Intensive Areal Survey with Deep Mechanical Testing: For the City of Ballinger Waste Water Treatment Plant Expansion, Runnels County, Texas

Archaeologists from Central Texas Archaeological Resources (CTAR), on behalf of the City of Ballinger, Runnels County, Texas, conducted an intensive areal archaeological survey with deep mechanical testing within the boundaries of a proposed Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Expansion, located in Ballinger, Runnels County, Texas on August 24-25, 2014. The proposed WWTP expansion was funded by a Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) and therefore, subject to the Antiquities Code of Texas. The city’s current treatment plant in Ballinger was nearing it capacity and was required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to expand its capabilities in order to meet its future needs. The project design would increase the overall size of the treatment plant, meeting the TCEQ mandate. The survey area was on public property currently owned by the City of Ballinger, Texas. The location of the proposed new retention ponds were the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the survey. The APE contained approximately 8.21 hectares (20.3 acres). All field work was conducted in accordance with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and the Council of Texas Archaeologists’ (CTA) survey standards as outlined in 13 TAC 26.5(35), 13 TAC 26.20(1), and 13 TAC 26,20(2). The archaeological survey was conducted by Principal Investigator, Katherine Turner-Pearson, MA, RPA on August 24-25, 2014. A total of seven shovel tests were excavated to depths of 42-60 centimeters below the surface (cmbs). Archaeologists placed five backhoe trenches within the APE of approximately 6.5 meters (m) x 2.15 m in surface size and 2.0 m in depth. No archaeological sites or cultural remains were revealed during the shovel tests or mechanical testing; however, one archaeological site was discovered during the pedestrian survey. The site, 41RN277, was a surface lithic scatter believed to be archaic in age. The site was disturbed with no diagnostic artifacts, and did not meet the National Register of Historic Places’ eligibility requirements. Archaeologists recommended that the project proceed as planned. Project and site documentation will be curated at the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory (TARL) in Austin, Texas, and a copy of this report will be filed with the THC in Austin and the CTAR offices in Woodway, Texas

The search for ancient hair: a scientific approach to the probabilities and recovery of unattached hair in archaeological sites

A recent upsurge exists of archaeologists using ancient hair as a research tool, with new uses of this previously discarded archaeological material being introduced annually. Human hair deteriorates extremely slowly, and since the average modern human sheds approximately one hundred hairs per day, there should be copious amounts of hair debris left behind after humans leave a site; it is just a matter of how much of the hair survives in the archaeological environment. Most loose hair recovered from archaeological sites, however, is found fortuitously and in many cases, because archaeologists were not actively searching for ancient hair, it is possible they tainted the hair they later tested in ways that compromised their data, or more importantly contaminated their samples with modern hair and did not test ancient hair at all. No standardized method has previously been established for searching for ancient hair in an archaeological site. This paper considers (a) a method of soil extraction in the field that avoids contamination with modern hair and elements that might hinder later test data; (b) the processing of samples in the laboratory while continuing sample integrity; (c) identification of the types of soils and environments that are most favorable to hair preservation; and (d) an examination of the relevance of hair extraction from sites including the practicality and research potential. This paper examines five archaeological sites, using three different methods of hair extraction, examining the pros and cons of each. This should enable future researchers to find a method that works best for their particular site. It also analyzes the soil chemistry of the sites in order to study the soil and hair survival relationship, so that scientists can better determine which soils hold the best potential for hair survival. Laboratory methods that avoid contamination of the samples are also outlined in order to help researchers keep sample integrity after leaving the archaeological site

Cultural Resources Investigations for the Port O’Connor Improvement District Water Line, Water Well, and Water Plant Improvements Project, Calhoun County, Texas

ohn D. Mercer and Associates on behalf of the Port O’Connor Improvement District (POCID) requested assistance from Atkins North America, Inc. for environmental and permitting services in support of the Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) guidelines for the completion of an Environmental Data Form. The proposed project also required pre-construction notification under Nationwide Permit (NWP) 12 Utility Line Activities, NWP 7 Outfall Structures, NWP 13 Bank Stabilization, and a possible Navigation 408 application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District. Additionally, portions of the proposed project would be constructed on property owned by the POCID or Calhoun County and once completed, was anticipated to be operated by the POCID. The POCID, utilizing funds from the TWDB, proposed the installation of five new water wells and connecting water lines, along with a new ground storage tank and a new reverse osmosis treatment facility. An outfall line for the reverse osmosis rejected water would be constructed from the reverse osmosis facility to a discharge point in the Gulf Intracoastal Water Way (GIWW). Atkins archaeologists conducted Cultural Resources Investigations for the Port O’Connor Improvement District Water Line, Water Well and Water Plant Improvements Project, located in Calhoun County, Texas between August 31, 2020 and September 2, 2020 under Texas Antiquities Permit (TAP) Number 9538. During the archaeological survey, a total of 34 shovel tests were placed along the 3,389 linear meters (11,119 linear feet) survey area as well as the 0.036 hectares (0.089 acres) of well pad sites. Archaeological survey work was completed by a two-person crew, including the Principal Investigator, over three days. Due to the sandy coastal soils, almost all of the shovel tests went to the research designed planned depth of 80 centimeters below surface (cmbs). While none of the shovel tests encountered archaeological sites, artifacts, or any other sign of cultural occupancy, two shovel tests showed soil horizons that could represent buried A Horizons (paleosols). However, the possible buried paleosols did not show any signs of archaeological remains nor cultural features, so one can only speculate as to any possible occupancy in the past. A large portion of the area of potential effects (APE) proved to be previously disturbed by utility lines, highways, driveways, or building construction, and any archaeological sites located in those areas would already be highly disturbed or destroyed. Additionally, no historic structures were observed within 150 ft of the APE. Because much of the APE proved to be disturbed, and since no known archaeological sites and no historic properties were located within or adjacent to the project APE, and no new archaeological sites or cultural remains were discovered during the survey, Atkins archaeologists recommended that the project be allowed to proceed as proposed

Values clarification workshops to improve abortion knowledge, attitudes and intentions: a pre-post assessment in 12 countries

Abstract Background Women’s access to abortion care is often denied or hampered due to a range of barriers, many of which are rooted in abortion stigma. Abortion values clarification and attitude transformation (VCAT) workshops are conducted with abortion providers, trainers, and policymakers and other stakeholders to mitigate the effects of abortion stigma and increase provision of and access to abortion care. This study assesses changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of VCAT workshop participants. Methods Pre- and post-workshop surveys from 43 VCAT workshops conducted in 12 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America between 2006 and 2011 were analyzed to assess changes in three domains: knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions related to abortion care. A score was created for each domain (range: 0-100), and paired t-tests or Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks tests were used to test for significant differences between the pre- and post-workshop scores overall and by region and participant type (providers, trainers, and policymakers/other stakeholders). We also assessed changes in pre- and post-workshop scores for participants with the lowest knowledge and negative attitudes on the pre-workshop survey. Results Overall, the mean knowledge score increased significantly from 49.0 to 67.1 (p < 0.001) out of a total possible score of 100. Attitudes and behavioral intentions showed more modest, but still statistically significant improvements between the pre- and post-workshop surveys. The mean attitudes score increased from 78.2 to 80.9 (p < 0.001), and the mean behavioral intentions score rose from 82.2 to 85.4 (p = 0.03). Among participants with negative attitudes pre-workshop, most shifted to positive attitudes on the post-workshop survey, ranging from 35.2% who switched to supporting unrestricted access to second-trimester abortion to 90.9% who switched to feeling comfortable working to increase access to contraceptive services in their country. Participants who began the workshop with the lowest level of knowledge experienced the greatest increase in mean knowledge score from 20.0 to 55.0 between pre- and post-workshop surveys (p < 0.001). Conclusions VCAT workshop participants demonstrated improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions related to abortion care. Participants who entered the workshops with the lowest levels of knowledge and negative attitudes had the greatest gains in these domains

Effects of ocean sprawl on ecological connectivity: impacts and solutions

The growing number of artificial structures in estuarine, coastal and marine environments is causing “ocean sprawl”. Artificial structures do not only modify marine and coastal ecosystems at the sites of their placement, but may also produce larger-scale impacts through their alteration of ecological connectivity - the movement of organisms, materials and energy between habitat units within seascapes. Despite the growing awareness of the capacity of ocean sprawl to influence ecological connectivity, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how artificial structures modify ecological connectivity in near- and off-shore environments, and when and where their effects on connectivity are greatest. We review the mechanisms by which ocean sprawl may modify ecological connectivity, including trophic connectivity associated with the flow of nutrients and resources. We also review demonstrated, inferred and likely ecological impacts of such changes to connectivity, at scales from genes to ecosystems, and potential strategies of management for mitigating these effects. Ocean sprawl may alter connectivity by: (1) creating barriers to the movement of some organisms and resources - by adding physical barriers or by modifying and fragmenting habitats; (2) introducing new structural material that acts as a conduit for the movement of other organisms or resources across the landscape; and (3) altering trophic connectivity. Changes to connectivity may, in turn, influence the genetic structure and size of populations, the distribution of species, and community structure and ecological functioning. Two main approaches to the assessment of ecological connectivity have been taken: (1) measurement of structural connectivity - the configuration of the landscape and habitat patches and their dynamics; and (2) measurement of functional connectivity - the response of organisms or particles to the landscape. Our review reveals the paucity of studies directly addressing the effects of artificial structures on ecological connectivity in the marine environment, particularly at large spatial and temporal scales. With the ongoing development of estuarine and marine environments, there is a pressing need for additional studies that quantify the effects of ocean sprawl on ecological connectivity. Understanding the mechanisms by which structures modify connectivity is essential if marine spatial planning and eco-engineering are to be effectively utilised to minimise impacts

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

The development and validation of a scoring tool to predict the operative duration of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: The ability to accurately predict operative duration has the potential to optimise theatre efficiency and utilisation, thus reducing costs and increasing staff and patient satisfaction. With laparoscopic cholecystectomy being one of the most commonly performed procedures worldwide, a tool to predict operative duration could be extremely beneficial to healthcare organisations. Methods: Data collected from the CholeS study on patients undergoing cholecystectomy in UK and Irish hospitals between 04/2014 and 05/2014 were used to study operative duration. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was produced in order to identify significant independent predictors of long (> 90 min) operations. The resulting model was converted to a risk score, which was subsequently validated on second cohort of patients using ROC curves. Results: After exclusions, data were available for 7227 patients in the derivation (CholeS) cohort. The median operative duration was 60 min (interquartile range 45–85), with 17.7% of operations lasting longer than 90 min. Ten factors were found to be significant independent predictors of operative durations > 90 min, including ASA, age, previous surgical admissions, BMI, gallbladder wall thickness and CBD diameter. A risk score was then produced from these factors, and applied to a cohort of 2405 patients from a tertiary centre for external validation. This returned an area under the ROC curve of 0.708 (SE = 0.013, p  90 min increasing more than eightfold from 5.1 to 41.8% in the extremes of the score. Conclusion: The scoring tool produced in this study was found to be significantly predictive of long operative durations on validation in an external cohort. As such, the tool may have the potential to enable organisations to better organise theatre lists and deliver greater efficiencies in care

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

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

Genomic assessment of quarantine measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 importation and transmission

Mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from international travel is a priority. We evaluated the effectiveness of travellers being required to quarantine for 14-days on return to England in Summer 2020. We identified 4,207 travel-related SARS-CoV-2 cases and their contacts, and identified 827 associated SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Overall, quarantine was associated with a lower rate of contacts, and the impact of quarantine was greatest in the 16–20 age-group. 186 SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sufficiently unique to identify travel-related clusters. Fewer genomically-linked cases were observed for index cases who returned from countries with quarantine requirement compared to countries with no quarantine requirement. This difference was explained by fewer importation events per identified genome for these cases, as opposed to fewer onward contacts per case. Overall, our study demonstrates that a 14-day quarantine period reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the onward transmission of imported cases, mainly by dissuading travel to countries with a quarantine requirement