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High spectral resolution (∼80 000) and signal-to-noise observations from the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph Paranal Observatory Project (UVES-POP) are used to study the interstellar molecular lines CN (3874 Å), CH+ (3957, 4232 Å) and CH (3886, 4300 Å) towards 74 O- and B-type stellar sightlines. Additionally, archive data are presented for 140 ELODIE early-type stellar sightlines at R = 42 000, plus 25 FEROS at R = 48 000 and 3 UVES at R > 50 000, mainly in the CH+ (4232 Å) and CH (3886, 4300 Å) transitions. Detection rates are ∼45 per cent for CN and ∼67 per cent for the other lines in the POP sample, and ∼10–15 per cent for CH+ and CH lines in the additional sample. CH and CH+ are well correlated between log[N(CH) cm−2]∼12–14, implying that these clouds are CH+-like CH and not CN-like CH. CH is also very well correlated with Na i D in the range log[N(Na i cm−2]) ∼12.2–14.2. A few sightlines show tentative velocity shifts of ∼2 km s−1 between CH and CH+, which appear to be caused by differences in component strength in blends, and hence do not provide firm evidence for shocks. Finally, we describe a search for 13CH+ in a sightline towards HD 76341. No 13CH+ is detected, placing a limit on the 13CH+ to 12CH+ ratio of ∼0.01. If a formal fit is attempted, the equivalent width ratio in the two isotopes is a factor ∼90 but with large errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrastructure of fructose-supplemented and unsupplemented nitrogen-fixing (fix +) and nonfixing (fix −) Plectonema boryanum UTEX 581 cells was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The most prominent structural differences included the arrangement and morphology of the thylakoids and alterations in the appearance of the interthylakoidal spaces. These ultrastructural differences, together with other observations such as glycogen content and presence of nitrogenase (using acetylene reduction assay and immunogold localization), readily distinguished nonfixing P. boryanum from nitrogen-fixing cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of the perioperative studies that have examined transdermal lidocaine (lidocaine patch) as an analgesic and put the evidence in context of the likely overall benefit of transdermal lidocaine in the perioperative period., Recent Findings: Several randomized controlled trials have been published in the past 4 years that concluded transdermal lidocaine can reduce acute pain associated with laparoscopic trocar or cannula insertion. Transdermal lidocaine may reduce short-term pain after surgery in selected surgery types and has a low risk of toxicity but its overall clinical utility in the perioperative setting is questionable. Transdermal lidocaine does not consistently reduce opioid consumption after surgery and has not been shown to improve patient function.

The carriers of the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are largely unidentified molecules ubiquitously present in the interstellar medium (ISM). After decades of study, two strong and possibly three weak near-infrared DIBs have recently been attributed to the [Formula: see text] fullerene based on observational and laboratory measurements. There is great promise for the identification of the over 400 other known DIBs, as this result could provide chemical hints towards other possible carriers. In an effort to systematically study the properties of the DIB carriers, we have initiated a new large-scale observational survey: the ESO Diffuse Interstellar Bands Large Exploration Survey (EDIBLES). The main objective is to build on and extend existing DIB surveys to make a major step forward in characterising the physical and chemical conditions for a statistically significant sample of interstellar lines-of-sight, with the goal to reverse-engineer key molecular properties of the DIB carriers. EDIBLES is a filler Large Programme using the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope at Paranal, Chile. It is designed to provide an observationally unbiased view of the presence and behaviour of the DIBs towards early-spectral type stars whose lines-of-sight probe the diffuse-to-translucent ISM. Such a complete dataset will provide a deep census of the atomic and molecular content, physical conditions, chemical abundances and elemental depletion levels for each sightline. Achieving these goals requires a homogeneous set of high-quality data in terms of resolution ( R ~ 70 000 - 100 000), sensitivity (S/N up to 1000 per resolution element), and spectral coverage (305-1042 nm), as well as a large sample size (100+ sightlines). In this first paper the goals, objectives and methodology of the EDIBLES programme are described and an initial assessment of the data is provided.

A study is reported on the effects of Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) on human memory. Seventy-six adults aged between 40 and 65 years took part in a double-blind randomized, placebo control study in which various memory functions were tested and levels of anxiety measured. There were three testing sessions: one prior to the trial, one after three months on the trial, and one six weeks after the completion of the trial. The results show a significant effect of the Brahmi on a test for the retention of new information. Follow-up tests showed that the rate of learning was unaffected, suggesting that Brahmi decreases the rate of forgetting of newly acquired information. Tasks assessing attention, verbal and visual short-term memory and the retrieval of pre-experimental knowledge were unaffected. Questionnaire measures of everyday memory function and anxiety levels were also unaffected.

Unlabelled: The P. K. Morgan pocket spirometer, which has recently become available in the United States, is small, portable, relatively inexpensive, and measures forced vital capacity (FVC) and the forced exhaled volume in 1 second (FEV1). We conducted this study to evaluate the accuracy of the FVC and FEV1 measurements by the P.K. Morgan spirometer., Methods: The flow signal used to evaluate the Morgan spirometer was produced by a Vent-Aid TTL Training Test Lung. The flow of air from the test lung was directed in series through the Morgan's volume transducer and into the bell of a 9-L Collins water-sealed spirometer., Results: The difference between Collins mean FVC and Morgan mean FVC was not significant (P = 0.17). The correlation coefficient for the relationship between Collins FVC and Morgan FVC was 0.996. American Thoracic Society (ATS) standards for accuracy were met by 56% of the FVC volumes measured by the Morgan. The difference between Collins mean FEV1 and Morgan mean FEV1 was clinically small but statistically significant (P = 0.01). The correlation coefficient for the relationship between Collins FEV1 and Morgan FEV1 was 0.999. ATS standards for accuracy were met by 87% of the FEV1 volumes measured by the Morgan., Conclusion: The overall accuracy of the Morgan spirometer is adequate for bedside screening, but its accuracy is not sufficient to allow it to be used for diagnostic spirometry in place of more accurate pulmonary function equipment.