Rapid and Non-intrusive Measurements of Moisture in Road Constructions Using Passive Microwave Radiometry and GPR – Full Scale Test

AbstractHigh groundwater tables and moisture in road materials strongly reduce the service life of pavements. Two types of non-intrusive instruments have been tested for their potential to detect moisture in road constructions: a passive microwave radiometer (MIRA scanner), and a 900MHz Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR). Measurements were made at the surface of a 2.5 m x 2.5 m x 1.5 m full scale model of an asphalt pavement on a granular road base and a sand subgrade. The model allowed the controlled raising and lowering of the groundwater table. The moisture conditions in the subgrade and road base were monitored in observation wells and using Time Domain Reflectometry sensors for the validation of the non-intrusive measurements. This paper describes the non-intrusive instruments and the test set-up. The response of the instruments to raising the groundwater table in the full scale model is analysed. It is shown that the MIRA scanner is capable of detecting variations in moisture in the upper 0.40 m of the road construction, while the GPR clearly detects the groundwater table at greater depths. An analytical model is presented that is well capable of predicting moisture conditions during the test. Finally, the paper discusses the potential of both non-intrusive instruments in practice

Nurse Practitioner Led Services in Primary Health Care in Rural NSW– Two Case Studies

Background Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are a relatively new advanced nursing role. It was hoped that NPs would reduce some of the challenges facing health care, address workforce shortages and improve access to services for rural populations. The most recent census of Australian NPs showed that just twelve of 208 working NPs were located in primary health care settings. It also showed the majority of NPs were employed in metropolitan areas. Few previous studies describe NP roles in detail, or in rural primary health care settings. Aims This study aims to describe, in detail, the roles of two NPs in rural New South Wales in primary health care settings. One case study focuses on the delivery of an integrated mental health service and the other on leadership in aged care. Methods A case study methodology was employed, using multiple data sources. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews with 31 key stakeholders, the examination of key documentation, and observation of the NPs within these settings. In the first case study, quantitative data were also analysed. Interview data were analysed thematically. Results The case studies offer an in-depth description of why and how these roles were established, what the NPs do and their impact within the context of small rural towns. They illustrate how NPs established intersectoral partnerships, new service delivery models and advocacy regarding the way health care was provided. The case studies also provide valuable information on how to best incorporate NPs into rural primary health care. Conclusion This study details the complexity of two NP roles within rural primary health care settings. The two case studies show that in these settings, NPs are providing leadership, supporting other services, helping to address workforce shortages, improving access to services for rural populations, and therefore demonstrating the positive impact of NPs working in these settings

Profits Over Patriotism: Black Market Crime in World War II Sydney

This thesis examines the multi-faceted phenomenon of black market crime in World War II Sydney. Using previously classified archives, coupled with oral sources and newspaper articles I provide a complete survey of this phenomenon. As a concept the black market was a social construct with a level of stigma attached to offenders that would not exist in peace time. This was moral policing. I begin by discussing the relationship between the geography and morals of the city. Both women and men in Sydney related to the black market differently. I outline and evaluate the official response to the problem. I also examine broader community attitudes in relation to this issue. The research provided here should form the basis for a more comprehensive understanding of white-collar crime and the moral regulation of behaviour

Research Programme to Improve the Utilization of Home-Grown forages in the Netherlands

In The Netherlands a research programme has been initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries to increase the proportion of high-quality home-grown forage in rations for dairy cows. This should result in a more sustainable dairy husbandry by improving the efficiency of utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus from home-grown forages (mainly grass and maize) on farm level. Research disciplines involved are plant breeding, forage harvesting and conservation and nutrition

String Theory, Unification and Quantum Gravity

An overview is given of the way in which the unification program of particle physics has evolved into the proposal of superstring theory as a prime candidate for unifying quantum gravity with the other forces and particles of nature. A key concern with quantum gravity has been the problem of ultraviolet divergences, which is naturally solved in string theory by replacing particles with spatially extended states as the fundamental excitations. String theory turns out, however, to contain many more extended-object states than just strings. Combining all this into an integrated picture, called M-theory, requires recognition of the r\^ole played by a web of nonperturbative duality symmetries suggested by the nonlinear structures of the field-theoretic supergravity limits of string theory.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures, 3 tables; Lectures given at the 6th Aegean Summer School "Quantum Gravity and Quantum Cosmology", Chora, Naxos Island, Greece, 12-17 September 201

Safety of therapy with and withdrawal from denosumab in fibrous dysplasia and McCune-Albright syndrome: an observational study

Denosumab (Dmab) treatment can benefit patients with fibrous dysplasia/McCune-Albright syndrome (FD/MAS) by suppressing the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)-mediated increased bone resorption. However, limited data of two pediatric cases indicate that a rebound phenomenon may occur after withdrawal. Therefore we studied the safety of Dmab discontinuation in FD/MAS. Thirty-seven patients using Dmab, mostly after unsuccessful bisphosphonate (BP) treatment, were included. Health records were screened for pain scores, side effects, and bone turnover markers (BTMs) (calcium, alkaline phosphatase [ALP], procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide [P1NP], and beta-crosslaps [B-CTX, also termed beta-C-terminal telopeptide]) during treatment, and for BTMs and clinical rebound effects after withdrawal. BTM levels after withdrawal were compared to pretreatment values. Data were calculated as median (interquartile range [IQR]). BTMs normalized in two-thirds of patients and pain scores decreased significantly during treatment (p = 0.002). One patient (2.7%) developed osteonecrosis of the jaw. Sixteen patients discontinued Dmab treatment after a median of 1.6 years (IQR 1.0 years) because of insufficient effect on pain (n = 10, 63%), side effects (n = 4, 25%), or other reasons (n = 4, 25%). Follow-up posttreatment was 3.2 (2.8) years, wherein no fractures, pain flares, or lesion progression occurred. Calcium remained normal in all but one patient, who had a mild asymptomatic hypercalcemia (2.73 mmol/L) 5 months after discontinuation. ALP passed pretreatment levels in five of 11 patients (46%), increased most after 6 months by 18 (43) U/L, and returned to baseline levels thereafter. P1NP exceeded pretreatment levels in four of nine patients (44%), CTX in eight of nine patients (89%). P1NP rose most after 3 months and stabilized thereafter. CTX showed the highest relative elevation. Patients with high pretreatment levels responding well to Dmab seemed to have the highest rebound. These results suggest beneficial effects of Dmab on pain and BTMs, and show a biochemical but asymptomatic rebound phenomenon after withdrawal in adults with FD/MAS, mainly in case of high pretreatment levels, good response, and multiple injections. Further studies on the safety of Dmab and withdrawal are needed and ongoing. (c) 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

The Memory-CD8+-T-Cell Response to Conserved Influenza Virus Epitopes in Mice Is Not Influenced by Time Since Previous Infection

To protect older adults against influenza A virus (IAV) infection, innovative strategies are imperative to overcome the decrease in protective immune response with age. One approach involves the boosting of CD8+ T cells at middle age that were previously induced by natural infection. At this stage, the immune system is still fit. Given the high conservation of T-cell epitopes within internal viral proteins, such a response may confer lasting protection against evolving influenza strains at older age, also reducing the high number of influenza immunizations currently required. However, at the time of vaccination, some individuals may have been more recently exposed to IAV than others, which could affect the T-cell response. We therefore investigated the fundamental principle of how the interval between the last infection and booster immunization during middle age influences the CD8+ T-cell response. To model this, female mice were infected at either 6 or 9 months of age and subsequently received a heterosubtypic infection booster at middle age (12 months). Before the booster infection, 6-month-primed mice displayed lower IAV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in the spleen and lung than 9-month-primed mice. Both groups were better protected against the subsequent heterosubtypic booster infection compared to naïve mice. Notably, despite the different CD8+ T-cell levels between the 6-month- and 9-month-primed mice, we observed comparable responses after booster infection, based on IFNγ responses, and IAV-specific T-cell frequencies and repertoire diversity. Lung-derived CD8+ T cells of 6- and 9-month-primed mice expressed similar levels of tissue-resident memory-T-cell markers 30 days post booster infection. These data suggest that the IAV-specific CD8+ T-cell response after boosting is not influenced by the time post priming

Tailored guidance to apply the Estimand framework to Trials within Cohorts (TwiCs) studies

Objective: The estimand framework offers a structured approach to define the treatment effect to be estimated in a clinical study. Defining the estimand upfront helps formulating the research question and informs study design, data collection and statistical analysis methods. Since the Trials within Cohorts (TwiCs) design has unique characteristics, the objective of this study is to describe considerations and provide guidance for formulating estimands for TwiCs studies. Methods: The key attributes of an estimand are the target population, treatments that are compared, the endpoint, intercurrent events and their handling, and the population-level summary measure. The estimand framework was applied retrospectively to two TwiCs studies: the SPONGE and UMBRELLA Fit trial. The aim is to demonstrate how the estimand framework can be implemented in TwiCs studies, thereby focusing on considerations relevant for defining the estimand. Three estimands were defined for both studies. For the SPONGE trial, estimators were derived. Results: Intercurrent events considered to occur exclusively or more frequently in TwiCs studies compared to conventional randomized trials included intervention refusal after randomization, misalignment of timing of routine cohort measurements and the intervention period, and participants in the control arm initiating treatments similar to the studied intervention. Considerations for handling refusal after randomization related to decisions on whether the target population should include all eligible participants or the subpopulation that would accept (or undergo) the intervention when offered. Considerations for handling treatment initiation in the control arm and misalignments of timing related to decisions on whether such events should be considered part of treatment policy or whether interest is in a hypothetical scenario where such events do not occur. Conclusion: The TwiCs study design has unique features that pose specific considerations when formulating an estimand. The examples in this study can provide guidance in the definition of estimands in future TwiCs studies