Validation of the performance of the Aquantic 2100A fish counter

This report looks at the validation of the performance of the Logie 2100A fish counter which was carried out at Forge Weir (River Lune) and Gunnislake Fish Pass (River Tamar), using a video recording system

Ultrafast photoinduced charge transport in Pt(II) donor-acceptor assembly bearing naphthalimide electron acceptor and phenothiazine electron donor

Visible light-induced charge transfer dynamics were investigated in a novel transition metal triad acceptor–chromophore–donor, (NDI–phen)Pt(II)(–C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C–Ph–CH2–PTZ)2 (1), designed for photoinduced charge separation using a combination of time-resolved infrared (TRIR) and femtosecond electronic transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. In 1, the electron acceptor is 1,4,5,8-naphthalene diimide (NDI), and the electron donor is phenothiazine (PTZ), and [(phen)Pt(–C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C–Ph–)], where phen is 1,10-phenanthroline, represents the chromophoric core. The first excited state observed in 1 is a 3MLCT/LL′CT, with {Pt(II)–acetylide}-to-phen character. Following that, charge transfer from the phen-anion onto the NDI subunit to form NDI−–phen–[Pt–(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2]+–PTZ2 occurs with a time constant of 2.3 ps. This transition is characterised by appearance of the prominent NDI-anion features in both TRIR and TA spectra. The final step of the charge separation in 1 proceeds with a time constant of [similar]15 ps during which the hole migrates from the [Pt–(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C)2] subunit to one of the PTZ groups. Charge recombination in 1 then occurs with two distinct time constants of 36 ns and 107 ns, corresponding to the back electron transfer to each of the two donor groups; a rather rare occurrence which manifests that the hole in the final charge-separated state is localised on one of the two donor PTZ groups. The assignment of the nature of the excited states and dynamics in 1 was assisted by TRIR investigations of the analogous previously reported ((COOEt)2bpy)Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C–Ph–CH2–PTZ)2 (2), (J. E. McGarrah and R. Eisenberg, Inorg. Chem., 2003, 42, 4355; J. E. McGarrah, J. T. Hupp and S. N. Smirnov, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2009, 113, 6430) as well as (bpy)Pt(C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C–Ph–C7H15)2, which represent the acceptor-free dyad, and the chromophoric core, respectively. Thus, the step-wise formation of the full charge-separated state on the picosecond time scale and charge recombination via tunnelling have been established; and the presence of two distinct charge recombination pathways has been observed

Clonal population expansion of Staphylococcus aureus occurs due to escape from a finite number of intraphagocyte niches

Staphylococcus aureus is a human commensal and also an opportunist pathogen causing life threatening infections. During S. aureus disease, the abscesses that characterise infection can be clonal, whereby a large bacterial population is founded by a single or few organisms. Our previous work has shown that macrophages are responsible for restricting bacterial growth such that a population bottleneck occurs and clonality can emerge. A subset of phagocytes fail to control S. aureus resulting in bacterial division, escape and founding of microabscesses that can seed other host niches. Here we investigate the basis for clonal microabscess formation, using in vitro and in silico models of S. aureus macrophage infection. Macrophages that fail to control S. aureus are characterised by formation of intracellular bacterial masses, followed by cell lysis. High-resolution microscopy reveals that most macrophages had internalised only a single S. aureus, providing a conceptual framework for clonal microabscess generation, which was supported by a stochastic individual-based, mathematical model. Once a threshold of masses was reached, increasing the number of infecting bacteria did not result in greater mass numbers, despite enhanced phagocytosis. This suggests a finite number of permissive, phagocyte niches determined by macrophage associated factors. Increased understanding of the parameters of infection dynamics provides avenues for development of rational control measures

Antiflow of kaons in relativistic heavy ion collisions

We compare relativistic transport model calculations to recent data on the sideward flow of neutral strange K^0_s mesons for Au+Au collisions at 6 AGeV. A soft nuclear equation of state is found to describe very well the positive proton flow data measured in the same experiment. In the absence of kaon potential, the K^0 flow pattern is similar to that of protons. The kaon flow becomes negative if a repulsive kaon potential determined from the impulse approximation is introduced. However, this potential underestimates the data which exhibits larger antiflow. An excellent agreement with the data is obtained when a relativistic scalar-vector kaon potential, that has stronger density dependence, is used. We further find that the transverse momentum dependence of directed and elliptic flow is quite sensitive to the kaon potential in dense matter.Comment: 5 pages, Revtex, 4 figure

Constructing a bridge to multicultural marketplace well-being: a consumer-centered framework for marketer action

As modern societies have become increasingly diverse, we witness elevated tensions between different cultural groups. Through spaces and representations they create, marketers provide interaction for various groups and we argue that marketing science, education and practice can play a transformative role in addressing these tensions. Towards this end, this paper contributes in three areas. First, we examine the structures and mechanisms underlying tensions and argue for a change from current policies of tolerance that merely recognize diversity, to actively seeking a well-being-enhancing multicultural engagement. Second, we provide a conceptual framework, employing a bridge metaphor that identifies the interactive marketplace domains of multicultural engagement (security, visibility, opportunity, utility, competence, and cultural navigability). Third, from the framework, we derive an agenda for actions by marketing academe and practice to support each domain

The lifecycle of powerful AGN outflows

During the course of this conference, much evidence was presented that points to an intimate connection between the energetic outflows driven by AGN and the energy budget and quite possibly also the evolution of their gaseous environments. However, it is still not clear if and how the AGN activity is triggered by the cooling gas, how long the activity lasts for and how these effects give rise to the observed distribution of morphologies of the outflows. In this contribution we concentrate on the high radio luminosity end of the AGN population. While most of the heating of the environmental gas may be due to less luminous and energetic outflows, these more powerful objects have a very profound influence on their surroundings. We will describe a simple model for powerful radio galaxies and radio-loud quasars that explains the dichotomy of their large-scale radio morphologies as well as their radio luminosity function.Comment: 6 pages, contribution to 'Heating vs. coooling in galaxies and galaxy clusters', Garching 2006, proceedings to be published by Springer (ESO Astrophysics Symposia), eds. H. Boehringer, P. Schuecker, G.W. Pratt & A. Finogueno

Constitutive expression and distinct properties of IFN-epsilon protect the female reproductive tract from Zika virus infection

The immunological surveillance factors controlling vulnerability of the female reproductive tract (FRT) to sexually transmitted viral infections are not well understood. Interferon-epsilon (IFNε) is a distinct, immunoregulatory type-I IFN that is constitutively expressed by FRT epithelium and is not induced by pathogens like other antiviral IFNs α, β and λ. We show the necessity of IFNε for Zika Virus (ZIKV) protection by: increased susceptibility of IFNε -/- mice; their “rescue” by intravaginal recombinant IFNε treatment and blockade of protective endogenous IFNε by neutralising antibody. Complementary studies in human FRT cell lines showed IFNε had potent anti-ZIKV activity, associated with transcriptome responses similar to IFNλ but lacking the proinflammatory gene signature of IFNα. IFNε activated STAT1/2 pathways similar to IFNα and λ that were inhibited by ZIKV-encoded non-structural (NS) proteins, but not if IFNε exposure preceded infection. This scenario is provided by the constitutive expression of endogenous IFNε. However, the IFNε expression was not inhibited by ZIKV NS proteins despite their ability to antagonise the expression of IFNβ or λ. Thus, the constitutive expression of IFNε provides cellular resistance to viral strategies of antagonism and maximises the antiviral activity of the FRT. These results show that the unique spatiotemporal properties of IFNε provides an innate immune surveillance network in the FRT that is a significant barrier to viral infection with important implications for prevention and therapy.Rosa C. Coldbeck-Shackley, Ornella Romeo, Sarah Rosli, Linden J. Gearing, Jodee A. Gould, San S. Lim, Kylie H. Van der Hoek, Nicholas S. Eyre, Byron Shue, Sarah A. Robertson, Sonja M. Best, Michelle D. Tate, Paul J. Hertzog, Michael R. Bear

Modelling harmonic generation measurements in solids

Harmonic generation measurements typically make use of the plane wave result when extracting values for the nonlinearity parameter, beta, from experimental measurements. This approach, however, ignores the effects of diffraction, attenuation, and receiver integration which are common features in a typical experiment. Our aim is to determine the importance of these effects when making measurements of beta over different sample dimensions, or using different input frequencies. We describe a three-dimensional numerical model designed to accurately predict the results of a typical experiment, based on a quasi-linear assumption. An experiment is designed to measure the axial variation of the fundamental and second harmonic amplitude components in an ultrasonic beam, and the results are compared with those predicted by the model. The absolute b values are then extracted from the experimental data using both the simulation and the standard plane wave result. A difference is observed between the values returned by the two methods, which varies with axial range and input frequency. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.</p

Fine mapping and identification of serum urate loci in American Indians: The Strong Heart Family Study

While studies have reported genetic loci affecting serum urate (SU) concentrations, few studies have been conducted in minority populations. Our objective for this study was to identify genetic loci regulating SU in a multigenerational family-based cohort of American Indians, the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS). We genotyped 162,718 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 2000 SHFS participants using an Illumina MetaboChip array. A genome-wide association analysis of SU was conducted using measured genotype analysis approach accounting for kinships in SOLAR, and meta-analysis in METAL. Our results showed strong association of SU with rs4481233, rs9998811, rs7696092 and rs13145758 (minor allele frequency (MAF) = 25–44%; P &lt; 3 × 10−14) of solute carrier family 2, member 9 (SLC2A9) and rs41481455, rs2231142 and rs1481012 (MAF = 29%; p &lt; 3 × 10−9) of ATP-binding cassette protein, subfamily G, member 2 (ABCG2). Carriers of G alleles of rs9998811, rs4148155 and rs1481012 and A alleles of rs4481233, rs7696092 and rs13145758 and rs2231142 had lower SU concentrations as compared to non-carriers. Genetic analysis of SU conditional on significant SLC2A9 and ABCG2 SNPs revealed new loci, nucleobindin 1 (NUCB1) and neuronal PAS domain protein 4 (NPAS4) (p &lt;6× 10−6). To identify American Indian-specific SNPs, we conducted targeted sequencing of key regions of SLC2A9. A total of 233 SNPs were identified of which 89 were strongly associated with SU (p &lt; 7.1 × 10−10) and 117 were American Indian specific. Analysis of key SNPs in cohorts of Mexican-mestizos, European, Indian and East Asian ancestries showed replication of common SNPs, including our lead SNPs. Our results demonstrate the association of SU with uric acid transporters in a minority population of American Indians and potential novel associations of SU with neuronal-related genes which warrant further investigation

Conformational dynamics and internal friction in homopolymer globules: equilibrium vs. non-equilibrium simulations

We study the conformational dynamics within homopolymer globules by solvent-implicit Brownian dynamics simulations. A strong dependence of the internal chain dynamics on the Lennard-Jones cohesion strength ε and the globule size N [subscript G] is observed. We find two distinct dynamical regimes: a liquid-like regime (for ε ε[subscript s] with slow internal dynamics. The cohesion strength ε[subscript s] of this freezing transition depends on N G . Equilibrium simulations, where we investigate the diffusional chain dynamics within the globule, are compared with non-equilibrium simulations, where we unfold the globule by pulling the chain ends with prescribed velocity (encompassing low enough velocities so that the linear-response, viscous regime is reached). From both simulation protocols we derive the internal viscosity within the globule. In the liquid-like regime the internal friction increases continuously with ε and scales extensive in N [subscript G] . This suggests an internal friction scenario where the entire chain (or an extensive fraction thereof) takes part in conformational reorganization of the globular structure.American Society for Engineering Education. National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowshi