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Challenge 10 of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) calls for the restoration of society's relationship with the ocean. Research suggests that the relationship people have with marine environments can influence their depth of engagement in marine citizenship action, and the important role for 'marine identity' in driving that action. Although identity is well‐researched, marine identity is a concept novel to academia and a baseline understanding is required, both to grasp the scope of the concept, and to support research into its role in transforming the human‐ocean relationship.Here, a transdisciplinary study, endorsed as a UN Ocean Decade Activity and by the EU Mission Ocean & Waters, brought together a multinational community of marine researchers and practitioners to co‐produce a baseline conceptualisation of marine identity, drawing on photovoice and deliberative methodology. This paper presents the findings of the co‐production process and offers a first introduction in the literature of the multiple variations and formations of marine identity.We find marine identity to be a complex and multidimensional concept, suffused with individual experiences and understandings of the marine environment, based on social and cultural understandings of the ocean, contemporarily and historically. We present real‐world examples of marine identity to illustrate key themes that were developed through co‐production.Policy implications: We propose marine identity as a catalyst for understanding existing multifaceted and caring relationships with the ocean, as well as the restoration of society's relationship with the ocean. Marine identity research should, therefore, be prioritised in research seeking to contribute to the UN Ocean Decade Challenge 10, as this will support integration of non‐material values of the ocean into marine planning processes and policy making, enabling effective responses to Challenge 10's emphasis on integrating traditional/cultural ways of knowing and valuing the marine environment, through diverse marine identities. We welcome research efforts that will further develop the marine identity concept and empirically investigate the relationships between marine identity, marine citizenship, and people's relationships with the ocean. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: The value of using qualitative methods within clinical trials is widely recognised. How qualitative research is integrated within trials units to achieve this is less clear. This paper describes the process through which qualitative research has been integrated within Cardiff University's Centre for Trials Research (CTR) in Wales, UK. We highlight facilitators of, and challenges to, integration. Methods: We held group discussions on the work of the Qualitative Research Group (QRG) within CTR. The content of these discussions, materials for a presentation in CTR, and documents relating to the development of the QRG were interpreted at a workshop attended by group members. Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) was used to structure analysis. A writing group prepared a document for input from members of CTR, forming the basis of this paper. Results: Actions to integrate qualitative research comprised: its inclusion in Centre strategies; formation of a QRG with dedicated funding/roles; embedding of qualitative research within operating systems; capacity building/training; monitoring opportunities to include qualitative methods in studies; maximising the quality of qualitative research and developing methodological innovation. Facilitators of these actions included: the influence of the broader methodological landscape within trial/study design and its promotion of the value of qualitative research; and close physical proximity of CTR qualitative staff/students allowing sharing of methodological approaches. Introduction of innovative qualitative methods generated interest among other staff groups. Challenges included: pressure to under-resource qualitative components of research, preference for a statistical stance historically in some research areas and funding structures, and difficulties faced by qualitative researchers carving out individual academic profiles when working across trials/studies. Conclusions: Given that CTUs are pivotal to the design and conduct of RCTs and related study types across multiple disciplines, integrating qualitative research into trials units is crucial if its contribution is to be fully realised. We have made explicit one trials unit's experience of embedding qualitative research and present this to open dialogue on ways to operationalise and optimise qualitative research in trials. NPT provides a valuable framework with which to theorise these processes, including the importance of sense-making and legitimisation when introducing new practices within organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent streams currently constitute >50% of the global river network, and the number of intermittent streams is expected to increase due to changes in land use and climate. Surface flows are known to expand and contract within the headwater channel network due to changes in the water table driven by climate, often changing seasonally. However, the underlying causes of disconnections and reconnections throughout the stream network remain poorly understood and may reflect subsurface flow capacity. We assess how 3D subsurface flowpaths control local surface flows at Gibson Jack Creek in the Rocky Mountains, Idaho, USA. Water table dynamics, hydraulic gradients, and hyporheic exchange were monitored along a 200‐m section of the stream throughout the seasonal recession in WY2018. Shallow lateral hillslope‐riparian‐stream connectivity was more frequent in transects spanning perennially flowing stream reaches than intermittent reaches. During low‐flow periods, larger losing vertical hydraulic gradients were observed in paired piezometers in intermittent reaches than in adjacent perennial reaches. Contrary to dominant conceptual models, longitudinal measurements of hydrologic exchange in both intermittent and perennial reaches were seasonally variable except for one perennial reach that showed consistent significant gains. Observed drying dynamics, as well as subsurface pathways, were highly variable even over short distances (30 m). Flow probability and subsurface flow capacity at upstream locations can be assessed with an outlet hydrograph and upstream flow measurements. Accurate characterization of subsurface storage, discharge, and connection is critical to understanding the drivers of drying cycles in intermittent streams and their likely responses to future change. Plain Language Summary: Over half of all streams occasionally dry, sometimes disconnecting sections of the stream channel from both upstream and downstream flow. These gaps in flow are assumed to occur because the stream flows underground instead of above the stream bed. We tested this idea in the Rocky Mountains, USA by studying how subsurface flows vary in three different directions below ground: laterally from the hillslope, vertically up into or down out of the stream bed, and longitudinally along the stream corridor. The stream did not dry out where hillslopes were more likely to laterally contribute flow. Water was consistently lost vertically from the stream to the groundwater, and losses were bigger in the reaches that dried. Flows longitudinally along the stream corridor varied seasonally, but were similar in both wet and dry reaches—except for one distinct spring location where water was consistently added to the stream. We also observed that stream drying patterns varied over short distances: drying patterns differed in locations only ∼30 m apart. We also found a way to predict the likelihood of drying. Future work should focus on the subsurface to measure water storage and flow rates below the stream bed. Key Points: Lateral, longitudinal, and vertical connections all affect stream drying with fewer and less stable connections in intermittent reachesLongitudinal connections were seasonally variable except for consistent large gains in one perennial reachStream drying was heterogeneous over short (30‐m) distances, but predictable from selected discharge measurements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many diadromous species are threatened globally. Management actions to conserve these species need to be based on a quantitative understanding of their life history requirements. The transition between marine and freshwater habitats is a critical component of the life cycle of diadromous fishes, but is poorly understood for many species. We investigated recruitment patterns of juvenile Australian grayling (Prototroctes maraena), a nationally threatened amphidromous fish, entering freshwater environments in four streams in south-east Australia across 3 years (2016–18). Migration occurred from September to December, with peak abundances between late October and early November (mid-austral spring). Catches were also related to mean daily discharge in the preceding 7 days, with highest catches at intermediate flows (~100–150 ML day–1). Our results can inform management actions, such as environmental flows, for attracting and facilitating the movement of juvenile Australian grayling into freshwater from marine nursery areas. We investigated recruitment patterns of juvenile Australian grayling, a nationally threatened diadromous fish, entering freshwater environments in south-east Australia. Catches were associated with day of year and mean daily discharge. Our results can refine management actions to increase recruitment of this high-priority species, for example ensuring river mouth conditions are suitable for attracting and facilitating passage of recruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is broad consensus that urbanization results in dramatic changes in stream hydrology, such as higher peak flows and greater flashiness. However, this has not been definitively tested for aridlands, which are characterized by these very same hydrograph properties. We analyzed streamflow records from 19 watersheds of central Arizona, USA, to determine how hydrograph characteristics varied with urban development. Using linear mixed effects models, which factored in imperviousness along with other watershed characteristics, we evaluated influences on streamflow regime metrics calculated from daily and subdaily flow data. We found that flashiness, coefficient of variation, zero‐flow days, and hydrograph rise and fall rates decreased with extent of imperviousness—the opposite pattern to that observed in previous studies primarily in humid regions. Engineered retention basins are one explanation for this observation though novel urban sources of dry weather flows are likely also playing a role. We also found strong relationships between these hydrologic metrics and mean area‐weighted discharge, watershed area, and annual precipitation. Like in humid systems, we did observe more high flow events in the urban desert streams compared to nonurban desert streams. However, this was only at the lower flood threshold; there was no increase in larger floods with urban development. Overall, the urban stream syndrome manifests differently in this arid system: Urbanization increases water retention and leads to less variable flows in stream ecosystems. Plain Language Summary: As humans have developed landscapes using hard surfaces like buildings and parking lots, we have noticed that flooding and "flashier" conditions characterize streams in many of these developed areas. By flashiness, we are referring to the tendency of streamflow to quickly rise or fall. Here, we use data on streamflow in desert streams in Arizona, USA, to see how development in deserts may or may not have similar impacts on flooding. We did find that there were more small floods in the more urban desert watersheds. However, we also found that desert streams located in more developed areas tended to be less flashy than those in more rural areas. This is interesting because it is opposite of the patterns we see in the wetter cities. One reason for this pattern is that there are more places where water can be held back during storms instead of flowing directly to the stream. These places might be accidentally created or may be engineered features like storm water retention basins. Streams in cities also have other sources of water besides rain, such as runoff from car washes or irrigated lawns, that help to maintain more constant flows in these arid urban streams. Key Points: Urbanization in arid central Arizona watersheds results in decreased flashiness and fewer zero‐flow daysThese urban arid watersheds have increased retention of storm water, partially due to increased engineered retentionImpacts of urbanization on stream flashiness in arid central Arizona watersheds are opposite those observed in more humid regions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine variations in discharge exchange between two parallel, 1‐ to 2‐km‐wide tidal channels (the Shibsa and the Pussur) in southwestern Bangladesh over spring‐neap, and historical timescales. Our objective is to evaluate how large‐scale, interconnected tidal channel networks respond to anthropogenic perturbation. The study area spans the boundary between the pristine Sundarbans Reserved Forest, where regular inundation of the intertidal platform maintains the fluvially abandoned delta plain, and the anthropogenically modified region to the north, where earthen embankments sequester large areas of formerly intertidal landscape. Estimates of tidal response to the embankment‐driven reduction in basin volume, and hence tidal prism, predict a corresponding decrease in size of the mainstem Shibsa channel, yet the Shibsa is widening and locally scouring even as the interconnected Pussur channel faces rapid shoaling. Rather, the Shibsa has maintained or even increased its pre‐polder tidal prism by capturing a large portion of the Pussur's basin via several "transverse" channels that are themselves widening and deepening. We propose that an enhanced tidal setup in the Pussur and the elimination of an effective Shibsa‐Pussur flow barrier are driving this basin capture event. These results illustrate previously unrecognized channel interactions and emphasize the importance of flow reorganization in response to perturbations of interconnected, multichannel tidal networks that characterize several large tidal delta plains worldwide. Key Points: Channel scouring and widening suggest a local increase in discharge exchange between two large, interconnected tidal channelsThis deviation from the nearby trend of widespread channel infilling is a consequence of internal flow reorganizationAnthropogenic modification of tidal delta plain environments may significantly alter the dynamics of looping channel networks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Increasing resistance drives empirical use of less potent and previously reserved antibiotics, including for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Molecular profiling, without culture, might better guide early therapy.Objectives: To explore the potential of AusDiagnostics multiplex tandem (MT) PCR UTI assays.Methods: Two MT-PCR assays were developed successively, seeking 8 or 16 resistance genes. Amplification was tracked in real time, with melting temperatures used to confirm product identity. Assays were variously performed on: (i) extracted DNA; (ii) cultured bacteria; (iii) urine spiked with reference strains; and (iv) bacteria harvested from clinical urines. Results were compared with those from sequencing, real-time SybrGreen PCR or phenotypic susceptibility.Results: Performance was similar irrespective of whether DNA, cultures or urines were used, with >90% sensitivity and specificity with respect to common β-lactamases, dfr genes and aminoglycoside resistance determinants except aadA1/A2/A3, for which carriage correlated poorly with streptomycin resistance. Fluoroquinolone-susceptible and -resistant Escherichia coli (but not other species) were distinguished by the melting temperatures of their gyrA PCR products. The time from urine to results was <3 h.Conclusions: The MT-PCR assays rapidly identified resistance genes from Gram-negative bacteria in urines as well as from cultivated bacteria. Used directly on urines, this assay has the potential to guide early therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Increasing resistance drives empirical use of less potent and previously reserved antibiotics, including for urinary tract infections (UTIs). Molecular profiling, without culture, might better guide early therapy. Objectives To explore the potential of AusDiagnostics multiplex tandem (MT) PCR UTI assays. Methods Two MT-PCR assays were developed successively, seeking 8 or 16 resistance genes. Amplification was tracked in real time, with melting temperatures used to confirm product identity. Assays were variously performed on: (i) extracted DNA; (ii) cultured bacteria; (iii) urine spiked with reference strains; and (iv) bacteria harvested from clinical urines. Results were compared with those from sequencing, real-time SybrGreen PCR or phenotypic susceptibility. Results Performance was similar irrespective of whether DNA, cultures or urines were used, with >90% sensitivity and specificity with respect to common β-lactamases, dfr genes and aminoglycoside resistance determinants except aadA1/A2/A3, for which carriage correlated poorly with streptomycin resistance. Fluoroquinolone-susceptible and -resistant Escherichia coli (but not other species) were distinguished by the melting temperatures of their gyrA PCR products. The time from urine to results was <3 h. Conclusions The MT-PCR assays rapidly identified resistance genes from Gram-negative bacteria in urines as well as from cultivated bacteria. Used directly on urines, this assay has the potential to guide early therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continental shelf sediments are globally important for biogeochemical activity. Quantification of shelf-scale stocks and fluxes of carbon and nutrients requires the extrapolation of observations made at limited points in space and time. The procedure for selecting exemplar sites to form the basis of this up-scaling is discussed in relation to a UK-funded research programme investigating biogeochemistry in shelf seas. A three-step selection process is proposed in which (1) a target area representative of UK shelf sediment heterogeneity is selected, (2) the target area is assessed for spatial heterogeneity in sediment and habitat type, bed and water column structure and hydrodynamic forcing, and (3) study sites are selected within this target area encompassing the range of spatial heterogeneity required to address key scientific questions regarding shelf scale biogeochemistry, and minimise confounding variables. This led to the selection of four sites within the Celtic Sea that are significantly different in terms of their sediment, bed structure, and macrofaunal, meiofaunal and microbial community structures and diversity, but have minimal variations in water depth, tidal and wave magnitudes and directions, temperature and salinity. They form the basis of a research cruise programme of observation, sampling and experimentation encompassing the spring bloom cycle. Typical variation in key biogeochemical, sediment, biological and hydrodynamic parameters over a pre to post bloom period are presented, with a discussion of anthropogenic influences in the region. This methodology ensures the best likelihood of site-specific work being useful for up-scaling activities, increasing our understanding of benthic biogeochemistry at the UK-shelf scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hale, R.; Jacques, R.O., and Tolhurst, T.J., 2015. Cryogenic defaunation of sediments in the field. Ecological experiments designed to examine the effects of macrofaunal biodiversity may require the defaunation of intertidal sediments; however, many current techniques result in physical disruption of the sediments. A method of field-based cryogenic defaunation, which has advantages over existing methodologies, was developed to provide macrofaunal defaunation of intertidal cohesive sediment with minimum physical disruption. A sediment core transport apparatus and polystyrene freezing chamber allow the use of liquid nitrogen for effective freezing of a whole core of sediment in the field. Freezing the whole core intact minimises physical disturbance to the sediment and retains the topography of the sediment surface and sediment grain distribution with minimal effect on sediment properties and the microphytobenthos. This method is effective at removing up to 97% of infaunal macrofauna abundance from the sediment. Hediste diversicolor were found to be the most resistant species, with a 71% reduction in species abundance. Sediments defaunated in this way can be replaced in situ or removed to the laboratory for experimentation. This method of cryogenic defaunation would also be suitable for the defaunation of other marine or terrestrial sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need for further studies to compare the decomposition of biochar to that of the original feedstock and determine how these amendments affect the cycling of native organic matter ( NOM) of different soils to improve our understanding of the resulting net C sequestration potential. A 510-days incubation experiment was conducted (i) to investigate the evolution of CO2 from soils amended with either fresh corn stover ( CS) or with biochars produced from fresh CS at either 350 ( CS-350) or 550 °C ( CS-550), and (ii) to evaluate the priming effect of these amendments on NOM decomposition. Two soil types were studied: an Alfisol and an Andisol, with organic C contents of 4% and 10%, respectively. Except for the controls (with no C addition), all treatments received 7.18 t C ha−1. We measured C efflux in short-term intervals and its isotopic signature to distinguish between C evolved from C4 amendments and C3-dominated NOM. Emission rates were then integrated for the whole time period to cover total emissions. Total CO2-C evolved from the original C in fresh CS, CS-350 and CS-550 was greater in the Andisol (78%, 13% and 14%) than in the Alfisol (66%, 8% and 7%). For both soils, (i) no significant differences ( P > 0.05) were observed in the rate of CO2 evolution between controls and biochar treatments; and (ii) total accumulated CO2 evolved from the uncharred amendment was significantly higher ( P < 0.05) than that from the other treatments. In the Alfisol, a significant ( P < 0.05) net positive priming effect on NOM decomposition was observed when amended with fresh CS, while the opposite was detected in biochar treatments. In the Andisol, no significant ( P > 0.05) net priming effect was observed. A C balance indicated that the C lost from both biochar production and decomposition 'broke even' with that lost from fresh residue decomposition after <35 weeks. The 'break-even' point was reached earlier in the Andisol, in which the fresh CS mineralizes faster. These results provided experimental evidence for the potential of biochar to sequester C and avoid CO2 emissions from original feedstock while protecting native soil organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To develop and test a format of delivery of diabetes self-management education by paired professional and lay educators. Methods We conducted an equivalence trial with non-randomized participant allocation to a Diabetes Education and Self Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed Type 2 diabetes (DESMOND) course, delivered in the standard format by two trained healthcare professional educators (to the control group) or by one trained lay educator and one professional educator (to the intervention group). A total of 260 people with Type 2 diabetes diagnosed within the previous 12 months were referred for self-management education as part of routine care and attended either a control or intervention format DESMOND course. The primary outcome measure was change in illness coherence score (derived from the Diabetes Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised) between baseline and 4 months after attending education sessions. Secondary outcome measures included change in HbA1c level. The trial was conducted in four primary care organizations across England and Scotland. Results The 95% CI for the between-group difference in positive change in coherence scores was within the pre-set limits of equivalence (difference = 0.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.52). Equivalent changes related to secondary outcome measures were also observed, including equivalent reductions in HbA1c levels. Conclusion Diabetes education delivered jointly by a trained lay person and a healthcare professional educator with the same educator role can provide equivalent patient benefits. This could provide a method that increases capacity, maintains quality and is cost-effective, while increasing access to self-management education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coalition literature recognizes context (geography, demographics and history) as a variable of interest, yet few coalition evaluation studies have focused on it. This study explores the association between geographic context and structures (e.g. member type) with functional characteristics (e.g. decision making or levels of conflict) in a statewide system of community health councils (coalitions). The study was part of a multiyear, statewide evaluation of New Mexico’s health councils’ contributions to systems-level changes. We adapted the Coalition Self-Assessment Survey (CSAS) for all county health council members and paid council coordinators. Both multilevel univariate and multivariate procedures were used to compare index scores, summaries of CSAS questions used to characterize council functions, with selected demographic variables and region. Member type was associated with decision making and policy capacity; paid staff expressed higher levels of agreement than voting members for both items. Length of membership was associated with decision making, positive leadership and shared vision. Results indicated that geographic context was significantly associated with many functional characteristics. The study highlights the idea that geographic context may influence coalition functioning. Understanding how geographic context influences coalition planning and actions may help explain differences among coalitions that on the surface share common organizational characteristics and external goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coalition literature recognizes context (geography, demographics and history) as a variable of interest, yet few coalition evaluation studies have focused on it. This study explores the association between geographic context and structures (e.g. member type) with functional characteristics (e.g. decision making or levels of conflict) in a statewide system of community health councils (coalitions). The study was part of a multiyear, statewide evaluation of New Mexico’s health councils’ contributions to systems-level changes. We adapted the Coalition Self-Assessment Survey (CSAS) for all county health council members and paid council coordinators. Both multilevel univariate and multivariate procedures were used to compare index scores, summaries of CSAS questions used to characterize council functions, with selected demographic variables and region. Member type was associated with decision making and policy capacity; paid staff expressed higher levels of agreement than voting members for both items. Length of membership was associated with decision making, positive leadership and shared vision. Results indicated that geographic context was significantly associated with many functional characteristics. The study highlights the idea that geographic context may influence coalition functioning. Understanding how geographic context influences coalition planning and actions may help explain differences among coalitions that on the surface share common organizational characteristics and external goals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The safety and protection of patients and health care workers is of paramount importance in dentistry, and this includes students in training who provide clinical care. Given the nature of dental care, adverse incidents can and do occur, exposing health care workers to body fluids and putting them at risk of infection, including contracting a blood-borne virus. The aim of this research was to analyze trends in the volume, rate, nature, management, and outcome of adverse incidents reported at one dental teaching hospital from 2005 to 2010. Methods: Descriptive analysis of trends in the volume, rate, nature, management, and outcome of adverse incidents reported at one dental teaching hospital over a six-year period was undertaken in relation to the level of outpatient and day surgery activity. Results: In total, 287 incidents were reported over a six-year period, which amounted to 0.039% of outpatient or day surgery appointments. Nearly three quarters of all the incidents (n = 208, 72%) took place during treatment or whilst clearing away after the appointment. The most frequent incidents were associated with administration of local anesthetic (n = 63, 22%), followed by burs used in dental hand pieces (n = 51, 18%). Conclusion: This research confirms that adverse incidents are a feature of dental hospitals and reports the common sources. The importance of accurate and consistent reporting of data to ensure that these issues are monitored to inform action and reduce risks to staff, students, and patients are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature-dependent development of tomato psyllid (also called potato psyllid), Bactericera cockerelli (Sulc), was studied in the laboratory at seven constant temperatures (8, 10, 15, 20, 23, 27, and 31°C), 50-60% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h on leaves of whole potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants. Developmental time in days for immature stages and total development (egg to adult) on both host species were inversely proportional to temperature between 8 and 27°C but increased at 31°C. One linear and two nonlinear models were fitted to the data. The lower developmental thresholds, calculated using the linear model for egg, total nymph, and total development (from oviposition to adult emergence) were 7.9, 4.2, and 7.1°C (reared on potato) and 7.2, 5.3, and 7.5°C (reared on tomato), respectively. The thermal constant (K) for total development was 358 (reared on potato), and 368 (reared on tomato) degree-days (DD). Two nonlinear models, Briere and Lactin, fit the data well as measured by goodness-of-fit criteria, the residual sum of square (RSS) and Akaike information criterion (AIC). Temperature threshold parameters for these nonlinear models (To, Topt, and Tmax) were estimated for eggs, total nymphal stages, and total development time (egg to adult). The Briere model is highly recommended for the description of temperature-dependent development of tomato psyllid. Results from this study will provide basic information on the biology of tomato psyllid and have potential for the development of predictive models of the seasonal progress of this invasive pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanisms associated with habitat selection by fishes are often unknown and require both physical habitat and growth environment considerations. We used spatially explicit prey biomass estimates, predator growth rate potential (GRP), bottom slope, predator distance from shore, and substrate data to predict habitat use of the saugeye (walleye Sander vitreus × sauger S. canadensis), a popular sport fish that is stocked throughout the central United States. We used telemetry to determine saugeye locations, acoustics to estimate prey biomass and distributions, and a bioenergetics model to aid in calculation of GRP. Akaike's information criterion was used to determine which habitat variables were most important in explaining saugeye location. Models that included both physical habitat and either GRP or prey density performed better than models that considered only one of these parameter types. The resulting models provided the data to create location suitability maps. In general, saugeyes favored steep slopes over hard substrates in nearshore areas with high biomass of gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum or high GRP. This comprehensive analysis suggests that the consideration of both spatial habitat suitability and temporal prey availability may improve fisheries management and conservation through a quantitative appreciation of available resources. Received September 9, 2010; accepted August 23, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A mesocosm experiment was conducted to quantify the effects of reduced pH and elevated temperature on an intact marine invertebrate community. Standardised faunal communities, collected from the extreme low intertidal zone using artificial substrate units, were exposed to one of eight nominal treatments (four pH levels: 8.0, 7.7, 7.3 and 6.7, crossed with two temperature levels: 12 and 16°C). After 60 days exposure communities showed significant changes in structure and lower diversity in response to reduced pH. The response to temperature was more complex. At higher pH levels (8.0 and 7.7) elevated temperature treatments contained higher species abundances and diversity than the lower temperature treatments. In contrast, at lower pH levels (7.3 and 6.7), elevated temperature treatments had lower species abundances and diversity than lower temperature treatments. The species losses responsible for these changes in community structure and diversity were not randomly distributed across the different phyla examined. Molluscs showed the greatest reduction in abundance and diversity in response to low pH and elevated temperature, whilst annelid abundance and diversity was mostly unaffected by low pH and was higher at the elevated temperature. The arthropod response was between these two extremes with moderately reduced abundance and diversity at low pH and elevated temperature. Nematode abundance increased in response to low pH and elevated temperature, probably due to the reduction of ecological constraints, such as predation and competition, caused by a decrease in macrofaunal abundance. This community-based mesocosm study supports previous suggestions, based on observations of direct physiological impacts, that ocean acidification induced changes in marine biodiversity will be driven by differential vulnerability within and between different taxonomical groups. This study also illustrates the importance of considering indirect effects that occur within multispecies assemblages when attempting to predict the consequences of ocean acidification and global warming on marine communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We parameterized and evaluated a bioenergetics model for saugeye (walleye × sauger ) by using laboratory experiments in an effort to improve predictions of prey consumption. First, we measured daily prey consumption rate and growth of age-0 and age-1 saugeyes fed two daily rations (ad libitum and 50% of maximum) at five temperatures ranging from 10°C to 28°C. Additional experiments quantified routine respiration rates and waste losses for three ages of saugeye (ages 0, 1, and 2) at five temperatures ranging from 10°C to 28°C. Mean daily rates of prey consumption (g·g−1·d−1) by saugeyes increased from 10°C to 25°C, declining at 28°C. Respiration rates (g O2·g−1·d−1) increased over the entire range of water temperatures. Waste losses were minor for saugeyes as egestion averaged 3.5% of consumed energy and energy lost via excretion was 4.5% of assimilated energy. We evaluated the accuracy of bioenergetics model predictions of saugeye prey consumption using daily prey consumption and corresponding growth data from our first set of experiments. Model estimates of prey consumption rates (g·g−1·d−1) closely followed observed trends, providing reasonable estimates of cumulative prey consumption across temperature and fish size. The saugeye model provided improved estimates of consumption compared with a model published for walleyes (), especially when water temperatures were in excess of 25°C. The differences we observed in predictive performance between the two models resulted from higher thermal optima for saugeyes compared with walleyes, and waste constants for saugeyes were two to three times lower than those calculated from the walleye model. These differences may largely be responsible for the walleye model's overestimation of consumption. Saugeye thermal optima are warmer than those of either parent species, and saugeye is better suited for warm, productive midwestern U.S. reservoirs. The saugeye model developed herein will improve the ability of managers to more accurately predict the consumptive demand of in situ saugeye populations and better tailor stocking rates to match available prey biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To describe the practice/correlates of douching among a national sample of English-speaking Latinas. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-five (325) computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed. Analyses compare ever douchers to never douchers and identify correlates of douching. RESULTS: Of respondents, 50% had ever douched; 15% douched at least monthly. Douching practices among respondents were similar to those of other groups. Age at sexual debut was the strongest correlate of ever douching. Regular douching significantly increased as the perceived benefits of douching and the number of sources recommending douching increased. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to prevent douching and to support cessation should be tailored to characteristics and perceptions of Latinas. Targeting secondary audiences may prove valuable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Combining the needs of agricultural production with enhancing biodiversity requires a landscape-scale approach since the geographic scale at which most non-farmed species operate is unconstrained by farm boundaries. Bumblebees are a key component of farmland biodiversity as pollinators of both crops and wild flora. However, the factors determining their densities in such landscapes remain poorly understood. 2. Using a combination of remote-sensed landscape data and molecular markers, we quantify the effects of land use (oilseed rape, field beans and non-cropped areas, all of which provide suitable bumblebee forage), at various spatial scales to find the best predictor of colony density for the bumblebee Bombus pascuorum Scopoli in an arable landscape. 3. Estimated colony density was positively correlated with the area of all habitat categories within 1000 m of the sample site. No significant relationships were found for greater or lesser distances. This concurs with earlier estimates of the foraging range of this species. We found no evidence that nest sizes increased with forage availability, although our data do not allow us to categorically exclude this possibility. 4. It has long been suspected that forage availability limits bee abundance in agricultural landscapes but there is little direct evidence for this. Here we report a direct relationship between floral abundance and bumblebee nest density within a notionally fixed area. Importantly, we suggest that the forage availability within the previously published estimated foraging distance for this species at this location is a good predictor of the scale of impact of forage provision on nesting density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth and survival of stocked Sander spp. fingerlings can be influenced by timing of stocking in relation to the peak in density of larval gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum. However, coordinating stockings to coincide with peaks in gizzard shad density is difficult due to temporal variation in spawn timing among reservoirs. We used weekly estimates of larval gizzard shad density and length distributions to identify dates of peak hatching and peak total density in Ohio reservoirs and to explore the influence of spring water temperature regimes on timing of peak larval density. Gizzard shad density peaked over 21-32 d among reservoirs but generally varied by 12 d or less among years for any given population. Density peaks were driven by hatching, as larvae smaller than 10 mm accounted for a majority of the gizzard shad collected on the peak date. Peaks in gizzard shad density corresponded to water temperatures of 17-22°C and occurred most frequently when water temperatures had been stable or rising. Reservoirs in the southern portion of the state were 2-5°C warmer than northern reservoirs throughout the spring; thus, gizzard shad spawning and date of peak larval density were earliest in southern reservoirs and became progressively later for populations in more northerly reservoirs. Historical stocking dates for fingerling walleyes S. vitreus and saugeyes (sauger S. canadensis x walleye) in Ohio reservoirs indicated that southern reservoirs were often stocked after the expected peak in gizzard shad density and northern reservoirs were stocked before the peak. A statewide approach to stocking that incorporates latitudinal variations in gizzard shad hatch timing whereby southern reservoirs are stocked earliest would better align stockings with peak gizzard shad density, potentially improving survival of fingerling walleyes and saugeyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a method of addressing the increasing number of prisoners by returning rationality to criminal sentencing in Florida. The history of sentencing and corrections, including Florida's meteoric prison population growth is discussed. It is said that best solution to Florida's increasing need for money to build and operate more prisons is to return parity to the judicial branch so that it can operate equally with the executive and legislative branches.

Animals can be important in nutrient cycling in particular ecosystems, but few studies have examined bow this importance varies along environmental gradients. In this study we quantified the nutrient cycling role of an abundant detritivorous fish species, the gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), in reservoir ecosystems along a gradient of ecosystem productivity. Gizzard shad feed mostly on sediment detritus and excrete sediment-derived nutrients into the water column, thereby mediating a cross-habitat translocation of nutrients to phytoplankton. We quantified nitrogen and phosphorus cycling (excretion) rates of gizzard shad, as well as nutrient demand by phytoplankton, in seven lakes over a four-year period (16 lake-years). The lakes span a gradient of watershed land use (the relative amounts of land used for agriculture vs. forest) and productivity. As the watersheds of these lakes became increasingly dominated by agricultural land, primary production rates, lake trophic state indicators (total phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations), and nutrient flux through gizzard shad populations all increased. Nutrient cycling by gizzard shad supported a substantial proportion of primary production in these ecosystems, and this proportion increased as watershed agriculture (and ecosystem productivity) increased, In the four productive lakes with agricultural watersheds (>78% agricultural land), gizzard shad supported on average 51% of phytoplankton primary production (range 27%–67%). In contrast, in the three relatively unproductive lakes in forested or mixed-land-use watersheds (>47% forest, <52% agricultural land), gizzard shad supported 18% of primary production (range 14–23%). Thus, along a gradient of forested to agricultural landscapes, both watershed nutrient inputs and nutrient translocation by gizzard shad increase, but our data indicate that the importance of nutrient translocation by gizzard shad increases more rapidly. Our results therefore support the hypothesis that watersheds and gizzard shad jointly regulate primary production in reservoir ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stock-recruit models typically use only spawning stock size as a predictor of recruitment to a fishery. In this paper, however, we used spawning stock size as well as larval density and key environmental variables to predict recruitment of white crappies Pomoxis annularis and black crappies P. nigromaculatus, a genus notorious for variable recruitment. We sampled adults and recruits from 11 Ohio reservoirs and larvae from 9 reservoirs during 1998-2001. We sampled chlorophyll as an index of reservoir productivity and obtained daily estimates of water elevation to determine the impact of hydrology on recruitment. Akaike's information criterion (AIC) revealed that Ricker and Beverton-Holt stock-recruit models that included chlorophyll best explained the variation in larval density and age-2 recruits. Specifically, spawning stock catch per effort (CPE) and chlorophyll explained 63-64% of the variation in larval density. In turn, larval density and chlorophyll explained 43-49% of the variation in age-2 recruit CPE. Finally, spawning stock CPE and chlorophyll were the best predictors of recruit CPE (i.e., 74-86%). Although larval density and recruitment increased with chlorophyll, neither was related to seasonal water elevation. Also, the AIC generally did not distinguish between Ricker and Beverton-Holt models. From these relationships, we concluded that crappie recruitment can be limited by spawning stock CPE and larval production when spawning stock sizes are low (i.e., CPE < 5 crappies/net-night). At higher levels of spawning stock sizes, spawning stock CPE and recruitment were less clearly related. To predict recruitment in Ohio reservoirs, managers should assess spawning stock CPE with trap nets and estimate chlorophyll concentrations. To increase crappie recruitment in reservoirs where recruitment is consistently poor, managers should use regulations to increase spawning stock size, which, in turn, should increase larval production and recruits to the fishery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community structure and species composition may be strongly influenced by predator- prey interactions resulting from and leading to episodes of population abundance or scarcity. We quantified diets of stocked saugeyes (female walleye × male sauger ) and estimated biomass of their primary prey, gizzard shad , in three Ohio reservoirs at quarterly intervals during July 2002-July 2003 to determine whether saugeye consumptive demand could exceed the supply of available gizzard shad prey, resulting in a shift to alternative prey. We incorporated water temperature and saugeye diet composition, growth, and mortality into walleye bioenergetics models, which allowed us to compare estimated prey-specific consumption rates by saugeyes with gizzard shad standing stocks estimated with acoustics. Spring and summer were critical seasons. During spring, gizzard shad biomass was low, saugeye consumptive demand was low, and saugeyes consumed primarily alternative prey. During summer, when age-0 gizzard shad became available as prey, saugeyes consumed similar proportions of gizzard shad and alternative prey. Saugeye cumulative consumptive demand in summer was high and approached the gizzard shad standing stock. However, during fall and winter, gizzard shad supply was adequate to support high (fall) or declining (winter) saugeye consumptive demand. Across reservoirs and seasons, saugeyes consumed alternative prey to varying degrees, primarily sunfishes spp., yellow perch , logperch , and minnows spp. Seasonal asynchrony between saugeye consumptive demand and gizzard shad biomass during spring and summer indicated that a saugeye population with high survival, growth, and consumptive demand will opportunistically increase use of prey other than gizzard shad. The manner in which saugeye predation quantitatively influences these prey species could not be assessed. However, overexploitation of gizzard shad prey appears to be unlikely at current saugeye population sizes, particularly considering the opportunistic use of alternative prey and the high reproductive potential of gizzard shad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproductive biology of three species in the genus Artedius( A. harringtoni, A. lateralis and A. fenestralis) was studied, including parental behaviour, mate choice, fertilization mode, gamete morphology and behaviour, and gonad morphology to help understand the coevolution of reproductive characteristics with potentially different modes of fertilization. In all three species, males guard multiple clutches at oviposition sites. In laboratory mate-choice experiments, males appearred to prefer to defend sites containing eggs and were better able to attract mates at these sites. There was evidence that internal gomete association, although more pronounced in A. harringtoni, existed in all three species. Sperm behaviour and morphology and histological analysis of gonads suggested that A. fenestralis and A. lateralis were more likely to engage in typical external fertilization. The adoption of eggs and their effect on female mate-choice patterns appearred to reduce the importance of certainty of paternity in these species, and probably increased the evolutionary stability of male parental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bumblebees are major pollinators of crops and wildflowers in northern temperate regions. Knowledge of their ecology is vital for the design of effective management and conservation strategies but key aspects remain poorly understood. Here we employed microsatellite markers to estimate and compare foraging range and nest density among four UK species:Bombus terrestris, Bombus pascuorum, Bombus lapidarius, andBombus pratorum. Workers were sampled along a 1.5-km linear transect across arable farmland. Eight or nine polymorphic microsatellite markers were then used to identify putative sisters. In accordance with previous studies, minimum estimated maximum foraging range was greatest forB. terrestris(758 m) and least forB. pascuorum(449 m). The estimate forB. lapidariuswas similar toB. pascuorum(450 m), while that ofB. pratorumwas intermediate (674 m). Since the area of forage available to bees increases as the square of foraging range, these differences correspond to a threefold variation in the area used by bumblebee nests of different species. Possible explanations for these differences are discussed. Estimates for nest density at the times of sampling were 29, 68, 117, and 26/km2 forB. terrestris, B. pascuorum, B. lapidariusandB. pratorum, respectively. These data suggest that even among the most common British bumblebee species, significant differences in fundamental aspects of their ecology exist, a finding that should be reflected in management and conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Male flagfish Jordanella floridae provide parental care in the form of nest guarding, cleaning and fanning. Patterns of egg development, hatching success and disease in the absence of parental care across a range of physical environments that flagfish naturally experience were observed. Egg hatching success increased with salinity but was unaffected by temperature. Egg development rate, on the other hand, increased with temperature but was unaffected by salinity. Furthermore, disease (most likely fungus on the eggs) was the primary source of mortality. Thus, the results suggest that, in this species, parental care of the eggs can only significantly increase offspring fitness by reducing disease and that the value of care will overall be reduced in saline environments because eggs hatch readily there, in the absence of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertical transports of heat and moisture at the Earth's surface provide a critical linkage between meteorological, hydrological and ecological processes. Unfortunately, estimates of energy and water fluxes by land surface-atmosphere models are difficult to validate. This is due to the fine spatial and temporal resolution of the models, as well as a lack of widespread observations of these fluxes and other components of the surface energy budget. However, modelled fluxes of energy and water are often based largely on accurate determination of the modelled soil surface temperature. Land surface temperatures (LSTs) derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) onboard polar-orbiting satellites can be determined over large spatial extents a few times per day. They provide a means by which modelled surface temperatures, and thus modelled fluxes, can be evaluated. In this paper, two versions of the Simulator for Hydrology and Energy Exchange at the Land Surface (SHEELS) model are evaluated using AVHRR-derived LSTs. Model vegetation cover is held constant in the first version, whereas Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data are used to temporally modify vegetation cover in the second version. Inclusion of the NDVI data is found to decrease the bias between modelled and satellite-derived LSTs by 0.5 K. However, even with this improvement in vegetation parametrization, bias remains large (3.7 K). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater acoustics is a noninvasive sampling technique that potentially reduces expense and injury to target species, but this method may be underutilized for sampling large freshwater fishes. We measured target strength (TS), developed anatomically based backscatter models, and conducted gill-net and acoustic surveys of paddlefish to explore the potential use of acoustic surveys for estimating the abundance of large freshwater fishes. Mean TS measured from two size-groups of paddlefish at 200 kHz was −37.14 decibels (dB; SD = −2.36) for age-0 fish (353-406 mm) and −27.25 dB (SD = −2.21) for adult fish (1,018-1,284 mm), indicating that TS could differentiate these size-groups. Backscatter models identified strong contributions of the swim bladder to TS and revealed the sensitivity of acoustic backscatter to paddlefish length, aspect, and acoustic carrier frequency. Model results were generally within one SD of measured means from individual fish of each size-group. Target strength results were used to count two populations of adult paddlefish in mobile surveys using an echo sounder with a 200-kHz, 6° split-beam transducer. One population was stocked in 1.6-ha Hebron Pond, where no large fish were previously present. The other population resided in 28-ha Horseshoe Lake, an Ohio River backwater. Twenty-one paddlefish stocked in Hebron Pond were accurately counted during the first of six side-looking surveys, but subsequent surveys only counted between two and seven fish. Depletion gillnetting results in Horseshoe Lake provided an estimated baseline of 130 ± 55 paddlefish for comparison with abundance estimates from side-looking and down-looking acoustic surveys during day and night. Acoustic abundance estimates ranged from 187-313 fish (side-looking) to 3,464-13,489 fish (down-looking) depending on survey time (day or night) and the approach to analysis. Ratio estimates and cluster estimates provided similar results, and the coefficient of variation of the mean (100·SE/mean) ranged from 20% to 50%. Acoustic estimates were either greater or more variable than those derived from depletion gillnetting, yet acoustic surveys required only 6 man-hours compared to 180 man-hours for the gillnetting estimate. Our study is the first to indicate that TS can be used to count adult paddlefish and that, upon refinement of survey techniques, TS can be used to estimate paddlefish abundance. The benefits of acoustic surveys may be realized sampling other large freshwater fishes when the target species can be differentiated with TS and considerations are made for transducer selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Central American Federation of Associations and Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FECASOG), as a part of the FIGO Save the Mothers Initiative, undertook a pilot project to improve provision of basic emergency obstetric care in selected departments in four Central American countries. This article describes the process of the development and implementation of the project. Preliminary results suggest that the capacity to provide this care has been improved by the training of healthcare personnel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We describe a compositional framework, together with its supporting toolset, for hardware/software co-design. Our framework is an integration of a formal approach within a traditional design flow. The formal approach is based on Interval Temporal Logic and its executable subset, Tempura. Refinement is the key element in our framework because it will derivefrom a single formal specification of the system the software and hardware parts of the implementation, while preserving all properties of the system specification. During refinement simulation is used to choose the appropriate refinement rules, which are applied automatically in the HOL system. The framework is illustrated with two case studies. The work presented is part of a UK collaborative research project between the Software Technology Research Laboratory at the De Montfort University and the Oxford University Computing Laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a dimensional analysis of human synovial joints. Biological background; Lubrication mechanisms; Conclusions.