4,124 research outputs found
Are infestations of Cymomelanodactylus killing Acropora cytherea in the Chagos archipelago?
Associations between branching corals and infaunal crabs are well
known, mostly due to the beneficial effects of Trapezia and Tetralia
crabs in protecting host corals from crown-of-thorns starfish (e.g.,
Pratchett et al. 2000) and/or sedimentation (Stewart et al. 2006).
These crabs are obligate associates of live corals and highly prevalent
across suitable coral hosts, with 1â2 individuals per colony
(Patton 1994). Cymo melanodactylus (Fig. 1) are also prevalent in
branching corals, mostly Acropora, and are known to feed on live
coral tissue, but are generally found in low abundance (<3 per
colony) and do not significantly affect their host corals (e.g., Patton
1994). In the Chagos archipelago, however, infestations of Cymo
melanodactylus were found on recently dead and dying colonies of
Acropora cytherea
The normal ranges of cardiovascular parameters measured using the ultrasonic cardiac output monitor
The ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM) is a noninvasive transcutaneous continuous wave Doppler method for assessing hemodynamics. There are no published reference ranges for normal values in adults (aged 18â 60 years) for this device. This study aimed to (1) measure cardiovascular indices using USCOM in healthy adults aged 18â60 years; (2) combine these data with those for healthy children (aged 0â12), adolescents (aged 12â18), and the elderly (aged over 60) from our previously published studies in order to present normal ranges for all ages, and (3) establish normal ranges of USCOM-derived variables according to both weight and age. This was a population- based cross-sectional observational study of healthy Chinese subjects aged 0.5â89 years in Hong Kong. USCOM scans were performed on all subjects, to produce measurements including stroke volume, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance. Data from previously published studies (children, adolescents, and the elderly) were included. Normal ranges were defined as lying between the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles. A total of 2218 subjects were studied (mean age = 16.4, range = 0.5â89; 52% male). From previous studies, 1197 children (aged 0â12, 55% male), 590 adolescents (aged 12â18, 49% male), and 77 elderly (aged 60â89, 55% male) were included. New data were collected from 354 adults aged 18â60 (47% male). Normal ranges are presented according to age and weight. We present comprehensive normal ranges for hemodynamic parameters obtained with USCOM in healthy subjects of all ages from infancy to the elderly
Social influence and moment-to-moment changes in young adultsâ mood and psychotic symptoms
Background:
⢠Social situations can have a significant impact on young peopleâs mood and mental experiences.
⢠More specifically, we want to know how someoneâs perceived social influence in social situations relates to their mood and psychotic symptoms.
⢠Past studies have found connections between lower perceived social status (rank, comparison, and related concepts) and psychotic symptoms anxiety, depression, and other mood related psychopathology.
⢠We use experience sampling methods to capture moment-to-moment changes in mood and psychotic symptoms in a variety of social settings
Foot health education for people with rheumatoid arthritis : the practitioner's perspective
Background: Patient education is considered to be a key role for podiatrists in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patient education has undoubtedly led to improved clinical outcomes, however no attempts have been made to optimise its content or delivery to maximise benefits within the context of the foot affected by rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to identify the nature and content of podiatrists' foot health education for people with RA. Any potential barriers to its provision were also explored.
Methods: A focus group was conducted. The audio dialogue was recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a structured, thematic approach. The full transcription was verified by the focus group as an accurate account of what was said. The thematic analysis framework was verified by members of the research team to ensure validity of the data.
Results: Twelve members (all female) of the north west Podiatry Clinical Effectiveness Group for Rheumatology participated. Six overarching themes emerged: (i) the essence of patient education; (ii) the content; (iii) patient-centred approach to content and timing; (iv) barriers to provision; (v) the therapeutic relationship; and (vi) tools of the trade.
Conclusion: The study identified aspects of patient education that this group of podiatrists consider most important in relation to its: content, timing, delivery and barriers to its provision. General disease and foot health information in relation to RA together with a potential prognosis for foot health, the role of the podiatrist in management of foot health, and appropriate self-management strategies were considered to be key aspects of content, delivered according to the needs of the individual. Barriers to foot health education provision, including financial constraints and difficulties in establishing effective therapeutic relationships, were viewed as factors that strongly influenced foot health education provision. These data will contribute to the development of a patient-centred, negotiated approach to the provision of foot health education for people with RA
Natural Supergravity inflation
We identify a new mechanism in supergravity theories which leads to
successful inflation without any need for fine tuning. The simplest model
yields a spectrum of density fluctuations tilted away from scale-invariance and
negligible gravitational waves. We demonstrate that this is consistent with the
observed large-scale structure for a cold dark matter dominated, critical
density universe. The model can be tested through measurements of microwave
background anisotropy on small angular scales.Comment: 14 pages (revtex) including 3 figures (epsf); Minor changes to
Introduction and discussion and modified Figure 1; to appear in Phys. Lett.
B; Postscript also available from
ftp://ftp.physics.ox.ac.uk/pub/local/users/sarkar/SugraInfl.ps.g
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