Non-equilibrium molecular simulations of thin film rupture.

The retraction of thin films, as described by the Taylor-Culick (TC) theory, is subject to widespread debate, particularly for films at the nanoscale. We use non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to explore the validity of the assumptions used in continuum models by tracking the evolution of holes in a film. By deriving a new mathematical form for the surface shape and considering a locally varying surface tension at the front of the retracting film, we reconcile the original theory with our simulation to recover a corrected TC speed valid at the nanoscale.

The Changing Face of Head and Neck Cancer; How the Head and Neck One-Stop Clinic Has Evolved Since Conception.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the patient journey through the head and neck clinic across 13 years of service improvement. We aimed to compare pick-up rates of cancer; number of patients receiving tissue diagnoses at first visit; and number of patients who were discharged on their first visit.

Methods: In the one-stop head and neck cancer clinic, the demographic data, investigations and outcomes for 277 patients who attended in 2004 were compared to those of 205 patients who attended in 2017.

Assessing the effect of complex ground types on ground-dwelling arthropod movements with video monitoring: Dealing with concealed movements under a layer of plant residues.

Understanding the effect of ground types on foraging movements of ground-dwelling arthropods is a key step to managing their spatial distribution as required for successful conservation biological control. Indeed, fine movements at the centimeter scale can strongly influence the foraging ability of pest predators. However, because radio frequency identification or harmonic tracking techniques are not yet suitable for small species and video tracking focuses on uniform and light backgrounds, foraging movements have rarely been studied in relation to ground types.

Visualizing the Individual Arterial Anatomy of the Face Through Augmented Reality- A Useful and Accurate Tool During Dermal Filler Injections.

Background: The arterial anatomy of the face is extremely variable. Despite numerous cadaver dissections and anatomical descriptions, the exact location of the superficial facial arteries remains unpredictable. This ignorance is a determining factor in the pathophysiology of intravascular filler injections, potentially causing skin necrosis and blindness.

The Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Angiography to Analyze the Variable Arterial Facial Anatomy in an Effort to Reduce Filler-Associated Blindness: Anatomical Study and Visualization Through an Augmented Reality Application.

Background: The use of soft tissue fillers for facial rejuvenation is increasing rapidly and the complications, unfortunately, follow the same path. Blindness caused by intravascular filler injections is a rare but devastating complication. Knowledge of the individual arterial anatomy may aid the injector in avoiding injecting into an artery and thus to prevent blindness.

Identification and characterization of high-yielding, short-duration rice genotypes for tropical Asia.

Previous efforts to increase the yield of tropical rice ( L.) have focused on medium-duration varieties. However, there is increasing demand for high-yielding short-duration varieties that can adapt to intensified cropping systems and climate change.

Review: Improving global food security through accelerated plant breeding.

With an expected 9 billion people by 2050 and average income on the rise in the developing world, meeting future food demand will be a challenge. Climate change, urbanisation and land degradation are putting further pressure on the food supply. The multifaceted and self-reinforcing nature of these challenges calls for a fundamental transformation of the food system.

Global survey data on rice breeders' characteristics and willingness to adopt alternative breeding methods.

The data presented in this article contains information on 189 rice breeders from 51 rice-growing countries around the world. Firstly, this unique dataset permits to lay down a baseline of currently used breeding methods. Secondly, the data allow to make an assessment of the adoption behavior of rice breeders towards alternative breeding methods, and in specific rapid generation advance.

Increasing flooding tolerance in rice: combining tolerance of submergence and of stagnant flooding.

Background And Aims: Rice ecosystems in the tropical coastal areas are subject to two types of flooding stress: transient complete submergence and long-term water stagnation (stagnant flooding). Here, we aimed to dissect the mechanisms for stagnant flooding tolerance of rice genotypes carrying SUB1, a quantitative trait locus for submergence tolerance.

Methods: We screened 80 elite genotypes under stagnant flooding stress in the lowland rice fields in the wet and dry seasons, and examined the tolerance mechanisms of promising genotypes for the two following seasons.

The ophthalmic blade perfectly made to create an oral antral communication blockade; a technical note.

Oral antral fistulas are commonly referred to the Oral and Maxillofacial department for surgical management. Though conventional methods of repair are well established, we present a technical note highlighting the novel use of an ophthalmic blade in raising palatal mucoperiosteal flaps. We have experienced much success with this instrument and believe it represents a very useful and complimentary addition to the oral and maxillofacial surgeon's kit.

Review of outcomes of 500 consecutive cases of non-melanoma skin cancer of the head and neck managed in an oral and maxillofacial surgical unit in a District General Hospital.

We provide a non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) service for skin cancers of the head and neck in the south-west of England. We hypothesised that certain anatomical sites such as the nose and eyelid would have a higher incidence of close or involved margins than others, and that the choice of repair might influence the excised margins. We therefore retrospectively analysed the data of 500 consecutive NMSC that were operated on in the oral and maxillofacial surgery unit of Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust.

Global survey of rice breeders to investigate characteristics and willingness to adopt alternative breeding methods.

Background: Despite the critical role rice breeders play to ensure food security, there is a lack of information regarding their current socio-economic characteristics, constraints and attitudes towards technology adoption. Some key concepts like budget, experience, local ecosystems, level of education and even main breeding method have hardly been surveyed in the past. This not only clouds any policy making regarding scientists in national agricultural research programmes, it also makes it difficult to assess the needs and problems local rice breeders face around the world.

Root Traits Enhancing Rice Grain Yield under Alternate Wetting and Drying Condition.

Reducing water requirements and lowering environmental footprints require attention to minimize risks to food security. The present study was conducted with the aim to identify appropriate root traits enhancing rice grain yield under alternate wetting and drying conditions (AWD) and identify stable, high-yielding genotypes better suited to the AWD across variable ecosystems. Advanced breeding lines, popular rice varieties and drought-tolerant lines were evaluated in a series of 23 experiments conducted in the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Cambodia in 2015 and 2016.

Identification of QTLs for yield and agronomic traits in rice under stagnant flooding conditions.

Background: Stagnant flooding, where water of 25-50 cm remains until harvest time, is a major problem in rainfed lowland areas. Most of the Sub1 varieties, which can withstand around 2 weeks of complete submergence, perform poorly in these conditions. Hence, varieties tolerant of stagnant flooding are essential.

Genome-wide prediction models that incorporate de novo GWAS are a powerful new tool for tropical rice improvement.

To address the multiple challenges to food security posed by global climate change, population growth and rising incomes, plant breeders are developing new crop varieties that can enhance both agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Current breeding practices, however, are unable to keep pace with demand. Genomic selection (GS) is a new technique that helps accelerate the rate of genetic gain in breeding by using whole-genome data to predict the breeding value of offspring.