B 1Σu+B\,^1\Sigma^{+}_{u} and EF 1Σg+EF\,^{1}\Sigma^{+}_{g} level energies of D2_{2}

Accurate absolute level energies of the $B\,^1\Sigma^{+}_{u}$, $v=0-8, N$ and $EF\,^{1}\Sigma^{+}_{g}$, $v=0-21, N$ rovibrational quantum states of molecular deuterium are derived by combining results from a Doppler-free two-photon laser excitation study on several lines in the $EF\,{}^{1}\Sigma_{g}^{+}-X\,{}^{1}\Sigma_{g}^{+}$ (0,0) band, with results from a Fourier-transform spectroscopic emission study on a low-pressure hydrogen discharge. Level energy uncertainties as low as 0.0005 cm$^{-1}$ are obtained for some low-lying $E\,^{1}\Sigma^{+}_{g}$ inner-well rovibrational levels, while uncertainties for higher-lying rovibrational levels and those of the $F\,^{1}\Sigma^{+}_{g}$ outer-well states are nominally 0.005 cm$^{-1}$. Level energies of $B\,^1\Sigma^{+}_{u}$ rovibrational levels, for $v \leq 8$ and $N \leq 10$ are determined at an accuracy of 0.001 cm$^{-1}$. Computed wavelengths of D$_2$ Lyman transitions in the $B\,^1\Sigma^{+}_{u}-X\,^{1}\Sigma^{+}_{g}$ ($v,0$) bands are also tabulated for future applications.Comment: appears in Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy (2014

Self‐reported drug allergy in a general adult Portuguese population

Clin Exp Allergy. 2004 Oct;34(10):1597-601. Self-reported drug allergy in a general adult Portuguese population. Gomes E, Cardoso MF, Praça F, Gomes L, Mariño E, Demoly P. Serviço de Imunoalergologia, Hospital Maria Pia, Porto, Portugal. [email protected] Abstract AIM: To estimate the prevalence of self-reported drug allergy in adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of a general adult population from Porto (all of whom were living with children involved in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood-phase three), during the year 2002, using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported drug allergy was 7.8% (181/2309): 4.5% to penicillins or other beta-lactams, 1.9% to aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and 1.5% to other drugs. In the group 'allergic to beta-lactams', the most frequently implicated drug was penicillin G or V (76.2%) followed by the association of amoxicillin and clavulanic acids (14.3%). In the group 'allergic to NSAIDs', acetylsalicylic acid (18.2%) and ibuprofen (18.2%) were the most frequently identified drugs, followed by nimesulide and meloxicam. Identification of the exact name of the involved drug was possible in less than one-third of the patients, more often within the NSAID group (59.5%). Women were significantly more likely to claim a drug allergy than men (10.2% vs. 5.3%). The most common manifestations were cutaneous (63.5%), followed by cardiovascular symptoms (35.9%). Most of the reactions were immediate, occurring on the first day of treatment (78.5%). Only half of the patients were submitted to drug allergy investigations. The majority (86.8%) completely avoided the suspected culprit drug thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that self-reported allergy to drugs is highly prevalent and poorly explored. Women seem to be more susceptible. beta-lactams and NSAIDs are the most frequently concerned drugs. PMID: 15479276 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

On reminder effects, drop-outs and dominance: evidence from an online experiment on charitable giving

We present the results of an experiment that (a) shows the usefulness of screening out drop-outs and (b) tests whether different methods of payment and reminder intervals affect charitable giving. Following a lab session, participants could make online donations to charity for a total duration of three months. Our procedure justifying the exclusion of drop-outs consists in requiring participants to collect payments in person flexibly and as known in advance and as highlighted to them later. Our interpretation is that participants who failed to collect their positive payments under these circumstances are likely not to satisfy dominance. If we restrict the sample to subjects who did not drop out, but not otherwise, reminders significantly increase the overall amount of charitable giving. We also find that weekly reminders are no more effective than monthly reminders in increasing charitable giving, and that, in our three months duration experiment, standing orders do not increase giving relative to one-off donations

Accurate level energies in the EF1S+g, GK1S+g, H1S+g, B1S+u, C1Pu, B'1S+u, D1Pu, I1Pg, J1Dg states of H2

International audienceBy combining results from a Doppler-free two-photon laser excitation study on several lines in the EF1g+ - X1g+ (0,0) band of H2 with results from a Fourier-transform spectroscopic study on a low-pressure discharge in hydrogen, absolute level energies, with respect to the X1g+, v=0, N=0 ground level, could be determined for 547 rovibronically excited states in H2. While for some of the levels in the EF1g+ and B1u+ states the uncertainties are as low as 0.0001 cm-1, the accuracy of other levels is less accurate. The general improvement on the accuracy for the comprehensive data set of level energies is by an order of magnitude with respect to previous measurements. An updated listing of transition wavelengths of the spectral lines in the Lyman and Werner bands is presented, based on combination differences between the presently obtained B1u+ and C1u level energies and those in the X1g+ ground state

Circulating markers of bone turnover

Renal osteodystrophy is a feature of chronic kidney disease (CKD), with increasing prevalence as CKD progresses. This bone disease is responsible for major morbidity, including fractures, and a deterioration in the quality of life and its sequelae. Circulating biomarkers of renal osteodystrophy typically indicate bone turnover, but not other features of bone, like bone volume, mineralization, quality or strength. Bone turnover can be considered to be primarily a reflection of bone cell activity, in particular that of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Since current treatments for bone disease usually target cellular activity, biomarkers are considered to be able to contribute to the decision-making for treatment and its follow-up. In CKD, one has to consider the impact of a diminished clearance of biomarkers or their altered metabolism, both potentially limiting its clinical use. Here, several aspects of the most frequently used biomarkers of bone turnover are reviewed, with an emphasis on the specific situation represented by CKD. This review is based on the overview lecture at the symposium held in Amsterdam, September 23, 2016: "The Bone In CKD", organized by the CKD-MBD working group of ERA-EDTA

Self-reported medication side effects in an older cohort living independently in the community - the Melbourne Longitudinal Study on Health Ageing (MELSHA) : cross-sectional analysis of prevalence and risk factors

Background Medication side effects are an important cause of morbidity, mortality and costs in older people. The aim of our study was to examine prevalence and risk factors for self-reported medication side effects in an older cohort living independently in the community.Methods The Melbourne Longitudinal Study on Healthy Ageing (MELSHA), collected information on those aged 65 years or older living independently in the community and commenced in 1994. Data on medication side effects was collected from the baseline cohort (n = 1000) in face-to-face baseline interviews in 1994 and analysed as cross-sectional data. Risk factors examined were: socio-demographics, health status and medical conditions; medication use and health service factors. Analysis included univariate logistic regression to estimate unadjusted risk and multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess confounding and estimate adjusted risk.Results Self-reported medication side effects were reported by approximately 6.7% (67/1000) of the entire baseline MELSHA cohort, and by 8.5% (65/761) of those on medication. Identified risk factors were increased education level, co-morbidities and health service factors including recency of visiting the pharmacist, attending younger doctors, and their doctor\u27s awareness of their medications. The greatest increase in risk for medication side effects was associated with liver problems and their doctor\u27s awareness of their medications. Aging and gender were not risk factors.Conclusion Prevalence of self-reported medication side effects was comparable with that reported in adults attending General Practices in a primary care setting in Australia. The prevalence and identified risk factors provide further insight and opportunity to develop strategies to address the problem of medication side effects in older people living independently in the community setting. <br /

HIGH RESOLUTION FAR INFRARED FOURIER TRANSFORM SPECTROSCOPY OF THE NH2_2 RADICAL.

Author Institution: SOLEIL Synchrotron, AILES beamline, Saint-Aubin, France and Institut des Sciences Moleculaires d'Orsay, ISMO, CNRS, Universite Paris XI, Orsay, France; SOLEIL Synchrotron, AILES beamline, Saint-Aubin, FranceFirst identified toward Sgr B2}, the NH$_2$ radical has recently been detected in the interstellar medium by the HIFI instrument on board of Herschel}. Despite the fact that this radical has not been detected in brown dwarfs and exoplanets yet, it is already included in physical and chemical models of those environments} (temperature higher than 2000 K expected in several objects). Its detection in those objects will depend on the existence of a reliable high temperature and high resolution spectroscopic database on the NH$_2$ radical.The absorption spectrum of NH$_2$ has been recorded between 15 and 700 cm$^{-1}$ at the highest resolution available using the Bruker IFS125HR Fourier transform interferometer connected to the far infrared AILES beamline at SOLEIL (R=0.001~cm$^{-1}$). The radical was produced by an electrical discharge (DC) through a continuous flow of NH$_3$ and He using the White-type discharge cell developped on the beamline (optical path: 24m). Thanks to the brilliance of the synchrotron radiation, more than 700 pure rotational transitions of NH$_2$ have been identified with high N values (N$_{max}$=25) in its fundamental and first excited vibrational modes. By comparison to the previous FT spectroscopic study on that radical in the FIR spectral range}, asymmetric splitting as well as fine and hyperfine structure have been resolved for several transitions

Improved Laboratory Values of the H-2 Lyman and Werner Lines for Constraining Time Variation of the Proton-to-Electron Mass Ratio

Two distinct high-accuracy laboratory spectroscopic investigations of the H-2 molecule are reported. Anchor lines in the EF1 Sigma(+)(g)-X-1 Sigma(+)(g) system are calibrated by two-photon deep-UV Doppler-free spectroscopy, while independent Fourier-transform spectroscopic measurements are performed that yield accurate spacings in the B-1 Sigma(+)(u)-EF1 Sigma(+)(g) and I-1 Pi(g)-C-1 Pi(u) systems. From combination differences accurate transition wavelengths for the B-X Lyman and the C-X Werner lines can be determined with accuracies better than similar to 5x10(-9), representing a major improvement over existing values. This metrology provides a practically exact database to extract a possible variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio based on H-2 lines in high-redshift objects. Moreover, it forms a rationale for equipping a future class of telescopes, carrying 30-40 m dishes, with novel spectrometers of higher resolving powers