as well as material collected by sending an online questionnaire to those replying to the questions. The methods of analysis were material-based content analysis and statistical methods such as cross tabulation. In total, there were 52 questions sent to the column. Most of the questions dealt with the use of al-cohol, but there were also a great deal of questions on narcotics and prescription medicines. Two thirds of the questions were from people experiencing the problems - they were mostly concerned with getting support for making their own choices. There were also requests for factual information on narcotics and help on how to solve substance abuse problems. Because the results of the questionnaire only dealt with one particular case at a time, they could not be generalised to depict all public advice columns. In order to do generalisations it would be necessary to see if other advice columns receive similar questions. The online questionnaire was answered by five of the experts. The technical implementation was a success, with the exception of the booking system for the questions, which was considered confusing at first. The experts thought that a public advice column was a good extra service but it would not be ne-cessary to have it available all the time. More people can be helped with the column than with an indi-vidual advice service, because its questions and answers can also be read by those who dare not pose any questions of their own. Finding out that others are in a similar situation may encourage people to get in touch with experts or seek help in other ways

High prevalence of overweight among adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Background: Two previous surveys conducted in Ho Chi Minh City revealed an increasing prevalence of overweight and obese adolescents, from 5.9% in 2002 to 11.7% in 2004. From 2004 to 2010, the government set up and implemented health promotion programs to promote physical activity and good nutritional habits in order to prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Our study aimed to estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents in urban areas of Ho Chi Minh City in 2010. Methods. A representative sample of 1,989 students aged 11-14 years was selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. 23 schools were randomly selected from the full list of all public junior high schools. In each selected school, 2 classes were chosen at random and all students from the class were examined. Age- and sex-adjusted overweight and obesity were defined using International Obesity Taskforce cut-offs. Results: The prevalences of overweight and obesity were 17.8% and 3.2%, respectively. Prevalences of overweight and obesity were significantly higher in boys (22%, 5.4%) than in girls (13.3%, 1.3%, p<0.001) and higher in children from districts with a high economic level (20.5%, 3.8%) than in those from districts with a low economic level (12.1%, 3.8%, p<0.001). Additionally, children living in wealthier families were more overweight and obese than those living in less wealthy families. When using WHO cutoffs, the overall prevalences of overweight and obesity reached 19.6% and 7.9%, respectively. Conclusion: Our study's findings suggest that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among secondary school students remains high, especially among boys living in wealthier families. Public health programs should therefore be developed or improved in order to promote good eating habits and physical activity among youth in HCMC. © 2013 Ngoc Nguyen et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd