Localization of dexamethasone within dendritic core-multishell (CMS) nanoparticles and skin penetration properties studied by multi-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy

The skin and especially the stratum corneum (SC) act as a barrier and protect epidermal cells and thus the whole body against xenobiotica of the external environment. Topical skin treatment requires an efficient drug delivery system (DDS). Polymer-based nanocarriers represent novel transport vehicles for dermal application of drugs. In this study dendritic core-multishell (CMS) nanoparticles were investigated as promising candidates. CMS nanoparticles were loaded with a drug (analogue) and were applied to penetration studies of skin. We determined by dual-frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) how dexamethasone (Dx) labelled with 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (PCA) is associated with the CMS. The micro-environment of the drug loaded to CMS nanoparticles was investigated by pulsed high-field EPR at cryogenic temperature, making use of the fact that magnetic parameters (g-, A-matrices, and spin-lattice relaxation time) represent specific probes for the micro-environment. Additionally, the rotational correlation time of spin-labelled Dx was probed by continuous wave EPR at ambient temperature, which provides independent information on the drug environment. Furthermore, the penetration depth of Dx into the stratum corneum of porcine skin after different topical applications was investigated. The location of Dx in the CMS nanoparticles is revealed and the function of CMS as penetration enhancers for topical application is shown

Isotropic-medium three-dimensional cloaks for acoustic and electromagnetic waves

We propose a generalization of the two-dimensional eikonal-limit cloak derived from a conformal transformation to three dimensions. The proposed cloak is a spherical shell composed of only isotropic media; it operates in the transmission mode and requires no mirror or ground plane. Unlike the well-known omnidirectional spherical cloaks, it may reduce visibility of an arbitrary object only for a very limited range of observation angles. In the short-wavelength limit, this cloaking structure restores not only the trajectories of incident rays, but also their phase, which is a necessary ingredient to complete invisibility. Both scalar-wave (acoustic) and transverse vector-wave (electromagnetic) versions are presented.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figure

Managing Climatic Risks to Combat Land Degradation and Enhance Food security: Key Information Needs

This paper discusses the key information needs to reduce the negative impacts of weather variability and climate change on land degradation and food security, and identifies the opportunities and barriers between the information and services needed. It suggests that vulnerability assessments based on a livelihood concept that includes climate information and key socio-economic variables can overcome the narrow focus of common one-dimensional vulnerability studies. Both current and future climatic risks can be managed better if there is appropriate policy and institutional support together with technological interventions to address the complexities of multiple risks that agriculture has to face. This would require effective partnerships among agencies dealing with meteorological and hydrological services, agricultural research, land degradation and food security issues. In addition a state-of-the-art infrastructure to measure, record, store and disseminate data on weather variables, and access to weather and seasonal climate forecasts at desired spatial and temporal scales would be needed

Thiomicrospira arctica sp nov and Thiomicrospira psychrophila sp nov., psychrophilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria isolated from marine Arctic sediments

Two psychrophilic, chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from marine Arctic sediments sampled off the coast of Svalbard with thiosulfate as the electron donor and CO(2) as carbon source. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that the novel strains, designated SVAL-D(T) and SVAL-E(T), represent members of the genus Thiomicrospira. Further genotypic (DNA-DNA relatedness, DNA G+C content) and phenotypic characterization revealed that the strains represent members of two novel species. Both organisms are obligately autotrophic and strictly aerobic. Nitrate was not used as an electron acceptor. Chemolithoautotrophic growth was observed with thiosulfate, tetrathionate and sulfur. The temperature limits for growth of both strains were between -2 degrees C and 20.8 degrees C, with optima of 11.5-13.2 degrees C (SVAL-E(T)) and 14.6-15.4 degrees C (SVAL-D(T)), which is about 13-15 degrees C lower than the optima of all other recognized Thiomicrospira species. The maximum growth rate on thiosulfate at 14 degrees C was 0.14 h(-1) for strain SVAL-E(T) and 0.2 h(-1) for strain SVAL-D(T). Major fatty acids of SVAL-D(T) are C(16 : 1), C(18 : 0) and C(16 : 0), and those of SVAL-E(T) are C(16 : 1), C(18 : 1), C(16 : 0) and C(14 : 1). Cells of SVAL-D(T) and SVAL-E(T) are rods, like those of their closest relatives. To our knowledge the novel strains are the first psychrophilic, chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria so far described. The names Thiomicrospira arctica sp. nov. and Thiomicrospira psychrophila sp. nov. are proposed for SVAL-E(T) (=ATCC 700955(T)=DSM 13458(T)) and SVAL-D(T) (=ATCC 700954(T)=DSM 13453(T)), respectively

P-Values as analytical tools in probabilistic forecast assessments.

Much has been written about ?quality? of probabilistic forecasts. Often, providers and users of such forecasts are unclear about what ?quality? entails, leading to confusion and misinformation. Here we try to provide some guidance and suggest a general approach to communicate aspects of probabilistic forecast quality related to discriminatory ability (DA) and skill (S). In our opinion, these two components of forecast quality should be considered independently. DA represents the additional knowledge about future states arising from some forecast system (FS) over and above the total variability of the prognostic variable while S quantifies changes in the agreement between observed and predicted values when using a specific FS instead of a FS based on ?climatology? only. The major concerns are: generally poor distinction between DA and S; inappropriate use of significance testing to quantify DA and use of DA and S measures that do not account for the series lengths and/or number of classes of the FS. To address all of these issues, we propose the use of p-values derived from non-parametric tests as direct measures of DA and S. We illustrate this approach by quantifying DA and S of the Southern Oscillation Index applied to forecasting rainfall across Australia

Dependence of geosynchrotron radio emission on the energy and depth of maximum of cosmic ray showers

Based on CORSIKA and REAS2 simulations, we investigate the dependence of geosynchrotron radio emission from extensive air showers on the energy of the primary cosmic ray and the depth of the shower maximum. It is found that at a characteristic lateral distance, the amplitude of the bandpass-filtered radio signal is directly proportional to the energy deposited in the atmosphere by the electromagnetic cascade, with an RMS uncertainty due to shower-to-shower fluctuations of less than 3%. In addition, the ratio of this radio amplitude and that at a larger lateral distance is directly related to the atmospheric depth of the shower maximum, with an RMS uncertainty of ~15-20 g cm-2. By measuring these quantities, geosynchrotron radio emission from cosmic ray air showers can be used to infer the energy of the primary particle and the depth of the air shower maximum on a shower-to-shower basis.Comment: version accepted by Astroparticle Physics; slightly changed title and wording; one additional figur

Optimization of a 3x3 focusing array for heavy ion drivers

A heavy ion driver for inertial fusion will accelerate an array of beams through common induction cores and then direct the beams onto the DT target. An array of quadrupole focusing magnets is used to prevent beam expansion from space charge forces. In the array, the magnet fields from the coils embracing the beams are coupled, which reduces the cost of superconductor and increases the focusing power. The challenges in designing such an array are meeting the strict requirements for the quadrupole field inside the beam pipes and preventing stray fields outside. We report our optimization effort on designing such an array and show that 3 x 3 or larger arrays are feasible and practical to build with flat racetrack coils

Encouraging Use of Seasonal Climate Forecasts by Farmers

What encourages use of seasonal climate forecasts? Considerable effort is being applied in developing seasonal climate forecasts and demonstrating the potential benefits available to farmers from using seasonal climate forecasts. This study examines three factors underlying the use of seasonal climate forecasts by farmers: the level of forecast understanding by farmers, the format presentation of the forecasts, and the attitude of farmers towards the usefulness of forecasts as indicators of future rainfall. Using judgement analysis, the use of forecasts in cropping decisions was determined for 73 Australian farmers. Then a moderated regression analysis was used to predict forecast use from the three underlying factors. The study found that a good understanding of the forecast was more important than the forecast format in predicting its use. However, this main effect of good understanding on higher use was qualified by a three-way interaction, such that seasonal climate forecasts and the forecasts were presented in a frequency format. Thus, the study found all three factors were important in predicting the use of seasonal climate forecasts by farmers. However, relatively little is known about farmer attitudes toward the usefulness of seasonal climate forecasts and how these attitudes arise, and further research is recommended in these areas