Northumbria University preparing for satellite launch after £5m boost for satellite communications research

A £5 million award from the UK Space Agency will allow Northumbria University to take forward world-leading research to build a new satellite communications system, setting the scene for Northumbria to launch the UK’s first university-led multi-satellite

Grant and Award Announcement

NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: PROJECT LEAD PROFESSOR EAMON SCULLION, SOLAR PHYSICIST AT NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY view more 

CREDIT: NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY

A £5 million award from the UK Space Agency will allow Northumbria University to take forward world-leading research to build a new satellite communications system, setting the scene for Northumbria to launch the UK’s first university-led multi-satellite space mission.

The funding announcement made today (Wednesday 12 July) will allow the University to move forward with its prototype work on this new laser-based system, which has the potential to transform the satellite communications industry.

Researchers from Northumbria’s Solar and Space Physics research group have been leading a consortium whose goal is to develop the world’s first commercially available system that allows satellites to communicate with each other via lasers rather than radio frequencies.

Satellites currently use radio frequencies to transmit data, but this has limited capacity and is more vulnerable to disruption. However, lasers can transmit 1,000 times more data per second than radio frequency and can transmit much more securely.

Northumbria’s laser-based device could potentially become the predominant communications mechanism for satellites in future.

The UK Space Agency had already awarded over £1 million to Northumbria to fund the earlier phases of this inter-satellite communications research through its National Space Innovation Programme.

It was one of 22 projects initially chosen to receive funding in 2020, with further funding granted in 2021 after showing highly promising potential. It is now one of only two projects selected for this third and final phase of funding.

The UK Space Agency’s £4.98 million award will allow the consortium to design, test and build the first CubeSat with laser optical communications technology.

It is expected to launch in 2025.

Through the University’s Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory, experts have been working in partnership with Durham University, satellite communications specialists e2E, and manufacturing company SMS Electronics Limited to create this new system.

The consortium recently expanded to include global aerospace and company Lockheed Martin, which joined forces with Northumbria University last year. Lockheed Martin will be leading the system’s engineering development.

Professor Eamon Scullion, a solar physicist at Northumbria University is leading the project. He said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be one of the two final projects chosen by the UK Space Agency for funding after a highly competitive process over the last three years.

“With our new technology, we are not only bridging the gap between satellites in low Earth orbit but we are bridging an even bigger gap between academic R&D and industry.

“Thanks to previous funding from the UK Space Agency we have established the working principles and a prototype of a unique, compact, lightweight, high-speed inter-satellite laser optical communication device.

“We are now ready to follow a rigorous technology-readiness process to build and test of a pair of flight-ready, payload-integrated CubeSats that are not only ready for launch to space in 2025 but will also be ready for sale as the UK’s first commercially available laser communication device for small satellites.”

Professor Robert Wicks, Head of Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory at Northumbria University, and CubeSat development lead on the project, added: “We are now ready to follow a rigorous technology-readiness process to build and test of a pair of flight-ready, payload-integrated CubeSats that are not only ready for launch to space in 2025 but will also be ready for sale as the UK’s first commercially available laser communication device for small satellites.

“We are very excited to be designing, building and testing our very own CubeSat mission here in the Northumbria Space Technology Laboratory. It is a great way to get our Electronic Engineering and Physics students involved in cutting-edge research.”

Tony Forsyth, Head of Space Technology at the UK Space Agency, said: “This funding will support Northumbria University to develop its innovative technology that will enhance inter-satellite communications systems by using efficient optical lasers, in comparison to the traditional devices.  

“The UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme prioritises funding for innovative technologies that will enhance UK space capabilities and help the sector, already worth £16.5 billion to the UK economy, continue to grow.” 

Professor Andy Long, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University, said: “This important announcement from the UK Space Agency recognises the real excellence around space research at Northumbria and reinforces the aims of the University and the wider North East region to be a leader in the global space economy.

“This is a hugely exciting prospect which puts world-leading research into transformative technologies from Northumbria University one step closer to going into orbit.”

Nik Smith, Lockheed Martin’s Regional Director for UK and Europe, said “Lockheed Martin is thrilled to join this Laser Comms programme with Northumbria University and its partners to support the satellite communications system’s development.

“Northumbria has some of the best and brightest talent for space and will be instrumental to the future of UK’s space sector. As we plan for that future, we believe there is significant export market potential for this kind of technology.”

Dr Cyril Bourgenot from Durham University’s Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) is principal co-investigator on the project. He said that the Durham University team was delighted to be involved in the development of this Free Space Optical Communication demonstrator.

“This technology will have such a strong societal impact and is a huge opportunity for the North East to showcase its space-borne instrumentation capabilities,” he added.

Northumbria University’s Solar and Space researchers work to understand the physics of the Sun and all aspects of the solar-terrestrial connection. Their research will improve space weather forecasting while helping to develop and deploy new instruments, models and services.

The group demonstrates international leadership across theory, numerical modelling, observations of solar and space plasma, data intensive science, and space-related hardware and collaborates extensively with partners including UK Research and Innovation, the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency, the UK Met Office and over 40 industrial partners.

Research developments from the team will help to support the UK space weather community and the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre through UKRI’s major £20 million Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk SWIMMR programme.

The team is also working to improve satellite technology to better protect and utilise humanity’s use of space, and, through the University’s state-of-the-art Space Technology Laboratory, will help train the next-generation of space-related engineers and instrument teams.

Prospective students can find out more about this exciting research area on Northumbria University’s Physics with Astrophysics and Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree courses.

The courses provide students with hands-on experience in areas including the design of payload and embedded digital systems for CubeSats and optical communications links in hazardous environments.

Watch the video animation to find out more about the project

Artist's impression of Northumbria University project to develop a new satellite communications system

CREDIT

Northumbria University

Northumbria University prepari [VIDEO] | 

Greenhouse gas supplement increases warming and alters circulation patterns on Earth and Earth-like exoplanets

Peer-Reviewed Publication

THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the study of exoplanetary atmospheres and their potential habitability reached new heights. A team of researchers led by Dr. Assaf Hochman from the Institute of Earth Sciences at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Dr. Thaddeus D. Komacek from The University of Maryland, College Park, and Paolo De Luca from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, delved into the effects of greenhouse gas supplements on temperate terrestrial exoplanets and Earth. Their findings demonstrate a parallel relationship between CO2 supplement and intensified warming in non-irradiated regions, impacting global circulation patterns.

Analyzing ExoCAM and CMIP6 model simulations, the research team discovered that the addition of CO2 leads to heightened warming in areas shielded from direct sunlight, i.e., the night side and polar regions. These localized temperature changes can bring about significant alterations in global circulation. Employing a dynamical systems framework, the researchers gained additional insights into the vertical dynamics of the atmospheres.

The study also reveals that introducing a greater supplement of CO2 into the atmosphere enhances temporal stability near the surface but decreases stability at low pressures. Surprisingly, this observation holds true for both Earth and TRAPPIST-1e, despite their distinct climate states. Dr. Assaf Hochman, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, emphasized the importance of comprehending the intricate connections between greenhouse gases and climate dynamics on both Earth and potentially habitable exoplanets.

"These findings shed light on the complex interactions between greenhouse gases and climate dynamics, offering crucial insights into the habitability of exoplanets and the potential impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on Earth's climate," said Dr. Assaf Hochman.

This study contributes to expanding knowledge in exoplanetary science and climate research. As the quest for habitable exoplanets continues, studying Earth's climate dynamics becomes pivotal in identifying and characterizing potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

Research Team: Dr. Assaf Hochman is a researcher at the Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Dr. Thaddeus D. Komacek is an assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy at The University of Maryland, College Park. Paolo De Luca is a Marie-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Earth Sciences Department of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel's premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 80 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel's civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has received over 11,000 patents. The university's faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 77th according to the Shanghai Ranking, making it the top-ranked Israeli institution. To learn more about the university's academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

---

JOURNAL

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41598-023-38026-8 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Computational simulation/modeling

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Analogous response of temperate terrestrial exoplanets and Earth’s climate dynamics to greenhouse gas supplement

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

10-Jul-2023

Historical medicine suggests a new way to use modern treatments

Could a combination of honey and vinegar, be an old, yet new, way of treating persistent infections?

Peer-Reviewed Publication

MICROBIOLOGY SOCIETY

 

VIDEO: COULD A COMBINATION OF HONEY AND VINEGAR, BE AN OLD, YET NEW, WAY OF TREATING PERSISTENT INFECTIONS? THE MIXTURE OF HONEY AND VINEGAR, ALSO KNOWN AS OXYMEL, HAS BEEN USED AS A MEDICAL TREATMENT THROUGHOUT HISTORY AND NOW SCIENTISTS HAVE ESTABLISHED THAT THIS COMBINATION COULD HAVE MODERN APPLICATIONS IN THE TREATMENT OF WOUNDS. NEW RESEARCH, PUBLISHED IN MICROBIOLOGY, IS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF HOW THE MIXTURE COULD BE APPLIED TO MODERN MEDICINE AND IMPROVE TREATMENTS FOR INFECTIONS. view more 

CREDIT: MICROBIOLOGY SOCIETY FOURTH IMAGE ADAPTED FROM GARCIA MASET ET AL. 2023 FIGURE FIG. 4D HTTPS://WWW.NATURE.COM/ARTICLES/S41522-023-00401-8

The mixture of honey and vinegar, also known as oxymel, has been used as a medical treatment throughout history and now scientists have established that this combination could have modern applications in the treatment of wounds.

New research, published in Microbiology, is the first comprehensive exploration of how the mixture could be applied to modern medicine and improve treatments for infections.

Bacterial infections can be difficult to treat, particularly when they are protected within a biofilm. A biofilm is a complex system of bacteria which can attach tightly to surfaces, like flesh in a wound infection. Bacteria which are protected in a biofilm are difficult to kill, and treatments today are not always effective at removing them.

Previous research has shown how effective some natural remedies can be at treating infections. Manuka honey has been proven to possess antimicrobial properties and aid wound healing and vinegar is also proven to be a useful antiseptic.

Doctors have utelised this information in medicine today. While they use manuka honey to treat antibiotic resistant infections they only use acetic acid, the active component of vinegar and do not currently combine the two. 

Dr Erin Connelly, Dr Freya Harrison and their team from the University of Warwick are the first to explore what happens when both honey and vinegar are combined and applied to biofilms of bacteria grown in the laboratory.

Having identified the gap, researchers began by investigating the effects of combinations of two medical-grade honey ointments with natural vinegar or acetic acid. They wanted to find out how effective the treatment is at killing microbes, and which combination worked best.

They were also curious to know if whole vinegar is more antibacterial than just acetic acid. Dr Erin Connelly, a researcher on the study, said, “In our survey of premodern recipes we noticed a pattern of combining honey and vinegar to wash or dress wounds and swellings, and this inspired us to focus on that combination in our analysis.”

By comparing the use of vinegar and acetic acid alone, then in combination with medical-grade honey, the researchers found that it was specifically the combination of the two substances which was best. “We applied a low dose of honey, that alone didn’t kill the bacteria, and a low dose of acetic acid that also could not kill the bacteria alone,” according to Dr Harrison. “These doses are lower than those that wound care nurses currently use on patients. But when we put these low doses together, we saw a large number of bacteria dying which is really exciting. We really need to investigate whether combining these substances could help patients who are not responding to either substance used alone.”

The researchers also found that some natural vinegars had a greater ability to kill bacteria than an equivalent dose of pure acetic acid. In particular, pomegranate vinegars are interesting candidates for further study; these had strong antibacterial activity and, like acetic acid, had activity when combined with honey.

Whilst more research needs to take place to understand the mechanism and best dose combinations of the combined honey and vinegar, these promising results have proved exciting enough that the researchers now propose to take a modern version of oxymel into the clinical trial stage.

Professor Joseph Hardwicke, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire explains "This is an exciting area of research to use traditional remedies in the modern NHS. The burden of wound care and infections is increasing year by year, with causative conditions such as diabetes on the rise. Maybe the knowledge of our ancestors can be used to enhance the current care we can provide to our patients, at a lower cost.”

---

JOURNAL

Microbiology

DOI

10.1099/mic.0.001351. 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Literature review

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Sweet and sour synergy: exploring the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of acetic acid and vinegar combined with medical-grade honeys

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

12-Jul-2023

Salinity changes threaten the world's oceans and biodiversity

Insightful study with participation from the University of Konstanz warns of human-induced impacts on the marine ecosystem

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF KONSTANZ

A thought-provoking review led by an international team of researchers reveals the critical, yet poorly studied role of salinity in a changing ocean and coastline. The study underlines how changes in salinity could have potentially devastating impacts on the vital ecosystems and describes how this might affect coastal communities. Titled "Human-induced salinity changes impact marine organisms and ecosystems", the study was published in the journal Global Change Biology. Lead author of the study is biologist Till Röthig from the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology in Giessen. Co-author Christian Voolstra is professor of genetics of adaptation in aquatic systems at the University of Konstanz.

Röthig explains: "Our work shows that salinity is the elephant in the room. While we know comparably well how changing temperatures, acidification and nutrients affect ocean and coastal ecosystems, the effects of human-induced changes in salt content, or salinity, are severely understudied – even though salt exposure levels are crucial for all kinds of organisms, including plants, animals and microorganisms".

Human activities amplify impacts
Coastal and estuarine ecosystems, known for their high productivity, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of salinity changes. The review emphasizes that climate change-related variations in rainfall can lead to extreme flood and drought events, affecting freshwater availability and subsequently impacting these sensitive ecosystems. Moreover, the authors highlight the compounding effects of local human activities, such as changes in land use, urbanization, river regulation and terrestrial runoff, which further exacerbate the challenges faced by coastal regions.

Salinity is a central factor for many metabolic processes – marine organisms are built to live in salty environments. Salinity is also interacting with other physical and chemical properties, such as temperature and oxygen levels, and thereby shapes the physical environment of the ocean”, explains Professor Voolstra from the University of Konstanz.

The researchers warn that salinity changes are predicted to intensify alongside ocean warming, deoxygenation, nutrient enrichment and increased sediment loads due to climate change and human activity. Expansion caused by warming, freshwater addition and salinity changes contribute to sea-level rise that causes saltwater inflow in coastal and low-lying areas, disrupting ecosystem structures and functions.

Challenges need to be addressed urgently
The authors stress the urgency of addressing these salinity-related challenges to safeguard marine and coastal ecosystems and biodiversity. They highlight the vulnerability of selected habitats and their keystone members including implications of salinity changes on microorganisms, plankton, coral, mangroves, tidal marshes, macroalgae and seagrass.

"Our data show that projected salinity changes alone can lead to ecosystem collapse", Professor Voolstra points out. "Unfortunately, salinity change will not happen in a bubble, and these sensitive ecosystems will also have to cope with changes in temperature, oxygen, acidification and pollution. These interacting effects are a massive black box in terms of understanding and managing the future of our oceans and coasts".

The review provides valuable insights into the threats posed by anthropogenic salinity changes to marine and coastal ecosystems and outlines consequences for health and economy of the local communities in the oftentimes densely populated regions.

About the authors
Till Röthig, Stacey M. Trevathan-Tackett, Christian R. Voolstra, Cliff Ross, Samuel Chaffron, Paul J. Durack, Laura M. Warmuth and Michael Sweet are an interdisciplinary team of researchers from various prestigious institutions worldwide. Their collective expertise spans disciplines such as marine biology, ecology, environmental science, oceanography and climate modelling, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the impact of human-induced salinity changes on marine and coastal ecosystems.

 

Key facts

• Original publication: Till Röthig, et al.: Human-induced salinity changes impact marine organisms and ecosystems, Global Change Biology, 12 July 2023. DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16859
• Study warns of human-induced impacts of salinity changes on ecosystem
• Lead author of the study is Till Röthig from the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology in Giessen
• Co-author Christian Voolstra is professor of genetics of adaptation in aquatic systems at the University of Konstanz

 

Note to editors:
You can download  images here:

https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2023/veraenderungen_beim_salzgehalt_Bay.jpg

Caption: Salinity changes threaten the world's oceans and biodiversity.
Image: Julia Spät

https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2023/veraenderungen_beim_salzgehalt_Graphical.jpg

Caption: Salinity changes and their influence on ecosystem structure and function.

Increasing temperatures enhance hydrological cycling, resulting in increased meltwater and shifts in evaporation and precipitation patterns that affect global ocean salinity patterns. Local impacts, such as land use practice further modulate terrestrial runoff patterns affecting coastal ecosystems. Enhanced variation or shifts in salinity impact diversity, growth, and survival of key species. Sea level rise connected with salinization as well as ecotone shifts and trophic cascades may contribute to substantially altered ecosystem structure and functionality.

Graphic: Amy Keagy

https://www.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2023/veraenderungen_beim_salzgehalt_Salinity.jpg

Caption: Figure 1. Changes in global salinity patterns and terrestrial runoff. Due to an intensified water cycle global surface salinity patterns a, have changed from 1950 to 2020 (PSS-78 70 years). Future projections from the phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) multi-model mean under b, low (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway, SSP1-2.6), c, mid (SSP3-7.0), and d, high (SSP5-8.5) CO2 emission future scenarios (differences from the 1985-2014 historical counterpart) show strong salinity changes (PSS-78) that resemble the pattern of observed changes will continue, particularly under mid and high CO2 emission scenarios. This is in concert with changes in precipitation and the more direct anthropogenic impact, changes over land annual total runoff (%), that project increasing variations from e, low (SSP1-2.6), f, mid (SSP3-7.0), and g, high CO2 (SSP5-8.5) emission future scenarios.

Graphic: Paul J. Durack

 

---

JOURNAL

Global Change Biology

DOI

10.1111/gcb.16859 

ARTICLE TITLE

Human-induced salinity changes impact marine organisms and ecosystems

2018–2022 Southern Resident killer whale presence in the Salish Sea: continued shifts in habitat usage

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PEERJ

 

IMAGE: THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA view more 

CREDIT: MONIKA WIELAND SHIELDS, ORCA BEHAVIOR INSTITUTE

Monika Wieland Shields, Director of the Orca Behavior Institute, has observed orcas in the Salish Sea, a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean located in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington, since 2000. She has recently published an article in the peer-reviewed Open Access journal PeerJ Life & Environment that provides crucial insights into the changing habitat usage of the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales (Orcinus orca), shedding light on historic trends and the current status of the population in the Salish Sea. We caught up with Monika to find out more about her research and the orcas she is so passionate about.

 

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Monika Wieland Shields and I’m the co-founder and director of the non-profit Orca Behavior Institute (OBI) based on San Juan Island, Washington, USA. We conduct non-invasive behavioral and acoustic research on two populations of killer whales that frequent the regional inland waters known as the Salish Sea: the endangered fish-eating Southern Resient killer whales and the thriving mammal-eating Bigg’s killer whales. I have been studying, photographing, writing about, and advocating for these whales for over 20 years, and am the author of the 2019 book “Endangered Orcas: The Story of the Southern Residents”.

 

Can you briefly explain the research you published in PeerJ?

One of my long-term projects at OBI is tracking the shifting habitat usage of Southern Resident killer whales. Their seasonal usage of the Salish Sea has changed dramatically since their endangered listing in 2005, correlating with shifts in their preferred prey. This study provides an update on daily whale occurrence from 2018-2022 showing that these shifts are continuing to occur.

 

What did you discover and where?

The focus of this study is the inland waters of Washington State and British Columbia, a region known as the Salish Sea. This study shows that historic Southern Resident habitat use of this area has essentially reversed: they used to be most abundant here from May through September, but now occur more in the fall and winter months while their spring and summer presence has declined dramatically.

 

What was significant about your findings?

Protecting habitats is a key component of endangered species recovery, but to be biologically meaningful, any geographic or temporal protection zones need to overlap in space and time with how the target species is currently using the habitat, rather than based on historic trends. Both Canada and the US have implemented regional and seasonal protection measures aimed at supporting population recovery, but it is important that they are regularly updated to reflect shifting habitat usage by the Southern Residents. This study fills that data gap by demonstrating how these endangered orcas are utilizing the Salish Sea over the last 5 years and how that has shifted from previous trends.

Read the full article 2018–2022 Southern Resident killer whale presence in the Salish Sea: continued shifts in habitat usage published in PeerJ Life & Environment.

The Southern Resident orca

CREDIT

Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute

Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute

CREDIT

Katya McMullen

---

JOURNAL

PeerJ

DOI

10.7717/peerj.15635 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

2018–2022 Southern Resident killer whale presence in the Salish Sea: continued shifts in habitat usage

Reinhart Koselleck Project for TUD Chemist Jan J. Weigand: 

Sustainable Chemistry and Phosphorus Recycling

Grant and Award Announcement

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT DRESDEN

 

IMAGE: PORTRAIT PROFESSOR JAN J. WEIGAND view more 

CREDIT: AK WEIGAND

Recently, the team led by chemist Prof. Jan J. Weigand announced a significant breakthrough in phosphorus chemistry. In a publication in Nature Synthesis, they introduced an innovative and simple method for producing phosphorus-based chemicals without the use of hazardous intermediates such as white phosphorus.

In the next step, the team aims to expand the range of phosphorus-based chemicals that can be produced using this novel method, thereby enabling a direct and more sustainable access to a variety of platform chemicals. Phosphorus and its compounds are indispensable in our daily lives – their application in fertilizers alone is crucial and contributes significantly to feeding the world's population. Out of the globally mined 190 million tons of raw phosphorus per year, 80 percent is processed into fertilizers. However, the current wasteful handling of this essential elements leads to the depletion of natural and available phosphorus reserves on Earth. As a result, phosphate rock and elemental phosphorus have been included in the list of critical raw materials. Projections suggest that global reserves could be depleted within 100 years. "For these reasons, the development of new and innovative chemical methods in the phosphorus value chain is urgently needed. The issue of phosphorus recovery through truly suitable large-scale recycling processes for valuable phosphorus compounds will become significantly more challenging in the future," explains Dr. Kai Schwedtmann, a key member of Jan J. Weigand's team and co-inventor of the patents underlying this project.

In a highly exploratory project, Prof. Weigand's team aims to explore electrochemical methods for recycling phosphorus-based chemicals in an efficient circular process. "In our blueprint for a modern sustainable phosphorus chemistry, we are investigating systematic and progressively atom- and energy-efficient pathways for the deoxygenation of phosphoric acid and recycled phosphorus resources such as phosphoric acid and struvite from sewage sludge treatment or lithium iron phosphate from battery recycling. An extension of this approach is the synthesis of various hexafluorophosphate (PF6) salts, starting from highly problematic substances like uranium hexafluoride (UF6), which contains one of the key anions, PF6-, for battery electrolytes," explains Prof. Weigand, Chair of Inorganic Molecular Chemistry at TUD.

Jan J. Weigand is also a member of the international expert pool at the Center for Transformation of Chemistry (CTC) and emphasizes the significance of this project in the context: "The vision of the CTC to transform the chemical industry towards a sustainable circular economy is of central importance. Our research aims to develop innovative solutions that are closely aligned with the goals of the CTC, focusing on the sustainable use of resources and the reduction of environmental impacts. We are proud to contribute our expertise to this groundbreaking project and make a significant contribution to the transformation of the chemical industry, particularly in the field of phosphorus chemistry and recycling."

The German Research Foundation (DFG) supports this ambitious endeavor for the next five years through a Reinhart Koselleck Project, named after the German historian Reinhart Koselleck (1923-2006). This funding provides exceptional scientists with the opportunity to carry out highly innovative and positively risk-prone projects.

‘Taboo’ & ‘crazy:’ researchers examine mental health stigmas on the border

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

 

IMAGE: FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: FORMER AND CURRENT GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS BRITTANY OCHOA AND KAREN KWON; ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JASON MALLONEE, D.S.W.; AND GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT ROSA ESCALANTE LOPEZ. CIUDAD JUÁREZ IS IN THE BACKGROUND. view more 

CREDIT: THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO

EL PASO, Texas (July 13, 2023) — Hispanic adults with mental health conditions are 17 percent less likely to receive treatment than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. But what causes this disparity and how can we fix it?

That was a question recently posed by Jason Mallonee, D.S.W., an assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at The University of Texas at El Paso. 

“There’s a higher likelihood of unresolved mental health conditions in this community and we wanted to try to understand that,” Mallonee explained. “What stops someone from seeking help or engaging in services and then, what could help someone?”

To answer his questions, Mallonee and a team of graduate research assistants went straight to the source, studying the mental health perspectives of Hispanics living along the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, reveal the pervasive stigmas surrounding mental health in the Hispanic culture and how social workers may help more community members seek treatment.

To conduct the study, 25 participants were recruited from an El Paso food pantry called the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief.

“What I have found in my research is that people who have a difficult time meeting their basic needs also have a higher likelihood of unresolved mental health conditions,” Mallonee explained. 

Participants were recruited by agency staff and assigned into smaller groups. Rose Escalante Lopez, who graduated with a master’s degree in social work at UTEP this spring, conducted focused, in-person discussions in both Spanish and English. Mallonee, who currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors for the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief, did not participate in the recruitment or focus groups to minimize a conflict of interest. 

Small group discussions ranged from an hour to an hour-and-a-half long each and Escalante Lopez posed multiple questions to understand mental health perceptions and potential barriers to seeking help.

The responses were striking and it surprised Escalante Lopez just how taboo mental health is in the community. Statements from participants included:

• “In the Latino community, everyone refuses to see a psychologist because they are not crazy…”
• “When they hear mental illness, they already think they have a bad brain.”
• “Something very taboo, something that is not needed if you are a man. You are a man and you do not need help so they can control your mind.”
• “Shame, fear, rejection, or that people will say or speak ill of me…”

“Listening to some of the participants’ experiences with mental health or a relative’s experience, it was surprising to hear how they were taught to suppress emotions,” Escalante Lopez said. “Even though today there is a better acceptance of mental health after the COVID-19 pandemic, the stigma around it continues to be a barrier to seek services.”

Each discussion was recorded and then analyzed to identify overarching themes. In addition to identifying the need for mental health to be normalized, the researchers noticed dissatisfaction and distrust of current mental health services.

“Someone reported a two-year waitlist to get in to see a psychologist,” Mallonee said. “Another commented on how providers turn over so quickly that you have a new therapist every few months, so then you’re going through your story again and again.”

Mallonee added, “They told us how they always get these ‘Mental Health Resource Lists’ with numbers to call for help, but when they call, no one answers or returns the calls. Those are all things that are going to turn someone off from seeking help.”

Armed with these perspectives, Mallonee has just kicked off an evidence-based mental health program in El Paso called ‘Pensamientos y Platicas’ or ‘Thoughts and Talks.’

The four-week program is facilitated by UTEP social work students and is intended to normalize conversations around mental health and help those with mental health conditions cope and create a plan to manage their condition and seek treatment when needed.

Mallonee is excited to see the program’s impact. 

He said, “We took the recommendations from the focus groups and built this program from scratch while incorporating best practices.”

###

About The University of Texas at El Paso 

The University of Texas at El Paso is America’s leading Hispanic-serving University. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, where three states and two countries converge along the Rio Grande, 84% of our 24,000 students are Hispanic, and half are the first in their families to go to college. UTEP offers 169 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America.

 

---

JOURNAL

Frontiers in Public Health

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2023.1134076 

ARTICLE TITLE

“Something very taboo”: a qualitative exploration of beliefs, barriers, and recommendations for improving mental health care and access for Hispanic adults in the Paso del Norte U.S.-Mexico border region

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAler

Mandatory EU financial disclosure increases frequency and quality of M&A deals, says study

Peer-Reviewed Publication

CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON

Forcing private firms to disclose their financial statements leads to more mergers and acquisitions (M&As) and better deals, according to a new paper published by a researcher from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass). 

The paper, which has been published in the Review of Financial Studies, found that financial disclosure increases M&A activity by reducing information friction in the market for corporate control. 

Following the implementation of the 2003 European Commission (EC) directive on financial reporting, the study shows the positive spillovers associated with this regulation, counteracting the common view that M&A deals are value-destroying in nature.  

Assessing M&As 

M&As are large and risky investment decisions for firms. Particularly when the potential target is a private company, the scarcity of available information is bound to be a hurdle for a potential acquirer.  

To explore how the EU directive affected M&A deals, the researchers compiled detailed data from Zephyr, a comprehensive database on mergers and acquisitions. This approach yielded 40,321 deals from 12 countries completed between 2001 and 2012, which they complemented with target’s financials following the completion of the deal. 

Key findings from the research show: 

• M&As of private targets increased with the enactment of the disclosure regulation. Consistent with the view that more extensive disclosure of financial information reduces the information friction faced by the potential acquirers, they also discovered that mandatory reporting intensity is positively correlated with M&A activity, even when accounting for different ways to measure M&A activity. 
   

• Using data on the targets after an acquisition, the researchers found that more mandated disclosures in the industry lead to higher growth rates (measured by total assets) in the target after the acquisition, but not necessarily better performance. Conversely, an increase in target-specific disclosure requirements is associated with greater growth and improved performance post-deal. This suggests that firm-specific information is the key driver of synergistic deals, while industry-specific information may not necessarily help achieve the best match between acquirer and target. 

Effects of mandatory disclosure 

Co-author Dr Francisco Urzúa, Reader in Finance at Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), said: 

“Our study shows that more deals take place following the implementation of mandatory reporting in the EU, but not only that, targets that are disclosing thanks to this regulation improve their performance after the acquisition. That is, there are more and better deals taking place thanks to it.  

“Our empirical results support the argument that mandatory disclosure of financial information facilitates the identification of new deal opportunities, ultimately leading to more M&A activity and better-performing acquisitions.  

“In many countries around the world, including Canada and the United States, private firms face essentially no financial reporting requirements. An important normative question is whether some level of mandatory disclosure – maybe limited to the largest private firms – should be required. After all, private firms in the US employ about two-thirds of total US employees. The findings in this paper point to a clear benefit from introducing some mandatory disclosure requirements for the largest private firms.” 

“Mandatory Financial Disclosure and M&A Activity” by Marcelo Ortiz (Universitat Pompeu Fabra); Caspar David Peter (Erasmus University); Francisco Urzúa I (Bayes Business School, City, University of London); and Paolo F. Volpin (Drexel University) has been published in Review of Financial Studies. 

---

JOURNAL

Review of Financial Studies

DOI

10.1093/rfs/hhad052 

ARTICLE TITLE

Mandatory Financial Disclosure and M&A Activity