New Insights into the Origin and Evolution of the Hikurangi Oceanic Plateau (Southwest Pacific) from Multi-beam Mapping and Sampling

Oceanic plateaus and continental flood basalts, collectively referred to as large igneous provinces (LIPs), represent the most voluminous volcanic events on Earth. In contrast to continental LIPs, relatively little is known about the surface and internal structure, range in age and chemical composition, origin, and evolution of oceanic plateaus, which occur throughout the worlds oceans [e.g., Mahoney and Coffin, 1997]. One of the major goals of the R/V Sonne SO168 ZEALANDIA expedition (depart Wellington, 3 December 2002, return Christchurch, 15 January 2003) was to investigate the Hikurangi oceanic plateau off the east coast of New Zealand

The Ballad of Goodwill

The Ballad of Goodwill or The Lecturers Lament at the Demise of Goodwill in the Neoliberal University. The Ballad of Goodwill is a new workers ballad collectively written during a one-day singing symposium devised by Post Workers Theatre and hosted by the Allmänningen (The Common Room) at the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts, Gothenburg University (2021). The symposium guests included: Professor Rajani Naidoo - Director, International Centre for Higher Education Management / Dr. Joanna Figiel - Researcher and activist, Centre for Cultural Policy and Management, University of London / Dr. Stevphen Shukaitis- Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex, Centre for Work and Organisation / Dr. Jenni Hyde- Ballad historian and precarious academic. Symposium guests and invited speakers all contributed to the production of a ballad through retelling, scripting and discussing the often-hidden economies of goodwill in academic labour and life. Soprano and librettist Roxanne Korda, acted as the event's Troubadour, and sings the final recording of the ballad accompanied by a PWT modular synthesiser reimagining of the tune Packington's Pound, a popular broadside ballad tune before 1700. The Ballad of Goodwill revisits the social function of the broadside ballad for the contemporary workplace and considers the ballad's potential to create relationships across different institutions and professions that face growing pressure and precarity within marketized education. The Ballad of Goodwill was organised as part of Post Workers Theatres residency within Allmänningen (The Common Room) at the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts, Gothenburg University. Allmänningen was a Vinnova funded research project from 2018-2021 developing and piloting alternative models for university usership and collaboration. The symposium was accessible for students and staff from the Faculty of Fine, Applied and Performing Arts, Gothenburg University, Goldsmiths University and Birmingham City University

Autohoodening: The Rise of Captain Swing

As part of the wider Autohoodening Symposium and workshops begun in 2019, this is a collaborative response to a midwinter custom dating back over 200 years. Further research in the working conditions of Amazon Workers in the UK to create a feature length tragic comic opera farce, further reimaging the Kentish calendar Custom of Hoodening. Hoodening was originally performed by farm labourers in East Kent who paraded with a horse effigy in a carnivalesque satire of their working reality during the fallow season of winter. The Opera was written in collaboration with Infinite Opera, with additional material gathered through interviews with GMB Union Managers and Amazon worker message boards. Autohoodening reimagines this custom for the age of automation, updating its design, delivery and social commentary and asks how might the singing, dancing and physical humour parody and draw attention to the horrifying working conditions hidden behind consumer-facing infrastructure and the ease of ‘one-click’ delivery? The work was premiered at Vivid Studios Birmingham at Christmas in 2021, following Amazon Prime Day and during a spate of worldwide protests against the treatment of Amazon workers, and shown again at the 2022 Lulea Bienalle in Sweden. The film focuses on Captain Swing, the fictional face of worker dissent in the great English agricultural uprising of 1830, is resurrected to confront the horrors of working as a seasonal associate in an Amazon fulfilment centre. Will Swing help the workers to overcome Alexis the evil scanner, a symbol of Amazon’s regime of technological discipline

Protesteroo

Protesteroo is a socialist rerouting of the gig economy food delivery company Deliveroo. A singing and cycling protest service that reactivates activities from the historic Clarion social movement to deliver on-demand messages of hope and resistance. Protesteroo was conceived as part of Three Day Work-Out; a three day event exploring the connections between work, social movements and free time at Tate Liverpool in May 2019. The Clarion, a historic social reform movement, was very active in Liverpool in the late 19th century. Three Day Work-Out, revisited it’s core activities: communal cycling, singing and publishing to reflect on current debates around modern forms of work and leisure. The project brought together the Liverpool Socialist Singers, and the Angry Margaret Protest Choir (BCU) led by Infinite Opera. Members of the public were invited to update songs from the Clarion Song Book and specify a location within a 2.5 mile radius of Tate Liverpool where they would like their protest to be delivered. Tate Exchange became the Protesteroo HQ, hosting a range of participatory events. These included a film screening of The Last Clarion House (2017), directed by Charlotte Bill, a talk and discussion with Prof Peter Cox on the Clarion movement, cycling cultures, and activism and a drop in a zine-making workshop led by Gareth Proskourine-Barnett and BAAAD Press

Tomorrow's Great Pageant

Tomorrow’s Great Pageant is a socially charged project that re-imagined the iconic Suffrage play, A Pageant of Great Women, for a 21st Century non-binary context. Workshops and participatory events with Bedford’s LGBTQIA+ community performed active ways of debating and co-writing to generate new dialogue and form a network of contemporary voices to comment on issues of gender and freedom. The project launched during The Place Theatre, Bedford’s LGBTQIA+ season in February 2019 with a collective brainstorming event. Guest writers, critics and community activists joined an audience to revisit the structure and message of the historic play and discuss how it could be updated to represent the values and ideals of a diverse 21st century LGBTQIA+ community. Using collective creation, improvisation and debate, Bedford’s local community were then invited to co-author the new play. Workshops led by Ray Filar, Claudia Jefferies and Emma Frankland brought together Q:Youth Bedford, students and local performers over a period of six weeks to debate the original play’s premise and characters, transforming their ideas into a new dialogue and updated script. A final performative event, presented a first sharing of the script at The Place Theatre, Bedford on 6 April 2019. Subsequent sharing’s took place at Goldsmith’s, University of London, and Eastside Projects, Birmingham

Autohoodening

Autohoodening is a consciousness-raising custom for the age of A.I Capitalism, updating an ancient midwinter ritual to critically engage with the horrors of working as a seasonal associate in an Amazon fulfilment centre. Conceived in 2019 by Post Workers Theatre, Autohoodening is a collective inquiry that combines talks and debate on folk history and contemporary work issues, with scripts, songs, costume and live performance. A symposium was held within the Design Department at Goldsmiths, which acted as the catalyst for a week of collective reworking. Discussion focues on how folkloric, archetypes could be used to address contemporary labour issues. Presentations were given by Ben Jones, member of the St Nicholas at Wade Hoodeners, Folk Historian George Frampton and journalist and writer James Bloodworth who shared his experience of working undercover in Amazon's Rugeley Fulfilment Centre. Participants of the symposium went on to produce a collectively written response to the mid-winter custom of Hoodening, performed in East Kent for over 200 years. Originally, the Hoodeners were agricultural labourers, working in ploughing teams, who performed a carnivalesque satire of their working realites, visiting different locations in the local community during the fallow season of winter. Autohoodening 2019 begins to reimagine this custom for the age of automation, updating its design, delivery and social purpose. How might the singing, dancing and physical humour parody and draw attention to the horrifying working conditions hidden behind consumer-facing infrastructure and the ease of ‘one-click’ delivery

Adverse health effects associated with household air pollution: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and burden estimation study

Background: 3 billion people worldwide rely on polluting fuels and technologies for domestic cooking and heating. We estimate the global, regional, and national health burden associated with exposure to household air pollution. Methods: For the systematic review and meta-analysis, we systematically searched four databases for studies published from database inception to April 2, 2020, that evaluated the risk of adverse cardiorespiratory, paediatric, and maternal outcomes from exposure to household air pollution, compared with no exposure. We used a random-effects model to calculate disease-specific relative risk (RR) meta-estimates. Household air pollution exposure was defined as use of polluting fuels (coal, wood, charcoal, agricultural wastes, animal dung, or kerosene) for household cooking or heating. Temporal trends in mortality and disease burden associated with household air pollution, as measured by disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), were estimated from 2000 to 2017 using exposure prevalence data from 183 of 193 UN member states. 95% CIs were estimated by propagating uncertainty from the RR meta-estimates, prevalence of household air pollution exposure, and disease-specific mortality and burden estimates using a simulation-based approach. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42019125060. Findings: 476 studies (15·5 million participants) from 123 nations (99 [80%] of which were classified as low-income and middle-income) met the inclusion criteria. Household air pollution was positively associated with asthma (RR 1·23, 95% CI 1·11–1·36), acute respiratory infection in both adults (1·53, 1·22–1·93) and children (1·39, 1·29–1·49), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1·70, 1·47–1·97), lung cancer (1·69, 1·44–1·98), and tuberculosis (1·26, 1·08–1·48); cerebrovascular disease (1·09, 1·04–1·14) and ischaemic heart disease (1·10, 1·09–1·11); and low birthweight (1·36, 1·19–1·55) and stillbirth (1·22, 1·06–1·41); as well as with under-5 (1·25, 1·18–1·33), respiratory (1·19, 1·18–1·20), and cardiovascular (1·07, 1·04–1·11) mortality. Household air pollution was associated with 1·8 million (95% CI 1·1–2·7) deaths and 60·9 million (34·6–93·3) DALYs in 2017, with the burden overwhelmingly experienced in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs; 60·8 million [34·6–92·9] DALYs) compared with high-income countries (0·09 million [0·01–0·40] DALYs). From 2000, mortality associated with household air pollution had reduced by 36% (95% CI 29–43) and disease burden by 30% (25–36), with the greatest reductions observed in higher-income nations. Interpretation: The burden of cardiorespiratory, paediatric, and maternal diseases associated with household air pollution has declined worldwide but remains high in the world’s poorest regions. Urgent integrated health and energy strategies are needed to reduce the adverse health impact of household air pollution, especially in LMICs. Funding: British Heart Foundation, Wellcome Trus

Basic science232. Certolizumab pegol prevents pro-inflammatory alterations in endothelial cell function

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a leading cause of death. Chronic systemic inflammation involving tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) could contribute to endothelial activation and atherogenesis. A number of anti-TNF therapies are in current use for the treatment of RA, including certolizumab pegol (CZP), (Cimzia ®; UCB, Belgium). Anti-TNF therapy has been associated with reduced clinical cardiovascular disease risk and ameliorated vascular function in RA patients. However, the specific effects of TNF inhibitors on endothelial cell function are largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate the mechanisms underpinning CZP effects on TNF-activated human endothelial cells. Methods: Human aortic endothelial cells (HAoECs) were cultured in vitro and exposed to a) TNF alone, b) TNF plus CZP, or c) neither agent. Microarray analysis was used to examine the transcriptional profile of cells treated for 6 hrs and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysed gene expression at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hrs. NF-κB localization and IκB degradation were investigated using immunocytochemistry, high content analysis and western blotting. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect microparticle release from HAoECs. Results: Transcriptional profiling revealed that while TNF alone had strong effects on endothelial gene expression, TNF and CZP in combination produced a global gene expression pattern similar to untreated control. The two most highly up-regulated genes in response to TNF treatment were adhesion molecules E-selectin and VCAM-1 (q 0.2 compared to control; p > 0.05 compared to TNF alone). The NF-κB pathway was confirmed as a downstream target of TNF-induced HAoEC activation, via nuclear translocation of NF-κB and degradation of IκB, effects which were abolished by treatment with CZP. In addition, flow cytometry detected an increased production of endothelial microparticles in TNF-activated HAoECs, which was prevented by treatment with CZP. Conclusions: We have found at a cellular level that a clinically available TNF inhibitor, CZP reduces the expression of adhesion molecule expression, and prevents TNF-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, CZP prevents the production of microparticles by activated endothelial cells. This could be central to the prevention of inflammatory environments underlying these conditions and measurement of microparticles has potential as a novel prognostic marker for future cardiovascular events in this patient group. Disclosure statement: Y.A. received a research grant from UCB. I.B. received a research grant from UCB. S.H. received a research grant from UCB. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Short-term outcomes of Pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with liver cirrhosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare short-term outcomes of pancreatoduodenectomy between patients with and without liver cirrhosis (LC). Background: It is not uncommon to encounter a patient with LC and with an indication for pancreatoduodenectomy; however, the knowledge on the outcomes after pancreatoduodenectomy in patients with LC is poorly developed. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement standards. Short-term outcomes of pancreatoduodenectomy between patients with and without LC were compared using random effects modeling and the certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE system. Results: Analysis of 18,184 patients from 11 studies suggested LC increased the risk of postoperative mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 3.94, P < 0.00001), major complications (OR: 2.25, P = 0.0002), and pancreatic fistula (OR: 1.73, P = 0.03); it resulted in more blood loss (mean difference [MD]: 204.74 ml, P = 0.0003) and longer hospital stay (MD: 2.05 days, P < 0.00001). LC did not affect delayed gastric emptying (OR: 1.33, P = 0.21), postoperative bleeding (OR: 1.28, P = 0.42), and operative time (MD: 3.47 minutes, P = 0.51). Among the patients with LC, Child-Pugh B or C class increased blood loss (MD: 293.33 ml, P < 0.00001), and portal hypertension increased postoperative mortality (OR: 2.41, P = 0.01); the other outcomes were not affected. Conclusions: Robust evidence with high certainty suggests LC of any severity with or without portal hypertension results in at least a fourfold increase in mortality and a twofold increase in morbidity after pancreatoduodenectomy. Whether such risks increase with the severity of the liver disease or decrease with optimization of underlying liver disease should be the focus of future research

Household Air Pollution Interventions to Improve Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement.

Background: An estimated 3 billion people, largely in low- and middle-income countries, rely on unclean fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting to meet household energy needs. The resulting exposure to household air pollution (HAP) is a leading cause of pneumonia, chronic lung disease, and other adverse health effects. In the last decade, randomized controlled trials of clean cooking interventions to reduce HAP have been conducted. We aim to provide guidance on how to interpret the findings of these trials and how they should inform policy makers and practitioners.Methods: We assembled a multidisciplinary working group of international researchers, public health practitioners, and policymakers with expertise in household air pollution from within academia, the American Thoracic Society, funders, nongovernmental organizations, and global organizations, including the World Bank and the World Health Organization. We performed a literature search, convened four sessions via web conference, and developed consensus conclusions and recommendations via the Delphi method.Results: The committee reached consensus on 14 conclusions and recommendations. Although some trials using cleaner-burning biomass stoves or cleaner-cooking fuels have reduced HAP exposure, the committee was divided (with 55% saying no and 45% saying yes) on whether the studied interventions improved measured health outcomes.Conclusions: HAP is associated with adverse health effects in observational studies. However, it remains unclear which household energy interventions reduce exposure, improve health, can be scaled, and are sustainable. Researchers should engage with policy makers and practitioners working to scale cleaner energy solutions to understand and address their information needs