| 1. |
- Abbott, Benjamin W., et al.
(author)
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Biomass offsets little or none of permafrost carbon release from soils, streams, and wildfire : an expert assessment
- 2016
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In: Environmental Research Letters. - : IOP Publishing. - 1748-9326. ; 11:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- As the permafrost region warms, its large organic carbon pool will be increasingly vulnerable to decomposition, combustion, and hydrologic export. Models predict that some portion of this release will be offset by increased production of Arctic and boreal biomass; however, the lack of robust estimates of net carbon balance increases the risk of further overshooting international emissions targets. Precise empirical or model-based assessments of the critical factors driving carbon balance are unlikely in the near future, so to address this gap, we present estimates from 98 permafrost-region experts of the response of biomass, wildfire, and hydrologic carbon flux to climate change. Results suggest that contrary to model projections, total permafrost-region biomass could decrease due to water stress and disturbance, factors that are not adequately incorporated in current models. Assessments indicate that end-of-the-century organic carbon release from Arctic rivers and collapsing coastlines could increase by 75% while carbon loss via burning could increase four-fold. Experts identified water balance, shifts in vegetation community, and permafrost degradation as the key sources of uncertainty in predicting future system response. In combination with previous findings, results suggest the permafrost region will become a carbon source to the atmosphere by 2100 regardless of warming scenario but that 65%-85% of permafrost carbon release can still be avoided if human emissions are actively reduced.
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| 2. |
- Grellet, Sylvain, et al.
(author)
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OGC Borehole Interoperability Experiment Engineering Report
- 2020
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This document reports on an exercise involving several government organizations, private companies, and academics trying to harmonize various representations of boreholes into acommon model. Boreholes are widely used in geoscience and engineering to probe and assess the underground, and all those communities (custodians, vendors, distributors, etc.) model this information differently. This heterogeneity becomes a problem when information from various sources needs to be aggregated. On the other hand, different communities use boreholes,therefore, different models are expected to address different use cases. This experiment looked at solutions to harmonize core aspects of boreholes while recognizing domain specific models. This exercise resulted in a tentative model, examples and recommendations for next steps. Those steps include the recommendation for OGC to support the creation of a Borehole Standards Working Group (SWG) to formalize the core borehole model (BoreholeML (BhML)) as anofficial standard.Future work should include expanding the scope of the draft borehole model presented here and co-ordinate with ongoing OGC Geoscience standards for geology and hydrogeology to ensure that those standards can operate together. It also includes working with existing standard custodians to produce BhML-compliant version of their existing borehole standards.Generic information describing the Borehole (who, how, when, etc.) and the other aspects that describe a Borehole (e.g. construction, monitoring, management areas, etc.) are required butwere excluded from this IE. Many of these are already summarized in pre-existing models. This semantic enrichment should be undertaken by a second Borehole IE or a SWG.This report includes several XML Instance Documents that conform to a draft BhML XML Schema. These are contained in the various ER Annexes as well as from the Borehole IE GitHub repository (https://github.com/opengeospatial/boreholeie/). Where appropriate, the report references the corresponding GitHub content.
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| 3. |
- Sathish, Thirunavukkarasu, et al.
(author)
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Cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-led lifestyle intervention program : study protocol for the Kerala diabetes prevention program.
- 2013
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In: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: India currently has more than 60 million people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and this is predicted to increase by nearly two-thirds by 2030. While management of those with T2DM is important, preventing or delaying the onset of the disease, especially in those individuals at 'high risk' of developing T2DM, is urgently needed, particularly in resource-constrained settings. This paper describes the protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a peer-led lifestyle intervention program to prevent diabetes in Kerala, India.METHODS/DESIGN: A total of 60 polling booths are randomised to the intervention arm or control arm in rural Kerala, India. Data collection is conducted in two steps. Step 1 (Home screening): Participants aged 30-60 years are administered a screening questionnaire. Those having no history of T2DM and other chronic illnesses with an Indian Diabetes Risk Score value of ≥60 are invited to attend a mobile clinic (Step 2). At the mobile clinic, participants complete questionnaires, undergo physical measurements, and provide blood samples for biochemical analysis. Participants identified with T2DM at Step 2 are excluded from further study participation. Participants in the control arm are provided with a health education booklet containing information on symptoms, complications, and risk factors of T2DM with the recommended levels for primary prevention. Participants in the intervention arm receive: (1) eleven peer-led small group sessions to motivate, guide and support in planning, initiation and maintenance of lifestyle changes; (2) two diabetes prevention education sessions led by experts to raise awareness on T2DM risk factors, prevention and management; (3) a participant handbook containing information primarily on peer support and its role in assisting with lifestyle modification; (4) a participant workbook to guide self-monitoring of lifestyle behaviours, goal setting and goal review; (5) the health education booklet that is given to the control arm. Follow-up assessments are conducted at 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome is incidence of T2DM. Secondary outcomes include behavioural, psychosocial, clinical, and biochemical measures. An economic evaluation is planned.DISCUSSION: Results from this trial will contribute to improved policy and practice regarding lifestyle intervention programs to prevent diabetes in India and other resource-constrained settings.TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12611000262909.
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| 4. |
- Abbafati, Cristiana, et al.
(author)
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- 2020
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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