Spontaneous Electron Emission from Hot Silver Dimer Anions: Breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer Approximation.

We report the first experimental evidence of spontaneous electron emission from a homonuclear dimer anion through direct measurements of Ag_{2}^{-}→Ag_{2}+e^{-} decays on milliseconds and seconds timescales. This observation is very surprising as there is no avoided crossing between adiabatic energy curves to mediate such a process. The process is weak, yet dominates the decay signal after 100 ms when ensembles of internally hot Ag_{2}^{-} ions are stored in the cryogenic ion-beam storage ring, DESIREE, for 10 s. The electron emission process is associated with an instantaneous, very large reduction of the vibrational energy of the dimer system. This represents a dramatic deviation from a Born-Oppenheimer description of dimer dynamics.

Erratum: Rotationally Cold OH

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.073001.

Dianion diagnostics in DESIREE: High-sensitivity detection of Cn2- from a sputter ion source.

A sputter ion source with a solid graphite target has been used to produce dianions with a focus on carbon cluster dianions, Cn2-, with n = 7-24. Singly and doubly charged anions from the source were accelerated together to kinetic energies of 10 keV per atomic unit of charge and injected into one of the cryogenic (13 K) ion-beam storage rings of the Double ElectroStatic Ion Ring Experiment facility at Stockholm University. Spontaneous decay of internally hot Cn2- dianions injected into the ring yielded Cn- anions with kinetic energies of 20 keV, which were counted with a microchannel plate detector. Mass spectra produced by scanning the magnetic field of a 90° analyzing magnet on the ion injection line reflect the production of internally hot C72- - C242- dianions with lifetimes in the range of tens of microseconds to milliseconds. In spite of the high sensitivity of this method, no conclusive evidence of C62- was found while there was a clear C72- signal with the expected isotopic distribution. This is consistent with earlier experimental studies and with theoretical predictions. An upper limit is deduced for a C62- signal that is two orders-of-magnitude smaller than that for C72-. In addition, CnO2- and CnCu2- dianions were detected.

Rotationally Cold OH

We apply near-threshold laser photodetachment to characterize the rotational quantum level distribution of OH^{-} ions stored in the cryogenic ion-beam storage ring DESIREE at Stockholm University. We find that the stored ions relax to a rotational temperature of 13.4±0.2 K with 94.9±0.3% of the ions in the rotational ground state. This is consistent with the storage ring temperature of 13.5±0.5 K as measured with eight silicon diodes but in contrast to all earlier studies in cryogenic traps and rings where the rotational temperatures were always much higher than those of the storage devices at their lowest temperatures. Furthermore, we actively modify the rotational distribution through selective photodetachment to produce an OH^{-} beam where 99.1±0.1% of approximately one million stored ions are in the J=0 rotational ground state. We measure the intrinsic lifetime of the J=1 rotational level to be 145±28 s.

Prenatal nicotine exposure and pulmonary barotrauma of newborns.

Smoking in adults increases the relative risk of contracting spontaneous pneumothorax, a form of pulmonary barotrauma. Maternal smoking habits affect the fetus. Pregnant females attend the antenatal clinic at the 8th to 12th weeks of pregnancy. There is a participation rate of 99% of all births in Sweden. Their smoking habits were registered at this stage. This study supported the hypothesis that the registered maternal smoking habits covariated with the risk of contracting pulmonary barotrauma in newborn infants. The infants of smokers do not seem to be at higher risk (95% C.I. of RR: 0.78-0.99) for contracting pulmonary barotrauma than those of nonsmokers. Thus far, the hypothesis is even rejected at the 5% significance level. However, after considering other factors, especially mother's education, it seems to be an open question whether or not a weak covariation is present. Newborn boys run almost twice the risk of contracting pulmonary barotrauma than girls. Furthermore, we found an increased risk for contracting pulmonary barotrauma in the subcohort of newborns whose mothers' smoking habits were not reported.

Analysis of hereditary component of cancer by use of a familial index by site.

To quantify hereditary factors in the risk of cancer, we matched 1283047 cancer patients listed in the Swedish Cancer Registry with healthy controls from a national database, and identified the number of individuals who were first-degree relatives of other individuals in the same cohort. Division of the number of relatives in the patient cohort by the number in the control cohort yielded a "familial index". The following cancers had high familial indices: eye 16.5 (95% CI 2.5-666), testis 9.0 (3.2-35), Hodgkin's disease 6.5 (2.3-26.0), and thyroid 6.2 (3.7-12). Overall, however, familial factors made only a minor contribution to susceptibility to cancer.

Bioavailability of cadmium from infant diets in newborn rats.

Infants are exposed to higher levels of cadmium (Cd) from infant and follow-on formulas than from breast milk. We studied the bioavailability of 109CdCl2 from cows' milk formula, soy formula, wheat/oat/milk formula, wholemeal/milk formula and water in 11-day-old rat pups. The pups received a single oral dose of one diet labelled with 109Cd, 0.1 or 0.3 mg Cd/kg body weight. After 2 or 24 h or 4, 9 or 12 days the fractional retention of 109Cd in the whole body, in segments of rinsed small intestine and in tissue was measured in a gamma counter. Pups receiving 109Cd in water or cows' milk formula had the highest mean whole-body retention. It ranged from 67% of the dose in the water group to 52% in the wholemeal/milk formula group 4 days after dosing. The retention of 109Cd in the rinsed small intestine was significantly higher in the water group and the cows' milk formula group than in the cereal-based formula groups at 24 h and 4 days after dosing. It was still high in all groups on day 9, ranging from 26 to 11%. Initially most of the 109Cd was retained in the duodenum but by day 4 it had moved further down into the jejunum. In the liver, the highest and lowest retention on day 4 was 16%, and 3 per thousand of the dose in the water group and wholemeal/milk formula group, respectively. In the kidney, 109Cd was still increasing 12 days after exposure in all groups. Whole-body retention and tissue levels were higher than previously reported in adult animals. The lower bioavailability of 109Cd from the cereal-based formulas compared to water and cows milk formula on the longer survival times is most likely explained by Cd binding to dietary fibre and phytic acid in the cereal-based formulas reducing the intestinal binding and decreasing the bioavailability of Cd. The high retention of 109Cd in the small intestine, leading to a prolonged absorption period, emphasizes the importance of extending studies on neonatal Cd absorption over a long time period in order to detect for example, endpoints, accumulation of Cd in the kidney.

Society of Breast Imaging residency and fellowship training curriculum.

A recently developed Society of Breast Imaging curriculum for residency training is intended to provide guidance to residents and their mentors, and to practicing radiologists who want to keep up to date in screening, diagnosis, and interventional procedures. The curriculum contains lists of key concepts in 14 subject areas: epidemiology; anatomy; pathology, and physiology; equipment and technique; quality control; interpretation; problem-solving mammography; ultrasound; interventional procedures; reporting and medicolegal aspects; screening; MR imaging; therapeutic considerations; and patient management principles. The curriculum also makes recommendations about residency training, including the number of examinations the resident should interpret, and the time the resident should spend in breast imaging. Recommendations for fellowship training are also discussed.

Exposure of cadmium from infant formulas and weaning foods.

Cadmium levels were determined in 59 baby food samples, including milk-based, cereal and milk-based and soy-based formulas, recommended from 0 to 18 months of age. Determinations were performed by Zeeman graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry, after dry ashing, with parallel determinations of certified reference samples. Mean cadmium levels were found to range from 1.10 to 23.5 micrograms/kg fresh weight concentrated formulas. Levels were related to the composition of the diets. Formulas based on cow's milk had the lowest concentrations. Soy formulas contained approximately six times more cadmium than cow's milk formulas, and diets with a cereal content had 4-21 times higher mean levels. The mean weekly intakes of dietary cadmium were estimated to vary between 0.10 and 3.05 micrograms/kg body weight of the child, if the recommended amount of formula were to be consumed at the recommended age, and if the child were of average weight. This estimation however does not include the contribution of cadmium from drinking water. The highest intake on a body weight basis was found in 6-month-old children, consuming the recommended amount of wheat-, oat- and milk-based formulas. This intake is below the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 7 micrograms/kg body weight, established by a WHO/FAO expert group. However, the risk assessment is based on renal effects in adults. Furthermore, preparations of a formula by adding water with cadmium concentrations at the WHO guideline level could lead to intakes at the PTWI level. Compared to breast-fed children, the exposure of dietary cadmium from weaning diets can be up to 12 times higher in children fed infant formula.

Marked decrease in suicide among men and women in the former USSR during perestroika.

At the same time as substantial and rapid socio-political and socio-economic changes took place during the period of perestroika, suicide rates in the former USSR decreased by approximately 32% for men and 19% for women. The decreases in the suicide rates of men in the former USSR were unlike the suicide rate decreases taking place in 22 other European countries, where rates decreased by approximately 8% for men and 17% for women during this time period. Declines in suicide rates from 1984 to 1986-1988 occurred in all republics, with the largest decreases in Russia and Belarus, at 42% for men and 20% for women. The decrease in suicide rates of men in the former USSR was most pronounced until 1986-1988, after which time an increasing trend was observed. Suicide rates for men in the former USSR decreased 3.8-fold more than they did for men in other parts of Europe, while decreases in the suicide rates for women in the former USSR were on the same level as in Europe.

Age-specific suicide rates in the Slavic and Baltic regions of the former USSR during perestroika, in comparison with 22 European countries.

Age-specific differences in suicide rates in the Baltic and Slavic regions of the former USSR were studied for the period 1984-1990, and were compared to those of 22 European countries. It was observed that suicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants in the Slavic and Baltic regions increased directly with age for women, and showed a bimodal distribution with peaks for the 45-54 and > or = 75 age groups for men. In most of the 22 European countries, the suicide rates of both men and women increased directly with age. In 1990 the suicide rates in the Slavic and Baltic regions ranged from 25.1 for the 15-24 age group to 86.9 for men aged 75 or older, and from 6.0 to 29.8 for women, while the suicide rates in Europe ranged from 13.0 to 64.8 for men and from 3.6 to 18.7 for women. Decreases in the suicide rates in the Slavic and Baltic regions during perestroika were largest for the 25-54 age group, averaging at drop of 45% for men and 33% for women between 1984 and 1986-1988. The pattern of age-specific suicide rates for women in the Slavic and Baltic regions remained similar to that in Europe throughout the period studied. This was in contrast to a distinct pattern of male suicide rates in the Slavic and Baltic regions in 1984, which converged with those found in other parts of Europe during 1986-1988. It appears that perestroika contributed to a unique pattern of male suicide mortality in the Slavic and Baltic regions, especially in the 25-54 age group.

Female suicides and alcohol consumption during perestroika in the former USSR.

During 1984-1990, a decline in suicide rates of 32% for males and 19% for females took place in the former Soviet Union. The observed annual decrease in mortality from suicide was most marked for men in 1984-1986 and for women in 1984-1988. This article illuminates the hypothesis that the restrictive anti-alcohol campaign initiated by Gorbachev on 1 June 1985, in which prices of alcoholic beverages were raised substantially, had an impact on female mortality from suicide in the former Soviet Union. Data regarding alcohol consumption, female violent death (n = 451,537), suicide (n = 94,149), death due to accidental alcohol poisoning (n = 28,078), and undetermined death, whether accidental or self-inflicted (n = 23,982) were analysed for three Slavic (Russia, Belarus and the Ukraine), three Baltic (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and two Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan and Kirgizia). Regression analyses with alcohol consumption as the independent variable and female suicide rates and female violent-death rates as dependent variables showed that suicide and alcohol consumption, as well as violent death and alcohol consumption, were positively correlated. However, alcohol seems to have a lower explanatory value for female suicides and female violent deaths compared with male suicides and male violent deaths. The attributable fraction of alcohol for female suicides in the whole USSR (27%) is estimated at approximately half of that for male suicides (50%).

The decline of smoking among Swedish men.

BACKGROUND: In 1987 the Association of the Nordic Cancer Registers (ANCR) predicted the incidence of lung cancer in the Nordic countries up to the years 2000 and 2010. The predictions for Sweden can now be considered against recent information on smoking habits. METHODS: Regular, question-based studies on the public's tobacco consumption are carried out by four separate institutions in Sweden. This article summarizes and updates the smoking habits among Swedish men in the age groups 35-54 and 55-70 years between 1963 and 1994, with special focus on smoking cessation. RESULTS: Between 1963 and 1994, there was a significant and continuous decrease in the prevalence of smoking among Swedish men. During this time ex-smoking men increased from 20% to 41%. The data reveal a continuous, unbroken and uniform increase in smoking cessation rates during the last 20 years, despite the small success of smoking cessation programmes and smoking-relapse rates of 75-80%. The explanation of this seems to be the surprisingly high frequency of smokers who attempted to stop smoking each year (about 30%). The best success rate in smoking cessation was achieved by occasional smokers and others with a low cigarette consumption. CONCLUSION: With the continuing fall in the numbers of smoking men, a greater drop in lung cancer incidence than predicted by the ANCR in 1987 may be expected in Sweden within the coming decade.

Living conditions of female suicide attempters: a case-control study.

A total of 51 hospitalized female suicide attempters (17-64 years old) were interviewed according to a questionnaire used by Statistics Sweden, SCB (ULF 88:1) for investigation of living conditions. Control subjects from similar geographical areas included in the ULF investigation in 1988, and matched for age and nationality, were identified through the SCB (n = 153). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence limits were estimated. Correlation coefficients were used to study the relative importance of specific factors. Not less than 26 items reached the level of statistical significance, but only four of them (mental disorder, use of anxiolytics, unemployment at some time during the last 5 years, and no professional work during the past year) showed a considerable excess risk (lower 95% CI limit for OR > 3). Physical illness was relevant as an independent factor. Although of secondary importance, hospitalization during the previous 3 months was also a characteristic of suicide attempters.

Mammographic halo sign revisited.

PURPOSE: To determine whether increased silver halide deposition accounts for some curvilinear areas of hyperlucency (halo signs) that surround breast masses on screen-film mammograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Breast images obtained in 43 women (aged 30-67 years; mean, 48.6 years) that showed a halo sign were selected from the authors' teaching files. Optical magnification (x8.0-12.5) of the masses with halos was used to establish the pattern of silver halide deposition in the film emulsion. RESULTS: True radiolucent halos, differentiated from Mach bands by means of the increased silver halide deposition in the film emulsion, were identified in 44 masses in 36 women. Partial true radiolucent halos were identified in 32 (73%) of 44 masses. Thirty-eight (86%) of the 44 masses were cysts; three (7%), fibroadenomas; two (4%), infiltrating ductal carcinomas; and one (2%), axillary lymph node metastasis. True radiolucent halos were more common in growing benign and malignant lesions. CONCLUSION: A halo is not always a perceptual illusion.

Notable relationship between the level of tumor marker TPS in serum and survival in breast cancer.

Tissue Polypeptide Specific antigen (TPS) in serum was measured once during the follow-up of 200 breast cancer patients and compared with survival. Within 12 months, patients with normal TPS (< 80 U/L) exhibited a 3% death rate (3/96), which was undistinguishable from the mortality of normal females of corresponding age. Patients with moderate TPS (80-400 U/L) suffered 19% death (14/72), and patients with high TPS (> 400 U/L) 72% death (23/32). The relative risk (RR) of death within 6 months was 1 with normal TPS, 8 with moderate TPS, and 48 with high TPS. RR for 12 months was 1, 6, and 23, respectively. Serum TPS at admission had a significant predictive value with regard to survival up to 12 months.

A decline in the lung cancer incidence amongst men in Swedish cities.

A statistically-significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the incidence of lung cancer has been observed amongst men in larger Swedish cities, but not in the country as a whole. The decrease is foremostly attributable to changes within the group of older men (i.e., > 65 years). The investigation is based on the Swedish Cancer Registry and covers the period 1975-1989.