Electron-impact excitation of Fe2: a comparison of intermediate coupling frame transformation, Breit-Pauli and Dirac R-matrix calculations

Modeling the spectral emission of low-charge iron group ions enables the diagnostic determination of the local physical conditions of many cool plasma environments such as those found in H II regions, planetary nebulae, active galactic nuclei etc. Electron-impact excitation drives the population of the emitting levels and, hence, their emissivities. By carrying-out Breit-Pauli and intermediate coupling frame transformation (ICFT) R-matrix calculations for the electron-impact excitation of Fe$^{2+}$ which both use the exact same atomic structure and the same close-coupling expansion, we demonstrate the validity of the application of the powerful ICFT method to low-charge iron group ions. This is in contradiction to the finding of Bautista et al. [Ap.J.Lett, 718, L189, (2010)] who carried-out ICFT and Dirac R-matrix calculations for the same ion. We discuss possible reasons.

FITS into Practice: Translating Research into Practice in Reducing the Use of Anti-psychotic Medication for People with Dementia Living in Care Homes

Objectives: This paper reports on the acceptability and effectiveness of the FITS (Focussed Intervention Training and Support) into Practice Programme. This intervention was scaled up from an earlier cluster randomised-controlled trial that had proven successful in significantly decreasing antipsychotic prescribing in care homes. Method: An in depth 10-day education course in person-centred care was delivered over a three-month period, followed by six supervision sessions. Participants were care-home staff designated as Dementia Care Coaches (DCCs) responsible for implementing interventions in 1 or 2 care homes. The course and supervision was provided by educators called Dementia Practice Development Coaches (DPDCs). Effectiveness data included monitoring antipsychotic prescriptions, goal attainment, knowledge, attitudes and implementation questionnaires. Qualitative data included case studies and reflective journals to elucidate issues of implementation. Results: Of the 100 DCCs recruited, 66 DCCs completed the programme. Pre-post questionnaires demonstrated increased knowledge and confidence and improved attitudes to dementia. Twenty per cent of residents were prescribed antipsychotics at baseline which reduced to 14% (31% reduction) with additional dose reductions being reported alongside improved personalised goal attainment. Crucial for FITS into Practice to succeed was the allocation and protection of time for the DCC to attend training and supervision and to carry out implementation tasks in addition to their existing job role. Evaluation data showed that this was a substantial barrier to implementation in a small number of homes. Discussion and conclusions: The FITS into practice programme was well evaluated and resulted in reduction in inappropriate anti-psychotic prescribing. Revisions to the intervention are suggested to maximise successful implementation.

Cross-Industry Product Diversification and Contagion in Risk and Return: The Case of Bank-Insurance and Insurance-Bank Takeovers

We investigate the impact of domestic/international bancassurance deals on the risk-return profiles of announcing and non-announcing banks and insurers within a GARCH model. Bank-insurance deals produce intra- and inter-industry contagion in both risk and return, with larger deals producing greater contagion. Bidder banks and peers experience positive abnormal returns, with the effects on insurer peers being stronger than those on bank peers. Insurance-bank deals produce insignificant excess returns for bidder and peer insurers and positive valuations for peer banks. Following the deal, the bank bidders’ idiosyncratic (systematic) risk falls (increases), while insurance bidders exhibit a lower systematic risk and maintain their idiosyncratic risk.

Serum trace elements in dysphagic gastrostomy candidates before endoscopic gastrostomy for long term enteral feeding

Background & aims - Patients who underwent endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) present protein-energy malnutrition, but little is known about Trace Elements (TE), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Selenium (Se), Iron (Fe), Chromium (Cr). Our aim was the evaluation of serum TE in patients who underwent PEG and its relationship with serum proteins, BMI and nature of underlying disorder. Methods - A prospective observational study was performed collecting: patient's age, gender, underlying disorder, NRS-2002, BMI, serum albumin, transferrin and TE concentration. We used ferrozine colorimetric method for Fe; Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy for Zn/Cu; Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy for Se/Cr. The patients were divided into head and neck cancer (HNC) and neurological dysphagia (ND). Results - 146 patients (89 males), 21–95 years: HNC-56; ND-90. Low BMI in 78. Low values mostly for Zn (n = 122) and Fe (n = 69), but less for Se (n = 31), Cu (n = 16), Cr (n = 7); low albumin in 77, low transferrin in 94 and 66 with both proteins low. Significant differences between the groups of underlying disease only for Zn (t140.326 = −2,642, p < 0.01) and a correlation between proteins and TE respectively albumin and Zn (r = 0.197, p = 0.025), and albumin and Fe (r = 0.415, p = 0.000). Conclusions - When gastrostomy was performed, patients display low serum TE namely Zn, but also Fe, less striking regarding others TE. It was related with prolonged fasting, whatever the underlying disease. Low proteins were associated with low TE. Teams taking care of PEG-patients should use Zn supplementation and include other TE evaluation as part of the nutritional assessment of PEG candidates.

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with or without panitumumab in patients with wild-type KRAS, locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC): a randomized, multicenter, phase II trial SAKK 41/07.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomized, phase II, multicenter study to evaluate the anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mAb panitumumab (P) in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) with standard-dose capecitabine as neoadjuvant treatment for wild-type KRAS locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with wild-type KRAS, T3-4 and/or N+ LARC were randomly assigned to receive CRT with or without P (6 mg/kg). The primary end-point was pathological near-complete or complete tumor response (pNC/CR), defined as grade 3 (pNCR) or 4 (pCR) histological regression by Dworak classification (DC). RESULTS: Forty of 68 patients were randomly assigned to P + CRT and 28 to CRT. pNC/CR was achieved in 21 patients (53%) treated with P + CRT [95% confidence interval (CI) 36%-69%] versus 9 patients (32%) treated with CRT alone (95% CI: 16%-52%). pCR was achieved in 4 (10%) and 5 (18%) patients, and pNCR in 17 (43%) and 4 (14%) patients. In immunohistochemical analysis, most DC 3 cells were not apoptotic. The most common grade ≥3 toxic effects in the P + CRT/CRT arm were diarrhea (10%/6%) and anastomotic leakage (15%/4%). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of panitumumab to neoadjuvant CRT in patients with KRAS wild-type LARC resulted in a high pNC/CR rate, mostly grade 3 DC. The results of both treatment arms exceeded prespecified thresholds. The addition of panitumumab increased toxicity.

El calamar gigante en el mar peruano. Crucero B/P Hakurei Maru Nº 8. Primavera 2010 y Verano 2011

El crucero se desarrolló en dos etapas, la primera en primavera 2010, de 4° a 11°25’S y la segunda en verano 2011, de 10°10’ a 17°23’S, entre 50 a 200 mn de la costa. La captura del recurso en la primera etapa fue 35.079,6 kg (25.669,1 kg de producción) y en la segunda 165.955,7 kg (123.229,5 kg de producción). La captura por unidad de esfuerzo por día de trabajo fluctuó de 2,9 a 4.292,6 kg/hora; 0,68 a 948,4 kg/línea; 0,07 a 99,8 kg/ línea*hora y 0,0017 a 2,4957 kg/pot*hora. La longitud del manto varió de 17 a 119 cm. Se registró hembras en estadio desovante III (51,5%), madurante II (21,6%); y machos en estadio evacuación III (85,1%) y virginales I (9,7%). Los grupos tróficos más importantes fueron: cefalópodos (% IRI= 66,4), crustáceos (% IRI= 23,7), peces (% IRI= 9,9). Las hembras presentaron: L∞ =111,233 cm LM, K=0,016, t0= 235 y los machos L∞ =99,718 cm LM, K=0,167 y t0=228,4; esta especie tiene una longevidad próxima o poco mayor a un año.

L'Écho de Paris

1886/02/28 (Numéro 718).

Mrs Rider [Minna Louise Rider jouant au golf] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59884

Mme Cauchery [jouant au golf] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59885

Mrs Plankinton [jouant au golf] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59887

Mme Jacques Lebel [jouant au golf] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59888

30/6/20, délégation [de l'Union des Comités de défense des intérêts] des étudiants [français] et Maître Moro-Giafferi, reçue par le ministre de l'Instruction publique : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59892

Mustafa Kemal et son État-major : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59897

Mustafa Kemal et son État-major : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59898

[Portrait de] M. Gassin : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 59899