1. The Effect of Flame on the Electric Discharge.

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Fractal Properties of the Distribution of Earthquake Hypocenters

We investigate a recent suggestion that the spatial distribution of earthquake hypocenters makes a fractal set with a structure and fractal dimensionality close to those of the backbone of critical percolation clusters, by analyzing four different sets of data for the hypocenter distributions and calculating the dynamical properties of the geometrical distribution such as the spectral dimension $d_s$. We find that the value of $d_s$ is consistent with that of the backbone, thus supporting further the identification of the hypocenter distribution as having the structure of the percolation backbone.Comment: 11 pages, LaTeX, HLRZ 68/9

The prevalence and general health status of people with intellectual disabilities and autism co-occurring together – a total population study

Background: Little is known about the population prevalence of co-occurring intellectual disabilities and autism, and its impact on general health status. This study aimed to investigate this, in comparison with the general population. Method: Whole country data from Scotland's Census, 2011 were analysed. Descriptive statistics were generated, 2 tests undertaken, and logistic regressions undertaken both with the whole general population data, adjusted for age and gender, and within the population with co-occurring intellectual disabilities and autism. Results: 5,709/5,295,403 (1.08/1,000) people had co-occurring intellectual disabilities and autism; 2.58/1,000 children/young people and 0.74/1,000 adults. The peak reported prevalence was at age 10 years (3.78/1,000). 66.0% were male. Their general health status was substantially poorer than for the rest of the population, more so for children/young people, and they had more limitations in their day-to-day activities. Co-occurring intellectual disabilities and autism had odds ratio=48.8 (45.0-53.0) in statistically predicting poor health. Conclusion: This is the first study to report the population prevalence of co-existing intellectual disabilities and autism, and the substantial influence this double-disadvantage has on general health status, apparent across the entire life-course. This highlights a group in need of wider recognition for whom resources should be focused on and planned for, informed by evidence. Staff in services for people with either of these conditions need to be trained, equipped, resourced and prepared to address the challenge of working for people with this duality. This is essential, to address these substantial health inequalities

Incidence of second and higher order smoking-related primary cancers following lung cancer: a population-based cohort study

Background Lung cancer five-year survival has doubled over fifteen years. Although the risk of second primary cancer is recognised, quantification over time is lacking. We describe the incidence of second and higher order smoking-related primary cancers in lung cancer survivors, identifying high-incidence groups and how incidence changes over time from first diagnosis. Methods Data on smoking-related primary cancers (lung, laryngeal, head and neck, oesophageal squamous carcinoma and bladder) diagnosed in England between 2000-2014 was obtained from Public Health England National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service. We calculated absolute incidence rates and standardised incidence rate ratios, both overall and for various sub-groups of second primary cancer for up to 10 years from initial diagnosis of lung cancer, using Poisson regression. Results Elevated incidence of smoking-related second primary cancer persists for at least ten years from first lung cancer diagnosis with those aged 50 and 79 at first diagnosis at particularly high risk. The most frequent type of second malignancy was lung cancer although the highest standardised incidence rate ratios were for oesophageal squamous carcinoma (2.4) and laryngeal cancers (2.8) and consistently higher in women than in men. Over the last decade the incidence of second primary lung cancer has doubled. Conclusion Lung cancer survivors have increased incidence of subsequent lung, laryngeal, head and neck and oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma for at least a decade from first diagnosis. Consideration should be given to increasing routine follow-up from 5 years to 10 years for those at highest risk, alongside surveillance for other smoking-related cancers.This study was supported the Early Diagnosis programme Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre. FMW is supported by an NIHR Clinician Scientist award. GL is supported by a Cancer Research UK award (Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellowship C18081/A18180). RCR is part funded by the Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre

Packing of Compressible Granular Materials

3D Computer simulations and experiments are employed to study random packings of compressible spherical grains under external confining stress. Of particular interest is the rigid ball limit, which we describe as a continuous transition in which the applied stress vanishes as (\phi-\phi_c)^\beta, where \phi is the (solid phase) volume density. This transition coincides with the onset of shear rigidity. The value of \phi_c depends, for example, on whether the grains interact via only normal forces (giving rise to random close packings) or by a combination of normal and friction generated transverse forces (producing random loose packings). In both cases, near the transition, the system's response is controlled by localized force chains. As the stress increases, we characterize the system's evolution in terms of (1) the participation number, (2) the average force distribution, and (3) visualization techniques.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture mitigates the effects of ocean acidification: Seaweeds raise system pH and improve growth of juvenile abalone

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) has the potential to enhance growth, reduce nutrient loads, and mitigate environmental conditions compared to traditional single-species culture techniques. The goal of this project was to develop a land-based system for the integrated culture of seaweeds and shellfish, to test the efficacy of integrated versus non-integrated designs, and to assess the potential for IMTA to mitigate the effects of climate change from ocean acidification on shellfish growth and physiology. We utilized the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and the red seaweed dulse (Devaleraea mollis) as our study species and designed integrated tanks at three different recirculation rates (0%, 30%, and 65% recirculation per hour) to test how an integrated design would affect growth rates of the abalone and seaweeds, modify nutrient levels, and change water chemistry. We specifically hypothesized that IMTA designs would raise seawater pH to benefit calcifying species. Our results indicated that juvenile abalone grew significantly faster in weight (22% increase) and shell area (11% increase) in 6 months in tanks with the highest recirculation rates (65%). The 65% recirculation treatment also exhibited a significant increase in mean seawater pH (0.2 pH units higher) due to the biological activity of the seaweed in the connected tanks. We found a significant positive relationship between the mean pH of seawater in the tanks and juvenile abalone growth rates across all treatments. There were no significant differences in the growth of dulse among treatments, but dulse growth did vary seasonally. Seawater phosphate and nitrate concentrations were depleted in the highest recirculation rate treatment, but ammonium concentrations were elevated, likely due to the abalone effluent. Overall, our results indicate that there are benefits to IMTA culture of seaweeds and abalone in terms of improving growth in land-based systems, which will reduce the time to market and buffer commercial abalone operations against the effects of ocean acidification during vulnerable early life stages

Sustainable Grazing on Saline Land in Western Australia - Multidisciplinary Research Linking Producers and Scientists

Dryland salinity is one of the most critical environmental issues challenging Western Australian farmers. Currently 10% of the cropping zone (1.8 million ha) is salt-affected and this is predicted to increase dramatically in the next 50 years (NLWRA, 2001). Animals grazing saline pasture systems represent the most likely large-scale opportunity for economic return from saline land in the short to medium term. To date, few farmers have invested in large-scale revegetation of saline land as the economic return from grazing has not been perceived to cover costs. Furthermore other benefits of saltland pasture systems, such as biodiversity, water use and improved quality of animal products have not been quantified

Sensitivity of simulated water mass transformation on the Antarctic shelf to tides, topography and model resolution

Peer reviewe

Assessment and Optimisation of Lung Cancer Patients for Treatment with Curative Intent.

Over the past decade the field of lung cancer management has seen many developments. Coupled with an ageing population and increasing rates of comorbid illness, the work-up for treatments with curative intent has become more complex and detailed. As well as improvements in imaging and staging techniques, developments in both surgery and radiotherapy may now allow patients who would previously have been considered unfit or not appropriate for treatment with curative intent to undergo radical therapies. This overview will highlight published studies relating to investigation and staging techniques, together with assessments of fitness, with the aim of helping clinicians to determine the most appropriate treatments for each patient. We also highlight areas where further research may be required.Robert Rintoul is part funded by the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and the Cambridge Cancer Centre

A hypercoagulable state leading to venous limb gangrene associated with occult lung adenocarcinoma.

We report a case of lung adenocarcinoma-associated hypercoagulability leading to venous limb gangrene, managed successfully with argatroban and then dabigatran. Use of idarucizumab permitted diagnostic investigations, leading to targeted antineoplastic therapy with crizotinib, surgical resection with curative intent, and continued survival over 2 years after the index event