Optimizing the Performance of Aerosol Photoacoustic Cells using a Finite Element Model. Part 1: Method Validation and Application to Single-Resonator Multipass Cells

This is the final version. Available on open access from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this recordData access statement: For data related to this paper, please contact Michael I. Cotterell ([email protected]) or Justin M. Langridge ([email protected]).Photoacoustic spectroscopy is the technique-of-choice for non-contact and in situ measurements of light absorption coefficients for aerosols. For most aerosol photoacoustic (PA) detectors, a key process is the amplification of the acoustic pressure wave generated from light absorption through excitation of a pressure eigenmode of a PA cell. To our knowledge, no modelling of the acoustics, sensitivity or signal-to-background ratio (SBR) has been performed for the PA cells applied commonly to aerosol absorption measurements. In this Part 1 manuscript, we develop a finite element method (FEM) framework to simulate the acoustic response and SBR of photoacoustic cells. Furthermore, we validate this modelling framework by comparing FEM predictions of single-resonator PA cells with measurements using a prototype single-resonator cell, the geometry of which can be readily adjusted. Indeed, single-resonator cells are applied commonly to aerosol absorption measurements. We show that our model predicts accurately the trends in acoustic properties with changes to cell geometry. We investigate how common geometric features, used to supress detection of background and noise processes, impact on the SBR of single-resonator PA cells. Such features include using multiple acoustic buffer volumes and tuneable air columns. The FEM model and measurements described in this paper provide the foundation of a companion paper that reports the acoustic properties and optimization of a two-resonator PA cell used commonly in aerosol research.Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)Royal Society of ChemistryAnalytical Chemistry Trust FundNatural Environment Research Council (NERC

Classical potential energy calculations for ApA, CpC, GpG, and UpU. The influence of the bases on RNA subunit conformations

Classical potential energy calculations have been made for the ribodinucleoside monophosphates ApA, CpC, GpG, and UpU. Van der Waal's, electrostatic, and torsional contributions to the energy were calculated, and the energy was minimized with the seven backbone conformational angles as simultaneously variable parameters. At the global minimum, ApA and CpC have conformations like double helical RNA: the angles ω′ and ω are g−g−, the sugar pucker is C3′-endo, and the bases are anti. GpG and UpU, on the other hand, have the ω′,ω angle pair g−t at the global minimum, and for GpG the bases are syn. Energy contour maps for ω′ and ω show two broad, low energy regions for ApA, CpC, and UpU: one is g−g−, and the second encompasses g−t and g+g+ within a single low energy contour. The two regions are connected by a path at 10–13 kcal./mole. For GpG, with bases syn, however, only a small low-energy region at g−t is found. The helical ‘A’ RNA conformation is 8.5 kcal/mole higher for this molecule. Thus, the base composition is shown to influence the conformations adopted by dinucleoside phosphates. Comparison of calculations with experimental data, where available, show good agreement

Breaking Free from Smoking: A Novel Digital Smoking Cessation Intervention for Offenders in UK Prisons

Introduction: The level of smoking cessation support across UK prisons is variable, with most offering pharmacological support, such as nicotine replacement therapy. However, with a complete smoking ban in prisons in England now imminent, additional standardised behavioural support is necessary to help offenders go smoke-free. Aims: This study used the Behaviour Change Wheel to aim to develop the content of an online smoking cessation intervention for offenders, with consideration of their capability, motivation and opportunity for behaviour change. Methods: This was an intervention development study. The Behaviour Change Wheel was used to map cognitive, behavioural, physiological and social targets for the intervention, onto appropriate intervention techniques for inclusion in the smoking cessation programme for offenders. Results: Psychological capability, social opportunity and reflective and automatic motivation were identified through deductive thematic analysis as areas of change required to achieve smoking cessation. A total of 27 behavioural change techniques were chosen for this smoking cessation intervention and were mapped onto the Lifestyle Balance Model which provided the theoretical basis on which the components of the programme are conceptualised. This included strategies around increasing motivation to quit, anticipating smoking triggers, modifying smoking-related thoughts, regulating emotions, managing cravings, replacing smoking and rewarding nicotine abstinence and adopting a healthier lifestyle. Conclusions: Through the utilisation of the Behaviour Change Wheel, the development process of this digital smoking cessation intervention was achieved. Further research is planned to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of this intervention and to explore how the programme is implemented in practice within prison settings

Ricoeur on time: From Husserl to Augustine

The development in Ricoeur’s concept of time did not receive as much attention as his move from eidetic to hermeneutic phenomenology and his  Time and Narrative, with which it coincided. This paper attends to the lacuna, specifically departing from Ricoeur’s Husserlian eidetics and moving towards the influence of Augustine’s discussion of the main aporias of time. Initially, Paul Ricoeur’s philosophic approach can be described as a Husserlian eidetic phenomenology, which influenced the way in which he understood time. This changed somewhat when Ricoeur moved from eidetic to hermeneutic phenomenology. Ricoeur has developed his understanding of the concept of time since his initial writings up to the end of his academic career of 70 years. This article focusses on Ricoeur’s initial eidetic approach in Freedom and Nature and, in more existential terms, in Fallible man, but also focusses on the initial phase of his turn to hermeneutics in Volume 1 of Time and Narrative with his exposition of Augustine’s views on time. His eidetic approach stems from his appreciation for and extension of the work of Husserl, Marcel and Kant, while he also drew much from Heidegger and Gadamer after his hermeneutic turn. His initial arguments on the hermeneutic phenomenology of time flow from Augustine’s discussions of the aporias of time. The later extension of his understanding of time to include emplotment was a logical next step

Mothers’ accounts of the impact on emotional wellbeing of organised peer support in pregnancy and early parenthood: a qualitative study

Background The transition to parenthood is a potentially vulnerable time for mothers’ mental health and approximately 9–21% of women experience depression and/or anxiety at this time. Many more experience sub-clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as stress, low self-esteem and a loss of confidence. Women’s emotional wellbeing is more at risk if they have little social support, a low income, are single parents or have a poor relationship with their partner. Peer support can comprise emotional, affirmational, informational and practical support; evidence of its impact on emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and afterwards is mixed. Methods This was a descriptive qualitative study, informed by phenomenological social psychology, exploring women’s experiences of the impact of organised peer support on their emotional wellbeing during pregnancy and in early parenthood. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken with women who had received peer support provided by ten projects in different parts of England, including both projects offering ‘mental health’ peer support and others offering more broadly-based peer support. The majority of participants were disadvantaged Black and ethnic minority women, including recent migrants. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results 47 mothers were interviewed. Two key themes emerged: (1) ‘mothers’ self-identified emotional needs’, containing the subthemes ‘emotional distress’, ‘stressful circumstances’, ‘lack of social support’, and ‘unwilling to be open with professionals’; and (2) ‘how peer support affects mothers’, containing the subthemes ‘social connection’, ‘being heard’, ‘building confidence’, ‘empowerment’, ‘feeling valued’, ‘reducing stress through practical support’ and ‘the significance of “mental health” peer experiences’. Women described how peer support contributed to reducing their low mood and anxiety by overcoming feelings of isolation, disempowerment and stress, and increasing feelings of self-esteem, self-efficacy and parenting competence. Conclusion One-to-one peer support during pregnancy and after birth can have a number of interrelated positive impacts on the emotional wellbeing of mothers. Peer support is a promising and valued intervention, and may have particular salience for ethnic minority women, those who are recent migrants and women experiencing multiple disadvantages

Phenomenological psychology : theory, research and method/ Landridge

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Towards molecular breeding of barley: Construction of a molecular genetic map

Genetic map construction is an important step towards identifying genes that are responsible for the expression of traits. To achieve this goal a dihaploid mapping population was constructed between the barley parents Tallon and Kaputar. Parents were first screened with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 211 AFLP markers and 33 SSR markers were identified as polymorphic between the parents. Then all of the polymorphic AFLP markers and 24 of the SSR markers were assayed for the whole population. Linkage analysis of the markers revealed seven large and thirteen smaller linkage groups. The seven large linkage groups are assigned to individual barley chromosomes with reference to the published map locations of the SSR markers. The total map covered 1300 cM, which is about the expected size of the barley genome