Documenting Basline Winter Activity Levels of Bats in Montana with Acoustic Monitoring

We deployed acoustic monitoring stations at 3 locations (Lewis & Clark Caverns, Toeckes Cave, and McDonald Mine) in Montana from January through mid-May, 2011. The goal of this monitoring effort was to document winter base-line activity data to potentially use acoustic monitoring as a surveillance tool for White-nose syndrome (WNS). Each monitoring station was equipped with an Anabat detector, temperature data logger, and solar panel array to allow long-term, remote monitoring. The monitoring stations recorded bat activity (bat passes) and temperature outside of hibernacula. External monitoring minimized potential human disturbance to the hibernating bats or any potential spread of Geomyces destructans, the fungus responsible for WNS. Studies conducted by Bat Conservation International at White-nose syndrome affected hibernacula in the eastern U.S., have shown dramatic increases in activity levels at WNS vs. non-infected WNS sites during the hibernation period. If this pattern also holds true in the western U.S., documenting pre-WNS baseline activity levels may allow for acoustic monitoring as a surveillance tool for potential spread of WNS

Bat Activity Patterns and Roost Selection in Managed Forests

The recent introduction and subsequent westward spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) has decimated hibernating bat populations in eastern North America and created an urgent need for scientists to understand basic information about bat ecology, especially during the winter season. White-nose syndrome has killed between 5 and 7 million bats and continues to spread westward from the eastern U.S. and southern Canada, primarily affecting bats during hibernation. Acoustic monitoring has been suggested as a potential surveillance tool for detecting WNS; however, baseline information must first be collected to test this technique.  We initiated a pilot project in June 2014 by deploying 2 remote acoustic monitoring stations in western Montana’s managed forests collecting baseline acoustic information. We also conducted radio telemetry to determine characteristics of roosts used by bats during the fall season. Thus far we have recorded 11 of Montana’s 15 bat species, and observed extremely high activity levels during the summer. We radio-tagged 5 bats of 3 different species (California myotis, Western small-footed myotis, Silver-haired bat) and tracked them in late October and early November. Identifying the characteristics of roost sites used during the pre-hibernation period, and the annual activity patterns determined from acoustic monitoring, begin to form the foundation for understanding basic aspects of bat ecology during the season when Montana bats will be most susceptible to WNS

Bat Activity Patterns and Roost Selection in Managed Forests

The recent introduction and subsequent westward spread of white-nose syndrome (WNS) has decimated hibernating bat populations in eastern North America and created an urgent need for scientists to understand basic information about bat ecology, especially during the winter season. White-nose syndrome has killed between 5 and 7 million bats and continues to spread westward from the eastern U.S. and southern Canada, primarily affecting bats during hibernation. Acoustic monitoring has been suggested as a potential surveillance tool for detecting WNS; however, baseline information must first be collected to test this technique.  Recent interests in habitat for resident bats has focused on managed forests, particularly in western Montana, where caves used as communal winter hibernacula are not abundant.  We initiated a pilot project in June 2014 deploying 2 remote acoustic monitoring stations on Plum Creek property in Flathead County and adding an additional 2 stations in forests owned by Stoltze Land and Lumber and Stimson Lumber Company in May 2015 to collect baseline acoustic information. We also conducted radio telemetry to determine characteristics of roosts used by bats during the fall season in 2014 and 2015. Thus far we have acoustically detected 11 of Montana’s 15 bat species, observed extremely high activity levels during the summer, and detected bat activity during every month of the year. We radio-tagged 14 bats of 4 different species; California myotis (Myotis californicus), Western small-footed myotis (Myotis ciliolabrum), Silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and tracked them in late October and early November. Identifying the characteristics of roost sites used during the pre-hibernation period, and the annual activity patterns determined from acoustic monitoring, begin to form the foundation for understanding basic aspects of bat ecology during the season when Montana bats will be most susceptible to WNS

The UNE Flu Crew: An Interprofessional Influenza Prevention Team

Research poster stemming from IPEC mini-grant funded student project The UNE Flu Crew: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Assessment of Knowledge, Beliefs and Perceptions surrounding Influenza Immunizations and the Promotion of Preventing Infection. Osteopathic medicine and public health students collaborated to assess the knowledge and perceptions regarding the influenza vaccine among the University of New England’s student and faculty populations. The project also provided a peer-to-peer education model where members of the Flu Crew designed a teaching curriculum and provided community outreach to the UNE Biddeford campus and local community schools.https://dune.une.edu/minigrant_flucrew/1001/thumbnail.jp

Summer thermal structure and anticyclonic circulation of Lake Erie

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95057/1/grl29007.pd

Lake Erie hypoxia prompts Canada‐U.S. study

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95631/1/eost15589.pd

A pro-resolving role for Galectin-1 in acute inflammation

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) exerts immune-regulatory and anti-inflammatory actions in animal models of acute and chronic inflammation. Its release into the extracellular milieu often correlates with the peak of inflammation suggesting that it may serve a pro-resolving function. Gal-1 is reported to inhibit neutrophil recruitment and induce surface exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS), an “eat me” signal on the surface of neutrophils, yet its role in resolution remains to be fully elucidated. We hypothesized that the anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving properties of Gal-1 are mediated through its ability to inhibit neutrophil recruitment and potentiate neutrophil clearance. To investigate this, a murine model of self-resolving inflammation was utilized to uncover the role of both the endogenous and exogenous protein using Gal-1 null mice and recombinant protein, respectively. We found that peritoneal macrophages express increased Gal-1 during the resolution phase and enhanced neutrophil recruitment occurs in the early phases of zymosan peritonitis in Gal-1 null mice compared to their wild-type (WT) counterparts. Administration of recombinant Gal-1 following the peak of inflammation led to reduced neutrophil numbers at 24 and 48 h, shortening the resolution interval from 39 to 14 h. Gal-1 treatment also enhanced neutrophil apoptosis, indicating a pro-resolving action. Together these results indicate an important role for Gal-1 in the timely resolution of acute inflammation

Three Hypervelocity White Dwarfs in Gaia DR2: Evidence for Dynamically Driven Double-Degenerate Double-Detonation Type Ia Supernovae

Double detonations in double white dwarf (WD) binaries undergoing unstable mass transfer have emerged in recent years as one of the most promising Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) progenitor scenarios. One potential outcome of this "dynamically driven double-degenerate double-detonation" (D^6) scenario is that the companion WD survives the explosion and is flung away with a velocity equal to its > 1000 km/s pre-SN orbital velocity. We perform a search for these hypervelocity runaway WDs using Gaia's second data release. In this paper, we discuss seven candidates followed up with ground-based instruments. Three sources are likely to be some of the fastest known stars in the Milky Way, with total Galactocentric velocities between 1000 and 3000 km/s, and are consistent with having previously been companion WDs in pre-SN Ia systems. However, although the radial velocity of one of the stars is > 1000 km/s, the radial velocities of the other two stars are puzzlingly consistent with 0. The combined five-parameter astrometric solutions from Gaia and radial velocities from follow-up spectra yield tentative 6D confirmation of the D^6 scenario. The past position of one of these stars places it within a faint, old SN remnant, further strengthening the interpretation of these candidates as hypervelocity runaways from binary systems that underwent SNe Ia.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. Minor corrections for clarity. D6 spectra are available as ancillary data file