Chytrid fungus infection in alpine tree frogs is associated with individual heterozygosity and population isolation but not population-genetic diversity

Chytridiomycosis, a disease caused by the emerging fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has been implicated in the decline of over 500 amphibian species. Population declines could have important genetic consequences, including reduced genetic diversity. We contrasted genetic diversity among both long-Bd-exposed and unexposed populations of the south-east Australian alpine tree frog (Litoria verreauxii alpina) across its range. At the population level, we found no significant differences in genetic diversity between Bd-exposed and unexposed populations. Encouragingly, even Bd-infected remnant populations that are now highly isolated maintain genetic diversity comparable to populations in which Bd is absent. Spatial genetic structure among populations followed an isolation-by-distance pattern, suggesting restricted movement among remnant populations. At the individual level, greater heterozygosity was associated with reduced probability of infection. Loss of genetic diversity in remnant populations that survived chytridiomycosis epidemics does not appear to be a threat to L. v. alpina. We suggest several factors underpinning maintenance of genetic diversity: (1) remnant populations have remained large enough to avoid losses of genetic diversity; (2) many individuals in the population are able to breed once before succumbing to disease; and (3) juveniles in the terrestrial environment have low exposure to Bd, providing an annual ‘reservoir’ of genetic diversity. The association between individual heterozygosity and infection status suggests that, while other work has shown all breeding adults are typically killed by Bd, males with greater heterozygosity may survive longer and obtain fitness benefits through extended breeding opportunities. Our results highlight the critical role of life history in mitigating the impacts of Bd infection for some amphibian species, but we infer that increased isolation as a result of disease-induced population extirpations will enhance population differentiation and thus biogeographic structure

Wearing my heart on my sleeve

Wearing My Heart On My Sleeve is a collection of fabric and fiber works that focus on issues related to my recovery from a heart attack. Using the hospital gown and other garment forms as templates for self-portraiture, I explore the emotions surrounding the diagnosis and subsequent management of my chronic health condition. My art-making process combines tradition and technology, using modern, high-speed sewing machines and computers to create the fabric for contemporary interpretations of traditional garment and needlecraft forms. I am also concerned with the use of language and words as critical design elements for the fabrics I create. The resulting work is an autobiographical investigation that aims to speak universally to the challenges of living with a chronic disease

Resource Prospector Propulsion Cold Flow Test

For the past year, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and Johnson Space Center have been working on a government version of a lunar lander design for the Resource Prospector Mission. A propulsion cold flow test system, representing an early flight design of the propulsion system, has been fabricated. The primary objective of the cold flow test is to simulate the Resource Prospector propulsion system operation through water flow testing and obtain data for anchoring analytical models. This effort will also provide an opportunity to develop a propulsion system mockup to examine hardware integration to a flight structure. This paper will report the work progress of the propulsion cold flow test system development and test preparation. At the time this paper is written, the initial waterhammer testing is underway. The initial assessment of the test data suggests that the results are as expected and have a similar trend with the pretest prediction. The test results will be reported in a future conference

The Importance of Physical Security Culture in Protecting Soft Targets

Slides for the presentation presented at the ENVISION24 Conference Session 6: Lighting Talks Novel Threat Assessment for Individuals, Organizations, and Their Events

Domestic Violent Extremism- A View through an Organizational Psychology Lens

Slides for the presentation presented at the ENVISION24 Conference Session 1 Modern Terrorist Threats tot he U.S

International savanna fire nanagement initiative

Due to colonisation, traditional ways of fire management have been suppressed across landscapes and as a result vast areas of country are poorly managed and degraded. Conventional methods of firefighting have largely failed. Climate change will make the situation worse. Indigenous people in the savannas of northern Australia have developed a solution to this threat and a have been leading the way in community based integrated fire management practices. Combining their traditional knowledge with modern science and technology, Indigneous communities burn early, keep fuel loads down and reduce destructive wildfires. This leads to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn provides carbon market opportunities. Today, traditional fire management is practised across northern Australia's savannas on range of tenures including Indigenous lands, conservation parks and pastoral leases. Currently, there are 74 registered savanna carbon projects covering 25% of northern Australia that have reduced wildfire by 50% and generated an industry worth more than $100 million. The 25 Indigenous-led carbon projects create more than 400 seasonal jobs in remote communities, while at the same time reinvigorating traditional culture and improving biodiversity. In 2013 the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) explored the feasibility of adapting Australia's ground breaking savanna burning technology for the savannas of Africa, Asia and Latin America. With the support of the Australian Government, the ISFMI Botswana Pilot Project, is adapting the technology for southern Africa. Wildfires are a dominant feature of southern African landscapes, they emit significant GHG emissions, threaten wildlife tourism, reduce agricultural productivity and damage ecosystems. Building on the success of the northern Australian Indigneous carbon industry, the ISFMI is working with the Government of Botswana and Indigneous communities to reignite traditional fire management practices at a number of pilot sites. Our presentation will highlight a) how Indigneous communities in northern Australia are reigniting traditional practice of fighting fire with fire b) how this approach combined with the latest science and technology is reducing wildfires and building locally owned carbon businesses and c) how this technology is being adapted for the southern African landscape in partnership with Government of Botswana and local Indigneous communities.Due to colonisation, traditional ways of fire management have been suppressed across landscapes and as a result vast areas of country are poorly managed and degraded. Conventional methods of firefighting have largely failed. Climate change will make the situation worse. Indigenous people in the savannas of northern Australia have developed a solution to this threat and a have been leading the way in community based integrated fire management practices. Combining their traditional knowledge with modern science and technology, Indigneous communities burn early, keep fuel loads down and reduce destructive wildfires. This leads to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn provides carbon market opportunities. Today, traditional fire management is practised across northern Australia's savannas on range of tenures including Indigenous lands, conservation parks and pastoral leases. Currently, there are 74 registered savanna carbon projects covering 25$100 million. The 25 Indigenous-led carbon projects create more than 400 seasonal jobs in remote communities, while at the same time reinvigorating traditional culture and improving biodiversity. In 2013 the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) explored the feasibility of adapting Australia's ground breaking savanna burning technology for the savannas of Africa, Asia and Latin America. With the support of the Australian Government, the ISFMI Botswana Pilot Project, is adapting the technology for southern Africa. Wildfires are a dominant feature of southern African landscapes, they emit significant GHG emissions, threaten wildlife tourism, reduce agricultural productivity and damage ecosystems. Building on the success of the northern Australian Indigneous carbon industry, the ISFMI is working with the Government of Botswana and Indigneous communities to reignite traditional fire management practices at a number of pilot sites. Our presentation will highlight a) how Indigneous communities in northern Australia are reigniting traditional practice of fighting fire with fire b) how this approach combined with the latest science and technology is reducing wildfires and building locally owned carbon businesses and c) how this technology is being adapted for the southern African landscape in partnership with Government of Botswana and local Indigneous communities

Are bisphosphonates effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis pain? A meta-analysis and systematic review.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis worldwide. Pain and reduced function are the main symptoms in this prevalent disease. There are currently no treatments for OA that modify disease progression; therefore analgesic drugs and joint replacement for larger joints are the standard of care. In light of several recent studies reporting the use of bisphosphonates for OA treatment, our work aimed to evaluate published literature to assess the effectiveness of bisphosphonates in OA treatment