Magnetic reconnection is an important process in astrophysical environments, as it reconfigures magnetic field topology and converts magnetic energy into thermal and kinetic energy. In extreme astrophysical systems, such as black hole coronae and pulsar magnetospheres, radiative cooling modifies the energy partition by radiating away internal energy, which can lead to the radiative collapse of the reconnection layer. In this paper, we perform two- and three-dimensional simulations to model the MARZ (Magnetic Reconnection on Z) experiments, which are designed to access cooling rates in the laboratory necessary to investigate reconnection in a previously unexplored radiatively cooled regime. These simulations are performed in GORGON, an Eulerian two-temperature resistive magnetohydrodynamic code, which models the experimental geometry comprising two exploding wire arrays driven by 20 MA of current on the Z machine (Sandia National Laboratories). Radiative losses are implemented using non-local thermodynamic equilibrium tables computed using the atomic code Spk, and we probe the effects of radiation transport by implementing both a local radiation loss model and $P_{1/3}$ multi-group radiation transport. The load produces highly collisional, super-Alfvénic (Alfvén Mach number $M_A \approx 1.5$), supersonic (Sonic Mach number $M_S \approx 4-5$) strongly driven plasma flows which generate an elongated reconnection layer (Aspect Ratio $L/\delta \approx 100$, Lundquist number $S_L \approx 400$). The reconnection layer undergoes radiative collapse when the radiative losses exceed the rates of ohmic and compressional heating (cooling rate/hydrodynamic transit rate = $\tau _{\text {cool}}^{-1}/\tau _{H}^{-1}\approx 100$); this generates a cold strongly compressed current sheet, leading to an accelerated reconnection rate, consistent with theoretical predictions. Finally, the current sheet is also unstable to the plasmoid instability, but the magnetic islands are extinguished by strong radiative cooling before ejection from the layer.

Helium or neopentane can be used as surrogate gas fill for deuterium (D2) or deuterium-tritium (DT) in laser-plasma interaction studies. Surrogates are convenient to avoid flammability hazards or the integration of cryogenics in an experiment. To test the degree of equivalency between deuterium and helium, experiments were conducted in the Pecos target chamber at Sandia National Laboratories. Observables such as laser propagation and signatures of laser-plasma instabilities (LPI) were recorded for multiple laser and target configurations. It was found that some observables can differ significantly despite the apparent similarity of the gases with respect to molecular charge and weight. While a qualitative behaviour of the interaction may very well be studied by finding a suitable compromise of laser absorption, electron density, and LPI cross sections, a quantitative investigation of expected values for deuterium fills at high laser intensities is not likely to succeed with surrogate gases.

Diets deficient in fibre are reported globally. The associated health risks of insufficient dietary fibre are sufficiently grave to necessitate large-scale interventions to increase population intake levels. The Danish Whole Grain Partnership (DWP) is a public–private enterprise model that successfully augmented whole-grain intake in the Danish population. The potential transferability of the DWP model to Slovenia, Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina has recently been explored. Here, we outline the feasibility of adopting the approach in the UK. Drawing on the collaborative experience of DWP partners, academics from the Healthy Soil, Healthy Food, Healthy People (H3) project and food industry representatives (Food and Drink Federation), this article examines the transferability of the DWP approach to increase whole grain and/or fibre intake in the UK. Specific consideration is given to the UK’s political, regulatory and socio-economic context. We note key political, regulatory, social and cultural challenges to transferring the success of DWP to the UK, highlighting the particular challenge of increasing fibre consumption among low socio-economic status groups – which were also most resistant to interventions in Denmark. Wholesale transfer of the DWP model to the UK is considered unlikely given the absence of the key ‘success factors’ present in Denmark. However, the DWP provides a template against which a UK-centric approach can be developed. In the absence of a clear regulatory context for whole grain in the UK, fibre should be prioritised and public–private partnerships supported to increase the availability and acceptability of fibre-rich foods.

Background: IgG4 autoantibodies to neurofascin-155 (NF-155) have been described in a subset of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). While reports suggest an acute onset is more likely than in antibody negative CIDP, little literature exists around the subsequent course of NF-155 positive cases that originally presented with an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP) phenotype. Methods: Two male patients, ages 51 and 59, presented with similar, <2 week histories of lower extremity weakness. Patients were diagnosed with AIDP and treated with IVIG. Following initial improvement, both patients relapsed. One patient was treated with IVIG and steroids with subsequent improvement; however, he was unable to be weaned from steroids without experiencing recurrence of symptoms. The other patient was not retreated. Testing for NF-155 IgG was sent. Results: The first patient ultimately required Rituximab for stable improvement, the other improved spontaneously. Both patients later had positive tests for NF-155 IgG4 antibodies. Conclusions: Both of our NF-155 positive cases had initial AIDP-like presentations, followed by a relapsing course and excellent eventual recovery. This result, along with limited other available cases, suggest that in patients with an AIDP-like presentation, NF-155 IgG4 autoantibodies could be a marker of disease recurrence, but do not necessarily predict a poor outcome.

Background: Approximately 25% of encephalitis cases in North America are autoimmune (AIE). For most forms of AIE, it is unclear which patients have the highest relapse risk and whether standard treatments reduce this risk. Our objective was to determine the overall risk of relapse and whether chronic immunosuppressive therapy modifies that risk. Methods: We performed a chart review consisting of all patients with AIE presenting to the Calgary Neuro-Immunology Clinic and Tom Baker Cancer Centre between 2015 and 2020. Predictors of relapse were determined with use of t-test. Results: Outcome data was assessable in 39 patients, 17/39 (44%) patients relapsed, and most relapses (76%) occurred within 3 years. Patients not on any immunosuppression at the time of relapse had a greater increase in CASE score, a proxy for presentation severity, at relapse compared to those on immunosuppression (p=0.0035). Conclusions: The risk of relapse in AIE is high (44%). Immunosuppression at the time of relapse, which may occur up to 3 years after initial presentation, lessens the relapse severity, although it remains unclear if it can reliably prevent relapses. Our data enforces the importance of long-term follow up and that ongoing immunosuppression may be helpful, particularly in the first 3 years after initial presentation.

Textbook recommendations for gavaging rats vary between 1-5 ml for an adult rat. Rats weighing either 130 g or 250 g were gavaged with varying dosages of barium sulphate (BaSO4). After dosing, radiographs were taken at 0, 15 and 60 min. Animals showing a section of the small intestine totally filled with BaSO4 were scored as displaying spontaneous release. Other rats of the same sizes were gavaged with similar doses and subsequently tested in an open-field arena for behavioural abnormalities that might indicate stress or pain resulting from the procedure. Body temperature before and after treatment was recorded using microchip transponders. None of the 250 g rats in the 1 ml dosage group showed spontaneous release through the pyloric sphincter. In the 2 ml and 4 ml dosage groups, only one out of five animals showed spontaneous release. In the 6 ml dosage group, half of the animals showed spontaneous release. In the 8 ml and 10 ml dosage groups, five out of six and four out of five, respectively, showed spontaneous release. If doses were higher than 12 ml, no animal was able to keep all of the BaSO4 in its stomach. In the rats weighing 130 g, the 3 ml dosage group showed only one out of four rats with spontaneous release, whereas in the 5 ml and 7 ml dosage groups, all animals showed spontaneous release. After 15 min, all of the rats in both weight groups showed BaSO4 in the duodenum. Ambulation, rearing up onto the hind legs and defecation, as well as body temperature immediately after dosing, correlated very strongly with the dose (ml kg−1); increasing the dose resulted in reduced ambulation, rearing, defecation and body temperature. However, 10 min after performance of the open-field test, neither body temperature, serum corticosterone nor serum glucose showed any correlation with dose. This study indicates that high doses (ie doses up to 10 ml for a 250 g rat) might be safe to use; however, if an adverse impact on the rat is to be avoided, use of much lower doses should be considered—for example, doses that do not enforce opening of the pyloric sphincter in any rat. This would be less than 4 ml kg−1 in a 250 g rat.

Various tools have been developed over previous years to study the welfare of laboratory animals. These include preference tests, which are commonly used to evaluate housing environments. Preference tests, however, have some pitfalls: they supply information only on the animals’ present preferences, and they allow the animal the choice only between the options offered. Other methods based upon the collection of clinico-chemical data require handling of the animals, which can be stressful in itself. An alternative may be to use telemetry to measure the changes in physiological parameters caused by different environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to use telemetry to evaluate the short-term impact of housing conditions on rodents. We monitored heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature in rats kept on three different types of flooring — bedding, grid floors and plastic floors. The study revealed significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature between rats housed in the three conditions, indicating that both grid floors and plastic floors are more stressful for the animals than bedding. The observed differences did not diminish over the two-week observation period. The grid-floor housing induced elevations in blood pressure and heart rate. Blood pressure remained elevated even when the animals were returned to standard bedding, whereas the heart rate declined back to its original value immediately in response to this shift. This study shows that telemetry is a very effective tool but that it needs integrating with other methods: in addition, a greater understanding of the biological significance of the changes in cardiovascular parameters is required before the hypothesis that these changes represent an indication of distress can be accepted.

Avian influenza (AI) is an important disease that has significant implications for animal and human health. High pathogenicity AI (HPAI) has emerged in consecutive seasons within the UK to cause the largest outbreaks recorded. Statutory measures to control outbreaks of AI virus (AIV) at poultry farms involve disposal of all birds on infected premises. Understanding of the timing of incursions into the UK could facilitate decisions on improved responses. During the autumnal migration and wintering period (autumn 2019– spring 2020), three active sampling approaches were trialled for wild bird species considered likely to be involved in captive AI outbreaks with retrospective laboratory testing undertaken to define the presence of AIV.

Faecal sampling of birds (n = 594) caught during routine and responsive mist net sampling failed to detect AIV. Cloacal sampling of hunter-harvested waterfowl (n = 146) detected seven positive samples from three species with the earliest detection on the 17 October 2020. Statutory sampling first detected AIV in wild and captive birds on 3 November 2020. We conclude that hunter sourced sampling of waterfowl presents an opportunity to detect AI within the UK in advance of outbreaks on poultry farms and allow for early intervention measures to protect the national poultry flock.

Background: Approximately 25% of encephalitis cases in North America are immune mediated. For most forms of autoimmune encephalitis (AIE), risk of relapse is unclear and little evidence exists to guide which patients have the highest risk and whether standard treatments reduce this risk. Our objective was to determine the factors associated with AIE relapse. Methods: We performed a chart review consisting of patients with AIE presenting to the Calgary Neuro-Immunology Clinic and Tom Baker Cancer Centre between 2015 and 2020. Predictors of relapse were determined with use of t-test. Results: Outcome data was assessable in 39/40 patients, 17/39 (44%) patients relapsed. Seropositive patients and those with abnormal CSF were more likely to relapse, although neither reached statistical significance (p=0.12, 0.059). Patients with longer duration of steroid and steroid sparing treatment prior to relapse, and those on steroids at the time of relapse, had milder relapses (p=0.024, 0.026, 0.047). There was no difference in steroid or steroid sparing treatment use at 3, 6, and 12 months between groups. Conclusions: Risk of relapse in AIE is high (44%), with most relapses occurring in the first 3 years. Continuous immunosuppression lessens the severity of relapse, although our study did not confirm it reduced the occurrence of relapse.

This paper adapts the agile scrum sprint, typically used in software development, to a prototyping sprint for mechatronic product design. The Design by Prototyping framework describes how the prototyping sprint can be used to manage the prototyping process in design projects through an agile-stage-gate hybrid model. A comparison of 18 student projects using either prototyping sprints or a traditional iterative prototyping approach shows that prototyping sprints helped students make more deliberate, strategic decisions about their use of prototypes.

The objectives and scope of a construction project is defined in the early design stage, the fuzzy front-end. This stage is crucial for project risk management and success, but traditional risk management tend to focus on operational risk in later design stages. This action research study leverages co-design methodology and the project management actuality perspective to tailor a risk management process for the fuzzy front-end of construction projects in a large client organization. The co-design process help enchance stakeholder value perception of the designed solution.

Background: Approximately 25% of encephalitis cases in North America are immune mediated. For most forms of autoimmune encephalitis (AIE), risk of relapse is unclear and little evidence exists to guide which patients have the highest risk and whether standard treatments reduce this risk. Our objective was to determine the factors associated with AIE relapse. Methods: We performed a chart review consisting of patients with AIE presenting to the Calgary Neuro-Immunology Clinic and Tom Baker Cancer Centre between 2015 and 2020. Predictors of relapse were determined with use of t-test. Results: Outcome data was assessable in 39/40 patients, 17/39 (44%) patients relapsed. Seropositive patients and those with abnormal CSF were more likely to relapse, although neither reached statistical significance (p=0.12, 0.059). Patients with longer duration of steroid and steroid sparing treatment prior to relapse, and those on steroids at the time of relapse, had milder relapses (p=0.024, 0.026, 0.047). There was no difference in steroid or steroid sparing treatment use at 3, 6, and 12 months between groups. Conclusions: Risk of relapse in AIE is high (44%), with most relapses occurring in the first 3 years. Continuous immunosuppression lessens the severity of relapse, although our study did not confirm it reduced the occurrence of relapse.