Citizen science sheds light on the cryptic ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio

1. The ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio (Bleeker, 1852) is a rare and Endangered species of eagle ray, with a patchy distribution across the Indo‐West Pacific region, for which data are scarce. 2. Citizen science‐sourced data from online social media platforms were used to shed light on the distribution and ecology of the ornate eagle ray. 3. A total of 53 reports of A. vespertilio were found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, including four reports of dead specimens. All live reports occurred in shallow reef or lagoon ecosystems. Two individual A. vespertilio specimens were re‐sighted in the same general area following initial identification within 9 and 13 months at Ningaloo Reef and at Lady Elliot Island, Australia, respectively, as confirmed through their dorsal spot patterns. One report was at Richard's Bay in South Africa, the southernmost known location for this species in the Indian Ocean (28°S). Live reports were also reported from the Maldives, the Seychelles, Egypt (Red Sea), Philippines, Palau, and elsewhere on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. 4. Results indicate that citizen‐collected data can shed light on the occurrence and distribution of cryptic species, as well as complement monitoring programmes

Ultrasonography in acupuncture: Uses in education and research

This study aims to explore the potential use of ultrasound in locating the second posterior sacral foramen acupuncture point, quantifying depth of insertion and describing surrounding anatomical structures. We performed acupuncture needle insertion on a study team member. There were four steps in our experiment. First, the acupuncturist located the acupuncture point by palpation. Second, we used an ultrasound machine to visualize the structures surrounding the location of the acupuncture point and measure the depth required for needle insertion. Third, the acupuncturist inserted the acupuncture needle into the acupuncture point at an angle of 30°. Fourth, we performed another ultrasound scan to ensure that the needle was in the desired location. Results suggested that ultrasound could be used to locate the acupuncture point and estimate the depth of needle insertion. The needle was inserted to a depth of 4.0 cm to reach the surface of the sacral foramen. Based on Pythagoras theorem, taking a needle insertion angle of 30° and a needle insertion depth of 4.0 cm, the estimated perpendicular depth is 1.8 cm. An ultrasound scan corroborated the depth of 1.85 cm. The use of an ultrasound-guided technique for needle insertion in acupuncture practice could help standardize the treatment. Clinicians and students would be able to visualize and measure the depth of the sacral foramen acupuncture point, to guide the depth of needle insertion. This methodological guide could also be used to create a standard treatment protocol for research. A similar mathematical guide could also be created for other acupuncture points in future

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

American College of Rheumatology Provisional Criteria for Clinically Relevant Improvement in Children and Adolescents With Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

10.1002/acr.23834ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH715579-59

Intraday analysis of dually-listed stock (Sime Darby Berhad)

59 p.In this report, we analyse the intraday trading patterns on Sime Darby Berhad a Malaysian conglomerate dually listed on Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) and Stock Exchange of Singapore-Central Limit Order Book (SES-CLOB), and investigate the influence of lagging returns and volume of one listing on another. In this report, we analyse the intraday trading patterns on Sime Darby Berhad a Malaysian conglomerate dually listed on Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) and Stock Exchange of Singapore-Central Limit Order Book (SES-CLOB), and investigate the influence of lagging returns and volume of one listing on another.BUSINES

Ageing in Singapore : causes, implications and solutions.

This research addressed a number of issues that would occur in the future in the light of an ageing population in Singapore. Particularly, this research attempted to explain the various reasons for such a development, its impacts on the future generation and the various effective ways to solve any associated problems

Agency-client relationships in U.S. and South Korea

119 p.For most businesses, advertising is a vital tool to bring product awareness to potential customers. This would involve advertising agencies working closely with their clients to create convincing marketing messages. In recent years, the dissolution of agency-client relationships has became a major concern for both parties due to the substantial costs involved.BUSINES

Semantic richness effects in spoken word recognition: A lexical decision and semantic categorization megastudy

10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00976Frontiers in Psychology797

Citizen science sheds light on the cryptic ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio

1. The ornate eagle ray Aetomylaeus vespertilio (Bleeker, 1852) is a rare and Endangered species of eagle ray, with a patchy distribution across the Indo‐West Pacific region, for which data are scarce. 2. Citizen science‐sourced data from online social media platforms were used to shed light on the distribution and ecology of the ornate eagle ray. 3. A total of 53 reports of A. vespertilio were found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, including four reports of dead specimens. All live reports occurred in shallow reef or lagoon ecosystems. Two individual A. vespertilio specimens were re‐sighted in the same general area following initial identification within 9 and 13 months at Ningaloo Reef and at Lady Elliot Island, Australia, respectively, as confirmed through their dorsal spot patterns. One report was at Richard's Bay in South Africa, the southernmost known location for this species in the Indian Ocean (28°S). Live reports were also reported from the Maldives, the Seychelles, Egypt (Red Sea), Philippines, Palau, and elsewhere on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. 4. Results indicate that citizen‐collected data can shed light on the occurrence and distribution of cryptic species, as well as complement monitoring programmes