121 research outputs found
Partial Life History of Southern Hogchokers, Trinectes maculatus fasciatus, in the Back Bay of Biloxi, Mississippi
To address life history variation between hogchoker subspecies, length-weight relationships, length conversion factors, back-calculated lengths at age, and female age at maturity were determined for a southern hogchoker population in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Length-weight relationships of female and male hogchokers differed (P \u3c 0.05) only when the regression was based on total lengths. The standard length (SL)-weight equation was W = 0.000022·L3.136. Individuals of the southern population are more robust than those of the northern form, yet have similar SL-TL conversion factors. Otolith annuli were validated, with annuli forming between June and July. The age structure ranged from 1 to 5 yr, with the average SL at age 1 being 21.14 mm. Growth rates appear relatively constant over these 5 yr, with only slight decreases seen in the fourth and fifth year. Females are mature by age 3 or 4. This age structure is different from that reported for mid-Atlantic coast populations with both fewer age classes and lower lengths at age found in the Gulf specimens. The age at maturity for this population is intermediate between values for the northern subspecies in New York and Maryland. Southern hogchokers are smaller and possibly shorter lived than northern hogchokers, suggesting an altered life history in warmer environments
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Pericardial rupture leading to cardiac herniation after blunt trauma.
Pericardial rupture with cardiac herniation is a rare traumatic injury with an estimated incidence of 0.37% after blunt trauma. Most commonly occurring after high-speed impact, such as in motor vehicle or motorcycle collisions, pericardial rupture is associated with a high mortality rate. Radiologic diagnosis can be challenging; cross-sectional imaging findings can be suggestive of pericardial rupture but are often non-specific, and echocardiography windows are often obscured. Definitive diagnosis is generally made intra-operatively. Treatment involves reduction of the heart into normal anatomic position with repair of the pericardium, either primarily or with a patch. Fewer than 60 cases of pericardial rupture from blunt trauma have been reported in the literature. We describe a 65Â year old poly-trauma patient who sustained pericardial rupture with subsequent cardiac herniation with cardiovascular collapse, and we discuss the considerations and complexities of his successful repair
New Approach to Electron Microscopy Imaging of Gel Nanocomposites in situ
Characterization of Au-nanocomposites is routinely done with scattering techniques where the structure and ordering of nanoparticles can be analyzed. Imaging of Poloxamer gel-based Au-nanocomposites is usually limited to cryo-TEM imaging of cryo-microtomed thin sections of the specimen. While this approach is applicable for imaging of the individual nanoparticles and gauging their size distribution, it requires altering the state of the specimen and is prone to artifacts associated with preparation protocols. Use of Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (S/TEM) with fluid cell in situ provides an opportunity to analysis of these complex materials in their hydrated state with nanometer resolution, yet dispensing dense gel-based samples onto electron-transparent substrates remains challenging. We show that Poloxamer gel-based Au nanocomposites exhibiting thermoreversible behavior can be imaged in a fully hydrated state using a commercially available fluid cell holder, and we describe a specimen preparation method for depositing femtoliter amounts of gel-based nanocomposites directly onto the 50ânm-thick SiN window membranes. Ultimately, fluid cell S/TEM in situ imaging approach offers a pathway to visualization of individual nanoparticles within a thick gel media while maintaining the hydrated state of the carrier polymeric matrix
Short-term changes in nightlife attendance and patron intoxication following alcohol restrictions in Queensland, Australia
Background: This study aims to explore short-term changes following the introduction of alcohol restrictions (most notably 2 am to 3 am last drinks). We examined patterns of nightlife attendance, intoxication, and alcohol use among patrons shortly before and after restrictions were introduced in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane: the largest nighttime entertainment precinct of Queensland. Methods: Street-intercept patron interviews were conducted in Fortitude Valley in June (n = 497) and July (n = 562) 2016. A pre-post design was used to assess changes in time spent out drinking/partying prior to the interview, time of arrival in the precinct, pre-drinking, and blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Results: Regression models indicated that after the policy introduction, the proportion of people arriving at Fortitude Valley before 10:00 pm increased (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.04, 1.82). Participants reported going out, on average, one hour earlier after the intervention (ÎČ = â 0.17; 95% CI = 0.11, 0.22). There was a decrease (RRR = 0.58; 95% CI = 0.43, 0.79) in the proportion of participants who had a high level of intoxication (BAC â„0.10 g/dL) postintervention. No other significant differences were found. Conclusions: Earlier cessation of alcohol sales and stopping the sale of rapid intoxication drinks after midnight was associated with people arriving in Fortitude Valley earlier. Though legislative loopholes allowed some venues to continue trading to 5 am, the proportion of people in the precinct who were highly intoxicated decreased after the restriction. Further measurement will be required to determine whether the reduction has persisted
Selfâmanagement for adults with epilepsy: Aggregate Managing Epilepsy Well Network findings on depressive symptoms
ObjectiveTo assess depressive symptom outcomes in a pooled sample of epilepsy selfâmanagement randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) Network integrated research database (MEW DB).MethodsFive prospective RCTs involving 453 adults with epilepsy compared selfâmanagement intervention (n = 232) versus treatment as usual or waitâlist control outcomes (n = 221). Depression was assessed with the nineâitem Patient Health Questionnaire. Other variables included age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, income, marital status, seizure frequency, and quality of life. Followâup assessments were collapsed into a visit 2 and a visit 3; these were conducted postbaseline.ResultsMean age was 43.5 years (SD = 12.6), nearly twoâthirds were women, and nearly oneâthird were African American. Baseline sample characteristics were mostly similar in the selfâmanagement intervention group versus controls. At followâup, the selfâmanagement group had a significantly greater reduction in depression compared to controls at visit 2 (P < .0001) and visit 3 (P = .0002). Quality of life also significantly improved in the selfâmanagement group at visit 2 (P = .001) and visit 3 (P = .005).SignificanceAggregate MEW DB analysis of five RCTs found depressive symptom severity and quality of life significantly improved in individuals randomized to selfâmanagement intervention versus controls. Evidenceâbased epilepsy selfâmanagement programs should be made more broadly available in neurology practices.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151320/1/epi16322_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/151320/2/epi16322.pd
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