Land cover map 2007: using OBIA for LCM2007

Land cover map 2007 (LCM2007) is an object-based land cover map for the UK containing around 10 million objects. The LCM2007 spatial framework is based on the generalisation of national cartography products (OS MasterMap for Great Britain and Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland for NI). 34 composite images (based on summer and winter data) were classified using a maximum likelihood classifier. Areas where composite data were not available were filled with classifications from single-date data. A set of knowledge-based enhancements (KBEs) were then applied to refine the classification using ancillary data sets, including soil and altitude data. The final product showed a correspondence of 83%, when compared to 9127 ground reference polygons. A range of LCM2007 data products are available ranging from the full vector data set, with 10 attributes per polygon, to a 25m raster data set and a series of 1km raster products

Understanding the inhibitory effects of plant-derived isothiocyanates and biofumigation on potato cyst nematodes

PhD ThesisManagement of potato cyst nematodes (PCN) has become more challenging due to nematicide restrictions. This has led to research into alternative control methods such as biofumigation. Biofumigation exploits the release of toxic isothiocyanates (ITCs) from glucosinolate (GSL) hydrolysis during the breakdown of Brassicaceae plant tissue. The type and concentration of ITCs released varies between plant species. Biofumigation and ITCs have been shown to control soil-borne pathogens however no single ITC achieves broad-range control. The main aim of this study was to determine if biofumigation can be used to control PCN, namely Globodera pallida. In vitro and glasshouse studies identified a key ITC which inhibited G. pallida, with ITC effectiveness depending upon ITC type, concentration and exposure period. The GSL profiles of different Brassicaceae spp. were analysed and results indicated that GSL content varies between species and throughout plant development. The biofumigation process was investigated in glasshouse and field trials and analysis of GSL profiles allowed a comparison of cultivars with respect to potential ITC release. Cultivars which released the identified key ITC were able to suppress encysted G. pallida under controlled conditions. External factors impacted on the effectiveness of biofumigation in field trials. In order to determine if biofumigation adversely affects soil microorganisms, shifts in soil microbial communities were investigated. ITC application under controlled conditions and biofumigation under field conditions had little effect on soil microorganisms. Transient shifts in communities occurred in response to biofumigation under controlled conditions. The greatest response of soil communities was to factors independent of biofumigation. Results from this study will feed back into the development of integrated PCN management strategies involving biofumigation as well as into biofumigant breeding programmes.BBSRC for funding my PhD alongside Barworth Agriculture Lt

Perspectives of Caregivers on Early Onset Dementia: An investigation of the role of attachment and shifts in identity

Early onset dementia (EOD) alters the lives of person with dementia (PWD) and caregivers as it broadens from helping with the instrumental activities of daily living to full time assistance with essential activities of daily living. Research literature reports that pre-morbid attachment style continues to be emotionally and behaviorally expressed over the course of dementia; individual and shared narratives contribute to maintenance of personhood and identity; and that maintenance of self and other contributes to quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in caregiver perceptions of themselves and their quality of life in the caregiving process as roles and responsibilities shifted across the dementia cycle. Ten open source, archived video, audio, and text materials submitted by partners of individuals living with EOD were used for this study. Bartholomew and Horowitz’s four-category model of attachment and Hagstrom and Daniel’s narrative analysis were used to code and cross code shifting patterns of attachment and identity across dementia stages. Results indicate caregiver strategies become more fluid and flexible to accommodate the inflexibility and unpredictability of the PWD. Securely attached caregivers have a grounded sense of self that moves from reliance to resilience as the scope of caregiving broadens, and they seek ways to maintain the identity of the PWD. Securely attached caregivers experience a higher quality of life and remain aware of the PWD’s quality of life. These results suggest that quality of life for self and the PWD benefit from maintenance of self-identity and attribution of identity to the PWD. The findings have the potential to provide clinicians with a model for goal setting with caregivers and partners with EOD that can advance quality of life for persons – caregiver, patient, family – living with dementia

Spatial & temporal variability of sibilants in children with down’s syndrome

This paper presents findings from EPG analysis of word initial /s/ and /ʃ/ in twenty five children with Down’s syndrome (DS) and ten cognitively age-matched typically developing children (TD). Spatial and temporal variability measures show evidence of increased variability in all attempts of target /s/ and /ʃ/ for the speakers with DS. The findings also show evidence of high levels of spatial variability in children with DS and typically developing children in perceptually acceptable productions of the target sounds. These findings support previous research that links speech production difficulties in children with DS to impaired speech motor ability

Ecological survey of the native pinewoods of Scotland 1971

In 1971, a comprehensive ecological survey of the native pinewoods of Scotland was carried out by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology. The survey was initiated as a consequence of growing concern about the status of the pinewood resource. Since the Twentieth Century, this unique habitat is widely recognised, not only by ecologists for its inherent biodiversity, but also by the general public for its cultural and amenity value. The survey, utilising demonstrably repeatable methods, collected information on ground flora, soils, forest structure and also general site information from the major 27 sites of the 35 sites identified as truly native pinewoods in Scotland. The results from the survey prompted the organisation of an International Symposium in 1975, which set the conservation agenda for the Old Caledonian Pinewoods. The data collected during the 1971 survey are now publicly available via the following DOI: http://doi.org/10/7xb (Habitat, vegetation, tree and soil data from Native Pinewoods in Scotland, 1971). Although the data are now 44 years old, the repeatable methods will allow for a resurvey to take place, in order to assess changes in the vegetation, habitats and tree composition in statistically robust manner

Survey of the terrestrial habitats and vegetation of Shetland, 1974 – a framework for long-term ecological monitoring

A survey of the natural environment was undertaken in Shetland in 1974, after concern was expressed that large-scale development from the new oil industry could threaten the natural features of the islands. A framework was constructed by the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology on which to select samples for the survey. The vegetation and habitat data that were collected, along with the sampling framework, have recently been made public via the following doi:10.5285/06fc0b8c-cc4a-4ea8-b4be-f8bd7ee25342 (Terrestrial habitat, vegetation and soil data from Shetland, 1974) and doi:10.5285/f1b3179e-b446-473d-a5fb-4166668da146 (Land Classification of Shetland 1974). In addition to providing valuable information about the state of the natural environment of Shetland, the repeatable and statistically robust methods developed in the survey were used to underpin the Countryside Survey, Great Britain's national long-term integrated environmental monitoring programme. The demonstration of the effectiveness of the methodology indicates that a repeat of the Shetland survey would yield statistics about ecological changes in the islands, such as those arising from the impacts of the oil industry, a range of socio-economic impacts, and perhaps climate change. Currently no such figures are available, although there is much information on the sociological impacts, as well as changes in agriculture

Vegetation database of Great Britain: Countryside Survey

This paper describes the vegetation database created as part of the Countryside Survey (CS) of Great Britain (GIVD ID EU-GB-003) which was established to monitor ecological and land use change in 1978 (http://www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk). The sample design is based on a series of stratified, randomly selected 1 km squares, which numbered 256 in the 1978 survey, 500 in the 1990 survey, 569 in the 1998 survey and 591 in the 2007 survey. Stratification of sample squares was based on predefined strata (called land classes) which have been derived from a classification of all 1 km squares in Britain based on their topographic, climatic and geological attributes obtained from published maps. A series of vegetation plots were located within each 1 km square using a restricted randomisation procedure designed to reduce aggregation. Linear features (road verges, watercourse banks, hedges, arable margins and field boundaries) and areal features (fields, unenclosed land and small semi-natural biotope patches) were sampled. Linear plots were 1 x 10 m laid out along a feature whilst unenclosed land and small biotopes were sampled using 2 m x 2 m plots. Larger randomly-placed plots were nested 14 m² plots with an inner nest of 2 m x 2 m. Within each 1 km Countryside Survey sample square the land cover and all landscape features were mapped and each parcel of land (and vegetation plot) has been assigned to a Broad Habitat/EUNIS habitat type. This database of vegetation plots is a very useful resource. The data is freely available from the website, however, there are restrictions on the release of the spatial location of the plots. There is now a considerable time-series of plots within the database going back to 1978 representing different habitat types and landscape features that can be analysed to determine changes in vegetation metrics (e.g. Ellenberg scores) and individual species. Vegetation changes can be linked to environmental drivers and the spatial scale (across GB) is sufficiently large to analyse gradients in most driving variables

Characterisation of skeletal development and the use of anabolic agents in murine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Short stature and osteoporosis are common in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and its pathophsyiology may include an abnormality of the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH/IGF-1) axis, which is further exacerbated by glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. The mechanisms that underlie the undesirable effects of GCs on skeletal development are unclear and there is no proven intervention. Investigation of compounds to treat the defect in growth and skeletal development in GC treated DMD boys necessitates an appropriate pre-clinical model, but at present there is no established animal model to investigate GC effects on skeletal development. The mdx mouse is commonly used but its phenotype is mild and few medications that have shown benefit in the mdx mouse have also shown efficacy in clinical trials. The mdx:cmah mouse carries a human-like mutation in the Cmah gene and has a more severe muscle phenotype, but its growth and bone characteristics have never been investigated. This thesis tested the overall hypothesis that "GC- treated mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have an abnormality of linear growth and skeletal development that can be rescued by modulation of the growth hormone (GH)/ insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis. Firstly the growth and bone phenotype of the mdx, mdx:utr and mdx:cmah muscular dystrophy mouse models were characterised. No clear intrinsic skeletal defect were observed in the mdx or mdx:utr mice. Furthermore, mdx:cmah mice showed clear evidence of catch-up growth that was also associated with an increase in bone development. This pattern does not mimic the typical DMD growth trajectory. Whilst the utility of the mdx:cmah mouse for studying growth and skeletal development in DMD may be limited, further studies of this model may shed light on the phenomenon of catch-up growth. In the second part of the project, the aim was to identify a suitable GC regimen to induce both growth retardation and osteoporosis in juvenile mdx and mdx:cmah mice and their wildtype C57BL10 controls. C57BL10 mice appeared fairly resistant to GC challenge; despite high doses no biomechanical or trabecular architecture changes were noted. Prednisolone 20mg/kg body weight given by oral gavage appeared to be the most effective regimen to induce growth retardation and osteoporosis over a 28- day period. A GC-sparing agent, VBP-6 was also examined as an alternative to GC, with the aim of further characterising its effects on skeletal development. This thesis has provided extra data to support the clinical trials that are currently investigating the use of VBP-15 (a VBP-6 analogue) as a GC-sparing agent in DMD and provides further evidence that VBP-6 is able to improve muscle function without the deleterious skeletal side-effects. VBP-6 could potentially be used as an alternative in other childhood conditions that necessitate the use of long-term GCs. The final part of the project explored the potential of GH and IGF-1 given in combination to rescue the growth retardation and cortical bone defect seen during 4 weeks of prednisolone treatment in mdx mice. This intervention study determined that growth retardation could be rescued by combined GH/IGF-1 treatment but the osteopenia phenotype could not. As short stature remains one of the most significant concerns for boys with DMD as their life expectancy increases, it may now be appropriate to design a pilot clinical study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of combination GH and IGF-1 therapy in a small group of patients with DMD