Designing emotional support messages tailored to stressors

Acknowledgements This work was funded by the RCUK Digital Economy award to the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub, University of Aberdeen; award reference: EP/G066051/1. The dataset used by this paper can be acquired by emailing the first author. We thank Matt Dennis, Kirsten A. Smith and Michael Gibson for their contributions to the research.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Using Technology to Enhance Rural Resilience in Pre-hospital Emergencies

The research presented in this paper is supported by RCUK dot.rural Digital Economy Research Hub, University of Aberdeen [grant number EP/G066051/1].Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Using NLG to Manage Information in Medical Emergencies

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

An in-plane photoelectric effect in two-dimensional electron systems for terahertz detection

Many mid- and far-infrared semiconductor photodetectors rely on a photonic response, when the photon energy is large enough to excite and extract electrons due to optical transitions. Toward the terahertz range with photon energies of a few milli–electron volts, classical mechanisms are used instead. This is the case in two-dimensional electron systems, where terahertz detection is dominated by plasmonic mixing and by scattering-based thermal phenomena. Here, we report on the observation of a quantum, collision-free phenomenon that yields a giant photoresponse at terahertz frequencies (1.9 THz), more than 10-fold as large as expected from plasmonic mixing. We artificially create an electrically tunable potential step within a degenerate two-dimensional electron gas. When exposed to terahertz radiation, electrons absorb photons and generate a large photocurrent under zero source-drain bias. The observed phenomenon, which we call the “in-plane photoelectric effect,” provides an opportunity for efficient direct detection across the entire terahertz range.George and Lilian Schiff Studentship, Schiff Foundation, University of Cambridge Honorary Vice-Chancellor’s Award, Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridg

An Antenna-Coupled Dual-Gated Electron Channel as Direct Detector of 2 THz Radiation

An antenna-coupled dual-gated two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) based on a GaAs-AlGaAs heterostructure shows a pronounced response to 2 THz radiation. The device is shown to be a direct detector, and its photoresponse arises without any source-drain bias. The detection is based on a novel mechanism that yields a substantially stronger photoresponse than predicted by the classical plasma-wave self-mixing and other mechanisms

Basic science232. Certolizumab pegol prevents pro-inflammatory alterations in endothelial cell function

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a leading cause of death. Chronic systemic inflammation involving tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) could contribute to endothelial activation and atherogenesis. A number of anti-TNF therapies are in current use for the treatment of RA, including certolizumab pegol (CZP), (Cimzia ®; UCB, Belgium). Anti-TNF therapy has been associated with reduced clinical cardiovascular disease risk and ameliorated vascular function in RA patients. However, the specific effects of TNF inhibitors on endothelial cell function are largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate the mechanisms underpinning CZP effects on TNF-activated human endothelial cells. Methods: Human aortic endothelial cells (HAoECs) were cultured in vitro and exposed to a) TNF alone, b) TNF plus CZP, or c) neither agent. Microarray analysis was used to examine the transcriptional profile of cells treated for 6 hrs and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysed gene expression at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hrs. NF-κB localization and IκB degradation were investigated using immunocytochemistry, high content analysis and western blotting. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect microparticle release from HAoECs. Results: Transcriptional profiling revealed that while TNF alone had strong effects on endothelial gene expression, TNF and CZP in combination produced a global gene expression pattern similar to untreated control. The two most highly up-regulated genes in response to TNF treatment were adhesion molecules E-selectin and VCAM-1 (q 0.2 compared to control; p > 0.05 compared to TNF alone). The NF-κB pathway was confirmed as a downstream target of TNF-induced HAoEC activation, via nuclear translocation of NF-κB and degradation of IκB, effects which were abolished by treatment with CZP. In addition, flow cytometry detected an increased production of endothelial microparticles in TNF-activated HAoECs, which was prevented by treatment with CZP. Conclusions: We have found at a cellular level that a clinically available TNF inhibitor, CZP reduces the expression of adhesion molecule expression, and prevents TNF-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, CZP prevents the production of microparticles by activated endothelial cells. This could be central to the prevention of inflammatory environments underlying these conditions and measurement of microparticles has potential as a novel prognostic marker for future cardiovascular events in this patient group. Disclosure statement: Y.A. received a research grant from UCB. I.B. received a research grant from UCB. S.H. received a research grant from UCB. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Research data supporting "An in-plane photoelectric effect in two-dimensional electron systems for terahertz detection"

The zip file contains research data supporting the corresponding manuscript. It contains the photocurrent, photovoltage, and conductance measurements of the presented THz detector device. It also contains the theoretical dimensionless function J, which is proportional to the theoretically expected photocurrent in the in-plane photoelectric effect, calculated as a function of the left and right chemical potentials in units of the photon energy and derived at 0 K temperature for a macroscopically wide conducting channel. It contains the electron density vs. gate voltage measurements of the reference Hall bar device made from the same wafer as the THz detector device, and the simulated amplification of the x-component of the electric field by the bow-tie antenna. The "readme" file contains more details about the individual files.W.M.: George and Lilian Schiff Studentship (University of Cambridge), Honorary Vice-Chancellor's Award (University of Cambridge) R.D.: EPSRC (Grant No. EP/S019383/1) S.A.M.: European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme Graphene Core 3, Grant Agreement No. 88160