Linking soils and human health: geospatial analysis of ground-sampled soil data in relation to community-level podoconiosis data in North West Cameroon.

Background: Podoconiosis is a form of leg swelling, which arises when individuals are exposed over time to red clay soil formed from alkaline volcanic rock. The exact causal agent of the disease is unknown. This study investigates associations between podoconiosis disease data and ground-sampled soil data from North West Cameroon.

Remote mapping of foodscapes using sUAS and a low cost BG-NIR sensor.

The assessment of landscape condition for large herbivores, also known as foodscapes, is fast gaining interest in conservation and landscape management programs worldwide. Although traditional approaches are now being replaced by satellite imagery, several technical issues still need to be addressed before full standardization of remote sensing methods for these purposes. We present a low-cost method, based on the use of a modified blue/green/near-infrared (BG-NIR) camera housed on a small-Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS), to create foodscapes for a generalist Mediterranean ungulate: the Iberian Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) in Northeast Spain.

Designing an eHealth Breastfeeding Resource With Indigenous Families Using a Participatory Design.

Introduction: The traditional practice of breastfeeding has been negatively affected by the historical trauma experienced by the Canadian Indigenous community. Culturally relevant information and support should be created to enable the communities to reclaim this traditionally revered infant feeding method. The objective of this participatory design study was to work in partnership with Indigenous communities to create an eHealth breastfeeding resource for Indigenous families.

Understanding 'saturation' of radar signals over forests.

There is an urgent need to quantify anthropogenic influence on forest carbon stocks. Using satellite-based radar imagery for such purposes has been challenged by the apparent loss of signal sensitivity to changes in forest aboveground volume (AGV) above a certain 'saturation' point. The causes of saturation are debated and often inadequately addressed, posing a major limitation to mapping AGV with the latest radar satellites.

Modeling Aboveground Biomass in Hulunber Grassland Ecosystem by Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Discrete Lidar.

Accurate canopy structure datasets, including canopy height and fractional cover, are required to monitor aboveground biomass as well as to provide validation data for satellite remote sensing products. In this study, the ability of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) discrete light detection and ranging (lidar) was investigated for modeling both the canopy height and fractional cover in Hulunber grassland ecosystem. The extracted mean canopy height, maximum canopy height, and fractional cover were used to estimate the aboveground biomass.

A macroecological analysis of SERA derived forest heights and implications for forest volume remote sensing.

Individual trees have been shown to exhibit strong relationships between DBH, height and volume. Often such studies are cited as justification for forest volume or standing biomass estimation through remote sensing. With resolution of common satellite remote sensing systems generally too low to resolve individuals, and a need for larger coverage, these systems rely on descriptive heights, which account for tree collections in forests.

A practical method for monitoring general practice mortality in the UK: findings from a pilot study in a health board of Northern Ireland.

Background: The Baker report into Dr Harold Shipman's murders recommended monitoring mortality in general practice, but there is currently no practical method available to implement this.

Aim: To monitor mortality rates in response to the Baker report and to use the data to improve quality of care.

Design Of Study: Prospective mortality monitoring study.

A pilot study of a randomised trial of cognitive analytical therapy vs educational behavioral therapy for adult anorexia nervosa.

The aim of this study was to compare two forms of outpatient treatment, educational behavioural treatment and cognitive analytical therapy for adult anorexia nervosa. Thirty patients were randomly allocated to the two treatments. At one year, the group had gained 6.

[Complications from physiological and rate responsive pacemaker implantations].

One hundred eighteen surgical complications of 209 patients underwent 249 physiological and rate responsive pacemaker implantations are discussed. In 27.9% of total complications represented the dislodgement of atrial leads occurred particularly in the early period of the observation time which decreased significantly later in the second period of the survey.