Shooting as a Blue Jay Depredation Management Technique in Native Pecan Groves

We conducted a 4-year project in southcentral Oklahoma native pecan (Carya illinoensis) groves to evaluate the effectiveness of shooting blue jays (Cyanocitta cristata) to reduce pecan losses. We monitored blue jay abundance by time-area counts and bird nut damage using ground plots in 5, 4.3-ha study areas during the fall damage periods of 1989-1992. In 1991 and 1992 we applied shooting to 3 of these areas. A mean of 16.3 blue jays/ha was shot at a mean cost (shotgun shells and labor) of $18.65/ha over the 2 years. The break-even savings level was 0.5 kg of pecan nuts saved per blue jay for both years. Blue jay numbers were significantly (P = 0 .045) reduced in the areas where the shooting treatment was applied. Comparison of the 1991 and 1992 mean to the 1989 and 1990 mean shows that bird nut damage increased an average of 137$34.70/ha

EFFECTIVENESS OF SQUIRREL FENCING FOR PROTECTING PECAN GROVES

During 1994, we tested the hypothesis that an energized, high-tensile wire fence prevents fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) from crossing into a pecan (Carya illinoensis) grove. When the fence was energized, we recorded fewer (P = 0.03) trips across the fence by squirrels (n - 19) and fewer (P \u3c 0.001) telemetry fix-points in the pecan grove. Effective squirrel fencing may offer wildlife managers an alternative method of damage prevention. Ecological ramifications to target and non-target species are discussed

RuralCovidLife: A new resource for the impact of the pandemic on rural Scotland [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

RuralCovidLife is part of Generation Scotland’s CovidLife project, investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigation measures on people in Scotland. The RuralCovidLife project focuses on Scotland’s rural communities, and how they have been impacted by the pandemic.During survey development, Generation Scotland consulted with people living or working in rural communities, and collaborated with a patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) group composed of rural community leaders. Through this consultation work, the RuralCovidLife survey was developed to assess the issues most pertinent to people in rural communities, such as mental health, employment, transport, connectivity, and local communities.Between 14th October and 30th November 2020, 3,365 participants from rural areas in Scotland took part in the survey. Participant ages ranged from 16 to 96 (mean = 58.4, standard deviation [SD] = 13.3), and the majority of the participants were female (70.5%). Over half (51.3%) had taken part in the original CovidLife survey.RuralCovidLife includes a subsample (n = 523) of participants from the Generation Scotland cohort. Pre-pandemic data on health and lifestyle, as well as biological samples, are available for these participants. These participants’ data can also be linked to past and future healthcare records, allowing analysis of retrospective and prospective health outcomes.Like Generation Scotland, RuralCovidLife is designed as a resource for researchers. RuralCovidLife data, as well as the linked Generation Scotland data, is available for use by external researchers following approval from the Generation Scotland Access Committee. RuralCovidLife can be used to investigate mental health, well-being, and behaviour in participants living in rural areas during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as comparisons with non-rural samples. Moreover, the sub-sample with full Generation Scotland data and linkage can be used to investigate the long-term health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities

Computational Analysis of Phosphopeptide Binding to the Polo-Box Domain of the Mitotic Kinase PLK1 Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation

The Polo-Like Kinase 1 (PLK1) acts as a central regulator of mitosis and is over-expressed in a wide range of human tumours where high levels of expression correlate with a poor prognosis. PLK1 comprises two structural elements, a kinase domain and a polo-box domain (PBD). The PBD binds phosphorylated substrates to control substrate phosphorylation by the kinase domain. Although the PBD preferentially binds to phosphopeptides, it has a relatively broad sequence specificity in comparison with other phosphopeptide binding domains. We analysed the molecular determinants of recognition by performing molecular dynamics simulations of the PBD with one of its natural substrates, CDC25c. Predicted binding free energies were calculated using a molecular mechanics, Poisson-Boltzmann surface area approach. We calculated the per-residue contributions to the binding free energy change, showing that the phosphothreonine residue and the mainchain account for the vast majority of the interaction energy. This explains the very broad sequence specificity with respect to other sidechain residues. Finally, we considered the key role of bridging water molecules at the binding interface. We employed inhomogeneous fluid solvation theory to consider the free energy of water molecules on the protein surface with respect to bulk water molecules. Such an analysis highlights binding hotspots created by elimination of water molecules from hydrophobic surfaces. It also predicts that a number of water molecules are stabilized by the presence of the charged phosphate group, and that this will have a significant effect on the binding affinity. Our findings suggest a molecular rationale for the promiscuous binding of the PBD and highlight a role for bridging water molecules at the interface. We expect that this method of analysis will be very useful for probing other protein surfaces to identify binding hotspots for natural binding partners and small molecule inhibitors

Large-Scale Gene-Centric Meta-Analysis across 39 Studies Identifies Type 2 Diabetes Loci

To identify genetic factors contributing to type 2 diabetes (T2D), we performed large-scale meta-analyses by using a custom similar to 50,000 SNP genotyping array (the ITMAT-Broad-CARe array) with similar to 2000 candidate genes in 39 multiethnic population-based studies, case-control studies, and clinical trials totaling 17,418 cases and 70,298 controls. First, meta-analysis of 25 studies comprising 14,073 cases and 57,489 controls of European descent confirmed eight established T2D loci at genome-wide significance. In silico follow-up analysis of putative association signals found in independent genome-wide association studies (including 8,130 cases and 38,987 controls) performed by the DIAGRAM consortium identified a T2D locus at genome-wide significance (GATAD2A/CILP2/PBX4; p = 5.7 x 10(-9)) and two loci exceeding study-wide significance (SREBF1, and TH/INS; p <2.4 x 10(-6)). Second, meta-analyses of 1,986 cases and 7,695 controls from eight African-American studies identified study-wide-significant (p = 2.4 x 10(-7)) variants in HMGA2 and replicated variants in TCF7L2 (p = 5.1 x 10(-15)). Third, conditional analysis revealed multiple known and novel independent signals within five T2D-associated genes in samples of European ancestry and within HMGA2 in African-American samples. Fourth, a multiethnic meta-analysis of all 39 studies identified T2D-associated variants in BCL2 (p = 2.1 x 10(-8)). Finally, a composite genetic score of SNPs from new and established T2D signals was significantly associated with increased risk of diabetes in African-American, Hispanic, and Asian populations. In summary, large-scale meta-analysis involving a dense gene-centric approach has uncovered additional loci and variants that contribute to T2D risk and suggests substantial overlap of T2D association signals across multiple ethnic groups

American College of Rheumatology Provisional Criteria for Clinically Relevant Improvement in Children and Adolescents With Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

10.1002/acr.23834ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH715579-59

Economic Effectiveness, Efficiency, And Selectivity Of Fox Squirrel Trapping In Pecan Groves

Trapping is the most common damage management practice employed by pecan growers suffering fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) depredation. The author evaluated the economic effectiveness of foot-hold trapping fox squirrels in native pecan groves from 1988 to 1991. Trapping significantly reduced squirrel damage the first and second year of treatment in all three study areas relative to the initial untreated year. This reduction was valued at $38.63 to$279.51/ha. In 1990 the author tested the relative efficiency and selectivity of five trap types. Number 110 body traps performed with the best combination of efficiency, selectivity, and cost of the trap types tested

PERCEPTIONS OF WILDLIFE DAMAGE CONFERENCE SCHEDULING: RESPONSE TO A SURVEY

The Wildlife Society’s Wildlife Damage Management Working Group formed an ad hoc committee to study the perception of some members of the recent development of an overabundance of wildlife damage related professional meetings. The committee consisted of Grant Huggins (chair), Jim Miller, and Phil Mastrangelo. There are currently 3 major wildlife damage management Conferences in the U.S. The Vertebrate Pest Conference (VPC) is held in California every even-numbered year. The Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop (Great Plains) is held in the spring and the Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference (Eastern) is held in the fall of odd-numbered years. The committee gathered participation trends at these Conferences over their most recent 2 meetings as background information (Table 1)

A Bigger Piece of Your Pecan Pie

This video summarizes this research for application by pecan growers and animal damage control agents. It gives insight into growers\u27 perceptions of the problem, estimates of losses, and options for management. Specifically, it discusses hunting, habitat modification, fencing, and trapping. Single copies (VHS only) of the video are available free by contacting the author