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Prescribed fires are an important management tool for reducing fuels and returning fire to the landscape. However, rarely are changes in fuels fully quantified using pre- to post-prescribed fire measurements and those studies that do exist show variable results. In the southern Rockies, little literature exists on the impacts of prescribed fires; thus we examined multiple prescribed fires in northern Colorado to understand fire effects and changes in fuel complexes. Most prominently, prescribed fires influenced litter, duff, and rotten coarse woody debris but did not influence other surface fuels. Canopy base height increased and tree density decreased, while basal area was relatively unimpacted. Season of burning impacted fire effects as substrate burn severity, bole char, and crown volume scorch were highest in summer and fall. Continued monitoring of prescribed fires is critical to understand the influence of prescribed fire on wildfires and ultimately improve prescribed fire outcomes. Key words: prescribed fire, fuel treatment, restoration, fire effects, wildfire, Introduction Prescribed fires are a global management technique to alter fuel complexes, mitigate potential wildfire activity, and promote cultural or economic resources (Alcaniz et al. 2018; Harper et al. 2018; [...]

Heart failure is a leading cause of mortality, yet our understanding of the genetic interactions underlying this disease remains incomplete. Here, we harvest 1352 healthy and failing human hearts directly from transplant center operating rooms, and obtain genome-wide genotyping and gene expression measurements for a subset of 313. We build failing and non-failing cardiac regulatory gene networks, revealing important regulators and cardiac expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs). PPP1R3A emerges as a regulator whose network connectivity changes significantly between health and disease. RNA sequencing after PPP1R3A knockdown validates network-based predictions, and highlights metabolic pathway regulation associated with increased cardiomyocyte size and perturbed respiratory metabolism. Mice lacking PPP1R3A are protected against pressure-overload heart failure. We present a global gene interaction map of the human heart failure transition, identify previously unreported cardiac eQTLs, and demonstrate the discovery potential of disease-specific networks through the description of PPP1R3A as a central regulator in heart failure.

Abstract: individual host plants. Lodgepole pine dwarf mistletoe is an important parasite in forests of the western USA that causes reductions to productivity and is thought to alter wildland fuel [...]

This writing describes a literacy project between preservice teachers enrolled in a small university in Montana and an inner city school classroom in Kansas. It shows how the preservice teachers and children negotiate meaning at the beginning of the project as well as what the preservice teachers were learning from the children and from their teacher, Scott. Twenty-three third grade children exchanged letters, cards, drawings, autobiographies, and writing about shared literature with 24 preservice teachers for 10 weeks. Scott, the third grade teacher who assisted with the project, was a former student in Rita's university language arts classroom and was strongly committed to demonstrating to preservice teachers the rewards of teaching in an inner city classroom... particularly those coming from communities where people of color or linguistic diversity were few. Through shared written responses and the negotiation of meaning between two age groups, this project opened pathways for greater insight into the cultures and lives of children that the university students might otherwise not have known. It also provided myriad glimpses into the lives of real children, each with his or her own interests, life experiences, and expressive modalities thus shaping the perceptions of the preservice teachers about their role as teacher in supporting and responding to the individual strengths of each child.

BACKGROUND: Aerospace medical professionals may be familiar with the process of performing fundoscopy examinations for astronauts, and the level training and experience required to correctly diagnose retinal abnormalities. The same procedures can be used by astronauts themselves during spaceflight missions, but with mobile devices and artificial intelligence support, to aid in real-time diagnosis. This presentation will prepare space medicine practitioners, astronaut trainers, and astronauts to use mobile devices and artificial intelligence applications for detection of Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) for potential use during upcoming Artemis missions to deep space. OVERVIEW: Operational space medicine practitioners perform regular eye examinations of crew members during their missions to assess symptoms of SANS. These eye examinations may benefit from an Earthindependent, real-time process for SANS diagnosis in-flight with fewer ground support dependencies. To assess the feasibility of using mobile devices for this purpose, a technology demonstration was conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Results from this technology demonstration were evaluated and used to develop an artificial intelligence process for SANS detection with no Internet connection or ground communication required. This process and its development will be presented with special reference to deep space applications, SANS countermeasure support, and where this process could be improved in the future. DISCUSSION: Mobile diagnostics and artificial intelligence applications have significance for their potential to save crew time and reduce schedule constraints during operational space medicine examinations. This process serves to support next steps for space medicine during LEO commercialization and the planned Artemis deep space missions. This work also has applications for remote medicine on Earth for professionals in emergency, military, or remote medicine without access to ophthalmology or neurology clinical specialists. Learning Objectives 1. The participant will be able to understand the process for AI-enabled fundoscopy for potential use during deep space missions. 2. The audience will learn about the capability gaps that may be filled with further development and integration of this technology for deep space missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Prolonged head-down tilt bed rest (HDTBR) is frequently employed as an analog to study the human physiology changes that occur during spaceflight, particularly Spaceflight Associated Neuroocular Syndrome (SANS). We conducted four HDTBR campaigns to investigate ocular changes and potential SANS countermeasures. To ensure the safety of test subjects and the quality of data, we established specific exclusion criteria and implemented safety examinations. OVERVIEW: 39 test subjects underwent a 30-day period of strict HDTBR. Comprehensive ocular assessments were conducted at baseline and during the immediate recovery phase following HDTBR. This included measurements of visual acuity, refraction, visual field, applanation tonometry, slit lamp, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fundoscopy. Measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) and near visual acuity was added at day 2, 4, 17 and 30 of the HDTBR period. One test subject developed a retinopathia centralis serosa and was subsequently excluded during baseline examination. Another showed a retinal hole in the periphery which was detected with dilated fundoscopy during baseline examination and was treated by laser before bedrest started. Two eyes of two participants showed a reduction of two and three lines of near visual acuity at day 2 of bed rest. After bed rest, near visual acuity of one eye showed one line of reduction, while the other eye was back to baseline. There was no significant hyperopic shift in refraction and no optic disc edema in these eyes. For all participants, IOP during bed rest had a range of 12.2 to 27.6 mm Hg, with the highest values at day 4 and 17. DISCUSSION: The observed increase in IOP highlights the importance of IOP safety measures during HDTBR. Near visual acuity testing does not give enough information concerning hyperopic shift and reduced eye length due to different influences on near vision and a lack of hyperopic shift in bed rest. We emphasize of conducting a comprehensive eye examination with visual acuity testing, applanation tonometry, visual field testing, OCT, slit lamp and dilated fundoscopy. Additionally, the exclusion of eye pathologies is important to ensure test subjects safety during HDTBR. Learning Objectives 1. The audience will learn about recommended ocular safety measurements in head down tilt bed rest studies. 2. The audience will learn about the results of near visual acuity and intraocular pressure measurements during head down tilt bed rest studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]