Transboundary Movement of Atlantic Istiophorid Billfishes Among International and U.S. Domestic Management Areas Inferred from Mark-Recapture Studies

Billfish movements relative to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas management areas, as well as U.S. domestic data collection areas within the western North Atlantic basin, were investigated with mark-recapture data from 769 blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, 961 white marlin, Tetrapturus albidus, and 1,801 sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus. Linear displacement between release and recapture locations ranged from zero (all species) to 15,744 km (mean 575, median 119, SE 44) for blue marlin, 6,523 km (mean 719, median 216, SE 33) for white marlin, and 3,845 km (mean 294, median 98, SE 13) for sailfish. In total, 2,824 (80.0%) billfish were recaptured in the same management area of release. Days at liberty ranged from zero (all species) to 4,591 (mean 619, median 409, SE 24) for blue marlin, 5,488 (mean 692, median 448, SE 22) for white marlin, and 6,568 (mean 404, median 320, SE 11) for sailfish. The proportions (per species) of visits were highest in the Caribbean area for blue marlin and white marlin, and the Florida East Coast area for sailfish. Blue marlin and sailfish were nearly identical when comparing the percent of individuals vs. the number of areas visited. Overall, white marlin visited more areas than either blue marlin or sailfish. Seasonality was evident for all species, with overall results generally reflecting the efforts of the catch and release recreational fishing sector, particularly in the western North Atlantic. This information may be practical in reducing the uncertainties in billfish stock assessments and may offer valuable insight into management consideration of time-area closure regulations to reduce bycatch mortality of Atlantic billfishes

Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose in Black Caribbean and South Asian Canadians with Non-insulin Treated Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Qualitative Study of Patients’ Perspectives.

Abstract Background:To examine the views and current practice of SMBG among Black Caribbean and South Asian individuals with non-insulin treated Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Twelve participants completed semi-structured interviews that were guided by the Health Belief Model and analyzed using thematic network analysis. Results: The frequency of monitoring among participants varied from several times a day to once per week. Most participants expressed similar experiences regarding their views and practices of SMBG. Minor differences across gender and culture were observed. All participants understood the benefits, but not all viewed SMBG as beneficialto their personal diabetes management. SMBG can facilitate a better understanding and maintenance of self-care behaviours. However, it can trigger both positive and negative emotional responses, such as a sense of disappointment when high readings are not anticipated, resulting in emotional distress. Health care professionals play a key role in the way SMBG is perceived and used by patients. Conclusion:While the majority of participants value SMBG as a self-management tool, barriers exist that impede its practice, particularly its cost. How individuals cope with these barriers is integral to understanding why some patients adopt SMBG more than others

KEY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO COW/CALF COSTS, PROFITS AND PRODUCTION

In this study, cow/calf Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) data for Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico are used to analyze how total cost, production, and profitability are affected by management choices. Total cost is the financial cost associated with raising a calf through the weaning stage; profits are measured using the rate of return on assets; production is determined by pounds weaned per exposed female. Variables such as herd size, pounds of feed fed, calving percentage, death loss, length of breeding season and investment in asset groups are used in regressions. Key factors contributing to a cow/calf operation's costs, production, and profitability are identified.Livestock Production/Industries,

An examination of the precipitation delivery mechanisms for Dolleman Island, eastern Antarctic Peninsula

Copyright @ 2004 Wiley-BlackwellThe variability of size and source of significant precipitation events were studied at an Antarctic ice core drilling site: Dolleman Island (DI), located on the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Significant precipitation events that occur at DI were temporally located in the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) reanalysis data set, ERA-40. The annual and summer precipitation totals from ERA-40 at DI both show significant increases over the reanalysis period. Three-dimensional backwards air parcel trajectories were then run for 5 d using the ECMWF ERA-15 wind fields. Cluster analyses were performed on two sets of these backwards trajectories: all days in the range 1979–1992 (the climatological time-scale) and a subset of days when a significant precipitation event occurred. The principal air mass sources and delivery mechanisms were found to be the Weddell Sea via lee cyclogenesis, the South Atlantic when there was a weak circumpolar trough (CPT) and the South Pacific when the CPT was deep. The occurrence of precipitation bearing air masses arriving via a strong CPT was found to have a significant correlation with the southern annular mode (SAM); however, the arrival of air masses from the same region over the climatological time-scale showed no such correlation. Despite the dominance in both groups of back trajectories of the westerly circulation around Antarctica, some other key patterns were identified. Most notably there was a higher frequency of lee cyclogenesis events in the significant precipitation trajectories compared to the climatological time-scale. There was also a tendency for precipitation trajectories to come from more northerly latitudes, mostly from 50–70°S. The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) was found to have a strong influence on the mechanism by which the precipitation was delivered; the frequency of occurrence of precipitation from the east (west) of DI increased during El Niño (La Niña) events

SKA studies of nearby galaxies : star-formation, accretion processes and molecular gas across all environments

Copyright owned by the author(s) under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike LicenceThe SKA will be a transformational instrument in the study of our local Universe. In particular, by virtue of its high sensitivity (both to point sources and diffuse low surface brightness emission), angular resolution and the frequency ranges covered, the SKA will undertake a very wide range of astrophysical research in the field of nearby galaxies. By surveying vast numbers of nearby galaxies of all types with $\mu$Jy sensitivity and sub-arcsecond angular resolutions at radio wavelengths, the SKA will provide the cornerstone of our understanding of star-formation and accretion activity in the local Universe. In this chapter we outline the key continuum and molecular line science areas where the SKA, both during phase-1 and when it becomes the full SKA, will have a significant scientific impact.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT) and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT): Least significant change (LSC) for adjusted serum calcium

Introduction: The least significant change (LSC) is a term used in individuals in order to evaluate whether one measurement has changed significantly from the previous one. It is widely used when assessing bone mineral density (BMD) scans. To the best of our knowledge, there no such estimate available in the literature for patients with disorders of calcium metabolism. Our aim was to provide an estimate of the least significant change for albumin-adjusted calcium in patients with normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT) and primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Methods: We used the within subject standard deviation calculated in a population of NPHPT and PHPT patients and multiplied it by 2.77. Results: The LSC for NPHPT and PHPT were found to be 0.25 and 0.24 mmol/L respectively (1.00 and 0.96 mg/dL). In clinical practice, the value of 0.25 mmol/L could be used. Discussion: The least significant change given, could be used in two ways in these patients. First, it gives a range to which values are expected. This can provide some reassurance for the patient and the physician in cases of intermittent hypercalcaemia. Moreover, it can be a marker of whether an individual has an actual significant change of his calcium after parathyroid surgery

Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism : study of its prevalence and natural history

Context Normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT) is characterized by persistently normal calcium levels and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) values, after excluding other causes of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The prevalence of the disease varies greatly and the data on the natural history of this disease are sparse and inconclusive. Objectives The objectives of this study are to describe the prevalence of NPHPT and its natural history in a referral population and to compare the variability of serum calcium with a group of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Design A retrospective study was conducted over 5 years. Setting The setting for this study was a metabolic bone referral center. Patients A total of 6280 patients were referred for a bone mineral density measurement (BMD). Main Outcome Measures The prevalence and natural history of NPHPT and variability of calcium were the main outcome measures. Results We identified NPHPT patients using data from the day of the BMD measurement. We excluded patients with low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or vitamin D, or with no measurements available. Based on the evaluation of their medical files, we identified 11 patients with NPHPT (prevalence 0.18%). Only 4 patients had consistent normocalcemia throughout their follow-up, with only 2 also having consistently high PTH. None had consistently normal eGFR or vitamin D. Intermittent hypercalcemia was present in 7 of the 11 NPHPT patients. The mean adjusted calcium was found to be significantly lower in the NPHPT group compared with the PHPT group but higher than the control group. PTH was similar for NPHPT and PHPT. These 2 groups had similar variability in serum calcium. Conclusions NPHPT patients often have episodes of hypercalcemia. We believe that NPHPT is a mild form of PHPT

Diagnostic Communication in the Memory Clinic: a Conversation Analytic Perspective

Objectives: Whether and how patients should be told their dementia diagnosis, has been an area of much debate. While there is now recognition that early diagnosis is important for dementia care little research has looked at how dementia-related diagnostic information is actually verbally communicated. The limited previous research suggests that the absence of explicit terminology (e.g., use of the term Alzheimer's) is problematic. This paper interrogates this assumption through a conversation analysis of British naturalistic memory clinic interaction. Method: This paper is based on video-recordings of communication within a UK memory clinic. Appointments with 29 patients and accompanying persons were recorded, and the corpus was repeatedly listened to, in conjunction with the transcripts in order to identify the segments of talk where there was an action hearable as diagnostic delivery, that is where the clinician is evaluating the patient's condition. Results: Using a conversation analytic approach this analysis suggests that diagnostic communication, which is sensitive and responsive to the patient and their carers, is not predicated on the presence or absence of particular lexical choices. There is inherent complexity regarding dementia diagnosis, especially in the ‘early stages’, which is produced through and reflected in diagnostic talk in clinical encounters. Conclusion: In the context of continuity of dementia care, diagnostic information is communicated in a way that conforms to intersubjective norms of minimizing catastrophic reactions in medical communication, and is sensitive to problems associated with ‘insight’ in terms of delivery and receipt or non-receipt of diagnosis

The prevalence and natural history of normocalcaemic hypoparathyroidism in a United Kingdom referral population

Context Normocalcaemic hypoparathyroidism (NHYPO) is characterised by persistently low levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) with normal levels of calcium. There is little in current literature on this disease, with only two studies published on its prevalence whilst its natural history remains relatively unknown. Objectives to identify the prevalence of NHYPO in a UK referral population and to study the natural history of the disorder. Design Retrospective study. Follow up five years Patients 6280 patients referred for a BMD measurement in a Metabolic Bone referral centre Measurements Prevalence of NHYPO and variability of calcium Results Based on laboratory results on the index day, 22 patients with NHYPO were identified. Four patients were excluded due to non‐PTH induced hypocalcaemia and unconfirmed data. The final prevalence was 0.29%. Only 67% had persistent normocalcaemia, the rest having intermittent hypocalcaemia. Two of these patients also had persistently low PTH on two occasions. Most of the patients had one PTH measurement available. No patient developed permanent hypoparathyroidism. Conclusions The prevalence calculated from this UK referral population is lower when compared to results from previous studies. NHYPO patients often have episodes of hypocalcaemia with some cases having no apparent reason for calcium levels below the reference range