Basho, Specimens, The Work

A Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow, Campbell McGrath is the author most recently of Pax Atomica (Ecco, 2004). Current work appears in the New Yorker, Poetry, Kenyon Review, and many other journals

Monitoring the hygrothermal and ventilation performance of retrofitted clay brick solid wall houses with internal insulation: Two UK case studies

This work assesses the hygrothermal and ventilation performance of two ‘hard-to-treat’ historic, clay brick, solid wall houses that are internally insulated. Retrofit A is a two bedroom bungalow with the addition of internal plasterboard and air cavity and Retrofit B is a 5 bedroom house with sheep wool, phenolic and plasterboard insulation. To evaluate the long term performance of the retrofit measures, the testing is carried out 7 and 8 years respectively after completion. The first part of the work investigates whole building hygrothermal performance, ventilation and internal conditions. It was found that both retrofits are operating below specification in regards to their ventilation performance. An in-situ performance based specification for mechanical ventilation via CO2 monitoring is proposed. The second part focuses on the hygrothermal behaviour of the clay brick wall assembly. Both presented high relative humidity within critical layers of the wall make up. In Retrofit A the wall thermal transmittance was found to be much higher than designed due to inappropriate construction detailing while Retrofit B showed excellent thermal performance and minimal effects of thermal bridging

Long-term impact of sewage sludge application on soil microbial biomass: An evaluation using meta-analysis

The Long-Term Sludge Experiments (LTSE) began in 1994 as part of continuing research into the effects of sludge-borne heavy metals on soil fertility. The long-term effects of Zn, Cu, and Cd on soil microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) were monitored for 8 years (1997-2005) in sludge amended soils at nine UK field sites. To assess the statutory limits set by the UK Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations the experimental data has been reviewed using the statistical methods of meta-analysis. Previous LTSE studies have focused predominantly on statistical significance rather than effect size, whereas meta-analysis focuses on the magnitude and direction of an effect, i.e. the practical significance, rather than its statistical significance. The results presented here show that significant decreases in Cmic have occurred in soils where the total concentrations of Zn and Cu fall below the current UK statutory limits. For soils receiving sewage sludge predominantly contaminated with Zn, decreases of approximately 7–11% were observed at concentrations below the UK statutory limit. The effect of Zn appeared to increase over time, with increasingly greater decreases in Cmic observed over a period of 8 years. This may be due to an interactive effect between Zn and confounding Cu contamination which has augmented the bioavailability of these metals over time. Similar decreases (7–12%) in Cmic were observed in soils receiving sewage sludge predominantly contaminated with Cu; however, Cmic appeared to show of recovery after a period of 6 years. Application of sewage sludge predominantly contaminated with Cd appeared to have no effect on Cmic at concentrations below the current UK statutory limit

Response to editorial by Bryan and Rafferty

No abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/49325/1/20140_ftp.pd

Long-term Impact of sewage sludge application on rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii: an evaluation using meta-analysis

The Long-Term Sludge Experiment (LTSE) began in 1994 at nine UK field sites as part of continuing research into the effects of sludge-borne heavy metals on soil fertility. The long-term effects of Zn, Cu, and Cd on the most probable numbers of cells (MPN) of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii were monitored for 8 yr in sludge-amended soils. To assess the statutory limits set by the UK Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations, the experimental data were reviewed using statistical methods of meta-analysis. Previous LTSE studies have focused predominantly on statistical significance rather than effect size, whereas meta-analysis focuses on the magnitude and direction of an effect, i.e., the practical significance rather than its statistical significance. Results showed Zn to be the most toxic element causing an overall significant decrease in Rhizobium MPN of −26.6% during the LTSE. The effect of Cu showed no significant effect on Rhizobium MPN at concentrations below the UK limits, although a −5% decrease in Rhizobium MPN was observed in soils where total Cu ranged from 100 to <135 mg kg−1. Overall, there was nothing to indicate that Cd had a significant effect on Rhizobium MPN below the current UK statutory limit. In summary, the UK statutory limit for Zn appears to be insufficient for protecting Rhizobium from Zn toxicity effects

Antiretroviral therapy and changing patterns of HIV stigmatisation in Entebbe, Uganda

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has the potential to change processes of HIV stigmatisation. In this article, changing processes of stigmatisation among a group of people living with HIV (PLWH) on ART in Wakiso District, Uganda, are analysed using qualitative data from a study of PLWH’s self-management of HIV on ART. There were 38 respondents (20 women, 18 men) who had been taking ART for at least 1 year. They were purposefully selected from government and non-government ART providers. Two in-depth interviews were held with each participant. Processes of reduced self-stigmatisation were clearly evident, caused by the recovery of their physical appearance and support from health workers. However most participants continued to conceal their status because they anticipated stigma; for example, they feared gossip, rejection and their status being used against them. Anticipated stigma was gendered: women expressed greater fear of enacted forms of stigma such as rejection by their partner; in contrast men’s fears focused on gossip, loss of dignity and self-stigmatisation. The evidence indicates that ART has not reduced underlying structural drivers of stigmatisation, notably gender identities and inequalities, and that interventions are still required to mitigate and tackle stigmatisation, such as counselling, peer-led education and support groups that can help PLWH reconstruct alternative and more positive identities