Decay of proton-rich nuclei between 39Ti and 49Ni

Decay studies of very neutron-deficient nuclei ranging from 39Ti to 49Ni have been performed during a projectile fragmentation experiment at the GANIL/LISE3 separator. For all nuclei studied in this work, 39,40Ti, 42,43Cr, 46Mn, 45,46,47Fe and 49Ni, half-lives and decay spectra have been measured. In a few cases, gamma coincidence measurements helped to successfully identify the initial and final states of transitions. In these cases, partial decay scheme are proposed. For the most exotic isotopes, 39Ti, 42Cr, 45Fe and 49Ni, which are candidates for two-proton radioactivity from the ground state, no clear evidence of this process is seen in our spectra and we conclude rather on a delayed particle decay.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, submitted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.

First observation of 55,56Zn

In an experiment at the SISSI/LISE3 facility of GANIL, the most proton-rich zinc isotopes 55,56Zn have been observed for the first time. The experiment was performed using a high-intensity 58Ni beam at 74.5 MeV/nucleon impinging on a nickel target. The identification of 55,56Zn opens the way to 54Zn, a good candidate for two-proton radioactivity according to theoretical predictions.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.

Spanish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-Sp)

BACKGROUND: The need for appraisal of oral health-related quality of life has been increasingly recognized over the last decades. The aims of this study were to develop a Spanish version (OHIP-Sp) of the Oral Health Impact Profile and to evaluate its convergent and discriminative validity, and its internal consistency. METHODS: The original 49-items OHIP was translated to Spanish, revised for understanding and semantics by two independent dentists, and then translated back to English by an independent bilingual dentist. The data originated in a cross sectional study conducted among high school students from the Province of Santiago, Chile. The study group was sampled using a multistage random cluster procedure yielding 9,203 students aged 12–21 years. All selected students were invited to participate and all filled a questionnaire with information on socio-demographic factors; oral health related behaviors; and self-reported oral health status (good, fair or poor). From this group, 9,163 students also accepted to fill a detailed questionnaire on socio-economic indicators and to receive a clinical examination comprising direct recordings of clinical attachment levels (CAL) in molars and incisors, tooth loss, and the presence of necrotizing ulcerative gingival lesions. RESULTS: The participation rate and the questionnaire completeness were high with OHIP-Sp total scores being computed for 9,133 subjects. Self-perceived oral health status was associated with the total OHIP-Sp score and all its domains (Spearman rank correlation). The OHIP-Sp total score was also directly associated with the 4 dental outcomes investigated (Mann-Whitney test) and the largest impact was found for the outcomes, 'tooth loss' with a mean OHIP-Sp score = 13.5 and 'CAL >= 3 mm' with a mean OHIP-Sp score = 13.0. CONCLUSION: The OHIP-Sp revealed suitable convergent and discriminative validity and appropriate internal consistency (Cronbach's α). Further studies on OHIP-Sp warrant the inclusion of populations with a higher disease burden; and the use of test-retest reliability exercises to evaluate the stability of the test

Climatic and geomorphologic cycles in a semiarid distributive fluvial system, Upper Cretaceous, Bauru Group, SE Brazil

Studies of distributive fluvial systems and their preserved successions envisage the distribution and orientation of architectural elements to be primarily controlled by channels radiating outward from fan apices, in many cases along an elongate basin margin. Conceptual models for such systems account for the downstream dynamics of the fluvial network, but with limited consideration of temporal geomorphic variations, resulting vertical organisation of architectural elements, or of the interplay of factors controlling system dynamics. To understand the external and internal architecture of distributive fluvial systems, and the factors that influence their sequential facies organisation, a sedimentary succession of the proximal portion of an Upper Cretaceous, semiarid, distributive fluvial system, located at the north-eastern margin of the Bauru Basin (Southeast Brazil), has been analysed in detail. Three fining- and thinning-upward fluvial sequences are identified, forming an interval separated at the top and the bottom by two palaeosol profiles. Each sequence is formed of channel and floodplain deposits. Two types of channel deposits are identified. One is composed of stacked sets of small-scale dune deposits, suggesting perennial and steady fluvial regime, associated with more humid climate periods. The other is composed of large-scale sets indicative of flattened dunes associated with unsteady and fast-changing fluvial flow, formed in quasi-supercritical flow regime conditions, associated with drier climate periods. The vertical alternation of these two types of channel deposits records the accumulation of a fluvial succession that responded to high-frequency, climate-induced cyclic change in bounding conditions. Two palaeosol profiles, at the top and at the bottom of the succession, indicate temporary interruptions and cessation of the fluvial sedimentation, likely related to avulsion of the fluvial belt. Thus, the studied succession reveals high-frequency climate-induced allogenic sedimentary cycles that occur within a long-period autogenic geomorphologic-induced sedimentary cycle. This work suggests that the internal architecture of the channel deposits can be used as a climate proxy, and that climate and geomorphology act jointly as notable factors to control the vertical organisation of distributive fluvial systems

Prevalence, intensity and extent of Oral Impacts on Daily Performances associated with self-perceived malocclusion in 11-12-year-old children

BACKGROUND: To determine the prevalence, intensity and extent of the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances associated with self-perceived malocclusion among Peruvian schoolchildren. METHODS: Eight hundred and five children aged 11 to 12 years attending 4 of 7 randomly selected schools linked to a Health Centre in Lima, Peru, participated in the study. The Spanish (Peru)Child-OIDP was used to assess the prevalence, intensity and extent of oral impacts on 8 daily performances (eating, speaking, teeth cleaning, sleeping, smiling, studying, emotion and social contact). Self-perceived malocclusion included complaints about position of teeth, spacing of teeth and deformity of mouth or face. The prevalence of oral impacts was compared by covariables using the Chi-square test, whereas the intensity and extent of oral impacts were compared by covariables through the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Only 15.5% of children reported impacts associated with self-perceived malocclusion during the last 3 months. Of them, 18.4% reported impacts of severe or very severe intensity and 76.0% reported impacts on only one daily performance. Psychosocial activities such as smiling, emotion and social contact were the most frequently and severely impacted everyday activities. CONCLUSION: Impacts of self-perceived malocclusion primarily affected psychological and social everyday activities. These findings provide further evidence to support the importance of psychological and social components of oral health on children's lives