Knowledge of pelvic organ prolapse in patients and their information-seeking preferences: comparing Vienna and Moscow.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that knowledge of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and patient information-seeking preferences are the same in the two capital cities. METHODS: First-visit patients were recruited at tertiary referral urogynaecological units in Vienna (137) and in Moscow (112). A 16-item scale was used to assess the patient knowledge of POP. The 16 items comprised 12 specific items taken from the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ) and four added items. The preliminary psychometric assessment of the knowledge scales in German and Russian was performed in the Vienna and in Moscow centres. RESULTS: The mean total knowledge scores in patients in Vienna and in Moscow were not significantly different: 9.7 ± 3.5 vs. 9.8 ± 2.9 (p = 0.92). Patients in Vienna were more likely to answer questions about the pathogenesis of POP correctly. Patients in Moscow achieved higher scores for items assessing knowledge about the diagnosis of POP. Women in the two study groups equally preferred to obtain information about POP from medical specialists (72 % and 82 %; p = 0.61), followed by friends and family for patients in Vienna (25 %), and the internet for patients in Moscow (23 %). Patients in Vienna were more likely to use printed sources (18 % and 7 %; p = 0.001) than patients in Moscow. CONCLUSIONS: The mean level of knowledge of POP did not differ between patients in Vienna and patients in Moscow. The differences between the specific knowledge domains might be explained by different cultural preferences for seeking health information and by the range of the information sources available.

Localization microscopy (SPDM) facilitates high precision control of lithographically produced nanostructures.

Nanoscale resolution in material sciences is usually restricted to scanning electron beam microscopes. Here we present a procedure that allows single molecule resolution of the sample surface with visible light. Highlighting the performance we used electron beam lithography to generate highly regular nanostructures consisting of interconnected cubes. The samples were labeled with Alexa 647 dyes. The spatial organization of the dyes on nanostructured surfaces was localized with single molecule resolution using localization microscopy. This succeeded also in an absolute spatial calibration of the localization method applied (spectral precision distance microscopy/SPDM). The findings will contribute to the field of product control for industrial applications and long-term fluorescence imaging.

Remote monitoring of nuclear power plants in Baden-Wuerttemberg.

As part of its responsibilities as nuclear supervisory authority, the Ministry of the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector Baden-Wuerttemberg (UM) operates a computer-based system for remote monitoring of nuclear power plants (NPPs) (KFUe, Kernreaktor-Fernüberwachung). In addition to the Baden-Wuerttemberg NPPs located at Philippsburg, Neckarwestheim and the disused Obrigheim, those in foreign locations close to the border area, i.e. Fessenheim in France, and Leibstadt and Beznau in Switzerland, are monitored. The KFUe system provides several methods to evaluate and present the measured data as well as to ensure compliance of threshold limits and safety objectives. For the UM, it serves as an instrument of the nuclear supervision. In case of a radioactive release, the authorities responsible for civil protection can use dispersion calculations in order to identify potentially affected areas and to initiate protective measures for the population. Beyond the data collected at the plant sites, various international radiation and meteorological measuring networks are integrated in the KFUe. The State Institute for Environment, Measurements and Nature Protection (LUBW), the technical operator of the KFUe, runs its own special monitoring network for ambient gamma dose rate and nuclide specific activity concentration measurements in the vicinity of each NPP. This article gives an overview of the solution to combine data of different sources on a single screen: dose rate networks, dose rate traces measured by car, airborne gamma spectra of helicopters, mobile dose rate probes, grid data of weather forecasts, dispersion calculations, etc.

Anomalous high-frequency oscillations in a field emission tube and their significance in pulsed field emission.

Relaxation oscillations occur when a capacitor is inserted in series with a field emission tube, a DC high-voltage power supply, and a ballast resistor. The waveform of these oscillations is highly reproducible with a dominant frequency of 200 MHz and a decay time of 20 ns. The peak current as high as 320 mA has been observed although the tungsten emitter is only rated for 10 microA. We have shown that these oscillations are due to a displacement current, charging of the anode-tip capacitance, and are not of a field emission origin. We conclude that the effects of displacement current should be considered in measurements of field emission with microsecond pulses, where high-current densities can be observed.

Simulation of sub-femtosecond response in laser-assisted field emission.

Numerical methods are used to simulate the response of field emission to incident pulses of optical radiation, with the objective of determining the criteria to reduce the time for response of the emitted current to the radiation. The results of these simulations suggest that a sub-femtosecond response may be achieved by increasing the power flux density of the radiation, and decreasing the applied static field. An intrinsic delay in the response is shown to correspond to the semiclassical time for traversal of the barrier by quantum tunneling.

Measurements of the self-sustained enhancement of field emission by carbon fiber microemitters.

Two types of self-sustained enhancement in field emission by carbon fibers are described. In the first, the field is increased until the emission current switches from zero to between 1 and 10 microA. Next the field is reduced, but not so far that the current would drop. Then the current remains for several hours to several days, with transient increases from the 10 microA to between 14 and 22 microA. It is believed that the transients are caused by the activation of new microtips on the fiber surface. These effects were noted when the carbon fiber tip was mounted in a closed glass vacuum bulb pumped by barium getters, and also in a vacuum system using the combination of a molecular drag pump and ion pumps. The second type of enhancement occurs under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, during in situ thermal treatment of the carbon fiber tip while the emission current is about 2.5 microA. A specially built cathode assembly enables heating the tip to approximately 725 degrees C. After continuous heating at 570 degrees C for 20 to 35 h, the current suddenly increases to between 13 and 25 microA. This enhancement is reversible if the emitted current is kept at the newly increased value for at least 30 min. The current-voltage characteristics at several temperatures were recorded and analyzed. Similar field-forming phenomena were previously observed with Molybdenum and ZnO-W tips.

The effects of Tween 20 and sucrose on the stability of anti-L-selectin during lyophilization and reconstitution.

We have chosen an anti-L-selectin antibody as a model protein to investigate the effects of sucrose and/or Tween 20 on protein stability during lyophilization and reconstitution. Native anti-L-selectin secondary structure is substantially retained during lyophilization in the presence of sucrose (1 or 0.125%). However, aggregation of the protein during reconstitution of lyophilized protein powders prepared without sucrose is not reduced by the presence of sucrose in the reconstitution medium. Aggregate formation upon reconstitution is completely inhibited by freeze drying the protein with sucrose and reconstituting with a 0.1% Tween 20 solution. Tween 20 (0.1%) also partially inhibits loss of native anti-L-selectin secondary structure during lyophilization. However, upon reconstitution the formulations lyophilized with Tween 20 contain the highest levels of aggregates. The presence of Tween in only the reconstitution solution appears to inhibit the transition from dimers to higher order oligomers. Potential mechanism(s) for the Tween 20 effects were investigated. However, no evidence of thermodynamic stabilization of anti-L-selectin conformation (e.g., by Tween 20 binding) could be detected.

Prototypes using metal, carbon fiber and composite field emission sources modulated by a laser beam.

Field emission of electrons from a variety of metallic, carbon fiber and composite metal-insulator micropoint cathodes was employed in this study. Tungsten, carbon fiber and ZrC tips, were studied using a field emission microscope. These cathodes were characterized and the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics were determined. A variety of surface treatment procedures were carried out to increase the stability of emission. These electron sources were mounted in sealed prototype field emission tubes, while others were tested under medium, high and UHV conditions. The emission current switch-on phenomenon was found with all non-metallic cathodes. The emitters were then subjected to a square wave-modulated, maximally focused laser diode beam (lambda = 658 nm, 30mW). The beam impedance (approximately 1 Gohms) and the anode capacitance (approximately 10 pF) act as a low-pass filter.

Simulations of photon-assisted tunneling using the Fokker-Planck equation to model the scattering of electrons within the emitting metal tip.

A method to simulate photon-assisted tunneling is developed, and applied to model laser-assisted field emission from metals. Our simulations show that most of the exchange of quanta between the electrons and the radiation occurs within the emitting metal tip. In typical experiments (lambda = 670 nm with tungsten metal) the depth of penetration for the radiation is four times the mean free path for electrons at the Fermi level, so it is necessary to allow for scattering. We use a Floquet expansion with the time-dependent Schrödinger equation to allow for the exchange of quanta between the electrons and the radiation field. Multiparticle effects are modeled with the density functional theory within the local density approximation for the Kohn-Sham exchange and correlation, and the Fokker-Planck formulation is used to determine the effects of scattering on the energy distribution of the electrons.

Public health. Gates Foundation on big funding spree.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation dished up $200 million in grants for scientists in various fields late last month, including research into malaria and tuberculosis. The foundation kicked off its spending spree in mid-July at the XIII International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, by announcing several AIDS/HIV-related grants totaling $90 million.

Arthritis. A gene for smooth-running joints.

A new study on page 265 of this issue suggests that a genetic defect in mice causes the joint's cartilage cells to pump insufficient amounts of pyrophosphate--a natural water softener--into the joint cleft, and this in turn leads to the formation of bony spurs that eventually stiffen the joints completely. Because humans have an almost identical gene, and disorders such as osteoarthritis also feature an abnormal outgrowth of bones, some arthritis researchers are hopeful that these new findings may point the way toward a new class of pyrophosphate-based drugs similar to the antiscaling chemicals in washing powders and toothpaste. But, as many of the researchers point out, the numerous roads that lead to human joint degradation make a single cure-all unlikely.

Developmental biology. Why chicks aren't all thumbs.

A new study on page 438 offers some surprising insights on when and how digits assume their distinctive shapes. Scientists had thought that even before cartilage cells begin to develop into a finger or toe, they already know what shape digit to make. The new findings, however, suggest that digit identity is programmed much later in development, by chemical messengers from the surrounding tissue.

In Europe, hooligans are prime subjects for research.

CAMBRIDGE, U.K.--One of the few burgeoning areas of violence research here and in Europe is football hooliganism. With lower homicide rates than in the United States and fewer incidences of killing sprees such as the Littleton school shooting, Europeans are less concerned about violence than Americans are--and that translates into less money for research on the topic. Moreover, some scientists argue that strict regulation of animal studies has dealt a severe blow to a once-proud European tradition of behavioral research on animal aggression.

Scientific misconduct. Panel finds scores of suspect papers in German fraud probe.

A new report paints a darker picture of what may be the highest profile case of scientific fraud in postwar Germany. After a 2-year investigation of all 347 scientific articles co-authored by former hematologist and cancer researcher Friedhelm Herrmann, a task force jointly sponsored by Germany's main granting agency, the DFG, and the country's largest cancer charity released a report on 19 June indicating that the scope of the fraud--first uncovered 3 years ago--is far more extensive than previously thought. Although Herrmann and a co-author have left their academic posts, the new revelations could place other careers in jeopardy.