Rapid isolation of malvidin 3-glucoside from red wine by high speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC)

Research Not

Non-Regenerative Multi-Way Relaying: Combining the Gains of Network Coding and Joint Processing

In this paper, we consider a non-regenerative multi-group multi-way relaying scenario in which each group consists of multiple half-duplex nodes. Each node wants to share its data with all other nodes within its group. The transmissions are performed via an intermediate non-regenerative half-duplex multi-antenna relay station, termed RS, which spatially separates the different groups. In our proposal, all nodes simultaneously transmit to RS during a common multiple access phase and RS retransmits linearly processed versions of the received signals back to the nodes during multiple broadcast (BC) phases. We propose a novel transmit strategy which exploits analog network coding (ANC) and efficiently combines spatial transceive processing at RS with joint receive processing at each node over multiple BC phases. A closed-form solution for an ANC aware relay transceive filter is introduced and closed-form solutions for the joint receive processing filters at the nodes are presented. Furthermore, self-interference cancellation and successive interference cancellation are exploited at the nodes to improve the joint receive processing. By numerical results, it is shown that the proposed transmit strategy significantly outperforms existing multi-way strategies

Unsung heroes: who supports social work students on placement?

Since the introduction of the three year degree programme in 2003, social work education has undergone a number of significant changes. The time students spend on placement has been increased to two hundred days, and the range of placement opportunities and the way in which these placements have been configured has significantly diversified. A consistent feature over the years, however, has been the presence of a Practice Educator (PE) who has guided, assessed and taught the student whilst on placement. Unsurprisingly, the role of the PE and the pivotal relationship they have with the student has been explored in the past and features in social work literature. This paper, however, concentrates on a range of other relationships which are of significance in providing support to students on placement. In particular it draws on research to discuss the role of the university contact tutor, the place of the wider team in which the student is sited, and the support offered by family, friends and others. Placements and the work undertaken by PE’s will continue to be integral to the delivery of social work education. It is, however, essential to recognise and value the often over looked role of others in providing support to students on placement

A dynamical model for the penumbral fine structure and the Evershed effect in sunspots

Relying on the assumption that the interchange convection of magnetic flux tubes is the physical cause for the existence of sunspot penumbrae, we propose a model in which the dynamical evolution of a thin magnetic flux tube reproduces the Evershed effect and the penumbral fine structure such as bright and dark filaments and penumbral grains. According to our model, penumbral grains are the manifestation of the footpoints of magnetic flux tubes, along which hot subphotospheric plasma flows upwards with a few km/s. Above the photosphere the hot plasma inside the tube is cooled by radiative losses as it flows horizontally outwards. As long as the flowing plasma is hotter than the surroundings, it constitutes a bright radial filament. The flow confined to a thin elevated channel reaches the temperature equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere and becomes optically thin near the outer edge of the penumbra. Here, the tube has a height of approximately 100 km above the continuum and the flow velocity reaches up to 14 km/s. Such a flow channel can reproduce the observed signatures of the Evershed effect.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ letter

Enhanced Joule Heating in Umbral Dots

We present a study of magnetic profiles of umbral dots (UDs) and its consequences on the Joule heating mechanisms. Hamedivafa (2003) studied Joule heating using vertical component of magnetic field. In this paper UDs magnetic profile has been investigated including the new azimuthal component of magnetic field which might explain the relatively larger enhancement of Joule heating causing more brightness near circumference of UD.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, accepted in Solar Physic

Prevalence and Characteristics Associated with Chronic Noncancer Pain in Suicide Decedents: A National Study

Objective: The aims were to estimate the prevalence of CNCP in suicide decedents, and compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of people who die by suicide (i) with and without a history of CNCP and (ii) among decedents with CNCP who are younger (<65 years) and older (65 + years). Method: We examined all closed cases of intentional deaths in Australia in 2014, utilizing the National Coronial Information System. Results: We identified 2,590 closed cases of intentional deaths in Australia in 2014 in decedents over 18 years of age. CNCP was identified in 14.6% of cases. Decedents with CNCP were more likely to be older, have more mental health and physical health problems, and fewer relationship problems, and were more likely to die by poisoning from drugs, compared with decedents without CNCP. Comparisons of older and younger decedents with CNCP found that compared to younger (<65 years) decedents with CNCP, older decedents (65 + years) were less likely to have mental health problems. Conclusions: This is the first national study to examine the characteristics of suicide deaths with a focus on people with CNCP. Primary care physicians should be aware of the increased risk for suicide in people living with CNCP, and it may be useful for clinicians to screen for CNCP among those presenting with suicidal behaviors

Self-harm and suicide during and after opioid agonist treatment among primary care patients in England: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: The first 4 weeks after initiation and cessation of opioid agonist treatment for opioid dependence are associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and overdose. We aimed to investigate whether the rate of self-harm and suicide among people who were prescribed opioid agonist treatment differs during initiation, cessation, and the remainder of time on and off treatment. METHODS: We did a retrospective cohort study and used health-care records from UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linked to mortality and hospital admission data, for adults (age 18–75 years at cohort entry) who were prescribed opioid agonist treatment at least once in primary care in England between Jan 2, 1998, and Nov 30, 2018. We estimated rates and adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) of hospital admissions for self-harm and death by suicide, comparing time during and after treatment, as well as comparing stable periods of time on treatment with treatment initiation, cessation, and the remaining time off treatment. FINDINGS: Between Jan 2, 1998, and Nov 30, 2018, 8070 patients (5594 [69·3%] men and 2476 [30·7%] women) received 17 004 episodes of opioid agonist treatment over 40 599 person-years. Patients were mostly of White ethnicity (7006 [86·8%] patients). 807 episodes of self-harm (1·99 per 100 person-years) and 46 suicides (0·11 per 100 person-years) occurred during the study period. The overall age-standardised and sex-standardised mortality ratio for suicide was 7·5 times (95% CI 5·5–10·0) higher in the study cohort than in the general population. Opioid agonist treatment was associated with a reduced risk of self-harm (aRR in periods off treatment 1·50 [95% CI 1·21–1·88]), but was not significantly associated with suicide risk (aRR in periods off treatment 1·21 [0·64–2·28]). Risk of self-harm (aRR 2·60 [95% CI 1·83–3·70]) and suicide (4·68 [1·63–13·42]) were both elevated in the first 4 weeks after stopping opioid agonist treatment compared with stable periods on treatment. INTERPRETATION: Stable periods of opioid agonist treatment are associated with reduced risk of self-harm, emphasising the importance of improving retention of patients in treatment. The first month following cessation of opioid agonist treatment is a period of increased risk of suicide and self-harm, during which additional psychosocial support is required. FUNDING: Medical Research Council