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It Shucks to Be Inbred: Effects of Small Population Sizes on Genomic Diversity of Hatchery Reared Olympia Oysters (Ostrea Lurida)
Get PDFOlympia oysters (Ostrea lurida), critical members of estuarine ecosystems along the California Current Ecosystem (CCE), have faced significant population declines due to historical overfishing and habitat deterioration. Today, managers from multiple estuaries across the CCE are focusing on conservation aquaculture breeding efforts to aid in restoration; however, the genetic implications of these efforts remain unexplored. As with other Ostrea spp, Olympia oysters have a viviparous reproductive strategy that creates unique challenges for aquaculture-mediated restoration. This study evaluates the genetic impact of current captive breeding practices on Olympia oyster cohorts produced in three California estuaries: Elkhorn Slough (EHS), Morro Bay (MB), and Tomales Bay (TB). We used low-coverage whole genome sequencing to analyze genetic diversity and inbreeding metrics across wild and hatchery-produced oysters. DNA samples from 280 oysters were collected, sequenced to an average depth of 2.19x, and mapped to a newly sequenced, high-quality reference genome developed from a single individual from ES. Analysis of data for each estuary used ANGSD software to estimate allele frequencies, SNPs, and F-statistics, revealing no significant genetic differentiation between populations (FST: ES & MB 0.027; ES & TB 0.025; TB & MB 0.048). Finally, we estimate inbreeding levels across generations and populations using runs of homozygosity. By analyzing 4,104,815 genomic sites, we provide evidence that inbreeding is occurring but is minimal, and not recent (mean ROH lengths\u3c1MB) in captive-bred Olympia oysters. Because inbreeding can have deleterious effects on population growth and resilience, these insights can inform future breeding efforts. This research supports conservation efforts to sustain and restore these ecologically important organisms along the California coast
Temperature Effects on Growth, Community Composition, and Domoic Acid Production in Pseudo-Nitzschia SPP
No full textMonterey Bay, CA is a highly productive system that is threatened by warming sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and the bloom forming genus Pseudo-nitzschia (Pn) that can produce the neurotoxin domoic acid (DA). Since half of Pn species produce DA, species-level identification is critical for predicting DA events. I determined whether temperature (12 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C) impacts P. pungens, P. multiseries, and P. australis growth, toxicity, and community composition in batch cultures measuring growth rate, biomass, cell physiology, and toxin production. In Part A, Pn strains were cultured individually at different temperatures to establish baseline growth curves to develop a predictive model for Pn species biomass. In Part B, a mixed community of Pn was grown at current Monterey Bay temperatures (15 °C). Increased temperatures led to increased growth rates, biomass, and toxin production. P. multiseries had a wider thermal range than P. pungens. When % relative initial biomass was equal, P. pungens and P. multiseries were predicted to reach maximum growth rates at 20.7 °C and 24.2 °C respectively. In a mixed community (15 °C), P. multiseries outcompeted P. australis and P. pungens based on cell concentration (cells μL-1). The observed species-specific thermal traits suggest that warming oceans may favor the dominance of toxic P. multiseries, thereby increasing the risk of DA events disrupting the marine ecosystem. This research furthers our understanding that temperature plays for forecasting species-specific toxic Pn blooms and mitigating their effects on marine life and coastal communities
Maternal drinking, stress and use of aggressive parenting over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic
Get PDFAims: The COVID-19 pandemic had a demonstrated impact on parenting but little is known about how parental drinking, stress, and use of aggressive discipline (a parenting behavior associated with abusive parenting and negative outcomes for children) have changed over time. We examine rates of alcohol use, stress, and aggressive discipline at three time points during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate what maternal, child, and time-varying factors predict weekly use of aggressive parenting. Methods: We use longitudinal data from the Central Ohio Family Study (COFLS), including women (n = 234) with a child between the ages of 0–12 and recruited via Facebook, Craigslist.org, and word of mouth. Participants completed an on-line survey for 3 consecutive years beginning in April–May 2020 and 1 and 2 years later. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to examine use of aggressive discipline at the three time points, controlling for time-varying, and maternal and child characteristics. Results: Past week use of aggressive discipline peaked in Wave 1 (35.9%) and decreased at Wave 2 (3.8%) and Wave 3 (28.2%; OR = .463; 95% CI: .369, .580). Parental stress (OR = 1.052; 95% CI: 1.010, 1.096), social isolation (OR = 1.412; 95% CI: 1.197, 1.668), social companionship (OR = 1.113; 95% CI: 1.007, 1.229), and frequency of drinking (OR = 1.049; 95% CI: 1.014, 1.085) were significantly related to higher odds of using aggressive discipline over the three waves. Conclusions: Although rates of aggressive discipline declined, frequency of drinking and stress demonstrated a consistent pattern in relation to aggressive discipline during the COVID-19 pandemic
Pain for pain: the benefits and challenges of BDSM participation for people with chronic pain–An exploratory study
Get PDFResearch is beginning to find that many BDSM (bondage/discipline, domination/submission, sadism/masochism) practitioners experience benefits beyond sexual pleasure. Additionally, given the relationship between pain and pleasure common in BDSM, there may be certain unanticipated benefits for practitioners reporting chronic pain (PRCP). We conducted an online survey of an international convenience sample of BDSM practitioners (N = 525). Participants were asked about self-perceived benefits and challenges related to participating in BDSM with CP. Using chi-square, independent sample t-test, logistic regression, and linear-by-linear association, responses were combined with demographics, participation timelines, co-participants, motivations, and frequency of activities to identify differences between PRCP and not reporting CP. PRCP do not appear to initially seek out BDSM for pain management but report both physical and mental benefits and identify mental health as a motivation for continued participation. Many PRCP also report at least some short-term pain relief resulting from BDSM participation. Importantly, they are more likely to engage in higher intense sensation activities (e.g. edge-play) more frequently. This study provides a foundation for further investigation into the nuanced relationship between CP and BDSM participation, especially in relation to the intensity and type of activities engaged in
Climate drives genetic diversity loss in American Pika (Ochotona princeps) populations in the Great Basin
Get PDFAmerican pikas (Ochotona princeps) are small, thermally sensitive mammals that primarily live in montane and alpine environments. The Sierra Nevada lineage (O. p. schisticeps) has experienced numerous local extinctions, most of which occurred in hotter, drier regions such as the Great Basin. Few genetic studies have assessed these at-risk populations. This study aims to fill that gap by conducting fine-scale genetic analyses on populations in low-elevation Great Basin habitat in northwestern Nevada. Specifically, we: (i) quantified genetic diversity and structure among populations within O. p schisticeps, with particular focus on northwestern Nevada; and (ii) assessed the influence of primary productivity and climate-related variables on genetic diversity within O. p schisticeps, as well as at the broader species level. Great Basin populations exhibited the lowest levels of genetic diversity. Within O. p. schisticeps, population genetic diversity was positively correlated with annual precipitation - while at the species level temperature explained the most variation in genetic diversity. These results provide insight into climate-driven range contractions predicted for this species and inform conservation and management decisions
“This is everyone\u27s issue”: Policy entrepreneurs, issue framing, and coalition building in the passage of automatic criminal record expungement
Get PDFResearch Summary: Since 2018, at least 12 U.S. states have introduced policies to expunge certain eligible arrest and criminal conviction records through automated or algorithmic means. Drawing on interviews with governmental representatives and community stakeholders, this paper identifies strategies used to pass this legislation in Pennsylvania and Utah, the first two states to enact automated expungement policies. We frame our findings around three established theoretical frameworks of public policy making—policy entrepreneurship, issue framing, and coalition building—illustrating their combined strategic importance with data gathered from those involved on the ground in the passage and adoption of automated expungement legislation. The findings add depth and nuance to the policy-making literature, along with practical implications for future criminal legal reform initiatives. Policy Implications: Interviewees consistently described how key policy entrepreneurs played essential roles in the development, passage, and implementation of automated criminal record expungement by strategically framing the issue of criminal record discrimination around core values shared by conservatives and liberals, such as workforce development. Broad bipartisan coalition building enabled the scale-up of automated expungement policies within states where it has been adopted and has aided diffusion to new states. These findings can inform the approaches taken by advocates of automated expungement and other criminal justice reform initiatives, particularly in conservative or polarized political environments
Energetic cost of human disturbance on the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
Get PDFWith increased human populations and tourism in coastal areas, there is greater potential for disturbance of marine wildlife. Because of their high metabolic rates, sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are at particular risk of increased energetic costs due to human disturbance. We used scan surveys to monitor southern sea otter (E. l. nereis) activity and potential disturbance stimuli over 5 years (2015–2020) at 3 California, USA, study sites: Monterey, Moss Landing, and Morro Bay. We developed a process-based, hierarchical model of sea otter behavior, which we fit to survey data to examine how activity varies in response to the occurrence of and proximity to disturbance stimuli, while controlling for location, group size, pup-to-adult ratio, and presence-absence of kelp or eelgrass canopy. We combined model results with published estimates of activity-specific metabolic rates, translating estimated activity change into corresponding energetic costs. We found that effects of disturbance stimuli on sea otter behavior were location specific and varied non-linearly with distance from disturbance stimuli. Our model results suggest that, on average, the likelihood of a group of sea otters being disturbed is \u3c 10% when stimuli are \u3e29 m away, although this threshold varies by location, group size, and several other covariates. Based on the observed frequency and magnitude of disturbance at Cannery row in Monterey, we estimated that energetic costs were increased by 7.2%, 5.4%, and 5.4% for adult males, females, and females with large pups, respectively. We observed similar cost increases at the wildlife platform in Moss Landing (5.8%, 4.4%, and 4.3%) and T-pier in Morro Bay (5.2%, 4.0%, and 3.9%). Our analyses represent a novel approach for estimating behavioral responses and energetic costs of human disturbance, furthering understanding of how human activities affect sea otters and providing a sound scientific basis for management
Conservation benefits of a large marine protected area network that spans multiple ecosystems
Get PDFMarine protected areas (MPAs) are widely implemented tools for long-term ocean conservation and resource management. Assessments of MPA performance have largely focused on specific ecosystems individually and have rarely evaluated performance across multiple ecosystems either in an individual MPA or across an MPA network. We evaluated the conservation performance of 59 MPAs in California\u27s large MPA network, which encompasses 4 primary ecosystems (surf zone, kelp forest, shallow reef, deep reef) and 4 bioregions, and identified MPA attributes that best explain performance. Using a meta-analytic framework, we evaluated the ability of MPAs to conserve fish biomass, richness, and diversity. At the scale of the network and for 3 of 4 regions, the biomass of species targeted by fishing was positively associated with the level of regulatory protection and was greater inside no-take MPAs, whereas species not targeted by fishing had similar biomass in MPAs and areas open to fishing. In contrast, species richness and diversity were not as strongly enhanced by MPA protection. The key features of conservation effectiveness included MPA age, preimplementation fisheries pressure, and habitat diversity. Important drivers of MPA effectiveness for single MPAs were consistent across MPAs in the network, spanning regions and ecosystems. With international targets aimed at protecting 30% of the world\u27s oceans by 2030, MPA design and assessment frameworks should consider conservation performance at multiple ecologically relevant scales, from individual MPAs to MPA networks
Wildfire Emergency Response and Evacuation Framework Using Drones: Phase I
Get PDFWildfires are escalating in frequency and severity due to climate change, posing increasing threats to human life, infrastructure,and ecosystems. Traditional wildfire management systems struggle to respond effectively to rapidly evolving fire conditions. This research presents a novel, AI-powered Wildfire Emergency Response and Evacuation Framework that integrates autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, AKA “drones”), multi-sensor data fusion, and machine learning (ML) for real-time fire detection, evacuation planning, and search and rescue (SAR) operations. Central to the system is the Dynamic Wildfire Response Algorithm (DWRA), a hybrid decision-making framework combining AI-driven techniques including reinforcement learning (RL), genetic algorithms (GA), and deep learning that enable adaptive and data-driven response coordination. The system uses infrared (IR) and visible-spectrum cameras, LiDAR, weather sensors, and a data processing technique called edge computing (e.g., NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin) to provide on-board intelligence and low-latency decision-making without cloud reliance. The combination of these sensors and innovations enables the new framework to respond to wildfires with accuracy and efficiency unseen in traditional management systems. Extensive prototype testing of the framework demonstrated a fivefold improvement in fire detection speed, 28% faster evacuation times, and a 35% increase in SAR efficiency over traditional methods. The results confirm the viability of this framework as a scalable, autonomous solution to wildfire emergencies, with the potential to significantly reduce response time, improve situational awareness, and save lives in high-risk fire zones. Future work will focus on expanding drone swarm capabilities, integrating real-time emergency service communication, and enhancing endurance through solar-powered charging infrastructure. By combining innovative technology with real-time adaptability, this research lays the foundation for a next-generation wildfire response system that is faster, smarter, and better equipped to meet the growing challenges of a world grappling with the effects of climate change
How to use social media and artificial intelligence to promote mental health among Chinese and Chinese American college students in the U.S.
Get PDFThis study explored the potential of using social media and artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle language and cultural barriers in order to promote mental health among Chinese and Chinese American college students. Ten bilingual (Chinese Mandarin and English) focus group sessions were conducted over Zoom with 26 Chinese and Chinese American students at a university on the west coast of the United States between October 2023 and February 2024. Thematic analysis of the focus group meeting transcripts was conducted via deductive coding and then inductive selection of quotes on Google Document and Nvivo. Social media provides a platform for providing emotional and informational support to Chinese and Chinese American students but also poses risks of social negativity. AI can be used to increase awareness and recognize emotions via social media posts, but it lacks human interaction during treatment and is considered overgeneralized. Our study explored how to leverage social media to create an open and supportive environment for Chinese and Chinese American students to receive mental health support, highlighting the importance of training to mitigate social negativity on social media and improve eHealth literacy among these students. Our study also unveiled the concerns of college students about overgeneralized AI-powered mental health support. Future interventions can integrate the advantages of social media and AI to provide culturally tailored mental health promotion services to Chinese and Chinese American students