This paper describes a theoretical study – in the time domain – of sound from the interaction of the steady component of the viscous wakes of an upstream propeller with a downstream contra-rotating propeller blade. The study incorporates a two-dimensional model of the upstream propeller wakes and a quasi-three-dimensional blade response function that accounts for downstream blade sweep. For a blade with a straight leading edge, the sound at the observer location, radiated from each blade radius, consists of a series of impulses whose peaks are shown to be influenced by micro Doppler effects and to correspond to the impingement of the propeller wake centrelines on the leading edge of the downstream blade. For radiation from the entire blade span, it is shown that constructive interference of the impulses from all radii can produce impulsive sound of very high amplitude, whereas dephasing of these impulses can reduce significantly the total acoustic signal. For a downstream propeller blade with a swept leading edge, it is shown how the sweep can be designed to ensure that these impulses are de-phased, resulting in significantly lower-amplitude sound at selected observer locations. Finally, to guarantee that the radiated sound is reduced at all possible observer locations, it is shown that the blade leading-edge sweep must be large enough that the trace velocity of the wake centreline, across the leading edge of the downstream propeller blade, is subsonic across the entire span. The benefits are demonstrated for representative blade designs.

In the theory of interaction noise from contra-rotating propellers with many blades, the usual far-field radiation formulae can be re-cast as a double integral, over a source surface, which can be evaluated asymptotically solely in terms of the contributions from critical points. The paper shows that these critical points have a particularly interesting physical meaning. They relate to locations on an event line, running between hub and tip, that represent the locus of the wake–blade interactions at a fixed point in time. The event line rotates at the speed of the spinning interaction tone but does not coincide with the radial variation in either the wake location or the rear blade leading edge. At the precise critical locations on the event line, it is shown that the Mach number of the event line is unity in the direction of the observer (the sonic condition) and the tangent to the event line – at a fixed time – is normal to a line drawn between it and the observer (the normal-edge condition). The zero-mode case is also considered, for which we show that, even though the event line rotates at infinite speed, there can still exist locations that satisfy the sonic and normal-edge conditions. The paper also discusses the physical meaning of the lower-order boundary solutions from the hub and tip.

An analytical model is presented for the wake interaction tones produced by a contra-rotating propeller. We re-cast the usual far-field radiation formulae as a double integral over a nominal propeller source annulus. Assuming that the number of blades on both propellers is large, we evaluate the integral asymptotically in terms of its leading-order contributions from interior stationary or boundary critical points which represent the specific locations on the propeller annulus that dominate the sound radiation. The asymptotic approach is powerful producing results in the form of one-line algebraic formulae that contain no integrals or special functions yet remain accurate. The asymptotics show that sweep is not necessarily beneficial and can cause the blade design to become critical for particular tones and directions in terms of a continuum of interior points distributed along a line on the propeller source annulus producing a higher-order result and thus an enhanced radiated sound field. The paper also shows how the interior points are completely consistent with the sub- or super-critical gust response of a swept blade. Tones with low and zero azimuthal mode order are treated as special cases and the asymptotics show that, as the mode order reduces, the radiated sound becomes concentrated around the flight axis where even higher-order solutions are possible, including rings and annuli of stationary points around the propeller annulus. Full numerical calculations confirm the accuracy of the asymptotic approach.

Introduction: Trauma teams have been shown to improve outcomes in severely injured patients. The criteria used to mobilize trauma teams is highly variable and debated. This study was undertaken to define the triage accuracy at our level 1 trauma centre and identify the criteria predictive of appropriate activations. Methods: A 3-month prospective observational study was performed and all patients presenting to the ER who received a trauma flag were identified. Patient demographics, vital signs, trauma team activation and criteria for activation were documented. Trauma activations were deemed appropriate if the patient met any of the following; airway intervention, needle/tube thoracostomy, resuscitative thoracotomy, ED blood product transfusion, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, central line insertion, emergent OR (<8 hours), admission to ICU, and death within 72 hours. Over and undertriage rates were calculated and a multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify activation criteria predictive of appropraite activations. The activation criteria were then modified and the prospective study was repeated to assess the impact on triage accuracy. Results: Between September to December 2015, 188 patients received a trauma flag. 137 patients met the activation criteria, however only 78 received a trauma team activation. 57% of patients who had TTA met the definition of appropriate activation, while 45% who met criteria for activation met the definition of appropriate. The rates of under and overtriage were 30.4% and 30.3%, respectively. Logistic regression revealed the following criteria to be predictive of appropriate activation; hypotension (OR 10.2 95% CI 2.3,45.5), arrival by HEMS (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4,7.6), pedestrian struck (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.4,8.5) and fall (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.7, 15.1). Tachycardia (OR 1.1, 95% 0.3,4.6) and high energy MVC (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.7,3.1) were not found to be predictive. The post-modification study occured between September to December 2016. Data analysis to assess the impact of criteria alteration are currently underway and will be presented at CAEP 2017. Conclusion: Triage accuracy for the mobilization of a multi-disciplinary trauma team is important, both to ensure optimal patient care as well as to reduce unnecessary resource strain. Our previous criteria lead to high rates of undertriage and subsequent modifications have been made. The impact of these changes will be ascertained and presented at CAEP 2017.

Obesity is undoubtedly caused by a chronic positive energy balance. However, the early metabolic and hormonal responses to overeating are poorly described. This study determined glycaemic control and selected gut hormone responses to nutrient intake before and after 7 d of high-fat overfeeding. Nine healthy individuals (five males, four females) performed a mixed meal tolerance test (MTT) before and after consuming a high-fat (65 %), high-energy (+50 %) diet for 7 d. Measurements of plasma glucose, NEFA, acylated ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and serum insulin were taken before (fasting) and at 30-min intervals throughout the 180-min MTT (postprandial). Body mass increased by 0·79 (sem 0·14) kg after high-fat overfeeding (P<0·0001), and BMI increased by 0·27 (sem 0·05) kg/m2 (P=0·002). High-fat overfeeding also resulted in an 11·6 % increase in postprandial glucose AUC (P=0·007) and a 25·9 % increase in postprandial insulin AUC (P=0·005). Acylated ghrelin, GLP-1 and GIP responses to the MTT were all unaffected by the high-fat, high-energy diet. These findings demonstrate that even brief periods of overeating are sufficient to disrupt glycaemic control. However, as the postprandial orexigenic (ghrelin) and anorexigenic/insulintropic (GLP-1 and GIP) hormone responses were unaffected by the diet intervention, it appears that these hormones are resistant to short-term changes in energy balance, and that they do not play a role in the rapid reduction in glycaemic control.

In June 2014 Public Health England confirmed a case of Legionnaires' disease (LD) in a neonate following birth at home in a hired birthing pool incorporating a heater and a recirculation pump which had been filled in advance of labour. The case triggered a public health investigation and a microbiological survey of an additional ten heated birthing pools hired or recently hired to the general public across England. The birthing pool used by the parent of the confirmed case was identified as the source of the neonate's infection following detection of Legionella pneumophila ST48 in both patient and environmental samples. Legionella species were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction but not culture in a further three pools together with other opportunistic pathogens identified by culture and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight (MALDI–ToF) mass spectrometry. A Patient Safety Alert from NHS England and Public Health England was issued stating that heated birthing pools filled in advance of labour should not be used for home births. This recommendation remains in place. This investigation in conjunction with other recent reports has highlighted a lack of awareness regarding the microbiological safety of heated birthing pools and their potential to be a source of LD and other opportunistic infections. Furthermore, the investigation raised important considerations with regards to microbiological sampling and testing in such incidents. Public health authorities and clinicians should consider LD in the differential diagnosis of severe respiratory infection in neonates within 14 days of a water birth.

The scientific literature contains evidence suggesting that women who have been treated for breast cancer may, as a result of their diagnosis, increase their phyto-oestrogen (PE) intake. In the present paper, we describe the creation of a dietary analysis database (based on Dietplan6) for the determination of dietary intakes of specific PE (daidzein, genistein, glycitein, formononetin, biochanin A, coumestrol, matairesinol and secoisolariciresinol), in a group of women previously diagnosed and treated for postmenopausal breast cancer. The design of the database, data evaluation criteria, literature data entry for 551 foods and primary analysis by LC–MS/MS of an additional thirty-four foods for which there were no published data are described. The dietary intake of 316 women previously treated for postmenopausal breast cancer informed the identification of potential food and beverage sources of PE and the bespoke dietary analysis database was created to, ultimately, quantify their PE intake. In order that PE exposure could be comprehensively described, fifty-four of the 316 subjects completed a 24 h urine collection, and their urinary excretion results allowed for the description of exposure to include those identified as ‘equol producers’.

The aim of this study was to estimate the amount of childhood hepatitis B virus transmission in children born in the UK, a very low-prevalence country, that is preventable only by universal hepatitis B immunization of infants. Oral fluid specimens were collected from schoolchildren aged 7–11 years in four inner city multi-ethnic areas and tested for the presence of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Those found positive or indeterminate were followed up with testing on serum to confirm their hepatitis B status. The overall prevalence of anti-HBc in children was low [0·26%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·14–0·44]. The estimated average annual incidence of hepatitis B was estimated to be 29·26/100 000 children (95% CI 16·00–49·08). The total incidence that is preventable only by a universal infant immunization programme in the UK was estimated to be between 5·00 and 12·49/100 000. The study demonstrates that the extent of horizontal childhood hepatitis B virus transmission is low in children born in the UK and suggests that schools in the UK are an uncommon setting for the transmission of the virus. Targeted hepatitis B testing and immunization of migrants from intermediate- and high-prevalence countries is likely to be a more effective measure to reduce childhood transmission than a universal infant immunization programme.

The main clinical and pathological features of the naturally occurring canine virus hepatitis were reproduced in dogs, using four strains of virus from different parts of the world and by various routes of inoculation. Young puppies seemed to be most susceptible. A kitten was also infected. An unusual type of kerato-conjunctivitis occurred after both intraocular and intraperitoneal injection.

Specific antigen was detected in the blood for short periods at irregular intervals during the acute stages of the illness and up to 6 months after complete clinical recovery.

Specific antibodies were detected in the blood of recovered animals 3 to 10 weeks after the inoculation and 2–6 weeks after the onset of clinical illness.

The four strains of virus were similar in their serological and immunological characters.

Evidence is presented that virus can persist for some months in recovered animals.

Virus was demonstrated in lice collected from affected dogs.

The importance of clinically inapparent infections is stressed.

1. Six cases of haemolytic disease in newborn foals apparently due to iso-immunization of pregnancy are described from their clinical, serological, haematological and pathological aspects. The findings agree closely with those seen in the same disease in newborn mules.

2. The disease may be diagnosed serologically by demonstrating the in vivo iso-sensitization of the foal's red cells by means of the direct antiglobulin-sensitization test. It is quite possible that after further investigation a modification of Diamond's albumin tube test may also be of value. Immune anti-red cell iso-antibodies of more than one specificity may be demonstrated in the dams' sera.

3. Despite the acute haemolytic process, very few reticulocytes and no erythroblasts are seen in the peripheral blood.

4. The morbid histology of the tissues of foals dying with the disease exhibits various points of interest which are discussed.

5. The clinical aspect is not described in this paper in any detail. However, a programme is suggested which would enable a successful exsanguino-transfusion of compatible blood to be carried out at very short notice. At present this seems to be the logical and most practical method of specific treatment.

Single ascospore cultures from triploids were screened as a potential source of disomic tester stocks for the purpose of genetical mapping of chromosomes in yeast. A high tolerance of aneuploidy was found, and strains disomic for only one chromosome were rare. There was a high occurrence of strains disomic at specific chromosomes and in certain multiple combinations of disomic chromosomes.

UV induces lesions in DNA which lead to the death of cells, mutation and, in yeast, intragenic and intergenic mitotic recombination. We have investigated the interaction of two post-treatments, dark holding and photoreactivation, on the frequencies of these events. It was found that dark holding reduces cell death and intergenic recombinants, but causes an increase in intragenic recombination frequency. Photoreactivation reduces cell death and intragenic recombination, but has no effect on intergenic recombination. After dark holding, photoreactivation has no further effect on cell survival or intergenic recombination, but may reduce the frequency of intragenic recombinants. After photoreactivation, dark holding still causes an increase in cell survival and the frequency of intragenic recombination, and reduces the frequency of intergenic recombination.

A prospective cohort study estimated the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in drug injectors in South Wales (UK). In total, 286/481 eligible seronegative individuals were followed up after approximately 12 months. Dried blood spot samples were collected and tested for anti-HCV antibody and behavioural data were collected at baseline and follow-up. HCV incidence was 5·9/100 person-years [95% confidence interval (CI) 3·4–9·5]. HCV incidence was predicted by community size [incident rate ratio (IRR) 6·6, 95% CI 2·11–20·51, P=0·001], homelessness (IRR 2·9, 95% CI 1·02–8·28, P=0·047) and sharing injecting equipment (IRR 12·7, 95% CI 1·62–99·6, P=0·015). HCV incidence was reduced in individuals in opiate substitution treatment (IRR 0·34, 95% CI 0·12–0·99, P=0·047). In order to reduce follow-up bias we used multiple imputation of missing data using switching regression; after imputation estimated HCV incidence was 8·5/100 person-years (95% CI 5·4–12·7). HCV incidence varies with community size, equipment sharing and homelessness are associated with increased HCV incidence and opiate substitution treatment may be protective against HCV.

The microbiology of domestic kitchens in the homes of subjects who had suffered sporadic Salmonella infection (cases) was compared with control domestic kitchens. Case and control dishcloths and refrigerator swabs were examined for the presence of Salmonella spp., total Enterobacteriaceae counts and total aerobic colony counts. Salmonella spp. were isolated from both case and control dishcloths and refrigerators but there were no significant differences between the two groups. Colony counts were similar in case and control dishcloths and refrigerator swabs. There was no relationship between the total counts and presence of Salmonella. There was no evidence that cases of Salmonella infection were more likely to have kitchens which were contaminated with these bacteria or have higher bacterial counts than controls. Total bacterial counts were poor indicators of Salmonella contamination of the domestic kitchen environment. Further factors which could not be identified by a study of this design may increase risk of Salmonella food poisoning. These factors may include individual susceptibility of the patient. Alternatively, sporadic cases of Salmonella food poisoning may arise from food prepared outside the home.

The induction of Fos protein was used to localise hypothalamic neurones activated by ramps of noxious skin heating delivered at a rate of 2.5 °C s-1 to preferentially activate C-nociceptors. This was combined with retrograde transport of cholera toxin subunit B from identified 'pressor' and 'depressor' sites in the dorsolateral/lateral or the ventrolateral columns of the periaqueductal grey. Fos-positive neurones were found throughout the rostral hypothalamus. Despite this wide distribution, those neurones double labelled retrogradely from the periaqueductal grey were focused in the lateral area of the anterior hypothalamus. More than 20 % of Fos-positive neurones in this region projected to depressor sites in the ventrolateral periaqueductal grey, and 10 % projected to its dorsolateral/lateral sector. These results are discussed in relation to the peripheral inputs to hypothalamic-midbrain pathways and their role in the cardiovascular responses to different components of the pain signal. Experimental Physiology (2002) 87.2, 123-128.

The induction of Fos protein was used to localise hypothalamic neurones activated by noxious somatic stimulation. This was combined with retrograde transport of fluorescent latex microspheres from identified 'pressor' and 'depressor' sites in the dorsolateral/lateral or ventrolateral columns of the periaqueductal grey (PAG). Fos-positive neurones were found throughout the rostral hypothalamus. Of those neurones activated by noxious somatic stimuli that projected to the PAG all but one was retrogradely labelled from sites that included the lateral column. Only one neurone was double labelled following injection of tracer at a depressor site in the ventrolateral PAG. This is in marked contrast to visceroresponsive hypothalamic neurones, a larger proportion of which project to the PAG and which, as reported previously, preferentially target depressor sites in the ventrolateral sector. These results are discussed in relation to the roles of the anterior hypothalamus and the different functional columns of the PAG in co-ordinating autonomic and sensory functions in response to nociceptive inputs originating in different peripheral domains. Experimental Physiology (2002) 87.2, 117-122.

An improved method for quenching a Buffered Oxide Etch (BOE) process in a DI water overflow rinse tank is shown. Many different factors were investigated in several preliminary experiments. Most of these factors were thought to influence etch uniformity yet proved not to be significant. The transfer process from chemical to rinse was identified as contributing negatively to etch uniformity. A chemical carryover layer formed during the transfer process was identified as the most significant factor. The hydrodynamics of liquids are outlined to help explain how the carryover layer is formed and shaped. Several sensitivity analysis experiments show transfer speeds to significantly affect carryover layer thickness and uniformity. Slow transfer speeds are determined to produce consistent and improved uniformity. Results of a follow up experiment quantify the uniformity improvement.