The role of solvent in the self-assembly of m-aminobenzoic acid: a density functional theory and molecular dynamics study

D. D. T. thanks the UK's Royal Society for the award of a Royal Society Industry Fellowship. This research utilised Queen Mary's MidPlus computational facilities, supported by QMUL Research-IT and funded by EPSRC grant EP/K000128/1. Via our membership of the UK's HEC Materials Chemistry Consortium, which is funded by EPSRC (EP/L000202

Socio-economic difference in purchases of ultra-processed foods in Australia: an analysis of a nationally representative household grocery purchasing panel

Background: Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with increased risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Little is known about current patterns of ultra-processed foods intake in Australia. The aim of this study was to examine the amount and type of ultra-processed foods purchased by Australian households in 2019 and determine whether purchases differed by socio-economic status (SES). We also assessed whether purchases of ultra-processed foods changed between 2015 and 2019. Methods: We used grocery purchase data from a nationally representative consumer panel in Australia to assess packaged and unpackaged grocery purchases that were brought home between 2015 to 2019. Ultra-processed foods were identified according to the NOVA system, which classifies foods according to the nature, extent and purpose of industrial food processing. Purchases of ultra-processed foods were calculated per capita, using two outcomes: grams/day and percent of total energy. The top food categories contributing to purchases of ultra-processed foods in 2019 were identified, and differences in ultra-processed food purchases by SES (Index of Relative Social Advantage and Disadvantage) were assessed using survey-weighted linear regression. Changes in purchases of ultra-processed foods between 2015 to 2019 were examined overall and by SES using mixed linear models. Results: In 2019, the mean ± SD total grocery purchases made by Australian households was 881.1 ± 511.9 g/d per capita. Of this, 424.2 ± 319.0 g/d per capita was attributable to purchases of ultra-processed foods, which represented 56.4% of total energy purchased. The largest food categories contributing to total energy purchased included mass-produced, packaged breads (8.2% of total energy purchased), chocolate and sweets (5.7%), biscuits and crackers (5.7%) and ice-cream and edible ices (4.3%). In 2019, purchases of ultra-processed foods were significantly higher for the lowest SES households compared to all other SES quintiles (P < 0.001). There were no major changes in purchases of ultra-processed foods overall or by SES over the five-year period. Conclusions: Between 2015 and 2019, ultra-processed foods have consistently made up the majority of groceries purchased by Australians, particularly for the lowest SES households. Policies that reduce ultra-processed food consumption may reduce diet-related health inequalities

Ecological effects of full and partial protection in the crowded Mediterranean Sea: a regional meta-analysis

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a cornerstone of marine conservation. Globally, the number and coverage of MPAs are increasing, but MPA implementation lags in many human-dominated regions. In areas with intense competition for space and resources, evaluation of the effects of MPAs is crucial to inform decisions. In the human-dominated Mediterranean Sea, fully protected areas occupy only 0.04% of its surface. We evaluated the impacts of full and partial protection on biomass and density of fish assemblages, some commercially important fishes, and sea urchins in 24 Mediterranean MPAs. We explored the relationships between the level of protection and MPA size, age, and enforcement. Results revealed significant positive effects of protection for fisheries target species and negative effects for urchins as their predators benefited from protection. Full protection provided stronger effects than partial protection. Benefits of full protection for fish biomass were only correlated with the level of MPA enforcement; fish density was higher in older, better enforced, and - interestingly - smaller MPAs. Our finding that even small, well-enforced, fully protected areas can have significant ecological effects is encouraging for "crowded" marine environments. However, more data are needed to evaluate sufficient MPA sizes for protecting populations of species with varying mobility levels

Soft-bottom fishes and spatial protection: findings from a temperate marine protected area

Numerous studies over the last decades have focused on marine protected areas (MPAs) and their effects on fish communities. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding how species that live associated with soft-substrates (e.g., sand, mud) respond to spatial protection. We analyzed abundance, biomass and total lengths of the soft-bottom fishes in a multiple-use MPA in the north-eastern Atlantic, the Luiz Saldanha Marine Park (Portugal), during and after the implementation of its management plan. Data were collected by experimental fishing in areas with three different levels of protection, during the implementation period and for three years after full implementation of the MPA. Univariate analysis detected significant biomass increases between the two periods. Fish assemblages were mainly structured by depth and substrate, followed by protection level. Community composition analyses revealed significant differences between protection levels and between the two periods. Species exhibited a broad variation in their response to protection, and we hypothesize that factors such as species habitat preferences, body size and late maturity might be underlying determinants. Overall, this study provides some evidence of protection effectiveness in soft-bottom fish communities, supported by the significant increase in biomass in the protected areas and the positive trends of some species.project LIFE-BIOMARES [LIFE06 NAT/P/000192]; project BUFFER (ERA-Net BiodivERsA); company SECIL-Companhia Geral de Cal e Cimento S.A.; FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013, SFRH/BD/80771/2011]; Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/80771/2011]; 2012 Sesimbra Scientific Priz

Socio-economic difference in purchases of ultra-processed foods in Australia: an analysis of a nationally representative household grocery purchasing panel

Background: Consumption of ultra-processed foods is associated with increased risk of obesity and non-communicable diseases. Little is known about current patterns of ultra-processed foods intake in Australia. The aim of this study was to examine the amount and type of ultra-processed foods purchased by Australian households in 2019 and determine whether purchases differed by socio-economic status (SES). We also assessed whether purchases of ultra-processed foods changed between 2015 and 2019. Methods: We used grocery purchase data from a nationally representative consumer panel in Australia to assess packaged and unpackaged grocery purchases that were brought home between 2015 to 2019. Ultra-processed foods were identified according to the NOVA system, which classifies foods according to the nature, extent and purpose of industrial food processing. Purchases of ultra-processed foods were calculated per capita, using two outcomes: grams/day and percent of total energy. The top food categories contributing to purchases of ultra-processed foods in 2019 were identified, and differences in ultra-processed food purchases by SES (Index of Relative Social Advantage and Disadvantage) were assessed using survey-weighted linear regression. Changes in purchases of ultra-processed foods between 2015 to 2019 were examined overall and by SES using mixed linear models. Results: In 2019, the mean ± SD total grocery purchases made by Australian households was 881.1 ± 511.9 g/d per capita. Of this, 424.2 ± 319.0 g/d per capita was attributable to purchases of ultra-processed foods, which represented 56.4% of total energy purchased. The largest food categories contributing to total energy purchased included mass-produced, packaged breads (8.2% of total energy purchased), chocolate and sweets (5.7%), biscuits and crackers (5.7%) and ice-cream and edible ices (4.3%). In 2019, purchases of ultra-processed foods were significantly higher for the lowest SES households compared to all other SES quintiles (P < 0.001). There were no major changes in purchases of ultra-processed foods overall or by SES over the five-year period. Conclusions: Between 2015 and 2019, ultra-processed foods have consistently made up the majority of groceries purchased by Australians, particularly for the lowest SES households. Policies that reduce ultra-processed food consumption may reduce diet-related health inequalities

The Science of Marine Protected Areas (3rd edition, Mediterranean)

The main purpose of the booklet is to present the latest scientific information about the effects of MPAs in the Mediterranean in order to inform current management dialogues. This is particularly relevant given the increasing legislative frameworks and political initiatives to implement networks of MPAs in countries across the Mediterranean Sea. Importantly, this Edition does much more than simply tailor the earlier content for the Mediterranean region. The edition update the basic content of the booklet, drawing on the wealth of new published scientific literature, highlighting case studies from the Mediterranean Sea

Study of the D^0 \to pi^-pi^+pi^-pi^+ decay

Using data from the FOCUS (E831) experiment at Fermilab, we present new measurements for the Cabibbo-suppressed decay mode $D^0 \to \pi^-\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+$. We measure the branching ratio $\Gamma(D^0 \to\pi^+\pi^- \pi^+\pi^-)/\Gamma(D^0 \to K^-\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+) = 0.0914 \pm 0.0018 \pm 0.0022$. An amplitude analysis has been performed, a first for this channel, in order to determine the resonant substructure of this decay mode. The dominant component is the decay $D^0 \to a_1(1260)^+ \pi^-$, accounting for 60% of the decay rate. The second most dominant contribution comes from the decay $D^0 \to \rho(770)^0\rho(770)^0$, with a fraction of 25%. We also study the $a_1(1260)$ line shape and resonant substructure. Using the helicity formalism for the angular distribution of the decay $D^0 \to \rho(770)^0\rho(770)^0$, we measure a longitudinal polarization of $P_L = (71 \pm 4\pm 2)$%.Comment: 38 pages, 8 figures. accepted for publication in Physical Review

Measurement of Masses and Widths of Excited Charm Mesons D2∗D_2^* and Evidence for Broad States

Using data from the FOCUS experiment we analyze the $D^+\pi^-$ and $D^0\pi^+$ invariant mass distributions. We measure the $D_2^{*0}$ mass M_{D_2^{*0}} = (2464.5 \pm 1.1 \pm 1.9) \mev and width \Gamma_{D_2^{*0}} = (38.7 \pm 5.3 \pm 2.9) \mev, and the $D_2^{*+}$ mass M_{D_2^{*+}} = (2467.6 \pm 1.5 \pm 0.76) \mev and width \Gamma_{D_2^{*+}} = (34.1 \pm 6.5 \pm 4.2) \mev. We find evidence for broad structures over background in both the neutral and charged final state. If each is interpreted as evidence for a single L=1, $j_q=1/2$ excited charm meson resonance, the masses and widths are M_{1/2}^0 =(2407 \pm 21 \pm 35) \mev, \Gamma_{1/2}^0 = (240 \pm 55 \pm 59) \mev, and M_{1/2}^+ = (2403 \pm 14 \pm 35) \mev \Gamma_{1/2}^+ = (283 \pm 24 \pm 34) \mev, respectively.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Phys. Lett. B. Added preprint number

Genetics and identification of markers linked to multiflorous spikelet in hexaploid oat

The formation of naked grains is directly associated with the formation of multiflorous spikelets in oats. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetics of multiflorous spikelet and to identify molecular markers linked to this character in hexaploid oat. Genetic analysis for multiflorous spikelet was performed in the F5 and F6 generations of two oat populations. DNA extracted from F5:6 plants were assayed with 6,000 genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers using a genotyping platform developed for oat. Genetic analysis indicated the presence of a major gene controlling multiflorous spikelet in the UFRGS 01B7114-1-3 x UFRGS 006013-1 population. The SNP marker GMI_ES17_c5923_221 showed strong association with the multiflorous spikelet phenotype. These results suggest that the marker GMI_ES17_c5923_221 should be linked to a gene controlling multiflorous spikelet in the oat lines evaluated in this study

New FOCUS results on charm mixing and CP violation

We present a summary of recent results on CP violation and mixing in the charm quark sector based on a high statistics sample collected by photoproduction experiment FOCUS (E831 at Fermilab). We have measured the difference in lifetimes for the $D^0$ decays: $D^0 \to K^-\pi^+$ and $D^0 \to K^-K^+$. This translates into a measurement of the $y_{CP}$ mixing parameter in the \d0d0 system, under the assumptions that $K^-K^+$ is an equal mixture of CP odd and CP even eigenstates, and CP violation is negligible in the neutral charm meson system. We verified the latter assumption by searching for a CP violating asymmetry in the Cabibbo suppressed decay modes $D^+ \to K^-K^+\pi^+$, $D^0 \to K^-K^+$ and $D^0 \to \pi^-\pi^+$. We show preliminary results on a measurement of the branching ratio $\Gamma(D^{*+}\to \pi^+ (K^+\pi^-))/\Gamma(D^{*+}\to \pi^+ (K^-\pi^+))$.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, requires espcrc2.sty. Presented by S.Bianco at CPConf2000, September 2000, Ferrara (Italy). In this revision, fixed several stylistic flaws, add two significant references, fixed a typo in Tab.