Distribuzione spaziale dei popolamenti a <i>Lithophyllum byssoides</i>, a <i>Patella ferruginea</i> e della frangia a <i>Cystoseira</i> sp. nell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena (Sardegna-Italia) = Spatial distribution of <i>Lithophyllum byssoides</i>, <i>Patella ferruginea</i> assemblage and <i>Cystoseira</i> sp. fringe in The Maddalena Archipelago (Sardinia-Italy)

A study on the distribution of Lithophyllum byssoides, Patella ferruginea and Cystoseira sp. fringe populations, has been carried out in the national Park of the La Maddalena archipelago. Those species has been protected from international conventions as rare species in danger of extinction. The results of the study shows a good conservation state of the examined islands

Management of Elbow Dislocations in the National Football League.

Background: Although much literature exists regarding the treatment and management of elbow dislocations in the general population, little information is available regarding management in the athletic population. Furthermore, no literature is available regarding the postinjury treatment and timing of return to play in the contact or professional athlete. Purpose: To review the clinical course of elbow dislocations in professional football players and determine the timing of return to full participation. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All National Football League (NFL) athletes with elbow dislocations from 2000 through 2011 who returned to play during the season were identified from the NFL Injury Surveillance System (NFL ISS). Roster position, player activity, use of external bracing, and clinical course were reviewed. Mean number of days lost until full return to play was determined for players with elbow dislocations who returned in the same season. Results: From 2000 to 2011, a total of 62 elbow dislocations out of 35,324 injuries were recorded (0.17%); 40 (64.5%) dislocations occurred in defensive players, 12 (19.4%) were in offensive players; and 10 (16.1%) were during special teams play. Over half of the injuries (33/62, 53.2%) were sustained while tackling, and 4 (6.5%) patients required surgery. A total of 47 (75.8%) players who sustained this injury were able to return in the same season. For this group, the mean number of days lost in players treated conservatively (45/47) was 25.1 days (median, 23.0 days; range, 0.0-118 days), while that for players treated operatively (2/47) was 46.5 days (median, 46.5 days; range, 29-64 days). Mean return to play based on player position was 25.8 days for defensive players (n = 28; median, 21.5 days; range, 3.0-118 days), 24.1 days for offensive players (n = 11; median, 19 days; range, 2.0-59 days), and 25.6 days for special teams players (n = 8; median, 25.5 days; range, 0-44 days). Conclusion: Elbow dislocations comprise less than a half of a percent of all injuries sustained in the NFL. Most injuries occur during the act of tackling, with the majority of injured athletes playing a defensive position. Players treated nonoperatively missed a mean of 25.1 days, whereas those managed operatively missed a mean of 46.5 days

Ash Bed Analysis of the Cretaceous Eagle Ford Shale Using ID-TIMS U/Pb Methods: Implications for Biostratigraphic Refinement and Correlations Within the Western Interior Seaway

The Cenomanian-Turonian Eagle Ford Group was deposited within the Southern Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway (KWIS) and records the onset and duration of the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2). Lozier Canyon in Val Verde country, Texas provides a unique opportunity to integrate subsurface data and core with a laterally continuous and exposed outcrop section. This study provides U/Pb ID-TIMS (Isotope dilution thermal mass spectrometry) zircon ages for ash beds within the Eagle Ford Group. These high precision age markers are utilized for detailed regional correlations as well as calibration of globally recognizable isotopic events. Astrochronologic age models provide an estimate for the duration of the hiatus observed near the C/T boundary across much of North America, as well as reasonable estimates of significant isotopic events, biostratigrahic datums, and regionally identifiable stratigraphic surfaces. A minimum age constraint of the Buda/Eagle Ford contact is 97.14 ± 0.36 Ma, and a maximum age constraint for the Eagle Ford/Austin contact is 91.23 ± 0.13 Ma. ASM derived rock accumulation rates range from 0.599-0.794 cm/ka for the Lower Eagle Ford and from 0.866-0.876 cm/ka for the Upper Eagle Ford. Integration of bandpass short eccentricity signals, bulk δ^13C isotope data, and zircon age constraint from directly below the C/T unconformity suggests an overall duration of ~0.71 Ma for OAE2, which is similar with other duration estimates of this event throughout the KWIS. This suggests that Lozier Canyon contains a relatively complete OAE2 record, and potentially records the C-T boundary. Biostratigraphy and δ^13C suggest moderate (10’s-100’s ky) amount of time missing at the C-T unconformity

Nitrogen Spatial Heterogeneity Influences Diversity Following Restoration in a Ponderosa Pine Forest, Montana

The resource heterogeneity hypothesis (RHH) is frequently cited in the ecological literature as an important mechanism for maintaining species diversity. The RHH has rarely been evaluated in the context of restoration ecology in which a commonly cited goal is to restore diversity. In this study we focused oil the spatial heterogeneity of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) following restoration treatments in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)/Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga inenziesii) forest in western Montana, USA. Our objective was to evaluate relationships between understory species richness and TIN heterogeneity following mechanical thinning (thin-only), prescribed burning (burn-only), and mechanical thinning with prescribed burning (thin/burn) to discern the ecological and management implications of these restoration approaches. We employed a randomized block design, with three 9-ha replicates of each treatment and an untreated control. Within each treatment, we randomly established a 20 X 50 in (1000 m(2)) Plot in which we measured species richness across the entire plot and in 12 I-m 2 quadrats randomly placed within each larger plot. Additionally, we measured TIN from a grid consisting of 112 soil samples (0-5 cm) in each plot and computed standard deviations as a measure of heterogeneity. We found a correlation between the net increase in species richness and the TIN standard deviations one and two years following restoration treatments, supporting RHH. Using nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination and chi-squared analysis, we found that high and low TIN quadrats contained different understory communities in 2003 and 2004, further supporting RHH. A comparison of restoration treatments demonstrated that thin/burn and burn-only treatments created higher N heterogeneity relative to the control. We also found that within prescribed burn treatments, TIN heterogeneity was positively correlated with fine-fuel consumption, a variable reflecting burn severity. These findings may lead to more informed restoration decisions that consider treatment effects on understory diversity in ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir ecosystems

Clinical measurement of patellar tendon: accuracy and relationship to surgical tendon dimensions.

Patellar tendon width and length are commonly used for preoperative planning for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). In the study reported here, we assessed the accuracy of preoperative measurements made by palpation through the skin, and correlated these measurements with the actual dimensions of the tendons at surgery. Before making incisions in 53 patients undergoing ACLR with patellar tendon autograft, we measured patellar tendon length with the knee in full extension and in 90° of flexion, and tendon width with the knee in 90° of flexion. The tendon was then exposed, and its width was measured with the knee in 90° of flexion. The length of the central third of the tendon was measured after the graft was prepared. Mean patellar tendon length and width with the knee in 90° of flexion were 39 mm and 32 mm, respectively. No clinical difference was found between the estimated pre-incision and surgical widths. However, the estimated pre-incision length with the knee in full extension and in 90° of flexion was significantly shorter than the surgical length. Skin measurements can be used to accurately determine patellar tendon width before surgery, but measurements of length are not as reliable