The energy dependent Pál–Bell equation and the influence of the neutron energy on the survival probability in a supercritical medium

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Safety and efficacy of fluticasone propionate in the topical treatment of skin diseases

Fluticasone propionate - the first carbothioate corticosteroid - has been classified as a potent anti-inflammatory drug for dermatological use. It is available as 0.05% cream and 0.005% ointment formulations for the acute and maintenance treatment of patients with dermatological disorders such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and vitiligo. This glucocorticoid is characterized by high lipophilicity, high glucocorticoid receptor binding and activation, and a rapid metabolic turnover in skin. Although skin blanching following fluticasone propionate exceeds that of corticosteroids of medium strength, several clinical trials demonstrate a low potential for cutaneous and systemic side-effects, even in difficult-to-treat areas like the face, the eyelids and intertriginous areas. Even among paediatric patients with atopic dermatitis, fluticasone propionate proved to be safe and effective. These pharmacological and clinical properties are reflected by the high therapeutic index of this glucocorticoid

Spatial Effects in Low Neutron Source Start-up and Associated Stochastic Phenomena

This work concerns the calculation of the neutron source strength necessary to start up a nuclear reactor such that the likelihood of an undesirable stochastic transient is reduced to a specified value (e.g. 10−8). We extend our earlier point model work on low source calculations to include the spatial variation of the neutron source. Results for the source multiplier for a given safety factor are obtained for slab, cylindrical and spherical systems. The spatial term in the Pál-Bell equation is dealt with by Chebyshev-Gauss-Lobatto collocation methods and this enables an extrapolation distance to be included, thereby simulating a reflector. Results are given for a range of system sizes, and corresponding source multipliers for safe source determination are obtained. The saddlepoint method is used to invert the generating function. In addition to the low source calculations, we have also tested the collocation method on the survival probability in a sphere which demonstrates excellent convergence. We also comment on the usefulness of the Gamma pdf for spatially dependent problems. For clarity of presentation, some of the detailed mathematical work is relegated to Appendices

CALLISTO-SPK: A Stochastic Point Kinetics Code for Performing Low Source Nuclear Power Plant Start-up and Power Ascension Calculations

This paper presents the theory and application of a code called CALLISTO which is used for performing NPP start-up and power ascension calculations. The CALLISTO code is designed to calculate various values relating to the neutron population of a nuclear system which contains a low number of neutrons. These variables include the moments of the PDF of the neutron population, the maturity time and the source multiplier. The code itself is based upon the mathematics presented in another paper and utilises representations of the neutron population which are independent of both space and angle but allows for the specification of an arbitrary number of energy groups. Five examples of the use of the code are presented. Comparison is performed against results found in the literature and the degree of agreement is discussed. In general the agreement is found to be good and, where it is not, plausible explanations for discrepancies are presented. The final two cases presented examine the effect of the number of neutron groups included and finds that, for the systems simulated, there is no significant difference in the key results of the code

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Knowledge and Perceptions of Health Risks Associated with Arsenic and Mercury Contamination from Artisanal Gold mining in Tanzania.

An estimated 0.5 to 1.5 million informal miners, of whom 30-50% are women, rely on artisanal mining for their livelihood in Tanzania. Mercury, used in the processing gold ore, and arsenic, which is a constituent of some ores, are common occupational exposures that frequently result in widespread environmental contamination. Frequently, the mining activities are conducted haphazardly without regard for environmental, occupational, or community exposure. The primary objective of this study was to assess community risk knowledge and perception of potential mercury and arsenic toxicity and/or exposure from artisanal gold mining in Rwamagasa in northwestern Tanzania. A cross-sectional survey of respondents in five sub-villages in the Rwamagasa Village located in Geita District in northwestern Tanzania near Lake Victoria was conducted. This area has a history of artisanal gold mining and many of the population continue to work as miners. Using a clustered random selection approach for recruitment, a total of 160 individuals over 18 years of age completed a structured interview. The interviews revealed wide variations in knowledge and risk perceptions concerning mercury and arsenic exposure, with 40.6% (n=65) and 89.4% (n=143) not aware of the health effects of mercury and arsenic exposure respectively. Males were significantly more knowledgeable (n=59, 36.9%) than females (n=36, 22.5%) with regard to mercury (x²=3.99, p<0.05). An individual's occupation category was associated with level of knowledge (x²=22.82, p=<0.001). Individuals involved in mining (n=63, 73.2%) were more knowledgeable about the negative health effects of mercury than individuals in other occupations. Of the few individuals (n=17, 10.6%) who knew about arsenic toxicity, the majority (n=10, 58.8%) were miners. The knowledge of individuals living in Rwamagasa, Tanzania, an area with a history of artisanal gold mining, varied widely with regard to the health hazards of mercury and arsenic. In these communities there was limited awareness of the threats to health associated with exposure to mercury and arsenic. This lack of knowledge, combined with minimal environmental monitoring and controlled waste management practices, highlights the need for health education, surveillance, and policy changes

Mandibular myiasis: A case report

Myiasis is a condition characterised by the infestation of live vertebrates with dipterous larvae. Myiasis is derived from the Greek word mya, meaning fly. Dipterans, (order Diptera), are two-winged insects known as true flies. Myiasis tends to occur in cutaneous, necrotic lesions of patients who have weak immune systems, who inhabit unhygienic environments. Maggot Debridement Therapy is an uncommon treatment of debriding necrotic tissue, with some utility. A case of mandibular myiasis involving a malignant mandibular lesion that was colonised by maggots is discussed

THE PROSPECT, PROMISES AND HINDRANCES OF STATIN BASE MOLECULES: LOOK BACK TO LOOK FORWARD

This review narrates the importance of the statin-based molecules and their inherent challenges during their administration. The chronological appearance of the statin, their source and the journey with time so to evolve as one of the successful cholesterol-lowering agents to prevent the morbidity and mortality especially related to coronary heart disease have been illustrated along with their recent utilities in neurodegenerative diseases. The statins, because of their respective physicochemical characters pose several challenges in regards to their effective administration to the patients. One of the major issues related their poor bioavailability is their aqueous solubility. The different approaches for the enhancement of solubility and hence bioavailability have been discussed systematically. This review finally suggests the importance of more related research in regards to their successful administration so to have greater realization of therapeutics efficiency.Keywords: Statin-based molecules, Poor solubility, Solubility enhancemen

Search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum in pp collisions at √ s = 8 TeV with the ATLAS detector

Results of a search for new phenomena in final states with an energetic jet and large missing transverse momentum are reported. The search uses 20.3 fb−1 of √ s = 8 TeV data collected in 2012 with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events are required to have at least one jet with pT > 120 GeV and no leptons. Nine signal regions are considered with increasing missing transverse momentum requirements between Emiss T > 150 GeV and Emiss T > 700 GeV. Good agreement is observed between the number of events in data and Standard Model expectations. The results are translated into exclusion limits on models with either large extra spatial dimensions, pair production of weakly interacting dark matter candidates, or production of very light gravitinos in a gauge-mediated supersymmetric model. In addition, limits on the production of an invisibly decaying Higgs-like boson leading to similar topologies in the final state are presente