Survive or thrive: creating options for sustainable communities in rural Scotland

Environmental and socio-economic crises are creating compelling needs for radical social change. This project investigated the options and barriers for three Scottish rural communities (Fintry, Killin and Kinlochleven) to become sustainable and thrive in a future resource-constrained world. A unique, holistic and mixed methods approach was used to assess baseline sustainability, envision and model futures and develop possible options for sustainability. Central to this investigation was the development of a strong and holistic model of a sustainable community: the sustainable community design (SCD). This framework shaped the assessment of each community’s baseline sustainability. Sustainability was measured for the ten aspects of the SCD using a scorecard approach with a basket of indicators populated by primary data (collected in a household survey) and secondary data (national statistics). Sustainable consumption was analysed using the Resources and Energy Analysis Programme (REAP) to generate each community’s ecological footprint (EF) and results were compared to current estimates of per capita world biocapacity to gauge sustainability. Even the most sustainable community was only sustainable in three out of ten of the SCD’s aspects and this community had the highest EF. Although the most deprived community had the lowest EF, it was unsustainable in all ten SCD aspects. The results reflected the heterogeneity of rural communities and complexity of sustainability measurement. The SCD scorecard approach for sustainability measurement was shown to be sensitive and robust and can be applied to rural communities across Scotland. Future visions were created in focus groups, in which participants were asked to envision what their community would need to thrive in 2030 under the scenario of peak oil and a low carbon economy. Vision ideas and examples of best practice and technological innovation were used to create narrative scenarios for modelling transport, food and energy futures. The scenarios’ EFs were calculated in REAP for three discrete levels of change: a marginal change, a step change and radical transformation. The results suggested that radical transformation is required for communities to become sustainable. Key features are likely to be re-localised and highly co-operative societies, which utilise technological innovations (such as electric cars powered by renewable energy) and share resources to maximise opportunities for living in rural areas. A community’s transformation is likely to be bespoke and require local control, requiring changes to governance and supportive policy. Key barriers identified were availability of affordable technological innovations, energy injustice, power to achieve self-determination, community governance, property rights and sustainability literacy. A process model, incorporating the SCD scorecard approach, was proposed for furthering sustainable community development and research. In taking an interdisciplinary and mixed methods approach, this study has pioneered a novel approach to the holistic enquiry of the options for creating sustainable rural communities

Intermediate energy Coulomb excitation as a probe of nuclear structure at radioactive beam facilities

The effects of retardation in the Coulomb excitation of radioactive nuclei in intermediate energy collisions (Elab ~100 MeV/nucleon) are investigated. We show that the excitation cross sections of low-lying states in 11Be, {38,40,42}S and {44,46}Ar projectiles incident on gold and lead targets are modified by as much as 20% due to these effects. The angular distributions of decaying gamma-rays are also appreciably modified.Comment: 21 pages, 3 figures, Phys. Rev. C, in pres

Usefulness of Published PCR Primers in Detecting Human Rhinovirus Infection

We conducted a preliminary comparison of the relative sensitivity of a cross-section of published human rhinovirus (HRV)–specific PCR primer pairs, varying the oligonucleotides and annealing temperature. None of the pairs could detect all HRVs in 2 panels of genotyped clinical specimens; >1 PCR is required for accurate description of HRV epidemiology

Coulomb-Nuclear Coupling and Interference Effects in the Breakup of Halo Nuclei

Nuclear and Coulomb breakup of halo nuclei have been treated often as incoherent processes and structure information have been extracted from their study. The aim of this paper is to clarify whether interference effects and Coulomb-nuclear couplings are important and how they could modify the simple picture previously used. We calculate the neutron angular and energy distributions by using first order perturbation theory for the Coulomb amplitude and an eikonal approach for the nuclear breakup. This allows for a simple physical interpretation of the results which are mostly analytical. Our formalism includes the effect of the nuclear distortion of the neutron wave function on the Coulomb amplitude. This leads to a Coulomb-nuclear coupling term derived here for the first time which gives a small contribution for light targets but is of the same order of magnitude as nuclear breakup for heavy targets. The overall interference is constructive for light to medium targets and destructive for heavy targets. Thus it appears that Coulomb breakup experiments need to be analyzed with more accurate models than those used so far.Comment: 28 Latex pages, 2 tables, 2 eps figures, 5 ps figures. Accepted for publication in Nucl. Phys.

A weak scientific basis for gaming disorder: let us err on the side of caution

We greatly appreciate the care and thought that is evident in the 10 commentaries that discuss our debate paper, the majority of which argued in favor of a formalized ICD-11 gaming disorder. We agree that there are some people whose play of video games is related to life problems. We believe that understanding this population and the nature and severity of the problems they experience should be a focus area for future research. However, moving from research construct to formal disorder requires a much stronger evidence base than we currently have. The burden of evidence and the clinical utility should be extremely high, because there is a genuine risk of abuse of diagnoses. We provide suggestions about the level of evidence that might be required: transparent and preregistered studies, a better demarcation of the subject area that includes a rationale for focusing on gaming particularly versus a more general behavioral addictions concept, the exploration of non-addiction approaches, and the unbiased exploration of clinical approaches that treat potentially underlying issues, such as depressive mood or social anxiety first. We acknowledge there could be benefits to formalizing gaming disorder, many of which were highlighted by colleagues in their commentaries, but we think they do not yet outweigh the wider societal and public health risks involved. Given the gravity of diagnostic classification and its wider societal impact, we urge our colleagues at the WHO to err on the side of caution for now and postpone the formalization

Counseling and surveillance of obstetric risks for female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors: recommendations from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group

Female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors have an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes related to their cancer- or treatment-associated sequelae. Optimal care for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors can be facilitated by clinical practice guidelines that identify specific adverse pregnancy outcomes and the clinical characteristics of at-risk subgroups. However, national guidelines are scarce and vary in content. Here, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group offers recommendations for the counseling and surveillance of obstetrical risks of childhood, adolescent, and young adult survivors. A systematic literature search in MEDLINE database (through PubMed) to identify all available evidence published between January 1990 and December 2018. Published articles on pregnancy and perinatal or congenital risks in female cancer survivors were screened for eligibility. Study designs with a sample size larger than 40 pregnancies in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors (diagnosed before the age of 25 years, not pregnant at that time) were eligible. This guideline from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group systematically appraised the quality of available evidence for adverse obstetrical outcomes in childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology and formulated recommendations to enhance evidence-based obstetrical care and preconception counseling of female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors. Healthcare providers should discuss the risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes based on cancer treatment exposures with all female childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors of reproductive age, before conception. Healthcare providers should be aware that there is no evidence to support an increased risk of giving birth to a child with congenital anomalies (high-quality evidence). Survivors treated with radiotherapy to volumes exposing the uterus and their healthcare providers should be aware of the risk of adverse obstetrical outcomes such as miscarriage (moderate-quality evidence), premature birth (high-quality evidence), and low birthweight (high-quality evidence); therefore, high-risk obstetrical surveillance is recommended. Cardiomyopathy surveillance is reasonable before pregnancy or in the first trimester for all female survivors treated with anthracyclines and chest radiation. Female cancer survivors have increased risks of premature delivery and low birthweight associated with radiotherapy targeting the lower body and thereby exposing the uterus, which warrant high-risk pregnancy surveillance

A Sound Approach to Language Matters: In Honor of Ocke-Schwen Bohn

The contributions in this Festschrift were written by Ocke’s current and former PhD-students, colleagues and research collaborators. The Festschrift is divided into six sections, moving from the smallest building blocks of language, through gradually expanding objects of linguistic inquiry to the highest levels of description - all of which have formed a part of Ocke’s career, in connection with his teaching and/or his academic productions: “Segments”, “Perception of Accent”, “Between Sounds and Graphemes”, “Prosody”, “Morphology and Syntax” and “Second Language Acquisition”. Each one of these illustrates a sound approach to language matters

Association of candidate pharmacogenetic markers with platinum-induced ototoxicity:PanCareLIFE dataset

Genetic association studies suggest a genetic predisposi- tion for cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Among other candidate genes, thiopurine methyltransferase ( TPMT ) is considered a critical gene for susceptibility to cisplatin-induced hearing loss in a pharmacogenetic guideline. The PanCareLIFE cross- sectional cohort study evaluated the genetic associations in a large pan-European population and assessed the diagnos- tic accuracy of the genetic markers. 1,112 pediatric cancer survivors who had provided biomaterial for genotyping were screened for participation in the pharmacogenetic association study. 900 participants qualified for inclusion. Based on the assessment of original audiograms, patients were assigned to three phenotype categories: no, minor, and clinically relevant hearing loss. Fourteen variants in eleven candidate genes ( ABCC3, OTOS, TPMT, SLC22A2, NFE2L2, SLC16A5, LRP2, GSTP1, SOD2, WFS1, and ACYP2 ) were genotyped. The genotype and phenotype data represent a resource for conducting meta- analyses to derive a more precise pooled estimate of the ef- fects of genes on the risk of hearing loss due to platinum treatment

Possible modification of BRSK1 on the risk of alkylating chemotherapy-related reduced ovarian function

STUDY QUESTION: Do genetic variations in the DNA damage response pathway modify the adverse effect of alkylating agents on ovarian function in female childhood cancer survivors (CCS)? SUMMARY ANSWER: Female CCS carrying a common BR serine/threonine kinase 1 (BRSK1) gene variant appear to be at 2.5-fold increased odds of reduced ovarian function after treatment with high doses of alkylating chemotherapy. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Female CCS show large inter-individual variability in the impact of DNA-damaging alkylating chemotherapy, given as treatment of childhood cancer, on adult ovarian function. Genetic variants in DNA repair genes affecting ovarian function might explain this variability. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: CCS for the discovery cohort were identified from the Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG) LATER VEVO-study, a multi-centre retrospective cohort study evaluating fertility, ovarian reserve and risk of premature menopause among adult female 5-year survivors of childhood cancer. Female 5-year CCS, diagnosed with cancer and treated with chemotherapy before the age of 25 years, and aged 18 years or older at time of study were enrolled in the current study. Results from the discovery Dutch DCOG-LATER VEVO cohort (n = 285) were validated in the pan-European PanCareLIFE (n =465) and the USA-based St. Jude Lifetime Cohort (n = 391). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: To evaluate ovarian function, anti-Miillerian hormone (AMH) levels were assessed in both the discovery cohort and the replication cohorts. Using additive genetic models in linear and logistic regression, five genetic variants involved in DNA damage response were analysed in relation to cyclophosphamide equivalent dose (CED) score and their impact on ovarian function. Results were then examined using fixed-effect meta-analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Meta-analysis across the three independent cohorts showed a significant interaction effect (P= 3.0 x 10(-4)) between rs11668344 of BRSK 1 (allele frequency = 0.34) among CCS treated with high-dose alkylating agents (CED score >= 8000 mg/m(2)), resulting in a 2.5-fold increased odds of a reduced ovarian function (lowest AMH tertile) for CCS carrying one G allele compared to CCS without this allele (odds ratio genotype AA: 2.01 vs AG: 5.00). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: While low AMH levels can also identify poor responders in assisted reproductive technology, it needs to be emphasized that AMH remains a surrogate marker of ovarian function. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: Further research, validating our findings and identifying additional risk contributing genetic variants, may enable individualized counselling regarding treatment-related risks and necessity of fertility preservation procedures in girls with cancer

Association of candidate pharmacogenetic markers with platinum-induced ototoxicity: PanCareLIFE dataset

Genetic association studies suggest a genetic predisposition for cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Among other candidate genes, thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) is considered a critical gene for susceptibility to cisplatin-induced hearing loss in a pharmacogenetic guideline. The PanCareLIFE cross-sectional cohort study evaluated the genetic associations in a large pan-European population and assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the genetic markers. 1,112 pediatric cancer survivors who had provided biomaterial for genotyping were screened for participation in the pharmacogenetic association study. 900 participants qualified for inclusion. Based on the assessment of original audiograms, patients were assigned to three phenotype categories: no, minor, and clinically relevant hearing loss. Fourteen variants in eleven candidate genes (ABCC3, OTOS, TPMT, SLC22A2, NFE2L2, SLC16A5, LRP2, GSTP1, SOD2, WFS1, and ACYP2) were genotyped. The genotype and phenotype data represent a resource for conducting meta-analyses to derive a more precise pooled estimate of the effects of genes on the risk of hearing loss due to platinum treatment