Mussels are bivalve mollusks that construct a byssus – an assemblage of protein threads with a strong adhesive plaque that attaches to underwater substrates. A mussel’s survival relies on a strong byssal attachment. Research on this adhesive can help explain trends in mussel attachment and inform how to emulate this glue or design surfaces that mussels cannot adhere to. Our work seeks to understand how abiotic factors affect the properties of mussel attachment, particularly at the thread-substrate interface (plaque). Specifically, we wanted to understand how increased temperature, decreased _pCO₂, and maturity (age) of the plaque affect its mechanical properties. This study involved three local species of mussel, as well as hybrid mussels between two species. The degree of hybridization was determined through PCR analysis. Byssal threads were cut from the animal and allowed to soak in a variety of treatments, and then stress-strain curves were generated for individual plaques. Initial findings indicate no difference in plaque strength after treatment in high temperature seawater. The results of this work could help explain trends in seasonal dislodgement of mussels, which are relevant ecologically and for aquaculture businesses. It can also give us insight into how changing environmental factors associated with ocean acidification will affect mussel attachment, independently of how they affect the organism itself.

This project intends to answer the following questions: (1) how knowledgeable are teens and young adults on how they can maintain confidentiality when seeking sensitive health care services while under their parent or guardian’s health insurance, and (2) what is the most effective tool to disseminate this kind of information? Although health care confidentiality is protected by law, there still remains the possibility that health information may be disclosed when documents such as the Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and invoices are sent home. For adolescents and young adults insured under their parent or guardian’s health insurance plan, the potential breach of confidentiality may deter them from seeking appropriate health care. We hypothesize that teens and young adults have little knowledge about how to protect to their health care confidentiality and that a pamphlet is the most effective tool to educate them. To test this hypothesis, we created a pamphlet that provides options on how to maintain confidentiality when seeking sensitive services while on their parent or guardian’s health insurance. We will survey 20 adolescents, aged 13-25, on the pamphlet information, including the content and lay-out. Additionally, respondents are asked about other tools that would be effective in disseminating this information. Survey responses will be analyzed for themes. Thus far, we have interviewed 9 persons between ages 13 and 25. Each respondent stated that he/she was unaware of some information provided in the pamphlet. For example, one young adult stated, “I didn’t know that insurance or laboratory testing could accidentally make it easier for privacy to be lost in the billing process.” Respondents stated that tools such as a website or videos may be more effective to publicize this information. This project highlights the need to inform adolescents and young adults about their rights to maintain confidentiality when under their parents’ health insurance plans.

The levenogestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) is a progestin-containing hormonal IUD and an increasingly popular, effective method of contraception. The majority of women who discontinue this method do so in the first 6 months due to unpredicted side effects, such as bleeding and cramping. Anticipatory counseling about the side effects of other progestin-containing birth control methods is correlated with reduced removal rates and increased satisfaction with the method. This study examined information LNG-IUS users want to receive about the 6-month adjustment period in a counseling video. We conducted 7 focus groups, totaling 49 women (age 18 and over) that had a LNG-IUS placed in the last 6 months. We asked LNG-IUS users about their experiences with the LNG-IUS and what kind of information would be helpful to manage and understand side effects in the adjustment period. We performed thematic content analysis using a modified grounded theory approach. Starting with an a-priori code list, we added codes and revised the coding hierarchy based on themes that emerged. Women wanted counseling that acknowledged a range of experiences with the LNG-IUS and normalized the option to contact their doctor with concerns. Desired topics of counseling were risks and benefits of the LNG IUS, changes in bleeding and cramping, and explanation of how hormones worked in the body. Women preferred counseling that used statistics, visual aids, and personal stories from other LNG-IUS users. Participants wanted more specific information about what to expect in the first 6 months of LNG-IUS use, delivered in a way that normalized their experience in the context of other LNG-IUS users.

The inland waters of the Puget Sound, Washington, USA, and Georgia Basin, British Columba, Canada, is a complex system of high energy river inputs to lower energy large basins with direct connection to the open ocean through the Straits of Juan de Fuca. High energy systems acting as transport mechanisms for coarse sediment interact with low energy regions with transport deposition of finer sediments to create the vertical stratigraphy of the seafloor. In regions of high energy the seafloor expression is dominated by a rougher seafloor with more geomorphic features of coarser material, while low energy regions are expressed in a seafloor of uniform lamination. This research investigates the link between the surface expression of seafloor roughness and the underlying vertical structure of sediment deposition. Using a high resolution bathymetric surface derived from multibeam sonar synchronized with low frequency sub-bottom acoustic profiles, the depth of acoustic penetration is correlated with a focal calculation of seafloor roughness. Areas of lower acoustic impedance have a larger range in penetration, with lower ranges of penetration persisting in areas of high acoustic impedance. High acoustic impedance is indicative of harder sediments, such as sand, and low acoustic impedance indicates softer sediments, such as mud. The research is a comparative study between a high energy system adjacent to the mouth of the Elwha River and the low energy protected region of South Possession Sound. The research illustrates the strong link between seafloor geomorphology and the terrestrial sources of sediment input and mitigation of sediment transport energy.