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Urban soils are prone to accumulating metals over time. This is caused by the proximity of urban soils to roads and industry, among other sources. In Europe, many urban areas show metal enrichment linked to anthropogenic activity. The public are in contact with urban soils on a regular basis. This potentially has adverse effects on human health, especially in locations with enrichment of metals that are systemic toxicants, such as As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb. Despite this, most European countries lack dedicated policy on urban soils. In Ireland, data on urban soil metals exist for only two urban centres (Dublin and Galway), both of which show anthropogenic enrichment of metals. Cork city is an ideal target for study of urban soil metals because its history includes over 200 years of industrial development, and its urban parks include former brownfield and industrial sites. Here, we measured concentrations of urban soil metals for ten sites in Cork city using a portable XRF (X-ray fluorescence) analyser. In addition, two sites were selected for ICP-MS analysis in order to provide an independent test of the accuracy of the XRF data. Our results show that at all ten Cork sites, Pb is highly enriched in soils, with concentrations up to ten times greater than natural background levels. Fe, Mn and Zn are moderately enriched at each of the ten sites, with concentrations typically between two to five times natural background levels. Metal concentrations are systematically higher at sites in the city centre than suburban sites. These patterns of metal enrichment are similar to those seen in urban soils elsewhere in Europe. Future EU policy is essential for the assessment of urban soils and for the remediation of contaminated sites. This research has already helped to inform the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Government of Ireland Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to help facilitate the implementation of data-driven legislation. It is anticipated that a relevant soil policy will come into effect in the coming years, which will aid the assessment and remediation of contaminated urban soils across Ireland.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Bobath therapy, or neurodevelopmental therapy (NDT) is widely practiced despite evidence other interventions are more effective in cerebral palsy (CP). The objective is to determine the efficacy of NDT in children and infants with CP or high risk of CP. METHODS Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Medline were searched through March 2021. Randomized controlled trials comparing NDT with any or no intervention were included. Meta-analysis was conducted with standardized mean differences calculated. Quality was assessed by using Cochrane Risk of Bias tool-2 and certainty by using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. RESULTS Of 667 records screened, 34 studies (in 35 publications, 1332 participants) met inclusion. Four meta-analyses were conducted assessing motor function. We found no effect between NDT and control (pooled effect size 0.13 [−0.20 to 0.46]), a moderate effect favoring activity-based approaches (0.76 [0.12 to 1.40]) and body function and structures (0.77 [0.19 to 1.35]) over NDT and no effect between higher- and lower-dose NDT (0.32 [−0.11 to 0.75]). A strong recommendation against the use of NDT at any dose was made. Studies were not all Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials-compliant. NDT versus activity-based comparator had considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 80%) reflecting varied measures. CONCLUSIONS We found that activity-based and body structure and function interventions are more effective than NDT for improving motor function, NDT is no more effective than control, and higher-dose NDT is not more effective than lower-dose. Deimplementation of NDT in CP is required.

Colour patterning in extant animals can be used as a reliable indicator of their biology and, in extant fish, can inform on feeding strategy. Fossil fish with preserved colour patterns may thus illuminate the evolution of fish behaviour and community structure, but are understudied. Here we report preserved melanin-based integumentary colour patterning and internal anatomy of the fossil moonfish

Remarkably well-preserved soft tissues in Mesozoic fossils have yielded substantial insights into the evolution of feathers(1). New evidence of branched feathers in pterosaurs suggests that feathers originated in the avemetatarsalian ancestor of pterosaurs and dinosaurs in the Early Triassic(2), but the homology of these pterosaur structures with feathers is controversial(3,4). Reports of pterosaur feathers with homogeneous ovoid melanosome geometries(2,5) suggest that they exhibited limited variation in colour, supporting hypotheses that early feathers functioned primarily in thermoregulation(6). Here we report the presence of diverse melanosome geometries in the skin and simple and branched feathers of a tapejarid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous found in Brazil. The melanosomes form distinct populations in different feather types and the skin, a feature previously known only in theropod dinosaurs, including birds. These tissue-specific melanosome geometries in pterosaurs indicate that manipulation of feather colour-and thus functions of feathers in visual communication-has deep evolutionary origins. These features show that genetic regulation of melanosome chemistry and shape(7-9) was active early in feather evolution. This work was funded by a Fonds National pour la Recherche Scientifique (F.R.S.-FNRS) FRIA grant (F3/5/5-MCF/ROI/BC-2319784), an Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowship (GOIPD/2018/768) awarded to A.C. and an ERC Starting Grant H2020-2014-StG-637691-ANICOLEVO and an ERC Consolidator Grant H2020-2020-CoG-101003293-PALAEOCHEM awarded to M.N. We thank M. Benton for providing the original data and code used in the phylogenetic reconstruction2, Z. Yang for providing raw melanosome measurements used to compare melanosome geometry in pterosaurs and J. Cillis for assistance with SEM. MCT.R.1884 was photographed by T. Hubin (RBINS).

The geosciences are an undeniably male-dominated sector (80/20 male/female in 2008). This has led to a loss of female talent and lack of diversity within the sector. Retention of female students in the geosciences is highest where students can identify with same gender career/industry leaders (Hernandez et al., Geosphere, Vol. 14,6, 2018), yet with few obvious female role models, poor female student retention has become a self-perpetuating problem. Girls into Geoscience was instigated in Plymouth in 2014 to interrupt this cycle. Girls around the ages of 16-17 and with any level of geoscience knowledge were invited to Plymouth to be introduced to the subject by leading females in the geoscience field. The annual event has proven so successful that it has now been taken up in Ireland.Girls into Geoscience – Ireland (GiGie) is now at the end of its second year, having run three successful events across Ireland. GiGie has taken the form of day-long events which incorporate workshops, talks, networking and field-trip style elements. These events have been hosted in academic institutions and rotate annually to reach multiple areas of Ireland which often have limited access to STEM activities. So far, events have been hosted in Cork, Galway and Dublin. 100% of participants at the Cork event fed back that they were more likely to study geoscience, and similarly 83% of participants in Galway were now more likely to consider studying geosciences. 100% of Galway participants also had an increased understanding of geoscience careers, which is important considering the negative perceptions that are commonly attributed to careers in the geosciences. Suggestions from the events in Cork and Galway led us to incorporate a field-trip style element to the day, which was run for the first time in Dublin. The future of GiGie is bright. A planned expansion of the programme could lead to its most successful year yet. Across in the UK, expansion is also in action with further events taking place in Scotland, and a junior event being developed in Leicester. Gender balance is far from equal yet, but change is happening. We look forward to seeing Girls into Geoscience flourish.“I loved (that) it was for girls. (It) made me feel more confident and that its possible to do science as a girl” – Participant, Cork.

Background Uptake of proven interventions requires dedicated resources that may only result in local implementation, thus precluding international practice change. We explored international uptake through online dissemination of the fever, sugar, and swallow (FeSS) protocols from the Quality in Acute Stroke Care (QASC) trial, which showed decreased death and dependency by 15.7% 90-day poststroke. Aims To identify: (a) the clinical discipline of healthcare professionals who downloaded the QASC resources; (b) the purpose for downloading; (c) successful implementation of any or all the FeSS protocols; (d) barriers to implementation; and (e) associations with self-reported successful implementation. Methods A cross-sectional, online survey of those who downloaded the QASC resources between October 2011 and August 2013. Associations between implementation and participant characteristics were determined. Results One-hundred and fifty-nine people from 21 countries participated. Nurses were the largest group to download the resources (n = 54, 38%), with the primary purpose to inform clinical practice (n = 97, 64%). Less than half (n = 77, 48%) downloaded, and less than a quarter (n = 38, 24%) attempted to implement all three protocols. Of those personally involved in implementation (n = 50) half reported doing so successfully for one or more protocols (n = 27, 54%) with 10 (20%) reporting successful implementation of all three protocols. Only about half (n = 13, 48%) used the proven implementation strategy with about one-third (n = 10, 29%) confirming successful uptake via audit. Implementation barriers were potential increase in nursing workload (n = 28, 56%) and lack of medical staff engagement (n = 27, 53%). Higher autonomy was associated with greater likelihood of implementation of all three protocols (p = .038). Linking Evidence to Action The QASC intervention required use of all three protocols. However, less than half downloaded them all and implementation was not guided by the proven implementation strategy. While encouraging that these resources were being used to drive practice change, piecemeal implementation of a proven intervention is unlikely to improve patient outcomes.

Australian government and organizational age-management policies continue to target employment participation among older workers in light of an aging population. Typically, efforts to reduce early retirement among older workers have focused on well-established factors, including the promotion of worker health, reducing injury, supporting caregivers, reducing age discrimination and enhancing skill development. This research extends on the former approach by examining established factors along with important emerging factors, namely work-life conflict, work centrality and person-job fit. Additionally, the research analyses the effects of gender and financial pressure on older workers’ employment participation and preferences. Logistic regression analysis of cross-sectional survey data involving 1,504 Australians aged 45–65, revealed that two established factors, physical health and caregiving, and all three emerging factors were associated with employment participation and preferences to be employed. However, important variations on the basis of gender and financial pressure were also identified. Caregiving was more strongly associated with the preference to remain employed for men (OR = 0.2.54, p < 0.01) than women (OR = 1.03, ns) and person-job fit was more strongly associated with the preference to remain employed for women (OR = 1.64, p < 0.001) than men (OR = 0.91, ns). Work-life conflict was more strongly associated with the preference to leave employment for those reporting limited financial pressure (OR = 0.60, p < 0.001) compared to those in poorer financial circumstances (OR = 0.87, ns). These findings suggest that organizational age management policies should focus on both established and emerging factors, particularly the provision of flexible working conditions and improving the psychosocial work environment. However, such efforts should carefully consider the different needs of men and women, and those under varying levels of financial stress. With respect to government policy to promote employment participation, the findings support a stronger focus on improving physical and psychosocial work conditions rather than increasing the pension eligibility age. This may require further collaboration between government and employers.

Work organisation has well-established associations with health. This study compares the associations of Pressure, Disorganisation and Regulatory Failure (PDR) and effort–reward imbalance (ERI) with health and well-being among older workers. Participants were 714 Australian workers aged 45–65 (56.3% female), with a mean age of 54.6 years (SD = 5.0) and a mean of 34.7 working hours per week (SD = 13.9). Hierarchical regression analyses tested the strengths of the associations of both ERI and PDR with work–life conflict and mental health. Independent variables were entered in blocks: demographic characteristics (age and gender), working hours and then ERI or PDR (measured using the four subscales: financial pressure, reward pressure, disorganisation and regulatory failure). Compared to ERI, the PDR subscales collectively accounted for slightly less variance in work–life conflict and slightly more variance in mental health. The PDR subscales also accounted for extra variance in both dependent variables when ...

Uptake of proven interventions requires dedicated resources that may only result in local implementation, thus precluding international practice change. We explored international uptake through online dissemination of the fever, sugar, and swallow (FeSS) protocols from the Quality in Acute Stroke Care (QASC) trial, which showed decreased death and dependency by 15.7% 90-day poststroke.To identify: (a) the clinical discipline of healthcare professionals who downloaded the QASC resources; (b) the purpose for downloading; (c) successful implementation of any or all the FeSS protocols; (d) barriers to implementation; and (e) associations with self-reported successful implementation.A cross-sectional, online survey of those who downloaded the QASC resources between October 2011 and August 2013. Associations between implementation and participant characteristics were determined.One-hundred and fifty-nine people from 21 countries participated. Nurses were the largest group to download the resources (n = 54, 38%), with the primary purpose to inform clinical practice (n = 97, 64%). Less than half (n = 77, 48%) downloaded, and less than a quarter (n = 38, 24%) attempted to implement all three protocols. Of those personally involved in implementation (n = 50) half reported doing so successfully for one or more protocols (n = 27, 54%) with 10 (20%) reporting successful implementation of all three protocols. Only about half (n = 13, 48%) used the proven implementation strategy with about one-third (n = 10, 29%) confirming successful uptake via audit. Implementation barriers were potential increase in nursing workload (n = 28, 56%) and lack of medical staff engagement (n = 27, 53%). Higher autonomy was associated with greater likelihood of implementation of all three protocols (p = .038).The QASC intervention required use of all three protocols. However, less than half downloaded them all and implementation was not guided by the proven implementation strategy. While encouraging that these resources were being used to drive practice change, piecemeal implementation of a proven intervention is unlikely to improve patient outcomes.

Legislation giving prominence to psychosocial risk factors at work has changed the role of government occupational health and safety (OHS) inspectors in many countries. Yet little is known about how inspectorates have responded to these changes. Between 2003 and 2007 an Australian study was undertaken on OHS standards, entailing detailed documentary analysis, interviews with 36 inspectorate managers and 89 inspectors, and observations made when researchers accompanied inspectors on 120 typical workplace visits. Our study found that general duty provisions in OHS legislation clearly incorporated psychosocial hazards and inspectorates had introduced guidance material, pursued campaigns and increased interventions in this area. However, the regulatory framework remained narrow (focused on bullying/harassment, occupational violence and work stress) and workplace visits revealed psychosocial hazards as a marginal area of inspectorate activity. These findings were reinforced in interviews. While aware of psychosocial hazards inspectors often saw the issue as problematic due to limited training, resourcing constraints, deficiencies in regulation and fears of victimisation amongst workers. In order to address these problems a number of changes are required that recognize the distinctiveness of psychosocial hazards including their ‘invisibility’. Notable here are revisions to regulation (both general duty provisions and specific codes), the development of comprehensive guidance and assessment tools to be used by inspectors, greater use of procedural enforcement, and enhanced inspectorate resourcing and training. There is also a need to recognize complex inter-linkages between psychosocial hazards and the industrial relations context.

Extensive international research points to an association between changed work arrangements, especially those commonly labelled as contingent work, with adverse occupational health and safety (OHS) outcomes. Research also indicates these work arrangements have weakened or bypassed existing OHS and workers’ compensation regulatory regimes. However, there has been little if any research into how OHS inspectors perceive these issues and how they address them during workplace visits or investigations. Between 2003 and 2007 research was undertaken that entailed detailed documentary and statistical analysis, extended interviews with 170 regulatory managers and inspectors, and observational data collected while accompanying inspectors on 118 ‘typical’ workplace visits. Key findings are that inspectors responsible for a range of industries see altered work arrangements as a serious challenge, especially labour hire (agency work) and subcontracting. Though the law imposes clear obligations, inspectors identified misunderstanding/blameshifting and poor compliance amongst parties to these arrangements. The complexity of these work arrangements also posed logistical challenges to inspectorates.

Objectives: To test the feasibility and efficacy of current guidelines for multimodal exercise programs in older adults. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Setting: Retirement village. Participants: Thirty-eight subjects (14 men and 24 women) aged 76.6 +/- 6.1. Intervention: A wait list control or 10 weeks of supervised exercise consisting of high-intensity (80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM)) progressive resistance training (PRT) 3 days per week, moderate-intensity (rating of perceived exertion 11 to 14/20) aerobic training 2 days per week, and progressive balance training 1 day per week. Measurements: Blinded assessments of dynamic muscle strength (1RM), balance, 6-minute walk, gait velocity, chair stand, stair climb, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and habitual physical activity level. Results: Higher baseline strength and psychological well-being were associated with better functional performance. Strength gains over 10 weeks averaged 39+/-31% in exercise, versus 21+/-24% in controls (P=.10), with greater improvements in hip flexion (P=.01), hip abduction (P=.02), and chest press (P=.04) in the exercise group. Strength adaptations were greatest in exercises in which the intended continuous progressive overload was achieved. Stair climb power (12.3+/-15%, P=.002) and chair stand time (-7.1+/-15%, P=.006) improved significantly and similarly in both groups. Reduction in depressive symptoms was significantly related to compliance (attendance rate r=-0.568, P=.009, PRT progression in loading r=-0.587, P=.02, and total volume of aerobic training r=-0.541, P=.01), as well as improvements in muscle strength (r=-0.498, P=.002). Conclusion: Robust physical and psychological adaptations to exercise are linked, although volumes and intensities of multiple exercise modalities sufficient to cause significant adaptation appear difficult to prescribe and adhere to simultaneously in older adults.

Call-centre workers encounter major psychosocial pressures, including high work intensity and undesirable working hours. Little is known, however, about whether these pressures vary with employment status and how they affect work-life conflict and health. Questionnaire data were collected from 179 telephone operators in Sydney, Australia, of whom 124 (69.3%) were female and 54 (30.2%) were male. Ninety-three (52%) were permanent full-time workers, 37 (20.7%) were permanent part-time, and 49 (27.4%) were casual employees. Hypothesised structural relationships between employment status, working hours and work organisation, work-life conflict and health were tested using partial least squares modelling in PLS (Chin, 1998). The final model demonstrated satisfactory fit. It supported important elements of the hypothesised structure, although four of the proposed paths failed to reach significance and the fit was enhanced by adding a path. The final model indicated that casual workers reported more variable working hours which were relatively weakly associated with greater dissatisfaction with hours. The interaction of schedule control and variability of hours also predicted dissatisfaction with hours. Conversely, permanent workers reported greater work intensity, which was associated with both lower work schedule control and greater work-life conflict. Greater work-life conflict was associated with more fatigue and psychological symptoms. Labour market factors and the undesirability of longer hours in a stressful, high-intensity work environment appear to have contributed to the results.

To test the feasibility and efficacy of current guidelines for multimodal exercise programs in older adults.Randomized, controlled trial.Retirement village.Thirty-eight subjects (14 men and 24 women) aged 76.6 +/- 6.1.A wait list control or 10 weeks of supervised exercise consisting of high-intensity (80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM)) progressive resistance training (PRT) 3 days per week, moderate-intensity (rating of perceived exertion 11 to 14/20) aerobic training 2 days per week, and progressive balance training 1 day per week.Blinded assessments of dynamic muscle strength (1RM), balance, 6-minute walk, gait velocity, chair stand, stair climb, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and habitual physical activity level.Higher baseline strength and psychological well-being were associated with better functional performance. Strength gains over 10 weeks averaged 39+/-31% in exercise, versus 21+/-24% in controls (P=.10), with greater improvements in hip flexion (P=.01), hip abduction (P=.02), and chest press (P=.04) in the exercise group. Strength adaptations were greatest in exercises in which the intended continuous progressive overload was achieved. Stair climb power (12.3+/-15%, P=.002) and chair stand time (-7.1+/-15%, P=.006) improved significantly and similarly in both groups. Reduction in depressive symptoms was significantly related to compliance (attendance rate r=-0.568, P=.009, PRT progression in loading r=-0.587, P=.02, and total volume of aerobic training r=-0.541, P=.01), as well as improvements in muscle strength (r=-0.498, P=.002).Robust physical and psychological adaptations to exercise are linked, although volumes and intensities of multiple exercise modalities sufficient to cause significant adaptation appear difficult to prescribe and adhere to simultaneously in older adults.