An exploratory randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of different duration of canine-assisted interventions in higher education students

The aim of this study was to explore whether different durations of canine-assisted intervention (CAI) influenced the beneficial effects of CAI on anxiety, stress, depression, and the well-being of higher education (HE) students. Eighty-eight participants took part in an exploratory randomised control trial (RCT) and were assigned to the 2, 5, and 10-min CAI groups who interacted with a canine, or a control group who watched an unrelated slideshow. Pre- and post-intervention anxiety, stress, depression, and well-being levels were measured. Additionally, the type of interaction between humans and canines was recorded as well as participants’ views of the canines’ neoteny (juvenile features) to explore whether interaction activity and canine features have an impact on the beneficial positive effects of CAI. The results showed no differences in the duration of CAI in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression, meaning a 2-min CAI session was as effective as a 10-min session. The results also found individual intervention activities between humans and canines did not predict a reduction in anxiety, stress, depression, or an increase in general well-being. Additionally, a negative correlation was found between the cuteness of the canine and anxiety, and between the cuddliness of the canine and stress, although these results should be interpreted with caution due to high canine trait scores. Overall, this study used a CAI and control group to explore the differences between a single 2, 5, and 10-min CAI sessions in HE students and demonstrated a 2-min CAI session was as effective as a longer 10-min CAI session in supporting the mental health of HE students, by reducing anxiety, stress, and depression levels in the treatment group

Canine-assisted intervention reduces anxiety and stress in higher education students: a randomized controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to explore benefits of interacting with a canine on anxiety, stress, depression, and wellbeing in Higher Education (HE) students. Sixty participants took part in a randomized controlled trial. Assigned to either the canine-assisted intervention (CAI) or control group, the CAI group interacted with a canine whereas the control group watched an unrelated slideshow. Anxiety, depression, stress, and wellbeing measures were completed pre- and post-intervention and demonstrated there was a significant decrease in anxiety and stress in the CAI group. Due to group differences pre-intervention, findings for depression measures were uninterpretable and there was no significant effect found for general wellbeing. Overall, this study uses a CAI and control group and explores the use of a singular, brief CAI session in HE students demonstrating CAI to be an effective means of supporting mental health by decreasing levels of anxiety and stress in the treatment group

Effects of canine-assisted intervention on the mental health of higher education students: a systematic review

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate existing literature exploring the effects of canine assisted intervention (CAI) on the mental health of Higher Education (HE) students. A literature search was performed on 14th January 2021 for studies that investigated the effects of CAI on HE students. Thirty three papers (6093 participants) encompassing 37 studies were included in this review. Study design varied in research objective, intervention type, timing, procedure, and measures. The Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool found studies ranged in quality from moderate (n=7) to weak (n=30). The review identified CAI has a positive effect on levels of anxiety and stress in HE students. Key limitations of the studies include confounding influences during the intervention as well as a lack of control groups and standardized measures. Furthermore, intervention and procedures ranged substantially in design and application making direct comparisons difficult. The authors conclude two main outcomes from the review. Firstly, CAI improves mental health in HE students, in particular anxiety and stress. Secondly, CAI has a social benefit, encouraging communication and a shared experience. However, a number of methodological limitations of the studies are identified and reviewed. To conclude, this systematic review reveals strong support for the use of CAI in HE students as a form of therapy

Third revision of the global surface seawater dimethyl sulfide climatology (DMS-Rev3)

This is the final version. Available on open access from Copernicus Publications via the DOI in this recordCode and data availability: ​​​​​​​The data used for creating the climatology, along with the algorithm, can be found in the online repository: https://doi.org/10.17632/hyn62spny2.1 (Mahajan, 2021).This paper presents an updated estimation of the bottom-up global surface seawater dimethyl sulfide (DMS) climatology. This update, called DMS-Rev3, is the third of its kind and includes five significant changes from the last climatology, L11 (Lana et al., 2011), that was released about a decade ago. The first change is the inclusion of new observations that have become available over the last decade, creating a database of 873 539 observations leading to an ∼18-fold increase in raw data as compared to the last estimation. The second is significant improvements in data handling, processing, and filtering, to avoid biases due to different observation frequencies which result from different measurement techniques. Thirdly, we incorporate the dynamic seasonal changes observed in the geographic boundaries of the ocean biogeochemical provinces. The fourth change involves the refinement of the interpolation algorithm used to fill in the missing data. Lastly, an upgraded smoothing algorithm based on observed DMS variability length scales (VLS) helps to reproduce a more realistic distribution of the DMS concentration data. The results show that DMS-Rev3 estimates the global annual mean DMS concentration to be ∼2.26 nM (2.39 nM without a sea-ice mask), i.e., about 4 % lower than the previous bottom-up L11 climatology. However, significant regional differences of more than 100 % as compared to L11 are observed. The global sea-to-air flux of DMS is estimated at ∼27.1 TgS yr-1, which is about 4 % lower than L11, although, like the DMS distribution, large regional differences were observed. The largest changes are observed in high concentration regions such as the polar oceans, although oceanic regions that were under-sampled in the past also show large differences between revisions of the climatology. Finally, DMS-Rev3 reduces the previously observed patchiness in high productivity regions. Copyright

Chromatin loop anchors are associated with genome instability in cancer and recombination hotspots in the germline

Abstract Background Chromatin loops form a basic unit of interphase nuclear organization, with chromatin loop anchor points providing contacts between regulatory regions and promoters. However, the mutational landscape at these anchor points remains under-studied. Here, we describe the unusual patterns of somatic mutations and germline variation associated with loop anchor points and explore the underlying features influencing these patterns. Results Analyses of whole genome sequencing datasets reveal that anchor points are strongly depleted for single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in tumours. Despite low SNV rates in their genomic neighbourhood, anchor points emerge as sites of evolutionary innovation, showing enrichment for structural variant (SV) breakpoints and a peak of SNVs at focal CTCF sites within the anchor points. Both CTCF-bound and non-CTCF anchor points harbour an excess of SV breakpoints in multiple tumour types and are prone to double-strand breaks in cell lines. Common fragile sites, which are hotspots for genome instability, also show elevated numbers of intersecting loop anchor points. Recurrently disrupted anchor points are enriched for genes with functions in cell cycle transitions and regions associated with predisposition to cancer. We also discover a novel class of CTCF-bound anchor points which overlap meiotic recombination hotspots and are enriched for the core PRDM9 binding motif, suggesting that the anchor points have been foci for diversity generated during recent human evolution. Conclusions We suggest that the unusual chromatin environment at loop anchor points underlies the elevated rates of variation observed, marking them as sites of regulatory importance but also genomic fragility

Factors influencing user acceptance of public sector big open data

In recent years Government departments and public/private organizations are becoming increasingly transparent with their data to establish the whole new paradigm of big open data. Increasing research interest arises from the claimed usability of big open data in improving public sector reforms, facilitating innovation, improving supplier and distribution networks and creating resilient supply chains that help improve the efficiency of public services. Despite the advantages of big open data for supply chain and operations management, there is severe shortage of empirical analyses in this field, especially with regards to its acceptance. To address this gap, in this paper we use an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to empirically examine the factors affecting users’ behavioural intentions towards public sector big open data. We outline the importance of our model for operations and supply chain managers, the limitations of the study, and future research directions

Quantifying and understanding dimethylsulfide variability and its influence on the climate system

The significance of the role dimethylsulfide (DMS) plays in regulating the Earth’s climate has been the subject of extensive study. In recent years, advancements in measurements, analytical techniques, and Earth system modelling have led to the rapid expansion of DMS research studies from which an increasingly nuanced understanding of DMS within the climate has evolved. This thesis contributes to the community research effort on all three fronts and provides new insights from which recommendations for future work are made. I present new measurements of DMS concentrations from the southeast Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean marginal ice zone during springtime. The relationship between observations of extremely high DMS concentrations in sea ice (>400 nM) and elevated concentrations in seawater (~40 nM) can be explained by a physical dilution and mixing mechanism. Observed DMS concentrations and estimated fluxes are presented, and their importance is discussed in the context of previous regional observations and large-scale climatological estimates. An objective global analysis of DMS mesoscale and submesoscale spatial variability is presented. DMS is found to vary on the order of tens of kilometres in all ocean basins, and at different times of the year. DMS variability length scales are uncorrelated with DMS concentrations which enables this analysis to help identify mechanisms underpinning DMS variability. Almost 80 % of DMS variability can be explained using the variability of sea surface height anomalies, density, and chlorophyll-a. These results imply that existing large-scale parameterisations are using appropriate parameters but that regional contrasts in DMS variability point to unresolved drivers. The sensitivity of aerosol–cloud interactions to the distribution and variability of seawater DMS concentration is tested in UKESM1.1. I test the three latest independent climatological DMS estimates, a previous benchmark climatology, a climatology derived from the model’s native DMS scheme, and a control experiment without marine DMS. The latest observationally driven estimates of DMS concentration produce a similar impact in driving the seasonal cycle of Southern Ocean cloud droplet number concentration. The large negative offset in cloud droplet number relative to satellite data indicates that non-DMS emissions and atmospheric processes remain elusive in the model. The regional contrasts in DMS concentration between different estimates lead to a 12 % (0.11 W m¯²) uncertainty in aerosol effective radiative forcing.NERC and Met Offic

Can the charity sector become a sexy business

With the exception of this years’ impending Children in Need, the third sector, or charities to you and me, have long been associated as the ‘Ugly Betty’ of business; a frumpy image, no sex appeal and a conspicuous absence of prominent admirers and long-term partners. This is no longer the case as she has had a makeover, ditched her specs and flicked back her hair. The result is that corporate donors, billionaire philanthropists and political parties are now beating a path to her door. According to the Sunday Times Giving Index, £1.2Bn has been donated by the top 30 philanthropists this year alone.With the recent speculation about a possible general election, the same old argument is being waged between public service investment and tax cuts. All parties now agree that the expansion of the third sector is vital to deliver effective public services. The future could be more to do with how the charities are funded. One way is to switch tax-payers’ money to charities ensuring that best value is achieved. Another is for individual and corporate donors to supply their expertise as well as their money to charities. A compelling reason is that this approach may just be the holy grail of being able to provide tax cuts from reduced government spending but without the pain of falling standards of public services. Donors would also benefit as they can demonstrate their corporate social responsibility credentials in a climate of increasing public scrutiny. Whatever the outcome, the only certainty is that charities must become more business-focused to take advantage of this new found attention. .The Business School at BU is at the forefront of this research. Through a recent Knowledge Transfer Partnership, we helped to significantly improve the business performance of local charity Bournemouth Churches Housing Association which provides support for homeless and vulnerable members of society. BCHA are now on a much sounder business footing and well placed to win future funding bids. This amazing transformation has been achieved without losing their proud caring identity. The project has now been short-listed for the DTI’s UK national prize and is setting a precedent that other charities will follow