Biodiversity change in the Irish uplands - the effects of grazing management

As a prominent form of land use across much of upland Europe, extensive livestock grazing may hold the key to the sustainable management of these landscapes. Recent agricultural policy reform, however, has resulted in a decline in upland sheep numbers, prompting concern for the biodiversity value of these areas. This study quantifies the effects of varying levels of grazing management on plant, ground beetle and breeding bird diversity and assemblage in the uplands and lowlands of hill sheep farms in County Kerry, Ireland. Farms represent a continuum of light to heavy grazing, measured using a series of field indicators across several habitats, such as the internationally important blanket bog, home to the ground beetle, Carabus clatratus. Linear mixed effects modelling and non-metric multidimensional scaling are employed to disentangle the most influential management and environmental factors. Grazing state may be determined by the presence of Molinia caerulea or Nardus stricta, and variables such as % traditional ewes, % vegetation litter and % scrub prove valuable indicators of diversity. Measures of ecosystem functioning, e.g. plant biomass (nutrient cycling) and % vegetation cover (erosion rates) are influenced by plant diversity, which is influenced by grazing management. Levels of the ecosystem service, soil organic carbon, vary with ground beetle abundance and diversity, potentially influencing carbon sequestration and thereby climate change. The majority of species from all three taxa are found in the lowlands, with the exception of birds such as meadow pipit and skylark. The scale of measurement should be determined by the size and mobility of the species in question. The challenge is to manage these high nature value landscapes using agri-environment schemes which enhance biodiversity by maintaining structural heterogeneity across a range of scales, altitudes and habitats whilst integrating the decisions of people living and working in these marginal areas.

'"These schemes will win for themselves the confidence of the people": Irish independence, poor law reform and hospital provision'

This article examines hospital provision in Ireland during the early twentieth century. It examines attempts by the newly independent Irish Free State to reform and de-stigmatise medical relief in former workhouse infirmaries. Such reforms were designed to move away from nineteenth century welfare regimes which were underpinned by principles of deterrence. The reform initiated in independent Ireland - the first attempted break-up of the New Poor Law in Great Britain or Ireland - was partly successful. Many of the newly named County and District Hospitals provided solely for medical cases and managed to dissociate such health care provision from the relief of poverty. However, some hospitals continued to act as multifunctional institutions and provided for various categories including the sick, the aged and infirm, 'unmarried mothers' and 'harmless lunatics'. Such institutions often remained associated with the relief of poverty. This article also examines patient fee-payment and outlines how fresh terms of entitlement and means-testing were established. Such developments were even more pronounced in voluntary hospitals where the majority of patients made a financial contribution to their treatment. The article argues that the ability to pay at times determined the type of provision, either voluntary or rate-aided, available to the sick. However, it concludes that the clinical condition of patients often determined whether they entered a more prestigious voluntary hospital or the former workhouse. Although this article concentrates on two Irish case studies, County Kerry and Cork City; it is conceptualised within wider developments with particular reference to the British context.

'The End of the Irish Poor Law?: Welfare and Healthcare Reform in Revolutionary and Independent Ireland'

This book explores welfare provision in Ireland from the revolutionary period to the 1940s, This work is a significant addition to the growing historiography of twentieth-century Ireland which moves beyond political history. It demonstrates that concepts of respectability, deservingness, and social class where central dynamics in Irish society and welfare practices. This book provides the first major study of local welfare practices, policies, and attitudes towards poverty and the poor in this era.

This book’s exploration of the poor law during revolutionary and independent Ireland provides fresh and original insights into this critical juncture in Irish history. It charts the transformation of the former workhouse system into a network of local authority welfare and healthcare institutions including county homes, county and hospital hospitals, and mother and baby homes. This book provides historical context to current day debates and controversies relating to the institutionalisation of unwed mothers and child welfare policies.

This book undertakes two cases studies on county Kerry and Cork city; also, Irish experiences are placed against the backdrop of wider transnational trends.

This work has multiple audiences and will appeal to those interested in Irish social, culture, economic and political history. This book will also appeal to historians of welfare, the poor law, and the social history of medicine. It also informs modern-day social affairs.

General valuation of rateable property in Ireland : valuation of the several tenements.

[1] Union: Clogher/Counties: Monaghan & Tyrone -- [2] Union: Castlerea/Counties: Roscommon & Mayo -- [3] Union: Castletowndelvin/Counties: Meath & Westmeath -- [4] Union: Cootehill/County: Cavan -- [5] Union: Clifton/County: Galway, in which is included the Island of Inishbofin in the County of Mayo -- [6] Union: Claremorris/County: Mayo -- [7] Union: Cootehill/County: Managhan -- [8] Union: Clones/(Part of) County: Monaghan -- [9] Union: Ardee/Counties: Louth & Meath -- [10] Union: Bailieborough/County: Cavan -- [11] Union: Ballina/Counties: Mayo & Sligo -- [12] Union: Ballinasloe/County: Roscommon -- [13] Union: Ballinrobe/County: Mayo -- [14] Union: Ballymahon/Counties: Longford & Westmeath -- [15] Union: Ballymahon/County: Westmeath -- [16] Union: Ballyshannon/County: Donegal -- [17] Union: Ballyshannon/County: Leitrim -- [18] Union: Ballyvaghan/County: Clare -- [19] Union: Baltinglass/County: Wicklow -- [20] Unions: Bandon & Kinsale/County: Cork -- [21] Union: Bawnboy/County: Cavan -- [22] Union: Bawnboy/County: Leitrim -- [23] Union: Belmullet/County: Mayo -- [24] Union: Carrick-on-Shannon/County: Roscommon -- [25] Union: Carrickmacross/County: Monaghan -- [26] Union: Castlebar/County: Mayo -- [27] Union: Castleblayney (part of)/County: Monaghan -- [28] Union: Corrofin/County: Clare -- [29] Barony: Upper Deece/County: Meath -- [30] Barony: Cork/County: Cork -- [31] Barony: Coshmore & Coshbride/County: Waterford -- [32] Barony: Trough/County: Monaghan -- [33] Union: Donegal/County: Donegal -- [34] Union: Drogheda/Counties: Louth & Meath -- [35] Union: Dromore, West/County: Sligo -- [36] Union: Dunfanaghy/County: Donegal -- [37] Unions: Cahersiveen, Kenmare, and Killarney/County: Kerry -- [38] Barony: Dunkerron South/County: Kerry -- [39] Union: Dunshaughlin/County: Meath -- [40] Union: Edenderry/County: Meath -- [41] Union: Edenderry/County: Kildare -- [42] Union: Edenderry/King's County -- [43] Union: Enniskillen/County: Cavan -- [44] Union: Ennistimon/County: Clare -- [45] Barony: Glenahiry/County: Waterford -- [46] Union: Gort/Counties: Galway & Clare -- [47] Union: Granard/County: Longford -- [48] Union: Granard/County: Westmeath -- [49] Barony: Iffa & Offa West/County: Tipperary -- [50] Barony: Imokilly/County: Cork -- [51] Union: Kells/County: Meath -- [52] Barony: Kenry/County: Limerick -- [53] Barony: Kerrycurrihy/County: Cork -- [54] Barony: Kilculliheen/County: Waterford -- [55] Union: Killadysert/County: Clare -- [56] Union: Killala/County: Mayo -- [57] Union: Letterkenny/County: Donegal -- [58] Union: Limerick/County: Limerick -- [59] Union: Longford/County: Longford -- [60] Barony: Magunihy/County: Kerry -- [61] Unions: Mallow & Cork/County: Cork -- [62] Union: Manorhamilton/County: Leitrim -- [63] Union: Millford/County: Donegal -- [64] Union: Mountbellew/County: Galway -- [65] Union: Naas/County: Wicklow -- [66] Union: Navan/County: Meath -- [67] Union: Newport/County: Mayo -- [68] Union: Oldcastle/County: Meath -- [69] Barony: Upper Ormond/County: Tipperary, North Riding -- [70] Barony: Orrery & Kilmore/County: Cork -- [71] Union: Oughterard/ Counties: Galway & Mayo together with that portion of the Union of Ballinrobe in the County of Galway -- [72] Union: Portumna/County: Galway -- [73] Barony: Rathdown/County: Wicklow -- [74] Barony: Salt/County: Kildare -- [75] Barony: South Salt/County: Kildare -- [76] Union: Scarriff/Counties: Clare & Galway -- [77] Union: Shillelagh/County: Wicklow -- [78] Union: Stranorlar/County: Donegal -- [79] Union: Tobercurry/County: Sligo -- [80] Union: Trim/County: Meath -- [81] Barony: Trughanacmy/County: Kerry -- [82] Barony: Upperthird/County: Waterford -- [83] Union: Wexford/County: Wexford -- [84] Barony: Castleknock/County: Dublin -- [85] Barony: Balrothery, East/County: Dublin -- [86] Barony: Newcastle/County: Dublin -- [87] City of Dublin, North Dublin Union, Arran Quay Ward -- [88] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, Fitzwilliam Ward -- [89] City of Dublin, North Dublin Union, Inns Quay Ward -- [90] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, Mansion House Ward -- [91] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, Merchants' Quay Ward -- [92] City of Dublin, North Dublin Union, Mountjoy Ward -- [93] City of Dublin, North Dublin Union, North Dock Ward -- [94] City of Dublin, North Dublin Union, North City Ward -- [95] City of Dublin, North Dublin Union, Rotundo Ward -- [96] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, Royal Exchange Ward -- [97] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, South City Ward -- [98] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, South Dock Ward -- [99] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, Trinity Ward -- [100] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, Usher's Quay Ward -- [101] City of Dublin, South Dublin Union, Wood Quay Ward.

Monitoring and modelling the morphodynamic evolution of a breached barrier beach system

Predicting the evolution of a coastal cell requires the identification of the key drivers of morphology. Soft coastlines are naturally dynamic but severe storm events and even human intervention can accelerate any changes that are occurring. However, when erosive events such as barrier breaching occur with no obvious contributory factors, a deeper understanding of the underlying coastal processes is required. Ideally conclusions on morphological drivers should be drawn from field data collection and remote sensing over a long period of time. Unfortunately, when the Rossbeigh barrier beach in Dingle Bay, County Kerry, began to erode rapidly in the early 2000’s, eventually leading to it breaching in 2008, no such baseline data existed. This thesis presents a study of the morphodynamic evolution of the Inner Dingle Bay coastal system. The study combines existing coastal zone analysis approaches with experimental field data collection techniques and a novel approach to long term morphodynamic modelling to predict the evolution of the barrier beach inlet system. A conceptual model describing the long term evolution of Inner Dingle Bay in 5 stages post breaching was developed. The dominant coastal processes driving the evolution of the coastal system were identified and quantified. A new methodology of long term process based numerical modelling approach to coastal evolution was developed. This method was used to predict over 20 years of coastal evolution in Inner Dingle Bay. On a broader context this thesis utilised several experimental coastal zone data collection and analysis methods such as ocean radar and grain size trend analysis. These were applied during the study and their suitability to a dynamic coastal system was assessed.

Development priority zoning (DPZ)-led scenario simulation for regional land use change : the case of Suichang County, China

China has experienced an extraordinary level of economic development since the 1990s, following excessive competition between different regions. This has resulted in many resource and environmental problems. Land resources, for example, are either abused or wasted in many regions. The strategy of development priority zoning (DPZ), proposed by the Chinese National 11th Five-Year Plan, provides an opportunity to solve these problems by coordinating regional development and protection. In line with the rational utilization of land, it is proposed that the DPZ strategy should be integrated with regional land use policy. As there has been little research to date on this issue, this paper introduces a system dynamic (SD) model for assessing land use change in China led by the DPZ strategy. Land use is characterized by the prioritization of land development, land utilization, land harness and land protection (D-U-H-P). By using the Delphi method, a corresponding suitable prioritization of D-U-H-P for the four types of DPZ, including optimized development zones (ODZ), key development zones (KDZ), restricted development zones (RDZ), and forbidden development zones (FDZ) are identified. Suichang County is used as a case study in which to conduct the simulation of land use change under the RDZ strategy. The findings enable a conceptualization to be made of DPZ-led land use change and the identification of further implications for land use planning generally. The SD model also provides a potential tool for local government to combine DPZ strategy at the national level with land use planning at the local level.

One-year delayed effect of fog on malaria transmission : a time-series analysis in the rain forest area of Mengla County, south-west China

Background: Malaria is a major public health burden in the tropics with the potential to significantly increase in response to climate change. Analyses of data from the recent past can elucidate how short-term variations in weather factors affect malaria transmission. This study explored the impact of climate variability on the transmission of malaria in the tropical rain forest area of Mengla County, south-west China. Methods: Ecological time-series analysis was performed on data collected between 1971 and 1999. Auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models were used to evaluate the relationship between weather factors and malaria incidence. Results: At the time scale of months, the predictors for malaria incidence included: minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and fog day frequency. The effect of minimum temperature on malaria incidence was greater in the cool months than in the hot months. The fog day frequency in October had a positive effect on malaria incidence in May of the following year. At the time scale of years, the annual fog day frequency was the only weather predictor of the annual incidence of malaria. Conclusion: Fog day frequency was for the first time found to be a predictor of malaria incidence in a rain forest area. The one-year delayed effect of fog on malaria transmission may involve providing water input and maintaining aquatic breeding sites for mosquitoes in vulnerable times when there is little rainfall in the 6-month dry seasons. These findings should be considered in the prediction of future patterns of malaria for similar tropical rain forest areas worldwide.

Book review: "Qualitative Health Psychology. Theories and Methods" Michael Murray and Kerry Chamberlain (Eds.)

Qualitative Health Psychology aims to contribute to the debate about the nature of psychology and of science through ‘an examination of the role of qualitative research within health psychology’ (p. 3). The editors, in bringing together contributors from the UK, Ireland, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia, have compiled a text that reflects different uses of qualitative health research in diverse social and cultural contexts. Structured into three parts, the book encompasses key theoretical and methodological issues in qualitative research in its attempt to encourage broad epistemological debate within health psychology.

An Analysis of Cancer Patients' Survival and Influent Factors from 1993 to 1999 in Linqu County, Shandong Province [山东省临朐县1993~1999年恶性肿瘤患者的生存率及其影响因素分析]

To understand the survival status of cancer patients and influencing factors, an analysis was undertaken using data of 6450 cancer patients living in Linqu County, Shandong, diagnosed between 1993 and 1999. Survival rates were calculated using life table method with SAS 9.0 software. Overall 1-5 year survival rates for all patients were 53.16%, 28.65%, 21.57%, 18.36% and 17.87%, respectively. Cancers with a 5-year survival rate over 25% included ovarium, breast, uterus, stomach and colorectal cancers. Cancers with a 5-year survival lower than 10% were cancers on liver, cervical, lung and bones.Survival rates differed significantly across gender, age of onset, economic status, year of diagnosis and evidence of diagnosis. Patients' economic status, age of diagnosis and year of diagnosis seem to have strong effects on survival. [目的] 了解临朐县恶性肿瘤患者生存现状,探讨影响生存率的因素. [方法] 对临朐县1993～1999年发病的6450例肿瘤患者的生存资料进行分析,利用SAS9.0软件寿命表法计算生存率. [结果] 临朐县1993～1999年的恶性肿瘤患者1～5年生存率分别为53.16%、28.65%、21.57%、18.36%和17.87%,5年生存率超过25%的恶性肿瘤有卵巢癌、乳腺癌、宫体癌、胃癌、结直肠癌,5年生存率低于10%的有肝癌、宫颈癌、肺癌、骨恶性肿瘤.不同性别、发病年龄、经济状况、诊断时间和诊断依据的恶性肿瘤生存率有显著性差异. [结论] 患者经济条件、诊断年龄和诊断时间影响恶性肿瘤生存率.

An analysis on trend of malignancies incidence and mortality in Linqu County, Shandong Province [山东省临朐县恶性肿瘤发病与 死亡趋势分析]

Purpose To investigate the trend of malignancies incidence and mortality in Linqu county, and to provide scientific evidence for the government to design and adjust polices on cancer prevention and control. [Methods] The cancer registration data of new cases from 1995 to 2004 and death cases from 1998 to 2004 were used to analyse the incidence and mortality and the trend in Linqu county. Results Cancer general incidence significantly increased from 1995 to 2004 (P<0.05). The increasing speed incidence in male was faster than that in female. The incidence of lung cancer, colon/rectum cancer and pancreas cancer increased significantly (P<0.05), especially of lung cancer with an acceleration incidence rate of 2.12/100,000 peryear in average. The general mortality increased gradually from 1998 to 2004 with no significance (P>0.05). Both incidence and mortality in population aged 80 or over increased significantly (P<0.05). Conclusion The cancer incidence is rising during recent 10 years , and the prevention and control for lung cancer are getting increasingly important. [目的] 了解临朐县恶性肿瘤发病与死亡趋势,为政府制订和调整防治对策提供科学依据. [方法] 利用临朐县1995～2004年恶性肿瘤发病登记资料和1998～2004年的死亡登记资料,计算各种癌症发病率和死亡率,并做趋势分析. [结果] 1995～2004年临朐县恶性肿瘤总发病率呈明显上升趋势(P＜0.05),男性发病率上升速度高于女性.肺癌、肠癌、胰腺癌发病率上升显著(P＜0.05),以肺癌最为迅速(年均升高2.12/10万).1998～2004年恶性肿瘤总死亡率略有上升,但无显著性(P＞0.05);80岁及以上人群恶性肿瘤发病率与死亡率均呈上升趋势. [结论] 临朐县恶性肿瘤发病率近10年来呈现上升趋势,肺癌防治地位日益突出.