Opacity of hot, highly compressed hydrogen Final report

Ballistic piston compressor used to study opacity of hot highly compressed hydroge

Catalytic formation of C(sp(3))-F bonds via heterogeneous photocatalysis

Due to their chemical, physical, and biological properties, fluorinated compounds are widely employed throughout society. Yet, despite their critical importance, current methods of introducing fluorine into compounds suffer from severe drawbacks. For example, several methods are noncatalytic and employ stoichiometric equivalents of heavy metals. Existing catalytic methods, on the other hand, exhibit poor activity, generality, selectivity and/or have not been achieved by heterogeneous catalysis, despite the many advantages such an approach would provide. Here, we demonstrate how selective C(sp3)–F bond synthesis can be achieved via heterogeneous photocatalysis. Employing TiO2 as photocatalyst and Selectfluor as mild fluorine donor, effective decarboxylative fluorination of a variety of carboxylic acids can be achieved in very short reaction times. In addition to displaying the highest turnover frequencies of any reported fluorination catalyst to date (up to 1050 h–1), TiO2 also demonstrates excellent levels of durability, and the system is catalytic in the number of photons required; i.e., a photon efficiency greater than 1 is observed. These factors, coupled with the generality and mild nature of the reaction system, represent a breakthrough toward the sustainable synthesis of fluorinated compounds

Effects of Enamel Paint on the Behavior and Survival of the Periodical Cicada, \u3ci\u3eMagicicada Septendecim\u3c/i\u3e (Homoptera) and the Lesser Migratory Grasshopper, \u3ci\u3eMelanoplus Sanguinipes (Orthoptera).

We present information compiled from several studies on the effects of methods for marking individual arthropods on their longevity and behavior. Results from our own research on effects of enamel paint marking on two in- sect species, the periodical cicada, Magicicada septendecim, and the lesser migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes, are also presented. Neither species showed any adverse survivorship or behavioral effects from marking

Sustainable Prosperity and Democracy: A Research Agenda

As environmental crises, most notably climate change, become ever more severe, voices are reappearing that call for authoritarian solutions: Democracy, so the argument goes, has proven to be too slow to respond to urgent threats, and so a stronger, authoritarian hand is needed to push through the necessary socio-political changes. In this paper, we respond to this charge by revisiting the role of democracy within a transition to sustainable prosperity. We argue it is not democracy as such that is the problem, but rather democracy in its current form is itself constrained by structural and discursive forces including the almost hegemonic status of capitalist politico-economic discourses and tendencies towards shorttermism in political decision-making. Thus, instead of advocating further constraints on democracy, we explore new institutional and societal spaces that can revitalise democracy, ameliorating existing constraints and infusing sustainability politics with new ways of thinking. In particular we highlight the potential promise of participatory and deliberative innovations, prefigurative politics, reform of established structures and institutions, and deliberative systems and cultural change. The paper acts as an introduction to some of the political theory and political science aspects of the research programme of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP)

Radiographic measurements of the trachea in domestic short haired and Persian cats

Tracheal diameter can be assessed from a thoracic radiograph, with assessment of tracheal diameter in dogs based on ratios between tracheal diameter and a skeletal measurement – however reference ranges are not available for the cat. Tracheal narrowing may cause significant clinical problems, although tracheal hypoplasia in dogs may be clinically silent, and is rarely reported in cats (both mesati- and brachycephalic). The tracheal diameter and trachea:thoracic inlet and trachea:rib ratios were calculated for populations of Domestic Short Haired (DSH) (n=68) and Persian (n=40) cats. This gave reference ranges for radiographic tracheal measurements in these breeds. It is proposed that the tracheal diameter in a normal DSH cat should be 18% of the diameter of the thoracic inlet, and compared to 20% in Persian cats

Uncle Curro : J.R.R. Tolkien\u27s Spanish Connection (2018) by José Manuel Ferrández Bru

Book review, by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull, of Uncle Curro: J.R.R. Tolkien\u27s Spanish Connection (2018) by José Manuel Ferrández Br

Effect of delayed acquisition times on Gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the presumably normal canine brain

A delay in imaging following intravenous contrast medium administration has been recommended to reduce misdiagnoses. However, the normal variation of contrast enhancement in dogs following a delay has not been characterized. Contrast enhanced MR imaging of 22 dogs was assessed, in terms of identification of normal anatomic structures, to investigate the variation associated with 10 minute delay between contrast medium administration and imaging. All dogs had a normal brain MR imaging study and unremarkable CSF. Specific ROIs were assessed both objectively, using computer software, and subjectively using three observers. Mean contrast enhancement greater than 10% was seen in the pituitary gland, choroid plexus, meninges, temporal muscle, trigeminal nerve and the trigeminal nerve root. Structures with an active blood-brain-barrier had minimal contrast enhancement (<6%). Enhancing structures had significantly more contrast enhancement at t=1min versus t=10min, except in temporal muscle, the trigeminal nerve and the trigeminal nerve root. Inter-observer agreement was moderate to good in favor of the initial post contrast T1w sequence. The observers found either no difference or poor agreement in identification of the non-vascular structures. Intra-observer agreement was very good with all vascular structures and most non-vascular structures. A degree of meningeal enhancement was a consistent finding. The initial acquisition had higher enhancement characteristics and observer agreement for some structures; however, contrast-to-noise was comparable in the delayed phase or not significantly different. We provide baseline references and suggest that the initial T1w post contrast sequence is preferable but not essential should a delayed post contrast T1w sequence be performed

Precision placement of fertiliser for optimising the early nutrition of vegetable crops : a review of the implications for the yield and quality of crops, and their nutrient use efficiency

The research outlined in this paper highlights the importance of the early nutrition of vegetable crops, and its long-term effects on their subsequent growth and development. Results are also presented to demonstrate how the nutrient supply during the establishment stages of young seedlings and transplants can be enhanced by targeting fertiliser to a zone close to their developing roots. Three different precision fertiliser placement techniques are compared for this purpose: starter, band or side-injected fertiliser. The use of each of these methods consistently produced the same (or greater) yields at lower application rates than those from conventional broadcast applications, increasing the apparent recovery of N, P and K, and the overall efficiency of nutrient use, while reducing the levels of residual nutrients in the soil. Starter fertilisers also advanced the maturity of some crops, and enhanced produce quality by increasing the proportions of the larger and/or more desirable marketable grades. The benefits of the different placement techniques are illustrated with selected examples from research at Warwick HRI using different vegetable crops, including lettuce, onion and carrot

A high stability optical shadow sensor with applications for precision accelerometers

Displacement sensors are found in a variety of applications including gravitational wave detectors, precision metrology, tissue imaging, gravimeters, microscopy, and environmental monitoring. Most of these applications benefit from the use of displacement sensors that offer both high precision and stability. This is particularly the case for gravimetry where measurements are often taken over multi-day timescales. In this paper we describe a custom-built microcontroller-based displacement sensor that has been utilized in a micro-electromechanicalsystem gravimeter. The system runs off battery power and is low-cost, portable, and lightweight. Using an optical shadow sensor technique, and by designing a digital lock-in amplier based around a dsPIC33 microcontroller, we demonstrate a displacement sensitivity of 10 nm/Hz down to 300 s, and an rms sensitivity of 1 nm over timescales of one day. The system also provides real time monitoring/control of temperature, using an AD7195 ratiometric bridge to provide mK control of three separate PT100 sensors. Furthermore, a tilt sensor conditioning circuit is incorporated to drive a pair of electrolytic tilt sensors, resulting in the ability to monitor 2 axis tilt at the level of 1 microradian over approximately 1 day. The sensor system described is thus multifunctional and capable of being incorporated into precision accelerometers/gravimeters, or indeed other applications where long term displacement/temperature monitoring is necessary

Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy of DNA Monolayers Modified with Nile Blue

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is used to probe long-range charge transport (CT) through DNA monolayers containing the redox-active Nile Blue (NB) intercalator covalently affixed at a specific location in the DNA film. At substrate potentials negative of the formal potential of covalently attached NB, the electrocatalytic reduction of Fe(CN)63− generated at the SECM tip is observed only when NB is located at the DNA/solution interface; for DNA films containing NB in close proximity to the DNA/electrode interface, the electrocatalytic effect is absent. This behavior is consistent with both rapid DNA-mediated CT between the NB intercalator and the gold electrode as well as a rate-limiting electron transfer between NB and the solution phase Fe(CN)63−. The DNA-mediated nature of the catalytic cycle is confirmed through sequence-specific and localized detection of attomoles of TATA-binding protein, a transcription factor that severely distorts DNA upon binding. Importantly, the strategy outlined here is general and allows for the local investigation of the surface characteristics of DNA monolayers both in the absence and in the presence of DNA binding proteins. These experiments highlight the utility of DNA-modified electrodes as versatile platforms for SECM detection schemes that take advantage of CT mediated by the DNA base pair stack