Rapid reshaping: The evolution of morphological changes in an introduced beach daisy

Thousands of species have been introduced to new ranges worldwide. These introductions provide opportunities for researchers to study evolutionary changes in form and function in response to new environmental conditions. However, almost all previous studies of morphological change in introduced species have compared introduced populations to populations from across the species' native range, so variation within native ranges probably confounds estimates of evolutionary change. In this study, we used micro-satellites to locate the source population for the beach daisy Arctotheca populifolia that had been introduced to eastern Australia. We then compared four introduced populations from Australia with their original South African source population in a common-environment experiment. Despite being separated for less than 100 years, source and introduced populations of A. populifolia display substantial heritable morphological differences. Contrary to the evolution of increased competitive ability hypothesis, introduced plants were shorter than source plants, and introduced and source plants did not differ in total biomass. Contrary to predictions based on higher rainfall in the introduced range, introduced plants had smaller, thicker leaves than source plants. Finally, while source plants develop lobed adult leaves, introduced plants retain their spathulate juvenile leaf shape into adulthood. These changes indicate that rapid evolution in introduced species happens, but not always in the direction predicted by theory

Design and Effectiveness of a Required Pre-Clinical Simulation-based Curriculum for Fundamental Clinical Skills and Procedures

For more than 20 years, medical literature has increasingly documented the need for students to learn, practice and demonstrate competence in basic clinical knowledge and skills. In 2001, the Louisiana State University Health Science Centers (LSUHSC) School of Medicine – New Orleans replaced its traditional Introduction in to Clinical Medicine (ICM) course with the Science and Practice of Medicine (SPM) course. The main component within the SPM course is the Clinical Skills Lab (CSL). The CSL teaches 30 plus skills to all pre-clinical medical students (Years 1 and 2). Since 2002, an annual longitudinal evaluation questionnaire was distributed to all medical students targeting the skills taught in the CSL. Students were asked to rate their self- confidence (Dreyfus and Likert-type) and estimate the number of times each clinical skill was performed (clinically/non-clinically). Of the 30 plus skills taught, 8 were selected for further evaluation. An analysis was performed on the eight skills selected to determine the effectiveness of the CSL. All students that participated in the CSL reported a significant improvement in self-confidence and in number performed in the clinically/non-clinically setting when compared to students that did not experience the CSL. For example, without CSL training, the percentage of students reported at the end of their second year self-perceived expertise as “novice” ranged from 21.4% (CPR) to 84.7% (GU catheterization). Students who completed the two-years CSL, only 7.8% rated their self-perceived expertise at the end of the second year as “novice” and 18.8% for GU catheterization. The CSL design is not to replace real clinical patient experiences. It's to provide early exposure, medial knowledge, professionalism and opportunity to practice skills in a patient free environment

Macro-level Advocacy for Mental Health Professionals: Promoting Social Justice for LGBTQ+ Survivors of Interpersonal Violence

Violence, threats of violence, and fear of violence, in its many forms—self-directed, interpersonal, and collective, is an everyday reality of life for LGBTQ+ people. For LGBTQ+ victim/survivors of interpersonal violence, a focus on individual-level mental health intervention ignores the sociopolitical context that contributes to perpetuating such violence. This chapter aims to help mental health practitioners incorporate a critical response, focused on macro-level intervention, into their practice to challenge and change the oppressive, discriminatory, and disempowering systems, structures, and attitudes that contribute to violence in the lives of LGBQT+ people. The chapter explains how to engage in social justice cause advocacy as an activist/ally activist using a six-part critical response strategy: get educated, get empowered, get connected, be a connector and initiator for change, get political, and take action

Perfusion Imaging in Healthy Human Aging

Healthy aging is the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age. For brain diseases, such as cognitive decline and stroke, age is one of the most important risk factors. Increasing evidence shows that functional impairment of the cerebral microvasculature and perfusion plays a critical role in these various age-related medical conditions. In this chapter, we will discuss cerebral perfusion, the effect of aging upon cerebral perfusion, and the potential mechanisms involved in age-related cerebrovascular dysfunction. Second, we will discuss the clinical application of positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging for evaluation cerebral perfusion and age-related changes

Nonspecific provocation of target organs in allergic diseases: EAACI-GA(2)LEN consensus report

It is widely accepted that nonspecific tissue reactivity is a distinct pathophysiological hallmark of allergic diseases, influenced by genetic and environmental factors different from those involved in causing sensitization and allergen response of target organs. This consensus document aims at reviewing procedures currently used for nonspecific provocation of the bronchi, nose and eye and for measuring their responsiveness to nonspecific stimuli