New Records for \u3ci\u3eEuhrychiopsis Lecontei\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Their Densities in Wisconsin Lakes

The native aquatic weevil, Euhrychiopsis lecontei is currently being researched as a potential biological control for the exotic aquatic macrophyte Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), yet little is known about its specific distribution in North America. In this study, E. lecontei was collected in 25 of 27 lakes surveyed for the weevil in Wisconsin, greatly increasing the known distribution of the species in this state. E. lecontei densities evaluated in 14 Wisconsin lakes ranged from \u3c0.01 to 1.91 weevils per apical stem of milfoil. These new records indicate that E. lecontei is widespread throughout Wisconsin and is associated with natural declines of M. spicatum in some lakes. Additional sampling for E. lecontei and research on its ecology and life history are needed to understand the role of this organism in aquatic ecosystems

Temporal and spatial changes in milfoil distribution and biomass associated with weevils in Fish Lake, WI

During the course of an eight year monitoring effort, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources documented a significant decline in milfoil biomass and distribution in Fish Lake, Wisconsin. Average milfoil biomass declined by 40- 50% from 374-524 g dw m -2 during 1991-93 to 265 g dw m -2 during both 1994 and 1995. Milfoil recovered fully in 1996- 98 to 446- 564 g dw m -2 . The size of the milfoil bed, as discerned from aerial photographs, shrank from a maximum coverage of 40 ha in 1991 to less than 20 ha during 1995. During the “crash” of 1994-95, milfoil plants exhibited typical signs of weevil-induced damage, including darkened, brittle, hollowed-out growing tips, and the arching and collapse of stems associated with loss of buoyancy. Monitoring of weevils and stem damage during 1995-98 showed highest densities and heaviest damage occurred near shore and subsequently fanned out into deeper water from core infestation sites each spring. The extent of milfoil stem damage was positively correlated with weevil densities (monthly sampling). However, weevil densities and stem damage were lower during 1995 (when milfoil biomass was in decline) than during 1996-98 (when milfoil biomass was fully recovered)

Euhrychiopsis lecontei distribution, abundance, and experimental augmentations for Eurasian watermilfoil control in Wisconsin lakes

The specialist aquatic herbivore Euhrychiopsis lecontei (Dietz) is currently being researched as a potential biological control agent for Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.). Our research in Wisconsin focused on 1) determining milfoil weevil distribution across lakes, 2) assessing limnological characteristics associated with their abundance, and 3) evaluating milfoil weevil augmentation as a practical management tool for controlling Eurasian watermilfoil

Summerlin Masonry

Summerlin Masonry is a residential masonry company located in the Bryan-College Station, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The company specializes in rock, both real and fake, brick, glass block, and tile work. Summerlin Masonry mainly works on houses in upper-middle class neighborhoods, but occasionally works on commercial jobs as favors to builders. The company has performed very well in its first two years of operation. While the company has been performing very well, it has not been without problems. Due to deceptive practices of his former partner when he was with B&S Masonry, the owner has become indebted to the IRS. They are holding him responsible for the entire debt of payroll tax checks that were not deposited, plus penalties and interest. After many months of communication with the IRS, the owner has begun to lower his debt and fully intends to repay the entire debt for his partner’s mishap. In the past two years, Summerlin Masonry has doubled its business. Due to the high demand for the business’s services, expansion into new locations and markets are being considered. (Contact author for a copy of the complete report.)Small Business Mgmt, Ethics

Orthopedic management of the extremities in patients with Morquio A syndrome.

BackgroundMusculoskeletal involvement in Morquio A syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis IVA; MPS IVA) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. While the spinal manifestations of the disorder have received considerable attention in the literature, there have been few reported studies to date to guide the management of the orthopedic problems associated with the lower and upper extremities.PurposeThe objective was to develop recommendations for the management of the extremities in patients with Morquio A syndrome.MethodsA group of specialists in orthopedics, pediatrics and genetics with experience in the management of Morquio A patients convened to review and discuss current clinical practices and to develop preliminary recommendations. Evidence from the literature was retrieved. Recommendations were further refined until consensus was reached.Results and conclusionsThis present article provides a detailed review and discussion of the lower and upper extremity deformities in Morquio A syndrome and presents recommendations for the assessment and treatment of these complications. Key issues, including the importance of early diagnosis and the implications of medical therapy, are also addressed. The recommendations herein represent an attempt to develop a uniform and practical approach to managing patients with Morquio A syndrome and improving their outcomes

The radio-ultraviolet spectral energy distribution of the jet in 3C273

We present deep VLA and HST observations of the large-scale jet in 3C 273 matched to 0.3" resolution. The observed spectra show a significant flattening in the infrared-ultraviolet wavelength range. The jet's emission cannot therefore be assumed to arise from a single electron population and requires the presence of an additional emission component. The observed smooth variations of the spectral indices along the jet imply that the physical conditions vary correspondingly smoothly. We determine the maximum particle energy for the optical jet using synchrotron spectral fits. The slow decline of the maximum energy along the jet implies particle reacceleration acting along the entire jet. In addition to the already established global anti-correlation between maximum particle energy and surface brightness, we find a weak positive correlation between small-scale variations in maximum particle energy and surface brightness. The origin of these conflicting global and local correlations is unclear, but they provide tight constraints for reacceleration models.Comment: 28 pages, lots of figures, accepted for publication in A&

Pre-corneal tear film thickness in humans measured with a novel technique.

PurposeThe purpose of this work was to gather preliminary data in normals and dry eye subjects, using a new, non-invasive imaging platform to measure the thickness of pre-corneal tear film.MethodsHuman subjects were screened for dry eye and classified as dry or normal. Tear film thickness over the inferior paracentral cornea was measured using laser illumination and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera. A previously developed mathematical model was used to calculate the thickness of the tear film by applying the principle of spatial auto-correlation function (ACF).ResultsMean tear film thickness values (±SD) were 3.05 μm (0.20) and 2.48 μm (0.32) on the initial visit for normals (n=18) and dry eye subjects (n=22), respectively, and were significantly different (p<0.001, 2-sample t-test). Repeatability was good between visit 1 and 2 for normals (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=0.935) and dry eye subjects (ICC=0.950). Tear film thickness increased above baseline for the dry eye subjects following viscous drop instillation and remained significantly elevated for up to approximately 32 min (n=20; p<0.05 until 32 min; general linear mixed model and Dunnett's tests).ConclusionsThis technique for imaging the ocular surface appears to provide tear thickness values in agreement with other non-invasive methods. Moreover, the technique can differentiate between normal and dry eye patient types

A simple test for the existence of two accretion modes in Active Galactic Nuclei

By analogy to the different accretion states observed in black-hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs), it appears plausible that accretion disks in active galactic nuclei (AGN) undergo a state transition between a radiatively efficient and inefficient accretion flow. If the radiative efficiency changes at some critical accretion rate, there will be a change in the distribution of black hole masses and bolometric luminosities at the corresponding transition luminosity. To test this prediction, I consider the joint distribution of AGN black hole masses and bolometric luminosities for a sample taken from the literature. The small number of objects with low Eddington-scaled accretion rates mdot < 0.01 and black hole masses Mbh < 10^9 Msun constitutes tentative evidence for the existence of such a transition in AGN. Selection effects, in particular those associated with flux-limited samples, systematically exclude objects in particular regions of the black hole mass-luminosity plane. Therefore, they require particular attention in the analysis of distributions of black hole mass, bolometric luminosity, and derived quantities like the accretion rate. I suggest further observational tests of the BHXB-AGN unification scheme which are based on the jet domination of the energy output of BHXBs in the hard state, and on the possible equivalence of BHXB in the very high (or "steep power-law") state showing ejections and efficiently accreting quasars and radio galaxies with powerful radio jets.Comment: Accepted by ApJ; 14 pages, 4 figures, uses emulateap

Impact of elosulfase alfa in patients with morquio A syndrome who have limited ambulation: An open-label, phase 2 study.

Efficacy and safety of elosulfase alfa enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) were assessed in an open-label, phase 2, multi-national study in Morquio A patients aged ≥5 years unable to walk ≥30 meters in the 6-min walk test. Patients received elosulfase alfa 2.0 mg/kg/week intravenously for 48 weeks. Efficacy measures were functional dexterity, pinch/grip strength, mobility in a modified timed 25-foot walk, pain, quality of life, respiratory function, and urine keratan sulfate (KS). Safety/tolerability was also assessed. Fifteen patients received elosulfase alfa, three patients discontinued ERT due to adverse events (two were grade 3 drug-related adverse events, the other was not drug-related), and two patients missed &gt;20% of planned infusions; 10 completed treatment through 48 weeks and received ≥80% of planned infusions (Modified Per Protocol [MPP] population). The study population had more advanced disease than that enrolled in other trials. From baseline to week 48, MPP data showed biochemical efficacy (urine KS decreased 52.4%). The remaining efficacy results were highly variable due to challenges in test execution because of severe skeletal and joint abnormalities, small sample sizes, and clinical heterogeneity among patients. Eight patients showed improvements in one or more outcome measures; several patients indicated improvements not captured by the study assessments (e.g., increased energy, functional ability). The nature of adverse events was similar to other elosulfase alfa studies. This study illustrates the considerable challenges in objectively measuring impact of ERT in very disabled Morquio A patients and highlights the need to examine results on an individual basis. © 2016 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc

A new quality of life consultation template for patients with venous leg ulceration

OBJECTIVE: Chronic venous leg ulcers (CVLUs) are common and recurrent, however, care for patients predominantly has a focus which overlooks the impact of the condition on quality of life. The aim of this study was to develop a simple, evidence-based consultation template, with patients and practitioners, which focuses consultations on quality of life themes. METHOD: A nominal group was undertaken to develop a new consultation template for patients with CVLUs based on the findings of earlier qualitative study phases. RESULTS: A user-friendly two-sided A4 template was designed to focus nurse-patient consultations on the quality of life challenges posed by CVLUs. CONCLUSION: CVLUs impact negatively on the quality of life of the patient but this receives inadequate attention during current consultations. This new template will help to ensure that key concerns are effectively raised, explored and addressed during each consultation. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: The NHS West Midlands Strategic Health Authority funded this study. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.NHS West Midlands Health Authorit