The Dimetrodon dilemma: Reassessing posture in sphenacodontians and related non-mammalian synapsids

Historically, the early synapsid Dimetrodon has been reconstructed with sprawling posture. However, referred trackways are narrower than most sprawling taxa and its spine lacks lateral flexibility, implying that this animal carried its body higher above the ground. The goal of this research was to re-evaluate the posture of Dimetrodon and other synapsids, by comparing body and trace fossil measurements to present-day analogues. I collected linear measurements from limb and girdle bones of museum collections for Dimetrodon, other extinct synapsids, and extinct relatives of early amniotes. I also collected pace angles from the literature for taxa with associated trackways, where available. I compared these data with analogous measurements for 45 modern mammalian, reptilian, and amphibian species, which were collected from museum specimens or the literature. I analyzed these data using three multivariate statistical analyses to estimate posture in Dimetrodon and other fossil taxa in this study. The results of this study suggest that Dimetrodon and its immediate relatives had a hindlimb abducted to 30°, similar to a Savannah monitor lizard or Virginia opossum. This study and previous work also suggest they had a unique style of locomotion compared to all other tetrapods. Dimetrodon lacks true modern functional analogues, likely due to the huge temporal and phylogenetic distance separating early synapsids from modern tetrapods. Additionally, Aulacephalodon, a more derived synapsid, was estimated to have a similar to more sprawling posture than Dimetrodon. This indicates that locomotor transitions in synapsids followed a process of mosaic evolution, rather than a continuous gradient from sprawling to upright posture

The Good Doctor Hesselius: Le Fanu’s invisible narrator and the framing of In a Glass Darkly from Gothic to sensation fiction

In a Glass Darkly (1872), composed of five previously-published short stories, is the final fiction published before the death of Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (b.1814) in 1873. It is framed by the fictional, late Doctor Martin Hesselius, a “metaphysical physician” whose unique experience of the early Victorian era darts between experiences of the occult and the scientific. Accompanying these stories, five corresponding prologues written by the Doctor’s former assistant describe the relevance of the story to follow and often, its significance to the late Doctor’s work. Current critical conversation surrounding Hesselius borrows from established critical authors in identifying the Doctor’s role as a framing device to the narrative. Scholarly voices have also explored Hesselius’s role in bringing reader closer to experiencing desired authorial effect. Le Fanu’s literary legacy is most often placed in discussions of the Gothic, but critical voices have also argued for the consideration of Le Fanu’s “Green Tea”, included as the first chapter of In a Glass Darkly, as a piece of Sensation Fiction, prompting the need for consideration of Le Fanu’s relationship with genre beyond a single example. Where other considerations of Le Fanu’s work regard the role of biographical and historical context, there is a void in current study which would see this established knowledge applied to Hesselius’s significance to Le Fanu’s late work, genre studies, and Doctor’s relationship with reader. Most importantly, Le Fanu’s implementation of Hesselius as a framing device is in dire need of critical reanalysis. The scope of critical work including discussions of Le Fanu’s relationship with genre – specifically, Sensation Fiction and the Gothic – suffers from this deficiency. Hesselius, too frequently regarded as the near-invisible narrator must instead be considered as a character, implicated in the story he posthumously tells, in order for a critical audience to inform their understanding of his framing relationship to genre and the Victorian reader. This research argues that critical discussions concerning Le Fanu’s methods of framing have not considered this coexistence of genre which, I further argue, is present in In a Glass Darkly. This research will examine Hesselius’s role in the framing of In a Glass Darkly in historic and literary context, arguing that Le Fanu’s use of the Doctor supports a coexistence of genre, and that Hesselius effectively bridges the gap between these genres. Further, I identify and analyse a key mode by which Le Fanu supports Hesselius’s role in framing genre, evidencing a consideration of genre synchronicity which examines Hesselius’s parallel role in establishing a relationship with the Victorian reader and imposing the desired effect of the author. Through examining these voids via close reading – including analysis of its prologues and with a weighty focus on “Green Tea” – this research aims to evidence the validity and necessity of a closer consideration of Hesselius in making critical arguments pertaining to the stories within In a Glass Darkly

The evolution of the house : an annotated bibliography

Thesis (B.L.S.)--University of Illinois, 1903.Typescript

A survey of the use of complementary medicine by a self-selected community group of Australian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex reproductive endocrinopathy affecting up to 20% of reproductive aged women. Whilst there are effective pharmaceutical treatment options, women with PCOS have expressed a strong desire for alternatives. This study investigates the use and attitudes of women with PCOS towards complementary medicine (CM). Methods: Women as members of PCOS support groups responded to an anonymous on-line survey which examined rates and patterns of use for CM's, areas of health for use, perceptions of effectiveness, safety and demographic features. Data collection targeted women with PCOS using two consumer support groups. The first group self-selected following direct email to members of a land based consumer support group, the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association of Australia (POSAA). The second sample was generated through the electronic social network Facebook, using a snowball technique. Two surveys, identical in content, were collected by cloud based Survey Monkey. Data were described and associations between the variables, 'reasons for use' and 'perceptions of effectiveness' were explored. Non-response bias was assessed using a continuum of resistance model. Results: 493 women participated in the study; 91.1% response rate from the POSAA group. Over 70% reported use of complementary medicine, usually nutritional and herbal supplements and 76.6% of CM users reported consultation with a complementary practitioner. Many participants were using CM to treat PCOS however most were using it to concurrently treat a range of health conditions, describing women's desire for more than single symptom management. Disadvantages for CM use were cited by 71% of respondents. Women using complementary medicine with specific treatment goals in mind reported greater self-perceived effectiveness, suggesting that informed use may improve women's satisfaction with CM. Adverse reactions were reported by 12.2% of women and the need for further research into adverse reactions for CM's was identified. Demographic and PCOS characteristics were similar to clinical populations of PCOS and non-response bias was shown as not significant. Conclusion: This study describes the prevalence of use for complementary medicine by women with PCOS as over 70% and adds to our understanding of women's experiences with CM and their motivations for use of CM

Perceptions and experiences of lifestyle interventions in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as a management strategy for symptoms of PCOS

Background: The international clinical practice guidelines for PCOS emphasize diet and exercise as first-line management of clinical signs and symptoms. This study aimed to describe the patterns, perceptions and experiences of lifestyle interventions for women in the community with PCOS. Method: An electronic survey of 493 members of two PCOS consumer support groups, collected by cloud-based Survey Monkey, described women’s types and patterns of diet and exercise, experiences and perceptions of effectiveness. Women were recruited from the Polycystic Ovary Association of Australia (POSAA) and from the Facebook group, PCOS University Research Group. Associations between participants perceptions of effectiveness, and diet types and exercise patterns were assessed using logistic regression. Response bias for the POSAA group was assessed with a continuum of resistance model. Results: 91% of POSAA members and 311 Facebook group members aged 16–50 years responded to the survey. Nearly all women reported adjusting their dietary and exercise practices with the aim to improve their health and/ or PCOS (82% and 73% respectively), however less than 13% reported achievement of health goals (12.2% and 8.1% respectively). Low carbohydrate, high protein diets, and vigorous activity were associated with self-perceived effectiveness (r.0.16, p<0.01; r.0.15 p<0.01 and r.0.2 p<0.01 respectively). Barriers for lifestyle interventions included psychosocial factors. Response bias was not assessed for the Facebook group, however self-reported PCOS aligned with prevalence of clinical phenotypes and suggests results are generalizable to clinical populations of women with PCOS, who are responsible for self-directing and administering lifestyle interventions to manage their PCOS. Conclusions: Perceptions of effectiveness for lifestyle interventions by women with PCOS may be complicated by a lack of rigorous evidence. The strength of recommendations in clinical practice guidelines may be enhanced by clinical trials investigating flexible and feasible lifestyle interventions for women in the community with PCOS

A cross-sectional study of traditional Chinese medicine practitioner’s knowledge, treatment strategies and integration of practice of chronic pelvic pain in women

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is persistent, intermittent cyclical and non-cyclical lower abdominal pain, lasting for more than 6 months. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a popular treatment option for women’s health conditions, but little is known about how treatment for CPP is delivered by TCM practitioners. The aim of this survey was to explore practitioners understanding and treatment of women with CPP, and how they integrate their management and care into the health care system. Method: An online cross-sectional survey of registered TCM practitioners in Australia and New Zealand between May and October 2018. Survey domains included treatment characteristics (e.g. frequency), evaluation of treatment efficacy, referral networks, and sources of information that informed clinical decision making. Results: One hundred and twenty-two registered TCM practitioners responded to this survey, 91.7% reported regular treatment of women with CPP. Treatment decisions were most-often guided by a combination of biomedical and TCM diagnosis (77.6%), and once per week was the most common treatment frequency (66.7%) for acupuncture. Meditation (63.7%) and dietary changes (57.8%) were other commonly used approaches to management. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed using multiple approaches, most commonly pain scales, (such as the numeric rating scale) and any change in use of analgesic medications. Limitations to TCM treatment were reported by over three quarters (83.7%) of practitioners, most commonly due to cost (56.5%) and inconvenience (40.2%) rather than safety or lack of efficacy. Sources informing practice were most often Integration within the wider healthcare system was common with over two thirds (67.9%) receiving referrals from health care providers. Conclusion: TCM practitioners seeing women with various CPP symptoms, commonly incorporate both traditional and modern diagnostic methods to inform their treatment plan, monitor treatment progress using commonly accepted approaches and measures and often as a part of multidisciplinary healthcare for women with CPP

The UK Paediatric Ocular Trauma Study 1 (POTS1):development of a global standardized protocol for prospective data collection in pediatric ocular trauma

Freda Sii,1,2 Robert J Barry,1 Richard J Blanch,1 Joseph Abbott,3 Caroline J MacEwen,4 Peter Shah1,2,5,6 1Department of Ophthalmology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, 2Birmingham Institute for Glaucoma Research, Institute of Translational Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, 3Department of Ophthalmology, Birmingham Children&rsquo;s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, 4Department of Ophthalmology, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, 5National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, 6Centre for Health and Social Care Improvement, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK Background: Ocular trauma is an important cause of visual morbidity in children worldwide. Pediatric ocular trauma accounts for up to one third of all ocular trauma admissions, with significant economic implications for health care providers. It is estimated that 90% of all ocular trauma is preventable. Development of strategies to reduce the incidence and severity of pediatric ocular trauma requires an understanding of the epidemiology of these injuries and their characteristics. This will enable appropriate targeting of resources toward prevention and allow effective service planning. At present, there is no standardized methodology for the collection of global cross-sectional data in pediatric ocular trauma, and the ability to undertake detailed epidemiological and health-economic analyses is limited. Furthermore, it is difficult to draw international comparisons in incidence, etiology, and outcomes of pediatric ocular trauma due to the range of published reporting criteria. This study describes two novel questionnaires for standardized data collection in pediatric ocular trauma, which can be adopted across a range of health care settings internationally.Methods: Two standardized data collection questionnaires have been developed from previously reported templates. The first enables collection of demographic and incident data on serious pediatric ocular trauma requiring hospitalization, and the second enables follow-up outcome data collection. Both the questionnaires are designed to collect primarily categorical data in order to increase ease of completion and facilitate quantitative analysis. These questionnaires enable acquisition of standardized data on the incidence, etiology, and outcomes of pediatric ocular trauma.Discussion: These questionnaires enable collection of standardized data and are designed for global use across all health care settings. Through prospective data collection, epidemiological trends can be determined, allowing health care providers to develop collaborative global preventive strategies. Furthermore, the same questionnaires may be used in future studies to draw comparisons with baseline data, allowing assessment of the efficacy of targeted preventative interventions. Keywords: childhood eye injury, epidemiology, health economic analyses, international standardization, penetrating eye injury, perforating eye injury, preventio