Measurement of (n,) reaction cross section of W-186-isotope at neutron energy of 20.02±0.58 MeV

The cross-section of 186W(n,)187W reaction has been measured at an average neutron energy of 20.02±0.58 MeV by using activation technique. The 27Al(n,)24Na and 115In(n,n´)115mIn reactions have been used for absolute neutron flux measurement. Theoretically the reaction cross-sections have been calculated by using the TALYS-1.9 code. The results from the present work and the EXFOR based literature data have been compared with the evaluated data and calculated data from TALYS-1.9 code

Spectrum and antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria contaminating the upper gut in patients with malabsorption syndrome from the tropics

BACKGROUND: Various causes of malabsorption syndrome (MAS) are associated with intestinal stasis that may cause small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Frequency, nature and antibiotic sensitivity of SIBO in patients with MAS are not well understood. METHODS: Jejunal aspirates of 50 consecutive patients with MAS were cultured for bacteria and colony counts and antibiotic sensitivity were performed. Twelve patients with irritable bowel syndrome were studied as controls. RESULTS: Culture revealed growth of bacteria in 34/50 (68%) patients with MAS and 3/12 controls (p < 0.05). Colony counts ranged from 3 × 10(2 )to 10(15 )(median 10(5)) in MAS and 100 to 1000 (median 700) CFU/ml in controls (p 0.003). 21/50 (42%) patients had counts ≥10(5 )CFU/ml in MAS and none of controls (p < 0.05). Aerobes were isolated in 34/34 and anaerobe in 1/34. Commonest Gram positive and negative bacteria were Streptococcus species and Escherichia coli respectively. The isolated bacteria were more often sensitive to quinolones than to tetracycline (ciprofloxacin: 39/47 and norfloxacin: 34/47 vs. tetracycline 19/47, <0.01), ampicillin, erythromycin and co-trimoxazole (21/44, 14/22 and 24/47 respectively vs. tetracycline, p = ns). CONCLUSIONS: SIBO is common in patients with MAS due to various causes and quinolones may be the preferred treatment. This needs to be proved further by a randomized controlled trial

Impact of an International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium multidimensional approach on central line-associated bloodstream infection rates in adult intensive care units in eight cities in India

SummaryObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional infection control approach on central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates in eight cities of India.MethodsThis was a prospective, before-and-after cohort study of 35650 patients hospitalized in 16 adult intensive care units of 11 hospitals. During the baseline period, outcome surveillance of CLABSI was performed, applying the definitions of the CDC/NHSN (US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network). During the intervention, the INICC approach was implemented, which included a bundle of interventions, education, outcome surveillance, process surveillance, feedback on CLABSI rates and consequences, and performance feedback. Random effects Poisson regression was used for clustering of CLABSI rates across time periods.ResultsDuring the baseline period, 9472 central line (CL)-days and 61 CLABSIs were recorded; during the intervention period, 80898 CL-days and 404 CLABSIs were recorded. The baseline rate was 6.4 CLABSIs per 1000 CL-days, which was reduced to 3.9 CLABSIs per 1000 CL-days in the second year and maintained for 36 months of follow-up, accounting for a 53% CLABSI rate reduction (incidence rate ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.31–0.70; p=0.0001).ConclusionsImplementing the six components of the INICC approach simultaneously was associated with a significant reduction in the CLABSI rate in India, which remained stable during 36 months of follow-up

Azimuthal anisotropy of charged jet production in root s(NN)=2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions

We present measurements of the azimuthal dependence of charged jet production in central and semi-central root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb collisions with respect to the second harmonic event plane, quantified as nu(ch)(2) (jet). Jet finding is performed employing the anti-k(T) algorithm with a resolution parameter R = 0.2 using charged tracks from the ALICE tracking system. The contribution of the azimuthal anisotropy of the underlying event is taken into account event-by-event. The remaining (statistical) region-to-region fluctuations are removed on an ensemble basis by unfolding the jet spectra for different event plane orientations independently. Significant non-zero nu(ch)(2) (jet) is observed in semi-central collisions (30-50% centrality) for 20 <p(T)(ch) (jet) <90 GeV/c. The azimuthal dependence of the charged jet production is similar to the dependence observed for jets comprising both charged and neutral fragments, and compatible with measurements of the nu(2) of single charged particles at high p(T). Good agreement between the data and predictions from JEWEL, an event generator simulating parton shower evolution in the presence of a dense QCD medium, is found in semi-central collisions. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

Peer reviewe

Pseudorapidity and transverse-momentum distributions of charged particles in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

The pseudorapidity (eta) and transverse-momentum (p(T)) distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions are measured at the centre-of-mass energy root s = 13 TeV. The pseudorapidity distribution in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1.8 is reported for inelastic events and for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The pseudorapidity density of charged particles produced in the pseudorapidity region vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.5 is 5.31 +/- 0.18 and 6.46 +/- 0.19 for the two event classes, respectively. The transverse-momentum distribution of charged particles is measured in the range 0.15 <p(T) <20 GeV/c and vertical bar eta vertical bar <0.8 for events with at least one charged particle in vertical bar eta vertical bar <1. The evolution of the transverse momentum spectra of charged particles is also investigated as a function of event multiplicity. The results are compared with calculations from PYTHIA and EPOS Monte Carlo generators. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Peer reviewe

Hepatitis E: intrafamilial transmission versus waterborne spread

The relative significance of intrafamilial transmission and continued water contamination in the spread of hepatitis E is not known. To resolve this question, two surveys were conducted during a large bimodal waterborne epidemic of hepatitis E in Kanpur, India, affecting an estimated 79 000 persons: i) April 1991: covering 420 houses (60 houses each in seven municipal wards) selected using multistage sampling and random number tables, and ii) May 1992: covering the same families in five municipal wards with incidence rates exceeding 1.5% in the first survey. The number of affected cases in each family and the time of onset of disease in each case were recorded. The time interval between the first (‘index’) case and the subsequent (‘later’) case(s) in each family was calculated. The temporal relationship of the occurrence of cases was correlated with the time of control of water contamination. One hundred and eleven hepatitis cases occurred in the 343 families (with 2018 members) studied. Eighty-one of these were single or first cases in their families. Twenty-two ‘later’ cases occurred within 2 weeks (minimum incubation period of hepatitis E) of the ‘index’ cases and could not be due to intrafamilial transmission. Thus, 103 of 111 (92.8%) cases were due to primary waterborne infection. Eight ‘later’ cases (7.2% of 111) that occurred 2–6 weeks after the index cases could be due either to direct spread or to intrafamilial transmission. No ‘later’ case occurred more than 6 weeks after the ‘index’ cases. New cases stopped appearing 9 weeks (upper limit of incubation period of hepatitis E) after steps to check water contamination were taken. Our data suggest that intrafamilial transmission plays a minor role in hepatitis E transmission compared to continued contamination of water supply

Assessment of cost-effectiveness of universal hepatitis B immunization in a low-income country with intermediate endemicity using a Markov model

Background/Aims: Most countries with high hepatitis B (HB) virus endemicity and most high-income countries have introduced immunization programmes against this infection. However, several low-income countries with intermediate HB endemicity have not done so. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of universal childhood HB immunization in such countries using India as an example, since available data on this aspect are limited. Methods: Marginal cost of every life-year and quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained with universal HB vaccination was calculated using a Markov model. Two types of analyses (including and excluding expenditure on treatment of long-term complications of HB infection) were done. Several sensitivity analyses and Monte-Carlo simulation were performed. Results: Universal immunization reduced the HB carrier rate by 71%, and increased the number of years and QALY lived by a birth-cohort by 0.173 years (61.072 vs. 60.899 years) and 0.213 years (61.056 vs. 60.843 years), respectively. Marginal costs were US$16.27 per life-year gained and US$13.22 per QALY gained, much lower than annual per capita income. One-way sensitivity analysis and Monte-Carlo simulation confirmed the robustness of the conclusions. Conclusions: Universal HB immunization is highly cost-effective in low-income countries with intermediate endemicity rates