8 research outputs found
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Restraint, disinhibition and food-related processing bias
This study examined associations between restraint, disinhibition and food-related processing bias (FPB, assessed by the emotional Stroop task) in males and females in the UK, Greece and Iran. Results showed high restraint was associated with higher FPB. However, high restrained current dieters showed lower FPB that high restrained non-dieters. There was no significant difference in FPB for those showing high versus low disinhibition. Results are discussed in relation to theories of incentive salience and current concerns
Conservation of oceanic island floras: Present and future global challenges
Currentthreatstotheplanet’sbiodiversityareunprecedented,andtheyparticularlyimperilinsular
floras.Inthisinvestigation,weusethethreatfactorsidentifiedbytheMillenniumEcosystem
Assessmentasthemaindriversofbiodiversitylossonislandstodefineandrank13current,continuing
threatstotheplantdiversityofninefocalarchipelagoswherevolcanicorigin(orintheSeychellesa
prolongedisolationafteracontinentalorigin)hasproducedahighdegreeofendemicityandfragilityin
the faceofhabitatalteration.Wealsoconductaglobalendangermentassessmentbasedonthe
numbersofinsularendemicplantsintheendangered(EN)andcriticallyendangered(CR)IUCN
categoriesfor53islandgroupswithanestimated9951endemicplantspecies,providinga
representativesampleoftheworld’sinsularsystemsandtheirfloristicrichness.Ouranalysesindicate
that isolationdoesnotsignificantlyinfluenceendangerment,butplantendemicsfromverysmall
islandsaremoreoftencriticallyendangered.Weestimatethatbetween3500and6800oftheestimated
70,000 insularendemicplantspeciesworldwidemightbehighlythreatened(CR+EN)andbetweenca.
2000 and2800ofthemincriticaldangerofextinction(CR).Basedontheseanalyses,andona
worldwideliteraturereviewofthebiologicalthreatfactorsconsidered,weidentifychallenging
questionsforconservationresearch,asking(i)whatarethemosturgentprioritiesfortheconservation
of insularspeciesandfloras,and(ii)withtheknowledgeandassetsavailable,howcanweimprovethe
impactofconservationscienceandpracticeonthepreservationofislandbiodiversity?Ouranalysis
indicatesthatthesynergisticactionofmanythreatfactorscaninducemajorecologicaldisturbances,
leadingtomultipleextinctions.Wereviewweaknessesandstrengthsinconservationresearchand
managementintheninefocalarchipelagos,andhighlighttheurgentneedforconservationscientiststo
shareknowledgeandexpertise,identifyanddiscusscommonchallenges,andformulatemulti-
disciplinaryconservationobjectivesforinsularplantendemicsworldwide.Toourknowledge,thisisthe
mostup-to-dateandcomprehensivesurveyyettoreviewthethreatfactorstonativeplantsonoceanic
islandsanddefinepriorityresearchquestions
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Development and validation of a Food Preoccupation Questionnaire
Existing Food Preoccupation Questionnaires do not take account of food-related thoughts that have a positive emotional valence. We report on the development and validation of a questionnaire that provides independent assessments of thought frequency and emotional valence (positive, negative or neutral)
Molecular support for a basal grade of morphologically distinct, monotypic genera in the species-rich Vanguerieae alliance (Rubiaceae, Ixoroideae) : Its systematic and conservation implications
Many monotypic genera with unique apomorphic characters have been difficult to place in the morphology-based classifications of the coffee family (Rubiaceae). We rigorously assessed the subfamilial phylogenetic position and generic status of three enigmatic genera, the Seychellois Glionnetia, the Southeast Asian Jackiopsis, and the Chinese Trailliaedoxa within Rubiaceae, using sequence data of four plastid markers (ndhF, rbcL, rps16, trnT-F). The present study provides molecular phylogenetic support for positions of these genera in the subfamily Ixoroideae, and reveals the presence of a basal grade of morphologically distinct, monotypic genera (Crossopteryx,Jackiopsis,Scyphiphora,Trailliaedoxa, and Glionnetia, respectively) in the species-rich Vanguerieae alliance. These five genera may represent sole representatives of their respective lineages and therefore may carry unique genetic information. Their conservation status was assessed, applying the criteria set in IUCN Red List Categories. We consider Glionnetia and Jackiopsis Endangered. Scyphiphora is recognized as Near Threatened despite its extensive range and Crossopteryx as Least Concern. Trailliaedoxa is poorly known (Data Deficient). Finally, the generic status of Glionnetia,Jackiopsis, and Trailliaedoxa and the monogeneric tribe Jackieae as defined by Ridsdale are supported.authorCount :
Genomic reconstruction of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in England
AbstractThe evolution of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus leads to new variants that warrant timely epidemiological characterization. Here we use the dense genomic surveillance data generated by the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium to reconstruct the dynamics of 71 different lineages in each of 315 English local authorities between September 2020 and June 2021. This analysis reveals a series of subepidemics that peaked in early autumn 2020, followed by a jump in transmissibility of the B.1.1.7/Alpha lineage. The Alpha variant grew when other lineages declined during the second national lockdown and regionally tiered restrictions between November and December 2020. A third more stringent national lockdown suppressed the Alpha variant and eliminated nearly all other lineages in early 2021. Yet a series of variants (most of which contained the spike E484K mutation) defied these trends and persisted at moderately increasing proportions. However, by accounting for sustained introductions, we found that the transmissibility of these variants is unlikely to have exceeded the transmissibility of the Alpha variant. Finally, B.1.617.2/Delta was repeatedly introduced in England and grew rapidly in early summer 2021, constituting approximately 98% of sampled SARS-CoV-2 genomes on 26 June 2021.</jats:p