Design and characterization of the time-resolved opacity spectrometer (OpSpecTR) for the NIF iron opacity campaign.

A new time-resolved opacity spectrometer (OpSpecTR) is currently under development for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) opacity campaign. The spectrometer utilizes Icarus version 2 (IV2) hybridized complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor sensors to collect gated data at the time of the opacity transmission signal, unlocking the ability to collect higher-temperature measurements on NIF. Experimental conditions to achieve higher temperatures are feasible; however, backgrounds will dominate the data collected by the current time-integrating opacity spectrometer.

Sub-keV design for the National Ignition Facility's soft x-ray Opacity Spectrometer (OpSpec) and expansion plans for time-resolved measurements.

When compared with the National Ignition Facility's (NIF) original soft x-ray opacity spectrometer, which used a convex cylindrical design, an elliptically shaped design has helped to increase the signal-to-noise ratio and eliminated nearly all reflections from alternate crystal planes. The success of the elliptical geometry in the opacity experiments has driven a new elliptical geometry crystal with a spectral range covering 520-1100 eV. When coupled with the primary elliptical geometry, which spans 1000-2100 eV, the new sub-keV elliptical geometry helps to cover the full iron L-shell and major oxygen transitions important to solar opacity experimentation.

sp. nov. from southwestern Colombia: a new gregarious microgastrine wasp (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) reared from the pest species Felder & Felder (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) feeding on oil palm trees (Arecaceae).

A new species of microgastrine wasp, Salgado-Neto, Vásquez & Whitfield, , is described from southwestern Colombia in Tumaco, Nariño. This species is a koinobiont gregarious larval endoparasitoid, and spins a common mass of cocoons underneath the host caterpillars of (Felder & Felder) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), feeding on oil palm trees (interspecific hybrid × ) (Arecaceae). While superficially similar, both morphologically and biologically, to Salgado-Neto & Whitfield from southern Brazil, the two species are distinct based on DNA barcodes, host species, geographical range and morphological characters.

Post-seminal development and cryopreservation of endemic or endangered bromeliads.

Vriesea bahiana, Hohenbergia castellanosii and Encholirium spectabile are endemic Brazilian species that are considered endemic or endangered. Development of strategies to conserve these species is important to prevent irreversible genetic erosion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the post-seminal development and seed cryopreservation of three endemic or in danger of extinction bromeliad species in Brazil, to obtain a protocol that can safeguard the genetic variability of these species.

Upgrades and redesign of the National Ignition Facility's soft x-ray opacity spectrometer (OpSpec).

The soft x-ray Opacity Spectrometer (OpSpec) used on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has recently incorporated an elliptically shaped crystal. The original OpSpec used two convex cylindrical crystals for time-integrated measurements of point-projection spectra from 540 to 2100 eV. However, with the convex geometry, the low-energy portion of the spectrum suffered from high backgrounds due to scattered x-rays as well as reflections from alternate crystal planes.

Implementation of low-dose CT screening in two different health care systems: Mount Sinai Healthcare System and Phoenix VA Health Care System.

Implementation of lung screening (LS) programs is challenging even among health care organizations that have the motivation, the resources, and more importantly, the goal of providing for life-saving early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. We provide a case study of LS implementation in different healthcare systems, at the Mount Sinai Healthcare System (MSHS) in New York City, and at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System (PVAHCS) in Phoenix, Arizona. This will illustrate the commonalities and differences of the LS implementation process in two very different health care systems in very different parts of the United States.

Morphoanatomical aspects of the starting material for the improvement of pineapple cryopreservation by the droplet-vitrification technique.

Cryopreservation of pineapple shoot tips has been established from various protocols, including droplet vitrification. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the morphoanatomical conditions of the starting material over different times (30, 45 and 60 days) of culture before freezing and its correlation with the survival percentage of the cryopreserved shoot tips. Four accessions, Ananas comosus var.

Vitamin D Does Not Play a Functional Role in Adipose Tissue Development in Rodent Models.

Scope: Several studies have proposed a role of vitamin D in adipogenesis. Here, we sought to study the impact of the vitamin D receptor (Vdr) on adipocyte size in young and old mice and the effect of maternal vitamin D deficiency on fetal adipogenesis.

Methods And Results: Histological analysis of adipose tissues shows that Vdr knockout (KO) mice have smaller adipocytes than wild-type (WT) mice.

Lymphatic filariasis transmission on Mafia Islands, Tanzania: Evidence from xenomonitoring in mosquito vectors.

Introduction: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a chronic nematode infection transmitted by mosquitoes and in sub-Saharan Africa it is caused by Wuchereria bancrofti. The disease was targeted for global elimination by 2020 using repeated community-wide mass drug administration (MDA) distributed in endemic areas. However, recently, there has been a growing recognition of the potential role of including vector control as a supplement to MDA to achieve elimination goal.

Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase in an immunotherapy model for Ewing sarcoma.

Background/aim: Interleukin-2 (IL2) transgenic Ewing sarcoma cells reduce tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. In the present study we analyzed the expression of immune suppressive indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in this model.

Materials And Methods: Expression of IDO was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency causes smaller muscle fibers and altered transcript levels of genes involved in protein degradation, myogenesis, and cytoskeleton organization in the newborn rat.

Scope: Epidemiologic data reveal associations between low serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and higher risk of falls and muscle weakness. Fetal stage is critical for the development of skeletal muscle, but little information is available on the impact of maternal vitamin D deficiency on muscles of offspring.

Methods And Results: To investigate the morphology and transcriptome of gastrocnemius muscle in newborns in response to maternal vitamin D deficiency, 14 female rats were fed either a vitamin D₃ deficient (0 IU/kg) or a vitamin D₃ adequate diet (1000 IU/kg) 8 weeks prior to conception, during pregnancy, and lactation.

Hodgkin's lymphoma RNA-transfected dendritic cells induce cancer/testis antigen-specific immune responses.

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) can kill Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) cells, and CTL have been used for the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive HL. For patients with EBV-negative HL, this strategy cannot be employed and alternative target structures have to be defined. In order to establish a system for the stimulation of HL-reactive T cells, we used dendritic cells (DC) as antigen-presenting cells for autologous T cells and transfected these DC with RNA from established HL cell lines.

The Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) and Image Database Resource Initiative (IDRI): a completed reference database of lung nodules on CT scans.

Purpose: The development of computer-aided diagnostic (CAD) methods for lung nodule detection, classification, and quantitative assessment can be facilitated through a well-characterized repository of computed tomography (CT) scans. The Lung Image Database Consortium (LIDC) and Image Database Resource Initiative (IDRI) completed such a database, establishing a publicly available reference for the medical imaging research community. Initiated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), further advanced by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), and accompanied by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through active participation, this public-private partnership demonstrates the success of a consortium founded on a consensus-based process.

High expression of the evolutionarily conserved alpha/beta hydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6) in Ewing tumors.

Despite improvements in the treatment of patients with Ewing family tumors (EFT), the prognosis for patients with advanced disease is still unsatisfactory. Recently, we identified lipase I as an EFT-associated gene that might be interesting for the development of new immunological or pharmacological treatment strategies. Lipase I is a member of the large protein superfamilies of alpha/beta hydrolases and serine hydrolases.

Expression of CD4 on Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B cells.

Human antigen presenting cells commonly express CD4 but the significance of this phenomenon has not been clarified. We analyzed a panel of Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized B cells (so called lymphoblastoid cell lines, LCL) by using flow cytometry, DNA-microarray analysis, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The number of CD4(+) cells varied from cell line to cell line but expression of CD4 was detected by flow cytometry and RT-PCR in all investigated cell lines.

Sensitivity of Hodgkin's lymphoma cell lines to the cell cycle inhibitor roscovitine.

Background: The prognosis of patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has improved in recent decades. However, not all patients can be cured and the development of alternative treatment strategies is necessary.

Materials And Methods: Gene expression in HL cell lines was analyzed using DNA microarrays and both conventional and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Five-year follow-up of a prospective non-randomised study comparing duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection with classic Whipple procedure in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

Background: Three prospective randomised studies were conducted to compare pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) in patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis (cP). In these three series, the superiority of the duodenum-preserving technique with regard to quality of life (QOL) and pain relief has been demonstrated. Long-term follow-up investigations have not been published so far.

Evaluation of lung MDCT nodule annotation across radiologists and methods.

Rationale And Objectives: Integral to the mission of the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Lung Imaging Database Consortium is the accurate definition of the spatial location of pulmonary nodules. Because the majority of small lung nodules are not resected, a reference standard from histopathology is generally unavailable. Thus assessing the source of variability in defining the spatial location of lung nodules by expert radiologists using different software tools as an alternative form of truth is necessary.

Outcome after duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection is improved compared with classic Whipple procedure in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis.

Background: There is no consensus in the surgical management of chronic pancreatitis (cP) as to whether techniques preserving the duodenum are superior to pancreatoduodenectomy. This prospective study compared the outcome of standard pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) and duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR) in treatment of selected patients with cP.

Methods: Inclusion criteria for this prospective controlled, nonrandomized study were patients suffering from cP centered in the head and with severe pain.

Quality of life in chronic pancreatitis: a prospective trial comparing classical whipple procedure and duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection.

Few data are available with respect to quality of life after pancreatic head resection in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to compare the classical Whipple pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) with the Beger duodenum-preserving pancreatic head resection (DPPHR), in terms of quality of life, using standardized, valid, and reliable questionnaires. Sixty-five consecutive patients were included in this study.

Posttraumatic scar revision: a review and case presentation.

Scar revision is a well-established procedure, but the achievement of satisfying long-term results may present a challenge. An appropriate initial management of wounds is of importance, since it has a role in determining the degree of revision required postoperatively. In addition to the conventional treatment and maturation of the scar tissue, a combination of procedures are now available which may alter the appearance of the final scar.

Laser-assisted endoscopic forehead lift.

The periorbital area is one of the most expressive areas of the face, and there are many techniques available that can be used to alter the position of the eyebrows. Traditional surgical browlift techniques use coronal, midforehead, and direct approaches. This article discusses one of the most recent innovations in forehead lifting, the laser-assisted endoscopic forehead lift.

The use of the C-Arm in reduction of isolated zygomatic arch fractures: a technical overview.

Isolated zygomatic arch fractures account for approximately 10% of all zygoma fractures. Numerous techniques have been described to reduce these fractures using a variety of approaches. Successful reductions are often difficult to evaluate clinically because of the great amount of swelling that often accompanies these fractures.