Examining sources of sediment carbon stored in seagrass habitats across the Skagit Delta and Padilla Bay

The potential for seagrass (Zostera marina) habitats to store carbon is a topic of interest to resource managers and ecosystem scientists as they strive to develop and evaluate climate change mitigation strategies. I investigated the sources of carbon and nitrogen stored in Zostera marina habitats within the Salish Sea. I compared two sites, the Skagit River delta (delta) and Padilla Bay (embayment), in order to compare carbon storage and the sources of stored carbon between these two shoreline types. Within each site, I collected sediment cores in Z. marina meadows and on unvegetated mudflat. I measured changes in carbon density and isotopic signatures of carbon and nitrogen with depth. Isotopic signatures showed significant differences in carbon and nitrogen between the delta and embayment sites and also between Z. marina meadows and unvegetated mudflat. In the Skagit delta, cores taken from Z. marina habitat were depleted in ∂13C compared with cores taken from unvegetated habitat. Conversely, in the Padilla Bay embayment, cores taken from Z. marina habitat were enriched in ∂13C compared with cores taken from unvegetated habitat, suggesting that carbon and nitrogen sources varied between each site and within Z. marina habitats. In the next step of this research, a Bayesian mixing model will be used to estimate the contribution of likely carbon sources within the Skagit delta and Padilla Bay embayment. This analysis may clarify the differences between source(s) of carbon and nitrogen supplied to each site, and whether sources have changed over time. In addition, this model may uncover the different source(s) of carbon and nitrogen stored within Z. marina meadows and unvegetated mudflat. This research may help shed light on the carbon and nitrogen storage dynamics within these sites and the mechanisms that drive carbon storage within the Skagit Delta and Padilla Bay

Development and testing of measures to assess nutrition behavior change in low income adults participating in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program

2017 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.To view the abstract, please see the full text of the document

Transformative Learning in Teacher Education: Building Competencies and Changing Dispositions

Acquiring a repertoire of competencies for creating and maintaining successful parent partnerships is an exceedingly important yet difficult task for pre-service educators. This mixed-methods study compared non-traditional and traditional approaches to transforming undergraduate student dispositions and competencies toward parent/professional partnerships. Results suggest that embedding parents of children with disabilities in the classroom, together with the use of activities that promote regular discourse, reflection, relationship building with professionally-relevant partners, transformed student dispositions toward parent/professional partnerships and increased student competence. Implications for teacher education programs are discussed

Protection from Metabolic Dysregulation, Obesity, and Atherosclerosis by Citrus Flavonoids: Activation of Hepatic PGC1α-Mediated Fatty Acid Oxidation

Studies in a multitude of models including cell culture, animal and clinical studies demonstrate that citrus-derived flavonoids have therapeutic potential to attenuate dyslipidemia, correct hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, and reduce atherosclerosis. Emerging evidence suggests the metabolic regulators, PPARα and PGC1α, are targets of the citrus flavonoids, and their activation may be at least partially responsible for mediating their metabolic effects. Molecular studies will add significantly to the concept of these flavonoids as viable and promising therapeutic agents to treat the dysregulation of lipid homeostasis, metabolic disease, and its cardiovascular complications

How Differences in Political Ideology Impact Close Relationships

Previous research on close relationships highlights the importance of similarities between individuals in a relationship. Studies have shown a recent propensity to avoid individuals who differ in political opinions. In two studies, using measures of political ideology and relationship satisfaction, the present research examined how political differences related to relationship satisfaction in romantic relationships (Study 1) and friendships (Study 2). We found that participants in romantic relationships expressed decreased relationship satisfaction if they perceived larger political differences between themselves and their partners. These results remained robust even after controlling for demographics and individual differences. We also found that friendships are deemed as less satisfying if participants perceived larger political differences between themselves and their friend. The friendship effects, however, were less robust than the romantic relationship effects. These findings contribute to a greater understanding of close relationship endurance and factors that affect relationship satisfaction

Exploring Narrative Inquiry in an Introduction to Mathematical Thinking Course

This thesis presents a study of the mathematical behaviour of students in a first year undergraduate course entitled Introduction to Mathematical Thinking. Previous data collected from a design experiment carried out in the same course (see Hardy et al. 2013) proved insufficient to discuss/characterize the mathematical behaviour that emerged in the classroom. I suggest that a new generation of research in this area needs to address the lived experiences of students as they are learning to think mathematically. This thesis is motivated by two research goals: (1) to construct a rich characterization of mathematical behaviours, and (2) to explore a methodological approach that allows us to discuss and construct accounts of these behaviours as they emerge in institutional education settings (in this case an undergraduate classroom). The educational philosophy of John Dewey, who claims that all education comes about through experience, is central to the theoretical perspective of this research. Drawing on previous characterizations, a model of mathematical behaviour is proposed and used as a tool for characterizing students’ mathematical behaviours. In order to foreground individual experience, I use Clandinin and Connolly’s (2000) methodological framework to conduct a narrative inquiry. This methodology allows me to construct meaningful narrative depictions of students’ mathematical behaviour, and to explore the significance of these experiences within the continuity and wholeness of their individual narratives. The findings from this research provide rich characterizations of some elements of mathematical behaviour, and offer insight into my own experiences using narrative inquiry methodology. Implications for teaching and future research are discussed

Impacts of Changing Snowmelt Timing on Non-Irrigated Crop Yield

As climate changes, the final date of spring snowmelt is projected to occur earlier in the year within the western United States. This earlier snowmelt timing may impact crop yield in snow-dominated watersheds by changing the timing of water delivery to agricultural fields. There is considerable uncertainty about how agricultural impacts of snowmelt timing may vary by region, crop type, and practices like irrigation vs. dryland farming. We utilize parametric regression techniques to isolate the magnitude of impact snowmelt timing has had on historical crop yield independently of climate and physiographic variables that also impact yield. To do this, we examine the historical relationship between snowmelt timing and non-irrigated wheat and barley yield using a multiple linear regression model to predict yield in several Idaho counties as a function of snowmelt date, climate variables (precipitation and growing degree-days), and spatial differences between counties. We apply non-parametric techniques to identify controls on this relationship. To do this, we employ classification and regression trees to predict the relationship between snowmelt timing and yield as a function of both climate and physiographic variables (e.g., elevation). Snowmelt timing significantly predicts crop yield independently of climate variables, which also explain yield. Most trends suggest a decrease in non-irrigated wheat and barley yield with earlier spring snowmelt, but a significant opposite relationship is observed in some Idaho counties. Spring and summer precipitation appears to buffer the negative impact of early snowmelt timing on yield, along with several physiographic characteristics (including elevation/latitude of snowmelt and elevation of planting). These controls may assist agricultural producers, land managers, and water managers in decision making as early snowmelt timing occurs in the future

Systematic review of melanoma incidence and prognosis in solid organ transplant recipients

Cutaneous melanoma carries the potential for substantial morbidity and mortality in the solid organ transplant population. We systematically reviewed the literature published from January 1995 to January 2012 to determine the overall relative risk and prognosis of melanoma in transplant recipients. Our search identified 7,512 citations. Twelve unique non-overlapping studies reported the population-based incidence of melanoma in an inception cohort of solid organ transplant recipients. Compared to the general population, there is a 2.4-fold (95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 2.9) increased incidence of melanoma after transplantation. No population-based outcome data were identified for melanoma arising post-transplant. Data from non-population based cohort studies suggest a worse prognosis for late-stage melanoma developing after transplantation compared with the general population. For patients with a history of pre-transplant melanoma, one population-based study reported a local recurrence rate of 11% (2/19) after transplantation, although staging and survival information was lacking. There is a need for population-based data on the prognosis of melanoma arising pre- and post-transplantation. Increased incidence and potentially worse melanoma outcomes in this high-risk population have implications for clinical care in terms of prevention, screening and reduction of immunosuppression after melanoma development post-transplant, as well as transplantation decisions in patients with a history of pre-transplant melanoma