Future variability of solute transport in a macrotidal estuary

AbstractThe physical controls on salt distribution and river-sourced conservative solutes, including the potential implications of climate change, are investigated referring to model simulations of a macrotidal estuary. In the UK, such estuaries typically react rapidly to rainfall events and, as such, are often in a state of non-equilibrium in terms of solute transport; hence are particularly sensitive to climate extremes. Sea levels are projected to rise over the 21st century, extending the salinity maximum upstream in estuaries, which will also affect downstream solute transport, promoting estuarine trapping and reducing offshore dispersal of material. Predicted ‘drier summers’ and ‘wetter winters’ in the UK will influence solute transport further still; we found that projected river flow climate changes were more influential than sea-level rise, especially for low flow conditions. Our simulations show that projected climate change for the UK is likely to increase variability in estuarine solute transport and, specifically, increase the likelihood of estuarine trapping during summer, mainly due to drier weather conditions. Future changes in solute transport were less certain during winter, since increased river flow will to some extent counter-act the effects of sea-level rise. Our results have important implications for non-conservative nutrient transport, water quality, coastal management and ecosystem resilience

ENGINEERING AN OLEOGINOUS YEAST FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIODIESEL

poster abstractThere are economic and social interests in replacing the current energy dependence we have on petroleum-based oleochemicals. Yarrowia lipolytica, an oleaginous yeast, has the ability to metabolize unique carbon sources, particularly hydrocarbons and to accumulate large amounts of lipids which could be developed into a source of biodiesel. The ability of Y. lipolytica to accumulate triacylglycerols in lipid droplets and the complete sequencing of its genome make Y. lipolytica a viable organism to genetically engineer for the production of large quantities of biodiesel precursors. The purpose of this project is to genetically modify Y. lipolytica to further increase its production of triacylglycerols by knocking out genes that encode enzymes involved in the β-oxidation of fatty acids. This genetic modification will be accomplished by using homologous recombination to disrupt the genes POX3-5 and POT1. The 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions of POX3-5 and POT1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned to allow a drug resistance gene to be introduced between them. Following cloning, these genes will be knocked out from the Y. lipolytica genome using drug resistance as a marker. The disruption of these genes is expected to increase the accumulation of triacylglycerols in Y. lipolytica lipid droplets versus the wild-type. Progress towards the goals of this project will be reported

Physical tests for Random Numbers in Simulations

We propose three physical tests to measure correlations in random numbers used in Monte Carlo simulations. The first test uses autocorrelation times of certain physical quantities when the Ising model is simulated with the Wolff algorithm. The second test is based on random walks, and the third on blocks of n successive numbers. We apply the tests to show that recent errors in high precision simulations using generalized feedback shift register algorithms are due to short range correlations in random number sequences. We also determine the length of these correlations.Comment: 16 pages, Post Script file, HU-TFT-94-

Understanding the Geospatial and Contextual Patterns of Rural Domestic Abuse: Research Briefing Paper

In 2020, 9.7 million people in England and almost 1 million people in Wales lived in rural areas (Defra 2021). 1 The latest population estimates suggest that in mid-2020 almost half a million people lived in Cumbria (ONS 2021), which is described by the Office for National Statistics (2016) as a ‘predominantly rural’ county. Although Cumbria’s landscape is dominated by rural towns and villages, the concentration of people in urban centres means that the resident population of Cumbria is almost equally split between urban (47%) and rural (53%) areas (ONS 2017). A growing body of international research evidence suggests that the persistence of traditional values, rural isolation, and limited support services mean that rural victims may wait longer before seeking help, enduring more serious violence, than those in urban areas (DeKeseredy 2021; Little 2016; National Rural Crime Network 2019). There is, however, a dearth of research on the needs and experiences of domestic abuse (DA) victims in rural parts of England and Wales. This research was funded by the Home Office Police Science, Technology, Analysis and Research (STAR) Fund to examine the geospatial and contextual patterns of DA in the predominantly rural county of Cumbria. This Research Briefing Paper presents findings from our analysis of: data from all DA-related incidents and crimes recorded by Cumbria Constabulary between 1 April 2019 and 30 September 2021; data on DA-related referrals to Victim Support in Cumbria during the same period; and interviews with 42 local practitioners. Copies of the main Research Findings Report are available from the research team. That much DA goes unreported to, or unrecorded by, the police is well known. That data from Cumbria Constabulary and partners reflect reporting and recording practices, and not some objective reality, should be kept in mind when reflecting upon the findings. In our report, we document efforts to get behind the ‘dark figure’ of DA to better understand the nature, extent and geospatial distribution of DA in Cumbria

Understanding the Geospatial and Contextual Patterns of Rural Domestic Abuse: An Exploratory Study

The latest population estimates suggest that in mid-2020 almost half a million people lived in Cumbria (ONS 2021b), which is described by the Office for National Statistics (2016) as a ‘predominantly rural’ county. Although Cumbria’s landscape is dominated by rural towns and villages, the concentration of people in urban centres means that the resident population of Cumbria is almost equally split between urban (47%) and rural (53%) areas (ONS 2017). A growing body of international research evidence suggests that the persistence of traditional values, rural isolation, and limited support services mean that rural victims may wait longer before seeking help, enduring more serious violence, than those in urban areas (Little 2016; National Rural Crime Network 2019). There is, however, a dearth of research on the needs and experiences of domestic abuse (DA) victims in rural parts of England and Wales. This research was funded by the Home Office’s Police Science, Technology, Analysis and Research (STAR) Board to examine the geospatial and contextual patterns of DA in the predominantly rural county of Cumbria. This Executive Summary presents findings from our analysis of: data from all DA-related incidents and crimes recorded by Cumbria Constabulary between 1 April 2019 and 30 September 2021; data on DA-related referrals to Victim Support in Cumbria during the same period; and interviews with 42 local practitioners. That much DA goes unreported to, or unrecorded by, the police is well known. That data from Cumbria Constabulary and partners reflect reporting and recording practices, and not some objective reality, should be kept in mind when reflecting upon the findings. In our report, we document efforts to get behind the ‘dark figure’ of DA to better understand the nature, extent and geospatial distribution of DA in Cumbria

Rethinking how and when to report descriptions of behavior change content within interventions: a case study of an ongoing physical activity trial (ready steady 3.0)

Specifications of what and how much health behavior change (BC) content within research interventions are needed to advance BC science, its implementation, and dissemination. We analyzed the types and dosages of the smallest potentially active BC ingredients and associated behavioral prescriptions intended to be delivered in an ongoing physical activity optimization trial for older adults (Ready Steady 3.0 [RS3]). We defined BC types as behavior change techniques (BCT) and behavioral prescriptions. Our protocol integrated the BCT Taxonomy coding procedures with BCT roles (primary or secondary) and, when relevant, linkages to behavioral prescriptions. Primary BCTs targeted theoretical mechanisms of action, whereas secondary BCTs supported primary BCT delivery. Behavioral prescriptions represented what participants were encouraged to do with each primary BCT in RS3 (ascertain, practice, implement). We assessed dosage parameters of duration, frequency, and amount in each BCT and prescription. Results provided a catalog of in-depth, multidimensional content specifications with 12 primary BCTs, each supported by 2-7 secondary BCTs, with dosages ranging from 2 to 8 weeks, 1 to 8 contacts, and 5 to 451 minutes. Minutes spent on behavioral prescriptions varied: ascertain (1 to 41), practice (5 to 315), and implement (0 to 38). Results can be organized and summarized in varied ways (e.g., by content component) to strengthen future assessments of RS3 fidelity and intervention refinement. Results highlight potential benefits of this early, integrated approach to analyzing BC content and frames questions about how such information might be incorporated and disseminated with reporting research outcomes

Genetic and phenotypic characterization of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

Indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are rare clonal T-cell diseases that more commonly occur in the intestines and have a protracted clinical course. Different immunophenotypic subsets have been described, but the molecular pathogenesis and cell of origin of these lymphocytic proliferations is poorly understood. Hence, we performed targeted next-generation sequencing and comprehensive immunophenotypic analysis of ten indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, which comprised CD4 <sup>+</sup> (n=4), CD8 <sup>+</sup> (n=4), CD4 <sup>+</sup> /CD8 <sup>+</sup> (n=1) and CD4 <sup>-</sup> /CD8 <sup>-</sup> (n=1) cases. Genetic alterations, including recurrent mutations and novel rearrangements, were identified in 8/10 (80%) of these lymphoproliferative disorders. The CD4 <sup>+</sup> , CD4 <sup>+</sup> /CD8 <sup>+</sup> , and CD4 <sup>-</sup> /CD8 <sup>-</sup> cases harbored frequent alterations of JAK-STAT pathway genes (5/6, 82%); STAT3 mutations (n=3), SOCS1 deletion (n=1) and STAT3-JAK2 rearrangement (n=1), and 4/6 (67%) had concomitant mutations in epigenetic modifier genes (TET2, DNMT3A, KMT2D). Conversely, 2/4 (50%) of the CD8 <sup>+</sup> cases exhibited structural alterations involving the 3' untranslated region of the IL2 gene. Longitudinal genetic analysis revealed stable mutational profiles in 4/5 (80%) cases and acquisition of mutations in one case was a harbinger of disease transformation. The CD4 <sup>+</sup> and CD4 <sup>+</sup> /CD8 <sup>+</sup> lymphoproliferative disorders displayed heterogeneous Th1 (T-bet <sup>+</sup> ), Th2 (GATA3 <sup>+</sup> ) or hybrid Th1/Th2 (T-bet <sup>+</sup> /GATA3 <sup>+</sup> ) profiles, while the majority of CD8 <sup>+</sup> disorders and the CD4 <sup>-</sup> /CD8 <sup>-</sup> disease showed a type-2 polarized (GATA3 <sup>+</sup> ) effector T-cell (Tc2) phenotype. Additionally, CD103 expression was noted in 2/4 CD8 <sup>+</sup> cases. Our findings provide insights into the pathogenetic bases of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and confirm the heterogeneous nature of these diseases. Detection of shared and distinct genetic alterations of the JAK-STAT pathway in certain immunophenotypic subsets warrants further mechanistic studies to determine whether therapeutic targeting of this signaling cascade is efficacious for a proportion of patients with these recalcitrant diseases

Metagenomic analysis of gut microbial communities from a Central Asian population

OBJECTIVE: Changes in the gut microbiota are increasingly recognised to be involved in many diseases. This ecosystem is known to be shaped by many factors, including climate, geography, host nutrition, lifestyle and medication. Thus, knowledge of varying populations with different habits is important for a better understanding of the microbiome. DESIGN: We therefore conducted a metagenomic analysis of intestinal microbiota from Kazakh donors, recruiting 84 subjects, including male and female healthy subjects and metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients aged 25-75 years, from the Kazakh administrative centre, Astana. We characterise and describe these microbiomes, the first deep-sequencing cohort from Central Asia, in comparison with a global dataset (832 individuals from five countries on three continents), and explore correlations between microbiota, clinical and laboratory parameters as well as with nutritional data from Food Frequency Questionnaires. RESULTS: We observe that Kazakh microbiomes are relatively different from both European and East Asian counterparts, though similar to other Central Asian microbiomes, with the most striking difference being significantly more samples falling within the Prevotella-rich enterotype, potentially reflecting regional diet and lifestyle. We show that this enterotype designation remains stable within an individual over time in 82% of cases. We further observe gut microbiome features that distinguish MetS patients from controls (eg, significantly reduced Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, Bifidobacteria and Subdoligranulum, alongside increased Prevotella), though these overlap little with previously published reports and thus may reflect idiosyncrasies of the present cohort. CONCLUSION: Taken together, this exploratory study describes gut microbiome data from an understudied population, providing a starting point for further comparative work on biogeography and research on widespread diseases. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN37346212; Post-results