USING EURO-AMERICAN HUNTING DATA TO ASSESS WESTERN GREAT PLAINS BIOGEOGRAPHY, 1806-35

Historic accounts from the 19th-century western Great Plains contain significant information on Plains ungulates and other animals, particularly as they relate to provisioning the Euro-American travelers. Using data derived from these accounts, a quantitative assessment of the hunting success of the Pike, Long, Glenn, and Dodge expeditions of the early 19th century is presented to ascertain the conditions of these species in the region. These data are then used to assess historiographic models of bison overhunting. This analysis indicates that the western Southern Plains and western Central Plains had differing trajectories of overhunting explained by temporally variable human and environmental impacts

Equestrian Hunter-Gatherers and the Animal Trade of the Western Great Plains and Adjacent Rocky Mountains, 1800–1860

This study uses data from historical accounts, paleoclimatic records, and the archaeological record to understand how equestrian hunter-gatherer groups of the western Great Plains and adjacent Rocky Mountain regions influenced and participated in the Fur Trade economy of these regions. The manner Euroamerican trappers and traders of the early to mid-nineteenth century depended on Native groups is analyzed using these datasets in a new synthesis of this intricate relationship. The narrative that emerges shows how game animal provisioning of trappers and traders, particularly at permanent trading post locations, was an important aspect of the fur trade and a key to the societal syncretism of this time. Equestrian hunter-gatherers of the study region also maintained control of the critical large mammal resource&mdash;the bison&mdash;that was the basis for the robe and provisioning trade. This Native-centered ethnohistory documents Indian groups as savvy participants in this economic sphere who maintained independence and affluence, as opposed to reliance on Euroamerican trade goods.</p

Differential expression analysis with global network adjustment

&lt;p&gt;Background: Large-scale chromosomal deletions or other non-specific perturbations of the transcriptome can alter the expression of hundreds or thousands of genes, and it is of biological interest to understand which genes are most profoundly affected. We present a method for predicting a gene’s expression as a function of other genes thereby accounting for the effect of transcriptional regulation that confounds the identification of genes differentially expressed relative to a regulatory network. The challenge in constructing such models is that the number of possible regulator transcripts within a global network is on the order of thousands, and the number of biological samples is typically on the order of 10. Nevertheless, there are large gene expression databases that can be used to construct networks that could be helpful in modeling transcriptional regulation in smaller experiments.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Results: We demonstrate a type of penalized regression model that can be estimated from large gene expression databases, and then applied to smaller experiments. The ridge parameter is selected by minimizing the cross-validation error of the predictions in the independent out-sample. This tends to increase the model stability and leads to a much greater degree of parameter shrinkage, but the resulting biased estimation is mitigated by a second round of regression. Nevertheless, the proposed computationally efficient “over-shrinkage” method outperforms previously used LASSO-based techniques. In two independent datasets, we find that the median proportion of explained variability in expression is approximately 25%, and this results in a substantial increase in the signal-to-noise ratio allowing more powerful inferences on differential gene expression leading to biologically intuitive findings. We also show that a large proportion of gene dependencies are conditional on the biological state, which would be impossible with standard differential expression methods.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Conclusions: By adjusting for the effects of the global network on individual genes, both the sensitivity and reliability of differential expression measures are greatly improved.&lt;/p&gt

Shiga Toxin–producing Escherichia coli Strains Negative for Locus of Enterocyte Effacement

The ehx plasmids of these strains are highly related, which suggests acquisition of the large plasmid was central to the strains’ emergence

Influence of Exercise Type on Maternal Blood Pressure Adaptation throughout Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that 10% of all pregnancies are complicated by a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Previous research has shown that moderate-vigorous intensity exercise has a positive effect on maternal resting blood pressure. A research gap, however, exists related to how different types of exercise (resistance, aerobic, combined resistance and aerobic) affect maternal blood pressure. Most of the previous studies solely focused on aerobic exercise. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of exercise types on maternal blood pressure throughout pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: This study employed a secondary analysis using data from a randomized controlled prenatal exercise intervention trial. This study utilized 3 exercise intervention groups (aerobic, resistance, combination) and compared the results with those of a nonexercize control group. Participants completed 3 50-minute sessions weekly from 16 weeks of gestation until delivery. Maternal vital signs and physical measurements such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were measured every 4 weeks throughout the intervention period. Between-group mean differences in maternal measurements were assessed using Pearson's chi-square tests for continuous (age, prepregnancy body mass index, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure) variables. For gravida, exact Wilcox 2-sample tests were performed to determine between-group differences in mean values. Hierarchical linear growth curves were used to estimate maternal trajectories of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure from 16 weeks to 36 weeks’ gestation in each of the 4 groups (aerobic, combination, control, and resistance). RESULTS: There were no differences among the groups in maternal age or prepregnancy body mass index. Controlling for maternal body mass index, the lowest significant systolic blood pressure curve was noted throughout the pregnancy for women who participated in resistance exercise, followed by women in the aerobic exercise group all relative to the no exercise control group. At 36 weeks’ gestation, the systolic blood pressure was lower in the resistance group by 12.17 mm Hg (P<.001) and in the aerobic group by 7.90 mm Hg (P<.001) relative to controls. No significant change in systolic blood pressure was noted in the combination group in comparison with controls at 36 weeks’ gestation. Similarly, we demonstrated a significantly lower linear growth curve in diastolic blood pressure that was maintained throughout pregnancy in any exercise type relative to controls. After controlling for maternal body mass index, all 3 exercise types (combination, resistance, and aerobic) significantly predicted a similar decrease in diastolic blood pressure that was maintained throughout pregnancy. At 36 weeks’ gestation, the diastolic blood pressure was lower in the aerobic group by 7.30 mm Hg (P<.01), in the combination group by 6.43 mm Hg (P<.05), and in the resistance group relative to controls. CONCLUSION: Overall, all exercise types were beneficial in lowering maternal resting blood pressure throughout pregnancy. Resistance training was noted to be the most beneficial in improving systolic blood pressure, followed by aerobic exercise. All 3 exercise groups were noted to improve diastolic blood pressure equally. Further research needs to be done to determine if either resistance or aerobic exercise throughout pregnancy decreases the risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the associated morbidity and mortality

Climatic patterns in the establishment of wintering areas by North American migratory birds

Long-distance migration in birds is relatively well studied in nature; however, one aspect of this phenomenon that remains poorly understood is the pattern of distribution presented by species during arrival to and establishment of wintering areas. Some studies suggest that the selection of areas in winter is somehow determined by climate, given its influence on both the distribution of bird species and their resources. We analyzed whether different migrant passerine species of North America present climatic preferences during arrival to and departure from their wintering areas. We used ecological niche modeling to generate monthly potential climatic distributions for 13 migratory bird species during the winter season by combining the locations recorded per month with four environmental layers. We calculated monthly coefficients of climate variation and then compared two GLM (generalized linear models), evaluated with the AIC (Akaike information criterion), to describe how these coefficients varied over the course of the season, as a measure of the patterns of establishment in the wintering areas. For 11 species, the sites show nonlinear patterns of variation in climatic preferences, with low coefficients of variation at the beginning and end of the season and higher values found in the intermediate months. The remaining two species analyzed showed a different climatic pattern of selective establishment of wintering areas, probably due to taxonomic discrepancy, which would affect their modeled winter distribution. Patterns of establishment of wintering areas in the species showed a climatic preference at the macroscale, suggesting that individuals of several species actively select wintering areas that meet specific climatic conditions. This probably gives them an advantage over the winter and during the return to breeding areas. As these areas become full of migrants, alternative suboptimal sites are occupied. Nonrandom winter area selection may also have consequences for the conservation of migratory bird species, particularly under a scenario of climate change

Clinico-pathological profile of sinonasal masses: an experience in national ear care center Kaduna, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The presence of a mass in the nose and paranasal sinuses may seem to be a simple problem; however it raises many questions about the differential diagnosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinico-pathological profile of sinonasal masses in our environment</p> <p>This is a retrospective analytical review of all the patients with sinonasal masses that presented to the national ear care center, Kaduna over a six year (2003-2008) period. Their biodata, clinical profile and histological diagnoses were analyzed.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A total of 76 patients were analyzed, age range 5 to 64 yrs with a mean age of 33.3 yr median and modal age of 35.00 (SD = 13.1 ± 1.5). Majority of the patients were in the age groups 21-50 yrs. There were 34 male and 42 female with M: F ratio of 1:1.2. The main presenting symptoms are nasal blockage 97.4% and rhinorrhea 94.7%. It was bilateral in 34 (44.7%), left side in 24(31.6%) and right side in 18(23.7%) patients. The commonest clinical diagnoses were simple nasal polyp 47(61.8%) and antrochoanal polyp 10(13.2%). About 59 (77.6%) were benign, 2 (2.6%) were malignant and 15 (19.7%) were lost to follow up. The commonest histological diagnosis is simple inflammatory nasal polyp in 28 (36.8%) patients and the least was nasal capillary hemangioma 2 (2.6%). About 55(72.4%) patients had surgical treatment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea are the commonest symptoms of presentation, simple inflammatory nasal polyp is still the commonest histological pattern seen in our environment, and surgery is still the best modality of treatment for benign tumor thus the need for advocacy for early recognition and referral to the ENT surgeon.</p

Effect of multi-planar CT image reformatting on surgeon diagnostic performance for localizing thoracolumbar disc extrusions in dogs

Accurate pre-operative localization and removal of disc material are important for minimizing morbidity in dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusions. Computed tomography (CT) is an established technique for localizing disc extrusions in dogs, however the effect of multi-planar reformatting (MPR) on surgeon diagnostic performance has not been previously described. The purpose of this study was to test the effect of MPR CT on surgeon diagnostic accuracy, certainty and agreement for localizing thoracolumbar disc extrusions in dogs. Two veterinary surgeons and one veterinary neurologist who were unaware of surgical findings independently reviewed randomized sets of two-dimensional (2D) and MPR CT images from 111 dogs with confirmed thoracolumbar disc extrusions. For each set of images, readers recorded their localizations for extruded disc material and their diagnostic certainty. For MPR images, readers also recorded views they considered most helpful. Diagnostic accuracy estimates, mean diagnostic certainty scores and inter-observer agreement were compared using surgery as the gold standard. Frequencies were compared for MPR views rated most helpful. Diagnostic accuracy estimates were significantly greater for MPR vs. 2D CT images in one reader. Mean diagnostic certainty scores were significantly greater for MPR images in two readers. The change in agreement between 2D and MPR images differed from zero for all analyses (site, side, number affected) among all three readers. Multi-planar views rated most helpful with the highest frequency were oblique transverse and curved dorsal planar MPR views. Findings from this study indicate that multi-planar CT can improve surgeon diagnostic performance for localizing canine thoracolumbar disc extrusions

Landholder Typologies Used in the Development of Natural Resource Management Programs in Australia - A Review

This article reviews the literature on the identification of landholder typologies that can be used to assist the design and delivery of natural resource management (NRM) programs. Australian researchers have developed typologies of landholders based on a variety of criteria. The rationale for developing landholder typologies is first discussed before reviewing the various approaches that have been used by Australian researchers and comparing their findings. The methods employed have differed according to the theories used to guide the research and the 'clients' or 'sponsors' of the research. The landholder types they describe, however, have a number of similarities. These similarities suggest that the studies have identified the same fundamental divisions in the rural community, and that it may be possible to integrate landholder typologies for a variety of NRM and non-NRM applications. It is concluded that further research could usefully investigate whether concepts of social class or sub-cultures may be appropriate to define and describe the variations in landholder types

Landscape structure, human disturbance and crop management affect foraging ground selection by migrating geese

It is well known that agricultural intensification has caused severe population declines among bird species which use farmland for breeding and overwintering, while migrating bird species may benefit from intensive farming, but in turn damage crops. Knowledge of the habitat selection of migrating birds is important from both a conservation and agro-economic point of view. We investigated the habitat preferences of three common migrating goose species: White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons, Bean Goose A. fabalis and Greylag Goose A. anser during the autumn of 2009 in western Poland. A total of 24 flocks of these species were identified. Geese preferred large, elevated fields that were remote from forests and human settlements but in close proximity to a lake. Geese selected maize stubbles and avoided winter cereals. They selected sites in landscapes with a lower diversity of crops. Flock size was negatively correlated with the proportion of pastures in the landscape, but it increased with field size, distance to forest and distance to town. Our results are in contrast with the paradigm that less intensive farmland positively influences habitat use by birds during foraging. We advise the delayed ploughing of stubbles with the aim of creating appropriate foraging habitats for geese and minimizing damage to cereal crops