Habitat modeling of a rare endemic trillium species (Trillium Simile Gleason): a comparison of the methods Maxent and DOMAIN for modeling rare species-rich habitat

Many species habitat and distribution models are available that use field habitat observations to identify environmental predictor variables and quantify species-environment relationships. The relative effectiveness in terms of ease of use and accurately predicting habitat is not known for many of the models. The purpose of this study was to compare Maxent (a machine learning probability model) to DOMAIN (a simple GIS statistical profile model) in terms of their habitat prediction. Both models were used to predict habitat for the rare Trillium simile, an endemic species of the southern Appalachian Mountains found in the very rich cove environments that also provide critical habitat for other similarly sensitive species. Habitat was characterized by measuring biotic and abiotic variables at 20 sites where the species was found scattered throughout National Forests (Pisgah, Nantahala, Cherokee, and Sumter) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee. Digital environmental and climatic data for the known locations were matched to the abiotic and biotic variables measured in the field to create the models. Maxent performed with an AUC of 0.839; a DOMAIN AUC was not available because output was not automatic, and there was insufficient guidance on how to calculate the AUC. Highly suitable, suitable, and unsuitable habitat were identified for T. simile using both Maxent and DOMAIN. Model validation was performed by visiting a total of 12 highly suitable sites predicted by each model, where the original variables were collected for comparison against known occurrence sites. Model predicted data were compared to the known T. simile site data using statistical analyses and quantitative assessment. Maxent and DOMAIN models were compared using a method agreement analysis. Univariate ANOVA results, descriptive statistics, and percentages of sites withheld during model testing showed that both models successfully predicted highly suitable habitat for T. simile consistent with the characteristics of the known occurrence locations, although predictions were slightly different. Method agreement analysis resulted in a Cohen’s kappa of substantial agreement (?=0.674) between the methods Maxent and DOMAIN. Specific project objectives coupled with the complexity of understanding and evaluating model performance makes choosing a “best-fit” model a challenge for modeling rare, endemic plant species. Both models were successful at predicting suitable habitat for T. simile, and although Maxent proved to work well on a small-scale, DOMAIN was much simpler to use and is thus the recommended method. Additional experience using both models under different project circumstances and informed opinion will further assist modelers in deciding whether to use a complex model like Maxent or a more simple, less flexible model like DOMAIN when modeling habitat distribution for rare plants like T. simile

Perceptions of nutrition education and the role of dietitians at a medical school in the Czech Republic: an international collaboration

The overall purpose of this research was to assess the perceptions about nutrition education and the role of dietitians at a medical school in the Czech Republic. This work represents an international collaboration between The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Masaryk University. The adage, “you are what you eat” remains relevant today as our food choices are the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. Globally the increasing rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the so called “lifestyle diseases” that include obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, have potentially devastating complications including poor health outcomes. There is abundant evidence to support the role of nutrition in the prevention, management, and treatment of many health conditions including NCDs. Yet global research over the past decades has identified that many medical schools around the world lack adequate nutrition education for medical students. But with medical schools in the Czech Republic not represented in the published literature, the situation here is not clear. This work included a qualitative assessment of students and faculty at Masaryk University medical school in Brno, Czech Republic. Using a thematic interview guide, semi-structured interviews were conducted with students (n=30) in both the Czech and English programs at the medical school, and faculty members (n=6) that taught in one or both programs. Interviews were conducted in either the Czech or English language. After transcription, the Czech interviews were translated into English, and then all interview transcripts were prepared for review and thematic analysis. The themes identified revealed support for the important role of nutrition in medical care, concern about the limited amount of nutrition education offered at the medical school, a limited awareness about the role of dietitians in medical care, and student interest in additional education to improve nutrition knowledge and training to support the self-care and wellness of medical students. This work supports the existing literature on this topic and identified concerns that medical students at Masaryk University medical school are not receiving adequate nutrition education to prepare them to provide nutrition care for patients. In addition, the results suggest that with limited awareness about the role of dietitians in medical care, there may be poor interdisciplinary collaboration and dietitians may be underutilized resulting inadequate nutrition care for patients in the Czech Republic. These findings support future work to highlight the role of nutrition in medical care and support the role of dietitians as the nutrition professionals in the Czech health system. Such work may include assessing the feasibility of dietitians offering nutrition education sessions on current topics to medical students at Masaryk University. In addition, as interdisciplinary collaboration is beneficial for patient care, it may be valuable for future research to assess the nutrition knowledge and perceptions about nutrition education for other allied health professionals educated at Masaryk University including nurses, pharmacists, and physical therapists

North Korea’s human rights insecurity : state image management in the post-UN COI era

The 2014 report of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea marked a watershed moment in international awareness and action on North Korea's human rights problem. It sparked widespread international condemnation, and prompted anxiety and insecurity on the part of North Korea, evident in the North's immediate response. This included a verbal counter‐offensive, some surprising willingness to engage with UN mechanisms, and a range of diplomatic engagement. I argue that contrary to the popular perception of North Korea as impervious to external criticism, when viewed through the conceptual lens of ontological security, the North's response to the UN COI revealed a desire to defend and secure its image in the eyes of the international community. While acknowledging continuing obstacles to a genuine normative transition in its approach to human rights, the article supports a deeper understanding of North Korea's self‐identity to guide measures to bring about change

Emerging concepts in biomarker discovery; The US-Japan workshop on immunological molecular markers in oncology

Supported by the Office of International Affairs, National Cancer Institute (NCI), the "US-Japan Workshop on Immunological Biomarkers in Oncology" was held in March 2009. The workshop was related to a task force launched by the International Society for the Biological Therapy of Cancer (iSBTc) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify strategies for biomarker discovery and validation in the field of biotherapy. The effort will culminate on October 28th 2009 in the "iSBTc-FDA-NCI Workshop on Prognostic and Predictive Immunologic Biomarkers in Cancer", which will be held in Washington DC in association with the Annual Meeting. The purposes of the US-Japan workshop were a) to discuss novel approaches to enhance the discovery of predictive and/or prognostic markers in cancer immunotherapy; b) to define the state of the science in biomarker discovery and validation. The participation of Japanese and US scientists provided the opportunity to identify shared or discordant themes across the distinct immune genetic background and the diverse prevalence of disease between the two Nations