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Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) have a long history of successful use in controlling vertebrate pest and invasive species. Despite regulatory efforts to mitigate risk, non-target wildlife may be unintentionally exposed to ARs through various trophic pathways, and depending on dose, exposure can result in adverse effects and mortality. Second-generation ARs (SGARs) are mixtures of cis- and trans-diastereoisomers (each including two stereoisomers) that exhibit similar in vitro inhibitory potency for vitamin K epoxide reductase in rodent microsomal assay systems. Some diastereoisomers and hence some individual stereoisomers are preferentially metabolized in vivo, resulting in residue patterns in exposed target rodents that differ from the bait formulations. Use of less persistent but equally potent SGAR stereoisomers in baits results in lower tissue residues in target rodents, which in turn constitutes lower risk when consumed by non-target wildlife. The toxicity of two brodifacoum formulations with stereoisomers having markedly different elimination half-lives in rats (Formulation A containing the two least persistent stereoisomers, and Formulation B containing the most persistent stereoisomer) were tested in a 7-day dietary feeding trial with American kestrels. Based on previous kestrel studies using commercially available brodifacoum, Formulations A and B were each provided at three dietary concentrations (0.05, 0.1 and 0.5 µg/g diet, 4 kestrels/dose level) predicted to cause a range of toxicity. Compared to unexposed controls, all kestrels that ingested 0.5 µg/g diet of the longer-lived Formulation B exhibited extreme coagulopathy. In contrast, the 0.5 µg/g diet of the shorter-lived Formulation A yielded only a modest lengthening of clotting time in just 1 of the 4 exposed kestrels. These findings support the notion that SGAR baits enriched with less persistent stereoisomers may pose lower hazard and ultimately risk to non-target wildlife.

Soil microbial communities in Chihuahuan Desert grasslands generally experience highly variable spatiotemporal rainfall patterns. Changes in precipitation regimes can affect belowground ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling by altering soil microbial community structure and function. The objective of this study was to determine if increased seasonal precipitation frequency and magnitude over a 7-year period would generate a persistent shift in microbial community characteristics and soil nutrient availability. We supplemented natural rainfall with large events (one/winter and three/summer) to simulate increased precipitation based on climate model predictions for this region. We observed a 2-year delay in microbial responses to supplemental precipitation treatments. In years 3-5, higher microbial biomass, arbuscular mycorrhizae abundance, and soil enzyme C and P acquisition activities were observed in the supplemental water plots even during extended drought periods. In years 5-7, available soil P was consistently lower in the watered plots compared to control plots. Shifts in soil P corresponded to higher fungal abundances, microbial C utilization activity, and soil pH. This study demonstrated that 25% shifts in seasonal rainfall can significantly influence soil microbial and nutrient properties, which in turn may have long-term effects on nutrient cycling and plant P uptake in this desert grassland.

Scientists and resource managers increasingly use Markdown-based tools to create reproducible reports and manuscripts. These workflows allow people to use standardized methods that are more reproducible, efficient, and transparent than other standard office tools. We present a Quarto template and demonstrate how this template may be used for the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management. This template may also be readily adapted to other journals that use Microsoft Word-based workflows and for other product types such as annual reports. We also provide a high-level overview of Quarto and other Markdown-based workflows. Last, we provide examples of some features of the Quarto publishing system that may be helpful for authors when customizing Quarto templates for specific journal formatting requirements and other product types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resource managers commonly use population-level models to aid in understanding the status of target populations or the potential implications of management actions. Sensitivity analyses, specifically, local sensitivity analysis (LSA) and global sensitivity analysis (GSA), exist as tools to improve understanding of these models, the importance of specific parameters to model outcomes, and the assumptions inherent to population models. However, applied ecology and closely related fields such as fisheries and wildlife management rarely use LSA or GSA. Here, we apply LSA and GSA to the Spatially Explicit Invasive Carp Population model, a population-level model used to simulate and compare management actions on the invasive silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix population in the Illinois River. The spatial structure within the model arises from the navigation "pools" that exist between navigation lock-and-dam in the river and are also the focus of fisheries management in the river. We completed LSA and GSA for two reasons: 1) to compare the importance of model input parameters on simulated model populations and 2) to demonstrate the use of LSA and GSA for populationlevel models. In our system, we detected the most important sensitivity values generally in Alton Pool. This pool is the farthest downstream and includes a direct connection with the Mississippi River. These results indicate that the population dynamics in Alton Pool are an important driver of the population dynamics throughout the Illinois River. Management outcomes in this system will, therefore, be strongly dependent on the dynamics of Alton Pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective undergraduate statistical education requires training using real-world data. Textbook datasets seldom match the complexities and messiness of real-world data and finding these datasets can be challenging for educators. Consulting and industrial datasets often have nondisclosure agreements. Academic datasets often require subject area expertise beyond those of a general education or lack connections to real-world applications. Many governments, including the United States, now require the release of data from projects they directly complete or fund though grants and contracts. We show how statistical educators may find datasets and incorporate them into courses. Specifically, we use two examples from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and one example from the ecology literature. We demonstrate the use of these datasets in an upper-level analysis of variance (ANOVA) class. In addition to describing how we found the datasets, we describe how to include them into course work and the course's student assessments. We have used these datasets over multiple semesters and included student feedback from these courses. Although our examples focus on an ANOVA class, the general methods for finding data shared here could be used for statistical classes ranging from high school to graduate education. for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEosinophilic airway inflammation is heterogeneous in asthmatic patients. We recently described a distinct subtype of asthma defined by the expression of genes inducible by T(H)2 cytokines in bronchial epithelium. This gene signature, which includes periostin, is present in approximately half of asthmatic patients and correlates with eosinophilic airway inflammation. However, identification of this subtype depends on invasive airway sampling, and hence noninvasive biomarkers of this phenotype are desirable.ObjectiveWe sought to identify systemic biomarkers of eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthmatic patients.MethodsWe measured fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (Feno), peripheral blood eosinophil, periostin, YKL-40, and IgE levels and compared these biomarkers with airway eosinophilia in asthmatic patients.ResultsWe collected sputum, performed bronchoscopy, and matched peripheral blood samples from 67 asthmatic patients who remained symptomatic despite maximal inhaled corticosteroid treatment (mean FEV(1), 60% of predicted value; mean Asthma Control Questionnaire [ACQ] score, 2.7). Serum periostin levels are significantly increased in asthmatic patients with evidence of eosinophilic airway inflammation relative to those with minimal eosinophilic airway inflammation. A logistic regression model, including sex, age, body mass index, IgE levels, blood eosinophil numbers, Feno levels, and serum periostin levels, in 59 patients with severe asthma showed that, of these indices, the serum periostin level was the single best predictor of airway eosinophilia (P = .007).ConclusionPeriostin is a systemic biomarker of airway eosinophilia in asthmatic patients and has potential utility in patient selection for emerging asthma therapeutics targeting T(H)2 inflammation.

In preparation for his doctoral studies at Stanford University, the late David F. DeSante spent the fall of 1968 studying migratory landbirds at Cabo San Lucas. Although his hopes to capture numerous vagrant warblers were not met, he amassed an impressive list of distributional records for the Baja California Peninsula at a time when few ornithologists were working there. Among these were peninsular firsts for the Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris), Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris), Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus), Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), and Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris). Another six species, and one subspecies, were found for the first time in Baja California Sur. Venturing away from the immediate confines of Cabo San Lucas, DeSante established the first peninsular record of the Gray-headed Junco (Junco hyemalis caniceps) and first state records for another five species and one subspecies. Although many of these records have been reported previously, the junior authors believe it is appropriate to synthesize them more completely with current context, in Dave’s honor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lowlands of cismontane southern California have proven to be hospitable not only to humans but to many exotic plant and animal species (Cox 1999). In addition to 14 nonnative [...]

Exotic species introductions are a major threat to biodiversity. The first step to their control involves identifying their presence, distribution, and impacts on native species and their habitats, especially in highly diverse regions. We update and document new records of exotic freshwater fauna from the Baja California Mediterranean region. We found 157 locality records of 17 exotic aquatic species; 16 genera and 15 families were recorded. Five species are new records for the region: Malaysian trumpet snail (Melanoides tuberculata), black bullhead catfish (Ameiurus melas), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), spiny softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), and red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). The catfish, carp, and softshell turtle have been previously reported from Baja California, but only from the Colorado River and adjacent Mexicali Valley, while the snail and slider represent new state records. Of the 157 locality records, 71 were found in published literature and 86 represent new records from field observations, collected specimens and citizen science observations. Based on discussions with local ranchers and landowners, some exotic species were introduced for food or aesthetic purposes, emphasizing the need for environmental programs to stop these actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and patient tolerance of a new pulsed irrigation system to colonic lavage for colonoscopic preparation. Thirty-four prospective patients scheduled for routine colonoscopy were randomized to one of two preparations: a per-rectal pulsed irrigation device (18 patients) versus per-oral colonic lavage (15 patients). Colonoscopic preparation was assessed on a 0 to 4 plus scale by region and overall. This was done live and by video tape by two independent endoscopists who were blinded to the patient's preparation. There was no significant difference with respect to cleanliness of the colon with pulsed irrigation patients having an average overall preparation score of 3.00 +/- 0.19 (SEM) versus colonic lavage patients with a score of 3.14 +/- 0.19. There was also no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to demographics, time to reach the cecum, time for entire procedure, volume of aspiration or wash, or sedation given. We conclude that the new pulsed irrigation device provides an alternative to the standard per-oral lavage solution for colonoscopic preparation.