Modeling the Daily Activities of Breeding Colonial Seabirds: Dynamic Occupancy Patterns in Multiple Habitat Patches

We constructed differential equation models for the diurnal abundance and distribution of breeding glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) as they moved among nesting and non-nesting habitat patches. We used time scale techniques to reduce the differential equations to algebraic equations and connected the models to field data. The models explained the data as a function of abiotic environmental variables with R2=0.57. A primary goal of this study is to demonstrate the utility of a methodology that can be used by ecologists and wildlife managers to understand and predict daily activity patterns in breeding seabirds

The origin of polar ring galaxies: evidence for galaxy formation by cold accretion

Polar ring galaxies are flattened stellar systems with an extended ring of gas and stars rotating in a plane almost perpendicular to the central galaxy. We show that their formation can occur naturally in a hierarchical universe where most low mass galaxies are assembled through the accretion of cold gas infalling along megaparsec scale filamentary structures. Within a large cosmological hydrodynamical simulation we find a system that closely resembles the classic polar ring galaxy NGC 4650A. How galaxies acquire their gas is a major uncertainty in models of galaxy formation and recent theoretical work has argued that cold accretion plays a major role. This idea is supported by our numerical simulations and the fact that polar ring galaxies are typically low mass systems.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, stability of the ring discussed, minor changes to match the accepted version by ApJL. A preprint with high-resolution figures is available at http://krone.physik.unizh.ch/~andrea/PolarRing/PolarRing.p

Effects of IFN-B on TRAIL and Decoy Receptor Expression in Different Immune Cell Populations from MS Patients with Distinct Disease Subtypes

Using quantitative RT-PCR, we compared mRNA levels for TRAIL [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)–related apoptosis-inducing ligand] and its receptors in various immune cell subsets derived from the peripheral blood of untreated normal subjects (NS) and patients with distinct subtypes of multiple sclerosis (MS): active relapsing-remitting MS (RRA), quiescent relapsing-remitting MS (RRQ), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) or primary-progressive MS (PPMS). Consistent with a role for TRAIL in the mechanism of action of interferon-β (IFN-β), TRAIL mRNA levels were increased in monocytes from patients clinically responsive to IFN-β (RRQ) but not those unresponsive to this therapeutic (RRA). TRAIL-R3 (decoy receptor) expression was elevated in T cells from untreated RRMS patients while IFN-β therapy reversed this increase suggesting that IFN-β may promote the apoptotic elimination of autoreactive T cells by increasing the amount of TRAIL available to activate TRAIL death receptors. Serum concentrations of soluble TRAIL were increased to a similar extent by IFN-β therapy in RRQ, RRA and SPMS patients that had not generated neutralizing antibodies against this cytokine. Although our findings suggest altered TRAIL signaling may play a role in MS pathogenesis and IFN-β therapy, they do not support use of TRAIL as a surrogate marker for clinical responsiveness to this therapeutic

Report of large whale restraint workshop

Location: Carriage House, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543. Date: February 7th & 8th 2006A number of large cetacean species are seriously injured and killed by entanglement in fishing gear used in the waters off the eastern United States and Canada. Entanglement most frequently involves rope or lines wrapped around the head, the flippers, body, in the mouth, around the tail flukes or any combination of the aforementioned body parts. Consequences of entanglement are particularly grave for North Atlantic right whales, which currently number about 300 whales and are declining due, in part, to this entanglement-related mortality. Right whales are frequently intractable and are very difficult and potentially unsafe to work with while attempting to disentangle the animal. Modifications and technological advances are needed to control, restrain and overall increase the success rate at which right whales are able to be cut free from entangling gear.National Marine Fisheries Servic

Marine mammal necropsy : an introductory guide for stranding responders and field biologists

This necropsy manual is designed to establish a base level of profiency in marine mammal necropsy techniques. It is written for stranding network members who do not have a formal pathobiological training and have limited knowledge of anatomy. Anatomical and pathological jargon has been kept to a minimum. This manual is divided into six sections: preliminary data, sample management, pinniped, small ceetacean, large whale (at sea and on the beach), and multiple appendices (A-H). A well-illustrated, carefully written gross necropsy report is essential to an adequate diagnostic investigation. Gross reports with significant detail and description tend to engender useful histopathological findings. A sample blank gross necropsy report and guidelines in writing a report can be found in Appendices A & B. Overall, this guide aims to lead the enquiring mind through the necessary steps to produce such reports. While this manual focuses on process and interpretation, it is important to understand that the gross necropsy is primarily about making detailed, descriptive observations without bias as to possible etiology. The necropsy should establish a list of differential diagnoses and the sampling be directed by an attempt to discriminate between them.Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under Cooperative Grant No. NA05NMF4391165

Emerging zoonoses in marine mammals and seabirds of the Northeast U.S.

Author Posting. © IEEE, 2006. Author Posting. © IEEE, 2006. This article is posted here by permission of IEEE for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Proceedings Oceans 2006, Boston, MA, USA, 5 pp, doi:10.1109/OCEANS.2006.306826.In the Northeast United States, marine vertebrates come into contact with each other and with humans through a variety of mechanisms which allow for the transfer of pathogens from one taxa to another. Though there are many ways in which humans come into contact with infectious agents, there is an inadequate understanding of the prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical zoonotic agents in the marine vertebrates of the Northeast United States. We are strengthening our understanding of the issue by targeting marine mammals and seabirds of New England and screening normal and diseased individuals of this ecosystem to establish a baseline prevalence of zoonotic agents in this ecosystem. Samples from stranded, bycaught and wild marine mammals and seabirds have been found to be positive for our screened pathogens. Most notable are the diseases found in bycaught marine mammals as well as wild caught individuals. Our current focus is specifically on influenza A and B, brucellosis, leptospirosis, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Samples for virology, bacterial screening and molecular screening are being archived and analyzed as practical. Our goal is to create an optimized PCR-based molecular detection protocol for the above agents.This research is supported by NOAA Ocean and Human Health Initiative Grant Number NA05NOS4781247 and NOAA Prescott Grant NA05NMF4391165

An Analysis of Enhanced Faculty Engagement on Student Success and Satisfaction in an Online Classroom

Difficulty building meaningful student and instructor relationships can create a challenge for online instructors. A Faculty of Practice (FoP) role was created in a large online university requiring greater faculty engagement to bolster student achievement. This study examined the impact of the FoP role on student success and satisfaction over a 6-month period. The position emphasized an increased engagement through enhanced personalized learning, subject-matter expertise, discipline mentoring, and community building. The increased engagement was promoted through requirements mandating a consistent presence in the classroom, personalized email interactions with students prior to course start, promotion and instruction of material through individual conferences, outreach to students with late or missing assignments, and weekly office hours including video conference options. None of these requirements are mandated for Associate Faculty (AF) teaching the courses. Data on student success included an analysis of student GPA, pass rates, completion rates, and progression to next course rates for FoP and AF courses. Student satisfaction was evaluated through the analysis of Student End-of-course Surveys (EoCS). Student data showed a significant increase in student GPA with the FoP when compared to AF courses. No differences were seen in pass, completion, or progression rates. Increase in student satisfaction for FoP courses as measured by EoCS was seen upon comparison with AF. Students noted a greater connection with the FoP and indicated stronger relationships with the FoP. Based on the analysis, we conclude the FoP role has the potential to improve student success and satisfaction in the online classroom