Gulf Marine Institute of Technology

Understanding environmental governance empowers researchers and practitioners alike to work towards solutions that improve both environmental and human well-being outcomes. Collaborative, iterative approaches to governance use bridging approaches such as translational ecology, boundary work, and ecosystem services. The US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development worked with a variety of collaborators to implement six multi-year coordinated case study research projects. The research projects were designed to support agency collaborators spanning different geographies, ecosystems, and environmental management decision contexts, and to demonstrate that different tools, approaches, and ecosystem service foci can enhance coastal and other water resource sustainability. To better understand the iterative and collaborative nature of the cases and collaborations, researchers conducted an analysis of the comparative case studies based on Williams' (2018) and Ostrom's (1994, 2009) frameworks. The team identified (1) who participated in the processes; (2) what the programs and goals were; (3) where programs worked and their resources; and (4) the resulting outcomes. We demonstrate that stakeholder participation and outcomes look different within different projects, and we conclude that relationships, focus on place, and common goals produce the most impactful results.

Abstract Detection of oil spills with aerial or space-born remote sensing resources has been deeply studied and developed over recent years. However, all these technologies still rely on in-situ verification with direct monitoring and sampling for validation. This paper presents the design, fabrication, simulation, and testing of an unmanned surface vehicle (USV), specifically designed for hydrodynamic efficiency and effective oil spill sampling. The USV's design, featuring a customized platform for the oil sampling mechanism, underwent an extensive simulation process using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to validate its stability and analyze its impact on water flow dynamics. The design and fabrication process involved hull construction, integration of the control and power systems, and testing in a laboratory environment. The CFD analysis and testing revealed exceptional stability in the USV, showing only minimal rocking and pitching, which translates to consistent speed and precise navigation for the USV during operation. Using CFD for the design analysis allowed for the optimization of water flow dynamics between the two hulls, resulting in reduced drag and enhanced maneuverability for the USV. Turbulent flow patterns were observed at higher speeds, which notably provided valuable insights into the USV's hydrodynamic behavior and its possible interaction with any unforeseen marine conditions, such as encounters with marine life or debris. The key findings demonstrate the USV's potential to revolutionize environmental response efforts, especially in the context of oil spill disasters in remote areas. The accuracy of the CFD simulations was pivotal in anticipating the USV's performance in various marine conditions, which demonstrates the importance of collaboration between theoretical models and practical applications. This paper introduces an innovative integration between autonomous technology and environmental responsiveness, which showcases the possibilities of advancements in the field of autonomous maritime solutions. The involvement of this research extends beyond its immediate scope and offers a new prototype for monitoring and protecting marine environments. This advancement significantly contributes to the broader discussion for safer, more sustainable offshore exploration and environmental management.

Adaptive management is a powerful approach to management of social-ecological systems in circumstances with high uncertainty and high controllability. Cross-scale interactions increase uncertainty while managing. When undertaking adaptive management, although largely overlooked, it is important to account for spatial and temporal scales to mediate within- and cross-scale effects of management actions. This is particularly true when managing for multiple social and ecological goals. The iterative nature of an adaptive approach has the capacity to accommodate tradeoffs among different stakeholder priorities and multiple ecosystem attributes within and across scales. In this paper, we introduce multi-scale adaptive management of social-ecological systems and demonstrate the importance of this approach with case studies of the Great Plains of North America and the Platte River Basin in the United States. Adaptive management combined with a focus on scale and cross-scale interactions using the panarchy model of social-ecological systems can help to improve management outcomes.

ABSTRACT Introduction Patients with epilepsy can experience seizure clusters (acute repetitive seizures), defined as intermittent, stereotypic episodes of frequent seizure activity that are distinct from typical seizure patterns. There are three FDA-approved rescue medications, diazepam rectal gel, midazolam nasal spray, and diazepam nasal spray, that can be administered to abort a seizure cluster in a nonmedical, community setting. Despite their effectiveness and safety, rescue medications are underutilized, and patient/caregiver experiences and perceptions of ease of use may constitute a substantial barrier to greater utilization. Areas covered The literature on rescue medications for seizure clusters is reviewed, including the effectiveness and safety, with an emphasis on ease and timing of treatment and associated outcomes. Barriers to greater utilization of rescue medication and the role of seizure action plans are discussed. Expert opinion Intranasal rescue medications are easier to use and can be administered more rapidly than other routes (rectal, intravenous). Importantly, rapid administration of intranasal rescue medications has been associated with shorter durations of seizure activity as compared with rectal/intravenous routes. Intranasal rescue medications are also easy to use and socially acceptable. These factors potentially remove or reduce barriers to use and optimize the management of seizure clusters.

A conceptual framework is helpful to understand what types of ecosystem services (ES) information is needed to support decision making. Principles of structured decision making are helpful for articulating how ES consideration can influence different elements in a given decision context resulting in changes to the environment, human health, and well-being. This article presents a holistic view of an ES framework, summarizing two decades of the US EPA’s ES research, including recent advances in final ES, those ES that provide benefits directly to people. Approximately 150 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and book chapters characterize a large ES research portfolio. In introducing framework elements and the suite of relevant US EPA research for each element, both challenges and opportunities are identified. Lessons from research to advance each of the final ES elements can be useful for identifying gaps and future science needs. Ultimately, the goal of this article is to help the reader develop an operational understanding of the final ES conceptual framework, an understanding of the state of science for a number of ES elements, and an introduction to some ES tools, models, and frameworks that may be of use in their case-study applications or decision-making contexts.

Aim: Assess the totality of efficacy evidence for ataluren inpatients withnonsense mutation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (nmDMD). Materials & methods: Data from the two completed randomized controlled trials (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00592553; NCT01826487) of ataluren in nmDMD were combined to examine the intent-to-treat (ITT) populations and two patient subgroups (baseline 6-min walk distance [6MWD] ≥300-<400 or <400m). Meta-analyses examined 6MWD change from baseline to week 48. Results: Statistically significant differences in 6MWD change with ataluren versus placebo were observed across all three meta-analyses. Least-squares mean difference (95% CI): ITT (n=342), +17.2 (0.2-34.1) m, p=0.0473; ≥300-<400m (n=143), +43.9 (18.2-69.6) m, p=0.0008; <400m (n=216), +27.7 (6.4-49.0) m, p=0.0109. Conclusion: These meta-analyses support previous evidence for ataluren in slowing disease progression versus placebo in patients with nmDMDover 48weeks. Treatment benefit was most evident in patients with a baseline 6MWD ≥300-<400m (the ambulatory transition phase), thereby informing future trial design.