scholarly journals Ovariectomy as a Management Technique in Suburban Deer Populations

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony J. DeNicola ◽  
Vickie L. DeNicola
Keyword(s):  
Local Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Technique ◽  
Isolated Populations ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Deer Management ◽  
Surgical Sterilization ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTOverabundant suburban deer (Odocoileus spp.) are a source of human-wildlife conflict in many communities throughout the United States. Deer-vehicle collisions, tick-borne pathogens, impacts on local vegetation, and other negative interactions are the typical reasons cited for initiating a deer management program. Social attitudes, legal constraints, and perceived safety concerns lead many communities to examine nonlethal management options. Surgical sterilization is currently the only nonlethal method available to permanently sterilize females with a single treatment. There are limited data demonstrating methods and outcomes in management programs that sterilize a high percentage (>90%) of the local population, particularly regarding the impact of immigration on non-isolated populations. We present data from 6 surgical sterilization sites with geographically open populations in California, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Virginia, USA. From 2012–2020, we sterilized 493 deer primarily via ovariectomy. We conducted annual or periodic population estimates using camera surveys, road-based distance sampling, and intensive field observations to assess population trends. Initial densities ranged from about 6–63 deer/km2. Study sites ranged from 1.2 km2 to 16.5 km2, and initial populations ranged from ~47 to 169 individuals. For our 6 study sites, we noted an average reduction in deer abundance of approximately 25% (range: 16.2%–36.2%) from Year 1 to Year 2. Four years after the first treatment, at monitored sites (n = 4) using this management method, we noted an average total population reduction of about 45% (range: 28%–56%). During the first year, the average cost per deer handled was $1,221 (range: $864–$1,998). These projects demonstrate that significant reductions in local deer densities using high percentage surgical sterilization programs can be achieved in non-insular locations. Sustained sterilization efforts are necessary, as is the case with all deer management programs in open landscapes.

scholarly journals Are we there yet? An adaptive SIR model for continuous estimation of COVID-19 infection rate and reproduction number in the United States (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Shapiro ◽  
Fazle Karim ◽  
Guido Muscioni ◽  
Abel Saju Augustine
Keyword(s):  
Infection Rate ◽  
Reproduction Number ◽  
Infected Individual ◽  
Local Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Continuous Estimation ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The dynamics of the COVID-19 epidemic vary due to local population density and policy measures. When making decisions, policy makers consider an estimate of the effective reproduction number R_t which is the expected number of secondary infections by a single infected individual. OBJECTIVE We propose a simple method for estimating the time-varying infection rate and reproduction number R_t . METHODS We use a sliding window approach applied to a Susceptible-Infectious-Removed model. The infection rate is estimated using the reported cases for a seven-day window to obtain continuous estimation of R_t. The proposed adaptive SIR (aSIR) model was applied to data at the state and county levels. RESULTS The aSIR model showed an excellent fit for the number of reported COVID-19 positive cases, a one-day forecast MAPE was less than 2.6% across all states. However, a seven-day forecast MAPE reached 16.2% and strongly overestimated the number of cases when the reproduction number was high and changing fast. The maximal R_t showed a wide range of 2.0 to 4.5 across all states, with the highest values for New York (4.4) and Michigan (4.5). We demonstrate that the aSIR model can quickly adapt to an increase in the number of tests and associated increase in the reported cases of infections. Our results also suggest that intensive testing may be one of the effective methods of reducing R_t. CONCLUSIONS The aSIR model provides a simple and accurate computational tool to obtain continuous estimation of the reproduction number and evaluate the impact of mitigation measures.

scholarly journals Path to diagnosis and women’s perspectives on the impact of endometriosis pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgine Lamvu ◽  
Oscar Antunez-Flores ◽  
Mona Orady ◽  
Beth Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
United States ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
The United States ◽  
Disease State ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Significant Impairment ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Endometriosis is a burdensome chronic disease that can be difficult to diagnose, yet few studies examine experiences along the continuum of disease state. We sought to explore women’s journeys to an endometriosis diagnosis, experience with endometriosis pain, and interactions with healthcare practitioners. Methods: An anonymous 23-question online survey was distributed to women (aged >19 years) who self-identified as having a surgical or nonsurgical diagnosis of endometriosis and living in seven English-speaking countries through the social media network MyEndometriosisTeam.com . Results: From January through April 2018, 317 women in the United States and 134 women outside the United States completed the survey. More than 50% of the women waited 6 or more years for a diagnosis of endometriosis. Overall, 54.3% experienced endometriosis-related pain daily. Respondents (US/non-US) reported a significant impairment in quality of life that interfered with their family (45.7%/45.5%) and social life (40.1%/44.0%), education/career (42.9%/46.3%), and sexual function (68.1%/70.1%). Women reported their disease led to other conditions, including fatigue (93.6%), gastrointestinal issues (91.8%), and difficulty sleeping (87.4%). Many women were not satisfied with their practitioner’s ability to listen to concerns and felt that their practitioner’s treatment recommendations lacked consistency with their own goals/needs. Conclusion: Women still experience long delays and difficult journeys to an endometriosis diagnosis. Disease-associated pain is pervasive and has direct and indirect impacts on quality of life. Women are frequently not satisfied with disease-management options presented to them by their practitioners. These results suggest a need for improved medical education on disease state for both patients and practitioners.

scholarly journals Early-Season Pests of Soybean in the United States and Factors That Affect Their Risk of Infestation

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis S Hesler ◽  
K Clint Allen ◽  
Randall G Luttrell ◽  
Thomas W Sappington ◽  
Sharon K Papiernik
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Leaf Beetle ◽  
Soybean Aphid ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Management Options ◽  
White Grubs ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Bean Leaf Beetle ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Soybean faces potential economic damage from a wide variety of early-season invertebrate pests. The objective of this article was to determine the extent and intensity of nine early-season soybean insect pests targeted for control by insecticidal seed treatments in the United States and to identify various management options for them: bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcate Förster, Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae); grape colaspis, Colaspis brunnea (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae); leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Ciccadellidae); seedcorn maggot, Delia platura (Meigen) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae); soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura, Hemiptera: Aphididae); threecornered alfalfa hopper, Spsistilus festinus (Say) (Hemiptera: Membracidae); thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae); white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae); and wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Seedcorn maggot, white grubs, and wireworms have been limited to a relatively small proportion of soybean fields with readily defined factors regarding their risk. However, questions about the pest status of the other six pests were identified. Bean leaf beetle, which vectors Bean pod mottle virus to soybean, has been present across major soybean-production regions, but frequency and proportion of soybean fields that economically impacted is not adequately documented. The impact of threecornered alfalfa hopper and thrips on soybean productivity varied within regions, but specific reasons for the variation were unclear. Early-season management of grape colaspis and leafhoppers has been infrequent, but factors that promoted economic injury and the need for management in specific fields were undetermined. Although early-season management of soybean aphid has not proven feasible for individual fields, questions remain regarding its management in fields near overwintering stands and the possibility for areawide suppression.

Demonstrating Nutrient Cost Gradients: A Brooklyn Case Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Karp ◽  
Gary Wong ◽  
Marguerite Orsi
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Caloric Density ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Significant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were significantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.

Undesirable Effects of Goal Setting on Perceived Fairness, Commitment, and Unethical Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Keith
Keyword(s):  
Goal Setting ◽  
Unethical Behavior ◽  
The United States ◽  
Goal Commitment ◽  
Management Technique ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Perceived Fairness ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
And Performance

Abstract. The positive effects of goal setting on motivation and performance are among the most established findings of industrial–organizational psychology. Accordingly, goal setting is a common management technique. Lately, however, potential negative effects of goal-setting, for example, on unethical behavior, are increasingly being discussed. This research replicates and extends a laboratory experiment conducted in the United States. In one of three goal conditions (do-your-best goals, consistently high goals, increasingly high goals), 101 participants worked on a search task in five rounds. Half of them (transparency yes/no) were informed at the outset about goal development. We did not find the expected effects on unethical behavior but medium-to-large effects on subjective variables: Perceived fairness of goals and goal commitment were least favorable in the increasing-goal condition, particularly in later goal rounds. Results indicate that when designing goal-setting interventions, organizations may consider potential undesirable long-term effects.

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