Central United States Research Articles

Analysis of Single-Station Standard Deviation Based on Empirical Data Set from the Central and Eastern United States

ABSTRACT In this study, we use an empirical set of residuals of the response spectral values based on ground-motion models (GMMs) developed by previous studies for areas inside and outside the Coastal Plain to identify repeatable site effects and estimate the single-station standard deviation by removing the ergodic assumption on site response for the Central and Eastern United States. The data set used in this study combines three distinct strong motion data sets from published data. It comprises peak horizontal ground acceleration and pseudospectral acceleration at periods ranging from 0.01 to 10 s. The total residuals were calculated as the differences between the natural logarithm of the observed data and the values predicted by GMMs. The mixed-effects regression approach was used to partition the total residuals into between-event and within-event components. Then, the within-event residuals were further partitioned into repeatable site terms and remaining residuals. The results indicate that single-station standard deviations are lower than those obtained using the ergodic assumption. The results of this study can be used in nonergodic (partially nonergodic) probabilistic seismic hazard analysis to constrain standard deviations.

Severe Convective Weather Outbreaks on 10 and 15 December 2021: Large-Scale Antecedent Conditions

Abstract The first two weeks of December 2021 were exceptionally active for severe convective storms across the central and eastern United States. While previous work has indicated this was related to the existence of a negative phase of the Pacific-North American pattern, we demonstrate that such a pattern was configured via dynamical linkages between multiple extratropical cyclogenesis events in the western North Pacific, the recurvature of Typhoon Nyatoh, and the subsequent phase evolution of the North Pacific jet. These processes were found to aid in the excitation of Rossby wave packets and the amplification of upper-level flow downstream over the Pacific, ultimately configuring synoptic scale weather regimes supportive of anomalous high frequency and intensity severe convective weather in the contiguous United States In addition, abnormally warm Gulf of Mexico sea surface temperatures, aided by a period of antecedent synoptic scale subsidence, played a critical role in enhancing convective instability in the the surface warm sector. This work underscores the importance of cataloging these events for purposes of examining (and potentially enhancing) predictability.

Mapping Deep Earth Interfaces Using Noise Correlations: A Step-Like Mantle Transition Zone Arrangement Beneath the Contiguous United States

Abstract Retrieving deep Earth seismic phases from noise correlations is hindered by the low amplitude of deep-path noise body waves. This study presents a data selection strategy that leverages quantitative noise phase composition analysis to enhance the recovery of faint body-wave reflections. Applying this method to noise correlation data computed across the contiguous United States, we successfully mapped the mantle transition zone (MTZ) discontinuities. We identified reliable P-wave reflections associated with the 410 and 660 km discontinuities within the 3–10 s period band. These short-period reflections reveal a pronounced step-like structure. Both discontinuities are deeper beneath the tectonically active western United States compared with the cratonic central and eastern United States (CEUS). Notable features include regions with a thickened MTZ beneath the CEUS and northern Colorado plateau, likely linked to the remnants of the Farallon slab. A region with a thinned MTZ is observed beneath the Rio Grande rift, possibly due to elevated temperatures caused by the release of volatiles from the Farallon slab. Our results highlight the effectiveness of noise correlation techniques in mapping MTZ topography.

Public Perception and Awareness of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in South Central United States

The aviation sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and with the increasing demand for air travel these emissions are projected to continue rising in the coming years. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) could greatly help reduce these emissions and make the aviation industry more eco-friendly. SAF is a renewable, low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel produced from sustainable resources. A key step to bringing the fuel into regular use is studying how people view it. Understanding what the public think and feel about biofuels, including aviation fuel, is very important. This is because public opinion can shape consumer interest, demand for products, and the willingness of governments to back green energy policies and invest in clean technologies. The study systematically evaluates the public opinion, perception and awareness of SAF in the South Central United States and its utilization to decarbonize the aviation industry. This is performed through a series of multiple-choice survey questions and interviews. The study results show that while there is some recognition of the environmental impact of aviation and the potential role of biofuels in reducing this impact, there is still a need for greater public education and awareness regarding alternative fuels and their benefits for sustainable aviation. The findings of the study underscore a pivotal challenge in addressing aviation-related carbon emissions: the gap in public knowledge about potential solutions like biofuels and SAF. This gap not only reflects a lack of awareness but also hints at the possible skepticism or uncertainty among the public regarding the effectiveness and viability of these alternatives.

Clinical burden of Acinetobacter baumannii, including carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii, in hospitalized adult patients in the USA between 2018 and 2022

BackgroundEpidemiological data for United States (US) hospitals regarding the burden of Acinetobacter baumannii and carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) are scarce; thus, this study aimed to describe the incidence of A. baumannii and CRAB across US hospitals between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with microbiology data from the PINC AI™ Database. Incidence rates of A. baumannii and CRAB (January 1, 2018 – December 31, 2022) were determined across US hospitals in each census region. Incidence rates of A. baumannii and CRAB were determined at the hospitalization encounter and individual levels. Presence of CRAB was based on non-susceptibility to either doripenem, imipenem, or meropenem. Patient demographics, comorbidities, outcomes, including in-hospital mortality, were compared between patients with CRAB and carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii (CSAB) at the hospitalization encounter level.ResultsDuring the study period, 7,270 hospitalization encounters with ≥ 1 A. baumannii clinical cultures were identified. The overall A. baumannii incidence rate was 1.19 cases per 100 hospitalization encounters and 1.33 cases per 100 unique patients. For CRAB, a total of 2,708 hospitalization encounters were identified, and incidence rate was 0.44 cases per 100 hospitalization encounters. The West South Central, East North Central, and East South Central regions had the highest CRAB incidence rates (0.78, 0.67, and 0.63 cases per 100 hospitalization encounters, respectively). Compared with CSAB, patients with CRAB had significantly more positive cultures with A. baumannii (20.9% vs. 10.0%, respectively, P < 0.0001) and higher prevalence of other Gram-negative pathogens in any clinical culture site within ± 3 days of the index A. baumannii clinical culture (47.2% vs. 42.9%, respectively, P = 0.0004). Patients with CRAB had higher incidences of in-hospital mortality vs. patients with CSAB (20.5% vs. 11.3%, respectively, P < 0.0001).ConclusionsPresence of A. baumannii was identified on a clinical culture in 1% of adult hospitalizations in this multicenter US study. Over a third of A. baumannii hospitalization encounters were CRAB, with the highest incidence rates per 100 hospitalization encounters observed in the most central US regions. Clinicians should consider A. baumannii as a potential pathogen in patients in regions with an increasing incidence rate of A. baumannii.

Soil health contributes to variations in crop production and nitrogen use efficiency.

Soil health affects both food production and environmental quality. However, quantifying its impact poses a substantial global challenge due to the scarcity of comprehensive soil health data and the complexity of disentangling its effects from other variables. Here we integrate high-resolution global data on soil, climate and farm management practices to assess the contribution of soil health to agricultural productivity. We show that soil health is responsible for approximately 12% and 22% of global variations in crop production and nitrogen use efficiency, respectively. While the influence of climate on crop yields is comparable to that of soil health, it is substantially overshadowed by the role of agricultural management, which accounts for roughly 70% of the global yield variation. In regions such as China, India and the central United States, the influence of soil health on crop yields and nitrogen use efficiency is less pronounced due to the dominant effects of farming practices, including the intensive use of fertilizers. Enhancing global soil health could increase crop yields by 7.8 Mt while reducing nitrogen surplus by 8.1 Mt worldwide by 2050. It is crucial to achieve global sustainable development through managing soil health beyond traditional agricultural practices and climate adaptation.

Climatological Context of the Severe Rain‐on‐Snow Flooding Event of March 2019 in Eastern Nebraska

ABSTRACTThe rain‐on‐snow event of March 12–14, 2019, in eastern Nebraska was caused by a rapidly intensifying mid‐latitude cyclone that resulted in over 80 mm of liquid precipitation and the ablation of over 25 mm of liquid equivalent in the snowpack. The resulting flood caused over $10 billion in damage by some estimates. Here, we sought to evaluate specific dimensions of this event within the broader climatological context to determine how unique the event was relative to a longer period of record. Results suggest that the mid‐latitude cyclone had a central pressure over 30 hPa lower than its classified synoptic weather type, leading to greater warm advection and temperature and dewpoint anomalies as high as +8°C and+10°C, respectively. The 3‐day sequence of weather types corresponding to the event was observed only three other times over a 1948–2021 period of record, while the 2‐day sequence of just March 13–14 occurred just 25 other times. The magnitude of daily precipitation during the event was in the 100th percentile of all rain‐on‐snow (ROS) precipitation events for 16% of the basin and likely was a primary driver of observed flooding. Similarly, daily snow loss during the event across eastern Nebraska was above the 95th percentile relative to 1981–2021 climatology for most of eastern Nebraska. Collectively, our results suggest the March 2019 ROS event was an extreme event across multiple individual facets, but they were not without climatological precedent. As such, this event is a useful case study for understanding extreme rain‐on‐snow events across the Central United States.

Variety choice influences soft red winter wheat yield more than seed treatment

AbstractSeed treatments are commonly used to protect most major crops in the United States from seed‐ and soil‐borne pathogens. In winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) systems in the North Central United States, target pathogens include both true fungi like Fusarium spp. or Rhizoctonia spp. and oomycetes like Pythium spp. or Globisporangium spp. Potential benefits of seed treatments may include improved germination and emergence, protection against early season diseases, and improved plant vigor, but there is little recent research on the benefits of seed treatments in winter wheat in the North Central United States. Field experiments were established at 10 locations across Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan in 2021 and 2022 to evaluate the effect of seed treatments on winter wheat yield. The trial design was a randomized complete block with four replications. Treatments were a factorial of two varieties, Harpoon and Kaskaskia, and five seed treatments, non‐treated control, Athena‐R, CruiserMaxx Vibrance Cereals, Stamina F4, and Raxil Pro MD/Shield. The variety Harpoon resulted in greater yield and lower test weight than Kaskaksia. The only seed treatment to affect yield was Athena‐R when applied to the Harpoon variety. No other seed treatment significantly impacted yield. Results of this study suggest that while seed treatments can provide yield protection, variety selection had a bigger role in overall yield potential.

Serosurveillance Identifies Bourbon Virus-Neutralizing Antibodies in Bobcats, Coyotes, and Red Foxes in Missouri.

Background: Bourbon virus (BRBV) is an emerging pathogen that can cause severe and fatal disease in humans. BRBV is vectored by Amblyomma americanum (lone star ticks), which are widely distributed across the central, southern, and eastern United States. Wildlife species are potentially important for the maintenance and transmission of BRBV, but little is known about which species are involved, and what other factors play a role in their exposure to BRBV. Methods: To assess the exposure risk to BRBV among wildlife in the St. Louis, Missouri, area, we collected sera from 98 individuals, representing 6 different mammalian species from two locations in St. Louis County: Tyson Research Center (TRC) and WildCare Park (WCP) from fall 2021 to spring 2023. The sera were used in a BRBV neutralization assay to detect neutralizing antibodies and RT-qPCR for viral RNA analysis. We also sampled and compared the abundance of A. americanum ticks at the two locations and modeled which factors influenced BRBV seropositivity across species. Results: In TRC, we observed a high rate of seropositivity in raccoons (Procyon lotor, 23/25), and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, 18/27), but a low rate in opossums (Didelphis virginiana, 1/18). Neutralizing antibodies were also detected in sampled TRC bobcats (Lynx rufus, 4/4), coyotes (Canis latrans, 3/3), and a red fox (Vulpes vulpes, 1/1). The virological analysis did not detect BRBV RNA in any serum samples. In contrast to TRC, all sera screened from WCP were negative for BRBV-specific neutralizing antibodies, and significantly fewer ticks were collected at WCP (31) compared with TRC (2316). Conclusions: Collectively, these findings suggest that BRBV circulates in multiple wildlife species in the St. Louis area and that tick density and host community composition may be important factors in BRBV ecology.

A 16-Year Climatology of WPC-Analyzed Drylines and Their Association with Severe Convection

Abstract A 16-yr (2007–22) climatology of drylines is presented. Constructed using NOAA Weather Prediction Center (WPC) surface analyses, this climatology addresses the limitations of season, time of day, and region of previous dryline studies by using the full surface analysis archive to include drylines throughout the entire day at 3-h increments for the entire year over the contiguous United States. Severe storm reports and NWS-issued severe thunderstorms and tornado warnings are used to associate individual drylines with severe (or potentially severe) convection. March–June are the months with the greatest frequency of drylines and dryline-associated severe thunderstorms. Regardless of season, average dryline longitude over the course of a day mimics the conceptual model of daily dryline evolution with an eastward shift during the day and westward retreat overnight. The overwhelming majority of WPC-analyzed drylines are located in the southern Great Plains, particularly southwest Texas through the Texas Panhandle, and on average are furthest west in summer and furthest east in winter. A significant increase in the number of analyzed drylines and dryline days per year is identified in the WPC surface analysis archive. This increase is consistent across all analysis times and between drylines associated with and without severe convection. However, using a machine learning model to automate dryline detection, no statistically significant trend is found over this same analysis period. Thus, the increase in WPC-analyzed drylines during the 16-yr period is likely to be the result of nonmeteorological factors. Significance Statement Past studies of the dryline, a boundary important to severe convective storms and the hydrology of the central United States, have only focused on the spring months. This study conducts the first year-round climatology of the dryline and their association with severe storms using 16 years of Weather Prediction Center (WPC) surface analyses. There is a significant increase in dryline frequency over the 16-yr analysis period, but this is attributed to nonmeteorological factors by comparison to an automated dryline identification model. Future work will expand this climatology back through the twentieth century and expand the analysis on the variability of drylines and their association with severe storms.

Exoscopes in Neurosurgery: A Bibliometric and Visualization Analysis

AbstractExoscopes, introduced as an alternative to operative microscopes in neurosurgery, aim to enhance intraoperative visualization, ergonomics, cost-effectiveness, and patient outcomes. This study employs bibliometric analysis to delineate topic trends and fields within neurosurgery utilizing exoscopes.Articles and reviews from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2023, were manually retrieved from Scopus, based on predefined criteria encompassing publications related to exoscopes in neurosurgery. All publication records were imported and analyzed using Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer.A total of 186 articles were included for final analysis. While work on exoscopes was limited until 2015, there was an upsurge in publication output from 2018 to 2022. The United States led in the number of articles (72/186, 38.7%) and in total citations (1259). Brazil ranked first in average citation index (26.00). The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, United States, published the most articles (5), while Cedars-Sinai Medical Center USA accrued the highest number of citations (181). A.J. Schupper (4) and Constantinos Hadjipanayis (7) were the authors with the most publications as the first author and the last author, respectively. World Neurosurgery was the most prolific journal with 41 publications. Recent keywords centered around themes such as “ergonomics” (47 times) and “three-dimensional imaging” (44 times). Most collaboration occurred between developed countries such as the United States, Germany, Finland, and Austria. Most articles (87) focused on brain, with 25 articles focusing on spine.Our findings offer valuable insights to identify potential research frontiers within different fields of neurosurgery in the coming years.

Tillage intensity reductions when combined with yield increases may slow soil carbon saturation in the central United States

Tillage intensity reduction when coupled with higher yields and better equipment, has increased the potential to sequester carbon in farm fields. However, a few experiments have demonstrated that this is occurring. This studies objective was to investigate the macro-scale effects of crop tillage intensity decreases and yield increases and on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in Nebraska (NE), Iowa (IA), Minnesota (MN), and South Dakota (SD) from 2000 to 2021. The analysis was based on grower surveys, state yields from 2000 to 2021, and over 12 million surface soil samples that were aggregated by state and year. The model used first order kinetics, and it consisted of three pools [non-harvested carbon (NHC), SOC, and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2)]. Annual NHC additions were estimated from the state-level crop yields and tillage intensity reductions were estimated from producer surveys. Across the four states and 21 years, there was an estimated decrease of 0.0339 soil mixing events per year, corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) yields increased by 63 and 38%, respectively, and SOC increased at a rate of > 460 kg SOC-C/(ha × year). In addition, strong (p < 0.01) linear correlations between NHC additions and SOC gains indicate that soil at the state-scale soil was not approaching carbon saturation.

Assessing Geographic Disparities in Campus Killings: A Data Mining Approach Using Cluster Analysis to Identify Demographic Patterns and Legal Implications

This research employs cluster analysis to elucidate patterns in campus killings across the United States, utilizing a comprehensive dataset spanning over two decades. The study systematically categorizes these incidents into distinct clusters based on geographic, temporal, and demographic criteria to identify underlying patterns and potential risk factors associated with campus violence. Through detailed statistical analysis and visualization techniques, the research reveals significant regional disparities and temporal trends in campus violence, highlighting the concentration of incidents in specific areas and periods. Key findings indicate that campus killings are not uniformly distributed geographically or temporally. Instead, they tend to cluster in certain regions—particularly in the northeastern and central United States—with varying incident frequencies over time. The analysis also uncovers notable demographic patterns, demonstrating that certain racial and socio-economic groups are disproportionately affected. These insights are critical for understanding the dynamics of campus violence and can significantly inform policy-making and preventive measures. The study discusses the implications of these findings for legal frameworks and educational policies, suggesting that more targeted, region-specific interventions could enhance campus safety. By integrating cluster analysis with current legislative and policy contexts, the research provides a foundation for data-driven strategies to mitigate campus violence effectively. However, the study acknowledges limitations related to the data's scope and accuracy, which could impact the generalizability of the findings. Future research directions include expanding the analysis to international contexts, integrating qualitative data, conducting longitudinal studies to assess policy effectiveness, and exploring technological advancements for predictive analytics in campus safety. This research contributes to the academic discourse on campus safety by offering a methodologically robust analysis that links empirical data with policy implications, highlighting the potential for informed legislative actions to foster safer educational environments.

Impacts of spring freeze events on a perennial tree fruit crop across the central and eastern USA.

This study uses a crop simulation model driven by 40years (1981-2020) of daily gridded meteorological data from PRISM to assess the impacts of spring freeze events on cherry trees, a representative temperate perennial tree-fruit crop, across six regions of the central and eastern USA: the Northern and Southern Great Plains (NGP, SGP), Upper Midwest (UMW), Ohio Valley (OHV), New York-Pennsylvania (NY-PA), and Virginia-North Carolina (VA-NC). Freeze damage exhibits a clear latitudinal gradient, with damage frequency and severity decreasing from south to north. The most frequent and severe damage occurs in the SGP, followed by VA-NC, while the least is observed in the UMW and NY-PA. Damage frequency decreases as phenological stage advances, with the first two vegetative stages being the most affected. False spring events, defined as early side-green onset followed by freeze damage, mirror this spatial pattern and are more closely linked to the timing of side-green dates than to freeze-damage frequency. Trends in damage day frequency and severity show notable longitudinal variability, with decreasing trends in the lower OHV flanked by increasing trends in the SGP and VA-NC. Decreasing trends are also observed in northern parts of the UMW and NGP, though significant trends are limited to small areas. These patterns reflect the interplay between spring warm-up timing, phenological development, and seasonal vulnerability, modulated by sub-freezing temperature frequency and severity. The findings highlight the complexity of overwintering crops' responses to climate variability and the need for caution in assessing cold injury risks under future climate scenarios.

Metabarcoding reveals striking dietary variation in a reintroduced mesocarnivore

Abstract Carnivore populations are often limited by prey availability, so knowledge of their foraging ecology is required for successful recovery efforts. Limited availability of energy-efficient, or optimal, prey can be a key determinant of the conservation status of mesocarnivores—thus investigating diet habits during reintroduction efforts can provide insights into the trajectory of a reestablishing population. The reintroduction of fishers (Pekania pennanti) in Washington state, United States, offers an opportunity to assess diet variation across reintroduction areas using high-resolution DNA metabarcoding methods. We assessed Fisher diet in 2 reintroduction sites in the Cascade Mountains of Washington (the South Cascades and the North Cascades) where fishers performed differently across multiple metrics used to measure initial reintroduction success. We had the rare opportunity to test correlations between metabarcoding relative read abundance and prey biomass consumption while fishers were fed a known diet while in captivity. We found a moderately positive, though highly variable, correlation (r = 0.47) between approximate biomass consumption of food items and relative read abundance within individual diet samples; however, we detected a strong, though statistically insignificant, correlation between relative read abundance and prey biomass when looking at the relative importance of prey groups in aggregated diet profiles (r = 0.72). We collected 300 Fisher scats and gastrointestinal tracts using telemetry and scat detection dog teams to characterize diet profiles. We found strong, positive correlations between relative read abundance and frequency of occurrence metabarcoding summaries. Hares and rabbits (Lepus americanus and Sylvilagus floridanus) were the most prevalent prey in both populations (North Cascades = 17%, South Cascades = 68%), but there were significant compositional differences between diets of the reintroduced populations. South Cascades fishers had limited prey diversity (n = 19 taxa), whereas 71 taxa were represented in the North Cascades Fisher diet. The diet composition of fishers in the South Cascades was akin to populations in the central and eastern United States, where range expansions are facilitated by access to optimally sized (&amp;gt;250 g) prey. In contrast, the diverse diet of North Cascades fishers was more similar to populations at the southernmost extent of their range (Oregon and California), where optimally sized prey is scarce and population recovery is stunted. The surprisingly high levels of dietary variation among adjacent reintroduction sites highlight the utility of diet studies in evaluating whether translocated populations are obtaining adequate resources to support population establishment and thus informing subsequent management interventions.

The Evolution of Global Surface Ammonia Concentrations during 2001-2019: Magnitudes, Patterns, and Drivers.

Ammonia (NH3) is the most prevalent alkaline gas in the atmosphere, with its elevated concentrations posing significant adverse impacts on air quality, ecosystems, and human health across diverse spatial and temporal scales. Given the ongoing global change and intensified anthropogenic NH3 emissions, it is projected that the global surface NH3 concentration will escalate further. Here, based on ground observations, gridded data of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer applications, meteorological data, and ancillary information, we estimated changes in global monthly surface NH3 concentration during 2001-2019 at a 0.1°× 0.1° resolution. A novel scale-adaptive approach, essentially an Ensemble Random Forest Model built upon Rotated Quadtree Partitioning and Box-Cox Transformation, was developed. The model well reproduced the spatial and temporal patterns of surface NH3 observations, particularly capturing peak and valley values (R2 = 0.91 and slope = 0.82 for the whole; R2 = 0.79 and slope = 0.70 for testing). The results indicate a global increase in surface NH3 concentration over 2001-2019, from 1.44 μg m-3 yr-1 in 2001 to 1.51 μg m-3 yr-1 in 2019. Notably, hotspots of elevated NH3 concentrations were located in northern South Asia, northern China, the Sahel area, southeast South America, and central United States. Decreased SO2 emissions and increased fertilizer applications dominated the increase of surface NH3 concentrations in China, while in South Asia, the increase was primarily driven by organic and inorganic nitrogen inputs. Temperature changes were identified to play an important role in affecting surface NH3 concentrations in most regions, particularly in Africa, South America, and Oceania. These findings have the potential to facilitate research on global nitrogen cycle and its environmental footprints and inform the development of locally or regionally tailored nitrogen management strategies. Furthermore, the proposed modeling algorithm showcases its capability in capturing intricate patterns and relationships within highly spatially heterogeneous data, thereby addressing up-scaling challenges associated with multimodal site observations.

Vascular Streak Dieback: A Novel Threat to Redbud and Other Woody Ornamental Production in the United States.

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis L.) is a popular and high-value woody ornamental plant native to the Eastern and South Central United States. In recent years, redbud production in the Southeastern United States has been greatly affected by a novel threat: vascular streak dieback (VSD). Infected plants exhibit a common set of symptoms, including leaf scorch, tip dieback, and vascular streaking that creates a marbled pattern in stem cross-section. Based on both conventional diagnosis and molecular identification, it has been found that the fungus Ceratobasidium sp. D.P. Rogers (Csp) is consistently associated with VSD-symptomatic eastern redbuds. However, the causal agent(s) of VSD has not yet been conclusively confirmed. Although eastern redbud has been the most frequently identified host tree, more than 25 other native plant genera have been confirmed to have VSD associated with Csp. The near-obligate nature of this fungus has made it challenging to culture, extract DNA, and conduct further studies to confirm its pathogenicity. This article highlights the emerging challenges of VSD, focusing on the following: (i) the recent history of VSD; (ii) the increasing importance of VSD to woody ornamental nursery production in the United States; (iii) the currently available protocols for isolating, culturing, storing, and maintaining the putative causal agent; (iv) the rapid molecular detection of Csp; (v) phylogenetic findings on the origin and relatedness of Csp to previously recorded diseases, especially VSD in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.); and (vi) preliminary results and observations from fungicide trials and cultivar screening in Tennessee. The article also outlines research needed to comprehensively understand VSD and accelerate the development of effective management strategies.

The Roles of Antecedent Soil Moisture and Land–Atmosphere Interactions in the Inland Intensification of Tropical Storm Bill (2015)

Abstract Extreme weather events cause significant societal impacts, in particular, when they behave unexpectedly. The “brown ocean (BO)” effect, describing the ability of the land surface via soil moisture to support tropical cyclone (TC) maintenance and intensification (TCMI) after landfall, remains poorly understood. Building upon our previous modeling framework utilizing the NASA Unified WRF (NU-WRF) system, this follow-on study explores the contributions of the dynamics of the soil moisture and advected water vapor to the TCMI of Tropical Storm (TS) Bill (2015) over the U.S. southern Great Plains (SGP). Impacts of various soil moisture conditions and surface enthalpy flux conditions on Bill’s inland intensification were investigated by comparing their land–atmosphere interaction components of energy fluxes along with a backward trajectory analysis and three-dimensional visualization of low-level atmospheric moisture. Results demonstrate that the high antecedent soil moisture across the central United States (Great Plains and Mississippi Valley) from prior rainfall was crucial for the TCMI of TS Bill over the SGP. Without ample latent heat flux over land, even a moisture-laden low-level jet from the ocean rapidly dried over land, preventing intensification and causing storm dissipation in our simulations. Backward trajectory analysis suggests that high soil moisture content can enhance humidity within the storm’s inflow, including the advection from the ocean, far inland, thus supporting the TCMIs. Ultimately, the inflow feeding the inland TC core is influenced by active land–air interactions within the boundary layer, where soil moisture and lower boundary conditions directly impact lower-tropospheric humidity, enabling or hindering the BO effect and subsequent TC intensification.

Increased Tobacco Taxation Associated With Decreased Consumption and Bladder Cancer Incidence.

The temporal relationship between smoking exposure and bladder cancer (BC) diagnosis remains ill defined. This study aims to cross-correlate and temporally associate changes in US tobacco tax and consumption with BC incidence. US tobacco consumption, tobacco tax data, and BC incidence rates from 1975 to 2019 were retrieved. A cross-correlation lag time for tobacco tax and consumption on BC incidence was calculated while controlling for national health expenditure. Proxied lag weighted semi-log linear models were used to determine the rate of change in BC incidence rates associated with a 1% change in tobacco tax percentages on a national and state level. A 1% increase in tobacco tax was associated with a 1.77% decrease in BC incidence over a 6-year period (R2 = 0.9687, P = .00044). Twenty-two states had a statistically significant decline in BC incidences correlated with increasing tobacco taxation. Reduction in BC incidence > 0.5% was observed in states along the western and eastern US borders. Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Tennessee did not have decreasing BC incidences from tobacco tax increases. California had the most drastic decline in BC incidence (1.98%). Nationally, tobacco consumption decrease in 1 pack per capita was associated with a 0.47% decrease in BC incidence over a 28-year period (R2 = 0.984, P = .00011). Declining US tobacco consumption may indicate significant reduction in BC incidence through 2047. Primary prevention through adaptation of state-legislated tax changes may contribute to a reduction in BC incidence in states lying within the Central United States. A national tobacco tax initiative can be considered given the improvement in population health.

Investigation of Site Amplifications Using Ambient-Noise-Derived Shallow Velocity Structures Under a Dense Array in Oklahoma

ABSTRACT The shear-wave velocity (VS) structure plays an important role in characterizing site amplification. The Large-n Seismic Survey in Oklahoma (LASSO; 1820 stations) revealed large vertical ground-motion variability in a 25 km × 32 km area in northern Oklahoma. The LASSO array has a relatively simple and flat topography, typical in a sedimentary basin environment in the central United States. In this study, we use the dense array to investigate the velocity structure under the LASSO array and how vertical ground motions relate to the shallow-to-deep structures. We extract the fundamental-mode Rayleigh wave by cross-correlating one month of ambient noise (0.7–5 Hz). We use double-beamforming to measure the group and phase velocities and anisotropy. By jointly inverting the group and phase velocities, we obtain the VS structure. We observe correlations between VS at depths of 0.1–1.5 km and vertical ground motions using sites on the stiffer Permian formations. The shallow Quaternary alluvium and terrace deposits can amplify vertical ground motions by a factor of 2–4.5 between 2 and 25 Hz and attenuate signals above 25 Hz. We use 1D VS profiles to simulate the SV-wave transfer functions. An average VS of 250 m/s in the upper 20–40 m may cause the observed amplification between 2 and 40 Hz. VS estimated by topographic slopes cannot predict the relative amplification. Our results highlight the large variability of site-dependent ground motion in a small local region and the importance of characterizing shallow structures to estimate seismic hazards. Small thickness variations of the shallow formation can significantly change the resonance amplitude and frequency, which likely reduces the coherency of the Rayleigh waves extracted from ambient noise.