Master of Science

thesisCeratopsian dinosaurs are one of the most diverse dinosaur groups in the Cretaceous, and an outstanding question is how growth strategies of this group evolved in relation to their shift from small bipedal basal ceratopsians to larger quadrupedal ceratopsids. Previous bone histology studies have investigated several basal ceratopsians and centrosaurine ceratopsids (e.g., Centrosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, Einiosaurus), but no chasmosaurine ceratopsids have been investigated. I conducted histological analysis of humeri, ulnae, femora, tibiae, ribs, and ossified tendons from multiple specimens of two species of chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaurs from the late Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Kaiparowits Formation of southern Utah, Kosmoceratops richardsoni and Utahceratops gettyi, to examine bone microstructure indicators of growth rate and maturity. I also reexamined the long-bone histology of the ceratopsian dinosaurs Psittacosaurus mongoliensis, Protoceratops andrewsi, and Centrosaurus apertus. All elements of Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops examined are dominated by densely vascularized tissue, indicative of sustained fast growth. Radially-oriented vascular canals as well as dense osteocytes from throughout ontogeny are further indicators of rapid growth. I identified juvenile (UMNH VP 20444 & UMNH VP 20454), subadult (UMNH VP 16681) and adult (UMNH VP 16860, UMNH VP 16861, UMNH VP 12198) specimens of Utahceratops, and two subadult to adult specimens (UMNH VP 17000 & UMNH VP 21339) of Kosmoceratops. I conclude that basal ceratopsians grew more slowly than the large quadrupedal ceratopsids, as evidenced by a generally higher number of definitive growth lines prevalent throughout development. In contrast, the presence of dense osteocytes, and reticular and radially-oriented vascular canals are rapid growth indicators shared by all sampled large ceratopsids, and imply an elevated metabolism for all ceratopsians. Sampled specimens of Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops do not preserve any evidence of annual lines of arrested growth (LAGs). Placed in context with the number of LAGs observed in Alaskan Pachyrhinosaurus, Centrosaurus from Alberta, and Einosaurus from Montana, these data suggest a latitudinal gradient in the number of LAGs, which suggests that bone growth is reacting to the climate

Direct health care costs of treating seasonal affective disorder: a comparison of light therapy and fluoxetine.

Objective. To compare the direct mental health care costs between individuals with Seasonal Affective Disorder randomized to either fluoxetine or light therapy. Methods. Data from the CANSAD study was used. CANSAD was an 8-week multicentre double-blind study that randomized participants to receive either light therapy plus placebo capsules or placebo light therapy plus fluoxetine. Participants were aged 18-65 who met criteria for major depressive episodes with a seasonal (winter) pattern. Mental health care service use was collected for each subject for 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment and for 4 weeks prior to the end of treatment. All direct mental health care services costs were analysed, including inpatient and outpatient services, investigations, and medications. Results. The difference in mental health costs was significantly higher after treatment for the light therapy group compared to the medication group-a difference of $111.25 (z = -3.77, P = 0.000). However, when the amortized cost of the light box was taken into the account, the groups were switched with the fluoxetine group incurring greater direct care costs-a difference of$75.41 (z = -2.635, P = 0.008). Conclusion. The results suggest that individuals treated with medication had significantly less mental health care cost after-treatment compared to those treated with light therapy

Direct Health Care Costs of Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder: A Comparison of Light Therapy and Fluoxetine

Objective. To compare the direct mental health care costs between individuals with Seasonal Affective Disorder randomized to either fluoxetine or light therapy. Methods. Data from the CANSAD study was used. CANSAD was an 8-week multicentre double-blind study that randomized participants to receive either light therapy plus placebo capsules or placebo light therapy plus fluoxetine. Participants were aged 18–65 who met criteria for major depressive episodes with a seasonal (winter) pattern. Mental health care service use was collected for each subject for 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment and for 4 weeks prior to the end of treatment. All direct mental health care services costs were analysed, including inpatient and outpatient services, investigations, and medications. Results. The difference in mental health costs was significantly higher after treatment for the light therapy group compared to the medication group—a difference of $111.25 (z = −3.77, P = 0.000). However, when the amortized cost of the light box was taken into the account, the groups were switched with the fluoxetine group incurring greater direct care costs—a difference of$75.41 (z = −2.635, P = 0.008). Conclusion. The results suggest that individuals treated with medication had significantly less mental health care cost after-treatment compared to those treated with light therapy

Promises and challenges of personalized medicine to guide ARDS therapy

Identifying new effective treatments for the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), including COVID-19 ARDS, remains a challenge. The field of ARDS investigation is moving increasingly toward innovative approaches such as the personalization of therapy to biological and clinical sub-phenotypes. Additionally, there is growing recognition of the importance of the global context to identify effective ARDS treatments. This review highlights emerging opportunities and continued challenges for personalizing therapy for ARDS, from identifying treatable traits to innovative clinical trial design and recognition of patient-level factors as the field of critical care investigation moves forward into the twenty-first century

Design and implementation of the START (STem cells for ARDS Treatment) trial, a phase 1/2 trial of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells for the treatment of moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background: Despite advances in supportive care, moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high mortality rates, and novel therapies to treat this condition are needed. Compelling pre-clinical data from mouse, rat, sheep and ex vivo perfused human lung models support the use of human mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (MSCs) as a novel intravenous therapy for the early treatment of ARDS. Methods: This article describes the study design and challenges encountered during the implementation and phase 1 component of the START (STem cells for ARDS Treatment) trial, a phase 1/2 trial of bone marrow-derived human MSCs for moderate-severe ARDS. A trial enrolling 69 subjects is planned (9 subjects in phase 1, 60 subjects in phase 2 treated with MSCs or placebo in a 2:1 ratio). Results: This report describes study design features that are unique to a phase 1 trial in critically ill subjects and the specific challenges of implementation of a cell-based therapy trial in the ICU. Conclusions: Experience gained during the design and implementation of the START study will be useful to investigators planning future phase 1 clinical trials based in the ICU, as well as trials of cell-based therapy for other acute illnesses. Trial registration Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01775774 and NCT02097641

Interventions to improve work outcomes in work-related PTSD: a systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Posttraumatic stress disorder acquired at work can be debilitating both for workers and their employers. The disorder can result in increased sick leave, reduced productivity, and even unemployment. Furthermore, workers are especially unlikely to return to their previous place of employment after a traumatic incident at work because of the traumatic memories and symptoms of avoidance that typically accompany the disorder. Therefore, intervening in work-related PTSD becomes especially important in order to get workers back to the workplace.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science. The articles were independently screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by a quality assessment of all included articles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The systematic search identified seven articles for inclusion in the review. These consisted of six research articles and one systematic review. The review focused specifically on interventions using real exposure techniques for anxiety disorders in the workplace. In the research articles addressed in the current review, study populations included police officers, public transportation workers, and employees injured at work. The studies examined the effectiveness of EMDR, cognitive-behavioural techniques, and an integrative therapy approach called brief eclectic psychotherapy. Interestingly, 2 of the 6 research articles addressed add-on treatments for workplace PTSD, which were designed to treat workers with PTSD who failed to respond to traditional evidence-based psychotherapy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results of the current review suggest that work-related interventions show promise as effective strategies for promoting return to work in employees who acquired PTSD in the workplace. Further research is needed in this area to determine how different occupational groups with specific types of traumatic exposure might respond differently to work-tailored treatments.</p

Bone histology and growth of chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaurs from the Late Campanian Kaiparowits Formation, southern Utah

Ceratopsian dinosaurs are one of the most diverse dinosaur groups in the Cretaceous, and an outstanding question is how growth strategies of this group evolved in relation to their shift from small bipedal basal ceratopsians to larger quadrupedal ceratopsids. Previous bone histology studies have investigated several basal ceratopsians and centrosaurine ceratopsids (e.g., Centrosaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, Einiosaurus), but no chasmosaurine ceratopsids have been investigated. I conducted histological analysis of humeri, ulnae, femora, tibiae, ribs, and ossified tendons from multiple specimens of two species of chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaurs from the late Campanian (Upper Cretaceous) Kaiparowits Formation of southern Utah, Kosmoceratops richardsoni and Utahceratops gettyi, to examine bone microstructure indicators of growth rate and maturity. I also reexamined the long-bone histology of the ceratopsian dinosaurs Psittacosaurus mongoliensis, Protoceratops andrewsi, and Centrosaurus apertus . All elements of Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops examined are dominated by densely vascularized tissue, indicative of sustained fast growth. Radially-oriented vascular canals as well as dense osteocytes from throughout ontogeny are further indicators of rapid growth. I identified juvenile (UMNH VP 20444, UMNH VP 20454), subadult (UMNH VP 16681) and adult (UMNH VP 16860, UMNH VP 16861, UMNH VP 12198) specimens of Utahceratops, and two subadult to adult specimens (UMNH VP 17000, UMNH VP 21339) of Kosmoceratops. I conclude that basal ceratopsians grew more slowly than the large quadrupedal ceratopsids, as evidenced by a generally higher number of definitive growth lines prevalent throughout development. In contrast, the presence of dense osteocytes, and reticular and radially-oriented vascular canals are rapid growth indicators shared by all sampled large ceratopsids, and imply an elevated metabolism for all ceratopsians. Sampled specimens of Utahceratops and Kosmoceratops do not preserve any evidence of annual lines of arrested growth (LAGs). Placed in context with the number of LAGs observed in Alaskan Pachyrhinosaurus, Centrosaurus from Alberta, and Einosaurus from Montana, these data suggest a latitudinal gradient in the number of LAGs, which suggests that bone growth is reacting to the climate

Digital and Physical Curation of Illegally-Collected Vertebrate Fossils with Sparse, But Critical, Locality Data

Part of SPNHC 2019 | https://osf.io/view/SPNHC201

Long Oversized Automatic Shelving

Part of SPNHC 2019 | https://osf.io/view/SPNHC201