Listening to Slugs: Acceptability and Consumption of Molluscicide Pellets by the Grey Field Slug, Deroceras reticulatum

Gastropod damage to crop plants has a significant economic impact on agricultural and horticultural industries worldwide, with the Grey Field Slug (Deroceras reticulatum (Müller)) considered the main mollusc pest in the United Kingdom and in many other temperate areas. The prevailing form of crop protection is pellets containing the active ingredient, metaldehyde. Metaldehyde can cause paralysis and death in the mollusc, depending on the amount ingested. The paralysing effects may result in reduced pellet consumption. A greater understanding of metaldehyde consumption may reveal an area that can be manipulated using novel molluscicide formulations. Novel pellet types included commercial metaldehyde pellets coated so that metaldehyde is released more slowly. In both laboratory and arena trials, an audio sensor was used to record individual slugs feeding on a variety of pellet types, including commercially available toxic pellets (metaldehyde and ferric phosphate) and novel metaldehyde formulations. The sensor was used to record the length of each bite and the total number of bites. There was no significant difference in the length of bites between pellet types in laboratory trials. Novel pellets were not consumed more than commercial pellet types. Commercial pellet types did not differ in consumption.

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Hosting annual international sporting events and tourism: Formula 1, golf or tennis?

Tourism Economics ◽

10.1177/13548166211029053 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 135481662110290

Author(s):

Bala Ramasamy ◽

Howei Wu ◽

Matthew Yeung

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Economic Impact ◽

Sporting Events ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Monthly Data ◽

Mega Events ◽

Sports Events ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Mega Sports Events

Hosting sports events to attract international tourists is a common policy practised by many host governments. Hosting mega-sports events like the Olympics is said to leave a legacy that could impact the attractiveness of a country/city in the long term. However, the opportunity to host these mega-events is limited and expensive. This study considers the economic impact of hosting annual international sporting events, specifically the extent to which Formula 1, ATP Tennis and PGA Golf can attract international tourists. Using monthly data from 1998 to 2018, we show that the effect differs from one sport to another within a country and the same sport across countries. Hosting the Formula 1 is most effective for Canada but has no significant impact in Australia and the United Kingdom. ATP Tennis and PGA Golf have a significant impact on at least two countries. Policy-makers must consider carefully the sport that gives the best bang-for-the-buck.

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Salmonella and Campylobacter in United Kingdom Retail Raw Chicken in 2005

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-70.8.1937 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 70 (8) ◽

pp. 1937-1939 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

RICHARD J. MELDRUM ◽

IAN G. WILSON

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Northern Ireland ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Food Standards ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Enrichment Methods

The United Kingdom Food Standards Agency commissioned a survey of Salmonella and Campylobacter in raw, whole chickens at retail in Wales and Northern Ireland between March and December 2005 to measure the baseline prevalence rates of these two significant pathogens. In total, 877 retail samples were examined for Campylobacter and Salmonella by enrichment methods. Overall contamination rates of 70.2% for Campylobacter and 4.0% for Salmonella were found. There was a statistically significant difference in Campylobacter rates between fresh and frozen samples, with fresh samples having a higher rate. There was no statistically significant difference between samples taken from retailers and butchers. Campylobacter was significantly more common in Northern Ireland than in Wales. Salmonella was significantly more common in Wales. The findings indicate the need for further investigation to explore why measures that have been successful in reducing Salmonella in the United Kingdom in recent years have failed to contribute to the control of Campylobacter. Identifying the factors responsible could lead to the introduction of more effective controls throughout the industry.

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To what extent were economic factors important in the separation of the south of Ireland from the United Kingdom and what was the economic impact?

Cambridge Journal of Economics ◽

10.1093/cje/bet025 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 369-397 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

W. Hynes

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Economic Impact ◽

Economic Factors ◽

The South ◽

The United Kingdom

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The identity of the invasive yellow-striped terrestrial planarian found recently in Europe: Caenoplana variegata (Fletcher & Hamilton, 1888) or Caenoplana bicolor (Graff, 1899)?

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4731.2.2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4731 (2) ◽

pp. 193-222

Author(s):

HUGH D JONES ◽

EDUARDO MATEOS ◽

MARTA RIUTORT ◽

MARTA ÁLVAREZ-PRESAS

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Reproductive System ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Before And After ◽

Yellow Stripe ◽

Anatomical Information ◽

Over Time

Terrestrial planarians with a dorsal yellow stripe and dark lateral surfaces and up to 15-20 cm long have been found in several countries in Europe, the earliest in 2008. They are similar to two species originally from Australia, Caenoplana variegata (Fletcher & Hamilton, 1888) and C. bicolor (Graff, 1899), both described on external characters only, with no anatomical information. Careful reading suggests that there is no significant difference between the original descriptions. Further: observations on live specimens show considerable variation between individuals and in individuals over time and before and after feeding, negating any distinction between descriptions. Examination of three sectioned specimens shows considerable difference in sexual maturity, though one seems almost fully mature and the reproductive system is described. Molecular results show that specimens from the United Kingdom and Spain are of the same species. It is concluded that the planarians should be referred to as C. variegata, C. bicolor being a junior synonym.

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Split Gulf maritime security efforts will coordinate

Emerald Expert Briefings ◽

10.1108/oxan-db250994 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Economic Impact ◽

Cyber Attacks ◽

Maritime Security ◽

Content Type ◽

South Korean ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

International Monitoring

Significance The French-led maritime escort operation in the Gulf is running alongside a similar US-led effort, in which the United Kingdom is a partner, as well as smaller Japanese and South Korean operations. They are a response to increased Iranian threats to shipping during the course of 2019. Impacts Increased international monitoring in the Gulf may reduce smuggling, including Iranian sanctions-busting and arms shipments. Tehran could increase its focus on more deniable cyber-attacks, seeking vulnerable US-allied targets. Reinforced US assets will deploy across the Gulf in readiness to respond to any Iranian provocation through 2020. The economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak could reduce Gulf shipping volumes.

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Economic Impact of Using Additional Diagnostic Tests to Better Select Patients With Stroke for Intravenous Thrombolysis in the United Kingdom

Clinical Therapeutics ◽

10.1016/j.clinthera.2012.05.004 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 34 (7) ◽

pp. 1544-1558 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stephanie R. Earnshaw ◽

Cheryl McDade ◽

Ann-Marie Chapman ◽

Daniel Jackson ◽

Lee Schwamm

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Economic Impact ◽

Diagnostic Tests ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

The United Kingdom

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“The expediency of local modelling to aid national responses to SARS-CoV-2.”

10.1101/2020.05.27.20107656 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Bernard M. Groen ◽

Paul Turner ◽

Peter Lacey

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

National Policy ◽

Local Context ◽

Local Health ◽

Care Services ◽

United Kingdom Population ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Recovery Strategies ◽

Care Systems

AbstractBackgroundWith the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic gripping most of the globe, healthcare and economic recovery strategies are being explored currently as a matter of urgency. The underpinning rationale of this paper is that we believe that health and care services are provided locally, therefore, local implications of national policy need to be reflected when informing national responses to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.MethodsWe adopted the assumptions underlying the United Kingdom government’s national epidemiological model which influences the national policy response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We used these in a local context and show projections in terms of presentations of symptomatic patients differ in a variety of settings. Setting:North of England, United Kingdom, population modelled at four local constituent levels which aggregated gives a total population of 3.2m.ResultsWe clearly demonstrate that there is significant difference in the way the national modelling outputs are replicated at local levels. Specifically, in terms of projected increased levels of demand for services on the local health and care systems.ConclusionsWe present significant evidence of differing timelines specifically in terms of subsequent projected peak demands. Additionally, it clearly indicates varying levels of such demand throughout the four modelled localities. These idiosyncrasies are ‘masked’ by both regional and national approaches to modelling. We urge readers to ensure that any national policy is appropriately adopted through the use of complementary bottom up approach, to suit local health and care systems. Finally, we share our methodology to ensure other professionals could replicate this study elsewhere.

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Online Readability of COVID-19 Health Information: a Comparison between Four English Speaking Countries

10.21203/rs.3.rs-30124/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amy P Worrall ◽

Mary J Connolly ◽

Aine O'Neill ◽

Murray O'Doherty ◽

Kenneth P Thornton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

United Kingdom ◽

Health Information ◽

General Public ◽

Information Source ◽

The United States ◽

Online Information ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Significant Difference ◽

English Speaking

Abstract Introduction: The internet is now the first line source of health information for many people worldwide. In the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, health information is being produced, revised, updated and disseminated at an increasingly rapid rate. The general public are faced with a plethora of misinformation regarding COVID-19 and the readability of online information has an impact on their understanding of the disease. The accessibility of online healthcare information relating to COVID-19 is unknown. We sought to evaluate the readability of online information relating to COVID-19 in four English speaking regions: Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, and compare readability of website source provenance and regional origin.Methods: The Google® search engine was used to collate the first twenty webpage URLs for three individual searches for ‘COVID’, ‘COVID-19’, and ‘coronavirus’ from Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Flesch-Kincaid Grade (FKG) Score, Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) score were calculated to assess the readability. Results: There were poor levels of readability webpages reviewed, with only 17.2% of webpages at a universally readable level. There was a significant difference in readability between the different webpages based on their information source (p <0.01). Public Health organisations and Government organisations provided the most readable COVID-19 material, while digital media sources were significantly less readable. There were no significant differences in readability between regions. Conclusion: Much of the general public have relied on online information during the pandemic. Information on COVID-19 should be made more readable, and those writing webpages and information tools should ensure universal accessibility is considered in their production. Governments and healthcare practitioners should have an awareness of the online sources of information available, and ensure that readability of our own productions is at a universally readable level which will increase understanding and adherence to health guidelines.

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