Solar influences on dynamical coupling between the stratosphere and troposphere

We use a simplified atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) to investigate the response of the lower atmosphere to thermal perturbations in the lower stratosphere. The results show that generic heating of the lower stratosphere tends to weaken the sub-tropical jets and the tropospheric mean meridional circulations. The positions of the jets, and the extent of the Hadley cells, respond to the distribution of the stratospheric heating, with low latitude heating displacing them poleward, and uniform heating displacing them equatorward. The patterns of response to the low latitude heating are similar to those found to be associated with solar variability in previous observational data analysis, and to the effects of varying solar UV radiation in sophisticated AGCMs. In order to investigate the chain of causality involved in converting the stratospheric thermal forcing to a tropospheric climate signal we conduct an experiment which uses an ensemble of model spin-ups to analyse the time development of the response to an applied stratospheric perturbation. We find that the initial effect of the change in static stability at the tropopause is to reduce the eddy momentum flux convergence in this region. This is followed by a vertical transfer of the momentum forcing anomaly by an anomalous mean circulation to the surface, where it is partly balanced by surface stress anomalies. The unbalanced part drives the evolution of the vertically integrated zonal flow. We conclude that solar heating of the stratosphere may produce changes in the circulation of the troposphere even without any direct forcing below the tropopause. We suggest that the impact of the stratospheric changes on wave propagation is key to the mechanisms involved

The SMC X-ray transient XTE J0111.2-7317 : a Be/X-ray binary in a SNR?

We report observations which confirm the identity of the optical/IR counterpart to the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer transient source XTE J0111.2-7317. The counterpart is suggested to be a B0-B2 star (luminosity class III--V) showing an IR excess and strong Balmer emission lines. The distance derived from reddening and systemic velocity measurements puts the source in the SMC. Unusually, the source exhibits an extended asymetric H alpha structure.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figs, accepted by MNRA

Ligand substitution effects in uranyl ο-hydroxyarylcarbonyl complexes

Twenty-two base adducts of uranyl o-hydroxyarylcarbonyl complexes [UO2L2B] (L = o-hydroxyarylcarbonyl compound, B = H2O, pyridine, pyridine N-oxide) have been prepared. Pure field substituent parameters are used to derive a quantitative order of the electronic effects of the chelate ring substituents. Values of v(U=O) correlate well with these values. Evidence is cited suggesting almost complete non-aromaticity of the chelate ring, and the transmission of the electronic effects of the chelate ring substituent through the uranium atom in the pyridine and pyridine N-oxide base adducts

Dilution of topical corticosteroid formulations

It has been a long-held concern of a number of people working in this field that some dermatologists prescribing a 1:10 dilution of a corticosteroid preparation such as Dermovate cream believe that the final product will be one tenth as efficacious and also produce one tenth of the side effects as the undiluted formulation. This is certainly not the case. Dermovate falls into the very potent category of topical corticosteroid preparations (as defined in the United Kingdom Monthly Index of Medical Specialities) and a 1:10 dilution falls into the potent category

Symbolic framework for linear active circuits based on port equivalence using limit variables

Published versio

Bioavailability and activity of 0.1% amcinonide preparations: comparison with proprietary topical corticosteroid formulations of differing potencies

The activity of a 0.1% amcinonide cream was compared with those of selected proprietary topical corticosteroid formulations of potencies differing according to the United Kingdom (U.K.) MIMS classification (very potent, potent and moderately potent) using a standard six hour vasoconstrictor assay with multiple reading times. Statistical analysis indicated that 0.1% amcinonide cream feU within the category of a very potent preparation. Three 0.1% amcinonide formulations (cream, combination cream and combination ointment, the last two containing anti-infective agents) were equipotent in the skin-blanching test

Assessment of topical corticosteroid preparations: the human skin-blanching assay

(From the introduction) Since the introduction of topical corticosteroid formulations, their use has become widespread, being prescribed for a large variety of dermatological conditions. This widespread use has created a need for a reliable method of assessing the various dosage forms of these compounds. Clinical trials are laborious, costly and difficult to mount as well as being impractical for the screening of large numbers of drugs. Patients suffering from dermatological complaints are not ideal subjects for the testing of topical corticosteroid preparations as it is difficult to obtain standardized lesions which are necessary for the comparison of results between patients (Baker and Sattar, 1968). For these reasons a number of methods have been developed for the screening of novel corticosteroids and testing of topical corticosteroid formulations

Can shed snakeskin be considered to be a model membrane for human stratum corneum?

Recently there has been some interest in the use of shed snake skin as a "model" membrane for in vitro diffusion studies. Many different species of snake have been utilised as well as different skin sites (dorsal and ventral). The species is usually named and sometimes the skin site is indicated butsometimes neither species nor skin site is reported. Insome countries it is particularly difficult to obtain human skin for in vitro experimentation and it is therefore important to have alternate biological or synthetic membranes which mimic human skin membranes for diffusion experiments. In South Africa. shed snake skin is easily obtainable from the many snake parks present in the country. Since snakes moult periodically, a single animal can provide repeated sheds, thus reducing interindividual variability. Skins can be obtained without injury to the animal and do not have to be subjected to chemical or heat stress prior to use. The epidermis is shed as a large intact sheet, thus a single snake skin can provide multiple samples. Shed snake skin is not a living tissue, can be stored for long periods at room temperature and is easily transported. Stored and fresh snake skins appear to show no differences in permeability. Since snake skin lacks hair follicles,the problems associated with the transfollicular route of penetration, which may be significant in mammalian skins, can be avoided

Precision of tristimulus chromameter results from corticosteroid-induced skin blanching

The human skin blanching (vasoconstriction) assay has been in use for 3 decades as a tool for the assessment of the release of corticosteroids from topical dosage forms. Application of corticosteroids produces a whitening (blanching) of the skin, the intensity of which is directly related to the clinical efficacyof the formulation. Assessment of the intensity of the induced blanching has classically been, and continues to be, pe1fonned by visual grading, a method which has been criticised because of the subjectivenature of the assessment Recently there has been considerablediscussion in the literature regarding the use of the chromameter as an objective instrumental method of monitoring corticosteroid induced skin blanching for bioequivalence assessment purposes. The FDA has released a Guidance document recommending the use of the chromameter for this purpose. The chromameter measures colour in teims of three indices: the L-scale (light-dark), the a-scale (red-green) and the b-scale (yellow-blue).Any colour can be expressedabsolutelyin terms of these three values.The Guidance protocol suggests the use of only the a-scale values in quantifying the blanching response after correction of the data which includes subtraction of baseline and unmedicated site values. One of the unresolved issues in the FDA Guidance document is this method of data manipulation suggested since the instrument should be capable of assigning an absolute colour value to each site during the vasoconstriction period. The purpose of this study was to manipulate the instrumental data from a typical blanching study in a number of ways to investigate the appropriatenessof these suggested procedures

Construction industry and women: a review of the barriers

The UK construction industry has a particularly low participation rate for women. Currently there are over 11 million women employed in the UK, accounting for almost 50% of the work force. However, despite increases in the number of women employed in the construction over the past decade, they still constitute only 9% of the work force. This means that the construction industry will continue to be male dominated. It is found that women are confronted by a significant number of barriers, beginning with difficulties in joining the field of construction through to capturing the most senior position in the organisation’s hierarchy. In this context, this paper presents a review of the literature on the current status of women in the construction; in particular, it discusses the barriers which prevent women’s entry and retention in the construction industry