Anthropogenic impacts on recharge processes and water quality in basin aquifers of the desert Southwest : a coupled field observation and modeling study

textThe development of natural grass/scrubland for agricultural use within the Trans-Pecos basins has altered recharge mechanisms and raised questions about groundwater sustainability. Past efforts focused on recharge in arid basin systems used three main assumptions: there is minimal modern recharge, no widespread recharge on basin floors, and no recharge from anthropogenic sources. However, in the Trans-Pecos, nitrate (NO₃-) concentrations have increased in basin groundwater (up by 3-4 mg/l as NO₃- in 40 yrs), refuting the “classic” model and posing water quality risks. Grazing and irrigated agriculture have impacted basin hydrology by altering vegetation regime and the magnitude and spatial distribution of infiltration. This has increased recharge, Cl⁻, and mobile N flux to basin groundwater. A series of spatially-distributed net infiltration models were used to estimate potential recharge from natural and anthropogenic sources. Between 7-20% of potential recharge results from widespread recharge on the basin floors. Additionally, from 1960-2000, irrigation return flow may have contributed 3.0 × 10⁷ - 6.3 × 10⁷ m³ of recharge. These results are supported by field observations. Cores collected beneath agricultural land document changes in water content and pore water chemistry that imply increased downward flux of moisture and solute, and NO₃- and Cl- inventories beneath irrigated land are distinct in amount and profile from those in natural areas. There are significant implications for sustainability based upon the trends in groundwater NO₃- concentrations, core results, and net infiltration models: more recharge may enter the basins than previously estimated and there is a potential long-term concern for water quality. Due to thick unsaturated zones in the basins, long travel times are anticipated. It is unknown if NO3- and Cl⁻ flux has peaked or if effects will continue for years to come. Further study should be undertaken to examine anthropogenic impacts on basin water quality. Additionally, these impacts may occur in similar systems globally and there is considerable evidence for the re-evaluation of the validity of the “classic” model of recharge in arid basin systems. Future studies and management plans should incorporate potential impacts of changes in vegetation and land use on recharge processes and water budgets in arid basins.Geological Science

An evaluation of ‘Families for Health’ : a new family-based intervention for the management of childhood obesity

Objectives - To develop and pilot a community-based family programme, ‘Families for Health’, for intervention with overweight and obese children aged 7-11 years. Intervention – ‘Families for Health’ is a 12-week programme, with parallel groups for parents and children, combining support for parenting, lifestyle change, as well as social & emotional development. Design of the Evaluation – Pilot study using mixed-methods comprising: process evaluation; outcome evaluation involving a ‘before and after’ evaluation and triangulation with interview data; economic evaluation (cost-outcome description); users and providers perspectives. Setting – Leisure Centre, Coventry, England Participants – 27 overweight or obese children aged 7-13 years (18 girls, 9 boys) and their parents, from 21 families. Process Evaluation – Two groups were run, and were delivered as planned. Recruitment was difficult, although most effective via the media. Attendance rate was 62%, with 18(67%) children completing the programme. Outcome Evaluation – Primary outcome was change in the BMI z-score from baseline. For 22 children with follow-up data, BMI z-score was significantly reduced by -0.18 (95% CI -0.30 to -0.05, p=0.008) at the end of the programme, and was sustained to 9-months (-0.21) and 2-years (-0.23). There were also significant improvements in the children’s quality-of-life, eating and activity environment, child-parent relationships and parent’s mental health. Fruit and vegetable consumption, participation in moderate/vigorous exercise, and children’s self-esteem did not change significantly. Interview data illustrated the changes made by the families, particularly to their eating environment. User and Provider Perspectives – The group-based parenting approach was received well, providing the ‘tools’ for parents to become ‘agents of change’ in the family. Suggested changes to the programme include providing follow-up sessions and a greater focus on physical activity. Economic Evaluation - Costs to run ‘Families for Health’ were £517 per family or £402 per child, in-line with other group-based obesity management or parenting interventions. Conclusion - ‘Families for Health’ is a promising new intervention for the management of childhood obesity

Developing Critical Reflective Online Communities by Empowering Student Voice

This qualitative study examines the voices and learning experiences of students in online synchronous graduate courses by examining the role that student voice plays in developing authentic online communities. Transformational digital learning regards student voices as central to the process of learning in community, not extraneous to it. Effective online courses must be designed to allow constructivist opportunities for students to contextualize and integrate knowledge as well. With the wide variety and increasing landscape of new and innovative digital means of expressing concepts, placing students at the centre of the process is a digital affordance that holds the potential to engage students more fully. The authors detail an analysis of students’ digital artifacts created during two 12-week graduate courses entitled “Critical and Reflective Practice in Education”. Each course was delivered through synchronous weekly Adobe Connect sessions. These artifacts or “Digital Moments” are used as evidence of the quality of the students’ learning experiences, and a cognitive map of their challenges and successes. Students express powerful voices about their individual experiences. This paper articulates the process of developing a critically reflective online learning space, and examines how teachers can successfully chronicle students’ voices and experiences through their digitally created artifacts

But is it Transformative? Quality Assurance as Co-learning in Graduate Education

This research explores quality in two online graduate courses by examining data sets gathered separately from the same cohort of students. Data include an institutional survey and student work outputs such as assignments and learning logs. Quality in higher education is critically important, but the means to establish it has reportedly been somewhat illusive in academia (Anderson, G., 2006). There are tensions evident in processes such as program review because it encourages faculty to reflect on their practice but is generally not course-specific. Program reviews also rely on external experts to match the evidence to standards. Barrow (1999) employs the term “dramaturgical compliance” to describe quality assurance reviews, implying that program review can be staged. Understanding these tensions, the authors instead use data collected within the institution: student work and a program-specific survey. The literature reviewed on quality assurance and online learning leads to a theoretical framework based on elements of online courses associated with quality such as: social presence, cognitive presence, and teaching presence (Garrison, Anderson T., and Archer, 2001) and community building in online programs (Archer, 2001). This framework is used also to analyze the data from student work outputs such as assignments and learning logs. The identification of transformative elements was aided by Mezirow’s (1990) criteria. Next, findings from a survey administered by the institution are compared to the findings from the qualitative data analysis. This study finds evidence that quality assurance is enriched by professors and the institution collaborating to seek different types of feedback

Utility of accelerometers to measure physical activity in children attending an obesity treatment intervention

Objectives. To investigate the use of accelerometers to monitor change in physical activity in a childhood obesity treatment intervention. Methods. 28 children aged 7–13 taking part in “Families for Health” were asked to wear an accelerometer (Actigraph) for 7-days, and complete an accompanying activity diary, at baseline, 3-months and 9-months. Interviews with 12 parents asked about research measurements. Results. Over 90% of children provided 4 days of accelerometer data, and around half of children provided 7 days. Adequately completed diaries were collected from 60% of children. Children partake in a wide range of physical activity which uniaxial monitors may undermonitor (cycling, nonmotorised scootering) or overmonitor (trampolining). Two different cutoffs (4 METS or 3200 counts⋅min-1) for minutes spent in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) yielded very different results, although reached the same conclusion regarding a lack of change in MVPA after the intervention. Some children were unwilling to wear accelerometers at school and during sport because they felt they put them at risk of stigma and bullying. Conclusion. Accelerometers are acceptable to a majority of children, although their use at school is problematic for some, but they may underestimate children's physical activity

Obesity in international migrant populations

Purpose of Review: This review examines the risk of obesity in migrant groups—specifically migrants from countries with lower prevalence of obesity to countries with higher prevalence of obesity. We examine obesity prevalence within migrant groups compared with native populations and the evidence on factors that might shape obesity risk in these migrant groups. Recent Findings: Migrants may arrive in new countries with a health advantage including generally a healthier body weight. Genetic and epi-genetic factors, as well as body size preference, socio-economic factors, and stress exposure, may play a role in increasing unhealthy weight gain in migrant populations. This unhealthy weight gain leads to similar or greater obesity risk in migrant populations compared with native populations 10–15 years after migration. Summary: Meeting the challenge of prevention and treatment of obesity in diverse populations will require greater attention to minority groups in research in the future

Sonic Flock; Crowdsourcing, Exhibiting and Gifting Interactive Textile Birds for Wellbeing

This paper outlines the crowdsourcing, display and gifting of a “Sonic Flock” of interactive textile birds in the Outer Hebrides. The research explores how the Sonic Flock can enhance wellbeing, social connection and facilitate conversation within and between dementia-friendly communities (DFC). A range of themes - including bringing the outside in, birds and textile making were identified through conversations with care home residents, staff and families of those living in care homes in the Outer Hebrides. These themes were fed into the Sonic Flock project. Knitted and sewn birds were crowdsourced from makers throughout the UK. The resulting Sonic Flock; over 80 birds, were displayed in An Lanntair as part of Cuimhne (‘memory’ in Gaelic) exhibition. Some of the textile birds were designed and developed to play bird songs when touched. After the exhibition, the birds were gifted to island residents living in care homes throughout Lewis, Harris and Uist. They acted as social objects and conversation starters, building relationships between the researcher, staff, residents and wider DFC