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Misrepresentation by online study participants—a threat to data integrity
Get PDFAs a group of researchers experienced in collecting health research data using online methods, we have become increasingly concerned with the problem of participants misrepresenting themselves within our studies. Forms of misrepresentation include participants providing false information against inclusion criteria or creating multiple online personas to participate in a study multiple times
Fiscal and macroprudential policies in a monetary union
No full textIn the European Monetary Union (EMU), monetary policy is determined by the European Central Bank (ECB). This arrangement can give rise to certain national economic imbalances that may potentially be addressed through national policies. Traditionally, fiscal policy has been the primary tool to correct these imbalances. However, following the global financial crisis (GFC), a new policy tool has emerged: national macroprudential policies, which aim to mitigate financial risks. This situation raises an intriguing research question: How do macroprudential and fiscal policies interact? Through their influence on real interest rates and economic activity, discretionary macroprudential policies can impact the trajectory of public debt and may necessitate fiscal adjustments, such as tax rate increases, to stabilize the public debt-to-GDP ratio. In a monetary union, a domestic macroprudential shock generates significant cross-border financial effects and also influences the fiscal stance of foreign countries. Furthermore, discretionary government spending policies have an impact on housing prices and households debt. Therefore, the responsiveness of macroprudential policy to changes in housing prices affects the fiscal multiplier
Functional Variation in Human CAZyme Genes in Relation to the Efficacy of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet in IBS Patients
Get PDFBackground & AimsLimiting the dietary intake of certain carbohydrates has therapeutic effects in some but not all irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. We investigated genetic variation in human Carbohydrate-Active enZYmes (hCAZymes) genes in relationship to the response to a FODMAP-lowering diet in the DOMINO study.MethodshCAZy polymorphism was studied in patients with IBS from the dietary (FODMAP-lowering; n = 196) and medication (otilonium bromide; n = 54) arms of the DOMINO trial via targeted sequencing of 6 genes of interest (AMY2B, LCT, MGAM, MGAM2, SI, and TREH). hCAZyme defective (hypomorphic) variants were identified via computational annotation using clinical pathogenicity classifiers. Age- and sex-adjusted logistic regression was used to test hCAZyme polymorphisms in cumulative analyses where IBS patients were stratified into carrier and non-carrier groups (collapsing all hCAZyme hypomorphic variants into a single bin). Quantitative analysis of hCAZyme variation was also performed, in which the number of hCAZyme genes affected by a hypomorphic variant was taken into account.ResultsIn the dietary arm, the number of hypomorphic hCAZyme genes positively correlated with treatment response rate (P = .03; odds ratio = 1.51; confidence interval = 0.99–2.32). In the IBS-D group (n = 55), hCAZyme carriers were 6 times more likely to respond to the diet than non-carriers (P = .002; odds ratio = 6.33; confidence interval = 1.83–24.77). These trends were not observed in the medication arm.ConclusionshCAZYme genetic variation may be relevant to the efficacy of a carbohydrate-lowering diet. This warrants additional testing and replication of findings, including mechanistic investigations of this phenomenon
Exploring how young people in the UK understand coercive control: a qualitative study
Get PDFPurposeSince the criminalisation of coercive control (CC), there have been a growing number of cases in the UK; however, there continues to be minimal research, understanding and education about this type of abuse. Hence, it is unsurprising that young people are at the highest risk of CC as they enter their first intimate relationships with limited awareness of the risks. The aim of this study is to explore how 16- to 24-year-olds in the UK understand CC in intimate relationships.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 young people to explore their knowledge of CC, sources of knowledge and learning opportunities. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to examine the interviews.FindingsA total of 14 participants had heard of CC. Participants attributed victims and perpetrators behaviour to individual and environmental factors, including societal and gendered expectations. Young people explained that their knowledge came from experiences, online sources and family and friends. However, participants recognised the importance of credible messengers and sources, and some were sceptical of information shared online. Most had not learnt about CC in formal education but expressed the importance of incorporating it into the secondary curriculum.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore how young people understand CC in the UK. The findings highlight the need for better understanding and formal education around CC, provide a platform for future work and encourage the incorporation of young voices in developing interventions
Herbert Samuel’s ‘Formula’ for British Entry into the Great War
Get PDFIn recent decades, several historians have argued that Herbert Samuel had a significant role in British policy-making during the 1914 war crisis, especially on 1–2 August, when weeks of tension between Austria-Hungary and Serbia ended in a continental conflagration, dragging in Austria’s ally Germany, and its rivals, Russia and France. Since London had formed ententes with France (1904) and Russia (1907), the question of British involvement in the conflict became pressing, creating deep divisions within the Cabinet, where a majority of ministers were initially committed to neutrality but some key figures, including the Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, prioritised the entente cordiale with France and came to support intervention. This article considers claims that Samuel’s did much to keep the Cabinet united, defining a ‘formula’ (or formulae) to guide Britain’s decision on whether to fight. It finds the case a thin one, principally reliant on a few of Samuel’s letters, the contents of which historians have embellished. Alternative contemporary sources show that ideas often claimed as Samuel’s actually originated with other ministers and that his colleagues did not see him as a major player in their debates
One-dimensional components in the K-moduli of smooth Fano 3-folds
Get PDFBy identifying K-polystable limits in 4 specific deformations families of smooth Fano 3-folds, we complete the classification of one-dimensional components in the K-moduli space of smoothable Fano 3-folds
‘Grass, rice, and aubergine’: a case study of an Islamic eco-pesantren in Indonesia
Get PDFTwenty-first-century environmental movements and education have been criticised as predominantly secular, middle-class and Western-originated. As such, their ability to generate momentum and increase uptake can be limited to individuals and groups who identify with these traits. In order to widen the scope of environmental education (EE), this study considers the ways in which an Indonesian ecological pesantren (traditional boarding school) may complement the dominant Western-originated approaches by offering a religious and grassroot take. The site for this research is Ath-Thaariq eco-pesantren in Indonesia, which hosts students aged 12–17. Qualitative data were generated, including interviews with the founder of the pesantren and two alumni, a site visit and document analysis of the pesantren’s official weblog, alongside existing media outputs. In contrast to the dominant secular, middle-class and Western-originated versions of environmental education, our findings demonstrate how environmental education praxis can be closely connected to local grassroot struggles, grounded in culturally relevant discursive resources, and based on Islamic spirituality. Including approaches to EE such as this one may offer valuable opportunities to upscale the benefits of EE to broader sections of the population in non-WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) contexts
Soil compaction sensing mechanisms and root responses
Get PDFSoil compaction is an agricultural challenge with profound influence on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil. It causes drastic changes by increasing mechanical impedance, reducing water infiltration, gaseous exchange, and biological activities. Soil compaction hinders root growth, limiting nutrient and water foraging abilities of plants. Recent research reveals that plant roots sense soil compaction due to higher ethylene accumulation in and around root tips. Ethylene orchestrates auxin and abscisic acid as downstream signals to regulate root adaptive responses to soil compaction. In this review, we describe the changes inflicted by soil compaction ranging from cell to organ scale and explore the latest research regarding plant root compaction sensing and response
Glycerol‐Based Copolyesters as Polymeric Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery
Get PDFEnzymatic polymerization of glycerol-based polyesters has emerged as a selective and sustainable strategy for the production of degradable, amphiphilic, PEG-free polymeric materials. In the present work, we exploited the ability to produce copolyester variants of poly(glycerol adipate) (PGA), by adding a second functionalized diol in a one-pot fashion. The produced glycerol-based copolyesters, with a variety of amphiphilic balances and chemical functionalities along the backbone, have been screened as nanocarriers for drug delivery. The stability of the produced nanoparticles (NPs) was tested in relevant biological fluids and after freeze-drying treatment. The new variants outperformed PGA homopolymers in the penetration through a gel-like barrier as well as in their efficiency to encapsulate a poorly water-soluble model drug. All the tested polymeric NPs formulations have demonstrated biocompatibility in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, that utilize Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes. Taken together, these preliminary results highlight the importance of introducing new chemistry along polyester backbones while tuning the amphiphilic nature of the final polymers to improve the performance of NP systems
A Case Study on the Corrosion of an Aging Jack-Up Drilling Rig
Get PDFCorrosion costs the Oil & Gas Industry billions of pounds annually, primarily due to environmental factors such as high salinity, temperature fluctuations, and humidity in marine environments. Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), especially jack-up rigs, are particularly susceptible to these dangers. This paper examines the impact of cold stacking on aging jack-up rigs and highlights how the absence of an adequate corrosion control system can accelerate structural deterioration. Our findings show that repair costs following cold stacking can far exceed the costs associated with maintaining rigs in a warm-stacked state. Preload tanks are critical areas prone to degradation due to microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and inadequate preservation practices. Furthermore, although high-strength steels are frequently utilized in the construction of jack-up rigs due to their durability, we illustrate that, in the absence of meticulously devised preventative measures, these steels are susceptible to considerable corrosion, resulting in substantial repair expenses and diminished operational lifespans. This study highlights the significance of proactive corrosion control measures in maintaining the long-term structural integrity and cost-effectiveness of offshore drilling units
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