PopR: Software for Wildlife Managers

It is widely recognized that modern computer software makes wildlife management and research easier and allows increasingly complex tasks to become routine.  Unfortunately, data storage and reporting rarely keep pace with the rapid expansion of data analysis software.  Such disconnects in workflow can lead to missed opportunities where data are not used to their fullest extent and results are slow to emerge.  Here we present a server-based software system, PopR (https://popr.cfc.umt.edu), which merges wildlife management agency databases with state-of-the-art statistical software for real-time wildlife data analysis, population modeling and reporting.  The interface to PopR is a secure website allowing access from any location with internet access and from any platform (personal computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.).  PopR connects to remote data sources through an application program interface (API).  PopR implements Bayesian integrated population models (IPM) combining multiple data sources.  The IPM’s efficiently deal with limited data, overcome missing data and facilitate prediction with error.  PopR also implements individual data source analyses such as survival, sightability and herd composition, among others.  PopR modules are in development or in use in the states of Idaho, Montana and South Dakota where the software is used for a variety of species including deer, elk and mountain lions.  Finally, add-on applications include tools for defining biological populations, checking data integrity and eliciting expert opinion.  The PopR workflow management system promises to streamline data collection, automate routine analyses and generally save managers time while increasing inference from limited data

Trying Cases in the Media: Legal Ethics, Fair Trials and Free Press

The 2000 symposium consisted of a panel discussion which used role-playing and a mock trial to highlight the issues of lawyer/litigant comments to the press before and during trial and the dilemma of journalists confronted by court demands for documents, testimony, or sources of information obtained in the course of gathering news on pending trials. Participants included: As United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Freedonia: John Douglas, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Richmond. As Freedonia criminal defense lawyer: Gerald Zerkin, Private Defense Attorney. As investigative journalist: Steve Nash, Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Richmond. As federal judge: Judge Margaret P. Spencer, Virginia Circuit Court Judge. As media attorney: Craig Thomas Merritt, Attorney. As first amendment attorney: J. Joshua Wheeler, Attorney and Director of Programs for the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression, and adjunct professor at University of Virginia. As Chief Justice: Paul D. Carrington, The Chadwick Professor of Law at Duke University. As Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court: C. Thomas Dienes, Patricia Roberts Harris Professor of Law at George Washington University\u27s Law School; John E. Nowak, David C. Baum Professor of Law at the University of Illinois; Molly Delea, third-year law student, University of Richmond School of Law; Kate Murray, third-year law student, University of Richmond School of Law; Thomas Queen, third-year law student, University of Richmond School of Law; and Courtney Sydnor, third-year law student, University of Richmond School of Law

A Model for the Evolution of Nucleotide Polymerase Directionality

Background: In all known living organisms, every enzyme that synthesizes nucleic acid polymers does so by adding nucleotide 59-triphosphates to the 39-hydroxyl group of the growing chain. This results in the well known 5’?3’ directionality of all DNA and RNA Polymerases. The lack of any alternative mechanism, e.g. addition in a 3’?5 ’ direction, may indicate a very early founder effect in the evolution of life, or it may be the result of a selective pressure against such an alternative. Methodology/Principal Findings: In an attempt to determine whether the lack of an alternative polymerase directionality is the result of a founder effect or evolutionary selection, we have constructed a basic model of early polymerase evolution. This model is informed by the essential chemical properties of the nucleotide polymerization reaction. With this model, we are able to simulate the growth of organisms with polymerases that synthesize either 5’?3 ’ or 3’?5 ’ in isolation or in competition with each other. Conclusions/Significance: We have found that a competition between organisms with 5’?3 ’ polymerases and 3’?5’ polymerases only results in a evolutionarily stable strategy under certain conditions. Furthermore, we have found that mutations lead to a much clearer delineation between conditions that lead to a stable coexistence of these populations and conditions which ultimately lead to success for the 5’?3 ’ form. In addition to presenting a plausible explanation for th

Three Small Planets Transiting a Hyades Star

We present the discovery of three small planets transiting K2-136 (LP 358 348, EPIC 247589423), a late K dwarf in the Hyades. The planets have orbital periods of $7.9757 \pm 0.0011$, $17.30681^{+0.00034}_{-0.00036}$, and $25.5715^{+0.0038}_{-0.0040}$ days, and radii of $1.05 \pm 0.16$, $3.14 \pm 0.36$, and $1.55^{+0.24}_{-0.21}$ $R_\oplus$, respectively. With an age of 600-800 Myr, these planets are some of the smallest and youngest transiting planets known. Due to the relatively bright (J=9.1) host star, the planets are compelling targets for future characterization via radial velocity mass measurements and transmission spectroscopy. As the first known star with multiple transiting planets in a cluster, the system should be helpful for testing theories of planet formation and migration.Comment: Accepted to The Astronomical Journa

Can a Point-of-Care Troponin I Assay be as Good as a Central Laboratory Assay? A MIDAS Investigation.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Alere Triage Cardio3 Tropinin I (TnI) assay (Alere, Inc., USA) and the PathFast cTnI-II (Mitsubishi Chemical Medience Corporation, Japan) against the central laboratory assay Singulex Erenna TnI assay (Singulex, USA). METHODS: Using the Markers in the Diagnosis of Acute Coronary Syndromes (MIDAS) study population, we evaluated the ability of three different assays to identify patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The MIDAS dataset, described elsewhere, is a prospective multicenter dataset of emergency department (ED) patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and a planned objective myocardial perfusion evaluation. Myocardial infarction (MI) was diagnosed by central adjudication. RESULTS: The C-statistic with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for diagnosing MI by using a common population (n=241) was 0.95 (0.91-0.99), 0.95 (0.91-0.99), and 0.93 (0.89-0.97) for the Triage, Singulex, and PathFast assays, respectively. Of samples with detectable troponin, the absolute values had high Pearson (R(P)) and Spearman (R(S)) correlations and were R(P)=0.94 and R(S)=0.94 for Triage vs Singulex, R(P)=0.93 and R(S)=0.85 for Triage vs PathFast, and R(P)=0.89 and R(S)=0.73 for PathFast vs Singulex. CONCLUSIONS: In a single comparative population of ED patients with suspected ACS, the Triage Cardio3 TnI, PathFast, and Singulex TnI assays provided similar diagnostic performance for MI

Exoplanets around Low-mass Stars Unveiled by K2

We present the detection and follow-up observations of planetary candidates around low-mass stars observed by the K2 mission. Based on light-curve analysis, adaptive-optics imaging, and optical spectroscopy at low and high resolution (including radial velocity measurements), we validate 16 planets around 12 low-mass stars observed during K2 campaigns 5-10. Among the 16 planets, 12 are newly validated, with orbital periods ranging from 0.96-33 days. For one of the planets (K2-151b) we present ground-based transit photometry, allowing us to refine the ephemerides. Combining our K2 M-dwarf planets together with the validated or confirmed planets found previously, we investigate the dependence of planet radius $R_p$ on stellar insolation and metallicity [Fe/H]. We confirm that for periods $P\lesssim 2$ days, planets with a radius $R_p\gtrsim 2\,R_\oplus$ are less common than planets with a radius between 1-2$\,R_\oplus$. We also see a hint of the "radius valley" between 1.5 and 2$\,R_\oplus$ that has been seen for close-in planets around FGK stars. These features in the radius/period distribution could be attributed to photoevaporation of planetary envelopes by high-energy photons from the host star, as they have for FGK stars. For the M dwarfs, though, the features are not as well defined, and we cannot rule out other explanations such as atmospheric loss from internal planetary heat sources, or truncation of the protoplanetary disk. There also appears to be a relation between planet size and metallicity: those few planets larger than about 3 $R_\oplus$ are found around the most metal-rich M dwarfs.Comment: 29 pages, 21 figures, 6 tables, Accepted in Astronomical Journa

Characteristics of brown carbon in Western United States wildfires

Brown carbon (BrC) associated with aerosol particles in western United States wildfires was measured between Jul. and Aug. 2019 onboard the NASA DC-8 research aircraft during the Fire Influence on Regional to Global Environments and Air Quality (FIREX-AQ) study. Two BrC measurement methods are investigated; highly spectrally-resolved light absorption in solvent (water and methanol) extracts of particles collected on filters and in-situ bulk aerosol particle light absorption measured at three wavelengths (405, 532, 664 nm) with a photo acoustic spectrometer (PAS). A light absorption closure analysis for wavelengths between 300 and 700 nm was performed. The combined light absorption of particle pure black carbon material, including enhancements due to internally mixed materials, plus soluble BrC and a Mie-predicted factor for conversion of soluble BrC to aerosol particle BrC, was compared to absorption spectra from a power law fit to the three PAS wavelengths. For the various parameters used, at a wavelength of roughly 400 nm they agreed, at lower wavelengths the individual component-predicted particle light absorption significantly exceeded the PAS and at higher wavelengths the PAS absorption was consistently higher, but more variable. Limitations with extrapolation of PAS data to wavelengths below 405 nm and missing BrC species of low solubility that more strongly absorb at higher wavelengths may account for the differences. Based on measurements closest to fires, the emission ratio of PAS measured BrC at 405 nm relative to carbon monoxide (CO) was on average 0.13 Mm−1 ppbv−1, emission ratios for soluble BrC are also provided. As the smoke moved away from the burning regions the evolution over time of BrC was observed to be highly complex; BrC enhancement, depletion, or constant levels with age were all observed in the first 8 hours after emission in different plumes. Within 8 hours following emissions, 4-nitrocatechol, a well characterized BrC chromophore commonly found in smoke particles, was largely depleted relative to the bulk BrC. In a descending plume where temperature increased by 15 K, 4-nitrocatechol dropped possibly due to temperature-driven evaporation, but bulk BrC remained largely unchanged. Evidence was found for reactions with ozone, or related species, as a pathway for secondary formation of BrC under both low and high oxides of nitrogen (NOx) conditions, while BrC was also observed to be bleached in regions of higher ozone and low NOx, consistent with complex behaviors of BrC observed in laboratory studies. Although the evolution of smoke in the first hours following emission is highly variable, a limited number of measurements of more aged smoke (15 to 30 hours) indicate a net loss of BrC. It is yet to be determined how the near-field BrC evolution in smoke affects the characteristics of smoke over longer time and spatial scales, where its environmental impacts are likely to be greater

The K2-ESPRINT Project II: Spectroscopic follow-up of three exoplanet systems from Campaign 1 of K2

We report on Doppler observations of three transiting planet candidates that were detected during Campaign 1 of the K2 mission. The Doppler observations were conducted with FIES, HARPS-N, and HARPS. We measure the mass of EPIC 201546283b, and provide constraints and upper limits for EPIC 201295312b and EPIC 201577035b. EPIC 201546283b is a warm Neptune orbiting its host star in 6.77 days and has a radius of 4.45_(-0.33)^(+0.33)R_⊕ and a mass of 29.1_(-7.4)^(+7.5)M_⊕, which leads to a mean density of 1.80_(-0.55)^(+0.70) cm^(-3). EPIC 201295312b is smaller than Neptune with an orbital period of 5.66 days, a radius of 2.75_(-0.22^)(0.24)R_⊕, and we constrain the mass to be below 12 M_⊕ at 95% confidence. We also find a long-term trend indicative of another body in the system. EPIC 201577035b, which was previously confirmed as the planet K2-10b, is smaller than Neptune, orbiting its host star in 19.3 days, with a radius of 3.84_(-0.34)^(+0.35)R_⊕. We determine its mass to be 27_(-16)^(+17)M_⊕, with a 95% confidence upper limit at 57M_⊕, and a mean density of 2.6_(-1.6)^(+2.1)g cm^(-3). These measurements join the relatively small collection of planets smaller than Neptune with measurements or constraints of the mean density. Our code for performing K2 photometry and detecting planetary transits is now publicly available