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Combining X-ray free electron laser probes of chemical dynamics
No full textThe development of ultrafast laser sources capable of generating extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray photons has significantly advanced the study of photochemical processes. This thesis investigates the use of Free Electron Lasers (FELs) as powerful probes for time-resolved spectroscopy, enabling detailed examination of molecular dynamics. Additionally, an experiment utilising a high harmonic generation source (HHG) is also described in this thesis. This provides a comparison and an overview of how the two sources can be used to complement one another. The focus of the experimental work is on 2- and 3-iodothiophene. Ultraviolet (UV) excitation within the 220–300 nm range populates either ππ∗ states localized on the thiophene ring or (n/π)σ∗ states on the C-I bond, both leading to C-I bond dissociation. The iodine fragment was observed to form via competing dissociation pathways, consistent with earlier studies. Direct (n/π)σ∗ excitation results in prompt dissociation, while initial population of the ππ∗ state leads to slower, potentially delayed fragmentation. By harnessing FEL and HHG radiation, the post-excitation dynamics of iodothiophene were probed through various techniques. Each method offers unique insights, collectively providing a comprehensive understanding of the underlying photodissociation dynamics
Increased north African dust fluxes and higher productivity in the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean linked to stronger trade winds from about 2.7 million years ago
No full textFor at least the last 11 million years, the North African landscape has repeatedly oscillated on astronomical timescales between the dry dusty conditions of today and more humid, vegetated conditions such as those documented for the mid-Holocene. These changes were primarily driven by expansion and contraction of the tropical rainbelt in response to changes in summer insolation. However, other mechanisms are needed to explain temporal variability in the sensitivity of African humidity to this rhythmic forcing. A main interval of observed change is the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition (~3.5 to 2.4 Ma) when Africa is widely (but not universally) suggested to have become drier and dustier. Here we present new suborbitally resolved records of surface ocean temperature, foraminiferal stable isotopes and export productivity from the Northwest African margin and the eastern equatorial Atlantic Ocean and compare them to published records. We find strong coupling at astronomical timescales between productivity and dust fluxes throughout our study interval, indicating the sustained influence of the northeast trade winds on dust transport, upwelling strength and perhaps dust-driven ocean fertilization. We attribute observed increases in dust fluxes delivered to the NW African margin and eastern equatorial Atlantic to strengthening of the trade winds driven by the steepening latitudinal temperature gradients associated with the intensification of Northern Hemisphere glaciation. Taken together with published evidence of increased strength in the mid-latitude westerlies at this time, our results point to invigoration of large-scale atmospheric circulation globally during intensified glacial periods of the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition
The association of loneliness and social isolation with multimorbidity over 14 years in older adults in England: a population-based cohort study
No full textBackground: previous longitudinal studies have linked multimorbidity to loneliness (feeling alienated) and social isolation (having reduced social contact). However, the nature of these associations over time is unclear.Objective: to examine bidirectional associations of multimorbidity with loneliness and social isolation over a 14-year follow-up in a nationally representative cohort of adults aged ≥ 50 years.Methods: this retrospective cohort study used seven waves of data (collected between 2004/2005 and 2018/2019) from adults in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Multimorbidity was defined as the presence of ≥2 long-term conditions. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) scale. Social isolation was derived based on cohabitation status, frequency of contact with children, relatives, and friends, and social organisation membership. We used Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for social isolation or loneliness, demographic and health behaviour variables.Results: the cohort consisted of 6031 adults with baseline and follow-up data on loneliness, social isolation, multimorbidity, and other covariates. Loneliness was associated with increased risk of incident multimorbidity [aHR (95 % CI): 1.38 (1.15–1.65)], whereas social isolation was not [aHR (95 % CI): 0.97 (0.81–1.16)]. Multimorbidity was associated with increased risk of incident loneliness [aHR (95 % CI): 1.55 (1.30–1.84)], but not significantly associated with subsequent risk of incident social isolation [aHR (95 % CI): 1.09 (0.92–1.28)].Conclusions: an independent bidirectional association exists between loneliness and multimorbidity. Interventions targeting loneliness may prevent or delay multimorbidity and also improve wellbeing for people with multimorbidity
Agricultural landscape genomics to increase crop resilience
No full textPopulations are continually adapting to their environment. Knowledge of which populations and individuals harbor unique and agriculturally useful variations has the potential to accelerate crop adaptation to the increasingly challenging environments predicted for the coming century. Landscape genomics, which identifies associations between environmental and genomic variation, provides a means for obtaining this knowledge. However, despite extensive efforts to assemble and characterize ex situ collections of crops and their wild relatives, gaps remain in the genomic and environmental datasets needed to robustly implement this approach. This article outlines the history of landscape genomics, which, to date, has mainly been used in conservation and evolutionary studies, provides an overview of crops and wild relative collections that have the necessary data for implementation and identifies areas where new data generation is needed. We find that 60% of the crops covered by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture lack the data necessary to conduct this kind of analysis, necessitating identification of crops in need of more collections, sequencing, or phenotyping. By highlighting these aspects, we aim to help develop agricultural landscape genomics as a sub-discipline that brings together evolutionary genetics, landscape ecology, and plant breeding, ultimately enhancing the development of resilient and adaptable crops for future environmental challenges.</p
The person-based approach to intervention development: A scoping review of methods and applications
No full textBackgroundThe person-based approach (PBA) has emerged as a prominent methodology guiding the development of digital and hybrid health behaviour change interventions over the last decade, and there is a salient need to understand its utilization.ObjectiveThis study aims to describe which elements of the PBA have been utilised in intervention development research, for which populations, and how this has been reported.MethodsA search for intervention development papers published between 2015 and 2023 using forward citation searches was undertaken in Scopus, using two seed articles. Results are presented using frequency counts, and qualitative data were summarised using content analysis.ResultsThe review encompasses 239 papers. The PBA has frequently been applied in early stage development of digital interventions for adult populations, prioritising the use of qualitative methods. It has been used globally to develop, adapt, optimise and evaluate digital, hybrid and offline interventions for a wide range of contexts including primary and secondary healthcare, educational, community, and public health settings. Researchers value it as a proven method to identify user needs and preferences in order to create persuasive content.ConclusionThe PBA is most frequently linked to research undertaken to understand target populations and iteratively design content in early development phases. The PBA provides guidance on combining evidence-, theory- and person-based research, but these three elements are not always evident in the literature. Training focused on these elements, plus exemplar studies and use of reporting guidelines, could make this integrative work more visible in future papers
Fostering critical reflection on GenAI in translation practice
No full textThe rapid integration of generative AI into translation and language assessment raises critical questions about its ethical implications and practical challenges. This study, drawing from a semester-long module within the MA Translation and Professional Communication Skills programme, showcases a teaching practice that incorporates AI use in translation while foregrounding ethical considerations before students engage with these tools. By designing diverse teaching activities and assessments, the program fosters critical reflection and ethical awareness of AI’s role in translation practice. Students engaged in a series of assignments aimed at analysing the effectiveness and limitations of AI tools in professional translation contexts, specifically exploring AI's capacity to handle complex cultural references, biases, and contextual nuances.Throughout the course, students reflected on topics such as the ethical considerations surrounding Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools, the role of human translators in an AI-driven future, and the challenges of translating cultural nuances. In classroom discussions, they examined issues like gender and racial bias, training data inequalities, and intellectual property rights, all of which present significant ethical considerations in AI use for translation. The study also highlights examples from students’ work, illustrating how generative AI struggles with idiomatic and culturally loaded expressions, often leading to unidiomatic or inaccurate translations without human intervention.This study contributes to the discourse on ethical AI in language practice by providing insights into student perspectives on AI in translation, revealing a strong preference for a collaborative approach where human expertise and AI complement each other. The findings advocate for a curriculum that encourages critical analysis of AI, equipping future translators with the skills to navigate the ethical complexities of AI-enhanced translation and assessment
Having enough and not having too much: a characterization of sufficientarianism-limitarianism
No full textSufficientarianism, a prominent framework in distributive justice, asserts that everyone should have enough resources to meet a minimum threshold. Limitarianism, by contrast, holds that no individual should possess more than a specified upper limit of income or wealth. While the latter has gained attention in political philosophy and policy debates, it remains largely unexplored in formal normative economics. This paper bridges this gap by offering an axiomatic characterization of a social welfare criterion that integrates sufficientarian and limitarian principles. We formalize these dual commitments and investigate their implications for resource allocation. The analysis sheds light on the theoretical underpinnings of this hybrid approach and its potential relevance for normative analysis
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