Fast Time Structure During Transient Microwave Brightenings: Evidence for Nonthermal Processes

Transient microwave brightenings (TMBs) are small-scale energy releases from the periphery of sunspot umbrae, with a flux density two orders of magnitude smaller than that from a typical flare. Gopalswamy et al (1994) first reported the detection of the TMBs and it was pointed out that the radio emission implied a region of very high magnetic field so that the emission mechanism has to be gyroresonance or nonthermal gyrosynchrotron, but not free-free emission. It was not possible to decide between gyroresonance and gyrosynchrotron processes because of the low time resolution (30 s) used in the data analysis. We have since performed a detailed analysis of the Very Large Array data with full time resolution (3.3 s) at two wavelengths (2 and 3.6 cm) and we can now adequately address the question of the emission mechanism of the TMBs. We find that nonthermal processes indeed take place during the TMBs. We present evidence for nonthermal emission in the form of temporal and spatial structure of the TMBs. The fast time structure cannot be explained by a thermodynamic cooling time and therefore requires a nonthermal process. Using the physical parameters obtained from X-ray and radio observations, we determine the magnetic field parameters of the loop and estimate the energy released during the TMBs. The impulsive components of TMBs imply an energy release rate of 1.3 x 10^22 erg/s so that the thermal energy content of the TMBs could be less than 10^24 erg.Comment: 15 pages (Latex), 4 figures (eps). ApJ Letters in press (1997

Association between increased tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and acquired activated protein C resistance in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association between tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels and defects in the activated protein C (APC) system as a determinant of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in metastatic colorectal cancer patients (mCRC) undergoing chemotherapy

Pharmaceutical industry interactions of psychiatric trainees from 20 European countries

BACKGROUND: Interactions between the pharmaceutical industry (PI) and psychiatrists have been under scrutiny recently, though there is little empirical evidence on the nature of the relationship and its intensity at psychiatry trainee level. We therefore studied the level of PI interactions and the underlying beliefs and attitudes in a large sample of European psychiatric trainees. METHODS: One thousand four hundred and forty-four psychiatric trainees in 20 European countries were assessed cross-sectionally, with a 62-item questionnaire. RESULTS: The total number of PI interactions in the preceding two months varied between countries, with least interactions in The Netherlands (M (Mean)=0.92, SD=1.44, range=0-12) and most in Portugal (M=19.06, SD=17.44, range=0-100). Trainees were more likely to believe that PI interactions have no impact on their own prescribing behaviour than that of other physicians (M=3.30, SD=1.26 vs. M=2.39, SD=1.06 on a 5-point Likert scale: 1 "completely disagree" to 5 "completely agree"). Assigning an educational role to the pharmaceutical industry was associated with more interactions and higher gift value (IRR (incidence rate ratio)=1.21, 95%CI=1.12-1.30 and OR=1.18, 95%CI=1.02-1.37). CONCLUSIONS: There are frequent interactions between European psychiatric trainees and the PI, with significant variation between countries. We identified several factors affecting this interaction, including attribution of an educational role to the PI. Creating alternative educational opportunities and specific training dedicated to PI interactions may therefore help to reduce the impact of the PI on psychiatric training