Precise Elevation Thresholds Associated with Salt Marsh–Upland Ecotones along the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Coastal marshes provide essential ecosystem services related to biodiversity, water quality, and protection from erosion. As increasing rates of relative sea-level rise affect many coastal marsh systems, a thorough understanding of marsh responses to sea-level change, particularly the migration of marsh–upland boundaries, becomes essential. The goal of this study was to determine precise elevation thresholds associated with coastal marsh, the marsh–upland ecotone, and upland plant communities along Mississippi’s Gulf of Mexico coast (diurnal, microtidal). Elevations (NAVD88) were measured using survey-grade Global Navigation Satellite System solutions integrated with high-precision leveling. Plant species were sampled at approximately 1-m intervals along each of thirty-three transects extending from intermediate marsh through the marsh–upland ecotone. Elevation thresholds associated with plant community change were determined based on relevant quartiles of the data. Probabilities of occurrence of each plant community type were computed for elevations at the centimeter scale. Results indicated transitions from marsh to ecotone and ecotone to upland at elevations of approximately 0.40 m and 0.60 m, respectively. Understanding the precise nature of these centimeter-scale dependencies of marsh vegetation on coastal elevation will facilitate spatial modeling of marsh transgression in response to sea-level rise, subsidence, changes in sediment flux, and land use change

Epitaxy of hexagonal ABO3_3 quantum materials

Hexagonal $AB$O$_3$ oxides ($A$, $B$ = cation) are a rich materials class for realizing novel quantum phenomena. Their hexagonal symmetry, oxygen trigonal bipyramid coordination and quasi-two dimensional layering give rise to properties distinct from those of the cubic $AB$O$_3$ perovskites. As bulk materials, most of the focus in this materials class has been on the rare earth manganites, $R$MnO$_3$ ($R$ = rare earth); these materials display coupled ferroelectricity and antiferromagnetic order. In this review, we focus on the thin film manifestations of the hexagonal $AB$O$_3$ oxides. We cover the stability of the hexagonal oxides and substrates which can be used to template the hexagonal structure. We show how the thin film geometry not only allows for further tuning of the bulk-stable manganites but also the realization of metastable hexagonal oxides such as the $R$FeO$_3$ that combine ferroelectricity with weak ferromagnetic order. The thin film geometry is a promising platform to stabilize additional metastable hexagonal oxides to search for predicted high-temperature superconductivity and topological phases in this materials class.Comment: The following article has been accepted by Applied Physics Review

Spectral aerosol extinction (SpEx): a new instrument for in situ ambient aerosol extinction measurements across the UV/visible wavelength range

We introduce a new instrument for the measurement of in situ ambient aerosol extinction over the 300– 700 nm wavelength range, the spectral aerosol extinction (SpEx) instrument. This measurement capability is envisioned to complement existing in situ instrumentation, allowing for simultaneous measurement of the evolution of aerosol optical, chemical, and physical characteristics in the ambient environment. In this work, a detailed description of the instrument is provided along with characterization tests performed in the laboratory. Measured spectra of NO2 and polystyrene latex spheres (PSLs) agreed well with theoretical calculations. Good agreement was also found with simultaneous aerosol extinction measurements at 450, 530, and 630 nm using CAPS PMex instruments in a series of 22 tests including nonabsorbing compounds, dusts, soot, and black and brown carbon analogs. SpEx measurements are expected to help identify the presence of ambient brown carbon due to its 300 nm lower wavelength limit compared to measurements limited to longer UV and visible wavelengths. Extinction spectra obtained with SpEx contain more information than can be conveyed by a simple power law fit (typically represented by Ångström exponents). Planned future improvements aim to lower detection limits and ruggedize the instrument for mobile operation

The speaking vocabulary of 454 third grade children.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Shoreline situation report, Middlesex County, Virginia

It is the objective of this report to supply an assessment, and at least a partial integration, of those important shoreland parameters and characteristics which will aid the planners and the managers of the shorelands in making the best decisions for the utilization of this limited and very valuable resource. The report gives particular attention to the problem of shore erosion and to recommendations concerning the alleviation of the impact of this problem. In addition we \u27have tried to include in our assessment some of the potential uses of the shoreline, particularly with respect to recreational use, since such information could be of considerable value in the way a particular segment of coast is perceived by potential users

The genetic contribution to severe post-traumatic osteoarthritis

Objective: to compare the combined role of genetic variants loci associated with risk of knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) in post-traumatic (PT) and non-traumatic (NT) cases of clinically severe OA leading to total joint replacement. Methods: A total of 1590 controls, 2168 total knee replacement (TKR) cases (33.2% PT) and 1567 total hip replacement (THR) cases (8.7% PT) from 2 UK cohorts were genotyped for 12 variants previously reported to be reproducibly associated with risk of knee or hip OA. A genetic risk score was generated and the association with PT and NT TKR and THR was assessed adjusting for covariates. Results: For THR, each additional genetic risk variant conferred lower risk among PT cases (OR=1.07, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.19; p=0.24) than NT cases (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.17; p=1.55×10−5). In contrast, for TKR, each risk variant conferred slightly higher risk among PT cases (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.19; p=1.82×10−5) than among NT cases (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.1; p=0.00063). Conclusions: Based on the variants reported to date PT TKR cases have at least as high a genetic contribution as NT cases

The Iowa Homemaker vol.9, no.8

Home Economics in Great Britain by Marguerite Stotts Hopkins, page 1 Farm and Home Week by Nellie Goethe, Ph. D., page 2 Intelligent Buying by Frances A. Sims, page 3 Miss Vigor’s Journal by Margaret Wichman, page 4 Living on $10 a Month by Thelma Carlson, page 5 4-H Club by Helen Melton, page 6 State Association by Marcia E. Turner, page 8 Editorial News, page 11 Alumnae News by Dorothy B. Anderson, page 1

Creating a data resource: What will it take to build a medical information commons?

National and international public-private partnerships, consortia, and government initiatives are underway to collect and share genomic, personal, and healthcare data on a massive scale. Ideally, these efforts will contribute to the creation of a medical information commons (MIC), a comprehensive data resource that is widely available for both research and clinical uses. Stakeholder participation is essential in clarifying goals, deepening understanding of areas of complexity, and addressing long-standing policy concerns such as privacy and security and data ownership. This article describes eight core principles proposed by a diverse group of expert stakeholders to guide the formation of a successful, sustainable MIC. These principles promote formation of an ethically sound, inclusive, participant-centric MIC and provide a framework for advancing the policy response to data-sharing opportunities and challenges