Summary of Previous and New Records of the Arkansas Darter (Etheostoma cragini) in Arkansas

The Arkansas Darter, Etheostoma cragini, has an extremely limited distribution in Arkansas and is designated as a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act. It was first documented in the state in 1979 in Wilson Spring near Fayetteville. Between 1979 and 1985 it was collected in 4 additional headwater streams in Benton and Washington counties. A 1997 study documented the persistence of the species in 3 of the 5 historic streams, but 1 stream yielded only a single individual. A 2004-2005 study reassessed the status of the 5 historically known populations and searched broadly for new populations, documenting E. cragini at 15 sites, all within a 2-km radius of historic sites. In 2010-2011, more concentrated sampling efforts were made in the subbasins with prior records of the species. These efforts documented populations at 13 additional sites, greatly improving the resolution of the distribution of this species within Arkansas

Summary of Previous and New Records of the Least Darter (Etheostoma microperca) in Arkansas

The least darter, Etheostoma microperca, has a limited distribution in Arkansas and is designated as a species of greatest conservation need by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The fish was first documented in the state in 1938 in Wildcat Creek west of Springdale with additional discoveries in 1960, 1973, 1981, and 1982. A 1997 study documented the persistence of the species in Healing Spring Run and a spring run tributary of Osage Creek, 2 of the historic streams. Field sampling in 2004-2005 and 2010-2011, provided more concentrated sampling efforts in the basin. This study sought to determine the present status of least darter populations in Arkansas by detecting presence or absence at previously reported locations and locations in the same watersheds having similar habitat. Information on all least darter collections in Arkansas is compiled herein. The species appears to be extirpated from Wildcat Creek, Clear Creek, and Elkhorn Springs. Previously undocumented populations were found in the Clear Creek and Flint Creek watersheds. Least darter has not been collected from Osage Creek since 1973, persists in a spring run tributary to Osage Creek reported first in 1997. The species also persists in Healing Spring Run, and additional populations were found in other nearby tributaries to Little Osage Creek and in vegetated backwaters along the creek itself

The formation of professional identity in medical students: considerations for educators

<b>Context</b> Medical education is about more than acquiring an appropriate level of knowledge and developing relevant skills. To practice medicine students need to develop a professional identity – ways of being and relating in professional contexts.<p></p> <b>Objectives</b> This article conceptualises the processes underlying the formation and maintenance of medical students’ professional identity drawing on concepts from social psychology.<p></p> <b>Implications</b> A multi-dimensional model of identity and identity formation, along with the concepts of identity capital and multiple identities, are presented. The implications for educators are discussed.<p></p> <b>Conclusions</b> Identity formation is mainly social and relational in nature. Educators, and the wider medical society, need to utilise and maximise the opportunities that exist in the various relational settings students experience. Education in its broadest sense is about the transformation of the self into new ways of thinking and relating. Helping students form, and successfully integrate their professional selves into their multiple identities, is a fundamental of medical education

Effects of Vegetation, Corridor Width and Regional Land Use on Early Successional Birds on Powerline Corridors

Powerline rights-of-way (ROWs) often provide habitat for early successional bird species that have suffered long-term population declines in eastern North America. To determine how the abundance of shrubland birds varies with habitat within ROW corridors and with land use patterns surrounding corridors, we ran Poisson regression models on data from 93 plots on ROWs and compared regression coefficients. We also determined nest success rates on a 1-km stretch of ROW. Seven species of shrubland birds were common in powerline corridors. However, the nest success rates for prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor) and field sparrow (Spizella pusilla) were <21%, which is too low to compensate for estimated annual mortality. Some shrubland bird species were more abundant on narrower ROWs or at sites with lower vegetation or particular types of vegetation, indicating that vegetation management could be refined to favor species of high conservation priority. Also, several species were more abundant in ROWs traversing unfragmented forest than those near residential areas or farmland, indicating that corridors in heavily forested regions may provide better habitat for these species. In the area where we monitored nests, brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) occurred more frequently close to a residential area. Although ROWs support dense populations of shrubland birds, those in more heavily developed landscapes may constitute sink habitat. ROWs in extensive forests may contribute more to sustaining populations of early successional birds, and thus may be the best targets for habitat management

Reducing stigma and increasing workplace productivity due to mental health difficulties in a large government organization in the UK: a protocol for a randomised control treatment trial (RCT) of a low intensity psychological intervention and stigma reduction programme for common mental disorder (Prevail)

Background Common mental disorders are the leading cause of workplace absences. While the reasons for this are multifarious, there is little doubt that stigma related to common mental disorder plays a large role in sickness absence and in poor help-seeking. Frequently both managers and staff are unsure of how to approach and intervene with mental health related problems. We have therefore devised a mental health intervention programme (Prevail) that aims to reduce stigma and to educate staff about evidence-based low intensity psychological interventions. These can be used by the individual, as well as in collaboration with managers via co-production of problem-focussed solutions, with the aim of improving mental health, reducing sickness absence, and increasing workplace productivity. Methods This two-armed cluster randomised control trial (RCT) will evaluate the effectiveness of Prevail. Eighty managers at a large UK government institution (the DVLA) and their teams (approximately 960 employees) will be randomised into the active intervention group or control (employment as usual) arms of the study. All participants will be invited to complete a series of questionnaires related to mental health stigma, their current and past mental health, and their recent workplace productivity (absenteeism and presenteeism). All employees in the active arm will receive the Prevail Staff intervention, which covers stigma reduction and includes psychoeducation about evidence-based low intensity psychological interventions for common mental disorder. The managers in the active arm will also receive the Prevail Managers programme which covers communication skills, problem formulation, and problem-solving skills. The questionnaire battery will then be given to both groups again 4 weeks post training, and 12 months post-training. Official records of absenteeism from Human Resources will also be gathered from both active and control groups at 12 months post-training

2011 Belize Biospeleology Expedition Report

We report on preliminary findings from the first biospeleological expedition undertaken between 6 and 19 April 2011 in caves of the Toledo District, southern Belize. Also included is a review of the present state of knowledge of subterranean invertebrates in Belize, with no prior data being available for the Toledo District. During the April 2011 expedition, we sampled more than 1,150 invertebrates, representing more than 80 unique taxa, recorded from 7 caves in the Toledo District of Belize. This material includes a number of species already determined to be new to science, including various arachnids, crustaceans, and insects. The findings of this study form the beginnings of a foundation for future work, which can help inform decision-making regarding cave resources. Caves in Belize are an important socioeconomic resource – they support ecotourism, harbor unique archeological resources. In serving as conduits for water, organic materials, and contaminants, these caves also play important roles within the landscape. The data from the present study, and future biospeleological work will provide land managers and agency personnel with better knowledge of important cave resources in Belize.Subterranean Ecology Institute; NSS International Exploration Grantunpublishednot peer reviewe