62880 research outputs found
Sort by
Beekeepers’ perceptions toward a new omics tool for monitoring bee health in Europe
Get PDFPressures on honey bee health have substantially increased both colony mortality and beekeepers’ costs for hive management across Europe. Although technological advances could offer cost-effective solutions to these challenges, there is little research into the incentives and barriers to technological adoption by beekeepers in Europe. Our study is the first to investigate beekeepers’ willingness to adopt the Bee Health Card, a molecular diagnostic tool developed within the PoshBee EU project which can rapidly assess bee health by monitoring molecular changes in bees. The Bee Health Card, based on MALDI BeeTyping®, is currently on level six of the Technology Readiness Level scale, meaning that the technology has been demonstrated in relevant environments. Using an on-line survey from seven European countries, we show that beekeepers recognise the potential for the tool to improve colony health, and that targeted economic incentives, such as subsidises, may help reduce cost being a barrier to the adoption and frequent use of the tool. Based on the description of the tool, 43% of beekeepers appear to be moderately confident in the effectiveness of the Bee Health Card. This confidence could increase if the tool was easy to use and not time consuming, and a higher confidence could also contribute to raising the probability of accepting extra costs linked to it. We estimate that, in the worst-case scenario, the cost per single use of the Bee Health Card should be between €47–90 across a range of European countries, depending on the labour and postage costs. However, the monetary benefits in terms of honey production could exceed this. In order to successfully tackle colony health issues, it is recommended using the BHC five times per year, from the end to the beginning of winter. Finally, we discuss the knowledge needs for assessing beekeeper health tools in future research
The cost of fungicide resistance evolution in multi-field plant epidemics
Get PDFEpidemics of plant diseases are estimated to cause significant economic losses in crop production. Fungicide applications are widely used to control crop diseases but incur substantial indirect costs. One essential class of indirect costs arises due to the evolution of fungicide resistance. This indirect cost must be estimated reliably to design economic policy for more sustainable use of fungicides. Such estimation is difficult because the cost depends on economic parameters and the evo-epidemiological properties of crop pathogens. Even a conceptual framework for such estimation is missing. To address this problem, we combined a spatially implicit mathematical model of crop epidemics with an economic analysis at the landscape scale. We investigated how the net economic return from a landscape depends on the proportion of fungicide-treated fields. We discovered a pattern of accelerating (or decelerating) returns, contrary to expected diminishing returns. Next, we calculated the economic cost of the evolution of fungicide resistance as the difference between the optimal net return of the landscape in the absence and presence of resistance. We found that this cost depends strongly on the fungicide price, the degree of resistance, the pathogen’s basic reproduction number and the yield loss due to disease. Surprisingly, the cost declines with the fungicide price and
exhibits a non-monotonic pattern as a function of the basic reproduction number. Hence, to calculate the cost, we must estimate these parameters robustly, incorporating variations in environmental conditions, crop varieties and the genetic composition of pathogen populations. Appropriate estimation
of the cost of resistance evolution can inform economic policy and encourage more sustainable use of fungicides
Disentangling the multiple roles of neighbourhood planning consultants in the English planning system. A view from within
No full textThe extensive use of consultants in English neighbourhood planning was identified early in research discussing its implementation. This practice paper reflects on the roles that such consultants have sustained in the ‘enactment space’ shaped by that policy. This is sustained
by highlighting the experience of an extensively active consultant whose reflection is used as a form of biographical interpretivist research to highlight the nuances of the consultant role amongst and between civil society, private actors and the state. The paper provides
insight on consultants in a form of co-produced planning and reflects on the planning implications more widely
Mercury contamination of sympatric seabirds and associated health risks in an Antarctic ecosystem
Get PDFAntarctic marine ecosystems are located far from industrial pollution sources, yet mercury (Hg) contamination remains an important threat to regional biodiversity. Seabirds occupy mid- to high trophic positions in Antarctic food webs, and can show high levels of Hg contamination due to biomagnification. Here, total Hg (THg) concentrations and stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) were measured in red blood cells of brown skuas Stercorarius antarcticus lonnbergi (n = 44) and south polar skuas S. maccormicki (n = 50) at King George Island/Isla 25 de Mayo (South Shetland Islands) in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 breeding seasons. The objectives were to: (i) determine current levels of Hg contamination at King George Island and identify the underlying drivers (e.g., species, sex, year, δ13C and δ15N); (ii) compare contaminant levels with other breeding sites; and (iii) examine potential Hg-associated health risks. At King George Island, south polar skuas had higher THg concentrations (mean ± SD, 3.85 ± 2.99 μg g−1 dw) than brown skuas (1.67 ± 1.25 μg g−1 dw), potentially due to their greater reliance on mesopelagic fish and carry-over effects from their non-breeding distributions. THg concentrations of males were higher than females, with deposition into eggs by females being the likeliest explanatory factor, and were positively related to δ15N, reflecting the biomagnification process. THg concentrations of brown skuas in this study were higher than at Hope Bay (Antarctic Peninsula), but lower than at South Orkney Islands (Antarctica), South Georgia and Kerguelen Islands (subantarctic). THg concentrations of the south polar skuas analysed here were higher than at Hope Bay and Adélie Land (Antarctic continent). Comparisons with toxicity benchmarks suggest that skuas are currently at low risk of Hg-associated health impacts at King George Island
Observing atmospheric electricity and space weather effects in Venus’ atmosphere
Get PDFAtmospheric electricity has important impacts across a range of disciplines. On Earth, lightning
influences atmospheric chemistry, with related chemical processes considered important to the
origins of life. Atmospheric electricity can affect other atmospheric processes, such as the
stability, growth, and disintegration of cloud droplets. Previous investigations of atmospheric
electricity on Venus have primarily focused on detections of lightning. From comparison with
Earth, there are many other aspects of atmospheric electricity which require understanding,
such as the effects of cosmic ray ionisation and electric charges on the clouds of Venus.
Through an investigation of a point discharge sensor on Earth, it was discovered that the
operation of the sensor depended on both electrostatic and electrodynamic terms - interpreted
as both free and displacement currents being detected. Knowledge of these sensors was applied
to an investigation of the electrical discharges recorded by the Venera 13 & 14 spacecraft. It
was found, via electrical modelling of Venus’ atmosphere, that the best reproduction of the
Venera data required both low-atmosphere haze layers and a global atmospheric electric circuit.
Estimates were made for the strength of such a circuit, with the required conduction currents
between -1 and 7 fA/m2
. Finally, space weather effects were investigated at Venus, with both
solar energetic particle events and heliospheric current sheet crossings detected at the planet.
It was found that space weather events associated with coronal mass ejections had a noticeable
impact on the atmosphere of Venus, causing significant increases in the albedo. These are some
of the first results demonstrating that there is a space weather effect in Venus’ atmosphere.
These results suggest electrical processes have effects in Venus’ atmosphere. Future investigations are required to identify any charge separation processes which could produce a global
electric circuit, and to identify the mechanisms linking space weather variations to atmospheric
processes
Mary Hesse and Scientific Realism(s)
No full textTo what extent should we think of Mary Hesse as having been a scientific realist? Her early works were clearly intended to make space for a form of realism based on a fuller recognition of the role of models and analogies in science than existing empiricist views allowed. Her commitment to realism is explicit in her publications from the mid-1960s until at least the mid-1970s. But there were also some kinds of realism that she always distanced herself from. I investigate what all these versions of realism were, and why she endorsed some but opposed others.
In the 1970s, Hesse’s growing conviction that there is no cumulation or convergence of theory across the history of science, together with the idea of the underdetermination of theory by data, led her to endorse what she thought of as a form of ‘pragmatism’ or ‘instrumentalism’. Had she turned against her earlier form of scientific realism, or perhaps all forms of scientific realism, and if so, why? Or did she think her pragmatism was compatible with her initial, model-based realism?
I draw attention to a residually realist aspect of her views, one that should make us think of her as having suggested what others would later come to think of as structural realism. But I also argue that her approach to language might well jeopardise the idea that she was ever a realist
Cyclodextrin-mediated enhancement of haloperidol solubility: physicochemical studies and in vivo investigation using planaria worms
Get PDFPurpose
This study aims to evaluate the ability of various cyclodextrins (CDs) to enhance the aqueous solubility of haloperidol (HAL), through the formation of inclusion complexes. It also investigates the pharmacological activity of CD/HAL complexes using a planaria model.
Methods
Inclusion complexes were prepared using α-CD, β-CD, methyl-β-CD, hydroxypropyl-β-CD and γ-CD. The solubility of HAL in the presence of CDs was assessed, and the stoichiometry of the complexes was determined using Job’s method. Physicochemical interactions between HAL and CDs were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). The in vivo pharmacological activity was tested in planaria worms following exposure to HAL in the presence or absence of CDs.
Results
HAL’s aqueous solubility was significantly enhanced in the presence of α-CD, methyl-β-CD, and hydroxypropyl-β-CD, while γ-CD showed no effect. Only modest solubility improvements were observed with increasing β-CD concentrations up to 8 mg/mL. Stoichiometric analysis confirmed a 1:1 ratio of HAL to CD in the inclusion complexes. In vivo studies demonstrated that HAL reduced planaria mobility, mimicking cataleptic effects seen in mammals, whereas the presence of CDs reduced this pharmacological effect.
Conclusion
Cyclodextrins, particularly α-CD, methyl-β-CD, and hydroxypropyl-β-CD, effectively enhance the solubility of haloperidol by forming 1:1 inclusion complexes. The reduction in haloperidol-induced behavioral changes in planaria by CDs suggests a potential impact on drug bioavailability and supports the use of planaria as a simple in vivo model for screening neuroactive compounds and formulations
Updating the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s framework for the evaluation of evidence
Get PDFThe Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) provides independent advice on nutrition and related health matters to UK government organisations. In keeping with its commitment to openness and transparency, SACN follows a set ‘Framework’ to ensure a prescribed and consistent approach is taken in all its evidence evaluations. Following an update of the SACN Framework in 2020, which addressed some straightforward issues, the SACN Framework subgroup was established in 2021 to consider more complex matters that were not addressed in the 2020 update. The SACN Framework subgroup considered 4 main topics for update: 1) the different types of evidence evaluations produced by SACN, 2) interpretation of statistical data, 3) tools for assessment of study quality, 4) tools to assess the certainty of a body of evidence for exposure-outcome relationships. The Framework subgroup agreed clear definitions and processes for the different types of evidence
evaluations produced by SACN and agreed that interpretation of p values should be informed by consideration of study size, power and methodological quality. The subgroup recommended use of the AMSTAR 2 tool for quality assessment of evidence from systematic reviews and use of the GRADE approach to assess the certainty of evidence. The updated Framework was published in January 2023. This was followed by publication of a further
update in October 2024. As a ‘living’ document, the Framework will be subject to regular review by the Framework subgroup and continue to evolve in line with best practice
Assessing the impact of the pandemic on digital spin‐offs at universities: theory and evidence from the United Kingdom
No full textResearch Summary: There is limited evidence on how university spin‐offs (USOs) respond to external crises. We fill this gap by assessing how UK digital USOs responded to the recent COVID‐19 pandemic. Specifically, we examine how USOs' capabilities (scaling‐up, fundraising, and intellectual property) and access to their parent university's financial resources/infrastructures interact intertemporally to address demand and supply challenges associated with the pandemic. Our analysis revealed that the interplay of (a) USOs' scaling‐up and fundraising capabilities and (b) USOs' fundraising capabilities and university parent's support infrastructure constituted the best strategy for developing intertemporal resilience during the crisis. Managerial Summary: We investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on digital USOs. Assuming support from parent universities, we explored how their scaling‐up efforts, fundraising efforts, and intellectual property addressed demand and supply challenges during these unprecedented times. First, USOs that could scale up while fundraising were more likely to sustain operations and satisfy demand through various stages of the pandemic. Second, USOs with fundraising capabilities and parent university support demonstrated greater resilience. These findings suggest valuable insights for CEOs of USOs and their parent universities in handling external crises
Subgrouping autism and ADHD based on structural MRI population modelling centiles
Get PDFBackground
Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental conditions with variable underlying neurobiology. Imaging studies have yielded varied results, and it is now clear that there is unlikely to be one characteristic neuroanatomical profile of either condition. Parsing this heterogeneity could allow us to identify more homogeneous subgroups, either within or across conditions, which may be more clinically informative. This has been a pivotal goal for neurodevelopmental research using both clinical and neuroanatomical features, though results thus far have again been inconsistent with regards to the number and characteristics of subgroups.
Methods
Here, we use population modelling to cluster a multi-site dataset based on global and regional centile scores of cortical thickness, surface area and grey matter volume. We use HYDRA, a novel semi-supervised machine learning algorithm which clusters based on differences to controls and compare its performance to a traditional clustering approach.
Results
We identified distinct subgroups within autism and ADHD, as well as across diagnosis, often with opposite neuroanatomical alterations relatively to controls. These subgroups were characterised by different combinations of increased or decreased patterns of morphometrics. We did not find significant clinical differences across subgroups.
Limitations
Crucially, however, the number of subgroups and their membership differed vastly depending on chosen features and the algorithm used, highlighting the impact and importance of careful method selection.
Conclusions
We highlight the importance of examining heterogeneity in autism and ADHD and demonstrate that population modelling is a useful tool to study subgrouping in autism and ADHD. We identified subgroups with distinct patterns of alterations relative to controls but note that these results rely heavily on the algorithm used and encourage detailed reporting of methods and features used in future studies