Field Guide to Nonindigenous Marine Fishes of Florida

The purpose of this field guide is to provide information on nonindigenous (i.e., non-native) fishes that have been observed in Florida’s marine waters. Introductions of non-native marine fishes into Florida’s waters could be intentional or unintentional, and are likely from a variety of sources, including aquarium releases, escape from aquaculture, loss due to extreme weather events (e.g., flooding from hurricanes), and possibly transfer with ballast water or hull-fouling. Presently the lionfishes (Pterois volitans and P. miles) are the only non-native marine fish species known to be established along the coast of Florida. All other marine fishes in this guide (except the euryhaline species, see below) have infrequent occurrences, occur singly or in small groups, and have not yet become self-sustaining populations. Aquarium releases are one of the major pathways whereby nonindigenous fishes gain access to new environments (Ruiz et al. 1997; Fuller et al. 1999). Most of the nonindigenous marine fishes found in Florida’s waters are thought to be aquarium fishes that either were illegally released into the ocean or escaped captivity (e.g., during severe storm/flooding events). Indeed, south Florida is a hotspot for nonindigenous marine aquarium fishes (Semmens et al. 2004). Increased public awareness of the problems caused by released or escaped aquarium fishes may aid in stemming the frequency of releases. For example, HabitattitudeTM (www.habitattitude.net) is a national public awareness and partnership campaign that encourages aquarists and water gardeners to prevent the release of unwanted aquarium plants, fish and other animals. It prompts hobbyists to adopt alternative actions when dealing with these aquatic plants and animals. (PDF file contains 133 pages.

Drones or no drones, the violence will continue in Pakistan

Speaking from Islamabad, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recently hinted at the possibility of ending the use of the drone in Pakistan. Reflecting an earlier speech by President Obama at the National Defense University in Washington, DC, Secretary Kerry stated, “I think the programme will end as we have eliminated most of the threat and continue to eliminate it.” He continued, “I think the President has a very real timeline and we hope it’s going to be very, very soon.

“Miss, Miss, Look at What My Mother Sent Me from Jail”

When I tell people that I teach in a public school, especially when I go on to say that I teach at the Junior High level there is almost aIways snickering sounds and rolling eyes followed by horror stories from the past. They relate memories of crowded, noisy hallways filled with bullies; classrooms that felt like jail, teachers that were bored and lots of hormone driven mis-adventures. I just smile because I know it is all too true. I do not attempt to explain why, as an artist, I choose to return to the classroom after so many years or how I am inspired everyday by the energy and truth of the students I encounter. I have come to learn that this immediate reaction by others is only a small part of the whole experience

Reawakening

Artists continually, create art celebrating Western Society and Civilization as the epitome of human culture. Art is created that memorializes our environment, landscape and culture in ways that are inconsistent with the truth and evidence of our history. As an artist and creator of culture, I am working to create and promulgate new ideas and practices. I am aware that our social practices are partially formed by the imagery of the visual culture that surrounds us, and as an artist, I work to create a visual language that strives at questioning our understanding of community (the people and the environment that surrounds us), love (the love of oneself and our neighbor), nature (the interconnectedness of all things) and individuality (our understanding of self).   My desire to create and develop new cultural and social practices grows from the absence of benevolence and humanitarian values in contemporary western society ideas and practices. This need has given me purpose to create and pursue a career in art despite the evidence and history of my culture, so that I can create works that celebrate life despite the travesty that we, western society, have made of it. This work is to be an inquiry into our way of life, and the reason of my current art making.  M.F.A

Prospective Policy Analysis of the Kentucky HEALTH Demonstration Waiver

In January 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved Kentucky’s Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver, which gave the state approval to require work/community engagement as a condition of Medicaid eligibility, charge premiums of up to 4% household income, and add an incentive account for dental and vison services. The waiver projected nearly 100,000 fewer enrollees and $2.4 billion less in spending over the five-year demonstration period. Two days short of the waiver July 1st implementation date a federal judge ruled the waiver invalid. This finding held that the Health and Human Services Secretary’s judgement was arbitrary and capricious. This capstone project was a prospective policy analysis to determine the potential impact of the Kentucky HEALTH demonstration waiver and assess alternatives to the policy. A criteria-alternatives matrix was used to evaluate the policy alternatives. The most viable policy option at this time is for the state to continue Medicaid expansion. While the results are subjective the analytic method can be adjusted as data becomes available

ENG 1001G-016: Composition and Language

Uvod: Bakterijemija je stanje prisustva bakterija u krvi. Imuni odgovor na prisustvo bakterije može uzrokovati sepsu i septički šok što rezultira visokim mortalitetom. Za odgovarajuće liječenje sepse, iznimno značajnog kliničkog entiteta u kojem treba pravovremeno djelovati odgovarajućom antibiotskom terapijom potrebno je poznavati i najčešće uzročnike. Hemokultura se smatra zlatnim standardom detekcije i izolacije mikroorganizma iz krvi, a kao mikrobiološki dokaz prisutne bakterijemije. Za obradu hemokultura, kod sumnje na bakterijemiju Mikrobiološki laboratorij Zavoda za javno zdravstvo Međimurske županije koristi automatizirani sustav za detekciju mikroorganizma u krvi i primarno sterilnim tekućinama BacT/ALERT 3D. Cilj rada je utvrditi bakterijske uzročnike iz primarno sterilnih uzoraka (hemokultura) te njihovu osjetljivost na antibiotike u vremenskom periodu od 2011. do 2015. godine u Županijskoj bolnici Čakovec. Materijal i metode Iz mikrobiološkog laboratorija Zavoda za javno zdravstvo Međimurske županije, koji vrši mikrobiološku obradu svih bioloških uzoraka hospitaliziranih bolesnika u Županijskoj bolnici Čakovec prikupljeni su podaci o učinjenim hemokulturama za razdoblje od 2011. do 2015. godine. U obradi podataka korištene su metode deskriptivne statistike. Rezultati Broj obrađenih uzoraka krvi u ŽB Čakovec tijekom pet godina kretao se od 1286 do 1508 parova hemokultura. Udio pozitivnih je bio u rasponu od 14% do 21%, dok je udio kontaminiranih uzoraka iznosio od 4-7%. Vodeća tri mjesta među izolatima iz hemokultura zauzima E.coli; S.aureus i K.pneumoniae. Kod E. coli kao najčešćeg bakterijskog izolata iz hemokultura uočava se porast otpornosti na koamoksiklav od 13% u 2011. godini do 30% u 2015. godini. Osjetljivost na 3. generaciju cefalosporina (ceftriakson) je uglavnom ispod 10%. Osjetljivost na gentamicin je u zadnje tri godine vrlo niska. Nažalost, otpornost na kinolone je u svim godinama, osim 2014. iznad 10%. Na karbapeneme nema zabilježene otpornosti. Zaključak Vrlo je važno dobro poznavati očekivane patogene i pratiti njihovu osjetljivost na antibiotike, kako bi se prema tome mogla zasnivati dobra empirijska terapija. Komunikacija između zdravstvenih radnika na odjelima i osoblja u Mikrobiološkom laboratoriju doprinosi poboljšanju indikatora koji se prate, odnosno smanjuju stope kontaminacija. Pouzdani rezultati pretrage utječu na pravilan odabir antibiotske terapije, te posljedično na rezistenciju bakterija na antibiotike.Abstract: Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the blood. The immune response to the presence of bacteria in the blood can cause sepsis and septic shock which results in a high mortality rate. For an adequate treatment of sepsis, a severe clinical condition which requires a timely intervention with appropriate antibiotic therapy it is of great importance to know the most frequent causes. Blood culture is considered the best option for the detection and isolation of microorganisms from the blood as well as a microbiological proof of a present bacteremia. The aim of this study is to ascertain the causative bacterial agents in normally sterile fluids as well as their susceptibility to antibiotics within the period of 2011-2015 in the District Hospital of Čakovec. Material and Method: Data on processed blood cultures within the period of 2011 – 2015 were collected form the Microbiological Laboratory Institute for Public Health of the District of Međimurje, which carries out the microbiological analysis of all samples taken from hospitalized patients in the District Hospital of Čakovec. For data interpretation methods of descriptive statistics were used. Results The number of processed blood samples in the Distirct Hospital Čakovec is between 1286 and 1508 pairs of blood cultures. The relative share of positive samples is between 14% and 21%, while the relative share of contaminated samples accounts to 4 -7%. The three most frequent bacteria among the isolates from the blood cultures are E.coli; S.aureus and K.pneumoniae. With E. coli as the most frequent bacterial isolate from the blood cultures a growing resistance to co-amoxiclav from 13% in 2011 to 30% in 2015 can be perceived. The susceptibility to the third generation of cephalosporine (ceftriaxone) is mainly under 10%. The susceptibility to gentamicin has been very low in the past three years. Unfortunately, the resistance to quinolone has been above 10% in all years except 2014. To carbapenem no resistance has been registered. Conclusion It is very important to learn about the expected pathogens and follow their susceptibility to antibiotics to, hence, be able to develop a good empiric therapy. The communication between the medical staff of the hospital departments and the staff of the Microbiological Laboratory contributes to the improvement of the followed indicators, respectively to the reduction of the contamination rate. Reliable study results influence the correct choice of antibiotic therapy as well as, consequently, the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics