Alkalinisation does not enhance the antimicrobial properties of local anaesthetic solutions

Background: The purpose of the study was to examine the previously reported finding that the addition of bicarbonate to lignocaine enhanced the antimicrobial effect of the local anaesthetic agent on a range of bacteria implicated in epidural infections and to determine if this would also hold true for bupivacaine.Methods: Bupivacaine at a concentration of 0.25% and lignocaine at a concentration of 1% with and without an alkaline buffer were inoculated with suspensions of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli. The mixtures were plated on 2% blood agar plates immediately (T = 0) and after 24 hours at room temperature (T = 24), and numbers of colonies were recorded. The difference in the number of colonies between T = 0 and T = 24 was expressed as a fraction of the T=0 value, giving a percentage inhibition of colony growth. Statistical testing was performed using Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparisons of mean ranks between all groups.Results: At concentrations of 0.25% bupivacaine and 1% lignocaine, these findings suggest that 1% lignocaine has no antibacterial activity. The addition of bicarbonate has no influence.Conclusions: Bupivacaine has significant antibacterial activity, but the addition of bicarbonate has no influence.

Modelling the emergence of whisker barrels

Brain development relies on an interplay between genetic specification and self-organization. Striking examples of this relationship can be found in the somatosensory brainstem, thalamus, and cortex of rats and mice, where the arrangement of the facial whiskers is preserved in the arrangement of cell aggregates to form precise somatotopic maps. We show in simulation how realistic whisker maps can self-organize, by assuming that information is exchanged between adjacent cells only, under the guidance of gene expression gradients. The resulting model provides a simple account of how patterns of gene expression can constrain spontaneous pattern formation to faithfully reproduce functional maps in subsequent brain structures

Exploring the domestic relationship between mega-events and destination image: The image impact of hosting the 2012 Olympic Games for the city of London

Contemporarily, the hosting of mega-sport-events (MSEs) is one of several strategies used by cities and governments to bring about improvements in a place’s image and recognition. With that in mind, the overall aim of this study, underpinned by theoretical-methodological social representation theory, was to evaluate the domestic image impact of hosting the 2012 Summer Olympic Games for the city of London, and in doing so, whether any image-transfer (or co-branding) processes occurred between the place and event. In addition to adding to the emergent body of work aimed at using social representation theory to measure place image, the authors are among the first to employ a matched-sample research approach to measuring the impact of an MSE on the domestic perceptions of the host. Employing an abductive research strategy, a survey was carried out among the domestic English population (n=156) to identify cognitive and affective image components, in the form of social representations, of London as a city (or its place brand), the Olympics as a MSE, and the 2012 Games as a one-off event. The content and the structure of the pre-and post-event social representations were established (using image elements cited by at least 15% of the respondents), analysed (using hierarchical cluster analysis) and then compared (within- and between items) to determine whether any changes or image transfer occurred. The findings of this research reveal that the pre-event concerns regarding the hosting of the London 2012 Olympics and the potential of the event to negatively impact the city’s pre-established image, were, to a degree, fulfilled. Conversely, from an event perspective, respondents perceived the Olympics as a somewhat successful enterprise

Comparative study of essential elements in parts of Moringa oleifera plant as promedicine

This study presents the mineral composition of the parts of Moringa oleifera in Zaria. Samples of the parts were wet digested and analyzed for various minerals using Varian Instrument AA240FS for the atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The contents of Zn, Fe, Ca, Cu and Mg in the parts (roots, stem barks, pods, seed cases/shell, seeds and leaves) of Moringa oleifera were found to be 0.096, 0.872, 12.317, 0.008 and 2.076 mg/g in the roots respectively; 0.022, 0.412, 0.29.397, 0.005, and 3.729 mg/g in the stem barks respectively; 0.021, 0.017, 8.048, 0.003 and 1.827 mg/g in the pods respectively; 0.019, 0.056, 6.467, 0.002, and 1.551 mg/g in the seed cases/shells respectively; 0.017, 0.029, 4.217, 0.001 and 1.616 mg/g in the seeds respectively and in the leaves 0.017, 0.205, 19.974, 0.005 and 2.494 mg/g respectively. The contents of different minerals in the parts of M. oleifera varied from parts to parts. This variation in the contents of various minerals within the parts might be attributed to the variable uptake of minerals by the plant material and variable agro-climatic conditions of the subject region. The results of the present analysis revealed that parts of M. oleifera contained a considerably high amount of Zn, Fe, Ca, Cu and Mg that can be used as a viable supplement of medicinal and dietary minerals which makes it a promising pro-medicine.Keywords: Minerals, oleifera, dietary-supplement

Football fan relationships with their national associations: a trans-European perspective

Football fan relationships with their national associations: a trans-European perspectiv

An evaluation of the domestic pre-event social representations of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games

An evaluation of the domestic pre-event social representations of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Game

The image impact of second-order mega-events: a case study of the 2014 Commonwealth Games

The overall aim of this research, located within the critical realist research paradigm, and underpinned by social representation theory, is to evaluate the domestic image impact of hosting the 2014 CG for the city of Glasgow, and in doing so, determine the extent to which hosting this event represents an appropriate strategy to improve the city’s domestic image

Appetite for or resistance to consumption relationships? A trans-European perspective on the marketization of football fan relationships

Although most sport organisations are encouraged to better manage the relationships they maintain with fans, little is still known about the types of relationships that fans want to establish with sport organisations. Also, as most suggested management and marketing practices come from professional sport organisations and European contexts, it is questionable whether they can apply to all sports organisations, and whether they are received in the same way by diverse fans from various socio-cultural contexts. Thus, the study aimed to explore football fans’ relational expectations towards their national football association across Europe and attitudes towards this marketization. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with several casual and die-hard fans from three European countries chosen for their heterogeneity: Armenia, Lithuania and England. Overall, and possibly in contradiction with numerous publications dealing with club football, the fans from the three countries did not express clear opposition or resistance towards the marketization of their relationships towards their national teams and associations. English fans seemed quite neutral or indifferent although Armenian and Lithuanian fans presented many characteristics of brandom demonstrating an appetite for this marketization

Marketization of football fan relationships in Europe: appetence, indifference or resistance?

Marketization of football fan relationships in Europe: appetence, indifference or resistance

Solar Neutrinos with Three Flavor Mixings

The recent 71Ga solar neutrino observation is combined with the 37Cl and Kamiokande-II observations in an analysis for neutrino masses and mixings. The allowed parameter region is found for matter enhanced mixings among all three neutrino flavors. Distortions of the solar neutrino spectrum unique to three flavors are possible and may be observed in continuing and next generation experiments.Comment: August 1992 (Revised) PURD-TH-92-