High Power Laser Science and Engineering (1)
Survival of Neisseria meningitidis outside of the host: environmental effects and differences among strains
C. L. SWAIN, D. R. MARTIN, D. SIM, T. W. JORDAN, J. K. MACKICHAN
Journal: Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 145 / Issue 16 / December 2017
Neisseria meningitidis is a gram-negative bacterium that lives as a commensal in the human nasopharynx. Meningococci are generally non-invasive, but can invade the nasopharyngeal epithelia and enter the bloodstream causing life-threatening illnesses. It is generally thought that meningococci do not survive for long outside the host, and that transmission requires relatively close contact between hosts. There are some reports, however, that meningococci can survive drying on surfaces, including glass, plastic and cloth. Our examination of N. meningitidis strains dried on glass showed differences in survival of isolates belonging to serogroups B, C and W135, including persistence of Cuban, New Zealand, and Norwegian epidemic strains up to 8 days, depending on temperature and humidity. Survival of a New Zealand epidemic strain isolate NZ98/254 under ambient conditions in the laboratory was greatest in winter suggesting that environmental factors impacted survival. For most isolates, including NZ98/254, survival under controlled conditions at 30 °C was greater at 22% than 30% relative humidity. There were also some differences in survival between carriage and invasive strains. The results suggest that N. meningitidis could be transmitted through contact with surfaces outside the host, potentially including contact through shared drinking vessels.
Complex Web Construction: A Possible Clue to Mechanical Properties
L. Pautler, E. Jennings, J. Burnham, T. Swain, C. Li, J. A. Hubbard, N. Moy, D Shattuck, Teacher, Z. Qin, M. Buehler, V. Robertson, M. Shibata
Journal: Microscopy and Microanalysis / Volume 22 / Issue S3 / July 2016
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 July 2016, pp. 2090-2091
Life satisfaction and mental health problems (18 to 35 years)
D. M. Fergusson, G. F. H. McLeod, L. J. Horwood, N. R. Swain, S. Chapple, R. Poulton
Journal: Psychological Medicine / Volume 45 / Issue 11 / August 2015
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 March 2015, pp. 2427-2436
Previous research has found that mental health is strongly associated with life satisfaction. In this study we examine associations between mental health problems and life satisfaction in a birth cohort studied from 18 to 35 years.
Data were gathered during the Christchurch Health and Development Study, which is a longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 1265 children, born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1977. Assessments of psychiatric disorder (major depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality, alcohol dependence and illicit substance dependence) using DSM diagnostic criteria and life satisfaction were obtained at 18, 21, 25, 30 and 35 years.
Significant associations (p < 0.01) were found between repeated measures of life satisfaction and the psychiatric disorders major depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality, alcohol dependence and substance dependence. After adjustment for non-observed sources of confounding by fixed effects, statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) remained between life satisfaction and major depression, anxiety disorder, suicidality and substance dependence. Overall, those reporting three or more mental health disorders had mean life satisfaction scores that were nearly 0.60 standard deviations below those without mental health problems. A structural equation model examined the direction of causation between life satisfaction and mental health problems. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) reciprocal associations were found between life satisfaction and mental health problems.
After adjustment for confounding, robust and reciprocal associations were found between mental health problems and life satisfaction. Overall, this study showed evidence that life satisfaction influences mental disorder, and that mental disorder influences life satisfaction.
By Magdalena Anitescu, Charles E. Argoff, Arash Asher, Nyla Azam, Nomen Azeem, Sachin K. Bansal, Jose E. Barreto, Rodrigo A Benavides, Niteesh Bharara, Justin B. Boge, Robert B. Bolash, Thomas K. Bond, Christopher Centeno, Zachariah W. Chambers, Jonathan Chang, Grace Chen, Hamilton Chen, Jeffry Chen, Jianguo Cheng, Natalia Covarrubias, Claire J. Creutzfeldt, Gulshan Doulatram, Amirpasha Ehsan, Ike Eriator, Jeff Ericksen, Mark Etscheidt, Frank J. E. Falco, Jack Fu, Timothy Furnish, Annemarie E. Gallagher, Kingsuk Ganguly, Eugene Garvin, Cliff Gevirtz, Scott E. Glaser, Brandon J. Goff, Harry J. Gould, Christine Greco, Jay S. Grider, Maged Guirguis, Qiao Guo, Justin Hata, John Hau, Garett J. Helber, Eric R. Helm, Lori Hill Marshall, Dean Hommer, Jeffrey Hopcian, Eric S. Hsu, Jakun Ing, Tracy P. Jackson, Gaurav Jain, Chrystina Jeter, Alan David Kaye, James Kelly, Soorena Khojasteh, Ankur Khosla, Daniel Krashin, Monika A. Krzyzek, Prasad Lakshminarasimhiah, Steven Michael Lampert, Garrett LaSalle, Quan D. Le, Ankit Maheshwari, Edward R. Mariano, Joaquin Maury, John P. McCallin, John Michels, Natalia Murinova, Narendren Narayanasamy, Rebekah L. Nilson, Elliot Palmer, Vikram B. Patel, Devin Peck, Donald B. Penzien, Danielle Perret Karimi, Tilak Raj, Michael R. Rasmussen, Mohit Rastogi, Rahul Rastogi, Nashaat N. Rizk, Rinoo V. Shah, Paul A. Sloan, Julian Sosner, A. Raj Swain, Minyi Tan, Natacha Telusca, Santhosh A. Thomas, Andrea Trescot, Michael Truong, Jason Tucker, Richard D. Urman, Brandon A. Van Noord, Nihir Waghela, Irene Wu, Jiang Wu, Jijun Xu, Jinghui Xie, William Yancey
Edited by Alan David Kaye, Louisiana State University, Rinoo V. Shah
Book: Case Studies in Pain Management
Published online: 05 October 2014
Print publication: 16 October 2014, pp xi-xv
Demonstration of laser pulse amplification by stimulated Brillouin scattering
E. Guillaume, K. Humphrey, H. Nakamura, R. M. G. M. Trines, R. Heathcote, M. Galimberti, Y. Amano, D. Doria, G. Hicks, E. Higson, S. Kar, G. Sarri, M. Skramic, J. Swain, K. Tang, J. Weston, P. Zak, E. P. Alves, R. A. Fonseca, F. Fiúza, H. Habara, K. A. Tanaka, R. Bingham, M. Borghesi, Z. Najmudin, L. O. Silva, P. A. Norreys
Journal: High Power Laser Science and Engineering / Volume 2 / 01 July 2014
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 September 2014, e33
Print publication: 01 July 2014
The energy transfer by stimulated Brillouin backscatter from a long pump pulse (15 ps) to a short seed pulse (1 ps) has been investigated in a proof-of-principle demonstration experiment. The two pulses were both amplified in different beamlines of a Nd:glass laser system, had a central wavelength of 1054 nm and a spectral bandwidth of 2 nm, and crossed each other in an underdense plasma in a counter-propagating geometry, off-set by $\def \xmlpi #1{}\def \mathsfbi #1{\boldsymbol {\mathsf {#1}}}\let \le =\leqslant \let \leq =\leqslant \let \ge =\geqslant \let \geq =\geqslant \def \Pr {\mathit {Pr}}\def \Fr {\mathit {Fr}}\def \Rey {\mathit {Re}}10^\circ $ . It is shown that the energy transfer and the wavelength of the generated Brillouin peak depend on the plasma density, the intensity of the laser pulses, and the competition between two-plasmon decay and stimulated Raman scatter instabilities. The highest obtained energy transfer from pump to probe pulse is 2.5%, at a plasma density of $0.17 n_{cr}$ , and this energy transfer increases significantly with plasma density. Therefore, our results suggest that much higher efficiencies can be obtained when higher densities (above $0.25 n_{cr}$ ) are used.
Opportunities for telemetry techniques in studies on the nutritional ecology of free-ranging domesticated ruminants
D. L. Swain, M. A. Friend
Journal: animal / Volume 7 / Issue s1 / March 2013
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 May 2012, pp. 123-131
The principles of domestic herbivore nutrition are well understood and have been developed through detailed physiological studies, although methods to accurately measure field-based intake still challenge herbivore nutrition research. Nutritional ecology considers an animal's interaction with the environment based on its nutritional demands. Although there are a number of theoretical frameworks that can be used to explore nutritional ecology, optimal foraging provides a suitable starting point. Optimal foraging models have progressed from deterministic techniques to spatially explicit agent-based simulation methods. The development of optimal foraging modelling points towards opportunities for field-based research to explore behavioural preferences within studies that have an array of nutritional choices that vary both spatially and temporally. A number of techniques including weighing animals, weighing herbage, using markers (both natural and artificial) and sampling forage, using oesophageal-fistulated animals, have been used to determine intake in the field. These intake measurement techniques are generally most suited to studies that occur over a few days and with relatively small (often less than 10) groups of animals. Over the last 10 years, there have been a number of advances in automated behavioural monitoring technology (e.g. global positioning systems) to track animal movement. A number of recent studies have integrated detailed spatial assessments of vegetation using on-ground sampling and satellite remote sensing; these data have been linked to behavioural preferences of herbivores. Although the recent studies still do not address nutritional interactions over months or years, they do point to methods that could be used to address landscape scale nutritional interactions. Emerging telemetry techniques used to monitor herbivore behavioural preferences and also to determine detailed landscape vegetation mapping provide the opportunity for future herbivore nutritional ecology studies.
Anodic and cathodic pre-treatment effects on BDD surface to deposit copper nanoparticles applied to nitrate reduction
L. C. D. Santos, A. B. Couto, J. T. Matsushima, M.C. Forti, M. R. Baldan, N. G. Ferreira
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 January 2012, mrsf11-1395-n12-12
The influence of anodic and cathodic pre-treatment on boron doped diamond (BDD) surface for copper (Cu) electrodeposition was studied to assess Cu particle consolidation on BDD electrode. These modified electrodes were applied to study the nitrate electrochemical reduction process. The obtained results showed that the BDD surface cathodically treated presented high Cu particle density as well as even distribution on the electrode surface after the electrodeposition process. For samples anodically treated the electrodeposited Cu was dispersed with lower particle density. This behavior was attributed to a high electrode conductivity imposed by the cathodic pre-treatment leading to an increase in the BDD surface hydrogenation. Therefore, one can conclude that for electrochemical nitrate reduction the anodically treated BDD has a better reproducibility. This response is attributed to the Cu particle consolidation on BDD electrode due to the oxygen surface terminations induced by the anodic pretreatment.
Spatial distribution patterns of sheep following manipulation of feeding motivation and food availability
R. Freire, D. L. Swain, M. A. Friend
Journal: animal / Volume 6 / Issue 5 / May 2012
Print publication: May 2012
We hypothesised that (i) increased feeding motivation will cause sheep to move further apart as a result of individuals trying to find food and (ii) in conditions of high food availability, sheep will move less and show greater social attraction. The effects of both feeding motivation and food availability on spatial distribution was examined in eight groups of food-deprived (high feeding motivation) and satiated (low feeding motivation) sheep in good or poor food resource plots in a 2 × 2 design. Distance travelled was assessed using Global Positioning System collars, grazing time using scan sampling and social cohesion using proximity collars that record the number and duration of encounters within 4 m. Food-deprived sheep in the good-resource plots grazed the most, whereas satiated sheep in the poor-resource plots grazed the least (P = 0.004). Food deprivation had no significant effect on the number or duration of encounters and feeding motivation appeared to have little effect on spatial distribution. Contrary to expectation, sheep had more encounters (P = 0.04) of a longer total duration (P = 0.02) in poor-resource plots than in good-resource plots, indicating that sheep were showing more social cohesion if food was scarce. Our findings suggest that when food is scarce, animals may come together in an attempt to share information on food availability. However, when a highly preferred food is abundant and well dispersed, they may move apart in order to maximise the intake. It is concluded that the particular details of our experiment, namely the even distribution or absence of a highly preferred food, affected spatial distribution patterns as sheep tried to find this food and maximise the intake.
Ewe and lamb contact at lambing is influenced by both shelter type and birth number
J. C. Broster, R. L. Dehaan, D. L. Swain, M. A. Friend
A significant number of lambs born each year in Australia die within 72 h of birth. Periods of high wind, combined with rain and low temperatures can lead to marked increases in the mortality level. Under these climatic conditions mortality levels may be reduced with the provision of shelter. This study used contact loggers to compare interactions between ewes with twin lambs across two shelter types (Hessian and shrubs), while also comparing ewes with single and twin lambs in a single shelter type (Hessian). The contact loggers record the time of the initial contact (within approximately 4 to 5 m) between collared animals and the duration of each contact. Contact levels between ewes immediately after lambing were only 10% of the initial levels (1 h/day). For single-born lambs, lambs averaged 11 h contact per day with their mother, while for twinborn lambs, each lamb averaged 9.25 h/day with its mother and 14.7 h/day with its sibling. The level of contact between ewes and each of their offspring in the Hessian was 24% lower (P < 0.05) for ewes with twin lambs than with singles. For ewes with twin lambs the level of contact was 17% lower (P < 0.05) in the Hessian shelter compared with shrub shelter. We conclude that shelter type and birth number can affect the level of contact between ewes and their offspring.
Rhetorical Exercises from Late Antiquity
A Translation of Choricius of Gaza's Preliminary Talks and Declamations
Choricius
Edited by Robert J. Penella
With Eugenio Amato, Malcolm Heath, George A. Kennedy, Terry L. Papillon, William R. Reader, D. A. Russell, Simon Swain
Published online: 29 January 2010
Print publication: 10 September 2009
The first translation, produced by a team of eight scholars, of the Declamations and Preliminary Talks of the sixth-century sophist Choricius of Gaza. Declamations, deliberative or judicial orations on fictitious themes, were the fundamental advanced exercises of the rhetorical schools of the Roman Empire, of interest also to audiences outside the schools. Some of Choricius' declamations are on generic themes (e.g. a tyrannicide, a war-hero), while others are based on specific motifs from Homeric times or from classical Greek history. The Preliminary Talks were typical prefaces to orations of all kinds. This volume also contains a detailed study of Choricius' reception in Byzantium and Renaissance Italy. It will be of interest to students of late antiquity, ancient rhetoric, and ancient education.
11 - Declamation 10 [XXXVIII]:
from II - CHORICIUS, DECLAMATIONS
Edited by Robert J. Penella, Fordham University, New York
With Eugenio Amato, Université de Nantes, France, Malcolm Heath, University of Leeds, George A. Kennedy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Terry L. Papillon, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, William R. Reader, Central Michigan University, D. A. Russell, University of Oxford, Simon Swain, University of Warwick
Book: Rhetorical Exercises from Late Antiquity
Print publication: 10 September 2009, pp 200-221
[THEME]
After Achilles was deprived of Briseis he withdrew into his own hut enraged. Agamemnon sent ambassadors to him, offering him back the girl along with very many gifts. But his embassy, with Briseis and the gifts, proved unsuccessful. In the short intervening time there were also many further misfortunes for the Greeks. Patroclus took notice of this and shared in their suffering; and with both tears and admonitions he tries to reconcile Achilles with the Greeks. Let us take the part of Patroclus.
EXPLANATORY COMMENT
[1] For what reason is Patroclus now troubled along with the Greeks, though the Thessalian [Achilles] does not at all feel this way? For the two are intimates and friends, and the maxim does require that "friends have all things in common." For what reason, although he had earlier shared Achilles' anger, did he not maintain with him to the end that partnership of wrath? The poet resolved the difficulty, I think, by presenting to us the one as mild and easily brought to compassion – for he calls him "gentle" – but the other as rough and violent and also "lion-hearted," as he adds in his poetry. [2] Therefore, given this lack of humane feeling it was necessary for the gentle one to be a counselor to the one who was not so. Consequently he stands beside him, shedding tears before him like a fountain, but [Achilles], the son of Peleus, did not know the cause for the lamentation.
4 - Declamation 3 [XIV]:
Print publication: 10 September 2009, pp 87-95
The Persian king Cyrus made a prisoner of the Lydian ruler Croesus. When he discovered that the Lydians were plotting to regain their kingdom, he ordered them to be stripped of their weapons, to put on women's clothing, and to sing and play music and teach such things to their children. He devised this as a means of curbing their pride. Later, when his expedition against the Massagetae was under way, he summoned the Lydians and offered them their former equipment; they opposed the offer. Let us take the part of the Lydians.
[1] At first sight it may be thought strange for the Lydians to object in favor of a form of dress which demeans their reputation and shames their masculinity. They should be absolutely delighted about Cyrus' order to take off those disgraceful clothes and take up their familiar armor. [2] This is actually what the Lydians want; but they want to appear otherwise. For if they were enticed by Cyrus' change of heart into letting their faces show their delight and ran to their weapons clapping their hands, they would startle him into suspecting a fresh uprising. [3] They anticipate such a reaction, and to suit their purpose they figure their speech as a rejection of Cyrus, pretending that their experiences have deprived them of their virility and considering his intention, in case he is simply devising a way of testing them.
9 - Declamation 8 [XXIX]:
When ugly girls were being born in Lacedaemon, Lacedaemonians came to Delphi to seek a cure for the affliction. The god [Apollo] proclaimed that the disease had fallen on Sparta because of the anger of Aphrodite, who was outraged at some recent event. The goddess would cease from her anger when honored by a statue. They commissioned the statue from Praxiteles, who practiced this art. Having completed a statue modeled on the courtesan Phryne, his paramour, he inscribed it with the name "Aphrodite." An assembly convened to consider the matter. Praxiteles urges the statue to be accepted, while a certain Spartan citizen speaks against it. Let us declaim the part of the Spartan.
[1] Why on earth, they say, did the speech invent this theme with its Spartan setting, and why does it imagine convening a Laconian assembly and enjoy describing their customs? A statue of a lewd woman is being rejected, and the Spartans are the most modest of all Greeks; hence the speech blames all the more the lover of Phryne, comparing him to the decency of Lacedaemon. [2] In a similar spirit long ago, Demosthenes also elaborated a rather bitter attack on the licentiousness of Aeschines. For after gathering a tyrannical drinking party and introducing Aeschines to the feast and then making the man drunk and, while he was in a drunken state, inciting him to a passion for an Olynthian woman, Demosthenes' account brings Iatrocles to the party, a man devoted to self-control, providing proof of the shamelessness of Aeschines by introducing that man's decency; for to a temperate observer, drunkenness is a demonstration of extreme lack of self-control.
1 - Preliminary Talks
from I - CHORICIUS, PRELIMINARY TALKS
[I]: THIS PRELIMINARY TALK, BOLDER THAN USUAL, OPPORTUNELY SEEKS THE GOODWILL OF THE AUDIENCE
[1] Since the occasion allows us to be somewhat playful – for we are having a festival, and a single pleasure and cheerfulness are diffused over the whole crowd – well, I myself shall make a display [of my oratory] before those I love. [2] Come, then, O eloquence, for splendor befits feasts: if you have ever taken pride in me at another contest, come forth all the more on this occasion, very well crowned, gracefully garbed, and ready to serve up a manifold feast. [3] For when it is not a public festivity that banqueters are attending, they tolerate even bad food, I think. If a host has been negligent, every guest keeps his criticisms to himself; those who eat the host's food do not show their disapproval. But as it is, this is a lavish [public] festival, and the tables everywhere are laden with delicacies, so we will need many cooks and many wine-pourers to pour the wine in a refined and elegant manner.
[4] Now at Sparta, when the Hyacinthia is celebrated – for the citizens of Sparta honor the youth [Hyacinthus] – a chorus of individuals of the same age as the honorand sing to the accompaniment of lyre and pipe, and maidens dance to the rhythm of the song; for people who live a martial life are not well versed in celebrating by means of oratory.
12 - Declamation 11 [XL]:
<There is a law that a war-hero be memorialized in a painting with the clothing he wore. A general who put on a woman's clothing and defeated his enemies during the night asked that he not be memorialized, even though the other general – the one who had already been defeated by them – speaks in opposition. Let us take on the role of the war-hero. >
<DECLAMATION>
[1] When they are defeated, freedom of speech usually leaves men…
[2] The whole world is a likeness of illustrious men…
[3] Without good planning, power is not naturally of any help; but good judgment, even if it is not accompanied by might, often contrives many things…
[4] Just as those bearing the heaviest loads are released from their burdens somehow by singing whatever comes to them, so even for those sick from envy argument and counterargument offer a brief comfort…
[5] <If someone asked him what> the aim of the law was that ordained that a war-hero be memorialized with the clothing he wore, he would have answered that a person is glad to see himself presented in the way he became famous. And suppose he asked him again: "If anyone were to turn aside such a commemorative painting – whether for putting on women's clothing or for some other reason – since it seemed best to him not to be memorialized, do you set down in the law that this man take the prize against his will?
3 - Declamation 2 [XII]:
Let us now take the part of Priam. The preliminary explanatory comment is based on the fact that the audience, at the epilogue of the preceding speech, demanded a speech on the opposite side and cried out, "Don't let the old man be forced!"
[1] Like all of you, I sympathized with the old man and thought it scandalous to give the girl to Achilles, who "made Priam bereaved of many brave sons." [2] So what shall I do? How shall I help the old man by putting the right issues at each point? The man with whom he is unwilling to make peace has acquired an almost invincible strength and is therefore much wanted by the Trojans. [3] Where shall we find an appropriate technique? The orator who is great in all things again serves us well: not being able to denigrate Philip's preparations, he finds fault with his way of life, adducing drunkenness, lewd dances, and other terms suggestive of incontinence. [4] Similarly, having no means of disparaging Achilles' power, we have collected material for an attack on his character: boastfulness, sexual exploits, instability, insolence to rulers, the overthrow of respect for the dead shown by his insulting treatment of Hector. [5] Since men do not care long about what is once done, however, but think more about their future safety, the Trojans therefore come rather to favor the son of Peleus for the sake of their future salvation than to hate him for his former wicked deeds.
6 - Declamation 5 [XX]:
A wealthy miser had a son whom he wished to marry off to a rich but ugly girl. The young man rejected the arrangement. Meanwhile, there was a festival, and, in the course of it, the young man saw and fell in love with another girl, beautiful but poor. He applied to his father to be allowed to marry her, but failed in his request. War broke out. He became a war-hero and, being allowed by the laws to choose his reward, asked to be given the woman he loved. His father opposes his plea. Let us take the part of the young man.
[1] The laws of our art find space even for sons in dispute with fathers. Imaginary cases in fact reflect all the types of case which real life offers. [2] The young man has many opportunities for attracting the favor of the people. He has routed the invading enemy, he has rescued his country from danger, he has the law on his side, he is asking for a modest reward, a girl from a poor family. Yet, despite this wealth of justification, he is not yet free of anxiety and has no great confidence in winning his case without effort. For this is a conflict between child and father, between poverty and wealth; and wealth is dear to all, and particularly highly valued by a miser. [3] We must expect him therefore to exhibit some youthful arrogance, but sometimes also to court favor.
8 - Declamation 7 [XXVI]:
The law allows anyone who kills a tyrant to claim whatever reward he wishes. Someone went up to the acropolis armed with a dagger to kill the tyrant. Finding him absent, he killed the tyrant's son, his parent's only child. When the father saw what had happened he was overcome by emotion to such an extent that he killed himself. Hence the man who killed the youth claims the reward on the grounds that he was responsible for the tyrant's death. Someone else opposes. Let us take the role of the claimant.
[1] Clearly, those who want to indulge a taste for contentiousness are not bereft of occasions for dispute! A man who has freed his whole fatherland from tyranny is prevented from receiving the reward prescribed by the laws. And yet he has two ways to enhance his request's appearance, having destroyed the tyrant in respect of his intention, his offspring in respect of his achievement. [2] This convergence of valor and fortune allows him to persist in holding no ordinary opinion of himself. If Pericles son of Xanthippus, deflecting mere abuse, worked his way through every mode of commendation in his own self-praise, who could criticize this man for using the same means to ward off a challenge that is trying to deprive him of the reward he deserves? In the same way, Demosthenes' victory over the son of Atrometus brought him the proper reward, his crown.