Kings Counties Research Articles

Swap Meets and Socioeconomic Alternatives for Mexican Immigrants: The Case of the San Joaquin Valley

Swap meets have a long tradition in California's San Joaquin Valley. These are markets of different sizes and characteristics that have changed and adapted to demographic changes in the Valley. This article has two interrelated objectives. The first is to describe swap meets' main characteristics and how they have changed, paying special attention to changes introduced by Mexican vendors and consumers. The second is to discuss the different strategies implemented by men and women of Mexican origin in order to open a business at the swap meets. This article is based on qualitative data gathered during four months of field work in southern Central Valley. Seventeen swap meets were studied in Kern, Tulare, Kings and southern Fresno Counties.

Association of marijuana use and the incidence of testicular germ cell tumors

The incidence of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) has been increasing the past 4 to 6 decades; however, exposures that account for this rise have not been identified. Marijuana use also grew during the same period, and it has been established that chronic marijuana use produces adverse effects on the human endocrine and reproductive systems. In this study, the authors tested the hypothesis that marijuana use is a risk factor for TGCT. A population-based, case-control study of 369 men ages 18 to 44 years who were diagnosed with TGCT from January 1999 through January 2006 was conducted in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties in Washington State. The responses of these men to questions on their lifetime marijuana use were compared with the responses of 979 age-matched controls who resided in the same 3 counties during the case diagnosis period. Men with a TGCT were more likely to be current marijuana smokers at the reference date compared with controls (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.1-2.5). In analyses according to histologic type, most of the association between current marijuana use and TGCT was observed in men who had nonseminomas/mixed histology tumors (current use: OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.3-4.0). Age at first use among current users (age<18 years [OR, 2.8] vs age>or=18 years [OR, 1.3]) and frequency of use (daily or weekly [OR, 3.0] vs less than once per week [OR, 1.8]) appeared to modify the risk. An association was observed between marijuana use and the occurrence of nonseminoma TGCTs. Additional studies of TGCTs will be needed to test this hypothesis, including molecular analyses of cannabinoid receptors and endocannabinoid signaling, which may provide clues regarding the biologic mechanisms of TGCTs.

Quantification of impervious surface in the Snohomish Water Resources Inventory Area of Western Washington from 1972–2006

A 34 year time series (1972–2006) of Landsat imagery for a portion of Snohomish and King Counties, Washington (the Snohomish Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA)) was analyzed to estimate the amount of land that was converted into impervious surface as a result of urban and residential development. Spectral unmixing was used to determine the fractional composition of vegetation, open, and shadow for each pixel. Unsupervised and supervised classification techniques were then used to derive preliminary land cover maps for each time period. Digital orthophotos were used to create agricultural, forest management, high elevation, and riparian masks. In conjunction with established Urban Growth Areas (UGAs), these masks were utilized for the application of spatial rules that identified impervious surface as a surrogate for urban and residential development. Temporal rules, that minimized classification error, were developed based on each pixel's classified trajectory over the time series of imagery. Overall cross-date classification accuracy for impervious v. non-impervious surface was 95%. The results of the analysis indicate that the area of impervious surface in the Snohomish WRIA increased by 255% over 34 years, from 3285 ha in 1972 to 11,652 ha in 2006. This approach demonstrates the unique value of the 35 year Landsat archive for monitoring impervious surface trends in rapidly urbanizing areas.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms During the First Six Months After Traumatic Brain Injury

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms During the First Six Months After Traumatic Brain Injury

A comparative flora of large urban parks: intraurban and interurban similarity in the megalopolis of the northeastern United States1

A comparative flora of ten large (≥ 400 ha) urban parks located in or bordering on Boston, MA; New York, NY; Philadelphia, PA; Baltimore, MD; and Washington, DC was created. Patterns of species presence or absence were analyzed to determine whether a common urban park flora exists; to determine interpark similarities; and the relationship between species diversity and human population of the counties in which the parks are located. The combined vascular flora for the ten parks contains 147 families, 599 genera and 1391 species, 490 of which are non-native. Fewer than 1% of the total number of species were present in all ten parks and less than 2.5% were present in nine or ten parks, indicating that a common urban park flora does not exist. Floristic similarity was related to the geographic proximity of the parks for both native and non-native species. However, the two parks in Bronx County, New York City had greater similarity to parks in Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC than the three parks in Kings and Queens Counties, New York City suggesting that species introductions and removals mask similarity related to geographic proximity. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant direct relationship between human population and non-native species diversity that may be a result of greater access to funds for plantings in more densely populated areas. Also, a significant inverse linear relationship was found between human population and native species diversity, which is likely caused by the higher intensity of trampling and vandalism causing a greater loss of native species.

Assessing Gaps Between Policy and Practice in Medicaid Disenrollment of Jail Detainees With Severe Mental Illness

Assessing Gaps Between Policy and Practice in Medicaid Disenrollment of Jail Detainees With Severe Mental Illness

Increased Use of Colorectal Cancer Tests

Increased Use of Colorectal Cancer Tests

Registration of ‘Clear White’ Wheat

Registration of ‘Clear White’ Wheat

Tolerance to Rust (Puccinia allii) in Seed Derived Garlic Progenies

In California, rust (Puccinia allii) on garlic (Allium sativum) was not considered an economic problem until 1998, when a severe infection of the disease caused an average 51% reduction in yield throughout the state. The weight of harvested bulbs was 25% to 60% smaller than the average weight in the previous year, and soluble solids were reduced by an average of 15%. Until recently, garlic varieties that are resistant or highly tolerant to rust have not been grown in garlic production fields in California. Open pollinated progenies derived from 3 Plant Introduction accessions of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service germplasm collection (PI 493099, PI 540315 and W6 12820) were inoculated with a suspension of urediniospores (1, 2 × 105/mL) isolated from rust infected garlic leaves obtained from production fields in Kings, Fresno and Yolo counties. Inoculations were carried out in a replicated experiment in the field under plastic covers, where 12 hours of misting was applied. The disease symptoms were scored on all leaves of the inoculated plants. The size of observed lesions varied from &lt;1 to 280 mm2. Of the 118 plants evaluated, 9.3% had an average leaf area with rust symptoms of less than 1%. The majority of the plants (83.1%) had 1 to 5% of leaf area infected, and over 6% of plants had symptoms on 5 to 25% of their leaf surface. The highest number of plants with a low percent of rust symptoms on leaves was observed on progenies produced from PI 493099. While all maternal plants used to produce the seeds showed rust symptoms, the presence of progenies with ≤0.5% of leaf area infected indicated that a tolerance source to P. allii may exist in the A. sativum NPGS, germplasm collection.

First Report of Powdery Mildew of Myosotis sylvatica (Wood Forget-me-not) Caused by Golovinomyces cynoglossi (Erysiphe cynoglossi) in Washington State

Wood forget-me-not cultivars are popular ornamentals in the Pacific Northwest. In western Washington, this species frequently displays symptoms and signs of powdery mildew after anthesis. This report records the disease from King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Skagit counties and describes and illustrates symptoms of the disease as well as taxonomically important features of the causal organism. Accepted for publication 29 October 2004. Published 24 November 2004.

Benefit-cost analysis of vaccination and preemptive slaughter as a means of eradicating foot-and-mouth disease.

To assess relative costs and benefits of vaccination and preemptive herd slaughter to control transmission of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV). 2,238 herds and 5 sale yards located in Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties of California. Direct costs associated with indemnity, slaughter, cleaning and disinfecting livestock premises, and vaccination were compared for various eradication strategies. Additional cost, total program cost, net benefit, and benefit-cost value (B/C) for each supplemental strategy were estimated, based in part on results of published model simulations for FMD. Sensitivity analyses were conducted. Mean herd indemnity payments were estimated to be dollars 2.6 million and dollars 110,359 for dairy and nondairy herds, respectively. Cost to clean and disinfect livestock premises ranged from dollars 18,062 to dollars 60,205. Mean vaccination cost was dollars 2,960/herd. Total eradication cost ranged from dollars 61 million to dollars 551 million. All supplemental strategies involving use of vaccination were economically efficient (B/C range, 5.0 to 10.1) and feasible, whereas supplemental strategies involving use of slaughter programs were not economically efficient (B-C, 0.05 to 0.8) or feasible. Vaccination with a highly efficacious vaccine may be a cost-effective strategy for control of FMD if vaccinated animals are not subsequently slaughtered and there is no future adverse economic impact, such as trade restrictions. Although less preferable than the baseline eradication program, selective slaughter of highest-risk herds was preferable to other preemptive slaughter strategies. However, indirect costs can be expected to contribute substantially more than direct costs to the total cost of eradication programs.

Description of an epidemic simulation model for use in evaluating strategies to control an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

To develop a spatial epidemic model to simulate intraherd and interherd transmission of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus. 2,238 herds, representing beef, dairy, swine, goats, and sheep, and 5 sale yards located in Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties of California. Using Monte-Carlo simulations, a spatial stochastic epidemic simulation model was developed to identify new herds that would acquire FMD following random selection of an index herd and to assess progression of an epidemic after implementation of mandatory control strategies. The model included species-specific transition periods for FMD infection, locations of herds, rates of direct and indirect contacts among herds, and probability distributions derived from expert opinions on probabilities of transmission by direct and indirect contact, as well as reduction in contact following implementation of restrictions on movements in designated infected areas and surveillance zones. Models of supplemental control programs included slaughter of all animals within a specified distance of infected herds, slaughter of only high-risk animals identified by use of a model simulation, and vaccination of all animals within a 5- to 50-km radius of infected herds. The FMD model represents a tool for use in planning biosecurity and emergency-response programs and in comparing potential benefits of various strategies for control and eradication of FMD appropriate for specific populations.

Results of epidemic simulation modeling to evaluate strategies to control an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

To assess estimated effectiveness of control and eradication procedures for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in a region of California. 2,238 herds and 5 sale yards in Fresno, Kings, andTulare counties of California. A spatial stochastic model was used to simulate hypothetical epidemics of FMD for specified control scenarios that included a baseline eradication strategy mandated by USDA and supplemental control strategies of slaughter or vaccination of all animals within a specified distance of infected herds, slaughter of only high-risk animals identified by use of a model simulation, and expansion of infected and surveillance zones. Median number of herds affected varied from 1 to 385 (17% of all herds), depending on type of index herd and delay in diagnosis of FMD. Percentage of herds infected decreased from that of the baseline eradication strategy by expanding the designated infected area from 10 to 20 km (48%), vaccinating within a 50-km radius of an infected herd (41%), slaughtering the 10 highest-risk herds for each infected herd (39%), and slaughtering all animals within 5 km of an infected herd (24%). Results for the model provided a means of assessing the relative merits of potential strategies for control and eradication of FMD should it enter the US livestock population. For the study region, preemptive slaughter of highest-risk herds and vaccination of all animals within a specified distance of an infected herd consistently decreased size and duration of an epidemic, compared with the baseline eradication strategy.

Prevalence of Salmonella spp in selected birds captured on California dairies.

To determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp in wild birds commonly found on California dairies. Prospective study. 7 selected species of birds were captured on 9 dairies in Kings and Tulare counties, California. Birds were captured (using traps and nets) and euthanatized, and the entire gastrointestinal tract was removed. Contents of the gastrointestinal tract were subjected to culture for Salmonella spp. 892 birds were captured, and Salmonella spp were isolated from 22 birds. The prevalence by dairy ranged from 0.7 to 16.7%, whereas the prevalence by bird species ranged from 1.2 to 3.2%. Cowbirds and English sparrows had the highest prevalence of Salmonella organisms. Five serotypes of Salmonella organisms were isolated, including Meleagridis, Montevideo, Muenster, Typhimurium, and an untyped serotype. On the basis of our findings, birds that commonly inhabit California dairies harbor Salmonella organisms. However, because of the low prevalence of Salmonella organisms in birds and the Salmonella serotypes isolated, birds are not important reservoirs of Salmonella organisms on California dairies.

Structure, stratigraphy, and hydrocarbon system of a Pennsylvanian pull-apart basin in north-central Texas

In 1989, a deep test in Cottle County, Texas, discovered an anomalously thick, gas-charged Pennsylvanian (lower Bend Group) clastic section along the Matador arch. Subsequent exploration and development provided data that support the concept that the natural gas fields in Cottle and King counties, north-central Texas, mark the extent of a hydrocarbon system related to the Broken Bone graben, an elongate 180 km2 pull-apart basin in southeastern Cottle County. The graben results from left-step overstepping of left-lateral fault zones and is a component of the Red River-Matador structural trend of the greater Ancestral Rocky Mountains. Arkosic detritus originating from the Amarillo-Wichita uplift was transported southward, over the region containing the graben, toward the Knox-Baylor trough. Episodic graben subsidence accommodated a part of this sediment load as syntectonic, cyclically stacked Bend Group (Atokan, lower Pennsylvanian) fluvial-deltaic to marine deposits. Organic facies within the graben fill are predominantly terrestrially derived (gas prone) and present in sufficient quantity for significant hydrocarbon generation. Lopatin method basin modeling, vitrinite reflectance (Ro) measurements, and Ro-calibrated pyrolysis-derived maturity measures demonstrate that the Bend Group organic facies in the graben have approached peak gas-generating maturation levels. Generated gas migrated within and outside of the basin following nonsealing faults and channelized fluvial pathways into several reservoir rock types in combination structural and stratigraphic traps. (Begin page 2)

Cervical spine injuries among submersion victims.

Submersion victims are frequently considered at high risk for cervical spine (C-spine) injury regardless of whether they sustain a traumatic injury. We hypothesized that C-spine injury is unlikely in submersion victims who do not sustain high-impact injuries. The study was a cohort study of all people who submerged between January 1974 and July 1996 and received medical care or were seen by the medical examiner in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties in Washington State. Eleven (0.5%) of 2,244 submersion victims had C-spine injuries. All 11 had submerged in open bodies of water; had clinical signs of serious injury; and had a history of diving, motorized vehicle crash, or fall from height. No C-spine injuries occurred in 880 low-impact submersions. Submersion victims are at risk for C-spine injury only if they have also sustained a traumatic injury. Routine C-spine immobilization does not appear to be warranted solely on the basis of a history of submersion.

The Gentry of the King's and Queen's Counties: Protestant Landed Society, 1690–1760

The aim of this research is to contribute towards the exact recovery of the social, cultural and physical milieux of members of the Irish Protestant elite in the period 1690–1760 by focussing on the landed gentry of The lung's and Queen's counties (modern day Offaly and Laois). This research, while building on the existing local studies is the first systematic analysis of landownership in this region since c.1905.

AN EARLY PERMIAN FLORA WITH LATE PERMIAN AND MESOZOIC AFFINITIES FROM NORTH-CENTRAL TEXAS

Abstract Early Permian (late Leonardian Series) plant assemblages from King, Knox, and Stonewall Counties of North-Central Texas are dominated by seed plants, some apparently congeneric with taxa heretofore known only from the Late Permian or the Mesozoic. Conifers are the dominant elements, including one or more species of Ullmannia, Pseudovoltzia liebeana, both known from the Late Permian Zechstein flora of Germany and England, Podozamites sp., characteristic of the Mesozoic, and Walchia sp., abundant in Early Permian floras. Locally common are Taeniopteris cf. eckardtii, a Zechstein species, an unidentified plant represented by pinnule-like laminae with fine parallel veins, similar to pinnules of some Mesozoic cycads, and calamite stems. Rarely encountered are leaf fragments of the Paleozoic ginkgophyte Dicranophyllum, flabellate ginkgophyte leaves, leaves with a broad midvein and narrow, fimbriate lamina, and Wattia, typical of the Early Permian. Associated with these foliar remains are ovulate reprod...

An Early Permian flora with Late Permian and Mesozoic affinities from north-central Texas

Early Permian (late Leonardian Series) plant assemblages from King, Knox, and Stonewall Counties of North-Central Texas are dominated by seed plants, some apparently congeneric with taxa heretofore known only from the Late Permian or the Mesozoic. Conifers are the dominant elements, including one or more species of Ullmannia, Pseudovoltzia liebeana, both known from the Late Permian Zechstein flora of Germany and England, Podozamites sp., characteristic of the Mesozoic, and Walchia sp., abundant in Early Permian floras. Locally common are Taeniopteris cf. eckardtii, a Zechstein species, an unidentified plant represented by pinnulelike laminae with fine parallel veins, similar to pinnules of some Mesozoic cycads, and calamite stems. Rarely encountered are leaf fragments of the Paleozoic ginkgophyte Dicranophyllum, flabellate ginkgophyte leaves, leaves with a broad midvein and narrow, fimbriate lamina, and Wattia, typical of the Early Permian. Associated with these foliar remains are ovulate reproductive structures including the presumed cycad megasporophyll Dioonitocarpidium, known only from the Mesozoic, a voltzialean cone scale similar to Swedenborgia, and a variety of seeds, some remarkably similar to Agathis, of Cretaceous age. The assemblage includes only rare scraps of foliage and seeds possibly attributable to the pteridophyllous elements (gigantopterids, callipterids, and ferns) that dominate the Permian. The fossil plants occur in multistorey, fining-upwards, tidal-channel deposits that also include pelecypods and fragmentary palaeoniscoid fish. The occurrence of derived lineages in xeric habitats during the Early Permian indicates that some supposed Mesozoic groups actually preceded and survived the end-Permian extinction, reappearing in basinal lowlands during the mid-Mesozoic.

Executing the Country's Largest Flow Metering Project-Evaluating the Importance of Basin Size

Executing the Country's Largest Flow Metering Project-Evaluating the Importance of Basin SizeThe King County Wastewater Treatment Division operates the collection trunk sewers and two wastewater treatment plants in King County to collect and treat wastewater from 34 Local Agencies in King and Snohomish Counties. The total length of all Local Agency separated sewers in the King County service area is approximately 17.5 million feet. This total does not include the combined sewer system in...Author(s)Bob SwarnerPatrick StevensMarcos LopezSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 9: (Invited) King County's Coordinated Regional I⊘I ProgramDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2001ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20010101)2001:2L.524;1-DOI10.2175/193864701784836140Volume / Issue2001 / 2Content sourceCollection Systems ConferenceFirst / last page(s)524 - 539Copyright2001Word count172