922017 research outputs found
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Holes, Piers and Canyons: Absence as Emancipatory Space in Ulysses
No full textIn this article, I suggest that James Joyce creates newly active reading practices through his use of textual gaps in Ulysses. Instead of presenting readers with difficulties or frustrations, these gaps can be seen as emancipatory, asking readers to choose their own path, create their own meanings, and sit with uncertainty. I focus on how textual gaps are created within the ostensibly traditional forms of ‘Circe’ and ‘Ithaca’, represented as a play-script and a catechism respectively. I metaphorically characterise these empty spaces in the text as a hole in rock, a pier, and a canyon to think through the different readerly responses they facilitate and inspire. Whether readers choose to move through the hole in rock, remain contemplative at the end of the pier, or shout across Joyce’s authorial canyon represents a democratic choice, giving us the important space to engage with Ulysses on our own terms
Responding to the Ockenden Review: safe care for all needs evidence-based system change - and strengthened midwifery
No full textRifting and recharge as triggers of the mixed basalt-1 rhyolite Halarauður ignimbrite eruption (Krafla, Iceland)
No full textWe present a petrologic study of the ca. 110 ka Halarauður eruption (7 ± 6 km3 magma), associated with collapse of Krafla caldera in northeast Iceland. Whole-rock compositions of juvenile Halarauður products span a continuous range between quartz tholeiite basalt (50.0 wt% SiO2, 5.0 wt% MgO; Mg# 42) and rhyolite (74.6 wt% SiO2). Linear correlations between all major elements are consistent with two-component mixing of subequal volumes of these endmember magmas, whereas correlations between trace elements are influenced by diffusive fractionation during chaotic mixing. Evolved compositions (andesite to rhyolite) and compositional heterogeneity are typical of early-erupted units, reflecting tapping of the upper, more silicic regions of a compositionally heterogeneous reservoir undergoing chaotic mixing. Later-erupted deposits are more compositionally homogeneous and grade smoothly upward from andesite to basalt, reflecting tapping of denser hybrid magma and uncontaminated basalt from lower in the chamber. All erupted products host <1-2 modal% macrocrysts, implying storage at near-liquidus temperatures. Geobarometry and MELTS modeling suggest shallow storage pressures of ~200 MPa (~8 km depth) for the quartz tholeiite. Plagioclase (An60-76) and augite (Mg# 68-75) macrocrysts crystallized from this basalt during shallow storage, while sparse glomerocrysts (plagioclase ± augite ± olivine ± orthopyroxene) in late-erupted basaltic material are derived from disaggregated cumulate mush and include more primitive compositions. Occasional narrow sodic rims on plagioclase crystals from the quartz tholeiite record short periods of re-equilibration with hybrid magmas during mixing, constrained by experimental growth rates as at most two months and possibly as short as tens of hours. A second population of calcic plagioclase (cores An83-91) with adhering primitive basaltic glass selvages (Mg# 53-59) occurs sparsely in deposits of the first eruptive phase and is scarce or absent in later-erupted units, providing evidence for eruption of a second, more primitive basalt that was of insufficient volume to skew whole-rock mixing trends. Nucleation delay models suggest that the absence of overgrowth rims or quench crystals in these glassy basaltic selvages reflect residence times of a few hours at rhyolitic temperatures before eruption. Short basalt-rhyolite mixing timescales reflect rapid destabilization of the magmatic system and triggering of the eruption by mafic recharge. The ascent of both primitive and evolved basaltic magmas from depth mirrors events in recent volcano-tectonic episodes in the north of Iceland, suggesting that mafic recharge was driven by a plate boundary rifting event
Developing an understanding of sophorolipid synthesis through application of a central composite design model
No full textA key barrier to market penetration for sophorolipid biosurfactants is the ability to improve productivity and utilise alternative feedstocks to reduce the cost of production. To do this, a suitable screening tool is required that is able to model the interactions between media components and alter conditions to maximise productivity. In the following work a central composite design is applied to analyse the effects of altering glucose, rapeseed oil, cornsteep liquor and ammonium sulfate concentrations on sophorolipid production with Starmerella bombicola ATCC 222144 after 168 h. Sophorolipid production was analysed using standard least squares regression and the findings related to the growth (OD600) and broth conditions (glucose, glycerol and oil concentration). An optimum media composition was found that was capable of producing 39.5 g/L sophorolipid. Nitrogen and rapeseed oil sources were found to be significant, linked to their role in growth and substrate supply respectively. Glucose did not demonstrate a significant effect on production despite its importance to biosynthesis and its depletion in the broth within 96 h, instead being replaced by glycerol (via triglyceride breakdown) as the hydrophilic carbon source at the point of glucose depletion. A large dataset was obtained and a regression model with applications towards substrate screening and process optimisation developed
Predictors of myocardial fibrosis and response to anti-fibrotic therapy in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
No full textPurpose: Myocardial fibrosis, measured using magnetic resonance extracellular volume (ECV), associates with adverse outcome in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). In the PIROUETTE (The Pirfenidone in Patients with Heart Failure and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction) trial, the novel anti-fibrotic agent pirfenidone reduced myocardial fibrosis. We sought to identify baseline characteristics that associate with myocardial fibrotic burden, the change in myocardial fibrosis over a year, and predict response to pirfenidone in patients with HFpEF. Methods: Amongst patients enrolled in the PIROUETTE trial (n=107), linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between baseline variables and baseline myocardial ECV, with change in myocardial ECV adjusting for treatment allocation, and to identify variables that modified the pirfenidone treatment effect.Results: Body mass index, left atrial reservoir strain, haemoglobin and aortic distensibility were associated with baseline ECV in stepwise modelling, and systolic blood pressure, and log N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide were associated with baseline ECV in clinically-guided modelling. QRS duration, left ventricular mass and presence of an infarct at baseline were associated with an increase in ECV from baseline to week 52. Whilst QRS duration, presence of an infarct, global longitudinal strain and left atrial strain modified the treatment effect of pirfenidone when considered individually, no variable modified treatment effect on multivariable modelling.Conclusion: Baseline characteristics were identified that associate with myocardial fibrosis and predict change in myocardial fibrosis. No variables that independently modify the treatment effect of pirfenidone were identified (PIROUETTE, NCT02932566). Keywords: Heart failure, myocardial fibrosis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), extracellular volume (ECV)<br/
Women, gender, and the professionalisation of French cultural diplomacy in Britain, 1900–40
No full textGlucose Treatment Targets in Pregnancy - A Review of Evidence and Guidelines
No full textBackgroundMaternal diabetes mellitus during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy complications for both the mother and the fetus. One of the most prevalent complications is pathological fetal growth, and particularly infants are born large for gestational age (LGA), which leads to problematic deliveries, including the need for caesarean section, instrumental delivery and further perinatal complications. Glucose monitoring during pregnancy is essential for ensuring appropriate glycaemic control and to reduce these associated risks. The current methods of glucose monitoring include measuring glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), self-monitoring of capillary blood glucose (SMBG), and more recently, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed the appropriate glycaemic targets for HbA1c, SMBG, and CGM in relation to pregnancy outcomes. ObjectiveIn this review we identify current international guidelines on glycaemic targets and review the supporting evidence. MethodWe performed an extensive literature search on glycaemic targets in pregnancies affected by diabetes and we researched international guidelines from recognised societies.Results and ConclusionThe majority of studies used to define the glucose targets associated with the best pregnancy outcomes, across all modalities, were in women with type 1 diabetes. There were limited studies in women with type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. We therefore suggest that further research needs to be conducted on glucose targets and clinical outcomes specifically in these populations where CGM technology offers the greatest potential for monitoring glucose and improving pregnancy outcomes.<br/
Direct propylene epoxidation with molecular oxygen over cobalt-containing zeolites
No full textDirect propylene epoxidation with molecular oxygen is a dream reaction with 100 % atom economy, but the aerobic epoxidation is challenging due to the undesired over-oxidation and isomerization of epoxide product. Herein, we report the construction of uniform cobalt ions confined in faujasite zeolite, namely Co@Y, which exhibits unprecedented catalytic performance in the aerobic epoxidation of propylene. Propylene conversion of 24.6 % is achieved at propylene oxide selectivity of 57 % at 773 K, giving a state-of-the-art propylene oxide production rate of 4.7 mmol/gcat/h. The catalytic performance of Co@Y is very stable and no activity loss can be observed for over 200 h. Spectroscopic analyses reveal the details of molecular oxygen activation on isolated cobalt ions followed by interaction with propylene to produce epoxide, in which the Co2+-Coδ+-Co2+ (2<δ<3) redox cycle is involved. The reaction pathway of propylene oxide and byproduct acrolein formation from propylene epoxidation is investigated by density functional theory calculations, and the unique catalytic performance of Co@Y is interpreted. This work presents an explicit example of constructing specific transition metal ions within zeolite matrix toward selective catalytic oxidations.<br/
Home-working and e-communications with colleagues during COVID-19: impact on psychological health and productivity
No full textBACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a wide-scale shift to home working for many employees in the UK. We hypothesised that during the lockdown, employees working from home would rely more heavily on work emails and other forms of e-communications to remain connected to colleagues and the work place. We additionally hypothesised that an increase in e-communications with colleagues outside of normal working hours would be associated with poorer health and productivity. METHODS: We surveyed N=204 full-time UK-based employees during October 2019 (pre-COVID) and during April 2020 (n=153, during-COVID). Ninety-three two participants indicated that they were working exclusively from home during-COVID, and were therefore included in analyses. RESULTS: Email volume was higher during-COVID than pre-COVID, and the use of instant messaging and video calls outside of normal working hours increased. Change in email engagement outside of normal working hours was not associated with health and productivity Change in email engagement outside of normal working hours was not associated with poorer health and productivity. However, increases in other forms of e-communications during leisure time was associated with poorer physical and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: A legacy of COVID-19 may be to accelerate a trend towards greater levels of home working, therefore understanding how to maintain health and productivity when working from home will be critical to ensure business continuity. Ours is the first study to suggest that increases in work-related video calls, instant messages and social media engagement outside of normal working hours may be detrimental to employee health and productivity
Soil abiotic properties shape plant functional diversity across temperate grassland plant communities
No full textThere is increasing awareness that plant community functional properties can be an important driver of ecosystem functioning. However, major knowledge gaps exist about how environmental factors, especially climate and soil abiotic properties, shape plant functional diversity at a regional scale. Furthermore, at those scales the relationships between plant functional and taxonomic diversity have rarely been considered. Here, we used a large database of plant species and functional trait data from 180 temperate grasslands across England, covering a broad range of grassland types, climatic conditions and management intensities, the last having a strong influence on multiple soil variables. Our specific aims were to: 1) identify the dominant environmental factors explaining variation in different facets of plant community functional properties, including community weighted means (CWMs) of functional traits and various multi-trait functional diversity indices; and 2) test whether the relationship between plant functional and taxonomic diversity is mediated by environmental factors at a regional scale. We found that soil abiotic properties (pH, and nutrient stocks), but not climate, were the main environmental factors explaining grassland plant functional diversity at a regional scale, with a significant contribution of soil nutrient stoichiometry (N/P ratio). Two indices of plant community functional properties, namely CWMs of specific leaf area and relative growth rate, were explained by interactions between soil pH and N and mean annual precipitation, soil pH soil N and soil N/P ratio. These indices were also negatively related with taxonomic diversity under certain soil abiotic conditions, specifically high soil clay content, pH and N/P. Together, our results indicate that soil abiotic properties rather than climate factors shape plant functional diversity across temperate grassland plant communities at a regional scale. They also suggest that interactions between environmental factors play a significant role in shaping patterns of plant community functional properties. Our findings are of importance for the design and interpretation of future studies using trait and diversity measures as proxies of ecosystem services at regional scales