Permafrost organic matter quality and biolability in the Vault Lake thermokarst environment, Interior Alaska, USA

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2017Warming and thawing of permafrost soils removes a major barrier to soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization, leading to the mobilization and microbial degradation of previously frozen, inactive permafrost organic carbon (OC) into the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄). Many thermokarst (thaw) lakes formed in permafrost-dominated landscapes have high rates of CO₂ and CH₄ emission; however, the composition and biodegradability of the thawed permafrost OC as they relate to the relative magnitudes of anaerobic OC mineralization at different depths throughout the vertical profile of a thermokarst-lake talik system have, to my knowledge, never been measured. My research examined OC composition and mineralization potentials at the Vault Creek (VC) permafrost tunnel and Vault Lake, located 20 km north of Fairbanks, Alaska, USA, to better constrain these uncertainties. I found that, in a 590-cm long sediment core collected from the center of Vault Lake, whole-column CH₄ production is dominated by methanogenesis in the organic-rich mud facies, which occurred in the surface 0 to 152 cm. CH₄ production potential rates positively associated with substrate availability (carbon and nitrogen concentrations) and the relative abundances of terrestrially-derived organic matter compounds (alkanes, alkenes, lignin products, and phenols and phenolic precursors), measured using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Temperature sensitivity analyses conducted on a subset of samples from the Vault Lake sediment core suggest century-scale time since permafrost thaw affects temperature sensitivities of CH₄ production. Freshly-thawed taberite sediments at the base of the talik (thaw bulb) were most sensitive to warming at lower incubation temperatures (0 °C to 3 °C), while the overlying taberite sediments thawed in situ longer periods of time (up to 400 years based on radiocarbon dating) did not experience statistically significant increases in CH₄ production until higher incubation temperatures (10 °C to 25 °C). Finally, using anaerobic incubations and ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry of water-extractable organic matter along a 12-m yedoma profile in the VC permafrost tunnel, I show that yedoma OC biolability increases with depth as indicated by increasing proportions of aliphatics and peptides (reduced, high H/C compounds). These compounds also positively correlated with anaerobic CO₂ and CH₄ production, and corresponded to high proportions (5.6% to 118 %) of OC mineralization rates in incubations. This suggests that as yedoma permafrost thaws beneath a thermokarst lake greenhouse gas production potentials may increase with thaw depth

Creating simulation activities for undergraduate nursing curricula

Simulation is considered a valuable educational strategy to prepare nursing students for clinical practice and bridge the gap between theory and clinical experience (Unsworth et al. 2012) with Milkins et al. (2014) advocating for the use of simulation in student education to support the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHSS) (Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), 2012)

Least-squares methods for identifying biochemical regulatory networks from noisy measurements

<b>Background</b>: We consider the problem of identifying the dynamic interactions in biochemical networks from noisy experimental data. Typically, approaches for solving this problem make use of an estimation algorithm such as the well-known linear Least-Squares (LS) estimation technique. We demonstrate that when time-series measurements are corrupted by white noise and/or drift noise, more accurate and reliable identification of network interactions can be achieved by employing an estimation algorithm known as Constrained Total Least Squares (CTLS). The Total Least Squares (TLS) technique is a generalised least squares method to solve an overdetermined set of equations whose coefficients are noisy. The CTLS is a natural extension of TLS to the case where the noise components of the coefficients are correlated, as is usually the case with time-series measurements of concentrations and expression profiles in gene networks. <b>Results</b>: The superior performance of the CTLS method in identifying network interactions is demonstrated on three examples: a genetic network containing four genes, a network describing p53 activity and <i>mdm2</i> messenger RNA interactions, and a recently proposed kinetic model for interleukin (IL)-6 and (IL)-12b messenger RNA expression as a function of ATF3 and NF-κB promoter binding. For the first example, the CTLS significantly reduces the errors in the estimation of the Jacobian for the gene network. For the second, the CTLS reduces the errors from the measurements that are corrupted by white noise and the effect of neglected kinetics. For the third, it allows the correct identification, from noisy data, of the negative regulation of (IL)-6 and (IL)-12b by ATF3. <b>Conclusion</b>: The significant improvements in performance demonstrated by the CTLS method under the wide range of conditions tested here, including different levels and types of measurement noise and different numbers of data points, suggests that its application will enable more accurate and reliable identification and modelling of biochemical networks

Building workforce capacity for complex care coordination: a function analysis of workflow activity

Background The care coordination workforce includes a range of clinicians who manage care for patients with multiple chronic conditions both within and outside a hospital, in the community, or in a patient’s home. These patients require a multi-skilled approach to support complex care and social support needs as they are typically high users of health, community, and social services. In Australia, workforce structures have not kept pace with this new and emerging workforce. The aim of the study was to develop, map, and analyse workforce functions of a care coordination team. Methods Workflow modelling informed the development of an activity log that was used to collect workflow data in 2013 from care coordinators located within the care coordination service offered by a Local Health Network in Australia. The activity log comprised a detailed classification of care coordination functions based on two major categories – direct and indirect care. Direct care functions were grouped into eight domains. A descriptive quantitative investigation design was used for data analysis. The data was analysed using univariate descriptive statistics with results presented in tables and a figure. Results Care coordinators spent more time (70.9%) on direct care than indirect care (29.1%). Domains of direct care that occupied the most time relative to the 38 direct care functions were ‘Assessment’ (14.1%), ‘Documentation’ (13.9%), ‘Travel time’ (6.3%), and ‘Accepting/discussing referral’ (5.7%). ‘Administration’ formed a large component of indirect care functions (14.8%), followed by ‘Travel’ (12.4%). Sub-analyses of direct care by domains revealed that a group of designated ‘core care coordination functions’ contributed to 40.6% of direct care functions. Conclusions The modelling of care coordination functions and the descriptions of workflow activity support local development of care coordination capacity and workforce capability through extensive practice redesigns

Substitution, delegation or addition? Implications of workforce skill mix on efficiency and interruptions in computed tomography

Objectives: This study evaluated multiple computed tomography (CT) workforce models to identify any implications on efficiency (length of stay, scan frequency and workforce cost) and scanning radiographer interruptions through substituting or supplementing with a trained CT assistant. Methods: The study was conducted in a CT unit of a tertiary Queensland hospital and prospectively compared four workforce models, including usual practice: Model 1 used an administrative assistant (AA) and one radiographer Model 2 substituted a medical imaging assistant (MIA) for the AA Model 3 was usual practice, consisting of two radiographers and Model 4 included two radiographers, with a supplemented MIA. Observational data were collected over 7 days per model and were cross-checked against electronic records. Data for interruption type and frequency, as well as scan type and duration, were collected. Annual workforce costs were calculated as measures of efficiency. Results: Similar scan frequency and parameters (complexity) occurred across all models, averaging 164 scans (interquartile range 160-172 scans) each. The median times from patient arrival to examination completion in Models 1-4 were 47, 35, 46 and 33 min respectively. There were between 34 and 104 interruptions per day across all models, with the 'assistant role' fielding the largest proportion. Model 4 demonstrated the highest workforce cost, and Model 2 the lowest. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that assistant models offer similar patient throughput to usual practice at a reduced cost. Model 2 was the most efficient of all two-staff models (Models 1-3), offering the cheapest workforce, slightly higher throughput and faster examination times. Not surprisingly, the additional staff model (Model 4) offered greater overall examination times and throughput, with fewer interruptions, although workforce cost and possible role ambiguity were both limitations of this model. These findings may assist decision makers in selecting the optimal workforce design for their own individual contexts. What is known about the topic?: Innovative solutions are required to address ongoing health workforce sustainability concerns. Workforce substitution models using trained assistants have demonstrated numerous benefits internationally, with translation to the Australian allied health setting showing promise. What does this paper add?: Building on existing research, this study provides clinical workforce alternatives that maintain patient throughput while offering cost efficiencies. This study also quantified the many daily interruptions that occur within the CT setting, highlighting a potential clinical risk. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to empirically test the use of allied health assistants within CT. What are the implications for practitioners?: Role substitution in CT may offer solutions to skills shortages, increasing expenditure and service demand. Incorporating appropriate assistant workforce models can maintain throughput while demonstrating implications for efficiency and interruptions, potentially affecting staff stress and burnout. In addition, the assistant's scope and accepted level of interruptions should be considerations when choosing the most appropriate model

Positive energy unitary irreducible representations of D=6 conformal supersymmetry

We give a constructive classification of the positive energy (lowest weight) unitary irreducible representations of the D=6 superconformal algebras osp(8*/2N). Our results confirm all but one of the conjectures of Minwalla (for N=1,2) on this classification. Our main tool is the explicit construction of the norms of the states that has to be checked for positivity. We give also the reduction of the exceptional UIRs.Comment: 27 pages, TeX with harvmac, amssym.def, amssym.tex; v.2: minor corrections and references added; v.3: minor corrections; v.4: to appear in J. Phys.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF WEATHER PROTECTION FOR LARGE ROUND BALES

. 1986. Economic benefits of weather protection for large round bales. Can. An economic evaluation ofthe storage losses ofvarious haying systems isreported. This information was necessary to augment a study of the effect of storage characteristicson round bale quality in which round bales from two different round baler types (fixed and variable bale chamber) were stored in five different manners. In addition, the costs of harvesting and storing hay by several methods were evaluated. These costs were translated into costs per "useable" tonneof hay. Values of spoiledhay were compared with the values of weather protection for round bales. The values ofhay spoilage indifferent types of storage were combined with detailed costs of growing, harvesting and storing hay and compared. Economic comparison with traditional rectangular bale harvesting methods is also included. It was found that round bale harvesting was the least expensive method at all volumes. Round bale harvesting with inside storage or plastic wrap protection provided a higher value than outside storage of round bales because of the increased spoilage when not protected. The cost of inside storage was equal to 14% spoilage of round bales

Guernsey voluntary and charitable sector research study

The study‘s focus was on social inclusion, and how voluntary and charitable organisations try to overcome the barriers and inequalities which prevent people participating on equal terms in society. Its aim was to identify gaps in provision and ways to fill them. Its methodology included a literature review, focus groups and a questionnaire.The report reviews literature and research, from the UK and Europe as well as Guernsey, on social exclusion, social inclusion, the voluntary sector and its changing relationship with the statutory sector. Some of the themes of this broader review are reflected in the findings of the study of the VCS in Guernsey.Most households in Guernsey are not at risk of becoming poor in the near future, but the 2007 Household Expenditure Survey indicated that 16.6% of respondents lived in households with an income below 60% of median income. Those most affected by poverty are lone parent households, single pensioner households and households with children. This means poorer diet, worse health and housing, greater vulnerability to crime and less social support

Care coordination for chronic and complex health conditions: an experienced based co-design study engaging consumer and clinician groups for service improvement

Background: Evidence shows that engaging consumers and clinicians in development of health services creates a more responsive, integrated service that better meets the needs of consumers and the community of practice it serves. Further, consumer and clinician participation in service development processes can boost confidence and motivation levels in organisational employees and help foster clinical accountability. Objective: To see where consumers’ care experiences could be improved by better understanding where care coordination organisational systems needed improvement. Methods: Experienced based co-design informed an investigation of consumer and clinician experiences of a care coordination service and involved the sharing of those experiences across service employees in a series of iterative and feedback loops over eighteen months (July 2012 January 2014). Formal participants included care coordination clinicians (n=13) and consumers. Data from formal participants were collected during September-December 2012, consisting of consumer video-recorded and clinician audio-recorded interviews. Interview transcriptions were analysed to identify service “touch points”, being emotionally significant events related to key service aspects that connect or disconnect consumers and/or clinicians. Results: Results revealed that consumers highly valued the transdisciplinary skill base of the care coordination workforce, though service improvements were needed for transition support, quality discharge planning and conveying better understandings of care coordination activity both internally and externally. Conclusion: Incorporating consumer and clinician view-points about their experiences, including the production of a DVD, facilitated conversations across the entire service about care coordination provision and provided a catalyst for design improvement that may otherwise have been difficult to achieve. Some changes to the service were made such as improved client complaints processes, new roles for the care coordination service, and enlisting clinical staff to undertake motivational interviewing training to promote greater consumer self-management capacity. In this study, the user experience was given a platform within a larger healthcare workforce capability development project