Land-use and vegetation in Western Australia : project DAW27 : National Land and Water Resources Audit

This report details a project to compile detailed land-use data for Western Australia, on pre-European and present vegetation types, and aspects of disturbance of or threats to the present vegetation. Metadata on botanical surveys throughout the state were also compiled

Remnant Vegetation Inventory on the Southern Agricultural Areas of Western Australia.

Remnant vegetation mapping and its incorporation into a Geographical Information System (GIS) data base is the first stage in an overall documentation and promotion of conservation of remnant vegetation in Western Australia. The primary objective of this project being to determine the amount, distribution and regional location of native vegetation remaining on private land in the agricultural area of south-west Western Australia

Native vegetation in Western Australia : extent, type and status

This report describes a new vegetation extent and type dataset for Western Australia prepared through the National Land and Water Resources Audit. Summary tables and maps prepared from these data are presented describing vegetation in relation to natural resource boundaries commonly used for environmental reporting. This present vegetation extent dataset builds on previous vegetation mapping exercises in Western Australia

Can programme theory be used as a 'translational tool’ to optimise health service delivery in a national early years’ initiative in Scotland: a case study

Background Theory-based evaluation (TBE) approaches are heralded as supporting formative evaluation by facilitating increased use of evaluative findings to guide programme improvement. It is essential that learning from programme implementation is better used to improve delivery and to inform other initiatives, if interventions are to be as effective as they have the potential to be. Nonetheless, few studies describe formative feedback methods, or report direct instrumental use of findings resulting from TBE. This paper uses the case of Scotland’s, National Health Service, early years’, oral health improvement initiative (Childsmile) to describe the use of TBE as a framework for providing feedback on delivery to programme staff and to assess its impact on programmatic action.<p></p> Methods In-depth, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders explored perceived deviations between the Childsmile programme 'as delivered’ and its Programme Theory (PT). The data was thematically analysed using constant comparative methods. Findings were shared with key programme stakeholders and discussions around likely impact and necessary actions were facilitated by the authors. Documentary review and ongoing observations of programme meetings were undertaken to assess the extent to which learning was acted upon.<p></p> Results On the whole, the activities documented in Childsmile’s PT were implemented as intended. This paper purposefully focuses on those activities where variation in delivery was evident. Differences resulted from the stage of roll-out reached and the flexibility given to individual NHS boards to tailor local implementation. Some adaptations were thought to have diverged from the central features of Childsmile’s PT, to the extent that there was a risk to achieving outcomes. The methods employed prompted national service improvement action, and proposals for local action by individual NHS boards to address this.<p></p> Conclusions The TBE approach provided a platform, to direct attention to areas of risk within a national health initiative, and to agree which intervention components were 'core’ to its hypothesised success. The study demonstrates that PT can be used as a 'translational tool’ to facilitate instrumental use of evaluative findings to optimise implementation within a complex health improvement programme.<p></p&gt

Hyperpolarised 13C MRI: a new horizon for non-invasive diagnosis of aggressive breast cancer

Hyperpolarised 13C MRI (HP-MRI) is a novel imaging technique that allows real-time analysis of metabolic pathways in vivo. 1 The technology to conduct HP-MRI in humans has recently become available and is starting to be clinically applied. As knowledge of molecular biology advances, it is increasingly apparent that cancer cell metabolism is related to disease outcomes, with lactate attracting specific attention. 2 Recent reviews of breast cancer screening programs have raised concerns and increased public awareness of over treatment. The scientific community needs to shift focus from improving cancer detection alone to pursuing novel methods of distinguishing aggressive breast cancers from those which will remain indolent. HP-MRI offers the opportunity to identify aggressive tumour phenotypes and help monitor/predict therapeutic response. Here we report one of the first cases of breast cancer imaged using HP-MRI alongside correlative conventional imaging, including breast MRI

S2COSMOS: evolution of gas mass with redshift using dust emission

We investigate the evolution of the gas mass fraction for galaxies in the COSMOS field using submillimetre emission from dust at 850μm. We use stacking methodologies on the 850 μm S2COSMOS map to derive the gas mass fraction of galaxies out to high redshifts, 0 ≤ z ≤ 5, for galaxies with stellar masses of 109.

GAMA/H-ATLAS: the local dust mass function and cosmic density as a function of galaxy type - a benchmark for models of galaxy evolution

We present the dust mass function (DMF) of 15,750 galaxies with redshift z < 0:1, drawn from the overlapping area of the GAMA and H-ATLAS surveys. The DMF is derived using the density corrected Vmax method, where we estimate Vmax using: (i) the normal photometric selection limit (pVmax) and (ii) a bivariate brightness distribution (BBD) technique, which accounts for two selection effects. We fit the data with a Schechter function, and find M* = (4:65 ± 0.18) × 10^7 h^2/70 Mo, α = (-1.22 ± 0:01), Φ*= (6.26 ± 0.28) × 10^-3 h^3/70 Mpc^-3 dex^-1. The resulting dust mass density parameter integrated down to 10^4 M☉ is Ωd = (1.11 ± 0.02) × 10^-6 which implies the mass fraction of baryons in dust is fmb = (2.40 ± 0.04) × 10^-5; cosmic variance adds an extra 7-17 per cent uncertainty to the quoted statistical errors. Our measurements have fewer galaxies with high dust mass than predicted by semi-analytic models. This is because the models include too much dust in high stellar mass galaxies. Conversely, our measurements find more galaxies with high dust mass than predicted by hydrodynamical cosmological simulations. This is likely to be from the long timescales for grain growth assumed in the models. We calculate DMFs split by galaxy type and find dust mass densities of Ωd = (0.88 ± 0.03) × 10^-6 and Ωd = (0.060 ± 0.005) × 10^-6 for late-types and early-types respectively. Comparing to the equivalent galaxy stellar mass functions (GSMF) we find that the DMF for late-types is well matched by the GMSF scaled by (8.07 ± 0.35) × 10^-4

Gas retention in irradiated beryllium

Helium (an inert gas) with low solubility in beryllium is trapped in irradiated beryllium at low temperatures ( 1 MeV). In these samples the calculated helium generated was {approximately} 14,000 appm. They are described in terms of swelling, annealing, microstructure, and helium bubble behavior (size, density and mobility). A second sample was irradiated to {approximately}5 {times} 10{sup 22} n/cm{sup 2} (E > 1 MeV). In that one the calculated helium and tritium generated were {approximately}24,000 appm He and {approximately}3720 appm, and tritium content was examined in a dissolution experiment. Most of the tritium was released as gas to the glovebox indicating the generated tritium was retained in the helium bubbles. In a third set of experiments a specimen was examined by annealing at a succession of temperatures to more than 600{degree}C for tritium release. In the temperature range of 300--500{degree}C little release (0.01--0.4%) occurred, but there was a massive release at just over 600{degree}C. Theories of swelling appear to adequately describe bubble behavior with breakaway release occurring at high helium contents and at large bubble diameters. 8 refs., 6 figs

Health inequalities, fundamental causes and power:Towards the practice of good theory

Reducing health inequalities remains a challenge for policy makers across the world. Beginning from Lewin’s famous dictum that “there is nothing as practical as a good theory”, this paper begins from an appreciative discussion of ‘fundamental cause theory’, emphasizing the elegance of its theoretical encapsulation of the challenge, the relevance of its critical focus for action, and its potential to support the practical mobilisation of knowledge in generating change. Moreover, it is argued that recent developments in the theory, provide an opportunity for further theoretical development focused more clearly on the concept of power (Dickie et al. 2015). A critical focus on power as the essential element in maintaining, increasing or reducing social and economic inequalities – including health inequalities – can both enhance the coherence of the theory, and also enhance the capacity to challenge the roots of health inequalities at different levels and scales. This paper provides an initial contribution by proposing a framework to help to identify the most important sources, forms and positions of power, as well as the social spaces in which they operate. Subsequent work could usefully test, elaborate and adapt this framework, or indeed ultimately replace it with something better, to help focus actions to reduce inequalities

Diagnostic accuracy for the extent and activity of newly diagnosed and relapsed Crohn’s disease: a multicentre prospective comparison of magnetic resonance enterography and small bowel ultrasound –The METRIC Trial

Background Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and ultrasound (US) are used to image Crohn’s disease, but comparative accuracy for disease extent and activity is not known with certainty. We undertook a prospective multicentre cohort trial to address this Methods We recruited from 8 UK hospitals. Eligible patients were 16 years or older, newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, or had established disease with suspected relapse. Consecutive patients underwent MRE and US in addition to standard investigations. Discrepancy between MRE and US for small bowel (SB) disease presence triggered an additional investigation, if not already available. The primary outcome was difference in per patient sensitivity for SB disease extent (correct identification and segmental localisation) against a construct reference standard (panel diagnosis). Accuracy for SB and colonic disease presence and activity were secondary outcomes. The trial is completed (ISRCTN03982913). Findings 284 patients completed the trial (133 new diagnosis, 151 relapse). MRE sensitivity (n=233) for SB disease extent (80% [95%CI 72 to 86]) and presence (97% [91 to 99]) were significantly greater than US (70% [62 to 78], 92% [84 to 96]); a 10% (1 to 18; p=0.027), and 5% (1 to 9), difference respectively. MRE specificity for SB disease extent (95% [85 to 98]) was significantly greater than US (81% [64 to 91]). Sensitivity for active SB disease was significantly greater for MRE than US (96% [92 to 99] vs. 90% [82 to 95]), difference 6% (2 to 11). Overall, there were no significant accuracy differences for colonic disease presence. Accuracy in newly diagnosed and relapse patients was similar, although US had significantly greater sensitivity for colonic disease than MRE in newly diagnosed patients (67% [49 to 81) vs. 47% [31 to 64]), difference 20% (1 to 39). There were no serious adverse events. Interpretation MRE has higher diagnostic accuracy for the extent and activity of SB Crohn’s disease than US when tested in a prospective multi centre cohort trial setting