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The summer of 2022 was particularly notable for the prolonged and extensive hot and dry conditions experienced across the UK. The resultant 2022 drought had widespread impacts and prompted much discussion about the continuing vulnerability of the UK to drought, particularly in the context of anthropogenic warming. Here, we briefly describe the evolution of the drought before focusing on the severity of rainfall, river flow, soil moisture and groundwater level deficits from summer 2022, placing the event into a historical context and addressing the impacts of the drought. We also consider whether the 2022 drought is part of a long‐term trend towards increasing drought severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrological drought is a serious issue globally, which is likely to be amplified by 21st century climate change. In the UK, the impacts of changes in river flow and groundwater drought severity in a future of climate change and higher water demand are potentially severe. Recent publication of a new nationally consistent set of river flow and groundwater level projections (the eFLaG dataset), based on state-of-the-art UKCP18 climate projections, offers a unique opportunity to quantitatively assess future UK hydrological drought susceptibility. The dataset includes a transient, multi-model ensemble of hydrological projections driven by a single regional climate model (RCM), with a 12-member perturbed-parameter ensemble, for 200 catchments and 54 boreholes spanning a period from 1961 to 2080. Assessment of a baseline period (1989–2018) shows that the RCM-driven projections adequately reproduce observed river flow and groundwater level regimes, improving our confidence in using these models for assessment of future drought. Across all hydrological models and most catchments, future low river flows are projected to decline consistently out to 2080. Drought durations, intensities and severities are all projected to increase in most (over 90 %, pooling across different drought characteristics) UK catchments. However, the trajectory of low groundwater levels and groundwater drought characteristics diverges from that of river flows. Whilst groundwater levels at most (> 85 %) boreholes are projected to decline (consistent with river flows), these declines are relatively modest (< 10 % reduction) in transient low groundwater levels by 2080, and, in fact, six show moderate increases. Groundwater drought characteristics in the far future (2050–2079) are often similar to those of the baseline (1989–2018), with only 33 % of boreholes showing an increase (towards worsening drought) of more than 10 % for drought severity (48 % of boreholes for drought intensity). Interestingly, for some boreholes, droughts are projected to be more prolonged and severe in the near future (2020–2049) before returning to shorter durations and lower severity in the far future. A number of explanatory factors for this divergence between river flow and groundwater are discussed. The sensitivity to seasonal changes in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration is proposed as a principal driver of divergence because low river flows are more influenced by shorter-term rainfall deficits in the summer half-year, whilst groundwater drought appears to be offset somewhat by the wetter winter signal in the RCM projections. Our results have important implications for water management, demonstrating a widespread increase in river flow drought severity and diminishing low flows that could have profound societal and environmental impacts unless mitigated. Furthermore, the divergence in projections of drought in river flows and groundwater levels brings into question the balance between surface and subsurface water resources. The projected contrast in fortunes of surface and subsurface water resources identified for the UK may be replicated in other parts of the world where climate projections suggest a shift towards drier summers and wetter winters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the theoretical benefits of feedback are generally well established, in practice those benefits can be less than clear. This is particularly the case on shorter courses, where students have limited scope to integrate feedback into future assessment performance. If we accept that one of the key purposes of feedback is to encourage students to reflect on--and subsequently change--their performance, there is a strong argument for feedforward in such cases. This paper analyses the performance of 137 students on an MBA module in financial decision-making. An assignment was delivered to two groups, one of which was involved in a structured feedforward exercise. At the end of the module all students completed an evaluative questionnaire. In addition, a focus group was held with a group of students who had been involved with the feedforward exercise. The study found that increased support and guidance through the feedforward process had no significant impact on student performance, but that student satisfaction increased. The question of performance was found to be intertwined with complex issues of strategic approaches to learning, satisficing behaviour, "spoon-feeding" reactions and workload management. The study points to a need for more qualitative research into students' strategies for assessment.

Aims: To examine the role of ex vivo oxytocin metabolism in post‐dose peptide measurements. Methods: The stability of oxytocin (Study 1) and oxytocinase activity (Study 2) in late‐stage pregnancy blood was quantified using liquid‐chromatography tandem mass‐spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) and a fluorogenic assay, respectively. Analyses were conducted using blood from pregnant women (>36 weeks gestation) evaluated in lithium heparin (LH), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and BD P100 blood collection tubes with or without protease inhibitors. In addition, plasma oxytocin concentrations following administration of oxytocin 240 IU inhaled, 5 IU intravenous or 10 IU intramuscular in women in third stage of labour (TSL) were analysed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and LC–MS/MS to understand how quantified peptide concentrations differ between these analytical methods (Study 3). Results: Study 1: Oxytocin was stable in blood collected into EDTA tubes with or without protease inhibitors but not in LH tubes. Study 2: Blood collected into all EDTA‐containing collection tubes led to near‐complete inhibition of oxytocinase (≤100 min). In plasma, a 35% reduction in oxytocinase activity was observed in LH tubes with EDTA added. In plasma from late‐stage pregnancy compared to nonpregnant participants, the oxytocinase activity was approximately 11‐fold higher. Study 3: Plasma oxytocin concentrations from nonpregnant or women in TSL following exogenous oxytocin administration were ≤33 times higher when analysed using ELISA vs. LC–MS/MS methods. Conclusions: Collection of blood from late‐stage pregnant women into tubes containing EDTA inhibits oxytocinase effectively stabilizing oxytocin, suggesting low concentrations of oxytocin after dose administration reflect rapid in vivo metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of heat‐stable inhaled (IH) oxytocin with intramuscular (IM) oxytocin in women in third stage of labour (TSL), the primary endpoint being PK profiles of oxytocin IH and secondary endpoint of safety. Methods: A phase 1, randomized, cross‐over study was undertaken in 2 UK and 1 Australian centres. Subjects were recruited into 2 groups: Group 1, women in TSL; Group 2, nonpregnant women of childbearing potential (Cohort A, combined oral contraception; Cohort B, nonhormonal contraception). Participants were randomized 1:1 to: Group 1, oxytocin 10 IU (17 μg) IM or oxytocin 240 IU (400 μg) IH immediately after delivery; Group 2, oxytocin 5 IU (8.5 μg) intravenously and oxytocin 240 IU (400 μg) IH at 2 separate dosing sessions. Results: Participants were recruited between 23 November 2016 to 4 March 2019. In Group 1, 17 participants were randomized; received either IH (n = 9) or IM (n = 8) oxytocin. After IH and IM administration, most plasma oxytocin concentrations were below quantification limits (2 pg/mL). In Group 2 (n = 14), oxytocin IH concentrations remained quantifiable ≤3 h postdose. Adverse events were reported in both groups, with no deaths reported: Group 1, IH n = 3 (33%) and IM n = 2 (25%); Group 2, n = 14 (100%). Conclusion: Safety profiles of oxytocin IH and IM were similar. However, PK profiles could not be established for oxytocin IH or IM in women in TSL, despite using a highly sensitive and specific assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Droughts in Thailand are becoming more severe due to climate change. Developing a reliable drought monitoring and early warning system (DMEWS) is essential to strengthen a country's resilience to droughts. However, for a DMEWS to be valuable, the drought indicators provided to stakeholders must have relevance to tangible impacts on the ground. Here, we analyse drought indicator-to-impact relationships in Thailand, using a combination of correlation analysis and machine learning techniques (random forest). In the correlation analysis, we study the link between meteorological drought indicators and high-resolution remote sensing vegetation indices used as proxies for crop yield and forest growth impacts. Our analysis shows that this link varies depending on land use, season and region. The random forest models built to estimate regional crop productivity allow a more in-depth analysis of the crop- and region-specific importance of different drought indicators. The results highlight seasonal patterns of drought vulnerability for individual crops, usually linked to their growing season, although the effects are somewhat attenuated in irrigated regions. Integration of the approaches provides new, detailed knowledge of crop- and region-specific indicator-to-impact links, which can form the basis of targeted mitigation actions in an improved DMEWS in Thailand and could be applied to other parts of Southeast Asia and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines youth theatre as a mode of promoting public dialogue within situations of political tension or conflict. It reflects on the author's own experience of trying unsuccessfully to find a framework to evaluate an European Union supported theatre project, youth/art/peace/network, which took place in Austria, Israel and Palestine in the late 1990s. In the context of this reflection and the author's attempts to address the challenge of finding an evaluative framework and mode of analysis, the article combines a critical account of Habermas' notion of communicative reason inspired by Iris Marion Young with Lefebvre's rhythmanalysis. It argues that understanding drama practices in rhythmic terms provides potential for evaluating the complex spatio-temporal relationships the practices might have with everyday life. Through focusing on the presences and absences of particular people and things, such evaluation shows up the risks of performing a misleading or coerced state of health. The article suggests that the problem in this case was underpinned by a restrictive or exclusionary understanding of constructive dialogue at odds with participants' daily experience. However, the analysis also points more optimistically towards the potential of monologue and particular proxemics of co-presence in finding modes of performance to represent such experience.

Hydrological drought is a serious issue globally which is likely to be amplified by 21st 10 century climate change. In the UK, the impacts of changes in river flow and groundwater drought severity in a future of climate change and higher water demand are potentially severe. Recent publication of a new nationally-consistent set of river flow and groundwater level projections based on state-of-the-art UKCP18 climate projections offers a unique opportunity to quantitatively assess future UK hydrological drought susceptibility. The dataset includes a transient, multi-model ensemble of hydrological 15 projections driven by a single regional climate model (RCM) for 200 catchments and 54 boreholes spanning a period from 1961 to 2080. Assessment of a baseline period (1989-2018) shows that the RCM-driven projections adequately reproduce observed river flow and groundwater level regimes, improving our confidence in using these models for assessment of future drought. Across all hydrological models and most catchments, future low river flows are projected to decline consistently out to 2080. Drought durations, intensities and severities are all projected to increase in most UK catchments. However, the 20 trajectory of low groundwater levels and groundwater drought characteristics diverge from those of river flows. Whilst groundwater levels at most boreholes are projected to decline (consistent with river flows), the majority of boreholes show <10% reduction in transient low groundwater levels by 2080 and eight show moderate increases. Groundwater drought characteristics in the far future (2050-2079) are often similar to those of the baseline (1989-2018), and in some instances droughts are projected to be most prolonged and severe in the near future (2020-2049). A number of explanatory factors for 25 this divergence are discussed. The sensitivity to seasonal changes in precipitation and potential evapotranspiration is proposed as a principal driver of divergence because low river flows are more influenced by shorter-term rainfall deficits in the summer half-year, whilst groundwater drought appears to be offset somewhat by the wetter winter signal in the RCM projections. Our results have fundamental importance for water management, demonstrating a widespread increase in river flow drought severity and diminishing low flows that could have profound societal and environmental impacts unless 30 mitigated. Furthermore, the divergence in projections of drought in river flows and groundwater levels brings into question the balance between surface and subsurface water resources. The projected contrast in fortunes of surface and subsurface water resources identified for the UK may be replicated in other parts of the world where climate projections suggest a shift towards drier summers and wetter winters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do you stage the world? This article reviews how a series of performance installations by the theatre company Stan's Cafe have approached global space. It examines the way "Plague Nation" and "Of All the People in All the World" tackle national and global scale through the representation of populations. Drawing on a discussion of cosmopolitanism by the geographer, David Harvey, the paper argues that the school versions of "Plague Nation" point towards a geographically rooted drama pedagogy for global citizenship. This pedagogy displays political and aesthetic features in common with Baz Kershaw's theorisation of "spectacles of deconstruction". The article concludes by exploring how the installations' own global travels might be understood as a practice of global citizenship. (Contains 2 figures.)

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are essential constituents of cell membranes and lipid rafts and can modulate signal transduction events. The contribution of GSLs in osteoclast (OC) activation and osteolytic bone diseases in malignancies such as the plasma cell dyscrasia multiple myeloma (MM) is not known. Here, we tested the hypothesis that pathological activation of OCs in MM requires de novo GSL synthesis and is further enhanced by myeloma cell-derived GSLs. Glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) inhibitors, including the clinically approved agent N-butyl-deoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ), prevented OC development and activation by disrupting RANKL-induced localization of TRAF6 and c-SRC into lipid rafts and preventing nuclear accumulation of transcriptional activator NFATc1. GM3 was the prevailing GSL produced by patient-derived myeloma cells and MM cell lines, and exogenous addition of GM3 synergistically enhanced the ability of the pro-osteoclastogenic factors RANKL and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to induce osteoclastogenesis in precursors. In WT mice, administration of GM3 increased OC numbers and activity, an effect that was reversed by treatment with NB-DNJ. In a murine MM model, treatment with NBDNJ markedly improved osteolytic bone disease symptoms. Together, these data demonstrate that both tumor-derived and de novo synthesized GSLs influence osteoclastogenesis and suggest that NB-DNJ may reduce pathological OC activation and bone destruction associated with MM., Introduction Sphingolipids and their glycosylated derivatives, glycosphingolipids (GSLs), are essential structural components of mammalian cell membranes and are characterized by heterogenic composition among tissues and even in the same cell [...]

The National Curriculum in England states that science is considered a core subject, but there is a great deal of evidence that suggests it is considered differently. The Wellcome Trust (2017b) reports that many schools are spending less than the two hours per week on science recommended by the Association for Science Education (ASE), and studies (DfE, 2016: 149) show that schools in England spend less time on the subject than many of other countries. Even the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED) chief inspector admits that science is being 'squeezed out' (Spielman, 2018) by the narrowing of the curriculum, almost certainly caused by intense focus on the high-stakes testing of literacy and numeracy. As the literature shows that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects are vital for the future prosperity of the United Kingdom, primary science is not being taught as a main subject. In this article the authors look at what might be done to give children their first experience of science, both at a national level and at a school level.

This paper presents an 'enhanced future FLows and Groundwater' (eFLaG) dataset of nationally consistent hydrological projections for the UK, based on the latest UK Climate Projections (UKCP18). The hydrological projections are derived from a range of river flow models (Grid-to-Grid, PDM, GR4J and GR6J), to provide an indication of hydrological model uncertainty, as well as groundwater level (Aquimod) and groundwater recharge (ZOODRM) models. A 12-member ensemble of transient projections of present and future (up to 2080) daily river flows, groundwater levels and groundwater recharge were produced using bias corrected data from the UKCP18 Regional (12 km) climate ensemble. Projections are provided for 200 river catchments, 54 groundwater level boreholes and 558 groundwater bodies, all sampling across the diverse hydrological and geological conditions of the UK. An evaluation was carried out, to appraise the quality of hydrological model simulations against observations and also to appraise the reliability of hydrological models driven by the RCM ensemble, in terms of their capacity to reproduce hydrological regimes in the current period. The dataset was originally conceived as a prototype climate service for drought planning for the UK water sector, so has been developed with drought, low river flow and low groundwater level applications as the primary focus. The evaluation metrics show that river flows and groundwater levels are, for the majority of catchments and boreholes, well simulated across the flow and level regime, meaning that the eFLaG dataset could be applied to a wider range of water resources research and management contexts, pending a full evaluation for the designated purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological communities can remain stable in the face of disturbance if their constituent species have different resistance and resilience strategies. In turn, local stability scales up regionally if heterogeneous landscapes maintain spatial asynchrony across discrete populations—but not if large‐scale stressors synchronize environmental conditions and biological responses. Here, we hypothesized that droughts could drastically decrease the stability of invertebrate metapopulations both by filtering out poorly adapted species locally, and by synchronizing their dynamics across a river network. We tested this hypothesis via multivariate autoregressive state‐space (MARSS) models on spatially replicated, long‐term data describing aquatic invertebrate communities and hydrological conditions in a set of temperate, lowland streams subject to seasonal and supraseasonal drying events. This quantitative approach allowed us to assess the influence of local (flow magnitude) and network‐scale (hydrological connectivity) drivers on invertebrate long‐term trajectories, and to simulate near‐future responses to a range of drought scenarios. We found that fluctuations in species abundances were heterogeneous across communities and driven by a combination of hydrological and stochastic drivers. Among metapopulations, increasing extent of dry reaches reduced the abundance of functional groups with low resistance or resilience capacities (i.e. low ability to persist in situ or recolonize from elsewhere, respectively). Our simulations revealed that metapopulation quasi‐extinction risk for taxa vulnerable to drought increased exponentially as flowing habitats contracted within the river network, whereas the risk for taxa with resistance and resilience traits remained stable. Our results suggest that drought can be a synchronizing agent in riverscapes, potentially leading to regional quasi‐extinction of species with lower resistance and resilience abilities. Better recognition of drought‐driven synchronization may increase realism in species extinction forecasts as hydroclimatic extremes continue to intensify worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]