Model Sensitivity to Topographic Uncertainty in Meso- and Microtidal Marshes

Light detection and ranging (Lidar) derived digital elevation models are widely used in modeling coastal marsh systems. However, the topographic error in these models can affect simulations of marsh coverage and characteristics. We investigated the relevance and impact of this error in micro- and mesotidal systems. Lidar-derived and RTK-adjusted topography were each used in a dynamic marsh model, and the resulting marsh coverages were examined. For two microtidal sites (Apalachicola, FL, USA, and Grand Bay, MS, USA) using solely lidar-derived topography, the model produced Cohen Kappa values of 0.1 for both estuaries when compared with National Wetland Inventory data indicating “very poor agreement.” Applying the RTK-adjusted topography improved the model marsh coverage results to “substantial agreement” with the values to 0.6 and 0.77, respectively. The mesotidal site in Plum Island, MA, USA, contained similar topographic errors, but the model produced a Cohen Kappa value of 0.73, which categorized it as “very good agreement” with no need for a further topographic adjustment given its present robust biomass productivity. The results demonstrate that marsh models are sensitive to topographic errors when the errors are comparable to the tidal range. The particular sensitivity of the modeling results to topographic error in microtidal systems highlights the need for close scrutiny of lidar-derived topography

Newsletter Networks in the Feminist History and Archives Movement

This article examines how networks have been critical to the construction of feminist histories. The author examines the publication Matrices: A Lesbian/Feminist Research Newsletter (1977–1996), to argue that a feminist network mode can be traced through the examination of small-scale print newsletters that draw on the language and function of networks. Publications such as Matrices emerge into wide production and circulation in the 1970s alongside feminist community archives, and newsletters and archives work together as interconnected social movement technologies. Newsletters enabled activist-researchers writing feminist histories to share difficult-to-access information, resources, and primary sources via photocopying and other modes of print reproduction.  Looking from the present, the author examines how network thinking has been a feature of feminist activism and knowledge production since before the Internet, suggesting that publications such as Matrices are part of a longer history of networked communications media in feminist contexts

Effect of collaborative care vs usual care on depressive symptoms among older adults with sub-threshold depression : the CASPER randomized clinical trial

In the CASPER randomized trial of 705 participants age 65 and older with sub-threshold depression, those randomized to a collaborative care intervention had lower depression scores, measured by the Patient Health 9-item questionnaire at 4 month follow-up, compared to usual care

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Marsh Dynamics: Laboratory and Field Investigations of Gas Transport, Wave Attenuation, and Biosolids Amendment

Marshes, and tidal salt marshes in particular, are gaining recognition as critical elements in sustainable shoreline protection (Narayan, Beck, Reguero, et al. 2016; Narayan, Beck, Wilson, et al. 2016; Spalding, Ruo, et al. 2014; Spalding, McIvor, et al. 2014). They contribute to coastal resiliency not only by attenuating wave energy in large storms (Gedan et al. 2011; M�oller, Kudella, et al. 2014), but also by maintaining the existence of coastal land (Kirwan et al. 2016), supporting sheries (Boesch & Turner 1984; MacKenzie & Dionne2008), sequestering carbon (Ouyang & Lee 2014), and removing contaminants (Dhir et al. 2009; Windham et al. 2003). These benets directly contribute to the sustainability of the growing populations in coastal regions (Sutton-Grier, Wowk, et al. 2015). With thisrecognition, there are many ongoing projects to preserve existing salt marshes, restore former marshes, and create hybrids of natural and engineered structures (Pontee et al. 2016). These projects require an understanding of the underpinning processes that lead to marsh sustainability. The projects presented in this dissertation are efforts to better understand marsh dynamics. The fist project explores the impact of emergent vegetation on gas flux in marsh surface waters. Wind causes the stems of emergent vegetation to wave back and forth, stirring the water column and facilitating gas exchange. To understand the magnitude of this effect, a gas transfer velocity (k600-value) was measured via laboratory experiments. Measuring this transport pathway contributes to a mechanistic understanding of gas flux and can improve models of climatically important gases. The second project examines wave attenuationacross a salt marsh. Salt marsh vegetation is effective at reducing wave energy. It is important to understand how this attenuation varies. Through field measurements, wave attenuation is explored as a function of hydrodynamic conditions, season, and vegetationtype. The results showed that even fringe marshes, which are common in San Francisco Bay, are effective at reducing wave energy year-round. The last project investigates the viability of using biosolids as an amendment to dredged material in marsh restorations. Biosolids is a reliable and sustainable source of sediment, and more sources of sediment are needed for marsh restoration projects. Both the aboveground and belowground biomass increased when vegetation was grown in soil containing biosolids as compared to only dredged material. Taken together, the three projects discussed here can contribute to improving the success and effciency of marsh restoration and preservation

Wave ATTEnuation Toolbox (WATTE)

WATTE is an ArcGIS toolbox. Its function is to estimate and map wave attenuation along coastlines. Wave attenuation is an important ecosystem service of natural coastal ecosystems. The current form of WATTE models wave attenuation as an exponential decay, which is common for marsh coastlines. WATTE calculates wave height change along 1-D transects and interpolates between the transects to produce estimates of wave attenuation and map areas of wave exposure. Users can customize the attributes of the transects and the exponential decay constants used for the calculation. WATTE can be applied to any raster with land type classification, allowing for application to past, present, and future land conditions. The publication in Environmental Modelling and Software details the toolbox algorithm and provides three case studies demonstrating its use

Flourishing among Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain and Emotional, Developmental, or Behavioral Comorbidities

Pediatric chronic pain is an important public health issue given its notable impact on numerous domains of living. Pediatric chronic pain is also often comorbid with emotional, developmental, or behavioral conditions, which can lead to more severe negative outcomes and an even greater reduction in positive outcomes compared to those without comorbidities. Flourishing is a positive outcome that chronic pain status has been shown to impact. Flourishing in children aged 6–17 years living with chronic pain, as well as those with chronic pain and comorbidities, was explored using data from the 2018/2019 National Survey of Child Health. Chronic pain occurred in 4.0% of our sample, and the prevalence of chronic pain plus comorbidities was 3.9%. There were significant associations between the chronic pain condition status and all demographic variables (sex, age, race/ethnicity, poverty level, parental education, and health insurance status). The results of the hierarchical logistic regression found that the chronic pain condition status significantly predicted flourishing. Children with chronic pain were 2.33 times less likely to flourish, and children with chronic pain plus an emotional, developmental, or behavioral comorbidity were 13 times less likely to flourish than their typical peers. Given their significantly lower likelihood of flourishing, there is an urgent need for interventions targeted at children experiencing chronic pain and mental health comorbidities

Impact of modeled microgravity stress on innate immunity in a beneficial animal-microbe symbiosis

Abstract The innate immune response is the first line of defense for all animals to not only detect invading microbes and toxins but also sense and interface with the environment. One such environment that can significantly affect innate immunity is spaceflight. In this study, we explored the impact of microgravity stress on key elements of the NFκB innate immune pathway. The symbiosis between the bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and its beneficial symbiont Vibrio fischeri was used as a model system under a simulated microgravity environment. The expression of genes associated with the NFκB pathway was monitored over time as the symbiosis progressed. Results revealed that although the onset of the symbiosis was the major driver in the differential expression of NFκB signaling, the stress of simulated low-shear microgravity also caused a dysregulation of expression. Several genes were expressed at earlier time points suggesting that elements of the E. scolopes NFκB pathway are stress-inducible, whereas expression of other pathway components was delayed. The results provide new insights into the role of NFκB signaling in the squid-vibrio symbiosis, and how the stress of microgravity negatively impacts the host immune response. Together, these results provide a foundation to develop mitigation strategies to maintain host-microbe homeostasis during spaceflight

Challenging child behaviours positively predict symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in parents of children with Autism spectrum disorder and rare diseases

Background: This study investigated the validity of conceptualising elevated stress in parents of children who exhibit challenging behaviour within the framework of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was hypothesised that parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and parents of children with a rare disease would endorse greater PTSD symptomatology than parents of typically developing (TD) children, and that challenging child behaviours would positively predict PTSD symptomatology. Method: The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5, Developmental Behaviour Checklist (Parent) and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 were administered to 395 parents. Results: Significantly more PTSD symptomatology was reported by parents of children with ASD and parents of children with a rare disease than parents of TD children, and challenging child behaviours positively predicted PTSD symptomatology in both groups. Conclusion: A PTSD framework may validly explain elevated stress among some parents of children with ASD and parents of children with a rare disease, and has important implications for support delivered to parents by healthcare providers. © 2019 Elsevier Lt