Archaeological Investigations for the Planned Escondido Creek Linear Park, City Of Kenedy, Karnes County, Texas

Raba Kistner Environmental, Inc. (RKEI), was contracted by DUNAWAY Associates, L.P. (CLIENT), on behalf of San Antonio River Authority (SARA), to perform cultural resources investigations for the proposed Escondido Creek Linear Park Project in Kenedy, Karnes County, Texas. The project is sponsored by SARA, with public funding from the City of Kenedy. The undertaking will consist of the construction of a hike and bike trail, trailhead parking areas, a small amphitheater, parking spaces, picnic units, a playground, pavilion, associated restroom facilities, and two pedestrian bridges/weirs, within a 24.7 acre tract, along the banks of Escondido Creek. The undertaking will impact portions of Escondido Creek, a water of the United States, and lands owned by the City of Karnes. As such, the proposed undertaking is subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 United States Code 470) and its implementing regulations (36 Code of Federal Regulation 800), as well as the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT). The purpose of the investigations were to identify any surface-exposed or buried cultural deposits within the Area of Potential Effects (APE) and, if feasible, assess their significance and eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP). Investigations included an intensive pedestrian survey augmented with shovel testing and backhoe trenching, and a Historic Resources Assessment. All work was performed in compliance with Section 106 of the NHPA and the ACT under ACT Permit No. 8435. The cultural resources investigations were conducted over the course of three days, May 18, 22, and 23, 2018. Antonio E. Padilla served as the Principal Investigator for the project. Staff Archaeologist Chris Matthews and Archaeologist Jason Whitaker conducted the pedestrian survey and shovel testing. Backhoe trenching was conducted by Project Archaeologist Rhiana D. Ward, with the assistance of Staff Archaeologist Chris Matthews. Rhiana D. Ward also conducted the Historic Resources Assessment. A background review of the direct and indirect APE was conducted prior to investigations. The background review revealed that no previous cultural resource investigations or archaeological sites have been conducted or recorded within the direct or indirect APE. In addition to the background review, a review of the 1950, 1955, 1961, 1981, 1989, 1995, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 historical aerial photographs of the area was conducted. The historical aerial photograph review revealed potential historic resources along the eastern and central portions of the indirect APE. Additionally, the historical aerial photographs revealed that the majority of the direct APE along Escondido Creek has been mechanically altered due to the construction of US Highway 181, the realignment of the creek channel, and during flood prevention activities sometime prior to 1981. During the pedestrian survey, evidence of disturbance from the mechanical impacts were observed. Impacts consisted of grading and widening of the flood plain along the creek channel. Visual inspection of the surface identified modern trash scattered along areas near the US Highway 181 Bridge and along North 5th Street. Scatters of modern trash were also observed in areas where two-track roads intersected the two surface roads. Modern trash observed consisted of clear and brown glass sherds, paper, and plastic fragments. As part of the pedestrian survey, RKEI excavated 13 shovel tests (CM01–CM07 and JW01–JW06) along transects no greater than 98 feet (30 m) apart. Shovel tests were excavated at intervals between 328 and 492 feet (100 and 150 m) in areas where surface visibility was below 30 percent. Of the 13 shovel tests excavated, one (JW04) was positive for cultural materials. Cultural materials were encountered at a depth between 7.87 inches and 1.97 feet (20 and 60 cm) below surface and consisted of an two sherds of undecorated white earthenware and a piece of clear glass at a depth of 3.94 to 7.87 inches (10 to 20 cm), a piece of clear glass and an unidentifiable metal fragment at a depth of 11.81 to 15.75 inches (30 to 40 cm) and a bovine tooth at a depth of 1.64 to 1.97 feet (50 to 60 cm). Due to the presence of possible historic material encountered at a depth between 3.94 to 7.87 inches (10 to 20 cm), six additional shovel tests (CM08-CM10 and JW07-JW09) were excavated to further investigate the findings. During the excavation of the six additional shovel tests, one (JW09), was positive for cultural materials. Cultural materials encountered within JW09 consisted of a metal can top with can piercer (church key) punctures, an undecorated white earthenware sherd, and single pieces of clear and brown glass, at a depth between 3.93 and 7.87 inches (10 and 20 cm). An unidentified metal fragment and a piece of clear glass was encountered at a depth of 11.81 inches and 1.31 feet (30 and 40 cm). Due to the historic age cultural materials encountered within the two shovel tests within 30 meters of each other and more than three artifacts being recovered from a shovel test, the findings were designated as site 41KA216. Site 41KA216 is a 150 feet east/west by 39 feet north/south (46 m east/west by 12 m north/south) ephemeral historic scatter. The historic cultural materials encountered are most likely related to an early twentieth century homestead that is depicted on the 1950, 1955, and 1967 historical aerial photographs of the area. During the investigations, the historic cultural materials were encountered, mixed with modern cultural materials within two shovel tests at a depth of 3.93 to 7.87 inches (10 to 20 cm) below surface. Due to the mixed context and limited historic cultural materials, lack of a structure or other cultural features, and previous impacts within the APE, site 41KA216 lacks potential to provide additional information contributing to the regional history of the area. As such, RKEI assesses site 41KA216 as NOT ELIGIBLE for listing on the NRHP and no further work is recommended. In addition to the excavation of 20 shovel tests within the direct APE, RKEI excavated eight backhoe trenches (BHTs). BHT were excavated to a depths reaching 6 to 8.43 feet (1.83 to 2.57 m) below surface. Of the eight BHTs excavated, six were located along the channel of Escondido Creek, one was located within the proposed area of the amphitheater, and one was located in the area of the proposed restrooms. Excavation of the BHTs revealed evidence of disturbance along the channel of Escondido Creek. As previously mentioned, the central portion of the channel within the direct APE had been realigned during the construction of the US Highway 181 Bridge, realignment of the creek channel, and flood prevention activities. During the excavation of BHT03–BHT06, evidence of disturbance was observed, with the mixing of modern materials and historic materials reaching depths of 7.87 to 4.5 feet (20 cm to 1.37 m) below surface. No significant cultural materials or cultural features were observed. In compliance with Section 106, the indirect effects of the proposed project was considered. RKEI conducted a Historic Resource Assessment of a 150-feet (46 m) radius of the direct APE. Right-of-entry was not obtained for any properties beyond the direct APE, therefore the survey was conducted from the public right-of-way. As a result of the assessment, six historic resources (HR 1–6) were identified, including three commercial buildings, two residential dwellings, and one shed. No resources were considered potentially eligible for listing on the NRHP. In accordance with 33 CFR 800.4, RKEI has made a good faith effort in identifying cultural resources within the direct and indirect APE. Based on the results of the investigations, RKEI recommends that a NO HISTORIC PROPERTIES AFFECTED determination be made for the proposed undertaking and no further cultural resources investigations area warranted within the defined APE of the project. However, should changes be made to the project APE, further work may be required

Exploring methods for selection and integration of stakeholder views in the development of core outcome sets:a case study in reconstructive breast surgery

BACKGROUND: The development and use of core outcome sets (COSs) in trials may improve data synthesis and reduce outcome reporting bias. The selection of outcomes in COSs is informed by views of key stakeholders, yet little is known about the role and influence of different stakeholders’ views during COS development. We report an exploratory case study examining how stakeholder selection and incorporation of stakeholders’ views may influence the selection of outcomes for a COS in reconstructive breast surgery (RBS). We also make recommendations for future considerations. METHODS: Key stakeholder groups and subgroups were identified from the literature and expert opinion by the COS management group. They included health care professionals, subdivided by profession (breast and plastic surgeons, specialist nurses and psychologists) and patients, subdivided according to type of surgery received, timing of reconstruction, time since surgery and patient age. All participated in a survey in which they were asked to prioritise outcomes. Outcomes were prioritised using a 9-point scale from 1 (not important) to 9 (extremely important). The proportion of (1) all participants, ignoring stakeholder group (single heterogeneous panel analysis), (2) ‘professional’ and ‘patient’ groups separately (two heterogeneous panels), ignoring prespecified subgroups and (3) each participant subgroup separately (multiple homogeneous panel analysis) rating each item ‘extremely important’ was summarised and compared to explore how selection and integration of stakeholder views may influence outcome prioritisation. RESULTS: There were many overlaps between items rated as most important by all groups. Specific stakeholders, however, prioritised specific concerns and a broader range of outcomes were prioritised when the subgroups were considered separately. For example, two additional outcomes were prioritised when patient and professional groups were considered separately and eight additional outcomes were identified when the views of the individual subgroups were explored. In general, patient subgroups preferentially valued additional clinical outcomes, including unplanned surgery, whereas professional subgroups prioritised additional psychosocial issues including body image. CONCLUSION: Stakeholder groups value different outcomes. Selection of groups, therefore, is important. Our recommendations for robust and transparent stakeholder selection and integration of stakeholder views may aid future COS developers in the design and conduct of their studies and improve the validity and value of future COS

Quantifying Inter- and Intra-Population Niche Variability Using Hierarchical Bayesian Stable Isotope Mixing Models

Variability in resource use defines the width of a trophic niche occupied by a population. Intra-population variability in resource use may occur across hierarchical levels of population structure from individuals to subpopulations. Understanding how levels of population organization contribute to population niche width is critical to ecology and evolution. Here we describe a hierarchical stable isotope mixing model that can simultaneously estimate both the prey composition of a consumer diet and the diet variability among individuals and across levels of population organization. By explicitly estimating variance components for multiple scales, the model can deconstruct the niche width of a consumer population into relevant levels of population structure. We apply this new approach to stable isotope data from a population of gray wolves from coastal British Columbia, and show support for extensive intra-population niche variability among individuals, social groups, and geographically isolated subpopulations. The analytic method we describe improves mixing models by accounting for diet variability, and improves isotope niche width analysis by quantitatively assessing the contribution of levels of organization to the niche width of a population

Radiotherapy biobanking : current landscape, opportunities, challenges, and future aspirations

This work was supported by the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Clinical and Translational Radiotherapy Research Working Group (CTRad), which was established in 2009 by six of the NCRI's funding partners. We gratefully acknowledge Carolyn Chan and Julie Stock (NCRI) for their assistance in collecting the responses to the questionnaire sent to CTRad membership. Open Access via the Wiley OA AgreementPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Elemental concentrations in the seed of mutants and natural variants of Arabidopsis thaliana grown under varying soil conditions

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The health benefits of secondary education in adolescents and young adults: An international analysis in 186 low-, middle- and high-income countries from 1990 to 2013.

BACKGROUND: The health benefits of secondary education have been little studied. We undertook country-level longitudinal analyses of the impact of lengthening secondary education on health outcomes amongst 15-24 year olds. METHODS: Exposures: average length of secondary and primary education from 1980 to 2013.Data/Outcomes: Country level adolescent fertility rate (AFR), HIV prevalence and mortality rate from 1989/90 to 2013 across 186 low-, middle- and high-income countries.Analysis: Longitudinal mixed effects models, entering secondary and primary education together, adjusted for time varying GDP and country income status. Longitudinal structural marginal models using inverse probability weighting (IPW) to take account of time varying confounding by primary education and GDP. Counterfactual scenarios of no change in secondary education since 1980/1990 were estimated from model coefficients for each outcome. FINDINGS: Each additional year of secondary education decreased AFR by 8.4% in mixed effects models and 14.6% in IPW models independent of primary education and GDP. Counterfactual analyses showed the proportion of the reduction in adolescent fertility rate over the study period independently attributable to secondary education was 28% in low income countries. Each additional year of secondary education reduced mortality by 16.9% for 15-19 year and 14.8% for 20-24 year old young women and 11.4% for 15-19 year and 8.8% for 20-24 year old young men. Counterfactual scenarios suggested 12% and 23% of the mortality reduction for 15-19 and 20-24 year old young men was attributable to secondary education in low income countries. Each additional year of secondary education was associated with a 24.5% and 43.1% reduction in HIV prevalence amongst young men and women. INTERPRETATION: The health benefits associated with secondary education were greater than those of primary education and were greatest amongst young women and those from low income countries. Secondary education has the potential to be a social vaccine across many outcomes in low and middle income countries

The molecular basis of color vision in colorful fish: Four Long Wave-Sensitive (LWS) opsins in guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are defined by amino acid substitutions at key functional sites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Comparisons of functionally important changes at the molecular level in model systems have identified key adaptations driving isolation and speciation. In cichlids, for example, long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsins appear to play a role in mate choice and male color variation within and among species. To test the hypothesis that the evolution of elaborate coloration in male guppies (<it>Poecilia reticulata</it>) is also associated with opsin gene diversity, we sequenced long wavelength-sensitive (LWS) opsin genes in six species of the family Poeciliidae.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sequences of four LWS opsin genes were amplified from the guppy genome and from mRNA isolated from adult guppy eyes. Variation in expression was quantified using qPCR. Three of the four genes encode opsins predicted to be most sensitive to different wavelengths of light because they vary at key amino acid positions. This family of LWS opsin genes was produced by a diversity of duplication events. One, an intronless gene, was produced prior to the divergence of families Fundulidae and Poeciliidae. Between-gene PCR and DNA sequencing show that two of the guppy LWS opsins are linked in an inverted orientation. This inverted tandem duplication event occurred near the base of the poeciliid tree in the common ancestor of <it>Poecilia </it>and <it>Xiphophorus</it>. The fourth sequence has been uncovered only in the genus <it>Poecilia</it>. In the guppies surveyed here, this sequence is a hybrid, with the 5' end most similar to one of the tandem duplicates and the 3' end identical to the other.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Enhanced wavelength discrimination, a possible consequence of opsin gene duplication and divergence, might have been an evolutionary prerequisite for color-based sexual selection and have led to the extraordinary coloration now observed in male guppies and in many other poeciliids.</p