Population structure, size, and the thermal ecology of Iowa wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta): A comparison between suburban and rural populations

Population structure, population size, and the thermal ecology of wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) was studied in a suburban population in Black Hawk County (BHC) and compared to a rural population in Butler County (BC), Iowa. In a suburban population of 35 wood turtles, 32 (91.4%) were adults distributed in a 1:1 sex ratio [16 (45.7%) females and 16 (45.7%) males], and 3 (8.6%) were juveniles. In the rural population, 60 (98.4% of the total population) adult turtles were distributed in a 3:2 sex ratio [36 (59.0%) females and 24 (39.3%) males], and one (1.7%) juvenile was located. Population structure was similar at both study sites and indicates that these populations consist of older adults with low numbers of juveniles. Thermal and ecological data were analyzed by population (study site), individual turtle, sex, and by activity period (Hibernation, Prenesting, Nesting, Postnesting, and Prehibernation). Between populations, mean annual body temperature was significantly greater among females when comparing BC 2004 data to BHC 2012 data. Males in BC had significantly higher annual mean body temperature when comparing both BC data from 2004 and 2005 to BHC 2012 data. Annual mean turtle percent exposure (PE) was only significantly different analyzed between populations: annual mean PE of females in BC during 2004 and 2005 was significantly greater than that of females in BHC during 2012. Similarly, males in BC had significantly greater annual mean PE in 2004 and 2005 compared to males in BHC during 2012. During active periods, behavior differed between populations; BHC turtles were hiding in water (females: 47.8%; males: 64.2%) more often compared to BC turtles (females: 19.7%; males: 16.0%). Female wood turtles in BC basked on land more frequently (27.2%) than BHC turtles (11.0%). In BHC, wood turtles (females: 14.5%; males: 12.6%) were observed hiding on land more frequently than BC turtles (females: 7.0%; males: 2.5%). Wood turtles in BHC display altered patterns of habitat usage and behavior compared to wood turtles in BC. This is perhaps due to differences in site physiography and levels of human impact, and ultimately manifests in altered thermal environments at each site

ARG Relevance as a Marketing Strategy in a Museum

This project explored the use of alternate reality games as a marketing strategy in a museum environment. An alternate reality game is a largely web-based virtual scavenger hunt where the players find information and solve puzzles to uncover a story. The setting for the game was the Higgins Armory Museum. The project created and ran an ARG, analyzing what tactics worked or did poorly in stirring interest in the museum

Toward a sustainable biomedical research enterprise: Finding consensus and implementing recommendations

The US research enterprise is under significant strain due to stagnant funding, an expanding workforce, and complex regulations that increase costs and slow the pace of research. In response, a number of groups have analyzed the problems and offered recommendations for resolving these issues. However, many of these recommendations lacked follow-up implementation, allowing the damage of stagnant funding and outdated policies to persist. Here, we analyze nine reports published since the beginning of 2012 and consolidate over 250 suggestions into eight consensus recommendations made by the majority of the reports. We then propose how to implement these consensus recommendations, and we identify critical issues, such as improving workforce diversity and stakeholder interactions, on which the community has yet to achieve consensus

The role of personal relationships in supply chain disruptions: Perspectives from buyers and suppliers of logistics services

Orientation: Firms can no longer rely on their own internal capabilities to operate in dynamic business environments but rather depend on buyer–supplier relationships to resolve and survive supply chain disruptions. Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the underlying role of personal buyer–supplier relationships in a supply chain disruption context. Motivation for the study: Previous research studies have focussed solely on the role of business relationships in a supply chain disruption context, while neglecting personal relationships. Research design, approach and method: A generic qualitative research strategy was used for this purpose. Eighteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine buyers and nine suppliers of logistics services who were involved in personal relationships during supply chain disruptions. Main findings: The findings of this study indicate the attributes that must be present for a personal relationship to form in a supply chain disruption context, along with the various advantages and disadvantages that are derived from personal relationships in times of supply chain disruption. Practical/managerial implications: For managers, this study identifies various attributes, advantages and disadvantages of personal relationships in supply chain disruptions, therefore equipping managers to extract value from personal relationships in supply chain disruptions. Contribution/value-add: Academically, this study expands the literature by being one of the first empirical studies to conduct research on the role of buyer–supplier personal relationships in the third-party logistics supply chain disruption context

Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM): Unified Precipitation Estimation From Space

Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) is an international satellite mission that uses measurements from an advanced radar/radiometer system on a Core Observatory as reference standards to unify and advance precipitation estimates through a constellation of research and operational microwave sensors. GPM is a science mission focusing on a key component of the Earth's water and energy cycle, delivering near real-time observations of precipitation for monitoring severe weather events, freshwater resources, and other societal applications. This work presents the GPM mission design, together with descriptions of sensor characteristics, inter-satellite calibration, retrieval methodologies, ground validation activities, and societal applications

Functionalisation of bolaamphiphiles with mononuclear bis(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) complexes for application in self assembled monolayers

A novel ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex connected competently to a bolaamphiphile, containing amide linkages to provide rigidity via hydrogen bonding in the monolayer, has been prepared. The ruthenium(II) complexes of this ligand and of the intermediates in the synthesis were prepared by modification of the coordinated ligands, demonstrating the synthetic versatility and robustness of this family of complexes. All ruthenium complexes were characterised by electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques and were found to have similar properties to the parent complex [Ru(bipy)[3]][2][+], and remain versatile photosensitisers, with well-defined properties, despite extensive substitution of the bipy ligand

<i>In situ</i> EPR and Raman spectroscopy in the curing of bis-methacrylate-styrene resins

The curing of bis-methacrylate-styrene resins initiated by the cobalt catalyzed decomposition of cumyl hydroperoxide is monitored at ambient temperatures in situ by EPR and Raman spectroscopy. EPR spectroscopy shows the appearance of organic radicals after ca. 1 h from initiation with an increase in intensity from both polystyrene and methacrylate based radical species over a further ca. 2 h period to reach a maximum spin concentration of ca. 2-3 mM. Alkene conversion to polymer was monitored by Raman spectroscopy in real time in situ with EPR spectroscopy and reveals that the appearance of the radical signals is first observed only as the conversion approaches its maximum extent (70% at room temperature), i.e., the resin reaches a glass-like state. The radicals persist for several months on standing at room temperature. Flash frozen samples (77 K) did not show EPR signals within 1 h of initiation. The nature of the radicals responsible for the EPR spectra observed were explored by DFT methods and isotope labelling experiments (D8-styrene) and correspond to radicals of both methacrylate and polystyrene. Combined temperature dependent EPR and Raman spectroscopy shows that conversion increases rapidly upon heating of a cured sample, reaching full conversion at 80 °C with initially little effect on the EPR spectrum. Over time (i.e. subsequent to reaching full conversion of alkene) there was a small but clear increase in the EPR signal due to the methacrylate based radicals and minor decrease in the signal due to the polystyrene based radicals. The appearance of the radical signals as the reaction reaches completion and their absence in samples flash frozen before polymerization has halted, indicate that the observed radicals are non-propagating. The formation of the radicals due to stress within the samples is excluded. Hence, the observed radicals are a representative of the steady state concentration of radicals present in the resin over the entire timespan of the polymerization. The data indicate that the lack of EPR signals is most likely due to experimental aspects, in particular spin saturation, rather than low steady state concentrations of propagating radicals during polymerization.</p

Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) Mission: Enabling Time-Resolved Cloud and Precipitation Observations from 6U-Class Satellite Constellations

The Temporal Experiment for Storms and Tropical Systems Technology Demonstration (TEMPEST-D) mission is to demonstrate the capability of 6U-Class satellite constellations to perform repeat-pass radiometry to measure clouds and precipitation with high temporal resolution on a global basis. The TEMPEST mission concept is to improve understanding of clouds and precipitation by providing critical information on their time evolution in different climatic regimes. Measuring at five frequencies from 89 to 182 GHz, TEMPEST-D millimeter-wave radiometers are capable of penetrating into the cloud to observe changes as precipitation begins or ice accumulates inside the storm. The TEMPEST-D flight model radiometer instrument has been completed, passed functional testing, vibration testing and self-compatibility testing with the XB1 spacecraft bus. The next steps for the TEMPEST-D millimeter-wave radiometer are thermal vacuum testing and antenna pattern measurements. The complete TEMPEST-D flight system will be delivered to NanoRacks for launch integration in the autumn of 2017, in preparation for launch to the ISS in the second quarter of 2018, with deployment shortly thereafter into a nominal orbit at 400-km altitude and 51.6° inclination