Spectroscopic analysis of N-intrashell transitions in Rb-like to Ni-like Yb ions.

Extreme ultraviolet spectra of highly-charged ytterbium ions produced in an electron beam ion trap at the National Institute of Standards and Technology were observed with a flat-field grazing incidence spectrometer in the wavelength region of about 4 nm-20 nm. The measured spectra were interpreted through detailed analysis by collisional-radiative modeling of the non-Maxwellian EBIT plasma. Seventy-nine new spectral lines due to intrashell (Δn = 0, n = 4) electric-dipole, magnetic-dipole, and electric-quadrupole transitions were identified in Rb-like Yb33+ through Ni-like Yb42+ ions. The effects of strong configuration interaction within the n = 4 complex on the measured spectra are discussed for a number of ionization stages.

Influence of ionizing radiation on the antimicrobial activity of the antibiotics sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.

The response of the antimicrobial compounds sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and trimethoprim (TMP) - individually and in mixtures - to ionizing radiation was investigated using laboratory prepared mixtures and a commercial pharmaceutical formulation. The residual antibacterial activity of the solutions was monitored using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli test strains. Based on antibacterial activity, SMX was more susceptible to ionizing radiation as compared to TMP. The antibacterial activity of SMX and TMP was completely eliminated at 0.2 kGy and 0.8 kGy, respectively. However, when SMX and TMP were in a mixture, the dose required to eliminate the antibacterial activity was 10 kGy, implying a synergistic antibacterial activity when these are present in mixtures. Only when the antibiotic concentration was below the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of TMP (i.e., 2 µmol dm-3) did the antibacterial activity of the SMX and TMP mixture disappear. These results imply that the synergistic antimicrobial activity of antimicrobial compounds in pharmaceutical waste streams is a strong possibility. Therefore, antimicrobial activity assays should be included when evaluating the use of ionizing radiation technology for the remediation of pharmaceutical or municipal waste streams.

Testing three-body quantum electrodynamics with trapped Ti20+ ions: evidence for a Z-dependent divergence between experiment and calculation.

We report a new test of quantum electrodynamics (QED) for the w (1s2p(1)P(1)→1s(2)(1)S(0)) x-ray resonance line transition energy in heliumlike titanium. This measurement is one of few sensitive to two-electron QED contributions. Systematic errors such as Doppler shifts are minimized in our experiment by trapping and stripping Ti atoms in an electron beam ion trap and by applying absolute wavelength standards to calibrate the dispersion function of a curved-crystal spectrometer. We also report a more general systematic discrepancy between QED theory and experiment for the w transition energy in heliumlike ions for Z>20. When all of the data available in the literature for Z=16-92 are taken into account, the divergence is seen to grow as approximately Z(3) with a statistical significance on the coefficient that rises to the level of 5 standard deviations. Our result for titanium alone, 4749.85(7) eV for the w line, deviates from the most recent ab initio prediction by 3 times our experimental uncertainty and by more than 10 times the currently estimated uncertainty in the theoretical prediction.

Study of solvent-protein coupling effects by neutron scattering.

The present work aims to characterize the dynamical behavior of proteins immersed in bio-preserving liquids and glasses. For this purpose, the protein dUTPase was chosen, while the selected solvents were glycerol, a triol, and some homologous disaccharides, i.e., trehalose, maltose, and sucrose, which are known to be very effective bio-preserving agents. The results highlight that the disaccharides show a slowing down effect on the water dynamics, which is stronger for trehalose than in the case of the other disaccharides. Furthermore, a characterization of the medium which hosts the protein is performed by using an operative definition of fragility based on the mean square displacement extracted by elastic incoherent neutron scattering, which is directly connected to Angell's kinetic fragility based on the viscosity. Finally, a study of the dynamics of the protein sequestered within the solvents is performed. The result shows that the protein dynamics is coupled with that of the surrounding matrix.

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD): No Teratogenicity in Rats.

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in doses of 1.5 to 300 micrograms was given to 55 pregnant rats during periods of organogenesis and on the 4th or 5th day of pregnancy to 34 rats. Examination of the resultant 887 young for congenital defects showed no greater frequency than in controls. These experimtents failed to prove that LSD is teratogenic in rats.

A transition-edge sensor-based x-ray spectrometer for the study of highly charged ions at the National Institute of Standards and Technology electron beam ion trap.

We report on the design, commissioning, and initial measurements of a Transition-Edge Sensor (TES) x-ray spectrometer for the Electron Beam Ion Trap (EBIT) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Over the past few decades, the NIST EBIT has produced numerous studies of highly charged ions in diverse fields such as atomic physics, plasma spectroscopy, and laboratory astrophysics. The newly commissioned NIST EBIT TES Spectrometer (NETS) improves the measurement capabilities of the EBIT through a combination of high x-ray collection efficiency and resolving power. NETS utilizes 192 individual TES x-ray microcalorimeters (166/192 yield) to improve upon the collection area by a factor of ∼30 over the 4-pixel neutron transmutation doped germanium-based microcalorimeter spectrometer previously used at the NIST EBIT. The NETS microcalorimeters are optimized for the x-ray energies from roughly 500 eV to 8000 eV and achieve an energy resolution of 3.7 eV-5.0 eV over this range, a more modest (<2×) improvement over the previous microcalorimeters. Beyond this energy range, NETS can operate with various trade-offs, the most significant of which are reduced efficiency at lower energies and being limited to a subset of the pixels at higher energies. As an initial demonstration of the capabilities of NETS, we measured transitions in He-like and H-like O, Ne, and Ar as well as Ni-like W. We detail the energy calibration and data analysis techniques used to transform detector counts into x-ray spectra, a process that will be the basis for analyzing future data.

Measuring the difference in nuclear charge radius of Xe isotopes by EUV spectroscopy of highly charged Na-like ions.

The difference in the mean-square nuclear charge radius of xenon isotopes was measured utilizing a method based on extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy of highly charged Na-like ions. The isotope shift of the Na-like D1 (3s 2 S 1/2 - 3p 2 P 1/2) transition between the 124Xe and 136Xe isotopes was experimentally determined using the electron-beam ion-trap facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The mass-shift and the field-shift coefficients were calculated with enhanced precision by the relativistic many-body perturbation theory and multiconfiguration Dirac-Hartree-Fock method. The mean-square nuclear charge radius difference was found to be δ〈r 2〉136,124 = 0.269(42) fm2. Our result has smaller uncertainty than previous experimental results and agrees with the literature values.

Degradation of H-acid and its derivative in aqueous solution by ionising radiation.

The mechanism of high-energy radiation induced degradation of H-acid (4-amino-5-hydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulphonic acid, (I)) and its derivative, 4-hydroxynaphthalene-2,7-disulphonic acid (II) (central parts of a large number of azo dyes), was investigated in aqueous solutions. These compounds can be efficiently destroyed by the (*)OH and hydrated electron intermediates produced during water radiolysis. As the first step of degradation mainly cyclohexadienyl-type radicals form, however, with I H-atom elimination from the NH(2) group is also observed yielding anilino-type radicals. Both the cyclohexadienyl and the anilino-type radicals decay on the millisecond timescale. In the (*)OH reactions as stable products hydroxylated molecules and quinone-type compounds form. These molecules by further decomposition of the ring structure transform to open chain molecules. In the case of hydrated electron, the primarily formed products have absorption spectra shifted to the low-wavelength region indicating the destruction of at least one of the aromatic rings.

The implementation of quality management systems in hospitals: a comparison between three countries.

BACKGROUND: Is the implementation of Quality Management (QM) in health care proceeding satisfactorily and can national health care policies influence the implementation process? Policymakers and researchers in a country need to know the answer to this question. Cross country comparisons can reveal whether sufficient progress is being made and how this can be stimulated. The objective of the study was to investigate agreement and disparities in the implementation of QMS between The Netherlands, Hungary and Finland with respect to the evaluation model used and the national policy strategy of the three countries. METHODS: The study has a cross sectional design, based on measurements in 2000. Empirical data about QM-activities in hospitals were gathered by a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaires were answered by the directors of the hospitals or the quality coordinators. The analyses are based on data from 101 hospitals in the Netherlands, 116 hospitals in Hungary and 59 hospitals in Finland. Outcome measures are the developmental stage of the Quality Management System (QMS), the development within five focal areas, and distinct QM-activities which were listed in the questionnaire. RESULTS: A mean of 22 QM-activities per hospital was found in the Netherlands and Finland versus 20 QM-activities in Hungarian hospitals. Only a small number of hospitals has already implemented a QMS (4% in The Netherlands,0% in Hungary and 3% in Finland). More hospitals in the Netherlands are concentrating on quality documents, whereas Finnish hospitals are concentrating on training in QM and guidelines. Cyclic quality improvement activities have been developed in the three countries, but in most hospitals the results were not used for improvements. All three countries pay hardly any attention to patient participation. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that the implementation of QM-activities can be measured at national level and that differences between countries can be assessed. The hypothesis that governmental legislation or financial reimbursement can stimulate the implementation of QM-activities, more than voluntary recommendations, could not be confirmed. However, the results show that specific obligations can stimulate the implementation of QM-activities more than general, framework legislation.

The heritability and specificity of responsiveness to infection with Haemonchus contortus in sheep.

High responder (HR) and low responder (LR) lines of sheep of the Hungarian Merino breed were selected by using faecal egg counts (epg) as parameter of responsiveness after double artificial Haemonchus contortus test infections. A total of 81 lambs born to assortative matings of HR rams with HR ewes and LR rams with LR ewes, as well as 28 control lambs from unselected parent sheep, were studied to estimate the heritability of responsiveness. A relatively high level of heritability (h2 = 0.49 +/- 0.17) was observed. A comparative assessment of responder classification carried out by two subsequent and distinct H. contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis infections revealed a remarkable degree of agreement: identical results in 69.7% and marginal differences in 23.2% of 99 animals. These results suggest that by selecting sheep for high responsiveness to a certain species of nematodes, one can also achieve a substantial improvement of resistance against a wide range of other nematode species.

Development of arteriosclerosis after i.v. administered fat in rabbits.

In our previous studies performed in rats sclerotic alterations were induced in the vessel wall by Lipofundin-S 20% (Braun, Melsungen) administration for 8 or 16 days, respectively. In order to elucidate eventual species dependency, studies on rabbits were also performed. Alterations were examined in rabbits after Lipofundin treatment for 8 days. Electron microscopic studies revealed the accumulation of granular basement membrane-like material in the subendothelial space due to the activity of immigrated smooth muscle cells. The formation of elastic granules and elastic laminae was also observed among others due to the coalescence of microfibrillary structures formed from glycoseaminoglycans. The lesion developed was similar to that observed in the rat, the only difference was that in the rabbit the accumulation of the collagen fibres was more prominent. Results of our studies obtained in rabbits appear to support our previous findings: Lipofundin-S treatment induces aortic smooth muscle cell mobilization, fibrillogenesis and enlargement of the subendothelial space, namely sclerotic manifestations are induced.

Analysis of broadband x-ray spectra of highly charged krypton from a microcalorimeter detector of an electron-beam ion trap.

Spectra of highly charged Kr ions, produced in an electron-beam ion trap (EBIT), have been recorded in a broad x-ray energy band (0.3 keV to 4 keV) with a microcalorimeter detector. Most of the spectral lines have been identified as transitions of B- to Al-like Kr. The transition energies have been determined with 0.2% uncertainty. A semi-empirical EBIT plasma model has been created to calculate a synthetic spectrum of highly charged Kr and to determine a charge state distribution of Kr ions inside the EBIT.

Is there a relationship between haemoglobin genotype and the innate resistance to experimental Haemonchus contortus infection in Merino lambs?

Responses to a single or repeated infection with 7000 infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus were studied in an experiment using a total of 106 3-month-old lambs with AA, AB or BB haemoglobin (Hb) genotypes. Results were assessed by faecal egg counts, adult worm counts, haematocrit values, haemoglobin concentrations, total serum protein and serum antibody IgG1 and IgA ELISA titres. None of these parameters showed a strong relationship to the Hb type. The prevalence of low responder (greater than 500 worms) and of high responder (less than 50 worms) animals in groups AA, AB and BB Hb types was 3.8 and 34.6, 20.6 and 35.2, 28.1 and 43.7%, respectively, suggesting that the responsiveness to nematode infection is under the control of gene(s) not closely linked with those determining the Hb genotype. Worm counts of a primary infection are more subject to variation than those of a secondary infection. There is a strong relationship between adult worm counts and faecal egg counts taken close to the time of slaughter. In living animals low and high responder discrimination can be based on individual faecal egg counts around 50 days after a secondary infection. Haematocrit values proved to be of little value in the low and high responder selection. In this regard neither Hb concentration nor total serum protein values are of practical significance. In 3-month-old lambs primary infection induced partial immunity which could prevent the establishment of a part of the secondary infection, irrespective of the presence or absence of the primary worm population. The development of immunity was not associated with an increase of serum IgG1 and IgA antibody levels. Specific antibody production was not influenced by Hb types. Mean antibody levels of low responder lambs showed no difference from those of high responders. Thus, serum IgG1 and IgA levels are of no predictive value in identifying lambs which are genetically resistant to Haemonchus infection.

Early morphological changes of vessels in an experimental model system.

The theories and models concerning the pathology of arteriosclerosis are briefly reviewed. The Lipofundin arteriosclerosis model developed in our laboratory is present together with the mechanism of development of sclerotic vascular lesions and the primary role of permeability changes in the whole process. The process of development of the fibrotic proliferative lesions induced by Lipofundin was visualized by a colloidal iron tracer for enhanced permeability and the consequent smooth muscle cell proliferation was also registered. The presence and importance of adventitial lymphatic drainage was observed in connection with the enhancement of permeability. The adherence of macrophages to the endothelium was noted. We think that the enhanced permeability results in the functional impairment of the endothelium and causes macrophages to adhere to the damaged sites. Macrophages produce growth factors which together with enhanced permeability induce smooth muscle cell proliferation leading ultimately to the arteriosclerotic changes of the vessel wall. The pathological process was inhibited or at least attenuated by a prostacyclin-analog (Iloprost, 6-alpha-carbacyclin, Schering AG). The action of the drug seems to consist of a direct reduction of proliferation, of maintenance of normal permeability of normal endothelial functions. The latter acts against the adherence of macrophages thus cancels the possible stimulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation by macrophage growth factors.

A review of 126 Caesarean sections by blood gas and the acid-base status of newborn calves.

Blood gas and acid-base status was determined in 126 Caesarean-derived calves. The newborn calves were assigned by venous blood pH value at birth to three groups as follows: Group 1 (normal): pH above 7.2; Group 2 (slight acidosis): pH 7.2 to 7.0; and Group 3 (severe acidosis): pH below 7.0. Following Caesarean section births 80 (63.5%) calves had normal acid-base values, while 30 (23.8%) had a slight acidosis, and 16 (12.7%) had severe acidosis. The degree of hypoxia was similar in each group. Six calves (37.5%) in Group 3 died within 48 h of birth. The blood gas and acid-base status of Caesarean-derived. calves was not significantly influenced by any examined parameters with the exception of sex in Groups 1 and 2. The occurrence of meconium-stained calves was 9.1% (n = 11), and only two calves were slightly or severely acidotic immediately after birth.

Lymphatics in the aorta of rats treated with a soy-bean oil extract (lipofundin).

Lipofundin-S 20% (a soy-bean oil extract) when administered intravenously to rats resulted in dilation of aortic lymphatics at the media-adventitia junction. Increased endothelial permeability as demonstrated by intraaortic colloidal iron uptake with dynamic insufficiency of lymphatic drainage is suggested as the basis for dilatation of intraaortic adventitial lymphatics.

[Morphological aspects of the effect of magnesium orotate therapy on changes in the vascular walls induced by cholesterol-rich diet]. / A magnézium-orotát terápia hatásának morfológiai aspektusai koleszterindús diéta nyomán kialakult érfali elváltozásokban.

Heart and blood vessel disease are one of the leading causes of death, so their prevention and therapy are very important. In the present study the effects of magnesium chloride, magnesium orotate and orotic acid were tested. New Zealand rabbits were fed with enriched (2%) cholesterol diet during 112 days: starting with day 56 all rabbits were treated with MgCl2, Mg-orotate or orotic acid (orally). Aortas, coronaries, renal and femoral arteries were removed and evaluated by morphological and morphometric methods. Atherosclerotic alterations in each vessel could be influenced moderately by Mg-chloride, quite well by orotic acid and excellently by Mg-orotate. From these results one can conclude that orotic acid and Mg-orotate have a beneficial effect in the prevention and therapy of heart and vessels diseases.

[PGI2-like activity of the internal mammary artery and the saphenous vein used in coronary bypass surgery]. / Coronaria bypass mütéteknél alkalmazott arteria mammaria interna és a vena saphena PGI2-analóg aktivitásának tanulmányozása.

The best graft in coronary bypass operations is the internal mammary artery as its rate of staying open for long term is better than that of saphenous vein. The prostacyclin-producing capacity of these human blood vessels was studied using platelet aggregation bioassay. The synthesis of prostacyclin-analogous was significant higher in internal mammary artery than that was in saphenous vein (in 10 min of incubation time internal mammary artery: 73.33; saphenous vein: 42.27 pg/mg). Based on our results we conclude that the difference of "prostacyclin-like" activity between artery and vein might play a role, at least partly, in the more successful operations performed with internal mammary artery.

[Low doses of acetylsalicylic acid effectively inhibits thrombocyte aggregation after ischemic stroke]. / Kis dózisú acetil-szalicilát hatásosan gátolja a thrombocytaaggregatiót ischaemiás stroke után.

Platelet aggregation was examined in 43 patients after ischemic stroke and in 16 healthy subjects using multiparametric aggregation index (MAI). The value of MAI was significantly higher in stroke patients (3.15 in patients and 0.92 l/mumol in controls, p < 0.0001). Patients who had increased MAI (n = 26) were treated with a daily dose of 100 mg acetilsalicylic acid (ASA). Platelet activity was measured before and on the 7th and 28th day of treatment measuring three parameters: MAI, spontaneous dysaggregation and collagen induced aggregation. All 3 methods showed a significant decrease in platelet aggregation on the 7th day of treatment, but further changes were not found on the 28th day. Serum levels of thromboxane-A2 (TXA2) and prostacycline (PGI2) metabolites (TXB2 and 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1 alpha) were determined before and on the 28th day of treatment. The effect of 100 mg ASA per day proved to be selective: comparing the serum levels before and after treatment, a significant decrease of TXB2 concentration was found without changes in the concentration of 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1 alpha. Evaluating MAI and the value of dysaggregation might reflect ineffectiveness of antiplatelet therapy in patients not responding to a daily dose of 100 mg of ASA. For these patients the increase of the daily dose of ASA, or changing to another antiplatelet drug might be recommended.