Fluid Particle Accelerations in Fully Developed Turbulence

The motion of fluid particles as they are pushed along erratic trajectories by fluctuating pressure gradients is fundamental to transport and mixing in turbulence. It is essential in cloud formation and atmospheric transport, processes in stirred chemical reactors and combustion systems, and in the industrial production of nanoparticles. The perspective of particle trajectories has been used successfully to describe mixing and transport in turbulence, but issues of fundamental importance remain unresolved. One such issue is the Heisenberg-Yaglom prediction of fluid particle accelerations, based on the 1941 scaling theory of Kolmogorov (K41). Here we report acceleration measurements using a detector adapted from high-energy physics to track particles in a laboratory water flow at Reynolds numbers up to 63,000. We find that universal K41 scaling of the acceleration variance is attained at high Reynolds numbers. Our data show strong intermittency---particles are observed with accelerations of up to 1,500 times the acceleration of gravity (40 times the root mean square value). Finally, we find that accelerations manifest the anisotropy of the large scale flow at all Reynolds numbers studied.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Utility of Whole Blood Thiamine Pyrophosphate Evaluation in TPK1-Related Diseases

TPK1 mutations are a rare, but potentially treatable, cause of thiamine deficiency. Diagnosis is challenging given the phenotypic overlap that exists with other metabolic and neurological disorders. We report a case of TPK1-related disease presenting with Leigh-like syndrome and review the diagnostic utility of thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) blood measurement. The proband, a 35-year-old male, presented at four months of age with recurrent episodes of post-infectious encephalopathy. He subsequently developed epilepsy, learning difficulties, sensorineural hearing loss, spasticity, and dysphagia. There was a positive family history for Leigh syndrome in an older brother. Plasma lactate was elevated (3.51 mmol/L) and brain MRI showed bilateral basal ganglia hyperintensities, indicative of Leigh syndrome. Histochemical and spectrophotometric analysis of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, II+III, and IV was normal. Genetic analysis of muscle mitochondrial DNA was negative. Whole exome sequencing of the proband confirmed compound heterozygous variants in TPK1: c. 426G>C (p. Leu142Phe) and c. 258+1G>A (p.?). Blood TPP levels were reduced, providing functional evidence for the deleterious effects of the variants. We highlight the clinical and bioinformatics challenges to diagnosing rare genetic disorders and the continued utility of biochemical analyses, despite major advances in DNA sequencing technology, when investigating novel, potentially disease-causing, genetic variants. Blood TPP measurement represents a fast and cost-effective diagnostic tool in TPK1-related diseases

Characterization of mycobacteria and mycobacteriophages isolated from compost at the São Paulo Zoo Park Foundation in Brazil and creation of the new mycobacteriophage Cluster U

Background: A large collection of sequenced mycobacteriophages capable of infecting a single host strain of Mycobacterium smegmatis shows considerable genomic diversity with dozens of distinctive types (clusters) and extensive variation within those sharing evident nucleotide sequence similarity. Here we profiled the mycobacterial components of a large composting system at the São Paulo zoo. Results: We isolated and sequenced eight mycobacteriophages using Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 as a host. None of these eight phages infected any of mycobacterial strains isolated from the same materials. The phage isolates span considerable genomic diversity, including two phages (Barriga, Nhonho) related to Subcluster A1 phages, two Cluster B phages (Pops, Subcluster B1; Godines, Subcluster B2), three Subcluster F1 phages (Florinda, Girafales, and Quico), and Madruga, a relative of phage Patience with which it constitutes the new Cluster U. Interestingly, the two Subcluster A1 phages and the three Subcluster F1 phages have genomic relationships indicating relatively recent evolution within a geographically isolated niche in the composting system. Conclusions: We predict that composting systems such as those used to obtain these mycobacteriophages will be a rich source for the isolation of additional phages that will expand our view of bacteriophage diversity and evolution

Mental health care for irregular migrants in Europe: Barriers and how they are overcome

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

High resolution satellite observations give new view of UK air quality

New state‐of‐the‐art satellite measurements of tropospheric column NO2 from the TROPOMI instrument on‐board Sentinel‐5 Precursor (S5P), launched in October 2017, allow for an unprecedented high resolution (sub‐10km) assessment of UK air quality (AQ) from space. We present the first results from TROPOMI and compare them with its predecessor, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), to quantify previously unresolved UK pollution hotspots (e.g. Bristol, Southampton and Liverpool). The TROPOMI tropospheric column NO2 data represents a powerful new tool to quantify UK AQ, evaluate atmospheric composition models and potentially derive new emission inventories from space

High resolution satellite observations give new view of UK air quality

New state‐of‐the‐art satellite measurements of tropospheric column NO2 from the TROPOMI instrument on‐board Sentinel‐5 Precursor (S5P), launched in October 2017, allow for an unprecedented high resolution (sub‐10km) assessment of UK air quality (AQ) from space. We present the first results from TROPOMI and compare them with its predecessor, the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), to quantify previously unresolved UK pollution hotspots (e.g. Bristol, Southampton and Liverpool). The TROPOMI tropospheric column NO2 data represents a powerful new tool to quantify UK AQ, evaluate atmospheric composition models and potentially derive new emission inventories from space

Missed treatment opportunities and barriers to comprehensive treatment for sexual violence survivors in Kenya: a mixed methods study

Background In Kenya, most sexual violence survivors either do not access healthcare, access healthcare late or do not complete treatment. To design interventions that ensure optimal healthcare for survivors, it is important to understand the characteristics of those who do and do not access healthcare. In this paper, we aim to: compare the characteristics of survivors who present for healthcare to those of survivors reporting violence on national surveys; understand the healthcare services provided to survivors; and, identify barriers to treatment. Methods A mixed methods approach was used. Hospital records for survivors from two referral hospitals were compared with national-level data from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2014, and the Violence Against Children Survey 2010. Descriptive summaries were calculated and differences in characteristics of the survivors assessed using chi-square tests. Qualitative data from six in-depth interviews with healthcare providers were analysed thematically. Results Among the 543 hospital respondents, 93.2% were female; 69.5% single; 71.9% knew the perpetrator; and 69.2% were children below 18 years. Compared to respondents disclosing sexual violence in nationally representative datasets, those who presented at hospital were less likely to be partnered, male, or assaulted by an intimate partner. Data suggest missed opportunities for treatment among those who did present to hospital: HIV PEP and other STI prophylaxis was not given to 30 and 16% of survivors respectively; 43% of eligible women did not receive emergency contraceptive; and, laboratory results were missing in more than 40% of the records. Those aged 18 years or below and those assaulted by known perpetrators were more likely to miss being put on HIV PEP. Qualitative data highlighted challenges in accessing and providing healthcare that included stigma, lack of staff training, missing equipment and poor coordination of services. Conclusions Nationally, survivors at higher risk of not accessing healthcare include older survivors; partnered or ever partnered survivors; survivors experiencing sexual violence from intimate partners; children experiencing violence in schools; and men. Interventions at the community level should target survivors who are unlikely to access healthcare and address barriers to early access to care. Staff training and specific clinical guidelines/protocols for treating children are urgently needed

M5-branes from gauge theories on the 5-sphere

We use the 5-sphere partition functions of supersymmetric Yang-Mills theories to explore the (2,0) superconformal theory on S^5 x S^1. The 5d theories can be regarded as Scherk-Schwarz reductions of the 6d theory along the circle. In a special limit, the perturbative partition function takes the form of the Chern-Simons partition function on S^3. With a simple non-perturbative completion, it becomes a 6d index which captures the degeneracy of a sector of BPS states as well as the index version of the vacuum Casimir energy. The Casimir energy exhibits the N^3 scaling at large N. The large N index for U(N) gauge group also completely agrees with the supergravity index on AdS_7 x S^4.Comment: 44 pages, 1 figure, v4: ref added, clarified weak/strong coupling behaviors of large N free energy, minor improvements, version to be published in JHE

The implementation of medical revalidation: an assessment using normalisation process theory

Abstract Background Medical revalidation is the process by which all licensed doctors are legally required to demonstrate that they are up to date and fit to practise in order to maintain their licence. Revalidation was introduced in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2012, constituting significant change in the regulation of doctors. The governing body, the General Medical Council (GMC), envisages that revalidation will improve patient care and safety. This potential however is, in part, dependent upon how successfully revalidation is embedded into routine practice. The aim of this study was to use Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) to explore issues contributing to or impeding the implementation of revalidation in practice. Methods We conducted seventy-one interviews with sixty UK policymakers and senior leaders at different points during the development and implementation of revalidation: in 2011 (n = 31), 2013 (n = 26) and 2015 (n = 14). We selected interviewees using purposeful sampling. NPT was used as a framework to enable systematic analysis across the interview sets. Results Initial lack of consensus over revalidation’s purpose, and scepticism about its value, decreased over time as participants recognised the benefits it brought to their practice (coherence category of NPT). Though acceptance increased across time, revalidation was not seen as a legitimate part of their role by all doctors. Key individuals, notably the Responsible Officer (RO), were vital for the successful implementation of revalidation in organisations (cognitive participation category). The ease with which revalidation could be integrated into working practices varied greatly depending on the type of role a doctor held and the organisation they work for and the provision of resources was a significant variable in this (collective action category). Formal evaluation of revalidation in organisations was lacking but informal evaluation was taking place. Revalidation had not yet reached the stage where feedback was being used for improvement (reflexive monitoring category). Conclusions Requiring all organisations to use the same revalidation model made revalidation easy to integrate into existing work for some but problematic for others. In order for revalidation to be fully embedded and successful, impeding factors, such as a lack of resources, need to be addressed

Quantifying the transboundary contribution of nitrogen oxides to UK air quality

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution is an important contributor to poor air quality (AQ) and a significant cause of premature deaths in the UK. Although transboundary (i.e., international) transport of pollution to the UK is believed to have an impact on UK pollutant concentrations, large uncertainties remain in these estimates. Therefore, the extent to which emission reductions in neighbouring countries would benefit UK AQ relative to local emission reductions also remains unknown. We have used a back‐trajectory model in conjunction with synoptic scale classifications of UK circulation patterns (Lamb Weather Types [LWT]), to quantify the accumulation of nitrogen oxide (NO x = NO2 + NO) emissions in air masses en‐route to the UK. This novel method presents a computationally inexpensive and useful method of quantifying the accumulation of pollutants under different circulation patterns. We find the highest accumulated NO x totals occur under south‐easterly and southerly flows (>15 μg⋅m−2), with a substantial contribution from outwith the UK (>25%). In contrast, the total accumulated NO x under northerly and westerly flows is lower (∼10 μg⋅m−2), and dominated by UK emissions (>95%). This indicates that European emissions can contribute substantially to UK local‐scale pollution in urban areas under south‐easterly and southerly flows. The sensitivity of integrated NO x emission totals under different air masses is investigated by modelling future European emission contributions based on emission reduction targets. Under targets set by the European Union, there would be a decrease in accumulated NO x emissions in London under most wind directions except for north‐westerly, westerly and northerly flow. The largest benefits to UK AQ from transboundary contributions occur with emission reductions in the Benelux region, due to its close proximity and high NO x emission rates, emphasising the importance of international cooperation in improving local AQ