792 research outputs found
Every partridge counts, successful techniques used in the captive conservation breeding programme for wild grey partridge in Ireland
Between 1998 and 2001 the last remaining wild grey partridge (Perdix perdix) population in Ireland faced imminent extinction with an estimated spring population of 4â6 pairs, and an autumn population of 22â24 birds. A captive breeding programme began in 2002 with two pairs of grey partridge. In the most successful year in 2010, 39 pairs produced a total of 510 chicks. Average chick survival rate was 65.13%. At 88.9 the highest chick survival rate was achieved in 2011. Chick survival of parentâreared birds in captivity is defined by the number of juveniles surviving at age six weeks: similar to estimations used for wild populations of grey partridge. Family coveys were released in late summer to early autumn. In most instances the entire family cohort was released as one unit. However, in coveys of twenty or above, an average of five parentâreared poults were held back as breeding stock for the following year. In early spring of the following year, birds held back were paired with single males or females trapped from the wild. The techniques we used were traditional and labour intensive but highly effective. We recommend that other grey partridge recovery projects should consider captive breeding using the methods employed in this programme to compliment other game management methods used
How closely do changes in surface and column water vapor follow Clausius-Clapeyron scaling in climate change simulations?
The factors governing the rate of change in the amount of atmospheric water vapor are analyzed in simulations of climate change. The global-mean amount of water vapor is estimated to increase at a differential rate of 7.3% K[superscript â 1] with respect to global-mean surface air temperature in the multi-model mean. Larger rates of change result if the fractional change is evaluated over a finite change in temperature (e.g., 8.2% K [superscript â 1] for a 3 K warming), and rates of change of zonal-mean column water vapor range from 6 to 12% K [superscript â 1] depending on latitude.
ClausiusâClapeyron scaling is directly evaluated using an invariant distribution of monthly-mean relative humidity, giving a rate of 7.4% K â 1 for global-mean water vapor. There are deviations from ClausiusâClapeyron scaling of zonal-mean column water vapor in the tropics and mid-latitudes, but they largely cancel in the global mean. A purely thermodynamic scaling based on a saturated troposphere gives a higher global rate of 7.9% K [superscript â 1].
Surface specific humidity increases at a rate of 5.7% K [superscript â 1], considerably lower than the rate for global-mean water vapor. Surface specific humidity closely follows ClausiusâClapeyron scaling over ocean. But there are widespread decreases in surface relative humidity over land (by more than 1% K â 1 in many regions), and it is argued that decreases of this magnitude could result from the land/ocean contrast in surface warming
Extrasolar Planet Transits Observed at Kitt Peak National Observatory
We obtained J-, H- and JH-band photometry of known extrasolar planet
transiting systems at the 2.1-m Kitt Peak National Observatory Telescope using
the FLAMINGOS infrared camera between October 2008 and October 2011. From the
derived lightcurves we have extracted the mid-transit times, transit depths and
transit durations for these events. The precise mid-transit times obtained help
improve the orbital periods and also constrain transit-time variations of the
systems. For most cases the published system parameters successfully accounted
for our observed lightcurves, but in some instances we derive improved
planetary radii and orbital periods. We complemented our 2.1-m infrared
observations using CCD z'-band and B-band photometry (plus two Hydrogen Alpha
filter observations) obtained with the Kitt Peak Visitor's Center telescope,
and with four H-band transits observed in October 2007 with the NSO's 1.6-m
McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. The principal highlights of our results are: 1)
our ensemble of J-band planetary radii agree with optical radii, with the
best-fit relation being: (Rp/R*)J = 0.0017 + 0.979 (Rp/R*)optical, 2) We
observe star spot crossings during the transit of WASP-11/HAT-P-10, 3) we
detect star spot crossings by HAT-P-11b (Kepler-3b), thus confirming that the
magnetic evolution of the stellar active regions can be monitored even after
the Kepler mission has ended, and 4) we confirm a grazing transit for
HAT-P-27/WASP-40. In total we present 57 individual transits of 32 known
exoplanet systems.Comment: 33 pages, 6 figures, accepted in Publications of the Astronomical
Society of the Pacifi
Contrasting responses of mean and extreme snowfall to climate change
Snowfall is an important element of the climate system, and one that is expected to change in a warming climate. Both mean snowfall and the intensity distribution of snowfall are important, with heavy snowfall events having particularly large economic and human impacts. Simulations with climate models indicate that annual mean snowfall declines with warming in most regions but increases in regions with very low surface temperatures. The response of heavy snowfall events to a changing climate, however, is unclear. Here I show that in simulations with climate models under a scenario of high emissions of greenhouse gases, by the late twenty-first century there are smaller fractional changes in the intensities of daily snowfall extremes than in mean snowfall over many Northern Hemisphere land regions. For example, for monthly climatological temperatures just below freezing and surface elevations below 1,000 metres, the 99.99th percentile of daily snowfall decreases by 8% in the multimodel median, compared to a 65% reduction in mean snowfall. Both mean and extreme snowfall must decrease for a sufficiently large warming, but the climatological temperature above which snowfall extremes decrease with warming in the simulations is as high as â9 °C, compared to â14 °C for mean snowfall. These results are supported by a physically based theory that is consistent with the observed rainâsnow transition. According to the theory, snowfall extremes occur near an optimal temperature that is insensitive to climate warming, and this results in smaller fractional changes for higher percentiles of daily snowfall. The simulated changes in snowfall that I find would influence surface snow and its hazards; these changes also suggest that it may be difficult to detect a regional climate-change signal in snowfall extremes.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant AGS-1148594)United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (ROSES Grant 09-IDS09-0049
Assessing Espoused Goals in Private Family Firms Using Content Analysis
Understanding how private family firms gauge performance is of great interest to family business scholars. Unfortunately, finding comparable data to understand differences in the performance of such firms is challenging. This study draws from the organizational identity literature to show how private family firms communicate different goals in publicly available organizational narratives. The authors illustrate a process using content analysis that allows family business scholars to create a comparative data set that captures both normative and utilitarian goals using website and press release narratives from a sample of Australian firms.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline
Special and inclusive education in the Republic of Ireland: reviewing the literature from 2000 to 2009
Provision for pupils with special educational needs in Ireland has undergone considerable change and review in the first decade of the twenty first century. In response to international demands for a more equitable education system which recognises diversity and considers how schools might address the needs of pupils who have been previously marginalised, Irish legislation has focused upon the development of inclusive schooling. Researchers during this period have endeavoured to understand how responses to the demand for greater inclusion have impacted upon the perceived need for change. This paper reviews the research literature for this period and identifies four key themes under which research has been conducted. The literature pertaining to these themes is explored and a possible agenda for future researchers identifie
Towards the integration and development of a cross-European research network and infrastructure:the DEterminants of DIet and Physical ACtivity (DEDIPAC) Knowledge Hub
To address major societal challenges and enhance cooperation in research across Europe, the European Commission has initiated and facilitated âjoint programmingâ. Joint programming is a process by which Member States engage in defining, developing and implementing a common strategic research agenda, based on a shared vision of how to address major societal challenges that no Member State is capable of resolving independently. Setting up a Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) should also contribute to avoiding unnecessary overlap and repetition of research, and enable and enhance the development and use of standardised research methods, procedures and data management. The Determinants of Diet and Physical Activity (DEDIPAC) Knowledge Hub (KH) is the first act of the European JPI âA Healthy Diet for a Healthy Lifeâ. The objective of DEDIPAC is to contribute to improving understanding of the determinants of dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. DEDIPAC KH is a multi-disciplinary consortium of 46 consortia and organisations supported by joint programming grants from 12 countries across Europe. The work is divided into three thematic areas: (I) assessment and harmonisation of methods for future research, surveillance and monitoring, and for evaluation of interventions and policies; (II) determinants of dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours across the life course and in vulnerable groups; and (III) evaluation and benchmarking of public health and policy interventions aimed at improving dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. In the first three years, DEDIPAC KH will organise, develop, share and harmonise expertise, methods, measures, data and other infrastructure. This should further European research and improve the broad multi-disciplinary approach needed to study the interactions between multilevel determinants in influencing dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviours. Insights will be translated into more effective interventions and policies for the promotion of healthier behaviours and more effective monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of such intervention
Comparing the measurement equivalence of EQ-5D-5L across different modes of administration
Background: Interest in collecting Patient Reported Outcomes using electronic methods such as mobile phones
has increased in recent years. However there is debate about the level of measurement equivalence between the
traditional paper and newer electronic modes. Information about the acceptability of the electronic versions to
respondents is also required. The aim of this study is to compare the equivalence of delivering a widely used
generic measure of health status (EQ-5D-5L) across two administration modes (paper and mobile phone).
Methods: Respondents from a research cohort of people in South Yorkshire were identified, and randomly allocated
to one of two administration modes (paper vs. mobile phone) based on stratifications for age and gender (and across
a range of self-reported health conditions). A parallel group design was used where each respondent only completed
EQ-5D-5L using one of the modes. In total, 70 respondents completed the measure in the mobile phone arm, and 66
completed the standard paper version. Follow up usability questions were also included to assess the acceptability of
the mobile version of EQ-5D-5L. Measurement equivalence was compared at the dimension, utility score and visual
analogue scale level using chi square analysis and ANOVA, and by comparing mean differences to an estimated
minimally important difference value.
Results: Response rates were higher in the mobile arm. The mean EQ-5D-5L utility and VAS scores, and the
frequency of respondents endorsing individual EQ-5D-5L dimension response levels did not significantly differ
across the administration modes. The majority of the mobile arm agreed that the mobile version of EQ-5D-5L
was easy to complete, and that the phone was easy to use, and that they would complete mobile health
measures again.
Conclusions: Completing health status measures such as EQ-5D using mobile phones produces equivalent
results to more traditional methods, but with added benefits (for example lessening the burden of data entry).
Respondents are positive towards completing questionnaires using these methods. The results provide evidence that electronic measures are valid for use to collect data in a range of settings including clinical trials, routine care, and in health diary settings
OpenFermion: The Electronic Structure Package for Quantum Computers
Quantum simulation of chemistry and materials is predicted to be an important
application for both near-term and fault-tolerant quantum devices. However, at
present, developing and studying algorithms for these problems can be difficult
due to the prohibitive amount of domain knowledge required in both the area of
chemistry and quantum algorithms. To help bridge this gap and open the field to
more researchers, we have developed the OpenFermion software package
(www.openfermion.org). OpenFermion is an open-source software library written
largely in Python under an Apache 2.0 license, aimed at enabling the simulation
of fermionic models and quantum chemistry problems on quantum hardware.
Beginning with an interface to common electronic structure packages, it
simplifies the translation between a molecular specification and a quantum
circuit for solving or studying the electronic structure problem on a quantum
computer, minimizing the amount of domain expertise required to enter the
field. The package is designed to be extensible and robust, maintaining high
software standards in documentation and testing. This release paper outlines
the key motivations behind design choices in OpenFermion and discusses some
basic OpenFermion functionality which we believe will aid the community in the
development of better quantum algorithms and tools for this exciting area of
research.Comment: 22 page
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