179566 research outputs found
Sort by
“People are afraid of getting injections”:Feasibility of community-placed atropine auto-injectors in treating organophosphate poisoning in Sri Lanka
Get PDFIntroductionOrganophosphorus insecticide poisoning remains a major problem in rural low- and middle-income communities. Atropine auto-injectors are used for organophosphorus nerve agent poisoning, but not organophosphorus insecticide poisoning. We explore the social and practical feasibility of introducing atropine auto-injectors in Sri Lankan villages to initiate first-line treatment for acute organophosphorus insecticide poisoning. We investigate how auto-injectors might be best integrated into the social and spatial context of rural communities with high levels of organophosphorus insecticide use and poisoning.MethodsWith an ethnographic approach, we combined semi-structured interviews with community members (n = 18) and healthcare workers (n = 9), focus group discussions (n = 5), participatory mapping (n = 3), oral history interviews (n = 7), and ethnographic observations in three rural villages. A collaborative thematic data analysis was performed alongside continuous discussions within the global, interdisciplinary research team.ResultsAcute organophosphorus insecticide poisoning was not perceived as a major public health concern that would demand an urgent intervention in communities. Following COVID-19 vaccination interventions, findings showed a lack of trust related to new medical injection technologies. Consequently, finding people to handle auto-injectors who had the capacity and willingness to take responsibility and were trusted by the community is a major challenge.DiscussionEthnographic research methods are important and relevant in planning and implementing community health interventions. They contribute to making health interventions more effective and sustainable by analyzing context-dependent and often intractable complex health problems.ConclusionsWhile our findings do not support introducing auto-injectors in the selected communities, it suggests placing them in the ambulances used to transport patients who have ingested pesticides. To further explore the need and feasibility of auto-injectors, similar situational, ethnographic analysis should be conducted in other parts of Sri Lanka and low- and middle-income countries with high numbers of acute organophosphorus insecticide poisoning and limited infrastructure facilities
Model for transitional turbulence in a planar shear flow
Get PDFA central obstacle to understanding the route to turbulence in wall-bounded flows is that turbulence initially appears only intermittently within an otherwise laminar background. In the case of pipe flow, models have deepened our understanding of turbulent onset by providing valuable theory to complement experiments and simulations. In planar configurations, the large-scale flows associated with intermittent transitional turbulence are considerably more complex than for pipes, limiting our ability to develop models and provide theoretical analyses for these cases. We address this challenge here by deriving from the Navier–Stokes equations a simplified model for transitional turbulence in a planar setting. The Reynolds-averaged and turbulent-kinetic-energy equations are projected onto a minimal set of wall-normal modes and justified model closures are used for the Reynolds stresses and turbulent dissipation and transport. The model reproduces phenomena found at the onset of turbulence in planar shear flows, such as turbulent-laminar patterns (turbulent bands) oriented obliquely to the streamwise direction and large-scale flows associated with both stationary patterns and growing turbulent spots. We demonstrate the model’s utility by showing that patterns arise with decreasing Reynolds number via a linear instability of uniform turbulence and by deriving a bound on the pattern angle at onset: 0<||<45∘
Ghosts of symbionts past: the hidden history of the dynamic association between filarial nematodes and their Wolbachia endosymbionts
Get PDFMany, but not all, parasitic filarial nematodes (Onchocercidae) carry intracellular, maternally transmitted, alphaproteobacterial Wolbachia symbionts. The association between filarial nematodes and Wolbachia is often portrayed as mutualist, where the nematode is reliant on Wolbachia for an essential but unknown service. Wolbachia are targets for antifilarial chemotherapeutic interventions for human disease. Wolbachia of Onchocercidae derive from four of the major supergroups (C, D, F, and J) defined within the genus. We explored the evolutionary history of the filarial nematode-Wolbachia symbiosis in 22 nematode species, 16 of which have current Wolbachia infections, by screening the nematode nuclear genome sequences for nuclear Wolbachia transfers, fragments of the Wolbachia genome that have been inserted into the nuclear genome. We identified Wolbachia insertions in 5 of the 6 species that have no current Wolbachia infection, showing they have previously had and have now lost Wolbachia infections. In currently infected species, we found a diversity of origins of the insertions, including many cases where they derived from a different supergroup to the current live infection. Mapping the origins of the insertions onto the filarial nematode phylogeny we derive a complex model of evolution of Wolbachia symbiosis. The history of association between Wolbachia and onchocercid nematodes includes not only cospeciation, as would be expected from a mutualist symbiosis, but also loss (in the 5 Wolbachia-free species), frequent symbiont replacement, and dual infection. This dynamic pattern is challenging to models that assume host–symbiont mutualism
Time Budgets in Domesticated Male Icelandic Horses on Pasture Turnout in Winter and Spring
Get PDFThere are few 24 h time budgets for horses, especially for domesticated horses kept at pasture. Most time budgets utilise short-term scan sampling, which can miss behaviours. This study aimed to assess the seasonal variation in continuous behaviour of domesticated Icelandic horses at pasture during winter and spring in fair weather. Eight Icelandic horses (11.25 ± 9.19 years; 7 geldings, 1 stallion) were observed in a 26 acre field. Herd location and individual behaviour were continuously observed during 3 h periods amounting to 3 × 24 h in winter and late spring, compiled over 43 days (~21 days per season). Seasonal variation in behaviour (ANOVA), body condition (RMANOVA), and age-group variation (independent t-test) were assessed, as well as associations between weather, time period, and habitat choice (chi-square). During spring, horses showed more foraging (+18%; p < 0.001), movement (+0.5%; p < 0.05), recumbency (+5.7%; p < 0.01) and less standing (−24.6%; p < 0.001) than in winter. Behavioural synchronicity occurred between adult and juvenile horses. Mean body condition reduced from 5.6 to 4.8 in the winter. Habitat preferences varied by daytime and season, and non-feeding periods lasted less than 2 h. The 24 h foraging activity (winter: 12.7 ± 0.4 h, spring: 17 ± 0.25 h) supported the current recommendation of 12 h/24 h for domesticated horses to meet ethological requirements
Some highlights from 2024:A year in review at the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
Get PDFIn this editorial, we reflect on the most read publications and some key highlights from 2024 in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. Of those papers published in the journal last year, the 10 most read titles are listed in Table 1. The journal publishes six issues a year, and so the time that these publications have been available to read does vary, but the most read publications are distributed across the year's issues (Figure 1). The 10 papers listed in Table 1 give a sense of the range of published studies in the journal, covering both human and animal osteoarchaeology and a range of methods and approaches
A legitimacy-based explanation for user acceptance of controversial technologies:The generative AI case
Get PDFControversial technologies are technologies where social concerns play a disproportionate role in shaping the public attitudes to their adoption. An example of such controversial technologies is Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), whose rapid diffusion is fuelled by expectations for significant performance improvements, while also facing concerns at individual (trust in technology), technology (accuracy and quality), and institutional (cultural, ethical and regulatory) level. Individual and technology factors are well accounted for by rational choice-based models which underpin most technology acceptance research. Such models are less suited to explore the role of institutional factors in shaping technology acceptance. Drawing from legitimacy and technology lifecycle research, we develop a legitimacy-based model of GenAI adoption which accounts for the institutional context in which technology use happens, and for technology characteristics, namely its maturity, in shaping users’ acceptance. Surveying 483 information systems students who are GenAI users, we find that users’ perceptions of technology uncertainty and variation positively affect their technology legitimacy evaluations and that their pragmatic and cognitive legitimacy evaluations, but not moral, affect their intention to use. We answer recent calls to examine alternative theoretical predictors of technology acceptance, and to consider the role of context in examining the acceptance of controversial technologies
The plausibility of origins scenarios requiring two impactors
Get PDFHydrogen cyanide delivered by cometary impactors can be concentrated as ferrocyanide salts, which may support the initial stages of prebiotic chemistry on the early Earth. One way to achieve the conditions required for a variety of prebiotic scenarios, requiring, for example, the formation of cyanamide and cyanoacetylene, is through the arrival of a secondary impactor. In this work, we consider the bombardment of the early Earth, and quantitatively evaluate the likelihood of origins scenarios that invoke double impacts. Such scenarios are found to be possible only at very early times (>4 Gya), and are extremely unlikely settings for the initial stages of prebiotic chemistry, unless (i) ferrocyanide salts are stable on 1000 yr timescales in crater environments, (ii) there was a particularly high impact rate on the Hadean Earth, and (iii) environmental conditions on the Hadean Earth were conducive to successful cometary delivery (i.e. limited oceanic coverage and low (≲1 bar) atmospheric surface pressure). Whilst environmental conditions on the early Earth remain subject to debate, this work highlights the need to measure the typical lifetime of ferrocyanide salts in geochemically realistic environments, which will determine the plausibility of double impact scenarios
Time-trends in life expectancy of people with severe mental illness in Scotland, 2000-2019:a population-based study
Get PDFBackground People with severe mental illness (SMI) have a higher risk of premature mortality than the general population. Aims To investigate whether the mortality gap for people with SMI is widening, by determining excess life years lost for adults with SMI and investigating time-trends in life expectancy (LE).Method We performed a population-based study, including people with SMI (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression) alive on 1 January 2000. We ascertained SMI from psychiatric hospital admission records (1981-2019), and identified deaths via linkage to the national death register (2000-2019). We estimated years of life lost by SMI and sex using the Life Years Lost (LYL) method, compared excess LYL to the Scottish population and assessed time-trends by calculating excess LYL for 18 three-year rolling periods. Results We included 28,797 people with schizophrenia, 16,657 with bipolar disorder and 72,504 with major depression. Between 2000 and 2019, LE increased in the Scottish population and the LE gap widened for people with schizophrenia. For 2000-2002, men and women with schizophrenia lost an excess 9.4 (95% CI 8.5-10.3) and 8.2 (7.4-9.0) life years, respectively, compared to the general population. In 2017-2019, this increased to 11.8 (10.9-12.7) and 11.1 (10.0-12.1). The LE gap was lower for bipolar disorder and depression and unchanged over time. Conclusions The LE gap in people with an SMI persisted or widened in Scotland from 2000-2019. The causes of these entrenched disparities are complex and multifactorial, and reflect intersecting inequalities requiring multi-level and synergistic solutions. Successful reduction of this gap requires equitable social, economic and health policies, significant healthcare re-structure and improved resourcing, and investment in interventions and strategies for primary and secondary prevention of SMI and associated co-morbidities.<br/
Dodecanuclear [Ni<sup>II</sup><sub>8</sub>Ln<sub>4</sub>] clusters and rings of corner-sharing {Ni<sup>II</sup><sub>2</sub>Ln<sub>2</sub>} cubanes (Ln = Dy, Gd, Y); Magnetic and magnetothermal properties
Get PDFThe solvothermal reaction of NiCl2 6H2O with 1,3,5-tri(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane, LH3, and Ln(OAc)3 4H2O in the presence of salicylaldehyde in MeOH leads to the formation of the dodecanuclear isostructural species [NiII8Ln4(L')8(OAc)4(OH)8(H2O)4] xH2O (Ln = Dy, x = 6 (1); Gd, x = 24 (2); Y, x = 10 (3); L' = the dianion of the Schiff-base resulting from the reaction of salicylaldehyde and ethanolamine). The metallic core of the clusters describes a ring of corner-sharing {Ni2Ln2} cubanes assembled on a central, planar rectangular {Ln4} unit. Magnetization studies conducted on complexes 1-3 demonstrate the presence of dominant ferromagnetic exchange at low temperatures, which is largely attributed to the Ni Ni interactions. The significant magnetocaloric effect observed in the Gd analogue has been assessed through heat capacity and magnetization measurements.</p
Combining transcriptomic and metabolomic insights to guide the clinical application of adipose- and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Get PDFAdipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have shown great potential in clinical applications. However, the similarities and differences between these two cell types have not been fully elucidated. Recent advances in transcriptomic and metabolomic research have provided valuable insight into the characteristics and functions of ADSCs and BMSCs. In this perspective article, we review the key findings from these studies, including cellular heterogeneity as well as differences in metabolic and secretory properties. We discuss how these insights can help guide the selection of the most suitable cell source for the clinic, and the optimization of preconditioning strategies prior to clinical deployment. Furthermore, we analyze the current landscape of products and clinical trials involving ADSCs and BMSCs, highlighting their therapeutic potential. We propose that the integration of multi-omics datasets will be crucial for establishing a comprehensive understanding of ADSC and BMSC identity and potency, and the provision of quality-assured stem cell-derived products for the clinic.</p
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Edinburgh Research Explorer? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!