Ninth Circuit Upholds Cal. Low Carbon Fuel Standard

The Ninth Circuit’s decision September 18, 2013, reversing the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union District Court preliminary injunction, virtually vindicated the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”). It was also a resounding affirmation by the panel’s majority of California’s overall experiment in addressing climate change on the state level

Ninth Circuit Upholds Cal. Low Carbon Fuel Standard

The Ninth Circuit’s decision September 18, 2013, reversing the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union District Court preliminary injunction, virtually vindicated the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (“LCFS”). It was also a resounding affirmation by the panel’s majority of California’s overall experiment in addressing climate change on the state level

Investigating the effects of mopane worms (Imbrasia belina) on nutrients, Venetia-Limpopo Nature Reserve, South Africa

Ecologists have long been aware that large mammalian herbivores can alter ecosystem functioning in various ways, for example through changing where they defecate and urinate, which consequently affects nutrient cycling. The effects of herbivorous insects on ecosystems, however, have received limited attention until recently. Insects are capable of mass outbreaks, they can consume large volumes of vegetative material and can deposit large quantities of dung (frass), one example being the mopane worm, Imbrasia belina. This study looked at the effect of mopane worm frass on soil fertility in the mopane veld of the Venetia-Limpopo Nature Reserve and neighbouring Haakdoring farm. It found that mopane worms are capable of altering soil nutrient dynamics beneath the trees where they are browsing in three ways. Firstly, they increase the potential amount of nutrients deposited when compared with that deposited through conventional leaf litter. Secondly, they alter the rate of nutrient recycling by depositing nutrients in frass which decomposes more rapidly than conventional leaf litter. Lastly, they increase the amounts of potassium and phosphorus in the soil. While there is no conclusive data from this study that the mopane veld would become extinct if mopane worms were harvested to extinction, it has shown that there is relatively little evidence on how herbivorous insects could affect ecosystem functioning in the landscapes in which they occur. Further research is recommended that investigates how mopane worms influence soil fertility in more detail and over multiple geographical locations

Cave stratigraphies and cave breccias: Implications for sediment accumulation and removal models and interpreting the record of human occupation

AbstractMany of the key debates in archaeology hinge on the chronology and interpretation of data gathered from cave and rockshelter stratigraphies, especially those in karstic limestone environments which are selectively targeted by archaeologists because of their superior preservation characteristics. It has long been recognized that such sites often contain a variety of cemented deposits including cave breccias and that some breccias contain anthropogenic inclusions such as stone artefacts, shell and burnt animal bones. Cementation enhances the survival through time of such brecciated deposits. This can result in chrono-stratigraphic intervals surviving on cave walls and speleothems that are no longer represented in the stratigraphy of cave floors. This has important implications for understanding apparent presence/absence of human occupation and cultural continuity as seen in archaeo-stratigraphy in caves and rockshelters, especially in relation to human migration in the humid tropics in SE Asia and the Pacific, and over Pleistocene to Holocene timescales. Here we discuss localized breccia formation, the erosional processes that leave remnant deposits adhering to walls and speleothems at heights well above current cave floors, and the possible significance of local and regional processes, especially changing base levels, in triggering gutting out phases impacting cave floor sediment architectures. Equally significant in terms of chronological completeness, representativeness and bias is the contribution made by cultural materials encased in older breccias as they erode and are (re-)incorporated into younger accumulating cultural deposits. Case studies from cave sites in Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste are used to illustrate these issues

Stress, burnout, depression and work satisfaction among UK anaesthetic trainees:a qualitative analysis of in-depth participant interviews in the Satisfaction and Wellbeing in Anaesthetic Training study

Anaesthetists experience unique stressors. Recent evidence suggests a high prevalence of stress and burnout in trainee anaesthetists. There has been no in-depth qualitative analysis to explore this further. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore contributory and potentially protective factors in the development of perceived stress, burnout, depression and low work-satisfaction. We sampled purposively among participants in the Satisfaction and Wellbeing in Anaesthetic Training study, reaching data saturation at 12 interviews. Thematic analysis identified three overarching themes: (1) factors enabling work-satisfaction; (2) stressors of being an anaesthetic trainee; (3) suggestions for improving working conditions. Factors enabling work-satisfaction were: patient contact; the privilege of enabling good patient outcomes; and strong support at home and work. Stressors were: demanding non-clinical workloads; exhaustion from multiple commitments; a ‘love/hate’ relationship as trainees value clinical work but find the training burden immense; feeling ‘on edge’, even unsafe at work; and the changing way society sees doctors. Suggested recommendations for improvement include: having contracted hours allowed for non-clinical work; individuals taking responsibility for self-care in and out of work; cultural acceptance that doctors can struggle; and embedding wellbeing support more deeply in organisations and the specialty. Nearly all trainees discussed feeling some levels of burnout, which were high and distressing for some, and high levels of perceived stress. Yet trainees also experienced distinct elements of work-satisfaction and support. Our study provides a foundation for further work to inform organisational and cultural changes to help translate anaesthetic trainees’ passion for their work, into a manageable and satisfactory career

A systematic review of non-pharmacological interventions for primary Sjögren’s syndrome

The objective of this systematic review was to assess the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for the management of primary Sjögren’s syndrome. We searched the following databases from inception to September 2014; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; Medline; Embase; PsychINFO; Cinahl and clinical trials registers. We included randomised controlled trials of any non-pharmacological interventions. Two review authors independently reviewed titles and abstracts against the inclusion/exclusion criteria and independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. 1463 studies were identified of which 17 full text articles were screened and 5 studies were included in the review with a total of 130 participants randomised. The included studies investigated effectiveness of an oral lubricating device for dry mouth, acupuncture for dry mouth, lacrimal punctum plugs for dry eyes and psychodynamic group therapy for coping with symptoms. Overall the studies were of low quality and at high risk of bias. Although one study showed punctum plugs to improve dry eyes it was too small for the findings to be conclusive. Overall we identified no evidence to support any non-pharmacological interventions to improve PSS. The area needs quality large randomised controlled trials that are reported according to CONSORT guidelines and address important issues to patients

Excavations at the site of Vasino, Lautem District, Timor-Leste

This chapter explores the archaeology and ethnohistory of one of the distinctive fortified settlements in the eastern part of Timor-Leste. In 2009, a team from The Australian National University (ANU), together with local people, partially excavated the site of Vasino, located close to the north coast of Timor-Leste, above the modern village of Moro-Parlamento (Figure 4.1). The site had been fortified with large stone walls and the aim was to provide more data on when, how and why these fortifications were used in the region. Two related questions guided the research. First, when was the main period of fort construction initiated? Secondly, what were the prevailing environmental and social conditions of those times

Probing forces of menisci: what levels are safe for arthroscopic surgery

Purpose To facilitate effective learning, feedback on performance during arthroscopic training is essential. Less attention has been paid to feedback on monitoring safe handling of delicate tissues such as meniscus. The goal is to measure in vitro probing forces of menisci and compare them with a theoretical maximum probing force (TMPF). Method Menisci samples of ten cadavers were mounted on force platforms to measure probing forces up to 20 N in three directions. Nineteen subjects participated: six novices (experience 60 arthroscopies), and three faculty (>250 a year). All had to perform three tasks on each meniscus sample with an arthroscopic probe: push three times on the superior meniscal surface, perform one continuous run on the superior meniscal surface, and push three times on the inferior meniscal surface. The absolute maximum probing force (AMPF) was determined for each condition. A multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to assess the influence of experience on the force magnitude (P < 0.05). AMPFs were compared to the TMPF (estimated to be 8.5 N). Results The AMPF of the push task was on average 2.8 N (standard deviation (SD) of 0.8 N), of the continuous run task 2.5 N (SD 0.9 N), and of the pull task 3.9 N (SD 2.0 N). Significant difference was present between experts and novices (P < 0.05). The AMPFs are in the same order of magnitude as the TMPF. Conclusion The results indicate the necessity of using a safety level for tissue manipulation when training arthroscopy and a value for is magnitude.Biomechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Evaluation of Mental Health First Aid from the Perspective Of Workplace End UseRs—EMPOWER: protocol of cluster randomised trial phase

Background: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a mental health intervention that teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue. Reviews of the implementation of MHFA found between 68 and 88% of trained Mental Health First Aiders had used their skills when in contact with someone experiencing mental health difficulties. Reviews evaluating the impact of MHFA suggest positive outcomes. However, to date, there has been no systematic, rigorous evaluation of the impact of MHFA on recipients of the intervention, the organisations providing it and the cost-effectiveness of MHFA overall. This trial will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of MHFA. Methods: The study is a multi-centred, two-arm clustered randomised controlled trial. Organisations will be randomly allocated to the control or intervention (estimated sample size 800 recipients). The intervention is the standard MHFA intervention provided by Mental Health First Aid England (MHFAE). The control condition will be organisations having a brief consultation from MHFAE on promoting mental health and well-being in the workplace. The primary outcome is health seeking behaviour, measured using the Actual Help Seeking Questionnaire, at 6 months’ follow-up. Data collection will be undertaken at baseline (T0), post-intervention—up to 3 months (T1), at 6 months (T2), 12 months (T3) and 24 months (T4). The primary analysis will be conducted on those participants who receive MHFA, a per protocol analysis. Discussion: The study is the first to evaluate the effect of MHFA in the workplace on employees with direct and indirect experience of the intervention, when compared with usual practice. Being also the first to assess, systematically, the social impact of MHFA and investigate its cost-effectiveness adds to the originality of the study. The study promises to yield important data, as yet unknown, regarding the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, implementation issues, and the sustainability of MHFA in the workplace

Rangelands at equilibrium and non-equilibrium recent developments in the debate around rangeland ecology and management

The debate on equilibrium vs non-equilibrium dynamics in pastoral systems emerged in the early 1980s, when economists, ecologists and social scientists began to challenge the widespread claims of overgrazing and degradation in African rangelands and subsequent interventions based on rangeland succession theory and correct stocking rates (for example, Sandford 1982; 1983; Homewood & Rodgers 1987; Ellis & Swift 1988; Abel & Blaikie 1989; Westoby et al. 1989). The debate gained momentum in the early 1990s after two international workshops around emergent new paradigms in rangeland ecology and socio-economics (Woburn I and II), which resulted in the publication of two books, Range Ecology at Disequilibrium edited by Behnke et al. (1993) and Living with Uncertainty edited by Scoones (1994). The ‘new rangeland ecology’ argued that the traditional, equilibrium-based rangeland models did not take into account the considerable spatial heterogeneity and climatic variability of semi-arid rangelands, and that mobility, variable stocking rates and adaptive management were essential for the effective and sustainable utilisation of semi-arid and arid rangelands