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The influence of hydrodynamics on the behaviour of European Eel at anthropogenic structures
No full textHighly fragmented river networks in the UK pose a serious threat to the viability of anadromous fish, including the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla), thus necessitating remediation at anthropogenic riverine obstructions to restore connectivity. The current causes of the decline of the European eel, fish behavioural cues, and current management measures were reviewed to assess gaps in current understanding of European eel passage and identify key areas of research to improve prospects for the species. This thesis identified eel responses to hydraulic fields at obstructions and experience of impingement as key gaps in understanding. These gaps were addressed through the following objectives: 1, quantifying 3D flow-fields through combined numerical modelling and field measurements; 2, recording eel movements in regions of variable hydraulics in controlled field and laboratory experiments; and 3, by contextualising recorded eel movements with modelled flow-fields.Eel movements captured with sonar imagery approaching pumping stations or infrared cameras within a laboratory flume were contextualised in three-dimensional models allowing the exploration of specific hydraulic conditions eels experienced. Numerical models were validated using acoustic doppler velocimetry taken in both laboratory and in the field. Behavioural analysis focused on previously observed response hydrotaxis: considering the magnitudes and rates of changes in hydraulic variables that individual eels experienced to improve understanding of fish decision making in regions of complex flow.Observed eel behaviour demonstrated that individuality was an important factor in the distribution of response locations when approaching structures. Juvenile eels approaching wedge-wire screens exhibited tactile responses resulting from very small regions of rapid hydraulic change that did not allow sufficient time or space for behavioural response prior to screen contact. Local flow conditions at screens remained important for impingement, which varied considerably for different screen apertures and bulk flows and thus an eel’s ability to escape the screen. Adult eel movements at field sites showed variable responses to similar hydrodynamic conditions: magnitudes of change in velocity magnitude, strain rate, dynamic pressure and vorticity that influenced some eel behaviour was ignored by others, emphasising that individuality was an important factor in fish decision-making. Responses predominantly took place in regions of changing hydrodynamics and was indicative that eels investigated accelerating flow to aid in downstream passage until they identified conditions as hazardous. This not only demonstrated the potential efficacy of the bypass in attracting outbound adult eels, but also underlined that flow conditions downstream of other structures also influence fish passage behaviour
An alternative route: widening participation into higher education for prospective health and care professionals
No full textThe University of Hull’s level 4 university certificate in health and social care is a year-long, part-time programmedesigned to widen participation in higher education for students without formal qualifications. It providesa flexible learning pathway that enables students to develop skills, confidence, and knowledge, facilitatingprogression into undergraduate health and social care programmes. This model aims to address regional workforceshortages by cultivating a “grow your own” approach, where local individuals are trained to meet thehealthcare needs of their communities.Key features of the programme include comprehensive academic and pastoral support, which helps studentsfrom diverse backgrounds, including first-generation learners, navigate the challenges of higher education. Theprogramme offers various modes of assessment and a blend of virtual and in-person learning opportunities,enhancing accessibility for students balancing work, family, or other commitments.The programme has demonstrated a high qualification rate, with most graduates progressing to undergraduatestudies at the University of Hull or other institutions. Additionally, many graduates remain in the localarea, contributing to workforce sustainability. The success of the programme can be attributed to its inclusiveapproach, adaptable structure, and strong emphasis on student support.The University of Hull’s experience provides key recommendations for other higher education institutions, includingleadership continuity, fostering widening participation, implementing targeted marketing, prioritisingstudent feedback, and collaborating across institutions. This model demonstrates the potential of wideningparticipation programmes to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive health and social care workforce
The effectiveness of a fish-friendly pumping station for critically endangered European eel; An assessment using live eels, fish-mounted sensors and passive sensors
Get PDFFish-friendly pumps may provide safe downstream passage for seaward migrating silver European eel, Anguilla anguilla, at pumping stations but further research into their effectiveness is urgently required. This study uniquely combined health assessments of live fish, including behaviour, delayed (48-h) mortality and post-mortem post-passage, with fish-mounted (fish backpack sensors; FBS) and passive (barotrauma detection system; BDS) sensors that passed through a fish-friendly axial flow pump in situ at a real-world pumping station to comprehensively quantify the effectiveness. Nineteen eels (including two control eels released directly into the recapture net) were recaptured and there was no immediate or delayed (n = 5, including one control eel) mortality or behavioural change, nor were there any major external or internal injuries. Minor external injuries were newly present on most eels (84.6 %) that underwent a post-mortem post-passage (n = 13) but were equivalent to the types of pathologies recorded pre-passage and were considered unlikely to affect function or survival. A previously defined acceleration threshold for fish vertebrae damage (>50 m/s2) was exceeded by all FBS and BDS (up to 66.48 m/s2), predominantly (89.15 %) after passing through the pump, but no eels showed any evidence of spinal injury or vertebral deformity, indicating that this threshold may be overly conservative for eels. Extremes of pressure (i.e., nadir) and changes in pressure (i.e., pressure rate of change (PRC) and log ratio of pressure change (LRPC)) recorded by FBS and BDS were well below thresholds known to induce injury in American eels (Anguilla rostrata) of similar length and no pressure-related injuries were found during post-mortems. Indeed, it illustrated the importance of using sensors alongside live fish to further our understanding of species-specific injury thresholds. Overall, this study demonstrated the effectiveness of a newly installed axial flow fish-friendly pump (under ‘normal’ operating conditions), using live fish and two types of sensors to quantify conditions during passage
The Role of Environmentally Relevant Concentrations of SSRIs in Human Wound Healing
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the role of environmentally relevant concentrations of fluoxetine, a commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), in wound healing. While SSRIs are effective in treating psychiatric conditions, their increasing presence in aquatic environments has raised concerns about unintended biological impacts. SSRI are widely-used antidepressants, and in the UK, antidepressant prescriptions have almost doubled in the past decade (Heald et al., 2021). After ingestion, SSRI are excreted via urine. Wastewater treatment does not remove SSRI effectively, leading to accumulation in freshwater courses (to 0.4-3,645 ng/l), making SSRI priority contaminants in ecotoxicology. Average fluoxetine and sertraline concentrations in England rivers across 2016-2024 were 218 and 15 ng/l, respectively, and up to 2,560 ng/l fluoxetine in post-treatment effluents. Population growth, urbanisation, and regional climate change-induced water scarcity can increase these concentrations. While exposure to environmental SSRI affects the physiology and behaviour of freshwater species, little is known about effects of exposure on human health. My hypothesis was that SSRIs, particularly fluoxetine, at environmentally relevant concentrations promote wound healing through serotonin signalling. To test this hypothesis, here, I investigate the influence of fluoxetine on wound healing models using human keratinocytes and ex-vivo human skin biopsies, assessing its effects on serotonin signalling pathways and cell proliferation.Using a combination of molecular and cell biology techniques, including scratch assays, RNA sequencing (RNAseq), protein microarrays and phosphoproteomics, alongside using an ex-vivo human skin model, I investigated the impact of fluoxetine at environmentally relevant concentrations (62.5-5400 ng/l) on wound closure, cell proliferation, and key signalling pathways. Results showed that fluoxetine increased scratch closure in a dose-dependent manner (by 5% and 20% at 125 and 5400 ng/l of fluoxetine) in keratinocyte models by promoting cell proliferation through serotonin receptor-mediated pathways. RNAseq revealed differential expression of exactly 100 upregulated and 250 downregulated genes involved in cell cycle progression, energy metabolism, cell proliferation, and cellular resilience. Protein microarrays and phosphoproteomics indicated dynamic changes in phosphorylation among key kinases, including GSK3β, MSK1/2, and p70 S6K, with 190 upregulated and 45 downregulated phosphorylated proteins. These proteins showed enrichment in GO terms and KEGG pathways related to cellular structure, stress response, and kinase signalling pathways, particularly in HIPPO and PI3K/AKT signalling. Ex-vivo experiments with human skin validated these findings in a physiologically-relevant model that maintains the wound microenvironment. I observed an increase in wound healing of 30% at 5400 ng/l compared to control biopsies, demonstrating enhanced wound closure upon exposure to environmentally relevant fluoxetine associated with serotonin pathway activation.Human wounds cost the NHS >£8.3 billion/year and new treatments are direly needed. This research underscores both the potential therapeutic applications of low-dose fluoxetine in wound care, and the importance of understanding its effects on healthy skin as anenvironmental pollutant. Together, these findings contribute to a deeper insight into the molecular and phenotypical impact of fluoxetine on human skin, with implications for both clinical and environmental health. My results justify a transition from the study of behavioural effects of environmental fluoxetine in aquatic animals to the investigation of effects of exposure on wound healing in aquatic and terrestrial animals, including direct impacts on human health. I also open avenues to investigate low-dose SSRI as new treatments to promote wound healing
Experimental testing and micromechanical modelling of unidirectional CFRP composite laminae under multiaxial loading conditions
Get PDFThis paper presents comprehensive experimental testing and numerical modelling of the failure behaviours of unidirectional carbon fibre reinforced polymer (UD-CFRP) composite laminae under multiaxial loading conditions. A novel modified Arcan test rig with a rotational clamp was developed to enable multiple stress combinations with out-of-plane stresses in UD laminae on a traditional laboratory-based uniaxial test machine. The test rig was verified by uniaxial tension and validated by off-axis tension. UD CFRP laminae were tested for the first time under five stress combinations using the test rig, with results cross-validated against a high-fidelity representative volume element (RVE)-based 3D micromechanical finite element model. Failure strength envelope and damage mechanisms demonstrate the applicability of the test rig for composite failure under multiaxial loading conditions with a broad spectrum of stress combinations
The HETDEX Survey: Probing Neutral Hydrogen in the Circumgalactic Medium of ∼88,000 Lyα Emitters
Get PDFWe explore the neutral hydrogen (H i) gas around 1.9 < z < 3.5 Lyman alpha emitters (LAEs) from the Hobby–Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment using faint Lyα absorption. This absorption is the result of H i in the halo of the LAE scattering Lyα photons from the integrated light of background galaxies along the line of sight. We stack millions of spectra from regions around ∼88,000 LAEs, in order to focus on the physics of the gas at large radii. The extensive number of fiber spectra contributing to the stacks ensures a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio to detect the faint Lyα absorption, which would otherwise be buried within the noise. We detect absorption out to a projected ∼350 kpc around an average LAE at z ∼ 2.5. We use these results to create an empirical radial Wλ(Lyα) profile around LAEs. Comparison with numerical simulations reveals a profile similar to the empirical one within this region. Compared to previous studies, the profile is similar but modestly higher. We also outline a simple physical picture motivated by the observed trends in the data. We plan to quantify this radial profile as a function of redshift, local density, and Lyα luminosity, to explore the relationship between LAE environments and H i distribution
Prescription of prosthetic ankle-foot mechanisms after major lower limb amputation
Get PDFOBJECTIVES: This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of different prosthetic ankle-foot mechanisms for improving health-related quality of life, functional, and biomechanical outcomes in adult prosthesis users after major lower limb amputation
Bisoprolol for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at high risk of exacerbation: the BICS RCT
Get PDFBackground: Observational studies of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using beta-blockers for cardiovascular disease indicate that beta-blocker use is associated with reduced risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. However, at the time this study was initiated, there had been no randomised controlled trials confirming or refuting this. Objective(s): To determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of adding bisoprolol (maximal dose 5 mg once daily) to usual chronic obstructive pulmonary disease therapies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at high risk of exacerbation. Design: A multicentre, pragmatic, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Setting: Seventy-six United Kingdom primary and secondary care sites. Participants: People aged ≥ 40 years with a diagnosis of at least moderately severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with a history of at least two exacerbations in the previous year. Interventions: Participants were randomised (1 : 1) to receive either bisoprolol or placebo for 1 year. During a 4- to 7-week titration period, the maximum tolerated dose was established (1.25 mg, 2.5 mg, 3.75 mg, 5 mg once daily). Primary outcome: A number of participant-reported exacerbations during the 1-year treatment period. Results: In total, 519 participants were recruited and randomised. Four post-randomisation exclusions left 259 in the bisoprolol group and 256 in the placebo group. Treatment groups were balanced at baseline: mean (standard deviation) age 68 (7.9) years; 53% men; mean (standard deviation) pack year smoking history 45 (25.2); mean (standard deviation) 3.5 (1.9) exacerbations in previous year. Primary outcome data were available for 99.8% of participants (bisoprolol 259, placebo 255). The mean (standard deviation) number of exacerbations was 2.03 (1.91) in the bisoprolol group and 2.01 (1.75) in the placebo group (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.84 to 1.13), p = 0.72. The number of participants with serious adverse events was similar between the two groups (bisoprolol 37, placebo 36). The total number of adverse reactions was also similar between the two groups. As expected, bisoprolol was associated with a higher proportion of vascular adverse reactions (e.g. hypotension, cold peripheries) than placebo, but was not associated with an excess of other adverse reactions, including those classified as respiratory. Adding bisoprolol resulted in a statistically insignificant trend towards higher costs (£636, 95% confidence interval £118 to £1391) and fewer quality-adjusted life-years (0.035, 95% confidence interval 0.059 to 0.010) compared to placebo. Limitations: The study findings should be interpreted with caution as the target sample size of 1574 was not achieved because the funder considered the study to be unviable in the COVID-19 pandemic clinical research environment. Although 28% of participants did not initiate bisoprolol/placebo (1.6%) or ceased during the treatment period (26.2%), this is consistent with similar trials in the United Kingdom. Conclusions: In this underpowered study, the addition of bisoprolol to usual chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatment did not reduce the likelihood of exacerbations, and bisoprolol cannot be recommended as a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Future work: To incorporate definitive statements into appropriate clinical guidelines about the safety of bisoprolol for cardiovascular indications in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Trial registration: This trial is registered as ISRCTN10497306. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 15/130/20) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 29, No. 17. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information
The impacts of specific place visitations on theft patterns: a case study in Greater London, UK
Get PDFExploring the impacts of population place visitation on crime patterns is crucial for understanding crime mechanisms and optimising resource allocation in crime prevention. While recent studies have broadly examined dynamic population activities at specific places from geo big data, limited crime-related studies have utilised this measurement to disentangle the impact of specific place visitation on urban crime patterns. This study aims to investigate the impact of population activities at different urban functional places on theft levels across different urban areas and distinctive social changing contexts. We utilised geo big data (mobile phone GPS trajectory records) collected from millions of anonymous users to measure footfalls (counts of visitations) attached to place types on weekdays and weekends. An explainable machine learning approach was applied to analyse the impacts of place visitations on theft levels: the ‘XGBoost’ algorithm trained a high-performance regression model and ‘SHapley Additive exPlanations’ (SHAP) values were measured to identify the contributions of different visitation variables to theft levels at specific spatial and temporal scales. Using the police records and geo big data in Greater London from 2020 to 2021, the optimised model revealed that visitation to ‘Accommodation, eating and drinking’ services during weekdays had the most significant impact compared to 17 other types of place visitations. Further, the influence of place visitations on theft varied across different local urban areas corresponding with changes in social restrictions during the pandemic. Specifically, the urban areas where theft was most impacted by visitation at specific types of places (e.g., accommodation, eating and drinking services) shifted to outer London during the first national lockdown compared to normal times. The findings provide further evidence from direct micro-level analysis and contribute to tailoring policing strategies in places with different contexts and urban visitation patterns