Now the wars are over: The past, present and future of Scottish battlefields

Battlefield archaeology has provided a new way of appreciating historic battlefields. This paper provides a summary of the long history of warfare and conflict in Scotland which has given rise to a large number of battlefield sites. Recent moves to highlight the archaeological importance of these sites, in the form of Historic Scotland’s Battlefields Inventory are discussed, along with some of the problems associated with the preservation and management of these important cultural sites

Fault and magmatic interaction within Iceland's western rift over the last 9kyr

We present high-resolution 'Chirp' sub-bottom profiler data from Thingvallavatn, a lake in Iceland's western rift zone. These data are combined with stratigraphic constraints from sediment cores to show that movement on normal faults since 9 ka are temporally correlated with magmatic events, indicating that movements were controlled by episodic dyke intrusion. Sediment depo-centres and the focus of subsidence migrated westwards over 3-4 kyr towards the locus of subsequent brittle failure. We interpret this subsidence as related to dyke intrusion a few km along strike, originating from the Hengill volcanic system, which occurred prior to major dyking, faulting and subsidence within the lake at 1.9 ka

HOw patients view extended half‐life products: impressions from real‐world experience (The HOPE study)

Introduction Extended half‐life (EHL) clotting factors have been shown to offer people with haemophilia (PwH) protection from bleeding with fewer infusions, which might reduce treatment burden. Aim The HOw Patients view Extended half‐life products (HOPE) study aimed to explore, understand and describe patient expectations around the prophylactic use of EHL products and to establish whether these expectations were met through individual follow‐up analysis. Methods The HOPE study was a prospective, qualitative cohort study conducted among PwH who had switched to Fc fusion protein EHL products in routine clinical care and who had not been recruited to clinical trials of these products. Semi‐structured audio‐recorded interviews were undertaken over two time points; transcripts were analysed to systematically generate theory from data that contains both inductive and deductive thinking. Results Forty‐three interviews were conducted with 25 participants. Most participants were positive about EHL treatment and intended to continue using them. Reduced frequency of infusions meant lives were less disrupted or dominated by haemophilia, and there was less perceived stress on overused veins. For those PwH who did not reduce infusion frequency, there were other perceived benefits from EHLs with respect to greater protection with higher trough levels and fewer bleeds. Conclusion Patients switching to EHL treatments believe these products will result in fewer infusions and less disruption of everyday life, leaving them feeling more protected with fewer bleeds and increased activity levels, as well as enhanced well‐being and mental health. Understanding patient expectation and experience around using products adds real‐world data to clinical trial experience

The effectiveness of using the workplace to identify and address modifiable health risk factors in deprived populations

Objectives To establish whether a programme of targeted health screening, with referral to appropriate interventions, offered to an employed but socioeconomically deprived group was effective in overcoming barriers to uptake of such services and improving a range of surrogate health markers for participants. Methods Low-paid local government employees from socially and economically deprived areas in North-East England were invited to attend a free health check. Health checks were conducted within working hours and close to their worksite, and included assessment of a range of lifestyle and health-related risk factors, including those associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). A range of additional interventions were offered where indicated. Participants were invited to repeat screening approximately 9 months later. Results 635 (20% response rate) employees in the target age group (≥40 years) attended the first check. Most health risk markers improved in those (N=427) attending both health checks, as did the mean CVD risk score (t=2.86, p=0.004). 269 referrals were made to the intervention programmes. Conclusions This workplace programme had a positive impact on cardiovascular health, but attendance rates were low. These findings suggest that workplace health screening activities may have the potential to improve health in a group often considered hard to reach by other routes, but do not offer a straightforward solution in overcoming barriers to access for such subgroups within the working population

The asteroseismic ground-based observational counterpart of CoRoT

We present different aspects of the ground-based observational counterpart of the CoRoT satellite mission. We give an overview of the selected asteroseismic targets, the numerous instruments and observatories involved, and the first scientific results.Comment: 3 pages, 2 tables, 1 figure, to be published in the conference proceedings 'Stellar Pulsation: Challenges for Theory and Observation' (31 May - 5 June, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US), publishers: American Institute of Physic

Spectroscopic Survey of {\gamma} Doradus Stars I. Comprehensive atmospheric parameters and abundance analysis of {\gamma} Doradus stars

We present a spectroscopic survey of known and candidate $\gamma$\,Doradus stars. The high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra of 52 objects were collected by five different spectrographs. The spectral classification, atmospheric parameters (\teff, $\log g$, $\xi$), $v\sin i$ and chemical composition of the stars were derived. The stellar spectral and luminosity classes were found between G0-A7 and IV-V, respectively. The initial values for \teff\ and \logg\ were determined from the photometric indices and spectral energy distribution. Those parameters were improved by the analysis of hydrogen lines. The final values of \teff, \logg\ and $\xi$ were derived from the iron lines analysis. The \teff\ values were found between 6000\,K and 7900\,K, while \logg\,values range from 3.8 to 4.5\,dex. Chemical abundances and $v\sin i$ values were derived by the spectrum synthesis method. The $v\sin i$ values were found between 5 and 240\,km\,s$^{-1}$. The chemical abundance pattern of $\gamma$\,Doradus stars were compared with the pattern of non-pulsating stars. It turned out that there is no significant difference in abundance patterns between these two groups. Additionally, the relations between the atmospheric parameters and the pulsation quantities were checked. A strong correlation between the $v\sin i$ and the pulsation periods of $\gamma$\,Doradus variables was obtained. The accurate positions of the analysed stars in the H-R diagram have been shown. Most of our objects are located inside or close to the blue edge of the theoretical instability strip of $\gamma$\,Doradus.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figure

Marked seasonal variation in the wild mouse gut microbiota

Recent studies have provided an unprecedented view of the microbial communities colonizing captive mice; yet the host and environmental factors that shape the rodent gut microbiota in their natural habitat remain largely unexplored. Here, we present results from a 2-year 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing-based survey of wild wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) in two nearby woodlands. Similar to other mammals, wild mice were colonized by 10 bacterial phyla and dominated by the Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Within the Firmicutes, the Lactobacillus genus was most abundant. Putative bacterial pathogens were widespread and often abundant members of the wild mouse gut microbiota. Among a suite of extrinsic (environmental) and intrinsic (host-related) factors examined, seasonal changes dominated in driving qualitative and quantitative differences in the gut microbiota. In both years examined, we observed a strong seasonal shift in gut microbial community structure, potentially due to the transition from an insect- to a seed-based diet. This involved decreased levels of Lactobacillus, and increased levels of Alistipes (Bacteroidetes phylum) and Helicobacter. We also detected more subtle but statistically significant associations between the gut microbiota and biogeography, sex, reproductive status and co-colonization with enteric nematodes. These results suggest that environmental factors have a major role in shaping temporal variations in microbial community structure within natural populations