Rebuilding the Network: Interpretation of World War II Prisoner-of-War Camps in the United States

World War II was one of the most defining events of the twentieth century, but few American citizens are aware that a crucial element of our part in the war—the care and containment of foreign prisoners of war—took place on the home front, in hundreds of camps located in almost every state. The U.S. military processed, transported, housed, fed, and provided labor more than 400,000 POWs from Germany, Italy, and Japan between 1942 and 1947, requiring the creation of a massive network unlike any ever seen in the United States before or since. The United States followed the 1929 Geneva Convention in its handling of these prisoners, which stipulated that the POWs had to be treated humanely and with respect. After the war ended and the prisoners went back home, the government dismantled many of the remaining camps and sold their buildings for parts. Some structures from the camps remained in use for decades—repurposed as offices, returning veterans' housing, and even Girl Scout camps—their original context eventually forgotten. With each passing year, the number of people who had a direct experience with the prisoner-of-war camp network becomes smaller and smaller, and since younger generations for the most part have no knowledge of it, the network's story could easily fade from national memory. Sixty years have passed since the POWs of World War II occupied the camps scattered around the country, but traces of these sites remain. Hundreds of sites have some sort of acknowledgment of the camps-from the more-common historical markers to foundation remnants to the occasional prisoner-of-war camp museum-but their story is still unknown to most people. In addition, much of the existing interpretation of the prisoner-of-war camp network is removed from the actual sites of the camps, even when physical remnants exist nearby. This thesis analyzes the existing POW camp sites and proposes an interpretive plan for them based on the creation of a national network of camps and the incorporation of the remaining site elements into interpretation whenever possible. The remaining POW camp sites would have a better chance of being preserved if more people learned about their fascinating history, and this thesis argues that the best chance of making this possible is to strengthen the individual sites by connecting them to each other and by making sure each site shares the story of the whole camp network. This thesis also argues that the remaining physical sites of the network should be preserved in addition to the story of their network, as they are the strongest links to this network and can serve as potent reminders of the thousands of structures that used to exist all over the country. The World War II prisoner-of-war camps and the people who occupied them were part of a complex, surprising network whose history deserves to be shared with future generations through the sites and stories that remain today throughout the United States

Seasonal productivity drives aggregations of killer whales and other cetaceans over submarine canyons of the Bremer Sub-Basin, south-western Australia

Cetaceans are iconic predators that serve as important indicators of marine ecosystem health. The Bremer Sub-Basin, south-western Australia, supports a diverse cetacean community including the largest documented aggregation of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in Australian waters. Knowledge of cetacean distributions is critical for managing the area’s thriving ecotourism industry, yet is largely sporadic. Here we combined aerial with opportunistic ship-borne surveys during 2015–2017 to describe the occurrence of multiple cetacean species on a regional scale. We used generalised estimating equations to model variation in killer whale relative density as a function of both static and dynamic covariates, including seabed depth, slope, and chlorophyll a concentration, while accounting for autocorrelation. Encountered cetacean groups included: killer (n ¼ 177), sperm (n ¼ 69), long-finned pilot (n ¼ 29), false killer (n ¼ 2), and straptoothed beaked (n ¼ 1) whales, as well as bottlenose (n ¼ 12) and common (n ¼ 5) dolphins. Killer whale numbers peaked in areas of low temperatures and high primary productivity, likely due to seasonal upwelling of nutrient-rich waters supporting high prey biomass. The best predictive model highlighted potential killer whale ‘hotspots’ in the Henry, Hood, Pallinup and Bremer Canyons. This study demonstrates the value of abundance data from platforms of opportunity for marine planning and wildlife management in the open ocean

Effects of Gelatin Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Recovery Following Eccentric Exercise

Exercise is a potent stimulus for skeletal muscle health. Strenuous exercise can result in exercise-induced muscle damage, characterized by soreness, inflammation, and impaired muscle function. Collagen supplementation has garnered attention as a means to improve muscle recovery and musculoskeletal health. Gelatin is a cost-effective and commercially available form of collagen supplementation. The impact of collagen supplementation, via gelatin, on muscle recovery following strenuous exercise is unknown. PURPOSE: To test the efficacy of collagen supplementation, via gelatin, on indices of skeletal muscle recovery following eccentric exercise. METHODS: Healthy, recreationally-active adults (28.4 ± 4.7 yrs; 5 M, 6 F; BMI: 24.1 ± 2.11 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to receive one of two supplements, twice daily throughout the study: gelatin (GEL,15g collagen) or placebo (PLA, agar). Participants performed 150 maximal eccentric unilateral knee extensions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Measures of muscle soreness (MS) and function of the exercised limb were performed prior to exercise (PRE) and 24hrs, 72hrs, and 168hrs post-exercise. MS was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale. Muscle function (peak isokinetic torque, PIT) was assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer. RESULTS: Static MS was increased (P \u3c 0.05) 24hrs (PLA: 31.8 ± 25.2 mm, GEL: 17.2 ± 10.9 mm) and 72hrs (PLA: 23.2 ± 19.7 mm, GEL: 17.3 ± 12.7 mm) post-exercise. Concentric MS was increased (P \u3c 0.05) 24hrs (PLA: 54.8 ± 25.8 mm, GEL: 34.3 ± 6.74 mm) and 72hrs (PLA: 41.2 ± 32.9 mm, GEL: 34.3 ± 12.8 mm) post-exercise. Eccentric MS was increased (P \u3c 0.05) 24hrs (PLA: 57.9 ± 28.7 mm, GEL: 44.7 ± 15.4 mm) and 72hrs (PLA: 40.4 ± 34.8 mm, GEL: 37.3 ± 19.8 mm) post-exercise. No group effect was present for ratings of muscle soreness. PIT (60 deg/sec) was decreased (P\u3c 0.05) 24hrs post-exercise in PLA (69.9 ± 12.5% of PRE, P=0.034) but not GEL (73.1 ± 20.3% of PRE, P=0.13). PIT at 72hrs and 168hrs post-exercise was not different (P \u3e 0.05) from PRE in either group. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that gelatin supplementation does not impact muscle soreness, however it may be effective in preserving muscle function following eccentric exercise. Further research is needed to determine the impact of gelatin supplementation on alterations to skeletal muscle morphology following exercise

Advertisement and combat calls of the glass frog Centrolene lynchi (Anura: Centrolenidae), with notes on combat and reproductive behaviors

Se describen los cantos de anuncio y de combate de la rana de cristal Centrolene lynchi, una especie endémica de los bosques nublados del Ecuador. El canto de anuncio típico consiste en una nota tonal seguida por 1-3 notas pulsadas, cada una de las cuales tiene 1-3 pulsos. Entre la variación observada en el canto de anuncio está la adición de una nota corta que precede a la tonal, así como también la ausencia de esta última. Estas modificaciones son similares a las observadas en otros anuros y pueden estar relacionadas a la presencia de hembras, otros machos, depredadores y/o cambios en el ruido ambiental. Adicionalmente, se describe el canto de combate emitido durante las peleas entre machos. El combate entre machos es similar al observado en otras especies de la subfamilia Centroleninae y ha sido hipotetizado como una sinapomorfía de la misma. Finalmente, se presenta información sobre los hábitos reproductivos de los machos, cuidado parental y desarrollo de las puestas de huevos.We describe the advertisement and combat calls, combat behavior, and reproductive behavior of the glass frog Centrolene lynchi, an endemic species of the cloud forests of Ecuador. The typical advertisement call consists of a tonal note and 1-3 peaked notes, each with 1-3 pulses. Variations on this advertisement call include the addition of a short note before the tonal note, as well as the absence of the tonal note. These modifications may be similar to the described call modifications of other anurans in response to the presence of conspecific females and males, potential predators and/or changes in the sound environment. Additionally, we describe the combat call emitted during previously undescribed venter-to-venter combat between males. The discovery of this combat behavior is consistent with the hypothesis that venter-to-venter combat behavior is a shared derived trait of the subfamily Centroleninae. Finally, we describe male reproductive habits and development of the species, including egg attendance by males and implied male parental care.Descrevemos aqui os cantos de anúncio e de combate de Centrolene lynchi, uma espécie endêmica dos bosques nublados do Equador. O canto de anúncio típico consiste en uma nota tonal seguida por 1-3 notas pulsadas, cada uma das quais com 1-3 pulsos. Entre a variação observada no canto de anúncio está a adição de uma nota curta que precede a nota tonal e a ausência desta última. Essas modificações são similares às observadas em outros anuros e podem estar relacionadas com a presença de fêmeas, outros machos, predadores e/ou mudanças no ruído do ambiente. Adicionalmente, descrevemos o canto de combate emitido durante as lutas entre machos. O combate entre machos é similar ao observado em outras espécies da sub-família Centroleninae e já foi hipotetizado como uma sinapomorfía do grupo. Finalmente, apresentamos informações sobre os hábitos reprodutivos dos machos, cuidado parental e desenvolvimento dos ovos

West Nile Virus Vaccination Protects against Usutu Virus Disease in Mice

West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV) are mosquito-borne flaviviruses that can cause neuroinvasive disease in humans. WNV and USUV circulate in both Africa and Europe and are closely related. Due to antigenic similarity, WNV-specific antibodies and USUV-specific antibodies have the potential to bind heterologous viruses; however, it is unclear whether this interaction may offer protection against infection. To investigate how prior WNV exposure would influence USUV infection, we used an attenuated WNV vaccine that contains the surface proteins of WNV in the backbone of a dengue virus 2 vaccine strain and protects against WNV disease. We hypothesized that vaccination with this attenuated WNV vaccine would protect against USUV infection. Neutralizing responses against WNV and USUV were measured in vitro using sera following vaccination. Sera from vaccinated CD-1 and Ifnar1-/- mice cross-neutralized with WNV and USUV. All mice were then subsequently challenged with an African or European USUV strain. In CD-1 mice, there was no difference in USUV titers between vaccinated and mock-vaccinated mice. However, in the Ifnar1-/- model, vaccinated mice had significantly higher survival rates and significantly lower USUV viremia compared to mock-vaccinated mice. Our results indicate that exposure to an attenuated form of WNV protects against severe USUV disease in mice and elicits a neutralizing response to both WNV and USUV. Future studies will investigate the immune mechanisms responsible for the protection against USUV infection induced by WNV vaccination, providing critical insight that will be essential for USUV and WNV vaccine development.Funding for this project was provided by NIH NIAID R21 AI53988. Support was also provided by the Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine IRC.S

Immune response to SARS-CoV-2 variants after immunization with different vaccines in Mexico

There is limited information on the antibody responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in subjects from developing countries with populations having a high incidence of co-morbidities. Here, we analysed the immunogenicity of homologous schemes using the ChAdOx1-S, Sputnik V, or BNT162b2 vaccines and the effect of a booster dose with ChAdOx1-S in middle-aged adults who were seropositive or seronegative to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein before vaccination. The study was conducted post-vaccination with a follow-up of 4 months for antibody titre using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and pseudovirus (PV) neutralization assays (PNAs). All three vaccines elicited a superior IgG anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD) and neutralization response against the Alpha and Delta variants when administered to individuals with a previous infection by SARS-CoV-2. The booster dose spiked the neutralization activity among individuals with and without a prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ChAdOx1-S vaccine induced weaker antibody responses in infection-naive subjects. A follow-up of 4 months post-vaccination showed a drop in antibody titre, with about 20% of the infection-naive and 100% of SARS-CoV-2 pre-exposed participants with detectable neutralization capacity against Alpha pseudovirus (Alpha-PV) and Delta PV (Delta-PV). Our observations support the use of different vaccines in a country with high seroprevalence at the vaccination time

Project BRAHSS: behavioural response of Australian humpback whales to seismic surveys.

BRAHSS is a major project aimed at understanding how humpback whales respond to noise, particularly from seismic air gun arrays. It also aims to infer the longer term biological significance of the responses from the results and knowledge of normal behaviour. The aim is to provide the information that will allow seismic surveys to be conducted efficiently with minimal impact on whales. It also includes a study of the response to ramp-up in sound level. Ramp-up is widely used at the start of operations as a mitigation measure intended to cause whales to move away, but there is little information to show that it is effective. BRAHSS involves four experiments with migrating humpback whales off the east and west coasts of Australia with noise exposures ranging from a single air gun to a full seismic array. Two major experiments have been completed off the east coast, the second involving 70 scientists. Whale movements were tracked using theodolites on two high points ashore and behavioural observations were made from these points and from three small vessels and the source vessel. Vocalising whales were tracked underwater with an array of hydrophones. These and other moored acoustic receivers recorded the sound field at several points throughout the area. Tags (DTAGs) were attached to whales with suction caps for periods of several hours. Observations and measurements during the experiments include the wide range of variables likely to affect whale response and sufficient acoustic measurements to characterise the sound field throughout the area. The remaining two experiments will be conducted further off shore off the west coast in 2013 and 2014

Exposure of primate reservoir hosts to mosquito vectors in Malaysian Borneo

Several vector-borne pathogens of primates have potential for human spillover. An example is the simian malaria Plasmodium knowlesi which is now a major public health problem in Malaysia. Characterization of exposure to mosquito vectors is essential for assessment of the force of infection within wild simian populations, however few methods exist to do so. Here we demonstrate the use of thermal imaging and mosquito magnet independence traps (MMIT) to assess the abundance, diversity and infection rates in mosquitoes host seeking near long-tailed macaque (Macaca fasicularis) sleeping sites in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, Malaysian Borneo. The primary Plasmodium knowlesi vector, Anopheles balabacensis, was trapped at higher abundance near sleeping sites than control trees. Although none of the An. balabacensis collected (n = 15) were positive for P. knowlesi by PCR screening, two were infected with another simian malaria Plasmodium inui. Analysis of macaque stools from sleeping sites confirmed a high prevalence of Plasmodium infection, suspected to be P. inui. Recently, natural transmission of P. inui has been detected in humans and An. cracens in Peninsular Malaysia. The presence of P. inui in An. balabacensis here and previously in human-biting collections highlight its potential for spillover from macaques to humans in Sabah. We advocate the use of MMITs for non-invasive sampling of mosquito vectors that host seek on wild simian populations