The importance of seed bank knowledge for the restoration of coastal plant communities - a case study of salt marshes and dune slacks at the Belgian coast

Knowledge on seed bank density and species composition is crucial for predicting the probability that target species will establish in the plant community on a restored site. A general overview of data available for plant species occurring in coastal plant communities showed that information on seed persistence is up to now very limited. The available data suggest that restoration of coastal plant communities cannot rely on the seed bank, except for annual species of salt marshes, and that the seed bank is to a large extent composed of species of nutrient rich habitats. This was confirmed by two case studies in dune slacks and salt marshes on the Belgian coast. Seed density in dune slacks was found to be relatively high, but the seed bank contained almost exclusively seeds of species of nutrient rich habitats, resulting in a very low similarity ratio between seed bank and vegetation. Germination from the seed bank would rather hamper the establishment of target species because competitive pressure imposed by fast growing species of nutrient rich habitats would increase. In salt marshes, the similarity between seed bank and vegetation was higher, because there is a higher contribution of typical salt marsh species in the seed bank, although not all target species are equally represented. To allow predictions of future species composition on restored sites, seed bank studies should be an essential part of each coastal restoration project

A 'good faith' interpretation of the right to manifest religion? The diverging approaches of the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and UN Human Rights Committee have reached contradictory decisions in cases concerning the right to manifest religion. This discrepancy calls into question the universality of the right and is problematic from the perspective of legal certainty. Consequently, this article explores the extent to which the diverging decisions of these two bodies are compatible with a good faith interpretation of the right to manifest religion. A good faith interpretation of the right is identified by utilising the travaux préparatoires and subsequent interpretations. It is argued that by failing to scrutinise the necessity of restrictions and the role of secularism, the ECtHR has undermined this good faith interpretation and, in so doing, is not fulfilling its role as ‘the conscience of Europe’

Electrical Energy Storage Strategy to Support Electrification of the Fleet

NPS NRP Project PosterThis research aims to identify current advanced battery requirement (baseline) and project anticipated battery requirements for the operating force in 2035 and 2050. The research may consider other forms of energy storage as appropriate and based on sponsor interest. The research may use a mission engineering perspective to determine the battery requirements. The analysis may include battery chemistry, energy density, charge/discharge rate, safety concerns, etc. of the battery. The research will attempt to answer the following questions: What is the current advanced battery requirement (baseline)? What is the projection for batteries required by the operating force by 2035? What is the projection for batteries required by the operating force by 2050? The research plan is: 1) Conduct lit review, 2) Identify existing battery systems aboard operational systems and near-term developments, 3) Identify/develop CONOPS and mission scenarios for future battery uses, 4) Conduct targeted lit review on battery technologies that may be viable in 2035 and 2050, 5) Conduct analysis of current power converter and control hardware/software, and battery energy management, 6) Analysis of future battery techs for safety, 7) Develop predictions and recommendations for future battery use across the fleet in 2035 and 2050.N9 - Warfare SystemsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Electrical Energy Storage Strategy to Support Electrification of the Fleet

NPS NRP Technical ReportThis research aims to identify current advanced battery requirement (baseline) and project anticipated battery requirements for the operating force in 2035 and 2050. The research may consider other forms of energy storage as appropriate and based on sponsor interest. The research may use a mission engineering perspective to determine the battery requirements. The analysis may include battery chemistry, energy density, charge/discharge rate, safety concerns, etc. of the battery. The research will attempt to answer the following questions: What is the current advanced battery requirement (baseline)? What is the projection for batteries required by the operating force by 2035? What is the projection for batteries required by the operating force by 2050? The research plan is: 1) Conduct lit review, 2) Identify existing battery systems aboard operational systems and near-term developments, 3) Identify/develop CONOPS and mission scenarios for future battery uses, 4) Conduct targeted lit review on battery technologies that may be viable in 2035 and 2050, 5) Conduct analysis of current power converter and control hardware/software, and battery energy management, 6) Analysis of future battery techs for safety, 7) Develop predictions and recommendations for future battery use across the fleet in 2035 and 2050.N9 - Warfare SystemsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

Electrical Energy Storage Strategy to Support Electrification of the Fleet

NPS NRP Executive SummaryThis research aims to identify current advanced battery requirement (baseline) and project anticipated battery requirements for the operating force in 2035 and 2050. The research may consider other forms of energy storage as appropriate and based on sponsor interest. The research may use a mission engineering perspective to determine the battery requirements. The analysis may include battery chemistry, energy density, charge/discharge rate, safety concerns, etc. of the battery. The research will attempt to answer the following questions: What is the current advanced battery requirement (baseline)? What is the projection for batteries required by the operating force by 2035? What is the projection for batteries required by the operating force by 2050? The research plan is: 1) Conduct lit review, 2) Identify existing battery systems aboard operational systems and near-term developments, 3) Identify/develop CONOPS and mission scenarios for future battery uses, 4) Conduct targeted lit review on battery technologies that may be viable in 2035 and 2050, 5) Conduct analysis of current power converter and control hardware/software, and battery energy management, 6) Analysis of future battery techs for safety, 7) Develop predictions and recommendations for future battery use across the fleet in 2035 and 2050.N9 - Warfare SystemsThis research is supported by funding from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval Research Program (PE 0605853N/2098). https://nps.edu/nrpChief of Naval Operations (CNO)Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.

High density flow-through culturing of brine shrimp <i>Artemia</i> on inert feeds: preliminary results with a modified culture system

A modified filter system is described for the intensive culturing of Artemia in a continuously renewed medium. Extrapolated to a 1 m³ tank, 25 kg live weight Artemia could be produced over a culture period of two weeks on a diet of micronized and defatted rice bran using the salt enriched effluent of an abandoned geothermal well as a culture medium

De aquakultuur met benuttiging van bio-industriële afvalstoffen en thermische effluenten = L'aquaculture utilisant des dechets bio-industriels et des effluents thermiques

The possibility of recycling biodegradable waste materials (manure and waste from agricultural crops) into new proteins was investigated through experiments with various aquaticfood chains. The possibility of increasing the biomass yield through recuperation of the lost energy of thermal effluents was continually taken into consideration. The most promising production procedures which could lead to industrial applificatians are: a) the controlled mass production of pickling lobsters (Artemia) in "batch" or "flow through" systems using agricultural wastes, b). the nursery production of edible shell-fish (oysters, Paphia pullastra clams) using microscopic algae which were grown on manure. Units were designed of both types on a semi-industrial scale and were built on the Belgian coast. In conclusion it can also be mentioned that the mass production of water fleas (Daphnia) using manure and agricultural waste gave very encouraging results on a laboratory scale

Face-to-face vs telephone pre-colonoscopy consultation in colorectal cancer screening; A randomised trial

Background: A pre-colonoscopy consultation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is necessary to assess a screenees general health status and to explain benefits and risks of screening. The first option allows for personal attention, whereas a telephone consultation does not require travelling. We hypothesised that a telephone consultation would lead to higher response and participation in CRC screening compared with a face-to-face consultation. Methods:A total of 6600 persons (50-75 years) were 1: 1 randomised for primary colonoscopy screening with a pre-colonoscopy consultation either face-to-face or by telephone. In both arms, we counted the number of invitees who attended a pre-colonoscopy consultation (response) and the number of those who subsequently attended colonoscopy (participation), relative to the number invited for screening. A questionnaire regarding satisfaction with the consultation and expected burden of the colonoscopy (scored on five-point rating scales) was sent to invitees. Besides, a questionnaire to assess the perceived burden of colonoscopy was sent to participants, 14 days after the procedure.Results:In all, 3302 invitees were allocated to the telephone group and 3298 to the face-to-face group, of which 794 (24%) attended a telephone consultation and 822 (25%) a face-to-face consultation (P=0.41). Subsequently, 674 (20%) participants in the telephone group and 752 (23%) in the face-to-face group attended colonoscopy (P=0.018). Invitees and responders in the telephone group expected the bowel preparation to be more painful than those in the face-to-face group while perceived burden scores for the full screening procedure were comparable. More subjects in the face-to-face group than in the telephone group were satisfied by the consultation in general: (99.8% vs 98.5%, P=0.014).Conclusion:Using a telephone rather than a face-to-face consultation in a population-based CRC colonoscopy screening progr

Mapping of reporting guidance for systematic reviews and meta-analyses generated a comprehensive item bank for future reporting guidelines

Objectives: The aim of the study was to generate a comprehensive bank of systematic review (SR) reporting items to inform an update of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2009 statement. Methods: We searched the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research Network library in May 2019 to identify all reporting guidelines for SRs that were published after 2009, regardless of the scope of the guideline. We also conducted a selective review of four guidance manuals for SRs, three tools for assessing the risk of bias in SRs, six meta-research studies evaluating the reporting quality of SRs using a tailored checklist, and five reporting guidelines for other study designs. One author screened and selected sources for inclusion, extracted reporting guidance from sources, and mapped guidance against the PRISMA 2009 checklist items. Results: We included 60 sources providing guidance on reporting of SRs and meta-analyses. From these, we collated a list of 221 unique reporting items. Items were categorized into title (four items), abstract (10 items), introduction (12 items), methods (111 items), results (61 items), discussion (12 items), funding and conflicts of interest (four items), administrative information (three items), and data availability (four items). This exercise generated 175 reporting items that could be added to the guidance in the PRISMA 2009 statement. Conclusion: Generation of a comprehensive item bank through review and mapping of the literature facilitates identification of missing items and those needing modification, which may not otherwise be identified by the guideline development team or from other activities commonly used to develop reporting guidelines

Few randomized trials in preterm birth prevention meet predefined usefulness criteria

Funding Information: Funding: The study was funded by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw Rubicon grand #452182306). The funder had no involvement in any phase of this study. Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICS), Stanford University is supported by a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. JvtH is supported by postdoctoral grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (Rubicon grand 452,182,306). C.A. is supported by postdoctoral grants from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (K.A.W. 2019.0561), Uppsala University, and the Sweden-America Foundation. B.M. is supported by an NHMRC Investigator grant (GNT1176437). B.M. reports consultancy for Guerbet, has been a member of the ObsEva advisory board and holds Stock options for ObsEva. The work of J.I. has been supported by an unrestricted gift from Sue and Bob O'Donnell. J.I. is a team member of the editorial board of JCE. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The AuthorsPeer reviewe