A multi-method approach to delineate and validate migratory corridors

Context: Managers are faced with numerous methods for delineating wildlife movement corridors, and often must make decisions with limited data. Delineated corridors should be robust to different data and models. Objectives: We present a multi-method approach for delineating and validating wildlife corridors using multiple data sources, which can be used conserve landscape connectivity. We used this approach to delineate and validate migration corridors for wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) in the Tarangire Ecosystem of northern Tanzania. Methods: We used two types of locational data (distance sampling detections and GPS collar locations), and three modeling methods (negative binomial regression, logistic regression, and Maxent), to generate resource selection functions (RSFs) and define resistance surfaces. We compared two corridor detection algorithms (cost-distance and circuit theory), to delineate corridors. We validated corridors by comparing random and wildebeest locations that fell within corridors, and cross-validated by data type. Results: Both data types produced similar RSFs. Wildebeest consistently selected migration habitat in flatter terrain farther from human settlements. Validation indicated three of the combinations of data type, modeling, and corridor detection algorithms (detection data with Maxent modeling, GPS collar data with logistic regression modeling, and GPS collar data with Maxent modeling, all using cost-distance) far outperformed the other seven. We merged the predictive corridors from these three data-method combinations to reveal habitat with highest probability of use. Conclusions: The use of multiple methods ensures that planning is able to prioritize conservation of migration corridors based on all available information

A Portable, High Resolution, Surface Measurement Device

A high resolution, portable, surface measurement device has been demonstrated to provide micron-resolution topographical plots. This device was specifically developed to allow in-situ measurements of defects on the Space Shuttle Orbiter windows, but is versatile enough to be used on a wide variety of surfaces. This paper discusses the choice of an optical sensor and then the decisions required to convert a lab bench optical measurement device into an ergonomic portable system. The necessary trade-offs between performance and portability are presented along with a description of the device developed to measure Orbiter window defects

Principal Roles, Work Demands, and Supports Needed to Implement New Teacher Evaluation

Policy makers at the federal level have embraced an educator effectiveness agenda, which in turn has driven many states across the country to rapidly develop and implement new and more complex teacher evaluation systems. It is increasingly clear that the success of these nascent teacher evaluation systems partly depends on the will, skill, and capacity of school principals, individuals who have historically been tasked with evaluating teachers. School principals have traditionally had, and will in most cases continue to have, primary responsibility for evaluating the 3.7 million public school teachers nationwide. While teacher evaluation innovations present several opportunities for improving instructional supervision and teacher quality, they also involve several challenges, especially on the part of principals. Time demands and cognitive challenges will be inevitable as principals learn about and implement new teacher evaluation systems. Simultaneously, other educational changes going to scale, including Common Core State Standards with aligned assessments and state school accountability systems, will compete for the attention of school leaders and teachers. Negotiating these changes to maximize the positive potential of evaluation reforms requires a commitment by states and districts to resources for training and support as well as policy coherence

Exploring the role of the patient–physician relationship on insulin adherence and clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes: Insights from the MOSAIc study

BackgroundThe 2‐year prospective MOSAIc (Multinational Observational Study assessing Insulin use: understanding the challenges associated with progression of therapy) study is investigating whether patient‐, physician‐, and health system‐related factors affect outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This baseline subanalysis investigated how aspects of the patient–physician relationship are associated with diabetes‐related distress, insulin adherence, and glycemic control.MethodsPatients with T2D taking insulin for ≥3 months were recruited at primary care and specialty practice sites in 18 countries. Physicians provided usual care. Clinical history and most recent HbA1c values were collected; patients were surveyed regarding their perception of physician interactions, diabetes‐related distress level, and insulin adherence.ResultsThe analysis population comprised 4341 patients. Four (of six) domains showed a significant relationship with total diabetes‐related distress (P < 0.01). Poor insulin adherence was associated with greater diabetes‐related distress (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.22), higher Discrimination (aOR 1.13; 95% CI 1.02–1.27) and Hurried Communication (aOR 1.35; 95% CI 1.20–1.53) scores, and a lower Explained Results score (aOR 0.86; 95% CI 0.77–0.97). Poor insulin adherence was associated with a 0.43% increase in HbA1c, whereas a 1‐unit increase in total diabetes‐related distress and Hurried Communication scores was associated with a 0.171% and 0.145% increase in HbA1c, respectively.ConclusionsPatients distressed about living with T2D, and dissatisfied with aspects of their interactions with physicians, exhibited poor insulin adherence. Perceived physician inattention and lack of engagement (and diabetes‐related distress) directly affect insulin adherence and glycemic control.背景为期2年的前瞻性MOSAIc(Multinational Observational Study assessing Insulin use: understanding the challenges associated with progression of therapy,评估胰岛素使用情况的多国观察性研究:了解治疗进展带来的挑战)研究调查了患者‐、医生‐、医疗卫生系统‐相关因素是否会对2型糖尿病患者的临床结局产生影响。这项基线亚组分析调查了患者‐医生关系对糖尿病相关的不适、胰岛素依从性以及血糖控制可造成何种影响。方法在18个国家的初级保健以及专业医疗机构中招募胰岛素使用时间≥ 3个月的2型糖尿病患者。医生提供了常规的医疗护理。收集临床病史以及最近的HbA1c值;调查患者对医患之间关系的看法、与糖尿病相关的不适程度以及胰岛素依从性。结果分析人群包含了4341名患者。(在6个领域中)有4个方面与总的糖尿病相关不适之间具有显著的相关性(P < 0.01)。胰岛素依从性差与较高的糖尿病相关不适(校正过的优势比[aOR]为1.14;95%置信区间[CI]为1.06‐1.22)、较高的歧视(aOR为1.13;95% CI为1.02‐1.27)和仓促沟通(aOR为1.35;95% CI为1.20‐1.53)得分以及更低的解释病情得分(aOR为0.86;95% CI为0.77‐0.97)相关。胰岛素依从性差可导致HbA1c升高0.43%,然而总的糖尿病相关不适以及仓促沟通得分每增加1个单位就可以导致HbA1c分别升高0.171%与0.145%。结论患者感到苦恼的是2型糖尿病影响到了他们的生活,对于与医生的交流感到不够满意,而且表现为胰岛素依从性差。患者觉得医生不关心自己、缺乏交流(以及糖尿病本身造成的相关痛苦)会直接影响到胰岛素依从性以及血糖控制。HighlightsPatient perceptions of the quality of their interactions with their physicians have a significant association with total diabetes‐related distress. Diabetes‐related distress and patient–physician interactions have a significant independent association with insulin adherence and HbA1c level.This study delineates specific aspects of the patient–physician interaction that are linked to diabetes‐related distress, insulin adherence behavior, and glycemic control.Path analysis showing associations between patient–physician interactions, diabetes‐related distress, insulin adherence, and HbA1c level. The model is not adjusted for baseline covariates and shows only those factors with at least one significant interaction. Parameter coefficients in the path analysis are shown.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137500/1/jdb12443.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/137500/2/jdb12443_am.pd

The effects of chronic AMPK activation on hepatic triglyceride accumulation and glycerol 3-phosphate acyltransferase activity with high fat feeding

BACKGROUND: High fat feeding increases hepatic fat accumulation and is associated with hepatic insulin resistance. AMP Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) is thought to inhibit lipid synthesis by the acute inhibition of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) activity and transcriptional regulation via sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). METHODS: The purpose of this study was to determine if chronic activation of AMPK prevented an increase in GPAT1 activity in rats fed a high fat diet. Rats were fed a control (C), or a high fat (HF) diet (60% fat) for 6 weeks and injected with saline or a daily aminoimidazole carboxamide ribnucleotide (AICAR) dose of 0.5 mg/g body weight. RESULTS: Chronic AMPK activation by AICAR injections resulted in a significant reduction in hepatic triglyceride accumulation in both the C and HF fed animals (C, 5.5±0.7; C+AICAR, 2.7 ±0.3; HF, 21.8±3.3; and HF+AICAR, 8.0±1.8 mg/g liver). HF feeding caused an increase in total GPAT and GPAT1 activity, which was not affected by chronic AMPK activation (GPAT1 activity vs. C, C+AICAR, 92±19%; HF, 186±43%; HF+AICAR, 234±62%). Markers of oxidative capacity, including citrate synthase activity and cytochrome c abundance, were not affected by chronic AICAR treatment. Interestingly, HF feeding caused a significant increase in long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase or LCAD (up 66% from C), a marker of fatty acid oxidation capacity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chronic AMPK activation limits hepatic triglyceride accumulation independent of a reduction in total GPAT1 activity

Observation of Velocity-Tuned Multiphoton Doppleron Resonances in Laser-Cooled Atoms

An atomic beam of Li was transversely cooled using an intense standing-wave radiation field. A dramatic change in the transverse velocity distribution was observed. Structure in the resulting velocity distribution was found to be due to velocity-tuned multiphoton Doppleron resonances. The force due to seven-photon resonances is clearly resolved in the data. The data are in good agreement with theoretical predictions

Observation of Velocity-Tuned Multiphoton Doppleron Resonances in Laser-Cooled Atoms

An atomic beam of Li was transversely cooled using an intense standing-wave radiation field. A dramatic change in the transverse velocity distribution was observed. Structure in the resulting velocity distribution was found to be due to velocity-tuned multiphoton Doppleron resonances. The force due to seven-photon resonances is clearly resolved in the data. The data are in good agreement with theoretical predictions

Evaluation of Corn Distillers Solubles on Finishing Steer Performance

A finishing study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding 0, 8, 16, or 20% corn distillers solubles (CDS), as well as the effects of feeding a combination of 16% CDS and 20% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) to replace a blend of dry-rolled and high-moisture corn on finishing steer performance. As inclusions of CDS increased, ADG linearly increased and F:G linearly decreased. Feeding value of CDS at 20% inclusion was determined to be 147% compared to the corn blend. The addition of WDGS resulted in a decrease in DMI with similar ADG, resulting in a decrease in F:G. Feeding a combination of CDS and WDGS resulted in a feeding value of 161% compared to corn. Feeding CDS up to 20% or in combination with WDGS displaces corn in finishing diets and improves ADG and F:G

Effects of Kernel Processing at Harvest of Brown Midrib Corn Silage on Finishing Performance of Steers

A 2 × 3 factorial finishing study evaluated kernel processing in three corn silage hybrids on finishing performance of yearling steers fed 40% silage. The three hybrids included a control corn silage (CON), a brown midrib (bm3), and a brown midrib with a softer endosperm (bm3-EXP). No interactions were observed between hybrids and kernel processing (P \u3e 0.45). Feeding both bm3 hybrids increased dry matter intake and average daily gain over CON (P \u3c 0.01). Cattle fed bm3-EXP and bm3 had lower feed to gain than CON (P = 0.04), with no differences between the two brown midrib hybrids. Feeding silage that has undergone kernel processing decreased dry matter intake with similar average daily gain, which decreased feed to gain by 2.6% at 40% inclusion compared to non-processed silage (P = 0.10). The improvement in silage is calculated to be 6.5% (2.6/40) when kernel processing was utilized as compared to not kernel processing the corn silage hybrids