The role of the North Atlantic Oscillation in controlling U.K. butterfly population size and phenology

Copyright @ 2012 The Authors. This article can be accessed from the links below.This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.1. The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) exerts considerable control on U.K. weather. This study investigates the impact of the NAO on butterfly abundance and phenology using 34 years of data from the U.K. Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS). 2. The study uses a multi-species indicator to show that the NAO does not affect overall U.K. butterfly population size. However, the abundance of bivoltine butterfly species, which have longer flight seasons, were found to be more likely to respond positively to the NAO compared with univoltine species, which show little or a negative response. 3. A positive winter NAO index is associated with warmer weather and earlier flight dates for Anthocharis cardamines (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), Melanargia galathea (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Aphantopus hyperantus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Pyronia tithonus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), Lasiommata megera (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) and Polyommatus icarus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). In bivoltine species, the NAO affects the phenology of the first generation, the timing of which indirectly controls the timing of the second generation. 4. The NAO influences the timing of U.K. butterfly flight seasons more strongly than it influences population size.This study was supported by a multi-agency consortium led by the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), including the Countryside Council for Wales, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Forestry Commission, Natural England, the Natural Environment Research Council, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage. This article is made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund

Applying the lessons learnt: community involvement in regeneration

Community involvement is now seen as central to regeneration policy and practice. Yet it is by no means easy to achieve. This article explores the popularity of community involvement and points to some of the key lessons that can be drawn from recent, and past, research on the topic. I suggest that many of these lessons are not being applied and provide some suggestions for why this may be the case. I conclude that central government could do a lot more to enable the application of both individual and organizational learning

Erroneous error correction

[FIRST PARAGRAPH] Libraries have been using computers for years now. Many librarians are not mystified by mega-byte-sized jargon and take MOP-buckets in their stride. Nonetheless those black boxes can still come up with a surprise or two. I know a library which has just installed a new issue system (it hardly matters which brand, since this is just a cautionary tale). This computer has been told to capitalise each word in the book-title (machines don’t have to write in CAPITALS now), which looked a little odd when it came to Richard Iii. It was also given a list of stop-words (The, A, Le, La … ) which are not searchable, frustrating anyone looking for titles like A B C of … or A E Houseman or books by Mr Das or Ms Lo. On one occasion the index ‘slipped’ overnight and to look up SMITH one actually had to enter TNJUI

Novel approaches in long term mechanical circulatory support

Long term mechanical circulatory support using left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) remains an essential tool in managing patients with advanced heart failure, and in some patients can facilitate reverse remodelling of ventricular function. However, large groups of patients remain poorly served by current technologies, and understanding of reverse remodelling, including how to assess it in vivo, remains poor. I evaluate new approaches in long term mechanical support. Specifically, I assess: (1) the CircuLite Synergy LVAD and Sunshine Heart C-Pulse counterpulsation device as novel methods for partial LV support, considering particularly their ability to facilitate reverse remodelling and propensity to induce coagulopathy; (2) gene therapy with the AAV1.SERCA2a product as a novel adjunctive therapy, considering particularly its safety and feasibility in LVAD patients in the SERCA-LVAD trial; and (3) novel biomarkers for use in LVAD patients, with focus on strain echocardiography and circulating microRNA. I report that (1) partial LV support is plausible as a concept and is beneficial in some patients, but there was no consistent evidence of ventricular reverse remodelling and, at the present time, high complication rates and difficulties with patient selection preclude its widespread adoption; (2) there were high rates of pump thrombosis in the Synergy LVAD, though there is no evidence of a device-specific coagulopathy to explain it; (3) gene therapy with AAV1.SERCA2a is safe and feasible in LVAD patients, though there was no evidence of significant efficacy benefit, in line with other clinical trials of this gene therapy in heart failure; (4) assessment of global circumferential strain is feasible in LVAD patients, but inconsistent image quality and effect of loading conditions limit its use; and (5) assessment of circulating microRNA profiles is feasible in LVAD patients, and preliminary data shows roles for specific miRs in patient selection and monitoring of LV function.Open Acces

Citation Counts [Letter to the Editor]

[FIRST PARAGRAPH] One measure by which the central funding agency for universities in the United Kingdom is seeking to assess appropriate levels of support for various disciplines is that of citation counts. The first subject area in which this has been applied is the earth sciences. A questionnaire sent to relevant academic departments included a request for information on citation or ‘impact’ counts, and forthcoming reviews of chemistry and physics may be expected to do the same. It is therefore appropriate that attention should be drawn to some of the dangers inherent in the use of this form of bibliometrics as a ‘research indicator’

The Third Sector, regeneration and sustainable communities: 'rolling' with the New Labour agenda

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the ways in which concepts of regeneration, sustainability and the Third Sector (TS) are understood and expressed in the policy priorities of the Labour Government in the UK. The paper locates this discussion in the context of a small community action group in Nottingham and seeks to explore the ways in which the experience of activists and practitioners see their “world” as being congruent with that of the “world” represented in the policy literature. Design/methodology/approach – The paper combines an analysis of the policy literature and a discussion on the theoretical and conceptual ideas implicit in the programmes with data collected through observation and interview of key activists involved in the group. Findings – The paper suggests that while small-scale TS organisations can play an important part in the regeneration/sustainability agenda as a result of their size, values and flexibility it is these values which are at risk given the underlying ideological approach of the reform agenda. Research limitations/implications – The paper provides a snap shot of experience and situates that practice in the theoretical/conceptual literature and so raises some important questions for practitioners as well as researchers. Practical implications – The paper has direct relevance for TS agencies and researchers. Originality/value – The paper points to the conflict and tension between local/community-based organisations in which ideas of trust and ethical decision making are negotiated differently compared to public sector agencies

Erroneous error correction

[FIRST PARAGRAPH] Libraries have been using computers for years now. Many librarians are not mystified by mega-byte-sized jargon and take MOP-buckets in their stride. Nonetheless those black boxes can still come up with a surprise or two. I know a library which has just installed a new issue system (it hardly matters which brand, since this is just a cautionary tale). This computer has been told to capitalise each word in the book-title (machines don’t have to write in CAPITALS now), which looked a little odd when it came to Richard Iii. It was also given a list of stop-words (The, A, Le, La … ) which are not searchable, frustrating anyone looking for titles like A B C of … or A E Houseman or books by Mr Das or Ms Lo. On one occasion the index ‘slipped’ overnight and to look up SMITH one actually had to enter TNJUI