GSUE: urban geochemical mapping in Great Britain

The British Geological Survey is responsible for the national strategic geochemical survey of Great Britain. As part of this programme, the Geochemical Surveys of Urban Environments (GSUE) project was initiated in 1992 and to date, 21 cities have been mapped. Urban sampling is based upon the collection of top (0.05 to 0.20 m) and deeper (0.35 to 0.50 m) soil samples on a 500 m grid across the built environment (1 sample per 0.25 km2). Samples are analysed for c. 46 total element concentrations by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRFS), pH and loss on ignition (LOI) as an indicator of organic matter content. The data provide an overview of the urban geochemical signature and because they are collected as part of a national baseline programme, can be readily compared with soils in the rural hinterland to assess the extent of urban contamination. The data are of direct relevance to current UK land use planning, urban regeneration and contaminated land legislative regimes. An overview of the project and applications of the data to human health risk assessment, water quality protection and contaminant source identification are presented

Clyde tributaries : report of urban stream sediment and surface water geochemistry for Glasgow

This report presents the results of an urban drainage geochemical survey carried out jointly by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and Glasgow City Council (GCC) during June 2003. 118 stream sediment and 122 surface water samples were collected at a sample density of 1 per 1 km2 from all tributaries draining into the River Clyde within the GCC administrative area. The study was carried out as part of the BGS systematic Geochemical Surveys of Urban Environments (GSUE) programme. Stream sediment and surface water samples underwent analysis for approximately 46 chemical elements including contaminants such as As, Al, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Se, V and Zn according to standard GSUE procedures. In addition, parameters such as ammonium, asbestos and Hg as well as organic contaminants such as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and organo-tin compounds were assessed. The aim of the project was to provide an overview of urban drainage geochemistry in Glasgow to link to an on-going sister project, which is investigating the geochemistry of the Clyde estuary. This report presents the initial findings of the Clyde tributaries survey but it is envisaged that the data will be interpreted in more detail as part of a wider Clyde basin study once the Clyde estuary survey is completed

Addressing Health Literacy for Improved Outcomes: A Focus on Pregnancy

Health literacy influences how messages are received and understood by patient or population groups. In Europe, incomprehension of health information is common, affecting the ability of many individuals to make informed decisions about their health. In addition, incomprehension of health information may impact the effectiveness of interventions and subsequently, health outcomes. In this article, we illustrate the importance of health literacy in the context of maternity services, a time during which, health interventions affect both maternal and child health. Through this, we suggest that health literacy should be recognised in healthcare settings as a tool to facilitate behaviour change. To support this, we provide practical recommendations for clinicians and researchers on how to address aspects of health literacy in their practice

Maternal obesity is associated with the formation of small dense LDL and hypoadiponectinemia in the third trimester

Context: Maternal obesity is associated with high plasma triglyceride, poor vascular function, and an increased risk for pregnancy complications. In normal-weight pregnant women, higher triglyceride is associated with increased small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Hypothesis: In obese pregnancy, increased plasma triglyceride concentrations result in triglyceride enrichment of very low-density lipoprotein-1 particles and formation of small dense LDL via lipoprotein lipase. Design: Women (n = 55) of body mass index of 18–46 kg/m2 were sampled longitudinally at 12, 26, and 35 weeks' gestation and 4 months postnatally. Setting: Women were recruited at hospital antenatal appointments, and study visits were in a clinical research suite. Outcome Measures: Plasma concentrations of lipids, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipase mass, estradiol, steroid hormone binding globulin, insulin, glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were determined. Results: Obese women commenced pregnancy with higher plasma triglyceride, reached the same maximum, and then returned to higher postnatal levels than normal-weight women. Estradiol response to pregnancy (trimester 1–3 incremental area under the curve) was positively associated with plasma triglyceride response (r2 adjusted 25%, P < .001). In the third trimester, the proportion of small, dense LDL was 2-fold higher in obese women than normal-weight women [mean (SD) 40.7 (18.8) vs 21.9 (10.9)%, P = .014], and 35% of obese, 14% of overweight, and none of the normal-weight women displayed an atherogenic LDL subfraction phenotype. The small, dense LDL mass response to pregnancy was inversely associated with adiponectin response (17%, P = .013). Conclusions: Maternal obesity is associated with an atherogenic LDL subfraction phenotype and may provide a mechanistic link to poor vascular function and adverse pregnancy outcome

Preeclampsia is associated with compromized maternal synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids leading to offspring deficiency

Obesity and excessive lipolysis are implicated in preeclampsia (PE). Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with low maternal body mass index and decreased lipolysis. Our aim was to assess how maternal and offspring fatty acid metabolism is altered in mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy with PE (n=62) or intrauterine growth restriction (n=23) compared with healthy pregnancies (n=164). Markers of lipid metabolism and erythrocyte fatty acid concentrations were measured. Maternal adipose tissue fatty acid composition and mRNA expression of adipose tissue fatty acid–metabolizing enzymes and placental fatty acid transporters were compared. Mothers with PE had higher plasma triglyceride (21%, P<0.001) and nonesterified fatty acid (50%, P<0.001) concentrations than controls. Concentrations of major n−6 and n−3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocytes were 23% to 60% lower (all P<0.005) in PE and intrauterine growth restriction mothers and offspring compared with controls. Subcutaneous adipose tissue Δ−5 and Δ−6 desaturase and very long-chain fatty acid elongase mRNA expression was lower in PE than controls (respectively, mean [SD] control 3.38 [2.96] versus PE 1.83 [1.91], P=0.030; 3.33 [2.25] versus 1.03 [0.96], P<0.001; 0.40 [0.81] versus 0.00 [0.00], P=0.038 expression relative to control gene [square root]). Low maternal and fetal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in PE may be the result of decreased maternal synthesis

Relaxation Methods for Mixed-Integer Optimal Control of Partial Differential Equations

We consider integer-restricted optimal control of systems governed by abstract semilinear evolution equations. This includes the problem of optimal control design for certain distributed parameter systems endowed with multiple actuators, where the task is to minimize costs associated with the dynamics of the system by choosing, for each instant in time, one of the actuators together with ordinary controls. We consider relaxation techniques that are already used successfully for mixed-integer optimal control of ordinary differential equations. Our analysis yields sufficient conditions such that the optimal value and the optimal state of the relaxed problem can be approximated with arbitrary precision by a control satisfying the integer restrictions. The results are obtained by semigroup theory methods. The approach is constructive and gives rise to a numerical method. We supplement the analysis with numerical experiments

Fine Root Productivity and Dynamics on a Forested Floodplain in South Carolina

The highly dynamic, fine-root component of forested wetland ecosystems has received inadequate attention in the literature. Characterizing fine root dynamics is a challenging endeavor in any system, but the difficulties are particularly evident in forested floodplains where frequent hydrologic fluctuations directly influence fine root dynamics. Fine root (\u3c 3mm) biomass, production, and turnover were estimated for three soils exhibiting different drainage patterns within a mixed-oak community on the Coosawhatchie River floodplain, Jasper County, SC. Within a 45-cm deep vertical profile, 74% of total fine root biomass was restricted to the upper 15 cm of the soil surface. Fine root biomass decreased as the soil became less well-drained (e.g., fine root biomass in well-drained soil \u3e intermediately drained soil \u3e poorly drained soil). Fine root productivity was measured for one year using minirhizotrons and in-situ screens. Both methods suggested higher fine root production in better drained soils but showed frequent fluctuations in fine root growth and mortality, suggesting the need for frequent sampling at short intervals (e.g., monthly) to accurately assess fine root growth and turnover. Fine root production, estimated with in-situ screens, was 1.5, 1.8, and 0.9 Mg ha-1 yr-1 in the well-drained, intermediately drained, and poorly drained soils, respectively. Results from minirhizotrons indicated that fine roots in well-drained soils grew to greater depths while fine roots in poorly drained soils were restricted to surface soils. Minirhizotrons also revealed that the distribution of fine roots among morphological classes changed between well-drained and poorly drained soils

Effect of material, geometry, surface treatment and environment on the shear strength of single lap joints

The single lap joint is the most studied type of adhesive joint in the literature. However, the joint strength prediction of such joints is still a controversial issue as it involves a lot of factors that are difficult to quantify such as the overlap length, the yielding of the adherend, the plasticity of the adhesive and the bondline thickness. The most complicated case is that where the adhesive is brittle and the overlap long. In any case, there is still a problem that is even more difficult to take into account which is the durability. There is a lack of experimental data and design criteria when the joint is subjected to high, low or variable temperature and/or humidity. The objective of this work is to carry out and quantify the various variables affecting the strength of single lap joints in long term, especially the effect of the surface preparation. The Taguchi method is used to decrease the number of experimental tests. The effect of material, geometry, surface treatment and environment is studied and it is shown that the main effect is that of the overlap length. In order to quantify the influence of the adhesive (toughness and thickness), the adherend (yield strength and thickness), the overlap, the test speed, the surface preparation and durability on the lap shear strength, the experimental design technique of Taguchi was used in the present study. An experimental matrix of eighteen tests was designed and each test was repeated three times. The influence of the eight previously-mentioned variables could be assessed using the statistical software Statview®. In this paper a simple predictive equation is proposed for the design of single lap joints

UK export performance research - review and implications

Previous research on export performance has been criticized for being a mosaic of autonomous endeavours and for a lack of theoretical development. Building upon extant models of export performance, and a review and analysis of research on export performance in the UK for the period 1990-2005, an integrated model of export performance is developed and theoretical explanations of export performance are put forward. It is suggested that a multi-theory approach to explaining export performance is viable. Management and policy implications for the UK emerging from the review and synthesis of the literature and the integrated model are discussed

Ferrihidrita ferrimagnética: una historia de serendipia y radiación de sincrotón

II Encuentro sobre nanociencia y nanotecnología de investigadores y tecnólogos de la Universidad de Córdoba. NANOUC