Energetic particle influence on the Earth's atmosphere

This manuscript gives an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the effects of energetic particle precipitation (EPP) onto the whole atmosphere, from the lower thermosphere/mesosphere through the stratosphere and troposphere, to the surface. The paper summarizes the different sources and energies of particles, principally galactic cosmic rays (GCRs), solar energetic particles (SEPs) and energetic electron precipitation (EEP). All the proposed mechanisms by which EPP can affect the atmosphere are discussed, including chemical changes in the upper atmosphere and lower thermosphere, chemistry-dynamics feedbacks, the global electric circuit and cloud formation. The role of energetic particles in Earth’s atmosphere is a multi-disciplinary problem that requires expertise from a range of scientific backgrounds. To assist with this synergy, summary tables are provided, which are intended to evaluate the level of current knowledge of the effects of energetic particles on processes in the entire atmosphere

New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias

Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/'proxy' AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele

Identifying approaches to meet assessed needs in health visiting

An action research project, based in a single fundholding practice on the south coast of England, aimed to identify the health needs of families with resident children, then use the contracting system to redirect health visiting services to meet those needs. After assessing the health needs, it was necessary to assess the potential of a range of health visiting approaches that might be proposed to meet those needs. This paper explains how the approaches were assessed for use in the local area and why funding for two additional, innovative posts was deemed necessary. Despite the unsophisticated evidence base for health visiting interventions, a case can be made for commissioning particular service approaches by using a combination of survey data and results from controlled and uncontrolled service evaluations. The supportive focus of health visitor home visiting remains an appropriate use of existing resources, but the usual intensity of visiting may be insufficient for full effectiveness. To rationalize such services by targeting them only at individuals with established needs risks an exacerbation of deteriorating health trends across an area. Alternatively, augmenting home visiting with a community development approach to improve the adverse social environments in which families live may help to change the underlying factors that contribute to ill-health and prove more widely cost-effective. KEYWORDS evidence-based practice • health visiting • prevention • service evaluations • social exclusio