Mental health of veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses: A scoping review

Background: Research has found veterinarians around the world to be at high risk of mental health problems, but far less research has examined veterinary nurses (VNs) and student veterinary nurses (SVNs). This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence on this topic, and identify knowledge gaps. Methods: Literature searches of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were conducted, and a structured screening and selection procedure applied. To be included, studies had to be peer-reviewed, report relevant results specific to VNs and/or SVNs, and provide descriptive statistics if using quantitative methods. Results: Of 2,118 publications identified, only 13 journal articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings were summarised in five categories: mental health and wellbeing; burnout; stress; compassion fatigue; and moral distress. While the findings of five of the studies suggested that some VNs and SVNs experienced some form of poor mental health, these lacked generalisability or transferability for multiple reasons. There was also inconsistency and ambiguity in the interpretation of findings, and incompatible or oversimplified definitions of mental health problems. Conclusions: More research is needed to address the gaps in existing evidence supporting our understanding of VN and SVN mental health. This should establish baseline measures, and include comparisons with other occupational and national populations

A calibration method for broad-bandwidth cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy performed with supercontinuum radiation

An efficient calibration method has been developed for broad-bandwidth cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy. The calibration is performed using phase shift cavity ring-down spectroscopy, which is conveniently implemented through use of an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). The AOTF permits a narrowband portion of the SC spectrum to be scanned over the full high-reflectivity bandwidth of the cavity mirrors. After calibration the AOTF is switched off and broad-bandwidth CEAS can be performed with the same light source without any loss of alignment to the set-up. We demonstrate the merits of the method by probing transitions of oxygen molecules O-2 and collisional pairs of oxygen molecules (O-2)(2) in the visible spectral range

Are researchers following best storage practices for measuring soil biochemical properties?

It is widely accepted that the measurement of organic and inorganic forms of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soils should be performed on fresh extracts taken from fresh soil samples. However, this is often not possible, and it is common practice to store samples (soils and/or extracts), despite a lack of guidance on best practice. We utilised a case study on a temperate grassland soil taken from different depths to demonstrate how differences in soil and/or soil extract storage temperature (4 or -20 °C) and duration can influence sample integrity for the quantification of soil-dissolved organic C and N (DOC and DON), extractable inorganic nitrogen (NHC+4and NO-3) and microbial biomass C and N (MBC and MBN). The appropriateness of different storage treatments varied between topsoils and subsoils, highlighting the need to consider appropriate storage methods based on soil depth and soil properties. In general, we found that storing soils and extracts by freezing at -20 °C was least effective at maintaining measured values of fresh material, whilst refrigerating (4 °C) soils for less than a week for DOC and DON and up to a year for MBC and MBN and refrigerating soil extracts for less than a week for NHC+4and NO-3did not jeopardise sample integrity. We discuss and provide the appropriate tools to ensure researchers consider best storage practice methods when designing and organising ecological research involving assessments of soil properties related to C and N cycling.We encourage researchers to use standardised methods where possible and to report their storage treatment (i.e. temperature, duration) when publishing findings on aspects of soil and ecosystem functioning. In the absence of published storage recommendations for a given soil type, we encourage researchers to conduct a pilot study and publish their findings

Night-time chemistry above London: measurements of NO[subscript 3] and N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5] from the BT Tower

Broadband cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (BBCEAS) has been used to measure the sum of concentrations of NO[subscript 3] and N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5] from the BT (telecommunications) Tower 160 m above street level in central London during the REPARTEE II campaign in October and November 2007. Substantial variability was observed in these night-time nitrogen compounds: peak NO[subscript 3] and N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5] mixing ratios reached 800 pptv, whereas the mean night-time NO[subscript 3] and N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5] was approximately 30 pptv. Additionally, [NO[subscript 3] and N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5]] showed negative correlations with [NO] and [NO[subscript 2]] and a positive correlation with [O[subscript 3]]. Co-measurements of temperature and NO[subscript 2] from the BT Tower were used to calculate the equilibrium partitioning between NO[subscript 3] and N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5] which was always found to strongly favour N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5] (NO[subscript 3]/N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5]=0.01 to 0.04). Two methods are used to calculate the lifetimes for NO[subscript 3] and N[subscript 2]O[subscript 5], the results being compared and discussed in terms of the implications for the night-time oxidation of nitrogen oxides and the night-time sinks for NO[subscript y]

Atmospheric chemistry and physics in the atmosphere of a developed megacity (London): An overview of the REPARTEE experiment and its conclusions

The Regents Park and Tower Environmental Experiment (REPARTEE) comprised two campaigns in London in October 2006 and October/November 2007. The experiment design involved measurements at a heavily trafficked roadside site, two urban background sites and an elevated site at 160-190 m above ground on the BT Tower, supplemented in the second campaign by Doppler lidar measurements of atmospheric vertical structure. A wide range of measurements of airborne particle physical metrics and chemical composition were made as well as measurements of a considerable range of gas phase species and the fluxes of both particulate and gas phase substances. Significant findings include (a) demonstration of the evaporation of traffic-generated nanoparticles during both horizontal and vertical atmospheric transport; (b) generation of a large base of information on the fluxes of nanoparticles, accumulation mode particles and specific chemical components of the aerosol and a range of gas phase species, as well as the elucidation of key processes and comparison with emissions inventories; (c) quantification of vertical gradients in selected aerosol and trace gas species which has demonstrated the important role of regional transport in influencing concentrations of sulphate, nitrate and secondary organic compounds within the atmosphere of London; (d) generation of new data on the atmospheric structure and turbulence above London, including the estimation of mixed layer depths; (e) provision of new data on trace gas dispersion in the urban atmosphere through the release of purposeful tracers; (f) the determination of spatial differences in aerosol particle size distributions and their interpretation in terms of sources and physico-chemical transformations; (g) studies of the nocturnal oxidation of nitrogen oxides and of the diurnal behaviour of nitrate aerosol in the urban atmosphere, and (h) new information on the chemical composition and source apportionment of particulate matter size fractions in the atmosphere of London derived both from bulk chemical analysis and aerosol mass spectrometry with two instrument types. © 2011 Author(s)