Validation of a novel time-to-event nest density estimator on passerines: An example using Brewer's sparrows (Spizella breweri).

Human impacts on natural resources increasingly necessitate understanding of the demographic rates driving wildlife population trends. Breeding productivity in many avian species is the demographic parameter that primarily influences population fluctuations. Nest density is a vital component of breeding productivity despite the fact that it is most often inferred exclusively from nest success. Unfortunately, locating every nest in a given area to determine nest density is often not feasible and can be biased by measurement error. The availability of a nest to be detected and the probability it will be detected during nest searching are two prominent sources of measurement error. A time-to-event nest density estimator has been developed that, unlike standard distance sampling methods, accounts for availability and can use nest data from outside structured surveys routinely collected to assess nest success. Its application is currently limited to Anseriformes, so we evaluated the general applicability of the time-to-event estimator in the order Passeriformes. To do this, we compared estimates of nest detection rate and nest density from the time-to-event estimator to distance sampling methods for 42 Brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri) nests monitored in 2015. The time-to-event estimator produced similar but more precise nest detection and density estimates than distance sampling methods

The clinical and financial impact of a pharmacist-driven penicillin skin testing program on antimicrobial stewardship practices

Purpose: Pharmacist-led penicillin skin testing (PST) was incorporated into antimicrobial stewardship at a community hospital to increase use of optimal antimicrobial therapy, reduce use of broad-spectrum agents, and reduce antimicrobial therapy-related costs. Methods: A clinical decision support software alert identified qualifying patients with penicillin allergies. Patients receiving a nonoptimal antimicrobial agent were prioritized for PST. Patients were excluded if they reported a history of extreme hypersensitivity to a penicillin agent, such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, or mucocutaneous eruption with epidermal detachment. Pediatric patients less than 18 years old and pregnant patients were excluded. Data collected for each patient included the medication that precipitated the reaction; reaction type; age when the reaction occurred; current antibiotic therapy; indication for therapy; preferred antimicrobial agent; days of therapy on each agent used; positive, negative, or ambiguous PST result; recent antihistamine use; and any adverse events that occurred. Outcomes of the PST results, pharmacist interventions made after PST, and resulting cost savings to patients were all reported. Results: Among 31 patients tested, 27 were negative for penicillin allergy, 1 was positive for penicillin allergy, and 3 yielded an indeterminate test. Pharmacist recommendation to change therapy based on PST results was accepted in 13 of 15 patients where recommendations were made. Cost savings in antimicrobial therapy alone for patients who received PST was US $74.75 per day. Conclusion: Pharmacist-driven PST provided opportunities to clarify allergies, optimize antimicrobial therapy, and save antimicrobial therapy-related costs to patients

Factors Influencing Winter Mortality Risk for Pronghorn Exposed to Wind Energy Development

Evaluating the influence of energy development on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) winter mortality risk is particularly critical given that northern populations already experience decreased survival due to harsh environmental conditions and increased energetic demands during this season. The purpose of our study was to evaluate pronghorn mortality risk over 3 winters (2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012) on a landscape developed in 2010 for wind energy production (Dunlap Ranch) in south-central Wyoming, United States. We obtained locational data and survival status of 47 adult female pronghorn captured and equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitters. Overall, 17 pronghorn died during winter seasons, with 76.4% (13) of deaths occurring during the winter with highest snow accumulation (2010-2011). Survival (Š) was lowest in winter 2010-2011 (Š = 0.53, 90% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37-0.70) and highest in winters 2010 (Š = 0.97, 90% CI: 0.92-1.00) and 2011-2012 (Š = 0.91, 90% CI: 0.82-1.00). We modeled mortality risk for pronghorn using Cox's proportional hazards model inclusive of time-dependent and time-independent covariates within anthropogenic, environmental, and wind energy variable classes. Across winters, pronghorn winter mortality risk decreased by 20% with every 1.0-km increase in average distance from major roads (hazard ratio = 0.80, 90% CI: 0.66-0.98), decreased by 4.0% with every 1% increase in average time spent in sagebrush (Artemisia spp. L; hazard ratio = 0.96, 90% CI: 0.95-0.98), and decreased by 92% with every 1 unit (VRM × 1000) increase in terrain ruggedness (hazard ratio = 0.08,90% CI: 0.01-0.68). Pronghorn winter survival was not influenced by exposure to wind energy infrastructure; however, pronghorn survival may be impacted by larger-scale wind energy developments than those examined in our study. We recommend wildlife managers focus on conserving sagebrush stands in designated pronghorn winter range. © 2016 The Society for Range Management. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The Rangeland Ecology & Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information

\u3ci\u3eDrosophila\u3c/i\u3e Muller F Elements Maintain a Distinct Set of Genomic Properties Over 40 Million Years of Evolution

The Muller F element (4.2 Mb, ~80 protein-coding genes) is an unusual autosome of Drosophila melanogaster; it is mostly heterochromatic with a low recombination rate. To investigate how these properties impact the evolution of repeats and genes, we manually improved the sequence and annotated the genes on the D. erecta, D. mojavensis, and D. grimshawi F elements and euchromatic domains from the Muller D element. We find that F elements have greater transposon density (25–50%) than euchromatic reference regions (3–11%). Among the F elements, D. grimshawi has the lowest transposon density (particularly DINE-1: 2% vs. 11–27%). F element genes have larger coding spans, more coding exons, larger introns, and lower codon bias. Comparison of the Effective Number of Codons with the Codon Adaptation Index shows that, in contrast to the other species, codon bias in D. grimshawi F element genes can be attributed primarily to selection instead of mutational biases, suggesting that density and types of transposons affect the degree of local heterochromatin formation. F element genes have lower estimated DNA melting temperatures than D element genes, potentially facilitating transcription through heterochromatin. Most F element genes (~90%) have remained on that element, but the F element has smaller syntenic blocks than genome averages (3.4–3.6 vs. 8.4–8.8 genes per block), indicating greater rates of inversion despite lower rates of recombination. Overall, the F element has maintained characteristics that are distinct from other autosomes in the Drosophila lineage, illuminating the constraints imposed by a heterochromatic milieu