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This paper surveys flood mapping and modelling in Nigeria in regard to frequency and impact of floods in the last decade. The aim is to understand the frequency and patterns of flooding and approaches to its modelling in relation to current practices globally. The northern part of Nigeria is affected more by flooding than the south, so should be prioritised for flood management. The use of remote sensing data with GIS techniques is the most common approach to flood modelling in Nigeria. Bayesian and machine learning approaches should be used, in preference to process-based models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents managed honey bee colony loss rates over winter 2019/20 resulting from using the standardised COLOSS questionnaire in 37 countries. Six countries were from outside Europe, including, for the first time in this series of articles, New Zealand. The 30,491 beekeepers outside New Zealand reported 4.5% of colonies with unsolvable queen problems, 11.1% of colonies dead after winter and 2.6% lost through natural disaster. This gave an overall colony winter loss rate of 18.1%, higher than in the previous year. The winter loss rates varied greatly between countries, from 7.4% to 36.5%. 3216 beekeepers from New Zealand managing 297,345 colonies reported 10.5% losses for their 2019 winter (six months earlier than for other, Northern Hemisphere, countries). We modelled the risk of loss as a dead/empty colony or from unresolvable queen problems, for all countries except New Zealand. Overall, larger beekeeping operations with more than 50 colonies experienced significantly lower losses (p < 0.001). Migration was also highly significant (p < 0.001), with lower loss rates for operations migrating their colonies in the previous season. A higher proportion of new queens reduced the risk of colony winter loss (p < 0.001), suggesting that more queen replacement is better. All three factors, operation size, migration and proportion of young queens, were also included in a multivariable main effects quasi-binomial GLM and all three remained highly significant (p < 0.001). Detailed results for each country and overall are given in a table, and a map shows relative risks of winter loss at the regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years honey bee colonies have been seriously affected by colony losses, with implications for their future existence. Much has been written about beekeeping, honey bee management practices, and colony losses in many developed countries, but relatively little has been written about these topics in Saudi Arabia. This overview provides a brief insight into races of honey bees and beekeeping in Saudi Arabia. It also examines some important factors which have an impact on beekeeping within Saudi Arabia, including climatic factors and availability of forage. The main challenges faced by beekeepers in Saudi Arabia are discussed. Some conclusions are that honey is a much sought-after product in Saudi Arabia, and it is important for the economy to be able to meet this demand. As a result of the lucrativeness of the beekeeping industry, many have taken up beekeeping, but the industry lacks an overall structure, and lack of information and communication amongst beekeepers can mean that issues are not easily resolved. Hence, there is a need to gain more in-depth knowledge of beekeeping in Saudi Arabia, and in particular to identify common practices and challenges faced, so that trends, solutions, and best practices can be identified. Identification of aspects of beekeeping in Saudi Arabia which could be improved will be beneficial to all stakeholders involved in beekeeping there. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents managed honey bee colony loss rates over winter 2018/19 resulting from using the standardised COLOSS questionnaire in 35 countries (31 in Europe). In total, 28,629 beekeepers supplying valid loss data wintered 738,233 colonies, and reported 29,912 (4.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0–4.1%) colonies with unsolvable queen problems, 79,146 (10.7%, 95% CI 10.5–10.9%) dead colonies after winter and 13,895 colonies (1.9%, 95% CI 1.8–2.0%) lost through natural disaster. This gave an overall colony winter loss rate of 16.7% (95% CI 16.4–16.9%), varying greatly between countries, from 5.8% to 32.0%. We modelled the risk of loss as a dead/empty colony or from unresolvable queen problems, and found that, overall, larger beekeeping operations with more than 150 colonies experienced significantly lower losses (p < 0.001), consistent with earlier studies. Additionally, beekeepers included in this survey who did not migrate their colonies at least once in 2018 had significantly lower losses than those migrating (p < 0.001). The percentage of new queens from 2018 in wintered colonies was also examined as a potential risk factor. The percentage of colonies going into winter with a new queen was estimated as 55.0% over all countries. Higher percentages of young queens corresponded to lower overall losses (excluding losses from natural disaster), but also lower losses from unresolvable queen problems, and lower losses from winter mortality (p < 0.001). Detailed results for each country and overall are given in a table, and a map shows relative risks of winter loss at regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What sets human beings apart from animals? How does “mind” fit with soul? Different historical and contemporary views of the mind/soul are considered. A clinical case is used to argue that a strong dualistic position is not compatible with neuro-scientific evidence nor with the expectation of life after death found in the Abrahamic faiths. Reductive physicalism is a widely held view, but risks devaluing human life. Midgely's “many maps” model is suggested to fit better with a faith commitment. Non-reductive physicalism states that mind/soul is an emergent property of the complexity of the brain. Suggesting that there is no separable “soul” raises ethical questions, and Singer's philosophy is given as one consequent reading of the moral standing of human beings. Holistic (weak) dualism and non-reductive physicalism are suggested as possible models of the nature of persons that fits both the scientific data and the teaching of the Abrahamic faiths. It is important for mental health professionals to be clear about their own and the service users' underlying assumptions about human nature to optimise communication and prevent misdiagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Psychiatrists commonly take on a range of leadership roles. These responsibilities are complex because of an environment which is ever-changing, lack of training and competition between disciplines. Aim : This article outlines some of the issues facing the psychiatrist within the multidisciplinary team and describes a leadership programme initiated in the West Midlands. Method : A programme of in-house leadership training and increased delegation of leadership roles within one NHS Trust. Results : These initiatives have been favourably received; but it is recognised that the approach can be further developed. Conclusions : This basic strategy should be enhanced and delivered more widely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attitudes towards those with mental illness vary amongst different groups in society. These attitudes affect the daily experience of mental health service users. It has been suggested that those from a theologically conservative Christian group might generally have more negative attitudes towards those with mental health difficulties because of the association of mental illness with personal sin and demon possession. The aim here is to test the hypothesis that members of a theologically conservative church congregation would have more negative attitudes than the general population towards people with mental illness. The sample consisted of 68 people from a predominantly white, middle class, evangelical Anglican congregation. Attitudes were measured by means of a questionnaire. Results are compared with those from the general UK population. The results showed that the church group expressed less negative and rejecting attitudes to people with mental illness than the population sample. Both groups could differentiate between types of mental illnesses and had varying expectations of those with each illness. There was no evidence of judgmental attitudes towards those with mental illness. The church group has major concerns about dangerousness and unpredictability and finds service users hard to talk to. Further public education opportunities should aim to alter these damaging negative perceptions of those with mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]