Silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) IQ modulator using the linear electro-optic effect for transmitting 16QAM at 112 Gbit/s.

Advanced modulation formats call for suitable IQ modulators. Using the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform we exploit the linear electro-optic effect by functionalizing a photonic integrated circuit with an organic χ(2)-nonlinear cladding. We demonstrate that this silicon-organic hybrid (SOH) technology allows the fabrication of IQ modulators for generating 16QAM signals with data rates up to 112 Gbit/s.

New precision measurements of the 235U(n,γ) cross section.

The neutron capture cross section of (235)U was measured for the neutron incident energy region between 4 eV and 1 MeV at the DANCE facility at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center with an unprecedented accuracy of 2-3% at 1 keV. The new methodology combined three independent measurements. In the main experiment, a thick actinide sample was used to determine neutron capture and neutron-induced fission rates simultaneously.

Abrupt change in radiation-width distribution for 147Sm neutron resonances.

We obtained the total radiation widths of s-wave resonances through an R-matrix analysis of (147)Sm(n,γ) cross sections. Distributions of these widths differ markedly for resonances below and above E(n)=300 eV, which is in stark contrast to long-established theory. We show that this change, as well as a similar change in the neutron-width distribution reported previously, is reflected in abrupt increases in both the average (147)Sm(n,γ) cross section and fluctuations about the average near 300 eV.

Polymorphisms in the glucocorticoid receptor gene that modulate glucocorticoid sensitivity are associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) plays an important regulatory role in the immune system. Four polymorphisms in the GR gene are associated with differences in glucocorticoid (GC) sensitivity; the minor alleles of the polymorphisms N363 S and BclI are associated with relative hypersensitivity to GCs, while those of the polymorphisms ER22/23EK and 9β are associated with relative GC resistance. Because differences in GC sensitivity may influence immune effector functions, we examined whether these polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and RA disease severity.

Intranasal administration of recombinant human cartilage glycoprotein-39 as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis: a phase II, multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-finding trial.

Background: Autoantigen-specific immunotherapy by mucosal tolerance induction via the intranasal route is an attractive therapeutic option for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Human cartilage glycoprotein-39 (HC gp-39) has been identified as a potential key autoantigen in RA. Based on animal studies, intranasal administration of the autoantigen is hypothesised to induce immunological tolerance in patients with RA and to ameliorate disease activity.

Effect of anakinra on functional status in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis receiving concomitant therapy with traditional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs: evidence from the OMEGA Trial.

Objective: To assess changes in functional status in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist anakinra in addition to a disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD).

Methods: In this large, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study, adult patients with RA receiving methotrexate, sulfasalazine, or hydroxychloroquine for > or = 3 months were given anakinra 100 mg once daily for up to 36 weeks. The primary objective was to evaluate changes from baseline to week 36 in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index and subscales.

Oral pulsed dexamethasone therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot study.

Pulse therapy with high-dose glucocorticoids (GCs) is widely used as "bridging therapy" for the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Oral pulsed dexamethasone therapy has never been used for this purpose. We determined the clinical efficacy of oral pulsed dexamethasone treatment in patients with early active RA, concomitantly starting with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Tumour necrosis factor alpha blockade in treatment resistant pigmented villonodular synovitis.

Background: Pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) is considered to be a neoplastic-like disorder of the synovium histologically characterised by villonodular hyperplasia, resulting in dense fibrosis and haemosiderin deposition. The pathogenesis of the disease is still unknown.

Case Report: A patient presented with severe treatment resistant PVNS of the right knee joint.

Measurement of the total active 8B solar neutrino flux at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory with enhanced neutral current sensitivity.

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory has precisely determined the total active (nu(x)) 8B solar neutrino flux without assumptions about the energy dependence of the nu(e) survival probability. The measurements were made with dissolved NaCl in heavy water to enhance the sensitivity and signature for neutral-current interactions. The flux is found to be 5.

Constraints on nucleon decay via invisible modes from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.

Data from the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory have been used to constrain the lifetime for nucleon decay to "invisible" modes, such as n-->3nu. The analysis was based on a search for gamma rays from the deexcitation of the residual nucleus that would result from the disappearance of either a proton or neutron from 16O. A limit of tau(inv)>2 x 10(29) yr is obtained at 90% confidence for either neutron- or proton-decay modes.

Measurement of day and night neutrino energy spectra at SNO and constraints on neutrino mixing parameters.

The Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) has measured day and night solar neutrino energy spectra and rates. For charged current events, assuming an undistorted 8B spectrum, the night minus day rate is 14.0%+/-6.

Direct evidence for neutrino flavor transformation from neutral-current interactions in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.

Observations of neutral-current nu interactions on deuterium in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory are reported. Using the neutral current (NC), elastic scattering, and charged current reactions and assuming the standard 8B shape, the nu(e) component of the 8B solar flux is phis(e) = 1.76(+0.

Measurement of the rate of nu(e) + d --> p + p + e(-) interactions produced by (8)B solar neutrinos at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.

Solar neutrinos from (8)B decay have been detected at the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory via the charged current (CC) reaction on deuterium and the elastic scattering (ES) of electrons. The flux of nu(e)'s is measured by the CC reaction rate to be straight phi(CC)(nu(e)) = 1.75 +/- 0.

Fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis: the role of self-efficacy and problematic social support.

Objective: To examine the relationship of fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with self-efficacy, positive and problematic aspects of social support, and demographic and disease-related variables.

Method: Out-patients with at least 5 yr RA were studied. Fatigue was measured with a visual analogue scale.

[Clinical thinking and decision making in clinical practice. A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and behavioral changes].

A 48-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was admitted with fever, headache and mental change. On admission he was treated with daily doses of cyclophosphamide 100 mg and prednisone 7.5 mg.

[The remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) syndrome].

RS3PE syndrome was diagnosed in a 83-year-old man with seronegative symmetrical polysynovitis with pitting oedema, which presented after a vehement acute beginning a remarkably favourable course. RS3PE syndrome, recently described, is characterized by a transient seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema. The syndrome appears mainly in the aged.

[Hypomagnesemia and chondrocalcinosis].

A female patient aged 45 years is described with a rare form of chondrocalcinosis caused by hypomagnesaemia due to excessive renal loss of magnesium. The patient also had impaired renal conservation of potassium leading to a hypokalemia. She most probably had an idiopathic renal tubular dysfunction.

Adult-onset Still's disease.

Adult onset Still's disease seems to be the adult form of Still's disease in children. The key symptoms of the disease are high spiking fever, arthritis and a macular or maculopapular, salmon-pink evanescent rash, almost always accompanied by neutrophilic leukocytosis and frequently by sore throat, intense myalgias, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and signs of serositis. Tests for IgM rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody are characteristically negative.