Cellular signalling protrusions enable dynamic distant contacts in spinal cord neurogenesis

In the developing mouse ventral spinal cord, HES5, a transcription factor downstream of Notch signalling, is expressed as evenly spaced clusters of high HES5-expressing neural progenitor cells along the dorsoventral axis. While Notch signalling requires direct membrane contact for its activation, we have previously shown mathematically that contact needs to extend beyond neighbouring cells for the HES5 pattern to emerge. However, the presence of cellular structures that could enable such long-distance signalling was unclear. Here, we report that cellular protrusions are present all along the apicobasal axis of individual neural progenitor cells. Through live imaging, we show that these protrusions dynamically extend and retract reaching lengths of up to ∼20 µm, enough to extend membrane contact beyond adjacent cells. The Notch ligand DLL1 was found to colocalise with protrusions, further supporting the idea that Notch signalling can be transduced at a distance. The effect of protrusions on the HES5 pattern was tested by reducing the density of protrusions using the CDC42 inhibitor ML141, leading to a tendency to decrease the distance between high HES5 cell clusters. However, this tendency was not significant and leaves an open question about their role in the fine-grained organisation of neurogenesis

Advancing Paleontology: A Survey on Deep Learning Methodologies in Fossil Image Analysis

Understanding ancient organisms and their paleo-environments through the study of body fossils represents a central tenet of paleontology. Advances in digital image capture over the past several decades now allow for efficient and accurate documentation, curation and interrogation of fossil anatomy over disparate length scales. Despite these developments, key body fossil image processing and analysis tasks, such as segmentation and classification still require significant user intervention, which can be labor-intensive and subject to human bias. Recent advancements in deep learning offer the potential to automate fossil image analysis while improving throughput and limiting operator bias. Despite the recent emergence of deep learning within paleontology, challenges such as the scarcity of diverse, high quality image datasets and the complexity of fossil morphology necessitate further advancements and the adoption of concepts from other scientific domains. Here, we comprehensively review state-of-the-art deep learning-based methodologies applied towards body fossil analysis while grouping the studies based on the fossil type and nature of the task. Furthermore, we analyze existing literature to tabulate dataset information, neural network architecture type, key results, and comprehensive textual summaries. Finally, based on the collective limitations of the existing studies, we discuss novel techniques for fossil data augmentation and fossil image enhancements, which can be combined with advanced neural network architectures, such as diffusion models, generative hybrid networks, transformers, and graph neural networks, to improve body fossil image analysis.<br/

A systematic review to identify research gaps in studies modeling MenB vaccinations against Neisseria infections

The genus Neisseria includes two major human pathogens: N. meningitidis causing bacterial meningitis/septicemia and N. gonorrhoeae causing gonorrhoea. Mathematical models have been used to simulate their transmission and control strategies, and the recent observation of a meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine being partially effective against gonorrhoea has led to an increased modeling interest. Here we conducted a systematic review of the literature, focusing on studies that model vaccination strategies with MenB vaccines against Neisseria incidence and antimicrobial resistance. Using journal, preprint, and grey literature repositories, we identified 52 studies that we reviewed for validity, model approaches and assumptions. Most studies showed a good quality of evidence, and the variety of approaches along with their different modeling angles, was assuring especially for gonorrhoea studies. We identified options for future research, including the combination of both meningococcal and gonococcal infections in studies to have better estimates for vaccine benefits, and the spill over of gonorrhoea infections from the heterosexual to the MSM community and vice versa. Cost-effectiveness studies looking at at-risk and the wider populations can then be used to inform vaccine policies on gonorrhoea, as they have for meningococcal disease.</p

TPI MCA Productivity Scorecards and Dashboards

This dataset includes scorecards for all Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCA) in the United Kingdom. These scorecards indicate how well each MCA area is performing compared to the median of all ITL1 regions in the UK for a broad set of indicators, including productivity performance and drivers of productivity according to the categories: Business Performance; Skills &amp; Training; Health &amp; Wellbeing, and, Investment, infrastructure &amp; Connectivity.The MCA Productivity Scorecards and Dashboards package include:The Sources of Data and Methods background documentThe Scorecards for the United Kingdom and its DashboardThe Scorecards and Dashboards for the following MCAs:- Greater London Authority- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough- West of England- York and North Yorkshire- Greater Manchester- Liverpool City Region- East Midlands- West Midlands- North East- Tees Valley- South Yorkshir

Climate change impacts on blanket peatland in Great Britain

1. Peatland restoration has been suggested as a key method for the UK to meet national, legally binding climate targets. This can involve blocking up drainage ditches or erosion features, as well as encouraging regeneration of peatland vegetation through Sphagnum reintroduction or removal of scrub or trees. It is unclear, however, how suitable future conditions will be for both peat accumulation and Sphagnum survival.2. We applied three bioclimatic envelope models for blanket bogs in Britain to assess how future climate is likely to deviate from current conditions, focussing on four national parks with significant peatland area (Dartmoor, the Flow Country, the Peak District and Snowdonia). We also assessed the likelihood of thresholds being passed at which irreversible desiccation of Sphagnum moss may occur.3. Our bioclimatic envelope models use updated climate projections (bias-corrected UKCP18 projections under Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5) that are more accurate in the upland regions in which blanket bogs can occur, and use thresholds of blanket bog occurrence which are tailored to Britain. This gives us higher confidence in the results as compared to previous models.4. Our results show substantial losses in areas suitable for peatland by 2061–2080 under all RCPs. Under RCP8.5 there is virtually no peatland within its current bioclimatic envelope in our case study areas and only limited areas in Snowdonia under RCP4.5, suggesting these regions will be outside the ideal conditions that lead to peat accumulation. Only western Scotland retains substantial areas suitable for peat.5. The frequency of Sphagnum desiccation events is projected to increase by between 44% and 82% which will likely result in decreased success of hummock forming species, particularly at easterly sites where rainfall is lower, though wetter microsites will likely allow more drought-tolerant species to persist.6. Policy implications. Action should be taken to raise water tables at degraded sites to limit the impact of future drought conditions. However, climatic conditions being outside the current bioclimatic envelope may make full restoration challenging. Sphagnum reintroduction programmes may have greater success utilising drought-tolerant species as hummock forming species are at greater risk of die off during desiccation events

Fathers' experiences of perinatal death following miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death:A meta-ethnography

Following a perinatal death, parents can experience mental health difficulties and social stigma around the loss that can lead to increased feelings of isolation. This meta-synthesis aimed to explore partners' experiences of perinatal death following miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death. A search of six electronic databases resulted in the inclusion of 18 studies involving over 300 fathers. Using meta-ethnography five themes: were developed 1) The pain with loss, 2) state of shock, 3) suffering in silence, 4) disconnection from the self and others' and 5) coping. A lack of support available from services or familial support networks led to isolation. Coping strategies fostering open communication often allowed fathers to process the death of their baby, and many spoke positively of their ongoing connection with their baby that died. However, consequences of unhealthy coping mechanisms, including avoidance or blame, resulted in the father's disconnection from the self, others or the world.</p

Composition-Dependent Morphology of Stoichiometric and Oxygen Deficient PuO₂ Nanoparticles in the Presence of H₂O and CO₂: A Density-Functional Theory Study

Among the most pressing challenges faced by the UK nuclear industry is how to safely handle its large stockpile of plutonium dioxide. In particular, understanding how the exposed surfaces interact with the environment is critical to establishing the chemical reactivity and determining suitable processing and storage conditions. In this work, we apply an ab initio modelling approach to predict the morphology and surface speciation of stoichiometric and oxygen deficient PuO2 nanoparticles as a function of temperature and in the presence of individually- and co-adsorbed H2O and CO2. We find that co-adsorption of the two species has a significant impact on the surface composition, resulting in the equilibrium particle morphology being strongly dependent on the storage conditions. This work provides valuable insight into the behaviour of nanoparticulate PuO2 in the presence of ubiquitous small molecules and marks an important step toward more realistic models extendable to other adsorbates and actinide oxides

Periodic limb movements in sleep in patients using antidepressants

Depression and periodic limb movement disease are both common disorders which frequently co-exist. Furthermore, antidepressants are known to cause and worsen periodic limb movements in sleep, which can worsen the quality of sleep and subsequently daytime symptoms. However, the effect of antidepressants on periodic limb movements is not uniform and depends on their mechanism of action. In this review we summarise the knowledge on the mechanism of periodic limb movements in sleep, and how changes in the concentration of neurotransmitters can contribute to them. We comprehensively evaluate the literature on antidepressants induced periodic limb movement in sleep. Based on this, we suggest clinical implications and further focus on research.</p

Sectoral coupling pathway towards a 100 % renewable energy system for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland, in alignment with the United Kingdom's net zero targets for 2050, is focusing on a transition to a 100 % renewable energy system. Wind energy is the backbone of this future system due to its abundant resource potential, low environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. However, achieving a fully variable renewable energy system requires flexibility on the demand side to reliably facilitate the displacement of traditional dispatchable power plants with variable renewable resources such as wind and solar. To address this challenge, this study aims to develop optimal pathways for transitioning Northern Ireland's current energy system to 100 % renewable energy. The proposed model outlines eight pathway steps that reflect technical and operational changes needed on both the supply and demand sides. These steps include: 1) building a reference model, 2) implementing a district heating system, 3) deploying electric heat pumps, 4) reducing reliance on dispatchable power plants, 5) integrating electric vehicles, 6) incorporating demand-side management, 7) producing methanol for buses and trucks, and 8) replacing remaining fossil fuels with synthetic gas. Each step is evaluated using EnergyPLAN, which considers both technical and economic viability alongside the increased penetration of wind and solar power. The findings illustrate that Northern Ireland can transition to a 100 % renewable energy system at a cost comparable to its current system, providing a practical and cost-effective pathway to meet its 2050 target. By analysing the impact of each step individually, this study provides valuable insights for policymakers on effectively decarbonising Northern Ireland's entire energy system