Optical and ESR studies on an IR absorption band in CsI:Na after x-ray irradiation

The nature of the defect giving rise to a near IR absorption band (717 nm)in x-irradiated CaI:Na by measuring its linear dichroism, its magnetic CD and its change due to the resonance microwave was studied. The defect (g|| = 1.96, g\u27Û = 2.23 with axis near 100\u27r) involves a Na+ ion and an excess electron

Demographic and psychological predictors of community pharmacists’ cancer-related conversations with patients: a cross-sectional analysis and survey study

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in the role of community pharmacy in the early diagnosis and prevention of cancer. This study set out to examine how often community pharmacists (CPs) encourage patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer, and how often they help people to make an informed decision about taking part in bowel cancer screening. METHODS: Data from 400 UK CPs, who completed the 2018 Cancer Research UK Healthcare Professional Tracker survey, were analysed. The primary outcomes were: ‘how often CPs encourage patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer’ and ‘how often CPs encourage eligible people to make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening’. Associations between behaviours and demographic and psychological variables (Capability, Opportunity and Motivation) were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Most (n = 331, 82.8%) CPs reported occasionally, frequently or always encouraging patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer, while only half (n = 203, 50.8%) reported occasionally, frequently or always helping people make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening. Female sex (aOR: 3.20, 95%CI: 1.51, 6.81; p < 0.01) and increased Opportunity (aOR: 1.72, 95%CIs: 1.12, 2.64; p < 0.05) and Motivation (aOR: 1.76, 95%CIs: 1.37, 2.27; p < 0.001) were associated with encouraging patients to spot or respond to potential signs and symptoms of cancer; all three psychological variables were associated with helping people to make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening (Capability: aOR: 1.39, 95%CIs: 1.26, 1.52, p < 0.001; Opportunity: aOR: 1.44, 95%CIs: 1.11, 1.87; p < 0.01; Motivation: aOR: 1.45, 95%CIs: 1.05, 2.00; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Most CPs encourage patients to spot or respond to potential cancer symptoms, while only half help them make an informed decision to participate in bowel cancer screening. A multifaceted approach, targeting multiple COM-B components, is required to change these behaviours

Disease and treatment patterns among patients with pouch-related conditions in a cohort of large tertiary care inflammatory bowel disease centers in the United States

BACKGROUND: Gaps exist in our understanding of the clinical course of pouch-related disorders. METHODS: We evaluated baseline disease activity and longitudinal treatment patterns among patients with inflammatory conditions of the pouch. RESULTS: Among 468 patients with an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA), 94 (20%) had acute pouchitis, 96 (21%) had chronic pouchitis, and 192 (41%) had Crohn disease of the pouch. Following an IPAA, 38% of patients were treated with a biologic and 11% underwent inflammatory bowel disease- or bowel-related surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment patterns after IPAA indicate that pouch-related disorders have a significant impact on individual patients and the healthcare system

Stepwise complexometric determination of aluminium, titanium and iron concentrations in silica sand and allied materials

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study aimed at measuring the quantities of Al, Ti and Fe in silica sand and allied materials employing a complexometric method in the same analyte and a stepwise indirect titration with EDTA. The method involves the complexation of Al, Ti and Fe with excess EDTA and the selective de-complexation of TiO-EDTA and Al-EDTA complexes with tartaric acid and NaF respectively. In addition to its simplicity, rapidity and accuracy, the proposed method does not require the use of a separation technique or any sophisticated instrumentation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Each of the test samples were analyzed five times using the proposed method. The method's accuracy was confirmed by analyzing the US National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Standard Reference Materials (SRM) 81a, 89 and IPT SRM 61 using the procedure proposed, in addition to analyzing Ti and Fe levels by spectrophotometry and that of Al by complexometry.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study shows that there is good agreement between the proposed and existing methods. The standard deviations of the measurements were calculated by analyzing five replicates of each sample, and were found to be less than 1.5% in our method.</p

Selective masking and demasking for the stepwise complexometric determination of aluminium, lead and zinc from the same solution

Background: A complexometric method based on selective masking and de-masking has been developed for the rapid determination of aluminium, lead and zinc from the same solution in glass and glass frit samples. The determination is carried out using potassium cyanide to mask zinc, and excess disodium salt of EDTA to mask lead and aluminium. The excess EDTA was titrated with standard Mn(II)SO(4) solution using Erichrome Black-T as the indicator. Subsequently selective de-masking agents - triethanolamine, 2,3-dimercaptopropanol and a formaldehyde/acetone mixture - were used to determine quantities of aluminium, lead and zinc in a stepwise and selective manner. Results: The accuracy of the method was established by analysing glass certified reference material NBS 1412. The standard deviation of the measurements, calculated by analysing five replicates of each sample, was found to be less than 1.5% for the method proposed. Conclusion: The novelty of the method lies in its simplicity and accuracy afforded by there not being a need for a prior separation or instrumentation. The proposed method was found to be highly selective for the precise determination of aluminum, zinc and lead in the routine analysis of glass batch and allied materials

Dietary patterns are not associated with disease activity among patients with inflammatory conditions of the pouch in a prospective cohort

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based recommendations regarding the influence of diet on inflammatory conditions of the pouch after restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) are limited. METHODS: We analyzed dietary patterns at enrollment in a prospective registry of patients with 1 of 4 inflammatory conditions of the pouch (acute pouchitis, chronic antibiotic-dependent pouchitis, chronic antibiotic refractory pouchitis, and Crohn\u27s disease of the pouch). We analyzed dietary intake by disease activity at enrollment and then compared dietary patterns among patients who remained in remission throughout the 12-month follow-up to those patients who experienced a disease relapse. We also compared dietary patterns among patients with inflammatory conditions of the pouch to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommended daily goals. RESULTS: Among 308 patients, there were no differences in dietary patterns among patients with 1 of the 4 disease states at enrollment. Additionally, among the 102 patients in remission at baseline, there were no significant differences noted among patients who went on to experience a disease flare in the 12 months after enrollment compared to those patients who remained in remission. However, patients with inflammatory conditions of the pouch demonstrated decreased intake of several food groups and macronutrients including dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fiber when compared to USDA recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: In a prospective cohort, we demonstrated no impact of dietary patterns on disease activity. The relative deficiencies in several food groups and macronutrients among patients after IPAA indicate the potential role of targeted nutritional counseling in this population

Treatment patterns and standardized outcome assessments among patients with inflammatory conditions of the pouch in a prospective multicenter registry

BACKGROUND: Much of our understanding about the natural history of pouch-related disorders has been generated from selected populations. We designed a geographically diverse, prospective registry to study the disease course among patients with 1 of 4 inflammatory conditions of the pouch. The primary objectives in this study were to demonstrate the feasibility of a prospective pouch registry and to evaluate the predominant treatment patterns for pouch-related disorders. METHODS: We used standardized diagnostic criteria to prospectively enroll patients with acute pouchitis, chronic antibiotic-dependent pouchitis (CADP), chronic antibiotic refractory pouchitis (CARP), or Crohn\u27s disease (CD) of the pouch. We obtained detailed clinical and demographic data at the time of enrollment, along with patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures. RESULTS: We enrolled 318 patients (10% acute pouchitis, 27% CADP, 12% CARP, and 51% CD of the pouch). Among all patients, 55% were on a biologic or small molecule therapy. Patients with CD of the pouch were more likely to use several classes of therapy ( CONCLUSIONS: In a population where most patients had refractory inflammatory conditions of the pouch, we established a framework to evaluate PROs and clinical effectiveness. This infrastructure will be valuable for long-term studies of real-world effectiveness for pouch-related disorders

Trematodes of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: emerging patterns of diversity and richness in coral reef fishes

The Great Barrier Reef holds the richest array of marine life found anywhere in Australia, including a diverse and fascinating parasite fauna. Members of one group, the trematodes, occur as sexually mature adult worms in almost all Great Barrier Reef bony fish species. Although the first reports of these parasites were made 100 years ago, the fauna has been studied systematically for only the last 25 years. When the fauna was last reviewed in 1994 there were 94 species known from the Great Barrier Reef and it was predicted that there might be 2,270 in total. There are now 326 species reported for the region, suggesting that we are in a much improved position to make an accurate prediction of true trematode richness. Here we review the current state of knowledge of the fauna and the ways in which our understanding of this fascinating group is changing. Our best estimate of the true richness is now a range, 1,100–1,800 species. However there remains considerable scope for even these figures to be incorrect given that fewer than one-third of the fish species of the region have been examined for trematodes. Our goal is a comprehensive characterisation of this fauna, and we outline what work needs to be done to achieve this and discuss whether this goal is practically achievable or philosophically justifiable