Daily Distance Research Articles

Station-based average travel distance and its relationship with urban form and land use: An analysis of smart card data in Nanjing City, China

Few studies based on large sample data have examined mobility patterns from a travel distance perspective and investigated the potential influence of urban form and land use on people's daily travel distances. This paper provides additional empirical insights into spatiotemporal urban mobility patterns and their relationship with urban form and land use using station-based average travel distances (ATDs). Drawing on smart card data of the Nanjing metro system, land use data and open source points-of-interest (POIs) data, we apply exploratory spatial data and quantile regression analysis to examine distance patterns and explore the potential effects of urban form and land use calculated at different spatial scales (i.e. 800 m, 2 km and 5 km) on the ATDs. By comparing mobility patterns between weekdays and weekends and for different times of day, our findings highlight that ATDs are not uniformly nor randomly distributed in space. Positive spatial autocorrelation is found for different time segments. The results of OLS and quantile regression models show a positive and robust relationship between ATDs and distances to the city center (DCs). The models also prove that land use mix (especially measured at the 2 km and 5 km scale) significantly affects ATDs, supporting the importance of land use mix in decreasing daily travel distances. No significant relationship is found between ATDs and distances to the nearest subsidiary center (DSCs), while the employment/entertainment-residence balance has a marginal effect on ATDs at relatively large spatial scales (i.e. 2 km, 5 km). Consequently, with respect to reducing the ATDs, we recommend enhancing land use mix and reducing the imbalance between employment/entertainment and residence at larger spatial scales. Potential applications and future research directions are discussed. The findings in the present paper are helpful for guiding urban planning and policy making.

In-season internal and external training load quantification of an elite European soccer team.

Elite soccer teams that participate in European competitions need to have players in the best physical and psychological status possible to play matches. As a consequence of congestive schedule, controlling the training load (TL) and thus the level of effort and fatigue of players to reach higher performances during the matches is therefore critical. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to provide the first report of seasonal internal and external training load that included Hooper Index (HI) scores in elite soccer players during an in-season period. Nineteen elite soccer players were sampled, using global position system to collect total distance, high-speed distance (HSD) and average speed (AvS). It was also collected session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE) and HI scores during the daily training sessions throughout the 2015–2016 in-season period. Data were analysed across ten mesocycles (M: 1 to 10) and collected according to the number of days prior to a one-match week. Total daily distance covered was higher at the start (M1 and M3) compared to the final mesocycle (M10) of the season. M1 (5589m) reached a greater distance than M5 (4473m) (ES = 9.33 [12.70, 5.95]) and M10 (4545m) (ES = 9.84 [13.39, 6.29]). M3 (5691m) reached a greater distance than M5 (ES = 9.07 [12.36, 5.78]), M7 (ES = 6.13 [8.48, 3.79]) and M10 (ES = 9.37 [12.76, 5.98]). High-speed running distance was greater in M1 (227m), than M5 (92m) (ES = 27.95 [37.68, 18.22]) and M10 (138m) (ES = 8.46 [11.55, 5.37]). Interestingly, the s-RPE response was higher in M1 (331au) in comparison to the last mesocycle (M10, 239au). HI showed minor variations across mesocycles and in days prior to the match. Every day prior to a match, all internal and external TL variables expressed significant lower values to other days prior to a match (p<0.01). In general, there were no differences between player positions.Conclusions: Our results reveal that despite the existence of some significant differences between mesocycles, there were minor changes across the in-season period for the internal and external TL variables used. Furthermore, it was observed that MD-1 presented a reduction of external TL (regardless of mesocycle) while internal TL variables did not have the same record during in-season match-day-minus.

Ownership and Usage Analysis of Alternative Fuel Vehicles in the United States with the 2017 National Household Travel Survey Data

By using the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) data, this study explores the status quo of ownership and usage of conventional vehicles (CVs) and alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), i.e., Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), in the United States. The young ages of HEVs (6.0 years), PHEVs (3.2 years) and BEVs (3.1 years) demonstrate the significance of the 2017 NHTS data. The results show that after two decades of development, AFVs only occupy about 5% of annual vehicle sales, and their share does not show big increases in recent years. Meanwhile, although HEVs still dominate the AFV market, the share of PHEVs &amp; BEVs has risen to nearly 50% in 2017. In terms of ownership, income still seems to be a major factor influencing AFV adoption, with the median annual household incomes of CVs, HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs being $75,000, $100,000, $150,000 and $200,000, respectively. Besides, AFV households are more likely to live in urban areas, especially large metropolitan areas. Additionally, for AFVs, the proportions of old drivers are much smaller than CVs, indicating this age group might still have concerns regarding adopting AFVs. In terms of travel patterns, the mean and 85th percentile daily trip distances of PHEVs and HEVs are significantly larger than CVs, followed by BEVs. BEVs might still be able to replace CVs for meeting most travel demands after a single charge, considering most observed daily trip distances are fewer than 93.5 km for CVs. However, the observed max daily trip distances of AFVs are still much smaller than CVs, implying increasing the endurance to meet extremely long-distance travel demands is pivotal for encouraging consumers to adopt AFVs instead of CVs in the future.

Skeletal Muscle miR133a Expression in Short‐Term Voluntary Wheel Exercise and High‐Fat Diet in Rats

Micro RNAs (miR) are small non‐coding RNA that regulate gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level. miR133a is abundant in cardiac and skeletal muscle. miR133a is known to oppose the fibrotic process upregulated in ischemic or diabetic heart disease (Chen et al., 2014). Recently, knockdown of miR133a in transgenic mice resulted in blunted skeletal muscle mitochondrial biogenesis and function in response to exercise training [Nie et al. (2016)] suggesting a major role for miR133a in regulating the normal skeletal muscle adaptive response to exercise. Among other miR, miR133a is reported as downregulated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). As miR133a may regulate cell signaling pathways that promote insulin signaling and mitochondrial biogenesis and function, modulation of miR133a expression could contribute to the effect of regular, moderate exercise to ameliorate the metabolic dysfunction associated with T2DM and/or high fat nutrient stress. The working hypothesis for this pilot study is that miR133a is upregulated early in the adoption of regular exercise. We compared the expression of miR133a in sedentary Harlan Sprague Dawley rats and rats allowed to exercise voluntarily on cage wheels, who were fed normal rat chow or a high fat diet (TestDiet 58Y1 Blue; 60% energy from fat) for 10 days (N=4 per group). Wheels were removed from the cages approximately 12 hrs prior to euthanization. Total mRNA was extracted from gastrocnemius muscle. miR reverse transcription and real time PCR were performed using Applied Biosystems Taqman Universal Master Mix II Protocol without UNG. Relative gene expression of miR133a was determined with the 2^(‐ΔΔCt) method with normalization to miR191. miR133a was expressed as fold‐change from the mean of the sedentary‐normal chow group. Daily exercise distance (m) increased progressively over the 10‐day period, ranging from 1307–4683 m/day. There was no difference (p=0.6) in the exercise pattern between the rats fed normal or high fat diet. Short term, voluntary wheel exercise did not cause a significant change in expression of miR133a in the gastrocnemius of exercised or sedentary rats on either normal or high fat diet (p=0.6). Interestingly, linear regression of mi133a fold‐change versus total distance run over the 10 days in the 8 wheel‐running rats revealed a mild correlation (R2=0.5, P=0.04), indicating that higher exercise volumes were associated with greater expression of miR133a. This preliminary data indicated variability in the relative expression of intracellular miR133a in gastrocnemius muscle in voluntarily exercising rats could be related to the volume of daily exercise.Support or Funding InformationThis study was supported by Midwestern University and APS 2018 Frontiers in Physiology Research Community Leaders Professional Development Fellowship to Sowmya Anjur.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Climate Change and Physical Activity: Estimated Impacts of Ambient Temperatures on Bikeshare Usage in New York City.

Background:Physical activity is one of the best disease prevention strategies, and it is influenced by environmental factors such as temperature.Objectives:We aimed to illuminate the relation between ambient temperature and bikeshare usage and to project how climate change-induced increasing ambient temperatures may influence active transportation in New York City.Methods:The analysis leverages Citi Bike® bikeshare data to estimate participation in outdoor bicycling in New York City. Exposure–response functions are estimated for the relation between daily temperature and bike usage from 2013 to 2017. The estimated exposure–response relation is combined with temperature outputs from 21 climate models (run with emissions scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) to explore how climate change may influence future bike utilization.Results:Estimated daily hours and distance ridden significantly increased as temperatures increased, but then declined at temperatures above 26–28°C. Bike usage may increase by up to 3.1% by 2070 due to climate change. Future ridership increases during the winter, spring, and fall may more than offset future declines in summer ridership.Discussion:Evidence suggesting nonlinear impacts of rising temperatures on health-promoting bicycle ridership demonstrates how challenging it is to anticipate the health consequences of climate change. We project increases in bicycling by mid-century in NYC, but this trend may reverse as temperatures continue to rise further into the future. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4039

Using the Formozov–Malyshev–Pereleshin formula to convert mammal spoor counts into density estimates for long‐term community‐level monitoring

AbstractFinding an appropriate method to monitor a wide range of mammal species simultaneously is notoriously difficult, as each method has its limitations. Here, we examine a formula, known as the Formozov–Malyshev–Pereleshin (FMP), which uses mean daily travel distances (day ranges) to convert spoor counts into density estimates. Availability of accurate estimates of day ranges is a limitation of the FMP formula. Here, we used allometry to estimate day ranges for those species that lacked empirical movement data and general additive models (GAM) to assess trends in density estimates. With this approach, we derived density estimates for 10 mammal species, regardless of whether they were abundant, or rare and elusive (e.g. carnivores). General additive models suggest that six species are stable or increasing, and four declining, although all nonsignificantly. Use of allometric estimates in lieu of empirical estimates led to falsely increased precision in density estimates, highlighting the need to fill the knowledge gap in movement ecology for certain species. Simulations were used to examine error introduced into trend estimates by this bias. We conclude that the FMP formula, when properly employed, can be an efficient method for simultaneous monitoring of multispecies in different functional groups.

Abstract P6-21-05: Concurrent exercise and chemotherapy in preclinical breast cancer models

Abstract The benefits of exercise following a cancer diagnosis is increasingly recognized. Increased physical activity is associated with reduced breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer specific mortality. However, the mechanisms underpinning this effect are still under investigation. The role of exercise as an adjunct to systemic therapy for breast cancer remains unclear. We hypothesize that exercise may exert an anti-tumor effect and a change in tumor immune cell infiltration. Methods We evaluated the effect of exercise alone and in combination with chemotherapy in preclinical patient-derived TNBC xenografts (PDX) established in Nude mice and PyMT mouse tumor models. Mice were individually housed in boxes equipped with running wheels and randomized to 1) clamped wheels (sedentary controls), 2) doxorubicin (Dox, 2mg/kg/week), 3) exercise (Ex) and 4) Ex + Dox. Daily distance run was measured. One week after randomization (acclimatization period), the intervention was commenced. Body composition was measured at randomization and at end point. Tumors were harvested after 5 weeks of intervention or at ethical endpoint. Tumor immune infiltrates were analyzed, and transcriptomic analysis performed. Results In the TNBC PDX model, there was no difference in tumor volume at randomization (p=0.96), or cumulative distance run after 1 week of acclimatization to the running wheel (p=0.47). At 5 weeks, Ex alone significantly reduced tumor growth rate compared with controls (relative reduction 10%, p=0.025). There was no difference between the other interventions. Mice randomized to Ex + Dox ran a shorter cumulative distance over 5 weeks compared with Ex alone (103.6 ± 16.2km vs 168.8 ±23km, p=0.028). There was no correlation between distance run and tumor volume in either of the treatment cohorts involving exercise (p=0.39). PyMT, transcriptomic and immune cell infiltration analysis will be reported. At baseline, there was no significant difference in mean total body mass (TBM), lean mass (LM) or fat mass (FM) between the intervention groups (p&amp;gt;0.05). At 5 weeks, the mean TBM and LM in both groups treated with Dox was significantly lower than Ex only and controls. The Ex and the control mice gained weight (11%), compared with Dox only and Ex + Dox mice which did not gain weight (0% and -6% respectively). Therefore exercise had no significant impact on TBM or LM at 5 weeks, but Dox resulted in loss of TBM and LM compared with mice not treated with Dox. Conclusion Exercise significantly reduced tumor growth compared with sedentary controls in our preclinical TNBC PDX model, however there was not synergistic effect seen with Dox. Cumulative doses of Dox resulted in weight loss and loss of lean mass, and reduced the cumulative running distance, compared with mice not treated with Dox. Citation Format: Wahlroos S, Wilkinson A, Gallego-Ortega D, Febbraio M, Lim E. Concurrent exercise and chemotherapy in preclinical breast cancer models [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-21-05.

The Use of GPS Telemetry Data to Study Parturition, Den Location and Occupancy in the Brown Hyaena

Inferences about space use, activity and reproduction require an understanding of the behavioural processes that influence animal movements. Large volumes of movement data derived from GPS telemetry devices offer the opportunity to analyse animal behaviour on a very fine scale. GPS and satellite collars were fitted to female brown hyaenas (Parahyaenabrunnea) as part of a long-term monitoring study in southwestern Namibia. The date of parturition was determined by comparing changes in movement data and successful GPS positioning attempts. Distances moved on the day of parturition dropped to zero and frequent, unsuccessful GPS positioning attempts on the same day indicated locations in underground dens. Daily distances moved pre-partum, during parturition and post-partum differed significantly and reflected behavioural changes that can be monitored and used to draw inferences about the reproductive state of female brown hyaenas. The main predictors for den occupancy were the age of cubs, distance to closest food source and individual den. Mean occupancy over the entire denning period was 23 days, indicating that brown hyaenas readily move between dens, but individual breeding females showed den site fidelity. Therefore, GPS telemetry is a useful tool to accurately determine parturition in brown hyaenas to draw inferences about den occupancy.

Evaluation of ergonomic working conditions among standing sewing machine operators in Sri Lanka

BackgroundStanding Sewing Machine Operators (SSMOs) are engaged in highly repetitive operations, and work while standing during their entire working hours. This leads to discomforts and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). However, there is a dearth of research in SSMOs’ working conditions.Objective: Aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence of MSDs and related ergonomic risk factors among SSMOs in the Sri Lankan textile industry.Methods: The sample included 552 female sewing machine operators. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaires which included demographic, job-related factors and Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire [CMDQ], along with the application of validated ergonomic tools (Rapid Entire Body Assessment [REBA] and Strain Index [SI]) to assess the ergonomic risks amongst them. The inter-rater reliability test ensured the reliability among observers. An individual regression model was developed for each body parts to assess the associated risk factors.Results: The highest occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms were in knee, foot, thigh, lower leg and lower back of SSMOs. REBA grand score (4–11) indicated that workers’ postures were at medium, high and very high risk levels necessitating evaluation to change. Moreover, SI indicated medium and high risk of upper extremity disorders. Finally, regression models revealed associated risk factors with musculoskeletal symptoms among various body parts including age, Body Mass Index (BMI), marital status, SSMO experience, job satisfaction, job stress, daily walking distance to the boarding place/factory, interest in job rotation and satisfaction with the design of sewing machine.Conclusion: The findings highlighted that the prevalence of discomfort and MSDs in the lower limbs were higher than in the upper limbs among SSMOs. The findings revealed the working conditions of SSMO and emphasised the need for ergonomic interventions to minimise the MSDs among them. Relevance to industryThe findings highlighted ergonomic risks among SSMOs and associated risk factors which will help managers and researchers better understand the working conditions of SSMOs. The identified risk factors could be considered during the implementation of standing sewing operation layouts and during the selection and allocation of new employees.

Movement and predation: a catch-and-release study on the acoustic tracking of bonefish in the Indian Ocean

Tourism generated through bonefish (Albula spp.) fishing contributes to the economies of many isolated tropical islands and atolls. However, little research has been conducted on bonefish in the Indian Ocean. This study aimed to contribute to the understanding of bonefish ecology in the Indian Ocean by quantifying the spatial and temporal movements of Albula glossodonta at a near-pristine and predator-rich atoll in the Seychelles; however, to achieve this, an analysis to identify the occurrence of possible post-release predation bias was first necessary. An acoustic telemetry study was initiated at the remote St. Joseph Atoll, within an array of 88 automated data-logging acoustic receivers. Thirty bonefish were surgically implanted with Vemco V13 acoustic transmitters and tracked for one year. Only 10% of the tagged bonefish were detected for longer than two weeks. A comparison of the final 100 h of movement data from fish detected for less than two weeks to the movement data of the fish detected for longer periods revealed distinct differences in area use and significant differences in the average daily distance moved, speed of movement and frequency of detections. This suggested that mortality in the form of post-release predation was at least 43% of tagged fish. The three surviving bonefish were tracked for 210 to 367 days. These individuals remained in the atoll and showed high use of the marginal habitats between the shallow sand flats and the lagoon. A generalised linear mixed model identified that water temperature, diel cycle and tide were significant predictors of bonefish presence in the lagoon. The high post-release mortality highlights that catch-and-release is likely not as benign as previously believed and management and policy should be adjusted accordingly.

Spatial and temporal distribution of Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni (Gymnotiformes: Rhamphichthyidae) in a long-term study of an Amazonian terra firme stream, Leticia - Colombia

ABSTRACT Weakly electric fishes continually emit electric organ discharges (EOD) as a means of communication and localization of objects in their surroundings. Depending on water conductivity, the amplitude of the electric field generated is known to increase with decreases in electrical conductivity of the water. In Amazonian terra firme streams, water conductivity is extremely low and fluctuates constantly due to local and regional rains. In this context, the space between freely moving weakly electric fishes may be expected to decrease, on average, with an increase in water conductivity. To test this hypothesis, we recorded the positions at rest of the sand-dwelling fish Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni in a terra firme stream for several days in alternating months, over two years. Based on daily nearest neighbor distances among individual fish in a grid, we found a uniform temporal distribution pattern (which was not affected by water conductivity) indicative of site fidelity. Here we highlight the role of other factors that could influence resting site fidelity.

Bears without borders: Long-distance movement in human-dominated landscapes

Conservation of wide-ranging species and their mobility is a major challenge in an increasingly fragmented world. Species are traditionally viewed as static conservation targets and the importance of securing long-distance movement of individuals is still underappreciated in conservation and policy. Here, we investigated large carnivore movements in humanized landscapes of Europe. We describe the movement of 6 GPS-tracked male brown bears, including one of the longest dispersal events recorded in this species. We looked at the relationships of bear movement paths with country borders, roads, built-up areas and habitat composition. The daily distance of resident individuals was 5.5 ± 4.4 km and almost twice as long in the dispersing subadult (9.3 ± 6.4 km). Maximum displacement of the disperser was 360 km (compared to 43.3 ± 13.0 km in resident bears). The resident bears moved within less than 10 km to built-up areas, while the dispersing bear stayed mostly at larger distances. The bears also frequently crossed roads (0–31 per month) and state borders (0–14 per month). The dispersing bear moved through four countries. A review of 29 cases and studies of large carnivore long-distance movements in Europe showed that transboundary movement represented over 96% of all cases; 9 extended over different populations and 10 over recolonization areas. Most documented cases of long-distance dispersal (52% of 21 individual cases) ended with the death of the animal (82% of confirmed deaths were human-caused, 46% were legal killings) before it could reproduce. Reproduction was documented only in 2 of the individual cases. We emphasize high conservation value of long-distance dispersers in large carnivore populations and the need to reevaluate how they are viewed and managed. We urge to consider wide-ranging, transboundary movements in conservation policies.

LCA modelling for Zero Emission Neighbourhoods in early stage planning

The building sector is a major driver of climate change, and the increased focus on significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in recent years calls for major initiatives in the way we plan, build and operate buildings and neighbourhoods. Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a commonly used and well-established tool to estimate the total emissions caused by buildings throughout their entire life cycle. Yet, LCAs of more complex systems such as neighbourhoods are scarce.We have developed an LCA model for neighbourhoods with a focus on GHG emissions based on a modular structure with five physical elements: buildings, mobility, open spaces, networks and on-site energy infrastructure. We applied it on the Zero Village Bergen pilot project in Norway.The results give total GHG emissions of 117 ktons CO2-eq over 60 years, equivalent to 1.5 tons CO2-eq/capita/year or 21.2 kg CO2-eq/m2/year on average over the period. The buildings constitute the largest share of emissions among the elements with 52%, then mobility with 40%, and only 2.3% from networks and open spaces. Emissions embodied in the materials consumed in all the elements of the neighbourhood account for as much as 56% of total emissions, with a large share coming from materials consumed in mobility vehicles. Critical parameters are emission intensities for electricity and heat production by waste incineration, as well as the daily distance travelled by the inhabitants.

Sex Differences in Training Loads during British Army Basic Training.

To compare training loads between men and women during 14 wk of British Army standard entry basic training. Thirty-one male (mean ± SD: age, 21 ± 4 yr; height, 1.78 ± 0.08 m; mass, 77.1 ± 10.5 kg) and 28 female (age, 22 ± 4 yr; height, 1.65 ± 0.05 m; mass, 63.9 ± 8.9 kg) British Army recruits had external (distance) and internal (HR, training impulse [TRIMP], RPE) training loads measured during weeks 1, 2, 6, 12, and 13 of basic training. Total energy expenditure was measured during weeks 1 to 2 and weeks 12 to 13. Daily distance was higher for men than women (13,508 ± 666 vs 11,866 ± 491 m, respectively, P < 0.001). Average daily HR (29% ± 3% vs 30% ± 3% HR reserve) and RPE (4 ± 1 vs 4 ± 1) were not different between men and women, respectively (P ≥ 0.495). Daily TRIMP was higher for women than men (492 ± 130 vs 261 ± 145 au, respectively, P < 0.001). Total energy expenditure was higher for men than women during weeks 1 to 2 (4020 ± 620 vs 2847 ± 323 kcal·d, respectively) and weeks 12 to 13 (4253 ± 556 kcal·d vs 3390 ± 344 kcal·d, respectively) (P < 0.001). Daily RPE, HR, and TRIMP were related to daily distance (R = 0.18-0.57, P ≤ 0.037), and daily RPE was related to daily TRIMP and HR (R = 0.37-0.77, P ≤ 0.001). Sex differences in training loads could contribute to the greater injury risk for women during basic training. Daily RPE appears a practical option for measuring internal training load during military training.

Daily behavioural activity patterns and reproductive ecology of urban rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in human dominated landscape and its implication in management

We observed behavioural activity patterns, daily movements and reproductive ecology (birth rate, death rate, breeding seasons, mating) of urban rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in man-made environment after their reintroduction in Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi, India using instantaneous sampling or scan sampling method. The daily activity patterns of rhesus macaques inhabiting in the sanctuary were observed from 6:00 h to 18:00 hrs per day from March 2016 to June 2017. The percentage of each activity was estimated quantitatively and birth rate per female per troop in a year was calculated in total 21 troops of rhesus macaques. Macaques adopted different time slot for maximum utilization of food and space available and we estimated the percent time spent of each activity pattern and their variations in a particular geographic area. Daily average distance travelled was 1.89 km/day and it was restricted to the feeding platforms. Mortality was incredibly low (0.17) and high reproductive success was in females per troop. Number of females per troop was 4.48 on average, mean birth rate was calculated 2.20 per female per troop in a year, gestation length 160 days on average. Breeding seasons were April to June and late August to October, although there was no seasonal variation in daily activity pattern and movement ranges throughout the year in the sanctuary. Our study recommendation will help in reducing human-macaque conflicts in urban areas and will serve as a potential source of information of ecology, behaviour of urban rhesus macaques and their management.

Are Lek Disturbance Buffers Equitable for All Gunnison Sage-Grouse Populations?

Abstract Lek disturbance buffers can be used to identify areas that provide important seasonal habitat for Gunnison sage grouse Centrocercus minimus (hereafter GUSG), a species with declining or vulnerable populations across their range. Lek disturbance buffers define areas around leks where anthropogenic disturbance is not permitted and have been considered for potential conservation strategies across GUSG habitat. Currently there is minimal information available on the effectiveness of the size of defined lek disturbance buffers. This study focused on two GUSG populations, the smaller Crawford population and a segment of the larger Gunnison Basin population. We utilized global positioning system location data on GUSG to evaluate seasonal use within three lek disturbance buffers, then compared and contrasted results between the two populations. The Crawford GUSG population showed increased movements from breeding season to late brood-rearing season and in winter returned to a usage pattern similar to the breeding season. Comparatively, the western Gunnison Basin GUSG population showed considerable movement throughout the entire year. In addition to these differences, we noted remarkable differences in distance between active leks, home range size, and total daily distance traveled between Crawford and western Gunnison Basin populations. Lek disturbance buffers created using the standard protocol provided varying protection depending on the distance between leks and number of leks. In small populations, the disturbance buffers overlapped each other, thus producing a smaller total lek disturbance buffer area. In addition to adding to the general body of knowledge of a little-studied species, our study had two important findings: 1) the use of empirical cumulative distribution demonstrated considerable differences in lek disturbance buffer use between the Crawford and the western Gunnison Basin populations, and 2) lek disturbance buffers did not provide equal protection for all populations on the basis of their current definition and derivation. We anticipate that land managers will find our results useful and informative when developing land management plans for the conservation of GUSG. Our analysis showed that the variability between populations and species is important for managers to consider when developing conservation strategies, especially for small populations.

2080. Impact of the Implementation of a Rapid Meningitis/Encephalitis Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Panel on Clinical Outcomes: Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort of Adult and Pediatric Patients

BackgroundMeningoencephalitis has a high mortality rate, therefore rapid identification of the underlying etiology is essential to optimize clinical and stewardship outcomes. The standard for diagnosis of meningoencephalitis included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) until approval of the BioFire® Meningitis/Encephalitis (ME) panel, a multiplex PCR panel for the rapid detection of 14 central nervous system pathogens. The objective of this study was to determine the impact on clinical outcomes of the newly adopted ME panel in a central laboratory as compared with previously utilized CSF studies within a large, multicenter health systemMethodsThis is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of adult and pediatric patients who received at least one dose of intravenous (IV) acyclovir for presumed meningoencephalitis, with study patients divided into pre-ME and post-ME panel cohorts. The primary endpoint is duration of IV acyclovir. Secondary endpoints include duration of antibacterials, in-hospital mortality, intensive care unit length of stay (LOS), hospital LOS, rates of acute kidney injury and test-turnaround time (TAT). Subgroup analyses were performed analyzing the impact of number of daily couriers and distance from the central laboratory on TAT.ResultsA total of 208 patients were included: 87 pediatric and 121 adult. The duration of IV acyclovir decreased after implementation of the ME panel (41.6 vs. 30.8 hours; P < 0.01). The TAT was reduced with the implementation of the ME panel (37.3 vs. 6.2 hours; P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the remaining secondary outcomes. Subgroup analyses of the post-ME cohort showed that the number of daily couriers to the central laboratory and the distance from the central laboratory significantly impacted TAT (P < 0.01) but not duration of IV acyclovir.ConclusionThe ME panel significantly reduced the duration of IV acyclovir and TAT, which could have cost and safety implications when applied to a larger patient population. Multicenter healthcare systems implementing the ME panel may consider on-site ME platforms at multiple sites due to the significant effect of a central laboratory on TAT. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Home-range size and movement patterns of Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in southern Africa

Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus populations have declined dramatically in recent years, but we know little about their ecology. We radio-tagged four vultures in northern Botswana to gather data on animal movement and home-range patterns. Hooded Vultures were primarily sedentary at night. Hooded Vultures moved similar distances and speeds during the wet and dry season, and travelled over similar home ranges as measured using minimum convex polygons (MCP), but used much smaller core areas during the dry (breeding) season. We found significant differences in mean distances and speeds moved among different birds, and when comparing day to night, but not between the wet (non-breeding) and dry (breeding) season or by year. All of the variables we tested, including individual vulture differences, season, year and number of fixes, significantly influenced 95% MCP and kernel density estimate (KDE) home-range sizes. Hooded Vultures used significantly smaller KDE home-range sizes during the dry (breeding season) than in the wet (non-breeding) season. Hooded Vultures travelled smaller daily distances over smaller home ranges than most other vulture species for which data exist.

Nocturnal electric vehicle charging interacting with a residential photovoltaic-battery system: a 3E (energy, economic and environmental) analysis

Increasing costs of petroleum derivatives, limitations on pollutant emissions and development of photovoltaic (PV) and electrical storage systems make it possible to spread the use of electrically powered vehicles.In this work, a 3E (energy, economic and environmental) feasibility study was carried out regarding a nocturnal electric vehicle (EV) charging in a residential user. In particular, three different EV charging scenarios were considered: use of the grid; use of a grid-connected PV system with a storage battery; use of a grid-connected PV system with a storage battery in the presence also of a residential user. Two sub-scenarios were examined that foresee the purchase of the EV as an alternative to a vehicle powered, respectively, by petrol and diesel.By considering different daily average distances travelled, a parametric study was developed in order to assess the influence of the size of the PV and storage system on the load satisfaction and solar energy utilization, economic convenience and emission savings.In general, it is not possible to simultaneously comply with all the 3E objectives and constraints. However, it is possible to select optimal EV-PV-battery combinations from a unique point of view or those that lead to a trade-off.

Quadratic relationships between group size and foraging efficiency in a herbivorous primate

The effect of feeding competition on foraging efficiency is an important link between ecological factors and the social organization of gregarious species. We examined the effects of group size on daily travel distances, activity budgets, and energy intake of mountain gorillas in Rwanda. We measured daily travel distances of five groups, activity budgets of 79 gorillas in nine groups, and energy intake data for 23 adult females in three groups over a 16-month period. Travel distances and the proportion of time spent traveling increased with size for most groups, which would be expected if their foraging efficiency is limited by intragroup feeding competition. However, travel distances and times decreased for the largest group, which also had higher energy intake rates than intermediate sized groups. The improved foraging efficiency of the largest group may be explained by advantages in intergroup contest competition. The largest group had much lower home range overlap than the other study groups which may be due to groups avoiding one another as a result of male mating competition. Collectively, our results indicate that intermediate sized groups had the lowest foraging efficiency and provide a new twist on the growing evidence of non-linear relationships between group size and foraging efficiency in primates.