The presence of toxic methylmercury
(MeHg) in Arctic freshwater
ecosystems and foodwebs is a potential health concern for northern
Indigenous people. Addressing this issue requires a better understanding
of MeHg production, fate during transport, and uptake into foodwebs.
We used methylation assays and spatiotemporal surveys of MeHg concentrations,
during the ice-covered and open water seasons, across a hydrologic
continuum (composed of thaw seeps, lake/ponds, and a wetland) to identify
Hg methylation hotspots and seasonal differences in MeHg cycling unique
to Arctic ecosystems. Ponds and saturated wetland soils support methylation
hotspots during the open water season, but subsequent export of MeHg
to downstream ecosystems is limited by particle settling, binding
of MeHg on soil organic matter, and/or demethylation in drier wetland
soils. During the ice-covered season, MeHg concentrations in lake
waters were approximately ten-fold greater than in summer; however,
zooplankton MeHg concentrations were paradoxically five times lower
at this time. Despite limited evidence of snow-phase methylation,
the snowpack is an important MeHg reservoir. Changes in ice-cover
duration will alter MeHg production and bioaccumulation in lakes,
while increased thaw and surface water flow will likely result in
higher methylation rates at the aquatic–terrestrial interface
and more efficient downstream transport of MeHg.
Introduction Model of Human and Occupational Screening Tool (MOHOST) is a scale used to assess occupational functioning in mental health inpatients which can inform suitable post-discharge placements. However, there is little research on the relationship between scores on Motivation for Occupation (MO) and Pattern of Occupation (PO) subscales of the MOHOST and types of discharge placement. Method The records of all patients discharged over a 2-year period from a male psychiatric rehabilitation unit were examined. All patients had undergone MOHOST assessments; however, these scores were not a factor in their discharge placement selection. Analyses were done on types of discharge placements (transfer to another psychiatric unit or community discharge) versus predischarge scores in MO and PO of MOHOST. Results N = 20 and average length of stay was 23 months. There was positive correlation between MO and PO scores and discharge placements (rs = 0.66, p = 0.002; rs = 0.67 and p = 0.001, respectively). Using ordinal logistic regression, for each unit increase of negative score in PO, there was 0.68 increase in the log odds of more restrictive discharge placements, p = 0.008. Conclusion The study suggests that MOHOST is a useful tool in determining suitable placements for patients being discharged or transferred from psychiatric rehabilitation units.
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