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Structuring women’s interest representation in Europe: between Europeanisation, de-Europeanisation and regionalisation in the UK
Full text linkThis article brings a multi-level perspective to women’s interest representation in Europe through exploring how processes of Europeanisation, de-Europeanisation and regionalisation interact to shape multi-level structures in civil society. Taking the case of the UK’s membership of the European Women’s Lobby and adopting a longitudinal perspective (1989-2022), the article analyses new empirical data from interviews, a witness seminar and archival texts. It reveals how processes of Europeanisation secured the establishment of a de-centralised model of women’s interest representation, supporting the differentiated Europeanisation of feminist organisations across sub-state territories. The EU’s structuring role was subsequently displaced by domestic regionalisation processes which consolidated this regionalised model. More recent de-Europeanisation agendas pursued by the UK Government (including but not limited to Brexit) have left the regionalised model of women’s interest organisations intact. However, they have constrained the realisation of sub-state regions’ divergent Europeanisation preferences and flattened potential differentiated de-Europeanisation
Copenhagen not Copacabana? Practices and perspectives for fieldwork without flying
No full textClimate emergency compels higher education institutions to reduce their emissions footprint, prompting geographic educators to reconsider carbon-intensive field course education. Retaining international experiences far from home might remain possible via overland rail. To test long-distance train travel with students we piloted a field study visit from the UK to Copenhagen. Responding to calls for critical reflection on how to collectively advance geographic fieldwork education by reconnecting values and practice, we provide insights to the practicality, ethics and accessibility of low-carbon travel for educational activity, and offer experience-based recommendations for how staff and students can make any substantial overland journey more comfortable. We contribute to literature on fieldwork pedagogy by focusing on journey more than destination, from staff and student perspectives. Findings centre on three themes: students' assessment of the costs and benefits of international trains as an alternative to flying; staff and student experiences of overland rail mobilities; and the ethical dynamics of reducing university aeromobility. These indicate multiple disadvantages of lengthy overland travel, not least impacts on workload, staff and student wellbeing, plus potential disadvantaging of less internationally mobile students. It is not clear that these are outweighed by the advantages of switching to lower-carbon travel modes, particularly from students' perspective. Designing inclusive fieldwork goes beyond shaping accessible learning opportunities, to consider the justice of inequitable distribution of opportunities for overseas experiences. We conclude that staff and students should explore together how to navigate competing demands on field course design as part of learning to be globally responsible geographers at a time of climate emergency
Mechanochemical one-pot Barbier/Simmons–Smith reaction via sequential zinc activation
Full text linkWe report a mechanochemical one-pot Barbier/Simmons–Smith reaction enabled by ball-milling-mediated activation of zinc(0). This operationally simple method generates organozinc intermediates in situ and uses them sequentially in allylation and cyclopropanation without intermediate work-up. The protocol tolerates a broad range of ketones, exhibits selectivity over other carbonyl groups, and is compatible with various physical forms of zinc metal. In selected cases, the reaction proceeds with markedly enhanced diastereoselectivity under minimal-solvent milling conditions and was demonstrated on a gram scale using standard ball-milling equipment. Comparative studies show advantages over conventional solution and neat conditions, highlighting how mechanochemistry can uniquely enable tandem organometallic processes as for C–C bond construction
Effect of cyclic loading on the magnetic properties of FeCo-2V alloy
Full text linkFeCo-2V soft magnetic alloys offer attractive properties for demanding electromagnetic applications. While their magnetic properties are well-characterised under static loading conditions, the evolution of these properties under cyclic mechanical loading, as seen in service, remains insufficiently explored. This study examines how fatigue deformation alters the magnetic behaviour of an FeCo-2V alloy. The investigation employed strain-controlled cyclic loading combined with Single Sheet Tester measurements across multiple frequencies. A modified Bertotti loss separation analysis quantified the contributions of hysteresis and eddy current losses to total core loss. Experimental results demonstrated an increase in coercivity, and significant core loss increase during early-stage fatigue, followed by more gradual changes at higher cycle counts. The abrupt initial property changes correlate with rapid dislocation accumulation, while subsequent stabilisation reflects saturated defect densities. Notably, hysteresis losses dominated the degradation, while eddy current losses remained stable throughout cycling. These findings establish clear relationships between cyclic loading and magnetic properties in FeCo-2V and may serve as the basis for non-destructive fatigue assessment through magnetic measurements
Effectiveness of an environmental nutrition and physical activity intervention in early childhood education and care settings (NAPSACC UK): a multicentre cluster randomised controlled trial
Full text linkBackground:
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) provision is widespread. NAPSACC UK is an intervention in ECECs designed to improve nutrition and physical activity policies, practice and provision through ECEC staff workshops, self-assessment and assistance over one year. It was adapted for the UK from the USA and we tested whether it reduced energy consumption and increased physical activity.
Methods:
Repeated cross-sectional, multicentre, two-arm, single-blind, parallel-group, cluster-randomised controlled trial including ECEC providers in the UK. The randomisation was conducted by a statistician who was blinded to ECEC provider identity, with allocation within each local authority area and by ECEC Index of Multiple Deprivation scores to minimise differences between arms. Participants were not blind to allocation. Co-primary outcomes after 12-months were child average total energy consumed per eating occasion in the ECEC (lunch or snack) and child accelerometer-assessed total physical activity on ECEC days. Secondary outcomes were moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary time, energy served and consumed at lunch and snacks, diet quality, and Body Mass Index z-score. The senior statistician and majority of co-investigators were blinded. Analysis was intention-to-treat. Trial registration is ISRCTN33134697 and is completed.
Findings:
Between 14 March 2022 and 25 March 2024 we enrolled 52 ECEC providers (25 intervention; 27 control) and 835 2-5 year-olds (401 intervention, 434 control). The co-primary outcomes were assessed 12 months after baseline with data provided by 382 children for nutrition and 244 children for physical activity. There was no evidence of a difference in the co-primary outcomes compared to control of average kcal per eating occasion in ECEC (adjusted geometric mean ratio 0.86 (95% CI 0.72–1.03; p = 0.09)) or total physical activity (adjusted mean difference (aMD) −2.13 min (95% CI −10.96 to 6.70; p = 0.64)). There was evidence of lower lunch energy served (aMD −69.1 kcal per occasion (95% CI −116 to −22.2; p = 0.004)) and consumed (aMD −67.7 kcal per occasion (95% CI −118.6 to −18.7, p = 0.009)) with the intervention. There was no evidence of differences in other secondary outcomes. No adverse events were reported.
Interpretation:
NAPSACC UK did not improve average kcal per eating occasion in ECEC or physical activity. Lower lunch energy servings and consumption closer to recommendations were observed as secondary outcomes. The lower fidelity to the intervention than intended and staffing pressures give insight into interpretation of the null result. Therefore, we recommend that policy-level and statutory changes, which require low agency by individual ECEC settings are research and policy priorities for nutrition and physical activity in ECEC
Neighbourhoods and the far right: What is to be done?
No full textThis article responds to the set of commentaries published in Dialogues in Urban Research following our original contribution on ‘Urban Neighbourhoods and far-right spatial strategies: Displacement, infrastructure and civic life’. These responses not only engage productively with the empirical and conceptual dimensions of the paper, but also open up broader questions concerning normalization, digital spaces, class composition and the role of everyday institutions in enabling or constraining far-right advance. Taking these interventions as a point of departure, this response re-centres the discussion on the question of ‘what is to be done’. Against approaches that confine antifascism to moments of confrontation or subcultural politics, we propose a broader conception of antifascist praxis as a transversal political culture embedded in struggles over housing, belonging, care and everyday coexistence. By foregrounding place-based, quotidian forms of contestation, this response seeks to move beyond descriptive analyses of far-right strategies and contribute to an urban research agenda oriented towards effective antifascist political intervention
Urban assemblages, motherhood and mobility in Johannesburg and London
No full textIn this article, we explore the intersection of motherhood, mothering and mobility practices in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, UK. Using an a posteriori mode of comparison that focuses on processes and repeated patterns, and drawing on assemblage theory, we examine the challenges of mothering and mobility in major cities of both the Global South and North. This approach enables us to show how material and non-material shape everyday experiences of motherhood (Araneda-Urrutia and Infante, 2020). In doing so, we argue that urban spaces are active components in the assemblages that make mothering both possible and challenging, rather than passive backdrops to human activities. By demonstrating how cities enable or constrain maternal mobility, we highlight the need for urban design and mobility policies that more explicitly account for mothers' lived realities
Feminist constellations in legal history
No full textAstronomers use constellations—groups of named patterns or sets of stars—to map the galaxies around us. More than simply maps of the sky, for centuries constellations and stars within them have enabled us to look into the past, as well as to navigate pathways into the future. So much for space, but what about law? What if legal historians were to look to the constellations? What if legal historians were to apply the tools and techniques of astronomers to feminists’ relationship with law and law reform? What might feminist legal constellations look like? And how might they inform our understandings of law and feminist activism? In this article we outline a new methodology: a feminist constellations approach to legal history. We argue that if feminist legal history is to be truly transformative, it needs to be bolder, and to go further than it does at present. And to do this, it needs to locate feminists and feminist endeavour within feminist constellations in law
A PK/PD study on antihyperalgesia by an α2/3-GABAA receptor PAM in mice: Lack of tolerance liability and potential involvement of γ1-GABAA receptors
Full text linkBackground and Purpose
GABAA receptors (GABAARs) are heteropentameric ion channels that control almost all CNS functions, including spinal nociception. Most GABAARs contain a γ2 subunit but differ in their α and β subunit composition. TPA023B is an α2/α3 subtype selective, non-sedative, positive allosteric modulator (PAM) with antihyperalgesic activity in rodents. The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) characteristics of its antihyperalgesic action are unknown.
Experimental Approach
To establish the PK/PD relationship for the antihyperalgesic effects of TPA023B, blood and brain concentrations, and brain and spinal cord receptor occupancies (RO) were determined at various time points following the administration of single oral doses of TPA023B in mice, and correlated with the antihyperalgesic effects (increases in paw withdrawal thresholds to punctate mechanical stimuli). In addition, the potentiating effects of TPA023B on recombinant γ1- and γ2-containing GABAARs (γ1-GABAARs and γ2-GABAARs, respectively) were determined in electrophysiological (patch-clamp) and fluorometric (membrane potential-sensitive dye) assays.
Key Results
Antihyperalgesic effects of TPA023B correlated well with blood and brain concentrations, and no signs of tolerance (clockwise hysteresis) were observed. However, antihyperalgesia did not correlate with receptor occupancy at γ2-GABAARs, suggesting that a relevant part of the antihyperalgesic action occurred through non-γ2-GABAARs. In this regard, experiments in heterologous expression systems revealed that TPA023B not only potentiates γ2 but also γ1 containing GABAARs.
Conclusions and Implications
Antihyperalgesic effects of TPA023B do not undergo tolerance development. Besides γ2-GABAARs, γ1-GABAARs appear to contribute to the antihyperalgesic effects of TPA023B. γ1-GABAAR selective PAMs may hence have a therapeutic potential in chronic pain conditions