Survival rates of band‐tailed pigeons estimated using passive integrated transponder tags

Obtaining survival estimates on the Interior population of band-tailed pigeons (Patagioenas fasciata) is challenging because they are trap shy, but the joint use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and bands is a potential solution. We investigated the use of PIT tags to passively recapture band‐tailed pigeon at 3 locations in New Mexico, USA, to estimate survival. From 2013–2015, we captured, banded, and marked \u3e600 individual band‐tailed pigeons with PIT tags. To estimate annual survival rates, we used a Barker multi‐state joint live and dead encounters and resighting model. Survival models excluding transience had survival estimates across site, sex, and year of 0.86 (95% CI = 0.84–0.88) for after hatch year birds and 0.63 (95% CI = 0.48–0.76) for hatch year birds. These results are consistent with other survival estimates reported for the Interior population of band‐tailed pigeons using band return data and potentially provide an effective alternative method of monitoring survival of this population

The Rts1 Regulatory Subunit of Protein Phosphatase 2A Is Required for Control of G1 Cyclin Transcription and Nutrient Modulation of Cell Size

The key molecular event that marks entry into the cell cycle is transcription of G1 cyclins, which bind and activate cyclin-dependent kinases. In yeast cells, initiation of G1 cyclin transcription is linked to achievement of a critical cell size, which contributes to cell-size homeostasis. The critical cell size is modulated by nutrients, such that cells growing in poor nutrients are smaller than cells growing in rich nutrients. Nutrient modulation of cell size does not work through known critical regulators of G1 cyclin transcription and is therefore thought to work through a distinct pathway. Here, we report that Rts1, a highly conserved regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), is required for normal control of G1 cyclin transcription. Loss of Rts1 caused delayed initiation of bud growth and delayed and reduced accumulation of G1 cyclins. Expression of the G1 cyclin CLN2 from an inducible promoter rescued the delayed bud growth in rts1Δ cells, indicating that Rts1 acts at the level of transcription. Moreover, loss of Rts1 caused altered regulation of Swi6, a key component of the SBF transcription factor that controls G1 cyclin transcription. Epistasis analysis revealed that Rts1 does not work solely through several known critical upstream regulators of G1 cyclin transcription. Cells lacking Rts1 failed to undergo nutrient modulation of cell size. Together, these observations demonstrate that Rts1 is a key player in pathways that link nutrient availability, cell size, and G1 cyclin transcription. Since Rts1 is highly conserved, it may function in similar pathways in vertebrates

The genetic architecture of the human cerebral cortex

The cerebral cortex underlies our complex cognitive capabilities, yet little is known about the specific genetic loci that influence human cortical structure. To identify genetic variants that affect cortical structure, we conducted a genome-wide association meta-analysis of brain magnetic resonance imaging data from 51,665 individuals. We analyzed the surface area and average thickness of the whole cortex and 34 regions with known functional specializations. We identified 199 significant loci and found significant enrichment for loci influencing total surface area within regulatory elements that are active during prenatal cortical development, supporting the radial unit hypothesis. Loci that affect regional surface area cluster near genes in Wnt signaling pathways, which influence progenitor expansion and areal identity. Variation in cortical structure is genetically correlated with cognitive function, Parkinson's disease, insomnia, depression, neuroticism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Social Assistance in Developing Countries Database Version 5.0

The Social Assistance in Developing Countries Database is a user-friendly tool that provides summary information on social assistance interventions in developing countries. It provides a summary of the evidence available on the effectiveness of social assistance interventions in developing countries. It focuses on programmes seeking to combine the reduction and mitigation of poverty, with strengthening and facilitating household investments capable of preventing poverty and securing development in the longer term. The inclusion of programmes is on the basis of the availability of information on design features, evaluation, size, scope, or significance. Version 5 of the database updates information on existing programmes and incorporates information on pilot social assistance programmes in Latin America, Asia and Africa. It also adopts a new typology that distinguishes between social assistance programmes providing pure income transfers; programmes that provide transfers plus interventions aimed at human, financial, or physical asset accumulation; and integrated poverty reduction programmes. This new typology has, in our view, several advantages. It is a more flexible, and more accurate, template with which to identify key programme features. It provides a good entry point into the conceptual underpinnings of social assistance programmes

Longitudinal clinical and biomarker characteristics of non-manifesting LRRK2 G2019S carriers in the PPMI cohort

We examined 2-year longitudinal change in clinical features and biomarkers in LRRK2 non-manifesting carriers (NMCs) versus healthy controls (HCs) enrolled in the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI). We analyzed 2-year longitudinal data from 176 LRRK2 G2019S NMCs and 185 HCs. All participants were assessed annually with comprehensive motor and non-motor scales, dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging, and biofluid biomarkers. The latter included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Abeta, total tau and phospho-tau; serum urate and neurofilament light chain (NfL); and urine bis(monoacylglycerol) phosphate (BMP). At baseline, LRRK2 G2019S NMCs had a mean (SD) age of 62 (7.7) years and were 56% female. 13% had DAT deficit (defined as <65% of age/sex-expected lowest putamen SBR) and 11% had hyposmia (defined as ≤15th percentile for age and sex). Only 5 of 176 LRRK2 NMCs developed PD during follow-up. Although NMCs scored significantly worse on numerous clinical scales at baseline than HCs, there was no longitudinal change in any clinical measures over 2 years or in DAT binding. There were no longitudinal differences in CSF and serum biomarkers between NMCs and HCs. Urinary BMP was significantly elevated in NMCs at all time points but did not change longitudinally. Neither baseline biofluid biomarkers nor the presence of DAT deficit correlated with 2-year change in clinical outcomes. We observed no significant 2-year longitudinal change in clinical or biomarker measures in LRRK2 G2019S NMCs in this large, well-characterized cohort even in the participants with baseline DAT deficit. These findings highlight the essential need for further enrichment biomarker discovery in addition to DAT deficit and longer follow-up to enable the selection of NMCs at the highest risk for conversion to enable future prevention clinical trials

Trends in Duck Breeding Populations, 1955-2007

This report summarizes information about the status of duck populations and wetland habitats during spring 2007, focusing on areas encompassed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) and Canadian Wildlife Services’ (CWS) Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. This report does not include information from surveys conducted by State or Provincial agencies. In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77 (Fig. 1), the total duck population estimate (excluding scoters [Melanitta spp.], eiders [Somateria and Polysticta spp.], long-tailed ducks [Clangula hyemalis], mergansers [Mergus and Lophodytes spp.], and wood ducks [Aix sponsa]) was 41.2 ± 0.8 [SE] million birds. This was 14% greater than last year’s estimate of 36.2 ± 0.6 million birds and 24% above the 1955-2006 long-term averagea (Tables 1-12). Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 8.0 ± 0.3 million birds, which was 10% above last year’s estimate of 7.3 ± 0.2 million birds and 7% above the long-term average (Appendix A). Blue-winged teal (A. discors) abundance was 6.7 ± 0.4 million birds. This value was the third highest estimate since 1955, 14% greater than last year’s estimate of 5.9 ± 0.3 million birds, and 48% above the long-term average. Estimated abundances of gadwall (A. strepera; 3.4 ± 0.2 million) and Northern shovelers (A. clypeata; 4.6 ± 0.2 million) were also above those of last year (+19% and +24%, respectively) and well above their long-term averages (+96% and +106%, respectively). Estimated abundance of American wigeon (A. americana; 2.8 ± 0.2 million) was 29% greater than last year but similar to the long-term average. Estimated abundances of green-winged teal (A. crecca; 2.9 ± 0.2 million), redheads (Aythya americana; 1.0 ± 0.08 million), and canvasbacks (A. valisineria; 0.9 ± 0.09 million) were similar to last year’s, but were each \u3e50% above their long-term averages. Abundances of Northern shovelers, redheads, and canvasbacks were the highest ever estimated in this survey area, and the abundance of green-winged teal was the second highest estimated for this region. Estimates for Northern pintails (Anas acuta; 3.3 ± 0.2 million) and scaup (Aythya affinis and A. marila combined; 3.5 ± 0.2 million) were unchanged from those of 2006, and remained below long-term averages (-19% and -33%, respectively)

Trends in Duck Breeding Populations 1955-2012

This report summarizes information about the status of duck populations and wetland habitats during spring 2012, focusing on areas encompassed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife (USFWS) and Canadian Wildlife Services\u27 (CWS) Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey. We do not include information from surveys conducted by state or provincial agencies. In the traditional survey area, which includes strata 1-18, 20-50, and 75-77 (Figure 1), the total duck population estimate (excluding scoters [Melanitta spp.], eiders [Somateria spp. and Polysticta stelleri ], long- tailed ducks [Clangula hyemalis], mergansers [Mergus spp. and Lophodytes cucullatus], and wood ducks [Aix sponsa]) was 48.6 ± 0.8 [SE] million birds (Figure 3, Appendix A). This represents a 7% increase over last year\u27s estimate of 45.6 ± 0.8 million, and is 43% higher than the long-term averagea (1955-2011; Table 1). Estimated mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) abundance was 10.6 ± 0.3 million, which was 15% above the 2011 estimate of 9.2 ± 0.3 million, and 40% above the long-term average of 7.6 ± 0.04 million (Table 2). Estimated abundance of gadwall (A. strepera; 3.6 ± 0.2 million) was similar to the 2011 estimate and 96% above the long-term average (1.8 ± 0.02 million; Table 3). The estimate for American wigeon (A. americana; 2.1 ± 0.1 million) was similar to the 2011 estimate and 17% below the long-term average of 2.6 ± 0.02 million (Table 4). The estimated abundance of green-winged teal (A. crecca) was 3.5 ± 0.2 million, which was 20% above the 2011 estimate and 74% above the long-term average (2.0 ± 0.02 million; Table 5). The estimates of blue-winged teal (A. discors; 9.2 ± 0.4 million) and northern shoveler (A. clypeata; 5.0 ± 0.3 million) were similar to their 2011 estimates and 94% and 111% above the long-term averages of 4.8 ± 0.04 million (Table 6) and 2.4 ± 0.02 million (Table 7), respectively. The estimate for northern pintails (A. acuta; 3.5 ± 0.2 million) was 22% below the 2011 estimate of 4.4 ± 0.3 million and 14% below the long-term average of 4.0 ± 0.04 million (Table 8). The estimated abundance for redheads (Aythya americana; 1.3 ± 0.1 million) and canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria; 0.8 ± 0.07 million) were similar to their 2011 estimates and were 89% and 33% above their long- term averages of 0.7 ± 0.01 million (Table 9) and 0.6 ± 0.01 million (Table 10), respectively. Estimated abundance of scaup (A. affinis and A. marila combined; 5.2 ± 0.3 million) was 21% above the 2011 estimate and similar to the long-term average of 5.0 ± 0.05 million (Table 11)