N=16 Magicity Revealed at the Proton Drip Line through the Study of

The last proton bound calcium isotope ^{35}Ca has been studied for the first time, using the ^{37}Ca(p,t)^{35}Ca two neutron transfer reaction. The radioactive ^{37}Ca nuclei, produced by the LISE spectrometer at GANIL, interacted with the protons of the liquid hydrogen target CRYPTA, to produce tritons t that were detected in the MUST2 detector array, in coincidence with the heavy residues Ca or Ar. The atomic mass of ^{35}Ca and the energy of its first 3/2^{+} state are reported. A large N=16 gap of 4.61(11) MeV is deduced from the mass measurement, which together with other measured properties, makes ^{36}Ca a doubly magic nucleus. The N=16 shell gaps in ^{36}Ca and ^{24}O are of similar amplitude, at both edges of the valley of stability. This feature is discussed in terms of nuclear forces involved, within state-of-the-art shell model calculations. Even though the global agreement with data is quite convincing, the calculations underestimate the size of the N=16 gap in ^{36}Ca by 840 keV.

A comprehensive review of the role of microorganisms on texture change, flavor and biogenic amines formation in fermented meat with their action mechanisms and safety.

Meat fermentation ensures its preservation, improved safety and quality. This prominently used traditional process has survived for ages, creating physical, biochemical, and microbial changes, and to significantly affect the functionality, organoleptic property, and nutrition of the fermented products. In some process, the growth of various pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms is inhibited. The production of fermented meat relies on naturally occurring enzymes (in the muscle or the intestinal tract) as well as microbial metabolic activities. In this review, fermented meat types and their health benefits were firstly introduced. This was followed by a description of fermentation conditions vis-à-vis starters, bacterial, yeast and mold cultures, and their role in meat. The review focuses on how microorganisms affect texture change, flavor formation, and biogenic amines (BA) accumulation in fermented meat. In addition, the production conditions and the major biochemical changes in fermented meat products were also introduced to present the best factors influencing the quality of fermented meat. Microorganisms and microbial enzymes in fermented meats were discussed as they could affect organoleptic characteristics of fermented meats. Moreover, safety concerns and prospects for further research of fermented meat were also discussed with emphasis on novel probiotic and starter cultures development; bioinformatics, omics technologies and data modeling to maximize the benefit from fermentation process in meat production.

Point mutations in the glycosyltransferase domain of the pbp1a gene in amoxicillin-resistant Helicobacter pylori isolates.

INTRODUCTION: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication treatment includes a proton pump inhibitor and two antibiotics: amoxicillin and clarithromycin. The goal of that treatment is to eradicate the infection in at least 90% of the patients. Failure to eradicate the infection can have multiple causes, among which is the presence of point mutations in the antimicrobial target genes. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the mutations present in the pbp1a gene and their possible association with resistance to amoxicillin in vitro. METHODOLOGY: Susceptibility to amoxicillin was evaluated in 147 isolates of H. pylori from the Colombian municipality of Túquerres. PCR amplification and sequencing of the glycosyltransferase domain of the pbp1a gene were carried out on Túquerres isolates, and the association between mutations and resistance was evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 5.4% (8/147) Túquerres isolates were resistant to amoxicillin in vitro. PCR amplification of the glycosyltransferase domain of the pbp1A gene was performed on 87.5% of the amoxicillin-resistant isolates in vitro, and in the DNA sequencing analysis, a total of 2 changes of amino acids from 3 DNA mutations that encoded the PBP1A-1 protein were observed. CONCLUSION: The present study is the first report on pbp1a gene mutations in H. pylori isolates coming from a population in Túquerres. Mutations that have not been reported in previous studies were found.

High-Precision Spectroscopy of

The excited states of unstable ^{20}O were investigated via γ-ray spectroscopy following the ^{19}O(d,p)^{20}O reaction at 8 AMeV. By exploiting the Doppler shift attenuation method, the lifetimes of the 2_{2}^{+} and 3_{1}^{+} states were firmly established. From the γ-ray branching and E2/M1 mixing ratios for transitions deexciting the 2_{2}^{+} and 3_{1}^{+} states, the B(E2) and B(M1) were determined. Various chiral effective field theory Hamiltonians, describing the nuclear properties beyond ground states, along with a standard USDB interaction, were compared with the experimentally obtained data. Such a comparison for a large set of γ-ray transition probabilities with the valence space in medium similarity renormalization group ab initio calculations was performed for the first time in a nucleus far from stability. It was shown that the ab initio approaches using chiral effective field theory forces are challenged by detailed high-precision spectroscopic properties of nuclei. The reduced transition probabilities were found to be a very constraining test of the performance of the ab initio models.

House screening for malaria control: views and experiences of participants in the RooPfs trial.

BACKGROUND: The housing stock of rural sub-Saharan Africa is changing rapidly. With millions of new homes required over the coming decades, there is an opportunity to protect residents by screening homes from malaria mosquitoes. This study, undertaken in the Upper River Region of The Gambia, explores local perceptions of what a good house should provide for its inhabitants and responses to living in a house that has been modified as part of a randomized control trial designed to assess whether improved housing provided additional protection against clinical malaria in children (the RooPfs trial). METHODS: This descriptive, exploratory study was undertaken over 22 months using mixed-methods (informal conversations, observations, focus group discussions, photovoice, and a questionnaire survey) in a parallel convergent design. Analysis was conducted across the data sets using a framework approach. Following coding, the textual data were charted by a priori and emerging themes. These themes were compared with the quantitative survey results. The nature and range of views about housing and the RooPfs study modifications and the relationships among them were identified and described. RESULTS: The data were derived from a total of 35 sets of observations and informal conversations in 10 villages, 12 discussions with the photovoice photographers, 26 focus group discussions (across 13 villages) and 391 completed questionnaires. The study participants described a 'good house' as one with a corrugate-metal roof, cement walls (preferably cement block, but mud block covered with cement plaster was also an acceptable and cheaper substitute) and well-fitting doors. These features align with local perceptions of a modern house that provides social status and protection from physical harms. The RooPfs modifications were largely appreciated, although poor workmanship caused concerns that houses had become insecure. However, the long-term trusting relationship with the implementing institution and the actions taken to rectify problems provided reassurance and enhanced acceptability. CONCLUSION: In developing housing to address population needs in Africa, attention should be paid to local perceptions of what is required to make a house secure for its inhabitants, as well as providing a healthy environment.

Structure of

Detailed spectroscopy of the neutron-deficient nucleus ^{36}Ca was obtained up to 9 MeV using the ^{37}Ca(p,d)^{36}Ca and the ^{38}Ca(p,t)^{36}Ca transfer reactions. The radioactive nuclei, produced by the LISE spectrometer at GANIL, interacted with the protons of the liquid hydrogen target CRYPTA, to produce light ejectiles (the deuteron d or triton t) that were detected in the MUST2 detector array, in coincidence with the heavy residues identified by a zero-degree detection system. Our main findings are (i) a similar shift in energy for the 1_{1}^{+} and 2_{1}^{+} states by about -250 keV, as compared with the mirror nucleus ^{36}S; (ii) the discovery of an intruder 0_{2}^{+} state at 2.83(13) MeV, which appears below the first 2^{+} state, in contradiction with the situation in ^{36}S; and (iii) a tentative 0_{3}^{+} state at 4.83(17) MeV, proposed to exhibit a bubble structure with two neutron vacancies in the 2s_{1/2} orbit. The inversion between the 0_{2}^{+} and 2_{1}^{+} states is due to the large mirror energy difference (MED) of -516(130) keV for the former. This feature is reproduced by shell model calculations, using the sd-pf valence space, predicting an almost pure intruder nature for the 0_{2}^{+} state, with two protons (neutrons) being excited across the Z=20 magic closure in ^{36}Ca (^{36}S). This mirror system has the largest MEDs ever observed, if one excludes the few cases induced by the effect of the continuum.

Efficacy of dimethyl fumarate in Japanese multiple sclerosis patients: interim analysis of randomized, double-blind APEX study and its open-label extension.

BACKGROUND: Current data for the use of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in Japanese patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is limited. OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of DMF in Japanese patients with RRMS. METHODS: The phase 3, multinational APEX study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01838668) consisted of two parts: a 24-week double-blind part where subjects were randomized to receive DMF 240 mg or placebo twice daily in East Asian and Eastern European countries, and an open-label extension part where all subjects received DMF. The primary endpoint was the total number of new gadolinium-enhancing lesions in Weeks 12-24. In this interim analysis, we report efficacy data in the Japanese subgroup (DMF n = 56; placebo n = 58) over 72 weeks, including an extension phase. RESULTS: DMF reduced the total number of new gadolinium-enhancing lesions in Weeks 12-24 by 85% versus placebo (p < 0.0001). At Week 24, the annualized relapse rate was also reduced by 48% with DMF, versus placebo. DMF reduced the probability of relapse from Week 8 and was sustained. The number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions was maintained through 72 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: DMF demonstrated sustained efficacy in this Japanese subgroup. The results were consistent with those observed in studies of DMF enrolling primarily Caucasian patients.

Prediction of recurrence-free survival using a protein expression-based risk classifier for head and neck cancer.

Loco-regional recurrence in 50% of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients poses major challenge for oncologists. Lack of biomarkers that can predict disease aggressiveness and recurrence risk makes the scenario more dismal. On the basis of our earlier global proteomic analyses we identified five differentially expressed proteins in OSCC. This study aimed to develop protein biomarkers-based prognostic risk prediction model for OSCC. Sub-cellular expression of five proteins, S100A7, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteinK (hnRNPK), prothymosin α (PTMA), 14-3-3ζ and 14-3-3σ was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in test set (282 Indian OSCCs and 209 normal tissues), correlated with clinic-pathological parameters and clinical outcome over 12 years to develop a risk model for prediction of recurrence-free survival. This risk classifier was externally validated in 135 Canadian OSCC and 96 normal tissues. Biomarker signature score based on PTMA, S100A7 and hnRNPK was associated with recurrence free survival of OSCC patients (hazard ratio=1.11; 95% confidence interval 1.08, 1.13, P<0.001, optimism-corrected c-statistic=0.69) independent of clinical parameters. Biomarker signature score stratified OSCC patients into high- and low-risk groups with significant difference for disease recurrence. The high-risk group had median survival 14 months, and 3-year survival rate of 30%, whereas low-risk group survival probability did not reach 50%, and had 3-year survival rate of 71%. As a powerful predictor of 3-year recurrence-free survival in OSCC patients, the newly developed biomarkers panel risk classifier will facilitate patient counseling for personalized treatment.

Experimental study of the two-body spin-orbit force in nuclei.

Energies and spectroscopic factors of the first 7/2-, 3/2-, 1/2-, and 5/2- states in the (35)Si21 nucleus were determined by means of the (d, p) transfer reaction in inverse kinematics at GANIL using the MUST2 and EXOGAM detectors. By comparing the spectroscopic information on the Si35 and S37 isotones, a reduction of the p3/2-p1/2 spin-orbit splitting by about 25% is proposed, while the f7/2-f5/2 spin-orbit splitting seems to remain constant. These features, derived after having unfolded nuclear correlations using shell model calculations, have been attributed to the properties of the two-body spin-orbit interaction, the amplitude of which is derived for the first time in an atomic nucleus. The present results, remarkably well reproduced by using several realistic nucleon-nucleon forces, provide a unique touchstone for the modeling of the spin-orbit interaction in atomic nuclei.

Estimating the burden of pneumococcal pneumonia among adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic techniques.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal pneumonia causes significant morbidity and mortality among adults. Given limitations of diagnostic tests for non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, most studies report the incidence of bacteremic or invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and thus, grossly underestimate the pneumococcal pneumonia burden. We aimed to develop a conceptual and quantitative strategy to estimate the non-bacteremic disease burden among adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) using systematic study methods and the availability of a urine antigen assay. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We performed a systematic literature review of studies providing information on the relative yield of various diagnostic assays (BinaxNOW® S. pneumoniae urine antigen test (UAT) with blood and/or sputum culture) in diagnosing pneumococcal pneumonia. We estimated the proportion of pneumococcal pneumonia that is bacteremic, the proportion of CAP attributable to pneumococcus, and the additional contribution of the Binax UAT beyond conventional diagnostic techniques, using random effects meta-analytic methods and bootstrapping. We included 35 studies in the analysis, predominantly from developed countries. The estimated proportion of pneumococcal pneumonia that is bacteremic was 24.8% (95% CI: 21.3%, 28.9%). The estimated proportion of CAP attributable to pneumococcus was 27.3% (95% CI: 23.9%, 31.1%). The Binax UAT diagnosed an additional 11.4% (95% CI: 9.6, 13.6%) of CAP beyond conventional techniques. We were limited by the fact that not all patients underwent all diagnostic tests and by the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic tests themselves. We address these resulting biases and provide a range of plausible values in order to estimate the burden of pneumococcal pneumonia among adults. CONCLUSIONS: Estimating the adult burden of pneumococcal disease from bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia data alone significantly underestimates the true burden of disease in adults. For every case of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, we estimate that there are at least 3 additional cases of non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia.

Limited asymmetry dependence of correlations from single nucleon transfer.

Single nucleon pickup reactions were performed with a 18.1 MeV/nucleon (14)O beam on a deuterium target. Within the coupled reaction channel framework, the measured cross sections were compared to theoretical predictions and analyzed using both phenomenological and microscopic overlap functions. The missing strength due to correlations does not show significant dependence on the nucleon separation energy asymmetry over a wide range of 37 MeV, in contrast with nucleon removal data analyzed within the sudden-eikonal formalism.

Well developed deformation in 42Si.

Excited states in (38,40,42) Si nuclei have been studied via in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with multinucleon removal reactions. Intense radioactive beams of ^{40}S and (44)S provided at the new facility of the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory enabled γ-γ coincidence measurements. A prominent γ line observed with an energy of 742(8) keV in (42) Si confirms the 2(+) state reported in an earlier study. Among the γ lines observed in coincidence with the 2^{+} → 0+ transition, the most probable candidate for the transition from the yrast 4(+) state was identified, leading to a 4(1)+) energy of 2173(14) keV. The energy ratio of 2.93(5) between the 2(1)+ and 4(1)(+) states indicates well-developed deformation in (42) Si at N = 28 and Z = 14. Also for 38,40)Si energy ratios with values of 2.09(5) and 2.56(5) were obtained. Together with the ratio for (42)Si, the results show a rapid deformation development of Si isotopes from N = 24 to N = 28.

Double blind clinical trial in a series of 115 patients with seborrheic dermatitis: prevention of relapses using a topical modulator of Toll like receptor 2.

AIM: Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease aggravated by Malassezia species. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are part of innate immune system that can be activated by yeasts. Previous studies showed that an association of Umbelliferae extract with a lipid (TLR2-Regul™) decreases the IL-8 expression in human skin in contact with M. furfur. The aim of this study was to assess the activity of a topical formulated with TLR2-Regul™ in the prevention of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) relapses. METHODS: Immune-competent SD adult patients were treated for SD (topical imidazoles or steroids). Cleared patients were randomized and received a topical containing TLR2-Regul™ (A) or its vehicle (B). Erythema, scales and pruritus were assessed during two months. RESULTS: The study included 115 patients, mean age 43.4, sex ratio m/f 1.5. At week 4 the relapse rate was 26% (N.=15) in group A and 43% (N.=25) in group B. At W8 the relapse rate was 21% (N.=12) in group A and 40% (N.=23) (P=0.0309). CONCLUSION: In this series of 115 adults with seborrheic dermatitis, patients treated with a topical containing TLR-Regul™ showed a significantly less relapse rate compared with the excipient group (P<0.05). TLR modulation could represent a new therapeutic approach in the prevention of seborrheic dermatitis relapses.

Effects of resource constraint on health care services.

Starting with the duty of Governments to provide adequate resources for the establishment and development of health services, this paper draws on experiences in four developed countries to illustrate the problems and their outcomes. The examples chosen demonstrate the contrast in philosophies and approach to resource allocation for health care.

Informed consent in medical treatment: conflict or consensus.

The author reviews the legal theory and practice of the requirements for informed consent. He uses a discussion of relevant cases and judgements from courts in the UK, USA, Australia and Malaysia to illustrate apparently conflicting attitudes exemplified by these cases. From this he aims to form some consensus in their application to everyday practice.

[Primary headaches in children with hydrocephalus who have a ventriculoperitoneal bypass valve]. / Cefaleas primarias en niños con hidrocefalia portadores de una válvula de derivación ventriculoperitoneal.

INTRODUCTION: Headache, which is the clinical manifestation of intracranial hypertension, is also a clinical ailment in medical practice, as well as one of the main causes of visits in the paediatric age. Determining whether this symptom is secondary or not to a decompensation of the intracranial pressure in children with hydrocephalus is sometimes a challenging task. The aim of this study is to classify the headaches in a population of children with a ventriculoperitoneal bypass valve due to hydrocephalus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a study of a series of cases with a longitudinal follow-up. 20 children with a ventriculoperitoneal bypass valve owing to hydrocephalus were followed up over a mean period of eight months because they suffered from recurring headaches. All of them answered a questionnaire in order to define the characteristics of their headache. Those who were suspected of suffering from intracranial hypertension were submitted to a cerebral tomography study. RESULTS: In all, we studied 20 patients (eight males and 12 females) with a mean age of 8.6 +/- 2.8 years. Hydrocephalus was secondary to abnormalities in the craniocervical transition and myelomeningocele in all cases. The aetiology of the headache was primary migraine-type headache (14 patients; 70%), and tension-type headache (two patients; 10%). Secondary headaches appeared in four patients (20%) due to acute sinusitis, refraction errors and systemic infection; only one patient had headache due to intracranial hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: Migraine predominates as the primary headache in children with bypass valves--a phenomenon that can be explained by its high prevalence in the paediatric population.

[Neurological complications arising from dengue virus infection]. / Complicaciones neurológicas de la infección por el virus del dengue.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue is the most common of the arbovirosis that humans can suffer from. The frequency with which the central nervous system (CNS) is affected by this viral infection remains unknown, although isolated cases with neurological complications have been reported in Asia and South America. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, dengue virus infection has become an important public health concern. CASE REPORTS: The authors describe two cases of immune-mediated CNS involvement following classic infection by the dengue virus: one involving post-infectious disseminated acute encephalitis and the other consisting of Guillain-Barré syndrome. In both cases dengue was diagnosed using the ELISA technique, and other viral aetiologies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were excluded. A 10-year-old female, following a bout of classic dengue, presented symptoms of a diminished level of consciousness, spastic tetraparesis, cerebellar syndrome and frontal symptoms. A resonance brain scan showed areas of hypersignal in T2 sequences in the cerebral peduncle, lentiform nuclei and internal capsule on both sides of the brain, which suggested post-infectious encephalitis. The second patient, a 14-year-old male, presented an areflexive flaccid ascending tetraparesis that suggested acute polyradiculoneuritis, following a bout of classic dengue. CSF albuminocytologic dissociation was also observed. This patient's electroneuromyogram recording showed a polyradiculoneuropathy of a primarily demyelinating nature with an associated axonal component. CONCLUSIONS: The immunological mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of this type of neurological complications after suffering from dengue may be part of the physiological response to the viral infection.

First Report of Leaf Blotch Caused by Marssonina coronaria on Apple in Italy.

During the early summers of 2001 and 2002, in Forno Canavese in northwest Italy, a leaf disease was observed on the old apple cv. Furnas in a domestic orchard. Lesions on the upper side of the leaf were brownish, irregular in size and shape with somewhat dendritic margins, became black, and often coalesced with time. On the underside, lesions were smaller with more definite margins. Beginning in July, scattered acervuli (95 to 170 µm) were observed erupting through the epidermis on the upper side of leaves. Conidia were ampule shaped, 1-septate, constricted at the septum, hyaline, guttulate, and 6.1 to 8.4 × 14.6 to 22.0 µm. Severely diseased leaves abscised prematurely. The fungus was identified as Marssonina coronaria (Ellis & J.J. Davis) J.J. Davis, teleomorph Diplocarpon mali (1) although the conidia were slightly shorter than those originally described for this fungus. Monoconidial isolates were obtained by spreading mini-suspensions of conidia taken from acervuli on malt agar (MA) and transferring single-germinated conidia to MA, potato dextrose agar, V8 agar, or apple leaf agar (ALA). The fungus grew slowly, producing small colonies on V8 and ALA only. On ALA medium, after 3 months incubation at 20 to 22°C, the colonies were 5 to 7 mm in diameter with light brown, irregular margins and dark brown centers bearing acervuli. Conidia from pure cultures were collected, suspended in sterile, distilled water (250,000 ml-1), and sprayed on the leaves of three 'Golden Delicious' apple shoots maintained in a mist chamber at 20 to 25°C for 2 weeks. In two independent experiments, the fungus reproduced symptoms like those observed on 'Furnas' and was reisolated from acervuli. No symptoms were observed on water-treated controls. To our knowledge, apple leaf blotch has not previously been reported in Italy. Although now it is a minor disease, it could become more important in sustainable crops because of its relatively low sensitivity to copper fungicides (2), the only products that can be used under that program. References: (1) Y. Harada et al. Ann. Phytopathol. Soc. Jpn. 40:412, 1974. (2) J. Ruide et al. China Fruits 2:51, 1997.

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection in asthmatic patients.

This study was conducted on 30 asthmatic patients and 10 healthy controls. They were subjected to complete history talking, thorough clinical examination, and assessment of their ventilatory functions before and after bronchodilator. Two specimens were obtained from each patients, bronchoalveolar lavage and serum samples. Chlamydia pneumoniae antigens and antibodies (IgG and IgM) were detected using microimmunoflourescence technique. Samples giving positive results for C. pneumoniae antigen were examined for apoptosis. A significant correlation between asthma and C. pnumoniae was found especially in moderate and severe, long standing, steroid dependent asthma. In addition there was a significant difference between cases and controls regarding specific IgG and IgM. An association of C. pneumoniae with forced expiratory volume 1 (FEVI) was found. In addition C. pneumoniae was found to induce inhibition of programmed cell death. On conclusion, C. pneumoniae infection is associated with severe long standing asthma, and may be an important factor in acute exacerbation of asthma.