Zearalenone production and growth in drinking water inoculated with Fusarium graminearum

Production of the mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEN) was examined in drinking water inoculated with Fusarium graminearum. The strain employed was isolated from a US water distribution system. ZEN was purified with an immunoaffinity column and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The extracellular yield of ZEN was 15.0 ng l−1. Visual growth was observed. Ergosterol was also indicative of growth and an average of 6.2 μg l−1 was obtained. Other compounds were also detected although remain unidentified. There is no equivalent information available. More work is required on metabolite expression in water as mycotoxins have consequences for human and animal health. The levels detected in this study were low. Water needs to be accepted as a potential source as it attracts high quality demands in terms of purity.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Geometry of Non-Hausdorff Spaces and Its Significance for Physics

Hausdorff relation, topologically identifying points in a given space, belongs to elementary tools of modern mathematics. We show that if subtle enough mathematical methods are used to analyze this relation, the conclusions may be far-reaching and illuminating. Examples of situations in which the Hausdorff relation is of the total type, i.e., when it identifies all points of the considered space, are the space of Penrose tilings and space-times of some cosmological models with strong curvature singularities. With every Hausdorff relation a groupoid can be associated, and a convolutive algebra defined on it allows one to analyze the space that otherwise would remain intractable. The regular representation of this algebra in a bundle of Hilbert spaces leads to a von Neumann algebra of random operators. In this way, a probabilistic description (in a generalized sense) naturally takes over when the concept of point looses its meaning. In this situation counterparts of the position and momentum operators can be defined, and they satisfy a commutation relation which, in the suitable limiting case, reproduces the Heisenberg indeterminacy relation. It should be emphasized that this is neither an additional assumption nor an effect of a quantization process, but simply the consequence of a purely geometric analysis.Comment: 13 LaTex pages, no figure

Colorectal cancer in South Africa: A heritable cause suspected in many young black patients

Background. Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has a low incidence among the black African population. Largely unrecognised in the scientific literature is the fact that a disproportionately large number of young black patients

Suprathermal plasma observed on STS-3 Mission by plasma diagnostics package

Artificially produced electron beams were used extensively during the past decade as a means of probing the magnetosphere, and more recently as a means of actively controlling spacecraft potential. Experimentation in these areas has proven valuable, yet at times confusing, due to the interaction of the electron beam with the ambient plasma. The OSS-1/STS-3 Mission in March 1982 provided a unique opportunity to study beam-plasma interactions at an altitude of 240 km. On board for this mission was a Fast Pulse Electron Generator (FPEG). Measurements made by the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) while extended on the Orbiter RMS show modifications of the ion and electron energy distributions during electron beam injection. Observations made by charged particle detectors are discussed and related to measurements of Orbiter potential. Several of the PDP instruments, the joint PDP/FPEG experiment, and observations made during electron beam injection are described

GABA-B receptor function in healthy volunteers, a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of two doses of baclofen compared to placebo

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS To assess the subjective and objective effects of baclofen on brain function in healthy volunteers. BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests baclofen, a γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA-B) receptor agonist, reduces alcohol consumption and craving and promotes abstinence in alcoholics. However, characterisation of the GABA-B receptor system in clinical addiction is limited, and it is unclear why some patients require, or tolerate, higher doses to treat alcoholism. This study assesses the effects of baclofen on brain function in healthy volunteers to inform future studies investigating the sensitivity of GABA-B receptors in alcohol addiction. METHODS Eight healthy male volunteers completed a double blind randomised 3-way cross over study, receiving oral placebo (vitamin C 100mg), 10mg and 60mg baclofen. Subjective and objective measurements were taken at baseline (before medication) and at +30mins, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hours after dosing. Objective measures included blood plasma samples, heart rate and blood pressure. Subjective measures included; the Subjective High Assessment Questionnaire (SHAS), visual analogue scales for sleepy, relaxed, tense and alert and a motor coordination task (zig-zag task). Pharmacokinetic data was obtained using liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) to measure plasma baclofen concentrations. RESULTS 60mg Baclofen showed changes in subjective measures peaking at 2 hours post dosing compared with placebo, including a significant increase (p<0.05) in total SHAS scores with individual items, including feeling ‘drunk or intoxicated’, effects of alcohol and ‘muddled or confused’ particular affected.. Systolic blood pressure was significantly increased (p<0.05) at the 2 hours post 60mg dose. For both 10mg and 60mg baclofen, peak plasma concentration was achieved 60 minutes post dose. Pharmacokinetic data will be presented. There were no significant changes in these measures between 10mg Baclofen and placebo. CONCLUSIONS The objective and subjective measures used in this study are able to differentiate between placebo and 60mg baclofen. These findings will inform further research investigating the sensitivity of GABA-B receptors in alcohol addiction

The short and longer term impacts of hate crimes experienced directly, indirectly and through the media

A longitudinal study (N = 774) explored the short and longer term impacts of anti-Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans (LGBT) hate crime experienced directly, indirectly, and through the media. In the short term, being a victim (direct) or personally knowing of a hate crime victim (indirect) was positively associated with vulnerability, emotional responses, and behavioral intentions after reading about a hate crime. Direct victims were also less empathic toward other victims and engaged in more victim-blaming. A structural equation model showed direct experiences (via personal vulnerability and empathy) and media experiences (via group-threat and victim-blaming) to be cross-sectionally associated with behavioral intentions. Media experiences also had lasting demobilizing impacts on actual behaviors, again serially mediated by group-threat and victim-blaming. The findings highlight the emotional and behavioral impacts of hate crimes on both direct victims and on the wider LGBT community. They also raise questions about media reporting of hate crimes and the role of victim-blaming

Implementation of the Crisis Resolution Team model in adult mental health settings: a systematic review.

Crisis Resolution Teams (CRTs) aim to offer an alternative to hospital admission during mental health crises, providing rapid assessment, home treatment, and facilitation of early discharge from hospital. CRTs were implemented nationally in England following the NHS Plan of 2000. Single centre studies suggest CRTs can reduce hospital admissions and increase service users' satisfaction: however, there is also evidence that model implementation and outcomes vary considerably. Evidence on crucial characteristics of effective CRTs is needed to allow team functioning to be optimised. This review aims to establish what evidence, if any, is available regarding the characteristics of effective and acceptable CRTs