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Horizontal portability:A proposal for representing place-based relational values in research and policy
No full textRelational values feature prominently in recent international efforts to protect global biodiversity. In this article, we provide a conceptual approach for researchers, facilitators and policy-makers to adequately represent place-based relational values in assessments of nature's value that inform practice and policy.We suggest employing horizontal portability as an alternative and complement to the dominant mode of assessing nature's value via vertical subsumption. Vertical subsumption is a process through which particular values are generalised into overarching categories to conform to more general value concepts and thereby stripped of their place-specific meanings. In contrast, horizontal portability is introduced here as a conceptual approach that maintains the contextual rootedness of place-based local expressions of value while also communicating them across places, knowledge systems, and communities. The movement (i.e. ‘porting’) is ‘horizontal’ because it allows relational values rooted in a particular biocultural context to speak to different contexts on equal terms.We discuss how research on the value of nature and people –nature relationships can support horizontal portability.Finally, we provide recommendations for the application of horizontal portability that promotes more plurality and greater inclusion of place-based relational values in research, policy and action
Metabolomic approaches suggest two mechanisms of drought response post-anthesis in Mediterranean oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars
No full textOats (Avena sativa L) is a temperate cereal and an important healthy cereal cultivated for food and feed. Therefore, understanding drought responses in oats could significantly impact oat production under harsh climatic conditions. In particular, drought during anthesis (flowering) affects grain filling, quality and yield. Here, we characterised metabolite responses of two Mediterranean oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars, Flega and Patones, during drought stress at anthesis. In the more drought-tolerant Patones, the developing grains from the top (older) and bottom (younger) spikelets of primary panicle were found to be larger in size in response to drought, suggesting accelerated grain development. Flega showed a more rapid transition to flowering and grain development under drought. The metabolomes of source (sheath, flag leaf, rachis) and sink (developing grains) tissues from Patones showed differential accumulation in fatty acids levels, including α-linolenic acid, sugars and amino acids with drought. Flega showed enhanced energy metabolism in both source and sink tissues. Lower levels of glutathione in source tissues and the accumulation of ophthalmic acid in the grains of Flega were indicators of oxidative stress. Our study revealed two distinct metabolite regulatory patterns in these cultivars during drought at anthesis. In Patones, α-linolenic acid-associated processes may accelerate grain-filling, while in Flega oxidative stress appears to influence traits such as flowering time. Overall, this work provides a first insight into the metabolite regulation in oat's source and sink tissues during anthesis under drought stress.</p
Marketing VIP and hospitality tickets:A comparative analysis of consumer and event industry perspectives in Wales and the United Kingdom
Get PDFMae’r erthygl yn dadansoddi safbwyntiau staff y diwydiant digwyddiadau yng Nghymru a’r Deyrnas Unedig (gan gynnwys staff lleoliadau, trefnwyr a darparwyr tocynnau) ynghylch marchnata pecynnau VIP/lletygarwch. Yn dilyn cyfres o gyfweliadau, cyflwynir dadansoddiad o themâu allweddol, gan gynnwys demograffeg (ar sail oed, incwm a’r math o brynwr, e.e. y cyhoedd neu gorfforaethol), ymddygiad cwsmeriaid wrth brynu, prisio, cydrannau’r pecynnau a’r geiriau a ddefnyddir wrth ddisgrifio’u cynnwys, a dulliau addasu a chyd-greu pecynnau. Cyflwynir canlyniadau holiadur ar gyfer cwsmeriaid, gyda chymhariaeth rhwng y garfan o Gymru a gweddill y Deyrnas Unedig, lle y ceir cefnogaeth oddi wrth gwsmeriaid mewn perthynas â rhoi’r modd iddynt addasu eu pecynnau eu hunain, sy’n gwneud y cwsmeriaid yn rhan o’r broses o greu ar y cyd â’r diwydiant. Datblygir model er mwyn osgoi camfarchnata digwyddiadau.The article analyses the perspectives of event industry staff in Wales and the United Kingdom (including staff from venues, organisers and ticket providers) regarding the marketing of VIP/hospitality packages. Following a series of interviews, a thematic analysis of key themes included demographics (based on age, income and type of purchaser e.g. public or corporate), customer buying behaviour, pricing, package components and wording to describe the contents, package customisation and co-creation. The results of a survey with responses from consumers are presented with comparisons of the cohorts from Wales and the rest of the UK (United Kingdom), where there was support from customers regarding the ability to customise packages and be included in the process of developing the packages through co-creation with the industry. A model is developed to avoid the mismarketing of events
Rethinking the science-policy interface for chemicals, waste, and pollution:Challenging core assumptions
Get PDFNegotiations are ongoing but fraught for designing a new global science-policy panel for chemicals and waste pollution. In this Perspectives article, we challenge three assumptions guiding these negotiations. First, the new panel should resemble the existing panels of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Inter-governmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Second, the creation of a new panel will automatically carry authority within policymaking. Third, the participation of industry is crucial without special consideration for its interests. Further, we identify three steps to enhance the panel's relevance and influence.</p
Necessary pleasures of the crip killjoy
Get PDFIn this article, I theorise the relationships between the crip killjoy, joy and refusal. I argue why I think violence is an inherent part of crip, and there is killjoy work in finding ways to accept violence (as a neutral position). I argue that the crip killjoy does discomforting work, making everyone uncomfortable, but that there is a joy in discomfort and violence – influenced by queer notions of jouissance. I then argue that this rejection – and the finding of joy in rejection – is a necessity in building queer-crip futures.</p
Acute lymphocytic leukemia detection using hybrid deep learning models
Get PDFAcute Lymphocytic Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells and it spreads quickly. This study proposes a computer-aided diagnosis system to detect this type of leukemia from blood microscopic images. We introduce a hybrid machine learning model that uses a ResNet18 encoder to extract latent embeddings from the multi-otsu segmented white blood cells and we feed those embeddings into machine learning classifiers. The random forest and the k-nearest neighbours recorded the best classification accuracy i.e. 98% while misclassifying two samples from the ALL-IDB dataset
A systematic review of behaviour change techniques employed in interventions aimed to change physical activity behaviour in autistic individuals
Get PDFBackgroundAutistic individuals experience disproportionately poor physical and mental health outcomes, many of which can be mitigated through lifestyle modification such as increasing levels of physical activity. While behaviour change interventions hold promise in promoting physical activity, their effectiveness in autistic populations remains underexplored, particularly in relation to theoretical foundations and intervention content.ObjectiveTo systematically review behaviour change techniques applied to physical activity interventions for autistic individuals, evaluate application of psychological theory, and adaptations made for autism.MethodsA systematic search of five databases was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies were intervention-based, targeted physical activity behaviour as a primary outcome, and included autistic participants. Data were narratively synthesised, and intervention components were coded using the Behaviour Change Taxonomy (BCTTv1). Intervention efficacy was evaluated using a ‘promise ratio’ and statistical comparisons were conducted to assess associations between intervention promise, Behaviour Change Techniques, theory use, and autism-specific adaptations.ResultsThirty-three studies were included (n=26 child-focused; n=7 adult-focused). Eleven studies reported explicit use of behaviour change theory, with no significant association between theory use and intervention promise. A total of 266 BCTs were coded; most frequently used was instruction on how to perform the behaviour, though not associated with efficacy. In adults, promising techniques included goal setting and behavioural rehearsal; in children, demonstration and reinforcement were effective. Autism-specific adaptations were significantly associated with intervention promise and included sensory considerations and structured environments.ConclusionsTheory-informed, autism-adapted interventions show potential for promoting physical activity in autistic populations. Future research should prioritise high-quality designs, meaningful involvement of autistic individuals, and rigorous application of behavioural theory.<br/
Mapping the molecular signature of ABA-regulated gene expression in germinating barley embryos
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates key plant processes, including seed germination, dormancy, and abiotic stress responses. While its physiological role in germination is well-documented, the molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. To address this, we analyzed transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in ABA-treated germinating barley (Hordeum vulgare) embryos. To map ABA-responsive gene expression across embryonic tissues, we employed the Visium Spatial Transcriptomics (10× Genomics). This approach, which remains technically challenging to be applied in plant tissues, enabled the precise localization of gene expression across six embryo regions, offering insights into tissue-specific expression patterns that cannot be resolved by traditional RNA-seq.RESULTS: Transcriptomic analysis indicated that ABA acts primarily as a germination repressor. Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses linked ABA-inhibited genes to energy metabolism, lignin biosynthesis, cell wall organization, and photosynthesis, while induced genes were associated with environmental adaptation and phytohormone signaling. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) correlated with metabolites involved in phytohormone pathways, including gibberellins, jasmonates, brassinosteroids, salicylic acid, auxins, and ABA metabolism. Comparisons with developing seed transcriptomes suggested an ABA-associated gene expression signature in embryos. Spatial transcriptomics technique made possible the precise identification of ABA-induced transcriptional changes within distinct embryonic tissues.CONCLUSIONS: Integrating transcriptomics, metabolomics and spatial transcriptomics defined the molecular signature of ABA-induced modulation of phytohormonal crosstalk, energy metabolism, and tissue-specific gene activity in germinating seeds. The successful use of spatial transcriptomics adds a novel layer of resolution for understanding tissue-specific ABA responses during barley seed germination. These findings offer new insights into the ABA role in seed germination and potential strategies for enhancing crop resilience.</p
Housing as a site of epistemological injustice:how can research policy advance neurodivergent inclusion?
Get PDFDeveloping targets to control multiple pest fly species:violet polyester targets effectively attract tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae), stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae), and house flies (Diptera: Muscidae)
Get PDFTsetse (Glossina spp.), stable (Stomoxys spp.), and house flies (Musca domestica L.) impact humans and animals through bites and/or disease transmission. Tsetse are controlled using insecticide-coated fabric targets that are traditionally blue and/or black, but a violet polyester has now been engineered for greater attractiveness. Here, we investigate whether violet targets are also effective against stable and house flies. We sampled flies by electrocution at 1.0 (H) × 0.5 m (W) targets in Kenya, comparing catches at violet targets, and blue and black targets made from polyesters used in commercial traps and targets. Catches of female but not male Glossina pallidipes (Austen) were significantly greater at violet and black than at blue. Catches of Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), S. niger niger (Macquart), and Musca domestica were significantly greater at violet than at blue or black. Blue was significantly preferred over black for Stomoxys spp., and black over blue for M. domestica. Thus, violet targets were individually or jointly most effective against all species investigated. Catches of Stomoxys spp. and M. domestica were significantly greater at larger (1.0 × 0.5 m and 1.0 × 1.0 m) than at smaller (0.25 × 0.25 m and 0.5 × 0.5 m) violet targets. There were no significant effects of horizontal or vertical orientation for 1.0 × 0.5 m violet targets but catches of Stomoxys spp. tended to be greater with horizontal orientation, and catches of M. domestica greater with vertical orientation. Our results suggest that simple violet targets can be effective against multiple pest fly species.</p