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The Politics of Prison Building Programmes: Building Legacies and the State Capacity to Punish
No full textPrison building has moved from the margins to the mainstream of our penal politics. In recent years the UK Government has invested billions in new prison building and the main political parties are currently locked into a penal arms race over who can, and who will, build the most additional prison places in England and Wales. Prison building is now widely lauded as the definitive policy solution to the current prisons crisis and yet, this remains an elusive sphere of penal policymaking. Academic research remains in its infancy, and we still know very little about how these large investment decisions are made, by whom and for what reasons.In seeking to shine a light on this subterranean and largely closed sphere of contemporary penal policymaking, this book presents the first systematic study of prison building programmes in England and Wales since the mid-1990’s punitive turn. Drawing upon extensive archival research, 28 exploratory qualitative interviews, publicly recorded data, historic satellite imagery and other mapping techniques this book has three main aims: (1) to provide an authoritative historical account of prison building activity in England and Wales since the mid-1990s punitive turn, (2) to explain why successive governments have chosen to invest in new prison building programmes and (3) to reflect upon how the prisons we build - functionally, architecturally, geographically – continue to shape our politics long after they have been constructed
Stereospecific Coupling of Alcohols and Carbanion Nucleophiles through a Circular P(V) Activation Manifold
Get PDFWe report a method for the stereospecific construction of sp3-sp3 carbon-carbon bonds using alcohols and carbanion nucleophiles. The process is based on a circular phosphorus(V) manifold which starts and ends with triphenylphosphine oxide. The redox neutral approach eliminates the need for hazardous diazodicarboxylate oxidants and allows for recovery and recycling of triphenylphosphine oxide. Alcohol activation is achieved in situ through formation of alkoxyphosphonium triflates, which are kinetically stable, and undergo coupling with exogenous carbanion nucleophiles. In this manner, a range of alcohols undergo deoxyalkylation with inversion of configuration in moderate to excellent yield
Feedbacks between climate and freshwater ecosystem engineers
Get PDFBiodiversity, species interactions, and ecosystem processes are being altered by changing climatic conditions, including temperature and precipitation. These changes affect ecosystem engineers, which are foundation species that create or modify habitat and resource environments. We identify interactions between ecosystem engineering and conditions related to climate and climate change in freshwater ecosystems, which are severely threatened by anthropogenic activity. Climate conditions affect freshwater ecosystem engineer presence, distribution, density, and engineering activities, including composition of materials, extent, and frequency of structures (e.g., beaver dams). Engineering activities may buffer or amplify climate conditions and create opportunities for feedbacks, such as when animal burrows mediate drought by maintaining moisture, thereby heightening the ecological significance of the ecosystem engineering activity under climate change. We quantified studies on these topics through time and space by recording the climate conditions and ecosystem engineering taxa considered. Our findings reveal that research at the intersection of ecosystem engineers and climate in freshwater lags behind that in terrestrial ecosystems. Freshwater research also focuses 3× more on hydrologic conditions, such as flooding, than on temperature. Studies to date come from a narrow range of projected warmer and wetter climate change regimes and heavily favor localities in the contiguous USA and Europe. Knowledge gaps to address with future research include understudied groups such as insects and crustaceans, diverse engineering assemblages, multiple stressors, and disease. A better understanding of the role of ecosystem engineers experiencing climate change will help forecast how feedbacks between climate and ecosystem engineering will play out in the future
An improved model for the effect of correlated Si-III absorption on the one-dimensional Lyman-α forest power spectrum
Get PDFWe present an analysis of Si III absorption and its effect on the one-dimensional Ly forest power spectrum using the Sherwood–Relics hydrodynamical simulation suite. In addition to oscillations from the Lyα – Si III cross-correlation that are damped towards smaller scales, we find an enhancement in small-scale power that has been ignored in previous studies. We therefore develop a new analytical fitting function that captures two critical effects that have previously been neglected: distinct Lyα and Si III line profiles, and a variable ratio for coeval Lyα and Si III optical depths. In contrast to earlier work, we also predict amplitudes for the Si III power spectrum and Lyα – Si III cross power spectrum that decrease towards lower redshift due to the hardening metagalactic UV background spectrum at z 3.5. The fitting function is validated by comparison against multiple simulated data sets at redshifts 2.2 ≤ z ≤ 5.0 and wavenumbers k < 0.2 s km−1 . Our model has little effect on existing warm dark matter constraints from the Lyα forest when adopting a physically motivated prior on the silicon abundance. It will, however, be an essential consideration for future, high precision Lyα forest power spectrum measurements
Enantioselective interactions of silver nanoparticles and chiral antibiotics in driving resistance evolution in activated sludge
No full textThe stereochemistry of antibiotics significantly affects resistance development. With rising antibiotic resistance, nanotechnology is emerging as a promising solution, potentially increasing the likelihood of nanoparticle coexistence with antibiotics in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, the influence of nanoparticles on chiral antibiotics induced resistance remains unclear. This study employed chemical characterization, metagenomics, and molecular docking to comprehensively elucidate the resistance mechanisms induced by the combination of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and chiral antibiotics (ofloxacin: OFL and levofloxacin: LEV). AgNPs significantly altered the abundance and composition of antibiotic and metal resistance genes, as well as the conjugative transfer of the RP4 plasmid among activated sludge communities, with the OFL_AgNPs combination exhibiting a higher resistance potential than LEV_AgNPs. Mechanistic studies revealed that chiral antibiotics selectively interact with AgNPs, promoting Ag⁺ release, enhancing antibiotic uptake, and forming stable complexes. These interactions reshaped microbial functions, including cell membrane permeability, oxidative stress response, quorum sensing, and extracellular secretion, thereby shaping resistance profiles. This study reveals previously overlooked enantiomer-specific risks associated with nanoparticle-antibiotic interactions and provides a foundation for strategies to mitigate ARG dissemination in wastewater treatment and broader environmental systems
Systematic review of the efficacy of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for improving quality of life of people with dementia
Get PDFBackground People with dementia (PwD) and their carers often consider maintaining good quality of life (QoL) more important than improvements in cognition or other symptoms of dementia. There is a clinical need for identifying interventions that can improve QoL of PwD. There are currently no evidence-based guidelines to help clinicians, patients and policy makers to make informed decisions regarding QoL in dementia. Aims To conduct the first comprehensive systematic review of all studies that investigated efficacy of any pharmacological or non-pharmacological intervention for improving QoL of PwD. Method Our review team identified eligible studies by comprehensively searching nine databases. We completed quality assessment, extracted relevant data and performed GRADE assessment of eligible studies. We conducted meta-analyses when three or more studies investigated an intervention for improving QoL of PwD. Results We screened 14 389 abstracts and included 324 eligible studies. Our meta-analysis confirmed level 1 evidence supporting the use of group cognitive stimulation therapy for improving QoL (standardised mean difference 0.25; P = 0.003) of PwD. Our narrative data synthesis revealed level 2 evidence supporting 42 non-pharmacological interventions, including those based on cognitive rehabilitation, reminiscence, occupational therapy, robots, exercise or music therapy. Current evidence supporting the use of any pharmacological intervention for improving QoL in dementia is limited. Conclusions Current evidence highlights the importance of non-pharmacological interventions and multidisciplinary care for supporting QoL of PwD. QoL should be prioritised when agreeing care plans. Further research focusing on QoL outcomes and investigating combined pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is urgently needed
Membrane Permeability Drives the Extreme Potency of Fentanyl
Get PDFFentanyl is a leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States, yet mechanism driving its extreme in vivo potency is poorly defined. Here we developed novel computational and experimental approaches to examine whether membrane contributes to the in vivo potency of fentanyl. Using weighted-ensemble continuous constant pH molecular dynamics (WE-CpHMD) simulations, we estimated the permeability of ionized fentanyl to be approximately 10−7 cm/s, about 100-fold higher than ionized morphine and several more orders of magnitude higher than ionized naloxone and isotonitazene. Simulations revealed that all opioids deprotonate when diffusing below the lipid headgroup region, with isotonitazene and naloxone deprotonating closer to the hydrophobic core. Mean first passage time calculation demonstrated exceptionally rapid kinetics of membrane partitioning and solution repartitioning for fentanyl, suggesting an apparent drug depot effect. Consistent with this prediction, BRET washout experiments demonstrated that fentanyl, but not morphine, is retained by cells and can repartition into solution and reactivate the receptor. The IAM-HPLC measurement confirmed fentanyl’s superior phospholipophilicity. Our findings support the hypothesis that membrane permeation is a major driver of fentanyl’s extreme analgesic potency, rapid onset, and short duration of action, revealing a funda mental mechanism underlying opioid toxicity, with implication for developing more effective counter measures. WE-CpHMD provides a valuable tool for mechanistic elucidation of membrane permeation of ionizable molecules, which remains in completely understoo
Root structural remodeling under soil compaction for herbaceous plants
Get PDFSoil compaction often imposes stress on root development and plant survival. However, root anatomical responses that enable persistent root growth and functioning under soil compaction remain unclear. We grew 10 herbaceous species differing substantially in lateral root diameter, in soils with low (1.0 g cm−3) and high (1.4 g cm−3) bulk density, and assessed root traits including root biomass, anatomical structures, and respiration rates. Greater root thickening upon soil compaction was found in species with thicker first-order lateral roots, mainly due to larger cortical cell size. Both xylem vessel diameter and wall thickness increased more in compacted soils in these species. Despite these anatomical shifts, root respiration rate responded little to soil compaction across most species, likely due to the opposite investment in cortical cells and xylem vessels. Notably, root biomass, independent of root respiration rate and anatomical structures, determined whole-plant growth under soil compaction. Our study reveals two independent strategies of root response to soil compaction: anatomical remodeling for mechanical and metabolic maintenance, and root biomass investment for resource acquisition. These findings offer new insights for breeding and selecting species tolerant to soil compaction and highlight multidimensional strategies of plant adaptation to physical stress
Alcohol consumption among youth of India: a secondary data analysis of NFHS-5 data
Get PDFBackground: Alcohol use contributes to 5.3% of global deaths and poses significant health risks to youth. Despite various regulatory measures by the authorities, alcohol remains a major public health concern in India. Objective: To examine the prevalence and patterns of alcohol consumption among Indian youth aged 15–24 years and identify factors associated with its use. Methods: Analysis of data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), involving 30,769 male and 241,983 female youth respondents aged 15–24 years. Results: Ever use of alcohol was reported by 10.9% of males and 0.3% of females. Among all regions northeast region demonstrated increased odds of having ever use among both males [AOR: 2.7 (1.86–3.88)] and females [AOR: 9.5 (6.91–11.5)], and married respondents were consuming more alcohol, males [AOR: 1.5 (1.14–2.10)] and females [AOR: 3.4 (2.72–4.19)]. Conclusion: Although youth alcohol consumption has decreased from NFHS-4 to NFHS-5, it still remains a concerning issue. But the continued variance in prevalence of regions calls for a unified national policy on alcohol. Targeted, region-specific strategies are needed to reduce youth alcohol use effectively. (Data were taken for NFHS-5 India 2019–21 from the Demographic and Health Survey website)
A Robust Position Sensor Offset Correction Method Based on Harmonic Current Injection for SPMSM
Get PDFThe performance of the surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous motor (SPMSM) drive system under the rotor field orientation (RFO) control scheme may significantly deteriorate in the presence of position sensor offset (PSO). To address this problem, first, the effects of the SPMSM drive system under PSO are investigated. Furthermore, a robust online PSO correction method based on d-axis harmonic current injection is proposed. Compared with existing schemes, the proposed scheme is independent of motor parameters so that exhibits high robustness to parametric uncertainties. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by experiments
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