GroundSat

As our world becomes more and more digital, satellites continue to be a fundamental component to technological progress. Working with AMSAT(Amateur Satellite) CubeSat Simulators allow students and the community to immerse themselves in STEM(Science Technology Engineering and Math) activities. The goal of this project was to create an earth-based model of a CubeSat satellite that operates the same as its space-grade version, but located outdoors rather than launched into space. We took the CubeSat Simulator built by AMSAT for indoor use, and redesigned it to survive outside without needing any interaction except by radio communication, just like a satellite in space. Through this research, the community schools and Girls Who Code after school program can have an interesting opportunity to interact with the CubeSat, such as take a selfie from a satellite in space using the CubeSat as a transmitter, and begin the pursuit of creating one themselves

GroundSat

As our world becomes more and more digital, satellites continue to be a fundamental component to technological progress. Working with AMSAT(Amateur Satellite) CubeSat Simulators allow students and the community to immerse themselves in STEM(Science Technology Engineering and Math) activities. The goal of this project was to create an earth-based model of a CubeSat satellite that operates the same as its space-grade version, but located outdoors rather than launched into space. We took the CubeSat Simulator built by AMSAT for indoor use, and redesigned it to survive outside without needing any interaction except by radio communication, just like a satellite in space. Through this research, the community schools and Girls Who Code after school program can have an interesting opportunity to interact with the CubeSat, such as take a selfie from a satellite in space using the CubeSat as a transmitter, and begin the pursuit of creating one themselves

A Comparison of Methods to Estimate Forest Canopy Structure in Cedarville, Ohio

Plant canopy architecture results from the relationships of species composition, historical land use, succession, and species competition. Each forest’s canopy architecture influences the plant and animal community that live below. Key variables used to quantify the canopy architecture are leaf area index (LAI, m2 leaf m-2 ground) and canopy openness. The objective of our study was to analyze the accuracy of several mobile phone applications in interpreting the varying light environments of a second-growth forest in Ohio as compared to the standard technique using hemispherical photography. For this pilot project we measured 30 randomly selected points throughout a 15 acre forest stand in Greene County, Ohio. Mean canopy openness (minimum - maximum) for the site was 14.7 (5.7 - 23.8) and 46.1 (20.0 - 77.4) for GLAMA and Canopeo, respectively. Additionally, we processed digital hemispherical photographs using Gap Light Analyzer (GLA v 2.0) and calculated a mean % openness of 20.6 (12.2 - 45.5) and LAI of 2.1. When compared to the standard method of hemispherical photographs Canopeo and GLAMA described 41 and 19% of the total variability in forest canopy openness as measured by GLA. Our data show that GLAMA consistently over estimated while Canopeo underestimated openness. The data from this study reveals how each application used image processing methods to calculate canopy openness. The various applications showed inadequacies regarding the typical methods used to calculate canopy openness; none of the applications proved to be more accurate at calculating canopy openness than the others

Small Mammal Survey Finds Strong Inverse Spatial Relationship with Forest Canopy Cover

The distribution of small mammals within a habitat is not uniform, but rather varies depending on favorable conditions of a species throughout the region. Within the selected 15-acre forest plot, an experiment was developed to detect where small mammals most reside and which conditions they favor. The objective of our study was to evaluate if forest canopy cover estimates (LAI, leaf area index) were a good predictor of small mammal presence. Using baited Sherman traps we completed 167 trap nights with 8 total captures. At the same time we estimated tree canopy cover using hemispherical photography. We processed photos from 30 co-located sites throughout the 15 acre forest plot. Mean LAI (m2 leaf per m2 ground) was found to be 2.1 with a range of 0.96 - 3.08. Each sample was geolocated to allow us to analyze spatial patterns. We used interpolation methods to visualize the LAI estimates and intensity of capture rates. This revealed an inverse pattern between LAI and small mammal captures at this site. In other words, small mammals were found most abundant where vegetative canopy cover was least dense

Biological Invasions: Recommendations for U.S. Policy and Management

The Ecological Society of America has evaluated current U.S. national policies and practices on biological invasions in light of current scientific knowledge. Invasions by harmful nonnative species are increasing in number and area affected; the damages to ecosystems, economic activity, and human welfare are accumulating. Without improved strategies based on recent scientific advances and increased investments to counter invasions, harm from invasive species is likely to accelerate. Federal leadership, with the cooperation of state and local governments, is required to increase the effectiveness of prevention of invasions, detect and respond quickly to new potentially harmful invasions, control and slow the spread of existing invasions, and provide a national center to ensure that these efforts are coordinated and cost effective. Specifically, the Ecological Society of America recommends that the federal government take the following six actions: (1) Use new information and practices to better manage commercial and other pathways to reduce the transport and release of potentially harmful species; (2) Adopt more quantitative procedures for risk analysis and apply them to every species proposed for importation into the country; (3) Use new cost-effective diagnostic technologies to increase active surveillance and sharing of information about invasive species so that responses to new invasions can be more rapid and effective; (4) Create new legal authority and provide emergency funding to support rapid responses to emerging invasions; (5) Provide funding and incentives for cost-effective programs to slow the spread of existing invasive species in order to protect still uninvaded ecosystems, social and industrial infrastructure, and human welfare; and (6) Establish a National Center for Invasive Species Management (under the existing National Invasive Species Council) to coordinate and lead improvements in federal, state, and international policies on invasive species. Recent scientific and technical advances provide a sound basis for more cost-effective national responses to invasive species. Greater investments in improved technology and management practices would be more than repaid by reduced damages from current and future invasive species. The Ecological Society of America is committed to assist all levels of government and provide scientific advice to improve all aspects of invasive-species management

Clinical and genetic aspects of KBG syndrome.

KBG syndrome is characterized by short stature, distinctive facial features, and developmental/cognitive delay and is caused by mutations in ANKRD11, one of the ankyrin repeat-containing cofactors. We describe 32 KBG patients aged 2-47 years from 27 families ascertained via two pathways: targeted ANKRD11 sequencing (TS) in a group who had a clinical diagnosis of KBG and whole exome sequencing (ES) in a second group in whom the diagnosis was unknown. Speech delay and learning difficulties were almost universal and variable behavioral problems frequent. Macrodontia of permanent upper central incisors was seen in 85%. Other clinical features included short stature, conductive hearing loss, recurrent middle ear infection, palatal abnormalities, and feeding difficulties. We recognized a new feature of a wide anterior fontanelle with delayed closure in 22%. The subtle facial features of KBG syndrome were recognizable in half the patients. We identified 20 ANKRD11 mutations (18 novel: all truncating) confirmed by Sanger sequencing in 32 patients. Comparison of the two ascertainment groups demonstrated that facial/other typical features were more subtle in the ES group. There were no conclusive phenotype-genotype correlations. Our findings suggest that mutation of ANKRD11 is a common Mendelian cause of developmental delay. Affected patients may not show the characteristic KBG phenotype and the diagnosis is therefore easily missed. We propose updated diagnostic criteria/clinical recommendations for KBG syndrome and suggest that inclusion of ANKRD11 will increase the utility of gene panels designed to investigate developmental delay. © 2016 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Additional Link above to access the full-text via the publisher's site

Type 2 Diabetes Variants Disrupt Function of SLC16A11 through Two Distinct Mechanisms

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) affects Latinos at twice the rate seen in populations of European descent. We recently identified a risk haplotype spanning SLC16A11 that explains ∼20% of the increased T2D prevalence in Mexico. Here, through genetic fine-mapping, we define a set of tightly linked variants likely to contain the causal allele(s). We show that variants on the T2D-associated haplotype have two distinct effects: (1) decreasing SLC16A11 expression in liver and (2) disrupting a key interaction with basigin, thereby reducing cell-surface localization. Both independent mechanisms reduce SLC16A11 function and suggest SLC16A11 is the causal gene at this locus. To gain insight into how SLC16A11 disruption impacts T2D risk, we demonstrate that SLC16A11 is a proton-coupled monocarboxylate transporter and that genetic perturbation of SLC16A11 induces changes in fatty acid and lipid metabolism that are associated with increased T2D risk. Our findings suggest that increasing SLC16A11 function could be therapeutically beneficial for T2D. Video Abstract [Figure presented] Keywords: type 2 diabetes (T2D); genetics; disease mechanism; SLC16A11; MCT11; solute carrier (SLC); monocarboxylates; fatty acid metabolism; lipid metabolism; precision medicin

Trans-ethnic Meta-analysis and Functional Annotation Illuminates the Genetic Architecture of Fasting Glucose and Insulin

Knowledge of the genetic basis of the type 2 diabetes (T2D)-related quantitative traits fasting glucose (FG) and insulin (FI) in African ancestry (AA) individuals has been limited. In non-diabetic subjects of AA (n = 20,209) and European ancestry (EA; n = 57,292), we performed trans-ethnic (AA+EA) fine-mapping of 54 established EA FG or FI loci with detailed functional annotation, assessed their relevance in AA individuals, and sought previously undescribed loci through trans-ethnic (AA+EA) meta-analysis. We narrowed credible sets of variants driving association signals for 22/54 EA-associated loci; 18/22 credible sets overlapped with active islet-specific enhancers or transcription factor (TF) binding sites, and 21/22 contained at least one TF motif. Of the 54 EA-associated loci, 23 were shared between EA and AA. Replication with an additional 10,096 AA individuals identified two previously undescribed FI loci, chrX FAM133A (rs213676) and chr5 PELO (rs6450057). Trans-ethnic analyses with regulatory annotation illuminate the genetic architecture of glycemic traits and suggest gene regulation as a target to advance precision medicine for T2D. Our approach to utilize state-of-the-art functional annotation and implement trans-ethnic association analysis for discovery and fine-mapping offers a framework for further follow-up and characterization of GWAS signals of complex trait loc