Stormwater Contaminant Load Monitoring (2016) and Modelling of the Heathcote Catchment and Six Representative Subcatchments

Adverse effects from sediment and heavy metals have been observed in the Heathcote catchment, which is diverse in its land use activities. Stormwater management improvements are planned for the catchment through the Heathcote Stormwater Management Plan. Contaminant load monitoring and modelling for subcatchments in the Heathcote were undertaken to help inform the stormwater management policies and planning. The UC’s event-based contaminant load model, MEDUSA (Modelled Estimates of Discharges for Urban Stormwater Assessments), that predicts the amount of total suspended solids (TSS), and total and dissolved copper and zinc generated by individual roof, road and carpark surfaces, was employed for the modelling. Stormwater monitoring of key impermeable surfaces was used to calibrate the model and also quantify the chemical speciation of the contaminants (i.e. particulate or dissolved form), important for assessing appropriate future treatment or mitigation strategies. Stormwater runoff monitoring and predictive modelling (using MEDUSA) was previously conducted in the Okeover and Addington subcatchments of the Avon Catchment. In those studies, four roof types, three road types and three carpark classifications were monitored and modelled. In this study, stormwater runoff quality was monitored from eight different impermeable surfaces in the Heathcote catchment over 9 rainfall events from July to November 2016. These sites represented typical surfaces in the catchment: a new Coloursteel® roof, an older Coloursteel® roof, a concrete roof, a galvanized painted roof, three roads (local, collector, minor arterial) and a commercial/light industrial carpark. First flush (first 1 L of runoff) and steady state samples were analysed for TSS and total and dissolved zinc and copper. Data from the monitoring campaign was analyzed and then used to refine MEDUSA to Heathcote conditions. The model was applied to estimate zinc loads from roofs for the Heathcote catchment as a whole, as well as from six individual subcatchments representing industrial areas (Curries and Jardens Drains; Awatea), mixed use areas (Curletts Drain; Waltham) and mostly residential areas (Jacksons Creek; Wilderness Drain). Predictions of contaminant loads were obtained for each rainfall event sampled in 2016. Additionally, predictive simulations were conducted for all events for years between 2011-2016 to ascertain differences as a function of variable weather conditions. The galvanized roof surfaces produced significantly more zinc than other surfaces. Coloursteel® Old and Galvanised Painted first flush runoff contributed some of the highest zinc concentrations measured in recent Christchurch untreated stormwater sampling. First flush concentrations from the new Coloursteel® roof were consistently lower than the steady state concentrations from the old Coloursteel® roof. Similarly, zinc concentrations from the galvanised painted roof were higher than the new Coloursteel® roof, but lower than the old Coloursteel® roof. The data also clearly show that the majority of zinc from the four roof types is in the dissolved form, substantiating previous monitored data in Christchurch. These data confirm that the key mechanism for zinc generation from roofs is direct dissolution of the roof material, enhanced and sustained by the exposure and breakdown of the galvanizing layer through weathering. Zinc measured in concrete roof runoff is believed to originate from galvanised components in the guttering and downpipes rather than from atmospheric deposition alone. Therefore, while concrete and other non-metallic roofs may not contribute large zinc loads to stormwater runoff, some zinc is dissolved from their galvanised drainage components, which may be something to consider in management decisions about roof replacements along with roof condition. Because zinc was defined as the focus of the study, total zinc loads were predicted using MEDUSA. Modelling results revealed that there is a clear difference in the rate at which total zinc is derived from each roof type, with concrete and Coloursteel® roofs yielding the least amount of zinc (per area) in roof runoff. Zincalume® and painted Galvanised roofs released more than double the amount (per area) of concrete and Coloursteel® roofs, but not as much as unpainted galvanised roofs. The data highlight the availability of zinc from roofs (with metallic surfaces) to stormwater runoff and the positive effect of painting these surfaces to immobilize some of the zinc. The yearly scenario results reveal the influence of variable wet weather conditions (including rainfall pH, antecedent dry days, rainfall intensity and duration) on zinc runoff from roofs. Despite the relatively low proportion (7 %) of roofs within the Heathcote Catchment that are defined as poorly painted or unpainted, they consistently contribute more than 30 % of the total zinc load from roofs in each year. Waltham (mixed landuse) roofs, which make up 29 % of the catchment and comprise the highest proportion (16 ha) of unpainted galvanized roofs, contribute between 2.2 and 7.6 net kg TZn/event to stormwater runoff. Similarly, Wilderness Drain (residential landuse) roofs, which make up 26 % of the catchment and comprise 12 ha of unpainted galvanized roofs, 34 ha of painted galvanized roofs and 27 ha of Coloursteel® roofs, produces nearly the same net zinc loads (2.0 -7.9 TZn kg) per rain event as Waltham. These disaggregated data are important because they highlight that the proportional area of specific roof types (e.g. unpainted galvanized) is a clear determinant of how much total zinc can be expected in roof runoff rather than assuming greater contributions from a more industrial/commercial area alone. Furthermore, depending on the condition of that roof material, a range of lower or higher zinc loads can be expected from roof runoff during rain events. Changes (as modelled scenarios) in proportional roof areas from the current status would result in significant reductions of total zinc runoff from roofs in the Heathcote subcatchments across all the modelled years, with some variability between years due to the influence of rainfall parameters. This reduction is more pronounced at the higher ranges for each scenario. A change in proportional zinc loads in different subcatchments results from the change in their proportional areas (and condition), highlighting the value in examining specific subcatchment responses to variable modelling scenarios

Evidence and ideology as a rationale for light-therapy in Russia: from the Soviet Union to the present day.

Light therapy is still used to treat a number of common diseases in Russia. The practice is firmly anchored in history: Soviet clinical practice was divorced from the emerging field of evidence-based medicine. Medical researchers were cut off from international medical research and scientific literature, with much Soviet scientific activity based on a particular socialist ideology. In this study, the use of light therapy serves as a case study to explore tensions between international evidence-based medicine and practices developed in isolation under the Soviet Union, the legacy of which is to the detriment of many patients today. We used four different search methods to uncover scientific and grey literature, both historical and contemporary. We assessed the changing frequency of publications over time and contrasted the volume of literature on light therapy with more orthodox treatments such as statins and painkillers. Our search found an increasing number and comparatively large body of scientific publications on light therapy in the Russian language, and many publications emanating from prestigious Russian institutions. Combined with our analysis of the historical literature and our appraisal of 22 full text articles, this leads us to suggest that light therapy entered mainstream Soviet medical practice before the Stalinist period and still occupies an important position in contemporary Russian clinical practice. We propose that this outdated treatment survives in Russia in part due to the political, economic and social forces that helped to popularize it during Soviet times, and by the seeming justification offered by poorly executed studies

Using fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) to diagnose steroid-responsive disease and guide asthma management in routine care

Acknowledgements We thank Robin Taylor for his informative thinking and publications on FeNO, which have helped to influence and direct the thinking of the authors. Funding Extraction of the real-life dataset was funded by Research in Real Life Limited, the analysis of the dataset and the writing of this manuscript were co-funded (50:50) by Research in Real Life Limited and Aerocrine.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Systematic review of antiepileptic drugs’ safety and effectiveness in feline epilepsy

Understanding the efficacy and safety profile of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in feline epilepsy is a crucial consideration for managing this important brain disease. However, there is a lack of information about the treatment of feline epilepsy and therefore a systematic review was constructed to assess current evidence for the AEDs’ efficacy and tolerability in cats. The methods and materials of our former systematic reviews in canine epilepsy were mostly mirrored for the current systematic review in cats. Databases of PubMed, CAB Direct and Google scholar were searched to detect peer-reviewed studies reporting efficacy and/or adverse effects of AEDs in cats. The studies were assessed with regards to their quality of evidence, i.e. study design, study population, diagnostic criteria and overall risk of bias and the outcome measures reported, i.e. prevalence and 95% confidence interval of the successful and affected population in each study and in total

SUPPORT Tools for Evidence-informed Policymaking in health 6: Using research evidence to address how an option will be implemented

This article is part of a series written for people responsible for making decisions about health policies and programmes and for those who support these decision makers

PROMPT: a protein mapping and comparison tool

BACKGROUND: Comparison of large protein datasets has become a standard task in bioinformatics. Typically researchers wish to know whether one group of proteins is significantly enriched in certain annotation attributes or sequence properties compared to another group, and whether this enrichment is statistically significant. In order to conduct such comparisons it is often required to integrate molecular sequence data and experimental information from disparate incompatible sources. While many specialized programs exist for comparisons of this kind in individual problem domains, such as expression data analysis, no generic software solution capable of addressing a wide spectrum of routine tasks in comparative proteomics is currently available. RESULTS: PROMPT is a comprehensive bioinformatics software environment which enables the user to compare arbitrary protein sequence sets, revealing statistically significant differences in their annotation features. It allows automatic retrieval and integration of data from a multitude of molecular biological databases as well as from a custom XML format. Similarity-based mapping of sequence IDs makes it possible to link experimental information obtained from different sources despite discrepancies in gene identifiers and minor sequence variation. PROMPT provides a full set of statistical procedures to address the following four use cases: i) comparison of the frequencies of categorical annotations between two sets, ii) enrichment of nominal features in one set with respect to another one, iii) comparison of numeric distributions, and iv) correlation of numeric variables. Analysis results can be visualized in the form of plots and spreadsheets and exported in various formats, including Microsoft Excel. CONCLUSION: PROMPT is a versatile, platform-independent, easily expandable, stand-alone application designed to be a practical workhorse in analysing and mining protein sequences and associated annotation. The availability of the Java Application Programming Interface and scripting capabilities on one hand, and the intuitive Graphical User Interface with context-sensitive help system on the other, make it equally accessible to professional bioinformaticians and biologically-oriented users. PROMPT is freely available for academic users from

The utilisation of health research in policy-making: Concepts, examples and methods of assessment

The importance of health research utilisation in policy-making, and of understanding the mechanisms involved, is increasingly recognised. Recent reports calling for more resources to improve health in developing countries, and global pressures for accountability, draw greater attention to research-informed policy-making. Key utilisation issues have been described for at least twenty years, but the growing focus on health research systems creates additional dimensions. The utilisation of health research in policy-making should contribute to policies that may eventually lead to desired outcomes, including health gains. In this article, exploration of these issues is combined with a review of various forms of policy-making. When this is linked to analysis of different types of health research, it assists in building a comprehensive account of the diverse meanings of research utilisation. Previous studies report methods and conceptual frameworks that have been applied, if with varying degrees of success, to record utilisation in policy-making. These studies reveal various examples of research impact within a general picture of underutilisation. Factors potentially enhancing utilisation can be identified by exploration of: priority setting; activities of the health research system at the interface between research and policy-making; and the role of the recipients, or 'receptors', of health research. An interfaces and receptors model provides a framework for analysis. Recommendations about possible methods for assessing health research utilisation follow identification of the purposes of such assessments. Our conclusion is that research utilisation can be better understood, and enhanced, by developing assessment methods informed by conceptual analysis and review of previous studies

The use of evidence in public governmental reports on health policy: an analysis of 17 Norwegian official reports (NOU)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Governments increasingly require policy documents to be evidence-based. This paper analyses the use of scientific evidence in such documents by reviewing reports from government-appointed committees in Norway to assess the committees' handling of questions of effect.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study uses the 'Index of Scientific Quality' (ISQ) to analyse all Norwegian official reports (NOUs) that were: (1) published by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services during 1994-1998 (N = 20); and (2) concerned with questions of effect either because these were included in the mandate or as a result of the committee's interpretation of the mandate. The ISQ is based on scientific criteria common in all research concerning questions of effect. The primary outcome measure is an ISQ score on a five-point scale.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three reports were excluded because their mandates, or the committees' interpretations of them, did not address questions of effect. For the remaining 17 NOUs in our study, overall ISQ scores were low for systematic literature search and for explicit validation of research. Two reports had an average score of three or higher, while scores for five other reports were not far behind. How committees assessed the relevant factors was often unclear.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The reports' evaluations of health evidence in relation to questions of effect lacked transparency and, overall, showed little use of systematic processes. A systematic, explicit and transparent approach, following the standards laid down in the ISQ, may help generate the evidence-based decision-making that Norway, the UK, the EU and the WHO desire and seek. However, policy-makers may find the ISQ criteria for assessing the scientific quality of a report too narrow to adequately inform policy-making.</p

Does health intervention improve socioeconomic inequalities of neonatal, infant and child mortality? Evidence from Matlab, Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although there are wide variations in mortality between developed and developing countries, socioeconomic inequalities in health exist in both the societies. The study examined socioeconomic inequalities of neonatal, infant and child mortality using data from the Matlab Health and Demographic Surveillance System of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Four birth cohorts (1983–85, 1988–90, 1993–95, 1998–00) were followed for five years for death and out-migration in two adjacent areas (ICDDR,B-service and government-service) with similar socioeconomic but differ health services. Based on asset quintiles, inequality was measured through both poor-rich ratio and concentration index.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study found that the socioeconomic inequalities of neonatal, infant and under-five mortality increased over time in both the ICDDR,B-service and government-service areas but it declined substantially for 1–4 years in the ICDDR,B- service area.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study concluded that usual health intervention programs (non-targeted) do not reduce poor-rich gap, rather the gap increases initially but might decrease in long run if the program is very intensive.</p

Improving the use of research evidence in guideline development: 4. Managing conflicts of interests

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO), like many other organisations around the world, has recognised the need to use more rigorous processes to ensure that health care recommendations are informed by the best available research evidence. This is the fourth of a series of 16 reviews that have been prepared as background for advice from the WHO Advisory Committee on Health Research to WHO on how to achieve this. OBJECTIVES: We reviewed the literature on conflicts of interest to answer the following questions: 1. What is the best way to obtain complete and accurate disclosures on financial ties and other competing interests? 2. How to determine when a disclosed financial tie or other competing interest constitutes a conflict of interest? 3. When a conflict of interest is identified, how should the conflict be managed? 4. How could conflict of interest policies be enforced? METHODS: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Methodology Register and selectively searched for the published policies of several organizations, We did not conduct systematic reviews ourselves. Our conclusions are based on the available evidence, consideration of what WHO and other organisations are doing and logical arguments. KEY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: What is the best way to obtain complete and accurate disclosures on financial ties and other competing interests? • Although there is little empirical evidence to guide the development of disclosure forms, minimal or open-ended formats are likely to be uninformative. We recommend the development of specific, detailed, structured forms that solicit as much information as possible about the nature and extent of the competing interests. How to determine when a disclosed financial tie or other competing interest constitutes a conflict of interest? • There is no empirical evidence to suggest that explicit criteria are preferable to ad hoc committee decisions when deciding if a disclosed financial tie is a conflict of interest. However, explicit criteria may make decision-making easier. When a conflict of interest is identified, how should the conflict be managed? • Descriptive studies suggest that appropriate management strategies are best determined on a case-by-case basis. Thus, WHO should use a wide range of management strategies to address disclosed conflicts of interest, with public disclosure of conflicts associated with each meeting as a minimum and recusal of conflicted individuals as the other extreme. How could conflict of interest policies be enforced? • Although there are no empirical studies of the enforcement of conflict if interest policies, descriptive studies of other organizations and institutions suggest that WHO convene a standing committee to review all financial disclosure statements prior to the commencement of committee meetings/hearings and to make management recommendations when necessary. A standard policy requiring all financial ties to be made public (i.e., recorded into the meeting minutes) should reduce the number of problematic cases. In instances where the conflicts seem intractable, a recommendation of recusal may be necessary to protect the greater interests of WHO and its constituents