Combination of geodetic observations and models for glacial isostatic adjustment fields in Fennoscandia

We demonstrate a new technique for using geodetic data to update a priori predictions for Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) in the Fennoscandia region. Global Positioning System (GPS), tide gauge, and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) gravity rates are assimilated into our model. The technique allows us to investigate the individual contributions from these data sets to the output GIA model in a self-consistent manner. Another benefit of the technique is that we are able to estimate uncertainties for the output model. These are reduced with each data set assimilated. Any uncertainties in the GPS reference frame are absorbed by reference frame adjustments that are estimated as part of the assimilation. Our updated model shows a spatial pattern and magnitude of peak uplift that is consistent with previous models, but our location of peak uplift is slightly to the east of many of these. We also simultaneously estimate a spatially averaged rate of local sea level rise. This regional rate (similar to 1.5 mm/yr) is consistent for all solutions, regardless of which data sets are assimilated or the magnitude of a priori GPS reference frame constraints. However, this is only the case if a uniform regional gravity rate, probably representing errors in, or unmodeled contributions to, the low-degree harmonic terms from GRACE, is also estimated for the assimilated GRACE data. Our estimated sea level rate is consistent with estimates obtained using a more traditional approach of direct "correction" using collocated GPS and tide gauge site

Characterization of site-specific GPS errors using a short-baseline network of braced monuments at Yucca Mountain, southern Nevada

We use a short-baseline network of braced monuments to investigate site-specific GPS effects. The network has baseline lengths of ∼10, 100, and 1000 m. Baseline time series have root mean square (RMS) residuals, about a model for the seasonal cycle, of 0.05–0.24 mm for the horizontal components and 0.20–0.72 mm for the radial. Seasonal cycles occur, with amplitudes of 0.04–0.60 mm, even for the horizontal components and even for the shortest baselines. For many time series these lag seasonal cycles in local temperature measurements by 23–43 days. This could suggest that they are related to bedrock thermal expansion. Both shorter-period signals and seasonal cycles for shorter baselines to REP2, the one short-braced monument in our network, are correlated with temperature, with no lag time. Differences between REP2 and the other stations, which are deep-braced, should reflect processes occurring in the upper few meters of the ground. These correlations may be related to thermal expansion of these upper ground layers, and/or thermal expansion of the monuments themselves. Even over these short distances we see a systematic increase in RMS values with increasing baseline length. This, and the low RMS levels, suggests that site-specific effects are unlikely to be the limiting factor in the use of similar GPS sites for geophysical investigations

Service user interview panels for recruitment to UK child and adolescent mental health services: A questionnaire study exploring the experiences of young people, staff and candidates

Service user involvement is increasingly important in health and social care policy, including in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), but evidence evaluating involvement initiatives is lacking. This questionnaire study evaluated the use of young people’s (YP) interview panels in the recruitment of CAMHS staff, from the perspectives of YP, candidates and members of the staff interview panels. Self-report questionnaires were administered to YP, candidates and staff interview panel. This included quantitative and qualitative “free text” responses. YP’s panels were found to be important in hearing the voices of YP; participants all stated they would like YP to take part in future interviews. Qualitative analysis found YP provided added insight into the process, had a professional manner, were valued and important, gave clear feedback, and benefitted the YP involved. A number of changes to the process were identified. This evaluation found YP’s interview panels were feasible, and a valuable addition to the recruitment process, and should be considered in other CAMHS teams. Experience Framework This article is associated with the Patient, Family & Community Engagement lens of The Beryl Institute Experience Framework. (http://bit.ly/ExperienceFramework) Access other PXJ articles related to this lens. Access other resources related to this lens

Using self-reports of pain and other variables to distinguish between older women with back pain due to vertebral fractures and those with back pain due to degenerative changes

SUMMARY: Women with back pain and vertebral fractures describe different pain experiences than women without vertebral fractures, particularly a shorter duration of back pain, crushing pain and pain that improves on lying down. This suggests a questionnaire could be developed to identify older women who may have osteoporotic vertebral fractures. INTRODUCTION: Approximately 12 % of postmenopausal women have vertebral fractures (VFs), but less than a third come to clinical attention. Distinguishing back pain likely to relate to VF from other types of back pain may ensure appropriate diagnostic radiographs, leading to treatment initiation. This study investigated whether characteristics of back pain in women with VF are different from those in women with no VFs. METHODS: A case control study was undertaken with women aged ≥60 years who had undergone thoracic spinal radiograph in the previous 3 months. Cases were defined as those with VFs identified using the algorithm-based qualitative (ABQ) method. Six hundred eighty-three potential participants were approached. Data were collected by self-completed questionnaire including the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Chi-squared tests assessed univariable associations; logistic regression identified independent predictors of VFs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the ability of the combined independent predictors to differentiate between women with and without VFs via area under the curve (AUC) statistics. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven women participated: 64 cases and 133 controls. Radiographs of controls were more likely to show moderate/severe degenerative change than cases (54.1 vs 29.7 %, P = 0.011). Independent predictors of VF were older age, history of previous fracture, shorter duration of back pain, pain described as crushing, pain improving on lying down and pain not spreading down the legs. AUC for combination of these factors was 0.85 (95 % CI 0.79 to 0.92). CONCLUSION: We present the first evidence that back pain experienced by women with osteoporotic VF is different to back pain related solely to degenerative change

Factors Influencing Trends in Opioid Prescribing for Older People: A Scoping Review

Aim: The review aimed to identify factors influencing opioid prescribing as regular pain-management medication for older people. Background: Chronic pain occurs in 45–85% of older people but appears to be under-recognised and undertreated. However, strong opiate prescribing is more prevalent in older people, increasing at the fastest rate in this age group. Method: This review included all study types, published 1990-2017, which focused on opioid prescribing for pain-management among older adults. Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) framework was used to scope the literature. PubMed, EBSCO Host, the UK Drug Database and Google Scholar were searched. Data extraction, carried out by two researchers, included factors explaining opioid prescribing patterns and prescribing trends. Findings: 613 papers were identified and 53 were included in the final review consisting of 35 research papers, 10 opinion pieces and 8 grey literature sources. Factors associated with prescribing patterns were categorised according to whether they were patient-related, prescriber-driven or system driven. Patient factors included age, gender, race and cognition; prescriber factors included attitudes towards opioids and judgements about ‘normal’ pain; and policy/system factors related to the changing policy landscape over the last three decades, particularly in the USA. Conclusion: A large number of context-dependent factors appeared to influence opioid prescribing for chronic pain-management in older adults but the findings were inconsistent. There is a gap in the literature relating to the UK healthcare system; the prescriber and the patient perspective; and within the context of multi-morbidity and treatment burden

Stochastic filtering for determining gravity variations for decade-long time series of GRACE gravity

We present a new stochastic filter technique for statistically rigorous separation of gravity signals and correlated “stripe” noises in a series of monthly gravitational spherical harmonic coefficients (SHCs) produced by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission. Unlike the standard destriping process that removes the stripe contamination empirically, the stochastic approach simultaneously estimates gravity signals and correlated noises relying on covariance information that reflects both the spatial spectral features and temporal correlations among them. A major benefit of the technique is that by estimating the stripe noise in a Bayesian framework, we are able to propagate statistically rigorous covariances for the destriped GRACE SHCs, i.e. incorporating the impact of the destriping on the SHC uncertainties. The Bayesian approach yields a natural resolution for the gravity signal that reflects the correlated stripe noise, and thus achieve a kind of spatial smoothing in and of itself. No spatial Gaussian smoothing is formally required although it might be useful for some circumstances. Using the stochastic filter, we process a decade-length series of GRACE monthly gravity solutions, and compare the results with GRACE Tellus data products that are processed using the “standard” destriping procedure. The results show that the stochastic filter is able to remove the correlated stripe noise to a remarkable degree even without an explicit smoothing step. The estimates from the stochastic filter for each destriped GRACE field are suitable for Bayesian integration of GRACE with other geodetic measurements and models, and the statistically rigorous estimation of the time-varying rates and seasonal cycles in GRACE time series

The sober rave project: investigating the acceptability and personal experiences of alcohol-free dance events

Our research is an innovative, European-wide collaborative investigation into the benefits of alcohol-free events, otherwise known as ‘sober raves’. Much of the existing behaviour work which focuses on preventing and regulating maladaptive alcohol misuse suggests individuals act rationally in choosing to consume alcohol. However, intentions and other cognitive mediators often fail to map onto actual behaviour and do not explain why individuals continue to carry out risky health-risk behaviours, despite being aware of the associated risks. Substance use is also often driven by the pursuit of pleasure, rather than by the avoidance of harms. For example, many young people get social pleasures from drinking alcohol, but due to limited alcohol-free socialising opportunities non-drinkers can feel stigmatised. Our research is focusing on the perceived acceptability, attitudes and perceptions of a range of alcohol-free events for young people across Europe. Following the first stage of this research project, we hope to explore how these types of events could be used as a means of reducing alcohol consumption in young people

Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and Intact Parathyroid Hormone Influence Muscle Outcomes in Children and Adolescents

Increases in 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are shown to improve strength in adults; however, data in pediatric populations are scant and equivocal. In this ancillary study of a larger-scale, multi-sited, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled vitamin D intervention in US children and adolescents, we examined the associations between changes in vitamin D metabolites and changes in muscle mass, strength, and composition after 12 weeks of vitamin D3 supplementation. Healthy male and female, black and white children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 13 years from two US states (Georgia 34°N and Indiana 40°N) were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to receive an oral vitamin D3 dose of 0, 400, 1000, 2000, or 4000 IU/d for 12 weeks between the winter months of 2009 to 2011 (N = 324). Analyses of covariance, partial correlations, and regression analyses of baseline and 12-week changes (post-baseline) in vitamin D metabolites (serum 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2 D, intact parathyroid hormone [iPTH]), and outcomes of muscle mass, strength, and composition (total body fat-free soft tissue [FFST], handgrip strength, forearm and calf muscle cross-sectional area [MCSA], muscle density, and intermuscular adipose tissue [IMAT]) were assessed. Serum 25(OH)D and 1,25(OH)2 D, but not iPTH, increased over time, as did fat mass, FFST, forearm and calf MCSA, forearm IMAT, and handgrip strength (p < 0.05). Vitamin D metabolites were not associated with muscle strength at baseline nor after the 12-week intervention. Changes in serum 25(OH)D correlated with decreases in forearm IMAT, whereas changes in serum iPTH predicted increases in forearm and calf MCSA and IMAT (p < 0.05). Overall, increases in 25(OH)D did not influence muscle mass or strength in vitamin D-sufficient children and adolescents; however, the role of iPTH on muscle composition in this population is unknown and warrants further investigation

A 15 year slow-slip event on the Sunda megathrust offshore Sumatra

In the Banyak Islands of Sumatra, coral microatoll records reveal a 15 year-long reversal of interseismic vertical displacement from subsidence to uplift between 1966 and 1981. To explain these coral observations, we test four hypotheses, including regional sea level changes and various tectonic mechanisms. Our results show that the coral observations likely reflect a 15 year-long slow-slip event (SSE) on the Sunda megathrust. This long-duration SSE exceeds the duration of previously reported SSEs and demonstrates the importance of multidecade geodetic records in illuminating the full spectrum of megathrust slip behavior at subduction zones