This pilot study evaluated the effects of supplementation with PUFA on blood FA composition and behavior in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)-like symptoms also reporting thirst and skin problems. Fifty children were randomized to treatment groups receiving either a PUFA supplement providing a daily dose of 480 mg DHA, 80 mg EPA, 40 mg arachidonic acid (AA), 96 mg GLA, and 24 mg alpha-tocopheryl acetate, or an olive oil placebo for 4 mon of double-blind parallel treatment. Supplementation with the PUFA led to a substantial increase in the proportions of EPA, DHA, and alpha-tocopherol in the plasma phospholipids and red blood cell (RBC) total lipids, but an increase was noted in the plasma phospholipid proportions of 18:3n-3 with olive oil as well. Significant improvements in multiple outcomes (as rated by parents) were noted in both groups, but a clear benefit from PUFA supplementation for all behaviors characteristic of AD/HD was not observed. For most outcomes, improvement of the PUFA group was consistently nominally better than that of the olive oil group; but the treatment difference was significant, by secondary intent-to-treat analysis, on only 2 out of 16 outcome measures: conduct problems rated by parents (-42.7 vs. -9.9%, n = 47, P = 0.05), and attention symptoms rated by teachers (-14.8 vs. +3.4%, n = 47, P = 0.03). PUFA supplementation led to a greater number of participants showing improvement in oppositional defiant behavior from a clinical to a nonclinical range compared with olive oil supplementation (8 out of 12 vs. 3 out of 11, n = 33, P = 0.02). Also, significant correlations were observed when comparing the magnitude of change between increasing proportions of EPA in the RBC and decreasing disruptive behavior as assessed by the Abbreviated Symptom Questionnaire (ASQ) for parents (r = -0.38, n = 31, P < 0.05), and for EPA and DHA in the RBC and the teachers' Disruptive Behavior Disorders (DBD) Rating Scale for Attention (r = -0.49, n = 24, P < 0.05). Interestingly, significant correlations were observed between the magnitude of increase in alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the RBC and a decrease in scores for all four subscales of the teachers' DBD (Hyperactivity, r = -0.45; Attention, r= -0.60; Conduct, r = -0.41; Oppositional/Defiant Disorder, r = -0.54; n = 24, P < 0.05) as well as the ASQ for teachers (r = -0.51, n = 24, P < 0.05). Thus, the results of this pilot study suggest the need for further research with both n-3 FA and vitamin E in children with behavioral disorders.

In arid and semi-arid regions, many rivers experience extremely low flow conditions during seasonal dry periods. During these times, effluent from wastewater treatment plants can make up the majority of flow in the river. However, water quality in urban systems can also be strongly influenced by the natural or human-influenced flow regime and discharge from other anthropogenic sources such as industrial operations and runoff from impervious surfaces. In this study, we aimed to determine whether water quality was controlled primarily by wastewater discharge in an effluentdominated river. Between May 2016-May 2019, we systematically measured water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and the concentrations of nitrate-N, ammonia-N, and orthophosphate in the South Platte River in the Denver metropolitan area, Colorado, USA. We found that, despite being an effluentdominated river, wastewater treatment plant discharge was not the principal factor controlling water quality in many of the sampled areas. Non-point source pollution from impervious surfaces, delivered to the river through storm drains and minor tributary streams, also contributed to the high nutrient conditions in several locations. We also noted a strong seasonality in water quality, with higher concentrations of nutrients and higher biochemical oxygen demand in the winter months when wastewater effluent can make up more than 90% of the flow in the river. Thus, the interaction of discharge location and reduced seasonal flow produced spatio-temporal hot spots of diminished water quality. More stringent enforcement of water quality regulations may improve water quality in this system. However, a large portion of the pollution seems to be from non-point sources, which are very difficult to control.

Citation: Williams, T. J., D. F. Tomback, N. Grevstad, and K. Broms. 2020. Temporal and energetic drivers of seed resource use by Clark's nutcracker, keystone seed disperser of coniferous forests. Ecosphere 11(3):Abstract. Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) functions as a keystone seed disperser and ecological mobile link for many western conifers. The bird is the primary seed disperser for limber pine (Pinus flexilis), which is an important seed resource for the bird. In the Southern Rocky Mountains, annual variation in limber pine cone production and growing threats, such as exotic disease, require that nutcrackers rely on additional conifer seed resources. We investigated the utilization of limber pine, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) as seed resources by nutcrackers to determine how temporal variation in seed production and maturation drives nutcracker seed resource and habitat use decisions. Working in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) during three field seasons, we examined (1) cone production in limber pine, ponderosa pine, and Douglas-fir, and seed energy availability across the RMNP landscape; (2) timing and likelihood of nutcracker seed harvest and caching behavior for each conifer species; and (3) predictors of nutcracker visitation to the different forest stand types. Each year starting in mid-to late August, nutcrackers foraged on limber pine seeds. In 2014 and 2015, nutcrackers transitioned from limber pine to harvesting ponderosa pine seeds. In 2016, a year of low ponderosa pine cone production but exceptionally high Douglas-fir cone production, they transitioned from limber pine to Douglas-fir seeds. Cone density was a significant predictor of nutcracker counts in every negative binomial regression model in which it was used. However, the best overall model, which included interaction effects, indicated that stand type, year, and month were better predictors. We interpret these three predictors as reflecting temporal variation in patterns of cone production and maturation among the three conifers but also in habitat use by nutcrackers. In all three years of study, limber pine alone did not provide sufficient energy resources for foraging and caching, and nutcrackers used an additional conifer seed resource. With potential future limber pine losses, these other seed resources may be essential to sustain a nutcracker population. We suggest that Douglas-fir and especially ponderosa pine will serve as increasingly important food resources as limber pine declines across the montane West.

Officials worldwide have sought ways to effectively use mobile technology to communicate health information to help thwart the spread of Covid‐19. This study offers a preliminary exploration of whether state‐level ( N = 6) and local‐level ( N = 53) wireless emergency alert (WEA) messages might contribute to impeding the spread of Covid‐19 in the United States. The study compares changes in reported rates of infections and deaths between states and localities that issued WEA messages in March and April of 2020 with states that did not. Small sample sizes and differences in the rates of Covid‐19 spread prohibit robust statistical analysis and detection of clear effect sizes, but estimated effects are generally in the right direction. Combining statistical analysis with preliminary categorization of both WEA message content and social media themes suggests that a positive effect from WEA messages cannot be ruled out.

This study offers a preliminary exploration of whether state-level (N=6) and local-level (N=53) Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) messages might contribute to impeding the spread of Covid-19 in the United States. The study compares changes in reported rates of infections and deaths between states and localities that issued WEA messages in March and April of 2020 with states that did not. Small sample sizes and differences in the rates of Covid-19 spread prohibit robust statistical analysis and detection of clear effect sizes, but estimated effects are generally in the right direction.