The relationship between fragility, configurational entropy and the potential energy landscape of glass forming liquids

Glass is a microscopically disordered, solid form of matter that results when a fluid is cooled or compressed in such a fashion that it does not crystallise. Almost all types of materials are capable of glass formation -- polymers, metal alloys, and molten salts, to name a few. Given such diversity, organising principles which systematise data concerning glass formation are invaluable. One such principle is the classification of glass formers according to their fragility\cite{fragility}. Fragility measures the rapidity with which a liquid's properties such as viscosity change as the glassy state is approached. Although the relationship between features of the energy landscape of a glass former, its configurational entropy and fragility have been analysed previously (e. g.,\cite{speedyfr}), an understanding of the origins of fragility in these features is far from being well established. Results for a model liquid, whose fragility depends on its bulk density, are presented in this letter. Analysis of the relationship between fragility and quantitative measures of the energy landscape (the complicated dependence of energy on configuration) reveal that the fragility depends on changes in the vibrational properties of individual energy basins, in addition to the total number of such basins present, and their spread in energy. A thermodynamic expression for fragility is derived, which is in quantitative agreement with {\it kinetic} fragilities obtained from the liquid's diffusivity.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Direct observation of molecular cooperativity near the glass transition

We describe direct observations of molecular cooperativity near the glass transition in poly-vinyl-acetate (PVAc), through nanometer-scale probing of dielectric fluctuations. Molecular clusters switched spontaneously between two to four distinct configurations, producing complex random-telegraph-signals (RTS). Analysis of the RTS and their power spectra shows that individual clusters exhibit both transient dynamical heterogeneity and non-exponential kinetics.Comment: 14 pages pdf, need Acrobat Reade

A novel targeted/untargeted GC-Orbitrap metabolomics methodology applied to Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

Introduction: Combined infections from Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus are a leading cause of death in the developed world. Evidence suggests that Candida enhances the virulence of Staphylococcus—hyphae penetrate through tissue barriers, while S. aureus tightly associates with the hyphae to obtain entry to the host organism. Indeed, in a biofilm state, C. albicans enhances the antimicrobial resistance characteristics of S. aureus. The association of these microorganisms is also associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Due to this tight association we hypothesised that metabolic effects were also in evidence. Objectives: To explore the interaction, we used a novel GC-Orbitrap-based mass spectrometer, the Q Exactive GC, which combines the high peak capacity and chromatographic resolution of gas chromatography with the sub-ppm mass accuracy of an Orbitrap system. This allows the capability to leverage the widely available electron ionisation libraries for untargeted applications, along with expanding accurate mass libraries and targeted matches based around authentic standards. Methods: Optimised C. albicans and S. aureus mono- and co-cultured biofilms were analysed using the new instrument in addition to the fresh and spent bacterial growth media. Results: The targeted analysis experiment was based around 36 sugars and sugar phosphates, 22 amino acids and five organic acids. Untargeted analysis resulted in the detection of 465 features from fresh and spent medium and 405 from biofilm samples. Three significantly changing compounds that matched to high scoring library fragment patterns were chosen for validation. Conclusion: Evaluation of the results demonstrates that the Q Exactive GC is suitable for metabolomics analysis using a targeted/untargeted methodology. Many of the results were as expected: e.g. rapid consumption of glucose and fructose from the medium regardless of the cell type. Modulation of sugar-phosphate levels also suggest that the pentose phosphate pathway could be enhanced in the cells from co-cultured biofilms. Untargeted metabolomics results suggested significant production of cell-wall biosynthesis components and the consumption of non-proteinaceous amino-acids

Understanding disease control: influence of epidemiological and economic factors

We present a local spread model of disease transmission on a regular network and compare different control options ranging from treating the whole population to local control in a well-defined neighborhood of an infectious individual. Comparison is based on a total cost of epidemic, including cost of palliative treatment of ill individuals and preventive cost aimed at vaccination or culling of susceptible individuals. Disease is characterized by pre- symptomatic phase which makes detection and control difficult. Three general strategies emerge, global preventive treatment, local treatment within a neighborhood of certain size and only palliative treatment with no prevention. The choice between the strategies depends on relative costs of palliative and preventive treatment. The details of the local strategy and in particular the size of the optimal treatment neighborhood weakly depends on disease infectivity but strongly depends on other epidemiological factors. The required extend of prevention is proportional to the size of the infection neighborhood, but this relationship depends on time till detection and time till treatment in a non-nonlinear (power) law. In addition, we show that the optimal size of control neighborhood is highly sensitive to the relative cost, particularly for inefficient detection and control application. These results have important consequences for design of prevention strategies aiming at emerging diseases for which parameters are not known in advance

Remote Sensing and historical morphodynamics of alluvial plains: the 1909 Indus flood and the city of Dera Ghazi Khan (Province of Punjab, Pakistan)

This paper explores the historical inundation of the city of Dera Ghazi Kkan (Punjab, Pakistan) in 1909. The rich documentation about this episode available – including historic news reports, books and maps - is used to reconstruct the historical dynamics between an urban settlement and the river morphodynamics in the Indus alluvial plain. Map and document-based historical regressive analysis is complemented with the examination of images obtained through different Remote Sensing techniques, including the use of new algorithms specifically developed for the study 16 of topography and seasonal water availability which make possible to assess long-term changes in the Indus River basin. This case of study provides an opportunity to examine: 1) how historical hydrological dynamics are reflected in RS produced images; 2) the implications of river morphodynamics in the interpretation of settlement patterning; and 3) the documented socio-political responses to such geomorphological change. The results of this analysis are used to consider the long-term dynamics that have influenced the archaeo/cultural landscapes of the Indus River basin. This assessment provides critical insights for: 1) understanding aspects of the formation, preservation of representation of the archaeological record; 2) identifying traces of morphodynamics and their possible impact over the cultural heritage; and 3) offering insights into the role that recent historical documents can have in the interpretation of RS materials. This paper should be read in conjunction with the paper by Cameron Petrie et al. in the same issue of Geosciences, which explores the Survey of India 1" to 1-mile map series and outlines methods for using these historical maps for research on historical landscapes and settlement distribution.ER

Characteristics and outcome of patients with newly diagnosed advanced or metastatic lung cancer admitted to intensive care units (ICUs)

BACKGROUND: Although patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer have poor prognosis, admission to the ICU for management of life-threatening complications has increased over the years. Patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer appear as good candidates for ICU admission, but more robust information to assist decisions is lacking. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognosis of newly diagnosed unresectable lung cancer patients. METHODS: A retrospective multicentric study analyzed the outcome of patients admitted to the ICU with a newly diagnosed lung cancer (diagnosis within the month) between 2010 and 2013. RESULTS: Out of the 100 patients, 30 had small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 70 had non-small cell lung cancer. (Thirty patients had already been treated with oncologic treatments.) Mechanical ventilation (MV) was performed for 81 patients. Seventeen patients received emergency chemotherapy during their ICU stay. ICU, hospital, 3- and 6-month mortality were, respectively, 47, 60, 67 and 71%. Hospital mortality was 60% when invasive MV was used alone, 71% when MV and vasopressors were needed and 83% when MV, vasopressors and hemodialysis were required. In multivariate analysis, hospital mortality was associated with metastatic disease (OR 4.22 [1.4-12.4]; p = 0.008), need for invasive MV (OR 4.20 [1.11-16.2]; p = 0.030), while chemotherapy in ICU was associated with survival (OR 0.23, [0.07-0.81]; p = 0.020). CONCLUSION: This study shows that ICU management can be appropriate for selected newly diagnosed patients with advanced lung cancer, and chemotherapy might improve outcome for patients with SCLC admitted for cancer-related complications. Nevertheless, tumors' characteristics, numbers and types of organ dysfunction should be taken into account in the decisional process before admitting these patients in ICU.Peer reviewe

Summula de sacramentis, metrice, ex Summa S. Raymundi de Pennaforte, cum commentario et glossa interlineari

Tít. tomado de IBETít. en ISTC: "Summula sacramentorum Raymundi de Pennaforte metrificata (With commentary and interlinear glosses)"Pie de imp. tomado de colofónSign.: a-s6, t-v4, x-z6, aa-cc6, dd4Error de fol., repite h. xxivVariaciones en el tamaño de la letraLetra gótic

PENGARUH PROFITABILITAS, MEKANISME CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, DAN UKURAN PERUSAHAAN TERHADAP FINANCIAL DISTRESS (Studi pada Perusahaan Property, Real Estate, dan Kontruksi Bangunan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia periode 2014-2017)

ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberi gambaran tentang financial distress dan untuk mengetahui pengaruh profitabilitas dan mekanisme corporate governance, dan ukuran perusahaan terhadap financial distresss pada perusahaan property, real estate, dan kontruksi bangunan. Operasionalisasi variabel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah variabel bebas yaitu profitabilitas dan komisaris independen, kepemilikan manajerial, kepemilikan institusional, komite audit, dan ukuran perusahaan sedangkan variabel terikat yaitu financial distress. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif dan verifikatif. Populasi yang dijadikan penelitian pada penelitian ini adalah perusahaan property, real estate, dan kontruksi bangunan yang listing di Bursa Efek Indonesia periode 2014-2017. Jumlah perusahaan yang listing di Bursa Efek Indonesia pada tahun 2014-2017 adalah sebanyak 61 perusahaan. Metode pemilihan sampel pada penelitian ini adalah menggunakan teknik nonprobablility sampling dan purposive sampling dengan total perusahaan yang menjadi sampel adalah sebanyak 52 perusahaan yang memenuhi kriteria. Analisis data menggunakan analisis regresi logistik. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa profitabilitas, komisaris independen, kepemilikan manajerial, ukuran perusahaan berpengaruh negatif terhadap financial distress. Kemudian, hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kepemilikan institusional dan komite audit tidak berpengaruh negatif terhadap financial. Hasil penelitian mengindikasikan sebanyak 53 kasus perusahaan property, real estate, dan kontruksi bangunan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia mengalami financial distress. Kata kunci : profitabilitas, komisaris independen, kepemilikan manajerial, kepemilikan institusional, komite audit, ukuran perusahaan dan financial distres

30 days wild: development and evaluation of a large-scale nature engagement campaign to improve well-being

There is a need to increase people’s engagement with and connection to nature, both for human well-being and the conservation of nature itself. In order to suggest ways for people to engage with nature and create a wider social context to normalise nature engagement, The Wildlife Trusts developed a mass engagement campaign, 30 Days Wild. The campaign asked people to engage with nature every day for a month. 12,400 people signed up for 30 Days Wild via an online sign-up with an estimated 18,500 taking part overall, resulting in an estimated 300,000 engagements with nature by participants. Samples of those taking part were found to have sustained increases in happiness, health, connection to nature and pro-nature behaviours. With the improvement in health being predicted by the improvement in happiness, this relationship was mediated by the change in connection to nature