Macroalgal mat species diversity, composition, and seasonality at four coastal sites across the English Channel/La Manche region

Seaweed mats are a consequence of eutrophication in coastal waters and can have negative ecological impacts. Consequently, many European environmental assessment frameworks (e.g. the Water Framework Directive, Marine Strategy Framework Directive) monitor seaweed mat biomass. Ulva, commonly referred to as sea lettuce, is often assumed to be the dominant taxon, but mats can contain multiple Ulva species, and other taxa, and within-mat diversity is often poorly known. Understanding the composition of seaweed mats has implications for nutrient removal from coastal waters because seaweeds uptake and store nutrients differently between species, time of year and location. The use of traditional molecular methods to identify seaweed species cannot easily be applied to mats. In contrast, with the development of Next Generation Sequencing and Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences assay, a bulk sampling approach for monitoring the seaweed species within mats can be applied. Here, we applied this bulk sampling approach to monitor seaweed species at four sites: three estuarine sites containing mudflats and one exposed sandy site across the English Channel/La Manche region that historically and currently have occurrences of seaweed mats. We assessed variability between sites with respect to biomass, entrainment, species composition and seasonality. The highest mat abundance was found at Holes Bay, Poole, UK and entrainment or burial of seaweed within the sediment was found at two sites, Holes Bay and the Ledano Estuary, France, correlating with similar sediment types and high seaweed biomass. Foliose Ulva lacinulata dominated at Holes Bay, while Langstone Harbour, Portsmouth, UK had many tubular and filamentous green species and one brown filamentous species. At the two French sites we identified foliose Ulva species. This study demonstrates the high seaweed species diversity and biomass that can be found within macroalgal mats, information that will be important in the refinement and development of model-based nutrient removal estimates as part of nutrient mitigation and management strategies

Treatment of menopausal vasomotor symptoms and sensory issues in a 53-year-old autistic woman – a case report

Considered a taboo topic in many societies, menopause in autistic women is still under-recognised, and little research addresses its impact. Existing studies suggest that this often-difficult transition period is associated with numerous unmet health needs and a frustrating lack of knowledge and support from healthcare professionals. Menopausal vasomotor symptoms, the hallmark of menopause, can intensify and worsen sensory sensitivities in many autistic women. We present the case of a 53-year-old Caucasian autistic woman without intellectual disability or other current psychiatric comorbidities. The patient underwent gynaecologic and hormonal lab testing, and was introduced to hormone replacement therapy to ameliorate symptoms of oestradiol and progesterone deficiency. Menopausal vasomotor symptoms experienced by the patient were monitored over a period of seven months following the implementation of hormone replacement therapy and nonpharmacologic approaches. Hormone replacement therapy decreased menopausal vasomotor symptoms, but not all her initial complains. Strong sensory issues were linked to more severe menopausal vasomotor symptoms. This case highlights the need for further research and the development of the global Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) Autism® model to advance medical care offered to autistic women during menopause

Anthropometric Measurements from a 3D Photogrammetry-Based Digital Avatar: A Non-Experimental Cross-Sectional Study to Assess Reliability and Agreement

Photogrammetry captures and stitches multiple images together to generate a digital model of the human body, called an avatar, making it potentially useful in healthcare. Its validity for anthropometry remains to be established. We evaluated the reliability and agreement of measurements derived from a three-dimensional digital avatar generated by photogrammetry compared to manual collection. Fifty-three volunteers (34.02 ± 11.94 years of age, 64% female, 22.5 kg∙m−2 body mass index) were recruited, and twenty-two body regions (neck, armpits, biceps, elbows, wrists, chest, breast, waist, belly, hip, thighs, knees, calves, ankles) were taken by an individual rater with a tape measure. Digital measurements were generated from photogrammetry. Participants’ intraclass correlation coefficients indicated strong consistency, with agreement of over 90% for limb regions such as biceps, elbows, wrists, thighs, knees, calves, and ankles, while chest and armpits showed lowest agreement (1 cm) and variation. Bland–Altman analysis revealed wider limits of agreements and higher biases for chest (−2.44 cm), waist and belly (around −1.2 cm), and armpits (around −1.1 cm) compared to limbs. Our findings suggest that photogrammetry-based digital avatars can be a promising tool for anthropometric assessment, particularly for limbs, but may require refinement in trunk-related regions

Application of Systems-of-Systems Theory to Electromagnetic Warfare Intentional Electromagnetic Interference Risk Assessment

Battlefields contain complex networks of electromagnetic (EM) systems, owned by adversary/allied military forces and civilians, communicating intentionally or unintentionally. Attacker’s strategies may include Intentional EM Interference (IEMI) to adversary target systems, although transmitted signals may additionally degrade/disrupt allied/civilian systems (called victims). To aid decision-making processes relating to IEMI attacks, Risk Assessment (RA) is performed to determine whether interference risks to allied/civilian systems are acceptable. Currently, there is no formalized Quantitative RA Method (QRAM) capable of calculating victim risk distributions, so a novel approach is proposed to address this knowledge gap, utilizing an Electromagnetic Warfare (EW) IEMI RA method modeling scenarios consisting of interacting EM systems within complex, dynamic, diverse, and uncertain environments, using Systems-of-Systems (SoS) theory. This paper aims to address this knowledge gap via critical analysis utilizing a case study which demonstrates the use of an Acknowledged SoS-based model as input to a QRAM capable of calculating victim risk distributions within EW IEMI RA-associated scenarios. Transmitter operators possess only uncertain/fuzzy knowledge of victim systems, so it is proposed that a Moot Acknowledged System-of-Fuzzy-Systems applies to EW IEMI RA scenarios. In summary, a novel SoS description feeding a novel QRAM (supported by a systematic literature review of RA mathematical modeling techniques)is proposed to address the knowledge gap

The significance of crystal structure on grain refinement during severe plastic deformation

This study focused on the significance of crystal structure on the grain refinement occurring during severe plastic deformation without considering the activation of softening mechanisms which inherently hinder grain refinement. Pure metals of Fe, Co and Ni, with relatively close melting points and initial grain sizes, were selected as models for BCC, HCP and FCC materials, respectively, for processing by high-pressure torsion under similar condition at room temperature. Severe plastic deformation of the BCC, HCP and FCC materials led to grain refinement with average grain sizes of ~90, ~60 and ~120 nm, respectively, with the FCC material showing the lowest hardness and microstrain among the studied materials. The formation of shear bands in the BCC and HCP materials were effective in microstructure fragmentation during straining which facilitated a finer grain size compared to the FCC material without shear bands. A significant grain refinement with the highest dislocation density was obtained due to an insufficient number of slip systems in the HCP material which encouraged deformation-induced twinning and a transformation for strain accommodation. The results demonstrate the high potential for achieving exceptional grain refinement in materials with an HCP crystal structure by comparison with BCC and then FCC materials

Evaluating the impact of user and learning experience in three cultural heritage VR applications

Many existing Virtual Reality (VR) applications in the Digital Cultural Heritage (DCH) domain are for education purposes. As educational VR DCH experiences become more prevalent, it becomes increasingly important to understand the user and learner experience of such installations. This work reports on a user study (n=30) evaluating three educational VR DCH experiences using three existing User experience (UX) evaluation methodologies from related fields and three learning evaluation methodologies. A total of 31 participants were recruited for the experiment, resulting in a dataset of 30 valid records. Our research seeks to explore the relationship between UX and Learning experience (LX), and their impact on learning in VR DCH experiences. Our results suggest that UX and LX in educational VR DCH experiences can influence certain aspects of learning, such as retention, concentration, motivation, and flexibility. Additionally, specific aspects of the educational VR DCH experience captured evidence by three existing UX evaluation and three learning evaluation methodologies are identified. These include instrumental aspects (ease of use, learnability, efficiency, etc.), stimulation of new experiences, the role of interactions, immersion in VR DCH contexts and flexibility of learning pace and using learning materials

The Dynamics of Emotional Attachments and Identity Formation within Protest Movements: Exploring Expressive Behaviours during the Nigeria's Protests

This research explores the emotional dynamics across the phases of protests against violence committed by Nigeria’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). Our research explores how expressions on digital platforms and activists’ personal reflections reflect the changing emotions of protesters and how emotions evolve with the formation of collective identities. Through an analysis of Twitter posts using #EndSARS (October 2020), we explore how young Nigerians overcame ethnic and religious societal divisions and organised a coordinated campaign against police brutality, humiliation, corruption and deprivation. By mapping the emotions in Twitter posts chronologically, we find distinct phases of the protest reflected in the expressions of activists. Initially, the mood was frustration and sadness, but this evolved into anger as young Nigerians shared tales of injustice and victimhood. As the mood intensified a collective identity formed around one Nigeria. Despite fear of reprisals and repression Nigerians took to the streets and developed a bond of trust founded on expressions of shared identity and commitment. Support was gained within and beyond their immediate localities leading to an upsurge in joy and pride and the anticipation of success. Hence, we offer a model of emotional engagement in protest movements which can form hypotheses for future analysis

The impact of Promoting Sustainable Development in Business Education and Student Engagement in Fostering Student Commitment to the SDGs

This chapter explores the vital role of higher education institutions (HEIs), particularly business schools, in promoting sustainable development and advancing the commitment of students to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on enhancing student engagement. Drawing on experiential learning, transformative learning, and stakeholder theory, this chapter illustrates how business education can prepare future leaders to address real-world sustainability challenges. Experiential learning - especially via AI-enhanced simulations - helps students apply theoretical knowledge in dynamic, practical settings. Transformative learning fosters critical reflection, encouraging students to challenge profit-driven norms and embrace ethical, sustainable perspectives. Stakeholder theory promotes inclusive decisionmaking and long-term value creation, aligning with sustainability principles. Integrating education for sustainable development (ESD), through curricula, studentled initiatives, interdisciplinary projects, and institutional partnerships, further enhances engagement. Initiatives such as SDG-themed events, green campus projects, and participation in the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) raise awareness and inspire behavioural change, though improved evaluation methods are needed to assess long-term outcomes. This chapter advocates embedding sustainability in both academic and co-curricular experiences, supported by a campus culture which fosters proactive student involvement, and highlights strategies to deepen engagement and nurture genuine concern for sustainability, while acknowledging challenges such as limited institutional support or inconsistent messaging. Sustained, coordinated, efforts by HEIs are essential to overcoming these barriers and fostering long-term student commitment. Finally, the chapter outlines practical and theoretical contributions, and suggests avenues for future research to advance sustainability education and enhance meaningful student engagement in higher education

Fighting against the machine: Inside a solutions journalism campaign in UK local newsrooms

There is growing momentum behind the solutions journalism (SOJO) movement, with news organizations across the world increasingly embedding news reporting practices on how people respond to social problems. Previous research suggests that SOJO has potential to reconfigure relationships between news audiences and journalists, while simultaneously opening new revenue streams. But what impediments might SOJO face in fast-paced and resource-poor newsroom contexts, especially those that serve local audiences? Following a year-long campaign where we helped introduce SOJO into 47 UK local news titles, we begin to answer this question, based on interviews with eight SOJO mentors, 17 journalists and 10 editors, alongside observations from mentors’ fora. While journalists saw many benefits to the practice, we outline several impediments to the successful implementation of SOJO in local media, including time and workflow, metrics and institutional rewards, and editorial commitment. Further, we identify the emergence of a pragmatic form of that we call “SOJO lite”; characterized as news that contains elements of solutions journalism but falls short of the widely used definitions suggested by industry leaders. Both findings have implications for the future direction of this emergent journalism practice

Supply network disruption: A framework for assessing vulnerability and implementing resilience strategies

Disruptions to food supply chains can have significant impacts on food security and economic stability. This study investigates the resilience of supply networks to such disruptions, focusing on the distribution of live fish between farms in England and Wales as a case study. A decision support framework is developed to assess network vulnerability and ensure operational continuity in the face of disruptions to the supply and demand balance. The framework incorporates a novel rewiring algorithm that dynamically reconfigures network connections to maintain the flow of goods. The algorithm predicts supply-demand pairs and adjusts connections to preserve functionality during disruptions. To evaluate the performance of the framework and algorithm, a combination of topological metrics, such as connectivity and redundancy, and operational measures, including supply fulfilment and distribution efficiency, is utilised. Through simulations of random and targeted node removals, the rewiring algorithm is shown to effectively mitigate the impact of disruptions, preserve network functionality, and help ensure a consistent supply of live fish. These findings offer valuable insights for managing disruptions in aquaculture supply chains and highlight the broader applicability of the framework to enhance the resilience of other supply networks