Parental absence in early childhood and onset of smoking and alcohol consumption before adolescence.

BACKGROUND: Parental absence, due to death or separation from a parent, has been associated with smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescence and adulthood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether parental absence in early childhood was associated with smoking and alcohol uptake before adolescence. METHODS: Data on 10 940 children from the UK's Millennium Cohort Study were used. Logistic regression was used to test associations between parental absence (0-7 years) and reports of smoking and alcohol consumption at age 11. RESULTS: Children who experienced parental absence were more likely to have smoked (OR=2.58, 95% CI 1.88 to 3.56) and consumed alcohol (OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.72). No differences were found by child sex or age, or parent absent. Children who experienced parental death were less likely to have drunk alcohol but those who had were more likely to have consumed enough to feel drunk. CONCLUSIONS: Parental absence was associated with early uptake of risky health behaviours in a large, nationally representative UK cohort. Children who experience parental absence should be supported in early life in order to prevent smoking and alcohol initiation.European Research Council [Grant IDs: ERC-2011- StG_20101124, ERC-StG-2012-309337_Alcohol-Lifecourse], Economic and Social Research Council International Centre for Lifecourse Studies in Society and Health (ICLS) [Grant ID: ES/J019119/1], Medical Research Council/Alcohol Research UK [Grant ID: MR/M006638/1]This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from BMJ Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2016-31044

Fault interpretation in seismic reflection data : an experiment analysing the impact of conceptual model anchoring and vertical exaggeration

Juan Alcalde has been supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (grant no. NE/M007251/1) and the H2020 European Institute of Innovation and Technology (SIT4ME (grant no. 17024)). Clare E. Bond is currently funded through a Royal Society of Edinburgh research sabbatical on uncertainty in seismic image interpretation. Gareth Johnson is funded by the University of Strathclyde Faculty of Engineering. Oriol Ferrer has been supported by the SALCONBELT Project (grant no. CGL2017-85532-P), the Geomodels Research Institute and the Grup de Geodinàmica i Anàlisi de Conques (grant no. 2017SGR-596). Puy Ayarza is funded by the Regional Government of Castile and León (project SA065P17). The seismic image used in the experiment is available on the Virtual Seismic Atlas (https://www.seismicatlas.org, last access: 30 September 2019). The questionnaire presented to the participants is available in the Supplement. Interpretations and statistical analyses are available upon request.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Rift kinematics preserved in deep-time erosional landscape below the northern North Sea

Our understanding of continental rifting is, in large parts, derived from the stratigraphic record. This record is, however, incomplete as it does not often capture the geomorphic and erosional signal of rifting. New 3D seismic reflection data reveal a Late Permian-Early Triassic landscape incised into the pre-rift basement of the northern North Sea. This landscape, which covers at least 542 km2, preserves a drainage system bound by two major tectonic faults. A quantitative geomorphic analysis of the drainage system reveals 68 catchments, with channel steepness and knickpoint analysis of catchment-hosted palaeo-rivers showing that the landscape preserved a >2 Myr long period of transient tectonics. We interpret that this landscape records a punctuated uplift of the footwall of a major rift-related normal fault (Vette Fault) at the onset of rifting. The landscape was preserved by a combination of relatively rapid subsidence in the hangingwall of a younger fault (Øygarden Fault) and burial by post-incision sediments. As such, we show how and why erosional landscapes are preserved in the stratigraphic record, and how they can help us understand the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of ancient continental rifts.publishedVersio

Fault interpretation in seismic reflection data: an experiment analysing the impact of conceptual model anchoring and vertical exaggeration

The use of conceptual models is essential in the in- terpretation of reflection seismic data. It allows interpreters to make geological sense of seismic data, which carries inherent uncertainty. However, conceptual models can create powerful anchors that prevent interpreters from reassessing and adapting their interpretations as part of the interpretation process, which can subsequently lead to flawed or erroneous outcomes. It is therefore critical to understand how conceptual models are generated and applied to reduce unwanted effects in interpretation results. Here we have tested how interpretation of vertically exaggerated seismic data influenced the creation and adoption of the conceptual models of 161 participants in a paper-based interpretation experiment. Participants were asked to interpret a series of faults and a horizon, offset by those faults, in a seismic section. The seismic section was randomly presented to the participants with different horizontal-vertical exaggeration (1 : 4 or 1 : 2). Statistical analysis of the results indicates that early anchoring to specific conceptual models had the most impact on interpretation outcome, with the degree of vertical exaggeration having a subdued influence. Three different conceptual models were adopted by participants, constrained by initial observations of the seismic data. Interpreted fault dip angles show no evidence of other constraints (e.g. from the application of accepted fault dip models). Our results provide evidence of biases in interpretation of uncertain geological and geophysical data, including the use of heuristics to form initial conceptual models and anchoring to these models, confirming the need for increased understanding and mitigation of these biases to improve interpretation outcomes

Mixed brittle and viscous strain localisation in pelagic sediments seaward of the Hikurangi margin, New Zealand

Calcareous‐pelagic input sediments are present at several subduction zones and deform differently to their siliciclastic counterparts. We investigate deformation in calcareous‐pelagic sediments drilled ~20 km seaward of the Hikurangi megathrust toe at Site U1520 during IODP Expeditions 372 and 375. Clusters of normal faults and subhorizontal stylolites in the sediments indicate both brittle faulting and viscous pressure solution operated at 150°C where frictional (possibly seismic) slip likely predominates

Exploring first semester allied health students’ transition to graduate school through the lens of Occupational Adaptation

The purpose of the study was to examine experiences of students transitioning into graduate allied health programs within a public university in the United States. Researchers assessed students’ occupational adaptation as well as factors that facilitated and inhibited their transition. Researchers collected data using the Relative Mastery Scale (RMS) (George-Paschal, Krusen, & Fan, 2022) and a researcher-developed transition survey. Participants included 129 students from three allied-health professions. Researchers conducted a mixed ANOVA to explore differences in RMS ratings across three disciplines. There was a statistically significant increase in RMS ratings over time for all disciplines and statistically significant differences between disciplines for some time periods. The top five facilitating and inhibiting factors are presented for each discipline. The study contributes to the literature through use of a person-centered approach to understand students’ state and process of adaptation over time

The influence of structural inheritance and multiphase extension on rift development, the northern North Sea

The northern North Sea rift evolved through multiple rift phases within a highly heterogeneous crystalline basement. The geometry and evolution of syn‐rift depocentres during this multiphase evolution, and the mechanisms and extent to which they were influenced by pre‐existing structural heterogeneities remain elusive, particularly at the regional scale. Using an extensive database of borehole‐constrained 2D seismic reflection data, we examine how the physiography of the northern North Sea rift evolved throughout late Permian‐Early Triassic (RP1) and Late Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous (RP2) rift phases, and assess the influence of basement structures related to the Caledonian orogeny and subsequent Devonian extension. During RP1, the location of major depocentres, the Stord and East Shetland basins, was controlled by favorably oriented Devonian shear zones. RP2 shows a diminished influence from structural heterogeneities, activity localises along the Viking‐Sogn graben system and the East Shetland Basin, with negligible activity in the Stord Basin and Horda Platform. The Utsira High and the Devonian Lomre Shear Zone form the eastern barrier to rift activity during RP2. Towards the end of RP2, rift activity migrated northwards as extension related to opening of the proto‐North Atlantic becomes the dominant regional stress as rift activity in the northern North Sea decreases. Through documenting the evolving syn‐rift depocentres of the northern North Sea rift, we show how structural heterogeneities and prior rift phases influence regional rift physiography and kinematics, controlling the segmentation of depocentres, as well as the locations, styles and magnitude of fault activity and reactivation during subsequent events

Detection and Identification of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli, and Shigella spp. via PCR-ESI-MS: Isolate Testing and Analysis of Food Samples

An assay to identify the common food-borne pathogens Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Listeria monocytogenes was developed in collaboration with Ibis Biosciences (a division of Abbott Molecular) for the Plex-ID biosensor system, a platform that uses electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) to detect the base composition of short PCR amplicons. The new food-borne pathogen (FBP) plate has been experimentally designed using four gene segments for a total of eight amplicon targets. Initial work built a DNA base count database that contains more than 140 Salmonella enterica, 139 E. coli, 11 Shigella, and 36 Listeria patterns and 18 other Enterobacteriaceae organisms. This assay was tested to determine the scope of the assay\u27s ability to detect and differentiate the enteric pathogens and to improve the reference database associated with the assay. More than 800 bacterial isolates of S. enterica, E. coli, and Shigella species were analyzed. Overall, 100% of S. enterica, 99% of E. coli, and 73% of Shigella spp. were detected using this assay. The assay was also able to identify 30% of the S. enterica serovars to the serovar level. To further characterize the assay, spiked food matrices and food samples collected during regulatory field work were also studied. While analysis of preenrichment media was inconsistent, identification of S. enterica from selective enrichment media resulted in serovar-level identifications for 8 of 10 regulatory samples. The results of this study suggest that this high-throughput method may be useful in clinical and regulatory laboratories testing for these pathogens

Validation testing of a short food‐group‐based questionnaire to assess dietary risk in preschoolers aged 3–5 years

This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving'. Copyright (2018) Dietitians Association of Australia. All rights reserved. This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (February 2018) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policy.Background: Short questionnaire-style dietary assessment methods are useful for monitoring compliance with dietary guidelines. A reliable and valid short food-based questionnaire for assessing dietary risk in toddlers aged 1-3 years was recently adapted for use in pre-schoolers. This study aimed to determine the reliability and validity of this 19-item Preschooler Dietary Questionnaire (PDQ) that assesses dietary risk of 3-5 year-olds. Methods: Primary caregivers of preschoolers completed a two-stage online survey: 1) a demographic questionnaire and the PDQ; 2) a second PDQ and a validated 54-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary risk scores (0-100; higher score=higher risk) derived from the two PDQ administrations (2.1±1.0 weeks apart) were compared and average scores assessed against the FFQ. Cross-classification into dietary risk categories (low, 0-24; moderate, 25-49; high, 50-74; very high, 75- 100) was determined. The relationship of dietary risk scores with BMI z-score was assessed using standard linear regression. Results: Preschoolers’ (n=74) risk scores were highly correlated yet statistically different for reliability (ICC=0.87; mean bias 1.51, 95% CI 0.07, 2.95, p=0.040) and validity (r=0.85; mean bias -1.64, 95% CI -2.86, -0.43, p=0.009). There was no systematic bias between the two tools. All participants were classified into the same (80%) or adjacent (20%) category upon administration of each tool. Risk scores were not associated with BMIz scores (β -0.09, 95%CI -0.02,-0.04, p=0.512). Conclusion: The PDQ is a novel and useful screening instrument to rapidly identify preschooler dietary, but not obesity, risk. The tool could facilitate referral to appropriate health professionals for detailed assessment and intervention