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Understanding the driving mechanisms behind existing patterns of vegetation hydraulic traits and community trait diversity is critical for advancing predictions of the terrestrial carbon cycle because hydraulic traits affect both ecosystem and Earth system responses to changing water availability. Here, we leverage an extensive trait database and a long-term continental forest plot network to map changes in community trait distributions and quantify "trait velocities" (the rate of change in community-weighted traits) for different regions and different forest types across the United States from 2000 to the present. We show that diversity in hydraulic traits and photosynthetic characteristics is more related to local water availability than overall species diversity. Finally, we find evidence for coordinated shifts toward communities with more drought-tolerant traits driven by tree mortality, but the magnitude of responses differs depending on forest type. The hydraulic trait distribution maps provide a publicly available platform to fundamentally advance understanding of community trait change in response to climate change and predictive abilities of mechanistic vegetation models.

This study investigated how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) impacts children's ability to identify ownership from linguistic cues (proper nouns vs. possessive pronouns) and their awareness of ownership rights. In comparison to typically developing (TD) children matched on receptive language (M age equivalents: 53-56 months), children with ASD were less accurate at tracking owner-object relationships based on possessive pronouns and were less accurate at identifying the property of third parties. We also found that children with ASD were less likely to defend their own and others' ownership rights. We hypothesise that these results may be attributed to differences in representing the self and propose that ASD may be characterised by reduced concern for ownership and associated concepts.

Amos, C.L.; Kassem, H.; Petrie, B.; Shaw, J., and Ivaldi, R., 2024. An evaluation of the Bagnold (1956) theories for sediment transport in Northumberland Strait, Canada. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(6), 1019–1036. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. This study examines the seabed stability and sediment transport in the region of a proposed fixed link (bridge) across Northumberland Strait, Canada. The region is dominated by strong semidiurnal and diurnal tides that have eroded, transported, and deposited material that modify the character of the local seabed morphology. The seabed comprises rippled fine sand interspersed with a shelly gravel lag. The study provides an opportunity to examine the theories of R.A. Bagnold on sand transport that were deficient in the prediction of the transport of fine and very fine sand. A further purpose was to determine the mechanisms of the sand transport (waves, currents, or both). Representative sediment samples were collected and subjected to hydrodynamic forcing in a laboratory flume (Lab Carousel); relationships were derived between the applied stream power and sediment transport rates as bedload and in suspension. In addition, a multiparameter benthic lander (Ralph) was deployed at two sites in the nearshore regions of the fixed link for a total duration of 33 days. Flow velocity measurements derived from the lander were used to assess the transport potential using calibrations derived from the flume studies. The results showed that the total immersed bedload transport measured herein corresponded well to Bagnold's dimensionless stream power function when normalized to flow depth and grain size. They also showed that the tidal currents coupled with the mean flow in the region are sufficient in magnitude to erode and transport sand to the SE, where they are deposited to form a tidal delta. The sand transport in the shallow margins (depth < 10 m) took place mainly as bedload, although periodic suspension also took place. The nature of the predicted sand transport indicates that the seabed is in a continued state of evolution subject to the present-day hydrodynamic forcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moving toward a funding standard similar to that for clinical services for roles essential to the functioning of education, research and leadership services within divisions of general surgery is necessary to strengthen divisional resilience. We aimed to identify roles and underlying tasks in these services central to sustainable functioning of Canadian academic divisions of general surgery. Methods: Between June 2018 and October 2020, we used a 4-step modified Delphi method (online survey, face-to-face nominal group technique [n = 12], semistructured telephone interview [n = 8] and nominal group technique [n = 12]) to achieve national consensus from an expert panel of all 17 heads of academic divisions of general surgery in Canada on the roles and accompanying tasks essential to education, research and leadership services within an academic division of general surgery. We used 70% agreement to determine consensus. Results: The expert panel agreed that a framework for role allocation in education, research and leadership services was relevant and necessary. Consensus was reached for 7 roles within the educational service, 3 roles within the research service and 5 roles within the leadership service. Conclusion: Our framework represents a national consensus that defines role standards for education, research and leadership services in Canadian academic divisions of general surgery. The framework can help divisions build resiliency, and enable sustained and deliberate advances in these services. Contexe : Il est nécessaire d'opérer une transition vers un modèle de financement standard, similaire à celui qui est appliqué aux services cliniques, pour les rôles essentiels au fonctionnement des services d'éducation, de recherche et de leadership à l'intérieur des divisions de chirurgie générale afin de rendre ces dernières plus résilientes. Nous avons voulu identifier les rôles et les tâches afférentes à ces services indispensables au fonctionnement durable des divisions de chirurgie générale dans les facultés de médecine canadienne. Méthodes : Entre juin 2018 et octobre 2020, nous avons utilisé une méthode Delphi modifiée en 4 étapes (sondage en ligne, technique de groupe nominal en personne [n = 12], entrevue téléphonique semi-structurée [n = 8] technique de groupe nominal [n = 12]) pour obtenir le consensus national d'un comité d'experts formé des 17 chefs de division de chirurgie générale au Canada au sujet des rôles et diverses tâches afférentes aux services dévolus à l'enseignement, à la recherche et au leadership dans les divisions de chirurgie générale. Nous avons utilisé un seuil d'assentiment de 70% pour déterminer le consensus. Résultats : Le comité d'experts a convenu qu'il était pertinent et nécessaire d'établir un cadre d'attribution des rôles en éducation, recherche et leadership. Un consensus a été atteint pour 7 rôles du segment éducation, 3 rôles du segment recherche et 5 rôles du segment leadership. Conclusion : Notre cadre représente un consensus national et définit les normes applicables aux rôles essentiels aux services en éducation, en recherche et en leadership dans les divisions de chirurgie générale au Canada. Ce cadre peut rendre les divisions plus résilientes, et favoriser leur développement de manière soutenue et délibérée., Academic divisions of general surgery in Canada are defined by 3 mandates that are core to their mission statements: 1) delivering excellent clinical care, 2) maintaining an accredited training program [...]