Demonstration of a multi-technique approach to assess glacial microbial populations in the field

The ability to perform microbial detection and characterization in-field at extreme environments, rather than on returned samples, has the potential to improve the efficiency, relevance and quantity of data from field campaigns. To date, few examples of this approach have been reported. Therefore, we demonstrate that the approach is feasible in subglacial environments by deploying four techniques for microbial detection: real-time polymerase chain reaction; microscopic fluorescence cell counts, adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence assay and recombinant Factor C assay (to detect lipopolysaccharide). Each technique was applied to 12 subglacial ice samples, 12 meltwater samples and two snow samples from Engabreen, Northern Norway. Using this multi-technique approach, the detected biomarker levels were as expected, being highest in debris-rich subglacial ice, moderate in glacial meltwater and low in clean ice (debris-poor) and snow. Principal component analysis was applied to the resulting dataset and could be performed in-field to rapidly aid the allocation of resources for further sample analysis. We anticipate that in-field data collection will allow for multiple rounds of sampling, analysis, interpretation and refinement within a single field campaign, resulting in the collection of larger and more appropriate datasets, ultimately with more efficient science return

Dublin Core Metadata Harvested Through OAI-PMH

The introduction in 2001 of the Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting (OAI-PMH) increased interest in and awareness of metadata quality issues relevant to digital library interoperability and the use of harvested metadata to build "union catalogs" of digital information resources. Practitioners have offered wide-ranging advice to metadata authors and have suggested metrics useful for measuring the quality of shareable metadata. Is there evidence of changes in metadata practice in response to such advice and/or as a result of an increased awareness of the importance of metadata interoperability? This paper looks at metadata records created over a six-year period that have been harvested by the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, and reports on quantitative and qualitative analyses of changes observed over time in shareable metadata quality.IMLS National Leadership Grant LG-02-02-0281published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

Transexuality Beauty and Love: The Beautiful Life of a Transgender Person in Love

Writings, artwork, and activities (crossword puzzle) about trans positivity, transphobia, sexual identity definitions, and beauty standards.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/feminist_zines/1005/thumbnail.jp

Building healthy and resilient communities through service equity project evaluation : June 2022

Working in partnership with the Deddick Valley Isolated Community Group and in collaboration with the Errinundra to Snowy Community Recovery Committee, CERC (formally CERG) evaluated and validated existing data and new information in support of an appropriate health service model for the Errinundra to Snowy District of Far East Gippsland

Trigger point dry needling for musculoskeletal pain and disability: a systematic review of comparative effectiveness research

Background: Dry needling (DN) has been proposed to reduce pain and improve function related to myofascial trigger points (MTrPs). Several primary studies and systematic reviews have been conducted to examine the effect of DN versus placebo. However the comparative effectiveness of DN and established interventions has yet to be established. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to determine whether DN was more effective than other established therapies to treat MTrPs. Data Sources: MEDLINE Complete, EBSCO, CINAHL, Sport Discus and Cochrane library databases were searched. Study Selection: Randomized controlled trials that used DN directed to MTrPs and used at least one other intervention method were included. Studies that had a placebo or sham group were excluded. Data Extraction: Of 394 records screened, 8 studies met the established criteria. The quality of each study was assessed using the PEDro scale. Data Synthesis: When DN was compared to standard therapy programs, 3 of the 4 studies found that DN was more effective in reducing pain and 1 found no difference. When DN was compared to stretching, DN reduced pain more effectively. Dry needling was not significantly more effective than high-power pain threshold ultrasound (US), laser, non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, and percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS). Limitations: Included studies were relatively small and some lacked sound methodology. Conclusions: The results are mixed on the effectiveness of DN over standard rehab. More large scale, high quality studies are needed before definitive decisions can be made about the role of DN in physical therapy practice

The use of ball pits and playpens in laboratory Lister Hooded male rats induces ultrasonic vocalisations indicating a more positive affective state and can reduce the welfare impacts of aversive procedures

The advancement and quality of science rely on research that is robust and unbiased in its experimental design, execution, analysis, and reproducibility. In preclinical research, a better understanding of animal emotions and refinement of their husbandry, housing, and handling are important goals in providing good animal welfare in a laboratory setting which underpins rigorous research quality. Induction of positive emotional state in animals is a key component of their well-being, and one approach is to increase their environmental complexity using, for example, ball pits or playpens in rats. In this study, we recorded 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalisations (USVs) during animals’ exposure to the ball pit and playpen. We have previously shown that 50 kHz USVs provide a graded and quantifiable measure of an animal’s emotional state, and here find that access to the ball pit and playpen increases 50 kHz USVs, indicative of a more positive affective state. Using our affective bias test (ABT) we next quantified the animals’ emotional response to an aversive intervention and whether this could be attenuated by access to a playpen. The playpen exposure completely mitigated the negative affective state induced by an anxiogenic drug when compared with animals who experienced the drug in the home cage. Together, these findings suggest ball pits and playpens provide a simple and effective method to improve the welfare of laboratory rats and reduce the cumulative suffering they experience from their housing conditions and minor, aversive procedures