Quantifying the response of bankfull channel width to active faulting in the Qianhe Graben on the southwest margin of Ordos Block, China

River longitudinal profiles have been widely used to quantify the transient landscape response to active faulting, but the fluvial cross-section is often ignored, yet width can also reveal river incision and tectonic activity. Channel width responds to tectonic forcing through flow concentration effects resulting in channel narrowing where vertical incision dominates during uplift acceleration. Here we employ a novel bankfull channel width extraction method using Landsat and ZY-3 satellite images, and SRTM DEM data to evaluate the cross-section landscape response to active faulting in the Qianhe Graben of southwest Ordos, China. Although some areas are difficult to access (e.g., thick Quaternary Loess and vegetation cover), limiting the possibility of measuring river widths in the field, the remote sensing width extraction method provides a complete river width evaluation. Twenty-four rivers known to be responding to ongoing tectonic uplift that drain across normal faults were extracted, and demonstrate that the width tends to be narrower in the footwall of faults. Along strike from north to south, the channel widths varied systematically with the distance to the river source, and the normalized wideness index (kwn) of the rivers also decreases to the southeast. In combination, with the distribution of the widths, kwn, exponential of channel width (b’), the main morphologies of the study area are controlled by the lithologies and faults. Additionally, the peak of unit stream power and boundary shear stress gives a new insight into the location of an active fault in this area and overall suggest that uplift rates are higher along the southern graben margin. In regions of tectonic uplift, channel narrowing and steepening are the main modes of channel morphology adjustment, and the timescale of channel width adjustment is usually much shorter than that of gradient adjustment. All of these observations indicate the river channel widths are tracing fault evolution in Qianhe Graben

Sibling species differently distributed around a CO2 vent show transplantation proteomic remodelling, while displaying metabolomic signatures associated with their origin

The cellular homeostatic response (CHR) and cellular stress response (CSR) work together to maintain homeostasis. Studying phylogenetically closely-related species inhabiting different environments can help investigate the interplay between the CHR and CSR. We conducted reciprocal in situ transplant experiments in a natural CO2 vent (Ischia, Italy), using the sibling annelid species Platynereis cf.. dumerilii and Platynereis cf.. massiliensis which have been shown to have different preferential distributions around the CO2 vent. Following transplantations, we characterised the response of each individual’s proteome, metabolome, and lipidome, to short or long-term exposure to different pCO2 regimes (i.e., high and low), and confirmed its genetic identity. Here we show that different components of the CHR and CSR are utilised at different rates when Platynereis spp. are exposed to different pCO2 regimes, with cellular responses shown to be conserved across species. Metabolome and lipidome responses were dependent on regime of origin, and changed relatively slowly, whereas proteome responses were dependent on transplant type and changed more rapidly. Our results provide new insights to improve our understanding of the interplay between different cellular physiological responses involved in defining the functional phenotype of marine species, and their ability to acclimatise to future projected high pCO2 conditions

Commentary on the Flocculonodular Lobe as a Cerebellar Resilience Zone: Could exercise really be the best medicine?

Recent work presented by Dr Alanna Watt at the International Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR) 2024 introduced the concept of region-specific RNA-mediated resilience zones within the cerebellum, particularly within the flocculonodular lobe, in the context of spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6). Here, I propose a perspective that links these resilience zones to exercise-induced neuroprotection. The flocculonodular lobe, primarily responsible for oculomotor control undergoes constant physiological activation. I suggest that this repetitive sensorimotor feedback could be a form of intrinsic cerebellar exercise, contributing to the molecular resilience observed in this region. This commentary synthesizes evidence from clinical trials in ataxia and broader neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and dementia, that support exercise as a neuroprotective intervention. It further explores whether artificial stimulation of cerebellar circuits might replicate these benefits. The hypothesis presented is that exercise, through either natural or artificial means, may actively reinforce or even create resilience zones, potentially altering disease trajectories. The commentary concludes by questioning whether intensity is required or if repetition alone suffices, and whether neurostimulation may serve as a proxy for and adjunct to movement-based activity

Driving renewable energy continuance in Malaysia through reinforcement sensitivity, technology infrastructure and psychological factors

Purpose: Based on the reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST), this study aims to examine the key factors that influence users’ renewable energy (RE) continuance intention. More importantly, the mediating role of excitement and the moderating role of technology infrastructure (TEC) and anxiety in the renewable energy continuance intention (RECI) is explored. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted among RE users in Malaysia and the results of a questionnaire survey of 397 were analysed using partial least square structural equation modelling. Findings: The study’s findings highlight the significant roles of excitement and anxiety in RE intentions, emphasizing the impact of psychological factors and government policy on RE adoption in Malaysia. It also proves the moderating effect of perceptual dimension attributed to TEC. Research limitations/implications: This study significantly advances the understanding of RECI, offering a replicable research framework that can be examined across regions and countries. Scholars can leverage the framework for further exploration, whereas managers should recognize reinforcement sensitivity influences on RECI and the impact of perceived technology infrastructural support. Originality/value: Given that this study is a pioneer attempt to investigate the approach and inhibiting factors relating to RECI through the application of RST, It provides novel insight for future research on RE among researchers and practitioners, thereby contributing to the limited body of knowledge on the psychological dynamics of RECI of an emerging economy

Should oral examination be reimagined in the era of AI?

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape education, concerns about the authenticity of student work have escalated, particularly in relation to written assignments influenced by AI-powered tools. This article explores the role of the oral examination as a valuable method for assessing true student understanding and considers its potential for broader use across various educational levels. We propose that oral exams could be effectively integrated into undergraduate courses, providing a means to verify student comprehension in an era of AI-generated content. By adopting oral assessments, educators can enhance academic integrity while fostering essential skills such as critical thinking and effective communication in today’s technology-driven world

Hadronic Vacuum Polarization for the Muon g-2 from Lattice QCD: Long-Distance and Full Light-Quark Connected Contribution

We present results for the dominant light-quark connected contribution to the long-distance window of the hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) contribution to the muon g-2 from lattice quantum chromodynamics. Specifically, with a new determination of the lattice scale on MILC\u27s physical-mass HISQ ensembles, using the Ω^{-} baryon mass, we obtain a result of a_{μ}^{ll,LD}(conn)=400.2(2.3)_{stat}(3.7)_{syst}[4.3]_{total}×10^{-10}. Summing this result with our recent determinations of the light-quark connected contributions to the short- and intermediate-distance windows, we obtain a subpercent precision determination of the light-quark-connected contribution to HVP of a_{μ}^{ll}(conn)=655.2(2.3)_{stat}(3.9)_{syst}[4.5]_{total}×10^{-10}. Finally, as a consistency check, we verify that an independent analysis of the full contribution is in agreement with the sum of individual windows. We discuss our future plans for improvements of our HVP calculations to meet the target precision of the Fermilab g-2 experiment

Understanding the evolution of the apical organ in the early branching metazoan, Nematostella vectensis

The apical organ is a key sensory structure in marine invertebrate larvae that is involved in sensory processing and neural coordination, thereby influencing larval locomotion, settlement, and metamorphosis. This thesis explores the evolution, development, and function of the apical organ and wider apical domain in cnidarian larvae, with a particular focus on Nematostella vectensis. As an early-branching metazoan, N. vectensis is a unique model for studying evolution of the apical organ, and subsequently the origins of the nervous system. Through generating tissue-specific transcriptomes and integrating this data with an existing single-cell RNA sequencing dataset, this research identified a distinct neuronal signature and at least six cell types comprising the apical domain of N. vectensis, uncovering the molecular complexity of this sensory organ.Comparative analyses of tissue-specific transcriptomes across other cnidarian species revealed a high level of conservation of anteroposterior patterning genes between N. vectensis and stony corals, however some critical genes involved in apical organ formation were absent from the stony coral apical transcriptomes. Further, a significant divergence in the expression of apical domain genes between anthozoans and medusozoans was uncovered. Moreover, the expression of 245 unique ciliary genes in the N. vectensis apical transcriptome, the only species studied in this thesis to produce larvae with an apical tuft, supports convergent evolution of the apical tuft in the Cnidaria and highlights the specialised nature of the N. vectensis apical organ.Finally, we delved into the molecular composition and functional role of the apical tuft in N. vectensis larvae. Perturbation of the transcription factor FoxJ1 identified the criticality of this gene for the formation of the apical tuft, with its knockdown arresting apical tuft development and resulting in delayed metamorphosis.However, as metamorphosis was still successful in the absence of an apical tuft, we concluded that the tuft plays a facilitatory role in the larval-polyp transition.Overall, these results presented in this thesis advance our understanding of how the apical organ evolved in the Cnidaria, providing new insights into both the conserved regulatory networks and species-specific pathways that underpin its development. Further, this research eludes to a more enigmatic and potentially complex role of the apical organ and apical tuft in regulating metamorphosis, which requires further investigation to solve

An investigation of violence sustained by nursing and midwifery students

AbstractBackgroundMany laws exist which protect healthcare personnel from violence within the workplace. Evidence suggests that violence towards nursing students continues and remains unreported. These violent incidents have been proven to have psychological effects.AimsThe aim of the study was to identify the extent, type and impact of violence and aggression sustained by nursing and midwifery students.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was employed in a UK University to investigate the violence and aggression sustained by 369 pre-registration nursing and midwifery students.FindingsIn total, 54.7% (n=202) of students reported sustaining violence or aggression in their current academic year. This included verbal violence and aggression (92.7% n=190) physical (46.8% n=96) and sexual (11.3% n=24). Many psychological effects were sustained including anxiety, loss of confidence and post-traumatic stress disorder.ConclusionsA climate of non-tolerance with violence and aggression with healthcare organisations needs to become the norm to protect healthcare workers and nursing and midwifery students. Future research should concentrate on underexplored areas such as whether violence or aggressionaffects student nursing and midwifery attrition rates, career choices, and recruitment onto nursing and midwifery programmes.Keywords: student; nurse; midwife; violence; aggression; impac

Automated Vulnerability Scanning and Security Audit Framework for Maritime Systems

The maritime industry is a well-established sector, with the shipping industry dating back hundreds of years. The devices in this sector differ from those in the Information Technology (IT) sector in their usage, operations, hardware, andprotocols. Technological advancements have introduced new challenges in the sector, including the increased risk of cyber attacks. To effectively identify, respond to, and analyse these threats, it is essential to understand the cyber securityvulnerabilities in maritime systems and system-of-systems.Currently, there are no standardised methods or automated tools for conducting cyber security testing of maritime systems. This thesis presents an automated vulnerability scanning and security audit framework for maritime systems thatwill perform cyber security testing on real-world hardware systems and system-of-systems to identify and assess vulnerabilities. The proposed framework, BridgeAudit, is divided into three phases, each comprising various modules that assist in the automation of testing and security assessments. These phases– asset profiling, auditing, and reporting– feature different functionalities that work together to produce comprehensive security audit reports. The Asset Profiling phase focuses on profiling and managing devices onboard a vessel to support in automated testing while also assisting in compliance, utilising a machine learning algorithm. The Auditing phase examines the security of vessel networks to detect vulnerabilities and identify potential attack paths using optimisation techniques and heuristics. Meanwhile, the Reporting phase simplifies the presentation of results and findings, generating clear and accessible reports. To validate the effectiveness of the framework, an implementation of BridgeAudit was executed on real hardware systems and networks within a maritime cyber-physical testbed. This implementation led to the identification of vulnerabilities,including a few undocumented ones within the systems. BridgeAudit aims to assist stakeholders, maritime professionals, and testers in better understanding their devices, enabling them to implement mitigation strategies and prepare forpotential cyber attacks

Towards a Sustainable Construction Industry: A Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation of Critical Barriers to Entry and the Retention of Women in the South African Construction Industry

Over the past few decades, numerous efforts have been made to increase the proportion of women in the construction industry, coupled with various calls for legislation and rules to prohibit gender discrimination. Despite these efforts, minimal progress has been noticed in the construction industry. While recruitment remains crucial, the current culture in construction reveals a knowledge gap in recruitment and retention in employment—a concept known as a ‘leaky pipeline’. Lack of awareness of career options and the challenges of working in a male-dominated, occasionally discriminatory workplace are some of the significant barriers to attracting and keeping women in the construction industry. Much of the research in South Africa shows that most construction companies employed few women but only in lower secretarial and administrative positions. Therefore, this study investigated the barriers facing women’s entry and retention in construction-related employment in South Africa using fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) to understand and prioritise the barriers. Data were collected through the administration of online and paper-based questionnaires. The results of the analysis show that the barriers in the order of criticality include support and empowerment issues (SEs), educational/academic-related barriers (ABs), barriers from professional conditions and work attributes (BPs), social perception and gender stereotype barriers (SPs), professional perceptions and gender bias (PP), and individual confidence/interest/awareness/circumstance-related barriers (IBs), respectively. Based on the findings of the study, several recommendations, including on-the-job tutoring and flexible work arrangements, amongst others, were provided