Come COVID or High Water: How Being an Online MLIS Student Prepared Me for Virtual Professional Participation During COVID-19

Objective Mirroring the start of my graduate program, which began with a hurricane evacuation, this year has required me to be flexible and persevere in the face of new circumstances. The technology and communication skills I have developed as an online MLIS student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) helped me adapt to remote professional participation as necessitated by COVID-19 and will help me navigate the future employment landscape. Here, I will share my experiences and my perspective on how to authentically connect with one another remotely. Methods I am currently living in Charleston, SC while taking classes toward my MLIS in a program that was fully virtual prior to the pandemic. I started in fall 2019 and will be graduating in spring 2021. In August, I attended MLA \u2720. Results As UIUC was already using Zoom when the spring 2020 semester started, I became experienced using it. I was then comfortable attending the MLA \u2720 virtual events and social activities. After the meeting, I used email to follow up on connections I made and conducted informational interviews. Throughout, several strategies helped me feel more connected to my fellow students and enabled me to get to know people in the field of health sciences librarianship. Some of my recommendations are to always upload a profile picture, utilize direct messages, use the microphone when possible, and arrive early in order to make conversation. Conclusions In addition to becoming prepared for future remote work, as a result of this experience I am a strong believer in the potential of online education to increase access to information, and I aim to learn how to provide high-quality virtual educational experiences

Spatio-temporal trait change in selected insect species along land-use gradients

Während des Anthropozäns führten zunehmende, durch Menschen verursachte Umweltveränderungen zu rasanten Übergängen von naturnahen zu neuartigen Ökosystemen. Arten die in Ökosystemen während dieser Übergänge überdauern, könnten Veränderungen ihrer Merkmale aufweisen, die sie befähigen, sich an die neuen Bedingungen anzupassen. Andere Arten hingegen verschwinden aus neuartigen Ökosystemen da sie sich nicht an die rasant entstehenden neuen Umweltbedingungen anpassen können. In meiner Dissertation versuche ich anhand ausgewählter Insekten-Arten zu verstehen, welche Merkmale es Arten ermöglichen in Zeiten rasanter, von Menschen verursachter Umweltveränderungen zu überdauern. Hierzu untersuche ich, stellvertretend für die Fähigkeit der Adaption, morphologische und biochemische Merkmale von Arten aus der Region Berlin/Brandenburg in Deutschland. Diese Region ist durch zunehmende Urbanisierung und Landnutzung für den Ackerbau innerhalb der letzten 150 Jahre gekennzeichnet. Für rückblickende Analysen entlang eines raumzeitlichen Gradienten untersuchte ich Sammlungsexemplare aus Naturkundemuseen die durch neu gesammelte Exemplare erweitert wurden. In Paper 1 untersuche ich in der Nachtfalterart Agrotis exclamationis Veränderungen von Merkmalen, die ein Verhalten begünstigen vom Licht angezogen zu werden, als Antwort auf die Zunahme künstlicher Lichtquellen in der Nacht in einer Region über die letzten 137 Jahre. Für diese Analysen verwende ich zurückwirkende Radianz-Werte basierend auf Satellitendaten der Jahre 2012 bis 2019. Entlang des räumlichen Gradienten konnte ich keine Merkmalsveränderungen nachweisen. Allerdings konnte ich Veränderungen der Körpergrößen und in Weibchen Veränderungen der Augengrößen über die Zeit nachweisen. Beide Veränderungen sind jedoch nicht direkt auf zunehmendes künstliches Licht in der Nacht zurückzuführen. Ich diskutiere den indirekten Einfluss künstlichen Lichts in der Nacht auf die nachgewiesenen Merkmalsveränderungen als Verstärkung der Habitat Fragmentierung sowie einer Beeinflussung der Sicht von Weibchen auf deren Wirtspflanzen. Allerdings konnte ich zeigen, dass in Weibchen ein Trend zwischen kleineren Augen und zunehmenden künstlichem Licht in der Nacht über die Zeit zu erkennen ist. Dies könnte auf einen ersten Hinweis hindeuten, dass morphologische Merkmalsveränderugen als Antwort auf zunehmendes künstliches Licht in der Nacht bereits stattfinden. In Paper 2 untersuche ich ob zunehmende Urbanisierung und Landnutzung für den Ackerbau über die letzten 125 Jahre sowie zwischen beiden Landnutzungstypen einen Einfluss auf die Körpergrößen und Biochemie zweier Laufkäferarten, Harpalus affinis und Harpalus rufipes, hat. Ich konnte keine raumzeitlichen Veränderung der Körpergrößen in Weibchen beider Arten nachweisen, allerdings eine Abnahme der Körpergröße in männlichen H. rufipes in der Stadt über die Zeit, wohingegen deren Körpergrößen im ländlichen Raum über die gleiche Zeit konstant blieben. Ich diskutiere diese Ergebnisse als ein Resultat verschiedener Aktivitätstypen beider Arten. Die bioschemischen Untersuchungen zeigen, dass der intensivierte Einsatz von Düngemitteln einen Einfluss auf die Biochemie derer Käfer hat, die in Ackerlandschaften vorkommen. Dies zeigt sich in meist höheren Anreicherungen stabiler Stickstoff-Isotopen in deren Geweben im Vergleich zu Käfern die im urbanen Raum leben. Allerdings konnte ich zeigen, dass einige urbane Habitate einen ähnlich hohen Stickstoffgehalt wie Ackerlandschaften aufzuweisen scheinen, was sich in den Geweben der dort lebenden Käfer wiederspiegelt und auf eine hohe Heterogenität urbaner Habitate hinweist. In meiner 3. Publikation untersuche ich die Auswirkungen der durch Menschen verursachte Umweltveränderungen auf Farbmorph-Häufigkeiten der Laufkäferart Harpalus affinis zwischen urbanen und ländlichen Regionen über die letzten 125 Jahre. Ich konnte einen Sexualdichromatismus nachweisen sowie generell konstant bleibende Farbmorphen entlang der raum-zeitlichen Gradienten in Männchen und Weibchen, außer in den Weibchen die im urbanen Raum über die Zeit untersucht wurden. Hierbei war in Zeiten mit hoher städtischer Luftverschmutzung durch Ruß die bronze Farbmorphe der Weibchen in höhere Abundanz vertreten, wohingegen die grüne Farbmorphe mit abnehmender Luftverschmutzung im Laufe der Zeit an Häufigkeit zunahmen. Ich interpretiere diese Ergebnisse als ein Resultat der natürlichen Selektion der jeweils am wenigsten für Prädatoren auffälligen Farbmorphe in der entsprechenden Zeit. Das Fehlen einer Änderung der Farbmorph-Häufigkeit bei den Männchen interpretiere ich hingegen als Ergebnis der sexuellen Selektion. In meinen Untersuchungen konnte ich zeigen, dass rasante, von Menschen verursachte Umweltveränderungen morphologische und bioschemische Merkmalsveränderungen in Arten, die in veränderten Lebensräumen überdauern, verursachen können. Allerdings sind diese Merkmalsveränderungen abhängig von der jeweiligen Art, deren Aktivitätstyp und Geschlecht. Zusätzlich konnte ich zeigen, dass manche Merkmalsveränderungen derzeit nicht klar nachweisbar sind aufgrund der relativ kurzen Zeit in der durch Menschen verursachte Umweltveränderungen stattfinden.During the Anthropocene increasing human induced environmental changes have led to rapid transitions from natural to novel ecosystems. Species that persist during this transition process may respond to these new conditions by altering their traits. This may enable some species to persist where others disappear due to their lack of adaptability to these new conditions. In this thesis, I aim to understand what enable selected insect species to persist during human induced rapid environmental changes. I use morphology and biochemistry as a proxy for species’ adaptations in the German Berlin-Brandenburg area, an area that is characterized by increasing urbanisation and agricultural land-use over the past 150 years. For retrospective analyses over a spatio-temporal gradient, I examined voucher specimens from natural history museums combined with newly collected specimens. In paper 1, I examine changes in flight-to-light dependent traits in the moth species Agrotis exclamationis in response to increasing artificial night light in the same region over the past 137 years. For these analyses I use retrospective radiance values based on satellite data from the years 2012 to 2019. Along the spatial gradient I could not find any trait changes. However, I verified changes in body size and females’ eye-size over time, although this was not directly related to artificial night light. I suggest that artificial night light influences trait changes indirectly by reinforcing habitat fragmentation and influencing females’ sighting of hostplants. However, I could show a trend between smaller eyed females and increasing artificial night light over time. This provides, the first evidence that morphological trait changes in response to increasing artificial night light might already taking place. In the second paper I investigate if increasing urbanisation and land-use for agriculture across space and time (the past 125 years) have an influence on body size and biochemistry in two ground beetle species, Harpalus affinis and Harpalus rufipes. I found no spatio-temporal changes in both species’ female body size but identified a decrease in male H. rufipes’ body size in the city, whereas their sizes stayed constant in rural areas over time. I discuss different activity pattern of both species as the reason for these findings. The biochemical examinations show that intense application of fertilizer influences the biochemistry of specimens living in agricultural habitats. This, results in stable nitrogen isotope signatures in their tissues that are mostly higher than those living in urban habitats. However, I show that some urban habitats might be equally enriched with nitrogen (as reflected in the specimens’ tissues), indicating the heterogeneity of urban habitats. In paper 3, I investigate the effects of human induced environmental changes on the frequency of colour change in the ground beetle species Harpalus affinis between urban and rural habitats over the past 125 years. I found sexual dichromatism, and similar colour morphs between males and females over time, with the exception of females examined from urban regions. In this case, bronze colour morphs in females were more abundant in times with high levels of soot pollution in the city, whereas green colour morphs became more dominant with decreasing levels of soot pollution over time. I interpret this finding to be driven by natural selection of the less cryptic colour morph during the respective time period, whereas the lack of any change in colour morph frequencies in males is likely the result of sexual selection. These studies show that rapid human induced environmental changes are triggering morphological and biochemical trait changes in species that persist in altered habitats across space and time. However, these trait changes are dependent on the species, their activity pattern and sexes. Additionally, I show that some trait changes are not clearly verifiable at present due to the relatively short timeframe in which human induced environmental changes are taking place

Void fraction, pressure drop, and heat transfer in high pressure condensing flows through microchannels

Flow mechanisms affect transport processes during condensation. Most studies on two-phase flow regimes are qualitative in nature, typically providing only information to guide the identification of the respective regimes and the transitions between them. These studies have, however, not yielded quantitative information to assist the development of pressure drop and heat transfer models. Such qualitative studies have also yielded results with considerable variability between investigators. A comprehensive investigation of flow mechanisms, void fraction, pressure drop and heat transfer during condensation of R404A in microchannels was conducted. In contrast to all prior investigations, high-speed video recordings and image analyses were used to directly measure void fraction, slug frequencies, vapor bubble velocity, vapor bubble dimensions and liquid film thicknesses in tube diameters ranging from 0.508 to 3.00 mm. Experiments were conducted at reduced pressures and mass fluxes ranging from 0.38 to 0.77 and 200 to 800 kg m-2 s-1, respectively, to document their influences on the condensation process at local vapor qualities ranging from 0 to 1. This information was used to develop a model for the void fraction in condensing flows. A complementing set of heat transfer and pressure drop measurements were conducted on the same geometries at similar conditions, and the void fraction model was used in conjunction with these measurements to develop improved heat transfer and pressure drop models. This comprehensive set of experiments and analyses yields a self-consistent and accurate treatment of high-pressure condensation in small hydraulic diameter geometries. Furthermore, the heat transfer model was found to agree well with condensing ammonia and carbon dioxide data that were obtained at significantly different conditions in different tube diameters. The added physical understanding of the condensation process and the models developed will serve as important building blocks for the design of microscale condensers and thermal systems.PhDCommittee Chair: Dr. Srinivas Garimell

Movements and behavior of wild and head-started sea turtles

Flipper-tagging, aerial surveys, and satellite telemetry was used to investigate the occurrence, migratory routes, distances traveled, swimming speeds, diving behavior, and the relation of water temperature to movements and timing of migration of wild loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and Kemp\u27s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) sea turtles. The behavior and movements of head-started loggerhead turtles was investigated with satellite telemetry and compared to wild turtles. Flipper-tagged loggerhead and Kemp\u27s ridley turtles inhabit Chesapeake Bay during the warm months and many return in subsequent seasons. Aerial surveys showed that loggerhead turtles migrate from south of Cape Hatteras to northern waters during May and June, and return to the south of Cape Hatteras in the autumn, usually during October or November. Satellite telemetry supported aerial survey data, and showed that loggerhead and Kemp\u27s ridley turtles migrate nearshore to the south of Cape Hatteras in the autumn, although one loggerhead became pelagic in the North Atlantic. Kemp\u27s ridleys and some loggerheads migrate as far south as Florida for the winter months, while some loggerheads overwinter in the Gulf Stream off North Carolina. Loggerheads which returned to Chesapeake Bay used similar migratory routes during the northerly and southerly migrations. Loggerhead and Kemp\u27s ridley turtles spent up to 94% of 12 h periods submerged (ridley mean = 81%, loggerhead mean = 88%), and mean dive durations ranged from 13 to 124 min (ridley mean = 66 min, loggerhead mean = 74 min), making 13 to 38 dives over a 12 h period (ridley mean = 25, loggerhead mean = 25). Temperatures measured by satellite transmitters attached to Kemp\u27s ridley turtles ranged from 13-23 C (mean = 17 C), while loggerhead temperatures ranged from 6-33 C (mean = 20 C). Movements of turtles appear to be mitigated by temperatures about 15 C. Movements and diving behavior of head-started loggerheads were different than wild turtles. Some head-started turtles entered the Gulf Stream and traveled eastward across the Atlantic, while others wandered in various directions. Head-started loggerheads made more (mean = 69) and shorter dives (mean = 21 min) over a 12 hr period than wild turtles, and spent significantly less time submerged (mean = 54%) than wild turtles

CHARACTERIZATION OF A LARGE VERTEBRATE GENOME AND HOMOMORPHIC SEX CHROMOSOMES IN THE AXOLOTL, \u3cem\u3eAMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM\u3c/em\u3e

Changes in the structure, content and morphology of chromosomes accumulate over evolutionary time and contribute to cell, developmental and organismal biology. The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is an important model for studying these changes because: 1) it provides important phylogenetic perspective for reconstructing the evolution of vertebrate genomes and amphibian karyotypes, 2) its genome has evolved to a large size (~10X larger than human) but has maintained gene orders, and 3) it possesses potentially young sex chromosomes that have not undergone extensive differentiation in the structure that is typical of many other vertebrate sex chromosomes (e.g. mammalian XY chromosomes and avian ZW chromosomes). Early chromosomal studies were performed through cytogenetics, but more recent methods involving next generation sequencing and comparative genomics can reveal new information. Due to the large size and inherent complexity of the axolotl genome, multiple approaches are needed to cultivate the genomic and molecular resources essential for expanding its utility in modern scientific inquiries. This dissertation describes our efforts to improve the genomic and molecular resources for the axolotl and other salamanders, with the aim of better understanding the events that have driven the evolution of vertebrate (and amphibian) chromosomes. First, I review our current state of knowledge with respect to genome and karyotype evolution in the amphibians, present a case for studying sex chromosome evolution in the axolotl, and discuss solutions for performing analyses of large vertebrate genomes. In the second chapter, I present a study that resulted in the optimization of methods for the capture and sequencing of individual chromosomes and demonstrate the utility of the approach in improving the existing Ambystoma linkage map and generating targeted assemblies of individual chromosomes. In the third chapter, I present a published work that focuses on using this approach to characterize the two smallest chromosomes and provides an initial characterization of the huge axolotl genome. In the fourth chapter, I present another study that details the development of a dense linkage map for a newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, and its use in comparative analyses, including the discovery of a specific chromosomal fusion event in Ambystoma at the site of a major effect quantitative trait locus for metamorphic timing. I then describe the characterization of the relatively undifferentiated axolotl sex chromosomes, identification of a tiny sex-specific (W-linked) region, and a strong candidate for the axolotl sex-determining gene. Finally, I provide a brief discussion that recapitulates the main findings of each study, their utility in current studies, and future research directions. The research in this dissertation has enriched this important model with genomic and molecular resources that enhance its use in modern scientific research. The information provided from evolutionary studies in axolotl chromosomes shed critical light on vertebrate genome and chromosome evolution, specifically among amphibians, an underrepresented vertebrate clade in genomics, and in homomorphic sex chromosomes, which have been largely unstudied in amphibians

Outlines of the Standard Gospels

Outlines on the Old Standard Gospel Lesson

Measurement and Modeling of Void Fraction in High Pressure Condensing Flows through Microchannels

This paper was presented at the 4th Micro and Nano Flows Conference (MNF2014), which was held at University College, London, UK. The conference was organised by Brunel University and supported by the Italian Union of Thermofluiddynamics, IPEM, the Process Intensification Network, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Heat Transfer Society, HEXAG - the Heat Exchange Action Group, and the Energy Institute, ASME Press, LCN London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL University College London, UCL Engineering, the International NanoScience Community, www.nanopaprika.eu.Void fraction measurements are obtained using high speed video for the condensation of R404A in tubes of diameter 0.508, 1.00, and 3.00 mm. Experiments were conducted on refrigerant R404A throughout the entire condensation quality range (0.05 < x < 0.95) at varying mass fluxes (200 ≤ G ≤ 800 kg m-2 s-1) and saturation temperatures from 30 to 60°C (0.38 ≤ pr ≤ 0.77). These high pressures are representative of actual operation of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. The influence of saturation temperature on void fraction is most pronounced in the quality range 0.25 < x < 0.75. In addition, it was found that the influence of mass flux on void fraction was negligible for all saturation temperatures and tube diameters investigated. A new drift flux void fraction model is developed to predict void fraction for condensing flows in microchannels and compared with the R404A data and R134a void fraction data from Winkler et al. (2012a). Overall the model is able to predict 92.3% of the R404A data and 81.6% of all refrigerant data within 25%

Some Contacts of the Book of Acts with the Every-Day Life of Its Age

New Testament Christianity, first garbed in the swaddling-clothes of Semitism, soon exchanged its outward dress for the more practical robes of Hellenism. Jesus of Nazareth was active in a little speck of ground on the edge of the mighty Roman Empire; His language was Aramaic, His disciples were Jews, His contacts and the intellectual atmosphere of the men among whom He moved were chiefly Jewish. Yet within a few years after His resurrection Christianity had gone beyond the sphere of distinctly Jewish surroundings and had begun its mission of world conquest. This explosion immediately required an accommodation in the field of language. The gospels were written, not in the sacred language of Christ, but in the language which alone could servo a Gospel aiming at universal acceptance: Hellenistic Greek. The greatest missionary and most literary of the apostle, though himself a Jew, was yet a Jew from the Diaspora and as such had rubbed shoulders with the non-Jew from childhood

Blanding’s Turtle (\u3ci\u3eEmydoidea blandingii\u3c/i\u3e): A Technical Conservation Assessment

Blanding’s turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are secure in Nebraska, and they range from being vulnerable to threatened, or endangered throughout most of the rest of their distribution. In Region 2, they have not been reported from Kansas, they are extremely rare in South Dakota, and they occupy wetlands in the northern half of Nebraska. The largest population known within the range of Blanding’s turtles is at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska. The core habitat of Blanding’s turtles has an aquatic component that consists of a permanent wetland and a suite of other, usually smaller and more temporary, wetlands such as vernal pools that are used by adults and hatchlings as temporary refugia and seasonal food sources. Blanding’s turtle habitat also has a large terrestrial component that consists of nesting areas and movement corridors. The terrestrial component of the core habitat is larger than that of many other aquatic turtle species, and both sexes use terrestrial corridors for movements among wetlands and for nesting migrations. A host of things can affect Blanding’s turtles through their impact on either (or both) the wetland or terrestrial portions of their required habitat. Given the wide range of possible threats to populations of Blanding’s turtles, three categories of threat appear most important. In rough order of decreasing priority, they are as follows: loss and degradation of wetland and terrestrial habitats; road mortality; collection Loss and degradation of wetland and terrestrial habitats: Destruction of resident aquatic habitat is of primary conservation concern because it impacts all stages of the life cycle. Reduction in the numbers of such wetlands can increase risks of mortality for adults and reduce hatchling recruitment into populations. Cultivation to the edge of wetlands and the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that wash into wetlands can degrade aquatic habitats. Water management activities related to fish management and agriculture can be detrimental to overwintering Blanding’s turtle populations if they are conducted during winter. Loss or degradation of terrestrial movement corridors can increase the risks of injury and mortality, and in addition may lead to isolation of populations and a subsequent reduction in genetic variation through drift and inbreeding. Reduction in the amount or number of nesting areas through agriculture, forestry, forest succession, introduction of exotics, or development can result in increased risks to females during nesting migrations of longer length or duration. Despite their importance to Blanding’s turtles and the amphibian larvae that they feed on, small and temporary wetlands have minimal or no legal protection in many areas. However, conservation easements, local zoning, and education of private and public landowners can help reduce the loss of Blanding’s turtle habitat. Such protection must focus on both wetlands (including small wetlands such as vernal pools) and key terrestrial areas near those wetlands. Road mortality: The propensity for terrestrial movement by Blanding’s turtles results in added risk of adult mortality associated with roads and other human activities, problems that tend to impact females more than males because of their extensive nesting migrations. In Michigan we have found females killed by farm equipment such as tractors, hay mowers, and road graders, and some stuck in stock fences. Communicating conservation issues to transportation planners may reduce construction of new roads in movement corridors and between nesting areas and aquatic habitats. Designs for new roads with high traffic volumes should include both barriers and culverts to control turtle movements. Barriers should block access to risky areas and encourage use of culverts that allow turtles safe passage under roads. Road signs can be placed along roadways with high volumes of traffic of both Blanding’s turtles and vehicles. In areas with high levels of mortality associated with existing roads, fencing and ecopassages (e.g., culverts, tunnels, bridges) should be installed. Collecting: In conjunction with their extended longevity and long reproductive lives, collection of adults, juveniles, and hatchlings from small and isolated populations for the pet trade can result in severe reductions and extirpation of populations. Gravid females were collected on roads by motorists during nesting migrations; one was subsequently returned to the University of Michigan’s Edwin S. George Reserve (ESGR) when it was found to be marked. The presence of these threats is exacerbated by a number of factors that make Blanding’s turtles particularly susceptible to disturbance. First, Blanding’s turtles and many other turtle species have temperature-dependent sex determination and some populations have biased adult sex ratios (e.g., the ESGR population in southeastern Michigan has an adult sex ratio close to 1 male to 4 females). Biased sex ratios are one of the factors that reduce effective population size and can contribute to population instability and reduce the probability of population persistence, particularly for small populations. Further, head-starting programs that include protecting or moving nests to artificial nesting areas run the risk of producing highly biased hatchling sex ratios. Second, reproductive output of Blanding’s turtles is low. Females do not begin to reproduce until they are between 14 and 20 years old, do not reproduce every year, and have small clutch sizes, thus resulting in low fecundity. This means that annual survivorship between ages 1 and maturity must average at least 60 percent to maintain population stability. Third, Blanding’s turtles are long-lived (even compared to other turtles), and older females appear to have higher survivorship and reproductive output than do younger females. This places primary reproductive importance on a small segment of the population, and because potential reproduct

Anfechtungsklagen und Freigabeverfahren : eine empirische Studie

Die Studie untersucht die Frage, ob der Gesetzgeber des ARUG die Ziele erreicht hat, die mit der Reform des Rechts der Anfechtung von HVBeschlüssen verfolgt wurden. Darüber hinaus gehend soll die Entwicklung der Beschlußmängelklagen seit der letzten Studie der Verfasser hierzu nachgezeichnet werden. Unsere Studie zeigt, daß seit Inkrafttreten des ARUG ein deutlicher Rückgang der Beschlußmängelklagen und Freigabeverfahren zu verzeichnen ist. Dagegen ist der Anteil der von „Berufsklägern“ erhobenen Klagen und Nebeninterventionen gleich geblieben, wobei sich die Anzahl der Personen in der Gruppe der „Berufskläger“ nochmals vergrößert hat. Das ARUG hat insoweit keine erkennbare Wirkung gehabt..