Managers of American black bears (Ursus americanus) must maintain populations to ensure viability and opportunities for sport harvest, and minimize human-bear conflict (HBC). Harvest is a cost-effective management tool in most jurisdictions, and intuitively it seems that with fewer bears, there should be fewer conflicts. Therefore, managers may attempt to achieve both objectives by manipulating the harvest. Further, because data describing harvest and HBC are frequently collected, managers sometimes infer changes in population status from trends in harvest and HBC. However, evidence that larger harvests reduce HBC is lacking, and changes in harvest metrics and the frequency of HBC may be independent of bear density. Understanding relationships among food availability, hunter effort, harvest, and HBC could help managers avoid making invalid inferences about population status from data describing harvest and HBC, and evaluate whether management actions are having intended results. We investigated relationships among food availability, HBC, and harvest at landscape scales in Ontario, Canada, 2004-2011. We hypothesized that HBC and harvest would be negatively correlated with food availability; that HBC would be negatively correlated with prior harvest; and that harvest would be positively correlated with number of hunters. We used Spearman rank correlation to test hypotheses. Human-bear conflict was negatively correlated with food availability across Ontario, and in the 2 administrative regions where food availability varied synchronously. Total harvest and the proportion of females in the harvest were negatively correlated with food availability across Ontario and in one region. Human-bear conflict was not correlated with prior harvests, providing no evidence that larger harvests reduced subsequent HBC. Given the variation in natural foods, harvest is unlikely to prevent elevated levels of HBC in years of food shortage unless it maintains bears at low densities an objective that might conflict with maintaining viable populations and providing opportunities for sport harvest.

The ability to predict the effects that new or modified roads will have on species or populations of conservation interest Is critically important to protection efforts. We documented patterns of movement and spatial dispersion of two sympatric snake populations by radiotracking 34 Eastern Massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus) and 13 Eastern Hog-Nosed Snakes (Heterodon platirhinos) over four years. The two species differed substantially in their movements (frequency, rate, tortuosity, distance) and ensuing spatial dispersion. Regardless of species, males were more vagile than female conspecifics during the mating season. The primary factors hypothesized to have generated the interspecific differences in movement and spatial dispersion were foraging mode, mating system, and reproductive mode. By combining our understanding of how these snakes used space with knowledge of their natural history and ecology, we examined which attributes of their spatial ecology might render S. catenatus and H. platirhinos most susceptible to road effects. For S. catenatus, our observations suggest that spatial fidelity and space use relative to hibernacula are the primary factors influencing the species' susceptibility to road effects. For H. platirhinos, tortuous and extensive movements, space use relative to hibernacula, and large spatial dispersion distances from hibernacula are likely the most important factors.

Minimizing conflicts with humans is a necessary component of the management of American black bears (Ursus americanus) across most of their range. The number of complaints about conflicts with black bears is commonly used to infer trends in the actual frequency or severity of human bear conflict, and even trends in bear population size. However, the number of complaints received by management agencies is a function of both the frequency of and the reporting rate for conflicts, and the reporting rate may change over time. We tested for effects of food availability, numbers of bears harvested, and management regime changes on 3 measures of human bear conflict: (1) public complaints, (2) traps set to capture bears involved in conflicts, and (3) bears killed in defense of property in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, 1992-2008. All measures of human bear conflict were inversely related to food availability. Complaints increased following a controversial change in management (cancellation of the spring hunting season), but numbers of traps set and bears killed were not affected. We suggest that an increase in the reporting rate was largely responsible for the increase in complaints following the spring hunt cancellation because (I) an effect on the actual frequency or severity of human bear conflict should also have been detected in data for traps set but was not, and (2) neither the number nor the sex ratio of harvested bears changed when the spring hunt was cancelled, so the effect of harvest on population size and sex ratio was not altered by the management regime change. Trends in the actual frequency and severity of human bear conflict should not be inferred from trends in complaint data unless factors that could affect the reporting rate for conflicts are accounted for.

Clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease (AD) need valid and reliable measures of disease severity that capture early stage (cognitive) through late stage (functional and/or behavioral) impacts, are sensitive to change over time, and are transparent to clinicians, patients, and policymakers. Information regarding the relationships between currently available measures would assist in interpreting results from interventions across different trial populations. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the relationship between two measures of disease progression in subjects 50-85 years of age with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild to moderate AD. Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) and Dependence Scale (DS) scores were evaluated in a cohort of 157 AD and 60 MCI subjects enrolled at 40 study sites across the U.S. and Europe during 2006-2007. Recruitment criteria were similar to those used in the AD Neuroimaging Initiative. We regressed DS scores (range 0-15) against CDR-SB (range 0-18) using simple linear, piecewise linear (spline), and polynomial (up to fifth order) models to investigate the strength and shape of the relationship (linear vs. non-linear) between the two measures. Model fit was evaluated using R2 and mean squared error (MSE). Pearson correlation coefficients suggested a moderately high correlation between the two measures (r=0.82430, p<0.0001). Simple linear regression performance (R2=66.9%, MSE=2.84) was similar to more complex models, including a cubic polynomial model (R2=68.8%, MSE=2.69) and a spline regression with two breakpoints (R2=69.3%, MSE=2.66), suggesting that a constant relationship slope for the DS across the range of CDR-SB scores. The simple linear regression provided an estimate of DS = 0.93 + 0.68(CDR-SB), indicating a one point change on the CDR-SB corresponded to a change of 0.68 DS points. In subjects with MCI or mild-moderate AD, the DS and CDR-SB, while measuring unique constructs, are well correlated, providing an opportunity to compare results across different populations where one measure but not the other was used. More complex regression models only modestly improved fit, indicating the DS can be well described as a linear function of CDR-SB.

The dependence scale was developed to directly measure the amount of assistance AD patients need due to impairments in cognition, function and behaviour. Its relationship with caregiver burden has not previously been documented. Caregiver burden might be expected to increase with greater patient dependence due to less time for self. This analysis evaluated the relationship between caregiver burden as measured by the Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) subscales and patient dependence on others (Dependence scale, DS, summated score 0-15) in patients with mild to moderate AD or MCI, 50-85 years of age. An interim analysis of participants from 40 study sites across the United States and Europe recruited during 2006-2007 was conducted. Criteria were similar to those used in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuro-imaging Initiative. Relationships between the 5 subscales of the CRA, Caregiver time (RUD-lite), and the DS summated score were examined using univariate and multivariate analysis. Data from 213 participants with concurrent DS and CRA evaluations were included in the analysis. Significant correlations between the CRA-Disrupted schedule (r=0.55; p<0.0001), Lack of family support (r=0.32, p<0.0001), Health problems (r=0.28, p<0.0001), Financial problems scores (r=0.23, p<0.001) and the DS sum scores were observed. Disrupted schedule (adj-R Square = 0.35, p< 0.0001) and Lack of family support scores (adj-R square=0.20, p<0.0001) were significantly associated with DS sum after adjusting for care recipient age and gender, caregiver age and gender, care recipient living arrangements, relationship to care recipient and caregiver mental and physical health (SF-36-MCS,-PCS). No significant association was observed between CRA-Self-esteem scores and DS sum. In all multivariate regression models, where CRA subscale was the dependent variable, caregiver SF-36-MCS was a significant predictor. For the Self-esteem subscale, SF-36-MCS was the only significant predictor. Caregiver time was significantly correlated with DS sum (r=0.44; p<0.0001). The association held after adjusting for the same set of factors (adj-R Square=0.20; p<0.0001). Caregivers report experiencing increased disruption in daily schedules, greater lack of family support and higher caregiver time as care recipient dependence on others increases. Caregiver self esteem is influenced by caregiver mental health status and not by patient dependence on others.

American black bear (Ursus americanus) population dynamics are most sensitive to survival of adult females. To ensure that harvest is sustainable, harvest should be skewed to males. In addition, in jurisdictions with a spring harvest, lactating females should not be harvested. Hunting over bait provides hunters the opportunity to observe bears, yet many hunters have difficulty identifying the sex of bears at bait sites. We evaluated the use of suspended baits to determine whether this technique could help hunters correctly distinguish male from female black bears. We also evaluated hunter knowledge of black bears and hunter familiarity with hunting regulations to determine whether these influenced harvest. The proportion of female black bears harvested at suspended or traditional ground bait sites was similar; however, hunters did not always give bears the opportunity to stand at suspended baits. The suspended bait technique shows promise and should be explored further in a larger study. Using the provincial harvest as the control group (33% females on average), power analysis indicated that a sample size of 1,325 harvested animals would be required in the treatment group to detect a small effect size (10%; i.e., reduction of female harvest from 33% to 29.7%) with P = 0.1. A 20% effect size (i.e., reduction of harvest from 33% females to 26.4%) would require a sample size of 247 harvested bears in the treatment group, and a 30% effect size (i.e., reduction of harvest from 33% females to 23%) would require a sample size of 101 harvested animals in the treatment group.

Amyloid-β (Aβ) immunotherapy for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was first described in 1999 and has been very informative regarding the role of Aβin AD. Through the efforts of many laboratories we now know that it is possible to reduce amyloid burden and many related AD pathologies in numerous animal models of the disease. Furthermore, initial clinical testing with AN1792, composed of Aβ1–42 and an adjuvant, has yielded very important insights into both the clinical potential of the approach and the impact of Aβpeptide on the disease. A brief review of our current understanding of Aβimmunotherapy is described. These findings have led to newer alternative Aβimmunotherapy approaches that include both active and passive approaches that are currently in clinical testing in both the USA and Europe.

From the Publisher:The Complete Idiot's Guide to Project Management Using Microsoft Project 2000 provides an easy to use source of answers for all your questions regarding project management fundamentals and the industry's leading project management tool. It is for anyone who is just starting to use or is thinking of using Microsoft Project. Topics include integration between Project data and other applications, Project analysis, using Project in workgroups, tracking costs, and Web Integration.

until 12:00 a.m. The expected dress is jacket and slacks or tuxedos for gentlemen and slacks or dresses for ladies. The basic MHS dress code is in effect. We will once again permit a parent/guardian photo hour from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. We ask that you honor this time allowance. Our reasoning for planning this guest hour is to keep the prom as secure as possible. Keeping parents and guardians away is not our agenda. Keeping our students safe is. In years past we have had a growing number of photographers, or those who just want to see what the prom looks like, come in throughout the night and stay for different lengths of time. We, the MHS staff, do not always know all our students' families and friends. We have prepared lists of our students and their dates. We know who our chaperones are in advance. Not adding extras during the actual prom is a tremendous help in security issues, which I know you understand. We are thrilled to honor our juniors and seniors with a prom designed especially for their enjoyment. Thank you for all you do for the students and staff of MCISD.