Modelling the polymer migration phenomena in DNA-laden flows

This paper was presented at the 2nd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2009), which was held at Brunel University, West London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IPEM, the Italian Union of Thermofluid dynamics, the Process Intensification Network, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.Cross-stream migration of macromolecules transported in a fluid flow is typically encountered in microfluidic applications. This experimentally observed phenomenon leads to a decrease of the nearwall macromolecule concentration which can be detrimental in applications relying on a high intensity of polymer reactions in the near-wall zone, such as DNA-based bio-sensors. Despite a significant body of experimental, theoretical and numerical research, there is no consensus regarding the nature of this phenomenon. In this paper a meta-modelling approach for macromolecule motion in the flow is presented. It is demonstrated that the hydrodynamic interaction resulting from the incorporation of Saffman lift force, together with Faxen correction to Stokes drag causes migration of DNA molecules towards the middle of a pressure driven micro-flow, which is in agreement with experimental observations. The results suggest that the migration can occur due to macromolecule-flow rather than macromolecule-wall interaction.This work has been supported in part by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Program (Project: DINAMICS, NMP4-CT-2007-026804

Summary Creditor Remedies: Going…Going…Gone?

In Sniadach v. Family Finance Corporation, the Court effectively held that a summary creditor proceeding amounted to a taking of property without due process of law. This Note examines the summary creditor remedy. After Sniadach, concerted judicial attacks, like those on California’s claim and delivery statutes, and prejudgment attachment proceedings, were made on summary creditor remedies resulting in a broad reading of Sniadach. However, legislatures began enacting exceptions to Sniadach’s rule, such as requiring that seizures benefit the public, be immediate in nature, and have no affect on another’s livelihood. The next case to reach the Supreme Court, Fuentes v. Shevin, was born out of this discord between the legislatures and the courts. Fuentes clarified many issues the Court left ambiguous in Sniadach, but ignored private extrajudicial repossession procedures. Thus, extrajudicial repossession procedures have taken center stage in district courts (such as Adams v. Egley in San Diego District Court). The author concludes that many questions about summary creditor remedies are left to be resolved by the legislatures and courts

The Doctrine of Preemption and the Illegal Alien: A Case for State Regulation and a Uniform Preemption Theory

This Article is intended to explore the propriety of the rulings on section 2805 of the California Labor Code, enacted in 1971. That statute provides in pertinent part: No employer shall knowingly employ an alien who is not entitled to lawful residence in the United States if such employment would have an adverse effect on lawful resident workers. The Author argues that the threshold question in constructing a uniform preemption theory should be whether the relevant subject matter is one which is inherently federal, i.e., it involves an area of law restricted to federal control because of constitutional mandates or absolute necessity

Solving order constraints in logarithmic space.

We combine methods of order theory, finite model theory, and universal algebra to study, within the constraint satisfaction framework, the complexity of some well-known combinatorial problems connected with a finite poset. We identify some conditions on a poset which guarantee solvability of the problems in (deterministic, symmetric, or non-deterministic) logarithmic space. On the example of order constraints we study how a certain algebraic invariance property is related to solvability of a constraint satisfaction problem in non-deterministic logarithmic space

Traumatic Stress Interacts With Bipolar Disorder Genetic Risk to Increase Risk for Suicide Attempts

Objective Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the most heritable psychiatric conditions and is associated with high suicide risk. To explore the reasons for this link, this study examined the interaction between traumatic stress and BD polygenic risk score in relation to suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescent and young adult offspring and relatives of persons with BD (BD-relatives) compared with adolescent and young adult offspring of individuals without psychiatric disorders (controls). Method Data were collected from 4 sites in the United States and 1 site in Australia from 2006 through 2012. Generalized estimating equation models were used to compare rates of ideation, attempts, and NSSI between BD-relatives (n = 307) and controls (n = 166) and to determine the contribution of demographic factors, traumatic stress exposure, lifetime mood or substance (alcohol/drug) use disorders, and BD polygenic risk score. Results After adjusting for demographic characteristics and mood and substance use disorders, BD-relatives were at increased risk for suicidal ideation and attempts but not for NSSI. Independent of BD-relative versus control status, demographic factors, or mood and substance use disorders, exposure to trauma within the past year (including bullying, sexual abuse, and domestic violence) was associated with suicide attempts (p = .014), and BD polygenic risk score was marginally associated with attempts (p = .061). Importantly, the interaction between BD polygenic risk score and traumatic event exposures was significantly associated with attempts, independent of demographics, relative versus control status, and mood and substance use disorders (p = .041). Conclusion BD-relatives are at increased risk for suicide attempts and ideation, especially if they are exposed to trauma and have evidence of increased genetic vulnerability

How do we get there? Effects of cognitive aging on route memory

© 2017 The Author(s) Research into the effects of cognitive aging on route navigation usually focuses on differences in learning performance. In contrast, we investigated age-related differences in route knowledge after successful route learning. One young and two groups of older adults categorized using different cut-off scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), were trained until they could correctly recall short routes. During the test phase, they were asked to recall the sequence in which landmarks were encountered (Landmark Sequence Task), the sequence of turns (Direction Sequence Task), the direction of turn at each landmark (Landmark Direction Task), and to identify the learned routes from a map perspective (Perspective Taking Task). Comparing the young participant group with the older group that scored high on the MoCA, we found effects of typical aging in learning performance and in the Direction Sequence Task. Comparing the two older groups, we found effects of early signs of atypical aging in the Landmark Direction and the Perspective Taking Tasks. We found no differences between groups in the Landmark Sequence Task. Given that participants were able to recall routes after training, these results suggest that typical and early signs of atypical aging result in differential memory deficits for aspects of route knowledge

Геоэкологическая оценка объектов водоснабжения поселка Ванавара (Красноярский край)

В работе представлены результаты оценки качества подземных вод нижнетриасового туфогенно-осадочного водоносного комплекса. Данные подземные воды используются для питьевого водоснабжения п. Ванавара. Дана характеристика геологического строения участка, гидрогеологические условия, охарактеризованы геохимические особенности, при которых изменение качественного состава подземных вод происходит в связи с природными процессами. Произведен расчет уровня загрязнения подземных вод под воздействием техногенного воздействия.The paper presents the results of assessing the quality of underground waters of the Lower Triassic tuff-sedimentary aquifer complex. These underground waters are used for drinking water supply in the village of Vanavara. The characteristics of the geological structure of the site, hydrogeological conditions, geochemical features of the territory, in which the change in the qualitative composition of underground water occurs in connection with natural processes, are described. The calculation of the level of pollution of underground water under the influence of man-made impact is made

Post-mortem findings and causes of death of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded from 1990 to 2000 along the coastlines of Belgium and northern France

peer reviewedBetween the,ears 1990 and 2000, an attempt was made to determine the causes of death of 55 harbour porpoises stranded along the Belgian and northern French coasts. From 1990 to 1996, only five carcasses were collected as against seven in 1997, eight in 1998, 27 in 1999 and eight in 2000. The sex ratio was normal and most of the animals were juvenile. The most common findings were emaciation, severe parasitosis and pneumonia. A few cases of fishing net entanglement were observed. The main microscopical lesions were acute pneumonia, massive lung oedema, enteritis, hepatitis and gastritis. Encephalitis was observed in six cases. No evidence of morbillivirus infection was detected. Pneumonia was associated with bacteria or parasites, or both. The causes of death and the lesions were similar to those previously reported in other countries bordering the North Sea. The cause of the increased numbers of carcasses in 1999 was unclear but did not include viral epizootics or net entanglement. A temporary increase in the porpoise populatiou in the southern North Sea may have been responsible. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

The Australian Work Exposures Study: Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to produce a population-based estimate of the prevalence of work-related exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to identify the main circumstances of exposure and to describe the use of workplace control measures designed to decrease those exposures. METHODS: The analysis used data from the Australian Workplace Exposures Study, a nationwide telephone survey which investigated the current prevalence and exposure circumstances of work-related exposure to 38 known or suspected carcinogens, including PAHs, among Australian workers aged 18-65 years. Using the web-based tool OccIDEAS, semi-quantitative information was collected about exposures in the current job held by the respondent. Questions were addressed primarily at tasks undertaken rather than about self-reported exposures. RESULTS: Of the 4,993 included respondents, 297 (5.9%) were identified as probably being exposed to PAHs in their current job [extrapolated to 6.7% of the Australian working population-677 000 (95% confidence interval 605 000-757 000) workers]. Most (81%) were male; about one-third were farmers and about one-quarter worked in technical and trades occupations. In the agriculture industry about half the workers were probably exposed to PAHs. The main exposure circumstances were exposure to smoke through burning, fighting fires or through maintaining mowers or other equipment; cleaning up ash after a fire; health workers exposed to diathermy smoke; cooking; and welding surfaces with a coating. Where information on control measures was available, their use was inconsistent. CONCLUSION: Workers are exposed to PAHs in many different occupational circumstances. Information on the exposure circumstances can be used to support decisions on appropriate priorities for intervention and control of occupational exposure to PAHs, and estimates of burden of cancer arising from occupational exposure to PAHs