151398 research outputs found
Sort by
Walking through silent forests: genetic engineering and the guiding hand of the precautionary principle
No full textThe environmental impact of genetic engineering in the context of genetically modified trees has become a contentious issue, dividing the scientific community and posing challenges for legal frameworks. While GM trees offer potential benefits, such as resilience to climate change and resistance to pests and diseases, they also raise significant environmental concerns, including threats to biodiversity and the creation of so-called “silent forests”. Against this backdrop, this paper examines the critical role of the precautionary principle in ensuring biosafety amidst scientific uncertainty. This study explores the ambiguity surrounding the appropriate standard(s) of proof and levels of uncertainty to implement precautionary measures, given the absence of clear international legal guidance. In doing so, it offers an interpretation of the precautionary principle that ensures biosafety and, simultaneously, supports the sustainable management and global trade of genetically modified trees
Preventing violence against women and girls in outdoor public spaces in Belfast: A systems map
No full textFrameworks for the design and reporting of anaesthesia interventions in perioperative clinical trials
No full textBackground: Interventions from RCTs can only be replicated and implemented if reported in sufficient detail. This study developed frameworks to assist researchers with describing, monitoring, and reporting the key components of anaesthetic interventions in trials.Methods: This study comprised three phases: (1) initial framework development—text describing the delivery of anaesthetic interventions was coded and categorised into components using thematic analysis; (2) refinement of frameworks—facilitated structured group discussions were conducted with perioperative clinicians, researchers, and journal editors to elicit additional framework categories and consider clarity and feasibility; (3) framework testing and further refinement—cognitive interviews with professionals undertaking trials evaluating anaesthesia interventions to test the feasibility of using the frameworks in contemporary perioperative trials. Results: Three frameworks were developed for general, regional, and sedation anaesthesia interventions. Data saturation of categories within the frameworks was reached after inclusion of 15 RCTs for general and regional anaesthesia, and 13 for sedation. Each framework is structured into three main sections: (1) professional(s) delivering the intervention; (2) setting; and (3) intervention components, with descriptions of the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages unique to each anaesthetic intervention. Each framework deconstructs an anaesthetic intervention into component parts to support researchers with the design and reporting of RCTs. Final frameworks are available at: https://anaesthesiaframeworks.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/. Conclusions: We provide novel frameworks to be used during the design of perioperative trials to facilitate the design, delivery, and reporting of anaesthesia interventions
Physico-mechanical properties and synergistic hydration mechanism of steel slag-GBFS based alkali-activated composites incorporated with silica fume
No full textLow reactivity and expansion limit steel slag (SS) use, while silica fume (SF) aids high-density matrix formation in cementitious materials due to its unique properties. To investigate the feasibility of enhancing SS-based materials with SF, an alkali-activated SS-GBFS-SF composite was prepared. This work examined the impact of SF on the physico-mechanical properties and microscopic characteristics, revealing the synergistic hydration mechanism among the components. The results show that a reasonable amount of SF can effectively improve the fluidity and mechanical properties of SS-GBFS based alkali-activated systems. When the mass ratio of SS to GBFS is 2:3 and SF dosage is 5 %, the fluidity of SS-GBFS-SF mortar is 170 mm, with compressive strength of 71 MPa at 90 days. The influence of SF on the early-age drying shrinkage rate of mortars is significant. At a dosage of 5 %, the 3-day drying shrinkage rate increases by 10.3 % compared to SS-GBFS group. However, this effect gradually decreases in the later stages. Early dissolution of SF produces soluble silicate, which reduces the activation effect of the alkali-activator. During the hydration process, SF consumes hydroxide, resulting in a decreased dissolution of calcium ion in the cementitious system and delaying the hydration of SS. In addition, SF provides a source of silicon, which increases the polymerization of hydration products. In the later stages of hydration, the unreacted SF acts as a physical filler, refining the microstructure and improving the comprehensive performance of the composites
Exploring the range of impacts of helium in the spectra of double detonation models for Type Ia supernovae
No full textModels of sub-Chandrasekhar mass double detonations for Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) suggest a distinguishing property of this scenario is unburnt helium in the outer ejecta. However, modern explosion simulations suggest there may be significant variations in its mass and velocity distribution. We recently presented a NLTE (non local thermodynamic equilibrium) radiative transfer simulation for one realization of the double detonation scenario with a modest He mass (0.018 ) present in the ejecta at relatively high velocities (). That simulation predicted a He i 10 830 Å feature blueward of Mg ii 10 927 Å consistent with near-infrared observations of ‘transitional’ SNe Ia. To demonstrate the expected diversity in the helium signature, here we present a calculation for a double detonation model with a higher He mass (0.04 ) ejected at lower velocities (). Despite our simulation predicting no clear optical or 2 m helium features, a strong and persistent He i 10 830 Å absorption is present. The feature appears at wavelengths consistent with the extended blue wing of the Mg ii 10 927 Å feature sometimes present in observations, suggesting this is a helium spectral signature (although for this particular model it is too strong and persistent to be consistent with normal SNe Ia). The significant differences in He i 10 830 Å predicted by the two simulations suggest helium spectral signatures likely show significant variation throughout the SNe Ia population. This motivates further work to use this observable signature to test the parameter space for double detonation models
Sodium valproate, a potential repurposed treatment for the neurodegeneration in Wolfram syndrome (TREATWOLFRAM): trial protocol for a pivotal multicentre, randomised double-blind controlled trial
No full textIntroduction: Wolfram syndrome (WFS1-Spectrum Disorder) is an ultra-rare monogenic form of progressive neurodegeneration and diabetes mellitus. In common with most rare diseases, there are no therapies to slow or stop disease progression. Sodium valproate, an anticonvulsant with neuroprotective properties, is anticipated to mediate its effect via alteration of cell cycle kinetics, increases in p21cip1 expression levels and reduction in apoptosis and increase in Wolframin protein expression. To date, there have been no multicentre randomised controlled trials investigating the efficacy of treatments for neurodegeneration in patients with Wolfram syndrome. Methods and analysis: TREATWOLFRAM is an international, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial designed to investigate whether 36-month treatment with up to 40 mg/kg/day of sodium valproate will slow the rate of loss of visual acuity as a biomarker for neurodegeneration in patients with Wolfram syndrome. Patients who satisfied the eligibility criteria were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive two times per day oral gastro-resistant sodium valproate tablets up to a maximum dose of 800 mg 12 hourly or sodium valproate-matched placebo. Using hierarchical repeated measures analyses with a 5% significance level, 80% power and accounting for an estimated 15% missing data rate, a sample size of 70 was set. The primary outcome measure, visual acuity, will be centrally reviewed and analysed on an intention-to-treat population. Ethics and dissemination: The protocol was approved by the National Research Ethics Service (West of Scotland; 18/WS/0020) and by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Recruitment into TREATWOLFRAM started in January 2019 and ended in November 2021. The treatment follow-up of TREATWOLFRAM participants is ongoing and due to finish in November 2024. Updates on trial progress are disseminated via Wolfram Syndrome UK quarterly newsletters and at family conferences for patient support groups. The findings of this trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and international presentations. Trial registration number: NCT03717909
A tri-directional examination of parental personality, parenting, and context on adolescent behaviors: a replication and extension in a new cultural context
No full textIntroductionThe aim of this study was to replicate the Tri-Directional Framework of Parent and Offspring Traits and Outcomes (TDF-POTO) in the new ground of the more traditional cultural context of Serbia. We tested the effects of: (a) parental dark traits on self-reported and adolescent-reported parenting, including the moderating role of harsh contextual characteristics (low socioeconomic status and high parental adverse childhood experiences); (b) parental dark traits and parenting on adolescent behavioral outcomes.MethodsThe sample included 239 parent-adolescent dyads from Serbia (68.6% mothers; 61.1% daughters; all White) with average age of 44.68 years for parents and 14.11 years for adolescents. The study was conducted in 2024 and it was cross-sectional with surveys administered to both parents and adolescents.ResultsParental dark traits were associated with hostile, cold parenting, except for grandiose narcissism which showed a negative association with parental control. Harsh contextual characteristics moderated relationships between vulnerable narcissism and parental hostility. Only parental Machiavellianism showed significant effects on adolescent-reported parenting and behavioral outcomes. Among parenting dimensions, parental hostility showed positive associations with adolescent externalizing and internalizing behaviors and negative with prosocial behaviors, whereas parental control was negatively associated with externalizing behaviors. Surprisingly, self-reported parental warmth was positively associated with adolescent internalizing behaviors.ConclusionsResults support the TDF-POTO in Serbian culture but highlight some culturally specific effects of harsh contexts and associations between parenting and adolescent behavioral outcomes
Landscape as a shared space for badgers and cattle: insights into indirect contact and bovine tuberculosis transmission risk
No full textThough the magnitude of effect is uncertain, badger–cattle indirect contact has been implicated in bovine tuberculosis (bTB) transmission risk to cattle despite a paucity of data on badger space use. This study tracked field use by 35 GPS-collared bTB test-negative badgers (n = 3738 locational fixes, average fixes/badger = 107) and cattle grazing regimes at 446 fields over one grazing season (May–November 2016) on 18 farms (n = 56,202 field-days). Individual badger visits spanned on average 3 farms (max. 9 farms). Badgers entered fields when occupied by grazing cattle on 20% of field-days (nights). Most individual badgers (n = 25; 71%) were recorded in the same field as cattle on multiple occasions (up to 124 field-days each). There was substantial interindividual variation, with 29% of badgers (n = 10) never co-occurring with cattle. Badger field use was positively associated with dairy (rather than beef) production (especially when grazing cattle were present) and with fodder and rough grazing fields (compared with improved pasture and ‘other’ cattle-related land use). Badgers were recorded in larger fields (range 0.06 to 10.9 ha) more frequently, especially when not actively grazed. They were significantly less likely to use fields with calves compared to fields containing cattle of other age groups. The presence of a badger sett in a field increased the likelihood of field use by tracked badgers. Farm management that minimises cattle–badger indirect contact in fields with setts may reduce bTB transmission risk to cattle. Delaying grazing of fodder fields after (silage) harvest until sward length has increased, restricting grazing to improved pastures, keeping calves with cows longer, or ensuring all batches of cattle have at least some calves present and not grazing fields with badger setts (or fencing around setts to prevent cattle access) may provide simple, cost-effective strategies to reduce indirect badger–cattle contact, thus potentially lowering bTB transmission risk.<br/
Transcutaneous closure of persistent ductus arteriosus: complication rates and long term follow up, a single centre retrospective study
No full textBackgroundTranscutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in childhood is a common procedure. Long-term follow-up by paediatric cardiologists is variable. Identification and classification of postoperative complications may enable targeted follow-up and timelier discharges. This study aimed to characterize complication rates and assess discharge timing.MethodsThis is a single-centre retrospective study of paediatric patients (aged 0-15 years) who underwent a transcutaneous closure of a PDA between January 2006 and December 2015.ResultsA total of 156 patients who underwent interventional occlusion of a PDA were included. Complications were seen in 18 of 156 (12%) patients. High-grade complications occurred in 8 of 156 (5.1%) patients; these included device embolization, failure requiring surgical closure, or repeated interventional closure. Moderate to low-grade complications including flow acceleration in the aorta and left pulmonary artery (LPA) occurred in 10 of 156 (6.4%) patients. Fourteen of 18 (77%) complications were immediately apparent. Late mild to moderate obstruction of the descending aorta or LPA occurred in 3 of 156 (2%) patients. Later obstruction occurred in the Amplatzer ductal occluder 1 (ADO1) group only with large (4.5-5 mm) ducts. The average follow-up time for all patients was 81 (±47) months. Younger age at insertion and larger size of ADO1 devices were associated with later obstruction.ConclusionsIn our cohort, PDA occlusion was associated with a 5.1% major complication rate, which is evident within 24 hours; a further 2% (all treated with ADO1 devices) developed between mild and moderate aortic or LPA obstruction at least 1 year after the procedure. To date, this has not required intervention. It may therefore be prudent to continue longer-term surveillance of patients who have undergone PDA occlusion with the ADO1 device.<br/