Determining The Cost Effectiveness Of Solutions To Diffuse Pollution: Developing A Model To Assess In-Field Mitigation Options for Phosphorous and Sediment Loss

The European Union Water Framework Directive requires governments to set water quality objectives based on good ecological status. This includes specific requirements to control diffuse pollution. Diffuse phosphorous (P) pollution plays a pivotal role in influencing water quality with losses of P associated with soil particles often linked to soil erosion. The Mitigation Options for Phosphorus and Sediment (MOPS) project, using three case study sites, is investigating the cost effectiveness of specific control measures in terms of mitigating sediment and P loss from combinable crops. The analysis is conducted at the farm level using a simple spreadsheet model. Further development of the model will allow the results to be extrapolated to generic regional farm typologies. Results from the initial farm level analysis suggest that some mitigation options may not be cost effective in reducing diffuse pollution, however, that other options may be very cost effective.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Engineering cell surfaces by covalent grafting of synthetic polymers to metabolically-labeled glycans

Re-engineering mammalian cell surfaces enables modulation of their phenotype, function, and interactions with external markers and may find application in cell-based therapies. Here we use metabolic glycan labeling to install azido groups onto the cell surface, which can act as anchor points to enable rapid, simple, and robust “click” functionalization by the addition of a polymer bearing orthogonally reactive functionality. Using this strategy, new cell surface functionality was introduced by using telechelic polymers with fluorescence or biotin termini, demonstrating that recruitment of biomacromolecules is possible. This approach may enable the attachment of payloads and modulation of cell function and fate, as well as providing a tool to interface synthetic polymers with biological systems

Life Transitions and Relevance of Healthy Living in Late Adolescence

Using a cross-sectional qualitative design involving focus groups and interviews, we sought to gain a more detailed understanding of adolescents’ physical activity, eating habits, and health perceptions during the transition from secondary school (or high school) to work. Based on thematic analyses, three themes were extracted; (i) perceptions of lifestyle and health; (ii) changes in priorities; and (iii) passive acceptance of internal and external influences on physical activity and diet. Poor diet and physical inactivity appeared to reflect participants’ amotivation towards health behaviours, reluctance to divert from perceived peer norms, and efforts to assert independence from parents

The persistence of character: Sir Alec Clegg

Sir Alec Clegg (1909 - 1986) was the Chief Education Officer for the West Riding of Yorkshire 1949-1974. Throughout his time in post the underpinning ideologies of individuals as agents of change, reform of educational environments and the value of the arts to the curriculum for every child were key cornerstones. As an educational pioneer Sir Alec Clegg’s legacy is vast. Underpinning his leadership is his work as a thorough and exceptional educational administrator which allowed his character to be manifest, shared and learnt from. Using personal papers of Sir Alec Clegg coupled with storied life narratives from individuals who worked with him. The research explores what can be learnt from his leadership to bring art and design education and pedagogical development to the forefront within the new political landscape. In exploring Clegg’s leadership through the eyes of others, much is revealed in relation to personal contribution, leadership and navigation of purpose. At a time of rapidly changing educational landscapes much can be learned from the individual contributions and impactful of Clegg. The paper synthesizes the positive attributes and impact of successful leadership within the context of the creative sector

Evaluation of first Older People's Emergency Department in England – a retrospective cohort study

Background: The complexity of older patients along with trends in poorer outcomes in the Emergency Department has prompted research into how Emergency Departments can adapt to meet the needs of an ageing population. A separate Older People's Emergency Department has been proposed to improve care at the front door. Objective: Compare patient flow in a dedicated Older People's Emergency Department at a University Hospital in Norfolk, United Kingdom, against that of the main Emergency Department. Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort study to compare older patients attending the Emergency Department in 2019 against those attending the newly-formed Older People's Emergency Department service in 2020. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios (emergency admissions, meeting England's four-hour national target, re-admissions, all-cause 30-day mortality, clinical frailty screening, and discharge to original place of residence). Results: Clinical assessment in the Older People's Emergency Department did not significantly lower the proportion of patients admitted to hospital (aOR 0.84 (95% CI 0.61-1.16).  There were significant reductions in overall time spent in the department, time to initial clinician review and time to frailty screening. Patients seen in the Older People's Emergency Department were more likely to meet the national four-hour target and more likely to be discharged to their original place of residence. Conclusions: Assessment in the Older People's Emergency Department was not associated with a significantly reduced likelihood of hospitalisation. However, patients had a shorter wait for clinical assessment with concomitant reduction in department length of stay

Solution-Phase Combinatorial Chemistry in Lead Discovery

Solution-phase approaches in combinatorial chemistry complement solid-phase approaches and each can be used to advantage in particular circumstances. Solution-phase synthesis of pools of compounds, whilst allowing successful identification of a selection of good lead structures for medicinal chemistry programmes, also reinforced a number of the disadvantages of such an approach. Solution-phase parallel synthesis of discrete compounds has, however, proved to be a very useful and popular approach both for lead generation and in lead optimisation work. The range of chemistry suitable for use in such approaches is expanding rapidly and some of these chemistries are discussed. The current focus is on enhancing the quality of compounds prepared in array formats, and we describe a number of useful approaches which are being developed to that end

Reduction chemistry yields stable and soluble divalent lanthanide tris(pyrazolyl)borate complexes †

Reduction of the heteroleptic Ln(iii) precursors [Ln(Tp)2(OTf)] (Tp = hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate; OTf = triflate) with either an aluminyl(i) anion or KC8 yielded the adduct-free homoleptic Ln(ii) complexes dimeric 1-Eu [{Eu(Tp)(μ-κ1:η5-Tp)}2] and monomeric 1-Yb [Yb(Tp)2]. Complexes 1-Ln have good solubility and stability in both non-coordinating and coordinating solvents. Reaction of 1-Ln with 2 Ph3PO yielded 1-Ln(OPPh3)2. All complexes are intensely coloured and 1-Eu is photoluminescent. The electronic absorption data show the 4f–5d electronic transitions in Ln(ii). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data reveal first μ-κ1:η5-coordination mode of the unsubstituted Tp ligand to lanthanides in 1-Eu

Osteo-cise: Strong Bones for Life: protocol for a community-based randomised controlled trial of a multi-modal exercise and osteoporosis education program for older adults at risk of falls and fractures

Background : Osteoporosis affects over 220 million people worldwide, and currently there is no \u27cure\u27 for the disease. Thus, there is a need to develop evidence-based, safe and acceptable prevention strategies at the population level that target multiple risk factors for fragility fractures to reduce the health and economic burden of the condition. Methods : The \u27Osteo-cise: Strong Bones for Life\u27 study will investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of a multi-component targeted exercise, osteoporosis education/awareness and behavioural change program for improving bone health and muscle function, and reducing falls risk in community-dwelling older adults at an increased risk of fracture. Men and women aged 60 years or above will participate in an 18-month randomised controlled trial comprising a 12-month structured and supervised community-based program and a 6-month \u27research to practise\u27 translational phase. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the \u27Osteo-cise\u27 intervention or a self-management control group. The intervention will comprise a multi-modal exercise program incorporating high velocity progressive resistance training, moderate impact weight-bearing exercise and high challenging balance exercises performed three times weekly at local community-based fitness centres. A behavioural change program will be used to enhance exercise adoption and adherence to the program. Community-based osteoporosis education seminars will be conducted to improve participant knowledge and understanding of the risk factors and preventative measures for osteoporosis, falls and fractures. The primary outcomes measures, to be collected at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months, will include DXA-derived hip and spine bone mineral density measurements and functional muscle power (timed stair-climb test). Secondary outcomes measures include: MRI-assessed distal femur and proximal tibia trabecular bone micro-architecture, lower limb and back maximal muscle strength, balance and function (four square step test, functional reach test, timed up-and-go test and 30-second sit-to-stand), falls incidence and health-related quality of life. Cost-effectiveness will also be assessed. Discussion : The findings from the Osteo-cise: Strong Bones for Life study will provide new information on the efficacy of a targeted multi-modal community-based exercise program incorporating high velocity resistance training, together with an osteoporosis education and behavioural change program for improving multiple risk factors for falls and fracture in older adults at risk of fragility fracture.<br /

Bird populations most exposed to climate change are less sensitive to climatic variation

The phenology of many species shows strong sensitivity to climate change; however, with few large scale intra-specific studies it is unclear how such sensitivity varies over a species' range. We document large intra-specific variation in phenological sensitivity to temperature using laying date information from 67 populations of two co-familial European songbirds, the great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), covering a large part of their breeding range. Populations inhabiting deciduous habitats showed stronger phenological sensitivity than those in evergreen and mixed habitats. However, populations with higher sensitivity tended to have experienced less rapid change in climate over the past decades, such that populations with high phenological sensitivity will not necessarily exhibit the strongest phenological advancement. Our results show that to effectively assess the impact of climate change on phenology across a species' range it will be necessary to account for intra-specific variation in phenological sensitivity, climate change exposure, and the ecological characteristics of a population. Intra-specific variations may contribute to heterogeneous responses to climate change across a species' range. Here, the authors investigate the phenology of two bird species across their breeding ranges, and find that their sensitivity to temperature is uncoupled from exposure to climate change.Peer reviewe