3,498 research outputs found
Three Distinct Roles for Notch in Drosophila R7 Photoreceptor Specification
During specification of the R7 photoreceptor in the <I>Drosophila</I> eye, activation of Notch signaling leads to multiple responses within the cell, including antagonistic ones
Trapped ions in optical lattices for probing oscillator chain models
We show that a chain of trapped ions embedded in microtraps generated by an
optical lattice can be used to study oscillator models related to dry friction
and energy transport. Numerical calculations with realistic experimental
parameters demonstrate that both static and dynamic properties of the ion chain
change significantly as the optical lattice power is varied. Finally, we lay
out an experimental scheme to use the spin degree of freedom to probe the phase
space structure and quantum critical behavior of the ion chain
Does pre-COVID impulsive behaviour predict adherence to hygiene and social distancing measures in youths following the COVID-19 pandemic onset? Evidence from a South African longitudinal study
BACKGROUND:
Engagement in protective behaviours relating to the COVID-19 pandemic has been proposed to be key to infection control. This is particularly the case for youths as key drivers of infections. A range of factors influencing adherence have been identified, including impulsivity and risk taking. We assessed the association between pre-COVID impulsivity levels and engagement in preventative measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a longitudinal South African sample, in order to inform future pandemic planning.
METHODS:
Data were collected from Nâ=â214 youths (mean age at baseline: Mâ=â17.81 (SDâ=â.71), 55.6% female) living in a South African peri-urban settlement characterised by high poverty and deprivation. Baseline assessments were taken in 2018/19 and the COVID follow-up was conducted in JuneâOctober 2020 via remote data collection. Impulsivity was assessed using the Balloon Analogue Task (BART), while hygiene and social distancing behaviours were captured through self-report. Stepwise hierarchical regression analyses were performed to estimate effects of impulsivity on measure adherence.
RESULTS:
Self-rated engagement in hygiene behaviours was high (67.1â86.1% âmost of the timeâ, except for âcoughing/sneezing into oneâs elbowâ at 33.3%), while engagement in social distancing behaviours varied (22.4â57.8% âmost of the timeâ). Higher impulsivity predicted lower levels of hygiene (ÎČâ=â.14, pâ=â.041) but not social distancing behaviours (ÎČâ=ââ.02, pâ=â.82). This association was retained when controlling for a range of demographic and COVID-related factors (ÎČâ=â.14, pâ=â.047) and was slightly reduced when including the effects of a life-skills interventions on hygiene behaviour (ÎČâ=ââ.13, pâ=â.073).
CONCLUSIONS:
Our data indicate that impulsivity may predict adolescent engagement in hygiene behaviours post COVID-19 pandemic onset in a high risk, sub-Saharan African setting, albeit with a small effect size. For future pandemics, it is important to understand predictors of engagement, particularly in the context of adversity, where adherence may be challenging. Limitations include a small sample size and potential measure shortcomings
Comprehensive analysis of common mitochondrial DNA variants and colorectal cancer risk.
Several lines of evidence implicate mitochondrial dysfunction in the development of cancer. To test the hypothesis that common mtDNA variation influences the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), we genotyped 132 tagging mtDNA variants in a sample of 2854 CRC cases and 2822 controls. The variants examined capture approximately 80% of mtDNA common variation (excluding the hypervariable D-loop). We first tested for single marker associations; the strongest association detected was with A5657G (P=0.06). Overall the distribution of association P-values was consistent with a null distribution. Next, we classified individuals into the nine common European haplogroups and compared their distribution in cases and controls. This analysis also provided no evidence of an association between mitochondrial variation and CRC risk. In conclusion, our results provide little evidence that mitochondrial genetic background plays a role in modifying an individual's risk of developing CRC
Oxygen uptake efficiency slope is not a valid submaximal measure of aerobic capacity in paediatric cystic fibrosis patients
Conference poster displayed at the Clinical Trials Symposium, RD&E Exeter, 5/11/15
Nonlinearity and disorder: Classification and stability of nonlinear impurity modes
We study the effects produced by competition of two physical mechanisms of
energy localization in inhomogeneous nonlinear systems. As an example, we
analyze spatially localized modes supported by a nonlinear impurity in the
generalized nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation and describe three types of
nonlinear impurity modes --- one- and two-hump symmetric localized modes and
asymmetric localized modes --- for both focusing and defocusing nonlinearity
and two different (attractive or repulsive) types of impurity. We obtain an
analytical stability criterion for the nonlinear localized modes and consider
the case of a power-law nonlinearity in detail. We discuss several scenarios of
the instability-induced dynamics of the nonlinear impurity modes, including the
mode decay or switching to a new stable state, and collapse at the impurity
site.Comment: 18 pages, 22 figure
An evaluation of metal removal during wastewater treatment: The potential to achieve more stringent final effluent standards
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2011 Taylor & Francis.Metals are of particular importance in relation to water quality, and concern regarding the impact of these contaminants on biodiversity is being encapsulated within the latest water-related legislation such as the Water Framework Directive in Europe and criteria revisions to the Clean Water Act in the United States. This review undertakes an evaluation of the potential of 2-stage wastewater treatment consisting of primary sedimentation and biological treatment in the form of activated sludge processes, to meet more stringent discharge consents that are likely to be introduced as a consequence. The legislation, sources of metals, and mechanisms responsible for their removal are discussed, to elucidate possible pathways by which the performance of conventional processes may be optimized or enhanced. Improvements in effluent quality, achievable by reducing concentrations of suspended solids or biochemical oxygen demand, may also reduce metal concentrations although meeting possible requirements for the removal of copper my be challenging
Resonant nonlinear magneto-optical effects in atoms
In this article, we review the history, current status, physical mechanisms,
experimental methods, and applications of nonlinear magneto-optical effects in
atomic vapors. We begin by describing the pioneering work of Macaluso and
Corbino over a century ago on linear magneto-optical effects (in which the
properties of the medium do not depend on the light power) in the vicinity of
atomic resonances, and contrast these effects with various nonlinear
magneto-optical phenomena that have been studied both theoretically and
experimentally since the late 1960s. In recent years, the field of nonlinear
magneto-optics has experienced a revival of interest that has led to a number
of developments, including the observation of ultra-narrow (1-Hz)
magneto-optical resonances, applications in sensitive magnetometry, nonlinear
magneto-optical tomography, and the possibility of a search for parity- and
time-reversal-invariance violation in atoms.Comment: 51 pages, 23 figures, to appear in Rev. Mod. Phys. in Oct. 2002,
Figure added, typos corrected, text edited for clarit
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