Mercury cycling in restored coastal wetlands.

PhDSaltmarsh restoration is being implemented across Europe and North America yet, there is little understanding of the effects of de-embankment on Hg biogeochemical cycling. The aim of this thesis is to understand the controls upon Hg dynamics in coastal sites, with specific emphasis on the effects of ecosystem restoration on MeHg production. This is the first study in the UK to examine the effect of saltmarsh restoration on Hg methylation. Field observations were used to assess broad-scale Hg dynamics and physico-chemical controls on MeHg production. A laboratory experiment was conducted to explore the short-term effects of saline inundation on MeHg production. Recently de-embanked sites have lower MeHg concentrations, probably due to poor drainage and limited vegetation development. Physical sediment properties are less heterogeneous in restored sites, which are reflecting lower habitat and topographic heterogeneity. Previous land-use has a significant impact on physico-chemical sediment characteristics and these characteristics change over time to reflect saltmarsh development. There was evidence to show that it takes decades for restored sites to attain similar physico-chemical characteristics to their natural counterparts. This could have significant implications for wider biogeochemical cycling in restored saltmarshes, and long-term implications for the delivery of biogeochemical ecosystem services. This aspect of the research was completely novel, providing the first evidence of the spatial and temporal variation of Hg and MeHg concentrations in restored saltmarshes in the UK. Laboratory experiments showed that MeHg production was greatest in fluctuating saline conditions (cumulative exposure of 1830 pg g-1) compared to all other treatments. For example, the anoxic-saline treatment had a cumulative exposure of 460 pg g-1. Findings indicated that peaks of MeHg could be produced immediately following tidal inundation and that MeHg could potentially increase over time as the site develops to a tidal regime more comparable to a natural saltmarsh. Previous 3 studies have indicated that permanently flooded soils produce high MeHg concentration however this is the first study to show that fluctuating saline conditions could produce a large pulse of MeHg, an important consideration for coastal managers. Surface sediments in restored coastal wetlands appear to be areas of significant MeHg production. MeHg concentration was found to be well correlated with indicators of sulphate reducing bacteria (r=0.536, p<0.001), however most importantly, evidence was found for biogeochemical relationships with MeHg concentration, particularly the association of MeHg and indicators of iron reduction (r=0.561, p<0.001). Therefore, where MeHg is normally restricted by sulphide production, high levels of MeHg can be formed through other pathways. Coastal areas are not generally considered to be areas of concern for MeHg production because high chloride and sulphide concentrations have been shown to inhibit Hg methylation. However, this research shows that other pathways can also be responsible for Hg methylation (i.e. iron reduction) and therefore coastal sediment can be significant contributors to Hg methylation.PhD studentship from the Natural Environment Research Council (UK) (NE/J500331/1) and Queen Mary University of Londo

Examination of a Peer-Led, Non-Diet Nutrition and Exercise Adherence Pilot Program on a College Campus: FitU

A non-equivalent control group design was utilized to investigate the effect of a non-diet, peer-led, tailored nutrition and exercise adherence intervention (FitU) on exercise stages of change, intuitive eating, and barriers to healthy eating and exercise in college females. Female students (n=17) who enrolled in the 8-10 week program served as the intervention group and general education students who did not receive an intervention served as the control group (n=16). Surveys were administered pre and post intervention over two consecutive semesters. Utilizing ANCOVA analyses, reported barriers to eating healthy decreased (p=.008) and one intuitive eating subscale, eating for physical rather than emotional reasons improved significantly (p=.01) in the intervention group compared to control from pre to post. Further, 65% of the intervention group reported an improvement in exercise stage of change and none relapsed compared with only 20% improvement and 40% relapse in the control group from pre to postintervention. The majority of the intervention participants also reported improved dietary (82.4%) and exercise (76.5%) patterns/thoughts. Peer-led and individually tailored, non-diet nutrition and exercise interventions may effectively promote healthy behaviors among college females

Surficial Geologic Map of the Flaherty 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Kentucky

The Flaherty 7.5-minute quadrangle is located southwest of Louisville and northwest of Elizabethtown along the boundary between Hardin and Meade Counties. The quadrangle includes mostly the Pennyroyal region of the Mississippian Plateau and also smaller areas of the Mammoth Cave plateau and the highly dissected Dripping Springs escarpment in the western half of the map area (McDowell, 1986). Topography is mostly characterized by pervasive sinkhole development in a lower elevation and low-relief plain, and high-relief plateaus, ridges, and knobs of the Dripping Springs escarpment scattered along the west side of the quadrangle. Swadley (1963) mapped the bedrock geology of the quadrangle, which was later digitized by Crawford (2002). Mississippian bedrock is exposed throughout the quadrangle and is cut by several normal faults in the south. The St. Louis Limestone and overlying Ste. Genevieve Limestone are the oldest and lowest (stratigraphy and elevation) map units in Flaherty, and underlie the Pennyroyal region. The higher elevation landforms characterizing the Dripping Springs escarpment are predominantly underlain by the Paoli Limestone, Beaver Bend Limestone, and Sample Sandstone, from oldest to youngest respectively. The Mooretown Formation is stratigraphically above the Paoli Limestone and below the Beaver Bend Limestone, and is only exposed along Sand Ridge, a prominent landform in the quadrangle trending northeast to southwest. Previously mapped surficial deposits include alluvium in Otter Creek, Flippin Creek, and a large karst basin, and “slumped sandstone” (colluvium) along Sand Ridge and other smaller areas throughout the quadrangle (Swadley, 1963)

Surficial Geologic Map of the Big Clifty 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Kentucky

The Big Clifty 7.5-minute quadrangle is located south of Louisville and west of Elizabethtown along the boundary between Hardin and Grayson Counties. The quadrangle lies within the Mammoth Cave plateau of the Mississippian Plateau physiographic region (McDowell, 1986). Topography is characterized by a low relief plain sitting at elevations between 650 to 850 ft above sea level, which is dissected and incised by Rough River, Meeting Creek, Clifty Creek, and their tributaries to below 500 ft. Swadley (1962) mapped the bedrock geology of the quadrangle, which was later digitized by Conley (2002). Mississippian bedrock is exposed throughout the quadrangle and is cut by several vertical faults in the southeast. The oldest bedrock units include the Beaver Bend and Paoli Limestones, Sample Sandstone, and Reelsville Limestone from oldest to youngest, respectively, and are exposed in the lowest sections of river valleys on the west side of the quadrangle. The Golconda Formation (Beech Creek Limestone, Big Clifty Sandstone, and Haney Limestone Members) is primarily exposed along steep slopes of those same river valleys, which lead up to the top of the plateau. The majority of the broad Mammoth Cave plateau is underlain by Hardinsburg Sandstone with local exposures of Glen Dean Limestone and Leitchfield Formation occurring in the southwest corner of the quadrangle. Previously mapped surficial deposits include scattered areas of alluvium in Meeting Creek, Little Meeting Creek, and Clifty Creek (Swadley, 1962)

Surficial Geologic Map of the Millerstown 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Kentucky

The Millerstown 7.5-minute quadrangle is located south of Louisville and southwest of Elizabethtown along the boundaries between Hardin, Grayson, and Hart Counties and within the Mississippian Plateau physiographic region (McDowell, 1986). Topography is characterized by the low relief Pennyroyal plain that sits at altitudes below about 650 ft above sea level, the low relief Mammoth Cave plateau at altitudes above about 650 ft, and steep slopes of and isolated knobs of the incised Dripping Springs escarpment that separates the two plains. Moore (1965) mapped the bedrock geology of the quadrangle, which was later digitized by Johnson (2006). Mississippian bedrock and local areas of Pennsylvanian bedrock are exposed throughout most of the quadrangle, all, of which, are cut by several vertical faults. The Ste. Genevieve Limestone is the oldest lithology and underlies the Pennyroyal region in the northeast and southwest corners of the quadrangle, and locally along the Nolin River. The Beaver Bend Limestone, Mooretown Formation, Paoli Limestone, Sample Sandstone, and Reelsville Limestone stratigraphic sequence underlie most of the remaining Pennyroyal plain and several steep slopes of the Dripping Springs escarpment. The Beech Creek Limestone, Big Clifty Sandstone, and Haney Limestone Members of the Golconda Formation are exposed along the Dripping Springs escarpment the edges of the Mammoth Cave plateau region. Most of the Mammoth Cave plateau is underlain by the Hardinsburg Limestone, and, locally in the southwest corner of the quadrangle, the Glen Dean Limestone, Leitchfield Formation, and Pennsylvanian Caseyville Formation. Previously mapped surficial deposits include minor areas of alluvium in tributaries across the Millerstown quadrangle (Moore, 1964)

Surficial Geologic Map of the Summit 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Kentucky

The Summit 7.5-minute quadrangle is located south of Louisville and west of Elizabethtown along the boundary between Hardin and Grayson Counties and within the Mississippian Plateau physiographic region (McDowell, 1986). Topography is characterized by the low relief Pennyroyal region that sits at elevations between 560 to 650 ft above sea level, the low relief Mammoth Cave plateau at elevations between 750 to 900 ft, and the steep Dripping Springs escarpment that separates the two plains. Moore (1964) mapped the bedrock geology of the quadrangle, which was later digitized by Conley (2002). Mississippian bedrock is exposed throughout the quadrangle and is cut by several vertical faults. The St. Louis Limestone and overlying Ste. Genevieve Limestone underlie the Pennyroyal region and are the oldest bedrock units in the quadrangle. The Beaver Bend and Paoli Limestones, Sample Sandstone, Reelsville Limestone, and Beech Creek Limestone Member of the Golconda Formation are exposed along the Dripping Springs escarpment. The Mammoth Cave plateau region is underlain by the Big Clifty Sandstone and, locally, Haney Limestone Members of the Golconda Formation east of the Summit Fault, and Hardinsburg Sandstone west of the fault. Previously mapped surficial deposits include minor areas of alluvium in tributaries across the Summit quadrangle, and areas of “slumped sandstone” (colluvium) in the Pennyroyal region (Moore, 1964)

Stakeholder Perceptions of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Implementation in Resource-Limited Settings

Nearly half of the world lacks access to diagnostic imaging. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a versatile and relatively affordable imaging modality that offers promise as a means of bridging the radiology gap and improving care in low resource settings. Methods: We performed semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders at two diverse hospitals where POCUS implementation programs had recently been conducted: one in a rural private hospital in Haiti and the other in a public referral hospital in Malawi. Questions regarding the clinical utility of POCUS, as well as barriers and facilitators of its implementation, were asked of study participants. Using the Framework Method, analysis of interview transcripts was guided by the WHO ASSURED criteria for point of care diagnostics. Results: Fifteen stakeholders with diverse roles in POCUS implementation were interviewed. Interviewees from both sites considered POCUS a valuable diagnostic tool that improved clinical decisions. They perceived barriers to adequate training as one of the most important remaining barriers to POCUS implementation. Conclusions: In spite of the increasing affordability and portability of ultrasounds devices, there are still important barriers to the implementation of POCUS in resource-limited settings

Stakeholder Perceptions of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Implementation in Resource-Limited Settings

Nearly half of the world lacks access to diagnostic imaging. Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) is a versatile and relatively affordable imaging modality that offers promise as a means of bridging the radiology gap and improving care in low resource settings. Methods: We performed semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders at two diverse hospitals where POCUS implementation programs had recently been conducted: one in a rural private hospital in Haiti and the other in a public referral hospital in Malawi. Questions regarding the clinical utility of POCUS, as well as barriers and facilitators of its implementation, were asked of study participants. Using the Framework Method, analysis of interview transcripts was guided by the WHO ASSURED criteria for point of care diagnostics. Results: Fifteen stakeholders with diverse roles in POCUS implementation were interviewed. Interviewees from both sites considered POCUS a valuable diagnostic tool that improved clinical decisions. They perceived barriers to adequate training as one of the most important remaining barriers to POCUS implementation. Conclusions: In spite of the increasing affordability and portability of ultrasounds devices, there are still important barriers to the implementation of POCUS in resource-limited settings

End-user involvement in a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research of non-pharmacological interventions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder delivered in school settings: reflections on the impacts and challenges.

JOURNAL ARTICLEBACKGROUND: The benefits of end-user involvement in health-care research are widely recognized by research agencies. There are few published evaluations of end-user involvement in systematic reviews. OBJECTIVES: (i) Describe end-user involvement in a complex mixed-methods systematic review of ADHD in schools, (ii) reflect on the impact of end-user involvement, (iii) highlight challenges and benefits experienced and (iv) provide suggestions to inform future involvement. METHODS: End-users were involved in all stages of the project, both as authors and as members of an advisory group. In addition, several events were held with groups of relevant end-users during the project. RESULTS: End-user input (i) guided the direction of the research, (ii) contributed to a typology of interventions and outcomes, (iii) contributed to the direction of data analysis and (iv) contributed to the robustness of the syntheses by demonstrating the alignment of interim findings with lived experiences. Challenges included (i) managing expectations, (ii) managing the intensity of emotion, (iii) ensuring that involvement was fruitful for all not just the researcher, (iv) our capacity to communicate and manage the process and (v) engendering a sense of involvement amongst end-users. CONCLUSIONS: End-user involvement was an important aspect of this project. To minimize challenges in future projects, a recognition by the project management team and the funding provider that end-user involvement even in evidence synthesis projects is resource intensive is essential to allow appropriate allocation of time and resources for meaningful engagement.NIHR HTA programmeNIHRExeter NHS Foundation Trus

Evidence from big data in obesity research: international case studies

Obesity is thought to be the product of over 100 different factors, interacting as a complex system over multiple levels. Understanding the drivers of obesity requires considerable data, which are challenging, costly and time-consuming to collect through traditional means. Use of 'big data' presents a potential solution to this challenge. Big data is defined by Delphi consensus as: always digital, has a large sample size, and a large volume or variety or velocity of variables that require additional computing power (Vogel et al. Int J Obes. 2019). 'Additional computing power' introduces the concept of big data analytics. The aim of this paper is to showcase international research case studies presented during a seminar series held by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Strategic Network for Obesity in the UK. These are intended to provide an in-depth view of how big data can be used in obesity research, and the specific benefits, limitations and challenges encountered