Nature of band-gap states in V-doped TiO2 revealed by resonant photoemission

Band-gap states in V-doped TiO2 have been studied by photoemission spectroscopy over a range of photon energies encompassing the Ti 3p and V 3p core thresholds. The states show resonant enhancement at photon energies significantly higher than found for Ti 3d states introduced into TiO2 by oxygen deficiency or alkalimetal adsorbates. This demonstrates that the gap states relate to electrons trapped on dopant V cations rather than host Ti cations

From campus to communities: evaluation of the first UK-based bystander programme for the prevention of domestic violence and abuse in general communities

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author under reasonable request.BACKGROUND: Violence against women and girls is a public health epidemic. Campus-based research has found bystander programmes show promise as effective primary prevention of sexual violence. However, evidence regarding domestic violence and abuse bystander prevention specifically, and in community settings generally, is still in development. Further, research has predominantly emanated from the US. Examining proof of concept in differing cultural contexts is required. This study evaluates the feasibility and potential for effectiveness of a domestic violence and abuse bystander intervention within UK general communities-Active Bystander Communities. METHODS: Participants recruited opportunistically attended a three-session programme facilitated by experts in the field. Programme feasibility was measured using participant attendance and feedback across nine learning objectives. Myth acceptance, bystander efficacy, behavioural intent and bystander behaviours were assessed using validated scales at baseline, post-intervention, and four-month follow-up. Results were examined for potential backlash. Analyses used a paired sample t-test and effect size was quantified with Cohen's d. RESULTS: 58/70 participants attended all programme sessions. Participant feedback consistently rated the programme highly and significant change (p ≤ 0·001) was observed in the desired direction across behavioural intent, bystander efficacy, and myth acceptance scores at post and follow-up. Effect size was generally large and, with the exception of Perception of Peer Myth Acceptance, improved at follow-up. Backlash was minimal. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first UK-based study to examine the potential of bystander intervention as a community-level intervention for domestic violence and abuse. Findings are promising and indicate the translatability of the bystander approach to domestic violence and abuse prevention as well as community contexts. This is likely to be of great interest to policymakers and may help shape future community-based interventions. Further research is now needed using experimental designs engaging diverse community audiences.Bristol City Counci

Impact of wild-type and genetically modified Pseudomonas fluorescens on soil enzyme activities and microbial population structure in the rhizosphere of pea

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com. Copyright Blackwell Publishing DOI : 10.1046/j.1365-294x.1998.00367.xThe aim of this work was to determine the impact of wild type along with functionally and non-functionally modified Pseudomonas fluorescens strains in the rhizosphere. The wild type F113 strain carried a gene encoding the production of the antibiotic 2,4 diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) useful in plant disease control, and was marked with a lacZY gene cassette. The first modified strain was a functional modification of strain F113 with repressed production of DAPG, creating the DAPG negative strain F113 G22. The second paired comparison was a non-functional modification of wild type (unmarked) strain SBW25, constructed to carry marker genes only, creating strain SBW25 EeZY-6KX. Significant perturbations were found in the indigenous bacterial population structure, with the F113, (DAPG+) strain causing a shift towards slower growing colonies (K strategists) compared with the non-antibiotic producing derivative (F113 G22) and the SBW25 strains. The DAPG+ strain also significantly reduced, in comparison with the other inocula, the total Pseudomonas populations but did not affect the total microbial populations. The survival of F113 and F113 G22 were an order of magnitude lower than the SBW 25 strains. The DAPG+ strain caused a significant decrease in the shoot to root ratio in comparison to the control and other inoculants, indicating plant stress. F113 increased soil alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase and aryl sulphatase activities compared to the other inocula, which themselves reduced the same enzyme activities compared to the control. In contrast to this, the -glucosidase, -galactosidase and N-acetyl glucosaminidase activities decreased with the inoculation of the DAPG+ strain. These results indicate that soil enzymes are sensitive to the impact of GMM inoculation.Peer reviewe

Modulation transfer function obtained from image structures

A new and relatively simple method for edge gradient analysis (EGA) has been developed to determine the modulation transfer function (MTF) of photogrammetrical systems. The MTF can be calculated as the ratio of the amplitude of those frequencies present in the original edge to the amplitude of the same frequency in the scanned edge image. Thus a differentiation of the edge scan - as usually implemented - is not necessary. In order to avoid a division by zero we multiplied the edge images by the so called Hanning function before performing the Fourier analysis. From the point of noise sensitivity the method using a Hanning window is advantageous in comparison to the edge differentiation method. The edge gradient analysis method and the grating pattern method are compared. Artificial edge, natural roof edge, and grating patterns were used to determine the quality of the photogrammetrical system. Good agreement of all MTF measurements was found. Furthermore, the resolution found from MTF curves agreed well with the resolution obtained from threebar targets. Generally, the MTF curves obtained from patterns in the flight direction were lower than the MTF's perpendicular to the flight direction due to airplane movement. The influence of linear image motion and its compensation was examined and is discussed. Furthermore, the longitudinal motion of the object as defect of focus is studied analytically and experimentally for a close range

The challenges of developing and implementing a bystander intervention for the prevention of domestic violence and abuse in communities

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Policy Press via the DOI in this record.Bystander intervention is showing promise as a strategy for violence reduction. Following successful preliminary evaluation of The Intervention Initiative (TII), a bystander programme for universities, a Public Health department in a local authority commissioned a DVA-specific version of TII for communities which became Active Bystander Communities (ABC). This paper documents, in narrative and reflexive form, the challenges and complexities faced by the research team and practitioners in translating TII into a new context for a new audience. We review findings from research, document the theoretical rationale underpinning the new programme, and its content and adherence to effective prevention criteria. We discuss the community readiness model and results of our engagement with a wider practitioner base and how feedback informed further programme development. We document the importance of the intersect and interplay of academic work with practitioner ‘real world’ realities. We discuss two fundamental theoretical issues: the meaning of ‘communities’ in this context, and the safety of interventions expressing social disapproval of problematic male behaviour to perpetrators designed to shift social norms. Government cuts have affected the structures and the staffing required to pilot the intervention in communities. Further research into effectiveness of the intervention and barriers to implementation is needed.Bristol City Counci

A Rapid Screening Analysis of Antioxidant Compounds in Native Australian Food Plants Using Multiplexed Detection with Active Flow Technology Columns.

Conventional techniques for identifying antioxidant and phenolic compounds in native Australian food plants are laborious and time-consuming. Here, we present a multiplexed detection technique that reduces analysis time without compromising separation performance. This technique is achieved using Active Flow Technology-Parallel Segmented Flow (AFT-PSF) columns. Extracts from cinnamon myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia) and lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) leaves were analysed via multiplexed detection using an AFT-PSF column with underivatised UV-VIS, mass spectroscopy (MS), and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(•)) derivatisation for antioxidants as detection methods. A number of antioxidant compounds were detected in the extracts of each leaf extract

An alternative approach to using LiDAR remote sensing data to predict stem diameter distributions across a temperate forest landscape

© 2017 by the authors. We apply a spatially-implicit, allometry-based modelling approach to predict stem diameter distributions (SDDs) from low density airborne LiDAR data in a heterogeneous, temperate forest in Ontario, Canada. Using a recently published algorithm that relates the density, size, and species of individual trees to the height distribution of first returns, we estimated parameters that succinctly describe SDDs that are most consistent with each 0.25-ha LiDAR tile across a 30,000 ha forest landscape. Tests with independent validation plots showed that the diameter distribution of stems was predicted with reasonable accuracy in most cases (half of validation plots had R2 ≥ 0.75, and another 23% had 0.5 ≤ R2 < 0.75). The predicted frequency of larger stems was much better than that of small stems (8 ≤ x < 11 cm diameter), particularly small conifers. We used the predicted SDDs to calculate aboveground carbon density (ACD; RMSE = 21.4 Mg C/ha), quadratic mean diameter (RMSE = 3.64 cm), basal area (RMSE = 6.99 m2/ha) and stem number (RMSE = 272 stems/ha). The accuracy of our predictions compared favorably with previous studies that have generally been undertaken in simpler conifer-dominated forest types. We demonstrate the utility of our results to spatial forest management planning by mapping SDDs, the proportion of broadleaves, and ACD at a 0.25 ha resolution

Functional analysis of altered Tenascin isoform expression in breast cancer

Background: Cellular interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) control many aspects of cell function. The complex ECM protein Tenascin-C (TN), which exists as multiple isoforms, is upregulated in breast cancer. We previously have identified a change in the TN isoform profile in breast cancer, with detection of two additional isoforms — TN16 and TN14/16 — not seen in normal breast [1]. The purpose of this study was to investigate directly the effects of these tumour-associated TNC isoforms on breast cancer cell behaviour

Ultrasonic NDE of Green-State Ceramics by Focused Through-Transmission

Reliable NDE techniques for green-state (unfired) ceramics are needed (1) to evaluate ceramic powder processing and compaction methods and (2) to screen out defective ceramic components prior to the costly densification process. Past work in the application of ultrasonic NDE to green-state ceramics has been hampered by the lack of an efficient yet safe means to obtain ultrasonic coupling, since conventional coupling fluids (water, gels, oils, etc.) have a detrimental effect on fragile green-state materials. In early work, direct contact pressure was used to obtain dry coupling between transducer and specimen [1]. This approach was later improved upon by placing an elastomer membrane between the transducer and specimen; this method provided efficient coupling at significantly lower contact pressures [2]. In the study presented here, an acoustically transparent plastic membrane was held against the ceramic specimen by atmospheric pressure [3]. The advantage of this technique is that it allows the use of ultrasonic immersion techniques as well as contact transducers