Relationships between Nighttime Imagery and Population Density for Hong Kong

Nighttime imagery is an unusual remote sensing data source that offers capabilities to represent human activities on the Earth’s surface through the observation of artificial lighting at night. Previous analyses of images of the earth at night derived from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program-Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) have revealed a striking correlation between city-lights and human population density. Nighttime light photographs taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) may have the potential of offering more sophisticated representations of population density with finer spatial and spectral resolution than the DMSP-OLS imagery. The objective of this study is to analyze and map the relationships between the city lights of Hong Kong, China, and representations of population and population density, through comparing two types of nighttime imagery (DMSP-OLS satellite image and ISS photograph) to census population and population density derived from the LandScan population dataset

Mapping the Constructed Surface Area Density for China

Efforts to map the constructed surface area density of the world using nighttime satellite imagery have typically been validated using aerial photography or high resolution satellite imagery in the United States and extrapolating regression parameters to countries outside of the United States. In a previous study, we found China to have ‘paved’ more of the planet than any other country (~87,00 km2). Here we use a google earth based web application to validate our estimates of anthropogenic impervious surface (constructed area density) in China using actual imagery of China.  ‘Paving the Planet’ is a universal phenomenon – akin to clothing – and represents one of the primary anthropogenic modifications of the environment.  Expansion in population numbers and economies combined with the increased use of automobiles has led to the sprawl of development and a wide proliferation of constructed impervious surfaces. Constructed impervious surfaces are both hydrological and ecological disturbances.  However, constructed surfaces are different from most other types of disturbances in that recovery is arrested through the use of materials that are resistant to decay and are actively maintained. The same characteristics that make impervious surfaces ideal for use in construction produce a series of effects on the environment.  We present a new map of the density of constructed surface in China derived from DMSP nighttime lights and LandScan population count data

Past, Present and Future: Perspectives on an Oral History of Intellectual Disability Nursing

Thirty-one participants engaged in this oral history research study aimed at exploring the lived experience of intellectual disability nurses and healthcare assistants’ knowledge of the trajectory of intellectual disability nursing over the last 30 years in the Republic of Ireland and England. This paper documents some of these experiences offering perspectives on intellectual disability nursing and what is important for the future. Findings from Ireland consider the nature of intellectual disability services and the registered nurse in intellectual disability. Findings from England focus on opportunities and restrictions in intellectual disability nursing, shared visions, the changing context within which work took place and also the internal and external supports that impacted their roles. It is evident that intellectual disability nurses must be responsive to the changing landscape of service provision and also the requirements for contemporary new roles to meet the changing needs of people with intellectual disabilities

Implications of land-grabbing on the ecological balance of Brazil

In the global free-market, natural resource scarcity and opportunities for preserving the local environment are fostering international purchasing of large extensions of land, mainly for agricultural use. These land transactions often involve land cover change (i.e., through deforestation) or a shift from extensive or traditional to intensive agricultural practices. In Brazil, the land appropriation by foreign investors (i.e., the so-called "land-grabbing") is affecting natural capital availability for local communities to a different extent in the very different territorial entities. At the same time, Brazilian investors are purchasing land in other countries. Ecological footprint accounting is one appropriate lens that can be employed to visualize the aggregated effect of natural capital appropriation and use. The aim of this paper is to provide a first estimate on the effect of land-grabbing on the ecological balance of Brazil through calculating the biocapacity embodied in purchased lands in the different states of Brazil. The results show that Brazil is losing between 9 to 9.3 million global hectares (on a gross basis, or a net total of 7.7 to 8.6 million of global hectares) of its biocapacity due to land-grabbing, when considering respectively a "cropland to cropland" (i.e., no land-cover change) and a "total deforestation" scenario. This represents a minimum estimate, highlighting the need for further land-grabbing data collection at the subnational scale. This analysis can be replicated for other countries of the world, adjusting their ecological balance by considering the biocapacity embodied in international transactions of land

Chemical analysis of flotsam ambergris

The natural product ambergris is only found rarely on beaches, as jetsam. Even more scarce, or even absent, are accounts of flotsam ambergris. Here, we report the chemical analysis of a rare, large piece (\u3e100kg) of flotsam found in the Atlantic in 2019. About 95% of subsamples from the outside of the coprolith was soluble in dichloromethane. Of this, FTIR spectroscopy, APCI-MS and GC-MS indicated the presence of ambrein. Radiocarbon dating indicated that the sample was post 1950s in age. The 13C/12C isotope ratio (−22.5 ‰) was typical of those reported to date for whale ‘body’ ambergris. Metals of ambergris have hardly been reported previously. The distribution found here for the flotsam, was dominated by copper and zinc, which is similar to that of several squid species. This is also consistent with the presence of squid beaks in the coprolith. Squid are a major prey species of sperm whales

Impact of program characteristics on weight loss in adult behavioral weight management interventions: systematic review and component network meta-analysis

Objective: Behavioral weight management programs (BWMPs) for adults lead to greater weight loss at 12 months than minimal-intervention control treatments. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in the content of BWMPs and outcomes of treatment. This study assessed the contribution of individual components of BWMPs, using Bayesian component network meta-analysis. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of BWMPs in adults were identified (latest search: December 2019) and arms coded for presence or absence of 29 intervention components grouped by type, content, provider, mode of delivery, and intensity. Results: A total of 169 studies (41 judged at high risk of bias) were included in the main analysis. Six components had effect estimates indicating clinically significant benefit and credible intervals (CrIs) excluding no difference: change in diet (mean difference [MD] = −1.84 kg, 95% CrI: −2.91 to −0.80); offering partial (MD = −2.12 kg, 95% CrI: −3.39 to −0.89) or total meal replacements (MD = −2.63 kg, 95% CrI: −4.58 to −0.73); delivery by a psychologist/counselor (MD = −1.45 kg, 95% CrI: −2.81 to −0.06) or dietitian (MD = −1.31 kg, 95% CrI: −2.40 to −0.24); and home setting (MD = −1.05 kg, 95% CrI: −2.02 to −0.09). Conclusions: Future program development should consider including these components; other approaches continue to warrant evaluation of effectiveness

National ecosystem service mapping approaches

The creation of any comprehensive mapping instrument at the national level requires the careful consideration of a set of issues, with components that range from the scientific to the technical and from the economic to the organisational. Wealthier countries, such as the United States and many European countries, have a long tradition of national level cartography, analogue and then digital, dating back centuries - with the first comprehensive and ‘modern’ example being the Cassini Maps of 18th century France. In the United States, the ‘National Map ’ is the digital version and the continuation of efforts to map the country at a variety of scales and for multiple purposes was started in the late 1800s by the United States Geological Survey. One of many efforts to provide national maps for the US was the ‘National Map’ which includes data layers on elevation, hydrography, geographic names, transportation, structures, boundaries, ortho-imagery and land cover. Another example, the ‘Australian National Map’, includes not only the same data layers as the U.S. national map but also layers on communication, environment, framework, groundwater, habitation, infrastructure, utility and vegetation. For the world in general, the quality and quantity of information related to ecosystems and ecosystem services (ES) has been growing and it is expected that it will continue to do so as a result of increasing awareness of our fundamental dependence on natural capital and the value of ES. In this context, national maps may function as providers of reference cartographic data (see Chapter 7.1). Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 calls for European Union’s member states to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territory. In the United States, a memorandum was issued in October 2015 directing Federal agencies to factor the value of ES into planning and decision-making activities at the federal level (see Chapter 7.1 for more details). The mapping of ecosystems is an essential first step in conducting an inventory of that portion of our common wealth that manifests as natural capital. In this chapter, we briefly touch - from the perspective of the mapmaker - on a small set of topics related to the national mapping of ecosystems and ES. This discussion is by no means exhaustive and additional topics may be worth reviewing. Our objective is to inform the reader and to pique his or her curiosity; for further information, vast literature exists on all of these topics

Pharmacological and electronic cigarette interventions for smoking cessation in adults: component network meta-analyses

Background Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease worldwide. Stopping smoking can reduce this harm and many people would like to stop. There are a number of medicines licenced to help people quit globally, and e‐cigarettes are used for this purpose in many countries. Typically treatments work by reducing cravings to smoke, thus aiding initial abstinence and preventing relapse. More information on comparative effects of these treatments is needed to inform treatment decisions and policies. Objectives To investigate the comparative benefits, harms and tolerability of different smoking cessation pharmacotherapies and e‐cigarettes, when used to help people stop smoking tobacco. Search methods We identified studies from recent updates of Cochrane Reviews investigating our interventions of interest. We updated the searches for each review using the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (TAG) specialised register to 29 April 2022. Selection criteria We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cluster‐RCTs and factorial RCTs, which measured smoking cessation at six months or longer, recruited adults who smoked combustible cigarettes at enrolment (excluding pregnant people) and randomised them to approved pharmacotherapies and technologies used for smoking cessation worldwide (varenicline, cytisine, nortriptyline, bupropion, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and e‐cigarettes) versus no pharmacological intervention, placebo (control) or another approved pharmacotherapy. Studies providing co‐interventions (e.g. behavioural support) were eligible if the co‐intervention was provided equally to study arms. Data collection and analysis We followed standard Cochrane methods for screening, data extraction and risk of bias (RoB) assessment (using the RoB 1 tool). Primary outcome measures were smoking cessation at six months or longer, and the number of people reporting serious adverse events (SAEs). We also measured withdrawals due to treatment. We used Bayesian component network meta‐analyses (cNMA) to examine intervention type, delivery mode, dose, duration, timing in relation to quit day and tapering of nicotine dose, using odds ratios (OR) and 95% credibility intervals (CrIs). We calculated an effect estimate for combination NRT using an additive model. We evaluated the influence of population and study characteristics, provision of behavioural support and control arm rates using meta‐regression. We evaluated certainty using GRADE. Main results Of our 332 eligible RCTs, 319 (835 study arms, 157,179 participants) provided sufficient data to be included in our cNMA. Of these, we judged 51 to be at low risk of bias overall, 104 at high risk and 164 at unclear risk, and 118 reported pharmaceutical or e‐cigarette/tobacco industry funding. Removing studies at high risk of bias did not change our interpretation of the results. Benefits We found high‐certainty evidence that nicotine e‐cigarettes (OR 2.37, 95% CrI 1.73 to 3.24; 16 RCTs, 3828 participants), varenicline (OR 2.33, 95% CrI 2.02 to 2.68; 67 RCTs, 16,430 participants) and cytisine (OR 2.21, 95% CrI 1.66 to 2.97; 7 RCTs, 3848 participants) were associated with higher quit rates than control. In absolute terms, this might lead to an additional eight (95% CrI 4 to 13), eight (95% CrI 6 to 10) and seven additional quitters per 100 (95% CrI 4 to 12), respectively. These interventions appeared to be more effective than the other interventions apart from combination NRT (patch and a fast‐acting form of NRT), which had a lower point estimate (calculated additive effect) but overlapping 95% CrIs (OR 1.93, 95% CrI 1.61 to 2.34). There was also high‐certainty evidence that nicotine patch alone (OR 1.37, 95% CrI 1.20 to 1.56; 105 RCTs, 37,319 participants), fast‐acting NRT alone (OR 1.41, 95% CrI 1.29 to 1.55; 120 RCTs, 31,756 participants) and bupropion (OR 1.43, 95% CrI 1.26 to 1.62; 71 RCTs, 14,759 participants) were more effective than control, resulting in two (95% CrI 1 to 3), three (95% CrI 2 to 3) and three (95% CrI 2 to 4) additional quitters per 100 respectively. Nortriptyline is probably associated with higher quit rates than control (OR 1.35, 95% CrI 1.02 to 1.81; 10 RCTs, 1290 participants; moderate‐certainty evidence), resulting in two (CrI 0 to 5) additional quitters per 100. Non‐nicotine/placebo e‐cigarettes (OR 1.16, 95% CrI 0.74 to 1.80; 8 RCTs, 1094 participants; low‐certainty evidence), equating to one additional quitter (95% CrI ‐2 to 5), had point estimates favouring the intervention over control, but CrIs encompassed the potential for no difference and harm. There was low‐certainty evidence that tapering the dose of NRT prior to stopping treatment may improve effectiveness; however, 95% CrIs also incorporated the null (OR 1.14, 95% CrI 1.00 to 1.29; 111 RCTs, 33,156 participants). This might lead to an additional one quitter per 100 (95% CrI 0 to 2). Harms There were insufficient data to include nortriptyline and non‐nicotine EC in the final SAE model. Overall rates of SAEs for the remaining treatments were low (average 3%). Low‐certainty evidence did not show a clear difference in the number of people reporting SAEs for nicotine e‐cigarettes, varenicline, cytisine or NRT when compared to no pharmacotherapy/e‐cigarettes or placebo. Bupropion may slightly increase rates of SAEs, although the CrI also incorporated no difference (moderate certainty). In absolute terms bupropion may cause one more person in 100 to experience an SAE (95% CrI 0 to 2). Authors' conclusions The most effective interventions were nicotine e‐cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine (all high certainty), as well as combination NRT (additive effect, certainty not rated). There was also high‐certainty evidence for the effectiveness of nicotine patch, fast‐acting NRT and bupropion. Less certain evidence of benefit was present for nortriptyline (moderate certainty), non‐nicotine e‐cigarettes and tapering of nicotine dose (both low certainty). There was moderate‐certainty evidence that bupropion may slightly increase the frequency of SAEs, although there was also the possibility of no increased risk. There was no clear evidence that any other tested interventions increased SAEs. Overall, SAE data were sparse with very low numbers of SAEs, and so further evidence may change our interpretation and certainty. Future studies should report SAEs to strengthen certainty in this outcome. More head‐to‐head comparisons of the most effective interventions are needed, as are tests of combinations of these. Future work should unify data from behavioural and pharmacological interventions to inform approaches to combined support for smoking cessation

Drug discovery for male subfertility using high-throughput screening:a new approach to an unsolved problem

STUDY QUESTIONCan pharma drug discovery approaches be utilized to transform investigation into novel therapeutics for male infertility?SUMMARY ANSWERHigh-throughput screening (HTS) is a viable approach to much-needed drug discovery for male factor infertility.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYThere is both huge demand and a genuine clinical need for new treatment options for infertile men. However, the time, effort and resources required for drug discovery are currently exorbitant, due to the unique challenges of the cellular, physical and functional properties of human spermatozoa and a lack of appropriate assay platform.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONSpermatozoa were obtained from healthy volunteer research donors and subfertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI at a hospital-assisted reproductive techniques clinic between January 2012 and November 2016.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSA HTS assay was developed and validated using intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) as a surrogate for motility in human spermatozoa. Calcium fluorescence was detected using a Flexstation microplate reader (384-well platform) and compared with responses evoked by progesterone, a compound known to modify a number of biologically relevant behaviours in human spermatozoa. Hit compounds identified following single point drug screen (10 μM) of an ion channel-focussed library assembled by the University of Dundee Drug Discovery Unit were rescreened to ensure potency using standard 10 point half-logarithm concentration curves, and tested for purity and integrity using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Hit compounds were grouped by structure activity relationships and five representative compounds then further investigated for direct effects on spermatozoa, using computer-assisted sperm assessment, sperm penetration assay and whole-cell patch clamping.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEOf the 3242 ion channel library ligands screened, 384 compounds (11.8%) elicited a statistically significant increase in calcium fluorescence, with greater than 3× median absolute deviation above the baseline. Seventy-four compounds eliciting ≥50% increase in fluorescence in the primary screen were rescreened and evaluated further, resulting in 48 hit compounds that produced a concentration-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i. Sperm penetration studies confirmed in vitro exposure to two hit compounds (A and B) resulted in significant improvement in functional motility in spermatozoa from healthy volunteer donors (A: 1 cm penetration index 2.54, 2 cm penetration index 2.49; P &lt; 0.005 and B: 1 cm penetration index 2.1, 2 cm penetration index 2.6; P &lt; 0.005), but crucially, also in patient samples from those undergoing fertility treatment (A: 1 cm penetration index 2.4; P = 0.009, 2 cm penetration index 3.6; P = 0.02 and B: 1 cm penetration index 2.2; P = 0.0004, 2 cm penetration index 3.6; P = 0.002). This was primarily as a result of direct or indirect CatSper channel action, supported by evidence from electrophysiology studies of individual sperm.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONIncrease and fluxes in [Ca2+]i are fundamental to the regulation of sperm motility and function, including acrosome reaction. The use of calcium signalling as a surrogate for sperm motility is acknowledged as a potential limitation in this study.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSWe conclude that HTS can robustly, efficiently, identify novel compounds that increase [Ca2+]i in human spermatozoa and functionally modify motility, and propose its use as a cornerstone to build and transform much-needed drug discovery for male infertility.</p