Hearing-Aid Safety: A Comparison of Estimated Threshold Shifts for Gains Recommended by Nal-Nl2 and Dsl M[i/O] Prescriptions for Children

Objective: To investigate the predicted threshold shift associated with the use of nonlinear hearing aids fitted to the NAL-NL2 or the DSL m[i/o] prescription for children with the same audiograms. For medium and high input levels, we asked: (1) How does predicted asymptotic threshold shifts (ATS) differ according to the choice of prescription? (2) How does predicted ATS vary with hearing level for gains prescribed by the two prescriptions? Design: A mathematical model consisting of the modified power law combined with equations for predicting temporary threshold shift (Macrae, 1994b) was used to predict ATS. Study sample: Predicted threshold shift were determined for 57 audiograms at medium and high input levels. Results: For the 57 audiograms, DSL m[i/o] gains for high input levels were associated with increased risk relative to NAL-NL2. The variation of ATS with hearing level suggests that NAL-NL2 gains became unsafe when hearing loss \u3e 90 dB HL. The gains prescribed by DSL m[i/o] became unsafe when hearing loss \u3e 80 dB HL at a medium input level, and \u3e 70 dB HL at a high input level. Conclusion: There is a risk of damage to hearing for children using nonlinear amplification. Vigilant checking for threshold shift is recommended

When the heart kills the liver: acute liver failure in congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure as a cause of acute liver failure is rarely documented with only a few cases

Deconstructing compassionate conservation

Compassionate conservation focuses on 4 tenets: first, do no harm; individuals matter; inclusivity of individual animals; and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals. Recently, compassionate conservation has been promoted as an alternative to conventional conservation philosophy. We believe examples presented by compassionate conservationists are deliberately or arbitrarily chosen to focus on mammals; inherently not compassionate; and offer ineffective conservation solutions. Compassionate conservation arbitrarily focuses on charismatic species, notably large predators and megaherbivores. The philosophy is not compassionate when it leaves invasive predators in the environment to cause harm to vastly more individuals of native species or uses the fear of harm by apex predators to terrorize mesopredators. Hindering the control of exotic species (megafauna, predators) in situ will not improve the conservation condition of the majority of biodiversity. The positions taken by so-called compassionate conservationists on particular species and on conservation actions could be extended to hinder other forms of conservation, including translocations, conservation fencing, and fertility control. Animal welfare is incredibly important to conservation, but ironically compassionate conservation does not offer the best welfare outcomes to animals and is often ineffective in achieving conservation goals. Consequently, compassionate conservation may threaten public and governmental support for conservation because of the limited understanding of conservation problems by the general public

Do herbivorous minnows have “plug-flow reactor” guts? Evidence from digestive enzyme activities, gastrointestinal fermentation, and luminal nutrient concentrations

Few investigations have empirically analyzed fish gut function in the context of chemical reactor models. In this study, digestive enzyme activities, levels of gastrointestinal fermentation products [short chain fatty acids (SCFA)], luminal nutrient concentrations, and the mass of gut contents were measured along the digestive tract in herbivorous and carnivorous minnows to ascertain whether their guts function as “plug-flow reactors” (PFRs). Four of the species, Campostoma anomalum, C. ornatum, C. oligolepis, and C. pauciradii, are members of a monophyletic herbivorous clade, whereas the fifth species, Nocomis micropogon, is a carnivore from an adjacent carnivorous clade. In the context of a PFR model, the activities of amylase, trypsin and lipase, and the concentrations of glucose, protein, and lipid were predicted to decrease moving from the proximal to the distal intestine. I found support for this as these enzyme activities and nutrient concentrations generally decreased moving distally along the intestine of the four Campostoma species. Furthermore, gut content mass and the low SCFA concentrations did not change (increase or decrease) along the gut of any species. Combined with a previous investigation suggesting that species of Campostoma have rapid gut throughput rates, the data presented here generally support Campostoma as having guts that function as PFRs. The carnivorous N. micropogon showed some differences in the measured parameters, which were interpreted in the contexts of intake and retention time to suggest that PFR function breaks down in this carnivorous species

Chitinozoa ze srodkowoordowickich formacji Golwyer i Nita w basenie Canning [Australia Zachodnia]

Chitinozoans from seven cores in the Middle Ordovician upper Goldwyer and Nita formations are documented, and three assemblages are delineated. Six out of twelve species found in the Canning Basin, in eastern Gondwana, are also found in Laurentia, confirming the close relationship between chitinozoans in the two palaeocontinents. The assemblages correlate with Zone 05 of Combaz & Peniguel, and the undefined zone immediately overlying the Cyathochitina jenkinsi Zone in the biozonation designed for Laurentia. The relationship between contemporaneous assemblages in Baltica, Avalonia and the northern Gondwana Domain is discussed with a small number of species in common with Baltica and Avalonia, and no definite links with northern Gondwana. Two new species Calpichitina windjana, and Belonechitina vibrissa are described.Omówiono Chitinozoa ze środkowoordowickich odcinków siedmiu rdzeni wiertniczych obejmujących strop formacji Goldwyer i formacji Nita z basenu Canning w Australii Zachodniej i zaliczono je do trzech zespołów. Stwierdzono ich użyteczność do wewnątrzbasenowej korealcji warstw darriwilianu (lanwirn). Sześć z dwunastu gatunków basenu Canning należącego do wschodniej Gondwany znanych jest także z Laurencji/Spitsbergenu (z wyłączeniem kosmopolitycznego gatunku B. micracantha), co potwierdza bliskie pokrewieństwa fauny chitinozoowej obu prakontynentów i wskazuje na możliwość zastosowania regionalnego podziału na biopoziomy z Laurencji również w odniesieniu do środkowego ordowiku Australii. Badania Chitinozoa z ordowiku Australii są wciąż nieliczne i ograniczone do basenów Canning i Georgina. Obok przedstawienia dokumentacji taksonomicznej odniesiono również obecne badania i nowoopisane zespoły do najobszerniejszego opracowania ordowickich Chitinozoa z basenu Canning z czterech wierceń obejmujących formacje Nambeet, Willara i Goldwyer (Combaz & Peniguel 1972). Opisane w niniejszej pracy zespoły można skorelować z tymi z poziomu 05 w basenie Canning (Combaz & Peninguel 1972). Największe podobieństwo wykazują opisane zespoły z górnej części formacji Goldwyer i formacji Nita do zespołów Chitinozoa z darriwilianu Kanady i mogą być korelowane z poziomem "niezdefiniowanym" bezpośrednio nadległym nad poziomem Cyathochitina jenkinsi w podziale stosowanym dla Laurencji, zaś w podziale przyjętym dla Gondwany, można je korelować z poziomem Laufeldochitina clavata lub Linochitina pissotensis. Spośród dwunastu gatunków opisanych z basenu Canning, dwa (Calpichitina windjana sp. n. =?Desmochijina complanata i Cyathochitina hunderumensis), a być może i trzeci (Belonechitina chydaea) znane są także z równowiekowych skał Baltiki i Avalonii, zaś jeden gatunek (Conochitina kryos) prawdopodobnie występuje również w Chinach. Nie stwierdzono wyraźnych powiązań z równowiekowymi zespołami północnej Gondwany. Wyniki paleobiogeograficznych badań autorów są zgodne z wynikami badań Achab et al. (1992) i wskazując, że zespoły środkowoordowickich Chitinozoa z Australii są najblizsze laurentyjskim, dobrze potwierdzają zależność rozmieszczenia gatunków Chitinozoa od szerokości geograficznej. Również związki pomiędzy równowiekowymi zespołami Baltiki, Avalonii i północnej Gondwany są zgodne z paleogeograficznymi rekonstrukcjami rozmieszczenia kontynentów w środkowym ordowiku (darriwilian), które umiejscawiają Laurencję i Australię w niskich szerokościach, Baltikę i Avalonię w średnich, a północną Gondwanę w pobliżu bieguna południowego. Opisano dwa nowe gatunki Calpichitina windjana i Belonechitina vibrissa

The environmental response of Middle Ordovician large organic walled microfossils from the Goldwyer and Nita Formations, Canning Basin, Western Australia

16 page(s

Finessing the unintended outcomes of price-cap adjustments: an electric utility multi-product perspective

Dewey Q. Seeto, C.K. Woo, Ira Horowit