Impact of Asian continental outflow on the concentrations of O3, CO, NMHCs and halocarbons on Jeju Island, South Korea during March 2005

As part of ABC-EAREX2005 experiment, numerous trace gases were measured at Gosan on Jeju Island, South Korea in March 2005 to characterize the impact of recent outflow from the Asian continent and to inter-compare measurement techniques used by participating groups. Here we present measurements of O3, CO, and whole air samples of methane, C2-C8 non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) and C1-C2 halocarbons obtained during the study. The large temporal variations in the measured trace gas concentrations at Gosan were due to the transport of background marine air and of regional pollution mainly from the Chinese subcontinent. Average mixing ratios (± s.d.) were 54.6 (± 9.0) ppbv and 283 (± 100) ppbv for O3 and CO, respectively. CO showed good correlations (r2 = 0.62-0.81) with combustion tracers such as ethyne and benzene but poorly correlated (r2 = 0.11-0.29) with light alkanes, suggesting that the latter were contributed by non-combustion source(s). Back trajectory analysis showed that air masses mainly originated from the North China Plains and northeastern China, which together accounted for 64% of the total trajectories. The highest mean mixing ratios of O3 and combustion-derived species were found in air masses from eastern China and Korea, indicating the significant impact of emissions from these regions. Interestingly, air masses from northeast China contained elevated levels of light alkanes and the smallest ratios of ethyne/propane and benzene/propane among the air-mass groups, suggesting contribution from natural gas leakage in the upwind region, possibly from Siberia. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Health-state utilities in a prisoner population : a cross-sectional survey

Background: Health-state utilities for prisoners have not been described. Methods: We used data from a 1996 cross-sectional survey of Australian prisoners (n = 734). Respondent-level SF-36 data was transformed into utility scores by both the SF-6D and Nichol's method. Socio-demographic and clinical predictors of SF-6D utility were assessed in univariate analyses and a multivariate general linear model. Results: The overall mean SF-6D utility was 0.725 (SD 0.119). When subdivided by various medical conditions, prisoner SF-6D utilities ranged from 0.620 for angina to 0.764 for those with none/mild depressive symptoms. Utilities derived by the Nichol's method were higher than SF-6D scores, often by more than 0.1. In multivariate analysis, significant independent predictors of worse utility included female gender, increasing age, increasing number of comorbidities and more severe depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The utilities presented may prove useful for future economic and decision models evaluating prison-based health programs

Increased SPARC expression in primary angle closure glaucoma iris

Molecular Vision141886-189

Atom-by-atom extraction using scanning tunneling microscope tip-cluster interaction

We investigate atomistic details of a single atom extraction process realized by using scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip-cluster interaction on a Ag(111) surface at 6 K. Single atoms are extracted from a silver cluster one atom at a time using small tunneling biases less than 35 mV and a threshold tunneling resistance of 47 kOhm. A combination of total energy calculations and molecular dynamics simulations shows a lowering of the atom extraction barrier upon approaching the tip to the cluster. Thus, a mere tuning of the proximity between the tip and the cluster governs the extraction process and is sufficient to extract an atom. The atomically precise control and reproducibility of the process are demonstrated by repeatedly extracting single atoms from a silver cluster on an atom-by-atom basis

Legal coercion, respect & reason-responsive agency

Legal coercion seems morally problematic because it is susceptible to the Hegelian objection that it fails to respect individuals in a way that is ‘due to them as men’. But in what sense does legal coercion fail to do so? And what are the grounds for this requirement to respect? This paper is an attempt to answer these questions. It argues that (a) legal coercion fails to respect individuals as reason-responsive agents; and (b) individuals ought to be respected as such in virtue of the fact that they are human beings. Thus it is in this sense that legal coercion fails to treat individuals with the kind of respect ‘due to them as men’.The Leverhulme Trust (ECF-2012-032); AHRC (AH/H015655/1

The neurological assessment in young children treated with artesunate monotherapy or artesunate-mefloquine combination therapy for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mefloquine and artesunate combination therapy is the recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria throughout much of south-east Asia. Concerns have been raised about the potential central nervous system (CNS) effects of both drug components and there are no detailed reports in very young children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Children, aged between three months and five years, with acute uncomplicated <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>malaria were randomized to either 7 days of artesunate monotherapy or the same schedule of artesunate plus mefloquine on day 7 and 8. Neurological testing targeting coordination and behaviour was carried out at day 0, 7, 9, 10, 14 and 28. Non-febrile healthy control children from the same population were tested on days 0, 7, 14 and 28.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From December 1994 to July 1997, 91 children with uncomplicated <it>P. falciparum</it>, 45 treated with artesunate monotherapy, 46 treated with mefloquine and artesunate combination therapy and 36 non-febrile controls, underwent neurological testing. Malaria and fever had a significant negative impact on testing performance. By contrast, the anti-malarial treatments were not associated with worsening performances in the various components of the test. Artesunate and mefloquine do not appear to have a significant influence on coordination and behaviour. Children treated with mefloquine were significantly less likely to suffer recurrent malaria infection during follow-up compared to those treated with artesunate alone (P = 0.033).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In keeping with the results of randomized controlled trials in adults, mefloquine was not associated with a decrease in specific items of neurological performance. Likewise, children treated with artesunate did not perform significantly differently to control children. This study does not exclude subtle or rare treatment CNS effects of artesunate or mefloquine. Treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria results in a significant improvement on items of neurological performance.</p

On the origin of surface ozone and reactive nitrogen observed at a remote mountain site in the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, western China

Author name used in this publication: Wang, T.Author name used in this publication: Ding, A.Version of RecordPublishe

Selective nanomanipulation using optical forces

We present a detailed theoretical study of the recent proposal for selective nanomanipulation of nanometric particles above a substrate using near-field optical forces [Chaumet {\it et al.} Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 88}, 123601 (2002)]. Evanescent light scattering at the apex of an apertureless near-field probe is used to create an optical trap. The position of the trap is controlled on a nanometric scale via the probe and small objects can be selectively trapped and manipulated. We discuss the influence of the geometry of the particles and the probe on the efficiency of the trap. We also consider the influence of multiple scattering among the particles on the substrate and its effect on the robustness of the trap.Comment: 12 pages, 17 figure