On the Rarity of Food Provisioning by Male Dickcissels

Males of polygynous bird species typically provide less parental care to their offspring than males of monogamous species (Ketterson and Nolan 1994). Generally, in polygynous species, a male forfeits some potential reproductive success ifhe shifts his reproductive effort from mating with multiple females to parental care (Trivers 1972, Gubemick et al. 1993, Schleicher et al. 1993). In the polygynous dickcissel (Spiza americana), singing and foraging activities constitute much of a male\u27s time-activity budget (Schartz and Zimmerman 1971, Finck 1984). Although male dickcissels are attentive to their nests and mates (e.g., nest protection and vigilance) females incubate the eggs and feed the young (Gross 1921). Herein, we describe an account ofa male dickcissel feeding brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) young early in the breeding season, summarize and review previous reports of food provisioning by the male dickcissel, and discuss the rarity of this behavior in the dickcissel

Winter Bird Use of Conservation Reserve Program Fields Harvested for Biomass

As Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expire, many fields may be returned to agricultural production. Growing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a biomass fuel is an alternative to returning fields to rowcrops. CRP fields provide winter cover for birds, but the harvest of biomass would remove most of the cover and affect bird use of the fields. We estimated winter bird abundances in nonharvested, total-harvested, and partially (strip) harvested switchgrass fields in southern Iowa. Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were observed only in strip-harvested fields and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were observed only in nonharvested fields and uncut areas of strip-harvested fields. American tree sparrows (Spizella arborea) were observed in all three treatments, but abundances were not significantly different among treatments. Tree sparrows, however, were observed more often in uncut strips of strip-harvested fields than in cut strips, with 87% of observations in strip-harvested fields in uncut strips. Abundances in strip-harvested fields were in general higher than abundances in rowcrop and CRP plantings in other studies. Strip-harvested switchgrass fields may be more beneficial in winter than total-harvested fields, rowcrop, or idle CRP fields for some bird species

Winter Bird Use of Conservation Reserve Program Fields Harvested for Biomass

As Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts expire, many fields may be returned to agricultural production. Growing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) as a biomass fuel is an alternative to returning fields to rowcrops. CRP fields provide winter cover for birds, but the harvest of biomass would remove most of the cover and affect bird use of the fields. We estimated winter bird abundances in nonharvested, total-harvested, and partially (strip) harvested switchgrass fields in southern Iowa. Song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were observed only in strip-harvested fields and ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) were observed only in nonharvested fields and uncut areas of strip-harvested fields. American tree sparrows (Spizella arborea) were observed in all three treatments, but abundances were not significantly different among treatments. Tree sparrows, however, were observed more often in uncut strips of strip-harvested fields than in cut strips, with 87% of observations in strip-harvested fields in uncut strips. Abundances in strip-harvested fields were in general higher than abundances in rowcrop and CRP plantings in other studies. Strip-harvested switchgrass fields may be more beneficial in winter than total-harvested fields, rowcrop, or idle CRP fields for some bird species

The Value of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Humanities E-Book Collection: Is It Worth the Cost?

Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) is a regional university located in Montgomery, Alabama. The enrollment consists of 3,990 FTE undergraduate and graduate students (Auburn University at Montgomery, 2017). The library at AUM holds nearly 600,000 volumes, excluding government documents, along with more than 100 journal databases, which support student and faculty research. Over the past five years, the materials budget has decreased more than 30%, requiring collection reductions. Initial analysis determined that in addition to other items, one of the recommended products for elimination was the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Humanities E-Book project

A model of health care provider decision making about HPV vaccination in adolescent males

Introduction In the U.S., HPV vaccination of adolescent males remains low, despite the recommendation for routine vaccination. Although research has highlighted that health care provider (HCP) recommendation is very influential in HPV vaccine uptake, research on this topic in the male population is lacking. Accordingly, we used a qualitative approach to identify HCP knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding adolescent male HPV vaccination, one year, after routine vaccination of adolescent males was recommended. Method A total of 20 U.S. pediatric HCPs participated in 20–30 min interviews about knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding male HPV vaccination. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and, analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results The providers had been in practice for 1–35 years, 75% were female, and 75% were White. Opinions on HPV vaccination were shaped by knowledge/perception of the risks and benefits of vaccination. Although all providers frequently offered HPV vaccine to male patients, the strength and content of the offer varied greatly. Vaccination opinions determined what issues were emphasized in the vaccine offer (e.g., stressing herd immunity, discussing prevention of genital warts), while adolescent age influenced if and how they pitched their vaccine offer (e.g., HPV as a STI). Most providers agreed with the ACIP recommendations, however, several expressed that providers’ preexisting opinions might remain unchanged despite the recommendations. Consistent with the literature on determinants of HPV vaccination, providers believed that their own recommendation was a major factor in a family's decision to vaccinate. Barriers to vaccination included the “newness” and sexual nature of the vaccine, lack of insurance coverage, and the vaccine not being mandated. Conclusions Providers’ opinions about, and approaches to offering, HPV vaccination to males were highly variable. Interventions designed to improve male HPV vaccination should focus on helping providers to routinely recommend the vaccine to all of their eligible patients, both males and females

The stellar mass function of star-forming galaxies and the mass-dependent SFR function since z = 2.23 from HiZELS

We explore a large uniformly selected sample of Hα selected star-forming galaxies (SFGs) at z = 0.40, 0.84, 1.47, 2.23 to unveil the evolution of the star formation rate (SFR) function and the stellar mass function. We find strong evolution in the SFR function, with the typical SFR of SFGs declining exponentially in the last 11 Gyr as SFR*(T[Gyr]) = 104.23/T + 0.37 M⊙ yr−1, but with no evolution in the faint-end slope, α ≈ −1.6. The stellar mass function of SFGs, however, reveals little evolution: α ≈ −1.4, M* ∼ 1011.2 ± 0.2 M⊙ and just a slight increase of ∼2.3× in Φ* from z = 2.23 to z = 0.4. The stellar mass density within SFGs has been roughly constant since z = 2.23 at ∼107.65 ± 0.08 M⊙ Mpc−3, comprising ≈100 per cent of the stellar mass density in all galaxies at z = 2.23, and declining to ≈20 per cent by z = 0.40, driven by the rise of the passive population. We find that SFGs with ∼1010.0 ± 0.2 M⊙ contribute most to the SFR density (ρSFR) per d log10M, and that there is no significant evolution in the fractional contribution from SFGs of different masses to ρSFR or ρSFR(d log10M)−1 since z = 2.23. Instead, we show that the decline of SFR* and of ρSFR is primarily driven by an exponential decline in SFRs at all masses. Our results have important implications not only on how SFGs need to be quenched across cosmic time, but also on the driver(s) of the exponential decline in SFR* from ∼66 M⊙ yr−1 to 5 M⊙ yr−1 since z ∼ 2.23

DWPF SB6 INITIAL CPC FLOWSHEET TESTING SB6-1 TO SB6-4L TESTS OF SB6-A AND SB6-B SIMULANTS

The Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF) will transition from Sludge Batch 5 (SB5) processing to Sludge Batch 6 (SB6) processing in late fiscal year 2010. Tests were conducted using non-radioactive simulants of the expected SB6 composition to determine the impact of varying the acid stoichiometry during the Sludge Receipt and Adjustment Tank (SRAT) and Slurry Mix Evaporator (SME) processes. The work was conducted to meet the Technical Task Request (TTR) HLW/DWPF/TTR-2008-0043, Rev.0 and followed the guidelines of a Task Technical and Quality Assurance Plan (TT&QAP). The flowsheet studies are performed to evaluate the potential chemical processing issues, hydrogen generation rates, and process slurry rheological properties as a function of acid stoichiometry. These studies were conducted with the estimated SB6 composition at the time of the study. This composition assumed a blend of 101,085 kg of Tank 4 insoluble solids and 179,000 kg of Tank 12 insoluble solids. The current plans are to subject Tank 12 sludge to aluminum dissolution. Liquid Waste Operations assumed that 75% of the aluminum would be dissolved during this process. After dissolution and blending of Tank 4 sludge slurry, plans included washing the contents of Tank 51 to {approx}1M Na. After the completion of washing, the plan assumes that 40 inches on Tank 40 slurry would remain for blending with the qualified SB6 material. There are several parameters that are noteworthy concerning SB6 sludge: (1) This is the second batch DWPF will be processing that contains sludge that has had a significant fraction of aluminum removed through aluminum dissolution; (2) The sludge is high in mercury, but the projected concentration is lower than SB5; (3) The sludge is high in noble metals, but the projected concentrations are lower than SB5; and(4) The sludge is high in U and Pu - components that are not added in sludge simulants. Six DWPF process simulations were completed in 4-L laboratory-scale equipment using two projections of the SB6 blend simulant composition (Tank 40 simulant after Tank 51 transfer is complete). The more washed simulant (SB6-A) had a set of four SRAT and SME simulations at varying acid stoichiometry levels (90%, 100%, 120% and 150%) using the Koopman Acid Prediction Calculation. Two additional SRAT simulations were made using SB6-B blend simulant at 100% and 120% of acid stoichiometry. SME cycles were noted performed for the SB6B simulants to allow the SRAT products to be used for melt rate testing

Let’s celebrate recovery. Inclusive Cities working together to support social cohesion

Recovery from illicit drug and alcohol use takes place over time and is characterised by a dynamic interaction between internal and external components. An integral part of all recovery journeys is effective community reintegration. After all, recovery is not mainly an issue of personal motivation rather it is about acceptance by family, by friends and by a range of organisations and professionals across the community. Therefore to support pathways to recovery, structural and contextual endeavours are needed to supplement individually-oriented interventions and programmes. One way to do this, is by introducing Inclusive Cities. An Inclusive City promotes participation, inclusion, full and equal citizenship to all her citizens, including those in recovery, based on the idea of community capital. The aim of building recovery capital at a community level through connections and 'linking social capital' to challenge stigmatisation and exclusion, is seen as central to this idea. Inclusive Cities is an initiative to support the creation of Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care at a city level, that starts with but extends beyond substance using populations. This paper describes (and gives examples of) how it is possible to use recovery as a starting point for generating social inclusion, challenging the marginalisation of other excluded populations as well by building community connections

Disordered RNA chaperones can enhance nucleic acid folding via local charge screening

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.RNA chaperones are proteins that aid in the folding of nucleic acids, but remarkably, many of these proteins are intrinsically disordered. How can these proteins function without a well-defined three-dimensional structure? Here, we address this question by studying the hepatitis C virus core protein, a chaperone that promotes viral genome dimerization. Using single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy, we find that this positively charged disordered protein facilitates the formation of compact nucleic acid conformations by acting as a flexible macromolecular counterion that locally screens repulsive electrostatic interactions with an efficiency equivalent to molar salt concentrations. The resulting compaction can bias unfolded nucleic acids towards folding, resulting in faster folding kinetics. This potentially widespread mechanism is supported by molecular simulations that rationalize the experimental findings by describing the chaperone as an unstructured polyelectrolyte.Swiss National Science FoundationEuropean Molecular Biology OrganizationIntramural Research Program of the NIDDK at the National Institutes of Healt