Groundwater reinjection and heat dissipation: lessons from the operation of a large groundwater cooling system in Central London

The performance of a large open-loop groundwater cooling scheme in a shallow alluvial aquifer at a prominent public building in Central London has been monitored closely over its first 2 years of operation. The installed system provided cooling to the site continuously for a period of 9 months between June 2012 and April 2013. During this period, c. 131300 m3 of groundwater was abstracted from a single pumping well and recharged into a single injection borehole. The amount of heat rejected in this period amounts to c. 1.37 GWh. A programme of hydraulic testing was subsequently undertaken over a 3 month period between July and October 2013 to evaluate the performance of the injection borehole. The data indicate no significant change in injection performance between commissioning trials undertaken in 2010 and the most recent period of testing, as evidenced by comparison of injection pressures for given flow rates in 2010 and 2013. Continuous temperature monitoring of the abstracted water, the discharge and a number of observation wells demonstrates the evolution of a heat plume in the aquifer in response to heat rejection and subsequent dissipation of this heat during the 18 month planned cessation

Radiation resistance and comparative performance of ITO/InP and n/p InP homojunction solar cells

The radiation resistance of ITO/InP cells processed by DC magnetron sputtering is compared to that of standard n/p InP and GaAs homojunction cells. After 20 MeV proton irradiations, it is found that the radiation resistance of the present ITO/InP cell is comparable to that of the n/p homojunction InP cell and that both InP cell types have radiation resistance significantly greater than GaAs. The relatively lower radiation resistance, observed at higher fluence, for the InP cell with the deepest junction depth, is attributed to losses in the cells emitter region. Diode parameters obtained from I sub sc - V sub oc plots, data from surface Raman spectroscopy, and determinations of surface conductivity types are used to investigate the configuration of the ITO/InP cells. It is concluded that thesee latter cells are n/p homojunctions, the n-region consisting of a disordered layer at the oxide semiconductor

The efficacy of talent selection criteria in the Australian Football League.

This study investigated the association between talent selection criteria, draft order and match performance in professional Australian Football players. Physical performance results from the Australian Football League (AFL) National Draft combine and non-performance based talent selection criteria were collated for all players drafted in the National Draft with selections 1-80 between 2003 and 2008 (n = 318). Match performance was assessed via the AFL Player Ranking metric that was provided by a commercial statistical provider (Champion Data Pty Ltd). A combination of stepwise multiple regression and linear mixed model analyses examined the influence of National Draft combine physical performance assessments and non-performance based talent selection criteria on draft order and future match performance. Earlier draft selection was associated with Under-18 all Australian team selection, height, Under-18 National Championship participation and indigenous status. The 20 m sprint and state of origin were associated with later draft selection. Under-18 all Australian team selection increased both Player Ranking/game and total Player Ranking. Under-18 all Australian team selection displays efficacy for selecting players with the potential for success

The Effects of High-Intensity Multimodal Training in Apparently Healthy Populations: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: High-intensity multimodal training (HIMT) is emerging as a popular training method that combines aerobic and resistance training throughout a single exercise session. The current literature is limited by a lack of terminology that broadly encompasses all styles of combined aerobic and resistance training. The magnitude of chronic or long-term (i.e.  ≥ 4 weeks) effects of HIMT participation on aerobic and muscular fitness also remains unclear. Additionally, one of many complex reasons for the growing popularity of HIMT may be attributed to the affective response to exercise, namely levels of enjoyment. However, this concept is not yet well understood across all styles of HIMT. A comprehensive systematic review is required to synthesise the available literature and attempt to provide an operational definition of HIMT to capture the breadth of combined training styles that exist. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to determine the chronic effects of HIMT participation on aerobic and muscular fitness and to compare HIMT to established concurrent training methods. Enjoyability and other adherence-related subjective responses were also examined in HIMT participants. This review critically assessed the level of evidence and feasibility of current HIMT guidelines. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science and SPORTDiscus to identify studies up until March 2021. RESULTS: A total of 20 studies were included for review. Studies generally reported moderate to large effects on aerobic fitness and subjective responses in favour of HIMT interventions. Mixed outcomes were demonstrated in muscular fitness. These results should be treated with caution due to high risk of bias among included studies. CONCLUSIONS: Few studies have assessed the chronic effects of HIMT participation on aerobic, and musculoskeletal adaptations and subjective responses, in particular exercise enjoyment. Research conclusions are limited by heterogeneity of experimental protocols and outcome measures. Furthermore, the inability of the literature to make adequate comparisons between various styles of HIMT and other concurrent training protocols limits understandings of the efficacy of HIMT. Registration This systematic review was registered on the Open Science Framework (10.17605/OSF.IO/2RE4B; 26 March 2021)

Experimental evidence from Mozambique

Natural resources can have a negative impact on the economy through corruption and civil conflict. This paper tests whether information can counteract this political resource curse. We implement a large-scale field experiment following the dissemination of information about a substantial natural gas discovery in Mozambique. We measure outcomes related to the behavior of citizens and local leaders through georeferenced conflict data, behavioral activities, lab-in-The-field experiments, and surveys. We find that information targeting citizens and their involvement in public deliberations increases local mobilization and decreases violence. By contrast, when information reaches only local leaders, it increases elite capture and rent-seeking.authorsversionpublishe

Characterisation of Topoisomerase Iialpha Amplification and Expression in Human Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Work has been undertaken to characterise an amplicon on chromosome 17 in a non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line, CALU-3. There are a number of different genes in this region which have been implicated in tumorigenesis. These include topoisomerase IIalpha (TOPO IIalpha), ERBB2, NM23H1 and retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) genes. Topoisomerase IIalpha is also a target for numerous anti-cancer drugs, such as VP16 and doxorubicin. Changes in the expression of topoisomerase IIalpha have been seen to have an effect on the response of cells to such topoisomerase II inhibitors, with overexpression causing sensitivity and reduced expression causing resistance to these agents. Therefore, CALU-3 is of interest as a model to study the genetic changes which have occurred around the topoisomerase IIalpha locus. Southern hybridisation was initially used to investigate which genes were within the amplicon. From this analysis it was confirmed that the TOPO IIalpha and ERBB2 genes were amplified and discovered that the RARalpha and G-CSF genes were also involved in the amplicon. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) has subsequently been performed with CALU-3 to visualise the extent and structure of amplification for the different genes and to find any other cytogenetic changes which may have occurred to chromosome 17. New cosmid probes for TOPO IIalpha, RARalpha, NM23H1 and NF1 genes have been developed from an Imperial Cancer Research Fund Reference Library-Database chromosome 17 library, for use in FISH analysis. By using a flow-sorted whole chromosome 17 paint, seven regions of hybridisation were observed in CALU-3. None of these regions covered an entire chromosome. Five chromosome 17-specific centromere sequences were also detected in CALU-3. It has been discovered that CALU-3 carries three large regions of TOPO IIalpha and ERBB2 gene amplification, residing on three separate chromosomes. The RARalpha gene has also been found to be amplified on the same three regions, although not as highly as TOPO IIalpha or ERBB2. Counts of hybridisation signals indicate that CALU-3 has at least eight copies of RARalpha, A cosmid containing sequences thought to be in the region of the BRCA1 gene has been used and this appears to be amplified in CALU-3 at a similar level to RARalpha. Five copies of both NFl and NM23H1 genes were also found, each associated with a chromosome 17 centromere sequence. The NM23H1 gene also appears to be inverted since it is seen in close association to the centromere. Therefore, in CALU-3 there appears to have been some gross changes to chromosome 17, including numerous translocations, as well as the formation of an amplicon involving at least five genes on 17q. Expression analysis using Western blotting and immunofluorescence has confirmed that amplification of TOPO IIalpha and ERBB2 genes in CALU-3 can be correlated with the high expression of topoisomerase Ila and erbB2 proteins. No alterations were found to the expected location of either of these proteins in CALU-3, as shown by immunofluorescence, with topoisomerase IIalpha present in the nucleoplasm and erbB2 detected in the cell membrane. Row cytometry has shown that the topoisomerase IIalpha protein from CALU-3 still appears to be cell cycle regulated. The topoisomerase II enzyme in CALU-3 is also still sensitive to inhibition, as has been demonstrated by the addition of VP16 to biochemical assays of topoisomerase II activity. More specifically, the topoisomerase IIalpha isozyme is still capable of being stabilised in a drug/enzyme/DNA complex by VP16, as shown by band depletion assay. CALU-3 is very sensitive to treatment with topoisomerase II inhibitors and it seems likely that this is as a result of amplification and overexpression of the topoisomerase IIalpha gene. There is an obvious clinical interest in this relationship since topoisomerase II inhibitors are commonly used in the treatment of a variety of cancers. However, resistance to these agents is a major problem in tumour treatment. Therefore, a resistant cell line was derived by exposure to VP16, from a sensitive CALU-3 clone (clone 4) and analysed for possible mechanisms of drug resistance. A cell line was subsequently derived which was resistant to 10-5MVP16, as well as being cross-resistant to doxorubicin and vincristine. Western analysis of CALU-3/10-5M VP16 showed no difference in topoisomerase IIalpha expression when compared to the parental clone. Subsequent biochemical assays also found no difference in catalytic activity between the CALU-3 clone 4 and CALU-3/10-5M VP16. Flow cytometry was then performed to analyse P-glycoprotein expression levels in the two cell lines. No expression of this drug efflux pump was found in either parental or resistant lines. Expression of the atypical drug resistance associated protein, MRP, was then investigated using a polyclonal antiserum from Dr. Melvin Center. By Western blot analysis it appeared that CALU-3/10-5M VP16 overexpressed MRP when compared to the parental cell line. This result was confirmed by independent analysis of a Western blot with a monoclonal antibody against MRP by Dr. Susan Cole in Ontario, Canada. Therefore, it appears that MRP may play a role in the mechanism of drug resistance in CALU-3/10-5M VP16

Monolithic InP/Ga0.47In0.53As tandem solar cells for space

A review is provided of progress made in the development of InP/Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As monolithic tandem solar cells since the last SPRAT conference. Improved one-sun, three terminal tandem designs have resulted in Air Mass Zero (AM0) efficiencies as high as 23.9 pct. at 25 C. Additionally, high efficiency concentrator versions of the three terminal device were developed. The best concentrator tandem has a peak AM0 efficiency of 28.8 pct. under 40.3 suns at 25 C. For the concentrator tandems, the subcell performance parameter temperature coefficients are reported as a function of the concentration ratio. Results from a computer modeling study are presented which provide a clear direction for improving the efficiency of the concentrator tandem. The prospects for fabricating high efficiency, series connected (i.e., two terminal) InP/Ga(0.47)In(0.53)As monolithic tandem cells are also discussed

The polymycovirus-mediated growth enhancement of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana is dependent on carbon and nitrogen metabolism

Polymycoviridae is a growing family of mycoviruses whose members typically have non-conventional capsids and multi-segmented, double-stranded (ds) RNA genomes. Beauveria bassiana polymycovirus (BbPmV) 1 is known to enhance the growth and virulence of its fungal host, the entomopathogenic ascomycete and popular biological control agent B. bassiana. Here we report the complete sequence of BbPmV-3, which has six genomic dsRNA segments. Phylogenetic analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) protein sequences revealed that BbPmV-3 is closely related to the partially sequenced BbPmV-2 but not BbPmV-1. Nevertheless, both BbPmV-3 and BbPmV-1 have similar effects on their respective host isolates ATHUM 4946 and EABb 92/11-Dm, affecting pigmentation, sporulation, and radial growth. Production of conidia and radial growth are significantly enhanced in virus-infected isolates as compared to virus-free isogenic lines on Czapek-Dox complete and minimal media that contain sucrose and sodium nitrate. However, this polymycovirus-mediated effect on growth is dependent on the carbon and nitrogen sources available to the host fungus. Both BbPmV-3 and BbPmV-1 increase growth of ATHUM 4946 and EABb 92/11-Dm when sucrose is replaced by lactose, trehalose, glucose, or glycerol, while the effect is reversed on maltose and fructose. Similarly, both BbPmV-3 and BbPmV-1 decrease growth of ATHUM 4946 and EABb 92/11-Dm when sodium nitrate is replaced by sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, or ammonium nitrate. In conclusion, the effects of polymycoviruses on B. bassiana are at least partially mediated via its metabolic pathways

Measuring corruption in the field using behavioral games

Corruption is often harmful for economic development, yet it is difficult to measure due to its illicit nature. We propose a novel corruption game to characterize the interaction between actual political leaders and citizens, and implement it in Northern Mozambique. Contrary to the game-theoretic prediction, both leaders and citizens engage in corruption. Importantly, corruption in the game is correlated with real-world corruption by leaders: citizens send bribes to leaders whom we observe appropriating community money. In corrupt behavior, we identify an important trust dimension captured by a standard trust game.preprintpublishe

Heat-acclimatization and pre-cooling: a further boost for endurance performance?

© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd To determine if pre-cooling (PC) following heat-acclimatization (HA) can further improve self-paced endurance performance in the heat, 13 male triathletes performed two 20-km cycling time-trials (TT) at 35 °C, 50% relative humidity, before and after an 8-day training camp, each time with (PC) or without (control) ice vest PC. Pacing strategies, physiological and perceptual responses were assessed during each TT. PC and HA induced moderate (+10 ± 18 W; effect size [ES] 4.4 ± 4.6%) and very large (+28 ± 19 W; ES 11.7 ± 4.1%) increases in power output (PO), respectively. The overall PC effect became unclear after HA (+4 ± 14 W; ES 1.4 ± 3.0%). However, pacing analysis revealed that PC remained transiently beneficial post-HA, i.e., during the first half of the TT. Both HA and PC pre-HA were characterized by an enhanced PO without increased cardio-thermoregulatory or perceptual disturbances, while post-HA PC only improved thermal comfort. PC improved 20-km TT performance in unacclimatized athletes, but an 8-day HA period attenuated the magnitude of this effect. The respective converging physiological responses to HA and PC may explain the blunting of PC effectiveness. However, perceptual benefits from PC can still account for the small alterations to pacing noted post-HA