Bavinck\u27s The riddle of life (Book Review)

A review of Bavinck, J. H. (2016). The riddle of life (B. Hielma, Trans.). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. 102 pp. $20.00. ISBN 978080287333

Root and Neal\u27s The surprising imagination of C. S. Lewis (Book Review)

A review of Root, J. & Neal, M. (2015). The surprising imagination of C. S. Lewis. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. 270 pp. $34.99. ISBN 978142679510

Solar sail formation flying for deep-space remote sensing

In this paper we consider how 'near' term solar sails can be used in formation above the ecliptic plane to provide platforms for accurate and continuous remote sensing of the polar regions of the Earth. The dynamics of the solar sail elliptical restricted three-body problem (ERTBP) are exploited for formation flying by identifying a family of periodic orbits above the ecliptic plane. Moreover, we find a family of 1 year periodic orbits where each orbit corresponds to a unique solar sail orientation using a numerical continuation method. It is found through a number of example numerical simulations that this family of orbits can be used for solar sail formation flying. Furthermore, it is illustrated numerically that Solar Sails can provide stable formation keeping platforms that are robust to injection errors. In addition practical trajectories that pass close to the Earth and wind onto these periodic orbits above the ecliptic are identified

Ammonia Monitor

Ammonia monitor and method of use are disclosed. A continuous, real-time determination of the concentration of ammonia in an aqueous process stream is possible over a wide dynamic range of concentrations. No reagents are required because pH is controlled by an in-line solid-phase base. Ammonia is selectively transported across a membrane from the process stream to an analytical stream to an analytical stream under pH control. The specific electrical conductance of the analytical stream is measured and used to determine the concentration of ammonia

Understanding students’ motivation towards proactive career behaviours through goal-setting theory and the job demands–resources model

The graduate labour market is highly competitive but little is known about why students vary in their development of employability. This study contributes to the literature by applying goal-setting theory and the job demands–resources model to investigate how motivational processes influence students’ proactive career behaviours. We tested four hypotheses using structural equation modelling and moderation/mediation analysis using a nested model approach; 432 undergraduates from 21 UK universities participated in this cross-sectional study. The results showed that students higher in mastery approach had greater perceived employability mediated by two proactive career behaviours (skill development and network building). Students’ career goal commitment was associated with all four proactive career behaviours (career planning, skill development, career consultation and network building). Students’ academic and employment workloads did not negatively impact their proactive career behaviours. University tutors and career services should therefore encourage students to set challenging career goals that reflect mastery approach

Cryptic species and parallel genetic structuring in Lethrinid fish:Implications for conservation and management in the southwest Indian Ocean

Analysis of genetic variation can provide insights into ecological and evolutionary diversification which, for commercially harvested species, can also be relevant to the implementation of spatial management strategies and sustainability. In comparison with other marine biodiversity hot spots, there has been less genetic research on the fauna of the southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO). This is epitomized by the lack of information for lethrinid fish, which support socioeconomically important fisheries in the region. This study combines comparative phylogeographic and population genetic analyses with ecological niche modeling to investigate historical and contemporary population dynamics of two species of emperor fish (Lethrinus mahsena and Lethrinus harak) across the SWIO. Both species shared similarly shallow phylogeographic patterns and modeled historical (LGM) habitat occupancies. For both species, allele frequency and kinship analyses of microsatellite variation revealed highly significant structure with no clear geographical pattern and nonrandom genetic relatedness among individuals within samples. The genetic patterns for both species indicate recurrent processes within the region that prevent genetic mixing, at least on timescales of interest to fishery managers, and the potential roles of recruitment variability and population isolation are discussed in light of biological and environmental information. This consistency in both historical and recurrent population processes indicates that the use of model species may be valuable in management initiatives with finite resources to predict population structure, at least in cases wherein biogeographic and ecological differences between taxa are minimized. Paradoxically, mtDNA sequencing and microsatellite analysis of samples from the Seychelles revealed a potential cryptic species occurring in sympatry with, and seemingly morphologically identical to, L. mahsena. BLAST results point to the likely misidentification of species and incongruence between voucher specimens, DNA barcodes, and taxonomy within the group, which highlights the utility and necessity of genetic approaches to characterize baseline biodiversity in the region before such model-based methods are employedpublishersversionPeer reviewe

Survey of highly non-Keplerian orbits with low-thrust propulsion

Celestial mechanics has traditionally been concerned with orbital motion under the action of a conservative gravitational potential. In particular, the inverse square gravitational force due to the potential of a uniform, spherical mass leads to a family of conic section orbits, as determined by Isaac Newton, who showed that Kepler‟s laws were derivable from his theory of gravitation. While orbital motion under the action of a conservative gravitational potential leads to an array of problems with often complex and interesting solutions, the addition of non-conservative forces offers new avenues of investigation. In particular, non-conservative forces lead to a rich diversity of problems associated with the existence, stability and control of families of highly non-Keplerian orbits generated by a gravitational potential and a non-conservative force. Highly non-Keplerian orbits can potentially have a broad range of practical applications across a number of different disciplines. This review aims to summarize the combined wealth of literature concerned with the dynamics, stability and control of highly non-Keplerian orbits for various low thrust propulsion devices, and to demonstrate some of these potential applications

Manual therapy directed at the knee or lumbopelvic region does not influence quadriceps spinal reflex excitability

Manual therapies, directed to the knee and lumbopelvic region, have demonstrated the ability to improve neuromuscular quadriceps function in individuals with knee pathology. It remains unknown if manual therapies may alter impaired spinal reflex excitability, thus identifying a potential mechanism in which manual therapy may improve neuromuscular function following knee injury

Core shell lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles with combined docetaxel and molecular targeted therapy for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer

Many prostate cancers relapse after initial chemotherapy treatment. Combining molecular and chemotherapy together with encapsulation of drugs in nanocarriers provides effective drug delivery and toxicity reduction. We developed core shell lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (CSLPHNPs) with poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) core and lipid layer containing docetaxel and clinically used inhibitor of sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) FTY720 (fingolimod). We show for the first time that FTY720 (both free and in CSLPHNPs) re-sensitizes castrate resistant prostate cancer cells and tumors to docetaxel, allowing a four-fold reduction in effective dose. Our CSLPHNPs showed high serum stability and a long shelf life. CSLPHNPs demonstrated a steady uptake by tumor cells, sustained intracellular drug release and in vitro efficacy superior to free therapies. In a mouse model of human prostate cancer, CSLPHNPs showed excellent tumor targeting and significantly lower side effects compared to free drugs, importantly, reversing lymphopenia induced by FTY720. Overall, we demonstrate that nanoparticle encapsulation can improve targeting, provide low off-target toxicity and most importantly reduce FTY720-induced lymphopenia, suggesting its potential use in clinical cancer treatment