Wide-angle ITER-prototype tangential infrared and visible viewing system for DIII-D.

An imaging system with a wide-angle tangential view of the full poloidal cross-section of the tokamak in simultaneous infrared and visible light has been installed on DIII-D. The optical train includes three polished stainless steel mirrors in vacuum, which view the tokamak through an aperture in the first mirror, similar to the design concept proposed for ITER. A dichroic beam splitter outside the vacuum separates visible and infrared (IR) light. Spatial calibration is accomplished by warping a CAD-rendered image to align with landmarks in a data image. The IR camera provides scrape-off layer heat flux profile deposition features in diverted and inner-wall-limited plasmas, such as heat flux reduction in pumped radiative divertor shots. Demonstration of the system to date includes observation of fast-ion losses to the outer wall during neutral beam injection, and shows reduced peak wall heat loading with disruption mitigation by injection of a massive gas puff.

Prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 and hepatitis C virus in a rural community with a high risk for blood-borne infections in central China.

Illegal blood donation in the past decade has caused human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreaks in some rural areas in China. Other HIV-associated virus infections, such as those caused by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), in such areas are still not well defined. In order to explore HHV8 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) seroprevalence and potential risk factors in such areas, a cross-sectional study with 305 HIV-positive and 315 HIV-negative subjects recruited from a rural county in Shanxi province was conducted, in which illegal blood collection was reported. Interview questionnaires and serum testing were carried out with these participants. HCV and HHV8 seroprevalence were found to be higher in the HIV-positive than in the HIV-negative group (76.4% vs. 2.5% and 15.4% vs. 4.8%, respectively), whereas the difference in HBV seroprevalence was not significant. Co-infection with HCV and HHV8 was also more prevalent in the HIV-positive group. HIV status (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.16-6.30) and HBV status (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.14-5.75) were independently associated with HHV8 infection. HIV status (OR 23.03; 95% CI 9.95-53.27) and blood/plasma selling history (OR 14.57; 95% CI 7.49-28.23) were strongly associated with HCV infection. These findings demonstrate that both HHV8 and HCV infections are prevalent in this community. HIV infection is an important risk factor for both HHV8 and HCV infection. HBV infection is associated with HHV8 infection but not with HCV infection. It is possible that HHV8 and hepatitis B virus, but not HCV, have similar modes of transmission in this population.

Puerperal presentation of a living abdominal pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal and heterotopic pregnancies appear to be increasing in incidence. CASE: We report a case of puerperal presentation of a living heterotopic pregnancy in an African woman. The patient presented 6 days postpartum with fever and abdominal pain. The correct diagnosis of heterotopic pregnancy was not considered, and for 9 days she was treated for presumed puerperal sepsis. It was only upon abdominal x-ray that the diagnosis was made. The patient underwent laparotomy with delivery of a living male neonate weighing 2000 g. He subsequently died of respiratory failure on day 3 of life. CONCLUSION: Although still rare, the increasing incidence of abdominal pregnancies in both developed and developing countries mandates awareness of this diagnosis, particularly in pregnant or postpartum women presenting with abdominal pain.

Comparison of two breast self-examination palpation techniques.

In this randomized clinical trial, we compared the vertical strip (VS) and the concentric circle (CC) patterns of breast palpation in order to determine which pattern provided the most thorough self-examination and the best lump detection in breast models. The sample consisted of 34 adult women from a Veterans Outpatient Clinic in the Northwest who were assigned according to breast size (large or small) to one of two groups. Subjects were pretested and randomly taught one method of palpation. Proficiency in the palpation technique, area covered, and number of lumps detected were evaluated. Interrater reliability for proficiency evaluation was 86%. During breast self-examination, the VS group covered significantly more area than the CC group (t = 2.72, p = 0.01). Breast size did not affect breast area covered. Lump detection using breast models did not differ between the two groups. Though this study did not support the conclusion that increased thoroughness leads to increased lump detection, there is support in the literature. Lack of difference in lump detection in this study may have been due to the constraints of the breast models used. However, further research is needed.

Misonidazole enhancement of radiation-induced growth delay in rat rhabdomyosarcoma tumours exposed to accelerated carbon and neon ions.

The response of a rat rhabdomyosarcoma tumour was assessed by measurements of radiation-induced growth delay resulting from administration of the hypoxic cell sensitizer misonidazole in combination with single and fractionated doses of X-rays and charged-particle radiation. Enhancement ratios of 1.8--2.1 were obtained following single doses of misonidazole (500 mg/kg i.p.) and 225 kV X-rays. Single doses of misonidazole with either carbon-ion or neon-ion radiation in the 4 cm extended-peak ionization region led to enhancement ratios of 1.2--1.3. When combined misonidazole (300 mg/kg i.p.) and X-ray treatments were given in four daily fractions, the enhancement ratios decreased to 1.2--1.5. However, a four-fraction schedule using either carbon-ion or neon-ion radiation in combination with misonidazole gave enhancement ratios of 1.1--1.3, which are similar to the values obtained for single-dose schedules with the sensitizer and charged-particle radiation.