Prediction of PWR fuel cladding failure strain in a loss-of-coolant accident

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A note on the discovery of stone tools on Erith Island, the Kent Group, Bass Strait

Between Erith and Dover there is what is known among the local fisherman as 'The Swashway', a low spit of pebbles linking the two islands at low tide but covered by broken surf at other times. Overlooking this swashway is a saddle some 40-50m above sea level mantled with deep sand deposits, part of which is now being scoured away by the wind. It was here that the first flake had been found, and we quickly confirmed this find by discovering about a score more flakes and tools mostly heavily wind eroded on the floor of this saddle

Shrub establishment favoured and grass dominance reduced in acid heath grassland systems cleared of invasive Rhododendron ponticum

Abstract Rhododendron ponticum L. is a damaging invasive alien species in Britain, favouring the moist, temperate climate, and the acidic soils of upland areas. It outshades other species and is thought to create a soil environment of low pH that may be higher in phytotoxic phenolic compounds. We investigated native vegetation restoration and R. ponticum regeneration post-clearance using heathland sites within Snowdonia National Park, Wales; one site had existing R. ponticum stands and three were restoring post-clearance. Each site also had an adjacent, uninvaded control for comparison. We assessed whether native vegetation restoration was influenced post-invasion by soil chemical properties, including pH and phytotoxic compounds, using Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) bioassays supported by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MSn). Cleared sites had higher shrub and bare ground cover, and lower grass and herbaceous species cover relative to adjacent uninvaded control sites; regenerating R. ponticum was also observed on all cleared sites. No phenolic compounds associated with R. ponticum were identified in any soil water leachates, and soil leachates from cleared sites had no inhibitory effect in L. sativa germination assays. We therefore conclude that reportedly phytotoxic compounds do not influence restoration post R. ponticum clearance. Soil pH however was lower beneath R. ponticum and on cleared sites, relative to adjacent uninvaded sites. The lower soil pH post-clearance may have favoured shrub species, which are typically tolerant of acidic soils. The higher shrub cover on cleared sites may have greater ecological value than unaffected grass dominated sites, particularly given the recent decline in such valuable heathland habitats. The presence of regenerating R. ponticum on all cleared sites however highlights the critical importance of monitoring and re-treating sites post initial clearance

Prevalence and correlates of psychotic experiences amongst children of depressed parents

Psychotic experiences in young people are substantially more common than psychotic disorders, and are associated with distress and functional impairment. Family history of depression as well as of schizophrenia increases risk for psychotic experiences, but the prevalence of such experiences and their clinical relevance in offspring of depressed parents is unknown. Our objectives were to explore i) the prevalence of psychotic experiences amongst offspring of parents with recurrent unipolar depression and ii) the relationship between psychotic experiences and other psychopathology. Data were drawn from the ‘Early Prediction of Adolescent Depression’ longitudinal study of high-risk offspring (aged 9–17 years at baseline) of 337 parents with recurrent depression. Three assessments were conducted over four years. Psychopathology was assessed using the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment. Seventy-eight percent of families (n=262) had complete data on psychotic experiences at each of the three time points. During the study, 8.4% (n=22; 95% CI 5.0%, 11.8%) of offspring reported psychotic experiences on at least one occasion, and these were associated with psychiatric disorder, specifically mood and disruptive disorders, and suicidal thoughts/behaviour. Psychotic experiences amongst offspring of depressed parents index a range of psychopathology. Further research is needed to examine their clinical significance and long-term consequences

A Control Methodology for Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) in Heat Networks with Distributed Generation

Reducing building energy consumption is important to achieve sustainable development, as a result, there is a need to investigate better energy systems with well-designed management infrastructure. At the Creative Energy Homes, a low-temperature heat network with distributed generation links seven properties. The aim of the system is to investigate the efficiency benefits of low-temperature heating, while at the same time testing the prosumer concept. For homeowners to be prosumers, they can buy and sell heat to a network. This system is the first of its kind, and as a result required bespoke Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS). This paper focuses on the hardware, software, and system operation used as part of project SCENIC (Smart Controlled Energy Networks Integrated in Communities). The project utilises a simple and cheap hardware configuration involving relays, IO boards and RaspberryPi microcomputers. An open-source Building energy Management System (oBeMS) platform is used for monitoring and control

Optineurin links myosin VI to the Golgi complex and is involved in Golgi organization and exocytosis.

Myosin VI plays a role in the maintenance of Golgi morphology and in exocytosis. In a yeast 2-hybrid screen we identified optineurin as a binding partner for myosin VI at the Golgi complex and confirmed this interaction in a range of protein interaction studies. Both proteins colocalize at the Golgi complex and in vesicles at the plasma membrane. When optineurin is depleted from cells using RNA interference, myosin VI is lost from the Golgi complex, the Golgi is fragmented and exocytosis of vesicular stomatitis virus G-protein to the plasma membrane is dramatically reduced. Two further binding partners for optineurin have been identified: huntingtin and Rab8. We show that myosin VI and Rab8 colocalize around the Golgi complex and in vesicles at the plasma membrane and overexpression of constitutively active Rab8-Q67L recruits myosin VI onto Rab8-positive structures. These results show that optineurin links myosin VI to the Golgi complex and plays a central role in Golgi ribbon formation and exocytosis

Association of lameness and mastitis with return-to-service oestrus detection in the dairy cow

© British Veterinary Association 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ. Oestrus detection is an important part of maintaining efficient reproductive performance in dairy herds. Both lameness and mastitis are common diseases of dairy cows that may impact oestrus detection. A set of data from 28 herds identified as having good recording of clinical mastitis and lameness incidents was used for the study. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between disease episodes within 100 days of insemination and changes in the probability of reinsemination at either 18-24 or 19-26 days after an unsuccessful insemination. Population attributable risk was calculated to understand the impact these diseases may have at a herd level. Lameness 0-28 days after the first insemination of the interval decreased the odds of a reinsemination at an appropriate time by approximately 20 per cent. Clinical mastitis 1-28 days prior to the first insemination of the interval increased the odds of reinsemination at the expected time by approximately 20 per cent. The associations were similar for either interservice interval outcome. Population attributable risk suggested that the effect of these diseases on the probability of reinsemination at the expected time at a population level would likely be extremely small

Oropharyngeal swallowing physiology and safety in patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: a consecutive descriptive case series

IntroductionDysphagia occurs in multiple respiratory pathophysiologies, increasing the risk of pulmonary complications secondary to aspiration. Reflux associated aspiration and a dysregulated lung microbiome is implicated in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), but swallowing dysfunction has not been described. We aimed to explore oropharyngeal swallowing in IPF patients, without known swallowing dysfunction.MethodsFourteen consecutive outpatients with a secure diagnosis of IPF were recruited and the 10-item Eating Assessment Tool (Eat 10) used to assess patient perception of swallowing difficulty. Oropharyngeal swallowing was assessed in ten patients using Videofluoroscopy Swallow Studies (VFSS). The studies were rated using validated scales: Penetration-Aspiration Scale (PAS); standardised Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Profile (MBSImP).ResultsEAT-10 scores indicated frank swallowing difficulty in 4/14 patients. Videofluoroscopy Studies showed that 3/10 patients had airway penetration, and one aspirated liquid without a cough response. Median MBSImp for oral impairment was 5, range [3-7] and pharyngeal impairment 4, range [1-14] indicating, overall mild alteration to swallowing physiology.ConclusionWe conclude that people with IPF can show a range of swallowing dysfunction, including aspiration into an unprotected airway. To our knowledge, this is the first report on swallowing physiology and safety in IPF. We believe a proportion of this group may be at risk of aspiration. Further work is indicated to fully explore swallowing in this vulnerable group