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Repeated surging and rapid retreat of a tidewater glacier in Scotland (Younger Dryas / Greenland Stadial 1)
Full text linkThis paper presents evidence of glacier surging in the British landform record. We use new high-resolution multibeam-echosounder bathymetry data to map the submarine geomorphology of a former tidewater glacier that drained the Skye Icefield, NW Scotland, during the Younger Dryas Stadial (Greenland Stadial 1) ca. 12.5-11.7 ka. Our onshore and offshore mapping identifies a glacial landform assemblage indicative of surge-type behaviour followed by rapid retreat and stagnation. We delimit three separate fjord-mouth advances of the Ainort Glacier – interpreted as palaeo-surges – successively decreasing in extent. During the quiescent phase of the final surge cycle the glacier deposited a suite of cross-fjord De Geer moraines, interpreted here as annual moraines. Their pattern and spacing suggest net annual glacier retreat rates increased significantly from around 25-75 ma-1 to 150 ma-1 to >300 ma-1, probably in the presence of seasonal sea ice. On this basis, we find that final post-surge retreat of the Ainort Glacier, from fjord mouth to marine limit (a distance of 3.5 km), was very rapid – probably taking just 20 years. Once wholly terrestrial, the glacier stagnated and did not experience further frontal oscillations. This work highlights one potential cause of asynchronous ice-mass responses in the Younger Dryas Stadial of Scotland and reinforces the importance of identifying surge-type glaciers in palaeo-glaciological studies
Nutritional Intake and Timing of Marathon Runners: Influence of Athlete’s Characteristics and Fueling Practices on Finishing Time
Full text linkBackground Endurance athletes’ competitions have increased over the decades and marathon races are becoming increasingly popular. Proper nutrition is critical for optimal performance and long-term health in marathon athletes. This study aimed to investigate runners’ nutritional intake, especially fluids, food, and supplements, competing in the Seville Marathon. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out to obtain information on the consumption of liquids, food, and supplements. A total of 160 runners (aged 42.2 ± 7.3 years) who were primarily men (87.5%) who participated in the 2022 Seville marathon took part in the study. Results There was no significant difference (p > 0.050) between marathon finish time (from 2 h 12 min to 5 h) or sports experience and fluid, carbohydrates (CHO), sodium, and caffeine intake pre- and post-competition. However, according to the results obtained, the athletes who met CHO intake recommendations during the competition (60–90 g/h) were more likely to finish the marathon in less than 180 min (p = 0.035). Conclusions The intake of CHO (35 ± 17 g/h), sodium (192 ± 150 mg/h) and caffeine (57 ± 49 mg/h) was low compared to the current recommendations during the competition. The intake of fluids (466 ± 279 mL/h) was at the lower limit of recommendations. Most athletes did not receive nutritional counselling by a sport dietitian, which may explain why athletes failed to meet specific nutrient recommendations. Future investigations with a larger sample size are warranted to assess the relationship between dietary intake and finish time
“All sorts of colours of emotions”: ambulance call-handlers’ perceptions of the barriers to CPR in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Full text linkAim To explore call-handlers’ perceptions of the main barriers to achieving CPR during emergency calls to the ambulance service. Methods Thirty purposively sampled call-handlers, working in seven UK ambulance dispatch centres, participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews designed to explore their experiences of providing CPR instructions and their perceptions of the most common barriers to initiation of CPR. Results Participants (20F 9 M 1non-binary), aged 21–57 years, with varied length of experience (6mths −25 yrs), self-reported confidence (3–10/10), experience of NHS Pathways and MPDS, described providing CPR calls typically once per shift, with most call-handlers reporting barriers to CPR in most calls. The barriers to initiating CPR most commonly identified by call-handlers were the strong emotions experienced by callers; physical issues relating to the caller, patient and situation; uncertainty about whether CPR was required, particularly uncertainty about breathing and caller concerns about doing harm. Participants described many overlapping issues, making each call a unique challenge. They also provided insights into the complexities of ambiguous situations such as those encountered by carers and care-homes, DNACPR issues, as well as facilitating factors. Conclusion Call-handlers identified barriers to CPR that echo those identified via other study methods plus provide additional insights into areas not readily addressed by current protocols. Call-handlers’ perspectives may be helpful in identifying priority areas for protocol refinement and ways to improve the efficacy of CPR instructions
The Predictive Power of the Oil Variance Risk Premium
Full text linkThis paper examines the ability of the oil market variance risk premium (VRP) to predict both financial and key macroeconomic series. Interest in understanding the movement of such variables increasingly involves considering measures of investor risk, for which the VRP, that incorporates both implied and realised variance, has recently come to the fore. It is well established that oil price movement impacts both the stock market and wider economy and thus, we examine whether this is also true of the oil VRP. Using monthly US data over the period from 2009 to 2021, we demonstrate the nature of oil VRP predictive power for oil and stock returns, as well as output growth, unemployment, and inflation. Of notable interest, while predictability from the oil VRP series dominates at the one-month horizon and (largely) wanes at over longer time periods, the reverse is found for the stock VRP. These results are robust to the inclusion of additional, established, predictor variables. This indicates that the impact of oil market risk has a more immediate effect on both the stock market and economy, with stock market risk reflecting longer term considerations. A simple out-of-sample exercise supports the view that the inclusion of oil VRP improves forecasts over alternative models that exclude this series
Backwards Counterfactuals
Full text linkThis paper offers two novel conceptual tools: one concerning the semantics of counterfactuals and what should be held fixed when assessing them (the modal moat), and the other concerning the pragmatics of counterfactual assertions and how to avoid the potential pitfalls of meaning more than we say (antecedent gluttony). These allow us to address existing issues with the assessment of backwards counterfactuals within a framework that applies equally to forwards cases. In addition to solving a thorny problem from the time travel literature, what we learn teaches us something quite general about our evaluation of counterfactuals
Thinking is for Doing: Project Cognition as the Foundation of Project Behaviour
Full text linkCognition, understood as the way the mind acquires, processes, and enacts information, is at the root of all behaviour. Yet, while the interest in behaviour in projects is increasing, these cognitive foundations are often disregarded or only haphazardly investigated in project research. This essay calls for a stronger engagement with cognition in projects, leveraging the insights from general and applied cognition sciences to explore, explain, and predict project behaviour. We emphasise that it is not differences in the thinking itself, but differences in the context in which the thinking is applied, that makes projects a relevant and distinct area in which to study cognition. To sketch a way forward, we establish key terms, illustrate phenomena from project behaviour which might benefit from a study through a cognitive lens, and introduce appropriate theories from cognitive science. The insights generated from such research with attention to ‘project cognition’ are particularly valuable for practice as they help to design project environments that align with how people in projects make sense of their world and interact with it
Trees on farms improve dietary quality in rural Malawi
Full text linkTrees on farms not only provide agricultural and environmental benefits but can also contribute to food security. We use panel data covering a 10-year period from the World Bank's Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) to examine the effects of trees on farms on people's dietary quality in rural Malawi. We found that having on-farm trees leads to higher and more diverse fruit and vegetable consumption. Specifically, households who had trees on their farm (or who acquired trees during the 10-year period) exhibited a 3% increase in vegetable consumption compared to households without trees. Moreover, for every additional tree species owned or acquired by a household during the study period, fruit consumption increased by 5%. These results demonstrate that trees on farms may play a role in meeting nutrition, conservation, and climate change mitigation goals, with important implications for sustainable development strategies in low- and middle-income countries
Association of Blood-Based Biomarkers and 6-Month Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Mild TBI: A CENTER-TBI Analysis
Full text linkBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There is seemingly contradictory evidence concerning relationships between day-of-injury biomarkers and outcomes after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). To address this issue, we examined the association between a panel of biomarkers and multidimensional TBI outcomes. METHODS: Participants with mTBI (Glasgow coma scores [GCSs] 13-15) were selected from Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury, a European observational study recruiting patients with TBI with indication for brain CT and presentation within 24 hours. Exclusion criteria for this secondary analysis were age younger than 16 years, incomplete biomarker panel, death, or no recorded outcomes. Participants were separated into 2 groups, CT-negative and CT-positive. Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to assess the relation between the log biomarker level (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], neurofilament light [NfL], neuron-specific enolase [NSE], S100 calcium-binding protein B [S100B], tau, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 [UCH-L1]) and dichotomized 6-month outcomes (functional outcomes [GOSE score <8], health-related quality of life [HRQoL; Quality of Life after Brain Injury-Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS) score <52, Short-Form 12-Item Survey version 2 Mental Component Summary (SF12v2 MCS) score <40, Short-Form 12-Item Survey version 2 Physical Component Summary (SF12v2 PCS) score <40], persistent postconcussion symptoms [Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire score ≥16], anxiety disorder [Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) score ≥8], depression [Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score ≥10], and post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) score ≥33]). RESULTS: A total of 1,589 participants (865 CT-negative, 724 CT-positive) were included (77% GCS 15, median age 52 years, 66% male). Higher biomarker levels were associated with a GOSE score <8: CT-negative: S100B (odds ratio [OR] 1.78, 95% CI 1.43-2.23) and UCH-L1 (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.01-1.33); CT-positive: GFAP (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.11-1.36), NfL (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.11-1.52), S100B (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.23-1.86), tau (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.17-1.59), and UCH-L1 (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.17-1.53). In CT-positive participants, positive association was seen between NfL (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.06-1.60) and UCH-L1 (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.07-1.54) with QOLIBRI-OS; S100B (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.02-1.70) with SF12v2 PCS; and NSE (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.06-2.18) and UCH-L1 (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.01-1.46) with the GAD-7. However, in CT-negative participants only, negative associations were seen between GFAP and impairment on the QOLIBRI-OS (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.66-0.88), SF12v2 MCS (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.61-0.82), SF12v2 PCS (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68-0.91), GAD-7 (OR 0.80, 0.68-0.95), PHQ-9 (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68-0.93), and PCL-5 (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66-0.97). DISCUSSION: Participants with higher biomarker levels had greater odds of impaired functional recovery. However, in CT-negative participants, higher GFAP concentrations were associated with better HRQoL and less impaired mental health. Further exploration is required of the patient phenotypes that may explain the relationships observed in this analysis
Benefits of dietary krill meal inclusion towards better utilization of nutrients, and response to oxidative stress in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) juveniles
Full text linkKrill meal (KM) emerges as a promising sustainable marine ingredient in aquafeeds, providing a rich source of protein, amino acids, phospholipids, omega-3 fatty acids, and bioactive compounds. This study aimed to investigate the effects of including KM (3, 5 and 7 % of the diet) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and antioxidant defenses in juvenile gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) exposed to a crowding stress challenge. The dietary inclusion of 7 % KM could effectively replace up to 47 % FM in the diet (8 % FM in 7 % KM in comparison to 15 % FM in control diet), without compromising growth or feed conversion. Although not statistically different, dietary supplementation with 5 and 7 % KM showed a tendency to further optimize feed conversion ratio and nutrient efficiency ratios compared to the control FM diet. Under stressful conditions, a significant interaction between diet and time was observed in fish blood omega-3 index (O3I). At 24 h after the stress challenge, all dietary treatments except KM3 presented a significant increase in n-3 PUFA, EPA, DHA as well as OI3, whereas a decrease in MUFA. At 7d (168 h) post-stress, fish fed the control diet presented a significant reduction in O3I down to the basal levels. On the contrary, those fish fed KM5 and KM7 diets kept increased O3I levels as well as n-3 PUFA content to the end of the stress challenge. Indeed, 24 h after stress, fish fed KM5 and KM7 showed a lower increase of cat and sod gene expression in head kidney, which was further inversely correlated with fish blood OI3. Therefore, these results show that KM modulates red blood cells fatty acid profile by increasing fish OI3 after stress as well as potentially functioning as an antioxidant modulator in fish feeds for mitigating stressful conditions. Hence, KM is a valuable functional ingredient in aquafeeds, aiming to expand the basket of raw materials with functional properties to be used in aquafeed formulation to enhance fish robustness.
CSR Governance Committee and Carbon Emission Performance: Does Committee Composition Matter?
Full text linkThis study examines the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) committee characteristics, namely the committee size, independence, chairperson independence, and meeting frequency, on firms’ carbon emission performance. The authors test the hypotheses through a panel data analysis for a sample of non-financial firms listed on the Bloomberg World Large and Mid-Index from 2010 to 2020. Using data from Refinitiv Eikon and Bloomberg databases, the findings show that the CSR committee’s presence is positively linked with carbon emission performance, suggesting that these committees play a crucial role in diminishing firms’ carbon footprints. Moreover, the results indicate that larger committee size, the independence of the CSR committee chairperson, and increased meeting frequencies are positively associated with carbon emission performance. Our study underlines the importance of CSR committee in elevating firms’ awareness and management of their carbon footprint, encouraging their adoption as a strategic measure against the rising concerns over carbon emissions. It highlights that the structure of these committees is necessary for their effectiveness, offering actionable insights for firms and policy considerations for regulators globally
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