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During secondary contact between two species when hybrids are less fit than parents, mating signals are expected to diverge, while aggressive signals are expected to converge. If a single signal trait is used in both mating and aggression, then the dynamics between these two forces could influence the evolutionary trajectory of that trait. We studied such a situation in an avian hybrid zone between two Setophaga species, where birdsong is used in both mate attraction and territory defense. We hypothesized that song modules of the two species will show separate and distinct geographic patterns due to the influence of selective pressures for effective territorial aggression and for effective mate attraction. We conducted geographic cline analyses and playback experiments across this hybrid zone. We found an unexpected geographic pattern of asymmetric introgression of song rhythm, which may be explained by results of the playback experiments that suggest that differences in song rhythm serve a greater role in mate attraction than in territory defense. In contrast, differences in syllable morphology show little evidence of importance in mate attraction or territorial defense. Song features converge in the hybrid zone, yet patterns of trait change suggest that the song production modules may vary in their modes of development and inheritance. Syringeal motor gesturing, which gives rise to syllable morphology, shows a nonclinal mosaic pattern, suggesting that this trait may be predominantly learned. In contrast, respiratory patterning, which forms song rhythm, shows a clinal geographic transition, suggesting that this trait could be more innate. The results indicate that opposing forces act independently on song via distinct modules of the song production mechanism, driving complex patterns of song trait evolution. In a hybrid zone between two songbird species, we find complex patterns of behavioral trait evolution. We interpret results from geographic cline analyses and playback studies to suggest that opposing forces act independently on song via distinct modules of the song production mechanism.

Birdsong is used in reproductive context and, consequently, has been shaped by strong natural and sexual selection. The acoustic performance includes a multitude of acoustic and temporal characteristics that are thought to honestly reveal the quality of the singing individual. One major song feature is frequency and its modulation. Sound frequency can be actively controlled, but the control mechanisms differ between different groups. Two described mechanisms are pressure‐driven frequency changes in suboscines and control by syringeal muscles in oscines. To test to what degree these different control mechanisms enhance or limit the exploitation of frequency space by individual species and families, we compared the use of frequency space by tyrannid suboscines and emberizid/passerellid oscines. We find that despite the different control mechanisms, the songs of species in both groups can contain broad frequency ranges and rapid and sustained frequency modulation (FM). The maximal values for these parameters are slightly higher in oscines. Furthermore, the mean frequency range of song syllables is substantially larger in oscines than suboscines. Species within each family group collectively exploit equally broadly the available frequency space. The narrower individual frequency ranges of suboscines likely indicate morphological specialization for particular frequencies, whereas muscular control of frequency facilitated broader exploitation of frequency space by individual oscine species. Suboscines and oscines achieve similar frequency modulation rates despite different frequency control mechanisms. As clades, both achieve similar exploitation of frequency space, but individual species of the vocal learning oscines encompass a broader frequency range in their vocal repertoires than suboscines.

Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) bear disproportionate burden of COVID-19 and are prioritized for vaccine deployment. LTCF outbreaks could continue occurring during vaccine rollout due to incomplete population coverage, and the effect of vaccines on viral transmission are currently unknown. Declining adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against within-facility transmission could therefore limit the effectiveness of vaccination. We built a stochastic model to simulate outbreaks in LTCF populations with differing vaccination coverage and NPI adherence to evaluate their interacting effects. Vaccination combined with strong NPI adherence produced the least morbidity and mortality. Healthcare worker vaccination improved outcomes in unvaccinated LTCF residents but was less impactful with declining NPI adherence. To prevent further illness and deaths, there is a continued need for NPIs in LTCFs during vaccine rollout.

Surveillance testing for infectious disease is an important tool to combat disease transmission at the population level. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, RT-PCR tests have been considered the gold standard due to their high sensitivity and specificity. However, RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 have been shown to return positive results when performed to individuals who are past the infectious stage of the disease. Meanwhile, antigen-based tests are often treated as a less accurate substitute for RT-PCR, however, new evidence suggests they may better reflect infectiousness. Consequently, the two test types may each be most optimally deployed in different settings. Here, we present an epidemiological model with surveillance testing and coordinated isolation in two congregate living settings (a nursing home and a university dormitory system) that considers test metrics with respect to viral culture, a proxy for infectiousness. Simulations show that antigen-based surveillance testing coupled with isolation greatly reduces disease burden and carries a lower economic cost than RT-PCR-based strategies. Antigen and RT-PCR tests perform different functions toward the goal of reducing infectious disease burden and should be used accordingly.

Background Understanding how infectious disease transmission varies from person to person, including associations with age and contact behavior, can help design effective control strategies. Within households, transmission may be highly variable because of differing transmission risks by age, household size, and individual contagiousness. Our aim was to disentangle those factors by fitting mathematical models to SARS-CoV-2 household survey and serologic data. Methods We surveyed members of 3,381 Utah households from January-April 2021 and performed SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing on all available members. We paired these data with a probabilistic model of household importation and transmission composed of a novel combination of transmission variability and age- and size-structured heterogeneity. We calculated maximum likelihood estimates of mean and variability of household transmission probability between household members in different age groups and different household sizes, simultaneously with importation probability and probabilities of false negative and false positive test results. Results 12.8% of individual participants, residing in 17.4% of the participating households, showed serologic evidence of prior infection or reported a prior positive test on the survey. Serologically positive individuals in younger age groups were less likely than older adults to have tested positive during their infection according to our survey results. Our model results suggested that adolescents and young adults (ages 13–24) acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection outside the household at a rate substantially higher than younger children and older adults. Our estimate of the household secondary attack rate (HSAR) among adults aged 45 and older exceeded HSARs to and/or from younger age groups at a given household size. We found lower HSAR in households with more members, independent of age differences. The age-specific HSAR patterns we found could not be explained by age-dependent biological susceptibility and transmissibility alone, suggesting that age groups contacted each other at different rates within households. Conclusions We disentangled several factors contributing to age-specific infection risk, including non-household exposure, within-household exposure to specific age groups, and household size. Within-household contact rate differences played a significant role in driving household transmission epidemiology. These findings provide nuanced insights for understanding community outbreak patterns and mechanisms of differential infection risk.

Understanding how reproductive barriers between species arise and are maintained is paramount to the study of speciation and evolutionary biology. The contribution of avian vocal learning to the process of speciation has been the subject of considerable debate, with some suggesting that vocal learning has strongly promoted rapid speciation in the species-rich oscine passerines. Furthermore, vocal learning has been characterized through the focused study of a small and closely-related group of taxa and so the common understanding of vocal learning in birds may reflect this narrow taxonomic coverage. While the evolutionary origin of this complex trait remains mysterious, I address the complexities of the evolution and evolutionary implications of vocal learning in songbirds through three lines of research.In a meta-analysis of isolate studies, through comparison of isolate to normal song for 16 species, I find that the learned components of song vary significantly among species, in line with literature that finds different degrees of genetic guidance in the development of song production modules. These findings form the basis for the theory of modular vocal learning.In a Setophaga hybrid zone, I investigate the potential for differential evolution in response to secondary contact for song traits according to their degree of genetic guidance by pairing a production-based acoustic analysis with a geographic cline analysis. I find that song rhythm shows a cline that resembles that of a quantitative trait under moderate selection while other song traits do not.In the same system, female response to song differs according to song rhythm in a way that reflects the cline shape for song rhythm uncovered previously; this suggests that this song trait, which is presumably under stricter genetically guided development than other aspects of song production, is important in mate attraction. In contrast, males do not respond differently to song based on any measured song trait.Together, my research results show that vocal learning contributes variably to the acoustic features of song across diverse species and that this contribution may not necessarily be informative during mating decisions. In contrast, components of song more likely to be under genetic control appear to function in mate attraction and evolve accordingly. From my results, vocal learning does not appear to function in accelerating speciation rates, and so the details of the origin and maintenance of vocal learning in songbirds remain open for investigation.

Key attributes that comprise proper thank-yous include any or all of the following: * Personalized address and salutation * The project or fund being supported/its impact * The type of donor who contributed (first-time donor, monthly donor, long-term loyal donor, etc.) * An additional P.S. inviting them to attend the kick-off of the project or some other event * A variable that states their total lifetime giving impact * If electronic, pictures from the event/project * The names of family members in some manner, if known * Other areas of engagement with your charity Keep in mind, these can be part of the typed letter or email itself, or a handwritten note on the letter (the latter being a nice touch, showing that you didn’t just spit the letter out of a printer and stuff it in an envelope unceremoniously). [...]the specific segment communication plan might include a phone call or a handwritten note, in addition to the system-created (and customized) letter. Here are a few of the touches that are often suggested by the best professional fundraisers I know: * Thank-you phone call/voicemail/text message * Welcome packet * Invitation for a tour/visit (especially if you run a school, animal shelter, etc.) * Event invitation * Invitation for a tour/visit * Invitation for breakfast or lunch * Recent newsletter with a personal Post-It note * Handwritten note * Survey (more below on this) * Pictures (paperclipped) of project or event sent later * Personal video message sent by email Keep in mind that not every first-time donor is an appropriate recipient of these touchpoints. Reading Level/Donor-Centricity Audit The term “Ahern Audit” is used by Bloomerang, because the audit process used two underlying concepts that were suggested by Tom Ahern, an industry expert who is well-known and well-loved by many.

Not only are the applications and your data housed in the cloud, but it’s also safer than ever due to multiple levels of security and back-ups that could never be replicated at any nonprofit except those with multi-million dollar technology budgets and a full IT staff. A large number of customers, just like you, being added each year is a much stronger indication of a good fit than asking a person who has never evaluated any technology to determine if product X is better than product Y. So often, the choice is based upon the personality of the salesperson representing the product being one liked better than the personality or actions of the other salespeople. Feel free to ask about the size of the product development team and their annual budget.

From those involved in arts and entertainment, to the friendly folk over at SGA who give out the free coffee and scantrons, to the great greek life we have, Southeastern is filled with memorable personalities.