Genomics reveals historic and contemporary transmission dynamics of a bacterial disease among wildlife and livestock

Whole-genome sequencing has provided fundamental insights into infectious disease epidemiology, but has rarely been used for examining transmission dynamics of a bacterial pathogen in wildlife. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), outbreaks of brucellosis have increased in cattle along with rising seroprevalence in elk. Here we use a genomic approach to examine Brucella abortus evolution, cross-species transmission and spatial spread in the GYE. We find that brucellosis was introduced into wildlife in this region at least five times. The diffusion rate varies among Brucella lineages (∼3 to 8 km per year) and over time. We also estimate 12 host transitions from bison to elk, and 5 from elk to bison. Our results support the notion that free-ranging elk are currently a self-sustaining brucellosis reservoir and the source of livestock infections, and that control measures in bison are unlikely to affect the dynamics of unrelated strains circulating in nearby elk populations

Designing a National Emergency Wireless System

Designing a National Emergency Wireless SystemRichard Anderson, B.S.University of Pittsburgh, 2005This paper looks at combining modern telephone services together for emergency support services. The newer services provided by 2.5 and 3G technologies, such as broadcast text messaging, GPS tracking and the ability to send video and images, has expanded our capabilities for sending information to a large consumer base. By taking these services, and targeting them towards emergency response crews as well as civilians, a new emergency system can be designed. Utilizing leading edge wireless technologies will allow workers to communicate faster, distribute information effectively, and provide better support during an emergency. Civilians can be warned of an impending disaster and can be alerted as how to proceed in an emergency situation. These new services can be added to the current infrastructure and can work on many of the devices already in use on the current cellular network

A Response to “Reconsidering Counting Articles in Ranked Venues (CARV) as the Appropriate Evaluation Criteria for the Advancement of Democratic Discourse in the IS Field”

Cuellar, Truex, and Tajeda (2019) take the position that counting the number of articles published in ranked venues is an inappropriate method of evaluating the scholarly performance of faculty. They base their contention on a number of unfounded assertions and unsupported arguments, which the author details and analyzes. They propose an alternative evaluation criterion, which they call the “scholarly capital model”. In this rejoinder, I critique this model and find it wanting

Local and global, now and forever: a matrix model of "depth perception" in library work

journal articleAcademic libraries are in an interesting and difficult position, one that makes us different from most other public and private institutions. We are charged with meeting the immediate needs of students and faculty (needs that can usually be identified and defined with at least some degree of precision), but also with creating lasting collections that will meet the largely unpredictable needs of future users. At the same time, we also function as supportive infrastructure on our campuses, active contributors to the scholarly and creative output of our institutions and profession, and participants in a global scholarly communication ecosystem. Our functions are local and global, short term and long-term, just-in-time and just-in-case