Observations of an Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) Nest and Behavior of Hatchlings in Clark County, with anecdotal observations of other Alligator Nests in Arkansas

Historically, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) ranged through southern and much of eastern Arkansas. By the early 1900s, alligator populations had declined due to unregulated hunting, commercial exploitation, and habitat loss. In 1961, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) established protection of this species, and in 1967 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the alligator as an endangered species. The AGFC conducted a restocking program from 1972-1984, and the species made a full recovery in Arkansas. Still, little is known about reproductive biology in the state. We observed an alligator nest near Arkadelphia, Clark Co., the mound of which was 1.6 m long, 1.3 m across, and 43-56 cm in height. Because the nest had not hatched by a date late for the species, we opened the nest because some peeping by live hatchlings could be heard. The nest contained 33 eggs, of which 12 hatched the rest were unfertile or died early. We observed behaviors of baby alligators at the time of hatching from a wild nest, and the development of feeding behaviors while maintained in lab. Babies were aggressive and bit debris and each other while hatching, apparently to aid in their exit from the egg. Aggressive behaviors subsided, and young took crickets, earthworms, and shiners as food. After about 3 days, individuals who both grabbed parts of a shiner or earthworm began the spin behaviors to tear apart food items

The Patients We Have to See

A psychiatrist and health services researcher, specializing in serious mental illness and cancer, discusses the need for the integration of mental health care and cancer care to promote equity in patient care

Management of Children With Chronic Wet Cough and Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis CHEST Guideline and Expert Panel Report

BACKGROUND: Wet or productive cough is common in children with chronic cough. We formulated recommendations based on systematic reviews related to the management of chronic wet cough in children (aged METHODS: We used the CHEST expert cough panel\u27s protocol for systematic reviews and the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) methodologic guidelines and GRADE framework (the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Data from the systematic reviews in conjunction with patients\u27 values and preferences and the clinical context were used to form recommendations. Delphi methodology was used to obtain consensus for the recommendations/suggestions made. RESULTS: Combining data from the systematic reviews, we found high-quality evidence in children aged 4 weeks\u27 duration) wet/productive cough that using appropriate antibiotics improves cough resolution, and further investigations (eg, flexible bronchoscopy, chest CT scans, immunity tests) should be undertaken when specific cough pointers (eg, digital clubbing) are present. When the wet cough does not improve following 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, there is moderate-quality evidence that further investigations should be considered to look for an underlying disease. New recommendations include the recognition of the clinical diagnostic entity of protracted bacterial bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the 2006 Cough Guidelines, there is now high-quality evidence for some, but not all, aspects of the management of chronic wet cough in specialist settings. However, further studies (particularly in primary health) are required

Economic Interrelationships and Impacts of the Aviation/Aerospace Industry in the State of Florida Using Input-Output Analysis

The study provided a detailed description of the interrelatedness of the aviation and aerospace industry with principal industries in Florida and Volusia County (VC) using Input-Output (IO) analysis. The economic impact measures included not only direct economic output and industry employment descriptions but also described the multiplier effects in the form of indirect and induced impacts using data for 2012. This research concluded the average labor income of the aviation and aerospace industry was higher than average labor income in Florida and VC. A substantive difference between the Florida and VC average labor income for the aviation and aerospace industry existed because VC’s aerospace sector was only concentrated in the search, detection, and navigation instruments manufacturing sector. VC’s transport by air sector was one-fifth the size of Florida’s. Differences in the aviation and aerospace industry composition between Florida and VC are important because the economic impacts from a shock to the entire aviation and aerospace industry will be distributed differently. Since the aviation and aerospace average labor income is higher than the average labor income in Florida and VC, it would be a positive move for Florida’s economy to attract and grow the aviation and aerospace industry. It would be highly unlikely that the entirety of newly created jobs would be resourced from the local population. Nonetheless, growing the aviation and aerospace industry jobs would have a positive influence on the region’s economy and tax revenues. It would be a desirable course of action to spur the growth of this sector, as its direct effect would culminate with additional jobs in Florida that would bring higher wage jobs to the state. The interdependencies of the aviation and aerospace industry in Florida and VC with other industries had a positive indirect and induced effect in the economy providing almost a two-fold indirect and induced effect. However, the benefits were not equal. Florida’s average labor income of the most sensitive non-aviation and aerospace industry was 15% lower than the average Florida labor income. The average labor income in VC of the most sensitive non-aviation and aerospace industry was significantly higher than the average VC labor income. Industry interdependencies also presented risk. If the aviation and aerospace industry experiences a contraction, then through the interdependencies of the industries, the region would contract twice as much as the aviation and aerospace industry

The integration system for the Low Cost Combat Direction System

In a world where changes in technology occur each minute, the demand for a hard Real Time embedded computer system deployed on board naval ships not equipped with Naval Tactical Data System increases. As the demand increases, an important fact looms, a new approach to software development and system design is essential. The approaches used in our research started with the requirement specifying use of Ada as the design language with UNIX as the operating system, and selection of the commercial workstation rugged enough to withstand shipboard requirements. The system requires standard power with no special interface equipment for adaptation to shipboard application. Specific benefits include ease of maintenance and expansion of ongoing processes and applications, allowing the system to grow as the need grows. This study provides a detailed set of requirements, functional specifications, designs, and a prototype implementation of the Integration System for such a system. The approach taken is to implement of the Integration System for such a system. The approach taken is to implement the basic features of a Combat Direction System (CDS) on a commercially available microprocessor workstation. This Integration System for the Low Cost Combat Direction System meets all the requirements specified by the Naval Sea Systems Command. The code provides the basic elements and is designed for integration of a database, a user interface, and the ships sensors necessary to provide essential data to operate the system.Lieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Knowledge Gaps in the Fetal to Neonatal Transition of Infants With a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Clinical research for infants born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has until recently mainly focused on advances in prenatal and postnatal treatment. However, during the early perinatal transition period there are major physiological adaptations. For most infants these changes will happen uneventfully, but for CDH infants this marks the beginning of serious respiratory complications. In recent years, there is emerging evidence that the clinical management during the perinatal stabilization period in the delivery room may influence postnatal outcomes. Herein, we discuss major knowledge gaps and novel concepts that aim to optimize fetal to neonatal transition for infants with CDH. One such novel and interesting approach is performing resuscitation with an intact umbilical cord, the efficacy of this procedure is currently being investigated in several clinical trials. Furthermore, close evaluation of neonatal physiological parameters in the first 24 h of life might provide early clues concerning the severity of lung hypoplasia and the risk of adverse outcomes. We will provide an overview of trending concepts and discuss potential areas for future research

Evidencia en video de fratricidio y canibalismo, movimiento de polluelos e interacciones con depredadores en nidos de Circus cyaneus

During a nest-camera study of Hen Harriers (Circus cyaneus), we recorded siblicide, cannibalism, movement of nestlings by adult birds, and interactions with predators. We deployed cameras at 13 nests across three study areas in Ireland between 2008 and 2010. At a nest with two well-developed nestlings (approximately 25–30 d old), the older nestling killed its sibling and fed on it. This was the first documented case of siblicide in this species, to our knowledge. Recordings also revealed three other events of cannibalism in which one of the nestlings in a brood died from unknown causes and was then eaten by its siblings (n = 1), by the adult male (n = 1), or was used by the adult female to feed the remaining nestlings (n = 1). At two nests, recordings showed the adult female picking up and moving nestlings that were outside the nest cup. In addition, cameras recorded two instances of full brood predation by red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and an attack on a nest by a female Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) that had no apparent consequences for the nestlings or the female Hen Harrier. The behaviors reported here, which are difficult to observe directly, may have important consequences for our understanding of productivity and population dynamics of Hen Harriers.Durante un estudio sobre patrones de actividad de individuos reproductores de Circus cyaneus realizado con cámaras para monitoreo de nidos, registramos comportamientos de fratricidio, canibalismo, movimientos de polluelos e interacciones con depredadores. Colocamos cámaras en 13 nidos distribuidos en tres áreas de estudio en Irlanda entre 2008 y 2010. En un nido con dos polluelos en un estado de desarrollo avanzado (c. 25-30 días), el polluelo de mayor edad mató al otro y se alimentó de él. Este es el primer caso documentado de fratricidio en esta especie. Obtuvimos imágenes de otros tres casos de canibalismo en que uno o más polluelos fallecieron por causas desconocidas y sus cadáveres fueron usados como alimento por los otros polluelos (n = 1), por el macho adulto (n = 1) o por la hembra adulta para alimentar a los otros polluelos (n = 1). En dos nidos, las imágenes muestran a la hembra adulta repetidamente recogiendo polluelos que se alejan del nido para intentar llevarlos al nido. Por último, las cámaras captaron dos eventos de depredación de polluelos por parte de Vulpes vulpes y un enfrentamiento entre la hembra adulta de C. cyaneus y una hembra de Falco tinnunculus sin consecuencias para los polluelos o la hembra adulta. Estos comportamientos, difíciles de detectar mediante metodologías de monitoreo tradicionales, pueden tener consecuencias para el éxito reproductivo y la dinámica poblacional de esta especie

Poor sleep and inflammatory gene expression among care partners of persons living with dementia: a pilot trial of a behavioral sleep intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Poor sleep is associated with increased inflammation, thereby increasing the risk of chronic diseases and mortality. However, the effects of behavioral sleep interventions on the upstream inflammatory system are unknown among family care partners (CP). The present study explored the role of a behavioral sleep intervention program on inflammatory gene expression. METHODS: This was part of a randomized controlled trial of a sleep intervention for dementia care dyads with sleep problems. Thirty dyads were randomized to sleep intervention or control groups. Sleep outcomes for CP were assessed with 1 week of actigraphy and sleep diary, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Other information included CP demographics, body mass index, and intensity of caregiving tasks. All outcomes were collected at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: Neither group showed any significant differential changes in gene expression from baseline to post-treatment or 3-month follow-up. A decrease in inflammatory gene expression was significantly associated with more nights of good sleep (i.e. nights without trouble falling or staying asleep at night). This finding remained significant after controlling for group (intervention/control), timepoint (baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up), and CP characteristics (e.g. age and ethnicity). CONCLUSIONS: Although better sleep was associated with decreased inflammatory gene expression, this study did not demonstrate any benefits of a behavioral sleep intervention over control, most likely due to a small sample. Studies with larger sample sizes are needed to test the specific aspects of disturbed sleep that relate to inflammatory biology among CP of persons living with dementia

Community-Based Provision of Statin and Aspirin After the Detection of Coronary Artery Calcium Within a Community-Based Screening Cohort

ObjectivesWe examined the association of coronary artery calcium (CAC) detected on a screening exam with subsequent statin and aspirin usage in a healthy male screening cohort.BackgroundWhether the presence of CAC, an independent predictor of coronary heart disease outcomes, alters clinical management, such as the use of preventive medications, is unknown.MethodsMen (n = 1,640) ages 40 to 50 years (mean 42 years) were screened for coronary heart disease risk factors and CAC. The CAC scores and risk factors were reported to patients, and results were made available in the electronic medical record; however, medications were not prescribed or recommended by the study. During up to 6 years of subsequent annual structured telephone follow-up, we observed the community-based initiation and persistence of aspirin and statin therapy.ResultsA progressive increase in the incidence of pharmacotherapy was noted over time such that those with CAC were 3 times more likely to receive a statin (48.5% vs. 15.5%, p < 0.001) and also significantly more likely to receive aspirin (53.0% vs. 32.3%; p < 0.001) than those without CAC. In multivariable models controlling for National Cholesterol Education Program risk variables and baseline medication use, CAC was strongly and independently associated with use of either statin (odds ratio [OR] 3.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.66 to 4.69), aspirin (OR 3.05; 95% CI 2.30 to 4.05) or both (OR 6.97; 95% CI 4.81 to 10.10).ConclusionsIn this prospective cohort, the presence of coronary calcification was associated with an independent 3-fold greater likelihood of statin and aspirin usage

Crack path selection at the interface of wrought and wire+arc additive manufactured Ti–6Al–4V

Crack propagation deviation tendency in specimens containing an interface between wrought alloy substrate and Wire + Arc Additive Manufacture (WAAM) built Ti–6Al–4V is investigated from the viewpoints of microstructure, residual stress and bi-material system. It is found that a crack initiated at the interface tends to grow into the substrate that has equiaxed microstructure and lower resistance to fatigue crack propagation. Experimental observations are interpreted by finite element modelling of the effects of residual stress and mechanical property mismatch between the WAAM and wrought alloy. Residual stresses retained in the compact tension specimens are evaluated based on measured residual stress in the initial WAAM built wall. Cracks perpendicular to the interface kept a straight path owing to the symmetrical residual stress distribution. In this case the tangential stress in bi-material model is also symmetric and has the maximum value at the initial crack plane. In contrast, cracks parallel to the interface are inclined to grow towards the substrate due to the mode II (or sliding mode) stress intensity factor caused by the asymmetric residual stress field. Asymmetric tangential stress in the bi-material model also contributes to the observed crack deviation trend according to the maximum tangential stress criterion