Black Bear Density In Glacier National Park, Montana

No demographic information exists on the status of Glacier National Park’s (GNP) black bear (Ursus americanus) population. In 2004, we sampled the black bear population within GNP plus a 10 km buffer using noninvasive hair collection methods as part of a 7.8 million– acre study of the regional grizzly bear (U. arctos) population. We collected 5645 hair samples rom 550 baited hair traps, and 3807 samples from multiple visits to 1,542 natural bear rubs. Microsatellite analysis identified 601 (51% F) individuals from the 2848 samples identified as black bears. Data from individual bears were used in closed population mark–recapture models to estimate black bear population abundance. We developed an information-theoretic approach to estimate the effectively sampled area from which we calculated density for the6600 km2 greater GNP area. Preliminary results suggest that the density of GNP’s black bear population was equal to or greater than other interior populations sympatric with grizzlies, despite the high density of grizzlies. This project represents the first estimate of black bear density for this area, and demonstrates the efficiency of multi–species projects to inform management

Grizzly Bear and Black Bear Marking Behavior

Marking activity is common among ursids but little information has been quantified about this behavior. We describe marking behavior of sympatric grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) and black bear (U. americanus) populations in a 31,400-km2 area in northwestern Montana. We found marking activity in all areas occupied by bears regardless of bear density and land use. Based on examination of > 5000 bear marking sites, rubbing was the most common behavior at these sites. We used genetic analysis of hair collected at rubs to identify species, sex, and individual identity of bears using them and remotely-triggered cameras to observe bear behavior. Both grizzly bears and black bears rubbed; 58 percent of rubs had black bear hair, 25 percent grizzly hair, and 11 percent hair from both species. Bears typically marked standing trees (86%) but sign posts on hiking trails and forest roads, and power poles were also used. Only males rubbed May-June but female use increased substantially by late summer. Although cubs were detected at lower rates than older bears, all grizzly bear sex and age classes participated in rubbing. Many sites were rubbed repeatedly within and between years but there was also continual turnover. One function of rubbing appears to be chemical communication among bears, although this behavior is different from marking behavior observed in territorial species such as canids. With the high frequency of rubbing activity in these sympatric bear populations, hair from bear rubs provides a reliable and efficient way to concurrently sample both species to monitor population trends

Interview of Sidney J. MacLeod, Jr., M.F.A.

Sidney MacLeod (often called Sid) was born in 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the oldest of three children and the only boy. He earned his M.S.S. at Saint Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota and his M.F.A. at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. After graduate school he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served two years on several domestic military bases. He began working at La Salle in 1959. In 1961 he married his wife, Mary Jane. They have four children (three sons and one daughter). He continues to work at La Salle full-time. When he retires he looks forward to travelling with his wife. According to his biography on the La Salle University Communications Department website (5/6/13), If something isn’t working in the Communication Center, Chicago native Sid MacLeod is usually there to repair, replace, create, paint, or take it apart. When not maintaining everything in the Communication Center, Sid is a huge Broadway fan and he also enjoys gardening, cooking, and cleaning. A Lindback Distinguished Teaching award winner and a Distinguished Lasallian Educator, Sid teaches Media Production. Sid feels that it’s important that students are able to master the equipment, technology, and procedures for successful film, video, and audio work. Sid’s many contributions to La Salle and its students will be forever remembered with the Sid MacLeod Endowed Fund

A comparison of the physiological demands of rugby union match-play when determined by absolute (ABS) or individual (IND) velocity bands in Global Positioning System (GPS) analysis

Since turning professional in 1995 there have been considerable advances in the research on the demands of rugby union, largely using Global Positioning System (GPS) analysis over the last 10 years. A systematic review on the use of GPS, particularly the setting of absolute (ABS) and individual (IND) velocity bands in field based, intermittent, high-intensity (HI) team sports was undertaken. From 3669 records identified, 38 studies were included for qualitative analysis. Little agreement on the definition of movement intensities within team sports was found, only three papers, all on rugby union, had used IND bands, with only one comparing ABS and IND methods. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine if there is a difference in the demands within positions when comparing ABS and IND methods for GPS analysis and if these differences are significantly different between the forward and back positional groups. A total of 214 data files were recorded from 26 players in 17 matches of the 2015/2016 Scottish BT Premiership. ABS velocity zones 1-7 were set at 1) 0-6, 2) 6.1-11, 3) 11.1-15, 4) 15.1-18, 5) 18.1-21, 6) 21.1-15 and 7) 25.1-40km.h-1 while IND zones 1-7 were 1) <20, 2) 20-40, 3) 40-50, 4) 50-70, 5) 70-80, 6) 80-95 and 7) 95-100% of player’s individually determined maximum velocity (Vmax). A 40m sprint test measured Vmax using OptaPro S4 10 Hz (catapult, Australia) GPS units to derive IND bands. The same GPS units were worn during matches. GPS outputs analysed were % distance, % time, high intensity efforts (HIEs) over 18.1 km.h-1 / 70% max velocity and repeated high intensity efforts (RHIEs) which consists of three HIEs in 21secs. General linear model (GLM) analysis identified a significant difference in the measurement of % total distance covered, between the ABS and IND methods in all zones for forwards (p<0.05) and backs (p<0.05). This difference was also significant between forwards and backs in zones 1, shown as mean difference ± standard deviation (3.7±0.7%), 6 (1.2±0.4%) and 7 (1.0±0.0%) respectively (p<0.05). Percentage time estimations were significantly different between ABS and IND analysis within forwards in zones 1 (1.7±1.7%), 2 (-2.9±1.3%), 3 (1.9±0.8%), 4 (-1.4±0.8%) and 5 (0.2±0.4%), and within backs in zones 1 (-10±1.5%), 2 (-1.2±1.1%), 3 (1.8±0.9%) and 5 (0.6±0.5%) (p<0.05). The difference between groups was significant in zones 1, 2, 4 and 5 (p<0.05). The number of HIEs was significantly different between forwards and backs in zones 6 (6±2) and 7 (3±2). RHIEs were significantly different between ABS and IND for forwards (1±2, p<0.05) although not between groups. Until more research on the differences in ABS and IND methods is carried out, then neither can be deemed a criterion method. In conclusion, there are significant differences between the ABS and IND methods of GPS analysis of the physical demands of rugby union, which must be considered when used to inform training load and recovery to improve performance and reduce injuries

Evaluating Reproductive Success and Changes in Genetic Diversity of Grizzly Bears in Northwestern Montana

Current range expansions of large terrestrial carnivores are occurring following anthropogenically-induced range contraction. Contractions are often incomplete, leaving small remnant groups in refugia throughout the former range. We know little about underlying eco-evolutionary processes that influence how remnant groups are affected during range expansion. We used data from a spatially-explicit, long-term genetic sampling effort of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) to identify the processes underlying spatial patterns of genetic diversity. We conducted parentage analysis to evaluate how reproductive success and migration contribute to spatio-temporal patterns of genetic diversity in remnant groups of grizzly bears existing in the southwestern (SW), southeastern (SE), and east-central (EC) regions of the NCDE. Highly skewed reproductive success and local inbreeding caused distinct signatures in remnants that eroded rapidly (~1 generation) during population expansion and migration into the regions. Our results highlight that individual-level genetic and reproductive dynamics play critical roles during genetic assimilation, and show that patterns of genetic distinctiveness on the leading edge of an expansion may result from historical demographic patterns that are highly ephemeral

Immune mechanisms of protection: can adjuvants rise to the challenge?

For many diseases vaccines are lacking or only partly effective. Research on protective immunity and adjuvants that generate vigorous immune responses may help generate effective vaccines against such pathogens

Palliative care among heart failure patients in primary care: A comparison to cancer patients using english family practice data

© 2014 Gadoud et al. Introduction: Patients with heart failure have a significant symptom burden and other palliative care needs often over a longer period than patients with cancer. It is acknowledged that this need may be unmet but by how much has not been quantified in primary care data at the population level. Methods: This was the first use of Clinical Practice Research Datalink, the world's largest primary care database to explore recognition of the need for palliative care. Heart failure and cancer patients who had died in 2009 aged 18 or over and had at least one year of primary care records were identified. A palliative approach to care among patients with heart failure was compared to that among patients with cancer using entry onto a palliative care register as a marker for a palliative approach to care. Results: Among patients with heart failure, 7% (234/3 122) were entered on the palliative care register compared to 48% (3 669/7 608) of cancer patients. Of heart failure patients on the palliative care register, 29% (69/234) were entered onto the register within a week of their death. Conclusions: This confirms that the stark inequity in recognition of palliative care needs for people with heart failure in a large primary care dataset. We recommend a move away from prognosis based criteria for palliative care towards a patient centred approach, with assessment of and attention to palliative needs including advance care planning throughout the disease trajectory

Linking Landscape Characteristics to Local Grizzly Bear Abundance Around Glacier National Park

Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) habitat use has been extensively studied, but habitat has rarely been linked to demographic parameters and habitat models have not accounted for variation in detection or spatial autocorrelation. We collected bear hair from bear hair traps and rub trees in and around Glacier National Park (GNP) in northwestern Montana and genotyped the samples to identify individuals. We developed a hierarchical model with 1) explicit landscape and habitat variables that we theorized might influence abundance, 2) separate sub-models of detection probability for each sampling type, 3) covariates to explain variation in detection, 4) a conditional autoregressive (CAR) term to account for spatial autocorrelation, and 5) weights to identify most important variables. Road density and percent mesic habitat best explained variation in female grizzly bear abundance and the spatial autocorrelation term was not supported. Female abundance was higher where road density was lower and where more mesic habitat exists. Detection of females increased with rub tree sampling effort. Road density best explained variation in male grizzly bear abundance and the spatial autocorrelation term was supported. More male bears occurred in areas of low road density. Detection of males increased with rub tree and hair trap sampling effort and decreased with time. Our finding that road density influences abundance concurs with conclusions of earlier studies that road density influences habitat use

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Needs of Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Rural-Urban Comparison in Delaware, USA.

Background: Older adults in rural areas have unique transportation barriers to accessing medical care, which include a lack of mass transit options and considerable distances to health-related services. This study contrasts non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service utilization patterns and associated costs for Medicaid middle-aged and older adults in rural versus urban areas. Methods: Data were analyzed from 39,194 NEMT users of LogistiCare-brokered services in Delaware residing in rural (68.3%) and urban (30.9%) areas. Multivariable logistic analyses compared trip characteristics by rurality designation. Results: Rural (37.2%) and urban (41.2%) participants used services more frequently for dialysis than for any other medical concern. Older age and personal accompaniment were more common and wheel chair use was less common for rural trips. The mean cost per trip was greater for rural users (difference of $2910 per trip), which was attributed to the greater distance per trip in rural areas. Conclusions: Among a sample who were eligible for subsidized NEMT and who utilized this service, rural trips tended to be longer and, therefore, higher in cost. Over 50% of trips were made for dialysis highlighting the need to address prevention and, potentially, health service improvements for rural dialysis patients