Economic Impacts of E. Coqui frogs in Hawaii

Eleutherodactylus coqui, a small frog native to Puerto Rico, was introduced to Hawaii in the late 1980s, presumably as a hitchhiker on plant material from the Caribbean or Florida (Kraus et al. 1999). The severity of the frogs' songs on the island of Hawaii has lead to a hypothesis touted both in the scientific community and in the popular media that the presence of the frog on or near a property results in a decline in that property's value. The objective of this study is to explicitly test the extent to which this hypothesis is true, and if it is, what the level of localized damage incurred on a property's value is. The invasion began on either Hawaii or Maui, and has now expanded to Oahu and Kauai. Spread has occurred through the movement of nursery plants and through intentional introduction of the frogs to previously uninfested areas. The coqui frogs have attained some of the highest densities ever observed for terrestrial amphibian populations (up to 133,000 per ha on Hawaii). These extremely dense populations have lead to both economic and ecological concerns, especially on the island of Hawaii. The loud mating song of the male frogs is the most widely cited complaint in Hawaii. The frog's song has been measured to range in the 80-100 decibel level (Beard and Pitt 2005). Given that 45 decibels may be enough to prevent the average person from sleeping , the song of the coqui is considered a form of noise pollution in Hawaii. In this study we focus only on the direct damage costs of the coqui's loud mating songs through a hedonic pricing model. Because this only one component of the economic costs of noise pollution, it should be considered a lower bound estimate of the true cost of their noise and their presence. Since this lower bound is generated through measurable losses in property value, its use in invasive species policy should be welcomingly straightforward compared to survey methods or other efforts to quantify damages from ecosystem change. We find that coqui frogs do impose localized damages to real estate values, but by 800 meters distance from a complaint this damage is declining relative to the effect at 500m. The per-transaction reduction in value when frog complaints have been lodged within 500m appears to be about 0.16%, holding constant district, acreage, financial conditions, zoning, and neighborhood characteristics. This is just over 1/3 of the impact that an increase of 1% in mortgage rates is estimated to have on price.Land Economics/Use,

The Expression of Anger as a Function of Self-Esteem

This study investigated the relationship between level of self-esteem and anger expression. Fifty female and 36 male university students completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale and the Anger Self-Report. A 3 x 2 AVOVA showed a significant relationship between self-esteem and the ASR scales of Anger Awareness, Guilt, Mistrust, and Total Anger. In addition, women were found to experience significantly more anger-related guilt than men, while verbal and physical anger expression were both characteristic of men. The results further indicate that men experience greater mistrust and suspicion of others These finding suggest that low self-esteem individuals report more anger, but have fewer expressive outlets than do individuals with more favorable self-concepts. Furthermore, low self-esteem females tend to internalize their angry feelings, while low self-esteem males convert their anger into outer-directed hostility. Treatment implications and future research directions were discussed

Control of Invasive Species: Lessons from Miconia in Hawaii

Once established, invasive species can rapidly and irreversibly alter ecosystems and degrade the value of ecosystem services. Optimal control of an exotic pest solves for a trajectory of removals that minimizes the present value of removal costs and residual damages from the remaining pest population. The shrubby tree, Miconia calvescens, is used to illustrate dynamic policy options for a forest invader. Potential damages to Hawaii's forest ecosystems are related to decreased aquifer recharge, biodiversity, and other ecosystem values. We find that population reduction is the optimal management policy for the islands of Oahu, Maui, and Hawaii. On the island of Kauai, where tree density is lower and search costs higher, optimal policy calls for deferring removal expenditures until the steady state population is reached.Environmental Economics and Policy,

Prevention, Eradication, and Containment of Invasive Species: Illustrations from Hawaii

Invasive species change ecosystems and the economic services such ecosystems provide. Optimal policy will minimize the expected damages and costs of prevention and control. We seek to explain policy outcomes as a function of biological and economic factors, using the case of Hawaii to illustrate. First, we consider an existing invader, Miconia calvescens, a plant with the potential to reduce biodiversity, soil cover, and water availability. We then examine an imminent threat, the potential arrival of the Brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis). The arrival of the snake in Guam has led to native bird extirpations, power outages, and health costs.invasive species, bioeconomics, optimal control, Miconia calvescens, Boiga, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Unpacking Pieces of a Puzzle: Understanding Obesity-Related Health Risk through Lifestyle Behaviours and Well-Being

The primary objective of this non-experimental study was to examine the differences based on obesity-related health risk in terms of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and well-being in adults. Participants (N = 50; Mage = 38.50, SDage = 14.21) were asked to wear a SenseWear Armband (SWA) across a seven day monitoring period followed by a questionnaire package. Using the National Institute of Health’s (1998) criteria, participants were classified as either least, increased, or high risk based on waist circumference and Body Mass Index scores. Differences between these classifications were found in the amount of time spent in active energy expenditure for bouts of ten minutes or more (p = .002); specifically between least and high risk (p .05) emerged. Participants’ also perceived the SWA as a practical and worthwhile device. Overall, these findings provide practical applications and future directions for health promotional research

Species-level classification of the vaginal microbiome

Background The application of next-generation sequencing to the study of the vaginal microbiome is revealing the spectrum of microbial communities that inhabit the human vagina. High-resolution identification of bacterial taxa, minimally to the species level, is necessary to fully understand the association of the vaginal microbiome with bacterial vaginosis, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy complications, menopause, and other physiological and infectious conditions. However, most current taxonomic assignment strategies based on metagenomic 16S rDNA sequence analysis provide at best a genus-level resolution. While surveys of 16S rRNA gene sequences are common in microbiome studies, few well-curated, body-site-specific reference databases of 16S rRNA gene sequences are available, and no such resource is available for vaginal microbiome studies. Results We constructed the Vaginal 16S rDNA Reference Database, a comprehensive and non-redundant database of 16S rDNA reference sequences for bacterial taxa likely to be associated with vaginal health, and we developed STIRRUPS, a new method that employs the USEARCH algorithm with a curated reference database for rapid species-level classification of 16S rDNA partial sequences. The method was applied to two datasets of V1-V3 16S rDNA reads: one generated from a mock community containing DNA from six bacterial strains associated with vaginal health, and a second generated from over 1,000 mid-vaginal samples collected as part of the Vaginal Human Microbiome Project at Virginia Commonwealth University. In both datasets, STIRRUPS, used in conjunction with the Vaginal 16S rDNA Reference Database, classified more than 95% of processed reads to a species-level taxon using a 97% global identity threshold for assignment. Conclusions This database and method provide accurate species-level classifications of metagenomic 16S rDNA sequence reads that will be useful for analysis and comparison of microbiome profiles from vaginal samples. STIRRUPS can be used to classify 16S rDNA sequence reads from other ecological niches if an appropriate reference database of 16S rDNA sequences is available

Hispanic Representation in a Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study

Background: The purpose of this paper is to report: 1) strategies used to engage Hispanic women and their families in a longitudinal birth cohort study, and 2) comparisons of Hispanic and non-Hispanic groups that received those strategies. This paper augments the current literature by reporting methods and results specific to a subpopulation of Hispanic women, that of self-identified Mexican women. Comparisons between Hispanic and non-Hispanic groups that received those strategies will build the evidence base that supports effective outreach and engagement strategies. Methods: Cultural responsiveness theory was used to structure outreach and engagement, including: 1) assembling a culturally competent team; 2) partnering with community organizations; and 3) creating a personalized marketing and media campaign. For the purposes of evaluating the effectiveness of the outreach and engagement strategies, respondents were asked two questions about outreach and engagement efforts during a screening interview. Results: Hispanic women were proportionally represented in the sample. Just over 43% of the women who completed the pregnancy screening instrument were Hispanic. This rate is similar to the percentage of age-eligible Hispanic women living in the recruitment area. Over half (52%) of the consented women were Hispanic. Overall, 63% of the respondents (n=1273) reported having heard about the study during the screening interview. Among Hispanic respondents (n=871), a little over half (52%, n=453) responded affirmatively. Among non-Hispanic respondents (n=1135), most (72%, n=813) had heard of the NCS. The top three ways that both Hispanic and Non-Hispanic respondents heard about the NCS were through the advance letter, household enumeration, and radio. Both groups reported hearing about the NCS through “Community partners/outreach events” with similar frequency. Discussion: Demographic changes in America speak to the importance of developing outreach and engagement plans tailored to Hispanic populations. Cultural responsiveness theory provided a multi-faceted framework that was used to engage Hispanic families in a study of children’s health and their environment

The Vaginal Microbiome: Disease, Genetics and the Environment

The vagina is an interactive interface between the host and the environment. Its surface is covered by a protective epithelium colonized by bacteria and other microorganisms. The ectocervix is nonsterile, whereas the endocervix and the upper genital tract are assumed to be sterile in healthy women. Therefore, the cervix serves a pivotal role as a gatekeeper to protect the upper genital tract from microbial invasion and subsequent reproductive pathology. Microorganisms that cross this barrier can cause preterm labor, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other gynecologic and reproductive disorders. Homeostasis of the microbiome in the vagina and ectocervix plays a paramount role in reproductive health. Depending on its composition, the microbiome may protect the vagina from infectious or non-infectious diseases, or it may enhance its susceptibility to them. Because of the nature of this organ, and the fact that it is continuously colonized by bacteria from birth to death, it is virtually certain that this rich environment evolved in concert with its microbial flora. Specific interactions dictated by the genetics of both the host and microbes are likely responsible for maintaining both the environment and the microbiome. However, the genetic basis of these interactions in both the host and the bacterial colonizers is currently unknown. _Lactobacillus_ species are associated with vaginal health, but the role of these species in the maintenance of health is not yet well defined. Similarly, other species, including those representing minor components of the overall flora, undoubtedly influence the ability of potential pathogens to thrive and cause disease. Gross alterations in the vaginal microbiome are frequently observed in women with bacterial vaginosis, but the exact etiology of this disorder is still unknown. There are also implications for vaginal flora in non-infectious conditions such as pregnancy, pre-term labor and birth, and possibly fertility and other aspects of women’s health. Conversely, the role of environmental factors in the maintenance of a healthy vaginal microbiome is largely unknown. To explore these issues, we have proposed to address the following questions:

*1.	Do the genes of the host contribute to the composition of the vaginal microbiome?* We hypothesize that genes of both host and bacteria have important impacts on the vaginal microbiome. We are addressing this question by examining the vaginal microbiomes of mono- and dizygotic twin pairs selected from the over 170,000 twin pairs in the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry (MATR). Subsequent studies, beyond the scope of the current project, may investigate which host genes impact the microbial flora and how they do so.
*2.	What changes in the microbiome are associated with common non-infectious pathological states of the host?* We hypothesize that altered physiological (e.g., pregnancy) and pathologic (e.g., immune suppression) conditions, or environmental exposures (e.g., antibiotics) predictably alter the vaginal microbiome. Conversely, certain vaginal microbiome characteristics are thought to contribute to a woman’s risk for outcomes such as preterm delivery. We are addressing this question by recruiting study participants from the ~40,000 annual clinical visits to women’s clinics of the VCU Health System.
*3.	What changes in the vaginal microbiome are associated with relevant infectious diseases and conditions?* We hypothesize that susceptibility to infectious disease (e.g. HPV, _Chlamydia_ infection, vaginitis, vaginosis, etc.) is impacted by the vaginal microbiome. In turn, these infectious conditions clearly can affect the ability of other bacteria to colonize and cause pathology. Again, we are exploring these issues by recruiting participants from visitors to women’s clinics in the VCU Health System.

Three kinds of sequence data are generated in this project: i) rDNA sequences from vaginal microbes; ii) whole metagenome shotgun sequences from vaginal samples; and iii) whole genome shotgun sequences of bacterial clones selected from vaginal samples. The study includes samples from three vaginal sites: mid-vaginal, cervical, and introital. The data sets also include buccal and perianal samples from all twin participants. Samples from these additional sites are used to test the hypothesis of a per continuum spread of bacteria in relation to vaginal health. An extended set of clinical metadata associated with these sequences are deposited with dbGAP. We have currently collected over 4,400 samples from ~100 twins and over 450 clinical participants. We have analyzed and deposited data for 480 rDNA samples, eight whole metagenome shotgun samples, and over 50 complete bacterial genomes. These data are available to accredited investigators according to NIH and Human Microbiome Project (HMP) guidelines. The bacterial clones are deposited in the Biodefense and Emerging Infections Research Resources Repository ("http://www.beiresources.org/":http://www.beiresources.org/). 

In addition to the extensive sequence data obtained in this study, we are collecting metadata associated with each of the study participants. Thus, participants are asked to complete an extensive health history questionnaire at the time samples are collected. Selected clinical data associated with the visit are also obtained, and relevant information is collected from the medical records when available. This data is maintained securely in a HIPAA-compliant data system as required by VCU’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). The preponderance of these data (i.e., that judged appropriate by NIH staff and VCU’s IRB are deposited at dbGAP ("http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gap":http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gap). Selected fields of this data have been identified by NIH staff as ‘too sensitive’ and are not available in dbGAP. Individuals requiring access to these data fields are asked to contact the PI of this project or NIH Program Staff. 
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The truth about metagenomics: quantifying and counteracting bias in 16S rRNA studies

Background Characterizing microbial communities via next-generation sequencing is subject to a number of pitfalls involving sample processing. The observed community composition can be a severe distortion of the quantities of bacteria actually present in the microbiome, hampering analysis and threatening the validity of conclusions from metagenomic studies. We introduce an experimental protocol using mock communities for quantifying and characterizing bias introduced in the sample processing pipeline. We used 80 bacterial mock communities comprised of prescribed proportions of cells from seven vaginally-relevant bacterial strains to assess the bias introduced in the sample processing pipeline. We created two additional sets of 80 mock communities by mixing prescribed quantities of DNA and PCR product to quantify the relative contribution to bias of (1) DNA extraction, (2) PCR amplification, and (3) sequencing and taxonomic classification for particular choices of protocols for each step. We developed models to predict the “true” composition of environmental samples based on the observed proportions, and applied them to a set of clinical vaginal samples from a single subject during four visits. Results We observed that using different DNA extraction kits can produce dramatically different results but bias is introduced regardless of the choice of kit. We observed error rates from bias of over 85% in some samples, while technical variation was very low at less than 5% for most bacteria. The effects of DNA extraction and PCR amplification for our protocols were much larger than those due to sequencing and classification. The processing steps affected different bacteria in different ways, resulting in amplified and suppressed observed proportions of a community. When predictive models were applied to clinical samples from a subject, the predicted microbiome profiles were better reflections of the physiology and diagnosis of the subject at the visits than the observed community compositions. Conclusions Bias in 16S studies due to DNA extraction and PCR amplification will continue to require attention despite further advances in sequencing technology. Analysis of mock communities can help assess bias and facilitate the interpretation of results from environmental samples

High-resolution mass models of dwarf galaxies from LITTLE THINGS

We present high-resolution rotation curves and mass models of 26 dwarf galaxies from LITTLE THINGS. LITTLE THINGS is a high-resolution Very Large Array HI survey for nearby dwarf galaxies in the local volume within 11 Mpc. The rotation curves of the sample galaxies derived in a homogeneous and consistent manner are combined with Spitzer archival 3.6 micron and ancillary optical U, B, and V images to construct mass models of the galaxies. We decompose the rotation curves in terms of the dynamical contributions by baryons and dark matter halos, and compare the latter with those of dwarf galaxies from THINGS as well as Lambda CDM SPH simulations in which the effect of baryonic feedback processes is included. Being generally consistent with THINGS and simulated dwarf galaxies, most of the LITTLE THINGS sample galaxies show a linear increase of the rotation curve in their inner regions, which gives shallower logarithmic inner slopes alpha of their dark matter density profiles. The mean value of the slopes of the 26 LITTLE THINGS dwarf galaxies is alpha =-0.32 +/- 0.24 which is in accordance with the previous results found for low surface brightness galaxies (alpha = -0.2 +/- 0.2) as well as the seven THINGS dwarf galaxies (alpha =-0.29 +/- 0.07). However, this significantly deviates from the cusp-like dark matter distribution predicted by dark-matter-only Lambda CDM simulations. Instead our results are more in line with the shallower slopes found in the Lambda CDM SPH simulations of dwarf galaxies in which the effect of baryonic feedback processes is included. In addition, we discuss the central dark matter distribution of DDO 210 whose stellar mass is relatively low in our sample to examine the scenario of inefficient supernova feedback in low mass dwarf galaxies predicted from recent Lambda SPH simulations of dwarf galaxies where central cusps still remain.Peer reviewe