Axioms for trimedial quasigroups

We give new equations that axiomatize the variety of trimedial quasigroups. We also improve a standard characterization by showing that right semimedial, left F-quasigroups are trimedial.Comment: 6 pages, AMS-LaTeX. To appear in Comment. Math. Univ. Carolinae. for a special issue: the Proceedings of Loops03. Version 3: the proof of the main result is collected together more formally; other stylistic change

Flight test derived heating math models for critical locations on the orbiter during reentry

An analysis technique was developed for expanding the aerothermodynamic envelope of the Space Shuttle without subjecting the vehicle to sustained flight at more stressing heating conditions. A transient analysis program was developed to take advantage of the transient maneuvers that were flown as part of this analysis technique. Heat rates were derived from flight test data for various locations on the orbiter. The flight derived heat rates were used to update heating models based on predicted data. Future missions were then analyzed based on these flight adjusted models. A technique for comparing flight and predicted heating rate data and the extrapolation of the data to predict the aerothermodynamic environment of future missions is presented

Temperature dependence of emission measure in solar X-ray plasmas. 1: Non-flaring active regions

X-ray and ultraviolet line emission from hot, optically thin material forming coronal active regions on the sun may be described in terms of an emission measure distribution function, Phi (T). A relationship is developed between line flux and Phi (T), a theory which assumes that the electron density is a single-valued function of temperature. The sources of error involved in deriving Phi (T) from a set of line fluxes are examined in some detail. These include errors in atomic data (collisional excitation rates, assessment of other mechanisms for populating excited states of transitions, element abundances, ion concentrations, oscillator strengths) and errors in observed line fluxes arising from poorly - known instrumental responses. Two previous analyses are discussed in which Phi (T) for a non-flaring active region is derived. A least squares method of Batstone uses X-ray data of low statistical significance, a fact which appears to influence the results considerably. Two methods for finding Phi (T) ab initio are developed. The coefficients are evaluated by least squares. These two methods should have application not only to active-region plasmas, but also to hot, flare-produced plasmas

Primary CNS Lymphoma

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the central nervous system is an aggressive malignancy that exhibits unique biological features and characteristic clinical behaviour, with overall long-term survival rates of around 20–40 %. Clinical outcome has improved following the advent of chemoradiation protocols incorporating high-dose methotrexate in the mid-1980s, but disease relapse and adverse neurocognitive sequelae remain major clinical challenges. To address this, investigators have focused on improving drug therapy with novel cytotoxic combinations, monoclonal antibody therapy, and intensive chemotherapy consolidation approaches, in an attempt to improve disease control whilst reducing the requirement for whole-brain radiotherapy. Outcomes for patients that are older, immunocompromised, or have relapsed/refractory disease remain unsatisfactory and there is a paucity of clinical trial data to guide treatment of these groups. This review highlights recent advances in pathobiology, imaging, and clinical management of PCNSL and looks ahead to research priorities for this rare and challenging lymphoid malignancy

Dorsal root ganglion neurons maintained in a 3D culture model exhibit similar electrophysiological properties to fresh explants

Tissue engineered culture models provide a powerful tool for neuroscience research1. They overcome limitations associated with monolayer cultures of neurons and glia by maintaining cells in a more realistic 3D spatial arrangement, and permit continuous monitoring and control of variables that cannot be achieved in animal models. Here we report the development of a system for recording electrophysiological behaviour in neurons in 3D culture

Dynamical fluctuations in biochemical reactions and cycles

We develop theory for the dynamics and fluctuations in some cyclic and linear biochemical reactions. We use the approach of maximum caliber, which computes the ensemble of paths taken by the system, given a few experimental observables. This approach may be useful for interpreting single-molecule or few-particle experiments on molecular motors, enzyme reactions, ion-channels, and phosphorylation-driven biological clocks. We consider cycles where all biochemical states are observable. Our method shows how: (1) the noise in cycles increases with cycle size and decreases with the driving force that spins the cycle and (2) provides a recipe for estimating small-number features, such as probability of backward spin in small cycles, from experimental data. The back-spin probability diminishes exponentially with the deviation from equilibrium. We believe this method may also be useful for other few-particle nonequilibrium biochemical reaction systems

Male sexual victimisation and the specialist officer: a critical analysis of the police response to adult males

This thesis addressed the under-researched area of male sexual victimisation as it related to policing, specifically in relation to specialist officers known as Sexual Offences Investigative Techniques (SOIT) officers. SOIT officers are held to be vital to rape investigation, their main purpose being to support survivors throughout investigations, as well as being responsible for some initial evidence gathering and liaising with investigators. As the main contact within the police for survivors, the way SOITs conduct themselves with survivors is paramount. Despite this, the role of SOITs in the police response to male survivors of sexual victimisation has not been reviewed since Jamel (2008). From a review of the literature, four research questions were identified: (1) How do male survivors of sexual offences in adulthood view the police and interpret their experiences of the police? (2) How are SOIT officers trained and prepared for their role? (3) What impact do SOIT officers have on the experiences of male survivors of sexual offences in adulthood? (4) What are the experiences of SOIT officers in supporting male survivors of sexual offences in adulthood? Using the theoretical perspective of hegemonic masculinity, data was gathered through interviews and a questionnaire with SOITs, counsellors, and male survivors and analysed through thematic analysis with the aid of a qualitative software package, NVivo. The findings suggested a lack of experience and training of SOITs concerning male survivors, and largely negative experiences with the police on behalf of survivors, with three themes being identified: The Effective SOIT, Gender, and The Male Experience, consistent with hegemonic masculinity. This thesis concludes with recommendations to police services and the College of Policing to improve the police response to male survivors of sexual victimisation

Petiolate wings: effects on the leading-edge vortex in flapping flight

The wings of many insect species including crane flies and damselflies are petiolate (on stalks), with the wing planform beginning some distance away from the wing hinge, rather than at the hinge. The aerodynamic impact of flapping petiolate wings is relatively unknown, particularly on the formation of the lift-augmenting leading-edge vortex (LEV): a key flow structure exploited by many insects, birds and bats to enhance their lift coefficient. We investigated the aerodynamic implications of petiolation P using particle image velocimetry flow field measurements on an array of rectangular wings of aspect ratio 3 and petiolation values of P = 1–3. The wings were driven using a mechanical device, the ‘Flapperatus’, to produce highly repeatable insect-like kinematics. The wings maintained a constant Reynolds number of 1400 and dimensionless stroke amplitude Λ* (number of chords traversed by the wingtip) of 6.5 across all test cases. Our results showed that for more petiolate wings the LEV is generally larger, stronger in circulation, and covers a greater area of the wing surface, particularly at the mid-span and inboard locations early in the wing stroke cycle. In each case, the LEV was initially arch-like in form with its outboard end terminating in a focus-sink on the wing surface, before transitioning to become continuous with the tip vortex thereafter. In the second half of the wing stroke, more petiolate wings exhibit a more detached LEV, with detachment initiating at approximately 70% and 50% span for P = 1 and 3, respectively. As a consequence, lift coefficients based on the LEV are higher in the first half of the wing stroke for petiolate wings, but more comparable in the second half. Time-averaged LEV lift coefficients show a general rise with petiolation over the range tested.This work was supported by an EPSRC Career Acceleration Fellowship to R.J.B. (EP/H004025/1)