Mapping Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems in California

BACKGROUND: Most groundwater conservation and management efforts focus on protecting groundwater for drinking water and for other human uses with little understanding or focus on the ecosystems that depend on groundwater. However, groundwater plays an integral role in sustaining certain types of aquatic, terrestrial and coastal ecosystems, and their associated landscapes. Our aim was to illuminate the connection between groundwater and surface ecosystems by identifying and mapping the distribution of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in California. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To locate where groundwater flow sustains ecosystems we identified and mapped groundwater dependent ecosystems using a GIS. We developed an index of groundwater dependency by analyzing geospatial data for three ecosystem types that depend on groundwater: (1) springs and seeps; (2) wetlands and associated vegetation alliances; and (3) stream discharge from groundwater sources (baseflow index). Each variable was summarized at the scale of a small watershed (Hydrologic Unit Code-12; mean size = 9,570 ha; n = 4,621), and then stratified and summarized to 10 regions of relative homogeneity in terms of hydrologic, ecologic and climatic conditions. We found that groundwater dependent ecosystems are widely, although unevenly, distributed across California. Although different types of GDEs are clustered more densely in certain areas of the state, watersheds with multiple types of GDEs are found in both humid (e.g. coastal) and more arid regions. Springs are most densely concentrated in the North Coast and North Lahontan, whereas groundwater dependent wetlands and associated vegetation alliances are concentrated in the North and South Lahontan and Sacramento River hydrologic regions. The percentage of land area where stream discharge is most dependent on groundwater is found in the North Coast, Sacramento River and Tulare Lake regions. GDE clusters are located at the highest percentage in the North Coast (an area of the highest annual rainfall totals), North Lahontan (an arid, high desert climate with low annual rainfall), and Sacramento River hydrologic regions. That GDEs occur in such distinct climatic and hydrologic settings reveals the widespread distribution of these ecosystems. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Protection and management of groundwater-dependent ecosystems are hindered by lack of information on their diversity, abundance and location. By developing a methodology that uses existing datasets to locate GDEs, this assessment addresses that knowledge gap. We report here on the application of this method across California, but believe the method can be expanded to regions where spatial data exist

Reconstructing ‘the Alcoholic’: Recovering from Alcohol Addiction and the Stigma this Entails

Public perception of alcohol addiction is frequently negative, whilst an important part of recovery is the construction of a positive sense of self. In order to explore how this might be achieved, we investigated how those who self-identify as in recovery from alcohol problems view themselves and their difficulties with alcohol and how they make sense of others’ responses to their addiction. Semi-structured interviews with six individuals who had been in recovery between 5 and 35 years and in contact with Alcoholics Anonymous were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The participants were acutely aware of stigmatising images of ‘alcoholics’ and described having struggled with a considerable dilemma in accepting this identity themselves. However, to some extent they were able to resist stigma by conceiving of an ‘aware alcoholic self’ which was divorced from their previously unaware self and formed the basis for a new more knowing and valued identity

Two-year changes in quality of life in elderly patients with low-energy hip fractures. A case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The long-term effect of hip fracture on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and global quality of life (GQOL) has not been thoroughly studied in prospective case-control studies.</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>a) to explore whether patients with low-energy hip fracture regain their pre-fracture levels in HRQOL and GQOL compared with changes in age- and sex-matched controls over a two year period; b) to identify predictors of changes in HRQOL and GQOL after two years.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined 61 patients (mean age = 74 years, <it>SD </it>= 10) and 61 matched controls (mean age = 73 years, <it>SD </it>= 8). The Short Form 36 assessed HRQOL and the Quality of Life Scale assessed GQOL. Paired samples <it>t </it>tests and multiple linear regression analyses were applied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>HRQOL decreased significantly between baseline and one-year follow-up in patients with hip fractures, within all the SF-36 domains (<it>p </it>< 0.04), except for social functioning (<it>p </it>= 0.091). There were no significant decreases within the SF-36 domains in the controls. Significantly decreased GQOL scores (<it>p </it>< 0.001) were observed both within patients and within controls between baseline and one-year follow-up. The same pattern persisted between baseline and two-year follow-up, except for the HRQOL domain mental health (<it>p </it>= 0.193). The patients with hip fractures did not regain their HRQOL and GQOL. Worsened physical health after two years was predicted by being a patient with hip fracture (B = -5.8, <it>p </it>< 0.001) and old age (B = -1.0, <it>p </it>= 0.015), while worsened mental health was predicted by co-morbidity (B = -2.2, <it>p </it>= 0.029). No significant predictors of differential changes in GQOL were identified.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A hip fracture has a long-term impact on HRQOL and is a strong predictor of worsened physical health. Our data emphasize the importance of preventing hip fracture in the elderly to maintain physical health. This knowledge should be included in decision-making and health care plans.</p

No long-term impact of low-energy distal radius fracture on health-related quality of life and global quality of life: a case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Changes in patient-reported outcomes like health related quality of life (HRQOL) and global quality of life (GQOL) in patients with low-energy distal radius fracture might be related to fracture, or be within the normal range of variation in an elderly population. Hence, the present study aims to examine: Whether patients with low-energy distal radius fracture attain their pre-fracture levels in HRQOL and GQOL one year after the fracture and compare these levels with age- and sex-matched controls; and whether objective factors predict changes in HRQOL and GQOL during the same one year period.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined 160 patients and 169 age- and sex matched controls, respectively (mean ± SD) 67 ± 9 and 66 ± 9 years of age. HRQOL was assessed by the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ) and the Short–Form 36 (SF-36). The Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) assessed GQOL. Paired sample t-tests and multiple linear regression analyses were applied.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After one year no differences were found in HRQOL (assessed as arm functions, physical health and mental health) compared to pre-fracture level in the patient group. Both patients with distal radius fracture and controls reported a reduced GQOL after one year (p < 0.001). Low-energy distal radius fracture did not predict worsened HRQOL or GQOL one year after inclusion, and few predictors of changes were identified. Worsened arm function was predicted by low BMI (B = -0.20, p = 0.019) at baseline, worsened physical health was predicted by low education (B = 1.37, p = 0.017) at baseline, and living with someone predicted worsened mental health (B = 2.85, p = 0.009)</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Patients with a distal radius fracture seem to manage well despite the fracture, and distal radius fracture is not an independent predictor of worsened HRQOL and GQOL.</p

On the residual opening of hydraulic fractures

Hydraulic stimulation technologies are widely applied across resource and power generation industries to increase the productivity of oil/gas or hot water reservoirs. These technologies utilise pressurised water, which is applied inside the well to initiate and drive fractures as well as to open a network of existing natural fractures. To prevent the opened fractures from complete closure during production stage, small particles (proppants) are normally injected with the pressurised fluid. These particles are subjected to confining stresses when the fluid pressure is removed, which leads to a partial closure of the stimulated fractures. The residual fracture openings are the main outcome of such hydraulic stimulations as these openings significantly affect the permeability of the reservoirs and, subsequently, the well productivity. Past research was largely focused on the assessment of conditions and characteristics of fluid driven fractures as well as proppant placement techniques. Surprisingly, not much work was devoted to the assessment of the residual fracture profiles. In this work we develop a simplified non-linear mathematical model of residual closure of a plane crack filled with deformable particles and subjected to a remote compressive stress. It is demonstrated that the closure profile is significantly influenced by the distribution and compressibility of the particles, which are often ignored in the current evaluations of well productivity. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.Luiz Bortolan Neto, Andrei Kotouso

The (F)utility of the thallium-201 quantitative lung/myocardial ratio in the detection of coronary artery disease

Exercise-induced increases in pulmonary uptake of thallium-201 ( 201 Tl) have been associated with exercise-induced myocardial dysfunction. To evaluate this phenomenon more replicably, a quantitative semi-automated computer program was used to generate, from anterior exercise and delayed views, lung-myocardial ratios (LMR) of 201 Tl uptake in 78 patients [40 normal, 38 with coronary artery disease (CAD)]. Patients with CAD had a significantly higher mean exercise lung myocardial ratio (EXLMR) than normals (30.8 vs. 27.3; P < 0.003). In patients with adequate exercise (≥85% of an age-adjusted maximal heart rate), the EXLMRs of CAD patients were significantly higher than those of normals (29.7 vs. 25.5; P =0.003). However, this difference between CAD and normal patients was not apparent in a patient subgroup with submaximal exercise levels (< 85% of an age-adjusted maximal heart rate). In both normal and CAD patients, EXLMR decreased with increasing exercise levels ( r =-0.555; P =0.007). In patients with 201 Tl scans lacking visually defined perfusion defects (visually normal), an elevated LMR detected 60% of CAD cases with 81% specificity. A considerably elevated EXLMR in patients achieving adequate exercise should suggest the presence of CAD, even if there are no visually apparent cardiac perfusion defects. With submaximal exercise, however, the EXLMR is not a useful discriminator between CAD patients and normals.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46823/1/259_2004_Article_BF00638787.pd

The relationship of multiple aspects of stigma and personal contact with someone hospitalized for mental illness, in a nationally representative sample

The stigma of mental illness has been shown to be affected by personal contact with mental illness and by a belief in the genetic heritability of mental illness. We use data from a nationally representative survey to test whether the relationship of stigma with contact remains after taking into account the effects of genetic beliefs and other background characteristics. Contact was defined as a history of psychiatric hospitalization among respondents themselves, their family members, or their friends. Respondents answered questions about a vignette character with a mental illness. We found that respondents with contact felt less anger and blame toward the character, thought that the character had a more serious problem, and would want less social distance from the character, including both casual and intimate aspects of social distance. Respondents with contact were not significantly different from the general population in the degree to which they expressed sympathy, thought the problem would last a lifetime, or wanted to restrict reproduction. Thus, contact is associated with having a less ostracizing, critical attitude toward a stranger with mental illness. The results underscore the importance of this experienced group as a resource in fighting stigma in society. Since many people who have had a psychiatric hospitalization have not told their friends or family members about it, this lower-stigma group could be enlarged

Synthesis, Purification and Crystallization of Guanine-rich RNA Oligonucleotides

Guanine-rich RNA oligonucleotides display many novel structural motifs in recent crystal structures. Here we describe the procedures of the chemical synthesis and the purification of such RNA molecules that are suitable for X-ray crystallographic studies. Modifications of the previous purification methods allow us to obtain better yields in shorter time. We also provide 24 screening conditions that are very effective in crystallization of the guanine-rich RNA oligonucleotides. Optimal crystallization conditions are usually achieved by adjustment of the concentration of the metal ions and pH of the buffer. Crystals obtained by this method usually diffract to high resolution

Onchocerciasis transmission in Ghana: Persistence under different control strategies and the role of the simuliid vectors

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) aims at eliminating onchocerciasis by 2020 in selected African countries. Current control focuses on community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI). In Ghana, persistent transmission has been reported despite long-term control. We present spatial and temporal patterns of onchocerciasis transmission in relation to ivermectin treatment history. Methodology/Principal Findings: Host-seeking and ovipositing blackflies were collected from seven villages in four regions of Ghana with 3–24 years of CDTI at the time of sampling. A total of 16,443 flies was analysed for infection; 5,812 (35.3%) were dissected for parity (26.9% parous). Heads and thoraces of 12,196 flies were dissected for Onchocerca spp. and DNA from 11,122 abdomens was amplified using Onchocerca primers. A total of 463 larvae (0.03 larvae/fly) from 97 (0.6%) infected and 62 (0.4%) infective flies was recorded; 258 abdomens (2.3%) were positive for Onchocerca DNA. Infections (all were O. volvulus) were more likely to be detected in ovipositing flies. Transmission occurred, mostly in the wet season, at Gyankobaa and Bosomase, with transmission potentials of, respectively, 86 and 422 L3/person/month after 3 and 6 years of CDTI. The numbers of L3/1,000 parous flies at these villages were over 100times the WHO threshold of one L3/1,000 for transmission control. Vector species influenced transmission parameters. At Asubende, the number of L3/1,000 ovipositing flies (1.4, 95% CI = 0–4) also just exceeded the threshold despite extensive vector control and 24 years of ivermectin distribution, but there were no infective larvae in host-seeking flies. Conclusions/Significance: Despite repeated ivermectin treatment, evidence of O. volvulus transmission was documented in all seven villages and above the WHO threshold in two. Vector species influences transmission through biting and parous rates and vector competence, and should be included in transmission models. Oviposition traps could augment vector collector methods for monitoring and surveillance