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"Reid, M M"
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Ecological significance of hydrological connectivity for wetland plant communities on a dryland floodplain river, MacIntyre River, Australia
Hydrological connections between river channels and their adjacent floodplains facilitate the flux of organisms and nutrients and access to increased habitat and new resources. Hydrological connections also deliver water subsidy and potentially disturb (through hydraulic forces) floodplain ecosystems. This study investigates the role of hydrological connectivity as a driver of patterns in wetland plant assemblages in billabongs on the floodplain of an Australian dryland river, exploring indirectly the relative importance of the mechanisms of flux, subsidy and disturbance. Wetland plants were surveyed in billabongs across gradients of hydrological connectivity and depth. Surveys were accompanied by experiments examining germination from the soil seed banks of each site under submerged and waterlogged conditions. The patterns in extant and germinant plant communities in relation to connectivity and depth gradients were used to infer the relative importance of the connectivity-related mechanisms of flux, subsidy and hydraulic disturbance in structuring wetland plant communities. Depth influenced both extant and germinating plant communities. Shallow billabongs supported a greater diversity and abundance of plants, and greater numbers and diversity of germinable seeds in the seed bank. Germination of seeds was greater in waterlogged soils than submerged soils. Thus, the main controls of plant abundance in wetlands appear to be availability of waterlogged soil habitat for germination and absence of light limitation for growth. Hydrological connectivity did not influence the abundance of plants or germinable seeds, but did influence species presence-absence in growing vegetation; this effect did not extend to the germinating community. Thus, hydrological connection does not appear to influence wetland vegetation by facilitating the movement of propagules between habitats. Instead, the patterns observed are consistent with hydrological connection providing a cue for germination through the delivery of water, and by modifying hydraulic habitat.
Journal Article
Radiative heat transfer in the extreme near field
Nanoscale radiative heat transfer between both dielectric and metal surfaces separated by gaps as small as two nanometres is characterized by large gap-dependent heat transfer enhancements that are accurately modelled by the theoretical framework of fluctuational electrodynamics and has important implications for technological design.
Taking the temperature
Although much attention is directed at the electronic, optical and mechanical properties of materials at the nanoscale, their thermal properties remain relatively unexplored. Pramod Reddy and colleagues aim to bridge this conceptual gap. They use measurements of radiative heat transfer in the extreme near field, examining the behaviour of thermal radiation between a variety of solid surfaces separated by gaps as small as two nanometres. The observed gap-dependent enhancements are accurately modelled within the theoretical framework of fluctuational electrodynamics, giving confidence that such effects could be rationally designed into novel nanoscale devices that harness radiative heat transfer.
Radiative transfer of energy at the nanometre length scale is of great importance to a variety of technologies including heat-assisted magnetic recording
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, near-field thermophotovoltaics
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and lithography
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. Although experimental advances have enabled elucidation of near-field radiative heat transfer in gaps as small as 20–30 nanometres (refs
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,
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,
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), quantitative analysis in the extreme near field (less than 10 nanometres) has been greatly limited by experimental challenges. Moreover, the results of pioneering measurements
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,
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differed from theoretical predictions by orders of magnitude. Here we use custom-fabricated scanning probes with embedded thermocouples
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,
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, in conjunction with new microdevices capable of periodic temperature modulation, to measure radiative heat transfer down to gaps as small as two nanometres. For our experiments we deposited suitably chosen metal or dielectric layers on the scanning probes and microdevices, enabling direct study of extreme near-field radiation between silica–silica, silicon nitride–silicon nitride and gold–gold surfaces to reveal marked, gap-size-dependent enhancements of radiative heat transfer. Furthermore, our state-of-the-art calculations of radiative heat transfer, performed within the theoretical framework of fluctuational electrodynamics, are in excellent agreement with our experimental results, providing unambiguous evidence that confirms the validity of this theory
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,
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,
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for modelling radiative heat transfer in gaps as small as a few nanometres. This work lays the foundations required for the rational design of novel technologies that leverage nanoscale radiative heat transfer.
Journal Article
Epidemiology of ovarian cancer： a review
Ovarian cancer （OC） is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the world and the tenth most common in China. Epithelial OC is the most predominant pathologic subtype, with five major histotypes that differ in origination, pathogenesis, molecular alterations, risk factors, and prognosis. Genetic susceptibility is manifested by rare inherited mutations with high to moderate penetrance. Genome-wide association studies have additionally identified 29 common susceptibility alleles for OC, including 14 subtype-specific alleles. Several reproductive and hormonal factors may lower risk, including parity, oral contraceptive use, and lactation, while others such as older age at menopause and hormone replacement therapy confer increased risks. These associations differ by histotype, especially for mucinous OC, likely reflecting differences in etiology. Endometrioid and clear cell OC share a similar, unique pattern of associations with increased risks among women with endometriosis and decreased risks associated with tubal ligation. OC risks associated with other gynecological conditions and procedures, such as hysterectomy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, are less clear. Other possible risk factors include environmental and lifestyle factors such as asbestos and talc powder exposures, and cigarette smoking. The epidemiology provides clues on etiology, primary prevention, early detection, and possibly even therapeutic strategies.
Journal Article
Effect of Aspirin on All-Cause Mortality in the Healthy Elderly
After a median follow-up of 4.7 years, there were 1.6 more deaths per 1000 person-years among healthy older adults who were randomly assigned to receive aspirin than among those who received placebo. Cancer-related death accounted for much of the excess mortality.
Journal Article
The Cambridge companion to John Herschel
\"John Herschel was one of the most prominent figures in Victorian science. This is the first-ever comprehensive account of his life, work and legacy. Drawing on Herschel's published oeuvre and surviving archival material, these essays explore an extraordinary mind, asking what it meant to think scientifically in the nineteenth century\"-- Provided by publisher.
BOOK
Diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 infections
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread to nearly every corner of the globe, causing societal instability. The resultant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) leads to fever, sore throat, cough, chest and muscle pain, dyspnoea, confusion, anosmia, ageusia and headache. These can progress to life-threatening respiratory insufficiency, also affecting the heart, kidney, liver and nervous systems. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is often confused with that of influenza and seasonal upper respiratory tract viral infections. Due to available treatment strategies and required containments, rapid diagnosis is mandated. This Review brings clarity to the rapidly growing body of available and in-development diagnostic tests, including nanomaterial-based tools. It serves as a resource guide for scientists, physicians, students and the public at large.
This Review highlights the progress that has been made in the development of diagnostic tools for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the fight against COVID-19.
Journal Article