Doping a semiconductor to create an unconventional metal

Landau Fermi liquid theory, with its pivotal assertion that electrons in metals can be simply understood as independent particles with effective masses replacing the free electron mass, has been astonishingly successful. This is true despite the Coulomb interactions an electron experiences from the host crystal lattice, its defects, and the other ~1022/cm3 electrons. An important extension to the theory accounts for the behaviour of doped semiconductors1,2. Because little in the vast literature on materials contradicts Fermi liquid theory and its extensions, exceptions have attracted great attention, and they include the high temperature superconductors3, silicon-based field effect transistors which host two-dimensional metals4, and certain rare earth compounds at the threshold of magnetism5-8. The origin of the non-Fermi liquid behaviour in all of these systems remains controversial. Here we report that an entirely different and exceedingly simple class of materials - doped small gap semiconductors near a metal-insulator transition - can also display a non-Fermi liquid state. Remarkably, a modest magnetic field functions as a switch which restores the ordinary disordered Fermi liquid. Our data suggest that we have finally found a physical realization of the only mathematically rigourous route to a non-Fermi liquid, namely the 'undercompensated Kondo effect', where there are too few mobile electrons to compensate for the spins of unpaired electrons localized on impurity atoms9-12.Comment: 17 pages 4 figures supplemental information included with 2 figure

Factors associated with timeliness of post-primary care referral, diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer: population-based, data-linkage study

BACKGROUND: The NHS Cancer Plan for England set waiting time targets for cancer referral (14 days from GP referral to first hospital appointment) and treatment (31 days from diagnosis, 62 days from urgent GP referral). Interim diagnostic intervals can also be calculated. The factors that influence timely post-primary care referral, diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer are not known. METHODS: Northern and Yorkshire Cancer Registry, Hospital Episode Statistics and lung cancer audit data sets were linked. Logistic regression was used to investigate the factors (socioeconomic position, age, sex, histology, co-morbidity, year of diagnosis, stage and performance status (PS)) that may influence the likelihood of referral, diagnosis and treatment within target, for 28 733 lung cancer patients diagnosed in 2006–2010. RESULTS: Late-stage, poor PS and small-cell histology were associated with a higher likelihood of post-primary care referral, diagnosis and treatment within target. Older patients were significantly less likely to receive treatment within the 31-day (odds ratio (OR)=0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69–0.91) and 62-day target (OR=0.80, 95% CI 0.67–0.95) compared with younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients waited longer for treatment and this may be unjustified. Patients who appeared ill were referred, diagnosed and treated more quickly and this ‘sicker quicker’ effect may cancel out system socioeconomic inequalities that might result in longer time intervals for more deprived patients

Physical fitness profile in elite beach handball players of different age categories

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by Edizioni Minerva Medica in Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, available online: https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/sports-med-physical-fitness/article.php?cod=R40Y2020N12A1536# The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to compare anthropometric and fitness variables of high-level beach handball players across under-19 (u-19), under-21 (u-21) and senior male categories, and between male and female senior players; and to test the correlations among those measures. MeThodS: a total of 70 high-level players (53 male of different ages) were evaluated for 5-m acceleration, 15-m sprint, horizontal jump, handgrip strength, specific beach handball throwing velocities, and anthropometric variables. Differences between age groups were tested using anoVa. independent t-test was used to compare fitness variables between male and female elite athletes, and Pearson partial correlation coefficients were calculated between each of the fitness variables using BMI and age as covariates. SPSS Software was used, and the level of significance was set at 95%. reSulTS: The u-21 athletes better performed on horizontal jump and 6-m throw than the u-19 athletes. Senior athletes showed better performance on horizontal jump than U-19 athletes (P≤0.05). Positive correlation was seen for handgrip on dominant and non-dominant hands and 6-m throwing speed, and for handgrip on dominant hand and inflight velocity (P≤0.05). Negative correlations were observed between horizontal jump and 5-m acceleration, and 15-m sprint (P≤0.01 and P≤0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Male athletes better performed than women in all the fitness tests. The study, for the first time, showed physical fitness comparisons between beach handball elite male athletes of different ages and between genders. These are key steps for coaches and athletes and may support future beach handball studies and practice.Published versio

Immune adjuvant effect of V. cholerae O1 derived Proteoliposome coadministered by intranasal route with Vi polysaccharide from Salmonella Typhi

Proteoliposome derived from Vibrio cholerae O1 (PLc) is a nanoscaled structure obtained by detergent extraction process. Intranasal (i.n) administration of PLc was immunogenic at mucosal and systemic level vs. V. cholerae; however the adjuvant potential of this structure for non-cholera antigens has not been proven yet. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of coadministering PLc with the Vi polysaccharide antigen (Poli Vi) of S. Typhi by i.n route. The results showed that Poli Vi coadministered with PLc (PLc+Poli Vi) induce higher IgA response in saliva (p0.05) to that induced in a group of mice immunised by parenteral route with the Cuban anti-typhoid vaccine vax-TyVi®, although this vaccine did not induce mucosal response. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that PLc can be used as mucosal adjuvant to potentiate the immune response against a polysaccharide antigen like Poli Vi

Developing a digital intervention for cancer survivors: an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach

This paper illustrates a rigorous approach to developing digital interventions using an evidence-, theory- and person-based approach. Intervention planning included a rapid scoping review which identified cancer survivors’ needs, including barriers and facilitators to intervention success. Review evidence (N=49 papers) informed the intervention’s Guiding Principles, theory-based behavioural analysis and logic model. The intervention was optimised based on feedback on a prototype intervention through interviews (N=96) with cancer survivors and focus groups with NHS staff and cancer charity workers (N=31). Interviews with cancer survivors highlighted barriers to engagement, such as concerns about physical activity worsening fatigue. Focus groups highlighted concerns about support appointment length and how to support distressed participants. Feedback informed intervention modifications, to maximise acceptability, feasibility and likelihood of behaviour change. Our systematic method for understanding user views enabled us to anticipate and address important barriers to engagement. This methodology may be useful to others developing digital interventions

Timescales of transformational climate change adaptation in sub-Saharan African agriculture

Climate change is projected to constitute a significant threat to food security if no adaptation actions are taken. Transformation of agricultural systems, for example switching crop types or moving out of agriculture, is projected to be necessary in some cases. However, little attention has been paid to the timing of these transformations. Here, we develop a temporal uncertainty framework using the CMIP5 ensemble to assess when and where cultivation of key crops in sub-Saharan Africa becomes unviable. We report potential transformational changes for all major crops during the twenty-first century, as climates shift and areas become unsuitable. For most crops, however, transformation is limited to small pockets (<15% of area), and only for beans, maize and banana is transformation more widespread (â 1/430% area for maize and banana, 60% for beans). We envisage three overlapping adaptation phases to enable projected transformational changes: an incremental adaptation phase focused on improvements to crops and management, a preparatory phase that establishes appropriate policies and enabling environments, and a transformational adaptation phase in which farmers substitute crops, explore alternative livelihoods strategies, or relocate. To best align policies with production triggers for no-regret actions, monitoring capacities to track farming systems as well as climate are needed

Computational Models for Prediction of Yeast Strain Potential for Winemaking from Phenotypic Profiles

Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains from diverse natural habitats harbour a vast amount of phenotypic diversity, driven by interactions between yeast and the respective environment. In grape juice fermentations, strains are exposed to a wide array of biotic and abiotic stressors, which may lead to strain selection and generate naturally arising strain diversity. Certain phenotypes are of particular interest for the winemaking industry and could be identified by screening of large number of different strains. The objective of the present work was to use data mining approaches to identify those phenotypic tests that are most useful to predict a strain's potential for winemaking. We have constituted a S. cerevisiae collection comprising 172 strains of worldwide geographical origins or technological applications. Their phenotype was screened by considering 30 physiological traits that are important from an oenological point of view. Growth in the presence of potassium bisulphite, growth at 40 degrees C, and resistance to ethanol were mostly contributing to strain variability, as shown by the principal component analysis. In the hierarchical clustering of phenotypic profiles the strains isolated from the same wines and vineyards were scattered throughout all clusters, whereas commercial winemaking strains tended to co-cluster. Mann-Whitney test revealed significant associations between phenotypic results and strain's technological application or origin. Naive Bayesian classifier identified 3 of the 30 phenotypic tests of growth in iprodion (0.05 mg/mL), cycloheximide (0.1 mu g/mL) and potassium bisulphite (150 mg/mL) that provided most information for the assignment of a strain to the group of commercial strains. The probability of a strain to be assigned to this group was 27% using the entire phenotypic profile and increased to 95%, when only results from the three tests were considered. Results show the usefulness of computational approaches to simplify strain selection procedures.Ines Mendes and Ricardo Franco-Duarte are recipients of a fellowship from the Portuguese Science Foundation, FCT (SFRH/BD/74798/2010, SFRH/BD/48591/2008, respectively) and Joao Drumonde-Neves is recipient of a fellowship from the Azores government (M3.1.2/F/006/2008 (DRCT)). Financial support was obtained from FEDER funds through the program COMPETE and by national funds through FCT by the projects FCOMP-01-0124-008775 (PTDC/AGR-ALI/103392/2008) and PTDC/AGR-ALI/121062/2010. Lan Umek and Blaz Zupan acknowledge financial support from Slovene Research Agency (P2-0209). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CRP polymorphisms and chronic kidney disease in the third national health and nutrition examination survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>CRP </it>gene polymorphisms are associated with serum C-reactive protein concentrations and may play a role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. We recently reported an association between the gene variant rs2808630 and CKD progression in African Americans with hypertensive kidney disease. This association has not been studied in other ethnic groups.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used data from 5955 participants from Phase 2 of The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1991-1994) to study the association between <it>CRP </it>polymorphisms and CKD prevalence in a population-based sample. The primary outcome was CKD defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min or the presence of albuminuria. Secondary outcomes were the presence of albuminuria (any degree) and continuous eGFR. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the <it>CRP </it>gene, rs2808630, rs1205, rs3093066, rs1417938, rs3093058, and rs1800947, were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>CRP </it>rs2808630 AG compared to the referent AA genotype was associated with CKD in non-Hispanic blacks (n = 1649, 293 of whom had CKD) with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.09 (95% CI 1.65-5.8; p = 0.001). For the secondary outcomes, rs2808630 AG compared to the referent AA genotype was associated with albuminuria with an adjusted OR of 3.07 (95% CI 1.59-5.94; p = 0.002), however not with eGFR. There was no association between the SNPs and CKD, albuminuria or eGFR in non-Hispanic whites or Mexicans Americans.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this cross-sectional study, the 3' flanking <it>CRP </it>gene variant rs2808630 was associated with CKD, mainly through its association with albuminuria in the non-Hispanic blacks. Despite not finding an association with eGFR, our results support our previous study demonstrating an association between <it>CRP </it>gene variant rs2808630 and CKD progression in a longitudinal cohort of African American with hypertensive kidney disease.</p