The ‘oldest tricks in the book’ don’t work! Reports of burglary by DUMA detainees in Western Australia

Explores the methods and motivations of those actively involved in committing burglaries. Foreword Research investigating the methods and motivations of burglars has typically focused on incarcerated offenders. The Australian Institute of Criminology’s Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program provided an opportunity for the authors to explore the methods and motivations of those actively involved in committing burglaries, whether or not they had actually been caught or detained for that offence. The findings support Routine Activity Theory, indicating that offenders consider a number of factors in determining whether a property will be targeted for a break and enter offence. As might be expected, opportunistic burglars choose easy to access properties, stay a minimum length of time and take goods that can be disposed of easily. It was concluded that simple prevention strategies could minimise the risk of becoming a victim of opportunistic burglary, which also has implications for law enforcement, the security industry and insurance agencies

Recommendations for high intensity upper body exercise testing

Introduction: For given submaximal and maximal peak power outputs aerobic responses to upper body exercise are different to those for lower body exercise (Sawka, 1986: Exercise & Sport Sciences Reviews, 14, 175-211). However, much less is known regarding responses to exercise intensities at and around peak oxygen up take (VO2peak). Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the metabolic responses during arm crank ergometry (ACE) below, at and above peak oxygen uptake and to help establish exercise testing guidelines for high intensity upper body exercise. Methods: Following institutional ethical approval fourteen male students (Age 21.1, s = 6.1 years and 2.44 s=0.44 VO2peak) volunteered to take part in this study. Each participant exercised on a table mounted cycle ergometer (Monark 894E, Monark Exercise AB, Sweden). After habituation peak minute power (PMP) was calculated from an incremental test. Subsequently each participant completed four continuous work tests (CWT) to volitional exhaustion at 80%, 90%, 100% and 110% of PMP. All tests were completed at 70 rev∙min-1 with a minimum of 48-h between tests and the order was counterbalanced. Each CWT was preceded by a 5 min warm-up, loaded with a mass corresponding to the participants 80% PMP for 20 s at minutes 2, 3 and 4. Oxygen uptake (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR) and ratings of perceived exertion for the arms (local (RPEL) and cardiorespiratory strain (RPECR) were recorded at 1 min, 2 min and at volitional exhaustion. The EMG responses at three sites (flexor carpi ulnaris, biceps brachii and triceps brachii lateral) were recorded using double-differential (16-3000 Hz bandwidth, x300 gain), bipolar, active electrodes (MP-2A, Linton, Norfolk, UK). Electromyographic data were sampled at 1000 Hz and filtered using a 20 to 500 Hz band-pass filter (MP150 Data Acquisition and AcqKnowledge 4.0, Biopac, Goleta, CA). The EMG signals for each muscle were root mean squared (RMS) with a 500-ms sample window. The signal was then normalised, prior to each CWT, as a percentage of the mean of 3 sets of 10 duty cycles completed during the warm-up (see above) when the participants 80% PMP for 20 s was applied. Time to exhaustion (Tlim) was recorded as the performance outcome measure. Data for Tlim were analysed using one-way analysis of variance. Differences in EMG, VO2, RER, HR, RPEL and RPECR were analysed using separate two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures (trial x time). All analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences ( 17.0; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Individual differences in means were located using Bonferroni post-hoc correction. Significance was accepted at P < 0.05. Results: As resistive load increased Tlim decreased (611 s=194, 397 s=99, 268 s=90, 206 s=67s, respectively; P < 0.001, ES = 0.625). Post-hoc analysis revealed that Tlim using 80%PMP was longer than for 90%, 100% and 110% PMP trials (P < 0.001) and 90% was longer than both 100% and 110% PMP trials (P = 0.079, P = 0.001). At exhaustion VO2 was similar across trials (P = 0.413, ES = 0.053), although 80% PMP VO2 tended to be less (2.10 s=0.32 l·min-1) than for 90% (2.29 s=0.37), 100% (2.33 s=0.49) and 110% (2.26 s=0.34). Also, 80% PMP VO2 was less than VO2peak (P = 0.013). There were differences in RER at Tlim (P < 0.001, ES = 0.593) with values increasing with % PMP (1.15 s=0.07, 1.26 s=0.07, 1.36 s=0.10, 1.40 s=0.09, respectively). There were no differences across trials for HR at Tlim (~173 (12); P = 0.834, ES = 0.016) and HR was proportional to %PMP at 1 min, and 2 min. For flexor carpi ulnaris there was an increase in activation as exercise intensity increased (P < 0.001, ES = 0.245). There were a similar responses for biceps brachii and triceps brachii demonstrating an increase in activation with exercise intensity (P <0.001, ES = 0.137, P < 0.001, ES = 0.163, respectively). No differences for RPEL and RPECR were observed at Tlim. Discussion: There was a clear response of Tlim with intensity as expected for lower body exercise (Hill et al., 2002: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(4), 709-714). Despite differences in Tlim across exercise intensities VO2, HR and RPE were similar at exhaustion indicating a functional cardiorespiratory maximum had been reached. As indicated by the RER an increased activation of the anaerobic metabolism with greater exercise intensities (100% and 110%) is likely and therefore this may represent a greater anaerobic component at these two intensities. The increase in EMG activity with intensity could indicate an increase activity with an increase in exercise intensity. Conclusion: It is recommended that due to the combination of muscle activation, oxygen uptake and Tlim that an exercise intensity of 90% or 100% of PMP could be used for high intensity upper body exercise testing

Evaluation of the Wadden Sea Particularly sensitive Sea Area. On behalf of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat.

The purpose of this document is to present the high level outcomes for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Wadden Sea PSSA, seven years after its designation by the IMO. Key changes with regard to IMO and EU shipping policy are identified and described, followed by a review of ‘expert’ opinion focused on the issues relating to PSSAs. The development of an evaluative framework and the resulting findings are introduced and discussed in context. Using existing data against this evaluative framework we conclude that six key elements require action in order to fully describe the efficacy of the designation, and our recommendations to address these concerns are presented.<br/

Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of recurrent renal stone disease

Recurrent renal stones occur in 7.5% ofCaucasian men and 3% of all women. Even withincreasing urbanisation, renal calculi are reported inless than I% of black South African men and women. Four hundred recurrent stone formers were studied at the metabolic stone clinic using routine and special tests. The appropriate therapy for each subgroup is outlined and studies on various different treatments are presented. In addition, lithogenic risk factors were studied in normal black and white subjects and in black stone formers, in order to clarify the low incidence in the black population.Patients were classified according dietary andmetabolic lithogenic risk factors. 10% of stoneformers had pure dietary factors. The percentage ofstone formers in each of the various metabolicsubgroups was as follows: Renal hypercalciuria 12%, Absorptive hypercalciuria 10%, Mild metabolichyperoxaluria 20%, Hypocitraturia 50%. Successfultherapy in terms of preventing further stoneformation was reported using indapamide, calciumcarbonate and potassium citrate in renal hypercalciuria,mild metabolic hyperoxaluria and hypo-citraturia respectively. Black volunteer subjects hadsignificantly higher 24hr urinary sodium excretionand significantly lower 24hr urinary calcium, citrateand cystine excretion than white volunteer subjects. Twenty-four hours urinary values in black stoneformers were found to be approaching those levelsfound in white.As urbanisation occurs in the black population, the incidence of urolithiasis would be expected to increase. We conclude that a detailed metabolic work-up is essential in the elucidation of the various metabolic risk factors. in so-called "idiopathic" CaOx stone formers. It allows appropriate, specific and highly cost-effective therapy aimed at the prevention of recurrence. [Erratum appears in AJN, 2017; 20(1):200.

Correction: Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of recurrent renal stone disease

In Table 3 of the original publication of this article [1], the citrate excretion in white subjects is given as 1.39(0.92), which is incorrect. The correct value is 2.39(0.92). Reference1. Meyers A, Whalley N, Martins M. Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of recurrent renal stone disease. Afr J Nephrol. 1998; 2(1):12-17

Components and principles of a pediatric palliative care consultation: results of a Delphi study

Background: Pediatric palliative care is a distinct specialty that requires input from pediatric and palliative medicine specialists to provide comprehensive high-quality care. Consultations undertaken early in a child's illness trajectory, when end-of-life care is not anticipated to be required, enables relationships to be established and may enhance the quality of care provided

Home telehealth and paediatric palliative care: clinician perceptions of what is stopping us?

Background: Advances in technology have made the use of telehealth in the home setting a feasible option for palliative care clinicians to provide clinical care and support. However, despite being widely available and accessible, telehealth has still not been widely adopted either in Australia or internationally. The study aim was to investigate the barriers, enablers and perceived usefulness for an established home telehealth program in paediatric palliative care from the perspective of clinicians

Assessing female sexual offenders\u27 motivations and cognitions : an exploratory study

Semi-structured interviews eliciting cognitions and motivations were carried out with 15 incarcerated female child sexual abusers (nearly 50% of the current UK female sexual offender prison population). Qualitative analysis indicated that four of the five motivational schemas (implicit theories) suggested by Ward (Ward, 2000; Ward &amp; Keenan, 1999) to underlie male sexual offenders\u27 cognitions could be clearly identified in women, these were: Uncontrollability (UN, identified in 87% of participants), Dangerous world (DW, 53%), Children as sexual objects (CSO, 47%) and Nature of harm (NH, 20%). Entitlement, the final implicit theory (IT), commonly found in males, was not identified in any participants in the sample. Further analysis indicated that there were four main motivational types of offender based on combinations of these ITs. These were: (1) presence of DW/CSO, indicating sexual motivation and cognitions with fear of violence; (2) presence of DW/no CSO, indicating fear of violence with no sexual cognition or motivation; (3) presence of CSO/no DW, indicating sexual motivation and cognition; the NH IT also strongly featured in this group; and (4) presence of UN/no DW or CSO, indicating lack of control, sometimes with sense of protection for the victim. Suggestions are made on how the results can inform theoretical developments in the field as well as policy and practice

Poking Holes in Discharge Time Series with Photographic Evidence

River discharge is a key variable for hydrological studies and water resource management, but acquiring high-quality measurement remains challenging in mountain environments and in particular for mountain torrents. Extreme discharge variations between summer and winter, negative temperatures and intense sediment transport are the main issues for sensors (that get easily clogged, frozen or stucked out of the water) as well as for cross-section stability (a pre-condition for using a rating curve approach). In this presentation, we discuss what we learned from streamflow observations in the experimental Vallon de Nant catchment (13,4 km²), located in the Swiss Alps, which serves as a field laboratory for environmental research, ranging from plant ecology to snow hydrology and sediment transport to stream-C02 exchange with the atmosphere. We discuss here 4 years of optical height gauge records at the outlet (1200 m a.s.l.), obtained from a single VEGA-PULS WL-61 sensor measuring the water height above a concrete trapezoidal shaped cross-section (base width 5.3 m), designed primarily for sediment transport observations (with 10 geophones mounted flush on the concrete weir). There was no low flow channel within the cross-section. At least four other similar gauging stations are currently in use for hydrologic research in Switzerland, with or without low flow channels. The relevance of a discharge quality study at this site is twofold: i) to understand the reliability of flow measurements during low flow and during sediment-influenced high flow events and ii) to compile recommendations for similar discharge observation settings. At the Vallon de Nant study site, the absence of a low-flow channel in the weir, combined with the limitation of having a single river stage measuring point resulted in significant over- and under-estimation of the river stage at low-flows, caused by the fluctuation of the river bed position relative to that of the measuring point. Even if the flow covers the entire width of the weir crest, single clast deposits near to the crest can significantly disturb stage observations. We performed a validation of the data using hourly pictures taken during daytime with a low-cost camera at the outlet, and used the photographic evidence to identify periods when the river was partially or totally frozen, sediments were distorting the river stage measurements, and river channelization was occurring below or next to the river height sensor. Concurrent monitoring of temperature, conductivity or turbidity failed to identify these distortions. Consequently, significant error in discharge calculation would arise without a concurrent photographic observation. The key conclusion is that despite the growth of automation in measurements at gauging stations, there remains a need for observation of those stations, and if humans are no longer doing these, other digital technologies such as imaging need to be used instead. Our approach could be extended to night-time situations and locations that will go for extremely long periods without access