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Which trees matter most? The role of private garden trees and woodland cover for 3–30-300 success in seven English cities
Get PDFThe 3–30–300 rule is a tool to evaluate access to trees and greenspaces and is gaining popularity in Europe but not yet in the UK. We calculate a 3–30–300 score per building to measure success at the rule in the local authority areas of seven English cities, examining how overall canopy cover and where the canopy is situated (e.g. woodland, street, private garden) influence performance. We find that a maximum of 2.1 % of buildings in the locations studied meet all three rules. Land use analysis indicates that increasing the density of trees in private gardens and increasing woodland cover are the most important factors for improving performance at the 3-tree and 30 % components in UK neighbourhoods. These recommendations should be applied to UK urban areas to improve overall performance at the 3–30–300 rule and increase access to trees and their benefits. We also explore how sensitive the results of the 3–30–300 analysis are to methodological choices by comparing results of network and line-of-sight analyses to simple buffers for the 3-tree and 300 m components of the rule, finding that more simple methods result in higher 3–30–300 scores and therefore suggest better 3–30–300 performance
New age‐estimate data and implications for marine isotope stage 7 and 5e sea levels in Fenland, eastern England
Get PDFOnly one last interglacial relative sea-level indicator point (SLIP) has been recognised for Fenland, eastern England, and the nearest penultimate interglacial SLIP is located on the north Norfolk coast. Such limited information restricts the regional input to, and hence the relevance of, global reconstructions of late Middle and Late Pleistocene sea level. Marine-influenced deposits without such relevant data are known in Fenland, but their age and connection to past relative sea level (RSL) were largely uncertain. To improve this situation, new age-estimate data are presented and assessed in combination with existing age-estimate and new and existing palaeoecological data. Sea level relative to the marine-influenced deposits of Fenland is approximated based on brackish-marine faunal analyses. Results distinguish between marine-influenced deposits of penultimate and last interglacial sites. Fenland marine-influenced deposits of both interglacial stages share similar altitudinal envelopes (between a few metres above and below present ordnance datum (OD)), in common with Kirmington to the north and those of the British south coast, the Channel Islands and northwest France. Peak Fenland minimum RSL approximation (RSLA) of 2.5 m OD in the penultimate interglacial is commensurate with the north Norfolk coast SLIP but contrasts with the below OD peak of the global record. Timing of the peak Fenland maximum RSLA of 3.75 m OD late in the last interglacial at 116 ± 16 ka is commensurate with the Dutch record (116–105 ka), but contrasts with the early peak of some global records
1.2-Gbit/s Data-Rate Free-Space Optical Communications with Terahertz Laser
Get PDFTerahertz quantum cascade lasers offer promising capabilities for free-space optical communication, bridging the gap between microwave electronics and optical fiber technologies. We report the first experimental demonstration of free-space optical communication at terahertz frequencies, utilizing a quantum cascade laser transmitter and a room temperature Schottky barrier diode receiver at 1.2 Gbit/s data rate. We achieve reliable data transmission over a 0.5m free-space distance, with bit error rates dropping below the hard-decision forward error correction threshold (3.8×10−3) as the received optical power increases. This gigabit-scale communication link highlights the potential of THz photonic devices for high-speed, short-range wireless communications in 6G and beyond
Patterns and trends in the incidence of leukemia in children and young adults in Northern England by age, sex, socioeconomic and urban–rural status
No full textLeukemia is the most common cancer among children and young adults, accounting for 30% of cases worldwide. Although global studies report geographic and demographic differences in incidence, long-term patterns in northern England remain insufficiently examined. This study investigates leukemia incidence among individuals aged 0–24 years in northern England from 1968 to 2021, considering age, sex, socioeconomic status, and urban–rural residence. Data were obtained from the Northern Region Young Persons Malignant Disease Registry. Incidence rates were calculated by age group (0–14, 15–24 years), sex, deprivation quintiles (Townsend Deprivation Score), and urban–rural status. Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression to estimate annual percentage changes, and Poisson regression was applied to evaluate demographic and socioeconomic effects. Higher incidence occurred in 0–14-year-olds, especially ages 0–4. Males consistently showed higher rates. Incidence increased annually in 0–14-year-olds but declined after 1995 in 15–24-year-olds. Rural areas showed increased incidence in 2016–2021, whilst there was no significant association with deprivation
Transport of the abundant intestinal amino acid glutamine by the enteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni occurs via GutA (Cj0903), an AGCS family transporter
Get PDFGlutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the human body, playing a crucial role in numerous cellular processes. Notably for enteric bacteria, glutamine is abundant in the intestines where it helps to maintain gut health of the host, therefore presenting itself as an accessible nutrient. Campylobacter jejuni, a largely non-saccharolytic organism, favours just a few amino acids for growth, and glutamine is particularly efficient as a nitrogen source. Despite this, a glutamine transporter has not been conclusively identified in this important human pathogen. By measuring the global transcriptomic response of C. jejuni to replete glutamine conditions, we identified several candidate transporters, ultimately characterising Cj0903, here named glutamine uptake transporter A, as the major glutamine transporter belonging to the alanine or glycine:cation symporter family. We show that this transporter is ubiquitous in thermotolerant Campylobacter, demonstrating a conserved ability to utilise exogenous glutamine. In contrast, the ammonium transporter Amt was only present in a subset of C. jejuni, and we confirmed that amt negative isolates do not effectively utilise ammonium as a nitrogen source
The utilization of artificial intelligence by pediatric otolaryngology surgeons in professional practice
Get PDFImportance
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) within medicine has increased exponentially over the last decade. However, adoption across medical specialties remains variable, influenced by institutional support, availability of tools, and concerns about accuracy, privacy, and legal liability. Addressing these barriers is necessary to achieving the full clinical capacity of AI.
Objectives
This study aimed to explore current AI usage patterns among pediatric otolaryngologists and highlight perceived benefits and barriers to adoption.
Design
Cross-sectional survey design.
Setting
All aspects of the present study were conducted remotely, with the survey link being distributed within a private group chat.
Participants
Participants were recruited via an international pediatric otolaryngology WhatsApp group chat. Admission is through invitation only.
Intervention or Exposures
The survey sought to characterize a variety of themes regarding AI, including utilization patterns, attitudes, motivational factors and barriers to adoption, and extent of institutional support.
Main Outcome Measures
Responses were evaluated using chi-squared tests and descriptive statistics.
Results
Survey responses were analyzed from 50 individuals, reflecting a response rate of 15.2%. More than half of survey respondents (60.9%, n = 28/46) use AI in practice, relying on tools like ChatGPT, iScribe, and Gemini to improve workplace efficiency (71.4%, n = 20/28) and address administrative burdens (64.2%, n = 18/28). Despite current adoption of AI, participants identified a lack of institutional guidelines (66.7%, n = 30/45) and support (54.3%, n = 25/47) as major barriers to widespread integration across the subspecialty. No statistically-significant association was found between age and likelihood of AI adoption (P = .095) nor was between geographic region and likelihood of AI adoption (P = .505).
Conclusions
Pediatric otolaryngologists are interested in and enthusiastic about AI tools. This study highlights prominent institutional and educational gaps, limiting widespread integration.
Relevance
The findings guide future efforts to support AI adoption in pediatric otolaryngology through tailored training, policy, and institutional support
“I feel good… I knew that I would…”: The role of self in musical reward across cultures
Get PDFListening to music can be a rewarding experience for many. Research has shown that multiple factors influence musical reward including personality, age, and musical expertise. However, the role of culture in shaping musical reward remains underexplored. Most cross-cultural studies in music psychology have compared individuals from different countries. This study adopted a novel approach by examining self-construal, an individual-level explanation for cultural differences, in relation to musical rewards associated with favourite music across cultures. A cross-sectional online questionnaire was administered to 435 participants. Results from the multilevel regression analyses, using the two-dimensional model of self-construal, revealed that only within-region variation of interdependent and independent self-construals, not between-region variation of interdependence and independence, were positively associated with musical reward. Specifically, both self-construals were associated with emotion evocation and social reward, while independent self-construal was associated with musical seeking, mood regulation, and sensory-motor subtypes. When applying the eight-dimensional model of self-construal, distinct self-construal profiles emerged in relation to different musical reward subtypes, with the interdependent pole of connectedness to others positively associated with most subtypes except for emotion evocation reward. These findings provide preliminary evidence that self-construal influences the types of rewards experienced across cultures. In particular, one’s sense of self, whether construed as interdependent or independent, shapes the types of rewards experienced with favourite music. This study underscores the importance of incorporating specific cultural factors in cross-cultural research on musical reward. By examining self-construal, this work contributes to a more nuanced understanding of cultural diversity in music psychology
A high-quality draft genome assembly of the Neotropical butterfly, Batesia hypochlora (Nymphalidae: Biblidinae)
Get PDFWe report a long-read high-coverage reference genome assembly of the Neotropical butterfly, Batesia hypochlora (Nymphalidae: Biblidinae). This represents the first reference genome in the Biblidinae subfamily, a clade subject to ongoing studies on seasonal and climate adaptation in the Amazon. We assembled the genome from PacBio HiFi long reads (66X coverage), polished it with Illumina short reads (15X coverage), and annotated it using PacBio IsoSeq RNA data. We observed 15 chromosome-sized scaffolds, varying in length from 13.2 Mbp to 37.6 Mbp (median, 24.3 Mbp), which combined to form a total genome size of 395.788 Mbp. This assembly is highly contiguous (contig N50 of 25.14 Mbp) and complete (BUSCO completeness score of 98.6% and 0.2% duplication rate). Repeat annotation revealed that the genome comprises approximately one-third transposable elements. Gene prediction using RNA-seq evidence identified 19,395 genes, of which 17,400 were assigned to 2,883 orthogroups, including genomes of the fruit fly, silk moth, and three other Nymphalid butterfly species. The high sequencing depth also allowed us to assemble the genomes of the mitochondria and the common endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia. The mitochondrial genome was fully assembled (15,540 bp in size) with all expected genes annotated. The Wolbachia genome was fragmented, and we determined that it belongs to the B-supergroup. The high-quality assembly of B. hypochlora can represent the subfamily in further comparative analysis of evolution and provide a key resource for ongoing work to explore reproductive biology and adaptations to seasonality in Neotropical butterflies
Fostering tolerance through museums: assessing visitor engagement with historical analogies at three archaeological galleries in the UK
Get PDFThis study is the first to quantitatively investigate museum visitors’ perceptions of historical analogies that compare concepts from the deep past to modern political ideas. Specifically, we assess the capacity of heritage sites to influence visitors’ historical consciousness in ways that foster tolerance by exposing and challenging those analogies that feature in exclusive nationalist discourse. This is achieved by analysing the responses submitted by 803 visitors who engaged with the Tolerant Futures interactive, which was displayed in the archaeological galleries of three UK museums. Our findings show that visitors’ views did not align with the positions implied by the historical analogies used in exclusive nationalist discourse. By contrast, most participants held critical and non-binary understandings of the Iron Age and Roman past, as well as liberal values. We conclude that museums have a limited ability to attract adults with authoritarian views and to alter their beliefs. However, we propose that they could play a crucial role in activating intergenerational attitude change and tolerance through programmes aimed at promoting nuanced and non-binary interpretations of the ancient past among children. These results are significant for researchers and practitioners in heritage, museum studies, cultural sociology, psychology and cultural policy
Can financial incentives shift health care from an inpatient to an outpatient setting?
Get PDFCan financial incentives affect hospital behaviour and shift care from a high-cost (inpatient) setting to a low-cost (outpatient) setting? We exploit a unique policy that switched from a reimbursement scheme where the tariff was substantively lower for outpatient care relative to inpatient care, to one where the tariff was higher for outpatient care than for inpatient care. The policy affected three common procedures in England. After developing a theoretical model of provider incentives, we use a difference-in-difference approach to evaluate the policy and find that it significantly increased the proportion of outpatient treatments by 36 percentage points for cystoscopy, 16.3 percentage points for hysteroscopy, and 3.8 percentage points for sterilisation. This substantial increase also improved quality for cystoscopy by reducing repeated procedures and emergency readmissions, had mixed effects on quality for hysteroscopy and did not affect emergency readmissions for sterilisation. We show that the policy did not increase total volume (the extensive margin) but had positive spillover effects on related unincentivised procedures. We also explore the distribution implications for the public insurer (the funder) and hospitals (the providers
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