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A framework for addressing racial and related inequities in conservation
No full textIn 2020, a global surge of activism linked to the Black Lives Matter movement prompted scientists to stage an academic ‘strike’, drawing attention to the ethical responsibility of addressing systemic racism. This catalysed debate in conservation, adding urgency to decades of scholarship on marginalization. In this Perspective, we review this literature and examine how exclusion in conservation persists across intersections of race, class, urban–rural divides, nationality and power dynamics from local to global levels. We highlight how marginalization and ‘othering’ disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) communities, especially in the Global South. Expansion of protected areas and the prioritization of individual animal lives over human well-being can intensify such inequities. We propose a framework for more inclusive conservation: recognizing and supporting human rights, ensuring local community agency, challenging entrenched norms in BIPOC engagement, and fostering educational opportunities led by and for BIPOC communities. Amid shifting global politics, including reduced US federal support for social and conservation issues, this framework provides guidance to counter racism and exclusion. By rethinking conservation practice, it seeks to build long-lasting, equitable and inclusive approaches that respect both people and nature
Too much or not enough? An analysis of best interests assessments for patients with anorexia nervosa
Get PDFIn best interests assessments for patients with anorexia nervosa, judges face a complicated combination of ethical, medical, and legal considerations. This thesis dissects the question at the heart of that quandary: is it in the best interests of a patient with anorexia nervosa to withdraw compulsory treatment, including life-sustaining nutrition? Specifically, this research examines why that question is so difficult to answer. Using analogical case analysis, a critical framework based on theories of autonomy, and clinical studies, the project explains the Court of Protection’s general approach to best interests assessments, followed by an analysis of its approach to cases concerning anorexia nervosa patients. This leads to the identification of two confounding factors; that is, two factors which make it impossible to arrive at a legally, morally, and medically satisfying answer to the identified question. The first is the dilemma of autonomy. The potential for anorexia nervosa patients to autonomously refuse medical treatment—despite their lack of autonomy in relation to decisions about food—forces the judge to decide between prolonging the patient’s life at the cost of overriding her autonomy, or respecting her autonomy at the cost of her life. The second is the nature of compulsory treatment for anorexia nervosa. A hallmark of anorexia nervosa is patients’ intense need for control. Given that compulsory feeding entails complete removal of control over the body and a severe infringement of the right to bodily integrity, the treatment is precisely the thing that harms anorexia nervosa patients. Thus, judges must decide between authorising the patient’s death, or authorising and perpetuating suffering through treatment. In this way, the two confounding factors place judges in an invidious position. They create a conundrum such that there is no decision that can be deemed definitively ‘correct’
Killers on the road of emerging start-ups—implications for market entry and venture capital financing
Get PDFThe competitive effects of acquisitions made by large US-based technology companies have come under increased regulatory scrutiny over recent years because their acquisition patterns have been viewed as potentially harming competition. This paper studies the impact of acquisitions by large US-based technology companies on the entry dynamics and venture capital financing in their target product markets. We use data from Crunchbase, a global database of start-up companies, from 742 product markets globally, distinguishing the United States and European markets for 2003–2021. Using state-of-the-art econometric developments, we estimate the dynamic treatment effects model in the staggered, dynamic event study setting. Our estimation results suggest that the technology giants’ buyouts subsequently reduced market entry rates and decreased the available venture capital funding in the product markets of the acquired companies. The acquisition of technology giants seems to generate a so-called “kill zone,” which dissuades the market entry of new companies. Our findings highlight the long-term consequences that technology giants’ acquisitions may have, including a decline in venture capital financing and the creation of entry barriers in technology-intensive markets
Data deposition for "Deep learning-based event classification of mass photometry data for optimal mass measurement at the single-molecule level"
No full textThis repository contains code, example data, trained models, and analysis notebooks sufficient to reproduce the main results presented in our article published in ACS Nano. The materials cover experimental point spread function (PSF) generation, deep learning model training, and application to mass photometry data
Prompt Searches for Very-high-energy γ -Ray Counterparts to IceCube Astrophysical Neutrino Alerts
Get PDFThe search for sources of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos can be significantly advanced through a multimessenger approach, which seeks to detect the γ-rays that accompany neutrinos as they are produced at their sources. Multimessenger observations have so far provided the first evidence for a neutrino source, illustrated by the joint detection of the flaring blazar TXS 0506+056 in high-energy (E > 1 GeV) and very-high-energy (VHE; E > 100 GeV) γ-rays in coincidence with the high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A, identified by IceCube. Imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs), namely FACT, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS, continue to conduct extensive neutrino target-of-opportunity follow-up programs. These programs have two components: follow-up observations of single astrophysical neutrino candidate events (such as IceCube-170922A), and observation of known γ-ray sources after the identification of a cluster of neutrino events by IceCube. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of follow-up observations of high-energy neutrino events observed by the four IACTs between 2017 September (after the IceCube-170922A event) and 2021 January. Our study found no associations between γ-ray sources and the observed neutrino events. We provide a detailed overview of each neutrino event and its potential counterparts. Furthermore, a joint analysis of all IACT data is included, yielding combined upper limits on the VHE γ-ray flux
Reporting Completeness of Systematic Reviews of Nutrition or Diet-Related Randomised Controlled Trials: A Meta-Research on Adherence to PRISMA Items
Get PDFAdherence to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement has not been explored in the nutrition field. The objectives of this meta-research were to assess the reporting completeness of systematic reviews with meta-analysis (SRs-MA) of nutrition- and diet-related randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and to identify their main reporting limitations, and potential factors associated with adherence to PRISMA. We analyzed a random sample of 100 SRs-MA of nutrition- and diet-related RCTs published in journals indexed on PubMed between July 2021 and July 2022. Pairs of reviewers read the full texts to independently extract the data. One reviewer collected data on the journal’s endorsement of PRISMA guidelines. A reporting completeness (RC) score was created using the data from the evaluations regarding whether each fragmented item of PRISMA 2020, PRISMA 2020 Abstracts, PRISMA-Search, and TIDieR checklists (a total of 114 sub-items) was reported in the SRs-MA and compared the RCs between studies grouped according to predefined characteristics. SRs were published in 63 different journals; most (54%) endorsed the PRISMA guidelines. Most SRs-MA (86%) mentioned the PRISMA, and 21 attached the PRISMA checklist. The mean (±SD) RC score was 53.2 ± 7.1%. None of the PRISMA items were completely reported in all SRs-MA. Only 13 items were completely reported in more than 75% of the SRs-MA. Protocol registration (beta = 3.61; 95% CI 1.22–5.99), self-reporting of PRISMA adherence (beta = 4.21; 95% CI 0.72–7.70), and evaluation of the certainty of the body of evidence (beta = 4.99; 95% CI = 2.42–7.55) were associated with RC. The poor RC in SRs-MA of nutrition- and diet-related interventions demonstrates that research in this field requires improvements. Indicators of research integrity and transparency, such as protocol registration, self-reported adherence to PRISMA, and evaluation of the certainty of the body of evidence, were positively associated with RC
Current perspective on heterogeneous thermal catalytic approaches for closed-loop polyolefin plastic recycling
Get PDFThe escalating accumulation of polyolefin (PO) waste presents one of the most formidable challenges in sustainable catalysis. Heterogeneous catalytic upcycling has emerged as a promising route toward chemical circularity, yet genuine closed-loop recycling—where polymers are converted back into monomers for repolymerization—remains challenging. This perspective critically examines three catalytic pathways: ethylene metathesis, hydrocracking coupled with steam cracking, and high-temperature or tandem catalytic cracking. While each offers distinct advantages in selectivity, scalability, or process simplicity, none independently satisfy the combined criteria of low energy demand, carbon neutrality, and economic viability. Future progress requires low-carbon, renewable-powered catalytic pathways, realistic PO waste investigation, highly selective and adaptive catalysts, and integration of techno-economic and life-cycle assessments. By bridging molecular-level catalyst design with systems-level process engineering, heterogeneous catalysis can transform PO waste from a persistent pollutant into a renewable carbon resource, forming the cornerstone of a sustainable, circular plastic economy
The complex landscape of lion behavioural ecology & conservation: from social dynamics to systemic inequality
Get PDFThe African lion (Panthera leo) is a globally significant species due to its cultural, financial, and ecological status. Unique amongst Felidae, lions are highly social and group-living which contributes to their charisma. Despite their status, the species faces significant conservation pressures. Many of these threats, such as human-lion conflict and prey- base depletion, are influenced by the sociocultural landscapes within which lions’ range. Even natural threats such as disease are exaggerated in severity and spread by anthropogenically induced climate change and contact with domestic animals. In this thesis I take a holistic view of lion conservation, combining methodologies from behavioural ecology and social science, to address knowledge gaps within the complex system of lion conservation. I evidence sex-specific patterns of social ageing in the African lion. In females, I highlight the role of associate loss and within-individual shifts in sociality prior to disappearance in driving social ageing patterns. Further, I show that individual- level sociality impacts longevity across both sexes. These findings have consequences for disease transmission and species management strategies across age-structured lion societies. Next, I evidence identity-bias against lion conservation messengers on social media based on their expertise, race, and gender. I demonstrate that racism and sexism influence messengers’ perceived credibility in the public eye, and support for their conservation recommendations. Finally, I trace conservations’ colonial history into present-day dynamics to better understand why such discrimination exists - before suggesting ways to create a more socially just and inclusive sphere of conservation
New genes for new biology in animal evolution
Get PDFGene novelty is one of the mechanisms by which phenotypic novelty may arise and has contributed to the animal diversity observed today. This thesis aims to advance our understanding of evolutionary innovation arising from gene novelty through the integration of multiple levels of analysis, incorporating genomic novelty, expression and morphological function. Chapter 2 explores and discusses the rationale for the development of a pipeline to identify new genes, and how this requires modification when working with nodes spanning different evolutionary timescales. Chapter 3 demonstrates that gene duplication and divergence are the primary drivers of novel gene emergence and describes two examples of extensive duplication within Lepidoptera, one of which was identified as a putative HGT named ‘Propellin’. Chapter 4 integrates these molecular insights with phenotypic evolution, exploring how changes in gene expression may contribute to the morphological reduction of T1 legs in Nymphalid butterflies, and how this may have resulted in the evolution of a chemosensory function in these appendages. Chapter 5 extends this perspective across Bilateria, specifically investigating novel genes which demonstrate tissue-specific enrichment in gut, nerve cord / nervous system and muscle tissue. Together, this research highlights the coordination between gene sequence innovation, regulatory dynamics and morphological diversification, offering a comprehensive view of how genomic and developmental processes may contribute to evolutionary novelty. Through the combination of these multi-level analyses, this research offers both conceptual and methodological advances, establishing a model for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying trait evolution across diverse animal lineages, in the context of novel gene evolution
