Hydrographic Surveys for Six Water Bodies in Eastern Nebraska, 2005–07

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, completed hydrographic surveys for six water bodies in eastern Nebraska: Maskenthine Wetland, Olive Creek Lake, Standing Bear Lake, Wagon Train Lake and Wetland, Wildwood Lake, and Yankee Hill Lake and sediment basin. The bathymetric data were collected using a boat-mounted survey-grade fathometer that operated at 200 kHz, and a differentially corrected Global Positioning System with antenna mounted directly above the echo-sounder transducer. Shallow-water and terrestrial areas were surveyed using a Real-Time Kinematic Global Position¬ing System. The bathymetric, shallow-water, and terrestrial data were processed in a geographic information system to generate a triangulated irregular network representation of the bottom of the water body. Bathymetric contours were interpolated from the triangulated irregular network data using a 2-foot contour interval. Bathymetric contours at the conser¬vation pool elevation for Maskenthine Wetland, Yankee Hill Lake, and Yankee Hill sediment pond also were interpolated in addition to the 2-foot contours. The surface area and storage capacity of each lake or wetland were calculated for 1-foot intervals of water surface elevation and are tabulated in the Appendix for all water bodies

United States Food Law Update: Health Care Reform, Preemption, Labeling Claims and Unpaid Interns: The Latest Battles in Food Law

This edition of the Food Law Update explores four legal issues arising in the first half of 2010 reflective of the diverse nature of the food law specialist. As the national debate surrounding the merits of health care reform dominated the legislative agenda, this article first will discuss the food labeling rules embedded within section 4205 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The authors then analyze the preemptive reach of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Meat Inspection Act with respect to three separate California statutes regarding animal welfare standards, retail labels on meat packages and state-based mislabeling claims for natural products. Section three further discusses litigation concerning allegedly misleading label claims of health benefits, nutritional composition, natural foods and Country-of-Origin. The final section of this Update explores an increasingly important legal issue common in the local foods/small scale production content - the use of unpaid interns as labor and potential changes in regulatory oversight

Site factors determining epiphytic lichen distribution in a dieback-affected spruce-fir forest on Whiteface Mountain, New York: stemflow chemistry

Epiphytic lichen diversity in a dieback-affected forest of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.) on Whiteface Mountain, New York, U.S.A., was higher on dead compared with living trees and on fir compared with spruce. Diversity differed more between living and dead spruce than between living and dead fir. Cover of all lichen species that occurred on more than 50% of the sample trees, except for two species, decreased with increasing mean concentration of NO3– in stemflow. Concentrations of NO3– were higher on living spruce compared with dead spruce and with living and dead fir. The negative correlations between lichen cover and NO3– concentration may reflect either a decrease of lichen abundance caused by toxic effects of higher NO3– concentrations or a removal of NO3– from stemflow by epiphytic lichens. Experimental exposure of Hypogymnia physodes to NaNO3 reduced chlorophyll concentrations. This result, together with estimations of lichen and needle biomass, indicates that a dependence of lichen cover on NO3– concentrations in stemflow may be the cause for the negative correlations. The sulphur concentration in stemflow did not affect lichen abundance on Whiteface Mountain. The manganese concentration in stemflow may have an effect on single species

Evapotranspiration Rates of Riparian Forests, Platte River, Nebraska, 2002–06

Evapotranspiration (ET) in riparian areas is a poorly understood component of the regional water balance in the Platte River Basin, where competing demands have resulted in water shortages in the ground-water/surface-water system. From April 2002 through March 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Platte River Cooperative Hydrology Study Group, and Central Platte Natural Resources District conducted a micrometeorological study of water and energy balances at two sites in central Nebraska near Odessa and Gothenburg to improve understanding of ET rates and factors affecting them in Platte River riparian forests. A secondary objective of the study was to constrain estimates of ground-water use by riparian vegetation to satisfy ET consumptive demands, a useful input to regional ground-water flow models. Both study sites are located on large islands within the Platte River characterized by a cottonwood-dominated forest canopy on primarily sandy alluvium. Although both sites are typical of riparian forests along the Platte River in Nebraska, the Odessa understory is dominated by deciduous shrubs, whereas the Gothenburg understory is dominated by eastern redcedars. Additionally, seasonal ground-water levels fluctuated more at Odessa than at Gothenburg. The study period of April 2002 through March 2006 encompassed precipitation conditions ranging from dry to wet. This study characterized the components of the water balance in the riparian zone of each site. ET was evaluated from eddy-covariance sensors installed on towers above the forest canopy at a height of 26.1 meters. Precipitation was measured both above and below the forest canopy. A series of sensors measured soil-moisture availability within the unsaturated zone in two different vertical profiles at each site. Changes in ground-water altitude were evaluated from piezometers. The areal footprint represented in the water balance extended up to 800 meters from each tower. During the study, ET was less variable than precipitation. Annual ET fluctuated about 7 percent from the 4-year mean, ranging from about 514 to 586 millimeters per year (551 on average) at the Odessa site and 535 to 616 millimeters per year (575 on average) at the Gothenburg site. Conversely, annual precipitation fluctuated by about 35 percent from the 4-year mean, ranging from 429 to 844 millimeters per year at Odessa and 359 to 791 millimeters per year at Gothenburg. Of this precipitation, 14 to 15 percent was intercepted by the forest canopy before it could infiltrate into the soil. For the 4-year period, annual ground-water recharge from the riparian measurement zone averaged 76 and 13 millimeters at Odessa and Gothenburg, respectively, to satisfy the water balance at each site. This indicates that, from an annual perspective, ground-water reductions caused by ET may be minimal. This effect varied somewhat and primarily was affected by fluctuations in precipitation. Ground-water discharge occurred during the driest study year (2002), whereas ground-water recharge occurred from 2003 to 2005. These results do not exclude ground water as an important source of water to riparian vegetation—especially to phreatophytes that have the capability of directly using water from the saturated zone—during periods of high ET in the summer, particularly during periods of lower than normal precipitation. However, the calculations indicate that, on an annual (or longer) net-flux basis, ground-water use by riparian forests is likely to be balanced by periods of recharge from excess precipitation at other times of the year. In contrast to more arid settings, where scientific literature indicates that ground water may supply a large fraction of the water used for ET by riparian vegetation, precipitation along the Platte River of Nebraska was great enough—and generally greater than ET—that most or all of the annual ET demand was satisfied by available precipitation. Crop coefficients developed for 15-day and monthly periods from the measured data predicted ET within 3.5 percent of actual annual ET; however, daily ET was underpredicted on days of increased ET and overpredicted on days of low ET. These crop coefficients can be used to extrapolate riparian-forest ET along the Platte River in conjunction with atmospheric data from other climate stations in central Nebraska. Regression models of simple and multiple-linear relations between explanatory variables and ET indicated that the relation of ET to environmental factors was different on days with precipitation than on dry days. At Odessa, ET was affected by vapor-pressure deficit, solar radiation, leaf-area index, and depth to water regardless of precipitation conditions, but was also affected by air temperature on days without precipitation, suggesting energy limitations on ET on days without precipitation. At Gothenburg, ET was always a function of vapor-pressure deficit, solar radiation, and leaf-area index, but, as with Odessa, air temperature also became important on days without precipitation. Despite depths to ground water of less than 2 meters and phreatophytic vegetation, measured ET was substantially less than potential ET (based on the modified Penman method), consistent with plant-stomatal regulation of ET in response to environmental and meteorological factors. Although annual ET rates generally were similar, the two sites exhibited different intraannual soil-moisture regimes that had a corresponding effect on ET and vegetation vigor. Smaller seasonal declines in ground-water levels and a lack of understory shrubs at the Gothenburg site as compared to the Odessa site may explain why Gothenburg ET was comparatively greater later in the summer and was not dependent on depth to water (as identified by the multiple-linear regression model). These differences also may explain why, during years of increased precipitation, ET rates increased at Odessa but not at Gothenburg

Evapotranspiration Rates of Riparian Forests, Platte River, Nebraska, 2002–06

Evapotranspiration (ET) in riparian areas is a poorly understood component of the regional water balance in the Platte River Basin, where competing demands have resulted in water shortages in the ground-water/surface-water system. From April 2002 through March 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey, Nebraska Platte River Cooperative Hydrology Study Group, and Central Platte Natural Resources District conducted a micrometeorological study of water and energy balances at two sites in central Nebraska near Odessa and Gothenburg to improve understanding of ET rates and factors affecting them in Platte River riparian forests. A secondary objective of the study was to constrain estimates of ground-water use by riparian vegetation to satisfy ET consumptive demands, a useful input to regional ground-water flow models. Both study sites are located on large islands within the Platte River characterized by a cottonwood-dominated forest canopy on primarily sandy alluvium. Although both sites are typical of riparian forests along the Platte River in Nebraska, the Odessa understory is dominated by deciduous shrubs, whereas the Gothenburg understory is dominated by eastern redcedars. Additionally, seasonal ground-water levels fluctuated more at Odessa than at Gothenburg. The study period of April 2002 through March 2006 encompassed precipitation conditions ranging from dry to wet. This study characterized the components of the water balance in the riparian zone of each site. ET was evaluated from eddy-covariance sensors installed on towers above the forest canopy at a height of 26.1 meters. Precipitation was measured both above and below the forest canopy. A series of sensors measured soil-moisture availability within the unsaturated zone in two different vertical profiles at each site. Changes in ground-water altitude were evaluated from piezometers. The areal footprint represented in the water balance extended up to 800 meters from each tower. During the study, ET was less variable than precipitation. Annual ET fluctuated about 7 percent from the 4-year mean, ranging from about 514 to 586 millimeters per year (551 on average) at the Odessa site and 535 to 616 millimeters per year (575 on average) at the Gothenburg site. Conversely, annual precipitation fluctuated by about 35 percent from the 4-year mean, ranging from 429 to 844 millimeters per year at Odessa and 359 to 791 millimeters per year at Gothenburg. Of this precipitation, 14 to 15 percent was intercepted by the forest canopy before it could infiltrate into the soil. For the 4-year period, annual ground-water recharge from the riparian measurement zone averaged 76 and 13 millimeters at Odessa and Gothenburg, respectively, to satisfy the water balance at each site. This indicates that, from an annual perspective, ground-water reductions caused by ET may be minimal. This effect varied somewhat and primarily was affected by fluctuations in precipitation. Ground-water discharge occurred during the driest study year (2002), whereas ground-water recharge occurred from 2003 to 2005. These results do not exclude ground water as an important source of water to riparian vegetation—especially to phreatophytes that have the capability of directly using water from the saturated zone—during periods of high ET in the summer, particularly during periods of lower than normal precipitation. However, the calculations indicate that, on an annual (or longer) net-flux basis, ground-water use by riparian forests is likely to be balanced by periods of recharge from excess precipitation at other times of the year. In contrast to more arid settings, where scientific literature indicates that ground water may supply a large fraction of the water used for ET by riparian vegetation, precipitation along the Platte River of Nebraska was great enough—and generally greater than ET—that most or all of the annual ET demand was satisfied by available precipitation. Crop coefficients developed for 15-day and monthly periods from the measured data predicted ET within 3.5 percent of actual annual ET; however, daily ET was underpredicted on days of increased ET and overpredicted on days of low ET. These crop coefficients can be used to extrapolate riparian-forest ET along the Platte River in conjunction with atmospheric data from other climate stations in central Nebraska. Regression models of simple and multiple-linear relations between explanatory variables and ET indicated that the relation of ET to environmental factors was different on days with precipitation than on dry days. At Odessa, ET was affected by vapor-pressure deficit, solar radiation, leaf-area index, and depth to water regardless of precipitation conditions, but was also affected by air temperature on days without precipitation, suggesting energy limitations on ET on days without precipitation. At Gothenburg, ET was always a function of vapor-pressure deficit, solar radiation, and leaf-area index, but, as with Odessa, air temperature also became important on days without precipitation. Despite depths to ground water of less than 2 meters and phreatophytic vegetation, measured ET was substantially less than potential ET (based on the modified Penman method), consistent with plant-stomatal regulation of ET in response to environmental and meteorological factors. Although annual ET rates generally were similar, the two sites exhibited different intraannual soil-moisture regimes that had a corresponding effect on ET and vegetation vigor. Smaller seasonal declines in ground-water levels and a lack of understory shrubs at the Gothenburg site as compared to the Odessa site may explain why Gothenburg ET was comparatively greater later in the summer and was not dependent on depth to water (as identified by the multiple-linear regression model). These differences also may explain why, during years of increased precipitation, ET rates increased at Odessa but not at Gothenburg

Inhibiting the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier does not ameliorate synucleinopathy in the absence of inflammation or metabolic deficits

Epidemiological studies suggest a link between type-2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk. Treatment of type-2 diabetes with insulin sensitizing drugs lowers the risk of PD. We previously showed that the insulin sensitizing drug, MSDC-0160, ameliorates pathogenesis in some animal models of PD. MSDC-0160 reversibly binds the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) protein complex, which has an anti-inflammatory effect and restores metabolic deficits. Since PD is characterized by the deposition of α-synuclein (αSyn), we hypothesized that inhibiting the MPC might directly inhibit αSyn aggregation in vivo in mammals. To answer if modulation of MPC can reduce the development of αSyn assemblies, and reduce neurodegeneration, we treated two chronic and progressive mouse models; a viral vector-based αSyn overexpressing model and a pre-formed fibril (PFF) αSyn seeding model with MSDC-0160. These two models present distinct types of αSyn pathology but lack inflammatory or autophagy deficits. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that a modulation of MPC in these models did not reduce the accumulation of αSyn aggregates or mitigate neurotoxicity. Instead, MSDC-0160 changed the post-translational modification and aggregation features of αSyn. These results are consistent with the lack of a direct effect of MPC modulation on synuclein clearance in these models

Ethnic inequalities and pathways to care in psychosis in England: a systematic review and meta-analysis

© The Author(s). 2018Background: As part of a national programme to tackle ethnic inequalities, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of research on ethnic inequalities in pathways to care for adults with psychosis living in England and/or Wales. Methods: Nine databases were searched from inception to 03.07.17 for previous systematic reviews, including forward and backward citation tracking and a PROSPERO search to identify ongoing reviews. We then carried forward relevant primary studies from included reviews (with the latest meta-analyses reporting on research up to 2012), supplemented by a search on 18.10.17 in MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and CINAHL for primary studies between 2012 and 2017 that had not been covered by previous meta-analyses. Results: Forty studies, all conducted in England, were included for our updated meta-analyses on pathways to care. Relative to the White reference group, elevated rates of civil detentions were found for Black Caribbean (OR = 3.43, 95% CI = 2.68 to 4.40, n = 18), Black African (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 2.40 to 4.02, n = 6), and South Asian patients (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.12, n = 10). Analyses of each Mental Health Act section revealed significantly higher rates for Black people under (civil) Section 2 (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.11 to 2.11, n = 3). Rates in repeat admissions were significantly higher than in first admission for South Asian patients (between-group difference p < 0.01). Some ethnic groups had more police contact (Black African OR = 3.60, 95% CI = 2.15 to 6.05, n = 2; Black Caribbean OR = 2.64, 95% CI = 1.88 to 3.72, n = 8) and criminal justice system involvement (Black Caribbean OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 2.02 to 3.78, n = 5; Black African OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.32 to 2.78, n = 3). The White Other patients also showed greater police and criminal justice system involvement than White British patients (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.03 to 2.15, n = 4). General practitioner involvement was less likely for Black than the White reference group. No significant variations over time were found across all the main outcomes. Conclusions: Our updated meta-analyses reveal persisting but not significantly worsening patterns of ethnic inequalities in pathways to psychiatric care, particularly affecting Black groups. This provides a comprehensive evidence base from which to inform policy and practice amidst a prospective Mental Health Act reform. Trial registration: CRD42017071663Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Upper limits on the strength of periodic gravitational waves from PSR J1939+2134

The first science run of the LIGO and GEO gravitational wave detectors presented the opportunity to test methods of searching for gravitational waves from known pulsars. Here we present new direct upper limits on the strength of waves from the pulsar PSR J1939+2134 using two independent analysis methods, one in the frequency domain using frequentist statistics and one in the time domain using Bayesian inference. Both methods show that the strain amplitude at Earth from this pulsar is less than a few times $10^{-22}$.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of the 5th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves, Tirrenia, Pisa, Italy, 6-11 July 200

Improving the sensitivity to gravitational-wave sources by modifying the input-output optics of advanced interferometers

We study frequency dependent (FD) input-output schemes for signal-recycling interferometers, the baseline design of Advanced LIGO and the current configuration of GEO 600. Complementary to a recent proposal by Harms et al. to use FD input squeezing and ordinary homodyne detection, we explore a scheme which uses ordinary squeezed vacuum, but FD readout. Both schemes, which are sub-optimal among all possible input-output schemes, provide a global noise suppression by the power squeeze factor, while being realizable by using detuned Fabry-Perot cavities as input/output filters. At high frequencies, the two schemes are shown to be equivalent, while at low frequencies our scheme gives better performance than that of Harms et al., and is nearly fully optimal. We then study the sensitivity improvement achievable by these schemes in Advanced LIGO era (with 30-m filter cavities and current estimates of filter-mirror losses and thermal noise), for neutron star binary inspirals, and for narrowband GW sources such as low-mass X-ray binaries and known radio pulsars. Optical losses are shown to be a major obstacle for the actual implementation of these techniques in Advanced LIGO. On time scales of third-generation interferometers, like EURO/LIGO-III (~2012), with kilometer-scale filter cavities, a signal-recycling interferometer with the FD readout scheme explored in this paper can have performances comparable to existing proposals. [abridged]Comment: Figs. 9 and 12 corrected; Appendix added for narrowband data analysi

Search for gravitational wave bursts in LIGO's third science run

We report on a search for gravitational wave bursts in data from the three LIGO interferometric detectors during their third science run. The search targets subsecond bursts in the frequency range 100-1100 Hz for which no waveform model is assumed, and has a sensitivity in terms of the root-sum-square (rss) strain amplitude of hrss ~ 10^{-20} / sqrt(Hz). No gravitational wave signals were detected in the 8 days of analyzed data.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Amaldi-6 conference proceedings to be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit