Water-Nymphs of the Platte

Little known, but hauntingly beautiful and valuable to the environment as well, clams and mussels inhabit many Nebraska lakes and rivers. In the first survey of the entire Platte River, the authors found 11 species. We surveyed mollusks (clams and snails) of the Platte River during the summers of 1990 and 1991. With the exception of the Big Bend reach of the river in Dawson, Buffalo, and Hall counties, no mussels were found in the river\u27s main channel. But in backwaters, lakes and sand-pits along the river, we found 11 species of mussels at 49 different sites from east to west across the state. Among them we found the Asiatic clam, a non-native, pest species, for the first time in the state, placing it several hundred miles west of the present eastern population of eastern Iowa and Missour

Stakeholders' perspectives on the secondary school admissions procedures in Brighton and Hove

The transition from primary to secondary school is a social and academic turning point for adolescents and, for some, can be a stressful process. It is, therefore, important to understand stakeholders’ perspectives and experiences of the procedures which govern the allocation of secondary schools, and for these perspectives to inform the development of school allocation procedures. This research aims to present an informed account of various stakeholders’ experiences of Brighton and Hove’s secondary school admissions’ procedures. It has been commissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council (B&HCC), and forms part of a broader review of the secondary school admissions’ procedures within Brighton and Hove. The report is based primarily on visits to eight secondary schools from five of the six catchment areas within Brighton and Hove, and to five primary schools from five of the six catchment areas, including one primary school within the catchment area not covered by the participating secondary schools. The secondary schools included in the research comprised of schools within dual school and single school catchment areas, and academies and faith schools. Focus group discussions and interviews were held with a total of 29 students who attended their first choice of secondary school; 24 students who did not attend their first choice secondary school; 13 parents1 whose children attended their first choice of secondary school; 6 parents whose children did not attend their first choice secondary school; and 10 members of staff from secondary schools with responsibility for the transition of students from primary to secondary school. Interviews were also conducted with members of staff within the five participating primary schools who oversaw the transition of students from primary to secondary school. The report also includes a review of relevant literature, and the following statistical data were collected to provide contextual information for the report:  For each year from 2006-2014, the percentage of students within B&H who were: allocated their ‘first choice’ school; allocated their ‘second choice’ school; and those not allocated any of their first three choices of schools.  For each year from 2007-2014, the number of appeals submitted/dismissed/upheld within B&H

Current status of the Northern Long-eared Myotis (\u3ci\u3eMyotis septentrionalis\u3c/i\u3e) in northwestern Nebraska

The Northern Long-eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis; Order: Chiroptera) occurs in eastern, southern, and northern Nebraska, but its current distribution in northwestern parts of the state is unclear due to its recent arrival to the region. We investigated the status of this species in the Pine Ridge via mist net (2011-2014) and acoustic surveys (2014). We documented nine species of bats in the region, including M. septentrionalis. Of 423 total bats, M. septentrionalis was represented by four individuals, the fewest of all species during our four-year survey. We only documented M. septentrionalis in Sheridan County; this county is where the species was first reported in the Pine Ridge. Possibly acoustic calls of M. septentrionalis were recorded along the White River in Dawes County, but they likely represented variant calls from other Myotis species, such as the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus). Until more conclusive evidence is obtained from Dawes County, we do not consider M. septentrionalis as part of the bat fauna from the county. Captures of three lactating M. septentrionalis are the best evidence of a reproducing population in the Pine Ridge. We conclude that the Northern Long-eared Myotis currently is not widely distributed in northwestern Nebraska, especially during summer when females bear and raise young. During migratory periods, however, limited evidence suggests individuals occur across a broader area using more habitats while in route to and from hibernacula. Periodic surveys are warranted to monitor the status of this species in the region. Additional research to determine summer and winter roosts would promote and help to conserve habitats for this species in Nebraska as M. septentrionalis recently was listed as federally threatened in the United States

Management of Merino weaners for optimum production

Sheep mortality during the first year of life is a large problem on many farms and poses a significant animal welfare issue for Australian agriculture. Post weaning mortality is estimated to cost the Australian sheep industry more than $89 million annually through reduced income, poor productivity and increased management expenses (Sackett et al. 2006). A high mortality rate among weaners reduces the number of surplus animals available for sale and the number of potential breeding replacements. This, in turn, affects the selection intensity for desirable traits and the flock’s rate of genetic improvement. Ill thrift and poor growth of weaner sheep during their first year can reduce wool and meat production as well as the weaner’s reproductive performance at first joining.https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/bulletins/1200/thumbnail.jp

Quantifying Therapeutic and Diagnostic Efficacy in 2D Microvascular Images

VESGEN is a newly automated, user-interactive program that maps and quantifies the effects of vascular therapeutics and regulators on microvascular form and function. VESGEN analyzes two-dimensional, black and white vascular images by measuring important vessel morphology parameters. This software guides the user through each required step of the analysis process via a concise graphical user interface (GUI). Primary applications of the VESGEN code are 2D vascular images acquired as clinical diagnostic images of the human retina and as experimental studies of the effects of vascular regulators and therapeutics on vessel remodeling

VESGEN Software for Mapping and Quantification of Vascular Regulators

VESsel GENeration (VESGEN) Analysis is an automated software that maps and quantifies effects of vascular regulators on vascular morphology by analyzing important vessel parameters. Quantification parameters include vessel diameter, length, branch points, density, and fractal dimension. For vascular trees, measurements are reported as dependent functions of vessel branching generation. VESGEN maps and quantifies vascular morphological events according to fractal-based vascular branching generation. It also relies on careful imaging of branching and networked vascular form. It was developed as a plug-in for ImageJ (National Institutes of Health, USA). VESGEN uses image-processing concepts of 8-neighbor pixel connectivity, skeleton, and distance map to analyze 2D, black-and-white (binary) images of vascular trees, networks, and tree-network composites. VESGEN maps typically 5 to 12 (or more) generations of vascular branching, starting from a single parent vessel. These generations are tracked and measured for critical vascular parameters that include vessel diameter, length, density and number, and tortuosity per branching generation. The effects of vascular therapeutics and regulators on vascular morphology and branching tested in human clinical or laboratory animal experimental studies are quantified by comparing vascular parameters with control groups. VESGEN provides a user interface to both guide and allow control over the users vascular analysis process. An option is provided to select a morphological tissue type of vascular trees, network or tree-network composites, which determines the general collections of algorithms, intermediate images, and output images and measurements that will be produced