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Using geophysical subsurface data for the reconstruction of valley-scale spatio-temporal floodplain evolution: Implications for upland river restoration.
Get PDFThe use of analogues of previous river styles is highly significant for successful river restoration, yet some existing techniques available to assist practitioners are still not widely applied. We explore the use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), to explore past river styles in an upland river valley in the UK, and explore the potential of the approach to reconstruct former channel pattern. Post-glacial evolution of upland floodplains has been influenced by temporal changes in vegetation, sediment supply and hydrological regime. Channel-floodplain morphodynamics over the Holocene were conditioned by glacial deposits, lateral interaction with slope processes and fluvial sediment reworking, changes in flow and sediment supply regimes driven by climatic change, and more recently direct and indirect anthropogenic activities, e.g. deforestation, floodplain land use and channel modification. Current drives towards river restoration, often use floodplain topography as a guide to appraise such a planform state, however, reconstruction of former channel state is often restricted to surface features visible on historic maps and aerial photographs. This research focuses upon the floodplain of the upper Swindale Beck, Lake District, UK, which was recently restored to a planform design based on the recent meander pattern visible in floodplain topography. We show the potential of GPR to reconstruct a wider array of past channel pattern and evolution at a site characterised by largely aggradational conditions and consistent sediment supply from glacial deposits at the valley head. Analysis of GPR data from 40 intersecting GPR survey lines revealed several stratigraphic units, including gravel braidplains, berms, chutes and bars, several levels of larger channels and their layered fill as well as backwater deposits. These were interpreted as braided systems, dynamic wandering planform and single-thread meandering systems with spatial transitions conditioned by tributaries and valley slope. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dates in combination with GIS analysis of valley slope, channel gradient and local valley floor aspect allowed the interpretation of individual evolutionary stages of river and floodplain development at Swindale over at least the last millennium and provides links to processes in the wider environment including the role of alluvial fans in supplying sediment and forcing channel migration. Such information can be particularly valuable for restoration projects to aid design of channel dimensions, planform configuration, channel gradient, substrate characteristics and connection with tributaries. While restoration generally aims to resemble a more natural reference state, specific targets may seek to improve a particular set of functionalities (e.g., ecological, flood and sediment management, recreational) which should be resilient to the consequences of ongoing climatic changes and should be achieved sustainably (e.g. locally sourced gravel). Here, GPR-based floodplain analysis provides a non-invasive approach to understand possible evolutionary trajectories and to appraise a wider range of restoration options and sustainable resources
Multidimensional perfectionism and orthorexia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Get PDFPurpose
We provide the first systematic review and meta-analysis of research examining multidimensional perfectionism—perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns—and orthorexia.
Methods
The systematic review and meta-analysis was pre-registered and conducted using a search of PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Education Abstracts, and Oxford Academic, and ScienceDirect up to April 2023. PRISMA guidelines were also followed. Meta-analysis using random-effects models was used to derive independent and unique effects of perfectionism, as well as total unique effects (TUE), and relative weights. Moderation of effects were examined for age, gender, domain, perfectionism and orthorexia instruments, and methodological quality.
Results
Eighteen studies, including 19 samples (n = 7064), met the eligibility criteria with 12 of these studies (with 13 samples; n = 4984) providing sufficient information for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that perfectionistic strivings (r+ = 0.27, 95% CI [0.21, 0.32]) and perfectionistic concerns (r+ = 0.25, 95% CI [0.18, 0.31]) had positive relationships with orthorexia. After controlling for the relationship between perfectionism dimensions, only perfectionistic strivings predicted orthorexia which also contributed marginally more to an overall positive total unique effect of perfectionism (TUE = 0.35; 95% CI [0.28, 0.42]). There was tentative evidence that orthorexia instrument moderated the perfectionistic concerns-orthorexia relationship.
Discussion
Research has generally found that both dimensions of perfectionism are positively related to orthorexia. More high-quality research is needed to examine explanatory mechanisms while also gathering further evidence on differences in findings due to how orthorexia is measured, as well as other possible moderating factors.
Level of evidence
Level 1, systematic review and meta-analysis
Waterloo: the Attack of I Corps
No full textThis book provides a detailed analysis of the attack of the Comte d’Erlon’s French I Corps, and the subsequent allied counterattack, at the Battle of Waterloo. This assault by 20,000 men and eighty guns in the early afternoon of 18 June 1815 came as close as any to winning the battle for Napoleon. It was eventually repulsed – just – by two stretched Allied infantry divisions and two brigades of cavalry and was, in the words of the Duke of Wellington himself, “one of the most serious attacks made by the enemy.” Until now, there has been surprisingly little in-depth analysis of this crucial moment in the battle – something that this book seeks to remedy.
Graeme Callister combines a detailed narrative with a thorough analysis of how the event unfolded. All aspects of the attack are covered; from the grand tactics to the human experience of being in the firing lines, considering the soldiers’ experience, morale, leadership, condition and cohesion. Using rarely before analysed material from the French regimental registers, it examines the service records of individuals involved in the action, alongside the first-hand accounts and reminiscences of those who left them.
The book begins with an assessment of the background of each of the forces: their composition, command structures, and the condition of their men. It then discusses how they found themselves to be in their positions on the battlefield, exploring the grand tactics, terrain, and wider strategic situation. The main part of the analysis focuses on the attack itself, looking at the formations and direction of the attacking forces, and the tactical approach of the men set to meet them.
Based on a wide range of primary sources, including those in French, English, Dutch and German, this book offers fresh perspectives on a crucial part of the Waterloo story, and helps us to understand why men advanced or stood, fought or ran, and lived or died amidst the maelstrom of battle
A balanced argument? Communicating the power of argument to History undergraduates
No full textIn March 2024, the Royal Historical Society visited historians at the Universities of York and York St John. The event included a panel discussion on the subject of communicating History to different audiences.
In this post, Dr Elizabeth Goodwin (York St John) develops the themes of her presentation at the Visit. Elizabeth’s subject is how historians as teachers best communicate the potential of their discipline; and how learning to build, articulate and communicate an argument — in which the student is central — is a core purpose of the undergraduate experience.
As Elizabeth contends, the need for such skills is pressing. Many students urgently seek the skills to build their confidence, while — more than ever — History as a discipline requires informed and eloquent advocates
Sowing seeds of awareness: a cross-sectional analysis of mental health literacy and help-seeking in Irish farmers
Get PDFBackground
Farmers around the world are at risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation yet many avoid seeking help. In Ireland, farmers’ mental health is a national concern, as farmers face barriers of masculine norms around help-seeking. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and relationship between mental health literacy and mental health help-seeking in the Irish farming community. It also aimed to identify if mental health literacy or mental health help-seeking differed depending on gender, age, education, health status and income level.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of 351 Irish farmers’ mental health literacy and help-seeking using validated psychometric measures: the Mental Help Seeking Intention Scale (MHSIS), the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Short Form (ATSPPH-SF), and the Multicomponent Mental Health Literacy Measure (MMHL).
Results
Irish farmers’ mental health literacy and help-seeking scores were interrelated. Though low, farmers’ scores were comparable to the general population and higher than some European samples. Despite broadly favourable attitudes towards seeking professional mental health help, Irish farmers perceived significant barriers to accessing care and exhibited stoic health attitudes. Farmers with less education and men were particularly at risk.
Conclusion
Irish farmers’ stoic attitudes may be a response to their perceived lack of services. Interventions providing mental health literacy education and improving access to existing mental health services are particularly important for this population of farmers
The Pains of Going to Court: Unrepresented Defendants' Ability to Effectively Participate in Court Proceedings
Get PDFWithin this article, the pains that unrepresented defendants experience when representing themselves in court will be discussed from the perspective of court professionals and the researcher. For the purpose of this article, an unrepresented defendant is someone who at some stage during court proceedings is not represented by a lawyer. Based upon data gathered from 20 semi-structured interviews with court actors and courtroom observations at two magistrates’ courts, it will be argued that whilst most defendants tend to struggle to effectively participate in court proceedings (e.g., follow and understand what is taking place), this is particularly the case for those who are unrepresented. It is important that defendants can participate in court proceedings for due process, human rights, and liberal democratic reasons.
Keywords: unrepresented defendants, effective participation, magistrates’ courts, pain, Syke
The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland quality improvement project and integrated chronic kidney disease system: implementation within a primary care network
Get PDFBackground: The optimisation of patients in primary care is a prime opportunity to manage patient care within the community and reduce the burden of referrals on secondary care. This paper presents a quality improvement clinical programme taking place within an NHS Primary Care Network as part of the wider Leicester Leicestershire Rutland integrated chronic kidney disease programme. Method: Patients are optimised to guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, by a primary care clinical team who are supported by nephrology consultants and nephrology pharmacists. Multidisciplinary team meetings take place with secondary care specialists and primary care staff. Learning is passed to the community clinicians for better patient treatment locally. Results: A total of 526 patients were reviewed under this project.The total number of referrals to secondary care which were discharged following first outpatient appointment, reduced from 42.9% to 10%. This reduction of 32.9% represents the optimisation of patient cases through this quality improvement project. Patients can be optimised and managed within the community, reducing the number of unnecessary referrals to secondary care. Conclusion: This programme has the potential to offer significant improvement in patient outcomes when expanded to a larger patient base. Medicine management and the use of clinical staff are optimised in both primary and secondary care
Blunted anticipatory stress responses on competition day in team sports athletes compared to individual sports athletes
Get PDFKnowledge of anticipatory stress responses before sports competitions is limited, thus this study examined the relationship between anticipatory stress in terms of salivary cortisol secretion in athletes on the morning of a competition and a comparison baseline day. Thirty-seven athletes collected three saliva samples over a 45-min period post-awakening (0, 30 and 45 min). Anticipatory stress was expressed as Area Under the Curve compared to ground (AUCg; total cortisol secretion). There was no significant difference in AUCg between baseline and competition days. However, a mixed two-factor ANOVA with day and sport type (individual vs. team) revealed a significant main effect of sport type (p < 0.01) and a significant interaction (p = 0.001). Individual athletes demonstrated increased AUCg on competition day compared to baseline, while team athletes demonstrated decreased AUCg on competition day compared to baseline. This blunting response was also observed when analysing the raw cortisol secretion levels upon awakening. These findings suggest there may be substantive differences in anticipatory stress between individual and team sport athletes