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Delineating conservation units (CUs, e.g., evolutionarily significant units, ESUs, and management units, MUs) is critical to the recovery of declining species because CUs inform both listing status and management actions. Genomic data have strengths and limitations in informing CU delineation and related management questions in natural systems. We illustrate the value of using genomic data in combination with landscape, dispersal and occupancy data to inform CU delineation in Nevada populations of the Great Basin Distinct Population Segment of the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris). R. luteiventris occupies naturally fragmented aquatic habitats in this xeric region, but beaver removal, climate change and other factors have put many of these populations at high risk of extirpation without management intervention. We addressed three objectives: (i) assessing support for ESUs within Nevada; (ii) evaluating and revising, if warranted, the current delineation of MUs; and (iii) evaluating genetic diversity, effective population size, adaptive differentiation and functional connectivity to inform ongoing management actions. We found little support for ESUs within Nevada but did identify potential revisions to MUs based on unique landscape drivers of connectivity that distinguish these desert populations from those in the northern portion of the species range. Effective sizes were uniformly small, with low genetic diversity and weak signatures of adaptive differentiation. Our findings suggest that management actions, including translocations and genetic rescue, might be warranted. Our study illustrates how a carefully planned genetic study, designed to address priority management goals that include CU delineation, can provide multiple insights to inform conservation action.

This study investigates the inability of the human vision system to detect gradual changes in video quality, specifically chroma reduction. We present the results from a subjective study, in which participants compared video stimuli of three different types: pristine, mildly chroma-reduced background with a fixed rate, chroma reduced with a gradual rate from a pristine first frame to a fully achromatic background in the last one. Our results show that the second type yields quality ratings that are significantly lower than those of the gradually modified samples, which are on par with those of the pristine samples.

This study identified the characteristics and needs of adults discharged from state psychiatric hospitals. A retrospective analysis of data on patients discharged from adult psychiatric units of three state psychiatric hospitals in Nebraska 2005-2008 was conducted. Diagnoses were classified into six groups, and Axis III data from the state psychiatric hospitals provided information about medical comorbidity. Only 12% of admitted patients had private insurance or could pay for their own treatment. Almost all discharged patients (95%) had a diagnosis of serious mental illness, and substance abuse (68%) and personality disorder (68%) were common, as were significant general health problems. Fourteen percent of patients used emergency services five or more times during the study period. Greater efforts must be made to diagnose, treat, and monitor major somatic illnesses and to better understand the factors that contribute to readmission and emergency service use in this population.

A scheme of professional development for teachers, leading to the award of Advanced Certificate, Advanced Diploma or degree of Master of Education, has been in operation at the University of Bath School of Education for some years. Recently this modular scheme has been extended to become more accessible to teachers in international and overseas schools around the world, with modules taught in a range of locations internationally including a Summer School held annually in July at the University of Bath. The Methods of Educational Enquiry (MEE) module provides an introduction to aspects of educational research and is recommended to participants as an early module for study: between 1992 and 1993 this module has thus been taught on more occasions than any other, in a number of different locations and by a number of different tutors. This paper considers issues arising from the implementation of an instrument for the evaluation of some aspects of the taught component of the MEE module in a wide range...

Hexamethylpropylamineoxine (HMPAO)-labeled leukocytes were studied to examine the scintigraphic significance of the procedure in diagnosing bone infection in patients with chronic nonhealing foot ulcerations. Fifty-two patients were scanned with Technetium-99-labeled white blood cells and scintigraphic results were compared with histological analysis, bone culture, and radiographic findings. Twenty-one patients demonstrated positive uptake with imaging and focal accumulation of leukocytes at the area of suspected infection. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated and found to be 86%, 90%, and 88%, respectively. Thirty-one members of the population were also scanned with Tc-99 methylene diphosphate (MDP) triphasic scintigraphy. Sensitivity equaled 91% and specificity was found to be significantly lower (40%) when compared with the leukocyte-labeled scans. Technetium-99 (HMPAO) leukocyte scintigraphs demonstrated a significantly higher specificity and accuracy rate when compared with Technetium-99 (MDP) triphasic scans.

In this work 244 more able first year boys and girls in mixed comprehensive schools were tested with a variety of science and mathematics knowledge and attitude tests. It was shown that significant sex difference effects only emerged on those tests not used in schools. This supports the general school view that no sex difference effects are apparent until option choices are made in the third year. Suggestions for possible solutions to the problems of girls opting out of the physical sciences are given.