A Dose Relationship Between Brain Functional Connectivity and Cumulative Head Impact Exposure in Collegiate Water Polo Players.

A growing body of evidence suggests that chronic, sport-related head impact exposure can impair brain functional integration and brain structure and function. Evidence of a robust inverse relationship between the frequency and magnitude of repeated head impacts and disturbed brain network function is needed to strengthen an argument for causality. In pursuing such a relationship, we used cap-worn inertial sensors to measure the frequency and magnitude of head impacts sustained by eighteen intercollegiate water polo athletes monitored over a single season of play. Participants were evaluated before and after the season using computerized cognitive tests of inhibitory control and resting electroencephalography. Greater head impact exposure was associated with increased phase synchrony [r (16) > 0.626, p < 0.03 corrected], global efficiency [r (16) > 0.601, p < 0.04 corrected], and mean clustering coefficient [r (16) > 0.625, p < 0.03 corrected] in the functional networks formed by slow-wave (delta, theta) oscillations. Head impact exposure was not associated with changes in performance on the inhibitory control tasks. However, those with the greatest impact exposure showed an association between changes in resting-state connectivity and a dissociation between performance on the tasks after the season [r (16) = 0.481, p = 0.043] that could also be attributed to increased slow-wave synchrony [F (4, 135) = 113.546, p < 0.001]. Collectively, our results suggest that athletes sustaining the greatest head impact exposure exhibited changes in whole-brain functional connectivity that were associated with altered information processing and inhibitory control

Skagit Delta alternatives analysis: using output from the Salish Sea hydrodynamic model to quantify benefits and impacts of restoration project concepts

The Skagit Hydrodynamic Model Project was initiated by the Farms, Fish, and Flood Initiative (3FI) to conduct a landscape-scale alternative analysis in the Skagit River delta region. Twenty-three proposed restoration projects were assessed based on a number of quantitative indicators identified by representatives from each interest (Farm, Fish, and Flood). The study area focused on the Skagit River delta downstream of Mount Vernon, Washington. This reach of the Skagit River is tidally influenced and includes both the North Fork and South Fork distributaries, Skagit Bay, Padilla Bay, and the Swinomish Channel. The study area indirectly included approximately 55,000 acres of highly productive sub-tidal farmland. Several indicators were developed for the alternatives analysis to evaluate restoration concepts under a variety of flow and tidal conditions and under a climate change scenario. These indicators were directly informed using output from the Salish sea hydrodynamic model (HDM) using a normalized scoring methodology. This presentation will provide detail about how our team used output from the HDM to quantify indicators. It will also present how our team evaluated potential system- wide changes to water surface elevation, the balance of flow between the major distributaries, and salinity due to implementation of large restoration concepts, groups of projects and how we accounted for these system wide changes in our indicators. Finally, results from the climate change analysis and how we evaluated potential future impacts to habitat and agricultural practices will be presented

Federalism as a Public Good

This paper suggests that stabilizing federalism is like solving a public good provision problem. It reviews results in the public good provision literature that are relevant for federalism, and discusses the implications of these results for the institutional design of federalism.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44798/1/10602_2005_Article_2235.pd

The Integration of the Internet and Communication Theory in Nonprofit Fundraising: A Case Study

Although there is much scholarly research regarding fundraising in the nonprofit sector, there is little research on how communication theory and the use of the internet are combined in non-profit fundraising. Communication theory as well as internet research has been shown to improve donations to organizations. My case study, field work, and autoethnography aim to bridge the gap on such research. Using the method of an autoethnography, I first observed the fundraising of a nonprofit organization, then began to incorporate the use of communication theory and the internet into the nonprofit. This autoethnography aims to demonstrate the success, challenges, and downfalls that occur when communication theory and the internet are combined into nonprofit fundraising

Wnt9a is a conserved regulator of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can give rise to all terminally differentiated cells of the blood, and are used in therapeutic approaches to treat hematopoietic cancers and disorders. Patient-specific HSCs derived from pluripotent precursors have long been a goal of the field, but despite tireless efforts it is not yet possible to derive therapy-grade HSCs in vitro. Here, I utilize the zebrafish as a model system in which to identify critical molecular cues that are required for normal HSC development. I have identified the Wnt signaling pathway to be critical for the intra-aortic expansion of zebrafish HSCs, and Wnt9a to be the ligand that mediates this signal. In the zebrafish, this requirement is highly specific; loss of Wnt9a cannot be compensated for by the exogenous expression of Wnt9b or Wnt3a. The function of Wnt9a is conserved across species; exogenous expression of WNT9A during in vitro hematopoietic progenitor differentiation improves the efficiency of generating CD34+/CD45+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cells. My data indicates that Wnt9a is a conserved regulator of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development. Inclusion of WNT9A in protocols to derive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from pluripotent precursors could more accurately mimic the molecular cues that drive HSC development in vivo

Wnt9a is a conserved regulator of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can give rise to all terminally differentiated cells of the blood, and are used in therapeutic approaches to treat hematopoietic cancers and disorders. Patient-specific HSCs derived from pluripotent precursors have long been a goal of the field, but despite tireless efforts it is not yet possible to derive therapy-grade HSCs in vitro. Here, I utilize the zebrafish as a model system in which to identify critical molecular cues that are required for normal HSC development. I have identified the Wnt signaling pathway to be critical for the intra-aortic expansion of zebrafish HSCs, and Wnt9a to be the ligand that mediates this signal. In the zebrafish, this requirement is highly specific; loss of Wnt9a cannot be compensated for by the exogenous expression of Wnt9b or Wnt3a. The function of Wnt9a is conserved across species; exogenous expression of WNT9A during in vitro hematopoietic progenitor differentiation improves the efficiency of generating CD34+/CD45+ hematopoietic progenitor cells from human embryonic stem cells. My data indicates that Wnt9a is a conserved regulator of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell development. Inclusion of WNT9A in protocols to derive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from pluripotent precursors could more accurately mimic the molecular cues that drive HSC development in vivo

The Integration of the Internet and Communication Theory in Nonprofit Fundraising: A Case Study

Although there is much scholarly research regarding fundraising in the nonprofit sector, there is little research on how communication theory and the use of the internet are combined in non-profit fundraising. Communication theory as well as internet research has been shown to improve donations to organizations. Our case study, field work, and autoethnography aimed to bridge the gap on such research. Using the method of an autoethnography, we first observed the fundraising of a nonprofit organization, then began to incorporate the use of communication theory and the internet into the nonprofit. This autoethnography aimed to demonstrate the success, challenges, and downfalls that occur when communication theory and the internet are combined into nonprofit fundraising

Thinking Big: An Assessment of 22 Estuarine Restoration Concepts to Achieve Net Gain for Fish, Floods and Farms in the Skagit Delta

Estuary restoration is a critical piece to the salmon recovery puzzle. In the Skagit River, where salmon are a cornerstone of tribal culture and economy, it is estimated that an additional 2,700 acres of estuary habitat is needed for a sustainable Chinook population. The delta also supports a strong agricultural economy and community that faces risks from floods and aging flood/drainage infrastructure. Climate change is further anticipated to impact estuarine habitat, agriculture, and flooding. As with many places in the Salish Sea, the Skagit Delta land base is limited; key stakeholders have formed a partnership under the Farms, Fish and Floods Initiative (3FI) to help craft a long term vision for salmon recovery, reduced flood risk, and agriculture viability. One project that contributes to 3FI’s work is the Skagit Delta Hydrodynamic Model Project. This project is a landscape-scale assessment with the goal of developing a suite of well-supported actions to achieve long-term viability of Chinook salmon and community flood risk reduction in a manner that protects and enhances agriculture and drainage. Representatives from each interest developed a suite of objectives against which individual or groups of restoration concepts could be measured to identify those that have the greatest potential to provide multiple benefits. The objectives require hydrodynamic modeling, estimates of habitat connectivity and smolt production, predictions of sediment transport processes, GIS calculations, and use of local flood knowledge. Having each interest group identify their objectives is key to ensuring that the results are meaningful. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of the assessment, objects, and initial results and how climate change and cumulative impacts are being considered. We will also discuss our communications with local agriculture, flood and restoration groups to ensure the process reflects local values and knowledge, and the suite of prioritized restoration concepts are well-supported

Development of the Biological Variation In Experimental Design And Analysis (BioVEDA) assessment.

Variation is an important concept that underlies experimental design and data analysis. Incomplete understanding of variation can preclude students from designing experiments that adequately manage organismal and experimental variation, and from accurately conducting and interpreting statistical analyses of data. Because of the lack of assessment instruments that measure students' ideas about variation in the context of biological investigations, we developed the Biological Variation in Experimental Design and Analysis (BioVEDA) assessment. Psychometric analyses indicate that BioVEDA assessment scores are reliable/precise. We provide evidence that the BioVEDA instrument can be used to evaluate students' understanding of biological variation in the context of experimental design and analysis relative to other students and to their prior scores