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Dynamics of baroclinic jets on extrasolar planets is studied using three-dimensional general circulation models (GCMs) which solve the traditional hydrostatic primitive equations. The focus is on: i ) baroclinic ow and instability on hot-Jupiters; ii ) detailed GCM intercomparison in a commonly used extrasolar planet setup; and, iii ) equatorial superrotation on Earth-like planets. Stability, non-linear evolution and equilibration of high-speed ageostrophic jets are studied under adiabatic condition relevant to hot-Jupiters. It is found that zonal jets can be baroclinically unstable, despite the planetary size of the Rossby deformation scale, and that high resolution is necessary to capture the process. Non-linear jet evolution is then used as a test case to assess model convergence in ve GCMs used in current hot-Jupiter simulations. The GCMs are also tested under a diabatic condition (thermal relaxation on a short timescale) similar to that used in many hot-Jupiter studies. In the latter case, in particular, the models show signi cant inter- and intra-model variability, limiting their quantitative prediction capability. Some models severely violate global angular momentum conservation. The generation of equatorial superrotation in Earth-like atmospheres, subject to \Held & Suarez-like" zonally-symmetric thermal forcing is also studied. It is shown that transition to superrotation occurs when the meridional gradient of the equilibrium surface entropy is weak in this setup. Two factors contribute to the onset of superrotation | suppression of breaking Rossby waves (generated by midlatitude baroclinic instability) that decelerate the equatorial ow, and, generation of inertial and barotropic instabilities in the equatorial region that provide the stirring to accelerate the equatorial ow. In summary, forcing condition and physical setup used in current hot-Jupiter simulations severely stretch model performance and predictive capability. Superrotation in Earth-like conditions may be common, but its strength decreases with resolution. Broadly, numerical convergence must be assessed in GCM experiments for each problem or setup considered.

Airborne dusts can transport radioactive materials in the form of isolated individual radioactively-hot particles containing high concentrations of radioisotopes. These airborne particles may be inhaled or ingested, becoming a source of internal radiation exposure. After the March 11, 2011, nuclear reactor accidents at Fukushima Daiichi, in northern Japan; eighty-five Japanese environmental samples and 234 US and Canadian samples were collected and analyzed by gamma spectrometry, autoradiography, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM/EDS), and total alpha and beta counts. Social media and volunteer organizations were an important part of the sample collection effort. The combination of autoradiography and SEM/EDS allowed individual radioactively-hot particles to be isolated and analyzed. Detectable levels of 134Cs and 137Cs were found in 62 of 85 Japanese particulate matter samples. The median dust specific activity for Japanese samples was 2.5 Bq g-1 +/- 1.6 Bq g-1, while the mean dust specific activity was 71 Bq g-1 (RSD = 335 %). The mean was skewed high due to five dust samples with sharply higher specific activities. These five samples had specific activities ranging from 167 kBq g-1 to 5.2 PBq kg-1. Only four of 234 US and Canadian environmental samples had detectable levels of both 134Cs and 137Cs. Gross gamma spectroscopy of Japanese samples also detected 131I and 60Co. US and Canadian dust samples showed primarily naturally-occurring nuclides. More than 300 individual hot particles were identified in Japanese samples. The Japanese particles analyzed by SEM/EDS were found to contain cesium, americium, radium, polonium, tellurium, rubidium and other necessarily or potentially radioactive elements. No cesium-containing hot particles were found in the US, however some dust particles were found that contained uranium, thorium and plutonium. These US particles were all related to identified uranium mines or nuclear materials storage and processing sites. Some of the hot particles detected in this study could cause significant radiation exposures to individuals if inhaled. Where hot particles are present in the environment, radiation dose models must include this exposure component to remain accurate.

This study aims to understand intermingling process between rejuvenators and aged asphalt binders in reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) materials during RAP recycling operations in pavement construction. This study presents results of a laboratory study on the use of rejuvenators to recycle age hardened asphalt binders in RAP. Laboratory Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) samples were prepared with RAP millings from one specific pavement and a commercial rejuvenator, with 80 to 90 percent RAP content. The following mixes with various amount of the rejuvenator were evaluated: a control mix prepared from burned RAP aggregate and virgin asphalt binder, another control mix prepared with heated RAP, a recycled RAP mix with 1% rejuvenator (at the weight of the total mix), a recycled RAP mix with 0.5% rejuvenator, and a recycled RAP mix with 0.5% rejuvenator and 0.5% virgin asphalt binder. Dynamic modulus test results of laboratory prepared samples were obtained for a range of temperatures over an eleven-week period of accelerated aging at 60ºC in an inert gas oven and a conventional convection oven. Accelerated aging protocol was used to evaluate the intermingling process associated with diffusion mechanism between the rejuvenator and aged asphalt binder while an argon inert gas oven provides an environment where oxidation-related ageing and hardening in rejuvenated asphalt binders can be eliminated. The dynamic modulus data of six distinct mixes were statistically analyzed and compared to the results reported in the literature for virgin and low percentage recycled mixes. Collected data suggest that the use of rejuvenator is a viable option for recycling HMA with high RAP material content.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar em mulheres com sintomas menopáusicos, os efeitos da acupuntura ou da eletroacupuntura-placebo no Índice Menopausal de Kupperman (IMK) e na intensidade de fogachos e secundariamente avaliar se a ordem de execução desses tratamentos interfere nos resultados dessas medidas e se há alteração nos parâmetros laboratoriais. Foi realizado estudo prospectivo randomizado com 122 pacientes divididas em: Grupo 1 Acupuntura com 88 pacientes (período de um ano 10 sessões semanais e quinzenalmente até completar um ano, seguida de 6 meses de eletroacupuntura-placebo) e Grupo 2 Eletroacupuntura-placebo com 34 pacientes (6 meses 10 sessões semanais e quinzenalmente até completar 6 meses, seguida de um ano de acupuntura). Resultado: As pacientes tratadas com acupuntura e eletroacupuntura-placebo tiveram alívio das ondas de calor em 86,8% e 90,4% respectivamente, entretanto quando realizado quinzenalmente houve aumento das ondas de calor no Grupo 2. As pacientes tratadas com acupuntura apresentaram redução acentuada do IMK de 93,7% em relação ao Grupo 2 de 15,1%. O grupo que inicia com eletroacupunturaplacebo possui redução média na glicemia de 8,8%. Os valores médios de hemoglobina, triglicérides e HDL das pacientes aumentaram durante o estudo independente do grupo em 2,4%, 13,2% e 4,2%, respectivamente, enquanto os níveis de colesterol não modificaram. Nas pacientes tratadas com acupuntura observou-se redução do LDL em 9,1%, aumento do VLDL em 10,5% e redução do número de plaquetas em 5,0%. Houve redução significante do conteúdo mineral ósseo da coluna e do colo do fêmur em ambos os grupos em 1,4%. Conclusão: O uso da acupuntura para o alívio dos sintomas das pacientes climatéricas foi eficaz, sem apresentar efeitos colaterais. / This study aimed at evaluating the effects of acupuncture and placebo electroacupuncture on the Kupperman Menopausal Index (KMI) and on the intensity of hot flashes in women with menopausal symptoms. A secondary objective was to check whether the order in which these two treatments were carried out interfered in the measurement results and laboratory tests. A prospective randomized study was conducted with 122 patients assigned to two groups: Group 1: Acupuncture on 88 patients (one session a week for ten weeks and then one session every other week throughout one year followed by six months of placebo electroacupuncture) and Group 2: Placebo electroacupuncture on 34 patients (one session a week for ten weeks and then one session every other week throughout six months followed by one year of acupuncture). Results: : Hot flashes decreased by 86.8% and 90.4% in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, during the one-year acupuncture treatments, but they increased in Group 2 during the biweekly placebo electroacupuncture treatment. In the acupuncture phase, the KMI had a 93.7% drop in Group 1 in sharp contrast with the 15.1% decline in Group 2. The glucose decreased 8,8% in group 2. The hemoglobin, triglycerides and HDL increased during this study in 2,4%, 13,2% and 4,2%, respectively, in group 1. The leucocytes and total cholesterol dont change during this study. The LDL decreased 9,1%, VLDL increased 10,5% and platelet decreased 5% in group 1. The mineral bone in lumbar spine L1-L4 and neck of femur decreased 1,4% in both groups. Conclusions: The use of alternative therapy such as acupuncture for menopause symptoms is beneficial and relief almost all symptoms without any side effects.

Bakgrund: Hot och våld på akutmottagningar är ett fenomen som ökar årligen. Förekomsten av hot och våld är störst vid triagen. Då sjuksköterskor tar emot patienter vid triagering så är det den yrkesgrupp på akutmottagningar som löper störst risk att utsättas för hot och våld.Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva sjuksköterskans erfarenheter av hot och våld från patienter på akutmottagning. Metod: En integrativ litteraturöversikt som baserats på 9 vetenskapliga artiklar med kvalitativ och kvantitativ ansats. Samtliga artiklar har genomgått en kvalitetsgranskning enligt SBU:s kvalitetgranskningsmallar. Resultat: Sex teman identifierades; mentala konsekvenser, fysiska konsekvenser, konsekvenser för arbetet, otillräckligt stöd, våld tolereras och rapportering undviks.Slutsats: Hot och våld kan ge fysiska och psykiska konsekvenser för sjuksköterskan. Det kan leda till att omvårdnadsarbetet och patientens vårdkvalité påverkas negativt. Otillräckligt stöd från sjukhusledningen leder till att sjuksköterskor undviker att rapportera incidenter och att våld tolereras.

Bakgrund: Både globalt och inom Sverige har hot och våld inom hälso- och sjukvården ökat de senaste åren. Sjuksköterskor arbetar patientnära och riskerar därför att bli utsatta för hot eller våld i högre grad än andra yrkesgrupper inom hälso- och sjukvården, då framför allt på akutmottagningar. Att uppleva våldsamma situationer inom det dagliga arbetet kan få konsekvenser för patientsäkerheten och sjuksköterskans egna hälsa. KASAM har använts som teoretisk referensram.  Syfte: Studiens syfte var att beskriva hur sjuksköterskor resonerar om orsaker till hot och våld i det dagliga arbetet på en akutmottagning och vilka konsekvenser det kan innebära.  Metod: Metoden var en systematisk litteraturstudie. I resultatet användes tio vetenskapliga artiklar, sökningen gjordes i CINAHL och i PubMed. Analysmetoden som användes var en kvalitativ innehållsanalys.  Resultat: Sjuksköterskor upplever en otrygg arbetsmiljö på akutmottagningar, där hot och våld motvilligt blivit en del av arbetet. Det uppstår osäkerhet bland sjuksköterskor hur de ska bemöta patienter och agera i våldsamma situationer. Sjuksköterskor försöker arbeta utifrån ett professionellt förhållningssätt trots utmanande situationer.  Slutsats: Det är viktigt att tydliggöra förekomsten av hot och våld på akutmottagningar genom rapportering för att synliggöra varför hot och våld har blivit en del av arbetet. Svåra situationer uppstår som väcker starka känslor och behöver hanteras för att undvika negativa konsekvenser för sjuksköterskan.

Police officers endure various threats ranging from verbal abuse to physical attacks, which can escalate and lead to police officer stress. Despite the abundant research exploring the relationship between high-stress occupations and environmental health, adequate exploration of the relationship between officer stress and hot spot policing (HSP; area with an above-average level of crime) has yet to occur. The purpose of this correlational study was to use Cohen and McKay's conceptualization of the stress-buffering hypothesis to explore whether HSP mitigates the negative impact of job stress, leading to improved officer performance and ultimately improved relationships between the police and communities as well as lower crime rates. Posting of a SurveyMonkey link in law enforcement only, social-media communities (with administrator permission) facilitated data collection for the 151 respondents. Findings indicated that the overall regression model was significant; however, the simple correlation between HSP and officer stress (.118) indicated that HSP alone does not account for unique variance (there was a value of .014 or 1.4% of the variation in officer stress). The social change implications of this study include recommendations to police department administrations to continue to explore efforts to reduce officer stress, which could lead to improved officer performance and police and community relationships.

L’amélioration de la solubilité des principes actifs peu solubles est devenue l’un des principaux challenges de l’industrie pharmaceutique. Bien que présentant une structure chimique potentiellement idéale pour interagir avec la cible, elles échouent dans l’efficacité in vivo : après administration, elles ne peuvent se dissoudre dans les milieux aqueux biologiques et par conséquent ne peuvent être transportées sur leur site d’action pour atteindre la concentration efficace, amenant à un échec thérapeutique. De nombreuses stratégies très intéressantes ont été proposées pour surmonter ce sérieux obstacle.Les dispersions solides sont étudiées depuis plus de 40 ans et ont conduit à de très nombreuses publications mais jusqu’à aujourd’hui peu de produits ont été commercialisés principalement pour des raisons de stabilité physico-chimique. Celles-ci ont pour but de présenter le principe actif sous sa forme amorphe : cette dernière présentant un état d’énergie plus élevé et par conséquent une solubilisation facilitée. Dans le même temps, le système doit rester stable durant le stockage, ainsi la recristallisation ou tout autre changement entraînant une modification du profil de libération doivent être évités. Différentes techniques de production peuvent être utilisées pour préparer ce genre de systèmes polymériques tels que l’extrusion en phase chauffante ou l’atomisation-séchage. Le principal objectif de ce travail a été d’améliorer la solubilité des principes actifs peu solubles par formation de dispersions solides utilisant les deux techniques les plus utilisées : l’extrusion en phase chauffante et l’atomisation-séchage. Dans cette étude, le kétoprofène a été incorporé dans des matrices polymériques hydrophiles pour augmenter sa solubilité apparente. Les deux techniques ont été employées et l’Eudragit® E a été considéré comme une matrice intéressante pour plusieurs raisons : c’est un polymère thermoplastique, offrant une stabilité thermique suffisante pour l’extrusion en phase chauffante, il se dissout rapidement en milieu acide et peut interagir avec les groupements acides de par ses nombreux azotes ternaires. Des mélanges binaires « principe actif – Eudragit®E » ainsi que des mélanges ternaires « principe actif – Eudragit®E - PVP », « principe actif – Eudragit®E - PVPVA », « principe actif – Eudragit®E - HPMC » ont été étudiés et caractérisés Les systèmes obtenus ont été caractérisés par macro/microscopie optique, microscopie électronique à balayage, diffraction laser, analyse calorimétrique différentielle modulée, diffraction des rayons X et l’étude du profil de libération in vitro en milieu acide (HCl 0.1M). Les libérations ont été intentionnellement réalisées en condition « non sink » afin d'évaluer le potentiel des formulations à produire des solutions sur-saturées et la durée de ces dernières. Tous les systèmes présentent un profil de libération du kétoprofène beaucoup plus rapide comparé au produit commercial et à la dissolution du principe actif pur. De plus, des solutions sur-saturées peuvent être obtenues et restent stables au moins 2 h. Cependant, en fonction des polymères utilisés, différents profils de libération ont été obtenus indiquant que l’utilisation de matrices polymériques pour l’accélération de la libération de principes actifs peu solubles peut être très complexe puisqu’elle n’est pas seulement influencée par la composition du système mais aussi potentiellement par leur structure interne et notamment par l’homogénéité/hétérogénéité de la distribution des excipients.[...]. / Poor aqueous solubility has become a property of numerous new drug candidates causing major concern. Despite a potentially ideal chemical structure allowing for interaction with the target, these substances fail to be effective in vivo: upon administration, they cannot dissolve sufficiently in the aqueous fluids of the body and, thus, cannot be transported to their site of action to reach therapeutically effective concentrations. Various interesting strategies have been proposed to overcome this crucial hurdle.Solid dispersions have been studied for more than 40 years and lead to numerous interesting research articles. However, today, only a few products have reached the market principally due to problems with the physico-chemical stability. The idea is to transform the crystalline raw material into a physical state having a greater energy in order to increase the driving force for drug dissolution. At the same time, the system should be stable during long term storage, thus, re-crystallization or other system changes, resulting in altered drug release rates, must be avoided. Different manufacturing techniques can be used to prepare such polymeric drug delivery systems, including hot-melt extrusion and spray-drying.The main objective of this work has been to improve drug solubility by forming solid dispersions using the two most employed techniques: hot-melt extrusion and spray-drying. In this study ketoprofen has been incorporated into hydrophilic polymeric matrices to increase its apparent aqueous solubility. Both techniques have been applied and Eudragit® E has been considered to be an interesting matrix former in this case, as it is thermoplastic, provides sufficient thermal stability for hot-melt extrusion, rapidly dissolves at acidic pH and can interact with acidic drugs due to its multiple tertiary ammonium groups. Binary “drug-Eudragit®E” as well as ternary “drug-Eudragit®E-PVP”, “drug-Eudragit®E-PVPVA”, “drug-Eudragit®E-HPMC” combinations were investigated and characterized using X-ray diffraction, mDSC, SEM, optical macro/microscopy, and drug release measurements in 0.1 M HCl before and after storage. Drug release has been intentionally monitored under non-sink conditions, in order to evaluate the potential of the formulations to provide super-saturated solutions and the life-time of the latter. In all cases ketoprofen release was much faster compared to a commercially available product and the dissolution of the drug powder (as received). More important, super-saturated solutions could have been obtained, which were stable for at least 2 h. [...]

I denna studie har hot och våld mot lärare undersökts kvantitativt. Empirin består av enkätsvar från 287 lärare som arbetar i förskoleklass samt grund-och gymnasieskolan. Syftet med studien var att undersöka prevalensen av hot och våld som riktas mot lärare samt att diskutera lärares ställning som auktoriteter.De frågeställningar som ställdes i studien var: ”Hur ser prevalensen av hot ochvåld som riktas mot lärare ut?”, ”Vilka faktorer samverkar med utsatthet för hot och våld?” samt ”Hur upplever lärare att incidenter av hot och våld förebyggs och hanteras?”. Det teoretiska ramverket utgjordes av tidigare forskning som undersökt på vilka grunder elever legitimerar lärares auktoritet, prevalensen av hot och våld, konsekvenser av hot och våld samt bristande stöd vid utsatthet för hot och våld samt Max Webers teorier om social ordning, auktoritet och legitimitet och James Côtés teori om hur individualiseringen av samhället skapat en ny slags vuxenhet.Studiens resultat visar att en majoritet, 69,7 procent, av de undersökta lärarna varit utsatta förnågon form av hot eller våld och att den vanligaste förövaren var en elev. Resultatet visar också att faktorer som samverkar med utsatthet för hot eller våld är kön, ålder, upplevd relation till elever, huruvida lärarna fått utbildning för att förhindra och hantera hot och våld med flera. Slutligen visar resultatet attincidenter av hot och våld i en betydande andel av fallen inte hanteras som de regelbrott de är. Den höga prevalensen av hot och våld mot lärare i kombination med otydlighet gällande hur hot och våld mot lärare hanteras innebär att lärares ställning som legitima auktoriteter kan ifrågasättas.