Energy controls on diurnal snowmelt events and stream recharge, Lost Horse Canyon, Bitterroot Mountains, MT

Streamflow and groundwater response to snowmelt in forested subalpine catchments carry integrated information about snowmelt events within the basin at different temporal scales. High frequency snowmelt events are often dominated by the day-night cycle, which is reflected in groundwater and streamflow dynamics. Prior studies have highlighted the importance of sub-daily streamflow fluctuations in these catchments for nutrient cycling, riparian aquifer pumping, and surface water availability. In studies that predict stream response to snowmelt or precipitation, sub-daily fluctuations in hillslope water storage are rarely considered as a tool to assess the role of hillslopes in moderating stream recharge from snowmelt runoff over sub-daily timescales. In this study we compare high frequency (15-minute) atmospheric radiation and its influence on the timing and magnitude of both water table and stream stage fluctuations. We analyze net radiation over the snowpack to approximate the energy state of the snowpack and relate it to hillslope hydrologic response and changes in stream stage. Our results suggest that the snowpack cold content must be overcome on a daily basis before recharge to the soil can occur. Until the snowmelt process is resumed, both hillslope water storage and stream stage decrease. We conceptualize the process as a linear series of energy and water reservoirs that fill and deplete driven by the daily atmospheric cycle. By measuring the timing of diurnal peaks in radiation, groundwater response, and stream stage over an entire melt season, we assess the role of the snowpack and hillslopes as filters that moderate and delay the movement of water from the top of the snowpack to local stream systems. Our interpretation of shifts in the timing of diurnal peaks in groundwater and stream stage suggests that once hillslopes become saturated in the uppermost 50 cm of soil, the energy state at the top of the snowpack, the physical properties of the snowpack, and the length of the hillslope that is saturated determine the timing of stream recharge from diurnal snowmelt events. Finally, we present two conceptual models that capture hillslope- and watershed-scale processes that moderate stream recharge during the spring melt season

From an insect to the classroom: Evolutionary insights into the ecological and behavioral impacts of experience

Organisms exhibit suites of life history traits which enable them to respond to environmental stimuli and increase fitness. However, the relationship between organism traits and the environment is not unidirectional, rather they are in a state of constant interaction. To further our understanding of the interactions between the environment and organism phenotypes, this dissertation focuses on a group of insect scavengers, the burying beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae: Nicrophorus) which utilize carrion to initiate reproduction and feed developing young. Here I apply ecological and molecular methodologies to demonstrate that behaviors provide an important ecological service by sequestering carrion in forest ecosystems. I also suggest that the physiological processes coordinating the onset of oogenesis is mediated by nutritional cues and demonstrate that these same hormones are differentially transferred to eggs depending on species level differences in the provisioning of post-hatch parental care. This dissertation demonstrates the interconnectedness amongst various ecological themes by showing how organism physiology and behavior contribute to organism life history traits, and how these same traits contribute to ecosystem processes. In addition, this dissertation demonstrates that the integration of ecologically themed science experiments into the classroom improves student scientific process self-efficacy

Progression and Death as Competing Risks in Ovarian Cancer

Background: Progression of a cancer disease and dying without progression can be understood as competing risks. The Cause-Specific Hazards Model and the Fine and Gray model on cumulative incidences are common statistical models to handle this problem. The pseudo value approach by Andersen and Klein is also able to cope with competing risks. It is still unclear which model suits best in which situation.Methods: For a simulated dataset and a real data example of ovarian cancer patients who are exposed to progression and death the three models are examined. We compare the three models with regards to interpretation and modeling requirements.Results: In this study, the parameter estimates for the competing risks are similar from the Cause-Specific Hazards Model and the Fine and Gray model. The pseudo value approach yields divergent results which are heavily dependent on modeling details.Conclusions: The investigated approaches do not exclude each other but moreover complement one another. The pseudo value approach is an alternative that circumvents proportionality assumptions. As in all survival analyses, situations with low event rates should be interpreted carefully

Implementation of a communication curriculum in undergraduate dental education-students' opinions during a 5-year development phase.

INTRODUCTION Communication training has become an essential part of the dental curriculum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the communication curriculum developed and introduced 2016-2021 at the University of Bern, School of Dental Medicine (SDM), Switzerland. MATERIALS AND METHODS The curriculum was implemented cumulatively in three phases: (1) lectures and accompanying role plays, (2) forum theatre and trainer-based communication training and (3) self-assessment. Students were surveyed 2016-2021 at the end of each semester using anonymous online questionnaires with five-point Likert scales (0-4). RESULTS A total of 191 fourth- and fifth-year students were surveyed, and 165 (86.4%) questionnaires were analysed. The mean age of the participants was 24.2 ± 1.4 and 45.5% were female. While students' opinions about the need to communicate increased during weekly lectures in phase 1, their opinions about their ability to communicate simultaneously decreased. During phase 2, fourth-year students' opinions on the need to communicate with dental patients increased from 3.22 ± 0.61 to 3.73 ± 0.45 (p = .001), anticipated benefits for dentists increased from 2.78 ± 0.71 to 3.43 ± 0.57 (p = .001) and for patients from 3.00 ± 0.76 to 3.47 ± 0.63 (p = .022). Only in phase 3, opinions on the ability to communicate statistically significantly increased for both fourth- (2.34 ± 0.71 to 2.72 ± 0.60, p = .033) and fifth-year (2.20 ± 0.63 to 2.86 ± 0.59, p = .001) students. Preferred teaching and assessment methods were trainer-based communication trainings (73.1%), lectures (67.3%) and self-assessments in the student clinic (59.6%). CONCLUSION Communication curricula in dental education using methods such as lectures and trainer-based communication trainings may additionally need to include self-assessments to be effective from the students' perspective

Promoting behavioural changes to improve oral hygiene in patients with periodontal diseases: a systematic review

Aim: This systematic review investigates the impact of specific interventions aiming at promoting behavioural changes to improve oral hygiene (OH) in patients with periodontal diseases. Methods: A literature search was performed on different databases up to March 2019. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of behavioural interventions on plaque and bleeding scores in patients with gingivitis or periodontitis were considered. Pooled data analysis was conducted by estimating standardized mean difference between groups. Results: Of 288 articles screened, 14 were included as follows: 4 studies evaluated the effect of motivational interviewing (MI) associated with OH instructions, 7 the impact of oral health educational programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapies, and 3 the use of self-inspections/videotapes. Studies were heterogeneous and reported contrasting results. Meta-analyses for psychological interventions showed no significant group difference for both plaque and bleeding scores. No effect was observed in studies applying self-inspection/videotapes. Conclusions: Within the limitations of the current evidence, OH may be reinforced in patients with periodontal diseases by psychological interventions based on cognitive constructs and MI principles provided by oral health professionals. However, no conclusion can be drawn on their specific clinical efficacy as measured by reduction of plaque and bleeding scores over time

Impact of risk factor control interventions for smoking cessation and promotion of healthy lifestyles in patients with periodontitis: a systematic review

Aim: The aim of this systematic review was to identify the most recent widely accepted guidelines for risk factor control interventions and to assess their impact in patients with periodontitis. Materials and methods: The electronic search strategy included a first systematic search to identify guidelines for interventions for smoking cessation, diabetes control, physical exercise (activity), change of diet, carbohydrate (dietary sugar) reduction and weight loss in the general population and a second systematic search to identify the studies evaluating these interventions in periodontitis patients. Results: A total of 13 guidelines and 25 studies were selected. Most guidelines included recommendations for all healthcare providers to provide interventions and follow-up counselling with the risk factors considered in the present review. In patients with periodontitis, interventions for smoking cessation and diabetes control were shown to improve periodontal health while the impact of dietary interventions and the promotion of other healthy lifestyles were moderate or limited. Conclusions: While aiming to improve treatment outcomes and the maintenance of periodontal health, current evidence suggests that interventions for smoking cessation and diabetes control are effective, thus emphasizing the need of behavioural support in periodontal care

A palaeonisciform braincase from the Permian of Texas, with comments on cranial fissures and the posterior myodome. American Museum novitates ; no. 2658

15 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 14-15)."A single, large palaeonisciform braincase from the Lower Permian Lueders Formation, Baylor County, Texas, is described as a new genus and species within the Palaeonisciformes, incertae sedis. This specimen has also occasioned a review of the actinopterygian cranial fissures and the posterior myodome"--P. [1]

Beyond bevacizumab: an outlook to new anti-angiogenics for the treatment of ovarian cancer

In addition to the monoclonal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody bevacizumab, several alternative anti-angiogenic treatment strategies for ovarian cancer patients have been evaluated in clinical trials. Apart from targeting extracellular receptors by the antibody aflibercept or the peptibody trebananib, the multikinase inhibitors pazopanib, nintedanib, cediranib, sunitinib, and sorafenib were developed to interfere with VEGF receptors and multiple additional intracellular pathways. Nintedanib and pazopanib significantly improved progression-free survival in two positive phase III trials for first-line therapy. A reliable effect on overall survival could, however, not be observed for any anti-angiogenic first-line therapies so far. In terms of recurrent disease, two positive phase III trials revealed that trebananib and cediranib are effective anti-angiogenic agents for this indication. Patient selection and biomarker guided prediction of response seems to be a central aspect for future studies. Combining anti-angiogenics with other targeted therapies to possibly spare chemotherapy in certain constellations represents another very interesting future perspective for clinical trials. This short review gives an overview of current clinical trials for anti-angiogenic treatment strategies beyond bevacizumab. In this context, possible future perspectives combining anti-angiogenics with other targeted therapies and the need for specific biomarkers predicting response are elucidated

An exploratory study on the role of serum fatty acids in the short-term dietary therapy of gingivitis.

A previous randomised controlled trial showed that an anti-inflammatory diet (AID) significantly reduced gingival inflammation despite constant plaque values. This exploratory study investigated the role of serum fatty acids in relation to the observed clinical effects. Therefore, data of thirty participants with gingivitis, following either a pro-inflammatory dietary pattern (PID) rich in saturated fat, omega 6 fatty acids, and refined carbohydrates or an AID for 4 weeks, were correlated with corresponding serum samples for a variety of fatty acids. Changes in the fatty acid profile and effects on clinical periodontal parameters were analysed. Results showed that the polyunsatured:saturated fatty acids ratio (PUFA:SFA ratio) and nervonic acid level were significantly higher in the AID group than in the PID group at the end of the study. Significant intragroup differences were seen only in the AID group. Diverse fatty acids showed heterogeneous relations to clinical parameters. This study demonstrated that the serum fatty acid profile was not fundamentally associated with the clinical gingivitis-lowering effects of an AID in short-term, although some fatty acids showed individual relations to clinical parameters with respect to inflammation. Hence, short-term effects of dietary therapy on gingivitis may be rather based on carbohydrate-related effects and/or micronutrients