Efficacy of a low-dose praziquantel and fenbendazole protocol in the treatment of asymptomatic schistosomiasis in dogs.

Background: Established treatment protocols for schistosomiasis (Heterobilharzia americana) in dogs are expensive. Anecdotal reports suggest that lower doses of praziquantel, combined with fenbendazole, may eliminate asymptomatic infections.

Objectives: Evaluate the efficacy of a low-dose praziquantel and fenbendazole protocol to manage asymptomatic schistosomiasis in dogs and compare fecal saline sedimentation (FSS) and fecal PCR (FPCR) for therapeutic monitoring.

Highly resolved measurements of Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms.

We report on experiments exploring Stark-tuned Förster resonances between Rydberg atoms with high resolution in the Förster defect. The individual resonances are expected to exhibit different angular dependencies, opening the possibility to tune not only the interaction strength but also the angular dependence of the pair state potentials by an external electric field. We achieve a high resolution by optical Ramsey interferometry for Rydberg atoms combined with electric field pulses.

A homonuclear molecule with a permanent electric dipole moment.

Permanent electric dipole moments in molecules require a breaking of parity symmetry. Conventionally, this symmetry breaking relies on the presence of heteronuclear constituents. We report the observation of a permanent electric dipole moment in a homonuclear molecule in which the binding is based on asymmetric electronic excitation between the atoms.

Rydberg trimers and excited dimers bound by internal quantum reflection.

In a combined experimental and theoretical effort we report on two novel types of ultracold long-range Rydberg molecules. First, we demonstrate the creation of triatomic molecules of one Rydberg atom and two ground-state atoms in a single-step photoassociation. Second, we assign a series of excited dimer states that are bound by a so far unexplored mechanism based on internal quantum reflection at a steep potential drop.

Observation of ultralong-range Rydberg molecules.

Rydberg atoms have an electron in a state with a very high principal quantum number, and as a result can exhibit unusually long-range interactions. One example is the bonding of two such atoms by multipole forces to form Rydberg-Rydberg molecules with very large internuclear distances. Notably, bonding interactions can also arise from the low-energy scattering of a Rydberg electron with negative scattering length from a ground-state atom.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration and off-label use of expandable metal biliary stents within the peripheral vasculature.

Expandable metal stents are used to maintain the patency of compromised ducts, lumens, and vessels. As medical devices, there products are regulated by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health of the U.S.

A comparison of newborn stylized and tomographic models for dose assessment in paediatric radiology.

Establishment of organ doses from diagnostic and interventional examinations is a key component to quantifying the radiation risks from medical exposures and for formulating corresponding dose-reduction strategies. Radiation transport models of human anatomy provide a convenient method for simulating radiological examinations. At present, two classes of models exist: stylized mathematical models and tomographic voxel models.

Creation of two tomographic voxel models of paediatric patients in the first year of life.

Tomographic computational models, based on regional segmentation of CT or MRI medical images, have increasingly been proposed as replacements for current stylized mathematical models of human anatomy used in radiation dosimetry studies. While much effort has been devoted towards the creation of adult models, few research studies have been initiated to address the need for models supporting paediatric radiology dosimetry. In this study, two tomographic models were created using a combination of automatic and manual segmentation via a program created in-house using IDL version 5.

Functional platelets after storage in vitro for 15--21 days.

Blood platelets are notoriously difficult to preserve in vitro for long periods of time. Despite many efforts to solve the problem and improve conditions for storage, platelets lose their ability to respond to aggregating agents after 72--96 hours and are routinely discarded by blood banks after three days if not used for transfusion. The present study has evaluated the influence of raising the pH of the anticoagulant used to collect blood on the functional viability of platelets during storage at room temperature.