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Background: Delirium is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Numerous precipitating factors and etiologies merge into the pathophysiology of this condition which can be marked by agitation and psychosis. Judicious use of antipsychotic medications such as intravenous haloperidol reduces these symptoms and distress in critically ill individuals. Aims: This study aimed to develop a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for the antipsychotic medication haloperidol; estimate plasma and unbound interstitial brain concentrations for repetitive haloperidol administrations used in hyperactive delirium treatment; determine dopamine receptor occupancy and antagonism under these conditions; and correlate these results with Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) scores and the risk of developing extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSs). Methods: The PBPK model for single and repetitive administrations of peroral and intravenous haloperidol was developed with PK-Sim software. The pharmacodynamic (PD) model for RASS scores with haloperidol unbound interstitial brain concentration passed as the regressor was developed with the MonolixSuite 2021R platform. Results: Peak haloperidol plasma and unbound interstitial brain concentrations following a single 2 mg intravenous dose are 32 ± 5 nM and 2.4 ± 0.4 nM. With repetitive administrations, dopamine receptor occupancy is 70%–83% and D2LR antagonism is 1%–10%. Variations in dopamine receptor occupancy correlate with changes in RASS scores in individuals with hyperactive delirium. There is a linear association between the odds ratio of developing EPS and peak D2LR antagonism as functions of dopamine receptor occupancy. Conclusions: Haloperidol dopamine receptor occupancy time course and D2LR antagonism parallel RASS score changes and EPS risk, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate alternative ibrutinib dosing regimens that maintain Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) receptor occupancy over the entire dosing interval for CLL patients using a model-based approach. Methods: Ibrutinib inhibits B-cell proliferation via irreversible binding of BTK. As IC50 is not an appropriate parameter to describe the potency of the inhibition in the presence of a covalent binding inhibitor. A BTK covalent binding model was developed using kinact/KI as key parameter to account for covalent binding. The ibrutinib-BTK covalent binding model was used to describe the effect of daily doses of 140, 280, 420 and 560 mg on the proportion of subjects with more than 90% BTK inhibition at steady state trough concentrations. Predictive performance of the model was assessed using the available ibrutinib BTK inhibition data following QD dosing. Model-based predictions were used to identify the minimum ibrutinib QD dose that provides more than 90% inhibition in more than 90% of the subjects. Results: The covalent binding model was able to describe the data and predicted that ibrutinib QD dose reduced from 420 mg to 280 mg or 140 mg may inhibit de novo synthetized BTK efficiently in a CLL population. Conclusion: Using a model-based approach showed that reducing the ibrutinib dosing regimen to 280 mg QD or even 140 mg in case of adverse events could maintain BTK inhibition over the entire dosing interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the role of the right to (culturally) adequate housing in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (fcnm) and its monitoring process conducted by the Advisory Committee on the fcnm. The research aims to reveal potential systemic failings concerning the housing of minorities across Europe by identifying common threads related to housing in the most recent Opinions and Government Comments. The paper begins by highlighting the importance of adequate housing conditions that fulfil an individual’s needs and interests, particularly for members of minorities who face uncertainty and discrimination in their journey towards adequate housing. Various international human rights treaties obligate states to respect, protect, and fulfil the right to culturally adequate housing, which plays a pivotal role in preserving their culture and traditional way of life. However, the role of the fcnm in protecting minorities’ housing rights has been understudied, and the discussion is merely ancillary. Thus, this paper aims to fill the knowledge gap by analysing all Opinions and Government Comments for each state’s two most recently completed Reporting Cycles systematically. The paper concludes that the fcnm has a significant role to play in protecting minorities’ housing rights, and more attention should be given to this aspect in the monitoring process conducted by the Advisory Committee on the fcnm. The findings of this research could help improve the protection of minorities’ housing rights across Europe and contribute to the overall goal of promoting social inclusion and equality for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muridae such as rats and mice are important hosts of (zoonotic) pathogens in urbanized environments. Controlling their population size is an important component of public health policies to reduce human disease risk. Recent studies suggest that rodent populations may increase due to urban greening, but this could also be counteracted by domestic cats and wild predators that inhabit urban greenspaces. Here, we assessed how the presence of brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) and mice (i.e., the house mouse (Mus musculus), wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and voles (Microtus spp.)) in urban environments relates to neighbourhood greenness and the occurrence of predators. We used camera traps to survey the occurrence of rats, mice, and their predators in 758 private gardens located along gradients of greenness in 25 municipalities across the Netherlands. Detection and occupancy were modelled using logistic mixed models and occupancy models. Mice were detected in 40.6% of the gardens and rats in 9.6%. Detection of rats and mice could not be explained by greenness but was negatively related to the presence of domestic cats. Rat detection was positively associated with the availability of open water and negatively associated with neighborhood wealth. Mice occupancy was positively associated with the presence of mustelids and brown rats, greenness, the availability of open water and human population density. Our results suggest that greenness is a less important driver than the presence of domestic cats for the mere presence of rats and mice in private gardens in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks is proposed to forecast hourly energy consumption. Using an office building in Shanghai as a case study, hourly data on occupancy, weather, and energy consumption were collected. Daily energy consumption was analyzed using single-link clustering, and days were classified into three types. The key input variables significantly influencing energy consumption, solar radiation, occupancy, and outdoor dry bulb temperature are identified by the Pearson correlation coefficient. By comparing five algorithms, it was found that the LSTM model performed the best. After considering the occupancy, the hourly MAPE was reduced from 11% to 9%. Accuracy improvements for each day type were noted as 1% for weekdays, 4% for Saturday, and 7% for Sunday. Further analysis indicated that the model started to predict the time (1:00) and commute time (7:00 and 17:00) with large errors. The model was optimized by varying the time step. For the times 1:00, 7:00, and 17:00, the best optimization of the model was achieved when the time step values were set to 6 h, 24 h, and 18 h with an MAPE of 3%, 6%, and 5%, respectively. As the model time step increased (≤2 weeks), the accuracy of the model decreased to 6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Ecosystem assessment using acoustic monitoring technologies can be an efficient method for determining species community composition and breeding activity, but many factors affect the quality of acoustics-data and subsequent level of confidence in derived inferences. Aims: We aimed to assess variability in detection probabilities of five frog species using autonomous recording units (ARUs) deployed across a single 1 km2 wetland, comprising a lagoon and surrounding area, and subsequently determine the required number of ARUs with 95% confidence in derived presence–absence data. Methods: Ten ARUs were deployed in two rings around the lagoon's centroid close to the water's edge. Occupancy models were used to derive detection probabilities of species calling in the lagoon from data describing the temporal pattern of calling at each site, which were derived using call recognition software. Key results: Only two of the five target species were detected by all 10 ARUs. All target species' non-zero ARU detection probabilities varied by a factor of 14, and the coefficients of variation in individual ARU detection probability for each species varied by a factor of seven. Simulations revealed seven or eight ARUs are required to achieve 95% confidence in confirming presence of either of the two species with the highest observed detection probabilities, given they are present and calling. Even with ten deployed ARUs, the probability of successful detection of the other three species known to be calling on any day was less than 40%. Conclusions: Effective detection was not achieved for all targeted species by several ARUs during a period when hydrology and season suited recruitment activity. Despite all ARUs being deployed at locations favourable for detecting targeted species, stochastic factors drove spatial variability in detection resulting in markedly different data for each ARU and each species. Implications: Data describing species presence derived from automated recording units may not be representative due to spatiotemporal variability in detection that varies by species. To improve ARU deployment strategies, a priori knowledge of typical detection probabilities and species spatial variability can be used to determine the required number of call recorders for a set level of confidence. Acoustic monitoring with autonomous recording units (ARUs) offers efficient ecosystem assessment, but producing high quality data is challenging. We assessed detection probabilities of five frog species from ten ARUs positioned across a wetland, finding that the degree of spatiotemporal variability in detection varied by species. Our analysis informed ARU deployment requirements for producing reliable species community monitoring data and informed confidence levels when fewer ARUs are deployed. Image by Andrew Hall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the main drivers of biodiversity decline. Rapidly changing climate in the form of warming, drying, and habitat isolation causes freshwater species to change their spatial extent, as most species have little capacity for in situ responses. However, the relative contribution of these three effects to freshwater species’ changing spatial distributions is actively debated. To shed light on this debate, we explored temperature, hydroperiod, and habitat connectivity effects on alpine pond species occupancy probabilities in the northern French Alps. We studied alpine ponds as ideal test systems because they face climate change effects more rapidly, and in more concentrated areas, than any other freshwater ecosystem. We used multispecies occupancy models with three biological groups (amphibians, macrophytes, and Odonata) to examine contrasting responses to climate change. Contrary to expectations, temperature was not the main driver of species occupancy probabilities. Instead, hydroperiod and connectivity were stronger predictors of species occupancy probabilities. Furthermore, temperature increases had the same effect on occupancy probabilities of non-alpine specialist and alpine specialist species. Nonetheless, temperature disproportionately affected a greater number of specialist species compared with non-alpine specialists. We conclude that climate change mitigation will primarily benefit a greater number of alpine specialist species than non-alpine specialists. Finally, we suggest that enhancing our understanding of freshwater hydroperiods will improve our predictions of climate change effects on freshwater species distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) populations have been in apparent decline across their native range in North America for decades. Several hypotheses exist for the causes of these declines, including loss of wetlands. We used time‐to‐detection data from 925 surveys from 276 sites across Rhode Island, USA, between 2021–2023 to fit an occupancy model that related the probability of muskrat occupancy at a site to land cover classification. We found that muskrat occupancy was higher in areas with more open water, urban land cover, or a second‐order or larger stream, and lower in areas with salt water. We estimated changes in wetland area throughout Rhode Island using the National Land Cover Database classifications from 2001 and 2019 and found a net loss in wetland cover of 219 ha. We calculated the distance between wetland patches in each of these periods and found that patches were closer together than the dispersal distance of muskrats, suggesting isolation is unlikely to be driving muskrat declines. Additionally, when we used our model to predict changes in muskrat occupancy between 2001 and 2019, both mean and median predicted occupancy changed by <0.005. These results indicate that muskrat declines are not driven by habitat loss, and suggest future research is needed that focuses on other hypothesized mechanisms of muskrat declines such as disease, declining habitat quality, predation, and competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 20% of primary energy consumed in the U.S. is attributed to HVAC use. Ideally, HVAC operation would be driven by actual building occupancy, but lack of reliable occupancy information often results in the use of conservative static schedules. This disparity is even more pronounced in a college campus, where the function of each space differs by building (classrooms, offices, libraries) and the class schedules change frequently -- every semester, day of week, and hour. While several research papers propose the use of counts of the Wi-Fi connections (e.g., phones, computers) as a proxy for occupancy, few real-world implementationsexist. This paper describes the development and deployment of an open-sourceWi-Fi-to-Occupancy software library in 65 buildings of a college campus, and the plannedintegration with the building energy management and control system at the building scale. Overa year of Wi-Fi data was gathered into distinct academic periods, including fall and springsemester, academic breaks, and summer sessions. Patterns such as students moving between classrooms, closing laptops before exams, etc., can be visualized from the data. Approximating occupancy from Wi-Fi data presents challenges which we address in this project -- for example, identifying static devices, or estimating the ratio of devices per person. Utilizing real-time occupancy data to inform optimal HVAC schedules and ventilation rates creates the potential to identify and reduce energy waste. Other potential applications include forecasting occupancy, and using Wi-Fi data to predict peak demands. Finally, the paper discusses how to easily scale these tools to other buildings.

This study estimates the effect of nursing home closure on occupancy, net profit margin, and operating margin of nearby nursing homes. We use national nursing home data from 2009 to 2019 from Medicare cost reports, Medicare Provider of Services (POS), and LTCfocus.org data. Using the Callaway and Sant'Anna difference-in-differences model, we compare the changes in occupancy, net profit margin, and operating margin between incumbent nursing homes in markets with any closure and nursing homes in markets without a closure, overall, and across rurality. Our findings suggest that nursing home closure improves the occupancy rates of remaining nursing homes in the same market in rural areas but there is little evidence of effects in metropolitan and micropolitan areas. Nursing home regulators and local officials should consider the long-term care market heterogeneity when considering interventions targeted at nursing home closure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, some new lane-changing rules for one-way two-lane traffic with one work zone are proposed. Considering their velocities difference between the vehicle in the current lane and some vehicle behind/ahead in the target lane, and its own velocity, driver will choose to change lanes if necessary. Unlike some previous studies, one-way two-lane with one work zone is divided into three sections: symmetrical zone, conversion zone and work zone. In the conversion zone, the maximum velocity of vehicles in merge lane depends on the number of unsuccessful lane-changing. Based on the refined Nagel–Schreckenberg model, all vehicles update their corresponding velocities and positions in own respective lanes, employing open boundary conditions. The computer results show that the system has two states: unsaturated state and saturated state. In the saturated state, these vehicles on these two lanes have the same occupancy, which change steadily without inflection point when approaching the conversion zone, especially for upstream of the work zone. As one of the results of vehicle self-organization, the system can reach the saturated state in a short period of time as the injection probability increases. This saturated state can also spread across the conversion zone to the symmetrical zone. In the unsaturated state, one also finds that the velocity distribution can be consistent with the actual traffic conditions for upstream of the work zone. We selected three road sections with work zone to carry out field test, and the flow of these three road sections is basically consistent with the flow of the saturated state for the present model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building temperature setpoints affect both HVAC energy consumption and occupant comfort. To reduce HVAC energy usage, researchers often investigate how system operations can be optimized under weather and occupancy variability subject to a fixed setpoint that minimizes any possible discomfort. While previous research has explored the selection of dynamic setpoints to minimize HVAC energy consumption based on outdoor temperature, they have often neglected the impact of varying occupancy rates on the setpoints. This paper aims to demystify energy savings derived from fixed and dynamic temperature setpoints under weather and occupancy variability and explores the additional energy savings that can be achieved through dynamic temperature setpoints. An exhaustive HVAC zone temperature setpoint optimizer was developed to determine dynamic setpoints with respect to weather and occupancy (i.e., setpoints that minimize HVAC energy consumption at different occupancy rates based on outdoor weather). U.S. DOE reference building energy models for small, medium, and large office buildings were simulated at 17 climate zones, 4 occupancy rates (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) and 7 setpoints (19.5°C to 25.5°C at 1°C interval). It was found that, both fixed and dynamic setpoints benefit from the energy reduction of approximately 2-4% from the lower heat generated by the occupants at lower occupancy rates. However, at outdoor temperatures between 5°C and 32°C where occupant heat loads can swing the building between heating, free-running, and cooling modes, dynamic setpoints yield additional 2-10% energy savings, compared to fixed setpoints.

Globally, the effective protected area network is one of the last resorts for conserving biodiversity. The nature of protected areas depends on the land ownership of the respective countries including India. The landholding in the northeastern states of India remains with native people, thus, ‘Community Reserve’ (CR) was introduced in 2003. Considering the high number of CR in Meghalaya that are home to many threatened primates, understanding their role in conserving the primates was crucial. We conducted day and night trail surveys in 32 CR of Meghalaya, and a questionnaire survey of local people for their perception of primates. We sampled basal area, tree density, canopy cover, canopy height, bamboo density, and human activity in each CR to test their influence on the occupancy of primates. We recorded the Western hoolock gibbon Hoolock hoolock, capped langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Northern pig-tailed macaque Macaca leonina, Assamese macaque Macaca assamensis, Rhesus macaque Macaca mulatta, and Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis. The primate richness and abundance were higher in the CR of Garo Hills than in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills. The gibbons had the highest patch occupancy, which was followed by capped langur, Assamese macaque, and pig-tailed macaque. Large-sized CR determined the occupancy of gibbons and Assamese macaques. Canopy cover positively influenced the occupancy of three primates except the Assamese macaque, whereas the canopy height had a positive association with three species of primates. The basal area, and tree density, negatively affected the occurrence of Assamese macaque, northern pig-tailed macaque, and capped langur. Macaques were the most hunted primates. The differential occurrence and abundance in different hill systems may be due to hunting and habitat size rather than habitat quality. Habitat restoration would improve the habitat quality with the involvement of communities to assist in retaining and avoiding the local extinction of primates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibilities for assessing the impact of human activity on mammals using camera traps are demonstrated in Russia for the first time, three species of large carnivores taken as examples: the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), and the gray wolf (Canis lupus). To do this, a single-season species-level occupancy analysis and an analysis of daily activity were utilized. This study was carried out in 2022 on the territory of the Southern Forestry of the Central Forest Nature Reserve, in western European Russia during the period of maximum human activity (July–August). The relative abundance indices of pedestrians, all-terrain vehicles, and the distance to villages were used as variables. The maximum predicted occupancy was found for the lynx (ψ = 0.97), while the minimum was found for the wolf (ψ = 0.78). Detection probability was the highest for the brown bear (p = 0.18), in contrast to both lynx and wolf (0.08 each). For the lynx and the brown bear, large degrees of overlap of daily activities with pedestrians ( = 0.57 and = 0.47) and all-terrain vehicles ( = 0.51 and = 0.41) were noted, in contrast to those for the wolf ( = 0.37 and = 0.35, respectively). Human activity had no noticeable effect on either the spatial or temporal distribution patterns of the brown bear and lynx. In contrast, the wolf showed a shift in both patterns away from human activity. The combined use of occupancy and daily activity analyses based on data from camera traps is the optimal method for assessing and regulating human activity in particularly strictly protected natural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue (Balaenoptera musculus) and fin (B. physalus) whales are prominent species in the California Current Ecosystem (CCE) using the area for migration and foraging. Blue whales migrate between tropical wintering grounds and higher latitude foraging grounds in the CCE, whereas fin whales may remain there year-round. We used Argos tracks of 182 blue (mean duration: 78 days) and 98 fin (mean duration: 35 days) whales tagged from 1994-2018 along the U.S. West Coast to examine residence time and occupancy in U.S. Navy training and testing areas. Bayesian hierarchical switching state-space model locations calculated from Argos tracks were used to provide residence time and proportion of tracking duration within each Navy area. We also calculated relative occupancy isopleths from the state space models, for both directed and non-directed movement, to assess spatial use of Navy areas. We then used generalized linear mixed models and beta regression to examine relationships between Navy area use and covariates, including six climate indices. Point Mugu Sea Range (PMSR) was the most heavily used Navy area by both species in terms of whale numbers, followed by the Southern California Range Complex (SOCAL). Residence time was longest in PMSR for blue whales and in the Northwest Training and Testing Study Area (NWTT) for fin whales. Blue whale use in PMSR was greater in summer versus autumn and for whales tagged in Southern versus Central California. Proportion of tracking duration decreased in all areas with increasing values of the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI), and in PMSR, with increasing values of the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation. Fin whale residence time was longer in PMSR during summer than winter or spring and decreased with increasing values of Habitat Compression Index and ONI. Proportion of tracking duration for fin whales was greatest in summer in PMSR and in winter in SOCAL and NWTT. Overlap of directed and non-directed movement was greatest in PMSR for both species. This assessment of blue and fin whale residence time and occupancy in Navy areas improves our understanding of potential threats these animals face, not only from military activities in Navy areas, but throughout the CCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 20 years ago, ecologists were introduced to the site occupancy model (SOM) for estimating occupancy rates from detection‐nondetection data. In the ensuing decades, the SOM and its hierarchical modeling extensions have become mainstays of quantitative ecology, and estimating occupancy rates has become one of the most common applications of ecological field data. Here, we review 364 peer‐reviewed articles published between 2019–2021 that estimated occupancy. We first document broad patterns in study design and statistical methods to provide educators, developers of methodology and software, and ecologists with a clear picture of the landscape of methodologies used to estimate animal occupancy. Second, we conduct a focused review of a subset of 98 papers that applied the hierarchical SOM, drawing from methodological literature to identify discrepancies between SOM applications and methodological best practices. We discuss limits to statistical power, issues with model checking and model selection procedures, potential problems arising from unmodeled non‐independence, and reproducibility. We highlight areas of rapid advancement in interpreting animal occupancy related to animal movement, imperfect detection, and the occupancy–density relationship. We aim to help readers understand the landscape of methods available, motivate shifts toward robust and reproducible science, and inspire new software and methodological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species interactions shape biodiversity patterns, community assemblage, and the dynamics of wildlife populations. Ecological theory posits that the strength of interspecific interactions is fundamentally underpinned by the population sizes of the involved species. Nonetheless, prevalent approaches for modeling species interactions predominantly center around occupancy states. Here, we use simulations to illuminate the inadequacies of modeling species interactions solely as a function of occupancy, as is common practice in ecology. We demonstrate erroneous inference into species interactions due to error in parameter estimates when considering species occupancy alone. To address this critical issue, we propose, develop, and demonstrate an abundance‐mediated interaction framework designed explicitly for modeling species interactions involving two or more species from detection/non‐detection data. We present Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) samplers tailored for diverse ecological scenarios, including intraguild predation, disease‐ or predator‐mediated competition, and trophic cascades. Illustrating the practical implications of our approach, we compare inference from modeling the interactions in a three‐species network involving coyotes (Canis latrans), fishers (Pekania pennanti), and American marten (Martes americana) in North America as a function of occupancy states and as a function of abundance. When modeling interactions as a function of abundance rather than occupancy, we uncover previously unidentified interactions. Our study emphasizes that accounting for abundance‐mediated interactions rather than simple co‐occurrence patterns can fundamentally alter our comprehension of system dynamics. Through an empirical case study and comprehensive simulations, we demonstrate the importance of accounting for abundance when modeling species interactions, and we present a statistical framework equipped with MCMC samplers to achieve this paradigm shift in ecological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in populations of small mammals associated with high elevations, e.g. marmots (Marmota spp.) and pikas (Ochotona spp.), have been attributed to both direct and indirect effects of environmental changes caused by humans. For example, populations of Olympic marmots (M. olympus) and Vancouver Island marmots (M. vancouverensis) have declined in response to increased predator access to high-elevation marmot habitats. In the North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA), observed mean abundance of hoary marmots (M. caligata) declined by 74% from 2007 to 2016. Although these declines have been linked to harsh winter conditions, the role of predation and its association with decreasing snowpack has yet to be explored in this system. We noninvasively examined these predator–prey dynamics by coupling behavioral surveys of hoary marmots with indices of predation risk. We conducted 145 vigilance samples and 39 flight initiation distance trials to measure Hoary Marmot antipredator behavior. We derived a risk index for each predator by weighting its probability of use estimates (the probability of a predator–prey encounter) with its observed proportion of Hoary Marmot predation (probability of prey death given an encounter). We used genetic metabarcoding of vertebrate DNA from 413 predator scat samples to quantify predation on hoary marmots. We surveyed 9,930 trap-nights using 130 remote cameras to model predator probability of use near Hoary Marmot colonies. From camera traps and scat DNA, we detected 10 predator species in the study area, and we detected hoary marmots in the scats of 5 of these species. The proportion of observed Hoary Marmot predation was highest for coyotes (Canis latrans) at 50%. To our knowledge, we also report the first record of hoary marmots being consumed by Pacific martens (Martes caurina), which were also significant predators (proportion of observed predation = 32%). We expected predators with low-elevation habits to use sites with lesser snow persistence; this prediction was supported for coyotes but not for other typically low-elevation predators. We found estimated risk experienced by hoary marmots was highest from Pacific martens and lowest from Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis). Contrary to our predictions and despite hoary marmots allocating >50% of their time to vigilance, neither estimates of predator risk nor human presence explained variation in marmot antipredator behavior. Based on the results from both our dietary and probability of use analyses, we expect coyotes to have an increasing effect on NOCA's Hoary Marmot population as the climate warms and Coyote range continues to expand. Thus, our work highlights the need to better understand the effect of climate-driven shifts in predator–prey ecology in high-elevation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective conservation is becoming more difficult as threats to wildlife increase. Natural resource managers are pressured to make difficult decisions with limited resources, and in many instances, large uncertainty. Scientists and managers tasked with the conservation of a species need tools to help guide efficient decision-making. Often, information for management decisions is insufficient. Tools that help to inform decision makers and address uncertainty are invaluable to effective conservation initiatives. The objective of our study was to create a model to best predict Eastern Newt (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens) breeding occurrence across the northeastern United States. We estimated relationships between breeding newt field survey data and landscape-level covariates while accounting for imperfect detection. We then used those relationships to map expected newt breeding site occupancy across the northeastern United States. We find that newt breeding occupancy is inversely correlated to the amount of human influence in a landscape, highlighting a key existing threat to Eastern Newts that may be exacerbated by the introduction of novel pathogens, such as the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Accurate baseline data for wildlife populations are important to track trends of these populations over time and to identify threats to their long-term persistence. Aims: We aimed to assess the status and distribution of the little studied megapode (Megapodius laperouse laperouse) across the Mariana Islands. Methods: Using passive and call playback facilitated surveys in 2008 through 2010, we employed point–transect distance sampling to assess island-level and archipelago-wide status of this megapode. To assess conservation needs, we defined human presence as the current, recent, or intermittent occurrence of humans on islands. Key results: We recorded 657 megapode detections and estimated an archipelago level abundance of 11,542 individuals (95% CI: 5456–17,623) from 699 sampling points across 10 islands. Three islands supported 86% of the megapode population, but cumulatively comprise only 2% of the archipelago's land area. Conclusions: Micronesian Megapodes preferred native forest. Human presence and the availability of native forest may limit their abundance and distribution in the Mariana Islands. Although the probability of detecting megapodes was significantly greater on islands without high human presence, significantly more detections were recorded in forests with dense or closed understory on those islands that supported greater human populations. Implications: Given their status and confined distribution in the Mariana Islands, additional studies investigating megapode incubation sites and movement within and between islands would provide fundamental information on megapode ecology and enhance conservation efforts. Continued and expanded ungulate removal, predator control, and habitat restoration would further enhance the likelihood of megapode persistence in the archipelago. We investigated the archipelago-wide status of Micronesian Megapodes (Megapodius laperouse) in the Mariana Islands. Findings indicate that megapode population and distribution in the Mariana Islands are limited by availability of native forest and human presence. We discuss studies of breeding and movement patterns, and removal of introduced ungulates and predators to benefit the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degradation. This study analyzed variables affecting habitat occupancy of Chinese pangolins using a single‐season occupancy model across 134 study grids (600 m × 600 m) in peri‐urban areas of Dharan Sub‐Metropolitan City, eastern Nepal. We identified termite mounds as a significant key factor (top model with AICwt = 1) in the detection probability of Chinese pangolin burrows (βTermite mounds = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.89). Additionally, the Human Disturbance Index (HDI) emerged as the key variable for habitat use occupancy (AIC = 231.96, AICwt = 0.309), indicating a significant negative impact (βHDI = −6.555, 95% CI = −11.324 to −1.7723). We observed a mean HDI of 0.475 ± 0.04 in the grids where Chinese pangolins were detected, with higher HDI values correlating with reduced Chinese pangolin occupancy. For the long‐term conservation of Chinese pangolins in urban landscapes, it is crucial to reduce anthropogenic activities and implement conservation measures to protect suitable habitats with abundant termite mounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Rapid increases in human population and the resulting apex predator defaunation are affecting the spatial and temporal dynamics of small carnivores, with uncertain consequences for the ecological community. Documenting the spatiotemporal impact of apex predators and human disturbance on small carnivores becomes crucial to managers overseeing carnivore persistence. Objectives: Assessing the spatiotemporal responses of five small carnivores to two apex carnivores (tigers Panthera tigris, leopards P. pardus) and human disturbances in Northeast Asia. Methods: We first applied an occupancy-modelling framework to test whether site occupancy of small carnivores depended on apex carnivore and human disturbance. Then, we calculated the overlap of activity periods between small carnivores and apex predators, as well as the overlap with human/cattle activities using kernel density functions. Finally, we used cross-wavelet analysis to determine the temporal coherence between related species. Results: Spatially, most small carnivores were independent of tigers and leopards. Compared to apex predators, small carnivores were more likely to use areas with high human activity. Temporally, small carnivores exhibited highly heterogeneous diel overlaps and more in-phase activities with apex predators. However, we found a significant difference in the mean activity time between apex and small carnivore. Meanwhile, small carnivores exhibited low levels of temporal overlap and more out-phase temporal coherence with humans and cattle at shorter periods. Conclusions: Apex carnivores and human disturbances don’t limit the space use or intensity of use of small carnivores. Temporal segregation and anti-phase activity are the key role for small carnivores to minimize intraguild predation and human persecution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention and early detection of invasive species are championed as the most cost‐effective and efficient strategies for reducing or preventing negative impacts on ecosystems. Spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is a recently introduced invasive insect whose range in the United States has been expanding rapidly since it was first discovered in Pennsylvania in 2014. Feeding by this planthopper can cause severe impacts on agricultural production, particularly grapes (Vitis spp.). Human visual surveys are the most common search method employed for detection but can be ineffective due to the insect's cryptic egg masses and low density during early stages of infestation. Therefore, finding alternative early detection methods has become a priority for agencies tasked with addressing SLF management. This study experimentally tested whether trained detector dogs could improve the probability of detecting SLF in both agricultural and forest settings. We surveyed transects in 20 vineyards and their adjacent wooded areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, USA, and used a multiscale occupancy model to estimate detection probability achieved by human observers and detection dogs as a function of SLF infestation level, weather, and habitat covariates. We modeled transect‐level occupancy of SLF as a function of infestation level, habitat type, topographic position index, and distance to forests. Occupancy probability of SLF was higher on vines within vineyards than in forests, and occupancy declined with increasing distance from forests, which is informative for future search efforts. Detection probability of SLF was lower at forested sites but was higher at high infestation sites. Detection dogs had a lower detection probability than humans in the vineyards, but the detection probability of dogs was >3× greater than that of humans in forested sites. Our study suggests that detection dogs are more effective than human visual searches as an early detection method for SLF in forested areas, and utilizing detector dogs could strengthen SLF early detection efforts. This study demonstrates the potential applicability of using canine‐assisted search strategies combined with occupancy models to enhance the surveillance and prevention of other difficult‐to‐detect invasive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building temperature setpoints affect both HVAC energy consumption and occupant comfort. To reduce HVAC energy usage, researchers often investigate how system operations can be optimized under weather and occupancy variability subject to a fixed setpoint that minimizes any possible discomfort. While previous research has explored the selection of dynamic setpoints to minimize HVAC energy consumption based on outdoor temperature, they have often neglected the impact of varying occupancy rates on the setpoints. This paper aims to demystify energy savings derived from fixed and dynamic temperature setpoints under weather and occupancy variability and explores the additional energy savings that can be achieved through dynamic temperature setpoints. An exhaustive HVAC zone temperature setpoint optimizer was developed to determine dynamic setpoints with respect to weather and occupancy (i.e., setpoints that minimize HVAC energy consumption at different occupancy rates based on outdoor weather). U.S. DOE reference building energy models for small, medium, and large office buildings were simulated at 17 climate zones, 4 occupancy rates (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) and 7 setpoints (19.5°C to 25.5°C at 1°C interval). It was found that, both fixed and dynamic setpoints benefit from the energy reduction of approximately 2-4% from the lower heat generated by the occupants at lower occupancy rates. However, at outdoor temperatures between 5°C and 32°C where occupant heat loads can swing the building between heating, free-running, and cooling modes, dynamic setpoints yield additional 2-10% energy savings, compared to fixed setpoints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural resource development in the Canadian Arctic—a mostly remote and 'untouched' landscape—is expanding. Raptorial species are key indicators of ecosystem diversity and environmental change; disturbance-mediated changes to Arctic-breeding raptor populations can be assessed to determine impacts from development. From 2012 through 2020, we monitored peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) breeding territories near an iron ore mine on North Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. The mine was constructed from 2010 through 2014 and became operational in 2015. Our objective was to evaluate whether proximity to mining disturbance affected occupancy and reproductive success of both species. We quantified occupancy using multi-season occupancy models and reproductive success using stochastic partial differential equations capable of accounting for unexplained spatiotemporal variation. Occupancy of both species was best explained by year effects. Occupancy remained relatively stable across time for peregrine falcons (λ = 0.99 ± 0.04) but fluctuated drastically for rough-legged hawks (λ = 3.41 ± 2.17). For both species, most of the spatiotemporal variation in reproductive success was unexplained (presumably from underlying abiotic and biotic factors), which led to the differential presence and count of nestlings across the study area and time. Neither distance to disturbance nor primary production explained variation in occupancy and reproductive success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor is an important target for drug development and the main receptor through which classical psychedelics elucidate their hallucinogenic effects. The 5-HT2A receptor antagonist ketanserin has frequently been used as a tool to block the receptor. Here, we establish the dose-occupancy relation of ketanserin and the cerebral 5-HT2A receptor in healthy participants by conducting a positron emission tomography (PET) study. 120-min PET scans using the 5-HT2A receptor agonist radiotracer [11C]Cimbi-36 were conducted at baseline and after oral doses of either 10, 20, or 40 mg of ketanserin; each participant underwent one or two scans after ketanserin administration. Occupancy was defined as the percent change in neocortex binding potential (BP ND), estimated using the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) with the cerebellum as reference region. Peroral ketanserin intake resulted in a plasma concentration-related increase in cerebral 5-HT2A receptor occupancy with the highest plasma ketanserin concentrations measured after ∼2 h. The relation between mean plasma ketanserin concentrations and 5-HT2A receptor occupancy conformed to a single-site binding model with an estimated EC 50 (95 % CI) of 2.52 (0.75; 8.1) ng/mL, which corresponds to a peroral dose of ketanserin of approximately 10 mg. These data elucidate for the first time in humans the cerebral pharmacodynamics of ketanserin, both benefitting its use as a pharmacological tool for probing brain function and adding to its potential for therapeutic use in rescuing a bad psychedelic experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum game theory merges principles from quantum mechanics with game theory, exploring how quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement can influence strategic decision making. It offers a novel approach to analyzing and optimizing complex systems where traditional game theory may fall short. Congestion of passengers, if considered as a network, may fall into the categories of optimization cases of quantum games. This paper explores the application of quantum potential games to minimize congestion in common areas at airports. The players/passengers of the airport have identical interests and they share the same utility function. A metric is introduced that considers a passenger's visit to a common area by setting their preferences, in order to avoid congestion. Passengers can decide whether to visit a specific common area or choose an alternative. This study demonstrates that the proposed game is a quantum potential game for tackling congestion, with identical interests, ensuring the existence of a Nash equilibrium. We consider passengers to be players that want to ensure their interests. Quantum entanglement is utilized to validate the concept, and the results highlight the effectiveness of this approach. The objective is to ensure that not all passengers select the same common place of the airport to reduce getting crowded; hence, the airborne disease infection probability increases due to overcrowding. Our findings provide a promising framework for optimizing passenger flow and reducing congestion in airport common areas through quantum game theory. We showed that the proposed system is stable by encapsulating the Lyapunov stability. We compared it to a simulated annealing approach to show the efficacy of the quantum game approach. We acknowledge that this framework can be utilized in other disciplines as well. For our future work, we will research different strategies than binary ones to investigate the efficacy of the approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To inform regional conservation planning, we assessed mammalian and avian biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle, which is an intact forest with long-term research and tourism focused on western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). This critical region serves as a conservation conduit between the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) in the Republic of Congo and the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. Wildlife inventories were conducted to determine if biodiversity in the Djéké Triangle (initially part of a logging concession) was equivalent to the NNNP. Camera traps (CTs) were deployed to estimate species richness, relative abundance, naïve occupancy, and activity patterns of medium-to-large species in mixed species and monodominant Gilbertiodendron forests that comprise the majority of regional terra firma. Species inventories were collected from CTs positioned on a grid and at termite nests throughout the Djéké Triangle and compared to CTs placed in the Goualougo Triangle located within the NNNP. From 10,534 camera days at 65 locations, we identified 34 mammal and 16 bird species. Allaying concerns of wildlife depletion, metrics of species richness in the Djéké Triangle surpassed those of the Goualougo Triangle. Many species were observed to occur across habitats, while others showed habitat specificity, with termite mounds indicated as an important microhabitat feature. Our comparisons of animal activity budgets in different habitat types provide important reference information for other populations and contexts. In conclusion, this study provided empirical evidence of the high conservation value of this region that contributed to increasing the protected status of the Djéké Triangle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predator exclosure reserves have become pivotal to conserving some threatened Australian mammalian fauna. However, the impact of predator exclosure reserves on resident (non‐target) small vertebrates is less understood. Given the potential ecological consequences of fencing, and the contribution of small vertebrates to ecosystem processes, we investigated species' occupancy, and site colonization and extinction dynamics, inside and outside of a predator exclosure fenced area for nine small vertebrates (six reptile, three mammal). We conducted vertebrate surveying 4 years (2011–2014) pre‐ and 2 years (2015–2016) post‐fence construction at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy Mt Gibson Sanctuary, in the semi‐arid, critically endangered Wheatbelt Eucalypt Woodlands of Western Australia, to assess spatial and temporal trends in small mammal and reptile populations. Of nine species modelled, one reptile (Diplodactylus pulcher) decreased in occupancy inside of the fence following construction. We detected no negative impact of the predator exclosure fence on the remaining eight species. One native reptile species (Lerista kingi) and an introduced rodent (Mus musculus) increased occupancy inside (but not outside) the fenced area. Spatial and temporal occupancy inside and outside of the fenced area for all other modelled species was stable. Biotic (habitat) factors and stochastic interannual detectability were the most significant drivers of species' occupancy. Species‐specific habitat associations were partially determined by site‐based presence and absence probabilities. This suggests that the predator exclosure sanctuary either benefitted or had minimal impact on all but one modelled species. These results may be a useful reference for future fencing projects aimed at both conservation and land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island biogeography theory predicts that species richness in islands and island-like systems is the ultimate result of island isolation and area. Species with high dispersal capabilities are predicted to be less affected by these factors because of their capacity to move more efficiently between islands or habitats, and here we test this idea in bats, the only mammals capable of flight. We conducted mist net and acoustic surveys across 21 islands in the San Juan Archipelago (Washington State, United States) and adjacent northwest mainland to: (i) investigate the effects of island area, distance from mainland, and habitat on bat diversity; and (ii) evaluate whether differences in morphological (body mass, forearm length, wing loading) and ecological (dietary niche breadth, foraging guild) traits among species influence their prevalence across islands. We found that island size strongly influenced patterns of species richness, with larger islands having a greater number of bat species. However, neither island distance from mainland nor any measure of habitat availability was a significant predictor of species richness at the scale of this study. Additionally, we found that dietary niche breadth, as opposed to any morphological trait, best predicted the prevalence of species across the islands. Our results suggest that species with more specialized diets may be more vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, and provide insight into how geographic and ecological factors affect the diversity of insular bat communities, adding to growing knowledge about the role of species traits as mediators of their responses to large-scale landscape structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sympatric primate species coexist in tropical communities through interactions with the abiotic environment and other species. Determining the factors that influence primate species co-occurrence can help to inform conservation practices. Our study focused on the ecological interactions of central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with each other and their environment in a multiuse landscape. We assessed species-specific occupancy at 17 camera trap sites across different land-use types (National Park, Forest Management Units, or Community Lands) between June 2019 and May 2020 and examined the impact of fruit availability and human presence on ape presence. Across the study area, chimpanzees occupied a greater total number of sites than did gorillas, with a significantly higher proportion of occupied sites within the National Park than in other land-use types. The density of fruiting trees positively influenced the presence of gorillas but had no effect on chimpanzee presence. We found no effect of human presence on the presence of either chimpanzees or gorillas, although this analysis was limited to sites where apes were present. The probability of either species being present at a site during a given month remained stable under the conditional presence or absence of the other species, suggesting the absence of interactions between the two species at our study sites. These results support previous findings that the heterogeneous distribution of fruits and preferred resources allows chimpanzees and gorillas to limit direct competition by exploiting different feeding resources. Our findings provide insights on the factors influencing the occupancy of each species, including environmental variables and land-use type, information relevant when monitoring their coexistence within tropical communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]