Size and Distribution of Resting Eggs in a Natural Population of the Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Resting eggs of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis were collected from the sediments of a brackish-water pond near Tampa, Florida. These core samples were examined for resting egg density and size. Resting egg density decreased exponentially from the surface down to 7 cm in the sediments at all stations, with depth in the sediments accounting for 42.3% of the total variance. The maximum resting egg density recorded was 194 RE/cm3 with no significant differences in density among stations. Resting eggs were found to be significantly larger in the top 2 cm of sediment than resting eggs from deeper in the sediments. These data are discussed with regard to other work on resting egg densities in natural populations. Hypotheses are offered to explain the observed decrease in resting egg size with depth in sediments

Size and Distribution of Resting Eggs in a Natural Population of the Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis

Resting eggs of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis were collected from the sediments of a brackish-water pond near Tampa, Florida. These core samples were examined for resting egg density and size. Resting egg density decreased exponentially from the surface down to 7 cm in the sediments at all stations, with depth in the sediments accounting for 42.3% of the total variance. The maximum resting egg density recorded was 194 RE/cm3 with no significant differences in density among stations. Resting eggs were found to be significantly larger in the top 2 cm of sediment than resting eggs from deeper in the sediments. These data are discussed with regard to other work on resting egg densities in natural populations. Hypotheses are offered to explain the observed decrease in resting egg size with depth in sediments

Choosing Wisely: Highest‐cost tests in outpatient neurology

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98329/1/ana23865.pd

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Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106672/1/ana24034.pd

Toward better public health reporting using existing off the shelf approaches: The value of medical dictionaries in automated cancer detection using plaintext medical data

Objectives Existing approaches to derive decision models from plaintext clinical data frequently depend on medical dictionaries as the sources of potential features. Prior research suggests that decision models developed using non-dictionary based feature sourcing approaches and “off the shelf” tools could predict cancer with performance metrics between 80% and 90%. We sought to compare non-dictionary based models to models built using features derived from medical dictionaries. Materials and methods We evaluated the detection of cancer cases from free text pathology reports using decision models built with combinations of dictionary or non-dictionary based feature sourcing approaches, 4 feature subset sizes, and 5 classification algorithms. Each decision model was evaluated using the following performance metrics: sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Results Decision models parameterized using dictionary and non-dictionary feature sourcing approaches produced performance metrics between 70 and 90%. The source of features and feature subset size had no impact on the performance of a decision model. Conclusion Our study suggests there is little value in leveraging medical dictionaries for extracting features for decision model building. Decision models built using features extracted from the plaintext reports themselves achieve comparable results to those built using medical dictionaries. Overall, this suggests that existing “off the shelf” approaches can be leveraged to perform accurate cancer detection using less complex Named Entity Recognition (NER) based feature extraction, automated feature selection and modeling approaches

A prescription for the Epley maneuver: www.youtube.com?

OBJECTIVES: Video-sharing Web sites are being used for information about common conditions including dizziness. The Epley maneuver (EM) is a simple and effective treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) of the posterior canal. However, the maneuver is underused in routine care. In this study, we aimed to describe and analyze the available information about the EM on youtube.com. METHODS: A YouTube search was performed on August 31, 2011, for videos that demonstrated the entire EM. Detailed data were abstracted from each video and corresponding Web site. Videos were rated on the accuracy of the maneuver by 2 authors, with differences resolved by adjudication. Comments posted by viewers were assessed for themes regarding video use. RESULTS: Of the 3,319 videos identified, 33 demonstrated the EM. The total number of hits for all videos was 2,755,607. The video with the most hits (802,471) was produced by the American Academy of Neurology. Five of the videos accounted for 85% of all the hits. The maneuver demonstration was rated as accurate in 64% (21) of the videos. Themes derived from the 424 posted comments included patients self-treating with the maneuver after reviewing the videos, and providers using the videos as a prescribed treatment or for educational purposes. CONCLUSION: Accurate video demonstration of the Epley maneuver is available and widely viewed on YouTube. Video-sharing media may be an important way to disseminate effective interventions such as the EM. The impact of video Web sites on outcomes and costs of care is not known and warrants future study

Intervention with citrus flavonoids reverses obesity and improves metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis in obese Ldlr \u3csup\u3e/\u3c/sup\u3e mice

Copyright © 2018 Burke et al. Obesity and its associated metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease risk represent a leading cause of adult morbidity worldwide. Currently available pharmacological therapies for obesity have had limited success in reversing existing obesity and metabolic dysregulation. Previous prevention studies demonstrated that the citrus flavonoids, naringenin and nobiletin, protect against obesity and metabolic dysfunction in Ldlr/ mice fed a high-fat cholesterol-containing (HFHC) diet. However, their effects in an intervention model are unknown. In this report, we show that, in Ldlr/ mice with diet-induced obesity, citrus flavonoid supplementation to a HFHC diet reversed existing obesity and adipocyte size and number through enhanced energy expenditure and increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation. Caloric intake was unaffected and no evidence of white adipose tissue browning was observed. Reversal of adiposity was accompanied by improvements in hyperlipidemia, insulin sensitivity, hepatic steatosis, and a modest reduction in blood monocytes. Together, this resulted in atherosclerotic lesions that were unchanged in size, but characterized by reduced macrophage content, consistent with a more stable plaque phenotype. These studies further suggest potential therapeutic utility of citrus flavonoids, especially in the context of existing obesity, metabolic dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease

The Grizzly, October 16, 1981

Long Range Improvements Planned • Homecoming Coming Up • Fraternity Hazing Topic of Next Forum • Sadat: The Champion of Peace • USGA Notes • Procedure and Schedule for Spring Term Registration • Frats Resume Reimert Cleanup • Student Advising Program to be Revised Next Year • Transplanted Texan: Evaluation of a Brown-noser • Increased Internationalism Has Positive Effect on Campus • Bad Weather Attendance Rules • Homecoming Queen Candidates • Community and Civilization Course • Ursinus News Briefs: The law of the sea: is it a new threat to peace?; Exploring career options; CPAs to sponsor student manuscript contest • Student Use of Helfferich Clarified • New Medical Ethics Course Offered at Ursinus • Field Hockey Winning Ways Return • Booters Offense Sharp • Bear Loss in Final Quarterhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1064/thumbnail.jp

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ agonist GW1516 attenuates diet-induced aortic inflammation, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis in low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice

OBJECTIVE - The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) δ regulates systemic lipid homeostasis and inflammation. However, the ability of PPARδ agonists to improve the pathology of pre-established lesions and whether PPARδ activation is atheroprotective in the setting of insulin resistance have not been reported. Here, we examine whether intervention with a selective PPARδ agonist corrects metabolic dysregulation and attenuates aortic inflammation and atherosclerosis. APPROACH AND RESULTS - Low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice were fed a chow or a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet (42% fat, 0.2% cholesterol) for 4 weeks. For a further 8 weeks, the HFHC group was fed either HFHC or HFHC plus GW1516 (3 mg/kg per day). GW1516 significantly attenuated pre-established fasting hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia, as well as glucose and insulin intolerance. GW1516 intervention markedly reduced aortic sinus lesions and lesion macrophages, whereas smooth muscle α-actin was unchanged and collagen deposition enhanced. In aortae, GW1516 increased the expression of the PPARδ-specific gene Adfp but not PPARα- or γ-specific genes. GW1516 intervention decreased the expression of aortic proinflammatory M1 cytokines, increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory M2 cytokine Arg1, and attenuated the iNos/Arg1 ratio. Enhanced mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, known to induce inflammatory cytokine expression in vitro, was enhanced in aortae of HFHC-fed mice. Furthermore, the HFHC diet impaired aortic insulin signaling through Akt and forkhead box O1, which was associated with elevated endoplasmic reticulum stress markers CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein and 78kDa glucose regulated protein. GW1516 intervention normalized mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, insulin signaling, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. CONCLUSIONS - Intervention with a PPARδ agonist inhibits aortic inflammation and attenuates the progression of pre-established atherosclerosis. © 2013 American Heart Association, Inc