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In the absence of oxygen, Fe(II) chloride, sulfate, and carbonate solutions react at pH 6.5 to 7 with aluminum hydroxide suspensions to form new Fe(II)-Al(III) hydroxy anion compounds of the pyroaurite group. The Fe(II)-Al(III) hydroxy-chloride and -sulfate compounds are isostructural with Fe(II)- Fe(III) “green rust” compounds with A1 essentially substituting for Fe(III). Where CO32- is the only anion in the system, an Fe(II)-Al(III) compound isostructural with hydrotalcite is formed. Either in the dried or wet state, these compounds are unstable in air due to oxidation of Fe(II). Oxidation of the dried sample in air yields akaganeite or aluminous ferrihydrite, whereas, if the sample is maintained in a moist condition and oxidized by air under water, lepidocrocite or aluminous goethite is produced along with small amounts of ferrihydrite. On X-ray powder diffraction, the lepidocrocite so formed commonly shows no diagnostic (020) basal reflection, or one with a markedly reduced intensity. The products of oxidation, and the rapidity of their formation, appear to be dependent on the composition of the initial double hydroxy compound and the conditions under which the oxidation is carried out.
The green colored compounds commonly observed in gleyed soils also rapidly become yellow brown on exposure to air, and difficulty arises in the identification of the Fe oxide phases assumed to be present. Similar conditions and reactants to those involved in the formation of the compounds described above are expected in these soils, and it is suggested that Fe(II)-Al(III) members of the pyroaurite group may form in such an environment.
The normative principle of description invariance presupposes that rational preferences must be complete. The completeness axiom is normatively dubious, however, and its rejection opens the door to rational framing effects. In this commentary, we suggest that Bermúdez's insightful challenge to the standard normative view of framing can be clarified and extended by situating it within a broader critique of completeness.
Gravitational waves from coalescing neutron stars encode information about nuclear matter at extreme densities, inaccessible by laboratory experiments. The late inspiral is influenced by the presence of tides, which depend on the neutron star equation of state. Neutron star mergers are expected to often produce rapidly rotating remnant neutron stars that emit gravitational waves. These will provide clues to the extremely hot post-merger environment. This signature of nuclear matter in gravitational waves contains most information in the 2–4 kHz frequency band, which is outside of the most sensitive band of current detectors. We present the design concept and science case for a Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory (NEMO): a gravitational-wave interferometer optimised to study nuclear physics with merging neutron stars. The concept uses high-circulating laser power, quantum squeezing, and a detector topology specifically designed to achieve the high-frequency sensitivity necessary to probe nuclear matter using gravitational waves. Above 1 kHz, the proposed strain sensitivity is comparable to full third-generation detectors at a fraction of the cost. Such sensitivity changes expected event rates for detection of post-merger remnants from approximately one per few decades with two A+ detectors to a few per year and potentially allow for the first gravitational-wave observations of supernovae, isolated neutron stars, and other exotica.
Diet has a major influence on the composition and metabolic output of the gut microbiome. Higher-protein diets are often recommended for older consumers; however, the effect of high-protein diets on the gut microbiota and faecal volatile organic compounds (VOC) of elderly participants is unknown. The purpose of the study was to establish if the faecal microbiota composition and VOC in older men are different after a diet containing the recommended dietary intake (RDA) of protein compared with a diet containing twice the RDA (2RDA). Healthy males (74⋅2 (sd 3⋅6) years; n 28) were randomised to consume the RDA of protein (0⋅8 g protein/kg body weight per d) or 2RDA, for 10 weeks. Dietary protein was provided via whole foods rather than supplementation or fortification. The diets were matched for dietary fibre from fruit and vegetables. Faecal samples were collected pre- and post-intervention for microbiota profiling by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing and VOC analysis by head space/solid-phase microextraction/GC-MS. After correcting for multiple comparisons, no significant differences in the abundance of faecal microbiota or VOC associated with protein fermentation were evident between the RDA and 2RDA diets. Therefore, in the present study, a twofold difference in dietary protein intake did not alter gut microbiota or VOC indicative of altered protein fermentation.
Detailed methods are described for the laboratory preparation of the manganese minerals manganosite, hausmannite, manganite, partridgeite, birnessite, cryptomelane, pyrolusite, and todorokite. New data are presented on the conversion of birnessite to cryptomelane, and on the exchange properties of potassium in these two minerals. It was found that the upper limit of potassium in cryptomelane is about 7 % K, while the lower limit lies between 0·25 % and 2·2 % K.
To investigate predictive factors of complete obliteration following treatment with linac-based stereotactic radiosurgery for intracerebral arteriovenous malformations.
Methods:
Archived plans for 48 patients treated at the British Columbia Cancer Agency and who underwent post-treatment digital subtraction angiography to assess obliteration were studied. Actuarial estimates of obliteration were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used for analysis of incidence of obliteration. Log-rank test was used to search for parameters associated with obliteration.
Results:
Complete nidus obliteration was achieved in 38/48 patients (79.2%). Actuarial rate of obliteration was 75.9% at 4 years (95% confidence interval 63.1%-88.6%). On univariate analysis, prescribed dose to the margin (p=0.002) and dose to isocentre (p=0.022) showed statistical significance. No parameters were significant in a multivariate model. According to the log-rank test, prescribed dose to the margin of >20 Gy (p=0.004) and dose to the isocentre of >25 Gy (p=0.004) were associated with obliteration.
Conclusion:
Reported series in the literature suggest a number of different factors are predictive of complete obliteration of arteriovenous malformations following radiosurgery. However, differing definitions of volume and complete obliteration makes direct comparison between series difficult. This study demonstrates that complete obliteration of the nidus following linear accelerator-based stereotactic radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations appears to be most closely related to the prescribed marginal dose. In particular, a marginal dose of >20Gy is strongly associated with obtaining complete obliteration of the nidus.
Data were extracted from the case records of UK patients admitted with laboratory-confirmed influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. White and non-White patients were characterized by age, sex, socioeconomic status, pandemic wave and indicators of pre-morbid health status. Logistic regression examined differences by ethnicity in patient characteristics, care pathway and clinical outcomes; multivariable models controlled for potential confounders. Whites (n = 630) and non-Whites (n = 510) differed by age, socioeconomic status, pandemic wave of admission, pregnancy, recorded obesity, previous and current smoking, and presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After adjustment for a priori confounders non-Whites were less likely to have received pre-admission antibiotics [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0·43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·28–0·68, P < 0·001) but more likely to receive antiviral drugs as in-patients (aOR 1·53, 95% CI 1·08–2·18, P = 0·018). However, there were no significant differences by ethnicity in delayed admission, severity at presentation for admission, or likelihood of severe outcome.
This paper was written at the request of the Life Research Committee of the United Kingdom Actuarial Profession's Life Board. It concerns the valuation of U.K. with-profits business, with particular attention to the market-consistent ‘realistic reporting’ basis currently being used in the U.K. by the regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The paper surveys recent regulatory activity concerning the development and introduction of the new valuation approach, and puts it into the context of a survey of alternative methodologies, both deterministic and stochastic. The particular issues arising when considering prudential solvency are discussed, and various approaches are reviewed and compared with market consistent methods. Numerical examples are given, which demonstrate potential issues (regarding comparability and consistency) with the FSA's proposed approach — in particular the sensitivity of results to model calibration. The authors support the FSA's move to a stochastically-based framework for solvency measurement, but highlight some issues which need to be taken into account.
Any instance (i.e., event, behavior, trait) belongs to infinitely many reference classes, hence there are infinitely many base rates from which to choose. People clearly do not entertain all possible reference classes, however, so something must be limiting the search space. We suggest some possible mechanisms that determine which reference class is evoked for the purpose of judgment and decision.
Solar-type variability is enhanced in short period close binaries with increased dynamo driven activity. This activity is studied in our analysis of recent light curves taken of the newly discovered eclipsing binaries GSC 2764 1417 (And), GSC 3355 0394 (Per) and GSC 2537 0775 (CVn).
This study compares rates of comorbidity of lifetime psychiatric disorder in a clinical sample of women with bulimia, with general population base rates, and with rates of comorbidity among bulimic women in the general population. Eighty-four per cent of the clinical sample of bulimic women had a lifetime affective disorder, and 44% a lifetime alcohol or drug disorder. These rates of disorder were significantly higher than the base rates in the general population. Bulimic women in the general population also had more affective and substance-use disorders than the general population base rates, but the rates of these disorders were lower than found in the clinical sample. In the general population, quite similar rates of other disorders including generalized anxiety, panic, phobia and obsessive–compulsive disorder, are found among those with bulimia, substance-use disorder and depression. Furthermore, among those with depression and substance-use disorder in the general population, rates of eating disorder are comparable. Rather than suggesting a specific relationship between bulimia and either depression or substance-use disorder, the data from this study suggest that the presence of any disorder is associated with a non-specific increase in the likelihood of other psychiatric disorder.
Oaksford & Chater's (O&C's) account of deductive reasoning is parsimonious at a local level (because a rational model is used to explain a wide range of behavior) and at a global level (because their Bayesian approach connects to other areas of research). Their emphasis on environmental structure is especially important, and the power of their approach is seen at both the computational and algorithmic levels.
Field experiments were conducted in Chile and western Canada to measure
short-distance (0 to 100 m) outcrossing from transgenic safflower
(Carthamus tinctorius L.) intended for plant molecular farming to non-transgenic commodity
safflower of the same variety. The transgenic safflower used as the pollen
source was transformed with a construct for seed-specific expression of a
high-value protein and constitutive expression of a gene conferring
resistance to the broad-spectrum herbicide glufosinate. Progeny of
non-transgenic plants grown in plots adjacent to the transgenic pollen
source were screened for glufosinate resistance to measure outcrossing
frequency. Outcrossing frequency differed among locations: values closest to
the transgenic pollen source (0 to 3 m) ranged from 0.48 to 1.67% and
rapidly declined to between 0.0024 to 0.03% at distances of 50 to 100 m.
At each location, outcrossing frequency was spatially heterogeneous,
indicating insects or wind moved pollen asymmetrically. A power analysis
assuming a binomial distribution and a range of alpha values (type 1 error)
was conducted to estimate an upper and lower confidence interval for the
probable transgenic seed frequency in each sample. This facilitated
interpretation when large numbers of seeds were screened from the
outcrossing experiments and no transgenic seeds were found. This study
should aid regulators and the plant molecular farming industry in developing
confinement strategies to mitigate pollen mediated gene flow from transgenic
to non-transgenic safflower.
Female fertility begins to decline many years before menopause, despite continued regular ovulatory cycles. Decreased fecundity with increasing female age has long been recognized in demographic and epidemiological studies. Traditionally, the evaluation of the infertile female consists of: (i) ovulation assessment (ovulatory factors), (ii) evaluation of the uterine morphology (ovulation assessment) and tubal patency (tubal factors), (iii) assessment of the presence of pelvic pathology (by laparoscopy) (peritoneal factors), and (iv) postcoital test (cervical factors). Hysterosalpingography (HSG), laparoscopy are widely used in assessing infertility. Chlamydia antibody testing is a screening method for assessing tubal infertility. HSG, sonohysterography, hystero-salpingo contrast sonography (HyCoSy), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hysteroscopy are used in assessment of uterine factors related to infertility. Currently, the best method to monitor ovulation is transvaginal ultrasound, which can be used to demonstrate the growth of a dominant follicle and provide presumptive evidence of ovulation and leutinization.
Social capital has been considered aetiologically important in schizophrenia but the empirical evidence to support this hypothesis is absent. We tested whether social capital, measured at the neighbourhood level, was associated with the incidence of schizophrenia (ICD-10 F20).
Method
We administered a cross-sectional questionnaire on social capital to 5% of the adult population in 33 neighbourhoods (wards) in South London (n=16 459). The questionnaire contained items relating to two social capital constructs: social cohesion and trust (SC&T) and social disorganization (SocD). Schizophrenia incidence rates, estimated using data from the Aetiology and Ethnicity in Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses (AESOP) study, provided the outcome. We used multi-level Poisson regression to test our hypothesis while controlling for individual- and neighbourhood-level characteristics.
Results
We identified 148 cases during 565 576 person-years at-risk. Twenty-six per cent of the variation in incidence rates was attributable to neighbourhood-level characteristics. Response from the social capital survey was 25.7%. The association between SC&T and schizophrenia was U-shaped. Compared with neighbourhoods with medial levels of SC&T, incidence rates were significantly higher in neighbourhoods with low [incidence rates ratio (IRR) 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–3.3] and high (IRR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3–4.8) levels of SC&T, independent of age, sex, ethnicity, ethnic density, ethnic fragmentation and socio-economic deprivation.
Conclusion
Neighbourhood variation in SC&T was non-linearly associated with the incidence of schizophrenia within an urban area. Neighbourhoods with low SC&T may fail to mediate social stress whereas high SC&T neighbourhoods may have greater informal social control or may increase the risk of schizophrenia for residents excluded from accessing available social capital.