A physically-based bank erosion model for composite river banks: Application to Mackinaw River, Illinois

Meandering river migration over large spatial and temporal scales has traditionally been numerically simulated using a bank erosion submodel that calculates the eroding bank migration rate as the product of the near-bank excess flow velocity and a dimensionless migration coefficient. The latter value is an empirical parameter calibrated to historical observations. In efforts to improve upon the traditional model, recent research has followed two approaches: (a) provide a means of estimating the dimensionless migration coefficient based on field measurements; and (b) discard the traditional migration coefficient approach to develop a bank erosion submodel based on the actual formulations that dictate fluvial erosion rates and mass failure which determine bank migration. The latter physics-based approach was recently implemented into the numerical model RVR Meander developed by the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (Motta et al, 2012a); however, the governing equations used for fluvial erosion strictly apply only to banks comprised of cohesive soils. In that formulation the fluvial erosion rate is linearly dependent on the excess boundary shear stress. This study explores whether a similarly simple formulation can describe in a gross sense the migration of river banks comprised entirely of non-cohesive soil or composite banks consisting of non-cohesive soil at the base overlain by cohesive soil. Numerical modeling of both fluvial erosion and shallow avalanche mass failures that occur simultaneously during non-cohesive bank deformation reveal that the bank migration rate is strongly non-linear with respect to the boundary shear stress (exponent greater than 1) when considering non-cohesive bank materials. A methodology is described for developing a site specific non-cohesive bank erosion submodel that is valid and computationally practicable over the desired large spatial and temporal scales relevant to models such as RVR Meander. The new methodology allows issues such as flow regime modifications to be incorporated to change the model parameters, which was not possible using the traditional empirical approach. The numerical modeling performed in this study also provides fundamental insights into deformation of non-cohesive river banks: it demonstrates that high flow events tend to cause bank slope reduction, with lower flow events tending to rejuvenate the steepness of the bank; it quantifies the importance of prior erosional history in influencing bank migration rates; and it quantifies the feedback of basal armoring on deformation of the unarmored region.U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe

Characterization of critical shear stresses and bank material erosion rates on gravelly stream banks

Meandering river migration over large spatial and temporal scales has traditionally been numerically simulated using a bank erosion submodel that calculates the eroding bank migration rate as the product of the near-bank excess flow velocity and a dimensionless migration coefficient. The latter value is an empirical parameter calibrated to historical observations. In efforts to improve upon the traditional model, recent research has followed two approaches: (a) provide a means of estimating the dimensionless migration coefficient based on field measurements; and (b) discard the traditional migration coefficient approach to develop a bank erosion submodel based on the actual formulations that dictate fluvial erosion rates and mass failure which determine bank migration. The latter physics-based approach was recently implemented into the numerical model RVR Meander developed by the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (Motta et al, 2012a); however, the governing equations used for fluvial erosion strictly apply only to banks comprised of cohesive soils. In that formulation the fluvial erosion rate is linearly dependent on the excess boundary shear stress. This study explores whether a similarly simple formulation can describe in a gross sense the migration of river banks comprised entirely of non-cohesive soil or composite banks consisting of non-cohesive soil at the base overlain by cohesive soil. Numerical modeling of both fluvial erosion and shallow avalanche mass failures that occur simultaneously during non-cohesive bank deformation reveal that the bank migration rate is strongly non-linear with respect to the boundary shear stress (exponent greater than 1) when considering non-cohesive bank materials. A methodology is described for developing a site specific non-cohesive bank erosion submodel that is valid and computationally practicable over the desired large spatial and temporal scales relevant to models such as RVR Meander. The new methodology allows issues such as flow regime modifications to be incorporated to change the model parameters, which was not possible using the traditional empirical approach. The numerical modeling performed in this study also provides fundamental insights into deformation of non-cohesive river banks: it demonstrates that high flow events tend to cause bank slope reduction, with lower flow events tending to rejuvenate the steepness of the bank; it quantifies the importance of prior erosional history in influencing bank migration rates; and it quantifies the feedback of basal armoring on deformation of the unarmored region.U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe

The Fall and Rise of US Inequities in Premature Mortality: 1960–2002

Nancy Krieger and colleagues found evidence of decreasing, and then increasing or stagnating, socioeconomic and racial inequities in US premature mortality and infant death from 1960 to 2002

Developing and implementing a school-led motor intervention for children with handwriting difficulties

We describe the development of an evidence-based motor intervention and an implementation pilot study in ten primary schools, involving 515 children (4–11 years). ‘Helping Handwriting SHINE’ (HHS) is a novel, school-led, group-based handwriting intervention. Teaching staff delivered HHS and provided feedback through a questionnaire, reporting that: (i) the children found the tasks enjoyable; (ii) the background and booklet instructions were easy to understand, (iii) there was a need for more comprehensive staff training. The teaching staff made recommendations about session duration, group size, resource availability, and age differentiation of tasks. These suggestions are applicable to the development of any school-based group-led motor intervention, and we used this feedback to refine the HHS intervention. This study shows that implementing school-led motor interventions at scale is possible. Moreover, the work provides insights into the factors to consider when developing school-based motor interventions prior to conducting randomized controlled trials (RCT). The process outlined in this manuscript has led to an RCT to test the effectiveness of HHS within primary schools.</p

Un enterramiento colectivo en cueva del III milenio AC en el centro de la Península Ibérica: el Rebollosillo (Torrelaguna, Madrid)

El Rebollosillo is a small karstic cave located in the center of Iberia used for the disposition of secondary burials during the mid third millennium BC. We present bioanthropological, isotopic ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, δ 13 C y δ 18 O) analyses and 16 radiocarbon dates on human remains, as well as mineralogical characterization of 6 beads (4 of them variscite from Palazuelo de las Cuevas, Zamora), and a quantitative analysis of 43 pottery fragments recovered during the 1989 excavations. A minimum of 21 individu-als have been identified, covering all age ranges and sex. Low percentages of pathologies have been detected, mainly dental calculus and caries, with specific cases of cribra orbitalia, periostosis and arthritis. Only adults received a clearly individualized treatment, suggestive of achieved status. We interpret the evidence as a multi-staged mortuary program, the last phase of which is documented at the site, with previous stages perhaps carried out elsewhere, and we evaluate these results in the context of the regional funerary record.El Rebollosillo es una pequeña cueva kárstica situada en el centro de la Península Ibérica utilizada para la disposición de enterramientos secundarios en la mitad del III milenio AC. Presentamos resultados bioantropológicos, isotópicos (87Sr/86Sr, δ13C y δ18O) y 16 dataciones radiocarbónicas de los restos humanos, una descripción cuantificada de los 43 fragmentos cerámicos y de caracterización mineralógica de 6 cuentas recuperadas durante la excavación de 1989, cuatro de las cuales probablemente proceden de Palazuelo de las Cuevas (Zamora). El análisis bioantropológico indica un mínimo de 21 individuos con todos los rangos de edad y sexo. Se han detectado bajos porcentajes de patologías, mayoritariamente cálculo dental y caries, con casos puntuales de cribra orbitalia, periostosis y artrosis. La disposición de los restos sugiere que sólo los adultos recibieron un tratamiento claramente individualizado, quizás acorde con un estatus adquirido con la edad. Proponemos que el registro representa la última fase de un programa mortuorio cuyas etapas previas debieron desarrollarse en otros lugares y valoramos estos resultados en el contexto del registro funerario regionalInvestigación desarrollada en el contexto de los proyectos HAR2013-47776-R y CGL2012-35199 del Ministerio de Ciencia y Competitividad y el proyecto Cód. 099100 de la FUA

A study to assess the feasibility of undertaking a randomized controlled trial of adherence with eye drops in glaucoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Adherence with therapy could influence the progression of glaucoma and ultimately affect the onset of visual impairment in some individuals. This feasibility study evaluated the measures to be used for a future randomized controlled trial assessing the effects of group-based education on adherence with eye drops. METHODS: People diagnosed with glaucoma within the previous 12 months attending a regional ophthalmology clinic in the North West of England were recruited. A two-session education program delivered one week apart had been devised as part of a previous project. A combined adult learning and health needs approach to education was taken. Outcomes measured were knowledge of glaucoma, self-report of adherence, illness perception, beliefs about medicines, patient enablement, and general health (Short Form-12). Adherence was also measured objectively using a Medical Events Monitoring System device. RESULTS: Twenty-six participants consented to undertake the educational program and 19 produced analyzable data. Knowledge of glaucoma, illness perception, beliefs about medicine, and patient enablement all showed statistically significant improvements after education. Mean adherence with eye drops was maintained above 85% before and for 3 months after attendance at the educational program. Self-report exaggerated adherence by at least 10% when compared with the objective Medical Events Monitoring System data, and in fact the kappa agreement was zero. CONCLUSION: All questionnaires other than the Short Form-12 were considered to be valuable measures and use of a Medical Events Monitoring System device was considered to be an objective surrogate measure for adherence with eye drops. A multicenter, randomized, controlled equivalence trial of group versus individualized education using adherence as the primary outcome is the next step

Medical Care Capacity for Influenza Outbreaks, Los Angeles

In December 1997, media reported hospital overcrowding and “the worst [flu epidemic] in the past two decades” in Los Angeles County (LAC). We found that rates of pneumonia and influenza deaths, hospitalizations, and claims were substantially higher for the 1997–98 influenza season than the previous six seasons. Hours of emergency medical services (EMS) diversion (when emergency departments could not receive incoming patients) peaked during the influenza seasons studied; the number of EMS diversion hours per season also increased during the seasons 1993–94 to 1997–98, suggesting a decrease in medical care capacity during influenza seasons. Over the seven influenza seasons studied, the number of licensed beds decreased 12%, while the LAC population increased 5%. Our findings suggest that the capacity of health-care systems to handle patient visits during influenza seasons is diminishing

Financial considerations in the conduct of multi-centre randomised controlled trials: evidence from a qualitative study.

National Coordinating Centre for Research Methodology; Medical Research Council, UK Department of Health; Chief Scientist OfficeNot peer reviewedPublisher PD

STELLAR: fast and exact local alignments

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Large-scale comparison of genomic sequences requires reliable tools for the search of local alignments. Practical local aligners are in general fast, but heuristic, and hence sometimes miss significant matches.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present here the local pairwise aligner STELLAR that has full sensitivity for <it>ε</it>-alignments, i.e. guarantees to report all local alignments of a given minimal length and maximal error rate. The aligner is composed of two steps, filtering and verification. We apply the SWIFT algorithm for lossless filtering, and have developed a new verification strategy that we prove to be exact. Our results on simulated and real genomic data confirm and quantify the conjecture that heuristic tools like BLAST or BLAT miss a large percentage of significant local alignments.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>STELLAR is very practical and fast on very long sequences which makes it a suitable new tool for finding local alignments between genomic sequences under the edit distance model. Binaries are freely available for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X at <url>http://www.seqan.de/projects/stellar</url>. The source code is freely distributed with the SeqAn C++ library version 1.3 and later at <url>http://www.seqan.de</url>.</p