COMPARING TWO TRANSECT METHODS FOR THE DETECTION OF RED-BACKED SALAMANDERS

Typical monitoring methods for terrestrial salamanders are subject to extensive variation, driven by the environmental conditions in effect during sampling. As rigorous salamander sampling methods are needed to monitor populations, there is a need to assess commonly used methods under a variety of environmental conditions. We hypothesized that of two methods used for capturing red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus), leaf litter searches and natural cover searches, the latter would perform best for adults and in situations where moisture was limiting. We compared captures for paired transect surveys: one a leaf litter search and the other a natural cover search, relative to age, proximity to streams, rainfall events, vapor pressure deficit and season. We found that natural cover searches outperformed leaf litter searches when conducted away from streams and in the absence of rainfall. Natural cover searches performed better regardless of vapor pressure deficit and season (spring or fall). Natural cover searches detected more adults than juveniles. We recommend natural cover searches as more efficient than leaf litter searches

Kentucky\u27s Architectural Heritage and its Preservation

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Social Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in History by Michael D. Killian on June 17, 1983

Seifert's algorithm, Châtelet bases and the Alexander ideals of classical knots

I begin by developing a procedure for the construction of a Seifert surface, using Seifert's algorithm, and the calculation of a Seifert matrix for a knot from a suitable encoding of a knot diagram. This procedure deals with the inherent indeterminacy of the diagram encoding and is fully implementable. From a Seifert matrix one can form a presentation matrix for the Alexander module of a knot and calculate generators for the Alexander ideals. But to use the Alexander ideals to their full potential to distinguish pairs of knots one needs a Gröbner basis type theory for A = Z[t,t(-1)], the ring of Laurent polynomials with integer coefficients. I prove the existence of what I call Châtelet bases for ideals in A. These are types of Gröbner bases. I then develop an algorithm for the calculation of a Châtelet basis of an ideal from any set of generators for that ideal. This is closely related to Buchberger's algorithm for Gröbner bases in other polynomial rings. Using these algorithms and the knot diagram tables in the program Knotscape I calculate Châtelet bases for the Alexander ideals of all prime knots of up to 14 crossings. We determine the number of distinct ideals that occur and find examples of pairs of mutant knots distinguished by the higher Alexander ideals but not by any of the polynomials of Alexander, Jones, Kauffman or HOMELY

A Habitat Model for the Detection of Two-lined Salamanders at C. F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area, Fauquier and Culpeper Counties, Virginia

Aquatic salamanders represent an important component of Virginia river watersheds, but despite potential declines, few specifics are known about their habitat preferences. We surveyed the habitats of the northern two-lined salamander and collected data on an array of habitat variables associated with the species. We used a logistic regression analysis to develop a model predicting its presence or absence for a given 50m-transect. Our final model incorporated the variation in stream depth and direction of stream flow and accounted for 25% of the variation in our data. We conclude that stream depth variation is an important feature of salamander habitat ecology, and surmise that direction of flow is of site-specific importance possibly related to stream order. Both features may be behavioral adaptations to avoid fish predation

Exploratory Modeling Indicates Red-Backed Salamander Detections are Sensitive to Soil pH at C. F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area, Virginia

Red-backed salamanders represent an important component of Virginia ecosystems, but there are few habitat models that can reliably predict the presence/absence of this species. We surveyed the habitats of red-backed salamanders at one site in the Piedmont region of Virginia and collected data on an array of habitat variables with which this species is normally associated. We used logistic regression to develop a model predicting the presence or absence of the species at a given 50m-transect. Our final model incorporated soil organic layer pH variability and mineral layer average pH, and accounted for 30% of the variation in our data. We conclude that soil pH is a limiting determinant of habitat use for this study site, and that it may affect adaptive behaviors for highly acidic soils

Adverse outcomes in bereaved mothers: The importance of household income and education

Intense and enduring psychological distress has been well-documented in numerous studies on bereaved parents including anxious, depressive, and traumatic stress symptoms. A state of poverty is also known to increase the risk of psychological distress in the general population, yet this variable has not yet been sufficiently evaluated in outcomes specifically for bereaved parents. This study is the first to investigate poverty, education, and parental bereavement while examining the relative risk of other variables as informed by the literature. The findings reveal that poverty was the strongest predictor of psychological distress when compared to others factors which have traditionally been considered significant in parental bereavement. Bereaved parents living in poverty may be less likely to seek support and have fewer available resources. Practice and policy implications are discussed

Temporal discrimination: Mechanisms and relevance to adult-onset dystonia

Temporal discrimination is the ability to determine that two sequential sensory stimuli are separated in time. For any individual, the temporal discrimination threshold (TDT) is the minimum interval at which paired sequential stimuli are perceived as being asynchronous; this can be assessed, with high test-retest and inter-rater reliability, using a simple psychophysical test. Temporal discrimination is disordered in a number of basal ganglia diseases including adult-onset dystonia, of which the two most common phenotypes are cervical dystonia and blepharospasm. The causes of adult-onset focal dystonia are unknown; genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors are relevant. Abnormal TDTs in adult-onset dystonia are associated with structural and neurophysiological changes considered to reflect defective inhibitory interneuronal processing within a network which includes the superior colliculus, basal ganglia, and primary somatosensory cortex. It is hypothesized that abnormal temporal discrimination is a mediational endophenotype and, when present in unaffected relatives of patients with adult-onset dystonia, indicates non-manifesting gene carriage. Using the mediational endophenotype concept, etiological factors in adult-onset dystonia may be examined including (i) the role of environmental exposures in disease penetrance and expression; (ii) sexual dimorphism in sex ratios at age of onset; (iii) the pathogenesis of non-motor symptoms of adult-onset dystonia; and (iv) subcortical mechanisms in disease pathogenesis

Increasing the power density and reducing the levelized cost of electricity of a reverse electrodialysis stack through blending

We increase the power density of a reverse electrodialysis (RED) stack by blending the low salinity feed with a higher salinity stream before the stack entrance. This lowers the capital cost of the system and the resulting levelized cost of electricity, enhancing the viability of RED renewable energy generation. Blending increases the power density by decreasing the dominating electrical resistance in the diluate channel as well as the effective resistance caused by concentration polarization, but not without sacrificing some driving potential. To quantify this trade-off and to evaluate the power density improvement blending can provide, a one-dimensional RED stack model is employed and validated with experimental results from the literature. For a typical stack configured with a feed velocity of 1 cm/s, power density improvements of over 20% and levelized cost of energy reductions of over 40% are achievable, provided the salinity of the available river water is below 200 ppm. Additional cost reductions are realized through back-end blending, whereby the diluate exit stream is used as the higher salinity blend stream. Also, improvements from blending increase for higher feed velocities, shorter stack lengths, and larger channel heights.King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM, project number R15-CW-11)Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (Hugh Hampton Memorial Fellowship

A new reverse electrodialysis design strategy which significantly reduces the levelized cost of electricity

We develop a framework for choosing the optimal load resistance, feed velocity and residence time for a reverse electrodialysis stack based on minimizing the levelized cost of electricity. The optimal load resistance maximizes the gross stack power density and results from a trade-off between stack voltage and stack current. The primary trade-off governing the optimal feed velocity is between stack pumping power losses, which reduce the net power density and concentration polarization losses, which reduce the gross stack power density. Lastly, the primary trade-off governing the optimal residence time is between the capital costs of the stack and pretreatment system. Implementing our strategy, we show that a smaller load resistance, a smaller feed velocity and a larger residence time than are currently proposed in the literature reduces costs by over 40%. Despite these reductions, reverse electrodialysis remains more expensive than other renewable technologies.King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM, project number R15-CW-11)Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Hugh Hampton Memorial Fellowship

Handel\u27s Messiah and A Christmas Celebration

Program listing performers and works performe