Quantifying Precipitation, Streamflow, and Floodplain Forecasting Skills During Extreme Weather Events in Brays Bayou, Houston, Texas

Extreme precipitation and increased urban land cover have increased the frequency and severity of urban flooding events in recent years. Accurate precipitation, streamflow, and floodplain inundation forecasts are necessary to decrease the damage from these events via reservoir operations planning, evacuation of residents, and mobilization of relief efforts. In this study, Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPFs) developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) were analyzed for their skill in predicting precipitation in Brays Bayou in Houston, Texas. This forecasted data were used to force the Distributed Hydrological Soil and Vegetation Model (DHSVM), a physically-based, distributed hydrological model, and the resulted streamflows were assessed for accuracy. Then, a 2-dimensional hydraulic model, Flood2D-GPU, was employed to produce forecasted floodplains, also with skill assessment. This study focuses on three major flood events in the last decade with an emphasis on Hurricane Harvey. Results were focused on three aspects: 1) identifying changes in forecast accuracy with increased lead time; 2) quantifying skill scores of the forecasts through the flood forecasting system; and 3) comparing DHSVM forecasts with those used by the West Gulf River Forecasting Center (WGRFC) to identify optimal forecasting lead time during extreme events

Engaging rural residents in patient-centered health care research

Patient engagement is increasingly recognized as a critical component in improving health care. Yet, there remains a gap in our understanding of the intricacies of rural patient engagement in health-related research. This article describes the process of engaging rural patients, caregivers and broader stakeholders to actively participate in an exploratory effort to understand rural perspectives around the patient-centered medical home model. Highlights of the project’s engagement activities demonstrate how giving voice to rural residents can have a significant impact. Lessons learned point to the importance of six factors for successful engagement of rural residents as partners in health care research: building relationships, defining expectations, establishing communication guidelines, developing shared understanding, facilitating dialogue, and valuing contributions

The Race Gap: Education of Black Youth in Boston

On April 23, 2007, The William Monroe Trotter Institute held a Roundtable convening more than fifty individuals at UMass Boston for a two-hour conversation on the education of black children in Boston. Roundtable attendees represented a balanced mix of professional and lay persons, including educators, advocates, academics, elected officials and policymakers, and donors. Attendees included the Suffolk County Sheriff, the Acting Superintendent of Boston Public Schools (BPS), and the president of the Boston Teacher’s Union

Homeowner garden design series: Pre-design planning worksheet

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311

Homeowner garden design series: Elements and principles of design

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311

Sterol Lipid Metabolism in Down Syndrome Revisited: Down Syndrome Is Associated with a Selective Reduction in Serum Brassicasterol Levels

Over the past 15 years, insights into sterol metabolism have improved our understanding of the relationship between lipids and common conditions such as atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). A better understanding of sterol lipid metabolism in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) may help elucidate how this population's unique metabolic characteristics influence their risks for atherosclerosis and AD. To revisit the question of whether sterol lipid parameters may be altered in DS subjects, we performed a pilot study to assess traditional serum sterol lipids and lipoproteins, as well as markers of sterol biosynthesis, metabolites, and plant sterols in 20 subjects with DS compared to age-matched controls. Here we report that the levels of nearly all lipids and lipoproteins examined are similar to control subjects, suggesting that trisomy 21 does not lead to pronounced general alterations in sterol lipid metabolism. However, the levels of serum brassicasterol were markedly reduced in DS subjects

Community Innovation Network Framework: A Model for Reshaping Community Identity

The REACH Healthcare Foundation created its Rural Health Initiative to encourage the development of innovative strategies to improve access to health care and reduce health inequities in three rural counties in Missouri and Kansas. The intent was to develop a systematic, sustainable, and coordinated approach to community change that would increase the odds of breaking through the persistent barriers to health care access for the rural poor and medically underserved in these counties. This article discusses the foundation’s original approach to the initiative and how it adjusted that approach in response to its rural partners’ experiences. It reflects on the challenges encountered in rooting the four conditions and capacities of community change and innovation – supports for implementation; foundational structures; skills and processes; and community engagement – into the work of community health improvement. The article also describes lessons learned and new roles for funders interested in assisting communities that are seeking to deepen and extend capacity and innovation and forge a new identity