Drought, tree mortality, and regeneration in Northen California

The 2012-2016 California drought was the most severe in the state’s recorded history, contributing to the death of millions of trees. While the effects of this drought on forests are relatively well studied in the central and southern Sierra Nevada, less is known about its effects on the heavily timbered and diverse forests of northern California. Through sampling 54 0.25 ha plots in northern California, this study compared tree mortality and regeneration patterns before, during, and after California’s most recent record-setting drought. This study evaluated 1) the influence of habitat and competitive covariates on mortality and regeneration trends using ridge regression analysis; and 2) tree death and seedling/sapling establishment dates using dendrochronology and Superposed Epoch Analysis to explore the influence of climate on forest demographics. Montane drought-induced tree mortality occurred primarily in trees smaller than 40 cm diameter at breast height (DBH), with no coastal drought-related mortality in trees with DBH greater than 80 cm. The highest rates of overstory mortality across all sites were observed in Abies grandis (51%), Pinus lambertiana (43%), and Pinus monticola (37%). Picea breweriana (6%) and Picea sitchensis (9%) had the lowest average mortality rates. In montane environments, years with high rates of mortality were positively associated with climatic water deficit (CWD; drier than expected conditions) in the 1-2 years preceding and during tree death dates. Pre-drought montane mortality was greater at wet sites than dry sites, and recent montane mortality (~2013-2020) was positively related with canopy openness. In coastal environments, recent tree mortality was positively associated with maximum temperature and topographic position. Regeneration was dominated by advanced regeneration (median age of 32 years) of shade-tolerant species. In montane environments, regeneration dates were significantly associated with lower-than-average CWD the year proceeding. In coastal environments, regeneration was greater at dry sites than wet sites, and was positively associated with stand density and maximum temperature. These data demonstrate that these forests are not actively perpetuating as diversely into the future, especially in montane environments where more mortality is found in white pine species (Pinus lambertiana and P. monticola) and where the regeneration is weighted towards advanced regeneration of shade-tolerant fir species. This work indicates a need to implement targeted management aimed at generating disturbances to foster balanced and responsive regeneration. This management should preferentially retain medium to larger trees, as these size classes seem to be the least vulnerable to mortality. Such management would be promising for supporting the resilience and diversity of northern California landscapes

The Didactic Contract to Interpret Some Statistical Evidence in Mathematics Standardized Assessment Tests

In this study we analyse results of Italian standardized tests in mathematics integrating quantitative analysis based on the Rasch Model and didactical interpretation. We use specific graphs to analyse the trend of each answer as function of the students' math ability. This approach led us to focus on specific items in which a wrong answer results particularly popular among medium/high level students and analyse this particular trend with the lenses of math education theories. The study reveals that these phenomena are particularly related to implicit and explicit rules governing classroom practices exist at all school levels and regard different mathematical content and skills

Evoluzione e performance delle maggiori banche italiane dal 1993 a 2013.

Negli ultimi venti anni il sistema bancario italiano è stato interessato da processi evolutivi di tipo normativo, economico, tecnologico e strutturale. Nel presente lavoro vengono illustrati, inizialmente le cause principali che hanno spinto le banche ad attuare processi d'integrazione e se questi si siano rivelate,in termini di economie di costo e di scala, convenienti sul lato della redditività, solvibilità ed efficienza. Il sistema bancario italiano, nel corso del periodo oggetto di analisi e attraverso questo processo, ha cercato inizialmente di creare una base patrimoniale solida al suo interno per poi cercare successivamente di ridurre il gap che si era creato con il sistema bancario europeo. Si è scelto preliminarmente un campione di banche secondo i criteri dimensionali e di aggregazione, procedendo poi ad illustrarne i loro cambiamenti. Attraverso la comparazione dei bilanci ,nel periodo 1993-2013, abbiamo ripercorso i momenti storici che hanno caratterizzato il mondo delle banche e si è cercato di comprendere le motivazioni che hanno spinto le stesse ad attuare determinate scelte nell'ambito della struttura e della operatività. Una analisi storica che va a riproporre le performance dei bilanci attraverso indicatori che rappresentano la Redditività, la Solvibilità e l'efficienza. Uno studio che cerca conferme, attraverso le voci principali di bilancio, sugli effetti degli avvenimenti macroeconomici sul sistema bancario italiano

Pensare un corpo a rischio: le donne e la prevenzione dei tumori femminili

Il lavoro offre una prospettiva psicodinamica sul tema della prevenzione oncologica dei tumori femminili, discutendo della possibilità, interna e fattuale per una donna, di occuparsi della propria salute. Si riflette sul dilemma prevenzione-non prevenzione articolando tra loro tre assi teorici: narcisismo di vita e narcisismo di morte; rapporto mente, corpo e affetti; sviluppo dell' identità sessuale femminile. I tre studi di ricerca qualitativa permettono di esplorare le rappresentazioni simboliche e le costruzioni di significato delle donne intorno al tema del rischio e della diagnosi precoce dei tumori al seno e alla cervice uterina. I risultati ottenuti evidenziano aspetti importanti per pensare ad efficaci interventi di sensibilizzazione rivolti alle donne

High Throughput, Polymeric Aqueous Two‐Phase Printing of Tumor Spheroids

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109304/1/adfm201401302-sup-0001-S1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109304/2/adfm201401302.pd

The Relationship between Healthcare Providers and Preventive Practices: Narratives on Access to Cancer Screening

: Cancer screening programs are public health interventions beneficial to early diagnoses and timely treatments. Despite the investment of health policies in this area, many people in the recommended age groups do not participate. While the literature is mainly focused on obstacles and factors enabling access to health services, a gap from the point of view of the target population concerns healthcare providers. Within the "Miriade" research-action project, this study aims to explore the dimensions that mediate the relationship between healthcare providers and preventive practices through the narrations of 52 referents and healthcare providers involved in breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening. We conducted ad hoc narrative interviews and used theory-driven analysis based on Penchansky and Thomas' conceptualization and Saurman's integration of six dimensions of healthcare access: affordability, availability, accessibility, accommodation, acceptability and awareness. The results show that 21 thematic categories were representative of the access dimensions, and 5 thematic categories were not; thus, we have classified the latter as the dimension of affection. The results suggest trajectories through which psychological clinical intervention might be constructed concerning health, shared health decisions and access to cancer screening

Il ruolo della comprensione del testo nel processo di matematizzazione e modellizzazione

In questo articolo vengono analizzate le risposte fornite a un interessante item relativo alla Prova standardizzata di matematica somministrata nel maggio 2015 a tutti gli allievi di quinta elementare del Canton Ticino. A partire dai risultati statistici emersi da un campione di 508 protocolli selezionati, viene presentata un'analisi qualitativa effettuata su un campione più ristretto di 174 studenti di prima media, allo scopo di rintracciare le cause delle difficoltà emerse nella risoluzione. Da questa analisi si rileva come le risposte sbagliate di diversi studenti siano legate a difficoltà nella comprensione del testo dell'item, in particolare a difficoltà di interpretazione linguistica. Le considerazioni effettuate possono fornire strumenti all'insegnante per la diagnosi di specifiche difficoltà e per suggerire "zone d'intervento"

Finite Element Analysis Investigate Pulmonary Autograft Root and Leaflet Stresses to Understand Late Durability of Ross Operation

Ross operation might be a valid option for congenital and acquired left ventricular outflow tract disease in selected cases. As the pulmonary autograft is a living substitute for the aortic root that bioinspired the Ross operation, we have created an experimental animal model in which the vital capacity of the pulmonary autograft (PA) has been studied during physiological growth. The present study aims to determine any increased stresses in PA root and leaflet compared to the similar components of the native aorta. An animal model and a mathematical analysis using finite element analysis have been used for the purpose of this manuscript. The results of this study advance our understanding of the relative benefits of pulmonary autograft for the management of severe aortic valve disease. However, it launches a warning about the importance of the choice of the length of the conduits as mechanical deformation, and, therefore, potential failure, increases with the length of the segment subjected to stress. Understanding PA root and leaflet stresses is the first step toward understanding PA durability and the regions prone to dilatation, ultimately to refine the best implant technique

Clinical and psychosocial constructs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening participation: A systematic review.

Research has identified a wide range of psychosocial factors associated to choosing to engage in ongoing cancer screenings. Nevertheless, a systematic review of the theoretical frameworks and constructs underpinning studies on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening participation has yet to be conducted. As part of the action-research project “Miriade,” the present study aims to identifying the main theoretical frameworks and constructs adopted in the literature over the past five years to explain cancer screening participation. According to the PRISMA guidelines, a search of the MEDLINE/PubMed and PsycINFO databases was made. Empirical studies conducted from 2017 to 2021 were included. The following keywords were used: breast OR cervical OR colorectal screening AND adhesion OR participation OR engagement AND theoretical framework OR conceptual framework OR theory. Overall, 24 articles met the inclusion criteria. Each theoretical framework highlighted clinical and psychosocial constructs of cancer screening participation, focusing on the individuals (psycho-emotional functioning and skills plan) and/or the health services perspectives. Findings from the present study acknowledge the plurality of the theoretical frameworks and constructs adopted to predict or promote breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening adhesion and the need for new research efforts to improve the effectiveness of cancer screening promotion interventions