Thermal Tolerance of Age-0 Gulf of Mexico Striped Bass (\u3ci\u3eMorone saxatilis\u3c/i\u3e): Ontogenetic and Genetic Effects

Striped bass, Morone saxatilis, were historically abundant in the Gulf of Mexico region but were largely extirpated from most Gulf rivers by the early 1960s. Since 1967 hatchery stocking has supported populations in Mississippi rivers and to date there is no evidence of natural reproduction. Intolerance of striped bass to high water temperature is a potential factor negatively impacting Gulf striped bass survival and reproductive fitness, and may be a limiting factor to reintroduction of the species in Mississippi. This work contributed to restoration efforts by establishing molecular tools necessary for genetic monitoring of striped bass restoration, and evaluating the upper thermal tolerance of Gulf striped bass larvae and juveniles. Multiplex assays for eleven microsatellite loci were optimized and the suitability of the obtained panel for genetic tagging and monitoring was evaluated. Simulation analysis employing a likelihood ratio approach to assign offspring to parents in the hatchery showed that the panel allowed identification of 95% of hatchery fish while maintaining the rate of false identification (incorrect classification of wild fish as hatchery fish) lower than 2.5% when genotypes of all hatchery broodfish are known. Significant departure from Hardy-Weinberg expected genotype frequencies was detected at most of the loci and appeared to reflect in part amplification artifacts occurring at up to five loci and possibly impacting inferences on parentage. Thermal tolerance challenges were applied in triplicate to offspring mixtures from different crosses. Challenge protocols were based on the Critical Thermal Maximum (CTM) method and were applied on yolk sac larvae (48h post hatching) or on phase I (2.5 inch) release-sized juveniles. The effect of temperature on larval yolk resorption time was characterized at a series of elevated temperatures. Thermal tolerance challenges revealed a positive ontogenetic shift in thermal tolerance from the larval (CTM estimate 25.4°C±1.2°C) to the phase I juvenile stage (CTM estimate 35.8°C±0.7°C). Available water temperature data indicated that upper thermal tolerance of age-0 Gulf striped bass is likely not exceeded in culture ponds or the lower Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers. Exposure to elevated temperature (22.1°C to 24.0°C) led to a 23% reduction of the larval yolk resorption time resulting in a substantially shorter time window when larvae can initiate exogenous feeding in comparison to groups maintained at a control temperature of 19°C. No significant genetic effects on the thermal tolerance of larvae were detected during analysis of the thermal tolerance of 48h old larvae from 11 crosses. Further assessment of striped bass thermal tolerance at older life stages and including genetic characterization of a larger number of crosses is warranted

Young Bisexual People’s Experiences of Sexual Violence: A Mixed-Methods Study

Bisexual people are at an increased vulnerability for sexual victimization in comparison to heterosexual people, as well as gay and lesbian people. As the majority of first sexual violence experiences happen prior to age 25 for bisexual women, young bisexual people are particularly vulnerable. Despite consistent evidence of this health disparity, little is known about what factors might increase young bisexual people’s risk for sexual victimization, or how they access support post-victimization. The current study addresses this gap through a mixed-method investigation of young bisexual people’s experiences of sexual violence with a sample of 245 bisexual people age 18–25. Quantitative results indicate that bisexual stigma significantly predicts a greater likelihood of reporting an experience of sexual violence. Qualitative findings support that while not all participants felt bisexual stigma related to their experience of sexual violence, some felt negative bisexual stereotypes were substantial factors. Interview participants found connecting with other survivors, particularly LGBTQ + and bisexual survivors, to be beneficial. Some participants encountered barriers to accessing support, such as discrimination in schools. Sexual violence researchers should consider bisexual stigma as an important factor, and support services the potential positive impact of bisexual-specific survivor support

Reviving the Demographic Study of the Amish

The Amish exhibit distinctive demographic patterns, notably high fertility. While scholars have studied Amish population dynamics for more than a half century, recent research in this area is limited. We believe the time is ripe to reverse this trend. This article reviews data collection methods, points to a variety of accessible sources of new data, presents some preliminary results from the analysis of one such source (the McKune dataset for Holmes County, Ohio), introduces the research agenda and work of the newly formed Amish Population Research Group, and reviews past demographic findings to situate our agenda. An invitation is extended to demographers, social scientists, health researchers, and others to enter into collaborations with APRG

Differences in Rape Acknowledgement and Mental Health Outcomes across Transgender, Non-binary, and Cisgender Bisexual Youth

The purpose of this study was to document the rates of rape acknowledgment (labeling rape as rape rather than using a minimizing label) and the corresponding mental health correlates using the minority stress framework in a unique and vulnerable sample: racially diverse sexual and gender minority young adults. Participants were 245 young adults who identified their sexual orientation as under the bisexual umbrella. A total of 159 of these participants (65.2%) identified their gender identity as nonbinary. All participants completed a series of online questionnaires regarding their sexual victimization history, mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), and constructs relevant to minority stress theory (level of outness, internalized bisexual negativity, connection to LGBTQ [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning] community). Rape acknowledgment was significantly greater among gender nonbinary participants (79.9%) than among trans and cisgender male participants (17.9%). Lack of rape acknowledgment was associated with increased anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Outness was significantly associated with greater rape acknowledgment. Despite the highly increased vulnerability for sexual violence among sexual and gender minorities, very little is understood about the mechanisms of this increased vulnerability or their unique needs for recovery. The results of this study strongly suggest the importance of a minority stress framework for understanding this increased vulnerability and for designing sexual violence prevention and recovery interventions for sexual and gender minority populations

Space Solar Rectifying Antenna On Earth

The realization of solar power from space is becoming increasingly closer as a solution to solving the continued growth in energy demand. Space based solar power is also being perceived as an alternative solution for non-renewable energy resources. Future solar power satellites will be positioned in orbit around the Earth where they will collect solar radiation. That radiation will be transformed into a microwave energy beam that is targeted to a receiving rectifying antenna or “rectenna” located on Earth’s surface. The received microwave energy will be converted into direct current electricity. This presentation focuses on the microwave patch antennas used with integrated rectifiers in ground receivers on Earth. Inset feed and quarter-wave microwave patch antennas and a microwave rectifier were engineered, manufactured, and tested in-house at the University of North Dakota. The results showed a resonant frequency close to the desired 2.45 GHz, but the rectifier demonstrated 21% power conversion efficiency from AC to DC at 15dBm. The antenna and rectifier were combined and analysis was performed for the parameters of distance of the receiving rectenna from the transmitter and power output upon rectification. The innovation of this project is the “Multi-Combinational Renewable Energy Efficient Generator ” that allows such energy attachments as terrestrial solar and wind, geo-thermal facilities, energy storage systems, and the rectenna itself to be integrated into the base structure. The future Global Electrical Grid will use solar power satellites as a space electrical node and, it is hoped, the MCREEG generator will serve as a ground electrical node. Advisors: Dr. Sima Noghanian, Dr. Hossein Salehfar, Dr. Isaac Chang, Dr. James Casler, Dr. Ron Fevi

Reviving the Demographic Study of the Amish

The Amish exhibit distinctive demographic patterns, notably high fertility. While scholars have studied Amish population dynamics for more than a half century, recent research in this area is limited. We believe the time is ripe to reverse this trend. This article reviews data collection methods, points to a variety of accessible sources of new data, presents some preliminary results from the analysis of one such source (the McKune dataset for Holmes County, Ohio), introduces the research agenda and work of the newly formed Amish Population Research Group, and reviews past demographic findings to situate our agenda. An invitation is extended to demographers, social scientists, health researchers, and others to enter into collaborations with APRG

Can stigma actually hurt bisexual women?…in the long run, yeah!

This infographic summarizes the findings of: Flanders, C. E., Anderson, R. E., Tarasoff, L. A., & Robinson, M. (2019). Bisexual Stigma, Sexual Violence, and Sexual Health Among Bisexual and Other Plurisexual Women: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study. The Journal of Sex Research, 56(9), 1115–1127. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2018.1563042https://commons.und.edu/psych-pp/1002/thumbnail.jp