Social Vulnerability Assessment of Dog Intake Location Data As a Planning Tool for Community Health Program Development: A Case Study in Athens-Clarke County, GA, 2014-2016

A retrospective spatial analysis of dog intake data from an open admission animal shelter in Georgia was conducted to explore patterns within dog demographics and outcomes by pickup location or by the home address of the person who transferred ownership rights of the dog to Athens-Clarke County Animal Control during the period 2014–2016. Spatial analysis found the relationship between these intake locations and the final disposition of the dogs to be non-random, suggesting social and environmental influences on distribution. Statistically significant clusters were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. This study found statistically significant hot spots (i.e., areas with higher than expected values) and cold spots (i.e., areas with lower than expected values) for the intake of dogs with known health issues, physically neglected dogs, juveniles, and adults. Only statistically significant hot spots were found for socially neglected dogs and dogs whose final disposition was euthanasia due to severe health or behavioral issues. Given the close relationship between humans and dogs, this study explores the association of impounded dog clusters and a previously developed social vulnerability index. Social vulnerability is the product of social inequalities and inequalities related to the human-built environment. The social vulnerability index provides one tool for understanding the differences in characteristics of dogs from different intake locations. Results of this study indicate the utility of non-animal focused data as a planning tool for community programs and to allow for efficient allocation of limited resources for veterinary and other community outreach programs

Evaluation of soil chemical and physical characteristics in a complex agroecosystem in the Argentine Pampa

The Argentine Pampa is a global producer of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max L. (Merr.), however agricultural practices have caused severe soil degradation and amplified greenhouse gas (GHG) production rates. This study presents the effects of maize-legume intercrops compared with maize and soybean sole crops on GHG production rates and soil physical properties over two field seasons. It also presents the results from a laboratory study in which GHGs were quantified from soils amended with maize and soybean crop residues. In the field study, soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations were significantly greater (p<0.05) in the maize sole crop and intercrops, whereas soil bulk density was significantly lower in the intercrops and as a consequence soil infiltration was higher. Soil total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were not significantly different between treatments. Soil CO2 production rates were significantly greater in the maize sole crop but did not differ significantly for N2O. However, over the two field seasons both trace gases showed a general trend of greater production rates in the maize sole crop followed by the soybean sole crop. Linear regression between soil GHGs and soil temperature or volumetric soil moisture accounted for up to 51% of the variability in soil CO2 production rates and 60% of the soil N2O production rates. In the laboratory study, soil GHG production rates varied between treatments and between residue addition for both CO2 and N2O but varied only narrowly between treatments and experiments for CH4. Results from this study provided further insight into the effect of agroecosystem management practices on GHG production rates and soil physical and chemical characteristics, and contributed to improving our understanding of optimal agroecosystem design

Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Wild European Starlings at a Kansas Cattle Feedlot

The prevalence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Mycobacterium avium subsp.paratuberculosis isolated from the feces of wild European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) humanely trapped at a feedlot in central Kansas was assessed. All E. coli and Salmonellaisolates recovered were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System panels and the E. coli isolates were classified as to their content of genes associated with pathogenic E. coli of birds and cattle, including cvaC, iroN2, ompTp, hlyF2, eitC, iss, iutA, ireA, papC, stxI, stxII, sta, K99, F41, and eae.Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis were not detected and Salmonella was isolated from only three samples, two of which displayed antimicrobial resistance. Approximately half of the E. coli isolates were resistant to antimicrobial agents with 96% showing resistance to tetracycline. Only one isolate was positive for a single gene associated with bovine pathogenic E. coli. An interesting finding of this study was that 5% of the E. coli isolates tested met the criteria established for identification as avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Thus these findings suggest that starlings are not a significant source of Salmonella spp., Mycobacterium avium subsp.paratuberculosis, E. coli O157, or other shiga toxin–producing E. coli in this feedlot. However, they may have the potential to spread APEC, an important pathogen of poultry and a potential pathogen to human beings

Of Mice and Materials: Payoffs of UNSGC Research Infrastructure Awards

A versatile test facility has been designed and built to study space environments effects on small satellites and system components. Testing for potentially environmental-induced modifications of small satellites is critical to avoid possible deleterious or catastrophic effects over the duration of space mission. This is increasingly more important as small satellite programs have longer mission lifetimes, expand to more harsh environments (such as polar or geosynchronous orbits), make more diverse and sensitive measurements, minimize shielding to reduce mass, and utilize more compact and sensitive electronics (often including untested off-the-shelf components). The vacuum chamber described here is particularly well suited for cost-effective, long-duration tests of modifications due to exposure to simulated space environment conditions for CubeSats, system components, and small scale materials samples of \u3e10 cm X 10 cm. The facility simulates critical environmental components including the neutral gas atmosphere, the FUV/UVMS/NIR solar spectrum, electron plasma fluxes, and temperature. The solar spectrum (-120 nm to 2500 nm) is simulated using an Solar Simulator and Kr resonance lamps at up to four Suns intensity. Low and intermediate electron flood guns and a Sr90 β radiation source provide uniform, stable, electron flux (~ 20 eV to 2.5 MeV) over the CubeSat surface at \u3e5X intensities of the geosynchronous spectrum. Stable temperatures from 100 K to 450 K are possible. An automated data acquisition system periodically monitors and records the environmental conditions, sample photographs, UVMS/NIR reflectivity, IR absorptivity/emissivity, and surface voltage over the CubeSat face and in situ calibration standards during the sample exposure cycle

Phenotypic, genetic, and genome-wide structure in the metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure characterize the metabolic syndrome. In an effort to explore the utility of different multivariate methods of data reduction to better understand the genetic influences on the aggregation of metabolic syndrome phenotypes, we calculated phenotypic, genetic, and genome-wide LOD score correlation matrices using five traits (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and body mass index) from the Framingham Heart Study data set prepared for the Genetic Analysis Workshop 13, clinic visits 10 and 1 for the original and offspring cohorts, respectively. We next applied factor analysis to summarize the relationship between these phenotypes. RESULTS: Factors generated from the genetic correlation matrix explained the most variation. Factors extracted using the other matrices followed a different pattern and suggest distinct effects. CONCLUSIONS: Given these results, different methods of multivariate data reduction may provide unique clues on the clustering of this complex syndrome

Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer Observations of the Hubble Deep Field: Observations, Data Reduction, and Galaxy Photometry

This paper presents data obtained during the NICMOS Guaranteed Time Observations of a portion of the Hubble Deep Field. The data are in a catalog format similar to the publication of the original WFPC2 Hubble Deep Field program (Williams et al.). The catalog contains 342 objects in a 49farcs1 × 48farcs4 subfield of the total observed field, 235 of which are considered coincident with objects in the WFPC2 catalog. The 3 σ signal-to-noise ratio level is at an aperture AB magnitude of approximately 28.8 at 1.6 μm. The catalog sources, listed in order of right ascension, are selected to satisfy a limiting signal-to-noise ratio criterion of greater than or equal to 2.5. This introduces a few false detections into the catalog, and users should take careful note of the completeness and reliability levels for the catalog discussed in §§ 9 and 10. The catalog also contains a test parameter indicating the results of half-catalog tests and the degree of coincidence with the original WFPC2 catalog

Simulation Chamber for Space Environment Survivability Testing

A vacuum chamber was designed and built that simulates the space environment making possible the testing of material modification due to exposure of solar radiation. Critical environmental components required include an ultra high vacuum (10-9 Torr), a UV/VIS/NIR solar spectrum source, an electron gun and charge plasma, temperature extremes, and long exposure duration. To simulate the solar spectrum, a solar simulator was attached to the chamber with a range of 200nm to 2000nm. The exposure time can be accelerated by scaling the solar intensity up to four suns. A Krypton lamp imitates the 120 nm ultraviolet hydrogen Lymann alpha emission not produced by the solar simulator. A temperature range from 100K to 450K is achieved using an attached cryogenic reservoir and resistance heaters. An electron flood gun (mono-energetic, 20 eV to 15keV) is calibrated to replicate solar wind at desired distances from the sun. The chamber maintains 98% uniformity of the electron and electromagnetic radiation exposure relative to the center. The chamber allows for a cost-effective investigation of multiple small-scale samples. An automated data acquisition system monitors and records the reflectivity, absorptivity, and emissivity of the samples throughout the test. An integrating sphere and an IR absorptivity/emissivity probe are used to collect this data. The system allows for measurements to be taken while the samples are still under vacuum and exposed to radiation. With these accurate simulations we can closely predict the material’s behavior in near proximity to the sun. This information is vital in determining materials for satellites, probes, and any other spacecraft