An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis: Behavioral Treatments for Children and Adolescents With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective: Behavioral interventions are well established treatments for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, insight into moderators of treatment outcome is limited.Method: We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis [IPDMA], including data of randomized controlled behavioral intervention trials for individuals with ADHD[less than]18 years. Outcomes were symptoms of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) and impairment. Moderators investigated were symptoms and impairment severity, medication use, age, IQ, sex, socioeconomic status, and single parenthood. Results: For raters most proximal to treatment, small to medium sized effects of behavioral interventions were found for symptoms of ADHD, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity (HI), ODD and CD, and impairment. Blinded outcomes were only available for small preschool subsamples and limited measures. CD symptoms and/or diagnosis moderated outcome on ADHD, HI, ODD, and CD symptoms. Single parenthood moderated ODD outcome, ADHD severity moderated impairment outcome. Higher baseline CD or ADHD symptoms, a CD diagnosis, and single parenthood were related to worsening of symptoms in the untreated, but not in the treated group, indicating a protective rather than an ameliorative effect of behavioral interventions for these children.Conclusion: Behavioral treatments are effective for reducing ADHD symptoms, behavioral problems, and impairment as reported by raters most proximal to treatment. Those with severe CD or ADHD symptoms, a CD diagnosis, or single parents, should be prioritized for treatment, as they may evidence worsening of symptoms in the absence of intervention

Investigating the Effect of the ‘‘Land between the Lakes’’ on Storm Patterns

The artificially created region around the ‘‘Land between the Lakes’’ (LBL) in Kentucky represents unique land use and land cover (LULC) heterogeneities. Over a distance of 100 km, the LULC comprises artificially created open water bodies (i.e., two parallel large run-on-river dams separated by the LBL), mountainous terrain, forest cover, and extensive agricultural land. Such heterogeneities increase (decrease) moisture supply and sensible heat, resulting in a differential air mass boundary that helps to initiate (inhibit) convection. Hence, the LBL can potentially modify precipitation formation. Historical anecdotes reveal a tendency for storms to dissipate or reintensify near the LBL. The specific scientific question pursued in this study is therefore the following: Has the unique development of two parallel run-on-river reservoirs and the surrounding LULC heterogeneity modified storm patterns in the region? Ten storm events during the growing season were selected. Two additional events, observed by the newly established high-resolution Kentucky Mesonet network, were also considered. Radar reflectivity images were visually inspected to understand the evolution of convective cells that originated or were modified near the LBL. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT)Model was used to determine nearsurface trajectories that led to the selected events. The spatial synoptic classification and merged Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) IR images were analyzed to determine the prevailing synoptic conditions on the event dates. Six storm events showed a pattern wherein the convective cells lost strength as it passed over the LBL in a northeasterly direction. In two events, Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) reflectivity imagery revealed enhancement of convection as the storm passed over the LBL toward the Mississippi valley. Further dissection of the storm morphology suggested that the thermodynamic environment may have played an important role for the eight events wheremodification of precipitation near LBL has been clearly observed

A Model-Based Assessment of Potential Impacts of Man-Made Reservoirs on Precipitation

Land-use land-cover change (LULCC) plays an important role in weather and climate systems. Human modifications of land cover include building reservoirs and thus creating artificial lakes for multipurpose use. In this research, the authors have completed a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model–based assessment of impacts of two large parallel lakes on precipitation. This area is located in the western part of the states of Kentucky and Tennessee and known as the Land between the Lakes (LBL). To determine the impacts, this study has replaced the lakes with grass, deciduous forests, and bare soil and conducted model simulations for three precipitation events of different magnitudes. The analysis suggests that precipitation increased in some cases and reduced in others. One of the key impacts of LULCC in the LBL area is the relocation of precipitation cells and also the timing of precipitation. Local precipitation amounts increased or decreased with these relocations. In summary, establishment of lakes or replacement of lakes with alternate land cover may modify local precipitation in the LBL area

Investigating the Effect of the ‘‘Land between the Lakes’’ on Storm Patterns

The artificially created region around the ‘‘Land between the Lakes’’ (LBL) in Kentucky represents unique land use and land cover (LULC) heterogeneities. Over a distance of 100 km, the LULC comprises artificially created open water bodies (i.e., two parallel large run-on-river dams separated by the LBL), mountainous terrain, forest cover, and extensive agricultural land. Such heterogeneities increase (decrease) moisture supply and sensible heat, resulting in a differential air mass boundary that helps to initiate (inhibit) convection. Hence, the LBL can potentially modify precipitation formation. Historical anecdotes reveal a tendency for storms to dissipate or reintensify near the LBL. The specific scientific question pursued in this study is therefore the following: Has the unique development of two parallel run-on-river reservoirs and the surrounding LULC heterogeneity modified storm patterns in the region? Ten storm events during the growing season were selected. Two additional events, observed by the newly established high-resolution Kentucky Mesonet network, were also considered. Radar reflectivity images were visually inspected to understand the evolution of convective cells that originated or were modified near the LBL. The Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT)Model was used to determine nearsurface trajectories that led to the selected events. The spatial synoptic classification and merged Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) IR images were analyzed to determine the prevailing synoptic conditions on the event dates. Six storm events showed a pattern wherein the convective cells lost strength as it passed over the LBL in a northeasterly direction. In two events, Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) reflectivity imagery revealed enhancement of convection as the storm passed over the LBL toward the Mississippi valley. Further dissection of the storm morphology suggested that the thermodynamic environment may have played an important role for the eight events wheremodification of precipitation near LBL has been clearly observed

A Model-Based Assessment of Potential Impacts of Man-Made Reservoirs on Precipitation

Land-use land-cover change (LULCC) plays an important role in weather and climate systems. Human modifications of land cover include building reservoirs and thus creating artificial lakes for multipurpose use. In this research, the authors have completed a Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model–based assessment of impacts of two large parallel lakes on precipitation. This area is located in the western part of the states of Kentucky and Tennessee and known as the Land between the Lakes (LBL). To determine the impacts, this study has replaced the lakes with grass, deciduous forests, and bare soil and conducted model simulations for three precipitation events of different magnitudes. The analysis suggests that precipitation increased in some cases and reduced in others. One of the key impacts of LULCC in the LBL area is the relocation of precipitation cells and also the timing of precipitation. Local precipitation amounts increased or decreased with these relocations. In summary, establishment of lakes or replacement of lakes with alternate land cover may modify local precipitation in the LBL area