Mexican Spotted Owl Site Occupancy Trends and Small Mammal Abundance in the Canyonlands of Utah

The Mexican Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) is widely distributed in forest habitat from the central highlands of Mexico north to the four-corners region of the southwest U.S.  However, in southern Utah, Mexican Spotted Owls are only found in arid rocky canyonlands, e.g., ~30 owl pairs occupy narrow canyons within Zion National Park, and up to 10 territories occur in Capitol Reef National Park.  We studied the owl’s territorial occupancy and primary prey species in Capitol Reef and adjacent environs during 2000-2015.  We recorded Spotted Owl territorial occupancy states, including absence, single, or owl pair (and we searched for young).  At a sample of territories, we measured relative abundance of primary prey species (Neotoma and Peromyscus spp.) using mark-recapture techniques.  We were specifically interested in Woodrats and White-footed Mice because they have been identified as the primary prey of Spotted Owls in rocky canyon habitat using pellet analysis.  We successfully captured, marked, and released over 6000 small mammals of various species at five owl territories in Capitol Reef and three territories in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM).  We also recorded various habitat measurements at each small mammal trap location.  Spotted Owl territorial occupancy varied strongly during 2000-2007 in GSENM, and during 2013-2015 in Capitol Reef.  We observed that low site occupancy in GSENM was correlated with low relative abundance of prey species, and associated with a severe drought throughout the region.  During 2013 and 2014 in Capitol Reef, we observed low owl occupancy, with only one occupied territory.  During 2015, six extinct territories were re-colonized by Spotted Owls, however, small mammal abundance declined during 2013 to 2015.  We will continue to measure long-term patterns among owl occupancy, prey relative abundance, vegetation changes and variation in climate

Nonenzymatic Glucosylation of Rat Albumin: Studies in Vitro and in Vivo

Incubation of rat serum with D-glucose in vitro resulted in nonenzymatic glucosylation of serum proteins. Analysis of freshly isolated rat albumin by ion exchange chromatography indicated that the glucosylated albumin accounts for 6.7.+-. 0.9% of total albumin in normal rat serum. Glucosylation of rat albumin in vitro was 1st order with respect to glucose and albumin concentrations and occurs primarily (\u3e 90%) at intrachain lysine residues. Kinetic analysis and inhibition of glucosylation by aspirin suggest that 1 reactive lysine residue is the primary site of glucosylation. Less than 5% of the radioactivity from glucosyl-albumin was released as glucose or mannose by hydrolysis conditions normally used for the analysis of neutral sugars in glycoproteins. Studies in vivo demonstrated that the half-life of albumin in normal rats was unaffected by the addition of 1 mol of glucose/mol of albumin. In addition, glucosylation was a stable modification since 125i-albumin isolated up to 3 days after injection of glucosylated 125i-albumin was recovered only in the glucosylated fraction. In contrast, following injection of unglucosylated 125i-albumin there was a gradual shift of 125i radioactivity to the glucosylated albumin fraction, as would be predicted for nonenzymatic glucosylation occurring in the circulation. Finally, levels of glucosylated albumin isolated from diabetic rats (alloxan induced) were significantly (4-fold) elevated 4 days after withdrawal from insulin therapy. The rat should be a suitable animal model for in vivo studies on nonenzymatic glucosylation of albumin and other serum proteins in normal and diabetic metabolic states

A spectral solver for evolution problems with spatial S3-topology

We introduce a single patch collocation method in order to compute solutions of initial value problems of partial differential equations whose spatial domains are 3-spheres. Besides the main ideas, we discuss issues related to our implementation and analyze numerical test applications. Our main interest lies in cosmological solutions of Einstein's field equations. Motivated by this, we also elaborate on problems of our approach for general tensorial evolution equations when certain symmetries are assumed. We restrict to U(1)- and Gowdy symmetry here.Comment: 29 pages, 11 figures, uses psfrag and hyperref, large parts rewritten in order to match to the requirements of the journal, conclusions unchanged; J. Comput. Phys. (2009

Dynamics of chromosome organization in a minimal bacterial cell

Computational models of cells cannot be considered complete unless they include the most fundamental process of life, the replication and inheritance of genetic material. By creating a computational framework to model systems of replicating bacterial chromosomes as polymers at 10 bp resolution with Brownian dynamics, we investigate changes in chromosome organization during replication and extend the applicability of an existing whole-cell model (WCM) for a genetically minimal bacterium, JCVI-syn3A, to the entire cell-cycle. To achieve cell-scale chromosome structures that are realistic, we model the chromosome as a self-avoiding homopolymer with bending and torsional stiffnesses that capture the essential mechanical properties of dsDNA in Syn3A. In addition, the conformations of the circular DNA must avoid overlapping with ribosomes identitied in cryo-electron tomograms. While Syn3A lacks the complex regulatory systems known to orchestrate chromosome segregation in other bacteria, its minimized genome retains essential loop-extruding structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) protein complexes (SMC-scpAB) and topoisomerases. Through implementing the effects of these proteins in our simulations of replicating chromosomes, we find that they alone are sufficient for simultaneous chromosome segregation across all generations within nested theta structures. This supports previous studies suggesting loop-extrusion serves as a near-universal mechanism for chromosome organization within bacterial and eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, we analyze ribosome diffusion under the influence of the chromosome and calculate in silico chromosome contact maps that capture inter-daughter interactions. Finally, we present a methodology to map the polymer model of the chromosome to a Martini coarse-grained representation to prepare molecular dynamics models of entire Syn3A cells, which serves as an ultimate means of validation for cell states predicted by the WCM. </p

On Overreaching, or Why Rick Perry May Save the Voting Rights Act but Destroy Affirmative Action

Abstract The State of Texas is presently staking out two positions that are not typically pursued by a single litigant. On the one hand, Texas is seeking the invalidation of the Voting Rights Act, and, on the other, the State is now defending the validity of the expansive race-based affirmative action policy it uses at its flagship university. This Essay presses the claim that Texas has increased the chance it will lose in both Texas v. Holder and Fisher v. University of Texas because it has opted to stake out markedly extreme positions in each. I argue that Texas would be more likely to succeed had it chosen to temper both its actions and claims in the pending cases. As it stands, Texas's assertive stance in Fisher promises to bolster the aversion many Justices already feel towards affirmative action. With regard to the VRA, however, Texas's uncompromising approach to the regime may prove to be the VRA's best defense. As recent redistricting and voter ID decisions suggest, Texas's stance may be provide what is arguably better evidence for why the statute remains necessary than anything proffered by the VRA's many supporters. Indeed, the State's aggressively hostile stance towards the VRA has the potential to destabilize judicial misgivings about the statute, and, if not fully reverse them, postpone their implementation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98443/1/elj%2E2012%2E1147.pd

Mutations in fetal genes involved in innate immunity and host defense against microbes increase risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)

BackgroundTwin studies have revealed a significant contribution of the fetal genome to risk of preterm birth. Preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is the leading identifiable cause of preterm delivery. Infection and inflammation of the fetal membranes is commonly found associated with PPROM.MethodsWe carried out whole exome sequencing (WES) of genomic DNA from neonates born of Africanâ American mothers whose pregnancies were complicated by PPROM (76) or were normal term pregnancies (N = 43) to identify mutations in 35 candidate genes involved in innate immunity and host defenses against microbes. Targeted genotyping of mutations in the candidates discovered by WES was conducted on an additional 188 PPROM cases and 175 controls.ResultsWe identified rare heterozygous nonsense and frameshift mutations in several of the candidate genes, including CARD6, CARD8, DEFB1, FUT2, MBL2, NLP10, NLRP12, and NOD2. We discovered that some mutations (CARD6, DEFB1, FUT2, MBL2, NLRP10, NOD2) were present only in PPROM cases.ConclusionsWe conclude that rare damaging mutations in innate immunity and host defense genes, the majority being heterozygous, are more frequent in neonates born of pregnancies complicated by PPROM. These findings suggest that the risk of preterm birth in Africanâ Americans may be conferred by mutations in multiple genes encoding proteins involved in dampening the innate immune response or protecting the host against microbial infection and microbial products.Rare damaging mutations in fetal innate immunity and host defense genes, the majority being heterozygous, are more frequent in neonates born of pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of membranes. An increased risk of preterm birth may be conferred by mutations in multiple genes encoding proteins involved in dampening the innate immune response or protecting the host against microbial infection and microbial products.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140041/1/mgg3330.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/140041/2/mgg3330_am.pd

Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration: Strategies for Successful Reentry Final Report for Labyrinth Outreach Services for Women

Working with a local reentry organization, Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women, the purpose of this study was to gather information about opportunities and barriers related to two aspects of their program: employment services and establishment of a microbusiness. Information was obtained through a 22-item questionnaire given to a sample of local businesses, key informant interviews, and secondary data analysis. Thirty-nine businesses in the Bloomington-Normal area responded to the questionnaire via on-line and paper survey methods, nine face-to-face interviews were conducted, along with three case studies of similar reentry microbusiness programs and a review of current literature. Stigmas of formerly incarcerated women, such as being unmotivated, irresponsible, disobedient, and violent were found to be major barriers to hiring. Significant facilitators identified for increased consideration for employment were: having support of a job coach, professionalism, expressing passion for the job, and seeking jobs with low customer contact. Successful microbusinesses within similar reentry organizations involved realistic expectations, client control over business operations, local community involvement, practice of a holistic approach, insurance of high product quality, and a focus on multiple products. Major barriers identified were obtaining start-up capital and revenue not meeting expenses. The most appropriate structure was found to be a social enterprise, which focuses more on non-monetary benefits for the employees rather than a profit focus of a traditional microbusiness. Recommendations based on the findings were made to the client

Numerical Relativity: A review

Computer simulations are enabling researchers to investigate systems which are extremely difficult to handle analytically. In the particular case of General Relativity, numerical models have proved extremely valuable for investigations of strong field scenarios and been crucial to reveal unexpected phenomena. Considerable efforts are being spent to simulate astrophysically relevant simulations, understand different aspects of the theory and even provide insights in the search for a quantum theory of gravity. In the present article I review the present status of the field of Numerical Relativity, describe the techniques most commonly used and discuss open problems and (some) future prospects.Comment: 2 References added; 1 corrected. 67 pages. To appear in Classical and Quantum Gravity. (uses iopart.cls

Placental vascularity and markers of angiogenesis in relation to prenatal growth status in overnourished adolescent ewes.

INTRODUCTION: Placental vascularity may be important in the development of fetal growth restriction (FGR). The overnourished adolescent ewe is a robust model of the condition, with ∼50% of offspring demonstrating FGR (birthweight >2 standard deviations below optimally-fed control mean). We studied whether placental vascularity, angiogenesis and glucose transport reflect FGR severity. METHODS: Singleton pregnancies were established in adolescent ewes either overnourished to putatively restrict fetoplacental growth (n = 27) or control-fed (n = 12). At 131d (term = 145d) pregnancies were interrupted and fetuses classified as FGR (n = 17,  Non-FGR > FGR and fetal:placental weight ratios were higher in overnourished versus Control groups. COT vascular indices were Non-FGR > FGR > Control. COT-CAD, CSD and APC were significantly greater in Non-FGR overnourished versus Control and intermediate in FGR groups. CAR vascularity did not differ. CAR-VEGFA/FLT1/KDR/ANGPT1/ANGPT2/SLC2A1/SLC2A3 mRNA was lower and COT-ANGPT2 higher in overnourished versus Control groups. DISCUSSION: Relative to control-intake pregnancy, overnourished pregnancies are characterised by higher COT vascularity, potentially a compensatory response to reduced nutrient supply, reflected by higher fetal:placental weight ratios. Compared with overnourished pregnancies where fetal growth is relatively preserved, overnourished pregnancies culminating in marked FGR have less placental vascularity, suggesting incomplete adaptation to the prenatal insult