128 research outputs found
Deep Learning to Automatically Interpret Images of the Electrocardiogram: Do We Need the Raw Samples?
Get PDFA review of camera trapping for conservation behaviour research
Get PDFAn understanding of animal behaviour is important if conservation initiatives are to be effective. However, quantifying the behaviour of wild animals presents significant challenges. Remote-sensing camera traps are becoming increasingly popular survey instruments that have been used to non-invasively study a variety of animal behaviours, yielding key insights into behavioural repertoires. They are well suited to ethological studies and provide considerable opportunities for generating conservation-relevant behavioural data if novel and robust methodological and analytical solutions can be developed. This paper reviews the current state of camera-trap-based ethological studies, describes new and emerging directions in camera-based conservation behaviour, and highlights a number of limitations and considerations of particular relevance for camera-based studies. Three promising areas of study are discussed: (1) documenting anthropogenic impacts on behaviour; (2) incorporating behavioural responses into management planning and (3) using behavioural indicators such as giving up densities and daily activity patterns. We emphasize the importance of reporting methodological details, utilizing emerging camera trap metadata standards and central data repositories for facilitating reproducibility, comparison and synthesis across studies. Behavioural studies using camera traps are in their infancy; the full potential of the technology is as yet unrealized. Researchers are encouraged to embrace conservation-driven hypotheses in order to meet future challenges and improve the efficacy of conservation and management processes
CO2 sequestration potential in Indian basalts
Get PDFIndia currently produces 7 – 8% of annual global CO2 emissions, with energy production accounting for 69% of India’s emissions. As such there is growing interest in the potential for emissions reductions through Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Vishal et al., (2021) estimated the theoretical storage capacity of India. However, many large emission sources are located distant from sedimentary basin settings where CO2 storage may conventionally be considered. Continental flood basalts of the Deccan Traps cover an estimated 500,000 km3 in west-central India, and have been identified for potential CO2 storage.
The concept of CO2 storage in basalt relies on CCS by mineralisation (CCSM) as basalt can act as a ready source of divalent cations such as Mg2+ and Ca2+. These can combine with carbonate, CO32-, from dissolved CO2, to produce carbonate minerals such as Magnesite (MgCO3). The CarbFix project in Iceland is a successful example of CCSM in basalt. CO2 is captured from the industrial emission site and piped to the CarbFix operation, where CO2 gas is dissolved in water to produce carbonated water and injected into the basalt (Matter and Kelemen, 2009). A key point to note is that a successful basalt storage scheme requires a target formation with sufficient porosity and permeability to sustain the required injection rates. We present an experimental study focused on characterising basalt of the Ambenali and Poladpur formations sampled from the Killari-1 borehole to assess the storage potential of Deccan Trap basalts. A density log for the Killari-1 borehole is shown in Figure 1, illustrating significant physical property variations throughout the site. Rubbly flow tops and vesicular layers which may be considered as potential injection intervals can be identified from the density log. Higher density layers may act as low permeability top seals.
X-ray computed tomography (CT) was performed on six selected core samples (c. 120 mm in length and 54 mm in diameter) using a Geotek rotating X-ray computed tomography (RXCT) core scanner at the British Geological Survey’s (BGS) Core Scanning Facility (CSF). Sample depths are shown on Figure 1. Total and connected porosity was calculated using digital rock analysis (PerGeos by ThermoFisher). Figure 2 illustrates the porosity network for sample KIL-110 taken from a low-density zone at a depth of 231 m. The left image (blue) shows total porosity, while the right image (purple) shows total connected porosity which is 15.57%. For comparison, KIL-123, at a depth of 168 m has no porosity and is therefore unlikely to contribute to fluid flow unless open fractures or joint networks are present.
Previous geochemical experiments carried out on Deccan Trap samples have indicated that major dissolution of primary carbonates and precipitation of secondary minerals such as siderite occurs
during CO2 exposure. This confirms the potential for mineral trapping of CO2. Using samples from the Killari-1 borehole, a new series of experiments has been initiated to explore these geochemical processes more fully, including the reaction rates and implications for CO2 storage. An ongoing series of batch experiments using powdered basalt samples at a range of temperatures is currently underway, with regular fluid sampling and monitoring to provide valuable information on reaction rates. The experiments are conducted under 100 bar CO2 headspace and at temperatures of 50°C, 100°C and 150°C. As well as providing some relatively high temperature data points where reactions will progress more rapidly, the selected temperature range reflects the significant variation in geothermal gradient across the Deccan Volcanic Province. SEM and XRD reacted solids will provide information on changes from pre to post experiment. The experiments will be complemented by additional batch experiments conducted at similar conditions using cut, rather than powdered sample material. As well as generating more realistic data on reaction rates, this approach will enable detailed characterisation of the reacted material surfaces through a before and after comparison of specific surface sites via SEM.
A subsequent suite of flow-through experiments will be conducted on core samples to investigate the impact of flowing water with a high dissolved CO2 content through the basalt. These experiments will enable the assessment of the dissolution and precipitation potential of porous basalt systems, and, therefore, the potential impacts on flow within a representative flow zone. Effluent chemistry will be monitored to assess directions and rates of reaction within the system, allowing an assessment of the storage potential of Deccan Trap basalts. The experiments will be conducted under pressure and temperature appropriate to potential storage depths.
Acknowledgements
The research was part of the BGS International NC programme ‘Geoscience to tackle Global Environmental Challenges’, NERC reference NE/X006255/1. Nimisha Vedanti acknowledges ECCSEL-ERIC for supporting transnational access to ECCSEL research infrastructure at the British Geological Survey. The Director, NGRI is acknowledged for permission to conduct research on NGRI Basalt samples. The extended abstract is published by permission of the Director of the British geological Survey.
References
Gupta, H.K., Srinivasan, R., Rao, R.U.M., Rao, G.V., Reddy, G.K. and others. 2003. Borehole investigations in the surface rupture zone of the 1993 Latur SCR earthquake, Maharashtra, India: Overview of results. Memoir of the Geological Society of India, 54, 1–22.
Matter, J., Kelemen, P. 2009. Permanent storage of carbon dioxide in geological reservoirs by mineral carbonation. Nature Geosci 2, 837–841.
Vishal, V., Verma, Y., Chandra, D. and Ashok, D. 2021. A systematic capacity assessment and classification of geologic CO2 storage systems in India. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 111, 103458
A review of camera trapping for conservation behaviour research
Get PDFAn understanding of animal behaviour is important if conservation initiatives
are to be effective. However, quantifying the behaviour of wild animals presents
significant challenges. Remote-sensing camera traps are becoming increasingly
popular survey instruments that have been used to non-invasively study a variety
of animal behaviours, yielding key insights into behavioural repertoires.
They are well suited to ethological studies and provide considerable opportunities
for generating conservation-relevant behavioural data if novel and robust
methodological and analytical solutions can be developed. This paper reviews
the current state of camera-trap-based ethological studies, describes new and
emerging directions in camera-based conservation behaviour, and highlights a
number of limitations and considerations of particular relevance for camerabased
studies. Three promising areas of study are discussed: (1) documenting
anthropogenic impacts on behaviour; (2) incorporating behavioural responses
into management planning and (3) using behavioural indicators such as giving
up densities and daily activity patterns. We emphasize the importance of
reporting methodological details, utilizing emerging camera trap metadata standards
and central data repositories for facilitating reproducibility, comparison
and synthesis across studies. Behavioural studies using camera traps are in their
infancy; the full potential of the technology is as yet unrealized. Researchers are
encouraged to embrace conservation-driven hypotheses in order to meet future
challenges and improve the efficacy of conservation and management processes.The contribution of M.D. Wood was
supported by the TREE project (www.ceh.ac.
uk/TREE) funded by the Natural Environment
Research Council (NERC), Environment
Agency and Radioactive Waste Management
Limited. The contributions of C.M.V. Finlay
were supported by the Red Squirrels United
project (http://www.redsquirrelsunited.org.uk/)
funded by EU Life and Heritage Lottery Fund.http://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/hub/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2056-3485am2017Centre for Wildlife Managemen
Potent and selective chemical probe of hypoxic signaling downstream of HIF-α hydroxylation via VHL inhibition
Get PDFChemical strategies to using small molecules to stimulate hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) activity and trigger a hypoxic response under normoxic conditions, such as iron chelators and inhibitors of prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) enzymes, have broad-spectrum activities and off-target effects. Here we disclose VH298, a potent VHL inhibitor that stabilizes HIF-α and elicits a hypoxic response via a different mechanism, that is the blockade of the VHL:HIF-α protein-protein interaction downstream of HIF-α hydroxylation by PHD enzymes. We show that VH298 engages with high affinity and specificity with VHL as its only major cellular target, leading to selective on-target accumulation of hydroxylated HIF-α in a concentration- and time-dependent fashion in different cell lines, with subsequent upregulation of HIF-target genes at both mRNA and protein levels. VH298 represents a high-quality chemical probe of the HIF signalling cascade and an attractive starting point to the development of potential new therapeutics targeting hypoxia signalling
Clinical outcomes and response to treatment of patients receiving topical treatments for pyoderma gangrenosum: a prospective cohort study
Get PDFBackground: pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon dermatosis with a limited evidence base for treatment.
Objective: to estimate the effectiveness of topical therapies in the treatment of PG.
Methods: prospective cohort study of UK secondary care patients with a clinical diagnosis of PG suitable for topical treatment (recruited July 2009 to June 2012). Participants received topical therapy following normal clinical practice (mainly Class I-III topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus 0.03% or 0.1%). Primary outcome: speed of healing at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes: proportion healed by 6 months; time to healing; global assessment; inflammation; pain; quality-of-life; treatment failure and recurrence.
Results: Sixty-six patients (22 to 85 years) were enrolled. Clobetasol propionate 0.05% was the most commonly prescribed therapy. Overall, 28/66 (43.8%) of ulcers healed by 6 months. Median time-to-healing was 145 days (95% CI: 96 days, ∞). Initial ulcer size was a significant predictor of time-to-healing (hazard ratio 0.94 (0.88;80 1.00); p = 0.043). Four patients (15%) had a recurrence.
Limitations: No randomised comparator
Conclusion: Topical therapy is potentially an effective first-line treatment for PG that avoids possible side effects associated with systemic therapy. It remains unclear whether more severe disease will respond adequately to topical therapy alone
Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study
Get PDFBackground Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised
Put It in Your Shoe It Will Make You Limp: British Men’s Online Responses to a Male Pill
Get PDFThe file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.This article analyzes online interactions between British men and other online readers’ comments in response to two news articles focused on a male contraceptive pill. The aim of the study was to explore how British men’s online accounts construct a male pill as a potential contraceptive option for family planning. The two online articles reported the scientific innovations, as well as the production and marketing, of a nonhormonal, plant-based pill for men. Discourse analysis was used to analyze the online comments, from which two discourses emerged: (a) “Men as responsible health consumers” and (b) “‘Killing sperm’ and other side effects on semen.” When provided with the opportunity to take future responsibility for family planning, male readers were found to be unlikely to use a contraceptive pill. The men expressed the need for new options of contraception but, overall, felt a male pill was not the solution
Meat and Nicotinamide:A Causal Role in Human Evolution, History, and Demographics
Get PDFHunting for meat was a critical step in all animal and human evolution. A key brain-trophic element in meat is vitamin B 3 /nicotinamide. The supply of meat and nicotinamide steadily increased from the Cambrian origin of animal predators ratcheting ever larger brains. This culminated in the 3-million-year evolution of Homo sapiens and our overall demographic success. We view human evolution, recent history, and agricultural and demographic transitions in the light of meat and nicotinamide intake. A biochemical and immunological switch is highlighted that affects fertility in the ‘de novo’ tryptophan-to-kynurenine-nicotinamide ‘immune tolerance’ pathway. Longevity relates to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide consumer pathways. High meat intake correlates with moderate fertility, high intelligence, good health, and longevity with consequent population stability, whereas low meat/high cereal intake (short of starvation) correlates with high fertility, disease, and population booms and busts. Too high a meat intake and fertility falls below replacement levels. Reducing variances in meat consumption might help stabilise population growth and improve human capital
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