Measurement of space charge in the lower atmosphere

A double field mill is described which, when placed at a point abore the earth's surface, is automatically brought to the potential of that point and registers the potential gradient* Two such Instruments are employed to study space charge values In the first fire metres of the atmosphere. Comparison Is made between results obtained using the double mills and an Obolensky-type air filter, which lead to the conclusion that the latter instnuasnt gives incorrect readings in the presence of largp* small- ion concentrations. Space charge studies In fair weather conditions indicate the presence of a negative charge close to the ground of approximately -50µµC/m(^3), decreasing in the first two metres to aero and having an average value between one and three metres of +3µµC/m(^3). file average height to which this charge extends is shown to be proportional to the potential gradient, and has it's origin in ionization produced by radioactive substances in the earth, close to the surface. In disturbed conditions, heavy rain is found to generate a negative space charge of the order of -1000µµC/m(^3) arising from a splashing effect at the earth's surface. In snowfalls charges of +500µµC/m(^3) originate from the charge on the Individual snowflakes and a positive charge left in the air due to rubbing or shattering of the snow as it is falling*The fait weather results in the first metro show a good agreement with those of Norinder, but higher up show the usual positive charge found by Kahler, Daunderer, Scrase, Obolensky and Brown

Primary care-led commissioning and public involvement in the English National Health Service. Lessons from the past.

Background: Patient and Public involvement (PPI) in health care occupies a central place in Western democracies. In England, this theme has been continuously prominent since the introduction of market reforms in the early 1990s. The health care reforms implemented by the current Coalition Government are making primary care practitioners the main commissioners of health care services in the National Health Service, and a duty is placed on them to involve the public in commissioning decisions and strategies. Since implementation of PPI initiatives in primary care commissioning is not new, we asked how likely it is that the new reforms will make a difference. We scanned the main literature related to primary care-led commissioning and found little evidence of effective PPI thus far. We suggest that unless the scope and intended objectives of PPI are clarified and appropriate resources are devoted to it, PPI will continue to remain empty rhetoric and box ticking. Aim: To examine the effect of previous PPI initiatives on health care commissioning and draw lessons for future development. Method: We scanned the literature reporting on previous PPI initiatives in primary careled commissioning since the introduction of the internal market in 1991. In particular, we looked for specific contexts, methods and outcomes of such initiatives. Findings: 1. PPI in commissioning has been constantly encouraged by policy makers in England. 2. Research shows limited evidence of effective methods and outcomes so far. 3. Constant reconfi- guration of health care structures has had a negative impact on PPI. 4. The new structures look hardly better poised to bring about effective public and patient involvement

Measurement of space charge if the lower atmosphere

A double field mill is described which, when, placed at a point above the earth's surface, is automatically brought to the potential of that point and registers the potential gradient. Two such instruments are employed to study space charge values in the first five metres, of the atmosphere •Comparison is made between results obtained using the double mills and an Obolensky-type air filter, which lead to the conclusion that the latter instrument gives incorrect readings in the presence of large small ion concentrations. Space charge studies in fair weather conditions, indicate the presence of a negative charge close to the ground of approximately -50µµC/m(^3)decreasing in the first two metres to aero and having an average value between one and three metres of +3 µµC/m(^3). The average height to which this charge extends is shown to be proportional to the potential gradient, and has it's origin in ionization produced by radioactive substances: in the earth, close to the surface. In disturbed conditions, heavy rain is found to generate a negative space charge of. the order of -1000 µµC/m(^3)arising from a splashing effect at the earth's surface. In snowfalls; charges of +500 µµC/m(^3) originate from the charge on the individual snowflakes and a positive charge left in the air due to rubbing or shattering of the snow as it. is falling. The fair weather results in the first metre show a good agreement with those of Norinder, but higher up show the usual positive charge found by Kahler, Daunderer, Scraae, Obolensky and Brown

Shuttle electrical environment

Part of an AFGL payload flown on the STS-4 mission consisted of experiments to measure in-situ electric fields, electron densities, and vehicle charging. During this flight some 11 hours of data were acquired ranging from 5 minute snapshots up to continuous half-orbits. These experiments are described and results presented for such vehicle induced events as a main engine burn, thruster firings and water dumps in addition to undisturbed periods. The main characteristic of all the vehicle induced events is shown to be an enhancement in the low frequency noise (less than 2 kHz), in both the electrostatic and electron irregularity (delta N/N) spectra. The non-event results indicate that the electrostatic broadband emissions show a white noise characteristic in the low frequency range up to 2 kHz at an amplitude of 10 db above the shuttle design specification limit, falling below that limit above 10 kHz. The vehicle potential remained within the range of -3 to +1 volt throughout the flight which exhibits normal behavior for a satellite in a low equatorial orbit

Baseline and stress-induced levels of corticosterone in male and female Afrotropical and European temperate stonechats during breeding

Background: Latitudinal variation in avian life histories falls along a slow-fast pace of life continuum: tropical species produce small clutches, but have a high survival probability, while in temperate species the opposite pattern is found. This study investigated whether differential investment into reproduction and survival of tropical and temperate species is paralleled by differences in the secretion of the vertebrate hormone corticosterone (CORT). Depending on circulating concentrations, CORT can both act as a metabolic (low to medium levels) and a stress hormone (high levels) and, thereby, influence reproductive decisions. Baseline and stress-induced CORT was measured across sequential stages of the breeding season in males and females of closely related taxa of stonechats (Saxicola spp) from a wide distribution area. We compared stonechats from 13 sites, representing Canary Islands, European temperate and East African tropical areas. Stonechats are highly seasonal breeders at all these sites, but vary between tropical and temperate regions with regard to reproductive investment and presumably also survival. Results: In accordance with life-history theory, during parental stages, post-capture (baseline) CORT was overall lower in tropical than in temperate stonechats. However, during mating stages, tropical males had elevated post-capture (baseline) CORT concentrations, which did not differ from those of temperate males. Female and male mates of a pair showed correlated levels of post-capture CORT when sampled after simulated territorial intrusions. In contrast to the hypothesis that species with low reproduction and high annual survival should be more risk-sensitive, tropical stonechats had lower stress-induced CORT concentrations than temperate stonechats. We also found relatively high post-capture (baseline) and stress-induced CORT concentrations, in slow-paced Canary Islands stonechats. Conclusions: Our data support and refine the view that baseline CORT facilitates energetically demanding activities in males and females and reflects investment into reproduction. Low parental workload was associated with lower post-capture (baseline) CORT as expected for a slow pace of life in tropical species. On a finer resolution, however, this tropical-temperate contrast did not generally hold. Post-capture (baseline) CORT was higher during mating stages in particular in tropical males, possibly to support the energetic needs of mate-guarding. Counter to predictions based on life history theory, our data do not confirm the hypothesis that long-lived tropical populations have higher stress-induced CORT concentrations than short-lived temperate populations. Instead, in the predator-rich tropical environments of African stonechats, a dampened stress response during parental stages may increase survival probabilities of young. Overall our data further support an association between life history and baseline CORT, but challenge the role of stress-induced CORT as a mediator of tropical-temperate variation in life history

Reformation of casein particles from alkaline-disrupted casein micelles

In this study, the properties of casein particles reformed from alkaline disrupted casein micelles were studied. For this purpose, micelles were disrupted completely by increasing milk pH to 10·0, and subsequently reformed by decreasing milk pH to 6·6. Reformed casein particles were smaller than native micelles and had a slightly lower zeta-potential. Levels of ionic and serum calcium, as well as rennet coagulation time did not differ between milk containing native micelles or reformed casein particles. Ethanol stability and heat stability, >pH7·0, were lower for reformed casein particles than native micelles. Differences in heat stability, ethanol stability and zeta-potential can be explained in terms of the influence of increased concentrations of sodium and chloride ions in milk containing reformed casein particles. Hence, these results indicate that, if performed in a controlled manner, casein particles with properties closely similar to those of native micelles can be reformed from alkaline disrupted casein micelle

A research note on the benefit of patient and public involvement in research: The experience of prostate cancer patients regarding information in radiotherapy.

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: L. Gordon, A. Dickinson, M. Offredy, and J. Smiddy, ‘A research note on the benefit of patient and public involvement in research: The experience of prostate cancer patients regarding information in radiotherapy’, Radiography, Vol. 23(2): 167-170, May 2017, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2017.02.004. Under embargo. Embargo end date: 27 February 2018. © 2016. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. © 2017 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Aim To explore the inclusion of patient and public involvement (PPI) in a qualitative study on the experiences of men with prostate cancer regarding information in radiotherapy. Method The application of PPI to one doctoral research study is explored with respect to two perspectives: firstly, involvement of a patient reference group who informed the research design and materials, and secondly, the involvement of a public involvement in research group (PIRg) in advising the researcher during the design process. Discussion PPI is recognised as an important component of contemporary health research. PPI is becoming a common and essential requirement for high quality research projects and yet literature exploring or reporting the involvement and influence of PPI is sparse. Consideration is given to the national PPI landscape that has shaped public involvement in health research. Conclusion The contribution of PPI to this study appears to have been beneficial to the development and evaluation of the study design, the self-worth of the reference group participants and demonstrates that the value of PPI in health research should not be underestimated.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

OCT-guided Hyaloid Release for Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of OCT retinal mapping in determining the configuration of a vitreomacular adhesion and selecting a meridian for entry into the subhyaloid space in patients with vitreomacular traction syndrome. METHODS: Six consecutive patients (6 eyes) with vitreomacular traction syndrome underwent vitrectomy with peeling of posterior hyaloid. Ocular coherence tomography (OCT) retinal mapping was performed preoperatively. Access to the subhyaloid space was made by creating an opening with a 25 gauge needle at a location where the detached posterior hyaloid membrane was farthest from the retinal surface. The location was selected based on six preoperative meridional OCT scans. The posterior hyaloid was then gently peeled off in a circular fashion around the fovea with a micropick. Visual acuity and foveal thicknesses were measured before the operation and 3 months afterwards. RESULTS: After the operation, visual acuity improved and central macular thicknesses were reduced significantly in all six patients. The best corrected visual acuity improved from 0.4 to 0.75 with a mean increase by 3.5 lines on a Snellen chart 3 months after the operation. The mean foveal thickness was reduced from 406 micrometer to 241 micrometer. The restoration of foveal pit was observed in five patients. Neither intraoperative nor postoperative complications were observed during the follow up period. CONCLUSIONS: An OCT retinal mapping program is a valuable diagnostic tool in understanding the configuration of vitreomacular adhesion and planning the surgical approach for operating on vitreomacular traction syndromeope