Notes: We have designed a near field measurement system operating at 200 GHz which has a dynamic range of 60 dB. The system has a short term and long term phase variation less than 0.5° and 2°, respectively. On averaging 128 times at each measurement point by using the averaging function of the network anaylzer, the short term phase variation decreases to less than 0.2°. The phase variation mentioned above is observed with the testing probe pointing to the center of the antenna under test. The contours of the near field obtained shows that the field is highly circular as expected from the theoretical predication. We have shown that the system can distinguish the quality of the corrugated feed horn by near field measurement. © 1999 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: We propose a novel sensitive method of surface impedance measurement for small samples utilizing a YIG delay line. We will give a full analysis of the relationship between the phase and amplitude of the signals to surface impedance. The sensitivity of this method will be fully addressed. The dispersion relations of magnetostatic waves guided by lossy ground planes will also be given as byproducts of the above analysis. © 1998 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: The temperature dependence of the surface peaks of the (001) SrTiO3 substrate surfaces was studied for the sample temperature up to 750 °C by channeling. The temperature dependence of the Sr surface peaks was found to be due to the thermal vibration of the Sr atoms. However, an anomalous temperature dependence of the Ti surface peak was observed which may be due to the displacement of Ti surface atoms. The Ti surface peaks are maximum at 400 °C. For the reduced SrTiO3−δ, surface reconstruction was observed on the Sr surface sublattice but the anomalous temperature dependence of the Ti surface peak disappeared. © 1995 American Institute of Physics.

Notes: Introduction  Several recent high profile medical cases where doctors' clinical competence has been questioned has led to questions being asked about their fitness to practise. As a consequence higher medical training has been put under the spotlight. The media circus around such events has raised broader concerns with a public increasingly demanding information about their doctors' abilities. The Royal Medical Colleges in conjunction with central government have accepted the need to develop competency-based training, in an attempt to address these concerns. We describe the educational process whereby a pragmatic, practical and achievable training programme has been created to provide basic level paediatric anaesthetic competence.Educational Methods in Programme Development  Competency-based training requires significant changes in approach for both trainee and trainers. This can be problematic if not introduced in a planned manner. The need for insight into the adult educational process is central to successful implementation. Competence can be defined as the ability of a professional to perform to a predefined standard, tasks appropriate to their position. Establishing whether a trainee is competent or not is more time consuming for the trainers. This is unavoidable, as evidence of learning has to be sought directly for each trainee to support the competence claim. The programme was developed by addressing the following educational requirements.〈list style="custom"〉1An educational needs assessment of both trainer and trainee, associated with a learning opportunities assessment. Ultimately this will incorporate the Royal College of Anaesthetists competency-based training targets once published.2Development of a learning plan, identifying core and secondary learning areas and highlighting teaching methodology and training ethos. Core areas were separated into skills, knowledge and attitudes and standards expected.3Implementation of the learning plan, including module structure, declaration of the curriculum, introduction and orientation of the trainee.4Assessment of learning through a package aimed at identifying evidence of learning including index case, scenarios, resuscitation skills and attitude.〈tabular xml:id="t16-1"〉1〈title type="main"〉 Analgesia required for each surgical approach 〈table frame="topbot"〉〈tgroup cols="16" align="left"〉〈colspec colnum="1" colname="col1"/〉〈colspec colnum="2" colname="col2"/〉〈colspec colnum="3" colname="col3"/〉〈colspec colnum="4" colname="col4"/〉〈colspec colnum="5" colname="col5"/〉〈colspec colnum="6" colname="col6"/〉〈colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" align="char" char="."/〉〈colspec colnum="8" colname="col8"/〉〈colspec colnum="9" colname="col9"/〉〈colspec colnum="10" colname="col10"/〉〈colspec colnum="11" colname="col11"/〉〈colspec colnum="12" colname="col12" align="char" char="."/〉〈colspec colnum="13" colname="col13" align="char" char="."/〉〈colspec colnum="14" colname="col14" align="char" char="."/〉〈colspec colnum="15" colname="col15" align="char" char="."/〉〈colspec colnum="16" colname="col16" align="char" char="."/〉〈thead valign="bottom"〉〈row rowsep="1"〉〈entry rowsep="1" namest="col2" nameend="col6"〉 Laparotomy (Epidural) 〈entry rowsep="1" namest="col7" nameend="col11"〉 Laparotomy (NCA) 〈entry rowsep="1" namest="col12" nameend="col16"〉 Laparoscopy (NCA) 〈tbody valign="top"〉Intra-op fentanyl〈entry namest="col2" nameend="col6"〉2 mcg/kg〈entry namest="col7" nameend="col11"〉3 mcg/kg〈entry namest="col12" nameend="col16"〉3 mcg/kgIntra-op morphine〈entry namest="col2" nameend="col6"〉0 mg/kg〈entry namest="col7" nameend="col11"〉0.1 mg/kg〈entry namest="col12" nameend="col16"〉0.15 mg/kg% Patients requiring infusion per day (D)D1 100D2 100D3 95D4 68D5 4D1 100D2 94D3 50D4 17D5 6D1 100D2 100D3 92D4 42D5 8% Patients requiring paracetamol per day (D)D1 86D2 90D3 80D4 100D5 0D1 100D2 94D3 100D4 100D5 0D1 88D2 68D3 90D4 50D5 0% Patients requiring diclofenac per day (D)D1 73D2 71D3 67D4 100D5 0D1 67D2 71D3 89D4 100D5 0D1 63D2 41D3 30D4 50D5 0〈note xml:id="t16-1_note60" numbered="no"〉NCA = nurse controlled analgesia〈list style="custom"〉5Evaluation of teaching including feedback from trainees and trainers, other senior members of the paediatric multidisciplinary team.Discussion  We have been running this assessment package since June 2001 and whilst there were inevitable teething problems the package has been well received by trainees and staff. It confirms the need to be practical when setting core learning goals as these goals essentially become your core curriculum and therefore also become mandatory for inclusion in your assessment package. Other pertinent issues relate to the consequences of deeming a trainee not competent, and the legal implications of this conclusion for service provision and career progression.Conclusion  Competency based training will require a sea change in attitude of both trainees and trainers. However, demands for proven clinical competence cannot be ignored.

Notes: Abstract Background: 5-HT3 antagonists are effective inreducing the acute nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy. However,it is not clear whether continuing these agents beyond twenty four hours isuseful in controlling emesis on days two to seven after chemotherapy. Patients and methods: Four hundred seven patients receivingmoderately emetogenic chemotherapy who had been given dexamethasone 8 mg i.v.and either ondansetron 32 mg i.v. or dolasetron 2.4 mg/kg i.v. were randomizedto continue either an oral form of their 5-HT3 antagonist(ondansetron 8 mg b.i.d. or dolasetron 200 mg daily) plus dexamethasone 8 mgp.o. daily or dexamethasone alone for days two to seven. Endpoints assessedby self-report were: 1) complete control (no vomiting, no rescue medications,no missing data) of emesis; 2) nausea severity; and 3) quality-of-life asmeasured by the EORTC QLQ-C30. Results: Continuation of 5-HT3 antagonists improvedslightly, but not significantly, the complete control rate (47% vs.41%; P = 0.24 one-sided) after chemotherapy. However, mean nauseaseverity was significantly (P = 0.015 one sided) reduced (by 3 mm on a10 cm scale) on the combined arm. Minimal differences in quality of life wereobserved. Conclusion: The benefit of continuing 5-HT3antagonists beyond 24 hours is modest and the merits of routine use in thesecircumstances debatable.

Notes: Abstract  An 11-year-old boy in acute adrenal crisis was subsequently diagnosed with Addison’s disease and presumably had an unrecognized preceding chronic adrenal insufficiency. His adrenal insufficiency and hypovolemic shock were promptly diagnosed and treated in the emergency room. However, 24 h later, signs of congestive heart failure developed and an echocardiogram revealed cardiomyopathy. He responded to i.v. dopamine and his cardiomyopathy resolved over some days. Acute adrenal insufficiency and actual ventricular dysfunction had not been described in humans until last year; this is the second reported case of cardiomyopathy in a patient with acute adrenal insufficiency.

Notes: Abstract An 11-year-old boy in acute adrenal crisis was subsequently diagnosed with Addison's disease and presumably had an unrecognized preceding chronic adrenal insufficiency. His adrenal insufficiency and hypovolemic shock were promptly diagnosed and treated in the emergency room. However, 24 h later, signs of congestive heart failure developed and an echocardiogram revealed cardiomyopathy. He responded to i.v. dopamine and his cardiomyopathy resolved over some days. Acute adrenal insufficiency and actual ventricular dysfunction had not been described in humans until last year; this is the second reported case of cardiomyopathy in a patient with acute adrenal insufficiency.

Notes: Abstract  Hydrothermal activity in the Central Bransfield Basin revealed an active low-temperature vent field on top of a submarine volcanic structure. A temperature anomaly was detected and the sea floor showed various patches of white silica (opal-A) precipitate exposures and some yellow–brown Fe-oxyhydroxide crusts. Enriched dissolved methane concentrations were encountered. Sediment was near 24°C just after the grab came on deck. No dense population of chemosynthetically based macrofauna known from other hydrothermal venting areas was present, except for pogonophora. The observations suggest that the sedimented hydrothermal field at Hook Ridge is a low-temperature end-member branch from a deeper hydrothermal source.

Notes: Abstract Numerous studies have demonstrated that the Acetyl Coenzyme A-dependent arylamine NAT enzyme exist in many tissues of experimental animals including humans, and that NAT has been shown to be exist in mouse brain tissue. Increased NAT activity levels are associated with increased sensitivity to the mutagenic effects of arylamine carcinogens. Attenuation of liver NAT activity is related to breast and bladder cancer processes. Therefore, the effects of ellagic acid (EA) on the in vitro and in vivo N-acetylation of 2-aminofluorene (AF) were investigated in cerebrum, cerebellum and pineal gland tissues from male Sprague-Dawley rats. For in vitro examination, cytosols with or without EA (0.5–500 μM) co-treatment decreased 7–72%, 15–63% and 10–78% of AF acetylation for cerebrum, cerebellum and pineal gland tissues, respectively. For in vivo examination, EA and AF at the same time treated groups with all 3 examined tissues did show significant differences (the changes of total amounts of AF and AF metabolites based on the Anova analysis) when compared to the ones without EA cotreatment rats. The pretreatment of male rats with EA (10 mg/kg) 24 hr prior to the administration of AF (50 mg/kg) (one day of EA administration suffice to induce large changes in phase II enzyme activity) resulted in a 76% decrease in total AF and metabolites in pineal gland but did not show significant differences in cerebrum and cerebellum tissues. This is the first demonstration to show that EA decreases the N-acetylation of carcinogens in rat brain tissues.