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Abstract Gamma oscillations (30–90 Hz) have been proposed as a signature of cortical visual information processing, particularly the balance between excitation and inhibition, and as a biomarker of neuropsychiatric diseases. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides highly reliable visual-induced gamma oscillation estimates, both at sensor and source level. Recent studies have reported a deficit of visual gamma activity in schizophrenia patients, in medication naive subjects, and high-risk clinical participants, but the genetic contribution to such a deficit has remained unresolved. Here, for the first time, we use a genetic risk score approach to assess the relationship between genetic risk for schizophrenia and visual gamma activity in a population-based sample drawn from a birth cohort. We compared visual gamma activity in a group (N = 104) with a high genetic risk profile score for schizophrenia (SCZ-PRS) to a group with low SCZ-PRS (N = 99). Source-reconstructed V1 activity was extracted using beamformer analysis applied to MEG recordings using individual MRI scans. No group differences were found in the induced gamma peak amplitude or peak frequency. However, a non-parametric statistical contrast of the response spectrum revealed more robust group differences in the amplitude of high-beta/gamma power across the frequency range, suggesting that overall spectral shape carries important biological information beyond the individual frequency peak. Our findings show that changes in gamma band activity correlate with liability to schizophrenia and suggest that the index changes to synaptic function and neuronal firing patterns that are of pathophysiological relevance rather than consequences of the disorder.

Abstract Introduction Localized prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies in the United States. Despite continued refinement of robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) surgical methods, post-surgical erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence remain significant challenges due to iatrogenic injury of local nervous tissue. Thus, the development of therapeutic strategies, including the use of biologic adjuncts to protect and/or enhance recovery and function of nerves following RARP is of growing interest. Perinatal tissue allografts have been investigated as one such biologic adjunct to nerve sparing RARP. However, knowledge regarding their clinical efficacy in hastening return of potency and continence as well as the potential underpinning biological mechanisms involved remains understudied. Thus, the objective of this literature review was to summarize published basic science and clinical studies supporting and evaluating the use of perinatal allografts for nerve repair and their clinical efficacy as adjuncts to RARP, respectively. Methods The literature as of May 2024 was reviewed non-systematically using PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The search terms utilized were “robotic prostatectomy”, “prostate cancer”, “nerve sparing”, “perinatal tissue”, “allograft”, “potency”, and “continence” alone or in combination. All articles were reviewed and judged for scientific merit by authors RP and JM, only peer-reviewed studies were considered. Results Eight studies of perinatal tissue allograph use in RARP were deemed worthy of inclusion in this nonsystematic review. Conclusions Incontinence and impotence remain significant comorbidities despite continued advancement in surgical technique. However, basic science research has demonstrated potential neurotrophic, anti-fibrotic, and anti-inflammatory properties of perinatal tissue allografts, and clinical studies have shown that patients who receive an intra-operative prostatic perinatal membrane wrap have faster return to potency and continence.

Abstract Dynamic resistance exercise (RE) produces sinusoidal fluctuations in blood pressure with simultaneous fluctuations in middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv). Some evidence indicates that RE may alter cerebrovascular function. This study aimed to examine the effects of habitual RE training on the within‐RE cerebrovascular responses. RE‐trained (n = 15, Female = 4) and healthy untrained individuals (n = 15, Female = 12) completed four sets of 10 paced repetitions (15 repetitions per minute) of unilateral leg extension exercise at 60% of predicted 1 repetition maximum. Beat‐to‐beat blood pressure, MCAv and end‐tidal carbon dioxide were measured throughout. Zenith, nadir and zenith‐to‐nadir difference in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and mean MCAv (MCAvmean) for each repetition were averaged across each set. Two‐way ANOVA was used to analyse dependent variables (training × sets), Bonferroni corrected t‐tests were used for post hoc pairwise comparisons. Group age (26 ± 7 trained vs. 25 ± 6 years untrained, P = 0.683) and weight (78 ± 15 vs. 71 ± 15 kg, P = 0.683) were not different. During exercise average MAP was greater for the RE‐trained group in sets 2, 3 and 4 (e.g., set 4: 101 ± 11 vs. 92 ± 7 mmHg for RE trained and untrained, respectively, post hoc tests all P =

Abnormal oxidative stress is an established feature of Alzheimer's disease, but clinical trials aiming to reduce oxidative stress have not yet proven an effective therapy for dementia patients. The purpose of this review is to systematically analyze available data describing markers of oxidative stress and antioxidants in blood from subjects with Alzheimer's disease or those with mild cognitive impairment to highlight potential interactions between peripheral redox changes and central nervous system pathology and contribute to the design of future clinical study. PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science were systematically queried to collect studies which have evaluated markers of oxidative stress, levels of antioxidants, copper, transferrin and ceruloplasmin levels in blood from subjects with Alzheimer's disease and matched controls. After application of quality measures, results were aggregated in a random effects analysis. We found that markers of lipid peroxidation are elevated in blood in Alzheimer's disease and in mild cognitive impairment, copper metabolism is dysregulated and total antioxidant capacity is decreased. While surprisingly none of the major antioxidative enzymes are significantly decreased, non-enzymatic antioxidants in blood (particularly uric acid, vitamins A, E and C, α- and β-carotene) are significantly decreased. There is significant oxidative damage in peripheral blood early in the process of neurodegeneration. We propose that clinical studies assessing cognitive outcomes after antioxidant therapy tailor interventions to individual patients' deficiencies and confirm an improvement in an appropriate serological marker of oxidative stress. This strategy may be most effectively applied in a clinical trial of primary prevention.

Abstract Background Clinical variants of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) are diagnosed based on characteristic patterns of language deficits, supported by corresponding neural changes on brain imaging. However, there is (i) considerable phenotypic variability within and between each diagnostic category with partially overlapping profiles of language performance between variants and (ii) accompanying non-linguistic cognitive impairments that may be independent of aphasia magnitude and disease severity. The neurobiological basis of this cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity remains unclear. Understanding the relationship between these variables would improve PPA clinical/research characterisation and strengthen clinical trial and symptomatic treatment design. We address these knowledge gaps using a data-driven transdiagnostic approach to chart cognitive-linguistic differences and their associations with grey/white matter degeneration across multiple PPA variants. Methods Forty-seven patients (13 semantic, 15 non-fluent, and 19 logopenic variant PPA) underwent assessment of general cognition, errors on language performance, and structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to index whole-brain grey and white matter changes. Behavioural data were entered into varimax-rotated principal component analyses to derive orthogonal dimensions explaining the majority of cognitive variance. To uncover neural correlates of cognitive heterogeneity, derived components were used as covariates in neuroimaging analyses of grey matter (voxel-based morphometry) and white matter (network-based statistics of structural connectomes). Results Four behavioural components emerged: general cognition, semantic memory, working memory, and motor speech/phonology. Performance patterns on the latter three principal components were in keeping with each variant’s characteristic profile, but with a spectrum rather than categorical distribution across the cohort. General cognitive changes were most marked in logopenic variant PPA. Regardless of clinical diagnosis, general cognitive impairment was associated with inferior/posterior parietal grey/white matter involvement, semantic memory deficits with bilateral anterior temporal grey/white matter changes, working memory impairment with temporoparietal and frontostriatal grey/white matter involvement, and motor speech/phonology deficits with inferior/middle frontal grey matter alterations. Conclusions Cognitive-linguistic heterogeneity in PPA closely relates to individual-level variations on multiple behavioural dimensions and grey/white matter degeneration of regions within and beyond the language network. We further show that employment of transdiagnostic approaches may help to understand clinical symptom boundaries and reveal clinical and neural profiles that are shared across categorically defined variants of PPA.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the mortgage market at every stage of the value chain. In this paper, we examine the potential for the mortgage industry to leverage AI to overcome the historical and systemic barriers to homeownership for members of Black, Brown, and lower-income communities. We begin by proposing societal, ethical, legal, and practical criteria that should be considered in the development and implementation of AI models. Based on this framework, we discuss the applications of AI that are transforming the mortgage market, including digital marketing, the inclusion of non-traditional “big data” in credit scoring algorithms, AI property valuation, and loan underwriting models. We conclude that although the current AI models may reflect the same biases that have existed historically in the mortgage market, opportunities exist for proactive, responsible AI model development designed to remove the systemic barriers to mortgage credit access.

Large dam removal can trigger changes to physical and biological processes that influence vegetation dynamics in former reservoirs, along river corridors downstream of former dams, and at a river’s terminus in deltas and estuaries. We present the first comprehensive review of vegetation response to major fluvial disturbance caused by the world’s largest dam removal. After being in place for nearly a century, two large dams were removed along the Elwha River, Washington, USA, between 2011 and 2014. The exposure, erosion, transport, and deposition of large volumes of sediment and large wood that were impounded behind the dams created new fluvial surfaces where plant colonization and growth have occurred. In the former reservoirs, dam removal exposed ~290 ha of unvegetated sediment distributed on three main landforms: valley walls, high terraces, and dynamic floodplains. In addition to natural revegetation in the former reservoirs, weed control and seeding and planting of desirable plants influenced vegetation trajectories. In early years following dam removal, ~20.5 Mt of trapped sediment were eroded from the former reservoirs and transported downstream. This sediment pulse, in combination with transport of large wood, led to channel widening, an increase in gravel bars, and floodplain deposition. The primary vegetation responses along the river corridor were a reduction in vegetated area associated with channel widening, plant establishment on new gravel bars, increased hydrochory, and altered plant community composition on gravel bars and floodplains. Plant species diversity increased in some river segments. In the delta, sediment deposition led to the creation of ~26.8 ha of new land surfaces and altered the distribution and dynamics of intertidal water bodies. Vegetation colonized ~16.4 ha of new surfaces: mixed pioneer vegetation colonized supratidal beach, river bars, and river mouth bars, and emergent marsh vegetation colonized intertidal aquatic habitats. In addition to the sediment-dominated processes that have created opportunities for plant colonization and growth, biological processes such as restored hydrochory and anadromous fish passage with associated delivery of marine-derived nutrients may influence vegetation dynamics over time. Rapid changes to landforms and vegetation growth were related to the large sediment pulse in the early years following dam removal, and the rate of change is expected to attenuate as the system adjusts to natural flow and sediment regimes.

IntroductionLarge dam removals provide a restoration opportunity for shrinking coastal wetland habitats. Dam removal can increase sediment delivery to sediment-starved river deltas and estuaries by restoring natural sediment transport and mobilizing reservoir-impounded sediment. However, rapid mobilization of massive quantities of sediment stored behind large dams also constitutes a major ecological perturbation. Information is lacking on coastal habitat responses to sediment pulses of this magnitude.MethodsRemoval of two large dams along the Elwha River (Washington, USA) in 2011–2014 released ~20.5 Mt of impounded sediment, ~5.4 Mt of which were deposited in the delta and estuary (hereafter, delta). We used time series of aerial imagery, digital elevation models, and vegetation field sampling to examine plant community responses to this sediment pulse across seven years during and after dam removal.ResultsBetween 2011 and 2018, the Elwha River delta increased by ~26.8 ha. Vegetation colonized ~16.4 ha of new surfaces, with mixed pioneer vegetation on supratidal beach, river bars, and river mouth bars and emergent marsh vegetation in intertidal aquatic habitats. Colonization occurred on surfaces that were higher and more stable in elevation and farther from the shoreline. Compared to established delta plant communities, vegetation on new surfaces had lower cover of dominant species and functional groups, with very low woody cover, and lower graminoid cover than dunegrass and emergent marsh communities. Over time following surface stabilization, however, vegetation on new surfaces increased in species richness, cover, and similarity to established communities. By 2018, ~1.0 ha of vegetation on new surfaces had developed into dunegrass or willow–alder communities and ~5.9 ha had developed into emergent marsh. At the same time, dam removal had few discernible effects on established delta plant communities.DiscussionTogether, these results suggest that rapid sediment mobilization during large dam removal has potential to expand coastal wetland habitat without negatively affecting established plant communities. However, as sediment loads declined in 2016–2018, new delta surfaces decreased by ~4.5 ha, and ~1.6 ha of new vegetation reverted to no vegetation. Long-term persistence of the expanded coastal habitat will depend on ongoing erosional and depositional processes under the restored natural sediment regime.

Until quite recently, the management of children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) had focussed on the use of recombinant human GH (rhGH) therapy to normalise final adult height. However, research over the past two decades that has demonstrated deficits in bone health and cardiac function, as well as impaired quality of life in adults with childhood-onset GHD (CO-GHD), has questioned this practice. Some of these studies suggested that there may be short-term benefits of rhGH in certain group of adolescents with GHD during transition, although the impact of GHD and replacement during the transition period has not been adequately investigated and its long-term benefits remain unclear. GH therapy remains expensive and well-designed long-term studies are needed to determine the cost effectiveness and clinical benefit of ongoing rhGH during transition and further into adulthood. In the absence of compelling data to justify widespread continuation of rhGH into adult life, there are several questions related to its use that remain unanswered. This paper reviews the effects of growth hormone deficiency on bone health, cardiovascular function, metabolic profile and quality of life during transition and young adulthood.

We analyzed feeding biomechanics in pitheciine monkeys (Pithecia, Chiropotes, Cacajao), a clade that specializes on hard-husked unripe fruit (sclerocarpy) and resistant seeds (seed predation). We tested the hypothesis that pitheciine crania are well-suited to generate and withstand forceful canine and molar biting, with the prediction that they generate bite forces more efficiently and better resist masticatory strains than the closely-related Callicebus, which does not specialize on unripe fruits and/or seeds. We also tested the hypothesis that Callicebus-Pithecia-Chiropotes-Cacajao represent a morphocline of increasing sclerocarpic specialization with respect to biting leverage and craniofacial strength, consistent with anterior dental morphology. We found that pitheciines have higher biting leverage than Callicebus and are generally more resistant to masticatory strain. However, Cacajao was found to experience high strain magnitudes in some facial regions. We therefore found limited support for the morphocline hypothesis, at least with respect to the mechanical performance metrics examined here. Biting leverage in Cacajao was nearly identical (or slightly less than) in Chiropotes and strain magnitudes during canine biting were more likely to follow a Cacajao-Chiropotes-Pithecia trend of increasing strength, in contrast to the proposed morphocline. These results could indicate that bite force efficiency and derived anterior teeth were selected for in pitheciines at the expense of increased strain magnitudes. However, our results for Cacajao potentially reflect reduced feeding competition offered by allopatry with other pitheciines, which allows Cacajao species to choose from a wider variety of fruits at various stages of ripeness, leading to reduction in the selection for robust facial features. We also found that feeding biomechanics in sympatric Pithecia and Chiropotes are consistent with data on food structural properties and observations of dietary niche separation, with the former being well-suited for the regular molar crushing of hard seeds and the latter better adapted for breaching hard fruits.

[1.1.1]Propellane, a compound whose structure includes two saturated carbons in which all four bonds are directed into a single hemisphere, is of theoretical interest, but has also seen recent practical applications. Mono-, di-, and trisubstituted derivatives of this propellane (by substitution of its CH2 bridges with O, S, NH, CF2, CO, SO, and SO2) remain unknown despite several computational studies that have suggested some may be stable. In this study, we show that, in several cases, substituted propellanes are spontaneously formed upon the attempted computational optimization of the geometries of anionic bridgehead bromide precursors using the ωB97X-D/aug-cc-pVDZ DFT method. Spontaneous formation suggests that these propellanes are at lower energy relative to the precursors and, therefore, are promising synthetic targets. The success or failure to spontaneously form the propellane is considered in relation to the length and strain energy of the central bridgehead-bridgehead bond, as well as the total strain energy of each propellane.

Abstract Predicting species geographic distributions is key to managing invasive species, conserving biodiversity, and understanding species' environmental requirements. Species distribution models (SDMs) commonly focus on climatic predictors, but other environmental factors can also be essential, particularly for species with specialized habitats defined by hydrologic, topographic, or edaphic conditions (e.g., riparian, wetland, alpine, coastal, serpentine). Here, we demonstrate a novel approach for capturing strong effects of both hydrologic and climatic predictors in SDMs for riparian plants, by merging analyses targeted at environmental drivers within riparian ecosystems and across the western USA (3.8 × 106 km2). We developed presence‐background SDMs from five algorithms for three invasive riparian trees (Tamarix ramossisima/chinensis [saltcedar], Elaeagnus angustifolia [Russian olive], and Ulmus pumila [Siberian elm]) and three native Populus spp. (cottonwoods). We used separate background datasets to develop models with different spatial scales of inference: (1) spatially filtered random points to represent available habitat across the study area and (2) target‐group points from Salix (willow) occurrences to represent available riparian habitat. Random‐background models captured hydrologic drivers of riparian tree distributions relative to the largely upland western USA, whereas Salix‐background models captured climatic drivers within the context of riparian ecosystems. Combining predictions from the two backgrounds identified hydrologically suitable habitats within climatically suitable regions, resulting in fewer false “absences” than either background alone, improving predictions over previous SDMs, and providing more complete information to guide management decisions. Surprisingly, the predicted habitat for U. pumila, a newly recognized riparian invader, was as or more extensive than Populus deltoides/fremontii, T. ramossisima/chinensis, and E. angustifolia, the most common riparian tree complexes in the western USA. Watersheds constituting 20% of U. pumila predicted habitat contained no occurrence records, indicating high risk of future and unrecognized invasions. Combining models from random and ecosystem‐specific target‐group backgrounds may improve SDMs for species from many specialized habitats, providing a method to link predicted distributions to localized geographic features while capturing broad‐scale climatic requirements.

In 2021 the Quantum Sensors for the Hidden Sector (QSHS) collaboration was founded in the UK and received funding to develop and demonstrate quantum devices with the potential to detect hidden sector particles in the $\mu$eV to 100 $\mu$eV mass window. The collaboration has been developing a range of devices. It is building a high-field, low-temperature facility at the University of Sheffield to characterise and test the devices in a haloscope geometry. This paper introduces the collaboration's motivation, aims, and progress.

Abstract There is emerging evidence that ovarian hormones play a significant role in the lower stroke incidence observed in pre‐menopausal women compared with men. However, the role of ovarian hormones in cerebrovascular regulation remains to be elucidated. We examined the blood pressure‐cerebral blood flow relationship (cerebral autoregulation) across the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women (n = 12; mean ± SD: age, 31 ± 7 years). Participants completed sit‐to‐stand and Valsalva maneuvers (VM, mouth pressure of 40 mmHg for 15 s) during the early follicular (EF), late follicular (LF), and mid‐luteal (ML) menstrual cycle phases, confirmed by serum measurement of progesterone and 17β‐estradiol. Middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv), arterial blood pressure and partial pressure of end‐tidal carbon dioxide were measured. Cerebral autoregulation was assessed by transfer function analysis during spontaneous blood pressure oscillations, rate of regulation (RoR) during sit‐to‐stand maneuvers, and Tieck’s autoregulatory index during VM phases II and IV (AI‐II and AI‐IV, respectively). Resting mean MCAv (MCAvmean), blood pressure, and cerebral autoregulation were unchanged across the menstrual cycle (all p > 0.12). RoR tended to be different (EF, 0.25 ± 0.06; LF; 0.19 ± 0.04; ML, 0.18 ± 0.12 sec−1; p = 0.07) and demonstrated a negative relationship with 17β‐estradiol (R2 = 0.26, p = 0.02). No changes in AI‐II (EF, 1.95 ± 1.20; LF, 1.67 ± 0.77 and ML, 1.20 ± 0.55) or AI‐IV (EF, 1.35 ± 0.21; LF, 1.27 ± 0.26 and ML, 1.20 ± 0.2) were observed (p = 0.25 and 0.37, respectively). Although, a significant interaction effect (p = 0.02) was observed for the VM MCAvmean response. These data indicate that the menstrual cycle has limited impact on cerebrovascular autoregulation, but individual differences should be considered.

Objectives: We examined the acute effects of anthocyanin-rich New Zealand blackcurrant extract and a placebo on hemodynamics during 120 min of sedentary sitting in healthy males. Additionally, we investigated whether changes in resting hemodynamics altered repeated isometric hand-grip exercise performance and post exercise forearm blood flow (FBF).Methods: Ten healthy males completed two trials during which they ingested either blackcurrant extract (1.87 mg total anthocyanins/kg bodyweight) or placebo powder. Heart rate, blood pressure and forearm blood flow were measured, and venous blood was sampled, prior to and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min-post ingestion. Participants remained seated for the duration of each trial. At 120 min post-ingestion participants completed as many repetitions of isometric hand-grip contractions as possible.Results: Heart rate, blood pressure and mean arterial pressure changed over time (all p < 0.001) but did not differ between treatments. A treatment x time interaction for FBF (p = 0.025) and forearm vascular resistance (FVR) (p = 0.002) was found. No difference in the number of isometric hand-grip contractions was observed between treatments (p = 0.68) nor was there any treatment x time interaction in post-exercise FBF (p = 0.997). Plasma endothelin-1 (p = 0.023) and nitrate (p = 0.047) changed over time but did not differ between treatments (both p > 0.1). Plasma nitrite did not change over time (p = 0.732) or differ between treatments (p = 0.373).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that acute ingestion of a single dose of blackcurrant extract maintained FBF and FVR during an extended period of sitting; however, this did not influence exercise performance during hand-grip exercise.

Four specimens of primates were collected from the Santa Cruz Formation (Early–Middle Miocene) during expeditions undertaken by the Museo de la Plata, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, and Duke University in 2013, 2014, and 2017. A new species of Homunculus Ameghino, H. vizcainoi (Platyrrhini, Homunculidae), was identified at Barrancas Blancas, and Segundas Barrancas Blancas localities on the right bank of the Río Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz Province, Argentina). The Barrancas Blancas specimen comes from a tuff dated at 17.04 Ma; those from Segundas Barrancas Blancas are older than a tuff dated at 16.32 Ma and younger than a tuff dated at 17.36 Ma. A Río Bote specimen is confidently identified as Homunculus, but of uncertain species. All these fossil primates are temporally equivalent to those from the coastal Santa Cruz Formation, and younger than those from the Pinturas Formation to the north. By contrast, the lower and middle strata of the Pinturas Formation contain a different but closely related taxon, Carlocebus Fleagle. All known records of Carlocebus from the Pinturas Formation in north central Santa Cruz Province are older than the known occurrences of Homunculus in the Santa Cruz Formation in the Río Santa Cruz valley, Río Bote and elsewhere.

Drosophila CG10915 is an uncharacterized protein coding gene with sequence similarity to human Cortactin-binding protein 2 (CTTNBP2) and Cortactin-binding protein 2 N-terminal-like (CTTNBP2NL). Here, we have named this gene Nausicaa (naus) and characterize it through a combination of quantitative live-cell total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, RNAi depletion and genetics. We found that Naus co-localizes with F-actin and Cortactin in the lamellipodia of Drosophila S2R+ and D25c2 cells and this localization is lost following Cortactin or Arp2/3 depletion or by mutations that disrupt a conserved proline patch found in its mammalian homologs. Using permeabilization activated reduction in fluorescence and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we find that depletion of Cortactin alters Naus dynamics leading to a decrease in its half-life. Furthermore, we discovered that Naus depletion in S2R+ cells led to a decrease in actin retrograde flow and a lamellipodia characterized by long, unbranched filaments. We demonstrate that these alterations to the dynamics and underlying actin architecture also affect D25c2 cell migration and decrease arborization in Drosophila neurons. We present the hypothesis that Naus functions to slow Cortactin's disassociation from Arp2/3 nucleated branch junctions, thereby increasing both branch nucleation and junction stability.

Abstract Understanding how dams affect the shifting habitat mosaic of river bottomlands is key for protecting the many ecological functions and related goods and services that riparian forests provide and for informing approaches to riparian ecosystem restoration. We examined the downstream effects of two large dams on patterns of forest composition, structure, and dynamics within different geomorphic contexts and compared them to upstream reference conditions along the Elwha River, Washington, USA. Patterns of riparian vegetation in river segments downstream of the dams were driven largely by channel and bottomland geomorphic responses to a dramatically reduced sediment supply. The river segment upstream of both dams was the most geomorphically dynamic, whereas the segment between the dams was the least dynamic due to substantial channel armoring, and the segment downstream of both dams was intermediate due to some local sediment supply. These geomorphic differences were linked to altered characteristics of the shifting habitat mosaic, including older forest age structure and fewer young Populus balsamifera subsp. trichocarpa stands in the relatively static segment between the dams compared to more extensive early‐successional forests (dominated by Alnus rubra and Salix spp.) and pioneer seedling recruitment upstream of the dams. Species composition of later‐successional forest communities varied among river segments as well, with greater Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga heterophylla abundance upstream of both dams, Acer spp. abundance between the dams, and P. balsamifera subsp. trichocarpa and Thuja plicata abundance below both dams. Riparian forest responses to the recent removal of the two dams on the Elwha River will depend largely on channel and geomorphic adjustments to the release, transport, and deposition of the large volume of sediment formerly stored in the reservoirs, together with changes in large wood dynamics.

This study investigated factors associated with older African American men’s unmet health communication needs in the context of patient⁻provider interactions. Responses to a health survey were analyzed for 430 African American men attending a Midwest community health fair. The outcome measure was the extent to which men could get their health-related questions answered during recent medical visits. Men’s mean age was 54; 39% had one chronic condition and 22% had two or more comorbidities. The 53% who usually or always had their questions answered were older, had less comorbidity, higher educational attainment, higher annual incomes, were more likely to be married and have any type of insurance, and have a personal physician. Access to care was the primary factor in shaping men’s opportunities to ask health-related questions, and older multimorbid and low-income African American men may face increased barriers to healthcare access, and thus barriers to patient-centered care and communication.