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Highlights: [•] A method to distinguish forged from genuine £20 banknotes has been developed. [•] Spectra may be recorded from paper or polymer film areas of the note for this purpose. [•] The method may be used with a simple bench-top FTIR. [•] Results may be supported by the use of IR-microscopy. [•] The method could readily be adapted for use by non-laboratory trained personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was investigated in an exercise using a panel of local residents and stakeholders to assess the options for managing waste paper on the Isle of Wight. Seven recycling, recovery and disposal options were considered by the panel who evaluated each option against seven environmental, financial and social criteria. The panel preferred options where the waste was managed on the island with gasification and recycling achieving the highest scores. Exporting the waste to the English mainland for incineration or landfill proved to be the least preferred options. This research has demonstrated that MCDA is an effective way of involving community groups in waste management decision making., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: A large number of nondigitized electrocardiograph (ECG) strips are routinely collected in larger cohort studies such as the ADDITION study (Anglo-Danish-Dutch Study of Intensive Treatment in People with Screen-Detected Diabetes in Primary Care). These ECG strips are routinely read manually but may contain overlooked information revealing cardiac autonomic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate whether clinical information may be lost using manual R wave to R wave (RR) interval measurements in the calculation of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Method: From the Danish part of the ADDITION study, we randomly selected 120 T2DM patients at baseline of the ADDITION study. Analysis of the ECG strips was performed using two different methods: (1) by experienced technicians using rulers and (2) by experienced technicians using a high-resolution computer-assisted method. Calculation of heart rate and time domain HRV [standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)] were performed with the same software., Results: When comparing results from the two methods, the following values of Pearson's r are obtained: 0.98 for heart rate, 0.76 for SDNN, and 0.68 for RMSSD. These results indicate that heart rate and HRV measurements by the computer-assisted and manually based methods correlate. However, Bland-Altman plots and Pitman's test of difference in variance revealed poor agreements (p < .01) for both HRV measurements (SDNN and RMSSD); only heart rate showed substantiated agreement (p = .54) between the two methods. Low HRV was statistically significantly associated to high heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure in these screen-detected T2DM patients., Conclusions: Paper ECG strips may contain overlooked clinical information on the status of autonomic function in patients with T2DM. In our study, manual measurements of RR intervals were inferior to the computer-assisted method. Based on this study, we recommend cautiousness in the clinical use and interpretation of HRV based on manual or low resolution measurements of RR intervals from ECG strips. High resolution measurements of RR intervals reveal significant associations between low HRV and high heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure among patients with screen-detected T2DM. It is feasible to use a computer-assisted method to determine RR intervals in patients with T2DM., (© 2012 Diabetes Technology Society.)

Objective: To investigate the effect of font size and paper thickness on the response to, and completion of, a self-completion postal questionnaire among older people with joint pain., Study Design and Setting: Randomized trial. People aged 50 years and older with joint pain who consulted a general practitioner at one of five general practices in Central Cheshire were sent a postal questionnaire. Questionnaire format (large or small font size, thick or thin paper) was randomly allocated using a 2 x 2 factorial design., Results: Questionnaires were received from 502 out of 650 participants (crude response 77%). Response was significantly higher for participants receiving questionnaires with a larger font size (79.3% vs. 75.2%; hazard ratio 1.26, 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 1.56). Paper thickness had no significant effect on response. Completion (measure by assessing double-page turnover error) was increased in participants receiving questionnaires printed on thicker paper (3.2% vs. 7.1%; P=0.049) but was not affected by font size., Conclusion: This study demonstrates that questionnaires in larger font and on thicker paper may produce higher and more complete responses than surveys using standard size font and standard thickness paper, and should therefore be considered in studies among older people.

Bundles of paper, similar to sterling banknotes, were counted in banks in England and Wales. Subsequent analysis showed that the counting process, both by machine and by hand, transferred nanogram amounts of cocaine to the paper. Crystalline material, similar to cocaine hydrochloride, could be observed on the surface of the paper following counting. The geographical distribution of contamination broadly followed Government statistics for cocaine usage within the UK. Diacetylmorphine, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) were not detected during this study.

High levels of lead in pavement dusts in parts of central London have been traced to newspaper printworks in the area. Concentrations exceeding 5000 micrograms g-1, the interim 'action level' adopted by the Greater London Council, extend up to 150 m from the works, with levels of greater than 200 000 micrograms g-1 encountered close to the exit of one works. By contrast, average levels alongside 14 major roads elsewhere in London ranged from 1360 to 3400 micrograms g-1. Identification of the printworks as the probable source was based on the spatial distribution of the lead-in-dust concentrations. Confirmation came from the close association between lead and tin concentrations, tin being a constituent of the lead alloy used in the printing industry. Such an association was not found in dusts contaminated by lead from petrol or paint. Tracking out on shoes and clothing, and possibly vehicles, is the most likely route by which the lead is leaving the works.

Investigations were undertaken to discover the effect and importance of technical factors in the Guthrie test and to determine the most satisfactory materials available. These findings were used in setting up the screening service for phenylketonuria for the South West Metropolitan Region.