Washington Population Research Articles

The Insight of Electric Vehicle Population in Washington

With the declination of the traditional vehicles that need fuel to combust engine, the number of electric vehicle population has been booming in recent years, which is effective and environmental-friendly. With electric consumption increasing, this study takes American electric vehicle population in Washington for example, analyzing the current situation of EVs by numbers of EV manufacture, geographic distribution, top brands, top models, and electric charge types by a given data set. These market phenomenon provides some clues about the progress of zero carbon emission in a global vision. The study will compare the similarities and differences about battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and also mention some the possible future tendency about electric vehicles. Moreover, based on the analysis, this paper presents some market opportunities and threatens of the development of electric vehicles. The achievement about low carbon and clean energy consumption not only rely on consumers purchasing choice, but also need macro regulation on power structure and balance in supply and demand of electricity.

Disease resistance in whitebark pine and potential for restoration of a threatened species

Societal impact statementForests world‐wide are being negatively affected by non‐native, invasive pathogens and pests, and some tree species face uncertain futures. To retain these species as components of future forests, the rare genetic resistance that exists needs to be identified and harnessed. The applied tree improvement program for whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), a threatened (in the United States) and endangered (in Canada) keystone species in many forests in western North America, provides an example of what can be accomplished in a relatively short timeframe. The level and frequency of resistance vary by location, and this information will be used to implement the national restoration plan.Summary Forest trees face serious threats from non‐native diseases and pests, often causing high mortality of both the existing trees and regeneration. Developing populations with genetic resistance can help restore forests and retain affected species. Resistance programs have historically focused on species of high economic importance; however, the threats to species of little direct economic value that provide other important ecosystem services are also great. We examined the frequency, level, and geographic variation in genetic resistance to white pine blister rust in the threatened Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine), a keystone species in high‐elevation ecosystems in western North America. In the two trials reported here, 2‐year‐old seedling progeny of 225 whitebark pine parent trees were inoculated with two geographic sources of the fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola and evaluated over 5 years for an array of resistance traits. The trials focused primarily on parent trees from the Oregon and Washington populations. We found unexpectedly high levels of quantitative resistance in some seedling families and populations, in stark contrast to levels observed in similar resistance programs with other North American white pine species such as Pinus monticola and Pinus lambertiana. The level of resistance found in some whitebark pine populations provides optimism about potential recovery efforts for this species. Restoration efforts are underway by government agencies, tribes, and non‐government organizations in both the United States and Canada. These efforts may help boost support for applied genetic resistance programs in other forest tree species severely affected by non‐native pathogens or pests.

ABORTION AND NEONATAL MORTALITY DUE TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII IN BIGHORN SHEEP (OVIS CANADENSIS).

Low lamb recruitment can be an obstacle to bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) conservation and restoration. Causes of abortion and neonate loss in bighorn sheep, which may affect recruitment, are poorly understood. Toxoplasma gondii is a major cause of abortion and stillbirth in domestic small ruminants worldwide, but no reports exist documenting abortion or neonatal death in bighorn sheep attributable to toxoplasmosis. Between March 2019 and May 2021, eight fetal and neonatal bighorn lamb cadavers from four western US states (Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, and Washington) were submitted to the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for postmortem examination, histologic examination, and ancillary testing to determine the cause of abortion or neonatal death. Necrotizing encephalitis characteristic of toxoplasmosis was identified histologically in six of eight cases, and T. gondii infection was confirmed by PCR in five cases with characteristic lesions. Other lesions attributable to toxoplasmosis were pneumonia (3/5 cases) and myocarditis (2/5 cases). Protozoal cysts were identified histologically within brain, lung, heart, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, or a combination of samples in all five sheep with PCR-confirmed T. gondii infections. Seroprevalence of T. gondii ranged from 40-81% of adult females sampled in the Washington population in October and November 2018-2021, confirming high rates of exposure before detection of Toxoplasma abortions in this study. Of 1,149 bighorn sheep postmortem samples submitted to Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory between January 2000 and May 2021, 21 of which were from fetuses or neonates, a single case of chronic toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in one adult ewe. Recent identification of Toxoplasma abortions in bighorn sheep suggests that toxoplasmosis is an underappreciated cause of reproductive loss. Abortions and neonatal mortalities should be investigated through postmortem and histologic examination, particularly in herds that are chronically small, demographically stagnant, or exhibit reproductive rates lower than expected.

Climate change, wildfire, and past forest management challenge conservation of Canada lynx in Washington, USA

AbstractThe synergistic effects of climate change, wildfires, fire suppression, and past forest management are challenging efforts to protect and recover Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the North Cascades of Washington, USA. Canada lynx is a threatened species in the United States and a focal species used to gain insights into the structure and function of boreal forest ecosystems. To understand how multiple stressors are influencing lynx populations and the boreal forest in Washington, we developed a spatially explicit carrying capacity model in HexSim using local data on lynx resource selection and life history. We used this model to estimate changes in carrying capacity and population persistence for 3 time steps: year 2000, which represented limited historical wildfire and aggressive fire suppression; year 2013, after nearly 2,000 km2 of wildfires burned about 17% of lynx habitat; and year 2020, after an additional 2,000 km2 of wildfires burned another 15% of lynx habitat in our study area. Fires altered habitat distribution and landscape capacity to support Canada lynx. There was a 66–73% reduction in lynx carrying capacity in our study area because of large, high‐severity fires that have occurred from 2000–2020, despite aggressive fire suppression. This reduction in carrying capacity was concurrent with decreases in the probability of lynx persistence from year 2000 to year 2020 simulations and was most pronounced for simulations that included no immigration and the largest home range size. The negative synergistic influences of long‐term fire suppression, timber harvest, increased drought, longer wildfire seasons, declining mountain snowpack, and increasingly frequent large fires pose considerable challenges to the conservation and recovery of Canada lynx and the boreal forest ecosystem upon which they depend. We discuss an alternative approach to vegetation and fire management to conserve and restore lynx habitat and populations in Washington.

A genetic warning system for a hierarchically structured wildlife monitoring framework.

Genetic variation is a well-known indicator of population fitness yet is not typically included in monitoring programs for sensitive species. Additionally, most programs monitor populations at one scale, which can lead to potential mismatches with ecological processes critical to species' conservation. Recently developed methods generating hierarchically nested population units (i.e., clusters of varying scales) for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have identified population trend declines across spatiotemporal scales to help managers target areas for conservation. The same clusters used as a proxy for spatial scale can alert managers to local units (i.e., neighborhood-scale) with low genetic diversity, further facilitating identification of management targets. We developed a genetic warning system utilizing previously developed hierarchical population units to identify management-relevant areas with low genetic diversity within the greater sage-grouse range. Within this warning system we characterized conservation concern thresholds based on values of genetic diversity and developed a statistical model for microsatellite data to robustly estimate these values for hierarchically nested populations. We found that 41 of 224 neighborhood-scale clusters had low genetic diversity, 23 of which were coupled with documented local population trend decline. We also found evidence of cross-scale low genetic diversity in the small and isolated Washington population, unlikely to be reversed through typical local management actions alone. The combination of low genetic diversity and a declining population suggests relatively high conservation concern. Our findings could further facilitate conservation action prioritization in combination with population trend assessments and (or) local information, and act as a base-line of genetic diversity for future comparison. Importantly, the approach we used is broadly applicable across taxa.

The Park Rx trial to increase physical activity among low-income youth

BackgroundThe Park Rx study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial implemented within a federally qualified health center serving a low-income population in Washington, DC. Design and settingThe 5-year randomized controlled trial will recruit 500 children, ages 6–16 to be randomized to receive either a park prescription (Park Rx) during routine clinical visits (intervention arm) or care as usual (control arm). InterventionPark prescriptions promote both physical activity and exposure to nature. The prescription includes a place (i.e., park), an activity, a frequency, and a duration. Compared to usual care, we expect children receiving a park prescription will have greater physical activity levels and improved physical and mental health outcomes. ImplicationsThe results of the Park Rx trial will demonstrate the efficacy of the intervention and whether it will increase time spent in nature-rich areas (i.e., parks); have any biological impacts on health, including reducing hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), and impact mental health, including stress and cognitive functioning.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04114734. Registered on October 3, 2019.

Color Variation, Tail Banding, and Sexual Dichromatism in Washington Populations of Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes, Crotalus oreganus

Northern Pacific Rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) are ambush-hunting predators that rely on crypsis to forage and to avoid encounters with predators, yet little is known about color variation in this ubiquitous rattlesnake species. This study addressed how coloration and contrast in tail banding in C. oreganus vary among habitat types in Washington State. We also explored whether C. oreganus exhibit sexual dimorphism in coloration or tail band contrast (sexual dichromatism). We sampled 127 rattlesnakes from seven different populations across northern and central Washington state during spring emergence from overwintering hibernacula in 2017 and 2018. We characterized snake coloration as red/blue color ratios from standardized photographs, and used GIS supervised classification schemes of satellite imagery to characterize habitat. We used generalized linear models to assess relationships among snake color and tail bands, habitat, and sex. We found that coloration (red/blue color ratios) in C. oreganus varied greatly across the landscape, both within and among populations, likely a reflection of their variable and heterogenous shrub-steppe and forest ecotone habitats. In 20% of 21 pairwise comparisons, populations differed in body color. Rattlesnake coloration was not associated with habitat (amount of forested land within 0.5 km of the snake den), but male and female rattlesnakes showed different associations between color and percent forested habitat. Male rattlesnakes did not differ in body coloration from females, but males showed greater contrast than females in the black and white banding present on the tail. We discuss several, nonmutually exclusive, hypotheses for sexual dichromatism in tail band contrast, including the possibility that tail banding constitutes warning coloration in rattlesnakes. Our results suggest that sexual dichromatism, and the role of tail banding in rattlesnake ecology, are topics worthy of further investigation.

Regional Differences in Mortality Rates and Characteristics of Decedents With Hepatitis B Listed as a Cause of Death, United States, 2000-2019

US hepatitis B mortality has been described nationally, but examination subnationally may identify differences in mortality rates and decedent characteristics, including birthplace. To examine characteristics of decedents with hepatitis B-listed deaths during 2010 to 2019 and compare age-adjusted hepatitis B-listed death rates during 2010 to 2019 vs 2000 to 2009. This cross-sectional study used Multiple Cause of Death data from 50 US states and the District of Columbia (DC) from 2000 to 2019 to assess characteristics of US residents with hepatitis B listed as an underlying cause of death (UCOD) or contributing cause of death on death certificates. Data were analyzed from September 2019 to May 2022. Hepatitis B listed as underlying or contributing cause of death. Outcomes of interest were hepatitis B-listed death counts, age-adjusted rates, and characteristics of decedents during 2000 to 2019. The distribution of hepatitis B-listed deaths according to sociodemographic characteristics and UCOD among US- and non-US-born decedents were also examined. A total of 35 280 decedents with hepatitis B listed as the cause of death were identified, including 17 483 deaths during 2010 to 2019. Decedents were 63.3% US-born, and 25.8% of decedents were Asian or Pacific Islander and 46.5% of decedents were White; 28.4% of decedents were listed as having hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HIV coinfection. State-level rates significantly surpassed the overall US rate (0.47 deaths per 100 000 population) in DC (high, 1.78 deaths per 100 000 population), Hawaii, Oklahoma, California, Tennessee, West Virginia, Mississippi, Oregon, Washington, Louisiana, Kentucky, and New York (low, 0.61 deaths per 100 000 population). Median (IQR) age at hepatitis B death was significantly younger in Kentucky (54.0 [46.0-64.0] years), West Virginia (56.0 [47.0-65.0] years), Tennessee (57.0 [50.0-65.0] years), Mississippi (58.0 [50.0-65.0] years), and Ohio (59.0 [50.0-66.0] years) than the national median (60.0 [53.0-69.0] years), which itself was significantly younger than nonhepatitis B-listed deaths (77 [63.0-87.0] years; P < .001). Hepatitis B was the UCOD among approximately 30% of US- and non-US-born decedents with hepatitis B COD. Irrespective of birthplace, most decedents had liver-related UCOD. Compared with non-US-born decedents, US-born decedents more frequently had nonliver conditions listed as UCOD. Liver cancer was the predominant UCOD among non-US-born decedents (37.9% of decedents). From 2000 to 2009 compared with 2010 to 2019, the hepatitis B-listed mortality rate significantly decreased nationally (change, -18.97%) and in 14 states; significant increases were observed in West Virginia (change, 83.78%) and Kentucky (change, 69.44%). These findings suggest that US-born decedents constituted two-thirds of all hepatitis B-listed deaths and median age at death was youngest in Appalachian states. Irrespective of birthplace, most decedents had liver-related UCOD; however, US-born decedents more frequently had nonliver UCOD than non-US-born decedents. In addition to addressing liver-related complications, US-born persons with chronic infection may also require diagnosis and management of multiple comorbidities.

Incarceration and subsequent risk of suicide: A statewide cohort study.

Increasing suicide rates across the United States are disproportionate among populations most impacted by mass incarceration. We sought to determine if incarceration is associated with risk of suicide and firearm suicide after release from prison. Using a population-based Washington cohort from Department of Corrections and vital statistics administrative records 1990-2017, individuals were compared to the sex-, age-, and race-matched population of Washington using Poisson regression. Among previously incarcerated individuals, we included incarceration history characteristics to calculate sub-hazard ratios using Cox proportional-hazards models. Of 140,281 individuals released from prison, 484 died by suicide. Suicide risk was 62% higher among previously incarcerated individuals compared with the general population (RR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.46-1.79). Suicide risk was higher among individuals convicted of firearm-involved crimes (RR: 2.27; 95% CI: 1.79-2.89). Individuals released prior to age 18 had substantially higher risk of firearm suicide than those whose first release occurred between ages 18-24 (sHR: 11.91; 95% CI: 4.30-32.96). Our findings highlight the need for improved mental health resources and lethal means safety in this population. Mental health and substance use treatment have been proposed as effective alternatives to incarceration-continuing to study their impacts may reveal additional benefits of reducing suicide.

Without shelter, people die: disproportionate mortality among King County’s homeless population, 2009–2019

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze disparities in causes of mortality between unhoused people in King County, Washington and the general population in Washington. Methods: We built a database from the King County Medical Examiner’s list of presumed homeless decedents, 2009–2019, and worked with a homeless advocacy organization to gather detailed cause and mode of death information for each case. Results: The average homeless decedent was 50 years old at death, compared to Washington's life expectancy of 80 years. Homeless homicide and suicide rates were 19 and 5.5 times higher, respectively, than the general population. Overdose death rates were 12 times higher, and pedestrian deaths were 28 times higher among the unhoused. Black and American Indian/Alaska Native decedents were overrepresented in our database in comparison to the general Washington population. Conclusions: The Seattle area suffers significant income inequality, one of the largest homeless populations in the nation, and disproportionately higher death rates among the homeless compared to housed populations. Homeless deaths are fueled by markers of vulnerability and despair – suicide, homicide, and substance use.

Paved Paradise: Belowground Parking Structures Sustain Urban Mosquito Populations in Washington, DC.

After notification of mosquitoes within federal buildings in Washington, DC, we surveyed belowground levels of nearby parking structures for mosquitoes and standing water in the summer months of 2018 and 2019. Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and members of the Culex pipiens Assemblage were found. Genotyping revealed pipiens, molestus, and quinquefasciatus ancestry among Cx. pipiens Assemblage mosquitoes, and allele frequency comparisons indicated a stable, resident population. Winter and spring aboveground temperatures ranged from -11°C to 35°C, while belowground temperatures never dropped below 5°C or exceeded 30°C, and winter temperatures were significantly higher belowground compared with aboveground. Moderated winter conditions suggest that belowground urban structures could act as refugia for warmer-climate species, like Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, allowing them to overcome assumed thermal barriers. Surveys of parking structures should be incorporated into integrated vector management programs in urban areas.

The effect of deforestation and climate change on all-cause mortality and unsafe work conditions due to heat exposure in Berau, Indonesia: a modelling study

Previous studies focusing on urban, industrialised regions have found that excess heat exposure can increase all-cause mortality, heat-related illnesses, and occupational injuries. However, little research has examined how deforestation and climate change can adversely affect work conditions and population health in low latitude, industrialising countries. For this modelling study we used data at 1 km2 resolution to compare forest cover and temperature conditions in the Berau regency, Indonesia, between 2002 and 2018. We used spatially explicit satellite, climate model, and population data to estimate the effects of global warming, between 2002 and 2018 and after applying 1·0°C, 1·5°C, and 2·0°C of global warming to 2018 temperatures, on all-cause mortality and unsafe work conditions in the Berau regency, Indonesia. Between 2002 and 2018, 4375 km2 of forested land in Berau was cleared, corresponding to approximately 17% of the entire regency. Deforestation increased mean daily maximum temperatures by 0·95°C (95% CI 0·97-0·92; p<0·0001). Mean daily temperatures increased by a population-weighted 0·86°C, accounting for an estimated 7·3-8·5% of all-cause mortality (or 101-118 additional deaths per year) in 2018. Unsafe work time increased by 0·31 h per day (95% CI 0·30-0·32; p<0·0001) in deforested areas compared to 0·03 h per day (0·03-0·04; p<0·0001) in areas that maintained forest cover. With 2·0°C of additional future global warming, relative to 2018, deforested areas could experience an estimated 17-20% increase in all-cause mortality (corresponding to an additional 236-282 deaths per year) and up to 5 h of unsafe work per day. Heat exposure from deforestation and climate change has already started affecting populations in low latitude, industrialising countries, and future global warming indicates substantial health impacts in these regions. Further research should examine how deforestation is currently affecting the health and wellbeing of local communities. University of Washington Population Health Initiative. For the Bahasa translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Translocations maintain genetic diversity and increase connectivity in sea otters, Enhydra lutris

AbstractSea otters, Enhydra lutris, were once abundant along the nearshore areas of the North Pacific. The international maritime fur trade that ended in 1911 left 13 small remnant populations with low genetic diversity. Subsequent translocations into previously occupied habitat resulted in several reintroduced populations along the coast of North America. We sampled sea otters between 2008 and 2011 throughout much of their current range and used 19 nuclear microsatellite markers to evaluate genetic diversity, population structure, and connectivity between remnant and reintroduced populations. Average genetic diversity within populations was similar: observed heterozygosity 0.55 and 0.53, expected heterozygosity 0.56 and 0.52, unbiased expected heterozygosity 0.57 and 0.52, for reintroduced and remnant populations, respectively. Sea otter population structure was greatest between the Northern and Southern sea otters with further structuring in Northern sea otters into Western, Central, and Southeast populations (including the reintroduced populations). Migrant analyses suggest the successful reintroductions and growth of remnant groups have enhanced connectivity and gene flow between populations throughout many of the sampled Northern populations. We recommend that future management actions for the Southern sea otter focus on future reintroductions to fill the gap between the California and Washington populations ultimately restoring gene flow to the isolated California population.

Improved prediction of Canada lynx distribution through regional model transferability and data efficiency.

The application of species distribution models (SDMs) to areas outside of where a model was created allows informed decisions across large spatial scales, yet transferability remains a challenge in ecological modeling. We examined how regional variation in animal‐environment relationships influenced model transferability for Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), with an additional conservation aim of modeling lynx habitat across the northwestern United States. Simultaneously, we explored the effect of sample size from GPS data on SDM model performance and transferability. We used data from three geographically distinct Canada lynx populations in Washington (n = 17 individuals), Montana (n = 66), and Wyoming (n = 10) from 1996 to 2015. We assessed regional variation in lynx‐environment relationships between these three populations using principal components analysis (PCA). We used ensemble modeling to develop SDMs for each population and all populations combined and assessed model prediction and transferability for each model scenario using withheld data and an extensive independent dataset (n = 650). Finally, we examined GPS data efficiency by testing models created with sample sizes of 5%–100% of the original datasets. PCA results indicated some differences in environmental characteristics between populations; models created from individual populations showed differential transferability based on the populations' similarity in PCA space. Despite population differences, a single model created from all populations performed as well, or better, than each individual population. Model performance was mostly insensitive to GPS sample size, with a plateau in predictive ability reached at ~30% of the total GPS dataset when initial sample size was large. Based on these results, we generated well‐validated spatial predictions of Canada lynx distribution across a large portion of the species' southern range, with precipitation and temperature the primary environmental predictors in the model. We also demonstrated substantial redundancy in our large GPS dataset, with predictive performance insensitive to sample sizes above 30% of the original.

A Prospective Pilot Study to Evaluate Molecular Changes in the Hematopoietic System after Receipt of Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy and Its Clinical Implications Among Racially Diverse Breast Cancer Survivors: Breast Survivorchip Study

Background: Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) increases in inflammatory states, and in retrospective epidemiological studies, has been associated with increased rates of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, neurocognitive disorders, and hematologic malignancies.Previous data in non-cancer patients reported approximately 5% incidence of CH in patients aged 60-69. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has demonstrated CH in 25% of predominantly white cancer survivors (21% in breast cancer patients) following chemotherapy and radiotherapy and 16% in a subset of patients prior to treatment suggesting a higher incidence of CH at baseline with malignancy and an increase in incidence following cancer treatment. The variance in CH rate among racially diverse cancer patients has not been well reported. The purpose of this prospective pilot investigator-initiated translational study is to characterize baseline profiles of existing CH, patterns of clonal evolution, and clinical implications of CH in a racially diverse population of breast cancer patients in a longitudinal fashion prior to and one year after receiving cancer directed therapy. This study will be performed at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC). MWHC is a not-for-profit, 912-bed, teaching and research hospital caring for a racially and socioeconomically diverse population in Washington, D.C. Study Design: Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients stages 0-III, who are candidates for surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation, and/or endocrine therapy and/or Her2 directed therapy at WHC will be eligible. Baseline demographic data, comprehensive history, quality of life and cognitive assessments will be obtained at baseline and at 12 ± 1 months post initiation of therapy.Clinical data including blood counts, treatment delays, dose adjustments, and echocardiography results will be collected throughout treatment and entered into RedCap database. Blood will be collected in Paxgene tubes for each timepoint. Error-corrected NGS will be performed in a NIH laboratory on regions of genes known to be recurrently mutated in CH allowing for the sensitive and reproducible detection of low-level variants and accurate quantification of changes over time. Research sequencing results will not be returned to treating physicians or patients. Study Outcomes: The primary outcome of this study is to determine baseline rate of CH in a cohort of 100 breast cancer patients. We expect 50-60% of our patients to be black and therefore, can specifically evaluate CH in this group of patients compared to whites. Secondary outcome is to describe change in mutational profile after cancer-directed therapy. Descriptive analysis of the relationship of CH to treatment tolerance including prolonged myelosuppression or organ dysfunction leading to dose reductions and treatment delays as well as reduction in quality of life and cognition will be conducted as part of the exploratory analysis. Statistical methods: Descriptive statistics would be presented using frequency and proportions for categorical data and means and standard deviation for continuous data. Medians and quartiles will be presented for continuous data with non-normal distribution. Proportion of CH in breast cancer patients pre-treatment would be compared to proportion of CH post treatment using McNemar test for comparison of marginal proportions in paired data. Difference in baseline incidence of CH among different race categories would be evaluated using chi-squared test of independence. Effect of CH on delay in treatment would be evaluated using Kaplan Meier method for comparison of time to treatment between patients with CH and patients without CH. Clinical Significance: Life expectancy of breast cancer survivors is inferior to the general population and more so for black women. These differences may extend beyond psychosocial disparities and may have their foundation in genomic differences. Understanding clonal hematopoiesis in our racially diverse breast cancer patients will have significant implications both during the delivery of cancer directed therapy and in their long-term survivorship care. We currently have 25 patients enrolled in our study with their samples awaiting processing for NGS at NIH. Disclosures Gallagher: Seattle Genetics:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Daiichi Sankyo:Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Genetic diversity and population structure inChrysolepis chrysophylla(golden chinquapin; Fagaceae): SSRs vs SNPs

Simple sequence repeat (SSR) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes on the same plant samples of Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Douglas ex Hook.) Hjelmq. (Fagaceae; golden chinquapin) from 22 sites were used to determine genetic diversity and population structure. One site of C. sempervirens (Kellogg) Hjelmq. allowed interspecific vs. intraspecific comparisons. SSRs and SNPs yielded many similar results. Among-site variation contributed 13% to 17% of the genetic variation and Fstestimates of 0.14 to 0.17 were in the range expected among Fagaceae species rather than among populations within a species. The northern sites tended to group separately on the first two axes of multivariate scatterplots from southern sites. Sites in two geographically isolated areas were divergent: (i) the Hood Canal, Washington population was relatively more genetically distant from other golden chinquapin sites than was our C. sempervirens site; (ii) three coastal southern California sites were moderately diverged. The Hood Canal site had a negative inbreeding coefficient, fewer alleles, lower heterozygosity, and differed from the Skamania County, Washington site as well as all other sites. Hood Canal trees are distinguished by disjunct geography and by these molecular results. This suggests that the golden chinquapin near Hood Canal be treated as a management unit, and potential conservation actions are discussed.

Incidence, clinical outcomes, and transmission dynamics of severe coronavirus disease 2019 in California and Washington: prospective cohort study

ObjectiveTo understand the epidemiology and burden of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) during the first epidemic wave on the west coast of the United States.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingKaiser Permanente integrated healthcare...

Weed-Suppressive Bacteria Fail to Control Bromus tectorum Under Field Conditions

The exotic winter annual grass Bromus tectorum L. (downy brome or cheatgrass) infests millions of hectares of western rangelands. Weed-suppressive bacteria (ACK55 and D7 strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens Migula 1895) have been shown to reduce B. tectorum populations in eastern Washington. Unfortunately, outside of Washington, little is known about the efficacy of these or other weed-suppressive bacteria. We used Petri-plate and plant-soil bioassays to test effects of ACK55 and D7 on B. tectorum from Montana and Wyoming. We also tested effects of ACK55 on B. tectorum at six field sites in Montana and one in Wyoming. P. fluorescens reduced B. tectorum germination and root and shoot lengths in Petri-plates but had no effect on plants during growth chamber plant-soil bioassays or field experiments. Bromus arvensis L. (field brome or Japanese brome), a species similar to B. tectorum, was prevalent at two of our sites, and ACK55 was ineffective against B. arvensis as well. Our findings contribute to a growing body of evidence that the ACK55 and D7 strains of P. fluorescens are not reliable tools for controlling B. tectorum in the Northern Great Plains, Central Rocky Mountains, and elsewhere.

Effects of post‐release movements on survival of translocated sage‐grouse

ABSTRACTTranslocation is a vital tool in conservation and recovery programs, and knowledge of factors that determine demographic rates of translocated organisms is important for assessing the efficacy of translocations. Greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have been the subject of recent translocation efforts because of their declining range and their usefulness as an umbrella species for conservation. Using a long‐term data set on sage‐grouse in central Washington, USA, we compared movement and demographic rates of translocated and resident birds. Because newly translocated birds experience physiological stress during translocation and are released in unfamiliar habitat, we hypothesized their demographic rates would differ from residents. We analyzed 18 years of radio‐tracking data acquired from resident, newly translocated (&lt;1 yr post‐translocation; T1), and previously translocated (&gt;1 yr post‐translocation; T2) sage‐grouse between 1989 and 2017 to estimate movement rates, survival, and productivity. Newly translocated sage‐grouse exhibited farther daily movements (0.58 km/day) and smaller 95% home ranges (89 km2) than residents and previously translocated birds. Daily movements and sex influenced survival, but survival did not differ according to residency status. Furthermore, birds that survived to a second year after translocation exhibited shorter daily movements compared to their first year ( = −0.727 ± 0.157 [SE]), which corresponded with increased survival the second year (T1 = 0.526, T2 = 0.610). This decrease in movements and increase in survival the second year was not apparent in the control group of resident birds, indicating a possible behavioral link to survival of newly translocated sage‐grouse. Most productivity metrics were similar for translocated and resident birds, except for nest propensity (i.e., nest initiation rate), which was lower for newly translocated birds (35%) compared to residents and previously translocated birds. Our results reveal that translocated sage‐grouse exhibit temporary differences in some demographic parameters in their first year, which later align with those of resident birds in subsequent years. Similarities in adult and nest survival according to residency status further suggest that translocation may prove to be a viable tool for restoring and conserving this species. Continued declines in sage‐grouse populations in Washington, however, indicate that habitat conversion and fragmentation may be reducing demographic rates of residents and translocated birds, which warrants further study. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

Gender Politics in the Lobbying Profession

AbstractAlthough political scientists have increasingly focused on the role of gender in the policy process and the characteristics of individual lobbyists, little is known about the gender politics of the government relations profession. We extend the study of professional women to the unique political context of Washington, DC, lobbying, an important form of political participation that is understudied in terms of gender. Using data from more than 25,000 individuals registered to lobby the federal government from 2008 to 2015, we show that women account for 37% of the lobbyist population in Washington, that female lobbyists are more likely to work as in-house employees than for contract lobbying firms, and that the largest Washington lobbying firms are strongly biased towards employing men. We add to these findings qualitative data from in-depth interviews with 23 lobbyists to reveal how the professional experiences of women often depend on the idiosyncrasies of lobbying employment and the political nature of their work. We conclude that the underrepresentation of women in the professional lobbying community is an underappreciated problem with broader implications for gender equality in elite political participation.