Developing a Gulf-wide oyster reef restoration plan: identification of spatial, socio-economic and geo-political constraints

Oyster reefs have recently been identified as one of the most endangered coastal ecosystems, fueling efforts to restore and enhance these systems. Oyster reefs located in the northern Gulf of Mexico have been identified as some of the healthiest of reefs globally, and current efforts focus on devising an approach to Gulf-wide restoration of these reefs. As with all natural resource management and restoration, success is dependent on more than simply understanding the biological requirements of the resource; rather, they are equally dependent on understanding and working within the social and political context in which these management and restoration activities must occur. This project has developed a framework for setting Gulf-wide oyster reef restoration goals by identifying the geo-political, socio-economic, and spatial context in which restoration will occur. Specifically, this project assesses key political and socio-economic factors affecting oyster reef restoration in the Gulf by 1) exhibiting differences and similarities in state requirements for oyster reef restoration, and view points among oyster reef restoration project leaders in each state 2) determining stakeholder and various user groups perception of oyster reef restoration and 3) providing a spatial tool to aid decision making regarding oyster reef restoration in the Gulf. Results show that there are currently differences among the states in their oyster reef restoration policies and requirements, and differences in project leader goals that may make it difficult to create a region wide oyster reef restoration plan. There is also variation in how various stakeholder groups prefer for oyster reef restoration to occur, though there is unanimous stakeholder support for oyster reef restoration. Important biological and socio-economic spatial information identifies areas that are suitable for oyster reef restoration, allowing decision makers to more fully understand the potential success or effects of restored reefs. These studies show that there are socio-economic, geo-political and biological differences across the northern Gulf of Mexico that can ultimately create constraints as well as opportunities for a regional oyster reef restoration plan. This knowledge can help inform oyster reef restoration planners by guiding their restoration actions more efficiently and effectively, enabling them to achieve their desired outcomes

Morbidity following orthopaedic surgery

Morbidity following hip and knee arthroplasty has previously been poorly recorded. This is the first time the Post-Operative Morbidity Survey (POMS) has been used for this purpose. The POMS identifies clinically significant morbidity using indicators of organ system dysfunction rather than traditional diagnostic categories. The most common types of morbidity following hip and knee arthroplasty are infection and renal morbidity. Pulmonary, pain and gastro-intestinal morbidity are less common. Cardiovascular, wound, neurological and haematological morbidity are least common. Many arthroplasty patients remain in hospital without morbidity. The POMS identifies these patients and thus has potential as a prospective bed utilisation tool. To be used for this purpose, the POMS must identify all clinically significant morbidity. Mobility is an important factor for safe discharge of arthroplasty patients. Addition of a ‘mobility’ domain could improve the utility of POMS as a bed utilisation tool following orthopaedic surgery. This study showed no association between post-operative morbidity defined by the POMS and longer-term patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). This study does not support the POMS as an early surrogate marker of long-term PROMs in orthopaedic patients. The wound domain of the POMS has a high specificity, reasonable sensitivity, high negative predictive value and low positive predictive value compared to the inpatient ASEPSIS (Additional treatment, Serous discharge, Erythema, Purulent exudate, Separation of deep tissues, Isolation of bacteria, inpatient Stay over 14 days) score. The wound domain of POMS could be replaced with a validated definition of wound infection such as ASEPSIS. On the same series of orthopaedic patients, surgical site infection (SSI) rate according to the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) definition was 15.45%, according to the Nosocomial Infection National Surveillance Scheme (NINSS) definition was 11.32% and according to the ASEPSIS definition was 8.79%. This highlights the need for a consistent definition of SSI

Surviving Creatively: An investigation into the impact of work with people who have learning disabilities on art therapists employed in the NHS

This heuristic qualitative study is the first British art therapy study into the impact of working with people with learning disabilities on art therapists employed in the NHS, asking whether they could avoid burnout. The researcher had personal experience of the issues. Unlike most burnout studies, organisational, client-related and personal factors were considered, and the interaction between them was found to be important. The researcher explored her own data in a rigorous self-analytic process, and fifteen art therapists employed by NHS Trusts across England were interviewed. There were enjoyable and satisfying aspects to our work as art therapists with people with LD, and protective factors, such as support, autonomy, empowerment, working part-time, personal development, art practice, and strategic self-care. Researcher’s data revealed considerable impact working with people with severe LD and challenging behaviour. Three participants had similar experiences, but, even for art therapists working with clients with milder LD, powerful unconscious processes impacted thinking and emotional labour, as did challenging behaviour, autism, complexity, risk, difficulties with engagement. Stress was experienced due to widespread restructuring and ongoing change in NHS Trusts and prolonged job insecurity, uncertainty, work intensification and changes in working conditions. Limited employment opportunities for art therapists increased anxiety about job insecurity; fortunately, participants retained their jobs. They were highly committed, and most retained tenure for many years. Community-based art therapists were particularly impacted by agile working and estate reduction. Personal sources of stress, combined with organisational and LD-related sources, and multiple roles, increased vulnerability to emotional exhaustion. Participants were creative, resourceful, flexible, and adapted to changing work conditions; they had a person-centred therapeutic approach, and made considerable efforts to ensure work-life balance. Of six participants who were highly stressed, three experienced emotional exhaustion and physical illness, but recovered, and there was much evidence of resilience and personal growth

No One Can Place Me in a Box: Exploring the Identity Status of Adult Third Culture Kids

Given the mixed findings on Adult Third-Culture Kids’ (ATCKs) identity development, the study explored whether ATCKs’ identity problems, particularly identity moratorium, were in fact related to their relativistic thinking developed as a result of their experiences abroad; more specifically, the study tested whether relativistic thinking in ATCKs mediated the relationship between cross-cultural experience and identity moratorium. The study did not find a significant relationship between either cross-cultural experience and identity moratorium, or cross-cultural experience and relativistic thinking, but did between identity moratorium and relativistic thinking

Food Access in Petersburg, Virginia: Final Report and Recommendations

The City of Petersburg has long suffered with issues of limited access to food and food insecurity. Food deserts, or areas underserved by retail food options, are prevalent throughout the City. As a result, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has ranked the city last of Virginia\u27s 133 counties in their annual health rankings. For the Fall 2019 semester, students from Virginia Commonwealth University\u27s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs, through Dr. John Accordino\u27s Urban Commercial Revitalization course, focused on planning solutions to address food deserts in commercial areas, with the City of Petersburg being one of their clients. The class assessed the potential for commercial revitalization and made five recommendations

Increasing Access to Food: A Comprehensive Report on Food Supply Options

Access to food is one of the most important aspects of a healthy, sustainable community. Grocery stores and other suppliers can serve as an economic anchor to provide social benefits to communities. Unfortunately, many communities do not have convenient and/or affordable access to grocery items, particularly fresh produce. As part of Virginia Commonwealth University\u27s Fall 2019 graduate course on Urban Commercial Revitalization, class members researched 13 retail and other food access options, which are described in this report. Each chapter covers a food access option and provides basic information that will be useful to individuals, organizations, or government agencies that wish to attract and/or develop grocery operations in their communities

Prospectus, November 2, 1983

PARKLAND PLACES FIRST AT MORGAN NATIONALS; News Digest; Reisner\u27s Spanish classes never alike, some become like family; Letter to the editor; Finding single success; PALS show no apathy; Ewen chosen 1 out of 11 in U.S.; Grants available; High school students tour PC; Stugo update; Thanks for Tonia; Operator honored; Cablevision courses; Cards lift spirits; No quick way out of war for Marines; Illinois precipitation remains low says State Water Survey; SIDS--the quiet killer; Longer days and years; Students play in clay; Scarcity of skilled workers remain; More flood research needed; Ceramics students work hard in pottery field; Vietnam: A search for truth; Dead Zone is taut thriller; Cougar Mellencamp-- Uh-Huh ; Chemical people on WILL; Doors not the same without Morrison; Plan a trip around the world with Sesame Street; Hilarious side of sex; Benatar shows poor effort; Entertainment News; Classified; Brown wins Freddy; Ways to achieving super health; Fast Freddy Contesthttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1983/1006/thumbnail.jp

Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor: two Case Reports and an Analysis of Adult Cases With Implications for Pathophysiology and Treatment

We present the first quantitative analysis of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) in adults, including two patients from our own institutions. These are of interest as one occurred during pregnancy and one is a long-term survivor. Our review of pathological findings of 50 reported cases of adult ATRT leads us to propose a solely ectodermal origin for the tumor and that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a defining feature. Thus, the term ATRT may be misleading. Our review of clinical findings shows that ATRT tends to originate in mid-line structures adjacent to the CSF, leading to a high rate of leptomeningeal dissemination. Thus, we hypothesize that residual undifferentiated ectoderm in the circumventricular organs, particularly the pituitary and pineal glands, is the most common origin for these tumors. We note that if growth is not arrested soon after diagnosis, or after the first relapse/progression, death is almost universal. While typically rapidly fatal (as in our first case), long-term remission is possible (as in our second). Significant predictors of prognosis were the extent of resection and the use of chemotherapy. Glial differentiation (GFAP staining) was strongly associated with leptomeningeal metastases (chi-squared p = 0.02) and both predicted markedly worse outcomes. Clinical trials including adults are rare. ATRT is primarily a disease of infancy and radiotherapy is generally avoided in those aged less than 3 years old. Treatment options in adults differ from infants in that cranio-spinal irradiation is a viable adjunct to systemic chemotherapy in the adult population. Given the grave prognosis, this combined approach appears reasonable. As effective chemotherapy is likely to cause myelosuppression, we recommend that stem-cell rescue be available locally