We provide an assessment of the Infinity Two Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) baseline plasma physics design. Infinity Two is a four-field period, aspect ratio A = 10, quasi-isodynamic stellarator with improved confinement appealing to a max-J approach, elevated plasma density and high magnetic fields (⟨B⟩ = 9 T). At the envisioned operating point [800 MW deuterium-tritium (DT) fusion], the configuration has robust magnetic surfaces based on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium calculations and is stable to both local and global MHD instabilities. The configuration has excellent confinement properties with small neoclassical transport and low bootstrap current (|Ibootstrap| ∼ 2 kA). Calculations of collisional alpha particle confinement in a DT FPP scenario show small energy losses to the first wall (< 1.5%) and stable energetic particle/Alfvén eigenmodes at high ion density. Low turbulent transport is produced using a combination of density profile control consistent with pellet fueling and reduced stiffness to turbulent transport via three-dimensional shaping. Transport simulations with the T3D-GX-SFINCS code suite with self-consistent turbulent and neoclassical transport predict that the Pfus = 800 MW operating point is attainable with high fusion gain (Q = 40) at volume-averaged electron densities ne ≈ 2×1020 m−3, below the Sudo density limit. Additional transport calculations show that an ignited (Q = ∞) solution is available at slightly higher density (2.2×1020 m−3) with Pfus = 1.5 GW. The magnetic configuration is defined by a magnetic coil set with sufficient room for an island divertor, shielding and blanket solutions with tritium breeding ratios (TBR) above unity. An optimistic estimate for the gas-cooled solid breeder designed Helium Cooled Pebble Bed is TBR ∼ 1.3. Infinity Two satisfies the physics requirements of a stellarator fusion pilot plant.

The selection, design, and optimization of a suitable blanket configuration for an advanced high-field stellarator concept is seen as a key feasibility issue and has been incorporated as a vital and necessary part of the Infinity Two Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) physics basis. The focus of this work was to identify a baseline blanket which can be rapidly deployed for Infinity Two while also maintaining flexibility and opportunities for higher performing concepts later in development. Results from this analysis indicate that gas-cooled solid breeder designs such as the Helium Cooled Pebble Bed (HCPB) are the most promising concepts, primarily motivated by the neutronics performance at applicable blanket build depths, and the relatively mature technology basis. The lithium lead (PbLi) family of concepts, particularly the Dual Cooled Lithium Lead (DCLL), offer a compelling alternative to solid blanket concepts as they have synergistic developmental pathways while simultaneously mitigating much of the technical risk of those designs. Homogenized 3-dimensional neutronics analysis of the Infinity Two configuration indicates that the HCPB achieves an adequate tritium breeding ratio (TBR) (1.30 which enables sufficient margin at low engineering fidelity), and near appropriate shielding of the magnets (average fast fluence of 1.3 x 1018 n/cm2 per fullpower year). The thermal analysis indicates that reasonably high thermal efficiencies (greater than 30%) are readily achievable with the HCPB paired with a simple Rankine cycle using reheat. Finally, the tritium fuel cycle analysis for Infinity Two shows viability, with anticipated operational inventories of less than one kilogram (approximately 675 grams) and a required TBR (TBRreq) of less than 1.05 to maintain fuel self-sufficiency (approximately 1.023 for a driver blanket with no inventory doubling). Although further optimization and engineering design is still required, at the physics basis stage all initial targets have been met for the Infinity Two configuration.

This editorial considers the value and nature of academic psychiatry by asking what defines the specialty and psychiatrists as academics. We frame academic psychiatry as a way of thinking that benefits clinical services and discuss how to inspire the next generation of academics.

The flow of a nematic liquid crystal in a Hele-Shaw cell with an electrically controlled viscous obstruction is investigated using both a theoretical model and physical experiments. The viscous obstruction is created by temporarily electrically altering the viscosity of the nematic in a region of the cell across which an electric field is applied. The theoretical model is validated experimentally for a circular cylindrical obstruction, demonstrating user-controlled flow manipulation of an anisotropic liquid within a heterogeneous single-phase microfluidic device.

The Asian tapir Tapirus indicus is the only tapir species in Southeast Asia. It is declining across its range and is categorized as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. The forests of Sumatra are critical to Asian tapir conservation as they contain some of the last remaining populations of the species, yet conservation efforts are hindered by a lack of information on habitat suitability. We collated camera-trap data from nine landscapes across 69,500 km2 of Sumatran rainforest to help predict suitable habitat for Asian tapirs on the island. Predictions from Bayesian occupancy models demonstrated that tapir occupancy was greatest in forests below 600 m elevation and exclusively in forests with high aboveground biomass. Forests around the Barisan Mountains on the west of Sumatra provide the most suitable habitat for the species. Only 36% of the most critical habitat (i.e. 80th percentile of predicted occupancy values, or above) for tapirs is formally protected for conservation, with much of the remainder found in forests allocated to watershed protection (35%) or logging (23%). We highlight several key areas in Sumatra where tapir conservation could be bolstered, such as by leveraging existing conservation efforts for other charismatic flagships species on the island.

International travel is thought to be a major risk factor for developing gastrointestinal (GI) illness for UK residents. Here, we present an analysis of routine laboratory and exposure surveillance data from North East (NE) England, describing the destination-specific contribution that international travel makes to the regional burden of GI infection.

Laboratory reports of common notifiable enteric infections were linked to exposure data for cases reported between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2022. Demographic characteristics of cases were described, and rates per 100,000 visits were determined using published estimates of overseas visits from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) International Passenger Survey (IPS).

About 34.9% of cases reported international travel during their incubation period between 2013 and 2022, although travel-associated cases were significantly reduced (>80%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2013 and 2019, half of Shigella spp. and non-typhoidal Salmonella infections and a third of Giardia sp., Cryptosporidium spp., and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections were reported following travel. Rates of illness were highest in travellers returning from Africa and Asia (107.8 and 61.1 per 100,000 visits), with high rates also associated with tourist resorts like Turkey, Egypt, and the Dominican Republic (386.4–147.9 per 100,000 visits).

International travel is a major risk factor for the development of GI infections. High rates of illness were reported following travel to both destinations, which are typically regarded as high-risk and common tourist resorts. This work highlights the need to better understand risks while travelling to support the implementation of guidance and control measures to reduce the burden of illness in returning travellers.

Background: Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumor with surgery, dural margin treatment, and radiotherapy as cornerstones of therapy. Response to treatment continues to be highly heterogeneous even across tumors of the same grade. Methods: Using a cohort of 2490 meningiomas in addition to 100 cases from the prospective RTOG-0539 phase II clinical trial, we define molecular biomarkers of response across multiple different, recently defined molecular classifications and use propensity score matching to mimic a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the role of extent of resection, dural marginal resection, and adjuvant radiotherapy on clinical outcome. Results: Gross tumor resection led to improved progression-free-survival (PFS) across all molecular groups (MG) and improved overall survival in proliferative meningiomas (HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.30-0.93). Dural margin treatment (Simpson grade 1/2) improved PFS versus complete tumor removal alone (Simpson 3). MG reliably predicted response to radiotherapy, including in the RTOG-0539 cohort. A molecular model developed using clinical trial cases discriminated response to radiotherapy better than standard of care grading in multiple cohorts (ΔAUC 0.12, 95%CI 0.10-0.14). Conclusions: We elucidate biological and molecular classifications of meningioma that influence response to surgery and radiotherapy in addition to introducing a novel molecular-based prediction model of response to radiation to guide treatment decisions.

Background: Meningiomas have significant heterogeneity between patients, making prognostication challenging. For this study, we prospectively validate the prognostic capabilities of a DNA methylation-based predictor and multiomic molecular groups (MG) of meningiomas. Methods: DNA methylation profiles were generated using the Illumina EPICarray. MG were assigned as previously published. Performance of our methylation-based predictor and MG were compared with WHO grade using generalized boosted regression modeling by generating time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and computing area under the ROC curves (AUCs) along with their 95% confidence interval using bootstrap resampling. Results: 295 meningiomas treated from 2018-2021 were included. Methylation-defined high-risk meningiomas had significantly poorer PFS and OS compared to low-risk cases (p<0.0001). Methylation risk increased with higher WHO grade and MG. Higher methylome risk (HR 4.89, 95%CI 2.02-11.82) and proliferative MG (HR 4.11, 95%CI 1.29-13.06) were associated with significantly worse PFS independent of WHO grade, extent of resection, and adjuvant RT. Both methylome-risk and MG classification predicted 3- and 5-year PFS and OS more accurately than WHO grade alone (ΔAUC=0.10-0.23). 42 cases were prescribed adjuvant RT prospectively although RT did not significantly improve PFS in high-risk cases (p=0.41). Conclusions: Molecular profiling outperforms conventional WHO grading for prognostication in an independent, prospectively collected cohort of meningiomas.

Aviation passenger screening has been used worldwide to mitigate the translocation risk of SARS-CoV-2. We present a model that evaluates factors in screening strategies used in air travel and assess their relative sensitivity and importance in identifying infectious passengers. We use adapted Monte Carlo simulations to produce hypothetical disease timelines for the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 for travelling passengers. Screening strategy factors assessed include having one or two RT-PCR and/or antigen tests prior to departure and/or post-arrival, and quarantine length and compliance upon arrival. One or more post-arrival tests and high quarantine compliance were the most important factors in reducing pathogen translocation. Screening that combines quarantine and post-arrival testing can shorten the length of quarantine for travelers, and variability and mean testing sensitivity in post-arrival RT-PCR and antigen tests decrease and increase with the greater time between the first and second post-arrival test, respectively. This study provides insight into the role various screening strategy factors have in preventing the translocation of infectious diseases and a flexible framework adaptable to other existing or emerging diseases. Such findings may help in public health policy and decision-making in present and future evidence-based practices for passenger screening and pandemic preparedness.

Although knowledge of their fossil record continues to improve, multituberculates nonetheless remain one of the more poorly understood mammalian clades, which can be attributed to a record comprised of isolated teeth and fragmentary jaws. Fortunately, the p4 of multituberculates is the most common form of remains for this group and is a principal source of diagnostic characters in systematic studies, the p4 of cimolodontan multituberculates is both common and a source of diagnostic characters in systematic studies. The results of a recent morphometric study on the neoplagiaulacid Mesodma suggest that p4 size may be more useful than shape in diagnosing the various species referred to this genus. We tested this hypothesis by applying two different morphometric methods (2D geometric morphometrics and linear measurements) to two samples: (1) one including the p4s of four known species of Mesodma (M. ambigua, M. thompsoni, M. formosa, and M. pygmaea), and (2) a sample of unidentified p4s of Mesodma from the Bug Creek Anthills locality of northeastern Montana. Our results indicate that while form explains most of the morphological variation in p4s of the various species of Mesodma, linear-measurement data support differences in p4 morphology that are not recovered by form data alone. Depending on the methods used, we found evidence for the presence of one or more species of Mesodma in the Bug Creek Anthills fauna. Although shape and size both contribute to morphological variation in the p4 of Mesodma, our results suggest that the diagnostic power of each varies with the type of methodology employed.

The adsorption of 13C-labeled benzene on imogolite has been studied on samples which had been evacuated and then heated to remove water below their decomposition point. After adsorption of labeled benzene, the samples were studied by nuclear magnetic resonance using non-spinning techniques. The results show that benzene can occupy more than one pore type and that water does not displace benzene from the intra-tube pores at atmospheric pressure. A further finding is that there are at least two types of adsorbed benzene in so called inter-tube pores, one of which is more rigidly held than that in intratube pores. The presence of disordered materials at the edge of pores could also play a role in altering the pore mouth thereby creating new types of pores. Moreover, where two tubes do not pack properly, space might be created where an adsorbed molecule may bind more tightly than expected in a conventional pore.