Search

To assess and describe the use of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) related to mass bat exposures (MBEs) in the literature and in the state of Rhode Island. Data on MBE events occurring between 2010 and 2016 from the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) were reviewed to determine PEP usage. For comparison, a systematic review was also performed by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science using the keywords 'rabies,' 'bat' and 'exposure.' There were three MBE events in Rhode Island between 2010 and 2016 in which groups of individuals were asleep during the potential exposure. As a result, RIDOH provided PEP to those involved in the event. In a systematic review of 12 published reports, a variety of settings were involved in MBEs: camping sites, a domestic flight, a neonatal intensive care unit and dormitories. The number of potential rabies exposures ranged from five to 1,429 people. PEP recommendations for assessed persons ranged from 0% to 100% across events (median 21%). The variation in PEP recommendations following a MBE may be dependent on medical need, past precedent or preference. Federal guidance for MBE is needed to add clarity and to minimize the variability in PEP recommendations for such events in the future.

Exposure to either natural or simulated hypoxia induces hematological adaptations that may affect the parameters of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of a novel, mixed hypoxic dose protocol on the likelihood of producing an atypical ABP finding. Ten well-trained middle-distance runners participated in a "live high, train low and high" (LHTLH) altitude training camp for 14 days. The participants spent ˜6 hr.d-1 at 3000-5400 m during waking hours and ˜10 h.d-1 overnight at 2400-3000 m simulated altitude. Venous blood samples were collected before (B0), and after 1 (D1), 4 (D4), 7 (D7), and 14 (D14) days of hypoxic exposure, and again 14 days post exposure (P14). Samples were analyzed for key parameters of the ABP including reticulocyte percentage (Ret%), hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), and the OFF-score. The ABP adaptive model was administered at a specificity of 99% to test for atypical findings. We found significant changes in [Hb] and Ret% during the hypoxic intervention. Consequently, this led to ABP threshold deviations at 99% specificity in three participants. Only one of these was flagged as an "atypical passport finding" (ATPF) due to deviation of the OFF-score. When this sample was evaluated by ABP experts it was considered "normal". In conclusion, it is highly unlikely that the present hypoxic exposure protocol would have led to a citation for a doping violation according to WADA guidelines.

Aquatic herbicides are used to manage invasive emergent plants in and around wetlands. Metamorphic frogs that emerge during the aquatic weed management season may be at risk of herbicide exposure. Metamorphic northern red-legged frogs (Rana aurora) were exposed to a triclopyr tank mix labeled for control of broadleaf emergent aquatic weeds such as invasive purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). The tank mix consisted of Renovate® 3 (triclopyr triethylamine salt 44.4%), the modified vegetable oil surfactant Competitor®, and the marker dye Hi-Light® . Metamorphs were exposed to the tank mix and a clean-water control for 96 h, and then reared in clean water for 60 d. Exposure to the tank mix resulted in no treatment-related mortalities, no effects on behavior immediately post exposure, and no effects on body or liver condition indices. Exposure to the tank mix resulted in lethargy during exposure and a 1-d delay in completion of metamorphosis. Deformities present in the rearing population confounded results for some endpoints. Observed effects were minimal, especially compared with the potential for ecological impacts from unmanaged invasive plants. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2316-2326. © 2017 SETAC.

Modification of a phenolic resist has been carried out by copolymerization with methacrylic monomers. Influence of irradiation source and its intensity has been studied by analyzing sensitive curves of a various resist composition. Inversion of imaging type at varying post exposure bake temperature has been investigated for resists based on copolymers containing methacrylic acid units, which has been related with crosslinking of macromolecules.

The post-exposure bake (PEB) characteristics of a photoresist can be examined with a method that estimates the diffusion length of a photoactive compound (PAC) in the photoresist PEB process. Diffusion lengths are estimated with development rate measurement equipment using PEB conditions at temperatures of 50°C, 100°C, 110°C, and 120°. An ultrahigh-resolution i-line photoresist THMR-iP3000 is used in the research. The obtained values are input into a photolithography simulator PROLITH/2 to calculate photoresist profiles. Using a 365-nm wavelength, 0.5 NA, and 0.6-coherence factor conditions, resist profiles for a 0.4-μm line space feature are calculated with varied focus. The simulated results are compared with SEM observations to evaluate the validity of the estimation method; they are found to be substantially consistent with experimental results, thus confirming the validity of the method.

Currently the only effective and commercially used treatment for amoebic gill disease (AGD) in farmed Tasmanian Atlantic salmon is freshwater bathing. Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), commonly used throughout the aquaculture industry for a range of topical skin and gill infections, was trialled in vitro and in vivo to ascertain its potential as an alternative treatment against AGD. Under in vitro conditions, trophozoites of Neoparamoeba perurans were exposed to three concentrations of H 2 O 2 in seawater (500, 1000 & 1500 mg.l -1 ) over four durations (10, 20, 30 & 60 min) each at two temperatures (12 & 18°C). Trophozoite viability was assessed immediately post exposure and after 24 hours. A concentration/duration combination of 1000 mg.l -1 for > 10 min demonstrated potent amoebicidal activity. Subsequently, Atlantic salmon mildly affected with experimentally induced AGD were treated with H 2 O 2 at 12 and 18°C for 15 minutes at 1250 mg.l -1 and their re-infection rate compared to freshwater treated fish over 21 days. Significant differences in the percentage of filaments affected with hyperplastic lesions (in association with amoebae) and plasma osmolality were noted between treatment groups immediately post-bath. However, the results were largely equivocal in terms of disease resolution over a three week period following treatment. These data suggest that H 2 O 2 treatment in seawater successfully ameliorated a clinically light case of AGD under laboratory conditions.

Rabies is an important disease in rural South Africa, and vaccine and immunoglobulin are provided, at the State's expense, to humans following suspected exposure to rabies virus by bite, scratch or mucosal splash. Health facilities where post-exposure treatment is available are listed, with contact telephone numbers, in national rabies guidelines. To verify the accuracy of this recently updated information, members of the national Rabies Advisory Group were tasked to complete a rapid survey. A simple standardized telephone interview technique was used. This revealed startling deficiencies in the availability of vaccine and immunoglobulin at the indicated sites and led to decisive corrective action. This `quick and dirty' survey technique provided valuable information for improving an important public health programme, and should be considered when auditing other health programmes, particularly where a means for validating responses is readily available.

The lithographic performance of chemically amplified positive resists depends on controlling the delay time between the exposure and post-exposure bake (PEB) process steps. The effect of post-exposure delay (PED) was investigated in poly(t-butoxycarbonyloxystyrene-sulfone) formulated with photoacid generators (PAG) by a variety of analytical techniques including Rutherford backscattering, infrared, X-ray photoelectron and laser ablation microprobe mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the base-insoluble residue formed during PED is primarily a surface phenomenon and is a result of incomplete deprotection at the resist surface

Purpose: In order to decrease the workload for IMRT QA filmdosimetry we propose a simple method for Gafchromic® EBT filmcalibration using a pre‐measured batch calibration curve (BCC) which is mathematically scaled with a single dose exposure (SDE) for each subsequent IMRT QA session. We evaluate how the SDE method corrects for post exposure density growth and temperature dependence in addition to inter film response homogeneity. Method and Materials: Each of five EBT films, from a single production lot, were exposed to doses of 22.5, 43.1, 84.4, 147.4, 209.1, and 291.2 cGy. Measurement of the resulting response curves were performed at times ranging from 0.7 to 52 hours post exposure on a Macbeth TD932 point densitometer customized with a 636nm band pass filter and 16 bit digitizer for increased sensitivity, yielding 35 curves in all. The BCC was generated from a film measured at 0.7 hours and fit to the equation Dose = A * netOD 3 + B * netOD 2 + C * netOD . To test the method, net optical density (NOD) data for the remaining 34 curves was scaled to fit the BCC using 209.1 cGy as the SDE. The scaling factor is the ratio of the actual measured NOD of the SDE, and the NOD predicted by the BCC for this dose. The new scaled calibration is used to predict all 204 test doses, which were then compared to the actual delivered doses. Results: Using the single uncorrected BCC resulted in an average error for the 204 dose points of 11.9 cGy. However, scaling according the method described reduced the average measured dose error to 1.1 cGy. Conclusion: The single dose exposure method described here is an accurate and time efficient calibration procedure for IMRT QA filmdosimetry.Conflict of Interest: Partially supported by International Specialty Products.

Purpose: To quantify and evaluate the use of the new EBT GafChromic film for its implementation in routine IMRT QA. Method and Materials: The new film was examined using a characterized flat‐bed scanner for several properties including polarization effects with scan angle and delivered dose, dose sensitivity, dose uniformity, OD time evolution post exposure, and dose response in comparison to water. The film high elasticity and relative insensitivity to water immersion allowed for its non conventional use in verifying dose distributions on curved surfaces. The film was wrapped into a cylindrical geometry inside an in‐house built cylindrical phantom and then immersed in water. Calculated dose distributions from the TomoTherapy treatment planning system (TPS) were then compared to the film's measured IMRT deliveries for 10 IMRT cases (5 Head and Neck, 5 prostate). Results: The film's intrinsic polarization was shown to be a function of delivered dose and could significantly affect the scanner's OD output readout. Film uniformity was shown to improve with delivered dose from ±5% for 50 cGy to nearly ±1.5% at 200 cGy. In addition, the film's OD was shown to saturate within 2 hours post exposure to a 2Gy dose, making it the fastest and least noisy RCF film so far. An excellent agreement was found between scanned water and film PDDs indicating the EBT energy response with depth is similar to water. Excellent agreement between predicted and measured isodose distributions and dose profiles were seen using the EBT film based on 10 IMRT deliveries. Conclusions: This work indicates that this new RCF film possesses unique and improved characteristics which allows for its use in routine patient‐specific IMRT QA. These encouraging results have motivated us to design an in‐house cylindrical phantom to verify dose beyond 2D planar surfaces and in water phantoms.

Purpose: Characterization of ISP's new EBT radiochromic film for clinical dosimetry, with emphasis on the usefulness for routine QA of IMRT treatments. Method and Materials: EBT is a new formulation of radiochromic film by ISP. Sheets were exposed to 6 MV and 18 MV photons from a Varian 2300C/D accelerator over clinically useful dose ranges. Density was measured by scanning the film in a Vidar VXR‐16 Dosimetry Pro scanner and the data analyzed using RIT113 v4 software. The reproducibility, stability, and temperature sensitivity were investigated. Dose distributions for IMRT treatments delivered with a Millinieum 120 leaf MLC were measured with the EBT film and compared to those of Kodak EDR2 film and to the predictions of the Eclipse treatment planning system. Results: EBT films from the same batch have a consistent response to doses ranging from 50 to 500 cGy for 6 MV and 18 MV photons. The density readings are stable from 1 to 75 hours post exposure when stored in the dark at room temperature. Beyond 75 hours, the density slowly increases. The film is insensitive to cold, but shows significant degradation when exposed to 60 C for as little as two hours. For IMRT dose distributions where the dose is below 200 cGy, the EBT film has similar responses as Kodak's EDR2 film and very close agreement to the Eclipse predictions. In regions of IMRT doses greater than 200 cGy, the EBT film loses sensitivity as compared to EDR2 film and to the Eclipse calculations. Conclusion: ISP's EBT radiochromic film is reproducible and stable under normal clinical conditions. For IMRT dose verification, the EBT film is in close agreement with calculations and EDR2 film for doses less than 200 cGy. Further research is needed to understand the reduced response of EBT to IMRT doses above 200 cGy.