Healthcare Perceptions among Patients and Physicians in Kyiv, Ukraine

The objective of this study is to analyze the perceptions and beliefs of Ukrainian patients and physicians regarding access to healthcare within Ukraine. The Ukrainian national healthcare system, like that of many post-Soviet countries, is ostensibly free to all Ukrainian citizens and legally-residing foreigners. That said, it is widely considered inefficient, of poor quality, and corrupt. Healthcare in Ukraine has recently begun to undergo several dramatic changes, including reforms to the nationalized system, and the emergence of a rapidly growing privatized healthcare system. Little research has been done in English language journals regarding the experiences of Ukrainian patients and physicians regarding their healthcare system. Non- academic English language media often cites stereotypes endemic to post-Soviet healthcare systems, such as long-waiting lines and the need to pay bribes, as the primary factors identified by the average citizen of post-Soviet countries. Whether such stereotypes are identified as the defining factors of the healthcare system by those who interact with it is a topic that has yet to be studied. This study consists of a thematic analysis of a collection of interviews with Ukrainian patients and doctors gathered in 2018 in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Interview subjects were selected through a snowball sampling method, with initial subjects consisting of contacts through Taras-Shevchenko University in Kyiv. The thematic analysis indicates that the Ukrainian citizens who interact with their healthcare system identify a broad range of causal factors for why their healthcare needs are rarely met, with distrust in physicians and medical authority most critically assigned blame, and the stereotypes so often ascribed to post-Soviet healthcare systems only mentioned tangentially. Funding to perform this research has been provided by the Stanley Undergraduate Award for International Research and additional funding to perform the thematic analysis was provided by the John and Elsie Mae Ferentz Undergraduate Research Fund

Avian Community Responses to Bison Grazing in North American Intermountain Grasslands

Grassland and shrubland songbird species are a guild of conservation concern in North America. Many of these species have experienced severe population declines, due to habitat loss and land use change. This makes the conservation and management of remaining habitat of crucial importance for this guild. Grazing by large herbivores is an ecosystem process in grassland systems, and in North America, one of the major historic grazers was the Plains bison (Bison bison). Bison are considered ecosystem engineers, because they modify habitat to be more or less suitable for other species, such as grassland and shrubland songbirds. Bison grazing can affect avian habitat by altering the vegetation structure. In turn, birds respond to these changes in vegetation structure. Bison are becoming more common due to recent reintroductions. From 2009-2017, at least eight bison reintroductions have occurred in North America. Lands where bison exist are good candidates for songbird conservation because bison are typically present in protected areas with a large grass and shrub component. Despite this potential, there is limited research about the effects of bison grazing on grassland and shrubland songbirds. Further research on this subject will inform bison management for songbird conservation. I investigate the relationship between bison grazing and songbird responses in two intermountain grasslands: the National Bison Range and Yellowstone National Park. In Chapter 1, I explore two ecological processes that may maintain species richness of grassland and shrubland songbirds: habitat heterogeneity from bison grazing, and productivity, a measure of the resources available to individuals. I analyzed the relationship between these variables and the occupancy of 10 avian species. I conclude that bison grazing has a stronger influence on bird occupancy and species richness than site productivity. In Chapter 2, I test whether differences between the study sites influence the abundance responses of vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) and western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) to bison grazing intensity. The differences, such as scale of bison grazing, herd size and density, and vegetation type show minimal influence on these species’ responses to bison grazing, but may be worth considering in conservation applications

Investigating the Effects of Bison Grazing on Grassland Songbirds

The National Bison Range (NBR) in the Mission Valley of Montana manages a herd of 325-350 bison (Bison bison).  Bison are rotated through eight grazing pastures, which consist mostly of intermountain grassland.  This creates different grazing intensities, based on length of time grazed, season grazed, and density of bison. Grazing is considered to be an important source of disturbance in grassland systems. However, different grazing intensities may create more or less favorable conditions for grassland breeding songbirds, a suite of birds that has declined drastically over the last few decades. This research investigates the interaction between bison grazing and songbird abundance. We used double-dependent observer transects to record grassland songbird observations during the pilot season of 2015. We present preliminary results from the pilot season of grassland songbird abundance and density. The outcomes will culminate into a concrete, local monitoring program for the NBR to support conservation of grassland songbirds, and will allow them to adjust management activities to maintain suitable grassland songbird habitat.  Furthermore, the research will illuminate the relationship between a native grazer and grassland birds. While domestic livestock have largely replaced native grazers on grasslands, numerous reintroduction efforts of bison have been proposed.  This study will help inform the expected outcomes and management objectives of those reintroduction efforts

Pedersen ionic contribution in different time scales

Pedersen conductivity is one of the main parameters in atmospheric electrodynamics, magnetosphere-ionosphere-thermosphere coupling, and several other geophysical processes. It is determined by the collision frequency between charged and neutral components and the Earth´s magnetic field intensity through the gyrofrequency. This work analyzes the contribution of different ionic species to the variability of Pedersen conductance in time scales from hours to years within the period 1964?2008 based on the results of various atmospheric and ionospheric models. The main results are (1) there is a positive correlation between O+ density and Pedersen conductance, (2) Pedersen conductance of F layer has a larger increase with the solar activity than that of E layer, (3) Pedersen conductance has a long-term trend that is determined by Earth´s magnetic field intensity and electron density, and (4) at midlatitudes trends are mainly governed by the Earth´s magnetic field and modulated by the electron density, while at high latitudes both are important.Fil: Zossi, Bruno Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Fagre, Mariano. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Elias, Ana Georgina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán; Argentin

Effects of Earth's magnetic field variation on high frequency wave propagation in the ionosphere

The ionosphere is an anisotropic, dispersive medium for the propagation of radio frequency electromagnetic waves due to the presence of the Earth?s intrinsic magnetic field and free charges. The detailed physics of electromagnetic wavepropagation through a plasma is more complex when it is embedded in a magnetic field. In particular, the ground range of waves reflecting in the ionosphere presents detectable magnetic field effects. Earth?s magnetic field varies greatly, with the most drastic scenario being a polarity reversal. Here the spatial variability of the ground range is analyzed using numerical ray tracing under possible reversal scenarios. Pattern changes of the ?spitze?, a cusp in the ray path closely related to the geomagnetic field, are also assessed. The ground range increases with magnetic field intensity and ray alignment with the field direction. For the present field, which is almost axial dipolar, this happens for Northward propagation at the magnetic equator, peaking in Indonesia where the intensity is least weak along the equator. A similar situation occurs for a prevailing equatorial dipole with Eastward ray paths at the corresponding magnetic equator that here runs almost perpendicular to the geographic equator. Larger spitze angles occur for smaller magnetic inclinations, and higher intensities. This is clearly observed for the present field and the dipole rotation scenario along the corresponding magnetic equators. For less dipolar configurations the ground range and spitze spatial variabilities become smaller scale. Overall, studying ionospheric dynamics during a reversal may highlight possible effects of dipole decrease which is currently ongoing.Fil: Fagre, Mariano. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Tecnología. Departamento de Electricidad, Electrónica y Computación. Laboratorio de Telecomunicaciones; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Zossi, Bruno Santiago. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Yiğit, Erdal. George Mason University; Estados UnidosFil: Amit, Hagay. Cnrs- S, Laboratoire de Planetologie Et de Geodyn; FranciaFil: Elias, Ana Georgina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Noa Sur. Instituto de Física del Noroeste Argentino; Argentin

First recorded outbreak of Veronaea botryosa in North American amphibians: Clinicopathologic features of a rare cause of phaeohyphomycosis in captive White’s tree frogs (Litoria caerulea)

We describe fatal phaeohyphomycosis due to Veronaea botryosa in captive White’s tree frogs (Litoria caerulea), the first confirmed report in amphibians in North America. Over 15 months, six frogs developed ulcerative dermatitis on distal extremities/ventrum, which in one animal progressed to vasculitis and necrotizing osteomyelitis. All six frogs died. Clinicopathologic findings, diagnostic challenges, and control are discussed. Emerging fungi such as V. botryosa pose serious concerns for zoonosis and potential spread through the pet trade

Assessing simulation ecosystem processes for climate variability research at Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park served as a test site for ecosystem analyses that involved a suite of integrated models embedded within a geographic information system. The goal of the exercise was to provide managers with maps that could illustrate probable shifts in vegetation, net primary production (NPP), and hydrologic responses associated with two selected climatic scenarios. The climatic scenarios were (a) a recent 12-yr record of weather data, and (b) a reconstituted set that sequentially introduced in repeated 3-yr intervals wetter–cooler, drier–warmer, and typical conditions. To extrapolate the implications of changes in ecosystem processes and resulting growth and distribution of vegetation and snowpack, the model incorporated geographic data. With underlying digital elevation maps, soil depth and texture, extrapolated climate, and current information on vegetation types and satellite-derived estimates of leaf area indices, simulations were extended to envision how the park might look after 120 yr. The predictions of change included underlying processes affecting the availability of water and nitrogen. Considerable field data were acquired to compare with model predictions under current climatic conditions. In general, the integrated landscape models of ecosystem processes had good agreement with measured NPP, snowpack, and streamflow, but the exercise revealed the difficulty and necessity of averaging point measurements across landscapes to achieve comparable results with modeled values. Under the extremely variable climate scenario significant changes in vegetation composition and growth as well as hydrologic responses were predicted across the park. In particular, a general rise in both the upper and lower limits of treeline was predicted. These shifts would probably occur along with a variety of disturbances (fire, insect, and disease outbreaks) as predictions of physiological stress (water, nutrients, light) altered competitive relations and hydrologic responses. The use of integrated landscape models applied in this exercise should provide managers with insights into the underlying processes important in maintaining community structure, and at the same time, locate where changes on the landscape are most likely to occur

Local topography increasingly influences the mass balance of a retreating cirque glacier

Local topographically driven processes – such as wind drifting, avalanching, and shading – are known to alter the relationship between the mass balance of small cirque glaciers and regional climate. Yet partitioning such local effects from regional climate influence has proven difficult, creating uncertainty in the climate representativeness of some glaciers. We address this problem for Sperry Glacier in Glacier National Park, USA, using field-measured surface mass balance, geodetic constraints on mass balance, and regional climate data recorded at a network of meteorological and snow stations. Geodetically derived mass changes during 1950–1960, 1960–2005, and 2005–2014 document average mass change rates during each period at −0.22 ± 0.12, −0.18 ± 0.05, and −0.10 ± 0.03 m w.e. yr−1, respectively. A correlation of field-measured mass balance and regional climate variables closely (i.e., within 0.08 m w.e. yr−1) predicts the geodetically measured mass loss from 2005 to 2014. However, this correlation overestimates glacier mass balance for 1950–1960 by +1.20 ± 0.95 m w.e. yr−1. Our analysis suggests that local effects, not represented in regional climate variables, have become a more dominant driver of the net mass balance as the glacier lost 0.50 km2 and retreated further into its cirque

Nonlinear Dynamics in Ecosystem Response to Climatic Change: Case Studies and Policy Implications

Many biological, hydrological, and geological processes are interactively linked in ecosystems. These ecological phenomena normally vary within bounded ranges, but rapid, nonlinear changes to markedly different conditions can be triggered by even small differences if threshold values are exceeded. Intrinsic and extrinsic ecological thresholds can lead to effects that cascade among systems, precluding accurate modeling and prediction of system response to climate change. Ten case studies from North America illustrate how changes in climate can lead to rapid, threshold-type responses within ecological communities; the case studies also highlight the role of human activities that alter the rate or direction of system response to climate change. Understanding and anticipating nonlinear dynamics are important aspects of adaptation planning since responses of biological resources to changes in the physical climate system are not necessarily proportional and sometimes, as in the case of complex ecological systems, inherently nonlinear