Gamma radiation characteristics of plutonium dioxide fuel

Net gamma ray source intensity and spectrum for plutonium dioxide fuel element

The changing characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C prescribed direct acting antiviral medicines in general practice since listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Background and Aim: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the characteristics of patients prescribed direct acting antiviral (DAA) medicines have changed since initial listing of the medicines on the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from MedicineInsight, an Australian database of general practice electronic health records, from March 2016 to August 2018. We compared sociodemographic, comorbidity, and clinical characteristics of patients aged at least 18 years who were prescribed at least one DAA in the first 4 months of PBS listing in 2016 with those prescribed at least one DAA in 2018. Results: There were 2251 eligible adult patients prescribed a DAA during the study period, 62% were men and 59% were aged 50 years and older. Patients prescribed DAA medicines initially were older (aged ≥50 years: 67.9% vs 49.3%; P 1 (20.4% vs 8.9%; P < 0.001) than those prescribed DAA medicines in 2018. A greater proportion of patients in regional/remote (46.5% vs 35.6%; P < 0.001) and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas (44.4% vs 34.5%; P = 0.003) accessed treatment in 2018 compared with 2016. Conclusions: Despite evidence of decreasing uptake of DAA medicines across Australia, this study indicates broadened uptake among younger age groups and those residing in regional/remote and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas since 2016. While uptake of DAA medicines in some population subgroups appears to have improved, continuous efforts to improve uptake across the Australian population are essential

Modelling the contribution of SO2 and NOx emissions from international shipping to sulphur and oxidised nitrogen deposition in the United Kingdom

A statistical Lagrangian atmospheric transport model was used to generate annual maps of deposition of sulphur and nitrogen for the United Kingdom at a 5 x 5 km2 resolution for the year 2005 and to assess the contribution attributed to emissions of SO2 and NOx from international shipping. A future emissions scenario for the year 2020 was used to investigate changes in the relative contribution of shipping emissions. The results show that, if shipping emissions are assumed to increase at a rate of 2.5% per year, their relative contribution to total sulphur and oxidised nitrogen deposition are expected to increase from 15% and 12% respectively to 37% and 28% between 2005 and 2020. Enforcement of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) agreement to reduce the sulphur content in marine fuel to 0.5% was estimated to result in a 30% reduction in total sulphur deposition to the UK for the year 2020 compared to a business as usual scenario, with the result that the relative contribution from shipping to sulphur deposition in the UK would be reduced to 9% of the tota

Molecular ions in L1544. I. Kinematics

We have mapped the dense dark core L1544 in H13CO+(1-0), DCO+(2-1), DCO+(3-2), N2H+(1-0), NTH+(3-2), N2D+(2-1), N2D+(3-2), C18O(1-0), and C17O(1-0) using the IRAM 30-m telescope. We have obtained supplementary observations of HC18O+(1-0), HC17O+(1-0), and D13CO+(2-1). Many of the observed maps show a general correlation with the distribution of dust continuum emission in contrast to C18O(1-0) and C17O(1-0) which give clear evidence for depletion of CO at positions close to the continuum peak. In particular N2D+(2-1) and (3-2) and to a lesser extent N2H+(1-0) appear to be excellent tracers of the dust continuum. We find that the tracers of high density gas (in particular N2D+) show a velocity gradient along the minor axis of the L1544 core and that there is evidence for larger linewidths close to the dust emission peak. We interpret this using the model of the L1544 proposed by Ciolek & Basu (2000) and by comparing the observed velocities with those expected on the basis of their model. The results show reasonable agreement between observations and model in that the velocity gradient along the minor axis and the line broadening toward the center of L1544 are predicted by the model. This is evidence in favour of the idea that amipolar diffusion across field lines is one of the basic processes leading to gravitational collapse. However, line widths are significantly narrower than observed and are better reproduced by the Myers & Zweibel (2001) model which considers the quasistatic vertical contraction of a layer due to dissipation of its Alfvenic turbulence, indicating the importance of this process for cores in the verge of forming a star.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, to be published in Ap

Public perceptions of drinking water: A postal survey of residents with private water supplies

Background: In Canada, the legal responsibility for the condition of private water supplies, including private wells and cisterns, rests with their owners. However, there are reports that Canadians test these water supplies intermittently and that treatment of such water is uncommon. An estimated 45% of all waterborne outbreaks in Canada involve non-municipal systems. An understanding of the perceptions and needs of Canadians served by private water supplies is essential, as it would enable public health professionals to better target public education and drinking water policy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the public perceptions of private water supplies in the City of Hamilton, Ontario (Canada), with the intent of informing public education and outreach strategies within the population. Methods: A cross-sectional postal survey of 246 residences with private water supplies was conducted in May 2004. Questions pertained to the perceptions of water quality and alternative water sources, water testing behaviours and the self-identified need for further information. Results: Private wells, cisterns or both, were the source of household water for 71%, 16% and 13% of respondents, respectively. Although respondents rated their water quality highly, 80% also had concerns with its safety. The most common concerns pertained to bacterial and chemical contamination of their water supply and its potential negative effect on health. Approximately 56% and 61% of respondents used in-home treatment devices and bottled water within their homes, respectively, mainly due to perceived improvements in the safety and aesthetic qualities compared to regular tap water. Testing of private water supplies was performed infrequently: 8% of respondents tested at a frequency that meets current provincial guidelines. Two-thirds of respondents wanted more information on various topics related to private water supplies. Flyers and newspapers were the two media reported most likely to be used. Conclusion: Although respondents rated their water quality highly, the majority had concerns regarding the water from their private supply, and the use of bottled water and water treatment devices was extensive. The results of this study suggest important lines of inquiry and provide support and input for public education programs, particularly those related to private water testing, in this population

Rehabilitation following surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis: a Cochrane review

Study Design A systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) Objective To determine the effects of active rehabilitation on functional outcome following lumbar spinal stenosis surgery when compared with 'usual postoperative care'. Summary of background data Surgery rates for lumbar spinal stenosis have risen, yet outcomes remain suboptimal. Post-operative rehabilitation has been suggested as a tool to improve post-operative function but, to date, there is limited evidence to support its use. Methods CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library), the Cochrane Back Review Group Trials Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PEDro electronic databases were searched. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of active rehabilitation with usual care in adults with lumbar spinal stenosis who had undergone primary spinal decompression surgery were included. Two authors independently selected studies, assessed the risk of bias, and extracted the data in line with the recommendations of the Cochrane Back Review Group. Study results were pooled in a meta-analysis when appropriate using functional status as the primary outcome, with secondary outcomes including measures of leg pain, low back pain, and global improvement/general health. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of the evidence. Results Our searches yielded 1,726 articles, of which three studies (N = 373 participants) were suitable for inclusion in meta-analysis. All included studies were deemed to have low risk of bias; no study had unacceptably high dropout rates. There was moderate evidence suggesting that active rehabilitation was more effective than usual care in improving both short- and long-term functional status following surgery. Similar findings were noted for secondary outcomes, including short-term improvement in low back pain and long-term improvement in both low back pain and leg pain. Conclusions We obtained moderate-quality evidence indicating that postoperative active rehabilitation after decompression surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis is more effective than usual care. Further work is required particularly with respect to the cost effectiveness of such interventions

Understanding Emissions of Ammonia from Buildings and Application of Fertilizers: An Example from Poland

A Europe-wide dynamic ammonia (NH3) emissions model has been applied for one of the large agricultural countries in Europe, and its sensitivity on the distribution of emissions among different agricultural functions was analyzed by comparing with observed ammonia concentrations and by implementing all scenarios in a CTM model. The results suggest that the dynamic emission model is most sensitive to emission from animal manure, in particular how this is connected to national regulations. In contrast, the model is most robust with respect to emission from buildings and storage. To do this, we obtained activity information on agricultural operations at the sub-national level for Poland, information about infrastructure on storages and current regulations on manure practice from Polish authorities. The information was implemented in the existing emission model and was connected directly with the NWP calculations from the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF-ARW). The model was used to calculate four emission scenarios with high spatial (5 km x 5 km) and temporal resolution (3h) for the entire year 2010. In the four scenarios, we have compared the European-wide default model settings against: 1) a scenario that focuses on emission from agricultural buildings, 2) the existing emission method used in WRF-Chem in Poland, and 3) a scenario that takes into account Polish infrastructure and agricultural regulations. The ammonia emission was implemented into the chemical transport model FRAME and modelled ammonia concentrations was compared with measurements. The results suggest that the default setting in the dynamic model is an improvement compared to a non-dynamical emission profile. The results also show that further improvements can be obtained on the national scale by replacing the default information on manure practice with information that is connected with local practice and national regulations. Implementing a dynamical approach for simulation of ammonia emission is a viable objective for all CTM models that continue to use fixed emission profiles. Such models should handle ammonia emissions in a similar way to other climate dependent emissions (e.g. Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds). Our results, compared with previous results from the DEHM and the GEOS-CHEM models, suggest that implementing dynamical approaches improves simulations in general even in areas with limited information about location of the agricultural fields, livestock and agricultural production methods such as Poland

Electrodynamics of superconducting pnictide superlattices

It has been recently reported (S. Lee et al., Nature Materials 12, 392, 2013) that superlattices where layers of the 8% Co-doped BaFe2As2 superconducting pnictide are intercalated with non superconducting ultrathin layers of either SrTiO3 or of oxygen-rich BaFe2As2, can be used to control flux pinning, thereby increasing critical fields and currents, without significantly affecting the critical temperature of the pristine superconducting material. However, little is known about the electron properties of these systems. Here we investigate the electrodynamics of these superconducting pnictide superlattices in the normal and superconducting state by using infrared reflectivity, from THz to visible range. We find that multi-gap structure of these superlattices is preserved, whereas some significant changes are observed in their electronic structure with respect to those of the original pnictide. Our results suggest that possible attempts to further increase the flux pinning may lead to a breakdown of the pnictide superconducting properties.Comment: 4 pages, two figure