Assessment and monitoring of marine debris in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary

Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) is located 32.4 km offshore of Sapelo Island, Georgia. The ecological importance of this area is related to the transition between tropical and temperate waters, and the existence of a topographically complex system of ledges. Due to its central location, GRNMS can be used as a focal site to study the accumulation and impacts of marine debris on the Atlantic continental shelf offshore of the Southeast United States. Previously, researchers characterized marine debris in GRNMS and reported that incidence of the debris at the limited densely colonized ledge sites was significantly greater than at sand or sparsely colonized live bottom, and is further influenced by the level of boating activity and physiographic characteristics (e.g., ledge height). Information gleaned from the initial marine debris characterization was used to devise a strategy for prioritizing cleanup and monitoring efforts. However, a significant gap in knowledge was the rate of debris accumulation. The primary objective of this study was to select, mark, and perform initial marine debris surveys at permanent monitoring sites within GRNMS to quantify long-term trends in types, abundance, impacts, and accumulation rates of debris. Ledge sites were selected to compare types, abundance, and accumulation rates of marine debris between a) areas of high and low use and b) short and tall ledges. Nine permanent monitoring sites were marked and initially surveyed in 2007/2008. Surveys were conducted within a 50 x 4 m transect for a total survey area of 200 square meters. All debris was removed and detailed information was taken on the types of debris, quantity, and associations with benthic fauna. Information on associations with benthic fauna included degree of entanglement, type of organism with which it is entangled or resting on, degree of fouling, and visible impacts such as tissue abrasions. Sites were re-surveyed approximately one year later to quantify new accumulation. During the initial survey, a total of ten debris items, totaling 16.3 kg in weight, were removed from two monitoring stations, both “tall” sites within the area of high boat use. Year-one accumulation totaled five items and approximately 7 kg in weight. Similar to the initial survey, all debris was found at sites in the area of high boat use. However, in contrast to the initial survey, two of these items were found on medium-height ledges. Removed items included fishing line, leaders, rope, plastic, and fabric. Although items were often encrusted in benthic biota or entangled on the ledge, impacts such as abrasions or other injuries were not observed. During the 2009 monitoring efforts, volunteer divers were trained to conduct the survey. Monitoring protocols were documented for GRNMS staff and included as an appendix of this report to enable long-term monitoring of sites. Additionally, national reconnaissance data (e.g. satellite, radar, aerial surveys) and other information on known fishing locations were examined for patterns of resource use and correlations with debris occurrence patterns. A previous model predicting the density of marine debris based on ledge features and boat use was refined and the results were used to generate a map of predicted debris density for all ledges

Towards Systems Design for Supporting Enabling Communities

Communities and community support systems should be designed to enable participants to work effectively towards conducting both collective and individual activities and achieving their goals. Such communities are called Enabling Communities. Our focus is the systems that support community members in doing whichever tasks or activities they need or want to. These systems include processes, technology, information and people. This paper provides a framework for Supporting Enabling Communities (SEComm) in two major components: (1) Participant Support Systems (PaSS) and (2) Community Participation Levels (CPaL). Three case studies apply this framework to an emerging virtual community and a community of practice

Particle Removal by Electrostatic and Dielectrophoretic Forces for Dust Control During Lunar Exploration Missions

Particle removal during lunar exploration activities is of prime importance for the success of robotic and human exploration of the moon. We report on our efforts to use electrostatic and dielectrophoretic forces to develop a dust removal technology that prevents the accumulation of dust on solar panels and removes dust adhering to those surfaces. Testing of several prototypes showed solar shield output above 90% of the initial potentials after dust clearing

Antimicrobial resistance in fecal generic Escherichia coli in 90 Alberta swine finishing farms: prevalence and risk factors for resistance

The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in generic Escherichia coli isolates obtained from 90 Alberta finisher swine farms, and to evaluate the potential associations between on-farm antimicrobial use (AMU) practices and observed AMR. The farms were visited three times, approximately one month apart (n=269 farm visits). In total, 5 pen fecal samples were collected per each visit and mixed into one pool per visit. Conventional culture and susceptibility testing were employed. Reported AMU practices through feed, water and injection in different phases of pig production, were collected using a questionnaire

Jump test asymmetry profiles of elite trials cyclists.

Bike trials is a cycling discipline in which riders navigate a series of obstacle courses on their bikes. As many of the techniques used in trials riding are acyclic, riders will display a natural preference as to which foot is on the front pedal. The primary aim of this study was to try to identify if this unique riding style creates a sport-specific inter-limb asymmetry profile during a range of common jump tests. Eight elite trials riders (mean age 20.0 ± 0.9 years, height 178.5 ± 6.8 cm, weight 76.1 ± 10.4 kg) completed three repetitions each of countermovement jump, single leg countermovement jump and single leg hop tests. There were no significant asymmetries between the overall group means for the jump tests (absolute asymmetry: countermovement jump 5.4 ± 3.6%; single leg countermovement jump 10.0 ± 5.4%; and single leg hop 5.9 ± 4.0%). There were however significant (p<0.05) individual asymmetries found in all of the jump tests and meaningful asymmetries (percentage asymmetry greater than coefficient of variation) in both of the single leg tests. The direction of asymmetry was shown to be variable across the different tests (Fleiss’ Kappa = -0.34). Some participants also showed meaningful and significant differences in the movement strategies used within a test, though again there were no significant differences in the group means. The findings suggest inter-limb asymmetries are highly task specific and there was no evidence to suggest that trials riders develop specific asymmetries due to the asymmetrical physical demands of their sport

Practice setting and physician influences on judgments of colon cancer treatment by community physicians.

OBJECTIVE: This article compares judgments about the treatment of Dukes' B2 and C colon cancer made by general surgeons to those of internists and family practitioners. Physician and practice variables were specialty, affiliation with a Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) hospital, time in practice, professional centrality (level of participation in cancer information networks), solo practice, and number of colon cancer patients. DATA COLLECTION METHODS: Data are combined from national probability samples of CCOP- and non-CCOP-affiliated physicians. This study focused on 1,138 internists, family physicians, and general surgeons who participated in decision making for patients diagnosed with Dukes' B2 or C stage colon cancer. Judgments were elicited using brief vignettes. METHODS OF ANALYSIS: Judgments of adjuvant therapy are classified as (a) consistent with the National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference recommendations (experimental for Dukes' B2, accepted for Dukes' C); (b) accepted treatment for both stages; or (c) experimental for both stages. Multinomial logit analyses were used to examine the association of practice setting and physician characteristics to judgments of treatment. RESULTS: Surgeons and CCOP-affiliated physicians were more likely to endorse the NIH consensus conference position. Surgeons, younger physicians, and those in group practice were more likely to approve of chemotherapy for both cancer stages. The most common position (chemotherapy experimental) was more likely from nonsurgeons, solo practitioners, and non-CCOP physicians. CONCLUSION: Physician and practice setting characteristics, including organized structures such as the CCOP, are possible mediating structures that can facilitate dissemination of standards of treatment

Who wants to move? The role of neighbourhood change

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from SAGE via http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0308518X15615367 There is growing interest in how, when and where neighbourhoods affect individual behaviours and outcomes. In Britain, falling levels of owner-occupation and the growth of ethnic minority populations have sparked a debate about how neighbourhood characteristics and neighbourhood change intersect with the decision to move. In this paper we investigate how mobility preferences vary with neighbourhood characteristics and neighbourhood change. We use multilevel logistic regression models to test whether this is configured by personal attributes or attachment to one's neighbourhood and perceived similarity to one's neighbours. The results show that neighbourhood deprivation, changes in neighbourhood ethnic composition and changes in tenure mix are associated with preferring to move. Importantly, we show that a feeling of belonging to the neighbourhood or feeling similar to others in the neighbourhood significantly reduces the desire to move. </jats:p

Status of U.S. testing of the High Performance Hall System SPT-140 Hall thruster

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77315/1/AIAA-2000-1053-280.pd

Financial phantasmagoria: corporate image-work in times of crisis

Our purpose in this article is to relate the real movements in the economy during 2008 to the ?image-work? of financial institutions. Over the period January?December 2008 we collected 241 separate advertisements from 61 financial institutions published in the Financial Times. Reading across the ensemble of advertisements for themes and evocative images provides an impression of the financial imaginaries created by these organizations as the global financial crisis unfolded. In using the term ?phantasmagoria? we move beyond its colloquial sense of a set of strange images designed to dazzle towards the more technical connotation used by Ranci�re (2004) who suggested that words and images can offer a trace of an overall determining set-up if they are torn from their obviousness so they become phantasmagoric figures. The key phantasmagoric figure we identify here is that of the financial institution as timeless, immortal and unchanging; a coherent and autonomous entity amongst other actors. This notion of uniqueness belies the commonality of thinking which precipitated the global financial crisis as well as the limited capacity for control of financial institutions in relation to market events. It also functions as a powerful naturalizing force, making it hard to question certain aspects of the recent period of ?capitalism in crisis?

Salmonella enterica in Alberta Slaughter Hogs

Cecal samples were collected and cultured to determine the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in Alberta slaughter hogs. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica was recovered from 211/602 samples yielding 282 individual isolates distributed among 37 serotypes. The 5 most common serotypes (California, lnfantis, Derby, Mbandanka and Worthington) comprised 68.4% of all isolates. Resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin, and sulfamethoxazole, were commonly identified. Resistance to 5 or more antibiotics was noted in 9.6% of all isolates, and only in serotypes Agona, California, Derby, Typhimurium var. Copenhagen DTl 04, and Worthington. This study has shown that 35% of Alberta slaughter hogs carry S. enterica subsp. enterica. Resistance by Salmonella spp. isolates to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline, singly or in combination, was relatively frequent but multi-resistant isolates were less common