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Global manta and devil ray population declines: closing policy and management gaps to reduce fisheries mortality
Full text linkSignificant progress has been made in advancing priority actions to conserve manta and devil rays, yet implementation and enforcement of protective measures often fall short, leaving most mobulid populations at risk of overfishing. Drawing on a literature review, fisheries databases, agency reports, and expert interviews, we assess global trends in mobulid catch and mortality. We examine both targeted and incidental catch, in small (\u3c15 m, ‘SV’) and large (\u3e15 m, ‘LV’) vessel fisheries to identify hotspots with the highest risk of fisheries-related mortality and population decline. We estimate global fisheries catch at 264,520 (184,407–344,987) mobulids per year, with SV fisheries accounting for 87 % of global mortality. The highest-risk hotspots, based on mortality and declines, are located in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Peru, and Myanmar. Mobulid retention is driven by demand, with higher mortality rates observed in countries exporting gill plates, and to a lesser extent, in those trading meat domestically or internationally. We recommend urgent implementation and enforcement of mobulid listings under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and national protective measures, including (i) uplisting mobulids to CITES Appendix I, (ii) full legislative protection for all mobulid species in high-risk fishing nations to reduce demand, (iii) avoiding fishing in critical habitats through permanent or temporary targeted area closures, or management, (iv) limiting drift gillnet effort, and (v) involving fishers in management decisions and implementation
Experimental data: Sloshing in a circular tank
No full textThis experimental dataset was generated as part of a PhD research project on liquid sloshing for next-generation aircraft fuel tank applications (EP/W522223/1). It comprises three distinct experimental campaigns designed to characterise sloshing behaviour under a range of controlled dynamic conditions with water-air. A circular tank under forced horizontal excitation. A circular tank under forced vertical excitation. A circular tank under high-acceleration vertical excitation. Together, these campaigns provide a comprehensive set of measurements capturing fluid response in a circular tank across varied excitation modes and acceleration regimes. The dataset is intended to support further research, model validation, and the development of predictive tools for sloshing dynamics in aerospace fuel systems
A comparative study of word embedding techniques for classification of star ratings
Full text linkTelecom services are at the core of today’s societies’ everyday needs. The availability of numerous online forums and discussion platforms enables telecom providers to improve their services by exploring the views of their customers to learn about common problems that customers face. Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools can be used to process the free text collected.One way of working with such data is to represent text as numerical vectors using one of many word embedding models based on neural networks. This research uses a novel dataset of telecom customers’ reviews to perform an extensive comparative study showing how different word embedding algorithms can affect the text classification process. A variety of state-of-the-art word embedding techniques are considered, including BERT, Word2Vec, FastText, and Doc2Vec. Several PCA-based approaches are explored for feature engineering. Moreover, the energy consumption used by the different word embeddings is investigated. The findings show that BERT combined with PCA lead to consistently better text classifiers in terms of precision, recall and F1-Score, particularly for more challenging classification tasks. Moreover, our proposed PCA approach of combining word vectors using the first principal component shows clear advantages in performance over the traditional approach of taking the average
Culture: The missing link in sustainable food systems
No full textThis paper explores the sustainability potential of food and farming culture, which is largely overlooked by mainstream approaches for transitioning food systems. I present two cases where food and farming culture is alive and thriving—in the Maya-Achí territory of Guatemala and in Wales—illustrating how cultural practices and values may contribute to global sustainability challenges and resilience
Cryogenic Sloshing in Aircraft Fuel Tanks
No full textLiquid sloshing in next-generation sub-cooled liquid hydrogen aircraft fuel tanks can induce rapid ullage pressure and temperature drops, potentially causing cavitation in cryogenic pumping systems and compromising fuel delivery systems. Sloshing events may be initiated during taxiing, take-off, landing, and turbulence, with large accelerations producing highly non-linear liquid motion and wave-breaking conditions. Understanding such phenomena is essential for cryogenic hydrogen fuel tank design and certification for next generation aircraft.A systematic experimental methodology was employed to investigate both the wave kinematic and thermodynamic aspects of sloshing. Initial water–air experiments in a simplified horizontal circular tank were conducted to validate measurement techniques, using high-speed imaging for free-surface visualisation alongside an image processing algorithm (IPA) that enables accurate determination of liquid kinematics. These preliminary tests characterised fundamental wave modes, resonance behaviour, soft-spring nonlinear response, and wave-breaking limits, providing a robust baseline for subsequent experiments with cryogenic surrogate fluids.Two isothermal experimental campaigns were carried out in a quasi two-dimensional tank. Horizontal excitation of the fundamental antisymmetric mode provided the first parametric study reporting both free surface shape and centre of gravity (COG) motion under resonance across a range of forcing amplitudes and fill levels. A linear relationship between COG motion and local free surface displacements was determined. Vertical excitation near the primary parametric resonance (PPR) of the fundamental symmetric mode explored Faraday waves and wave breaking limits, including high acceleration tests up to 1.5g. Period tripling, harmonic interactions, and antinode asymmetries were observed, with higher fill levels exhibiting nonlinear effects and wave breaking at smaller wave amplitudes. Results demonstrated that wave amplitude alone is insufficient to predict breaking onset, emphasising the importance of nonlinear interactions and fill level dependent behaviour.Building on these isothermal sloshing results, non-isothermal experiments were conducted using HFE7100 as a surrogate cryogenic fluid, with transparent tank faces coupling high-speed imaging, to pressure and temperature sensors capturing the thermodynamic response. The experiments showed that even modest wave breaking significantly accelerates ullage pressure drops, with reductions of up to 60% of the initial pressure. Lower initial pressures corresponded to smaller pressure drop magnitudes, while higher fill levels required smaller wave amplitudes to initiate pressure drops. Large amplitude sloshing cases exhibited complete destratification and enhanced liquid–vapour mixing, whereas small amplitude sloshing maintained a (reduced) degree of thermal stratification
The overlooked burden: anti-seizure medications, laxatives, and antipsychotics prescribed in primary care for people with intellectual disability
No full textObjectives: People with intellectual disabilities (PwID) have higher prevalences of epilepsy and constipation than the general population. Constipation is having fewer than three bowel movements or requiring laxatives three or more times weekly. Both epilepsy and constipation contribute significantly to premature mortality. To manage constipation, many individuals are prescribed long-term laxatives, which serve as a surrogate indicator of constipation. PwID and epilepsy also have a high prevalence of multimorbidity and polypharmacy, particularly involving antiseizure medications (ASMs) and antipsychotics. This study aimed to explore associations between ASM use, antipsychotics, and laxative prescribing.Method: The primary care dataset in Cornwall, England (population 572,000), was used to examine patient prescribing records for laxatives, ASMs, and antipsychotics using SNOMED diagnosis codes for PwID. Age and sex were recorded. Results are reported as the prevalence of study cohorts.Results: Of 3,189 PwID in Cornwall’s GP registers, 2,799 (88%) were over 18, and 1,881 (59%) were men. Among them, 725 (23%) were prescribed laxatives and 467 (15%) ASMs. Of these, 209 were on both laxatives and ASMs (28.8% of all laxative users, 44.8% of all ASM users). Older PwID (\u3e 40 years) were more likely to be on both ASMs and laxatives. Among the 209, 72 (34.4%) were on antipsychotics, with overrepresentation in those over 40.Conclusion: Nearly half of PwID on ASMs are prescribed laxatives, and over a third of them were also found to be taking antipsychotics. Given the significant links among epilepsy, constipation, and antipsychotic use to premature mortality in PwID, it is imperative to consider these factors collectively rather than individually
Assessing the ecological vulnerability of natural flood defences and risks to agricultural land following seawater flooding
No full textAnthropogenic climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, affecting the natural environment by altering ecosystems, and leading to habitat loss. Pressingly, the frequency and severity of storm surge flooding in low-lying coastal regions is projected to increase under future climate scenarios. There is a growing need to understand how these events will impact coastal ecosystems, and the measures that can be taken to mitigate against these effects and protect natural resources. Furthermore, with increased pressures placed on agriculture to meet food demand, protecting arable land resources in coastal regions from the rising threat of flooding is imperative. This thesis explores how simulated storm surge flooding will affect natural and cultivated coastal ecosystems. Chapter 2 investigates how coastal grassland plant species respond to pulse episodes of simulated seawater flooding in laboratory-based experiments. Taxonomic trends in species responses indicate Fabaceae as extremely sensitive, while Poaceae exhibited considerable tolerance to the imposed flooding scenarios. More widely, this showed that storm surge events are expected to cause shifts to natural coastal plant communities, with high likelihood that key plant families will be filtered out of coastal habitats following pulse episodes of seawater flooding. Coastal plant communities have a vital role in flood defence, protecting valuable terrestrial land resources such as agriculture. Any loss to their functional capacity could reduce ecosystem resilience and result in heightened flood risk to inland areas from future storm surge events. Chapter 3 investigates how archetypal pioneer marsh species, Spartina anglica, responds to pulse episodes of simulated seawater flooding in a greenhouse-based experiment. The results demonstrate that this species exhibits a strong tolerance to short-term immersion, with no mortalities and minimal effects on growth and biomass. These findings suggest that established marsh communities dominated by resilient pioneer species may maintain critical ecosystem functions, such as shoreline stabilisation and flood defence, even after disturbances from storm surge events. Additionally, the use of compositionally different seawater substitutes (complete marine aquarium salts vs NaCl only solutions) can influence observed physiological plant responses, providing important methodological considerations for future studies. Chapter 4 explores how four common commercial crop species cultivated in coastal regions expected to be at risk of storm surge flooding respond to acute simulated seawater flooding in greenhouse-based experiments. While crop performance was negatively affected, responses between species varied considerably. Indeed, barley and oilseed rape were tolerant, while wheat and rice were extremely sensitive. Furthermore, aside from species-specific differences, relative tolerance shifted with crop ontogeny. These results are critical to understanding which species can be reliably grown in ‘at risk’ coastal areas and can inform on sowing and harvest regimes based on when crops will be most vulnerable to seasonal flood events. In Chapter 5, ecophysiological processes related to the effects of pulse seawater flooding on soil decomposition and crop–herbivore interactions were investigated in greenhouse-based experiments. Results indicated that key soil processes can be impeded, leading to reductions in decomposition and nutrient cycling, with probable cascading effects for crop efficiency. Additionally, the likely negative physiological impact on crop plants following seawater flooding elicited reduced aphid survival and fecundity. The impact of plant selection by herbivores on crop plant yield and (by inference), plant species interactions in (semi-) natural coastal ecosystem plant community is consequently, likely to shift following seawater flooding. Overall, this thesis contributes to understanding how plant communities are set to experience the effects of storm surge flooding. Not only do I demonstrate how community composition is likely to be altered in key coastal ecosystems like dunes, salt marsh and grasslands, but that coastal agriculture may be greatly influenced. These results could contribute to more informed management in coastal regions that focus on reducing climate pressures on coastal vegetation through accommodation strategies (such as through managed realignment) to increase ecosystem resilience and allow enhancement of nature-based defences
Community engagement and equity-oriented researchare prerequisites for designing inclusive oral healthservices for people experiencing homelessness
No full textOral health is a vital aspect of overall health and wellbeing, yet individuals experiencing homelessness often bear a disproportionate burden of poor oral health and its consequences. This paper explores how community engagement and equity-oriented research can be powerful and complementary tools to inform and enhance evidence-based service design for these patients. We present illustrative examples from both the United Kingdom and international contexts. Community engagement captures a genuine, patient-centred understanding of current realities, while research builds on this foundation to identify and address priority needs. This targeted approach increases the likelihood of impactful interventions that move from ‘what is\u27 to ‘what could be\u27. The ongoing cycle of inquiry and collaboration fosters a dynamic synergy, laying the groundwork for inclusive, responsive and sustainable oral healthcare. We call on policymakers, service providers, researchers and educators to continue advancing these community-partnered approaches. When care is designed following the principle that ‘nothing about us is done without us\u27, oral health services for people experiencing homelessness can become truly accessible, effective and transformative, for individuals and for society as a whole
Collaborating with ‘blue food’ system stakeholders to achieve optimal nutritional health and wellbeing in less affluent communities
No full textUK food system transformation is urgently needed, but to date, minimal research has investigated ‘blue foods’ probably because they are ethically nuanced. There exists a paradox whereby materially deprived communities should be eating more fish to meet nutritional requirements, yet there is a global ‘red flag’ around global overfishing. New collaborative and creative solutions are, therefore, needed to tackle such food system inequities. By working together, all voices can be equally heard when decisions are being made to improve the system. Similarly, innovation and disruption of established supply chains will enable better access to healthy, affordable and tasty food that will support better nutrition, health and wellbeing. This review paper will present a critique of the ‘The Plymouth Fish Finger’ as a collaborative social innovation case study. Part of the FoodSEqual research project, this exploratory pilot project championed ‘co-production’ approaches to achieve multiple (potential) impacts. This review will critically explore how this social innovation case study has exemplified the complex interplay between factors driving distortions in access to and availability of fish within the local food system. Through collaborative multi-stakeholder (transdisciplinary) processes, using participatory creative methods, new strategies and recommendations for research, practice, action and policy are informed, all of which offer great potential for progressive and transformative systemic (blue) food system change
Laboratory Evaluation of ARMIE, a Portable SPS30-Based Low-Cost Sensor Node for PM 2.5 Monitoring.
No full textBACKGROUND: Low-cost particulate matter sensors have enabled new opportunities for exposure monitoring but require evaluation before application in epidemiological studies. This study assessed the performance of the SPS30 sensor integrated into the ARMIE portable monitoring sensor-node under controlled laboratory conditions.
METHODS: Sensors were co-located with two comparison instruments-the optical DustTrak photometer and the combined Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS)-across multiple aerosol sources, including candle burning, cooking, cigarette smoke, and clean air, under both regular and high-humidity conditions. Calibration performance was evaluated using leave-one-sensor-out and leave-one-source-out approaches.
RESULTS: The ARMIE node demonstrated strong agreement with the DustTrak ( r = 0.93-0.98) and maintained linear response characteristics across emission types. Calibration reduced mean errors and narrowed the limits of agreement. Agreement with the SMPS + APS was moderate ( r = 0.74-0.94) and characterized by systematic underestimation at higher concentrations.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the ARMIE node achieved high correlation with the DustTrak, demonstrating that low-cost optical sensors can reliably capture temporal variability in particle concentrations relative to mid-cost photometers