With efforts to restore large mammal populations following extirpations, it is vital to quantify how they are impacted by human activities and gain insights into population dynamics in relation to ...conservation goals. Our objective was to characterize cause-specific mortality of black bears (Ursus americanus) throughout their range. We first quantified cause-specific mortality for 247 black bears in one harvested and two non-harvested populations. We then simulated a small recolonizing population with and without anthropogenic mortality. Lastly, we conducted a meta-analysis of all published black bear mortality studies throughout North America (31 studies of 2630 bears). We found anthropogenic mortality was greater than natural mortality, non-harvest anthropogenic mortality (e.g. poaching, defense of property, etc.) was greater in non-harvested populations, and harvesting was one of the major causes of mortality for bears throughout their range. Our simulation indicated that removing anthropogenic mortality increased population size by an average of 23% in 15 years. We demonstrated that bears are exposed to high levels of anthropogenic mortality, and the potential for human activities to slow population growth in expanding populations. Management and conservation of wide-ranging mammals will depend on holistic strategies that integrate ecological factors with socio-economic issues to achieve successful conservation and coexistence.
Plants that form root-nodule symbioses are within a monophyletic ‘nitrogen-fixing’ clade and associated signalling processes are shared with the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Central to symbiotic ...signalling are nuclear-associated oscillations in calcium ions (Ca2+), occurring in the root hairs of several legume species in response to the rhizobial Nod factor signal.
In this study we expanded the species analysed for activation of Ca2+ oscillations, including nonleguminous species within the nitrogen-fixing clade.
We showed that Ca2+ oscillations are a common feature of legumes in their association with rhizobia, while Cercis, a non-nodulating legume, does not show Ca2+ oscillations in response to Nod factors from Sinorhizobium fredii NGR234. Parasponia andersonii, a nonlegume that can associate with rhizobia, showed Nod factor-induced calcium oscillations to S. fredii NGR234 Nod factors, but its non-nodulating sister species, Trema tomentosa, did not. Also within the nitrogen-fixing clade are actinorhizal species that associate with Frankia bacteria and we showed that Alnus glutinosa induces Ca2+ oscillations in root hairs in response to exudates from Frankia alni, but not to S. fredii NGR234 Nod factors.
We conclude that the ability to mount Ca2+ oscillations in response to symbiotic bacteria is a common feature of nodulating species within the nitrogen-fixing clade.
Abstract
Energetic electrons of Jovian origin have been observed for decades throughout the heliosphere, as far as 11 au, and as close as 0.5 au, from the Sun. The treatment of Jupiter as a ...continuously emitting point source of energetic electrons has made Jovian electrons a valuable tool in the study of energetic electron transport within the heliosphere. We present observations of Jovian electrons measured by the EPI-Hi instrument in the Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun instrument suite on Parker Solar Probe at distances within 0.5 au of the Sun. These are the closest measurements of Jovian electrons to the Sun, providing a new opportunity to study the propagation and transport of energetic electrons to the inner heliosphere. We also find periods of nominal connection between the spacecraft and Jupiter in which expected Jovian electron enhancements are absent. Several explanations for these absent events are explored, including stream interaction regions between Jupiter and Parker Solar Probe and the spacecraft lying on the opposite side of the heliospheric current sheet from Jupiter, both of which could impede the flow of the electrons. These observations provide an opportunity to gain a greater insight into electron transport through a previously unexplored region of the inner heliosphere.
We present deep, wide-field g and r photometry of the transition- type dwarf galaxy Leo T, obtained with the blue arm of the Large Binocular Telescope. The data confirm the presence of both very ...young (<1 Gyr) and much older (>5 Gyr) stars. We study the structural properties of the old and young stellar populations by preferentially selecting either population on the basis of their color and magnitude. The young population is significantly more concentrated than the old population, with half-light radii of image and image pc, respectively, and their centers are slightly offset. Approximately 10% of the total stellar mass is estimated to be represented by the young stellar population. Comparison of the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) with theoretical isochrones, as well as numerical CMD fitting, suggests that star formation began over 10 Gyr ago and continued in recent times until at least a few hundred Myr ago. The CMD-fitting results are indicative of two distinct star formation bursts, with a quiescent period around 3 Gyr ago, albeit at low significance. The results are consistent with no metallicity evolution and a value of image over the entire age of the system. Finally, the data show little, if any, sign of tidal distortion of Leo T.
Solar wind ions exhibit distinct kinetic non-thermal features such as preferential heating and acceleration of alpha particles compared to protons. On the other hand, Coulomb collisions in the solar ...wind act to eliminate these non-thermal features and gradually lead to thermal equilibrium. Previous observations at 1 au have revealed that even though the local Coulomb collisions in the solar wind plasma are rare, the cumulative effect of the collisions during a transit time of a particle can be important in terms of thermalizing the solar wind plasma populations and reducing the ion non-thermal features. Here, we analyze Parker Solar Probe observations to study the effects of Coulomb collisions on the non-thermal features (alpha-to-proton temperature ratio and differential flow) of young solar wind closer to the Sun than previously possible. Our results show that even close to the Sun (∼15 R s ), these non-thermal features are organized by collisionality. Moreover, observations at these unprecedented distances allow us to investigate the preferential heating of the alpha particles close to the source for both fast and slow wind streams. We show that the alpha-to-proton temperature ratio is positively correlated with the solar wind speed, which is consistent with Wind observations. Solar wind close to the Sun is less collisionally old than when it reaches 1 au. As such, observed differences in the temperature ratio between slow and fast streams near their solar source suggest causes that go beyond different Coulomb numbers. Our results suggest that slow and fast wind streams, originating from different solar regions, may have different mechanisms for the preferential heating of alpha particles compared to protons.
In functional neuroimaging studies, individuals with dyslexia frequently exhibit both hypoactivation, often in the left parietotemporal cortex, and hyperactivation, often in the left inferior frontal ...cortex, but there has been no evidence to suggest how to interpret the differential relations of hypoactivation and hyperactivation to dyslexia. To address this question, we measured brain activation by functional MRI during visual word rhyme judgment compared with visual cross-hair fixation rest, and we measured gray matter morphology by voxel-based morphometry in dyslexic adolescents in comparison with (i) an age-matched group, and (ii) a reading-matched group younger than the dyslexic group but equal to the dyslexic group in reading performance. Relative to the age-matched group (n = 19; mean 14.4 years), the dyslexic group (n = 19; mean 14.4 years) exhibited hypoactivation in left parietal and bilateral fusiform cortices and hyperactivation in left inferior and middle frontal gyri, caudate, and thalamus. Relative to the reading-matched group (n = 12; mean 9.8 years), the dyslexic group (n = 12; mean 14.5 years) also exhibited hypoactivation in left parietal and fusiform regions but equal activation in all four areas that had exhibited hyperactivation relative to age-matched controls as well. In regions that exhibited atypical activation in the dyslexic group, only the left parietal region exhibited reduced gray matter volume relative to both control groups. Thus, areas of hyperactivation in dyslexia reflected processes related to the level of current reading ability independent of dyslexia. In contrast, areas of hypoactivation in dyslexia reflected functional atypicalities related to dyslexia itself, independent of current reading ability, and related to atypical brain morphology in dyslexia.
In 2015, a typhoid fever outbreak began in downtown Kampala, Uganda, and spread into adjacent districts. In response, an environmental survey of drinking water source types was conducted in areas of ...the city with high case numbers. A total of 122 samples was collected from 12 source types and tested for
, free chlorine, and conductivity. An additional 37 grab samples from seven source types and 16 paired large volume (20 liter) samples from wells and springs were also collected and tested for the presence of
serovar Typhi.
was detected in 60% of kaveras (drinking water sold in plastic bags) and 80% of refilled water bottles; free chlorine was not detected in either source type. Most jerry cans (68%) contained
and had free chlorine residuals below the WHO-recommended level of 0.5 mg/liter during outbreaks. Elevated conductivity readings for kaveras, refilled water bottles, and jerry cans (compared to treated surface water supplied by the water utility) suggested that they likely contained untreated groundwater. All unprotected springs and wells and more than 60% of protected springs contained
Water samples collected from the water utility were found to have acceptable free chlorine levels and no detectable
While
Typhi was not detected in water samples,
spp. were detected in samples from two unprotected springs, one protected spring, and one refilled water bottle. These data provided clear evidence that unregulated vended water and groundwater represented a risk for typhoid transmission.
Despite the high incidence of typhoid fever globally, relatively few outbreak investigations incorporate drinking water testing. During waterborne disease outbreaks, measurement of physical-chemical parameters, such as free chlorine residual and electrical conductivity, and of microbiological parameters, such as the presence of
or the implicated etiologic agent, in drinking water samples can identify contaminated sources. This investigation indicated that unregulated vended water and groundwater sources were contaminated and were therefore a risk to consumers during the 2015 typhoid fever outbreak in Kampala. Identification of contaminated drinking water sources and sources that do not contain adequate disinfectant levels can lead to rapid targeted interventions.
Summary
The Mongolian horse represents one of the most ancient extant horse populations. In this study we determined the male‐specific region of the Y chromosome (MSY) haplotype distribution in 60 ...Chinese Mongolian horses representing five distinct populations. Cosmopolitan male lineages were predominant in horses from one improved (Sanhe), one Chinese Mongolian subtype (Baicha Iron Hoof) and one indigenous (Abaga Black) population. In contrast, autochthonous Y chromosome diversity was evident among the two landrace populations (Wushen and Wuzhumuqin), as the majority of their MSY haplotypes were situated at root nodes in a network. Our results also suggest gene flow between Chinese Mongolian and Arabian horses, as an appreciable number of Wuzhumuqin horses carried haplotypes that are typically observed in Arabian horses. Although most horses carried modern haplotypes as a direct result of recent breed improvement, authentic Chinese Mongolian horses retain an ancient signature of paternal lineages that has not previously been described in extant horse populations. Therefore, further characterization of MSY variation in these populations will be important for the discovery of lost diversity in modern domestic horses and also for understanding the evolutionary history of equine paternal lineages.
Although interventions exist to reduce violent crime, optimal implementation requires accurate targeting. We report the results of an attempt to develop an actuarial model using machine learning ...methods to predict future violent crimes among US Army soldiers.
A consolidated administrative database for all 975 057 soldiers in the US Army in 2004-2009 was created in the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (Army STARRS). Of these soldiers, 5771 committed a first founded major physical violent crime (murder-manslaughter, kidnapping, aggravated arson, aggravated assault, robbery) over that time period. Temporally prior administrative records measuring socio-demographic, Army career, criminal justice, medical/pharmacy, and contextual variables were used to build an actuarial model for these crimes separately among men and women using machine learning methods (cross-validated stepwise regression, random forests, penalized regressions). The model was then validated in an independent 2011-2013 sample.
Key predictors were indicators of disadvantaged social/socioeconomic status, early career stage, prior crime, and mental disorder treatment. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.80-0.82 in 2004-2009 and 0.77 in the 2011-2013 validation sample. Of all administratively recorded crimes, 36.2-33.1% (male-female) were committed by the 5% of soldiers having the highest predicted risk in 2004-2009 and an even higher proportion (50.5%) in the 2011-2013 validation sample.
Although these results suggest that the models could be used to target soldiers at high risk of violent crime perpetration for preventive interventions, final implementation decisions would require further validation and weighing of predicted effectiveness against intervention costs and competing risks.
Summary
Background
Race distance aptitude in Thoroughbred horses is highly heritable and is influenced largely by variation at the myostatin gene (MSTN).
Objectives
In addition to MSTN, we ...hypothesised that other modifying loci contribute to best race distance.
Study design
Using 3006 Thoroughbreds, including 835 ‘elite’ horses, which were >3 years old, had race records and were sampled from Europe/Middle‐East, Australia/New Zealand, North America and South Africa, we performed genome‐wide association (GWA) tests and separately developed a genomic prediction algorithm to comprehensively catalogue additive genetic variation contributing to best race distance.
Methods
48,896 single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes were generated from high‐density SNP genotyping arrays. Heritability estimates, tests of GWA and genomic prediction models were derived for the phenotypes: average race distance, best race distance for elite, nonelite and all winning horses.
Results
Heritability estimates were high (hm2 = 0.51, best race distance – elite; hm2 = 0.42, best race distance – nonelite; hm2 = 0.40, best race distance – all) and most of the variation was attributed to the MSTN gene. MSTN locus SNPs were the most strongly associated with the trait and included BIEC2‐438999 (ECA18:66913090; P = 4.51 × 10−110, average race distance; P = 2.33 × 10−42, best race distance – elite). The genomic prediction algorithm enabled the inclusion of variation from all SNPs in a model that partitioned horses into short and long cohorts following assignment of MSTN genotype. Additional genes with minor contributions to best race distance were identified.
Main limitations
The nongenetic influence of owner/trainer decisions on placement of horses in suitable races could not be controlled.
Conclusions
MSTN is the single most important genetic contributor to best race distance in the Thoroughbred. Employment of genetic prediction models will lead to more accurate placing of horses in races that are best suited to their inherited genetic potential for distance aptitude.
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