Factors influencing local decisions to use habitats to protect coastal communities from hazards

AbstractCoastal hazard mitigation policy in the US has historically focused on construction of hardened, or gray, infrastructure. Recently, there is increased public interest and policy supporting the use of habitats, or natural infrastructure (NI), following decades of increasingly supportive ecological, engineering, and economic evidence. This trend suggests that behavioral and institutional factors may also be important for mainstreaming NI. To understand what factors affected decisions to use NI, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a total of 16 individuals associated with three NI cases: Ferry Point Park Living Shoreline, Maryland (MD); Surfer's Point Managed Retreat, California (CA); and Durant's Point Living Shoreline, North Carolina (NC). Our grounded theory analysis of the interview transcripts revealed four common themes across the decisions: 1) perception of benefits (N = 45) and costs (N = 31), 2) diffusion of innovation led by innovators (N = 34), 3) local champions (N = 46), and 4) social networks and norms (N = 30). This grounded theory suggests that the decisions to use NI were driven by innovators (citizens, local non-governmental organization (NGO) staff, and/or state government resource managers) who were influenced by seeing NI successes implemented by trusted experts and perceived NI benefits beyond protecting coastlines (e.g., maintaining coastal heritage and sense of place). Innovators also acted as local champions, getting others “comfortable” with NI and connecting to local interests. In addition, our analysis shows the role of regulatory permitting requirements in perpetuating or controlling biases against innovations like NI. In 2008, MD passed a policy that helped address biases against NI by changing NI from a preferred option to the required option except in places where scientific analysis suggested that gray infrastructure would be needed, while in CA and NC gray infrastructure remains only a preferred option. These results suggest an opportunity to harness heuristics, such as visual demonstrations and messaging from trusted persons, in addition to policy tools to mainstream NI in places where there is evidence that it would be effective. These results also suggest that heuristics could result in biases that not only lead to underuse but also to inappropriate use of NI; and, policies, similar to the policy in Maryland, are needed to control these biases

Health care payments in the asia pacific: validation of five survey measures of economic burden

Introduction: Many low and middle-income countries rely on out-of-pocket payments to help finance health care. These payments can pose financial hardships for households; valid measurement of this type of economic burden is therefore critical. This study examines the validity of five survey measures of economic burden caused by health care payments. Methods: We analyzed 2002/03 World Health Survey household-level data from four Asia Pacific countries to assess the construct validity of five measures of economic burden due to health care payments: any health expenditure, health expenditure amount, catastrophic health expenditure, indebtedness, and impoverishment. We used generalized linear models to assess the correlations between these measures and other constructs with which they have expected associations, such as health care need, wealth, and risk protection. Results: Measures of impoverishment and indebtedness most often correlated with health care need, wealth, and risk protection as expected. Having any health expenditure, a large health expenditure, or even a catastrophic health expenditure did not consistently predict degree of economic burden. Conclusions: Studies that examine economic burden attributable to health care payments should include measures of impoverishment and indebtedness

Construction of a bacterial autoinducer detection system in mammalian cells

Quorum sensing (QS) is a cell density-dependent signaling system used by bacteria to coordinate gene expression within a population. QS systems in Gram negative bacteria consist of transcription factors of the LuxR family and their acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) ligands. We describe here a method for examining QS signaling systems in mammalian cells that uses engineered LuxR-type proteins from the opportunistic pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can function as AHL-dependent transcription factors. The engineered proteins respond to their cognate ligands and display sequence specific DNA binding properties. This system has several potential biotechnological and biological applications. It may be used to characterize any LuxR-type protein, screen animal and plant cell extracts or exudates for compounds that mimic or interfere with AHL signaling or to screen different cell types for AHL inactivating activities

Understanding Barriers and Opportunities for Adoption of Conservation Practices on Rented Farmland in the US

Agricultural conservation programs often focus on farm operators when promoting conservation practices. However, much of U.S. farmland is owned by landowners not directly involved in farm operations. Rental arrangements on these lands can dis-incentivize the adoption of conservation practices that could improve soil health, water quality, and land values. To date, agricultural conservation policy has largely ignored the role of non-operating landowners (NOLs) and rental arrangements. We help improve the evidence-base for policy by identifying barriers to adoption of conservation practices on rented farmlands. Analysis of forty interviews with NOLs, operators, farm managers and university extension personnel in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana revealed five categories of barriers: cash rent lease terms, rental market dynamics, information deficits/asymmetries, cognitive/interpersonal, and financial motivations. Some barriers, such as risk aversion and farm aesthetics were expressed by both NOLs and operators, while other barriers, such as status quo bias and annual renewal of leases were only expressed by NOLs and operators, respectively. To overcome barriers to conservation, interviewees recommended improving communication between NOLs and operators and modifying cash rent lease terms in order to build in flexibility for equitable sharing of risks and rewards. Agricultural conservation programs could readily apply these results—possibly working with intermediaries (e.g., farm managers, lawyers)—to offer communication and lease tools and assistance to NOLS and operators. Future research should evaluate the efficacy of these conservation interventions and how intermediaries affect the balance of power between NOLs and operators

Mechanism of resistance to Aceria cajani in pigeonpea.

Leaf anatomy was studied in relation to resistance to Aceria cajani, the vector of pigeonpea sterility mosaic virus in 7 lines of pigeon peas. The leaf cuticle and epidermal cell wall were 50-100% thicker in resistant lines than in susceptible lines. In the resistant lines, cuticle thickness was 3.79 µm in ICP 7035 and 3.03 µm in ICP 8862. In the susceptible lines it was 1.89 µm in C 11, 1.52 µm in BDN 1 and 2.27 µm in ICP 8863. The cuticle thickness in the moderately resistant lines ICP 2376 (1.89 µm) and ICP 10976 (2.27 µm) was similar to that of the susceptible lines. When measured, the stylet length of A. cajani was less than the leaf cuticle thickness of the resistant lines. Resistance was, therefore, attributed to the thick cuticle of resistant lines through which the mite vectors could not penetrate into the living epidermal cells to transmit the pathogen

Role Of An Eriophyid Mite Aceria Cajani (Acari: Eriophyidae) In Transmission And Spread Of Sterility Mosaic Of Pigeonpea

Sterility mosaic (SM) is one of the most important diseases of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) in India causing an annual loss of 205,000 tonnes of grain, especially in the states of Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh (Kannaiyan el ai, 1984). The disease is presumed to be caused by a virus, although the causal agent is yet to be determined (Capoor, 1952). Selh (1962) and Nene (1972) reported that the eriophyid mite, Acer/a cajant ChannaBasavanna could transmit SM. However, in spite of the lack of evidence of the viral nature of this pathogen and its association with the diseased plants, mite toxaemia could be the possible cause of SM (Slykhuis, 1980). There is also no information on the nature and extent of spread of the disease under field conditions and the relationship between the mite vector and SM pathogen. In this paper, results of the studies on the possibility of a mite-transmitted pathogen being the cause of SM, relationship between the mile vector and SM pathogen, and spread of the disease and the mite vector under field conditions are reported

Advances in repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has gained interest over the past two decades. However, it has yet to be recommended in major treatment guidelines. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to examine the efficacy of rTMS for PTSD. Thirteen studies with 549 participants were included in this review. We compared the effects of (1) rTMS versus sham, and (2) high-frequency (HF) versus low-frequency (LF) rTMS, on posttreatment PTSD scores and other secondary outcomes. We calculated the standardized mean differences (SMD) to determine the direction of effects, and unstandardized mean differences to estimate the magnitude of efficacy. At post-treatment, rTMS was superior to sham comparison in reducing PTSD (SMD = −1.13, 95% CI: −2.10 to −0.15) and depression severity (SMD = −0.83, 95% CI: −1.30 to −0.36). The quality of evidence, however, was rated very low due to small samples sizes, treatment heterogeneity, inconsistent results, and an imprecise pooled effect. HF rTMS was associated with slightly improved, albeit imprecise, outcomes compared to LF rTMS on PTSD (SMD = −0.19, 95% CI: −1.39 to 1.00) and depression (SMD = −1.09, 95% CI: −1.65 to −0.52) severity. Further research is required to advance the evidence on this treatment

A Systematic Review of Mosquito Coils and Passive Emanators: Defining Recommendations for Spatial Repellency Testing Methodologies.

Mosquito coils, vaporizer mats and emanators confer protection against mosquito bites through the spatial action of emanated vapor or airborne pyrethroid particles. These products dominate the pest control market; therefore, it is vital to characterize mosquito responses elicited by the chemical actives and their potential for disease prevention. The aim of this review was to determine effects of mosquito coils and emanators on mosquito responses that reduce human-vector contact and to propose scientific consensus on terminologies and methodologies used for evaluation of product formats that could contain spatial chemical actives, including indoor residual spraying (IRS), long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) and insecticide treated materials (ITMs). PubMed, (National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), U.S. National Library of Medicine, NIH), MEDLINE, LILAC, Cochrane library, IBECS and Armed Forces Pest Management Board Literature Retrieval System search engines were used to identify studies of pyrethroid based coils and emanators with key-words "Mosquito coils" "Mosquito emanators" and "Spatial repellents". It was concluded that there is need to improve statistical reporting of studies, and reach consensus in the methodologies and terminologies used through standardized testing guidelines. Despite differing evaluation methodologies, data showed that coils and emanators induce mortality, deterrence, repellency as well as reduce the ability of mosquitoes to feed on humans. Available data on efficacy outdoors, dose-response relationships and effective distance of coils and emanators is inadequate for developing a target product profile (TPP), which will be required for such chemicals before optimized implementation can occur for maximum benefits in disease control