Background
Previous gene–environment interaction studies of CU traits have relied on the candidate gene approach, which does not account for the entire genetic load of complex phenotypes. Moreover, ...these studies have not examined the role of positive environmental factors such as warm/rewarding parenting. The aim of the present study was to determine whether early warm/rewarding parenting moderates the genetic contributions (i.e., heritability) to callous–unemotional (CU) traits at school age.
Methods
Data were collected in a population sample of 662 twin pairs (Quebec Newborn Twin Study – QNTS). Mothers reported on their warm/rewarding parenting. Teachers assessed children's CU traits. These reports were subjected to twin modeling.
Results
Callous–unemotional traits were highly heritable, with the remaining variance accounted for by nonshared environmental factors. Warm/rewarding parenting significantly moderated the role of genes in CU traits; heritability was lower when children received high warm/rewarding parenting than when they were exposed to low warm/rewarding parenting.
Conclusions
High warm/rewarding parenting may partly impede the genetic expression of CU traits. Developmental models of CU traits need to account for such gene–environment processes.
Although macrophage phenotypes have been well studied in the myocardial infarction (MI) setting, this study investigated temporal neutrophil polarization and activation mechanisms.
Neutrophils ...isolated from the infarcted left ventricle (LV) of mice showed high expression of proinflammatory markers at Day 1 and anti-inflammatory markers at Days 5 and 7 post-MI, indicating distinct neutrophil phenotypes along the post-MI time continuum. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that although proinflammatory N1 neutrophils were always predominant (>80% of total neutrophils at each time point), the percentage of N2 neutrophils increased post-MI from 2.4 ± 0.6% at Day 1 to 18.1 ± 3.0% at Day 7. In vitro, peripheral blood neutrophils were polarized to proinflammatory N1 by lipopolysaccharide and interferon-γ or anti-inflammatory N2 by interleukin-4, indicating high plasticity potential. The in vivo post-MI relevant LV damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) polarized neutrophils to a proinflammatory N1 phenotype by activating toll-like receptor-4. Transforming growth factor-β1 inhibited proinflammatory production in neutrophils. N1 neutrophils positively correlated with infarct wall thinning at Day 7 post-MI, possibly due to high production of matrix metalloproteinases-12 and -25.
This study is the first to identify the existence of N1 and N2 neutrophils in the infarct region and reveals that N1 polarization could be mediated by DAMPs.
The technological trajectory is the pathway through which an innovative technology develops as it matures. In this paper we model the technological trajectory for a number of energy technologies by ...analysing technological change (characterised by unit-level capacity up-scaling) and diffusion (characterised by growth in cumulative deployed capacity) using sigmoidal 5 Parameter Logistic (5PL) functions, observed and reported as a function of unit deployment.
Application of 5PL functions allows inference of technology development milestones, such as initiation of unit-level up-scaling or industry growth, with respect to the number of unit deployments. This paper compares the technological trajectory followed by mature energy technologies to that being attempted by those in the nascent wave and tidal energy sectors, particularly with regards to unit deployment within a formative phase of development.
We identify that the wave and tidal energy sectors are attempting to bypass a formative phase of technological development, which is not in line with technological trajectories experienced by historic energy technologies that have successfully diffused into widespread commercial application, suggesting that demand-pull support mechanisms are premature, and a need for technology push focused policy support mechanisms is vital for stimulating economically sustainable development and deployment of wave and tidal stream energy.
•Technology up-scaling should take place after a formative phase of development.•Ocean energy technologies are attempting to bypass a formative phase.•Unit up-scaling has taken place prior to successful technology demonstration.•The cost of the formative phase may be insurmountable using MW-scale technology.•A shift in the research, development and innovation environment is necessary.
Wave energy has a large global resource and thus a great potential to contribute to low-carbon energy systems. This study quantifies the environmental impacts of a 10 MW array of 28 point-absorber ...wave energy converters, by means of a process-based life cycle assessment (LCA). Midpoint and Cumulative Energy Demand LCA results are presented over 19 impact categories, representing impacts encompassing human health, ecosystems and resource availability. Three scenarios are undertaken to represent the use phase of the array, identified as a particularly uncertain input, with very little long-term operation of wave energy arrays available to validate assumptions. The resultant global warming potential of the array ranges from 25.1 to 46.0 gCO2e/kWh over a 95% confidence interval, 23–43 times lower than conventional fossil fuel electricity generation. The Energy Payback Time of the array ranges between 2.6 and 5.2 years. LCA results are found to be particularly sensitive to annual energy production across all impact categories, and to assumptions associated with the frequency of marine operations over a number of categories quantifying the production of greenhouse gases. This LCA has been undertaken at an early stage in the WEC product development and will inform innovative research focused on further reducing the environmental impacts of electricity generation.
•Evaluation of the environmental impacts for a 10 MW array of wave energy converters.•Inclusion of three scenarios to investigate impacts of use phase marine operations.•Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis presents results over 95% confidence intervals.•Environmental hotspots are identified to inform future design considerations.
Abstract Small-diameter synthetic vascular grafts have high failure rate and tissue-engineered blood vessels are limited by the scalability. Here we engineered bioactive materials for in situ ...vascular tissue engineering, which recruits two types of endogenous progenitor cells for the regeneration of blood vessels. Heparin was conjugated to microfibrous vascular grafts to suppress thrombogenic responses, and stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) was immobilized onto heparin to recruit endogenous progenitor cells. Heparin-bound SDF-1α was more stable than adsorbed SDF-1α under both static and flow conditions. Microfibrous grafts were implanted in rats by anastomosis to test the functional performance. Heparin coating improved the short-term patency, and immobilized SDF-1α further improved the long-term patency. SDF-1α effectively recruited endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to the luminal surface of the grafts, which differentiated into endothelial cells (ECs) and accelerated endothelialization. More interestingly, SDF-1α increased the recruitment of smooth muscle progenitor cells (SMPCs) to the grafts, and SMPCs differentiated into smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in vivo and in vitro . Consistently, SDF-1α-immobilized grafts had significantly higher elastic modulus. This work demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneously recruiting progenitor cells of ECs and SMCs for in situ blood vessel regeneration. This in situ tissue engineering approach will have broad applications in regenerative medicine.
Traffic-related air pollution is a main contributor to unhealthy ambient air quality, particularly in urban areas with high traffic volume. Within urban areas, traffic is a major source of local ...variability in air pollution levels, with the highest concentrations and risk of exposure occurring near roads. Motor vehicle emissions represent a complex mixture of criteria air pollutants, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM), as well as hydrocarbons that react with NOx and sunlight to form ground-level ozone. Individually, each of these pollutants is a known or suspected cause of adverse health effects. Taking into consideration the entire body of evidence on primary traffic emissions, a recent review determined that there is sufficient evidence of a causal association between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and asthma exacerbation and suggestive evidence of a causal association for onset of childhood asthma, nonasthma respiratory symptoms, impaired lung function, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular morbidity.
Previous research indicates that genetic factors largely account for the stability of callous-unemotional (CU) traits in adolescence. However, the genetic-environmental etiology of the development of ...CU traits has not been extensively investigated in childhood, despite work showing the reliable measurement and stability of CU traits from a young age. The aim of this study was to investigate the temporal pattern of genetic and environmental etiology of CU traits across primary school, from school entry (7 years) to middle (9 and 10 years) and late childhood (12 years). Data were collected in a population sample of twins composed of 662 twin pairs (Quebec Newborn Twin Study). CU traits were reported by teachers and analyzed using a biometric latent growth curve model and a Cholesky decomposition model. Latent growth curve analyses revealed that genetic factors explain most of the variance in the intercept of CU traits. Individual differences in change over time were not significant. The Cholesky model revealed that genetic factors at 7 years had enduring contributions to CU traits at 9, 10, and 12 years. New, modest genetic contributions appeared at 9 and 10 years. Nonshared environmental contributions were generally age-specific. No shared environmental contributions were detected. In sum, both modeling approaches showed that genetic factors underlie CU traits during childhood. Initial and new genetic contributions arise during this period. Environments have substantial contributions, over and above genetic factors. Future research should investigate the source of genetic risk associated with CU traits.
General Scientific Summary
Early genetic factors account for a substantial part of CU traits' development in school-age childhood, but new genetic factors emerge later during this period. Environmental factors also have contributions, over and above genetic factors. There is a need to understand the nature of genetic risk associated with CU traits, especially with regard to how genetic factors vary over time. Late interventions aiming to reduce CU traits could be effective as targeting the right risk factors at the right time is critical.
Strategy literature has highlighted success factors for technology roadmaps (TRMs). However, as roadmaps have evolved – from traditional, single organisation roadmaps, towards multiple organisation, ...sector level roadmaps – their objectives and success criteria have also changed. This paper develops a set of roadmap evaluation metrics, firmly focussed on evaluating the level of success of a roadmap based on whether its objectives have been translated into actions or policies by the target organisation, and uses them to analyse four renewable energy roadmaps to determine the success factors for developing a contemporary multi-organisation roadmap.
The analysis revealed a number of success factors distinctly different from those for traditional roadmaps. The study concludes that, alongside the traditional TRM, a new type of roadmap has emerged, whose principal aim is political persuasion. These roadmaps are written by multiple organisations, often at the sector level, to persuade governments that they should implement the actions and recommendations set out. As a result of the emergence of this new type of roadmap, new metrics and guidance are required for roadmap construction compared to traditional roadmaps.
► Technology roadmapping in the energy sector. ► Roadmaps have evolved from traditional technology roadmaps. ► Developed a set of metrics to evaluate the success of a contemporary, multi-organisation roadmap. ► A new type of roadmap for political persuasion has emerged. ► New success factors associated with new type of technology roadmap.
This paper presents a detailed analysis of the activities in which ocean energy public funding in the UK and the U.S. has been spent. It conducts a direct comparison of funding from the U.S. ...Department of Energy (DoE) with that from the UK and Scottish Governments. UK investment in the sector has been relatively sustained and has increased since 2002. Almost $295million has been spent in total, across multiple funding bodies. U.S. spending began with the establishment of the Marine Hydrokinetic division of the DoE Water Power Programme in 2008, which has administered all non-defence federal public funding for the sector. U.S. funding has steadily increased since 2008, with the total funding approaching $92million.
Approximately 40% of total U.S. spending has been on underpinning R&D activities, compared to 20% in the UK which has had a larger focus on funding full scale test infrastructure and related deployment activities. Whilst the U.S. has seen steadily increasing funding for all activities to support the sector, UK funding for deployment activities, especially test centre infrastructure and demonstration activities, has not been sustained and has had significant peaks and troughs in recent years as funding programmes and initiatives have started and finished.
•Analysis of non-defence ocean energy public funding in the U.S. and the UK•Comparison of funding from the U.S. DoE and the UK and Scottish governments•Analysis of how funding has been spent on different activities to support the sector•UK has spent a total of approaching $295million, across multiple funding bodies.•U.S. has spent $92million, with the DoE administering all non-defence federal public funding.
Abstract
There is about to be an abrupt step-change in the use of coastal seas around the globe, specifically by the addition of large-scale offshore renewable energy (ORE) developments to combat ...climate change. Developing this sustainable energy supply will require trade-offs between both direct and indirect environmental effects, as well as spatial conflicts with marine uses like shipping, fishing, and recreation. However, the nexus between drivers, such as changes in the bio-physical environment from the introduction of structures and extraction of energy, and the consequent impacts on ecosystem services delivery and natural capital assets is poorly understood and rarely considered through a whole ecosystem perspective. Future marine planning needs to assess these changes as part of national policy level assessments but also to inform practitioners about the benefits and trade-offs between different uses of natural resources when making decisions to balance environmental and energy sustainability and socio-economic impacts. To address this shortfall, we propose an ecosystem-based natural capital evaluation framework that builds on a dynamic Bayesian modelling approach which accounts for the multiplicity of interactions between physical (e.g. bottom temperature), biological (e.g. net primary production) indicators and anthropogenic marine use (i.e. fishing) and their changes across space and over time. The proposed assessment framework measures ecosystem change, changes in ecosystem goods and services and changes in socio-economic value in response to ORE deployment scenarios as well as climate change, to provide objective information for decision processes seeking to integrate new uses into our marine ecosystems. Such a framework has the potential of exploring the likely outcomes in the same metrics (both ecological and socio-economic) from alternative management and climate scenarios, such that objective judgements and decisions can be made, as to how to balance the benefits and trade-offs between a range of marine uses to deliver long-term environmental sustainability, economic benefits, and social welfare.
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