Laser method can also be used for endothelial function assessment in clinical practice

International audienc

Time resolved fission in metal clusters

We explore from a theoretical point of view pump and probe (P&P) analysis for fission of metal clusters where probe pulses are generalized to allow for scanning various frequencies. We show that it is possible to measure the time the system needs to develop to scission. This is achieved by a proper choice of both delay and frequency of the probe pulse. A more detailed analysis even allows to access the various intermediate stages of the fission process.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

A double continuum hydrological model for glacier applications

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Reachability for dynamic parametric processes

In a dynamic parametric process every subprocess may spawn arbitrarily many, identical child processes, that may communicate either over global variables, or over local variables that are shared with their parent. We show that reachability for dynamic parametric processes is decidable under mild assumptions. These assumptions are e.g. met if individual processes are realized by pushdown systems, or even higher-order pushdown systems. We also provide algorithms for subclasses of pushdown dynamic parametric processes, with complexity ranging between NP and DEXPTIME.Comment: 31 page

Excellent inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of microvascular tests using laser speckle contrast imaging.

Post-occlusive reactive hyperaemia (PORH) and vasodilation induced by acetylcholine (ACh) iontophoresis are tests of endothelial function that can be studied with laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI). LSCI has the advantage of having good temporal and spatial resolutions but can lead to a high amount of data when several minutes of recordings are needed. Parameters of PORH and ACh iontophoresis vasodilation are therefore often determined by several observers or by the same observer on different days. Nevertheless, inter- and intra-observer reproducibility for the determination of such parameters has not been studied yet. We analyzed inter-observer and intra-observer reproducibility of baseline, peak and plateau determination for the two microvascular tests. Ten recordings of both PORH and ACh iontophoresis have been analyzed by two blinded trained observers. For peak determination, inter-observer coefficient of variation (CV) was 4.7% and 3.0% for PORH and ACh respectively. Intra-observer reproducibility expressed in CV ranges from 2.4% to 5.4% for PORH-peak and ACh-peak. CVs for peak determination are better than for baseline or plateau determination for both microvascular tests. This suggests that when microvascular vasodilations are reported, the data segments measured have to be noted. Finally microvascular tests using LSCI have an excellent intra- and inter-observer reproducibility

Low efficacy of the combination artesunate plus amodiaquine for uncomplicated falciparum malaria among children under 5 years in Kailahun, Sierra Leone.

OBJECTIVE: In 2004, Sierra Leone adopted artesunate plus amodiaquine as first-line antimalarial treatment. We evaluated the efficacy of this combination in Kailahun, where a previous study had shown 70.2% efficacy of amodiaquine in monotherapy. METHODS: Method and outcome classification of the study complied with WHO guidelines. Children 6-59 months with uncomplicated malaria were followed-up for 28 days. PCR genotyping was used to distinguish recrudescence from reinfection. Reinfections were reclassified as cured. RESULTS: Of 172 children who were referred to the study clinic, 126 satisfied inclusion criteria and were enrolled. No early treatment failures were reported. The day 14, efficacy was 98.2% (95% CI: 93.8-99.8). Of 65 recurrent parasitaemias analysed by PCR, 17 were recrudescences. The PCR-adjusted day 28 efficacy was 84.5% (95% CI: 76.4-90.7). All true failures occurred in the last 8 days of follow-up. Of 110 children who completed the 28-day follow-up, 54 (49.1%) experienced a novel infection. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of this combination was disappointing. The high reinfection rate suggested little prophylactic effect. In Kailahun a more efficacious combination might be necessary in the future. The efficacy of AS + AQ needs to be monitored in Kailahun and in the other regions of Sierra Leone