Study of thermal bubble motion in microchannel

This paper was presented at the 2nd Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2009), which was held at Brunel University, West London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, IPEM, the Italian Union of Thermofluid dynamics, the Process Intensification Network, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group and the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications.The micro capillary pumped loop system (MCPL) is a highly efficient device for heat transfer because the main driving force is a result of thermo-bubbles in micro-channel. In this study, the scaling effect with respect to the dimensional geometry of MCPL was studied for improving the heat transfer performance. The results showed that when a larger heating power was provided by microheater, the growing rate of thermal bubble was faster. Generally speaking, injecting a larger amount of working fluids resulted in faster thermo bubble motion. When the size of channel was scaled down, the nucleation of thermal bubble occurred easily and a positive performance of heat transfer was expected. These findings will be useful to the further optimal design of MCPL.This study is funded by the National Science Council of the Republic of China, Taiwan, under Contract No. NSC- 98-2221-E-197 –018

Wild psychometrics: Evidence for 'general' cognitive performance in wild New Zealand robins, Petroica longipes

In human psychometric testing, individuals' scores in tests of diverse cognitive processes are positively correlated, with a ‘general intelligence’ factor (g) typically accounting for at least 40% of total variance. Individual differences in cognitive ability have been extensively studied in humans, yet they have received far less attention in nonhuman animals. In particular, the development of a test battery suitable for quantifying individual cognitive performance in birds remains in its infancy. Additionally, implementing this approach in the wild, where the ecological significance of cognition can also be explored, presents considerable logistical challenges for most species. We developed a cognitive test battery for wild New Zealand North Island robins. Our battery comprised six tasks based on established measures of avian cognitive performance: a motor task, colour and shape discrimination, reversal learning, spatial memory and inhibitory control. Robins varied greatly in their ability to solve these tasks and we found weakly positive, nonsignificant correlations between most tasks. A principal components analysis of task performances yielded two factors with eigenvalues >1. The first component extracted explained over 34% of the variance in cognitive performance and all six tasks loaded positively on this first component. We show, using randomization tests, that these results are robust. Our results thus suggest that a general cognitive factor, analogous to human g, underpins cognitive performance in wild North Island robins tested in their natural habitat.This research was funded by a Fast-Start grant from the Marsden Fund of the Royal Society of New Zealand (VUW1304) and a Rutherford Foundation New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowship to R.C.S.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.08.00

The role of pharmacists in caring for young people with chronic illness

PURPOSE: To explore the perceived and potential roles of pharmacists in the care of young people aged 10–24 years with chronic illness, through the exemplar of juvenile arthritis, from the perspectives of UK community and hospital pharmacists, health service commissioners, rheumatology health professionals, and lay advocates. METHODS: A sequential mixed methods study design comprises the following: focus groups with community and hospital pharmacists; telephone interviews with pharmacy and rheumatology stakeholders and commissioners; and multidisciplinary group discussions to prioritize roles generated by the first two qualitative phases. RESULTS: The high priority roles for pharmacists, identified by pharmacists and rheumatology staff, were developing generic health care skills among young people; transferring information effectively across care interfaces; building trusting relationships with young people; helping young people to find credible online health information; and the need to develop specialist expertise. Participants identified associated challenges for pharmacists in supporting young people with chronic illness. These challenges included parents collecting prescription refills alone, thus reducing opportunities to engage, and pharmacist isolation from the wider health care team. CONCLUSIONS: This study has led to the identification of specific enhancements to pharmacy services for young people, which have received the endorsement of a wide range of stakeholders. These suggestions could inform the next steps in developing the contribution of community and hospital pharmacy to support young people with chronic illness in the optimal use of their medication

The secret world of shrimps: polarisation vision at its best

Animal vision spans a great range of complexity, with systems evolving to detect variations in optical intensity, distribution, colour, and polarisation. Polarisation vision systems studied to date detect one to four channels of linear polarisation, combining them in opponent pairs to provide intensity-independent operation. Circular polarisation vision has never been seen, and is widely believed to play no part in animal vision. Polarisation is fully measured via Stokes' parameters--obtained by combined linear and circular polarisation measurements. Optimal polarisation vision is the ability to see Stokes' parameters: here we show that the crustacean \emph{Gonodactylus smithii} measures the exact components required. This vision provides optimal contrast-enhancement, and precise determination of polarisation with no confusion-states or neutral-points--significant advantages. We emphasise that linear and circular polarisation vision are not different modalities--both are necessary for optimal polarisation vision, regardless of the presence of strongly linear or circularly polarised features in the animal's environment.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, 2 table

Two-week dietary soy supplementation has an estrogenic effect on normal premenopausal breast.

An association has been reported between consumption of a high soy diet and a low incidence of breast cancer within populations of Southeast Asia. Phytoestrogens present in soy act as partial estrogen agonists or antagonists and can inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro. The effect of 14-day dietary soy supplementation with 60 g (45 mg isoflavones) on the normal breast of 84 premenopausal patients was determined. Serum concentrations of the isoflavanoids, genistein, daidzein, and equol, were raised in patients after soy supplementation (P < or = 0.025). Nipple aspirate (NA) levels of genistein and daidzein were higher than paired serum levels, both before (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively) and after soy supplementation (P < 0.001 and P = 0.049, respectively); however, there was no significant increase in NA isoflavone levels in response to soy. NA levels of apolipoprotein D were significantly lowered and pS2 levels raised in response to soy supplementation (P < or = 0.002), indicative of an estrogenic stimulus. No effect of soy supplementation on breast epithelial cell proliferation, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, apoptosis, mitosis, or Bcl-2 expression was detected. In conclusion, short term dietary soy has a weak estrogenic response on the breast, as measured by nipple aspirate apolipoprotein D and pS2 expression. No antiestrogenic effect of soy on the breast was detected

Desensitization protocol enabling pediatric crossmatch-positive renal transplantation: successful HLA-antibody-incompatible renal transplantation of two highly sensitized children

BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation improves quality of life (QoL) and survival in children requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Sensitization with development of a broad-spectrum of anti-HLA antibodies as a result of previous transplantation or after receiving blood products is an increasing problem. There are no published reports of desensitization protocols in children allowing renal transplantation from HLA-antibody-incompatible living donors. METHODS: We adopted our well-established adult desensitization protocol for this purpose and undertook HLA antibody-incompatible living donor renal transplants in two children: a 14-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy. RESULTS: After 2 and 1.5 years of follow-up, respectively, both patients have stable renal allograft function despite a rise in donor-specific antibodies in one case. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-incompatible transplantation should be considered in selected cases for sensitized children

Prevalence and Predictors of Vitamin D Insufficiency in Children: A Great Britain Population Based Study

Objectives To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) in children In Great Britain. Design A nationally representative cross-sectional study survey of children (1102) aged 4–18 years (999 white, 570 male) living in private households (January 1997–1998). Interventions provided information about dietary habits, physical activity, socio-demographics, and blood sample. Outcome measures were vitamin D insufficiency (<50 nmol/L). Results Vitamin D levels (mean = 62.1 nmol/L, 95%CI 60.4–63.7) were insufficient in 35%, and decreased with age in both sexes (p<0.001). Young People living between 53–59 degrees latitude had lower levels (compared with 50–53 degrees, p = 0.045). Dietary intake and gender had no effect on vitamin D status. A logistic regression model showed increased risk of VDI in the following: adolescents (14–18 years old), odds ratio (OR) = 3.6 (95%CI 1.8–7.2) compared with younger children (4–8 years); non white children (OR = 37 [95%CI 15–90]); blood levels taken December-May (OR = 6.5 [95%CI 4.3–10.1]); on income support (OR = 2.2 [95%CI 1.3–3.9]); not taking vitamin D supplementation (OR = 3.7 [95%CI 1.4–9.8]); being overweight (OR 1.6 [95%CI 1.0–2.5]); <1/2 hour outdoor exercise/day/week (OR = 1.5 [95%CI 1.0–2.3]); watched >2.5 hours of TV/day/week (OR = 1.6[95%CI 1.0–2.4]). Conclusion We confirm a previously under-recognised risk of VDI in adolescents. The marked higher risk for VDI in non-white children suggests they should be targeted in any preventative strategies. The association of higher risk of VDI among children who exercised less outdoors, watched more TV and were overweight highlights potentially modifiable risk factors. Clearer guidelines and an increased awareness especially in adolescents are needed, as there are no recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in older children

Health services research: building capacity to meet the needs of the healthcare system

Health services researchers have an important role to play in helping health care systems around the world provide high quality, affordable services. However, gaps between the best evidence and current practice suggest that researchers need to work in new ways. The production of research that meets the needs and priorities of the health system requires researchers to work in partnership with decision-makers to conduct research and then mobilize the findings. To do this effectively, researchers require a new set of skills that are not conventionally taught as part of doctoral research programmes. In addition to wider contextual changes, researchers need to understand better the needs of decision-makers, for example through short placements in health system decision-making settings. Second, researchers need to learn to accommodate those needs throughout the research process, including identifying research needs; conducting research collaboratively with decision-makers and producing effective research products