Activity In Scotland Research Articles

S01-1: A systems-based approach to physical activity in Scotland: A framework for national and local action

S01-1: A systems-based approach to physical activity in Scotland: A framework for national and local action

1609: A review assessing the impact of COVID-19 on radiotherapy activity in Scotland, 2 years post-COVID

1609: A review assessing the impact of COVID-19 on radiotherapy activity in Scotland, 2 years post-COVID

George Montagu (1753–1815): travels in Scotland and his Scottish bird specimens

George Montagu (1753–1815) is remembered particularly for his Ornithological dictionary (1802), Testacea Britannica (1803) and his Supplement to the Ornithological dictionary (1813), the works which helped establish his reputation as an astute and competent naturalist. His studies were mainly carried out in southern England, particularly in Wiltshire and Devon, but he travelled widely in Britain and Ireland during his military career. Montagu himself recorded that he had been at Dumbarton, Inverness, Loch Lomond and Mull, but his activities in Scotland in the early 1770s and early 1780s are otherwise not well recorded, there being no dates attached to his observations or specimens. An examination of the 15th Regiment of Foot’s muster rolls has shed some light upon his movements and helps clarify certain aspects of his life, including his elopement. Montagu’s Scottish bird specimens, whether he shot them himself or acquired them from other sources, are of special significance as they are amongst the oldest held in the Natural History Museum at Tring.

Development of a computable general equilibrium model based on integrated macroeconomic framework for ocean multi-use between offshore wind farms and fishing activities in Scotland

The rapid development of offshore wind farms (OWFs) has raised concerns about the increasing conflicts and synergies with existing marine activities, especially the traditional fishery industry, from socioeconomic and environmental perspectives. Quantifying the conflicts and synergies require frameworks that can consider environment and economic systems simultaneously. This study builds on and extends a well-established computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to incorporate a natural capital and ecosystem service into the modelling framework, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the two-way interactions between the economy and natural environment. Our results suggest that expansion of OWFs has significant negative impacts on the seafood sectors, whereas fish stocks benefit slightly as fewer fish are harvested. Moreover, the increase in fish stocks due to the closed areas and artificial reef effect could bring benefits to the fishing sector, and pass onto the wider economy. The combined impacts of expansion of OWFs and increased fish stock demonstrate the potential benefits of multi-use of marine spaces by the OWFs and fishing activities. This modelling approach provides an illustration of the potential and importance of incorporating natural capital into CGE models in practice, which could be used for policy making regarding marine renewable energy and sustainable development planning in the marine environment.

320 The Initial Impact Of COVID-19 On Paediatric Spinal Services Across Scotland

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has meant a significant decline in the activities of the paediatric spinal services in Scotland.MethodAll referrals to the Scottish paediatrics spinal service from 1st January 2020 to 30th June 2020 were analysed. Comparison was made to the same period in 2019. All orthotist initial consultations and all paediatrics spinal theatre activity in Scotland from 1st March 2020 to 30th June 2020 was analysed and compared to the previous year.ResultsThere was a 64.3% decline in referrals during the first wave of the pandemic in Scotland to the paediatric spinal service. The mean wait time to be seen in 1st clinic for a new referral was 6.56 weeks in 2020 compared to 10.94 in 2019. There were however 60 patients still waiting to be seen. The number of paediatric spinal operations declined by 34% during March to June 2020 when compared to the same months in 2019 There was a reduction of 50% of new paediatric patients seen by orthotists from March – June 2020 when compared to 2019ConclusionsCOVID-19 has had a significant effect on paediatric spinal services in Scotland. This is likely due to a combination of service delivery factors and patient factors. This is likely to result in delays to children getting the care they require for their spinal condition. There will also be a back-log of patients requiring to be seen when services start to re-establish themselves. There are several options available to department to optimise efficiency, such as video consultants and streamlining referral systems.

How might the \u2018Icelandic model\u2019 for preventing substance use among young people be developed and adapted for use in Scotland? Utilising the consolidated framework for implementation research in a qualitative exploratory study

BackgroundSubstance use among young people is a significant public health concern, particularly in Scotland. Primary prevention activities are essential in delaying young people’s substance use and reducing the harms associated with use. However, such prevention activities are generally lacking. The Icelandic Model (IM) has received increasing attention and has been associated with improvements in substance use in Iceland since the 1990s. There is interest in implementing the IM in Scotland but concerns regarding transferability. This research study aimed to address a gap in the evidence base by providing insight into stakeholders’ views of the IM in Dundee and more widely in Scotland.MethodsQualitative data were collected via semi-structured telephone interviews with 16 stakeholders. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis in NVivo, informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.ResultsParticipants were keen for more prevention activities to be delivered in Scotland and were generally supportive of the IM, given the high rates of substance use and related harm. A range of positive factors were identified, including the evidence base, the multi-component nature of the IM, and availability of current services that could be embedded into delivery. Several barriers were noted, relating to funding, the franchise model, support and buy-in and cultural differences.ConclusionsOur findings provide insight into the views of a range of stakeholders regarding the potential implementation of the IM in Scotland, and perceived barriers and facilitators. There is a desire for primary prevention activities in Scotland, driven by concerns about high rates of substance use and related harms, and a general lack of effective and evidence based prevention activities across the country. Several key barriers would need to be addressed in order for implementation to be successful, and participants were clear that initial piloting is required. Future research and evaluation is required to examine its potential and the outcomes of the approach in Scotland.

‘A home by the sea’

In 2001 excavation works undertaken in advance of quarrying at East Barns, East Lothian (NGR: NT 7121 7686), revealed the substantial remains of a robust Mesolithic house structure, securely dated to the late 9th millennium BC. The house was situated within a large, natural hollow whose gradual infilling had effectively sealed the archaeological deposits. The house consisted of a sub-circular sunken floor with the remains of a westfacing entrance and two concentric angled post rings, suggesting episodes of replacement if not actual rebuilding. The remains of interior furniture were also recorded in the form of post holes, a platform, and three probable hearth features. A charred deposit of occupation debris rich in lithics sealed many of the structural features around the internal perimeter of the house. The distribution of this deposit appeared to reflect informal refuse toss/drop zones formed during the occupation of the structure and suggests some form of internal spatial organisation.
 The house at East Barns joins an increasing group of substantial analogous sites related to Early Mesolithic activity in Scotland and northern England. These substantial house sites reflect increasing socio-economic, cultural and chronological complexity during the Mesolithic. As such the site allows provisional hypotheses to be formed about the scale and nature of Early Mesolithic social and economic adaptation around the North Sea Basin.

Views and experiences of community pharmacy team members on antimicrobial stewardship activities in Scotland: a qualitative study

Background It has been acknowledged and recognised internationally that the community pharmacy team has a major role to play in antimicrobial stewardship programmes, particularly regarding patient engagement. However, there is a paucity of published research on community pharmacy-based activities in antimicrobial stewardship, and views and perceptions of the community pharmacy team on their role in antimicrobial stewardship. Objective To explore views and experiences of community pharmacy teams across Scotland on antimicrobial stewardship, activities related to European Antibiotic Awareness Day, and a self-help guide to treating infection. Setting Community pharmacy, Scotland. Methods Qualitative, semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of community pharmacy team members over a six week period between November and December in 2016. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and data analysed thematically using the framework approach. Main outcome measure Views and perceptions of antimicrobial stewardship and European Antibiotic Awareness Day activities and role of the pharmacy team. Results Twenty-seven participants were interviewed—20 pharmacists, five pharmacy graduates completing their pre-registration year, and members of the pharmacy support team including two pharmacy technicians and one medicines counter assistant. They were working mainly in urban areas and across five regions of Scotland. Most were aware of antimicrobial stewardship but some were not familiar with the term. Participants identified roles for the community pharmacy team in antimicrobial stewardship including the importance of the pharmacy as a first port of call for self-care advice. Some participants, including pharmacists, showed lack of awareness of European Antibiotic Awareness Day; those who were aware thought it may not have the desired impact on educating the public. Most participants, irrespective of role within the team, were not familiar with the self-help guide but they perceived this as a useful resource for the pharmacy team. Conclusion The participants recognised and identified roles for the community pharmacist within antimicrobial stewardship. However, the lack of awareness of European Antibiotic Awareness Day shows a need for European Antibiotic Awareness Day tools and other materials to be more effectively disseminated and for more training to be provided.

Governance institutions and prospects for local energy innovation: laggards and leaders among UK local authorities

UK Local Authorities are increasingly declaring ‘climate emergencies’ and pledging 100% clean energy and carbon neutrality ambitions for their locality, despite lack of powers over energy systems. Our research investigates current Local Authority engagement in clean energy, and considers prospects for meso-scale innovation. The analysis allocates Local Authorities to one of four categories of engagement, from energy ‘laggards’ through to ‘leaders’, based on their energy plans and investments. Findings reveal that, despite lack of direct powers, a high proportion of Local Authorities have developed sustainable energy plans and projects, but only a minority manage to combine these into a more strategic local programme. There was proportionately greater activity in Scotland and considerable variation was found across English regions. We conclude that variation in levels of engagement relates to authority size and divisions of responsibilities between different levels of government. The capacity for Local Authority-mediated social innovation to support development of a clean UK energy system is discussed. Implications for policy include the need for a statutory power, and commensurate resources, for Local Authorities, to ensure a more comprehensive and systematic contribution to clean energy innovation.

A LOOK AT ‘PART OF SCOTLAND’ ON WILLIAM SMITH'S 1815 MAP

William Smith's 1815 geological map A Delineation of the Strata of England and Wales with Part of Scotland featured a hundred sites of economic activity in Scotland, such as lead mines, collieries and lime works. Initially, in the ‘Part of Scotland’ portion of the map, very few geological contact lines were engraved on the copper plates to guide the colourists. They would have referred to the Pattern Copy more than they needed to in England. Just three strata dominated north of the Border: ‘Killas’, ‘Red and Dunstone’, and ‘Coalmeasures’. They were mapped principally as five large tracts, following the same southwest to northeast trend Smith had observed in England. In the Midland Valley there was an equally large expanse that was uncoloured until late in the production run. Across the small sample of copies considered here, variations can be seen in the colouring of the strata. Initially this could be attributed to the scarcity of geological contact lines. After some two hundred and seventy copies had been printed, a few more geological contact lines were added, and the approximately forty subsequent copies were fully coloured. However, variations persisted through to the last copies. The colourists had to overcome problems peculiar to ‘Part of Scotland’.

Investigation of the distribution of anticoagulant rodenticide residues in red fox (Vulpes vulpes) livers to ensure optimum sampling protocol

Abstract The lobular distribution of 9 different anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) residues in the liver of a sentinel predator/scavenger i.e. the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was determined following multi-residue analysis using Ultra (High) Performance Liquid Chromatography tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The aim of the study was to address concerns that if distribution of AR residues in the liver was significantly heterogeneous, analysis of random sub-samples or finite remnants of liver could result in false negatives or lead to incorrect toxicological diagnoses. Intact livers excised from animals shot as part of routine legal pest control activities in Scotland during 2018 and 2019 were sub-sectioned and the lobular concentration of AR residues was investigated. Analysis of individual lobes from 10 different fox livers revealed that AR residues initially detected in a randomly selected small portion of liver tissue were present throughout the liver. Also, in cases where AR residues were not found in the initial randomly selected portion, they were not found in the subsequent more detailed examination. The limit of quantitation was 3 μg kg‐1 and AR residue concentrations ranged from 3 to 885 μg kg−1. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the eight and six out of ten livers that tested positive for bromadiolone and brodifacoum, respectively. No statistical evidence was found of differences in mean residue levels of bromadiolone throughout the liver i.e. within and between liver lobes. However, brodifacoum showed a statistically significant difference (p

Quantifying wildlife watchers’ preferences to investigate the overlap between recreational and conservation value of natural areas

AbstractNature‐based recreation substantially benefits human wellbeing, for example, by improving physical and mental health. However, recreation can also have severe ecological impacts. The recreational value of landscapes and natural areas is often used to generate support for public spending in conservation. However, we still don't know whether nature‐based recreationists place greater recreational value on natural areas that have high conservation value compared to other green spaces.Here, we determine which attributes of nature‐based tourism provide recreational services. We used pictures of wildlife posted on Flickr to quantify wildlife watching activities in Scotland. We then determined the environmental variables key to attracting wildlife watchers to a destination, such as protected areas (PAs), the perceived naturalness, and the presence of different types of infrastructure.Infrastructure best predicts the intensity of wildlife watching activities in Scotland, while areas of high natural value are rarely used. PAs are weak attractors of wildlife watchers, with PAs designated to protect threatened habitats or species having low recreational value. In accessible and highly visited areas, higher biodiversity increases the intensity of wildlife watching activities.Synthesis and applications. Areas of high natural and conservation value and areas of high recreational value do not tend to overlap. Recreational ecosystem services are mainly provided by the wider countryside and highly transformed landscapes, as opposed to wild ecosystems and protected areas designated to protect environmental features of high conservation value. These results question the synergy between the goals of recreation and those of conservation and the use of recreation as a justification for economic investment in conservation. During wildlife watching activities most people experience an urbanised, highly transformed nature; it is important to determine how this human‐dominated nature can influence support for conservation of wild and remote areas.

Petitioning in early seventeenth-century Scotland, 1625–51

ABSTRACTIn contrast to recent work on England and other parts of Europe, research on petitioning in early modern Scotland is still in its early stages, notably in respect of its political significance in a comparative context. This article investigates supplicatory activity in Scotland during a crucial period in which the petition came under intense scrutiny. The 1630s saw a determined attempt by King Charles I’s Scottish government to clamp down on the use of supplications to express criticism of royal policy; assertive, but carefully controlled, petitioning was one part of a resistance strategy that resulted in the downfall of the king’s regime. When a new government came to power in 1638 headed by the Covenanters, petitioning activity came to be seen as a potential challenge to their authority. Petitioning does not appear to have invoked ‘opinion’ in 1640s Scotland as has been claimed for England; the printed petition remained a rarity in Scotland. Nevertheless constitutional reform, combined with the wartime conditions of the 1640s, generated more recourse to petitioning, and the government recognized opportunities to enhance its claims to legitimate rule. A preliminary investigation of everyday petitions to the government during the 1640s shows how the narratives constructed by supplicants often sought to endorse its values and ideals, but that this type of petitioning was also used by supplicants to critique the government’s policies and hold it to its own rhetoric.

Improving the quality and impact of public health social media activity in Scotland during 2016: #ScotPublicHealth.

Social media, including Twitter, potentially provides a route to communicate public health messages to a large audience. Simple measures can boost onward broadcast to other users ('retweeting'). This study compares the impact of a structured programme of social media activity in Scotland during 2016 (using #ScotPublicHealth hashtag) with previous years. The Twitter search function was used to identify tweets between 2014 and 2016 inclusive. The first three tweets from each Twitter user were selected for each period. The number of retweets was used as a measure of impact. The quality of tweets was assessed by recording use of image, weblink (uniform resource locator or URL), mention of another Twitter user and/or hashtag, each of which have been shown to boost number of retweets. The percentage of tweets with an image, URL and/or mention of another Twitter user increased during the period of study. The percentage of tweets retweeted during Scottish Public Health conferences increased from 43% in 2014 to 70% in 2016. The volume of tweeting also increased. The quality and impact of tweets sent by the Scottish Public Health community was higher during 2016 than previous years. Conference tweeting remains an area for improvement.

P194 Cost-effectiveness of chlamydia testing in scotland

<h3>Background/introduction</h3> Scottish chlamydia testing guidelines target symptomatic and high-risk asymptomatic individuals. Recent publications, indicating a low risk of progression to serious chlamydia-related outcomes, particularly tubal factor infertility (TFI), question the validity of high levels of opportunistic testing especially among asymptomatic individuals. <h3>Aim(s)/objectives</h3> To examine cost-effectiveness of current chlamydia testing to prevent TFI among those aged 15–24 in Scotland using cost per Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) gained and to consider alternative testing strategies. <h3>Methods</h3> A compartmental deterministic model of chlamydia infection in those aged 15–24 in Scotland was developed to examine the impact of testing coverage and partner notification (PN) on number and cost of TFI cases prevented. Cost-effectiveness calculations were informed by best estimates of the QALYs lost due to TFI. <h3>Results</h3> At 16.8% baseline testing coverage (laboratory data), 4.4% prevalence (NATSAL-3) and assumed PN rate of 0.4, the total testing cost is £5.4 million. This is estimated to prevent 258 TFI cases each year in young women. The cost per QALY gained is £40,034 compared with no testing, using a mid-range health state utility value (HSUV) for TFI (0.76 (±0.24)) and PID (0.9 (±0.22)). A 50% reduction in current testing would result in higher chlamydia prevalence and 84 more TFI cases. <h3>Discussion/conclusion</h3> Current chlamydia testing activities in Scotland do not appear cost-effective. However, the model is sensitive to several parameters, particularly the HSUV and there are uncertainties in the current testing costs and progression to serious sequelae. There appears potential to improve chlamydia testing cost-effectiveness by increasing PN.

The Eclipse of Scottish Cinema

The 1990s marked the beginning of a period of unprecedented film production activity in Scotland, part of the wider outpouring of artistic expression – notably in literature, theatre and painting – that occurred in the aftermath of the 1979 Scottish Assembly debacle and which came to constitute a kind of cultural devolution in the absence of political self-determination. The ‘new Scottish cinema’ provided a steady stream of films like Rob Roy (1995), Trainspotting (1996), Small Faces (1996), Regeneration (1997), My Name is Joe (1998), Mrs Brown (1998), Orphans (1998) and Ratcatcher (1999). These were underpinned by a fledging infrastructure that included significant new sources of finance for feature development and production, short film schemes designed to develop new talent and encouragement and assistance for incoming international productions. Therefore, it is all the more disappointing that since the achievement of political devolution in 1999, this creative energy and excitement has largely dissipated with the result that there is now less funding available for Scottish film-making than in the period before the return of a parliament and executive to Edinburgh. This article explores the implications of this ‘cultural eclipse’, exploring the power of the moving image to contribute in powerful ways to national projection and identity and charting the ways in which cinematic representations of Scotland have changed and developed before considering some of the reasons why the creative energy of the 1990s was subsequently dissipated. This state of affairs is contrasted with the success of film and television in Denmark, another small European nation that has adopted a markedly more enlightened approach to policy-making and institution-building.

The British Expedition of Septimius Severus

AbstractArchaeological evidence has emerged over the last half century which helps shed light on the British expedition (a.d.208–11) of the emperor Septimius Severus and his sons, famously but meagrely reported by the historians Cassius Dio and Herodian. Excavation at the Severan supply-base at South Shields, full publication of excavations of the 1960s and 1970s at the fortress of Carpow on the Tay, and more recently at Cramond, and recent work on the indigenous societies encountered by the Romans, all offer new perspectives. The archaeological evidence is reviewed in conjunction with the historical. A critical assessment is made of: (1) the widespread belief that personal or political considerations brought Severus to Britain rather than actual need for military intervention; (2) recent claims that the fortress at Carpow was founded earlier under Commodus (a.d.180s) and abandoned even before the Severan expedition; (3) the widespread assumption that Severus wished to occupy Scotland permanently and thus be the first conqueror of the whole of Britain; (4) the prevailing view that Carpow and Cramond were abandoned and that all Roman activity in Scotland ceased abruptly on Severus’ death in February 211, and that the campaigns brought about a period of peace in third-century Britain.

The Scottish Children’s Research Network: challenges, opportunities and achievements

Although research in children can be challenging for investigators, children and their families, it is only through well-designed and ethical studies that improvements in diagnosis, disease prevention and disease management can be made. The Scottish Children’s Research Network (ScotCRN), which was established in 2006 with core funding from the Scottish Chief Scientist Office, combines the benefits of central coordination of adopted research, including clinical trials, with the advantages of practical infrastructure support at local investigator level. Close collaboration is maintained with the equivalent networks in the other three UK health administrations and with emerging equivalent networks across Europe. Access to clinical investigators and patient populations across the whole range of pediatric specialties and the young person’s advisory group provide valuable resources for potential academic and industry partners. Encouraging pediatric clinicians to participate in research and providing practical support has resulted in a significant broadening of the pediatricand child-health research base and level of activity in Scotland. Future challenges will include maintaining this momentum and advocacy for the specific needs of children and families engaged in research.

Increased norovirus activity in Scotland in 2012 is associated with the emergence of a new norovirus GII.4 variant

To the editor: Since late 2012, Scotland has seen a significant increase in norovirus activity and the norovirus season began earlier than usual [1]. The article by van Beek et al. published in last week’s issue of Eurosurveillance described the emergence of a new variant of norovirus GII.4 (Sydney strain) in a number of countries [2]. To examine whether this was also the case in Scotland, we examined representative samples from norovirus outbreaks in hospitals submitted to the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre (WoSSVC) in Glasgow between 8 and 20 November 2012. This time period was chosen as it was after the point when the increased norovirus activity was first reported by Health Protection Scotland [1].

A Review of Occupational Therapy Research and Development Activity in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

Introduction: A review was undertaken of the College of Occupational Therapists' 2002 scoping study of occupational therapy research and development activity in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales in order to assess the developments in infrastructure supporting occupational therapy research, to highlight opportunities available to occupational therapists and to identify how the College could best support members' research activities. Method: Within each nation, a literature review and focus group were undertaken. A feature of the research was the opportunity for a student occupational therapist from each country to be involved as co-researcher. Findings: The findings revealed a considerable investment and increase in research capacity developments in all three countries, recognising the need to develop the evidence base to underpin occupational therapy interventions. Barriers to progressing research activity included time and research topic prioritisation, and workplace cultures that did not promote research-related activities. The College of Occupational Therapists was considered to have a key role in influencing policy directions and the launch of the United Kingdom Occupational Therapy Research Foundation was viewed as an opportunity to support occupation-focused research and capacity development. Conclusion: Significant progress reflects the investment in research infrastructure, although further effort is needed to change cultural impacts.