Development and optimization of a photoautotrophic phycoerythrin production process

Data availability: The experimental data underlying this work have been uploaded here: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.25880428.v1.Acknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge the excellent technical team at Brunel University London in particular Mr. Paul Josse, Mr. Paul Barrett, Mr. William Pierce and Mr. William Schkzamian for their assistance in constructing the photobioreactors.Supplementary Information is available onlineat: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10811-025-03524-x#Sec9 .Phycoerythrin is a pink pigment produced by photosynthetic microorganisms which has potential to be used as a sustainable colorant in the food, cosmetics and textile industries. In order for this to happen it is necessary to identify suitable strains for large-scale production and develop and optimize production processes. Relatively few species of red algae have been evaluated for their biotechnological potential and to address this gap this work examined five different species of red algae and three cyanobacteria to identify the most suitable candidates for phycoerythrin production. Results from initial screening experiments found a wide range of specific phycoerythrin contents (0.75–28 mg g−1). The four most promising species (Porphyridium purpureum, Rhodella violacea, Timspurckia oligopyrenoides and Flintiella sanguinaria) were grown in 3-L photobioreactors; of the species examined it was found that P. purpureum and R. violacea had the highest growth rate (approximately 0.6 day^−1). As part of the scale-up process it was found that ensuring sufficient nitrate was available in the medium was key in maintaining a high specific phycoerythrin content, with maximum values being 170 ± 34 mg g^−1 for P. purpureum and 120 ± 60 mg g^−1 for R. violacea. Increasing the applied light intensity led to increases in the cell density (to a maximum of 3.46 ± 0.36 g L^−1 for P. purpureum), while the specific phycoerythrin content was generally constant. Applying these insights led to a final volumetric phycoerythrin concentration of 360 ± 37 mg L^−1 for P. purpureum this being a 50-fold improvement over the original values. Results from this work provide valuable data about the growth and phycoerythrin productivity of diverse species of red algae as well as providing valuable insights into how the phycoerythrin production can be optimized.Not applicable

A UNIFIED THEORY FOR ARMA MODELS WITH VARYING COEFFICIENTS: ONE SOLUTION FITS ALL

A preprint version of the article is available at: arXiv:2110.06168v1 [math.ST], https://arxiv.org/abs/2110.06168 under a CC BY licence. It has not been certified by peer review.A new explicit solution representation is provided for ARMA recursions with drift and either deterministically or stochastically varying coefficients. It is expressed in terms of the determinants of banded Hessenberg matrices and, as such, is an explicit function of the coefficients. In addition to computational efficiency, the proposed solution provides a more explicit analysis of the fundamental properties of such processes, including their Wold–Cramér decomposition, their covariance structure, and their asymptotic stability and efficiency. Explicit formulae for optimal linear forecasts based either on finite or infinite sequences of past observations are provided. The practical significance of the theoretical results in this work is illustrated with an application to U.S. inflation data. The main finding is that inflation persistence increased after 1976, whereas from 1986 onward, the persistence declines and stabilizes to even lower levels than the pre-1976 period.Magdalinos gratefully acknowledges financial support by the British Academy: grant SRG2324\241667. Alessandra Canepa acknowledges financial support under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4, Component 2, Investment 1.1, Call for tender No. 104 published on February 2, 2022 by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), funded by the European Union—NextGenerationEU—Project Title 20223725WE—Methodological and computational issues in large-scale time series models for economics and finance – CUP J53D23003960006—Grant Assignment Decree No. 967 adopted on June 30, 2023 by the Italian Ministry of Ministry of University and Research (MUR)

Implicit bias in referrals to relational psychological therapies: review and recommendations for mental health services

Data availability statement: The dataset supporting this study is publicly available on Brunel University's Figshare repository. It can be accessed at the following link: https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.27332307.v2.Introduction: Timely and appropriate psychological treatment is an essential element required to address the growing burden of mental health issues, which has significant implications for individuals, society, and healthcare systems. However, research indicates that implicit biases among mental health professionals may influence referral decisions, potentially leading to disparities in access to relational psychological therapies. This study investigates bias in referral practices within mental health services, identifying key themes in referral procedures and proposing recommendations to mitigate bias and promote equitable access. Methods: A systematic review of literature published between 2002 and 2022 was conducted, focusing on biases, referral practices, and relational psychological therapies. The search strategy involved full-text screening of studies meeting inclusion criteria, specifically those examining professional and organizational implicit bias in mental health referrals. Thematic synthesis was employed to analyze and categorize bias within these domains, providing a structured framework for understanding its impact on referral decision making processes. Results: The search yielded 2,964 relevant papers, of which 77 underwent full-text screening. Ultimately, eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were incorporated into the review. The analysis revealed that bias development mechanisms in referral decisions occurred across five key domains: resource allocation, organizational procedures, clinical roles, decision-making, and referral preferences. These domains highlight organizational and practitioner-level factors contributing to disparities in access to psychological therapies. Discussion: Findings suggest that implicit biases within referral processes can limit equitable access to psychological therapies, particularly relational therapies that emphasize therapeutic alliance and patient-centered care. This study provides recommendations to address these biases, including standardized referral guidelines, enhanced professional training on implicit bias, and improved oversight mechanisms within mental health services.The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. CNWL NHS Foundation Trust provided a grant to Brunel University of London

Judicial review of competition law decisions: an empirical study of the Lithuanian context

Acknowledgements: The author would like to thank the Competition Council of Lithuania for providing the requested information. All comments and observations expressed in this paper are the author’s.Commemorating the 20th anniversary since joining the European Union (EU) (together with an obligation to enforce EU competition law), this study evaluates national judgments reviewing the Lithuanian National Competition Council’s [known as Konkurencijos Taryba (KT)] decisions during the 2004–24 period. Building on comprehensive empirical research on judicial review of the KT’s decisions, which involved employing both quantitative and qualitative methods, this article aims to capture the main trends and patterns of judicial review in the Lithuanian context, with some comparison to other small European countries. The study covers the KT’s decisions in relation to the application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU (and domestic equivalents), pertaining not only to infringement decisions but also to settlements, commitments, as well as decisions not to launch an investigation or discontinue an investigation. The findings reveal a predominant focus on the national provisions, with only 27 per cent of appealed cases embracing the EU element. As far as the outcomes are concerned, this article notes that the administrative courts mostly confirmed the competition authority’s decisions, with any interventions being calibrated in a manner to avoid any encroachment upon the authority’s discretion, clearly upholding the concept of judicial deference

Citizens’ Inclusion in Public Services: a Systematic Review of the Public Administration Literature and Reflection on Future Research Avenues

Data Availability Statement: Data sharing not applicable—no new data generated.Despite a resurgence of interest in social equity, citizens' inclusion in public services has attracted limited attention in the public administration literature so far, having often remained in the background of studies focusing on citizens' participation and representative bureaucracy. To fully comprehend and enhance the role of public administration in promoting inclusive public services and building inclusive societies, it is necessary to prioritize citizens' inclusion in public services as a central phenomenon. A first step in this direction is assessing existing knowledge and identifying new research avenues. Drawing on the “name, blame, claim” framework, this systematic literature review of 119 studies extends public administration scholarship by mapping and analyzing knowledge of citizens' inclusion in public services and identifying ways forward to strengthen the research and practice in this area

Traditional methods, consumers’ stereotyping of farmers and the compensatory effects of ethical food cues

Purpose: Attesting to the growing interest in ethical food, scholarship has examined how consumers respond to different cues associated with food ethicality. However, the psychological mechanisms through which ethical food cues shape consumer preferences have been overlooked. Focusing on an underexamined cue (traditional production methods) and drawing from the Stereotype Content Model, this study aims to examine whether a warmth stereotyping of farmers may explain the influence of this cue on consumer preferences. Moreover, the paper also explores how the interaction of cues of localness and traditionality affect consumers’ perceptions of farmers. The paper documents compensatory effects between traditional methods and localness in specific circumstances. Design/methodology/approach: Two online experiments (Study 1, n = 291; Study 2, n = 183) were conducted to test the hypotheses. This paper manipulates farming methods and localness and measure perceptions of warmth and consumer responses to the profile of a fictitious farm. A model of moderated mediation is examined which identifies compensatory effects between traditional farming methods and perceptions of localness. Findings: A warm stereotype of farmers explains the positive effect of traditional farming methods and localness on consumers’ food attitudes and preferences. Furthermore, different ethical cues can have a compensatory effect on consumers’ perceptions of warmth. Specifically, for consumers with strong opposition to long supply chains, the adoption of traditional farming methods compensates for the perceived warmth of geographically distant farmers. Thus, consumers who would usually dislike distant farmers retain a positive impression of them if these farmers can boast traditional farming cues. Furthermore, we find no evidence of an additive effect between traditional farming methods and localness on warmth: the addition of the two cues does not significantly increase perceptions of warmth. Research limitations/implications: The study demonstrates that the social perception of farmers plays a key role in food preferences and the perception of ethical cues in food consumption. Moreover, it shows how different cues may influence perceptions of warmth depending on consumers’ involvement. Practical implications: For the promotion of ethical food systems, farmers could increase favourable consumer attitudes by foregrounding the ethical cues of localness and traditional farming methods. Originality/value: The results extend our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning preferences for ethical food and explicate how multiple ethical cues influence ethical food consumption

From silos to synthesis: ensuring interdisciplinary education through synoptic assessment

Modular education limits students to narrow perspectives without interdisciplinary connections and leads to in silo learning. We show here how embedding synoptic assessments in the BSc Life Sciences at Brunel University has broken such silos to support holistic understanding and critical thinking

Towards reducing teacher burden in Performance-Based assessments using aivaluate: an emotionally intelligent LLM-Augmented pedagogical AI conversational agent

Data Availability: The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.Background: Performance-based assessments (PBAs), such as viva voce exams and oral presentations, offer comprehensive evaluations of student knowledge and skills but place substantial burdens on teachers. The integration of emotionally intelligent, LLM-augmented AI conversational agents presents a potential solution to alleviate teacher burden while maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of PBAs. This study investigates the use of AIvaluate, a pedagogical AI conversational agent designed to support teachers during oral PBAs by offering emotionally intelligent insights and streamlining the assessment process. A counterbalanced mixed-methods study design was employed with 35 teachers and students participating in both traditional face-to-face and AIvaluate-supported assessments. Data was collected through teacher-assigned grades, System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaires, and qualitative open-response surveys. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted to compare grading outcomes, system usability, and teacher preferences between the two assessment formats. Teachers issued significantly higher grades to students in AIvaluate-supported assessments (p = 0.033), attributed to more structured, consistent questioning and emotional state reporting. The overall SUS score for AIvaluate indicated “acceptable” usability, surpassing the face-to-face format. Thematic analysis revealed key strengths of AIvaluate, including automated question prompts, real-time emotional insights, and the convenience of remote operation. However, teachers noted limitations, such as occasional technical issues and the lack of a personal connection compared to traditional face-to-face interactions. AIvaluate demonstrates the potential to reduce teacher burden in PBAs while maintaining usability and assessment quality. Its emotionally intelligent features and automated functionalities enhance the assessment process, offering a scalable, technology-driven solution for modern education. While AIvaluate shows promise in reducing teacher burden during PBAs, technical limitations, emotional disconnection, and variability in assessment impact emphasise the need for further investigation before large-scale adoption. Future research should explore building further functionality to address the diverse needs of teachers, while focusing on addressing technical limitations and assessing long-term impacts on teacher satisfaction and student outcomes.No funding was obtained for this study

Innover pour l’Anthropocène dans des écoles rurales du Lesotho

Presented at: 2025 Conference: Educating in an Uncertain World: A Global Challenge, July 2-4, 2025, Workshop 4. Educating in the Time of the Anthropocene = Colloque 2025 : Éduquer dans un monde incertain : un enjeu mondial, 2-4 juillet 2025, Atelier 4. Éduquer au temps de l’AnthropocèneSince Western-style education was introduced to Africa in the 19th century, it has played a central role in producing the Anthropocene, shaping the attributes and aspirations of young people, and facilitating their incorporation into the global bioeconomy. In rural areas of the contemporary Global South, however, many young people find themselves surplus to the needs of today’s global economy, but also alienated from rural life – both by schooling and by an increasingly hostile climate. In this paper, we describe the outcomes of an intervention in which 34 student teachers conducted action research in rural Lesotho schools, seeking to make education more meaningful to rural learners. While the student teachers found ways to engage learners in the curriculum, their interventions tended to reinforce the conventional role of schooling, rather than offering a more transformative pathway.Depuis qu’elle a été introduite en Afrique au xixe siècle, l’éducation de type occidental a joué un rôle fondamental dans l’avènement de l’Anthropocène, façonnant les caractères et les aspirations des jeunes et facilitant leur incorporation dans la bioéconomie mondiale. Dans les zones rurales du Sud global, cependant, un grand nombre de jeunes se trouvent actuellement en situation de ne représenter qu’un surplus inutile par rapport aux besoins de l’économie mondiale contemporaine, mais également aliénés de la vie rurale du fait de l’enseignement scolaire et de conditions climatiques de plus en plus hostiles. Dans cet article, nous décrivons les résultats d’une intervention au cours de laquelle 34 étudiants-enseignants ont mené une recherche-action dans des écoles rurales au Lesotho, cherchant à accroître le sens de l’enseignement pour les apprenants ruraux. Si ces futurs enseignants ont trouvé des solutions pour impliquer leurs élèves dans le curriculum, leurs interventions ont eu tendance à renforcer le rôle conventionnel de la scolarité plutôt qu’à suggérer des pistes de travail plus transformatrices.Economic & Social Research Council, grant ref: ES/V001116/1, Title: Equipping Lesotho's primary school teachers for educating and motivating rural children

Introduction to the Research Handbook on the International Court of Justice

This Research Handbook presents an in-depth examination of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and its jurisprudence. Contributing authors dissect the global governance functions of the ICJ and its impact on national legal orders worldwide.This project was funded by the CaPE Project, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, grant agreement number 708228, Horizon 2020