A Midsummer Knot's Dream

In this paper, we introduce playing games on shadows of knots. We demonstrate two novel games, namely, To Knot or Not to Knot and Much Ado about Knotting. We also discuss winning strategies for these games on certain families of knot shadows. Finally, we suggest variations of these games for further study.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures. To appear, College Mathematics Journal

Getting on the Same Page: The Importance of IR Documentation

In this panel presentation, the speakers will discuss the importance of documenting workflow and processes when establishing and expanding an IR. The three panelists; one an IR Manager, one a Cataloger, and one a Systems Librarian, will each explore how lack of turnover documentation impacted their work on the IR and each librarian will highlight how they are working to implement a comprehensive and collaborative living document. This documentation will include important IR information including items such as controlled vocabulary choices, metadata harvesting, policies, and more. The panel will open the floor to questions and comments so others will have the opportunity to share and learn

Getting on the Same Page: The Importance of IR Documentation

In this panel presentation, the speakers will discuss the importance of documenting workflow and processes when establishing and expanding an IR. The three panelists; one an IR Manager, one a Cataloger, and one a Systems Librarian, will each explore how lack of turnover documentation impacted their work on the IR and each librarian will highlight how they are working to implement a comprehensive and collaborative living document. This documentation will include important IR information including items such as controlled vocabulary choices, metadata harvesting, policies, and more. The panel will open the floor to questions and comments so others will have the opportunity to share and learn

ContHutch++: Stochastic trace estimation for implicit integral operators

Hutchinson's estimator is a randomized algorithm that computes an $\epsilon$-approximation to the trace of any positive semidefinite matrix using $\mathcal{O}(1/\epsilon^2)$ matrix-vector products. An improvement of Hutchinson's estimator, known as Hutch++, only requires $\mathcal{O}(1/\epsilon)$ matrix-vector products. In this paper, we propose a generalization of Hutch++, which we call ContHutch++, that uses operator-function products to efficiently estimate the trace of any trace-class integral operator. Our ContHutch++ estimates avoid spectral artifacts introduced by discretization and are accompanied by rigorous high-probability error bounds. We use ContHutch++ to derive a new high-order accurate algorithm for quantum density-of-states and also show how it can estimate electromagnetic fields induced by incoherent sources

An exploration of children's centre users' experiences of being a parent and of support for the role

5. Abstract for Paper 1 Provision of support for parents is recommended at an ecological level in order to be effective since many of the problems associated with poor parenting are linked to social disadvantage (Puckering 2009). Sure Start Children’s Centres have developed strength in delivering such holistic support (Barlow et al, 2007). Sure Start Local Programmes were set up in 1998 by the then Labour government as part of its policy to eliminate child poverty. In 2003 Sure Start’s initial focus on disadvantaged areas was changed to a universal Children’s Centre service accessible by families in all areas (Lewis, 2011). Children’s Centres continue to operate a universal service under the current Coalition government, with an emphasis on improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged families (DfE, 2010). Support for parents sits uneasily within a cultural context in which an intensive parenting discourse is linked to undue expectations of parents (Furedi, 2009; Wall, 2010).This study explores Children’s Centre users’ experiences of being a parent and of support for the role and uses IPA to analyse the data. Data were collected initially from a focus group discussion which is analysed and integrated into the main study following a protocol for IPA of focus groups developed by Palmer, Larkin, De Visser and Fadden (2010). Further data were collected from semi structured interviews with a purposive sample of four women with both preschool and secondary aged children. The data were analysed following a protocol for IPA outlined by Smith, Flowers and Larkin (2009). Findings suggest that for these parents ecological support (including community facilities, employment and social support) was important for their functioning as parents. Their level of engagement with an intensive parenting discourse appeared to be linked to their identity and self-actualisation. Implications are drawn for the way in which parenting support is framed within services and the media. Page 63 15. Abstract for Paper 2 This exploratory study is set within the context of a national policy that aims to normalise parent training and increase parenting skills in order to improve children’s life chances (DfE, 2012; Field, 2010). The local context is a city in the South of England where the Incredible Years (IY) parent training programme (Webster-Stratton, 2004) has been delivered since 2009. There is robust evidence of improved parent and child outcomes from the IY (Lindsay et al, 2008). In this city the IY is offered as both a universal and targeted service with participants either self-nominating or being nominated by involved professionals. This study addresses a gap in the research for process studies to illuminate how change came about for parents on the IY (Lindsay et al, 2008). It also builds on research by Miller and Sambell (2003) into how parents perceive parenting support. A 14 week IY programme was attended by the researcher to ensure prolonged engagement with participants. Semi structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of participants during and on completion of the IY course. Semi structured interviews were also conducted following the course with the two facilitators to add another perspective and see how they reflected parents’ experiences. Data were analysed following a procedure for IPA outlined by Smith, Flowers and Larkin (2009). Findings revealed that the group setting was both a challenge to access and a source of peer support. Leader qualities emerged as essential for parental engagement. This was reflected in facilitators’ accounts and underpinned by their nonjudgmental ethos. Within this accepting group setting with approachable leaders parents’ accounts suggest that change had come about for them through experiential learning putting strategies into practice in their own contexts with opportunities to reflect in group discussion. Issues are raised regarding Social Services nominations and constructs around discipline. Implications are drawn for practice and the role of the EP. Further research directions are suggested

Allosteric HIV-1 integrase inhibitors lead to premature degradation of the viral RNA genome and integrase in target cells

ABSTRACT Recent evidence indicates that inhibition of HIV-1 integrase (IN) binding to the viral RNA genome by allosteric integrase inhibitors (ALLINIs) or through mutations within IN yields aberrant particles in which the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) are eccentrically localized outside the capsid lattice. These particles are noninfectious and are blocked at an early reverse transcription stage in target cells. However, the basis of this reverse transcription defect is unknown. Here, we show that the viral RNA genome and IN from ALLINI-treated virions are prematurely degraded in target cells, whereas reverse transcriptase remains active and stably associated with the capsid lattice. The aberrantly shaped cores in ALLINI-treated particles can efficiently saturate and be degraded by a restricting TRIM5 protein, indicating that they are still composed of capsid proteins arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Notably, the fates of viral core components follow a similar pattern in cells infected with eccentric particles generated by mutations within IN that inhibit its binding to the viral RNA genome. We propose that IN-RNA interactions allow packaging of both the viral RNA genome and IN within the protective capsid lattice to ensure subsequent reverse transcription and productive infection in target cells. Conversely, disruption of these interactions by ALLINIs or mutations in IN leads to premature degradation of both the viral RNA genome and IN, as well as the spatial separation of reverse transcriptase from the viral genome during early steps of infection. IMPORTANCE Recent evidence indicates that HIV-1 integrase (IN) plays a key role during particle maturation by binding to the viral RNA genome. Inhibition of IN-RNA interactions yields aberrant particles with the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) eccentrically localized outside the conical capsid lattice. Although these particles contain all of the components necessary for reverse transcription, they are blocked at an early reverse transcription stage in target cells. To explain the basis of this defect, we tracked the fates of multiple viral components in infected cells. Here, we show that the viral RNA genome and IN in eccentric particles are prematurely degraded, whereas reverse transcriptase remains active and stably associated within the capsid lattice. We propose that IN-RNA interactions ensure the packaging of both vRNPs and IN within the protective capsid cores to facilitate subsequent reverse transcription and productive infection in target cells. </jats:p

Fault deformation, seismic amplitude and unsupervised fault facies analysis : Snøhvit Field, Barents Sea

The authors would like to thank the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research for funding this research. Equinor ASA and their partners in the Snøhvit Field, Petoro AS, Total E&P Norge AS, Neptune Energy Norge AS and Dea Norge AS provided the seismic data for this work. We would also like to thank Schlumberger (Petrel), Geoteric (Geoteric) and Badley's (T7) for providing us with academic licenses of their softwares, and for their support.Peer reviewedPostprin

Integrating Community-Based Interventions to Reverse the Convergent TB/HIV Epidemics in Rural South Africa.

The WHO recommends integrating interventions to address the devastating TB/HIV co-epidemics in South Africa, yet integration has been poorly implemented and TB/HIV control efforts need strengthening. Identifying infected individuals is particularly difficult in rural settings. We used mathematical modeling to predict the impact of community-based, integrated TB/HIV case finding and additional control strategies on South Africa's TB/HIV epidemics. We developed a model incorporating TB and HIV transmission to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating TB and HIV interventions in rural South Africa over 10 years. We modeled the impact of a novel screening program that integrates case finding for TB and HIV in the community, comparing it to status quo and recommended TB/HIV control strategies, including GeneXpert, MDR-TB treatment decentralization, improved first-line TB treatment cure rate, isoniazid preventive therapy, and expanded ART. Combining recommended interventions averted 27% of expected TB cases (95% CI 18-40%) 18% HIV (95% CI 13-24%), 60% MDR-TB (95% CI 34-83%), 69% XDR-TB (95% CI 34-90%), and 16% TB/HIV deaths (95% CI 12-29). Supplementing these interventions with annual community-based TB/HIV case finding averted a further 17% of TB cases (44% total; 95% CI 31-56%), 5% HIV (23% total; 95% CI 17-29%), 8% MDR-TB (68% total; 95% CI 40-88%), 4% XDR-TB (73% total; 95% CI 38-91%), and 8% TB/HIV deaths (24% total; 95% CI 16-39%). In addition to increasing screening frequency, we found that improving TB symptom questionnaire sensitivity, second-line TB treatment delays, default before initiating TB treatment or ART, and second-line TB drug efficacy were significantly associated with even greater reductions in TB and HIV cases. TB/HIV epidemics in South Africa were most effectively curtailed by simultaneously implementing interventions that integrated community-based TB/HIV control strategies and targeted drug-resistant TB. Strengthening existing TB and HIV treatment programs is needed to further reduce disease incidence

The impact of seismic interpretation methods on the analysis of faults: a case study from the Snøhvit field, Barents Sea

Five seismic interpretation experiments were conducted on an area of interest containing a fault relay in the Snøhvit field, Barents Sea, Norway, to understand how the interpretation method impacts the analysis of fault and horizon morphologies, fault lengths, and throw. The resulting horizon and fault interpretations from the least and most successful interpretation methods were further analysed to understand their impact on geological modelling and hydrocarbon volume calculation. Generally, the least dense manual interpretation method of horizons (32 inlines and 32 crosslines; 32 ILs × 32 XLs, 400 m) and faults (32 ILs, 400 m) resulted in inaccurate fault and horizon interpretations and underdeveloped relay morphologies and throw, which are inadequate for any detailed geological analysis. The densest fault interpretations (4 ILs, 50 m) and 3D auto-tracked horizons (all ILs and XLs spaced 12.5 m) provided the most detailed interpretations, most developed relay and fault morphologies, and geologically realistic throw distributions. Sparse interpretation grids generate significant issues in the model itself, which make it geologically inaccurate and lead to misunderstanding of the structural evolution of the relay. Despite significant differences between the two models, the calculated in-place petroleum reserves are broadly similar in the least and most dense experiments. However, when considered at field scale, the differences in volumes that are generated by the contrasting interpretation methodologies clearly demonstrate the importance of applying accurate interpretation strategies.publishedVersio

Contribution of Sediment to High Enterococcus Counts Along the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Enumeration of enterococci (EN) bacteria in water is an USEPA approved indicator of fecal pollution and the possible presence of enteric pathogens. Along the northern Gulf of Mexico, the water is shallow with a high organic and particulate load because of the Mississippi River discharge. Disturbance of coastal sediments during wind/wave action caused either by the weather or human activities may increase bacterial counts as a result of increased EN persistence in the water column and/or resuspension of EN in the sediment. The goals of this project are to determine the relationship between organic content and EN counts in the water and whether bacterial resuspension from the sediment contributes to elevated EN counts. We found that EN counts in the water were correlated with wave conditions at seven sites along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. During calm wave conditions, low bacterial levels (1.0 – 227 CFU/100mL) were observed in the water with higher counts in the sediment; the reverse was observed (10 – 351 CFU/100mL) during rough wave conditions. EN counts were positively correlated with organic content of the sediment. Wave activity to keep EN in suspension was apparently critical for high counts. EN counts decreased by 50% in 4 hr from 38 to 17 CFU/100mL in the absence of resuspension and decreased to 1 CFU/100mL after 48 hr. EN in the sediment are not stationary as genetic fingerprinting using REP-PCR showed low persistence of specific isolates over time. Jackknife analysis revealed low similarity among EN isolates from the water and sediment collected on the same day and site during calm wave conditions. This shows that EN are not persisting for long periods in the same area but instead are resuspended and redistributed along the coast. Results from this study provide evidence that high organic content and resuspension of isolates from the sediment during periods of strong wave action contribute to high EN counts. Current research on the survival of EN in estuarine habitats will provide insight on the balance between environmental persistence and fecal pollution in causing high EN counts along beaches in the northern Gulf of Mexico