Cattail Invasion of Sedge Meadows Following Hydrologic Disturbance in the Cowles Bog Wetland Complex, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

The vegetation of the 80.7 hectare Cowles Bog Wetland Complex has been altered from its historic mixed sedge-grass domination (Carex stricta, Calamagrostis canadensis) in lower areas and woody growth in slightly elevated areas , as based on archival aerial photographs from 1938-1982 and recent field data. Cattails (Typha spp.) were present in 1938 and made minor gains in cover through 1970. However, the major invasion of cattails appears to be associated with stabilized, increased water levels caused by seepage from diked ponds constructed upgradient from the wetland in the early 1970s. The water level increases are assumed to have been of a magnitude which adversely affected the sedge-grass community but did not preclude cattail growth. The cattail vegetation type increased in cover from 2.0 ha in 1938 to 9.7 ha in 1970 to 37.5 ha in 1982. The sedge-grass vegetation type correspondingly decreased from 56.4 ha to 43.0 ha to 5.7 ha. Cattail invasion appears to have occurred through establishment of disjunct colonies by seed reproduction; followed by vegetative expansion and merging of the colonies

A História da Alimentação: balizas historiográficas

Os M. pretenderam traçar um quadro da História da Alimentação, não como um novo ramo epistemológico da disciplina, mas como um campo em desenvolvimento de práticas e atividades especializadas, incluindo pesquisa, formação, publicações, associações, encontros acadêmicos, etc. Um breve relato das condições em que tal campo se assentou faz-se preceder de um panorama dos estudos de alimentação e temas correia tos, em geral, segundo cinco abardagens Ia biológica, a econômica, a social, a cultural e a filosófica!, assim como da identificação das contribuições mais relevantes da Antropologia, Arqueologia, Sociologia e Geografia. A fim de comentar a multiforme e volumosa bibliografia histórica, foi ela organizada segundo critérios morfológicos. A seguir, alguns tópicos importantes mereceram tratamento à parte: a fome, o alimento e o domínio religioso, as descobertas européias e a difusão mundial de alimentos, gosto e gastronomia. O artigo se encerra com um rápido balanço crítico da historiografia brasileira sobre o tema

No. 649 Ronald Apfelbaum

Transcript (52 pages) of an interview by Anne Peterson with Ronald I. Apfelbaum, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Utah, on 14 December 2011. Part of the University Oral History Project, Everett Cooley Collection tape no. U-3050Ronald Apfelbaum was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where he stayed until leaving for college. He talks about growing up and going to school in Atlantic City. Ronald attended Cornell University for three years as an electrical engineering student. He then opted for early acceptance into medical school at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. After finishing medical school Ronald took an internship in Chicago at Presbyterian St. Luke´s Hospital where he decided to go into neurosurgery. He did his residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx where he eventually became Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery. Ronald talks about his time as a captain in the US Air Force and his time in the New York Air National Guard. He was recruited to the University of Utah as a professor of surgery in 1986. Ronald discusses his career and his achievements while a surgeon at the University of Utah

Odontoid screw fixation for fresh and remote fractures

Fractures of the odontoid process are common, accounting for 10% to 20% of all cervical spine fractures. Odontoid process fractures are classified into three types depending on the location of the fracture line. Various treatment options are available for each of these fracture types and include application of a cervical orthosis, direct anterior screw fixation, and posterior cervical fusion. If a patient requires surgical treatment of an odontoid process fracture, the timing of treatment may affect fusion rates, particularly if direct anterior odontoid screw fixation is selected as the treatment method. For example, type II odontoid fractures treated within the first 6 months of injury with direct anterior odontoid screw fixation have an 88% fusion rate, whereas fractures treated after 18 months have only a 25% fusion rate. In this review, we discuss the etiology, biomechanics, diagnosis, and treatment (including factors affecting fusion such as timing and fracture orientation) options available for odontoid process fractures

Surgical management of cervical myelopathy: indications and techniques for multilevel cervical discectomy

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Surgery is usually required for treatment of cervical myelopathy to decompress the neural elements, restore lordosis, and stabilize the spine. By addressing these problems, the neurological deterioration may be halted. PURPOSE: Multilevel cervical discectomy and fusion offers several advantages over other approaches. The authors describe the technique, discuss the indications, and present the potential complications associated with it. METHODS: Decompression is achieved via discectomy and subsequent removal of the osteophytes using a curetting technique. Preparation of end plates in a parallel fashion allows for gapless grafting of allograft bone for enhancement of fusion. A dynamic plate and screw system strengthens the construct. RESULTS: A high rate of fusion can be obtained using the technique of multilevel cervical discectomy and fusion with acceptable levels of complications. It is especially useful in cases of spondylosis that have a kyphotic deformity because, in addition to anterior decompression, it allows reconstruction of the spine to help restore a lordotic curvature. CONCLUSIONS: Multilevel cervical discectomy and fusion has proven to be very effective in decompressing and stabilizing the spine for treatment of cervical myelopathy.

Transoral Approach and Extended Modifications for Lesions of the Ventral Foramen Magnum and Craniovertebral Junction

Objectives: To describe our method of performing the transoral approach and the extended approaches to the ventral foramen magnum and craniovertebral junction and review the technical aspects and operative nuances. Design: Review. Results: The transoral approach provides direct midline exposure to access extradural disease located at the craniovertebral junction and ventral foramen magnum. The corridor of exposure is generally limited by the extent to which the patient can open his or her mouth. The location of the hard palate relative to the craniovertebral junction limits superior exposure, whereas the mandible and base of the tongue limit the inferior exposure. In most cases, exposure can be obtained from the inferior clivus to the middle to lower C2 vertebral body. Extended transoral approaches can be performed to increase exposure if necessary. These approaches include transmaxillary (Le Fort I maxillotomy), transmaxillary with a midline palatal split (extended “open-door” maxillotomy), transpalatal, and median labiomandibular glossotomy (transmandibular split). Conclusions: The transoral approach effectively provides direct access to extradural midline lesions of the craniovertebral junction. A specialized retractor system can expose the inferior clivus to the C2 body. Extended approaches as described can access lesions that extend beyond these limits