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When enough is enough: Optimising monitoring effort for large‐scale wolf population size estimation in the Italian Alps
Get PDF© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.The ongoing expansion of wolf (Canis lupus) populations in Europe has led to a growing demand for up‐to‐date abundance estimates. Non‐invasive genetic sampling (NGS) is now widely used to monitor wolves, as it allows individual identification and abundance estimation without physically capturing individuals. However, NGS is resource‐intensive, partly due to the elusive behaviour and wide distribution of wolves, as well as the cost of DNA analyses. Optimisation of sampling strategies is therefore a requirement for the long‐term sustainability of wolf monitoring programs. Using data from the 2020–2021 Italian Alpine wolf monitoring, we investigate how (i) reducing the number of samples genotyped, (ii) reducing the number of transects, and (iii) reducing the number of repetitions of each search transect impacted spatial capture‐recapture population size estimates. Our study revealed that a 25% reduction in the number of transects or, alternatively, a 50% reduction in the maximum number of repetitions yielded abundance estimates comparable to those obtained using the entire dataset. These modifications would result in a 2046 km reduction in total transect length and 19,628 km reduction in total distance searched. Further reducing the number of transects resulted in up to 15% lower and up to 17% less precise abundance estimates. Reducing only the number of genotyped samples led to higher (5%) and less precise (20%) abundance estimates. Randomly subsampling genotyped samples reduced the number of detections per individual, whereas subsampling search transects resulted in a less pronounced decrease in both the total number of detections and individuals detected. Our work shows how it is possible to optimise wolf monitoring by reducing search effort while maintaining the quality of abundance estimates, by adopting a modelling framework that uses a first survey dataset. We further provide general guidelines on how to optimise sampling effort when using spatial capture‐recapture in large‐scale monitoring programmes.LIFE programme. Grant Number: LIFE Wolfalps EU Project (LIFE18 NAT/IT/000972); Norges Forskningsråd. Grant Number: NFR 28688
High Photoresponsivity and Fast Response Speed Ferroelectric Photomemristor for Artificial Visual System Application
Get PDFThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: [Zhao, Z., Wang, Z., Xu, J., Zhao, P., Wang, J., Wang, Y., Zhang, W., Li, C., Cui, H., Wang, J., Zhang, Y., Sun, J., Pei, Y., Guo, Z., Faraj, Y., Chen, J., Li, S., & Yan, X. (2024). High photoresponsivity and fast response speed ferroelectric photomemristor for artificial visual system application. Advanced Functional Materials, 34(45), article-number 2406666], which has been published in final form at [https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202406666]. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.Ferroelectric photoelectric devices show promising applications in artificial vision systems. However, this type of devices used in artificial vision systems exhibits low photoresponsivity and this limited cyclability of photocurrents, which hinders the progress of artificial vision systems. In this study, an artificial vision system is constructed with high photoresponsivity, fast photoresponse speed, and high read/write speed based on the Pd/PbZr0.4Ti0.6O3/La0.3Sr0.7MnO3/LaAlO3 ferroelectric photomemristor. The high optical response (18.86 nanoamperes) and read/write speeds (50 nanoseconds) of the device significantly improve the robustness and speed of the neuromorphic visual system while reducing power consumption for recognition. The artificial vision system developed in this study provides excellent real‐time image processing capabilities, including edge detection and classification with 100% accuracy for musical key patterns, and it is expected to offer great potential for the development of high‐performance self‐powered artificial vision systems.AAM added to record 01/10/2024.National Key R&D Plan “Nano Frontier” Key Special Project; Grant Number: 2021YFA1200502. Cultivation Projects of National Major R&D Project; Grant Number: 92164109. National Natural Science Foundation of China; Grant Numbers: 61874158, 62004056, 62104058. Special Project of Strategic Leading Science and Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences; Grant Number: XDB44000000-7. Key Projects Supported by the Regional Innovation and Development Joint Fund; Grant Number: U23A20365. Hebei Province High-Level Tal-Ent Funding Project; Grant Number: B20231003. Yanzhao Young Scientist Project of Hebei Province; Grant Number: F2023201076. Key R&D Plan Projects in Hebei Province; Grant Number: 22311101D. Hebei Basic Research Special Key Project; Grant Number: F2021201045. Support Program for the Top Young Talents of Hebei Province; Grant Number: 70280011807. Supporting Plan for 100 Excellent Innovative Talents in Colleges and Universities of Hebei Province; Grant Number: SLRC2019018. Interdisciplinary Research Program of Natural Science of Hebei University; Grant Number: DXK202101. Institute of Life Sciences and Green Development; Grant Number: 521100311. Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province; Grant Numbers: F2022201054, F2021201022, F2022201002, F2021201045. Outstanding Young Scientific Research and Innovation Team of Hebei University; Grant Number: 605020521001. Special Support Funds for National High Level Talents; Grant Number: 041500120001. Advanced Talents Incubation Program of the Hebei University; Grant Numbers: 521000981426, 521100221071, 521000981363, 521100224232. Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department; Grant Numbers: QN2020178, QN2021026. Postgraduate's Innovation Fund Project of Hebei Province; Grant Number: CXZZBS2023025. Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for Students of Hebei University; Grant Number: 20231007501
Envisioning Abolition
No full textThis is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edited version of a chapter published in Envisioning Abolition. The definitive publisher-authenticated version [Cox, P. & Taylor, P (2025). Arthur St. John: Tolstoyan Abolitionism in Practice. In D. G. Scott & E. Bell (Eds.), Envisaging Abolition. Bristol: Bristol University Press] is available online at: https://doi.org/10.51952/9781529234800.ch005There is no easy dividing line between reform and abolition. The Howard League for Penal Reform was formed in 1921 from the merger of two bodies, the Howard Association, founded in 1866, and the Penal Reform League, founded in 1907. While the ideas of John Howard are still widely remembered and acknowledged, the Tolstoyan abolitionism that led to the foundation of the PRL and its principal inspiration and first chair, Arthur St. John, is almost entirely forgotten. This chapter explores the writings of St. John and his colleagues, and the networks of people and activities which they initiated. Characterised by idealism and often dismissed as utopian in aspiration, their actions were paradoxically pragmatic and collaborative, feeding not insignificantly into the Prison System Enquiry Committee of 1919 and ultimately to the publication of English Prisons Today. The biographical approach allows us to situate the analysis of penal systems within a set of larger ideas of social change concerning religious freedom, education, social norms, and social and economic justice, for example. Though Tolstoyan abolitionism is often closely intertwined with Quaker approaches or erased within Fabian narratives, it remains distinctive in its politics and vision.Unfunde
Methodological and Conceptual Advances in Understanding Psychological Flexibility as a Modifiable Protective Factor for Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviours
No full textSuicide is a global public health issue. Cross-nationally, many people experience suicidal thoughts and behaviours (STBs). Much is known about the risk factors of STBs; for example, as depicted by the Integrated Motivational Volitional (IMV) Model. However, modifiable protective factors remain relatively under-researched. Psychological factors which underlie existing intervention packages, such as psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility is purported to be the therapeutic process of change underlying an existing intervention package – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Broadly, this PhD explored whether psychological flexibility had a potentially protective role for STBs. Four original studies designed this evidence gap were conducted.
A large, three-wave longitudinal survey with adults from the online general population laid the conceptual groundwork for this thesis on proximal risk. Testing the IMV model cross-sectionally and longitudinally using structural equation modelling confirmed that the IMV’s central path was empirically sound. The full model with motivational moderators showed poor model fit, perhaps explainable by methodological and statistical challenges discussed. Psychological flexibility, particularly valued actions and behavioural awareness were moderate-to-strong cross-sectional and longitudinal correlates of proximal risk factors, and possibly volitional moderators. The natural stability of the constructs suggests that experimental, intervention work is needed to fully test the theorised effect of psychological flexibility as a protective factor for proximal risk of STBs.
Study 2 examined the acceptability of five values clarification exercises (VCEs) using an online randomised, active-controlled experimental trial. Adults with recent experience of suicidal thoughts provided invaluable open-ended feedback on the acceptability of the VCEs, informing a tailored, single-session VCE. Study 2 also found preliminary evidence that the VCEs improved state value clarity, the therapeutic process of change. Study 3 evaluated the short-term effects of the tailored VCE using
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a single-case experimental design (SCED) with ecological momentary assessment (EMA) technology. Individual- and group-level analyses suggested largely equivocal results for suicidal thoughts and value clarity/actions. Study 4, an EMA item validation study, confirmed that low convergent validity may explain these equivocal findings. Moreover, participants experienced some degree of momentary reactivity to the EMA item-sets throughout the day, highlighting potential implications for understanding confounding effects in intervention EMA-informed SCED studies.
Conceptually, the longitudinal evidence provided throughout this thesis means that we are one step closer towards understanding the protective role of psychological flexibility (in particular, value clarity and action). The acceptability data on the experience of an online, self-guided single-session VCE for adults at-risk of suicide may be particularly relevant for clinicians. Methodologically, the feasibility and measurement challenges discussed throughout this thesis highlight important considerations for future research. Replication is needed prior to scaling up this work. Going forward, researchers are encouraged to work collaboratively with people with lived experience to co-produce effective online values-based interventions
Effect of lactational low-protein diet on skeletal muscle during adulthood and ageing in male and female mouse offspring
Get PDFSarcopenia is characterised by the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, which leads to a high risk of increased morbidity and mortality. Maternal malnutrition has been linked to impaired development of skeletal muscle of the offspring; however, there are limited studies that report the long-term effect of a maternal low-protein diet during lactation on the ageing of skeletal muscles. This study aimed to examine how a maternal low-protein diet (LPD) during lactation affects skeletal muscle ageing in the offspring. Pups born from control mothers were lactated by mothers fed with an LPD. Post-weaning, mice were either maintained on an LPD or switched to a control, normal-protein diet (NPD). In males, an LPD mainly affected the size of the myofibres without a major effect on fibre number and led to reduced grip strength in ageing mice (24 months). Female mice from mothers on an LPD had a lower body and muscle weight at weaning but caught up with control mice at 3 months. During ageing, the muscle weight, myofibre number and survival rate of female pups were significantly affected. These findings highlight the effect of an LPD during lactation on skeletal muscle ageing, the lifespan of offspring and the importance of sexual dimorphism in response to dietary challenges.Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpoo
Urban poverty and the role of UK food aid organisations in enabling segregating and transitioning spaces of food access
Get PDF© Urban Studies Journal Limited 2024.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).This research examines the role of food aid providers, including their spatial engagement, in seeking to alleviate urban food poverty. Current levels of urban poverty across the UK have resulted in an unprecedented demand for food aid. Yet, urban poverty responsibility increasingly shifts away from policymakers to the third sector. Building on Castilhos and Dolbec’s (2018) notion of segregating space and original qualitative research with food aid organisations, we show how social supermarkets emerge as offering a type of transitional space between the segregating spaces of foodbanks and the market spaces of mainstream food retailers. This research contributes to existing literature by establishing the concept of transitional space, an additional type of space that facilitates movement between types of spaces and particularly transitions from the segregating spaces of emergency food aid to more secure spaces of food access. In so doing, this research extends Castilhos and Dolbec’s (2018) typology of spaces, enabling a more nuanced depiction of the spatiality of urban food poverty
Optimal omegas – barriers and novel methods to narrow omega-3 gaps. A narrative review
Get PDFCopyright © 2024 Derbyshire, Birch, Bonwick, English, Metcalfe and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Dietary intakes of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (O3LC-PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid are central to development and health across the life course. O3LC-PUFAs have been linked to neurological development, maternal and child health and the etiology of certain non-communicable diseases including age-related cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, dietary inadequacies exist in the United Kingdom and on a wider global scale. One predominant dietary source of O3LC-PUFAs is fish and fish oils. However, growing concerns about overfishing, oceanic contaminants such as dioxins and microplastics and the trend towards plant-based diets appear to be acting as cumulative barriers to O3LC-PUFAs from these food sources. Microalgae are an alternative provider of O3LC-PUFA-rich oils. The delivery of these into food systems is gaining interest. The present narrative review aims to discuss the present barriers to obtaining suitable levels of O3LC-PUFAs for health and wellbeing. It then discusses potential ways forward focusing on innovative delivery methods to utilize O3LC-PUFA-rich oils including the use of fortification strategies, bioengineered plants, microencapsulation, and microalgae
GPiA042: Talking About Suicide Risk with Clients in the Counselling Professions
No full text© British Association for Counselling and PsychotherapyBACP Fact SheetClients presenting in therapy with suicidal thoughts or plans who may be at risk of suicide can be challenging for even the most experienced practitioner. Understanding the client’s experience of thoughts about suicide , knowing how best to respond in the therapeutic relationship, and ultimately making collaborative decisions, wherever possible, about the implications for confidentiality, pose difficult dilemmas for practitioners. This updated good practice guidance supports counsellors and psychotherapists in the UK in their work with suicidal clients.unfunde
Enabling skills for the industrial decarbonisation supply chain
No full textTo access the report please click on the URL in Additional LinksA skilled workforce is critical to delivering the ambitious UK Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy and unlocking the value the transition to a net zero economy will bring. The United Kingdom’s historical contribution, both positive and negative, to industrial revolution within and outside its borders cannot be ignored. As the pioneer of industrialisation, the UK has, through time, made a disproportionate contribution to the accumulation of greenhouse gasses, it is thus fitting to commit to investing in people, innovation, technologies, and infrastructure to meet not only its domestic decarbonisation goals, but also to play a leading part globally.IDRIC (under EPSRC award number: EP/V027050/1
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