Evaluating population estimates of mountain goats based on citizen science

Citizen science programs that use trained volunteers may be a cost-effective method for monitoring wildlife at large spatial and temporal scales. However, few studies have compared inferences made from data collected by volunteers to professionally collected data. In Glacier National Park (GNP), Montana, I assessed whether citizen science is a useful method to monitor mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) populations. I compared estimates of mountain goat abundance by volunteers at 32 sites throughout GNP to estimates by biologists and raw counts from aerial surveys at a subset of 25 and 11 sites, respectively. I used multiple observer surveys to calibrate the indices of abundance for the effect of observer variation between volunteers and biologists. I used N-mixture models, which calculated detection probability through patterns of detection and non-detection to obtain estimates of abundance. Population estimates made by citizen science overlapped estimates by biologists and estimates from previous research. Density estimates from aerial surveys were lower, possibly due to imperfect detection during aerial surveys or due to violation of the assumption of population closure. Mean detection probability from multiple observer surveys for biologists was significantly higher and less variable than that of volunteers, but was not a suitable correction factor, because it was not consistent across all densities of mountain goats. Volunteer experience did not significantly influence detection probability or abundance estimates. Abundance estimates by volunteers were influenced by number of site visits. More frequent site visits balanced out lower detection probability by volunteers and resulted in abundance estimates that were less variable than those of biologists. When large spatial and temporal coverage can be achieved, citizen science can provide mountain goat population estimates that are statistically similar to those of biologists. However, neither estimates by volunteers or biologists had sufficient statistical power to detect a 30% decline in mountain goat population size over 10 years. Power by volunteers could be increased by reducing the number of sites and increasing surveys/site or by continuing monitoring over a longer time frame (i.e., 30 years). Citizen science programs can contribute to long term monitoring when properly designed

Telephone multiline signaling using common signal pair

An operator can rapidly and automatically produce coded electrical signals by manipulating mechanical thumb wheel switches so as to instruct a service center to connect any number of telephone lines to the console thus enabling the operator to listen and/or talk over several lines simultaneously. The system includes an on-site console having several mechanically operated thumb wheel switches to which the desired lines to be connected can be dialed in. Electrical coded signals are fed to a number of banks of line AND gates representing units, tens and hundreds, a group of channel gates, and a command gate. These signals are gated out in a controlled manner to an encoder which generates tones that are transmitted over a single line to a communication service center

Zebrafish Model of MLL-Rearranged Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common type of leukemia. Standard treatment includes chemotherapy as well as stem cell transplantation, but for aging patients and those with impaired immune function these rigorous therapies are not always possible. Furthermore, AML patients harboring a chromosomal rearrangement involving Multiple Lineage Leukemia (MLL) exhibit far worse prognoses than patients without. Given these circumstances new therapies must be developed. Methods: Danio rerio (zebrafish) has emerged as a powerful model organism for investigating human blood malignancies due to the conservation of hematopoiesis between humans and zebrafish. We developed a transient transgenic model exhibiting AML characteristics by microinjecting single-cell zebrafish embryos with a tissue specific MLL-ENL expression construct. Results: We found that the expression of MLL-ENL induced a clustered expansion of MLL+ and pu.1+ myeloid cells on the yolk sac at 48 and 72 hours post fertilization (hpf). To characterize our transient AML model, we treated MLL-ENL expressing embryos with either one of or a combination of two drugs that are currently being used in human AML drug trials, Venetoclax and Flavopiridol. We found that treatment with either drug reduced the myeloid expansion induced by the expression of MLL-ENL, and that co-treatment reduced the observed myeloid expansion even further. Conclusions: Although further analysis is required, these data suggest that we successfully developed a transient transgenic AML model in zebrafish. Furthermore, these data suggest that Venetoclax and Flavopiridol co-treatment could yield better outcomes for AML patients than treatment with either drug individually.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1112/thumbnail.jp

Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses

Background Variation in equine caudal cervical spine morphology at C6 and C7 has high prevalence in Warmblood horses and is suspected to be associated with pain in a large mixed-breed group of horses. At present no data exist on the relationship between radiographic phenotype and clinical presentation in Warmblood horses in a case-control study. Objectives To establish the frequency of radiographically visible morphologic variation in a large group of Warmblood horses with clinical signs and compare this with a group without clinical signs. We hypothesised that occurrence of morphologic variation in the case group would not differ from the control group, indicating there is no association between clinical signs and morphologic variation. Study design Retrospective case-control. Methods Radiographic presence or absence of morphologic variation of cervical vertebrae C6 and C7 was recorded in case (n = 245) and control horses (n = 132). Case and control groups were compared by univariable Pearson's Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression for measurement variables age, sex, breed, degenerative joint disease and morphologic variation at C6 and C7. Odds ratio and confidence intervals were obtained. A P <= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Morphologic variation at C6 and C7 (n = 108/377 = 28.6%; Cases 58/245 = 23.7%; Control 50/132 = 38%) was less frequent in horses with clinical signs in univariable testing (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P = 0.001). Age, sex, breed and degenerative joint disease were not retained in the final multivariable logistic regression step whereas morphologic variation remained significantly less present in horses with clinical signs. Main limitations Possible demographic differences between equine clinics. Conclusions Morphologic variation in the caudal cervical spine was detected more frequently in horses without clinical signs. Therefore, radiographic presence of such variation does not necessarily implicate the presence of clinical signs

Global polarization measurement in Au+Au collisions

The system created in non central relativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions carries large angular orbital momentum. Due to spin-orbital coupling, produced particles could be globally polarized along the direction of the system angular momentum. We present results of a measurement of Lambda hyperon global polarization in Au+Au collisions at the center of mass energies 62 and 200 GeV with the STAR detector at RHIC. The observed global polarization of Lambda hyperons in the STAR acceptance is consistent with zero within the precision of the measurement. The obtained upper limit, |P_Lambda| < 0.01, is significantly below the theoretical values discussed recently in the literature.Comment: Talk given at SQM 2006, International Conference on Strangeness in Quark Matter, March 26-31, 2006, Los Angeles CA; 4 pages, 2 figure

Defining and Surveying Wireless Link Virtualization and Wireless Network Virtualization

Virtualization is a topic of great interest in the area of mobile and wireless communication systems. However, the term virtualization is used in an inexact manner which makes it difficult to compare and contrast work that has been carried out to date. The purpose of this paper is twofold. In the first place, this paper develops a formal theory for defining virtualization. In the second instance, this theory is used as a way of surveying a body of work in the field of wireless link virtualization, a subspace of wireless network virtualization. The formal theory provides a means for distinguishing work that should be classed as resource allocation as distinct from virtualization. It also facilitates a further classification of the representation level at which the virtualization occurs, which makes comparison of work more meaningful. This paper provides a comprehensive survey and highlights gaps in the research that make for fruitful future work

Maternal substance use disorder predicting children's emotion regulation in middle childhood : the role of early mother-infant interaction

Background: Maternal prenatal substance use disorder (SUD) represents a dual risk for child wellbeing due to teratogenic impacts and parenting problems often inherent in SUD. One potential mechanism transferring this risk is altered development of children's emotion regulation (ER). The present study examines how mother's prenatal SUD and early mother-infant interaction quality predict children's ER in middle childhood. Method: The participants were 52 polysubstance using mothers and 50 non-users and their children. First-year mother-infant interaction quality was assessed with the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales and children's ER with the Children's Emotion Management Scales (CEMS), and its parent version (P-CEMS) at 8-12 years. Results: Mother's prenatal SUD predicted a low level of children's adaptive ER strategies, whereas early mother-infant interaction problems predicted a high level of emotion dysregulation. The dyadic interaction also mediated the effect of SUD on emotion dysregulation. In the SUD group, more severe substance use predicted high emotion inhibition. Conclusion: Early mother-infant interaction quality is critical in shaping children's ER, also in middle-childhood. Interventions aimed for mothers with prenatal SUD should integrate parenting components to support the optimal development of multiply vulnerable children.Peer reviewe

Urban Evolution: The Role of Water

The structure, function, and services of urban ecosystems evolve over time scales from seconds to centuries as Earth’s population grows, infrastructure ages, and sociopolitical values alter them. In order to systematically study changes over time, the concept of “urban evolution” was proposed. It allows urban planning, management, and restoration to move beyond reactive management to predictive management based on past observations of consistent patterns. Here, we define and review a glossary of core concepts for studying urban evolution, which includes the mechanisms of urban selective pressure and urban adaptation. Urban selective pressure is an environmental or societal driver contributing to urban adaptation. Urban adaptation is thesequential process by which an urban structure, function, or services becomes more fitted to its changing environment or human choices. The role of water is vital to driving urban evolution as demonstrated by historical changes in drainage, sewage flows, hydrologic pulses, and long-term chemistry. In the current paper, we show how hydrologic traits evolve across successive generations of urban ecosystems via shifts in selective pressures and adaptations over time. We explore multiple empirical examples including evolving: (1) urban drainage from stream burial to stormwater management; (2) sewage flows and water quality in response to wastewater treatment; (3) amplification of hydrologic pulses due to the interaction between urbanization and climate variability; and (4) salinization and alkalinization of fresh water due to human inputs and accelerated weathering. Finally, we propose a new conceptual model for the evolution of urban waters from the Industrial Revolution to the present day based on empirical trends and historical information. Ultimately, we propose that water itself is a critical driver of urban evolution that forces urban adaptation, which transforms the structure, function, and services of urban landscapes, waterways, and civilizations over time