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In preparing to respond to security incidents involving radioactive material, States should consider how they might address the unique challenge of analysing forensic evidence contaminated with these materials. In the case of DNA evidence, previous research has suggested that commercial forensic DNA extraction kits may be able to remove radioactive contamination from biological samples. If viable, this would allow the extraction and decontamination of biological samples to be undertaken in a laboratory equipped to handle radioactive material, with the subsequent quantification and profiling of extracted DNA performed in a conventional forensics laboratory. In order to inform the development of an operational capability, this study sought to expand upon previous work to provide a more comprehensive quantitative assessment of the efficacy of commercial DNA extraction kits for the removal of radionuclide contamination from biological samples and the quality of the resultant DNA profiles. Three commercial DNA extraction kits were tested for their ability to remove contaminating radionuclides. Two of these kits proved more effective at removing radionuclide contamination and produced DNA extracts of higher quality. Under all conditions tested in this study, decontamination efficiency was sufficient to allow the release of samples to a forensic laboratory. However, consistent with a prudent approach to radiation safety it is recommended that all samples be screened by gamma spectrometry prior to their release to a forensic laboratory in order to verify decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the results for identification of chemical phases obtained by several laboratories as a part of an international nuclear forensic round-robin exercise. In this work powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD) is regarded as the reference technique. Neutron diffraction produced a superior high-angle diffraction pattern relative to p-XRD. Requiring only small amounts of sample, µ-Raman spectroscopy was used for the first time in this context as a potentially complementary technique to p-XRD. The chemical phases were identified as pure UO2 in two materials, and as a mixture of UO2, U3O8 and an intermediate species U3O7 in the third material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to quantify the influence of South Georgia's orography on regional surface winds. A typical case study characterized by large-scale westerly winds is analysed using a high-resolution setup (3.3 km) of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) regional model. The simulation produces significant fine-scale spatial variability which is in agreement with satellite-derived winds. The model simulation indicates that these orography-driven wind disturbances are responsible for strong wind stress curl and enhanced heat flux over the shelf waters surrounding South Georgia. Such surface forcing is entirely absent from the reanalysis, highlighting the need to use high-resolution forcing in regional ocean model simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to undertake a detailed exploration of sleep in the context of 24 hours in a care home environment, exploring the subjective experience of residents and the perceptions of staff. Method Qualitative research in four care homes for older people consisting of semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations. Interviews were conducted with 38 residents and 39 staff, and were analysed using a grounded theory approach. Findings The findings have highlighted some challenges and opportunities for developing practice in care homes to improve residents' sleep. In addition to pain and physical disabilities, the physical environment and practices In care homes can affect residents' sleep and night-time experience. Conclusion Improving our understanding of residents' and staff's experiences at night in care homes can inform the development of good practice in night-time care and contribute to a positive culture of person-centred care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the amount of time that care-home residents spend in bed at night, focusing on how residents' bedtimes and getting-up times are managed. Using a mixed-methods approach, diary data were collected over 14 days from 125 residents in ten care homes in South East England. The findings indicate that residents spent, on average, nearly 11 hours in bed at night, significantly more time than was spent sleeping. There was greater variance in the amount of time residents who needed assistance spent in bed than there was for independent residents. Detailed investigation of six care homes, each with 8 pm to 8 am night shifts, showed that bedtimes and getting-up times for dependent residents were influenced by the staff's shift patterns. Analysis of qualitative interviews with 38 residents highlighted a lack of resident choice about bedtimes and many compromises by the residents to fit in with the care-home shift and staffing patterns. The social norm of early bedtimes in care homes also influenced the independent residents. It is argued that the current system in care homes of approximately 12-hour night shifts, during which staff ratios are far lower than in the daytime, promotes an overly long ‘night-time’ and curbs residents' choices about the times at which they go to bed and get up, particularly for the most dependent residents. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the amount of time that care-home residents spend in bed at night, focusing on how residents' bedtimes and getting-up times are managed. Using a mixed-methods approach, diary data were collected over 14 days from 125 residents in ten care homes in South East England. The findings indicate that residents spent, on average, nearly 11 hours in bed at night, significantly more time than was spent sleeping. There was greater variance in the amount of time residents who needed assistance spent in bed than there was for independent residents. Detailed investigation of six care homes, each with 8 pm to 8 am night shifts, showed that bedtimes and getting-up times for dependent residents were influenced by the staff's shift patterns. Analysis of qualitative interviews with 38 residents highlighted a lack of resident choice about bedtimes and many compromises by the residents to fit in with the care-home shift and staffing patterns. The social norm of early bedtimes in care homes also influenced the independent residents. It is argued that the current system in care homes of approximately 12-hour night shifts, during which staff ratios are far lower than in the daytime, promotes an overly long 'night-time' and curbs residents' choices about the times at which they go to bed and get up, particularly for the most dependent residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the accuracy and appropriateness of auscultatory (manual) and oscillometric (automated) devices for measuring blood pressure in clinical settings. Accurate measurement of blood pressure is integral to early recognition of deterioration in the condition of a patient. Despite recommendations regarding the use of auscultatory devices in situations where treatment decisions are made dependent on blood readings, the use of automated machines is becoming common practice. Systematic review. A search of the Medline, CINAHLPlus and The Cochrane Library databases was undertaken for papers published in English between January 1997-May 2009. Sixteen studies were identified that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After quality assessment, all were included in the review. Results are presented in tabular and narrative form. In 10 of the studies reviewed, the authors came to the conclusion that oscillometric devices were less accurate than auscultatory devices. However, in most cases the oscillometric device appears sufficiently accurate for clinical use, the exceptions being use with hypertensive patients, patients with arrhythmia and after trauma. Only two studies assessed the comparative accuracy of aneroid devices, and these indicated that they were more accurate than oscillometric devices, but the differences were not clinically important. There are situations where the substitution of oscillometric for auscultatory devices could have particularly serious repercussions for the patient, such as when the patient is either hypertensive or hypotensive. However, further research is required on the use of aneroid sphygmomanometers as a replacement for mercury devices. Practitioners should be made aware of the need to use auscultatory devices in specific circumstances, such as in management of hypertension, after the patient has experienced trauma or where there is significant potential for deterioration in the patient's condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: During late December 2004 and early January 2005 the plankton community to the south and west of South Georgia was investigated. Satellite imagery had shown the surface expression of a bloom over the southern shelf 1 month prior to the cruise, although by the time of sampling a well-defined sub-surface chl-a maximum was evident at 26 of the 57 stations located mainly at the western end of the southern shelf (and the bloom was declining). Nonetheless, integrated chl-a was still greater over the shelf than elsewhere (18–362mgm−2). Macronutrient distributions essentially mirrored the distribution of chl-a biomass, with depletion greatest in the on-shelf waters at the western end of South Georgia, where the most intense surface bloom had occurred during the preceding November. Nearest neighbour clustering of microplankton and mesozooplankton data revealed the presence of two major station groups within each analysis with broadly congruent distributions. Within the microplankton analysis a southern and western shelf grouping of 18 stations was dominated by Corethron spp., Eucampia antarctica and Thalassiothrix spp. This group corresponded spatially to a shelf zooplankton grouping (12 of the 18 stations in both groups in common) in which mesozooplankton abundance was greatest. Here small copepods such as Oithona spp. and the neritic clausocalaniid Drepanopus forcipatus dominated, along with the thecate pteropod Limacina helicina, appendicularians and calanoid copepod naupliar stages. Acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements indicated that water flow over the shelf was low and variable (<15cms−1). In contrast the largest station groups in both ordinations were distributed along the southern shelf-break and further off-shelf in water flowing rapidly (up to 55cms−1) to the southeast. Nitzschia spp., Pseudonitzschia spp., and Fragilariopsis kerguelensis were abundant here, and the zooplankton, in addition to Oithona spp., was characterized by Metridia spp., Ctenocalanus spp., Oncaea spp., and the polychaete Pelagobia longicirrata. A third group of 13 stations disclosed by the mesoplankton ordination was confined to the north and west and generally comprised outer shelf stations in deeper waters. Here zooplankton abundance was less than in the adjacent major station groupings, although Calanus simillimus was considerably more abundant than in other groups. Relationships of both micro- and zooplankton ordinations with environmental variables were modest (Spearman rank correlation, ρw=0.49–0.59), albeit complex, with interactions likely to have occurred over different timescales. High levels of ammonium over the shelf, probably resulting from microbial breakdown and zooplankton excretion, contributed most to explaining both ordinations, along with the Si(OH)4:NO3 deficit ratio, a measure of past nutrient use. Model output from Ocean Circulation and Climate Advanced Modelling (OCCAM) supported ADCP-derived flow measurements. Specifically, release of particles along a transect to the southwest suggested there was an extended residence time (in excess of 3 months) over the southern shelf and a slow but significant northwards transport into the Georgia Basin. The spatial extent of the shelf and the current speed and direction implied that in situ production was locally important and had the potential to contribute significantly to downstream ecosystems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Technology-based interventions provide an attractive option for improving service provision for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), for example, widening access to interventions, objective assessment, and monitoring; however, it is unclear whether there is sufficient evidence to support their use in clinical settings. This review provides an evidence map describing how technology is implemented in the assessment/diagnosis and monitoring/ treatment of NDD (Prospero CRD42018091156). Using predefined search terms in six databases, 7982 articles were identified, 808 full-texts were screened, resulting in 47 included papers. These studies were appraised and synthesised according to the following outcomes of interest: effectiveness (clinical effectiveness/ service delivery efficiencies), economic impact, and user impact (acceptability/ feasibility). The findings describe how technology is currently being utilised clinically, highlights gaps in knowledge, and discusses future research needs. Technology has been used to facilitate assessment and treatment across multiple NDD, especially Autism Spectrum (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) disorders. Technologies include mobile apps/tablets, robots, gaming, computerised tests, videos, and virtual reality. The outcomes presented largely focus on the clinical effectiveness of the technology, with approximately half the papers demonstrating some degree of effectiveness, however, the methodological quality of many studies is limited. Further research should focus on randomised controlled trial designs with longer follow-up periods, incorporating an economic evaluation, as well as qualitative studies including process evaluations and user impact. • Technology has been used clinically across multiple neurodevelopmental disorders. • Many studies show clinical effectiveness, but some have poor quality ratings. • Both healthcare and service users hold largely positive views about technology. • More research on service delivery efficiencies and cost-savings is required. • More collaboration between clinicians, academics, patients and industry is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]