A characterization of unmanaged riparian overstories in the central Oregon Coast Range

Riparian areas that can be used as reference sites on which to base goals of vegetation restoration have not been documented in the Oregon Coast Range. I examined the composition and distribution of unmanaged riparian overstories in the central Oregon Coast Range along nine streams which have experienced minimal disturbance from Native Americans and no detectable disturbance since Euro- American settlement. I systematically located transects along nine streams, alternating sides of the streams. Each transect ran perpendicular to the stream and was subjectively divided into different vegetative and/or topographic units called landscape units (LU's). Rectangular plots were placed in each LU for characterization. LU l's were units that were closest to the stream, and LU2's were farther from the stream. Red alder was the most frequently found tree species on both terraces and slopes, and on all LU1 's. On LU2 terraces, alder was also the most frequently found species, but on LU2 slopes, Douglas-fir had the highest frequency. Red alder, Sitka spruce, and bigleaf maple were most commonly found occupying terrace sites, although bigleaf maple might be best adapted to conditions on terraces towards the base of slopes. Conversely, western hemlock and Douglas-fir were most commonly found occupying slope sites. Western redcedar was infrequently found, likely due to seed source limitations. Age distributions and tree frequencies indicate that near-stream communities (LUI 's) and terraces experience both intense and minor disturbances, and they experience both types of disturbances more frequently than communities farther from the stream (LU2's) or on slopes. According to fire records and reconnaissance, all streams appear to have been burned about 145 years ago. When equating a shade-intolerant tree age that was younger than this last catastrophic fire date with a disturbance, calculations of disturbance frequency using four different approaches indicate that between 2.6 and 4.5 disturbances per km per century large enough to regenerate trees occurred since the last stand-resetting fire along the nine creeks sampled. Fifty-two percent of near-stream communities (LU1's) and 23% of communities farther from the stream (LU2's) contained no trees. This could be due to small plot size and/or high shrub competition. The No Tree overstory type was most similar in topographic conditions to the Pure Hardwood overstory type, suggesting that red alder and/or bigleaf maple might have previously occupied the No Tree sites and have since died leaving no or little evidence. It appears that a large-scale, intense disturbance such as fire is needed to allow the recruitment of trees into the shrub-dominated, No Tree areas, especially shade-intolerant trees such as Douglas-fir. Any single definition of natural riparian vegetation is nearly impossible to construct, mainly because most ecosystems are composed of vegetation mosaics that are always changing in time and space. This change is associated with environmental variability, disturbance, and inter- and intra-specific competition. Also, differences in exogenous environmental conditions between pre-settlement times (circa 1850) and today, suggest that historic vegetation, ecological conditions, and resulting successional pathways might not mirror the vegetation, ecological conditions, and successional pathways of currently unmanaged riparian areas. Instead, results from this study, revealing the existence of mixtures of hardwoods, conifers, and no-tree areas over lengths of a stream, should be perceived as just one of many possibilities for a riparian overstory reference model

Probing dark matter substructure in the gravitational lens HE0435-1223 with the WFC3 grism

Strong gravitational lensing provides a powerful test of Cold Dark Matter (CDM) as it enables the detection and mass measurement of low mass haloes even if they do not contain baryons. Compact lensed sources such as Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) are particularly sensitive to perturbing subhalos, but their use as a test of CDM has been limited by the small number of systems which have significant radio emission which is extended enough avoid significant lensing by stars in the plane of the lens galaxy, and red enough to be minimally affected by differential dust extinction. Narrow-line emission is a promising alternative as it is also extended and, unlike radio, detectable in virtually all optically selected AGN lenses. We present first results from a WFC3 grism narrow-line survey of lensed quasars, for the quadruply lensed AGN HE0435-1223. Using a forward modelling pipeline which enables us to robustly account for spatial blending, we measure the [OIII] 5007 \AA~ flux ratios of the four images. We find that the [OIII] fluxes and positions are well fit by a simple smooth mass model for the main lens. Our data rule out a $M_{600}>10^{8} (10^{7.2}) M_\odot$ NFW perturber projected within $\sim$1\farcs0 (0\farcs1) arcseconds of each of the lensed images, where $M_{600}$ is the perturber mass within its central 600 pc. The non-detection is broadly consistent with the expectations of $\Lambda$CDM for a single system. The sensitivity achieved demonstrates that powerful limits on the nature of dark matter can be obtained with the analysis of $\sim20$ narrow-line lenses.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 15 pages, 8 figure

Evaluation of harmful algal bloom outreach activities

This is the final version of the article. Available from MDPI via the link in this record.With an apparent increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs) worldwide, healthcare providers, public health personnel and coastal managers are struggling to provide scientifically-based appropriately-targeted HAB outreach and education. Since 1998, the Florida Poison Information Center-Miami, with its 24 hour/365 day/year free Aquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888-232-8635) available in several languages, has received over 25,000 HAB-related calls. As part of HAB surveillance, all possible cases of HAB-related illness among callers are reported to the Florida Health Department. This pilot study evaluated an automated call processing menu system that allows callers to access bilingual HAB information, and to speak directly with a trained Poison Information Specialist. The majority (68%) of callers reported satisfaction with the information, and many provided specific suggestions for improvement. This pilot study, the first known evaluation of use and satisfaction with HAB educational outreach materials, demonstrated that the automated system provided useful HAB-related information for the majority of callers, and decreased the routine informational call workload for the Poison Information Specialists, allowing them to focus on callers needing immediate assistance and their healthcare providers. These results will lead to improvement of this valuable HAB outreach, education and surveillance tool. Formal evaluation is recommended for future HAB outreach and educational materials.The funding for this study was provided by the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Taskforce, as well as the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Oceans and Human Health Center at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School (NSF 0CE0432368; NIEHS 1 P50 ES12736), the former National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School (NIEHS P30ES05705), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Red Tide POI (P01 ES 10594)

Complement component 3 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of cognitively intact elderly individuals with major depressive disorder

Late-life major depression (LLMD) is a risk factor for the development of mild cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia. Immune dysregulation and changes in innate immune responses in particular, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of both LLMD and AD. Complement system, a key component of the innate immune mechanism, is known to play an important role in synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions. However, its role in LLMD remains unknown. In the present study, we examined the levels of complement component 3 (C3, the convergence point of all complement activation pathways) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of elderly depressed subjects compared to healthy controls; as well as the relationship of CSF C3 levels with amyloid-beta (Aβ42 and Aβ40), total tau (T-tau) and phosphorylated tau (P-tau) proteins and cognition scores. CSF was obtained from 50 cognitively intact volunteers (major depression group, N = 30; comparison group, N = 20) and analyzed for levels of C3 by ELISA. C3 levels were marginally lower in the major depression group relative to the comparison group. We did not find any significant association of C3 with the AD biomarkers Aβ42 reflecting plaque pathology, P-tau related to tau pathology or the neurodegeneration biomarker T-tau. In contrast, C3 was positively correlated with CSF Aβ40, which may reflect Aβ deposition in cerebral vessel walls. We observed a negative correlation between C3 levels and Total Recall on the Buschke Selective Reminding Test (BSRT) for memory performance in the depressed subjects when controlling for education. This initial evidence on C3 status in LLMD subjects may have implications for our understanding of the pathophysiology of major depression especially in late life

Cultural Competency Observation Tool

This observational assessment rubric includes rating of the elements of patient centered communication defined in the Kalamazoo Consensus Statement regarding patient centered communication: These are augmented with sections that highlight factors that emerged in our observations specific to intercultural communication such as language and interpreters, nonverbal communication, mental and social issues with a large cultural overlay (mental health, pain, and disability). In addition, the tool incorporates issues specific to the medical context such as professional competence and professional regard. The rubric is also informed by the developmental model of intercultural sensitivity and Dreyfus\u27s phenomenology of skill acquisition with skill levels progressing through the stages: novice, beginner, competence, proficient, mastery

Recreational Exposure to Low Concentrations of Microcystins During an Algal Bloom in a Small Lake

We measured microcystins in blood from people at risk for swallowing water or inhaling spray while swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, or boating during an algal bloom. We monitored water samples from a small lake as a Microcystis aeruginosa bloom developed. We recruited 97 people planning recreational activities in that lake and seven others who volunteered to recreate in a nearby bloom-free lake. We conducted our field study within a week of finding a 10-μg/L microcystin concentration. We analyzed water, air, and human blood samples for water quality, potential human pathogens, algal taxonomy, and microcystin concentrations. We interviewed study participants for demographic and current health symptom information. Water samples were assayed for potential respiratory viruses (adenoviruses and enteroviruses), but none were detected. We did find low concentrations of Escherichia coli, indicating fecal contamination. We found low levels of microcystins (2 μg/L to 5 μg/L) in the water and (<0.1 ng/m3) in the aerosol samples. Blood levels of microcystins for all participants were below the limit of detection (0.147μg/L). Given this low exposure level, study participants reported no symptom increases following recreational exposure to microcystins. This is the first study to report that water-based recreational activities can expose people to very low concentrations of aerosol-borne microcystins; we recently conducted another field study to assess exposures to higher concentrations of these algal toxins

Residual sleep disturbance and risk of relapse during the continuation/maintenance phase treatment of major depressive disorder with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Relapse of major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common clinical problem. This study was designed to determine whether residual sleep disturbance (insomnia and hypersomnia) predict risk of relapse during the continuation and maintenance treatment of MDD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 570 patients with MDD were treated with open-label, flexible dose fluoxetine (range 20 to 60 mg; mean dose = 45.8 mg/day; SD = 15.1) for 12 weeks. Under double blind conditions, 262 patients who achieved clinical response were randomly assigned to continue fluoxetine or to switch to placebo for 52 weeks or until relapse. Residual sleep disturbance during the baseline visit of the double-blind phase was assessed using items 4, 5, 6 (insomnia) and 22, 23, 24 (hypersomnia) of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Survival analysis was utilized to determine the effect of residual sleep disturbance on risk of relapse.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The severities of early (<it>P </it>> 0.05), middle (<it>P </it>> 0.05), late (<it>P </it>> 0.05), or total (<it>P </it>> 0.05) residual insomnia were not found to significantly predict risk of relapse during continuation and maintenance-phase treatment. Similarly, the severities of early bedtime (<it>P </it>> 0.05), oversleeping (<it>P </it>> 0.05), napping (<it>P </it>> 0.05), or total (<it>P </it>> 0.05) residual hypersomnia were not found to significantly predict risk of relapse during continuation and maintenance-phase treatment.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study did not identify the severity of residual sleep disturbance among fluoxetine responders to predict risk of MDD relapse. The size of our sample may have precluded us from identifying more modest effects of residual sleep disturbance on the risk of relapse in MDD patients. Future studies are needed to further explore the relationship between residual sleep disturbance and relapse in MDD.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00427128</p