Shelf-to-slope sedimentation on the north Kaipara continental margin, northwestern North Island, New Zealand

Temperate mixed carbonate-siliciclastic sediments and authigenic minerals are the current surficial deposits at shelf and slope depths (30-1015 m water depth) on the north Kaipara continental margin (NKCM) in northern New Zealand. This is the first detailed study of these NKCM deposits which are described and mapped from the analysis of 54 surficial sediment samples collected along seven shorenormal transects and from three short piston cores. Five surficial sediment facies are defined from the textural and compositional characteristics of this sediment involving relict, modern or mixed relict-modern components. Facies 1 (siliciclastic sand) forms a modern sand prism that extends out to outer shelf depths and contains three subfacies. Subfacies 1a (quartzofeldspathic sand) is an extensive North Island volcanic and basement rock derived sand deposit that occurs at less than 100-200 m water depth across the entire NKCM. Subfacies 1b (heavy mineral sand) occurs at less than 50 m water depth along only two transects and consists of predominantly local basaltic to basaltic andesite derived heavy mineral rich (gt30%) deposits. Subfacies 1c (mica rich sand) occurs at one sample site at 300 m water depth and contains 20-30% mica grains, probably sourced from South Island schists and granites. Facies 2 (glauconitic sand) comprises medium to fine sand with over 30% and up to 95% authigenic glauconite grains occurring in areas of low sedimentation on the outer shelf and upper slope (150-400 m water depth) in central NKCM. Facies 3 (mixed bryozoan-siliciclastic sand) consists of greater than 40% bryozoan skeletal material and occurs only in the northern half of the NKCM. Facies 4 (pelletal mud) occurs on the mid shelf (100-150 m water depth) in northern NKCM and comprises muddy sediment dominated by greater than c. 30% mixed carbonatesiliciclastic pellets. Facies 5 (foraminiferal mud and sand) contains at least 30% foraminifera tests and comprises two subfacies. Subfacies 5a consists of at least 50% mud sized sediment and occurs at gt400 m water depth in southern NKCM while subfacies 5b comprises gt70% sand sized sediment and occurs at mid to outer shelf and slope depths in the northern NKCM. vi A number of environmental controls affect the composition and distribution of NKCM sediments and these include: (1) variable sediment inputs to the NKCM dominated by inshore bedload sources from the south; (2) northerly directed nearshore littoral and combined storm-current sediment transport on the beach and shelf, respectively; (3) offshore suspended sediment bypassing allowing deposition of authigenic minerals and skeletal grains; (4) exchange between the beach and shelf producing similar compositions and grain sizes at less than 150 m water depth; and (5) the episodic rise of sea level since the Last Glaciation maximum approximately 20 000 years ago which has resulted in much sediment being left stranded at greater depths than would otherwise be anticipated. Sedimentation models developed from other wave-dominated shelves generally do not appear to apply to the NKCM sediments due to their overall relative coarseness and their mosaic textural characteristics. In particular, the NKCM sediments do not show the expected fining offshore trends of most wavedominated shelf models. Consequently, sandy sediments (both siliciclastic and authigenic) are most typical with mud becoming a dominant component in southern NKCM sediments only at greater than 400 m water depth, over 350 m deeper than most models suggest, a situation accentuated by the very low mud sediment supply to the NKCM from the bordering Northland landmass

‘It’s not really our thing’:lessons in engaging care homes in palliative care research

Background: In England and Wales there are just under 400,000 older adults residing in care homes at any one time. Despite this, care home residents are often excluded from epidemiological studies and little routine data are collected within care homes. Data on palliative care provided by care homes is reported to the Care Quality Commission, but the quality of care is often locally determined. There is ongoing research in this area aimed at collecting representative, internationally comparable data, such as the PACE study. Aims: To discuss the challenges encountered in engaging and recruiting care homes across England in the PACE study, a retrospective, cross sectional survey of deaths over three months. The study collected questionnaire data from care home staff, general practitioners and relatives of care home residents on their experiences of palliative care. It aimed to include 200 deceased residents in fifty care homes over a one-year period. Methods: The research team reviewed the barriers and challenges encountered throughout the research process, including developing a representative sampling framework, obtaining ethical approvals, advertising the study and recruiting care homes. Results: There is a lack of clarity regarding where care homes are located within the scope of ethical approval bodies. Recruitment through random sampling was found to be less effective compared to recruitment through ENRICH networks. Barriers to care home participation included concerns regarding sharing information, fear of opening up to potential criticism, lack of resources and misunderstandings regarding confidentiality. Conclusions: The development of care home networks and informal contacts can improve the rate and extent of research involvement. Whilst representativeness can be attained, random samples and ensuring a rigorous sample through these methods of recruitment remains a challenge

Correlation Between PlayerTek Performance Data and Fatigue as Measured by the RESTQ-76 Sport Over the Course of a Collegiate Soccer Season

Please enjoy Volume 6, Issue 1 of the JSMAHS. In this issue, you will find Professional, Graduate, and Undergraduate research abstracts, and case reports. Thank you for viewing this 6th Annual OATA Special Edition

Engaging nursing homes (NHs) in the PACE study:comparing recruitment in observational and intervention research designs

Background: NH residents are often excluded from epidemiological studies, demonstrating a need for representative, internationally comparable research in this area. Data on palliative care provided by NHs is reported to the Care Quality Commission in England, but the quality of care is often locally determined. Aims: To review the challenges encountered in engaging and recruiting NHs across England to the European Commission funded PACE research project; a two part study comprising of a retrospective, cross sectional survey of deaths and a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the ‘PACE Steps to Success’ end of life training intervention. Methods: Study 1 collected quantitative data from NH staff, general practitioners and relatives of 200 deceased NH residents in 50 NHs. Study 2 aimed to recruit twelve NHs, six in each arm of the RCT. The research team encountered challenges throughout the research process, including developing a representative sampling framework, obtaining ethical approvals, advertising the study and recruiting NHs. Results: Study 1 has recruited 44 NHs resulting in data on 92 deceased residents from 32 research visits made so far. Identifying NHs through random sampling resulted in fewer NHs recruited compared to advertising through the ENRICH NHs research networks. Average death rates per NH were lower than expected (3.1 per three months). Study 2 is in the process of recruiting twelve NHs with the support of local ENRICH teams by January 2016. Lack of time and resources, concerns regarding data protection and fear of opening up to potential criticism were identified as barriers to participation. Conclusions: Observational and RCT research designs in NHs require distinct recruitment processes. Whilst representativeness was attained in study 1, ensuring a rigorous random sample was not possible. In both studies, the engagement with NH research networks and informal contacts improved the rate and extent of research involvement

A Survey of Georgia Adult Protective Service Staff: Implications for Older Adult Injury Prevention and Policy

Background: The aging population is a rapidly growing demographic. Isolation and limited autonomy render many of the elderly vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation. As the population grows, so does the need for Adult Protective Services (APS). This study was conducted to examine current knowledge of older adult protection laws in Georgia among APS staff and to identify training opportunities to better prepare the APS workforce in case detection and intervention. Methods: The Georgia State University Institute of Public Health faculty developed a primary survey in partnership with the Georgia Division of Aging Services\u27 leadership to identify key training priority issues for APS caseworkers and investigators. A 47-item electronic questionnaire was delivered to all APS employees via work-issued email accounts. We conducted descriptive analyses, t-tests and chi-square analyses to determine APS employees’ baseline knowledge of Georgia’s elder abuse policies, laws and practices, as well as examine associations of age, ethnicity, and educational attainment with knowledge. We used a p-value of 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals to determine statistical significance of analyses performed. Result: Ninety-two out of 175 APS staff responded to the survey (53% response rate). The majority of respondents were Caucasian (56%) women (92%). For over half the survey items, paired sample t-tests revealed significant differences between what APS staff reported as known and what APS staff members indicated they needed to know more about in terms of elder abuse and current policies. Chi-square tests revealed that non-Caucasians significantly preferred video conferencing as a training format (44% compared to 18%), [χ2(1) = 7.102, p \u3c .008], whereas Caucasians preferred asynchronous online learning formats (55% compared to 28%) [χ2(1) =5.951, p \u3c .015]. Conclusion: Results from this study provide the Georgia Division of Aging with insight into specific policy areas that are not well understood by APS staff. Soliciting input from intended trainees allows public health educators to tailor and improve training sessions. Trainee input may result in optimization of policy implementation, which may result in greater injury prevention and protection of older adults vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation

A Survey of Georgia Adult Protective Services Staff: Implications for Older Adult Injury Prevention and Policy

Introduction: The aging population is a rapidly growing demographic. Isolation and limited autonomy render many of the elderly vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation. As the population grows, so does the need for Adult Protective Services (APS). This study was conducted to examine current knowledge of older adult protection laws in Georgia among APS staff and to identify training opportunities to better prepare the APS workforce in case detection and intervention. Methods: The Georgia State University Institute of Public Health faculty developed a primary survey in partnership with the Georgia Division of Aging Services’ leadership to identify key training priority issues for APS caseworkers and investigators. A 47-item electronic questionnaire was delivered to all APS employees via work-issued email accounts. We conducted descriptive analyses, t-tests and chi-square analyses to determine APS employees’ baseline knowledge of Georgia’s elder abuse policies, laws and practices, as well as examine associations of age, ethnicity, and educational attainment with knowledge. We used a p-value of 0.05 and 95% confidence intervals to determine statistical significance of analyses performed. Results: Ninety-two out of 175 APS staff responded to the survey (53% response rate). The majority of respondents were Caucasian (56%) women (92%). For over half the survey items, paired sample t-tests revealed significant differences between what APS staff reported as known and what APS staff members indicated they needed to know more about in terms of elder abuse and current policies. Chi-square tests revealed that non-Caucasians significantly preferred video conferencing as a training format (44% compared to 18%), [χ2(1) = 7.102, p \u3c .008], whereas Caucasians preferred asynchronous online learning formats (55% compared to 28%) [χ2(1) =5.951, p \u3c .015]. Conclusion: Results from this study provide the Georgia Division of Aging with insight into specific policy areas that are not well understood by APS staff. Soliciting input from intended trainees allows public health educators to tailor and improve training sessions. Trainee input may result in optimization of policy implementation, which may result in greater injury prevention and protection of older adults vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation

Working Collaboratively to Fully Integrate Our Campuses

This project would be one dimension of a larger initiative to fully integrate the campuses. The idea is to establish a program to link the campuses through networking opportunities where faculty, staff and students are encouraged to develop friendships throughout the two campuses. The project would be launched on a select key date; i.e., anniversary date of VCU (or other important date), by the formation of a human chain connecting the two campuses between Broad and Belvidere Streets and Sanger Hall, about 1.2 miles of people committed to the cause. This would be a major campaign for VCU with the potential for positive visibility. (The campaign would be an important marker in the history of VCU’s progress and require senior level commitment for program development and funding for memorabilia (t-shirts, lanyards, etc.) and the cost of marketing. (Of important note is the fact that the team would also be tasked with defining the context of friendship in this project. Further, the group would want to explore friendship is the outcome of the project that fosters integration/connections between the people on the two campuses.

A Thioacetal Photocage Designed for Dual Release: Application in the Quantitation of Therapeutic Release by Synchronous Reporter Decaging

Despite the immense potential of existing photocaging technology, its application is limited by the paucity of advanced caging tools. Here, we report on the design of a novel thioacetal ortho‐nitrobenzaldehyde (TNB) dual arm photocage that enabled control of the simultaneous release of two payloads linked to a single TNB unit. By using this cage, which was prepared in a single step from commercial 6‐nitroverataldehyde, three drug–fluorophore conjugates were synthesized: Taxol‐TNB‐fluorescein, Taxol‐TNB‐coumarin, and doxorubicin‐TNB‐coumarin, and long‐wavelength UVA light‐triggered release experiments demonstrated that dual payload release occurred with rapid decay kinetics for each conjugate. In cell‐based assays performed in vitro, dual release could also be controlled by UV exposure, resulting in increased cellular fluorescence and cytotoxicity with potency equal to that of unmodified drug towards the KB carcinoma cell line. The extent of such dual release was quantifiable by reporter fluorescence measured in situ and was found to correlate with the extent of cytotoxicity. Thus, this novel dual arm cage strategy provides a valuable tool that enables both active control and real‐time monitoring of drug activation at the delivery site.Binary photocage: An ortho‐nitrobenzaldehyde‐derived dual arm photocage was developed for real‐time monitoring of the simultaneous release of two payloads linked to a single cage unit. Light‐controlled uncaging of the drug–fluorophore conjugate resulted in increased cellular fluorescence, which was found to correlate with cytotoxicity.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135367/1/cbic201600494.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135367/2/cbic201600494-sup-0001-misc_information.pd