Suprathermal plasma observed on STS-3 Mission by plasma diagnostics package

Artificially produced electron beams were used extensively during the past decade as a means of probing the magnetosphere, and more recently as a means of actively controlling spacecraft potential. Experimentation in these areas has proven valuable, yet at times confusing, due to the interaction of the electron beam with the ambient plasma. The OSS-1/STS-3 Mission in March 1982 provided a unique opportunity to study beam-plasma interactions at an altitude of 240 km. On board for this mission was a Fast Pulse Electron Generator (FPEG). Measurements made by the Plasma Diagnostics Package (PDP) while extended on the Orbiter RMS show modifications of the ion and electron energy distributions during electron beam injection. Observations made by charged particle detectors are discussed and related to measurements of Orbiter potential. Several of the PDP instruments, the joint PDP/FPEG experiment, and observations made during electron beam injection are described

Legionellosis and biologic therapies

Background Biologic therapies are widely used in inflammatory diseases, and they are associated to an increased infection risk, especially to granulomatous and intracellular infections such as Legionella. Results A review of the literature revealed 105 cases of Legionella pneumonia in patients taking biologic therapies. Sixty-four patients (65.3%) were treated with infliximab, 23 (23.5%) with adalimumab, 5 (5%) with etanercept and 3 (3%) with rituximab. Seventy-one per cent of the patients were treated for rheumatologic diseases and 16% for inflammatory bowel diseases. The majority of the patients received one or more concomitant immunosuppressive drugs, especially steroids (43%). Overall mortality was 19%. Legionella pneumonia might complicate therapy with biologic therapies, especially in patients being treated with infliximab or adalimumab given concomitantly with other immunosuppressive medications during their first 6 months of treatment. Conclusion Physicians should be aware of this potentially severe association. Early recognition and treatment would likely result in reduced morbidity and mortality

GABA-B receptor function in healthy volunteers, a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of two doses of baclofen compared to placebo

AIMS AND HYPOTHESIS To assess the subjective and objective effects of baclofen on brain function in healthy volunteers. BACKGROUND Recent evidence suggests baclofen, a γ-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA-B) receptor agonist, reduces alcohol consumption and craving and promotes abstinence in alcoholics. However, characterisation of the GABA-B receptor system in clinical addiction is limited, and it is unclear why some patients require, or tolerate, higher doses to treat alcoholism. This study assesses the effects of baclofen on brain function in healthy volunteers to inform future studies investigating the sensitivity of GABA-B receptors in alcohol addiction. METHODS Eight healthy male volunteers completed a double blind randomised 3-way cross over study, receiving oral placebo (vitamin C 100mg), 10mg and 60mg baclofen. Subjective and objective measurements were taken at baseline (before medication) and at +30mins, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 hours after dosing. Objective measures included blood plasma samples, heart rate and blood pressure. Subjective measures included; the Subjective High Assessment Questionnaire (SHAS), visual analogue scales for sleepy, relaxed, tense and alert and a motor coordination task (zig-zag task). Pharmacokinetic data was obtained using liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) to measure plasma baclofen concentrations. RESULTS 60mg Baclofen showed changes in subjective measures peaking at 2 hours post dosing compared with placebo, including a significant increase (p<0.05) in total SHAS scores with individual items, including feeling ‘drunk or intoxicated’, effects of alcohol and ‘muddled or confused’ particular affected.. Systolic blood pressure was significantly increased (p<0.05) at the 2 hours post 60mg dose. For both 10mg and 60mg baclofen, peak plasma concentration was achieved 60 minutes post dose. Pharmacokinetic data will be presented. There were no significant changes in these measures between 10mg Baclofen and placebo. CONCLUSIONS The objective and subjective measures used in this study are able to differentiate between placebo and 60mg baclofen. These findings will inform further research investigating the sensitivity of GABA-B receptors in alcohol addiction

Glass transition temperature prediction of disordered molecular solids

Abstract Glass transition temperature, T g, is the key quantity for assessing morphological stability and molecular ordering of films of organic semiconductors. A reliable prediction of T g from the chemical structure is, however, challenging, as it is sensitive to both molecular interactions and analysis of the heating or cooling process. By combining a fitting protocol with an automated workflow for forcefield parameterization, we predict T g with a mean absolute error of ~20 °C for a set of organic compounds with T g in the 50–230 °C range. Our study establishes a reliable and automated prescreening procedure for the design of amorphous organic semiconductors, essential for the optimization and development of organic light-emitting diodes

Scaling and self-similarity in an unforced flow of inviscid fluid trapped inside a viscous fluid in a Hele-Shaw cell

We investigate quasi-two-dimensional relaxation, by surface tension, of a long straight stripe of inviscid fluid trapped inside a viscous fluid in a Hele-Shaw cell. Combining analytical and numerical solutions, we describe the emergence of a self-similar dumbbell shape and find non-trivial dynamic exponents that characterize scaling behavior of the dumbbell dimensions.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in PR

Do Human Extraintestinal Escherichia coli Infections Resistant to Expanded-Spectrum Cephalosporins Originate From Food-Producing Animals? A Systematic Review

To find out whether food-producing animals (FPAs) are a source of extraintestinal expanded-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli (ESCR-EC) infections in humans, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically reviewed. Thirty-four original, peer-reviewed publications were identified for inclusion. Six molecular epidemiology studies supported the transfer of resistance via whole bacterium transmission (WBT), which was best characterized among poultry in the Netherlands. Thirteen molecular epidemiology studies supported transmission of resistance via mobile genetic elements, which demonstrated greater diversity of geography and host FPA. Seventeen molecular epidemiology studies did not support WBT and two did not support mobile genetic element-mediated transmission. Four observational epidemiology studies were consistent with zoonotic transmission. Overall, there is evidence that a proportion of human extraintestinal ESCR-EC infections originate from FPAs. Poultry, in particular, is probably a source, but the quantitative and geographical extent of the problem is unclear and requires further investigation

Systematic review and meta-analysis of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity associated with dosing schedules that maintain troughs between 15 and 20 milligrams per liter

In an effort to maximize outcomes, recent expert guidelines recommend more-intensive vancomycin dosing schedules to maintain vancomycin troughs between 15 and 20 mg/liter.The widespread use of these more-intensive regimens has been associated with an increase in vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity reports.The purpose of this systematic literature review is to determine the nephrotoxicity potential of maintaining higher troughs in clinical practice.All studies pertaining to vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity between 1996 and April 2012 were identified from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trial Registry, and Medline databases and analyzed according to Cochrane guidelines.Of the initial 240 studies identified, 38 were reviewed, and 15 studies met the inclusion criteria.Overall, higher troughs ( >15 mg/liter) were associated with increased odds of nephrotoxicity (odds ratio [OR], 2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.95 to 3.65) relative to lower troughs of >15 mg/liter.The relationship between a trough of >15 mg/liter and nephrotoxicity persisted when the analysis was restricted to studies that examined only initial trough concentrations (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.81 to 5.37).The relationship between troughs of >15 mg/liter and nephrotoxicity persisted after adjustment for covariates known to independently increase the risk of a nephrotoxicity event.An incremental increase in nephrotoxicity was also observed with longer durations of vancomycin administration.Vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity was reversible in the majority of cases, with short-term dialysis required only in 3% of nephrotoxic episodes.The collective literature indicates that an exposure-nephrotoxicity relationship for vancomycin exists.The probability of a nephrotoxic event increased as a function of the trough concentration and duration of therapy

Re-Inventing Public Education:The New Role of Knowledge in Education Policy-Making

This article focuses on the changing role of knowledge in education policy making within the knowledge society. Through an examination of key policy texts, the Scottish case of Integrated Children Services provision is used to exemplify this new trend. We discuss the ways in which knowledge is being used in order to re-configure education as part of a range of public services designed to meet individuals' needs. This, we argue, has led to a 'scientization' of education governance where it is only knowledge, closely intertwined with action (expressed as 'measures') that can reveal problems and shape solutions. The article concludes by highlighting the key role of knowledge policy and governance in orienting education policy making through a re-invention of the public role of education