Edwardsiella Ictaluri Is Capable of Persisting in Channel Catfish by Evading Host T Cell and Cell Death Responses

Edwardsiella ictaluri is a gram-negative bacterium of the family Enterobacteriaceae that infects and causes enteric septicemia (ESC) of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), a fatal disease costing the catfish industry millions of dollars in losses each year. Edwardsiella. ictaluri is capable of replicating in catfish head-kidney-derived-macrophages (HKDM), and like many other gram-negative bacteria, E. ictaluri encodes a Type III Secretion System (T3SS) that is required for virulence and intracellular replication. In the case of E. ictaluri, the T3SS translocates effectors from the Edwardsiella containing vacuole (ECV) through the bacterial cell wall and the vacuolar membrane directly to the host cytoplasm. Of the nine known effectors, this work analyzed one effector, EseK to determine the potential for cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in naïve fish and the fate of non-activated head-kidney-derived macrophages (HKDMs) in response to infection. We determined that the binding partner of EseK is CD74, and an EseK knockout strain provides catfish fingerlings with protection against subsequent WT exposure. RNA sequencing using infected and uninfected HKDMs uncovered strong indications for the M1 phenotype in response to infection. This data also indicates that E. ictaluri evades typical programed-cell death measures, and suppresses the CD40 pathway, which is critical for T cell dependent activation. Finally, in vivo immune responses detected several regulation differences, notably downregulation of CD40L in infected catfish, further implicating the loss of this pathway due to infection. Within the scope of this work, we did not discover any specific differences in immune regulation that could be attributed to EseK, but this research supports the theory that E. ictaluri modifies the macrophage environment in order to persist and replicate in the host, and E. ictaluri evades CMI responses further aiding its survival in the host

Bald Eagle Telemetry at the Holtwood Redevelopment Project

The Holtwood Dam is located on the lower Susquehanna River between York and Lancaster Counties, PA, 1.5km upstream from the Rt 372 Bridge (Figure 1). The area around the dam is known to support two breeding pairs (Kleinschmidt pers. comm.). PPL Holtwood LLC (PPL) is currently redeveloping the Holtwood Hydroelectric Plant which includes blasting activities within the construction zone. In consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC),PPL developed a management and monitoring plan prior to initiating construction to minimize the effects of blasting noise on the two eagle pairs. A federal eagle take permit was issued in 2012 after eagles at the nesting territory on Piney Island were observed flushing after two blasting events. A condition of the take permit required PPL to conduct a telemetry project to study the movements of bald eagles using the habitat near the dam to nest and forage. The original goal of the study was to deploy transmitters on eagles at the Piney Island nest with the Holtwood nest as an alternative. In early April 2012, the breeding attempt at the Piney Island nest failed and this project focused solely on the eagles at the Holtwood Dam nest

Bald Eagle Nest Productivity and Contaminant Monitoring at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland: Final Report

Bald Eagles were monitored at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland in compliance with a 2007 Biological Opinion prepared by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Eagle nests were surveyed for breeding activity and productivity using a standard 2‐flight protocol. A Cessna 172 aircraft was used to systematically survey the property to locate eagle nests and determine nesting activity. Active nests were climbed with arborist equipment or accessed with a bucket truck. Forty‐nine Eagle nestlings were banded and measured. Blood and feather samples were collected from nestlings from 2008‐2010 to test for West Nile virus, mercury, heavy metals, PCB, and organochloride contaminants. Two addled eggs were collected for contaminant testing. Ten breeding territories were active during the 2008 ‐ 2010 breeding seasons. Productivity was 1.8 chicks/active nest (nest observed with eggs or chicks) and 2.07 chicks/productive nest (chicks reached fledging age). Two nestlings tested positive for exposure to West Nile Virus in 2009 but did not show signs of recent infection. Mercury levels were subacute in blood (ẍ = 0.04 mg/kg, n= 48) and feathers (x̄ = 1.24 mg/kg, n= 48). Contaminant levels in blood were also subacute for total PCBs (x̄ = 0.039 μg/g, n = 48), total Chlordane (x̄ = 0.006 μg/g, n= 48), and total DDT (x̄ = 0.011 μg/g, n= 48). The addled eggs had a mercury concentration of 0.07 mg/kg and 0.09 mg/kg, PCB levels of 18 ppm, and DDE of 3.7 and 5.6 ppm. Values for the addled eggs approached toxicity thresholds for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE). Productivity rates recorded for pairs nesting on Indian Head were not significantly different from nests monitored along the Virginia portion of the Potomac River. A snow storm in early March 2009 caused widespread nest failures along the Potomac River including the Indian Head nests at Burn Point and Building 1569. All contaminant levels were low in nestling blood and feathers. High levels of PCB and DDE contaminants likely contributed to reproductive failure of the addled eggs at the Biazzi and Extrusion nests. High levels of these contaminants are present in nearby foraging areas along the Potomac River with point and non‐point source contamination documented upstream of NSF Indian Head. Two electrocutions occurred on NSF Indian Head during the study period. The breeding female at Burn Point was found dead during the 2008 breeding season after colliding with a powerline. The second electrocution occurred when a recently fledged chick from the 2009 Biazzi nest landed on an unprotected power pole approximately 730m from the nest

Holtwood Dam project final report

The Holtwood Dam is located on the lower Susquehanna River between York and Lancaster Counties, PA, 1.5km upstream from the Rt 372 Bridge (Figure 1). The area around the dam is known to support two breeding pairs (Kleinschmidt pers. comm.). PPL Holtwood LLC (PPL has completed redeveloping the Holtwood Hydroelectric Plant which included blasting activities within the construction zone from January 2010 through June 2013. In consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC),PPL developed a management and monitoring plan prior to initiating construction to minimize the effects of blasting noise on the two eagle pairs. A federal eagle take permit was issued in 2012 after eagles at the nesting territory on Piney Island were observed flushing after two blasting events. A condition of the take permit required PPL to conduct a telemetry project to study the movements of bald eagles using the habitat near the dam to nest and forage. The original goal of the study was to deploy transmitters on eagles at the Piney Island nest with the Holtwood nest as an alternative. In early April 2012, the breeding attempt at the Piney Island nest failed and this project focused solely on the eagles at the Holtwood Dam nest. OBJECTIVES 1. Deploy transmitters on two bald eagles near the Holtwood Dam 2. Use tracking data to support management of eagles at Holtwood during redevelopment activitie

Cristi Elizabeth Watts and Bryan Keith Bolton in a Joint Senior Recital

This is the program for the joint senior recital of French horn player Cristi Elizabeth Watts, and bass-baritone Bryan Keith Bolton. Ms. Watts was accompanied by Kiri Tan, Pam Dennis, and Cindy Burks. Mr. Bolton was accompanied on the piano by Steven Cole. This recital took place on March 8, 1994, in the McBeth Recital Hall in the Mabee Fine Arts Center

Bald Eagle Nest Productivity and Contaminant Monitoring at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland

Bald Eagles were monitored at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Maryland in compliance with a 2007 Biological Opinion prepared by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Eagle nests were surveyed for breeding activity and productivity using a standard 2‐flight protocol. A Cessna 172 aircraft was used to systematically survey the property to locate eagle nests and determine nesting activity. Nests were climbed with arborist equipment or accessed with a bucket truck. Eagle nestlings were banded and measured. Blood and feather samples were collected from 18 nestlings to test for Encephalitis viruses and mercury and organochloride contaminants. One addled egg was collected for contaminant testing. Nine nests were active during the 2008 breeding season. Productivity rates were estimated at 2.0 chicks/active nest (nest observed with eggs or chicks) and 2.25 chicks/productive nest (chicks reached fledging age). All nestlings tested negative for encephalitis viruses including West Nile Virus. Mercury levels were subacute in blood ( x = 0.05 mg/kg) and feathers ( x =1.22 mg/kg). The single addled egg had a mercury value of 0.09 mg/kg. Contaminant levels in blood were also subacute for total PCBs ( x = 0.044 μg/g), total Chlordane ( x = 0.010 μg/g), and DDE ( x = 0.013 μg/g). Values for the addled egg approached toxicity thresholds for PCBs and DDE. Productivity rates were not significantly higher at Indian Head than at nearby Virginia nests along the Potomac River. Forty‐four percent fledged 3 chick broods indicating high prey‐availability on the Upper Potomac and on Mattawoman Creek. All contaminant levels were low in nestling blood and feathers. High levels of PCB and DDE contaminants likely contributed to reproductive failure at the Extrusion nest but results are inconclusive. High levels of these contaminants are present in nearby foraging areas along the Potomac River with point and non‐point source contamination documented upstream of NSF Indian Head

Visual Rulemaking

Visual politics are seeping into the technocracy. Rulemaking stakeholders—including agencies, the President, and members of the public—are deploying politically tinged visuals to push their agendas at every stage of high-stakes, often virulently controversial, rulemakings. These images, GIFs, and videos usually do not make it into the official rulemaking record, so this new “visual rulemaking” world has not been discussed much by scholars or others. In this article, we explore the new visual rulemaking culture that emerged in Obama’s presidency, providing examples and discussing relevant policy implications. Although we recognize some risks, we argue that, on balance, visual rulemaking is a good thing because it can further transparency, accountability, and participation. Our article is adapted from a much longer one, Visual Rulemaking, 91 N.Y.U. L. Rev. 1183-1278 (2016)