Measurement of Indoor and Outdoor Background Ionising Radiation Levels of Kwali General Hospital, Abuja

Measurement of indoor and outdoor background ionising radiation level at Kwali General Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria was carried out using a well calibrated Geiger muller counter; Atomtex AT1117M radiation monitor. The dose equivalent results obtained range from 0.100±0.001 ìSv/h to 0.124±0.007 µSv/h with an average of 0.107±0.003 ìSv/h for indoor measurement while it ranges from 0.100±0.001 µSv/h to 0.122±0.003 µSv/h with an average of0.108±0.003 µSv/h for outdoor measurement respectively. The obtained values are below the standard background radiation of 0.133 µSv/h. The study also revealed that the average annual equivalent dose rate is 0.750± 0.020 mSv/y and 0.189±0.005 mSv/y for indoor and outdoor measurements respectively. These results revealed that the dose levels in all of the locations (indoor and outdoor) were below the 1 mSv/y maximum permissible limit for the public set by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Therefore, Kwali General Hospital is radiologically safe ©JASE

An assessment of healthcare professionals' knowledge about and attitude towards influenza vaccination in Freetown Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional study

© 2017 The Author(s). Background: Vaccinating healthcare professionals against influenza is considered an effective infection control measure. However, there is a low uptake of influenza vaccine among healthcare professionals around the globe. Currently, it is unknown whether healthcare professionals in Sierra Leone are aware of, and have been vaccinated against influenza. Also, there is a paucity of research evidence on their level of knowledge and attitude toward influenza vaccination. This study assessed healthcare professionals' current influenza vaccine uptake rate, reasons for not getting vaccinated as well as their awareness, knowledge of, and attitude towards influenza vaccination in Freetown Sierra Leone. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2016 among healthcare providers working in four public and two private health facilities in Freetown Sierra Leone. Linear regression analysis, one-way ANOVA and independent t-test were employed for data analysis. Results: Among 706 respondents that participated in the study more than half were females 378 (53.6%), nurses 425 (60.4%), and the majority were between the age group of 20-39 years 600 (85.3%). Only 46 (6.5%) were vaccinated against influenza. Key reasons for not vaccinated against influenza were less awareness about influenza vaccination among HCPs 580 (82.73%) with (β = 0.154; CI 0.058-0.163), the high cost of influenza vaccines and therefore not normally purchased 392 (55.92%) having (β = 0.150; CI 0.063-0.186). More than half believed that HCPs are less susceptible to influenza infections than other people. Also, majority 585 (84.3%) of HCPs thought that influenza disease could be transmitted after symptoms appear. In addition, 579 (83.2%) of HCPs felt that symptoms usually appear 8-10 days after exposure. Close to half 321 (46.0%) of HCPs were not aware of the influenza immunisation guidelines published by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Centre for Disease Control. Conclusion: Influenza vaccine coverage among healthcare professionals in Freetown Sierra Leone was low. High cost, inadequate knowledge about influenza and its vaccine as well as the lack of awareness of vaccine availability were key barriers. Increasing access to influenza vaccine and the use of appropriate educational interventions to increase knowledge and awareness are required to improve influenza vaccination coverage among HCPs

Nonlinear Decline-Rate Dependence and Intrinsic Variation of Type Ia Supernova Luminosities

Published B and V fluxes from nearby Type Ia supernovae are fitted to light-curve templates with 4-6 adjustable parameters. Separately, B magnitudes from the same sample are fitted to a linear dependence on B-V color within a post-maximum time window prescribed by the CMAGIC method. These fits yield two independent SN magnitude estimates B_max and B_BV. Their difference varies systematically with decline rate Delta m_15 in a form that is compatible with a bilinear but not a linear dependence; a nonlinear form likely describes the decline-rate dependence of B_max itself. A Hubble fit to the average of B_max and B_BV requires a systematic correction for observed B-V color that can be described by a linear coefficient R = 2.59 +- 0.24, well below the coefficient R_B ~ 4.1 commonly used to characterize the effects of Milky Way dust. At 99.9% confidence the data reject a simple model in which no color correction is required for SNe that are clustered at the blue end of their observed color distribution. After systematic corrections are performed, B_max and B_BV exhibit mutual rms intrinsic variation equal to 0.074 +- 0.019 mag, of which at least an equal share likely belongs to B_BV. SN magnitudes measured using maximum-luminosity or CMAGIC methods show comparable rms deviations of order ~ 0.14 mag from the Hubble line. The same fit also establishes a 95% confidence upper limit of 486 km/s on the rms peculiar velocity of nearby SNe relative to the Hubble flow.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figures, 10 tables, to appear in The Astrophysical Journal, uses emulateapj_051214.cl

Adhesion of perfume-filled microcapsules to model fabric surfaces

The retention and adhesion of melamine formaldehyde (MF) microcapsules on a model fabric surface in aqueous solution were investigated using a customised flow chamber technique and atomic force microscopy (AFM). A cellulose film was employed as a model fabric surface. Modification of the cellulose with chitosan was found to increase the retention and adhesion of microcapsules on the model fabric surface. The AFM force–displacement data reveal that bridging forces resulting from the extension of cellulose chains dominate the adhesion between the microcapsule and the unmodified cellulose film, whereas electrostatic attraction helps the microcapsules adhere to the chitosan-modified cellulose film. The correlation between results obtained using these two complementary techniques suggests that the flow chamber device can be potentially used for rapid screening of the effect of chemical modification on the adhesion of microparticles to surfaces, reducing the time required to achieve an optimal formulation

Multiple populations in globular clusters. Lessons learned from the Milky Way globular clusters

Recent progress in studies of globular clusters has shown that they are not simple stellar populations, being rather made of multiple generations. Evidence stems both from photometry and spectroscopy. A new paradigm is then arising for the formation of massive star clusters, which includes several episodes of star formation. While this provides an explanation for several features of globular clusters, including the second parameter problem, it also opens new perspectives about the relation between globular clusters and the halo of our Galaxy, and by extension of all populations with a high specific frequency of globular clusters, such as, e.g., giant elliptical galaxies. We review progress in this area, focusing on the most recent studies. Several points remain to be properly understood, in particular those concerning the nature of the polluters producing the abundance pattern in the clusters and the typical timescale, the range of cluster masses where this phenomenon is active, and the relation between globular clusters and other satellites of our Galaxy.Comment: In press (The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review

Basic Atomic Physics

Contains reports on five research projects.Joint Services Electronics Program Contract DAAL03-89-C-0001National Science Foundation Grant PHY 87-06560National Science Foundation Contract PHY 86-05893U.S. Army Research Office Contract DAAL03-89-K-0082U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-89-J-1207U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-83-K-069

Efficacy of c-Met inhibitor for advanced prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aberrant expression of HGF/SF and its receptor, c-Met, often correlates with advanced prostate cancer. Our previous study showed that expression of c-Met in prostate cancer cells was increased after attenuation of androgen receptor (AR) signalling. This suggested that current androgen ablation therapy for prostate cancer activates c-Met expression and may contribute to development of more aggressive, castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Therefore, we directly assessed the efficacy of c-Met inhibition during androgen ablation on the growth and progression of prostate cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We tested two c-Met small molecule inhibitors, PHA-665752 and PF-2341066, for anti-proliferative activity by MTS assay and cell proliferation assay on human prostate cancer cell lines with different levels of androgen sensitivity. We also used renal subcapsular and castrated orthotopic xenograft mouse models to assess the effect of the inhibitors on prostate tumor formation and progression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of PHA-665752 and PF-2341066 on the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells and the phosphorylation of c-Met. The effect on cell proliferation was stronger in androgen insensitive cells. The c-Met inhibitor, PF-2341066, significantly reduced growth of prostate tumor cells in the renal subcapsular mouse model and the castrated orthotopic mouse model. The effect on cell proliferation was greater following castration.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The c-Met inhibitors demonstrated anti-proliferative efficacy when combined with androgen ablation therapy for advanced prostate cancer.</p

Basic Atomic Physics

Contains reports on seven research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant PHY 87-06560)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAL03-86-K-0001)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAL03-89-C-0002)National Science Foundation (Grant PHY 86-05893)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-83-K-0695)U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research (Contract N00014-89-J-1207

Basic Atomic Physics

Contains reports on five research projects.National Science Foundation Grant PHY 89-19381U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-90-J-1322Joint Services Electronics Program Contract DAAL03-89-C-0001Joint Services Electronics Program Contract DAAL03-92-C-0001U.S. Army Research Office Contract DAAL03-89-K-0082U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-89-J-1207U.S. Navy - Office of Naval Research Grant N00014-90-J-1642National Science Foundation Grant PHY 86-05893National Science Foundation Grant PHY 89-2176

SJS/TEN 2019: From science to translation.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) are potentially life-threatening, immune-mediated adverse reactions characterized by widespread erythema, epidermal necrosis, and detachment of skin and mucosa. Efforts to grow and develop functional international collaborations and a multidisciplinary interactive network focusing on SJS/TEN as an uncommon but high burden disease will be necessary to improve efforts in prevention, early diagnosis and improved acute and long-term management. SJS/TEN 2019: From Science to Translation was a 1.5-day scientific program held April 26-27, 2019, in Vancouver, Canada. The meeting successfully engaged clinicians, researchers, and patients and conducted many productive discussions on research and patient care needs