The contribution of citizen science volunteers to river monitoring and management: International and national perspectives and the example of the MoRPh survey

The contribution of citizen scientists to worldwide environmental monitoring has increased rapidly, particularly over the last two decades, as initiatives have become increasingly wide ranging in scope and style. River monitoring and assessment faces many challenges, especially over the longer‐term. Difficult decisions are being made over what can be measured and where. Citizen scientists are helping address these challenges by providing information on properties of river ecosystems, in particular biotic and water quality indicators, at lower cost and higher spatial and temporal coverage than would otherwise be possible and by contributing to data interpretation especially through their local knowledge. A notable deficit, however, has been the monitoring of physical characteristics and outcomes of physical interventions. Furthermore, the development of frameworks, such as the catchment partnership approach in the United Kingdom, within which volunteers, non‐governmental organisations, charities, and statutory bodies collaborate to improve understanding of river environments and decision making, is facilitating the engagement needed to support a new generation of integrated citizen science surveys. Within the United Kingdom, citizen scientists use the Modular River Survey to record river habitat data at a range of spatial scales to monitor physical changes and complement biological monitoring, notably the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative and associated “Riverfly Plus” surveys. They also collect geomorphological data and provide data for restoration appraisal. We present and analyse Modular River Survey data to illustrate how such new generation, multiscale, multipurpose monitoring methods can extract maximum value from the ever‐increasing citizen river science approach.     

Hydrogen-bonding in 2-aminobenzoyl-alpha-chymotrypsin formed by acylation of the enzyme with isatoic anhydride: IR and mass spectroscopic studies

The acyl-enzyme formed upon acylation of alpha-chymotrypsin with isatoic anhydride has been characterised by infrared spectroscopy. Acylation at pH 7 to yield the 2-aminobenzoyl-enzyme is rapid (k = 5.57x 10(-2)s(-1)), while deacylation is much slower (k =3.7 x 10(-5)10(-2) (s-). The [1C=O]-labelled form of isatoic anhydride has been synthesised, to allow construction of [72C=O]- minus [13C=O]difference spectra; these highlight the carbonyl absorbance of the ligand and eliminate spectral effects that arise from protein perturbation. The ester carbonyl band of the acyl-enzyme absorbs at a wavenumber of 1695cm(-1) and has been shown by deconvolution analysis to represent a single, well-defined conformation. Model studies of ethyl 2-aminobenzoate in a range of solvents show that its carbonyl group is in a hexane-like environment (that is, very nonpolar). It is proposed that the low wavenumber of the carbonyl absorbance arises from the presence of an internal hydrogen bond between the 2-amino group and the ester carbonyl oxygen; this leads to polarisation of the carbonyl group both in the enzyme and in nonpolar solvents. However, in view of the slow deacylation, it is clear that the acyl group is in a nonproductive conformation, with no interaction with the oxyanion hole, and that deacylation occurs from this form or from a minor, invisible form. The infrared data have been supported by kinetic electrospray mass spectroscopic measurements, which demonstrate that the acyl-enzyme is that previously anticipated, and by molecular modelling of 2-aminobenzoyl-alpha-chymotrypsin. It is concluded from pH-dependence measurements that general base catalysis by the 2-amino group is not involved in deacylation.     

Non-Chromate Conversion Coating Treatments For Electrodeposited Zinc-Nickel Alloys

Molybdate-based conversion coating solutions have been examined as to their suitability as possible replacements for chromate formulations on electrodeposited zinc-nickel alloy coatings. Investigations have concentrated on producing passive surfaces from simple molybdate solutions using immersion or cathodic coating processes. Passivated surfaces have been examined using scanning electron microscopy to elucidate the coating morphology. The corrosion resistance of the treated surfaces has been assessed using simple, rapid electrochemical techniques as well as more long term salt fog immersion. Initial findings indicate molybdate-based treatment solutions improve times to white and red rust of the zinc-nickel surfaces, but as yet are surpassed by a more conventional chromate-based treatment.     

A thermoelectric microscope stage for the measurement of the supercooling points of microscopic organisms

The design and construction of a thermoelectric cooling stage and its use for the determination of the supercooling points of microscopic organisms is described. Stage cooling is produced by a Peltier unit with a refrigerated circulator as a heat sink. Control is achieved by automatically comparing the temperature input to a reference ramp and varying the power input to the Peltier module accordingly.     

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of multiple haemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardias in a patient with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot

A 55-year-old man was admitted following an overdose of sustained-release verapamil (calcium channel blocker) and ordinary-release atenolol (beta-1 blocker). At admission, there was extreme bradycardia (20-25 beats min-1) and hypotension (systolic arterial pressure 40-50 mm Hg). To counteract the cardiovascular depression, prenalterol, dopamine, dobutamine, isoprenaline, adrenaline and noradrenaline were used. A satisfactory state was obtained with adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine infused at high rates. Cardiac output was then more than 101 min-1, with a very low total peripheral resistance. The infusion of the adrenergic agonists could be interrupted on day 3. Prolonged ventilator treatment was necessary but the patient recovered without sequelae. Treatment options for similar cases are outlined.     

A contextual classification method for recognizing land use patterns in high resolution remotely sensed data

This paper describes a CONtextual ANalysis procedure (CONAN) which is designed to recognize land use patterns in high resolution remotely sensed data by analysis of the local frequency distribution of scene components (i.e. ground cover type classes). The procedure was tested with randomly generated synthetic data developed to simulate the frequency distribution of cover type components for four land use classes. It was found that the accuracy in discriminating between the four test classes depends upon the size of the pixel neighborhood used to compute the component frequency distribution.     

The effect of different contact materials on the fretting fatigue strength of an aluminium alloy

The fretting fatigue strength of Al-4Mg-0.7Mn in contact with pads of aluminium, copper, $\text{70}\text{30}$ brass, and 0.7 C steel has been determined. Copper and brass produced little reduction in fatigue strength because of the severe wear of the pads, The steel and aluminium pads produced reductions of 34% and 28% respectively. The effect of fretting on fatigue strength is explained in terms of the added shear stress arising from the frictional force between the pad and the specimen. Although the coefficient of friction is initially low it rises after 500–1000 cycles to approximately 1.0 and remains constant at this figure.     

The current state of the use of large wood in river restoration and management

Trees fall naturally into rivers generating flow heterogeneity, inducing geomorphological features, and creating habitats for biota. Wood is increasingly used in restoration projects and the potential of wood acting as leaky barriers to deliver natural flood management by ‘slowing the flow’ is recognised. However, wood in rivers can pose a risk to infrastructure and locally increase flood hazards. The aim of this paper is to provide an up‐to‐date summary of the benefits and risks associated with using wood to promote geomorphological processes to restore and manage rivers. This summary was developed through a workshop that brought together academics, river managers, restoration practitioners and consultants in the UK to share science and best practice on wood in rivers. A consensus was developed on four key issues: (i) hydrogeomorphological effects, (ii) current use in restoration and management, (iii) uncertainties and risks and (iv) tools and guidance required to inform process‐based restoration and management.