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Objectives: To measure the outrage towards five top hazards in Michigan of Iraqi immigrants from Sterling Heights and Dearborn, Michigan to enhance communication efforts. Methods: We recruited 84 Iraqi immigrants from two ACCESS community health and research facilities for this study. We utilized the Risk = Hazard + Outrage equation to measure outrage and total risk. Outrage was measured through a new survey instrument based off a list of nine outrage factors per hazard. We also used ANOVA to compare the hazards with each other and hazard and outrage levels. Results: Snowstorms were measured to be the highest outrage and power outages measured the lowest. Total risk was highest for snowstorms and lowest for pandemic influenza. Conclusions: The results measured outrage for each of the five Michigan hazards, showing what hazards Iraqi immigrants were most worried about. Because snowstorms were measured to have the highest outrage and overall measured risk, emergency preparedness and response professionals need to spend more time educating this group about snowstorms and learn from this group on resilience during power outages.

At the Northern Virginia office of Central Michigan University's (CMU) Off-campus Library Services' program, reference questions were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SPSS/PC + Studentware. A program was set up to examine data on each reference question received by the staff. The results provided totals for each variable examined (e.g., the subject of request, gender of requester) as well as tables showing relationships among variables (e.g., breakdowns of subject of question by course), with accompanying statistics. Such analyses can give a more precise picture of what is happening at the reference desk, and provide information useful in planning. The CMU experience is presented as an illustration of a process almost any librarian could adapt to meet his or her needs for more complex data analysis.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a significant public health concern for all elders in the United States. It is a particular concern for the American Indian (AI) population, which is one of the fastest aging populations in the United States and the smallest, most underrecognized, and most culturally diverse group in the country. A formal caregiver understanding of AD in the AI population is scarce. This phenomenological study was designed to discern what is known about AD in the AI population by exploring the cultural beliefs and experiences of formal caregivers who provide care for AI dementia patients. Specifically, this study sought to document formal caregiver and AI dementia beliefs about AD. Data came from four in-depth interviews that included three Western and one AI formal caregiver. These interviews explored the variability of cultural beliefs regarding AD and dementia among a sample of formal caregivers who minister to AI patients; in the interviews, these participants also provided examples of challenges they faced, providing a better cultural understanding of AI dementia. The findings included using a bicultural approach to AD, illuminating interactions between patient and provider, and fostering awareness of cultural competency. Research on this topic is critical in advancing cultural, public health, and evidence-based health practices regarding AI dementia patients. The potential implications for social change include enhancing cross cultural provider–patient interactions and advancing public health policy and practice for this underserved population. Many of the issues and challenges explored may have implications for other ethnocultural minority groups.

Electron–positron pair plasmas represent a unique state of matter, whereby there exists an intrinsic and complete symmetry between negatively charged (matter) and positively charged (antimatter) particles. These plasmas play a fundamental role in the dynamics of ultra-massive astrophysical objects and are believed to be associated with the emission of ultra-bright gamma-ray bursts. Despite extensive theoretical modelling, our knowledge of this state of matter is still speculative, owing to the extreme difficulty in recreating neutral matter–antimatter plasmas in the laboratory. Here we show that, by using a compact laser-driven setup, ion-free electron–positron plasmas with unique characteristics can be produced. Their charge neutrality (same amount of matter and antimatter), high-density and small divergence finally open up the possibility of studying electron–positron plasmas in controlled laboratory experiments. Electron–positron pair plasma—a state of matter with a complete symmetry between negatively and positively charged particles—are found in many astrophysical object. Here, the authors use high-power laser to create an ion-free electron–positron plasma in the laboratory.

Betatron radiation from laser wakefield accelerators is an ultrashort pulsed source of hard, synchrotron-like x-ray radiation. It emanates from a centimetre scale plasma accelerator producing GeV level electron beams. In recent years betatron radiation has been developed as a unique source capable of producing high resolution x-ray images in compact geometries. However, until now, the short pulse nature of this radiation has not been exploited. This report details the first experiment to utilize betatron radiation to image a rapidly evolving phenomenon by using it to radiograph a laser driven shock wave in a silicon target. The spatial resolution of the image is comparable to what has been achieved in similar experiments at conventional synchrotron light sources. The intrinsic temporal resolution of betatron radiation is below 100 fs, indicating that significantly faster processes could be probed in future without compromising spatial resolution. Quantitative measurements of the shock velocity and material density were made from the radiographs recorded during shock compression and were consistent with the established shock response of silicon, as determined with traditional velocimetry approaches. This suggests that future compact betatron imaging beamlines could be useful in the imaging and diagnosis of high-energy-density physics experiments.

Around the world, recovery planning for threatened species is being applied in an attempt to stem the current extinction crisis. Genetic factors linked to small population processes (eg inbreeding, loss of genetic diversity) play a key role in species viability. We examined how often genetic factors are considered in threatened species recovery planning. We selected recent species recovery plans from Europe (n = 110), North America (the US only; n = 100), and Australia (n = 108), and reviewed three broad categories of genetic data they address: population-genetic, fitness-related, and life-history data. We found that the host country, taxonomic group to which the species belonged, and several proposed management actions were important predictors of the inclusion of genetic factors. Notably, species recovery plans from the US were more likely to include genetic issues, probably due to legislative requirements. We recommend an international standard, similar to an IUCN Red List framework, that requires explicit consideration of genetic aspects of long-term viability.

For species at risk of decline or extinction in source-sink systems, sources are an obvious target for habitat protection actions. However, the way in which source habitats are identified and prioritized can reduce the effectiveness of conservation actions. Although sources and sinks are conceptually defined using both demographic and movement criteria, simplifications are often required in systems with limited data. To assess the conservation outcomes of alternative source metrics and resulting prioritizations, we simulated population dynamics and extinction riskfor 3 endangered species. Using empirically based habitat population models, we linked habitat maps with measured site- or habitat-specific demographic conditions, movement abilities, and behaviors. We calculated source-sink metrics over a range of periods of data collection and prioritized consistently high-output sources for conservation. We then tested whether prioritized patches identified the habitats that most affected persistence by removing them and measuring the population response. Conservation decisions based on different source-sink metrics and durations of data collection affected species persistence. Shorter time series obscured the ability of metrics to identify influential habitats, particularly in temporally variable and slowly declining populations. Data-rich source-sink metrics that included both demography and movement information did not always identify the habitats with the greatest influence on extinction risk. In some declining populations, patch abundance better predicted influential habitats for short-term regionalpersistence. Because source-sink metrics (i.e., births minus deaths; births and immigrations minus deaths and emigration) describe net population conditions and cancel out gross population counts, they may not adequately identify influential habitats in declining populations. For many nonequilibrium populations, new metrics that maintain the counts of individual births, deaths, and movement may provide additional insight into habitats that most influence persistence. Para las especies en riesgo de declinación o extinción en sistemas de fuente - sumidero, las fuentes son un objetivo obvio para las acciones de protección del habitat. Sin embargo, la manera en la que se identifican y priorizan los habitats fuente puede reducir la efectividad de las acciones de conservación. Aunque las fuentes y sumideros se definen conceptualmente usando tanto los criterios de movimiento como los demográficos, generalmente se requieren simplificaciones en sistemas con datos limitados. Para evaluar los resultados de conservación de las medidas alternativas de fuentes y las priorizaciones resultantes, simulamos dinámicas poblacionales y el riesgo de extinción de tres especies en peligro de extinción. Con el uso de modelos de población basados en el habitat, relacionamos los mapas de habitat con las condiciones demográficas específicas de sitio o de habitat, las habilidades de movimiento, y los comportamientos. Calculamos las medidas de fuente - sumidero en una gama de periodos de recolección de datos y priorizamos las fuentes constantes de producción alta para la conservación. Después probamos si los fragmentos priorizados identificaron a los habitats que más afectaron la persistencia al removerlos y medir la respuesta de la población. Las decisiones de conservación basadas en diferentes medidas de fuente - sumidero y con recolecciones de datos de diferente duración afectaron la persistencia de las especies. Las series de tiempo más cortas dificultaron la habilidad de las medidas para identificar los habitats influyentes, particularmente en poblaciones con variabilidad temporal y con declinación lenta. Las medidas de fuente - sumidero ricas en datos que incluyeron la información demográfica y de movimiento no siempre identificaron los habitats con la mayor influencia sobre el riesgo de extinción. En algunas poblaciones declinantes, la abundancia de fragmentos predijo de mejor manera los habitats influyentes para la persistencia regional a corto plazo. Ya que las medidas de fuente - sumidero (es decir, nacimientos menos muertes; nacimientos e inmigraciones menos muertes y emigraciones) describen las condiciones netas de la población y anulan los conteos poblacionales brutos, puede que no identifiquen adecuadamente los habitats influyentes en poblaciones declinantes. Para muchas poblaciones que no se encuentran en equilibrio, las nuevas medidas que mantengan los conteos de nacimientos, muertes y movimientos individuales pueden proporcionar un entendimiento adicional de los habitats que más influyen sobre la persistencia. 对于源〜汇系统中面临种群下降和灭绝风险的物种，栖息地保护行动的一个显著目标是对“源” 的保护。然而，对“源” 栖息地的识别和保护优先排序的方式可能会降低保护行动的有效。“源” 和“汇”理论上是根据 种群统计和迁移参数而定义，但数据有限的系统常常需要对其简化。为评估备选源的参数与其保护优先区的保 护成效, 我们模拟了三个瀕危物种的种群动态和灭绝风险。我们还用基于经验的栖息地种群模型，将栖息地地图 与測定的位点或栖息地特异性的种群统计参数、迁移能力和行为进行结合。我们计算了不同数据收集周期的 源〜参歡并优先保护有持续高输出的“源”。接下来通过去除优先保护的斑块并测定物种的响应，我们检验了 这些斑块是否能代表対物种续存影响最大的栖息地。基于不同源〜汇参数和数据收集周期的保护决策会影响物 种续存。短时间序列的数据阻碍了对重要栖息地度量的能力，特別是对短期内波动和緩慢下降的种群而言。包 含了种群统计和移动信息丰富的源~汇参数，并非能常常确定对物种灭绝风险影响最大的栖息地。在ー些下降 种群中，斑块丰度更能预测物种在短时间内区域续存的重要栖息地。源~汇参数(如出生减去死亡;出生和迁入 减去死亡和迁出) 描述种群净变化，抵消了总的种群数量计数，因此它们或许不能充分地确定下降种群的重要栖 息地。对许多非平衡的种群来说，可以对个体的出生、死亡、迁移连续计数的新参数或能帮助我们更好地了解 対物种续存影响最大的栖息地。