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Higher potential leaching of inorganic and organic additives from biodegradable compared to conventional agricultural plastic mulch film
Get PDFPlastic mulch films support global food security, however, their composition and the potential release rates of organic, metal and metalloid co-contaminants remains relatively unknown. This study evaluates the low molecular weight organic additives, metal and metalloid content and leaching from low density polyethylene (LDPE) and biodegradable plastic mulch films. We identified 59 organic additives, and non-intentionally added substances in the new LDPE films (39.8 mg m−2) and 60 in the new biodegradable films (129 mg m−2). The leaching of organic compounds of high concern for ecosystem and human health (e.g. phthalates, organophosphite antioxidants) was comparable to those of low concern (fatty acids, fatty amides, alkanols). However, the majority of leached compounds have undergone no regulatory scrutiny and their environmental fate and toxicity remain unknown. Leaching of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb) was low relative to inert fillers (Ca, Na). Leaching was higher for both organic and metal/metalloid additives from the biodegradable films (74.6 mg m−2) than the LDPE films (23.7 mg m−2). This untargeted approach allowed assessment of the chemical burden posed to individual farms, based on existing use patterns of plastic mulch films, with higher chemical burden coming from biodegradable films, raising the potential for pollution swapping. This research emphasises the need to include the complex mixture of leached additives when assessing the environmental risks presented by plastic mulch films, balancing yield benefits with the protection of our agricultural soils
Long-lasting intense cut-off lows to become more frequent in the Northern Hemisphere
Get PDFCut-off Lows are slow-moving mid-latitude storms that are detached from the main westerly flow and are often harbingers of heavy and persistent rainfall. The assessment of Cut-off Lows in climate models is relatively limited, in fact, there are no studies conducted on the future changes of Cut-off Lows within climate models. Given the importance of Cut-off Lows in leading to severe hazards, here we study them in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6’s worst-case future simulations (SSP5-8.5). Most (80%) of the models show that Cut-off Lows with high intensity and longer lifetimes are projected to become more frequent in spring over the land regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Such an increase in Cut-off Low frequency could substantially increase related potential hazards. An increase in Cut-off Low propagation velocity, however, may partly offset this increase in hazard. Lastly, projected changes in the jet stream with possible dynamical linkages to Cut-off Lows corroborate the findings of this study
Brexit and beyond: addressing the skills shortage in the UK construction industry
Get PDFThis study investigates the causes of and responses to skill shortages in the UK construction industry, focusing on the impact of Brexit. This study employs a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with industry professionals, including quantity surveyors and commercial directors. The data were analysed thematically to identify key themes and insights. The study finds that skill shortages in the UK construction industry are exacerbated by both Brexit and long-standing issues such as negative industry perceptions, an aging workforce, technological shifts, and educational barriers. These shortages have far-reaching impacts on project timelines, costs, tendering processes, and shareholder returns. Current strategies, including government initiatives and educational reforms, have had limited success in addressing these issues. This study suggests several strategies to mitigate skill shortages, including enhancing apprenticeship programs, improving the industry's public perception, and adjusting immigration policies post-Brexit. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted nature of skill shortages in the UK construction industry, particularly in the post-Brexit context. This study offers practical recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders to develop a more resilient and sustainable workforce
Board diversity management in FTSE 350 – so close and yet so far: reflections and the way forward
Get PDFThe impact of a walnut-rich breakfast on cognitive performance and brain activity throughout the day in healthy young adults: a crossover intervention trial
Get PDFA healthy diet is essential for optimal brain health and many bioactives from food are linked to cognitive benefits. To examine whether walnuts led to cognitive improvements throughout the day, 32 healthy young adults, aged 18-30, were tested in a double-blind, crossover pilot study, to compare the effects of a breakfast containing 50g walnuts with a calorie-matched control containing no nuts. Cognition, mood, blood, and EEG measures were recorded at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 hours postprandially. Mood ratings for negative affect appeared worse following walnuts compared to control, possibly due to a general dislike of the intervention. However, walnuts elicited faster reaction times throughout the day on executive function tasks. Memory recall performance at 2 hours was worse for walnuts compared to control, but by 6 hours this finding was reversed with walnuts outperforming the control. EEG PSD analysis revealed differences in frontoparietal activity in the walnut condition compared to the control condition during memory recall and during executive function performance. These results may reflect between-treatment differences in cognitive effort or attentional processes while performing the tasks. Blood analysis revealed lower circulating non-esterified fatty acids and small increases in glucose availability following consumption of walnuts compared to control, suggesting enhanced glucose availability as one possible mechanism of action. Further investigations of other potential mechanisms are needed. Overall, these findings provide evidence for reaction time benefits throughout the day following a walnut-rich breakfast, while memory findings were mixed with benefits only observed later in the day. However, more research is needed into how diets containing walnuts might regulate cognitive improvements in humans postprandially and over the longer term
Breaking the biofilm barrier: harnessing PVA-Nisin technology to safeguard dairy products from persistent pathogens
Get PDFThis study explores the fabrication, characterization, and antimicrobial properties of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-based films incorporating nisin. Films prepared via casting display smooth, transparent surfaces, with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showing increased surface roughness upon nisin addition. Contact angle analysis confirmed enhanced hydrophilicity (p ≤ .05), while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) revealed that the casting method preserved the chemical integrity of PVA and nisin. Mechanical testing demonstrated reduced Young’s Modulus, suggesting improved elasticity due to nisin’s plasticizing effect. Biofilm assays with Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes showed significant reductions in biofilm populations (p ≤ .05) within 24–48 hours. PVA-nisin films achieved up to 99.98% (3.8 log) and 99.84% (2.8 log) reductions for Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of PVA-nisin films as antimicrobial materials, providing sustained nisin release to inhibit biofilm formation in dairy food processing environments
Emotional engagement and perceived empathy in live vs. automated psychological interviews
Get PDFIn clinical in-person conditions, social presence, perceived empathy, and emotional engagement are related to positive outcomes. In online settings, it is unclear how these factors affect outcomes. Here, in 10–15-minute interviews, we investigated the influence of automation. Participants (N = 75) engaged in one of three possible interviews: live semi-scripted, live scripted, or video scripted. In the first two, participants communicated with a live interviewer and, in the third, with pre-recorded interviewer questions and answers. Emotion recognition software revealed that expressed joy differed between conditions (χ2(2) = 18.08, p < .001); both live conditions had higher scores (vs. video scripted). Self-rated perceived interviewer empathy also differed between conditions in the same way (F[2, 72] = 9.445, p < 0.001). We found a positive correlation between perceived empathy and expressed joy (r = .35; p < .01). In sum, automatized interviews differed in perceived empathy and expressed emotion compared with live interviews
Calibrating primary crop parameters to capture undersown species impacts
Get PDFIncreasing plant diversity is seen as an important method for improving agricultural soil health, with benefits extending to increased soil carbon content and improved ecosystem health. However, including multi-species interactions into models is challenging. In this study, we represented multi-species interactions by producing different cash crop parameter values depending on the presence of undersown species. For this purpose, we used the STICS soil-crop model with observations of yield, green area index, and net ecosystem exchange chamber measurements from a number of plots in an extensive field experiment in southern Finland, where barley was cultivated with 0–8 undersown species. Calibration with the four-dimensional ensemble variational data assimilation method was found to be effective with up to three parameters of interest, beyond which issues of equifinality were present. Calibration had a positive effect on the performance of projected yields and other measurements, demonstrating the potential of this approach to capture unsimulated interactions. However, we found that the dominant parameter values change interannually to the degree that the calibration improvements did not translate, limiting the effectiveness of this approach to similar conditions as the calibration data. Additionally, large variance in secondary species abundance remains a challenge for modelling this style of intercropping
Punctuational evolution is pervasive in distal site metastatic colonization
Get PDFThe evolution of metastasis, the spread of cancer to distal sites within the body, represents a lethal stage of cancer progression. Yet, the evolutionary dynamics that shape the emergence of metastatic disease remain unresolved. Here, using single-cell lineage tracing data in combination with phylogenetic statistical methods, we show that the evolutionary trajectory of metastatic disease is littered with bursts of rapid molecular change as new cellular subpopulations appear, a pattern known as punctuational evolution. Next, by measuring punctuational evolution across the metastatic cascade, we show that punctuational effects are concentrated within the formation of secondary tumours at distal metastatic sites, suggesting that qualitatively different modes of evolution may drive primary and metastatic tumour progression. Taken as a whole, our findings provide empirical evidence for distinct patterns of molecular evolution at early and late stages of metastatic disease and our approach provides a framework to study the evolution of metastasis at a more nuanced level than has been previously possible
Ways forward in the study of translanguaging
Get PDFIn their highly interesting contributions, the many commentators on my keynote
(Treffers-Daller, 2025) highlight a wide range of aspects of the concept of translanguaging,
its theoretical underpinnings and the ways in which it can be operationalised in pedagogical research. I am most grateful to all the colleagues who have been willing to critically reflect on these issues, and have also highlighted points of (dis)agreement with my views. In this final word, I will begin with a discussion of the theoretical assumptions, before moving onto issues of pedagogy