Explore the vast range of titles available.

Several crops have recently been identified as potential dedicated bioenergy feedstocks for the production of power, fuels, and bioproducts. Despite being identified as early as the 1980s, no systematic work has been undertaken to characterize the spatial distribution of their long‐term production potentials in the United states. Such information is a starting point for planners and economic modelers, and there is a need for this spatial information to be developed in a consistent manner for a variety of crops, so that their production potentials can be intercompared to support crop selection decisions. As part of the Sun Grant Regional Feedstock Partnership (RFP), an approach to mapping these potential biomass resources was developed to take advantage of the informational synergy realized when bringing together coordinated field trials, close interaction with expert agronomists, and spatial modeling into a single, collaborative effort. A modeling and mapping system called PRISM‐ELM was designed to answer a basic question: How do climate and soil characteristics affect the spatial distribution and long‐term production patterns of a given crop? This empirical/mechanistic/biogeographical hybrid model employs a limiting factor approach, where productivity is determined by the most limiting of the factors addressed in submodels that simulate water balance, winter low‐temperature response, summer high‐temperature response, and soil pH, salinity, and drainage. Yield maps are developed through linear regressions relating soil and climate attributes to reported yield data. The model was parameterized and validated using grain yield data for winter wheat and maize, which served as benchmarks for parameterizing the model for upland and lowland switchgrass, CRP grasses, Miscanthus, biomass sorghum, energycane, willow, and poplar. The resulting maps served as potential production inputs to analyses comparing the viability of biomass crops under various economic scenarios. The modeling and parameterization framework can be expanded to include other biomass crops. Several dedicated biomass crops have been identified as potential feedstocks for the production of power, fuels, and bioproducts in the US. However, a consistent method for estimating, mapping, and comparing their long‐term production potentials is lacking. To address this need, a synergistic mapping approach was developed that combines an environmental limitation model (PRISM‐ELM) with coordinated field trials and close interaction with expert agronomists.

Several crops have recently been identified as potential dedicated bioenergy feedstocks for the production of power, fuels, and bioproducts. Despite being identified as early as the 1980s, no systematic work has been undertaken to characterize the spatial distribution of their long‐term production potentials in the United states. Such information is a starting point for planners and economic modelers, and there is a need for this spatial information to be developed in a consistent manner for a variety of crops, so that their production potentials can be intercompared to support crop selection decisions. As part of the Sun Grant Regional Feedstock Partnership (RFP), an approach to mapping these potential biomass resources was developed to take advantage of the informational synergy realized when bringing together coordinated field trials, close interaction with expert agronomists, and spatial modeling into a single, collaborative effort. A modeling and mapping system called PRISM‐ELM was designed to answer a basic question: How do climate and soil characteristics affect the spatial distribution and long‐term production patterns of a given crop? This empirical/mechanistic/biogeographical hybrid model employs a limiting factor approach, where productivity is determined by the most limiting of the factors addressed in submodels that simulate water balance, winter low‐temperature response, summer high‐temperature response, and soil pH , salinity, and drainage. Yield maps are developed through linear regressions relating soil and climate attributes to reported yield data. The model was parameterized and validated using grain yield data for winter wheat and maize, which served as benchmarks for parameterizing the model for upland and lowland switchgrass, CRP grasses, Miscanthus, biomass sorghum, energycane, willow, and poplar. The resulting maps served as potential production inputs to analyses comparing the viability of biomass crops under various economic scenarios. The modeling and parameterization framework can be expanded to include other biomass crops.

The 2012 Sun Grant National Conference on Science for Biomass Feedstock Production and Utilization was held on 2–5 October 2012, in New Orleans, LA, USA. The Sun Grant Initiative set out to highlight recent advances in science and technology contributing to the deployment of conventional and advanced biofuels and bioproducts from agricultural and forest systems. The Initiative, with sponsorship from the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO), assembled an agenda focusing on promoting collaboration between academic, industry, non-profit, and government partners. This special issue is comprised of a small sample of conference presentations selected to reflect important research progress and to highlight the range of issues that must be considered as the transition to biomass energy takes hold.

At the individual level, aside from purchasing skin care products from budget-friendly retailers, individuals can consider incorporating skin protective measures in addition to sunscreen, such as UV-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses. [...]broader health policy improvements can also provide strategies to increase photoprotection affordability and access. Provides media coverage to encourage public awareness and participation No specific eligibility requirements https://www.asds.net/medical-professionals/public-service-programs/spf-for-all IMPACT Melanoma IMPACT Shade Program Provides funding to increase the availability of shade across the country (via portable, permanent, and natural shade) No specific eligibility requirements https://impactmelanoma.org/impact-shade/ American Academy of Dermatology Shade Structure Program Awards grants of up to $8,000 to public schools and non-profit organizations for installing permanent shade structures for outdoor locations 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and public schools that provide services, programs, and curricula to children and teenagers who are 18 and younger www.aad.org/member/career/volunteer/shade Kaboom Community-Built Playspace Grants Provides grants to build new playspaces for children, including providing adequate shade structures Applicants in specific metropolitan areas as detailed on the website. https://kaboom.org/grants/community-built Park&Play Structures Grants Provides grants to build new playground projects for communities, including providing adequate shade structures No specific eligibility requirements https://www.playandpark.com/grant-opportunities Outrun the Rays Grants Typically awards funds to projects for shade structures for use in public areas such as schools, ballfields, and parks, but are interested in supporting any project that increases sun safety and awareness Organizations in Eastern Iowa and surrounding areas https://www.outruntherays.org/grant-application.html Protect the Groms 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that partners with public and charter elementary schools and nonprofits dedicated to outdoor experiences to provide playground shade structures, sun safety education and sunscreen to kids who live and play in the sun Organizations that: (1) are a public or charter elementary school in the United States (charter school must be a 501(c)(3) organization) or a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to outdoor experiences and education for youth); and (2) demonstrate an ongoing commitment to sun safety awareness and have an official sun safety policy in their school’s handbook. https://www.sunbum.com/pages/protect-the-groms-sun-safety Protect the Groms Bulk Pump Sunscreen Program Provides free sunscreen pumps for elementary school campuses Organizations must be: (1) located in an eligible state; (2) be a public or charter elementary school in the United States (provided, that a charter school must be a 501(c)(3) organization); and (3) be committed to promoting sun safety through education and protection https://www.sunbum.com/pages/protect-the-groms-sun-safety Prevent Cancer Foundation- Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Community Grants Provides grants of up to $25,000 to support at-risk communities to engage in education and screening to prevent cancer No specific eligibility requirements https://www.preventcancer.org/research/grants-fellowships/community-grants/ Author contributions All authors contributed to the study conception and design.

Assessment of the costs and benefits of dispersal is central to understanding species' life‐history strategies as well as explaining and predicting spatial population dynamics in the changing world. While mortality during active movement has received much attention, few have studied the costs of passive movement such as the airborne transport of fungal spores. Here, we examine the potential of extreme environmental conditions to cause dispersal mortality in wood‐decay fungi. These fungi play a key role as decomposers and habitat creators in forest ecosystems and the populations of many species have declined due to habitat loss and fragmentation. We measured the effect of simulated solar radiation (including ultraviolet A and B) and freezing at −25°C on the spore germinability of 17 species. Both treatments but especially sunlight markedly reduced spore germinability in most species, and species with thin‐walled spores were particularly light sensitive. Extrapolating the species' laboratory responses to natural irradiance conditions, we predict that sunlight is a relevant source of dispersal mortality at least at larger spatial scales. In addition, we found a positive effect of spore size on spore germinability, suggesting a trade‐off between dispersal distance and establishment. We conclude that freezing and particularly sunlight can be important sources of dispersal mortality in wood‐decay fungi which can make it difficult for some species to colonize isolated habitat patches and habitat edges. We conducted laboratory experiments to study whether sunlight and freezing temperature are potentially significant sources of dispersal mortality in wood decay fungi. Our results show that both factors but especially sunlight reduces the viability of spores, and species with thin‐walled spores were particularly light‐sensitive. We also found a positive effect of spore size on spore viability, suggesting a trade‐off between dispersal distance and establishment.

Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene variants are very common and are associated with melanoma risk, but their contribution to melanoma risk prediction compared with traditional risk factors is unknown. We aimed to 1) evaluate the separate and incremental contribution of MC1R genotype to prediction of early-onset melanoma, and compare this with the contributions of physician-measured and self-reported traditional risk factors, and 2) develop risk prediction models that include MC1R, and externally validate these models using an independent dataset from a genetically similar melanoma population. Using data from an Australian population-based, case-control-family study, we included 413 case and 263 control participants with sequenced MC1R genotype, clinical skin examination and detailed questionnaire. We used unconditional logistic regression to estimate predicted probabilities of melanoma. Results were externally validated using data from a similar study in England. When added to a base multivariate model containing only demographic factors, MC1R genotype improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) by 6% (from 0.67 to 0.73; P < 0.001) and improved the quartile classification by a net 26% of participants. In a more extensive multivariate model, the factors that contributed significantly to the AUC were MC1R genotype, number of nevi and previous non-melanoma skin cancer; the AUC was 0.78 (95% CI 0.75-0.82) for the model with self-reported nevi and 0.83 (95% CI 0.80-0.86) for the model with physician-counted nevi. Factors that did not further contribute were sun and sunbed exposure and pigmentation characteristics. Adding MC1R to a model containing pigmentation characteristics and other self-reported risk factors increased the AUC by 2.1% (P = 0.01) and improved the quartile classification by a net 10% (95% CI 1-18%, P = 0.03). Although MC1R genotype is strongly associated with skin and hair phenotype, it was a better predictor of early-onset melanoma than was pigmentation characteristics. Physician-measured nevi and previous non-melanoma skin cancer were also strong predictors. There might be modest benefit to measuring MC1R genotype for risk prediction even if information about traditional self-reported or clinically measured pigmentation characteristics and nevi is already available.

The June 2018 federal court decision in Stewart v. Azar about the Kentucky HEALTH Medicaid waiver \"forced the federal government to come up with new evidence to explain how [Kentucky's] work requirements and other enrollment restrictions promote the statutory goal of the federal-state [Medicaid] program: to provide publicly funded health insurance to uninsured, low-income Americans,\" says reporter Christine Vestal in a July 30, 2018, Pew Charitable Trusts' State-line article. Sara Rosenbaum of George Washington University points out in a July 30, 2018, Health Affairs Blog post that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opened a thirty-day public comment period-through August 18, 2018-on Kentucky HEALTH, during which the administration of President Donald Trump was \"seeking to fill the gaps ...identified by the Stewart court that caused it to strike down the approval\" of this Medicaid work demonstration program in the Bluegrass State. By integrating claims data from Medicaid and Medicare, PRISM delivers comprehensive health risk information to clinical staff members who coordinate care for high-cost dual eligibles in the state's health home program. Grants from six Kansas foundations-the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Kansas Health Foundation, REACH Healthcare Foundation, Sunflower Foundation, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, and Wyandotte Health Foundation- that were willing to fund advocacy efforts helped the pro-expansion contingent.