Investigations on the Luminescence Properties of Quartz and Feldspars Extracted from Loess in the Canterbury Plains, New Zealand South Island

The applicability of the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol, by using the optically stimulated lumi-nescence (OSL) signal of quartz as well as the post-infrared–infrared (pIRIR) signals of polymineral fine grains, namely pIRIR225 and pIRIR290, was assessed for dating loess in New Zealand South Island. OSL signals of quartz grains displayed low sensitivity. However, the application of repeated irradiation/bleaching cycles did not result in an increase in sensitivity; annealing in the 300–500°C temperature range generated the sensitisation of both the 110°C thermoluminescence (TL) peak as well as the OSL signal, likely by activation of yet unidentified luminescence centres. After heating, the quartz signal is comparable to that of ideal samples, but the annealing is precluding successful dating. On the other hand, feldspar infrared-stimulated signals displayed satisfactory properties, al-lowing estimation of ages ranging from 14 ± 1–29 ± 3 ka for the investigated deposit. It was shown that pIRIR225 and pIRIR290 methods have potential for dating loess in the South Island of New Zealand, based on the following observations: (i) Dose recovery tests were successful with recovered-to-given dose ratios with a <10% deviation from unity, (ii) constant residual values of about 4 Gy and about 10 Gy were obtained after exposures for 48 h in the case of pIRIR225 signals and 96 h in the case of pIRIR290 signals, respectively, (iii) while a slight dose-dependence of the residual was reported, and for a dose as large as 1600 Gy the residual values are ≅9 Gy and ≅19 Gy for pIRIR225 and pIRIR290 signals, respectively

Tallaba

Ġabra ta’ poeżiji u proża li tinkludi: Il-Bravi fid-Dar ta’ Luċija ta’ Dun Pawl – X’Qasma ta’ Qalb ta’ C. M. D – Innu ta’ G. M. A. – Ġens il-Malti ta’ R. Briffa – It-Tallaba minn ta’ Matilde Serao ta’ Ġużè Micallef GoggiN/

Bott periodicity and stable quantum classes

We use Bott periodicity to relate previously defined quantum classes to certain "exotic Chern classes" on $BU$. This provides an interesting computational and theoretical framework for some Gromov-Witten invariants connected with cohomological field theories. This framework has applications to study of higher dimensional, Hamiltonian rigidity aspects of Hofer geometry of $\mathbb{CP} ^{n}$, one of which we discuss here.Comment: prepublication versio

Increasing repeat chlamydia testing in Family Planning clinics depends on perception of value and availability of low-burden flexible reminder systems.

Re‐infection after a chlamydia infection is common: 22% of young Australian women are re‐infected within 4‐5months (Walker, et al, 2012). Re‐infections increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) by 4‐6 fold (Bowring, et al, 2011). Retesting is an important strategy to detect re‐infection. Clinical guidelines note that repeat testing at least three months after a positive diagnosis be considered. AIM: To understand Australian Family Planning clinicians’ practices and perceptions of repeat chlamydia testing.CONCLUSION: Reminder systems to support repeat testing of positive chlamydia tests had been implemented in some FPCs, with low workload impact. It was too early for evaluation of clinical success. These FPCs could share locally developed systems and positive experiences with FPCs skeptical about their value. This may also enhance awareness of the clinical value of retesting and the consequences of re‐ infection. Audits may help determine if clients are indeed being caught through repeat visits and opportunistic testing

Political risk in light rail transit PPP projects

Since 2003 public-private partnerships (PPPs) have represented between 10 and 13.5% of the total investment in public services in the UK. The macro-economic and political benefits of PPPs were among the key drivers for central government's decision to promote this form of procurement to improve UK public services. Political support for a PPP project is critical and is frequently cited as the most important critical success factor. This paper investigates the significance of political support and reviews the treatment of political risk in a business case by the public sector project sponsor for major UK-based light rail transit PPP projects during their development stage. The investigation demonstrates that in the early project stages it is not traditional quantitative Monte Carlo risk analysis that is important; rather it is the identification and representation of political support within a business case together with an understanding of how this information is then used to inform critical project decisions

Increasing repeat chlamydia testing in Family Planning clinics depends on perception of value and availability of low-burden flexible reminder systems.

Re‐infection after a chlamydia infection is common: 22% of young Australian women are re‐infected within 4‐5months (Walker, et al, 2012). Re‐infections increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) by 4‐6 fold (Bowring, et al, 2011). Retesting is an important strategy to detect re‐infection. Clinical guidelines note that repeat testing at least three months after a positive diagnosis be considered. AIM: To understand Australian Family Planning clinicians’ practices and perceptions of repeat chlamydia testing.CONCLUSION: Reminder systems to support repeat testing of positive chlamydia tests had been implemented in some FPCs, with low workload impact. It was too early for evaluation of clinical success. These FPCs could share locally developed systems and positive experiences with FPCs skeptical about their value. This may also enhance awareness of the clinical value of retesting and the consequences of re‐ infection. Audits may help determine if clients are indeed being caught through repeat visits and opportunistic testing

Bridging the data gaps in the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Malaysia using multi-parameter evidence synthesis

BACKGROUND: Collecting adequate information on key epidemiological indicators is a prerequisite to informing a public health response to reduce the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Malaysia. Our goal was to overcome the acute data shortage typical of low/middle income countries using statistical modelling to estimate the national HCV prevalence and the distribution over transmission pathways as of the end of 2009. METHODS: Multi-parameter evidence synthesis methods were applied to combine all available relevant data sources - both direct and indirect - that inform the epidemiological parameters of interest. RESULTS: An estimated 454,000 (95% credible interval [CrI]: 392,000 to 535,000) HCV antibody-positive individuals were living in Malaysia in 2009; this represents 2.5% (95% CrI: 2.2-3.0%) of the population aged 15-64 years. Among males of Malay ethnicity, for 77% (95% CrI: 69-85%) the route of probable transmission was active or a previous history of injecting drugs. The corresponding proportions were smaller for male Chinese and Indian/other ethnic groups (40% and 71%, respectively). The estimated prevalence in females of all ethnicities was 1% (95% CrI: 0.6 to 1.4%); 92% (95% CrI: 88 to 95%) of infections were attributable to non-drug injecting routes of transmission. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalent number of persons living with HCV infection in Malaysia is estimated to be very high. Low/middle income countries often lack a comprehensive evidence base; however, evidence synthesis methods can assist in filling the data gaps required for the development of effective policy to address the future public health and economic burden due to HCV. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12879-014-0564-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Basal cell carcinomas without histological confirmation and their treatment : an audit in four European regions

Summary- Background: Limited data are available on how often basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are clinically diagnosed without histological confirmation and how they are treated. Objectives Within the framework of the EPIDERM project, an audit was conducted in four European countries to study the occurrence of clinically diagnosed BCCs without histological confirmation and to investigate how these are treated. Methods: In the Netherlands, Scotland, Finland and Malta studies were performed within different timeframes. Patients with one or more BCC(s) were selected and the number of clinically diagnosed BCCs without histological confirmation and their treatment was investigated by (manually) reviewing the (electronic) patient records and checking the (hospital) pathology databases to find evidence of histological confirmation. Results: In the Netherlands, 1089 patients with a first histologically confirmed BCC developed 1974 BCCs of which 1833 (92.9%) were histologically confirmed and 141 (7.1%) were not. A 4-month retrospective study conducted in Scotland selected 294 patients with 344 BCCs; 306 (89.0%) were histologically confirmed and 38 (11.0%) were not. A 3-month prospective study performed at the same centre in Scotland identified 44 patients who developed 58 BCCs; 44 (75.9%) of these were histologically confirmed and 14 (24.1%) were not. In Finland, there were 701 patients who developed 977 BCCs, of which 807 (82.6%) were histologically and 170 (17.4%) nonhistologically confirmed. In Malta, there were 420 patients with 477 BCCs. Only three (0.7%) of them were clinically diagnosed without histological confirmation. In the Netherlands and Finland, clinically diagnosed BCCs without histological confirmation were most often treated with cryotherapy, whereas in Scotland 5% imiquimod cream was the preferred treatment modality. Conclusions: Although the frequency of clinically diagnosed BCCs without histological confirmation differed between the four European regions (range 0.7-24.1%), this confirms that the burden of BCC in Europe is underestimated when based on data from pathology and/or cancer registries.peer-reviewe