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In this paper, we present the D-region ionospheric response during the lifespan (10–19 December 2020) of a severe category 5 tropical cyclone (TC) Yasa in the South Pacific by using the very low frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) signals from NPM, NLK, and JJI transmitters recorded at Suva, Fiji. Results indicate enhanced lightning and convective activity in all three regions (eyewall, inner rainbands, and outer rainbands) during the TC Yasa that are also linked to the wave-sensitive zones of these transmitter–receiver great circle paths. Of the three regions, the outer rainbands showed the maximum lightning occurrence; hence convective activity. Prominent eyewall lightning was observed just before the TC started to weaken following its peak intensity. Analysis of VLF signals amplitude showed both negative and positive perturbations (amplitudes exceeding ± 3σ mark) lasting for more than 2 h with maximum change in the daytime and nighttime signal amplitudes of − 4.9 dB (NPM) and − 19.8 dB (NLK), respectively. The signal perturbations were wave-like, exhibiting periods of oscillations between ~ 2.2 and 5.5 h as revealed by the Morlet wavelet analysis. Additionally, the LWPC modeling of the signal perturbations indicated a 10 km increase in the daytime D-region reference height, H′, and a 12 km decrease in the nighttime D-region H′ during TC Yasa. The D-region density gradients (sharpness), β, showed small perturbations of 0.01–0.14 km−1 from its normal values. We suggest that the observed changes to the D-region parameters are due to the enhanced convection during TC Yasa which excites atmospheric gravity waves producing traveling ionospheric disturbances to the D-region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws lessons from the Read like a Champion (RLAC) program implemented in Suva, Fiji, which engaged elite sporting individuals in literacy activities at schools. A qualitative case-oriented study was utilized, drawing on Esser and Vliegenthart's (2017) practical steps in analyzing comparative data to consider lessons from RLAC in comparison with available literature on lessons from similar programs. The analysis is inductive in nature, and we arrived at four lessons that are presented as analogical representations. The first finding is that literacy development among school children needs creative and innovative ideas. The second is that these innovative ideas are delivered in context and become situated practice. The third lesson is that literacy development among children requires genuine partnerships with stakeholders in society, and, fourth, that literacy skills could be enhanced through involving role models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people's participation has become a cliché in western democracies. In the case of Fiji, it is a novel concept, not because young people have not participated before but because they are exposed to new and different ways of involvement. This paper is one of the earliest attempts to explore young people's understanding and experiences of participation in Fiji. It is based on data drawn from an exploratory study conducted with a select group of young people in Suva, Fiji. Forms of young people's engagement although diverse are dominated by the traditional discourse of participation represented in 'performance and responsibility' and tend to be represented in the media and policy circles. This paper shows that young people are not bound by these conceptions but talk of participation as experienced in the hybridized settings of their everyday reality. The study offers a window into understanding young people's participation in Fiji and suggests that a deeper appreciation of this facet of their lives can be achieved with an emphasis on participatory talk with and an exploration of spaces where young people are constantly negotiating the traditional expectations of being young, being dutiful citizens and self-directed individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores young iTaukei (Indigenous Fijian) women's perceptions and experiences of sexual risk. It draws on qualitative data collected in Suva, Fiji in 2011 and 2012. Participants included iTaukei female university students aged 18-29 years. We describe nine forms of sexual risk identified by young iTaukei women, and group these risks into three clusters - social risks, physical risks and intimate relational risks. We discuss how young women prioritise these risks differently depending on context, location and relationship. Findings point to a critical mismatch between current public health risk priorities and those risks identified as most important in the lives of young iTaukei women. Findings have important implications for strengthening sexual and reproductive health policy and practice in Fiji. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until the advent and spread of supermarkets, the markets that we now call farmers, public, open-air, or traditional markets needed no adjectives. They were simply markets. Currently, the bodies of research about traditional markets common in the Global South and about farmers markets resurging in the Global North tend to be separate. However, viewed through the lens of food regime frameworks, together these markets come more clearly into focus as globally local alternatives to a corporate regime of supermarkets. As microcases within this macrosociological framework, this paper examines two urban markets--one traditional daily market in Suva, Fiji, and one seasonal Saturday farmers market in East New York, Brooklyn, in the United States. We analyze interviews and surveys with vendors and market-related documents. As we illustrate with brief case descriptions, other than both being urban, the individual markets and their contexts could hardly be more different. One market was formalized early in the colonial food regime, and the other was founded more recently as an alternative to the current neoliberal corporate regime. However, vendors in both reported that selling at the market generates income, autonomy, respect, and social connectedness for them. These commonalities suggest that examining lessons from such markets across communities globally, South or North, traditional or farmers, may offer new insights into how to sustain and expand such markets even in the face of supermarket domination. In addition, doing so with a food regime lens may make that work more useful for informing how to support traditional and farmers market development in ways that help keep aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute, and consume food at the heart of their work, as real alternatives to neoliberal frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-oxidation have been widely applied in drinking water treatment plants with micro-polluted water as water sources. In this study, the effects of three commonly used oxidants (ozone, chlorine, and potassium permanganate) on disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation from micro-polluted water during subsequent chlorination and chloramination were investigated. Moreover, the toxicities of treated water were also compared. In addition, principal component analysis was applied to clarify the main components that contributed to DBPs generation. The results demonstrated that all the selected oxidants could reduce DBPs to some extent, but the species and amounts were quite different. Pre-KMnO« greatly reduced haloacetic acid (HAAs) formation in subsequent chloramination; the removal rate reached up to 45.2%. Pre-HClO could produce trihalomethane (THMs) and HAAs directly, and its effect on DBPs reduction during subsequent disinfection processes was limited. Pre-O3 performed best on N, N-dimethyl nitrosamine (NDMA) reduction during subsequent chloramination; the corresponding removal rates were 49.7%. In addition, pre-O3 significantly reduced UV254 and SUVA. Pre-KMnO4 transferred more organic matter to cationic components (24%), while the highest polar component augmentation was observed during pre-HC10 (15%). Based on the analysis of total toxicity of formed DBPs, pre-O3 performed best on toxicity reduction no matter subsequent chlorination or chloramination, which decreased by 25.8% and 46.4%, respectively. The principal component analysis showed that DBPs has a weak correlation with regular water quality parameters, but related with specific organic fractions. The results of this paper had significant guidance for the selection of pre-oxidation methods in drinking water treatment plants for this kind of water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the reflections and experiences of conducting research with street-frequenting young people on the streets of Suva, Fiji. Much attention is devoted to ethical considerations and their impacts in relation to the issues of access, the researcher's positionality and data collection methods. These are important for two reasons, one this study is the first in-depth research with children and young people on the streets of Suva, Fiji and secondly the methodology adopted is novel to the context. The methodology is influenced by the new sociology of childhood congruent with the notion of rights-based research with children and young people. Participation lies at the centre of this approach dictating a shift in the way children and young people are perceived and influencing the choice of research methods adopted in understanding them. The paper takes the position that there is much to be understood in this area of research with children and young people on the streets of Fiji and perhaps of the Pacific. The experiences are worth sharing especially in societies where an appreciation for research and its outcomes are poorly appreciated and acknowledged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation capacity of ozone micro-nano bubble water (OMBW) was always higher than ozonated water due to enhanced contact by bubble interface, while the effect of coexisted dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the oxidation efficiency was still unclear. In this paper, batch experiments were carried out to investigate the selective oxidation of toluene by both OMBW and ozonated water (OW) with coexisted DOM in water. Five types of background solutions were applied in this study, including humic acid solution, fulvic acid solution and three types of diluted landfill leachates at the same content of total organic carbon. Results showed that coexisted DOM had a greater inhibition effect on toluene oxidation rate by OMBW, and the oxidation rate of toluene by OMBW and OW became close. It was mainly caused by the decreased reaction rate between toluene and hydroxyl radical (k T -OH·) in OMBW after the introduction of DOM, which competed for the adsorption sites on micro-nano bubble interface. The fraction of ozone to oxidize toluene as well as k T-OH· was in positive correlations with SUVA 254 and the content of humic acid-like substances, but negatively correlated with E 2 /E 3 , content of tryptophan-like proteins and content of fulvic acid-like substances. In addition, increasing the ozone dose was not effective in increasing the utilization rate of ozone in OMBW due to limited adsorption sites on micro-nano bubble interface. The paper was conductive to the application of ozone micro-nano bubble water in groundwater remediation with complex water matrices. [Display omitted] • The effect of DOM on toluene oxidation rate by OW and OMBW was investigated. • DOM competed for adsorption sites on micro-nano bubble surface and reduced k T-OH·. • Fulvic acid had a greater inhibition effect on toluene oxidation than humic acid. • Increasing ozone dose did not improve its ratio in oxidizing toluene for OMBW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the most active component of soil organic matter (SOM), playing a major role in regulating soil fertility and carbon cycling. However, the effects of different wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) planting ages on the chemical diversity of DOM and its interaction with soil physicochemical properties have not been comprehensively studied. In this context, we collected soil samples (0–10 cm) from wolfberry orchards at different planting ages (1, 4, 6, 10, and 13 years) and from a corn field (0 years) in the arid region of Northwest Ningxia in China to assess the changes in soil DOM quantity and quality using ultraviolet–visible absorbance, fluorescence spectroscopy, and parallel factor analysis. Results: We found that the ages of the wolfberry plantation changed the contents of soil nutrients and SOM. In addition, significantly higher DOM concentrations were observed at wolfberry planting ages of 10 and 13 years than those in the control group (0 years) by 176.6 and 190.2%, respectively. The specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) and 254 nm to 365 nm ultraviolet absorbance ratio (E2/E3) values were decreased and increased, respectively, after wolfberry planting, indicating low aromatic and molecular weight compounds of soil DOM. The biogenic index (BIX) and fluorescence index (FI) of soil DOM ranged from 0.6 to 0.7 and 1.42 to 1.93, respectively, suggesting a combination of allochthonous and autochthonous sources. The short- and long-term wolfberry cultivations of 1 and 4 years decreased and increased the humification degrees of soil DOM, respectively. The contribution rate of the protein-like (C1) fluorescence intensity decreased, while that of the fulvic acid-like component (C3) increased with increasing wolfberry planting age, suggesting a change in the structure of soil DOM from protein-like to fulvic acids. In this study, total nitrogen (TN) and exchangeable Ca2+ were the main factors affecting the quantity and quality of soil DOM in the wolfberry orchards with different planting ages. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that long-term wolfberry plantation enhances the accumulation of soil DOM and more complex compounds, thereby promoting soil organic carbon sequestration under different planting ages and land-use types in terrestrial ecosystems. Highlights: Plantation age of wolfberry influenced the quantity and chemical composition of soil DOM. Long-term wolfberry plantation (more than 10 years) significantly enhanced the DOM content. The conversion of farmland to wolfberry forest decreased the aromaticity and molecular weight of soil DOM. The fulvic acid-like substances become the main fluorescent components of soil DOM over time since wolfberry plantations. TN and exchangeable Ca2+ were the main factors affecting the quality of wolfberry soil DOM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to comprehend how fertilization and cultivation management alter the composition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial communities to regulate the biogeochemical cycling of soil nutrients and mitigate adverse impacts on soil–water quality. Based on 15 years of long-term field trials conducted in purple soil on farmland with a slope of 15° in southwestern China, the following five treatments were examined: CK (no fertilizer was applied), T1 (NPK plus organic manure and downslope cultivation), T2 (NPK and downslope cultivation), T3 (1.5-fold NPK and downslope cultivation), and T4 (NPK and contour cultivation). Soil samples were obtained from summer maize at two soil depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm) and from rhizospheric soil, and the changes in the DOC content, UV–visible (UV–Vis) absorptivity, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were assessed. Our results revealed a significant change in the DOC content following fertilization, especially in T1, as it was 136.0%, 179.4%, and 132.2% higher, respectively, than that in CK at the 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths and rhizospheric soil. Fertilization decreased the UV–Vis absorptivity variables of DOC (i.e., SUVA254, SUVA260, SUVA400, SUVA465, SUVA665, and C:C ratio) and raised the E4:E6 ratio (fulvic acid to humic acid in DOC), regardless of T2 and T3 at the 10–20 cm depth and in the rhizospheric soil compared with those in CK, respectively. Fertilization significantly increased the total PLFA content and selected microbial groups relative to CK. Among the treatments, T1 significantly increased the total PLFA content by 50.6%, 59.0%, and 46.2%, respectively, relative to CK, at the 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths and in the rhizospheric soil. The microbial community structure in contour cultivation (T4) was significantly greater than in downslope cultivation (T2). Random forest analysis (RFA) revealed that SOC and DOC were likely the primary variables for regulating the total PLFAs in the examined soil. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) further indicated that the DOC content and the ratio of E4:E6 among DOC compositions had greater effects on the soil microbial community structure in the examined soil. These observations suggested that long-term fertilization and cultivation management are effective approaches to regulating the soil microbial community structure by altering the composition of DOC in sloping farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disinfection is an important step in water treatment, but unpredictable compounds are produced as disinfection by-products (DBPs). DBPs are harmful products to human health so their formation must be prevented during treatment, especially for drinking water treatment. An organic compound such as natural organic matter (NOM) is the main precursor of DBPs due to its presence in river water. The Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Indonesia, mostly uses river water as raw water. Analysis of the organic matter is very important as this research aims to determine the ability of the WTP units to reduce precursors and the formation of DBPs. The sample was filtered by a 0.45µm microfilter. The presence of NOM was evaluated by the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) parameters, ultraviolet at 254 nm absorbance (UV254), and specific UV absorbance (SUVA). Then measure the Trihalomethanes (THMs) as DBPs after the disinfection. The results of analysis from five WTPs, the DOC concentration is between 3.30-8.20 mg/L; UV254 is 0.70-0.10 cm-1; SUVA is 0.90-3.13 L/mg.m. The ability of conventional WTP units such as coagulation-sedimentation-filtration in removing DOC is around 7%-42%; UV254 is 17%-35%; SUVA is 6%-69%. For the THMs, the concentration after the disinfection is 4.50-127 µg/L. It can be concluded that conventional WTP units are not effective in reducing NOM and the potential of DBPs formation is still high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws from the results of research with street-frequenting young men in Suva, Fiji. It specifically discusses the interventionist work of Christian-based organisations with street-frequenting young men who through the lenses of spatial ordering and ideological transgression are constructed as being 'out of place'. Church organisations work to reclaim the perceived lost childhood and youthful status associated with a street-frequenting existence. In doing so they adopt a 'basic needs' approach characterised by the provision of food and to a lesser extent shelter. Whilst popular, this approach is limited in that it fails to address the structural and discursive positions that place street-frequenting young people on the margins of society. The paper concludes with a call for meaningful engagement with street-frequenting young people in an effort towards recognising their right to existence and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of oysters has a significant historical background in the South Pacific region. The cultivation of pearls has been a significant source of livelihood for numerous island nations. Despite the significant cultural, dietary, and subsistence value of bivalve molluscs among Pacific Islanders, there has been limited advancement in the aquaculture of edible oysters in the region. To enable a comprehensive assessment of the viability of cultivating edible oysters in Fiji, an estimation was conducted pertaining to the growth rate of mangrove oysters Magallana bilineata. A total of 105 oyster spat were cultured in Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji, over the course of one year, from January 25th, 2021, to January 26th, 2022. The investigation documented exponential growth in oysters, with measurements of 87.3 ± 1.0 mm in length, 67.4 ± 0.7 mm in width, 49.8 ± 0.6 mm in depth, and 104.90 ± 22.6 g in weight. The findings of the study indicated the occurrence of positive isometric growth in relation to weight, length, width, and depth. The observed survival rate was 94%. The growth rates observed in oyster farming in Fiji exhibit similarities to those documented in other geographical locations, thereby providing a favourable indication for the progress of oyster aquaculture in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive analysis of subionospheric Very Low Frequency (VLF) signals from transmitters with call‐signs NWC, NPM, and NLK monitored at a low‐latitude station, Suva, Fiji, has been carried out to determine the D‐region effects of the intense geomagnetic storms for a period of 7 years (2011–2016 and 2018). The periods of 2011–2016 and 2018 fall under the 24th solar cycle with yearly mean sunspot numbers 80.8–39.8 and 7.0, respectively. Seven out of 12 geomagnetic storms revealed VLF anomalies during the storm main phase day and storm recovery phase days. A pronounced decrease in the VLF amplitude and phase for the storms having main phase onset in the nighttime was found. Out of seven geomagnetic storms, a storm of St Patrick's Day of 17–18 March 2013 is presented as a case study and the same analysis was done for all the storms. The anomalies in the VLF amplitude and phase have been modeled using Long‐Wave Propagation Capability code V2.1 to obtain the changes in Wait parameters (reference height, H′ and sharpness factor, ꞵ) and changes in the D‐region electron density. In most cases of storms, an increase in the H′ and a decrease in the ꞵ during the storm main and recovery phases were obtained which for the 17–18 March 2013 storm increased by 7.4–7.6 km and decreased from 0.03 to 0.07 km−1, respectively. Wavelet analysis of signal anomalies showed clear wave‐like spectra (0.05–0.18 mHz) of atmospheric gravity waves indicating traveling ionospheric disturbances propagating toward low latitudes due to storm‐associated Joule heating at high latitudes. Key Points: The mid‐to‐low‐latitude transmitter‐receiver path showed a larger occurrence of the Very Low Frequency (VLF) signal anomaly as compared to low‐latitude pathsLong Wave Propagation Capability V2.1 modeling of VLF signal anomaly revealed an increase in D‐region H′ and a decrease in the ꞵ during the stormsThe wave‐like spectra (0.05–0.18 mHz) of signal anomalies indicated traveling ionospheric disturbances responsible for geomagnetic storm time D‐region anomalies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic warming accelerates snowmelt, exposing soil surfaces with shallow or no snow cover to freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) more frequently in early spring and late autumn. FTCs influence Arctic soil C dynamics by increasing or decreasing the amount of dissolved organic carbon (DOC); however, mechanism-based explanations of DOC changes that consider other soil biogeochemical properties are limited. To understand the effects of FTCs on Arctic soil responses, we designed microcosms with surface organic soils from Alaska and investigated several soil biogeochemical changes for seven successive temperature fluctuations of freezing at - 9.0 ± 0.3 ∘ C and thawing at 6.2 ± 0.3 ∘ C for 12 h each. FTCs significantly changed the following soil variables: soil CO 2 production (CO 2), DOC and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) contents, two DOC quality indices (SUVA 254 and A 365 / A 254), microaggregate (53–250 µm) distribution, and small-sized mesopore (0.2–10 µm) proportion. Multivariate statistical analyses indicated that the FTCs improved soil structure at the scale of microaggregates and small-sized mesopores, facilitating DOC decomposition by soil microbes and changes in DOC quantity and quality by FTCs. This study showed that FTCs increased soil CO 2 production, indicating that FTCs affected DOC characteristics without negatively impacting microbial activity. Soil microaggregation enhanced by FTCs and the subsequent increase in microbial activity and small-sized pore proportion could promote DOC decomposition, decreasing the DOC quantity. This study provides a mechanism-based interpretation of how FTCs alter DOC characteristics of the organic soil in the active layer by incorporating structural changes and microbial responses, improving our understanding of Arctic soil C dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is commonly expected that informal settlements in developing countries have a smaller ecological footprint than more economically advantaged areas because they consume fewer resources and use less energy. In this paper we examine this idea by comparing material consumption of two informal settlements to one moderate socio-economic status (SES) neighbourhood in Suva, Fiji. We use the concept of the Ecological Footprint (EF) as a metric of comparison. Using a component-based EF approach we administered a questionnaire to 150 respondents from two informal settlements and one adjacent planned neighbourhood. Total EF and separate EF components (water, food, transport, energy, clothing, and material assets) were analysed through graphs, by examination of descriptive statistics, and through the use of non-parametric inferential statistics. We found differences between the adjacent planned neighbourhood and the informal settlements for several EF components, but found no difference for other EF components (e.g. water consumption). Through questionnaires and interviews we also examined perceived level of concern for environmental threats of informal settlement dwellers and residents of an adjacent moderate SES neighbourhood who share the same geographic space, but have very different living conditions. We found that concerns about sewage, deforestation, clean water and poor sanitation were of particularly high concern in one informal settlement, but not the other, suggesting that perceptions of threat can be very different even among informal settlements. We conclude that a better understanding of the social characteristics of informal settlements is valuable for informal settlement urban planning decisions in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on visual elements, this article uses creative ethnography as a method of visualizing imaginative elements and observations. Generating improvised dialogues based on the visual prompts of the author's video entitled Ghost Ships of Suva, the technique explores and speculates on the imagined lives of sailors and workers who once inhabited the abandoned fishing vessels that were filmed in the Fijian island of Viti Levu. The material life of the vessels and their socio-material relationship with the past inhabitants are explored with the idea that even the discarded material world is full of subjectivities with which we can connect. As a discussion on the socio-material "lives" of these ships, as a meeting-point of socio-material subjectivities, the article employs an approach driven by Donna Haraway's concept of speculative fabulation. Through the reconstruction of dialogues, the article engages with Tim Ingold's paradigm of aliveness and improvization, part of the processes involved in making images and videos with the Creative Ethnography Network (CEN). The conclusion acknowledges the complexities of socio-material entanglement: where elements of intersubjectivity between researcher and subject become vital agents in producing ethnographic knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fresh waters, the origins of dissolved organic matter (DOM) have been found to exert a fundamental control on its reactivity, and ultimately, its ecosystem functional role. A detailed understanding of landscape scale factors that control the export of DOM to aquatic ecosystems is, therefore, pivotal if the effects of DOM flux to fresh waters are to be fully understood. In this study we present data from a national sampling campaign across the United Kingdom in which we explore the variability in DOM composition in three broad landscape types defined by similar precipitation, geology, land use and management, hydrology, and nutrient enrichment status. We characterised samples from fifty-one sites, grouping them into one of three major underlying classifications: circumneutral streams underlain by clay and mudstone (referred to as 'clay'), alkaline streams underlain by Cretaceous Chalk or by Carboniferous or Jurassic Limestone ('limestone'), and acidic streams in peatland catchments underlain by a range of low permeability lithologies ('peat'). DOM composition was assessed through organic matter stoichiometry (organic carbon: organic nitrogen; organic carbon: organic phosphorus; C/N(P)DOM) and metrics derived from ultra-violet (UV)/visible spectroscopic analysis of DOM such as specific UV absorption (a254 nm; SUVA254). We found similar SUVA254, C/NDOM and DOM/a254 relationships within classifications, demonstrating that despite a large degree of heterogeneity within environments, catchments with shared environmental character and anthropogenic disturbance export DOM with a similar composition and character. Improving our understanding of DOM characterisation is important to help predict shifts in stream ecosystem function, and ecological responses to enrichment or mitigation efforts and how these may result in species composition shifts and biodiversity loss in freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient reactivity and mobility of dissolved organic matter (DOM) affect biogeochemical processes. As important components that link aboveground and belowground vertical systems under the binary 3D structure of karst, fissures provide soil–water–nutrient leakage channels and storage spaces. However, reports on DOM properties and drivers in fissured soil are extremely rare. This study characterizes DOM in the fissured soil of different vegetation types under medium-intensity rocky desertification conditions. Soil samples were characterized via ultraviolet (UV)–visible absorption spectroscopy and fluorescence excitation–emission matrix–parallel factor analysis. Five fluorescent fractions were identified. The controlling factors for the optical properties of soil DOM were determined via the redundancy analysis method. Results showed the following: (1) Dissolved organic C/soil organic C < 4.68 + 0.49‰, specific UV absorbance (SUVA)254 and SUVA260 exhibited low overall performance with the vast majority of the humification index (HIX) < 4, most of the fluorescence index (FI) ≥ 1.7, most of the biological index (BIX) in 0.6 < BIX < 1 and 31.67–41.67% of protein-like fractions. These data indicate that cleaved soil, except for topsoil, has low DOM content, weak aromaticity, and low humification; (2) Rainfall intensity, aperture, and near-surface vegetation type are the major causes of DOM transport and loss; and (3) Most DOM losses are likely to be protein-like and enhance the loss of soil P. In summary, environmental factors and the characteristics of fissures determine DOM content and migration, particularly rainfall intensity and vegetation type. The loss of lighter DOM components will be greater in an area with high karst desertification grade, strong fissure development, weaker soil aromaticity, and lower humification. These results provide a clearer basis for optimizing the fissure nutrient element migration scheme in karst areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal cities are under severe threat from the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, coastal inundation, and ecosystem degradation. It is well known that the ocean, and in particular coastal environments, have been changing at an unprecedented rate, which poses increasing risks to people in small island developing states, such as Fiji. The Greater Suva Urban Area, the capital and largest metropolitan area of Fiji, is expected to be largely impacted by climate-related risks to its socio-economic, cultural, and political positions. In the face of these threats, creating a resilient city that can withstand and adapt to the impacts of climate change and promote sustainable development should be guided by a holistic approach, encompassing stakeholders from the government, the private sector, civil society organizations, and international institutions. This study assesses the risk profile of Suva city using an innovative risk information tool, the climate and ocean risk vulnerability index (CORVI), which applies structured expert judgment to quantify climate-related risks in data-sparse environments. Through comparative quantification of diverse risk factors and narrative analysis, this study identifies three priority areas for Suva's future climate-resilient actions: development of climate risk-informed urban planning, harmonized urban development and natural restoration, and enhancing the climate resilience to the tourism sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During disinfection of drinking water, natural organic matter reacts with chlorine to produce harmful disinfection by-products. The identification of precursors of disinfection by-products in natural organic matter is challenging because natural organic matter is very complex and poorly known. Therefore, scientists have focused on the fractionation of natural organic matter with membranes or resins to better understand how and which organic matter fractions react during chlorination. Here, we compared the reactivity of various organic fractions with disinfection by-products. For that we did a meta-analysis of 400 water samples published in 80 publications, with focus on chlorination time and dose, SUVA254 and the column capacity factor used during resin fractionation. SUVA254 refers to the ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm divided by the organic matter concentration. We found that hydrophobic compounds have 10–20% higher reactivity to both trihalomethane and haloacetic acid formation compared to hydrophilic compounds in waters with SUVA254 above 2L/(mg∙m), while hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds have equal reactivity in waters with low SUVA254. On the other hand, hydrophilic compounds are 20–80% more reactive towards emerging disinfection by-products, regardless of SUVA254. Chlorination time and dose do not influence the reactivity ratio between the different fractions. An increase in column capacity factor can shift the reactivity ratio from hydrophobic to hydrophilic fractions. Dead-end, stirred cell ultrafiltration membrane fractionation might not always produce sharply separated fractions, which is mainly due to fouling. Therefore, no clear correlation could be found between membrane fractions and all investigated disinfection by-product groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the expected outcomes of global warming is increased algal and cyanobacterial blooms. Based on its ability to separate algal particles, dissolved air flotation (DAF) is considered as a climate change adaptation technology for water treatment. The feasibility of DAF treatment is often assessed using DAF jar tests; however, they are not particularly good at predicting a full-scale DAF system's turbidity removals. Therefore, our group has developed a more reliable larger-diameter/larger-volume batch apparatus (LB-DAF), which was optimized by comparison with a full-scale DAF plant treating a low turbidity, highly coloured river water (SUVA ∼ 4.3). The objective of this study was to verify that the LB-DAF was capable of simulating full-scale DAF systems treating two significantly different waters. One was water from a large eutrophic bay in Lake Ontario (SUVA ∼2.6) and the second was a river water (SUVA ∼3.5). The turbidity removals achieved by the full-scale DAF systems treating these waters were compared with those for the LB-DAF tests conducted using different flocculation velocity gradients, saturated water pressures, recycle ratios and water depth to diameter ratios. The LB-DAF tests are good predictors of the full-scale DAF turbidity removals, the average difference for the two waters tested were 2% and 6%. The LB-DAF natural organic matter (NOM) removals for both waters differed by less than 1% from that measured at the corresponding treatment plants. In addition, as in our previous LB-DAF study, varying the different LB-DAF operational variables did not have a significant impact on turbidity and NOM removals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated changes in the quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from rain to stream water in a forested watershed at Yamashiro Experimental Forest (YMS) in southern Kyoto prefecture. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) in rainwater increased in the order of bulk rain, throughfall, stemflow, and O layer leachate because of the DOM supply from tree tissue and O layer. Decreases in DOC concentration and SUVA254 with soil depth were not observed in the soil-percolating water. This finding may have been caused by the low free oxide content of the soil and the collection of soil water with a tension-free lysimeter. The DOC concentration was very low in both seepage and stream waters; seasonal variation with a high concentration in summer was observed in the stream water. An increase in K+ concentration in summer was also observed in the stream water; thus, we presumed that DOC seasonal variation was caused by the DOM supply with the accumulated decomposition of litter in the streambed. The significant correlation between DOC concentration and absorbance at 254 nm (UV254) was observed for all sample types of observation target in the watershed; the ratio of DOC concentration to UV254 was different, while the correlation coefficient between DOC concentration and UV254 value differed among sample types in the watershed. We concluded that UV254 which can be measured by simply and easily is a good indicator for estimating DOC concentration in liquid samples in forested watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breastfeeding is a cost-effective public health approach that decreases infant and child morbidity and mortality. Fiji's exclusive breastfeeding rate was 40 percent compared to the global target of 50 percent. The research aims to evaluate mothers' breastfeeding infants' level of knowledge, attitudes, and practice less than 6 months of age in Suva. A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study was carried out in 3 randomly selected medical areas in Suva, Fiji. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire was used to gather data from 415 mothers. The overall mean scores for breastfeeding knowledge of mothers were 12.9, the attitude was 33.7, and practice 7.20.Results showed that mothers were generally found to have good levels of knowledge and practice but a fair attitude. Knowledge was associated with the number of children that mothers had and ethnicity. Attitude had a positive correlation with household income. The practice was positively correlated with the mother's status of employment, the number of children, ethnicity, marital status, and household income. To improve breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and practices of mothers, awareness and education should be strengthened in all health facilities. Improvement in health education materials and advocacy is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To estimate the proportion of products meeting Fiji government labelling regulations, assess compliance with national Na reformulation targets and examine the Na and total sugar levels in packaged foods sold in selected major supermarkets.Design: We selected five major supermarkets in 2018 and collected the product information and nutritional content from the labels of all packaged foods sold. We organised 4278 foods into fourteen major food categories and thirty-six sub-categories and recorded the proportion of products labelled in accordance with the Fiji labelling regulations. We looked at the levels of Na and total sugar in each food category and assessed how many products complied with the Fiji reformulation targets set for Na. We also listed the companies responsible for each product.Setting: Suva, Fiji.Results: Fourteen percentage of packaged foods in fourteen major categories met Fiji national labelling regulations. Na was labelled on 95·4 % products, and total sugar labelled on 92·4 %. The convenience foods category had the highest Na levels (1699 mg/100 g), while confectionery had the highest content of total sugar (52·6 g/100 g). Forty percentage of eligible products did not meet the proposed voluntary Na reformulation targets.Conclusions: Our findings indicate significant room for improvement in nutrient labelling, as well as a need for further enforcement of reformulation targets and monitoring of changes in food composition. Through enacting these measures and establishing additional regulations such as mandatory front-of-pack labelling, government and food industry can drive consumers towards healthier food choices and improve the nutritional quality of packaged foods in Fiji. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: In this work we investigate the single‐photon double ionization of the SUVA 134a (1,1,1,2‐tetrafluoroethane) molecule in the energy range from 21.21 to 320 eV. Our experimental data are supported by Thomas' and Samson's models. It is shown that the double photoionization of the SUVA 134a can be expressed as a sum of the so‐called shake‐off (SO) and the knockout (KO) processes. Methods: The experiments were executed at the TGM beamline at Laboratório Nacional de Luz Síncrotron in Campinas, Brazil. The source of EUV and X‐ray radiation was a bending magnet that enabled us to work in the photon energy range of 21.21 to 320 eV. The spectrometer was devised to collect 100% of the ions with kinetic energies up to 30 eV. The photoelectron‐photoion (PEPICO) and photoelectron‐photoion‐photoion (PE2PICO) coincidence techniques were used in the present work. Results: The ratio of double‐to‐total photoionization as a function of the photon energy for the SUVA molecule exhibits remarkably similar behavior with other atomic and molecular systems. SO depends on large excess energy above the ionization threshold, enabling the photoelectron to leave the interaction region rather speedily to yield a sudden change in the Coulomb field that the shaken electron feels. The measured asymptotic SO probability is PSO (∞) = 0.09. Conclusions: The present analysis shows that the separation of SO and KO processes relies on the experimental evidence that there is no significant interference between SO and KO. The analysis also shows that the separate formulation of KO and SO presents a factual portrayal of double photoionization. Despite having 50 electrons, SUVA has lower double‐to‐total photoionization fraction (9%) in comparison, for instance, to argon atoms (~20%), which has 18 electrons. This lower e‐e correlation could be attributed to its larger volume, that is, lower electron density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article seeks to examine Fiji's current housing crisis against the backdrop of neoliberal urbanism. In doing so, the article offers a fresh new perspective on the marginalisation, displacement and outright exclusion of the urban poor from the inner city areas of Suva. Among the trademark growth problems experienced by neoliberal cities across the globe, the crisis of urban housing affordability is perhaps more pronounced in Suva given economies of scale and constraints in Fiji's land tenure system. This article seeks to highlight that Suva's inner city spaces are being transformed along the lines of market fundamentalism and that this will exacerbate the social exclusion and displacement of Suva's poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Ultrasound degraded the molecular structure of humic acids. • Sonochemical effects (HO) responsible for fluorescence reduction. • No TOC and colour removal with ultrasound pre-treatment. • O 3 achieved a significant reduction in TOC and almost a complete colour removal. • Ultrasound pre-treatment may reduce subsequent O 3 dosage for humic acid degradation. This paper presents an intensification study of an ozonation process through an ultrasonic pre-treatment for the elimination of humic substances in water and thus, improve the quality of water treatment systems for human consumption. Humic acids were used as representative of natural organic matter in real waters which present low biodegradability and a high potential for trihalomethane formation. Ultrasonic frequency (98 kHz, 300 kHz and 1 MHz), power (10–40 W) and sonicated volume (150–400 mL) was varied to assess the efficiency of the ultrasonic pre-treatment in the subsequent ozonation process. A direct link between hydroxyl radical (HO) formation and fluorescence reduction was observed during sonication pre-treatment, peaking at 300 kHz and maximum power density. Ultrasound, however, did not reduce total organic carbon (TOC). Injected ozone (O 3) dose and reaction time were also evaluated during the ozonation treatment. With 300 kHz and 40 W ultrasonic pre-treatment and the subsequent ozonation step (7.4 mg O 3 /L gas), TOC was reduced from 21 mg/L to 13.5 mg/L (36% reduction). HO attack seems to be the main degradation mechanism during ozonation. A strong reduction in colour (85%) and SUVA 254 (70%) was also measured. Moreover, changes in the chemical structure of the macromolecule were observed that led to the formation of oxidation by-products of lower molecular weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) is an important part of aquatic ecosystems and plays a key role in the biogeochemical cycle. In this study, CDOM absorption spectrum curves and water quality parameters from 30 sampling sites in the wetlands of Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Province, China, were collected in October 2016. The optical absorption characteristics and spatial distribution of CDOM, the correlation between the absorption coefficient of CDOM at a wavelength of 355 nm (ag(355)), and the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were analyzed. Spectral characteristic parameters—namely, E2/E3 (the ratio of the CDOM absorption coefficient at a wavelength of 250 nm to the CDOM absorption coefficient at a wavelength of 365 nm), SUVA254 (the ratio of the CDOM absorption coefficient at a wavelength of 254 nm to the DOC concentration), and spectral slopes—were used to infer the composition and sources of CDOM in the Poyang Lake wetlands. The results showed the following: (1) the CDOM absorption spectrum of water of the Poyang Lake wetlands presented significant spatial variation, showing a trend of south > west > north > east; (2) there was a strong linear correlation between the CDOM absorption coefficient and the DOC concentration in the water of the Poyang Lake wetlands (ag(355) = 1.075DOC–0.659 (r2 = 0.723, p < 0.001, n = 30)); (3) the analysis of the spectral characteristic parameters E2/E3, SUVA254, and spectral slopes showed that the CDOM in the Poyang Lake wetlands has relatively high aromaticity and molecular weight, which were shown to be mainly affected by terrestrial inputs. The results showed that the molecular weight and aromaticity of CDOM were higher in the south of the lake than in other parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mineral-organic associations (MOAs) are the basic structural units of soil aggregates and are important reservoirs of nutrients for plants and soil microorganisms, determining the soil structure and fertility. However, the influence of exogenous dissolved organic matter (DOM) chemistry on the stability of MOAs is rarely reported. Materials and methods: We first characterized different exogenous DOM through elemental analysis and spectroscopy analysis technologies. Then, a chamber incubation experiment was conducted with DOM addition concentration at 3 g C kg−1 red soil. Principal component analysis, redundancy analysis, and the partial least squares path model were used to better understand the effect of exogenous DOM chemistry on the stability of MOAs. Results and discussion: The addition of DOM into the red soil significantly increased not only the organic carbon both in the bulk soil and the soil heavy fraction, but also the soil combined humus and the soil mineral-organic compound quantity. Moreover, the rice straw-derived DOM had the best effect on improving the soil mineral-organic compound quantity/degree (additional), followed by the animal-derived DOM, while the fulvic acid increased it the least. The ratios of elements (C/N ratio, O/C ratio, and H/C ratio), aromaticity (SUVA254), and phenolic C content of exogenous DOM had positively significant contributions to the stability of MOAs. Conclusions: The rice straw-derived DOM had the greatest enhancement on the stability of the MOAs for its higher C/N ratio and phenolic groups content, so the exogenous DOM characteristics could be as an indicator in predicting the stability of the MOAs and evaluating the soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 14 problematic invasive woody plants can be classified into 4 spatial patterns • Presence and abundance on urban-rural gradient type differs by plant species • Abundance of IWP is explained more by urban-rural gradient type than road type • IWP species may be common in urban sector type but not necessarily abundant • Overall abundance of target species in urban sector lower than other sectors Tropical Pacific island countries, many of which are less-developed, are experiencing invasions of alien plant species at rates faster than areas of comparable size elsewhere. In this paper we examine the relationship between the presence, abundance, and richness of 14 invasive woody plant (IWP) species and level of urbanization and road type in the Greater Suva Urban Area (GSUA), Fiji. One hundred and fifty-four sample locations within a 29 km transect traversing urban, peri-urban and rural land sectors on local, collector and arterial roads were surveyed. We analyzed the 14 species for frequency of occurrence across the urban-rural gradient and found spatial patterns of IWP presence differed by species. We analyzed the abundance of seven species using multivariable regression and found abundance was more often influenced by urban-rural sector than road type, though road type had a significant effect for some species. We conclude by offering plausible explanations for differences attributed to modes of dispersal, introduction history and human activities. We include supplementary material providing detailed characterization of biology, ecology, and history of the 14 target species. These findings are expected to help inform risk assessments and management of IWP in other tropical urban-rural gradients, and especially small island developing states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outgassing of carbon dioxide (CO 2) from freshwater ecosystems comprises 12 %–25 % of the total carbon flux from soils and bedrock. This CO 2 is largely derived from both biodegradation and photodegradation of terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) entering lakes from wetlands and soils in the watersheds of lakes. In spite of the significance of these two processes in regulating rates of CO 2 outgassing, their relative importance remains poorly understood in lake ecosystems. In this study, we used groundwater from the watersheds of one subtropical and three temperate lakes of differing trophic status to simulate the effects of increases in terrestrial DOC from storm events. We assessed the relative importance of biodegradation and photodegradation in oxidizing DOC to CO 2. We measured changes in DOC concentration, colored dissolved organic carbon (specific ultraviolet absorbance – SUVA 320 ; spectral slope ratio – Sr), dissolved oxygen, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in short-term experiments from May–August 2016. In all lakes, photodegradation led to larger changes in DOC and DIC concentrations and optical characteristics than biodegradation. A descriptive discriminant analysis showed that, in brown-water lakes, photodegradation led to the largest declines in DOC concentration. In these brown-water systems, ∼ 30 % of the DOC was processed by sunlight, and a minimum of 1 % was photomineralized. In addition to documenting the importance of photodegradation in lakes, these results also highlight how lakes in the future may respond to changes in DOC inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Young people in Fiji experience high rates of sexually transmissible infections and early pregnancy. Despite being identified as a key priority group in national strategies, little is known about use of condoms among young people in premarital relationships. This study aimed to enhance understandings of premarital sex and condom use practices among young people in Fiji.Methods: Focus group discussions with 33 young women and men aged 18-29 years and 17 interviews with young women aged 18-26 years in an urban setting in Fiji were conducted. Inductive thematic analysis examined condom use practices.Results: Participants described a range of contextual influences inhibiting or enabling condom use. Factors inhibiting condom use included sociocultural expectations regarding premarital abstinence; young people's engagement in hidden sexual relationships; limited intergenerational dialogue about sexual health issues; judgmental attitude of staff at condom access points; male dominance of condom use preferences; and belief condoms disrupt intimacy, reduce sexual pleasure and infer a lack of trust. Factors that enhanced condom use included accessing condoms through discreet methods; adult beliefs that supported safe sex practices; and refusing to have sex without a condom.Conclusion: Findings broaden understandings of young people's condom use practices in Suva, Fiji. The findings illustrate the need for culturally appropriate youth-centred sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs and services. Specific strategies that might enhance young people's condom use include community- and youth-led responses; peer condom distribution; provision of condom dispensers in community settings; scaling up of youth-friendly SRH services; and the delivery of comprehensive sexuality and relationships education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amelioration of saline soil is a requisite in order to increase crop productivity. A soil incubation study was performed for 60 days using digestate, humic acid, calcium humate and their combinations to investigate the influence on physical, chemical, microbial and enzyme activities of saline soil. Overall, digestate combined with calcium humate followed by humic acid treatments have shown their potency in decreasing the soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and sodium ion (Na+) concentration, and increase in potassium ion (K +), calcium ion (Ca 2+), magnesium ion (Mg 2+), mean weight diameter (MWD), soil enzyme activities, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), MBC: microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and soil respiration than control. The digestate, humic acid individually and their amalgamation evidenced greater MBN among all the treatments. The digestate alone efficiently improved the soil properties than humic acid and calcium humate individual groups except for the MWD where it is pronounced more in the latter groups. The greater metabolic quotient (qCO2) was observed in control than organic matter amended treatments indicating the stress conditions. The increase in water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) with minimal aromaticity (specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm-Suva 254) in integrated amendments comprising groups, laid the ground reason to improve the properties of saline soil. Therefore, this study concludes that the fusion of fresh and humified substrates could facilitate reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) remains a challenge globally. This study aims to gauge the perceptions of parents towards the delivery of SRH education in mainstream public secondary schools in Fiji.Methods: The qualitative study design was used to collect the data from parents in Suva, Fiji, from July to August 2018. A semistructured questionnaire was developed to run Focus Group Discussion (FGD) among parents residing in Suva who had school-attending children from years 11 to 13. Parents were recruited from five schools with the help of students. Twenty-six parents of which 10 were males, aged between 38 and 65, participated in this study. Consent was obtained from each participant prior to the data collection stage. Data collected were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed thematically. Ethical approvals were obtained before collecting the data.Results: Seven themes emerged which included the provision of school-based sex education, parental involvement with school-based sex education, sex education at home, age-appropriate incremental sex education, ethnic variations regarding sex education, barriers and facilitators for the delivery of school-based sex education, and perceived ideal version of sex education.Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest for policy and programs to match parents, schools, and students' expectations. Effective interventions need to involve and help parents to take a more active part to change policy, program, and advocacy for relevant SRH education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and exports from headwater catchments impact the quality of downstream waters and pose challenges to water supply. The importance of riparian zones for DOC export from catchments in humid, temperate climates has generally been acknowledged, but the hydrological controls and biogeochemical factors that govern mobilization of DOC from riparian zones remain elusive. A high-frequency dataset (15 min resolution for over 1 year) from a headwater catchment in the Harz Mountains (Germany) was analyzed for dominant patterns in DOC concentration (CDOC) and optical DOC quality parameters SUVA 254 and S275-295 (spectral slope between 275 and 295 nm) on event and seasonal scales. Quality parameters and CDOC systematically changed with increasing fractions of high-frequency quick flow (Qhf) and antecedent hydroclimatic conditions, defined by the following metrics: aridity index (AI 60) of the preceding 60 d and the quotient of mean temperature (T30) and mean discharge (Q30) of the preceding 30 d, which we refer to as discharge-normalized temperature (DNT 30). Selected statistical multiple linear regression models for the complete time series (R2=0.72 , 0.64 and 0.65 for CDOC , SUVA 254 and S275-295 , resp.) captured DOC dynamics based on event (Qhf and baseflow) and seasonal-scale predictors (AI 60 , DNT 30). The relative importance of seasonal-scale predictors allowed for the separation of three hydroclimatic states (warm and dry, cold and wet, and intermediate). The specific DOC quality for each state indicates a shift in the activated source zones and highlights the importance of antecedent conditions and their impact on DOC accumulation and mobilization in the riparian zone. The warm and dry state results in high DOC concentrations during events and low concentrations between events and thus can be seen as mobilization limited, whereas the cold and wet state results in low concentration between and during events due to limited DOC accumulation in the riparian zone. The study demonstrates the considerable value of continuous high-frequency measurements of DOC quality and quantity and its (hydroclimatic) key controlling variables in quantitatively unraveling DOC mobilization in the riparian zone. These variables can be linked to DOC source activation by discharge events and the more seasonal control of DOC production in riparian soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-latitude environments store approximately half of the global organic carbon pool in peatlands, organic soils and permafrost, while large Arctic rivers convey an estimated 18–50 Tg C a -1 to the Arctic Ocean. Warming trends associated with climate change affect dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export from terrestrial to riverine environments. However, there is limited consensus as to whether exports will increase or decrease due to complex interactions between climate, soils, vegetation, and associated production, mobilization and transport processes. A large body of research has focused on large river system DOC and dissolved organic matter (DOM) lability and observed trends conserved across years, whereas investigation at smaller watershed scales show that thermokarst and fire have a transient impact on hydrologically mediated solute transport. This study, located in the Wolf Creek Research Basin situated ∼20 km south of Whitehorse, YT, Canada, utilizes a nested design to assess seasonal and annual patterns of DOC and DOM composition across diverse landscape types (headwater, wetland and lake) and watershed scales. Peak DOC concentration and export occurred during freshet, as is the case in most northern watersheds; however, peaks were lower than a decade ago at the headwater site Granger Creek. DOM composition was most variable during freshet with high A254 and SUVA 254 and low FI and BIX. DOM composition was relatively insensitive to flow variation during summer and fall. The influence of increasing watershed scale and downstream mixing of landscape contributions was an overall dampening of DOC concentrations and optical indices with increasing groundwater contribution. Forecasted vegetation shifts, enhanced permafrost and seasonal thaw, earlier snowmelt, increased rainfall and other projected climate-driven changes will alter DOM sources and transport pathways. The results from this study support a projected shift from predominantly organic soils (high aromaticity and less fresh) to decomposing vegetation (more fresh and lower aromaticity). These changes may also facilitate flow and transport via deeper flow pathways and enhance groundwater contributions to runoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a critical component in aquatic ecosystems, yet its seasonal variability and reactivity remain not well constrained. These were investigated at the land-ocean interface of a subtropical river (Minjiang River, SE China), using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The annual export flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the Minjiang River (5.48 × 1010 g year−1) was highest among the rivers adjacent to the Taiwan Strait, with 72% occurring in spring and summer. The freshwater absorption coefficient a280, DOC-specific UV absorbance SUVA254 and humification index HIX were higher, while the spectral slope S275–295 and biological index BIX were lower in summer than in winter. This suggests intensified export of terrestrial aromatic and high molecular weight constituents in the rainy summer season. Six fluorescent components were identified from 428 samples, including humic-like C1–C3, tryptophan-like C4 and C6, and tyrosine-like C5. The freshwater levels of four components (C1, C2, C4, and C6) were lower while that of C5 was higher in the wet season than in the dry season, suggesting contrasting seasonal variations of different constituents. Laboratory experiments were performed to assess the effects of photochemical and microbial degradation on DOM. Photo-degradation removed chromophoric and fluorescent DOM (CDOM and FDOM) effectively, which was stronger (i) for high molecular weight/humic constituents and (ii) during summer under higher solar radiation. Microbial degradation under laboratory controlled conditions generally showed little effect on DOC, and had smaller impact on CDOM and FDOM in winter than in summer. Overall, this study showed notable seasonal changes in the chemical composition and reactivity of DOM at the land-ocean interface, and demonstrated the significant effects of photo-degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have claimed that road dust and roadside soil are potential banks of pollutants generally in urban areas. Thus, quantifying the concentrations of metals in an urban area is a prerequisite for assessing pollution and their health effects. Hence, this study reports the concentration of the metals, such as Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Fe, in the road dust and the roadside soil of Suva City. A total number of 45 road dust and 36 roadside soil samples were collected at 18 different locations around Suva City with potential traffic influence and analysed. The respective metals concentration in the road dust and roadside soil samples of Suva City were Cd (3.7 and 3.1 mg/kg), Co (35.0 and 33.2 mg/kg), Cr (40.0 and 34.0 mg/kg), Ni (54.3 and 32.4 mg/kg), Cu (172.3 and 265.7 mg/kg), Pb (71.0 and 59.3 mg/kg), Zn (685.0 and 507.0 mg/kg), and Fe (41,010.4 and 39,525.5 mg/kg) and showed the decreasing order as Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Cd and Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Co > Ni > Cd for road dust and roadside soil, respectively. Furthermore, the mean values of the metals surpassed their background levels, except for Fe, whereas the mean values of Cd, Ni, Cu, and Zn have exceeded their permissible limits in road dust. Similarly, Cd, Cu, and Zn have exceeded their permissible limit in roadside soil except for Ni. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) assessment of Suva City road dust thus indicated nonpolluted to moderate pollution by Ni and Cu and moderate pollution by Zn. The Igeo assessment of the roadside soil showed moderately polluted by Cu and Zn but no pollution from the remaining studied metals. Overall, the study indicated that the sampling locations at an industrial site of Suva City is highly predominated with almost all of the studied metals and is a concern to the general public who live and work within the vicinity of Walu Bay industrial area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been few studies investigating the relationship between the built environment and the status of bird distributions in small island tropical urban areas. We present a study investigating the relationship between bird species richness, abundance and assemblage to the built environment in Suva, Fiji. Field surveys were taken at 54 randomly selected sites throughout the city, stratified by three building density classes and the central business district (CBD). At each site bird counts were recorded, along with environmental data such as average building height, within a 150 m radius. Land-use information was obtained from screen digitized high-resolution satellite imagery within the same radius. Distance to undeveloped patches of land within the urban area was calculated using a GIS. Analysis of the effects of the built environment was carried out for all species, and for exotic and native species separately. Abundance of exotics was significantly higher in the central business district (CBD) than all other urban density classes, and significantly higher than natives in all other density classes. We found a negative relationship between native species richness and distance to undeveloped patches, but no relationship for exotics. Species assemblage was not related to urban density class. We conclude that the status of native and exotic bird species in Suva is similar to what has been found in urban areas in temperate climates, and conservation efforts should focus on minimizing the amount of heavily urbanized "core areas" and protecting undeveloped areas of forested vegetation to improve bird biodiversity in small tropical islands cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A pilot art-making and mental health recovery project addressed consumer and carer mental health and well-being in Suva, Fiji. Method: Using feedback surveys, the project evaluated initial training, and a 12-month art programme for consumers, carers and staff across several mental health services. Results: First person and stakeholder group reports from the project reflected broad-scale approval for the novel modality and its potential for continued application in keeping with local cultural values. A broad stakeholder base was involved in planning and participation, aligned with the values of inclusive recovery-oriented mental health service approaches. Conclusions: These results suggest that the programme can add value to mental health care being provided for people with a mental illness in Fiji. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents selected statements and recommendations of the International Round Table on National Human Rights Institutions (NIs) and Good Governance, held on December 13-15, 2004 in Suva, Fiji. The participants recalled all previous relevant resolutions on the role of good governance in the promotion of human rights, and noted the variations in good governance practices which are according to particular circumstances and the needs of the different societies. Furthermore, the event highlights the needed for international and regional cooperation in order to enhance the implementation of good governance at all levels. With NIs definition of the elements, the members concluded that good governance is inseparable from human rights standard.

National development problems in the weak states of Papua New Guinea and Fiji have resulted in external intervention. However neo-liberal development strategies have not resolved development problems and may have further weakened state structures. In both capital cities rural-urban migration, rising urban unemployment, and the expansion of squatter settlements and the informal sector have all continued in recent years. The numbers of beggars, street kids and prostitutes have increased, as has domestic violence and crime. Governments have opposed all these trends, by regulation and intolerance, violence, routine repression and eviction, rather than by pro-poor policies. Settlers, prostitutes, beggars, street kids and market vendors have been evicted and moved on, on the ideological premise that that their true place is in rural areas, and that their urban presence challenges and threatens notions of urban order. Moral regulation, social exclusion and moral panic have divided ‘good citizens’ from marginal and possibly criminal others, intensifying social divisions within the cities. Sustainable urban development has proved difficult to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast development of centralized agricultural biogas plants leads to high amounts of digestate production. The treatment and disposal of liquid fractions after on-site digestate solid–liquid separation remains problematic due to their high organic, nutrient and aromatic contents. This work aims to study the variability of the remaining compounds in the digestate liquid fractions in relation to substrate origin, process parameters and solid–liquid separation techniques. Twenty-nine digestates from full-scale codigestion biogas plants and one waste activated sludge (WAS) digestate were collected and characterized. This study highlighted the combined effect of the solid–liquid separation process and the anaerobic digestion feedstock on the characteristics of liquid fractions of digestates. Two major clusters were found: (1) liquid fractions from high efficiency separation process equipment (e.g., centrifuge and others with addition of coagulant, flocculent or polymer) and (2) liquid fractions from low efficiency separation processes (e.g., screw press, vibrating screen and rotary drum), in this latter case, the concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was associated with the proportion of cow manure and energy crops at biogas plant input. Finally, SUVA254, an indicator for aromatic molecule content and the stabilization of organic matter, was associated with the hydraulic retention time (HRT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use (AMU) are important drivers of antimicrobial resistance, yet there is minimal data from the Pacific region. We sought to determine the point prevalence of HAIs and AMU at Fiji's largest hospital, the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) in Suva. A secondary aim was to evaluate the performance of European Centre for Diseases Prevention and Control (ECDC) HAI criteria in a resource-limited setting. Methods: We conducted a point prevalence survey of HAIs and AMU at CWMH in October 2019. Survey methodology was adapted from the ECDC protocol. To evaluate the suitability of ECDC HAI criteria in our setting, we augmented the survey to identify patients with a clinician diagnosis of a HAI where diagnostic testing criteria were not met. We also assessed infection prevention and control (IPC) infrastructure on each ward. Results: We surveyed 343 patients, with median (interquartile range) age 30 years (16–53), predominantly admitted under obstetrics/gynaecology (94, 27.4%) or paediatrics (83, 24.2%). Thirty patients had one or more HAIs, a point prevalence of 8.7% (95% CI 6.0% to 12.3%). The most common HAIs were surgical site infections (n = 13), skin and soft tissue infections (7) and neonatal clinical sepsis (6). Two additional patients were identified with physician-diagnosed HAIs that failed to meet ECDC criteria due to insufficient investigations. 206 (60.1%) patients were receiving at least one antimicrobial. Of the 325 antimicrobial prescriptions, the most common agents were ampicillin (58/325, 17.8%), cloxacillin (55/325, 16.9%) and metronidazole (53/325, 16.3%). Use of broad-spectrum agents such as piperacillin/tazobactam (n = 6) and meropenem (1) was low. The majority of prescriptions for surgical prophylaxis were for more than 1 day (45/76, 59.2%). Although the number of handwashing basins throughout the hospital exceeded World Health Organization recommendations, availability of alcohol-based handrub was limited and most concentrated within high-risk wards. Conclusions: The prevalence of HAIs in Fiji was similar to neighbouring high-income countries, but may have been reduced by the high proportion of paediatric and obstetrics patients, or by lower rates of inpatient investigations. AMU was very high, with duration of surgical prophylaxis an important target for future antimicrobial stewardship initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urban river pollution risks to environments and human health are emerging as a serious concern worldwide. With the aim to achieve the health of urban river ecosystem, numerous monitoring programs have been implemented to investigate the spectral characteristics of contamination. While due to the complexity of aquatic pollutants, the linkages between harmful effects and the spectral characteristics of contamination are still a major challenge for capturing main threats to urban aquatic environments. To establish these linkages, surface water (SW), sediment pore water (SDPW), and riparian soil pore water (SPW) were collected from five sites of the seriously polluted Qingshui Stream, China. The water-dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphate (TP), fluorescence excitation–emission matrix, and specific ultraviolet absorbance were applied to analyze the spectral characteristics of urban river contamination. The Photobacterium phosphorem 502 was used to test the acute toxicity of the samples. Finally, the correlations between acute toxicity and concentrations of DOC, TN, TP, and the spectral characteristics were explored. Results: The concentrations of DOC, TN, and TP in various samples amounted from 11.41 ± 2.31 to 3844.67 ± 87.80 mg/L, from 1.96 ± 0.06 to 906.23 ± 26.01 mg/L and from 0.06 ± 0.01 to 101.00 ± 8.29 mg/L, respectively. The florescence index (FI) amounted from 1.54 to 3.14, the biological index (BIX) were between 0.94 and 1.57. The distribution patterns of specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) showed that the highest aromaticity and hydrophobicity were found in SDPW and the lowest ones were in SW. All samples showed significantly inhibition on luminescent bacteria. Particularly, the highest acute toxicity was found in site 1 with an EC50 value of 6.023-fold dilution for the raw SDPW sample. In addition, the highest fluorescence intensity was also observed from SDPW of site 1. Conclusions: Tryptophan-like and protein-like substances could be important DOC fractions contributing remarkably to the acute toxicity in the seriously polluted river. In addition, the significant reduction on acute toxicity was found with the treatment of surface water flow constructed wetland, revealing that constructed wetland could be an effective approach for toxicant degradation. These observations are useful for water treatments, and meaningful for urban sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the partnership of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), Pacific Eye Institute and The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ to support the launch of a Diabetes Eye Clinic in Suva, Fiji.