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Drought and climate change impacts on cooling water shortages and electricity prices in Great Britain
No full textThe risks of cooling water shortages to thermo-electric power plants are increasingly studied as an important climate risk to the energy sector. Whilst electricity transmission networks reduce the risks during disruptions, more costly plants must provide alternative supplies. Here, we investigate the electricity price impacts of cooling water shortages on Britain’s power supplies using a probabilistic spatial risk model of regional climate, hydrological droughts and cooling water shortages, coupled with an economic model of electricity supply, demand and prices. We find that on extreme days (p99), almost 50% (7GWe) of freshwater thermal capacity is unavailable. Annualized cumulative costs on electricity prices range from £29–66m.yr-1 GBP2018, whilst in 20% of cases from £66-95m.yr-1. With climate change, the median annualized impact exceeds £100m.yr-1. The single year impacts of a 1-in-25 year event exceed >£200m, indicating the additional investments justifiable to mitigate the 1st-order economic risks of cooling water shortage during droughts
A descriptive study of Forcefully Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) presenting for care at public health sector hospitals in Bangladesh
No full textBackground
In 2017 hundreds of thousands of ‘Rohingya’ fled to camps for Forcefully Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh.
Objective
To describe the FDMNs presenting for care at public health facilities in Bangladesh so as to understand the health problems faced by the FDMNs and the burden on these public health facilities.
Methods
This study combined a retrospective review of existing hospital and clinic data with prospective surveillance in government health care centres.
Findings
The retrospective data showed a 26% increase in the number of consultations at the Kutupalong community clinic, the primary health facility closest to the camps, from 19,567 in 2015 to 26,309 in 2019. There was a corresponding 11% increase in admissions to health facilities in the area, from 80,991 in 2017 to 91,424 in 2019. Prospective surveillance of 9,421 FDMNs seeking health care from July 2018 to December 2019 showed that 29% had an infectious disease, 20% nutritional problems, 12% pregnancy-related conditions and 7% trauma or injury.
Conclusions
Great uncertainty remains regarding the return of FDMN to their home country of Myanmar. The current on-going protests following the military coup adds further insecurity to the status of the Rohingya. The presence of a large migrant population relative to a smaller host community burdens the limited facilities and resources of the public health sector. Continued support by the international public health community and civil society organizations is needed
Tropical terrestrial invertebrates—where to from here?
No full textThere are over one million described invertebrate species on Earth, the majority of which are likely to inhabit the highly biodiverse rain forests around the equator. These are some of the most vulnerable ecosystems on Earth due to the pressures of deforestation and climate change with many of their inhabitants at risk of extinction. Invertebrates play a major role in ecosystem functioning from decomposition and nutrient cycling to herbivory and pollination; however, while our understanding of these roles is improving, we are far from being able to predict the consequences of further deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss due to the lack of comparative data and the high proportion of species which remain to be discovered. As we move into an era of increased pressure on old‐growth habitats and biodiversity, it is imperative that we understand how changes to invertebrate communities, and the extinction of species, affect ecosystems. Innovative and comprehensive methods that approach these issues are needed. Here, we highlight priorities for future tropical terrestrial invertebrate research such as the efficiency of sustainable land management, exploration of innovative methods for better understanding of invertebrate ecology and behavior, and quantifying the role of invertebrates in ecosystem functioning
First detection of ozone in the mid-infrared at Mars: implications for methane detection
No full textAims: The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) was sent to Mars in March 2016 to search for trace gases diagnostic of active geological or biogenic processes.
Methods: We report the first observation of the spectral features of Martian ozone (O3) in the mid-infrared range using the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) Mid-InfaRed (MIR) channel, a cross-dispersion spectrometer operating in solar occultation mode with the finest spectral resolution of any remote sensing mission to Mars.
Results: Observations of ozone were made at high northern latitudes (> 65◦N) prior to the onset of the 2018 global dust storm (Ls = 163–193◦). During this fast transition phase between summer and winter ozone distribution, the O3 volume mixing ratio observed is 100–200 ppbv near 20 km. These amounts are consistent with past observations made at the edge of the southern polar vortex in the ultraviolet range. The observed spectral signature of ozone at 3000–3060 cm−1 directly overlaps with the spectral range of the methane (CH4) ν3 vibration-rotation band, and it, along with a newly discovered CO2 band in the same region, may interfere with measurements of methane abundance
Oxidation of dietary linoleate occurs to a greater extent than dietary palmitate in vivo in humans
No full textBackground
It has been suggested that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are partitioned into oxidation pathways to a greater extent than dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA). Whilst this has been demonstrated in animal models, evidence in humans is lacking. The potential divergence in the metabolic fate of these dietary fatty acids (FA) may explain some of the reported differences in ectopic fat deposition with SFA and PUFA enriched diets.
Aims
To compare whole-body oxidation of dietary palmitate and linoleate after consumption of a single test meal.
Methods
In a randomized, crossover design 24 healthy volunteers (12 males and 12 females, matched for age and BMI) underwent two study days separated by 2-week washout period. During each study day participants consumed a standardized test meal which contained [U13C]palmitate or [U13C]linoleate. Blood and breath samples were collected over the 6 h postprandial period and the 13C enrichment in breath CO2 samples and plasma lipid fractions was determined.
Results
Appearance of 13C in expired CO2 was significantly (p < 0.05) increased after consumption of the meal containing [U13C]linoleate compared to the meal containing [U13C]palmitate. The recovery of tracer was 8.9 ± 1.2% [U13C]linoleate vs. 5.6 ± 0.4% [U13C]palmitate (p < 0.05). The incorporation of 13C from [U13C]palmitate was greater in plasma triacylglycerol and non-esterified fatty acids than [U13C]linoleate, whereas the incorporation of 13C from [U13C]linoleate was greater than [U13C]palmitate in plasma phospholipids. Although 13CO2 was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in females compared to males after consumption of [U13C]palmitate, there was no difference in 13CO2 between sexes after consumption of [U13C]linoleate.
Conclusions
We demonstrate that whole-body oxidation of dietary linoleate is comparatively higher than that of dietary palmitate in humans following consumption of a single mixed-test meal. We found indications of sexual dimorphism for dietary palmitate but not dietary linoleate
IRF5 guides monocytes toward an inflammatory CD11c+ macrophage phenotype and promotes intestinal inflammation
No full textMononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) are vital for maintaining intestinal homeostasis but, in response to acute microbial stimulation, can also trigger immunopathology, accelerating recruitment of Ly6Chi monocytes to the gut. The regulators that control monocyte tissue adaptation in the gut remain poorly understood. Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is a transcription factor previously shown to play a key role in maintaining the inflammatory phenotype of macrophages. Here, we investigate the impact of IRF5 on the MNP system and physiology of the gut at homeostasis and during inflammation. We demonstrate that IRF5 deficiency has a limited impact on colon physiology at steady state but ameliorates immunopathology during Helicobacter hepaticus–induced colitis. Inhibition of IRF5 activity in MNPs phenocopies global IRF5 deficiency. Using a combination of bone marrow chimera and single-cell RNA-sequencing approaches, we examined the intrinsic role of IRF5 in controlling colonic MNP development. We demonstrate that IRF5 promotes differentiation of Ly6Chi monocytes into CD11c+ macrophages and controls the production of antimicrobial and inflammatory mediators by these cells. Thus, we identify IRF5 as a key transcriptional regulator of the colonic MNP system during intestinal inflammation
Profile of language abilities in a sample of adults with developmental disorders
No full textThis study investigated the profile of language abilities in a sample of high-achieving English speaking adults with developmental disorders. Ninety-seven adult participants were recruited: 49 with a dyslexia diagnosis (dyslexic group), 16 with a diagnosis of a different developmental disorder including dyspraxia, autism and SpLD (non-dyslexic developmental disorder group) and 32 with no diagnosis (non-disordered group). Dyslexic and non-dyslexic developmental disorder groups demonstrated similar impairments across measures of word reading, working memory, processing speed and oral language. Dyslexic participants showed the usual pattern of impaired phonological skills but spared non-verbal intelligence and vocabulary. There were also some suggestions of impaired structural oral language skills in this group. A data-driven clustering analysis found that diagnosis was not a reliable predictor of similarity between cases, with diagnostic categories split between data-driven clusters. Overall, the findings indicate that high-achieving adults with developmental disorders do demonstrate impairments that are likely to affect success in higher education, but that support needs should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, rather than according to diagnostic label
Associations between systolic interarm differences in blood pressure and cardiovascular disease outcomes and mortality: Individual participant data meta-analysis, development and validation of a prognostic algorithm: The INTERPRESS-IPD Collaboration
No full textSystolic interarm differences in blood pressure have been associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease. We undertook individual participant data meta-analyses to (1) quantify independent associations of systolic interarm difference with mortality and cardiovascular events; (2) develop and validate prognostic models incorporating interarm difference, and (3) determine whether interarm difference remains associated with risk after adjustment for common cardiovascular risk scores. We searched for studies recording bilateral blood pressure and outcomes, established agreements with collaborating authors, and created a single international dataset: the Inter-arm Blood Pressure Difference - Individual Participant Data (INTERPRESS-IPD) Collaboration. Data were merged from 24 studies (53 827 participants). Systolic interarm difference was associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: continuous hazard ratios 1.05 (95% CI, 1.02–1.08) and 1.06 (95% CI, 1.02–1.11), respectively, per 5 mm Hg systolic interarm difference. Hazard ratios for all-cause mortality increased with interarm difference magnitude from a ≥5 mm Hg threshold (hazard ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.01–1.14]). Systolic interarm differences per 5 mm Hg were associated with cardiovascular events in people without preexisting disease, after adjustment for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (hazard ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.00–1.08]), Framingham (hazard ratio, 1.04 [95% CI, 1.01–1.08]), or QRISK cardiovascular disease risk algorithm version 2 (QRISK2) (hazard ratio, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.06–1.18]) cardiovascular risk scores. Our findings confirm that systolic interarm difference is associated with increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular events. Blood pressure should be measured in both arms during cardiovascular assessment. A systolic interarm difference of 10 mm Hg is proposed as the upper limit of normal
Wars over wildlife: green militarisation and just war theory
No full textMilitarisation of conservation (sometimes known as 'green militarisation') is an issue of growing international interest. Rhino horn is immensely valuable (in 2013 its value exceeded that of gold or cocaine), and its illegal trade has attracted widespread attention. Conservationists have declared a 'war' on poaching, with extensive military resources deployed to combat it. This sometimes includes operations which are referred to, particularly in the media, as 'shoot-to-kill'. These can be tantamount to extra-judicial killings. We scrutinise this issue using 'Just War' principles, to explore whether the 'war' on poaching meets the criteria expected of armed conflict. Our perspective suggests that it fails both ethical and pragmatic examination. This piece encourages conservation scientists, and the public, to consider which actions are justified in protecting wildlife, and how we should rethink conservation policy to achieve ethical, successful outcomes for both people and wildlife
Smart handover for hybrid LiFi and WiFi networks
No full textThis work investigates handover in hybrid light fidelity (LiFi) and wireless fidelity (WiFi) networks (HLWNets). In such a network, the handover process becomes challenging due to two main factors: i) the relatively short coverage range of a single access point (AP), and ii) the largely overlapping coverage areas of different networks. As a result, HLWNets are susceptible to frequent handovers. To reduce the handover rate, the concept of handover skipping (HS) was introduced, which enables handovers between non-adjacent APs. However, conventional HS methods rely on knowledge about the user’s trajectory, which is not readily available at the AP. In this paper, a novel HS scheme is proposed on the basis of reference signal received power (RSRP) and its rate of change, with an adaptive network preference adopted. Since RSRP is commonly used in the existing handover schemes, the proposed method requires no additional signalling between the user and the AP. Simulation results show that the new method can effectively reduce unnecessary handovers, especially those between LiFi and WiFi. Compared to the standard and trajectory-based handover schemes, the proposed method improves network throughput by up to about 120% and 30%, respectively