The Vicissitudes of a Coastal Lagoon from the 19th Century to the Present Day

An account is given of the man-made alterations in the ecology of Lesina, a large (5328 ha) shallow lagoon on the south Adriatic coast of Italy, alterations motivated by the necessities of fish production, reclaiming land for agriculture, and eliminating malarial marshland. Up to 1851 the ecosystem was ruled by entirely natural forces. In that year an artificial outlet to the sea was dug in addition to the existing natural one. In 1903 a second artificial sea channel was opened. By the 1950s all the surrounding freshwater marshes (ca 1500 ha) had been drained and a dike built around the perimeter of the basin. Underwater trenches in the lagoon have been dug to facilitate water circulation. Pollution has become evident in the last fifty years. Three years ago a small harbour for sea-going fishing vessels was constructed at the entrance of one of the sea channels

A Hybrid Software Defined Network Platform for Undergraduate Research and Education

Software Defined Networks (SDNs) are leading the evolution toward network programmability and open architectures. While many corporations, nonprofits, and individuals have developed training on SDNs, the industry has a significant gap with the robustness of entrenched traditional network educational models, such as Cisco’s Networking Academy. The Department of Defense (DoD) will likely adopt some form of SDN into its global transport network at various tiers and authority boundaries. It is imperative for 21st century leaders to understand how and why the manner in which DoD provides Information Technology (IT) services to its customers is changing with such rapidity. Therefore, we developed three basic SDN course lessons as a base of knowledge and support and integrated a hybrid physical SDN research platform into existing laboratory infrastructure for faculty research and capstone projects for senior cadets. This was accomplished by leveraging existing SDN-related tutorials and resources and integrating them within a virtualized SDN simulation environment. The three lessons were developed for integration into our core networking course that describes fundamental networking concepts in the context of an SDN - with a centralized control plane, while ensuring lesson learning objectives were achievable by non-technical majors yet sufficiently comprehensive across the fundamental operations of an SDN. The hybrid research platform consists of a number of Virtual Machines (VMs) running Mininet1 - an SDN simulation environment - and hosted on a VMware vSphere cluster with direct connectivity to twelve physical openflow-capable switches. This will allow students in the networking course to plan, design, implement, and test a basic SDN topology in either a virtual, physical, or hybrid environment. In addition, it will provide topological and experimental flexibility to student and faculty researchers and senior capstone project teams alike

North Carolina public health agency accreditation and performance: the climb from good to extraordinary

The objective of this study was to determine how local public health agency accreditation impacts public health performance. Survey data collected in October 2008 from 80 local health agencies in North Carolina compared accredited and non-accredited local public health agency performance on three domains: policy development and implementation, community engagement, and leadership behavior. Secondary data analysis using performance data from the NC Center for Health Statistics compared North Carolina counties served by accredited and non-accredited local public health agencies on 13 performance indicators. Finally, key informant interviews with health directors and management team members from high performing local public health agencies supplemented findings from the surveys and performance indicator data. A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess local public health agency performance on key activities associated with the NC Local Health Department Accreditation Program. Descriptive analyses were conducted consisting of question-specific frequency distributions with p-values used to determine whether there were significant differences in scores for each domain based on the accreditation status of the responding agency. Time-series comparisons of performance improvement in accredited and non-accredited local public health agencies were conducted to describe patterns of variation in performance improvement across accredited and non-accredited agencies. A thematic analysis of transcripts from key informant interviews was conducted using across-case matrices derived from within-case summaries. Findings indicated that accredited and non-accredited local public health agencies in North Carolina differed with respect to the degree to which they demonstrated policy development and implementation and community engagement, with accredited local public health agencies demonstrating higher scores on these domains. These findings may provide valuable information to North Carolina public health leaders and the national voluntary accreditation efforts regarding ways to ensure that local public health agency accreditation drives high performance

A review on thermal management of battery packs for electric vehicles

The development of efficient Electric Vehicles (EVs) is related to the management of different parts of the powertrain, as the Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. An important feature which affects their safety, performance, and useful life is the average temperature which must be included in an optimal range to prevent several dangerous phenomena. For this reason, Thermal Management Systems (TMSs) of battery packs of EVs are necessary to guarantee correct functioning in all environments and operating conditions. This review has the intention to divulge the recent developments in the thermal management of Li-ion batteries of EVs reached by researchers and car manufacturers to compare academic studies to the state of the art of the automotive industry from a thermal engineering point of view. Several experimental and numerical studies published in literature have been reported, and nine EV models have been analysed to explain how car manufacturers have developed their new models launched on the market. The choice of the models has been made since the quantity and the quality of data available on the official sites of manufacturers and specialist journals. In conclusion, the future perspectives of thermal management of battery packs are resumed to understand which path research and car manufacturers are following for the next generation of EVs

Building the Evidence for Decision-Making: The Relationship Between Local Public Health Capacity and Community Mortality

Objectives. We examined associations between local health department (LHD) spending, staffing, and services and community health outcomes in North Carolina. Methods. We analyzed LHD investments and community mortality in North Carolina from 2005 through 2010. We obtained LHD spending, staffing, and services data from the National Association of City and County Health Officials 2005 and 2008 profile surveys. Five mortality rates were constructed using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mortality files, North Carolina vital statistics data, and census data for LHD service jurisdictions: heart disease, cancer, diabetes, pneumonia and influenza, and infant mortality. Results. Spending, staffing, and services varied widely by location and over time in the 85 North Carolina LHDs. A 1% increase in full-time-equivalent staffing (per 1000 population) was associated with decrease of 0.01 infant deaths per 1000 live births (P < .05). Provision of women and children’s services was associated with a reduction of 1 to 2 infant deaths per 1000 live births (P < .05). Conclusions. Our findings, in the context of other studies, provide support for investment in local public health services to improve community health

Spatial and temporal variations of nutrients and chlorophyll a in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon: Varano lagoon, Italy

The purpose of this paper is to assess the present status of a Mediterranean lagoon (Varano lagoon, Italy), basing on nutrient and chlorophyll a data. A water sampling in Varano lagoon was performed at 7 fixed stations from February 2004 to July 2005, collecting surface water samples to analyse ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and soluble reactive silica (SRSi), chlorophyll a (chl a) and total suspended solids (TSS). Spatial and temporal distributions of chemical and biological parameters in Varano lagoon were examined to accomplish the goal of this study. Statistical tests were used to investigate the correlations between analysed variables and to characterize, from a spatial and temporal point of view, the lagoon in relation to each variable. Ammonia and nitrate did not showed good correlation (P&lt;0.05). SRP was not correlated with any nutrient (only with Chl a, P&lt;0.05). The seasonal distribution show a random pattern for soluble reactive phosphorus with relatively low mean concentrations (0.16 ± 0.03 µM) and a well-defined seasonal pattern for nitrate, with the highest mean value (34.44 ± 10.18 µM) recorded in the wet season (February 2004) and a high spatial variability. The most homogeneous chl a values were observed in both autumn and winter seasons with averages of about 1-1.5 µg . L-1; in contrast, higher mean values (5.50 µg . L-1 ) were recorded in July 2005. The ratio between the dissolved inorganic nitrogen species and SRP (N/P) in Varano lagoon was constantly high and it varied seasonally from about 300:1 during rainy seasons to 60-90:1 during dry seasons. High values of the N/P ratio in autumn and winter were accompanied by an increase in total N implying an input of nitrogen to the system probably associated with rainfall. The high fluctuation in the various chemical parameters in the lagoon during the rainy season suggested that this is the period of large variability, in which environmental processes as marine waters, freshwaters and wastewaters represent inputs that determine the spatial behaviour of the system

The evolution of health system planning and implementation of maternal telehealth services during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background Differential access to healthcare is associated with disparities in maternal outcomes. Telehealth is one approach for improving access to maternal services. However, little is known regarding how health systems leverage telehealth to close the access gap. Objective This study examines how health systems have approached decisions about using telehealth for maternal services before and during the COVID-19 public health emergency and what factors were considered. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 health system leaders between July and October 2021 and June and August 2022. We used a rapid analysis followed by a content analysis approach. Results Five health systems did not provide maternal telehealth services before the PHE due to a lack of reimbursement. Two health systems provided limited services as research endeavors, and one had integrated telehealth into routine maternity care. During the PHE, all transitioned to telehealth, with the primary consideration being patient and staff safety. At the time of the interview, key considerations shifted to patient access, patient preferences, patient complexity, return on investment, and staff burnout. However, several barriers impacted telehealth use, including coverage of portable devices and connectivity. These issues were reported to be common among underinsured, low-income, and rural patients. Health systems with particularly advanced capabilities worked on approaches to fill access gaps for these patients. Conclusion Some health systems prioritized telehealth to improve access to high-quality maternal services for patients at the highest risk of adverse outcomes. However, policy and patient-level barriers to equitable implementation of these services persist

A Path Towards Reproductive Justice: Incorporating a RJ Framework into North Carolina’s Improving Community Outcomes for Maternal and Child Health Initiative

Purpose Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is encouraged as a strategy to address racial disparities in birth outcomes. Black woman-led organizations and stakeholders recommend a thoughtful integration of Reproductive Justice for any LARC programs. This paper will describe how one state-funded maternal and child health program reconceptualized an evidence-based strategy (EBS) focused on increasing access to LARC, to a broader strategy that incorporated principles of Reproductive Justice to improve birth outcomes. Description: In 2016, North Carolina established the Improving Community Outcomes for Maternal and Child Health (ICO4MCH) program. As part of this program, five county health departments were awarded funding to “increase access to LARC”. Noting community partners’ concerns with this strategy, ICO4MCH leadership revised the strategy to focus on using the Reproductive Justice framework to improve utilization of reproductive life planning and access to LARC. Leaders modified the strategy by changing performance measures and scope of work/deliverables required by grantees. Assessment Using quarterly reports and focus group data from ICO4MCH grantees, we identified key steps communities have taken to prioritize Reproductive Justice. Key findings include that sites hosted Reproductive Justice trainings for team members and changed language describing family planning services. These activities were tailored to fit community context and existing perceptions about reproductive health services. Conclusion The ICO4MCH program was able to modify a LARC EBS to better emphasize Reproductive Justice. Local agencies desiring to shift their LARC programs should include and value feedback from those with lived experience and partner with organizations committed to Reproductive Justice

The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus in southern European coastal waters: distribution, impact and prospective invasion management strategies

[EN] The native distribution of the blue crab Callinectes sapidus in the western Atlantic extends from Nova Scotia to Argentina. Introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, it is currently recorded almost ubiquitously in the Mediterranean and in the Black Sea. An overview of the occurrence, abundance, and ecological impact of the species in southern European waters is provided; additionally, we present a pragmatic assessment of its management scenarios, explicitly considering the dual nature of C sapidus as both an invasive species and a fishery resource. We emphasise that the ongoing expansion of C sapidus in the region may represent a stimulating challenge for the identification and implementation of future strategies in the management of invasive crustaceans. The impact of the invader could be converted into an enhancement of the services delivered by southern European coastal ecosystems, while mitigation costs could be transformed into profits for local populations. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Funding from FUR 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 to G. M. is acknowledged. The European Fisheries Fund (FEP) Puglia Region (Italy) supported L. C. (CIP 04/OPI/010) as the scientific head of the MOLEVAR project (Pilot Project for the production of soft crabs from Carcinus aestuarii in Varano lagoon). The Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) supported F. R. (SFRH/BPD/46761/2008) with a post-doctoral research grant from the Programa Operacional Potencial Humano/Fundo Social Europeu (POPH/FSE). F. R. and P. C. were also supported by the strategic MARE plan - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (UID/MAR/04292/2013).Mancinelli, G.; Chainho, P.; Cilenti, L.; Falco, S.; Kapiris, K.; Katselis, G.; Ribeiro, F. (2017). The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus in southern European coastal waters: distribution, impact and prospective invasion management strategies. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 119(1):5-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.050S511119