Site Assessment Tool Research Articles

Toward better targeting of mitigation measures for reducing phosphorus losses from land to water: Andrew Sharpley's legacy in Norway and Sweden.

Nordic agriculture faces big challenges to reduce phosphorus (P) loss from land to water for improving surface water quality. While understanding the processes controlling P loss and seeking for P mitigation measures, Norwegian and Swedish researchers have substantially benefited from and been inspired by Dr. Andrew Sharpley's career-long, high-standard P research. Here, we demonstrate how Sharpley and his research have helped the Nordic researchers to understand the role of cover crops in cold environmental conditions, best manure P management practices, and ditch processes. His work on critical source area (CSA) identification and site assessment tool development have also greatly inspired our thinking on the targeting of mitigation measures and the contextualizing tools for Nordic climate, landscape, and soils. While reflecting on Sharpley's legacy, we identify several needs for Norwegian and Swedish P research and management. These include (1) tackling the challenges caused by local/regional unevenness in livestock density and related manure management and farm P surpluses, (2) identifying CSAs of P loss with high erosion risk and high P surplus, (3) obtaining more high-resolution mapping of soils with low P sorption capacity both in the topsoil and subsoil, (4) improving cross-scale understanding of processes and mitigation measures and proper follow-up of applied mitigation measures, and (5) increasing collaborations of researchers with farmers and farmers' advisory groups and watershed groups by developing high-quality educational courses and extension materials. The needs should be addressed in the context of the challenges and opportunities created by climate change.

Viable Strategies to Increase Clinical Trial Patient Diversity

In the United States, the pharmaceutical industry is actively devising strategies to improve the diversity of clinical trial participants. These efforts stem from a plethora of evidence indicating that various ethnic groups respond differently to a given treatment. Thus, increasing the diversity of trial participants would not only provide more robust and representative trial data but also lead to safer and more effective therapies. Further diversifying trial participants appear straightforward, but it is a complex process requiring feedback from multiple stakeholders such as pharmaceutical sponsors, regulators, community leaders, and research sites. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to describe three viable strategies that can possibly increase the diversity of clinical trial participants: (1) Diversification of the clinical research workforce. (2) Adoption of the diversity in site assessment tool, and (3) incorporation of decentralized clinical trial technologies into clinical trial designs.

Metabolome patterns identify active dechlorination in bioaugmentation consortium SDC-9™.

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPHLC-HRMS) is used to discover and monitor single or sets of biomarkers informing about metabolic processes of interest. The technique can detect 1000's of molecules (i.e., metabolites) in a single instrument run and provide a measurement of the global metabolome, which could be a fingerprint of activity. Despite the power of this approach, technical challenges have hindered the effective use of metabolomics to interrogate microbial communities implicated in the removal of priority contaminants. Herein, our efforts to circumvent these challenges and apply this emerging systems biology technique to microbiomes relevant for contaminant biodegradation will be discussed. Chlorinated ethenes impact many contaminated sites, and detoxification can be achieved by organohalide-respiring bacteria, a process currently assessed by quantitative gene-centric tools (e.g., quantitative PCR). This laboratory study monitored the metabolome of the SDC-9™ bioaugmentation consortium during cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE) conversion to vinyl chloride (VC) and nontoxic ethene. Untargeted metabolomics using an UHPLC-Orbitrap mass spectrometer and performed on SDC-9™ cultures at different stages of the reductive dechlorination process detected ~10,000 spectral features per sample arising from water-soluble molecules with both known and unknown structures. Multivariate statistical techniques including partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLSDA) identified patterns of measurable spectral features (peak patterns) that correlated with dechlorination (in)activity, and ANOVA analyses identified 18 potential biomarkers for this process. Statistical clustering of samples with these 18 features identified dechlorination activity more reliably than clustering of samples based only on chlorinated ethene concentration and Dhc 16S rRNA gene abundance data, highlighting the potential value of metabolomic workflows as an innovative site assessment and bioremediation monitoring tool.

A site assessment tool for inpatient controlled human infection models for enteric disease pathogens.

The use of the controlled human infection model to facilitate product development and to advance understanding of host-pathogen interactions is of increasing interest. While administering a virulent (or infective) organism to a susceptible host necessitates an ongoing evaluation of safety and ethical considerations, a central theme in conducting these studies in a safe and ethical manner that yields actionable data is their conduct in facilities well-suited to address their unique attributes. To that end, we have developed a framework for evaluating potential sites in which to conduct inpatient enteric controlled human infection model to ensure consistency and increase the likelihood of success.

Identification of phosphorus index improvements through model comparisons across topographic regions in a small agricultural watershed in Vermont (USA)

AbstractMany U.S. states require farmers to evaluate the risk of P loss from farm fields using P site assessment tools, such as the Phosphorus Index (P‐Index). The simplicity of the P‐Index allows for users with various backgrounds to utilize the tool; however, the P‐Index may be limited in its ability to reliably predict P losses across variable farm terrain, for instance where saturation‐excess runoff generation dominates. The objective of this study was to identify potential improvements that could be made to the Vermont P‐Index (VT P‐Index) by comparing VT P‐Index predictions of P loss with those of a model that considers topographic controls on P transport. Scenarios with varying P management strategies were developed and modeled for corn (Zea mays L.) silage production fields in a small agricultural watershed (360 ha) located in Vermont using both the VT P‐Index and a modified version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Modeled outputs from both the VT P‐Index and SWAT were aggregated based on topographic index (TI) class and compared for the directional agreement of P risk assessments and relative annual average dissolved and particulate P losses. The P‐Index nutrient management recommendations gave higher P loss risk ratings than SWAT for 94% of the 120 unique scenario combinations simulated. Results from this study suggest that the VT P‐Index could improve its ability to support farm nutrient management planning by incorporating topographic controls on runoff production into its estimation of P transport.

Urban Blue Acupuncture: A Protocol for Evaluating a Complex Landscape Design Intervention to Improve Health and Wellbeing in a Coastal Community

Within the BlueHealth project, funded under the Horizon 2020 European Union research framework, a number of targeted experimental design interventions were used to test the effect and impact of planning and design on encouraging people to use various blue spaces. Complex interventions were implemented and evaluations before and after each were made using a set of tools which triangulate with each other—a site assessment tool, a behaviour observation tool, a questionnaire survey (including an economic evaluation) and qualitative interviews. The theoretical basis for the research is that of affordances, and the projects each involved modest changes to the landscape using the approach of “urban acupuncture” where a small intervention can potentially have an effect out of all proportion to the investment. This paper is a protocol paper and describes the research strategy and methodology in detail for one of the intervention sites, located in Plymouth in the UK. The aim is to present the methodology as a whole so as to act as (a) a reference framework for the results of all the projects which will be reported separately in a series of research articles once all the results are in and analysed and (b) a useful reference for other researchers wishing to carry out such complex projects and where a comprehensive presentation of the strategy and methodology is unavailable. We offer this protocol for reference, for critique and for inspiration to those following us.

Improving site assessment tools in emerging technologies: The case of highway vertical-axis wind turbines in the United States

Despite the benefits of renewable energy—including mitigation of climate change, emission-free electricity generation, and public health benefits—technology siting is plagued by social, political, and cultural challenges. These non-technical challenges often remain outside the scope and responsibility of engineers’ assessments. This study uses early-stage stakeholder engagement to examine the non-technical barriers to siting of vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) along traffic corridors throughout the United States. Stakeholder feedback is analyzed in terms of Niklas Luhmann's social system theory via the Socio-Political Evaluation of Energy Deployment (SPEED) framework to assess broader, system-wide feasibility. By identifying points of resonance—situations in which the logics of different systems overlap, allowing interaction—the knowledge and capacities of different stakeholder groups can support development of new technologies. This method of stakeholder engagement occurs at earlier stages of project development and includes larger socio-political scales than typical site-level analysis. Stakeholder feedback—from a variety of fields, including engineering, transportation, project management, and law—is incorporated into a multi-criteria and analytic hierarchy tool to aid in turbine siting. This paper argues that early stakeholder engagement beyond a strictly technical focus creates a more robust account of project feasibility, shown through the potential for right-of-way VAWT arrays.

The Diversity Site Assessment Tool (DSAT), Reliability and Validity of the Industry Gold Standard for Establishing Investigator Site Ranking

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the Diversity Site Assessment Tool (DSAT), a self-assessment instrument designed to self-report the extent to which best practices related to recruitment of diverse patient populations during clinical trials are used.
 Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. The convenience sample consisted of site representatives who are members of the Society for Clinical Research Sites and network site representatives that were approached via social media sites such as LinkedIn. A link to the survey was shared with approximately 17,000 aforementioned site representatives over a period of three months. The survey consisted of one section each for the indicators of best practice for the recruitment of diverse patient populations during clinical trials: 1) Site Overview (10 items), 2) Site Recruitment and Outreach (9 items) and 3) Patient Focused Services (6 items). These three indicators and the total of 25 items make up the DSAT. Each of the total 25 items on DSAT required participants to self-report on a 6-point scale. The fourth section collected background information about the participant and their site. After the survey was closed, two types of summative scores were compiled, one for each of the indicators and an overall summative DSAT score (range from 25-150). Higher summative scores on each indicator and the overall DSAT are reflective of increased use of best practices for the recruitment of diverse patient population during clinical trials. Internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) and construct validity for the entire sample were evaluated and are reported. Bivariate and multivariate statistics were conducted to examine the relationship between site characteristics and their summative indicator and DSAT overall scores.
 Results: The instrument was deemed to have exceptional reliability. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency reliability for the entire sample was 0.929. Construct validity established using the exploratory factor analysis indicated a three component solution accounting for 49% of the explained variance. There was no statistically relationship between site characteristics and their summative indicator and DSAT overall scores. 
 Conclusion: The DSAT has exceptional reliability and good construct validity. When paired with the findings that site characteristics have no statistical relationship with the DSAT indicators and overall summative scores, it is contended that this instrument could be used by different site backgrounds as a self-assessment measure to evaluate the extent of the use of best practices related to recruitment of diverse patient populations during clinical trials. The rigorous development of the instrument and exceptional statistical results make the tool easily the highest standard of measurement available related to this construct.

OPTIMAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STAFFING OF PRIMARY CARE AND GERIATRIC PRACTICES SERVING FRAIL OLDER ADULTS

This symposium will include 3 papers that provide critical interprofessional and interdisciplinary perspectives on our work to understand and measure staffing in health care teams caring for older adults, and frail older adults. The Health Teams for Frail Elders project was funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation from August 2016 to October 2018. Dr. Karen Donelan, project Principal Investigator, will chair the session, providing a brief project overview of project aims and activities. A survey and health services researcher, Dr. Donelan will set the context for this large scale project. Dr. Barbara Roberge, a geriatric nurse practitioner who established one of the first senior health programs in the nation along with Dr. Kenneth Minaker at Mass General Hospital, was our primary care and nursing lead on our site visits. She will talk about the care settings we visited, her development of a site assessment tool that covered a range of frail elder needs, and will summarize professional roles and staffing observed within different site types. Dr. Julie Berrett-Abebe, a junior investigator on our team (PhD 2017), will present a paper on the competencies and roles of social workers and community health workers in primary and geriatric practices, as well as the roles of community health workers. Dr. David Auerbach, a national expert in health policy and workforce analysis, will present 4 models of staffing of practices, demonstrating efficiencies in optimizing services for frail elders while minimizing costs.Dr. Joanne Spetz will be the discussant of cross-cutting themes.

Weather-informed Light-tissue Model-Based Dose Planning for Indoor Daylight Photodynamic Therapy.

Daylight activation for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of skin lesions is now widely adopted in many countries as a less painful and equally effective treatment mechanism, as compared to red or blue light activation. However, seasonal daylight availability and transient weather conditions complicate light dose estimations. A method is presented for dose planning without placing a large burden on clinical staff, by limiting spectral measurements to a one-time site assessment, and then using automatically acquired weather reports to track transient conditions. The site assessment tools are used to identify appropriate treatment locations for the annual and daily variations in sunlight exposure for clinical center planning. The spectral information collected from the site assessment can then be integrated with real-time daily electronic weather data. It was shown that a directly measured light exposure has strong correlation (R2 : 0.87) with both satellite cloud coverage data and UV index, suggesting that the automated weather indexes can be surrogates for daylight PDT optical dose. These updated inputs can be used in a dose-planning treatment model to estimate photodynamic dose at depth in tissue. A simple standardized method for estimating light dose during daylight-PDT could help improve intersite reproducibility while minimizing treatment times.

Managing crop nutrients to achieve water quality goals

Managing agricultural nutrients to achieve water quality goals involves complexities best organized around source and transport processes, as captured in site assessment tools used for nutrient management decision support. Source is governed by nutrient use efficiency (NUE) by crops and land management, while transport is governed by landscape and hydrologic controls. These concepts are useful for strategic and operational decisions around nutrient management in the field. However, experience shows us that nutrient management outcomes are influenced by several factors across many scales, most uncontrollable, which must be considered when transferring science into policy and when establishing realistic public expectations. Key factors influencing these nutrient management concepts, complexities, inherent tradeoffs, and outcomes are summarized in table 1 and are discussed in more detail in this article.

The Promise, Practice, and State of Planning Tools to Assess Site Vulnerability to Runoff Phosphorus Loss.

Over the past 20 yr, there has been a proliferation of phosphorus (P) site assessment tools for nutrient management planning, particularly in the United States. The 19 papers that make up this special section on P site assessment include decision support tools ranging from the P Index to fate-and-transport models to weather-forecast-based risk calculators. All require objective evaluation to ensure that they are effective in achieving intended benefits to protecting water quality. In the United States, efforts have been underway to compare, evaluate, and advance an array of P site assessment tools. Efforts to corroborate their performance using water quality monitoring data confirms previously documented discrepancies between different P site assessment tools but also highlights a surprisingly strong performance of many versions of the P Index as a predictor of water quality. At the same time, fate-and-transport models, often considered to be superior in their prediction of hydrology and water quality due to their complexity, reveal limitations when applied to site assessment. Indeed, one consistent theme from recent experience is the need to calibrate highly parameterized models. As P site assessment evolves, so too do routines representing important aspects of P cycling and transport. New classes of P site assessment tools are an opportunity to move P site assessment from general, strategic goals to web-based tools supporting daily, operational decisions.

Evaluation of Phosphorus Site Assessment Tools: Lessons from the USA.

Critical source area identification through phosphorus (P) site assessment is a fundamental part of modern nutrient management planning in the United States, yet there has been only sparse testing of the many versions of the P Index that now exist. Each P site assessment tool was developed to be applicable across a range of field conditions found in a given geographic area, making evaluation extremely difficult. In general, evaluation with in-field monitoring data has been limited, focusing primarily on corroborating manure and fertilizer "source" factors. Thus, a multiregional effort (Chesapeake Bay, Heartland, and Southern States) was undertaken to evaluate P Indices using a combination of limited field data, as well as output from simulation models (i.e., Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender, Annual P Loss Estimator, Soil and Water Assessment Tool [SWAT], and Texas Best Management Practice Evaluation Tool [TBET]) to compare against P Index ratings. These comparisons show promise for advancing the weighting and formulation of qualitative P Index components but require careful vetting of the simulation models. Differences among regional conclusions highlight model strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Southern States region found that, although models could simulate the effects of nutrient management on P runoff, they often more accurately predicted hydrology than total P loads. Furthermore, SWAT and TBET overpredicted particulate P and underpredicted dissolved P, resulting in correct total P predictions but for the wrong reasons. Experience in the United States supports expanded regional approaches to P site assessment, assuming closely coordinated efforts that engage science, policy, and implementation communities, but limited scientific validity exists for uniform national P site assessment tools at the present time.

Modified APEX model for Simulating Macropore Phosphorus Contributions to Tile Drains.

The contribution of macropore flow to phosphorus (P) loadings in tile-drained agricultural landscapes remains poorly understood at the field scale, despite the recognized deleterious impacts of contaminant transport via macropore pathways. A new subroutine that couples existing matrix-excess and matrix-desiccation macropore flow theory and a modified P routine is implemented in the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) model. The original and modified formulation were applied and evaluated for a case study in a poorly drained field in Western Ohio with 31 months of surface and subsurface monitoring data. Results highlighted that a macropore subroutine in APEX improved edge-of-field discharge calibration and validation for both tile and total discharge from satisfactory and good, respectively, to very good and improved dissolved reactive P load calibration and validation statistics for tile P loads from unsatisfactory to very good. Output from the calibrated macropore simulations suggested median annual matrix-desiccation macropore flow contributions of 48% and P load contributions of 43%, with the majority of loading occurring in winter and spring. While somewhat counterintuitive, the prominence of matrix-desiccation macropore flow during seasons with less cracking reflects the importance of coupled development of macropore pathways and adequate supply of the macropore flow source. The innovative features of the model allow for assessments of annual macropore P contributions to tile drainage and has the potential to inform P site assessment tools.

Analyzing Within-County Hydrogeomorphological Characteristics as a Precursor to Phosphorus Index Modifications.

Phosphorus (P) site assessment is used nationally and internationally to assess the vulnerability of agricultural fields to P loss and identify high-risk areas controlling watershed P export. Current efforts to update P site assessment tools must ensure that these tools are representative of the range of conditions to which they will be applied. We sought to identify key parameters available in public GIS data that are descriptive of potential source areas in Pennsylvania and that ensure that modifications of the P Index span all feasible parameter combinations. Relevant soil and topographic variables were compiled for Pennsylvania at 30-m resolution, and areas within 90 m of permanent streams were extracted. Within each county, -means and classification trees were used to identify and create classification rules for topoedaphic groups. Within counties, two to five groups adequately represented near-stream complexity, with available water capacity, hydraulic conductivity, and organic matter being the most important environmental variables. Discontinuities across soil survey boundaries made it impossible to develop clusterings beyond the county level. For county-scale research and management efforts, these groupings provide a manageable approach to identifying representative sites for near-stream agricultural lands. The full set of representative sites across the state enables evaluation of the P Index throughout the full hydrogeomorphic diversity of Pennsylvania. In future work, we can then combine a set of reasonable management practices with each of the main hydrogeomorphological regions resulting from this study and verify the revised P Index against expert knowledge and simulation results.

A rapid urban site index for assessing the quality of street tree planting sites

Urban trees experience site-induced stress and this leads to reduced growth and health. A site assessment tool would be useful for urban forest managers to better match species tolerances and site qualities, and to assess the efficacy of soil management actions. Toward this goal, a rapid urban site index (RUSI) model was created and tested for its ability to predict urban tree performance. The RUSI model is field-based assessment tool that scores 15 parameters in approximately five minutes. This research was conducted in eight cities throughout the Midwest and Northeast USA to test the efficacy of the RUSI model. The RUSI model accurately predicted urban tree health and growth metrics (P<0.0001; R2 0.18–0.40). While the RUSI model did not accurately predict mean diameter growth, it was significantly correlated with recent diameter growth. Certain parameters in the RUSI model, such as estimated rooting area, soil structure and aggregate stability appeared to be more important than other parameters, such as growing degree days. Minimal improvements in the RUSI model were achieved by adding soil laboratory analyses. Field assessments in the RUSI model were significantly correlated with similar laboratory analyses. Other users may be able to use the RUSI model to assess urban tree planting sites (<5min per site and no laboratory analyses fee), but training will be required to accurately utilize the model. Future work on the RUSI model will include developing training modules and testing across a wider geographic area with more urban tree species and urban sites.

Approaches for evaluating subsurface phosphorus loss potential from soil profiles

Abstract The importance of subsurface phosphorus (P) transport in deterioration of surface water quality is well documented. Practices and treatments have been identified and modeling approaches have been implemented to decrease the subsurface P load to surface waters. Soil phosphorus storage capacity (SPSC) is a site-assessment tool that predicts the potential for P loss from soils. We examined the use of SPSC to assess soil profile P distributions and loss potentials for two contrasting soil types: manure-impacted Spodosols and Ultisols. Our specific objectives were to (i) validate prediction of the Langmuir P bonding strength, K L , the Freundlich adsorption coefficient, K F , or the linear adsorption coefficient, K D , of Spodosols (Ap, E and Bh horizons) and Ultisols (Ap, E and Bt horizons) using SPSC-based equations developed for surface and sub-surface horizons (Ap, E and Bt) of Ultisols and (ii) identify factors affecting retention and release of P. Results showed that SPSC derived from oxalate-extractions data can effectively predict P isotherm parameters used in P transport models. The SPSC also captured differences between soil horizons within a profile pertinent to P loss. Magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) concentrations related to negative SPSC, likely due to the presence of these components in dairy manure. The initial sorbed P in the solid phase (S 0 ) of both soil types was related to soil components such as Mg, Ca and total P when SPSC was positive. The equations developed from A, E and Bt horizons of Ultisol relating isotherm parameters to the PSR and SPSC made successful predictions for all horizons of Ultisols sampled from locations different from those in the current study and Spodosols suggesting that such equations might be applicable across a wide range of soils.

Comparison of soil-to-water suspension ratios for determining electrical conductivity of oil-production-water-contaminated soils

Soil salinity caused by oil-production-water (brine) contamination is a major issue in regions of oil and gas development. However, rapid site assessment tools such as soil-to-water suspension electrical conductivity (EC) methods and conversion equations have not been previously calibrated and validated for brine-contaminated soils. Our objective was to compare three soil EC methods and derive conversion equations for EC values commonly observed at brine-spill sites. Brine-contaminated soils from western North Dakota were assessed for salinity. Electrical conductivity was determined using 1:1 and 1:5 soil-to-water suspensions (EC1:1, EC1:5) and saturated paste extracts (ECe). Soil EC equilibration times for soil-to-water suspensions were also assessed. Significant relationships (r2 = 0.91 to 0.97, P &lt; 0.0001) existed among all methods for EC values ranging between 0 and 126 dS m−1. Conversion equations were developed based on these relationships and then validated with an independent data set. These new equations reduced ECe prediction errors by 2 to 4.5 times when compare with 14 predictive equations reported in the literature. The conversion equations developed here are recommended for use in remediation efforts when converting EC1:1 and EC1:5 data to ECe on brine-contaminated and noncontaminated soils where ECe is highly correlated to Na concentrations.

Solar Survey: Development and validation of a smartphone-based solar site assessment tool

Solar site surveys are an important step in assessing the suitability of a site for a proposed solar power installation. This paper details investigation into the suitability of the Android smartphone platform to serve as a base for site survey applications. Lessons learned are shared based upon development and validation of a prototype application. The prototype application is Solar Survey, a free, open-source application for Android-based smartphones that allows site surveys to be performed. The app uses sensors built into the smartphone to make measurements of the horizon. The measurements may be output in a format suitable for use by System Advisor Model, or other computer tools, to perform more detailed photovoltaic system modelling and economic calculations. In addition, the measurements can be used within the app itself to provide estimates of the available irradiance using the Perez, or other tilted irradiance model. Optimum orientation (relative to irradiance) can be computed for both the raw meteorological data and including the effect of shading. The irradiance and shading calculations were validated against results produced by System Advisor Model. Horizon measurement uncertainty was estimated using repeated measurements of a fixed horizon. It is hoped that through the open-source code and documentation of the methodology in public literature, Solar Survey may serve as a research platform for solar site assessment, and promote further analysis of the accuracy of similar tools.

The importance of accurate wind resource assessment for evaluating the economic viability of small wind turbines

The techno-economic performance of a small wind turbine is very sensitive to the available wind resource. However, due to financial and practical constraints installers rely on low resolution wind speed databases to assess a potential site. This study investigates whether the two site assessment tools currently used in the UK, NOABL or the Energy Saving Trust wind speed estimator, are accurate enough to estimate the techno-economic performance of a small wind turbine. Both the tools tend to overestimate the wind speed, with a mean error of 23% and 18% for the NOABL and Energy Saving Trust tool respectively. A techno-economic assessment of 33 small wind turbines at each site has shown that these errors can have a significant impact on the estimated load factor of an installation. Consequently, site/turbine combinations which are not economically viable can be predicted to be viable. Furthermore, both models tend to underestimate the wind resource at relatively high wind speed sites, this can lead to missed opportunities as economically viable turbine/site combinations are predicted to be non-viable. These results show that a better understanding of the local wind resource is a required to make small wind turbines a viable technology in the UK.