SURVEY OF BLACK BEAR DEPREDATION IN AGRICULTURE IN MASSACHUSETTS

Black bear (Ursus americanus) depredation in agriculture has become an increasing concern in Massachusetts. Complaints from apiarists, corn growers, and livestock producers have increased 167% during the period 1980 to 1990, but whether this increase truly represents more depredation, response of bears to other factors, or simply better reporting/record keeping has not been determined. The bear population in Massachusetts from 1984 to 1989 increased 50°/a to approximately 700-750 animals statewide. Subsequent estimates (1995) have placed the bear population around 1,200 animals. Concurrent encroachment of human development into prime bear habitat also increased contact between bears and humans. During years when natural foods (primarily hard and soft mast) are limited, bears search for alternate foods in nearby agricultural and suburban areas and may damage hives, crops, or livestock. All these factors enhance the potential for conflicts that could jeopardize human-bear co-existence

Toward an Understanding of Beaver Management as Human and Beaver Densities Increase

Estimates of beaver (Castor canadensis) density play an important role in wildlife managers’ decisions about beaver population management, because managers anticipate higher incidence of problem complaints when a beaver population increases. To manage the impacts of beavers in an urbanizing landscape, managers need better information on changes in stakeholder beliefs and attitudes as beaver and human densities reach high levels. We conducted additional analysis of data collected in 2002 through mail surveys of residents in New York and Massachusetts to test hypothesized relationships between beaver density and damage experience, attitudes toward beavers, and norms about beaver management actions. Consistent with previous research, we found a correlation between personal experience with beaver-related problems, lower acceptance capacity for beavers, and higher acceptability of lethal beaver management actions. In comparison to residents living in areas with low beaver density, residents of areas with high beaver density were more likely to: experience beaver-related problems; believe that beaver-related damage had greatly increased in their area; express a preference for beaver population reduction; express less tolerant attitudes toward beaver presence; and accept lethal control of beavers as a response to beaver-related problems. These findings add to understanding of wildlife acceptance capacity, generally, and tolerance of beavers specifically. Based on our findings, we propose a conceptual model representing key dynamic interrelationships between stakeholder attitudes, norms, and common beaver management practices. We discuss a causal loop diagram representing the model to illuminate the challenges wildlife managers are likely to face as the context for beaver management changes. The model articulates the dynamic complexity of urban beaver management and fills a gap in the literature by conceptualizing beaver management as a coupled human–natural system. Such models may aid communication in locales where high densities of beaver and people set the stage for human–wildlife conflict and emergence of disruptive wildlife management issues

Radio sources in the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey

We discuss radio sources in the Chandra Galactic Bulge Survey region. By cross-matching the X-ray sources in this field with the NRAO VLA Sky Survey archival data, we find 12 candidate matches. We present a classification scheme for radio/X-ray matches in surveys taken in or near the Galactic plane, taking into account other multiwavelength data. We show that none of the matches found here is likely to be due to coronal activity from normal stars because the radio to X-ray flux ratios are systematically too high. We show that one of the source could be a radio pulsar, and that one could be a planetary nebula, but that the bulk of the sources are likely to be background active galactic nuclei (AGN), with many confirmed through a variety of approaches. Several of the AGN are bright enough in the near-infrared (and presumably in the optical) to use as probes of the interstellar medium in the inner Galaxy

Estado nutricional vinculado a ingesta alimentaria y actividad física que realizan estudiantes de séptimo grado de tres colegios privados. Managua-Nicaragua. Abril-Agosto 2015.

Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal en 150 estudiantes de séptimo grado de los colegios: Mi Redentor, Bautista y Jesús Divino Obrero del departamento de Managua. Se concluye que más de la mitad de estudiantes, presentaron estado nutricional normal. Coexiste malnutrición por déficit, y por exceso, asociado al riesgo cardiovascular y antecedentes patológicos familiares de hipertensión y diabetes. El desayuno es la comida que se saltaron con mayor frecuencia. El patrón alimentario lo conforman trece alimentos. La práctica de actividades físicas que realizan: caminar, correr, montar en bicicleta, jugar futbol, voleibol y baloncesto. En la clase de educación física los alumnos están siempre y algunas veces activos

Keratin 6 is not essential for mammary gland development

INTRODUCTION: Keratin 6 (K6) has previously been identified as a marker of early mammary gland development and has also been proposed to be a marker of mammary gland progenitor cells. However, the function of K6 in the mammary gland was not known, so we examined the expression pattern of the protein during both embryonic and postnatal mammary development, as well as the mammary gland phenotype of mice that were null for both K6a and K6b isoforms. METHOD: Immunostaining was performed to determine the expression pattern of K6a throughout mammary gland development, from the embryonic mammary bud to lactation. Double immunofluorescence was used to co-localize K6 with known markers of mammary gland development. Wild-type and K6ab-null mammary tissues were transplanted into the cleared fat pads of nude mice and the outgrowths were analyzed for morphology by whole-mount staining and for markers of mammary epithelium by immunostaining. Finally, progesterone receptor (PR) and bromodeoxyuridine co-localization was quantified by double immunofluorescence in wild-type and K6ab-null mammary outgrowths. RESULTS: Here we report that K6 is expressed earlier than described previously, by embryonic day 16.5. K6a is the predominant isoform expressed in the mammary gland, localized in the body cells and luminal epithelial cells but not in the cap cells or myoepithelial cells. Co-localization studies showed that most K6a-positive cells express steroid receptors but do not proliferate. When both the K6a and K6b genes are deleted, mammary gland development appears normal, with similar expression of most molecular markers examined in both the pubertal gland and the mature gland. Loss of K6a and K6b, however, leads to an increase in the number of steroid-receptor-positive cells, and increased co-localization of steroid receptor expression and proliferation was observed. CONCLUSION: Although K6a was not essential for mammary gland development, loss of both K6a and K6b resulted in an increase in PR-positive mammary epithelial cells and decreased proliferation after exposure to steroid hormones. There was also increased co-localization of PR and bromodeoxyuridine, suggesting alterations in patterning events important for normal lobuloalveolar development

Imaging biomarker roadmap for cancer studies.

Imaging biomarkers (IBs) are integral to the routine management of patients with cancer. IBs used daily in oncology include clinical TNM stage, objective response and left ventricular ejection fraction. Other CT, MRI, PET and ultrasonography biomarkers are used extensively in cancer research and drug development. New IBs need to be established either as useful tools for testing research hypotheses in clinical trials and research studies, or as clinical decision-making tools for use in healthcare, by crossing 'translational gaps' through validation and qualification. Important differences exist between IBs and biospecimen-derived biomarkers and, therefore, the development of IBs requires a tailored 'roadmap'. Recognizing this need, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) assembled experts to review, debate and summarize the challenges of IB validation and qualification. This consensus group has produced 14 key recommendations for accelerating the clinical translation of IBs, which highlight the role of parallel (rather than sequential) tracks of technical (assay) validation, biological/clinical validation and assessment of cost-effectiveness; the need for IB standardization and accreditation systems; the need to continually revisit IB precision; an alternative framework for biological/clinical validation of IBs; and the essential requirements for multicentre studies to qualify IBs for clinical use.Development of this roadmap received support from Cancer Research UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (grant references A/15267, A/16463, A/16464, A/16465, A/16466 and A/18097), the EORTC Cancer Research Fund, and the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking (grant agreement number 115151), resources of which are composed of financial contribution from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) and European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) companies' in kind contribution

Attitudes Toward Beaver and Norms About Beaver Management: Insights from Baseline Research in New York

Click on the PDF for an Executive Summary and the full report. Visit the HDRU website for a complete listing of HDRU publications at: http://hdru.dnr.cornell.edu

Attitudes Toward Beaver and Beaver Management: Results from Baseline Studies in New York and Massachusetts

Click on the PDF for an Executive Summary and the full report. Visit the HDRU website for a complete listing of HDRU publications at: http://hdru.dnr.cornell.edu

Evaluation of principal roadkill areas for Florida black bear

The high number of vehicle-bear collisions and the potential impact of these collisions on both humans and bears prompted a re-evaluation of principal roadkill areas for the Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has documented an increasing statewide trend in the number of roadkill bears since 1976. Previous research indicates roadkills are concentrated in particular areas based on several habitat features (Gilbert and Wooding 1996). Additionally, Gilbert and Wooding (1996) suggest the areas with the largest bear populations (Apalachicola, Big Cypress, and Ocala) have accounted for the greatest number of roadkill, particularly Ocala National Forest. Most recently, Gilbert et al. (2001) prioritized “chronic” bear roadkill areas using roadkill data and habitat characteristics. A subset of black bear roadkill locations (May 2001-September 2003) was evaluated as part of a larger study focusing on several variables, including changes in patterns of principal roadkill areas. Using a simple density analysis (ESRI), principal roadkill areas were identified as those areas which have three or more roadkill instances within a distance of one mile. A one-mile buffer was established surrounding each of these identified areas to ensure that all roadkill locations were included. From the established criteria and analysis, principal roadkill areas were defined during the time frame May 2001 through September 2003. These principal roadkill areas were located in Apalachicola, Chassahowitzka, Ocala, and St. Johns. The majority of the principal roadkill areas, similar to previous research (Gilbert and Wooding 1996), were identified in Ocala. Although the results from the 2001-2003 analysis identified a number of principal roadkill areas documented by Gilbert and Wooding (1996) and Gilbert et al. (2001), several segments were no longer classified as principal roadkill areas, and a few new areas were documented. These new results prompted a re-evaluation of the data using the same time frame as Gilbert and Wooding (1996) as well as the full data set (1976-2004) to determine the causes of variation. These results identify trends in the occurrence of principal roadkill areas and determine re-occurring “chronic” areas. This evaluation provides information for managers and planners who must take direct management action in an effort to minimize road impacts on bears