Developing educational iPhone, Android and Windows smartphone cross-platform apps to facilitate understanding of clinical genomics terminology

No abstract available

Semifluxon molecule under control

Josephson junctions with a phase drop pi in the ground state allow to create vortices of supercurrent carrying only half of the magnetic flux quantum Phi_0~2.07*10^-15 Wb. Such semifluxons have two-fold degenerate ground states denoted up (with flux +Phi_0/2 and supercurrent circulating clockwise) and down (with flux -Phi_0/2 and supercurrent circulating counterclockwise). We investigate a molecule consisting of two coupled semifluxons in a 0-pi-0 long Josephson junction. The fluxes (polarities) of semifluxons are measured by two on-chip SQUIDs. By varying the dc bias current applied to the 0-pi-0 junction, we demonstrate controllable manipulation and switching between two states, up-down and down-up, of a semifluxon molecule. These results provide a major step towards employing semifluxons as bits or qubits for classical and quantum digital electronics

A series of studies to identify the aetiology of aberrant body composition status in cancer and possible methods of body composition manipulation

Host body composition (BC) is associated with outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC). Muscle and fat appear to be crucial in both disease causation and response. The aim of this thesis is to identify and understand the aetiology of deleterious changes in BC; explore the underlying immune dysfunction of the disease and ascertain whether we can arrest the process of muscle dysfunction in CRC. In Chapters 2-5, using our population data, we identify relationships between tumour, environment and host. Visceral obesity (VO) is independently associated with prognostically favourable tumour characteristics whilst myosteatosis is independently associated with an aggressive tumour phenotype and is a strong a predictor of future distant recurrence. The environment and genetic background are implicated; deprivation appears a determinant of sarcopenia and BMI whilst ethnicity determines BC status and inflammatory state. In Chapters 7-9 we identified that dendritic cell (DC) lipid status is dependent on anatomical location and is associated with BC status. Increased intracellular lipid within circulating DC is significantly associated with myosteatosis. Whilst, in response to microbial stimulation, oxidised fat content is significantly increased in DC in healthy controls compared to the CRC population. Fat scavenger receptor CD36 expression is significantly increased in the CRC DC population suggesting DC in CRC fail to respond appropriately to commensal antigens. Finally, to ascertain if we could modulate this response through intervention, we undertook a review of the literature which informed the construction of a randomised trial to identify whether using neuromuscular muscular electrical stimulation (NMES) pre- and post-operatively in rectal cancer patients could alter BC, reduce inflammation and improve outcome. Host BC and the immune response to CRC is influenced by both the tumour and host’s environment. Cellular targets exist which may moderate the immune response. Manipulating host BC by interventions such as NMES may prompt an anti-inflammatory response.Open Acces

Creation and Worldwide Utilisation of New COVID-19 Online Information Hub for Genetics Health Professionals, Patients and Families

The current COVID-19 pandemic has unfortunately resulted in many significant concerns for individuals with genetic disorders and their relatives, regarding the viral infection and, particularly, its specific implications and additional advisable precautions for individuals affected by genetic disorders. To address this, the resulting requirement for guidance and information for the public and for genetics professionals was discussed among colleagues nationally, on the ScotGEN Steering Committee, and internationally on the Education Committee of the European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG). It was agreed that the creation of an online hub of genetics-related COVID-19 information resources would be particularly helpful. The proposed content, divided into a web page for professionals and a page for patients, was discussed with, and approved by, genetics professionals. The hub was created and provided online at www.scotgen.org.uk and linked from the ESHG’s educational website for genetics and genomics, at www.eurogems.org. The new hub provides links, summary information and representative illustrations for a wide range of selected international resources. The resources for professionals include: COVID-19 research related hubs provided by Nature, Science, Frontiers, and PubMed; clinical guidelines; the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control; the World Health Organisation; and molecular data sources including coronavirus 3D protein structures. The resources for patients and families include links to many accessible sources of support and relevant information. Since the launch of the pages, the website has received visits from over 50 countries worldwide. Several genetics consultants have commented on usefulness, clarity, readability, and ease of navigation. Visits have originated most frequently in the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Moldova, United States, Philippines, France, and Qatar. More links have been added since the launch of the hub to include additional international public health and academic resources. In conclusion, an up-to-date online hub has been created and made freely available for healthcare professionals, patients, relatives and the public, providing categorised easily navigated links to a range of worldwide resources related to COVID-19. These pages are receiving a rapidly growing number of return visits and the authors continue to maintain and update the pages’ content, incorporating new developments in this field of enormous worldwide importance

Light Touch Density and Filtering Down: City of Seattle Case Study

Key takeaways:In the City of Seattle, about 12 times as much land is zoned for Single Family (SF) than for Low-Rise Multifamily (LRM).In the mid-1990s, the creation of the LRM zone allowed property owners to use their land more efficiently. As a consequence, many single-family detached homes have been converted to mostly townhomes. This is light-touch density at its best.Since 2000, 18,000 new townhomes units have been built in the LRM zone. As a result, its housing stock increased by about 75% – or about 3% per year. The supply addition in the SF zone from new single-family homes is minimal.The new townhomes are generally starter homes, which has enabled homeownership for lower-income, younger, and more diverse households.Home values in the LRM zone have appreciated at the same rate as home values in the SF zone.Unfortunately, this success is now being derailed by Seattle's Mandatory Housing Affordability (MFA) program.This program will produce a small amount of heavily-subsidized "housing Ferraris" that will be sold to low-income households and destroy the progress LRM zoning has made in expanding  broad-based housing affordability

Effects of unstable stratification on ventilation in Hong Kong

Ventilation in cities is crucial for thewell being of their inhabitants. Therefore, local governments require air ventilation assessments (AVAs) prior to the construction of new buildings. In a standard AVA, however, only neutral stratification is considered, although diabatic and particularly unstable conditions may be observed more frequently in nature. The results presented here indicate significant changes in ventilation within most of the area of Kowloon City, Hong Kong, included in the study. A new definition for calculating ventilation was introduced, and used to compare the influence of buildings on ventilation under conditions of neutral and unstable stratification. The overall ventilation increased due to enhanced vertical mixing. In the vicinity of exposed buildings, however, ventilation was weaker for unstable stratification than for neutral stratification. The influence on ventilation by building parameters, such as the plan area index, was altered when unstable stratification was considered. Consequently, differences in stratification were shown to have marked effects on ventilation estimates, which should be taken into consideration in future AVAs

Gravitational Collapse of Gravitational Waves in 3D Numerical Relativity

We demonstrate that evolutions of three-dimensional, strongly non-linear gravitational waves can be followed in numerical relativity, hence allowing many interesting studies of both fundamental and observational consequences. We study the evolution of time-symmetric, axisymmetric {\it and} non-axisymmetric Brill waves, including waves so strong that they collapse to form black holes under their own self-gravity. The critical amplitude for black hole formation is determined. The gravitational waves emitted in the black hole formation process are compared to those emitted in the head-on collision of two Misner black holes.Comment: 4 page

Meta-analysis of nutrient budgets in organic farms across Europe

Nutrient supply to organic farms is a highly discussed topic in Europe, due to the restricted availability of external fertilizer resources and the use of contentious inputs. To optimize the flow of nutrients throughout the organic farming system, it is firstly necessary to obtain valid data on the nutrient status of organic farms. Nutrient budgets are a valid tool to investigate the nutrient demand or surplus of a system. However, there is currently no comprehensive overview of nutrient budgets of European organic farms. We therefore carried out a meta-analysis on 56 individual studies that reported either farm-gate or soil-surface budgets. The analysis showed an imbalance between nutrients, a general surplus of nitrogen (45 kg N ha-1 year-1 [95%-confidence interval (CI): 30, 61]), magnesium (16 kg Mg ha-1 year-1 [-9, 40]) and sulphur (45 kg S ha-1 year-1 [-29, 118]), a balanced phosphorus budget (0 kg P ha-1 year-1 [-2,2]), and a deficit for potassium (-12 kg K ha-1 year-1 [-21, -3]). We observed large differences between farms that could be partly explained by farm type and budgeting method. Arable and mixed farms showed lower nitrogen, phosphor, magnesium and sulphur budgets than dairy/beef farms or even vegetable farms, while all farm types besides dairy/ beef farms showed deficits for K budgets. Further, farm-gate budget studies yielded higher budgets than soil surface budgets. Variations between studied countries could also be detected, but the coverage and comparability is low due to differences in studied farm types and budgeting method