Tunable quantum criticality and super-ballistic transport in a "charge" Kondo circuit.

Quantum phase transitions (QPTs) are ubiquitous in strongly correlated materials. However, the microscopic complexity of these systems impedes the quantitative understanding of QPTs. We observed and thoroughly analyzed the rich strongly correlated physics in two profoundly dissimilar regimes of quantum criticality. With a circuit implementing a quantum simulator for the three-channel Kondo model, we reveal the universal scalings toward different low-temperature fixed points and along the multiple crossovers from quantum criticality. An unanticipated violation of the maximum conductance for ballistic free electrons is uncovered. The present charge pseudospin implementation of a Kondo impurity opens access to a broad variety of strongly correlated phenomena.

Universality and Scaling in a Charge Two-Channel Kondo Device.

We study a charge two-channel Kondo model, demonstrating that recent experiments [Z. Iftikhar et al, Nature (London) 526, 233 (2015)] realize an essentially perfect quantum simulation-not just of its universal physics, but also nonuniversal effects away from the scaling limit. Numerical renormalization group (RG) calculations yield conductance line shapes encoding RG flow to a critical point involving a free Majorana fermion. By mimicking the experimental protocol, the experimental curve is reproduced quantitatively over 9 orders of magnitude, although we show that far greater bandwidth/temperature separation is required to obtain the universal result. Fermi liquid instabilities are also studied: In particular, our exact analytic results for nonlinear conductance provide predictions away from thermal equilibrium, in the regime of existing experiments.

Photoprotection, not increased growth, characterizes the response of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) seedlings to high light, even when resources are plentiful.

• To investigate the effects of resource limitation on the use of light by Engelmann spruce seedlings (Picea engelmannii), we examined the effects of nitrogen (N) supply on growth and physiological acclimation. • Seedlings were grown under a factorial combination of two levels of light (100%, 33% full light) and two levels of N-supply (100 mg l-1 and 10 mg l-1 ). Biomass, foliage physiology, and pigment composition were measured. • No significant differences were found in growth or photosynthetic capacity between seedlings grown under high and low light, regardless of whether seedlings were grown under conditions of high or low N-supply. Both a decrease in the capacity for light capture and an increase in the capacity for thermal dissipation of excess absorbed light occurred with growth at high relative to low light as well as at low relative to high N-supply. • Damage to foliage from excess light appeared to be avoided through a combination of downward adjustments in chlorophyll and upward adjustments in photoprotective xanthophyll cycle carotenoids.

Differentiation among effects of nitrogen fertilization treatments on conifer seedlings by foliar reflectance: a comparison of methods.

Analysis of reflectance can be used to estimate foliar concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, thus providing information on the physiological status of green plants. We compared several methods of reflectance analysis for the capacity to differentiate among effects of fertilization treatments across different irradiances on seedlings of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmanii Parry ex Engelm.). Seedlings were grown in two light treatments (0 and 60% shade) and three nitrogen (N) treatments (10, 25 and 100 mg N l-1) for one growing season, after which foliar reflectance of the needles was measured. Five indices were tested: R550 (% reflectance at 550 nm); red edge position; the ratio R698:R760; the structure independent pigment index (SIPI); and the photochemical reflectance index (PRI). Both the light and nutrient treatments significantly affected foliar chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid concentrations. Among the indices tested, R550, red edge position and R698:R760 ratio were related to chlorophyll concentration, and were significantly affected by both light and N treatments. Both SIPI and PRI were related to chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations. Among these relationships, PRI was affected by both treatments, whereas SIPI was sensitive to N treatment but not to light treatment. All five indices were weakly but significantly correlated with growth as measured by dry weight.

Acclimation of Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) foliage to sun and shade.

The success in clinical trials of the anti-cancer drug, Taxol(R), obtained from the bark of Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.), has raised interest in cultivation and regeneration of this little-known species. Pacific yew is shade-tolerant and it is not known whether the foliage can tolerate the high solar irradiances found on an open forest regeneration site or a nursery. Acclimation of Pacific yew to sun and shade was studied by comparing foliar physiology and morphology of male and female trees growing in full sun or shade. Interspecific foliar acclimation to sun was studied by comparing sun-grown English yew (Taxus baccata L.) with Pacific yew. No sex-specific acclimation was found in foliar physiology or morphology in either species. Sun-grown foliage of Pacific yew and English yew differed with respect to light harvesting, transpiration, stomatal conductance, leaf structure, stomatal distribution and foliar N concentrations and contents. Chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements indicated that shade-grown foliage of Pacific yew had larger and more efficient light harvesting systems than sun-grown foliage. Rates of CO(2) uptake and transpiration were similar in sun- and shade-grown foliage indicating acclimation of photosynthesis to the growth irradiance. Specific leaf area was significantly higher in shade-grown foliage of Pacific yew than in sun-grown foliage and was diagnostic of the light environment in which the foliage grew. Foliar N concentrations were not significantly different between sun- and shade-grown leaves of Pacific yew but sun-grown foliage had a higher N content. Physiological and morphological adjustments of Pacific yew foliage conferred tolerance to both high light and shade, enabling the trees to survive in a variety of light environments and indicating that Pacific yew is suited to nursery cultivation and regeneration of open sites.

A one-year audit of 255 operable breast cancers.

The publications 'Guidelines for Surgeons in the Management of Symptomatic Breast Disease' and 'QA Guidelines for Surgeons in Breast Cancer Screening' by the BASO Breast Specialty Group set standards for audit which were aimed at good, achievable practice. Data from 251 patients with operable breast cancers, under the age of 70 years and treated in 1994 at Nottingham City Hospital's Professorial Unit of Surgery, were audited according to 12 of the quality objectives and outcomes measures specified. The questions addressed included: waiting time for first appointment; number of attendances in diagnostic clinic; time for results to be given; pre-operative diagnosis; waiting time for surgery; localization biopsy reports; and number of therapeutic operations. Six outcome measures achieved the targets, four were close and required minimal action for correction, while two were not achieved. As a result of this audit corrective action has been taken with regard to the latter two quality objectives.

Effects of foliar nitrogen concentration on photosynthesis and water use efficiency in Douglas-fir.

Leaf-level physiological processes were studied in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) to determine whether apparent increases in stand-level water use efficiency (WUE) observed in response to nitrogen (N) fertilization were attributable to foliar N effects on carbon fixation rates or on stomatal control of water loss. Photosynthesis and transpiration were measured at different light intensities and ambient CO(2) molar fractions and comparisons were made between current-year shoots with average foliar N concentrations of 1.58% (High-N) and 1.25% (Low-N). Photosynthetic rates and foliar N concentrations were positively correlated. In response to light, photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were closely coupled and a similar coupling was observed in response to different ambient CO(2) concentrations. Partitioning the photosynthetic responses into mesophyll and stomatal components indicated that foliar N altered mesophyll conductance but not stomatal control of water loss. High-N shoots had significantly greater rates of photosynthesis and transpiration than Low-N shoots and, as a result, instantaneous WUE did not differ significantly between High-N and Low-N shoots.

Results from a seven-year programme of breast self-examination in 89,010 women.

This report presents the results of a study into the effect of breast self-examination (BSE) in a large defined population within the City of Nottingham since 1979. We have examined the effect of breast self-examination in a group of patients invited to attend for education in BSE compared with a group of historical controls. No overall survival advantage has been demonstrated for the study group but within the latter group patients who had attended for instruction in BSE had a significantly better actuarial survival at 13 years than those who did not (P less than 0.001). Patients in the study group presented with significantly smaller tumours which were more likely to be of better histological grade and lymph node stage. A case-control study has demonstrated the value of attendance for BSE particularly in post-menopausal women. Although BSE is not as sensitive as mammographic screening, patients who practise it present with more favourable tumour characteristics and its value in post-menopausal women supports its use as an adjunct to mammographic screening.

The Nottingham breast self-examination project.

The Nottingham breast self-examination (BSE) project forms a part of the British Trial of Early Detection of Breast Cancer which compares mammographic screening, BSE and control areas. Presented here is an analysis of the Nottingham figures. A total of 89,000 women aged 40-64 were invited for lectures in BSE and 28,000 attended (42%); the corrected attendance allowing for register inaccuracies is around 55%. In women invited for education since the scheme began in 1979 (study) 751 cancers have been diagnosed. The 751 cancers occurring in the same health district and age group, working chronologically backwards from 1979 have been identified (control). Prognostic factors (size, node involvement and grade) are improved in the study group; however, at the present time of follow-up the case survival curves do not separate. A case control study shows that women aged 50-65 who attended for education have a relative risk of death from breast cancer of 0.66 (0.45-0.97) in comparison with those who did not attend (p = 0.025). The figure for women aged 40-49 is 0.85 (0.50-1.46). A programme of BSE is cheap to run, may give a survival advantage and should be added to mammographic screening programmes, especially when the interval is beyond 18 months.

Adolescents' experiences of parental separation and divorce.

This paper reports preliminary results of interviews with 71 divorced parents and 50 of their adolescent children. The interviews took place five to six years after divorce, and the sample was reasonably representative of divorced Edinburgh families having children aged 10-13 at divorce. Qualitative analysis shows a lack of explanations to children about the reasons for their parents' separation. The children's feelings are described, together with their experiences of custody and of access or lack of access. Finally, the children's reactions are given to their parents' new partners. Some of the children remain unconvinced of the need for their parents to separate, and some are still sad and hurt.

Specificity of heteroantisera developed against purified populations of intact murine ovarian carcinoma cells.

Antisera were raised in New Zealand White rabbits against purified populations of murine ovarian carcinoma (MOT) cells that were freed from contaminating host leukocytes and erythrocytes. In contrast to other antisera raised against this tumor, heteroantisera from rabbits immunized with purified tumor cell suspensions consistently retained antitumor activity after exhaustive absorption with syngeneic (C3HeB/FeJ) adult and fetal tissues. Absorbed antisera inhibited tumor growth in vivo and reacted with MOT cells in vitro as judged by indirect immunofluorescence, binding of staphylococcal protein A, and complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Appropriately absorbed antisera failed to bind to fetal tissues or to adult spleen, ovary, and kidney cells. Antisera with similar specificity could be obtained with the use of populations purified on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter or on discontinuous rabbit serum albumin gradients. Optimal titers against tumor were raised with multiple injections of 5 x 10(5) gradient-purified MOT cells.

Immunotherapy of a murine ovarian carcinoma with Corynebacterium parvum and specific heteroantiserum. I. Activation of peritoneal cells to mediate antibody-dependent cytotoxicity.

Immunotherapy with a combination of Corynebacterium parvum and specific heteroantiserum is significantly more effective than treatment with either single agent in prolonging the survival of mice that have recevied an i.p. injection of syngeneic murine ovarian carcinoma (MOT) cells. Invitro, a combination of C. parvum-activated peritoneal cells and specific heteroantiserum has proven significantly more effective than either single component in destroying 51Cr-labeled MOT cells in the absence of complement. Activation of peritoneal cells to produce lysis of tumor in the presence specific antiserum peaked 3 to 7 days after a single injection of C. parvum and declined to baseline over 3 to 4 weeks. With repeated i.p. injections of C. parvum at appropriate intervals, activation of peritoneal cells could be prolonged and augmented. Among the routes tested, only i.p. administration of C. parvum was effective, although activation of peritoneal cells for cooperation with heteroantiserum was observed over a broad range of i.p. dosage (0.45 to 4.20 mg). These data suggest that the administration of C. parvum by appropriate doses, routes, and schedules can attract and activate a population of peritoneal effectors that mediate antibody-dependent cytotoxicity more effectively than resident peritoneal cells.