Analysis and quantification of the benefits of interconnected distribution system operation

In the UK, the Capacity to Customers (C2C) project is underway to determine the potential benefits of increased interconnection in distribution systems, combined with demand side response technology. Managed contracts with customers, i.e., the agreement that certain loads are interruptible following system faults, allows distribution circuits to be loaded beyond the limits presently required for security of supply. This potentially permits load growth but avoids the cost and environmental impact of conventional network reinforcement. This paper provides the results of electrical system modelling to quantify the benefits of the C2C operation, using actual circuit data and typical load distributions. Based upon simulations of these circuits, it is shown that increased interconnection generally leads to minor improvements in electrical losses and system voltage. By connecting managed (i.e., interruptible) loads, circuits typically can be loaded significantly further than the present practice in the UK—an average increase of 66% for radial operation and 74% for interconnected systems

Pulling Out All the Stops: Referee Design and Phonetic Correlates of Gay Men’s English

Studies of intraspeaker variation and the linguistic indexing of sexual identity have formed an important part of recent research in variationist sociolinguistics. This study investigates patterns of word-final stop release in the speech of a flamboyantly gay television host, Graham Norton. The results indicate a significant correlation between the rate of released word-final stops and the sexual orientation of an absent referee, as defined by Bell (1984, 2001), with a higher proportion of released stops for gay-identified referees. We argue that this pattern demonstrates the linguistic indexing of an ingroup identity, which Norton shares with referees who identify as gay. In this way, the variable of word-final stop release can be considered a ‘building block’ (Barrett 2002:33) in the construction of Norton's sexual identity

Low-dose methotrexate: not the hepatotoxic medication we once thought

Methotrexate is a highly efficacious and frequently utilised disease-modifying medication. Concern regarding methotrexate-related hepatotoxicity has impeded the widespread application of the drug, despite a lack of high-quality evidence demonstrating a causal relationship.Methotrexate monitoring guidelines differ across various specialities. A single centre audit (n=150) demonstrated monitoring guidelines are not adhered to in over 2/3rds of patients evaluated, and hepatological concern was a significant cause of methotrexate cessation. Risk factors for alternative causes of liver disease such as Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease were commonplace, and alcohol intake was poorly documented.A large cross-sectional study of 600 individuals attending outpatient rheumatology and dermatology secondary care demonstrated a prevalence of liver fibrosis of 17.5%. There was no significant difference in prevalence between those taking methotrexate, and those who had never been exposed to it. Markers of adiposity; body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass were associated with an elevated FibroScan score. Multiple linear regression demonstrated neither methotrexate prescription nor cumulative dose of methotrexate were significant predictors of liver fibrosis.To our knowledge, this is the largest cohort study evaluating methotrexate use with liver fibrosis. There was no demonstrable relationship between the two. Although at odds with historically published reports, our findings are in keeping with the contemporaneous evidence. It seems likely that hepatotoxicity related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was incorrectly attributed to methotrexate.A survey of 300 patients taking methotrexate reinforced the positive effect it had had on individuals’ lives; 41% of respondents citing it’s advantageous consequences. Four in ten participants reported concerns regarding potential side-effects of methotrexate, demonstrating an apprehension about potential consequences, including hepatotoxicity. This survey suggests that the out-dated concerns relating to methotrexate-related hepatotoxicity are still negatively impacting patients to this day

The fate and management of pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) released in the UK

Imperial Users onl

Experimental Simulation of Volatile Organic Contributions to Planetary Atmospheres and Surfaces

We present the results of a new simulation of the atmospheric entry heating experienced by extraterrestrial dust particles, quantifying their volatile loss into the early Earth atmosphere and characterising their organic volatile components

Knowledge Brokers, Companions, And Navigators: A Qualitative Examination Of Informal Caregivers\u27 Roles In Medical Tourism

Introduction Many studies examining the phenomena of medical tourism have identified health equity issues associated with this global health services practice. However, there is a notable lack of attention in this existing research to the informal care provided by the friends and family members who typically accompany medical tourists abroad. To date, researchers have not examined the care roles filled by informal caregivers travelling with medical tourists. In this article, we fill this gap by examining these informal caregivers and the roles they take on towards supporting medical tourists’ health and wellbeing. Methods We conducted 21 interviews with International Patient Coordinators (IPCs) working at medical tourism hospitals across ten countries. IPCs work closely with informal caregivers as providers of non-medical personal assistance, and can therefore offer broad insight on caregiver roles. The interviews were coded and analyzed thematically. Results Three roles emerged: knowledge broker, companion, and navigator. As knowledge brokers, caregivers facilitate the transfer of information between the medical tourist and formal health care providers as well as other staff members at medical tourism facilities. The companion role involves providing medical tourists with physical and emotional care. Meanwhile, responsibilities associated with handling documents and coordinating often complex journeys are part of the navigation role. Conclusions This is the first study to examine informal caregiving roles in medical tourism. Many of the roles identified are similar to those of conventional informal caregivers while others are specific to the transnational context. We conclude that these roles make informal caregivers an integral part of the larger phenomenon of medical tourism. We further contend that examining the roles taken on by a heretofore-unconsidered medical tourism stakeholder group sheds valuable insight into how this industry operates and that such knowledge is necessary in order to respond to the health equity debates that surround this particular global health services practice

Nutrition Derived Advanced Glycation End Products Are Bio-Social Determinants of Health That Inform on Cancer Disparities

Objectives Through their ability to perpetuate a reactive stroma, the objective was to define the increased nutritional bioavailability of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) as a pro-tumorigenic consequence of interrelated health inequity risk factors that can influence ancestry specific tumor biology. Methods In vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro models were used to define the molecular effects of nutrition associated AGEs on the ancestry specific tumor microenvironment and tumor growth. Results The PI’s work provides the first in vivo evidence supporting an oncogenic role for AGEs. In mouse allograft models, both the chronic consumption of AGEs and pre-treatment with AGE bound peptide (p\u3c 0.0001) increased prostate tumor growth. In spontaneous tumor models, chronic AGE consumption caused rapid disease progression through prostate intra-epithelial neoplasia (p=0.049) to adenocarcinoma and metastatic disease. Mechanistically, AGEs recapitulated a regulatory program of ‘activated’ stroma similar to that observed in African American prostate tumors. Specifically, increased AGE bioavailability caused receptor for AGE (RAGE) dimerization in resident PCa fibroblasts leading to their activation and the downregulation of matrix regulatory proteins leading to rapid tumor progression. Conclusions When social and biological determinants of health are compromised it may increase nutritional exposure to AGEs and perpetuate a vicious cycle of AGE formation, bioavailability, and pathogenicity. As bio-social determinants of health, AGEs may represent informative and/or functional biomarkers that can be utilized across transdisciplinary studies to address the enduring complexities of cancer disparity

The Effects of Higher and Lower CO2 Levels in the Atmosphere on the Photosynthetic Rates and Stomatal Conductance of Malosma laurina in The Santa Monica Mountains

We hypothesize that higher CO2 levels will lead to a change in photosynthetic performance in the Malosma laurina population of the Santa Monica Mountains. We used one Malosma laurina that is across the street from university’s theme tower. We chose this specific plant because it was in the sun and it was in a well irrigated area. We selected a plant that is in non-shaded areas at 12:00 pm and then dark adapt them for 20 minutes. We selected an adult plant that was between four and six feet tall. We took the measurements from the upper leaves of the plant. We measured the photosynthetic rates of the plant, which will be exposed to the unaltered CO2 levels of the natural environment in the Santa Monica Mountains. Then, we used the LICOR (Li- 6400) system to create create three separate environments that we will then impose on the same plant but using different leaves. These simulated environments will have CO2 levels of 280ppm (past atmospheric level of CO2 before the industrial revolution), 400ppm (current atmospheric level of CO2), and 800ppm (expected atmospheric level of CO2 by 2100)

What are the characteristics of an application (or team) which are associated with success or failure of an application to the NIHR HTA programme for research funding?

This article is part of the supplement: Clinical Trials Methodology Conference 2011. <br/

Establishment and operation of a Good Manufacturing Practice-compliant allogeneic Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific cytotoxic cell bank for the treatment of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease

Funded by Wellcome Trust Translational Award SNBTSPeer reviewedPublisher PD