North Dakota Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Recovery Project: Using Translocation to Prevent State-Wide Extirpation and Develop Rangewide Protocols

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocurcus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) are the largest grouse species in North America. Sage-grouse occupy 11 western states, extending into North Dakota. North Dakota sage-grouse population is part of the Great Plains Management Zone. Conservation of sage-grouse has been on the forefront of conservation management 1990s. In 2015 the USFWS declared sage-grouse were not warranted for listing based on significant management efforts. Translocations of sage-grouse to prevent populations from extirpation are an example of these efforts. Translocations have been described as movement and release of animals into a novel environment. There have been more than 7200 sage-grouse translocated during more than 56 translocation events. We used Resource Selection (RSF) framework to estimate marked sage-grouse in their new environment during the nesting, brooding, and summer seasons. With Resource selection analysis we provide the release site locations within our study site with the highest probability of use during the respective seasons. We also provided resource selection analysis during the summer months, this combined with the nesting and brooding analysis provides an overview of available and needed resources during the yearly life cycle of sage-grouse. Furthermore, we provide an analysis of past available shrub and current available shrub to illuminate future habitat projects for sagebrush obligates. We initiated brood translocations in 2018 by capturing and translocating 6 broods and 26 chicks. Four broods were released successfully, with 5 of the 26 translocated chicks known to survive ≥ 50 days post hatch. Additionally, 2 of the 6 brood females were documented surviving through the end of the year. Compared to pre-nesting translocated females, translocated broods moved less distance per day. We developed protocols for artificial insemination (AI). We disseminated male sage-grouse, and inseminated female sage-grouse with collected semen. Research is ongoing which will evaluate the success of the inseminations that occurred. We were able to compare nest initiation and movement rates for pre-nesting translocated females in each group. Because translocated female sage-grouse placed in novel environments have been documented to have lower reproduction and survival rates, our research provides important evaluations of methods to mitigate known setbacks when translocating grouse

Melt electrowriting of poly(vinylidene difluoride) using a heated collector

Previous research on the melt electrowriting (MEW) of poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) resulted in electroactive fibers, however, printing more than five layers is challenging. Here, we investigate the influence of a heated collector to adjust the solidification rate of the PVDF jet so that it adheres sufficiently to each layer. A collector temperature of 110 degrees C is required to improve fiber processing, resulting in a total of 20 fiber layers. For higher temperatures and higher layers, an interesting phenomenon occurred, where the intersection points of the fibers coalesced into periodic spheres of diameter 206 +/- 52 mu m (26G, 150 degrees C collector temperature, 2000 mm/min, 10 layers in x- and y-direction).The heated collector is an important component of a MEW printer that allows polymers with a high melting point to be processable with increased layers.Peer reviewe

Sex Impact on Knee and Ankle Muscle Extensor Forces During Loaded Running

Background: This study determined whether the knee and ankle muscle extensor forces increase when running with a body-borne load and whether these forces differ between the sexes. Methods: Thirty-six (twenty male and sixteen female) adults had the knee and ankle extensor force quantified when running 4.0 m/s with four body-borne loads (20, 25, 30, and 35 kg). Peak normalized (BW) and unnormalized (N) extensor muscle force, relative effort, and joint angle and angular velocity at peak muscle force for both the ankle and the knee were submitted to a mixed model ANOVA. Results: Significant load by sex interactions for knee unnormalized extensor force (p = 0.025) and relative effort (p = 0.040) were observed, as males exhibited greater knee muscle force and effort than females and increased their muscle force and effort with additional load. Males also exhibited greater ankle normalized and unnormalized extensor force (p = 0.004, p \u3c 0.001) and knee unnormalized force than females (p = 0.005). The load increased the normalized ankle and knee muscle force (p \u3c 0.001, p = 0.030) and relative effort (p \u3c 0.001, p = 0.044) and the unnormalized knee muscle force (p = 0.009). Conclusion: Running with a load requires greater knee and ankle extensor force, but males exhibited greater increases in muscle force, particularly at the knee, than females

Ecological Conditions and Distribution of Gemor Tree Species in Central and East Kalimantan

The aim of this study was to determine the ecological conditions and distribution of gemor bark producing tree species at Tuanan village in Kapuas District, Central Kalimantan Province and Long Daliq village in Kutai Barat, East Kalimantan Province. In order to collect adequate vegetation data, several obser vation plots were laid out by using purposive sampling. Primary and secondary data were collected from the plot areas by obser ving directly the habitat and its ecological condition of vegetation. It was revealed that the gemor tree species tended to grow well on the habitats which have a thin layer of peat (< 2 m), pH 3 – 4 and in a humid climatic condition. Two gemor bark producing tree species were identidfied in the study areas, namely Nothaphoebe coriacea (Kosterm.) Kosterm. and N. umbelliflora Blume. The similarity level of vegetation composition at both sites (Kapuas and Kutai Barat Districts) was low. The tree species richness in the plot areas of Tuanan in Kapuas District, Central Kalimantan (82 species, 57 genera and 28 families) was higher than that found in Long Daliq, Kutai Barat District, East Kalimantan (38 species, 26 genera and 19 families)

Relationships between Obesity, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Cardiovascular Function

Background. Obesity and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) have been shown to independently increase the risk of CVD mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CRF, body fatness and markers of arterial function. Method and Results. Obese (9 male, 18 female; BMI 35.3 ± 0.9 kg·m−2) and lean (8 male, 18 female; BMI 22.5 ± 0.3 kg·m−2) volunteers were assessed for body composition (DXA), cardiorespiratory fitness (predicted V˙O2max), blood pressure (BP), endothelial vasodilatator function (FMD), and arterial compliance (AC) (via radial artery tonometry). The obese group had more whole body fat and abdominal fat (43.5 ± 1.2% versus 27.2 ± 1.6%; P < .001 and 48.6 ± 0.9% versus 28.9 ± 1.8%; P < .001, resp.), and lower FMD (3.2 ± 0.4% versus 5.7 ± 0.7%; P < .01) than the lean subjects, but there was no difference in AC. AC in large arteries was positively associated with CRF (R = 0.5; P < .01) but not with fatness. Conclusion. These results indicate distinct influences of obesity and CRF on blood vessel health. FMD was impaired with obesity, which may contribute to arterial and metabolic dysfunction. Low CRF was associated with reduced elasticity in large arteries, which could result in augmentation of aortic afterload

The Impact of Including Carbonyl Iron Particles on the Melt Electrowriting Process

Melt electrowriting, a high-resolution additive manufacturing technique, is used in this study to process a magnetic polymer-based blend for the first time. Carbonyl iron (CI) particles homogenously distribute into poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) melts to result in well-defined, highly porous structures or scaffolds comprised of fibers ranging from 30 to 50 mu m in diameter. This study observes that CI particle incorporation is possible up to 30 wt% without nozzle clogging, albeit that the highest concentration results in heterogeneous fiber morphologies. In contrast, the direct writing of homogeneous PVDF fibers with up to 15 wt% CI is possible. The fibers can be readily displaced using magnets at concentrations of 1 wt% and above. Combined with good viability of L929 CC1 cells using Live/Dead imaging on scaffolds for all CI concentrations indicates that these formulations have potential for the usage in stimuli-responsive applications such as 4D printing.Peer reviewe

Melt electrowriting of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) : Melt electrowriting of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene)

Poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-co-TrFE)) is an electroactive polymer with growing interest for applications in biomedical materials and flexible electronics. In this study, a solvent-free additive manufacturing technique called melt electrowriting (MEW) has been utilized to fabricate well-defined microperiodic structures of the copolymer (P(VDF-co-TrFE)). MEW of the highly viscous polymer melt was initiated using a heated collector at temperatures above 120 °C and required remarkably slow collector speeds below 100 mm min−1. The fiber surface morphology was affected by the collector speed and an increase in β-phase was observed for scaffolds compared to the unprocessed powder. Videography shows vibrations of the P(VDF-co-TrFE) jet previously unseen during MEW, probably due to repeated charge buildup and discharge. Furthermore, piezo-force microscopy measurements demonstrated the electromechanical response of MEW-fabricated fibers. This research therefore achieves the melt electrohydrodynamic processing of fibers with micrometer resolution into defined structures with an important electroactive polymer. © 2021 The Authors. Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Industrial Chemistry.Peer reviewe

Herbage productivity and diverging botanical composition of two floristic variants of a natural grassland fertilized with N and P.

La fertilización con N (urea y nitrato de amonio) y P (superfosfato triple) aumentó, en general, la productividad primaria neta aérea (PPNA) del período comprendido entre octubre y marzo, de dos variantes de una comunidad herbácea del partido de Chascomús (35°34’S, 58°00’O; Prov. de Buenos Aires) y modificó la composición botánica de cada una de esas variantes al cabo de cuatro años de fertilización ininterrumpida. La fertilización consistió en la aplicación de 0 ó 100 kg-N.ha-1.año-1 combinados factorialmente con 0; 25 ó 50 kg-P.ha-1.año-1 a parcelas representativas de la comunidad que ocupaba la parte superior del microrelieve (variante 1, V1) y de la que habitaba el nivel intermedio de éste (variante 2, V2). La PPNA media anual expresada en materia seca en V1 y V2 fue 562 y 570 kg.ha-1.mes-1, respectivamente. Se observó una estrecha relación entre la PPNA y la acumulación de agua en el suelo durante el período correspondiente al cálculo de la PPNA. El incremento medio general de la PPNA, debido al agregado de N, fue 31 % (p £ 0,001) en V1 y 41 % (p £ 0,001) en V2. El incremento medio anual de la PPNA resultante del agregado de P fue 53 % (p £ 0,001) en V1 y 79 % (p £ 0,001) en V2. Sólo la cobertura de algunas especies se modificó de manera inmediata con la fertilización en V1 y V2 (Lolium multiflorum Lam., Gaudinia fragilis (L.) Beauv. , Bothriochloa laguroides (D.C.) Herter y Lotus tenuis Waldst. et Kit). Al final del período experimental se observó que V2 se había enriquecido en L. tenuis y Bromus mollis L., mientras que V1 lo había hecho en Paspalum dilatatum Poir., B. laguroides y Hypochoeris microcephala (Sch. Bip.) Cabr. respecto de la abundancia de esas especies antes de aplicar los fertilizantes.Fertilization with N (as urea and amonium nitrate) and P (as triple superphosphate) during 4 consecutive years increased the aerial net primary productivity (ANPP) in spring and summer months (from October to April) of two variants (V1 and V2) of a herbaceous plant community near Chascomús (35°34’S, 58°00’W; province of Buenos Aires). The botanical composition of each one of those variants was also changed by fertilization. Six factorial combinations of 0 or 100kg-N.ha-1.yr-1 with 0; 25 or 50 kg- P.ha-1.yr-1 were applied every spring (October) to plots arranged in five randomized blocks laid out on a representative site of each variant. The mean annual ANPP expressed as dry matter V1 and V2 were 562 and 570 kg.ha-1.mo-1 respectively. Mean annual ANPP and soil-moisture storage were directly related to each other in both variants. The mean annual increase in ANPP due to N was 31 % (p £ 0,001) and 41 % (p £ 0,001) in V1 and V2, respectively. The mean annual increase in ANPP due to P was 53 % (p £ 0,001) and 79 % (p £ 0,001) in V1 and V2, respectively. A few species changed cover soon after fertilization (Lolium multiflorum Lam., Gaudinia fragilis (L.) Beauv., Bothriochloa laguroides (D.C.) Herter and Lotus tenuis Waldst. et Kit) in both variants. The comparison between the initial botanical composition (1979) and that one at the end of the experimental period showed that V2 had become enriched in L. tenuis and Bromus mollis L and V1 was dominated by Paspalum dilatatum Poir., B. laguroides and Hypochoeris microcephala (Sch. Bip.) Cabr.Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) - Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales (FCAF

High LET-Like Radiation Tracks at the Distal Side of Accelerated Proton Bragg Peak

Proton therapy is a type of hadron radiotherapy used for treating solid tumors. Unlike heavy charged elements, proton radiation is considered to be low LET (Linear Energy Transfer) radiation, like X-rays. However, the clinical SOBP (Spread Out Bragg Peak) proton radiation is considered to be higher in relative biological effectiveness (RBE) than both X-ray and their own entrance region. The RBE is estimated to be 1.1–1.2, which can be attributed to the higher LET at the SOBP region than at the entrance region. In order to clarify the nature of higher LET near the Bragg peak of proton radiation and its potential cytotoxic effects, we utilized a horizontal irradiation system with CHO cells. Additionally, we examined DNA repair mutants, analyzed cytotoxicity with colony formation, and assessed DNA damage and its repair with γ-H2AX foci assay in a high-resolution microscopic scale analysis along with the Bragg peak. Besides confirming that the most cytotoxic effects occurred at the Bragg peak, extended cytotoxicity was observed a few millimeters after the Bragg peak. γ-H2AX foci numbers reached a maximum at the Bragg peak and reduced dramatically after the Bragg peak. However, in the post-Bragg peak region, particle track-like structures were sporadically observed. This region contains foci that are more difficult to repair. The peak and post-Bragg peak regions contain rare high LET-like radiation tracks and can cause cellular lethality. This may have caused unwanted side effects and complexities of outputs for the proton therapy treatment