Mercury (Hg) concentrations and stable isotope signatures in golden eagle eggs 2009-2013: a Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) report

The Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS; http://pbms.ceh.ac.uk/) is the umbrella project that encompasses the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s National Capability activities for contaminant monitoring and surveillance work on avian predators. The PBMS aims to detect and quantify current and emerging chemical threats to the environment and in particular to vertebrate wildlife. Mercury (Hg) is a neurotoxin and there has been global concern over its impact on humans and wildlife. It has been predicted that global Hg emissions may rise in the future because of increased coal-fired power generation, but, in 2013, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) agreed The Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. An overarching aim of the convention is to control the anthropogenic releases of Hg to the environment. Therefore, long-term trends in environmental Hg concentrations are uncertain. One cost-effective means of assessing such trends is to monitor exposure in sentinel wildlife species. Golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos breed and forage in the Scottish uplands and could prove a sentinel for changing Hg deposition in upland terrestrial areas and associated wildlife exposure. We measured Hg residues in failed golden eagle eggs with the aim of providing baseline data on current levels of exposure. Specifically, we measured Hg concentrations in failed eggs laid between 2009 and 2013 in inland (> 3km from the coast) and coastal (<3 km from the coast) nests. We distinguished nests in this way because coastal nesting birds can feed on seabirds that can accumulate high levels of Hg themselves. Marine dietary Hg inputs could potentially obscure any changes in Hg accumulation associated with altered upland terrestrial Hg deposition, and so we hypothesized that only eggs from inland nests may be useful sentinels. In conjunction with Hg measurements, we examined stable isotope (SI) signatures (carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N) and sulphur (δ34S)) to determine if they differed between eggs from inland and coastal nests in a manner consistent with feeding primarily on terrestrial and marine prey, respectively. We also examined Hg concentrations and SI signatures of failed white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) eggs from nests on the west coast of Scotland. We used these measurements as a comparator against which to assess the extent to which SI and Hg measurements in eggs from coastal golden eagle nests might be indicative of feeding on marine prey and scavenge. We found that SI signatures (particularly δ34S isotopic ratios) and Hg concentrations were similar in golden eagle eggs from coastal nests and white tailed sea eagle eggs. SIs and Hg concentrations in eggs from inland nests were much more variable, and a third had SI signatures that were the same as those of eggs from coastal nests, suggesting that they too were laid by females feeding on a coastal diet. A cluster of seven eggs from inland nests had distinctive δ34S and δ15N values (below 11.0 ‰ and 5.7 ‰ respectively) and it was inferred that these were most likely laid by females feeding terrestrially. Hg concentrations were non-detectable in these seven eggs whereas the median concentration in golden eagle eggs associated with coastal feeding was 0.412 µg/g dry weight, similar to that (0.569 µg/g dry weight) in white tailed sea eagle eggs. Hg concentrations in all eggs were below those thought to be associated with embryotoxic effects. The lack of detectable Hg concentrations in GE eggs associated with upland terrestrial feeding is problematic if these eggs are to be used as sentinels of change in upland Hg concentrations. Re-analysis of a set of eggs using a more sensitive analytical technique may resolve this issue and should be explored, otherwise other sentinels may need to be investigated

Correlates of physical activity in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review

Background: Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) participate in low levels of physical activity. To inform the development of interventions, we need to better understand factors associated with physical activity. The aim of this study was therefore to systematically review correlates of physical activity in children and adolescents with ID. Methods: The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, ERIC, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched between 1 January 1990 and 29 February 2020 to identify English‐language studies, which examined correlates of free‐living physical activity in children and adolescents (0–19 years) with ID. Study quality was assessed. Correlates were analysed using a narrative synthesis and classified using the socioecological model as intrapersonal, interpersonal, organisational or environmental. Results: Fifteen studies published between 2010 and 2019 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Forty‐eight individual correlates were identified. Studies were predominantly focused on intrapersonal‐level correlates. Of those correlates investigated in more than one study (n = 6), having better motor development was positively associated with physical activity. Inconsistent results were found for age and cardiorespiratory fitness. Sex, percentage body fat and body mass index were not correlated. No interpersonal‐level, organisational‐level or environmental‐level correlates were included in more than one study. Conclusions: To date, we have limited and inconclusive evidence about correlates of physical activity in children and adolescents with ID. Only when future studies unravel correlates and determinants, across all domains of the socioecological model, will the potential opportunities to improve health by increasing physical activity levels be achievable

Pregnancy inclusion in US statewide scarce resource allocation guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic

OBJECTIVE: On November 22, 2022, 2 hospitals in Oregon declared crisis standards of care (CSC) in response to the “tripledemic,” or rising rates of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and COVID-19. CSC guidelines direct the triage of limited resources when demands for health care exceed standard capacity, such as intensive care unit beds. Hospital CSCs are adopted from statewide CSCs, and many states developed their CSC policies during the COVID-19 pandemic,which placed a global strain on the healthcare infrastructure. A systematic review of allocation guidelines found that the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score is used to determine priority for allocation of scarce resources among patients seeking the same resource. However, the SOFA score has not been validated in pregnancy when normal physiological changes, such as platelet count and bilirubin level, are expected to affects core parameters compared with non-gravid physiology. In this report, we assess whether statewide CSC guidelines active during COVID-19, included pregnancy. Among those that do, we describe the ethical triage principles used in allocation guidelines when a pregnant patient was among potential recipients

Nurturing Children's Healthy Eating: Position statement

The relationship between eating a healthy diet and positive health outcomes is well known; nurturing healthy eating among children therefore has the potential to improve public health. A healthy diet occurs when one''s usual eating patterns include adequate nutrient intake and sufficient, but not excessive, energy intake to meet the energy needs of the individual. However, many parents struggle to establish healthy eating patterns in their children due to the pressures of modern life. Moreover, healthcare providers often do not have the time or the guidance they need to empower parents to establish healthy eating practices in their children. Based on existing evidence from epidemiologic and intervention research, the Nurturing Children''s Healthy Eating collaboration, established by Danone Institute International, has identified four key themes that encourage and support healthy eating practices among children in the modern Western world. The first — positive parental feeding — explores how parenting practices and styles, such as avoiding food restriction, allowing children to make their own food choices, and encouraging children to self-limit their portion sizes, can influence children''s dietary intake. The second — eating together — highlights the link between eating socialization through regular family meals and healthful diet among children. The third — a healthy home food environment — explores the impact on eating practices of family resources, food availability/accessibility, parental modeling, and cues for eating. The fourth — the pleasure of eating — associates children''s healthy eating with pleasure through repeated exposure to healthful foods, enjoyable social meals, and enhancement of the cognitive qualities (e.g. thoughts or ideas) of healthful foods. This paper reviews the evidence leading to the characterization of these nurturing themes, and ways in which recommendations might be implemented in the home

Fidelity and coordination of mitochondrial protein synthesis in health and disease

The evolutionary acquisition of mitochondria has given rise to the diversity of eukaryotic life. Mitochondria have retained their ancestral α-proteobacterial traits through the maintenance of double membranes and their own circular genome. Their genome varies in size from very large in plants to the smallest in animals and their parasites. The mitochondrial genome encodes essential genes for protein synthesis and has to coordinate its expression with the nuclear genome from which it sources most of the proteins required for mitochondrial biogenesis and function. The mitochondrial protein synthesis machinery is unique because it is encoded by both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes thereby requiring tight regulation to produce the respiratory complexes that drive oxidative phosphorylation for energy production. The fidelity and coordination of mitochondrial protein synthesis are essential for ATP production. Here we compare and contrast the mitochondrial translation mechanisms in mammals and fungi to bacteria and reveal that their diverse regulation can have unusual impacts on the health and disease of these organisms. We highlight that in mammals the rate of protein synthesis is more important than the fidelity of translation, enabling coordinated biogenesis of the mitochondrial respiratory chain with respiratory chain proteins synthesised by cytoplasmic ribosomes. Changes in mitochondrial protein fidelity can trigger the activation of the diverse cellular signalling networks in fungi and mammals to combat dysfunction in energy conservation. The physiological consequences of altered fidelity of protein synthesis can range from liver regeneration to the onset and development of cardiomyopathy. (Figure presented.)

Noise parametric identification and whitening for LIGO 40-meter interferometer data

We report the analysis we made on data taken by Caltech 40-meter prototype interferometer to identify the noise power spectral density and to whiten the sequence of noise. We concentrate our study on data taken in November 1994, in particular we analyzed two frames of data: the 18nov94.2.frame and the 19nov94.2.frame. We show that it is possible to whiten these data, to a good degree of whiteness, using a high order whitening filter. Moreover we can choose to whiten only restricted band of frequencies around the region we are interested in, obtaining a higher level of whiteness.Comment: 11 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication by Physical Review

Anomalous diffusion with absorption: Exact time-dependent solutions

Recently, analytical solutions of a nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation describing anomalous diffusion with an external linear force were found using a non extensive thermostatistical Ansatz. We have extended these solutions to the case when an homogeneous absorption process is also present. Some peculiar aspects of the interrelation between the deterministic force, the nonlinear diffusion and the absorption process are discussed.Comment: RevTex, 16 pgs, 4 figures. Accepted in Physical Review

Effects of habitat fragmentation on Zostera marina seed distribution

Habitat fragmentation is a process which can alter the spatial configuration and reduce the overall area of a habitat. This generally results in a degradation of habitat functioning. Fragmentation of seagrass (Zostera marina) beds has become increasingly common, and it may threaten the valuable ecosystem services they provide. Sexual reproduction through flowering and seed dispersal could contribute to the species' potential resiliency by reducing its vulnerability to fragmentation. We investigated whether the proportion and density of flowering Z. marina shoots, and subsequently the density and distribution of seeds, differed between fragmented and continuous beds. Our results revealed that while flowering effort did not differ between the two bed types, seed density was significantly reduced in fragmented versus continuous beds. Further, seed distributions were altered in fragmented beds when compared to continuous beds, both within and directly outside the bed's boundaries. Seagrass patch size positively influenced seed density, with lower seed densities in small patches. Fragmented beds consistently contained fewer seeds per-unit-area than continuous beds, regardless of bed seagrass area and flowering effort. Collectively, these results emphasize the vulnerability of Z. marina to habitat fragmentation by demonstrating a negative effect on seed density and an impact on seed distribution, which likely reduces the potential advantages of sexual reproduction for bed growth and resiliency to perturbations

A common genetic variant of a mitochondrial RNA processing enzyme predisposes to insulin resistance

Mitochondrial energy metabolism plays an important role in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance. Recently, a missense N437S variant was identified in the MRPP3 gene, which encodes a mitochondrial RNA processing enzyme within the RNase P complex, with predicted impact on metabolism. We used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to introduce this variant into the mouse Mrpp3 gene and show that the variant causes insulin resistance on a high-fat diet. The variant did not influence mitochondrial gene expression markedly, but instead, it reduced mitochondrial calcium that lowered insulin release from the pancreatic islet β cells of the Mrpp3 variant mice. Reduced insulin secretion resulted in lower insulin levels that contributed to imbalanced metabolism and liver steatosis in the Mrpp3 variant mice on a high-fat diet. Our findings reveal that the MRPP3 variant may be a predisposing factor to insulin resistance and metabolic disease in the human population

Tests of the Equivalence Principle with Neutral Kaons

We test the Principle of Equivalence for particles and antiparticles, using CPLEAR data on tagged K0 and K0bar decays into pi^+ pi^-. For the first time, we search for possible annual, monthly and diurnal modulations of the observables |eta_{+-}| and phi_{+-}, that could be correlated with variations in astrophysical potentials. Within the accuracy of CPLEAR, the measured values of |eta_{+-}| and phi_{+-} are found not to be correlated with changes of the gravitational potential. We analyze data assuming effective scalar, vector and tensor interactions, and we conclude that the Principle of Equivalence between particles and antiparticles holds to a level of 6.5, 4.3 and 1.8 x 10^{-9}, respectively, for scalar, vector and tensor potentials originating from the Sun with a range much greater than the distance Earth-Sun. We also study energy-dependent effects that might arise from vector or tensor interactions. Finally, we compile upper limits on the gravitational coupling difference between K0 and K0bar as a function of the scalar, vector and tensor interaction range.Comment: 15 pages latex 2e, five figures, one style file (cernart.csl) incorporate