Phylogeny as a proxy for ecology in seagrass amphipods: which traits are most conserved?

Increasingly, studies of community assembly and ecosystem function combine trait data and phylogenetic relationships to gain novel insight into the ecological and evolutionary constraints on community dynamics. However, the key to interpreting these two types of information is an understanding of the extent to which traits are phylogenetically conserved. In this study, we develop the necessary framework for community phylogenetics approaches in a system of marine crustacean herbivores that play an important role in the ecosystem functioning of seagrass systems worldwide. For 16 species of amphipods and isopods, we (1) reconstructed phylogenetic relationships using COI, 16S, and 18S sequences and Bayesian analyses, (2) measured traits that are potentially important for assembling species between and within habitats, and (3) compared the degree to which each of these traits are evolutionarily conserved. Despite poor phylogenetic resolution for the order Amphipoda as a whole, we resolved almost all of the topology for the species in our system, and used a sampling of ultrametric trees from the posterior distribution to account for remaining uncertainty in topology and branch lengths. We found that traits varied widely in their degree of phylogenetic signal. Body mass, fecundity, and tube building showed very strong phylogenetic signal, and temperature tolerance and feeding traits showed much less. As such, the degree of signal was not predictable based on whether the trait is related to environmental filtering or to resource partitioning. Further, we found that even with strong phylogenetic signal in body size, (which may have large impacts on ecosystem function), the predictive relationship between phylogenetic diversity and ecosystem function is not straightforward. We show that patterns of phylogenetic diversity in communities of seagrass mesograzers could lead to a variety of interpretations and predictions, and that detailed study of trait similarities and differences will be necessary to interpret these patterns

Paediatric drowning: a standard operating procedure to aid the prehospital management of paediatric cardiac arrest resulting from submersion

Objectives: Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children. Resuscitating a child following submersion is a highpressure situation, and standard operating procedures can reduce error. Currently, the Resuscitation Council UK guidance does not include a standard operating procedure on paediatric drowning. The objective of this project was to design a standard operating procedure to improve outcomes of drowned children. Methods: A literature review on the management of paediatric drowning was conducted. Relevant publications were used to develop a standard operating procedure for management of paediatric drowning. Results: A concise standard operating procedure was developed for resuscitation following paediatric submersion. Specific recommendations include: the Heimlich manoeuvre should not be used in this context; however, prolonged resuscitation and therapeutic hypothermia are recommended. Conclusions: This standard operating procedure is a potentially useful adjunct to the Resuscitation Council UK guidance and should be considered for incorporation into its next iteration

The Effect of Different Paper Surfaces on the Development of Finished Collages

The problem of this study will be to provide information on the degree of influence exerted by the choice of ground in the selection of collage elements and the final development of each collage

Negotiation in the shadow of an extremist threat

In this paper I model negotiations between a state and the moderate faction of a terrorist organization first with complete information and later with this assumption dropped. The goal of this exercise is to reach a more complete understanding of what can be expected from such negotiations. The results of the model indicate that under certain circumstances, when moderates agree to cooperate with the state, extremists may attack the moderates of their own organization. This provides an explanation for the elevated levels of terrorist violence that accompany state negotiations with terrorists. The model also suggests that, under certain circumstances, the moderate faction may initiate negotiations with the state to push the extremists into offering concessions (which might include, among other things, a greater role in the decision making of the group or public services such as schools and infrastructure) to the moderates

Negotiation in the Shadow of an Extremist Threat: Insurgencies and the Internal Commitment Problem

The effect of insurgent factionalization on peace process has become in recent years a topic of much research. Although many insurgencies are not factionalized, those that are include several long-running and highly visible conflicts - including those in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Northern Ireland, and Darfur. Much of this work has assumed that when governments negotiate with an insurgent faction, they negotiate with that faction which is least extreme in its preferences. In this dissertation, I find support for the proposition that government decisions regarding which faction to include in negotiations may be more influenced by the strength of the faction than by that faction's ideology. I also find that while factional preferences matter, they may say more about when peace is possible than about which faction the government will select as its negotiating partner.Doctor of Philosoph

Exploring barriers to hospital delivery in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of the literature

Background: The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in sub-Saharan Africa is more than 60 times that in the UK. Both the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations include a focus on reducing worldwide MMR. One way in which to achieve this is to encourage mothers in the developing world to deliver their babies in healthcare facilities. This review aims to identify the barriers to hospital delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Two databases were searched for relevant studies published within the last five years. All articles included in the review were critically appraised using CASP checklists and the STROBE statement to assess for bias. Barriers to hospital delivery were identified in each study and organised into categories according to the three delays model. Results: Thirteen barriers to facility delivery were identified. Fear of maltreatment by healthcare staff; perceived low quality of care; distance and lack of transport to facilities; and cost of delivery were identified as the barriers for which there was the highest level of evidence. Discussion: Successful interventions to tackle lack of transport and cost of delivery have been identified, though it appears more difficult to find a solution to the barriers created by societal norms, as it would be culturally insensitive to impose Western beliefs on those with different traditional and religious views. This review provides suggestions for future research and potential interventions to reduce maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

Intergroup Dynamics in Speech Perception: Interaction Among Experience, Attitudes and Expectations

Experience, attitudes, and expectations have been identified as separate influences on speech perception and comprehension across groups. In this study, we investigate the interaction among these three variables. 58 Australia-born participants completed an online survey and a vowel categorization task. The survey examined participants’ experience with Vietnamese-accented English and their attitudes towards Asians. The vowel categorization task examined participants’ recovery of a Vietnamese-accented speaker’s intended vowels. Half of the participants were told to expect a Vietnamese accent whereas the other half were not. Results indicated that the relationship between listener expectations and group attitudes varied according to whether or not participants had experience with the Vietnamese accent. This interaction was most clearly reflected on the ‘book’ vowel. Compared to participants who did not expect a Vietnamese accent, had no experience with the Vietnamese accent, but positive attitudes towards the Vietnamese group, those who expected a Vietnamese accent showed a decrease in accuracy on ‘book’ categorization. A decrease in ‘book’ categorization accuracy was also found for those having experience with the accent but negative attitudes. In contrast, an increase in accuracy was found for those having no experience with the Vietnamese accent and negative attitudes towards the Vietnamese group, and those having experience with the accent and positive attitudes. We concluded that expectations, experience and attitudes interact in their relationship with speech perception

Behavioural intervention to promote the uptake of planned care in urgent dental care attenders:a feasibility randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Urgent dental care may be the only place where many people, especially vulnerable groups, access care. This presents an opportunity for delivery of a behavioural intervention promoting planned dental visiting, which may help address one of the factors contributing to a socio-economic gradient in oral health. Although we know that cueing events such as having a cancer diagnosis may create a 'teachable moment' stimulating positive changes in health behaviour, we do not know whether delivering an opportunistic intervention in urgent dental care is feasible and acceptable to patients.METHODS: The feasibility study aimed to recruit 60 patients in a Dental Hospital and dental practices delivering urgent care within and outside working hours. Follow-up was by telephone, e mail and post over 4 months.RESULTS: Although the recruitment window was shortened because of COVID-19, of 47 patients assessed for eligibility, 28 were enrolled (70.1% of screened patients provided consent). A relatively high proportion were from disadvantaged backgrounds (46.4%, 13/28 receiving State benefits). Retention was 82.1% (23/28), which was also the rate of completion of the Oral Health Impact Profile co-primary outcome. The other primary outcome involved linking participant details at recruitment, with centrally-held data on services provided, with 84.6% (22/26) records partly or fully successfully matched. All intervention participants received at least some of the intervention, although we identified aspects of dental nurse training which would improve intervention fidelity.CONCLUSIONS: Despite recruitment being impacted by the pandemic, when the majority of clinical trials experienced reduced rates of recruitment, we found a high recruitment and consenting rate, even though patients were approached opportunistically to be enrolled in the trial and potentially receive an intervention. Retention rates were also high even though a relatively high proportion had a low socio-economic background. Therefore, even though patients may be in pain, and had not anticipated involvement before their urgent care visit, the study indicated that this was a feasible and acceptable setting in which to position an opportunistic intervention. This has the potential to harness the potential of the 'teachable moment' in people's lives, and provide support to help address health inequalities.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 10,853,330 07/10/2019.</p

Carbon Free Boston: Buildings Technical Report

Part of a series of reports that includes: Carbon Free Boston: Summary Report; Carbon Free Boston: Social Equity Report; Carbon Free Boston: Technical Summary; Carbon Free Boston: Transportation Technical Report; Carbon Free Boston: Waste Technical Report; Carbon Free Boston: Energy Technical Report; Carbon Free Boston: Offsets Technical Report; Available at http://sites.bu.edu/cfb/OVERVIEW: Boston is known for its historic iconic buildings, from the Paul Revere House in the North End, to City Hall in Government Center, to the Old South Meeting House in Downtown Crossing, to the African Meeting House on Beacon Hill, to 200 Clarendon (the Hancock Tower) in Back Bay, to Abbotsford in Roxbury. In total, there are over 86,000 buildings that comprise more than 647 million square feet of area. Most of these buildings will still be in use in 2050. Floorspace (square footage) is almost evenly split between residential and non-residential uses, but residential buildings account for nearly 80,000 (93 percent) of the 86,000 buildings. Boston’s buildings are used for a diverse range of activities that include homes, offices, hospitals, factories, laboratories, schools, public service, retail, hotels, restaurants, and convention space. Building type strongly influences energy use; for example, restaurants, hospitals, and laboratories have high energy demands compared to other commercial uses. Boston’s building stock is characterized by thousands of turn-of-the-20th century homes and a postWorld War II building boom that expanded both residential buildings and commercial space. Boston is in the midst of another boom in building construction that is transforming neighborhoods across the city. [TRUNCATED]Published versio