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Synergistic Mn–Ce modification of mesoporous silica microspheres for deoxygenation of bio-oil to biofuel
No full textAchieving a net-zero carbon future necessitates the development of sustainable biofuels as alternatives to fossil-derived transportation fuels. However, the direct use of raw bio-oil is limited by its high oxygen content, chemical instability, and corrosiveness, making catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon-rich fuels essential. Conventional catalysts for bio-oil upgrading often suffer from poor selectivity, rapid deactivation due to coke formation, or insufficient resistance to the complex oxygenates present in bio-oil. This study investigates the catalytic upgrading of biomass-derived bio-oil using novel mesoporous silica-based microsphere catalysts functionalized with manganese (Mn) and cerium (Ce) via a microencapsulation technique, which enhances metal dispersion and redox properties. Catalytic activity tests were carried out at 400 °C under atmospheric pressure using a model bio-oil mixture (furfural, formic acid, and hydroxypropanol) co-fed with ethanol at a 70:30 volumetric ratio. The results show that Mn-functionalized mesoporous silica microspheres (SMC) achieve 94 % conversion and high isoparaffin selectivity (71 %). Moreover, the synergistic incorporation of Ce introduces enhanced redox behavior and oxygen-vacancy sites in addition to drastically suppressing coke formation, which decreased from ∼22 wt% (unmodified SMC) to 1.4 wt% (5Ce@5Mn-SMC). These results indicate that Mn- and Ce-functionalized silica microspheres exhibit high catalytic activity and long-term stability, providing better performance in converting oxygen-rich bio-oil into high-quality hydrocarbon fuels
The Soil Erosion Paradox Re‐Examined: Alluviation and Land Use History in a Small British Lowland River Catchment in the Late Holocene
Get PDFModern studies show that soil erosion results in a loss of ecosystem function, particularly fertility, and is a cause of declining agricultural yields. However, despite the well-attested high rates of soil erosion across Roman and medieval Europe there appears to have been little or no soil-associated decline in agricultural production—the soil erosion paradox. Small low-slope erodible lowland catchments offer the opportunity to examine this question when sufficient historical information is available. Here, we show that, since its disconnection from the main River Severn (UK) floodplain in the mid-Holocene, the small Hatfield Brook catchment experienced high rates of soil erosion and alluviation (~2 mm year−1) associated with extensive catchment-bound open-field system agrarianism. Scientific and historical data both indicate increases in activity during the early medieval and medieval periods, associated with landscape control by the Bishopric of Worcester (BoW). Agricultural expansion by the church from the late 11th to mid-13th centuries AD extended further into lower valley slopes and alluviated flatlands, tilled using the heavy plough, and catchment hinterlands were further cleared of woodland via assarting, all leading to greater soil erosion. After AD 1250, the power and influence of the Bishopric of Worcester declined with arable cultivation and a move towards pastoralism leading to a reduction in soil erosion, increased slope stability and floodplain deposition. This suggests that in the low-relief erodible lowlands of Europe one solution to the erosion paradox is that most of the sediment generated by open-field cultivation was trapped in the basin and created new, flat, and highly productive agricultural land producing both a sustainable farming system and a non-linearity in the relationship between population and soil erosion. Further modelling-based research is needed though to identify the relative role of the manipulation of fertility through manuring and new land-creation
Marginal cost of carbon sequestration using straw-based biochar in Great Britain
No full textAchieving the net-zero target of the United Kingdom requires substantial greenhouse gas removal (GGR) in addition to emission reductions. Biochar, a stable carbon-rich material produced through biomass pyrolysis, is an established GGR method. Straw is abundantly available in the UK and presents a viable option for large-scale biochar production. However, uncertainties regarding its feasibility remain, particularly concerning costs, spatial constraints, and facility construction. Here, we use a spatial model integrated with life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis to estimate the marginal cost curve for net carbon sequestration through straw-based biochar production in Great Britain (GB). Our findings reveal that straw-based biochar production in GB can achieve 0.6–1.9% of the UK’s 2050 carbon removal target at marginal costs below £75 per tCO2e. If higher-cost options are also included (i.e., without the £75 per tCO2e constraint), the total potential removal increases to 0.8–2.1%. The marginal costs are significantly influenced by the price and availability of feedstock, the value of byproducts, and the biochar yield. Our integrated spatial model helps identify optimal feedstock supply and production strategies, reducing costs and uncertainties in net carbon sequestration for biochar systems. This study elucidates the challenges and limitations of utilizing straw for large-scale biochar production in GB to support the climate change mitigation pathway
Dietary phosphorus intake and its association with metabolic syndrome and its components: a cross-sectional analysis of the UK national diet and nutrition survey (NDNS)
No full textPurpose: Phosphorus plays a critical role in carbohydrate and energy metabolism, yet its relationship with metabolic health outcomes remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary phosphorus intake and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), as well as individual MetS components, using data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Methods: Data from adults aged 19 years and older were analyzed. Dietary phosphorus intake was assessed using four-day food diaries. MetS was defined based on established clinical criteria. Logistic regression models evaluated the association between phosphorus intake quintiles and MetS occurrence, adjusting for demographic, anthropometric, dietary, and lifestyle factors. Associations between phosphorus intake and individual MetS components were examined based on both total phosphorus intake and phosphorus density. Results: Individuals in the highest phosphorus intake quintile (> 1509 mg/day) exhibited a 56% lower risk of MetS compared to those in the lowest quintile (OR = 0.44, p = 0.0004). Higher phosphorus intake was associated with a decrease of 10.4 mg/dl in triglyceride levels from quintile 1 to quintile 5 (mean ± SD: 118.6 ± 87.5 vs. 108.2 ± 61.7, p = 0.002), as well as a 2.1 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure (mean ± SD: 74.6 ± 11.1 vs. 72.5 ± 10.7, p = 0.001). Additionally, modest variations in HDL cholesterol and waist circumference were observed. Conclusion: Higher dietary phosphorus intake was associated with a lower risk of MetS and beneficial differences in certain MetS components, supporting a potential protective role of phosphorus in metabolic health
Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Evidence-Based Practical Review
Get PDFIrritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of gut–brain interaction characterized by recurrent abdominal pain associated with a change in the frequency and/or form of stools. Approximately one in three patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), defined as the absence of endoscopic evidence of active inflammation, experience IBS-type symptoms. These symptoms are associated with reduced quality of life and increased psychological burden, and can complicate clinical assessment by mimicking conditions such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, bile acid malabsorption, or post-inflammatory complications. This up-to-date narrative review examines the mechanisms, diagnostic challenges, and management of IBS-type symptoms in quiescent IBD. Evidence suggests that these symptoms arise from a complex “matrimony” of functional and organic processes, including low-grade residual inflammation, altered intestinal permeability, microbiota dysbiosis, visceral hypersensitivity, and psychosocial impairment. Diagnosing IBS-type symptoms in IBD requires a “positive”, symptom-focused approach while carefully excluding active inflammation. Management should adopt a biopsychosocial approach, integrating dietary strategies (e.g., low-FODMAP diet), brain–gut behavioral therapy, biofeedback therapy, and/or pharmacological treatments such as antispasmodics, antidiarrheals, laxatives, and neuromodulators to address both physiological and psychological factors. Future research should integrate sensitive biomarkers and longitudinal follow-up to enhance diagnostic precision and guide personalized therapy. Understanding and addressing the overlap between IBS and IBD is essential to reduce the multidimensional burden on physical health, psychological well-being, and daily functioning
The Cadenza lyric intelligibility prediction (CLIP) dataset
Get PDFThis paper presents CLIP, a dataset of 11,072 popular western music signals sourced from independent artists, accompanied by ground truth lyrics, and lyric intelligibility scores from listening tests. The dataset is designed to facilitate music information retrieval (MIR) research using machine learning. It was created to allow the development of algorithms to predict lyric intelligibility for the Cadenza ICASSP 2026 Signal Processing Grand Challenge. Currently, it is the only publicly available large-scale dataset for such a task. The music was sourced from the Free Music Archive (FMA) dataset and is unlikely to be familiar to listeners. We excluded tracks whose license did not allow derivative works and those that did not have English singing. Ground truth transcriptions were generated by seven native English speakers, resulting in 3700 excerpts of 5 to 10 words each from 1452 different songs. A hearing loss simulation was also applied to the stereo audio. This resulted in 11,100 music signals with no, mild or moderate hearing loss. This was done so more diverse hearing is represented in the dataset. Human transcriptions were then collected via an online listening experiment. Participants self-reported as having normal-hearing and being native English speakers. They listened to each music signal twice before transcribing each line. Final intelligibility scores were the ratio of matching words between the listening test responses and the ground truth transcriptions. The final dataset consists of audio, ground truth lyrics, intelligibility scores and associated metadata
Factors associated with the reproductive performance of ewes inseminated laparoscopically in England and Wales: A longitudinal study
No full textBackground: Laparoscopic intrauterine artificial insemination (Lap-AI) is used in sheep genetic improvement programmes. However, the lambing rate (LR) (i.e., the proportion of inseminated ewes that lamb) following Lap-AI is variable. Previously, one small UK study investigated factors associated with LR, but it did not adjust for dependencies or confounding in the data. Methods: Data were collected from 11,493 Lap-AIs carried out commercially in Southwest England and Wales between 1995 and 2005. Multilevel multivariable analyses were then used to identify factors associated with LR. Results: The mean unadjusted average LR was 71%. However, ewes inseminated with fresh semen on days when the maximum ambient temperature (MAT°C) was lower than 25°C had a higher LR (adjusted LR ∼78%; OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.30-1.77) than ewes inseminated with frozen semen (adjusted LR ~70%). LRs were lower on days when MAT°C was ≥25°C (adjusted LRs: fresh ~64%; frozen ~65%). LR decreased as the time between sponge removal and insemination increased (OR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01‒0.87) and varied between months and years. Limitations: Due to the design of the study, individual ewe- and ram-level factors could not be investigated. Furthermore, some breeds were less well represented, which hindered breed-level analysis. Conclusion: Keeping ewes and rams cool on the day of insemination and inseminating ewes earlier after sponge removal may improve LR
High-Dose Methotrexate at All Ages: Safety, Efficacy, and Outcomes from the HDMTX European Registry
Get PDFObjectives: To determine the incidence of delayed methotrexate elimination (DME) and acute kidney injury (AKI) and their associations with clinical outcomes in patients receiving high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) for cancer treatment. Methods: The HDMTX European Registry collected medical records data from 12 institutions in 5 European countries to investigate the clinical practice patterns of healthcare providers utilizing HDMTX for cancer treatment. Cancer types included were acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), osteosarcoma, and other CNS cancers. Primary endpoints were the incidence of DME and AKI; secondary endpoints were clinical outcomes, including hospital length of stay (LOS), delay in the subsequent course of treatment, methotrexate dose reduction, and omission of next course of treatment. Associations between the primary and secondary endpoints were analyzed with Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Results: Among the 2501 total HDMTX courses analyzed, DME occurred in 302 courses (12.1%), and AKI in 384 courses (15.4%). DME incidence was highest in courses for PCNSL (18.2%) and NHL (17.2%); AKI incidence was highest in ALL courses (21.0%). Incidence of DME and AKI varied by age and methotrexate infusion duration among the different cancer types. Occurrence of DME was associated with longer delays prior to the next course of treatment, longer hospital LOS, and more frequent methotrexate dose reductions and dose omissions. Conclusions: While HDMTX is a very effective and safe treatment, administration of efficacious doses of methotrexate can lead to AKI and DME, and no single or combination of patient or treatment factors was found to reliably predict their occurrence. Thus, diligent monitoring of methotrexate levels is imperative for early detection and prompt management of nephrotoxicity in all settings where HDMTX treatment is administered
Analysis of modular construction challenges in the UK via a fuzzy DEMATEL-ANP approach
Get PDFModular construction (MC) represents a key innovation in the transition toward more industrialized and technologically advanced construction practices. It offers significant improvements in productivity, construction speed, and environmental performance compared to conventional building methods. However, its adoption in the UK remains limited, mainly due to persistent labour shortages, regulatory complexities, and insufficient demand. This slow uptake contrasts with the method's recognized benefits, highlighting the need for a more structured analysis of underlying barriers. Acknowledging the central role designers play in shaping MC implementation, this study investigates the barriers to modular construction from the designer's perspective. Ten critical barriers were identified through a comprehensive literature review and validated via semi-structured interviews. To evaluate both their relative importance and causal interdependencies under uncertainty, an integrated Fuzzy DEMATEL–ANP method was employed. Traditional barrier assessment approaches assume independence among barriers and fail to capture complex interdependencies. This integrated method addresses these limitations by combining fuzzy set theory to handle linguistic ambiguity, DEMATEL to reveal cause-effect relationships, and ANP to quantify priorities under interdependent conditions. Subsequently, an inner dependence matrix was constructed to capture the internal relationships among barriers, while an ANP-based weight analysis was employed to quantify the relative priority of each barrier. The analysis revealed that demand, supply, technical and regulatory barriers function as key driving barriers in the UK context, while process, quality, and knowledge barriers act as dependent constraints shaped by key drivers. These findings provide a strategic foundation for targeting high-impact interventions to support more effective modular construction adoption
'Digital Insight and Agency Scale’ (DIAS): a novel tool to illuminate young people’s agency in mitigating the negative impact of digital activities on their mental health
No full textObjectives: Excessive time spent online is believed to negatively impact youth mental health; however, simplified screen-time measures fail to consider young people's agency and digital activity management skills. We developed and validated a novel tool, the Digital Insight and Agency Scale (DIAS), to better understand different aspects of young people's online agency and explore their links to youth mental health. Methods: Participants (n=383; age 16–25years, mean=19.0, SD=1.7; 48.8% White, 30.2% South/East Asian, 8.6% Black) completed the DIAS questionnaire and standardised measures of anxiety, depression and wellbeing. The factor structure, reliability of the DIAS and associations with mental health were examined. Results: Participants reported specific negative impacts of digital engagement on their daily functioning in the previous 2weeks, especially less sleep. Seventy-eight per cent were worried about the negative impact of digital activity, and 82% engaged in one or more risk management actions, including Enhancing Positive Engagement, Coping Actions, and/or Reducing Engagement. Higher levels of mental health problems were associated with more worries and increased efforts to manage digital activity. Conclusions: Most young people displayed agency in managing their digital activity, suggesting that this could be leveraged in interventions, rather than focusing solely on reducing access and time spent online
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