Physicochemical effects on the abundance and distribution of larval fishes in the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana

The Atchafalaya River Basin (ARB) experiences overbank inundations as springtime temperatures warm that create conditions favorable for bacterial respiration, which results in hypoxic conditions (dissolved oxygen [DO] ≤ 2.0 mg/L). Previous ARB research has shown that pelagic larval fish populations are impacted by hypoxic conditions, and that larvae may use macrophyte beds (e.g., hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata) as DO refugia. I examined the relationship between physicochemistry and the distribution and abundance or larval fishes associated with ARB macrophyte beds during 2001-2002. Larval fishes were collected with light traps at two normoxic and hypoxic sites, and at each site, surface and subsurface traps were placed in open channels, hydrilla beds, and the interface between the channel and macrophyte beds (border). Of the 1,718 larval fishes representing 10 families that were collected, centrarchids Lepomis spp. (45.5%) and catostomids Ictiobus spp. (25.7%) dominated the 2001 assemblage, whereas percids Etheostoma spp. (29.1%) and centrarchids (17.8%) were most abundant in 2002. River stages between years were different from each other (P \u3c 0.001), and from the 42-year stage average (P \u3c 0.001). Between-year differences in flood pulse timing and duration resulted in higher pH, temperature, and DO levels, and 2.5 times more larval fishes in 2001. Overall, larval fish abundances under hypoxic conditions were severely reduced during both years. Under normoxic conditions, larval fishes were collected from all habitats, but were typically in higher abundance in nearshore areas regardless of cover conditions (hydrilla vs. no cover). Larvae that could withstand hypoxic conditions (centrarchids, clupeids, cyprinids, and percids) were typically found in nearshore areas associated with hydrilla beds. Because of the increased abundance of predatory invertebrates in these areas, the use of hydrilla beds by fish larvae as oxygen refugia may provide optimal physiochemical conditions at an increased predation risk. Man-made alterations in the ARB have changed circulation patterns on the inundated floodplain, which contribute to seasonally widespread hypoxic conditions and reductions in larval fish abundance. Thus, any management plan that increases the historic connection between the mainstem Atchafalaya River and the floodplain, and improves floodplain circulation would benefit larval fish production in the ARB

Safe Sleep Knowledge and Use of Provided Cribs in a Crib Delivery Program

Introduction. Risk of infant sleep-related death can be reducedthrough safe sleep practices. Barriers to infant safe sleep have beenmitigated through education and crib distribution, however, previousstudies have not explored whether distributed cribs are put to use. Methods. In a rural Michigan county, the Great Start Sleep Initiativesupplied cribs and education shortly after infant birth to familieswith high-risk of infant mortality, as assessed through comprehensiveinterviews with families by program staff. Participant knowledgewas evaluated using structured pre- and post-assessments beforeand after education. Further, a home visit was conducted to evaluatethe infant’s sleeping environment. Data from the program, collectedbetween January 2012 and December 2014, were evaluated. Results. Cribs and concomitant education were delivered to 75caregivers. Knowledge of safe sleep practices increased significantlyat follow-up with 67 caregivers (89%) affirming back positioning,68 (91%) endorsing removal of unsafe items or soft objects, suchas blankets, from the sleeping area, and 42 (56%) renouncing bedsharing.At the home visit, 74 caregivers (99%) were using a crib toput their infant down to sleep, 70 (93%) were using the providedcrib, and 67 (89%) had no unsafe items in the child’s sleeping area. Conclusion. Providing education to high-risk mothersresulted in improved safe sleep knowledge and providedcribs are used in these homes. KS J Med 2017;10(3):59-61

First Direct Double-Beta Decay Q-value Measurement of 82Se in Support of Understanding the Nature of the Neutrino

In anticipation of results from current and future double-beta decay studies, we report a measurement resulting in a 82Se double-beta decay Q-value of 2997.9(3) keV, an order of magnitude more precise than the currently accepted value. We also present preliminary results of a calculation of the 82Se neutrinoless double-beta decay nuclear matrix element that corrects in part for the small size of the shell model single-particle space. The results of this work are important for designing next generation double-beta decay experiments and for the theoretical interpretations of their observations.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter

Safe Sleep Practices of Kansas Birthing Hospitals

Introduction. Sleep-related death is tied with congenital anomaliesas the leading cause of infant mortality in Kansas, and externalrisk factors are present in 83% of these deaths. Hospitals can impactcaregiver intentions to follow risk-reduction strategies. This projectassessed the current practices and policies of Kansas hospitals withregard to safe sleep. Methods. A cross-sectional survey of existing safe sleep practicesand policies in Kansas hospitals was performed. Hospitals were categorizedbased on reported delivery volume and data were comparedacross hospital sizes. Results. Thirty-one of 73 (42%) contacted hospitals responded. Individualsurvey respondents represented various hospital departmentsincluding newborn/well-baby (68%), neonatal intensive care unit(3%) and other non-nursery departments or administration (29%).Fifty-eight percent of respondents reported staff were trained oninfant safe sleep; 44% of these held trainings annually. High volumehospitals tended to have more annual training than low or mid volumebirth hospitals. Thirty-nine percent reported a safe sleep policy,though most of these (67%) reported never auditing compliance. Thetop barrier to safe sleep education, regardless of delivery volume, wasconflicting patient and family member beliefs. Conclusions. Hospital promotion of infant safe sleep is being conductedin Kansas to varying degrees. High and mid volume birthhospitals may need to work more on formal auditing of safe sleeppractices, while low volume hospitals may need more staff training.Low volume hospitals also may benefit from access to additional caregivereducation materials. Finally, it is important to note hospitalsshould not be solely responsible for safe sleep education.KS J Med 2018;11(1):1-4

The Relationship of Personality Style and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children

Introduction. This study was to identify personality correlates ofchildren with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder(ADHD). The Jungian Personality Type dimensions primarilyconsidered were Sensing/Intuiting and Perceiving/Judging.A Sensing child is likely to be very present-centered. A Perceivingchild tends to be curious and resist order and structure. Methods. Children attending a general pediatric clinic with a diagnosisof ADHD were eligible to participate. Enrolled childrenwere administered the Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator forChildren. Binomial tests were performed comparing Perceivingand Sensing personality components to accepted population rates. Results. Participants (n = 117) were predominantly male(78%) with a median age of 10 years. The Sensing trait (72%)was more prevalent than expected, though prevalence for thePerceiving trait (44%) did not differ from population rates. Conclusions. Personality types occasioned with the diagnosisof ADHD could be useful in establishing/normalizingtreatment regimens and approaches to assist thesechildren and their families better. KS J Med 2017;10(2):26-29

On the possibility of using polycrystalline material in the development of structure-based generic assays

The correlation coefficients calculated between raw powder diffraction profiles can be used to identify ligand-bound/unbound states of lysozyme

Topological kink plasmons on magnetic-domain boundaries.

Two-dimensional topological materials bearing time reversal-breaking magnetic fields support protected one-way edge modes. Normally, these edge modes adhere to physical edges where material properties change abruptly. However, even in homogeneous materials, topology still permits a unique form of edge modes - kink modes - residing at the domain boundaries of magnetic fields within the materials. This scenario, despite being predicted in theory, has rarely been demonstrated experimentally. Here, we report our observation of topologically-protected high-frequency kink modes - kink magnetoplasmons (KMPs) - in a GaAs/AlGaAs two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system. These KMPs arise at a domain boundary projected from an externally-patterned magnetic field onto a uniform 2DEG. They propagate unidirectionally along the boundary, protected by a difference of gap Chern numbers ([Formula: see text]) in the two domains. They exhibit large tunability under an applied magnetic field or gate voltage, and clear signatures of nonreciprocity even under weak-coupling to evanescent photons

Embryonic expression and cloning of the murine GATA-3 gene.

We describe the embryonic expression pattern as well as the cloning and initial transcriptional regulatory analysis of the murine (m) GATA-3 gene. In situ hybridization shows that mGATA-3 mRNA accumulation is temporally and spatially regulated during early development: although found most abundantly in the placenta prior to 10 days of embryogenesis, mGATA-3 expression becomes restricted to specific cells within the embryonic central nervous system (in the mesencephalon, diencephalon, pons and inner ear) later in gestation. GATA-3 also shows a restricted expression pattern in the peripheral nervous system, including terminally differentiating cells in the cranial and sympathetic ganglia. In addition to this distinct pattern in the nervous system, mGATA-3 is also expressed in the embryonic kidney and the thymic rudiment, and further analysis showed that it is expressed throughout T lymphocyte differentiation. To begin to investigate how this complex gene expression pattern is elicited, cloning and transcriptional regulatory analyses of the mGATA-3 gene were initiated. At least two regulatory elements (one positive and one negative) appear to be required for appropriate tissue-restricted regulation after transfection of mGATA-3-directed reporter genes into cells that naturally express GATA-3 (T lymphocytes and neuroblastoma cells). Furthermore, this same region of the locus confers developmentally appropriate expression in transgenic mice, but only in a subset of the tissues that naturally express the gene