Effects of Sex, Age, and Season on Plasma Steroids in Free-ranging Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum)

The Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is protected in several states due to its apparently declining numbers; information on its physiology is therefore of interest from both comparative endocrine and applied perspectives. We collected blood samples from free-ranging P. cornutum in Oklahoma from April to September 2005, spanning their complete active period. We determined plasma concentrations of the steroids, progesterone (P), testosterone (T), and corticosterone (CORT) by radioimmunoassay following chromatographic separation and 17β-estradiol (E2) by direct radioimmunoassay. T concentrations in breeding males were significantly higher than in non-breeding males. P showed no significant seasonal variation within either sex. CORT was significantly higher during the egg-laying season compared to breeding and non-breeding seasons for adult females and it was marginally higher in breeding than in non-breeding males (P = 0.055). CORT concentrations also significantly increased with handling in non-breeding males and egg-laying females. Perhaps most surprisingly, there were no significant sex differences in plasma concentrations of P and E2. Furthermore, with respect to seasonal differences, plasma E2 concentrations were significantly higher in breeding females than in egg-laying or non-breeding females, and they were significantly higher in breeding than in non-breeding males. During the non-breeding season, yearling males exhibited higher E2 concentrations than adult males; no other differences between the steroid concentrations of yearlings and adults were detected. In comparison to other vertebrates, the seasonal steroid profile of P. cornutum exhibited both expected and unexpected patterns, and our results illustrate the value of collecting such baseline data as a springboard for appropriate questions for future research

Utilizing the Land-Based Learning Model for the Clemson Agricultural Safety, Growing Safe Tigers Program

The Clemson Agricultural Safety, Growing Safe Tigers program was developed in 2019 with the goal of increasing the awareness of agricultural safety in South Carolina. By utilizing the land-based learning model, a need for agricultural safety education was identified through incident surveillance strategies. Agricultural incidents were quantified using AgInjuryNews.org and recommendations were made for the program to provide more tailored information to the four regions of South Carolina, based on the primary cause of incident for each region. Educators’ understanding of place and interconnected systems was determined pertaining to agricultural safety to provide a baseline for how agricultural education teachers in South Carolina utilize resources. With one focus group, 22 agricultural educators provided the program with information regarding their competencies and current needs to allow them to better educate youth about agricultural safety. Recommendations, based on themes, were provided to the program on curricular improvement to best aid agricultural educators in teaching agricultural safety. Intervention was achieved through the program’s field days. Four regular field days were hosted, along with one condensed field day. Regular field days were held at Clemson University Research and Education Centers (RECs), and the condensed field day was held on Clemson University’s main campus. A total of 365 students ages 14-18 attended the regular field days and 113 students attended the condensed field day. At all field days, pre and post-tests were administered to the students to gauge their agricultural safety knowledge that was gained during the field day. A total of 127 students completed both the pre and post-test at the regular field days. Three out of the four regular field days produced post-test means with statistically significant differences. The condensed field day produced 27 completed pre and post-tests with statistically significant differences between the pre-test and post-test means. By implementing an adaptation of the land-based learning model to identify the program as the partner for SBAE programs, including their agricultural education students and teachers, a better understanding of curriculum updates, educational strategies, and place-based needs can be developed to continue to increase awareness of agricultural safety

Improving nursing adherence to pediatric pain management bundle using the PDSA cycle

Given the current standards, pediatric post-operative pain management can be a distressing outcome to the patient and family. Adequate management of post-op pain in this population is a challenge despite the availability of evidence-based interventions combined to form care bundles. Tonsillectomies are common procedures in the pediatric population and often include moderate to severe pain with ineffective pain relief. Inadequate pain management leads to unplanned admissions, longer post anesthesia care unit (PACU) stays, slower oral intake, and longer recovery periods. In this project, two interventions were tested using the plan-do-study-act (PDSA) model for rapid cycle improvements. The first intervention was to improve the nurse\u27s knowledge of the pain management bundle. The second intervention was the modification of workflows to enhance the delivery of education to the patient and family. The objectives of this project were to increase nursing knowledge on evidence-based pain management bundles, reduce post-operative provider encounters for pain related complaints, improve the implementation of evidence-based practice pain management bundles, and standardize successful practice interventions

Validity and reliability of 3D marker based scapular motion analysis : a systematic review

Methods based on cutaneous markers are the most popular for the recording of three dimensional scapular motion analysis. Numerous methods have been evaluated, each showing different levels of accuracy and reliability. The aim of this review was to report the metrological properties of 3D scapular kinematic measurements using cutaneous markers and to make recommendations based on metrological evidence. A database search was conducted using relevant keywords and inclusion/exclusion criteria in 5 databases. 19 articles were included and assessed using a quality score. Concurrent validity and reliability were analyzed for each method. Six different methods are reported in the literature, each based on different marker locations and post collection computations. The acromion marker cluster (AMC) method coupled with a calibration of the scapula with the arm at rest is the most studied method. Below 90–100° of humeral elevation, this method is accurate to about 5° during arm flexion and 7° during arm abduction compared to palpation (average of the 3 scapular rotation errors). Good to excellent within-session reliability and moderate to excellent between-session reliability have been reported. The AMC method can be improved using different or multiple calibrations. Other methods using different marker locations or more markers on the scapula blade have been described but are less accurate than AMC methods. Based on current metrological evidence we would recommend (1) the use of an AMC located at the junction of the scapular spine and the acromion, (2) the use of a single calibration at rest if the task does not reach 90° of humeral elevation, (3) the use of a second calibration (at 90° or 120° of humeral elevation), or multiple calibrations above 90° of humeral elevation

Functional analysis of the shoulder complex in healthy and pathological subjects using three-dimensional motion analysis techniques

Motion capture is increasingly being used to assess the upper limb. The earliest study of the upper limb performed at Cardiff University was an investigative study using retro-reflective markers attached to the skin overlying the bony land marks of the thorax, clavicle, scapula, and humerus. Throughout the course of the current study this initial model and the experimental protocol have been revised. Particular attention was paid to accurate measurement of the kinematics of the scapula. The original model used markers placed directly over the bony land marks of the scapula to track its movement. In this study two alternative methods were assessed: a scapula locator, which is considered the "gold standard" in non invasive scapula tracking, but can only be used during static measurements and an acromion marker cluster, which can be used to assess dynamic movements of the shoulder. It was found that markers attached directly to the skin overlying the scapula bony landmarks can only be used to assess the level of glenohumeral elevation for arm elevations up to 80 during forward flexion. The acromion marker cluster was found to be suitable for tracking the movement of the scapula in most cases, except that it underestimated glenohumeral elevation during forward flexion due to a necessary design constraint. The first two applications of the model assessed the hypothesis that common activities of daily living can be performed without the capacity for full physiological range of motion of the scapulothoracic and glenohumeral articulations. It was found that there is an excess capacity of glenohumeral joint elevation not required for the majority of everyday tasks. However it was also found that there is no excess capacity in lateral rotation of the scapulothoracic articulation. Finally ethical approval was obtained to assess subjects with shoulder pathologies. Subjects were recruited from three different cohorts: mid-shaft clavicle fractures subjects with one or more previous glenohumeral dislocations and subjects with multi-directional instability. It was found that the method was able to distinguish between healthy subjects and patient cohorts, and also potentially between different patient cohorts. This study has served to develop the methods necessary to assess the kinematics of healthy and pathological shoulders and has provided preliminary results on the functionality of three patient cohorts.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Uptake and depuration of gold nanoparticles in Daphnia magna

This study presents a series of short-term studies (total duration 48 h) of uptake and depuration of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) in neonate Daphnia magna. Gold nanoparticles (Au NP) were used to study the influence of size, stabilizing agent and feeding on uptake and depuration kinetics and animal body burdens. 10 and 30 nm Au NP with different stabilizing agents [citrate (CIT) and mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUDA)] were tested in concentrations around 0.5 mg Au/L. Fast initial uptake was observed for all studied Au NP, with CIT stabilized Au NP showing similar rates independent of size and MUDA showing increased uptake for the smaller Au NP (MUDA 10 nm > CIT 10 nm, 30 nm > MUDA 30 nm). However, upon transfer to clean media no clear trend on depuration rates was found in terms of stabilizing agent or size. Independent of stabilizing agent, 10 nm Au NP resulted in higher residual whole-animal body burdens after 24 h depuration than 30 nm Au NP with residual body burdens about one order of magnitude higher of animals exposed to 10 nm Au NP. The presence of food (P. subcapitata) did not significantly affect the body burden after 24 h of exposure, but depuration was increased. While food addition is not necessary to ensure D. magna survival in the presented short-term test design, the influence of food on uptake and depuration kinetics is essential to consider in long term studies of ENP where food addition is necessary. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a short-term test design to assess the uptake and depuration of ENP in D. magna. The findings underlines that the assumptions behind the traditional way of quantifying bioconcentration are not fulfilled when ENPs are studied.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye