A spinout company from Cardiff Metropolitan University has secured investment from Development Bank Wales to build a powerful new form of imaging technology that could revolutionise the way people view and make images.
The partnership between Fovo Technology Ltd. (Fovotec) and Development Bank Wales – a major provider of investment funds and commercialisation expertise – will enable the development of Dynamic Projection.
Based on research from artists and scientists into how human vision works, ‘Dynamic Projection’ allows technology to generate images that are closer to how humans ‘see’.
Fovotec, which was founded in 2017 by interdisciplinary academics at Cardiff Met, has so far secured 15 international patents to protect its novel process, with several more pending.
The range of potential applications is vast and includes computer games, smartphone cameras, cinematography, medical imaging, security, defence and communications.
Dr Robert Pepperell, Co-Founder of Fovotec and Professor of Fine Art at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said: “It’s taken many years to solve the problem of how to make wide angle images look natural in imaging media.
“This new investment from Development Bank Wales creates an incredibly exciting opportunity to deliver Fovotec’s solution to leading technology companies around the world. We do not think it will be long before we see Fovotec’s Dynamic Projection appearing in computer games titles and other consumer technologies.”
Development Bank Wales and Fovotec are now exploring opportunities with major technology companies to integrate Fovotec’s Dynamic Projection tools into leading brand products.
Chairman of Fovotec, Frank Holmes, said: “We have witnessed the evolution of this patented invention from its early conception and are hugely excited about its extensive commercialisation prospects, some of which are imminent.
” Professor Sheldon Hanton, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Cardiff Metropolitan University, added: “Cardiff Met is very much at the forefront of imaging innovation globally and this significant investment from Development Bank Wales will enable our academics to continue to develop this groundbreaking technology.”
Adam Ramzaan, Investment Executive at the Development Bank of Wales said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting Fovotec at this exciting stage of their journey. Their pioneering work in human-centred imaging and real-time rendering technology has the potential to transform industries. This investment reflects our strong belief in the team’s vision, technical excellence, and commercial potential.”
Parents of children with dyslexia feel that the condition is largely ‘invisible’ in schools, with a lack of recognition leading to inconsistent and ineffective support.
A study carried out by researchers at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Birmingham explored the real-life experiences of parents and teachers regarding children who have reading and writing difficulties, and whether a formal diagnosis of dyslexia improves support.
Findings of interviews with 39 participants highlighted a disconnect between parents’ concerns for their children’s long-term wellbeing and teachers’ focus on short-term classroom management. The study identified 40 factors that appeared to work in different combinations to influence if a child’s access to education was on a positive or negative trajectory.
The families saw dyslexia as something that affects not just reading and writing skills, but also their child’s confidence, ability to learn in the usual school environment, their overall wellbeing, and importantly their inclusion. They felt that their children were not truly included and supported, leading to a loss of independence and frustration for both the children and their parents.
While teachers acknowledged the need for literacy support, their perspectives were often shaped by the immediate need to manage a diverse group of learners within existing policies and resource limitations. Their focus tended to be on the collective progress and the smooth running of the classroom. They were also constrained by varying levels of knowledge about dyslexia.
However, the study did reveal areas of best practice when teachers were well-informed through experience or additional training and were able to meet a child’s needs and foster a sense of inclusion and community within their schools. Effective communication and shared understanding between parents and teachers also resulted in more successful outcomes.
The paper, published in the journal Dyslexia, also considered the value of a formal dyslexia diagnosis and its impact on support, as many parents sought a diagnosis to help them navigate the education system.
This research highlights the harm faced by children with literacy difficulties and underscores the importance of diagnosis for visibility, awareness, and effective management. Our study found dyslexia to be relatively invisible in mainstream schools.
Lead researcher Dr Angela Thompson, Visiting Scholar, NTU Psychology
Professor Julia Carroll, Professor of Psychology in Education at the University of Birmingham, said: “We believe that the gap between parent and teacher perspectives can be partially bridged through the effective and consistent diagnosis of dyslexia, which serves as a conduit for shared communication and understanding, making a child’s unique needs more visible. This visibility is crucial, as dyslexia can affect various aspects of life both in and beyond school. This underscores my recent work on an updated definition of dyslexia.”
“We found that some schools did not acknowledge or act on a diagnosis, instead falling back on local policies. A diagnosis alone does not currently guarantee appropriate support, and its value is realised only when it is acknowledged and acted upon by those responsible for the child’s education.”
As the crescent moon ushers in the blessed occasion of Eid al-Fitr, we welcome this day with hearts full of gratitude, joy, and hope. Eid al-Fitr is not only a time of celebration but also an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual journey that has brought us together. After a month of fasting, prayer, and self-discipline during Ramadan, this day marks the renewal of our spirits and the reaffirmation of our commitment to community and compassion.
A Time for Renewal and Gratitude
Eid al-Fitr reminds us that every end carries the promise of a new beginning. It is a time to thank Allah for the strength and patience to complete our fast and to cherish the lessons learned during Ramadan. This day also invites us to show gratitude for the blessings we have, whether they come in the form of family, friends, or the simple moments of peace and togetherness.
Strengthening Bonds and Spreading Joy
At its core, Eid is about unity and generosity. It is a moment to bridge differences and celebrate our shared humanity. We take this opportunity to reconnect with loved ones, extend kindness to neighbors, and reach out to those in need. Acts of charity and compassion—be it through a kind word, a helping hand, or a donation—are what make this festival truly special.
Reflecting on Our Shared Journey
In these times of change and challenge, Eid al-Fitr is a beacon of hope that reminds us to keep faith and embrace new beginnings. It encourages us to look beyond our differences and celebrate the values that bind us all together: peace, love, and mutual respect. As we share in the festivities and extend our greetings of “Eid Mubarak,” let us also share our stories and traditions, enriching our collective understanding and appreciation of this sacred celebration.
Join Us in the Celebration
Whether you are celebrating Eid with your family, friends, or as part of a broader community, we invite you to pause and reflect on the significance of this special day. Let it be a reminder that every act of kindness and every moment of gratitude adds to the beautiful tapestry of our lives. Together, let’s make this Eid a celebration of unity, hope, and the endless possibilities of new beginnings.
Eid Mubarak to all! May your day be filled with joy, peace, and the warmth of community.
Gemma Pearce talks about why hiring an apprentice proved to be a game-changing decision for her business, Loopwheels.
Ellie James, Apprentice at Loopwheels
There has been a lot of gloom in business circles about the cost of employing staff since last October’s Budget announcement on changes to National Insurance and increases in the National Minimum Wage/National Living Wage.
One of the worries expressed is around the increase in the hourly pay rate for apprentices in April 2025, which puts pressure on raising pay levels for those employees with more experience to maintain fairness across the whole team. Some employers have questioned if investing in apprentices stacks up against taking on an older, more experienced staff.
Hiring an apprentice was the best business decision I made in 2024. I’d even go so far as to say it may prove to be one of the best decisions I have made for my small manufacturing business in the last decade!
As we reflect on National Apprenticeships Week 2025, I’m reminded that it was around this time a year ago when I wrote and issued an advert for our first apprentice.
Why did we decide to go down the apprenticeship route?
A key challenge for our micro-sized manufacturing business was how we could afford to bring in an expert dedicated digital marketing resource, who would understand our business and work with us on a medium to long-term basis.
While there are plenty of good digital marketing agencies, and, SMEs can access excellent free and paid-for advice, we knew we needed something more. We explored these options with some good results, however, the time had arrived when we needed someone who would be based within our team, with daily access to our manufacturing site, and could develop our digital marketing strategy and activity from the inside out. We needed someone with more enthusiasm, commitment, dedicated time and growing expertise than the current team or an external adviser could bring to the task. After all, digital media is a voracious beast! For a small manufacturer with a global or international market, it can be incredibly powerful – but only if it’s fed with consistent, focused effort.
And how has the experience been so far?
I worked with Nottingham Trent University (NTU), to advertise and recruit our degree apprentice, Ellie James. NTU offers numerous degree apprenticeship schemes, including a Digital Marketing Apprentice Degree, which met our needs exactly. It’s a 42-month block release course (3 ½ years), and the apprentice will be an integral part of our team during that time. NTU supported me with every step of the recruitment – I was able to shortlist 70 good-quality applicants. It is in the university’s interests and ours to recruit the right candidate, and their support and experience felt like a true partnership with shared goals.
Our apprentice, Ellie, is a valued employee, we meet the full costs of Ellie’s salary, and she is based in our business and is with us most of the week. Her degree, on the other hand, is funded by the government. The apprenticeship is block-release, on average, in term-time, Ellie spends around three days at Loopwheels, one day a week at university, and a further day a week working and/or studying from home. During the university holidays, Ellie devotes more time to the business.
This arrangement, allows both the business and Ellie, to benefit from the latest digital marketing skills and knowledge the university provides. We apply these skills to the real-life case study of marketing Loopwheels in the UK and internationally, selling our product to around 20 countries.
Ellie joined us in July 2024 to gain some understanding of the business before she began her course at NTU in September. From day one, we could see and feel the positive impact of another intelligent, well-informed, highly motivated and committed team member on our company and digital marketing. Ellie has hit the ground running, and her contribution to our company is tangible and impactful. As she continues through her degree, we’re confident her impact will only grow stronger.
Beijing, China-12 Nov 2024: Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. It is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the government of the People Republic of China
In the final debate of the House of Lords in 2024 on China: Human Rights and Security, outspoken criticism was directed at Chinese authorities for restricting and violating fundamental human rights, particularly those of Uyghur Muslims. Amid these discussions, the Bishop of Winchester, the Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, offered some penetrating criticism of China’s domestic and transnational repression and reflected on the role of China’s historical worldview of ‘tianxia’ in this:
In contemporary China, tianxia manifests itself in the ideology of “one country, one people, one party, one leader”, and it has global implications too. In the words of Steve Tsang, the director of the SOAS China Institute, President Xi is undeterred by western objections because he believes in the moral righteousness and inevitability of Chinese global leadership. Of course he does because he believes in tianxia and, as we can see and as has been outlined in this debate, it manifests itself in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, in the South China Sea, in aggression towards Taiwan, in transnational repression and in malign influence such as we have seen here in recent days. The belt and road initiative is just another manifestation of it. It is seen specifically in violations of religion or belief. Religious minorities—Muslims in Xinjiang, Buddhists in Tibet, Falun Gong and Christians across China—must be repressed because they do not accept that ultimate authority rests with the one at the heart of the system, as tianxia dictates.
His reflection goes on to contemplate Western approaches to addressing such challenges:
A religiously illiterate approach that relies on Western secular assumptions simply will not do, and we cannot counter a three-millennia-old concept by appeal to a Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was drawn up only in 1948, deeply as I believe in it… We must take a religiously informed approach to such a concept.
Bishop Mounstephen’s intervention is a welcome contribution to the debate, providing an insightful historical perspective and the idea of tianxia as a way to understand China “in its own terms” is laudable. On the basis of this, he proposes, but does not specify, ‘a religious informed approach’, to deal with the challenges. This is to be welcomed to the extent to which it might go beyond the apparent ideological stalemate that is often reached in this debate. However, his comments raise several questions that need to be explored before this could be advanced.
Understanding Tianxia in Contemporary China
As Ban Wang, professor in Chinese studies at Standford University explains, ‘the idea of tianxia (天下) has never been rigorously defined’. Among modern scholars, the primary debate is whether it refers to a culturally specific realm without fixed political boundaries or is primarily a reference to China itself. Without delving into scholarly intricacies, if tianxia is understood as an historical imperial Chinese worldview– ‘a system of governance held together by a regime of culture and values that transcends racial and geographical boundaries’ – it can be argued that elements of the tianxia trope are present in the contemporary Chinese leadership’s worldview.(As Bishop Mounstephen’s quotation from Steve Tsang correctly suggests) . Indeed, these ideas, along with other elements of China’s historical narratives have been manipulated and used to serve the present as part of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s pragmatic governing strategies. However, what primarily drives China’s foreign policy, as Tsang also stresses, are ‘forces more powerful than its Sinocentric worldview.”
At the core of these more powerful forces, Tsang contends, lies China’s domestic politics and the structure of its Leninist party-state. Dedicated to maintaining its uncontested power and rule, the CCP is, “much more than the governing party or the party in power. It effectively claims and takes ownership of the country or the state and asserts a monopoly over national narratives… to an extent unimaginable in democracies or even most authoritarian states.”
This echoes perspectives from political scientists such as Minxin Pei and Guoguang Wu, who describe China’s system as ‘neo-totalitarian’ and reliant on “neo-Stalinist” strategies. Such a political system unsurprisingly results in draconian censorship, intolerance of dissent, and systematic human rights violations. If we are to understand China ‘in its own terms’, it is essential to acknowledge that its nascent civil society has been stifled, with rights lawyers and activists jailed and many journalists and intellectuals forced into exile.
Reconsidering ‘Western Secular Assumptions’
Bishop Mounstephen’s reference to “Western secular assumptions” also warrants clarification. Since he specifically highlights the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) of 1948, it is important to note that the UDHR was not merely a product of Western secular thought. It was drafted by ‘representatives with different legal and cultural backgrounds from all regions of the world.’
Notably, Peng-chun Chang (1892–1957), a Chinese playwright, philosopher, and diplomat, served as vice chairman of the UN Human Rights Commission alongside chairperson Eleanor Roosevelt. Chang played a crucial role in explaining Chinese conceptions of human rights and mediating ideological disputes by drawing on Confucian principles. His contributions have gained increasing recognition among historians.
Moreover, practices inspired by the UDHR often stem from local cultural sources rather than being exclusively “Western-centred.” For instance, Circle 19, a campaign group comprising media practitioners and experts from the Chinese diaspora, advocates for access to information in China. One of its core arguments counters the Chinese state’s narrative by demonstrating that free information flows have historically been central to Chinese intellectual traditions. This challenges the government’s claim that Western liberal ideology threatens Chinese cultural values. Supported by Reporters Sans Frontières, Circle 19 develops tools to bypass censorship and provides technical assistance for accessing censored information.
The Role of a ‘Religiously Informed Approach’
What might constitute the ‘religiously informed approach’ advocated by Bishop Mounstephen is not entirely clear. As he points out, religious observance is strictly controlled by the Chinese state, and any form considered even vaguely threatening to its ideological hegemony is routinely, often brutally, suppressed. In this sense, exploring the historical-cultural roots of tianxia in ancient precepts (even if we are, generously, to count these as amounting to religious precepts) will not necessarily help in understanding the current diverse worldview of the Chinese people. To be brief, regardless of approaches adopted, one crucial principle is to maintain a clear distinction between understanding the official ideological rhetoric and recognising the multifaceted unofficial Chinese culture, faith, religious belief and practices, which, despite marginalisation and repression, must not be ignored.
In fact, it may be worthwhile to point out that some religiously informed actions are already practiced by journalists, scholars, activists, and Christian communities both within China and abroad.
For example, Bitter Winter, an online magazine launched in 2018 in Turin, Italy, documents religious persecution and human rights abuses in China. Scholars, journalists, and activists collaborate to amplify the voices of persecuted individuals. Similarly, Bob Fu, an exiled Chinese Christian based in the United States, founded China Aid in 2002 to support Christians who suffered from prosecution and advocate for religious freedom, bringing international attention to China’s human rights violations. Journalist Ian Johnson documents the country’s great spiritual revivals in Christianity, Daoism, Buddhism and other faith groups in his book ‘The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After Mao.’ He also launched an online ‘China Unofficial Archives’ in 2023 as ‘an independent, reliable, non-partisan home’ to host underground historians’ work, books and films banned by the authorities, which can be accessed through VPN from China.
Additionally, politically active Christian groups demonstrate a strong commitment to a “religiously active approach.” Among them are the Cultural Christians – a constituency of Chinese rights lawyers, liberal intellectuals, writers, and activists who emerged in the early 21st century. They embrace Christianity not only as a religious faith but also as a moral and ideological foundation for democratic aspirations. As Lian Xi, professor of World Christianity at Duke Divinity Schoolargues, Christianity, for these individuals, becomes a fusion of their yearning for democracy and spiritual conviction, serving as both a sanctuary and a platform for resisting the arbitrary power of China’s party-state.
Recent examples further illustrate this dynamic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Christian beliefs, alongside other value systems, motivated whistleblowers and “truth-tellers” to challenge the Chinese government’s information control and censorship.
While Bishop Mounstephen’s call for a “religiously informed approach” is well-intentioned, his comments perhaps risk oversimplifying the complex interplay of historical concepts, modern political structures, and human rights frameworks. Understanding China “in its own terms” requires acknowledging the CCP’s political imperatives, recognizing the diverse cultural and ideological contributions to human rights discourse, and appreciating the active role religiously motivated individuals and groups already play in advocating for freedom and justice.
Dr Tao Zhang is an expert in contemporary Chinese new media technology, culture and politics, from the School of Arts and Humanities
Employers will be required to prioritise recruiting international care workers already in England before recruiting from overseas.
The new rules were laid in Parliament (12 March).
From 9 April, care providers who want to recruit a new worker from overseas will have to first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so and will help end the reliance on overseas recruitment as we restore order to our immigration system through our Plan for Change.
Significant work has been ongoing across government, in collaboration with the care sector, to ensure high standards across the immigration system, and to support care workers into alternative jobs when their sponsor has had their licence removed. Under our Plan for Change, we will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system, linking immigration, skills and visa systems to grow our domestic skills, end reliance on overseas labour and boost economic growth.
As well as continuing to tackle exploitation, the government is also continuing its clampdown on abuse in the immigration system with changes to the Short-Term Student route.
The visa is designed for those studying an English language course in the UK for between 6 and 11 months, however, there are rising concerns that the route is being abused by those without a genuine intention to study or to leave the UK at the end of their course. In light of this troubling trend, tough new rules will give expanded powers for caseworkers to refuse visa applications which are suspected of being non-genuine.
Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said:
Those who have come to the UK to support our adult care sector should have the opportunity to do so, free from abuse and exploitation.
We have already taken action to ensure employers are not able to flout the rules with little consequence or exploit international workers for costs they were always supposed to pay.
We are now going further, requiring employers in England to prioritise recruiting international care workers who are already here and seeking new sponsorship, before recruiting from overseas.
The new requirements continue government action announced in November to crack down on employers who abuse the visa system; barring those who repeatedly break immigration or employment laws from hiring overseas workers and will help support those workers into new jobs.
The changes announced last year also ban companies from charging workers for the cost of their sponsorship, which has never been intended and led to exploitation, unfair treatment of staff and unsustainable levels of debt in the care sector.
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the government has revoked more than 470 sponsor licences in the care sector to clamp down on abuse and exploitation. More than 39,000 workers have been associated with these sponsors since October 2020.
Changes announced today will also see the minimum salary thresholds updated to reflect the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This will ensure those working on the Skilled Worker visa, including care workers, are paid a minimum of £12.82 per hour.
Health and education occupations, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and teachers, will also see their minimum rates increased to reflect the latest national pay scales.
Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, said:
International care workers play a vital role in our social care workforce. We value their contribution and work supporting vulnerable people across the country every day.
As we crack down on shameful rogue operators exploiting overseas workers here in the UK, we must do all we can to get the victims back into rewarding careers in adult social care.
Prioritising care workers who are already in the UK will get people back to work reducing our reliance on international recruitment, and make sure our social care sector has the care professionals it needs.
The rules come as the government continues implementation of a series of measures to reduce the potential for abuse on the Student and Graduate visa routes.
Further details of the government’s plan to reduce the staggeringly high levels of legal migration seen in recent years will be set out in the government’s forthcoming Immigration White Paper.
The world-famous BBC Concert Orchestra will be returning to Nottingham as part of its collaboration with the Universities for Nottingham initiative – taking part in a week-long series of events coinciding with Nottingham Royal Concert Hall’s Soundstage Festival.
Working collaboratively on a project inspired by journeys, students from Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the University of Nottingham (UoN) will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see their creations brought to life by the BBC Concert Orchestra in a performance at the Royal Concert Hall.
Journeys will see a series of short silent films from Filmmaking, Animation, Graphic Design, and Illustration students from NTU, with accompanying bespoke scores from Music undergraduate and postgraduate students and alumni from UoN performed by the Concert Orchestra and conducted by Hugh Brunt.
Amy Bere, Director of Culture at Nottingham Trent University said: “This is the fourth residency week with the Concert Orchestra, and we know from the last year just what an incredible experience this is for the students. It is their chance to not only experience how a professional orchestra rehearses and performs, but to see their own compositions and creations come to life. For some, this will lead to the development of new skills and potentially to employment opportunities which would have otherwise not been open to them.
“It is a wonderful result of collaboration between our universities and the BBC, and we are lucky to be able to share this passion and energy with the wider community of Nottingham in the form of awe-inspiring performances from world-renowned musicians.”
The performance at the Royal Concert Hall takes place on 25th March at 8.30pm, following a BBC Concert Orchestra performance of South at 7pm, a newly commissioned score by Neil Brand, played to the digitally remastered documentary feature, South – the cinematic record of Shackleton’s 1914-16 Endurance expedition to Antarctica.
Professor Jeremy Gregory, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Arts at the University of Nottingham, said: “Our partnership with the BBC Concert Orchestra offers our students the unprecedented opportunity to gain access to world-class music and experiences, and I am delighted to welcome the orchestra back to Nottingham this spring for more remarkable performances. We are thrilled that the collaboration continues to thrive and showcases the rich musical talent we have in Nottingham, and I am very much looking forward to the Journeys concert!”
The BBC Concert Orchestra also joins forces with NTU and UoN students and alumni for a performance at NTU’s City Campus of Screen Sounds at 7.30pm. The hour-long concert on 26th March will be a trip through some of TV’s best-loved theme tunes, from Bridgerton, 2001: A Space Odyssey, to Mission Impossible. The orchestra will consist of musicians from the Concert Orchestra and students from NTU and UoN. It will be conducted by Michael Coleby.
Matthew Swann, Director of the BBC Concert Orchestra said: “The partnership between the BBC Concert Orchestra and the universities of Nottingham continues to go from strength to strength, showcasing the talent and creativity of the students and the passion for live performance within the local area. Our fourth residency week explores the relationship between music, TV and film, culminating in a very special Friday Night is Music Night, jam-packed with beloved TV music led by our Chief Conductor, Anna Maria Helsing.”
Over 150 students from NTU and UoN are involved in BBC Concert Orchestra events during this residency week. This partnership provides Nottingham students with exceptional professional and performance experiences and opportunities, bringing them into direct contact with a world-class and world-renowned orchestra in meaningful ways which contribute to their studies and to their professional skills.
The week of events will culminate in Friday Night is Music Night at the Royal Concert Hall on Friday 28th March at 7pm.
Researchers from Cardiff Metropolitan University and University Children’s Hospital Zurich have identified why a bacterium responsible for respiratory tract infections, which disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic, took significantly longer than other infections to return.
The study – which looked at the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae and represents the most comprehensive analysis of the infection to take place – was recently published in the prestigious scientific journal, The Lancet Microbe.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mycoplasma) is a major cause of respiratory tract infections in children. Although most infections are mild and self-limiting, Mycoplasma can cause severe pneumonia or infections that require hospitalisation.
The report, ‘Global spatiotemporal dynamics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae re-emergence after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions: an epidemiological and transmission modelling study’ involved creating the largest global dataset for Mycoplasma infections following the COVID-19 pandemic – working with 65 diagnostic laboratories, from 29 different countries worldwide.
Dr Mike Beeton is a Reader in Medical Microbiology at Cardiff Metropolitan University and has been co-leading on the research.
Dr Beeton said: “When various control measures, such as social distancing and lock downs were relaxed, many bugs, such as flu and RSV, returned within a few months. However, Mycoplasma did not. For this reason, we wanted to work with other scientists and clinicians across the globe to identify where and when this infection had returned. Our research found Mycoplasma to be largely absent for over three years and it made a substantial re-appearance in many countries at the end of 2023.
“Our research suggests this delay was due to COVID-19 restrictions being 90% effective at initially reducing the spread of Mycoplasma during the early stages of the pandemic. This reduction in the amount of Mycoplasma circulating in the community, in combination with the poor ability to spread from person to person, helps to explain why it took so long for these infections to return.”
Key findings from the report highlight:
Despite the unprecedently high number of Mycoplasma detections during re-emergence, the study found that fortunately, overall severity and the number of deaths remained low.
In some regions, nine out of ten Mycoplasma cases were resistant to the first-line of antibiotic treatment. To assess whether resistance patterns had shifted following the bacterium’s re-emergence, the team examined data from multiple countries.
This study highlights the need for unified global reporting of Mycoplasma to better understand how the number of infections changes over time across different countries.
Dr Beeton continued: “Moving forward, we plan to continue monitoring the number of infections across the globe. This is incredibly important as it will help us alert clinicians and medical professionals to an increase in infection and raise awareness as these bacterial infections will require specific antibiotics, which are not routinely given for typical bacterial lung infections.”
Patrick Meyer Sauteur, Consultant in Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Research Group Leader in Experimental and Clinical Infectious Diseases at Children’s University Hospital Zurich, said: “The number of Mycoplasma cases has been truly historic since testing for this pathogen was introduced. Our study first showed how relevant this pathogen really is worldwide. This global collaborative network will enable international surveillance of Mycoplasma and antimicrobial resistance to inform clinicians about the emergence of future epidemics.”
Ecologists agree that habitat loss and the fragmentation of forests reduces biodiversity in the remaining fragments.
They do not agree, however, on whether it’s better to focus on preserving many smaller, fragmented tracts of land, or larger, continuous landscapes.
The study, led by the University of Michigan and involving Nottingham Trent University (NTU) comes to a conclusion on the decades-long debate.
“This puts an end to a long-lasting theoretical debate with strong practical consequences for conservation,” said Dr Felipe Melo, Associate Professor in Ecological Restoration in NTU’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences.
“Fragmentation is bad,” said study author Nate Sanders, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Michigan.
He said: “This paper clearly shows that fragmentation has negative effects on biodiversity across scales. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to conserve small fragments when we can with our limited conservation dollars, but we need to be wise about conservation decisions.”
The study examined 4,006 species of vertebrates, invertebrates and plants sampled at 37 sites around the world to provide a global synthesis comparing biodiversity differences between continuous and fragmented landscapes.
They found that, on average, fragmented landscapes had 13.6% fewer species at the patch scale, and 12.1% fewer species at the landscape scale.
Additionally, the findings suggest that primarily generalist species—species that are good at surviving in various environments—live in the fragmented areas.
The scientists investigated what’s called alpha, beta and gamma diversity at these sites. Alpha diversity refers to the number of species in a patch, while beta diversity refers to how species composition differs between two areas. Gamma diversity refers to biodiversity over a whole landscape.
This puts an end to a long-lasting theoretical debate with strong practical consequences for conservation
Dr Felipe Melo, Nottingham Trent University
The study was led by ecologist Thiago Gonçalves-Souza, a research scientist from the Institute for Global Change Biology at the University of Michigan.
He said: “The heart of the debate is that people who argue that fragmentation isn’t so bad say that because you have isolated habitats, you have different species composition, which means at a large scale, it’s good: if they are different, we can assume that the gamma diversity is going to be higher.
“They say the opposite for large tracts of land: because this is a continuous and homogeneous patch, the species composition is too similar.”
But previous research didn’t properly compare fragmented landscapes to large, continuous forests, he added.
For example, prior research may have looked at only one component of diversity, or may have compared a few continuous forests to dozens of fragmented patches.
Gonçalves-Souza and colleagues instead constructed an analysis that corrected for differences in sampling across different landscapes.
The group discovered that fragmentation decreased the number of species across all taxonomic groups, but that the increase in beta diversity in fragmented landscapes did not compensate for species diversity loss at the landscape level.
Gonçalves-Souza says that biodiversity isn’t the only thing lost when landscapes become fragmented: the ability of the landscape to store carbon is compromised as well.
“People are also comparing these two situations and finding that we are losing the ability for landscapes to store more carbon in fragmented landscapes,” he said.
“Fragmented landscapes are not only going to affect biodiversity by decreasing alpha and gamma diversity, but it also has implications for carbon stock as well.”
Gonçalves-Souza hopes the study can move the conservation community past the debate over continuous versus fragmented landscape, and focus on restoration of forests.
“I don’t know if it’s useful to think about continuous versus fragmented landscapes. We need to protect biodiversity and I think this debate is not helping to actually support conservation,” he said.
“In many, many countries there aren’t many large, intact forests remaining. Therefore our focus should be on planting new forests and restoring increasingly degraded habitats. Restoration is crucial for the future, more so than debating whether it’s better to have one large forest or many smaller fragments.”
The study, which also involved researchers from Michigan State University and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, among others, is published in the journal Nature.
The Hon Minister of Interior, – Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has given a matching order to the Nigeria Immigration Service to dismantle all bottlenecks hindering swift issuance of Passport to Nigerians.
The Minister also directed the Immigration Service to immediately disengage itself from any partnership found to be hampering speedy issuance of Passports to Nigerians.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo gave these instructions during his maiden familiarization visits to formations of the various Services under the Ministry of Interior, today Wednesday 30th August 2023 in Abuja.
He informed the NIS that he is helmsman at the Interior Ministry to drive the needed reforms that will see the actualisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigeria to achieve desired greatness.
The Minister then assured that new reforms and policies will soon be rolled out to further boost the efforts of officers and men of the Service.
Dr. Tunji-Oju made it abundantly clear that getting Nigerian passport is a right and not a privilege. He also demand that Nigerians living outside the shores of the country deserves to be respected.
He urged the London immigration office to improve it’s services and accord Nigerians maximum respect while seeking for travel documents to UK; adding that our citizens wherever they are must be proud to be Nigerians
The Minister appreciated the Correctional officers for their selfless service and pledged his support for their welfare.
Honourable Olubunmi promised that the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready to leverage on modern technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the services to the country.
Responding to questions from the Press at the Kuje Correctional facility, the Minister asserted that his visit was to make an on-the-spot assessment of the Centre in order to make corrections where necessary.
He added that Correctional Centres should not be repressive and condemnation centres but true reformative and corrective. He assured that similar visits to other facilities will be carried out across the country.
On the Minister’s entourage during the familiarization tour are the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, Directors in the ministry of Interior and other top management staff.
