Arresting Development: A Call for North Carolina to Expand its Forensic Database by Collecting DNA from Felony Arrestees

For nearly twenty years, state and federal law enforcement agencies have turned to DNA databases as a means of identifying offenders, generating leads in cold cases, and on occasion, exonerating the innocent. Naturally, the larger the database, the more likely it is that a new DNA profile entered into the system will generate a match. Currently, fifty states maintain DNA databases, and of those, forty-seven-including North Carolina-collect and store DNA profiles from all persons convicted of any felony offense. Statutes requiring the collection of DNA profiles from convicts are a positive step toward improving the database tools; however, by only collecting samples upon conviction, a valuable opportunity for more comprehensive coverage is lost. This opportunity presents itself when persons are arrested for the commission of violent-felonies

Arresting Development: A Call for North Carolina to Expand its Forensic Database by Collecting DNA from Felony Arrestees

For nearly twenty years, state and federal law enforcement agencies have turned to DNA databases as a means of identifying offenders, generating leads in cold cases, and on occasion, exonerating the innocent. Naturally, the larger the database, the more likely it is that a new DNA profile entered into the system will generate a match. Currently, fifty states maintain DNA databases, and of those, forty-seven-including North Carolina-collect and store DNA profiles from all persons convicted of any felony offense. Statutes requiring the collection of DNA profiles from convicts are a positive step toward improving the database tools; however, by only collecting samples upon conviction, a valuable opportunity for more comprehensive coverage is lost. This opportunity presents itself when persons are arrested for the commission of violent-felonies

Avian diet and visual perception suggests avian predation selects for color pattern mimicry in bumble bees

Mimicry theory was developed by H. W. Bates and F. Müller based on their observations of similarities among butterflies, and since publication their theories have been used to explain numerous other mimicry systems. Bumble bees can be found in throughout the temperate parts of the word, as well as the high mountains and polar regions. In any given area, the local bumble bee species tend to share the same color patterns. Statistical confirmation of these trends has resulted in the hypothesis that these similarity groups are Müllerian mimicry rings. Bumble bee color patterns are thought to convey protection from avian predators, thus creating selection for fewer, more effective color patterns. Evidence for birds as predators of bumble bees primarily comprises logical arguments bolstered by only a few laboratory studies and empirical accounts. Although the hypothesis that birds are bumble bee predators driving the evolution of Müllerian mimicry is well reasoned and has some evidential support, strong experimental data are lacking. To test the effects of bumble bee color pattern on avian attack frequency, I created bumble bee models from soft plasticine with local, novel, and non-aposematic color patterns. I then presented these models to birds in the field using presentation apparatus to simulate bumble bees in flight and foraging on flowers; despite numerous attempts to optimize the apparatus, however, models were not effectively engaged by birds and statistically significant trends were not detected. A larger sample size may be needed, or the presentation system may require further modification. Requisite to birds displaying preferences with regard to bumble bee color patters, is that birds are major predators of bumble bees in nature, which has not been conclusively shown. To investigate this premise, I recruited the assistance of bird banders from across the country as collaborators in the collection of dietary samples from a large number of birds representing multiple species. I then designed and conducted a PCR assay to detect the presence of bumble bee tissue in the samples. Samples yielding electrophoresis bands were sequenced for verification. My results indicate widespread bumble bee predation across multiple bird species. Many of these birds have large populations and distributions, suggesting that they are able to exert significant selective forces on bumble bee populations. The large number of individual birds and bird species found to consume bumble bees provides strong affirmative evidence for the claim that birds are bumble bee predators and possible participants in the evolution of mimicry groups. I found bumble bee predation to be more likely in older birds, contrary to what would be expected if learned avoidance of bumble bees was occurring. The relationships between birds and bumble bees appears to be complex and conform poorly to general trends such as “birds avoid bumble bees.” Mimicry theory has been applied to bumble bees to explain the observed color pattern similarities in species with overlapping geographical distributions. All research in this area is based on the human-centric observation that these similarity groups exist. Animals possess diverse visual systems, however, and it should not be taken for granted that predators of bumble bees, no matter what they are, see the same color pattern convergence that humans do. I asked the question of whether birds’ perceptions of bumble bee color patterns are likely to parallel our own. To test this, I used reflectance spectroscopy to measure bumble bee color patches and generated hue scores based on avian color perception. I then compared these scores to human-assigned color classifications and found strong statistical association between human and avian perception of bumble bee colors. I also found that white bumble bee color patches consistently display relatively high ultraviolet reflectance invisible to human, but not avian, eyes. Consistent association of ultraviolet reflectance with only white color patches suggests that this reflectance does not add variation to bumble bee coloration that humans cannot perceive. I conclude that existing studies indicating color pattern convergence in bumble bees based on human vision are likely valid from the avian visual perspective, as well. My analysis of bird dietary samples show that birds are eating bumble bees in large numbers sufficient to result in powerful selection for color pattern convergence in bumble bees if foraging preferences based on color pattern exist. Additionally, reflectance data indicate that human-observed groups of bumble bees with similar color patterns are seen by birds, indicating that birds could be generalizing these patterns to create functional mimicry rings. The question remains, however, of whether birds learn to recognize and avoid bumble bees in the wild. My experiments were unable to demonstrate any effects of coloration on avian attack rates in the field, while my examination of the effects of age on the likelihood of finding bumble bee tissue in a birds’ diets showed a pattern inconsistent with that expected in a mimetic system. While I have shown that birds play a significant role in the ecology of bumble bees, and that putative bumble bee mimicry rings are visible to birds as well as humans, the role of birds in creating these mimicry rings remains uncertain

Effect of Injectable Trace Mineral on Reproductive Performance in Beef Heifers

Trace minerals serve an essential role in regulating reproduction. Free-choice trace mineral supplementation is often provided to grazing beef cattle. An injectable trace-mineral solution used with free-choice trace minerals may be beneficial before breeding to improve mineral status. Therefore, Red Angus-based, May-born heifers were utilized to determine the effects of an injectable trace mineral on reproductive performance. Pregnancy rates did not differ between heifers injected with a trace mineral and heifers that received no injection. Injectable trace mineral at CIDR insertion 33 d before artificial insemination did not influence reproductive performance in heifers with adequate trace mineral status

Effect of Injectable Trace Mineral on Reproductive Performance in Beef Heifers

Trace minerals serve an essential role in regulating reproduction. Free-choice trace mineral supplementation is often provided to grazing beef cattle. An injectable trace-mineral solution used with free-choice trace minerals may be beneficial before breeding to improve mineral status. Therefore, Red Angus-based, May-born heifers were utilized to determine the effects of an injectable trace mineral on reproductive performance. Pregnancy rates did not differ between heifers injected with a trace mineral and heifers that received no injection. Injectable trace mineral at CIDR insertion 33 d before artificial insemination did not influence reproductive performance in heifers with adequate trace mineral status

Multidimensional Methods for the Formulation of Bipharmaceuticals and Vaccines

Determining and preserving the higher order structural integrity and conformational stability of proteins, plasmid DNA and macromolecular complexes such as viruses, virus-like particles and adjuvanted antigens is often a significant barrier to the successful stabilization and formulation of biopharmaceutical drugs and vaccines. These properties typically must be investigated with multiple lower resolution experimental methods, since each technique monitors only a narrow aspect of the overall conformational state of a macromolecular system. This review describes the use of empirical phase diagrams (EPDs) to combine large amounts of data from multiple high-throughput instruments and construct a map of a target macromolecule's physical state as a function of temperature, solvent conditions, and other stress variables. We present a tutorial on the mathematical methodology, an overview of some of the experimental methods typically used, and examples of some of the previous major formulation applications. We also explore novel applications of EPDs including potential new mathematical approaches as well as possible new biopharmaceutical applications such as analytical comparability, chemical stability, and protein dynamics

Mechanical power in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome:a PARDIE study

BACKGROUND: Mechanical power is a composite variable for energy transmitted to the respiratory system over time that may better capture risk for ventilator-induced lung injury than individual ventilator management components. We sought to evaluate if mechanical ventilation management with a high mechanical power is associated with fewer ventilator-free days (VFD) in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospective observational international cohort study. RESULTS: There were 306 children from 55 pediatric intensive care units included. High mechanical power was associated with younger age, higher oxygenation index, a comorbid condition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, higher tidal volume, higher delta pressure (peak inspiratory pressure—positive end-expiratory pressure), and higher respiratory rate. Higher mechanical power was associated with fewer 28-day VFD after controlling for confounding variables (per 0.1 J·min(−1)·Kg(−1) Subdistribution Hazard Ratio (SHR) 0.93 (0.87, 0.98), p = 0.013). Higher mechanical power was not associated with higher intensive care unit mortality in multivariable analysis in the entire cohort (per 0.1 J·min(−1)·Kg(−1) OR 1.12 [0.94, 1.32], p = 0.20). But was associated with higher mortality when excluding children who died due to neurologic reasons (per 0.1 J·min(−1)·Kg(−1) OR 1.22 [1.01, 1.46], p = 0.036). In subgroup analyses by age, the association between higher mechanical power and fewer 28-day VFD remained only in children < 2-years-old (per 0.1 J·min(−1)·Kg(−1) SHR 0.89 (0.82, 0.96), p = 0.005). Younger children were managed with lower tidal volume, higher delta pressure, higher respiratory rate, lower positive end-expiratory pressure, and higher PCO(2) than older children. No individual ventilator management component mediated the effect of mechanical power on 28-day VFD. CONCLUSIONS: Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day VFDs in children with PARDS. This association is strongest in children < 2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management. While further validation is needed, these data highlight that ventilator management is associated with outcome in children with PARDS, and there may be subgroups of children with higher potential benefit from strategies to improve lung-protective ventilation. Take Home Message: Higher mechanical power is associated with fewer 28-day ventilator-free days in children with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome. This association is strongest in children <2-years-old in whom there are notable differences in mechanical ventilation management. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-021-03853-6