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Mapping molluscan endocrinology: a systematic and critical appraisal
Get PDFData Availability Statement:
The data that supports the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article. Data supporting this study, including links to the interactive online database, are included within the supporting information. Data on the draft protocol are available in Panagiotidis (2022).Supporting Information is available online at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/brv.70112#support-information-section .Historically, a vertebrate‐centric paradigm has framed our interpretation of molluscan endocrinology, with considerable research focusing on vertebrate‐type steroid hormones (e.g. oestrogens, testosterone). However, contradictory evidence on the occurrence of vertebrate‐type steroid hormones in molluscan tissues, and a lack of the specific steroidogenesis enzymes involved in producing these steroids has fuelled an ongoing debate about the ability of molluscs to biosynthesise vertebrate‐type steroids de novo . Consequently, the exploration of other hormonal pathways that may exist in the phylum remains a significant knowledge gap. This study systematically identified, combined and evaluated evidence from 147 eligible studies (published between 2012 and 2021) on the occurrence of hormones, hormone receptors and hormone‐metabolising enzymes in Mollusca according to the 2015 PRISMA‐P systematic review guidelines and the 2020 COSTER guidelines. The data collected are holistically summarised and visualised in a fully searchable, interactive and openly accessible online database using Tableau Public 2023.1 software. A critical appraisal assessment (Risk‐of‐Bias tool) accompanied by tailor‐made guidelines as well as a narrative synthesis using comparative endocrinology is presented. Strikingly, 95% of studies measuring hormones in molluscs did not investigate the hormones' ability to bind to their respective receptors. Moreover, many studies either used methods now considered unreliable (e.g. lack specificity) to identify relevant biomolecules (i.e. hormones, receptors, enzymes) or did not employ robust internal validation steps, with 83% of all studies not independently repeating their experiments. This highlights an urgent need for greater experimental rigour in the field. Most studies were also found to be heavily skewed towards vertebrate‐type sex steroidogenesis, with 66% measuring 17β‐oestradiol in mollusc tissues, despite unconvincing evidence that molluscs can biosynthesise vertebrate‐type steroids. By contrast, the retinoic acid signalling pathway, known to be more evolutionarily conserved (and a target of environmental pollution), has received far less attention. However, a limited number of studies are now looking beyond vertebrate‐type sex steroids, notably those looking at thyroid hormones, phytosterols (plant sterols) and ecdysteroids (insect steroids) in molluscs. These studies should act as a catalyst to spark interest in further exploration of understudied or unexplored hormonal pathways in Mollusca to elucidate fully the endocrinology of this important phylum.Natural Environment Research Council. Grant Numbers: NE/S007229/1, 2390134
Assessing the ISO hierarchy validity in circular wastewater treatment life cycle assessments: A Portuguese case study
Get PDFData availability:
Data will be made available on request.Supplementary materials are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921344925000254?via%3Dihub#sec0018 .This study evaluates the validity of ISO hierarchy in handling multifunctionality in life cycle assessments of circular wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The case study focuses on retrofitting a WWTP to produce Kaumera biopolymer, a potential substitute for sodium alginate. Various multifunctionality handling approaches—system expansion, zero-burden, economic, and mass allocations—were applied and various functional units were selected to calculate environmental impacts. The global warming (GWP), mineral resource scarcity (MRSP), and fossil resource scarcity (FRSP) indicators were examined. The results indicate that Kaumera offers significant environmental benefits (40 %–99.9 %) in GWP, MRSP, and FRSP compared to sodium alginate. System expansion provides a comprehensive assessment, making it the preferred approach. Economic allocation yields closer results to system expansion than other approaches, while zero-burden and mass allocation show 88–93 % and 100 % improvements, respectively, leading to misleading conclusions. We suggest that ISO should prioritize economic allocation over mass allocation in wastewater treatment studies.The authors are grateful to the European Commission for supporting the activities carried out in the framework of the WATER-MINING (project under grant agreement No 869474)
The impact of haptic feedback vibration in single-user and collaborative VR learning environment
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonThis research explores the impact of haptic feedback vibration in Virtual Reality
Environments (VREs) in higher education. In particular, the study concentrates
on the role of haptic feedback vibrations, investigating their overall impact during
interactions in VREs and the specific effects of adaptable vibration settings that
are activated by user errors in both single-user and Collaborative Virtual Environments
(CVEs). The study conducts the exploration from both the educators’ and
students’ perspectives. From the educators’ perspective, the research aims to identify:
1) impactful configurations of haptic feedback vibration in both single-user and
collaborative VREs, including “asymmetric” collaboration (one learner in VR and
another guiding) and “symmetric” collaboration (both learners in VR) scenarios;
and 2) cognitive levels of learning tasks for which haptic feedback vibration would
enhance the efficiency of the learning experience. From the learners’ perspective,
the research aims to comprehend their experiences, perceptions, and preferences.
This is a two-part quantitative study following the Design Science Research
(DSR) approach. The first part is a controlled, quantitative quasi-experiment based
on developed VRE and CVE for the single and multi-user parts, respectively. The
aim is to capture the interaction between the participants in both settings and examine
their performance compared to a traditional physical lab quiz. The second part
is a quantitative survey (questionnaire) administered after the experiment, aiming
to investigate the participants’ reflections and feedback.
Two courses heavily utilising 3D models—Computer Information Science and
Aviation Engineering—were chosen to develop the VREs/CVEs to enhance the generalisability
of the findings. Each course included tasks targeting different cognitive
levels: identifying components and assembling 3D models such as a PC or an aeroplane.
Performance was evaluated based on correct interactions tracked on a virtual
whiteboard. Afterwards, participants completed a survey.
A non-probability convenience sample of 264 students from a major U.A.E. higher education institution participated. Of these, 102 Computer Science and
82 Aviation Engineering students took part in VRE/CVE experiments, while 80
took physical lab tests under the same conditions. Adaptable haptic feedback was
randomly applied in VREs and universally in CVEs.
The experimental study involved two dependent variables: the time to complete
a task and the number of successes. Given that the data closely followed a normal
distribution, the parametric statistical t-test for paired two samples for means was
used to compare the results of the VREs and CVEs with those from the normal
physical lab tests. The α levels were set at the standard 0.05 and the estimated test
power was 0.8 for an effect size of 0.8.
The quantitative part of the study, the survey, involved two additional research
constructs: the preference for VRE/CVEs over physical labs and the participants’
reflections on the overall experience. The reliability of the participants’ responses
was considered acceptable in cases where Cronbach’s Alpha was above 0.6.
Overall, the participants favoured the VRE experience, expressing satisfaction,
enjoyment, and a sense of competence. Adaptable haptic feedback, in particular,
was recognised for enhancing the immersive experience. Collaborative CVEs further
enriched their VR experience, particularly in the “asymmetric” mode, but also in the
“symmetric” mode, suggesting improved teamwork skills through CVEs. Notably,
participants preferred a blended approach, advocating for the incorporation of both
VREs/CVEs and physical labs in the content delivery and assessment process.
These findings have substantial implications for decision-making when planning
the deployment of VREs/CVEs in content delivery and assessment within higher
education institutions and are presented in the form of a set of recommendations
towards decision-making in the conclusions of the thesis
Distinct spatiotemporal atrophy patterns in corticobasal syndrome are associated with different underlying pathologies
No full textFor the purpose of open access, the authors have applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.Although the corticobasal syndrome was originally most closely linked with the pathology of corticobasal degeneration, the 2013 Armstrong clinical diagnostic criteria, without the addition of etiology-specific biomarkers, have limited positive predictive value for identifying corticobasal degeneration pathology in life. Autopsy studies demonstrate considerable pathological heterogeneity in corticobasal syndrome, with corticobasal degeneration pathology accounting for only ∼50% of clinically diagnosed individuals. Individualised disease stage and progression modelling of brain changes in corticobasal syndrome may have utility in predicting this underlying pathological heterogeneity, and in turn improve the design of clinical trials for emerging disease modifying therapies. The aim of this study was to jointly model the phenotypic and temporal heterogeneity of corticobasal syndrome, to identify unique imaging subtypes based solely on a data-driven assessment of MRI atrophy patterns, and then investigate whether these subtypes provide information on the underlying pathology.
We applied Subtype and Stage Inference, a machine learning algorithm that identifies groups of individuals with distinct biomarker progression patterns, to a large cohort of 135 individuals with corticobasal syndrome (52 had a pathological or biomarker defined diagnosis) and 252 controls. The model was fit using volumetric features extracted from baseline T1-weighted MRI scans and then used to subtype and stage follow-up scans. The subtypes and stages at follow-up were used to validate the longitudinal consistency of the baseline subtype and stage assignments. We then investigated whether there were differences in associated pathology and clinical phenotype between the subtypes.
Subtype and Stage Inference identified at least two distinct and longitudinally stable spatiotemporal subtypes of atrophy progression in corticobasal syndrome; four-repeat-tauopathy confirmed cases were most commonly assigned to the Subcortical subtype (83% of individuals with progressive supranuclear palsy pathology and 75% of individuals with corticobasal-degeneration pathology), whilst those with Alzheimer’s pathology were most commonly assigned to the Fronto-parieto-occipital subtype (81% of individuals). Subtype assignment was stable at follow-up (98% of cases), and individuals consistently progressed to higher stages (100% stayed at the same stage or progressed), supporting the model’s ability to stage progression.
By jointly modelling disease stage and subtype, we provide data-driven evidence for at least two distinct and longitudinally stable spatiotemporal subtypes of atrophy in corticobasal syndrome that are associated with different underlying pathologies. In the absence of sensitive and specific biomarkers, accurately subtyping and staging individuals with corticobasal syndrome at baseline has important implications for screening on entry into clinical trials, as well as for tracking disease progression.W.J.S. is supported by a Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD fellowship (220582/Z/20/Z) and a personal grant from the Rotha Abraham Trust. C.S. is supported by the UK Research and Innovation Medical Research Council (MR/S03546X/1). M.B. is supported by a fellowship award from the Alzheimer’s Society, UK (AS-JF-19a-004-517). D.M.C. is supported by the UK Dementia Research Institute which receives its funding from Dementia Research Institute Ltd funded by the UK Medical Research Council, Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s
Research UK, as well as Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK-PG2017-1946), and the University College London/University College London Hospitals, National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre. H.H. is supported by the National Institutes of Health (R01AG038791, U19AG063911). A.L.Y. is supported by a Career Development Award from the Wellcome Trust [227341/Z/23/Z] and a Skills Development Fellowship from the Medical Research Council (MR/T027800/1). This research was funded in whole, or in part, by the Wellcome Trust [227341/Z/23/Z]. N.P.O. is a UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellow (MR/S03546X/1). L.V.V. is supported by the National Institutes of Health (K23AG073514), the Alzheimer’s Association and the Shenandoah Foundation. D.C.A. is supported a Wellcome Trust Investigator in Science Award [221915/Z/20/Z] and also receives funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research UCLH Biomedical Research Centre. J.B.R. is supported by the Wellcome Trust (220258), Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00030/14; MR/T033371/1), the National Institute for Health and Care Research
Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR203312: The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health and Care Research or the Department of Health and Social Care), PSP Association, Evelyn Trust, and Cambridge Centre for Parkinson-plus. H.R.M. is supported by Parkinson’s UK, Cure Parkinson’s Trust, PSP Association, CBD Solutions, Drake Foundation, Medical Research Council, and the Michael J Fox Foundation. A.L.B. is supported by the National Institutes of Health (U19AG063911, R01AG078457, R01AG073482, R56AG075744, R01AG038791, RF1AG077557,
P01AG019724, R01AG071756 and U24AG057437), the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, the Bluefield Project to Cure FTD, and the Alzheimer’s Association and the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. J.D.R. is supported by the Miriam Marks Brain Research UK Senior Fellowship and has received funding from a Medical Research Council Clinician Scientist Fellowship (MR/M008525/1) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Rare Disease Translational Research Collaboration (BRC149/NS/MH). P.A.W. is supported by a Medical Research Council Skills Development Fellowship (MR/T027770/1). The Dementia Research Centre is supported by Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, Brain Research UK, and The Wolfson Foundation. This work was supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, the Leonard Wolfson Experimental Neurology Centre (LWENC) Clinical Research Facility, and the UK Dementia Research Institute, which receives its funding from UK Dementia Research Institute Ltd., funded by the UK Medical Research Council,
Alzheimer’s Society, and Alzheimer’s Research UK. The PROSPECT study is funded by the PSP Association and CBD Solutions. The 4-Repeat Tauopathy Neuroimaging Initiative (4RTNI) and FTLDNI are funded by the National Institutes of Health Grant (R01 AG038791) and through generous contributions from the Tau Research Consortium. Both are coordinated through the University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center. 4RTNI data are disseminated by the Laboratory for Neuro Imaging at the University of Southern California
Can the UK reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions?
Get PDFKey research findings:
Our report ‘What price near zero emissions? Energy and economic modelling for the UK using real
world data to 2050 and beyond’ [available at: https://brunel.figshare.com/articles/online_resource/What_price_near-zero_emissions_Energy_and_economic_modelling_for_the_UK_using_real-world_data_to_2050_and_beyond/28070402?file=51323096] examines the country's capacity to transition to a low-carbon
future and the options for realistic evidence-based policies to that end (using the 7see framework
and model). Although plausible, the pathway is extremely challenging for engineering, requires
investment at a scale not seen in recent times, and may be considered unpalatable.Policy Context: Achieving ‘net zero’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 is a target set in the Climate Change Act, with the UK Government pursuing even more stringent and specific intermediate targets from 2030. The term ‘net’ arose to address sectors with emissions deemed too difficult to become emission-free, by 2050, otherwise the overall emissions reduction target and endeavour might be undermined. The Sixth Carbon Budget, revealed in December 2020, reflects this target.
Advice: Reaching net zero by 2050 is not possible. To be realistic about achieving an ambitious emissions reduction target by 2050 and its ongoing sustainability, the UK Government should instead consider a near zero emissions target based on technology options demonstrating continuous improvement in efficiency. All analysis of future energy scenarios which inform policy should consider the whole economy and be based on defensible physics and engineering assumptions
The effects of digital health on exercise adherence and intervention outcomes in older adults with knee diseases: A systematic review
No full textSupplementary materials are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187706572500017X?via=ihub#sec0030Background:
Poor adherence is commonly observed as one of the characteristics of exercise interventions and there is little consensus as to whether digital interventions promote exercise adherence in people undergoing physiotherapy, especially in older adults with knee diseases.
Purpose:
To investigate the effects of digital health for improving the exercise adherence and intervention outcomes.
Methods:
A systematic search was conducted on 4 databases; PRISMA reporting guidelines were followed. Journal articles in English (published till June 30, 2024) reporting digital health on exercise adherence and intervention outcomes for older adults with knee diseases were searched, and eligible articles underwent data extraction and a thematic synthesis.
Results:
Of the 1015 potentially relevant trials, 13 studies totaling 1258 participants were eligible for inclusion. Digital health was slightly better but not significant than non-digital health on total adherence (SMD 0.29, 95 % CI ˗0.02 to 0.60; P = 0.07; I2 = 77 %). At short-term follow-up, digital health improved adherence compared with nondigital health (SMD 0.70, 95 % CI 0.39–1.01; P < 0.001; I2 = 4 %), with a very low certainty of evidence. At mid- and long-term, digital health was no better than non-digital health on adherence (mid-term: SMD 0.01, 95 % CI ˗0.55 to 0.58; P = 0.97; I2 = 86 %; long-term: SMD 0.09, 95 % CI ˗0.31 to 0.49, P = 0.66; I2 = 48 %). For the intervention outcomes, digital health reduced the pain only at short-term and was no better than non-digital health on physical function, ADL or QoL at any time point.
Conclusion:
The available evidence is insufficient to draw the conclusion that digital health technology improves exercise adherence and intervention outcomes in older people with knee disease, and there is very low to low certainty of evidence supporting improvements of adherence and pain only at short-term. Larger-scale, more reliable studies and strategies are needed to enhance mid- and long-term adherence and intervention outcomes in older adults.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors
Community Engagement with Inclusive Design: A Conceptualisation Framework
Get PDFThe Cambridge Workshop on Universal Access and Assistive Technology (CWUAAT) series has been running since 2002, hosting the multifaceted dialogue on design for inclusion. It involves a wide range of disciplines including design, computer science, engineering, architecture, ergonomics, policy and gerontology. CWUAAT has been running every 2 years since 2002, with a break during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report arises from the 12th CWUAAT workshop, held at St Catharine's College, Cam-bridge on 2-4 April 2025. It contains the papers selected by an international panel of currently active researchers for poster presentation at the conference. The conference theme was New Frontiers for Inclusion, including the possibilities and challenges for inclusive design offered by AI and other emerging technologies. The poster papers were divided into the following groups: Design approaches; Designing for an ageing population; Designing for particular needs; Interaction techniques and modalities; and AI and inclusive design. We would like to thank all the authors and researchers who have contributed to CWUAAT2025.As part of the EU-funded VOICE project, a conceptualisation framework is being developed to guide and support artist-led community engagement in tackling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 11, 12, 13 and 17. Inclusive design plays an important role in developing the framework and associated resources. This paper summarises key artist-led initiatives in Europe, and identifies two unique features of the VOICE project in comparison to existing initiatives. Through engaging the project consortium partners, the authors illustrate an initial framework, and outline the plan for further, iterative development, aiming to make it useful for all potential users including the VOICE consortium, artists in communities, community organisations and local government, and the EU public.Funded by the European Union. This work has received funding from the UK research and Innovation under contract number 101135803
Presence and Impact of Aldol Condensation Products as Off-Notes in Plant-Based Protein Sources
Get PDFPublished as part of Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry “17th International Weurman Flavour Research Symposium: From Flavour Generation to Flavour Perception, Analytics, Modelling and Health”.Off-notes in plant-based sources of protein are mainly formed via the lipid oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. During gas chromatography–olfactometry analysis of pea protein isolate, previously uncharacterized old soap odors were detected. These were found to arise from a family of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes formed from the aldol condensation of pentanal and hexanal during the protein extraction process. These compounds were synthesized, and it was confirmed that they are highly odor-active and contribute to the old soap odor in pea protein isolates at very low concentrations. Comparison with rice, soy, and hemp protein isolates showed that they all contained at least one such aldol condensate, whereas they were not detected in whey protein. We suggest that the main factor determining the formation of these compounds is the manufacturing process used to isolate and dry the pea protein biomass.This work was funded as part of a BBSRC DTP studentship (BB/T008776/1)
Revisiting the Spirals of Silence: The Case of Intra-Faith Discrimination at Work in Two Muslim Majority Countries
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Research data are not shared.Drawing on the spiral of silence theory, this manuscript critically explores a notably under-researched domain: the workplace experiences of individuals belonging to faith-based minority groups who encounter religious discrimination in predominantly Muslim countries, specifically Türkiye and Pakistan. First, we outline the spirals of silence theory and examine intra-faith discrimination as an illustrative case. We locate the identity and agency of individuals from religious minorities at work, reflecting on an escalation of silence in the context of adversity, as suggested by the spirals of silence theory. Building on 38 interviews with individuals from faith-based minority groups in workplaces within Turkey and Pakistan, our analysis reveals intra-faith religious discrimination in two distinct contexts: one, a country grappling with significant pressure on its secular system, and the other, a nation where the implementation of Islamic egalitarian principles, as enshrined in its constitution, is inconsistent. The study reveals that religiously inspired discrimination is a prevalent and pernicious experience among individuals from faith-based minority groups in both countries, which consequently entrenches the spirals of silence
Integrated emergency control strategy for single/three-phase hybrid microgrid group coupling load correlation factors and under-frequency load shedding
No full textData availability:
The data that has been used is confidential.Under-frequency load shedding is a necessary measure for the elimination of power shortages in a single/three-phase hybrid microgrid group under unintentional islanding. To date, research studies have considered virtual three-phase combination, load evaluation, and load shedding separately, rather than as in integrated whole. Therefore, an integrated emergency control strategy for a single/three-phase hybrid microgrid group with coupled load correlation factors and under-frequency load shedding is proposed in this paper. First, to reduce the complexity of the model and shorten the time needed to obtain the load shedding decision, an integrated emergency control strategy framework for coupled virtual three-phase combination-load evaluation-load shedding is constructed based on the meta-model. Second, a multistrategy ant lion optimization (MSALO) algorithm is designed, which combines the Lévy flight mutation mechanism and the golden sine search strategy and updates the optimization position parameters to enhance the global optimization capabilities and local optimization efficiency. This algorithm is applied to the correction and dynamic updating of the meta-model parameters, aiming to generate optimal emergency control decisions. Finally, the proposed strategy is validated using the improved IEEE-37 node and the improved IEEE-118 node single/three-phase hybrid microgrid group models. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy can reduce the economic loss and three-phase imbalance degree during the emergency control period, reduce the frequency fluctuation range and the frequency recovery time, and improve the response speed of emergency control decision-making.This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant 52107108
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