Quantifying the contribution of riparian soils to the provision of ecosystem services

Riparian areas, the interface between land and freshwater ecosystems, are considered to play a pivotal role in the supply of regulating, provisioning, cultural and supporting services. Most previous studies, however, have tended to focus on intensive agricultural systems and only on a single ecosystem function. Here, we present the first study which attempts to assess a wide range of ecological processes involved in the provision of the ecosystem service of water quality regulation across a diverse range of riparian typologies. Specifically, we focus on 1) evaluating the spatial variation in riparian soils properties with respect to distance with the river and soil depth in contrasting habitat types; 2) gaining further insights into the underlying mechanisms of pollutant removal (i.e. pesticide sorption/degradation, denitrification, etc.) by riparian soils; and 3) quantify and evaluate how riparian vegetation across different habitat types contribute to the provision of watercourse shading. All the habitats were present within a single large catchment and included: (i) improved grassland, (ii) unimproved (semi-natural) grassland, (iii) broadleaf woodland, (iv) coniferous woodland, and (iv) mountain, heath and bog. Taking all the data together, the riparian soils could be statistically separated by habitat type, providing evidence that they deliver ecosystem services to differing extents. Overall, however, our findings seem to contradict the general assumption that soils in riparian area are different from neighbouring (non-riparian) areas and that they possess extra functionality in terms of ecosystem service provision. Watercourse shading was highly habitat specific and was maximal in forests (ca. 52% shade cover) in comparison to the other habitat types (7–17%). Our data suggest that the functioning of riparian areas in less intensive agricultural areas, such as those studied here, may be broadly predicted from the surrounding land use, however, further research is required to critically test this across a wider range of ecosystems

EXPERTS 1 - experiences of long-term life-limiting conditions among patients and carers: protocol for a qualitative meta-synthesis and conceptual modelling study

Introduction Increasing numbers of the population are living with long-term life-limiting conditions with a significant proportion characterised by multimorbidity. Patients with these conditions often experience high volumes of clinical interaction involving them, their caregivers and healthcare providers in complex patterns of organising, coordinating, negotiating and managing care. A better understanding of the sources of experienced complexity and multimorbidity, from the patient perspective is paramount to improve capacity and manage workload to promote improved experience of illness, more effective healthcare utilisation and improved healthcare outcomes. To better understand the sources of complexity we will undertake an evidence synthesis of qualitative studies of patient and informal carer experiences of three common long-term life-limiting conditions. We will investigate what is known about these diseases at different stages in disease progression, treatment regimens and places of care. Method and analysis We will include qualitative studies of patients’ and carers’ (aged &gt;18) accounts of their experiences of healthcare provision in a range of settings and healthcare systems. We will conduct an extensive electronic database search of publications in English between 2000 and 2014. Results and discussions sections of the papers will be regarded as formal data using the constant comparison method of qualitative analysis. From the meta-synthesis results, we will build a conceptual model of mechanisms and processes that shape patients’ journeys towards end of life to suggest where in the patient journey new interventions to improve patient and carer experience can be developed and delivered. The study is being conducted between 1 December 2014 and 31 December 2015. Ethics and dissemination No human subjects or personal data are involved and no ethical issues are anticipated. An important element of dissemination is informing user communities about the practical implications of the work through workshops, meetings and social media. Scientific results will be published in peer reviewed journals and disseminated through conferences. Trial registration number PROSPERO CRD42014014547. <br/

Rapid depletion of dissolved organic sulphur (DOS) in freshwaters

Sulphur (S) is a key macronutrient for all organisms, with similar cellular requirements to that of phosphorus (P). Studies of S cycling have often focused on the inorganic fraction, however, there is strong evidence to suggest that freshwater microorganisms may also access dissolved organic S (DOS) compounds (e.g. S-containing amino acids). The aim of this study was to compare the relative concentration and depletion rates of organic 35S-labelled amino acids (cysteine, methionine) with inorganic S (Na235SO4) in oligotrophic versus mesotrophic river waters draining from low nutrient input and moderate nutrient input land uses respectively. Our results showed that inorganic SO42− was present in the water column at much higher concentrations than free amino acids. In contrast to SO42−, however, cysteine and methionine were both rapidly depleted from the mesotrophic and oligotrophic waters with a halving time < 1 h. Only a small proportion of the DOS removed from solution was mineralized and excreted as SO42− (< 16% of the total taken up) suggesting that the DOS could be satisfying a demand for carbon (C) and S. In conclusion, even though inorganic S was abundant in freshwater, it appears that the aquatic communities retained the capacity to take up and assimilate DOS

Comparative assessment of onabotulinumtoxinA and mirabegron for overactive bladder: an indirect treatment comparison

CONTEXT: OnabotulinumtoxinA and mirabegron have recently gained marketing authorisation to treat symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative efficacy of mirabegron and onabotulinumtoxinA in patients with idiopathic OAB. DESIGN: Network meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: A search of 9 electronic databases, review documents, guidelines and websites. METHODS: Randomised trials comparing any licensed dose of onabotulinumtoxinA or mirabegron with each other, anticholinergic drugs or placebo were eligible (19 randomised trials were identified). 1 reviewer extracted data from the studies and a second reviewer checked the data. Candidate trials were assessed for similarity and networks were developed for each outcome. Bayesian network meta-analysis was conducted using both fixed-effects and random-effects models. When there were differences in mean baseline values between mirabegron and onabotulinumtoxinA trials they were adjusted for using network meta-regression (NMR). RESULTS: No studies directly comparing onabotulinumtoxinA to mirabegron were identified. A network was created for each of the 7 outcomes, with 3-9 studies included in each individual network. The trials included in the networks were broadly similar. Patients in the onabotulinumtoxinA trials had more urinary incontinence and urgency episodes at baseline than patients in the mirabegron trials and these differences were adjusted for using NMR. Both onabotulinumtoxinA and mirabegron were more efficacious than placebo at reducing the frequency of urinary incontinence, urgency, urination and nocturia. OnabotulinumtoxinA was more efficacious than mirabegron (50 and 25 mg) in completely resolving daily episodes of urinary incontinence and urgency and in reducing the frequency of urinary incontinence, urgency and urination. NMR supported the results of the network meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of head-to-head trials comparing onabotulinumtoxinA to mirabegron, this indirect comparison indicates that onabotulinumtoxinA may be superior to mirabegron in improving symptoms of urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency in patients with idiopathic OAB

Microbial uptake kinetics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) compound groups from river water and sediments

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) represents a key component of carbon (C) cycling in freshwater ecosystems. While the behaviour of bulk dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in aquatic ecosystems is well studied, comparatively little is known about the turnover of specific DOC compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the persistence of 14C-labelled low molecular weight (LMW) DOC at a wide range of concentrations (0.1 µM to 10 mM), in sediments and waters from oligotrophic and mesotrophic rivers within the same catchment. Overall, rates of DOC loss varied between compound groups (amino acids > sugars = organic acids > phenolics). Sediment-based microbial communities contributed to higher DOC loss from river waters, which was attributed, in part, to its greater microbial biomass. At higher DOC compound concentrations, DOC loss was greater in mesotrophic rivers in comparison to oligotrophic headwaters. A lag-phase in substrate use within sediments provided evidence of microbial growth and adaptation, ascribed here to the lack of inorganic nutrient limitation on microbial C processing in mesotrophic communities. We conclude that the higher microbial biomass and available inorganic nutrients in sediments enables the rapid processing of LMW DOC, particularly during high C enrichment events and in N and P-rich mesotrophic environments

Learning from “Knocks in Life”: Food Insecurity among Low-Income Lone Senior Women

Building on earlier quantitative work where we showed that lone senior households reliant on public pensions in Nova Scotia (NS), Canada lacked the necessary funds for a basic nutritious diet, here we present findings from a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with eight low-income lone senior women living in an urban area of NS. Using a phenomenological inquiry approach, in-depth interviews were used to explore lone senior women's experiences accessing food with limited financial resources. Drawing upon Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, we explored their perceived ability to access a nutritionally adequate and personally acceptable diet, and the barriers and enablers to do so; as well in light of our previous quantitative research, we explored their perceptions related to adequacy of income, essential expenses, and their strategies to manage personal finances. Seven key themes emerged: world view, income adequacy, transportation, health/health problems, community program use, availability of family and friends, and personal food management strategies. World view exerted the largest influence on seniors' personal perception of food security status. The implications of the findings and policy recommendations to reduce the nutritional health inequities among this vulnerable subset of the senior population are considered