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Marine Mammals in the Anthropocene: Developing a Systematic Evidence Base of Threats to Nineteen Species
No full textIntroductionMarine mammals have long been affected by human activities.AimsTo understand the state of knowledge regarding anthropogenic threats, we systematically mapped peer‐reviewed and grey literature on this topic for 19 marine mammal species found in the North Atlantic.MethodsSearches in 2022 and 2024 resulted in 3390 relevant documents for review. Relevant records were extracted from each document (n = 6964 records), and threats were grouped into 13 major classes (e.g., climate change, fisheries, acoustic disturbance).Results & DiscussionOf the 19 species, bottlenose dolphins had the most records (n = 1365), and of the threat classes, fisheries had the most records (n = 2124), with 59% being associated with mortality. Mapping the study locations highlighted how records were unevenly distributed across each IUCN‐defined species range. Furthermore, species of conservation concern (i.e., globally assessed by IUCN as ‘Endangered’) often received comparatively little study effort. We highlight the species and threats that have to date received limited attention and discuss the potential reasons for disparities in research effort.ConclusionIncreased efforts to understand and appropriately mitigate threats are critical, given the continued co‐existence of marine mammals and human threats in the ‘Anthropocene’
From dilemmas to paradoxes:A complex systems view of sustainability management in UK universities
No full textRecently, universities have transformed from passive contributors to active participants in the global sustainability movement. However, the absence of robust theoretical frameworks and larger-scale samples has limited the progress that universities can make towards becoming sustainable. By applying complex adaptive systems and taking stock for the first time of a whole national sector's progress towards sustainability (n = 137), combined with semi-structured interviews from a representative sample of institutions (n = 25), this paper contributes a much-needed theoretical conceptualisation. It highlights the relationship between organisational control and change in universities, identifying structural and relational conditions that shape institutional approaches to sustainability. Our typology of sustainability approaches reveals a paradox of control: as universities yield control over the operationalisation of sustainability, they create more favourable conditions for effective organisational change. We identify four archetypes of sustainability approaches across the UK university sector, each characterised by different configurations of coupling between value-adding activities (such as teaching and research) and non-value-adding activities (such as campus operations). These archetypes demonstrate varying orientations towards system adaptation. In some cases, institutions direct resources to activities aligned with their disciplinary expertise and sources of financial value, while in others, efforts are directed towards controlling features of the operating environment that remain inherently uncertain. The findings illustrate how universities interpret and respond to conditions of complexity and uncertainty, producing organisational logics that shape the scope and potential resilience of their sustainability strategies. The practice-relevant findings provide valuable insights for change agents in universities, empowering them to advocate for actions and assist university managers in making informed decisions about implementation.</p
Associations between neighborhood compactness, perceived accessibility to urban amenities, and mental distress of older adults in a high-density city
No full textNeighborhood compactness has been identified as a sustainable approach for fostering social relationships. However, existing studies have not clearly demonstrated whether neighborhood compactness in high-density cities directly influences the mental distress of community-dwelling older adults, or whether it indirectly influences mental distress through perceived accessibility to urban amenities (PA). Using a composite score of three dimensions (depressive symptoms, loneliness, and social isolation) to measure mental distress, and applying a mediation model within a cross-sectional design involving 947 older adults (aged ≥ 60) with at least mild symptoms in Hong Kong, our findings suggest an indirect pathway between neighborhood compactness, PA, and mental distress. Neighborhood compactness was positively associated with PA (B = 7.791, p < 0.001), and PA was negatively associated with mental distress (B = −0.12, p = 0.017). However, no direct impact of neighborhood compactness on mental distress was found. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that neighborhood compactness and PA supported older females but not males. These results align with our hypothesis that (1) neighborhood compactness may not always be beneficial for older adults with mental distress in high-density cities unless compactness itself enhances PA and facility usage to support community-dwelling individuals, and (2) gender differences may result in varying interactions and perceptions of urban amenities and the built environment. To support the concept of “aging in place” in the future, urban plans aimed at enhancing neighborhood compactness and its social impacts should focus on addressing social inequality, including strategies to improve urban design, social participation, and gender-specific protocols, so that older adults can achieve better community awareness, environmental satisfaction, and facility usage, ultimately reducing mental distress
Associations between neighborhood compactness, perceived accessibility to urban amenities, and mental distress of older adults in a high-density city
No full textNeighborhood compactness has been identified as a sustainable approach for fostering social relationships. However, existing studies have not clearly demonstrated whether neighborhood compactness in high-density cities directly influences the mental distress of community-dwelling older adults, or whether it indirectly influences mental distress through perceived accessibility to urban amenities (PA). Using a composite score of three dimensions (depressive symptoms, loneliness, and social isolation) to measure mental distress, and applying a mediation model within a cross-sectional design involving 947 older adults (aged ≥ 60) with at least mild symptoms in Hong Kong, our findings suggest an indirect pathway between neighborhood compactness, PA, and mental distress. Neighborhood compactness was positively associated with PA (B = 7.791, p < 0.001), and PA was negatively associated with mental distress (B = −0.12, p = 0.017). However, no direct impact of neighborhood compactness on mental distress was found. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that neighborhood compactness and PA supported older females but not males. These results align with our hypothesis that (1) neighborhood compactness may not always be beneficial for older adults with mental distress in high-density cities unless compactness itself enhances PA and facility usage to support community-dwelling individuals, and (2) gender differences may result in varying interactions and perceptions of urban amenities and the built environment. To support the concept of “aging in place” in the future, urban plans aimed at enhancing neighborhood compactness and its social impacts should focus on addressing social inequality, including strategies to improve urban design, social participation, and gender-specific protocols, so that older adults can achieve better community awareness, environmental satisfaction, and facility usage, ultimately reducing mental distress
Analysing the effects of integrating local tanks in water distribution networks on water age
No full textExtended water retention in a distribution network increases water age, heightening vulnerability to microbial growth and quality issues. Designers must ensure the system allows for frequent water flow without complete stagnation. Private tanks play a crucial role in regulating system flow and influencing water age. This investigation aimed to assess how private tank retention time and orifice sizes affect water age within a schematic of an existing network in Dubai, UAE. The results indicated that longer retention times facilitated greater flow, thereby reducing water age due to increased filling times. Similarly, smaller orifice diameters contributed to this effect. Additionally, the presence of float valves was found to hinder water flow, leading to higher water age. Ultimately, the study identified a more effective approach than float valves for minimizing water age, demonstrating the importance of optimizing tank design and flow regulation in water distribution systems to enhance water quality
Dual congruence in live-streaming commerce:A mixed-method to examine the role of virtual influencers and live content on consumer purchase behavior
No full textAs virtual influencers increasingly become a fixture in live-streaming commerce, understanding how their brand congruence influences consumer behaviors is critical. Hence, this research investigates the dual congruence between live content, virtual influencers, and brands and how these congruences impact perceived value, source credibility, and, ultimately, purchase behaviors. Anchored in the congruity theory, perceived value theory, and source credibility theory, a mixed-method approach was employed in this research. Study 1 employs PLS-SEM and ANN to quantitatively demonstrate that utilitarian value and credibility, rather than hedonic content or attractiveness, significantly influence purchases. Study 2 offers qualitative insights to explain these findings, highlighting consumer preferences for informative content and credible influencers over mere entertainment or visual appeal. Theoretically and practically, this research contributes to digital marketing theory by clarifying how congruence mechanisms operate in virtual contexts and offers managerial strategies for brands seeking to leverage virtual influencers effectively in live-streaming commerce
Beyond growth: Reshaping fisheries for a wellbeing economy
No full textContemporary fisheries have been shaped by a paradigm of perpetual growth, characterized by increasing global production and consumption. While this growth has driven economic benefits and technological progress, it has jeopardized the sustainability of marine ecosystems, with implications for the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of fishers, consumers and resource dependent coastal populations worldwide. This paper advocates for a shift beyond growth towards a wellbeing economy. It considers how five fundamental principles intrinsic to a wellbeing economy - purpose, nature, fairness, participation and dignity - can help reorient the fisheries sector. The paper then provides ten actionable recommendations for reshaping the composition and structure of economic activity in fisheries to enhance societal wellbeing and equity within ecological boundaries. In a world grappling with the consequences of unchecked economic growth, this paper offers insights into fostering a regenerative fisheries system that safeguards human prosperity and environmental integrity.<br/
BEETter AGING: Short-Term Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Enhances Muscle Contractile Properties in Older But Not in Young Adults
No full textPurposeDietary nitrate (NO3-) supplementation has been shown to improve skeletal muscle contractile function and reduce fatigue, potentially due to alterations in skeletal muscle Ca2+ handling/sensitivity. Since aging muscle can have impaired Ca2+ handling, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of dietary NO3- supplementation on muscle contractile properties in young and older adults.MethodsEleven older (69±4yrs, O) and 11 young (26±2yrs, YG) adults consumed either NO3-rich beetroot juice (BR) or placebo (PLA), for 7 days. After supplementations, plantar flexors of dominant leg were evaluated as follow: a) maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC); b) potentiated single twitches (Twpot) and double twitches electrical stimulations at the frequency of 100Hz (Db100) on the tibial posterior nerve; c) a fatigue isometric (70% of MVIC) test until exhaustion. The force-frequency relationship was assessed with trains of electrical pulses across a wide range of frequencies on the muscle belly of the non-dominant leg.ResultsBR supplementation increased plasma [NO3-] and nitrite [NO2-] in both O and YG compared to PLA (more than 7-fold; all P≤0.02). No changes were observed in MVC, Twpot, and Db100 force after BR compared to PLA in both YG and O. Only in O, Db100 area under the curve (-7±6 N∙s change from PLA) and half relaxation time (-0.05±0.06s change from PLA) were significantly reduced. and time to exhaustion (+32±43s change from PLA) was significantly longer (all P<0.02) after BR. In O, BR also significantly increased submaximal force produced by trains of electrical pulses (P < 0.001).ConclusionsNO3- supplementation positively affects muscle contractile proprieties, submaximal electrically evoked force production and fatigue resistance in older adults while these positive results were not found in young
Enhancing the Solubility of Dihomo-gamma-Linolenic Acid Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Human Tumors Therapy Development
No full textThis study investigated the potential of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) for dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) solubility. The conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) was used in this study as a computational software tool to predict the relative solubilization ability of 50 different NADES for DGLA. Furthermore, the solubilization mechanisms were examined by analyzing the activity coefficients, sigma profile (σ-profile), and the excess Gibbs free energy. The results reveal that NADES, consisting of menthol and camphor, Men/Cam (1:1), exhibited the highest capacity (6.352) for DGLA capacity, highlighting its potential for enhanced delivery and application. Furthermore, the σ-profile analysis and excess Gibbs free energy calculations confirm strong interaction and miscibility of Men/Cam (1:1) with DGLA. This computational approach offers valuable guidance for selecting the optimal NADES compositions to improve DGLA solubility, potentially advancing cancer therapy strategies and contributing to pharmaceutical science and drug delivery. This is the first study to apply COSMO-RS in designing and developing a promising therapeutic agent for human tumor treatment.</p
Comprehensive review of 3D/4D printing of soft materials, methods and applications
No full textThis article extensively reviews the transforming landscape of 3D and 4D printing of soft materials, their printing methods, and their applications in wider engineering and technological sectors. Soft materials are known for their suppleness and plasticity and have a wider scope in rapidly growing additive manufacturing sector. The contents of this article are appropriately designed to provide detailed subject knowledge to young or new researchers and also critically analysing several enabling strategies on manufacturing process, material design and formulation, and multifunctional application for subject experts. This article reviews the high potential 3D/4D printing methods for materials such as extrusion-based printing, inkjet-based printing, stereolithography, selective laser sintering, direct ink writing, vat photopolymerization, and comparison of techniques and compares their scope and limitations by process and materials. Further, the article reviews the printability of emerging soft materials such as elastomers, hydrogels, biopolymers, conductive and flexible materials, and biomimetic materials. The application of 3D/4D printed soft materials in wider engineering sectors are discussed such as biomedical and healthcare applications, soft robotics, sensors, and actuators, wearable devices and smart textiles, food technology, and pharmaceutical products. The later sections describe design considerations, challenges, and limitations of 3D/4D printing of soft materials in terms of geometric complexity, support structures, printing resolution, accuracy, cost, and fabrication time, material compatibility, scalability, and safety issues. The article concludes by summarizing advancements in printing technologies, material innovations and developments and reflecting on future challenges such as integration of 3D/4D printing of soft materials with other technologies and compounds and their regulatory and ethical considerations
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