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Get PDFDigital Equity, Access, and Inclusion: Challenges Across Contexts is the focus of the Spring 2019 issue of PNLA Quarterly. We invite library practitioners, students, and educators in the PNLA region (Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, and Washington) to submit articles that deal with any aspect of digital equity in our profession, including (but not limited to) information and social justice, case studies relating to inclusive excellence, issues particular to the Pacific Northwest, digital equity in libraries, archives or museums, and unique collaborations. Articles may be theoretical, research-based, or practice-focused. Articles will be peer-reviewed upon author request
Detection of Colorado Tick Fever Virusin Dermacentor Andersoni
Get PDFColorado tick fever virus is a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus transmitted by Rocky mountain wood ticks (Dermacentor andersoni), which can be found at high elevations in a number of western states including Montana. Although Colorado tick fever often presents as flu-like symptoms that are usually not life threatening, twenty percent of those infected are hospitalized. Little is known about the evolution of CTFV. The reference strain, Florio, has been sequenced, but this particular strain was isolated in Colorado in 1943. We hypothesize that isolates collected in Montana would have novel mutations because of the geographic distance and time between them and the reference strain. Ninety-seven ticks were collected in a previous SURF project this summer, mostly from Maud S. Canyon. RNA was extracted from crushed ticks and reverse transcribed. PCR successfully amplified CTFV cDNA from a positive control, but none have been detected in the tick samples to date. In contrast, using primers for a tick actin gene, PCR resulted in an amplicon of the expected size. This would suggest that the nucleic acids were collected from the tick. While no positive results for CTFV in the ticks have been obtained, there is reason to believe that the protocols developed are working. Our results are inconsistent with other studies that have found the virus in 21% of ticks sampled in Wyoming
Mineralogy of a Uranium-Copper Breccia Pipe
Get PDFIn northern Arizona, uranium-rich breccia pipes are common, however, these deposits are rarely found to contain 36% copper. Energy Fuels sent fifteen drill-core samples from their Canyon mine to Montana Tech. These samples contain varying amounts of copper and uranium from different areas of the deposit. The samples were cut, trimmed, placed into epoxy, and polished. A total of 36 polished “plugs” were made. The plugs were scanned using an X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device to determine rough estimates of element composition. Each plug was then carefully observed under a reflected-light microscope. The mineralogy and estimated amounts of minerals were noted. Plugs that were seen to have interesting features, high amounts of unusual elements, or unknown minerals were placed in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM uses electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to obtain a chemical analysis of a specific point on the plugs which aids in mineral identification. Some specimens were also examined by Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The most abundant mineral found in our samples was tennantite (Cu6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]As4S13) followed by chalcopyrite (CuFeS2). We also found the minerals uraninite (UO2), pyrite (FeS2), bornite (Cu5FeS4), galena (PbS), sphalerite (ZnS), chalcocite (Cu2S), covellite (CuS), and rammelsbergite (NiAs2). These minerals were deposited by hydrothermal fluids into a quartz grain matrix, in which they act as a cement holding the grains together. The discovery of rammelsbergite, a nickel mineral, was an unexpected find. The results of this project will be sent to Energy Fuels where they will use the data to help in milling and metallurgy. This mineralogy study may also help the mine understand potential sources of metal contamination for future mining wastes. One of our recommendations to Energy Fuels will be to assay their ore for recoverable nickel in addition to the other metals (Cu, U, Pb)
Host Specialization of the Prokaryotic Predator Bdellovibrio Bacteriovorus
Get PDFBdellovibrio bacteriovorus is a small gram-negative bacterium with the ability to parasitize other gram-negative bacteria via periplasmic invasion leading to host cell death. B. bacteriovorus is considered a generalist and as such has been touted as a potential “living antibiotic”. To be useful in treating human/veterinary infections, antibiotics should have minimal impact on commensal microflora, yet the ability of B. bacteriovorus to specialize on specific hosts while ignoring others has not been documented. In this experiment, we investigated the ability of B. bacteriovorus to specialize on one of two different hosts: Escherichia coli or Erwinia amylovora. Our results show that over approximately 875 generations of growth, some B. bacteriovorus populations grown only in the presence of E. coli demonstrate improved growth on E. coli and significantly diminished ability to infect and kill E. amylovora. B. bacteriovorus populations exposed only to E. amylovora show growth deficits on E. coli, but the magnitude of this effect is much smaller and perhaps reflects a longer association of the B. bacteriovorus strain used here with Erwinia spp. in nature. Future work examining the genetic basis of host preference in these populations will allow greater insight into mechanisms of host specialization and serve to inform the utility of B. bacteriovorus as a targeted rather than non-specific "living antibiotic"
Examining the Correlation Between Coliform Bacteria and Human Wastewater in Home Well Water
Get PDFNearly 15% of the U.S. population relies on home wells for drinking water, and approximately 34% of U.S. wells test positive for coliform bacteria. However, the presence of coliform bacteria alone does not confirm the presence of fecal matter, leaving the well users uncertain of their health risk and which mitigation measures to take. Therefore, understanding the correlation between human waste and the presence of coliform bacteria is vital to public health. A significant correlation would inform well owners and public health practitioners that mitigation must include addressing home septic system(s) (the well owner’s system as well as neighbors’ upgradient systems). The goal of this project is to analyze rural residential well water on the Crow Reservation to determine the degree of correlation between coliform presence, E coli presence and markers of human wastewater. The three primary analytes we are looking for are caffeine, cotinine and urobilin. All three chemicals are biomarkers of human waste. The methodology we are using to identify and quantify analytes within our water samples is solid phase extraction to concentrate the unknowns for further analysis using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Subsequent analysis with colleagues will determine whether there are any significant correlations between the biomarkers of human waste and (1) the presence of coliform bacteria, (2) the presence of E. coli bacteria and/or (3) the absence of either coliform or E. coli. I will present my results to team members at a monthly meeting of the Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, whereupon my colleagues on the Crow Reservation will use the data collected to inform and work with home well owners to properly mitigate home well contamination. After the completion of this project my colleagues and I plan on presenting this project at an additional conference and publishing in a peer review journal
Assessing Habitat Quality for Four Grassland Songbird Species of Concern in Northern Mixed-Grass Prairie
Get PDFDuring the past 40 years grassland bird populations have declined faster than any other avian guild in North America. In northern Montana, four species are experiencing dramatic population declines, Baird’s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii), chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus), and McCown’s longspur (Rynchophanes mccownii). In 2017, we began a 2-year field study to evaluate abundance, nest density, and nest survival of these species in relation to local vegetative conditions with the goal of identifying important breeding season habitat conditions to inform species and land management. We conducted fixed-radius point-counts at 50 sites to estimate local abundance, rope drag surveys to estimate nest density and vegetation surveys to estimate vegetation structure and community across grassland habitats in Phillips County, MT. Discovered nests were monitored to estimate daily nest survival. Habitat conditions including vegetation composition and structure and herbaceous biomass were assessed at both the nest-site and plot scale. We will present preliminary information from our first year of study including effects of local and plot-level vegetation conditions on nest survival for our focal species, effects of vegetation composition and structure on local bird abundance and nest density, and the functional relationships among abundance, nest density, and nest survival of sentinel grassland birds in northern mixed-grass prairie habitat. Initial models suggest that abundance is influenced by visual obstruction, grass cover, slope, and shrub cover, and nest density was influenced by visual obstruction, grass cover, and shrub cover
Examining the Utility of Time to Event Models for Abundance Estimation of a Solitary Carnivore
Get PDFAbundance estimation is a common task in wildlife biology, but techniques to estimate the abundance of low density, difficult to detect species, such as cougars (Puma concolor), are limited, often requiring intensive field effort and incurring high costs. Remote cameras offer an effective means of detecting these species, but most abundance estimation methods using remote camera data rely on a portion of the population being marked or uniquely identifiable. Methods to estimate the abundance of populations without identifiable or marked individuals using remote cameras have assumptions that are difficult to meet in field studies. The recent application of time to event modelling to abundance estimation relaxes these assumptions, requiring only random movement with respect to the cameras, an estimate of movement rates, and a closed population. I will use simulated walk models to test the robustness of the time to event model to violations of these assumptions likely in field studies. I will apply the model to two cougar populations in central and southeastern Idaho, and compare the abundance estimates to concurrent estimates from genetic spatially explicit capture recapture
Ensuring Diversified Funding into the Future by Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
Get PDFThe Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies assembled a panel of 26 national business and conservation leaders in 2015 to recommend a new mechanism to conserve all fish and wildlife. Known as the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources, the group recommended Congress dedicate up to 29 million dollars annually to Montana but $10 million in non-federal match would be needed each year. Proactive and partner based projects will be critical to ensure the best use of these funds but prior to that a broad based effort to pass the act is needed. Wildlife enthusiasts, business owners, developers, researchers and others will be needed to argue it is in everyone’s best interest to keep wildlife and habitat healthy, keep species from being federally listed, and maintain outdoor education and recreation opportunities
You're a Library Director, Now What?
Get PDFThis paper briefly examines three areas that individuals new to library leadership should focus on during their first year as a new library director: creating relationships, understanding financials, and identifying a leadership style. While this paper is written with the public library administrator in mind, the areas and ideas showcased are easily transferrable to academic, government, and special library administrators.The intent of this paper is to increase awareness and understanding of these three important topics:1. Creating relationships and listening for understanding;2. The financials of your organization;3. Identifying personal strengths and weaknesses, expectations, and leadership style
Understanding the Sharing Mania: What Libraries Can Learn from the Current Rise of Collaborative Consumption Models
No full textThis article explores the current rise of collaborative consumption models for a library context. Specifically, it explains these models and unpacks key success factors from collaborative consumption. Subsequently, the article postulates what is beneficial for librarians and libraries to understand from the current trend of collaborative consumption. While there has been much research and criticism about applying traditional business models to libraries, little academic work has been completed in using contemporary business practices such as the collaborative consumption models. To address this gap in the literature, this article addresses the following questions via a literature review: “What is the current trend of collaborative consumption?” “What models for success exist within collaborative consumption?” “How do libraries already fit into collaborative consumption?” “What are the ramifications of considering libraries a form of collaborative consumption?” First explored is the definition of collaborative consumption and its current state. Following this query is a look at what models exist within collaborative consumption and how these models have contributed in making collaborative consumption successful. Finally, there is a discussion where librarians and libraries fit into these models. Areas of future research in this field are also identified with the hope that librarians and libraries can use these disruptive business models as momentum to enhance their services and resources