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A neuroanatomical and cognitive model of impaired social behaviour in frontotemporal dementia
Get PDFImpaired social cognition is a core deficit in frontotemporal dementia (FTD). It is most commonly associated with the behavioural-variant of FTD, with atrophy of the orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Social cognitive changes are also common in semantic dementia, with atrophy centred on the anterior temporal lobes. The impairment of social behaviour in FTD has typically been attributed to damage to the orbitofrontal cortex and/or temporal poles and/or the uncinate fasciculus that connects them. However, the relative contributions of each region are unresolved. In this Review, we present a unified neurocognitive model of controlled social behaviour that not only explains the observed impairment of social behaviours in FTD, but also assimilates both consistent and potentially contradictory findings from other patient groups, comparative neurology and normative cognitive neuroscience. We propose that impaired social behaviour results from damage to two cognitively- and anatomically-distinct components. The first component is social-semantic knowledge, a part of the general semantic-conceptual system supported by the anterior temporal lobes bilaterally. The second component is social control, supported by the orbitofrontal cortex, medial frontal cortex and ventrolateral frontal cortex, which interacts with social-semantic knowledge to guide and shape social behaviour
Destructive Fishing: an expert-driven definition and exploration of this quasi-concept
Get PDFNumerous policy and international frameworks consider that ‘destructive fishing’ hampers efforts to reach sustainability goals. Though ubiquitous, ‘destructive fishing’ is undefined and therefore currently immeasurable. Here we propose a definition developed through expert consultation: “Destructive fishing is any fishing practice that causes irrecoverable habitat degradation, or which causes significant adverse environmental impacts, results in long-term declines in target or non-target species beyond biologically safe limits and has negative livelihood impacts.” We show strong stakeholder support for a definition, consensus on many biological and ecological dimensions, and no clustering of respondents from different sectors. Our consensus definition is a significant step towards defining sustainable fisheries goals and will help interpret and implement global political commitments which utilise the term 'destructive fishing'. Our definition and results will help reinforce the FAO Code of Conduct and meaningfully support member countries to prohibit destructive fishing practices
Optimizing Anti-Perturbation Capability in Single-shot wide-field Multimode Fiber Imaging Systems
Get PDFIn recent years, multimode fiber (MMF) has emerged as a focal point in ultrathin endoscopy owing to its high-capacity information transmission. Nevertheless, the technology's susceptibility to external perturbances limits its practical applications. In this study, we employ a single MMF as both the illumination unit and imaging probe and utilize this single-shot wide-field MMF imaging system to investigate the impact of LED and laser sources on anti-perturbation capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate that, in the absence of deformations in the MMF, both LED and laser-based systems achieve an average structural similarity (SSIM) index of around 0.8 for the reconstructed image, utilizing advanced deep learning techniques, with the laser-based system performing slightly better. However, under unknown MMF configurations post-deformation, the SSIM remains robust at 0.67 for the LED-based system, while the laser-based system drops the average SSIM to 0.45. The results reveal that LED has anti-perturbation capability in single-shot wide-field MMF imaging systems. These findings indicate significant potential for future anti-perturbation studies in endoscopy employing MMF imaging
Lithium stabilization of amorphous ZrO2
Get PDFSmall modular reactors (SMRs) are a key option to aid the worldwide net zero targets for carbon emissions. Some pressurised water reactors aim to operate with a boron-free coolant chemistry for simplification in plant design. In the absence of boron, Li has been found to accelerate the corrosion of the zirconium-based alloy fuel cladding under certain conditions and concentrations within pressurised water reactors (PWRs). The cause of the accelerated corrosion has yet to be identified. This work identifies the potential for amorphous ZrO2 phase stabilization by lithium that will potentially have an impact on the passive oxide's grain boundary structure. Higher lithium concentrations are found to stabilise the amorphous phase's stability before re-crystallisation to higher temperatures. Chemical assessment has also shown the lithium phase to be soluble in water, indicating a potential mechanism for lithium to alter grain boundaries and increase the pathways for further oxidation of the underlying zirconium material
Mechanical excavation of wetland habitat failed to eradicate invasive American red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in Malta
Get PDFInvasive crayfish are an important ecological concern in many freshwater ecosystems. Many efforts have been made to eradicate them, but there is very little documentation of the effectiveness of these efforts. Between 2019 and 2020, a restoration project funded by the European Regional Development Fund tried to eradicate invasive American red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii from the Fiddien valley system in Malta by mechanically excavating the valley's stream bed and exporting contaminated debris securely off‐site to a dry quarry. Three years post‐intervention, we systematically surveyed the valley system to explore the distribution and relative abundance of the invasive crayfish population. We placed traps in a stratified random sample of stream segments (both those that were included in the original restoration project and those that were not) and recorded catch per unit effort (crayfish caught per trap night) and the size/frequency distribution of crayfish caught. The invasive crayfish were still abundant in the upper reaches of the valley system, and, despite the excavation effort, crayfish were present at the highest relative abundance (4.3–14.8 CPUE, median = 12.3) within the restored area. Despite substantial effort and spending of more than 700,000 €, mechanical excavation did not eradicate invasive crayfish populations. We urge caution for future projects planning to attempt crayfish eradication using this approach and call for much greater impact evaluation, and at the very least post‐project monitoring, to ensure lessons can be learnt from such failures in future
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Two Integrated Early Childhood Development Programs into Bangladeshi Primary Health-Care Services.
Get PDFObjectives: This study presents results of cost and cost-effectiveness analysis of two parenting interventions (group-based and pairs) integrated into primary health care centers in rural Bangladesh. Methods: A within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from the provider perspective. Incremental cost effectiveness ratios were estimated for all primary child development outcomes and presented in terms of cost per standard deviation improvements in the outcomes. A series of cost scenario analyses were conducted to assess the effect of changing cost assumptions on the cost and cost-effectiveness results. All results are presented in 2022 USD.Results: Total provider costs in the within-trial analysis were US 117,028 for the pair intervention. Estimated cost per child covered by the interventions was US136 for the pair intervention, reflecting likely economies of scale in delivery of the pair intervntion. An additional US44 and US$47 for group and pair interventions, respectively.Conclusion: The findings indicates that cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness results for both interventions are comparable with the results from limited similar interventions in LMICs. However, implementation costs of the interventions will be substantially lower at scale due to lower monitoring costs, economies of scale, and full integration into the public health system
Bacteriophage cocktail shows no toxicity and improves the survival of Galleria mellonella infected with Klebsiella spp
Get PDFKlebsiella spp. are causative agents of healthcare-associated infections in patients who are immunocompromised and use medical devices. The antibiotic resistance crisis has led to an increase in infections caused by these bacteria, which can develop into potentially life-threatening illnesses if not treated swiftly and effectively. Thus, new treatment options for Klebsiella are urgently required. Phage therapy can offer an alternative to ineffective antibiotic treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacteria infections. The aim of the present study was to produce a safe and effective phage cocktail treatment against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca , both in liquid in vitro culture and an in vivo Galleria mellonella infection model. The phage cocktail was significantly more effective at killing K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca strains compared with monophage treatments. Preliminary phage cocktail safety was demonstrated through application in the in vivo G. mellonella model: where the phage cocktail induced no toxic side effects in G. mellonella . In addition, the phage cocktail significantly improved the survival of G. mellonella when administered as a prophylactic treatment, compared with controls. In conclusion, our phage cocktail was demonstrated to be safe and effective against Klebsiella spp. in the G. mellonella infection model. This provides a strong case for future treatment for Klebsiella infections, either as an alternative or adjunct to antibiotics. IMPORTANCE Klebsiella infections are a concern in individuals who are immunocompromised and are becoming increasingly difficult to treat with antibiotics due to their drug-resistant properties. Bacteriophage is one potential alternative therapy that could be used to tackle these infections. The present study describes the design of a non-toxic phage cocktail that improved the survival of Galleria mellonella infected with Klebsiella . This phage cocktail demonstrates potential for the safe and effective treatment of Klebsiella infections, as an adjunct or alternative to antibiotics
Hundreds of millions of people in the tropics need both wild harvests and other forms of economic development for their well-being
Get PDFSummary Local access to “wild,” common-pool terrestrial and aquatic resources is being diminished by global resource demand and large-scale conservation interventions. Many theories suggest the well-being of wild harvesters can be supported through transitions to other livelihoods, improved infrastructure, and market access. However, new theories argue that such benefits may not always occur because they are context dependent and vary across dimensions of well-being. We test these theories by comparing how wild harvesting and other livelihoods have been associated with food security and life satisfaction in different contexts across ∼10,800 households in the tropics. Wild harvests coincided with high well-being in remote, asset-poor, and less-transformed landscapes. Yet, overall, well-being increased with electrical infrastructure, proximity to cities, and household capitals. This provides large-scale confirmation of the context dependence of nature’s contributions to people, and suggests a need to maintain local wild resource access while investing in equitable access to infrastructure, markets, and skills
