A new study led by the University of Oxford has shed light on why certain species of bacteria carry astonishing arsenals of weapons.The findings,published today in the journal Nature Ecology&Evolution,could help us to engineer microbes that can destroy deadly pathogens,reducing our reliance on antibiotics.Many species of bacteria possess multiple weapons to attack competitors.These include both short-range weapons that require direct contact with neighbouring cells,and long-range weapons,such as toxins that are released into the environment.Up to now,why bacteria have evolved to carry such awide array of weapons has been amystery.Study co-author Professor Kevin Foster(Departments of Biology and Biochemistry,University of Oxford),said:‘Unlike animals,which tend to carry asingle weapon type such as horns,antlers,or tusks,bacterial species commonly carry multiple weapons.But it was unclear what the evolutionary basis for this was–why not just invest in asingle type?One theory was that bacteria carry multiple weapons because they serve different functions during competition.’The researchers tested this using the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa,a priority one pathogen by the World Health Organization,due to the rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant strains.P.aeruginosa possesses diverse weapons,including the ability to produce various toxic molecules(a long-range weapon),and toxin-loaded filaments anchored to its outer membrane(a short-range weapon).The team designed aseries of experiments to determine under which conditions short-versus long-range weapons give agreater advantage.They used genome editing to generate P.aeruginosa strains that lacked and were susceptible to either the toxin-loaded filaments or long-range toxins called tailocins.The susceptible strains were then grown on agar plates with control P.aeruginosa over two days,at aseries of different ratios.Because the strains each expressed adifferent fluorescent protein,the researchers could quantify the ratio of attacker vs susceptible bacteria.The results clearly demonstrated that the two weapons perform best under different conditions.Tailocins,the long-range weapon,only became effective when the attacking bacteria were at ahigh density and more common than the competition.On the other hand,carrying toxin-loaded filaments gave acompetitive advantage over amuch greater range of conditions.This included situations when the attacking bacteria were only present in low initial numbers and had to compete with alarger population of susceptible bacteria.The researchers then challenged the two engineered strains in direct head-to-head competitions.When the strains started at an equal frequency,the bacteria carrying toxin-loaded filaments had adistinct advantage.However,both weapon users were able to win when they started in the majority. 查看详细>>

Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)scans of patients on the trial showed ahigher burden of abnormal findings involving the lungs,brain and kidneys compared to controls.Lung abnormalities were significantly higher(almost 14-fold higher)among patients discharged from hospital for COVID-19 than in the control group,while abnormal findings involving the brain and kidneys were three and two times higher respectively.The extent of abnormalities on MRI was often influenced by the severity of the COVID-19 infection the patients had experienced and their age,as well as co-morbidities.The findings,published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine,are part of the C-MORE(Capturing the MultiORgan Effects of COVID-19)study.C-MORE,a multi-centre MRI follow-up study of 500 post-hospitalised COVID-19 patients,is akey element of the national PHOSP-COVID platform,led by the University of Leicester,which is investigating the long-term effects of COVID-19 on hospitalised patients.This paper presents the results of an interim analysis of 259 post-hospitalised COVID-19 patients and 52 controls.The C-MORE study is being led by researchers from the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine and is supported by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre(BRC)and the NIHR Oxford Health BRC,as well as the BHF Oxford Centre for Research Excellence and Wellcome Trust.The participants,who were recruited across 13 sites in the UK,underwent MRI scans covering the heart,brain,lungs,liver and kidneys an average of five months after discharge from hospital.They also had blood tests and completed questionnaires.Dr Betty Raman,who is leading the C-MORE study,said:‘We found that nearly one in three patients had an excess burden of multiorgan abnormalities on MRI relative to controls.At five months after hospital discharge for COVID-19,patients showed ahigh burden of abnormalities involving the lungs,brain and kidneys compared to our non-COVID-19 controls.The age of the individual,severity of acute COVID-19 infection,as well as co-morbidities,were significant factors in determining who had organ injury at follow-up.‘The study found that while some organ-specific symptoms correlated with the imaging evidence of organ injury–for example,chest tightness and cough with lung MRI abnormalities-not all symptoms could be directly linked to MRI-detected anomalies.The levels of damage to the heart and liver in the former hospitalised COVID-19 patients were similar to those in the control group.The paper also confirmed that multi-organ MRI abnormalities were more common among post-hospitalised patients who reported severely impaired physical and mental health after COVID-19,as previously described by the PHOSP-COVID study investigators.‘What we are seeing is that people with multiorgan pathology on MRI–that is,they had more than two organs affected-were four times more likely to report severe and very severe mental and physical impairment.Our findings also highlight the need for longer term multidisciplinary follow-up services focused on pulmonary and extrapulmonary health(kidneys,brain and mental health),particularly for those hospitalised for COVID-19,‘Dr Raman said.She added:‘These findings are the result of extensive collaborative efforts by investigators across the UK.We are incredibly grateful to patients and the public who have participated in this study.‘Professor Chris Brightling of the NIHR Leicester BRC,who is leading the PHOSP-COVID study said:‘This detailed study of whole-body imaging confirms that changes in multiple organs is seen months after being hospitalised for COVID-19.The PHOSP-COVID study is working on understanding why this happens and how we can develop tests and new treatments for long COVID.‘The paper,‘Multiorgan MRI findings after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK(C-MORE):a prospective,multicentre,observational cohort study‘,is published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 查看详细>>

One of the co-lead authors of the study Dominic Melvin,a PhD student in the University of Oxford’s Department of Materials,said:‘Progressing solid-state batteries with lithium metal anodes is one of the most important challenges facing the advancement of battery technologies.While lithium-ion batteries of today will continue to improve,research into solid-state batteries has the potential to be high-reward and agamechanger technology.’Li-SSBs are distinct from other batteries because they replace the flammable liquid electrolyte in conventional batteries with asolid electrolyte and use lithium metal as the anode(negative electrode).The use of the solid electrolyte improves the safety,and the use of lithium metal means more energy can be stored.A critical challenge with Li-SSBs,however,is that they are prone to short circuit when charging due to the growth of‘dendrites’:filaments of lithium metal that crack through the ceramic electrolyte.As part of the Faraday Institution’s SOLBAT project,researchers from the University of Oxford’s Departments of Materials,Chemistry and Engineering Science,have led aseries of in-depth investigations to understand more about how this short-circuiting happens.In this latest study,the group used an advanced imaging technique called X-ray computed tomography at Diamond Light Source to visualise dendrite failure in unprecedented detail during the charging process.The new imaging study revealed that the initiation and propagation of the dendrite cracks are separate processes,driven by distinct underlying mechanisms.Dendrite cracks initiate when lithium accumulates in sub-surface pores.When the pores become full,further charging of the battery increases the pressure,leading to cracking.In contrast,propagation occurs with lithium only partially filling the crack,through awedge-opening mechanism which drives the crack open from the rear.This new understanding points the way forward to overcoming the technological challenges of Li-SSBs.Dominic Melvin said:‘For instance,while pressure at the lithium anode can be good to avoid gaps developing at the interface with the solid electrolyte on discharge,our results demonstrate that too much pressure can be detrimental,making dendrite propagation and short-circuit on charging more likely.’Sir Peter Bruce,Wolfson Chair,Professor of Materials at the University of Oxford,Chief Scientist of the Faraday Institution,and corresponding author of the study,said:‘The process by which asoft metal such as lithium can penetrate ahighly dense hard ceramic electrolyte has proved challenging to understand with many important contributions by excellent scientists around the world.We hope the additional insights we have gained will help the progress of solid-state battery research towards apractical device.’According to arecent report by the Faraday Institution,SSBs may satisfy 50%of global demand for batteries in consumer electronics,30%in transportation,and over 10%in aircraft by 2040.Professor Pam Thomas,CEO,Faraday Institution,said:‘SOLBAT researchers continue to develop amechanistic understanding of solid-state battery failure–one hurdle that needs to be overcome before high-power batteries with commercially relevant performance could be realised for automotive applications.The project is informing strategies that cell manufacturers might use to avoid cell failure for this technology.This application-inspired research is aprime example of the type of scientific advances that the Faraday Institution was set up to drive.’ 查看详细>>

In all 15 research studies reviewed for the paper,published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,there was evidence that looking at images of self-harm had harmful effects.This included an increase in self-harm,such as through triggering urges to self-harm,and enabling social connections with others who are self-harming,which can reinforce an individual’s personal identity as someone who self-harms.However,nine of the studies also indicated some‘protective’effects for some young people,including reduction in urges to self-harm for some,social connection with other people,and providing and receiving support.The study follows recent cases where viewing images related to self-harm and suicide has been associated with deaths by suicide of young people,leading to calls for legislation such as through the UK’s Online Safety Bill,currently going through Parliament.But until now,there has been little research evidence in this area.Professor Keith Hawton CBE,Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Centre for Suicide Research at Oxford University,and alead author on the article,said:‘This review of studies from across the world,mostly on young people,provides strong support for concerns about the potential impact of viewing images of self-harm.‘However,the mixed nature of the evidence indicates the complexity of issues regarding restrictions on online images of self-harm.While most people would agree that platforms which allow promotion of self-harm or suicide should be restricted,the situation regarding sharing of self-harm images between individuals or groups of individuals is less clear,especially as,while this can clearly be harmful,it can also be asource of support and recovery.‘I believe that the results of our review provide evidence that is helpful for the current debate on influences of viewing images of self-harm online and in social media.This needs to be supplemented by more in-depth research.‘Dr Anne Stewart,Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust and another author of the review,said:‘The results of this review highlight the importance for clinicians,and anyone working with young people,to be aware of the potential impact of self-harm imagery online or in social media and to check out whether the young person is accessing such material and is being harmed by it.‘Dr Karima Susi,Clinical Psychologist,who led the review while undertaking her clinical doctorate at the Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training and Research,said:‘Images can trigger powerful emotions which increase the likelihood of individuals engaging in self-harm-related behaviours.Viewing images also provide ameans whereby individuals can connect with one another and get support,which might not be available offline.Our findings highlight the need to address the factors that may contribute to individuals seeking support online,despite the potential for harm.The findings could be used to inform further research and widen awareness about the potentially harmful and protective effects of viewing self-harm images online.‘The team are currently conducting further research related to this issue,including an interview study of self-harm mental images in young people with arecent history of self-harm.The results of this will be available in the near future. 查看详细>>

Spun out of the University of Oxford in 2016 by Professors Stephen Roberts and Michael Osborne,Mind Foundry has developed technology and products that help people and organisations to implement AI more responsibly.The Lab brings together insurance insights from the Aioi Nissay Dowa Group of companies and applied machine learning expertise from Mind Foundry,continuing asuccessful collaboration that has already delivered improvements in safe driving and automation.The Lab will expand on this work,bringing together experts from many disciplines,to develop real-world solutions to some of the most significant challenges changing societies around the world,from the climate crisis and ageing populations to the impact of increased automation.The research conducted at the Lab will focus on five key areas:Mobility for all Autonomous driving Future of insurance Climate Health and wellness By bringing together different philosophies and science under one roof,the lab aims to build abetter understanding of the data that surrounds us all and identify ways in which truly informative“big knowledge”can be extracted from that information,not just“big data”.Professor Stephen Roberts,co-founder of Mind Foundry and Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Oxford,said:‘Big data is useful up to apoint,but what we need now are very smart algorithms that can distil that data into knowledge that is interpretable,valuable,understandable,and beneficial to everybody.‘Professor Michael Osborne,co-founder of Mind Foundry and Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Oxford,said:‘AI is one of asmall number of transformational technologies that will truly change the face of our society and planet-I don’t think there is any way we can tackle the core challenges of the century without it.But most AI is not yet up to the task,because it is not trustworthy,reliable,or responsible.Our hope is that with the Aioi R&D Lab–Oxford we will develop new technologies within AI that are capable of being all of those things.Only then will we be able to ensure that AI solves the most important problems of today while also providing ablueprint for innovative solutions of tomorrow.‘ 查看详细>>

The findings demonstrate that fertility is affected by diverse biological mechanisms,which contribute to variations in fertility,and directly affect puberty timing,sex hormone levels(such as testosterone),endometriosis and age at menopause.There were also links to behaviours such as risk taking.Professor Melinda Mills,Director of Oxford’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science,comments,‘This study is of interest to understanding changes in human reproduction over longer periods of time,reproductive biology and potential links to infertility.’‘It also empirically tests one of the most gripping and fundamental questions asked by scientists across many disciplines and decades:Is there evidence of ongoing natural selection in humans and,if so,what is it and how does it operate?’The major study,published today in Nature Human Behaviour,used data from 785,604 individuals of European ancestry,including individuals in the UK Biobank study,to identify 43 regions of the genome containing genetic variants associated with reproductive success,defined as the number of children ever born to an individual.Some findings highlight trade-offs across the life-course,for example,the researchers found variations in the gene ARHGAP27 that were associated with having more children,but also with ashorter lifetime window of fertility.The analysis also suggested anovel role for the red hair colour gene,melanocortin 1receptor(MC1R)in reproductive biology.But the genetic evidence suggests the influence on number of children is not related to the same genetic mechanisms that affect pigmentation.Professor John Perry,MRC Epidemiology Unit,University of Cambridge notes,‘This study is the largest of its kind and has highlighted new biology that we anticipate will help identify novel therapeutic targets for reproductive diseases such as infertility.It will also help us better understand the biological mechanisms that link reproductive health to broader health outcomes in men and women.‘By integrating their findings from modern genomes with ancient genome data,the researchers were able to identify aregion of the genome that has been under selection for thousands of years,and remains under selection today.The genes in this region-FADS1 and FADS2-are involved in synthesising specific fats that are important for health and seem to have been important in helping people in Europe to adapt to an agricultural diet.The observation that these genes still affect fertility today suggests that this adaptation may be ongoing.Dr Iain Mathieson,Department of Genetics,University of Pennsylvania,points out,‘Independent evidence shows the FADS region has been under selection in Europe for thousands of years.It represents the clearest example of agenetic variant with evidence of both historical and ongoing natural selection,though the reason for selection remains unclear. 查看详细>>

Dr Anran Cheng(Department of Earth Sciences,University of Oxford),lead author of the study,said:‘Our model shows the importance of factoring in the high diffusivity of helium and the long timescales needed to accumulate significant gas quantities,and the fact that the entire geological system acts dynamically to affect the process.This model provides anew perspective to help identify the environments that slow helium gases down enough to accumulate in commercial amounts.’Where rare helium-rich underground gas fields have been found,they always occur alongside high concentrations of nitrogen gas.Until now,there has been no explanation for this.For the first time,this new study,which also involved the University of Toronto and Durham University,provides an answer.The research team built amodel to account for these helium-rich deposits by(for the first time)factoring in the presence of nitrogen,which is also released from the deep crust along with helium.The authors identified the geological conditions where the concentration of nitrogen becomes high enough to create gas bubbles in the rock pore space.Such aprocess can take hundreds of millions of years,but when it happens the associated helium escapes from the water into the gas bubbles.These bubbles rise,because of buoyancy,towards the surface until they hit arock type that doesn’t allow the bubbles through.According to the model,the helium-rich gas bubbles then collect beneath the seal and form asubstantial gas field.The nitrogen and helium-rich gases contain no methane or carbon dioxide so tapping them does not release carbon emissions.When the researchers applied the model to an example system(Williston Basin,North America)using expected nitrogen concentration values,the model predicted the observed nitrogen/helium proportions in real life.The model could help identify areas likely to contain similar helium-rich deposits.Helium is a$6 billion(£5.3 billion)market,with the gas being essential for the operation of MRI scanners,computer chips and fibre optic manufacture,and state of the art nuclear and cryogenic applications.A current global shortage has pushed supplies almost to acrisis point,with prices skyrocketing in recent years.The situation has been escalated by the Ukraine war,since this ruled out helium being supplied from the new Russian Amur plant,planned to supply 35%of the global helium demand.In addition,almost all helium today is aby-product of methane or carbon dioxide natural gas production.This carries asignificant carbon footprint and hinders ambitions to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.Together,these reasons mean that identifying alternative,carbon-free sources of natural helium has become critically important. 查看详细>>

As the volume of global internet usage continues to rise,the Future Communications Hub will address critical challenges in providing high-speed,low-latency access to internet services for future fixed and mobile users.In particular,the Hub will research how to integrate separate fibre(wired)and wireless internet access systems into asingle resource in order to deliver intelligent‘all-spectrum’connectivity which can adapt to meet the current and future demands of users.Led by Dominic O’Brien,Professor of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford,the Hub will bring together eight partner institutions from across the UK with leading expertise in awide range of wired and wireless technologies.The research team will engage with relevant stakeholders from across industry,government,operators,regulators and academia to co-create aroadmap to deliver all-spectrum connectivity.Over three years,the Hub will focus on three core challenges:All-spectrum connectivity The research team will explore how to optimally combine wired and wireless internet technologies to achieve end-to-end connectivity.This will include developing models to compare the capabilities of different wired and wireless techniques,investigating efficient interfaces and physical architectures,and analysing new fibres and their capabilities.Efficient,reliable and resilient networks In densely-populated regions,large numbers of internet users in the same geographical area can challenge the efficiency and reliability of communications networks.The research team will explore techniques to integrate different internet access technologies in aseamless and energy-efficient manner,including the use of machine learning methods for joint wired and wireless network management.Trust and security Future communication networks face key security threats,including the continual rise in cyber-attacks and the growing desire for‘open connectivity’.The Hub will investigate arange of potential technologies to secure an integrated network,including Physical Layer Security,postquantum digital encryption,and quantum key distribution.Project lead Professor Dominic O’Brien(Department of Engineering Science,University of Oxford)said:‘Understanding how to best use established and emerging frequency bands across the wireless and wired spectrum is akey challenge for future communications systems.This hub brings together anetwork of researchers and institutions with world-leading capabilities and facilities to answer this question,and deliver innovation in the use and exploitation of future wired and wireless spectrum.’The Hub will also focus on engagement,and will hold regular events,researcher exchanges,focused workshops,and other activities to bring different stakeholders together.‘Our intention is to build astrong,vibrant community in digital communications that will endure beyond the three years of the initial project’Professor O’Brien said.Jane Nicholson,EPSRC’s Director for Research Base,said:‘Digital communications infrastructure underpins the UK’s economy of today and tomorrow and these projects will help support the jobs and industry of the future.Everybody relies on secure and swift networking and EPSRC is committed to backing the research which will advance these technologies.’ 查看详细>>

According to the research,a typical reduction in rainfall of 50mm per month mm can also cause displacement to double.But,it reveals,while conflict leads to significant displacement,displacement itself does not cause further conflict Dr Lisa Thalheimer,study lead author and research associate with Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute and Climate Econometrics team,says,‘The lives of pastoralists and farmers in Somalia are balanced on aknife edge.Even a1°C rise on normal temperatures–whether sustained or frequently re-occurring over afew months–is enough to cause pastures to dry up and crop yield to change.‘Our research shows these seemingly small temperature changes are having an outsized impact and are forcing communities to leave their homes.’She adds,‘Our Somalia research found a1°C warming is estimated to lead to aten-fold increase in expected displacement.It is alarming that,even this marginal change in temperature,has such ahuge impact.It highlights the likely effect climate change is having on vulnerable areas across the African drylands.’The study found:An increase in local monthly temperature by 1°C led to an approximate ten-fold(1098%)eventual increase in expected displacement.If average monthly rainfall declined from 100mm to 50mm,predicted numbers for internally displaced populations in Somalia doubled.‘The impacts of climate change are already being felt by these vulnerable regions and are likely to get worse,’says study author Moritz Schwarz,from Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment.He adds,‘Our research suggests investing in adaptation measures,building local capacity and arranging for rapid humanitarian aid will be key to avoid mass displacement events in future,and helping to stop extreme weather or conflict situations from turning into full blown disasters.’The detailed analysis also revealed that conflict is amajor driver of displacement.The role of conflict on forced migration has been hard to understand,and can be masked when combined with other self-reported reasons for migration such as drought,say the authors.The study also investigated if displaced persons increase the probability of conflict in their destination region,possibly through increased pressure on scarce resources such as food and drinking water.But this was found not to be the case.Dr Felix Pretis,a study author from the University of Victoria,says,‘Crucially,we find little effect of incoming displaced people on conflict itself…This finding is novel,and dispels the common myth that displacement might further fuel conflicts.’ 查看详细>>

Four in ten hours currently devoted to unpaid housework and caring responsibilities could be automated within the decade,according to research from the University of Oxford and Ochanomizu University,Japan,published today[22 Feb]in the journal PLOS ONE.Dr Lulu Shi,postdoctoral researcher,Oxford Internet Institute and departmental lecturer,Oxford’s Department of Education,says,‘Our research suggests,on average,around 39%of our time spent on doing domestic work can be automated,the degree of automation varies very much across different types of work.‘Only 28%of care work,including activities such as teaching your child,accompanying your child,or taking care of an elderly family member,was predicted to be automated.Yet 44%of housework,including cooking,cleaning,and shopping,was thought to be automatable.’The research team asked AI experts from the UK and Japan what difference automation was going to make to housework and other unpaid work.The experts predicted,on average,39%of time spent on any domestic work task could be automated within the next ten years.The predictions of the likely impact of automation for different domestic tasks varied considerably,with grocery shopping seen as most likely to benefit.On average,experts predicted,time currently spent on grocery shopping would fall by nearly 60%in 10 years.Other repetitive domestic tasks,such as cooking and cleaning,were also seen as ripe for automation with experts predicting that time people currently spend on these tasks will be reduced by 46%in the next ten years.Meanwhile,respondents believed time spent on physical childcare would only be reduced by 21%as aresult of automation.Ekaterina Hertog,associate professor in AI and Society,Oxford Internet Institute and Ethics in AI Institute,Oxford Department of Philosophy,adds,‘We find male and female experts had different expectations about automation of domestic work,potentially reflecting the differences in their lived experiences with technology as well as their involvement in housework and care work.’The AI experts based in the UK and those in Japan offered different visions of the future,according to the study.UK-based experts thought automation could reduce domestic work time by 42%,compared with 36%reduction expected by Japanese respondents.The authors maintain this may be because technology is associated more with labour replacement in the UK.Nobuko Nagase,professor of Labour Economics and Social Policy at Ochanomizu University,notes,‘In Japan,most AI experts are male.As male experts in Japan expect domestic automation to save much less time compared to their counterparts in the UK this may mean that research and development in this area is not receiving the attention it deserves and household automation may be delayed in Japan.This is alarming for me,as awoman,and Isay we need to expand the number of female AI experts.’ 查看详细>>