8 research outputs found
An Introduction to the \u27Oceans and Society: Blue Planet\u27 Initiative
We live on a blue planet, and Earthâs waters benefit many sectors of society. The future of our blue planet is increasingly reliant on the services delivered by marine, coastal and inland waters and on the advancement of effective, evidence-based decisions on sustainable development. âOceans and Society: Blue Planetâ is an initiative of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) that aims to ensure the sustained development and use of ocean and coastal observations for the benefit of society. The initiative works to advance and exploit synergies among the many observational programmes devoted to ocean and coastal waters; to improve engagement with a variety of stakeholders for enhancing the timeliness, quality and range of information delivered; and to raise awareness of the societal benefits of ocean observations at the public and policy levels. This paper summarises the role of the initiative, current activities and considerations for future directions
The Oxford-Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey I: Observations and Calibration of a Wide-Field Multi-Band Survey
The Oxford Dartmouth Thirty Degree Survey (ODTS) is a deep, wide, multi-band
imaging survey designed to cover a total of 30 square degrees in BVRi'Z, with a
subset of U and K band data, in four separate fields of 5-10 deg^2 centred at
00:18:24 +34:52, 09:09:45 +40:50, 13:40:00 +02:30 and 16:39:30 +45:24.
Observations have been made using the Wide Field Camera on the 2.5-m Isaac
Newton Telescope in La Palma to average limiting depths (5 sigma Vega, aperture
magnitudes) of U=24.8, B=25.6, V=25.0, R=24.6, and i'=23.5, with observations
taken in ideal conditions reaching the target depths of U=25.3, B=26.2, V=25.7,
R=25.4, and i'=24.6. The INT Z band data was found to be severely effected by
fringing and, consequently, is now being obtained at the MDM observatory in
Arizona. A complementary K-band survey has also been carried out at MDM,
reaching an average depth of K_{5\sigma}~18.5. At present, approximately 23
deg^2 of the ODTS have been observed, with 3.5 deg^2 of the K band survey
completed. This paper details the survey goals, field selection, observation
strategy and data reduction procedure, focusing on the photometric calibration
and catalogue construction. Preliminary photometric redshifts have been
obtained for a subsample of the objects with R <= 23. These results are
presented alongside a brief description of the photometric redshift
determination technique used. The median redshift of the survey is estimated to
be z~0.7 from a combination of the ODTS photometric redshifts and comparison
with the redshift distributions of other surveys. Finally, galaxy number counts
for the ODTS are presented which are found to be in excellent agreement with
previous studies.Comment: 18 pages, 21 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA
Copernicus Ocean State Report, issue 6
The 6th issue of the Copernicus OSR incorporates a large range of topics for the blue, white and green ocean for all European regional seas, and the global ocean over 1993â2020 with a special focus on 2020
Associations of Household Structure and Presence of Children in the Household with Mental Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
Purpose: The objectives of the current study were to: (1) assess the impact of household structure (i.e. living alone compared to living with children, a partner, or both) and presence of children on mental distress during the COVID-19 pandemic; and (2) determine whether these associations are moderated by income or sex.
Results: A total of 2,524 adults aged 25-55 were included in the analytic sample. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine associations between explanatory variables and mental distress, measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-4. In adjusted models, each additional child under the age of 12 was associated a decrease in mental distress (ÎČ=-0.21, p=0.03). This finding was significant when adjusting for sociodemographic variables (age, sex, race, education, household income, living with a partner, and currently having a job) and historical depressive symptoms (CESD-8). Having children between the ages of 13 and 18 and household structure were not significantly associated with mental distress.
Conclusion: This study supports prior literature that demonstrates the positive association of childrearing with psychological well-being, and suggests that these benefits may be present even under stay-at-home orders in the COVID-19 pandemic
The results of cardiac surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with previous years:a propensity weighted study of outcomes at six months
OBJECTIVES: In addition to excess mortality due to COVID-19, the pandemic has been characterised by excess mortality due to non-COVID diagnoses and consistent reports of patients delaying seeking medical treatment. This study seeks to compare the outcomes of cardiac surgery during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Our institutional database was interrogated retrospectively to identify all patients undergoing one of three index procedures during the first six months of the pandemic and the corresponding epochs of the previous five years. SETTING: A regional cardiothoracic centre. PARTICIPANTS: All patients undergoing surgery during weeks #13-37, 2015-2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Propensity score weighted analysis was employed to compare the incidence of major complications (stroke, renal failure, re-ventilation), 30-day mortality, six month survival and length of hospital stay between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no difference in 30-day mortality (HRâ=â0.76 [95% CI 0.27-2.20], pâ=â0.6211), 6-month survival (HRâ=â0.94 [95% CI 0.44-2.01], pâ=â0.8809) and duration of stay (SHRâ=â1.00 (95% CI 0.90-1.12), pâ=â0.959) between the two eras. There were no differences in the incidence of major complications (weighted chi-square test: renal failure: pâ=â0.923, stroke: pâ=â0.991, new respiratory failure: pâ=â0.856). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgery is as safe now as in the previous five years. Concerns over the transmission of COVID-19 in hospital are understandable but patients should be encouraged not to delay seeking medical attention. All involved in healthcare and the wider public should be reassured by these findings
An Introduction to the âOceans and Society: Blue Planetâ Initiative
We live on a blue planet, and Earthâs waters benefit many sectors of society. The future of our blue planet is increasingly reliant on the services delivered by marine, coastal and inland waters and on the advancement of effective, evidence-based decisions on sustainable development. âOceans and Society: Blue Planetâ is an initiative of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) that aims to ensure the sustained development and use of ocean and coastal observations for the benefit of society. The initiative works to advance and exploit synergies among the many observational programmes devoted to ocean and coastal waters; to improve engagement with a variety of stakeholders for enhancing the timeliness, quality and range of information delivered; and to raise awareness of the societal benefits of ocean observations at the public and policy levels. This paper summarises the role of the initiative, current activities and considerations for future directions