Alkaline battery containing a separator of a cross-linked copolymer of vinyl alcohol and unsaturated carboxylic acid

A battery separator for an alkaline battery is described. The separator comprises a cross linked copolymer of vinyl alcohol units and unsaturated carboxylic acid units. The cross linked copolymer is insoluble in water, has excellent zincate diffusion and oxygen gas barrier properties and a low electrical resistivity. Cross linking with a polyaldehyde cross linking agent is preferred

Photofission of heavy nuclei at energies up to 4 GeV

Total photofission cross sections for 238U, 235U, 233U, 237Np, 232Th, and natPb have been measured simultaneously, using tagged photons in the energy range Egamma=0.17-3.84 GeV. This was the first experiment performed using the Photon Tagging Facility in Hall B at Jefferson Lab. Our results show that the photofission cross section for 238U relative to that for 237Np is about 80%, implying the presence of important processes that compete with fission. We also observe that the relative photofission cross sections do not depend strongly on the incident photon energy over this entire energy range. If we assume that for 237Np the photofission probability is equal to unity, we observe a significant shadowing effect starting below 1.5 GeV.Comment: 4 pages of RevTex, 6 postscript figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Exploratory Study on the Associations between Lifetime Post-Traumatic Stress Spectrum, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythm Parameters in Patients with Bipolar Disorder

The present study aimed at exploring whether lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms are associated with chronotype in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Moreover, we explored whether the chronotype can moderate the potential associations between lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms and rest–activity circadian and sleep-related parameters. A total of 74 BD patients were administered the Trauma and Loss Spectrum Self-Report (TALS-SR) lifetime version for lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for self-reported sleep quality, and the Reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) to discriminate evening chronotypes (ETs), neither chronotype (NT), and morning chronotype (MT). Actigraphic monitoring was used to objectively evaluate sleep and circadian parameters. Patients classified as ET reported significantly higher scores in the re-experiencing domain, as well as poorer sleep quality, lower sleep efficiency, increased wake after sleep onset, and delayed mid-sleep point compared with both NT and MT (p-value ≤ 0.05). Moreover, ET presented significantly higher scores in the TALS-SR maladaptive coping domain than NT and lower relative amplitude than MT (p-value ≤ 0.05). Moreover, higher TALS-SR total symptomatic domains scores were significantly correlated with poor self-reported sleep quality. Regression analyses showed that the PSQI score maintained the association with the TALS total symptomatic domains scores after adjusting for potentially confounding factors (age and sex) and that no interaction effect was observed between the chronotype and the PSQI. Conclusions: This exploratory study suggests that patients with BD classified as ET showed significantly higher lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms and more disrupted sleep and circadian rhythmicity with respect to other chronotypes. Moreover, poorer self-reported sleep quality was significantly associated with lifetime post-traumatic stress spectrum symptoms. Further studies are required to confirm our results and to evaluate whether targeting sleep disturbances and eveningness can mitigate post-traumatic stress symptoms in BD

Chronotype is differentially associated with lifetime mood and panic-agoraphobic spectrum symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder and healthy controls.

Objective. Although the association between chronotype and mood disorders has been con- sistently reported, conversely, attempts to measure the association between chronotype and anxiety symptoms have generated inconsistent results. We aimed at evaluating whether chron- otype (assessed through subjective and objective measures) is associated with lifetime mood and panic-agoraphobic spectrum symptoms in healthy controls (HCs) and in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Methods. Overall, 173 subjects, patients with BD in euthymic phase (n = 76) and HC (n = 97), were evaluated through the reduced Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ), acti- graphy monitoring and mood and panic-agoraphobic spectrum self-report (MOODS-SR and PAS-SR). The discrepancy between objective (actigraphic-based) versus subjective (rMEQ- based) circadian typology was estimated through the Circadian Classification Discrepancy Index (CCDI). Results. rMEQ-based evening chronotype (ET) was associated with higher scores in MOODS- SR depressive and rhythmicity and vegetative functions domains in HC and BD.Both ET and morning chronotypes (MT) were associated with higher PAS-SR scores in BD only. Actigraphic-based MT was associated with higher MOODS-SR depressive scores in HC. Likewise, the discrepancy between actigraphic-based and rMEQ-based circadian typology was associated with depressive symptoms in HC only. Conclusion. Self-reported ET was consistently associated with mood symptoms, while associ- ations with panic-agoraphobic symptoms only emerged in BD and involved both extreme chronotypes. The discrepancy between the preferred circadian typology (rMEQ-based) and the actual one (actigraphic-based) could contribute to depressive symptoms in HC. These results pave the way for interventional studies targeting circadian typology in an attempt to prevent or treat mental health disorders

Tiras de Amitraz contra el ácaro Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans en colmenas de Apis mellifera L.

Cuban plastic strips containing 13,2 mg Amitraz (amidine) -commercially patented as Apizel- were evaluated in their effectiveness against Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans acarus in Apis mellifera beehives. These strips were compared to French ones, commercially named Apivar, which contain 500 mg of an active substance from the manufacturer's instructions, 8 Apizel (Apiary A) strips (105,6 mg) were applied to double beehives and 4 strips (52,8 mg) to single beehives. As indicated, two Apivar (Apiary B) strips were randomly placed in each hive (1000 mg). The 8 beehives from Apiary A showed an initial infectation general rate of 12,86%; but after six weeks of treatment, this value decreased to 2,90% (77,45% decrease), while Apiary B initial infectation general rate of 2,41% was only reduced to 0,11% (95,43% decrease) during the same time. It is evident that, although initial rates are highly different, French strips effectiveness can be evaluated as good, but Cuban strips did not achieve an acceptable effect due to a lower dosage of the active substance used.Para combatir el ácaro Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans en colmenas de Apis mellifera, se evaluaron tiras plásticas cubanas contentivas de 13,2 mg de Amitraz (amidina), bajo el nombre comercial de Apizel. Las mismas se compararon con tiras francesas cuyo nombre comercial es Apivar, que contenían 500 mg de sustancia activa del mismo compuesto químico. Siguiendo las instrucciones del fabricante, el Apizel (apiario A) se aplicó a razón de 8 tiras (105,6 mg) para colmenas de dos cuerpos y 4 tiras (52,8 mg) para aquellas que tenían un cuerpo. Como está indicado, del Apivar (apiario B) se colocaron dos tiras por colmena (1 000 mg), indistintamente. Las 8 colmenas del apiario A, presentaron una tasa general de infestación inicial de 12,86% y a las 6 semanas de tratamiento había descendido a 2,90 % (77,45 % de disminución), en tanto el apiario B, con tasa inicial de 2,41 %, en igual lapso de tiempo descendió a 0,11 % (95,43 % de descenso). Es evidente que a pesar de existir tasas iniciales muy diferentes, las tiras francesas tuvieron una efectividad que se puede considerar buena, en tanto estas tiras cubanas no alcanzaron un nivel aceptable, con toda seguridad a causa de la subdosificación de la sustancia activa

Simulation of the CMS Resistive Plate Chambers

The Resistive Plate Chamber (RPC) muon subsystem contributes significantly to the formation of the trigger decision and reconstruction of the muon trajectory parameters. Simulation of the RPC response is a crucial part of the entire CMS Monte Carlo software and directly influences the final physical results. An algorithm based on the parametrization of RPC efficiency, noise, cluster size and timing for every strip has been developed. Experimental data obtained from cosmic and proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}=7$ TeV have been used for determination of the parameters. A dedicated validation procedure has been developed. A good agreement between the simulated and experimental data has been achieved.Comment: to be published in JINS

The role of radioactive iodine in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer - An oncologic surgical perspective

With improved understanding of the biology of differentiated thyroid carcinoma its management is evolving. The approach to surgery for the primary tumour and elective nodal surgery is moving from a "one-size-fits -all" recommendation to a more personalised approach based on risk group stratification. With this selective approach to initial surgery, the indications for adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy are also changing. This selective approach to adjuvant therapy requires understanding by the entire treatment team of the rationale for RAI, the potential for benefit, the limitations of the evidence, and the potential for side-effects. This review considers the evidence base for the benefits of using RAI in the primary and recurrent setting as well as the side-effects and risks from RAI treatment. By considering the pros and cons of adjuvant therapy we present an oncologic surgical perspective on selection of treatment for patients, both following pre-operative diagnostic biopsy and in the setting of a post-operative diagnosis of malignancy. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd, BASO similar to The Association for Cancer Surgery, and the European Society of Surgical Oncology. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Exact Solution for the Exterior Field of a Rotating Neutron Star

A four-parameter class of exact asymptotically flat solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell equations involving only rational functions is presented. It is able to describe the exterior field of a slowly or rapidly rotating neutron star with poloidal magnetic field.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D as Rapid Communication. 8 pages, 2 eps figure