1,487 research outputs found
Frequencies of Lipopolysaccharide Core Types among Clinical Isolates of Escherichia coli Defined with Monoclonal Antibodies
Mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core types R1, R2, and R3 of Escherichia coli and a cross-reactive MAb that binds to the LPS core of almost all E. coli were used in ELISA to determine the frequency of cores resembling R1, R2, and R3 in strains of E. coli isolated from clinical samples (blood and urine specimens) and from the feces of asymptomatic individuals. Of the 180 wild-type isolates, 123 were assigned to R1 core type, 14 to R2, and 18 to R3. Twenty-five wild-type E. coli isolates could not be assigned to a particular core type and may have either an R4 or K12 core or a previously unrecognized core type. R1 core type was associated with O types 1, 4, 6, 8, and 18 and with K1 or K5 capsules. R3 was associated with O15.O75 isolates could be of either R1 or R2 core typ
The detection of Class I methanol masers towards regions of low-mass star formation
Six young bipolar outflows in regions of low-to-intermediate-mass star
formation were observed in the 7_0-6_1A+, 8_0-7_1A+, and 5_{-1}-4_0E methanol
lines at 44, 95, and 84 GHz, respectively. Narrow features were detected
towards NGC 1333IRAS4A, HH 25MMS, and L1157 B1. Flux densities of the detected
lines are no higher than 11 Jy, which is much lower than the flux densities of
strong maser lines in regions of high-mass star formation. Analysis shows that
most likely the narrow features are masers.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Astronomy Report
Effects of CO2 on H2O band profiles and band strengths in mixed H2O:CO2 ices
H2O is the most abundant component of astrophysical ices. In most lines of
sight it is not possible to fit both the H2O 3 um stretching, the 6 um bending
and the 13 um libration band intensities with a single pure H2O spectrum.
Recent Spitzer observations have revealed CO2 ice in high abundances and it has
been suggested that CO2 mixed into H2O ice can affect relative strengths of the
3 um and 6 um bands. We used laboratory infrared transmission spectroscopy of
H2O:CO2 ice mixtures to investigate the effects of CO2 on H2O ice spectral
features at 15-135 K. We find that the H2O peak profiles and band strengths are
significantly different in H2O:CO2 ice mixtures compared to pure H2O ice. In
all H2O:CO2 mixtures, a strong free-OH stretching band appears around 2.73 um,
which can be used to put an upper limit on the CO2 concentration in the H2O
ice. The H2O bending mode profile also changes drastically with CO2
concentration; the broad pure H2O band gives way to two narrow bands as the CO2
concentration is increased. This makes it crucial to constrain the environment
of H2O ice to enable correct assignments of other species contributing to the
interstellar 6 um absorption band. The amount of CO2 present in the H2O ice of
B5:IRS1 is estimated by simultaneously comparing the H2O stretching and bending
regions and the CO2 bending mode to laboratory spectra of H2O, CO2, H2O:CO2 and
HCOOH.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted by A&
Infrared spectroscopy of HCOOH in interstellar ice analogues
Context: HCOOH is one of the more common species in interstellar ices with
abundances of 1-5% with respect to solid H2O. Aims: This study aims at
characterizing the HCOOH spectral features in astrophysically relevant ice
mixtures in order to interpret astronomical data. Methods: The ices are grown
under high vacuum conditions and spectra are recorded in transmission using a
Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Pure HCOOH ices deposited at 15 K and
145 K are studied, as well as binary and tertiary mixtures containing H2O, CO,
CO2 and CH3OH. The mixture concentrations are varied from 50:50% to ~10:90% for
HCOOH:H2O. Binary mixtures of HCOOH:X and tertiary mixtures of HCOOH:H2O:X with
X = CO, CO2, and CH3OH, are studied for concentrations of ~10:90% and
~7:67:26%, respectively. Results: Pure HCOOH ice spectra show broad bands which
split around 120 K due to the conversion of a dimer to a chain-structure. Broad
single component bands are found for mixtures with H2O. Additional spectral
components are present in mixtures with CO, CO2 and CH3OH. The resulting peak
position, full width at half maximum and band strength depend strongly on ice
structure, temperature, matrix constituents and the HCOOH concentration.
Comparison of the solid HCOOH 5.9, 7.2, and 8.1 micron features with
astronomical data toward the low mass source HH 46 and high mass source W 33A
shows that spectra of binary mixtures do not reproduce the observed ice
features. However, our tertiary mixtures especially with CH3OH match the
astronomical data very well. Thus interstellar HCOOH is most likely present in
tertiary or more complex mixtures with H2O, CH3OH and potentially also CO or
CO2, providing constraints on its formation.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, accepted by A&
High-Density Support Matrices: Key to the Deep Borehole Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel
Abstract Deep (4-5 km) boreholes are emerging as a safe, secure, environmentally sound and potentially cost-effective option for disposal of high-level radioactive wastes, including plutonium. One reason this option has not been widely accepted for spent fuel is because stacking the containers in a borehole could create load stresses threatening their integrity with potential for releasing highly mobile radionuclides like 129 I before the borehole is filled and sealed. This problem can be overcome by using novel high-density support matrices deployed as fine metal shot along with the containers. Temperature distributions in and around the disposal are modelled to show how decay heat from the fuel can melt the shot within weeks of disposal to give a dense liquid in which the containers are almost weightless. Finally, within a few decades, this liquid will cool and solidify, entombing the waste containers in a base metal sarcophagus sealed into the host rock
Quasiparticle States near the Surface and the Domain Wall in a p_x\pm i p_y-Wave Superconductor
The electronic states near a surface or a domain wall in the p-wave
superconductor are studied for the order parameter of the form p_x\pm i
p_y-wave, which is a unitary odd-parity state with broken time-reversal
symmetry. This state has been recently suggested as the superconducting state
of Sr_2 Ru O_4. The spatial variation of the order parameter and vector
potential is determined self-consistently within the quasi-classical
approximation. The local density of states at the surface is constant and does
not show any peak-like or gap-like structure within the superconducting energy
gap, in contrast to the case of the d-wave superconductors. The influence of an
external magnetic field is mainly observable in the energy range above the bulk
gap. On the other hand, there is a small energy gap in the local density of
states at the domain wall between domains of the two degenerate p_x+i p_y-wave
and p_x-i p_y-wave states.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol. 68
(1999) No. 3, erratum: to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. Vol. 68 (1999) No.
The effect of DAFNE education, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, or both in a population with type 1 diabetes in Scotland
Aim:
To investigate the effect of DAFNEand continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in clinical practice.
Methods:
Within NHS Lothian, continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion started in 2004 and DAFNE education began in 2006. We extracted anonymized data from the national database for all those aged > 18 years with type 1 diabetes having a Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating course or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion start date (n = 4617).
Results:
In total, 956 persons received DAFNEeducation, and 505 had received an insulin pump, 208 of whom had DAFNE education followed by insulin pump. Mean (SD) HbA1c before DAFNE education was 68 (15) mmol/mol (8.4% [1.4%]) and 66 (13) mmol/mol (8.2% [1.2%]) before continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. In the year following DAFNE education, the mean fall in within‐person HbA1c was 3.8 mmol/mol (95% CI 4.0 to 3.4; 0.3% [0.4% to 0.3%]). Those with the poorest control (HbA1c ≥ 85 mmol/mol [9.9%]) experienced the largest decline (15.7 mmol/mol [1.4%]). Those in the lowest HbA1c band at initiation (< 53 mmol/mmol [7.0%]) experienced a rise.
In the year following continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion initiation there was a mean fall in within‐person HbA1c of 6.6 mmol/mol (6.8 to 6.4; 0.6% [0.6% to 0.6%]). In those with the poorest control (HbA1c ≥ 85 mmol/mol [9.9%]), the mean fall in HbA1c was 22.2 mmol/mol (23 to 21; 2.0% [2.1% to 1.9%]). Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion effectiveness was not different with or without DAFNE education. The effects of both interventions were sustained over 5 years.
Conclusions:
Both DAFNE education and insulin pump therapy had the greatest effect on HbA1c in those with higher baseline values. There was little difference to attained HbA1c when Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating education was introduced before insulin pump therapy
Constituting monetary conservatives via the 'savings habit': New Labour and the British housing market bubble
The ongoing world credit crunch might well kill off the most recent bubble dynamics in the British housing market by driving prices systematically downwards from their 2007 peak. Nonetheless, the experience of that bubble still warrants analytical attention. The Labour Government might not have been responsible for consciously creating it, but it has certainly grasped the opportunities the bubble has provided in an attempt to enforce a process of agential change at the heart of the British economy. The key issue in this respect is the way in which the Government has challenged the legitimacy of passive welfare receipts in favour of establishing a welfare system based on incorporating the individual into an active asset-holding society. The housing market has taken on new political significance as a means for individuals first to acquire assets and then to accumulate wealth on the back of asset ownership. The ensuing integration of the housing market into an increasingly reconfigured welfare system has permeated into the politics of everyday life. It has been consistent with individuals remaking their political subjectivities in line with preferences for the type of conservative monetary policies that typically keep house price bubbles inflated
Cost effectiveness analysis of clinically driven versus routine laboratory monitoring of antiretroviral therapy in Uganda and Zimbabwe.
BACKGROUND: Despite funding constraints for treatment programmes in Africa, the costs and economic consequences of routine laboratory monitoring for efficacy and toxicity of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have rarely been evaluated. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted in the DART trial (ISRCTN13968779). Adults in Uganda/Zimbabwe starting ART were randomised to clinically-driven monitoring (CDM) or laboratory and clinical monitoring (LCM); individual patient data on healthcare resource utilisation and outcomes were valued with primary economic costs and utilities. Total costs of first/second-line ART, routine 12-weekly CD4 and biochemistry/haematology tests, additional diagnostic investigations, clinic visits, concomitant medications and hospitalisations were considered from the public healthcare sector perspective. A Markov model was used to extrapolate costs and benefits 20 years beyond the trial. RESULTS: 3316 (1660LCM;1656CDM) symptomatic, immunosuppressed ART-naive adults (median (IQR) age 37 (32,42); CD4 86 (31,139) cells/mm(3)) were followed for median 4.9 years. LCM had a mean 0.112 year (41 days) survival benefit at an additional mean cost of 7386 [3277,dominated] per life-year gained and 3.78 to become cost-effective (<3xper-capita GDP, following WHO benchmarks). CD4 monitoring at current costs as undertaken in DART was not cost-effective in the long-term. CONCLUSIONS: There is no rationale for routine toxicity monitoring, which did not affect outcomes and was costly. Even though beneficial, there is little justification for routine 12-weekly CD4 monitoring of ART at current test costs in low-income African countries. CD4 monitoring, restricted to the second year on ART onwards, could be cost-effective with lower cost second-line therapy and development of a cheaper, ideally point-of-care, CD4 test
Class I methanol masers in low-mass star formation regions
Four Class I maser sources were detected at 44, 84, and 95 GHz toward
chemically rich outflows in the regions of low-mass star formation NGC 1333I4A,
NGC 1333I2A, HH25, and L1157. One more maser was found at 36 GHz toward a
similar outflow, NGC 2023. Flux densities of the newly detected masers are no
more than 18 Jy, being much lower than those of strong masers in regions of
high-mass star formation. The brightness temperatures of the strongest peaks in
NGC 1333I4A, HH25, and L1157 at 44 GHz are higher than 2000 K, whereas that of
the peak in NGC 1333I2A is only 176 K. However, rotational diagram analysis
showed that the latter source is also a maser. The main properties of the newly
detected masers are similar to those of Class I methanol masers in regions of
massive star formation. The former masers are likely to be an extension of the
latter maser population toward low luminosities of both the masers and the
corresponding YSOs.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, Proc. IAU Symp. 287 "Cosmic Masers: from OH to
H0". LSR velocities of the HH25 masers, which are presented in Table 1, are
correcte
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