Fracking Up the Future: Recommendations for Hydraulic Fracturing in Gonzales County, TX

Despite its economic appeal, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has sparked bitter controversy. Allegations of toxic fracking fluids and fracking-induced droughts have made fracking a major public health and environmental concern in the United States. Fracking is dependent on local conditions to a large degree; therefore, we focus on Gonzales County, located within Texas’ Eagle Ford shale region, in order to address county-specific concerns. However, our findings can be applied to help create sustainable practices for fracking in any context. Unfortunately, regulations are limited due to the 2005 Energy Policy Act that prevents federal agencies, including the EPA, from regulating fracking. In order to minimize the external costs of fracking, our research indicates that effective regulations need to be enacted to protect people and the environment from major fracking concerns including overdrawn water sources, wastewater contamination, and chemical releases. We propose that implementing effective regulation will make fracking safer and more profitable for all stakeholders in the long run. Using the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, we provide a comparison model that is analogous to the current Railroad Commission of Texas’ regulations on fracking. Furthermore, we outline a case study on post-fracking water to demonstrate how a thorough analysis of current practices can create robust recommendations for safer and sustainable fracking practices in the Eagle Ford shale. Finally, our recommendations for fracking in Gonzales County provide possible solutions to many of the concerns associated with fracking

Pasture Management to Improve Dry Matter Intake

Agricultural producers are constantly looking for ways to maximize returns while reducing input costs. On dairy operations, a move from confinement feeding to pasture grazing offers the potential to reduce costs associated with harvest and storage of feed. In such a transition, producers sometimes report a decline in milk production and growth of livestock—both of which can strongly correlate to dry matter intake. Fortunately, dry matter intake is something that can be influenced by management practices. In this publication, we discuss the pasture management practices to improve dry matter intake

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The Influence of Maternal Dietary Intake During Mid-Gestation on Growth, Feedlot Performance, miRNA and mRNA Expression, and Carcass and Meat Quality of Resultant Offspring

This research analyzed how maternal plane of nutrition during mid-gestation impacts growth, blood metabolites, expression of microRNA and messenger RNA in skeletal muscle, feedlot performance, and carcass characteristics of progeny. Thirty-two cows were bred to the same Angus sire and fed to either maintain a body condition score (BCS) of 5.0 to 5.5 (maintenance [MAIN]; n = 15) or to lose 1 BCS (restriction [REST]; n = 17) over an 84-d period of mid-gestation. Following the second trimester, all cows were co-mingled and fed at maintenance for the remainder of gestation. Following the 84-d treatment period, REST cows had a lower (P < 0.01) BCS than MAIN cows. At the end of the third trimester, there was no difference (P = 0.78) in BCS between the treatment groups. There was no difference (P > 0.10) between offspring in birthweight, weaning weight, average daily gain, feed efficiency, dry matter intake, carcass yield, steak quality, or in circulating levels of glucose, cortisol, insulin, or insulin-like growth factor-1. REST offspring expressed more (P < 0.05) miR-133a, miR-133b, miR-181d, miR-214, miR-424 and miR-486 at weaning than MAIN offspring. At harvest, REST offspring expressed more (P < 0.05) miR-133a and less (P < 0.01) miR-486 than MAIN offspring. REST steaks were perceived as more tender (P = 0.05) by a trained sensory panel. These results indicate that maternal nutrient restriction during mid-gestation resulting in a loss of 1 BCS has an effect on microRNA expression in the skeletal muscle but does not alter postnatal growth potential, carcass quality, or end product quality of the offspring. This suggests that moderate restriction in maternal nutrition during the second trimester, which results in a drop in BCS that can be recovered during the third trimester, should not cause alarm for producers when considering future offspring performance

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

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Complications Associated with Insertion of Intrauterine Pressure Catheters: An Unusual Case of Uterine Hypertonicity and Uterine Perforation Resulting in Fetal Distress after Insertion of an Intrauterine Pressure Catheter

Insertion of intrauterine pressure catheters is a routine procedure performed in labor and delivery departments, with few associated complications. There are several reports of maternal and neonatal morbidity associated with the use of intrauterine pressure catheters and their rare adverse outcomes. We report an unusual case of uterine hypertonicity resulting in fetal distress, immediately after the placement of an intrauterine pressure catheter. An emergent Cesarean section was performed for fetal distress and revealed a 5 cm vertical rent in the posterior lower uterine segment. The uterine perforation was repaired intraoperatively. Mother and infant did well and were discharged home on postoperative day four

Central sensitization in opioid use disorder: a novel application of the American College of Rheumatology Fibromyalgia Survey Criteria

Abstract. Introduction:. Central sensitization (CS) involves dysfunctional central nervous system pain modulation resulting in heightened pain perception. Central sensitization is not commonly assessed among patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), despite the fact that pain has been implicated in the development, maintenance, and relapse of OUD and chronic opioid use may produce opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Central sensitization is a plausibly important mechanism underlying the complex relationship between OUD and chronic pain. However, this premise is largely untested. Methods:. Participants with OUD (n = 141) were recruited from an academic addiction treatment center in Columbus, Ohio. An established surrogate measure of CS, the American College of Rheumatology 2011 Fibromyalgia Survey Criteria, was administered using electronic survey. Participants also responded to questions about pain interference (Brief Pain Inventory), quality of life (RAND-36), and items regarding pain beliefs and expectations of pain and addiction treatment. Descriptive analyses, Spearman rho correlations, and Mann–Whitney U tests were performed. Results:. Hypothesized relationships were confirmed between degree of CS, pain interference, and health-related quality of life. Degree of CS was also positively correlated with greater endorsement of pain as a reason for the onset, maintenance, and escalation of OUD; treatment delay; and OUD relapse. Participants with the American College of Rheumatology 2011 Fibromyalgia Survey Criteria ≥13 had significantly greater endorsement of pain as a reason for delaying OUD treatment, continuing and increasing opioid use, and precipitating OUD relapse. Conclusions:. This study provides early evidence CS may underlie previously observed connections between clinically salient features of chronic pain and OUD, potentially informing future mechanistic research and precision treatment