Revealing the neuronal pathways involved in adaptive decision-making in primates

Behavioral experiments on monkeys reveal how distinct brain pathways participate in trial-and-error adaptation and knowledge-based adaptation

The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology

 

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Overview of the study. Researchers investigated the neural basis of how animals adapt to new environments and situations. To do this, they introduced a chemical ON/OFF switch in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of macaque monkeys. In this way, they could independently silence two distinct neuronal pathways originating from the OFC; one towards the caudate and one towards the mediodorsal thalamus. Through carefully designed behavioral experiments, they determined that the OFC–caudate pathway is essential for experience-based adaptation, whereas the OFC–mediodorsal thalamus pathway is essential for inference- or knowledge-based adaptation.

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Credit: Kei Oyama, QST

In a constantly changing world, animals, including humans, need to quickly adapt to their environment and learn to make decisions that lead to the best possible outcomes. In most cases, this type of learning happens through direct experience; when faced with a choice between two particular items or events, animals resort to previous experience involving the same options. However, animals with more developed brains, such as apes and monkeys, can also infer the outcome of a decision based on knowledge of similar past situations, even when they have not directly experienced those specific options before. Thus, the process of decision-making often involves a balance between experience-based and knowledge-based behavioral strategies.

In primates, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) region of the brain is in charge of this balancing act. It not only participates directly in decision-making, but also helps ‘update’ the internal values primates use to gauge how good an option is. Moreover, the OFC seems necessary for correctly assessing options with which an individual has no direct experience. In spite of this knowledge, the precise roles of the OFC in decision-making and whether distinct roles rely on separate neuronal pathways remain unclear, as well as quite difficult to study.

Fortunately, as reported in a paper published in Nature Communications online on August 28, 2024, a research team from Japan managed to shed light on this issue. Using a state-of-the-art approach previously developed by the team, they selectively turned on and off different neuronal pathways originating from the OFC in monkeys during newly designed behavioral tasks, revealing their independent functions. This study was led by Kei Oyama and by Group Leader Takafumi Minamimoto, both from the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology.

In the behavioral tasks used for the experiments, macaque monkeys had to choose between two images presented to them, and a predetermined amount of juice was given as a reward depending on the selection. Soon, the monkeys learned to associate images with the amount of juice they would receive. The researchers would periodically change the set of images presented to the animals and also reverse the reward values, making the worst options become the best and vice versa. Overall, these tasks tested the ability of monkeys to learn from experience (through trial-and-error) and tackle situations they were familiar with (through knowledge-based inference).

As monkeys performed these tasks, the researchers used a genetically introduced chemical switch, called a chemogenetic receptor, that could effectively turn neurons of the OFC on and off upon administration of a specific drug. Guided by computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, the team was able to assess the effects of locally injecting a drug that temporarily silenced distinct neuronal pathways originating from the OFC.

By observing how the monkeys’ performance changed, the researchers could thus determine the functions of these pathways. They found that the OFC pathway connecting to the caudate nucleus is necessary for experience-based adaptation, whereas the OFC pathway connecting to the mediodorsal thalamus is important in knowledge-based adaptation.

Since monkey brains are surprisingly similar in structure to our own, important conclusions relevant to humans can be drawn from the findings. “One key implication of our work is that it could help explain why individuals approach the same situation in different ways. Some people may rely more on trial-and-error, while others prefer a more systematic approach based on prior knowledge,” muses Minamimoto. Adding further, he says, “These differences in thinking styles, or ‘thought patterns,’ might be linked to how each person’s brain activates these specific circuits, and understanding these variations could help us develop personalized strategies for improving decision-making and problem-solving skills for those who might struggle with one particular type of thinking.”

To add to it, understanding the precise roles of brain structures is immensely useful when investigating neuropathologies and psychiatric disorders. “Our findings could contribute to new treatments for mental and neurological disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder, where patients have difficulty adapting to changing situations. By targeting the specific brain circuits involved in these two strategies, we may be able to create more effective therapies that help restore balanced thinking,” comments Oyama. Sharing his concluding thoughts and real-life applicability of this research, he says, “Lastly, our research has applications in AI and robotics, where this understanding of brain circuits could inspire more adaptable systems that switch between different problem-solving methods depending on the situation.”

While the brain is undoubtedly one of the biggest puzzles in the known universe, studies like this are a stepping stone towards a clearer picture of how it works under the hood, both in our heads and that of our fellow animals.

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About National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan

The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) was established in April 2016 to promote quantum science and technology in a comprehensive and integrated manner. The new organization was formed from the merger of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) with certain operations that were previously undertaken by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). QST is committed to advancing quantum science and technology, creating world-leading research and development platforms, and exploring new fields, thereby achieving significant academic, social, and economic impacts.

Website: https://www.qst.go.jp/site/qst-english/

 

About Takafumi Minamimoto from National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan

Dr. Takafumi Minamimoto is Group Leader of the Neural Systems and Circuits Research Group and Deputy Director of the Advance Neuroimaging Center (ANC)  at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) in Chiba, Japan. His research focuses on the interaction between motivation, emotion, and memory in the brain of non-human primates, using varied methods, including neuroimaging with functional MRI and PET as well as chemogenetic techniques.

 

About Key Oyama from National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Japan

Dr. Kei Oyama is a enior researcher within the group, specializing in the study of the prefrontal cortex as a key biological foundation of human intelligence. He mainly contributes to developping cutting-edge methodology that manipulate multiple brain circuits of non-human primates, contributing to a deeper understanding of the brain mechanism in shaping intelligence.

 

Funding information

This study was supported by MEXT/JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP18K15353, JP21K07268, JP22H05521, JP17H02219, JP22H05157, JP19H05467, JP15K21742, and JP20H05955, by JST PRESTO Grant Numbers JPMJPR22S3 and JPMJPR2128, and by AMED Grant Numbers JP23dm0307007, JP21dm0107146, JP20dm0307021, and JP21dm0207077.

 

Media contact:

International Affairs and Public Relations Section
Department of International Affairs and Public Relations
Tel: +81-43-206-3026 Email: info@qst.go.jp

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Journal

Nature Communications

DOI

10.1038/s41467-024-50505-8 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Distinct roles of monkey OFC-subcortical pathways in adaptive behavior

 

European Green Deal: a double-edged sword for global emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions will fall in the EU, but rise even more elsewhere

Peer-Reviewed Publication

University of Groningen

 

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This is Klaus Hubacek, Professor of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. He is last author of the paper in Nature Sustainability.

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Credit: University of Groningen

The European Union aims to be carbon-neutral by 2050 as part of the comprehensive Green Deal that was agreed upon four years ago. However, an analysis of the policy documents outlining the practical measures of the Green Deal shows that it will decrease carbon emissions in Europe, but also increase carbon emissions outside of the EU. This increase is more than double the amount of carbon emissions saved by the Green Deal. This analysis was published in Nature Sustainability on <DATE> by an international team of scientists led by Klaus Hubacek, Professor of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Groningen.

The European Green Deal is a set of policies intended to fully decarbonize Europe by 2050, but it also includes measures for clean energy production and ecological restoration. Hubacek and colleagues from the United States and China carried out full supply chain analyses of the policy documents underlying the Green Deal. Their conclusion is that the Green Deal in its current form will lead to an increase in emissions in countries outside the EU by 244.8 percent compared to the Green Deal's carbon reduction goal in the land, land use change, and forestry sector within EU borders.

Skeptical

One example is the measure to increase biodiversity in Europe by planting three billion trees. ‘However, trees require a lot of land that cannot be used to produce food. That means that food must be produced elsewhere, and to do this, land must be converted into cropland. This increases the carbon dioxide emission and reduces biodiversity,’ says Hubacek. In this way, the EU would reduce carbon emissions within its borders, but ‘export’ them to the countries that would produce our food, for example Africa or South America.

Of course, the Green Deal does contain a paragraph forbidding the import of products (such as meat or animal feed) for which woodland is converted to farmland. Hubacek is sceptical: ‘Nothing stops these other countries from growing products for Europe on existing farmland and felling forests to produce for the local market. There are simply too many uncertainties in these types of regulations.’ The Green Deal also calls for an increase in organic farming, but this requires more farmland in Europe. Hubacek: ‘Again, there is very little information available on the impact on land use.’

No free lunch

However, the scientists did not just reveal the negative impacts of the Green Deal on the rest of the world. They also looked at different scenarios to see if overall carbon reductions could be enhanced. ‘We found one very effective way to do this.’ says Hubacek, ‘By adopting the more plant-based “planetary health diet”, it is possible to save an enormous amount of carbon emissions.’ Another measure is to phase out food-based biofuels within the EU, which would reduce the amount of farmland needed and thus save carbon emissions and prevent biodiversity loss. Also, the EU could assist developing regions to increase their agricultural efficiency, which would also reduce land use.

Although the Nature Sustainability article shows that the European Green Deal in its present form could result in a net loss for the global environment, the scientists conclude that it can be remedied. ‘By adopting the planetary health diet, which is relatively simple’, says Hubacek. However, there is one more thing that needs to change, he stresses: ‘The programme is driven by techno-optimism, but our analysis underlines that there is no free lunch. I very much doubt that “Green Growth” is possible, as everything you produce requires an input of resources. So we really need to consume less.’ There is a strong sense of urgency now that global warming seems set to surpass the 1.5 degrees from the 1995 Paris Agreement, and many other planetary boundaries are also being overstepped. Hubacek: ‘It is time to implement measures that work.’

Reference: Honglin Zhong et al, Global spillover effects of the European Green Deal and plausible mitigation options. Nature Sustainability, 20 September 2024

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Journal

Nature Sustainability

DOI

10.1038/s41893-024-01428-1 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Global spillover effects of the European Green Deal and plausible mitigation options

Article Publication Date

20-Sep-2024

 UK

Call to improve retention of A&E doctors with better working conditions

Lancaster University

 

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Staff retention is a particular challenge in emergency medicine

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Credit: Lancaster University

The working environment must be improved to improve the retention of A&E doctors, according to the first ever study of why emergency doctors stay - rather than why they leave.

The study in the BMJ Open entitled “How do we retain doctors in emergency medicine?” is by Dr Dan Darbyshire from Lancaster University Medical School, who is himself an emergency doctor.

He said: “The findings suggest that the working environment is a threat to retention—it needs improving. Retention is important as more experienced and senior doctors perform fewer unnecessary tests, make better decisions, and get fewer complaints. High turnover is correlated with poor organisational performance.”

Staff retention is a particular challenge in emergency medicine, with a 2021 workforce survey by The Royal College of Emergency Medicine revealing that :

• 50% of staff were considering reducing their working hours
• 26% were considering taking a career break or sabbatical
• 32% said this was due to workload pressures and 35% said this was due to burnout
• 69% of Clinical Leads revealed that locums were being used to fill permanent posts
• 22% of consultants were considering retiring early
• There was a shortfall of 2,000-2,500 A&E consultants in the UK in 2021

Dr Darbyshire spent over 132 hours of observations over 11 weeks in a UK hospital emergency department including 41 interviews with doctors.

Staff members complained the emergency department was often loud, “windowless but bright”, and invariably either too hot or too cold.

One interview participant described how the environment “could quite easily become a source of frustration that would make me not want to come into work”. There was “no staff toilet”, no changing room – “that's where I get changed, in the storeroom”.

All these frustrations were worsened by overcrowding.

One doctor said: “One of the things I [would] try [was] getting some headspace, so if it all got a bit too much I would go to a quieter part of the department, so maybe go sit in the seminar room and write in there for 10 minutes, or in resus if it wasn't a bomb site.”

Missing or misfunctioning equipment was a source of frustration and staff found it inconvenient and embarrassing to take a piece of equipment to a patient only for it to fail to work. Staff improvised, with for example, a doctor using a stethoscope to test reflexes as they could not find a tendon hammer.

Dr Darbyshire said: “Many things would have to change for the clinical space in the emergency department to improve. Crowding, exit-block, hospital-wide capacity problems, and difficulty accessing social care in the community are problems beyond the power of an individual department or even the specialty to resolve. Individual emergency departments can improve aspects that are within their control. Adequate break facilities, a changing room and a staff toilet, spaces for education and handover that are fit-for-purpose, are all achievable and would impact the workplace experience. “

The study looked at strategies employed by doctors to keep working in A&E despite the pressures.  These included education, with senior staff prioritising the education of more junior staff.

Dr Darbyshire said: “The junior doctors in our study were made to feel that their learning was important to the team by the actions of those leading the team. The value placed on their education as an intrinsic part of their work created space to develop in the emergency department, and they felt this fostered sustainability in their careers. Likewise, for the consultants, these elements of education enriched their interactions with trainees and made a qualitative difference to their daily working lives.”

Community was also important, creating by brief interpersonal interactions between emergency department workers.  

One doctor said: “So, I think in terms of the department we are quite a tight knit group, there is a lot of human interaction with the team as well, which I quite enjoy, and I'd say so yeah, that's kept me going.”

Other retention strategies included portfolio careers rather than full-time working as well as self-rostering.  Participants reported that a good rota helped retention and a bad one hindered it while both annualisation and self-rostering enabled staff to plan essential parts of their lives such as childcare and family holidays, respond to unexpected events, and meet training requirements.

Another strategy was mentorship which provided a way to managing the demands of a career in emergency medicine long term.

Dr Darbyshire said: “This paper shows that it is not enough to fund initiatives to encourage people to join the specialty; it is also vital to understand what makes them stay to ensure that investment in the clinical workforce is sustained over time. “

The research was co-authored by Dr Liz Brewster, Professor Rachel Isba and Dr Dawn Goodwin from Lancaster University Medical School and Professor Richard Body from the University of Manchester.

 

 

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Journal

BMJ Open

DOI

10.1136/bmjopen-2024-086733 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Retaining doctors in emergency medicine: an ethnographic study of emergency departments in England

Article Publication Date

18-Sep-2024

FAU/Mainstreet USA Poll: Harris edges Trump; but democracy, tariff doubts linger

Voters offer opinions on Taylor Swift endorsement and voting preferences

 News Release 19-Sep-2024

Florida Atlantic University

 

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A new national poll shows U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris with a narrow lead over former U.S. President Donald Trump. The poll also uncovers complex voter attitudes toward democracy, economic policies, and the impact of celebrity endorsements.

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Credit: Alex Dolce, Florida Atlantic University

A new national poll from the Florida Atlantic University Political Communication and Public Opinion Research Lab (PolCom Lab) and Mainstreet Research USA shows U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris with a narrow lead over former U.S. President Donald Trump. The poll also uncovers complex voter attitudes toward democracy, economic policies, and the impact of celebrity endorsements.

Harris Leads in Tight Race, but Demographic Divides Persist

Harris leads Trump by a slim margin of 50% to 45% among likely voters. The race reveals stark demographic contrasts, with Harris commanding strong support from women (51%), voters over 50 (54%), and college-educated whites (54%). Trump, meanwhile, maintains his edge with men (47%), younger voters (50% among 18-49), and white voters without college degrees (58%).

“The race remains extremely tight, with both candidates having strong bases of support,” said Kevin Wagner, Ph.D., professor of political science and co-director of the PolCom Lab. “The outcome may hinge on which campaign can better mobilize their core supporters and appeal to undecided voters.”

Voters Predict a Harris Victory

Voter expectation that Harris will emerge victorious is at 54%, while 46% predict a Trump win. Harris enjoys stronger confidence among her own supporters, with 97% of those planning to vote for her believing she will win. In contrast, 93% of Trump voters expect their candidate to prevail. Demographic breakdowns reveal notable differences:

• Women (57%) are more likely than men (53%) to predict a Harris victory
• Older voters aged 50 and above (58%) show greater faith in Harris’ chances compared to those under 50 (50%)
• Black voters overwhelmingly expect Harris to win (84%), while white voters without college degrees lean toward a Trump victory (57%)
• Hispanic voters strongly favor Harris’ chances (68%)
• Party affiliation plays a significant role, with 91% of Democrats forecasting a Harris win, compared to 86% of Republicans expecting Trump to triumph. Independents lean toward Harris, with 57% predicting her victory

“Asking people to predict the winner can give a sense of how people see their friends and family voting,” said Wagner. “This type of question can be a window on the political mood and suggests that Vice President Harris’ support continues to be enthusiastic and visible.”

The Taylor Swift Effect: Can Pop Power Boost Harris?

The poll explored the potential impact of pop superstar Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris. A majority of voters (58%) believe Swift's support will benefit Harris, with 25% saying it will strongly benefit her campaign and 33% expecting a slight boost. However, 32% of respondents believe the endorsement will have no real impact on the election outcome. Voters that believe that backing might benefit Trump instead is at 10%.

“The key value of the Swift endorsement may be in activating younger voters who might not have otherwise voted,” said Luzmarina Garcia Ph.D., an assistant professor of political science. “Celebrity endorsements can increase engagement in and visibility of elections, although it is not clear if endorsements persuade voters. However, Swift’s message has led to hundreds of thousands of visitors to the vote.gov website via her unique link.”

Economic Uncertainty Looms Large as Tariff Debate Continues

When asked about economic policies, particularly tariffs on foreign goods, the survey unveiled mixed opinions. Nearly half of voters, 49%, believe that tariffs will lead to higher prices for consumers, reflecting concerns over inflation and cost-of-living pressures. Meanwhile, 20% of respondents think the costs will be absorbed by foreign countries that export goods to the U.S. Another 9% of voters expect no significant effect from the tariffs, while 22% admit they are unsure of the potential consequences.

“These results highlight the complexity of voter attitudes toward both democratic institutions and economic policies,” said Dukhong Kim, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at FAU. “There’s a clear divide in how people perceive the health of our democracy, and similar uncertainty surrounds key economic measures like tariffs. As we approach the election, candidates will need to address these concerns to win over the remaining undecided voters.”

Democracy on the Line: Voters Split on America’s Future

The survey also revealed nuanced opinions regarding the state of democracy in the U.S., with 48% of respondents reported being either very or somewhat satisfied with how democracy is functioning. On the other hand, 35% expressed varying degrees of dissatisfaction with democratic institutions, while 17% of voters indicated they were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. These figures suggest that, while a significant portion of the electorate remains content with the state of democracy, there is a growing faction that feels disillusioned or indifferent toward the system.

The Battle for Ballots: Mail-in Voting, Early In-Person, or Election Day

The poll reveals diverse voting preferences among different demographic groups for the upcoming November election. Overall, 40% of voters plan to cast their ballots on Election Day, while 29% intend to vote by mail, and 27% prefer early in-person voting. A small portion (3%) remain undecided about their voting method. Women are slightly more likely than men to opt for early in-person voting (29% vs. 25%), while younger voters (18-49) show a stronger preference for Election Day voting (46%) compared to older voters (37%). Black voters have the highest preference for early in-person voting (37%), and college-educated white voters are more inclined to vote by mail (33.2%) than their non-college-educated counterparts (26%). Notably, voting method preferences align strongly with candidate support. Among mail-in voters, Harris leads significantly (38% vs. 19% for Trump), while Trump holds a substantial advantage among Election Day voters (50% vs. 31% for Harris).

“These differences in voting method preferences between Harris and Trump supporters underscore the potential impact of election administration decisions on the final outcome. Among voters planning to vote by mail, Harris holds a decisive advantage, while Trump leads among those voting on election day,” said Wagner.

Contentment Amidst Chaos

Despite the contentious political landscape, the poll found that many Americans maintain a relatively positive outlook on their personal well-being. A majority of voters (61%) reported being very or somewhat happy with their lives, with only 20% indicating they are somewhat or very unhappy with their current circumstances. Older voters remain happier than younger voters, and Democratic voters (72%) are significantly happier than Republican voters (50%).

“In this election, we are seeing an upending of the old adage that predicts voting tendency by age, and instead see that happy people are leaning Democratic and unhappy voters are leaning Republican,” said Carol Bishop Mills, Ph.D., professor of communication and co-director of the PolCom Lab. “Interestingly, we’ve seen each party double-down on their respective messaging of either happiness or discontent, so they understand this dynamic.”

The analysis in this report is based on results of a survey conducted from Sept.16 to 17 among a sample of 820 registered voters living in the U.S. The survey was conducted using Interactive Voice Response and an online panel, with options to complete in English or Spanish. Weights were applied for gender, race, education and past vote. While a precise margin of error cannot be calculated due to the online component, a poll of this size would typically have a margin of error of +/-3.4% at the 95% confidence level. For full methodologies, visit www.faupolling.com/about.

-FAU-

About Florida Atlantic University:
 Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six campuses located along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the University has doubled its research expenditures and outpaced its peers in student achievement rates. Through the coexistence of access and excellence, FAU embodies an innovative model where traditional achievement gaps vanish. FAU is designated a Hispanic-serving institution, ranked as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

About Florida Atlantic University PolCom Lab:
The Florida Atlantic University Department of Political Science and the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies, within the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, established the PolCom Lab to investigate and analyze public opinion and political trends across the nation, and particularly in the state of Florida. Visit the lab at faupolling.com.

About Mainstreet Research:
 Founded in 2010, Mainstreet Research is recognized as one of Canada’s top public opinion and market research firms. Since our founding, we have been providing actionable and data-driven insights to our clients to help them make their most important evidence-based strategic decisions. Mainstreet Research is a proud corporate member of CRIC and exceeds all Canadian and international standards for market research and public opinion research.

 

 

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Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

 

Oceanic life found to be thriving thanks to Saharan dust blown from thousands of kilometers away

The further dust-bound iron is blown from the Sahara, the more it becomes available for life through atmospheric reactions

Frontiers

Iron is a micronutrient indispensable for life, enabling processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, and DNA synthesis. Iron availability is often a limiting resource in today’s oceans, which means that increasing the flow of iron into them can increase the amount of carbon fixed by phytoplankton, with consequences for the global climate.

Iron ends up in oceans and terrestrial ecosystems through rivers, melting glaciers, hydrothermal activity, and especially wind. But not all its chemical forms are ‘bioreactive’, that is, available for organisms to take up from their environment.

“Here we show that iron bound to dust from the Sahara blown westward over the Atlantic has properties that change with the distance traveled: the greater this distance, the more bioreactive the iron,” said Dr Jeremy Owens, an associate professor at Florida State University and a co-author on a new study in Frontiers in Marine Science.

“This relationship suggests that chemical processes in the atmosphere convert less bioreactive iron to more accessible forms.”

The core of the matter

Owens and colleagues measured the amounts of bioreactive and total iron in drill cores from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, collected by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and its earlier versions. IODP aims to improve our understanding of changing climate and oceanic conditions, geological processes, and the origin of life. The researchers selected four cores, based on their distance from the so-called Sahara-Sahel Dust Corridor. The latter ranges from Mauritania to Chad and is known to be an important source of dust-bound iron for downwind areas.

The two cores closest to this corridor were collected approximately 200km and 500km west of northwestern Mauritania, a third in the mid-Atlantic, and the fourth approximately 500km to the east of Florida. The authors studied the upper 60 to 200 meters of these cores, reflecting deposits over to the last 120,000 years – the time since the previous interglacial.

They measured the total iron concentrations along these cores, as well as concentrations of iron isotopes with a plasma-mass spectrometer. These isotope data were consistent with dust from the Sahara.

They then used a suite of chemical reactions to reveal the fractions of total iron present in the sediments in the form of iron carbonate, goethite, hematite, magnetite, and pyrite. The iron in these minerals, while not bioreactive, likely formed from more bioreactive forms through geochemical processes on the seafloor.

“Rather than focusing on the total iron content as previous studies had done, we measured iron that can dissolve easily in the ocean, and which can be accessed by marine organisms for their metabolic pathways,” said Owens.

“Only a fraction of total iron in sediment is bioavailable, but that fraction could change during transport of the iron away from its original source. We aimed to explore those relationships.”

Blowing in the wind

The results showed that the proportion of bioreactive iron was lower in the westernmost cores than in the easternmost ones. This implied that a correspondingly greater proportion of bioreactive iron had been lost from the dust and presumably been used by organisms in the water column, so that it had never reached the sediments at the bottom.   

“Our results suggest that during long-distance atmospheric transport, the mineral properties of originally non-bioreactive dust-bound iron change, making it more bioreactive. This iron then gets taken up by phytoplankton, before it can reach the bottom,” said Dr Timothy Lyons, a professor at the University of California at Riverside and the study’s final author.

“We conclude that dust that reaches regions like the Amazonian basin and the Bahamas may contain iron that is particularly soluble and available to life, thanks to the great distance from North Africa, and thus a longer exposure to atmospheric chemical processes,” said Lyons.

“The transported iron seems to be stimulating biological processes much in the same way that iron fertilization can impact life in the oceans and on continents. This study is a proof of concept confirming that iron-bound dust can have a major impact on life at vast distances from its source.”

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Journal

Frontiers in Marine Science

DOI

10.3389/fmars.2024.1428621 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Long-range transport of dust enhances oceanic iron bioavailability

Article Publication Date

20-Sep-2024

COI Statement

The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision

 

Demand-side actions could help construction sector deliver on net-zero targets

University of Plymouth

Using state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies to renovate existing properties and construct new ones could enable Europe’s construction sector to almost eliminate its carbon emissions by 2060, a new study suggests.

Published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, the research is the first to fully assess the potential for energy demand reduction across the construction sectors of the United Kingdom and all European Union member states.

It highlights that 75% of Europe’s building stock is currently classed as energy inefficient, with total floor space also projected to increase by more than 20% over the next three decades.

In spite of this, employing a combination of technologies including solar energy and heat pumps within both residential and non-residential properties could reduce the total energy used to heat and cool buildings by up to 97%.

With growing concerns over energy security, particularly in light of recent geopolitical events, the researchers say that harnessing such technologies could significantly reduce energy costs as well as enhancing people’s health and quality of life.

More broadly, they say, transitioning towards a net-zero building sector offers substantial potential to mitigate the impacts of climate change and play a pivotal role in meeting the targets set out in the Paris Agreement and other global climate goals.

The study’s lead author is Dr Souran Chatterjee, Lecturer in Energy Transitions at the University of Plymouth, who said: “The building sector can play a pivotal role in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Our study unequivocally highlights the potential for reducing building energy demand, and the crucial role it can play in achieving climate neutrality targets right across the UK and Europe. Many of these demand-side actions in the building sector would also enhance well-being, having a positive impact on people’s health and productivity, and creating more jobs. It is important to understand that the more we delay, the more energy we will need to power our homes and workplaces over a longer period of time and that will hinder our ability to achieve climate targets.”

In addition to the University of Plymouth, the study also involved researchers at the Central European University, University of Szeged, and the Institute for Geological and Geochemical Research.

They used a mathematical model called the High-Efficiency Building (HEB) energy model to calculate the energy demand reduction potential – and the net-zero feasibility of the building sector – for the UK and each of the European Union Member States.

Among the calculations were that the energy required for cooling residential buildings across Europe could be reduced by up to 86% by 2050, while for non-residential properties the figure could be around 76%, if the sector aimed for its most ambitious net-zero targets.

This could be particularly beneficial in countries such as Italy, France, Greece and Spain where there is greater reliance on air conditioning as part of building projects.

For heating, aiming for the most ambitious targets could lead to a reduction in energy demand of more than 80% by 2050, and for hot water the energy demand could be reduced by around 50%.

Increasing the numbers of heat pumps and other on-site energy production within future residential developments could increase the demand savings for both heating and hot water to around 90%.

The study also showed that if comprehensive renovations and efficient constructions are not implemented. the total thermal energy demand of the building sector could increase by up to 7% by 2060.

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Journal

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

DOI

10.1016/j.rser.2024.114827 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Navigating the Transition: Modelling the Path for Net-zero European Building Sector

Article Publication Date

20-Sep-2024

 

Projections of extreme temperature–related deaths in the US

JAMA Network

About The Study: 

This cross-sectional study found that extreme temperature–related deaths in the contiguous U.S. were projected to increase substantially by mid–21st century, with certain populations, such as non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults, projected to disproportionately experience this increase. The results point to the need to mitigate the adverse outcome of extreme temperatures for population health. 

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Sameed Ahmed M. Khatana, MD, MPH, email sameed.khatana@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.34942)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

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Journal

JAMA Network Open

 

Self-compassion is related to better mental health among Syrian refugees

Teaching self-compassion could be an efficient intervention in the future to boost the mental health of displaced individuals with limited access to health care.

University of California - San Diego

 

image: 

Syrian refugees walking in Jordan.

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Credit: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)/ Shawkat Alharfosh

Displaced individuals experience high rates of emotional distress, depression and anxiety resulting from trauma and stress from displacement and loss. Their mental health may suffer further due to a lack of resources, language barriers, and discrimination during resettlement.

A new study by University of California San Diego researchers reports that displaced Syrian refugees with higher reported self-compassion were less likely to report poor mental health outcomes. The study was published in PLOS ONE on September 19, 2024.

Sarah Alsamman, a student at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Wael Al-Delaimy, M.D., Ph.D., professor of public health at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, along with local partners, surveyed 272 displaced Syrians residing in Amman, Jordan about their history of trauma and mental health symptoms. The participants were recruited through community organizations providing aid and educational opportunities to refugees.

“In spending time with these communities, I learned about the complex network of stressors they faced, including severe unemployment, limited access to health care, and separation from family,” said Alsamman. 

The researchers also asked participants about their level of self-compassion. This could include practicing kindness and tenderness toward themselves when going through a difficult time instead of judging themselves harshly, engaging in non-judgmental mindfulness toward painful thoughts, and recognizing that they are not alone, but part of a larger human experience.

The participants also rated their perceived level of resilience in the face of adversity. 

“Resilience reflects their belief in themselves, their community, their family tradition, or social support,” said Al-Delaimy.

Key findings of the survey data revealed:

• More than 75 percent of the refugees experienced anxiety, emotional distress or depression.
• Respondents reporting higher levels of self-compassion experienced more than 80% lower symptoms of depression and anxiety.
• While self-compassion and resilience may interact with each other to protect mental health, self-compassion plays a more powerful role in mitigating mental health.

Previous studies have documented the capacity of resilience to limit mental health stressors experienced by refugees, but this is the first time self-compassion has been shown to potentially moderate mental illness in this population.

Al-Delaimy says unlike resilience, self-compassion is a self-taught, modifiable practice that can be increased through training, and thinks health care professionals could use this to promote positive mental health outcomes among refugees who typically have limited access to mental health care.

“This could become an innovative way to empower displaced communities processing an incredibly unjust life experience. Our goal is to shift to a strength-based approach aimed at identifying and cultivating factors that protect from negative mental health outcomes,” said Al-Delaimy.

Syrian refugees account for more than one-third of all displaced persons around the globe, with over 14 million forced to flee their homes during more than a decade of ongoing conflict. The researchers plan to extend their study by testing the impact of self-compassion interventions on mental health in a larger group of displaced Syrians living in Southern California.

“That's another aspect that we are trying to address: Is there a difference among those who are outside the country and people who have been resettled here?” Al-Delaimy said.

Rana Dajani of The Hashemite University in Jordan and the MIT Refugee Action Hub (ReACT) co-authored the study.

The T. Denny Sanford Institute for Empathy and Compassion at UC San Diego provided support for the first author, Sarah Alsamman.

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Journal

PLoS ONE

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0309051