Search

Recent summer water shortages in Metro Vancouver are the result of unanticipated changes in the timing of regional snowmelt and rising summer temperatures. Continuing shortfalls over the next century would pose a significant challenge for water supply management decisions. To understand the magnitude of recent drought events in the context of those that happened in the past, we developed a tree-ring reconstruction of regionalised July–August streamflow to 1711 for Metro Vancouver's Capilano and Seymour watersheds. We used the annual tree-ring widths of mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr.) and Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis Douglas ex J. Forbes) trees exhibiting a relationship to the seasonal snowpack as proxies for the nival component of streamflow in a regression model. The model indicates that more multi-year, below-average, streamflow departures occurred during the instrumental record than over the 1711–1992 reconstruction period. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with both reconstructed and measured streamflow for the study region. Similarly, seasonal Pacific Decadal Oscillation demonstrated strong statistical relationships (p < 0.05) with measured streamflow. Over the duration of the reconstruction, significant decadal and multi-decadal periodicities were also observed. The research places the Metro Vancouver water supply in a longer-term context than was previously possible and offers a basis for advancing water supply planning decisions in the context of a rapidly changing climate. Les récentes pénuries d'eau estivales dans la région métropolitaine de Vancouver sont le résultat de changements imprévus dans le moment de la fonte des neiges dans la région et de la hausse des températures estivales. Les insuffisances persistantes au cours du siècle prochain poseraient un grand défi pour les décisions de gestion de l'approvisionnement en eau. Pour comprendre l'ampleur des récentes sécheresses dans le contexte de celles du passé, nous avons développé une reconstitution dendrochronologique de l'écoulement fluvial de juillet à août jusqu'en 1711, régionalisé pour les bassins hydrographiques Capilano et Seymour de la région métropolitaine de Vancouver. Nous avons utilisé les largeurs annuelles des cernes d'arbres de la pruche subalpine (Tsuga mertensiana (Bong.) Carr.) et du sapin gracieux (Abies amabilis Douglas ex J.Forbes), des arbres qui présentes une relation avec le manteau neigeux saisonnier comme indicateurs de la composante nivale de l'écoulement fluvial dans un modèle de régression. Le modèle indique qu'il y a eu plus de départs d'écoulement fluvial pluriannuels inférieurs à la moyenne pendant l'enregistrement instrumental que pendant la période de reconstruction de 1711 à 1992. L'oscillation australe d'El Niño (ENSO) était significativement (p < 0.05) associée à la fois a l'écoulement fluviale reconstruit et mesuré pour la région d'étude. Similairement, il y avait des relations statistiques profondes (p < 0.05) entre l'oscillation décennale du Pacifique (PDO) saisonnière et l'écoulement fluviale mesuré. Pendant la durée de la reconstruction, des périodicités décennales et multi-décennales significatives ont également été observées. La recherche place l'approvisionnement en eau de la région métropolitaine de Vancouver dans un contexte à plus long terme qu'il n'était auparavant possible et offre une base pour faire progresser les décisions de planification de l'approvisionnement en eau dans le contexte d'un climat en évolution rapide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The scene-size-up is a crucial first step in the response to a mass casualty incident (MCI). Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) may potentially enhance the scene-size-up with real-time visual feedback during chaotic, evolving or inaccessible events. We performed this study to test the feasibility of paramedics using UAV video from a simulated MCI to identify scene hazards, initiate patient triage, and designate key operational locations. Methods: We simulated an MCI, including 15 patients plus 4 hazards, on a college campus. A UAV surveyed the scene, capturing video of all patients, hazards, surrounding buildings and streets. We invited attendees of a provincial paramedic meeting to participate. Participants received a lecture on Sort-Assess-Lifesaving Interventions-Treatment/Transport (SALT) Triage and MCI scene management principles. Next, they watched the UAV video footage. We directed participants to sort patients according to SALT Triage Step One, identify injuries, and to localize the patients within the campus. Additionally, we asked them to select a start point for SALT Triage Step Two, identify and locate hazards, and designate locations for an Incident Command Post, Treatment Area, Transport Area and Access/Egress routes. The primary outcome was the number of correctly allocated triage scores. Results: Ninety-six individuals participated. Mean age was 35 years (SD 11); 46% (44) were female and 49% (47) were Primary Care Paramedics. Most participants (79; 82%) correctly sorted at least 12 of 15 patients. Increased age was associated with decreased triage accuracy [−0.04(−0.07, −0.01); p = 0.031]. Fifty-two (54%) correctly localized 12 or more patients to a 27 × 20m grid area. Advanced paramedic certification, and local residency were associated with improved patient localization [2.47(0.23,4.72); p = 0.031], [3.36(1.10,5.61); p = 0.004]. The majority of participants (70; 81%) chose an acceptable location to start SALT Triage Step Two and 75 (78%) identified at least 3 of 4 hazards. Approximately half (53; 56%) of participants appropriately designated 4 or more of 5 key operational areas. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the ability of UAV technology to remotely facilitate the scene size-up in an MCI. Additional research is required to further investigate optimal strategies to deploy UAVs in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of isotopes has long been used as a research tool to label carbons and elucidate biochemical pathways. More recently, H→D exchange has led to analogs of therapeutic agents with improved metabolic stability and properties. Such compounds also have the potential for an improved drug/drug interaction profile and may even avoid the formation of toxic metabolites. Hence, a clear need for an efficient access to deuterated intermediates on large scale has emerged. In the context of an ongoing drug discovery program, we required large quantities of morpholine-d8. We herein report the successful optimization of a one-pot process allowing a near complete exchange of all methylene hydrogens in morpholine to deuterium atoms using D2O as the sole source of deuterium and Raney Nickel as catalyst. This facile and safe protocol will be used to scale up the synthesis of morpholine-d8in due course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of global climate change, strengthening community resilience becomes increasingly important, especially in conflict affected countries with fragile governance. Nepal is such a country, recovering from a decade of civil war while facing several climate and environmental risks, including floods, droughts and landslides. We aim to contribute to the understanding of resilience building by drawing on case studies from Banke, Dang and Rolpa districts in Nepal. To compare the resilience of the districts we conduct field research. None of the analysed approaches to strengthen the resilience are without unintended consequences. The provision of rice in Rolpa increases food security but also creates local preferences for rice that cannot be met sustainably. In Dang and Banke aid resources themselves have become a source of conflict. We conclude that a more holistic understanding of local realities is needed to minimise unintended effects and strengthen resilience under challenging governance and (post)conflict conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Development in Practice is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Little Ice Age behaviour of glaciers in the central British Columbia Coast Mountains, Canada, was described by conducting lichenometric surveys of Rhizocarpon spp. found on recently deposited moraines in the Kitimat and Pacific ranges. At Pattullo Glacier in the southern Kitimat Range, surveys across four sets of nested lateral moraines describe advances prior to the late thirteenth century, 1550-1610, 1680-1710, and 1850 ad. In the Monarch Icefield area in the northern Pacific Range, Little Ice Age moraines stabilized prior to 1380-1430 ad, the mid-seventeenth and mid-eighteenth centuries, and in the mid-nineteenth century. The timing of these moraine-building episodes corresponds closely to the intervals of glacier expansion recorded in complementary studies in the region. These findings indicate that most glaciers in the region reached their maximum downvalley Little Ice Age extent prior to 1780 ad, and suggest that climate forcing likely contributed to regionally synchronous glacier fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, there has been significant progress in understanding the mechanisms of autoimmune diseases at a molecular level. Diseases such as juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and others appear to be mediated by pathogenic T cells that recognize self-epitopes and escape natural tolerance. Seminal observations correlating autoimmunity with HLA and disease-associated epitopes, in conjunction with recent characterization of T regulatory (Treg) cells, promoted a renewed interest in antigen or epitope-based methods of interfering with pathogenic autoimmune reactions. Recombinant immunoglobulin-peptides encompassing disease-associated self-epitopes (IgPP) integrate effective targeting of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) with a potential to generate Treg cells and thus are being developed for treatment of selected autoimmune disorders. In the current review, we outline the main features of this new class of active immunotherapeutics and directions of future development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A long-term proxy record of glacier mass balance was developed for Colonel Foster and Septimus glaciers on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. This was accomplished by analyzing the radial growth characteristics of climatically-sensitive mountain hemlock trees (Tsuga mertensiana), and by comparing this response with mass balance records from four glaciers in the Pacific Northwest. A strong (negative) relationship between the two records for the period 1966-1994 provides the basis for a mass balance reconstruction extending back to 1600. The reconstruction is in general agreement with information derived from dated moraine sequences at the two glaciers on Vancouver Island, and it has potential applicability to glaciers in adjacent areas of coastal Pacific North America. Our results highlight the likely influence of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) on glacier dynamics during the mid- to late-Little Ice Age (LIA) and provide the groundwork for long-term glaciohydrologic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of this dendrogeomorphological study provide evidence of the active movemerit of Hilda rock glacier, a tongue,shaped rock glacier in the Columbia Icefield region of Banff National Park. Cross-sectional samples were cut from 44 detrital subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.) and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry) boles killed and buried by debris spilling off the steep distal slope of the rock glacier. The sampies were crossdated using locally and regionally developed tree-ring chronologies, and were shown to have been killed between 1576 and 1999. Our resuits show that Hilda rock glacier has advanced at an average rate of 1.6 cm/year since the late 1790s, with limited evidence of similar rates of activity extending back to the mid-1570s. This rock glacier activity is believed to be linked to persistent periglacial processes that appear to be independent of the climatic forcing mechanisms known to influence glacier mass balances over the same interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid fragments of explosives in soil are common in explosives testing and training areas. In this study we initially sieved the upper 6 in of contaminated soil through a 3-mm mesh, and found 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) fragments. These contributed to an estimated concentration of 1.7 kg per cubic yard soil, or for 2000 ppm TNT in the soil. Most of the fragments ranged 4 mm to 10 mm diameter in size, but explosives particles weighing up to 56 g (about 4 cm diameter) were frequently observed. An acetone pretreatment/composting system was then demonstrated at field scale. The amount of acetone required for a TNT-dissolving slurry process was controlled by the viscosity of the soil/acetone mix rather than the TNT dissolution rate. The amount needed was estimated at about 55 gallons acetone per cubic yard soil. Smaller, 5- to 10-mm-diameter fragments went into solution in less than 15 min at a mixer speed of 36 rpm, with a minimum of 2 g TNT going into solution per 30 min for the larger chunks. The slurries were then mixed with compost starting materials and composted in a vented 1 yd³ container. After 34 days incubation time TNT was below the site-specific regulatory threshold of 44 ppm. TNT metabolites and acetone were also below their regulatory thresholds established for the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The mainstream school of Anglophone theory on nationalism is the starting point for considering how it might be possible to prevent nationalist conflicts turning violent, or ameliorating them after they have. The leading members of this school do hot take up this task. Four reasons for this are identified--anti-essentialism, normative cosmopolitanism, functionalism and a narrow historical focus. The first of these is sacrosanct but the others can be modified without basic damage to the theory. Outline ideas to this end offer a different normative attitude that recognizes the benefits of nationalism, a concentration on questions of identity to compensate for functionalism and a broader historical basis for the theoretical explanation of nationalism, which need not be seen exclusively as the product of modernity. These research agendas also point the way to some political conclusions about the durability of nationalism, peaceful policies for it and a long-term approach to avoiding is worst excesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between self-designated racial labeling and indirect assessment of self-esteem was investigated through the use of unobtrusive measures. Archival data were collected from the 1971-1973 tenant files of a low rent public housing authority in the state of Florida, U.S.A. Usable data were obtained from 145 tenants who identified themselves as either black, colored, or Negro. On the basis of univariate and multivariate analysis, it was concluded, as predicted, that tenants who identified themselves as "black" differed from those using the term "Negro" or "colored" on a number of dimensions including age, earned income, employment, and reliance on welfare payments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of the coach also serving as a sport psychologist for his/her team is addressed by examining the advantages and drawbacks of this dual role. Measurement considerations including the ability of the coach to isolate intervention strategies for validation, response distortion by athletes on personality inventories, and developing an objective assessment of trust are discussed and recommendations are suggested. Finally, personal and professional ramifications of this dual role relationship are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Little is known about the presence, distribution, age, or activity of rock glaciers in the British Columbia Coast Mountains of western Canada. Reflecting debris accumulation and mass wasting under a periglacial climate, these rock glaciers describe a geomorphic response to permafrost regimes that may or may not presently exist. An inventory of rock glacier landforms in the eastern front ranges of the Coast Mountains, using high-resolution Google Earth imagery, documented 165 rock glaciers between lat. 50°10ʹ and 52°08ʹ N. The majority of these rock glaciers occur at sites positioned between 1,900 and 2,300 m above sea level, where rain shadow effects and continental air masses result in persistent dry, cold conditions. Morphology and field observation suggest that these features contain intact ice. The rock glaciers occupy predominately northwest- to northeast-facing slopes, with talus-derived rock glaciers largely restricted to north-facing slopes. Glacier-derived features outnumber talus-derived features by a ratio of 5:1. Several of the inventoried rock glaciers were located up valley from presumed Younger Dryas terminal moraines, indicating that they formed after 9390 BP. Dendrogeomorphological investigations at one rock glacier record contemporary activity that resulted in 1.3 cm/yr of frontal advance since AD 1674. This inventory is the first to document the presence of rock glaciers in the Coast Mountains and supports preliminary understandings of permafrost distribution in the southwestern Canadian Cordillera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]