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The social sciences are increasingly called upon to engage with how decision-makers and stakeholders tackle climate and energy challenges. However, creating or taking part in these new arenas is not unproblematic, and arguably, social scientists have not properly reflected on what types of engagement are most useful. In this Perspective we argue that such engagement is most productive if we can find or create activities where our core competences, epistemological toolbox and critical sensibilities can be put to use. Therefore, we propose three modes through which social science can productively engage with climate and energy challenges in society: (1) producing and situating actionable knowledge, (2) critically reframing discourses, and (3) connecting actors and processes. Combined, these open up a space for social scientists to both critically assess and simultaneously participate in sustainability transformations. more...

The efficacy of transdermal scopolamine, oral meclizine, and placebo in protection against motion sickness was compared in a double-blind crossover study. Thirty-six healthy subjects were exposed to motion three times for 90 min in a ship-motion simulator. Transdermal applications were made and tablets were taken at least 12 and 2 hr before exposure to motion. Transdermal scopolamine provided better protection than placebo or meclizine. Dryness of mouth was the only side effect reported more frequently for one regimen, transdermal scopolamine.Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1984) 36, 116–120; doi:10.1038/clpt.1984.148 more...

Iopentol (mean dose 0.42 g I kg-1) was administered for abdominal aortography and pelvic angiography in 10 patients with advanced non-diabetic chronic renal failure (S-creatinine 672±259 μmol l-1, mean±SD). Renal glomerular function measured as creatinine clearance and plasma clearance of [99Tcm]-diethyl-enetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) was unchanged by iopentol, as also was urinary excretion of the renal tubular enzymes N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The elimination of iopentol from serum and urine was delayed, and detectable serum and urine concentrations were found 5 days after administration of the contrast medium. Creatine clearance was 47% higher than the corresponding renal iopentol clearance. Plasma iopentol clearance, measured as the total area under the plasma concentration curve, was 40% higher than renal iopentol clearance because of extrarenal elimination of iopentol. We conclude that abdominal aortography with iopentol can be performed without effects on renal glomerular or tubular function parameters in patients with advanced renal failure. If iopentol is used for measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in this group of patients, one should measure renal clearance, as plasma clearance overestimates GFR. more...

Iopentol 350 mg I/ml was injected in doses of 265 to 533 mg I/kg b.w. (mean 417 mg I/kg b.w.) in 10 patients with advanced nondiabetic chronic renal failure (S-creatinine 672 ± 259 μmol/l (mean ± SD)). Urine (10 patients) and feces (7 patients) were collected at 24 h intervals for 5 days after the injection. The elimination of iopentol was delayed. Five days after injection a mean of 54% (range 35–79%) of the dose was recovered in urine, and 11% (0–20%) in feces. Mean elimination half-life was 28.4 h, about 14 times the half-life found in healthy volunteers. The apparent volume of distribution was 0.27 1/kg b.w., indicating distribution only to extracellular fluid. Using renal iopentol clearance as reference value, GFR was overestimated by 40 to 60% with iopentol total clearance, showing extrarenal elimination of iopentol. The difference was most pronounced in patients with low GFR. In conclusion, this study shows an extrarenal elimination of iopentol and demonstrates a substantial increase in the fecal elimination in patients with severe renal failure. more...