Songbird Occupancy and Species Richness Decline Along an Urban Habitat Gradient in Seattle, Washington

The human population is growing, and people are moving to urban areas. As urbanization increases, previously natural landscapes turn into homes and offices. These city dwellers become familiar with the pigeons and crows they regularly see in their cities. In the suburbs, people are familiar with the robins and hummingbirds that visit their backyards. This begs the question, how does urbanization affect avian species richness across different levels of urbanization? How does the composition of avian species change across this urbanization? In order to find out, I conducted a survey of songbird richness, occupancy, and composition along three levels of urbanization: parkland, residential, and commercial in Seattle, Washington. Using standardized point counts and repeated site visits, I surveyed songbirds across Seattle and the surrounding suburbs. I found that parkland sites harbored the most number of species, and commercial sites the fewest. In short, I found that species composition does change across different levels of urbanization. This has implications for how humans should develop land in order to best preserve avian diversity

Effects of repeated Isoflurane anaesthesia with Xylazine/Polamivet® premedication on biochemical and physiological parameters and the fitness of Beagle-dogs

Deckblatt-Impressum persönlicher Dank Inhaltsverzeichnis Abkürzungsverzeichnis Einleitung Schrifttum Eigene Untersuchungen Diskussion Zusammenfassung Summary Literaturverzeichnis Anhang Danksagung Lebenslauf SelbständigkeitserklärungIn der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Auswirkungen wiederholter Narkosen auf ausgewählte Parameter der klinischen Allgemeinuntersuchung (Körpergewicht, Körpertemperatur, Atem- und Herzfrequenz, Hirnnerventests), den Blutdruck, die Leistungsfähigkeit (Herzfrequenz unter definierter ergometrischer Belastung), hämatologische Parameter und klinisch-chemische Blutwerte (insbesondere Leber- und Nierenfunktionsparameter) sowie das Aufwachverhalten bei ein- bis zweijährigen Beagle-Hunden untersucht. Insbesondere interessierte dabei der Einfluss von Narkoseintervallen und Narkosehäufigkeit auf die untersuchten Körperfunktionen und deren Bedeutung für das Wohlbefinden des Tieres. Die hier vorgestellten Untersuchungen wurden an Hunden vorgenommen, an denen parallel über einen längeren Zeitraum Ultraschallkontrastmittel der Diagnostikaforschung der Schering AG pharmakologisch getestet wurden. Die Hunde erhielten wiederholt eine Prämedikation mit Xylazin und Polamivet® sowie eine Inhalationsnarkose mit Isofluran. Zur Bewertung des Einflusses von Narkoseintervallen wurde ein Cross-Over-Versuchsmodell mit 2 Gruppen von je 3 weiblichen Beagle-Hunden und je 2 unterschiedlichen Versuchsphasen gewählt. Die Tiere der ersten Gruppe wurden in der ersten Versuchsphase 2-mal im Abstand von 8 Wochen, die Tiere der zweiten Gruppe 5-mal im Abstand von 2 Wochen in Narkose gelegt. In der zweiten Versuchsphase wurde dieser Ablauf zwischen den Gruppen gewechselt. Zwischen den Versuchsphasen lag eine 3-monatige Ruhepause. Alle weiteren Versuchsdaten wurden explorativ beschrieben. Die Erfassung der Parameter der klinischen Allgemeinuntersuchung, des Blutdrucks und der Leistungsfähigkeit erfolgte jeweils 1 Tag vor der Narkose sowie 24 Stunden, 7 und 14 Tage nach der Narkose. Zur Überprüfung der Nieren- und Leberfunktion wurden zusätzlich 3 Blutproben während der Narkose (nach Prämedikation, 2 Stunden nach Einleitung der Inhalationsnarkose und am Ende der Narkose) genommen. Des weiteren erfolgten hämatologische und klinisch-chemische Untersuchungen jeweils vor und 2 Wochen nach jeder Versuchsphase. Das Aufwachverhalten der Hunde wurde im Anschluss an die Narkose bis zu einer Stunde beobachtet. Die Ergebnisse des Cross-Over-Modells ergaben bezüglich der unterschiedlichen Narkoseintervalle lediglich in einem Parameter (Leberenzym ALP höher bei Narkosen im Abstand von 8-Wochen) einen statistisch signifikanten Unterschied. Die Anzahl der Narkosen hatte keinen Einfluss auf die Parameter. Jedoch führten die einzelnen Narkosen teilweise zur Beeinflussung der erhobenen Parameter, überwiegend 24 Stunden nach Narkoseende. Diese zeigten sich in einem Gewichtsverlust, einem Anstieg der Körpertemperatur, einer Zunahme der Aktivität der Leberenzyme (AST, ALT, ALP) sowie einem Leistungsverlust. Die Veränderungen der Leberwerte deuten auf eine geringfügige Beeinträchtigung der Leberfunktion hin. Eine Beeinflussung der Nierenfunktion kann nicht vollständig ausgeschlossen werden, da 2 Tiere eine vorübergehende Erhöhung der Serum-Harnstoff- oder Kreatinin-Konzentration über die Referenzwerte zeigten. Der Blutdruck blieb unbeeinflusst. Der Einfluss der Narkosen auf die Atem- und Herzfrequenz war gering und nicht bedeutsam. Alle narkosebedingten Effekte waren reversibel und meist nach 7, spätestens jedoch nach 14 Tagen nicht mehr zu beobachten. Alle weiteren erhobenen Parameter der Hämatologie und der klinischen Chemie sowie das Aufwachverhalten blieben unbeeinflusst. Unabhängig von den Versuchsphasen zeigten fast alle Tiere in der Aufwach-Wärme-Box ein deutliches Zittern. Die Ergebnisse der klinischen Allgemeinuntersuchung sprechen für eine temporäre Verschlechterung des Wohlbefindens. Basierend auf den erhaltenen Ergebnissen bietet ein Abstand von 2 Wochen für die Durchführung von Mehrfachnarkosen mit Xylazin/Polamivet® Prämedikation und Isofluran-Narkose bei den in dieser Untersuchung verwendeten 6 Beagle-Hündinnen genügend Sicherheit für das Tier und gleichzeitig für die Interpretation von Ergebnissen bei der Prüfung von Ultraschallkontrastmitteln. Die Hunde zeigten keine anhaltenden Gesundheitsschäden, und das Wohlbefinden der Tiere war nur vorübergehend beeinträchtigt.In the study, the effects of repeated anaesthesia on selected parameters of general clinical examination (body weight, body temperature, respiratory rate and heart rate, cranial nerve tests), the blood pressure, fitness (heart rate on defined ergometric load), haematological parameters and clinical chemistry (particularly liver and renal function tests) and the recovery behaviour were investigated in 1- to 2-year old Beagle-dogs. The effect of anaesthetic intervals and anaesthetic frequency on the investigated body functions and their significance for the well-being of the animal were of particular interest. The investigations presented here were conducted in dogs in which pharmacological investigations of ultrasound contrast agents from Schering AG diagnostics research were taking place in parallel over a prolonged period. The dogs repeatedly received premedication with Xylazine and Polamivet® and inhalation anaesthesia using Isoflurane. To evaluate the effect of the anaesthetic interval, a crossover experimental model was selected with 2 groups each consisting of 3 female Beagle-dogs and 2 different experimental phases. The animals in the first group were anaesthetised twice at an interval of 8 weeks in the first experimental phase, and the animals in the second group were anaesthetised 5 times at an interval of 2 weeks. In the second experimental phase this sequence was reversed between the groups. There was a 3-month break between the experimental phases. All other experimental data were described exploratively. The general clinical examination parameters, blood pressure and fitness were each recorded 1 day before anaesthesia and 24 hours, 7 and 14 days after anaesthesia. To examine renal and hepathic function in addition, 3 blood samples were taken during the anaesthesia (after premedication, 2 hours after induction of the inhalation anaesthesia and at the end of the anaesthesia). Furthermore, haematological and clinical chemistry investigations were each performed before and 2 weeks after each experimental phase. The recovery behaviour of the dogs following the anaesthesia was observed for up to 1 hour. The results of the crossover model showed a statistically significant difference in only one parameter with regard to the different anaesthetic intervals (liver enzyme ALP higher with anaestheisa at an interval of 8 weeks). The number of anaesthesia procedures had no effect on the parameters. However, some of the individual anaesthesia procedures had an effect on the recorded parameters predominantly 24 hours after the end of anaesthesia. These were apparent as weight loss, a rise in body temperature, an increase in liver enzyme activity (AST, ALT, ALP) and a reduced fitness. An effect on renal function cannot be fully excluded as 2 animals showed a temporary increase in serum urea or creatinine concentration over the reverences. The blood pressure remained unaffected. The effect of the anaesthesia procedures on the respiratory and heart rate was slight and not important. All of the effects of the anaesthesia were reversible and were usually no longer observable after 7 but at the latest after 14 days. All the other recorded parameters of haematology and clinical chemistry and the recovery behaviour remained unaffected. Independent of the experimental phase, nearly all the animals demonstrated obvious tremor in the recovery warming box. The results of the general clinical examination suggest a temporary deterioration in well-being. Based on the results obtained, an interval of 2 weeks for performing multiple anaesthesia with Xylazine/Polamivet® premedication and Isoflurane anaesthesia in the 6 Beagle-bitches used in this investigation offers sufficient safety for the animal and at the same time for the interpretation of events in the study of ultrasound contrast agents. The dogs showed no lasting injury to health and the well-being of the animals was impaired only temporarily

Cell replication and redundancy elimination during placement for cycle time optimization

This paper presents a new timing driven approach for cell replication tailored to the practical needs of standard cell layout design. Cell replication methods have been studied extensively in the context of generic partitioning problems. However, until now it has remained unclear what practical benefit can be obtained from this concept in a realistic environment for timing driven layout synthesis. Therefore, this paper presents a timing driven cell replication procedure, demonstrates its incorporation into a standard cell placement and routing tool and examines its benefit on the final circuit performance in comparison with conventional gate or transistor sizing techniques. Furthermore, we demonstrate that cell replication can deteriorate the stuck-at fault testability of circuits and show that stuck-at redundancy elimination must be integrated into the placement procedure. Experimental results demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed methodology and suggest that cell replication should be an integral part of the physical design flow complementing traditional gate sizing techniques

Cycle time optimization by timing driven placement with simultaneous netlist transformations

We present new concepts to integrate logic synthesis and physical design. Our methodology uses general Boolean transformations as known from technology-independent synthesis, and a recursive bi-partitioning placement algorithm. In each partitioning step, the precision of the layout data increases. This allows effective guidance of the logic synthesis operations for cycle time optimization. An additional advantage of our approach is that no complicated layout corrections are needed when the netlist is changed

Characterizing porous protein crystal materials for applications in nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology

2018 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Protein crystals are biologically derived, self-assembling, porous structures that have been used for decades in structure determination via X-ray diffraction. Recently, however, there has been increased interest in utilizing protein crystals for their unique material properties—most notably, their highly ordered porous structure, innate biocompatibility, and chemical plasticity. The diverse topologies of protein crystals and the relative ease with which their chemical properties can be altered via genetic mutation or chemical modification offers a wider and more dynamic design palette than existing chemically-synthesized nanoporous frameworks. These traits make protein crystals an attractive new material for applications in nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology. The intent of this project is to demonstrate the application potential of porous protein crystal materials for use in nanostructured devices. This work highlights our efforts to: experimentally and computationally investigate macromolecular transport and interaction energies within a large-pore protein crystal environment using time-lapse confocal microscopy, bulk equilibrium adsorption, and hindered diffusion simulation; assess the cytocompatibility of various cross-linking chemistries for the production of biostable protein crystal materials for use in biologically sensitive environments; and create multifunctional textiles by covalently attaching various cross-linked protein crystals to cellulose fibers in woven cotton fabrics. By pursuing this research, we hope to better understand porous protein crystal materials and leverage that knowledge to design advanced nanostructured devices for applications in medicine and biotechnology

Relationships between hydrogen bonds and halogen bonds in biomolecular engineering

2019 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.In this dissertation, we will explore the interconnectedness between halogen bonds (X-bonds) and hydrogen bonds in rational biomolecular engineering efforts. As X-bonds are not readily designed into biomolecules, we aim to show how they can be advantageous for molecular design. We will begin by considering how X-bonds compare to H-bonds and show how the two can work in harmony to provide enhanced stabilizing potential. In two unique protein engineering efforts we will show 1) how the X-bond can be just as specifying in terms of molecular assembly as compared to the H-bond, and 2) how it can coordinate with the H-bond to increase protein stability. One study shows the specifying potential the X-bond possesses in terms of coiled-coil assembly. While the study points to a direct application of a sensing probe, the scope of the work will aid others using coiled-coils for materials purpose, designing protein interfaces or potential ligand binding sites. In the other protein engineering study, we will survey how a protein with an intrinsically disordered region responds to hydrogen enhanced halogen bond engineering. We show how we can drastically increase the thermal stability of the protein through minimal change to its primary sequence. This study lends itself to exploring bigger structure-function questions and how the stabilizing capacity of halogen bonds fits into this. Through this work we aspire to show how useful X-bonds can be for biological engineering efforts by exhibiting their specifying and stabilizing characteristics in these settings

Student needs and perceptions of the learning environment according to high school students: A case study

The research question addressed in this study was, according to high school students, how does meeting students’ needs and honoring student voice affect the learning experience? By focusing on the learning experience within the context of students’ needs and voice, this research project aimed to understand the school experience through the student perspective and equip educators with the knowledge of practices deemed most profound in hopes of creating a classroom environment that not only enhances the learning experience, but also increases learner success. Through the collection of student surveys, interviews, and school data reports, findings indicated the average satisfaction of all deficiency, growth, and student voice needs combined is 62%. Both study results and current research indicate significant relationships between student needs and the learning experience. There is compelling evidence to suggest that increased satisfaction of student needs would lead to increased achievement