Probable Displacement of Riffle-Dwelling Invertebrates by the Introduced Rusty Crayfish, \u3ci\u3eOrconectes Rusticus\u3c/i\u3e (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in a North-Central Wisconsin Stream

The rapid northward range expansion of the rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, and its negative effects on Wisconsin lakes have been the subjects of intense study throughout the last fifteen years. In this study, we investigated the possible impact of rusty crayfish on the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure of the Prairie River in north-central Wisconsin. Rusty crayfish and other invertebrates were collected during August and September, 1994, from three sections of the Prairie River. Rusty crayfish relative abundance increased significantly from the upper to middle, and middle to lower sections; and correlated negatively with a significant 77% decrease in total density of aquatic invertebrates between sections. Mean density of all important invertebrate families and trophic guilds decreased significantly between the upper and lower sections. Due to the similarity of most environmental conditions between river sections, decrease of invertebrates is attributed to the increased abundance of rusty crayfish and its interactions with the native rouna. Our results suggest that a high abundance of rusty crayfish may negatively impact Wisconsin lotic systems

First Report of the Neoephemeridae (Ephemeroptera) in Wisconsin

The mayfly family Neoephemeridae was discovered in Wisconsin for the first time and is represented by the species Neoephemera bicolor. Nymphs were collected from three sites in two rivers in northern Wisconsin. Adults were reared from nymphs. Some physical and chemical characteristics of the sample locations are discussed

Soil Moisture Depletion by Irrigated Crops Grown in South Dakota

Many of the failures and disappointing results in some of the new irrigation enterprises are a direct result of not meeting the moisture needs of the growing crop. Frequently the failure can be traced back to the under-designing of the distribution system. However, the main causes for failure are insufficient amounts of irrigation water, poor distribution, and applying the water too late to prevent a few clays of high moisture stress in the plant, which results in an inevitable loss in yield. If irrigation systems are designed to cover too many acres, the crops cannot be supplied with adequate water during periods of drouth. Oftentimes too much faith is placed in the probability of rain, and irrigation water is not applied in time to prevent serious effects of dry weather on the crop. The four potential sources of water the plants can use are: precipitation, stored soil moisture, ground water and irrigation water. The availability of water from any or all of these sources is the key to the prevention of drouth periods which may curtail yields and materially lower the quality of the produce. If, for instance, rainfall is inadequate to maintain the supply of stored moisture, then irrigation water must be supplied. For best irrigation results, it is not only important to know how much water to apply and when to apply it, but also where in the soil the plant obtains the moisture. Excessive quantities of irrigation water will cause moisture to pass below the root zone where it cannot be used by plants. Furthermore, it will carry plant nutrients downward and out of reach of the plant, cause additional erosion and aggravate drainage problems. (See more in text

Probable Displacement of Riffle-Dwelling Invertebrates by the Introduced Rusty Crayfish, \u3ci\u3eOrconectes Rusticus\u3c/i\u3e (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in a North-Central Wisconsin Stream

The rapid northward range expansion of the rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus, and its negative effects on Wisconsin lakes have been the subjects of intense study throughout the last fifteen years. In this study, we investigated the possible impact of rusty crayfish on the benthic macroinvertebrate community structure of the Prairie River in north-central Wisconsin. Rusty crayfish and other invertebrates were collected during August and September, 1994, from three sections of the Prairie River. Rusty crayfish relative abundance increased significantly from the upper to middle, and middle to lower sections; and correlated negatively with a significant 77% decrease in total density of aquatic invertebrates between sections. Mean density of all important invertebrate families and trophic guilds decreased significantly between the upper and lower sections. Due to the similarity of most environmental conditions between river sections, decrease of invertebrates is attributed to the increased abundance of rusty crayfish and its interactions with the native rouna. Our results suggest that a high abundance of rusty crayfish may negatively impact Wisconsin lotic systems

First Report of the Neoephemeridae (Ephemeroptera) in Wisconsin

The mayfly family Neoephemeridae was discovered in Wisconsin for the first time and is represented by the species Neoephemera bicolor. Nymphs were collected from three sites in two rivers in northern Wisconsin. Adults were reared from nymphs. Some physical and chemical characteristics of the sample locations are discussed

Consensus: guidelines: best practices for detection, assessment and management of suspected acute drug-induced liver injury during clinical trials in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND: The last decade has seen a rapid growth in the number of clinical trials enrolling patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Due to the underlying chronic liver disease, patients with NASH often require different approaches to the assessment and management of suspected drug-induced liver injury (DILI) compared to patients with healthy livers. However, currently no regulatory guidelines or position papers systematically address best practices pertaining to DILI in NASH clinical trials. AIMS: This publication focuses on best practices concerning the detection, monitoring, diagnosis and management of suspected acute DILI during clinical trials in patients with NASH. METHODS: This is one of several papers developed by the IQ DILI Initiative, comprised of members from 15 pharmaceutical companies, in collaboration with DILI experts from academia and regulatory agencies. This paper is based on extensive literature review, and discussions between industry members with expertise in drug safety and DILI experts from outside industry to achieve consensus on common questions related to this topic. RESULTS: Recommended best practices are outlined pertaining to hepatic inclusion and exclusion criteria, monitoring of liver tests, DILI detection, approach to a suspected DILI signal, causality assessment and hepatic discontinuation rules. CONCLUSIONS: This paper provides a framework for the approach to assessment and management of suspected acute DILI during clinical trials in patients with NASH

Epidemiology of Aortic Aneurysm Repair in the United States from 1993 to 2003

The epidemiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease has been well described over the preceding 50 years. This disease primarily affects elderly males with smoking, hypertension, and a positive family history contributing to an increased risk of aneurysm formation. The aging population as well as increased screening in high-risk populations has led some to suggest that the incidence of AAAs is increasing. The National Inpatient Sample (1993 2003), a national representative database, was used in this study to determine trends in mortality following AAA repair in the United States. In addition, the impact of the introduction of less invasive endovascular AAA repair was assessed. Overall rates of treated unruptured and ruptured AAAs remained stable (unruptured 12 to 15 100,000; ruptured 1 to 3 100,000). In 2003, 42.7 of unruptured and 8.8 of ruptured AAAs were repaired through an endovascular approach. Inhospital mortality following unruptured AAA repair continues to decline for open repair (5.3 to 4.7 , P 0.007). Mortality after elective endovascular AAA repair also has statistically decreased (2.1 to 1.0 , P 0.024) and remains lower than open repair. Mortality rates for ruptured AAAs following repair remain high (open: 46.5 to 40.7 , P 0.01; endovascular: 40.0 to 35.3 , P 0.823). These data suggest that the numbers of patients undergoing elective AAA repair have remained relatively stable despite the introduction of less invasive technology. A shift in the treatment paradigm is occurring with a higher percentage of patients subjected to elective endovascular AAA repair compared to open repair. This shift, at least in the short term, appears justified as the mortality in patients undergoing elective endovascular AAA repair is significantly reduced compared to patients undergoing open AAA repair.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73855/1/annals.1383.030.pd

Responsive glyco-poly(2-oxazoline)s: synthesis, cloud point tuning, and lectin binding

A new sugar-substituted 2-oxazoline monomer was prepared using the copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. Its copolymerization with 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline as well as 2-(dec-9-enyl)-2-oxazoline, yielding well-defined copolymers with the possibility to tune the properties by thiol-ene "click" reactions, is described. Extensive solubility studies on the corresponding glycocopolymers demonstrated that the lower critical solution temperature behavior and pH-responsiveness of these copolymers can be adjusted in water and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) depending on the choice of the thiol. By conjugation of 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranose and subsequent deprotection of the sugar moieties, the hydrophilicity of the copolymer could be increased significantly, allowing a cloud-point tuning in the physiological range. Furthermore, the binding capability of the glycosylated copoly(2-oxazoline) to concanavalin A was investigated