Multi-loop open string amplitudes and their field theory limit

JHEP is an open-access journal funded by SCOAP3 and licensed under CC BY 4.0This work was supported by STFC (Grant ST/J000469/1, ‘String theory, gauge theory & duality’) and by MIUR (Italy) under contracts 2006020509 004 and 2010YJ2NYW 00

Design and Experimental Validation of a Ducted Counter-rotating Axial-flow Fans System

An experimental study on the design of counter-rotating axial-flow fans was carried out. The fans were designed using an inverse method. In particular, the system is designed to have a pure axial discharge flow. The counter-rotating fans operate in a ducted-flow configuration and the overall performances are measured in a normalized test bench. The rotation rate of each fan is independently controlled. The relative axial spacing between fans can vary from 17% to 310%. The results show that the efficiency is strongly increased compared to a conventional rotor or to a rotor-stator stage. The effects of varying the rotation rates ratio on the overall performances are studied and show that the system has a very flexible use, with a large patch of high efficient operating points in the parameter space. The increase of axial spacing causes only a small decrease of the efficiencyComment: accepted in Journal of Fluid Engineerin

Application of the Wilson-Richmond categorisation tool on three-dimensional facial scans of a population of 12-year old Welsh children

Objective: To determine the reproducibility and reliability of the Wilson-Richmond categorisation tool in the assessment of lip morphology and to demonstrate its use in a 12-year old Welsh population. Setting and Sample Population: 50 subjects age 12 (27 male and 23 female) of Caucasian origin selected from two large comprehensive schools in South Wales (UK) as part of a growth study. Material & Methods: Images of the subjects obtained by laser stereophoto-grammetry were assessed using the Wilson-Richmond categorisation tool in order to evaluate the perioral region from a topographical perspective. Results: The Wilson-Richmond categorisation tool demonstrated high levels (70 -100%) of both intra and inter-examiner reliability. The lower double ver-million border and the philtrum width proved to be the most reliable and re-producible categories (85-100% agreement). The least reliable were the lower vermillion contour and lip-chin shape in both the intra and inter-examiner groups (70 -78% agreement). This study found that some morphological features in this 12-year old Welsh population differed in prevalence compared to previously reported Figure. Conclusion: This study has shown that the Wilson-Richmond categorisation tool is both a reproducible and reliable method of lip morphology assessment. The morphological traits of a 12-year old Welsh population have been reported and further research on this population will highlight the normal morphological changes of the lips associated with growth

An exploratory study of the cost-effectiveness of orthodontic care in seven European countries

This study investigated the orthodontic treatment of 429 consecutive patients [172 male (40.1 per cent) and 257 female (59.9 per cent)] carried out by 10 orthodontic specialist practitioners in seven European countries [two in the Czech Republic (A and B), two in Germany (A and B), Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, and Netherlands, and two in Slovenia (A and B)]. The median age of the patients at the start of treatment was 13.0 years (minimum 7.3 years maximum 50.3 years). The patients had a range of malocclusions and the majority (97 per cent) were treated with upper and lower fixed appliances

In vitro interaction of chronic wound bacteria in biofilms

Objective: To use in vitro biofilm models of wound bacterial isolates and compare the biofilms produced for different combinations of wound bacterial species. Method: In vitro biofilms, generated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus oralis and Micrococcus luteus in microtitre plates and a constant depth film fermentor (CDFF), were studied. The tested isolates all originated from chronic venous leg ulcers. Biofilms of individual and dual combinations of these species were generated in microtitre plate wells at 37°C for 24-96 hours and also in the CDFF for 7 days. The extent of biofilm formation from these systems was then measured using crystal violet staining and/or total viable counts. Results: All the chronic wound bacteria formed biofilms (both individually and in mixed culture) in these models. In mixed species microtitre plate biofilms, both P. aeruginosa and S. aureus appeared to antagonise biofilm formation by S. oralis and M. luteus, with P. aeruginosa completely inhibiting the growth of these organisms. Similar effects were evident in the CDFF model, when all four bacterial species were added simultaneously, with M. luteus being 'out-competed' by the other organisms present and occurring at numbers at the limits of detection; however, there was an apparent increase in the numbers of S. oralis compared with its single culture equivalent. Conclusion: The study highlighted differences in biofilm formation ability for the tested species in both closed and open model systems. Using dual species biofilms, distinct species antagonism was observed with apparent antagonism of pathogenic species over 'commensal' ones. Such a finding provides insight into possible bacterial interactions during development of 'non-healing' wound biofilms

Physical activity interventions and therapeutic exercise in adults with rare neurological disorders: development of a core outcome measure set

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