University of Bedfordshire

About: University of Bedfordshire is a education organization based out in Luton, Bedford, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 3860 authors who have published 6079 publications receiving 143448 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Luton.

Skin sensitisation and epidermal disposition: the relevance of epidermal disposition for sensitisation hazard identification and risk assessment. The report and recommendations of ECVAM workshop 59.

Abstract: This is the 59th report of a series of workshops organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). The main goal of ECVAM, as defined in 1993 by its Scientific Advisory Committee, is to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods which have scientific relevance and which reduce, refine or replace the use of laboratory animals. One of the first priorities set by ECVAM was the implementation of procedures that would enable it to become well informed about the state-of-the-art of non-animal test development and validation, and the potential for the possible incorporation of alternative tests into regulatory procedures. It was decided that this would be best achieved by the organisation of ECVAM workshops, each addressing a specific topic, and at which selected groups of independent international experts would review the current status of various types of in vitro tests and their potential uses, and make recommendations about the best ways forward. A workshop on Skin Sensitisation and Epidermal Disposition was held at ECVAM (Ispra, Italy) on 30–31 January 2006, under the chairmanship of David Basketter. The current status of approaches used to measure the disposition of chemicals in skin compartments was reviewed, with particular emphasis on proposing recommendations on how best to use such information to reduce, refine and/or eliminate the need for animal testing, according to the Three Rs principle. The key focus was the relevance of information on epidermal disposition, and how best to integrate such information into non-animal testing strategies for skin sensitisation.

New species of Pseudocercospora and Mycovellosiella, and new combinations into Pseudocercospora and Phaeoramularia

Abstract: Thirteen new species are described and figured: Pseudocercospora abri and Mycovellosiella pirozynskii on Abrus canescens, Pseudocercospora urariicola and P. indica on Uraria picta, P. desmodii-salicifolii on Desmodium salicifolium, P. violae on Viola sp., P. homalanthi on Homalanthus novoguineensis, P. cynometrae on Cynometra leonensis, P. hymenocardiae on Hymenocardia heudelotii, P. harunganae on Harungana madagascariensis, P. njalaensis on Chlorophora regia, P. acanthi on Acanthus guineensis , and P. allophylicola on Allophylus africanus . Redescriptions and figures are given of Pseudocercospora allophyli (Hansf.) comb. nov. on Allophylus sp. and Phaeoramularia acanthicola (Hansf.) comb.nov. on Acanthus arboreus . Thirty-six more new combinations from Cercospora into Pseudocercospora are proposed. After further consideration it is concluded that Cercoseptoria cannot satisfactorily be distinguished from Pseudocercospora , and a further ten new combinations into the latter genus are therefore made.

Adaptive resistance to benzalkonium chloride, amikacin and tobramycin: the effect on susceptibility to other antimicrobials

Abstract: Aims: To produce strains of antimicrobial-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa via adaptation to benzalkonium chloride, amikacin and tobramycin and to then examine the incidence, or otherwise, of cross-resistance between antibiotics and between antibiotics and benzalkonium chloride. Methods and Results: Adaptation was obtained by progressive subculturing in subinhibitory concentrations of the antimicrobials. Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIMB 10421 adapted to grow in high concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (BC) had lower MIC to antibiotics than the wild type, whereas Ps. aeruginosa adapted to grow in antibiotics had greater MIC to benzalkonium by a small degree. Conclusions: Adaptive resistance to BC of Ps. aeruginosa generally produced cultures with a decrease in resistance to several antibiotics. Adaptive resistance to the aminoglycosides Ak and Tm produced a low-level increase in tolerance to BC. The adaptive mechanisms of resistance appear to be different for the different types of antimicrobials used. Significance and Impact of the Study: The relationships between biocide and antibiotic resistance are complex. It appears, from this study, that an organism resistant to a common biocide can become sensitive to antibiotics, but the converse was not true. Could this observation be used in a strategy to alleviate antibiotic resistance?

Empirical Indoor-to-Outdoor Propagation Model for Residential Areas at 0.9–3.5 GHz

Abstract: This letter introduces analytical expressions for the modeling of path loss and shadow fading in residential indoor-to-outdoor scenarios. The formulas have been calibrated using channel power measurements at the radio frequencies of common cellular systems and are thus suitable for channel modeling in femtocell networks. The expressions presented here can be used as a simple propagation model in system-level simulators (SLS), as well as for comparison to other models. Furthermore, its compact formulation simplifies its use for theoretical studies of two-tier networks, while its empirical nature strengthens its validity.