Search

This paper presents the findings of a major survey of independent living schemes (ILS) by the Joint Unit for Social Services Research. The survey covered 149 schemes, accommodating 349 people in four different parts of the country. Detailed information is given on the characteristics of the schemes and on the characteristics of their occupants. Four different management models are defined using the evidence from the survey, and key features of the ILS population are identified.

Increasing the lifetime of polymer based organic solar cells is still a major challenge. Here, the photostability of bulk heterojunction solar cells based on the polymer poly[4,4′-bis(2-ethylhexyl)dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]silole)-2,6-diyl-alt-[2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl)thiazole[5,4-d]thiazole)-1,8-diyl] (PDTSTzTz) and the fullerene [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) under inert atmosphere is investigated. Correlation of electrical measurements on complete devices and UV-vis absorption measurements as well as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis on the active materials reveals that photodimerization of PC60BM is responsible for the observed degradation. Simulation of the electrical device parameters shows that this dimerization results in a significant reduction of the charge carrier mobility. Both the dimerization and the associated device performance loss turn out to be reversible upon annealing. BisPC60BM, the bis-substituted analog of PC60BM, is shown to be resistant towards light exposure, which in turn enables the manufacture of photostable PDTSTzTz:bisPC60BM solar cells.

Intra-blood-brain-barrier IgG synthesis rates and oligoclonal IgG banding patterns were examined in 9 patients with multiple sclerosis who were treated with azathioprine and steroids for 2 to 4.5 years. The IgG synthesis rates of 5 patients were significantly decreased from the pretreatment mean values 1 month after treatment, and their synthesis rates remained at the decreased levels throughout treatment. However, among the remaining 4 patients, the rates exceeded the pretreatment means. This continuous suppressive effect of the combined azathioprine and steroids upon the IgG synthesis rate was similar to that of steroids, suggesting that azathioprine and steroids in combination were not more effective in reducing intra-blood-brain-barrier IgG synthesis than steroids alone. Oligoclonal IgG patterns in all cerebrospinal fluid samples were not significantly altered during the study.