Object-Oriented Paradigms for Modelling Vascular\ud Tumour Growth: a Case Study

Motivated by a family of related hybrid multiscale models, we have built an object-oriented framework for developing and implementing multiscale models of vascular tumour growth. The models are implemented in our framework as a case study to highlight how object-oriented programming techniques and good object-oriented design may be used effectively to develop hybrid multiscale models of vascular tumour growth. The intention is that this paper will serve as a useful reference for researchers modelling complex biological systems and that these researchers will employ some of the techniques presented herein in their own projects

Influence of surface anisotropy on exchange resonance modes in spherical shells

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IOP Publishing via the DOI in this recordThe dynamical properties of saturated spherical shells are investigated in the exchange-dominated regime when assuming that surface anisotropy is present at both the inner and outer boundaries. It is found that surface anisotropy plays an important role in determining the dependence of lower-order eigenvalues on shell thickness. The mode frequency can increase with decreasing shell thickness, or is driven rapidly towards the ferromagnetic resonance frequency depending on the choice of the surface anisotropy constant at each boundary. The presence of surface anisotropy significantly modifies the size dependence of the modes which can be suppressed or amplified based on the coupling between boundaries. When surface anisotropy is present only on the outer boundary, similar behaviour to the solid sphere is observed for lower-order eigenvalues up to a thickness of after which large deviations begin to occur, where and are the inner and outer radius, respectively. Moreover, surface anisotropy introduces a dependence of the zeroth mode on shell thickness, removing the degeneracy with the ferromagnetic resonance and leading to a pronounced size dependence of this mode for thin shells.The authors acknowledge financial support from the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom, via the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Electromagnetic Metamaterials (Grant No. EP/L015331/1)

Training Forensic Graduate Assistants: A Development Course

We have created a course which is geared towards helping the forensic graduate assistant. The focus of the course is the role of the individual events assistant; however, changes can made to adapt to an assistant who helps with a debate or combined forensics program. A suggested course outline is offered, as well as specific information and activities pertaining to the basic areas of study within the course. Following this, further suggestions and considerations offered

Cavity QED with Single Atoms and Photons

Recent experimental advances in the field of cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) have opened new possibilities for control of atom-photon interactions. A laser with "one and the same atom" demonstrates the theory of laser operation pressed to its conceptual limit. The generation of single photons on demand and the realization of cavity QED with well defined atomic numbers N = 0, 1, 2,... both represent important steps toward realizing diverse protocols in quantum information science. Coherent manipulation of the atomic state via Raman transitions provides a new tool in cavity QED for in situ monitoring and control of the atom-cavity system. All of these achievements share a common point of departure: the regime of strong coupling. It is thus interesting to consider briefly the history of the strong coupling criterion in cavity QED and to trace out the path that research has taken in the pursuit of this goal

Admission to hospital in the UK at a weekend does not influence the prognosis of adults with community-acquired pneumonia

Outcomes for adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) admitted to hospital at the weekend were compared with those admitted during weekdays using data from the British Thoracic Society national CAP audits. Of 31 400 cases, 40.7% were weekend admissions; these patients were older (mean age 72 vs 71.3 years, p=0.001) and more likely to have high severity CAP (28.9% vs 27.1%, p trend 0.003) but had slightly lower adjusted 30-day inpatient mortality (aOR 0.94 95% CI 0.88 to 1.01) compared with those admitted during weekdays. More patients in the weekend group received antibiotics within 4 hours of admission (70.3% vs 68.7%, aOR 1.07 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12). We did not observe increased mortality for adults admitted at the weekend with CAP

Control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia: knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices in Narok district of Kenya

CBPP is an important transboundary disease in sub-Saharan Africa whose control is urgent. Participatory data collection involving 52 focus group discussions in 37 village clusters and key informant interviews, a cross-sectional study involving 232 households and a post-vaccination follow up involving 203 households was carried out in 2006–2007 in Narok South district of Kenya. This was to investigate knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and practices (KAPP) associated with control of CBPP as well as the adverse post-vaccination reactions in animals in order to advice the control policy. The community perceived trans-boundary CBPP threat to their cattle. They had traditional disease coping mechanisms and were conversant with CBPP prevention and control with 49.8% (95%CI: 42.8–56.7%) giving priority to CBPP control. However, 12.9% (95%CI: 9.0–18.1%) of pastoralists had no knowledge of any prevention method and 10.0% (95%CI: 6.5–14.7%) would not know what to do or would do nothing in the event of an outbreak. Although 43.5% (95%CI: 37.1–50.2%) of pastoralists were treating CBPP cases with antimicrobials, 62.5% (95%CI: 52.1–71.7%) of them doubted the effectiveness of the treatments. Pastoralists perceived vaccination to be the solution to CBPP but vaccination was irregular due to unavailability of the vaccine. Vaccination was mainly to control outbreaks rather than preventive and exhibited adverse post-vaccination reactions among 70.4% (95%CI: 63.6–76.5%) of herds and 3.8% (95%CI: 3.5–4.2%) of animals. Consequently, nearly 25.2% (95%CI: 18.5–33.2%) of pastoralists may resist subsequent vaccinations against CBPP. Pastoralists preferred CBPP vaccination at certain times of the year and that it is combined with other vaccinations. In conclusion, pastoralists were not fully aware of the preventive measures and interventions and post-vaccination reactions may discourage subsequent CBPP vaccinations. Consequently there is need for monitoring and management of post vaccination reactions and awareness creation on CBPP prevention and interventions and their merits and demerits. CBPP vaccine was largely unavailable to the pastoralists and the preference of the pastoralists was for vaccination at specified times and vaccine combinations which makes it necessary to avail the vaccine in conformity with the pastoralists preferences. In addition, planning vaccinations should involve pastoralists and neighbouring countries. As the results cannot be generalized, further studies on CBPP control methods and their effectiveness are recommended