Observation of Rayleigh-Lamb waves generated by the 2022 Hunga-Tonga volcanic eruption with the POLA detectors at Ny-Ålesund.

The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga volcano in the South Pacific Ocean on January 15, 2022, at about 4:15 UTC, generated a violent explosion, which created atmospheric pressure disturbances in the form of Rayleigh-Lamb waves detected all over the globe. Here we discuss the observation of the Hunga-Tonga shock-wave performed at the Ny-Ålesund Research Station on the Spitsbergen island, by the detectors of the PolarquEEEst experiment and their ancillary sensors. Online pressure data as well as the results of dedicated offline analysis are presented and discussed in details. Results include wave arrival times, wave amplitude measurements and wave velocity calculation. We observed five passages of the shock wave with a significance larger than 3 [Formula: see text] and an amplitude up to 1 hPa. The average propagation velocity resulted to be (308 ± 0.6) m/s. Possible effects of the atmospheric pressure variation associated with the shock-wave multiple passages on the cosmic-ray rate at ground level are also investigated. We did not find any significant evidence of this effect.

Ergonomics and workplace design: application of Ergo-UAS System in Fiat Group Automobiles.

Since 2008 Fiat Group Automobiles has introduced Ergo-UAS system for the balancing of production lines and to detect ergonomic issues. Ergo-UAS system integrates 2 specific methods: MTM-UAS for time measurement and EAWS as ergonomic method to evaluate biomechanical effort for each workstation. Fiat is using a software system to manage time evaluation and ergo characterization of production cycle (UAS) to perform line balancing and obtain allowance factor in all Italian car manufacturing plant. For new car models, starting from New Panda, FGA is applying Ergo-UAS for workplace design since the earliest phase of product development. This means that workplace design is based on information about new product, new layout, new work organization and is performed by a multidisciplinary team (Work Place Integration Team), focusing on several aspects of product and process: safety, quality and productivity. This allows to find and solve ergonomic threats before the start of production, by means of a strict cooperation between product development, engineering and design, manufacturing. Three examples of workstation design are presented in which application of Ergo-UAS was determinant to find out initial excessive levels of biomechanical load and helped the process designer to improve the workstations and define limits of acceptability. Technical activities (on product or on process), or organizational changes, that have been implemented in order to solve the problems are presented. A comparison between "before" and "new" ergonomic scores necessary to bring workstations in acceptable conditions were made.

Usefulness of a 12-month treatment with finasteride in idiophathic and polycystic ovary syndrome-associated hirsutism.

OBJECTIVE: Hirsutism is considered as a skin disease due to increased 5 alpha-reductase activity in the pilosebaceous unit and finasteride is a drug that inhibits this enzymatic activity. This study showed the effectiveness of a chronic treatment with a selective 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor, finasteride, in idiopathic and PCOS-associated hirsutism. METHODS: Finasteride was administered orally at a daily dose of 5 mg for a period of 12 months to 20 women with IH and 20 women with PCOS. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Each group was submitted to clinical (with Ferriman-Gallwey method) and serum hormonal (FSH, LH, 17 beta-estradiol, total and free T, delta 4-androstenedione, DHEAS; dihydrotestosterone, 3 alpha-androstanediol glucuronide) studies at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. RESULTS: After 3 months of finasteride treatment, a significant decrease in the average hirsutism scores was recorded both in IH (p < 0.0001) and PCOS patients (p < 0.0001). A progressive significant decrease of hirsutism score was observed in IH patients after 6 and 12 months (p < 0.002) and in PCOS patients after 6 but not 12 months. In fact, the maximal therapeutic effect on the hirsutism was obtained after 12 months in the IH and 6 months in PCOS group.

[Objectives and results of therapy in a psychiatric day hospital. Follow-up of 70 patients]. / Obiettivi e risultati del trattamento in day hospital psichiatrico. Un follow-up di 70 pazienti.

Ten years after the institution of a Day Hospital in Rome, the authors make an assessment of treatment results achieved for 70 patients admitted for the first time in 1986 and assessed after five years. Literary studies emphasizing Day Hospital effectiveness are reviewed; then the authors describe the setting in which this research was carried out. The primary aim was: to evaluate the efficacy of this unit to satisfy its users' needs, to permit their reentry into the community and to prevent their relapses and rehospitalizations.

Bacterial monitoring in vials using a spectrophotometric assimilation method.

Aseptic-filling processes are often used with fragile parenteral products that might be destroyed by terminal autoclaving. However, aseptic filling is not as effective as autoclaving in reducing contamination. As a result, time-consuming microbiological methods and turbidimetry are employed currently as product inspection techniques, but these processes can destroy the product and might not detect low levels of contamination. Thus, near-infrared (IR) light scattering was evaluated in this study as a new method for determining low levels of contamination noninvasively and nondestructively. A new parallel mathematical technique was used in conjunction with near-IR spectrophotometry to detect successfully contamination by several species of bacteria through intact glass vials. Using the near-IR method, products can be evaluated without introducing contamination, preserving the sample vial for dispensing or evaluation by another method.

Near-infrared spectrometry of microorganisms in liquid pharmaceuticals.

Biotechnology and pharmaceutical research have created a number of new and potentially life-saving drugs. Many of these drugs are formulated as injectable products. Some drug products do not survive autoclaving or other means of terminal sterilization. An aseptic filling process is typically used to sterilize such products, but it is less reliable than autoclaving, making detection of unsterile units even more essential. Invasive microbiological methods and turbidimetry are currently employed as inspection techniques. These processes are time-consuming, destroy product, and may not detect low levels of contamination. Near-IR light scattering is proposed as a new method of determining low levels of contamination noninvasively and nondestructively. The method is used successfully in the current study to detect contamination by a species of yeast, mold, and bacteria in intact plastic infusion bags at levels as low as three colony-forming units per milliliter for yeast. By use of the near-IR method, each injectable unit can be evaluated with its integrity maintained, allowing the product to be dispensed or evaluated by another analytical method.

"Nonclassic" cytologic signs of cervical condyloma. A case-control study.

The association between "nonclassic" cytologic signs of condyloma and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women with negative Papanicolaou smears was analyzed via a case-control study. The cytologic signs considered were mild koilocytosis, mild dyskeratosis, binucleation or multinucleation, cleared cytoplasm and nuclear hyperchromatism. The Papanicolaou smears of 166 cases that showed colposcopic and histologic evidence of HPV infection (but whose smears lacked the classic cytologic signs of condyloma) and 166 controls that were negative colposcopically were randomly admixed and blindly reviewed by a panel of cytologists. A significant association to HPV infection was observed for all of the nonclassic signs studied, but multivariate analysis showed a weakly independent association only for mild koilocytosis. The sensitivity (0.46) and the specificity (0.87) of these nonclassic signs were not satisfactory. The utility of selecting women with negative Papanicolaou smears for colposcopy on the basis of these signs is discussed.

Stability of ranitidine in intravenous admixtures stored frozen, refrigerated, and at room temperature.

The stability of ranitidine in concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/mL in admixtures with commonly used i.v. fluids was studied. The admixture vehicles were 0.9% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose, 10% dextrose, 5% dextrose and 0.45% sodium chloride, and 5% dextrose with lactated Ringer's (DLR) injections in polyvinyl chloride bags. Three bags were prepared for each test solution and stored under each of the following conditions: seven days at room temperature (23 +/- 1 degrees C) in normal laboratory lighting, 30 days at 4 degrees C, and 60 days at -20 degrees C followed by either seven days at room temperature (in light) or 14 days at 4 degrees C. Ranitidine content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography at several intervals. Color, clarity, and pH were also examined. Ranitidine concentrations remained greater than or equal to 90% of initial concentrations under all storage conditions except in the frozen DLR admixtures. Drug loss in the DLR admixtures was greatest at the lower ranitidine concentrations. The only visual changes were yellow color in the thawed DLR admixtures and those containing ranitidine 2.0 mg/mL in 5% dextrose and 0.45% sodium chloride. Slight increases in the pH of some admixtures were noted. Ranitidine is stable for seven days at room temperature and 30 days at 4 degrees C at all concentrations and in all vehicles studied. At the studied concentrations, the drug is stable in admixtures frozen for 60 days and stored for seven days at room temperature or 14 days refrigerated, except in DLR admixtures; these admixtures should not be stored frozen.

Stability of ranitidine hydrochloride at dilute concentration in intravenous infusion fluids at room temperature.

The stability of ranitidine at low concentration (0.05 mg/mL) in five intravenous infusion solutions (0.9% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose, 10% dextrose, 5% dextrose with 0.45% sodium chloride, and 5% dextrose with lactated Ringer's injections) was studied. Admixtures were stored for seven days at room temperature in 150-mL and 1-L polyvinyl chloride infusion bags. Ranitidine stability in 0.9% sodium chloride injection and in 5% dextrose injection was also examined for up to 28 days, and these data were compared with data obtained at higher ranitidine concentrations (0.5-2.0 mg/mL). At intervals during the storage periods, color, clarity, and solution pH were examined and ranitidine content was determined by a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic assay. Ranitidine content remained greater than 90% of the initial concentration for more than 48 hours in all infusion fluids except 5% dextrose with lactated Ringer's injection. No visual changes or appreciable changes in pH were observed for any of the solutions. At the dilute concentration, ranitidine was markedly more stable after eight hours in 0.9% sodium chloride injection than in 5% dextrose injection. In 0.9% sodium chloride injection, ranitidine concentrations remained above 95% for up to 28 days, but drug concentrations in 5% dextrose injection fell below 90% after seven days. Stability in 5% dextrose injection improved as ranitidine concentrations increased from 0.05 to 2.0 mg/mL. Ranitidine (0.05 mg/mL) is stable for at least 48 hours at room temperature in all infusion fluids tested except 5% dextrose with lactated Ringer's injection.

Possible virulence marker for Streptococcus agalactiae (Lancefield Group B).

Mouse passage of a stock strain of each of the serotypes Ia, Ib, Ia/c, II and III of Streptococcus agalactiae was followed by increased virulence. The change was associated with an increased content of sialic acid and also with the appearance of an antigen common to all passaged strains. This antigen was subsequently detected in all but one of 12 strains isolated from infected babies or diabetic adults, but in none of 12 organisms recovered from carriers.

Determination of bepridil in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A rapid, selective and sensitive assay has been developed for the determination of the anti-anginal drug, bepridil, in biological samples. The lowest concentration of bepridil which can be measured accurately and precisely in a 2-ml plasma or urine sample is 10 ng/ml. The standard curve is linear in the concentration range 10-2000 ng/ml. Accuracy and precision of the assay, expressed as relative deviation and coefficient of variation (inter-run) are less than 6.5% at all concentrations in the linear range. No interfering peaks are observed. Using an automatic injector and a laboratory computer system, 48 samples are analyzed routinely in an 8-h day.

Improved detection and identification of basic drugs extracted from tissue using TLC.

Improved separation of methaqualone, lidocaine, cocaine, phencyclidine, phenacetin and methadone was achieved by a double development technique using dichloromethane:methyl ethyl ketone:ammonia (90:10:1.5 and 30:70:2). Improved identification of spots for some basic drugs was achieved after the traditional detection spray sequence with successive topical applications of: Marquis reagent, Mandelin reagent and a special ammonium molybdate fuming sulfuric acid reagent.

Effect of prolactin on vitamin D metabolism.

The effect of ovine prolactin on the renal 25-hydroxycholecalciferol-1-hydroxylase was studied in the chick. Prolactin was found to increase the activity of this enzyme in both long-term and short-term experiments. In the long term, 7 days treatment with prolactin caused a marked stimulation of the 1-hydroxylase activity, however this effect was only seen when the enzyme was assayed 2-3 hours after the final injection of prolactin. A single subcutaneous injection of prolactin was also effective in increasing the 1-hydroxylase activity, this effect was maximal at one hour and had largely disappeared 3 hours after prolactin administration.

Toxicological findings in victims of traumatic deaths.

The toxicological findings from 6037 analyses of viscera obtained from victims of traumatic death are used to correlate the relative incidence of carbon monoxide, ethyl alcohol, narcotics, hypnotics, analgesics, and tranquilizers-antidepressants in deaths occurring under the following circumstances: fire related, asphyxia by hanging, by use of plastic bags, from physical obstruction of trachae, and by drowning; traumatic injury from impact of moving train, fall from height, and occupational accident; traumatic injury to pedestrian, driver, and passenger from vehicular accidents; and from violent death by shooting, stabbing, strangulation, and beating. The influence of alcohol, narcotic drugs, and tranquilizers on carbon monoxide can be seen in some of these traumatic deaths. Ethanol alone and in combination with other drugs was present in 42.3% and 19.5% of driver and pedestrian victims, respectively, of vehicular accidents in the year 1974. Comparative analysis is presented for the toxicological data obtained on victims of homicide (shooting, stabbing, strangulation, and beating) in New York City and similar data reported for victims of homicide in Detroit. In New York City 45.9% of such victims died while under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs, or both, with methadone predominating in the latter category. Tissue concentrations of drugs found in victims of traumatic death are presented. Diphenylhydantoin, diazepam, meperidine, and slow-acting barbiturates were found in normal therapeutic levels. Higher concentrations of amitriptyline, chlorpromazine, propoxyphene, short-acting barbiturates, and methadone were observed. The concentration of methadone in blood and brain (0.13 +/- 0.14 mg/100 ml) and in liver (0.53 +/- 0.42 mg/100 ml) in cases of traumatic death are not different from those observed in deaths classified as due to methadone overdose.

Calcitonin in breast and lung cancer.

Immunoreactive calcitonin was found in extracts of seven out of eight consecutive breast carcinomas and four selected lung carcinomas, but not in extracts of benign breast lesions or normal tissues. This suggests that the high plasma calcitonin levels observed in patients with a wide variety of cancers reflect ectopic production of calcitonin by cancer tissue, and that the radioimmunoassay for calcitonin could prove to be of value in the detection and management of malignant disease, particularly breast cancer.

The ectopic secretion of calcitonin by lung and breast carcinomas.

Many patients with advanced non-thyroid malignancies have elevated plasma immunoreactive calcitonin concentrations. Breast and bronchial carcinomas contain immunoreactive calcitonin and an epidermoid bronchial carcinoma has been shown to produce immunoreactive calcitonin in vitro. We have established monolayer cultures of breast carcinomas and eight out of fifteen consecutive carcinomas released immunoreactive calcitonin; some released HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) or CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen). In addition, a primary human breast carcinoma has been shown to release and contain calcitonin after being passaged in 'nude' mice over 1 year. Chromatography of extracts and culture media of a bronchical carcinoma demonstrated that, in contrast with the other tumours, it secreted a form or forms of calcitonin having size, charge and immunological differences when compared to calcitonin M. Preliminary evaluation of plasma immunoreactive calcitonin estimations in patients with breast carcinoma showed that twenty-three out of twenty-eight patients with metastatic disease had elevated plasma calcitonin concentrations, whereas only one out of thirteen with localized disease had high levels.

Secretion of immunoreactive calcitonin by human breast carcinomas.

Twenty-three out of 28 patients with metastatic breast carcinoma and one out of 13 patients with localised disease had raised levels of plasma immunoreactive calcitonin. Monolayer cultures of breast carcinomas maintained for up to 10 weeks released immunoreactive calcitonin, and a primary breast carcinoma passaged in "nude" mice for over a year contained material immunologically and chromatographically resembling the monomeric form of human calcitonin. These studies indicate that breast carcinomas can produce calcitonin and that plasma calcitonin measurements may be useful in staging patients with breast carcinomas.

Feedback regulation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol metabolism by vitamin D3.

1. In vitamin D-deficient chicks both vitamin D3 and 1alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol markedly decrease renal 1-hydroxylase activity and induce 24-hydroxylase activity. 2. Actinomycin D abolishes both effects. 3. These results are consistent with feedback regulation of vitamin D3 metabolism by a direct nuclear action of the vitamin or its metabolites on the kidney cells.