Anderson localization in a periodic photonic lattice with a disordered boundary.

We investigate experimentally the light evolution inside a two-dimensional finite periodic array of weakly coupled optical waveguides with a disordered boundary. For a completely localized initial condition away from the surface, we find that the disordered boundary induces an asymptotic localization in the bulk, centered around the initial position of the input beam.

SU-E-J-24: Image-Guidance Using Cone-Beam CT for Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) of Lung Cancer Patients: Bony Alignment or Soft Tissue Alignment?

PURPOSE: To assess the reliability of soft tissue alignment by comparing pre- and post-treatment cone-beam CT (CBCT) for image guidance in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of lung cancers. METHODS: Our lung SBRT procedures require all patients undergo 4D CT scan in order to obtain patient-specific target motion information through reconstructed 4D data using the maximum-intensity projection (MIP) algorithm. The internal target volume (ITV) was outlined directly from the MIP images and a 3-5 mm margin expansion was then applied to the ITV to create the PTV. Conformal treatment planning was performed on the helical images, to which the MIP images were fused. Prior to each treatment, CBCT was used for image guidance by comparing with the simulation CT and for patient relocalization based on the bony anatomy. Any displacement of the patient bony structure would be considered as setup errors and would be corrected by couch shifts. Theoretically, as the PTV definition included target internal motion, no further shifts other than setup corrections should be made. However, it is our practice to have treating physicians further check target localization within the PTV. Whenever the shifts based on the soft-tissue alignment (that is, target alignment) exceeded a certain value (e.g. 5 mm), a post-treatment CBCT was carried out to ensure that the tissue alignment is reliable by comparing between pre- and post-treatment CBCT. RESULTS: Pre- and post-CBCT has been performed for 7 patients so far who had shifts beyond 5 mm despite bony alignment. For all patients, post CBCT confirmed that the visualized target position was kept in the same position as before treatment after adjusting for soft-tissue alignment. CONCLUSIONS: For the patient population studied, it is shown that soft-tissue alignment is necessary and reliable in the lung SBRT for individual cases.

Soil temperature and diapause maintenance in eggs of the spittlebug, Deois flavopicta (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Diapausing eggs of the neotropical pasture pest, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), were exposed to low overnight temperatures that simulated field conditions during the dry season (23/12, 23/15 and 23/18ºC day/night), for different periods (0-60 days). After treatment, eggs were kept at 28ºC and contact water (100 percent humidity) until hatching. A group of diapausing eggs were kept all the time under this last condition as a control treatment. Time for hatching (in degree-days) was reduced with decrease in low overnight temperature and increase of exposure time to these cold shocks, although there was no interaction between the factors. Regression of exposure time to cold shock influencing the expected mean hatching time produced independent equations for temperatures below 18ºC and 15ºC. We constructed a model that simulates the expected proportion of the population hatching after the beginning of rainy season based on regression equations to mean hatching time and associated standard deviation. The simulation generated for the model correlated significantly with nymphal population observed in the field. These results showed that overnight soil temperatures below 18ºC, as occurs in Central and South-eastern Brazil between May and August, shorten the period of diapause, increase quiescent eggs in the soil, and may synchronize the population hatching

Soil temperature and diapause maintenance in eggs of the spittlebug, Deois flavopicta (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Diapausing eggs of the neotropical pasture pest, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), were exposed to low overnight temperatures that simulated field conditions during the dry season (23/12, 23/15 and 23/18ºC day/night), for different periods (0-60 days). After treatment, eggs were kept at 28ºC and contact water (100% humidity) until hatching. A group of diapausing eggs were kept all the time under this last condition as a control treatment. Time for hatching (in degree-days) was reduced with decrease in low overnight temperature and increase of exposure time to these cold shocks, although there was no interaction between the factors. Regression of exposure time to cold shock influencing the expected mean hatching time produced independent equations for temperatures below 18ºC and 15ºC. We constructed a model that simulates the expected proportion of the population hatching after the beginning of rainy season based on regression equations to mean hatching time and associated standard deviation. The simulation generated for the model correlated significantly with nymphal population observed in the field. These results showed that overnight soil temperatures below 18ºC, as occurs in Central and South-eastern Brazil between May and August, shorten the period of diapause, increase quiescent eggs in the soil, and may synchronize the population hatching.

Foram expostos ovos diapáusicos da praga de pastagens na região neotropical, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), a baixas temperaturas noturnas, simulando condições de campo durante a estação seca (23/12, 23/15 e 23/18ºC dia/noite), por diferentes períodos (0, 15, 30, 40, 50 e 60 dias). Após o tratamento térmico, os ovos foram mantidos a 28ºC e em água de contato (100% de umidade), até a eclosão das ninfas. Um grupo-controle de ovos diapáusicos foi mantido por todo o período experimental em altas temperaturas e umidade. O tempo para eclosão (em graus/dia) foi reduzido devido ao efeito das baixas temperaturas noturnas e ao aumento no período de exposição ao choque frio, embora não tenha sido observada interação significativa entre esses fatores. A regressão do efeito do período de choque frio no tempo médio para eclosão das ninfas provenientes de ovos diapáusicos produziu equações independentes para as temperaturas abaixo de 18ºC e 15ºC. Com base nas equações de regressão do tempo médio e no desvio-padrão associado, construímos um modelo que simula a proporção esperada da população que eclodirá após o início da estação chuvosa. A simulação gerada pelo modelo correlacionou-se significativamente à população de ninfas observada no campo. Estes resultados mostram que temperaturas noturnas abaixo de 18ºC, como ocorre no Centro-Sul do Brasil entre maio e agosto, abreviam o período da diapausa, acumulam ovos quiescentes no solo e podem sincronizar a eclosão da população.

Fine-scale mapping of a locus for severe bipolar mood disorder on chromosome 18p11.3 in the Costa Rican population.

We have searched for genes predisposing to bipolar disorder (BP) by studying individuals with the most extreme form of the affected phenotype, BP-I, ascertained from the genetically isolated population of the Central Valley of Costa Rica (CVCR). The results of a previous linkage analysis on two extended CVCR BP-I pedigrees, CR001 and CR004, and of linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses of a CVCR population sample of BP-I patients implicated a candidate region on 18p11.3. We further investigated this region by creating a physical map and developing 4 new microsatellite and 26 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers for typing in the pedigree and population samples. We report the results of fine-scale association analyses in the population sample, as well as evaluation of haplotypes in pedigree CR001. Our results suggest a candidate region containing six genes but also highlight the complexities of LD mapping of common disorders.

Soil temperature and diapause maintenance in eggs of the spittlebug, Deois flavopicta (Hemiptera: Cercopidae).

Diapausing eggs of the neotropical pasture pest, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), were exposed to low overnight temperatures that simulated field conditions during the dry season (23/12, 23/15 and 23/18 degrees C day/night), for different periods (0-60 days). After treatment, eggs were kept at 28 degrees C and contact water (100% humidity) until hatching. A group of diapausing eggs were kept all the time under this last condition as a control treatment. Time for hatching (in degree-days) was reduced with decrease in low overnight temperature and increase of exposure time to these cold shocks, although there was no interaction between the factors. Regression of exposure time to cold shock influencing the expected mean hatching time produced independent equations for temperatures below 18 degrees C and 15 degrees C. We constructed a model that simulates the expected proportion of the population hatching after the beginning of rainy season based on regression equations to mean hatching time and associated standard deviation. The simulation generated for the model correlated significantly with nymphal population observed in the field. These results showed that overnight soil temperatures below 18 degrees C, as occurs in Central and South-eastern Brazil between May and August, shorten the period of diapause, increase quiescent eggs in the soil, and may have synchronize population hatching.

Soil temperature and diapause maintenance in eggs of the spittlebug, Deois flavopicta (Hemiptera: Cercopidae)

Diapausing eggs of the neotropical pasture pest, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), were exposed to low overnight temperatures that simulated field conditions during the dry season (23/12, 23/15 and 23/18ºC day/night), for different periods (0-60 days). After treatment, eggs were kept at 28ºC and contact water (100% humidity) until hatching. A group of diapausing eggs were kept all the time under this last condition as a control treatment. Time for hatching (in degree-days) was reduced with decrease in low overnight temperature and increase of exposure time to these cold shocks, although there was no interaction between the factors. Regression of exposure time to cold shock influencing the expected mean hatching time produced independent equations for temperatures below 18ºC and 15ºC. We constructed a model that simulates the expected proportion of the population hatching after the beginning of rainy season based on regression equations to mean hatching time and associated standard deviation. The simulation generated for the model correlated significantly with nymphal population observed in the field. These results showed that overnight soil temperatures below 18ºC, as occurs in Central and South-eastern Brazil between May and August, shorten the period of diapause, increase quiescent eggs in the soil, and may synchronize the population hatching.

Foram expostos ovos diapáusicos da praga de pastagens na região neotropical, Deois flavopicta (Stal) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae), a baixas temperaturas noturnas, simulando condições de campo durante a estação seca (23/12, 23/15 e 23/18ºC dia/noite), por diferentes períodos (0, 15, 30, 40, 50 e 60 dias). Após o tratamento térmico, os ovos foram mantidos a 28ºC e em água de contato (100% de umidade), até a eclosão das ninfas. Um grupo-controle de ovos diapáusicos foi mantido por todo o período experimental em altas temperaturas e umidade. O tempo para eclosão (em graus/dia) foi reduzido devido ao efeito das baixas temperaturas noturnas e ao aumento no período de exposição ao choque frio, embora não tenha sido observada interação significativa entre esses fatores. A regressão do efeito do período de choque frio no tempo médio para eclosão das ninfas provenientes de ovos diapáusicos produziu equações independentes para as temperaturas abaixo de 18ºC e 15ºC. Com base nas equações de regressão do tempo médio e no desvio-padrão associado, construímos um modelo que simula a proporção esperada da população que eclodirá após o início da estação chuvosa. A simulação gerada pelo modelo correlacionou-se significativamente à população de ninfas observada no campo. Estes resultados mostram que temperaturas noturnas abaixo de 18ºC, como ocorre no Centro-Sul do Brasil entre maio e agosto, abreviam o período da diapausa, acumulam ovos quiescentes no solo e podem sincronizar a eclosão da população.

[Prevalence of hearing loss and correlated factors in a cement plant]. / Prevalencia de la pérdida auditiva y factores correlacionados en una industria cementera.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of occupational exposure to noise, as well as its relationship with other factors that can induce hearing loss. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In January and February 1997, we conducted sonometry and dosimetry tests in a cement factory, as well as audiometric test in 85 cement workers, to identify sources of noise and evaluate the effect to noise exposure and other factors, of the prevalence of occupational hearing loss. Statistical analysis was conducted using measures of central tendency, bivariate analysis and polynominal regression models. RESULTS: High noise levels were found in the crushing, crude milling, and cement milling sites. The highest individual dose corresponded to the packer job post. Fifty-five per cent of the study population presented some degree of hearing loss due to noise exposure. The cement processing area with the highest percentage of damaged workers was calcination. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that noise is a serious risk factor in particular sites of cement factories, and also that an elevated number of hearing loss cases are due to occupational noise exposure in this industry; Our findings underscore the need for designing and implementing hearing protection programs, to assure the health and safety of cement workers.

The role radiology in the diagnosis and follow-up of Langerhans cell hystocytosis

Diagnostic imaging plays a major role in the management of patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Plain radiography depicts most lesions. Nuclear scintigraphy may detect additional areas of bone involvement, but its routine use is controversial. Ultrasonography may be used to evaluate the abdomen for evidence of solid organ involvement. CT and MR imaging are often of great value in clarifying and delineating findings seen on plain radiographs and other imaging modalities. Ultimately, the choice of imaging study depends on the patient's clinical presentation and the body part affected.

A comparison of oral and intravenous iron supplementation in preterm infants receiving recombinant erythropoietin.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intravenously administered iron supplements would improve the hematologic response to recombinant erythropoietin in stable preterm infants. METHODS: Forty-two preterm infants (<33 weeks' gestation, birth weight < 1500 gm, hematocrit <38%) were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (Eprex), 600 U/kg per week, and randomly assigned to receive either an oral preparation of ferrous lactate (elemental iron, 12 mg/kg per day) or an intravenous preparation of iron sucrose (6 mg/kg per week). RESULTS: Hematocrits, reticulocyte counts, and transfusions were similar in the oral group (OG) and the intravenous group (IVG). However, markedly higher serum ferritin concentrations were noted in the IVG (p <0.001), and by completion of the study the arithmetic mean values were 265 +/- 127 microg/L versus 137 +/- 65 microg/L in the IVG and the OG, respectively. The numbers of hypochromic erythrocytes increased in both groups during the study but were significantly higher in the OG (p = 0.04). Mean daily weight gain in the IVG (27 +/- 6.4 gm/day) was greater than in the OG (22.9 +/- 4.78 gm/day; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: High doses of both orally administered iron and intravenously administered iron sucrose appear to supply sufficient iron for erythropoiesis in stable infants. Storage iron may become depleted after oral supplementation. The intravenous preparation appears to be safe and maintains serum ferritin concentrations, and it may be indicated for patients with low ferritin levels and for those not established on enteral feedings.

Measuring attitudes and health beliefs among Mexican Americans with diabetes.

Adherence to the treatment regimen for patients with diabetes is of major concern to healthcare practitioners, particularly when dealing with the high-risk, low-income, Mexican-American population. Assessing the attitudes and beliefs of this group is vital for planning effective and realistic intervention strategies. Therefore, we designed a culturally sensitive instrument to measure health beliefs and attitudes of low-income Mexican Americans with diabetes. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as a basis for this study because it is well accepted as a predictor of health-related behaviors. However, we found that the HBM was not an effective tool for assessing the health beliefs or attitudes of this patient population even after rigorous efforts to operationalize the HBM and after conducting extensive statistical analyses. Only two of the five subscales of the traditional HBM, barriers and benefits, were reliable. Scales to measure acculturation and fatalism were added to increase the cultural sensitivity of the tool. These added components were found to be an important variable in interpreting the results for low-income Mexican-American patients.

Geologic implications in the distribution of endemic goiter in Colombia, South America.

A survey of 37 communities supplied by stream water and receiving iodised salt for the last 10-20 years indicates that the presence of sedimentary rocks in the watersheds of streams more closely correlates with goiter prevalence than 12 other possible causative variables. These results support the hypothesis that sedimentary rocks rich in organic matter are the main source of water-borne goitrogens.