Media Village Generates Hype, Few Results in Glasgow

Driven by a desire to redevelop derelict land, attract inward investments, and better exploit the commercial potential of local talent, public authorities in Glasgow are partnering with private developers to transform an abandoned industrial dockland into a riverside business cluster for the creative industries. It’s a strategy increasingly common in a number of other peripheral regions and it highlights the new role “creativity” plays in urban rejuvenation, social renewal, and economic development. At its core, the strategy also betrays a troubling policy shift away from certain democratic conceptions of culture to ones that are more attuned to economic considerations shaped by global influences.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of exercise for those with cancer-related lymphedema

Objective: To evaluate the effects of exercise on cancer-related lymphedema and related symptoms, and to determine the need for those with lymphedema to wear compression during exercise. Data Sources: CINAHL, Cochrane, Ebscohost, MEDLINE, Pubmed, ProQuest Health and Medical Complete, ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health Source, Science Direct and SPORTDiscus databases were searched for trials published prior to 1 January, 2015. Study Selection: Randomised and non-randomised, controlled trials, and single group pre-post studies published in English-language were included. Twenty-one (exercise) and four (compression and exercise) studies met inclusion criteria. Data Extraction: Data was extracted into tabular format using predefined data fields by one reviewer and assessed for accuracy by a second reviewer. Study quality was evaluated using the Effective Public Health Practice Project assessment tool. Data Synthesis: Data was pooled using a random effects model to assess the effects of acute and long-term exercise on lymphedema and lymphedema-associated symptoms, with subgroup analyses for exercise mode and intervention length. There was no effect of exercise (acute or intervention) on lymphedema or associated symptoms with standardised mean differences from all analyses ranging between −0.2 and 0.1 (p-values ≥0.22). Findings from subgroup analyses for exercise mode (aerobic, resistance, mixed, other) and intervention duration (>12 weeks or ≤12 weeks) were consistent with these findings; that is, no effect on lymphedema or associated symptoms. There were too few studies evaluating the effect of compression during regular exercise to conduct a meta-analysis. Conclusions: Individuals with secondary lymphedema can safely participate in progressive, regular exercise without experiencing a worsening of lymphedema or related-symptoms. However, the results also do not suggest any improvements will occur in lymphedema. At present, there is insufficient evidence to support or refute the current clinical recommendation to wear compression garments during regular exercise.

Mapping bound plasmon propagation on a nanoscale stripe waveguide using quantum dots: Influence of spacer layer thickness

In this paper we image the highly confined long range plasmons of a nanoscale metal stripe waveguide using quantum emitters. Plasmons were excited using a highly focused 633 nm laser beam and a specially designed grating structure to provide stronger incoupling to the desired mode. A homogeneous thin layer of quantum dots was used to image the near field intensity of the propagating plasmons on the waveguide. We observed that the photoluminescence is quenched when the QD to metal surface distance is less than 10 nm. The optimised spacer layer thickness for the stripe waveguides was found to be around 20 nm. Authors believe that the findings of this paper prove beneficial for the development of plasmonic devices utilising stripe waveguides.

Dietary and exercise interventions to improve quality of life, metabolic risk factors and androgen deficiency symptoms in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy

Introduction Lifestyle interventions might be useful in the management of adverse effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with prostate cancer. Objectives To examine the effects of dietary and exercise interventions on quality of life (QoL), metabolic risk factors and androgen deficiency symptoms in men with prostate cancer undergoing ADT. Methods CINAHL, Cochrane library, Medline and PsychINFO were searched to identify randomised controlled trials published from January, 2004 to October, 2014. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment was independently conducted by two reviewers. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan® 5.3.5. Results Of 2183 articles retrieved, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and had low risk of bias.Nine studies evaluated exercise (resistance and/or aerobic and/or counselling) and three evaluated dietary supplementation. Median sample size =79 (33–121) and median intervention duration was 12 weeks (12–24). Exercise improved QoL measures (SMD 0.26, 95%CI −0.01 to 0.53) but not body composition, metabolic risk or vasomotor symptoms. Qualitative analysis indicated soy (or isoflavone) supplementation did not improve vasomotor symptoms; however, may improve QoL. Conclusions Few studies have evaluated the efficacy of lifestyle interventions in the management of adverse effects of ADT. We found inconclusive results for exercise in improving QoL and negative results for other outcomes. For soy-based products, we found negative results for modifying vasomotor symptoms and inconclusive results for improving QoL. Future work should investigate the best mode of exercise for improving QoL and other interventions such as dietary counselling should be investigated for their potential to modify these outcomes.

Universality in the fast orientational relaxation near isotropic-nematic transition

Detailed molecular dynamics simulations of Lennard-Jones ellipsoids have been carried out to investigate the emergence of criticality in the single-particle orientational relaxation near the isotropic-nematic (IN) phase transition. The simulations show a sudden appearance of a power-law behavior in the decay of the second-rank orientational relaxation as the IN transition is approached. The simulated value of the power-law exponent is 0.56, which is larger than the mean-field value (0.5) but less than the observed value (0.63) and may be due to the finite size of the simulated system. The decay of the first-rank orientational time correlation function, on the other hand, is nearly exponential but its decay becomes very slow near the isotropic-nematic transition, The zero-frequency rotational friction, calculated from the simulated angular Velocity correlation function, shows a marked increase near the IN transition.

Structural characteristics of a giant tropical liana and its mode of canopy spread in an alien environment

To circumvent the practical difficulties in research on tropical rainforest lianas in their natural habitat due to prevailing weather conditions, dense camouflaging vegetation and problems in transporting equipment for experimental investigations, Entada pursaetha DC (syn. Entada scandens Benth., Leguminosae) was grown inside a research campus in a dry subtropical environment. A solitary genet has attained a gigantic size in 17 years, infesting crowns of semi-evergreen trees growing in an area roughly equivalent to 1.6 ha. It has used aerially formed, cable-like stolons for navigating and spreading its canopy across tree gaps. Some of its parts which had remained unseen in its natural habitat due to dense vegetation are described. The attained size of this liana in a climatically different environment raises the question as to why it is restricted to evergreen rainforests. Some research problems for which this liana will be useful are pointed out.

Homogeneous isotropic turbulence: large momentum expansion

High temperature expansion is an effective tool for studying second order phase transitions. With this in mind, we have looked at a high momentum expansion for homogeneous isotropic turbulence. Combining our results with those of the inertial range, we give another view of extended self-similarity (ESS).

Nano-indentation studies on polymer matrix composites reinforced by few-layer graphene

The mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-matrix composites reinforced by functionalized few-layer graphene (FG) have been evaluated using the nano-indentation technique. A significant increase in both the elastic modulus and hardness is observed with the addition of 0.6 wt% of graphene. The crystallinity of PVA also increases with the addition of FG. This and the good mechanical interaction between the polymer and the FG, which provides better load transfer between the matrix and the fiber, are suggested to be responsible for the observed improvement in mechanical properties of the polymers.

A do-it-yourself (DIY) switched mode power conversion laboratory

In the education of physical sciences, the role of the laboratory cannot be overemphasised. It is the laboratory exercises which enable the student to assimilate the theoretical basis, verify the same through bench-top experiments, and internalize the subject discipline to acquire mastery of the same. However the resources essential to put together such an environment is substantial. As a result, the students go through a curriculum which is wanting in this respect. This paper presents a low cost alternative to impart such an experience to the student aimed at the subject of switched mode power conversion. The resources are based on an open source circuit simulator (Sequel) developed at IIT Mumbai, and inexpensive construction kits developed at IISc Bangalore. The Sequel programme developed by IIT Mumbai, is a circuit simulation program under linux operating system distributed free of charge. The construction kits developed at IISc Bangalore, is fully documented for anyone to assemble these circuit which minimal equipment such as soldering iron, multimeter, power supply etc. This paper puts together a simple forward dc to dc converter as a vehicle to introduce the programming under sequel to evaluate the transient performance and small signal dynamic model of the same. Bench tests on the assembled construction kit may be done by the student for study of operation, transient performance and closed loop stability margins etc.

Influence of Elastic-Constants on Mode-I Stress-Intensity Factors in 3-Dimensional Crack Problems

Plates with V-through edge notches subjected to pure bending and specimens with rectangular edge-through-notches subjected to combined bending and axial pull were investigated (under live-load and stress-frozen conditions) in a completely nondestructive manner using scattered-light photoelasticity. Stress-intensity factors (SIFs) were evaluated by analysing the singular stress distributions near crack-tips. Improved methods are suggested for the evaluation of SIFs. The thickness-wise variation of SIFs is also obtained in the investigation. The results obtained are compared with the available theoretical solutions.

Periodic Rayleigh waves of finite amplitude on an isotropic solid

Existence of a periodic progressive wave solution to the nonlinear boundary value problem for Rayleigh surface waves of finite amplitude is demonstrated using an extension of the method of strained coordinates. The solution, obtained as a second-order perturbation of the linearized monochromatic Rayleigh wave solution, contains harmonics of all orders of the fundamental frequency. It is shown that the higher harmonic content of the wave increases with amplitude, but the slope of the waveform remains finite so long as the amplitude is less than a critical value.

Photoelastic parametric studies of mode I stress intensity factors

Results of photoelastic investigations on single edge-notch tension specimens of varying notch angle and crack length are reported. The experimental results of Mode I stress intensity factors are compared with analytical results.

Spoilage pattern of five species of Australian prawns: Deterioration is influenced by environment of capture and mode of storage

Five species of commercial prawns Penaeus plebejus, P. merguiensis, P. semisulcatus/P. esculentus and M. bennettae, were obtained from South-East and North Queensland, chilled soon after capture and then stored either whole or deheaded on ice and ice slurry, until spoilage. Total bacterial counts, total volatile nitrogen, K-values and total demerit scores were assessed at regular intervals. Their shelf lives ranged from 10-17 days on ice and >20 days on ice slurry. Initial bacterial flora on prawns from shallower waters (4-15m) were dominated by Gram-positives and had lag periods around 7 days, whereas prawns from deeper waters (100m) were dominant in Pseudomonas spp. with no lag periods in bacterial growth. The dominant spoiler in ice was mainly Pseudomonas fragi whereas the main spoiler in ice slurry was Shewanella putrefaciens. Bacterial interactions seem to play a major role in the patterns of spoilage in relation to capture environment and pattern of storage

On The Topology Of Manifolds With Positive Isotropic Curvature

We show that a closed orientable Riemannian n-manifold, n >= 5, with positive isotropic curvature and free fundamental group is homeomorphic to the connected sum of copies of Sn-1 x S-1.