Dietary intake can influence immune function indirectly by affecting the gut microbiota composition and metabolism(1). Fish consumption has been shown to positively regulate the gut microbiota in humans(2,3);albeit in those studies fish was consumed in high amounts (500-750g/week) and immune function was not investigated. This study investigated the effect of consuming the UK dietary recommendation for fish(4) (2 portions [140-280g/week], one of which is oily) on the gut microbiota alpha diversity. Further, we examined if changes (pre- to post-intervention) in the gut microbiota composition were associated with changes in immune cytokine concentrations.

An 8-week randomised controlled trial in low fish consuming women of childbearing age (n = 41; median age 23y) investigated the effect of consuming 1 or 2 portions of fish (tuna or sardines)/week compared to not consuming fish. A blood sample was collected to measure inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-a, interleukin [IL]-1b, IL-5, IL-6, IL-17A and IL-22) pre-and post-intervention. Faecal samples were collected at both timepoints and extracted DNA was used to determine gut microbiota compositional profiles using 16S metagenomic sequencing (Illumina, USA). Statistical analysis investigated significant differences in changes in gut microbiota alpha diversity and compositional relative abundances between fish intervention (N = 26) and control (N = 15), then secondary analysis stratified by portion size (1 vs 2 portions) and type of fish (tuna vs sardines). Differences in cytokines between fish intervention and control were assessed by Mann-Whitney U. Spearman rank coefficient assessed associations between the changes in gut microbiota relative abundances with cytokine changes in fish and control groups.

Fish consumption increased gut microbiota alpha diversity indices (Chao1 [7.37±41.23], Simpson [0.003±0.163], Shannon [0.07±0.33], phylogenetic diversity [0.35±2.59], observed species [9.00±40.06]), albeit this was not significant compared to the control group (p>0.05). Consumption of fish, specifically sardines, for 8 weeks significantly reduced Bacteroidetes (-4.77±4.88%) when compared to control (+4.15±7.58%) (p<0.01). No significant differences were observed between the change in relative abundances of gut microbiota at genus-level taxa or inflammatory cytokines between the fish intervention and control. In the fish intervention group, increases in IL-17A, IL-22 and IL-6 concentrations were positively correlated with changes in Alistipes, Rhodococcus, Haemophilus, Barnesiella and Akkermansia relative abundances (p<0.05).

Although not statistically significant, consistent findings suggest that fish intake, in line with dietary guidelines, may have favourable impact on gut microbiota. Sardines, oily fish rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, may have health benefits in disease states where Bacteroidetes is elevated; nevertheless, further research is required in a larger cohort over a longer period.

We present the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology – Taylor–Couette set-up (OIST-TC), a new experimental set-up for investigating turbulent Taylor–Couette (TC) flow. The set-up has independently rotating inner and outer cylinders, and can achieve Reynolds numbers up to $10^6$. Noteworthy aspects of its design include innovative strategies for temperature control and vibration isolation. As part of its flow-measurement instrumentation, we have implemented the first ‘flying hot-wire’ configuration to measure the flow velocity whilst either or both cylinders are rotating. A significant challenge for obtaining reliable measurements from sensors within the inner cylinder is the data distortion resulting from electrical and electromagnetic interference along the signal pathway. Our solution involves internal digitization of sensor data, which provides notable robustness against noise sources. Additionally, we discuss our strategies for efficient operation, outlining custom automation tools that streamline both data processing and operational control. We hope this documentation of the salient features of OIST-TC is useful to researchers engaged in similar experimental studies that delve into the enchanting world of turbulent TC flow.

Migratory animals likely play an important role in the geographic spread of parasites. In fact, a common assumption is that parasites are potentially transmitted by migratory animals at temporary stopover sites along migratory routes, yet very few studies have assessed whether transmission at stopover sites can or does occur. We investigated the potential for a group of vector-transmitted parasites, the avian haemosporidians, to be transmitted during migratory stopover periods at Rushton Woods Preserve in Pennsylvania, USA. Using an analysis of 1454 sampled avian hosts, we found that while a core group of abundant haemosporidians was shared between local breeding birds and passing migrants, the parasite community of migratory birds at Rushton was distinct from that of local breeding birds and showed similarity to a previously sampled boreal forest haemosporidian community. Haemosporidians that were unique to passing migratory birds were associated with sampling sites in North America with cooler summer temperatures than haemosporidians that are transmitted at Rushton, suggesting that the transmission of these parasites may be restricted to high-latitude regions outside of our temperate stopover site. We also found that the abundance of mosquitoes in our study region is offset from that of migratory bird abundance during avian migratory periods, with the peak period of bird migration occurring during periods of low mosquito activity. Collectively, these findings suggest that although abundant haemosporidians are possibly transmitted between local and passing migratory birds, a combination of biotic and abiotic factors may constrain haemosporidian transmission during avian stopover at our study site.

Amicarbazone, atrazine, and metribuzin behavior was examined in a field setting in Tennessee and in a laboratory setting using soils collected from Illinois and Tennessee. Fields planted to corn were sampled from 0 to 8 cm depth, and the samples were analyzed using methanolic extraction followed by tandem mass spectrometry analysis to determine residual herbicide concentrations. Conditions were favorable for herbicide degradation, including warm temperatures and adequate rainfall. All herbicide half-lives were <10 d. Laboratory research using soils with known atrazine-use histories showed that amicarbazone did not exhibit enhanced microbial degradation due to previous atrazine use. Apparent amicarbazone and metribuzin persistence levels implied that early-season weed control would be expected, but carryover to injure sensitive rotational crops would not be anticipated under these environmental conditions. Dissipation under field conditions of amicarbazone and metribuzin was not affected by being applied to separate plots or by coapplication to the same plots.

Contemporary understanding of the mechanisms of disease increasingly points to examples of “genetic diseases” with an infectious component and of “infectious diseases” with a genetic component. Such blurred boundaries generate ethical, legal, and social issues and highlight historical contexts that must be examined when incorporating host genomic information into the prevention, outbreak control, and treatment of infectious diseases.

We measure crypto and financial literacy using microdata from the Bank of Canada’s Bitcoin Omnibus Survey. Our crypto literacy measure is based on three questions covering basic aspects of Bitcoin. The financial literacy measure we use is based on three questions covering basic aspects of conventional finance (the “Big Three”). We find that a significant share of Canadian Bitcoin owners have low crypto knowledge and low financial literacy. We also find gender differences in crypto literacy among Bitcoin owners, with female owners scoring lower in Bitcoin knowledge than male owners. We do not, however, find significant gender differences in financial literacy amongst Bitcoin owners. In contrast, non-owners show gender differences in both crypto and financial literacy.

Recent research has shown the potential of speleothem δ13C to record a range of environmental processes. Here, we report on 230Th-dated stalagmite δ13C records for southwest Sulawesi, Indonesia, over the last 40,000 yr to investigate the relationship between tropical vegetation productivity and atmospheric methane concentrations. We demonstrate that the Sulawesi stalagmite δ13C record is driven by changes in vegetation productivity and soil respiration and explore the link between soil respiration and tropical methane emissions using HadCM3 and the Sheffield Dynamic Global Vegetation Model. The model indicates that changes in soil respiration are primarily driven by changes in temperature and CO2, in line with our interpretation of stalagmite δ13C. In turn, modelled methane emissions are driven by soil respiration, providing a mechanism that links methane to stalagmite δ13C. This relationship is particularly strong during the last glaciation, indicating a key role for the tropics in controlling atmospheric methane when emissions from high-latitude boreal wetlands were suppressed. With further investigation, the link between δ13C in stalagmites and tropical methane could provide a low-latitude proxy complementary to polar ice core records to improve our understanding of the glacial–interglacial methane budget.

Local instantaneous exchanges of volume, momentum and buoyancy across turbulent/non-turbulent interfaces (TNTIs) and turbulent/turbulent interfaces (TTIs) are studied using data from direct numerical simulations of a turbulent forced fountain. We apply a novel algorithm that enables independent calculation of the instantaneous local entrainment and detrainment fluxes, and therefore, for the first time, the entrainment and detrainment coefficients according to the fountain model (Bloomfield & Kerr, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 424, 2000, pp. 197–216) are determined explicitly. Across the interface between the fountain and the ambient fluid, which is a TNTI, only volume entrainment occurs, and it is well predicted by the fountain model. Across the interface between the rising upflow and falling downflow within the fountain, which is a TTI, both entrainment and detrainment of volume, momentum and buoyancy occur – with the magnitude of both entrainment and detrainment typically being large compared with the net for all exchanges. However, the model seems to be unable to capture the momentum exchanges due to its ignorance of the pressure. We find that each conditional entrainment and detrainment rate, of volume, momentum and buoyancy, can be described accurately by Gaussian profiles, while the net exchange that is the superposition of the entrainment and detrainment cannot. Moreover, the entrainment exchange rate has its maximum closer to the fountain centreline than that of detrainment, explaining the tendency for net entrainment closer to the fountain centreline and net detrainment further away.

Russian thistle is one of the most important broadleaf weeds in the semiarid U.S. Pacific Northwest. It consumes soil water after wheat harvest, compromising the yield of the following crop. The objectives of this work were to determine the impact of post–wheat harvest herbicide application timing on Russian thistle control and of stubble height on Russian thistle postharvest control and plant dispersal. For the first objective, experiments were conducted at the Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center, Adams, OR (CBARC), and the Lind Dryland Research Station, Lind, WA (LDRS), in 2020 and 2021. Herbicides evaluated included paraquat, glyphosate, and either bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole (CBARC) or bromoxynil + metribuzin (LDRS). The different post–wheat harvest application timings were 24 h and 1, 2, and 3 wk after harvest. For the second objective, two stubble heights (short and tall) were compared for their impact on control at CBARC and in a production field near Ione, OR. Paraquat provided the greatest control in all scenarios, with no differences in application timings or stubble height. Impacts of application timings were not clear for glyphosate or bromoxynil mixtures. For glyphosate treatments, control in short stubble was 11% greater than in tall stubble in both years. Control was also greater in short stubble for the bromoxynil + pyrasulfotole application in 2020. However, Russian thistle plant dispersal was greater in short stubble at both locations. At CBARC, plant dispersal in short stubble was 58%, compared to 18% in tall stubble. Near Ione, plant dispersal in flattened stubble was 88%, compared to 43% in nonflattened short stubble. Leaving tall stubble at harvest should be considered to reduce Russian thistle plant dispersal if the infestation is going to be left untreated after harvest; otherwise, short stubble might result in better Russian thistle control when using systemic herbicides, such as glyphosate.

To increase inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility in Antarctic science, we must build more positive and inclusive Antarctic field work environments. The International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration (ITGC) has engaged in efforts to contribute to that goal through a variety of activities since 2018, including creating an open-access ‘Field and Ship Best Practices’ guide, engaging in pre-field season team dynamics meetings, and surveying post-field season reflections and experiences. We report specific actions taken by ITGC and their outcomes. We found that strong and supported early career researchers brought new and important perspectives regarding strategies for transforming culture. We discovered that engaged and involved senior leadership was also critical for expanding participation and securing funding to support efforts. Pre-field discussions involving all field team members were particularly helpful for setting expectations, improving sense of belonging, describing field work best practices, and co-creating a positive work culture.

Displacement ventilation, where cool external air enters a room through low-level vents and warmer air leaves through high-level vents, is characterised by vertical gradients in pressure arising from the warmer indoor temperatures. Models usually assume that horizontal variations of temperature difference are small in comparison and are, therefore, unimportant. Small-scale laboratory experiments and computational fluid dynamics were used to examine these flows, driven by a uniformly heated floor. These experiments and simulations show that the horizontal variations of temperature difference can be neglected for predictions of the bulk ventilation rate; however, they also evidence that these horizontal variations can be significant and play a critical role in establishing the pattern of flow within the room – this renders the horizontal position of the low- and high-level vents (relative to one another) important. We consider two cases: single-ended (where inlet and outlet are at the same end of the room) and opposite-ended. In both cases the ventilation flow rate is the same. However, in the opposite-ended case a dead zone is established in the upper part of the room which results in significant horizontal variations. We consider the formation of this dead zone by examining the streamline patterns and the age of air within the room. We discuss the implications for occupant exposure to pollutants and airborne disease.

Understanding the distribution and extent of suitable habitats is critical for the conservation of endangered and endemic taxa. Such knowledge is limited for many Central African species, including the rare and globally threatened Grey-necked Picathartes Picathartes oreas, one of only two species in the family Picathartidae endemic to the forests of Central Africa. Despite growing concerns about land-use change resulting in fragmentation and loss of forest cover in the region, neither the extent of suitable habitat nor the potential species’ distribution is well known. We combine 339 (new and historical) occurrence records of Grey-necked Picathartes with environmental variables to model the potential global distribution. We used a Maximum Entropy modelling approach that accounted for sampling bias. Our model suggests that Grey-necked Picathartes distribution is strongly associated with steeper slopes and high levels of forest cover, while bioclimatic, vegetation health, and habitat condition variables were all excluded from the final model. We predicted 17,327 km2 of suitable habitat for the species, of which only 2,490 km2 (14.4%) are within protected areas where conservation designations are strictly enforced. These findings show a smaller global distribution of predicted suitable habitat forthe Grey-necked Picathartes than previously thought. This work provides evidence to inform a revision of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status, and may warrant upgrading the status of the species from “Near Threatened” to “Vulnerable”.