Douglas County Research Articles

Amendments promote Douglas-fir survival on Formosa Mine tailings.

While mining provides valuable metals and minerals to meet societal demands, it can cause environmental contamination from the residuals (i.e., tailings) of mining. Tailings are often acidic, laden with heavy metals, and lacking adequate nutrients and physical conditions for plant growth, precluding the establishment of plant cover to reduce the offsite movement of mining wastes. This paper describes a case study at the Formosa Mine in Douglas County, Oregon, where tailings were amended with a mixture of lime, biosolids, biochar, and microbial inoculum to facilitate establishment of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirbel] Franco) seedlings. Results show that the tailings pH increased, and Douglas-fir seedlings survived and grew with these amendments. After 2years, pH did, however, decrease in some downslope locations and was associated with an increase in tree mortality. This suggests that tailings conditions should be monitored, and amendments should be reapplied as needed, particularly in areas receiving acidic runoff from unamended upslope tailings, until the seedlings are fully established. This study not only provides a prescription for the addition of biochar and other amendments to enhance plant growth for revegetation purposes in low-pH, metal-contaminated mine tailings, but it also demonstrates a method that can be used to address similar problems at other mine sites.

OCR finds district may have retaliated

Case name: Letter re: Douglas County School District, No. 08‐22‐1053 (08/02/23).

OCR finds district may have retaliated

Case name: Letter re: Douglas County School District, No. 08‐22‐1053 (08/02/23).

Latino Population in Douglas County & South Omaha: Population Growth

Latino Population in Douglas County & South Omaha: Population Growth

Latino Population in Douglas County: Main Characteristics

Latino Population in Douglas County: Main Characteristics

First record of the archaic Eurasian cricetid rodent Microtodon from North America

ABSTRACT A new species of the archaic arvicoline-like cricetid rodent Microtodon is described from the Hoye Canyon Local Fauna (LF), Douglas County, Nevada, U.S.A. This occurrence represents the first record of Microtodon and only the second record of ancient arvicolid-like cricetids from North America. The first, Ellesmereomys haringtoni, was described from the Strathcona locality, Canadian Arctic, about 4.0 Ma. The new Microtodon is characterised by a short anteroconid complex, shallow fourth lingual re-entrant angle (LRA4), and narrow anteroconid width on the first lower molar (m1). The new species resembles other Microtodon species and differs from Baranomys and all Promimomys species by lacking LRA1 on m3. Based on biostratigraphic correlations, the Hoye Canon LF was deposited about 5.8–5.6 Ma, roughly at the same time as the first Promimomys, P. mimus from the McKay Reservoir assemblage of Oregon, entered North America. Neither the Hoye Microtodon nor Ellesmereomys haringtoni are likely ancestral to Promimomys, but the two arvicoline-like cricetids attest to a previously unknown late Miocene – early Pliocene dispersal of these taxa into North America.

Clarifying the Free Appropriate Public Education Standard Post-Endrew for School Leaders

All the federal laws and policies relating to individuals with disabilities aim to achieve four major goals: equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. The free appropriate public education (FAPE) plays an integral role in contributing to achieving these goals. The purpose of this paper was to obtain more understanding of the meaning of FAPE for students with disabilities especially after the case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District in Colorado in 2017. It is significant for administrators and teachers understand the ruling in Endrew because this decision will critically affect special education programs. Several implications for school leaders after the case of Endrew.

Indicators of Progress in the Wake of Endrew F.: The Distinction Between Professional Recommendations and Judicial Rulings

The central obligation under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act is to provide each eligible student with a free appropriate public education (FAPE). In Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District RE-1 (2017), the U.S. Supreme Court revised the prior substantive standard for determining FAPE that the court had developed in Board of Education v. Rowley (1982). The Endrew F. court modified the Rowley standard of requiring the individualized education program (IEP) to be reasonably calculated to enable the student to receive educational benefit to requiring a student's IEP to be reasonably calculated to enable the student to “make progress appropriate in light of the student's circumstances.” The purpose of this article is to compare what the post– Endrew F. courts use with what the professional literature recommends as measures of appropriate progress. The results inform special education practitioners about the significant discrepancy between the courts’ focus on the “must” of legal requirements and the “should” of professional recommendations. The discussion suggests ways that special education professionals can use their expertise to inform courts and legislatures to narrow this gap for the benefit of more effective progress for students with disabilities.

Role of social determinants of health in differential respiratory exposure and health outcomes among children

BackgroundAttributes defining the Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) are associated with disproportionate exposures to environmental hazards and differential health outcomes among communities. The dynamics between SDoH, disproportionate environmental exposures, and differential health outcomes are often specific to micro-geographic areas.MethodsThis study focused on children less than 20 years of age who lived in Douglas County, Nebraska, during 2016–2019. To assess the role of SDoH in differential exposures, we evaluated the association between SDoH metrics and criteria pollutant concentrations and the association between SDoH and pediatric asthma exacerbations to quantify the role of SDoH in differential pediatric asthma outcomes. The Bayesian Poisson regression model with spatial random effects was used to evaluate associations.ResultsWe identified significant positive associations between the annual mean concentration of criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, particulate matter2.5, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide) with race (Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino), financial stability, and literacy. Additionally, there were significant positive associations between higher rates of pediatric asthma emergency department visits and neighborhoods with more Non-Hispanic Black children, children without health insurance coverage, and households without access to a vehicle.ConclusionsNon-Hispanic Black and Hispanic/Latino children living in Douglas County, NE experience disproportionately higher exposure to criteria pollutant concentrations. Additionally, higher rates of asthma exacerbations among Non-Hispanic Black children could be due to reduced access to respiratory care that is potentially the result of financial instability and vehicle access. These results could inform city planners and health care providers to mitigate respiratory risks among these higher at-risk populations.

Five Years Since Endrew F.: How the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal Have Applied the Endrew F. U.S. Supreme Court Ruling and Why This Matters for Special Education in Schools

This paper provides an overview of the U.S. Circuit Court cases following the most recent U.S. Supreme Court decision related to special education: Endrew F. v. Douglas County Sch. Dist. (2017). This article will be helpful for school leaders who are on the front lines of implementing special education law as several implications of the Endrew F. case are considered: (1) reasonable progress is the legal standard, (2) crafting an IEP is an individualized, fact-intensive endeavor, (3) parent involvement is critical, (4) beware procedural errors, (5) the law favors the LRE, and (6) be prepared to fully implement the IEP.

Joint association between ambient air pollutant mixture and pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Background:Exposure to air pollutants is known to exacerbate asthma, with prior studies focused on associations between single pollutant exposure and asthma exacerbations. As air pollutants often exist as a complex mixture, there is a gap in understanding the association between complex air pollutant mixtures and asthma exacerbations. We evaluated the association between the air pollutant mixture (52 pollutants) and pediatric asthma exacerbations.Method:This study focused on children (age ≤ 19 years) who lived in Douglas County, Nebraska, during 2016–2019. A seasonal-scale joint association between the outdoor air pollutant mixture adjusting for potential confounders (temperature, precipitation, wind speed, and wind direction) in relation to pediatric asthma exacerbation-related emergency department (ED) visits was evaluated using the generalized weighted quantile sum (qWQS) regression with repeated holdout validation.Results:We observed associations between air pollutant mixture and pediatric asthma exacerbations during spring (lagged by 5 days), summer (lag 0–5 days), and fall (lag 1–3 days) seasons. The estimate of the joint outdoor air pollutant mixture effect was higher during the summer season (adjusted-βWQS = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66, 1.55), followed by spring (adjusted-βWQS = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.62) and fall (adjusted-βWQS = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.33) seasons. Among the air pollutants, PM2.5, pollen, and mold contributed higher weight to the air pollutant mixture.Conclusion:There were associations between outdoor air pollutant mixture and pediatric asthma exacerbations during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Among the 52 outdoor air pollutant metrics investigated, PM2.5, pollen (sycamore, grass, cedar), and mold (Helminthosporium, Peronospora, and Erysiphe) contributed the highest weight to the air pollutant mixture.

A 2019 Outbreak Investigation of Hepatitis A Virus Infections in the United States Linked to Imported Fresh Blackberries.

Globally, hepatitis A virus (HAV) is one of the most common agents of acute viral hepatitis and causes approximately 1.4 million cases and 90,000 deaths annually despite the existence of an effective vaccine. In 2019, federal, state, and local partners investigated a multi-state outbreak of HAV infections linked to fresh blackberries sourced from multiple suppliers in Michoacán, Mexico. A total of 20 individuals with outbreak-related HAV infection were reported in seven states, including 11 hospitalizations, and no deaths. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Nebraska State and Douglas County Health Departments conducted a traceback investigation for fresh blackberries reportedly purchased by 16 ill persons. These individuals reported purchasing fresh blackberries from 11 points of service from September 16 through 29, 2019 and their clinical isolates assessed through next-generation sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were genetically similar. The traceback investigation did not reveal convergence on a common grower or packing house within Mexico, but all of the blackberries were harvested from growers in Michoacán, Mexico. FDA did not detect the pathogen after analyzing fresh blackberry samples from four distributors, one consumer, and from nine importers at the port of entry as a result of increased screening. Challenges included gaps in traceability practices and the inability to recover the pathogen from sample testing, which prohibited investigators from determining the source of the implicated blackberries. This multi-state outbreak illustrated the importance of food safety practices for fresh produce that may contribute to foodborne illness outbreaks.

Drowsy driving and teen motor vehicle crashes: Impact of changing school start times.

Motor vehicle crashes (MVC) are the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States, with drowsy driving a major contributing factor. Early school start times have been identified as a significant factor that reduces adolescent sleep duration, which in turn contributes to drowsy driving and MVC. This paper examined the longitudinal impact of delaying secondary school start times on self-reported student drowsy driving and teen MVC. Secondary school students (10thand 11thgrade, 51.7% female, 67.8% White) in the United Statescompleted annual surveys 1 year before and 2 years after implementation of later school start times (70-mindelay, n range 1642-2452 per year), reporting frequency of drowsy driving (less than once/week vs. at least once/week). Teen (16-18 years) MVC data from the Colorado Department of Transportation for the 2 yearsbefore and 2 yearsafter later start time implementation were compared for Arapahoe County (where start times changed) and neighboring Adams County and Douglas County (where start times did not change). With later start times, there was a significant drop in the percent of students who reported frequent drowsy driving (pre-change: 32.6%, post-change: 21.9%, follow-up: 22.8%). Weekday teen MVC rates went down in Arapahoe County (p = .04) during the school year, while no change or increases in MVC rates were seen in neighboring counties. Healthy school start times are important for adolescent health and safety, with study findings highlighting the downstream effects of increased sleep duration following a 70-min delay in secondary school start times on adolescent drowsy driving and teen MVC rates.

PROVENANCE OF THE RED-BELLIED SNAKE, STORERIA OCCIPITOMACULATA (STORER) (SQUAMATA: NATRICIDAE), COLLECTED FROM EASTERN NEBRASKA, U.S.A., IN THE 19TH CENTURY

I reaffirmed the existence of a red-bellied snake, Storeria occipitomaculata (Storer, 1839), collected in an allopatric locality in eastern Nebraska, U.S.A., in the 19th century. I utilized data associated with this snake, MCZ Herpetology R-135 (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts), to determine it was probably collected in the 1850s, approximately 170 years ago, either in the eastern portion of the Platte River Valley in western Douglas County or in the Missouri River Valley in eastern Washington County, bordering Iowa. I used this information to discuss the biogeographic and conservation implications for populations of S. occipitomaculata occurring in the Prairie Peninsula of the American Midwest and in the grassland-dominated plains. Moreover, I demonstrate the importance of reevaluating historic specimens in collections and the data associated with them to generate critical insights into species biogeography, ecology, and conservation.

Grimmia serrana J. Muñoz, Shevock & D.R. Toren Confirmed New for Oregon

Grimmia serrana is a species new to the moss flora of Oregon; it was formerly considered a California endemic. The new record is based on a specimen collected in Douglas County, Oregon by the author in May of 2020. Species and site descriptions, site-specific photographs, and specimen photographs are provided.

Needs Assessment of Perimenopause Resources and Services

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) health disparities have been well documented in previous research; however, limited research has been conducted on racial/ethnic differences in health among LGBT older adults. Past research suggests that LGBT adults from racial/ethnic minority groups may encounter more discrimination and stigma than white LGBT adults, resulting in poorer health. This study investigated differences in general health between racial/ethnic groups in LGBT adults aged 50 and older from the 2018 and 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System annual surveys. The average ages were 64.2 years for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) participants (n=3636) and 65.4 years for the transgender participants (n=972). For self-rated general health, the chi-square analysis indicated that there were significant differences between the racial/ethnic groups for both LGB and transgender participants, χ2(4, n=3630)=46.47, p<.001 and χ2(4, n=969)=19.03, p=.001, respectively. Logistic regression analyses found that, compared to White LGB adults, Hispanic LGB adults had higher odds (aOR=1.8, 95% CI=1.2-2.5) and Asian LGB adults had lower odds of reporting fair or poor health, (aOR=0.43, 95% CI=0.2-0.9). For transgender participants, Hispanic and Other Race adults had approximately twice the odds of reporting fair or poor health compared to White adults (aOR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.7, and aOR=1.9, 95% CI=1.2-3.0, respectively).In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that cultural differences in racial/ethnic groups may influence the health of the LGBT community, making it an important factor to consider in research on LGBT older adults.

Needs Assessment of Perimenopause Resources and Services

Studies show that women lack knowledge about perimenopause and feel unprepared to make healthcare decisions during this life transition. Most women want to be involved in their healthcare decisions and need timely, free, and accurate information. We conducted a needs assessment in Douglas County, Kansas by systematically reviewing regional organizations that might offer services and resources related to women’s health in midlife. We compared these resources to a benchmark for menopausal care available online nationwide (Gennev.com). We documented the primary purpose of each organization (e.g., cosmetic, wellness, medical care), services and resources offered (e.g., hormone therapy, counseling, non-pharmacological treatments), methods of outreach (e.g., blogs, classes), target audience, costs, and types of service providers (e.g., physician, counselor). We surveyed 9 regional websites: 5 offered medical care, 3 cosmetic and wellness services, 2 were municipal organizations, 2 offered mental health/social support. Four organizations offered services targeted specifically towards perimenopausal women. The most commonly offered services were hormone replacement therapy (44%), nutritional supplements (33%), and weight loss programs (33%). Very few offered educational resources (1) or menopause assessments (1) and none offered tailored psychosocial support for the perimenopause transition. The services offered were expensive with no free services and very few free resources. Organizations were primarily staffed by medical providers, only 1 organization had Menopause Practitioners certified by the North American Menopause Society. Our results demonstrate a need for comprehensive educational and support services for perimenopausal women to fulfill the need for timely, accessible, and accurate information during this understudied health transition.

Increased pulmonary circulatory disease diagnosis risk associated with heatwave

RationaleObservational studies suggest that increased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk is associated with prolonged, high ambient temperatures (i.e., heatwaves). Yet, reports of pulmonary circulatory disease (PCD) risk associated with heatwaves are elusive. Faced with evidence of a changing global climate, local public health practitioners must now assess disease risk associated with climate change phenomena in their communities. ObjectiveDetermine the relative odds of pulmonary circulatory diagnosis among subjects admitted to hospital emergency departments (EDs) from 29 May 2012 to 3 August 2012 and subjects admitted to the ED during the same calendar days in 2011 in Douglas County, NE. Methods and resultsA retrospective, observational, case-control design was used to estimate PCD diagnosis risk using conditional logistic regression. The estimated PCD diagnosis odds ratio was 4.35 (95% CI = 1.08 – 17.57). ConclusionIn Douglas County NE the risk of PCD diagnoses was higher in the ED population admitted from 28 May to 3 August 2012 than the ED population admitted during the same calendar days in 2011.

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of the COVID-19 Response in a Local Public Health System.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic tested the capacity of local health systems to understand and respond to changing conditions. Although data on new cases of COVID-19 were widely shared in communities, there was less information on the multisector response activities and factors associated with implementation. To address this gap, this empirical case study examined (a) the pattern of implementation of COVID-19 response activities and (b) the factors and critical events associated with both the pattern of new cases and the implementation of the local COVID-19 response. We used a participatory monitoring and evaluation system to capture, code, characterize, and communicate 580 COVID-19 response activities implemented in the city of Lawrence and Douglas County, Kansas. Collaboration across sectors including public health, medical services, city/county government, businesses, social services, public schools, and universities enabled the local public health system’s response effort. Documentation results showed the varying pattern of new COVID-19 cases and response activities over time and the factors identified as enabling or impeding the response and related new cases. Similar participatory monitoring and evaluation methods can be used by local health systems to help understand and respond to the changing conditions of COVID-19 response and recovery.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 Cluster Associated With Deer Harvested at a Single Wildlife Hunting Area, Oregon, 2017.

The Oregon Health Authority routinely investigates clusters of reportable enteric diseases identified by whole-genome sequencing. While investigating 2 cases of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in 2019, in which both patients were exposed to the same home-processed "jerky" and clinical isolates matched within 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we discovered, by searching the National Library of Medicine's National Center for Biotechnology Information website, 3 other cases of E coli O157:H7 from 3 Oregon counties-Tillamook, Umatilla, and Douglas-whose clinical isolates were within 9 SNPs of the 2 initial matched cases. We analyzed interview data for 3 case patients and followed up with additional hypothesis-generating questions. Onset of illness for the Tillamook, Umatilla, and Douglas county cases were October 7, 2017, October 27, 2017, and April 30, 2018, respectively. The median age of the 5 case patients was 16 years. Parents of 2 of the 5 case patients, each from a different county, had harvested deer approximately 20 miles from each other in the same Douglas County wildlife hunting unit in late September 2017. The case from Umatilla County was lost to follow-up. Although it is well documented that deer are a viable and substantial reservoir of E coli O157:H7, to our knowledge, this is the first time that venison from a common wildlife hunting unit was found to be associated with a cluster of illnesses. This finding suggests a geographic nidus for E coli O157:H7. We recommend routinely asking about wildlife hunting units when developing exposure hypotheses involving potential venison-associated clusters.