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Sulfur as a proxy for identifying coast-inland human mobility in Northern Iberia during Late Prehistory
Get PDFPopulation movements constitute a significant driver of cultural change in prehistoric societies. In recent years, sulfur isotopes have emerged as a valuable approach for distinguishing human/animal provenance. However, the scarcity of sulfur isotope studies and the lack of baseline maps predicting their variations in the landscape limit our current knowledge about mobility behaviours. Here, we first present the δ 34 S isotope values of 142 human and animal bone collagen samples from coastal and inland funerary sites located in northern Iberia. Second, to apply a multivariate machine-learning regression and a random forest model to predict sulfur isotope variations across Iberia, we compiled the sulfur isotope data from 554 specimens of 41 archaeological locations from Holocene contexts. Our research demonstrated that population movement between coastal and inland locations is observable through differences in the δ 34 S isotope values of individuals linked to their respective environments, suggesting migrations on both sides of the Cantabrian mountain range. The resulting isoscape model demonstrates that sulfur isotope patterns are highly predictable, with 82% of the sulfur isotope variation explained by only four variables: elevation, Bouguer anomaly, distance from the coast, and strontium isotope values. While the model is highly accurate for regions with large amounts of data, such as northern Iberia, Central and Eastern Iberia still require more sulfur isotope data to predict isoscapes
Contemporary, postpandemic description of UK occupational therapy and physiotherapy practice to rehabilitate the upper limb after stroke: the SUPPLES 2 online survey
No full textObjectives To provide a contemporary, post-pandemic description of UK occupational therapy and physiotherapy practice to rehabilitate the upper limb after stroke.
Setting A national online survey, first undertaken in 2018 (pre-pandemic), was re-administered to describe post-pandemic practice.
Participants The survey was distributed to UK-based occupational therapists and physiotherapists working with people after stroke, via professional and social networks.
Primary measures Shaped by the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) Checklist, the survey collected, and subsequently analysed the content, frequency and duration of upper limb rehabilitation after stroke.
Results A total of 122 occupational therapists (n=42) and physiotherapists (n=80) currently working clinically, across in-patient, out-patient and community settings, in the UK completed the survey. Respondents reported treating the upper limb a median three times a week (interquartile range 2-4; range 0-6) for a median of 25 minutes (interquartile range: 20-35; range 3-60; n=119). Repetitive, functionally-based activities were the most commonly reported interventions for mild (n=93; 81%) and moderate (n=72; 64%) impairment. Stretching (n=73; 66%) and positioning (n=49; 45%) were most frequently reported for severe impairment. In each of the three impairment categories, a larger number of interventions were reported than in the 2018 survey.
Conclusions Whilst the pandemic promoted the use of virtual interventions, most therapists had returned to face-to-face interventions. The findings highlight that current reported provision of upper limb therapy continues to be markedly less than the dose shown to be effective. The study provides important data which can be used to judge the success of attempts to align practice with new guidelines and inform 'usual therapy' for the upper limb after stroke in comparative studies
ARCADE—Adversarially Robust Cost-Sensitive Anomaly Detection in Blockchain Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence
Get PDFBlockchain technology is increasingly being adopted across critical domains, such as healthcare and finance, yet it remains susceptible to anomalies and malicious attacks. Hence, robust anomaly detection is essential in these decentralized systems to maintain integrity, trust, and reliability. However, anomaly detection is still challenging due to data imbalances, adversarial resilience, and the lack of explanation in existing approaches. This work presents ARCADE, a novel approach for adversarially resilient anomaly detection in blockchain networks that leverages an optimized cost-sensitive stacking ensemble learning combined with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques. Firstly, the proposed approach uses cost-sensitive learning to address the data imbalance problem by optimizing class weights that are integrated with stacking ensemble learning to enhance detection accuracy. Secondly, along with this, newly engineered features are employed to strengthen the resilience of the model against malicious perturbations. Lastly, XAI techniques are applied to provide comprehensive insights and explanations for model prediction. To evaluate ARCADE, the Ethereum network transactions dataset is utilized to ensure a realistic case study. The experimental results show the superiority of the ARCADE in several aspects, achieving a high accuracy of 99.65%; strong resilience against adversarial perturbations, achieving an accuracy of 99.38% for low-intensity attacks, 91.04% for moderate attacks, and over 78% for extreme attacks; and surpassing existing techniques while also providing explainability for domain users
Introducing critical legal theory, rights and responsibilities
No full text‘The purpose of this chapter is introductory. This is not the introduction to the book but serves as an opportunity to outline many of the ideas and concepts which are unpacked in subsequent chapters. What is critical legal theory? What is a right? What classifications of rights are there? Do human rights apply only to living beings? or do they apply to past and/or future beings? even other species, such as sentient animals? Are rights conferred only on an individual? or are they conferred on collections of individuals? even groups in their own right? What is the nature of a responsibility arising from a right? Can a responsibility exist without a right? Can a right exist without a responsibility? Upon whom is a responsibility imposed? These are some of the questions which this chapter poses and answers, in brief, since many of the more important ideas and concepts explored in this book are revisited, in depth, later on
New Estimates of the Spin and Accretion Rate of the Black Hole M87*
Get PDFIn this Letter, we use the imaging results of M87* from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) to calculate the rotational velocity of the inner edge of the accretion disk and find a value of ∼0.14c. We then calculate the dimensionless spin parameter, a, of the black hole, obtaining a value of a ∼ 0.8. We deduce that this is probably a lower limit. We go on to use the results of the EHT polarization study of the magnetic field direction in the accretion disk of M87* as a proxy for the direction of motion of the spiralling accreting matter in this highly ionized disk. This direction is defined by the vector sum of the tangential rotation velocity and the inward radial accretion velocity. We thus calculate the accretion velocity to be ∼(7 ± 0.7) × 107 ms−1. We go on to estimate a range of values for the accretion rate from the inner disk to be ∼4 × 10−5 to ∼4 × 10−1 M⊙ yr−1, and a range of values for the accretion power to be ∼1034–1038 J s−1. This is the same range as the power of the jet, making it consistent with accretion-driven jet models
Investigating effects of moderate hyperthermia at two phases of the circadian cycle for core temperature (heat gain and peak), on quadriceps maximal voluntary contraction force
Get PDFAthletes often perceive a performance disadvantage in the morning, in part, because of a recognised deficit in functional muscle force capacity. This diurnal variation in muscle force production has been attributed to higher rectal (Trec) and muscle (Tm) temperatures in the evening as well as motivational, peripheral, and central factors. A warm-up is an essential component of sporting performance, however moderate hyperthermia reduces sporting gross muscular performance although possibly to a lesser degree in the morning (raising phase) than the peak of the core temperature rhythm (~17:00 h). We investigated whether i) increasing morning Trec temperatures to evening resting values by an active warm-up leads to quadriceps muscle force production becoming equal to evening values. Or ii) raising Trec passively in the morning or evening to 38.5°C results in greater quadriceps muscle force production reductions in the evening. Eight active males (mean±SD: age, 25.5 ± 1.9 yrs; body mass, 71.0 ± 6.7 kg; height, 1.79 ± 0.06 m) volunteered and randomly completed five sessions (separated by > 48 h): control morning (M, 07:30 h) and evening (E, 17:30 h) sessions (both with an active 5-min warm-up) and three further trials – an active warm-up 07:30 h trial (ME, until resting evening temperatures were reached), a morning (M38.5) and an evening (E38.5) passive warm-up trial which continued until Trec values reached 38.5°C (immersed in a water-bath @ ~40°C, 45–50% Relative humidity). During each trial, 5-measures of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the quadriceps on an isometric dynamometer (utilizing the twitch-interpolation technique) were performed with force (peak and mean of the 5-trials) and percentage activation recorded. Trec, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and thermal comfort (TC) were measured. Measurements were made after the participants had reclined for 30-min at the start of the protocol and after the warm-ups/passive heating and prior to the measures for isometric dynamometry. Trec and Tm (at 3, 2 and 1 cm depths) temperatures were taken at rest, after the passive warm-up, and immediately before the isometric MVC measurements. Data were analysed by general linear models with repeated measures. Isometric force for knee extension showed higher values in the evening than morning (peak Δ83.2 N, mean Δ67.8 N; p < 0.05). Trec and Tm (at 3 cm depth) values were higher at rest in the evening than the morning (by 0.47 and 0.85°C respectively; p < 0.05) increasing from rest by 0.54 and 2.2°C, 1.78 and 2.2°C, and 1.31 and 1.8°C, in the ME, M38.5 and E38.5 conditions, respectively; ratings of thermal comfort reflecting this (p < 0.05). There was no significant effect of active ME warm-up and moderate hyperthermia M38.5 compared to morning control peak (peak or mean) torque (M). E38.5 reduced “mean” but not “peak” torque in the evening (Δ61.9 N, p = 0.009; p = 0.051). In summary, active warm-up did not improve isometric MVC in the morning and moderate hyperthermia reduced isometric MVC “mean” force only during the peak of the core temperature rhythm (~17:00 h)
The photograph: tourist responses to a visual interpretation of a disaster
No full textPhotographs have long been used as a means of interpretation at museums and other tourism attractions, including dark tourism sites. Typically, such photographs are documentary, recording or depicting subjects relevant to the theme of the site. Less common, however, is the use of representational or artistic photographs, and little is known about their effectiveness as interpretation tools. This paper addresses this gap in knowledge. Based on research in L’Aquila, Italy (the site of a major earthquake in 2009), it explores the responses of tourists to a photograph interpreting the disaster displayed in the city centre. It reveals that the photograph is a highly effective form of interpretation, connecting tourists with the human dimension of the disaster, although the provision of background information on the photograph would enhance the tourists’ experience
Extracellular Vesicles as Precision Delivery Systems for Biopharmaceuticals: Innovations, Challenges, and Therapeutic Potential
Get PDFUnlike traditional small-molecule agents, biopharmaceuticals, like synthetic RNAs, enzymes, and monoclonal antibodies, are highly vulnerable to environmental conditions. Preservation of their functional integrity necessitates advanced delivery methods. Being biocompatible, extracellular vesicles (EVs) gained attention as a promising system for delivering biopharmaceuticals, addressing challenges related to the stability and efficacy of sensitive therapeutic molecules. Indeed, EVs can cross biological barriers like the blood-brain barrier, delivering therapeutic cargo to tissues that are traditionally difficult to reach. Recent innovations in surface modification technologies, including ligand and antibody attachment, have further enhanced EVs' targeting capabilities, making them particularly effective in personalized medicine. Here we review the versatile suitability of EVs for being next-generation delivery vehicles of biopharmaceuticals including current standings, practical challenges and possible future directions of the technology
The Additional Demands on the Musical Theatre Performer and Potential Links to Increased Laryngeal Tension: A Rapid Review
Get PDFThe Musical Theatre genre places a myriad of demands upon the performer. The complex nature of the artform results in additional physiological and psychological demands not found in other areas of the performing arts. There is a need to identify existing literature exploring these demands and the link to potential causes of laryngeal tension in musical theatre singers to both potentially mitigate vocal issues developing and support initial diagnosis and treatment for musical theatre performers diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). This study aimed to identify and discuss existing literature documenting the current demands placed upon the musical theatre performer and the potential links to laryngeal tension of each. Evolving vocal demands, the demands of score and rehearsal, combined choreography and singing, the logistics of performing, and stress and anxiety are examined. The review concludes that each demand has the capacity to increase laryngeal tension, leading to the hypothesis that a combination of demands may compound the potential for detrimental tension further
