208 research outputs found
Three contemporary hunting spitz breeds representing breeds with Finnish origins.
No full textThe Nordic Spitz (left), although officially Swedish, the breed originates from feral dogs typical for norther Finland and was brought to Sweden by Finnish settlers. The breed almost went to extinction prior to its recognition in 1966. Finnish Spitz (center) is the Finnish national dog and was established as a breed already in 1892. Karelian Bear Dog (right), a much larger spitz type used for large game hunting, was recognized as a breed in 1936 but registered only in 1946. All photos by the first author.</p
Proposal for an Electron Antineutrino Disappearance Search Using High-Rate 8Li Production and Decay
No full textThis paper introduces a novel, high-intensity source of electron antineutrinos from the production and subsequent decay of 8Li. When paired with an existing ~1 kton scintillator-based detector, this =6.4 MeV source opens a wide range of possible searches for beyond standard model physics via studies of the inverse beta decay interaction. In particular, the experimental design described here has unprecedented sensitivity to electron antineutrino disappearance at 1 eV and features the ability to distinguish between the existence of zero, one, and two sterile neutrinos
Taxonomic revision of Gentianaceae in New Jersey
No full textChapter 1: Identification and Descriptions of Gentianaceae in New Jersey New Jersey holds unique ecological implications for the flora of North America, containing habitats from the coastal zone to the inland highlands, and as a transition zone between the more boreal and austral zones to the north and south, respectively. Presented here are identification keys and descriptions to the genera and species of Gentianaceae (Asteridae: Gentianales) that are native to or naturalized in the state of New Jersey, USA. This information will be used by the Flora of New Jersey Project, a collaboration among botanists to provide modern nomenclature, identification, description, distribution, abundance, and phenology data for all vascular plant species occurring naturally within the state. Keys to all genera and species are included, along with descriptions of morphological, ecological, distributional, and conservation information. These data were gathered from more than 1,650 herbarium specimens at The New York Botanical Garden (NY), Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BKL), the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (PH), and the Chrysler Herbarium of Rutgers University (CHRB). In total, eight genera and 19 species were treated, and Schenkia spicata (L.) G. Mans. Is a new species and genus record for the state. Chapter 2: Nomenclature and Taxonomy of Gentianaceae in New Jersey Presented here are complete generic and specific nomenclature, typifications, and taxonomic updates on all of the species of Gentianceae (Asterids: Gentianales) occurring naturally in the state of New Jersey, USA. Complete synonymy is provided, along with all known information on typification. The gentianaceous species found in New Jersey include two Bartonia species, one Centaurium, seven Gentiana species, one Gentianella, one Gentianopsis, one Obolaria, five Sabatia species, and one Schenkia species. A clarification on the typification of Centaurium pulchellum (Sw.) Hayek ex Hand.-Mazz. et al. is provided, as well as neotype designations for Gentiana clausa Raf. and Gentiana linearis Froel., and a lectotypification for Sabatia stellaris Pursh.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Lauren D. Spit
The stability of IQ in people with low intellectual ability: an analysis of the literature
No full textA meta-analysis of the stability of low IQ (IQ 80) was performed on IQ tests that have been
commonly used—tests that were derived by D. Wechsler (1949, 1955, 1974, 1981, 1991, 1997)
and those based on the Binet scales (L. M. Terman, 1960; L. M. Terman & Merrill, 1972). Weighted-
mean stability coefficients of .77 and .78 were found for Verbal IQ (V IQ) and Performance IQ
(P IQ) on the Wechsler tests and .82 for Full-Scale IQ (FS IQ) on both Wechsler and Binet tests,
for a mean test–retest interval of 2.8 years. Although the majority of FS IQs changed by less than
6 points, 14% changed by 10 points or more. The author suggests that the results of IQ assessment
should be treated with more caution than previously thought
Two Differential Binding Mechanisms of FG-Nucleoporins and Nuclear Transport Receptors
No full textPhenylalanine-glycine-rich nucleoporins (FG-Nups) are intrinsically disordered proteins, constituting the selective barrier of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). Previous studies showed that nuclear transport receptors (NTRs) were found to interact with FG-Nups by forming an "archetypal-fuzzy'' complex through the rapid formation and breakage of interactions with many individual FG motifs. Here, we use single-molecule studies combined with atomistic simulations to show that, in sharp contrast, FG-Nup214 undergoes a coupled reconfiguration-binding mechanism when interacting with the export receptor CRM1. Association and dissociation rate constants are more than an order of magnitude lower than in the archetypal-fuzzy complex between FG-Nup153 and NTRs. Unexpectedly, this behavior appears not to be encoded selectively into CRM1 but rather into the FG-Nup214 sequence. The same distinct binding mechanisms are unperturbed in O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine-modified FG-Nups. Our results have implications for differential roles of distinctly spatially distributed FG-Nup.NTR interactions in the cell
Double Ramification Cycles and the n-Point Function for the Moduli Space of Curves
No full textIn this paper, using the formula for the integrals of the ψ-classes over the double ramification cycles found by S. Shadrin, L. Spitz, D. Zvonkine and the author, we derive a new explicit formula for the n-point function of the intersection numbers on the moduli space of curves
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Senior Recitals
No full textRecital presented at the College of Music Recital Hall in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Music (BM) degre
Employers’ Preferences for Gender, Age, Height and Beauty: Direct Evidence
No full textWe study firms’ advertised preferences for gender, age, height and beauty in a sample of ads from a Chinese internet job board, and interpret these patterns using a simple employer search model. We find that these characteristics are widely and highly valued by Chinese employers, though employers’ valuations are highly specific to detailed jobs and occupations. Consistent with our model, advertised preferences for gender, age, height and beauty all become less prevalent as job skill requirements rise. Cross-sectional patterns suggest some role for customer discrimination, product market competition, and corporate culture. Using the recent collapse of China’s labor market as a natural experiment, we find that firms’ advertised education and experience requirements respond to changing labor market conditions in the direction predicted by our model, while firms’ advertised preferences for age, gender, height and beauty do not.
Preventing wild boar "Sus scrofa" damage - considerations for wild boar management in highly fragmented agroecosystems
No full textDuring the last three decades wild boar populations have grown rapidly and the range of the species has increased steadily, covering almost the whole European continent today. The huge spread of the wild boar and the high population densities pose major problems, particularly to agriculture. Wild boars cause considerable damage to fields and grassland, but also pose a potentially high threat to livestock, as carrier of the pathogen of the classical swine fever, which may be transmitted to domestic pigs and can cause huge losses. To prevent economic problems by high wild boar populations, an effective wild boar management has to be established. Besides the regulation of the populations by means of hunting, vulnerable crop fields have to be protected adequately. Crop protection is usually achieved by the use of electric fences. Alternatively, various methods are available that claim effective deterrence of wild boars, however, most of which lacking scientific proof of effectiveness.
This thesis, based on a field study conducted in the Canton Basel-Land, northwestern Switzerland, presents research results on the effectiveness of three different deterrent systems: solar-powered blinkers, an odour repellent, and a gustatory repellent. The aims of the study were: (1) to investigate three means to deter wild boars from agricultural land representative for other deterrents based on optic, olfactory, or gustatory effects; (2) to provide relevant and evidence-based data, which contribute to the policy and practice of wild boar management and damage prevention in the Canton Basel-Land, also applicable to other regions. I discussed the results in a broader context, also considering the role of hunting in damage prevention.
Solar blinkers and the odour repellent, which were investigated at baited luring sites, reduced the probability of wild boar visits by 8.1% and by 0.4% respectively. Both deterrents were not effective in preventing wild boars from accessing the lure food. Additionally, we did not find any initial deterrence effect. The gustatory repellent, which was investigated in experimental fields, did not have a significant effect on the frequency of damage events. Although we observed a slight trend towards a damage reduction, the results show, that the repellent was not able to prevent damage. We further could not detect any area avoidance by the wild boars as a response to the repellent.
The present study revealed, that none of the deterrents investigated was able to prevent wild boars from entering the experimental sites. Hence the deterrents in question are no effective means for field protection. Moreover, I suggest that any other deterrent basing on startling response, neophobia, fear-evocation, or conditioned avoidance would not be effective in preventing wild boars from entering agricultural land. To date, the only recommendable means for damage prevention is the electric fence, which should be taken into account by the responsible authorities. Based on the findings of the present study, farmers must be discouraged from the use of other deterrents than electric fences to protect their fields. Additionally, damage compensation should be subject to the condition of fencing of the fields.
Besides the protection of vulnerable crops the reduction of wild boar populations by means of hunting is crucial for damage prevention. Hunting rates have to be increased and hunting effort should focus on females of all age classes, but especially on juvenile females, which have shown to be highly reproductive and substantially contribute to population growth. For this purpose, selective hunting techniques like hide hunting and stalk hunting should be prioritised and promoted.
The highly reproductive wild boar possesses the ability to recover from population losses in a very short time. Hence, both effective hunting management and field protection will remain the most important tools for damage control. Further research is required to investigate and compare different wild boar management systems including also damage prevention under an economic perspective. Stakeholders like farmers, hunters, and authorities must be involved.
The omnivore wild boar is enabled to adapt to various environments. Wild boar populations are expected to increase further and to spread into areas not yet populated. In Switzerland, the spread into the central parts of the country will also be supported by additional wildlife crossings that are in construction or in process of planning which will pose a challenge for wildlife management in these regions
MAP2K1-Mutated Melanocytic Neoplasms With a SPARK-Like Morphology
No full textSpecific alterations involving MAPK genes (MAP3K8 fusions, MAP3K3 fusions) have been recently detected in a subgroup of spitzoid neoplasms that seem to constitute a distinctive clinicopathologic group, occur mostly in younger patients (median age 18 years) and present with atypical histologic features associated with frequent homozygous deletion of CDKN2A, qualifying a high proportion of them as Spitz melanoma (malignant Spitz tumor). Apart from lesions with spitzoid morphology harboring MAP3K8 or MAP3K3 fusion, a single case with MAP2K1 deletion has been identified. The authors report herein 4 melanocytic lesions with a MAP2K1 mutation, all showing similar microscopic appearances, including spitzoid cytology and dysplastic architectural features, resembling so-called SPARK nevus, suggesting that these lesions may represent another distinctive group
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