Climate impacts of geoengineering marine stratocumulus clouds

Copyright © 2000 American Geophysical Union[1] Theoretical potential geoengineering solutions to the global warming problem have recently been proposed. Here, we present an idealized study of the climate response to deliberately seeding large-scale stratocumulus cloud decks in the North Pacific, South Pacific, and South Atlantic, thereby inducing cooling via aerosol indirect effects. Atmosphere-only, atmosphere/mixed-layer ocean, and fully coupled atmosphere/ocean versions of the Met Office Hadley Centre model are used to investigate the radiative forcing, climate efficacy, and regional response of temperature, precipitation, and net primary productivity to such geoengineering. The radiative forcing simulations indicate that, for our parameterization of aerosol indirect effects, up to 35% of the radiative forcing due to current levels of greenhouse gases could be offset by stratocumulus modification. Equilibrium simulations with the atmosphere/mixed-layer ocean model, wherein each of the three stratocumulus sheets is modified in turn, reveal that the most efficient cooling per unit radiative forcing occurs when the South Pacific stratocumulus sheet is modified. Transient coupled model simulations suggest that geoengineering all three stratocumulus areas delays the simulated global warming by about 25 years. These simulations also indicate that, while some areas experience increases in precipitation and net primary productivity, sharp decreases are simulated in South America, with particularly detrimental impacts on the Amazon rain forest. These results show that, while some areas benefit from geoengineering, there are significant areas where the response could be very detrimental with implications for the practical applicability of such a scheme

Dublin City University at CLEF 2004: experiments with the ImageCLEF St Andrew's collection

For the CLEF 2004 ImageCLEF St Andrew's Collection task the Dublin City University group carried out three sets of experiments: standard cross-language information retrieval (CLIR) runs using topic translation via machine translation (MT), combination of this run with image matching results from the VIPER system, and a novel document rescoring approach based on automatic MT evaluation metrics. Our standard MT-based CLIR works well on this task. Encouragingly combination with image matching lists is also observed to produce small positive changes in the retrieval output. However, rescoring using the MT evaluation metrics in their current form significantly reduced retrieval effectiveness

Machine learning methods for predicting protein structure from single sequences

Recent breakthroughs in protein structure prediction have increasingly relied on the use of deep neural networks. These recent methods are notable in that they produce 3-D atomic coordinates as a direct output of the networks, a feature which presents many advantages. Although most techniques of this type make use of multiple sequence alignments as their primary input, a new wave of methods have attempted to use just single sequences as the input. We discuss the make-up and operating principles of these models, and highlight new developments in these areas, as well as areas for future development

Measuring activity in patients with sarcoidosis - a pilot trial of two wrist-worn accelerometer devices

Introduction: Increasing physical activity is associated with health benefits. Reduced physical activity has been noted in sarcoidosis, particularly where fatigue co-exists. Monitoring physical activity is possible with wrist-worn devices. This study compared two available devices to determine patient preference and compare wear-time, with a secondary outcome of comparing device outputs with fatigue scores. Methods: Patients with sarcoidosis wore two wrist-worn activity monitors (GENEActiv actiwatch and Actigraph GT3X-bt) separately for seven days each. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either device first. Participants completed the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) questionnaire immediately before wearing the first device. All participants completed a questionnaire of their perception regarding each device after the wear period. Data from the devices was analysed for total wear time, time spent in moderate or vigorous activity (MVPA) and for time spent in sedentary behaviours. Results: Twelve patients with sarcoidosis were included. The GENEActiv device was preferred by ten (83.3%) participants. Wear time was greater with the GENEActiv device (1354 minutes/day vs 1079 minutes/day). Time spent in MVPA was slightly higher when recorded by the GENEActiv compared with the Actigraph. Moderately strong correlation was seen between FAS scores and sedentary time (r=-0.554), light activity (r=-0.585) and moderate activity (r=0.506). Discussion: A clear preference was demonstrated for the GENEActiv. This was reflected in higher wear time and suggests the device can be comfortably worn 24 hours per day. Data from this small cohort also suggests there is correlation between fatigue and activity scores in patients with sarcoidosis

Whole family-based physical activity promotion intervention: the Families Reporting Every Step to Health pilot randomised controlled trial protocol

Introduction : Family-based physical activity (PA) interventions present a promising avenue to promote children’s activity, however, high-quality experimental research is lacking. This paper describes the protocol for the FRESH (Families Reporting Every Step to Health) pilot trial, a child-led family-based PA intervention delivered online.  Methods and analysis : FRESH is a three-armed, parallel-group, randomised controlled pilot trial using a 1:1:1 allocation ratio with follow-up assessments at 8- and 52-weeks post-baseline. Families will be eligible if a minimum of one child in school Years 3-6 (aged 7-11 years) and at least one adult responsible for that child are willing to participate. Family members can take part in the intervention irrespective of their participation in the accompanying evaluation and vice versa. Following baseline assessment, families will be randomly allocated to one of three arms: (1) FRESH, (2) pedometer-only, or (3) no-intervention control. All family members in the pedometer-only and FRESH arms receive pedometers and generic PA promotion information. FRESH families additionally receive access to the intervention website; allowing participants to select step challenges to ‘travel’ to target cities around the world, log steps, and track progress as they virtually globetrot. Control families will receive no treatment. All family members will be eligible to participate in the evaluation with two follow-ups (8 and 52 weeks). Physical (e.g., fitness, blood pressure), psychosocial (e.g., social support), and behavioural (e.g., objectively-measured family PA) measures will be collected each time point. At 8-week follow-up, a mixed-methods process evaluation will be conducted (questionnaires and family focus groups) assessing acceptability of the intervention and evaluation. FRESH families’ website engagement will also be explored.  Ethics and dissemination : This study received ethical approval from the Ethics Committee for the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and to participating families

Comparing Forage Biomass Estimation Between Forager-Mounted Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Rising Plate-Meter (RPM) Techniques

Quantifying the forage mass harvested per paddock is essential for informing late-season management decisions on grazing livestock farms. This information can be used to calculate winter feed budgets and thus support decisions such as area of land to defer for autumn grazing, and head of stock to sell before winter housing. However, there are practical limitations associated with existing measurement methods, which can influence the accuracy of forage biomass estimates. The purpose of the current study was therefore to compare biomass estimation from two alternative precision farming methods — near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) integrated within-spout of a self-propelled forage harvester, against a rising plate meter (RPM). Data were collected from the North Wyke Farm Platform (NWFP) in South- West England. RPM readings were taken within seven days preceding harvest, and Harvester measurements taken at the point of harvest. Data from two paddocks were collected during 2021 (figure 2, points a and b) and two from 2020 (points c and d). Three of the sampled paddocks (a, c and d) contained permanent pasture and one (b) contained reseeded white clover and perennial ryegrass. Paddocks c and d in figure 2 suggest a good correspondence between methods, demonstrated by proximity to the 1:1 line which passes through the origin. However, points a and b lie parallel to the 1:1 line, suggesting a systematic underestimation from the RPM. This underestimation could be linked to the tendency of grass to lodge at high yields, or due to an unquantified factor linked to the year of harvest, such as weather conditions which are known to indirectly influence RPM readings. With suitable calibration and consideration of practical limitations, forager mounted NIRS technology can provide valuable farm management data quickly, and at a relatively low cost compared to manual methods of biomass estimation

Navigating data governance associated with real-world data for public benefit: an overview in the UK and future considerations

Real-world data encompass data primarily captured for the provision or operation of services, for example, electronic health records for direct care purposes, but which may have secondary uses for informing research or commissioning. Public benefit is potentially forfeited by the underutilisation of real-world data for secondary uses, in part due to risk aversion when faced with the prospect of navigating necessary and important data governance processes. Such processes can be perceived as complex, daunting, time-consuming and exposing organisations to risk. By providing an overview description and discussion around the role of six key legal and information governance frameworks and their role regarding responsible data access, linkage and sharing, our intention is to make data governance a less daunting prospect and reduce the perception that it is a barrier to secondary uses, thus enabling public benefit

User-centered development of a Virtual Research Environment to support collaborative research events

This paper discusses the user-centred development process within the Collaborative Research Events on the Web (CREW) project, funded under the JISC Virtual Research Environments (VRE) programme. After presenting the project, its aims and the functionality of the CREW VRE, we focus on the user engagement approach, grounded in the method of co-realisation. We describe the different research settings and requirements of our three embedded user groups and the respective activities conducted so far. Finally we elaborate on the main challenges of our user engagement approach and end with the project’s next steps

Impacts of hemispheric solar geoengineering on tropical cyclone frequency

Solar geoengineering refers to a range of proposed methods for counteracting global warming by artificially reducing sunlight at Earth’s surface. The most widely known SG proposal is stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) which has impacts analogous to those from volcanic eruptions. Observations following major volcanic eruptions indicate that aerosol enhancements confined to a single hemisphere effectively modulate North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) activity in the following years. Here we investigate the effects of both single-hemisphere and global SAI scenarios on North Atlantic TC activity using the HadGEM2-ES general circulation model and various TC identification methods. We show that a robust result from all of the methods is that SAI applied to the southern hemisphere would enhance TC frequency relative to a global SAI application, and vice versa for SAI in the northern hemisphere. Our results reemphasize the perils of regional geoengineering and should motivate policymakers to regulate large-scale unilateral geoengineering deployments

How well do modelled routes to school record the environments children are exposed to?:A cross-sectional comparison of GIS modelled and GPS measured routes to school

Background The school journey may make an important contribution to children’s physical activity and provide exposure to food and physical activity environments. Typically, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used to model assumed routes to school in studies, but these may differ from those actually chosen. We aimed to identify the characteristics of children and their environments that make the modelled route more or less representative of that actually taken. We compared modelled GIS routes and actual Global Positioning Systems (GPS) measured routes in a free-living sample of children using varying travel modes. Methods Participants were 175 13-14 yr old children taking part in the Sport, Physical activity and Eating behaviour: Environmental Determinants in Young people (SPEEDY) study who wore GPS units for up to 7 days. Actual routes to/from school were extracted from GPS data, and shortest routes between home and school along a road network were modelled in a GIS. Differences between them were assessed according to length, percentage overlap, and food outlet exposure using multilevel regression models. Results GIS routes underestimated route length by 21.0% overall, ranging from 6.1% among walkers to 23.2% for bus users. Among pedestrians food outlet exposure was overestimated by GIS routes by 25.4%. Certain characteristics of children and their neighbourhoods that improved the concordance between GIS and GPS route length and overlap were identified. Living in a village raised the odds of increased differences in length (odds ratio (OR) 3.36 (1.32-8.58)), while attending a more urban school raised the odds of increased percentage overlap (OR 3.98 (1.49-10.63)). However none were found for food outlet exposure. Journeys home from school increased the difference between GIS and GPS routes in terms of food outlet exposure, and this measure showed considerable within-person variation. Conclusions GIS modelled routes between home and school were not truly representative of accurate GPS measured exposure to obesogenic environments, particularly for pedestrians. While route length may be fairly well described, especially for urban populations, those living close to school, and those travelling by foot, the additional expense of acquiring GPS data seems important when assessing exposure to route environments