Using low voltage ionization chamber (LVIC) in current mode for energy spectrum reconstruction: Experiments and validation.

Due to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) radiative environment, in particular during high D-T power phase, classic x-ray detectors, such as semiconductor diodes, might be too fragile and are thus not viable. Instead, robust detectors, such as gas-filled detectors, are nowadays considered. The Low Voltage Ionization Chamber (LVIC) is one of the most promising candidates for x-ray measurement during the ITER nuclear phase. A complete model of the detector, recently developed at IRFM (Intitute for Research on Magnetic Fusion), now requires experimental validation. Experimental testing at the IRFM laboratory of an ITER industrial LVIC prototype and comparison with modeling are presented. In particular, an original approach to extract information on the x-ray spectrum from current-mode LVIC measurement is validated experimentally.

New Graduate Nurses in the Intensive Care Setting: Preparing Them for Patient Death.

The COVID-19 pandemic and nursing shortage has impacted new graduate nurse (NGN) careers. Many NGNs gain initial employment with intensive care areas, encountering unprecedented stress due to high patient acuities, technology, and deaths. Having not yet transitioned into nursing practice, the NGN can experience a reality shock. Nurses are responsible for the care of the dying patient in the intensive care setting, despite inconsistencies in undergraduate curricula on death and dying. Nurse residency programs provide transition-to-practice support and reduce the stressors experienced by NGNs. Residency programs which specifically include palliative care and/or end-of-life content can positively impact stress, burnout, and turnover rates in NGNs.

Conceptual study of energy resolved x-ray measurement and electron temperature reconstruction on ITER with low voltage ionization chambers.

In tokamaks with tungsten-based plasma facing components, such as ITER, pollution of the plasma by heavy impurities is a major concern as it can lead to radiative breakdown. The radiation emitted by such impurities is mainly composed of x-rays in the [0.1; 100] keV range. A diagnostic allowing for the reconstruction of the impurity distribution is of high interest. The ITER requirements for the x-ray measurement system make it mandatory for the detector to provide spectral information. Due to the radiation environment during the ITER nuclear phase, advanced detectors exhibiting high resilience to neutrons and gamma rays, such as gas-filled detectors, are required. The use of Low Voltage Ionization Chambers (LVICs) for this purpose is investigated in this paper. Several anodes have been added to the detector in order to allow for spectral deconvolution. This article presents a conceptual study of the use of a multi-anode LVIC for energy resolved x-ray measurement on ITER. It covers the design of the multi-anode LVIC and its modeling, the method for spectral deconvolution, and its application to energy resolved x-ray tomography, as well as the computation of the electron temperature from the reconstructed local x-ray emissivity.

Modeling a low voltage ionization chamber based tomography system on ITER.

Soft x-ray (SXR) tomography is a key diagnostic method for impurity transport study in tokamaks since it allows for local impurity density reconstruction. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) radiative environment in deuterium-deuterium and deuterium-tritium phases will limit the choices of SXR detector technologies, and gas detectors are one of the most promising solutions. In this paper, we, thus, investigate the SXR tomography possibilities on ITER using Low Voltage Ionization Chambers (LVICs). The study contains the development of a LVIC synthetic diagnostic and its application to estimate the LVIC tomographic capabilities in an ITER D-T scenario, including the influence of LVIC parameters and noise in the measurements.

Store depletion-induced h-channel plasticity rescues a channelopathy linked to Alzheimer's disease.

Voltage-gated ion channels are critical for neuronal integration. Some of these channels, however, are misregulated in several neurological disorders, causing both gain- and loss-of-function channelopathies in neurons. Using several transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD), we find that sub-threshold voltage signals strongly influenced by hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels progressively deteriorate over chronological aging in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. The degraded signaling via HCN channels in the transgenic mice is accompanied by an age-related global loss of their non-uniform dendritic expression. Both the aberrant signaling via HCN channels and their mislocalization could be restored using a variety of pharmacological agents that target the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Our rescue of the HCN channelopathy helps provide molecular details into the favorable outcomes of ER-targeting drugs on the pathogenesis and synaptic/cognitive deficits in AD mouse models, and implies that they might have beneficial effects on neurological disorders linked to HCN channelopathies.

Are Salmonella-Induced Gastroenteritis Neglected in Developing Countries? Feedback from Microbiological Investigations in N'Djamena Hospitals, Chad.

Salmonella is considered to be one of the main pathogens causing human gastroenteritis worldwide. Looking for Salmonella in Africa in patients suffering from gastroenteritis is rather unusual, and the use of antibiotics is not subject to any regulation. This study intends for stressing the possible prominent importance of Salmonella in digestive diseases in Africa as well as identifying antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates from faeces samples of human origin. All samples were collected from five N'Djamena hospitals, from patients suffering from diarrhoea. The collecting was undertaken over two periods of six months each: from August 2010 to January 2011 and from September 2011 to February 2012. Salmonella isolates were obtained by standard cultivation and serotyping methods. A total of 43 Salmonella isolates were identified, belonging to 21 different serovars. The most prevalent serovar was Salmonella Stanleyville (n = 7), followed by S. Anatum (n = 4) and S. Kottbus (n = 3). The other serovars were under-represented. The majority of these isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested (CLSI Standards), except two S. Enteritidis isolates that exhibited resistance to fluoroquinolones. The different serovars and antibiotic resistance profiles that were observed highlight the substantial diversity of Salmonella in N'Djamena, Chad. Roughly, one out of ten patients who consulted for gastroenteritis was shedding Salmonella spp. and none of them would have been diagnosed outside the context of this research program. This study may encourage local clinicians to explore more often salmonellosis suspicion in their daily practice.

Soy provides modest benefits on endothelial function without affecting inflammatory biomarkers in adults at cardiometabolic risk.

SCOPE: Systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress are involved in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Epidemiological evidence supports an association between whole soy food consumption and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this randomized, controlled, cross-over study was to evaluate the effects of soy nut consumption on inflammatory biomarkers and endothelial function and to assess whether isoflavone metabolism to secondary products, equol, and/or O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA), modifies these responses. METHODS AND RESULTS: n = 17 adults at cardiometabolic risk were randomly assigned to the order of two snack interventions, soy nuts, and macronutrient-matched control snack, for four weeks each, separated by a two week washout period. Outcome measures included biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and glycemic control (ELISA and clinical analyzers), endothelial function, and arterial stiffness (peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT)), and isoflavone metabolites (LC-MS/MS). Results revealed that consuming soy nuts improved arterial stiffness as assessed by the augmentation index using PAT (p = 0.03), despite lack of improvement in inflammatory biomarkers. Addition of equol and/or ODMA production status as covariates did not significantly change these results. CONCLUSION: Soy nuts when added to a usual diet for one month provide some benefit on arterial stiffness in adults at cardiometabolic risk.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella serotypes isolated from laying hens and broiler chicken farms in N'Djamena, Chad.

This study aimed at updating knowledge on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of Salmonella isolated from poultry in the province of N'Djamena, Chad. The results collected during this study provide the first baseline data on the prevalence of contamination by Salmonella in laying hens and broiler chicken farms in N'Djamena. All samples were collected from sixteen poultry farms over two periods of six months each: from August 2010 to January 2011 and from September 2011 to February 2012. Diagnostic methods used during this study allowed to isolate eighty four Salmonella strains, belonging to twenty seven different serotypes. The most frequent serotypes were Salmonella Colindale (19%) followed by S. Minnesota (18%) S. Havana and S. Riggil (each 6%), S. Kottbus and S. Amager (4.7%), S. Idikan, Mississipi, and Muenchen (3.6%). Other serotypes were poorly represented. The majority of these serotypes were susceptible to all antibiotics tested (CLSI Standards), except some S. Colindale isolates that exhibited a decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, S. Limete resistant to three antibiotics and S. Minnesota isolates resistant to five different antimicrobial classes. The different serotypes and antibiotic resistance profiles that were observed highlight the substantial diversity of Salmonella in Chad, the contribution of avian isolates to human salmonellosis and Salmonella's capacity to colonize all types of environment worldwide.

Evaluation of squeeze-induced somnolence in neonatal foals.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that application of a rope restraint device would result in behavioral, electroencephalographic, and humoral changes consistent with sleep and analgesia in neonatal foals. ANIMALS: 8 healthy neonatal foals. PROCEDURES: Following acclimatization to experimental conditions, each foal underwent a series of assessments before and during or at the end of a period of restraint via application of a restraint device (soft linen rope). Assessments included measurements of heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, and circulating ß-endorphin and steroid hormone concentrations and evaluations of mentation and body position (behavior), electroencephalographic patterns, and pain tolerance. RESULTS: All foals were lively with apparently normal behavior prior to restraint. During application of the restraint device, foals assumed lateral recumbency with relaxed, somnolent behavior. Heart and respiratory rates and rectal temperature uniformly decreased as a result of the procedure. Electroencephalographic recordings (completed for 3 foals only) revealed patterns consistent with slow wave sleep. Plasma ACTH, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and androstenedione concentrations significantly increased during restraint, compared with prerestraint values. The foals' tolerance to noxious stimuli significantly increased during restraint; however, this was independent of the concentration of circulating ß-endorphin. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In neonatal foals, the evaluated form of restraint resulted in a decrease in heart and respiratory rates and rectal temperature. Squeeze-induced somnolence may resemble the effects of compression of the fetus in the birth canal and lead to inhibition of voluntary activity. Use of this technique to safely restrain neonatal foals during minor procedures warrants further evaluation.

Glomuvenous Malformations (Familial generalized multiple glomangiomas).

A 15-year-old boy with a diagnosis of generalized multiple glomangiomas was referred for evaluation and treatment of enlarging and increasingly painful lesions on his right ankle. The patient underwent a series of two treatments with long-pulsed KTP 1064 nm laser that resulted in substantial improvement in appearance and decreased pain. Generalized glomuvenous malformations, or multiple glomangiomas, are the less common presentation of proliferation of glomus cells and may have extracutaneous involvement. Whereas surgical management is often employed and definitive for solitary lesions, interventions such as laser therapy, may be beneficial for improvement of functional impairment and cosmesis as was observed in our patient.

Symmetric aplasia cutis congenita associated with fetus papyraceus: report of two cases.

We present two cases of neonates born with symmetric aplasia cutis congenita associated with intrauterine fetal demise of cotwins during the early second trimester. Fetus papyraceus resulting in aplasia cutis congenita is a rare association with many clinical presentations, including extratruncal symmetric lesions and small linear, arcuate, and triangular lesions when twin intrauterine demise occurs after the first trimester.

Pediatric acupuncture: a review of clinical research.

Practiced in China for more than 2000 years, acupuncture has recently gained increased attention in the United States as an alternative treatment approach for a variety of medical conditions. Despite its growing prevalence and anecdotal reports of success among pediatric populations, few empirically based studies have assessed the efficacy of acupuncture for children and adolescents. This article presents a review of the current literature, including a systematic appraisal of the methodological value of each study and a discussion of potential benefits and adverse effects of acupuncture. While acupuncture holds great promise as a treatment modality for diverse pediatric conditions, a significant amount of additional research is necessary to establish an empirical basis for the incorporation of acupuncture into standard care.