University of St Andrews

A novel diagnostic technology rapidly detects the presence of infection and defines antimicrobial sensitivities in organisms typical for joint infection

Aims Infective arthritis is rare, but serious. Timely treatment with appropriate antimicrobial therapy is potentially life- and limb-saving, but our ability to deliver this is limited by current laboratory practices, which confer a delay of several days before antimicrobial sensi...

Adherence to the Eatwell Guide and associations with markers of adiposity: a prospective analysis within the UK Biobank cohort

Abstract Background Obesity remains a major public health concern in the UK, contributing towards increased disease risk and premature mortality. The Eatwell Guide - the UK’s health eating model - is widely applied in policy and practice, yet evidence linking adherence to this di...

Does plastic waste present an infection hazard? Current evidence, surveillance challenges and research priorities

Abstract Unmanaged plastic waste is widespread in settings with limited waste collection, yet its contribution to infectious disease risk remains poorly understood. In this review, we synthesise current evidence on the human health implications of plastic waste, with a specific f...

Volcano–climate interactions: reframing the volcano–climate puzzle

Explosive volcanic eruptions are major natural perturbations of the Earth system. By increasing stratospheric aerosol loading, they exert a dual radiative forcing: enhanced scattering of incoming solar radiation induces global surface cooling, while absorption of terrestrial radi...

Measuring masses of transiting Earth-like planets: first insights from the PLATO RV Data Challenge

Abstract The PLATO Stellar Variability Mitigation Working Group designed a radial-velocity (RV) data challenge to assess the precision and accuracy achievable on RV semi-amplitudes in the context of the future PLATO follow-up. Using Sun-as-a-star observations obtained with HARPS-...

Fluorine-InducedElimination Drives Mechanism-BasedInactivation of Isocitrate Lyase

Abstract Fluorinated succinate analogues were evaluated as mechanistic probes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isocitrate lyase (MtICL). However, 2,2-difluorosuccinate (1; Ki = 6.1 mM) and 2,2,3-trifluorosuccinate (2; Ki = 23.5 μM) act as reversible noncompetitive inhibitors and mes...

Self-Assembled Monolayersof Phosphorus–NitrogenCages

Abstract This study investigates the deposition of the phosphorus–nitrogen (PN) cage P2N6 onto Au and Cu surfaces using both vapor-phase and solution-phase methods. The P2N6 cage sublimes cleanly and reaches an onset of volatility near 83 °C, suitable for vapor-phase deposition p...

Technical note: examining the response of a large carnivore (Panthera leo) to dummy prey

Abstract Animal dummies (sometimes called decoys or models) are widely used in ecological research to investigate predation, sexual selection, or social communication. The use of this method, however, is generally limited to small-bodied taxa, especially in predation studies. Yet...

Language-like statistical structure arises in learned signaling: evidence from birdsong

All languages have statistically coherent subsequences (e.g., words) whose frequency distribution follows a power law. These properties facilitate language learning in humans, making them good candidates for arising through cultural transmission as a way to help faithful transmis...

Medical Laboratory Technologists’ Perceptions of Laboratory Information Systems

Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) are essential for managing laboratory workflows, yet their effectiveness depends on user acceptance. This study examined Medical Laboratory Technologists’ (MLTs’) perceptions of LIS in Indonesian laboratories. This sequential explanatory mixed...

Glacier surges on James Ross Island, Antarctica, and their relationship with climate

Abstract. Although the Antarctic Peninsula has a similar climate to that of other regions hosting surge-type glaciers, only one glacier surge has been previously observed in this region. We examined ice surface velocity, elevation and terminus position changes of Antarctic Penins...

Emerging innovations in movement ecology to address planetary challenges

Abstract Movement ecology—the study of how and why animals move within their environments—stands to offer transformative insights into our rapidly changing world, with benefits for both nature and people. Here, we present the first global horizon scan for movement ecology, engagi...

Stratification in small randomised clinical trials and analysis of covariance: Some simple theory and recommendations

A simple device for balancing for a continuous covariate in clinical trials is to stratify by whether the covariate is above or below some target value, typically the predicted median. The object is to improve balance of the covariate and hence efficiency of the treatment estimat...

Multidimensional Militarisation, Evidence From Mexico's War on Drugs

ABSTRACT This article documents different dimensions of militarisation observed in Mexico since the start of the war on drugs. It argues that militarisation is a multidirectional phenomenon that is characterised by rationales that justify the use of illegal means to address compl...