Entropy Production in an Elementary, Light Driven Micro-Machine

This is the final version. Available on open access from Frontiers media via the DOI in this recordData Availability Statement: The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.We consider the basic, thermodynamic properties of an elementary micro-machine operating at colloidal length scales. In particular, we track and analyze the driven stochastic motion of a carefully designed micro-propeller rotating unevenly in an optical tweezers, in water. In this intermediate regime, the second law of macroscopic thermodynamics is satisfied only as an ensemble average, and individual trajectories can be temporarily associated with decreases in entropy. We show that our light driven micro-propeller satisfies an appropriate fluctuation theorem that constrains the probability with which these apparent violations of the second law occur. Implications for the development of more complex micro-machines are discussed.Czech Science FoundationEuropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF)Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE

Anti‐doping Policy, Therapeutic Use Exemption and Medication Use in Athletes with Asthma: A Narrative Review and Critical Appraisal of Current Regulations

Asthma is prevalent in athletes and when untreated can impact both respiratory health and sports performance. Pharmacological inhaler therapy currently forms the mainstay of treatment; however, for elite athletes competing under the constraints of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), a number of established therapies are prohibited both in and/or out of competition and/or have a maximum permitted dose. The recent release of medical information detailing inhaler therapy in high-profile athletes has brought the legitimacy and utilisation of asthma medication in this setting into sharp focus. This narrative review critically appraises recent changes to anti-doping policy and the Code in the context of asthma management, evaluates the impact of asthma medication use on sports performance and employs a theory of behaviour to examine perceived determinants and barriers to athletes adhering to the anti-doping rules of sport when applied to asthma

The Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes: A simple screening tool for the assessment of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

Aim: Evaluating respiratory symptoms in athletic individuals can be difficult and therefore robust clinical assessment tools are required (1). The Allergy Questionnaire for Athletes (AQUA) is validated to assess allergic +/- respiratory symptoms (2). The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the value of AQUA as a screening tool to confirm or refute exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in athletes. Methods: One-hundred and forty-seven athletes (male: n = 100: female: n = 47) (age: 32 ± 9 years) completed AQUA and performed spirometry pre-and-post a eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea challenge (EVH). A positive AQUA was determined as a score ≥5 (2). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated and evaluated against objective evidence of EIB: (EVH threshold [-10% ΔFEV1 at two consecutive time-points] and [-15% ΔFEV1 at one time-point]) (3). Diagnostic accuracy was calculated using receiver operating characteristics area under the curve (ROC-AUC). Results: All participants demonstrated normal baseline lung function (FEV1 % predicted >80%). The prevalence of EIB was 16% (-10% ΔFEV1) and 11% (-15% ΔFEV1) (mean ΔFEV1 = -7.4% ± 7.9). Eighty-seven (59%) provided a positive AQUA score (range: 0-25). ROC-AUC for AQUA was 65% (-10% ΔFEV1) and 69% (-15% ΔFEV1). A negative AQUA score was highly predictive of negative EVH test outcome. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV are presented in Table 1. Conclusion: AQUA is a simple screening tool that provides value in ruling out EIB, and should be considered during clinical assessment (i.e. inform referral for objective testing) or as a ‘first-step’ as part of screening interventions. It is important to acknowledge that a positive AQUA score should not be used to confirm EIB, in the absence of indirect bronchoprovocation. The development and validation of an athlete specific questionnaire to confirm EIB remains an avenue for future research

Energy diffusion in strongly driven quantum chaotic systems

The energy evolution of a quantum chaotic system under the perturbation that harmonically depends on time is studied for the case of large perturbation, in which the rate of transition calculated from the Fermi golden rule exceeds the frequency of perturbation. It is shown that the energy evolution retains its diffusive character, with the diffusion coefficient that is asymptotically proportional to the magnitude of perturbation and to the square root of the density of states. The results are supported by numerical calculation. They imply the absence of the quantum-classical correspondence for the energy diffusion and the energy absorption in the classical limit $\hbar \to 0$.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, RevTe

Manipulating infrared photons using plasmons in transparent graphene superlattices

Superlattices are artificial periodic nanostructures which can control the flow of electrons. Their operation typically relies on the periodic modulation of the electric potential in the direction of electron wave propagation. Here we demonstrate transparent graphene superlattices which can manipulate infrared photons utilizing the collective oscillations of carriers, i.e., plasmons of the ensemble of multiple graphene layers. The superlattice is formed by depositing alternating wafer-scale graphene sheets and thin insulating layers, followed by patterning them all together into 3-dimensional photonic-crystal-like structures. We demonstrate experimentally that the collective oscillation of Dirac fermions in such graphene superlattices is unambiguously nonclassical: compared to doping single layer graphene, distributing carriers into multiple graphene layers strongly enhances the plasmonic resonance frequency and magnitude, which is fundamentally different from that in a conventional semiconductor superlattice. This property allows us to construct widely tunable far-infrared notch filters with 8.2 dB rejection ratio and terahertz linear polarizers with 9.5 dB extinction ratio, using a superlattice with merely five graphene atomic layers. Moreover, an unpatterned superlattice shields up to 97.5% of the electromagnetic radiations below 1.2 terahertz. This demonstration also opens an avenue for the realization of other transparent mid- and far-infrared photonic devices such as detectors, modulators, and 3-dimensional meta-material systems.Comment: under revie

Multi-cancer early detection test sensitivity for cancers with and without current population-level screening options

There are four solid tumors with common screening options in the average-risk population aged 21 to 75 years (breast, cervical, colorectal, and, based on personalized risk assessment, prostate), but many cancers lack recommended population screening and are often detected at advanced stages when mortality is high. Blood-based multi-cancer early detection tests have the potential to improve cancer mortality through additional population screening. Reported here is a post-hoc analysis from the third Circulating Cell-free Genome Atlas substudy to examine multi-cancer early detection test performance in solid tumors with and without population screening recommendations and in hematologic malignancies. Participants with cancer in the third Circulating Cell-free Genome Atlas substudy analysis were split into three subgroups: solid screened tumors (breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate), solid unscreened tumors, and hematologic malignancies. In this post hoc analysis, sensitivity is reported for each subgroup across all ages and those aged ⩾50 years overall, by cancer, and by clinical cancer stage. Aggregate sensitivity in the solid screened, solid unscreened, and hematologic malignancy subgroups was 34%, 66%, and 55% across all cancer stages, respectively; restricting to participants aged ⩾50 years showed similar aggregate sensitivity. Aggregate sensitivity was 27%, 53%, and 60% across stages I to III, respectively. Within the solid unscreened subgroup, aggregate sensitivity was >75% in 8/18 cancers (44%) and >50% in 13/18 (72%). This multi-cancer early detection test detected cancer signals at high (>75%) sensitivity for multiple cancers without existing population screening recommendations, suggesting its potential to complement recommended screening programs. Clinical trial identifier: NCT02889978

Does the measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide have a role in the detection of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in athletes?

Aim: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is an indirect marker of airway inflammation, recommended for the assessment and management of asthma (1). The role of FeNO in detecting exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and monitoring respiratory health in athletes has however yet to be established. The aim of this pilot study was therefore to evaluate the value of FeNO in detecting EIB in a screened cohort of athletes. Method: Fifty-three endurance trained athletes (male: n = 36) (age: 34 ± 10 years) performed baseline FeNO and spirometry pre-and-post a eucapnic voluntary hyperpnoea challenge (EVH) (2). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for established FeNO thresholds: (intermediate [>25ppb] and high [>50ppb]) (1) and evaluated against objective evidence of EIB: (EVH diagnostic cut-off [-10% ΔFEV1 at two consecutive time-points] (3) and [-15% ΔFEV1 at one time-point]) (2). The diagnostic accuracy of FeNO was calculated using receiver operating characteristics area under the curve (ROC-AUC). Results: All athletes had normal resting lung function (>80% FEV1 pred). The prevalence of EIB was 19% (-10% ΔFEV1) and 15% (-15% ΔFEV1) (mean ΔFEV1 = -8.2% ± 9.2). FeNO values >25ppb and >50ppb were observed in 45% and 17% of the cohort, respectively. ROC-AUC for FeNO was 75% (-10% ΔFEV1) and 83% (-15% ΔFEV1). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV are presented in Table 1. Conclusion: FeNO is a simple tool that has an established role in the assessment of airway inflammation in athletes. FeNO >50 had good specificity (93%) for a positive EVH test; however given the poor predictive values, our findings indicate that FeNO should not be employed as a substitute for indirect bronchoprovocation for diagnostic purposes. Future research is required to establish normative values and determine the role of FeNO in modifying the treatment of EIB in athletes

Targeting 1.5 degrees with the global carbon footprint of the Australian Capital Territory

In 2019 the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government stated an ambition to prioritise reduction of Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, the size of which had not been fully quantified previously. This study calculated the total carbon footprint of the ACT in 2018, including Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and modelled scenarios to reduce all emissions in line with a 1.5 °C target approach. This is the first time a multi-scale analysis of local, sub-national and international supply chains has been undertaken for a city, using a nested and trade-adjusted global multi-region input-output model. This allowed for the quantification of global origins and destinations of emissions, which showed that the 2018 carbon footprint for the ACT was approximately 34.7 t CO2-eq/cap, with 83% attributed to Scope 3. Main contributions came from transport, electricity, manufacturing and public administration and safety, with emissions generated primarily in Australian States and Territories. Modelling in accordance with a 1.5 °C warming scenario showed a plausible reduction to 5.2 t CO2-eq/cap by 2045 (excluding offsets or carbon dioxide removal technologies), with remaining emissions predominantly embodied in international supply chains. This study demonstrates the radical changes required by a wealthy Australian city to achieve 1.5 °C compliance and identifies sectors and supply chains for prioritising policies to best achieve this outcome

Phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives to promote growth and enhance host health

There are heightened concerns globally on emerging drug-resistant superbugs and the lack of new antibiotics for treating human and animal diseases. For the agricultural industry, there is an urgent need to develop strategies to replace antibiotics for food-producing animals, especially poultry and livestock. The 2nd International Symposium on Alternatives to Antibiotics was held at the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris, France, December 12-15, 2016 to discuss recent scientific developments on strategic antibiotic-free management plans, to evaluate regional differences in policies regarding the reduction of antibiotics in animal agriculture and to develop antibiotic alternatives to combat the global increase in antibiotic resistance. More than 270 participants from academia, government research institutions, regulatory agencies, and private animal industries from >25 different countries came together to discuss recent research and promising novel technologies that could provide alternatives to antibiotics for use in animal health and production; assess challenges associated with their commercialization; and devise actionable strategies to facilitate the development of alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) without hampering animal production. The 3-day meeting consisted of four scientific sessions including vaccines, microbial products, phytochemicals, immune-related products, and innovative drugs, chemicals and enzymes, followed by the last session on regulation and funding. Each session was followed by an expert panel discussion that included industry representatives and session speakers. The session on phytochemicals included talks describing recent research achievements, with examples of successful agricultural use of various phytochemicals as antibiotic alternatives and their mode of action in major agricultural animals (poultry, swine and ruminants). Scientists from industry and academia and government research institutes shared their experience in developing and applying potential antibiotic-alternative phytochemicals commercially to reduce AGPs and to develop a sustainable animal production system in the absence of antibiotics.Fil: Lillehoj, Hyun. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Liu, Yanhong. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Calsamiglia, Sergio. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Fernandez Miyakawa, Mariano Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología; ArgentinaFil: Chi, Fang. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Cravens, Ron L.. Amlan International; Estados UnidosFil: Oh, Sungtaek. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; ArgentinaFil: Gay, Cyril G.. United States Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service; Argentin