Kane County Research Articles

A whole-food, plant-based program in an African American faith-based population.

The African American (AA) population is disproportionately impacted by chronic disease as well as many of the leading causes of preventable death, including hypertension, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In the AA community of Kane County, Illinois, the incidence of chronic disease is particularly high. A standardized Zoom-based group program that gives participants the knowledge, skills, and support to adopt a whole-food plant-based diet has been shown to rapidly improve health. The results of a cohort analysis were analyzed to assess the effectiveness of this program within an AA community characterized by a high burden of chronic illnesses. Participants were recruited from a network of 12 AA churches in Illinois to participate in Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute's "15-Day Whole-Food Plant-Based (WFPB) Jumpstart" program. The medically-facilitated 15-Day Jumpstart program provided WFPB nutrition education, coaching, and cooking demonstrations during seven 1 and 2-h Zoom sessions. Participants underwent pre- and post- metabolic screenings to assess for changes in their weight, vital signs, blood sugar, and cholesterol measurements. Changes in diet, biometrics, and patient-centered outcomes from baseline to the end of the program were assessed via paired t-tests for the normally distributed measures, and a Wilcoxon signed rank test for measures that were not normally distributed. Twenty-one AA adults participated. Ten of 16 who provided results had hypertension, 5 had diabetes, 5 had pre-diabetes, and 5 had hyperlipidemia. Participants ate more vegetables (median 2 servings at baseline vs. 3 during the program), greens (1 vs. 3), fruit (2 vs. 3), whole grains (1 vs. 2), and legumes (1 vs. 2). They decreased their consumption of meat, eggs and dairy, added fat, processed foods, and high-fat plant foods (p < 0.05 for each comparison). Participants reported significantly better energy (median 5 at baseline vs. 9 during the program, on a 10-point scale), sleep (7 vs. 8.5), and mood (8 vs. 9). Average weight loss was 5.8 pounds (199.9 to 194.1, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure dropped from 129.7 to 119.9 (p = 0.02), and total cholesterol dropped from 185.1 to 147.9 (p < 0.001). All participants who provided data reported an intent to continue eating at least a partially WFPB diet following the program. The 15-Day WFPB Jumpstart program led to significant changes in diet, resulting in improvement in several chronic disease measures in this AA community. This rapid improvement can reinforce behavior change. Further large-scale implementation is needed to confirm these preliminary results and to understand whether behaviors and outcomes are sustained.

New middle and late Smithian ammonoid faunas from the Utah/Arizona border: New evidence for calibrating Early Triassic transgressive-regressive trends and paleobiogeographical signals in the western USA basin

New Smithian (Early Triassic) ammonoid assemblages were sampled near the Utah/Arizona border. They provide several spatiotemporal constraints on the regional Sinbad Formation showing that the extent of the Smithian sea in the southwestern-most part of the western USA basin is larger than previously expected, reaching northern Arizona and an area just east of Kanab in Kane County, Utah. This southwestern-most excursion of the sea in the western USA basin is part of the third order Smithian transgression-regression cycle, which is well-documented worldwide. These new spatiotemporal constraints also indicate that the Sinbad Formation spans the late middle to early late Smithian time interval in the studied area. The observed transgressive trend corresponds to the warm temperatures of the middle-early late Smithian and the regressive trend to the cooling phase spanning the Smithian-Spathian transition. Thus, the Sinbad Formation and its marine deposits are the direct result of global climatic fluctuations and related sea-level changes that occurred from the late middle Smithian to the Smithian-Spathian transition. This highlights the importance of the Sinbad Formation in untangling local and global changes occurring around the late Smithian, and thus in overcoming a major obstacle to the understanding of the biotic recovery after the Permian/Triassic boundary mass extinction. This also indirectly confirms that the western USA basin is a key area containing essential information for the understanding of the Early Triassic events. The taxonomic richness of late middle Smithian assemblages is much lower in the studied area than in the more northern localities. However, the occurring taxa confirm the known regional to global distribution of Smithian ammonoids, witnessing the major global environmental changes from the middle Smithian to the early Spathian.

Cut, Fill, Repeat: Slot Canyons of Dry Fork, Kane County

The slot canyons of southern Utah have become popular destinations for hikers, climbers, and photographers. For most of these canyons, the geology is simple: sediment carried by flowing water abrades a thick, homogeneous sandstone. As time passes, the rate of down- cutting is rapid compared to the rate of cliff retreat. End of story. The strange abundance and configuration of the slot canyons along Dry Fork Coyote (a tributary of Coyote Gulch and the Escalante River), however, have a convoluted geologic history that is climate-driven and involves canyon cutting, canyon filling, and more canyon cutting.

Karyotypes of the North American Parthenogenetic Whiptail Lizard Aspidoscelis velox, and Return of Aspidoscelis innotatus to the Synonymy of A. velox (Reptilia: Squamata: Teiidae)

Aspidoscelis velox is a triploid parthenogenetic species with clonal inheritance. We studied karyotypes of population samples representing diverse localities from much of its range. All specimens were triploids, but six different karyotypes were found with small differences among them, apparently resulting from chromosomal mutations that occurred after the origin of the species. As in other parthenogens, karyotypes and allozymes reveal variant clones in A. velox, but we do not recommend naming any of these genetic lineages as separate species. Specimens from the vicinity of Kanab, Kane County, Utah, have been treated by other herpetologists as a separate but morphologically similar species, Aspidoscelis innotatus, based on the assumption that they represented a diploid species. That assumption, made without any genetic evidence of ploidy, was recently based on evidence of histoincompatibility among certain population samples, but that could have been caused by factors other than ploidy (e.g., mutations at histocompatibility loci). We have examined specimens from Kane County, Utah, and all individuals were triploids similar to other population samples of A. velox from Arizona and New Mexico.

Initial Evaluation of Adolescent Females Hospitalized with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in adolescents can be severe and life-threatening. Up to 30% of young women who are hospitalized with anemia due to HMB have a bleeding disorder. Guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommend evaluation for bleeding disorders in such patients. ACOG recommendations include testing for von Willebrand disease (VWD) and specify that consultation with a hematologist may help in interpreting results. NHLBI recommends testing for vWD be done in conjunction with a hematologist. As von Willebrand factor is an acute phase reactant, testing when patients are severely anemic and bleeding may not provide accurate results. ACOG guidelines do not include testing for platelet function disorders (PFD), though PFD may be as prevalent as VWD in females with HMB. Early and accurate diagnosis of bleeding disorders is important for health and quality of life, yet limited data exists on the diagnostic evaluation for bleeding disorders in adolescent females hospitalized for HMB.Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic evaluation of bleeding disorders in adolescent females hospitalized for HMB.Methods: A retrospective, single center chart review of female patients aged 9-21 years hospitalized for HMB and anemia at a tertiary care children's hospital from January 1, 2000 until December 31, 2017 was done. HMB was defined as menses ≥7 days in length, use of 8 or more pads or tampons per day during menses, pictorial bleeding assessment chart (PBAC) score greater than 100, or symptomatic anemia. Patients were identified from our Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) registry, review of patients seen at a comprehensive clinic staffed by pediatric hematologists and gynecologists for adolescent females with HMB and bleeding disorders, and by an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) query of admission and discharge diagnoses of HMB and anemia. Data obtained included clinical features, diagnostic evaluation, and laboratory results.Results: 118 patients hospitalized for HMB and anemia were included. Inpatient Hematology consult or outpatient referral occurred in 68 (58%) of the patients; 60/68 (88%) had a bleeding disorder evaluation completed. 34 patients had a hematologic disorder. PFD was the most common (15/34; 44%) followed by VWD (9/34; 26%). 42% (50/118) of the patients did not have a Hematology consult or outpatient referral (Table 1). While hospitalized for HMB and anemia, 29 of the 50 patients had testing for vWD performed and only 4/29 (14%) had testing repeated as an outpatient once hemoglobin normalized. No patients tested for VWD while inpatient had results consistent with the diagnosis. Platelet function testing was performed in 10/50 patients using the platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) in 8 patients and platelet aggregometry in 2 patients.Conclusions: Despite national guidelines and the presence of known risk factors such as HMB since menarche and HMB causing severe anemia, the hematology service was not involved in the diagnostic process for a significant number of adolescent females. In these patients, testing often occurred while patients were hospitalized and was not repeated. Testing for platelet function disorders occurred infrequently and mainly consisted of the PFA-100 which lacks sensitivity and specificity. When patients were evaluated by Hematology and tested for bleeding disorders, a large proportion had a bleeding disorder, of which PFD were most common. This study demonstrates the need for standardization of the evaluation of adolescent females hospitalized for HMB. Guidelines should be updated to include testing for PFD. Hematologists should be involved when females are hospitalized for HMB and anemia. [Display omitted] DisclosuresCarpenter:Genentech Incorporated: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nationwide Children's Hospital: Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Honoraria; Kedrion Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy; HEMA Biologics: Consultancy; American Academy of Pediatrics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; National Hemophilia Foundation (Impact Education): Speakers Bureau; Kane County State's Attorney: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Speakers Bureau; 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office- Colorado: Consultancy; Kedrion Biopharmaceuticals: Consultancy.

Siblings with Rare Hemophilia a Genetic Mutation and Normal Factor VIII Levels

BACKGROUNDHemophilia A is an X-linked inherited disorder which affects 1 in 5,000 males and is caused by mutations in the factor VIII (FVIII) gene. Hemophilia is typically diagnosed by measurement of FVIII procoagulant (FVIII:C) activity. Molecular genetic testing of the FVIII gene identifies pathogenic variants in as many as 98% of individuals with hemophilia A. The specific genetic test performed varies and must take into account the severity of hemophilia and the gene affected. Hemophilia A families with severe disease may have genetic analysis for intron 22 and intron 1 mutation performed followed by DNA sequencing if intron analysis is uninformative. Families with mild to moderate disease often need upfront gene sequencing for diagnosis.OBJECTIVETo describe a case series of siblings with FVIII gene mutation having normal Factor VIII activity levels, with grandfather found to have similar gene mutationDESIGN/METHOD: Case SeriesRESULTSCase 1An 8 year old boy with presumed Von Willebrand disease (VWD) was seen in our clinic for evaluation for bleeding disorders. Testing prior to being seen in clinic showed Factor VIII level of 37%, Von Willebrand factor activity of 53% and Von Willebrand factor antigen of 103%. He had post-operative hemorrhage after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy at 3 years of age, as well as frequent epistaxis. Family history was significant for sibling with epistaxis, a maternal grandfather with VWD and sister with menorrhagia. Subsequently, his maternal grandfather was found to have mild hemophilia A based on genetic testing which brought into question the child's diagnosis of mild Type 1 VWD. Repeat testing showed Factor VIII 64%, Von Willebrand factor antigen 126% and Ristocetin cofactor activity 93%. Genetic testing revealed he was hemizygous for the pathogenic variant, c.1621A>T (p.Thr541Ser), in the FVIII gene. He is doing well with normal Factor VIII levels, without significant bleeding episodes and remains on DDAVP as needed.Case 2A 7 year old boy with presumed history of type 1 VWD was seen in our clinic for evaluation for a bleeding disorder. He had a history of cephalohematoma after skull fracture, as well as frequent epistaxis. Testing prior to being seen in our clinic showed Von Willebrand factor antigen of 87%, Von Willebrand factor activity of 69%, and Factor VIII activity of 32%. Family history was as reported for his sibling (Case 1). In our clinic, he had genetic testing performed that was not consistent with VWD Type 2N (Normandy phenotype). Repeat labs in our clinic showed Von Willebrand factor antigen of 100%, Von Willebrand factor activity of 92%, and Factor VIII activity of 50%. He was treated with Von Willebrand factor replacement prior to planned foot surgery as well as DDAVP. Subsequent to identification of a FVIII gene mutation in his maternal grandfather and brother, testing revealed he was hemizygous for the same mutation detailed in Case 1. He is doing well with normal Factor VIII levels, no significant bleeding and remains on DDAVP as needed for bleeding.CONCLUSIONThe c.1621A>T (p.Thr541Ser) variant which occurs in exon 11 of the FVIII gene, has been is known to cause mild hemophilia A. The Thr541Ser substitution is rare and is present in ~0.009% of the NHLBI exome sequencing project. This is a unique case series of siblings with a rare mutation having normal Factor VIII levels and grandfather with similar mutation who was eventually also diagnosed with mild hemophilia A. The underlying gene mutation is an important but not sole determinant of residual FVIII:C in hemophilia A patients. As our understanding of pathophysiologic process of causative genetic event and baseline FVIII:C in patients is limited, this case series highlights the current diagnostic challenges in the mild Hemophilia A population and the importance of appropriate diagnostic techniques to avoid delayed diagnosis. Correct identification of mutations also provides the opportunity to define molecular consequences and identify residues important for factor VIII activity. DisclosuresCarpenter:Bayer: Honoraria; Kedrion Biopharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Nationwide Children's Hospital: Speakers Bureau; Kane County State's Attorney: Consultancy; 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office- Colorado: Consultancy; Kedrion Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; HEMA Biologics: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Speakers Bureau; National Hemophilia Foundation (Impact Education): Speakers Bureau; Genentech Incorporated: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; American Academy of Pediatrics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy.

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Adolescent Females with Platelet Function Disorders

Background: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) occurs frequently in adolescent females and a significant proportion have an underlying bleeding disorder. As diagnostic techniques for platelet function disorders (PFD) improve, these disorders are now recognized to commonly cause HMB and may be as prevalent as von Willebrand disease. Limited data exists about the prevalence of PFD in adolescents with HMB. Even less is reported on management and treatment outcomes in patients with HMB and PFD. HMB can negatively impact quality of life and cause serious adverse effects. In order to appropriately treat heavy menstrual bleeding in adolescent females with PFD, more information is needed about the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and management of these patients.Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence, clinical features, management, and outcomes of HMB in adolescent females with platelet function disordersMethods: A retrospective, single center chart review was performed of female patients aged 9-21 years with HMB and a diagnosed PFD treated at a tertiary care pediatric hospital from January 1, 2000 until December 31, 2017. Heavy menstrual bleeding was defined as menses lasting longer than 7 days, use of 8 or more pads or tampons per day during menstrual cycle, pictorial bleeding assessment chart score greater than 100, or symptomatic anemia. Patients were identified from our Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) registry, review of patients seen at a comprehensive clinic staffed by pediatric hematologists and gynecologists for adolescent females with HMB and bleeding disorders, and by an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) query of admission and discharge diagnoses of HMB and anemia. Data obtained included demographics, clinical features, laboratory results, treatment modalities, and outcomes.Results: 41 patients with PFD who achieved menarche were identified. 36 of these (88%) met criteria for HMB. The median age at presentation of HMB was 14 years (range 10-18). 35/36 patients had documented abnormal platelet aggregometry (PA) and the majority of patients (27/35) had at least 2 sets of abnormal PA. All patients were diagnosed with non-specific PFD. 15 of the 36 patients (41%) required hospitalization and packed red blood cell transfusion for severe anemia at time of presentation. Mean and median hemoglobin at presentation of HMB respectively were 9.5 gm/dL and 11.3 gm/dL (range 3.1-14.8) and 21 patients (58%) were anemic at presentation. 26 patients had ferritin obtained at presentation and 18 (69%) were iron deficient using our lab's reference range of ferritin less than 13 ng/dL. Half of the patients (18/36, 50%) failed first-line treatment. Successful first-line treatment included hormonal therapy alone (4 patients), hemostatic therapy alone with tranexamic acid (4 patients), hormonal plus hemostatic therapy (7 patients), and intra-uterine device plus hemostatic therapy (1 patient). The mean duration of HMB until report of resolution was 8.2 months (median 5 months; range 1-24). 8% (3/33) of patients reported continued HMB at last documented clinic visit.Conclusions: HMB occurred in the majority of adolescent female patients with PFD. These patients were frequently anemic and iron deficient. Severe and life-threatening anemia requiring hospitalization and packed red blood cell transfusion was common. First line treatment of HMB was not uniform and failed in 50% of the patients. Prospective studies are needed to standardize treatment of HMB in adolescents with PFD. DisclosuresCarpenter:Kedrion Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Honoraria; CSL Behring: Speakers Bureau; Kane County State's Attorney: Consultancy; National Hemophilia Foundation (Impact Education): Speakers Bureau; HEMA Biologics: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk: Consultancy; Nationwide Children's Hospital: Speakers Bureau; American Academy of Pediatrics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Genentech Incorporated: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kedrion Biopharmaceuticals: Consultancy; 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office- Colorado: Consultancy; Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc: Consultancy.

Jarosite and Alunite in Ancient Terrestrial Sedimentary Rocks: Reinterpreting Martian Depositional and Diagenetic Environmental Conditions.

Members of the alunite group are precipitated at low pH (<1 to ~4) in oxidizing environments, are unstable in circumneutral conditions, and are widespread on Mars. At Mollies Nipple in Kane County, Utah, USA, jarosite and alunite are abundant as diagenetic cements in Jurassic sandstones. This research characterizes the jarosite and alunite cements with the goal of determining their origin, and tests the hypothesis that jarosite and alunite may be more stable than the current understanding indicates is possible. Previous studies have placed the jarosite- and alunite-bearing caprock at Mollies Nipple in the Navajo Sandstone, but the presence of water-lain deposits, volcanic ash, volcanic clasts, and peloids show that it is one of the overlying Middle Jurassic units that records sea level transgressions and regressions. A paragenetic timing, established from petrographic methods, shows that much of the cement was precipitated early in a marginal marine to coastal dune depositional environment with a fluctuating groundwater table that drove ferrolysis and evolved the groundwater to a low pH. Microbial interaction was likely a large contributor to the evolution of this acidity. Jarosite and alunite are clearly more stable in natural environments than is predicted by laboratory experiments, and therefore, the Martian environments that have been interpreted as largely acidic and/or dry over geologic time may have been more habitable than previously thought.

Ending Business as Usual: The Kane County Health Department in a Worsening Fiscal Climate.

Ending Business as Usual: The Kane County Health Department in a Worsening Fiscal Climate.

Pertussis knowledge gaps among physicians

Effective prevention and treatment of pertussis may be more likely to occur if physicians are knowledgeable about this highly communicable infectious disease. Multiple studies have documented under-diagnosis of pertussis in adolescents and adults, but very little data is available regarding physici an knowledge of pertussis. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended booster vaccination for all adolescents and adults through 64 years of age against pertussis since 2006. Despite the recommendations, vaccination coverage with the Tdap (tetanus toxoid, reduced dose diphtheria, acel lular pertussis) vaccine among adolescents 13-17 years was 40.8% compared with 72.2% for Td vaccine in 2008. This survey of physicians from McHenry and Kane counties in Illinois administered from July 2002 to February 2003 and from July 2003 to February 2004 respectively, demonstrated significant gaps in pertussis knowledge and that physicians reported a minority of suspected pertussis cases to the health department. Review of board preparation materials available during this same period of time-demonstrated gaps in pertussis coverage. Baseline and follow-up data quantifying physician knowledge may help target education and determine associations with pertussis vaccination and reporting.

Using a Web-Based Tool to Evaluate a Collaborative Community Health Needs Assessment

Despite the fact that community assessment has been identified as a core function of public health for more than 2 decades, evaluations of the impact of the practice of community health assessment are few in number and have only recently been published. This article describes an evaluation of a 2011-2012 community health needs assessment (CHNA) of Kane County, Illinois. The evaluation customized and used a reliable and valid Web-based survey, the New York State Community Health Assessment Usefulness Survey, to measure Kane County CHNA user perceptions of content, format, and impact utility of the assessment. Survey respondents were community leaders and members from a diverse set of professional backgrounds and were nearly evenly divided between those who had actively participated in the CHNA and those that had not. Respondents were overwhelmingly positive in their evaluation of the Kane CHNA, with an average per item score of greater than 3 on a 4-point Likert scale, although respondents who were not involved in the CHNA process were less positive than those directly involved. Implications for public health practitioners and researchers are discussed.

The Conco Mine, North Aurora, Kane County, Illinois

10.1080/00357529.2012.657984-F0001 Figure 1. Marcasite stalactite cluster (“Saguaro Cactus”); the specimen is 6.5 × 3.7 cm. Anthony Mendoza specimen, Jeff Scovil photo. 10.1080/00357529.2012.657984...

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs: The Wilderness Society v. Kane County Leaves Everyone Confused About Navigating a Right-of-Way Claim Under Revised Statute 2477

The Tenth Circuit’s recent decision in The Wilderness Society v. Kane County has changed the landscape of litigation arising out of Revised Statute 2477, a provision of the Mining Act of 1886 repealed by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. Prior to this decision, the presumption was that the United States owned all federal public lands unless an adverse claimant proved otherwise. Moreover, any adverse claimant was required to bring an action under the Quiet Title Act to divest the federal government of title to its property. This decision turns both of those presumptions inside-out, provided that states and counties assert rights under R.S. 2477, regardless of whether they can be proven. This Article explores the history of R.S. 2477, its repeal by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and the Tenth Circuit’s historical treatment of R.S. 2477 claims. It also discusses why the Tenth Circuit’s holding in the Kane County case misconstrues the nature of an R.S. 2477 dispute, overlooks long-recognized presumptions about federal ownership of federal land, and ignores the myriad of legal issues involved in an R.S. 2477 dispute. Lastly, it makes specific suggestions about how the Tenth Circuit should address litigation surrounding the growing number of R.S. 2477 battles in years to come, to enable litigants and lower courts to more easily navigate this complex area of law.

Analyzing spatial aggregation error in statistical models of late-stage cancer risk: a Monte Carlo simulation approach

PurposeThis paper examines the effect of spatial aggregation error on statistical estimates of the association between spatial access to health care and late-stage cancer.MethodsMonte Carlo simulation was used to disaggregate cancer cases for two Illinois counties from zip code to census block in proportion to the age-race composition of the block population. After the disaggregation, a hierarchical logistic model was estimated examining the relationship between late-stage breast cancer and risk factors including travel distance to mammography, at both the zip code and census block levels. Model coefficients were compared between the two levels to assess the impact of spatial aggregation error.ResultsWe found that spatial aggregation error influences the coefficients of regression-type models at the zip code level, and this impact is highly dependent on the study area. In one study area (Kane County), block-level coefficients were very similar to those estimated on the basis of zip code data; whereas in the other study area (Peoria County), the two sets of coefficients differed substantially raising the possibility of drawing inaccurate inferences about the association between distance to mammography and late-stage cancer risk.ConclusionsSpatial aggregation error can significantly affect the coefficient values and inferences drawn from statistical models of the association between cancer outcomes and spatial and non-spatial variables. Relying on data at the zip code level may lead to inaccurate findings on health risk factors.

A New Species ofHydropsyche(Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from Utah

ABSTRACT. Hydropsyche quitchupaha, n. sp., is described and illustrated based on 3 males collected in Sevier, Emery, and Kane counties, Utah. The upturned posteromesal lobes of tergum X, subapically swollen phallobase, and dorsally depressed phallus apex separate this species from all other members of the Hydropsyche scalaris Group.

Nearest neighbor methods applied to dune field organization: The Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Kane County, Utah, USA

Dune fields have recently come to be recognized as self-organizing systems that can be seen progressing from states of disorganization or randomness to uniformity. Dune systems can be highly sensitive to changes in factors, such as climate and sediment transport, that determine system state. Changes in climate and sediment state can take time to work their way through a dune system; this, in turn, leads to spatial heterogeneity in dune field organization. Using the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in southern Utah as a model, this study tests nearest neighbor analysis adapted as a method to objectively identify and characterize differences in two dimensional dune patterns within a dune field and to identify changes in dune patterns over time. Reducing transverse and barchanoid dunes from linear to three-point features in planar space emphasizes the clustering that occurs when dune lengths and wavelengths are more disorganized or random. This clustering may be in response to a system perturbation, such as an influx of sediment, and is reflected in lower nearest neighbor index ( R) values. As the system adjusts to the perturbation and moves towards steady state, dune length and spacing increase through migration and coalescing of smaller dunes; the resulting higher R values reflect this move towards greater uniformity in dune pattern. With the organizational states of dune systems recording feedback to changes in extrinsic climate and sediment factors, nearest neighbor analysis provides a proxy measure of system stability.

Spatial dynamic modeling and urban land use transformation: a simulation approach to assessing the costs of urban sprawl

Assessing the economic impacts of urban land use transformation has become complex and acrimonious. Although community planners are beginning to comprehend the economic trade-offs inherent in transforming the urban fringe, they find it increasingly difficult to analyze and assess the trade-offs expediently and in ways that can influence local decision making. New and sophisticated spatial modeling techniques are now being applied to urban systems that can be used for assessing the probable spatial outcomes of given communal policies. Applying an economic impact assessment to the probable spatial patterns can provide to planners the tools needed to quickly assess scenarios for policy formation that might ultimately help inform decision makers. This paper focuses on the theoretical underpinnings and the practical application of an economic impact analysis submodel developed within the Land Use Evolution and Impact Assessment Modeling (LEAM) environment. The conceptual framework of LEAM is described, followed by an application of the model to the assessment of the cost of urban sprawl in Kane County, Illinois. The high spatial resolution of the approach allows for discerning the macro-level implications of micro-level behaviors. The results show that spatially explicit dynamic modeling has various conceptual advantages over other approaches to modeling urban dynamics, both from a theoretical and a practical point of view. However, model validation and the assessment of the uncertainty of large-scale spatial dynamic models deserve considerable future attention. The implications of land use change decisions on individual and communal costs are discussed and ways to improve the methodology are outlined.

An Empirical Assessment of Presentation Formats for Trace Evidence with a Relatively Large and Quantifiable Random Match Probability

Since the early 1970s, academics have debated the wisdom of an explicit use of statistical information concerning the probability of a coincidental match in the presentation of forensic match evidence at trial. Critics pointed to the dangers of such numbers, arguing that jurors would misunderstand the numbers and exaggerate their importance in the case, being seduced into ignoring the other unquantified evidence. Data from a pool of people called for jury service in Kane County, Illinois, support the conclusion reached in most previous empirical research: Jurors tend to undervalue the scientific evidence when measured against a Bayesian norm. More importantly, the present results indicate that a careful use of Bayesian methods in the courtroom can assist the jury in reaching more accurate verdicts, a conclusion with less support in previous studies. This study also suggests that it may be possible in some contexts to achieve comparable improvements in accuracy by giving juries less information than is conventionally given to them. The significance of this last result, however, is more ambiguous.

A NEW SPECIES OF CERCERIS FROM SOUTHERN UTAH (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE, PHILANTHINAE)

Abstract A new species, Cerceris escalante, is described from Kane and Garfield counties, Utah.

Rural restructuring in the American West: land use, family and class discourses

Migration patterns, technological developments, and altered human–land relationships are combining to precipitate tremendous changes in rural communities across the western US. These processes of restructuring, however, have been quite contentious and divisive for many of the region's small towns. While we are beginning to understand the causes of recent growth and development trends, the consequences of contemporary forces of restructuring on communities remain unstudied. This paper explores the reactions of residents to forces of restructuring in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, the Methow Valley, Washington, Kane County, Utah, and Teton Valley, Idaho. In depth interviews and survey responses give voice to community members by allowing them to articulate their perceptions and interpretations of recent events. The analyses demonstrate tremendous diversity in the ways in which individuals interpret the changes taking place around them. These diverse interpretations challenge singular conceptions of community and highlight the ways in which notions of land use, family, and class are negotiated in the context of contemporary rural restructuring. The analysis further demonstrates the need for a more synthesized field of rural studies spanning disciplinary and national divides.