Human Serum Amyloid A (aa 19 - 122) [His]

We present pre and post space flight test results of 2.2 micron InGaAs Photodiode and GaAs Transimpedance Amplifier (TIA), Optical Receivers that flew to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Materials International Space Station Experiment 9 (MISSE-9) payload. The two optical receivers having two different RF packages exhibit bandwidth of 9 GHz or more, and were fiber coupled with a single mode fiber. They were launched in April 2018 to the ISS, and returned to Earth in June 2019 for a cumulative time period of over 13 months. During their time on the ISS, we noted the entry and exit points into the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) on a daily basis, and thus, recorded the total time the Extended InGaAs Optical Receivers were exposed to it. It has been shown that the exposure to heavy ions and protons, especially during the SAA transit, cause the most failures to electronic components. We also recorded the daily temperatures they were exposed to during their stay on the ISS, as well as the cumulative radiation dose they experienced through a dedicated dosimeter placed in close proximity to the devices. After analyzing the pre and post flight data on dark current, quantum efficiency, bandwidth, bit error rate, and other 14 different parameters, we did not observe any major degradation in the two device's performance. Additionally, both RF packages, did not suffer any damage due to the mechanical shock and vibration of the space flight, including the launch and return to Earth.

Rationale: Severe acute asthma (SAA) can be fatal, but is often preventable. We previously observed in a retrospective cohort study, a three-fold increase in SAA paediatric intensive care (PICU) admissions between 2003 and 2013 in the Netherlands, with a significant increase during those years of numbers of children without treatment of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Objectives: To determine whether steroid-naive children are at higher risk of PICU admission among those hospitalised for SAA. Furthermore, we included the secondary risk factors tobacco smoke exposure, allergic sensitisation, previous admissions and viral infections. Methods: A prospective, nationwide multicentre study of children with SAA (2-18 years) admitted to all Dutch PICUs and four general wards between 2016 and 2018. Potential risk factors for PICU admission were assessed using logistic regression analyses. Measurements and main results: 110 PICU and 111 general ward patients were included. The proportion of steroid-naive children did not differ significantly between PICU and ward patients. PICU children were significantly older and more exposed to tobacco smoke, with symptoms >1 week prior to admission. Viral susceptibility was not a significant risk factor for PICU admission. Conclusions: Children with SAA admitted to a PICU were comparable to those admitted to a general ward with respect to ICS treatment prior to admission. Preventable risk factors for PICU admission were >7 days of symptoms without adjustment of therapy and exposure to tobacco smoke. Physicians who treat children with asthma must be aware of these risk factors.