Measuring trends in extinction risk: a review of two decades of development and application of the Red List Index.

The Red List Index (RLI) is an indicator of the average extinction risk of groups of species and reflects trends in this through time. It is calculated from the number of species in each category on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with trends influenced by the number moving between categories when reassessed owing to genuine improvement or deterioration in status. The global RLI is aggregated across multiple taxonomic groups and can be disaggregated to show trends for subsets of species (e.

Examining the residual radiological footprint of a former colliery: An industrial nuclear archaeology investigation.

Nuclear industrial archaeology utilises radiation mapping and characterisation technologies to gain an insight into the radiological footprint of industrial heritage sites. Increased concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials at legacy mine sites are the result of elemental enrichment during coal mining and subsequent combustion. Public safety is of concern around these sites, and therefore, an increased understanding of their associated hazard is essential.

Quantifying impacts of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on natural assemblages of riverine phytobenthos and phytoplankton in an outdoor setting.

Impacts of widespread release of engineered titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO) on freshwater phytoplankton and phytobenthic assemblages in the field, represents a significant knowledge gap. Using outdoor experiments, we quantified impacts of nTiO on phytoplankton and periphyton from UK rivers, applied at levels representative of environmentally realistic concentrations (0.05 mg/L) and hot spots of accumulation (5.

Evaluation of early post-natal pig mammary gland development and human breast cancer gene expression.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women after lung cancer, and only 5% of patients with metastatic breast cancer survive beyond ten years of diagnosis. Considering the heterogeneous subclasses of breast cancer, current cancer models have shortfalls due to copy number variants, and genetic differences of humans and immunocompromised animal models. Preclinical studies indicate stem cell activity in early post-natal mammary development may be reactivated in the human adult as a trigger to initiate cell proliferation leading to breast cancer.

Arterial blood gas measurements during deep open-water breath-hold dives.

Arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements at both maximum depth and at resurfacing prior to breathing have not previously been measured during free dives conducted to extreme depth in cold open-water conditions. An elite free diver was instrumented with a left radial arterial cannula connected to two sampling syringes through a low-volume splitting device. He performed two open-water dives to a depth of 60 m (197', 7 atmospheres absolute pressure) in the constant weight with fins competition format.

Radiation Tolerance Testing Methodology of Robotic Manipulator Prior to Nuclear Waste Handling.

Dramatic cost savings, safety improvements and accelerated nuclear decommissioning are all possible through the application of robotic solutions. Remotely-controlled systems with modern sensing capabilities, actuators and cutting tools have the potential for use in extremely hazardous environments, but operation in facilities used for handling radioactive material presents complex challenges for electronic components. We present a methodology and results obtained from testing in a radiation cell in which we demonstrate the operation of a robotic arm controlled using modern electronics exposed at 10 Gy/h to simulate radioactive conditions in the most hazardous nuclear waste handling facilities.

Effects of corticosteroids on COPD lung macrophage phenotype and function.

The numbers of macrophages are increased in the lungs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. COPD lung macrophages have reduced ability to phagocytose microbes and efferocytose apoptotic cells. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are widely used anti-inflammatory drugs in COPD; however, their role beyond suppression of cytokine release has not been explored in COPD macrophages.

Methodology to analyze gene expression patterns of early mammary development in pig models.

In mammary gland development, normal stem cell activity occurs in the embryonic stage and postnatally. Research supports that certain breast cancers contain a small sub-population of cells that mimic stem-like activity. It is believed stem cell activation in the mutated mature human mammary tissue is what drives quiescent epithelial cells to convert to mesenchymal states initiating migration, invasion, and metastasis in breast cancer.

Spatial pattern of plutonium and radiocaesium contamination released during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster.

Plutonium and radiocaesium are hazardous contaminants released by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) disaster and their distribution in the environment requires careful characterisation using isotopic information. Comprehensive spatial survey of Cs and Cs has been conducted on a regular basis since the accident, but the dataset for Cs/Cs atom ratios and trace isotopic analysis of Pu remains limited because of analytical challenges. We have developed a combined chemical procedure to separate Pu and Cs for isotopic analysis of environmental samples from contaminated catchments.

Fluorophosphonate-functionalised titanium via a pre-adsorbed alkane phosphonic acid: a novel dual action surface finish for bone regenerative applications.

Enhancing vitamin D-induced human osteoblast (hOB) maturation at bone biomaterial surfaces is likely to improve prosthesis integration with resultant reductions in the need for revision arthroplasty consequent to aseptic loosening. Biomaterials that are less appealing to microorganisms implicated in implant failures through infection are also highly desirable. However, finding surfaces that enhance hOB maturation to active vitamin D yet deter bacteria remain elusive.

Phase Stability and Stoichiometry in Thin Film Iron Pyrite: Impact on Electronic Transport Properties.

The use of pyrite FeS2 as an earth-abundant, low-cost, nontoxic thin film photovoltaic hinges on improved understanding and control of certain physical and chemical properties. Phase stability, phase purity, stoichiometry, and defects, are central in this respect, as they are frequently implicated in poor solar cell performance. Here, phase-pure polycrystalline pyrite FeS2 films, synthesized by ex situ sulfidation, are subject to systematic reduction by vacuum annealing (to 550 °C) to assess phase stability, stoichiometry evolution, and their impact on transport.

Using near infrared transmittance to generate sorted fractions of Fusarium-infected wheat and the impact on broiler performance.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of naturally contaminated Fusarium wheat containing deoxynivalenol (DON) on growth and performance of broiler chickens from 0 to 35 d. The BoMill TriQ individual kernel sorting technology uses near infrared transmittance (NIT) spectra to separate Fusarium-damaged kernels (FDK) from healthy kernels based on individual kernel CP. Three Fusarium-contaminated wheat sources were individually sorted into 3 test fractions: outlier (10% of the source), high mycotoxin (20% of the source), and low mycotoxin (70% of the source).

The use of near infrared transmittance kernel sorting technology to salvage high quality grain from grain downgraded due to damage.

The mycotoxins associated with specific fungal infections of grains are a threat to global food and feed security. These fungal infestations are referred to as Head Blight (FHB) and lead to Damaged Kernels (FDK). Incidence of FDK >0.

Thrombocytes respond to lipopolysaccharide through Toll-like receptor-4, and MAP kinase and NF-kappaB pathways leading to expression of interleukin-6 and cyclooxygenase-2 with production of prostaglandin E2.

Chicken thrombocytes are equivalent in hemostatic function to mammalian platelets. Platelets are enucleated components of mammalian blood, while thrombocytes are nucleated blood leukocytes of chickens. Platelets and thrombocytes share characteristics that contribute to innate immunity.