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We review the evidence that long‐tailed macaques are at risk of extinction and find that papers supporting this argument present no data supporting a hypothesized decline in abundance. These papers contain numerous misrepresentations of the published literature. Long‐tailed macaques thrive in human‐altered habitats, are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as an invasive species of concern, and have shown the ability to increase by 7%–10% per year from low numbers, making the probability of extinction very low. Highlights: We found no data to support a major decline in the abundance of long‐tailed macaques, and previous publications misrepresent cited literature.The adaptability of the species and the rapid population growth from low numbers suggest the risk of extinction is very low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented to block SARS-CoV-2 transmission in early 2020 led to global reductions in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). By contrast, most European countries reported an increase in antibiotic resistance among invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from 2019 to 2020, while an increasing number of studies reported stable pneumococcal carriage prevalence over the same period. To disentangle the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on pneumococcal epidemiology in the community setting, we propose a mathematical model formalizing simultaneous transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and antibiotic-sensitive and -resistant strains of S. pneumoniae. To test hypotheses underlying these trends five mechanisms were built into the model and examined: (1) a population-wide reduction of antibiotic prescriptions in the community, (2) lockdown effect on pneumococcal transmission, (3) a reduced risk of developing an IPD due to the absence of common respiratory viruses, (4) community azithromycin use in COVID-19 infected individuals, (5) and a longer carriage duration of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcal strains. Among 31 possible pandemic scenarios involving mechanisms individually or in combination, model simulations surprisingly identified only two scenarios that reproduced the reported trends in the general population. They included factors (1), (3), and (4). These scenarios replicated a nearly 50% reduction in annual IPD, and an increase in antibiotic resistance from 20% to 22%, all while maintaining a relatively stable pneumococcal carriage. Exploring further, higher SARS-CoV-2 R0 values and synergistic within-host virus-bacteria interaction mechanisms could have additionally contributed to the observed antibiotic resistance increase. Our work demonstrates the utility of the mathematical modeling approach in unraveling the complex effects of the COVID-19 pandemic responses on AMR dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To establish and compare the precision of serum total protein (STP) measured by an optical refractometer to the precision of IgG concentrations measured using radial immunodiffusion (RID), the reference test for quantifying IgG in neonatal calves. SAMPLE 6 sera with previously measured IgG concentration using RID from neonatal beef calves were selected from 3 stratum: low-serum IgG stratum between >5.0 and <15.0g/L(n = 4); moderate-serum IgG stratum between 35.0–45.0g/L (n = 1); high-serum IgG stratum between 60.0–70.0g/L(n = 1). METHODS STP was measured 13 times with an optical refractometer. IgG concentrations were measured 28 times with a commercial bovine IgG RID for each sera. The homogeneity of variance within the tests was evaluated with the Levene test (α = 0.10). Unrestricted random sampling bootstrapping (5,000 repetitions) was used to calculate the coefficient of variation (CV) for each serum and test. The homogeneity of variance between simulated test CVs by serum was evaluated (α = 0.10). Differences between simulated test CV by serum were assessed with the Kruskal-Wallis test (α = 0.05). RESULTS No difference was observed in the variance for STP between sera (P = .39). The average CV for STP was 4.2%, 10.1% for the low IgG stratum, and 15.5% for the moderate/high IgG stratum. Variance differed in serum IgG concentration (P < .0001). Serum with higher IgG concentrations had more variance. Simulated CV for STP and IgG had homogeneity of variance for only 1 sera (P = .31). STP had a smaller CV compared to IgG for every serum (P < .0001). CLINICAL RELEVANCE Estimating IgG concentration directly by RID or indirectly by STP lacks the precision that might affect diagnostic interpretation regarding a calf’s absorption of maternal antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Circulation of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MRB) in healthcare facilities is a major public health problem. These settings have been greatly impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, notably due to surges in COVID-19 caseloads and the implementation of infection control measures. We sought to evaluate how such collateral impacts of COVID-19 impacted the nosocomial spread of MRB in an early pandemic context. Methods and findings: We developed a mathematical model in which Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and MRB cocirculate among patients and staff in a theoretical hospital population. Responses to COVID-19 were captured mechanistically via a range of parameters that reflect impacts of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on factors relevant for pathogen transmission. COVID-19 responses include both "policy responses" willingly enacted to limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission (e.g., universal masking, patient lockdown, and reinforced hand hygiene) and "caseload responses" unwillingly resulting from surges in COVID-19 caseloads (e.g., abandonment of antibiotic stewardship, disorganization of infection control programmes, and extended length of stay for COVID-19 patients). We conducted 2 main sets of model simulations, in which we quantified impacts of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on MRB colonization incidence and antibiotic resistance rates (the share of colonization due to antibiotic-resistant versus antibiotic-sensitive strains). The first set of simulations represents diverse MRB and nosocomial environments, accounting for high levels of heterogeneity across bacterial parameters (e.g., rates of transmission, antibiotic sensitivity, and colonization prevalence among newly admitted patients) and hospital parameters (e.g., rates of interindividual contact, antibiotic exposure, and patient admission/discharge). On average, COVID-19 control policies coincided with MRB prevention, including 28.2% [95% uncertainty interval: 2.5%, 60.2%] fewer incident cases of patient MRB colonization. Conversely, surges in COVID-19 caseloads favoured MRB transmission, resulting in a 13.8% [−3.5%, 77.0%] increase in colonization incidence and a 10.4% [0.2%, 46.9%] increase in antibiotic resistance rates in the absence of concomitant COVID-19 control policies. When COVID-19 policy responses and caseload responses were combined, MRB colonization incidence decreased by 24.2% [−7.8%, 59.3%], while resistance rates increased by 2.9% [−5.4%, 23.2%]. Impacts of COVID-19 responses varied across patients and staff and their respective routes of pathogen acquisition. The second set of simulations was tailored to specific hospital wards and nosocomial bacteria (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli). Consequences of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks were found to be highly context specific, with impacts depending on the specific ward and bacteria evaluated. In particular, SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks significantly impacted patient MRB colonization only in settings with high underlying risk of bacterial transmission. Yet across settings and species, antibiotic resistance burden was reduced in facilities with timelier implementation of effective COVID-19 control policies. Conclusions: Our model suggests that surges in nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 transmission generate selection for the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Timely implementation of efficient COVID-19 control measures thus has 2-fold benefits, preventing the transmission of both SARS-CoV-2 and MRB, and highlighting antibiotic resistance control as a collateral benefit of pandemic preparedness. In this modelling study, David Smith and colleagues, demonstrate the potential of COVID-19 to impact the in-hospital epidemiology of antibiotic resistance. Author summary: Why was this study done?: Antibiotic resistance is a major global health problem, and healthcare settings are hotspots for the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Healthcare settings have been heavily impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in particular due to sudden surges of COVID-19 cases, the ensuing disorganization of care delivery, and the enactment of infection control measures designed to curb viral transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to shifts in the epidemiological dynamics of diverse infectious diseases, but its impacts on the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria remain poorly understood, due in part to the largely unobserved nature of bacterial colonization. What did the researchers do and find?: A mathematical model was developed and used to assess how outbreaks of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare settings may impact patient colonization with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Surges in COVID-19 cases fostered conditions favourable for bacterial transmission, on average resulting in a 14% increase in colonization acquisition and a 10% increase in rates of antibiotic resistance. Conversely, the implementation of COVID-19 control measures provided the unintended benefit of limiting bacterial spread, leading to a 28% reduction in patient acquisition of drug-resistant bacteria. Impacts of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks on antibiotic resistance were found to depend fundamentally on the particular characteristics of different hospital wards and bacterial species, but more timely implementation of effective COVID-19 control policies helped to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance across a wide range of contexts. What do these findings mean?: Outbreaks of respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 risk aggravating the concomitant spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Healthcare facilities with greater underlying risk of bacterial transmission are likely more vulnerable to surges in antibiotic resistance in the event of a pandemic. Limiting the spread of antibiotic resistance should be considered as a collateral benefit of pandemic preparedness initiatives that enable more efficient public health responses to counter emerging infectious threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North American sawfly Setabara histrionica (Tenthredinidae: Heterarthrinae) is previously known only from adult collections but has been hypothesized to feed upon trees in the genus Prunus. We discovered a population of leaf-mining sawflies in Washington on Prunus emarginata and identified it as S. histrionica using combined morphological and molecular analysis. We observed preference in oviposition site selection on the host plant, with most eggs deposited on the margin of the basal third of the leaf, and on leaves growing within 1 meter of the ground. We include a description of the egg, larval stages, mine and phenology of S. histrionica, and an update to Smith's (1971) key to Heterarthrinae larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a systematic design method for a cylindrical conformal array of rectangular waveguide-fed metasurfaces. The conformal metasurface consists of multiple curved rectangular waveguides loaded with metamaterial elements—electrically small apertures—inserted into the upper conducting walls of the waveguides. Each element radiates energy into free space to contribute to an overall radiation pattern. Thus, the geometry or electrical configuration of each of the elements needs to be tailored to generate a desired pattern. Generally, due to difficulties in modeling the effect of curvature, the design of conformal metasurface arrays has relied on full-wave simulations or experiments. In this study, we propose a design method utilizing the semianalytical model of a planar metasurface accounting for metamaterial elements’ locations and orientations over a curved surface. Although approximate, we demonstrate that the alteration along with the framework of dipolar modeling of planar elements can be used for the analysis of conformal arrays with small curvature. We then design a conformal array metasurface using the method combined with the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES) optimizer. Through numerical simulations, we confirm the validity of the proposed design method. Applications include the design of metasurfaces for radar, communications, and imaging systems for mobile platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Mississippi State University's Veterinary Medicine Department's research endeavors, particularly in antimicrobial stewardship across various animal species. Topics include the ethical implications of antimicrobial use in cattle, the development of smartphone applications for recording cattle health events, and innovative methods for detecting diseases in honeybees and fish without stressing them.

Environmental (e)DNA tools are sensitive and cost-effective for early detection of invasive species. However, the uncertainty associated with the interpretation of positive eDNA detections makes it challenging to determine appropriate natural resource management responses. Multiple sources of error can give rise to positive detections of eDNA in a sample when individuals of that species are not present at the site or a widespread infestation is not imminent. Acting on an erroneous eDNA inference could result in needless costs or reductions in desirable resources. Alternatively, failure to rapidly act on eDNA results that truly indicate invader presence could compound negative impacts and lead to high, long-term costs to manage infestations. We used a structured decision making (SDM) process, which incorporates tradeoffs and uncertainties, to evaluate appropriate response actions following hypothetical eDNA detections of invasive dreissenid mussel (Dreissena spp.) eDNA in Jordanelle Reservoir, Utah (USA). We worked with decision-makers and stakeholders to identify objectives and discrete management action alternatives to assess consequences and tradeoffs. Alternatives ranged from no action to intensive and expensive control efforts. The best performing alternative was delayed containment described by immediate attempts to confirm the eDNA detections using nonmolecular sampling techniques followed by mandatory watercraft exit inspections to prevent dreissenid mussel spread to regional water bodies. Non-molecular sampling increased public support for management by demonstrating a commitment to monitor the invasion state before action, whereas containment decreased likelihood of regional spread to other waters. Delayed containment had the lowest downside risk, and the highest upside gains relative to other alternative actions. Sensitivity analyses showed our results to be robust to parameter and outcome uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perceived pitch of human voices is highly correlated with the fundamental frequency (f0) of the laryngeal source, which is determined largely by the length and mass of the vocal folds. The vocal folds are larger in adult males than in adult females, and men's voices consequently have a lower pitch than women's. The length of the supralaryngeal vocal tract (vocal-tract length; VTL) affects the resonant frequencies (formants) of speech which characterize the timbre of the voice. Men's longer vocal tracts produce lower frequency, and less dispersed, formants than women's shorter vocal tracts. Pitch and timbre combine to influence the perception of speaker characteristics such as size and age. Together, they can be used to categorize speaker sex with almost perfect accuracy. While it is known that domestic dogs can match a voice to a person of the same sex, there has been no investigation into whether dogs are sensitive to the correlation between pitch and timbre. We recorded a female voice giving three commands ('Sit', 'Lay down', 'Come here'), and manipulated the recordings to lower the fundamental frequency (thus lowering pitch), increase simulated VTL (hence affecting timbre), or both (synthesized adult male voice). Dogs responded to the original adult female and synthesized adult male voices equivalently. Their tendency to obey the commands was, however, reduced when either pitch or timbre was manipulated alone. These results suggest that dogs are sensitive to both the pitch and timbre of human voices, and that they learn about the natural covariation of these perceptual attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wireless power transfer (WPT) has been an active topic of research, with a number of WPT schemes implemented in the near-field (coupling) and far-field (radiation) regimes. Here, we consider a beamed WPT scheme based on a dynamically reconfigurable source aperture transferring power to receiving devices within the Fresnel region. In this context, the dynamic aperture resembles a reconfigurable lens capable of focusing power to a well-defined spot, whose dimension can be related to a point spread function. The necessary amplitude and phase distribution of the field imposed over the aperture can be determined in a holographic sense, by interfering a hypothetical point source located at the receiver location with a plane wave at the aperture location. While conventional technologies, such as phased arrays, can achieve the required control over phase and amplitude, they typically do so at a high cost; alternatively, metasurface apertures can achieve dynamic focusing with potentially lower cost. We present an initial tradeoff analysis of the Fresnel region WPT concept assuming a metasurface aperture, relating the key parameters such as spot size, aperture size, wavelength, and focal distance, as well as reviewing system considerations such as the availability of sources and power transfer efficiency. We find that approximate design formulas derived from the Gaussian optics approximation provide useful estimates of system performance, including transfer efficiency and coverage volume. The accuracy of these formulas is confirmed through numerical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated links between antimicrobial resistance in community-onset bacteremia and 1-year bacteremia recurrence by using the clinical data warehouse of Europe's largest university hospital group in France. We included adult patients hospitalized with an incident community-onset Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, or Klebsiella spp. bacteremia during 2017-2019. We assessed risk factors of 1-year recurrence using Fine-Gray regression models. Of the 3,617 patients included, 291 (8.0%) had >1 recurrence episode. Third-generation cephalosporin (3GC)-resistance was significantly associated with increased recurrence risk after incident Klebsiella spp. (hazard ratio 3.91 [95% CI 2.32-6.59]) or E. coli (hazard ratio 2.35 [95% CI 1.50-3.68]) bacteremia. Methicillin resistance in S. aureus bacteremia had no effect on recurrence risk. Although several underlying conditions and infection sources increased recurrence risk, 3GC-resistant Klebsiella spp. was associated with the greatest increase. These results demonstrate a new facet to illness induced by 3GC-resistant Klebsiella spp. and E. coli in the community setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human microbiome can protect against colonization with pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), but its impacts on the spread of antibiotic resistance are poorly understood. We propose a mathematical modeling framework for ARB epidemiology formalizing within-host ARB-microbiome competition, and impacts of antibiotic consumption on microbiome function. Applied to the healthcare setting, we demonstrate a trade-off whereby antibiotics simultaneously clear bacterial pathogens and increase host susceptibility to their colonization, and compare this framework with a traditional strain-based approach. At the population level, microbiome interactions drive ARB incidence, but not resistance rates, reflecting distinct epidemiological relevance of different forces of competition. Simulating a range of public health interventions (contact precautions, antibiotic stewardship, microbiome recovery therapy) and pathogens (Clostridioides difficile, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae) highlights how species-specific within-host ecological interactions drive intervention efficacy. We find limited impact of contact precautions for Enterobacteriaceae prevention, and a promising role for microbiome-targeted interventions to limit ARB spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Argidae is the second most diverse family of the 'Symphyta' with more than 900 described species. Here we present the first comprehensive phylogenetic study for the family. We compare the adult skeleton anatomy of representatives of 57 described argid genera from different biogeographic regions. We score 223 characters for 117 terminal taxa, and apply maximum parsimony inference to reconstruct the phylogeny, using equal weights and implied weights analyses. The Argidae sensu stricto, i.e. all Argidae except Zenarge, are consistently retrieved as monophyletic. The position of Zenarge changes according to the implied weighting parameters: ((Zenarge+Pergidae)+Argidae) at low (1–3) k-values, (Zenarge+(Pergidae+Argidae)) at high (4–30) k-values. We describe in detail the skeletal anatomy of Zenarge turneri and propose to raise it to family status: Zenargidae stat. revis. We consider the ridge on the teloparameres (=harpes) of the male genitalia to be the main autapomorphy of adults of the Argidae sensu stricto. We recover two main clades within the family and suggest recognizing these as the subfamilies Arginae and Sterictiphorinae. We trace the evolution of characters on the preferred implied weights tree. The genera Arge, Didymia, Pampsilota, Ptenos and Sphacophilus were paraphyletic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although karst vulnerability mapping was not used in the present assessment because it does not incorporate species response to threats, this approach may prove useful for extrapolating expert judgments on relative risk to unsampled karst regions. Using expert knowledge to support Endangered Species Act decision-making for data-deficient species I S. parvus i , I S. cooperi i , and I S. morrisoni i are restricted to portions of Virginia and West Virginia (Lewis 2001; Fong et al. 2007; Holsinger et al. 2013); I S. parvus i localities extend across 1,467 km SP 2 sp ; and I S. morrisoni i localities extend across 2,266 km SP 2 sp . Keywords: expert elicitation; extinction risk; remote elicitation; SHELF; species status assessment; Stygobromus; evaluación del estado de la especie; obtención de expertos; obtención remota; riesgo de extinción; ; ; ; ; ; Stygobromus EN expert elicitation extinction risk remote elicitation SHELF species status assessment Stygobromus evaluación del estado de la especie obtención de expertos obtención remota riesgo de extinción Stygobromus 1627 1638 12 10/05/21 20211001 NES 211001 Introduction Many questions relevant to conservation decision-making are characterized by extreme uncertainty due to lack of empirical data and complexity of the underlying ecological processes (Kuhnert et al. 2010). [Extracted from the article]

Sampling rare and clustered populations is challenging because of the effort required to find rare units. Heuristically, a practitioner would prefer to discontinue sampling in areas where rare units of interest are apparently extremely sparse or absent. We take advantage of the characteristics of inverse sampling to adaptively inform practitioners when it is efficient to move on to sample new areas. We introduce Adaptive Two-stage Inverse Sampling (ATIS), which is designed to leave a selected area after observation of an a priori number of only non-rare units and to continue sampling in the area when rare units are observed. ATIS is efficient in many cases and yields more rare units than conventional sampling for a rare and clustered population. We derive unbiased estimators of population total and variance. We also introduce an easy-to-compute estimator, which is nearly as efficient as the unbiased estimator. A simulation study on a rare plant population of buttercups (Ranunculus) shows that ATIS even with the easy-to-compute estimator is more efficient than its conventional sampling counterparts and is more efficient than Two-stage Adaptive Cluster Sampling (TACS) for small and moderate final sample sizes. Additional simulations reveal that ATIS is efficient for binary data (e.g., presence or absence) whereas TACS is inefficient for binary data. The overall results indicate that ATIS is consistently efficient compared to conventional sampling and to adaptive cluster sampling in some important cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend the discrete dipole method to enable the analysis and design of two-dimensional magnetoelectric metamaterial devices based on transformation optics. Key to this method is the evaluation of the dipole moments of the metamaterial elements, which can be accomplished within the framework of a rigorous Bloch wave model based on lattice sums. Corrections to the polarizabilities for spatial dispersion and magnetoelectric coupling are included in the formulation of a generalized Clausius-Mossotti relationship. We demonstrate the utility of the extended approach by designing a cloaking structure that shows considerably improved performance over that designed by assuming the standard Clausius-Mossotti relationship between constitutive parameter and polarizability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As there are few requirements for mandatory registration or reporting for humane animal organizations, it is difficult to quantify how many dogs enter such organizations annually, or know their outcomes. Our objectives were to quantify the number of dogs entering animal shelters in five states in 2017, and determine factors that influenced their outcomes. A census was conducted of shelters in five states from each geographical region of the US. Organizations were excluded if they transferred all dog, or were breed-specific, foster-based, or functioned solely as a sanctuary with no options for adoption. Shelter employees were questioned in face-to-face interviews about specific shelter characteristics, the number of dogs that entered their shelter in 2017, and their outcomes. In total 342 of the 471 (73%) shelters in the final sampling frame reported receiving 227,783 dogs in 2017. Of these, 45% were adopted, 18% were transferred other facilities, 19% were reclaimed, and 14% were euthanized. Shelter characteristics influencing dog outcomes included financial source, source of dogs, county population per square mile, and education level of the county. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the very special condition of perfect absorption (PA) in a complex scattering enclosure promises to enable a wealth of applications in secure communication, precision sensing, wireless power transfer, analog signal processing, and random lasing. Consequently, a lot of recent research effort is dedicated to proposing wave‐front shaping protocols to implement coherent PA in complex scattering environments with tunable localized absorption as well as a tunable excitation frequency. Here, the conceptually different route of solely tweaking the randomness of the complex scattering environment in order to achieve PA is proposed. An experimental proof‐of‐concept in the microwave domain is provided where the randomness of a 3D chaotic cavity is tuned with programmable meta‐atom inclusions. The achievability and extreme sensitivity of the PA condition are systematically investigated. The presented technique can impose a PA condition at over hundred distinct frequencies within a small frequency band, enabling the proposal and experimental demonstration of a concrete practical application: receiver‐powered secure wireless communication in a complex scattering enclosure. The presented fundamentally new perspective on PA applies to all types of wave phenomena; the experimental results foreshadow the large potential of this novel tool for minute wave control in sensing, communication, and energy transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are vulnerable to outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Timely epidemiological surveillance is essential for outbreak response, but is complicated by a high proportion of silent (non-symptomatic) infections and limited testing resources.Methods: We used a stochastic, individual-based model to simulate transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) along detailed inter-individual contact networks describing patient-staff interactions in a real LTCF setting. We simulated distribution of nasopharyngeal swabs and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests using clinical and demographic indications and evaluated the efficacy and resource-efficiency of a range of surveillance strategies, including group testing (sample pooling) and testing cascades, which couple (i) testing for multiple indications (symptoms, admission) with (ii) random daily testing.Results: In the baseline scenario, randomly introducing a silent SARS-CoV-2 infection into a 170-bed LTCF led to large outbreaks, with a cumulative 86 (95% uncertainty interval 6-224) infections after 3 weeks of unmitigated transmission. Efficacy of symptom-based screening was limited by lags to symptom onset and silent asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission. Across scenarios, testing upon admission detected just 34-66% of patients infected upon LTCF entry, and also missed potential introductions from staff. Random daily testing was more effective when targeting patients than staff, but was overall an inefficient use of limited resources. At high testing capacity (> 10 tests/100 beds/day), cascades were most effective, with a 19-36% probability of detecting outbreaks prior to any nosocomial transmission, and 26-46% prior to first onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Conversely, at low capacity (< 2 tests/100 beds/day), group testing strategies detected outbreaks earliest. Pooling randomly selected patients in a daily group test was most likely to detect outbreaks prior to first symptom onset (16-27%), while pooling patients and staff expressing any COVID-like symptoms was the most efficient means to improve surveillance given resource limitations, compared to the reference requiring only 6-9 additional tests and 11-28 additional swabs to detect outbreaks 1-6 days earlier, prior to an additional 11-22 infections.Conclusions: COVID-19 surveillance is challenged by delayed or absent clinical symptoms and imperfect diagnostic sensitivity of standard RT-PCR tests. In our analysis, group testing was the most effective and efficient COVID-19 surveillance strategy for resource-limited LTCFs. Testing cascades were even more effective given ample testing resources. Increasing testing capacity and updating surveillance protocols accordingly could facilitate earlier detection of emerging outbreaks, informing a need for urgent intervention in settings with ongoing nosocomial transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of death in beef calves 3 weeks of age to weaning and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in beef feeding and finishing systems. Each outbreak of respiratory disease is the result of the completion of a sufficient cause, which might have also included components of viral and bacterial pathogens, a certain state of immunity, or other component causes of respiratory disease in cattle that we fail to understand. Disease is expressed when a sufficient cause is completed. Disease events we observe, such as the occurrence of BRD, usually have relationships with risk factors that are commonly the subject of epidemiologic research and the primary subject of this paper. However, it is important to understand that underlying systems produce those relationships and, ultimately, the occurrence of disease. The risk factors for BRD include a complex set of component causes that include bacterial and viral pathogens, level of host immunity, and environmental conditions that favor pathogen transmission and stress-induced susceptibility. During the post-weaning phase, these factors are superimposed on a system of marketing, transportation, and decisions made to support economic opportunity that further increase the risk for BRD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to estimate the total number of shelters in the United States; estimate the number of dogs entering US shelters annually; determine what happens to the dogs that enter shelters; and identify the characteristics of shelters affecting the outcome of the dogs in their care. An initial list of 10,890 animal shelter and rescue organizations was refined to include 2862 organizations. A telephone survey of each shelter was conducted. A mark-capture method was used to estimate the total number of shelters in the United States. In total, 413 (14%) completed the interview. Authors estimated that there are 7,076 (95% CI 6,399–7,890) dog shelters in the US. In 2015 5,532,904 (95% CI 5,003,528–6,169,579) dogs entered shelters. Of these, 2,628,112 (95% CI 2,376,660–2,930,531) dogs (48%) were adopted; 969,443 (95% CI 876,689–1,080,998) dogs (18%) were returned to their owners; 778,385 (95% 703,911–867,955) dogs (14%) were transferred to other facilities; 776,970 (95% CI 702,631–866,377) dogs (14%) were euthanized; and 6% of the dogs were lost to follow-up. Several characteristics, such as the number of dogs entering the shelter, funding source, region the country and source of dogs, explained dog outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a model for waveguide-backed metasurface antennas fed by one or more coaxial ports and compute key antenna parameters using the model. The metasurface antenna consists of a coax-fed planar waveguide/cavity embedded with subwavelength-sized metamaterial radiators that convert energy from the guided mode into a radiated wave. Designing a metasurface requires tailoring the geometry of the individual metamaterial elements and arranging them over the aperture to achieve a desired radiation pattern—a typically cumbersome and time-consuming task when performed with full-wave solvers. In recent work, a coupled-dipole approach has been applied to modeling metasurfaces that significantly accelerates the design process by avoiding reliance on full-wave simulations or experimental trials. In this article, we extend the coupled-dipole model of a metasurface by including the analytic model of a coaxial port. Using the reaction and equivalent circuit model of a coaxial-to-waveguide transition, we also propose an efficient method to compute the input impedance of a metasurface, enabling the calculation of gain and efficiency. Close agreement between the proposed model and full-wave studies is demonstrated. The proposed method can find utility as an effective tool for the design and optimization of metasurfaces for applications including wireless communication systems, imaging, and wireless power transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose and experimentally demonstrate the principles for microwave temporal ghost imaging using a disordered cavity loaded with a reconfigurable metasurface. The metasurface behaves as a dynamically reconfigurable surface impedance distribution on one wall of the cavity, effectively perturbing the boundary conditions of the cavity and altering the cavity mode distribution. A microwave signal that passes through the cavity is thus modulated by the changing modal distribution. Assuming that this modulation can happen at a rate faster than the receiver temporal resolution, we show that we can recover the original signal by correlating the pre-recorded response of the modulated cavity with that collected by a slow receiver. This device may find applications in encrypting or compressing microwave signals at the hardware level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descriptions, host plants, and biological notes are given for three species of Tenthredinidae from Costa Rica. Waldheimia saurauia Smith & Nishida, sp. nov. (Blennocampinae) feeds on Saurauia montana Seem. (Actinidiaceae). Leseha Smith, gen. nov. (Selandriinae), includes two species that feed on ferns: Leseha vespa Smith & Nishida, sp. nov., feeds on Phlebodium pseudoaureum (Cav.) Lellinger (Polypodiaceae) and L. carranzae Smith & Nishida, sp. nov., feeds on Elaphoglossum bellermannianum (Klozsch) T. Moore, and E. lingua (C. Presl) Brack. (Dryopteridaceae). Stromboceros cruralis Konow, 1899 from Peru, Dochmioglene cubitalis Malaise, 1954 from southern Brazil, Siobla joergenseni Schrottky, 1913 from northern Argentina, Selandria limbata Kirby, 1882 from Brazil, and Strongylogaster strigatus Enderlein, 1920 from southern Brazil, are all transferred to Leseha (combs. nov.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A medium that exhibits artificial magnetism can be formed by assembling an array of split ring resonators (SRRs)—planar conducting elements that exhibit a resonant response to electromagnetic radiation. The SRR exhibits a large magnetic dipole moment when excited by a magnetic field directed along its axis. However, the SRR also exhibits an electric response that can be quite large depending on the symmetry of the SRR and the orientation of the SRR with respect to the electric component of the field. So, while the SRR medium can be considered as having a predominantly magnetic response for certain orientations with respect to the incident wave, it is generally the case that the SRR exhibits magnetoelectric coupling, and hence a medium of SRRs arranged so as to break mirror symmetry about one of the axes will exhibit bianisotropy. We present here a method of directly calculating the magnetoelectric coupling terms using averages over the fields computed from full-wave finite-element based numerical simulations. We confirm the predicted bianisotropy of a fabricated SRR medium by measuring the cross polarization of a microwave beam transmitted through the sample. We also demonstrate that the magnetoelectric coupling that gives rise to the bianisotropic response is suppressed by symmetrizing the SRR composite structure and provide measurements comparing the cross polarization of the symmetric and asymmetric structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and human well‐being strategies are only as good as the set of ideas people think about. We evaluated value‐focused thinking (VFT), a framework that emphasizes creating objectives and strategies that are responsive to the objectives. We performed a proof‐of‐concept study of VFT with 6 conservation planning teams at a global conservation organization. We developed a package of materials related to VFT, including meeting–session agendas, a virtual facilitation template, facilitator's guide, and evaluation questionnaires. We used these materials to test whether VFT applied in a group setting resulted in high‐quality conservation strategies and participant satisfaction and whether our materials were scalable, meaning that someone newly trained in VFT could facilitate planning meetings that resulted in high‐quality strategies and participant satisfaction, as compared with an experienced VFT facilitator. Net response indicated positive compelling, feasible, creative, and representative ratings for the conservation strategies per team. Participants indicated satisfaction overall, although satisfaction was greater for objectives than for strategies. Among the participants with previous conservation planning experience, all were at least as satisfied with their VFT strategies compared with previously developed strategies, and none were less satisfied (p = 0.001). Changes in participant satisfaction were not related to facilitator type (experienced or inexperienced with VFT) (p > 0.10). Some participants had a preconceived sense of shared understanding of important values and interests before participating in the study, which VFT strengthened. Our results highlight the advantages of structuring the development and evaluation of conservation planning frameworks around VFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorarachniophyte and cryptophyte algae are unique among plastid-containing species in that they have a nucleomorph genome: a compact, highly reduced nuclear genome from a photosynthetic eukaryotic endosymbiont. Despite their independent origins, the nucleomorph genomes of these two lineages have similar genomic architectures, but little is known about the evolutionary pressures impacting nucleomorph DNA, particularly how their rates of evolution compare to those of the neighboring genetic compartments (the mitochondrion, plastid, and nucleus). Here, we use synonymous substitution rates to estimate relative mutation rates in the four genomes of nucleomorph-bearing algae. We show that the relative mutation rates of the host versus endosymbiont nuclear genomes are similar in both chlorarachniophytes and cryptophytes, despite the fact that nucleomorph gene sequences are notoriously highly divergent. There is some evidence, however, for slightly elevated mutation rates in the nucleomorph DNA of chlorarachniophytes—a feature not observed in that of cryptophytes. For both lineages, relative mutation rates in the plastid appear to be lower than those in the nucleus and nucleomorph (and, in one case, the mitochondrion), which is consistent with studies of other plastid-bearing protists. Given the divergent nature of nucleomorph genes, our finding of relatively low evolutionary rates in these genomes suggests that for both lineages a burst of evolutionary change and/or decreased selection pressures likely occurred early in the integration of the secondary endosymbiont. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The Neotropical species of Pristaulacus Kieffer with acute anterolateral projections on the mesonotum are revised. Twenty-one species are included, distributed from Mexico to northern Argentina: P. ambiguus (Schletterer), P. anteruber Smith, n. sp.,P. argutus Smith, P. biannulatus Smith, n. sp.,P. brasiliensis (Kieffer), P. decemdentatus Kieffer, P. femurrubrum Smith, P. haemorrhoidalis (Westwood), P. haemorrhoidellus (Westwood), P. maculatus (Schletterer), P. nobilis (Westwood), P. omnis Smith, n. sp.,P. punctatus Smith, P. ruficeps (Westwood), P. ruficollis (Cameron), P. sexdentatus Kieffer, P. spinifer (Westwood), P. tria Smith, P. tridentatus Smith, P. vittatus Smith, n. sp., and P. zonatipennis Roman. A key separating this group of species from other Pristaulacus and to species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM). Topics include improving the health and well-being of animals, aid public health, and providing graduate and professional students training in research; and managing anaplasmosis and reducing a major use of antimicrobials in cow-calf production.

The article presents the discussion on Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine (MSU CVM) combining an innovative curriculum. Topics include consisting of core clinical experiences with both small and large animals, externships, elective courses, and a variety of unique learning opportunities; and students gain hands-on experience in both freshwater fisheries and marine animal health and conservation, including the rescue and rehabilitation.

Objectives: To assess the appropriateness of prescribing systemic antibiotics for different clinical conditions in primary care, and to quantify 'ideal' antibiotic prescribing proportions in conditions for which antibiotic treatment is sometimes but not always indicated.Methods: Prescribing guidelines were consulted to define the appropriateness of antibiotic therapy for the conditions that resulted in antibiotic prescriptions between 2013 and 2015 in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) primary care database. The opinions of subject experts were then formally elicited to quantify ideal antibiotic prescribing proportions for 10 common conditions.Results: Of the antibiotic prescriptions in THIN, 52.5% were for conditions that could be assessed using prescribing guidelines. Among these, the vast majority of prescriptions (91.4%) were for conditions where antibiotic appropriateness is conditional on patient-specific indicators. Experts estimated low ideal prescribing proportions in acute, non-comorbid presentations of many of these conditions, such as cough (10% of patients), rhinosinusitis (11%), bronchitis (13%) and sore throat (13%). Conversely, antibiotics were believed to be appropriate in 75% of non-pregnant women with non-recurrent urinary tract infection. In impetigo and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, experts clustered into distinct groups that believed in either high or low prescribing.Conclusions: In English primary care, most antibiotics are prescribed for conditions that only sometimes require antibiotic treatment, depending on patient-specific indicators. Experts estimated low ideal prescribing proportions in many of these conditions. Incomplete prescribing guidelines and disagreement about prescribing in some conditions highlight further research needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthesis is an awe-inspiring process. It has shaped, coloured, and diversified the biological world in innumerable ways and supplies us with the air we breathe. Photosynthetic organisms are literally our lifelines on Earth. Without them we perish. Perhaps this is why many of us are uncomfortable with and confused by the concept of a photosynthetic organism forfeiting its ability to convert sunlight into chemical energy, giving up its life-sustaining powers. Indeed, the evolutionary loss of photosynthesis, which has occurred countless times throughout evolution, remains a poorly understood and underappreciated topic, both among researchers and the general public. This is unfortunate because nonphotosynthetic plants and algae represent some of the most diverse and interesting (and even deadly) species on the planet, and they can teach us a lot about photosynthesis and biology as a whole. Here, I review the origins and evolution of nonphotosynthetic eukaryotic algae. I portray these biologically "broken light bulbs" in a contemporary framework, paying particular attention to their plastid genomes, which are much more complex and architecturally varied than one might expect. If you are anything of a rebel and prefer misfits over conformists, trouble makers over the straight-laced, and mysteries over simple plotlines, then you will not be disappointed by the eclectic assemblage of algae that have relinquished their hold on the sun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calexiphyda marystellae Villemant & Smith, sp. n., is described from New Caledonia. This is the sixth species of Xiphydriidae known from New Caledonia. A key to the six species is given, the female of C. crocea Smith is described, and a new locality for this species and for C. caledonia Smith is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endosymbiosis, more than any other process, perhaps, is the leading narrative upon which the history of eukaryotic evolution has been written. Primary endosymbiosis, which is the uptake of a prokaryote by another living cell, has arguably been the driving force for the origins and diversification of complex life on Earth. The genetic integration of, first, a nonphotosynthetic alphaproteobacterium and, later, a photosynthetic cyanobacterium into a eukaryotic cellular framework have shaped and altered the planet's biodiversity and biogeochemistry in countless ways, from the land, to the water, to the atmosphere. If you are alive today and reading these words, it is in no small part because of endosymbiosis. Like all eukaryotes, we are the product of an ancient endosymbiotic love affair, and for plants and algae the endosymbiotic romance was a complicated triangle. Here, I recount my own passions for the topic of endosymbiosis, highlighting past and present breakthroughs as well as some of the controversies and unanswered questions that have plagued the field. I focus on the evolution of primary plastids, their genomes, and the supergroup to which they are found (the Archaeplastida), including members that have lost photosynthetic capabilities but still retain a colourless plastid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cladiucha insolita Konow was described in 1902 from a single female from Vietnam, and this has remained the only recorded specimen. A series from Laos associates the sexes and shows some variation in wing venation, size, and number of antennomeres. The female is redescribed, the male is described for the first time, and intraspecific variation is noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Average HIV-1 virulence appears to have evolved in different directions in different host populations since antiretroviral therapy first became available, and models predict that HIV drugs can select for either higher or lower virulence, depending on how treatment is administered. However, HIV virulence evolution in response to 'leaky' therapy (treatment that imperfectly suppresses viral replication) and the use of preventive drugs (pre-exposure prophylaxis) has not been explored. Using adaptive dynamics, we show that higher virulence can evolve when antiretroviral therapy is imperfectly effective and that this evolution erodes some of the long-term clinical and epidemiological benefits of HIV treatment. The introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis greatly reduces infection prevalence, but can further amplify virulence evolution when it, too, is leaky. Increasing the uptake rate of these imperfect interventions increases selection for higher virulence and can lead to counterintuitive increases in infection prevalence in some scenarios. Although populations almost always fare better with access to interventions than without, untreated individuals could experience particularly poor clinical outcomes when virulence evolves. These findings predict that antiretroviral drugs may have underappreciated evolutionary consequences, but that maximizing drug efficacy can prevent this evolutionary response. We suggest that HIV virulence evolution should be closely monitored as access to interventions continues to improve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aulacus flavus Smith, sp. n. from Brazil and Aulacus subflavus Smith, sp. n. from Brazil, French Guiana, and Guyana are described. These two species are separated from other Aulacus by the enlarged genae, flat mesoscutum, enlarged pronotum, and presence of small tubercles on the mesoprescutum, axillae, and mesoscutellum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whispered vowels, produced with no vocal fold vibration, lack the periodic temporal fine structure which in voiced vowels underlies the perceptual attribute of pitch (a salient auditory cue to speaker sex). Voiced vowels possess no temporal fine structure at very short durations (below two glottal cycles). The prediction was that speaker-sex discrimination performance for whispered and voiced vowels would be similar for very short durations but, as stimulus duration increases, voiced vowel performance would improve relative to whispered vowel performance as pitch information becomes available. This pattern of results was shown for women's but not for men's voices. A whispered vowel needs to have a duration three times longer than a voiced vowel before listeners can reliably tell whether it's spoken by a man or woman (~30ms vs. ~10ms). Listeners were half as sensitive to information about speaker-sex when it is carried by whispered compared with voiced vowels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examination of museum specimens, unpublished collection data, and field surveys conducted between 2010 and 2014 resulted in records for 22 species of sawflies new to Washington State, seven of which are likely to be pest problems in ornamental landscapes. These data highlight the continued range expansion of exotic species across North America. These new records also indicate that our collective knowledge of Pacific Northwest arthropod biodiversity and biogeography is underdeveloped, even for a relatively well known and species-poor group of insects. Notable gaps in the knowledge of Washington State's Symphyta remain for the Olympic Peninsula, the Cascade Mountain Range, and the arid interior of the state. Washington's shrub-steppe appears to be particularly poorly surveyed for sawflies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to retrospectively examine whether demographic differences exist between those who participated in an employee wellness program and those who did not, and to identify the selection of employees' choice in weight management activities. A nonequivalent, 2-group retrospective design was used. This study involved employees at a large, not-for-profit integrated health system. Of the total organization employee pool (29,194), 19,771 (68%) employees volunteered to be weighed (mean body mass index [BMI]=28.9) as part of an employee wellness program. Weight management activities available included: (1) Self-directed 5% total body weight loss; (2) Healthy Solutions at home; (3) Weight Watchers group meetings; (4) Weight Watchers online; and (5) Employee Assistance Program (EAP)-directed healthy weight coaching. Measures were participation rate and available weight management activity participation rate among obese employees across demographic variables, including sex, age, race, job type, and job location. The analysis included chi-square tests for all categorical variables; odds ratios were calculated to examine factors predictive of participation. Of the total 19,771 employees weighed, 6375 (32%) employees were obese (defined as BMI ≥30); of those, 3094 (49%) participated in available weight management activities. Participation was higher among females, whites, those ages >50 years, and non-nursing staff. In conclusion, participation rate varied significantly based on demographic variables. Self-directed 5% weight loss was the most popular weight management activity selected. ( Population Health Management 2016;19:132-135) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary or low-voltage (LV) networks are applied in many large cities throughout the U.S., and in some other countries. Various grounding schemes have been employed for the primary systems supplying these secondary networks. In this paper, characteristics of the different grounding schemes for the substation and primary feeders that supply the LV networks are reviewed. The impacts of primary system grounding on the ground fault currents, the unfaulted line-to-ground voltages, as well as the voltage sags in the LV network have been considered for the single line-to-ground fault on the primary. The differences between systems with network transformers having the delta- or grounded-wye-connected primary windings are discussed. The relationships between grounding characteristics and protection settings, including actual examples, have been documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the possibility of controlling the wake and drag of a spherical object independently of each other, using radial distributions of permeability in the Brinkman-Stokes formalism. By discretizing a graded-permeability shell into discrete, macroscopically homogeneous layers, we are able to sample the entire functional space of spherically-symmetric permeabilities and observe quick convergence to a certain manifold in the wake-drag coordinates. Monte Carlo samplings with 104-105 points have become possible thanks to our new algorithm, which is based on exact analytical solutions for the Stokes flow through an arbitrary multilayer porous sphere. The algorithm is not restricted to the Brinkman-Stokes equation and can be modified to account for other types of scattering problems for spherically-symmetric systems with arbitrary radial complexity. Our main practical finding for Stokes flow is that it is possible to reduce a certain measure of wake of a spherical object without any energy penalty and without active (power-consuming) force generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used a structured decision-making process to develop conservation strategies to increase persistence of Dwarf Wedgemussel (Alasmidonta heterodon) in North Carolina, USA, while accounting for uncertainty in management effectiveness and considering costs. Alternative conservation strategies were portfolios of management actions that differed by location of management actions on the landscape. Objectives of the conservation strategy were to maximize species persistence, maintain genetic diversity, maximize public support, and minimize management costs. We compared 4 conservation strategies: 1) the 'status quo' strategy represented current management, 2) the 'protect the best' strategy focused on protecting the best populations in the Tar River basin, 3) the 'expand the distribution' strategy focused on management of extant populations and establishment of new populations in the Neuse River basin, and 4) the 'hybrid' strategy combined elements of each strategy to balance conservation in the Tar and Neuse River basins. A population model informed requirements for population management, and experts projected performance of alternative strategies over a 20-y period. The optimal strategy depended on the relative value placed on competing objectives, which can vary among stakeholders. The protect the best and hybrid strategies were optimal across a wide range of relative values with 2 exceptions: 1) if minimizing management cost was of overriding concern, then status quo was optimal, or 2) if maximizing population persistence in the Neuse River basin was emphasized, then expand the distribution strategy was optimal. The optimal strategy was robust to uncertainty in management effectiveness. Overall, the structured decision process can help identify the most promising strategies for endangered species conservation that maximize conservation benefit given the constraint of limited funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision analytic approaches have been widely recommended as well suited to solving disputed and ecologically complex natural resource management problems with multiple objectives and high uncertainty. However, the difference between theory and practice is substantial, as there are very few actual resource management programs that represent formal applications of decision analysis. We applied the process of structured decision making to Atlantic horseshoe crab harvest decisions in the Delaware Bay region to develop a multispecies adaptive management (AM) plan, which is currently being implemented. Horseshoe crab harvest has been a controversial management issue since the late 1990s. A largely unregulated horseshoe crab harvest caused a decline in crab spawning abundance. That decline coincided with a major decline in migratory shorebird populations that consume horseshoe crab eggs on the sandy beaches of Delaware Bay during spring migration. Our approach incorporated multiple stakeholders, including fishery and shorebird conservation advocates, to account for diverse management objectives and varied opinions on ecosystem function. Through consensus building, we devised an objective statement and quantitative objective function to evaluate alternative crab harvest policies. We developed a set of competing ecological models accounting for the leading hypotheses on the interaction between shorebirds and horseshoe crabs. The models were initially weighted based on stakeholder confidence in these hypotheses, but weights will be adjusted based on monitoring and Bayesian model weight updating. These models were used together to predict the effects of management actions on the crab and shorebird populations. Finally, we used a dynamic optimization routine to identify the state dependent optimal harvest policy for horseshoe crabs, given the possible actions, the stated objectives and our competing hypotheses about system function. The AM plan was reviewed, accepted and implemented by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in 2012 and 2013. While disagreements among stakeholders persist, structured decision making enabled unprecedented progress towards a transparent and consensus driven management plan for crabs and shorebirds in Delaware Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain issues disrupt veterinary care and cause downstream consequences that alter the practice of veterinary medicine. Antimicrobials are just 1 class of pharmaceuticals that have been impacted by supply chain issues over the last couple of years. Since February 2021, 2 sponsors/manufacturers of penicillin products have reported shortages in the active pharmaceutical ingredient. With the release of the 2021 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals by the FDA, a key finding was a 19% decrease in penicillin sales and distribution from 2020 to 2021. Herein, we provide our clinicians' professional perspective regarding how drug shortages, specifically that of penicillin, might contribute to misconstrued patterns in antimicrobial use and what can be done by veterinarians and the FDA to minimize the impact of an antimicrobial drug shortage on animal health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photosynthetic algae are the main primary producers in polar regions, form the basis of polar food webs, and are responsible for a significant portion of global carbon fixation. Many cold‐water algae are psychrophiles that thrive in the cold but cannot grow at moderate temperatures (≥20°C). Polar regions are at risk of rapid warming caused by climate change, and the sensitivity of psychrophilic algae to rising temperatures makes them, and the ecosystems they inhabit, particularly vulnerable. Recent research on the Antarctic psychrophile Chlamydomonas priscuii, an emerging algal model, has revealed unique adaptations to life in the permanent cold. Additionally, genome sequencing of C. priscuii and its relative Chlamydomonas sp. ICE‐L has given rise to a plethora of computational tools that can help elucidate the genetic basis of psychrophily. This minireview summarizes new advances in characterizing the heat stress responses in psychrophilic algae and examines their extraordinary sensitivity to temperature increases. Further research in this field will help determine the impact of climate change on psychrophiles from threatened polar environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seven species of Trigonalidae are recorded from Thailand, Lycogaster flavonigrata Chen, Achterberg, He & Xu, L. rufiventris (Magretti), Taeniogonalos fasciata (Strand), T. gestroi (Schulz), T. sauteri Bischoff, T. tricolor Chen, and an unidentified species. Four species, L. flavonigrata, T. cordada Chen, Achterberg, He & Xu, T. sauteri, and T. tricolor are newly recorded from Laos. Diagnoses, illustrations, and distribution records are given for the Thailand species. Trigonalys india Smith, sp. n., is described from southern India for specimens previously misidentified as T. rufiventris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scolioneura vaccinii Smith & Eiseman, sp. n., is described. It was reared from blotch mines in Vaccinium parvifolium Sm. (Ericaceae) collected in Washington State, USA. This is the first known native species of Scolioneura in the Nearctic Region and the first known sawfly leaf miner of Vaccinium as well as the order Ericales. Characters are given to separate it from other species of Scolioneura, and the life history is presented. One parasitoid, Shawiana sp. (Braconidae) was reared from the leaf mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field disease investigations can help to identify patterns of disease that lead to causal hypotheses and, hopefully, effective disease risk management strategies. The most common way of doing this would be to characterize the outbreak by subject, time, and space. One of the perplexing animal health problems on some beef cattle ranches is the occurrence of pneumonia in calves prior to weaning in conditions of little stress and relative isolation. Field investigation of outbreaks of pneumonia in ranch calves prior to weaning has revealed patterns of sporadic illness in calves less than 30 days of age, and rapidly occurring outbreaks in calves 90–150 days of age. We speculate that the causes of these two patterns may be failure of passive transfer resulting in more sporadic cases in very young calves, or a large proportion of the population losing maternal antibody protection (i.e. losing herd immunity) resulting in rapid and widespread onset of pneumonia in older calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]