Nuclear Charge Radius of

Collinear laser spectroscopy was performed on the isomer of the aluminium isotope ^{26m}Al. The measured isotope shift to ^{27}Al in the 3s^{2}3p ^{2}P_{3/2}^{○}→3s^{2}4s ^{2}S_{1/2} atomic transition enabled the first experimental determination of the nuclear charge radius of ^{26m}Al, resulting in R_{c}=3.130(15) fm. This differs by 4.5 standard deviations from the extrapolated value used to calculate the isospin-symmetry breaking corrections in the superallowed ß decay of ^{26m}Al. Its corrected Ft value, important for the estimation of V_{ud} in the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix, is thus shifted by 1 standard deviation to 3071.4(1.0) s.

Evidence of a sudden increase in the nuclear size of proton-rich silver-96.

Understanding the evolution of the nuclear charge radius is one of the long-standing challenges for nuclear theory. Recently, density functional theory calculations utilizing Fayans functionals have successfully reproduced the charge radii of a variety of exotic isotopes. However, difficulties in the isotope production have hindered testing these models in the immediate region of the nuclear chart below the heaviest self-conjugate doubly-magic nucleus 100Sn, where the near-equal number of protons (Z) and neutrons (N) lead to enhanced neutron-proton pairing. Here, we present an optical excursion into this region by crossing the N = 50 magic neutron number in the silver isotopic chain with the measurement of the charge radius of 96Ag (N = 49). The results provide a challenge for nuclear theory: calculations are unable to reproduce the pronounced discontinuity in the charge radii as one moves below N = 50. The technical advancements in this work open the N = Z region below 100Sn for further optical studies, which will lead to more comprehensive input for nuclear theory development.

Empirical Dimensions of Discrimination Against Disabled People.

Where at one time professionals viewed disability as a condition inherent in a person, there now is widespread acceptance that, in large measure, disability is a social construct with roots in societal attitudes. Specifically, the case has been made by disabled people that they are the victims of discrimination. This paper reviews some of the empirical evidence of discriminatory practices in the areas of: access to education; meaningful participation in the labor force; and, physical and sexual assault. There is ample evidence of discriminatory practices in education and employment which further disadvantage disabled people. Disabled people receive less education and are much less likely to find a job than are non-disabled people and are much more vulnerable than the non-disabled to sexual or physical assault. Promoting and protecting the rights and dignity of disabled people will require a combination of legal approaches, attention to the concrete realities of disability and societal barriers, and changes in the perception of and societal attitudes towards disabled people.

The effect of varying carbohydrate content of a very-low-caloric diet on resting metabolic rate and thyroid hormones.

Twelve obese women were studied to determine the effects of the combination of an aerobic exercise program with either a high carbohydrate (HC) very-low-caloric diet (VLCD) or a low carbohydrate (LC) VLCD diet on resting metabolic rate (RMR), serum thyroxine (T4), 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3), and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (rT3). The response of these parameters was also examined when subjects switched from the VLCD to a mixed hypocaloric diet. Following a maintenance period, subjects consumed one of the two VLCDs for 28 days. In addition, all subjects participated in thrice weekly submaximal exercise sessions at 60% of maximal aerobic capacity. Following VLCD treatments, participants consumed a 1,000 kcal mixed diet while continuing the exercise program for one week. Measurements of RMR, T4, T3, and rT3 were made weekly. Weight decreased significantly more for LC than HC. Serum T4 was not significantly affected during the VLCD. Although serum T3 decreased during the VLCD for both groups, the decrease occurred faster and to a greater magnitude in LC (34.6% mean decrease) than HC (17.9% mean decrease). Serum rT3 increased similarly for each treatment by the first week of the VLCD. Serum T3 and rT3 of both groups returned to baseline concentrations following one week of the 1,000 kcal diet. Both groups exhibited similar progressive decreases in RMR during treatment (12.4% for LC and 20.8% for HC), but values were not significantly lower than baseline until week 3 of the VLCD. Thus, although dietary carbohydrate content had an influence on the magnitude of fall in serum T3, RMR declined similarly for both dietary treatments.

Chronic liver disease following community-acquired non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis occurring in an urban American population was identified in 23 patients followed for more than six months after the onset of acute hepatitis. Eight of the 23 patients subsequently developed normal aminotransferase levels a mean of 12.3 months after the onset of hepatitis. Liver biopsies were obtained from 9 of the remaining 15 patients. Eight biopsies revealed abnormalities consistent with chronic persistent hepatitis. One revealed chronic active hepatitis. The probable source of hepatitis included blood transfusions in 4%, intravenous drugs in 43%, personal contact in 4%, and no known source in 48%. Normalization of aminotransferase activity could not be predicted by initial symptoms, physical findings, or laboratory values. This study suggests that the chronic liver disease following community-acquired non-A, non-B hepatitis is frequent and may have a benign course.

Candida esophagitis.

Candida esophagitis is being increasingly recognized in the practice of clinical gastroenterology. The widespread use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and cancer chemotherapy, combined with the frequent use of endoscopy for the evaluation of esophageal symptoms, often leads to the identification of Candida infection in this part of the gastrointestinal tract. The salient clinical features of Candida esophagitis include odynophagia and dysphagia, although gastrointestinal bleeding may occasionally be the sole presenting symptom. While the radiological signs of Candida esophagitis are nonspecific, the endoscopic appearance is quite characteristic. Demonstration of tissue invasion by fungal mycelia on mucosal biopsy of the esophagus is diagnostic. The role of serology in the diagnosis of Candida esophagitis is not well defined. Oral nystatin therapy has been extensively used to control Candida infection of the esophagus. More recently amphotericin-B, 5-fluorocytosine and imidazole derivatives have been effectively used to treat recalcitrant cases of Candida esophagitis.

Evaluation of the relative dose response test for vitamin A nutriture in cirrhotics.

The rise in serum vitamin A 5 h after a 450 microgram oral dose of the vitamin (retinyl palmitate) was used to assess vitamin A nutriture in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. The test was carried out on 21 hospitalized male patients and 12 normal age and sex-matched control subjects. The relative dose response (RDR), expressed as percentage, was calculated as A5 - A0/A5 X 100 where A0 = the fasting serum retinol level and A5 = the serum retinol 5 h postdosing. Vitamin A-deficient patients (those with serum retinol levels less than 30 microgram/dl and an abnormal dark adaptation test or RDR greater than or equal to 14%) were treated with 4 wk of oral vitamin A (10,000 microgram/day), then repeat RDR and dark adaptation tests were carried out. Among eight cirrhotics with abnormal dark adaptation, the mean +/- SEM RDR was 21 +/- 9 versus 3 +/- 3% in patients with normal dark adaptation (p less than 0.01). RDR tests of patients with normal dark adaptation did not differ from those of 12 normal age and sex-matched control subjects (normal RDR response 0 to 14%). Among patients found to be vitamin A-deficient, treatment with vitamin A resulted in the mean +/- SEM RDR declining from 21 +/- 9 to 5 +/- 2%. However, this fall failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.06). The RDR test appears to be useful as a predictor of vitamin A deficiency, even among patients with far advanced hepatic disease.

Binding of phyto-oestrogen and oestradiol-17 beta by cytoplasmic receptors in the pituitary gland and hypothalamus of the ewe.

The binding of the phyto-oestrogens, genistein and coumestrol by oestrogen receptors in pituitary and hypothalamic cytosol of the ewe was studied in relation to the binding of [3H]-oestradiol-17 beta. It was determined that the interaction of these compounds was competitive. The apparent dissociation constant for oestradiol-17 beta in ewe pituitary cytosol was determined to be 0 x 26 +/- 0 x 12 (S.E.M.) nmol/l. Apparent inhibition constants for coumestrol and genistein were determined to be 60 and 170 nmol/l respectively. These results suggested that phyto-oestrogens can interfere with the normal oestrogen feedback mechanisms with respect to release of gonadotrophine in the ewe.

Urban growth in Siberia and the Soviet Far East: multiplier effects of Japanese-supplied plants.

PIP: The author analyzes changes in population growth rates and in the structure of the labor force in Soviet cities where Japanese-supplied industrial plants are located. Data for cities of over 50,000 inhabitants were obtained from available Soviet statistical sources; operations research techniques were then used to yield information at the city level^ieng