Hydrolysis of hexachloroantimonate (V)

M.S.Henry M. Neuman

An investigation into changes in composition and distribution of the vegetation of Widdybank Fell, upper Teesdale, during the last twenty years

A survey of some areas of the Widdybank Fell area of Upper Teesdale was carried out over a single summer to attempt to detect any changes which may have occurred in the distribution and composition of communities in the twenty-five years since an original survey was carried out during the construction of the adjacent Cow Green Reservoir (Jones 1973).A vegetative survey concentrated on the species composition of six of the 30+ communities originally defined (Jones, 1973) and the results were compared with those of the original survey using multivariate analysis techniques. Several areas of the fell were also mapped in terms of the vegetative community distribution. This mapping utilised both computer enhanced aerial photographic images and ground surveys and validification. The results of this mapping are compared with the community distributions produced from the original survey (Bradshaw and Jones, 1976). Further studies were also carried on the effects of different grazing regimes on the limestone grassland. An analysis of the original data set was carried out using a multivariate technique and the resultant classification compared to the Zurich-Montpellier method used in the original analysis. The communities are also classified in terms of the NVC vegetation communities and their fit into this system of classification is discussed. The changes detected are discussed in relation to several environmental factors operating on the fell which were considered as possible causes of the changes.. Such factors include grazing pressure, changing atmospheric deposition and pollution, global warming and associated atmospheric changes, anthropogenic effects, effects of the Cow Green Reservoir and the various management activities carried out on the habitats present

The Strategic use of Geographic Information Systems in the Irish Insurance Industry

The motivation for the research arose from the significant increase in flooding events that have occurred in Ireland and other countries over the last decade. These floods can cause major damage to properties and have resulted in significant losses for insurance companies. There was an expression of interest from within the Irish insurance industry to utilise Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for enhancing the value of their customer data and with the recent losses they began considering using GIS for mapping flood prone areas. Anecdotal evidence suggested that the availability of accurate, up to date and relevant data to support a predictive flood model using hydrological information is insufficient in Ireland. The research explores the relationship between data information and knowledge and the role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in capturing and analysing clients’ geographical characteristics. The application of GIS in the Irish insurance market to analyse high risk flooding is considered, and the resulting pricing implications for customers within the Tolka river valley. An overview of the hydrological cycle and the processes that occur within are examined. The historical developments to model this environment, the classifications of these model types and there applications, strengths and weaknesses are also discussed. The potential application for geographic information systems in hydrological modelling is then examined. The research objectives are to; • Identify the stakeholders in flood management and insurance and the interaction between the organisations. • Identify the availability and quality of data to support flood modelling in Ireland • Investigate the effect of flooding on insurance prices. • Investigate the impact of flood defences on the price of flood insurance in flood prone areas. • Predict the areas prone to flooding. • Investigate the risk of flooding to an individual. • Investigate the insurance price for an individual. The research design is divided into three phases; the exploratory, survey and modelling phases. The initial phase of the research was exploratory and used qualitative methods to conduct and analyse interviews, the second and third phases employed quantitative methods to conduct a survey and develop a mathematical model for flood prediction and price assessment respectfully

Factors affecting the distribution of three non-indigenous riparian weeds in north-east England

The work presented uses a multi-disciphnary approach to examine the factors important in determining the distribution of the non-indigenous species, Impatiens glandulifera, Heracleum mantegazzianum and Fallopia japonica at a river catchment level. Distribution data for all three species along the Wear catchment, Co. Durham, were initially collected and the distribution of the species, in terms of density and abundance in different zones and habitats of the riparian system, were investigated. This work concluded that zones of the riverbank were used to differing extents by the three species. For all three species the lower riparian zone was the most important for the occurrence of populations. Data extracted from the Environment Agency's River Corridor Survey were used to provide information on characteristics of two river catchments. Examination of these data in association with the alien species distribution data highlighted differences in distribution patterns related to factors such as woodland, ruderal vegetation and bank management. Modelling species occurrences using the RCS data produced good predictive models for the two seed producing species {Impatiens and Heracleum) within a catchment but only poor models for Fallopia, with its solely vegetative method of spread. However testing such models on alternative catchments resulted in a reduction in predictive ability; the best overall models being derived from data amalgamated from both catchments. Variables selected in the models were found to concord with habitat preferences given elsewhere and also highlighted the importance of climate. Increasing the resolution of the collected data from 500m to 50m sections was found not to greatly improve the ability to predict species presence, though these data did allow predictions of Impatiens abundance to be made. Demographic analyses in different habitat types emphasised the importance of herb/ruderal vegetation, though all three species were found to persist in woodland areas despite reduced productivity. Other experiments examining the effects of climate, as represented by altitude, on the performance of the study species indicated that factors such as seed production and plant biomass varied with altitude, whereas germination did not. The thesis highlights potential shortfalls in producing predictive models for non-indigenous species based on non-equilibrium distributions and demonstrates interesting scale- dependent phenomena. It is suggested that whilst Impatiens may be largely climatically limited, Heracleum and Fallopia are more likely to be dispersal limited

The experience of facilitators and participants of long term condition self-management group programmes: a qualitative synthesis

Objective: Our aim was to systematically review the qualitative literature about the experiences of both facilitators and participants in a range of group-based programmes to support the self-management of long-term conditions. Methods: We searched 7 databases using the terms ‘self-management’, ‘group’ and ‘qualitative’. Full text articles meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved for review. A thematic synthesis approach was used to analyse the studies. Results: 2126 articles were identified and 24 were included for review. Group participants valued being with similar others and perceived peer support benefits. Facilitators (HCP and lay) had limited group specific training, were uncertain of purpose and prioritised education and medical conformity over supportive group processes and the promotion of self-management agency and engagement. Overall, studies prioritised positive descriptions. Conclusion: Group programmes’ medical self-management focus may reduce their ability to contribute to patient-valued outcomes. Further research is needed to explore this disconnect. Practice implications: This review supports broadening the scope of group-based programmes to foreground shared learning, social support and development of agency. It is of relevance to developers and facilitators of group self-management programmes and their ability to address the burden of long-term conditions

Cost and benefits of rent control in Kumasi, Ghana

Over the past forty years, rent control has been a feature of housing in Ghana. This study focusses on the housing market in Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana. The authors examine the characteristics of the rent control regime in force there, and assess the costs and benefits of rent control, on landlords and on tenants, and its effect on the housing stock. Rent control has been successful in ensuring that housing is very inexpensive for most households, in both absolute terms and in the proportion of income devoted to rent. Thesecontrols have deprived landlords of economic returns on their property, causing them to withdraw stock from renting to use for their own family members and to reduce maintenance. However, rent control is not the only constraint on the housing market, in Kumasi or in Ghana. The paper also describes other supply side and regulatory constraints; such as those affecting land, finance, and choice of building design and materials. A number of options for relaxation/decontrol are studied with the aid of a simple present value model. Along with decontrol of new construction it is recommended that floating up and out of controls over a five year period should be considered, along with policy changes to ensure ready supplies of land, finance, and building materials. Such policies are essential, given that private housing investment provides the great majority of rooms in Ghanaian urban areas.Non Bank Financial Institutions,Banks&Banking Reform,Housing Finance,Housing&Human Habitats,Economic Theory&Research

How do facilitators of group programmes for long-term conditions conceptualise self-management support?

Objectives: Increasing self-management skills in people with long-term conditions is widely advocated in policies and guidelines. Group programmes are a common format; yet, how self-management support objectives are enacted in their delivery is poorly understood. Our aim is to explore the perspectives of group programme facilitators. Methods: We undertook thematic analysis of transcribed data from in-depth semi-structured interviews with health professional facilitators (n = 13) from six diverse self-management support group programmes (of obesity, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Results: Facilitators viewed group programmes as responses to health system pressures, e.g. high patient demand. They focussed on providing in-depth education and instruction on physical health, risks and lifestyle behaviour change and emphasised self-responsibility for behaviour change whilst minimising goal setting and support amongst group participants. There were tensions between facilitators’ professional identity and group leader role