Comparison of magnetic, electrical and ground penetrating radar surveys to detect buried forensic objects in semi-urban and domestic patio environments

Near-surface geophysical techniques should be routinely utilized by law enforcement agencies to locate shallowly buried forensic objects, saving human and other resources. However, there has been little published research on optimum geophysical detection method(s) and configurations beyond metal detectors. This paper details multi-technique geophysical surveys to detect simulated unmarked illegal weapons, explosive devices and arms caches that were shallowly buried within a semi-urban environment test site. A concrete patio was then overlaid to represent a common household garden environment before re-surveying. Results showed that the easily utilized magnetic susceptibility probe was optimal for target detection in both semi-urban and patio environments, while basic metal detector surveys had a lower target detection rate in the patio scenario with some targets remaining undetected. High-frequency (900 MHz) ground penetrating radar antennae were optimum for target detection in the semi-urban environment, while 450 and 900 MHz frequencies had similar detection rates in the patio scenario. Resistivity surveys at 0.25 m probe and sampling spacing were good for target detection in the semi-urban environment. 2D profiles were sufficient for target detection, but resistivity datasets required site de-trending to resolve targets in map view. Forensic geophysical techniques are rapidly evolving to assist search investigators to detect hitherto difficult-to-locate buried forensic targets

Geophysical investigations in UK graveyards: re-use of existing burial grounds

Three graveyards with contrasting soil types and burial styles have been investigated in order to determine the optimum geophysical detection technique(s) and configurations. These include St. James’, Newchapel, Stoke-on-Trent, St. Luke’s, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent and St. John of Jerusalem’s in Hackney, North London. GPR results determined that 250-450 MHz dominant frequency antennae were optimal to detect isolated graves and vaults. 2D GPR profile interpretation was generally preferred to horizontal time-slices, the latter being generally variable in quality due to the surprisingly made-ground nature of the site. Fixed-offset resistivity surveys using 0.5 m and 1 m spaced probe configurations found that 0.5m spaced probes were generally optimal, using 0.25 m point spacings on 0.5m-spaced survey lines (Figure 1 for example). Archaeological investigations of selected graveyard areas found surprising variation in both style (from vaults with eight vertically stacked individuals to isolated graves), orientation and grave contents (with missing and extra individuals respectively). This study showed existing parish records to be surprisingly incomplete when compared to geophysical anomalies and archaeological excavations, indicating a number of incorrectly marked and possibly unmarked burials. Graves and vault markers finally do not always indicate the character of vault or burial style

Engaging Families in Weight Management

Purpose: Approximately 50% of families who initiate a weight management programme (WMP) will not complete. It is fundamental to understand why participants initiate and complete a programme, and to ensure that programmes are effectively designed and delivered. This study examined the reasoning for family (young person and parent) engagement in three different and diverse WMPs. Methods: A multiple instrumental case study approach was employed. Three community-based WMPs participated: MoreLife, SHINE, and Weigh to Go. Clear design and implementation differences existed between WMPs. Multiple WMPs were recruited to examine the generalisability of research findings, and extract key features associated with participant engagement. Thirty families took part (~10 per programme). Data were collected early in the programme (0-2 weeks) and immediately after completion or dropout (within two weeks). Young people took part in a Participatory Action Research (PAR) session (interactive activities to generate meaningful information), and parents completed semi-structured interviews. A deductive line of inquiry was used; questions were based upon participant characteristics, environmental interactions, psychological processes and programme interactions. Interview data was transcribed verbatim and analysed alongside the PAR data using content and thematic analysis (themes presented in italics). Results: Preliminary findings indicate that families often engage in a WMP for non-weight related reasons. Such reasons include: management of mental health, to improve self -esteem, and to create friendships. Families remain in a WMP when: the programme suits their needs, they fit in amongst other participants, strong relationships are fostered with staff, and have strong support networks. Numerous families completing programmes prioritised WMP attendance above other leisure activities, and had plans in place to ensure they could attend each session. Low engagement was due to situational factors (e.g. logistic barriers [transport, timing…]) rather than programme dissatisfaction. Conclusions: Families attend community-based WMPs for reasons beyond weight management. Additionally, the families identified unique WMP features (e.g. maintenance programmes and non-clinical staff) which encourage programme attendance. Such features can be replicated in multiple, diverse settings. Understanding participant engagement is critical to designing and implementing efficacious WMPs

Do parent and child outcome expectations align when attending a weight management programme?

Background: Childhood weight management programmes (WMP) are used within the UK to stem the rising prevalence of pediatric obesity. These WMPs often provide children and young people (CYP) and their family’s with methods of stabilising and reducing the severity of the weight issue. That said, low engagement in WMPs is often encountered but the reasoning is not well known. Misaligned and unrealistic outcome expectations have been hypothesised as a reason for low engagement. This paper explores 1) the parent and CYP outcome expectations of a WMP, and 2) the qualitative level of agreement between parent and CYP expectations. Methods: 30 families were recruited from three, UK-based WMPs (10 families per programme). Qualitative research methods were used to examine both the parent and CYP outcome expectations. Participatory research methods were used with CYP and semi-structured interviews with parents. Data were collected from parents and CYP independently, and notably, were collected from participants within two weeks of starting a WMP. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. In separate analyses, the alignment between parent and CYP responses were examined. Results: Preliminary findings indicate that parents reported 24 different outcome expectations (varying from ‘anger management’ to ‘weight management [not loss]’ to ‘understanding consequences of obesity’), whilst CYP reported 25 expectations (ranging from ‘aesthetic improvement’ to ‘physical activity opportunities’ to ‘not wanting to attend’). Weight loss was the most cited outcome expectation amongst parents and CYP, however friendship, CYP confidence, dietary education, and the reinforcement of parent messages were also strongly cited. Of note, weight loss was not always cited as the primary outcome expectation. The qualitative level of agreement between CYP and parents shall be reported. Conclusions: Families do not always initiate a WMP for the sole purpose of weight loss and management. Practitioners would benefit from understanding what families hope to achieve during their attendance, and subsequently tailor the programme, comments and feedback to reflect this. By tailoring messages and feedback directly to the family expectations, families may see a greater benefit in WMP attendance and therefore be encouraged to persist in treatment. Attendance and weight-related outcomes are strongly correlated

A survey of statistics in three UK general practice journal

Background Many medical specialities have reviewed the statistical content of their journals. To our knowledge this has not been done in general practice. Given the main role of a general practitioner as a diagnostician we thought it would be of interest to see whether the statistical methods reported reflect the diagnostic process. Methods Hand search of three UK journals of general practice namely the British Medical Journal (general practice section), British Journal of General Practice and Family Practice over a one-year period (1 January to 31 December 2000). Results A wide variety of statistical techniques were used. The most common methods included t-tests and Chi-squared tests. There were few articles reporting likelihood ratios and other useful diagnostic methods. There was evidence that the journals with the more thorough statistical review process reported a more complex and wider variety of statistical techniques. Conclusions The BMJ had a wider range and greater diversity of statistical methods than the other two journals. However, in all three journals there was a dearth of papers reflecting the diagnostic process. Across all three journals there were relatively few papers describing randomised controlled trials thus recognising the difficulty of implementing this design in general practice

Mapping Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems in California

BACKGROUND: Most groundwater conservation and management efforts focus on protecting groundwater for drinking water and for other human uses with little understanding or focus on the ecosystems that depend on groundwater. However, groundwater plays an integral role in sustaining certain types of aquatic, terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, and their associated landscapes. Our aim was to illuminate the connection between groundwater and surface ecosystems by identifying and mapping the distribution of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in California. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To locate where groundwater flow sustains ecosystems we identified and mapped groundwater dependent ecosystems using a GIS. We developed an index of groundwater dependency by analyzing geospatial data for three ecosystem types that depend on groundwater: (1) springs and seeps; (2) wetlands and associated vegetation alliances; and (3) stream discharge from groundwater sources (baseflow index). Each variable was summarized at the scale of a small watershed (Hydrologic Unit Code-12; mean size = 9,570 ha; n = 4,621), and then stratified and summarized to 10 regions of relative homogeneity in terms of hydrologic, ecologic and climatic conditions. We found that groundwater dependent ecosystems are widely, although unevenly, distributed across California. Although different types of GDEs are clustered more densely in certain areas of the state, watersheds with multiple types of GDEs are found in both humid (e.g. coastal) and more arid regions. Springs are most densely concentrated in the North Coast and North Lahontan, whereas groundwater dependent wetlands and associated vegetation alliances are concentrated in the North and South Lahontan and Sacramento River hydrologic regions. The percentage of land area where stream discharge is most dependent on groundwater is found in the North Coast, Sacramento River and Tulare Lake regions. GDE clusters are located at the highest percentage in the North Coast (an area of the highest annual rainfall totals), North Lahontan (an arid, high desert climate with low annual rainfall), and Sacramento River hydrologic regions. That GDEs occur in such distinct climatic and hydrologic settings reveals the widespread distribution of these ecosystems. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Protection and management of groundwater-dependent ecosystems are hindered by lack of information on their diversity, abundance and location. By developing a methodology that uses existing datasets to locate GDEs, this assessment addresses that knowledge gap. We report here on the application of this method across California, but believe the method can be expanded to regions where spatial data exist

In situ constraints on the vertical distribution of global aerosol

Despite ongoing efforts, the vertical distribution of aerosols globally is poorly understood. This in turn leads to large uncertainties in the contributions of the direct and indirect aerosol forcing on climate. Using the Global Aerosol Synthesis and Science Project (GASSP) database – the largest synthesised collection of in situ aircraft measurements currently available, with more than 1000 flights from 37 campaigns from around the world – we investigate the vertical structure of submicron aerosols across a wide range of regions and environments. The application of this unique dataset to assess the vertical distributions of number size distribution and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the global aerosol–climate model ECHAM-HAM reveals that the model underestimates accumulation-mode particles in the upper troposphere, especially in remote regions. The processes underlying this discrepancy are explored using different aerosol microphysical schemes and a process sensitivity analysis. These show that the biases are predominantly related to aerosol ageing and removal rather than emissions