Stability of a bi-layer free film: simultaneous or individual rupture events?

We consider the stability of a long free film of liquid composed of two immiscible layers of differing viscosities, where each layer experiences a van der Waals force between its interfaces. We analyse the different ways the system can exhibit interfacial instability when the liquid layers are sufficiently thin. For an excess of surfactant on one gas–liquid interface the coupling between the layers is relatively weak and the instability manifests as temporally separated rupture events in each layer. Conversely, in the absence of surfactant the coupling between the layers is much stronger and the instability manifests as rupture of both layers simultaneously. These features are consistent with recent experimental observations

Reduced intensity conditioning T depleted allogeneic transplants in AML: Are there any factors predicting favourable outcomes?

Reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens permit the extension of a potentially curative graft-versus-leukemia effect to older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) whose outlook with conventional chemotherapy would be poor. T cell depletion using alemtuzumab reduces the risk of severe graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after RIC allografts but may compromise anti-leukemic activity. We have therefore analyzed which factors predict long term survival in 65 patients with AML transplanted using an alemtuzumab based RIC regimen. The 100 day transplant related mortality for the whole cohort of patients was 10%. 30% of patients developed Grade II-IV acute GVHD and 21% chronic GVHD. The 3 year overall survival was 47%. Survival was significantly influenced by status at transplant (p = 0.002), presentation cytogenetics (p = 0.03) and the presence of a molecular mismatch at Class 1 or II HLA alleles in patients transplanted using an unrelated donor (p = 0.001) but not by age. Alemtuzumab based RIC regimens have the capacity to deliver sustained remissions in older patients with AML with a modest risk of GVHD but patients with active disease at the time of transplant or adverse cytogenetics require novel transplant strategies. Alternative stem cell sources should be considered in patients lacking a sibling or molecularly matched unrelated donor

Reclaiming the virtual community for spatial cultures: Functional generality and cultural specificity at the interface of building and street

This paper engages with the formation of spatial cultures at a micro-morphological level to advance a general argument for the need to further study the contribution of building morphology to the collective realm of the quotidian city. It suggests how the macro-scale approach in analysing spatiotemporal phenomena in urban space lacks a sensitivity to historical urban processes at the micro-scale where the generic and culturally specific aspects of the diachronic city interact to give rise to actual communities. This recalibration of scales, it is claimed, is an epistemological prerequisite for urban design theories to engage productively with the social theory of space. The paper problematizes the idea of the building-street interface and its implications for conditioning urban encounters at the threshold of architectural and urban scales. The argument develops the space syntax concept of ‘virtual community’ as a means to understand how the theoretical capacity for individual buildings to aggregate into a streetscape becomes culturally particular at the level of users’ co-presence in physical space. It looks at the rules of built form aggregation and their implications for shaping the building-street interface in terms of probabilistic encounters over historical time. The argument is then illustrated through an analysis of the historical building-street connectivity as a cultural articulation of spatial-morphogenetic processes. Two urban settings are examined: terraced house morphologies in London and row houses in Manhattan. It is proposed that a micro-morphological approach to the description and analysis of the building-street interface helps to supply a ‘missing link’ in theorising space-society relationship as part of a broader project of rethinking what 'design' means in an urban context

Recent migrants’ perspectives on antibiotic use and prescribing in primary care:a qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Currently there is great interest in antibiotic prescribing practices in the UK, but little is known about the experiences of the increasing numbers of recent migrants (those present in the UK for >1 year but <5 years) registered at GP practices. Qualitative research has suggested that reasons for not prescribing antibiotics may not be clearly communicated to migrants. AIM: This study aimed to explore the factors that shape migrants’ experiences of and attitudes to antibiotics, and to suggest ways to improve effective communication around their use. DESIGN AND SETTING: A qualitative study on recent migrants’ health beliefs, values, and experiences in a community setting in primary care. METHOD: Twenty-three recent migrants were interviewed in their preferred language by trained community researchers. The research team conducted a thematic analysis, focusing on health beliefs, engaging with health services, transnational medicine, and concepts of fairness. Experiences around antibiotics were a strong emerging theme. RESULTS: Three reasons were identified for antibiotics seeking: first, holding an ‘infectious model’ of illness implying that antibiotics are required quickly to avoid illness becoming worse or spreading to others; second, reasoning that other medications will be less effective for people ‘used to’ antibiotics’; and third, perceiving antibiotic prescription as a sign of being taken seriously. Some participants obtained antibiotics from their country of origin or migrant networks in the UK; others changed their mind and accepted alternatives. CONCLUSION: Primary care professionals should aim to understand migrants’ perspectives to improve communication with patients. Further research is needed to identify different strategies needed to respond to the varying understandings of antibiotics held by migrants

Heritage Lost:The cultural impact of wildlife crime in South Africa

Crimes against wildlife have come to the fore in South Africa in the past decade – largely due to the dramatic escalation of rhino poaching.  As a major custodian of iconic species such as the Big Five, South Africa is at the core of the illicit wildlife economy.  Since the country is reliant on wildlife tourism for economic development, poaching brings serious financial consequences.  These negative impacts, however, extend far beyond the economy and also protrude into the cultural sphere.  While some South Africans may be unmoved by the plight of the country’s wildlife as a result of a lack of exposure thereto, many feel socially linked to wildlife.  Concerned citizens often consider that future generations will not be able to experience wildlife due to extinction, and will thus be deprived of their rightful cultural inheritance.  The impact of wildlife crime may therefore be seen as a form of cultural victimisation

Dance and The Archival Body: Knowledge, Memory and Experience in Dance Revival Processes

Over the past few decades, archival practices in dance have been the subject of substantial scrutiny and innovation. With new technologies affording opportunities for archival material to be housed in web-based platforms, questions surrounding notions of ‘archive’ and documentary practices in dance have occupied debates across academia and industry. The function of an archival source in dance as an ephemeral phenomenon is something that remains ambiguous because of the complexity of capturing the multiple aspects of dance-making processes and performance. In this thesis I address this issue by considering the role of the dancing body as a site where knowledge that can be considered as ‘archival’ is stored as a result of embodied dance-making processes and experience. Within the broader discussion of dance and archiving, I refer to the dance reconstruction practices of contemporary dance company, Phoenix Dance Theatre to illustrate new ideas about archiving dance. The discussion will focus upon notions of embodiment, memory, archives and dance reconstruction, and ideas surrounding the role of dance knowledge and its transferability to archival formats that are considered ‘tangible’ or ‘enduring’. The limitations of traditional understandings of the archive are addressed and expanded by re-considering the role of the body as an archival material. This research contributes new knowledge regarding dance archival practices through recognition that valuable information can be triggered through the re-living of historic movement action in the dancing body. In summary, the overall investigation makes a case for the role of the dancing body within the broader archival spectrum of materials relating to dance practice. I argue that the body captures some of the original essences of dance practice and performances that cannot be captured by more traditional materials and modes of archiving in dance

The Unheard Voices of Nurture: Exploring Children's Experiences of a Secondary School Nurture Group.

The first Nurture Group (NG) was established by Marjorie Boxall in 1969 to improve the emotional wellbeing of children in schools (Kirkbride, 2014). They aim to provide support to meet the individual needs of children with a focus on social and emotional growth away from the mainstream classroom in a safe and secure environment. There has been substantial evidence on the effectiveness of NGs (O’Connor & Colwell, 2002; Cooper & Whitebread, 2007 and Griffiths, Stenner & Hicks, 2014), but little research to attain the views of the children who attend NGs, this research aimed to do this. The two research questions aimed to explore the experiences of children attending a secondary school NG and whether these experiences were helpful, and if they were similar to or different from their mainstream classroom experiences. Participants were six children who were attending a secondary school NG in one Local Authority in the North of England, who took part in individual semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009). Five superordinate themes emerged from the interpretative analysis; control, systems, structural and physical elements, purpose of the NG and inter-relationships. The children’s experiences supported previous findings in that NGs provide a secure base where children can form positive relationships with their peers and adults whom they can trust and rely upon, something which they did not experience in the mainstream classroom. They also attributed an improvement in academic skills and feelings of confidence to their NG experience. However, the NG does not appear to be seen by the children or by their peers and mainstream teachers as an inclusive part of school with participants expressing a desire to return to their “normal” classrooms due to feeling different by being in the NG. Lack of power and choice over entering the NG and when they could leave was experienced by the children with no involvement from mainstream staff. Confusion over the purpose of the intervention is also apparent. These findings are discussed in relation to implications for Educational Psychologists supporting children and schools as well as making a set of recommendations for further research