Ab initio oscillator strengths for transitions between J=1 odd and J=1,2 even excited states of Ne I

Ab initio theory is developed for radiative transitions between excited states of neon. Calculations of energies for even excited states J=1, J=2 supplement our previous calculations for J=1 odd excited states. Line strengths for transitions between J=1 odd and J=1,2 even states of Ne I are evaluated. A comparison with experiments and semiempirical calculations is given.Comment: 5 page

Ionic Liquid-Based Microchannels for Highly Sensitive and Fast Amperometric Detection of Toxic Gases

Ionic liquid (IL)-based microchannels sensors have been fabricated and employed for the detection of toxic ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen chloride (HCl) gases, with enhanced sensitivity and response times compared to conventional electrodes. Electrochemical techniques were employed to understand the behaviour of these highly toxic gases in two ionic liquids, [C4mpyrr][NTf2] and [C2mim][NTf2], on a gold modified microchannels electrode. The limits of detection (LODs) obtained in [C4mpyrr][NTf2] for NH3 (3.7 ppm) and in [C2mim][NTf2] for HCl (3.6 ppm) were lower than the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration Permissible Exposure Limit (OSHA PEL) for the two gases (25 ppm for NH3 and 5 ppm for HCl). The response time of the sensor is 15 s with a sensitivity of 143 nA ppm-1 and 14 nA ppm-1 for HCl and NH3, respectively. These results demonstrate the superiority of IL-based microchannels sensors for detecting toxic gases, when compared to commercially available sensors or traditional IL-based sensor designs, where high sensitivity or fast response time is still a challenge

The influence of electron collisions on non-LTE Li line formation in stellar atmospheres

The influence of the uncertainties in the rate coefficient data for electron-impact excitation and ionization on non-LTE Li line formation in cool stellar atmospheres is investigated. We examine the electron collision data used in previous non-LTE calculations and compare them to recent calculations that use convergent close-coupling (CCC) techniques and to our own calculations using the R-matrix with pseudostates (RMPS) method. We find excellent agreement between rate coefficients from the CCC and RMPS calculations, and reasonable agreement between these data and the semi-empirical data used in non-LTE calculations up to now. The results of non-LTE calculations using the old and new data sets are compared and only small differences found: about 0.01 dex (~ 2%) or less in the abundance corrections. We therefore conclude that the influence on non-LTE calculations of uncertainties in the electron collision data is negligible. Indeed, together with the collision data for the charge exchange process Li(3s) + H Li^+ + H^- now available, and barring the existence of an unknown important collisional process, the collisional data in general is not a source of significant uncertainty in non-LTE Li line formation calculations.Comment: 8 pages, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics; Replaced with minor corrections following proof

Sexualised drug use among LGBT people: a mixed methods study of reasons for engagement and associations with physical and psychological wellbeing

Background Sexualised drug use has previously been researched among men who have sex with men (MSM) in relation to sexual health and sexual risk behaviours. The topic has received more attention due to the emergence of chemsex as a public health issue, which is a particular form of sexualised drug use, but little research has been conducted to understand any possible relationship with psychological health. Additionally, motivations suggested for engaging in sexualised drug use and chemsex among MSM also apply to women who have sex with women (WSW) and trans people, but these groups have been under-researched comparatively. Aim The aim of this programme of research was to investigate sexualised drug use among all LGBT people, reasons for engagement, as well as associations with physical and psychological health. Methodology A sequential mixed methods design was used across three studies. For Study 1, a systematic review investigating sexualised drug use among LGBT people within the recent context of chemsex was conducted, and how this behaviour is associated with sexual health and health behaviours. In Study 2, a cross-sectional online survey was used (The LGBT+ Sex and Lifestyles Survey) that recruited 3,507 LGBT people (1,663 MSM, 1,152 WSW, and 500 trans people; groups not mutually exclusive). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore associations with drug use, sexualised drug use, and chemsex. In Study 3, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 MSM service users and 16 sexual health service providers to further explore how engaging in sexualised drug use can impact physical and psychological health, as well as the standard of care received by people engaging in sexualised drug use. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings from all three studies were triangulated and discussed in relation to the research objectives. Results The findings showed that LGBT people beyond MSM do engage in sexualised drug use, but chemsex was observed mostly among MSM. Engaging in chemsex among MSM appeared to be associated with greater sexual risk compared to other sexualised drug use. There was some evidence that drug use and sexualised drug use may be associated with physical and 2 psychological problems such as lower satisfaction with life and sexual assault, but not all of those engaging in sexualised drug use were experiencing negative associations with physical and psychological health. Sexual health services appeared to provide an adequate level of care for MSM engaging in sexualised drug use, but barriers to care existed within sexual health services (e.g. funding, access) and when engaging in other types of healthcare (e.g. mental health services). Discussion Overall, a harm reduction approach to sexualised drug use is needed to help those who engage in sexualised drug use reduce potential for physical and psychological harms, and support services should be available for those who need help managing or stopping their use. Additionally, LGBT people more broadly than MSM should be included in sexual health and drug research where appropriate

Management and monitoring of hyperthyroid cats:a survey of Australian veterinarians

Objectives This study sought to evaluate how Australian veterinarians approach management and monitoring of feline hyperthyroidism and compare these results with a similar survey recently performed in the UK. Methods An invitation to complete an online survey was sent to veterinarians in all states and territories of Australia. The survey comprised questions relating to management of hyperthyroidism, use of antithyroid drugs vs radioiodine treatment vs surgical thyroidectomy, in addition to demographic information for respondents. Results A total of 546 clinicians completed the survey. The most commonly preferred treatments for long-term management of feline hyperthyroidism were antithyroid medications (305/546; 56%) and radioiodine (210/546; 38%), with substantially more respondents selecting radioiodine when cost was removed as a consideration (425/546; 78%). However, most respondents had treated or referred few cases for radioiodine (median 2). Most veterinarians (500/546; 92%) used antithyroid medications either long term or prior to definitive treatment of hyperthyroidism. For medical management, 45% (244/546) of veterinarians used twice-daily carbimazole. Half of respondents (274/546) aimed to maintain the total thyroxine concentration anywhere within the laboratory reference interval in hyperthyroid cats without chronic kidney disease. Blood pressure monitoring was uncommon. Surgical thyroidectomy was rarely performed. Conclusions and relevance Radioiodine was more frequently preferred by Australian veterinarians compared with those in the UK, likely associated with greater availability, reduced cost and shorter hospitalisation times in this jurisdiction, although antithyroid medications were the most frequently used treatment modality. Barriers remain to its utilisation, however, including perceived cost, misconceptions with regard to expected success rate and accessibility. Recent changes to recommendations on the management and monitoring of hyperthyroid cats do not appear to have been widely adopted by veterinarians at this time. </jats:sec

Faculty development in teaching and learning : the UK framework and current debates

Following the publication of a recent report, commissioned by the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and conducted by Staff and Educational Developers Association, this short paper considers the HEA UK Professional Standards Framework in the UK Higher Education Sector, in the context of recent and continuing debates about how best to support faculty professional development in teaching (and supporting learning). The need for a framework is briefly articulated, followed by a description of its main elements and a summary of recent evidence on its impact. A discussion of issues and (international) debates about the role of formal qualifications in delivering the kind of faculty development envisaged in the framework and aligned programmes is then presented. The paper concludes with some suggestions for research that arise from this review.PostprintPeer reviewe

BIMODAL WHOLE-1 MOUNT IMAGING OF TENDON USING CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY AND X-RAY MICRO-COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

BACKGROUND:3-dimensional imaging modalities for optically dense connective tissues such as tendons are limited and typically have a single imaging methodological endpoint. Here, we have developed a bimodal procedure utilising fluorescence-based confocal microscopy and x-ray micro-computed tomography for the imaging of adult tendons to visualise and analyse extracellular sub-structure and cellular composition in small and large animal species. RESULTS: Using fluorescent immunolabelling and optical clearing, we visualised the expression of the novel cross-species marker of tendon basement membrane, laminin-α4 in 3D throughout whole rat Achilles tendons and equine superficial digital flexor tendon 5 mm segments. This revealed a complex network of laminin-α4 within the tendon core that predominantly localises to the interfascicular matrix compartment. Furthermore, we implemented a chemical drying process capable of creating contrast densities enabling visualisation and quantification of both fascicular and interfascicular matrix volume and thickness by x-ray micro-computed tomography. We also demonstrated that both modalities can be combined using reverse clarification of fluorescently labelled tissues prior to chemical drying to enable bimodal imaging of a single sample. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-mount imaging of tendon allowed us to identify the presence of an extensive network of laminin-α4 within tendon, the complexity of which cannot be appreciated using traditional 2D imaging techniques. Creating contrast for x-ray micro-computed tomography imaging of tendon using chemical drying is not only simple and rapid, but also markedly improves on previously published methods. Combining these methods provides the ability to gain spatio-temporal information and quantify tendon substructures to elucidate the relationship between morphology and function