Maternity colony of Northern Long-eared Myotis (\u3ci\u3eMyotis septentrionalis\u3c/i\u3e) in a human-made structure in Nebraska

The Northern Long-eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) occurs across eastern North America, and its range extends west into the Great Plains of the United States. Summer roosts of M. septentrionalis in the Great Plains are not well documented. Herein we describe a maternity colony of M. septentrionalis using small, elevated structures (i.e., cabins) in southeastern Nebraska. Cabins were in a small parcel of upland deciduous forest about 1.6 km from the Missouri River. The maternity colony was observed roosting in a space between the outer and inner walls of three different cabins from 21 June to 8 October 2014. Counts of individuals using the cabins suggest that the colony started to disband after mid-August. Identifying and monitoring maternity roosts of M. septentrionalis in the Great Plains will be important to effectively manage this federally threatened species, especially as the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome spreads into the region

Maternity colony of Northern Long-eared Myotis (\u3ci\u3eMyotis septentrionalis\u3c/i\u3e) in a human-made structure in Nebraska

The Northern Long-eared Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) occurs across eastern North America, and its range extends west into the Great Plains of the United States. Summer roosts of M. septentrionalis in the Great Plains are not well documented. Herein we describe a maternity colony of M. septentrionalis using small, elevated structures (i.e., cabins) in southeastern Nebraska. Cabins were in a small parcel of upland deciduous forest about 1.6 km from the Missouri River. The maternity colony was observed roosting in a space between the outer and inner walls of three different cabins from 21 June to 8 October 2014. Counts of individuals using the cabins suggest that the colony started to disband after mid-August. Identifying and monitoring maternity roosts of M. septentrionalis in the Great Plains will be important to effectively manage this federally threatened species, especially as the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome spreads into the region

Hiding in the swamp: new capillariid nematode parasitizing New Zealand brown mudfish

The extent of New Zealand's freshwater fish-parasite diversity has yet to be fully revealed, with host–parasite relationships still to be described from nearly half the known fish community. While advances in the number of fish species examined and parasite taxa described are being made, some parasite groups, such as nematodes, remain poorly understood. In the present study we combined morphological and molecular analyses to characterize a capillariid nematode found infecting the swim bladder of the brown mudfish Neochanna apoda, an endemic New Zealand fish from peat-swamp-forests. Morphologically, the studied nematodes are distinct from other Capillariinae taxa by the features of the male posterior end, namely the shape of the bursa lobes, and shape of spicule distal end. Male specimens were classified into three different types according to differences in the shape of the bursa lobes at the posterior end, but only one was successfully characterized molecularly. Molecular analysis indicated that the studied capillariid is distinct from other genera. However, inferences about the phylogenetic position of the capillariid reported here will remain uncertain, due to the limited number of Capillariinae taxa characterized molecularly. The discovery of this new capillariid, which atypically infects the swim bladder of its host, which itself inhabits a very unique ecosystem, underlines the very interesting evolutionary history of this parasite, which for now will remain unresolved

The Radio Spectrum of TVLM513-46546: Constraints on the Coronal Properties of a Late M Dwarf

We explore the radio emission from the M9 dwarf, TVLM513-46546, at multiple radio frequencies, determining the flux spectrum of persistent radio emission, as well as constraining the levels of circular polarization. Detections at both 3.6 and 6 cm provide spectral index measurement $\alpha$ (where S$_{\nu} \propto \nu^{\alpha}$) of $-0.4\pm0.1$. A detection at 20 cm suggests that the spectral peak is between 1.4 and 5 GHz. The most stringent upper limits on circular polarization are at 3.6 and 6 cm, with $V/I <$15%. These characteristics agree well with those of typical parameters for early to mid M dwarfs, confirming that magnetic activity is present at levels comparable with those extrapolated from earlier M dwarfs. We apply analytic models to investigate the coronal properties under simple assumptions of dipole magnetic field geometry and radially varying nonthermal electron density distributions. Requiring the spectrum to be optically thin at frequencies higher than 5 GHz and reproducing the observed 3.6 cm fluxes constrains the magnetic field at the base to be less than about 500 G. There is no statistically significant periodicity in the 3.6 cm light curve, but it is consistent with low-level variability.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Characterizing mixed mode oscillations shaped by noise and bifurcation structure

Many neuronal systems and models display a certain class of mixed mode oscillations (MMOs) consisting of periods of small amplitude oscillations interspersed with spikes. Various models with different underlying mechanisms have been proposed to generate this type of behavior. Stochastic versions of these models can produce similarly looking time series, often with noise-driven mechanisms different from those of the deterministic models. We present a suite of measures which, when applied to the time series, serves to distinguish models and classify routes to producing MMOs, such as noise-induced oscillations or delay bifurcation. By focusing on the subthreshold oscillations, we analyze the interspike interval density, trends in the amplitude and a coherence measure. We develop these measures on a biophysical model for stellate cells and a phenomenological FitzHugh-Nagumo-type model and apply them on related models. The analysis highlights the influence of model parameters and reset and return mechanisms in the context of a novel approach using noise level to distinguish model types and MMO mechanisms. Ultimately, we indicate how the suite of measures can be applied to experimental time series to reveal the underlying dynamical structure, while exploiting either the intrinsic noise of the system or tunable extrinsic noise.Comment: 22 page

Digital Media Player Controls Supporting Music Education

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Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Ultracompact Blue Dwarf Galaxy HS 0822+3542: An Assembling Galaxy in a Local Void?

We present deep U, narrow-V, and I-band images of the ultracompact blue dwarf galaxy HS 0822+3542, obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys / High Resolution Channel of the Hubble Space Telescope. This object is extremely metal-poor (12 + log(O/H) = 7.45) and resides in a nearby void. The images resolve it into two physically separate components that were previously described as star clusters in a single galaxy. The primary component is only \~100 pc in maximum extent, and consists of starburst region surrounded by a ring-like structure of relatively redder stars. The secondary component is ~50 pc in size and lies at a projected distance of ~80 pc away from the primary, and is also actively star-forming. We estimate masses ~10^7 M(sol) and ~10^6 M(sol) for the two components, based on their luminosities, with an associated dynamical timescale for the system of a few Myr. This timescale and the structure of the components suggests that a collision between them triggered their starbursts. The spectral energy distributions of both components can be fitted by the combination of recent (few Myr old) starburst and an evolved (several Gyr old) underlying stellar population, similar to larger blue compact dwarf galaxies. This indicates that despite its metal deficiency the object is not forming its first generation of stars. However, the small sizes and masses of the two components suggests that HS 0822+3542 represents a dwarf galaxy in the process of assembling from clumps of stars intermediate in size between globular clusters and objects previously classified as galaxies. Its relatively high ratio of neutral gas mass to stellar mass (~1) and high specific star formation rate, log(SFR/M(sol) = -9.2, suggests that it is still converting much of its gas to stars.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

The Spockian Mother: Images of the “Good” Mother in Dr. Spock’s The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, 1946-1992

Dr. Spock’s, The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care, one of the best-selling self-help texts of all-time, “second only to the Bible in popularity” (Meakin & Tattersall, 2004) was one of the most influential childcare books in American culture. The author has been both heralded and disparaged as instrumental in the shaping of untold generations. In the present study, we address the rhetorical construction of the Spockian Mother as she is developed during Spock’s tenure from 1946–1992. We employ a feminist rhetorical perspective to examine the progression of Spock’s texts in order to understand how patriarchal images of motherhood are constructed and maintained through Spock’s lifetime and the first 46 years of its publication. We argue that Spock both reinforced and challenged the institution of motherhood; he challenged institutionalized motherhood by encouraging mothers to “trust themselves” while simultaneously conforming to a patriarchal model of motherhood which is at odds with empowered mothering