Royal Society Research Articles

Heat and carbon uptake in the Southern Ocean: the state of the art and future priorities.

Heat and carbon uptake in the Southern Ocean: the state of the art and future priorities.

Genuine Concern for Animals in England's Nineteenth-Century Animal Protection Movement: The Case Against Reductionist Interpretations

Animal–human history is an increasingly popular area of historical research.1 Diana Donald's 2020 book, Women Against Cruelty: Protection of Animals in Nineteenth-Century Britain is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of animal protection and the role women have played in moral reform movements. Starting from the premise that the prevention of cruelty to animals is “a pure product of the nineteenth century” (p. 7), this dazzling book takes its reader through a wide range of important topics such as the early history of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), differences between men and women's attitudes toward animals, and the role women played in humane education.2 This review will particularly highlight the way that Donald consistently attacks reductionist theses that discount the genuine concern women had for animals in the nineteenth-century British animal protection movement, and how her interpretations consistently refocus our attention on historical evidence of that genuine concern.

Picturing Chinese science: wartime photographs in Joseph Needham's science diplomacy.

Joseph Needham occupies a central position in the historical narrative underpinning the most influential practitioner-derived definition of 'science diplomacy'. The brief biographical sketch produced by the Royal Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science sets Needham's activities in the Second World War as an exemplar of a science diplomacy. This article critically reconsiders Needham's wartime activities, shedding light on the roles played by photographs in those diplomatic activities and his onward dissemination of them as part of his self-fashioning. Images were important to the British biochemist, and he was an avid amateur photographer himself, amassing a unique collection of hundreds of images relating to science, technology and medicine in wartime China during his time working as director of the Sino-British Science Co-operation Office. These included ones produced by China's Nationalist Party-led government, and by the Chinese Communist Party. Focusing on these photographs, this article examines the way Joseph Needham used his experiences to underpin claims to authority which, together with the breadth of his networks, enabled him to establish himself as an international interlocutor. All three aspects formed essential parts of his science diplomacy.

Graphs in the 1680s: Martin Lister, Robert Plot, William Molyneux and John Warner

In late 1683, the physician and F.R.S. Martin Lister displayed to the Royal Society a new way of recording barometric observations, which amounted in all but name to the construction of line graphs. The innovation was communicated to the Oxford Philosophical Society, where Robert Plot used the method to display a year’s observations, published in the Philosophical Transactions early in 1685. At the Dublin Philosophical Society, William Molyneux displayed a month’s worth of observations kept in the same way during May 1684. Lister’s own engraved forms—what amounted to graph paper—circulated among these groups but are not known to survive; Molyneux had forms of his own engraved. Finally, the London instrument maker John Warner engraved his own version of a similar form for recording weather observations and offered it to Plot. Two exemplars survive, but neither Warner’s offer nor this graphical method itself seem to have been more widely taken up in this period. This paper reviews the evidence for this early interest in and promotion of line graphs and graph paper, a century before the wider uptake of these technologies.

Correction to: 'Fasting increases investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafish' (2023) by Ivimey-Cook et al.

Open AccessMoreSectionsView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Cite this article Ivimey-Cook Edward R., Murray David S., de Coriolis Jean-Charles, Edden Nathan, Immler Simone and Maklakov Alexei A. 2023Correction to: ‘Fasting increases investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafish’ (2023) by Ivimey-Cook et al.Proc. R. Soc. B.2902023087220230872http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0872SectionSupplemental MaterialOpen AccessCorrectionCorrection to: ‘Fasting increases investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafish’ (2023) by Ivimey-Cook et al. Edward R. Ivimey-Cook Edward R. Ivimey-Cook http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4910-0443 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , David S. Murray David S. Murray Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Jean-Charles de Coriolis Jean-Charles de Coriolis Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Nathan Edden Nathan Edden Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Simone Immler Simone Immler http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1234-935X Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and Alexei A. Maklakov Alexei A. Maklakov http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5809-1203 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author Edward R. Ivimey-Cook Edward R. Ivimey-Cook http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4910-0443 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , David S. Murray David S. Murray Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Jean-Charles de Coriolis Jean-Charles de Coriolis Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Nathan Edden Nathan Edden Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , Simone Immler Simone Immler http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1234-935X Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and Alexei A. Maklakov Alexei A. Maklakov http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5809-1203 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author Published:03 May 2023https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0872This article corrects the followingResearch ArticleFasting increases investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafishhttps://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.1556 Edward R. Ivimey-Cook, David S. Murray, Jean-Charles de Coriolis, Nathan Edden, Simone Immler and Alexei A. Maklakov volume 290issue 1996Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences12 April 2023 Proc. R. Soc. B 290, 20221556 (Published Online 12 April 2023). (doi:10.1098/rspb.2022.1556) There was a mistake in the numbering of the supplementary tables. This has now been corrected. From: ‘(average reproduction EMM fed females: 92.7, fasted females: 105.0, contrast = 0.93, p = 0.566; electronic supplementary material, Table S8) resulting in a comparable total number of offspring between fed and fasted treatments (although we note the large increase in total number of offspring for females as they transition from fasting to refeeding; Total offspring: fed = 240, fasted = 281, estimate = 0.856, p = 0.509; electronic supplementary material, Table S9).’ To: ‘(average reproduction EMM fed females: 92.7, fasted females: 105.0, contrast = 0.93, p = 0.566; electronic supplementary material, table S8a), resulting in a comparable total number of offspring between fed and fasted treatments (although we note the large increase in total number of offspring for females as they transition from fasting to refeeding; total offspring: fed = 240, fasted = 281, estimate = 0.856, p = 0.509; electronic supplementary material, table S8b).’ Previous ArticleNext Article VIEW FULL TEXT DOWNLOAD PDF FiguresRelatedReferencesDetailsRelated articlesFasting increases investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafish12 April 2023Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences This Issue10 May 2023Volume 290Issue 1998 Article InformationDOI:https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.0872PubMed:37132242Published by:Royal SocietyOnline ISSN:1471-2954History: Manuscript received13/04/2023Manuscript accepted13/04/2023Published online03/05/2023Published in print10/05/2023 License:© 2023 The Authors.Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited. Citations and impact Subjectsevolution Large datasets are available through Proceedings B's partnership with Dryad

On the Diameter of the Stopped Spider Process

We consider the Brownian “spider process,” also known as Walsh Brownian motion, first introduced by J. B. Walsh [Walsh JB (1978) A diffusion with a discontinuous local time. Asterisque 52:37–45]. The paper provides the best constant Cn for the inequality[Formula: see text]where τ is the class of all adapted and integrable stopping times and D denotes the diameter of the spider process measured in terms of the British rail metric. This solves a variant of the long-standing open “spider problem” due to L. E. Dubins. The proof relies on the explicit identification of the value function for the associated optimal stopping problem. Funding: P. A. Ernst thanks the Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship (RSWF\R2\222005) and the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR N00014-21-1-2672) for their support of this research.

Correction to: 'Assessing the stability of human locomotion: a review of current measures' (2013) by Bruijn et al.

Open AccessMoreSectionsView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Cite this article Bruijn S. M., Meijer O. G., Beek P. J. and van Dieën J. H. 2023Correction to: ‘Assessing the stability of human locomotion: a review of current measures’ (2013) by Bruijn et al.J. R. Soc. Interface.202023020720230207http://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2023.0207SectionOpen AccessCorrectionCorrection to: ‘Assessing the stability of human locomotion: a review of current measures’ (2013) by Bruijn et al. S. M. Bruijn S. M. Bruijn http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0290-2131 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , O. G. Meijer O. G. Meijer http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8394-6859 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , P. J. Beek P. J. Beek http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0917-8548 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and J. H. van Dieën J. H. van Dieën http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7719-5585 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author S. M. Bruijn S. M. Bruijn http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0290-2131 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , O. G. Meijer O. G. Meijer http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8394-6859 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author , P. J. Beek P. J. Beek http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0917-8548 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author and J. H. van Dieën J. H. van Dieën http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7719-5585 Google Scholar Find this author on PubMed Search for more papers by this author Published:03 May 2023https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2023.0207This article corrects the followingReview ArticleAssessing the stability of human locomotion: a review of current measureshttps://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2012.0999 S. M. Bruijn, O. G. Meijer, P. J. Beek and J. H. van Dieën volume 10issue 83Journal of The Royal Society Interface06 June 2013 J. R. Soc. Interface 10, 20120999. (Published online 6 June 2013) (https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2012.0999) An attentive reader pointed out a mistake in our paper. On page 6 the paper reads ‘Chang et al. [95] reported that walking over an unstable support surface increases values of λS, but not of λL.’, which actually should have read: ‘Chang et al. [95] reported that walking over an unstable support surface decreases values of λL, but not of λS.’. This mistake does not further influence the conclusions we reach regarding these stability measures. Previous Article VIEW FULL TEXT DOWNLOAD PDF FiguresRelatedReferencesDetailsRelated articlesAssessing the stability of human locomotion: a review of current measures06 June 2013Journal of The Royal Society Interface This IssueMay 2023Volume 20Issue 202 Article InformationDOI:https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2023.0207PubMed:37132230Published by:Royal SocietyOnline ISSN:1742-5662History: Manuscript received11/04/2023Manuscript accepted11/04/2023Published online03/05/2023 License:© 2023 The Authors.Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited. Citations and impact Subjectsbiomechanics

Defining corticosteroid-regulated sodium transport within the distal nephron

The aldosterone (ALDO)-sensitive distal nephron is typically defined as: the late distal convoluted tubule (DCT2), connecting tubule (CNT) and cortical collecting duct (CCD). ALDO-sensitivity is defined by 11βHSD2 (11β) activity (which inactivates corticosterone, CORT); mineralocorticoid (MR) rather than glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression; and the target epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). Recent studies have reported ALDO-insensitive, but MR-dependent ENaC activity in DCT2/CNT and that CORT-stimulated ENaC may be relevant in MR antagonism as 4th line anti-hypertensive therapy. Whilst functional evidence of ALDO-insensitive ENaC activity is compelling, corticosteroid-regulated Na + transport along the distal nephron is not fully defined. AIM: to determine 11βHSD2, MR and GR expression alongside Na + transporter localisation in murine distal nephron and assess the endogenous receptor(s) underpinning steroid-stimulated ENaC activity.Male C57BL/6 mouse kidney sections were subject to multiplex immunofluorescence (11β, MR and GR) and immunohistochemical labelling (NCC, TRPV5, γ-ENaC and AQP2). Images were co-registered, annotated and analysed using Halo® software. Steroid-induced ENaC-mediated currents were measured in mCCD cl1 and primary CD cells. Carbenoxolone (CBX), mifepristone (MF) or PF-03882845 (PF) were used to inhibit 11β, GR and MR, respectively.Distal nephron segments were defined as: DCT - NCC; DCT/CNT - NCC and TRPV5; CNT - TRPV5; CNT/CCD - TRPV5 and γ-ENaC/AQP2; CCD - γ-ENaC/AQP2. We did not detect NCC and γ-ENaC co-localisation. Average cells/section, DCT: 874±39; DCT/CNT: 238±31; CNT: 198±63; CNT/CCD: 831±282; CCD: 2262±231 ( n=3). Negligible numbers of cells expressed both MR and GR.DCT was predominantly 11β- (~90%) and GR dominant (GR:MR ratio ~7:1). In 11β+ cells (~10%), GR was also dominant (GR:MR ratio ~4:1). DCT/CNT and CNT were mainly 11β- (~85 and ~75%, respectively), where MR and GR were similar. In 11β+ cells, MR and GR were similar in DCT/CNT but MR was greater in CNT (MR:GR ratio ~4:1). CNT/CCD contained a near equal split of 11β- (~52%) and 11β+ (~48%) cells. MR and GR were similar in 11β- cells, but 11β+ cells were almost exclusively MR (MR:GR ratio ~37:1). In CCD, ~35% of cells were 11β-, MR and GR were similar, and ~65% cells were 11β+, these were predominantly MR (MR:GR ratio ~30:1).In mCCD cl1 ( n=8-11) and primary CD cells ( n=6), ALDO-induced ENaC activity was inhibited by MR ( p<0.001) but not GR antagonists. DEX-induced ENaC activity was inhibited by GR ( p<0.001) but not MR antagonists. CORT-induced ENaC activity was modestly inhibited by MR ( p<0.05) but not by GR antagonists.Our data suggest that the DCT is a glucocorticoid-responsive segment, with 11β+ cells becoming progressively more dominant from CNT to CCD. The appearance of ENaC in the late CNT and particularly CCD, alongside 11β and MR, suggest these segments reflect the mineralocorticoid-responsive, and thus aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron. Kidney Research UK, The Royal Society This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

New Books across the Disciplines

New Books across the Disciplines

The “forgotten circulation”: Sympathetic control of mesenteric venous capacity in conscious hypertensive rats

The venous circulation is often “forgotten,” as cardiovascular research and therapeutic intervention focusses predominantly on arteries. However, systemic veins store two-thirds of blood volume at rest, with reservoir beds such as the mesenteric circulation receiving dense sympathetic innervation, suggesting a critical neurogenic role for the mobilization of blood. The impact of hypertension on sympathetic regulation of venous circulation remains unclear. We hypothesized that capacity of mesenteric vasculature is impaired in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and that reducing sympathetic drive will increase mesenteric buffering of excess volume.SHR (n=6) and Wistar rats (n=7) were instrumented with telemeters recording arterial and venous pressures, and an atrial balloon for assessment of mean circulatory filling pressure (MCFP). Arterial (inflow) and venous (outflow) mesenteric flow probes were implanted to measure total mesenteric volume fluctuation. Mesenteric vascular capacity was challenged with 20% volume load of intravenous saline. In SHR sympathetic drive was reduced via hexamethonium (10mg/kg) or via carotid body denervation (CBD).MCFP was elevated in SHR (+2.7±0.5mmHg, p<0.01 vs Wistars). MCFP in SHR was reduced by hexamethonium (-2.6±0.6; p=0.01 vs Baseline, n=5) and CBD (‑2.0±0.7mmHg; p=0.04 vs Baseline, n=5). In normotensives volume load was accommodated by the mesenteric bed, with a net total influx of blood (+5.4±2.2ml; n=7). In contrast, SHR showed a counter-intuitive net efflux of blood from the mesenteric bed (-1.6±1.4ml; p=0.04 vs Wistars, n=6). Preliminary results indicate that hexamethonium and CBD tended to increase the ability of the mesenteric bed to accommodate volume (hexamethonium: +1.9±1.5, n=6; CBD: +0.8±0.6ml, n=3).We show that SHR have higher venous tone and reduced capacity to accommodate excess volume within the mesenteric vascular bed. Reductions in sympathetic drive reduced venous tone and improved the ability to accommodate volume load. Inhibiting sympathetic activity may provide a novel therapeutic opportunity to restore venous mesenteric capacity and potentially ameliorate hypertension. Marsden Fund, Royal Society of New Zealand; Health Research Council of New Zealand This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium tuberculosisinfection alters the hepatic immunometabolic landscape and compromises insulin responsiveness early after infection

Abstract Immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) is associated with both regional and systemic inflammation as well as with metabolic disruption in tuberculosis (TB) patients. The metabolic and immunological responses are intertwined but the specific impact of localized disease on systemic metabolism is not well defined. We investigated the impact of low dose aerosol infection of the lung with Mtbon the systemic metabolic regulatory organ – the liver. Using an unbiased approach we defined the mRNA and protein dysregulation occurring in the early stage of infection. We found that infection leads to immune pathway activation and reduced metabolic activity in liver. Comparison of the gene expression patterns between of the lung, liver and blood revealed organ specific metabolic gene dysregulation in the context of non-organ specific activation of interferon response pathways. We have also found that infection leads to suppression of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, without alteration of fasting or random blood glucose levels. Infected mice show reduced sensitivity to exogenous insulin but the glucose tolerance remains intact indicating insulin resistance. Analysis of metabolomics data from public repository reveals a metabolic signature of insulin resistance correlates with TB progression. Taken together, our finding shows that aerosol Mtbinfection influences hepatic metabolism very soon after infection and may contribute to early metabolic disease. Defining the early interplay between localised infection, inflammation and metabolic regulation is key to understanding the impact of latent and subclinical TB on the large proportion of the World’s population who do not exhibit TB symptoms but who are infected with Mtb. Supported by Grants from Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award (AMC) Newton Fellowship (MKD), Wellcome Trust Institutional Support Fund Fellowship (MKD), MRC award MR/P011136/1 (AMC).

Cardiometabolic conflux at the carotid body

Background: Diabetes is the fastest-growing disease in New Zealand, and when combined with high blood pressure (hypertension), so-called sweet pressure (SP) is the leading cause of mortality. However, controlling SP remains challenging clinically. One target that remains unexploited is the sympathetic nervous system (SNA). As the carotid body (CB) has a pivotal role in regulating SNA, blood pressure and blood glucose, we searched for novel signalling pathways linking the CB with metabolism. Using RNA sequencing, we discovered melanocortin type-4 receptor (MC4R) expression was upregulated in the CB of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) versus Wistar rats; these receptors have an essential role in regulating cardiovascular and energy homeostasis. Hypothesis: We hypothesised that blockade of MC4R within the CB would reduce SNA and alleviate SP. Methods: The SHR was used as a hypertensive-diabetic model as it has glucose intolerance. Using a novel in situ preparation, we recorded SNA activity while injecting an MC4R antagonist (HS014) into the CB via the internal carotid artery. Results: The upregulated MC4R expression in the CB of SHR versus Wistar rat was validated using qPCR and immunocytochemistry. Antagonising MC4R within the CB lowered SNA and prevented the SNA hyperactivation triggered by hyperglycaemia (high glucose). No such responses were found in control Wistar rats. Conclusion: MC4R signalling is a novel mechanism within the CB that depresses ongoing SNA and, importantly, the elevated SNA caused by hyperglycaemia; whether this reduces blood glucose awaits testing in vivo. These data provide a potential mechanism for controlling co-comorbidity of hypertension and blood glucose. Funding: HRC, Royal Society Te Apārangi and Sidney Taylor Trust funded this research. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Editorial introductions.

Editorial introductions.

Commentary: Establishing Causality in Quality Improvement Studies.

Commentary: Establishing Causality in Quality Improvement Studies.

Forest Health Assessment in Four Jordanian Reserves Located in Semi-Arid Environments

Healthy forests are essential to human life because they provide food, energy, and other benefits including carbon sequestration. The objective of this study was to assess the forests health status in Mediterranean ecosystems, specifically, arid to semi-arid. Four forest reserves directed by Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Jordan were evaluated. Plant health indicators [(gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration), chlorophyll, middy stem water potential (Ψsmd), relative water content], regeneration, lichens, plant disease, as well as soil variables (respiration CO2-C, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, microorganisms’ abundance) were measured. The Ψsmd values in those semi-arid/arid ecosystems were within the normal ranges (−0.3 to −1.3 MPa) in spring but was under extreme water stress (−1.6 to −5.3 MPa) in summer in three reserves. Similarly, gas exchange variables reduced by 25%–90% in summer (compared to spring) across the studied forests. Although the regeneration (seedling per 1000 m2) was higher than 100 in two forest (Ajloun and Dibbeen), the number of seedlings in hiking sites was extremely low in both forests. Soil health indicators reveled that soil respiration CO2-C were higher than 25 mg kg−1 in two forests [Ajloun, Dibbeen, (except hiking zone)]. The mean soil saprophytes (number g−1) ranged from 86 to 377 across the forests reserves. In addition, the mean arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (spores 100g−1 soil) was between 350 and 877. Soil EC was consistently optimal (less than 0.5 dS m−1) and pH was slightly basic (7.5–8.3) across the reserves. The results revealed that the fluctuation of rainfall and anthropogenic pressures (grazing, hiking) led to partial forest degradation. When forests (Dana Biosphere Reserve) received 81 mm annual precipitation, Ψsmd values in Juniperus phoenicea at summer ranged from −4.4 to −5.3 MPa, regeneration and lichens were less than 20 per 1000 m2, and several trees were dead after infected with soil and air borne pathogens including wilt diseases and die back. Intensive hiking activities (Dibbeen forests, tourism area) and heavy grazing (Yarmouk frosts) reduced regeneration, lichens and soil respiration. Interestingly, the native species had better water relations (RWC, Ψsmd) and gas exchange performance than the introduced species. Overall, it is better to grow native species, and exclude anthropogenic pressure on the territory of introduced species. The conservation programs must persist to sustain several native historical forest trees including Juniperus phoenicea (>600 year old), Quercus ithaburensis (>500 year old), and Pinus halepensis (>100 year old) at Mediterranean semi-arid forests.

Scholars and Literati at the Philosophical Society & Royal Society of Edinburgh (1731-1800)

This note summarizes our research into the group of scholars and literati who were at the Philosophical Society and at the Royal Society of Edinburgh from its early meetings to 1800.

What is the civics and media project?

The Civics and Media Project examined the following question: How do we ensure we have a well-informed and civically engaged population in 2030? Convened by Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Auckland, NZ On Air, the Royal Society of New Zealand, the McGuinness Institute and the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, three workshops were held in Auckland and Wellington in late 2015. Participants represented media, government, academia, education and the wider community.

Gut microbiota composition in untreated people with relapsing-remitting and secondary-progressive Multiple Sclerosis (P2-3.008)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To investigate prospectively the qualitative&amp;quantitative differences in the faecal bacterial composition of untreated patients with RRMS and SPMS. <h3>Background:</h3> Alterations in gut microbiome composition are suggested to act as a driver in the transition of RRMS to secondary-progressive MS (SPMS). <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> We present prospective 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing data from faecal samples of 33 patients with RRMS and 10 patients with SPMS. Differences between gut microbiota composition were validated prospectively at three time-points over 12-months. We used available microbial profiles of healthy controls and RRMS from a different population (Jangi-et-al.2016) for comparative analyses with our own data. We studied blood T regulatory cell (CD4+CD25highFoxp3+) associations with specific gut bacterial taxa. <h3>Results:</h3> While some gut microbiota composition traits were common to RRMS and SPMS patients, we identified a small number of distinctive bacteria associated with SPMS; of these, the genus Slackia. Slackia exigua is known to be part of gut dysbiosis associated with cancer progression. There were no significant correlations between Treg counts and abundance of selected bacterial taxa significantly associated with RRMS or SPMS. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Subtle differences were observed between the gut bacterial composition of SPMS patients and that of RRMS. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Tanasescu has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Johnson &amp; Johnson Romania. Dr. Tanasescu has received research support from UK MRC grant MR/T024402/1. The institution of Ms. Cortés Carbonell has received research support from Royal Society. David Pritchard has nothing to disclose. Prof. Cantacessi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Constantinescu has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen. Dr. Constantinescu has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Roche. Dr. Constantinescu has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Novartis. The institution of Dr. Constantinescu has received research support from Nottingham University Hospital Charity.

P108 Exploring the Treatment Burden of Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug Monitoring in People with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Qualitative Study with Recommendations for Practice

Abstract Background/Aims People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) taking disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) require safety monitoring to identify potential side-effects. This study explored patients’ and family members’ perspectives on DMARD monitoring, and how associated treatment burden could be minimised to optimise concordance and safety. Methods Adults with RA on DMARDs and family members were recruited from 2 rheumatology departments in the West Midlands to take part in semi-structured telephone interviews between July 2021 and January 2022. Public contributors with RA helped to develop the topic guide and interpret the results. Interviews were digitally recorded and data analysed using a framework method. Findings were discussed with a group of stakeholders to develop implications for practice. Results Thirteen people with RA (10 females, age range 40-79yrs, seven retired, disease duration 1 month-21 years) and 3 family members (male, retired, aged 70 to 79 years) participated in an interview. Three main themes were identified: 1) DMARD monitoring took precedence over the work involved. 2) Inflexibility with appointment times and travel requirements increased the work for patients and families. 3) Drug Monitoring was more than safety surveillance. DMARDs were considered a necessity to treat active disease and maintain wellbeing. Consequently, the work associated with DMARDs monitoring was often accepted in return for control of symptoms. Treatment burden was not always recognised, as early appointment times increased the work for patients with physical care needs and those with co-morbidities, who required extra time for preparation. Inflexibility in drug monitor locations impacted on the personal, practical and financial costs associated with travelling and parking, with family members having to take time off work. Monitoring encompassed more that drug safety addressing symptom management, functional ability and emotional wellbeing. Three core recommendations for addressing treatment burden to optimize concordance and safety were co-designed by the stakeholders (3 rheumatology nurses, 3 clinical academics, 2 rheumatologists, 1 GP and 1 person with RA) and the research team: 1) Conceptualising monitoring: changing the emphasis of care from ‘drug’ monitoring to ‘person’ monitoring to facilitate a holistic assessment of the person and their condition. 2) Identifying treatment burden: being clear who within the healthcare team is identifying treatment burden and when. Proactively, assessing treatment burden when a DMARD is commenced, rather than waiting for burden to exceed capacity, resulting in non-concordance. 3) Minimising treatment burden: by negotiating how treatment burden can be managed including offering flexible and responsive options, in terms of appointment times and monitoring locations. Conclusion The work involved for people with RA in drug monitoring is significant and often unrecognised. Our findings have led to clear recommendations to promote a more person-centred approach, increase recognition of, and minimise the treatment burden associated with DMARD monitoring. Disclosure S.J. Ryan: Royalties; book royalties oxford handbook clinical rehabilitation 5600006372. Grants/research support; General Nursing Council Trust. Other; unpaid committee role with the haywood foundation. L. Bullock: None. F. Manning: Grants/research support; NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula. Other; Honorary lectureship in bone health Keele University. Z. Paskins: Consultancies; non paid consultancy for UCB. Grants/research support; versus arthritis, royal osteoporosis society, general nursing council trust, charted society for physiotherapy, british society for rheumatology. Other; unpaid committee roles with royal osteoporosis society, versus arthritis and haywood foundation. C. Chew-Graham: Royalties; for a book primary care mental health 9781911623021. Grants/research support; NIHR and other funding bodies for research.

Language structure is influenced by the proportion of non-native speakers: A reply to Koplenig (2019)

Abstract A recent quantitative study claims language structure, whether quantified as morphological or information-theoretic complexity, to be unaffected by the proportion of those speaking the language non-natively [A. Koplenig, Royal Society Open Science, 6, 181274 (2019)]. This result hinges on either the use of a categorical notion of ‘vehicularity’ as a proxy for the proportion of L2 (second-language) speakers, or the imputation of an assumed zero proportion of L2 speakers for languages that are considered non-vehicular but for which no direct estimate of that proportion exists. We provide two alternative analyses of the same data. The first reanalysis treats uncertain non-vehicular languages as missing data points; the second one employs multiple imputation to fill in the missing data. Mixed effects models find a statistically significant negative relationship between proportion of L2 speakers and morphological complexity: in both reanalyses, a higher proportion of L2 speakers predicts lower morphological complexity. We find no statistically significant evidence for a relationship between proportion of L2 speakers and information-theoretic complexity, however.