Bump start needed: linking guidelines, policy and practice in promoting physical activity during and beyond pregnancy

First paragraph: There is compelling evidence that regular physical activity (PA) during pregnancy benefits both mother and baby.1 2 Notably, physical and psychological benefits are evident in the literature, such as marked reductions in the development of gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders, alongside improvements in depressive symptoms and cardiorespiratory fitness.1 2 The evidence base has been reflected by recent policy initiatives, for example, in 2017 (relaunched in 2019), the UK‘s chief medical officers (CMOs) published PA guidelines for pregnant women, which made substantial strides in unifying and translating the evidence into recommendations.1 The CMO guidelines are aimed at supporting health professionals to provide consistent, evidence-based PA messages to women throughout pregnancy.1 Recently, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity have updated their professional standards for working with antenatal and postnatal clients to align with these CMO guidelines.3 However, not all women have access to professionals with this level of expertise and training, potentially limiting the impact of the CMO guidelines

A Comparison of Rainfall Estimation Techniques

This study compares two techniques that have been developed for rainfall and streamflow estimation with the aim of identifying strengths and weaknesses of each. The first technique utilises thin plate smoothing splines to develop rainfall surfaces for the catchment, which are then, in conjunction with daily point-wise rainfall data used to determine areal catchment estimates. The second technique develops a regression-based model relating elevation to total annual rainfall in order to scale rainfall for daily mean catchment rainfall estimates. Both approaches are compared in common catchments in the upper Murrumbidgee catchment. The comparison includes using the data from each of the approaches as input to a rainfall-runoff model and by comparison of the quality of modelled results to observed streamflow. The strengths, weaknesses and use for catchment managers in decision making are identified. The study results revealed that where rain station spatial density and data quality are high, both regression and the spline method perform equally as well in estimating long term rainfall trends. In conclusion, catchment managers could apply the simple regression technique over the sophisticated spline method to achieve the comparable results. This is particularly useful where an efficient yet simple method is required for assessing streamflow within similar catchments

Design of water quality monitoring programs and automatic sampling techniques

An important means of characterising the health of streams is through the measurement of the sediment and nutrient fluxes that they transport. Cost effective and targeted water quality monitoring programs are required to properly quantify both the total loads and temporal distribution of these fluxes at catchment scales. Careful analysis of data from such programs ensures ameliorative efforts to reduce the biological, chemical and physical impacts of high loads are targeted to have the best effect. This paper reports on the development of a monitoring program in tributaries of the upper Murrumbidgee River. The aim of the program is to provide data for the modelling of both nutrient and sediment loads transported from upland catchments. The objective of the modelling is to spatially identify sediment transport and storage dynamics together with source strength variations in upland catchments. A brief review of design considerations for water quality programs is made with reference to the Murrumbidgee case study. The tools, techniques and sites of an alternative monitoring program in tributaries of the upper Murrumbidgee River are detailed. Included in the paper are modifications to the design of Graczyk et al. (2000) for an inexpensive, rising-stage water quality sampler, suitable for Australian conditions and currently in use. The research demonstrates that water quality data can be collected simply and cost effectively if programs are appropriately designed

Comparison of landscape approaches to define spatial patterns of hillslope-scale sediment delivery ratio

A sediment delivery ratio (SDR) is that fraction of gross erosion that is transported from a given catchment in a given time interval. In essence, a SDR is a scaling factor that relates sediment availability and deposition at different spatial scales. In this paper, we focus on hillslope-scale SDR, i.e. the ratio of sediment produced from hillslopes to that delivered to the stream network. Factors that affect hillslope water movement, and thus entrainment or deposition of sediments, ultimately affecting the SDR, include upslope area, climate, topography, and soil cover. In erosion models, SDR is usually treated as a constant parameter. However, the use of spatially variable SDRs could improve the spatial prediction of the critical sources of sediment, i.e. identification of those areas directly affecting stream water quality. Such information would improve prioritisation of natural resource management effort and investment. Recent literature has described several landscape approaches to represent SDR variability in space, some of which account only for topography, whilst others consider topography and soil cover characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate four landscape approaches for their ability to depict spatial patterns of SDR in the Avon-Richardson catchment in the semi-arid Wimmera region (Victoria, South-east Australia). Erosion was assessed using a semi-distributed model (CatchMODS) with disaggregation based in subcatchments of around 40 km2 area. Hillslope gross erosion was assessed with a RUSLE approach. By applying the four landscape approaches using DEM and estimates of land use cover, four landscape index subcatchment distributions were calculated. These were normalised into standard distributions. Then, a sigmoid function was used to transform the standardised indices into SDR-index distributions ranging from zero to one. Finally, subcatchment SDRs were estimated as the product of the SDR-index by a whole-of-catchment SDR value that was estimated by calibration against sediment loads measured at five gauging stations of the study area. The major sources of hillslope erosion were modelled to be located in the southern hilly areas of the catchment. However, a topographic convergence approach predicted as well important contribution of hillslope-erosion sediment loads coming from the eastern flatter cropping land. The introduction of landscape-variable SDRs improved the overall goodness-of-fit of modelled versus observed sediment loads at five gauging stations located in the catchment for only the topographic convergence approach. However, the limited number of observations (11), the location of some gauging stations downstream of active gully erosion, and the lack of gauging stations monitoring the north-eastern part of the catchment hindered the assessment of which spatial distribution of hillslope erosion best represented the real catchment conditions. Further research is needed to define the relationship between landscape indices and SDR; and to evaluate the spatial distribution of erosion against more complete field evidence

Land use change: implications for Australian Capital Territory Water use

Managing water resources to ensure environmental values are maintained, whilst allowing for continued economic development is a major challenge facing many areas including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This paper reports on a GIS based investigation of the implications of land use change on ACT water use. The paper describes a suite of tools that are collectively termed PLUCA (Platform for Land use Change Assessment). Areas with the potential for land use change were identified through land capability assessment and by investigation of the suitability of land for development of alternate industries. Spatial data including slope, aspect, a wetness index, climatic surfaces, geology and consideration of the minimum viable scale of industry were analysed in the study. A coarse land use class – water use relationship estimated for the ACT was used to determine the maximum potential water use resulting from land use change. Three scenarios, based on different levels of land use change were constructed to simulate high, medium and low levels of potential landuse change in the ACT. The estimated reduction in streamflow for the maximum development scenario, was around 6.8% of the average annual runoff from the ACT. This scenario represented modification of only 3.9% of the total land area. This study demonstrates the potential for the use of GIS in the optimisation of landuse from biophysical characteristics. The implications of such changes should they occur were calculated through investigation of the annual average reduction in streamflow. The study demonstrates the use of GIS techniques in quantifying interactions at appropriate scales for decision making. The development of improved decision support tools is also outlined. <br

Lower body acceleration and muscular responses to rotational and vertical whole-body vibration of different frequencies and amplitudes

This is the final version. Available on open access from SAGE Publications via the DOI in this recordThe aim of this study was to characterise acceleration transmission and neuromuscular responses to rotational (RV) and vertical (VV) vibration of different frequencies and amplitudes. Methods - 12 healthy males completed 2 experimental trials (RV vs. VV) during which vibration was delivered during either squatting (30°; RV vs. VV) or standing (RV only) with 20, 25, 30 Hz, at 1.5 and 3.0 mm peak-to-peak amplitude. Vibration-induced accelerations were assessed with triaxial accelerometers mounted on the platform and bony landmarks at ankle, knee, and lumbar spine. Results At all frequency/amplitude combinations, accelerations at the ankle were greater during RV (all p < 0.03) with the greatest difference observed at 30 Hz 1.5 mm. Transmission of RV was also influenced by body posture (standing vs. squatting, p < 0.03). Irrespective of vibration type vibration transmission to all skeletal sites was generally greater at higher amplitudes but not at higher frequencies, especially above the ankle joint. Acceleration at the lumbar spine increased with greater vibration amplitude but not frequency and was highest with RV during standing. Conclusions/Implications - The transmission of vibration during WBV is dependent on intensity and direction of vibration as well as body posture. For targeted mechanical loading at the lumbar spine, RV of higher amplitude and lower frequency vibration while standing is recommended. These results will assist with the prescription of WBV to achieve desired levels of mechanical loading at specific sites in the human body.London South Bank UniversityAge U

Encouraging Physical Activity during and after Pregnancy in the COVID-19 Era, and beyond

Physical activity is known to decline during pregnancy and the postnatal period, yet physical activity is recommended during this time due to the significant health benefits for mothers and their offspring. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions imposed to reduce infection rates, pregnant and postnatal women have experienced disruption not just to their daily lives but also to their pregnancy healthcare experience and their motherhood journey with their new infant. This has included substantial changes in how, when and why they have engaged with physical activity. While some of these changes undoubtedly increased the challenge of being sufficiently active as a pregnant or postnatal woman, they have also revealed new opportunities to reach and support women and their families. This commentary details these challenges and opportunities, and highlights how researchers and practitioners can, and arguably must, harness these short-term changes for long-term benefit. This includes a call for a fresh focus on how we can engage and support those individuals and groups who are both hardest hit by COVID-19 and have previously been under-represented and under-served by antenatal and postnatal physical activity research and interventions

Techniques for assessing the performance of a landscape-based sediment source and transport model: sensitivity trials and physical methods

Widespread degradation of aquatic habitat and water quality has occurred since European settlement of Australia. Repairing this degradation is expensive and hence on-ground management needs to be carefully focussed. The Sediment River Network model, SedNet, used for the estimation of the sources and transport of sediment spatially and at catchment scales, potentially provides a useful tool to assist land managers in focusing this work. The complete model, whilst broadly applied has not been systematically tested to assess its accuracy or sensitivity to its various model components. The aim of this paper is to propose a framework for such testing. Results from the work will be used to prioritise data acquisition, and improve the structure and parameterisation of the model where necessary. The research is also particularly relevant for shifting application of the model from continental to catchment scales. The testing will comprise two components - sensitivity assessment and accuracy assessment. This paper provides a brief introduction to the SedNet model and a framework for assessing the model. Examples of sensitivity assessment and accuracy assessment are provided and discussed

Drug use among British Bangladeshis in London: a macro-structural perspective focusing on disadvantages contributing to individuals’ drug use trajectories and engagement with treatment services

Aims: The main aim of our study was to produce an understanding of factors contributing to drug-using trajectories among men and women from a Bangladeshi background living in East London. Methods: Fifteen semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted with male and female Bangladeshi drug users accessing treatment services. A macro-structural lens was adopted to interpret participants’ accounts of their drug use and explored the intersecting factors that at a micro, meso, and macro level impacted on their drug-using trajectories. Findings: Problem drug use (heroin and crack cocaine) among participants was the result of inter-related factors such as their friendship networks and the embeddedness of drugs in drug-using networks, the structural disadvantages participants experienced, and the need for concealment of their drug use which impacted on participants’ effective utilisation of drug treatment services. Problem drug use was a functional way of responding to and dealing with social, economic, and cultural disconnection from mainstream institutions as participants faced severe multiple disadvantages engendering stigma and shame. Conclusions: We propose a ‘life-focused’ intervention aimed at creating extra opportunities and making critically-needed resources available in the marginalised environment of the study’s participants, which are key to restoring and maintaining agency and sustaining well-being