My family and other animals: mixed broods of great and blue tits in the Loch Lomond woodlands

No abstract available

Total hip replacement: improving cement fixation of the acetabular component

The primary aim of this study was to propose fixation techniques that would improve the cement fixation of the acetabular cup. This was done by (1) studying current practice, (2) creating FE models of the reconstructed acetabulum to predict improved fixation techniques, (3) validating the FE models by laboratory investigations and (4) proposing designs of jigs and drill bit that would assist orthopaedic surgeons use the recommended techniques

Minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repair: a case series

Background Distal biceps tendon repairs are commonly performed using open techniques. A minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repair technique using a speculum and hooded endoscope was developed to improve visualization, reduce soft-tissue dissection, and minimize complications. This paper describes the technique and reports the outcomes of 75 minimally invasive distal biceps tendon repairs. Methods The operation reports and outcomes of 75 patients who underwent distal biceps tendon repair using this technique between 2011 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Results Median time to follow-up was 12 months (interquartile range [IQR], 6–56 months). Primary outcomes were function as measured by the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH) questionnaire, and rate of complications. Median DASH score was 1.7 of 100 (IQR, 0–6.8). There were 2 of 75 (2.7%) re-ruptures of the distal tendon. There were no cases of vascular injury, proximal radius fracture, or posterior interosseous nerve, median, or ulnar nerve palsy. Conclusions In this series, minimally invasive distal biceps repair was safe and effective with a low rate of major complications. Recovery of function, as indicated by low DASH scores, was satisfactory, and inconvenience during recovery was minimized. Level of evidenceIV

The first assessment of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in amphibian populations in the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area of Guyana

- Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen threatening hundreds of amphibian species with extinction across the globe, especially in Latin America. Extensive investigations have revealed the presence of Bd in many South American countries, but there has been a lack of such research conducted in Guyana. We assessed the presence of Bd in the amphibian populations of the Kanuku Mountains Protected Area, in the south-west of the country. We swabbed two hundred and fifty anurans and processed the samples using standard Polymerase Chain Reaction analysis to identify cutaneous presence of Bd, making this the most comprehensive investigation into the existence of Bd in Guyana. All samples were negative for the presence of Bd DNA. Given the presence of Bd in countries neighbouring Guyana, and the severe declines it has caused in amphibian populations, we consider Guyana to be under severe threat. We advocate further surveillance in Guyana to fully determine the presence or absence of Bd, and we emphasise the importance of biosecurity and monitoring in mitigating a potential outbreak of this fungal pathogen

The Group Evolution Multiwavelength Study (GEMS): The near-infrared luminosity function of nearby galaxy groups

We present J and K-band luminosity functions (LF) for the Group Evolution Multiwavelength Study (GEMS) sample of 60 nearby groups of galaxies, with photometry from the 2MASS survey. We find that, as seen in B and R-band photometry of a subsample of these groups in our earlier work, the LFs of the X-ray dim groups (L_X < 10^41.7 erg/s) show a depletion of galaxies of intermediate luminosity around M_K = -23, within a radius 0.3R_500 from the centres of these groups. This feature is not seen in the X-ray brighter groups, nor in either kind of group when the LFs are determined all the way out to R_500. We conclude that an enhanced level of star formation is not responsible for the this feature. From the faint end of the LFs, we find support for the under-abundance of low surface brightness dwarfs in the 2MASS survey. We find that for all kinds of groups, the modelling of the luminosity function, with universal forms for the LFs of galaxies of different morphological types, fails when simultaneously required to fit the B and K-band LFs. This means that the dip-like features seen in LFs are not merely due to the varying proportions of galaxies of different morphological types among the X-ray dim and bright groups. We argue that this support our hypothesis that this feature is due to the enhanced merging of intermediate-mass galaxies in the dynamically sluggish environment of X-ray dim groups.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

VLF: An R package for the analysis of very low frequency variants in DNA sequences

Here, we introduce VLF, an R package to determine the distribution of very low frequency variants (VLFs) in nucleotide and amino acid sequences for the analysis of errors in DNA sequence records. The package allows users to assess VLFs in aligned and trimmed protein-coding sequences by automatically calculating the frequency of nucleotides or amino acids in each sequence position and outputting those that occur under a user-specified frequency (default of p = 0.001). These results can then be used to explore fundamental population genetic and phylogeographic patterns, mechanisms and processes at the microevolutionary level, such as nucleotide and amino acid sequence conservation.Our package extends earlier work pertaining to an implementation of VLF analysis in Microsoft Excel, which was found to be both computationally slow and error prone. We compare those results to our own herein. Results between the two implementations are found to be highly consistent for a large DNA barcode dataset of bird species. Differences in results are readily explained by both manual human error and inadequate Linnean taxonomy (specifically, species synonymy). Here, VLF is also applied to a subset of avian barcodes to assess the extent of biological artifacts at the species level for Canada goose (Branta canadensis), as well as within a large dataset of DNA barcodes for fishes of forensic and regulatory importance. The novelty of VLF and its benefit over the previous implementation include its high level of automation, speed, scalability and ease-of-use, each desirable characteristics which will be extremely valuable as more sequence data are rapidly accumulated in popular reference databases, such as BOLD and GenBank

Physically Interactive Games Increase VO2 Above Resting Metabolic Rate

The purpose of this study was to determine the energy cost, beyond resting metabolic rate (RMR), of playing select games on the Nintendo Wii for 30 contiguous minutes. Physically interactive games (i.e. Basic Run and Basic Step) increase energy expenditure above resting values compared to a sedentary game (Tanks!) and therefore may help individual’s become more active. Furthermore, Basic Run and Basic Step elicited MET values of 3.9 and 3.2, respectively, which is considered moderate-intensity exercise and could be used to meet daily recommendations for physical activity

Cocaine treatment and prenatal environment interact to disrupt intergenerational maternal behavior in rats.

The link between impaired maternal behavior (MB) and cocaine treatment could result from drug-induced decreases in maternal reactivity to offspring, prenatal drug exposure (PDE) in offspring that could alter their ability to elicit MB, or the interaction of both, which could subsequently impair MB of the 1st-generation dams. Following chronic or intermittent cocaine or saline treatment during gestation, rat dams rearing natural or cross-fostered litters were compared along with untreated dams for MB. Untreated 1st-generation females with differentially treated rearing dams and PDE were tested for MB with their natural litters. The authors report disruptions in MB in dams and their 1st-generation offspring, attributable to main and interaction effects of maternal treatment, litter PDE, and rearing experience

Interactive Video Gaming: Do We Feel Like We Are Exercising?

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and hedonics (liking or enjoyment) changed during 30 contiguous minutes of playing select, interactive video games on the Nintendo Wii system. A secondary purpose was to determine if RPE and liking differed among games.These data suggest that individuals do perceive difference in the amount of work they are performing during extended play of the same game or among sedentary and physically interactive games. Additionally, liking was similar during extended game play and among games suggesting that the physical interaction with the game may be superseded by interest in the game. Promoting the use of physically interactive gaming may be useful in helping individuals meet their daily recommendations for physical activity owing to their enjoyment which minimizes the perception of being physically demanding