The Relationship Between Local Socioeconomic Conditions and Macroinvertebrate Communities of Wadeable Streams Across the United States

Using a nationwide sampling of small stream health and condition conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), a representative statistical model was created to understand which socioeconomic factors correlate significantly with biological integrity in small streams. The Shannon index for species diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates was used as the dependent variable since benthic macroinvertebrates are both sensitive to pollutants and physical habitat alterations. Several independent variables were investigated focusing on select components within the sociopolitical and built environments of streams. Percent of a state’s gross domestic product attributed to agriculture, was identified as the strongest predictor for reduced benthic macroinvertebrate population diversity within streams, suggesting the urgent need for a change in current agricultural practices in order for stream quality to improve.. In addition, until such changes in agricultural production methods are made, the study suggests the usefulness of using low-cost, rapid economic assessments of a region’s local economic output instead of field-intensive biological sampling as a potentially valid measure of stream condition in the United States

Effects of socio-economic status on breastfeeding duration and exclusivity

Aim: To assess socio-economic factors as predictors of breastfeeding duration and exclusivity. Design: Longitudinal prospective study, The Prevalence of Infant Food Allergy Study. Setting: Winchester and Eastleigh Primary Care Trust. Subjects: 905 singletons born, data were collected by maternal interview and 12 month food diary. Results: Overall breastfeeding was initiated by 91.4% of mothers, and by 1, 3 and 6 months of age the proportions being breastfed were 75.2%, 57.6% and 35.5%. By 1, 4 and 6 months of age the proportions being exclusively breastfed were 44.2%, 29.7% and 1.3%. There were clear socio-economic differences and mothers with a higher education were over three times more likely (OR 3.75, 95% CI 2.03-6.93) to initiate breastfeeding, two times more likely to be breastfeeding at 2 months (OR 2.71, 95% CI 1.59-4.62) and nearly twice as likely to be breastfeeding at 6 months (OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.05-3.67) compared to mothers with a lower education. Women with a higher education were also three times more likely to exclusively breastfeed for 2 months (OR 3.05, 95% CI 1.15-6.16) compared to mothers with a lower education. Exclusive breastfeeding was mostly lost due to the introduction of whey formula, with 91.43% of mothers in the low education group choosing to introduce whey formula first. Conclusions: Low socio-economic maternal status reduced breastfeeding initiation, duration and 2 month exclusivity. Support for mothers with a low socio-economic status need to be established to improve breastfeeding rates in this population. Overall only 1.3% of babies were being exclusively breastfed. Mothers need to be properly prepared and supported if the WHO’s 6 month exclusivity is to be met by the larger population

Intervención para la prevención de sobrepeso y obesidad en mujeres en fase de premenopausia, menopausia y posmenopausia. Diseño de intervención

Está comprobada la relación entre el climaterio y el aumento de peso. También hay estudios que relacionan esta etapa vital con enfermedades cardiovasculares y cáncer. Con lo cual se puede afirmar que la obesidad y el sobrepeso en mujeres en etapa del climaterio, se consideran factores de riesgo importantes, tanto por las consecuencias en la salud física como en la psicológica. La prevención es la mejor forma para evitar dichos factores de riesgo y ésta se logra con una alimentación saludable además de una vida activa. La finalidad que se persigue para obtener una alimentación saludable es una dieta equilibrada la cual tiene que cumplir 4 requisitos: que sea variada, saludable, suficiente y agradable. El objetivo del presente trabajo es diseñar una intervención para la prevención del sobrepeso y la obesidad en mujeres mayores de 40 años que estén cursando el período de climaterio y conocer el efecto de dicha intervención, sobre la calidad de vida de las participantes, a corto y largo plazo. La metodología en que se lleva a cabo el presente programa es por medio de cuestionarios sobre hábitos y calidad de vida, antes y después de realizar las sesiones de intervención.The relationship between climacteric and weight gain is proven. There are also studies that relate this vital stage with cardiovascular diseases and cancer. With which it can be said that obesity and overweight in women in climacteric stage, are considered important risk factors, both for the consequences on physical and psychological health. Prevention is the best way to avoid these risk factors and this is achieved with a healthy diet as well as an active life. The purpose that is pursued to obtain a healthy diet is a balanced diet which has to fulfill 4 requirements: that it be varied, healthy, sufficient and pleasant. The objective of this paper is to design an intervention for the prevention of overweight and obesity in women over 40 who are in the climacteric period and to know the effect of this intervention on the quality of life of the participants, in the short and long term. The methodology in which this program is carried out is through questionnaires about habits and quality of life, before and after the intervention sessions.Està comprovada la relació entre el climateri i l'augment de pes. També hi ha estudis que relacionen aquesta etapa vital amb malalties cardiovasculars i càncer. Amb la qual cosa es pot afirmar que l'obesitat i el sobrepès en dones en etapa del climateri, es consideren factors de risc importants, tant per les conseqüències en la salut física com en la psicològica. La prevenció és la millor forma per a evitar aquests factors de risc i aquesta s'aconsegueix amb una alimentació saludable a més d'una vida activa. La finalitat que es persegueix per a obtenir una alimentació saludable és una dieta equilibrada la qual ha de complir 4 requisits: que sigui variada, saludable, suficient i agradable. L'objectiu del present treball és dissenyar una intervenció per a la prevenció del sobrepès i l'obesitat en dones majors de 40 anys que estiguin cursant el període de climateri i conèixer l'efecte d'aquesta intervenció, sobre la qualitat de vida de les participants, a curt i llarg termini. La metodologia en què es duu a terme el present programa és per mitjà de qüestionaris sobre hàbits i qualitat de vida, abans i després de realitzar les sessions d'intervenció

A qualitative meta-synthesis of the benefits of eco-labeling in developing countries

Eco-labeling (or environmental certification) is often promoted as a regulatory instrument capable of incentivizing sustainable resource use, even in the absence of stringent government environmental regulations. Despite slow uptake in developing countries and high producer costs, a growing body of case study evidence suggests that producers benefit in varied ways from certification. A qualitative meta-synthesis approach is applied to this body of evidence in order to assess the type and extent of producer benefits reported in case studies of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, in developing countries. While benefits from price premiums and market access appear to be limited, less tangible benefits were more common, including learning, governance, community empowerment, and reputational benefits. These benefits may justify the cost of certification

Anticipatory Guidance for Parents/Caregivers of Pediatric Patients Ages 0-12 Months

Anticipatory guidance is defined as proactive counseling for caregivers regarding various aspects of childcare and development. This project sought to improve the process and delivery of anticipatory guidance for infants aged 0-12 months at one rural pediatric primary care clinic. An extensive literature review was undertaken to determine current recommendations for anticipatory guidance topics pertinent to pediatric patients aged 0-12 months. Additional research explored the efficacy of various educational formats to provide teaching. Written educational materials were updated and edited to be visually appealing and understandable, and educational videos were created. Written materials and educational videos were provided to parents/caregivers of patients aged 0-12 months during well child visits before seeing the providers. Thirty-two surveys were collected from parents/caregivers to assess their perspectives on the new educational materials and process, and a focus group was held with clinic staff to gather feedback. The proposed goal of the project was to update written educational materials and create educational videos that would introduce a new format to provide anticipatory guidance. These improvements would allow parents and caregivers to view the educational videos prior to seeing the provider, which would allow for a more individualized patient-provider discussion. Overall, patient and clinic staff feedback indicate positive responses toward the new educational materials and process. Ensuring that educational materials are current, engaging, and easily accessible are important for optimizing parent/caregiver education, which leads to improved patient outcomes

Magnetocaloric Effect Caused by Paramagnetic Austenite–Ferromagnetic Martensite Phase Transformation

In the present work, the magnetization of Ni50Mn17.5Ga25Cu7.5 alloy undergoing the first-order phase transition from paramagnetic austenite to ferromagnetic martensite was measured to evaluate the magnetic-field-induced entropy change (MFIEC) and refrigerant capacity (RC) of the alloy. A standard method (SM) of evaluation of MFIEC is based on thermodynamic Maxwell relation. In view of the criticism of SM expressed by some scientists, the alternative method (AM), which is based on thermodynamic relationships for free energy, was proposed recently for the determination of MFIEC. We developed this method and computed MFIEC in two ways—by AM and SM. The values of MFIEC obtained for Ni50Mn17.5Ga25Cu7.5 alloy by these methods appeared to be large but very different from each other. Moreover, AM reveals the possibility of both normal and inverse magnetocaloric effects in the adjoining temperature ranges, while SM results only in the normal magnetocaloric effect.This research was funded by AEI/FEDER, UE (projects MAT2014-56116-C04-01-R and MAT2012- 37923-C02-01), NASU (project 0117U000433), MESU (project 0117U004340) and SFFR (President’s of Ukraine grant F75/156-2018)

Crealivity: using creativity to portray reality

WARNING: The social topics dealt with in this paper are disturbing, being uncomfortably close to the surface of our everyday society; child abduction, paedophile rings, the child sex trade and child prostitution. These topics are portrayed through two creative artworks; a short story and a pictorial image. In combination they illustrate with shocking clarity how easily abuse can start and where it can end. The endeavour is to impart a message about the vulnerability of children through accessible forms of data representations, given that social research should have the capacity to make these kinds of statement about the world we live in. Both creative works are underpinned by extensive research into the realities of the situations they describe and may consequently be regarded as ethnographic, through fiction and quite literally, through an [ethno]graphic artwork. The social topics of the artworks; child abuse in these extreme forms, are aspects of reality in society which the education system from 0-18years (ECM, 2003) and National Governing Bodies of sport in the UK are committed to combatting. Under Child Protection legislation (Children Act, revised in 2004) Sport England set up the Child Protection in Sport Unit (Sport England, 2001) which requires all NGBs to establish courses and reporting procedures to protect the young people they encourage in to their domains, such as the Safeguarding and Protecting Young Children course (Sports Coach UK, 2013). Thus, the ‘mediums and iconic / symbolic modes of communication’ (Gross, 1974:63) brought together in Crealivity become a means to educate about the social topics under the microscope. An outcome from this paper is to inform sports’ people about facets of our broader society, however unsavoury… a society we all take a part in, help to create, protect and enjoy

Contrasting Observed Atmospheric Responses to Tropical Sea Surface Temperature Warming Patterns

AM was funded by a NERC doctoral training partnership grant (NE/L002558/1). This study was funded as part of NERC's support of the National Center for Earth Observation: HB and PIP were supported by grant number NE/R016518/1.Equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) is a theoretical concept which describes the change in global mean surface temperature that results from a sustained doubling of atmospheric CO2. Current ECS estimates range from ∼1.8 to 5.6 K, reflecting uncertainties in climate feedbacks. The sensitivity of the lower (1,000–700 hPa) and upper (500–200 hPa) troposphere to changes in spatial patterns of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) have been proposed by recent model studies as key feedbacks controlling climate sensitivity. We examine empirical evidence for these proposed mechanisms using 14 years of satellite data. We examine the response of temperature and humidity profiles, clouds, and top‐of‐the‐atmosphere radiation to relative warming in tropical ocean regions when there is either strong convection or subsidence. We find warmer SSTs in regions of strong subsidence are coincident with a decrease in lower tropospheric stability (−0.9 ± 0.4 KK−1) and low cloud cover (∼−6% K−1). This leads to a warming associated with the weakening in the shortwave cooling effect of clouds (4.2 ± 1.9 Wm−2K−1), broadly consistent with model calculations. In contrast, warmer SSTs in regions of strong convection are coincident with an increase in upper tropospheric humidity (3.2 ± 1.5% K−1). In this scenario, the dominant effect is the enhancement of the warming longwave cloud radiative effect (3.8 ± 3.0 Wm−2K−1) from an increase in high cloud cover (∼7% K−1), though changes in the net (longwave and shortwave) effect are not statistically significant (p < 0.003). Our observational evidence supports the existence of mechanisms linking contrasting atmospheric responses to patterns in SST, mechanisms which have been linked to climate sensitivity.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Thermotolerance of an inactivated rabies vaccine for dogs

This study provides the first robust data that the antibody response of dogs vaccinated with Nobivac® Rabies vaccine stored for several months at high temperatures (up to 30 °C) is not inferior to that of dogs vaccinated with vaccine stored under recommended cold-chain conditions (2–8 °C). A controlled and randomized non-inferiority study was carried out comparing the four-week post vaccination serological responses of Tanzanian village dogs inoculated with vaccine which had been stored at elevated temperatures for different periods of time with those of dogs vaccinated with the same product stored according to label recommendations. Specifically, the neutralizing antibody response following the use of vaccine which had been stored for up to six months at 25 °C or for three months at 30 °C was not inferior to that following the use of cold-chain stored vaccine. These findings provide reassurance that the vaccine is likely to remain efficacious even if exposed to elevated temperatures for limited periods of time and, under these circumstances, it can safely be used and not necessarily destroyed or discarded. The availability of thermotolerant vaccines has been an important factor in the success of several disease control and elimination programs and could greatly increase the capacity of rabies vaccination campaigns to access hard to reach communities in Africa and Asia. We have not confirmed a 3-year duration of immunity for the high temperature stored vaccine, however because annual re-vaccination is usually practiced for dogs presented for vaccination during campaigns in Africa and Asia this should not be a cause for concern. These findings will provide confidence that, for rabies control and elimination programs using this vaccine in low-income settings, more flexible delivery models could be explored, including those that involve limited periods of transportation and storage at temperatures higher than that currently recommended

Prevalence of potential animal-based indicators of poor welfare status in New Zealand bobby calves : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physiology at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand

The dairy industry is a major contributor to the New Zealand economy. Agricultural production systems have typically focussed on supply, price and competition. However, an increasing public awareness of the welfare of production animals has raised ethical concerns. Of particular concern are the calves, called bobby calves, which are surplus to the need of the dairy and beef industries and sent to slaughter at a very young age, typically four to seven days old. These calves are transported live from the farm to commercial processing plants where they are held in lairage before slaughter. Their young age at removal from the dam, mixing and transport mean that there are numerous opportunities for welfare compromise of these animals to occur. While mortality (death and condemnation) of calves during transport and lairage is very low (e.g. 0.12% in 2016), this is the only indicator of bobby calf welfare routinely measured in New Zealand. Mortality is a crude measure of welfare and the calves that do not die before they reach the slaughter line may also experience poor welfare. The overall aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of proposed health and welfare indicators in bobby calves in lairage at commercial meat processing plant facilities in New Zealand prior to slaughter. A systematic mapping of the literature was conducted to develop an understanding of research associated with identifying potential welfare indicators that could be used to monitor the calf welfare. The literature was systematically searched and identified a total of 99 potential nutritional, environmental, health and behavioural indicators from 253 relevant articles. A large scale observational study conducted to assess the welfare status of bobby calves in lairage prior to slaughter at selected processing plants across New Zealand from July to October 2016. The study investigated firstly, the prevalence of potential animal-based ante-mortem indicators of calf health and welfare at the processing plant in lairage. Secondly, selected indicators were investigated to evaluate the effect of time spent in lairage before observation and week of the study on their prevalence. The study used potential indicators identified during the systematic mapping that were able to be applied quickly and without equipment in lairage facilities of commercial meat processing plants. Observations were made at 12 meat processing plants across New Zealand, and included 102 pens of calves and 504 individual assessments that accounted for a total of 5910 calves. From this observational study, dehydration measured using a skin tent test, faecal soiling, increased respiratory rate and ocular/nasal discharge were found to be prevalent in bobby calves in lairage and may be useful indicators of aspects of calf welfare. The logistic regression model recognised the prevalence of nasal discharge, faecal soiling and dehydration (two second cut off) increased later in the season. The prevalence of increased respiration rate was inversely proportional to time in lairage, and the prevalence of lying down increased with time in lairage. Future research is recommended to identify the aetiology of indicators of health and behaviour in order to reduce the number of calves experiencing compromised welfare