Achievement of Target Gain Larger than Unity in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

On December 5, 2022, an indirect drive fusion implosion on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) achieved a target gain G_{target} of 1.5. This is the first laboratory demonstration of exceeding "scientific breakeven" (or G_{target}>1) where 2.05 MJ of 351 nm laser light produced 3.1 MJ of total fusion yield, a result which significantly exceeds the Lawson criterion for fusion ignition as reported in a previous NIF implosion [H. Abu-Shawareb et al. (Indirect Drive ICF Collaboration), Phys. Rev. Lett. 129, 075001 (2022)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.129.075001]. This achievement is the culmination of more than five decades of research and gives proof that laboratory fusion, based on fundamental physics principles, is possible. This Letter reports on the target, laser, design, and experimental advancements that led to this result.

Developing a South African curriculum for education in neonatal critical care retrieval: An initial exploration

BACKGROUND

Owing to limited or centralised neonatal critical care resources, the interfacility transfer of neonates is inevitable. In many high-income settings, dedicated Critical Care Retrieval Services (CCRS) with additional education and training undertake neonatal critical care retrieval (CCR). In South Africa, however, these transfers are mostly conducted by advanced paramedics with limited education in neonatal care, and this may lead to high adverse event rates. In SA, a shortage of skilled neonatal interfacility transport services has been identified as one of the top ten avoidable causes of under-5 mortality. In order to address this gap in neonatal transfer education for paramedics in South Africa, the aim of this study is to develop a curriculum for neonatal critical care retrieval in South Africa.

METHODS

Using Kern's approach to curriculum development, a general and targeted needs assessment was conducted through semi-structured interviews with experts in the field and a focus group discussion with a prospective student group. Interviews were preceded and informed by a literature review and retrospective chart review of neonates who underwent CCR in SA over a one-year period. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to inductive-dominant content analysis. Finally, qualitative codes were expanded into course outcome and a curriculum map was developed.

RESULTS

Six experts in neonatal critical care and retrieval participated in semi-structured interviews with a mean duration of 59 minutes. Following transcription and analysis, 372 codes were developed. Seven prehospital providers (prospective students) who are involved in neonatal transfers in South Africa participated in a focus group discussion with a duration of 91 minutes. The audio recording was transcribed and analysed with 97 codes extracted. The main categories were: Current status of neonatal CCR in South Africa; learning and education in neonatal CCR; and proposed curriculum structure. The proposed curriculum structure described 13 broad course outcomes to be delivered as a blended postgraduate programme. Participants noted that funding, employer buy-in and internet resources would be required. The targeted prospective student group should be all Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers with a change in their scope of practice on completion.

CONCLUSION

This study described the need for additional education in neonatal critical care retrieval due to the limitations in the current and past education systems. This study provides a curriculum structure with course outcomes that can be used as a basis for the development of a complete curriculum for education in neonatal CCR, with the potential to greatly reduce adverse event rates.

Wildfire-related smoke inhalation worsens cardiovascular risk in sleep disrupted rats

Introduction

As a lifestyle factor, poor sleep status is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and may be influenced by environmental stressors, including air pollution.

Methods

To determine whether exposure to air pollution modified cardiovascular effects of sleep disruption, we evaluated the effects of single or repeated (twice/wk for 4 wks) inhalation exposure to eucalyptus wood smoke (ES; 964 μg/m3 for 1 h), a key wildland fire air pollution source, on mild sleep loss in the form of gentle handling in rats. Blood pressure (BP) radiotelemetry and echocardiography were evaluated along with assessments of lung and systemic inflammation, cardiac and hypothalamic gene expression, and heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac autonomic tone.

Results and Discussion

GH alone disrupted sleep, as evidenced by active period-like locomotor activity, and increases in BP, heart rate (HR), and hypothalamic expression of the circadian gene Per2. A single bout of sleep disruption and ES, but neither alone, increased HR and BP as rats transitioned into their active period, a period aligned with a critical early morning window for stroke risk in humans. These responses were immediately preceded by reduced HRV, indicating increased cardiac sympathetic tone. In addition, only sleep disrupted rats exposed to ES had increased HR and BP during the final sleep disruption period. These rats also had increased cardiac output and cardiac expression of genes related to adrenergic function, and regulation of vasoconstriction and systemic blood pressure one day after final ES exposure. There was little evidence of lung or systemic inflammation, except for increases in serum LDL cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase. These results suggest that inhaled air pollution increases sleep perturbation-related cardiovascular risk, potentially in part by increased sympathetic activity.

Lawson Criterion for Ignition Exceeded in an Inertial Fusion Experiment

For more than half a century, researchers around the world have been engaged in attempts to achieve fusion ignition as a proof of principle of various fusion concepts. Following the Lawson criterion, an ignited plasma is one where the fusion heating power is high enough to overcome all the physical processes that cool the fusion plasma, creating a positive thermodynamic feedback loop with rapidly increasing temperature. In inertially confined fusion, ignition is a state where the fusion plasma can begin "burn propagation" into surrounding cold fuel, enabling the possibility of high energy gain. While "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain) has not yet been achieved (here target gain is 0.72, 1.37 MJ of fusion for 1.92 MJ of laser energy), this Letter reports the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce capsule gain (here 5.8) and reach ignition by nine different formulations of the Lawson criterion.

Application of reflectance spectroscopy to identify maize genotypes and aflatoxin levels in single kernels

Spectroscopy is a rapid, non-destructive, and low-cost analytical technique that has the potential to complement more resource-intensive analytical methods. We explored the use of spectral methods to differentiate maize genotypes and assess aflatoxin (AF) contamination in maize kernels. We compared the performance of two instruments: a research-grade ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-Vis-NIR) spectrometer that measures reflectance from 304 -1,085 nm, and a miniaturised NIR spectrometer that measures reflectance from 740-1,070 nm. Both systems were used to predict AF levels in maize kernels from a single genotype and across 10 genotypes, and to predict genotype for the latter. A partial least square discriminant analysis model was trained on 70% of the kernels and tested on the remaining 30%. The classification accuracy for 10 maize genotypes was 71-72% using the UV-Vis-NIR instrument on 1,170 kernels, and 65-66% using the NIR device on 740 kernels. The classification accuracy for 247 AF-contaminated kernels of a single genotype using the UV-Vis-NIR instrument was 71, 82, and 92% for AF thresholds of 20, 100, and 1000 μg/kg, respectively. Using the same spectrometer on 872 kernels from 10 genotypes, AF classification accuracy was 67, 90, and 95% in validation sets for AF thresholds of 20, 100, and 1000 μg/kg, respectively. The UV-Vis-NIR instrument and the NIR device had similar classification accuracies for AF thresholds of 100 and 1000 μg/kg, whereas the NIR device had higher accuracy for the AF threshold of 20 μg/kg. Reflectance spectroscopy outperformed visual sorting and the bright greenish yellow fluorescence test in identifying AF levels. Applying spectral analysis to estimate mycotoxin levels and to identify maize genotypes could contribute to regional toxin surveillance and action efforts. Further, using AF-associated spectral features for grain sorting can reduce AF exposure.

In vitroandin vivoeffect of polycaprolactone nanofiber coating on polyethylene glycol diacrylate scaffolds for intervertebral disc repair

Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) is an important class of photosensitive polymer with many tissue engineering applications. This study compared PEGDA and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber matrix (NFM) coated PEGDA, referred to as PCL-PEGDA, scaffolds for their application in multiple tissue repair such as articular cartilage, nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc (IVD). We examined each scaffold morphology, porosity, swelling ratio, degradation, mechanical strength, andin vitrocytocompatibility properties. A defect was created in Sprague Dawley rat tail IVD by scraping native cartilage tissue and disc space, then implanting the scaffolds in the disc space for 4 weeks to evaluatein vivoefficacy of multi-tissue repair. Maintenance of disc height and creation of a new cell matrix was assessed to evaluate each scaffold's ability to repair the tissue defect. Although both PEGDA and PCL-PEGDA scaffolds showed similar porosity ∼73%, we observed distinct topographical characteristics and a higher effect of degradation on the water-absorbing capacity for PEGDA compared to PCL-PEGDA. Mechanical tests showed higher compressive strength and modulus of PCL-PEGDA compared to PEGDA.In vitrocell studies show that the PCL NFM layer covering PEGDA improved osteoblast cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration into the PEGDA layer.In vivostudies concluded that the PEGDA scaffold alone was not ideal for implantation in rat caudal disc space without PCL nanofiber coating due to low compressive strength and modulus.In vivoresults confirm that the PCL-PEGDA scaffold-maintained disc space and created a proteoglycan and collagen-rich new tissue matrix in the defect site after 4 weeks of scaffold implantation. We concluded that our developed PCL-PEGDA has the potential to be used in multi-tissue defect site repair.

A dual high-energy radiography platform with 15 μm resolution at the National Ignition Facility

To study matter at extreme densities and pressures, we need mega laser facilities such as the National Ignition Facility as well as creative methods to make observations during timescales of a billionth of a second. To facilitate this, we developed a platform and diagnostic to characterize a new point-projection radiography configuration using two micro-wires irradiated by a short pulse laser system that provides a large field of view with up to 3.6 ns separation between images. We used tungsten-carbide solid spheres as reference objects and inferred characteristics of the back-lighter source using a forward-fitting algorithm. The resolution of the system is inferred to be 15 μm (using 12.5 μm diameter wires). The bremsstrahlung temperature of the source is 70-300 keV, depending on laser energy and coupling efficiency. By adding the images recorded on multiple stacked image plates, the signal-to-noise of the system is nearly doubled. The imaging characterization technique described here can be adapted to most point-projection platforms where the resolution, spectral contrast, and signal-to-noise are important.

Characterization of Aerosol Hygroscopicity Over the Northeast Pacific Ocean: Impacts on Prediction of CCN and Stratocumulus Cloud Droplet Number Concentrations

During the Marine Aerosol Cloud and Wildfire Study (MACAWS) in June and July of 2018, aerosol composition and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) properties were measured over the N.E. Pacific to characterize the influence of aerosol hygroscopicity on predictions of ambient CCN and stratocumulus cloud droplet number concentrations (CDNC). Three vertical regions were characterized, corresponding to the marine boundary layer (MBL), an above-cloud organic aerosol layer (AC-OAL), and the free troposphere (FT) above the AC-OAL. The aerosol hygroscopicity parameter (κ) was calculated from CCN measurements (κ CCN) and bulk aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS) measurements (κ AMS). Within the MBL, measured hygroscopicities varied between values typical of both continental environments (~0.2) and remote marine locations (~0.7). For most flights, CCN closure was achieved within 20% in the MBL. For five of the seven flights, assuming a constant aerosol size distribution produced similar or better CCN closure than assuming a constant "marine" hygroscopicity (κ = 0.72). An aerosol-cloud parcel model was used to characterize the sensitivity of predicted stratocumulus CDNC to aerosol hygroscopicity, size distribution properties, and updraft velocity. Average CDNC sensitivity to accumulation mode aerosol hygroscopicity is 39% as large as the sensitivity to the geometric median diameter in this environment. Simulations suggest CDNC sensitivity to hygroscopicity is largest in marine stratocumulus with low updraft velocities (<0.2 m s-1), where accumulation mode particles are most relevant to CDNC, and in marine stratocumulus or cumulus with large updraft velocities (>0.6 m s-1), where hygroscopic properties of the Aitken mode dominate hygroscopicity sensitivity.

Production of relativistic electrons at subrelativistic laser intensities

Relativistic electron temperatures were measured from kilojoule, subrelativistic laser-plasma interactions. Experiments show an order of magnitude higher temperatures than expected from a ponderomotive scaling, where temperatures of up to 2.2 MeV were generated using an intensity of 1×10^{18}W/cm^{2}. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations suggest that electrons gain superponderomotive energies by stochastic acceleration as they sample a large area of rapidly changing laser phase. We demonstrate that such high temperatures are possible from subrelativistic intensities by using lasers with long pulse durations and large spatial scales.

Peritonitis in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis {CAPD): A Multi-Centre Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Y Connector Disinfectant System to Standard Systems

sixty-one new continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients were allocated to a Y connector disinfectant (Amuchina, Italy) and 63 to standard systems (Baxter Systems II & III) in a randomized clinical trial addressing peritonitis rates in 8 CAPD programs in 6 Canadian cities. In the Y connector-disinfectant group, 15 patients experienced 21 episodes of peritonitis in 452 patient-months or 1 per 21.53 patient-months. In the standard systems group, 30 patients experienced 47 episodes of peritonitis in 467 patient-months or 1 per 9.93 patient-months ( p = 0.009). The peritonitis risk reduction was 61% (95% confidence limits 27–79%). Exit-site infections occurred in 36% of each group.

Prior to the development of exit -site infection, the monthly risk for peritonitis was 3.12% for the Y connector disinfectant system and 7.37% for the standard system. After an exit -site infection, these probabilities increased to 6.15% and 15.47%, respectively. Skin organisms were responsible for peritonitis in 8/21 (38%) in the Y connector-disinfectant group and 30/47 (64%) in the standard group. There were 75 days hospitalized for peritonitis in the Y connector-disinfectant group compared to 257 days for the standard group. The Y connector disinfectant system decreases the peritonitis rate through its effect on skin organisms. Exit -site infections are a major source of organisms responsible for peritonitis.

Analysis of the Beaufort Gyre Freshwater Content in 2003-2018

Hydrographic data collected from research cruises, bottom-anchored moorings, drifting Ice-Tethered Profilers, and satellite altimetry in the Beaufort Gyre region of the Arctic Ocean document an increase of more than 6,400 km3 of liquid freshwater content from 2003 to 2018: a 40% growth relative to the climatology of the 1970s. This fresh water accumulation is shown to result from persistent anticyclonic atmospheric wind forcing (1997-2018) accompanied by sea ice melt, a wind-forced redirection of Mackenzie River discharge from predominantly eastward to westward flow, and a contribution of low salinity waters of Pacific Ocean origin via Bering Strait. Despite significant uncertainties in the different observations, this study has demonstrated the synergistic value of having multiple diverse datasets to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of Beaufort Gyre freshwater content variability. For example, Beaufort Gyre Observational System (BGOS) surveys clearly show the interannual increase in freshwater content, but without satellite or Ice-Tethered Profiler measurements, it is not possible to resolve the seasonal cycle of freshwater content, which in fact is larger than the year-to-year variability, or the more subtle interannual variations.

Modeling Cancer Registration Processes with an Enhanced Activity Diagram

Objectives: Adequate instruments are needed to reflect the complexity of routine cancer registry operations properly in a business model. The activity diagram is a key instrument of the Unified Modeling Language (UML) for the modeling of business processes. The authors aim to improve descriptions of processes in cancer registration, as well as in other public health domains, through the enhancements of an activity diagram notation within the standard semantics of UML.

Methods: The authors introduced the practical approach to enhance a conventional UML activity diagram, complementing it with the following business process concepts: timeline, duration for individual activities, responsibilities for individual activities within swimlanes, and descriptive text.

Results: The authors used an enhanced activity diagram for modeling surveillance processes in the cancer registration domain. Specific example illustrates the use of an enhanced activity diagram to visualize a process of linking cancer registry records with external mortality files.

Conclusions: Enhanced activity diagram allows for the addition of more business concepts to a single diagram and can improve descriptions of processes in cancer registration, as well as in other domains. Additional features of an enhanced activity diagram allow to advance the visualization of cancer registration processes. That, in turn, promotes the clarification of issues related to the process timeline, responsibilities for particular operations, and collaborations among process participants. Our first experiences in a cancer registry best practices development workshop setting support the usefulness of such an approach.

Downmodulation of key inflammatory cell markers with a topical Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor

BACKGROUND

INCB018424 is a novel, potent Janus kinase (JAK)1/JAK2 inhibitor that blocks signal transduction of multiple proinflammatory cytokines.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and preliminary efficacy of topical INCB018424 phosphate cream in patients with plaque psoriasis.

METHODS

Topical INCB018424 phosphate 1·0% or 1·5% cream was applied once daily (QD) or twice daily (BID) for 4 weeks to 2-20% body surface area in five sequential cohorts of five patients aged 18-65 years. Target lesions were scored on a scale of 0-4 for erythema, scaling and thickness. Additionally, the overall disease activity in each patient was measured using Physician's Global Assessment. INCB018424 concentrations were measured in plasma, and cytokine stimulated phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation (pSTAT3) levels in peripheral blood cells were evaluated. Pretreatment and post-treatment skin biopsies were compared with healthy skin, including evaluation of histopathology, immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression.

RESULTS

Treatment with INCB018424 phosphate cream either 1·0% QD or 1·5% BID resulted in improvements in lesion scores. No significant inhibition of pSTAT3 in peripheral blood cells was observed following topical application, consistent with the generally low steady-state plasma concentrations of INCB018424 measured. Transcriptional markers of immune cell lineage/activation in lesional skin were reduced by topical INCB018424, with correlations observed between clinical improvement and decreases in markers of T helper 17 lymphocyte activation, dendritic-cell activation and epidermal hyperplasia. INCB018424 treatment reduced epidermal hyperplasia and dermal inflammation in most patient samples, with reductions in CD3, CD11c, Ki67 and keratin 16 observed by immunohistochemical analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Topical INCB018424 dosed for 28 days QD or BID is pharmacologically active in patients with active psoriasis and modulates proinflammatory cytokines in the pathogenesis of psoriatic lesions.

Preclinical to clinical translation of CNS transporter occupancy of TD-9855, a novel norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor

BACKGROUND

Monoamine reuptake inhibitors exhibit unique clinical profiles that reflect distinct engagement of the central nervous system (CNS) transporters.

METHODS

We used a translational strategy, including rodent pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in humans, to establish the transporter profile of TD-9855, a novel norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

RESULTS

TD-9855 was a potent inhibitor of norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin 5-HT uptake in vitro with an inhibitory selectivity of 4- to 10-fold for NE at human and rat transporters. TD-9855 engaged norepinephrine transporters (NET) and serotonin transporters (SERT) in rat spinal cord, with a plasma EC50 of 11.7 ng/mL and 50.8 ng/mL, respectively, consistent with modest selectivity for NET in vivo. Accounting for species differences in protein binding, the projected human NET and SERT plasma EC50 values were 5.5 ng/mL and 23.9 ng/mL, respectively. A single-dose, open-label PET study (4-20mg TD-9855, oral) was conducted in eight healthy males using the radiotracers [(11)C]-3-amino-4- [2-[(di(methyl)amino)methyl]phenyl]sulfanylbenzonitrile for SERT and [(11)C]-(S,S)-methylreboxetine for NET. The long pharmacokinetic half-life (30-40 h) of TD-9855 allowed for sequential assessment of SERT and NET occupancy in the same subject. The plasma EC50 for NET was estimated to be 1.21 ng/mL, and at doses of greater than 4 mg the projected steady-state NET occupancy is high (>75%). After a single oral dose of 20mg, SERT occupancy was 25 (±8)% at a plasma level of 6.35 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

These data establish the CNS penetration and transporter profile of TD-9855 and inform the selection of potential doses for future clinical evaluation.

Identifying and developing maize germplasm with resistance to accumulation of aflatoxins

Efforts to identify maize germplasm with resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and subsequent accumulation of aflatoxins were initiated by the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service at several locations in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Research units at four locations in the south-eastern USA are currently engaged in identification and development of maize germplasm with resistance to A. flavus infection and accumulation of aflatoxins. The Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit, Mississippi State, MS, developed procedures for screening germplasm for resistance to A. flavus infection and accumulation of aflatoxins. Mp313E, released in 1990, was the first line released as a source of resistance to A. flavus infection. Subsequently, germplasm lines Mp420, Mp715, Mp717, Mp718, and Mp719 were released as additional sources of resistance. Quantitative trait loci associated with resistance have also been identified in four bi-parental populations. The Crop Protection and Management Research Unit and Crop Genetics and Breeding Research Unit, Tifton, GA, created a breeding population GT-MAS:gk. GT601, GT602, and GT603 were developed from GT-MAS:gk. The Food and Feed Safety Research Unit, New Orleans, LA, in collaboration with the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture used a kernel screening assay to screen germplasm and develop six germplasm lines with resistance to aflatoxins. The Plant Science Research Unit, Raleigh, NC, through the Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) Project provides to co-operators diverse germplasm that is a valuable source of resistance to A. flavus infection and accumulation of aflatoxins in maize.

A randomized controlled trial of hypnosis compared with biofeedback for adults with chronic low back pain

BACKGROUND

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is common and results in significant costs to individuals, families and society. Although some research supports the efficacy of hypnosis for CLBP, we know little about the minimum dose needed to produce meaningful benefits, the roles of home practice and hypnotizability on outcome, or the maintenance of treatment benefits beyond 3 months.

METHODS

One hundred veterans with CLBP participated in a randomized, four-group design study. The groups were (1) an eight-session self-hypnosis training intervention without audio recordings for home practice; (2) an eight-session self-hypnosis training intervention with recordings; (3) a two-session self-hypnosis training intervention with recordings and brief weekly reminder telephone calls; and (4) an eight-session active (biofeedback) control intervention.

RESULTS

Participants in all four groups reported significant pre- to post-treatment improvements in pain intensity, pain interference and sleep quality. The hypnosis groups combined reported significantly more pain intensity reduction than the control group. There was no significant difference among the three hypnosis conditions. Over half of the participants who received hypnosis reported clinically meaningful (≥ 30%) reductions in pain intensity, and they maintained these benefits for at least 6 months after treatment. Neither hypnotizability nor amount of home practice was associated significantly with treatment outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that two sessions of self-hypnosis training with audio recordings for home practice may be as effective as eight sessions of hypnosis treatment. If replicated in other patient samples, the findings have important implications for the application of hypnosis treatment for chronic pain management.

Evaluation of an HIV prevention intervention designed for African American Women: results from the SISTA Community-Based Organization Behavioral Outcomes Project

One of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's strategies for addressing racial disparities within the HIV epidemic is to support the implementation of HIV prevention behavioral interventions designed for African Americans. One such intervention is Sisters Informing Sisters about Topics on AIDS (SISTA), a culturally relevant and gender-specific, five-session, group-level, HIV prevention intervention designed for African American women. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded five community-based organizations to conduct outcome monitoring of SISTA to assess the outcomes associated with implementation in the field. Using a 90-day recall, demographic and sexual risk data were collected from participants at baseline and at 90 and 180 days post-intervention. Findings reveal that women participating in SISTA (n = 432) demonstrated a significant reduction in sexual risk between baseline and both follow-up time points for each of the six outcomes being measured (e.g., any unprotected sex, all protected sex).

Precision measurement of the 6He half-life and the weak axial current in nuclei

Studies of 6He beta decay along with tritium can play an important role in testing ab initio nuclear wave-function calculations and may allow for fixing low-energy constants in effective-field theories. Here, we present an improved determination of the 6He half-life to a relative precision of 3×10(-4). Our value of 806.89±0.11(stat)(-0.19syst)(+0.23)  ms resolves a major discrepancy between previous measurements. Calculating the statistical rate function we determined the ft value to be 803.04(-0.23)(+0.26)  s. The extracted Gamow-Teller matrix element agrees within a few percent with ab initio calculations.

Evaluation of an HIV prevention intervention for African Americans and Hispanics: findings from the VOICES/VOCES Community-based Organization Behavioral Outcomes Project

There is limited knowledge about whether the delivery of evidence-based, HIV prevention interventions in 'real world' settings will produce outcomes similar to efficacy trial outcomes. In this study, we describe longitudinal changes in sexual risk outcomes among African American and Hispanic participants in the Video Opportunities for Innovative Condom Education and Safer Sex (VOICES/VOCES) program at four CDC-funded agencies. VOICES/VOCES was delivered to 922 high-risk individuals in a variety of community settings such as substance abuse treatment centers, housing complex centers, private residences, shelters, clinics, and colleges. Significant risk reductions were consistently observed at 30- and 120-days post-intervention for all outcome measures (e.g., unprotected sex, self-reported STD infection). Risk reductions were strongest for African American participants, although Hispanic participants also reported reducing their risky behaviors. These results suggest that, over a decade after the first diffusion of VOICES/VOCES across the U.S. by CDC, this intervention remains an effective tool for reducing HIV risk behaviors among high-risk African American and Hispanic individuals.

A Qualitative Study of Earplug Use as a Health Behavior: The Role of Noise Injury Symptoms, Self-efficacy and an Affinity for Music

The use of earplugs in loud music venues is confined to a small minority who wish to avoid hearing damage from excessive noise exposure. Using the framework of the health belief model (HBM), structured interviews were held with 20 earplug-wearing clubbers. Qualitative analysis revealed the HBM constructs relevant to understanding this group’s motivation to protect their hearing. Personal experience of noise injury symptoms was the most common cue triggering earplug use. Awareness of the benefits of earplugs and appreciation of the long-term implications of hearing damage, affinity for music and high self-efficacy were also key variables underlying this health behaviour.

39Ar detection at the 10(-16) isotopic abundance level with atom trap trace analysis

Atom trap trace analysis, a laser-based atom counting method, has been applied to analyze atmospheric 39Ar (half-life=269  yr), a cosmogenic isotope with an isotopic abundance of 8×10(-16). In addition to the superior selectivity demonstrated in this work, the counting rate and efficiency of atom trap trace analysis have been improved by 2 orders of magnitude over prior results. The significant applications of this new analytical capability lie in radioisotope dating of ice and water samples and in the development of dark matter detectors.

Perinatal factors in students admitted to the University of the West Indies data from the Jamaican Perinatal Study

OBJECTIVE

To compare perinatal and social factors in students admitted to The University of the West Indies (UWI), Kingston, Jamaica, at age 18 years with those in the rest of the Jamaican Perinatal Cohort.

METHOD

The Jamaican Perinatal Survey recorded demographic and perinatal details in 10 527 or 97% of births in Jamaica in September and October 1986. Eighteen years later 140 of these were admitted to the UWI in Kingston, Jamaica. The perinatal features of these UWI students have been compared with the rest of the Perinatal Survey Cohort.

RESULTS

Mothers of UWI students were older (p < 0.001), more likely to be married at the time of birth (p < 0.001), had earlier and more complete antenatal care (p < 0.05) and greater educational achievement at time of pregnancy (p < 0.001). These mothers of UWI students were also more likely to have diabetes (p < 0.01), operative deliveries (p < 0.01) and to attend private hospitals (p < 0.01). The UWI students had fewer siblings by their mothers (p < 0.05), were less likely to be low birthweight babies (p = 0.035) and more likely to be full-term (37-42 weeks) than lower gestational age (p = 0.005). Differences in Apgar scores did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The students of the University of the West Indies were more likely to come from smaller families with features indicative of a better quality of life. They were also of higher birthweight and tended to be full-term. The lack of association of Apgar scores with educational attainment is noteworthy.

Aflatoxin accumulation and kernel infection of maize hybrids inoculated with Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus

Over a three year period, we compared aflatoxin accumulation and kernel infection in maize hybrids inoculated with Aspergillus flavus isolate NRRL 3357, A. flavus isolate NRRL 19772, Aspergillus parasiticus isolate NRRL 6111, and all combinations of these isolates. Maize hybrids were inoculated with the Aspergillus strains using the side-needle technique at 7 days after midsilk (50% of the plants had silks emerged). Aspergillus kernel infection and aflatoxin contamination were determined at ca. 63 days after midsilk. A. flavus isolate 3357 induced high levels of aflatoxin contamination in the maize grain which was similar to levels found when this isolate was combined with the other two Aspergillus isolates. Kernel infection levels were higher in one hybrid when a combination of isolates including isolate 3357 was used. A. flavus isolate 3357 has been used to evaluate maize germplasm for aflatoxin resistance in the south-eastern USA for over 30 years. Our studies determined that inoculating plants with A. flavus isolate 3357 alone was sufficient for inducing aflatoxin contamination in grain at our location. A combination of A. flavus isolates which include isolate 3357 might be more effective in increasing levels of kernel infection and could also induce higher levels of aflatoxin at locations that do not favour disease development.

Renal histological findings in adults in Jamaica

BACKGROUND

In 2006, it was reported that Focal and Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), Minimal Change Disease (MCD) and Membranous Glomerulonephritis (MGN) were the commonest primary glomerular diseases identified from percutaneous kidney biopsies done in Jamaica for that year (n = 76). The sample size was thought to be small and might have affected the reported findings. So a three-year review of percutaneous kidney biopsies in Jamaica was carried out.

METHODS

Histology reports and clinical data were reviewed for percutaneous kidney biopsies performed from January 2005 to December 2007. Demographic data (age, gender), laboratory investigations such as serum urea, serum creatinine, proteinuria, haematuria, 24-hour urinary protein, and creatinine clearance, and clinical diagnosis were collected from the histology requisition form.

RESULTS

There was a total of 224 native kidney biopsies performed. There were 91 males (40.6%) and 133females (59.4%). Age distribution showed a total number of 25 paediatric cases (11.2%) and 199 adult cases (88.8%). Proteinuria was present in 171 cases (76.3%) and haematuria in 86 cases (38.4%). Of the total biopsies done, 78 cases (39.2%) had primary glomerular diseases, 110 cases (55.3%) had secondary glomerular diseases and 11 (5.5%) biopsies were reported as either normal or inadequate for histological diagnosis. The most common reasons indicated for percutaneous kidney biopsy were proteinuria, haematuria and staging of lupus nephritis. Most common histological findings for primary glomerular disease after percutaneous kidney biopsy were FSGS (n = 34), MGN (n = 15) and MCD (n = 12). In secondary glomerular diseases (n = 110), there were more females (70.8%) than males. Systemic lupus erythematosus was present in 63.3%. Histology of lupus nephritis according to the International Society of Nephrologists classification shows Membranous Lupus Nephritis [MLN] (40.20%), Diffuse Lupus Nephritis [DLN] (19.5%) and Minimal Mesangial Lupus Nephritis [MMLN] (14.3%) as the common histological types.

CONCLUSIONS

The most common histological finding for primary glomerular disease following percutaneous kidney biopsy was FSGS, MCD and MGN. Membranous Lupus Nephritis was the commonest histological type for lupus nephritis in this series.

Atom trapping in an interferometrically generated bottle beam trap

We demonstrate an optical bottle beam trap created by interfering two fundamental Gaussian beams with different waists. The beams are derived from a single laser source using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer whose arms have unequal magnifications. Destructive interference of the two beams from the Mach-Zehnder leads to a three-dimensional intensity null at the mutual focus of the beams. We demonstrate trapping of cold cesium atoms in a blue detuned bottle beam trap.