Some recently rediscovered analyses of Chinese bronzes from Oxford

We report here the rediscovery of the chemical analyses of approximately 540 Chinese bronze objects, carried out in RLAHA in the late 1950s by optical emission spectrometry. Although largely of historical interest, they do in fact even now approximately double the number analyses of Chinese bronze objects which contain data on both major and minor elements. In fact, the other major equivalent data set from the Freer Gallery and the Sackler Collection are of approximately the same vintage. We attempt to evaluate the quality of the data, and address a controversy which appeared in the literature during the 1960s and 1970s about the value of arsenic measurements in Chinese bronzes as an indicator of authenticity

Tracing the flows of copper and copper alloys in the Early Iron Age societies of the eastern Eurasian steppe

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New ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs from the European lower cretaceous demonstrate extensive ichthyosaur survival across the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary

Background Ichthyosauria is a diverse clade of marine amniotes that spanned most of the Mesozoic. Until recently, most authors interpreted the fossil record as showing that three major extinction events affected this group during its history: one during the latest Triassic, one at the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary (JCB), and one (resulting in total extinction) at the Cenomanian-Turonian boundary. The JCB was believed to eradicate most of the peculiar morphotypes found in the Late Jurassic, in favor of apparently less specialized forms in the Cretaceous. However, the record of ichthyosaurs from the Berriasian–Barremian interval is extremely limited, and the effects of the end-Jurassic extinction event on ichthyosaurs remains poorly understood. Methodology/Principal Findings Based on new material from the Hauterivian of England and Germany and on abundant material from the Cambridge Greensand Formation, we name a new ophthalmosaurid, Acamptonectes densus gen. et sp. nov. This taxon shares numerous features with Ophthalmosaurus, a genus now restricted to the Callovian–Berriasian interval. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that Ophthalmosauridae diverged early in its history into two markedly distinct clades, Ophthalmosaurinae and Platypterygiinae, both of which cross the JCB and persist to the late Albian at least. To evaluate the effect of the JCB extinction event on ichthyosaurs, we calculated cladogenesis, extinction, and survival rates for each stage of the Oxfordian–Barremian interval, under different scenarios. The extinction rate during the JCB never surpasses the background extinction rate for the Oxfordian–Barremian interval and the JCB records one of the highest survival rates of the interval. Conclusions/Significance There is currently no evidence that ichthyosaurs were affected by the JCB extinction event, in contrast to many other marine groups. Ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurs remained diverse from their rapid radiation in the Middle Jurassic to their total extinction at the beginning of the Late Cretaceous

Nutrient sensing, signal transduction and immune responses

Most cells in the body have a constant supply of nutrients, which are required to sustain cellular metabolism and functions. In contrast, cells of the immune system can encounter conditions with a limited nutrient supply during the course of an immune response. Cells of the immune system frequently operate in complex nutrient restricted microenvironments such as tumour or inflammatory sites. The concentrations of key nutrients such as glucose and certain amino acids, can be low at these sites, and this can have an impact upon immune cell function. Nutrient sufficiency is important to supply the metabolic and biosynthetic pathways of immune cells. In addition nutrients can also act as important cues that influence immunological signalling pathways to affect the function of immune cells. This review will describe the various nutrient sensing signalling pathways and discuss the evidence that nutrients are critical signals that shape immune responses.</p

Operational Radiology Recovery in Academic Radiology Departments After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Moving Toward Normalcy

This article presents a current snapshot in time, describing how radiology departments around the country are planning recovery from the baseline of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, with a focus on different domains of recovery such as managing appointment availability, patient safety and workflow changes, and operational data and analytics. An e-mail survey was sent through the Society of Chairs of Academic Radiology Departments list server to 114 academic radiology departments. On the basis of data reported by the 38 survey respondents, best practices and shared experience are described for three key areas: (1) planning for recovery, (2) creating a new normal, and (3) measuring and forecasting. Radiology practices should be aware of the common approaches and preparations academic radiology departments have taken to reopening imaging in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 world. This should all be done when maintaining a safe and patient-centric environment and preparing to minimize the impact of future outbreaks or pandemics

A new approach to the chronology of Caves 268/272/275 in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes: combining radiocarbon dates and archaeological information within a Bayesian statistical framework

The construction chronology of three of the earliest Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes (Caves 268, 272, and 275) has been the subject of ongoing debate for over half a century. This chronology is a crucial topic in terms of further understanding of the establishment of the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, early Buddhism in the Gansu corridor, and its relationship with Buddhism developed in the Central Plains. Building upon archaeological, art historical and radiocarbon dating studies, we integrate new 14C data with these previously published findings utilising Bayesian statistical modelling to improve the chronological resolution of this issue. Thus, we determine that all three of these caves were constructed around AD 410 to AD 440, suggesting coeval rather than sequential construction

Academic Editors: Cristina Álvarez-García and Maria Understanding Online Registered Nursing Students' Attitudes Towards Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare

Background/Objectives: The healthcare sector is a significant source of pollution, and it is widely acknowledged that changes are required to transition to more sustainable healthcare practice. Nurses represent more than half of the sector's workforce and are uniquely positioned to enact change. However, expertise on environmental sustainability within the nursing field is a barrier despite the topic being positively embraced by students. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional design using an anonymous online survey with convenience sampling from registered nursing students studying online to understand their attitudes towards environmentally sustainable healthcare. Data were collected between April 2023 and January 2024 with quantitative results analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative results using thematic analysis. Results: Results show that registered nursing students are aware of the negative environmental impact of healthcare practice, realise the importance of working more sustainably and understand the value and role of education to facilitate meaningful change in the sector. However, they called for more educational content, specifically on carbon footprints, waste management, and resource use, paired with organisational leadership support and workplace training in healthcare settings. Conclusions: Adopting these recommendations endorsed by student nurses in practice could support nurses to reduce the environmental burden of the healthcare sector and contribute to both net zero and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

2016 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1003/thumbnail.jp

International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics.

Position statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) provides an objective and critical review of the mechanisms and use of probiotic supplementation to optimize the health, performance, and recovery of athletes. Based on the current available literature, the conclusions of the ISSN are as follows: 1)Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host (FAO/WHO).2)Probiotic administration has been linked to a multitude of health benefits, with gut and immune health being the most researched applications.3)Despite the existence of shared, core mechanisms for probiotic function, health benefits of probiotics are strain- and dose-dependent.4)Athletes have varying gut microbiota compositions that appear to reflect the activity level of the host in comparison to sedentary people, with the differences linked primarily to the volume of exercise and amount of protein consumption. Whether differences in gut microbiota composition affect probiotic efficacy is unknown.5)The main function of the gut is to digest food and absorb nutrients. In athletic populations, certain probiotics strains can increase absorption of key nutrients such as amino acids from protein, and affect the pharmacology and physiological properties of multiple food components.6)Immune depression in athletes worsens with excessive training load, psychological stress, disturbed sleep, and environmental extremes, all of which can contribute to an increased risk of respiratory tract infections. In certain situations, including exposure to crowds, foreign travel and poor hygiene at home, and training or competition venues, athletes' exposure to pathogens may be elevated leading to increased rates of infections. Approximately 70% of the immune system is located in the gut and probiotic supplementation has been shown to promote a healthy immune response. In an athletic population, specific probiotic strains can reduce the number of episodes, severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infections.7)Intense, prolonged exercise, especially in the heat, has been shown to increase gut permeability which potentially can result in systemic toxemia. Specific probiotic strains can improve the integrity of the gut-barrier function in athletes.8)Administration of selected anti-inflammatory probiotic strains have been linked to improved recovery from muscle-damaging exercise.9)The minimal effective dose and method of administration (potency per serving, single vs. split dose, delivery form) of a specific probiotic strain depends on validation studies for this particular strain. Products that contain probiotics must include the genus, species, and strain of each live microorganism on its label as well as the total estimated quantity of each probiotic strain at the end of the product's shelf life, as measured by colony forming units (CFU) or live cells.10)Preclinical and early human research has shown potential probiotic benefits relevant to an athletic population that include improved body composition and lean body mass, normalizing age-related declines in testosterone levels, reductions in cortisol levels indicating improved responses to a physical or mental stressor, reduction of exercise-induced lactate, and increased neurotransmitter synthesis, cognition and mood. However, these potential benefits require validation in more rigorous human studies and in an athletic population