Species that require long day conditions to flower are not advancing their flowering phenology as fast as species without photoperiod requirements.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Over the last few decades, many plant species have shown changes in phenology, such as the date on which they germinate, bud or flower. However, some species are changing slower than others, potentially due to daylength (photoperiod) requirements. METHODS: We combined data on flowering time advancement with published records of photoperiod sensitivity to try to predict which species are advancing their flowering time. Data availability limited us to the Northern Hemisphere. KEY RESULTS: Cross-species analyses showed that short day plants advanced their flowering time by 1.4 days per decade, day neutral plants advanced by 0.9 days per decade, but long day plants delayed their flowering by 0.2 days per decade. However, photoperiod sensitivity status was moderately phylogenetically conserved, and the differences in flowering time advancement were not significant after phylogeny was accounted for. Both annual and perennial herbs were more likely to have long day photoperiod cues than woody species, which were instead more likely to have short day photoperiod cues. CONCLUSIONS: Short day plants are keeping up with plants that do not have photoperiod requirements, suggesting that daylength requirements do not hinder changes in phenology. However, long day plants are not changing their phenology and may risk falling behind as competitors and pollinators adapt to climate change.

Using Ripple Effects Mapping to understand the longer-term impacts of delivering a dance programme for older adults on dance artists.

BACKGROUND: The dance workforce plays a central role in delivering arts and health programmes yet there is little exploration of how programme delivery impacts dance artists in a professional or personal capacity. This study explored the experiences of dance artists delivering Dance On, which engages inactive older people 55yrs+. METHODS: Ripple Effects Mapping was used to explore the short- and long term experiences and practices of dance artists delivering a dance programme. FINDINGS: Two ripples were developed 1) Becoming a specialist 2) Connecting with communities. These ripples highlighted the strengths of the sustained nature of the programme and emphasised the need for ongoing support from employing organisations, communities, and dance artist peers. CONCLUSION: This study showcases the central role dance artists play in upholding the outcomes we observe in arts and health work - their role, expertise, and commitment to programmes should be further illuminated and supported through ongoing discourse about their practice.

Determining the stress biomarker profile in patients undergoing total knee replacement and the relationship with outcome at 12 months.

BACKGROUND: Total knee replacement (TKR) is the commonest joint arthroplasty procedure worldwide. Despite excellent outcomes, some studies have reported dissatisfaction in up to 20% of patients. There is evidence of an association between the biochemical stress response to surgery and outcomes. The objective of this study is to describe the stress biomarker profile for TKR, and correlate this with patient outcomes. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 50 patients undergoing primary TKR was conducted. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were measured immediately pre- and post-operatively, and on Days 1 and 3. Follow-up questionnaires including the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and EuroQol five dimensions (EQ-5D) were completed at 12-months. Univariate analysis was completed using a linear regression model (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Serum IL-6, NLR, and PLR all increased to Day 1 post-operatively, and decreased by Day 3. TNF-α values increased across all time points. Statistical analysis found a significant negative correlation (r = -0.414; p = 0.005) between pre-operative IL-6 and 12-month OKS. There was a significant positive correlation between pre-operative NLR and 12 month OKS (r = 0.272; p = 0.039) and 12 month EQ5D (r = 0.268; p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to describe the biochemical stress response to TKR. The results raise the potential for a pre-operative risk stratification tool for patients based on IL-6 and NLR measurements. Further research should be conducted to explore the underlying mechanisms involved, and investigate interventions to reduce pre-operative physiological stress with a view to improving post-operative outcomes.

Temperate airborne grass pollen defined by spatio-temporal shifts in community composition.

Grass pollen is the world's most harmful outdoor aeroallergen. However, it is unknown how airborne pollen assemblages change across time and space. Human sensitivity varies between different species of grass that flower at different times, but it is not known whether temporal turnover in species composition match terrestrial flowering or whether species richness steadily accumulates over the grass pollen season. Here, using targeted, high-throughput sequencing, we demonstrate that all grass genera displayed discrete, temporally restricted peaks of incidence, which varied with latitude and longitude throughout Great Britain, revealing that the taxonomic composition of grass pollen exposure changes substantially across the grass pollen season.