Knockout reactions from p-shell nuclei: tests of ab initio structure models.

Absolute cross sections have been determined following single neutron knockout reactions from 10Be and 10C at intermediate energy. Nucleon density distributions and bound-state wave function overlaps obtained from both variational Monte Carlo (VMC) and no core shell model (NCSM) ab initio calculations have been incorporated into the theoretical description of knockout reactions. Comparison to experimental cross sections demonstrates that the VMC approach, with the inclusion of 3-body forces, provides the best overall agreement while the NCSM and conventional shell-model calculations both overpredict the cross sections by 20% to 30% for 10Be and by 40% to 50% for 10C, respectively. This study gains new insight into the importance of 3-body forces and continuum effects in light nuclei and provides a sensitive technique to assess the accuracy of ab initio calculations for describing these effects.

In-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy of very neutron-rich nuclei: excited states in 46S and 48Ar.

We report on the first in-beam gamma-ray spectroscopy study of the very neutron-rich nucleus 46S. The N=30 isotones 46S and 48Ar were produced in a novel way in two steps that both necessarily involve nucleon exchange and neutron pickup reactions 9Be(48Ca,48K)X followed by 9Be(48K,48Ar+gamma)X at 85.7 MeV/u midtarget energy and 9Be(48Ca,46Cl)X followed by 9Be(46Cl,46S+gamma)X at 87.0 MeV/u midtarget energy, respectively. The results are compared to large-scale shell-model calculations in the sd-pf shell using the SDPF-NR effective interaction and Z-dependent modifications.

Spectroscopy of 36Mg: interplay of normal and intruder configurations at the neutron-rich boundary of the "island of inversion".

We report on the first spectroscopy study of the very neutron-rich nucleus (36)(12)Mg24 using the direct two-proton knockout reaction 9Be(38Si,36Mg+gamma)X at 83 MeV/nucleon. The energy of the first excited 2+ state of 36Mg, E(2+(1)=660(6) keV, was measured. The magnitude of the partial cross sections to the ground state and the 2+(1) state is indicative of strong intruder admixtures in the lowest-lying states as suggested by Monte Carlo shell-model calculations.

Assessment of the state of dentition and oral hygiene in 16-25-year-old young people with mild and moderate mental disability.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the research is to assess the state of dentition and oral hygiene in 16-25-year-old young people with mild and moderate mental disability in comparison with a control group of healthy young people at the same age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The research was carried out in a special School and Tutelary Centre in Lublin. A group of 144 young people aged 16-25 with mild and moderate mental disability (group I) among them 75 girls and 69 boys participated in the research. A group of 50 healthy young people aged 16-25 (group II) among them 24 girls and 26 boys was a control group. Determined: frequency of dental caries, DMF number, dental caries treatment index (DTI), oral hygiene index (OHI), percentage of traumatic injuries of teeth, percentage of sealed teeth. RESULTS: The frequency of dental caries in both groups was 100%. The average DMF was 11.96 (group I) and in the control group II: 6.58. The largest number of teeth with active caries--8.21 teeth with caries per person was found in group I, but 2.72 in group II. Dental caries treatment index (DTI) was 0.24 in group I and 0.59 in the control group II. Oral hygiene index OHI in group I was 1.78, in group II this index was 0.34, 0.29 in girls and 0.38 in boys. CONCLUSIONS: 1. The state of dentition in 16-25-year-old young people with mild and moderate mental disability is unsatisfactory. 2. Higher values of OHI index were in group I. 3. The obtained results of the state of dentition and oral hygiene in the group of young people with mental disability are at the same level both in the girls and boys. 4. The above mentioned results suggest the need for special dental care for young people with mild and moderate mental disability.

Survival of rotavirus antibody activity derived from bovine colostrum after passage through the human gastrointestinal tract.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is a major cause of infectious diarrhea in infants and young children. Several studies have shown that hyperimmune bovine colostrum, derived from cows immunized with rotavirus, can prevent rotavirus diarrhea when given passively. The objective of this study was to determine whether colostral antibody activity survived transit through the gut by measuring the level of rotavirus antibody activity in the feces. METHODS: Hyperimmune colostrum containing different levels of rotavirus antibody was administered to 105 children attending nine Adelaide childcare centres. Subjects were asked to drink 100 ml of whole milk supplemented with colostrum 3 times a day, for a period of 6 days. Stool samples were collected from the subjects before, during, and after consumption of the study product. Rotavirus activity was determined using a novel virus reduction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a virus neutralization assay. RESULTS: Rotavirus antibody activity was detected in 521 (86%) of 602 fecal specimens obtained during the study using the virus reduction ELISA. The antibody activity was detected as early as 8 hours after ingestion of hyperimmune colostrum and up to 72 hours after consumption had ceased. There was a strong relation (r = 0.81) between the titer of rotavirus antibody administered to subjects and the level of antibody activity detected in the feces. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that antirotavirus activity survived passage through the gut. Therefore, passive immunotherapy may be used to prevent or treat infectious diseases that affect the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract.

Bilateral simultaneous rupture of the quadriceps tendons.

Bilateral simultaneous rupture of the quadriceps tendons is very rare and occurred in an 82-year-old man. This may be the fifth case to have been reported in the English literature. Only minor stress on extensor mechanisms preceded the ruptures. Interrupted mattress sutures restored muscle continuity and function. A "pull-out" wire system was not used for protection of healing muscles because adequate amount of tissue mass was available for approximation. Excellent results require intensive postoperative physical therapy. Old age of the patient should not be a deterrent to surgical treatment in carefully selected individuals.