Comparison of a 2-Layer Electric Fence and a Single Strand Electric Fence in Mitigating Browsing of Impatiens by White-Tailed Deer

The objective of this study was to evaluate two electric fence configurations in minimizing damage to impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Each of 3 sites consisted of 3 plots (3mx3m), containing 16, evenly spaced impatiens planted on the perimeter of each plot. Plots within each site had a control, single strand and 2-layered electric fence. Control plots had no fencing. Single strand plots had one electrified wire attached to posts at 40 cm height, surrounding the plot. Two-layered electric fence had energized wire attached to posts at 25 cm and 60 cm height, on the perimeter of the plot. A second, single electrified wire was attached to posts at 25 cm height, 1 m to the exterior of the two strand fence. Eight plants within each plot was photographed weekly for 3-weeks. The percentage of total pixels containing plant material in each photo was used to determine changes in plant growth. The percentage of pixels containing impatiens plants was lower (

The Prevalence of Two Common Internal Parasites in White-tailed Deer With and Without Significant Interaction With Domestic Sheep

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of two internal parasites (strongylate nematodes and Nematodirus spp.) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) sharing a home range with domestic sheep (Ovis aries), compared to deer likely having minimal contact with sheep. Fecal samples were collected from sheep (n=75), deer (n=99) within 300m of the sheep center, and deer (n=98) located 1.3km away from the livestock center, over a 7-week period during the summer. Sheep had the highest (p\u3c.001) number of strongylate eggs (1,212.7 ± 2.8/g) compared to deer near the livestock facility (13.9 ± 0.3/g) or deer located away from the sheep center (18.3 ± 0.3/g). Eggs of Nematodirus spp. were greater (p\u3c.001) in sheep (33.7 ± 0.5/g) compared to deer samples collected near the sheep center (5.1 ± 0.2/g) and deer away from the sheep facility (3.0 ± 0.1/g). Additionally, strongyle and Nematodirus spp. egg counts were different (p\u3c0.001) in the fecal samples collected from deer residing closer to the sheep facility compared to those located farther away. Results of this study suggest the interactions of white-tailed deer and domestic sheep does not influence the prevalence of these internal parasites within the deer

Biogenic nanomaterials from photosynthetic microorganisms

The use of algal cell cultures represents a sustainable and environmentally friendly platform for the biogenic production of nanobiomaterials and biocatalysts. For example, advances in the production of biogeneic nanomaterials from algal cell cultures, such as crystalline b-chitin nanofibrils and gold and silver nanoparticles, could enable the ‘green’ production of biomaterials such as tissue-engineering scaffolds or drug carriers, supercapacitors and optoelectric materials. The in vivo functionalization, as well as newly demonstrated methods of production and modification, of biogenic diatom biosilica have led to the development of organic inorganic hybrid catalytic systems as well as new biomaterials for drug delivery,biosensors and heavy-metal adsorbents

Environmental life cycle optimization of essential terpene oils produced by the macroalga Ochtodes secundiramea

International audienceThe macroalga Ochtodes secundiramea is a well-known producer of essential terpene oils with promising biological activities and similar applications to those of microalgal biocompounds in the pharmaceutical, food or cosmetics sectors. This study assesses the environmental impacts associated with the production of five essential terpene oils (myrcene, 10Z-bromomyrcene, 10E-bromo-3-chloromyrcene, apakaochtodene B and acyclic C10H14Br2) by O. secundiramea cultivated in a closed airlift photobioreactor with artificial illumination. The results of the life cycle assessment (LCA) allowed analyzing the effect of implementing a semi-continuous operation on several stages of the life cycle of the products, which may lead to impact reductions from 1% up to 25%. Regarding the most problematic aspects of the process, the cultivation in the photobioreactor (S4) was identified as the main stage responsible for the environmental burdens, with contributions ranging between 60% and 80% of the total impacts for a semi-continuous production maintained during one year of operation. The electricity supply is the key activity affecting eight of the ten assessed categories and involves between 50% and 60% of the impact of the process. S4 is the main cause of the high energy requirements, with 86% of the total electricity consumption. Additionally, several scenarios aiming at improving the environmental profile of the system were evaluated. The application of LCA finally led to the proposal of two optimized scenarios with improvements between 8% and 40% with respect to the baseline case study

Shaping the Future of Higher Education: Practical, Community-Driven Initiatives to Improve Academic Climate.

Historically, efforts to improve academic climate have been siloed-many efforts involve the collection of data to understand issues affecting diversity at an institutional level, while others prioritize recruitment and retention of historically marginalized groups. Few initiatives, however, effectively combine the two in order to create concrete action plans to eliminate structural barriers that hinder the retention of minorities in STEM. In this Editorial, we present the history and details of a collaborative effort to improve the academic climate of the Department of Chemistry at University of California, Berkeley. This initiative began in 2016 as a graduate student-led, grassroots movement to develop a method to assess the department's academic climate. Over the past several years-and with support from stakeholders at all levels-it has grown into a department-wide effort to systematically collect data, exchange ideas, and implement goal-oriented interventions to make our academic community more inclusive. With the recent development of a five-year strategic plan and funding increase to provide financial support for student-led programs, we have institutionalized a method to maintain the initiative's momentum. Here, we share our approaches, insights, and perspectives from community members who have shaped this movement. We also provide advice to help other academic communities determine a practical path toward affecting positive cultural change

Shaping the Future of Higher Education: Practical, Community-Driven Initiatives to Improve Academic Climate

[Image: see text] Historically, efforts to improve academic climate have been siloed—many efforts involve the collection of data to understand issues affecting diversity at an institutional level, while others prioritize recruitment and retention of historically marginalized groups. Few initiatives, however, effectively combine the two in order to create concrete action plans to eliminate structural barriers that hinder the retention of minorities in STEM. In this Editorial, we present the history and details of a collaborative effort to improve the academic climate of the Department of Chemistry at University of California, Berkeley. This initiative began in 2016 as a graduate student-led, grassroots movement to develop a method to assess the department’s academic climate. Over the past several years—and with support from stakeholders at all levels—it has grown into a department-wide effort to systematically collect data, exchange ideas, and implement goal-oriented interventions to make our academic community more inclusive. With the recent development of a five-year strategic plan and funding increase to provide financial support for student-led programs, we have institutionalized a method to maintain the initiative’s momentum. Here, we share our approaches, insights, and perspectives from community members who have shaped this movement. We also provide advice to help other academic communities determine a practical path toward affecting positive cultural change

Tandem differential mobility spectrometry with chemical modification of ions

Closed access.A tandem ion mobility spectrometer with two sequential differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) drift tubes and with detectors at ambient pressure is described and modes of operation are demonstrated. Separate but coordinated electronic control for each drift tube allows several modes of operation including: all ions passing; compensation voltage (CV) scanning; and ion selection over a narrow CV range. Any of these modes can be applied to each drift tube allowing several combinations of analytical measurements, analogous to tandem mass spectrometry, with ions entered into a gas atmosphere containing reagents between the mobility regions. Ions may be changed by cluster or displacement reactions and characterized in the second DMS analyzer. Proton bound dimers of compounds appearing near 0 V CV in DMS1 were isolated in DMS1, introduced into 1 % isopropanol vapors, and resolved at characteristic CV values in the DMS2. This is achieved with analyzer dimensions little greater than a single DMS instrument. © 2012 Springer-Verlag