The advantages of creating a positive radiation safety culture in the higher education and research sectors.

The safety culture of any organisation plays a critical role in setting the tone for both effective delivery of service and high standards of performance. By embedding safety at a cultural level, organisations are able to influence the attitudes and behaviours of stakeholders. To achieve this requires the ongoing commitment of heads of organisations and also individuals to prioritise safety no less than other competing goals (e.g. in universities, recruitment and retention are key) to ensure the protection of both people and the environment. The concept of culture is the same whatever the sector, e.g. medical, nuclear, industry, education, and research, but the higher education and research sectors within the UK are a unique challenge in developing a strong safety culture. This report provides an overview of the challenges presented by the sector, the current status of radiation protection culture, case studies to demonstrate good and bad practice in the sector and the practical methods to influence change.

The 'Green Revolution' dwarfing genes play a role in disease resistance in Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare.

The Green Revolution dwarfing genes, Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b, encode mutant forms of DELLA proteins and are present in most modern wheat varieties. DELLA proteins have been implicated in the response to biotic stress in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. Using defined wheat Rht near-isogenic lines and barley Sln1 gain of function (GoF) and loss of function (LoF) lines, the role of DELLA in response to biotic stress was investigated in pathosystems representing contrasting trophic styles (biotrophic, hemibiotrophic, and necrotrophic). GoF mutant alleles in wheat and barley confer a resistance trade-off with increased susceptibility to biotrophic pathogens and increased resistance to necrotrophic pathogens whilst the converse was conferred by a LoF mutant allele. The polyploid nature of the wheat genome buffered the effect of single Rht GoF mutations relative to barley (diploid), particularly in respect of increased susceptibility to biotrophic pathogens. A role for DELLA in controlling cell death responses is proposed. Similar to Arabidopsis, a resistance trade-off to pathogens with contrasting pathogenic lifestyles has been identified in monocotyledonous cereal species. Appreciation of the pleiotropic role of DELLA in biotic stress responses in cereals has implications for plant breeding.

Randomized controlled trial of the A.P. Advance, McGrath, and Macintosh laryngoscopes in normal and difficult intubation scenarios: a manikin study.

BACKGROUND: Several videolaryngoscopes are available which may facilitate tracheal intubation in difficult airways. We compared the McGrath(®) Series 5 and the Venner™ A.P. Advance™ (APA) videolaryngoscopes with a Macintosh laryngoscope by studying the performance of experienced anaesthetists using manikins in normal and difficult airway scenarios. METHODS: We recruited 48 anaesthetists into a randomized trial. Each performed tracheal intubation with each laryngoscope in one easy and one difficult laryngoscopy scenario. The primary endpoint was time to intubation. Other endpoints were time to best glottic visualization, grade of view, and number of glottic advances. RESULTS: There were no dropouts. In the easy scenario, the time to intubation was greater using the McGrath [median time 40.7 s, inter-quartile range (IQR) 31.0, 57.4, P<0.001] than the other devices. In the difficult scenario, the time to intubation using the APA with Difficult Airway Blade (DAB) was less (median time 23.2 s, IQR 19.8, 29.0, P<0.001) than the other devices. Time to glottic visualization was reduced using the McGrath and the APA with DAB. Glottic advances were fewer using the APA with DAB. CONCLUSIONS: Experienced anaesthetists required a longer time for intubation in a standard manikin using a McGrath compared with other laryngoscopes, but a shorter time for intubation in a difficult manikin using an APA with DAB, and with fewer glottic advances, compared with other laryngoscopes.

Management of alcohol intoxication and aggressive behaviour: a tale of two cities.

BACKGROUND: Violence and aggressive behaviour are a growing problem in emergency departments on both sides of the Atlantic, and alcohol intoxication is often involved. A wide range of management options is available, and policies vary considerably. METHODS: We compared the management of alcohol intoxication and aggressive behaviour in four New York and four London emergency departments, using a semi-structured interview which covered 15 issues. RESULTS: Differences were apparent between New York and London emergency departments in the method used for diagnosis of alcohol intoxication, the investigations carried out and discharge criteria. Chemical and physical restraints were readily and frequently used in New York in order to prevent intoxicated patients leaving the department, while in London disruptive patients tended to be ejected. CONCLUSIONS: The marked transatlantic differences, while partly due to cultural and historic reasons, are largely due to the pressures to limit the risk of litigation in the United States and the constraints of a cost-limited health service in Britain. The management of violent and intoxicated patients deserves further refinement.

Standardisation of 11C.

The increasing use of positron emission tomography for medical imaging and the availability of short-lived positron emitters has raised concerns about the accuracy of calibration of secondary standard measurement systems and the viability of using a single long-lived positron emitter as a reference calibration source for all positron emitters. Potential problems arise because the 511 keV quanta arising from positron annihilation are not generally produced at the same point as the original disintegration. In addition, the secondary standard may also be responsive to the associated bremsstrahlung radiation. The magnitude of both effects depends on the positron end-point energy. In order to resolve these problems, it is necessary to produce absolute standards of these positron-emitting radionuclides and the work presented here details the results of such work with 11C.

Radioassay problems associated with the clinical use of a 82Rb radionuclide generator.

The short-lived positron emitting radionuclide 82Rb (t1/2 1.27 min) is conveniently available from a 82Sr/82Rb generator system. The parent nuclide (t1/2 25.5d) produced from the spallation of molybdenum, has associated with it varying quantities of other long-lived strontium radionuclides, namely 85Sr, 89Sr and 90Sr. It is important therefore in the clinical use of such material that the levels of strontium radionuclides being administered to patients is carefully assayed and controlled. The problems associated with these measurements are discussed with special reference to the radiation dose received by the patient and the problems in resolving overlapping peaks with different FWHMs.