Rapid discrimination and classification of edible insect powders using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis

Insects are being proposed as an alternative way to ensure world''s food and feed security. Methods to determine edible insect powder''s origin and species will be needed for quality control purposes. Infrared spectroscopy has been extensively used in rapid chemical fingerprinting of food products. The present research explores a new approach to discriminate and classify commercial edible insect powders using attenuated total reflectance mid-infrared spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis. Infrared spectra of seven commercial edible insect powders from different species (Tenebrio molitor, Alphitobius diaperinus, Gryllodes sigillatus, Acheta domesticus and Locusta migratoria) and origins (the Netherlands and New Zealand) were collected to build up soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) models. SIMCA models clearly discriminated insects by their species and origin linking their differences to lipids and chitin. SIMCA models performance was tested using five spectra of each class not used to build up the training set. 100% correct predictions were obtained for all the samples analysed with the exception of one sample of Alphitobius diaperinus. Infrared spectroscopy coupled to multivariate analysis provided a powerful method for the assurance of insect powder''s authenticity

Hydrodynamic Synchronisation of Model Microswimmers

We define a model microswimmer with a variable cycle time, thus allowing the possibility of phase locking driven by hydrodynamic interactions between swimmers. We find that, for extensile or contractile swimmers, phase locking does occur, with the relative phase of the two swimmers being, in general, close to 0 or pi, depending on their relative position and orientation. We show that, as expected on grounds of symmetry, self T-dual swimmers, which are time-reversal covariant, do not phase-lock. We also discuss the phase behaviour of a line of tethered swimmers, or pumps. These show oscillations in their relative phases reminiscent of the metachronal waves of cilia.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure

Using causal loop diagrams to develop evaluative research propositions: opportunities and challenges in applications to nature‐based solutions

This is the final version. Available from Wiley via the DOI in this record. Causal loop diagrams (CLDs) are often used to provide an overview of important systemic elements related to an issue, rather than to inform empirical evaluations (studies which assess changes following an intervention using observed data). We suggest that empirical evaluations may benefit from the development of systems‐informed research propositions (specific testable causal assumptions with an emphasis on feedback loops) used to guide subsequent data collection, hypothesis testing and interpretation. We describe a qualitative systems‐thinking informed approach building on preexisting CLDs, published evidence, and expert/stakeholder consultation and reflect on our experience applying this to the early stages of two nature‐based solution (NBS) evaluations. We reflect on our experience and suggest that CLDs can be usefully employed to develop systems‐informed research propositions to inform subsequent empirical evaluation. This may lead to novel policy‐relevant research propositions which differ substantially from effectiveness‐oriented (“did it work?”) research questions.European Union’s Horizon 2020European Union’s Horizon 202

Four patients with a history of acute exacerbations of COPD: implementing the CHEST/Canadian Thoracic Society guidelines for preventing exacerbations

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0

Street trees and mental health: developing systems thinking-informed hypotheses using causal loop diagraming

This is the final version. Available on open access from the Resilience Alliance via the DOI in this recordData availability: The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the Appendix.We considered the relationship between street trees and mental health with the aim of developing systems thinking-informed hypotheses to improve the implementation and evaluation of this popular nature-based solution (NBS). We integrated qualitative and quantitative evidence using causal loop diagraming (CLD), and then further analyzed and extended these diagrams with the aid of systems archetypes to identify key system structures. From these CLDs, we identified three systems thinking-informed hypotheses: 1) although there are many ways in which street trees may improve mental health, tree health is critical in realizing many of these benefits and minimizing dis-benefits; 2) communities which have benefited from street trees in the past are more likely to be able to advocate for additional trees, further entrenching historical inequities in street tree distribution; and 3) efforts to address these inequities through new tree planting initiatives may ultimately fail or even exacerbate existing challenges if they do not include sustained resources for tree maintenance, with direct and indirect impacts on inequities in mental health. Using a systems thinking lens was a useful way to deeply consider a purported but under-theorized co-benefit of a popular nature-based solution and identify policy-relevant hypotheses to guide future research.European Union Horizon 202

Building the Evidence Base on Community Food Production Initiatives in Pacific Island Countries

Poor dietary diversity, low consumption of fruits and vegetables, and an increasing reliance on relatively expensive, processed and imported foods high in fat, salt and sugar, are linked to the triple burden of malnutrition. Under-nutrition, overweight and obesity, and micronutrient deficiencies are challenging food and nutrition systems in PICs. Between 40 and 80% of adults are overweight and obese and approximately 15-25% suffer from type 2 diabetes in the region (IDF, 2017 and NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, 2016). These prevalence rates are among the highest recorded globally. Related to this, adults in PICs have a high probability of premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Depending on the PIC, between one in six to one in four women, and one in four to over one in three men, will die from an NCD before their 70th birthday (WHO, 2018). In the seven InnovAg4Pacific project countries, death rates attributable to poor nutrition are around three to seven times higher than in New Zealand. A fifth to a third of all deaths in these countries are attributable to poor nutrition

A quantum-chemical study of the binding ability of βXaaHisGlyHis towards copper(II) ion

The present study analyzed binding of Cu2+ to tetrapeptides in water solution at several levels of theoretical approximation. The methods used to study the energetic and structural properties of the complexes in question include semiempirical hamiltonians, density functional theory as well as ab initio approaches including electron correlation effects. In order to shed light on the character of interactions between Cu2+ and peptides, which are expected to be mainly electrostatic in nature, decomposition of interaction energy into physically meaningful components was applied

Parkinson's disease-linked mutations in VPS35 induce dopaminergic neurodegeneration

Mutations in the vacuolar protein sorting 35 homolog (VPS35) gene at the PARK17 locus, encoding a key component of the retromer complex, were recently identified as a new cause of late-onset, autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease (PD). Here we explore the pathogenic consequences of PD-associated mutations in VPS35 using a number of model systems. VPS35 exhibits a broad neuronal distribution throughout the rodent brain, including within the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway. In the human brain, VPS35 protein levels and distribution are similar in tissues from control and PD subjects, and VPS35 is not associated with Lewy body pathology. The common D620N missense mutation in VPS35 does not compromise its protein stability or localization to endosomal and lysosomal vesicles, or the vesicular sorting of the retromer cargo, sortilin, SorLA and cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor, in rodent primary neurons or patient-derived human fibroblasts. In yeast we show that PD-linked VPS35 mutations are functional and can normally complement VPS35 null phenotypes suggesting that they do not result in a loss-of-function. In rat primary cortical cultures the overexpression of human VPS35 induces neuronal cell death and increases neuronal vulnerability to PD-relevant cellular stress. In a novel viral-mediated gene transfer rat model, the expression of D620N VPS35 induces the marked degeneration of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons and axonal pathology, a cardinal pathological hallmark of PD. Collectively, these studies establish that dominant VPS35 mutations lead to neurodegeneration in PD consistent with a gain-of-function mechanism, and support a key role for VPS35 in the development of PD