Defining the complementarities between antibodies and haptens to refine our understanding and aid the prediction of a successful binding interaction

Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) for their support.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

RiCORE: risk-based consenting of offshore renewable energy projects.

This presentation introduces the context and purpose of the RiCORE project

Quantitative Dynamic Contrast Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Evaluation of the Myocardium in Ischaemic Heart Disease

Background: Use of contrast enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for identification of focal pathology (perfusion deficit and scar) is widespread. Quantitative analysis of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI data may allow objective assessment of focal and diffuse disease. However it is a complex process and not widely adopted outside the research domain. For accurate quantification temporal variation in relative contrast agent concentration in the myocardium and feeding blood supply must be measured. While MRI signal intensity can be used as a probe of contrast agent concentration its response is non-linear. Aims: In this thesis non-linearity correction methods for quantitative myocardial DCE-MRI are compared, the feasibility of a novel bookend T1 based correction is tested and the method is used in clinical studies to assess myocardial characteristics in health and ischaemic disease. Methods: Signal non-linearity correction methods were compared using simulation, phantom experiments and a volunteer study. Methods compared were independent sampling strategies (dual-bolus and dual-sequence), previously proposed model based correction (native T1 or proton density weighted image based) and bookend T1 based correction which is proposed as a method to account for imperfect magnetisation preparation. The feasibility of the bookend T1 method was tested and characteristics of heathy and diseased myocardium were assessed in clinical studies of ischaemia and infarction. Conclusions: Native T1 based correction has been found to be highly sensitive to imperfect magnetisation preparation, and is thus recommended against. Model based correction using proton density weighted images or bookend T1 data have been found to be more accurate and precise than dual-sampling methods. The clinical studies have demonstrated the feasibility of the bookend T1 based method and have yielded insights into myocardial characteristics in a range of conditions

Extracting an Entanglement Signature from Only Classical Mutual Information

We introduce a quantity which is formed using classical notions of mutual information and which is computed using the results of projective measurements. This quantity constitutes a sufficient condition for entanglement and represents the amount of information that can be extracted from a bipartite system for spacelike separated observers. In addition to discussion, we provide simulations as well as experimental results for the singlet and maximally correlated mixed states

Towards A Theoretical Integration Of Sustainability: A Literature Review And Suggested Way Forward

Organizations worldwide have adopted sustainability strategies to enhance their productivity and develop a competitive advantage. More often than not, organizations and their leaders develop a narrow view of sustainability and consider only the aspects of sustainability that are directly related to their sphere of performance (internal sustainability). Yet, sustainability issues impact all business and non-business organizations, as well as the long-term sustainability of international business relations and quality of life issues worldwide (external sustainability). An increase of appropriate sustainability efforts often requires expanding beyond conventional thinking. Economic necessity can drive both internal and external sustainability measures. Leadership effort is essential to enable shifts in organizational culture that enable sustainability efforts to succeed. This article discusses the sustainability movement. After defining internal and external sustainability, this paper discusses the philosophy of sustainability, internal and external sustainability, measurements, leadership, and best practices

The effect of task load, information reliability and interdependency on anticipation performance

In sport, coaches often explicitly provide athletes with stable contextual information related to opponent action preferences to enhance anticipation performance. This information can be dependent on, or independent of, dynamic contextual information that only emerges during the sequence of play (e.g. opponent positioning). The interdependency between contextual information sources, and the associated cognitive demands of integrating information sources during anticipation, has not yet been systematically examined. We used a temporal occlusion paradigm to alter the reliability of contextual and kinematic information during the early, mid- and final phases of a two-versus-two soccer anticipation task. A dual-task paradigm was incorporated to investigate the impact of task load on skilled soccer players' ability to integrate information and update their judgements in each phase. Across conditions, participants received no contextual information (control) or stable contextual information (opponent preferences) that was dependent on, or independent of, dynamic contextual information (opponent positioning). As predicted, participants used reliable contextual and kinematic information to enhance anticipation. Further exploratory analysis suggested that increased task load detrimentally affected anticipation accuracy but only when both reliable contextual and kinematic information were available for integration in the final phase. This effect was observed irrespective of whether the stable contextual information was dependent on, or independent of, dynamic contextual information. Findings suggest that updating anticipatory judgements in the final phase of a sequence of play based on the integration of reliable contextual and kinematic information requires cognitive resources.</p

Inconsistency in serial choice decision and motor reaction times dissociate in younger and older adults

Intraindividual variability (inconsistency) in reaction time (RT) latencies was investigated in a group of younger (M = 25.46 years) and older (M = 69.29 years) men. Both groups performed 300 trials in 2-, 4-, and 8-choice RT conditions where RTs for decision and motor components of the task were recorded separately. A dissociation was evident in that inconsistency was greater in older adults for decision RTs when task demands relating to the number of choices and fatigue arising from time-on-task were high. For younger persons, a weak trend toward greater inconsistency in motor RTs was evident. The results are consistent with accounts suggesting that inconsistency in neurobiological mechanisms increases with age, and that attentional lapses or fluctuations in executive control contribute to RT inconsistency