Stressors on the detectives of the Prince William County Police Department

Law enforcement is a highly stressful occupation, with law enforcement officials facing critical incidents such as violent crime scenes and potential loss of life. These incidents, however, are not a daily occurrence. The most common daily stressors associated with law enforcement originate from the law enforcement organization itself, the daily interactions with coworkers, the usage or misusage of the assigned equipment, and the individual\u27s perception of the work environment. This study collected survey data to analyze the prevalence and effects of the daily stressors perceived by the detectives of the Prince William County Police Department. This study identified three areas that required improvement in the work environment and provides the following recommendations; department should develop an ergonomics program, as well as, a procedure for the purchase of equipment, and a formal recognition program

Revision of the African Ants of the Bothroponera pumicosa Species Complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

African ants are poorly known, especially Afrotropical ants of the subfamily Ponerinae, despite recent advances. The genus Bothroponera (Ponerinae) includes the pumicosa, talpa and sulcata species complexes. We here present a revision of members of the pumicosa species complex. These ants can be characterized by having coarsely foveolate sculpture and by having either a raised a “v” or “u” shaped anterior medial border of the clypeus (anteclypeus), with or without a carina. Members of this complex lack the metatibial gland on the anterior side of the lower metatibia. Species in the Bothroponera pumicosa species complex are mainly distributed in the southern part of Africa. They include: Bothroponera aspera Arnold, 1962 (stat. nov.), B. berthoudi (Forel, 1901) (= variolosa syn. nov.), B. cariosa Emery, 1895, B. cavernosa (Roger, 1860), B. granosa (Roger, 1860), B. laevissima (Arnold, 1915), B. montivaga Arnold, 1947 (stat. nov.), B. pumicosa (Roger, 1860), B. strigulosa Emery, 1895, and B. umgodikulula Joma and Mackay, 2013. A key to the workers with diagnoses and comparisons is provided, together with illustrations of each species and colored photographs of the species, as well as maps and the distributions of each species

Ant Communities along a Gradient of Plant Succession in Mexican Tropical Coastal Dunes

Most of Mexican coastal dunes from the Gulf of Mexico have been severely disturbed by human activities. In the state of Veracruz, the La Mancha Reserve is a very well preserved coastal community of sand dunes, where plant successional gradients are determined by topography. In this study we assessed species richness, diversity and faunal composition of ant assemblages in four plant physiognomies along a gradient of plant succession: grassland, shrub, deciduous forest and subdeciduous forest. Using standardized and non-standardized sampling methods we found a total of 121 ant species distributed in 41 genera and seven subfamilies. Grassland was the poorest site (21 species) and subdeciduous forest the richest (102 species). Seven species, with records in ≥10% of samples, accounted 40.8% of total species occurrences: Solenopsis molesta (21.6%), S. geminata (19.5%), Azteca velox (14%), Brachymyrmex sp. 1LM (11.7%), Dorymyrmex bicolor (11.2%), Camponotus planatus (11%) and Pheidole susannae (10.7%). Faunal composition between sites was highly different. Nearly 40% of all species were found in a single site. In all sites but grassland we found high abundances of several species typical of disturbed ecosystems, indicating high levels of disturbance. A species similarity analysis clustered forests in one group and grassland and shrub in another, both groups separated by more than 60% of dissimilarity. Similarity of ant assemblages suggests that deciduous and subdeciduous forests represent advanced stages of two different and independent successional paths

The ants of North and Central America: the genus Mycocepurus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

ABSTRACT: We provide a review of the North American ants (north of Colombia) of the ant genus Mycocepurus, including keys to the workers and females, illustrations and distribution maps. The distribution of M. tardus is extended to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. The female of M. curvispinosus is described. RESUMEN: Se revisan las especies del género Mycocepurus de Norte América (al norte de Colombia). Se incluyen claves para la identificación de las obreras y las hembras, ilustraciones y mapas de distribución. Se amplia hacia el norte la distribución de M. tardus, incluyendo ahora Nicaragua y Costa Rica y se describe la hembra de M. curvispinosus

Football’s InfluencE on Lifelong health and Dementia risk (FIELD): protocol for a retrospective cohort study of former professional footballers

Introduction: In the past decade, evidence has emerged suggesting a potential link between contact sport participation and increased risk of late neurodegenerative disease, in particular chronic traumatic encephalopathy. While there remains a lack of clear evidence to test the hypothesis that contact sport participation is linked to an increased incidence of dementia, there is growing public concern regarding the risk. There is, therefore, a pressing need for research to gain greater understanding of the potential risks involved in contact sports participation, and to contextualise these within holistic health benefits of sport. Methods and analysis: Football’s InfluencE on Lifelong health and Dementia risk is designed as a retrospective cohort study, with the aim to analyse data from former professional footballers (FPF) in order to assess the incidence of neurodegenerative disease in this population. Comprehensive electronic medical and death records will be analysed and compared with those of a demographically matched population control cohort. As well as neurodegenerative disease incidence, all-cause, and disease-specific mortality, will be analysed in order to assess lifelong health. Cox proportional hazards models will be run to compare the data collected from FPFs to matched population controls. Ethics and dissemination: Approvals for study have been obtained from the University of Glasgow College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Project Number 200160147) and from National Health Service Scotland’s Public Benefits and Privacy Panel (Application 1718-0120)

Neurodegenerative disease mortality among former professional soccer players

Background: Neurodegenerative disorders have been reported in elite athletes who participated in contact sports. The incidence of neurodegenerative disease among former professional soccer players has not been well characterized. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare mortality from neurodegenerative disease among 7676 former professional soccer players (identified from databases of Scottish players) with that among 23,028 controls from the general population who were matched to the players on the basis of sex, age, and degree of social deprivation. Causes of death were determined from death certificates. Data on medications dispensed for the treatment of dementia in the two cohorts were also compared. Prescription information was obtained from the national Prescribing Information System. Results: Over a median of 18 years, 1180 former soccer players (15.4%) and 3807 controls (16.5%) died. All-cause mortality was lower among former players than among controls up to the age of 70 years and was higher thereafter. Mortality from ischemic heart disease was lower among former players than among controls (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.97; P=0.02), as was mortality from lung cancer (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.70; P<0.001). Mortality with neurodegenerative disease listed as the primary cause was 1.7% among former soccer players and 0.5% among controls (subhazard ratio [the hazard ratio adjusted for competing risks of death from ischemic heart disease and death from any cancer], 3.45; 95% CI, 2.11 to 5.62; P<0.001). Among former players, mortality with neurodegenerative disease listed as the primary or a contributory cause on the death certificate varied according to disease subtype and was highest among those with Alzheimer’s disease (hazard ratio [former players vs. controls], 5.07; 95% CI, 2.92 to 8.82; P<0.001) and lowest among those with Parkinson’s disease (hazard ratio, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.17 to 3.96; P=0.01). Dementia-related medications were prescribed more frequently to former players than to controls (odds ratio, 4.90; 95% CI, 3.81 to 6.31; P<0.001). Mortality with neurodegenerative disease listed as the primary or a contributory cause did not differ significantly between goalkeepers and outfield players (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.24; P=0.24), but dementia-related medications were prescribed less frequently to goalkeepers (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.89; P=0.02). Conclusions: In this retrospective epidemiologic analysis, mortality from neurodegenerative disease was higher and mortality from other common diseases lower among former Scottish professional soccer players than among matched controls. Dementia-related medications were prescribed more frequently to former players than to controls. These observations need to be confirmed in prospective matched-cohort studies. (Funded by the Football Association and Professional Footballers’ Association.

Historia natural de Camponotus simillimus indianus Forel, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): una hormiga domiciliaria en los Andes venezolanos | Natural history of Camponotus simillimus indianus Forel, 1879 (hymenoptera: formicidae): a house infesting ant from the venezuelan Andes

En este trabajo se mencionan algunos aspectos relacionados con la historia natural de Camponotus simillimus indianus (Forel, 1879) según observaciones realizadas en la localidad de Loma de Los Guamos del estado Mérida, en los Andes venezolanos. Se incluyen algunos comentarios taxonómicos acerca de la especie dentro del complejo picipes a partir de la revisión de especímenes depositados en museos y colecciones entomológicas. De acuerdo con observaciones de campo y laboratorio, C. simillimus indianus exhibió un comportamiento subordinado ante especies agresivas, con actividad principalmente nocturna fuera del nido. Se observaron nidos permanentes asociados a infraestructuras humanas, y nidos temporales asociados a áreas silvestres y domiciliares. En entrevistas hechas a los pobladores de la región se registra que el 93% de ellos reconocen a la especie como wachaco o bachaco negro y el 76% la considera una plaga domiciliaria (n = 43). Se discute cómo el carácter estable y temporal de los nidos sugiere la presencia de nidos parentales y satélites en C. simillimus indianus, siendo las colonias satélites las que prevalecen en el domicilio humano. Como aporte a su historia natural, se devela que C. simillimus indianus puede anidar en el hábitat humano y por lo tanto ser considerada como plaga en las regiones rurales de los Andes venezolanos. Palabras clave: Áreas rurales, Camponotini, complejo picipes, hormigas plaga, nidos satélites, Neotrópico, selva nublada, perturbación antrópica. ABSTRACT Some aspects related with the natural history of Camponotus simillimus indianus (Forel, 1879) are mentioned in this work based on observations from the village Loma de Los Guamos in Mérida State, in the Venezuelan Andes. Some taxonomic remarks about the species within the picipes complex are included based on specimens deposited in museums and entomological collections. According with field and laboratory observations, C. simillimus indianus shows subordinate behavior in presence of aggressive species and nocturnal foraging activity. Permanent nests associated with human infrastructures, and temporal nests associate to sylvatic and domiciliary areas were recorded. Surveys of villagers indicate that 93% of the residents recognize this species as “wachaco or bachaco negro”, and 76% of them consider it a house pest (n = 43). Since permanent and temporary nests were observed, we propose the presence of parental and satellite nests in C. simillimus indianus, being the satellite colonies the prevailing agents in the human domicile. Based on its natural history, C. simillimus indianus is able to nest in the human habit and so can be proposed as a house pest in the rural regions of the Venezuelan Andes. Key words: Rural areas, Camponotini, picipes complex, pest ants, satellite nests, Neotropics, cloudy forests, anthropic disturbance

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Autograft With Suture Tape Augmentation

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee, with injury usually occurring as a result of multidirectional sports. The incidence of ACL injury has continued to increase, with most patients opting for surgery to improve stability as well as permit a return to sport. Traditional methods of ACL reconstruction can achieve this but are not without their problems, including graft rupture, residual laxity, and donor-site morbidity. There is therefore a requirement for further research into newer, innovative surgical techniques to help improve complication rates. This article describes, with video illustration, ACL reconstruction using a reduced-size bone–patellar tendon–bone autograft with suture tape augmentation. The augmentation acts as a stabilizer during the early stages of graft incorporation while resisting against reinjury during an accelerated recovery. The ability to use a reduced-size graft decreases the donor-site burden, and retention of residual native ACL tissue, when possible, may help with proprioception