Areas Of New England Research Articles

Spatial dimensions of water quality value in New England river networks

Households' willingness to pay (WTP) for water quality improvements-representing their economic value-depends on where improvements occur. Households often hold higher values for improvements close to their homes or iconic areas. Are there other areas where improvements might hold high value to individual households, do effects on WTP vary by type of improvement, and can these areas be identified even if they are not anticipated by researchers? To answer these questions, we integrated a water quality model and map-based, interactive choice experiment to estimate households' WTP for water quality improvements throughout a river network covering six New England states. The choice experiment was implemented using a push-to-web survey over a sample of New England households. Voting scenarios used to elicit WTP included interactive geographic information system (GIS) maps that illustrated three water quality measures at various zoom levels across the study domain. We captured data on how respondents maneuvered through these maps prior to answering the value-eliciting questions. Results show that WTP was influenced by regionwide quality improvements and improvements surrounding each respondent's home, as anticipated, but also by improvements in individualized locations identifiable via each respondent's map interactions. These spatial WTP variations only appear for low-quality rivers and are focused around particular areas of New England. The study shows that dynamic map interactions can convey salient information for WTP estimation and that predicting spatial WTP heterogeneity based primarily on home or iconic locations, as typically done, may overlook areas where water quality has high value.

Mental health among older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience: A mixed-methods latent class analysis study.

There are disparities in the mental health of refugee populations compared to individuals who have not experienced forced migration. It is important to identify individuals with a refugee life experience who are most in need of mental health care and prioritize their engagement in services. The objectives of this convergent mixed-methods study are to quantitatively identify the association between exposure to pre- and postresettlement traumas and stressors and mental health among older adults with a refugee life experience, qualitatively identify typologies of narratives of forced migration, and integrate findings to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between trauma and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study participants were Bhutanese with a refugee life experience living in a metropolitan area in New England (United States). We used quantitative surveys to identify exposures to traumas and symptoms of PTSD. We used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of trauma exposure and association with symptoms of PTSD. A subset of individuals participated in qualitative interviews. Narrative thematic analysis was used to explore typologies of life history narratives. Quantitatively, we identified four classes of patterns of trauma exposure throughout the refugee life trajectory. These classes were associated with current symptoms of PTSD. Qualitatively, we identified four narrative types that indicate participants interpreted and made sense of their life trajectories in a variety of ways. Integration of findings indicate that caution is needed in identifying individuals in need of mental health services and the best approach for interventions that promote psychosocial well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Hybrid Electricity Consumption Prediction Based on Spatiotemporal Correlation

Background: Electricity consumption forecast is an important basis for the power system to achieve regional electricity balance and electricity spot market transactions. Objective: In view of the fact that many electricity consumption prediction models do not make good use of the correlation of data in time dimension and space dimension, this paper proposes a day-ahead forecasting model based on spatiotemporal correction, which further improves the forecasting accuracy of electricity demand. Methods: Firstly, the long short-term memory (LSTM) model is used to construct the forecasting model. Secondly, from the perspectives of time correlation and space correlation, meanwhile considering calendar factors and meteorological factors, the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) model is taken to construct correction models, which can correct the forecasting results of LSTM. Results: According to the analysis of power consumption data of 9 areas in New England, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) of time dimension correction model are reduced by 0.35%, 5.87% and 5.06%, and the 3 evaluation metrics in space dimension are decreased by 0.52%, 6.82% and 7.06% on average. Conclusion: The results prove that the models proposed in this paper are effective.

0012 Disordered sleep and emotional self-regulation in a prospective cohort of preschool-age children

Abstract Introduction Disrupted sleep has been associated with poor emotional self-regulation among preschool-age children cross-sectionally, with few studies examining change over time. Our goal was to examine the prospective association between disrupted sleep and emotional self-regulation over six months among preschool-age children. Methods Analyses included 54 children, age 3-5 years old, who completed their participation in a currently ongoing, 6-month prospective study conducted in a rural area of New England to examine early-life predictors of obesity. Parents completed the 35-item Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), a validated scale to measure problematic sleep, reflecting both reduced sleep quantity and quality. Total scores greater than 41 reflect a clinically-meaningful sleep disorder. Parents also completed the 5-item emotional self-regulation subscale of the validated Child Social Behavior questionnaire. A final score was computed as the average across the 5 items (range 1-7), with higher scores indicating poorer emotional self-regulation. A series of linear regression models were used to examine associations between sleep and emotional self-regulation at baseline, as well as change in self-regulation over six months. Each model was adjusted for child age, sex, and parental education level. Results The sample was largely white, non-Hispanic (87.0%), with 61.1% of male children, 90.7% of accompanying parents as mothers, and 79.6% of parents with a Bachelor’s degree or greater. One-fourth (n=14, 25.9%) of children met the criteria for disordered sleep at baseline. In an adjusted linear regression model, children with disordered sleep at baseline, on average, had worse self-regulation at baseline (beta coefficient=0.90, SE=0.33; p<0.01) and, separately, a greater decrease in self-regulation over six months (beta=0.78, SE=0.30; p=0.01). When further adjusting for disordered sleep at month 6, disordered sleep at baseline remained predictive of a greater decrease in self-regulation over time (beta=1.12; SE=0.41; p<0.01). Conclusion In this preliminary analysis, disordered sleep was associated with poor emotional self-regulation cross-sectionally and a decline in emotional self-regulation over six months. Generalizability is limited because of the high socioeconomic status of the sample. Yet findings suggest that the effects of disordered sleep on emotional self-regulation may manifest within in the preschool-years. Support (If Any) This study was supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, grant number K01DK117971.

Past trauma, resettlement stress, and mental health of older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience

Objectives Older displaced persons often receive limited attention from aid organizations, policy-makers and service providers in countries of resettlement. The objective of this study is to identify the relationship between experiencing traumatic events and stressors prior to resettlement, current resettlement stressors, social support, and mental health of older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience. Method Study participants were 190 older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience living in a metropolitan area in New England (US) and Ontario (Canada). We used structural equation modeling to determine the association between traumatic and stressful events in Bhutan and Nepal, current resettlement stressors, and symptoms of anxiety and depression, as measured by the GAD-7 and PHQ-9. We assessed the role of social support as an effect modifier in the relationship between these variables. Results Surviving torture was associated with anxiety (p=.006), and experiencing threats to physical wellbeing in Nepal was associated with both anxiety (p=.003) and depression (p=.002). The relationship between physical threats in Nepal and current mental health were partially mediated by resettlement stressors. Social support moderated the relationship between trauma, stress, and mental health. Conclusion Both past traumas and current resettlement stressors contribute to the current psychosocial functioning of older Bhutanese with a refugee life experience. Based on our findings, social support is critical in promoting mental health in this population.

How many offshore wind turbines does New England need?

AbstractThe proliferation of countries and regions with 100% clean or renewable energy targets necessitates an analysis to determine the number of generating units and storage needed to meet real‐time electricity demand on the electric grid. The coastal areas of New England have the capacity to produce a large percentage of the region's energy needs with offshore wind turbines. Here we model offshore wind turbine power production data using MERRA‐2 reanalysis and lidar wind speed data sets. We compare this power production to the New England hourly grid demand over the course of one year. 2,000 10 MW offshore wind turbines could satisfy New England's grid demand for about 37% of the year. When combined with 55 GWh of storage, 2,000 turbines could satisfy grid demand for about 72% of the year.

Using data derived from cellular phone locations to estimate visitation to natural areas: An application to water recreation in New England, USA.

We introduce and validate the use of commercially available human mobility datasets based on cell phone locations to estimate visitation to natural areas. By combining this data with on-the-ground observations of visitation to water recreation areas in New England, we fit a model to estimate daily visitation for four months to more than 500 sites. The results show the potential for this new big data source of human mobility to overcome limitations in traditional methods of estimating visitation and to provide consistent information at policy-relevant scales. However, the data providers' opaque and rapidly developing methods for processing locational information required a calibration and validation against data collected by traditional means to confidently reproduce the desired estimates of visitation. We found that with this calibration, the high-resolution information in both space and time provided by cell phone location-derived data creates opportunities for developing next-generation models of human interactions with the natural environment.

Can offshore HABs hinder the development of offshore mussel aquaculture in the northeast United States?

Shellfish aquaculture is predicted to expand from nearshore locations into US federal waters in response to increased seafood demand and domestic food security concerns. As the industry moves into new areas, risk from offshore harmful algal blooms (HABs) focuses attention on new needs for summary background information about past algal bloom events to guide management decisions and monitoring programs. Indigenous Alexandrium and Pseudo-nitzschia species both have triggered shellfish harvest closures in offshore areas of New England after toxins were measured in bivalve tissues. The information in this short communication summarizes the scope of monitoring and management programs for HABs and their toxins in offshore New England areas where future aquaculture may be located. It also identifies HAB-related challenges to offshore farming development and suggests future research and monitoring directions.

Depth Selection and In Situ Validation for Offshore Mussel Aquaculture in Northeast United States Federal Waters

As mariculture progresses offshore in the US Exclusive Economic Zone, technical and ecological challenges need to be overcome, such as the choice of suitable sites that favor the production of target species. The offshore culture of blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, is performed with submerged longlines and mussels need to withstand more motion than on coastal sites. Temperature affects the ability of the byssus to adhere to farming rope, while chlorophyll concentration provides an estimation of food availability. Together, these are important factors in predicting the suitability of offshore mussel farms. To identify suitable depth of submersion for mussel ropes in New England federal waters, historical oceanographic data of temperature and chlorophyll a from 2005 to 2012 were used. The results suggest that mussel ropes were submerged during summer to a minimum depth of 15 m in northern and a 20-m depth in southern areas of New England where temperature is at a species-optimum and phytoplankton biomass is abundant. For the site offshore Massachusetts, in situ biodeposition measurements validated predicted depth, confirming satisfactory mussel performance. Promising local areas have shallow thermoclines, such as offshore Long Island, Cape Ann and New Hampshire. Recommended depths can be adjusted to future temperature increases associated with climate change.

Le base ball , Assimilation, and Ethnic Identity: The National Pastime in Franco-America

This article explores the meaning of baseball in areas of New England where immigrants of French-Canadian descent settled permanently. It examines representations of the sport in the French-languag...

The role and extent of dextral transpression and lateral escape on the post-Acadian tectonic evolution of south-central New England

Bedrock mapping, structural analysis, documentation of kinematics and associated petrofabrics, and detailed zircon and monazite geochronology are the basis for a new interpretation of the post-Acadian tectonic evolution of southern New England. Early fabrics in the Central Maine Zone and eastern half of the Bronson Hill Zone are characterized by planar foliations, subhorizontal lineations, and dextral kinematic indicators. As transpression progressed, structures and fabrics reflected an increased component of shortening, marked by tightening of foliations, development of closed to isoclinal folds, localization of reverse high strain zones, steep dip-parallel lineations, and reverse top-to-east kinematic indicators. Syntectonic mineral assemblages show that cooling attended deformation, consistent with a component of vertical extrusion. In contrast, the western half of the Bronson Hill Zone is characterized by sinistral top-to-south deformation from Connecticut to New Hampshire, including two regional sinistral shear zones, and comprise the Western Bronson Hill Shear System. New zircon and monazite geochronology, along with previously published results, show that dextral transpression progressed continuously from ∼350 Ma to ∼295 Ma. Dextral transpression was initiated following ∼360 Ma to ∼355 Ma dioritic, tonalitic, and granitic magmatism. Sillimanite-grade reverse high strain zones developed by ∼330 Ma, while the presence of lower-grade fabrics, metamorphic zircon rims, and published hornblende cooling ages show deformation continued to at least ∼295 Ma in the eastern Bronson Hill and Central Maine. Sinistral top-to-south deformation in the Western Bronson Hill Shear System preceded ∼330 Ma to ∼300 Ma staurolite grade metamorphism, and syntectonic monazite and an abundance of published data show that deformation continued to ∼285 Ma. The conjugate shear zones were spatially and temporally linked, indicating that the dominant fabrics, structures, and mineral assemblages in bedrock exposures in this area of New England were driven by progressive dextral transpression and lateral escape in the Carboniferous, much younger than any previous tectonic reconstruction. This model can explain an assortment of enigmatic features in New England, including contrasting kinematics, differential exhumation of lithologies and lithotectonic zones, and the Pelham dome. These features are attributed to oblique convergence between Laurentian margin and Avalon/Meguma beginning in the Mississippian, rather than the Early to Middle Devonian Acadian orogeny as has long been proposed. The location between the New York promontory and the Quebec embayment could have provided the necessary geometry to focus deformation and lateral escape in New England, and shorten the orogen in this area by almost an order of magnitude.

Developing a wintering waterfowl community baseline for environmental monitoring of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

In 2004, the Atlantic Ecology Division of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development began an annual winter waterfowl survey of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. Herein, we explore the survey data gathered from 2004 to 2011 in order to establish a benchmark understanding of our waterfowl communities and to establish a statistical framework for future environmental monitoring. The abundance and diversity of wintering waterfowl were relatively stable during the initial years of this survey, except in 2010 when there was a large spike in abundance and a reciprocal fall in diversity. There was no significant change in ranked abundance of most waterfowl species, with only Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) and Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucllatus) showing a slight yet significant upward trend during the course of our survey period. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to examine the community structure of wintering waterfowl. The results of the NMDS indicate that there is a spatial structure to the waterfowl communities of Narragansett Bay and this structure has remained relatively stable since the survey began. Our NMDS analysis helps to solidify what is known anecdotally about the bay’s waterfowl ecology, and provides a formalized benchmark for long-term monitoring of Narragansett Bay’s waterfowl communities. Birds, including waterfowl, are preferred bioindicators and we propose using our multivariate approach to monitor the future health of the bay. While this research focuses on a specific area of New England, these methods can be easily applied to novel areas of concern and provide a straightforward nonparametric approach to community-level monitoring. The methods provide a statistic test to examine potential drivers of community turnover and well-suited visualization tools.

A comparison of cod life-history parameters inside and outside of four year-round groundfish closed areas in New England, USA

A comparison of cod life-history parameters inside and outside of four year-round groundfish closed areas in New England, USA

Developing a wintering waterfowl community baseline for environmental monitoring of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

In 2004, the Atlantic Ecology Division of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development began an annual winter waterfowl survey of Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay. Herein, we explore the survey data gathered from 2004 to 2011 in order to establish a benchmark understanding of our waterfowl communities and to establish a statistical framework for future environmental monitoring. The abundance and diversity of wintering waterfowl were relatively stable during the initial years of this survey, except in 2010 when there was a large spike in abundance and a reciprocal fall in diversity. There was no significant change in ranked abundance of most waterfowl species, with only Bufflehead ( Bucephala albeola) and Hooded Merganser ( Lophodytes cucllatus) showing a slight yet significant upward trend during the course of our survey period. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to examine the community structure of wintering waterfowl. The results of the NMDS indicate that there is a spatial structure to the waterfowl communities of Narragansett Bay and this structure has remained relatively stable since the survey began. Our NMDS analysis helps to solidify what is known anecdotally about the bay’s waterfowl ecology, and provides a formalized benchmark for long-term monitoring of Narragansett Bay’s waterfowl communities. Birds, including waterfowl, are preferred bioindicators and we propose using our multivariate approach to monitor the future health of the bay. While this research focuses on a specific area of New England, these methods can be easily applied to novel areas of concern and provide a straightforward nonparametric approach to community-level monitoring. The methods provide a statistic test to examine potential drivers of community turnover and well-suited visualization tools.

Developing a wintering waterfowl community baseline for environmental monitoring of Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.

In 2004, the Atlantic Ecology Division of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development began an annual winter waterfowl survey of Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay. Herein, we explore the survey data gathered from 2004 to 2011 in order to establish a benchmark understanding of our waterfowl communities and to establish a statistical framework for future environmental monitoring. The abundance and diversity of wintering waterfowl were relatively stable during the initial years of this survey, except in 2010 when there was a large spike in abundance and a reciprocal fall in diversity. There was no significant change in ranked abundance of most waterfowl species, with only Bufflehead ( Bucephala albeola) and Hooded Merganser ( Lophodytes cucllatus) showing a slight yet significant upward trend during the course of our survey period. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was used to examine the community structure of wintering waterfowl. The results of the NMDS indicate that there is a spatial structure to the waterfowl communities of Narragansett Bay and this structure has remained relatively stable since the survey began. Our NMDS analysis helps to solidify what is known anecdotally about the bay's waterfowl ecology, and provides a formalized benchmark for long-term monitoring of Narragansett Bay's waterfowl communities. Birds, including waterfowl, are preferred bioindicators and we propose using our multivariate approach to monitor the future health of the bay. While this research focuses on a specific area of New England, these methods can be easily applied to novel areas of concern and provide a straightforward nonparametric approach to community-level monitoring. The methods provide a statistic test to examine potential drivers of community turnover and well-suited visualization tools.

Dementia and Caregiver Stress: An Application of the Reconceptualized Uncertainty in Illness Theory

The Reconceptualized Uncertainty in Illness Theory (RUIT) was used to investigate antecedents to, appraisals of, and ways of coping with stressful caregiving. Four focus groups with caregivers (8 males and 16 females) of relatives with dementia were conducted; 15 cared for their parents and the remainder cared for their spouses. They were recruited from an adult care center and other community settings in a metropolitan area in New England. The discussions were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Two researchers independently coded the transcripts. Thematic analysis was structured according to the RUIT. The study is unique in its application to caregivers as opposed to patients and to all of the elements of the RUIT. Caregivers experience uncertainty in similar ways to patients with life-altering illness. Symptom severity—lack of personal boundaries, repetitive and aggressive behaviors, and the need for constant care—was the most frequent source of stress. The appraisals were mostly negative and included feelings of resentment, a lack of support from family members, financial strains, and loss of freedom. Self-improvement and self-care were important aspects of coping. Spirituality and humor were other coping skills that respondents used. Not all respondents said they were coping and some also reported that support from health care providers was not always helpful. Nurses can help improve coping by explaining the factors that contribute to caregiver strain and uncertainty, and by assisting caregivers to anticipate the effects of the caregiving role.

Invasion of Winter Moth in New England: Effects of Defoliation and Site Quality on Tree Mortality

Widespread and prolonged defoliation by the European winter moth, Operophtera brumata L., has occurred in forests of eastern Massachusetts for more than a decade and populations of winter moth continue to invade new areas of New England. This study characterized the forests of eastern Massachusetts invaded by winter moth and related the duration of winter moth defoliation estimated using dendrochronology to observed levels of tree mortality and understory woody plant density. Quercus basal area mortality in mixed Quercus and mixed Quercus—Pinus strobus forests in eastern Massachusetts ranged from 0–30%; mortality of Quercus in these forests was related to site quality and the number of winter moth defoliation events. In addition, winter moth defoliation events lead to a subsequent increase in understory woody plant density. Our results indicate that winter moth defoliation has been an important disturbance in New England forests that may have lasting impacts.

Abstract 3186: Transplacental arsenic exposure modifies the number of hair follicle keratinocytes stem cells and alters their cell-cycle control

Abstract Drinking water contamination with arsenic is a worldwide problem and a concern in some areas of the United States, especially in the West (California, Nevada, Alaska and Utah) and small areas of New England. Inorganic arsenic is considered a human carcinogen with many target tissues such as the skin, urinary bladder and lung; and characterizing its mechanisms of action is key to designing methods of intervention. Arsenic has transplacental carcinogenic activity, and since their fetal abundance, stem cells (SCs) seem to be a main target of arsenic exposure during gestation. We have established that fetal arsenic exposure via the maternal drinking water, leads to a decrease number of keratinocyte's stem cells (KSC) in mouse epidermis of the offspring. Biochemical analysis of these KSCs shows increased mRNA levels of the cell-cycle regulators cyclin D1 and CDK4. Supporting this observation, overexpression of CDK4 in KSCs mimics arsenic exposure as demonstrated by the reduced number of KSCs, and the decreased number of benign skin tumors, and severe rise in the rate of malignant conversion to squamus cell carcinomas. We expect that these studies will enable to determine the consequence of in utero arsenic exposure on the proliferative potential of KSCs and the impact on the selection of KSCs that give origin to skin tumors with high risk of malignant conversion. Therefore, these studies will contribute to understanding how early alterations of somatic stem cells results in functional changes that impact a late stage of tumorigenesis such as malignant progression. Citation Format: Paula L. Miliani de Marval, Sun Hye Kim, Marcelo L. Rodriguez-Puebla. Transplacental arsenic exposure modifies the number of hair follicle keratinocytes stem cells and alters their cell-cycle control. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3186. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3186

The Affordable Care Act 2010: educational needs of bedside nurses.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) significantly impacts bedside nurses who must participate in organizational change and provide resources to patients. A health reform educational needs assessment was distributed to nurses from a midsized community hospital located in an elevated-need and medically underserved area in New England. Many nurses indicated that more knowledge was needed and they lacked information about the educational incentives. Health policy professional development opportunities are required to inform bedside nursing practice.

Mortality and movement of Yellowtail Flounder (Limanda ferruginea) tagged off New England

From 2003 to 2006, 44,882 Yellowtail Flounder (Limanda ferruginea) were captured and released with conventional disc tags in the western North Atlantic as part of a cooperative Yellowtail Flounder tagging study. From these releases, 3767 of the tags were recovered. The primary objectives of this tagging program were to evaluate the mortality and large-scale movement of Yellowtail Flounder among 3 stock areas in New England. To explore mortality, survival and recovery rate were estimated from traditional Brownie tag-recovery models fitted to the data with Program MARK. Models were examined with time and sex-dependent parameters over several temporal scales. The models with a monthly scale for both survival and recovery rate had the best overall fit and returned parameter estimates that were biologically reasonable. Estimates of survival from the tag-recovery models confirm the general magnitude of total mortality derived from age-based stock assessments but indicate that survival was greater for females than for males. In addition to calculating mortality estimates, we examined the pattern of release and recapture locations and revealed frequent movements within stock areas and less frequent movement among stock areas. The collaboration of fishermen and scientists for this study successfully resulted in independent confirmation of previously documented patterns of movement and mortality rates from conventional age-based analyses.