A Clash of Cultures: The Struggle of Native Americans to Participate in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Western Science Under California’s Marine Life Protection Act

This article comprehensively details the culture clash that took place between Native Americans, the North Group Science Panel, and the Science Advisory Team (SAT) involved in the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA). In 1999, the California Legislature passed the Marine Life Protection Act to create a statewide, science-driven network of marine reserves along the 1,100 miles of the California coast. The MLPA was meant to protect marine areas from overharvesting, and an initiative was formed to create a state marine reserve system advised by regional science panels. The science panel, a public body, decided that Native Americans science was not credible, they would not be allowed to present papers or be heard, and would be confined to policy statements for consideration by non-scientific entities. This complete denial of Tribal epistemologies is characteristic of settler colonialism. As a public body, the SAT, contrary to State constitutional provisions, violated public meeting laws. The Tribes did not accept the SAT denial and historically large protests were held. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), modeling, and science by qualified individuals and Ph.D. marine scientists were rejected by the SAT. The SAT Levels of Protection (LOP) model greatly exaggerated take and harvest to levels that are not plausible. They extrapolated data, such as salmon by-catch numbers from another region other than the Klamath Management Zone, with questionable results. Tribal testimony would have noted and corrected SAT model flaws and resulted in more competent science. The Best Available Science assumptions used by the SAT disregarded recommendations of inclusiveness by the National Science Foundation, which is used by federal agencies. After rejecting Native American anthropological reports, the SAT initiated their own study that violated numerous provisions of the 1974 Human Research Act. This case study demonstrates considerable advantages to SATs by allowing TEK presentations to science advisory bodies, instead of undertaking such studies solely by a SAT. There has never been an apology for the systematic discrimination detailed in this article. We conclude that science, although it has an important role to play in the development of Natural Resource regulations, must be impartial, open to all, and accepting of TEK––including Tribal monitoring results, fishing logs, survey data and modeling. Submitted materials must be judged upon the quality of the work, not the ethnic or racial background of the submitter. Although subsequent California Fish and Game Commission and Department actions to improve Tribal relations have been implemented, these programs do not address the issues raised in this article

California North Coast Vehicle and Human Use Beach Survey of False Klamath Cove

This study looks to provide accurate, base-line-data of north coast beach usage and will identify activities in the vicinity of False Klamath Cove (FKC) bird sanctuary, which is a giant smokestack rock bird rookery of some 40,000 seabirds called False Klamath Rock. A research review showed that the north coast does not have adequate statistical information for FKC nor on other north coast beach areas for beach use. In the absence of such local data other beach studies are used. Most of these surveys are in beach areas of Southern California. Such extrapolations often result in an overestimation of beach populations and recreational beach use patterns that do not fit the north coast well. In an effort to provide current statistical data of human and domestic animal use of north coast beaches, the Eagle Eyes of False Klamath Cove/MPA Watch study was created. The information from this study should be useful for recreational beach and natural resource planning on the north coast in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. The study is being conducted as part of a growing statewide effort to use citizens to conduct monitoring and supplement limited research monies. This survey is run and conducted 90% by Native Americans from different local tribes in an area with some of the highest unemployment rates in California. Startup funding was not available because the capacity of low-income Native Americans to complete the project deliverables was doubted. The project moved forward with local volunteers and some local funding. The completed project is a positive example of citizen science and produced a high quality, statistically valid study equal to any in the state. An underlying hypothesis is that estimates from the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative of Northern California beach use were too high for rural Northern California beaches like False Klamath Cove. Our study found that there are 85,363 annual beach visitors and 244,670 combined parking lot visitors who primarily take photos of the beach and/or selfies. This confirms our hypothesis that public use of Northern California beaches is far lower by many factors of magnitude than the Marine Life Protection Act “Levels of Protection” model projections. Since environmental factors are consistent in Northern California, they can be expected to have similar impacts on human behavior, and we expect similar results across Northern California beaches. This study explores an entirely new construct for estimating and analyzing Northern California beach behavior and use. In conclusion, this study provides a model for other citizen monitoring projects on the north coast and provides empowerment to Native peoples to conduct their own studies

Perceptual Changes in Response to Two Regimens of Interval Training in Sedentary Women

This study examined acute and chronic changes in perceptual measures (rating of perceived exertion [RPE], affect, and arousal) in response to 2 regimens of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Twenty-three healthy sedentary women (mean ± SD age and V[Combining Dot Above]O2max = 23.0 ± 5.7 years and 30.1 ± 4.4 ml·kg·min, respectively) were randomized to complete 12 weeks of one of 2 HIIT regimes, whereas an additional 7 women served as sedentary controls. Training was performed 3 days per week on a cycle ergometer and consisted of up to ten 1-minute bouts at moderate (60-80%Wmax = moderate intensity [MOD]) or more intense (80-90%Wmax = HI) workloads separated by active recovery. At baseline and every 3 weeks, RPE, affect, and arousal were measured during training using validated scales. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to examine acute and chronic changes in these variables to HIIT. Data revealed significant (p 0.05) after HIIT. Completion of moderate or more intense interval training reduces perceptions of RPE during training yet does not alter arousal or affect. RPE was reduced via training, yet large dependence on anaerobic metabolism during HIIT may minimize training-induced changes in affect

Genomic Prediction Informed by Biological Processes Expands Our Understanding of the Genetic Architecture Underlying Free Amino Acid Traits in Dry Arabidopsis Seeds.

Plant growth, development, and nutritional quality depends upon amino acid homeostasis, especially in seeds. However, our understanding of the underlying genetics influencing amino acid content and composition remains limited, with only a few candidate genes and quantitative trait loci identified to date. Improved knowledge of the genetics and biological processes that determine amino acid levels will enable researchers to use this information for plant breeding and biological discovery. Toward this goal, we used genomic prediction to identify biological processes that are associated with, and therefore potentially influence, free amino acid (FAA) composition in seeds of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana Markers were split into categories based on metabolic pathway annotations and fit using a genomic partitioning model to evaluate the influence of each pathway on heritability explained, model fit, and predictive ability. Selected pathways included processes known to influence FAA composition, albeit to an unknown degree, and spanned four categories: amino acid, core, specialized, and protein metabolism. Using this approach, we identified associations for pathways containing known variants for FAA traits, in addition to finding new trait-pathway associations. Markers related to amino acid metabolism, which are directly involved in FAA regulation, improved predictive ability for branched chain amino acids and histidine. The use of genomic partitioning also revealed patterns across biochemical families, in which serine-derived FAAs were associated with protein related annotations and aromatic FAAs were associated with specialized metabolic pathways. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that genomic partitioning is a viable strategy to uncover the relative contributions of biological processes to FAA traits in seeds, offering a promising framework to guide hypothesis testing and narrow the search space for candidate genes

Terminal Osseous Dysplasia with Pigmentary Defects Maps to Human Chromosome Xq27.3-Xqter

We have identified a four-generation family with 10 affected females manifesting one or more of the following features: osseous dysplasia involving the metacarpals, metatarsals, and phalanges leading to brachydactyly, camptodactyly, and other digital deformities; pigmentary defects on the face and scalp; and multiple frenula. There were no affected males. We performed X-inactivation studies on seven affected females, using a methylation assay at the androgen receptor locus; all seven demonstrated preferential inactivation of their maternal chromosomes carrying the mutation, and two unaffected females showed a random pattern. These findings indicate that this disorder is linked to the X chromosome. To map the gene for this disorder, we analyzed DNA from nine affected females and five unaffected individuals, using 40 polymorphic markers evenly distributed throughout the X chromosome. Two-point and multipoint linkage analyses using informative markers excluded most of the X chromosome and demonstrated linkage to a region on the long arm between DXS548 and Xqter. A maximum LOD score of 3.16 at recombination fraction 0 was obtained for five markers mapping to Xq27.3-Xq28. The mapping data should facilitate the identification of the molecular basis of this disorder

Genomic Prediction Informed by Biological Processes Expands Our Understanding of the Genetic Architecture Underlying Free Amino Acid Traits in Dry Arabidopsis Seeds

Plant growth, development, and nutritional quality depends upon amino acid homeostasis, especially in seeds. However, our understanding of the underlying genetics influencing amino acid content and composition remains limited, with only a few candidate genes and quantitative trait loci identified to date. Improved knowledge of the genetics and biological processes that determine amino acid levels will enable researchers to use this information for plant breeding and biological discovery. Toward this goal, we used genomic prediction to identify biological processes that are associated with, and therefore potentially influence, free amino acid (FAA) composition in seeds of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Markers were split into categories based on metabolic pathway annotations and fit using a genomic partitioning model to evaluate the influence of each pathway on heritability explained, model fit, and predictive ability. Selected pathways included processes known to influence FAA composition, albeit to an unknown degree, and spanned four categories: amino acid, core, specialized, and protein metabolism. Using this approach, we identified associations for pathways containing known variants for FAA traits, in addition to finding new trait-pathway associations. Markers related to amino acid metabolism, which are directly involved in FAA regulation, improved predictive ability for branched chain amino acids and histidine. The use of genomic partitioning also revealed patterns across biochemical families, in which serine-derived FAAs were associated with protein related annotations and aromatic FAAs were associated with specialized metabolic pathways. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that genomic partitioning is a viable strategy to uncover the relative contributions of biological processes to FAA traits in seeds, offering a promising framework to guide hypothesis testing and narrow the search space for candidate genes

Cost-effectiveness of microscopy of urethral smears for asymptomatic Mycoplasma genitalium urethritis in men in England

The objective was to determine whether or not the limited use of urethral microscopy to diagnose asymptomatic and symptomatic non-chlamydial, non-gonococcal urethritis (NCNGU) in men is a cost-effective strategy to avert pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy or infertility in female partners. Outputs from a transmission dynamic model of NCNGU in a population of 16–30 year olds in England simulating the number of consultations, PID cases and patients treated over time amongst others, were used along with secondary data to undertake a cost-effectiveness analysis carried out from a health care provider perspective. The main outcome measure was cost per case of PID averted. A secondary outcome measure was cost per major outcome averted, where a major outcome is a case of symptomatic PID, ectopic pregnancy, or infertility. Offering a limited number of asymptomatic men urethral microscopy was more effective than the current practice of no microscopy in terms of reducing the number of cases of PID with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £15,700, meaning that an investment of £15,800 is required to avert one case of PID. For major outcomes averted, offering some asymptomatic men urethral microscopy was again found to be more effective than no microscopy, but here an investment of £49,900 is required to avert one major outcome. Testing asymptomatic men for NCNGU in a small number of genitourinary medicine settings in England is not cost-effective, and thus by maintaining the current practice of not offering this patient group microscopy, this continues to make savings for the health care provide