An airborne geophysical survey of part of west Dyfed, South Wales, and some related ground surveys

A detailed airborne geophysical survey has been made of part of west Dyfed at a flying height of 75 m with magnetic, electromagnetic (VLF-EM) and radiometric equipment mounted in a helicopter. The area of 670 km2 includes the Precambrian anticlines of St David’s and Hayscastle, the Fishguard, Sealyham and Trefgarne volcanic groups, and the adjacent Lower Palaeozoic sediments with associated basic intrusions. Ground geophysical surveys were carried out at 33 localities to confirm the nature and the sources of the airborne anomalies, and a geological examination was also made at selected localities. Rock samples were collected for petrographical examination and physical property determinations. A regional gravity survey was also carried out. Some details of the geophysical methods and data presentation are included together with a map at a scale of 1:50 000 summarising the main results obtained from interpretations of the airborne geophysical surveys. The aeromagnetic data clearly show the distribution of the Precambrian rocks, the numerous dolerite intrusions, and some of the pillow lavas associated with the Fishguard Volcanic Group. This distribution generally confirms the outcrop pattern based on geological mapping. The magnetic data are likely to be more reliable for mapping on a more detailed scale, due to the extensive drift cover which hinders geological mapping in many places, and they have also revealed some large scale structures, in- The airborne VLF anomalies are most obvious at lithological boundaries with large resistivity contrasts such as the Precambrian/Lower Palaeozoic sediment and dolerite/sediment contacts. The radiometric data provide little obvious additional information. Although the west Dyfed area has no significant mining history, some exploration activity has taken place there in recent years (Allen, Cooper and others 1985; Cameron and others, 1984; Brown and others, 1987). One of the main restrictions on exploration has been the lack of rock exposure in much of the inland area and the airborne geophysical survey was undertaken as partial compensation for this

Comparative Genomics of Environmental Multidrug Resistant Staphylococci

Multidrug resistant (MDR) staphylococci are public health concern internationally. The treatment of these bacteria have become increasingly difficult due to their resistance to multiple antibiotics. In this thesis, multidrug resistant staphylococci have been recovered from high-frequency touched surfaces in public areas in the community and hospitals in East and West London. In total, 600 isolates collected of which 281 were MDR. In addition, 49 (8.17%) were mecA gene positive (mecA⁺). The most common species identified as multidrug resistant were S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus and S. hominis, whereas penicillin, fusidic acid and erythromycin were the most frequent antibiotics the isolates were resistant to. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis for mecA+ isolates revealed that among the most frequent antibiotic resistance genes were blaZ, qacA/B and dfrC. Moreover, the mecA⁺ isolates had a diverse range of SCCmec types many of which were untypable due to carrying a novel combination of ccr genes or multiple ccr complexes. mecA⁺ S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus and S. hominis isolates that have been whole genome sequenced were used in the "One Health" comparative genomics approach to compare them with isolates obtained from the ENA database that were recovered from clinical samples, healthy human body sites, livestock, companion animals and other environments. The mecA⁺ S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus isolates in this study were genetically related and shared similar accessory gene profiles with ENA isolates that have been recovered from clinical samples. In addition, all three species mecA⁺ isolates recovered from public settings were genetically related to ENA isolates recovered from different source including healthy humans, livestock, and companion animals, plants and other environmental sources. In conclusion, the high-frequency touched surfaces in public settings are reservoirs for staphylococci belonging to different lineages that are multidrug resistant and therefore pose a potential public health risk

Effect of weathering product assemblages on Pb bioaccessibility in mine waste: implications for risk management

General assessments of orebody types and associated mine wastes with regards to their environmental signature and human health hazards are needed to help managing present and historical mine waste facilities. Bioaccessibility tests and mineralogical analysis were carried out on mine waste from a systematic sampling of mine sites from the Central Wales orefield, UK. The bioaccessible Pb widely ranged from 270 to 20300 mg/kg (mean 7250 mg/kg; median 4890 mg/kg) and the bioaccessible fraction from 4.53 % to >100 % (mean 33.2 %; median 32.2 %), with significant (p=0.001) differences among the mine sites. This implies sensitivity of bioaccessibility to site-specific conditions and suggests caution in the use of models to assess human health impacts generalised on the basis of the mineral deposit type. Mineralogical similarities of the oxidation products of primary galena provided a better control over the observed Pb bioaccessibility range. The higher Pb bioaccessibility (%) was related to samples containing cerussite, irrespective of the presence of other Pb minerals in the mineral assemblage; lower Pb bioaccessibility resulted where anglesite was the main Pb mineral phase and cerussite was absent. A solubility diagram for the various Pb minerals in the waste was derived using PHREEQC model and the experimental Pb concentration measured in the simulated gastric solution compared with the equilibrium modelling results. For samples containing cerussite, the model well predicted the soluble Pb concentrations measured in the experimental simulated gastric solution, indicative of the carbonate mineral phase control on the Pb in solution for these samples and little kinetic control on the dissolution of cerussite. On the contrary, most mine waste samples containing dominant anglesite and or plumbojarosite (no cerussite) had lower solution Pb values, falling at or below the anglesite and plumbojarosite solubility equilibrium concentrations, implying kinetic or textural factors hindering the dissolution

A MICROGENETIC APPROACH TO EXAMINING SET FOR VARIABILITY: AN EXPLORATION OF EARLY READING DEVELOPMENT

Learning sight words is a process that involves forming connections between letters and their sounds in order to connect spellings of words with their pronunciations as well as their meanings. During the development of sight word reading, children will sound out (phonologically recode) words that they do not yet know by sight (Share, 1995). Because English lacks transparency, sounding out according to grapheme-phoneme correspondences often only results in an approximation to the target word. The process by which a child must match a word they have recoded phonologically with a word that exists in their vocabulary has been referred to as set for variability. Recently, two studies have examined the role that set for variability plays in the development of children’s reading abilities. Tunmer and Chapman (2012) found using a novel task involving recognizing words from slightly mispronounced words that phonemic awareness and vocabulary made independent contributions to the variance in performance on their task. Using a similar task, Elbro, de Jong, Houter, and Nielsen (2012) found set for variability performance to make a contribution to word recognition skills for both regular and irregular words despite using a more regular orthography (Dutch). Together, the findings suggest that set for variability is a universal process involved in learning to read. The current study seeks to gain a better understanding of the role that set for variability plays in the development of sight word reading. By combining quantitative data from traditional measures of reading skills with qualitative data from recording weekly reading sessions we expect to be able to better understand the way in which a child’s set for variability develops and the role it plays in the development of reading words by sight. We compare emergent readers in different phases of their sight word reading development in their ability to identify the target words in a mispronunciation task. Participants’ abilities in a number of reading measures are also analyzed in relation to the errors made on weekly reading sessions that were audio recorded and later phonetically transcribed in order to identify how set for variability skills develop in relation to some of the better-understood aspects of reading development. Implications for future set for variability research and educational impacts are discussed

A MICROGENETIC APPROACH TO EXAMINING SET FOR VARIABILITY: AN EXPLORATION OF EARLY READING DEVELOPMENT

Learning sight words is a process that involves forming connections between letters and their sounds in order to connect spellings of words with their pronunciations as well as their meanings. During the development of sight word reading, children will sound out (phonologically recode) words that they do not yet know by sight (Share, 1995). Because English lacks transparency, sounding out according to grapheme-phoneme correspondences often only results in an approximation to the target word. The process by which a child must match a word they have recoded phonologically with a word that exists in their vocabulary has been referred to as set for variability. Recently, two studies have examined the role that set for variability plays in the development of children’s reading abilities. Tunmer and Chapman (2012) found using a novel task involving recognizing words from slightly mispronounced words that phonemic awareness and vocabulary made independent contributions to the variance in performance on their task. Using a similar task, Elbro, de Jong, Houter, and Nielsen (2012) found set for variability performance to make a contribution to word recognition skills for both regular and irregular words despite using a more regular orthography (Dutch). Together, the findings suggest that set for variability is a universal process involved in learning to read. The current study seeks to gain a better understanding of the role that set for variability plays in the development of sight word reading. By combining quantitative data from traditional measures of reading skills with qualitative data from recording weekly reading sessions we expect to be able to better understand the way in which a child’s set for variability develops and the role it plays in the development of reading words by sight. We compare emergent readers in different phases of their sight word reading development in their ability to identify the target words in a mispronunciation task. Participants’ abilities in a number of reading measures are also analyzed in relation to the errors made on weekly reading sessions that were audio recorded and later phonetically transcribed in order to identify how set for variability skills develop in relation to some of the better-understood aspects of reading development. Implications for future set for variability research and educational impacts are discussed

Voice banking for people living with motor neurone disease: Views and expectations

Background: More than 80% of people living with MND (plwMND) develop difficulties with their speech, affecting communication, self-identity and quality of life. Most plwMND eventually use an augmentative and alternative communication device (AAC) to communicate. Some AAC devices provide a synthesized voice for speech, however these voices are often viewed as impersonal and a factor in AAC acceptance. Voice banking creates an approximation of the person's own voice that can be used in AAC and is argued to go some way to preserve a person's identity when natural voice is lost, but there has been little supporting research. // Aims: To understand what plwMND consider when deciding whether or not to bank their voice, what their expectations are, and the expectations of significant communication partners. // Methods: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with plwMND who had either decided to bank their voice or had decided not to. Thematic analysis was used to provide a qualitative analysis of the data. // Procedures: Participants were an opportunistic sample of plwMND within England recruited via an open advert distributed by the MND Association (MNDA). // Outcomes and Results: Twelve plwMND were interviewed with nine significant others. Nine participants had decided to bank their voice and three decided not to. The data suggest ‘preserving identity’ is the overarching motivation in decision making for voice banking. Participants who decided to voice bank considered it would help to maintain their identity and preserve their social and work networks. Participants deciding not to bank their voice highlighted it could not replace their natural voice or preserve their identity. However, few in either group showed an awareness of how a voice bank is used in AAC, and how communication using AAC is significantly different to natural speech. // Conclusions and Implications: This research is the first study of its kind to examine the considerations for decision making around voice banking for plwMND. Preserving identity is central to decision making when considering whether or not to voice bank. However, the reality of using AAC and voice banking for communication is poorly understood. Professionals have a role to provide plwMND with more information about voice banking in the wider context of using AAC for communication. It may be that the process of voice banking itself is seen as a positive act for plwMND, independent of how it is used later. Further research with associated professionals and stakeholders is indicated

The use of speech recognition technology by people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a scoping review

More than 80% of people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (plwALS) develop difficulties with their speech, affecting communication, self-identity and quality of life. Automatic speech recognition technology (ASR) is becoming a common way to interact with a broad range of devices, to find information and control the environment. ASR can be problematic for people with acquired neurogenic motor speech difficulties (dysarthria). Given that the field is rapidly developing, a scoping review is warranted

A Theoretical Investigation of Several Low-Lying States of trans, trans-1,3,5-hexatriene

Results from ab initio calculations concerning several low-lying electronic states of trans,trans-1,3,5-hexatriene are presented and compared with experimental and previous theoretical results. The lowest excited singlet state is predicted to be the ¹B_u state, having essentially valencelike π → π* character. The nominally doubly excited 2¹A_g state is found to lie approximately 0.6-0.9 eV above the 1¹B_u state. Results are also presented for several Rydberg states. The implications of the present results for current parametrizations of semiempirical π molecular orbital schemes are discussed