The muographic imaging of volcanoes relies on the measured transmittance of the atmospheric muon flux through the target. An important bias affecting the result comes from background contamination ...mimicking a higher transmittance. The MU‐RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations measured independently in 2013 the atmospheric muon flux transmitted through the Puy de Dôme volcano using their early prototype detectors, based on plastic scintillators and on Glass Resistive Plate Chambers, respectively. These detectors had three (MU‐RAY) or four (TOMUVOL) detection layers of 1 m2 each, tens (MU‐RAY) or hundreds (TOMUVOL) of nanosecond time resolution, a few millimeter position resolution, an energy threshold of few hundreds MeV, and no particle identification capabilities. The prototypes were deployed about 1.3 km away from the summit, where they measured, behind rock depths larger than 1000 m, remnant fluxes of 1.83±0.50(syst)±0.07(stat) m−2 d−1 deg−2 (MU‐RAY) and 1.95±0.16(syst)±0.05(stat) m−2 d−1 deg−2 (TOMUVOL), that roughly correspond to the expected flux of high‐energy atmospheric muons crossing 600 meters water equivalent (mwe) at 18° elevation. This implies that imaging depths larger than 500 mwe from 1 km away using such prototype detectors suffer from an overwhelming background. These measurements confirm that a new generation of detectors with higher momentum threshold, time‐of‐flight measurement, and/or particle identification is needed. The MU‐RAY and TOMUVOL collaborations expect shortly to operate improved detectors, suitable for a robust muographic imaging of kilometer‐scale volcanoes.
Key Point
The feasibility of muon imaging of km thick volcanoes was checked using two different detectors
This pilot study explored the international female (IF) students' (n = 17) lived experiences of health care accessibility while studying in a small town in Canada. Analysis guided by a ...phenomenological method resulted in three major themes - (1) after arriving to attend university, IF students experienced challenges in staying healthy, such as learning how Canadian medical insurance works and how to access medical help, (2) IF students developed a support system over time, consisting of their university's student advisors, host families and friends and (3) as IF students became familiar with living in Canada, they developed self-directed care strategies such as taking care of each other if they became sick. They also became comfortable reaching out through social media to ask questions and connect with others who were also new to Canada. Recommendations included providing (1) alternative times for IF students to access medical care on campus, (2) a fund where IF students could borrow the upfront costs to see a doctor and (3) health care knowledge dissemination through various media throughout the school year. The outcomes of this study are generally encouraging and may assist IF students to make effective health care decisions while in Canada resulting in a less stressful academic experience.
Synopsis
Objective
To examine the potential of non‐animal collagens as a new option for cosmetic applications.
Methods
Non‐animal collagens from three species, Streptococcus pyogenes, Solibacter ...usitatus and Methylobacterium sp 4‐46, have been expressed as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli using a cold‐shock, pCold, expression system. The proteins were purified using either metal affinity chromatography or a simple process based on precipitation and proteolytic digestion of impurities, which is suitable for large‐scale production. Samples were examined using a range of analytical procedures.
Results
Analyses by gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry were used to examine the purity and integrity of the products. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed stabilities around 38°C, and calculated pI values were from 5.4 to 8.6. UV‐visible light spectroscopy showed the clarity of collagen solutions. The collagens were soluble at low ionic strength between pH 5 and pH 8, but were less soluble under more acidic conditions. At lower pH, the insoluble material was well dispersed and did not form the fibrous associations and aggregates found with animal collagens. The materials were shown to be non‐cytotoxic to cells in culture.
Conclusions
These novel, non‐animal collagens may be potential alternatives to animal collagens for inclusion in cosmetic formulations.
Résumé
Objectif
Pour examiner le potentiel de collagène non animale comme une nouvelle option pour des applications cosmétiques.
Methodes
Des collagènes non‐animales provenant de trois espèces, Streptococcus pyogenes, Solibacter usitatus et Methylobacterium sp 4‐46, ont été exprimées sous forme de protéines recombinantes dans Escherichia coli en utilisant le système d'expression choc au froid, pCold. Les protéines ont été purifiées en utilisant soit une chromatographie d'affinité métallique ou un procédé simple basé sur la précipitation et la digestion protéolytique d'impuretés, ce qui est approprié pour une production à grande échelle. Les échantillons ont été examinés à l'aide d'un éventail de procédures analytiques.
Resultats
Les analyses par électrophorèse sur gel et spectrométrie de masse ont été utilisées pour examiner la pureté et l'intégrité des produits. La spectroscopie de dichroïsme circulaire a montré des stabilités autour de 38°C, et des valeurs de pI calculées étaient de 5,4 à 8,6. La spectroscopie UV/Visible ont montré la transparence des solutions de collagène. Les collagènes sont solubles à faible force ionique entre pH 5 et pH 8, mais dans des conditions plus acides, sont moins solubles. A des valeurs de pH inférieur, la matière insoluble était bien dispersée et n'a pas formé des associations et des agrégats fibreux trouvés avec les collagènes d'origine animal. Les matériaux se sont avérés être non cytotoxique à des cellules en culture.
Conclusion
Ces nouveaux collagènes non animales peuvent être des alternatives potentielles aux collagènes d'animaux pour l'inclusion dans les formulations cosmétiques.
A precise detector alignment and absolute pointing is crucial for point-source searches. The ANTARES neutrino telescope utilises an array of hydrophones, tiltmeters and compasses for the relative ...positioning of the optical sensors. The absolute calibration is accomplished by long-baseline low-frequency triangulation of the acoustic reference devices in the deep-sea with a differential GPS system at the sea surface. The absolute pointing can be independently verified by detecting the shadow of the Moon in cosmic rays.
•Explores the opinions of both parents and health care professionals within the same community about Cannabidiol as a treatment and the barriers.•This study finds that parents’ process for ...accessibility varies and struggles due to stigma, costs, resistance from the community, and lack of education on Cannabidiol (CBD).•Health care professionals advocate for more research and education while they worry about stigma within the medical community and professional and licensing risks with recommending treating children using Cannabidiol.•Parents and health care professionals are challenged with the resistance of support toward the use of medical cannabis from the political and professional community.•Lack of research regarding safety and efficacy guidelines of medical cannabis for children directly influences policy treatment and licensing risks for professionals.
Canada legalized medical cannabis in 2001. There is a significant concern about prescribing cannabidiol to children, and the largest is the effects on the developing brain in a child 25 years old or younger. There are growing anecdotal findings that cannabidiol is an alternate treatment option for children with neurodiverse disabilities. Parents and health professionals working with medical cannabis often face access barriers.
This study explores the policy barriers for parents of neuro-diverse children and their health care supporters in accessing cannabidiol as a treatment in British Columbia, Canada.
This ethnographic study used the purposive key informants’ interview method to describe their experiences with medical cannabis access for children with neurodiverse disabilities.
British Columbia, Canada.
Key informants included seven medical community cannabis professionals and seven family participants treating their neuro-diverse children with cannabidiol.
Data were subjected to qualitative content analysis to identify patterns and themes.
Analysis of all data revealed six common barriers “Costs Associated with Cannabidiol Treatments”, “Education on the Subject and Going through Their Networks to Self-Educate”, “Lack of Research and Medical Studies”, and “Adverse Events and Risks Associated with First-line Pharmaceutical Treatments”.
Themes revealed barriers of stigma and resistance from the family experience with community members and the medical community. Professionals reported a lack of support from their peers, stigma and concerns with licensing/professional risks when treating children 25 years and younger using cannabidiol. Findings show opportunities for change in accessing medical cannabis for the pediatric population in British Columbia, Canada.
In prospective trials in patients with malignant biliary obstruction, it has been reported that Wallstents prolong stent patency, but this does not translate into a significant survival benefit. ...Compared with prospective trials, however, survival may be different in clinical practice because of differences in patient compliance. We report on a retrospective, long term analysis comparing Wallstents versus plastic stents.
Plastic endoprostheses (70 patients) and endoscopic Wallstents (95 patients) were placed in 165 consecutive patients with irresectable, malignant biliary obstruction in a first (1990-91) and second (1992-93) time period. Stent occlusion was treated by plastic stent placement.
Patient characteristics were quite comparable in both stent groups. Initial placement of a Wallstent resulted in an increase of median stent patency of the first (10 vs 4 months, p < 0.001) and second (8 vs 3 months, p < 0.05) stent, a decrease of additional endoscopic procedures (20 vs 58%, p < 0.005), an increase of patient compliance reflected by a decrease of patients dying with untreated stent occlusion (9 vs 30%, p < 0.001), and an increase of survival time (6.5 vs 4 months, p < 0.05).
Initial placement of a Wallstent results in an increase of stent patency of the first and second stent. Duration of stent patency appears to have a determinant effect on patient compliance. Increased stent patency and patient compliance seem to improve survival in clinical practice.
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is due to short elongations of a polyalanine tract in the poly(A) binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene. Originally GCG expansions in which (GCG)(6) is ...extended to (GCG)(7-13) were found. Subsequently five further genotypes with additional GCA- and GCG-trinucleotides were identified in single OPMD patients. This indicated larger genetic heterogeneity and showed that unequal crossing-over and not replication slippage must be the underlying mechanism of elongation.We performed sequencing of the PABPN1 gene in 30 German OPDM index patients to determine the exact genotype. The original GCG expansion ranging from (GCG)(8) to (GCG)(11) was found in 22 patients. In 8 patients, however, three different elongated alleles other than classical (GCG)(7-13) were observed. Two of these genotypes had already been identified in Japanese patients. One genotype was recently identified showing (GCG)(6) followed by inserted (GCA)(3)GCG in four unrelated patients. This study further supports the theory of unequal crossing over as the molecular mechanism leading to elongation. It shows that other genotypes than classical (GCG)(7-13) are rather common in German OPMD patients. The data imply that there is no single founder effect in German OPMD patients.
This work was based on the hypothesis that fingernail clippings can be used as a biomarker for the subchronic exposure to fluoride. The results provide data on factors that may affect the ...concentration of fluoride in fingernail clippings as determined with the electrode following HMDS-facilitated diffusion. The following variables had only minor or no effects on the concentrations: (1) the surface area of the clippings (intact, minced or filed into powder) that were placed into the diffusion dishes; (2) soaking in deionized water for up to 6 h; (3) soaking in fluoridated water (1.0 ppm) for 2 h, and (4) removal of the organic material of nails by dry ashing. Fingernail fluoride concentrations were approximately 50% higher than those in toenails. A 1-month period of increased fluoride intake by one of the authors resulted in significant increases in fingernail fluoride concentrations after a lag time of approximately 3.5 months. The fluoride concentrations in fingernail clippings obtained from three groups of Brazilian children were directly related to the concentrations in the drinking water (0.1, 1.6 or 2.3 ppm). The results indicate that: (1) HMDS-facilitated diffusion completely separates fluoride from intact nail clippings, so the need for ashing or other preparative methods is obviated; (2) fingernail fluoride is derived mainly from the systemic circulation, and (3) fluoride intake is reflected by the concentrations in fingernails.
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