Twisted Electromagnetic Modes and Sagnac Ring-Lasers

A new approximation scheme, designed to solve the covariant Maxwell equations inside a rotating hollow slender conducting cavity (modelling a ring-laser), is constructed. It is shown that for well-defined conditions there exist TE and TM modes with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cavity. A twisted mode spectrum is found to depend on the integrated Frenet torsion of the cavity and this in turn may affect the Sagnac beat frequency induced by a non-zero rotation of the cavity. The analysis is motivated by attempts to use ring-lasers to measure terrestrial gravito-magnetism or the Lense-Thirring effect produced by the rotation of the Earth.Comment: LaTeX 31 pages, 3 Figure

Automated laboratory reporting of estimated glomerular filtration rate: is it good for the health of patients and their doctors?

Koncentracija kreatinina u serumu je nepouzdan i neosjetljiv biljeg kronične bolesti bubrega (engl. chronic kidney disease, CKD). Kako bi poboljšali otkrivanje CKD mnogi europski i sjevernoamerički laboratoriji te svi australoazijski laboratoriji izračunavaju i u nalazu ispisuju procijenjenu brzinu glomerularne filtracije (engl. estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR) primjenjujući formulu MDRD (engl. Modification ofDiet in Renal Disease, MDRD) kod svakog zahtjeva za određivanje koncentracije kreatinina u serumu. Cilj ovog rada je pružanje pravovremene informacije kliničkim kemičarima o snazi, slabostima te dostupnim dokazima o ulozi automatiziranih laboratorijskih nalaza eGFR u otkrivanju CKD. Točnost i preciznost eGFR su prihvatljivi za većinu odraslih osoba kod kojih su izračunane vrijednosti 60 mL/min/1,73 m2 te kod djece). U ovom se radu također raspravlja o odlukama koje su povezane eGFR, a tiču se kliničkih postupaka, indikacija za upućivanje nef rologu, važnosti standardizacije određivanja kreatinina, te uloge eGFR u odluci o doziranju lijeka. Zaključno, automatizirani laboratorijski nalazi eGFR povećati će rano otkrivanje CKD te omogućiti pravovremeno određivanje odgovarajućih renalno- i kardioprotektivnih terapija, kao i pružiti bolje informacije kod odlučivanja o propisivanju lijekova koji se izlučuju bubregom.Serum creatinine concentration is an unreliable and insensitive marker of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To improve CKD detection, many European and North American laboratories and all Australasian laboratories calculate and report an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula with every request for serum creatinine concentration. The aim of this paper is to provide timely information to Clinical Chemists about the strengths, weaknesses and available evidence for the role of automated laboratory reporting of eGFR in CKD detection. The accu-racy and precision of eGFRs is reasonable in most adults in whom calculated values are 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and children). This paper also discusses eGFR-related decision points for clinical actions, the indications for nephrologist referral, the importance of creatinine assay standardisation and the role of eGFR in drug dose decision-making. In conclusion, automatic laboratory reporting of eGFR will enhance early detection of CKD, allow the timely institution of appropriate reno- and cardioprotective therapies, and better inform decisions regarding the pres-cription of renally excreted medications

Randomised trial of glutamine, selenium, or both, to supplement parenteral nutrition for critically ill patients

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Spatial Dynamics and Expanded Vertical Niche of Blue Sharks in Oceanographic Fronts Reveal Habitat Targets for Conservation

Dramatic population declines among species of pelagic shark as a result of overfishing have been reported, with some species now at a fraction of their historical biomass. Advanced telemetry techniques enable tracking of spatial dynamics and behaviour, providing fundamental information on habitat preferences of threatened species to aid conservation. We tracked movements of the highest pelagic fisheries by-catch species, the blue shark Prionace glauca, in the North-east Atlantic using pop-off satellite-linked archival tags to determine the degree of space use linked to habitat and to examine vertical niche. Overall, blue sharks moved south-west of tagging sites (English Channel; southern Portugal), exhibiting pronounced site fidelity correlated with localized productive frontal areas, with estimated space-use patterns being significantly different from that of random walks. Tracked female sharks displayed behavioural variability in diel depth preferences, both within and between individuals. Diel depth use ranged from normal DVM (nDVM; dawn descent, dusk ascent), to reverse DVM (rDVM; dawn ascent, dusk descent), to behavioural patterns where no diel differences were apparent. Results showed that blue sharks occupy some of the most productive marine zones for extended periods and structure diel activity patterns across multiple spatio-temporal scales in response to particular habitat types. In so doing, sharks occupied an extraordinarily broad vertical depth range for their size (1.0–2.0 m fork length), from the surface into the bathypelagic realm (max. dive depth, 1160 m). The space-use patterns of blue sharks indicated they spend much of the time in areas where pelagic longlining activities are often highest, and in depth zones where these fisheries particularly target other species, which could account for the rapid declines recently reported for blue sharks in many parts of the world's oceans. Our results provide habitat targets for blue shark conservation that may also be relevant to other pelagic species

Precocial juvenile lizards show adult level learning and behavioural flexibility

This project was funded by an ARC Discovery grant (DP130102998) to M.J.W. and R.W.B. and by Macquarie University.In altricial species, young rely on parental care and brain maturation mainly occurs after birth. In precocial species, young are born at a more advanced developmental stage in need of less or no parental care and brain development is mostly completed at the time of birth. We therefore predicted early maturation of learning ability in precocial species. We used a series of visual discrimination and reversal stages to investigate the ability of the precocial eastern blue-tongue lizard, Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, a long-lived Australian lizard species with slow-developing young, to respond to changes in stimulus relevance and test for behavioural flexibility. To test whether age affects learning in this species, we compared juveniles (23–56 days) with adults (sexually mature, at least 2 years). In accordance with our expectations, adults and juveniles performed similarly well in all stages, suggesting that juveniles of this precocial species learn at adult levels from an early age. Both age classes performed well during reversals showing good behavioural flexibility. This is the first study in lizards to directly compare juvenile and adult behavioural flexibility. Importantly, we demonstrate that precocial lizards can begin life with an advanced cognitive ability already in place.In altricial species, young rely on parental care and brain maturation mainly occurs after birth. In precocial species, young are born at a more advanced developmental stage in need of less or no parental care and brain development is mostly completed at the time of birth. We therefore predicted early maturation of learning ability in precocial species. We used a series of visual discrimination and reversal stages to investigate the ability of the precocial eastern blue-tongue lizard, Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, a long-lived Australian lizard species with slow-developing young, to respond to changes in stimulus relevance and test for behavioural flexibility. To test whether age affects learning in this species, we compared juveniles (23–56 days) with adults (sexually mature, at least 2 years). In accordance with our expectations, adults and juveniles performed similarly well in all stages, suggesting that juveniles of this precocial species learn at adult levels from an early age. Both age classes performed well during reversals showing good behavioural flexibility. This is the first study in lizards to directly compare juvenile and adult behavioural flexibility. Importantly, we demonstrate that precocial lizards can begin life with an advanced cognitive ability already in place.In altricial species, young rely on parental care and brain maturation mainly occurs after birth. In precocial species, young are born at a more advanced developmental stage in need of less or no parental care and brain development is mostly completed at the time of birth. We therefore predicted early maturation of learning ability in precocial species. We used a series of visual discrimination and reversal stages to investigate the ability of the precocial eastern blue-tongue lizard, Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, a long-lived Australian lizard species with slow-developing young, to respond to changes in stimulus relevance and test for behavioural flexibility. To test whether age affects learning in this species, we compared juveniles (23–56 days) with adults (sexually mature, at least 2 years). In accordance with our expectations, adults and juveniles performed similarly well in all stages, suggesting that juveniles of this precocial species learn at adult levels from an early age. Both age classes performed well during reversals showing good behavioural flexibility. This is the first study in lizards to directly compare juvenile and adult behavioural flexibility. Importantly, we demonstrate that precocial lizards can begin life with an advanced cognitive ability already in place.In altricial species, young rely on parental care and brain maturation mainly occurs after birth. In precocial species, young are born at a more advanced developmental stage in need of less or no parental care and brain development is mostly completed at the time of birth. We therefore predicted early maturation of learning ability in precocial species. We used a series of visual discrimination and reversal stages to investigate the ability of the precocial eastern blue-tongue lizard, Tiliqua scincoides scincoides, a long-lived Australian lizard species with slow-developing young, to respond to changes in stimulus relevance and test for behavioural flexibility. To test whether age affects learning in this species, we compared juveniles (23–56 days) with adults (sexually mature, at least 2 years). In accordance with our expectations, adults and juveniles performed similarly well in all stages, suggesting that juveniles of this precocial species learn at adult levels from an early age. Both age classes performed well during reversals showing good behavioural flexibility. This is the first study in lizards to directly compare juvenile and adult behavioural flexibility. Importantly, we demonstrate that precocial lizards can begin life with an advanced cognitive ability already in place.PostprintPeer reviewe

Early Contrast Enhancement: a novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging biomarker of pleural malignancy

Introduction: Pleural Malignancy (PM) is often occult on subjective radiological assessment. We sought to define a novel, semi-objective Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) biomarker of PM, targeted to increased tumour microvessel density (MVD) and applicable to minimal pleural thickening. Materials and methods: 60 consecutive patients with suspected PM underwent contrast-enhanced 3-T MRI then pleural biopsy. In 58/60, parietal pleura signal intensity (SI) was measured in multiple regions of interest (ROI) at multiple time-points, generating ROI SI/time curves and Mean SI gradient (MSIG: SI increment/time). The diagnostic performance of Early Contrast Enhancement (ECE; which was defined as a SI peak in at least one ROI at or before 4.5 min) was compared with subjective MRI and Computed Tomography (CT) morphology results. MSIG was correlated against tumour MVD (based on Factor VIII immunostain) in 31 patients with Mesothelioma. Results: 71% (41/58) patients had PM. Pleural thickening was <10 mm in 49/58 (84%). ECE sensitivity was 83% (95% CI 61–94%), specificity 83% (95% CI 68–91%), positive predictive value 68% (95% CI 47–84%), negative predictive value 92% (78–97%). ECE performance was similar or superior to subjective CT and MRI. MSIG correlated with MVD (r = 0.4258, p = .02). Discussion: ECE is a semi-objective, perfusion-based biomarker of PM, measurable in minimal pleural thickening. Further studies are warranted

Merging Photoredox and Nickel Catalysis: Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling of Carboxylic Acids with Vinyl Halides

ABSTRACT: Decarboxylative cross-coupling of alkyl carboxylic acids with vinyl halides has been accomplished through the synergistic merger of photoredox and nickel catalysis. This new methodology has been successfully applied to a variety of α-oxy and α-amino acids, as well as simple hydrocarbon-substituted acids. Diverse vinyl iodides and bromides give rise to vinylation products in high efficiency under mild, operationally simple reaction conditions. A rguably one of the most important developments in synthetic chemistry has been the advent of transitionmetal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

Planning Considerations Related to Collecting and Analyzing Samples of the Martian Soils

The Mars Sample Return (MSR) End-to-End International Science Analysis Group (E2E-iSAG [1]) established scientific objectives associ-ated with Mars returned-sample science that require the return and investigation of one or more soil samples. Soil is defined here as loose, unconsolidated materials with no implication for the presence or absence of or-ganic components. The proposed Mars 2020 (M-2020) rover is likely to collect and cache soil in addition to rock samples [2], which could be followed by future sample retrieval and return missions. Here we discuss key scientific consid-erations for sampling and caching soil samples on the proposed M-2020 rover, as well as the state in which samples would need to be preserved when received by analysts on Earth. We are seeking feedback on these draft plans as input to mission requirement formulation. A related planning exercise on rocks is reported in an accompanying abstract [3]

Critical Phenomena in Neutron Stars I: Linearly Unstable Nonrotating Models

We consider the evolution in full general relativity of a family of linearly unstable isolated spherical neutron stars under the effects of very small, perturbations as induced by the truncation error. Using a simple ideal-fluid equation of state we find that this system exhibits a type-I critical behaviour, thus confirming the conclusions reached by Liebling et al. [1] for rotating magnetized stars. Exploiting the relative simplicity of our system, we are able carry out a more in-depth study providing solid evidences of the criticality of this phenomenon and also to give a simple interpretation of the putative critical solution as a spherical solution with the unstable mode being the fundamental F-mode. Hence for any choice of the polytropic constant, the critical solution will distinguish the set of subcritical models migrating to the stable branch of the models of equilibrium from the set of subcritical models collapsing to a black hole. Finally, we study how the dynamics changes when the numerically perturbation is replaced by a finite-size, resolution independent velocity perturbation and show that in such cases a nearly-critical solution can be changed into either a sub or supercritical. The work reported here also lays the basis for the analysis carried in a companion paper, where the critical behaviour in the the head-on collision of two neutron stars is instead considered [2].Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure