Stochastic diffusion using mean-field limits to approximate master equations.

Stochastic diffusion is the noisy and uncertain process through which dynamics like epidemics, or agents like animal species, disperse over a larger area. Understanding these processes is becoming increasingly important as we attempt to better prepare for potential pandemics and as species ranges shift in response to climate change. Unfortunately, modeling of stochastic diffusion is mostly done through inaccurate deterministic tools that fail to capture the random nature of dispersal or else through expensive computational simulations.

Predictors of positive outcomes following resistive inspiratory muscle training in non-ambulatory persons with advanced multiple sclerosis.

Background: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) using a threshold device improves inspiratory muscle strength. What factors influence the IMT outcome has not been examined.

Objective: To identify predictors of the positive outcome following IMT in persons with advanced multiple sclerosis (PwAMS).

Feeding friend and foe: ample pollen mitigates the effects of pollen theft for a gynodioecious plant, Polemonium foliosissimum (Polemoniaceae).

Background And Aims: Most angiosperms rely on pollinators to transport pollen and effect fertilization. While some floral visitors are effective pollinators, others act as thieves, consuming pollen but effecting little pollination in return. The importance of pollen theft in male and female reproductive success has received little attention.

Effects of inspiratory muscle training in advanced multiple sclerosis.

Background: Respiratory training using Threshold Inspiratory Muscle Trainer (IMT) has not been examined adequately in multiple sclerosis (MS). The primary objective in this study of persons with advanced MS was to investigate the training effect of IMT. The secondary objective was to evaluate the retention of IMT benefits.

Flowers as viral hot spots: Honey bees (Apis mellifera) unevenly deposit viruses across plant species.

RNA viruses, once considered specific to honey bees, are suspected of spilling over from managed bees into wild pollinators; however, transmission routes are largely unknown. A widely accepted yet untested hypothesis states that flowers serve as bridges in the transmission of viruses between bees. Here, using a series of controlled experiments with captive bee colonies, we examined the role of flowers in bee virus transmission.

RNA virus spillover from managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) to wild bumblebees (Bombus spp.).

The decline of many bumblebee species (Bombus spp.) has been linked to an increased prevalence of pathogens caused by spillover from managed bees. Although poorly understood, RNA viruses are suspected of moving from managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) into wild bumblebees through shared floral resources.

Home sick: impacts of migratory beekeeping on honey bee () pests, pathogens, and colony size.

Honey bees are important pollinators of agricultural crops and the dramatic losses of honey bee colonies have risen to a level of international concern. Potential contributors to such losses include pesticide exposure, lack of floral resources and parasites and pathogens. The damaging effects of all of these may be exacerbated by apicultural practices.