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Multiple trajectories of family adversity and poverty and adolescent self-harm and suicide attempts: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.
No full textBackgroundExposure to family adversities including domestic violence, parental mental ill-health, and poverty in childhood increases the risk of self-harm and suicide attempts in adolescents. However, few studies have assessed the influence of clustered family adversity and poverty trajectories throughout childhood on self-harm behaviours and suicide attempts.MethodsIn this population-based longitudinal study, we used data on 9316 children from the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Exposure trajectories of poverty and family adversities were characterised using group-based multi-trajectory models (age 9 months-14 years). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the association of trajectories with self-harm and suicide attempts at age 17. Population-attributable fractions were calculated to quantify the contribution of family adversity and poverty to the outcomes at the country level.ResultsOf 9316 participants, 2087 (22.4%) reported self-harm behaviours and 659 (7.1%) had made a suicide attempt. Compared with children experiencing low poverty and adversity, children in the persistent adversity groups were more likely to report both self-harm and suicide attempts; those exposed to persistent poverty and poor parental mental health were particularly at increased risk of self-harm (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.30-2.24) and suicide attempts (OR = 3.98, 95% CI: 2.76-5.74). Overall, we estimated that about 13.2% of self-harm behaviours and 36.9% of suicide attempts were attributable to persistent family adversities and poverty.ConclusionsChildren growing up with persistent exposure to family adversities and poverty are more likely to harm themselves and attempt suicide, particularly those who experience the combination of persistent poverty and long-term poor parental mental health. Early detection of children at risk and intervention such as anti-poverty approaches to prevent long-lasting adversities are key to alleviating risky behaviours in UK adolescents
Nanoscopic evaluation to facilitate treatment of the proximal interphalangeal joint following a traumatic wound in a 4-month-old colt
Full text linkA 4-month-old Irish Draught colt was presented for treatment of a traumatic wound to the right hind pastern region of 6 hours’ duration. Investigation confirmed communication between the wound and the proximal interphalangeal joint. Due to the joint's small size, a traditional synovial endoscopic lavage could not be performed. Therefore, a needle arthroscope (Nanocope, Arthrex) was utilised to lavage the joint under general anaesthesia. The needle arthroscope allowed visualisation of the articular surface, higher ingress lavage (compared to needles), as well as assessment for potential foreign bodies. Following surgical treatment and a course of oxytetracycline, the foal returned to soundness. The wound healed without complication. Use of needle synovial endoscopy has therapeutic potential in future cases of septic synovitis in small joints that do not allow entry of a traditional synovial endoscope
Paths to action: Fantasy, ideology and incitement in an extreme-right narrative
Full text linkAbstract
Narratives possess a particular ability both to encapsulate and engender political/ideological aims. The extreme-right is aware of the pedagogic potential of fiction; however, their fiction is only rarely examined from a discourse-analytic perspective. This article analyses a short story written and distributed by a US neo-Nazi organisation. First, my analysis examines:
narrative action processes
, that is, the (transitive and intransitive) actions of characters, which drive narrative change; and
modal tokens
relevant to the evaluative function of the narrative. Second, I argue that narrative action processes and modal tokens represent the ‘warp and woof’ of narrative, since they (i) demonstrate how stories connect events, over time, and (ii) appraise the social/political meaning of these events. My analysis has significance for the discourse-analytic understanding of narrative more generally, as well as the specific ways that fantasies of agency and violence function in this story, to incite political action. (Narrative, narrative action processes, modal tokens, extreme-right, neo-Nazi fantasy)
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Diverse effects of different types of media coverage on audit fees: Evidence based on media tones
Full text linkThis paper investigates the relationship between different types of media coverage and audit fees. We theoretically and empirically distinguish between the media's information and monitoring role resulting from impartial, neutral coverage, which is associated with lower audit risk, and the media's attention-grabbing role resulting from sensational or biased reporting, which is associated with higher auditor business risk. Using data from US public firms between 2003 and 2021, we find that client firms with large amounts of neutral media coverage pay lower audit fees, consistent with the neutral coverage hypothesis, whereas those with large amounts of (especially negatively) toned media coverage pay higher audit fees, consistent with the attention-grabbing hypothesis. We find media's attention-grabbing effect to be stronger for client firms of large auditors and firms with more analysts following and high institutional ownership. Our channel analyses suggest that auditors adjust risk assessments and expected audit effort in response to media coverage. Overall, the findings indicate diverse effects of different types of media coverage on audit fees and highlight the complex interplays among auditors, media, and major market participants
Spatio-temporal analysis of anthrax in livestock at zonal level in Ethiopia, 2008-2020
Full text linkEthiopia has not only one of the largest livestock populations in Africa, but also a substantial growing human population, increasing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. Anthrax is a priority zoonosis in Ethiopia due to its risks to both human and animal health. Utilising 13 years of retrospective data (2008-2020) from 92 zones, this study investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of livestock anthrax cases in Ethiopia. High variability in annual incidence was observed, with the lowest number of cases (n=2357, 3.73%) in 2018 followed by the highest number of cases (n=8210, 12.98%) in 2019. Cattle contributed the majority of cases (n=36,104; 57.09%) with relatively even distribution across the other species (sheep, goats, camels, and equines). Kruskal-Wallis tests found that incidence of anthrax per 100,000 animals varied significantly by species, year, region and zone, with the largest effect size (0.20) observed between zones. Getis-Ord General G analysis found significant clustering of anthrax cases per 100,000 animals in multiple years for cattle (2013, 2018 and 2019), goats (2009, 2010 and 2012), and sheep (2013, 2015, 2016, and 2019). Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis of data from these years identified zones contributing to these hotspot clusters, but none of the hotspots occurred in multiple species in the same location and year. Cattle hotspots were limited to zones in the Somali region and goat hotspots to neighbouring zones of the Amhara and Oromia regions. Sheep hotspots were not restricted in geographic distribution. Understanding these patterns is vital to coordinating anthrax control and prevention efforts in Ethiopia
Selective hydrodeoxygenation of acetone to propene via bifunctional metal-acid catalysis
No full textThis study investigated the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of acetone to produce propene at a gas-solid interface using bifunctional metal-acid catalysts. The catalysts included various copper compounds (such as copper chromite (CuCr), CuO, Cu/SiO2, Cu/TiO2 and Cu/γ-Al2O3) as the metal components along with tungstophosphoric heteropoly compounds (H3PW12O40 (HPW) and Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40 (CsPW)) and zeolites (HZSM-5, H-Mordenite and HY) as the acid components. These components were physically mixed to form bifunctional catalysts. The catalysts were characterised using BET, XRD, H2-TPR, DRIFTS and STEM-EDX. The HDO process involved the hydrogenation of acetone to isopropanol on metal sites, followed by dehydration to propene on acid sites. Catalyst activity decreased in the following order: CuCr > CuO, Cu/SiO2 > Cu/TiO2, Cu/Al2O3 and CsPW > HZSM-5 > HPW > HY, H-Mordenite. The combination of CuCr with CsPW (1:1 w/w) produced the best results, with 93% propene selectivity at 99% acetone conversion (92% propene yield) under mild conditions (180 °C and 1 bar pressure), surpassing previously reported catalysts. During the process, Cu(II) in CuCr was reduced to Cu(0), serving as the active sites for hydrogenation. At the optimal CuCr/CsPW ratio of 1:1 w/w, the molar ratio of Cu(0) to H+ surface sites was estimated to be Cu/H+ = 5 as a first-order estimate. This study demonstrated that Cu-based bifunctional metal-acid catalysis is promising for the selective HDO of ketones to alkenes
A Multi-Taxa Approach to Estuarine Biomonitoring: Assessing Vertebrate Biodiversity and Ecological Continuity Using Environmental DNA Metabarcoding in the Rance River (Brittany, France)
No full textEstuaries are ecologically vital yet highly impacted ecosystems that serve as transitional zones between land and sea. Monitoring their biodiversity is essential but challenging due to their dynamic nature and the transient presence of many species. Traditionally, actinopterygian monitoring in these systems still relies on conventional and intrusive methods such as gill nets and trawls. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding offers a non-invasive, multi-taxa alternative that can complement these traditional approaches. Here, we applied an eDNA-based metabarcoding approach to characterize vertebrate diversity in the Rance Estuary, located in the Brittany Region of France. Water samples were collected from five stations spanning marine to freshwater environments. Special attention was given to two stations located upstream and downstream of the tidal power plant (TPP) dam to assess its potential impact on ecological continuity. We detected a total of 124 distinct vertebrate MOTUs, comprising actinopterygians, birds, mammals, and amphibians. Taxonomic composition followed the estuarine gradient, with Jaccard dissimilarity increasing with distance from the sea and largely driven by species turnover. While taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity remained relatively stable across the vertebrate community, functional diversity revealed an increasing terrestrial influence. For actinopterygians, taxonomic diversity decreased upstream, whereas phylogenetic and functional diversity indicated fine-scale structuring, even among nearby stations. This approach enabled the development of biodiversity metrics and facilitated comparisons with previous actinopterygian monitoring surveys in the same area based on conventional methods (scientific fishing using nets and dredges). Our results emphasize the potential of eDNA for holistic estuarine biomonitoring and establish a valuable baseline for future non-invasive assessments
Five Things We Need to Learn About Incel Extremism: Issues, Challenges and Avenues for Fresh Research
Full text linkIn recent years research on the involuntarily celibate or “Incel” community has contributed a small but significant stock of knowledge about toxic varieties of extreme misogyny being shared on lightly regulated online communication boards. Simultaneously, we have witnessed the potential for Incel ideas to find expression in disturbing outbursts of extremist violence. This paper uses existing research to consider what we know and what we need to find out about this milieu if we are to further our knowledge and understanding. Ultimately, we highlight five key questions that need to be investigated more thoroughly and call for a wider range of methodological approaches in this endeavor. In particular, we argue that there is a need to build stronger connections with members of the Incel community in order to pursue a better-crafted body of research. While this is challenging, it is necessary if we are to gain a sense of how much support there is in Incel communities for violence, the role of pornography within the community, the key dimensions of Femcel ideology, the connections between Incel ideology and extreme right-wing thinking, and the measures that might aid deradicalization once an individual has adopted ideas related to extremist misogyny. Ultimately, we argue that while certain pieces of research are leading the way in contributing fresh thinking and innovative methodological approaches, there is much work to be done to develop our understanding in these areas of enquiry
Sotrovimab versus usual care in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial
No full textBackground: Sotrovimab is a neutralising monoclonal antibody targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sotrovimab in the RECOVERY trial, an investigator-initiated, individually randomised, controlled, open-label, adaptive platform trial testing treatments for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: Patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia to 107 UK hospitals were randomly assigned (1:1) to either usual care alone or usual care plus a single 1 g infusion of sotrovimab, using web-based unstratified randomisation. Participants were eligible if they were aged at least 18 years, or aged 12–17 years if weighing at least 40kg, and had confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia with no medical history that would put them at significant risk if they participated in the trial. Participants were retrospectively categorised as having a high antigen level if baseline serum SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid antigen was above the median concentration (the prespecified primary efficacy population), otherwise they were categorised as having a low antigen level. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality assessed by intention to treat. Safety outcomes were assessed among all participants, regardless of antigen level. Recruitment closed on March 31, 2024, when funding ended. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). Findings: From Jan 4, 2022, to March 19, 2024, 1723 patients were enrolled in the RECOVERY sotrovimab comparison. Of these, 828 (48%) were assigned to usual care plus sotrovimab and 895 (52%) were assigned to usual care only. Mean patient age was 70·7 years (SD 14·8) and 1033 (60%) were male. 720 (42%) patients were classified as having a high antigen level, 717 (42%) as having a low antigen level, and 286 (17%) had unknown antigen status. 1389 (81%) patients were vaccinated, 1179 (82%) of 1438 patients with known serostatus had anti-spike antibodies at randomisation, and 1021 (>99%) of 1026 patients with sequenced samples were infected with omicron variants. Among patients with a high antigen level, 82 (23%) of 355 assigned to sotrovimab versus 106 (29%) of 365 assigned usual care died within 28 days (rate ratio 0·75, 95% CI 0·56–0·99; p=0·046). In an analysis of all randomly assigned patients (regardless of antigen status), 177 (21%) of 828 patients assigned to sotrovimab versus 201 (22%) of 895 assigned to usual care died within 28 days (0·95, 0·77–1·16; p=0·60). Infusion reactions were recorded in 12 (2%) of 781 patients receiving sotrovimab. We found no difference between groups in any other safety outcome. Interpretation: In patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia, sotrovimab was associated with reduced mortality in the primary analysis population who had a high serum SARS-CoV-2 antigen concentration at baseline, but not in the overall population. Treatment options for patients admitted to hospital are limited, and mortality in those receiving current standard of care was high. The emergence of high-level resistance to sotrovimab among subsequent SARS-CoV-2 variants restricts its current usefulness, but these results indicate that targeted neutralising antibody therapy could potentially still benefit some patients admitted to hospital who are at high risk of death in an era of widespread vaccination and omicron infection. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute for Health and Care Research
Patient reported outcome measures require scale metrification and quantified precision: evidence from the assessment of breathlessness in people with ALS/MND
No full textIntroduction: Precision (how closely repeated measures match) and responsiveness (ability to detect change over time) are critical properties of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs). Smallest Detectable Difference (SDD) is a useful statistic regarding precision; Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) and Minimal Important Change (MIC) assess responsiveness. Methods: We examined measurement properties of Numeric Rating Scale for Breathlessness, ALSFRS-R respiratory subscale and Dyspnea-12, contributed by participants in the Trajectories of Outcome in Neurological Conditions-ALS study. Rasch analysis converts ordinal scale data to interval equivalents. Results: Data from 1120 people with ALS showed ALSFRS-R Respiratory is only valid as ordinal data. The NRS Breathlessness requires computation from a wider NRS set for Rasch analysis; its SDD is 3.2, MDC 2.59, MIC 2.39, with score range of 0–10. The Dyspnea-12 has SDD 7.0, MDC 6.14, MIC 4.5, with score range of 0–36. The %MDC, indicating smallest change detectable above measurement error as % of scale range, is superior for the Dyspnea-12 (17.1%) compared to the NRS Breathlessness (25.9%). Another advantage of Dyspnea-12 is transformation of raw ordinal to interval equivalent data using published conversion tables. Both NRS and Dyspnea-12 have disadvantages of MIC < MDC. Conclusions: Accurate measurement underpins optimal clinical decision making and high-quality research. Informed choice of PROMs reduces risk of misinterpreting clinical and research data. Patients want PROMs which they feel give an accurate account of their progression when participating in research and communicating with their clinical team. The Dyspnea-12 is preferrable for clinical and research use based on its psychometric properties
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