Integrating management tools and concepts to develop an estuarine planning support system: A case study of the Humber Estuary, Eastern England

© 2015. Estuaries are important because of their multiple uses and users which often makes them challenging to manage since management must strike a balance between the needs of users, the estuaries' ecological and economic value and the context of multiple legislative drivers. To facilitate management we have therefore developed an Estuarine Planning Support System (EPSS) framework using the Humber Estuary, Eastern England, as a case study which integrates the current legislation tools and concepts. This integrated EPSS framework is an improvement on previous approaches for assessing cumulative impacts as it takes into account legislative drivers, management tools and other mechanisms for controlling plans/projects specific to the estuary. It therefore enables managers and users to assess and address both the current state and the way in which a new industrial, port or urban development could impact an estuary in an accessible and understandable framework

Factors that influence treatment seeking expectations in response to infectious intestinal disease: original survey and multinomial regression

Background: Infectious intestinal disease affects 25% of the UK population annually; 1 in 50 affected people consult health professionals about their illness. Aims: We tested if anticipated treatment-seeking decisions for suspected infectious intestinal disease could be related to emotional response, tolerance of symptoms, or beliefs about the consequential benefits and harms of seeking treatment (or not). Methods: Questionnaire survey of adults living in the UK with statistical analysis of responses. A vignette was presented about a hypothetical gastrointestinal illness. People stated their emotional reactions, expected actions in response and beliefs about possible benefits or harms from seeking treatment (or not getting treatment). Multinomial regression looked for predictors of anticipated behaviour. Results: People were inclined to consult a GP when they believed that seeking treatment would be beneficial and that its absence would be harmful. Seeking treatment was less anticipated if the condition was expected to improve quickly. Respondents were also more likely to consult if they strongly disliked fever or headache, and/or if the illness made them feel anxious or angry. Treatment-seeking (or lack of it) was not linked to harms from treatment-seeking, other specific symptoms and emotional responses. Conclusion: It was possible to link anticipated treatment-seeking behaviour to specific factors: expected prognosis, perceived benefits of seeking treatment, some emotions and some specific symptoms. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

The Influence of Playing Position and Contextual Factors on Soccer Players’ Match Differential Ratings of Perceived Exertion::A Preliminary Investigation

(1) Background: Differential RPE (dRPE) separates scores for breathlessness (RPE-B), leg muscle exertion (RPE-L) and technical/cognitive exertion (RPE-T). Limited information for dRPE is available in soccer match play, yet these measurements may help inform practitioners training and recovery strategies. This preliminary study investigated the effects of playing position and contextual factors on elite soccer players’ dRPE. (2) Methods: Thirty-two male English Premier League players recorded dRPE scores 15–30 min post-match for RPE-B, RPE-L, and RPE-T. Data were analysed using linear mixed models, with magnitude-based inferences subsequently applied. (3) Results: Overall, the mean ± SD for the dRPE were 63 ± 23 arbitrary units (au) (RPE-B), 67 ± 22 au (RPE-L), and 60 ± 24 au (RPE-T). Full Backs reported substantially higher RPE-B, RPE-L and RPE-T when compared to all other positions. Substantially higher RPE-T scores were reported for matches played against Top teams compared to Bottom (10 au; 90% Confidence Interval 5 to 15 au) and Middle (10 au; 4 to 15 au) ranked teams. The effects of match result and location on dRPE were not substantial. (4) Conclusions: Positional differences were observed following soccer match play for RPE-B, RPE-L and RPE-T. Full backs had substantially higher dRPE then any other position, with all players reporting increased RPE-T when playing teams at the Top of the league. These findings can help practitioners monitor internal load responses and support the prescription of training and recovery sessions

Camp Maxey IV Archaeological Testing of Six Sites, Lamar County, Texas

From June 14 through July 4, 2001, the Center for Archaeological Research of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted National Register of Historic Places eligibility testing of six prehistoric archaeological sites (41LR190, 41LR194, 41LR196, 41LR200, 41LR258, and 41LR259) at Camp Maxey, Lamar County, Texas, under contract with the Texas Army National Guard. The investigations were conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2180. The Phase II testing fieldwork consisted of the excavation of twelve backhoe trenches and nineteen 1 x 1-m test units across the sites to investigate significant cultural deposits encountered during the previous survey phase. In concert with the archaeological field investigations, lithic and native ceramic analyses and magnetic sediment susceptibility studies were performed to aid in the determination of site integrity and eligibility. The synthesis of these analyses has provided adequate data to determine temporal integrity and recommendation of National Register eligibility for site 41LR190. Further cultural resources investigations in the form of Phase III data recovery excavations are thus recommended for this site prior to proposed development. Conversely, due to lack of significance criteria, sites 41LR194, 41LR196, 41LR200, 41LR258, and 41LR259 are recommended as ineligible for inclusion in the National Register and require no further cultural resources investigations

Improving Outcomes for Infants with Single Ventricle Physiology through Standardized Feeding during the Interstage

Congenital heart disease is identified as the most common birth defect with single ventricle physiology carrying the highest mortality. Staged surgical palliation is required for treatment, with mortality historically as high as 22% in the four- to six-month period from the first- to second-stage surgical palliation, known as the interstage. A standardized postoperative feeding approach was implemented through an evidence-based protocol, parent engagement, and interprofessional team rounds. Five infants with single ventricle physiology preprotocol were compared with five infants who received the standardized feeding approach. Mann- Whitney tests were conducted to evaluate the hypotheses that infants in the intervention condition would consume more calories and have a positive change inweight-to-age -score (WAZ) and shorter length of stay (LOS) following the first and second surgeries compared to infants in the control condition. After the protocol, the change inWAZ during the interstage increased by virtually one standard deviation from 0.05 to 0.91.Median LOS dropped 32% after the first surgery and 43% after the second surgery. Since firstand second-stage palliative surgeries occur within the same year of life, this represents savings of $500,000 to$800,000 per year in a 10-infant model.The standardized feeding approach improved growth in single ventricle infants while concurrently lowering hospital costs

Archaeology of the Planned Location of the Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas

From October 2002 to January 2004, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio conducted archaeological investigations for the City of San Antonio in a 2,570.25-acre project area that is the future site of the San Antonio Toyota Motor Manufacturing Plant. The work was conducted under Texas Antiquities Permit No. 2982 with Dr. Steve A. Tomka, CAR Director, serving as Principal Investigator. The project included the reconnaissance of over 500 acres of the project area, the excavation of 376 shovel tests, 250 mechanical auger borings, and 42 backhoe and Gradall trenches. The backhoe and Gradall trenches were dug for geoarchaeological investigations and in one instance to search for a presumed historic cemetery. Reassessment for National Register of Historic Places and State Archeological Landmark status was conducted for 16 previously documented archaeological sites (41BX125, 41BX349, 41BX652, 41BX653, 41BX654, 41BX655, 41BX656, 41BX657, 41BX658, 41BX659, 41BX660, 41BX661, 41BX662, 41BX676, 41BX681, and 41BX832) and five newly identified sites (41BX1571–41BX1575). Of the 21 sites examined during this project, 12 are prehistoric, seven are historic and two have both prehistoric and historic components. The prehistoric sites are lithic and burned rock scatters, possibly the remnants of campsites. Diagnostic artifacts found in previous surveys indicate Archaic and Late Prehistoric time frames. The historic sites present are farmstead-ranch complexes including residential structures and outbuildings. Also encountered were tenant farmer residences and a small brick kiln. The historic components are primarily late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century, although original surveys noted early-nineteenth-century artifacts. All artifacts collected are curated at the Center for Archaeological Research laboratory facility

Characterisation and expression of SPLUNC2, the human orthologue of rodent parotid secretory protein

We recently described the Palate Lung Nasal Clone (PLUNC) family of proteins as an extended group of proteins expressed in the upper airways, nose and mouth. Little is known about these proteins, but they are secreted into the airway and nasal lining fluids and saliva where, due to their structural similarity with lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein, they may play a role in the innate immune defence. We now describe the generation and characterisation of novel affinity-purified antibodies to SPLUNC2, and use them to determine the expression of this, the major salivary gland PLUNC. Western blotting showed that the antibodies identified a number of distinct protein bands in saliva, whilst immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated protein expression in serous cells of the major salivary glands and in the ductal lumens as well as in cells of minor mucosal glands. Antibodies directed against distinct epitopes of the protein yielded different staining patterns in both minor and major salivary glands. Using RT-PCR of tissues from the oral cavity, coupled with EST analysis, we showed that the gene undergoes alternative splicing using two 5' non-coding exons, suggesting that the gene is regulated by alternative promoters. Comprehensive RACE analysis using salivary gland RNA as template failed to identify any additional exons. Analysis of saliva showed that SPLUNC2 is subject to N-glycosylation. Thus, our study shows that multiple SPLUNC2 isoforms are found in the oral cavity and suggest that these proteins may be differentially regulated in distinct tissues where they may function in the innate immune response