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Heparin-incorporated whey protein isolate-derived hydrogels with an intended dual function as snakebite wound dressings and drug delivery systems inhibit spitting cobra venom-induced cytotoxicity
No full textEstimating Permafrost Ice Content from Independent Frequency Inversion of High-Frequency IP Data : A Case Study from Heliport Mire, Abisko, Sweden
No full textHigh-frequency induced polarisation (HFIP) measurements enable quantification of ground ice content in frozen media by capturing ice relaxation within the frequency range of 1 to 100 kHz. Existing parameterised inversion approaches may bias results by imposing an ice relaxation signature where none exists, assuming a Cole-Cole-type response that may not reflect the true dielectric behaviour of ice, and neglecting low-frequency polarisation. These limitations can lead to high data misfits and ambiguities in interpretation. This study presents an alternative approach that applies independent frequency inversion to directly derive complex resistivity spectra from field measurements, avoiding reliance on predefined models. The resulting inverted spectra provide a representation that more closely captures the true subsurface response. A second, petrophysical, inversion is then performed by fitting a two-component mixture model to the inverted spectra, weighted by the volumetric fractions of its components. One of these components is ice, allowing for the estimation of the volumetric ice content. The approach was applied at Heliport Mire (Abisko, Sweden), a permafrost peatland site, using two complementary profiles: a 50-m 2D profile that captured broad lateral variations of frozen to unfrozen conditions, and an 8-m high-resolution 2D profile that resolved the vertical transition between the upper unfrozen and underlying frozen layers. Independent frequency inversion, across 1 Hz to 57 kHz, successfully produced smooth, coherent spectral responses of true resistivity and phase shift across both profiles. Petrophysical inversion results show diverse conditions along the profile, identifying three distinct zones: ice-rich frozen peat (40-77% ice content), a thawed or degraded peat region (<10% ice content), and unfrozen forest (<5% ice content, effectively representing ice-free conditions). HFIP-derived ice content values were consistent with those derived from laboratory measurements on a permafrost core extracted along the profile. The high-resolution profile distinctly identified the boundary between unfrozen and frozen ground, as confirmed by direct probing measurements. Additionally, the petrophysical model resolves parameters such as shape factor and matrix permittivity, offering further insight into subsurface properties. This methodology advances ground ice characterisation by providing robust quantitative estimates of ice content while retaining spectral information with broader interpretative potential
Ecological Feedbacks in the Earth System
Get PDFPlain Language Summary: Organisms in the ocean, lakes, rivers, and on land, interact together, affecting each other and modifying their physical and chemical environments. These ecological interactions form feedback loops, where a change in one part of an ecosystem has knock‐on effects that lead to further changes that enhance or reduce the change. Whilst we know these ecological feedbacks are important, we have limited understanding of how they work within and between ecosystems and over larger scales across the world. Ecological feedbacks are also likely to be disrupted due to ongoing climate change and destructive human activities (e.g., deforestation, pollution). Major gaps in our understanding of ecological feedbacks make it difficult to predict how ecosystems are affected by change and the larger scale impacts. Here, we explore what is currently known about ecological feedbacks, how they affect the physical environment and chemical processes, how they may be affected by human‐driven environmental changes, and what this means for advising policy makers. We also highlight three priority areas of future research, and the need for rapid development of understanding of ecological feedbacks and their role in globally important processes
Changing Emissions and Atmospheric Chemistry : Ongoing Impacts on Air Quality and Climate
No full textThe Woven Sensorium : An Examination of Aberrant Cross-Sensory Experiences in Hyperexcitable Cortex
Get PDFA heightened predisposition to anomalous perceptual experiences is associated with aberrant patterns of neuronal activity in the cerebral cortex, referred to as cortical hyperexcitability. Increasingly evidence across clinical and neurotypical populations suggests that, where an individual experiences anomalous perceptual experiences, these predominantly occur across multiple sensory domains, and are not confined to a single modality. This has led to the suggestion that cortical hyperexcitability may be a domain-general property of predisposition to aberrant perceptual experiences. The present thesis examined this hypothesis in relation to both state-based and trait-based factors of cortical hyperexcitability in neurotypical individuals. The underlying motivation was that high gain states associated with cortical hyperexcitability may lead to a misattribution of neuronal filtering, creating susceptibility to sensory ‘cross-talk’ from one domain into another. In Chapter 2 an Exploratory Factor Analysis with Parallel Analysis was conducted to form a trait-based measure of cortical hyperexcitability across auditory and visual domains - the Audiovisual Aberration Scale (AVAS). In Chapter 3 a multisensory adaptation of the visual Pattern Glare test was used to demonstrate a cross-sensory enhancement effect of aberrant visual experiences. Here experiences of Pattern Glare (visual irritation and distortions) associated with the presentation of irritating visual gratings were enhanced by the concurrent presentation of an irritating auditory tone. In Chapter 4 a rhythmic contrast reversal was introduced to Pattern Glare gratings, somewhat similar to photic visual flicker, to elicit visual hallucinations alongside distortions and irritation. Here hallucinations and irritation, but not distortions, demonstrated a similar cross-sensory enhancement effect with concurrent auditory stimulation. Crucially, across both Chapters 3 and 4, predisposition to cross-sensory enhancement was found to vary in sympathy with both state-based and trait-based indications of cortical hyperexcitability. Finally, in Chapter 5 a decoupling effect (i.e. abolition of cross-sensory enhancement) was demonstrated by applying intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to the left Temporoparietal Junction (TPJ) prior to completing the multisensory Pattern Glare test introduced in Chapter 3. This decoupling effect was also found to vary in sympathy with both state-based and trait-based indications of cortical hyperexcitability. Together these findings have demonstrated that cortical hyperexcitability may well work beyond the confines of a single sensory domain in modulating predisposition to anomalous perceptual experiences. A hodotopic interpretation of these results was presented, suggesting that localised gain processes at the TPJ may mediate state-based cortical hyperexcitability, and diffuse gain processes may mediate trait-based cortical hyperexcitability
Opening to the multi-sensory nature of employee experience to discover new lines of inquiry.
Get PDFEmployee Arts Based Research (ABR) which in this instance refers to studies that use methods that require employee participants to undertake an “act of creation” (Prosser and Loxley, 2008,p.33) that includes drawing, painting or collage, is the focus of this study, as organisational research has predominantly used photography with employees, rather than participant generated creative methods (Ward and Shortt, 2020). Additionally, the types of employees that are included are professionals within the sectors of health, education and management, within which researchers have used ABR methods to enable employee emotional expression but how ABR methods support this has not been explored. Consequently, the aim of this research study is to explore and learn about the process through which employees can convey and express their emotions using ABR, to answer the research question of: “How does reflection through ABR methods support or hinder employee participants’ emotional expression?” To achieve this, a longitudinal, multi-modal qualitative design was used, within a generic qualitative methodology. Employees from a single Higher Education Institution (HEI) participated in two ABR group sessions, (separated by a minimum of five months) and a final 1:1 interview. Participants were requested to create visuals depicting their working experiences and share narrative meanings in a group setting, face to face and online. The visual and verbal data were thematically analysed to identify meaningful patterns across the data set. The analysis revealed three core themes: Gateway into My Experience, Seeking Emotional Balance, and Manoeuvring through Boundaries, detailing what supports and hinders employee emotional expression using ABR. The findings indicate that the repeated application of ABR can act as a visual emotional barometer, providing a dynamic measure of affective change over time, which can simultaneously create positive feelings in the participants. Additionally, this study makes a methodological contribution by analysing the relationship between visual and verbal ABR data through the thematic exploration of opposites. This analytical lens, prompted by the coding of emotional opposites and identifying opposites within the visuals, e.g. pictures of people walking uphill and sliding downhill, informed the emergence of the core theme, 'Seeking Emotional Balance,' and offers a pathway for future ABR researchers to bridge the analytical gap between visual and verbal data, and track the dynamic construction of employee emotional reality, over time
The relationship between genetic mutations and organ metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer
Get PDFNon-small cell lung cancer is among the most prevalent cancers worldwide, with its high metastatic potential driving poor prognosis and mortality. Advances in molecular testing and high-throughput sequencing have highlighted the roles of driver genes (EGFR, ALK, KRAS) and key non-driver genes (TP53, STK11, KEAP1) in NSCLC metastasis. These mutations influence tumor invasiveness, drug resistance, and organ-specific metastatic patterns—EGFR and ALK mutations favor brain metastasis, KRAS mutations are linked to bone, liver, and multiple lung metastases, while TP53, STK11, and KEAP1 mutations increase multi-organ metastatic risk. This review summarizes the associations between genetic mutations and metastatic sites, explores underlying molecular mechanisms, and discusses mutation-based risk prediction and personalized therapeutic strategies. With multi-omics integration and further clinical research, genetic profiling may become a key tool for guiding metastasis prevention, early intervention, and treatment optimization in NSCLC
Effects of Tariff Shocks across Time, Space, and Sectors : The Role of Production Networks
Get PDFThis study examines how protectionist trade policy shocks affect sectoral value-added and employment by focusing on shock transmission through production networks and dependence on imported intermediates. The research proceeds from a country-specific setting to progressively broader evidence, examining China and later exploring a sectoral panel design from a cross-country network perspective. Therefore, mechanisms observed in a special case are identified more systematically and then generalized. All empirical analyses implement a two-step identification strategy that (i) extracts exogenous tariff innovations from sectoral VARs and (ii) traces dynamic adjustments via Jordà-style local projections. Annual tariff measures from WTO TAO are matched to sectoral outcomes from the GGDC/UNU-WIDER Economic Transformation Database (ETD) for 1990-2018; the cross-country component additionally links WIOD/GGDC input–output tables to measure upstream exposure. The identification strategy in this analysis is applied to matched WTO–ETD series with sectors classified by tradability by focusing on China. Estimates from the traded activities show continuous decline in value added after tariff shocks. However, employment adjustments are transient and cushioned in the near term. Activities which are non-traded display material negative spillovers with broad contractions in both value added and employment as higher upstream input costs pass through. These dynamics establish the baseline patterns that motivate disaggregation and robustness in the subsequent panel design. Building on that baseline, a sector-level panel framework replaces aggregate time-series averages with disaggregated dynamics for 41 developing and emerging economies (1990-2018), combining panel VARs with local projections and incorporating sector and year fixed effects. This design quantifies heterogeneity across industries and the strength of spillovers into non-traded activities, possibly implied by input–output linkages. The estimates indicate that tariff shocks depress value added in traded activities while near-term employment buffering is concentrated in politically sensitive segments. A compact comparative extension places China’s responses alongside those of other economies within the same data infrastructure which shows similar adverse effects elsewhere and a somewhat attenuated sensitivity for China. The cross-country chapter reinforces the spillover mechanism developed in the earlier analysis. It constructs a harmonized sectoral panel across countries by incorporating input–output exposure measures and applying a two-step identification strategy to trace adjustment over a six-year horizon. The findings reveal that the protected traded activities tend to register gains in value added without corresponding durable increases in employment. On the other hand, downstream non-traded activities face immediate and persistent declines in both value added and employment. This implies that the effects of tariffs on sectoral performance operate primarily through production-network linkages rather than within isolated sectoral boundaries. Further, the extent of dependence on imports conditions the outcome. As a more dependent country has global value chains experience sharper and longer-lasting contractions, whereas those with lower dependence display comparatively greater resilience
Parafoveal preview differentially modulates word frequency and contextual predictability effects during reading
No full textDespite more than five decades of research into eye movements in reading, questions remain about the relationship between lower-level lexical and higher-level semantic factors. We explored the simultaneous effects of word frequency (lower, higher), contextual predictability (lower, higher), and parafoveal preview (valid, invalid) on the processing of target words embedded in short passages of text. Using a repeated-measures design, 80 participants read 240 two-line passages, each containing a four- or five-letter target word. Corpus-based word frequencies and Cloze predictabilities were used as continuous variables in Bayesian mixed-effect analyses of fixation time and skipping measures. Key findings included robust main effects of frequency, predictability, and preview validity, as well as two-way interactions between Frequency × Preview in gaze duration, and Predictability × Preview in gaze duration and skipping. Frequency effects on gaze duration were greater under invalid preview conditions, suggesting that higher-frequency words facilitate corrective processing when preview is misleading. Predictability effects on gaze duration and skipping were enhanced under valid preview, indicating that contextual facilitation depends on coherent parafoveal input. No interaction was observed between frequency and predictability nor a three-way interaction, supporting the view that lexical access and contextual integration operate via distinct mechanisms. These findings highlight the critical role of parafoveal information in shaping the expression of lexical and contextual influences during reading
Making the Old New Again Through the Process of Recombinant Innovation
No full textAcademic Summary: Recombinant innovation—the process through which atypical and unexpected combinations of knowledge generate novel outcomes—is a critical driver of organizational distinctiveness and market transformation. While prior research has focused on firm‐ and industry‐level mechanisms, less attention has been given to multilevel dynamics underpinning the mobilization of old knowledge for innovation. Through a longitudinal case study of Aboca, a firm that systematically integrates centuries‐old herbal remedies with evidence‐based medicine, we develop a process model of recombinant innovation starting from old knowledge. This model delineates the phases through which actors mobilize old knowledge for innovation and the mechanisms enabling transitions across these phases—recovering, reviving, and renewing—which appear as interconnected, each building upon the preceding one, enabling a dynamic and iterative mobilization of old knowledge. By integrating three levels of analysis—individual, organizational, and industry—our model provides a cohesive multilevel explanation of recombinant innovation. This study contributes to research on knowledge recombination and strategic renewal, offering insights into how organizations transition from individual‐level knowledge recombination to firm‐wide and industry‐level innovation strategies. Managerial Summary: Many organizations overlook the strategic potential of old knowledge, seeing it as outdated or irrelevant. This study shows how firms can turn historical insights into innovation by following a structured, multilevel process. Based on a case study of Aboca, a healthcare company that combines centuries‐old herbal remedies with evidence‐based medicine, the research identifies three key recombinant innovation phases: recovering, reviving, and renewing. First, companies systematically recover and digitize historical materials—books, recipes, artifacts—and organize them into accessible knowledge bases. Second, they form cross‐functional teams that include historians and scientists to reinterpret this knowledge and challenge existing assumptions. Finally, innovations are scientifically validated and repositioned in emerging market spaces, aligning with regulatory standards and consumer expectations. This process not only generates novel products but can also create entirely new product categories. For managers, the key lesson is that the past can be a rich source of innovation—if treated as a dynamic resource rather than a nostalgic reference. Firms in industries such as food, wellness, fashion, or cosmetics, where tradition adds value, can gain a competitive edge by combining old knowledge with modern science, crafting a unique innovation narrative that resonates with both regulators and consumers