The Fog of War: Large-Scale Smoke Screening Operations of First Canadian Army in Northwest Europe

Smoke screens have been employed in sea and land warfare for many centuries for a variety of purposes. They have been used to conceal troop movements, to deceive the enemy as to combat strengths, point of attack, and preparations for offensive operations. During the Second World War all armies made use of smoke screns in their operations to a greater or lesser extent. Canada was no exception and was considered to be extremely innovative in the use of smoke equipment in ways for which it was not designed. The First Canadian Army first employed large-scale non-artillery-projected smoke screens during the campaign in Northwest Europe. For the first time, at least in the history of Canadian operations, units of trained specialists worked to lay down smoke screens in the field

Simulation of seismic events induced by CO2 injection at In Salah, Algeria

Date of Acceptance: 18/06/2015 Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the operators of the In Salah JV and JIP, BP, Statoil and Sonatrach, for providing the data shown in this paper, and for giving permission to publish. Midland Valley Exploration are thanked for the use of their Move software for geomechanical restoration. JPV is a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Early Career Research Fellow (Grant NE/I021497/1) and ALS is funded by a NERC Partnership Research Grant (Grant NE/I010904).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Ion currents, action potentials and noradrenergic responses in rat pulmonary vein and left atrial cardiomyocytes

The electrophysiological properties of pulmonary vein (PV)-cardiomyocytes, and their responses to the sympathetic neurotransmitter, noradrenaline (NA), are thought to differ from those of the left atrium (LA) and contribute to atrial ectopy. The aim of this study was to examine rat PV-cardiomyocyte electrophysiology and responses to NA in comparison with LA-cells. LA- and PV-cardiomyocytes were isolated from adult male Wistar rat hearts, and membrane potentials and ion currents recorded at 36 °C using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques. PV- and LA-cardiomyocytes did not differ in size. In control, there were no differences between the two cell-types in zero-current potential or action potential duration (APD) at 1 Hz, although the incidence of early afterdepolarisations (EADs) was greater in PV- than LA-cardiomyocytes. The L-type Ca2+ current (ICaL) was ~×1.5-smaller (P=0.0029, Student’s t-test) and the steady-state K+ current (IKss) was ~×1.4-larger (P=0.0028, Student’s t-test) in PV- than in LA-cardiomyocytes. PV-cardiomyocyte inward-rectifier current (IK1) was slightly smaller than LA-cardiomyocyte IK1. In LA-cardiomyocytes, NA significantly prolonged APD30. In PV-cells, APD30 responses to 1 μM NA were heterogeneous: while the mean percentage-change in APD30 was not different from 0 (16.5±9.7%, n cells/N animals=12/10, P=0.1177, one-sample t-test), 3 cells showed shortening (-18.8±6.0%) whereas 9 showed prolongation (28.3±10.1%, P=0.008, Student’s t-test). NA had no effect on IK1 in either cell-type but inhibited PV IKss by 41.9±4.1% (n/N=23/11 P<0.0001), similar to LA-cells. NA increased ICaL in most PV-cardiomyocytes (median ×2.2-increase, P<0.0001, n/N=32/14, Wilcoxon-signed-ranks-test), although in 7/32 PV-cells ICaL was decreased following NA. PV-cardiomyocytes differ from LA-cells and respond heterogeneously to NA

Heterogeneity of T-Tubules in Pig Hearts

BACKGROUND:T-tubules are invaginations of the sarcolemma that play a key role in excitation-contraction coupling in mammalian cardiac myocytes. Although t-tubules were generally considered to be effectively absent in atrial myocytes, recent studies on atrial cells from larger mammals suggest that t-tubules may be more numerous than previously supposed. However, the degree of heterogeneity between cardiomyocytes in the extent of the t-tubule network remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the t-tubule network of pig atrial myocytes in comparison with ventricular tissue. METHODS:Cardiac tissue was obtained from young female Landrace White pigs (45-75 kg, 5-6 months old). Cardiomyocytes were isolated by arterial perfusion with a collagenase-containing solution. Ca2+ transients were examined in field-stimulated isolated cells loaded with fluo-4-AM. Membranes of isolated cells were visualized using di-8-ANEPPS. T-tubules were visualized in fixed-frozen tissue sections stained with Alexa-Fluor 488-conjugated WGA. Binary images were obtained by application of a threshold and t-tubule density (TTD) calculated. A distance mapping approach was used to calculate half-distance to nearest t-tubule (HDTT). RESULTS & CONCLUSION:The spatio-temporal properties of the Ca2+ transient appeared to be consistent with the absence of functional t-tubules in isolated atrial myocytes. However, t-tubules could be identified in a sub-population of atrial cells in frozen sections. While all ventricular myocytes had TTD >3% (mean TTD = 6.94±0.395%, n = 24), this was true of just 5/22 atrial cells. Mean atrial TTD (2.35±0.457%, n = 22) was lower than ventricular TTD (P3% (1.65±0.06 μm, n = 5, P<0.05). These data demonstrate considerable heterogeneity between pig cardiomyocytes in the extent of t-tubule network, which correlated with cell size

Finding central decompositions of p-groups

Polynomial-time algorithms are given to find a central decomposition of maximum size for a finite p-group of class 2 and for a nilpotent Lie ring of class 2. The algorithms use Las Vegas probabilistic routines to compute the structure of finite *-rings and also the Las Vegas C-MeatAxe. When p is small, the probabilistic methods can be replaced by deterministic polynomial-time algorithms. The methods introduce new group isomorphism invariants including new characteristic subgroups.Comment: 28 page

A novel method to identify and characterise peptide mimotopes of heat shock protein 70-associated antigens

The heat shock protein, Hsp70, has been shown to play an important role in tumour immunity. Vaccination with Hsp70-peptide complexes (Hsp70-PCs), isolated from autologous tumour cells, can induce protective immune responses. We have developed a novel method to identify synthetic mimic peptides of Hsp70-PCs and to test their ability to activate T-cells. Peptides (referred to as "recognisers") that bind to Hsp70-PCs from the human breast carcinoma cell line, MDA-MB-231, were identified by bio-panning a random peptide M13 phage display library. Synthetic recogniser peptides were subsequently used as bait in a reverse bio-panning experiment to identify potential Hsp70-PC mimic peptides. The ability of the recogniser and mimic peptides to prime human lymphocyte responses against tumour cell antigens was tested by stimulating lymphocytes with autologous peptide-loaded monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). Priming and subsequent stimulation with either the recogniser or mimic peptide resulted in interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion by the lymphocytes. Furthermore, DCs loaded with Hsp70, Hsp70-PC or the recogniser or the mimic peptide primed the lymphocytes to respond to soluble extracts from breast cells. These results highlight the potential application of synthetic peptide-mimics of Hsp70-PCs, as modulators of the immune response against tumours

User experience analysis of AbC-19 Rapid Test via lateral flow immunoassays for self-administrated SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing

Abstract Lateral flow immunoassays are low cost, rapid and highly efficacious point-of-care devices, which have been used for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing by professionals. However, there is a lack of understanding about how self-administered tests are used by the general public for mass testing in different environmental settings. The purpose of this study was to assess the user experience (UX) (including usability) of a self-testing kit to identify COVID-19 antibodies used by a representative sample of the public in their cars, which included 1544 participants in Northern Ireland. The results based on 5-point Likert ratings from a post-test questionnaire achieved an average UX score of 96.03% [95% confidence interval (CI) 95.05–97.01%], suggesting a good degree of user experience. The results of the Wilcoxon rank sum tests suggest that UX scores were independent of the user’s age and education level although the confidence in this conclusion could be strengthened by including more participants aged younger than 18 and those with only primary or secondary education. The agreement between the test result as interpreted by the participant and the researcher was 95.85% [95% CI 94.85–96.85%], Kappa score 0.75 [95% CI 0.69–0.81] (indicating substantial agreement). Text analysis via the latent Dirichlet allocation model for the free text responses in the survey suggest that the user experience could be improved for blood-sample collection, by modifying the method of sample transfer to the test device and giving clearer instructions on how to interpret the test results. The overall findings provide an insight into the opportunities for improving the design of SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing kits to be used by the general public and therefore inform protocols for future user experience studies of point-of-care tests

Inhibition of a TREK-like K⁺ channel current by noradrenaline requires both β₁- and β₂-adrenoceptors in rat atrial myocytes

AIMS: Noradrenaline plays an important role in the modulation of atrial electrophysiology. However, the identity of the modulated channels, their mechanisms of modulation, and their role in the action potential remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the noradrenergic modulation of an atrial steady-state outward current (I(Kss)). METHODS AND RESULTS: Rat atrial myocyte whole-cell currents were recorded at 36°C. Noradrenaline potently inhibited I(Kss) (IC(50) = 0.90 nM, 42.1 ± 4.3% at 1 µM, n = 7) and potentiated the L-type Ca(2+) current (I(CaL), EC(50) = 136 nM, 205 ± 40% at 1 µM, n = 6). Noradrenaline-sensitive I(Kss) was weakly voltage-dependent, time-independent, and potentiated by the arachidonic acid analogue, 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid (EYTA; 10 µM), or by osmotically induced membrane stretch. Noise analysis revealed a unitary conductance of 8.4 ± 0.42 pS (n = 8). The biophysical/pharmacological properties of I(Kss) indicate a TREK-like K(+) channel. The effect of noradrenaline on I(Kss) was abolished by combined β(1)-/β(2)-adrenoceptor antagonism (1 µM propranolol or 10 µM β(1)-selective atenolol and 100 nM β(2)-selective ICI-118,551 in combination), but not by β(1)- or β(2)-antagonist alone. The action of noradrenaline could be mimicked by β(2)-agonists (zinterol and fenoterol) in the presence of β(1)-antagonist. The action of noradrenaline on I(Kss), but not on I(CaL), was abolished by pertussis toxin (PTX) treatment. The action of noradrenaline on I(CaL) was mediated by β(1)-adrenoceptors via a PTX-insensitive pathway. Noradrenaline prolonged APD(30) by 52 ± 19% (n = 5; P < 0.05), and this effect was abolished by combined β(1)-/β(2)-antagonism, but not by atenolol alone. CONCLUSION: Noradrenaline inhibits a rat atrial TREK-like K(+) channel current via a PTX-sensitive mechanism involving co-operativity of β(1)-/β(2)-adrenoceptors that contributes to atrial APD prolongation

Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of Lyman Alpha Emission at z=4.4

We present the highest redshift detections of resolved Lyman alpha emission, using Hubble Space Telescope/ACS F658N narrowband-imaging data taken in parallel with the Wide Field Camera 3 Early Release Science program in the GOODS CDF-S. We detect Lyman alpha emission from three spectroscopically confirmed z = 4.4 Lyman alpha emitting galaxies (LAEs), more than doubling the sample of LAEs with resolved Lyman alpha emission. Comparing the light distribution between the rest-frame ultraviolet continuum and narrowband images, we investigate the escape of Lyman alpha photons at high redshift. While our data do not support a positional offset between the Lyman alpha and rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) continuum emission, the half-light radii in two out of the three galaxies are significantly larger in Lyman alpha than in the rest-frame UV continuum. This result is confirmed when comparing object sizes in a stack of all objects in both bands. Additionally, the narrowband flux detected with HST is significantly less than observed in similar filters from the ground. These results together imply that the Lyman alpha emission is not strictly confined to its indigenous star-forming regions. Rather, the Lyman alpha emission is more extended, with the missing HST flux likely existing in a diffuse outer halo. This suggests that the radiative transfer of Lyman alpha photons in high-redshift LAEs is complicated, with the interstellar-medium geometry and/or outflows playing a significant role in galaxies at these redshifts.Comment: Submitted to the Astrophysical Journal. 11 pages, 10 figure

Aligning the Measurement of Microbial Diversity with Macroecological Theory

The number of microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within a community is akin to species richness within plant/animal (“macrobial”) systems. A large literature documents OTU richness patterns, drawing comparisons to macrobial theory. There is, however, an unrecognized fundamental disconnect between OTU richness and macrobial theory: OTU richness is commonly estimated on a per-individual basis, while macrobial richness is estimated per-area. Furthermore, the range or extent of sampled environmental conditions can strongly influence a study's outcomes and conclusions, but this is not commonly addressed when studying OTU richness. Here we (i) propose a new sampling approach that estimates OTU richness per-mass of soil, which results in strong support for species energy theory, (ii) use data reduction to show how support for niche conservatism emerges when sampling across a restricted range of environmental conditions, and (iii) show how additional insights into drivers of OTU richness can be generated by combining different sampling methods while simultaneously considering patterns that emerge by restricting the range of environmental conditions. We propose that a more rigorous connection between microbial ecology and macrobial theory can be facilitated by exploring how changes in OTU richness units and environmental extent influence outcomes of data analysis. While fundamental differences between microbial and macrobial systems persist (e.g., species concepts), we suggest that closer attention to units and scale provide tangible and immediate improvements to our understanding of the processes governing OTU richness and how those processes relate to drivers of macrobial species richness