Status of the Plains Harvest Mouse (\u3ci\u3eReithrodontomys montanus griseus\u3c/i\u3e) in eastern Nebraska

In eastern Nebraska, current status of the Plains Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys montanus griseus) is not well understood. Infrequent captures during the last century have led to a paucity of information regarding this taxon, and some researchers postulate that its distribution has contracted in the state. In 2008, we conducted a field survey for R. m. griseus in eastern Nebraska, amassed prior specimen records, and examined most of the specimens for this subspecies from the state to better understand its distribution, natural history, and subspecific status. In our field efforts, we only captured a single individual despite \u3e 8,000 trap nights in suitable habitats. Our literature review and queries for vouchers yielded 20 specimens of R. m. griseus from eastern Nebraska, based on published distributional limits for this subspecies. In eastern Nebraska, R. m. griseus has been captured in tallgrass prairies, short-grass upland pastures, roadside ditches, and open areas associated with salt flats. Observations across eastern Nebraska in the last 40 years demonstrate that this taxon still exists across the entire region and has been captured more frequently in cooler months. We suspect that some combination of low abundance, trap shyness, and trapping biases towards heavily vegetated habitats and warm seasons likely has led to infrequent captures of R. m. griseus in eastern Nebraska. After examination of many museum specimens of this species from across Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, we questioned the delineations in distribution for the two subspecies in the region. On the basis of dorsal gray fur coloration, R. m. albescens appears limited to the Sandhill and Panhandle regions of Nebraska, whereas all of eastern and southern Nebraska as well as Kansas and western Missouri represent R. m. griseus, a subspecies with brown dorsal fur coloration. Based on our proposed distributional changes for these two subspecies in Nebraska, we do not find that either subspecies requires conservation efforts. Reithrodontomys montanus griseus likely will persist at low densities throughout eastern Nebraska in appropriate habitats and persist at higher densities farther westward in southern parts of the state. Reithrodontomys montanus albescens always has been more common in the Sandhill Region of Nebraska, as individuals still are observed and captured with regularity

Habitat Selection by the Endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse on an Irrigated Floodplain

The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius luteus is endemic to the American Southwest. It has undergone severe declines in distribution over the past century and it has been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The goal of this study was to determine current status and habitat selection by the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse at three spatial scales (landscape, macrohabitat, microhabitat) on a managed highorder floodplain. We hypothesized that the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse is a habitat specialist that might rely on specific habitat components at multiple spatial scales. The study occurred at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. In comparison with the status of the species 2 decades ago, the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse was rare, with only 29 individuals captured. Trapping results and radiotelemetry of 20 individuals revealed that the current population existed along 2.7 km of a single irrigation canal. At the landscape scale, the distribution of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse was determined by selection of canals, water, foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum herbaceous temporarily flooded association, and narrowleaf willow Salix exigua mesic graminoids shrubland association. At the macrohabitat scale, jumping mice selected canals and Hordeum jubatum herbaceous temporarily flooded association. At the microhabitat scale, jumping mice selected areas that were near water and contained moist soils, dense herbaceous canopy cover, dogbane Apocynum cannabinum, foxtail barley, and common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens; jumping mice avoided habitats represented by eight plant species, including mule-fat Baccharis salicifolia, kochia Bassia scoparia, and saltcedar Tamarix ramosissima. Jumping mice only occurred where there is an overlap of the required habitats at all three scales and this may be a key limiting factor for the New Mexico meadow jumping mice at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Habitats used by jumping mice during maternal nesting and hibernation contained more woody plants and woody debris than at other times of their life cycle. Information gained from this study can help land managers protect and create habitat conditions required by the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse

UNUSUAL WINTERING DISTRIBUTION AND MIGRATORY BEHAVIOR OF THE WHOOPING CRANE (GRUS AMERICANA) IN 2011–2012

The last, self-sustaining population of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana), the Aransas-Wood Buffalo population, has overwintered almost exclusively along the Gulf Coast of Texas, USA, in and around the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge during recent decades. In late autumn and winter 2011–2012, Whooping Cranes were observed several hundred kilometers from coastal wintering grounds, with at least 13 Whooping Cranes in central Texas, south-central Kansas, and central Nebraska from November 2011 to early March 2012. Notably, family groups of Whooping Cranes were observed around a Texas reservoir, Granger Lake, over a 3-month period. An extreme drought, coupled with record warm temperatures in the southern and central United States, may have interacted to influence behaviors and distributions of Whooping Cranes during winter 2011–2012. Such observations suggest that Whooping Cranes may be more opportunistic in use of wintering habitat and/or more likely to re-colonize inland historical sites than previously thought. Continued documentation of Whooping Cranes overwintering in areas other than the Texas coast and/or altering timing of migration will be important for protection and management of additional winter habitat as well as for informing population estimates for the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population of Whooping Cranes

A Uniformly Derived Catalogue of Exoplanets from Radial Velocities

A new catalogue of extrasolar planets is presented by re-analysing a selection of published radial velocity data sets using EXOFIT (Balan & Lahav 2009). All objects are treated on an equal footing within a Bayesian framework, to give orbital parameters for 94 exoplanetary systems. Model selection (between one- and two-planet solutions) is then performed, using both a visual flagging method and a standard chi-square analysis, with agreement between the two methods for 99% of the systems considered. The catalogue is to be made available online, and this 'proof of concept' study may be maintained and extended in the future to incorporate all systems with publicly available radial velocity data, as well as transit and microlensing data.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, 6 table

Eddington-Limited Accretion in z~2 WISE-selected Hot, Dust-Obscured Galaxies

Hot, Dust-Obscured Galaxies, or "Hot DOGs", are a rare, dusty, hyperluminous galaxy population discovered by the WISE mission. Predominantly at redshifts 2-3, they include the most luminous known galaxies in the universe. Their high luminosities likely come from accretion onto highly obscured super massive black holes (SMBHs). We have conducted a pilot survey to measure the SMBH masses of five z~2 Hot DOGs via broad H_alpha emission lines, using Keck/MOSFIRE and Gemini/FLAMINGOS-2. We detect broad H_alpha emission in all five Hot DOGs. We find substantial corresponding SMBH masses for these Hot DOGs (~ 10^{9} M_sun), and their derived Eddington ratios are close to unity. These z~2 Hot DOGs are the most luminous AGNs at given BH masses, suggesting they are accreting at the maximum rates for their BHs. A similar property is found for known z~6 quasars. Our results are consistent with scenarios in which Hot DOGs represent a transitional, high-accretion phase between obscured and unobscured quasars. Hot DOGs may mark a special evolutionary stage before the red quasar and optical quasar phases, and they may be present at other cosmic epochs.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures. Accepted by Ap

Tearless Logic Model

Even among people who know and have seen the value of logic models, the term can “strike fear into the hearts” of experienced community psychologists and veteran non-profit staff and board members alike. Add the phrase “outcome-based planning” and you are likely to energize those you are working with to run as fast as possible for the door. Such technical terms may confuse and intimidate community members and grassroots partners who are the foundation of the practice of community psychology. At the same time, organizations can benefit from time spent on outcome-based planning, especially in developing a well-conceived logic model

Field Evaluation of Commercially Available Small Unmanned Aircraft Crop Spray Systems

Agricultural research and development on small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) has been directed toward UAS enabled sensing to detect features of interest. While compelling, there is an immediate need to increase the breadth and depth of UAS-based research, to move beyond sensing, and explore active intervention in agricultural production systems. This paper is focused on the concept of crop protection through ultra-precise, unmanned aerial application systems, and seeks to initiate research discussion in this important area of opportunity. Toward this end, two different, commercially available, small Unmanned Aerial Application Systems (sUAAS - defined as less than 55 lbs. maximum take-off weight) were evaluated for operational techniques and application system efficacy under dynamic field conditions. The performance of the factory supplied spray equipment systems are documented using traditional aerial spray testing methods that have been modified for UAS enabled application systems, referred to as small Unmanned Aerial Application Systems (sUAAS). Results from initial testing protocols indicate that the factory supplied systems are quite different in design and implementation, with spray test results that reflect this difference in design, in both deposition and spray swath. Further, it is apparent that with the advent of unmanned aerial application systems, and the unique characteristics of the integrated aircraft and application systems, there is a very real need for the development of standardized sUAAS testing procedures

Reflections on the Writing Process: Guiding the Work of Writing

A heuristic process was used to examine the experience of teaching writing for publication. Faculty and student reflections are presented

Update to the Vitamin C, Thiamine and Steroids in Sepsis (VICTAS) protocol: statistical analysis plan for a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, adaptive sample size, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Observational research suggests that combined therapy with Vitamin C, thiamine and hydrocortisone may reduce mortality in patients with septic shock. METHODS AND DESIGN: The Vitamin C, Thiamine and Steroids in Sepsis (VICTAS) trial is a multicenter, double-blind, adaptive sample size, randomized, placebo-controlled trial designed to test the efficacy of combination therapy with vitamin C (1.5 g), thiamine (100 mg), and hydrocortisone (50 mg) given every 6 h for up to 16 doses in patients with respiratory or circulatory dysfunction (or both) resulting from sepsis. The primary outcome is ventilator- and vasopressor-free days with mortality as the key secondary outcome. Recruitment began in August 2018 and is ongoing; 501 participants have been enrolled to date, with a planned maximum sample size of 2000. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board reviewed interim results at N = 200, 300, 400 and 500, and has recommended continuing recruitment. The next interim analysis will occur when N = 1000. This update presents the statistical analysis plan. Specifically, we provide definitions for key treatment and outcome variables, and for intent-to-treat, per-protocol, and safety analysis datasets. We describe the planned descriptive analyses, the main analysis of the primary end point, our approach to secondary and exploratory analyses, and handling of missing data. Our goal is to provide enough detail that our approach could be replicated by an independent study group, thereby enhancing the transparency of the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03509350. Registered on 26 April 2018

WHOOPING CRANE STAY LENGTH IN RELATION TO STOPOVER SITE CHARACTERISTICS

Whooping crane (Grus americana) migratory stopovers can vary in length from hours to more than a month. Stopover sites provide food resources and safety essential for the completion of migration. Factors such as weather, climate, demographics of migrating groups, and physiological condition of migrants influence migratory movements of cranes (Gruidae) to varying degrees. However, little research has examined the relationship between habitat characteristics and stopover stay length in cranes. Site quality may relate to stay length with longer stays that allow individuals to improve body condition, or with shorter stays because of increased foraging efficiency. We examined this question by using habitat data collected at 605 use locations from 449 stopover sites throughout the United States Great Plains visited by 58 whooping cranes from the Aransas–Wood Buffalo Population tracked with platform transmitting terminals. Research staff compiled land cover (e.g., hectares of corn; landscape level) and habitat metric (e.g., maximum water depth; site level) data for day use and evening roost locations via site visits and geospatial mapping. We used Random Forest regression analyses to estimate importance of covariates for predicting stopover stay length. Site-level variables explained 9% of variation in stay length, whereas landscape-level variables explained 43%. Stay length increased with latitude and the proportion of land cover as open-water slough with emergent vegetation as well as alfalfa, whereas stay length decreased as open-water lacustrine wetland land cover increased. At the site level, stopover duration increased with wetted width at riverine sites but decreased with wetted width at palustrine and lacustrine wetland sites. Stopover duration increased with mean distance to visual obstruction as well as where management had reduced the height of vegetation through natural (e.g., grazing) or mechanical (e.g., harvesting) means and decreased with maximum water depth. Our results suggest that stopover length increases with the availability of preferred land cover types for foraging. High quality stopover sites with abundant forage resources may help whooping cranes maintain fat reserves important to their annual life cycle