Survey and Service on STD/HIV/AIDS in Namungo Mines,Lindi Region

Namungo is small-scale mining in Ruangwa district, Lindi Region, with deposits of green gemstone (tsavorite). About 400 men and women are living in temporary settlements. In August 2001, an STD/HIV/AIDS workplace intervention started which comprised of: A baseline KAP study with villagers and miners, A survey on infection rates with Syphilis and HIV, Treatment of patients with STD, An educational campaign and Development of plans for continuos collaboration between the mine and the health system. The KAP-study showed that 81% of respondents knew that sexual intercourse/sex without a condom is the main mode of HIV transmission. 80% correctly started that a person infected with HIV can remain a symptomatic for a long period. Half of them responded to had paid sex with more than one partner during the last 12 mouth. Those reporting having used a condom in the past 3 month were 48%. 92% of the respondents reported willingness for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) to know their HIV status. From 429 people who had came with symptoms of STDs most were treated for discharge syndrome (40% males,24 females) and for genital ulcers (38% in males and females) Testing and counseling for syphilis and HIV was offered to STD clients and volunteers. Infection rates were high in both groups, STD patients and volunteers with 18% for syphilis and 17% for HIV. The highest prevalence with 38% was found in women 30-34 years of age. The high infection rates, risky behavior and a high mobility of the people involved are a challenge to claim holders, health authorities and communities in the vicinity. Regular interventions urgently needed

On the nature of the fast moving star S2 in the Galactic Center

We analyze the properties of the star S2 orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Galaxy. A high quality SINFONI H and K band spectrum obtained from coadding 23.5 hours of observation between 2004 and 2007 reveals that S2 is an early B dwarf (B0-2.5V). Using model atmospheres, we constrain its stellar and wind properties. We show that S2 is a genuine massive star, and not the core of a stripped giant star as sometimes speculated to resolve the problem of star formation so close to the supermassive black hole. We give an upper limit on its mass loss rate, and show that it is He enriched, possibly because of the presence of a magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, ApJ letters accepte

Probing Water State during Lipidic Mesophases Phase Transitions

We investigate the static and dynamic states of water network during the phase transitions from double gyroid ((Formula presented.)) to double diamond ((Formula presented.)) bicontinuous cubic phases and from the latter to the reverse hexagonal (HII) phase in monolinolein based lipidic mesophases by combining FTIR and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). In both cubic(s) and HII phase, two dynamically different fractions of water are detected and attributed to bound and interstitial free water. The dynamics of the two water fractions are all slower than bulk water due to the hydrogen-bonds between water molecules and the lipid's polar headgroups and to nanoconfinement. Both FTIR and BDS results suggest that a larger fraction of water is hydrogen-bonded to the headgroup of lipids in the HII phase at higher temperature than in the cubic phase at lower temperature via H-bonds, which is different from the common expectation that the number of H-bonds should decrease with increase of temperature. These findings are rationalized by considering the topological ratio of interface/volume of the two mesophases.ISSN:1433-7851ISSN:1521-3773ISSN:0570-083

The Rigidly Rotating Magnetosphere of Sigma Ori E

We attempt to characterize the observed variability of the magnetic helium-strong star sigma Ori E in terms of a recently developed rigidly rotating magnetosphere model. This model predicts the accumulation of circumstellar plasma in two co-rotating clouds, situated in magnetohydrostatic equilibrium at the intersection between magnetic and rotational equators. We find that the model can reproduce well the periodic modulations observed in the star's light curve, H alpha emission-line profile, and longitudinal field strength, confirming that it furnishes an essentially correct, quantitative description of the star's magnetically controlled circumstellar environment.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Ap

CuAu-type ordering in epitaxial CuInS₂ films

Ordering of Cu and In atoms in near-stoichiometric CuInS2 epitaxial films grown on Si (111) by molecular beam epitaxy was studied by transmission electron microscopy. Nonchalcopyrite ordering of the metal atoms in CuInS2 is observed, which is identified as CuAu-type ordering. Sharp spots in electron diffraction patterns reveal the ordered Cu and In atom planes alternating along the [001] direction over a long range. High-resolution electron microscopy confirms this ordering. The CuAu-ordered structure coexists with the chalcopyrite ordered structure, in agreement with theoretical prediction

Abundance compensates kinetics : similar effect of dopamine signals on D1 and D2 receptor populations

The neuromodulator dopamine plays a key role in motivation, reward-related learning, and normal motor function. The different affinity of striatal D1 and D2 dopamine receptor types has been argued to constrain the D1 and D2 signaling pathways to phasic and tonic dopamine signals, respectively. However, this view assumes that dopamine receptor kinetics are instantaneous so that the time courses of changes in dopamine concentration and changes in receptor occupation are basically identical. Here we developed a neurochemical model of dopamine receptor binding taking into account the different kinetics and abundance of D1 and D2 receptors in the striatum. Testing a large range of behaviorally-relevant dopamine signals, we found that the D1 and D2 dopamine receptor populations responded very similarly to tonic and phasic dopamine signals. Furthermore, because of slow unbinding rates, both receptor populations integrated dopamine signals over a timescale of minutes. Our model provides a description of how physiological dopamine signals translate into changes in dopamine receptor occupation in the striatum, and explains why dopamine ramps are an effective signal to occupy dopamine receptors. Overall, our model points to the importance of taking into account receptor kinetics for functional considerations of dopamine signaling. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Current models of basal ganglia function are often based on a distinction of two types of dopamine receptors, D1 and D2, with low and high affinity, respectively. Thereby, phasic dopamine signals are believed to mostly affect striatal neurons with D1 receptors, and tonic dopamine signals are believed to mostly affect striatal neurons with D2 receptors. This view does not take into account the rates for the binding and unbinding of dopamine to D1 and D2 receptors. By incorporating these kinetics into a computational model we show that D1 and D2 receptors both respond to phasic and tonic dopamine signals. This has implications for the processing of reward-related and motivational signals in the basal ganglia

Structure and dynamics in protic ionic liquids: a combined optical Kerr-effect and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy study

The structure and dynamics of ionic liquids (ILs) are unusual due to the strong interactions between the ions and counter ions. These microscopic properties determine the bulk transport properties critical to applications of ILs such as advanced fuel cells. The terahertz dynamics and slower relaxations of simple alkylammonium nitrate protic ionic liquids (PILs) are here studied using femtosecond optical Kerr-effect spectroscopy, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, and terahertz time-domain spectroscopy. The observed dynamics give insight into more general liquid behaviour while comparison with glass-forming liquids reveals an underlying power-law decay and relaxation rates suggest supramolecular structure and nanoscale segregation

Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Use in a Case of Noncardiogenic Multifocal Perinatal Thromboembolic Stroke

A full-term neonate suffered multifocal cerebral infarctions due to multiple large vessel thrombi. Thrombophilia and cardiovascular assessments were negative, but due to the severity of the lesions and the concern for expansion of the thrombi or future embolic events, treatment with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) was initiated. No complications from treatment were experienced. We present this severe case in order to highlight difficult management decisions for newborns with multifocal perinatal thromboembolic stroke and to stress the need for further practice guidelines and research in this area