Action-space clustering of tidal streams to infer the Galactic potential

We present a new method for constraining the Milky Way halo gravitational potential by simultaneously fitting multiple tidal streams. This method requires full three-dimensional positions and velocities for all stars to be fit, but does not require identification of any specific stream or determination of stream membership for any star. We exploit the principle that the action distribution of stream stars is most clustered when the potential used to calculate the actions is closest to the true potential. Clustering is quantified with the Kullback-Leibler Divergence (KLD), which also provides conditional uncertainties for our parameter estimates. We show, for toy Gaia-like data in a spherical isochrone potential, that maximizing the KLD of the action distribution relative to a smoother distribution recovers the true values of the potential parameters. The precision depends on the observational errors and the number of streams in the sample; using KIII giants as tracers, we measure the enclosed mass at the average radius of the sample stars accurate to 3% and precise to 20-40%. Recovery of the scale radius is precise to 25%, and is biased 50% high by the small galactocentric distance range of stars in our mock sample (1-25 kpc, or about three scale radii, with mean 6.5 kpc). About 15 streams, with at least 100 stars per stream, are needed to obtain upper and lower bounds on the enclosed mass and scale radius when observational errors are taken into account; 20-25 streams are required to stabilize the size of the confidence interval. If radial velocities are provided for stars out to 100 kpc (10 scale radii), all parameters can be determined with 10% accuracy and 20% precision (1.3% accuracy in the case of the enclosed mass), underlining the need for ground-based spectroscopic follow-up to complete the radial velocity catalog for faint halo stars observed by Gaia.Comment: Accepted versio

Revision of the Phyllophaga of Hispaniola (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) — PART 4

With this study, the fauna of Hispaniolan Phyllophaga is now composed of 48 species, all of which are endemic (precinctive), including 22 new species described herein (4 attributed to Woodruff and Sanderson: approxima, bonfils, jimenezi, rex; 18 to Woodruff: aceitillar, alcoa, androw, baoruco, carnegie, davidsoni, eladio, haitiensis, jaragua, larimar, marcano, nunezi, ortizi, pedernales, rawlinsi, rustica, santachloe, toni). Additionally, allotypes are described for 7 species with previously unknown males (aliada, canoa) or females (esquinada, fossoria, imprima, kenscoffi, panicula), and 6 new country records (Dominican Republic) are provided (aliada, leptospica, minutissima, panicula, permagna, recorta). Of the 48, only 1 male remains unknown (barrosa), and 9 females are missing (aceitillar, carnegie, costura, davidsoni, espina, garrota, probaporra, rustica, toni); 32 are recorded only from the Dominican Republic, and 5 are known only from Haiti. The 727 Figures include 50 habitus illustrations for all species, as well as SEM photos of male and female genitalia, and other salient morphological characters. The discovery of “sister species,” on opposite sides of the Enriquillo basin, provides significant data to support the 2 island concept; 15 species are known only from the paleo “south island,” and 23 are restricted to the “north island”. RESUMEN: De acuerdo con este estudio, la fauna de Phyllophaga en la isla Española, en el mar Caribe, está compuesta por 48 especies, todas endémicas (precinctivas), incluyendo a 22 nuevas especies aquí descritas (4 atribuídas a Woodruff y Sanderson: approxima, bonfils, jimenezi, rex; 18 a Woodruff: aceitillar, alcoa, androw, baoruco, carnegie, davidsoni, eladio, haitiensis, jaragua, larimar, marcano, nunezi, ortizi, pedernales, rawlinsi, rustica, santachloe, toni). Adicionalmente, se describen los alotipos de 7 especies, de las cuales no se conocían los machos (aliada, canoa) o las hembras (esquinada, fossoria, imprima, kenscoffi, panicula), y se reportan por primera vez a 6 especies para la República Dominicana (aliada, leptospica, minutissima, panicula, permagna, recorta). De las 48 especies, solo un macho no se conoce (barrosa) y 9 hembras aún no se describen (aceitillar, carnegie, costura, davidsoni, espina, garrota, probaporra, rustica, toni); 32 de estas especies se conocen solo de la República Dominicana y solo se conocen 5 de Haití. Las 727 ilustraciones incluyen a 50 figuras completas de todas las especies, al igual que microfotografías electrónicas (SEM) de las genitalias de machos y hembras. El hallazgo de “especies hermanas” en lados opuestos la cuenca Enriquillo es un indicador significativo que apoya al concepto de dos islas; 15 especies se conocen solo en la “isla sur,” y 23 estan restringidas a la “isla norte.” Because of its large size, this work is broken into 5 parts, with PDF files archived separately as follows: Part .... Pages ........ Figures ...... filesize 1 ........ 1–22 ............ 1–109 ...... 22 Mb 2 ...... 23–47 ........ 110–190 ........ 8 Mb 3 ...... 48–76 ........ 191–332 ...... 14 Mb 4 ...... 77–91 ........ 333–413 ........ 7 Mb 5 ...... 92–112 ...... 414–537 ...... 11 Mb For the convenience of users with very fast connections or sufficient patience, the entire work is archived as an attachment to Part 1 as a supplemental file (60 megabytes)

Revision of the Phyllophaga of Hispaniola (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) — PART 2

With this study, the fauna of Hispaniolan Phyllophaga is now composed of 48 species, all of which are endemic (precinctive), including 22 new species described herein (4 attributed to Woodruff and Sanderson: approxima, bonfils, jimenezi, rex; 18 to Woodruff: aceitillar, alcoa, androw, baoruco, carnegie, davidsoni, eladio, haitiensis, jaragua, larimar, marcano, nunezi, ortizi, pedernales, rawlinsi, rustica, santachloe, toni). Additionally, allotypes are described for 7 species with previously unknown males (aliada, canoa) or females (esquinada, fossoria, imprima, kenscoffi, panicula), and 6 new country records (Dominican Republic) are provided (aliada, leptospica, minutissima, panicula, permagna, recorta). Of the 48, only 1 male remains unknown (barrosa), and 9 females are missing (aceitillar, carnegie, costura, davidsoni, espina, garrota, probaporra, rustica, toni); 32 are recorded only from the Dominican Republic, and 5 are known only from Haiti. The 727 Figures include 50 habitus illustrations for all species, as well as SEM photos of male and female genitalia, and other salient morphological characters. The discovery of “sister species,” on opposite sides of the Enriquillo basin, provides significant data to support the 2 island concept; 15 species are known only from the paleo “south island,” and 23 are restricted to the “north island”. RESUMEN: De acuerdo con este estudio, la fauna de Phyllophaga en la isla Española, en el mar Caribe, está compuesta por 48 especies, todas endémicas (precinctivas), incluyendo a 22 nuevas especies aquí descritas (4 atribuídas a Woodruff y Sanderson: approxima, bonfils, jimenezi, rex; 18 a Woodruff: aceitillar, alcoa, androw, baoruco, carnegie, davidsoni, eladio, haitiensis, jaragua, larimar, marcano, nunezi, ortizi, pedernales, rawlinsi, rustica, santachloe, toni). Adicionalmente, se describen los alotipos de 7 especies, de las cuales no se conocían los machos (aliada, canoa) o las hembras (esquinada, fossoria, imprima, kenscoffi, panicula), y se reportan por primera vez a 6 especies para la República Dominicana (aliada, leptospica, minutissima, panicula, permagna, recorta). De las 48 especies, solo un macho no se conoce (barrosa) y 9 hembras aún no se describen (aceitillar, carnegie, costura, davidsoni, espina, garrota, probaporra, rustica, toni); 32 de estas especies se conocen solo de la República Dominicana y solo se conocen 5 de Haití. Las 727 ilustraciones incluyen a 50 figuras completas de todas las especies, al igual que microfotografías electrónicas (SEM) de las genitalias de machos y hembras. El hallazgo de “especies hermanas” en lados opuestos la cuenca Enriquillo es un indicador significativo que apoya al concepto de dos islas; 15 especies se conocen solo en la “isla sur,” y 23 estan restringidas a la “isla norte.” Because of its large size, this work is broken into 5 parts, with PDF files archived separately as follows: Part .... Pages ........ Figures ...... filesize 1 ........ 1–22 ............ 1–109 ...... 22 Mb 2 ...... 23–47 ........ 110–190 ........ 8 Mb 3 ...... 48–76 ........ 191–332 ...... 14 Mb 4 ...... 77–91 ........ 333–413 ........ 7 Mb 5 ...... 92–112 ...... 414–537 ...... 11 Mb For the convenience of users with very fast connections or sufficient patience, the entire work is archived as an attachment to Part 1 as a supplemental file (60 megabytes)

Modeling the impact of vaccination control strategies on a foot and mouth disease outbreak in the Central United States

The central United States (U.S.) has a large livestock population including cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Simulation models were developed to assess the impact of livestock herd types and vaccination on foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks using the North American Animal Disease Spread Model. In this study, potential FMD virus outbreaks in the central region of the U.S. were simulated to compare different vaccination strategies to a depopulation only scenario. Based on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service, a simulated population of 151,620 livestock operations characterized by latitude and longitude, production type, and herd size was generated. For the simulations, a single 17,000 head feedlot was selected as the initial latently infected herd in an otherwise susceptible population. Direct and indirect contact rates between herds were based on survey data of livestock producers in Kansas and Colorado. Control methods included ring vaccination around infected herds. Feedlots ≥3000 head were either the only production type that was vaccinated or were assigned the highest vaccination priority. Simulated vaccination scenarios included low and high vaccine capacity, vaccination zones of 10 km or 50 km around detected infected premises, and vaccination trigger of 10 or 100 detected infected herds. Probability of transmission following indirect contact, movement controls and contact rate parameters were considered uncertain and so were the subjects of sensitivity analysis. All vaccination scenarios decreased number of herds depopulated but not all decreased outbreak duration. Increased size of the vaccination zone during an outbreak decreased the length of the outbreak and number of herds destroyed. Increased size of the vaccination zone primarily resulted in vaccinating feedlots ≥3000 head across a larger area. Increasing the vaccination capacity had a smaller impact on the outbreak and may not be feasible if vaccine production and delivery is limited. The ability to vaccinate all the production types surrounding an infected herd did not appear as beneficial as priority vaccination of feedlot production types that have high numbers of indirect contacts. Outbreak duration, number of herds depopulated and the effectiveness of vaccination were sensitive to indirect contact transmission probability and movement restrictions. The results of this study will provide information about the impacts of disease control protocols which may be useful in choosing the optimal control methods to meet the goals of rapid effective control and eradication

Machinery Costs on Typical Wheat Farms in North Eastern South Dakota: Beadle, Clark, Codington, Day, Marshall, and Roberts Counties

The data presented in this report were gathered and compiled in a cooperative research project between the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the Farm Production Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. This research contributes to a larger project--GP-5, Economic Problems in the Production and Marketing of Great Plains Wheat. The general objectives of the research undertaken in South Dakota were (1) to provide economic data needed by farmers and to make adjustments in their farming systems and production practices and (2) to develop a research background for evaluating government farm programs under varying assumptions

Machinery Costs on Typical Wheat Farms in North Central South Dakota: Brown and Spink Counties

The data presented in this report were gathered and compiled in a cooperative research project between the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the Farm Production Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. This research contributes to a larger project--GP-5, Economic Problems in the Production and Marketing of Great Plains Wheat. The general objectives of the research undertaken in South Dakota were (1) to provide economic data needed by farmers and to make adjustments in their farming systems and production practices and (2) to develop a research background for evaluating government farm programs under varying assumptions

Machinery Costs on Typical Wheat Farms in North Central South Dakota: Faulk and Potter Counties

The data presented in this report were gathered and compiled in a cooperative research project between the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the Farm Production Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. This research contributes to a larger project--GP-5, Economic Problems in the Production and Marketing of Great Plains Wheat. The general objectives of the research undertaken in South Dakota were (1) to provide economic data needed by farmers and to make adjustments in their farming systems and production practices and (2) to develop a research background for evaluating government farm programs under varying assumptions

Machinery Costs on Typical Wheat Farms in Central South Dakota: Aurora, Brule, Charles Mix, Gregory, and Jerauld Counties

The data presented in this report were gathered and compiled in a cooperative research project between the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the Farm Production Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. This research contributes to a larger project--GP-5, Economic Problems in the Production and Marketing of Great Plains Wheat. The general objectives of the research undertaken in South Dakota were (1) to provide economic data needed by farmers and to make adjustments in their farming systems and production practices and (2) to develop a research background for evaluating government farm programs under varying assumptions

Machinery Costs on Typical Wheat Farms in South Central South Dakota: Lyman and Tripp Counties

The data presented in this report were gathered and compiled in a cooperative research project between the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and the Farm Production Economics Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. This research contributes to a larger project--GP-5, Economic Problems in the Production and Marketing of Great Plains Wheat. The general objectives of the research undertaken in South Dakota were (1) to provide economic data needed by farmers and to make adjustments in their farming systems and production practices and (2) to develop a research background for evaluating government farm programs under varying assumptions