Comparative Assessment of Seaport Vulnerabilities to Climate Change: Pilot Study for North Atlantic Medium and High-Use Seaports

The Third U.S. National Climate Assessment indicates that seaport infrastructure is already being damaged by sea level rise, heavy downpours, and extreme heat, and that these damages are expected to continue with continued climate change. To facilitate far-sighted planning for a climate-resilient Marine Transportation System (MTS) the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), in collaboration with University of Rhode Island researchers in the Department of Marine Affairs, are piloting a climate-vulnerability indexing method that is driven by data and informed by expert knowledge. This research will contribute to a better understanding of the regional distribution of climate-vulnerability across North Atlantic ports in order to inform transportation resilience and climate-adaptation planning. This pilot study will investigate the climate vulnerabilities of seaports by applying expert elicitation methods to develop indicators of climate vulnerability for the 22 medium and high use ports of the USACE North Atlantic Division. In addition to refining a set of high-level indicators of seaport climate vulnerability, this research will employ expert elicitation methods to weight and aggregate selected indicators to determine the suitability of available data to differentiate ports within a region in terms of relative climate vulnerabilities. Results will serve as an entry point to inform MTS decision-makers in the USACE and other agencies about the nature of seaport climate change vulnerability, its components and determinants, the mechanisms through which a port is vulnerable, and the suitability of available data to serve as high-level indicators of seaport climate vulnerability. Ultimately, this research will support climate resilient national and regional transportation policy. Two published reports are associated with this data set: - Report Number: ERDC/CHL CR-19-2 Title: Measuring Climate and Extreme Weather Vulnerability to Inform Resilience, Report 1: A Pilot Study for North Atlantic Medium- and High-Use Maritime Freight Nodes By R. Duncan McIntosh, Elizabeth L. Mclean, and Austin Becker Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/35196 - Report Number: ERDC/CHL CR-19-3 Title: Measuring Climate and Extreme Weather Vulnerability to Inform Resilience, Report 2: Port Decision-Makers\u27 Barriers to Climate and Extreme Weather Adaption By Elizabeth L. Mclean and Austin Becker Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.21079/11681/3519

Movements, survival and habitat use by elk (Cervus elaphus) reintroduced to Northwestern Ontario

Once native to Ontario, eastern elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) occupied much of the deciduous forest biome of eastern North America. However, increasing human settlement, as well as demands for meat and agricultural land resulted in their extirpation during the late 1800s and early 1900s. In 1995 the government of the province of Ontario announced an elk restoration initiative, and from 2000 to 2001 a total of 108 western elk (Cervus elaphus manitobensis) were translocated from Elk Island National Park (EINP), Alberta, to northwestern Ontario. Subsequent monitoring of the elk provided unique opportunities to measure their success in a boeal landscape, assess reintroduction methodologies, and gain knowledge required for future management strategies. The specific objectives of this study were to examine the spatial behaviour, habitat relationships, and population characteristics of the recently reintroduce elk. As well, data relating to the transmission of two cervid parasites, Fascioloides magma and Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, on Ontario range were collected. Two years after the initial reintroduction, 70% of the elk were still within 20 km of the release site. The remaining 30% (10 adult males and 12 adult females) permanently dispersed to the south, approximately 90 km from the release site. Mean maximum distance moved following release was farthest for elk translocated as adult males (68 ± 15 km ), follow ed by adult females (37 + 6 km ), female calves (8 + 1 km ) and male calves (6 km + 0.7 km)

The Pastoral Field: Local Ecologies in Early Modern Literature

“The Pastoral Field: Local Ecologies in Early Modern Literature” excavates the ways in which pastoral literature registers the role nature-human interaction played in shaping protracted struggles over land use and ownership, and in the degradation and improvement of natural landscapes. Revising a longstanding critical tradition that understands early modern pastoral as primarily allegorical, the project instead insists that the form can also accommodate topical thinking about regional ecologies. Shifting the emphasis away from the Elizabethan court towards local agricultural politics, it unearths the ways in which natural crises such as flooding, famine, sheep rot, and soil degradation hastened processes of agricultural improvement and enclosure—and how those processes were in turn mediated, counter-factually imagined, and actively promoted within the literary devices of pastoral. Each of my four chapters locates pastoral plays, poems, romances, and country-house entertainments in the particular landscapes that shaped their development— landscapes that were, in turn, reconfigured by the literary and political concerns of Elizabethan authors

Improving Child Welfare: African Canadian Youth\u27s Postcare Options

Thousands of youth exit Ontario\u27s Child Welfare System (CWS) each year and perform poorly after returning to the community. However, understanding African Canadian youths\u27 perspectives about their experiences and needs was problematic because no outcome data was available in the Canadian database. Using a phenomenological design grounded in a constructivist framework, the purpose of this study was to explore the meaning(s) that African Canadian youth ascribed to positive outcomes on exiting the CWS. A purposeful sample included 10 participants (6 females and 4 males, ranging in age from 19-24). The data collection method was face-to-face interviews with hand coding used to transcribe the data. Inductive analysis of themes and member checking ensured the trustworthiness of the interpretations. The 9 resulting themes related to concerns about their stay in care, as well as readiness for exiting CWS successfully: in-care instability (multiple foster homes and changes), unpreparedness for the transition, counselling/lack of counselling, behavioral management, education, maintaining motivation homelessness, shelter living, extended care connections, Extended Care and Maintenance (ECM), and Youth Voice in decision making. These themes represented issues that African Canadian youth believed would improve transitioning from CWS to independent living, particularly in negotiating community connections and resources. Social change can occur when policy makers and stakeholders acknowledge the problems and special needs of these youth by implementing the resources, services, and supportive programs to assure continuity of care and more successful outcomes

Source-age dynamics of estuarine particulate organic matter using fatty acid delta C-13 and Delta C-14 composition

This study used a multiproxy approach to elucidate the source and age composition of estuarine particulate organic matter (POM) using bulk stable isotopes (C-13(POC)), fatty acid (FA) biomarkers, and compound specific isotopic analyses in surface waters along the Delaware River and Bay (Delaware Estuary, hereafter). C-13 values of FA (C-13(FA)) ranged more widely (-30.9 parts per thousand to -21.8 parts per thousand) than C-13(POC) (-27.5 parts per thousand to -23.5 parts per thousand), providing greater insight about POM sources along the estuary. C-13 values of C-16:0 phospholipid FA (primarily, aquatic sources) increased along the salinity gradient (-29.8 parts per thousand to -23.4 parts per thousand), while C-13(FA) values of long-chain neutral fatty acid (terrestrial sources) decreased (-28.6 parts per thousand to -30.9 parts per thousand). C-13(FA) values for C-18\u27s FA indicated the importance of marsh-derived organic matter within Delaware Estuary. Compound specific radiocarbon analysis showed the heterogeneous age structure of FA associated with POM (FA(POM)). C-14 ages of FA ranged from modern (postbomb) to 1790BP; aged FA (120BP to 1700BP) derived primarily from the watershed, whereas modern FA were produced within Delaware Estuary. C-14 ages of short-chain FA (aquatic sources) reflected differences in the age of dissolved inorganic carbon along the estuary and had older C-14 ages at the river end-member. C-14 ages of FA from terrigenous sources were older than water and sediment residence times indicating this source derived from the watershed. This study is the first to document the complex age distribution of FA(POM) along the estuarine salinity gradient and shows that inorganic carbon sources, watershed inputs and autochthonous production contribute to variation in the ages of POM

Executive Function Capacities, Negative Driving Behavior and Crashes in Young Drivers

Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury and death in adolescents, with teen drivers three times more likely to be in a fatal crash when compared to adults. One potential contributing risk factor is the ongoing development of executive functioning with maturation of the frontal lobe through adolescence and into early adulthood. Atypical development resulting in poor or impaired executive functioning (as in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) has been associated with risky driving and crash outcomes. However, executive function broadly encompasses a number of capacities and domains (e.g., working memory, inhibition, set-shifting). In this review, we examine the role of various executive function sub-processes in adolescent driver behavior and crash rates. We summarize the state of methods for measuring executive control and driving outcomes and highlight the great heterogeneity in tools with seemingly contradictory findings. Lastly, we offer some suggestions for improved methods and practical ways to compensate for the effects of poor executive function (such as in-vehicle assisted driving devices). Given the key role that executive function plays in safe driving, this review points to an urgent need for systematic research to inform development of more effective training and interventions for safe driving among adolescents

Coming into focus : educator and counselor perceptions of gay and lesbian youth

Many Aboriginal languages are becoming extinct due to lack of fluent speakers. Computer games offer a way to help teach these languages in a fun and engaging way. However, computer games like all technology objects are based in the culture of their creators. In this paper we describe a project where we co-designed a language application for mobile phone with the Gugu Badhun, an Aboriginal community from north Queensland Australia. The participatory action research process allowed our Aboriginal partners to embed their own culture in the games, leading to a product that supported their goals and aspirations for language renewal. This collaboration has not only provided a way to sustain their language, but also added capacity to their community in ICT development

A qualitative and quantitative study of registered and student nurses' educational experiences, knowledge and attitudes regarding sleep promotion in hospital.

Introduction. The literature shows that nurses have an important role to play in sleeppromotion. There is a lack of literature which has set out to investigate what nursesknow or feel about sleep promotion or how they are prepared for this role.Aims. This study explored the educational experiences, knowledge and attitudes ofstudent and registered nurses regarding sleep promotion.Design. A mixed method approach which was partly informed by the principles ofethnography was used. It was carried out over time in 4 phases. Methods. 1. Quantitative descriptive data on sleep input in pre-registration nursingHigher Education Institutions (HEIs) (n=27) collected by postal survey.2. Questionnaires completed by student volunteers from 4 HEIs (n= 120) in the last 6months of their nursing programme and by registered nurse volunteers from criticalcare and care of the elderly backgrounds studying at 4 HEIs (n=98). 3. Interviewscarried out with a sample of the students (n=26) and the registered nurses (n=15). 4.Further interviews with 16 of the original students, 6 -12 months post-qualification.Results. The findings showed that there was no standardisation of educational inputin the HEIs. The participants felt they had learned most about sleep promotionthrough clinical experience, from staff, patients and their own life experiences ratherthan their educational programmes. Their learning was unstructured, learning bybeing in practice as opposed to reflecting on practice and they lacked declarativeknowledge about sleep and its promotion. The participants held generally positiveattitudes to sleep but for some there were clear blocks to their practice, including theattitudes of others, ward culture and routine orientation of care, resulting in sleeppromotion having a low priority. A model of sleep promotion practice and acharacterisation of sleep promoting behaviour were developed from the participants'descriptions and experiences.Conclusions. These findings highlighted the need to address the acquisition ofknowledge and skills on sleep and its promotion. A new framework is proposed forthis purpose. The clinical implications include the need to increase awareness of allstaff, particularly through managers who have responsibility for encouraging positiveattitudes towards sleep promotion

Protecting Patients from Physicians Who Inflict Harm: New Legal Resources for State Medical Boards

State medical boards (SMBs) protect the public by ensuring that physicians uphold appropriate standards of care and ethical practice. Despite this clear purpose, egregious types of wrongdoing by physicians are alarmingly frequent, harmful, and under-reported. Even when egregious wrongdoing is reported to SMBs, it is unclear why SMBs sometimes fail to promptly remove seriously offending physicians from practice. Legal and policy tools that are targeted, well-informed, and actionable are urgently needed to help SMBs more effectively protect patients from egregious wrongdoing by physicians.Past reviews of SMB performance have identified features of SMBs associated with higher rates of severe disciplinary actions against physicians, including political and professional independence and adequate funding and staffing. However, there has been little attention paid to elements of the state level legal framework that governs SMB licensing and disciplinary function, or what legal or policy tools would make SMBs more effective at protecting patients in serious cases.This Article offers solutions in the form of model language with commentary for five high-impact statutory provisions that address board composition and function, reporting to the board, and adjudication of disciplinary matters. It brings together consensus recommendations from an expert panel, the results of legal mapping of relevant state laws, and original legal and policy analysis. The model provisions and commentary are intended to serve as a new resource for SMBs, state legislatures, and other policymakers to encourage and support examination of existing medical practice acts to improve SMB function and better protect patients from harmful physicians. Note:Funding Information: The research was supported by a grant from the Greenwall Foundation..Declaration of Interests: None to declare