Plasma Emission Redistribution in a Single Cylce of a Pulsed DC Magnetron

Time-resolved images of the optical emissions from a pulsed dc titanium target planar rectangular sputtering magnetron plasma were taken using Argon spectral filters and a Roper Scientific ICCD camera with a time resolution of 0.05-0.2 μs. At the beginning of the \u27on-time\u27, when the power is turned on, the discharge initially starts preferentially in two opposite curved sections (\u27cross corners\u27) of the magnetron race track, where it exhibits the most intense plasma emissions. During the rest of the \u27on-time\u27, the emissions from the straight sections of the race track of the magnetron are always slightly more intense than the emissions from the curved sections of the race track. This pattern extends into the start of the \u27off-time\u27, when the power is turned off. In an effort to explain this \u27plasma emission redistribution (PER)\u27 effect, we used a Monte Carlo (MC) approach to simulate the optical emissions from our pulsed dc magnetron plasma. The simulation reproduces the PER effect, which can be linked to the specific electric (E) and magnetic (B) field spatial distributions and electric field distribution temporal variations in conjunction with the electron E x B drift

Semantics in the wild : a digital assistant for Flemish citizens

Public service fragmentation across more than 800 digital channels of government administrations in the region of Flanders (Belgium), causes administrative burden and frustrations, as citizens expect a coherent service. Given the autonomy of the various entities, the fragmentation of information and budget constraints, it is not feasible to rewire the entire e-gov ecosystem to a single portal. Therefore, the Flemish Government is building a smart digital assistant, which supports citizens on the governmental portals, by integrating status information of various transactions. This paper outlines our ongoing research on a method for raising semantic interoperability between different information systems and actors. In this approach, semantic agreements are maintained and implemented end-to-end using the design principles of Linked Data. The lessons learned can speed-up the process in other countries that face the complexity of integrating e-government portals

Resolving Stellar Populations outside the Local Group: MAD observations of UKS2323-326

We present a study aimed at deriving constraints on star formation at intermediate ages from the evolved stellar populations in the dwarf irregular galaxy UKS2323-326. These observations were also intended to demonstrate the scientific capabilities of the multi-conjugated adaptive optics demonstrator (MAD) implemented at the ESO Very Large Telescope as a test-bench of adaptive optics (AO) techniques. We perform accurate, deep photometry of the field using J and Ks band AO images of the central region of the galaxy. The near-infrared (IR) colour-magnitude diagrams clearly show the sequences of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, red supergiants, and red giant branch (RGB) stars down to ~1 mag below the RGB tip. Optical-near-IR diagrams, obtained by combining our data with Hubble Space Telescope observations, provide the best separation of stars in the various evolutionary stages. The counts of AGB stars brighter than the RGB tip allow us to estimate the star formation at intermediate ages. Assuming a Salpeter initial mass function, we find that the star formation episode at intermediate ages produced ~6x10^5 M_sun of stars in the observed region.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A Letter

Pan-European early switch/early discharge opportunities exist for hospitalised patients with methicillin-resistant <em>Staphylococcus</em> <em>aureus</em> complicated skin and soft-tissue infections

AbstractThe objective of this study was to document pan-European real-world treatment patterns and healthcare resource use and estimate opportunities for early switch (ES) from intravenous (IV) to oral antibiotics and early discharge (ED) in hospitalized patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs). This retrospective observational medical chart review study enrolled 342 physicians across 12 European countries who collected data from 1542 patients with documented MRSA cSSTI who were hospitalized (July 2010 to June 2011) and discharged alive (by July 2011). Data included clinical characteristics and outcomes, hospital length of stay (LOS), MRSA-targeted IV and oral antibiotic use, and ES and ED eligibility according to literature-based and expert-validated criteria. The most frequent initial MRSA-active antibiotics were vancomycin (50.2%), linezolid (15.1%), clindamycin (10.8%), and teicoplanin (10.4%). Patients discharged with MRSA-active antibiotics (n = 480) were most frequently prescribed linezolid (42.1%) and clindamycin (19.8%). IV treatment duration (9.3 ± 6.5 vs. 14.6 ± 9.9 days; p <0.001) and hospital LOS (19.1 ± 12.9 vs. 21.0 ± 18.2 days; p 0.162) tended to be shorter for patients switched from IV to oral treatment than for patients who received IV treatment only. Of the patients, 33.6% met ES criteria and could have discontinued IV treatment 6.0 ± 5.5 days earlier, and 37.9% met ED criteria and could have been discharged 6.2 ± 8.2 days earlier. More than one-third of European patients hospitalized for MRSA cSSTI could be eligible for ES and ED, resulting in substantial reductions in IV days and bed-days, with potential savings of €2000 per ED-eligible patient

M & L Jaargang 7/1

GeneriekJuul Slembrouck, Paul Stryckers, Piet Gillard en Herman Van den Bossche Het Boekenbergpark in Deurne (Antwerpen). [The Boekenberg park at Deurne (Antwerp).]Meer dan ooit is deze uit 1911 daterende, tot de verbeelding sprekende omschrijving van het Boekenbergpark in Deurne op zijn plaats.Nu een aangepast beheer en een wandelbrochure actief aanzetten tot passieve recreatie, gaat Herman Van den Bossche, ruim vijf jaar nà M&L 1/6, over tot een stand van zaken.Marjan Buyle Een middeleeuws stripverhaal. De conservering van een 15de-eeuwse kruisdraging in de Antwerpse kathedraal. [A medieval cartoon. The conservation of a 15th-century Bearing-of-the-Cross in the Antwerp Our Ladys cathedral.]Geen zinnig mens kan heden nog het uitermate artificiële ontkennen van onze hagelwitte middeleeuwse kathedralen.Flard na flard, helaas nog steeds te vaak bij toeval, hertekent zich intussen een rijkelijke, originele binnendecoratie.In de Antwerpse Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal ondervond Marjan Buyle aldus andermaal hoe verrassend het ene kruis een ander kan verbergen.E. Roekens, L. Leysen, R. Van Grieken en E. Keppens Verwering van historische gebouwen door luchtverontreiniging. De Sint-Romboutskathedraal in Mechelen. [Chemical weathering of historic buildings by air pollution. The Saint-Rombouts cathedral at Mechelen.]Het gegeven noch de resultaten zijn geheel nieuw te noemen. De effect-analyse van luchtpollutie op historische gebouwen, in opdracht van het Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap uitgevoerd door E. Roekens, L. Leysen, R. Van Grieken (U.I.A.) en E. Keppens (V.U.B.), is in haar toepassing op de Mechelse Sint-Romboutskathedraal nochtans voldoende beangstigend voor enige extra aandacht.Jos Martens, Sieg Vlaeminck en Louis Coolen Het Capucijnenklooster te Sint-Truiden. Een maatschappelijke toekomst voor een religieus verleden. [The monastery of the Capuchins at St. Truiden. A social future for a relgious past.]Verlaten door de oorspronkelijke kloosterlingen, na wisselend gebruik bestemd voor afbraak, beschermd als monument Een routine-gegeven.Maar hoe krijg je nu een herbestemmingsproject voor een dergelijk complex ensemble bijvoorbeeld voor het O.C.M.W. van Sint-Truiden effectief van de grond?Met andere woorden: wàt met de gebundelde inspanningen van Jos Martens, Sieg Vlaeminck en Louis Coolen?SummaryM&L Foto-reportag

Is antimicrobial stewardship cost-effective? A narrative review of the evidence

Aims This narrative review aimed to collate recent evidence on the cost-effectiveness and cost–benefit of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programmes, to address the question ‘is AMS cost-effective?’, while providing resources and guidance for future research in this area. Sources PubMed was searched for studies assessing the cost-effectiveness, cost–utility or cost–benefit of AMS interventions in humans, published from January 2000 to March 2017, with no setting inclusion/exclusion criteria specified. Reference lists of retrieved reviews were searched for additional articles. Content Recent evidence on the cost-effectiveness and cost–benefit of AMS is described, studies suggest persuasive and structural AMS interventions may provide health economic benefits to the hospital setting. However, overall, cost-effectiveness evidence for AMS is severely limited, especially for the community setting. Recommendations for future research in this area are therefore provided, including discussion of appropriate health economic methodological choice. Implications Health systems have a finite and decreasing resource, decision makers currently do not have necessary evidence to assess whether AMS programmes provide sufficient benefits. Although the evidence-base of the cost-effectiveness of AMS is increasing, it remains inadequate for investment decision-making. Robust health economics research needs to be completed to enhance the generalizability and usability of cost-effectiveness results

Quality indicators for responsible antibiotic use in the inpatient setting: a systematic review followed by an international multidisciplinary consensus procedure

Background This study was conducted as part of the Driving Reinvestment in Research and Development and Responsible Antibiotic Use (DRIVE-AB) project and aimed to develop generic quality indicators (QIs) for responsible antibiotic use in the inpatient setting. Methods A RAND-modified Delphi method was applied. First, QIs were identified by a systematic review. A complementary search was performed on web sites of relevant organizations. Duplicates were removed and disease and patient-specific QIs were combined into generic indicators. The relevance of these QIs was appraised by a multidisciplinary international stakeholder panel through two questionnaires and an in-between consensus meeting. Results The systematic review retrieved 70 potential generic QIs. The QIs were appraised by 25 international stakeholders with diverse backgrounds (medical community, public health, patients, antibiotic research and development, regulators, governments). Ultimately, 51 QIs were selected in consensus. QIs with the highest relevance score included: (i) an antibiotic plan should be documented in the medical record at the start of the antibiotic treatment; (ii) the results of bacteriological susceptibility testing should be documented in the medical record; (iii) the local guidelines should correspond to the national guidelines but should be adapted based on local resistance patterns; (iv) an antibiotic stewardship programme should be in place at the healthcare facility; and (v) allergy status should be taken into account when antibiotics are prescribed. Conclusions This systematic and stepwise method combining evidence from literature and stakeholder opinion led to multidisciplinary international consensus on generic inpatient QIs that can be used globally to assess the quality of antibiotic use

Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Supported by F. Hoffmann–La Roche