Digital Commons Network^™

Predicting Suitable Marine Habitat For Pink-Footed Shearwaters Ardenna Creatopus In The Waters Along The Pacific Coast Of Canada., Sonya A. Pastran, Patrick D. O’Hara, Kenneth H. Morgan, Caroline H. Fox, W. Eric Gross

Marine Ornithology

Anthropogenic activities are threatening global marine ecosystems, with seabirds representing a vulnerable group that has experienced pronounced population declines in recent decades. The ability to identify important marine areas for vulnerable seabirds is fundamental to conservation initiatives. The Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus (listed as Endangered in Canada) breeds only in Chile, but during the non-breeding season, it ranges northward to waters off Canada's Pacific coast and the northern Gulf of Alaska. Using at-sea survey data spanning from 1992 to 2019, we examined the relationship between the species' distribution and environmental variables using a two-step generalized additive model approach. Cross-validation with …

Tasmanian Records Of Vagrant Penguins, 1991–2025., Eric J. Woehler

Marine Ornithology

During the period 01 January 1991 to 31 August 2025, there were 274 records of vagrant penguins in Tasmania. These records represented three genera: Aptenodytes, Pygoscelis, and Eudyptes. The most frequently reported species were Fiordland Penguin E. pachyrhynchus, Royal Penguin E. schlegeli, and King Penguin A. patagonicus. High numbers of records were reported from 10 years, with a peak in 1999 and a lower peak in 2023. Records from January to March accounted for approximately 42% of all vagrant penguin occurrences and corresponded with the arrival of pre-moult birds of all ages. A range …

Comparative Diet Analysis Of Three Larid Species Nesting At Isla Rasa, Gulf Of California, Mexico., Enriqueta Velarde, Lloyd T. Findley

Marine Ornithology

Isla Rasa, situated in highly productive waters of the Gulf of California, has the largest nesting colony of Royal Terns Thalasseus maximus (as many as 17,000 individuals) in the Mexican Pacific, sharing this site with 300,000 Elegant Terns T. elegans and 260,000 Heermann's Gulls Larus heermanni. During eight breeding seasons between 1996 and 2011, we found that the Royal Tern diet contained over twice the number of prey species as the other two seabirds' diets: the Royal Tern's diet included 36 species of fishes, in 20 families, and pelagic squat lobster Grimothea planipes, whereas the Elegant Tern and …

Evidence For Colony Attendance By Immature Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris Leucomelas During The Chick-Rearing Period., Helen M. Pružina, Akiko Shoji, Masaki Shirai, Sakiko Matsumoto, Ken Yoda, Annette L. Fayet

Marine Ornithology

Many seabird species have a long breeding-deferral period, during which individuals mature and spend most of their time at sea, making them particularly difficult to study. In some species, immatures are known to start visiting colonies before reaching adulthood, presumably to learn the behaviours required to secure a nest and mate for future breeding. However, immature colony attendance remains undocumented in many species, particularly those that are difficult to observe, such as nocturnal, cavity-nesting species and species in which immatures are indistinguishable from adults. Here, we studied the attendance patterns and behaviour of Streaked Shearwaters Calonectris leucomelas on Awashima Island, …

First Record Of Leucism In Kerguelen Shag Leucocarbo Verrucosus, Kevin Guille

Marine Ornithology

The first case of leucism in the Kerguelen Shag Leucocarbo verrucosus was observed on Mayes Island, Kerguelen Archipelago, in the southern Indian Ocean between October 2021 and November 2022. The individual exhibited extensive white plumage with scattered black feathers while maintaining normal eye pigmentation, consistent with leucism rather than albinism. Despite exhibiting typical behavior and social interactions, no breeding activity was recorded. This observation highlights the occurrence of pigment abnormalities in sub-Antarctic seabirds and underscores the importance of continued monitoring to better understand their ecological or genetic implications.

Satellite Tracking Of Galapagos Petrel Pterodroma Phaeopygia Reveals Distribution And Movements During Chick Rearing., Carolina B. Proaño, Sebastian M. Cruz, Josh Adams, Martin Wikelski

Marine Ornithology

We tracked 19 adult Galapagos Petrels Pterodroma phaeopygia during the chick-rearing seasons in 2009 and 2010 (Santa Cruz Island [n = 16] and Floreana Island [n = 3]) in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Eight petrels performed 27 complete foraging trips lasting 0.6 to 18.8 days. Short trips (3.2 ± 2.1 days; 785 km; max displacement 671 km) and long trips (10.8 ± 3.9 days; 2,856 km; max displacement 1,034 km) resulted in concentrated use of waters off southern and western Isabela Island and within the Galápagos Marine Reserve (GMR). Less concentrated time extended farther southwest and eastward, in …

Unfamiliar Plumage Aberration Observed On A Razorbill Alca Torda At Machias Seal Island., Daniel Oliker, Antony W. Diamond, Heather L. Major

Marine Ornithology

Aberrant plumage variation in seabirds can be caused by both heritable genetic mutations and non-heritable somatic mutations due to environmental stressors. In Razorbills Alca torda, aberrant colouration has been documented four times: three as cases of melanism and one seemingly of leucism, both heritable mutations. Here, we describe the observation and subsequent capture of a Razorbill with an unfamiliar plumage phenotype we hypothesize to be caused by a somatic mutation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of a somatic mutation affecting the plumage of a Razorbill in the primary literature.

Seasonal Variation In Trophic Niche And Resource Use In Great Black-Backed Gulls Larus Marinus., Samuel Langlois Lopez, Nina J. O’Hanlon, Jared Wilson, Rona A. R. Mcgill, Francis Daunt, Elizabeth A. Masden

Marine Ornithology

Seabirds experience variable extrinsic and intrinsic pressures throughout the annual cycle that affect their ability to forage. Consequently, their foraging strategies may vary between breeding and non-breeding seasons due to the constraints of central-place foraging during the former. Here, we studied a population of a generalist seabird, the Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus, breeding at a colony on the Isle of May, Scotland. We quantified seasonal variation in sexual segregation, trophic position, trophic niche width, and resource use by examining stable isotopes in feathers collected from adults. We found no sexual segregation, but we detected population- and individual-level shifts …

Observation Of Black Noddies Anous Minutus Swallowing Coral Pebbles On A Polynesian Atoll., Simon Ducatez, Jayna L. Devore

Marine Ornithology

We report the observation of Black Noddies Anous minutus ingurgitating small pieces of coral debris on top of beachrock on the atoll of Tetiʻaroa, 50 km north of Tahiti in French Polynesia.

Assessing The Impact Of Coordinated Mink Culling On Bird Populations On Coastal Islands In Norway., Fredrik R. Staven, Torgeir Nygård

Marine Ornithology

The introduction of the non-native American Mink Neogale vison (syn. Neovison vison), a predator of birds and their chicks and eggs, is one of many anthropogenic factors that may be driving the decline of seabird populations in areas where mink are prevalent. Previous studies have shown that ground-nesting birds utilising coastal ecosystems are especially vulnerable. In this study, we investigated changes in seabird and coastal-bound bird populations, focusing on ground-nesting species, and the potential effect from mink culling. Ten locations in the archipelago of Flatanger, a coastal municipality in central Norway, were surveyed, and bird counts from 1991, 2016, …

Important Bird Area Ant 110 Muskegbukta, Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica: A Case Study., Barbara Wienecke

Marine Ornithology

The nomination of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) is a useful approach to determine where valuable biodiversity areas occur. In Antarctica, 204 areas have been designated as IBAs, 34 of which contain Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri colonies. The dynamic nature of the Antarctic environment presents challenges to IBA nominations, particularly for a species such as the Emperor Penguin, whose colonies can shift markedly in location across years. This paper uses IBA ANT 110 Muskegbukta as a case study to explore how changes in local and regional fast ice conditions result in relocation of a colony beyond the nominated IBA boundary. Because …

Atlantic Puffin Fratercula Arctica Mortality Along The Portuguese West Coast In Early 2023., Rute A. Costa, Ana S. Tavares, Francisca V. Hilário, Jorge Vaqueiro, Marisa Ferreira, Sara Sá, Silvia S. Monteiro, Andreia Torres-Pereira, Catarina Eira

Marine Ornithology

This study presents data about a mortality event involving Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica in the central region of Portugal, including information on the species' biometrics. More than 2,000 seabirds were collected from beaches between Lisbon and Matosinhos in January and February 2023, as casualties of a massive wreck. In total 444 Atlantic Puffins (171 live, 273 dead) were found and analysed. Leg bands on some birds indicated that these individuals primarily originated from colonies in Scotland. Of the live puffins that entered the Ecomare Marine Animal Rehabilitation Centre, only 18 survived to be successfully released. We conducted 426 post-mortem examinations …

Diel And Seasonal Patterns Of Markham’S Storm Petrel Hydrobates Markhami In The Atacama Desert, Chile, Maya E. Philipp, Abram B. Fleishman, Jeff Schlueter, Giannira Álvarez, Benjamin Gallardo, Pablo Gutiérrez, Ronny Peredo, Brad Keitt, Fernando Medrano

Marine Ornithology

Markham's Storm Petrel Hydrobates markhami is endemic to the Humboldt Current, breeding inland in Chile and Peru. Its nesting habitat in Atacama Desert saltpeter deposits overlaps with light pollution, roadways, and other anthropogenic disturbances—factors that may impact the species' populations. Owing to its remote nesting locations and nocturnal behavior, finding and monitoring its colonies is challenging. In fact, the first colonies were discovered only recently. In this study, we assessed whether passive acoustic monitoring of this species detects the same activity patterns as active nest monitoring. Acoustic monitors were placed at eight sites within colonies at Caleta Buena (Tarapacá Region) …

Masthead, Marine Ornithology

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Inside Front Cover, Marine Ornithology

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Dynamically Adjustable Photoplethysmography Geometry Based On Perfusion Index And Motion Profile To Balance Accuracy And Power Efficiency, Hamed Vavadi, Kaiyuan (Kai) Yao, Chintan Trehan

Defensive Publications Series

Wearable photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors detect a small pulsatile signal against a large non-pulsatile background.  The signal quality varies widely across users, activities, and conditions.  This publication describes systems and techniques in which the optical geometry of a PPG sensor is adjusted during operation to balance signal quality against power consumption.  A voltage-controlled film, for instance, over an emitter and a photodetector changes an effective aperture, and thereby the depth of light penetration and the perfusion index, without moving parts.  A control system uses a perfusion index and a motion level to select the aperture size produced by the voltage-controlled film. …

Comments Re: Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program And Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Fred D. Ledley M.D., Edward Zhou Pharm. D.

CISI Publication

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written comments in response to the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program proposed rule published on June 16, 2026 in the Federal Register. [1] We are answering as academic researchers with experience in medicine, pharmacy, biomedical research, and the biopharmaceutical industry. Our perspective is informed by extensive, published research on the economics and finance of pharmaceutical innovation, the value created by new medicines, and the impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

We applaud the accomplishment of the IRA in establishing the precedent for the government to negotiate “fair market prices” for drugs on …

Motherhood And The Illusion Of Delayed Gratification In Gerotti Kyomuhendo’S Waiting And Secrets No More, Mopelola R. Olayiwola

Wagadu: A Journal of Transnational Women's & Gender Studies

The birth of a girl child in most African societies automatically signals the arrival of another procreator. Her role is assigned long before birth: she is to be a woman, a wife, and a mother whose nurturance continues until death. Motherhood demands nurturing children alongside the husband, and most myths tie a woman’s relevance to this single role. To ensure undivided attention to this occupation, societies empower the virtue of patience. As a result, many African narratives corroborate the ideology of delayed gratification, encouraging women to give excessively toward a distant future when children may return the favour. Little attention …

Encounters Xxii: Look Up, Susan Johnson

The Sucarnochee Review

No abstract provided.

Beautiful Hand, Allison Whittenberg

The Sucarnochee Review

No abstract provided.

Spcc: Inferring Spatial Cell-Cell Interaction By Integrating Single-Cell And Spatial Transcriptomics, Tiangang Wang, Yu Zhou, Xi Liu, Sijia Wu, Liyu Huang, Kexin Huang, Xiaobo Zhou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Study of single-cell spatial biology reveals the importance of integrating single-cell and spatial data for capturing spatial structure at individual cell resolution in various fields. With the lack of cellular-level information in most spatial data, it is necessary to integrate single-cell and spatial data. Here, we developed a deep learning computational framework for alignment and mapping of unpaired single-cell and the spatial data by using adversarial joint-variational autoencoder and Random Forest model (SPCC). SPCC will generate a mapping matrix for single-cell and spatial positions that can transfer spatial location to individual cells. SPCC can be used to perform downstream analysis, …

Investigating The Links Between Iq, Emotion Dysregulation, And Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia In Childhood Antisocial Behavior, Isley Jean-Pierre

Student Theses

This study examined relationships among cognitive ability, emotion dysregulation, physiological regulation, and antisocial behavior. Participants were 340 children ages 7-10. Caregivers reported on emotion regulation, aggression, and delinquency, and children completed cognitive assessments. Intellectual profiles were classified as even or uneven. No significant differences in aggression or delinquency were found between intellectual profiles. Emotion Regulation Checklist scores mediated relationships between VIQ and both aggression and delinquency. Resting RSA mediated the relationship between VIQ and delinquency, although the indirect effect was small, whereas RSA reactivity did not mediate either outcome. Overall, findings suggest that emotion regulation may be a more consistent …

Understanding Ourselves And Others: A Social Psychology Approach, Whitney Whitaker Ph.D., Noba Project

All Open Educational Resources

This book is a compilation of Open Education Resources for the use in an undergraduate level social psychology course at Fort Hays State University.

A Comparative Study Of Ladxs1 Gene Expression In Four Lavandula Angustifolia Callus Treatments, Sumaya F. Hamad, Zainab O. Salman, Emad H. Jassim, Bushra M. J. Alwash, Zainab Anwar Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

The current study was conducted to compare and evaluate the increasing or decreasing levels of LaDXS1 ``1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase'' gene expression of four treatments of callus initiate on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) with various application of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and Benzyl adenine (BA) from leaves of Lavandula Angustifolia consider one of species used for oil extraction through total RNA extraction from callus for the four treatments then reverse-transcribed to complementary DNA (cDNA) then amplified by RT-qPCR technique as a relative quantitation method .The results demonstrated that gene expression of LaDXS1 was varied between treatments. The highest gene expression of …

Genotyping Of Echinococcus Granulosus And Evaluation Of Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract As A Novel Protoscolicidal Agent, Hersh Ahmad Amin, Hoshyar Abdullah Azeez, Sirwan Muhsin Muhammed Ameen

Baghdad Science Journal

Cystic echinococcosis is a globally prevalent zoonotic infection, including in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. It arises when Echinococcus granulosus eggs are ingested, leading to the larval stages that mainly effect the internal organs of humans and livestocks. This study aimed to explore the genetic variability and sequence polymorphisms of E. granulosus and to evaluate the protoscolicidal potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract. Protoscoleces PSCs were isolated from hydatid cysts collected from infected humans, sheep, cattle and goat. Among the 73 hydatid cysts examined, 63 (86.3%) were fertile. DNA was extracted from PSCs, the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 ( …

Biochemical And Histological Assessment Of Oral Wound Healing Using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles-Hyaluronic Acid Composite Gel In Rat Models, Shahida Rasoul Husain, Amal Hanna Aziz, Treefa Farouq Ismail

Baghdad Science Journal

Oral wound healing is a complex biological process involving coordinated inflammatory, proliferative, and remodeling phases. Recent advances in nanotechnology and biomaterials have highlighted the potential of composite formulations to enhance tissue repair. This study aimed to evaluate the biochemical and histological effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and hyaluronic acid (HA) composite gel on oral wound healing in rat models. Green-synthesized ZnO NPs, prepared using Cinnamomum zeylanicum extract, were gradually incorporated into methylcellulose (MC) and commercially available HA gels. The physicochemical characterization of the composite gel was assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy …

Relationship Between Sociodemographic Factors And Opioid Overdose Mortality In Milwaukee County, 2020-2021, Elizabeth David

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Opioid overdose deaths increased significantly from 2020 to 2021, with Milwaukee County experiencing higher rates than the national and state averages. African American and Hispanic residents faced disproportionately high fatal overdose rates. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study was to examine the associations among socioeconomic status, race, age, access to treatment (measured by emergency medical services [EMS] naloxone administration), and opioid overdose mortality among underserved minority populations in Milwaukee County. Guided by the social-ecological model, the study analyzed data from the Milwaukee Health Department and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office across 34 ZIP codes. Inclusion criteria for …

Frailty And Activities Of Daily Living In Older Adults In Primary Care: A Cross-Sectional Study, Öznur Adadıoğlu, Ahmet Seven, Esin Danç

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: This study aimed to examine frailty status and activities of daily living among older adults.

Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted with 306 voluntary participants aged 65 years and older who were registered at a primary healthcare center in a city in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Participant Information Form, the FRAIL Scale, and the Katz Index of Activities of Daily Living.

Results: Among the participants, 36.9% were non-frail, 42.2% were pre-frail, and 20.9% were frail. The mean Katz Index score was 5.42 ± 1.35. The mean scores of activities of daily living …

Comments Re: Commonsense Policy Options To Lower Drug Prices For Patients, Fred D. Ledley M.D., Edward Zhou Pharm. D.

CISI Publication

Thank you for the opportunity to provide written comment in response to the Senate Finance Committee Minority Staff’s “Request for Information: Commonsense Policy Options to Lower Drug Prices for Patients.” We are answering as academic researchers with experience in medicine and the biopharmaceutical industry. This comment will focus on sections I and III of the RFI.

We applaud the accomplishment of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in establishing the precedent for the government to negotiate “fair market” prices for drugs on terms that address both patients’ needs for affordability and industry’s need for a reasonable return on investment. Our analysis …

Challenges Early Childhood Educators Encounter When Balancing Play-Based Learning With Preparation For Standardized Testing, Shanette Damar Mcbride

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this study was that emphasis is being placed on standardized testing, which is causing early childhood educators to feel pressured to eliminate or reduce playtime in their classrooms. Framed by Vygotsky’s theory of social development and Lave and Wenger’s situated learning framework, the purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore the experiences of early childhood educators in a southcentral U.S. state regarding the challenges they face in balancing a play-based learning curriculum and the support they need, while emphasizing information about standardized testing. The data were collected from semistructured interviews with 12 certified kindergarten …