Pop-up Langmuir probe diagnostic in the water cooled divertor of Wendelstein 7-X.

The design, development, and successful implementation of pop-up Langmuir probes installed in the water-cooled divertor of W7-X are described. The probes are controlled by drive coils (actuators) installed behind the divertor plates. These drive coils make use of the magnetic field in W7-X to move the probe tips into and out of the plasma. The drive coils were installed in the vacuum vessel after extensively testing the durability of the coils and analyzing the criteria for safe operation. The probe design is carefully tailored for each of the 36 probe tips in order to be suitable for the different magnetic field configurations used in W7-X and ensure that the probes do not present leading edges to the magnetic flux tubes. An electronic bridge circuit is used for measurement to compensate for the effects of signal propagation time on the long cable lengths used. The diagnostic is integrated with the segment control of W7-X for automated operation and control of the diagnostic. The evaluation of the results from the plasma operation is presented after accounting for appropriate sheath expansion for negative bias voltage on the probes.

Screening for autism spectrum disorder in deaf adults with intellectual disability: Feasibility and accuracy of two autism screening instruments.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of autism screening instruments for deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) adults with intellectual disability. AIMS: This study examined the diagnostic validity of the Pervasive Developmental Disorder in Mental Retardation Scale and the Diagnostic Behavioral Assessment for autism spectrum disorder - Revised in this rare population. METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS: 56 DHH adults with intellectual disability living in three specialized therapeutic communities were examined, 9 of whom met criteria for autism. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: With minimal adaptions regarding item interpretation, both tools showed good diagnostic and high convergent validity. Items probing for difficulties in reciprocal social interaction and restricted interests were discriminant between individuals with and without autism. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that both autism screening tools are feasible and psychometrically sound when used with appropriate adaptations for DHH adults with intellectual disability.

Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Deaf Adults with Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Version of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2).

This study describes the adaptation of the autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS-2) to assess autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in adults with intellectual disability (ID) and hearing loss who communicate primarily visually. This adapted ADOS-2 was applied to residents of specialized therapeutic living communities (n = 56). The internal consistency of the adapted ADOS-2 was excellent for the Social Affect of modules 2 and 3 and acceptable for Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors subscale of module 2, but poor for module 3. Interrater reliability was comparable to standard ADOS-2 modules 1-3. Results suggest that autism symptoms of deaf adults with ID can be reliably identified by an adapted ADOS-2, provided adequate expertise in deafness, ID, ASD and proficiency in signed language by the administrator.

Mid-infrared interference coatings with excess optical loss below 10 ppm.

We present high-reflectivity substrate-transferred single-crystal GaAs/AlGaAs interference coatings at a center wavelength of 4.54 µm with record-low excess optical loss below 10 parts per million. These high-performance mirrors are realized via a novel microfabrication process that differs significantly from the production of amorphous multilayers generated via physical vapor deposition processes. This new process enables reduced scatter loss due to the low surface and interfacial roughness, while low background doping in epitaxial growth ensures strongly reduced absorption. We report on a suite of optical measurements, including cavity ring-down, transmittance spectroscopy, and direct absorption tests to reveal the optical losses for a set of prototype mirrors. In the course of these measurements, we observe a unique polarization-orientation-dependent loss mechanism which we attribute to elastic anisotropy of these strained epitaxial multilayers. A future increase in layer count and a corresponding reduction of transmittance will enable optical resonators with a finesse in excess of 100 000 in the mid-infrared spectral region, allowing for advances in high resolution spectroscopy, narrow-linewidth laser stabilization, and ultrasensitive measurements of various light-matter interactions.

A divertor scraper observation system for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator.

Two graphite divertor elements called scrapers have been installed on the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in the throat of the magnetic island divertor. To diagnose one, we have designed, built, calibrated, and installed a new infrared/visible imaging endoscope system to enable detailed observations of the plasma interactions and heat loads at one of the scrapers and the nearby divertor surfaces. The new system uses a shuttered pinhole-protected pair of 90° off-axis 228 mm focal length aluminum parabolic mirrors, and two flat turning metal mirrors, to send light to a sapphire vacuum window 1.6 meters away, beyond which we have co-located telephoto lens-based infrared and visible cameras. The back-to-back off-axis parabolas serve to cancel out most aberrations, enabling the use of off-the-shelf commercial optics outside of the vessel. For the infrared, we use a 3-5 µm 1-megapixel FLIR SC8303HD camera and for the visible, a 5-megapixel CMOS PCO 5.5 edge camera. A short 1-m quartz pickoff fiber is used to send 200-1100 nm light to a compact spectrometer, also located in the same iron shield box as the cameras. The camera field of view covers the 700 mm length of the scraper, and includes locations monitored by thermocouples and Langmuir probes embedded in some of the scraper tiles. Predicted and actual optical test performances of the overall system are compared.

Failure to detect deaf-blindness in a population of people with intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of deaf-blindness is essential to ensure appropriate management. Previous studies indicate that deaf-blindness is often missed. We aim to discover the extent to which deaf-blindness in people with intellectual disability (ID) is undiagnosed. METHOD: A survey was made of the 253 residents of an institute offering residential and occupational facilities for people with IDs. Data are included for the 224 individuals who were able to complete both auditory and visual assessments. Otoacoustic emissions were used to screen for hearing impairment; those who did not pass were assessed by behavioural audiometry. Visual acuity was assessed with one of the following: EH-Optotypes, LH-Optotypes, Teller Acuity Cards, Cardiff Acuity Cards or the Stycar Ball Vision Test. RESULTS: Prior to the study hearing impairment had been diagnosed in 12.5% of the 224 subjects, and visual impairment in 17%. Upon completion of the study these figures rose to 46% and 38.4% respectively. Deaf-blindness was diagnosed in 3.6% of the subjects before, and in 21.4% after, the study. Most (87.5%) of the deaf-blind individuals had profound ID. CONCLUSION: Deaf-blindness is most often not identified either by standard medical screening or by care staff. Individuals with this disability, however, require provision of special kinds of care. Four categories of deaf-blindness are proposed, according to the severity of sensory impairment in each modality. The tests used in this study are non-invasive and are appropriate for individuals with ID and children. Early and periodic screening for visual and hearing impairment in individuals with ID is recommended.

The impact of language skills on mental health in teenagers with hearing impairments.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship of language competence level and mental distress in teenagers with hearing impairments. METHOD: 43 pupils were given a battery of linguistic tests and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which was also completed by 40 parents. Comparisons were made between the group of 33 children in mainstream education and 10 who were in a segregated school for the deaf. RESULTS: The children had impaired language skills relative to published norms, especially marked in segregated schools. Parents rated children as having more distress than published norms. Those with superior level of spoken language had fewer peer relationship problems in mainstream education, but significantly more in segregated schools. The reverse was almost significant for those proficient in signed language. CONCLUSION: Peer relationship problems are associated with the language competence levels in the way that children at school communicate with one another.

Mental distress and quality of life in the hard of hearing.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare levels of psychological distress and the quality of life in the hard of hearing with levels reported by the signing deaf, and the hearing population. METHOD: A total of 373 members of the Hard of Hearing Association completed the brief WHO's Quality of Life, 12-item General Health Questionnaire and Brief Symptom Inventory, and provided details about their initial and current deafness. RESULTS: The hard of hearing have worse social relationships than the signing deaf, and are disadvantaged relative to the hearing in all areas measured. Quality of life is related to the level of satisfaction with the hearing achieved by hearing aids. CONCLUSION: General psychiatrists need to be aware that patients who are hard of hearing may be even more isolated than deaf people in a signing community. Hard of hearing patients with unsatisfactory hearing aids can be greatly assisted by cochlear implants.

[Psychosocial characteristics of deaf people: evaluation of data from a special outpatient clinic for the deaf]. / Psychosoziale Merkmale bei Gehörlosen Daten aus einer Spezialambulanz für Gehörlose.

In this publication, data from a special outpatient clinic for deaf patients in a general hospital are presented. All members of the treatment team have competency in sign language. From the patients who consecutively attended the outpatient clinic, 352 were investigated for medical and psychosocial problems. In social contacts, there is a strong orientation towards other deaf people, and communication is mainly based on sign language. Of the deaf patients, 85% of their partners are also deaf, whereas only 10.1% of children of the deaf group are also deaf. The prevalence of selected psychiatric disorders (ICD 10 F1, F2, F3, F4, F6) in deaf people was found to be similar to that in hearing populations, with the exception of somatoform disorders, which seem to be more frequent in the deaf. Deaf people also more often present with somatic and other complaints such as nervousness, anxiety, and stress. With specific outpatient clinics for the deaf in which members of the therapeutic team are competent in sign language, access to health services is equally possible for deaf people.

Gamma probe-guided resection of a lymph node metastasis with I-123 in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The authors report the case of a 27-year-old woman with gamma probe-guided resection of a recurrent regional lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer. Reoperation is often impaired in cases with extensive scarring because of previous surgery, high-dose radioiodine therapy, and external irradiation. In this case with nodal metastasis, the high I-123 uptake allowed more rapid intraoperative detection and influenced the surgical approach. Evidence of complete removal of tumor tissue could be given intraoperatively by measuring the tumor bed, and this was confirmed by postoperative normalization of Tg levels and a negative I-131 scan. In other locations, and especially for small solitary lesions, gamma probe-guided surgery may be a promising alternative to high dose I-131 therapy.

[Competence in verbal communication of deaf adults in Austria. I: On the intelligibility of spoken language]. / Kommunikativ-sprachliche Kompetenz gehörloser Erwachsener in Osterreich. Teil I: Zur Verständlichkeit gesprochener Sprache.

Intelligibility of spoken language of deaf adults was assessed by hearing persons. The test procedure was intended to get as close as possible to an authentic communication situation. 5 of 6 deaf speakers are not intelligible to naive listeners. Furthermore, the listeners tend to highly overestimate their understanding of the meaning of the utterances heard. Distorting written reproductions are frequent. There are significant differences between the ability of comprehension of each of the hearing persons. The necessity of visual communication systems and -helps is stressed by the deficits in spoken language found by the study at hand.

[Competence in verbal communication of deaf adults in Austria. II: Vocabulary]. / Kommunikativ-sprachliche Kompetenz gehörloser Erwachsener in Osterreich. Teil II: Wortschatz.

The understanding of isolated written words by deaf adults was checked using a basic list of 500 German words developed for this study. Even at this basic level about 7% of the words could not be identified by the deaf subjects. There were particular problems with words from colloquial German, function words, terms without mouthing in sign language and cover terms. Concerning rehabilitation the use of sign language vocabulary already known by the deaf for written language vocabulary training and a stronger orientation towards functional everyday communication is recommended.

Preoperative scintigraphic and intraoperative scintimetric localization of parathyroid adenoma with cationic Tc-99m complexes and a hand-held gamma-probe.

AIM: The aim of our study was to evaluate the possibility of intraoperative scintimetric detection of parathyroid adenomas with Tc-99m labelled tracers for its usefulness in dystropic or ectopic adenomas. METHODS: 12 women with biochemically confirmed hyperparathyroidism were included in our study. After injection of 370 MBq Tc-99m tetrofosmin e.g. sestamibi, preoperative scintigraphy (double phase study and SPECT) was performed and T/NT ratios were evaluated for early, delayed and SPECT images. Surgery was performed using a hand-held gamma-probe after preoperative injection of 555-925 MBq Tc-99m tetrofosmin e.g. sestamibi. Count rates (cts/10 sec) were measured and used for calculating in situ- and ex situ-T/NT ratios. RESULTS: In 9 out of 12 patients, adenoma could be detected on static images. Mean T/NT ratios for Tc-99m tetrofosmin were 1.29 for early and 1.23 for delayed images, respectively 1.39 and 1.23 for early and delayed Tc-99m sestamibi scan. Three cases could only be detected with SPECT reconstruction, 11 of 12 parathyroid adenomas could be confirmed intra-operatively. CONCLUSION: SPECT with Tc-99m labelled cationic complexes showed advantages in detection, precise localization and contrast over static scintigraphy and should therefore be performed at least in cases with poor or no uptake on static images to avoid failures in detection of deeply sited, dislocated glands or adenomas with low uptake. Intraoperative localization and confirmation of parathyroid adenoma with Tc-99m labelled cationic complexes and a gamma probe is possible an 1 may be useful in case of dys- or ectopic adenoma by influencing surgical approach and operating time.

[Use of a gamma probe for intraoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas with Tc-99m-tetrofosmin and Tc-99m-sestamibi]. / Einsatz einer Gammasonde zur intraoperativen Lokalisierung von Nebenschilddrüsenadenomen mit Tc-99m Tetrofosmin und Tc-99m Sestamibi.

Especially ectopic adenomas may be problematic in intraoperative localization despite preoperative imaging resulting in a longer operating time and more extensive surgical preparation. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possibility of intraoperative scintimetric detection of parathyroid adenomas with cationic, Tc-99m labelled tracers for its usefulness in ectopic adenomas. 12 women with biochemically confirmed hyperparathyroidism were included in our study. After injection of 370 MBq Tc-99m Tetrofosmin respectively Sestamibi, preoperative scintigraphy (double phase study and SPECT) was performed and T/NT ratios were evaluated for early, delayed and SPECT images. Surgery was performed using a hand-held gamma probe after preoperative injection of 555-925 MBq Tc-99m Tetrofosmin or Sestamibi. Count rates (cts/10 sec) were measured and used for calculating in situ- and ex situ-T/NT ratios. In 9 out of 12 patients, adenoma could be detected on static images. Three cases could only be detected with SPECT. 11 of 12 parathyroid adenomas could be confirmed intraoperatively. Intraoperative localization of parathyroid adenoma with Tc-99m-labelled cationic complexes and a gamma probe is possible and may be useful in case of ectopic adenoma by influencing surgical approach and operating time.

Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies in primate stocks of zoological gardens.

Examination of 387 serum samples from 41 primate species with two different ELISAs for the presence of IgG-antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus. Antibodies were detected in 15 out of 32 species of Old World primates and none in six species of New World primates by screening ELISA (Enzygnost, Behringwerke AG, Marburg), a testkit for human diagnostics. To avoid species-dependent factors which could influence the sensitivity of the Enzygnost assay, a competition ELISA was established. The modified test assessed antibodies in all species of Old World primates and three species of the New World primates.

[The need for work--experiences from a day-care center]. / Das Bedürfnis nach Arbeit--Erfahrungen aus einer tagesstrukturierenden Einrichtung.

The concept of a vocational day-care centre for persons with chronic mental illness is discussed. Work is done with clay, which enables a supply with both very simple and very sophisticated tasks. Clients are able to clearly realize the results of their joint efforts. Analysis of attendance at the centre reveals that especially those who had spent longer periods of time in psychiatric hospital and are already receiving a disability pension came to work most regularly. These findings show that even for those who have definitely withdrawn from gainful employment, individually adapted work opportunities nevertheless remain of considerable importance.

Cosmic dosimetry using TLD aboard spacecrafts of the "Cosmos" series.

Thermoluminescent (TL) detectors were used for dosimetric investigations on the outer surface as well as inside Soviet spacecrafts of the "Cosmos" series. At the outer surface, ultrathin TL detectors, based on CaF2-PTFE and LiF, were arranged in special stacks and exposed to unshielded cosmic radiation. The strong decrease of dose within a few mg/cm2 demonstrates that weakly penetrating radiation is dominating in the radiation field under investigation. On the basis of glow curve analysis of LiF thermoluminescent detectors it could be shown, that the high doses are caused by electrons.

Investigation of the low-energy component of primary cosmic radiation on the outside of spacecrafts.

We have developed a method to investigate the low-energy radiation environment on the outside of spacecrafts. Thereby, ultra-thin thermoluminescent (TL) detectors on the base of CaF2:Mn-PTFE are arranged in stacks and exposed to the unshielded cosmic radiation. The dose distribution within a stack is determined by successive evaluation of the thin TL sheets. The analysis of LiF thermoluminescent detector glow curves permits conclusions on the dose contribution caused by either low-energy electrons or by protons. The method was applied aboard Russian COSMOS spacecrafts as well as the MIR station. It was shown that along low-earth orbits dose rates up to 10 Gy/day within the first few mg/cm2 are typical, mainly as a result of the electron impact.

Determination of dose distribution of cosmic radiation behind different shielding thicknesses.

Investigations are described for the determination of dose distributions of cosmic radiation behind different shielding thicknesses. For this purpose, ultra-thin thermoluminescent detectors on a base of CaF2-polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) were prepared and arranged in a stack at the outer wall of the biosatellite Cosmos 1887. During the 13 days of flight in a near-Earth orbit, the detectors were exposed to the unshielded cosmic radiation. After the flight, the dose distribution in the stack was determined by successive evaluations of the CaF2-PTFE discs. In the upper layers of the detector arrangement, dose values up to 100 Gy were observed. The strong decrease of the dose within a few mm demonstrates that weak particle radiation is dominant in the radiation field under investigation.