34028 research outputs found
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Evaluating the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rate and source on the performance of open-pollinated rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivars in contrasting European environments
No full text Rye (Secale cereale L.) is a minor cereal with potential to support sustainable farming practices. This study evaluated the performance of four old and modern European open-pollinated winter rye cultivars grown with different nitrogen (N) sources (cattle slurry, farmyard manure, biogas digestate, mineral N) at two rates of N 50 and 100 kg ha−1 in the United Kingdom and Estonia, in the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons. Grain yield in Estonia was higher than the United Kingdom (6.2 vs. 4.8 t ha−1), which was attributed to a higher ear density (409.4 vs. 249.7 ears m−2) and grain number per ear (50.2 vs. 43.2), although 1,000-grain weight was higher in the United Kingdom. There were clear differences between sites in the response to N source with significant N source × year interactions. Biogas digestate and mineral N produced higher grain yield than farmyard manure and cattle slurry in the United Kingdom, whereas in Estonia cattle slurry had a lower grain yield than the other N sources. Foliar diseases were absent in Estonia and in the United Kingdom, and N source only affected powdery mildew and leaf blotch on Leaf 2. The response of grain quality to N source and variety was consistent across both sites. The modern variety Elias had the highest Hagberg falling number and specific weight but the lowest protein content, whereas the variety Schlägler had the highest protein content but lowest specific weight. The benefits of selecting cultivars for specific environments are shown by the interactions between genotype and environment. </p
Sharing Stone Bioreceptivity Data: Using a Standard Method to Create a Global Database
No full textThe bioreceptivity of a surface is a measure of the physical and chemical characteristics which define its ability to colonise and maintain a permanent ecosystem of microorganisms, as opposed to finding transient bacteria or fungi present. Primary bioreceptivity is the initial potential for biological colonisation of sound stone, secondary bioreceptivity is the potential for colonisation of weathered stone. Tertiary bioreceptivity refers to conservation treatments which do not leave a deposit on the surface and quaternary bioreceptivity refers to conservation treatments which result in modification of the surface. For information on the bioreceptivity of stone to be of use in conservation there is a need for standardisation of testing to allow for comparison of different stone types. In our previous research, we developed a standard protocol for measuring primary and secondary bioreactivity, and calculated a bioreceptivity index value for three common English building stone types. This research presents new data on the primary and secondary bioreceptivity of Bath stone, an oolitic limestone, showing that bioreceptivity increases with weathering, but that the patina is less visually intrusive as the algae grow in the pits caused by aging. This demonstrates how understanding the physical characteristics of the stone is important to the interpretation of bioreceptivity results. Additionally, we discuss the establishment of an open access database which has been designed to act as a curated repository for worldwide stone data on bioreceptivity and associated measurements such as porosity and capillarity. We encourage others to add their own data from stones, using our standard testing protocol. This database will aid new build and heritage professionals to make more informed choices about new or replacement stones.</p
Diet, but not food type, significantly affects micronutrient and toxic metal profiles in urine and/or plasma; a randomized, controlled intervention trial
No full text
Background
Observational studies have linked Mediterranean Diets (MedDiets) and organic food consumption with positive health outcomes, which may be explained by higher mineral micronutrient and phenolic intake and lower dietary exposure to toxic compounds.
Objectives
We aimed to determine the effects of diet and food type (organic compared with conventional) on urinary excretion (UE) and/or plasma concentrations of mineral micronutrients, phenolics, and toxic metals.
Methods
Healthy adult participants were randomly allocated to a conventional (n = 14) or an intervention (n = 13) group. During a 2-wk period, the intervention group consumed a MedDiet made entirely from organic foods, whereas the conventional group consumed a MedDiet made from conventional foods. Before and after the intervention period, both groups consumed their habitual Western diets made from conventional foods. The primary outcome was UE and/or plasma concentrations of selected mineral micronutrients, toxic metals, and phenolic markers. In addition, we monitored diets using food diaries. The participants were aware of study group assignment, but the study assessors were not.
Results
Changing from a Western Diet to a MedDiet for 2 wk resulted in significant increases in UE of total phenolics and salicylic acid (by 46% and 45%, respectively), the mineral micronutrients Co, I, and Mn (by 211%, 70%, and 102%, respectively), and the toxic metal Ni (by 42%), and plasma Se concentrations (by 14%). However, no significant effects of food type (organic compared with conventional) were detected. Redundancy analysis identified vegetables, coffee, wine, and fruit as positive drivers for UE of phenolic markers and mineral micronutrients, and fish consumption as a positive driver for UE of Cd and Pb.
Conclusions
Although small effects of food type cannot be ruled out, our study suggests that only changing to a MedDiet with higher fruit and vegetable, and lower meat, consumption results in a large increase in phenolic and mineral micronutrient intakes. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03254537.</p
Effect of wheat species (Triticum aestivum vs T. spelta), farming system (organic vs conventional) and flour type (wholegrain vs white) on composition of wheat flour – Results of a retail survey in the UK and Germany – 2. Antioxidant activity, and phenolic and mineral content
No full textThere is strong evidence for health benefits from whole-grain wheat consumption and these have been linked to their higher fibre, antioxidant/(poly)phenolic and mineral contents. However, there is still scientific controversy about the relative effect of wheat species (Triticum aestivum vs T. spelta) and production methods (conventional vs organic) on the nutritional composition of wheat. The retail survey reported here showed that, the use of spelt varieties and organic production results in significantly higher (between 10 and 64%) levels of phenolics and some minerals in wheat flour. However, the relative effect of removing the outer bran and germ during milling was substantially larger; levels of antioxidant activity, and many phenolic compounds and mineral nutrients were 2–5 times higher in whole-grain than white flour. Organic flour contained higher concentrations of the undesirable metals Al and Ni (12% and 81% respectively), and spelt flour had 28% higher concentrations of the toxic metal Cd. </p
Motherhood, mothering, and maternity as a prison governor in England and Wales
No full textThis article looks at the employment of mothers working as prison governors for HM Prison and Probation Service in England and Wales. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and was part of a larger study looking at protected characteristics and the EDI experiences of prison governors. The paper focuses on maternity and return to work experiences, the encountering of stereotypical views, the responsibilities of childcare, support, and, finally how such experiences are perceived to have influenced career opportunities and health. The article argues that more could be done to support prison governors with mothering roles and concludes with suggestions on how this could be achieved.</p
Physical activity in age friendly cities and communities: A scoping review with recommendations to support policy and practice
No full textA scoping review to systematically map and summarise the available literature on physical activity in age friendly communities, including 59 research outputs and 79 age friendly practices.As the global population continues to age, there is growing international interest in creating environments that support older persons’ health and wellbeing. Age-friendly cities and communities (AFCCs) aim to foster physical and social settings that enable healthy and active ageing through targeted policies, services, and infrastructure. Physical activity (PA) plays a vital role in promoting healthy ageing; however, limited research has explored how AFCCs integrate and promote PA. To address this gap, we conducted a scoping review to systematically map and synthesise the existing literature on PA in AFCCs. Following comprehensive searches of five electronic databases (APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, MEDLINE, SOCIndex, SPORTDiscus) and the World Health Organisation’s age-friendly practices database up to May 2025, we included 59 research outputs and 77 practices across 35 countries. Our review demonstrates the wide range of opportunities that exist within and across the eight age-friendly domains to support PA opportunities for older persons. However, the findings also highlight the importance of considering a range of factors—spanning intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, cultural, and systemic domains—that influence the effectiveness and long-term sustainability of PA initiatives in AFCCs. Overall, this review provides valuable insights into the various factors that influence PA in age-friendly ecosystems. Drawing on the evidence, we propose six enablers needed to facilitate a whole-system approach to facilitating PA in AFCCs: (a) multi-level leadership and shared vision; (b) equity and empowerment of older persons; (c) effective governance and management; (d) integration of PA strategy into age-friendly ecosystems; (e) diverse and collaborative partnerships; and (f) capacity building across the system. Together, these enablers offer a strategic foundation for advancing PA policy and practice within AFCCs, supporting the development of inclusive, sustainable, and health-promoting PA environments for older persons.</p
A Real-Time Framework for Intermediate Map Construction and Kinematically Feasible Off-Road Planning without OSM
No full textOff-road environments present unique challenges for autonomous navigation due to their complex and unstructured nature. Traditional global path-planning methods, which typically aim to minimize path length and travel time, perform poorly on large-scale maps and fail to account for critical factors such as real-time performance, kinematic feasibility, and memory efficiency. This paper introduces a novel global path-planning method specifically designed for off-road environments, addressing these essential factors. The method begins by constructing an intermediate map within the pixel coordinate system, incorporating geographical features like off-road trails, waterways, restricted and passable areas, and trees. The planning problem is then divided into three sub-problems: graph-based path planning, kinematic feasibility checking, and path smoothing. This approach effectively meets real-time performance requirements while ensuring kinematic feasibility and efficient memory use. The method was tested in various off-road environments with large-scale maps up to several square kilometres in size, successfully identifying feasible paths in an average of 1.5 seconds and utilizing approximately 1.5GB of memory under extreme conditions. The proposed framework is versatile and applicable to a wide range of off-road autonomous navigation tasks, including search and rescue missions and agricultural operations.</p
The criminalisation of ecocide in Brazil and Indigenous peoples’ rights
No full textThis article examines recent legislative efforts to criminalize ecocide in Brazil, situating them within the broader context of Indigenous peoples’ rights and worldviews. Adopting a decolonial approach, it critically explores prevailing frameworks for defining and addressing ecocide, highlighting how they often reflect assumptions of extractivism and exploitation rooted in colonial ways of being and knowing. Drawing on the philosophical framework of Amerindian perspectivism, the article argues that genuine environmental protection requires moving beyond a singular, technocratic perspective towards one that recognizes rivers, forests, and animals as subjects embedded in relational ontologies. To ensure that the criminalization of ecocide does not enable the destruction that it seeks to prevent, it is argued that the definition of ecocide should, at least, be grounded in an epistemic shift that recognizes Indigenous peoples’ right to land and values their ways of being and knowing.</p
Adjudications and self-harm in prisons during COVID-19: three-year longitudinal analysis of the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway in England and Wales
No full textBackground: The effects of pandemic-related restrictions on people in prisons who tend to have multiple complex health needs are not well understood.Aims: We aimed to measure changes in adjudications and self-harm among people in prisons before and during the pandemic.Method: We examined effects of time and demographic characteristics on odds and counts of adjudications and self-harm over a three-year period, starting one year before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 861 individuals from 21 Offender Personality Disorder Pathway prison sites.Results: The odds of adjudicating were lower in people of older age (odds ratio 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96–0.99)), and during COVID-19 year one (odds ratio 0.37 (95% CI: 0.23–0.60)) and year two (odds ratio 0.40 (95% CI: 0.25–0.65)) compared to pre-COVID-19. Being of White ethnicity was associated with increased odds (odds ratio 4.42 (95% CI: 2.06–9.47)) and being older was associated with reduced odds (odds ratio 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.99)) of self-harm. The odds of self-harm were significantly reduced during COVID-19 year two (odds ratio 0.45 (95% CI: 0.26–0.78)), but not during COVID-19 year one (odds ratio 0.68 (95% CI: 0.40–1.14)), compared with the 12 months before COVID-19.Conclusions: Although adjudications and self-harm were generally lower during the pandemic, younger people showed increased odds of adjudications and self-harm compared with older people, while White people showed increased odds of self-harm compared with people of the global majority. Our findings highlight the importance of considering potential health inequities and environmental effects of lockdowns for people in prisons.</p
Building a Manifesto and Beyond: Creating Impact Through Feminist Research with Women in Bangladesh
No full text In this article, the authors reflect on the power of participatory feminist research in supporting gendered knowledges and cultures of equality through a community-based education project working with women construction workers in Sylhet, northern Bangladesh. We consider the impacts of their involvement in feminist qualitative research conducted as part of the Global Gender & Cultures of Equality (GlobalGRACE) project, an international research, education and capacity building project funded through the UK government’s Global Challenges Research Fund (2017–2022). We then explore what happened next, between 2022 and 2025, after the official project ended. GlobalGRACE aimed to enhance women’s wellbeing, support self-esteem and confidence building, and promote gender equality with women construction workers from socio-economically marginalised communities. Here we reflect on the ways participant women were able to bring their agency and situated gendered knowledges through their participation to create exhibitions of films and photography, build a Manifesto of Workers Rights, and emerge beyond the project as entrepreneurs, developing a lasting social enterprise supporting over 2800 women. Travelling through the GlobalGRACE project, we thus consider participant women’s experiences as they made this journey from day-labourers on building sites to creating Protity, a women’s social enterprise supporting one another to become independent entrepreneurs running their own small businesses in Sylhet, Bangladesh. </p