Modeling Individual Tree and Snag Dynamics in the Mixed-Species Acadian Forest

Forest growth modeling has a long tradition of development and application in even‐aged stands targeting single-species plantations. Modeling efforts in mixed-species stands that contain uneven‐aged stand structures are much more recent. Serving as a transitional zone between the boreal and eastern broadleaf deciduous forest types, the Acadian Forest found throughout Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces is host to a wide variety of tree species that form complex stand structures. This study validated existing and developed component equations that comprise a widely-used individual tree growth and yield model in the northeastern US and Canadian Maritime provinces. An assessment of deadwood stocking was conducted and models were developed to improve our understandings of standing deadwood dynamics as they relate to silvicultural treatment, species, and stand conditions in these forests. Three key submodels of the Northeastern variant of the Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS-NE) were benchmarked and calibrated using remeasurement data obtained from a national forest inventory, suggesting improvements that could be made in model structure and methodologies. Using 29 years of remeasured tree data from the US Forest Service Penobscot Experimental Forest (PEF), long-term projections suggested that modeling diameter (dbh) increment as opposed to basal area increment reduced root mean square error by up to 24% for the primary species in the region. Advances in methodologies for fitting individual-tree increment equations in mixed-species stands were made by including species as a random element of the regional equations. Using an extensive regional database compiled with over 1.15 million dbh remeasurements, dbh and maximum height (ht) increment submodels were fit using nonlinear mixed-effects models that employ tree species as a random effect. Predictions of dbh and ht increment represented an improvement over currently-used models in FVS-NE and reduced the complications of portraying growth dynamics in mixed-species stands with multi-cohort stand structures. Snag measurements totaling 2,751 observations collected across eight silvicultural treatments on the PEF indicated the highest volume in standing deadwood occurred in a nonharvested reference area (23.6 m3ha-1) and lowest volume in a 5-year selection cutting (5.2 m3ha-1). Methodologies highlight the effectiveness of models that relate standing deadwood abundance variables common to traditional forest inventories. Results provide insight into snag survival and decay dynamics for the species in the region and further our knowledge about the roles that deadwood dynamics play in the regional forest carbon cycle

THE ROLE OF DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING IN SELF-REGULATION SKILLS TRAINING

A central component of many psychological interventions is breathing training. Breathing training protocols based on a mindfulness or a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have demonstrated value in the management of psychological and medical ailments. Yet, despite the wealth of literature examining each approach, little direct comparison exists. An additional concern is the proliferation of smart phone health (mHealth) applications (apps) providing breathing training with little empirical evidence to support their clinical use. A possible explanation for the interest in breathing and mHealth apps is the growing body of literature indicating breathing training provides wide ranging health benefits through improved stasis of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). As ANS dysregulation underlies many chronic health conditions such as persistent temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), there is a need for empirical research to identify the most effective modality of breathing training and validate the clinical efficacy of breathing based mHealth apps. Study One compared the effectiveness of a mindfulness breathing meditation (MB) and a CBT based protocol teaching diaphragmatic breathing (DB) to improve biomarkers of ANS stasis. An attention control approach based on the Nolen-Hoeksema task (C) was included as a comparison group. Ninety participants were randomly assigned to either the MB, DB, or C condition. Within each condition, 30 participants were provided skills training with practice time and completed a behavioral self-regulation task. Participants in the DB condition approach had significantly lower breathing rates than those in the MB and C conditions (p \u3c .001). DB condition participants experienced improvements on high-frequency heart rate variability (p \u3c .05) and the standard deviation in NN intervals (p \u3c .001), which served as indicators for ANS stasis. No differences were found between conditions on the behavioral self-regulation task (p’s \u3e .05). Given these results, the DB training protocol was converted into a mHealth app to facilitate a clinical trial with patients suffering persistent TMDs. Study Two examined the additive benefits of including the mHealth app with standard dental care (SDC+) versus standard dental care alone (SDC). Nineteen patients seeking care for persistent TMDs were recruited. All participants were asked to track daily ratings of pain (VAS), relaxation (RR), and complete weekly assessments on several comorbid psycho-social factors. Within the SDC+ condition participants were asked to track the proximate effects of each breathing practice on VAS and RR ratings. Given a high drop-out rate (nine participants) and low overall sample size (N = 10), results are exploratory at best. Within the SDC+ condition, results indicated reliable improvements in average VAS and RR ratings from before and after SDC+ participants used the mHealth app (p’s \u3c .05). Within a one session training paradigm, results supported the use of a DB based intervention above the use of a MB or C intervention. Future research should consider the effects of having multiple training sessions. Study Two results were complicated by a limited sample size and failed to provide a clear picture of whether the conjunctive treatment in the SDC+ condition provided additional symptom relief above traditional dental care alone. Although exploratory results indicated the mHealth app provided temporary improvements in pain and feelings of relaxation, a well powered trial is needed to clarify whether the finding represents an enduring treatment effect

First-year impact of an Early Reading First project on language and early reading skill development

This study is of a federally-funded Early Reading First project aimed at improving school readiness by creating Centers of Excellence which focus on language and early reading skills development of low-income preschool children. The project consisted of a content standards-based curriculum and instructional program, literacy enriched classrooms, ongoing professional development, and parent involvement. The analysis focuses on 65 randomly assigned preschoolers attending state preschools (treatment = 37 and control = 28), enrolled for at least 18 weeks, who would be eligible by birth date for entry into public kindergarten the following year. Results demonstrate the intervention to be effective in improving the receptive language and early reading skills of participating preschoolers

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with bone-patellar tendon-bone autograft versus allograft in young patients

Objectives: Traditionally, bone-patella tendon-bone (BTB) autograft has been the gold standard graft choice for younger, athletic patients requiring ACL reconstruction. However, donor site morbidity, post-operative patella fracture, and increased operative time have led many surgeons to choose BTB allograft for their reconstructions. Opponents of allografts feel that slower healing time, higher rate of graft failure, and potential for disease transmission makes them undesirable graft choices in athletic patients. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes, both subjective and objective, of young patients that who have undergone either BTB autograft or allograft reconstructions with a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Methods: One hundred and twenty patients (60 autograft, 60 allograft), age 25 and below at time of surgery, were contacted after being retrospectively identified as patients having an ACL reconstruction with either a BTB allograft or autograft by one senior surgeon. Patients were administered the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale and IKDC Subjective Knee Evaluation questionnaires. Fifty (25 BTB autograft and 25 BTB allograft) of the 120 returned for physical examination as well as completion of a single leg hop test and laxity evaluation using a KT-1000 arthrometer evaluation. Of the 120 patients contacted, there were a total of 7 failures (5.8%) requiring revision, 6 in the allograft group (86%) and 1 in the autograft group (14%). Results: The average Lysholm scores were 89.0 and 89.56 and the average IKDC scores were 90.8 and 92.1 in the autograft and allograft groups respectively. The differences in the Lysholm scores and the IKDC scores were not significant. The single leg hop and KT-1000 scores were also not significantly different. One autograft patient had a minor motion deficit. Three allograft patients had a grade 1 Lachman and pivot glide. One autograft patient and two allograft patients had mild patellafemoral crepitus. There was no significant difference in anterior knee pain between the two groups Conclusion: There is no significant difference in patient-rated outcome between ACL reconstructions using BTB autografts versus allografts. However, the overall study group did reveal an increased failure rate requiring revision in the allograft group. © The Author(s) 2015

Gathering Perceptions to Strengthen Program Planning: A Citizen Science Project Highlighting Deer Impacts on Vegetation

White-tailed deer can significantly influence the composition and health of forests. University of Minnesota Extension implemented a citizen science project to help monitor the impact of deer populations on forests. Prior to design of the program, we administered a survey to potential volunteers to understand their perceptions of and knowledge about deer and their willingness to participate in our citizen science project. The survey responses helped us make informed decisions when developing our program, including decisions regarding not having a negative deer message, teaching more information about the impact of deer on vegetation, and providing both in-person and web-based resources for volunteers

Cnidaria in UK coastal waters: description of spatio-temporal patterns and inter-annual variability

Note that the accepted version of this paper is available on open access in ORE at: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/15245Concern has been expressed over future biogeographical expansion and habitat capitalization by species of the phylum Cnidaria, as this may have negative implications on human activities and ecosystems. There is, however, a paucity of knowledge and understanding of jellyfish ecology, in particular species distribution and seasonality. Recent studies in the UK have principally focused on the Celtic, Irish and North Seas, but all in isolation. In this study we analyse data from a publicly- driven sightings scheme across UK coastal waters (2003–2011; 9 years), with the aim of increasing knowledge on spatial and temporal patterns and trends. We describe inter-annual variability, seasonality and patterns of spatial distribution, and compare these with existing historic literature. Although incidentally-collected data lack quantification of effort, we suggest that with appropriate data management and interpretation, publicly-driven, citizen-science-based, recording schemes can provide for large-scale (spatial and temporal) coverage that would otherwise be logistically and financially unattainable. These schemes may also contribute to baseline data from which future changes in patterns or trends might be identified. We further suggest that findings from such schemes may be strengthened by the inclusion of some element of effort-corrected data collection

Native-like aggregates of Factor VIII (FVIII) are immunogenic von Willebrand Factor deficient and hemophilia A mice

The administration of recombinant Factor VIII (FVIII) is the first line therapy for Hemophilia A (HA), but 25–35% of patients develop an inhibitory antibody response. In general, the presence of aggregates contributes to unwanted immunogenic responses against therapeutic proteins. FVIII has been shown to form both native-like and non-native aggregates. Previously, we showed that non-native aggregates of FVIII are less immunogenic compared to the native protein. Here we investigated the effect of native-like aggregates of FVIII on immunogenicity in HA and von Willebrand Factor knockout (vWF−/−) mice. Mice immunized with native-like aggregates showed significantly higher inhibitory antibody titers compared to animals that received native FVIII. Following re-stimulation in vitro with native FVIII, the activation of CD4+ T cells isolated from mice immunized with native-like aggregates is ~4 fold higher than mice immunized with the native protein. Furthermore, this is associated with increases in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-17 in the native-like aggregate treatment group. The results indicate that the native-like aggregates of FVIII are more immunogenic than native FVIII for both the B cell and T cell responses

Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster

A wide variety of enzymatic pathways that produce specialized metabolites in bacteria, fungi and plants are known to be encoded in biosynthetic gene clusters. Information about these clusters, pathways and metabolites is currently dispersed throughout the literature, making it difficult to exploit. To facilitate consistent and systematic deposition and retrieval of data on biosynthetic gene clusters, we propose the Minimum Information about a Biosynthetic Gene cluster (MIBiG) data standard.Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)/Rubicon/825.13.001EU/FP7/Joint Call OCEANBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)Natural Environment Research Council (UK)National Institute for Energy Ethics and Society (NIEeS; UK)Gordon and Betty Moore FoundationNational Science Foundation (NSF; US)US Department of EnergyEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC