THE RISE OF THE GREEN ALGAE: USING ALGAL PALYNOMORPHS AS PROXIES OF NATURAL EVENTS AND ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES

Anthropogenic activities can speed up eutrophication by increasing the rate of nutrient influx into lakes. Climate change threatens the health of freshwater ecosystems, increasing the frequency and intensity of harmful algal blooms and associated anoxia. The acid-resistant remains of freshwater algae and cyanobacteria commonly found in palynological macerations remain underutilized, even though their fossil record extends back to the Precambrian. Comparing algal palynomorph assemblages in sediments deposited in two meromictic lakes in northeastern Massachusetts illustrated their response to different stressors over the last few centuries. The abundance and diversity of algal palynomorphs increased as nutrient influx to both Sluice and Walden Pond increased with land clearing by European colonists, recorded by an increase in Ambrosia and other non-arboreal pollen in the same slides. As the City of Lynn became heavily industrialized, Sluice Pond received a lot of effluent, and algal palynomorph diversity declined sharply. Walden Pond remained recreational and primarily impacted by summer day-visitors, so a diverse dinoflagellate cyst assemblage together with planktonic colonial cyanophytes and chlorophytes persisted until major fires occurred in Walden Woods in the early 20th century. The different types of land-use between the two sites were hypothesized to be the driving factor that determines algal palynomorph assemblages. Sediments deposited since the mid-20th century at both sites contain abundant green algal palynomorphs, an observation noted in several other studies world-wide. The observed rise of the green algae at two different sites is likely attributed to increasing atmospheric CO2 and the Great Acceleration. This might be a useful auxiliary proxy marking the proposed Anthropocene Epoch, but further research is needed to better understand the taxonomy and taphonomy of algal palynomorphs, with a focus on green algae and cyanobacteria, to improve their utility as biomonitors and paleolimnological proxies

Developing capacity and capability in health impact assessment across the South West of England

This paper examines an exciting regional programme that sought to develop the capability and capacity of public health and planning professionals to engage in Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of new residential developments. Health Impact Assessment is a process by which positive and negative health impacts of planning proposals can be assessed, with a view to maximising health benefits and minimising ‘disbenefits’. As development of new housing is a key priority across the Region, the need to consider how to assess health impacts of such activities is crucially important. The programme brought together planning and public health professionals from across the South West in a series of workshops, to share and spread good practice and develop knowledge and skills. Led by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Cities and Urban Policy, and funded by the regional public health group, the programme also involved the development of web-based resources, including the establishment of an on-line Health Impact Assessment repository.Paul Pilkington is a senior lecturer in public health. He contributes to teaching on public health across the university. His research interests focus on how changes to the environment can improve health, including those relating to injury prevention, tobacco control and spatial planning. Marcus Grant is a senior research fellow. He specialises in collaborations and partnerships with local stakeholders. Over the past five years, Marcus has been working closely with public health and planning colleagues across the southwest.Sarah Burgess is a senior lecturer in health and planning. Her research interests include implications of planning policy on health and the relationship between urban design and behaviour

The Bristol Twenty Miles Per Hour Limit Evaluation (BRITE) Study

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the roll-out of 20mph speed limits across the city of Bristol. The research took a holistic, public health approach to evaluation, using a variety of data sources to examine changes in vehicle speeds, road traffic casualties, levels of walking and cycling, public perceptions and attitudes, and reported levels of health and wellbeing across the city. The study found statistically significant reductions in average traffic speeds of 2.7mph across the city of Bristol, following the introduction of 20mph speed limits. This is a larger reduction than seen in previous evaluations in other cities. The study employed a more sophisticated analysis than previous studies of 20mph limits, including using individual speed data from over 36 million vehicle observations and controlling for other factors that might affect changes in traffic speeds. There has been a reduction in the number of fatal, serious and slight injuries from road traffic collisions, equating to estimated cost savings of over £15 million per year. Although there is still majority support for 20mph speed limits in Bristol, there remains concern about compliance and behaviour of other drivers. Walking and cycling across Bristol has increased, both among children travelling to school and adults travelling to work. The introduction of 20mph speed limits in Bristol offers a model for other towns and cities across the UK, who are seeking to reduce traffic speeds, cut road traffic casualties, and promote community health and wellbeing through road danger reduction. In order to assess effectiveness of 20mph speed limits, it is vital that other towns and cities follow Bristol’s example, and prioritise the ongoing collection and analysis of appropriate data on vehicle speeds, road traffic casualties and wider public health impacts

Musical pathways: An exploratory study of young people in the criminal justice system, engaged with a creative music programme

There is growing evidence from across the arts and health field that suggests that participatory arts programmes can contribute to health improvement, emotional resilience and social reintegration, among vulnerable and excluded groups including criminal justice populations. This report presents a three-year research project funded by the BIG Lottery Fund that completed in 2013. The project was a collaboration between Superact Community Interest Company and the University of the West of England, Bristol. It used mixed methods to investigate a participatory music programme delivered to young people in justice settings by Superact.The research was conducted within a range of custody and community based youth justice settings. These included Young Offender Institutions, Juvenile Secure Units and Prisons, Secure Children’s Homes and Youth Offending Teams. Ethnographic research explored responses and perceptions of Superact’s music programme, focusing on links between music and health, wellbeing, behaviour and social inclusion. Data collection included participant observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups across eight sites and fifteen programes. As well as examining in depth the responses and views of young people who took part, the research explored the perceptions of stakeholders including prison staff and musicians. A key objective of the research was to pilot conventional validated health, wellbeing and social inclusion questionnaires with this population, partly to establish baseline scores and also to explore the feasibility of measuring these indicators with a transient and ‘hard-to-reach’ population.The research has yielded valuable insight into the perspectives and attitudes of young people in justice settings, in relation to music and their identification with it, and participatory music programming. The research reveals the effects of group dynamics, institutional systems, behavioural factors and population transience on delivery of programmes across these settings. Perhaps inevitably, the high degree of transience of the population impacted on programme attendance and participation, limiting what could be drawn from the quantitative data. However, while the baseline questionnaire data reveal no significant findings with respect to health, wellbeing and social inclusion indicators, the qualitative findings reveal a myriad of themes that underlie the process of programme delivery and the value of music to individuals. These data reveal significant affordances offered by music making for young people and illustrate programme and contextual factors necessary for these affordances to be realised. Essentially, creative music making has the potential to engage even ‘hard to reach’ young people, delivering positive learning experiences and enabling them to forge new identities. Active engagement in arts programmes of this kind can deliver life-changing benefits for some individuals; certainly, for the majority of participants in this study, the programme was valuable in helping them cope with difficult circumstances, including custody, and to consider how music could help them look positively towards the future. Team-building, group dynamics and creativity were key factors underlining successful programme delivery and effective engagement of young people.In conclusion, we argue that participatory music programmes provide opportunities to young people to engage alternative skills and competencies that are not routinely afforded them via conventional education and training programmes. Moreover, music provides a medium that enables young people to engage their life experiences in creative ways, to identify positively with music, to draw on knowledge and experiences, and to engage with their peer group. An important feature of programmes delivered by professional musicians is that they have the skills and experience to garner respect from young people, particularly groups that are difficult to engage and present with challenging attitudes and behaviours. We believe that music programmes that take this approach are a major asset to youth justice organisations, especially since they are located outside the system and therefore command respect and credibility from young people

Understanding the Processes of Translation and Transliteration in Qualitative Research

There has been growing interest in the use of qualitative methods in health research amongst health and social care professionals. Good qualitative cross-cultural research analysis is not an easy task as it involves knowledge of different approaches, techniques and command of the appropriate languages. This article aims to discuss and explore some of the key processes and concepts involved in conducting translation and transliteration of qualitative research

Built and natural environment planning principles for promoting health: An umbrella review

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: The built and natural environment and health are inextricably linked. However, there is considerable debate surrounding the strength and quality of the evidence base underpinning principles of good practice for built and natural environment design in promoting health. This umbrella review aimed to assess relationships between the built and natural environment and health, concentrating on five topic areas: neighbourhood design, housing, food environment, natural and sustainable environment, and transport. Methods: A structured search was conducted for quantitative systematic reviews and stakeholder reviews published between January 2005 and April 2016. Seven databases and the websites of 15 relevant and respected stakeholder organisations known to publish review-level documentation were searched. Searches were limited to English-language publications and duplicate references were removed. Evidence quality and strength was appraised using validated techniques. Findings were used to develop a diagram for each topic area, illustrating relationships between built and natural environment planning principles and health-related outcomes. Results: A total of 117 systematic reviews and review-level documents were eligible for inclusion. The quality of evidence was mixed; much of the evidence examined relied on findings from cross-sectional studies, making it difficult to draw clear causal links between built environment exposures and health-related impacts and outcomes. Fourteen actionable planning principles associated with positive health-related outcomes were identified across the five topic areas. For example, neighbourhoods that enhanced walkability, were complete and compact in design, and those which enhanced connectivity through safe and efficient infrastructure were associated with better health-related outcomes relating to physical activity, social engagement, mental health, perceptions of crime, and road traffic collisions. Evidence for the effectiveness of planning principles across different topic areas and on reducing health inequalities was sparse and inconclusive. Conclusions: Findings provide an up-to-date overview of relationships between the built and natural environment and health and present logical, evidence-based messages to aid communication between public health and planning professionals

Healthy people healthy places evidence tool: Evidence and practical linkage for design, planning and health

This project was commissioned by Public Health England to address the need for a UK centric evidence review which analyses and demonstrates the links between health and the built and natural environment. This umbrella review attempts to provide an overview, based on umbrella review methodology outlined in this document, of the strength of the evidence of the impacts on health of the built and natural environment with the purpose to inform action and policy

Epidemiology of unintentional child injuries in the makwanpur district of Nepal: A household survey

© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Secondary sources of information indicate that the proportion of child deaths due to injuries is increasing in Nepal. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of unintentional injuries in children, explore risk factors and estimate the burden faced by families and the community in the Makwanpur district. We conducted a household survey in Makwanpur, covering 3441 households. Injuries that occurred during the 12 months before the survey and required treatment or caused the child to be unable to take part in usual activities for three or more days were included. We identified 193 cases of non-fatal unintentional child injuries from 181 households and estimated an annual rate of non-fatal injuries of 24.6/1000 children; rates for boys were double (32.7/1000) that for girls (16.8/1000). The rates were higher among the children of age groups 1–4 years and 5–9 years. Falls were the most common cause of non-fatal child injuries followed by burns in preschool children and road traffic injuries were the most likely cause in adolescence. Mean period of disability following injury was 25 days. The rates and the mechanisms of injury vary by age and gender. Falls and burns are currently the most common mechanisms of injury amongst young children around rural homes