Source term estimation of radioxenon released from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear reactors using measured air concentrations and atmospheric transport modeling

Systems designed to monitor airborne radionuclides released from underground nuclear explosions detected radioactive fallout across the northern hemisphere resulting from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. Sampling data from multiple International Modeling System locations are combined with atmospheric transport modeling to estimate the magnitude and time sequence of releases of (133)Xe. Modeled dilution factors at five different detection locations were combined with 57 atmospheric concentration measurements of (133)Xe taken from March 18 to March 23 to estimate the source term. This analysis suggests that 92% of the 1.24 × 10(19) Bq of (133)Xe present in the three operating reactors at the time of the earthquake was released to the atmosphere over a 3 d period. An uncertainty analysis bounds the release estimates to 54-129% of available (133)Xe inventory.

Laparoscopic hysteropexy: 1- to 4-year follow-up of women postoperatively

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Uterine conserving re-suspension surgery has become more popular in recent years. Such surgery may allow preservation of fertility in younger women, but may also have the added benefit of augmenting weak connective tissue and possibly providing stronger apical support than the conventional hysterectomy. Our goal was to evaluate the 1- to 4-year outcome of laparoscopic hysteropexy for the surgical management of uterine prolapse.

METHODS

This study was a prospective observational study of 182 consecutive women who underwent laparoscopic hysteropexy, with or without additional vaginal repair, from the beginning of 2007 until the end of 2010. Women were invited to attend a dedicated clinic for interview and their prolapse was assessed using the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS) and the pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) scale. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre-operative with postoperative data. Complications and women's satisfaction were also noted.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty women agreed to participate; the mean interval from operation was 2.1 years (range 1-4.4). Eighty-nine percent of women felt that their prolapse is "very much" or "much" better using PGI-I subjective outcome measure. There was significant improvement for all parameters of ICIQ-VS and POP-Q scoring post-surgery (p < 0.001). Six women (4 %) had further apical prolapse; of these, 3 underwent further prolapse surgery. None of the participants had any mesh exposure. Ninety two percent of participants would recommend the operation.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic hysteropexy is a safe and effective treatment. The 1- to 4-year outcome suggests high patient satisfaction and low rates of apical prolapse recurrence. Longer term follow-up and randomized controlled studies are required.

Bariatric surgery for obese children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The number of obese young people continues to rise, with a corresponding increase in extreme obesity and paediatric-adolescent bariatric surgery. We aimed to (i) systematically review the literature on bariatric surgery in children and adolescents; (ii) meta-analyse change in body mass index (BMI) 1-year post-surgery and (iii) report complications, co-morbidity resolution and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A systematic literature search (1955-2013) was performed to examine adjustable gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversions operations among obese children and adolescents. Change in BMI a year after surgery was meta-analysed using a random effects model. In total, 637 patients from 23 studies were included in the meta-analysis. There were significant decreases in BMI at 1 year (average weighted mean BMI difference: -13.5 kg m(-2) ; 95% confidence interval [CI] -14.1 to -11.9). Complications were inconsistently reported. There was some evidence of co-morbidity resolution and improvements in HRQol post-surgery. Bariatric surgery leads to significant short-term weight loss in obese children and adolescents. However, the risks of complications are not well defined in the literature. Long-term, prospectively designed studies, with clear reporting of complications and co-morbidity resolution, alongside measures of HRQol, are needed to firmly establish the harms and benefits of bariatric surgery in children and adolescents.

Poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-(styrene-ran-maleic anhydride)2 Compatibilizers via Nitroxide Mediated Radical Polymerization

Telechelic poly(ethylene-ran-butylene) initiator terminated with [tert-butyl[1-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-2,2-dimethylpropyl]amino] nitroxide groups (PEB-(SG1)2) was used to initiate the controlled radical copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MA) and styrene (ST). The ST/MA copolymerizations were performed in 1,4-dioxane at 110°C and resulted in PEB-b-P(ST-ran-MA)2 triblock copolymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions ( M ¯ m / M ¯ n ≈ 1.5 ) . Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) indicated that the initiator used was ≈93% efficient. The resulting copolymers were then blended as 20 wt.% dispersions in nylon 6 (PA6) at 230°C. With as little as 10 mol.% of MA in the feed to make the PEB-b-P(ST-ran-MA)2, blends were deemed dynamically compatibilized based on the reduced particle size. All of the PEB-b-P(ST-ran-MA)2/PA6 blends resulted in a minor phase particle size D ¯ vs = 0.1 μm while the PEB-b-P(ST)/PA6 blend had D ¯ vs = 1.15 μm (i.e. no MA in the copolymer). Tensile testing revealed yield stresses and strains decreased steadily from pure PA6 to non-reactive PEB-b-P(ST)2/PA6 to PEB-b-P(ST-ran-MA)2/PA6. However, no difference in tensile properties was observed between PEB-b-P(ST-ran-MA)2/PA6 samples made from PEB-b-P(ST-ran-MA)2 copolymer of varying MA content.

Deprivation and ethnicity impact on diabetes control and use of treatment regimen

AIMS

Deprivation and/or ethnicity impact on care delivery. We have assessed how these factors influence diabetes care in a paediatric clinic.

METHODS

We related access to care [type of insulin treatment regimen-twice daily, multiple daily injections and insulin pump therapy (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion)], measures of care process (HbA(1c)) and an approximate measure of satisfaction with the service (clinic attendance rate) in 325 (170 male) children and young people with Type 1 diabetes (mean age 10.6 years, mean duration of diabetes of 4.5 years), with indices of deprivation and ethnicity.

RESULTS

Of the 325 children and young people, 2.7% received twice-daily insulin, 48.4% multiple daily injections and 48.9% continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Median clinic HbA(1c) was 62 mmol/mol (7.8%) and those receiving the insulin pump therapy had the lowest HbA(1c). Four ethnic groups were represented; White British 81.6%, Asian non-Indian 6.5%, African 8.1% and Asian Indian 3.8%. Mean deprivation score was 21.06. White British and Asian Indian groups were more likely to receive insulin pump therapy (χ(2) = 50.3; P < 0.001). Attendance rates were 94.1% and did not differ across ethnic groups. Deprivation was related to ethnicity and HbA(1c) (R(2) = 0.02; P = 0.02). There was no relationship between clinic attendance and deprivation. Insulin regimen and ethnicity were associated with HbA(1c) (R(2) = 0.096; P < 0.001). Similar findings were obtained when analysis was confined to the White British population.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that deprivation and ethnicity influence diabetes control and how intensive insulin therapy is utilized. A better consideration of the needs of different ethnic groups is required to ensure equitable care delivery in paediatric diabetes.