COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in diverse groups in the UK - is the driver economic or cultural in student populations?

Studies have identified a greater reluctance for members of the Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities to be vaccinated against COVID-19 despite a higher probability of greater harm from COVID-19. We conducted an anonymised questionnaire-based study of students (recruiting primarily before first reports of embolic events) at two London universities to identify whether economic or educational levels were primarily responsible for this reluctance: a postgraduate core group (PGCC) n=860 and a pilot study of undergraduate medical and nursing students (n=103). Asian and Black students were 2.0 and 3.2 times (PGCC) less likely to accept the COVID vaccine than White British students. Similar findings were noted in the pilot study students. As students were studying for Masters or PhD degrees and voluntarily paying high fees, educational and economic reasons were unlikely to be the underlying cause, and wider cultural reservations were more likely. Politicians exerted a strong negative influence, suggesting that campaigns should omit politicians.

Associations of Antioxidant Enzymes with the Concentration of Fatty Acids in the Blood of Men with Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis

Objective: To identify associations of fatty acids (FAs) with the antioxidant enzymes in the blood of men with coronary atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease (IHD). Methods: The study included 80 patients: control group—20 men without IHD, the core group—60 men with IHD. The core group was divided into subgroups: subgroup A—with the presence of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques, subgroup B—with the absence of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. We analyzed the levels of FAs, free radicals, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the blood. Results. Patients with IHD, compared with the control group: (1) had higher levels of SOD, CAT, myristic, palmitic, palmitoleic, and octadecenoic FAs; (2) had lower levels of GPx, α-linolenic, docosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and arachidonic FAs. In subgroup A there were found: (1) negative associations of SOD—with linoleic, eicosatrienoic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic FAs, positive associations—with palmitic acid; (2) positive correlations of CAT level with palmitoleic and stearic acids; (3) negative associations between of GPx and palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic and octadecenoic FAs. Conclusions: Changes in the levels of antioxidant enzymes, and a disbalance of the FAs profile, probably indicate active oxidative processes in the body and may indicate the presence of atherosclerotic changes in the vessels.

NF-Y subunits overexpression in gastric adenocarcinomas (STAD)

NF-Y is a pioneer transcription factor—TF—formed by the Histone-like NF-YB/NF-YC subunits and the regulatory NF-YA. It binds to the CCAAT box, an element enriched in promoters of genes overexpressed in many types of cancer. NF-YA is present in two major isoforms—NF-YAs and NF-YAl—due to alternative splicing, overexpressed in epithelial tumors. Here we analyzed NF-Y expression in stomach adenocarcinomas (STAD). We completed the partitioning of all TCGA tumor samples (450) according to molecular subtypes proposed by TCGA and ACRG, using the deep learning tool DeepCC. We analyzed differentially expressed genes—DEG—for enriched pathways and TFs binding sites in promoters. CCAAT is the predominant element only in the core group of genes upregulated in all subtypes, with cell-cycle gene signatures. NF-Y subunits are overexpressed, particularly NF-YA. NF-YAs is predominant in CIN, MSI and EBV TCGA subtypes, NF-YAl is higher in GS and in the ACRG EMT subtypes. Moreover, NF-YAlhigh tumors correlate with a discrete Claudinlow cohort. Elevated NF-YB levels are protective in MSS;TP53+ patients, whereas high NF-YAl/NF-YAs ratios correlate with worse prognosis. We conclude that NF-Y isoforms are associated to clinically relevant features of gastric cancer.

Polar Cryoconite Associated Microbiota Is Dominated by Hemispheric Specialist Genera

Cryoconite holes, supraglacial depressions containing water and microbe-mineral aggregates, are known to be hotspots of microbial diversity on glacial surfaces. Cryoconite holes form in a variety of locations and conditions, which impacts both their structure and the community that inhabits them. Using high-throughput 16S and 18S rRNA gene sequencing, we have investigated the communities of a wide range of cryoconite holes from 15 locations across the Arctic and Antarctic. Around 24 bacterial and 11 eukaryotic first-rank phyla were observed in total. The various biotic niches (grazer, predator, photoautotroph, and chemotroph), are filled in every location. Significantly, there is a clear divide between the bacterial and microalgal communities of the Arctic and that of the Antarctic. We were able to determine the groups contributing to this difference and the family and genus level. Both polar regions contain a “core group” of bacteria that are present in the majority of cryoconite holes and each contribute >1% of total amplicon sequence variant (ASV) abundance. Whilst both groups contain Microbacteriaceae, the remaining members are specific to the core group of each polar region. Additionally, the microalgal communities of Arctic cryoconite holes are dominated by Chlamydomonas whereas the Antarctic cryoconite holes are dominated by Pleurastrum. Therefore cryoconite holes may be a global feature of glacier landscapes, but they are inhabited by regionally distinct microbial communities. Our results are consistent with the notion that cryoconite microbiomes are adapted to differing conditions within the cryosphere.

Kiwis Counting Kiwis: Biodiversity Monitoring on Private Land in New Zealand

<p>This thesis seeks to determine what monitoring will measure the effectiveness of public funding for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity on private land in New Zealand. To establish this, four questions have been asked: Is monitoring of biodiversity change on private land a requirement to provide information for biodiversity status reports? With biodiversity loss such a critical world issue, New Zealand has committed to its protection along with many other nations. The country's obligations and strategies for protecting, monitoring and reporting biodiversity change on private land are provided. Current reporting practices are critiqued and conclude that key data are not being collected and that private land is not well covered. As a result, biodiversity reports include very little biodiversity outcome data from private land. Are there are a core group of biodiversity monitoring methods suitable for landowners to measure the success of their conservation actions and to measure improvements to biodiversity on their land? 19 landowners and monitors who are engaged in conservation work and biodiversity outcome monitoring on private land have been interviewed in 12 case studies. These landowners and monitors are using 31 different monitoring methods. The methods have been assessed to see how landowners use the data and assessed against a set of criteria to determine their suitability. A core group of nine biodiversity monitoring methods emerge as the most useful in these cases. Do agencies which fund biodiversity protection and enhancement on private land need to measure the success of their funding initiatives? 18 agencies have given funds to these 12 case studies to support the conservation of some of the country's most threatened and endangered species, ecosystems and habitats that are found on their land. Results show that few quantitative indicators are used to measure improvements to biodiversity which may result from these grants. This research suggests ways for agencies which fund biodiversity protection on private land to measure the success of their funding initiatives so the effectiveness of these funds can be assessed. What biodiversity information do landowners need in order to make decisions about management on their land and to inform agencies which have funded biodiversity conservation on their land? The monitoring methods in use by landowners are considered in terms of their suitability to inform land management decisions and to inform funding agencies of the outcomes of the funds. This leads to a recommended core group of methods that can meet the needs of both parties. The research found that monitoring is as much a social event as a scientific exercise. Landowners found the social resources they needed to support their monitoring included having others to work with, having others to talk to like mentors, financial support, getting rewards from their monitoring results and gaining confidence to give it a go. All landowners and monitors identified barriers to monitoring they had to overcome, and these are discussed. This thesis recommends a list of core monitoring methods that are suitable for landowners to measure progress towards their biodiversity goals, improvements to biodiversity and can assist with land management decisions. They can also be used by funding agencies to judge the effectiveness of their funding towards the protection and enhancement of biodiversity on private land in New Zealand. This investigation highlights eight issues with funding goals, biodiversity monitoring and reporting on private land and provides 17 recommendations to address the issues. With 70% of New Zealand in private ownership, it is vital that landowners understand how their land contributes to the survival of native vegetation, habitats, ecosystems, species and their genes, which live on their land. The landowners in these 12 cases understand. They undertake conservation work and biodiversity monitoring, which demonstrates that landowners could provide information and evidence to measure the effectiveness of public funding for biodiversity protection on their land. These kiwi landowners are counting kiwis, and other biodiversity indicators, to measure the effect of their conservation work and its impact on restoring New Zealand's unique flora and fauna.</p>

Kiwis Counting Kiwis: Biodiversity Monitoring on Private Land in New Zealand

<p>This thesis seeks to determine what monitoring will measure the effectiveness of public funding for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity on private land in New Zealand. To establish this, four questions have been asked: Is monitoring of biodiversity change on private land a requirement to provide information for biodiversity status reports? With biodiversity loss such a critical world issue, New Zealand has committed to its protection along with many other nations. The country's obligations and strategies for protecting, monitoring and reporting biodiversity change on private land are provided. Current reporting practices are critiqued and conclude that key data are not being collected and that private land is not well covered. As a result, biodiversity reports include very little biodiversity outcome data from private land. Are there are a core group of biodiversity monitoring methods suitable for landowners to measure the success of their conservation actions and to measure improvements to biodiversity on their land? 19 landowners and monitors who are engaged in conservation work and biodiversity outcome monitoring on private land have been interviewed in 12 case studies. These landowners and monitors are using 31 different monitoring methods. The methods have been assessed to see how landowners use the data and assessed against a set of criteria to determine their suitability. A core group of nine biodiversity monitoring methods emerge as the most useful in these cases. Do agencies which fund biodiversity protection and enhancement on private land need to measure the success of their funding initiatives? 18 agencies have given funds to these 12 case studies to support the conservation of some of the country's most threatened and endangered species, ecosystems and habitats that are found on their land. Results show that few quantitative indicators are used to measure improvements to biodiversity which may result from these grants. This research suggests ways for agencies which fund biodiversity protection on private land to measure the success of their funding initiatives so the effectiveness of these funds can be assessed. What biodiversity information do landowners need in order to make decisions about management on their land and to inform agencies which have funded biodiversity conservation on their land? The monitoring methods in use by landowners are considered in terms of their suitability to inform land management decisions and to inform funding agencies of the outcomes of the funds. This leads to a recommended core group of methods that can meet the needs of both parties. The research found that monitoring is as much a social event as a scientific exercise. Landowners found the social resources they needed to support their monitoring included having others to work with, having others to talk to like mentors, financial support, getting rewards from their monitoring results and gaining confidence to give it a go. All landowners and monitors identified barriers to monitoring they had to overcome, and these are discussed. This thesis recommends a list of core monitoring methods that are suitable for landowners to measure progress towards their biodiversity goals, improvements to biodiversity and can assist with land management decisions. They can also be used by funding agencies to judge the effectiveness of their funding towards the protection and enhancement of biodiversity on private land in New Zealand. This investigation highlights eight issues with funding goals, biodiversity monitoring and reporting on private land and provides 17 recommendations to address the issues. With 70% of New Zealand in private ownership, it is vital that landowners understand how their land contributes to the survival of native vegetation, habitats, ecosystems, species and their genes, which live on their land. The landowners in these 12 cases understand. They undertake conservation work and biodiversity monitoring, which demonstrates that landowners could provide information and evidence to measure the effectiveness of public funding for biodiversity protection on their land. These kiwi landowners are counting kiwis, and other biodiversity indicators, to measure the effect of their conservation work and its impact on restoring New Zealand's unique flora and fauna.</p>