Diet of an eastern barn owl Tyto javanica on the Patho Plains, northern Victoria

A small sample of eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica pellets, from native grasslands on the Patho Plains in northern Victoria in February 2007, contained the remains of 48 prey individuals: 38 Australian Plague Locusts Chortoicetes terminifera, nine house Mice Mus domesticus and one Fat-tailed dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata. Such a high proportion of locusts in the eastern Barn Owl\u27s diet is noteworthy, and is discussed in the context of recent locust-spraying operations in the region.<br /

Courting the consumer: consumer preferences and engagement with social-media marketing and horticultural businesses

Master of Science - Agricultural Education and CommunicationDepartment of Communications and Agricultural EducationLauri M. BakerIn recent years, horticultural industry changes, local food movements, fluctuating consumer perceptions and motivations to buy fresh produce and plants, and new online marketing opportunities have impacted small and rural horticultural businesses. As horticultural product shopping habits have changed and advances in social media technology have been made, horticultural businesses need to update marketing practices. The purpose of this study was achieved through research objectives and a research question which defined relevant and effective social-media post components in regard to consumer likelihood of online social-media engagement, willingness to travel, and willingness to purchase horticultural goods. . Previous research confirmed social media, specifically Facebook, allows horticultural businesses to connect with potential clients; however, research shows that business owners are uncertain about how to transition from using traditional-media marketing to social-media marketing. Additionally, business owners have different opinions than their consumers about the most effective use of Facebook marketing. Being aware of preferences and audience’s desires allows horticultural businesses to create effective social-media marketing content that will increase sales and profit. This empirical research was conducted to determine the effects of Facebook posts and images on horticultural consumer engagement and purchasing behaviors While attracting attention to a featured product and making advertising campaigns attractive to consumers is relevant, this study sought to operationalize consumer central processing through the framework of social-media engagement; therefore, the ELM was the most relevant to use for identifying consumer Facebook content preferences for horticultural businesses. The ELM, introduced in 1981 by Petty and Cacioppo, states that messages with information relevant and thought-provoking to the recipient are far more likely to stimulate central processing than advertisements with which people cannot connect. Social-media post components that are appealing to consumers receive the most amount of interaction and central processing. Emotion toward advertisements and images guides cognitive processing, so appealing to consumers’ needs and desires is important. In order to determine what type of social-media content was most effective and engaging, orthogonal conjoint design was used. Three online surveys featuring common horticultural products, garden petunias (Petunia hybrid), bell peppers (Capsicum annuum), and apples (Malus pumila), were used to represent bedding plant, direct-marketed produce, and pick-your-own produce businesses in the horticultural industry and were disseminated to Midwestern U.S. residents. Survey questions asked about consumer preferences for and likelihood of engagement with horticultural business posts on social media and the likelihood of purchasing horticultural products after viewing Facebook posts. Results of this study show features of Facebook posts do impact consumer engagement. Consumers are more likely to “like” posts, as the “like” emoji is the default reaction on Facebook, thus, interaction requires little effort. Promotional messages (672, 54.1%) were found to be the most engaging in horticultural Facebook posts. This study found bedding plant posts featuring petunias were preferred by consumers over direct-marketed and pick-your-own produce posts containing images of and information about bell peppers and apples, respectively. Flowers garnered the most positive reactions; whereas, apples and peppers received a mixture of mostly positive and some negative emoji reactions, indicating flowers are more popular than produce among Midwestern consumers. Produce and food items are considered necessity goods; therefore, it is possible consumers were generally less interested in the produce featured in this study. Distance of a business’s location from social-media users’ residence also influenced engagement, and most consumers were willing to “like” posts from businesses located one hour away or in the region. Respondents were less willing to share or comment on posts, in general, but were especially unlikely to do so for businesses outside of their region or located elsewhere in their state of residence. When asked about likelihood of purchasing horticultural products after viewing Facebook posts, all survey respondents indicated, in general, a higher likelihood of purchasing in-store from horticultural businesses after viewing posts featuring people with products (n = 754, 63.5%) and educational messages (n = 654, 52.7%). Bedding plant consumers were more willing to purchase horticultural products after seeing them featured on Facebook than direct-marketed and pick-your-own produce shoppers. Results of this study show promotional and educational messages and images featuring products at a business or people with products are the most engaging and evoke emotion, thus, should be incorporated in independent horticultural business social-media campaigns

Peacekeeping for the 21st century: A new partnership

The shift in armed conflict from inter-state to predominantly intra-state conflicts has seen a growing progression of sophistication in the type of United Nations peacekeeping operation that has been mounted to address these now prevailing conflicts. Concomitant with this change has come an increasing inability of peacekeepers to cope with the complexity of the mandates upon which each new peacekeeping mission is based. This has resulted in failures of various proportions for United Nations peacekeeping missions. A new model of peacekeeping that can significantly contribute globally to a culture of peace is now required. This thesis presents a model, based on a civilian-military partnership. This partnership is conceptualized to reaffirm the United Nations as the world's foremost peacekeeping agent by endorsing the essential role of the military, but also by affmning the central value of civilian commitment to foster the activism of indigenous communities in the recovery process

An interpretation of global terrorism (the Bush years 2001-2008) and considerations for peace

September 11, 2001 was a defining moment in world history; the events of that day ushered in what has been described as "global terrorism", a phenomenon that precipitated the United States led invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq urging us to believe that the War on Terror could be the only pragmatic response to this kind of Islamic fundamentalist based militancy. This thesis investigates the part played by the West in the emergence of global terrorism and posits that dialogue in its differing manifestations is the optimum method of transforming this kind of political violence into a sustainable peace. It will be seen how the modernity of the West has brought exploitation and marginalisation to Islamic cultures and countries. Postmodernism and Postcolonialism, intellectual movements that critically review the dominant discourse of modernity, are therefore used as a lens through which to view and deconstruct global terrorism. Knowledge and power, viewed differently to the modern outlook, allows analysis to take on new directions and reveals to what degree the construction of knowledge and interpretation of terrorism has been governed by powerful players and forces in the context of modernist and neoconservative thought. In concert with Postmodernism and Postcolonialism, critical discourse analyses (CDAs) are performed on selected texts of George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden to form the central analysis of the thesis

Computer Science Research Institute 2004 annual report of activities.

This report summarizes the activities of the Computer Science Research Institute (CSRI) at Sandia National Laboratories during the period January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004. During this period the CSRI hosted 166 visitors representing 81 universities, companies and laboratories. Of these 65 were summer students or faculty. The CSRI partially sponsored 2 workshops and also organized and was the primary host for 4 workshops. These 4 CSRI sponsored workshops had 140 participants--74 from universities, companies and laboratories, and 66 from Sandia. Finally, the CSRI sponsored 14 long-term collaborative research projects and 5 Sabbaticals

Computer Science Research Institute 2005 annual report of activities.

This report summarizes the activities of the Computer Science Research Institute (CSRI) at Sandia National Laboratories during the period January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005. During this period, the CSRI hosted 182 visitors representing 83 universities, companies and laboratories. Of these, 60 were summer students or faculty. The CSRI partially sponsored 2 workshops and also organized and was the primary host for 3 workshops. These 3 CSRI sponsored workshops had 105 participants, 78 from universities, companies and laboratories, and 27 from Sandia. Finally, the CSRI sponsored 12 long-term collaborative research projects and 3 Sabbaticals

CD44 contributes to hyaluronan-mediated insulin resistance in skeletal muscle of high fat-fed C57BL/6 mice

Extracellular matrix hyaluronan is increased in skeletal muscle of high-fat-fed insulin-resistant mice, and reduction of hyaluronan by PEGPH20 hyaluronidase ameliorates diet-induced insulin resistance (IR). CD44, the main hyaluronan receptor, is positively correlated with type 2 diabetes. This study determines the role of CD44 in skeletal muscle IR. Global CD44-deficient (cd44(-/-)) mice and wild-type littermates (cd44(+/+)) were fed a chow diet or 60% high-fat diet for 16 wk. High-fat-fed cd44(-/-) mice were also treated with PEGPH20 to evaluate its CD44-dependent action. Insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (ICv). High-fat feeding increased muscle CD44 protein expression. In the absence of differences in body weight and composition, despite lower clamp insulin during ICv, the cd44(-/-) mice had sustained glucose infusion rate (GIR) regardless of diet. High-fat diet-induced muscle IR as evidenced by decreased muscle glucose uptake (Rg) was exhibited in cd44(+/+) mice but absent in cd44(-/-) mice. Moreover, gastrocnemius Rg remained unchanged between genotypes on chow diet but was increased in high-fat-fed cd44(-/-) compared with cd44(+/+) when normalized to clamp insulin concentrations. Ameliorated muscle IR in high-fat-fed cd44(-/-) mice was associated with increased vascularization. In contrast to previously observed increases in wild-type mice, PEGPH20 treatment in high-fat-fed cd44(-/-) mice did not change GIR or muscle Rg during ICv, suggesting a CD44-dependent action. In conclusion, genetic CD44 deletion improves muscle IR, and the beneficial effects of PEGPH20 are CD44-dependent. These results suggest a critical role of CD44 in promoting hyaluronan-mediated muscle IR, therefore representing a potential therapeutic target for diabetes

Association of mRNA Vaccination With Clinical and Virologic Features of COVID-19 Among US Essential and Frontline Workers

IMPORTANCE: Data on the epidemiology of mild to moderately severe COVID-19 are needed to inform public health guidance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between 2 or 3 doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and attenuation of symptoms and viral RNA load across SARS-CoV-2 viral lineages. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective cohort study of essential and frontline workers in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, and Utah with COVID-19 infection confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing and lineage classified by whole genome sequencing of specimens self-collected weekly and at COVID-19 illness symptom onset. This analysis was conducted among 1199 participants with SARS-CoV-2 from December 14, 2020, to April 19, 2022, with follow-up until May 9, 2022, reported. EXPOSURES: SARS-CoV-2 lineage (origin strain, Delta variant, Omicron variant) and COVID-19 vaccination status. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Clinical outcomes included presence of symptoms, specific symptoms (including fever or chills), illness duration, and medical care seeking. Virologic outcomes included viral load by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing along with viral viability. RESULTS: Among 1199 participants with COVID-19 infection (714 [59.5%] women; median age, 41 years), 14.0% were infected with the origin strain, 24.0% with the Delta variant, and 62.0% with the Omicron variant. Participants vaccinated with the second vaccine dose 14 to 149 days before Delta infection were significantly less likely to be symptomatic compared with unvaccinated participants (21/27 [77.8%] vs 74/77 [96.1%]; OR, 0.13 [95% CI, 0-0.6]) and, when symptomatic, those vaccinated with the third dose 7 to 149 days before infection were significantly less likely to report fever or chills (5/13 [38.5%] vs 62/73 [84.9%]; OR, 0.07 [95% CI, 0.0-0.3]) and reported significantly fewer days of symptoms (10.2 vs 16.4; difference, -6.1 [95% CI, -11.8 to -0.4] days). Among those with Omicron infection, the risk of symptomatic infection did not differ significantly for the 2-dose vaccination status vs unvaccinated status and was significantly higher for the 3-dose recipients vs those who were unvaccinated (327/370 [88.4%] vs 85/107 [79.4%]; OR, 2.0 [95% CI, 1.1-3.5]). Among symptomatic Omicron infections, those vaccinated with the third dose 7 to 149 days before infection compared with those who were unvaccinated were significantly less likely to report fever or chills (160/311 [51.5%] vs 64/81 [79.0%]; OR, 0.25 [95% CI, 0.1-0.5]) or seek medical care (45/308 [14.6%] vs 20/81 [24.7%]; OR, 0.45 [95% CI, 0.2-0.9]). Participants with Delta and Omicron infections who received the second dose 14 to 149 days before infection had a significantly lower mean viral load compared with unvaccinated participants (3 vs 4.1 log10 copies/μL; difference, -1.0 [95% CI, -1.7 to -0.2] for Delta and 2.8 vs 3.5 log10 copies/μL, difference, -1.0 [95% CI, -1.7 to -0.3] for Omicron). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In a cohort of US essential and frontline workers with SARS-CoV-2 infections, recent vaccination with 2 or 3 mRNA vaccine doses less than 150 days before infection with Delta or Omicron variants, compared with being unvaccinated, was associated with attenuated symptoms, duration of illness, medical care seeking, or viral load for some comparisons, although the precision and statistical significance of specific estimates varied

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p&lt;0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (&lt;1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (&lt;1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2019 : a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Accurate and up-to-date assessment of demographic metrics is crucial for understanding a wide range of social, economic, and public health issues that affect populations worldwide. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 produced updated and comprehensive demographic assessments of the key indicators of fertility, mortality, migration, and population for 204 countries and territories and selected subnational locations from 1950 to 2019. Methods: 8078 country-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 938 surveys, 349 censuses, and 238 other sources were identified and used to estimate age-specific fertility. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate age-specific fertility rates for 5-year age groups between ages 15 and 49 years. With extensions to age groups 10–14 and 50–54 years, the total fertility rate (TFR) was then aggregated using the estimated age-specific fertility between ages 10 and 54 years. 7417 sources were used for under-5 mortality estimation and 7355 for adult mortality. ST-GPR was used to synthesise data sources after correction for known biases. Adult mortality was measured as the probability of death between ages 15 and 60 years based on vital registration, sample registration, and sibling histories, and was also estimated using ST-GPR. HIV-free life tables were then estimated using estimates of under-5 and adult mortality rates using a relational model life table system created for GBD, which closely tracks observed age-specific mortality rates from complete vital registration when available. Independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated by an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys and antenatal clinic serosurveillance and other sources were incorporated into the estimates in countries with large epidemics. Annual and single-year age estimates of net migration and population for each country and territory were generated using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model that analysed estimated age-specific fertility and mortality rates along with 1250 censuses and 747 population registry years. We classified location-years into seven categories on the basis of the natural rate of increase in population (calculated by subtracting the crude death rate from the crude birth rate) and the net migration rate. We computed healthy life expectancy (HALE) using years lived with disability (YLDs) per capita, life tables, and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty was propagated throughout the demographic estimation process, including fertility, mortality, and population, with 1000 draw-level estimates produced for each metric. Findings: The global TFR decreased from 2·72 (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 2·66–2·79) in 2000 to 2·31 (2·17–2·46) in 2019. Global annual livebirths increased from 134·5 million (131·5–137·8) in 2000 to a peak of 139·6 million (133·0–146·9) in 2016. Global livebirths then declined to 135·3 million (127·2–144·1) in 2019. Of the 204 countries and territories included in this study, in 2019, 102 had a TFR lower than 2·1, which is considered a good approximation of replacement-level fertility. All countries in sub-Saharan Africa had TFRs above replacement level in 2019 and accounted for 27·1% (95% UI 26·4–27·8) of global livebirths. Global life expectancy at birth increased from 67·2 years (95% UI 66·8–67·6) in 2000 to 73·5 years (72·8–74·3) in 2019. The total number of deaths increased from 50·7 million (49·5–51·9) in 2000 to 56·5 million (53·7–59·2) in 2019. Under-5 deaths declined from 9·6 million (9·1–10·3) in 2000 to 5·0 million (4·3–6·0) in 2019. Global population increased by 25·7%, from 6·2 billion (6·0–6·3) in 2000 to 7·7 billion (7·5–8·0) in 2019. In 2019, 34 countries had negative natural rates of increase; in 17 of these, the population declined because immigration was not sufficient to counteract the negative rate of decline. Globally, HALE increased from 58·6 years (56·1–60·8) in 2000 to 63·5 years (60·8–66·1) in 2019. HALE increased in 202 of 204 countries and territories between 2000 and 2019