Tidal Influences on Bacterial and Phytoplankton Abundances and the Resulting Effects on Patterns of Dissolved Oxygen in the Skidaway River Estuary

Two studies were conducted to investigate the physical and biological processes contributing to the dissolved oxygen (DO) availability in the Skidaway River Estuary (SRE), Savannah, GA during the summer of 2005. A temporal study looked at changes in DO concentrations, Chlorophyll a concentrations, bacterial abundance, water depth, and salinity, every hour, for 26 hours, over both a neap and a spring tide. A spatial study looked at changes in the above variables at 5 sites along the SRE while following the tide inland during a neap high and low tide, and a spring high and low tide. DO concentrations varied between 3.82 and 5.98 mg O2/L during both studies. Statistical analysis results showed, temporally, physical variables had a stronger ability to predict behavior in DO than biological variables, and, spatially, there was a significant difference in DO between sites and between tides

HT update: spotlight on estradiol/norethindrone acetate combination therapy

The goal of postmenopausal hormone therapy is to alleviate the symptoms that are associated with the loss of estrogen. Many formulations of estrogen and progestin are available, depending on the needs and circumstances of each individual woman. For postmenopausal women, the choice of whether or not to begin therapy requires knowledge of the risks and benefits of estrogen and/or progestin replacement. The purpose of this review is to describe the risks and benefits of hormonal therapy, focusing on estradiol/norethindrone acetate combination therapy

15-07 App-based Crowd Sourcing of Bicycle and Pedestrian Conflict Data

Most agencies and decision-makers rely on crash and crash severity (property damage only, injury or fatality) data to assess transportation safety; however, in the context of public health where perceptions of safety may influence the willingness to adopt active transportation modes (e.g. bicycling and walking), pedestrian-vehicle and other similar conflicts may represent a better performance measure for safety assessment. For transportation safety, a clear conflict occurs when two parties’ paths cross and one of the parties must undertake an evasive maneuver (e.g. change direction or stop) to avoid a crash. Other less severe conflicts where paths cross but no evasive maneuver occurs may also impact public perceptions of safety. Most existing literature on conflicts focuses on vehicle conflicts and intersections. While some research has investigated bicycle and pedestrian conflicts, most of this has focused on the intersection environment. In this project, we propose field testing a crowd-sourced data app to better understand the continuum of conflicts (bicycle/pedestrian, bicycle/vehicle, and pedestrian/vehicle) experienced by pedestrians and cyclists; the study also tests the effectiveness of the app and its associated crowd-sourced data collection. This study assesses the data quality of the crowd sourced data and compares it to more traditional data sources while performing hot spot analysis. If widely adopted, the app will enable communities to create their own data collection efforts to identify dangerous sites within their neighborhoods. Agencies will have a valuable data source at low-cost to help inform their decision making related to bicycle and pedestrian education, enforcement, infrastructure, programs and policies

Cracking the Code: Course Syllabi Unpacked, Decoded, and Documented for Evidence of Library Value

Within the academy, what data sources provide insight into the ways in which teaching faculty rely upon the library’s spaces, services, collections, and people? Pepperdine University Libraries devised a system to evaluate undergraduate course syllabi using the data analysis software NVivo. Though syllabi are formulaic and lack details about individual assignments, librarians can skillfully mine them with ease to uncover how the library is of value to teaching faculty. This chapter will provide a case study of how institutions can use qualitative data analysis software to discover, interpret, and share the value of the library from the perspective of faculty

14-02 Developing Public Health Performance Measures to Capture the Effects of Transportation Facilities on Multiple Public Health Outcomes

Increasingly, federal transportation and public health agencies are working together to identify transportation investments that improve public health. Investments in transportation infrastructure represent one method to utilize transportation to improve public health outcomes. The ideal transportation investment is one that not only provides safe access for pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders, but it also promotes more utilitarian or recreational trips for walking and biking in an environment of safe air quality. However, public health objectives can be at conflict when designing transportation infrastructure to support active commuting. For example, infrastructure investments may be made that promote physical activity through utilitarian commuting, yet at the same time, the investment may be made in an area that is characterized by poor air quality or creates an unsafe condition. The purpose of the research is to identify potential performance measures that can foster improved decision making around these investments. The key research contribution is the development of performance measures that can be used in the field to evaluate multiple public health concerns and improve decision making. Secondly, it advances strategies to effectively capture the dimension of safety and physical activity in a manner that considers the conditions under which pedestrian and bicycling activity is likely to increase. The objectives of the project are accomplished through the use and integration of multiple methods, including student-based project learning, expert surveys, content analysis and quantitative statistical techniques

An Inquiry into Gradable Zero-Waste Apparel Design

he implementation of standardized grading production practices within the mass market has been challenging for scholars experimenting with zero-waste apparel design. The purpose of this research was to test the efficacy of the Carrico Zero-waste Banded Grading (CZWBG) technique, which utilizes bands inserted in strategic locations as a method of grading zero-waste patterns across various consumer categories. An additional purpose was to evaluate the ways in which this grading approach affected the aesthetic outcomes of garments across a size run, and to determine whether this method affected the overall design process of the designers involved. Through experimental research design, six design scholars successfully tested and incorporated the CZWBG technique in zero-waste one or two-piece apparel item(s), subsequently developing three sizes in an industry-specified size range for their product category. Each design was cut from zero-waste patterns in a mid-range size and graded up and down one–two sizes using an industry-standardized grading scale. The grading was achieved by varying the widths and lengths of strategically inserted bands of fabric or trim. The designers utilized various grading methods, textiles, pattern development methods, and size runs, showing that the CZWBG technique can successfully be applied across multiple consumer categories in the apparel industry