BOHMs AWAY! Lessons from a Collection Survey

VCU James Branch Cabell Library underwent a major renovation and expansion from 2014 to 2016, necessitating a move of all special collections and archives materials. After the move we surveyed our collections to help us regain intellectual and physical control. In addition, the survey allowed us to assess whether collections were in need of additional processing or reprocessing to make them more accessible physically and intellectually, identify special formats, and address conservation issues. To conduct the survey, we created a form and used this in conjunction with the assessment tool in Archivists’ Toolkit. The form included checklists to note information such as material formats other than paper, specific condition and preservation issues, as well as a general notes field. For brevity and consistency, we created a list of abbreviations to use. Collections were ranked using an agreed upon set of criteria in multiple categories. The rankings have helped determine which collections are in most need of attention. During the course of the survey we discovered that not all collections were processed equally, meaning that they didn’t always conform to best practices and standards. This poster will expand upon what we learned and what we’re doing with the information we obtained

Assessing the Sampling Design of the Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP)

The Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) is a community based monitoring program that involves local stakeholders to monitor estuaries and bays in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL). Implemented in 2003, CAMP continues to be administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in collaboration with the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Coalition on Sustainability (Coalition-SGSL). Data are collected annually from up to 36 sites, and include counts of nearshore fish, shrimp, and crabs (i.e., nekton) along with measures of aquatic vegetation, water quality and sediment. The CAMP dataset has potential to inform decision-makers on the relationship between the health of an estuary and its nekton assemblage. However, concerns have been raised regarding the CAMP station selection method, as the majority of station locations was selected to provide easy road access for volunteers. Also, a standard number of six stations was established, regardless of estuary size, to allow for community groups to complete each sampling event within one day. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of CAMP to provide a measure of littoral nekton that represents the overall littoral nekton community of the estuary. The adequacy of the CAMP sampling design was tested by comparing it to a sampling program that applied a stratified random design. A subset of ten estuaries that are monitored by CAMP were selected. Twelve stations were sampled within each estuary with six stations located where CAMP samples, and another six stations randomly located and stratified among the upper, middle, and lower estuary. Differences between the nekton community data were assessed using a cluster analysis, non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (nMDS) ordination, permutational MANOVA (PERMANOVA) and a test of homogeneity of dispersions (PERMDISP). The adequacy of six sample stations was tested by comparing the number of species detected by both sampling designs, and then combining the datasets to predict how many stations would be required to detect all species. The combined dataset was analysed using a one-way PERMANOVA to determine if having nekton assemblage data from more stations would alter the conclusions regarding the differences between sites. The potential need to increase the number of stations was determined by assessing the precision of CAMP in estimating the abundance of influential species, as defined by the similarity percentages (SIMPER) routine. In general, significant differences in nekton assemblages were not detected between sampling designs. Six stations are sufficient to detect the moderately and highly abundant nekton species that contribute to the dissimilarities of estuaries. Increasing the number of CAMP stations would not alter the conclusion about the dissimilarity of sites based on the nekton community assemblages, or greatly increase the precision in estimating counts of influential species. The results indicate the application of CAMP is not limited by station selection bias and would not benefit from increasing the number of stations. Furthermore, programs designed to accommodate volunteers can produce comparable data to scientific studies if designed appropriately. Future analysis of the entire CAMP dataset can be used to determine if there is a relationship between the degree and type of anthropogenic activities influencing an estuary and the littoral nekton assemblages within it

Packing Optimization of an Intentionally Stratified Sorbent Bed Containing Dissimilar Media Types

The Fire Cartridge is a packed bed air filter with two different and separate layers of media designed to provide respiratory protection from combustion products after a fire event on the International Space Station (ISS). The first layer of media is a carbon monoxide catalyst made from gold nanoparticles dispersed on iron oxide. The second layer of media is universal carbon, commonly used in commercial respirator filters. Each layer must be optimally packed to effectively remove contaminants from the air. Optimal packing is achieved by vibratory agitations. However, if post-packing movement of the media within the cartridge occurs, mixing of the bed layers, air voids, and channeling could cause preferential air flow and allow contaminants to pass. Several iterations of prototype fire cartridges were developed to reduce post-packing movement of the media within each layer (settling), and to prevent mixing of the two media types. Both types of movement of the media contribute to decreased fire cartridge performance. Each iteration of the fire cartridge design was tested to demonstrate mechanical loads required to cause detrimental movement within the bed, and resulting level of functionality of the media beds after movement was detected. In order to optimally pack each layer, vertical, horizontal, and orbital agitations were tested and a final packed bulk density was calculated for each method. Packed bulk density must be calculated for each lot of catalyst to accommodate variations in particle size, shape, and density. In addition, a physical divider sheet between each type of media was added within the fire cartridge design to further inhibit intermixing of the bed layers

Extreme Makeover: Finding Aid Edition

Just as fashion trends change over time, so do our standards for finding aids. Recently, we revisited a number of our guides that have existed unchanged online for years and found that many have not aged well. Some finding aids were written by untrained staff or were created prior to the introduction of DACS. Others suffered from neglect in that they weren’t updated to reflect accruals to a collection or were not checked for grammar and spelling errors. It was time to take our finding aids from drab to fab, but how

GC Verification of the Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor

International Space Station crew members face the unique challenge of maintaining air quality due to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have the potential to accumulate at unsafe levels. The Spacecraft Atmosphere Monitor (SAM) is a miniature gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GCMS) designed to measure major constituents (such as N2, O2 and CO2) and trace VOCs within the cabin of the spacecraft. The gas chromatograph is responsible for separating the sample into its components in order to be characterized. The oven of the gas chromatograph must reach a temperature of 150°C in order to heat constituents of the analyte into the gas phase. The heater was tested to determine the proper operating parameters. An appropriate operating point was found to adequately heat the oven of the GC. Further work to determine the proper operating parameters of the preconcentrator (PC), a component of the instrument for adequate peak separation, should be done, leading to the improvement of the GCMS instrument for SAM

Improving Polk County Service Integration Team\u27s Resource Sharing

Background: Polk County Service Integration (SI) collaborates with community partners to provide resources/information for individuals and families within the community. This collaboration includes a monthly newsletter to promote community resources, services, and events. Aim: The aim was to create a standardized submission tool for newsletter contributors to use to improve communication and promote resource utilization by community members. Methodology: This process improvement was structured using the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) model. The PDSA model allowed for reassessment of project needs, and multiple cycles were done to develop a comprehensive evaluation and recommendation for the SI newsletter process. One assessment completed was a survey of SI partners.Results: The focus of survey data was surrounding the partner\u27s participation in submitting information to the SI newsletter. It revealed an overarching theme that partners do not feel they have relevant information to contribute. This thought represented the majority of respondents with a percentage of 68.3%. Discussion: Based on the results, we recommend implementation of the standardized submission tool. Through evaluation of results, it was found that users had difficulty with the submission process as a whole. With addition of the submission tool, these problems will be mitigated via guided questioning that will spark contribution ideas from the partners. To evaluate the continued effectiveness of the submission tool, participation of partners will be monitored. Implications: Implementation of the submission tool will begin January 2021. The implications of this are to ease the submission process for the SI coordinator and improve utilization of resources

Genetic recombination is targeted towards gene promoter regions in dogs

The identification of the H3K4 trimethylase, PRDM9, as the gene responsible for recombination hotspot localization has provided considerable insight into the mechanisms by which recombination is initiated in mammals. However, uniquely amongst mammals, canids appear to lack a functional version of PRDM9 and may therefore provide a model for understanding recombination that occurs in the absence of PRDM9, and thus how PRDM9 functions to shape the recombination landscape. We have constructed a fine-scale genetic map from patterns of linkage disequilibrium assessed using high-throughput sequence data from 51 free-ranging dogs, Canis lupus familiaris. While broad-scale properties of recombination appear similar to other mammalian species, our fine-scale estimates indicate that canine highly elevated recombination rates are observed in the vicinity of CpG rich regions including gene promoter regions, but show little association with H3K4 trimethylation marks identified in spermatocytes. By comparison to genomic data from the Andean fox, Lycalopex culpaeus, we show that biased gene conversion is a plausible mechanism by which the high CpG content of the dog genome could have occurred.Comment: Updated version, with significant revision

Discovery of <i>Aspergillus frankstonensis</i> sp nov during environmental sampling for animal and human fungal pathogens

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) due to species in Aspergillus section Fumigati (ASF), including the Aspergillus viridinutans species complex (AVSC), are increasingly reported in humans and cats. The risk of exposure to these medically important fungi in Australia is unknown. Air and soil was sampled from the domiciles of pet cats diagnosed with these IFI and from a nature reserve in Frankston, Victoria, where Aspergillus viridinutans sensu stricto was discovered in 1954. Of 104 ASF species isolated, 61% were A. fumigatus sensu stricto, 9% were AVSC (A. felis-clade and A. frankstonensis sp. nov.) and 30% were other species (30%). Seven pathogenic ASF species known to cause disease in humans and animals (A. felis-clade, A. fischeri, A. thermomutatus, A. lentulus, A. laciniosus A. fumisynnematus, A. hiratsukae) comprised 25% of isolates overall. AVSC species were only isolated from Frankston soil where they were abundant, suggesting a particular ecological niche. Phylogenetic, morphological and metabolomic analyses of these isolates identified a new species, A. frankstonensis that is phylogenetically distinct from other AVSC species, heterothallic and produces a unique array of extrolites, including the UV spectrum characterized compounds DOLD, RAIMO and CALBO. Shared morphological and physiological characteristics with other AVSC species include slow sporulation, optimal growth at 37°C, no growth at 50°C, and viriditoxin production. Overall, the risk of environmental exposure to pathogenic species in ASF in Australia appears to be high, but there was no evidence of direct environmental exposure to AVSC species in areas where humans and cats cohabitate

Climate change and its implications for developing brains – In utero to youth: A scoping review

The brain health and development implications of climate change are situated within a large and rapidly increasing body of evidence that addresses the physical and mental health impacts and implications of extreme and worsening environments. The costs to individuals and societies of negatively impacted brain development are profound – be it in the form of diagnosable developmental disability, reduced cognitive capacity, or areas of behavioral functioning. We have sought to describe the key risk domains that climate change presents with respect to healthy brain development, from the prenatal through to youth stages. Scoping review methods and an a priori search strategy were used to address the question: What are the major considerations of the peer-reviewed literature that address climate change as it relates to brain development and health from early development through to youth populations? Themes from the identified papers were charted, and findings were summarized through a consensus process. A total of 40 papers were identified in the search, spanning 2008–2022. Based on the thematic analysis, results are organized into the following nine themes: 1) heat extremes, 2) weather extremes and stress, 3) air pollution, 4) vector and waterborne illnesses, 5) malnutrition, 6) equity, 7) economic implications, 8) methods issues, and 9) responses. There is a clear consensus amongst the papers in this review suggesting that changing climate patterns and weather extremes have substantial and wide-ranging effects on developing brains. A range of responses are proposed with an emphasis upon early intervention and better data

Rapid Detection of Biological and Chemical Threat Agents Using Physical Chemistry, Active Detection, and Computational Analysis

Basic technologies have been successfully developed within this project: rapid collection of aerosols and a rapid ultra-sensitive immunoassay technique. Water-soluble, humidity-resistant polyacrylamide nano-filters were shown to (1) capture aerosol particles as small as 20 nm, (2) work in humid air and (3) completely liberate their captured particles in an aqueous solution compatible with the immunoassay technique. The immunoassay technology developed within this project combines electrophoretic capture with magnetic bead detection. It allows detection of as few as 150-600 analyte molecules or viruses in only three minutes, something no other known method can duplicate. The technology can be used in a variety of applications where speed of analysis and/or extremely low detection limits are of great importance: in rapid analysis of donor blood for hepatitis, HIV and other blood-borne infections in emergency blood transfusions, in trace analysis of pollutants, or in search of biomarkers in biological fluids. Combined in a single device, the water-soluble filter and ultra-sensitive immunoassay technique may solve the problem of early âwarning typeâ detection of aerosolized pathogens. These two technologies are protected with five patent applications and are ready for commercialization