Self-Consistent Theory of Normal-to-Superconducting Transition

I study the normal-to-superconducting (NS) transition within the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) model, taking into account the fluctuations in the $m$-component complex order parameter \psi\a and the vector potential $\vec A$ in the arbitrary dimension $d$, for any $m$. I find that the transition is of second-order and that the previous conclusion of the fluctuation-driven first-order transition is an artifact of the breakdown of the \eps-expansion and the inaccuracy of the $1/m$-expansion for physical values \eps=1, $m=1$. I compute the anomalous $\eta(d,m)$ exponent at the NS transition, and find $\eta (3,1)\approx-0.38$. In the $m\to\infty$ limit, $\eta(d,m)$ becomes exact and agrees with the $1/m$-expansion. Near $d=4$ the theory is also in good agreement with the perturbative \eps-expansion results for $m>183$ and provides a sensible interpolation formula for arbitrary $d$ and $m$.Comment: 9 pages, TeX + harvmac.tex (included), 2 figures and hard copies are available from [email protected] To appear in Europhysics Letters, January, 199

Literacy as supply and demand

This paper draws on three data sources – a national survey from Germany of adult literacy and numeracy skills (leo. – Level-One Study), the OECD's Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competences (PIAAC), and case studies of workplaces in England – to argue for a greater focus by policymakers and researchers on the literacy demand experienced by adults. We consider the heterogeneity of the population of adults deemed functionally illiterate by large-scale national and international surveys and question how such a large group of adults are indeed able to function in society. We draw on concepts of literacy practices and the literate environment to try to understand the demands on adults’ reading and writing and suggest that adults with poor literacy skills may be reluctant to engage in learning because they experience very low demand. Engagement in literate practices is an important mechanism through which literacy is improved and developed. If the demands on many adults’ literacy are so low, their skills may decline/fail to develop, leaving a large sub-class excluded from the literate environment and relying on others for interpretation and access to information. This vicious circle of underuse and consequent loss of skills should be a major concern for policy makers

Smart process manufacturing for formulated products

We outline the smart manufacturing challenges for formulated products, which are typically multicomponent, structured, and multiphase. These challenges predominate in the food, pharmaceuticals, agricultural and specialty chemicals, energy storage and energetic materials, and consumer goods industries, and are driven by fast-changing customer demand and, in some cases, a tight regulatory framework. This paper discusses progress in smart manufacturing—namely, digitalization and the use of large datasets with predictive models and solution-finding algorithms—in these industries. While some progress has been achieved, there is a strong need for more demonstration of model-based tools on realistic problems in order to demonstrate their benefits and highlight any systemic weaknesses

An investigation of the breadth of neutralising antibody response in cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

Neutralising antibodies (NAbs) are believed to comprise an essential component of the protective immune response induced by vaccines against FIV and HIV infections. However, relatively little is known about the role of NAbs in controlling FIV infection and subsequent disease progression. Here we present studies examining the neutralisation of HIV-luciferase pseudotypes bearing homologous and heterologous FIV Envs (n=278) by sequential plasma samples collected at 6 month intervals from naturally infected cats (n=38) over a period of 18 months. We evaluated the breadth of the NAb response against non-recombinant homologous and heterologous clade A and clade B viral variants as well as recombinants and assessed the results, testing for evidence of an association between the potency of the NAb response and the duration of infection, CD4 T lymphocyte numbers, health status and survival times of the infected cats. Neutralisation profiles varied significantly between FIV infected cats and strong autologous neutralisation, assessed using luciferase based in vitro assays, did not correlate with the clinical outcome. No association was observed between strong NAb responses and either improved health status or increased survival time of infected animals, implying that other protective mechanisms are likely to be involved. Similarly, no correlation was observed between the development of autologous NAbs and the duration of infection. Furthermore, cross-neutralising antibodies were evident in only a small proportion (13%) of cats

Rapid evolution of the env gene leader sequence in cats naturally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)

Analysing the evolution of FIV on the intra-host level is important, in order to address whether the diversity and composition of viral quasispecies affects disease progression.<p></p> We examined the intra-host diversity and the evolutionary rates of the entire env and structural fragments of the env sequences obtained from sequential blood samples in 43 naturally infected domestic cats that displayed different clinical outcomes. We observed in the majority of cats that FIV env showed very low levels of intra-host diversity. We estimated that env evolved at the rate of 1.16 x 10-3 substitutions per site per year and demonstrated that recombinant sequences evolved faster than non-recombinant sequences. It was evident that the V3-V5 fragment of FIV env displayed higher evolutionary rates in healthy cats than in those with terminal illness. Our study provided the first evidence that the leader sequence of env, rather than the V3-V5 sequence, had the highest intra-host diversity and the highest evolutionary rate of all env fragments, consistent with this region being under a strong selective pressure for genetic variation.<p></p> Overall, FIV env displayed relatively low intra-host diversity and evolved slowly in naturally infected cats. The maximal evolutionary rate was observed in the leader sequence of env. Although genetic stability is not necessarily a prerequisite for clinical stability, the higher genetic stability of FIV compared to HIV might explain why many naturally infected cats do not progress to AIDS rapidly.<p></p&gt

The impact of family literacy programmes on children's literacy skills and the home literacy environment

This research involved 27 family literacy programmes running in 18 Local Authorities in England. We examined: 1) the impact of school-based family literacy programmes on young children’s progress in reading and writing 2) how parents translate and implement what they learn in these classes into the home literacy environment (HLE). The study followed a mixed methods embedded approach; qualitative data from in-depth observations and parental interviews were embedded in a quantitative quasi-experimental design. As the data suggest family literacy programmes have a positive effect on Key Stage 1 children’s reading scores: children who attended the programmes made greater gains in their reading than children who did not attend programmes (effect size of 0.17). The also were extensive changes in the home literacy environment experienced by families participating in the programmes

Impact of poor English and maths skills on employers: literature review

This literature review synthesises evidence from qualitative and quantitative studies that shed light on the costs to employers of poor English and maths skills. It also addresses the benefits of, and the barriers to, workplace training, with a focus on employer perceptions of the need for and efficacy of workplace training in English and maths. The review also considers and summarises key theoretical and methodological issues

Emergence of CD134 cysteine-rich domain 2 (CRD2)-independent strains of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is associated with disease progression in naturally infected cats

<b>Background</b> Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection is mediated by sequential interactions with CD134 and CXCR4. Field strains of virus vary in their dependence on cysteine-rich domain 2 (CRD2) of CD134 for infection.<p></p> <b>Findings</b> Here, we analyse the receptor usage of viral variants in the blood of 39 naturally infected cats, revealing that CRD2-dependent viral variants dominate in early infection, evolving towards CRD2-independence with disease progression.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> These findings are consistent with a shift in CRD2 of CD134 usage with disease progression.<p></p&gt

Guidance and Orientation for Adult Learners (GOAL): Final cross-country evaluation report

The “Guidance and Orientation for Adult Learners” Project (GOAL) was a collaboration between six partner countries: Belgium (Flanders), the Czech Republic, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Slovenia. The hypothesis underpinning GOAL was that an independent one-stop guidance service putting the specific needs of low-educated adults at its centre could help to increase the participation of this target group in adult education. To this end, each of the six countries piloted new guidance models to specific target groups within the low-educated adult population. The GOAL evaluation was carried out by the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), London, working with local evaluation teams in the participating countries. The evaluation drew on Realist Evaluation principles and had three overarching aims. The first was developmental: to support programme development across the six countries by providing evidence during the life of the pilot on programme processes and adaptations. The second was summative: to assess the impacts of GOAL on service users and other programme stakeholders. The third aim focused on knowledge cumulation: to support future policy and programme development in the field of adult education guidance. Five research questions underpinned the evaluation: 1. To what degree did programmes achieve their implementation aims across the five intervention objectives, and what factors at programme and policy level appeared to influence the achievement of implementation aims? 2. What service user outcomes were achieved, for what groups, and to what degree? 3. What programme-level factors were associated with the achievement of positive service user outcomes? 4. What policy-level factors were associated with the achievement of those outcomes? 5. To what degree were programme expectations met

Mechanical Dispersion of a Semi-Solid Binder in a Wet Granulation Process

High viscosity surfactant pastes have recently gained popularity in the production of high efficiency laundry detergents due to their ability to increase surfactant loading in granules. When using high viscosity semi-solid binders a unique challenge is presented because it forces granules to be formed primarily by mechanical dispersion; a relatively poorly understood process. Developing mechanistic models of this process will enhance knowledge of mechanical dispersion processes and improve process development for granules produced using this method. Experiments to determine the effect of three process parameters; paste temperature, impeller RPM, and time were carried out in a lab-scale granulator. Binder temperature was varied between 40-60 degrees Celsius to cover paste temperatures from solidification to decomposition. Impeller RPM was varied between 600 -1200 RPM to capture the full range of potential industrial impeller velocities. Mixing time was varied from zero to ten seconds; the time scale of the industrial process. The particle size distribution for the process was determined to rely primarily on mixing time especially at impeller speeds above 900 RPM where fully developed annular flow occurs in the mixer. The Sauter mean diameter of particles was determined to be linearly related to mixing RPM, while temperature was shown to have little effect on the Sauter mean diameter. Experimental data was in relatively good agreement with values predicted by an existing breakage simulation, but could be improved upon. These conclusions will be used in developing a breakage kernel for the process based on material properties