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Dominant trends in Jupiter's H+3 northern aurora: II. magnetospheric mapping
Get PDFJupiter's auroral regions have previously been defined by broad‐scale auroral structures, but these are typically obscured by the wide array of temporal variability observed at timescales between minutes and days, making it difficult to understand the underlying magnetospheric biases driving these brightness differences. Here, we follow on from an initial study of Jupiter's aurora, again utilizing a data set of 13,000 images of Jupiter mapped into latitude, longitude and local time, smoothed over tens of hours of integration and many days of observing. Having removed correlations between brightness and both magnetic field and planetary local time identified in the first study, we examine morphological changes in emission with both planetary and magnetic local time. We reveal that the main auroral emission is enhanced by a factor of three in the region mapping into the dusk magnetosphere. An additional strong auroral darkening is observed near noon, aligned with previous ultraviolet observations of an auroral discontinuity in this region, though this rotates duskward slightly in magnetic local time, as the ionospheric source mapping to this region moves duskward. The polar aurora contrasts with this strongly, showing brightness enhancement when the auroral pole points toward the dawn and dusk limbs. It also shows that the Dark region is fixed in local time, close to the dawnward edge of the polar region, while the Swirl region appears to match well with predictions from recent MHD models when the magnetic pole points toward dawn, but changes significantly at other magnetic pole directions
Hypothetical feed conversion efficiency of cultured meat compared to conventional animal production
No full textThe pressure on agro-livestock systems calls for a critical review of production systems focusing on efficiency and
sustainability. Cultured meat (CM) emerges as an alternative production but requires comparable parameters for
evaluation. This paper proposes a hypothetical reformulation of the concept of Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) and
Edible Meat Conversion Rate (EMCR), traditionally employed in animal-derived food production, by adapting it
to the context of cellular agriculture, in particular to CM. After an analysis of the FCR in the main conventional
sectors (poultry, swine, cattle and fish), used for the calculation of EMCR, a theoretical model was developed for
the calculation of the Cultured Meat Conversion Ratio (CMCR), based on the chemical composition of the culture
media. The estimated CMCRs (0.316–0.687) and the CMCR on a dry matter basis for CM (2.29) were lower than
those reported for traditional animal supply chains, indicating a potentially higher theoretical efficiency.
However, these estimates do not account for the specific resources required to produce the ingredients of the
culture medium, the actual metabolic efficiency of the cells, the accumulation of toxic metabolites (e.g.,
ammonia, lactate), nor the potential impact of future media formulations based on alternatives to foetal bovine
serum. Although a theoretical calculation, this study provides a useful conceptual framework for the definition
and optimisation of FCR in alternative cell culture systems, laying the basis for the development of reliable
metrics in cellular agriculture and comparative evaluation between innovative and conventional food systems
Sustainable food security in Northeast Nigeria: a system science approach
No full textThis study explored the complex challenges of achieving food security in Northeast Nigeria.
The study employed a system thinking approach to identify interventions to achieving
sustainable food security, biodiversity, and income and employment opportunities. To
achieve its objectives, the research gathered primary data from 375 randomly selected
households using questionnaires, organized six focus group discussions on the
effectiveness of agricultural policies, and conducted stakeholder consultations to
comprehend the intricate interactions and feedback within the food system. The data
analysis employed both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. The Dietary Diversity
Score (DDS) was employed to capture the food security of households. The study harnessed
system thinking analysis, and causal loop diagrams to explore and unearth potential
pathways towards sustainable food security. It also identified effective policies, such as
promoting organic farming, mixed cropping, and providing credit and labour subsidies to
small-scale farmers, which enhanced food access, biodiversity, income, and environmental
benefits. The study identified that Cereal (98.4%), white roots and tubers (96.3%), and oil
and fat (91.5%) constituted the most consumed food groups. In contrast, eggs (15.2%),
organ meat (23.5%), milk and dairy products (21.9%), and flesh meat (34.1%) were
consumed less, highlighting the issue of hidden hunger in the region. Causal loop diagram
unveiled agrochemicals, food harvest, monocropping, and mixed cropping as root drivers
of the food system, with key outcomes being biodiversity, food security, income, farm
labour, and soil quality. Traditional and indigenous knowledge emerged as crucial in
preserving biodiversity and a sustainable food system. Recommendations include
addressing protein and micronutrient gaps, re-evaluating monocropping and food
industrialization policies, supporting mixed cropping through labour subsidies, and
promoting forest growth
The importance of a relationship-centred approach to deprescribing for people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment in primary care: a qualitative study
No full textPolypharmacy (taking five or more regular medications) is common in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and is associated with poor outcomes such as decline in cognitive and physical functioning, falls and hospital admission. Reducing or stopping unnecessary medications (deprescribing) can help improve outcomes but limited research has been undertaken with people with dementia or MCI, especially in primary care. This study explored the perspectives and experiences of people with dementia or MCI, informal carers and healthcare professionals on deprescribing decision-making in this setting. Seven people with dementia, two people with MCI and nine informal carers took part in photo elicitation and an in-person interview. They took photographs of their day-to-day management of medication, which were used during the interview to probe the conversation. Sixteen healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, pharmacists, nurses, social prescribers and National Health Service memory clinic professionals, participated in individual online interviews. Data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings suggest the need to navigate ‘patient vs carer vs professional voices’ in the deprescribing process to ensure everyone’s voice is included. It should take into account patient cognitive abilities, autonomy and independence, as well as carer experiences and the need for a written summary of what has been discussed and agreed. Flexible, tailored, cross-system medication management processes are needed to support effective deprescribing, including proactive follow-up. To facilitate deprescribing discussions, factors such as professional knowledge, safe environment, and sufficient time should be considered. Finally, careful consideration should be given to the potential impact of deprescribing decisions on day-to-day medication management and carer burden. These findings provide novel insights that demonstrate the need for a relationship-centred approach for deprescribing for people with dementia or MCI, which should inform future research on development of a primary care deprescribing intervention for this group of people
Bacterial warfare is associated with virulence and antimicrobial resistance
No full textBacteria have evolved a diverse array of mechanisms to inhibit and kill competitors. However, why some bacteria carry such weapons while others do not remains poorly understood. Here we explore this question using the genomics of the bacteriocins of E. coli as a model system, which have large well-annotated bioinformatic resources. While bacteriocins occur widely, we find that carriage is particularly associated with pathogenic extra-intestinal (ExPEC) strains. These pathogens commonly carry large plasmids encoding bacteriocins alongside virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. Across all strains, we find many orphan immunity proteins, which protect against bacteriocins and suggest that these bacterial weapons are important in nature. We also present evidence that bacteriocin toxins readily move between strains via plasmid transfer and even between plasmids via transposons. Finally, we show that several
E. coli bacteriocins are widely shared with the pathogen
Salmonella enterica, further cementing the link to virulence. Our work suggests that the bacteriocins of
E. coli are important antibacterial weapons for dangerous antimicrobial-resistant strains
Research timeline: assessment of second language fluency
Get PDFThe purpose of this article is to provide a timeline of studies (1979-2022) that have aimed at helping develop an accurate, evidence-based, and reliable understanding of fluency and its measurement and assessment. The timeline demonstrates a selection of seminal work and primary studies by both established and emerging researchers that have made an impactful contribution to the development of the current fluency frameworks (i.e., conceptual, measurement and assessment frameworks) over the past four decades
What the War on Terror leaves behind: assessing international security in a post-terrorism era
Get PDFInstitutions, economies and downsizing: evidence across time and countries
Get PDFDownsizing is a legitimate yet highly disruptive human resource management practice that organisations can activate when costs need to be cut. We adopt an institutionalist lens to explore how both legislative and economic forces combine to shape organisations’ adoption of employee downsizing practices. We conduct multilevel mixed-effects ordered probit regression analyses on our survey data on human resource management practices from 29 countries and four rounds of data collection spanning seventeen years. The findings indicate that variations in downsizing practices can be partly explained by differences in national legal institutions as well as by prevailing economic conditions. Importantly, we also find that constraints imposed by national regulatory institutions may be relaxed during periods of economic crisis. We theorise the interaction of coercive, mimetic and normative isomorphic effects to understand how organisational operating contexts are dynamic, whereby both constraints and opportunities can vary over time
Securing therapeutic justice through mediation: the challenge of medical treatment disputes
Get PDFThis paper explores the use of mediation in medical treatment disputes through the lens of therapeutic justice (TJ), a concept developed in the 1990s to consider the therapeutic and anti-therapeutic effects of justice systems. The paper argues that mediation may be a mechanism for achieving therapeutic effects for people involved in medical treatment disputes. In doing so, the paper highlights the conflict that can often arise between healthcare professionals, family members and patients in medical treatment disputes and the related difficulties with using litigation to resolve this type of conflict. It has been suggested by judges, academics and policy-makers that mediation might be a better way of resolving conflict in these cases. While mediation and TJ have much in common, the paper explores the many tensions between them, considering ways in which mediation might need to be done differently to achieve therapeutic aims. Finally, the paper identifies six TJ features against which mediation can be tested to consider whether it can live up to the claims that it can be used to resolve medical treatment disputes more therapeutically
Greater resting state functional connectivity of the medial prefrontal cortex with the thalamus, caudate, and putamen in individuals who adhere to the Mediterranean style diets
Get PDFPurpose
Healthy diets are believed to be associated with a reduced risk of experiencing common mental disorders (CMDs) and related symptomatology (such as ruminative thinking), and with healthier brain chemistry and structure, especially in the frontal regions implicated in CMDs, cognitive control, and food choice. Nevertheless, there is very limited research on the relationship between diet health/quality and brain function. In this study we assessed the associations between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) with the whole brain and whether this connectivity would be associated with ruminative thinking as a transdiagnostic factor for CMDs.
Methods
Thirty-seven adults (Mean Age = 25.57, SD = 7.18) completed the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and were classified into high- and low-quality diet groups and completed the Ruminative Response Scale. All participants underwent resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) to determine whole-brain rs-FC of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).
Results
Participants in the high MEDAS group (vs. low MEDAS group) exhibited significantly greater rs-FC of the mPFC seed with the thalamus, caudate and putamen. Additionally, the strength of rs-FC of the mPFC seed with these regions was positively associated with the MEDAS scores across groups in both crude and adjusted models. There were no significant associations between the strength of rs-FC of the mPFC seed with the cluster of voxels with the thalamus, caudate, and putamen and ruminative thinking.
Discussion
This work shows that healthy dietary patterns are associated with rs-FC in the frontal-subcortical circuitry in healthy volunteers. Considering the implications of the dysregulation of this circuity, adhering to healthy dietary patterns may offer a promising alternative/complementary method to improve CMDs, cognitive control, and food choices