263 research outputs found
Integrated research on sand suppletion as a coastal defence system: application to the Flemish East Coast
An integrated technical research explores a complete synergy of physical scale modelling, numerical simulations and field records in order to validate the potential use of sand suppletion as a coastal defence for the Flemish East coast. Detailed analysis of the rich field data forms an optimum reflective mirror to put the respective design and calculation tools in both a comparative and evaluating framework. Combining all available instruments in an interactive modelling approach leads to an optimum design and a more economic application of beach nourishment techniques in this area
The microbiome of diabetic foot ulcers : a comparison of swab and tissue biopsy wound sampling techniques using 16S rRNA gene sequencing
Background: Health-care professionals need to collect wound samples to identify potential pathogens that contribute to wound infection. Obtaining appropriate samples from diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) where there is a suspicion of infection is of high importance. Paired swabs and tissue biopsies were collected from DFUs and both sampling techniques were compared using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Mean bacterial abundance determined using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was significantly lower in tissue biopsies (p = 0.03). The mean number of reads across all samples was significantly higher in wound swabs X = 32,014) compared to tissue (X = 15,256, p = 0.001). Tissue biopsies exhibited greater overall diversity of bacteria relative to swabs (Shannon’s H diversity p = 0.009). However, based on a presence/ absence analysis of all paired samples, the frequency of occurrence of bacteria from genera of known and potential pathogens was generally higher in wound swabs than tissue biopsies. Multivariate analysis identified significantly different bacterial communities in swabs compared to tissue (p = 0.001). There was minimal correlation between paired wound swabs and tissue biopsies in the number and types of microorganisms. RELATE analysis revealed low concordance between paired DFU swab and tissue biopsy samples (Rho = 0.043, p = 0.34). Conclusions: Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing this study identifies the potential for using less invasive swabs to recover high relative abundances of known and potential pathogen genera from DFUs when compared to the gold standard collection method of tissue biopsy. SOME OF THE SCIENTIC SYMBOLS CAN NOT BE REPRESENTED CORRECTLY IN THE ABSTRACT. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION AND REFER TO THE ORIGINAL PUBLICATION
Discretely guided electromagnetic effective medium
A material comprised of an array of subwavelength coaxial waveguides
decomposes incident electromagnetic waves into spatially discrete wave
components, propagates these components without frequency cut-off, and
reassembles them on the far side of the material. The propagation of these wave
components is fully controlled by the physical properties of the waveguides and
their geometrical distribution in the array. This allows for an exceptional
degree of control over the electromagnetic response of this effective medium,
with numerous potential applications. With the development of nanoscale
subwavelength coaxial waveguides, these applications (including metamaterial
functionality) can be enabled in the visible frequency range
The time resolution of the St. Petersburg paradox
A resolution of the St. Petersburg paradox is presented. In contrast to the
standard resolution, utility is not required. Instead, the time-average
performance of the lottery is computed. The final result can be phrased
mathematically identically to Daniel Bernoulli's resolution, which uses
logarithmic utility, but is derived using a conceptually different argument.
The advantage of the time resolution is the elimination of arbitrary utility
functions.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figur
Relationships between various characterisations of wave tails
One can define several properties of wave equations that correspond to the
absence of tails in their solutions, the most common one by far being Huygens'
principle. Not all of these definitions are equivalent, although they are
sometimes assumed to be. We analyse this issue in detail for linear scalar
waves, establishing some relationships between the various properties. Huygens'
principle is almost always equivalent to the characteristic propagation
property, and in two spacetime dimensions the latter is equivalent to the
zeroth order progressing wave propagation property. Higher order progressing
waves in general do have tails, and do not seem to admit a simple physical
characterisation, but they are nevertheless useful because of their close
association with exactly solvable two-dimensional equations.Comment: Plain TeX, 26 page
Prevalence and occurrence of zoonotic bacterial pathogens in surface waters determined by quantitative PCR
The prevalence and concentrations of Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp. and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) were investigated in surface waters in Brisbane, Australia using quantitative PCR (qPCR) based methodologies. Water samples were collected from Brisbane City Botanic Gardens (CBG) Pond, and two urban tidal creeks (i.e., Oxley Creek and Blunder Creek). Of the 32 water samples collected, 8 (25%), 1 (3%), 9 (28%), 14 (44%), and 15 (47%) were positive for C. jejuni mapA, Salmonella invA, EHEC O157 LPS, EHEC VT1, and EHEC VT2 genes, respectively. The presence/absence of the potential pathogens did not correlate with either E. coli or enterococci concentrations as determined by binary logistic regression. In conclusion, the high prevalence, and concentrations of potential zoonotic pathogens along with the concentrations of one or more fecal indicators in surface water samples indicate a poor level of microbial quality of surface water, and could represent a significant health risk to users. The results from the current study would provide valuable information to the water quality managers in terms of minimizing the risk from pathogens in surface waters
Critical raw materials and the circular economy
This report is a background document used by several European Commission services to prepare the EC report on critical raw materials and the circular economy, a commitment of the European Commission made in its Communication ‘EU action plan for the Circular Economy’. It represents a JRC contribution to the Raw Material Initiative and to the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. It combines the results of several research programmes and activities of the JRC on critical raw materials in a context of circular economy, for which a large team has contributed in terms of data and knowledge developments. Circular use of critical raw materials in the EU is analysed, also taking a sectorial perspective. The following sectors are analysed in more detail: extractive waste, landfills, electric and electronic equipment, batteries, automotive, renewable energy, defence and chemicals and fertilisers. Conclusions and opportunities for further work are also presented
Emergent global oscillations in heterogeneous excitable media: The example of pancreatic beta cells
Using the standard van der Pol-FitzHugh-Nagumo excitable medium model I
demonstrate a novel generic mechanism, diversity, that provokes the emergence
of global oscillations from individually quiescent elements in heterogeneous
excitable media. This mechanism may be operating in the mammalian pancreas,
where excitable beta cells, quiescent when isolated, are found to oscillate
when coupled despite the absence of a pacemaker region.Comment: See home page http://lec.ugr.es/~julya
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