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Accurate and precise estimates of the timing of whisker growth and shedding are necessary to interpret biochemical information stored in whiskers. This fine-scale examination of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758) whisker growth and shedding identified an asymptotic growth pattern with initial rapid growth that decays over time that can be defined with the von Bertalanffy curve. Initial growth rates were similar among whiskers, but estimated growth coefficients (K) and asymptotic lengths ([L.sub.[infinity]]) differed by follicle positions suggesting that differences in total whisker lengths result from dissimilarly shaped growth curves. In other words, longer whisker length is attained by delaying the growth rate decay. There was substantial intra-and interseal variation in shedding dates; whisker shedding began at the caudal margin of the whisker bed and progressed toward the nose. Shedding of marked whiskers from the three study seals took from 78 to 133 days; however, selecting whiskers only from the most caudal follicle of the bottom three rows constrained the period of whisker shedding to 7-43 days. These differences in growth and shedding of harbor seal whiskers emphasize the importance of considering follicle position to select whiskers that are the most similar for analyses of information stored in whiskers. Key words: whisker, vibrissa, growth rates, Phoca vitulina, harbor seal Des estimations exactes et precises du moment de la croissance et de la chute des vibrisses sont necessaires pour interpreter l'information biochimique qu'elles recelent. Le present examen a echelle fine de la croissance et de la chute des vibrisses de phoques communs (Phoca vitulina Linnaeus, 1758) revele un motif de croissance asymptotique presentant une croissance initiale rapide ralentissant au fil du temps qui peut etre definie avec la courbe de von Bertalanffy. Les taux de croissance initiaux sont semblables pour les differentes vibrisses, mais les coefficients de croissance (K) et longueurs asymptotiques ([L.sub.[infinity]]) estimes varient selon la position du follicule, ce qui indiquerait que les differences de longueur totale des vibrisses resultent de courbes de croissance de formes differentes. Autrement dit, une plus grande longueur des vibrisses est atteinte en retardant la diminution du taux de croissance. La date de chute des vibrisses varie considerablement pour un meme phoque et d'un phoque a l'autre; la chute des vibrisses commence a la marge caudale des moustaches et progresse vers le nez. La chute de vibrisses marquees des trois phoques etudies a pris de 78 a 133 jours, mais seulement de 7 a 43 jours en ce qui concerne uniquement les vibrisses du follicule le plus caudal des trois rangees inferieures. Ces differences de la croissance et de la chute des vibrisses de phoques communs soulignent l'importance de tenir compte de la position du follicule dans la selection de vibrisses les plus semblables analyser l'information qu'elles recelent. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : moustache, vibrisses, taux de croissance, Phoca vitulina, phoque commun, Introduction Analysis of serial sections of biologically inert tissues can be used to create a timeline of biochemical information related to the ecology and physiology of free-ranging organisms. Several compounds [...]

Section 14141 of the Violent Crime Control Act of 1994 gave the Department of Justice (DOJ) the authority to investigate institutional misconduct and compel reform within local police agencies. The focus of DOJ reform efforts is often directed at disrupting patterns of discriminatory policing practices within targeted police departments. DOJ-led investigations have found that many police departments identified for federal oversight have historically engaged in discriminatory and bias-based enforcement strategies. These strategies frequently result in a disproportionate volume of stops, searches, and arrests of minority populations. The racial disparity found in these enforcement strategies often deteriorates the trust and legitimacy of police officers. This article provides an evaluation of the impact of DOJ intervention on arrest rates and patterns of racial disparity in arrests within large city police departments. The analysis uses arrest data compiled from the Uniform Crime Reports to compare arrest patterns across major city police agencies that participated and did not participate in DOJ reform agreements focused on discriminatory enforcement between 1995 and 2018. This article approaches this evaluation through a heterogeneous difference-in-difference analysis that uses both attributable risk and relative risk measurements to compare the racial disparity within arrest trends during and after DOJ reform intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enclosed beaches along urban coastlines are frequent hot spots of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) pollution. In this paper we present field measurements and modeling studies aimed at evaluating the impact of small storm drains on FIB pollution at enclosed beaches in Newport Bay, the second largest tidal embayment in Southern California. Our results suggest that small drains have a disproportionate impact on enclosed beach water quality for five reasons: (1) dry weather surface flows (primarily from overirrigation of lawns and ornamental plants) harbor FIB at concentrations exceeding recreational water quality criteria; (2) small drains can trap dry weather runoff during high tide, and then release it in a bolus during the falling tide when drainpipe outlets are exposed; (3) nearshore turbulence is low (turbulent diffusivities approximately 10(-3) m(2) s(-1)), limiting dilution of FIB and other runoff-associated pollutants once they enter the bay; (4) once in the bay, runoff can form buoyant plumes that further limit vertical mixing and dilution; and (5) local winds can force buoyant runoff plumes back against the shoreline, where water depth is minimal and human contact likely. Outdoor water conservation and urban retrofits that minimize the volume of dry and wet weather runoff entering the local storm drain system may be the best option for improving beach water quality in Newport Bay and other urban-impacted enclosed beaches.

Simple Summary: The current evidence regarding Indigenous* women and breast cancer in Australia shows lower prevalence but higher mortality rates. There are a range of reasons for this, including co-morbidities, lack of access to health services and low health information fluency. Perhaps most importantly, breast cancer health policy and service delivery practice do not meet the needs of Indigenous women in Australia, according to Indigenous women. Talking and listening to Indigenous women about breast cancer highlight that the solutions to improve breast cancer outcomes are available and that they are not complex. Indigenous women must be involved in the improvement of policy and practice in order for these outcomes to improve. *Terminology: We respectfully refer to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as "Indigenous". In Australia, the incidence rate of breast cancer is lower in Indigenous* women than non-Indigenous women; however, the mortality rate is higher, with Indigenous women 1.2 times more likely to die from the disease. This paper provides practical and achievable solutions to improve health outcomes for Indigenous women with breast cancer in Australia. This research employed the Context–Mechanism–Outcome (CMO) framework to reveal potential mechanisms and contextual factors that influence breast cancer outcomes for Indigenous women, stratified into multiple levels, namely, micro (interpersonal), meso (systemic) and macro (policy) levels. The CMO framework allowed us to interpret evidence regarding Indigenous women and breast cancer and provides nine practical ways to improve health outcomes and survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]