135 research outputs found
A description of the time interval measurement and laser control circuitry for the lunar ranging experiment
Detector package, laser, and telescopes for lunar ranging experimen
Time transfer between the Goddard Optical Research Facility and the U.S. Naval Observatory using 100 picosecond laser pulses
A horizontal two-way time comparison link in air between the University of Maryland laser ranging and time transfer equipment at the Goddard Optical Research Facility (GORF) 1.2 m telescope and the Time Services Division of the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) was established. Flat mirrors of 25 cm and 30 cm diameter respectively were placed on top of the Washington Cathedral and on a water tower at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Two optical corner reflectors at the USNO reflect the laser pulses back to the GORF. Light pulses of 100 ps duration and an energy of several hundred microjoules are sent at the rate of 10 pulses per second. The detection at the USNO is by means of an RCA C30902E avalanche photodiode and the timing is accomplished by an HP 5370A computing counter and an HP 1000 computer with respect to a 10 pps pulse train from the Master Clock
Ultrasound of acquired posterior fossa abnormalities in the newborn
Neonatal brain sonography is part of routine clinical practice in neonatal intensive care units, but ultrasound imaging of the posterior fossa has gained increasing attention since the burden of perinatal acquired posterior fossa abnormalities and their impact on motor and cognitive neurodevelopmental outcome have been recognized. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often superior, posterior fossa abnormalities can be suspected or detected by optimized cranial ultrasound (CUS) scans, which allow an early and bed-side diagnosis and monitoring through sequential scans over a long period of time. Different ultrasound appearances and injury patterns of posterior fossa abnormalities are described according to gestational age at birth and characteristics of the pathogenetic insult. The aim of this review article is to describe options to improve posterior fossa sequential CUS image quality, including the use of supplemental acoustic windows, to show standard views and normal ultrasound anatomy of the posterior fossa, and to describe the ultrasound characteristics of acquired posterior fossa lesions in preterm and term infants with effect on long-term outcome. The limitations and pitfalls of CUS and the role of MRI are discussed
Early recognition of characteristic conventional and amplitude-integrated EEG patterns of seizures in <i>SCN2A </i>and <i>KCNQ3</i>-related epilepsy in neonates
Purpose: Early recognition of seizures in neonates secondary to pathogenic variants in potassium or sodium channel coding genes is crucial, as these seizures are often resistant to commonly used anti-seizure medications but respond well to sodium channel blockers. Recently, a characteristic ictal amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) pattern was described in neonates with KCNQ2-related epilepsy. We report a similar aEEG pattern in seizures caused by SCN2A- and KCNQ3-pathogenic variants, as well as conventional EEG (cEEG) descriptions. Methods: International multicentre descriptive study, reporting clinical characteristics, aEEG and cEEG findings of 13 neonates with seizures due to pathogenic SCN2A- and KCNQ3-variants. As a comparison group, aEEGs and cEEGs of neonates with seizures due to hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (n = 117) and other confirmed genetic causes affecting channel function (n = 55) were reviewed. Results: In 12 out of 13 patients, the aEEG showed a characteristic sequence of brief onset with a decrease, followed by a quick rise, and then postictal amplitude attenuation. This pattern correlated with bilateral EEG onset attenuation, followed by rhythmic discharges ending in several seconds of post-ictal amplitude suppression. Apart from patients with KCNQ2-related epilepsy, none of the patients in the comparison groups had a similar aEEG or cEEG pattern. Discussion: Seizures in SCN2A- and KCNQ3-related epilepsy in neonates can usually be recognized by a characteristic ictal aEEG pattern, previously reported only in KCNQ2-related epilepsy, extending this unique feature to other channelopathies. Awareness of this pattern facilitates the prompt initiation of precision treatment with sodium channel blockers even before genetic results are available.</p
Classroom-evaluated school performance at nine years of age after very preterm birth
Objective: To determine classroom-evaluated school performance nine
years after preterm birth, predicted by perinatal risk factors and neonatal brain
abnormalities.Study design: Children were recruited from a consecutive cohort of 113
preterm infants (<32 weeksâ gestation), participating in a longitudinal
prospective study, investigating brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcome.
Data on perinatal risk factors, presence of brain injury at term-equivalent age,
and maternal education were collected. Information on school performance
included enrollment in special (primary) education, grade repetition and school
results from the nationwide standardized Dutch Pupil Monitoring System regarding
reading comprehension, spelling, and mathematics.Results: Information on school enrollment was available for 87 children
(77%), of whom 7 (8%) were in special primary education and 19 (22%) repeated a
grade. This was significantly higher compared to national rates (p †.05). Results on school performance
were available for 74 children (65%) and showed clearly below average scores in
reading comprehension (p = .006),
spelling (p = .014) and mathematics (p <.001). Univariate analysis showed
that lower performance in reading comprehension was predicted by male sex and
low maternal education; spelling by male sex; and mathematics by BPD, white
matter injury and maternal education. In a multivariate model, male sex and
maternal education were predictive for reading comprehension and white matter
injury for mathematics.
Conclusion: Preterm born children more often need special primary
education and have higher grade repeat rates. They perform poorer on reading
comprehension, spelling and mathematics. Regular follow-up remains important
for preterm born children during school age. New methods for child psychiatric diagnosis and treatment outcome evaluatio
The clinical presentation of preterm cerebellar haemorrhage
The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical symptoms and findings on cranial ultrasound (CUS) in preterm infants with cerebellar haemorrhage through retrospective analysis of all preterm infants with a postnatal CUS or MRI diagnosis of cerebellar haemorrhage admitted in a tertiary care centre between January 2002 and June 2009. Fifteen infants were identified; median gestational age was 25 2/7 weeks and median birth weight 730 g. We discerned six types of haemorrhage: subarachnoid (n=3), folial (n=1), lobar (n=9, of which 4 bilateral), giant lobar (n=1, including vermis) and contusional (n=1). Especially in infants with lobar cerebellar haemorrhage, CUS showed preceding or concurrent lateral ventricle dilatation, mostly without intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH). Thirteen infants suffered from notable, otherwise unexplained motor agitation in the days preceding the diagnosis. In conclusion, motor agitation may be a presenting symptom of cerebellar haemorrhage in preterm infants. Unexplained ventriculomegaly can be a first sign of cerebellar haemorrhage and should instigate sonographic exploration of the cerebellum
Nucleocytoplasmic transport: a thermodynamic mechanism
The nuclear pore supports molecular communication between cytoplasm and
nucleus in eukaryotic cells. Selective transport of proteins is mediated by
soluble receptors, whose regulation by the small GTPase Ran leads to cargo
accumulation in, or depletion from the nucleus, i.e., nuclear import or nuclear
export. We consider the operation of this transport system by a combined
analytical and experimental approach. Provocative predictions of a simple model
were tested using cell-free nuclei reconstituted in Xenopus egg extract, a
system well suited to quantitative studies. We found that accumulation capacity
is limited, so that introduction of one import cargo leads to egress of
another. Clearly, the pore per se does not determine transport directionality.
Moreover, different cargo reach a similar ratio of nuclear to cytoplasmic
concentration in steady-state. The model shows that this ratio should in fact
be independent of the receptor-cargo affinity, though kinetics may be strongly
influenced. Numerical conservation of the system components highlights a
conflict between the observations and the popular concept of transport cycles.
We suggest that chemical partitioning provides a framework to understand the
capacity to generate concentration gradients by equilibration of the
receptor-cargo intermediary.Comment: in press at HFSP Journal, vol 3 16 text pages, 1 table, 4 figures,
plus Supplementary Material include
Longitudinal Follow-Up of Children Born Preterm: Neurodevelopment From 2 to 10 Years of Age
Objective: To investigate the rate and stability of impairments in children born preterm by assessing (1) early and school-age outcome in four developmental domains and (2) individual changes in outcome at both timepoints.Design: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study in children born in 2006â2007, <32 weeks' gestation. Follow-up at 2 and 10 years of age included standardized neurological, motor, cognitive and behavioral assessments. Children were categorized as having no, mild or moderate-severe impairment in these four domains. A composite impairment score was composed and the number of domains with impairments counted. For each child, individual outcomes at both timepoints were compared.Results: Follow-up at both time-points was available in 71/113(63%) children. At group level, there were no significant changes in the severity of impairments per domain. However, at individual level, there were less children with a mild abnormal composite score at 10 years of age (44 vs. 20%; p = 0.006), and more with a moderate-severe abnormal composite score (12 vs. 35%; p = 0.001). Especially children with normal/mild outcome at 2 years were likely to shift to other outcome categories over time.Conclusions: Children with early severe impairment are likely experiencing impairments later on, but early normal/mild abnormal outcomes should be interpreted with care, considering the large individual shifts over time. Long-term follow-up in all children born very preterm should therefore be continued to at least school-age
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