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Metallogeny of subduction initiation revealed by chalcophile element behaviour in the Samail ophiolite
No full textIntra-oceanic subduction initiation marks the transition between the mature divergent and convergent stages of the Wilson cycle, each with its relatively well understood metallogeny. The metallogenic systematics of this transition are less clear, however, with uncertainties regarding precious metal enrichment in volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits and the potential for magmatic-hydrothermal mineralization in nascent arcs. The Samail ophiolite is increasingly accepted to represent a ‘proto-arc’ formed during subduction initiation. Due to its volcanic glass record of magmatism and resource estimates for its VMS deposits, this ophiolite is well suited for elucidating this metallogeny. New analyses of these volcanic glasses reveal a systematic enrichment in melt chalcophile elements over the course of ophiolite magmatism, with enrichment of Au > Cu ≈ Ag > Zn correlated with sulfide-melt affinity. This enrichment can be explained by sequential remelting of the proto-arc mantle, with initial melting concentrating Au into residual sulfide and later remelting extracting this Au into sulfide-undersaturated melts. Subsequent melt fractionation further increased Au/Cu ratios relative to sulfide-saturated early melts. Despite clear slab contamination, transfer of subducted S into the mantle was minimal. These observations demonstrate that tectono-magmatic evolution drives the coupled Au-enrichment of proto-arc lavas and the VMS deposits they host, with footwall lava composition controlling the metal endowment of these deposits. Despite H2O-saturation of late boninitic melts, their low S contents and weak Cl fluid/melt partitioning inhibited magmatic-hydrothermal metal extraction, limiting potential for high-sulfidation mineralization. Subduction maturation is necessary to trigger such mineralization, as seen in Pacific intra-oceanic arc systems
Identifying thermal effects in neutron star merger remnants with model-agnostic waveform reconstructions and third-generation detectors
No full textWe probe the intrinsic differences in simulated gravitational-wave signals from binary neutron star (BNS) mergers, arising from varying approaches to incorporating thermal effects in numerical-relativity modeling. We consider a hybrid approach in which the equation of state (EOS) comprises a cold, zero-temperature, piecewise-polytropic part and a thermal part described by an ideal gas and a tabulated approach based on self-consistent, microphysical, finite-temperature EOS. We use time-domain waveforms corresponding to BNS merger simulations with four different EOSs. Those are injected into Gaussian noise given by the sensitivity of the third-generation detector Einstein Telescope and reconstructed using BayesWave, a Bayesian data-analysis algorithm that recovers the signals through a model-agnostic approach. The two representations of thermal effects result in different dominant peak frequencies in the spectra of the postmerger signals, for both the quadrupole fundamental mode and the late-time inertial modes. For some of the EOSs investigated, those differences are large enough to be told apart, especially in the early postmerger phase when the signal amplitude is the loudest. Our results suggest that a self-consistent treatment of thermal effects in BNS postmerger modeling is essential to prevent significant parameter biases in upcoming gravitational-wave detections
The wake-up call we keep ‘snoozing’: the role of sleep and circadian factors in adolescent anxiety
No full textAdolescent mental health is a rising concern, with anxiety presenting as the most prevalent need. As onset during adolescence can present long-term challenges, early identification and intervention is key. Concurrently, sleep problems alongside biological changes in sleep, such as a shift towards ‘eveningness’ (i.e., becoming more of a ‘night owl’) is prevalent. This shift creates tensions with societal demands like early school start times, leading to weekday sleep deprivation and compensatory weekend lie-ins – a pattern known as ‘social jetlag’.Given the bidirectional relationship between sleep and anxiety, this thesis explores their association in greater depth. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis explores the magnitude of the relationship between social jetlag and anxiety in adolescence. A multi-level random-effect meta-analysis found a small, positive, significant association, suggesting that adolescents experiencing greater social jetlag are likely to report higher anxiety.An empirical study explores the extent to which sleep and circadian factors influence anxiety and emotional processing – an underlying mechanism of anxiety. Participants aged 16-18 completed an online survey consisting of self-report measures of sleep (quality, latency, duration, efficiency, disturbance, daytime dysfunction, circadian regularity, sleep continuity, chronotype, sleep inertia, insomnia) and mental health (generalised anxiety, state anxiety, depression, quality of life), alongside two emotional processing tasks (emotional classification task, emotional flanker task). Correlational analyses showed that insomnia, daytime dysfunction, sleep quality, sleep disturbance, sleep latency, circadian regularity, sleep continuity, and sleep inertia significantly correlated with anxiety. Hierarchical regressions identified sleep disturbance, sleep inertia, and insomnia as significant contributors of anxiety. Whilst sleep/circadian factors did not explain additional variance in anxiety beyond depression, many mediated the relationship between depression and anxiety. In the tasks, sleep/circadian factors influenced sensitivity to fear and correct-response reaction times to happy and sad emotional expressions. Circadian regularity arose as the most consistently associated variable across mental health and task outcomes, highlighting its importance in promoting adolescent wellbeing. <br/
Tangible and intangible rewards: how do they relate to task-specific motivation and task performance in second language writing?
No full textThis study investigates the impact of tangible and intangible rewards on extrinsic and intrinsic task-specific motivation of young second language (L2) writers, as well as their writing performance. It also examines the relationships between task-specific motivation and writing performance under various reward conditions. A total of 123 Chinese secondary school students were assigned to three groups: a tangible reward group, an intangible reward group, and a no reward group. Participants in the two reward groups were informed that they could receive a tangible or an intangible reward if their writing performance ranked among Top 10 in their class. All participants then completed an English writing task, followed by a scale assessing their extrinsic and intrinsic motivation in the task. A series of Kruskal-Wallis tests revealed that rewards increased extrinsic task motivation but had no effect on intrinsic task motivation. Both reward groups outperformed the no reward group in all aspects of writing performance (i.e., content, organization, and language). Additionally, Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression analyses revealed that extrinsic and intrinsic task motivation were positively associated with writing performance in the tangible reward group, but not in the other groups. The findings provide practical implications for task motivation intervention among young L2 learners
Teaching and learning support in schools: exploring the well-being of Teaching and Learning Support Assistants and the views of children and young people who engage with their support
No full textEducation is a demanding sector with significant pressures placed on staff to support children in achieving academically and thriving socially and emotionally. Teaching and Learning Support Assistants (TLSAs) play a crucial role in helping schools meet these demands. However, despite their essential contributions, TLSAs receive variable training and support and enter the role with differing experiences. Additionally, the role of a TLSA has changed considerably over time, leading to a lack of clarity about their responsibilities. While research has examined the impact of the demanding education sector on the well-being of teachers, the well-being of TLSAs has been overlooked. Moreover, given the interdependent nature of TLSAs’ well-being and their effectiveness in supporting students, it is essential to understand children and young people’s perceptions of the support they receive from TLSAs. This thesis aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of TLSAs in UK schools by exploring both the well-being of staff who provide support and students' perceptions and lived experiences of receiving that support. First, a systematic review of 19 qualitative studies was conducted to thematically synthesise individuals’ views of TLSAs’ support in primary and secondary schools. Second, 176 TLSAs responded to a UK-wide mixed-methods survey including the Workplace PERMA Profiler (Kern, 2014) and open-ended questions on their lived experiences as current employees in UK primary schools. Additionally, peer support groups were piloted in two UK primary school settings to enhance TLSAs’ well-being and this intervention was evaluated using a mixed-methods approach. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for improving practice.<br/
Global tracking of marine megafauna space use reveals how to achieve conservation targets
No full textThe recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) sets ambitious goals but no clear pathway for how zero loss of important biodiversity areas and halting human-induced extinction of threatened species will be achieved. We assembled a multi-taxa tracking dataset (11 million geopositions from 15,845 tracked individuals across 121 species) to provide a global assessment of space use of highly mobile marine megafauna, showing that 63% of the area that they cover is used 80% of the time as important migratory corridors or residence areas. The GBF 30% threshold (Target 3) will be insufficient for marine megafauna’s effective conservation, leaving important areas exposed to major anthropogenic threats. Coupling area protection with mitigation strategies (e.g., fishing regulation, wildlife-traffic separation) will be essential to reach international goals and conserve biodiversity.</p
Perioperative Quality Initiative consensus statement recommendations on the definition, development, implementation and outcomes of pre‐operative surgery schools
No full textIntroduction: pre-operative group sessions incorporating patient education and behaviour change interventions, known as ‘surgery schools’, are becoming increasingly common before major elective surgery across the world. However, there is a lack of conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of surgery schools, and the development and delivery of these complex interventions lacks standardisation. Methods: in collaboration with the Perioperative Quality Initiative, we aimed to develop evidence- and expertise-based consensus statements and recommendations regarding the definition, design, content, and outcomes of surgery schools. Thirty-two international multidisciplinary experts in surgery school and pre-operative preparation attended a series of virtual meetings based on a modified Delphi methodology. A systematic review and additional targeted literature searches were used to propose statements for the definition, design, content and outcomes of surgery schools. Statements and recommendations were discussed iteratively and refined in multiple rounds, until agreement was reached. Results: consensus was reached on a definition of surgery school, as well as three statements and 18 recommendations in relation to: scope; outcomes; intervention development; delivery; inclusivity; and educational content of surgery schools. Seventeen areas were highlighted as priorities for future research. Discussion: these consensus statements and recommendations are intended to help clinicians and service managers who plan to develop and implement surgery schools. They may improve the quality of those programmes and help to standardise their content. We also hope that this work will influence government strategy and policy in relation to the design, delivery and funding of peri-operative optimisation pathways.</p
Double crossed?: Structural and computational studies of an unusually crosslinked haem in Methylococcus capsulatus cytochrome P460
No full textCytochromes P460 oxidise hydroxylamine within the nitrogen cycle and contain as their active site an unusual catalytic c-type haem where the porphyrin is crosslinked to the protein via a lysine residue in addition to the canonical cross links from cysteine residues. Understanding how enzymes containing P460 haem oxidise hydroxylamine into either nitrous oxide or nitric oxide has implications for climate change. Interestingly the P460-containing hydroxylamine oxidoreductase utilises a tyrosine crosslink to haem and performs similar chemistry. Previous crystal structures of cytochrome P460 from Nitrosomonas europaea (NeP460) clearly show the existence of a single crosslink between the NZ atom of lysine and the haem porphyrin, with mutagenesis studies indicating roles for the crosslink in positioning a proton transfer residue and/or influencing the distortion of the haem. Here we describe the evidence for a novel double crosslink between lysine and haem in the cytochrome P460 from Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath). In order to understand the complexities of this enzyme system we applied high resolution structural biology approaches at synchrotron and XFEL sources paired with crystal spectroscopies. Linked to this, we carried out QM/MM simulations that enabled the prediction of electronic absorption spectra providing a crucial validation to linking simulations and experimental structures. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of a double crosslink in McP460 and provides an opportunity to investigate how simulations can interact with experimental structures.</p
The Bürgerrat Klima: Germany’s informal model for integrating citizen deliberation into politics
No full textGermany's federal‐level climate assembly, the Bürgerrat Klima , took place one year after the French Convention, between April to June 2021. This chapter provides an introduction to the Bürgerrat Klima, along with reflections on the lessons of the German experience for conducting climate assemblies. It articulates the integrative design characteristics of the assembly – namely, how it attempted to connect to policy‐making institutions and civil society. The informal model of integration in which citizens assemblies are commissioned by civil society organizations rather than the government, parliament or the administration, highlights some important lacunae in current debates about citizens' assemblies that have quite rapidly moved towards favoring institutionalization without a full consideration of the implied trade‐offs
FDI spillovers, innovation and the role of industrial clusters: evidence from innovative Indian manufacturing firms
No full textThis paper studies the impacts of horizontal and vertical foreign direct investment (FDI) spillovers on innovation activities of Indian manufacturing firms by comparing effects within major industrial clusters with those outside. We find that a great breadth of innovations arises via horizontal linkages among firms within the industrial clusters. Conversely, firms outside industrial clusters do not portend measurable innovation effects from FDI spillovers. Our results highlight the crucial role of geographical proximity in harnessing innovation spillovers, further emphasizing the need for tailored policies for firms outside major industrial clusters to maximize their innovation potential. A Difference-in-Differences estimation to gauge the effect of the 2014 FDI liberalization policy on firms’ innovation output shows that foreign firms have significantly increased their innovation activities relative to domestic firms post-2014 FDI liberalization policy
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