Nest Success and Hatchling Survival of American Alligators Within Inland Wetlands of East Texas

Because of liberalization of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) harvest management in Texas, estimates of nest success and hatchling survival for inland populations are essential for long-term, sustainable population and harvest management. To date, few studies have examined American alligator nest success and hatchling survival. We initiated a 3-year study from 2006 to 2008 to document alligator nest success and hatchling survival within several wetlands in east Texas. From June 2006 to August 2008, we located 30 nests from 3 wetlands within east Texas, where overall nest success was 44.2% (95% CI=25.1– 63.1%), irrespective of year. Nest circumference and day during the nesting season exerted the greatest influence on nest success. Additionally, from August 2006 to August 2008 we captured, marked, and released 271 hatchling alligators at Little Sandy National Wildlife Refuge, and recaptured an additional 192 hatchling alligators during this time. We estimated yearly apparent survival at 6.0% (95% CI=2.0–14.6%) for hatchling alligators born in 2006 and 43.0% (95% CI=28.4–57.8%) for those hatched in 2007. Variation in nest success and hatchling survival was likely attributed to fluctuating water levels and habitat management practices. Alligator harvest regulations need to account for variability in nest success and hatchling survival by including site-specific estimates of these metrics into harvest models. Failing to account for spatial and temporal variation in nest success and hatchling survival may result in unsustainable harvest and/or over harvest

Habitat Use of American Alligators in East Texas

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) has made a remarkable recovery throughout its range during the last halfcentury. In Texas, USA, current inland alligator population and harvest management strategies rely on generalized and often site-specific habitat and population data generated from coastal populations, because it is assumed that habitat and demographic similarities exist between inland and coastal populations. These assumptions have not been verified, however, and no studies have specifically examined inland alligator habitat use in Texas. We quantified alligator habitat use in East Texas during 2003–2004 to address this information gap and to facilitate development of regionally specific management strategies. Although habitat was variable among study areas, alligators used habitats with .50% open water, substantial floating vegetation, and emergent vegetation close (,12 m) to dry ground and cover. Adults used habitats further from dry ground and cover, in open water (75–85%), with less floating vegetation (6–22%) than did subadults, which used habitats that were closer to dry ground and cover, with less open water (52–68%), and more floating vegetation (8–40%). Although habitat use mirrored coastal patterns, we estimated alligator densities to be 3–5 times lower than reported in coastal Texas, likely a result of inland habitat deviations from optimal coastal alligator habitat, particularly in the preponderance of open water and floating vegetation. Our findings that 1) inland habitats varied among sites and did not exactly match assumed optimal coastal habitats, 2) alligators used these inland habitats slightly differently than coastal areas, and 3) inland alligator densities were lower than coastal populations, all highlight the need for regionally specific management approaches. Because alligator populations are influenced by habitat quality and availability, any deviations from assumed optimal habitat may magnify harvest impacts upon inland populations

Analysis of Veal Shoulder Muscles for Chemical Attributes

The value of wholesale veal cuts varies; the rack, loin, and leg demand a premium price, while the shoulder brings little more per pound than the live animal. This study characterized the chemical properties of muscles from the veal shoulder for the potential to upgrade their value. The m. infraspinatus and m. rhomboideus fell in the intermediate or desirable groups for all traits. All nine muscles show promise in the ability to increase value

Using GIS-Based, Regional Extent Habitat Suitability Modeling to Identify Conservation Priority Areas: A Case Study of the Louisiana Black Bear in East Texas

State and federal recovery plans mandate that priority areas for future population expansion be identified within the historical range of the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus). Despite the presence of potentially suitable habitat in east Texas and expanding populations in adjacent states, quantitative estimates of regional habitat suitability do not exist. We developed a regional extent habitat suitability index (HSI) model in a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate year-round habitat requirements for black bears in the 43,530-km2 south black bear recovery zone in southeastern Texas. We measured hard and soft mast production, understory vegetation density, and tree den availability at 516 survey points in 38 habitat classes (82% of the total area in the south recovery zone). We developed geospatial models for summer food availability; fall food availability, diversity, and productivity; protection cover, tree den availability, distance to roads, and human development zones and calculated HSI scores per pixel in a continuous dataset. Habitat suitability scores ranged from 0.00 to 0.76 throughout southeastern Texas. Highly (20,700 ha (mean HSI=0.5) capable of sustaining viable black bear populations. These units ranged from 62,844 ha to 124,808 ha in size and suitable habitat pixels within units ranged from 0.58 to 0.60 in mean HSI scores. Recovery unit scores were comparable to those previously reported for occupied bear range in the southeastern United States and acreages of suitable habitat exceeded those estimated to support existing Louisiana black bear populations

Influence of Translocations on Eastern Wild Turkey Population Genetics in Texas

Between 1979 and 2006, over 7,000 eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) from 16 states were translocated to east Texas in an attempt to restore a stable, huntable population. Although current populations are stable in some areas and a spring male-only hunting season was opened in 1995, turkey density in the region remains low and large areas of apparently suitable habitat are not occupied. The longterm effects of the extensive translocations and current levels of connectivity among various populations are unknown. We used microsatellite DNA analysis to assess the influence of translocations on current genetic structure and gene flow in eastern wild turkeys. The influence of translocations was clearly evident and reflected historical contributions from the Midwest and southeastern United States. The east Texas population consisted of 3 distinct genetic clusters. Despite a lack of clear geographic barriers and nearly contiguous forest cover in much of the east Texas landscape, regional gene flow among clusters appeared to be limited. Diversity in the regional population remains high, but we recommend that regulations reflect the current population structure and that long-term efforts should be made to increase connectivity among wild turkeys in the region

Smoking inhibits the frequency of bronchovascular bundle thickening in sarcoidosis

RATIONALE/OBJECTIVES: Smoking has been associated with decreased incidence and prevalence of sarcoidosis, but few studies have evaluated effects of smoking on clinical parameters of the disease. The objectives were to determine the association of smoking with radiographic patterns and to evaluate the associations of these smoking-related radiographic patterns on airflow obstruction in sarcoidosis. METHODS: Clinical data and CT scans of 124 patients with sarcoidosis were reviewed. CT scans were assessed for lymph nodes, nodules, bronchiectasis, bronchovascular bundle thickening, displaced hilum, fibrosis, ground glass, emphysema, pleural changes, and alveolar opacities. CT patterns were compared between patients with and without a history of smoking. The effect of smoking on the associations between radiographic patterns and airflow obstruction was assessed with multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Smokers had less frequency of bronchovascular bundle thickening than nonsmokers (11/38 subjects(29%) vs. 50/86 subjects(58%),p=0.003) and more emphysema (7/38 subjects(18%) vs. 1/86 subjects(1%),p=0.001). Patients who had bronchovascular bundle thickening were less likely to have ever smoked (11/61 subjects(18%) vs. 27/63 subjects(43%), p=0.003) or be current smokers (4/61 subjects(7%) vs. 15/63 subjects(24%),p=0.008). Age (p=0.003) and bronchovascular bundle thickening (p=0.02) were independent predictors of airflow obstruction. There were no differences in smoking history between patients with airflow obstruction versus those without (10/37 subjects(27)% vs. 28/87 subjects(32%),p=0.63). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with sarcoidosis, smoking is associated with decreased frequency of bronchovascular bundle thickening, a very important clinical manifestation of the lung disease. Further, bronchovascular bundle thickening and age are the only independent predictors of airflow obstruction, and smoking does not confound these associations

Understanding disability glare: light scatter and retinal illuminance as predictors of sensitivity to contrast

The presence of a bright light in the visual field has two main effects on the retinal image: reduced contrast and increased retinal illuminance due to scattered light; the latter can, under some conditions, lead to an improvement in retinal sensitivity. The combined effect remains poorly understood, particularly at low light levels. A psychophysical flicker-cancellation test was used to measure the amount and angular distribution of scattered light in the eye for 40 observers. Contrast thresholds were measured using a functional contrast sensitivity test. Pupil-plane glare-source illuminances (i.e. 0, 1.35, 19.21 lm/m2), eccentricities (5°, 10°, 15°), and background luminances (1, 2.6, 26 cd/m2) were investigated. Visual performance was better than predicted, based on loss of retinal image contrast caused by scattered light, particularly in the mesopic range. Prediction accuracy improved significantly when the expected increase in retinal sensitivity in the presence of scattered light was also incorporated in the model

In Vitro Effect of Porphyromonas gingivalis Methionine Gamma Lyase on Biofilm Composition and Oral Inflammatory Response

Methanethiol (methyl mercaptan) is an important contributor to oral malodour and periodontal tissue destruction. Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum are key oral microbial species that produce methanethiol via methionine gamma lyase (mgl) activity. The aim of this study was to compare an mgl knockout strain of P. gingivalis with its wild type using a 10-species biofilm co-culture model with oral keratinocytes and its effect on biofilm composition and inflammatory cytokine production. A P. gingivalis mgl knockout strain was constructed using insertion mutagenesis from wild type W50 with gas chromatographic head space analysis confirming lack of methanethiol production. 10-species biofilms consisting of Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus intermedius, Fusobacterium nucleatum ssp polymorphum, Fusobacterium nucleatum ssp vincentii, Veillonella dispar, Actinomyces naeslundii, Prevotella intermedia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans with either the wild type or mutant P. gingivalis were grown on Thermanox cover slips and used to stimulate oral keratinocytes (OKF6-TERT2), under anaerobic conditions for 4 and 24 hours. Biofilms were analysed by quantitative PCR with SYBR Green for changes in microbial ecology. Keratinocyte culture supernatants were analysed using a multiplex bead immunoassay for cytokines. Significant population differences were observed between mutant and wild type biofilms; V. dispar proportions increased (p<0.001), whilst A. naeslundii (p<0.01) and Streptococcus spp. (p<0.05) decreased in mutant biofilms. Keratinocytes produced less IL-8, IL-6 and IL-1α when stimulated with the mutant biofilms compared to wild type. Lack of mgl in P. gingivalis has been shown to affect microbial ecology in vitro, giving rise to a markedly different biofilm composition, with a more pro-inflammatory cytokine response from the keratinocytes observed. A possible role for methanethiol in biofilm formation and cytokine response with subsequent effects on oral malodor and periodontitis is suggested

Mapping genomic loci implicates genes and synaptic biology in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has a heritability of 60-80%1, much of which is attributable to common risk alleles. Here, in a two-stage genome-wide association study of up to 76,755 individuals with schizophrenia and 243,649 control individuals, we report common variant associations at 287 distinct genomic loci. Associations were concentrated in genes that are expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons of the central nervous system, but not in other tissues or cell types. Using fine-mapping and functional genomic data, we identify 120 genes (106 protein-coding) that are likely to underpin associations at some of these loci, including 16 genes with credible causal non-synonymous or untranslated region variation. We also implicate fundamental processes related to neuronal function, including synaptic organization, differentiation and transmission. Fine-mapped candidates were enriched for genes associated with rare disruptive coding variants in people with schizophrenia, including the glutamate receptor subunit GRIN2A and transcription factor SP4, and were also enriched for genes implicated by such variants in neurodevelopmental disorders. We identify biological processes relevant to schizophrenia pathophysiology; show convergence of common and rare variant associations in schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders; and provide a resource of prioritized genes and variants to advance mechanistic studies