Cross-species evidence suggests that the ability to exert control over a stressor is a key dimension of stress exposure that may sensitize frontostriatal-amygdala circuitry to promote more adaptive responses to subsequent stressors. The present study examined neural correlates of stressor controllability in young adults. Participants (N = 56; Mage = 23.74, range = 18–30 years) completed either the controllable or uncontrollable stress condition of the first of two novel stressor controllability tasks during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisition. Participants in the uncontrollable stress condition were yoked to age- and sex-matched participants in the controllable stress condition. All participants were subsequently exposed to uncontrollable stress in the second task, which is the focus of fMRI analyses reported here. A whole-brain searchlight classification analysis revealed that patterns of activity in the right dorsal anterior insula (dAI) during subsequent exposure to uncontrollable stress could be used to classify participants' initial exposure to either controllable or uncontrollable stress with a peak of 73% accuracy. Previous experience of exerting control over a stressor may change the computations performed within the right dAI during subsequent stress exposure, shedding further light on the neural underpinnings of stressor controllability.

A number of laser facilities coming online all over the world promise the capability of high-power laser experiments with shot repetition rates between 1 and 10 Hz. Target availability and technical issues related to the interaction environment could become a bottleneck for the exploitation of such facilities. In this paper, we report on target needs for three different classes of experiments: dynamic compression physics, electron transport and isochoric heating, and laser-driven particle and radiation sources. We also review some of the most challenging issues in target fabrication and high repetition rate operation. Finally, we discuss current target supply strategies and future perspectives to establish a sustainable target provision infrastructure for advanced laser facilities.

A new technique is described for closing the nasal vestibule in cases of secondarily-acquired atrophic rhinitis. This involves occlusion of the nasal vestibule with an obturator made from dimethylpolysiloxane. Being a non-invasive method it is specifically indicated in the management of cases of secondarily-acquired atrophic rhinitis where any surgical treatment is contra-indicated. We describe its use in a case each of unilateral and bilateral secondary atrophic rhinitis.

A 47-year-old man developed a complete facial nerve palsy secondary to non-cholesteatomatous suppurative otitis media. At operation, this was seen to be due to destruction of the nerve from halfway along the horizontal segment to a point just distal to the second genu. The history of recent renal transplantation and subsequent immunosuppression was judged to be significant in the pathogenesis of the palsy.

Four cases with a neopharyngeal diverticulum following total laryngectomy are presented. Each patient required surgery for complications directly related to the pouch. The relevance of these diverticulae is discussed with reference to their aetiology, complications and management.

A series of 59 patients of all ages with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) treated over an 18-year period is presented. A number of these patients were initially diagnosed in childhood but required treatment throughout adult life. The frequency of laser treatment was not related to either disease duration or age at onset. In 28 patients, the HPV type was identified, showing that HPV type 11 was more common in children and ran a more protracted clinical course. The requirement for tracheostomy in this series was small, whereas the incidence of malignant change in adult patients was significant

In many regions, ammoniation of straw is hindered by the cost or non-availability of anhydrous or aqueous ammonia and by poor upgrading responses with urea. Ammonium salts constitute a safe, alternative source of ammonia. In vitro studies have shown that ammonia produced by heating ammonium ‘carbonate’ (mixture of the carbamate and bicarbonate) or bicarbonate to 90°C for 15 h with water produced improvements in the digestibility of straw which were similar to those achieved with aqueous ammonia. Under identical conditions ammonium sulphate gave a similar response only when reacted with a stoichiometric excess of quicklime (CaO) or slaked lime (Ca(OH)2 ) and water to produce ammonia. When the straw was treated at 20°C for 35 d, upgrading was achieved only when the volatile or non-volatile ammonium salts were mixed with an excess of CaO or Ca(OH)2 plus water.