An Overview of Longitudinal Data Analysis Methods for Neurological Research

The purpose of this article is to provide a concise, broad and readily accessible overview of longitudinal data analysis methods, aimed to be a practical guide for clinical investigators in neurology. In general, we advise that older, traditional methods, including (1) simple regression of the dependent variable on a time measure, (2) analyzing a single summary subject level number that indexes changes for each subject and (3) a general linear model approach with a fixed-subject effect, should be reserved for quick, simple or preliminary analyses. We advocate the general use of mixed-random and fixed-effect regression models for analyses of most longitudinal clinical studies. Under restrictive situations or to provide validation, we recommend: (1) repeated-measure analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), (2) ANCOVA for two time points, (3) generalized estimating equations and (4) latent growth curve/structural equation models

Sulfur Source, Rate, and Methods of Application for Polyethylene-mulched Tomato

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) was grown with polyethylene mulch and drip irrigation on a Millhopper fine sandy soil testing very high in P and low in organic matter during two seasons to evaluate the effect of S source, rate, and application methods on plant growth and yield of fruit.  Sulfur rate of 34 and 68 kg S.ha-1 were applied with  preplant (broadcast in the bed), drip (10 weekly drip application), and  by split applications (50% preplant and 50% drip).  In split applications, S sources evaluated were ammonium sulfate and ammonium thiosulfate.  Plant height was increased with S application from 0 to 68 kg S.ha-1 in both studies. However, response on plant dry weight only occurred in spring 1999. Total marketable yield was 17.9 tons.ha-1 with 0 kg S.ha-1 and was increased linearly to 48.1 tons.ha-1 with application of 68 kg S.ha-1 in Spring 1999, but no response to S was obtained in the Spring 1998 study. Measured variables were not affected by S source and methods of application.  Increasing S application from 0  to 68 kg S.ha-1 reduced leaf and plant tissue P concentration 14 and 12% at mid season, 26 and 25% at  late season sampling times, respectively.  S application of 68 kg S.ha-1 reduced soil pH approximately 0.3 unit at the end of the season in both studies.   Key  words:  drip irrigation, sulfur,  fertigation, Lycopersicon esculentu

Dietary Habits of the Gafftopsail Catfish, Bagre marinus, in Tarpon Bay and Pine Island South, Florida

A total of 507 gafftopsail catfish, Bagre marinus, were captured by hook and line in Tarpon Bay and neighboring Pine Island Sound, Florida from June 3, 1999 to May 6, 2000 in order to identify foods of this understudied species. A total of 86 (17.0%) specimens contained only unidentifiable food, and 187 (36.9%) specimens were found with empty stomachs. Based on the index of relative importance, the pink shrimp, Farfantepenaeus duorarum, was the most important food for specimens ≤200 mm fork length (FL), amphipods the most important food for specimens 201-300 mm FL, and unidentifiable fish the most important food for specimens ≥301 mm FL. Diet of B. marinus was also compared among four seasons: June through August; September through November, December through February, and March through May. Unidentifiable fish was the most important food for June through August and September through November. Clupeid fishes were the most important food for December through February. The amphipod Ampelisca abdita was the most important food for March through May. The wide variety of foods consumed by B. marinus indicates an opportunistic feeding strategy

The Historical Scene Investigation (HSI) Project: Examining the Use of Case Based Historical Instruction in the Fifth Grade Social Studies Classroom

The Historical Scene Investigation (HSI) project is designed to help teachers integrate historical investigations into their K-12 history instruction. The HSI project materials provide streamlined and aesthetically engaging Web-based historical investigation exercises. Each case exercise engages students in a historical investigation using rich and varied historical primary sources scaffolded by document-study prompts and activities requiring specific analytical skills and processes. The HSI project, originally developed in 2001 by the principal investigators of this study, has undergone numerous revisions in efforts to extend topical coverage and more explicitly align online materials with state content standards for history. In addition, revisions focused on matching the chronological sequence of cases to a sequence of historical thinking skills, and, finally, on ensuring that the technical aspects and functionality of the program more easily supported teacher and student use of each investigation. In this study, the authors examine the historical evidentiary reasoning of fifth-grade students following HSI-based instruction. In particular, they wanted to know if discrete, short-term exposure to the HSI materials and activities strengthened the development of historical thinking such as historical causality and perspective

Intestinal Angioedema Misdiagnosed as Recurrent Episodes of Gastroenteritis

Emergency physicians (EP) frequently encounter angioedema involving the lips and tongue. However, angioedema from Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors or hereditary angioedema (HAE) can present with gastrointestinal symptoms due to bowel wall involvement. EPs should begin to consider this clinical entity as a potential cause for abdominal pain and associated gastrointestinal symptoms given the common use of medications that can precipitate angioedema. We report a case of a 34-year-old woman who presented with abdominal cramping, vomiting and diarrhea due to an acute exacerbation of HAE

A Comparison of Macroepifauna Among Vegetated and Unvegetated Habitats in a South Florida Estuary Using a Passive Sampling Gear

We compared abundance, richness, diversity, and community structure of macroepifauna among the seagrasses Halodule wrightii, Thalassia testudinum, and Syringodium filiforme, and unvegetated substrate in Tarpon Bay, Caloosahatchee River estuary, Florida. Sampling was conducted using wire-mesh minnow traps deployed over fifty-six 24-h periods from Jan. 1999 to Jan. 2000. A total of 36, 35, 28, and 28 species were identified from Halodule, Thalassia, Syringodium, and unvegetated samples, respectively. The gastropod Nassarius vibex was the most abundant species from Halodule and unvegetated substrate, whereas the pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) was the most abundant species from Thalassia and Syringodium. Abundance of these codominant species varied seasonally throughout the study. For all taxa combined and for codominants, each seagrass contained greater averages than unvegetated substrate in each season. Seagrasses typically had higher average species richness and diversity than unvegetated substrate in each season. Results indicate that Tarpon Bay typifies subtropical estuaries in that its epifaunal community is dominated by few species, faunal abundances vary seasonally, and more organisms are found in seagrasses than in unvegetated areas. Our results serve as a foundation to compare against future research in an understudied system