Student Involvement: Finding the Missing Piece [brochure and streaming video]

There are many benefits for students when they get involved during their college experience. However, many students are unaware of the diverse opportunities for involvement that are available to them. While student organizations are a great option, there are many other avenues for students to explore as well. In this video pamphlet, we show the creative ways that students can get involved beyond joining a student organization

Effects of scent enrichment on behavioural and physiological indicators of stress in zoo primates

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Wiley. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.23247Captive breeding is vital for primate conservation, with modern zoos serving a crucial role in breeding populations of threatened species and educating the general public. However, captive populations can experience welfare issues that may also undermine their reproductive success. In order to enhance the well-being of endangered zoo primates, we conducted a study to assess the effects of a new scent enrichment programme on captive red-ruffed lemurs (Varecia rubra), black howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya), siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus), Lar gibbons (Hylobates lar) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus). We combined behavioural observations and faecal endocrinology analyses to evaluate the effects of a series of essential oils (benzoin, lavender, lemongrass) on five captive troops (N = 19) housed at Dudley Zoo & Castle and Twycross Zoo (UK). We recorded observations of natural species-specific and abnormal stress-related behaviours for 480 hr using instantaneous scan sampling. We collected 189 faecal samples and measured the faecal cortisol concentrations using radioimmunoassay. We found a significant effect of the scent enrichment on behaviours, with red-ruffed lemurs and black howler monkeys reducing their social interactions, as well as red-ruffed lemurs and Lar gibbons decreasing their stress-related behaviours, after they were exposed to the series of essential oils. We also found that red-ruffed lemurs displayed a significant increase in faecal glucocorticoids following the exposure to essential oils. Our contradictory findings suggest that the effects of this series of essential oils may change depending on the species-specific social lives and olfactory repertoires of primates. In conclusion, we cannot recommend using these essential oils widely with zoo primates without additional evaluation

Texas Black Bears

One way to promote conservation efforts in an area is to bring awareness of the connections our society has with the animal that is under threat. Black Bears were once abundant throughout Texas, but through hunting and habitat loss, the bears had been eliminated from Texas by the 1950s. The placing of the Louisiana subspecies as threatened under The Federal Endangered Species Act in 1922 allowed populations to recover in Louisiana, and there have been several sightings in East Texas since. The face of Texas has been forever altered byt the presence of black bears. From the forests of East Texas to the peak of West Texas\u27 Bear Mountain, black bears left their legacy in the form of landmark\u27s named by settlers and Native Americans alike

Case Report: An Intracranial Complication of COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab

Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are often the result of trauma or recent surgical procedures; however, a subset can develop from non-traumatic etiologies. Cerebrospinal fluid leaks from congenital and spontaneous encephaloceles can be clinically occult and have devastating consequences if undetected for prolonged periods of time. This report highlights a unique case of meningitis after CSF leak caused by ruptured congenital meningocele during a routine nasopharyngeal swab.Case Report: A 54-year-old female with diagnosed CSF leak presented to the emergency department (ED) with acute onset of severe headache, and neck and back pain. Prior to this presentation, the patient had experienced two months of persistent headache and rhinorrhea since her coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nasopharyngeal swab. As part of her outpatient workup, an otolaryngology consultation with subsequent beta-2 transferrin testing and magnetic resonance imaging was performed and she was diagnosed with a CSF leak from ruptured congenital meningocele. On ED presentation, she was afebrile, but with mild tachycardia, leukocytosis, and meningismus. Lumbar puncture revealed acute streptococcal meningitis. This patient’s meningitis developed due to prolonged occult CSF leak after her COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab ruptured a pre-existing congenital meningocele.Conclusion: Nasopharyngeal swabs are being performed much more frequently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All front-line providers should be aware of the potential presence and rupture of congenital meningoceles in patients who have undergone recent nasopharyngeal swab when risk-stratifying for potential CSF leak and meningitis

Linking habitat complexity with predation of pests through molecular gut-content analyses

Improving the diversity of farm systems or landscapes can lead to more effective biological control by providing refuge and alternative resources for colonising natural enemies. Within an experimental cabbage agroecosystem, we examined the effects of habitat management (i.e. herbicide use and cover crops) on pest populations and predator community structure, and report one of the first studies on the trophic links in this system using molecular gut-content analysis. In response to herbicide and cover crop management treatments designed to create different levels of habitat diversity, we quantified the abundance of two pests, Plutella xylostella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and Pieris rapae Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), and predators. We designed species-specific primers to detect prey DNA in predators' guts. Pieris rapae were significantly more abundant in plots where cover crops were killed early in the season, and habitat management generated unique predator communities in response to weed management treatments. Thirty-five per cent of predators tested positive for prey DNA, and habitat management had interactive effects on predation of P. xylostella. Combined we found that habitat management has variable effects on natural enemy-pest interactions

Demographic, Economic, and Geographic Factors Associated with Uptake of the Earned Income Tax Credit

10.1007/s42972-022-00054-5Journal of Policy Practice and Research33241-25

Retronychia: the importance of proper footwear

Retronychia is commonly underdiagnosed and exhibits classic features of proximal nail fold elevation and nail plate layering. Herein we summarize the literature and discuss cause, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition

Interventions that Influence Animal-Product Consumption: A Meta-Review

Transitioning toward plant-based diets can alleviate health and sustainability challenges. However, research on interventions that influence animal-product consumption remains fragmented and inaccessible to researchers and practitioners. We conducted an overview of systematic reviews, also known as a meta-review. We searched five databases for reviews that examined interventions that influence (increase or decrease) the consumption of animal products. We quantitatively summarised results using individual studies’ directions of effect because reviews rarely reported effect sizes of primary studies. Eighteen reviews met inclusion criteria, 12 of which examined interventions intended to decrease animal-product consumption and 6 of which examined interventions intended to increase animal-product consumption. In total, only two reviews conducted quantitative meta-analyses. Across all reviews, vote counting indicated that providing information on the environmental impact of meat consumption may reduce consumption, with 10 of 11 estimates suggesting reduced consumption (91%, 95% CI [62.3%, 98.4%]; p = .012). Providing information on the health consequences, emphasising social norms, and reducing meat portion sizes also appeared promising, albeit with more limited evidence. Reviews examining interventions that decreased consumption predominately focused on meat (10/12 reviews). Future reviews should conduct quantitative syntheses where appropriate and examine interventions that influence the consumption of animal products other than meat