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This study investigates the sensitivity of two brightness temperature differences (BTDs) in the infrared (IR) window of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) to various cloud parameters in order to understand their information content, with a focus on cloud thermodynamic phase. To this end, this study presents radiative transfer calculations, providing an overview of the relative importance of all radiatively relevant cloud parameters, including thermodynamic phase, cloud-top temperature (CTT), optical thickness (τ), effective radius (Reff), and ice crystal habit. By disentangling the roles of cloud absorption and scattering, we are able to explain the relationships of the BTDs to the cloud parameters through spectral differences in the cloud optical properties. In addition, an effect due to the nonlinear transformation from radiances to brightness temperatures contributes to the specific characteristics of the BTDs and their dependence on τ and CTT. We find that the dependence of the BTDs on phase is more complex than sometimes assumed. Although both BTDs are directly sensitive to phase, this sensitivity is comparatively small in contrast to other cloud parameters. Instead, the primary link between phase and the BTDs lies in their sensitivity to CTT (or more generally the surface–cloud temperature contrast), which is associated with phase. One consequence is that distinguishing high ice clouds from low liquid clouds is straightforward, but distinguishing mid-level ice clouds from mid-level liquid clouds is challenging. These findings help to better understand and improve the working principles of phase retrieval algorithms.

Global warming is amplified in the Arctic. However, numerical models struggle to represent key processes that determine Arctic weather and climate. To collect data that help to constrain the models, the HALO–(𝒜𝒞)3 aircraft campaign was conducted over the Norwegian and Greenland seas, the Fram Strait, and the central Arctic Ocean in March and April 2022. The campaign focused on one specific challenge posed by the models, namely the reasonable representation of transformations of air masses during their meridional transport into and out of the Arctic via northward moist- and warm-air intrusions (WAIs) and southward marine cold-air outbreaks (CAOs). Observations were made over areas of open ocean, the marginal sea ice zone, and the central Arctic sea ice. Two low-flying and one long-range, high-altitude research aircraft were flown in colocated formation whenever possible. To follow the air mass transformations, a quasi-Lagrangian flight strategy using trajectory calculations was realized, enabling us to sample the same moving-air parcels twice along their trajectories. Seven distinct WAI and 12 CAO cases were probed. From the quasi-Lagrangian measurements, we have quantified the diabatic heating/cooling and moistening/drying of the transported air masses. During CAOs, maximum values of 3 K h−1 warming and 0.3 g kg−1 h−1 moistening were obtained below 1 km altitude. From the observations of WAIs, diabatic cooling rates of up to 0.4 K h−1 and a moisture loss of up to 0.1 g kg−1 h−1 from the ground to about 5.5 km altitude were derived. Furthermore, the development of cloud macrophysical (cloud-top height and horizontal cloud cover) and microphysical (liquid water path, precipitation, and ice index) properties along the southward pathways of the air masses were documented during CAOs, and the moisture budget during a specific WAI event was estimated. In addition, we discuss the statistical frequency of occurrence of the different thermodynamic phases of Arctic low-level clouds, the interaction of Arctic cirrus clouds with sea ice and water vapor, and the characteristics of microphysical and chemical properties of Arctic aerosol particles. Finally, we provide a proof of concept to measure mesoscale divergence and subsidence in the Arctic using data from dropsondes released during the flights.

How air masses transform during meridional transport into and out of the Arctic is not well represented by numerical models. The airborne field campaign HALO-(𝒜𝒞)3 applied the High Altitude and Long-range Research Aircraft (HALO) within the framework of the collaborative research project on Arctic amplification (𝒜𝒞)3 to address this question by providing a comprehensive observational basis. The campaign took place from 7 March to 12 April 2022 in the North Atlantic sector of the Arctic, a main gateway of atmospheric transport into and out of the Arctic. Here, we investigate to which degree the meteorological and sea ice conditions during the campaign align with the long-term climatology (1979–2022). For this purpose, we use the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis v5 (ERA5), satellite data, and measurements at Ny-Ålesund, including atmospheric soundings. The observations and reanalysis data revealed two distinct periods with different weather conditions during HALO-(𝒜𝒞)3: the campaign started with a warm period (11–20 March 2022) where strong southerly winds prevailed that caused poleward transport of warm and moist air masses, so-called moist and warm air intrusions (WAIs). Two WAI events were identified as atmospheric rivers (ARs), which are narrow bands of strong moisture transport. These warm and moist air masses caused the highest measured 2 m temperatures (5.5 °C) and daily precipitation rates (42 mm d−1) at Ny-Ålesund for March since the beginning of the record (1993). Over the sea ice northwest of Svalbard, ERA5 indicated record-breaking rainfall. After the passage of a strong cyclone on 21 March 2022, a cold period followed. Northerly winds advected cold air into the Fram Strait, causing marine cold air outbreaks (MCAOs) until the end of the campaign. This second phase included one of the longest MCAO events found in the ERA5 record (19 d). On average, the entire campaign period was warmer than the climatological mean due to the strong influence of the ARs. In the Fram Strait, the sea ice concentration was well within the climatological variability over the entire campaign duration. However, during the warm period, a large polynya opened northeast of Svalbard, untypical for this season. Compared to previous airborne field campaigns focusing on the evolution of (mixed-phase) clouds, a larger variety of MCAO conditions was observed during HALO-(𝒜𝒞)3. In summary, air mass transport into and out of the Arctic was more pronounced than usual, providing exciting prospects for studying air mass transformation using HALO-(𝒜𝒞)3.

A comprehensive understanding of the cloud thermodynamic phase is crucial for assessing the cloud radiative effect and is a prerequisite for remote sensing retrievals of microphysical cloud properties. While previous algorithms mainly detected ice and liquid phases, there is now a growing awareness for the need to further distinguish between warm liquid, supercooled and mixed-phase clouds. To address this need, we introduce a novel method named ProPS (PRObabilistic cloud top Phase retrieval for SEVIRI), which enables cloud detection and the determination of cloud-top phase using SEVIRI (Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager), the geostationary passive imager aboard Meteosat Second Generation. ProPS discriminates between clear sky, optically thin ice (TI) cloud, optically thick ice (IC) cloud, mixed-phase (MP) cloud, supercooled liquid (SC) cloud and warm liquid (LQ) cloud. Our method uses a Bayesian approach based on the cloud mask and cloud phase from the lidar–radar cloud product DARDAR (liDAR/raDAR). The validation of ProPS using 6 months of independent DARDAR data shows promising results: the daytime algorithm successfully detects 93 % of clouds and 86 % of clear-sky pixels. In addition, for phase determination, ProPS accurately classifies 91 % of IC, 78 % of TI, 52 % of MP, 58 % of SC and 86 % of LQ clouds, providing a significant improvement in accurate cloud-top phase discrimination compared to traditional retrieval methods.

The accuracy of reaction theories used to extract properties of exotic nuclei from scattering experiments is often unknown or not quantified, but of utmost importance when, e.g., constraining the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter from observables as the neutron-skin thickness. In order to test the Glauber multiple-scattering model, the total interaction cross section of Image 1 on carbon targets was measured at initial beam energies of 400, 550, 650, 800, and 1000 MeV/nucleon. The measurements were performed during the first experiment of the newly constructed R3B (Reaction with Relativistic Radioactive Beams) experiment after the start of FAIR Phase-0 at the GSI/FAIR facility with beam energies of 400, 550, 650, 800, and 1000 MeV/nucleon. The combination of the large-acceptance dipole magnet GLAD and a newly designed and highly efficient Time-of-Flight detector enabled a precise transmission measurement with several target thicknesses for each initial beam energy with an experimental uncertainty of ±0.4%. A comparison with the Glauber model revealed a discrepancy of around 3.1% at higher beam energies, which will serve as a crucial baseline for the model-dependent uncertainty in future fragmentation experiments.

This work aims to investigate the temporal stability and reliability of trends in air–sea heat fluxes from ERA5 forecasts over the North Atlantic basin for the period 1950–2019. Driving forces of the trends are investigated using analyzed state quantities from ERA5. Estimating trends from reanalysis data can be challenging as changes in the observing system may introduce temporal inconsistencies. To this end, the impact of analysis increments is discussed. For individual sub-regions in the North Atlantic basin, parametrization formulas for latent and sensible heat fluxes are linearized to quantitatively attribute trends to long-term changes in wind speed, moisture, and temperature. Our results suggest good temporal stability and reliability of air–sea heat fluxes from ERA5 forecasts on sub-basin scales and below. Regional averages show that trends are largely driven by changes in the skin temperature and atmospheric advection (e.g., of warmer or drier air masses). The influence of modes of climate variability, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, on the patterns found is discussed as well. Results indicate a significant impact on trends in the Irminger and Labrador seas associated with more positive NAO phases during the past 4 decades. Finally, we use basin-wide trends of air–sea heat fluxes in combination with an observational ocean heat content estimate to provide an energy-budget-based trend estimate of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). A decrease in area-averaged air–sea heat fluxes in the North Atlantic basin suggests a decline in the AMOC over the study period. However, basin-wide flux trends are deemed partially artificial, as indicated by temporally varying moisture increments. Thus, the exact magnitude of change is uncertain, but its sign appears robust and adds complementary evidence that the AMOC has weakened over the past 70 years.

Detailed γ-ray spectroscopy of the exotic neon isotope 28Ne has been performed for the first time using the one-neutron removal reaction from 29Ne on a liquid hydrogen target at 240 MeV/nucleon. Based on an analysis of parallel momentum distributions, a level scheme with spin-parity assignments has been constructed for 28Ne and the negative-parity states are identified for the first time. The measured partial cross sections and momentum distributions reveal a significant intruder p-wave strength providing evidence of the breakdown of the N=20 and N=28 shell gaps. Only a weak, possible f-wave strength was observed to bound final states. Large-scale shell-model calculations with different effective interactions do not reproduce the large p-wave and small f-wave strength observed experimentally, indicating an ongoing challenge for a complete theoretical description of the transition into the island of inversion along the Ne isotopic chain.

Soil contamination by trace elements (TEs) is a major concern for sustainable land management. A potential source of excessive inputs of TEs into agricultural soils are organic amendments. Here, we used dynamic simulations carried out with the Intermediate Dynamic Model for Metals (IDMM) to describe the observed trends of topsoil Zn (zinc), Cu (copper), Pb (lead) and Cd (cadmium) concentrations in a long-term (>60-year) crop trial in Switzerland, where soil plots have been treated with different organic amendments (farmyard manure, sewage sludge and compost). The observed ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA)-extractable concentrations ranged between 2.6 and 27.1 mg kg−1 for Zn, 4.9 and 29.0 mg kg−1 for Cu, 6.1–26.2 mg kg−1 for Pb, and 0.08 and 0.66 mg kg−1 for Cd. Metal input rates were initially estimated based on literature data. An additional, calibrated metal flux, tentatively attributed to mineral weathering, was necessary to fit the observed data. Dissolved organic carbon fluxes were estimated using a soil organic carbon model. The model adequately reproduced the EDTA-extractable (labile) concentrations when input rates were optimised and soil lateral mixing was invoked to account for the edge effect of mechanically ploughing the trial plots. The global average root mean square error (RMSE) was 2.7, and the average bias (overestimation) was −1.66, −2.18, −4.34 and −0.05 mg kg−1 for Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively. The calibrated model was used to project the long-term metal trends in field conditions (without soil lateral mixing), under stable climate and management practices, with soil organic carbon estimated by modelling and assumed trends in soil pH. Labile metal concentrations to 2100 were largely projected to remain near constant or to decline, except for some metals in plots receiving compost. Ecotoxicological thresholds (critical limits) were predicted to be exceeded presently under sewage sludge inputs and to remain so until 2100. Ecological risks were largely not indicated in the other plots, although some minor exceedances of critical limits were projected to occur for Zn before 2100. This study advances our understanding of TEs' long-term dynamics in agricultural fields, paving the way to quantitative applications of modelling at field scales.

Introduction Female gender is associated with a lower risk for aggressive behaviour and violent offending. Well established risk factors for aggressive behaviour are alcohol and other substance use, but previous studies focused mainly on male offenders and the general population. However, for therapeutic and prognostic reasons it is important to understand pathways to female offending. Objectives To examine a sample of female forensic-psychiatric inpatients regarding the association of alcohol (AUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) with violent offending (homicide, assault, robbery). Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 334 female patients discharged before 01.01.2019 from a secure psychiatric hospital in Germany. Results In total, 72% of the patients with AUD committed a violent crime, leading to admission to secure psychiatric treatment. In comparison a statistically significant lower rate (19%) of the SUD group was convicted of violent offending. Over 70% of the participants with AUD had a family history of AUD, and over 83% experienced physical violence in adulthood. We found no group differences (AUD vs. SUD) regarding aggressive behaviour during inpatient treatment. Conclusions According to our results, AUD compared to other SUD, is a significant risk factor for violent offending in women. A family background with AUD and a history of physical abuse might function as a risk factor for both: developing an AUD and violent offending. The comparable rates of aggression in both groups during inpatient treatment suggest that abstinence is a protective factor. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Residual stress is a considerable challenge in welding. Due to the local heat input high temperature gradients occur between weld seam and base material, which lead to thermal and transformation induced stress. With targeted alloying in the weld seam the martensitic phase transformation can be shifted to lower temperatures, called Low Transformation Temperature (LTT) effect. This effect uses the volume expansion during the martensitic phase transformation, which counteracts the stress accumulation while cooling of the specimen. In most cases, a flux cored filler wire with a typical alloy composition of 10%-Cr and 10%-Ni is used to exploit the LTT effect. In this paper, however, the aim is to alloy in-situ while combining conventional materials of different types. Combinations of high-alloyed base material (1.4301) with low-alloyed solid filler wire (G3Si1) are analysed. For comparison, similar welds with high-alloyed solid filler wire (G19 9) are also carried out. The chemical compositions are generated within a laser beam welding process and examined by EDS-Analysis. In order to measure the influence of chemical compositions on residual stress, hole drilling measurements are performed. Furthermore, dilatometry tests help to determine the change of phase transformation temperature as well as elongation. EBSD analysis show the changes in phase transformation due to the variation of chemical compositions. It is proven, that a reduction of residual stress by the means of targeted alloying with conventional materials in an austenitic stainless steel is possible.

The microstructure of Mg-Al-Ca alloys consists of a hard intra- and intergranular eutectic Laves phase network embedded in a soft α-Mg matrix. For such heterogeneous microstructures, the mechanical response and co-deformation of both phases under external load are not yet fully understood. We therefore used nano- and microindentation in combination with electron microscopy to study the deformation behaviour of an Mg-3.68Al-3.8Ca alloy.We found that the hardness of the Mg2Ca phase was significantly larger than the α-Mg phase and stays constant within the measured temperature range. The strain rate sensitivity of the softer α-Mg phase and of the interfaces increased while activation volume decreased with temperature. The creep deformation of the Mg2Ca Laves phase was significantly lower than the α-Mg phase at 170 °C. Moreover, the deformation zone around and below microindents was dependant on the matrix orientation and was influenced by the presence of Laves phases. Most importantly, slip transfer from the α-Mg phase to the (Mg,Al)2Ca Laves phase occurred, carried by the basal planes. Based on the observed orientation relationship and active slip systems, a slip transfer mechanism from the soft α-Mg phase to the hard Laves phase is proposed. Further, we present implications for future alloy design strategies.

Abstract Background Evaluation and monitoring methods are often unable to identify crucial elements of success or failure of integrated community-wide approaches aiming to tackle childhood overweight and obesity, yet difficult to determine in complex programmes. Therefore, we aimed to systematically appraise strengths and weaknesses of such programmes and to assess the usefulness of the appraisal tools used. Methods To identify strengths and weaknesses of the integrated community-based approaches two tools were used: the Good Practice Appraisal tool for obesity prevention programmes, projects, initiatives and intervention (GPAT), a self-administered questionnaire developed by the WHO; and the OPEN tool, a structured list of questions based on the EPODE theory, to assist face-to-face interviews with the principle programme coordinators. The strengths and weaknesses of these tools were assessed with regard to practicalities, quality of acquired data and the appraisal process, criteria and scoring. Results Several strengths and weaknesses were identified in all the assessed integrated community-based approaches, different for each of them. The GPAT provided information mostly on intervention elements whereas through the OPEN tool information on both the programme and intervention levels were acquired. Conclusion Large variability between integrated community-wide approaches preventing childhood obesity in the European region was identified and therefore each of them has different needs. Both tools used in combination seem to facilitate comprehensive assessment of integrated community-wide approaches in a systematic manner, which is rarely conducted. Nonetheless, the tools should be improved in line to their limitations as recommended in this manuscript.

Abstract MAX-phase Cr2AlC containing thin films were synthesized by magnetron sputtering in an industrial system. Nanometre-scale 3D defects are observed near the boundary between regions of Cr2AlC and of the disordered solid solution (CrAl)xCy. Shrinkage of the Cr-Cr interplanar distance and elongation of the Cr-Al distance in the vicinity of the defects are detected using transmission electron microscopy. The here observed deformation surrounding the defects was described using density functional theory by comparing the DOS of bulk Cr2AlC with the DOS of a strained and unstrained Cr2AlC(0001) surface. From the partial density of states analysis, it can be learned that Cr-C bonds are stronger than Cr-Al bonds in bulk Cr2AlC. Upon Cr2AlC(0001) surface formation, both bonds are weakened. While the Cr-C bonds recover their bulk strength as Cr2AlC(0001) is strained, the Cr-Al bonds experience only a partial recovery, still being weaker than their bulk counterparts. Hence, the strain induced bond strengthening in Cr2AlC(0001) is larger for Cr d – C p bonds than for Cr d – Al p bonds. The here observed changes in bonding due to the formation of a strained surface are consistent with the experimentally observed elongation of the Cr-Al distance in the vicinity of nm-scale 3D defects in Cr2AlC thin films.

A big part in understanding the nucleosynthesis of heavy nuclei is a proper description of the effective interaction between an α-particle and a target nucleus. Information about the so-called α+nucleus optical-model potential is achieved by precise cross-section measurements at sub-Coulomb energies aiming to constrain the theoretical models for the nuclear physics input-parameters. The cross sections of the 108Cd(α,γ) and 108Cd(α,n) reaction have been measured for the first time close to the astrophysically relevant energy region via the in-beam method at the high-efficiency γ-ray spectrometer HORUS and via the activation technique at the Cologne Clover Counting Setup at the Institute for Nuclear Physics in Cologne, Germany. Comparisons between experimental results and theoretical predictions calculated in the scope of the Hauser–Feshbach statistical model confirm the need for a exponentially decreasing imaginary part of the potential. Moreover, it is shown that the results presented here together with already published data indicate that a systematic investigation of the real part of the potential could help to further improve the understanding of reactions involving α-particles.

Because of their controlled nature, the presence of independent replicates, and their known management history, long-term field experiments are key to the understanding of factors controlling soil carbon. Together with isotope measurements, they provide profound insight into soil carbon dynamics. For soil radiocarbon, an important tracer for understanding these dynamics, experimental variability across replicates is usually not accounted for; hence, a relevant source of uncertainty for quantifying turnover rates is missing. Here, for the first time, radiocarbon measurements of five independent field replicates, and for different layers, of soil from the 66-year-old controlled field experiment ZOFE in Zurich, Switzerland, are used to address this issue. 14C variability was the same across three different treatments and for three different soil layers between the surface and 90 cm depths. On average, experimental variability in 14C content was 12 times the analytical error but still, on a relative basis, smaller than variability in soil carbon concentration. Despite a relative homogeneous variability across the field and along the soil profile, the curved nature of the relationship between radiocarbon content and modelled carbon mean residence time implies that the absolute error of calculated soil carbon turnover time increases with soil depth. In our field experiment findings on topsoil carbon turnover variability would, if applied to subsoil, tend to underweight turnover variability even if experimental variability in the subsoil isotope concentration is the same. Together, experimental variability in radiocarbon is an important component in an overall uncertainty assessment of soil carbon turnover.

Partial cross sections of the Y89(p,γ)Zr90 reaction have been measured to investigate the γ-ray strength function in the neutron–magic nucleus 90Zr. For five proton energies between Ep=3.65 MeV and Ep=4.70 MeV, partial cross sections for the population of seven discrete states in 90Zr have been determined by means of in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy. Since these γ-ray transitions are dominantly of E1 character, the present measurement allows an access to the low-lying dipole strength in 90Zr. A γ-ray strength function based on the experimental data could be extracted, which is used to describe the total and partial cross sections of this reaction by Hauser–Feshbach calculations successfully. Significant differences with respect to previously measured strength functions from photoabsorption data point towards deviations from the Brink–Axel hypothesis relating the photo-excitation and de-excitation strength functions. Keywords: γ-ray strength function, Nuclear astrophysics, Pygmy Dipole Resonance, Statistical model, γ-ray spectroscopy, Measured cross sections

For hard-to-survey populations such as ethnic minorities and immigrants, increasing survey response rates is a crucial element of the fieldwork as these populations often show a higher likelihood of not participating compared with the native population. However, no study has so far compared different strategies for mobilisation within this group. Using data from the Immigrant German Election Study II, this experiment systematically compares the effects of home visits and postal reminders for the mobilisation of immigrant-origin non-respondents (i.e. persons classified as being from Turkey or from the former Soviet Union and its successor states) from a randomly drawn sample regarding the likelihood of participation in the first wave, signing up for a multi-wave panel, and taking part in all three panel waves. Multivariate analyses show that those in the treated home-visit group were more likely to take part in all stages of the survey design. Even though costs are higher than conventional postal reminders, home visits might be a useful strategy for cases in which increasing the response rate is an important goal, given a fixed, small number of potential respondents.

Presentacion editorial del presente número

Chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL), incurable by standard treatments, may be potentially cured by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Since CLL affects predominantly older people, there is a need for some low-toxicity conditioning with, on the other hand, strong antileukemic activity. Since there are very encouraging results with busulfan + fludarabine conditionings in myeloid malignancies and since the clinical study with the combination treatment with chlorambucil and fludarabine was stopped prematurely for myelotoxicity, we hypothesized that this chlorambucil + fludarabine combination would have the potential as a good conditioning for high-risk lymphoid malignancies. The aim of this study was to test the chlorambucil + fludarabine combination in vivo (in rats) for toxicity. Male Wistar rats were used in all experiments. First, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of each drug was tested. For fludarabine, doses of 0.75-60 mg/kg/day, and for chlorambucil, doses of 0.15-50 mg/kg/day were used, all administered for five days. Then, the combination treatment was tested: (1) fludarabine and chlorambucil simultaneously (F+CH), (2) fludarabine followed by chlorambucil (F-CH), (3) chlorambucil followed by fludarabine (CH-F); all drugs were administered for five days. For fludarabine alone, the MTD was not reached. Clinically, the rats tolerated well even the highest doses. Moreover, no myelotoxicity was seen. However, pneumotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and gastrointestinal toxicity were found by a histological examination. For chlorambucil alone, the MTD is about 40-50 mg/kg/day. Pneumotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, gastrointestinal toxicity, and myelotoxicity were observed. The combination treatment tested a fixed dose of fludarabine (3 mg/kg per day) and three doses of chlorambucil (1, 2, and 4 mg/kg/day). Clinically, the best tolerated combination was fludarabine followed by chlorambucil (F-CH). Haematological toxicity was observed, usually affecting predominantly lymphocytes, and interestingly, it was most pronounced in the clinically best tolerated regimen. Rats can tolerate extremely high doses of fludarabine and chlorambucil. Based on these experiments, for further development, hopefully into the clinical usage, we could recommend the administration of fludarabine, followed by chlorambucil. This combination will further be tested together with monoclonal antibodies and total lymphoid irradiation as a conditioning regimen for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Tyrimo tikslas Palyginti krūtį tausojančias operacijas: periareolinę naviką adaptuojančią mastopeksiją su įprasta pusmėnuline segmentektomija, nustatyti ypatumus, metodų pranašumus ir trūkumus, pasirenkant kurį nors operacijos metodą. Tyrimo metodai Atlikta retrospektyvioji analizė pacienčių, operuotų „Ammerland“ klinikų Krūties centre Vesterštėdėje (Vokietija) 2008–2009 m. dėl pirminio krūties vėžio, atliekant pusmėnulinę segmentektomiją (n = 136) bei periareolinę naviką adaptuojančią mastopeksiją (n = 131). Abiejų operacijų metodikos buvo nagrinėjamos atsižvelgiant į įvairius kriterijus: naviko ir krūties dydį, kūno masės indeksą, rezektato svorį ir kitus. Duomenys nagrinėti naudojant Stjudento t bei chi kvadrato (χ2) testus, Pearsono koreliaciją ir Kendallo tau-b (r), kai p < 0,05. Rezultatai Pašalinto audinio svoris (36,96 g ± 20,68 vs. 53,13 g ± 33,03, p = 0,0001, p < 0,05) ir naviko skerspjūvis (17,63 mm ± 11,94 vs. 25,77 mm ± 17,25, p = 0,0001, p < 0,05) buvo didesni pacienčių, kurioms buvo atlikta naviką adaptuojanti mastopeksija. Mažesnes krūtis turinčios moterys buvo dažniau operuojamos naudojant mastopeksijos metodiką, p = 0,008, p < 0,05. Pakartotinių operacijų skaičius (apie 30 %, p = 0,351) ir naviko atstumas iki rezektato kraštų abiejose grupėse nesiskyrė (segmentektomija – 5,52 mm ± 2,59, mastopeksija – 5,88 mm ± 2,87, p = 0,377). Operacijos laikas buvo 1,7 karto ilgesnis mastopeksijos grupėje (113,4 min. ± 29,42 vs. 67,61 min. ± 26, p = 0,001, p < 0,05). Komplikacijų skaičius abiejų operacijų grupėse nesiskyrė, p = 0,34. Išvada Taikant naviką adaptuojančių periareoliarinės mastopeksijos operacijų metodiką, galima pašalinti didesnius navikus nei įprastos pusmėnulinės segmentektomijos būdu. Mastopeksija taip pat gali būti taikoma moterims, turinčioms mažesnį kūno masės indeksą bei mažesnes krūtis. Reikšminiai žodžiai: krūtį tausojanti operacija (KTO), onkoplastinė chirurgija, naviką adaptuojanti mastopeksija. Comparison of tumor-adapted mastopexy with semilunar segmentectomy – monocentric study Objective Tumor-adapted periareolar mastopexy is a breast-conserving oncoplastic surgery method in the breast cancer treatment. The aim of this study was a comparison of breast-conserving surgeries, tumor-adapted periareolar mastopexy vs. the usual semilunar segmentectomy, determination of characteristic properties, advantages and disadvantages when choosing one or another surgery method. Methods Data on patients from 2008–2009 were retrospectively examined. All patients underwent surgery for primary breast carcinoma by semilunar segmentectomy (n = 136) or by pariareolar tumor-adapted mastopexy (n = 131) at the Breast Center of the Ammerland Clinic in Westerstede, Germany. Both surgical techniques were analyzed on various criteria, such as tumor / breast-relation, BMI, resection weight, etc. The data analysis was performed using Student’s t-test or the Chi-square (χ2) test, the correlation by Pearson and Kendall’s Tau-b (r) when p < 0.05. Results The removed tissue weight (36.96 ± 20.68 g vs. 53.13 ± 33.03 g, p = 0.0001, p < 0.05) and the diameter of the tumor (17.63 ± 11.94 mm vs. 25.77 ± 17.25 mm, p = 0.0001, p < 0.05) were larger in the tumor-adapted mastopexy patient group than in the semilunar segmentectomy group. For women with small breasts, mastopexy was used more frequently, p = 0.008, p < 0.05. The number of secondary surgeries (both groups about 30 perc., (p = 0.351) and the distance between the tumor and the resection margin were the same for both surgical procedures (segmentectomy – 5.52 ± 2.59 mm and mastopexy – 5.88 ± 2.87 mm, p = 0.377). The duration of surgery was 1.7 times longer in mastopexy than in the other technique (113.4 ± 29.42 min vs. 67.61 ± 26 min, p = 0.001, p < 0.05). The complication rate was the same in both methods, p = 0.34. Conclusion Periareolar tumor-adapted mastopexy allows removing larger tumors than the semicircular segmentectomy. Mastopexy can be indicated for women with a lower BMI and smaller breasts. Key words: breast-conserving surgery (BCS), oncoplastic surgery, tumor-adapted mastopexy.

Presentacion editorial del presente número

Transmission X-ray microscopy is employed to detect nanoscale valence changes in resistive switching SrTiO3 thin film devices. By recording Ti L-edge spectra of samples in different resistive states, we could show that some spots with slightly distorted structure and a small reduction to Ti3+ are already present in the virgin films. In the ON-state, these spots are further reduced to Ti3+ to different degrees while the remaining film persists in the Ti4+ configuration. These observations are consistent with a self-accelerating reduction within pre-reduced extended growth defects.

Les recherches effectuées en 1983, au Ranch de la Marahoué en Côte d'Ivoire, ont montré que la mise en place d'une seule boucle d'oreille imprégnée de pyréthrinoïdes (1, 2 g m.a. par plaque) n'a pas apporté d'amélioration sur l'état général et le taux de parasitémie à trypanosomes chez des bovins N'Dama. L'action sur les glossines semble donc négligeable. D'autres essais sont nécessaires pour confirmer ces conclusions