Haptoglobin, transferrin, alpha-1-feto-protein (AFP), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AAGP) and caeruloplasmin levels were estimated in 14 "small for dates" (SFD) and 31 "appropriate for dates" (AFD) babies by the single radial immunodiffusion method. The mean caeruloplasmin levels was observed to be significantly reduced in the SFD babies when compared with the AFD babies (t = 3.4582, P < 0.02). None of the other 4 acute phase proteins showed any significant differences in mean concentration between the SFD babies and the controls. The diminished caeruloplasmin levels observed in SFD babies agrees with previous reports in post-natal undernutrition. Our findings of no significant differences in the other 4 acute phase proteins between SFD and AFD babies are however at variance with previous observations of elevated levels of AFP, haptoglobin and AAGP and reduced levels of transferrin in malnourished infants.

Commercial diode detectors used for small field dosimetry introduce a field-size-dependent over-response relative to an ideal, water-equivalent dosimeter due to high density components in the body of the detector. An air gap above the detector introduces a field-size-dependent under-response, and can be used to offset the field-size-dependent detector over-response. Other groups have reported experimental validation of caps containing air gaps for use with several types of diodes in small fields. This paper examines two designs for 3D printed diode air caps for the stereotactic field diode (SFD)-a cap containing a sealed air cavity, and a cap with an air cavity at the face of the SFD. Monte Carlo simulations of both designs were performed to determine dimensions for an air cavity to introduce the desired dosimetric correction. Various parameter changes were also simulated to estimate the dosimetric uncertainties introduced by 3D printing. Cap layer dimensions, cap density changes due to 3D printing, and unwanted air gaps were considered. For the sealed design the optimal air gap size for water-equivalent cap material was 0.6 mm, which increased to 1.0 mm when acrylonitrile butadiene styrene in the cap was simulated. The unsealed design had less variation, a 0.4 mm air gap is optimal in both situations. Unwanted air pockets in the bore of the cap and density changes introduced by the 3D printing process can potentially introduce significant dosimetric effects. These effects may be limited by using fine print resolutions and minimising the volume of cap material.

Two identical bench-scale Self-Forming Dynamic Membrane BioReactors (SFD MBR) were set-up and operated for the treatment of real urban wastewater. The two bioreactors were equipped with meshes of different mesh pore size. Meshes having pore size values of 20 and 50 µm were tested under solid retention time (SRT) of 15 d, whereas meshes with 50 and 100 µm pore sizes were compared under SRT of 50 d. The results of long-term experiments showed very good overall performances by all systems at the steady state. High flux (in the range 61-71 L m^-2 h^-1) and very good effluent quality were obtained, with average suspended solids and chemical oxygen demanding values below 10 mg L^-1 and 35 mg L^-1, respectively. The mesh pore size did not have a major influence on the average cleaning frequency. However, the pore size affected the effluent quality in correspondence of two particular conditions: (i) immediately after mesh cleaning; and (ii) during operation under high suction pressures (mesh clogging not promptly removed through cleaning). Moreover, the mesh cleaning frequency was observed to be dependent on the SRT. In tests with 50 d SRT, the cleaning requirements were very low (one every five days), and this limited the influence of the mesh pore size on the effluent quality. In conclusion, in SFD MBR, the role of the mesh pore size on the effluent quality may be more or less relevant depending on the operating conditions that directly influence the Dynamic Membrane formation.

Keywords: Membrane BioReactor; biological process; mesh filtration; pore size; wastewater treatment.

OBJECTIVE

Task Group 106 discusses detector arrays and their usefulness in "soft-wedge" profile measurements. This study verifies an extension of their use; where a high-resolution linear diode array is used to measure profile scans for use in commissioning stereotactic beam. Small-field data is acquired with the LDA-99sc (IBA Dosimetry America, Memphis, TN), an array of 99 two-mm-diameter Hi-pSi diodes. These data are compared to data collected during serial scanning with an IBA SFD stereotactic diode.

METHODS

Field measurements were taken at varying depths using an LDA-99sc in 1×1 cm2 , 2×2cm2 , and 3×3cm2 fields of a Trilogy accelerator (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). These scans were duplicated in resolution and sample rate with an SFD scanning diode. Both techniques acquired point data in 1.0mm increments.

RESULTS

In identical conditions, the LDA-99sc provided readings with significantly less signal fluctuation than with traditional diode scanning; which is attributed to the reduction of water motion associated with detector travel during traditional scanning. This smoother data precluded the use of smoothing and filtration algorithms; allowing the beam to be modeled using raw data. The LDA-99sc measured an average penumbra of 0.1 mm wider than that which was measured with the diode. The LDA-99sc also measured an average field size of 0.3mm wider than that which was measured with the diode. With respect to time, a single profile scan (30cm-depth, 3×3cm2 field) using the LDA-99sc took 31 seconds, while a diode scan took 229 seconds.

CONCLUSIONS

The LDA99 provided accurate commissioning-grade small-field beam profile data, as verified by comparison with diode scans, with a reduction of uncertainty in readings and a substantial reduction in time. Variation in penumbra and beam widths were deemed acceptable and can be attributed to the LDA-99sc data being raw, while the diode data was processed. Research supported in-part by IBA Dosimetry America.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the energy dependence/spectral sensitivity of silicon diodes designed for small-field dosimetry and obtain response factors (RFs) for arbitrary photon spectra using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations.

METHODS

The EGSnrc user-code DOSRZnrc was used to calculate the dose deposition in water and in the active volume of a stereotactic diode field detector (SFD). Then, the RFs of the SFD were calculated for several circular field sizes and energies at 5 cm depth in water. Several low-energy photon spectra (mean energy 55 to 200 keV), as well as Co-60 radiation (mean energy 1.25 MeV) and a 6 MV Elekta Synergy beam (mean energy 2.9 MeV), in 10 × 10 cm2 field size were used to validate the MC calculations, using a simple beam model. The RFs of the SFD detector for a 6 MV Elekta Synergy linac photon beam in different field sizes were calculated. These were also measured with EBT3 Gafchromic film and the SFD detector.

RESULTS

For the reference field size, differences between measured and calculated RFs were less than 5% at mean energies below 1 MeV and less than 1% at energies above 1 MeV. The calculated RFs for a 6 MV Elekta Synergy linac photon beam as a function of different field sizes showed a good agreement between the measurements and previously reported results. This agreement was within 2% for all considered field sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

While at high photon energies, the change of response of the SFD is marginal, whereas it is extreme at low energies. Therefore, it is desirable to benchmark response calculations also in the low-energy domain. Our results, with a simple beam model and geometry, indicate that a validation of the simulations by experimental results is achievable. The present work provides a comprehensive table that can be used to calculate SFD detector response factors depending on both, field size and photon energy.

Fetal heart rate response to fetal acoustic stimulation (FAST) during the antepartum period after 25 weeks of gestational age was studied in 157 cases of normal pregnancy, 22 cases of fetal distress, 12 cases of SFD, 10 cases of fetal malformation, 9 cases of placental dysfunction, 4 cases of oligohydramnios, 12 cases of toxemia of pregnancy, and 15 cases of SLE. Five different types of response were observed: Type I through type V. 1. FAST was available to evaluate fetal well-being from 27 weeks of gestational age, although a nonstress test (NST) has been used after 31 weeks of gestational age. 2. Type IV was observed frequently in the case of coiling of the umbilical cord. 3. In acute fetal distress abnormality was detected by NST prior to FAST, but in latent fetal distress abnormality was detected by FAST prior to NST. 4. Cases classified as FAST types III and IV, which remained unchanged or deteriorated to III, IV or V were almost all characterized by poor fetal outcome.

The problem of detecting and identifying sensor faults is critical for efficient, safe, regulatory-compliant, and sustainable operations of modern industrial processing systems. The increasing complexity of such systems brings, however, new challenges for sensor fault detection and sensor fault isolation (SFD-SFI). One of the key enablers for any SFD-SFI method is analytical redundancy, which is provided by an analytical model of sensor observations derived from first principles or identified from historical data. As defective sensors generate measurements that are inconsistent with their expected behavior as defined by the model, SFD amounts to the generation and monitoring of residuals between sensor observations and model predictions. In this article, we introduce a disentangled recurrent neural network (RNN) with the objective to cope with the smearing-out effect, i.e., where the propagation of a sensor fault to nonfaulty sensor results in large and misleading residuals. The introduction of a probabilistic model for the residual generation allows us to develop a novel procedure for the identification of the faulty sensors. The computational complexity of the proposed algorithm is linear in the number of sensors as opposed to the combinatorial nature of the SFI problem. Finally, we empirically verify the performance of the proposed SFD-SFI architecture using a real data set collected at a petrochemical plant.

Urban adolescents with asthma often have inadequate preventive care. We tested the effectiveness of the School-Based Asthma Care for Teens (SB-ACT) program on asthma morbidity and preventive medication adherence. Methods: Subjects/Setting- 12-16yr olds with persistent asthma in Rochester, NY schools. Design- 3-group randomized trial (2014-2019). SB-ACT Intervention- Two core components: 1) Directly observed therapy (DOT) of preventive asthma medications, provided in school for at least 6-8 weeks for the teen to learn proper technique and experience the benefits of daily preventive therapy; 2) 4-6 weeks later, 3 sessions of motivational interviewing (MI) to discuss potential benefits from DOT and enhance motivation to take medication independently. We included 2 comparison groups: 1) DOT-only for 6-8wks, and 2) asthma education (AE) attention control. Masked follow-up assessments were conducted at 3, 5, and 7mos. Outcomes- Mean number of symptom-free days (SFDs)/2 weeks and medication adherence. Analyses- Modified intention-to-treat repeated measures analysis. Results: We enrolled 430 teens (56% Black, 32% Hispanic, 85% Medicaid). There were no group differences at baseline. We found no difference in SFDs at any follow-up timepoint. More teens in the SB-ACT and DOT-only reported having a preventive asthma medication at each follow-up (p<.001), and almost daily adherence at 3 and 5-months (p<.001, p=.003) compared to AE. By 7 months there were no significant differences between groups in adherence (p=.49). Conclusion: SB-ACT improved preventive medication availability and short-term adherence but did not impact asthma symptoms. Further work is needed to develop developmentally appropriate and effective interventions for this group.

Keywords: adherence; adolescents; directly observed therapy; motivational interviewing; schools; symptoms; urban.

This work investigates the dominant energy dissipations of the multi-frequency whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonators to provide an insight into the loss mechanisms of the devices. An extensive theory for each loss source was established and experimentally testified. The squeezed film damping (SFD) is a major loss for all the WGMs at atmosphere, which is distinguished from traditional bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonators where the high-order modes suffer less from the air damping. In vacuum, the SFD is negligible, and the frequency-dependent Akhiezer damping (AKE) has significant effects on different order modes. For low-order WGMs, the AKE is limited, and the anchor loss behaves as the dominant loss. For high-order modes with an extended nodal region, the anchor loss is reduced, and the AKE determines the Q values. Substantial Q enhancements over four times and an excellent f × Q product up to 6.36 × 10¹³ at 7 K were achieved.

Keywords: MEMS resonator; loss mechanism; multi-frequency; quality factor; whispering gallery mode.

Spray freeze-drying (SFD), which includes spray-freezing into droplets and dynamic vacuum drying, presents a promising alternative approach to manufacture dried pharmaceuticals more efficiently than conventional vial freeze-drying. Without reliable predictive models for the SFD conditions of interest, any respective process development still relies on empirical approaches. In this work, we propose an improved modeling framework to describe the fast freezing (<1 s) that sub-millimeter droplets undergo in the present SFD process. The modeled freezing rate accounts for both the kinetics of ice growth and droplet heat transfer mechanisms. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experiments on bulk spray-freezing are combined to refine and validate the proposed reduced-order model. While this study is limited to water-sucrose solutions, the present modeling approach can be extended to other pharmaceutical excipients. For the cooling rates of interest, model results indicate that droplets with initial sucrose concentration higher than 20% w/w will transit to a glassy state before completion of crystallization and, consequently, devitrification is expected during post spray-freezing manipulation of the bulk material. In practice, such compact model does not only allow quantification of process parameters that cannot be measured in real time but also enable the choice of optimal spraying conditions for production of free-flowing, high-quality frozen droplets that meet the target product profile.

Studies were carried out to find how left-ventricular length and length/diameter ratio relate to body size and degree of dilation. By use of M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, diastolic cavity long axis (Led), diastolic cavity diameter (Ded), systolic cavity long axis (Les), systolic cavity diameter (Des), fractional L shortening (SFL), and fractional D shortening (SFD) were measured in children, adolescents, and young adults between two and 23 years of age, with body-surface area (BSA) between 0.5 and 2.1 m2 and with a variety of volume loads and SFD values. In normal subjects, Led/Ded was about 1.9. Regardless of age and pathology (in this age range), Led correlated consistently with BSA (Led = 3.9 + 3.2 BSA), indicating that the long axis changes rather little with pathological dilation. A plot of Led/Ded vs BSA/D2ed (in m2/cm2) formed a straight-line relation: Led/Ded = 0.77 + 16.4 BSA/D2ed. Similar relations were found for end-systolic dimensions. End-systolic L/D ratio exceeded end-diastolic L/D ratio to a degree that depended on both end-diastolic L/D ratio and SFD:Les/Des = Led/Ded + (0.22 + 2.67 Led/Ded)(SFD)2. Relations like these may be useful in the interpretation of echocardiographic images. The results suggest that left-ventricular L/D ratio may be influenced by myocardial anisotropy (dominance of hoop over meridional fiber orientation tending to promote prolate shape especially during systole) and external factors that antagonize extension of the long axis.

Right ventricular (RV) function has prognostic value in acute, chronic and peri-operative disease, although the complex RV contractile pattern makes rapid assessment difficult. Several two-dimensional (2D) regional measures estimate RV function, however the optimal measure is not known. High-resolution three-dimensional (3D) cardiac magnetic resonance cine imaging was acquired in 300 healthy volunteers and a computational model of RV motion created. Points where regional function was significantly associated with global function were identified and a 2D, optimised single-point marker (SPM-O) of global function developed. This marker was prospectively compared with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), septum-freewall displacement (SFD) and their fractional change (TAPSE-F, SFD-F) in a test cohort of 300 patients in the prediction of RV ejection fraction. RV ejection fraction was significantly associated with systolic function in a contiguous 7.3 cm2 patch of the basal RV freewall combining transverse (38%), longitudinal (35%) and circumferential (27%) contraction and coinciding with the four-chamber view. In the test cohort, all single-point surrogates correlated with RV ejection fraction (p < 0.010), but correlation (R) was higher for SPM-O (R = 0.44, p < 0.001) than TAPSE (R = 0.24, p < 0.001) and SFD (R = 0.22, p < 0.001), and non-significantly higher than TAPSE-F (R = 0.40, p < 0.001) and SFD-F (R = 0.43, p < 0.001). SPM-O explained more of the observed variance in RV ejection fraction (19%) and predicted it more accurately than any other 2D marker (median error 2.8 ml vs 3.6 ml, p < 0.001). We conclude that systolic motion of the basal RV freewall predicts global function more accurately than other 2D estimators. However, no markers summarise 3D contractile patterns, limiting their predictive accuracy.

In process analytical technology (PAT) based on near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, wavenumber selection is crucial to develop an accurate and robust calibration model. The present research proposes new efficient spectral dividing and wavenumber selection methods to significantly reduce the computational load required by conventional wavenumber selection methods such as interval partial least squares (iPLS). The proposed method, named spectral fluctuation dividing (SFD), divides a whole spectrum into multiple spectral intervals at local minimum points of the spectral fluctuation profile, which consists of the standard deviation of absorbance at each wavenumber in a calibration set. SFD is combined with PLS (SFD-PLS) to select the spectral intervals at which input variables have significant influence on a target response. The usefulness of SFD-PLS was demonstrated through its application to the problems of estimating water and drug content in granules. PLS models based on SFD-PLS achieved higher estimation accuracy than those based on conventional methods including iPLS, PLS-beta, and variable influence on projection (VIP). In addition, SFD-PLS was more than 10 times faster than the conventional variable selection methods including PLS-beta and VIP; in particular, SFD-PLS was more than 25 times faster than iPLS. Consequently, the proposed SFD-PLS is a promising wavenumber selection method.

OBJECTIVE

To model and validate, in a Pinnacle treatment planning system, a Brainlab micromultileaf collimator mounted on a Primus Siemens accelerator. The objective is to take advantage of the collapsed cone convolution algorithm and the ability of this system modelling rounded leaf- end MLC's.

METHODS

The micro multileaf collimator was modelled using fixed accelerator jaws with a value of 9.2×9.2 cm2 . Profiles and depth dose curves for a wide range of square fields at SSD of 100 cm and depths of 1.5,5,10 and 20 cm were measured using a Scanditronix stereotactic SFD diode. Output factors were measured using a stereotactic unshielded diode for field sizes from 0.6×0.6 cm2 to 3×3 cm2 . For wider fields a Scanditronix ic15 ionization chamber was used. EDR2 films were used to measure adjacent fields in the transverse and longitudinal direction. The film measurements were compared to Pinnacle calculations to model and validate the leaf tip radius, leaf offset calibration values and tongue and groove width.

RESULTS

Pinnacle calculations and measurements agree within 2% or 2mm except for the tails of largest fields where differences are <3.5%. Comparison of film measurements and Pinnacle calculations give the optimal value for leaf tip radius of 15 cm and for tongue and groove width of 0.04 cm.

CONCLUSIONS

Pinnacle models a Brainlab micromultileaf collimator mounted on a Siemens Primus accelerator with acceptable results for clinical treatments.

OBJECTIVE

Small field is being commonly used in radiosurgery and IMRT, however dosimetry is challenging due to source size, electronic disequilibrium and detector size. Correction factor, K, has been published for a limited set of detectors and beam energies. Validity of K for several detectors is investigated. Also extrapolation ion chamber could be used using reciprocity theorem for small fields which is attempted in this study.

METHODS

Various small volume detectors: IBA SFD, PTW TN60012 diode, and PTW Pinpoint N31006, Standard Imaging A16, along with Nuclear Associate N2339IT extrapolation chamber were used to measure output of square fields from 1×1 to 10×10 cm2 for Varian 6 and 16 MV beams. Measurements were made in a water phantom at 1.5cm depth for 6MV photon and 3.0cm depth for 15MV photon with SSD 100cm. Extrapolation chamber was used in solid water. Published correction factors (Francescon et al, MP, 2011)1, K were used for the detectors used in this study. The K value was derived for extrapolation chamber by modeling based on the difference between its detector output and the average output factor from the diodes and pinpoints.

RESULTS

The variation in output as measured from different detector is significant (±7.0%) for field sizes = 3×3 cm2 and converges after large field sizes for both energies. The output factor for the extrapolation chamber was out of range from diodes/pinpoints in both 6MV and 16 MV beams. After applying detector K, the field size factors agree each other within ±2.2% for all field sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

The value of K provides reasonably good data for field factors irrespective of detector and the field factors can be matched within 2.2%. A mathematical function for extrapolation chamber also provides field factors comparable to the other detectors.

Data on 293 small-for-dates (SFD), 274 average-for-dates (AFD) and 338 large-for-dates (LFD) pregnancies are analyzed. 60.7% mothers in the SFD group smoked compared with AFD 29.2% and LFD 15.7%. Mean maternal height, weight and weight gain was lowest in the SFD group and highest in the LFD group. The mean weight-for-height index was the same in the SFD and AFD groups and higher in the LFD group. Within each group no differences were found between smokers and non-smokers for height, weight and weight-for-height indices. In the AFD group net pregnancy weight gain was higher for smokers than non-smokers. Feto-placental ratios were similar in all three groups and no differences were found between smokers and non-smokers. More infarcted placentas were found in the SFD group, but the proportions for smokers and non-smokers were alike. The incidence of bleeding during pregnancy and pre-eclampsia was the same for all groups, and between smokers and non-smokers. Hypertension during pregnancy occurred more often in the SFD group, and was more prevalent amongst non-smokers than smokers. The reduction in birthweight of infants born to smoking mothers appear to be a direct effect.

It is well-known that SFD babies are born of the mothers who had toxemia of pregnancy in many cases. Recently we examined the relation of hemocoagulatological changes in mothers with toxemia to the birth weight of their babies with the intention of investigating the cause of development of SFD babies and obtained some information as follows: 1. The pregnant women with toxemia were significantly lower (p less than 0.01) in platelet count, fibrinogen content, and serum factor XIII value, significantly longer (p less than 0.01) in bleeding time, and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in serum-urine FDP, platelet ADP aggregation and platelet spreadability than the normal pregnant women. 2. As for the relation of these changes to the birth weight, the value obtained in the SFD baby and that obtained in the AFD baby group were 5.8 +/- 1.5 and 4.5 +/- 1.3 in bleeding time (min), 20.4 +/- 3.17 and 23.4 +/- 4.21 in platelet count x 10(4)/mm3), 296.5 +/- 58.5 and 346.8 +/- 50.4 in fibrinogen content (mg/dl), 1.3 +/- 0.80 and 0.6 +/- 0.63 in urine FDP (microgram/ml), respectively, and the difference between both groups was significant (p less than 0.05) in each of these parameters. The results stated above suggested that toxemia of pregnancy assumed as aspect of chronic DIC and this tendency was stronger in the SFD baby group. From these facts it is considered that a state of chronic DIC in toxemia of pregnancy may be a cause of disturbance in the development of the fetus.

Of 104 cases, 38 (ie, 36.53%) experienced premature delivery (controls: 4.32%). In instances of threatened premature delivery, 28 cases (26.92%) underwent ligation of the cervix. EPH gestosis occurred in 62 cases--a high incidence rate of 59.61% (controls: 12.9%). Forty-nine cases (47.11%) were complicated by anemia (controls: 8.36%). There were 57 cases of SFD infants, again a high 27.40% incidence rate (controls: 5.94%). Apgar scores of 7 or less at 1 minute after birth indicated that of the 208 neonates, the second-born twin only in 20 cases (9.61%); both infants in 14 cases (6.73%); and, the first-born only in 3 cases (1.44%), developed asphyxia neonatorum. Given the high incidence of premature and immature infants in cases of twins, caution should be employed against threatened premature delivery from around the 28th week of gestation onwards. Ligation of the cervix with ritodrine administration should be performed following admission to hospital, and EPH gestosis, anemia and IUGR should be carefully monitored.

To study the regularities in the spread of drug-resistant HIV-1 strains among HIV-infected patients in the Southern Federal District (SFD), the HIV-1 pol gene site encoded for reverse transcriptase was sequenced in the samples taken from 22 HIV-infected SFD patients who received or did not receive antiretroviral therapy (ARVT). Analysis of the primary sequences of the HIV-1 pol gene in SFD patients untreated with antiviral agents revealed the absence of both primary and secondary mutations of resistance to a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). The group of patients receiving antiviral treatment was found to have different drug resistance mutations in the HIV-1 pol gene: K70R, M184V, K219Q, T215Y/F, L74V, etc. Moreover, the patients on ARVT had higher CD4 T lymphocyte levels and higher immunoregulatory index in the presence of significantly lower HIV replication than the untreated patients. The authors make recommendations how to study HIV resistance in patients who are to be treated and are receiving ARVT and advise to monitor the spread of drug-resistant HIV strains in the SFD.

Unequal access to health promotion resources and early prevention services is a major determinant of health inequity among youth. Initiatives that improve the access to and adoption of health promotion messages are important undertakings, e.g., sport. Sport-for-development (SFD) programs are seen as valuable delivery tools, in which coaches are used as change agents to increase health awareness and behavior among at-risk youth. The delivery of such messages requires specific knowledge and skills that can be attained through training; however, the effectiveness of such training requires assessment. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of such a training program for SFD coaches using process evaluation from a realist perspective, and views from multiple stakeholders, among other sources. We also clarified the inner workings of the training and investigated how context shaped the training outcomes. Increased health awareness and a sense of responsibility from acting as a role model for at-risk youth were among the perceived training outcomes. Building a safe environment for learning, engagement, and bonds of trust increased the confidence to learn, and resulted in a sense of critical self-reflection and self-development of SFD coaches towards health and prevention messages. Importantly, the unique situations (or context) of SFD coaches and SFD in general presented challenging variables, e.g., a precarious life history or living conditions, mental health issues, or low educational skills, that hampered the impact of the mechanisms put in place by the training. Here, we present a process in which the development of the 'right mind-set,' engagement and bonds of trust, in combination with the right settings are key elements for SFD coaches to learn how to convey health-promoting messages and take responsibility as role models for at-risk youth.

Spectrophotometric methods are proposed for the determination of drugs containing a phenol group [salbutamol sulphate (SLB), ritodrine hydrochloride (RTD), isoxsuprine hydrochloride (IXP)] and drugs containing an aromatic amine group [dapsone hydrochloride (DAP), sulfamethoxazole (SFM), and sulfadiazine (SFD)] in pharmaceutical dosage forms. The methods are based on coupling of N, N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulphate with the drugs in the presence of KIO4 to give a green colored product (λmax at 670 nm) and a red colored product (λmax at 550 nm), respectively. Linear relationships with good correlation coefficients (0.9986-0.9996) were found between absorbance and the corresponding concentration of drugs in the range 1-7, 2-22, 1-17, 1.5-12, 2-25, and 2-21 μg mL-1 for SLB, RTD, IXP, DAP, SFM and SFD, respectively. Variable parameters such as temperature, reaction time and concentration of the reactants have been analyzed and optimized. The RSD of intra-day and inter-day studies was in the range of 0.2-1.0 and 0.4-1.0%, respectively. No interference was observed from common pharmaceutical adjuvants. The reliability and performance of the proposed methods was validated statistically; the percentage recovery ranged from 99.5 ± 0.1 to 99.9 ± 0.3%. Limits of detection were 0.14, 0.21, 0.51, 0.44, 0.33 and 0.37 μg mL-1 for SLB, RTD, IXP, DAP, SFM, and SFD, respectively.

IGF-I/SMC shows mitogenic activities in a wide variety of cell types and stimulates cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Unlike most other peptide hormones, IGF-I/SMC circulates in the plasma as macromolecular complexes with specific plasma binding proteins, approximate molecular weight of 150K and 40K daltons. In order to elucidate the roles of IGF-I/SMC for fetal and postnatal development, the levels of plasma IGF-I/SMC, distribution of circulating IGF-I/SMC on its binding proteins, and profiles of unsaturated somatomedin binding proteins (USBP) were estimated in newborns and a growth-retarded infant (leprechaunism). The concentrations of IGF-I/SMC in cord plasma increased gradually after the 28th week of gestation and reached 37.3 +/- 14.6 ng/ml (Mean +/- S.D.) in full term infants. Although the levels of IGF-I/SMC in cord plasma were significantly lower than those in non-pregnant women (188 +/- 58), they showed a positive correlation with birth weight and relative birth weight (R.B.W.: percentage comparison to the average birth weight of normal infants in the same gestational week). In adult plasma, immunoreactive IGF-I/SMC was eluted predominantly in 150K dalton region (73.5%) and to a lesser extent (26.5%) in 40K dalton, and two apparent peaks of USBP could also be determined in both 150K and 40K dalton regions. On the other hand, in fetal plasma 84.4% of immunoreactive IGF-I/SMC was eluted in 40K region on the 20th week, but on the 26th week, 71.6% of IGF-I/SMC was eluted in 150K region and after the 35th week, more than 70% of IGF-I/SMC was determined in 150K region as observed in adult plasma. However, 150K.USBP could not be detected in cord plasma obtained from appropriate-for-date(AFD) infants until after the 35th week of gestation. Additionally, a positive correlation was demonstrated between 150K.USBP/40K.USBP ratio and birth weight. Some cases of small-for-date(SFD) infants whose IGF-I/SMC circulated mainly as 150K complex could catch up on their growth early in postnatal life. However, in the SFD newborns, if either 150K.USBP or 150Kcomplex of IGF-I/SMC could not be detected, their growth spurt was remarkably delayed until a year after birth. Furthermore, the similar disorders of IGF-I/SMC distribution and its USBP profile were also observed in the case of leprechaunism, who showed severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Shenfu decoction (SFD) prepared with a traditional Chinese formula, on sepsis in rats with the condition induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and to study the possible mechanism underlying its action.

Methods: Forty clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into three groups: normal control group (NCG, n = 10), model control group (MCG, n = 15) and Shenfu decoction group (SFDG, n = 15). Sham-operated rats in NCG were served as operation control, while rats in both MCG and SFDG were exposed to CLP, a procedure to develop experimental sepsis. Rats in SFDG were administered with SFD by gavage (3 mg/g of body weight, twice a day) 2 h prior to CLP and directly after successful CLP, while rats in NCG and MCG were gavaged with equivalent volume of sterilized water. Rats in all groups were starved with free access to drink. After 24 h of administration, the mortality of rats in each group was assessed. The indicators of inflammatory response [the peritoneal inflammation by Simon's method Classification as well as serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] in survival rats were evaluated. The indicators of gut barrier [The intestinal mucosal injury index, serum concentrations of D-lactic acid and secretory IgA (sIgA) in intestinal mucosa by ELISA, as well as gut microbiota by16S rRNA gene sequencing] in survival rats were evaluated.

Results: The mortality (20%) of rats in SFDG was lower than that (33.3%) of the MCG (P < 0.01). The mortality (20%) of rats in SFDG was lower than that (33.3%) of the MCG (χ2 = 6.533, P = 0.011). Compared with the MCG,the peritoneal inflammation as well as serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 decreased significantly in SFDG (all P < 0.01). Compared with the MCG, the IMII, serum concentrations of D-lactic acid, sIgA in intestinal mucosa were alleviated by SFD treatment (all P < 0.01). Increase in levels of Proteobacteria and reduction levels of Bacteroidetes induced by sepsis were observed, and these two disturbed gut microbiota phyla could be regulated after SFD treatment. Increase in levels of Proteobacteria and reduction levels of Bacteroidetes induced by sepsis were observed, and these two disturbed gut microbiota phyla could be regulated after SFD treatment.

Conclusion: SFD may play a protective role in sepsis by alleviating sepsis-induced inflammatory response and gut barrier damage in rats.

Keywords: Gut barrier; Inflammation; Puncture; Sepsi; Shenfu decoction.

OBJECTIVE

This work presents the experimental extraction of the perturbation factor in megavoltage electron beams for three models of silicon diodes (IBA Dosimetry, EFD and SFD, and the PTW 60012 unshielded) using a plastic scintillation detector (PSD).

METHODS

The authors used a single scanning PSD mounted on a high-precision scanning tank to measure depth-dose curves in 6-, 12-, and 18-MeV clinical electron beams. They also measured depth-dose curves using the IBA Dosimetry, EFD and SFD, and the PTW 60012 unshielded diodes. The authors used the depth-dose curves measured with the PSD as a perturbation-free reference to extract the perturbation factors of the diodes.

RESULTS

The authors found that the perturbation factors for the diodes increased substantially with depth, especially for low-energy electron beams. The experimental results show the same trend as published Monte Carlo simulation results for the EFD diode; however, the perturbations measured experimentally were greater. They found that using an effective point of measurement (EPOM) placed slightly away from the source reduced the variation of perturbation factors with depth and that the optimal EPOM appears to be energy dependent.

CONCLUSIONS

The manufacturer recommended EPOM appears to be incorrect at low electron energy (6 MeV). In addition, the perturbation factors for diodes may be greater than predicted by Monte Carlo simulations.