Spatial Drivers of Ecosystem Structure and Function in a Floodplain Riverscape: Springbrook Nutrient Dynamics

On riverine floodplains, reorganization by fluvial processes creates and maintains a mosaic of aquatic and riparian landscape elements across a biophysical gradient of disturbance and succession. I hypothesized that ecosystem processes in spring brooks would differ spatially across biophysical zones because landscape position dictates severity of flood disturbance and allochthonous inputs from contiguous terrestrial and groundwater systems. Between July and October 2011, I quantified aspects of ecosystem structure and function among six streams (i.e., spring brooks) originating on the Nyack floodplain, Flathead River, Montana. Among sites large wood standing stocks differed over 300-fold (0.04 – 13.5 kg m-2), dominant particle size class varied by an order of magnitude (\u3c 2 – 64 mm), and measures of vertical hydraulic gradient (-0.14 to +0.20 cm cm-1) reflected landscape position (i.e., parafluvial and orthofluvial zones). I found fine sediment accumulation, stronger groundwater inputs, and greater benthic and large wood standing stocks in orthofluvial compared to parafluvial spring brooks. Algal biomass was negatively correlated with insolation and positively related to vertical hydraulic gradient. Solute injections were used to address biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen at the reach scale. Limited uptake of nitrate in spring brooks suggested abiotic interference or strong co-limitation by nitrogen and phosphorus. However, results from microcosm experiments showed increasing nitrogen uptake across the gradient from parafluvial to orthofluvial spring brooks. Functional response to landscape-scale organization of springbrook structure underscores the need for a spatially-explicit model of floodplain ecology

Labour induction with prostaglandins: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Abstract OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of prostaglandins used for labour induction. DESIGN: Systematic review with Bayesian network meta-analysis DATA SOURCES: The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Database of Trials (which incorporates the results of a broad generic search for all pregnancy and postpartum trials). Sources included are CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, CINAHL, relevant journals, conference proceedings, and registries of ongoing trials. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Randomised clinical trials of prostaglandin or prostaglandin analogues used for third trimester cervical ripening or labour induction versus placebo or no treatment, alternative prostaglandin dose or administration, or a different type of prostaglandin. We included studies recruiting women with a viable fetus, but had no other restrictions relating to indication for labour induction or language of publication. Outcomes assessed were serious neonatal morbidity (trialist defined) or perinatal death; serious maternal morbidity (trialist defined) or death; vaginal delivery not achieved within 24 hours, caesarean section, and uterine hyperstimulation with fetal heart rate changes. RESULTS: 280 randomised clinical trials were included (48 068 women) in the review. Maternal and neonatal mortality and serious morbidity were rarely reported and are summarized narratively. Unresolved inconsistency was observed for the hyperstimulation outcome. Relative to placebo, the odds of failing to achieve a vaginal delivery were lowest for vaginal misoprostol (≥50 µg) (odds ratio 0.06 (95% credible interval 0.02 to 0.12)), with a 39% absolute probability of event (95% credible interval 1% to 94%). Compared with placebo, odds of caesarean section were lowest for titrated oral misoprostol solution

Dynamic/Jitter Assessment of Multiple Potential HabEx Structural Designs

One of the driving structural requirements of the Habitable Exo-Planet (HabEx) telescope is to maintain Line Of Sight (LOS) stability between the Primary Mirror (PM) and Secondary Mirror (SM) of 5 mas. Dynamic analyses of two configurations of a proposed (HabEx) 4 meter off-axis telescope structure were performed to predict effects of jitter on primary/secondary mirror alignment. The dynamic disturbance used as the forcing function was the James Webb Space Telescope reaction wheel assembly vibration emission specification level. The objective of these analyses was to predict "order-of-magnitude" performance for various structural configurations which will roll into efforts to define the HabEx structural design's global architecture. Two variations of the basic architectural design were analyzed. Relative motion between the PM and the SM for each design configuration are reported

Cancer in Australia 1999

Cancer in Australia 1999 presents comprehensive national data on cancer incidence and mortality and summary data on screening, survival, inpatient hospital and general practice episodes, risk factors, and the cancer workforce. The report provides 1999 data for cancer by site, age and sex, and summary data for each State and Territory. Incidence and mortality trends since the early 1980s and age patterns for selected cancers are features of this report. Cancer in Australia 1999 is an important reference from the Cancer Series for all those interested in the health of Australians

Streamlining T cell engager development with a diverse panel of fully human CD3-binding antibodies, bispecific engineering technology, and an integrated discovery engine

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Sharing a household with children and risk of COVID-19: a study of over 300 000 adults living in healthcare worker households in Scotland

Objective: Children are relatively protected from COVID-19, due to a range of potential mechanisms. We investigated if contact with children also affords adults a degree of protection from COVID-19. Design: Cohort study based on linked administrative data. Setting: Scotland. Study population: All National Health Service Scotland healthcare workers and their household contacts as of March 2020. Main exposure: Number of young children (0–11 years) living in the participant’s household. Main outcomes: COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation, and any COVID-19 (any positive test for SARS-CoV-2) in adults aged ≥18 years between 1 March and 12 October 2020. Results: 241 266, 41 198, 23 783 and 3850 adults shared a household with 0, 1, 2 and 3 or more young children, respectively. Over the study period, the risk of COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation was reduced progressively with increasing numbers of household children—fully adjusted HR (aHR) 0.93 per child (95% CI 0.79 to 1.10). The risk of any COVID-19 was similarly reduced, with the association being statistically significant (aHR per child 0.93; 95% CI 0.88 to 0.98). After schools reopened to all children in August 2020, no association was seen between exposure to young children and risk of any COVID-19 (aHR per child 1.03; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.14). Conclusion: Between March and October 2020, living with young children was associated with an attenuated risk of any COVID-19 and COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation among adults living in healthcare worker households. There was no evidence that living with young children increased adults’ risk of COVID-19, including during the period after schools reopened

Understanding clinician attitudes towards implementation of guided self-help cognitive behaviour therapy for those who hear distressing voices: using factor analysis to test normalisation process theory

Background The Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) has been used to understand the implementation of physical health care interventions. The current study aims to apply the NPT model to a secondary mental health context, and test the model using exploratory factor analysis. This study will consider the implementation of a brief cognitive behaviour therapy for psychosis (CBTp) intervention. Methods Mental health clinicians were asked to complete a NPT-based questionnaire on the implementation of a brief CBTp intervention. All clinicians had experience of either working with the target client group or were able to deliver psychological therapies. In total, 201 clinicians completed the questionnaire. Results The results of the exploratory factor analysis found partial support for the NPT model, as three of the NPT factors were extracted: (1) coherence, (2) cognitive participation, and (3) reflexive monitoring. We did not find support for the fourth NPT factor (collective action). All scales showed strong internal consistency. Secondary analysis of these factors showed clinicians to generally support the implementation of the brief CBTp intervention. Conclusions This study provides strong evidence for the validity of the three NPT factors extracted. Further research is needed to determine whether participants’ level of seniority moderates factor extraction, whether this factor structure can be generalised to other healthcare settings, and whether pre-implementation attitudes predict actual implementation outcomes